China sees continuous development of comprehensive bonded zones

14:47, May 24, 2024 By Qiu Haifeng ( People's Daily

Comprehensive bonded zones (CBZs), known for their high-level openness and streamlined customs clearance procedures, are special customs supervision areas established by the Chinese government.

Many preferential policies are available in China's CBZs, including tax refunds upon entry, bonded imports, and free movement of goods within the zones, which can significantly reduce the institutional costs of transactions.

Cargo trucks wait for inspection at the Songjiang comprehensive bonded zone in east China's Shanghai. (People's Daily Online/Jiang Huihui)

Over the past decade, the number of CBZs in China has been steadily growing since the first one became operational in 2007. So far, over 160 CBZs have been set up in 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across the country.

The Beijing Zhongguancun comprehensive bonded zone (hereafter referred to as "Zhongguancun CBZ"), the first one in China featuring research and development (R&D) and innovation, has passed acceptance review in April. The bonded zone has a planned area of 0.4 square kilometers and an industrial space of 660,000 square meters. It will develop integrated circuit and pharmaceutical industries as the core, and artificial intelligence and technology service industries as the focus. Besides, it aims to expand bonded service formats, including headquarters economy, cross-border e-commerce, among others.

The first phase of the Zhongguancun CBZ involves an industrial space covering 100,000 square meters, which will accommodate the main facilities of 11 enterprises, including HyperStrong, Naton Technology Group, and Agile Robots.

"The Zhongguancun CBZ is a crucial experiment to examine how CBZs can contribute to sci-tech innovation," said Feng Bin, deputy head of Beijing Customs.

According to Feng, by leveraging the policy advantages, the Zhongguancun CBZ aims to cultivate new business models that integrate bonded trade with other elements, drive technological innovation and foster new quality productive forces within the zone, while also strengthening industry collaboration inside and outside the zone.

Here is a vivid example to showcase the efficiency of China's CBZs. In the past, Suzuki cars manufactured in India had to pass through South Korea before being exported to Central and South America, which involved multiple transfers, customs declarations, and other intricate processes.

Today, things are not the same anymore. The vehicles can be temporarily stored in the Yangshan special comprehensive bonded zone (hereafter referred to as "Yangshan special CBZ") in east China's Shanghai municipality, and later shipped to their final destinations.

Staff members inspect an engine to be delivered in a maintenance workshop of the Haikou airport comprehensive bonded zone in south China's Hainan province. (People's Daily Online/Su Bikun)

Shou Shunyang, an official with Yangshan Customs, used a recent batch of goods as an example to illustrate the bonded vehicle transit business within the zone, where the production and market ends are both outside of China.

On April 26, a total of 2,687 Indian-made Suzuki vehicles arrived at the Nangang terminal of Shanghai and were immediately transferred in bulk to the adjacent Yangshan special CBZ for bonded storage.

Among them, 1,379 were shipped to Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras on May 5, while the rest were destined for Chile and Nicaragua.

It is reported that since starting independent customs operation in May 2020, the Yangshan special CBZ has made continuous breakthroughs in building a new type of trade demonstration zone, a global shipping hub, and an incubator for innovative business.

Additionally, the dense shipping routes and frequent sailings at the ports in Shanghai provide more options for consolidated shipping, significantly improving efficiency and reducing costs for businesses.

It is estimated that compared to traditional routes, this shipping route can reduce the logistics cost of exporting these vehicles by 12 percent and shorten the shipping time by 25 percent.

After four years of development, the number of registered enterprises in the Yangshan special CBZ has reached 1,591, with a total import and export value exceeding 780 billion yuan ($107.73 billion), and an average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 40 percent.

Consumers buy imported goods at a shopping center of the Jinyi comprehensive bonded zone in Jinhua, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Xiaofei)

The continuously growing and upgrading CBZs are bringing new opportunities and injecting new momentum into the development of foreign trade across China.

For instance, there are 13 CBZs in south China's Guangdong province. According to the Guangdong sub-administration of China's General Administration of Customs, in the first quarter of this year, the import and export value of bonded logistics in Guangdong's CBZs reached 139.42 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.8 percent. The total import and export value of all CBZs in the province exceeded 170.98 billion yuan, accounting for 8.4 percent of Guangdong's total foreign trade.

Besides, the Yantai CBZ in east China's Shandong province has strengthened information exchanges and resource sharing with customs, ports, and other authorities. It has improved supporting facilities and developed new business models such as cross-border e-commerce, international transit of commercial vehicles, and bonded blending of mineral products, creating more new growth drivers for foreign trade.

In the first quarter of this year, the import and export volume of the Yantai CBZ exceeded 20 billion yuan, accounting for about a fifth of the city's total foreign trade.

According to industry insiders, China's special customs supervision areas represented by CBZs have emerged as important platforms driving the development of an open economy.

Last year, the total import and export value of goods in China's CBZs surpassed 6 trillion yuan, accounting for approximately 15 percent of the country's total, almost twice the amount five years ago.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Helicopters assist in assault training

China Military Online) 13:17, May 25, 2024

Soldiers assigned to a brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army board a helicopter during a joint assault training exercise on May 11, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Shi Zhipeng)

A Soldier assigned to a brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army fast-ropes from a helicopter during a joint assault training exercise on May 11, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Shi Zhipeng)

Helicopters attached to a brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army fly in formation during a joint assault training exercise held on May 11, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Shi Zhipeng)

A helicopter attached to a brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army fires off the decoy flares during a joint assault training exercise held on May 11, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Shi Zhipeng)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Kimberly Mata-Rubio holds a picture of Joaquin Oliver, a 17-year-old who was killed in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting, as she walks out of a press conference with her husband Felix Rubio at the capitol in Austin on Feb. 14, 2023, on the fifth anniversary of the school shooting at the high school in Parkland, Florida. Two years ago, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's response to the shooting that took my daughter from me forever  and took 18 other children from their parents  failed to address the gun violence epidemic in Texas, writes Kimberly Mata-Rubio. Sam Owens/Staff photographer

Two years ago, Uvalde, a city that few people knew outside Texas by name and even fewer knew where to find on a map, became synonymous with the gun violence epidemic in America and in my home state of Texas.

I remember the day clearly. My 10-year-old daughter, Alexandria Lexi Rubio, had just received the Good Citizen Award and been recognized for receiving all As when a gunman entered her classroom at Robb Elementary School with an AR-15 rifle. He murdered two teachers and 19 children, including my Lexi.

After two years, my grief is just as deep, the trauma is just as fresh, and my anger remains just as strong as the day my daughter was killed. In her memory, using her outlook on life as inspiration, I work to drive change.

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Read a Spanish translated version of this commentary: Dos anos despues de Uvalde, seguimos luchando por la seguridad de armas.

But despite the extraordinary attention on the shooting and the persistent activism of parents, as well as my campaign to become Uvalde mayor, not much has changed.

Two years ago, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's response to the shooting that took my daughter from me forever  and took 18 other children from their parents  failed to address the gun violence epidemic in Texas. Instead, Abbott pandered to the gun lobby.

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Former President Donald Trump, Abbott and Texas Republicans continue to bend the knee to the gun lobby.

Trump had the nerve to headline the NRA convention in Dallas last week, shamelessly receiving the NRA's endorsement. The convention was held just hours away from where my daughter was killed.

Their indifference and callousness hurt our community the most.

Now, adding salt to the wound, on the same weekend as the anniversary of our childrens deaths, Texas Republicans are holding their GOP convention, where they will continue to push irresponsible and dangerous gun policies that fail to prevent future gun deaths.

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At my core, I believe that we can create a better tomorrow if we dont forget why we must fight so hard for it. And I wont ever forget because Im fighting for Lexi. I will honor her with action.

Kimberly Mata-Rubio Courtesy/Kimberly Mata-Rubio

This year we all have the power to create change as we reject the callous indifference by the NRA and their backers  including Trump  who stand in the way of commonsense gun reform that could save lives. This year, Im casting my vote for the only candidate who will stand up to the gun lobby and stand by our children, President Joe Biden.

The choice is clear: In just over five months, I'll be voting for Biden, who has spent his entire career fighting and working across the aisle to pass life-saving gun legislation like the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He stands up to the NRA, and he's fighting to ban assault weapons like the one used in the Uvalde massacre.

On the other side, theres Trump, who in January told gun violence survivors in Iowa to get over it, and who time and time again has sided with the gun lobby, blocked commonsense gun reforms, and promised to roll back the progress that has been made under the Biden-Harris administration to protect our children from the gun violence epidemic.

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As we hold close the memory of our children, lets continue to fight for gun safety reform and elect a leader who will put our children and communities first  not the gun lobby.
One of three female Pilot Travel Center employees stabbed to death by a trucker in Knoxville is originally from Signal Mountain.

Friends said 41-year-old Nettie Spencer was a member of a family long active at the Signal Mountain Church of Christ.

Ms. Spencer had worked for 20 years at the center.

She was killed along with Joyce Whaley, 57, and Patricia Denise Nibbe, 51.

The North Carolina trucker was shot and killed by a Knox County deputy when he would not put down the knife.

The tragic incident happened around 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti spoke with Mix 104.1 & MixTV.tvs Steve Hartline on Friday regarding the investigation his office is officially conducting regarding the attempted foreclosure of Graceland.When asked about the investigation, AG Skrmetti stated, We dont want to interfere with legitimate private transactions, but there are indicators here that this is something a little fishy.
A lightning strike is believed to be the cause of an apartment fire in Chattanooga, damaging multiple units on Friday afternoon.



Chattanooga Fire Green Shift companies were called at 3 p.m. to the Elements of Chattanooga Apartments, 7310 Standifer Gap Road, after a reporting party called 911 saying they heard a loud boom and saw smoke coming from Building 6.



First responding crews spotted smoke and fire in the first floor breezeway and immediately went to work, cutting into walls to attack the flames and stop them from spreading. First responding crews spotted smoke and fire in the first floor breezeway and immediately went to work, cutting into walls to attack the flames and stop them from spreading.Firefighters made a quick knockdown and then checked for extension into surrounding apartments. They also removed smoke from the building.



Several apartments sustained damage from fire and smoke. There were no injuries.



Management from the apartment complex is working to assist impacted residents.



Engine 8, Ladder 7, Squad 7, Engine 6, Engine 15, Engine 21, Squad 13, Battalion 1 and Battalion 2 were on the call.




Daniel Detlef Smith, 55, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on May 22, 2024, at his home.

He was born on Sept. 2, 1968. He was a graduate of Hixson High School class of 1986 and received a bachelor of arts in music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.



Dan worked in many occupations and most recently he was a member of Local 43 Plumber and Steamfitters employed as a pipe fitter in various nuclear power plants around the region.



Dan enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was an avid collector of knives and guns, but he was very dedicated to nature preservation as well. He spent much of his time at the family farm in Henagar, Al., growing fruit and riding tractors.



Daniel was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Raymond Smith and Mary Margaret Meyer Smith as well as his brother, David Newton Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Lee Lane Smith and children, Sarah Weyler (Von) and Carl Smith.



A memorial service for Daniel will be held at the First Lutheran Church located at 2800 McCallie Ave. on Saturday, June 22, at 11 a.m. with a visitation on Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. as well as receiving friends/relatives prior to the service at 10 a.m.



Daniel had a strong desire to help the homeless in our community. In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations be made to the Chatt Foundation.
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A man was arrested on multiple charges after leading officers on a high-speed chase that ended in Georgia on Friday.

At approximately 6 p.m., Hamilton County Sheriffs Office deputies were dispatched to the 3600 block of Bentwood Cove Drive for the report of an intoxicated party. The reporting party stated Cody Headrick was outside of the residence yelling and screaming in the roadway and then tried to pull the bumper off his car. She also said he tried to break the window out of his vehicle and was yelling at cars as they drove by. Additionally, dispatch advised that he had an active misdemeanor warrant out of Catoosa County.

Prior to arriving on scene, deputies were notified that Headrick left the residence at a high rate of speed in his vehicle, headed towards East Brainerd Road. Deputies located him in his vehicle exiting Bentwood Cove Drive onto East Brainerd Road where they attempted a traffic stop; however he immediately began to evade, making a left turn onto Cherokee Valley Road. Deputies pursued him down Cherokee Valley Road, but the decision was made to terminate the pursuit.



A short time later, deputies once again located the vehicle near the 10,000 block of East Brainerd Road. Deputies confirmed the vehicle belonged to Headrick and began to follow it, during which time he was observed driving erratically including swerving in and out of the lane. Deputies also learned from dispatchers that Headrick was believed to have been involved in an aggravated assault at the Publix located at 1688 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road prior to the initial incident they were dispatched to at Bentwood Cove Drive.



Deputies once again attempted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Ooltewah-Ringgold Road and he immediately began to evade at a high rate of speed. A pursuit ensued that traversed numerous roadways until he eventually turned onto Interstate 75 southbound toward Georgia.



With the assistance of Georgia law enforcement agencies, authorities stopped his vehicle in the middle lane of I-75 at exit 336. Once stopped, he ignored verbal commands to exit the vehicle; however he was tazed and quickly taken into custody without additional incident.



After he was in custody, the odor of alcoholic beverage could be smelled emitting from his person. Additionally, an assisting officer from the Ringgold Police Department advised that after the initial pursuit was discontinued, he went into the City of Ringgold where they were having a festival and drove through a crowd of people. It was indicated he would face additional charges for this incident.



Regarding the alleged aggravated assault at the Publix at 1688 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, deputies determined there was sufficient evidence to charge Headrick with disorderly conduct and aggravated assault.



Headrick was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol and transported to the Whitfield County Jail where he will be charged with driving under the influence.



In addition to the aforementioned charges, for the incidents occurring in Hamilton County, Headrick will be charged with driving under the influence, felony evading, and reckless endangerment.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga student Olivia Reeves has been announced as one of the five athletes representing USA Weightlifting during this summers Paris Olympic Games.The announcement took place Friday in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Click here for the USA Weightlifting announcement Ms.Reeves, who competes at 71 kg, is joined on the U.S. squad by Jourdan Delacruz (49 kg), Wes Kitts (102 kg), Hampton Morris (61 kg) and Mary Theisen-Lappen (+81 kg). The Olympic weightlifting competition will take place Aug. 7-11 at the South Paris Arena.Ms. Reeves, a senior majoring in sociology, is looking to become the first UTC currently-enrolled student to participate in the Olympic Gamesand is believed to be the first student in the Universitys 138-year history to be selected for an Olympic teamsomething she said feels monumental.At the final Olympic qualifying event in Phuket, Thailand, in April, the Hixson native won three gold medals while setting a trio of American records (118 kg snatch, 150 kg clean and jerk, 268 kg total).The soft-spoken athlete isnt one to boast about her accomplishments at school, but it also hasnt fully sunk in yet that she will be an Olympian.Its weird because when I think of an Olympian or know people who are Olympians, Im like, Wow, they seem really cool, Ms. Reeves recently said in an on-campus interview, and Im like, Wait a minute, Im also an Olympian now. Im recognizing that it is becoming a part of my identity.Its exciting and Im coming to the realization that its actually happening. Its real.Ms. Reeves will arrive in Paris on July 18, where she will spend nearly a month as the competitions take place. She will compete at 7:30 p.m. Paris time (1:30 p.m. in Chattanooga) on Friday, Aug. 9.During her time there, she plans to stay busy with training, exploring the Olympic Village, watching as many sporting events as she can and making friends.To learn more about Ms. Reeves journey to the U.S. Olympic team, visit UTC News
One of historys most infamous pirates is Captain John Calico Jack Rackham. He sailed the Caribbean Sea during the early 18th century, terrorizing anyone who crossed his path while wearing brightly colored calico clothing.

Most successful pirates preferred to dress in silk and velvet attire, but Rackham opted for calico cotton from India, which is how he earned his nickname of Calico Jack. His choice of clothing was not the only thing that made him stand out from other pirates.

He was also known for having two female pirates in his crew, something that was rare to see. They fought alongside him until he was finally captured.

While he was not the best fighter, he had a bold and cunning personality, which allowed him to rise through the ranks and cement his reputation as a pirate legend.

Calico Jack was born John Rackham on December 26, 1682, and died on November 18, 1720. Not much is known about his early life.

He first appeared in written records in 1718 as a crew member of a pirate ship named the Ranger. He was the second in charge and was tasked with the responsibility of disciplining other crew members.

Charles Vane, the captain of the Ranger, wasnt popular with his crew, so everyone decided to make Calico Jack the new captain.

A month later, they encountered a Jamaican merchant ship they wanted to plunder. Calico Jack and his crew managed to snag the precious cargo, but since they were so close to shore, plenty of witnesses saw the event take place. Bounty hunters were hired to capture the pirates.

Calico Jack and his crew avoided capture and decided to head to Nassau in the Bahamas, where the new governor had issued an amnesty deal stating that pirates who turned themselves in could live as free men as long as they gave up piracy.

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Of all the great ancient civilizations, Egypt is one that remains the most shrouded in mystery. Although experts have been studying life in Egypt for years, there is still so much that is unknown.

Just recently, a team of researchers has found evidence of a long-lost branch of the Nile River that may point to the reason behind the location of several pyramids. The study was published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.

Researchers identified parts of a section of the river that is no longer in existence. They named the segments the Ahramat Branch.

The branch is now buried underneath farmland and sand in the Sahara Desert, but it once stretched along the eastern edge of the Western Desert Plateau, which is located to the west of the Nile.

The Ahramat Branch was 40 miles long and ran near 31 pyramids that are also situated on the eastern edge of the plateau.

The group of pyramids is the largest cluster of pyramids in Egypt. It includes the Giza complex. This chain was built around 4,700 years ago, over the course of a millennium.

Previously, researchers could not figure out why the pyramids were erected in that area since it is currently just a narrow strip of desert.

Usually, such massive monuments and structures would be constructed near large sources of water to make transportation of building materials easier. However, no waterway had ever been found in the area, and the Nile was several miles away.

The authors of the study suggested that the Ahramat Branch was within close range of the 31 pyramids, which explained why the structures were built at that site.

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There are many unanswered questions surrounding Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa. For instance, the identity of the woman depicted in the painting has long been a subject of debate among experts, along with the meaning of her smile and the location of the landscape she is posing in.

The landscape behind her has remained a mystery for centuries, its vagueness fueling speculation over whether it was a real place or an entirely fictional one.

Now, a historian and geologist named Ann Pizzorusso believes that she has identified the location of the background in the painting.

Pizzorusso claims that the setting is Lecco, a small town in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. According to Pizzorusso, the body of water is Lake Garlate, and the bridge that is seen above the left shoulder of the woman in the painting is the 14th-century Azzone Visconti.

She came to the conclusion after analyzing the rock formations and other features in the art piece. The rock formations resemble the limestone formations in Lecco.

Some experts have argued that the Mona Lisa was created in a town in northern Italy called Bobbio or someplace in the province of Arezzo.

One Italian art historian asserted that the paintings background was of the Tuscan village, Laterina, and the bridge was the Ponte Romito.

However, Pizzorusso says that these ideas neglect to take the artworks rock formations into consideration.

The arched bridge was ubiquitous throughout Italy and Europe, and many looked very similar, she said.

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Home News Bodies of American missionary and Haitian director may have been burned

Gang members in Haiti may have burned the bodies of two of the three people they killed  a young American missionary couple and a Haitian director associated with an Oklahoma-based group, Missions in Haiti, according to reports.

The victims  Davy and Natalie Lloyd and 45-year-old Haitian director Jude Montis  were ambushed by armed men at the mission's compound Thursday night. Davy Lloyd, 23, and Natalie Lloyd, 21, were full-time missionaries in Haiti, committed to organizing education and religious services for children.

A video reviewed by The Wall Street Journal shows three victims sprawled on the floor, with two of the bodies appearing to have been set on fire.

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The couple, who moved to Haiti shortly after their marriage in June 2022, worked with Missions in Haiti, a group founded by Davy Lloyd's parents in 2000. The mission's orphanage is located in Lizon, north of Port-au-Prince, an area plagued by violent gangs.

Natalie Lloyd was the daughter of Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker, who expressed his grief on Facebook, stating, "My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. I've never felt this kind of pain."

On Friday, Baker wrote that the U.S. Embassy in Haiti had recovered the bodies of his daughter and son-in-law, describing it as a significant relief amidst the tragedy. He also mentioned the logistical challenges of transporting their bodies back to the United States due to Haiti's lack of embalming facilities and the need to find an airline willing to handle the transport.

David Lloyd, Davy's father, told CNN that he was on the phone with his son during the attack. He recounted how Davy was dragged to the house, tied up and looted by the gang while children were in the compound at the time. The call ended when more armed men arrived, leading to a violent backlash after one of the newly arrived gang members was shot.

"That was basically our last call," David Lloyd said, recalling how the three barricaded themselves in a house that was eventually stormed by the gang. "The gang shot that place up until they got the door busted down and shot them, and set Davy and Jude on fire."

HERO, a local emergency response service, confirmed to CNN that Davy Lloyd's body was found burned at the scene.

According to Missions in Haiti, the couple was attacked by three truckloads of armed men. The incident escalated into a chaotic scene as Davy Lloyd was tied up and beaten by gang members who stole trucks and other belongings from the mission. Subsequently, another armed group arrived, leading to a gun battle in which the Lloyds and Montis were killed.

The missionary group has faced numerous challenges, including the kidnapping of Davy Lloyd and his siblings in 2005, from which they were rescued after 21 hours, Lloyd's father said.

Haitian police, collaborating with international law enforcement, are investigating the killings.

The White House expressed condolences to the families in a statement to CNN and acknowledged the urgency of deploying the United Nations-approved international police force to bolster the Haitian National Police.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson also mourned the loss, calling it "absolutely heartbreaking news."

Franklin Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham and head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse, asked his followers to pray for the couple and their family.

"As a father, I cannot imagine the pain that this family is feeling right now," Graham wrote on Facebook Friday. "Pray for God to comfort and strengthen them in the difficult days ahead. 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.' (Psalm 46:1)"

Kay Warren, who co-founded Saddleback Church in California with her husband, Rick, said that the Lloyds served as the "hands and feet of Jesus" in one of the hardest places in the world.

"We commit them to the care of their Father and join their families in waiting for that glorious reunion day," Warren wrote on Facebook.

"In their memory, this prayer from John Baillie in A Diary of Private Prayer: 'O most gracious God, grant that in everything that happens today I may carry with me the remembrance of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, my Lord. For your fatherly love shown in Jesus Christ, your beloved son; for his readiness to suffer for me; for the redemptive passion that filled his heart; I praise and bless your holy name. For the power of his cross in the history of the world since he came; for all who've taken up their own crosses and followed him; for the noble company of martyrs, and for all who are willing to die, that others may live; for all those who freely choose to suffer for the sake of others, For pain bravely endured, for sorrows of this life that have been used for the building up of eternal joys; I praise and bless your holy name.'"

The violence against the missionaries is part of a broader pattern of worsening gang activity in Haiti. Gangs armed with weapons primarily trafficked from the U.S. have been spreading across the capital and other cities, attacking police stations and hospitals and freeing inmates from prisons.

Nearly half of Haiti's population faces food shortages, and gang violence deaths and injuries increased by 53% in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter, according to the U.N.

The killings occurred as a new governing council in Haiti awaits the deployment of police from Kenya, supported by the U.S., to help restore security. However, the deployment has been delayed due to funding issues.

After the killing of the missionaries, the U.S. called for swift delivery of police from Kenya.

"The security situation in Haiti cannot wait," a National Security Council spokesperson said Friday, according to AFP, adding that President Joe Biden has pledged to support the "expedited deployment" of the force.

"Our hearts go out to the families of those killed as they experience unimaginable grief," the spokesperson said.

In an interview with BBC, Kenya President William Ruto said the peacekeeping police force is expected to arrive in Haiti in about three weeks.
The Supreme Court declined Monday to review a Maryland law that bans the purchase, sale or transfer of assault-style rifles  but has yet to decide whether it will consider other pending appeals involving the weapons.

The high court's justices didn't say why they turned down the case, but taking it up would have been unusual because the law is still being reviewed by a lower federal appeals court in Virginia.

The 2013 statute was enacted following the mass shooting that killed 20 children and two adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

It's being challenged by Maryland residents who want to buy the banned weapons: a firearms dealer and three gun rights groups who sued the state in 2020.

There are similar appeals still pending before the Supreme Court that involve challenges to an Illinois ban on assault-style rifles and high capacity magazines, which would allow it to still take up the issue.

In 2022, the court's 6-3 conservative majority struck down a New York law that imposed limits on carrying concealed weapons, saying it violated Americans' constitutional right to self defense.

The Maryland plaintiffs contend that banning semiautomatic rifles like the popular AR-15 also violates the Second Amendment, he Associated Press reported.

Maryland's attorney general has defended the law on grounds that assault-style rifles are "highly dangerous, military-style" weapons that have been used in multiple mass shootings, including the one at Sandy Hook Elementary.

Under Maryland's law, a semiautomatic rifle is considered a banned "assault weapon" if it has any combination of a folding stock, flash suppressor and grenade or flare launcher.

The law also bans rifles that are shorter than 29 inches when their stocks are fully extended and there are no removable additions to the barrels.

Military assault weapons generally have a selector switch that allows the user to fire in either semiautomatic mode, meaning one shot per trigger pull, or fully automatic, in which a single trigger pull can fire all the rounds in the magazine.
Home News Ex-employee of Tampa church steals $775K from parish operating account

A former employee of a Florida church has reportedly stolen $775,000 from its parish operating account over the last five months.

Christ the King Catholic Church, located in Tampa, is believed to have had money stolen from its parish account while the church is undergoing a construction project in the hopes of building a new youth center.

The Rev. Len Plazewski, pastor of Christ the King Church, told Tampa Bay 10 News on Monday that several factors contributed to concealing the stolen funds, including the construction project.

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An unnamed diocese spokesperson mentioned that although no personal information was compromised in the alleged fraudulent activity, parishioners were informed about the stolen funds last weekend during all church services.

According to the spokesperson and Plazewski, the suspect, who is not being named at this time, will plan to enter a plea in federal court, which "will include full repayment to the Parish and other penalties to be determined by a federal judge."

Christ the King Catholic Church offers "a variety of ministries, each pointed to fulfill our mission here at Christ The King: to serve God and care for people."

"Whether you are drawn to Bible studies, mission, outreach, worship or any other area of service, there is a place for you to grow and contribute your unique gifts and talents here," the church added.

According to a 2019 report by Brotherhood Mutual, it is estimated that fraud committed against churches worldwide may reach the $80 billion mark by 2025.

"Church thieves are creative," says Tom Lichtenberger, assistant vice president of property claims at Brotherhood Mutual. "Often, church people can't bring themselves to believe that their pastor, a church trustee, long-time member, or the school cook could possibly steal from the church."

"Normally, it's one of the most trusted people in the church who's pilfering from the collection plate, or diverting funds from the church budget or investment accounts to feed their spending habits or pay personal debts."
Home News German Medical Assembly calls for restricting trans surgeries, puberty blockers for minors

Germany's highest body of doctors has passed two resolutions related to gender dysphoria, one of which warns about the potentially life-long consequences of allowing youth to transition, as current guidelines being prepared by the government recommend an affirmative approach.

The 128th German Medical Assembly passed the resolutions earlier this month to limit trans surgeries or body-altering drugs for gender dysphoric minors to clinical trials, according to the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. The delegation is comprised of 250 delegates from 17 medical associations.

The body also called on the government to amend the planned self-determination law, according to the German news outlet Die Welt, which notes that current guidelines being prepared by the government under the direction of child psychiatrist Georg Romer recommend an affirmative approach that calls for treating people who claim to have been born "in the wrong body."

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In the first resolution, the medical assembly calls for the federal government to only permit minors under 18 to undergo body-altering procedures "in the context of controlled scientific studies" performed with "the involvement of a multidisciplinary team and a clinical ethics committee." The resolution, which passed with 120 votes, also clarified that these types of interventions can only be done after the diagnosis and treatment of other mental health conditions.

"The therapy results of any interventions of this kind must be followed up sociologically, medically, child and adolescent psychiatrically, socially and psychologically over a period of at least ten years and the evaluation results incorporated into the revision of the 'Guideline on gender incongruence and gender dysphoria in childhood and adolescence: diagnosis and treatment,'" the resolution stated.

The medical assembly referred to prescribing puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones for children as a form of "experimental medicine," noting that these types of interventions are usually followed by amputating a minor's genitals. As the resolution noted, this can lead to "the loss of reproductive capacity and the reduction of the sexual experience up to and including anorgasmia."

In addition, the resolution authors stressed that the administration of body-altering drugs and the performance of trans surgeries on minors "must not only be made dependent on the will of a developing child or a young person."

As a 2024 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found, "gender or sex dissatisfaction is most common at around the age of eleven, and the frequency of this symptomatology then decreases with age. The clear majority of minors show no persistent gender or sex dissatisfaction over the course of their lives."

The second resolution, which the medical assembly adopted after 110 voted in favor, stated that minors should not be allowed to "self-identify" as the opposite sex without a consultation and diagnosis from a psychiatrist.

"From a medical, sexological and biological perspective, a person's gender is a reality that can be determined on the body and in the vast majority of cases is unambiguous, not freely available, but unchangeable," the second resolution states.

"Gender is biologically binary, and the concept is separate from that of gender identity. In rare cases, a person's subjectively perceived gender identity deviates from their objectively given physical gender. The Self- Determination Act attempts to find a solution to the associated internal conflict (gender incongruence) and a problem of primary procedural law by equating the category of gender under civil status law  logically inconclusive  with the psychological construct of 'gender identity.'"

Germany's resolutions comes not long after Dr. Hilary Cass, a pediatrician in England, published a study last month called "The Cass Review." The commissioning of the report happened amid an exponential rise of minors in the United Kingdom pursuing treatment for their gender dysphoria over the past decade.

Following the study's publication, the National Health Service advised gender clinics to implement a pause on first appointments for those under 18.

As Cass noted after reviewing national healthcare guidance, the evidence supporting puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for young people is "remarkably weak." She added that prescribing such hormones should be done with "extreme caution."

The American Academy of Pediatrics was one of the organizations that attempted to downplay the report's findings. In a statement to The New York Times, AAP President Dr. Ben Hoffman remarked that "Politicians have inserted themselves into the exam room, which is dangerous for both physicians and for families."

Cass told The Times that she "respectfully [disagrees] with [AAP] ... holding on to a position that is now demonstrated to be out of date by multiple systematic reviews."

"It wouldn't be too much of a problem if people were saying, 'This is clinical consensus, and we're not sure,'" Cass said. "But what some organizations are doing is doubling down on saying the evidence is good. And I think that's where you're misleading the public. You need to be honest about the strength of the evidence and say what you're going to do to improve it."
Home News Job ad targeting Christians in Pakistan labeled discriminatory by advocates

LAHORE, Pakistan  An ad for sanitation workers targeting Christians in Pakistan has prompted objections that it signals only Christians should work such low-paying jobs.

The ad soliciting candidates for sweepers at health facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province states, Christian community will be preferred. It was posted by Trans-Continental Pharma, a hospital management service contractor with the provincial government, on May 18.

A former member of the National Commission for Minorities, Albert David said the ad gave the impression that sanitation work was beneath the Muslim-majority population.

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I contacted the chief executive officer of the company and registered a strong protest against the discriminatory ad on behalf of my community. The official has promised to amend the ad, David said, although there was no change in the ad at this writing.

Such a discriminatory ad was a clear violation of Article 27 of Pakistans constitution and international conventions to which the country was a signatory, he said.

Article 27 provides safeguards against discrimination in services or employment, but this has been so blatantly trampled upon over the decades, said David, adding that the United Nations and International Labor Organizations Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) describes discrimination as, Any distinction, exclusion or preference made on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin, which has the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment in employment or occupation.

This systemic policy of reserving sanitation posts for non-Muslims must end now, as it has a direct bearing on the image of the community, he said.

An estimated 80% of sanitation workers in Pakistan are Christians, though Christians make up just 2% of the population, according to a study by WaterAid.

Christians are often referred to as Chuhra (low caste), a pejorative term reserved for sanitation workers referring to their past as members of the subcontinents Hindu Chuhra caste that was historically associated with sweepers. Though many of them converted to Islam and Christianity, they continue to suffer the same disparagement and are relegated to jobs seen as degrading and defiling.

Road sweepers in Pakistan are mostly Christians and are also referred to by other abusive slurs in local languages.

The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in 2022 launched a campaign to protest discriminatory advertisements for the recruitment of sanitary workers.

The campaign featured sharing awareness messages through print, electronic and digital media, a series of online posts on discriminatory advertisements for sanitation workers, information on the governments quota system and highlighting the deaths of sanitary workers.

The NCHR also announced a plan to file a suit against the government to remove discriminatory language from advertisements for sanitary workers.

On Jan. 12, 2022, the Islamabad High Court issued notices to various ministries banning job advertisements that reserve the job of sweepers for minority communities, particularly Christians, but the practice has continued.

Ejaz Augustine, a Christian lawmaker in the Punjab Assembly, said that non-Muslim sweepers are preferred because they are easily exploited.

Though many Pakistanis can be found doing menial jobs abroad, it is rare to find any Muslim doing the same job in their own homeland, Augustine told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The attitude within Pakistan is as though the Christians were in the country to clean up after Muslims. How can one expect greatness from a nation that does not even know how to clean its streets and treats its sanitary workers as sub-humans?

A former provincial minister for human rights and minorities, Augustine said the government must ensure that religious minorities are not limited to low-paying jobs.

The government should work on sensitizing the society and encourage a pluralistic and egalitarian atmosphere where the rights of minorities are equally protected, he said.

Church of Pakistan President Bishop Azad Marshall condemned the continued publication of discriminatory job ads.

This is systemic discrimination against our people and is also a violation of Pakistans Constitution that guarantees equal opportunities of growth to all citizens irrespective of their religious beliefs, Bishop Marshall told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

The senior church leader pointed out that despite the reservation of a 5% job quota in all federal and provincial governments since 2009, a large number of people from religious minorities were continuing to do low-paid jobs.

According to reports, thousands of posts of different grades reserved for religious minorities have not been filled by the government, he said. Due to this, a large number of our people are pushed into accepting low-paid jobs.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.

Originally published at Christian Daily International and Morning Star News
Home News South Africa accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza, demands UN court halt Israeli offensive

A two-day hearing at the International Court of Justice in the Hague concluded this week after South Africa accused Israel of genocide and demanded an immediate ceasefire of the country's military operations in Gaza, which began due to Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

The ICJ is one of the principal judicial organs of the United Nations, and it deals with disputes between states. On Dec. 29, South Africa filed a case with the court alleging that Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza, as defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Hearings were held on Thursday and Friday. While it may take several years before the case concludes, the subject of the hearings was South Africa's request for provisional measures, which it asked the ICJ to issue "as a matter of extreme urgency."

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The measures requested include a call for Israel to suspend military operations in and against Gaza and, in accordance with the Genocide Convention, to which Israel and South Africa are signatories, to "take all reasonable measures within their power to prevent genocide."

South Africa accused Israel of "destroying Palestinian life in Gaza" through the destruction of universities, mosques, schools and other structures. South Africa also alleged that Israel is responsible for the deaths of over 21,000 Palestinians.

However, the accuracy of such numbers is difficult to determine, as the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry's death toll figures don't distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. Those figures also don't differentiate between people killed by the Israeli military and those killed by Hamas or other Palestinian militants.

After Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, slaughtering at least 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and seizing around 240 others as hostages, Israel declared itself in a state of war.

The Israel Defense Forces began airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, followed by the incursion of ground troops and armored vehicles. The purpose of the operation is to eradicate Hamas, a terror group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and secure the release of the hostages.

Another claim made by South Africa is that the "acts of genocide" should be placed in "the broader context of Israel's conduct towards Palestinians during its 75-year-long apartheid, its 56-year-long belligerent occupation of Palestinian territory and its 16-year-long blockade of Gaza."

Responding to the claims, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is fighting "terrorists" and "lies."

"Today, again, we saw an upside down world, in which the State of Israel is accused of genocide at a time when it is fighting genocide," Netanyahu said in a statement Thursday. "Israel is fighting against murderous terrorists who committed horrific crimes against humanity: They slaughtered, they raped, they burned, they dismembered, they beheaded  children, women, the elderly, young men and young women."

"South Africa's hypocrisy screams to the high Heavens," Netanyahu added. "Where was South Africa when millions of people were being murdered and uprooted from their homes in Syria and Yemen, by whom? By Hamas's partners. The world is upside down. Where were you?"

In comments emailed to The Christian Post, Jonathan Feldstein, an Orthodox Jew and Jewish nonprofit professional who regularly contributes to Christian news outlets, referred to the allegations of genocide against Israel as "baseless," highlighting the growing Palestinian Arab population.

As Feldstein noted, Gaza has 2 million residents, surpassing the total number from 1948, the year of Israel's founding. He stated that, excluding some 2 million Israeli-Arabs, the estimated Palestinian-Arab population is between 5 to 6 million.

"One would think that for a country which made the desert bloom, has innovated and contributed countless medical, technological, civil and cultural innovations to the world with such an unparalleled rate of success, if Israel had set out to conduct a genocide, it would be much more successful,'" he wrote. "The numbers alone prove how allegations of Israeli committing genocide would be considered the worst genocide ever, an abysmal failure."

Feldstein questioned why Hamas is not on trial, citing the terror group's charter, which explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel and Jews. In the revised charter, Hamas uses the mantra "from the river to the sea," which, as Feldstein and other critics contend, means to "free" the land of Jews.

The charter serves as a playbook, Feldstein stated, one that does not call for a peaceful coexistence but instead advocates for armed resistance. He contrasted this with Israel's founding document, which calls for "peace and good neighborliness."

"Officially, Israel is on trial at the ICJ. But the reality is that the world is on trial for even entertaining South Africa's specious claims. The ICJ can either redeem itself and reject South Africa's claims, or call into question its own credibility and that of the nations of the world which it represents," Feldstein wrote.

Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement that "South Africa's case is about Israel's obligations under the Genocide Convention and puts its conduct in Gaza in sharp focus before the United Nations' highest judicial body."

"South Africa has asked the World Court to issue urgent measures to protect Palestinians in Gaza who face catastrophic living conditions as a result of war crimes carried out by Israeli authorities," Jarrah said.
Home News UN top court orders Israel to 'immediately' halt military offensive in Rafah

The United Nations' top court has ordered Israel to cease an offensive in the Gaza Strip's southern city of Rafah, where the Israeli military believes Hamas leaders and operatives may be hiding.

On Friday, the International Court of Justice, located in the Hague, voted 13 to 2 that Israel "immediately halt its military offensive and any other action in the Rafah governorate."

The court ruled on a case South Africa brought against Israel, accusing the Jewish state of committing genocide. ICJ Vice-President Julia Sebutinde of Uganda and Ad Hoc Judge Aharon Barak of Israel were the two dissenting votes.

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According to the court, Israel must cease operations in Rafah, "which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

Israel must keep "open the Rafah crossing for unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance," the ruling states.

Israel launched an operation in Gaza last October after a surprise attack from Hamas on Oct. 7 resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and the abduction of more than 240 individuals. Israel seeks to eliminate Hamas, the terror group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and secure the release of the hostages.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry claims that over 35,000 people have been killed since the offensive began. However, these numbers do not distinguish between civilians and terrorists.

"The charges of genocide brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in the Hague are false, outrageous and morally repugnant," the head of Israel's National Security Council and the spokesperson for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Friday joint statement.

"Israel has not and will not conduct military actions in the Rafah area which may inflict on the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part," the statement continued. "Israel will continue its efforts to enable humanitarian assistance and will act, in full compliance with the law, to reduce as much as possible harm caused to the civilian population in Gaza."

Israel promised it would continue to enable humanitarian assistance to enter through the Egyptian side of the Gaza border and "prevent terror groups from controlling the passage."

One of the issues with administering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli officials, is that Hamas typically steals it and sells the aid for more than what it's worth on the black market.

Some argue that the ICJ's order was not a total injunction for Israel to stop its operation in Rafah but to limit it so as not to come into violation of the Genocide Convention.

Arsen Ostrovsky, a human rights attorney and CEO of the International Legal Forum, told the Jewish News Syndicate Friday the order's use of the phrase "which may" means the "court did not say Israel must halt entirely and unconditionally."

"Israel, therefore, would be within its rights to contend the proposed operation in Rafah does not inflict that which the court said should not, and therefore continue, perhaps with some modifications and further humanitarian allowance," he said.

The human rights attorney also condemned the ICJ's decision, calling it "another egregious perversion of justice on the path to an irrevocable breakdown of the international legal order that was nothing more than a gift to the murderers and rapists of Hamas."
Home News We are all devastated: US missionary couple killed in Haiti

A young married couple from the United States who were serving as missionaries in Haiti have been murdered by a Haitian gang, according to a report by an Oklahoma-based ministry.

Missions in Haiti, Inc. posted to Facebook around 1:20 a.m. Friday that 23-year-old David Lloyd III and his wife, Natalie, who is the 21-year-old daughter of Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker, were killed along with the mission groups country director, who was simply identified as Jude.

Davy and Natalie and Jude were shot and killed by the gang about 9 o'clock this evening. We all are devastated, the mission group wrote, with the post receiving over 470 comments and more than 580 shares in less than 24 hours.

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In an earlier post on Thursday night, the group explained that when Davy, Natalie and the kids were coming out of a church event they were ambushed by a gang of 3 trucks full of guys.

Davy was taken to the house tied up and beat. The gang then took our trucks and loaded everything up they wanted and left. Another gang came after to see what was going on and if they could help, so they say, explained the Missions in Haiti post.

No one understood what they were doing, not sure what took place but one was shot and killed and now this gang went into full attack mode.

According to the earlier post, the Lloyds and Jude sought safety at a nearby house as gang members continued to open fire after having shot all the windows out of the house.

Their lives are in danger. I have been trying all my contacts to get a police armored car there to evacuate them out to safety but can't get anyone to do, continued the post.

Alicia Lloyd, who founded Missions in Haiti in 2000 alongside her husband, David Lloyd, confirmed the deaths of the young couple to NBC News on Friday, adding that her son had called her during the attack.

Haiti has been experiencing rampant gang rule since July 2021, when President Jovenel Moise was assassinated while pursuing an effort to rewrite the Caribbean nations constitution.

Earlier the year, the situation in Haiti had become so violent that several U.S. missionaries and other American citizens made efforts to flee the country, with many others being stranded.

Structural and conjectural factors have led Haiti to a cataclysmic situation, characterized by deep political instability and extremely fragile institutions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a report released in March.

Corruption, impunity, and poor governance, compounded by increasing levels of gang violence, have eroded the rule of law, and brought State institutions, which should be the basis of a democratic society, close to collapse. The impact of generalized insecurity on the population is dire and keeps on deteriorating.
Home Opinion Is America heading inevitably toward breaking apart?

Is the United States destined for balkanization?

Gab founder Andrew Torba  a prominent advocate of "Woke Right" Christian nationalism  recently made that case, writing that "as the world around us becomes increasingly divided and fragmented, Christians must take proactive steps to prepare for the inevitable balkanization of our society."

"Inevitable?" Why does he believe that it is "absolutely" a done deal that America will break apart into "smaller, ethnically or culturally homogeneous regions?" For Torba, it's bound to happen because of mass immigration and feckless elected representatives, whom he charges with serving the interests of "the Zionists" instead of "the people." After laying out his own ethnic prejudice against Jews, he proceeds to try to kill all hope of a future American melting pot, writing, "Individualism works only in homogeneous societies; it cannot work in a multicultural one."

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This is absurd. Not only does the history of the United States show that individualism can work and has worked in our multicultural society, but it also shows that future balkanization is far from "inevitable."

America has been able to maintain both its identity and its ideals across more than two centuries by adhering to a principle summed up in our Great Seal motto: E pluribus unum, or: "From many, one." Americans always have rejected a balkanization into ethnic tribalism in favor of a philosophical homogeneity that expects all immigrants to assimilate. As Americans, we want immigrants to adopt our republic's values, culture and English language, and millions have done so.

As historian Philip Gleason wrote in the Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups: "To be or to become an American, a person did not have to be any particular national, linguistic, religious or ethnic background, All he had to do was to commit himself to the political ideology centered on the abstract ideals of liberty, equality and republicanism."

This American dream is still a reality. Although the complex realities of mass illegal immigration fueled by radical Leftist politics and the progressives' encouragement of racial animosity do pose huge problems for this nation, everyday experience often tells a different tale about what is still possible in the United States.

Very recently, as I have been considering these issues, I've had conversations with multiple people from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds  all friendly, proud American citizens who love this country for the freedom and opportunity it has afforded them.

One was with a Jewish man I met in a post office line. We had a great discussion about the terrible college riots aimed at Israel and what the future might hold for our great constitutional republic. Days later, I was in the cab of an Eastern European immigrant, now an American citizen, who waxed poetic  in detail that most American-born citizens couldn't articulate  about the particular genius of the U.S. Constitution.

I considered, too, my own childhood, recalling wonderful times with friends from a variety of ethnic backgrounds: Japanese, Egyptian, Filipino, Indian, and Polish. But we never thought anything of our ethnic differences, because we all just saw each other  rightly  as Americans. Contra Torba, we all enjoyed the same privileges of individual liberty, not because we were all Mayflower descendants, but because we were all united fundamentally by our common American principles and values.

Yet the race-based resentment so common among the Christian nationalists of the "Woke Right" seems to be getting worse. Just recently, Torba reposted on X this rant from another man of the same mindset: "Whites are the only ethnic group that does not vote down racial lines. And we're being replaced because of it." This is the kind of rhetoric that actually accelerates the possibility of balkanization.

Torba reposts this deliberate divisiveness in the wake of arguing that balkanization is inevitable, that the "Zionists" are the enemy, and that "we must work to create alternative institutions and systems that are grounded in our Christian worldview." Is this the future that American Christians really seek  a fractured America where Christians are cordoned off on purpose from the millions of other people who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ?

In truth, Torba's anti-"Zionist" and race-based ideology is poisonous both to the continued success of the multicultural American melting pot and, much more importantly, to the Christian worldview.

Faithful Christians understand that our glorious future with our Lord Jesus Christ will not be balkanized. Heaven will be realized as the Body of Christ, both Jew and Gentile, a great multitude of brothers and sisters "from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" (Rev. 7:9-10). Our highest joy will come about eternally not because of our ethnicity, but because of our common faith in Jesus Christ.

Even worse, the balkanization of America is not "inevitable" so much as it is the desired outcome for both the Woke Left and the "Woke Right" Christian nationalists. Torba admits this in his book, Christian Nationalism: A Biblical Guide for Taking Dominion And Discipling Nations when he writes: "Our primary goal is to build a parallel Christian society, economy and infrastructure which will fill the vacuum of the secular state when it falls."

This is not just a capitulation to some unstoppable fracturing of our nation. This is what Torba, and many others on the Woke Right, actively seek. And make no mistake: a balkanized America would be a weaker America, more ripe for the totalitarianism that both sides wish to impose on us. For that reason alone, preserving and working for America's renewed national unity on the bedrock principles of individual freedom and inalienable rights granted by our Creator could not be more important.

No doubt, we face huge challenges from allowing millions of illegal immigrants through the porous border that the Left has created. However, the Christian response to the subversion of the rule of law in our nation is not just to give up, balkanize and surrender America to the Left. Our response has to be to fight back and try to save this republic, by Gods grace. As so many grateful immigrants have reminded us: If America falls, where else is there to go? Unfortunately, fighting to preserve the nation we love is not on the "Woke Right" Christian nationalist agenda. Even within the last few days, many who back this movement have started to accuse normal, patriotic Christians of what they call "Constitution worship." They must not prevail.

The truth is that we've always been a nation of immigrants who successfully came together as Americans and helping new immigrants to understand and embrace the values and culture that made our country great  irrespective of how they arrived here  is more important today than ever. In fact, many immigrants who have fled here from totalitarian states may be just the kind of Americans this country needs and may be especially open to the good news of Jesus Christ. We can respond this way while simultaneously fighting back against and throwing out government officials who wont follow the rule of law.

If we are to maintain the melting-pot pattern that made America great, we cannot allow Woke Right" Christian nationalists such as Torba to derail us with a political gospel of hopelessness and hostility  especially one that is outrageously misplaced underneath a banner of Christianity. Balkanization is a choice, and it is not inevitable.
Home Opinion Is the Pope Catholic?

In a recent "60 Minutes" interview, Pope Francis made remarks that caused both Catholics and Protestants alike to question his allegiance to Catholic teaching and biblical worldview.

The shocking interview, which covered a variety of topics, such as the Ukraine and Russia war, U.S. immigration policy and antisemitism, exposed the Popes radical perspectives on doctrines that have long been cornerstones of Catholic theology, including Saint Augustines teaching on original sin and the Catholic Churchs stance on traditional marriage.

His comments have left many wondering, not only whether the Pope is truly Catholic, but whether hes even a Christian at all.

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Pope Francis, known for his progressive leanings and ties to Karl Marx-inspired liberation theology, seems to be more comfortable with pushing the doctrinal envelope further than any of his predecessors have in the past.

On original sin, he stated, people are fundamentally good. We are all fundamentally good. Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart is good. His position completely contradicts dozens of Scripture verses, including Romans 3:9-12: What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.

A universal recognition of human depravity, or what Saint Augustine first called original sin, has been a pillar of early Church teachings. It holds that man is conceived in a fallen state and sinful from birth, necessitating divine salvation (through faith in Christ) as the only means of escaping eternal judgment. At best, Pope Francis seems to reject church doctrine on the issue, and his answer echoes the early heretical views of Pelagius. At worst, he introduces a universalist religious syncretism to the papacy by disregarding 2,000 years of Christian orthodoxy.

This isn't the first time Francis has steered the papal ship through progressive waters. In 2013, when asked about homosexuality, Francis offered a nonchalant, Who am I to judge? Later, in 2015, Francis released an activist letter, Laudato Si, calling for a radical global dialogue on environmentalism that would make even Greta Thunberg proud.

Then in 2019, the Pope co-signed a document with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, entitled A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which states that religious pluralism is willed by God, despite scriptural evidence to the contrary, such as Paul instructed in 1 Timothy 2:4 that God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

While Franciss apologists suggest hes helping the Church to reimagine, restore and recover forgotten Catholic tradition, true Christ followers see his tenure as a departure of fundamental principles, primary doctrine and cross-centered teachings.

The question "Is the Pope Catholic?" might once have seemed redundant, yet now it provokes a genuine inquiry into Franciss Christian faith. In light of the Catholic Church's teaching of papal supremacy, which allows virtually no path to remove a rogue Pope involuntarily, Catholics remain in a very uncomfortable position, forced to choose between a progressive activist Pope and an allegiance to Christs teachings.



For Christians outside of the Catholic Church, all we can do is offer our prayers that internal reforms will help guide the Church back to biblical orthodoxy.
Home Opinion Transgender patients deserve compassionate care  surgery doesn't cut it

Should state-run healthcare plans be required to cover transgender procedures? The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that they should, while the states of West Virginia and North Carolina argued their decision not to cover these procedures was rooted in legitimate government interests. If the ruling stands, then West Virginia and North Carolina taxpayers will be made to foot the bill for transgender procedures.

The courts decision was based in part on the premise that gender transition procedures are medically necessary. If thats true, then it really is in the government's best interest to cover these procedures. But it isnt, and taxpayers should not be on the hook for funding them.

For a procedure to be medically necessary, it must be needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease or its symptoms, and it must meet accepted standards of medicine. While there are loads of studies claiming gender-affirming care is associated with better mental health outcomes, a groundbreaking report out of the UK suggests these studies are flawed.

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Last month, Dr. Hilary Cass, a British doctor and former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics, released a report uncovering how previous research supporting the gender transition procedures was of low quality and was built on "shaky" foundations. Simply put, if Cass is right, then theres no good evidence to support the claim that gender surgeries are needed to treat gender dysphoria.

And Cass is not alone in the medical community. Last summer, physicians from nine European countries signed a letter stating that the emerging medical opinion that gender-affirming care improves the well-being of transgender and gender-diverse people and reduces the risk of suicide isnt backed by good evidence. In fact, many people who have undergone gender transition surgeries have done so because they had autism or bipolar disorder, felt uncomfortable with being gay or lesbian, or experienced severe sexual abuse or assault and wanted to escape the body they were in.

Instead of alleviating these underlying factors through traditional medicine or therapy, doctors and therapists allowed their patients to transition, which does not permanently heal their wounds. Tragically, 10 to 15 years after gender transition surgeries, the suicide rate of those who had undergone the surgery rose to 20 times that of comparable peers.

Aside from a lack of good evidence that transgender procedures like hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery are necessary to treat conditions, there are also documented risks of harm and irreversible consequences.

Puberty blockers and hormones carry a significant risk of decreased bone density, stunted growth and infertility, especially when given to children. Those who undergo gender transition surgeries permanently lose certain organs, as well as face risks associated with silicone injections, and a higher risk of certain cancers. Those pushing for gender transition surgeries also leave out the devastating stories of people who underwent these procedures as children, only to profoundly regret them later.

West Virginia and North Carolina were right in arguing that not covering these procedures is in the governments best interest. It is not in the governments best interest to fund costly, experimental procedures that have a shaky success rate at best, and worse, a well-documented track record of causing immense harm.

Whats more, taxpayers across the country should not be on the hook to pay for these procedures. Theres strong legal precedent for protecting entities from covering or performing certain controversial procedures, including abortions, sterilizations, or assisted suicide. Gender reassignment surgery should be no different. The court should not have the authority to compel these states to do so.

People struggling with their gender identity deserve medical care that makes them whole. Pushing them toward ineffective, permanent procedures they may regret later is uncaring and immoral. Given the complete lack of legitimate government interest and medical necessity of these transition surgeries, West Virginia and North Carolina should appeal the case and protect both taxpayers and patients from the medical and financial consequences of these treatments.
Christian politician facing trial again for Bible tweet submits defence to Finland's Supreme Court

(CP) Finnish Christian parliamentarian Paivi Rasanen has submitted her defence 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 defence 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 defence submission states.

According to a statement from her lawyers at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, the defence 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 honour 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 defence 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."

 The Christian Post
Three United States troops were hurt in an aid operation on Thursday at the Gaza Pier, with one requiring medical evacuation to Israel.

This marks the first time US service members have been injured in the operation to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians from a pier off the coast of Gaza.

The three service members sustained noncombat-related incidents at sea, said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command.

"Three injuries-two were very minor injuries-and those individuals returned to duty. One individual is undergoing care at a local Israeli hospital," Cooper disclosed during a Thursday press call.

Cooper added that the two with minor injuries suffered a sprained ankle and a back injury, and both had returned to duty, according to The Hill.

Earlier this month, the U.S. military completed a pier off the coast of Gaza as part of a maritime corridor to provide aid to the besieged territory.

The corridor begins in Cyprus, where international humanitarian groups and donor countries send aid to a U.S.-built floating dock located 2 miles off the Gaza coast.

In its first week of operation, the pier facilitated the delivery of over 1.2 million pounds of aid to Palestinians, said US officials;

However, they emphasized that the maritime corridor, while essential, does not fully meet Gaza's "staggering needs" and cannot replace land crossings.

The pier has faced several complications, including delays in securing it to the coast due to bad weather, and at least one truck has been looted.

A Hamas drone attack miles away from the pier also caused a halt in aid convoy movements.
'Heartfelt and sober apology' over behaviour of Pioneer founder Gerald Coates

The Pioneer church network has issued a "heartfelt and sober apology" after an independent review concluded that late founder Gerald Coates' behaviour had fallen "significantly short of expected standards at the time".

Over 30 individuals participated in the review, led by Christian Safeguarding Services (CSS), into the conduct of Coates, who died in 2022.

The review was launched after concerns were raised about his behaviour following his death.

It found a "consistent pattern of behaviour that falls significantly short of expected standards at the time", and said that personal boundaries were not respected.

Accounts from some participants in the review detailed "harmful experiences" and the report said that "some individuals appear to have been harmed emotionally, psychologically and spiritually, and attribute that to their contact with [Coates] and / or [Pioneer Trust]".

According to the report, concerns related to public prayer and prophecy over young men, most of whom were in their late teens to mid-twenties, and attempts by Coates to contact them after these public events.

"It is important to note that the concern was not that [Coates] was behaving in a sexually inappropriate way, but rather that his conduct did not meet the standards expected at the time, that he was not respecting personal boundaries, and that his behaviour could be misunderstood as having a sexual motivation," the report said.

Particularly "concerning" was the "intensity and duration" of the prophecy and prayer times, which it was felt was "not in line with expectations", and the use of a "holy kiss" on the cheeck "which is not common in UK culture; particularly so when interacting with someone previously unknown to an individual".

Attempts to contact the young men would be done under the guise of offering spiritual mentorship. In some cases, Coates would attempt to contact young men through social media that he had never met in person.

"Once contact had been established, he would start very quickly to question them about their use of pornography, masturbation etc. He would ask detailed questions about the type of pornography and about their accompanying sexual activity," the report said.

"This would happen without invitation in a conversation that the young man believed related to the prophetic word that they had previously been given.

"On some occasions, Gerald apparently approached people indicating that he could be a father figure to them and that he believed God had called him to this."

While most of the reports concerned young adults, there were two or "possibly three as the age of one is unclear" who were in their mid-teens and one who was aged 12 to 13, who it appears was contacted directly by Coates via social media.

The report said: "This behaviour would, both now and at the time that it occurred, be regarded as a safeguarding concern that should have been raised with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)."

It notes that in light of his death, "it is impossible to judge motives and intentions" and that "particular care must be taken given that [Coates'] voice could not be heard".

Concerns about Coates' conduct were reported to Thirtyone:eight and the Pioneer Trust did act on the advice received, which led to Coates modifying his behaviour "to some degree".

"However, overall, the interventions were not as effective as would have been hoped," the report said.

In light of the findings, Ness Wilson, leader of Pioneer's National Leadership Team, and Steve Clifford, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said they accepted the report and its findings, and apologised.

"The review confirmed some things we already knew and revealed some things we didn't know, providing a much fuller picture for us," they said.

"We wanted the review to help us listen and learn. CSS heard from over 30 individuals, most of whom reported being hurt and harmed by inappropriate and damaging ministry practices through their contact with Pioneer.

"To those respondents we want to thank them for their bravery in telling their stories and offer a heartfelt and sober apology. We are so sorry.

"We hope that having your story heard, believed, and validated  together with this apology and a commitment to implementing the report's recommendations  goes some way towards a measure of healing."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, Thirtyone:eight's safeguarding helpline can be contacted 9am  5pm, Monday  Friday on 0303 003 1111.
Losing faith in our police

When I rang Northamptonshire Police about the allegation that one of their officers had threatened to disrupt a committee meeting of democratically elected local councillors, a recorded message told callers that they may be asked about their "protected characteristics" under the Equality Act.

Christian Concern's legal arm is supporting a complaint by Conservative councillor Anthony Stevens to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about the alleged behaviour of Northants police officers.

Christian Concern said on May 20 that the complaint launched by Cllr Stevens, 51, from Wellingborough, called for an investigation into the "methods, motives and conduct" of officers at Northamptonshire police.

"The evidence included a series of incidents where officers openly stated that they wanted to 'remove' Cllr Stevens as an elected councillor because of his free speech beliefs," the organisation said.

"The story involves arrests, interrogations, media censorship, and collusion between police officers and Labour party activists."

The Mail on Sunday had already broken the story of the IOPC complaint a day earlier: "Anthony Stevens, a Conservative councillor in Northamptonshire, was arrested last year after posting an image from a video  first revealed by The Mail on Sunday  of a Christian preacher having his bible wrested off him by police in the street.

"The father of two was held for nine hours, during which he was also quizzed about his online support of another politician (King Lawal, a Conservative member of North Northamptonshire Unitary Council) who criticised gay pride events. Mr Stevens, 51, a member of Wellingborough Town Council, was released and later told that no further action would be taken against him."

The paper went on to report that days before Mr Stevens was arrested, a Northamptonshire Police detective phoned the former local Tory mayor for Wellingborough, Jonathan Ekins, and allegedly told him Mr Stevens should be "removed" as a councillor "because of his views".

In a statement to the IOPC, Mr Ekins claimed that Detective Constable Amelia Thompson had told him Mr Stevens was about to be arrested "for a serious offence".

In a later call, it was alleged that Mr Stevens had breached his bail conditions by attending a council committee meeting at the same time as a Labour councillor who had complained about his tweets. Mr Ekins says he was told that if Mr Stevens were to turn up at another meeting attended by the Labour councillor, he would be arrested "on the spot".

Mr Ekins said: "My response was, rightly, to remind DC Thompson that she would be welcome to try but that, as chair of the committee, I have the right to...instruct security officials to remove the police for public disruption of a democratically constituted meeting."

A Northants police spokeswoman sent me the same statement she gave The MoS: "This investigation is subject to a live complaint and until that matter is concluded, we are unable to comment further."

I asked her whether an officer would be suspended if he or she had been accused of threatening to disrupt a Stonewall meeting. She said quite reasonably that complaints are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. But let's imagine for a moment that this had happened and that a complaint against an officer had subsequently come from an LGBT group. Can any objective journalist seriously doubt that this would result in an immediate suspension in any UK police force?

Northants police may be more blatantly politically correct than most forces with its upfront message about "protected characteristics" under the Equality Act, but the recent behaviour of many police officers around the country surely indicates how far forces have departed from Peelite principles, which were ethically Christian in character.

It is well worth reading historian Norman Gash's description of Robert Peel's founding of the Metropolitan Police as Home Secretary in 1829, especially in view of the decision by police forces to allow antisemitic marches around the country since the October 2023 Hamas terror atrocity in Israel. The extract below may also strike a chord with victims of the police pampering of eco-fanatics that has prevented law-abiding members of the public from getting to work and elsewhere:

"On the evening of 29 September 1829 Londoners saw the new Metropolitan Police, in their blue uniforms and iron-framed top hats, on their beats for the first time. They were inevitably objects of interest and, with some sections of the public, of outright hostility...Once the early difficulties and unpopularity were over, the respect and trust which the London police won from the public was proof of the value of the 'preventive' principle just as the nickname of 'Bobby' or 'Peeler' was a tribute to the man who was the founder of the force. From being a hated and 'un-English' importation, the Bobby on the beat by the early Victorian period had been accepted half-humorously, half-affectionately as a British institution, an instantly identifiable figure in the mythology of popular jokes, cartoons, and street ballads" (Peel, Longman, 1976).

Commenting on the complaint against Northamptonshire Police, Christian Concern chief executive, Andrea Minichiello Williams, summed up why the organisation is supporting Cllr Stevens: "The idea of the police storming and arresting a councillor during a planning committee meeting is farcical, but in this case it was a genuine and real threat and therefore terrifying for those involved. Be assured that if this is happening in Northampton, it will be happening in other parts of the country. The culture being set in the police force needs to change."

Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire.
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From left, Romy Marlo Ellis, owner of Crush Coffee Co.; Jenni Ritchie, owner of Superior Bakes; and Andrea Mulligan, the owner of Sleeping Giant Brewing Company have partnered together to operate a branch of their businesses in one collaborative space at the Thunder Bay Country Market. They will be on hand for their opening at the market today.
Police have charged high school student Edan On, 18, with felony following attacks against UCLA pro-Palestinian protesters.

In late April, a group of masked individuals stormed the UCLA campus at night and violently attacked a Gaza solidarity encampment.

They hurled fireworks, beat students, and attacked staff and student journalists, while law enforcement and campus security guards failed to intervene for hours.

The attack provoked outrage and led to intense criticism of the university, its leadership, and the campus police department.

Edan On was taken into custody by UCLA police on Thursday on a felony charge, making him the first known arrest among those involved in the attack.

The 18-year-old is currently being held in a Los Angeles jail on $30,000 bail, according to The Guardian.

On was first identified by CNN.

Videos appear to show the high school senior, wearing a white mask and hoodie, throwing objects into the encampment and assaulting pro-Palestinian demonstrators with a wooden pole.

The outlet also reported that his mother had bragged about his role in the attack on Facebook but later denied that he had been present.

"UCLA police department detectives conducted an investigation that included interviewing victims, speaking with witnesses, and reviewing security camera footage and publicly available videos from members of the public and the media," the department said.

Adding to that, they are "committed to investigating" all violence reported on campus during the protests and counter-protests and identifying perpetrators.

Meanwhile, UCLA is still dealing with the protests and their aftermath. Following the vicious attack, law enforcement dismantled the pro-Palestinian encampment, arresting hundreds of individuals.
WASHINGTON  Civil unrest, crime and potential for acts of terrorism have prompted the U.S. government to warn travelers that they should not go to Venezuela.

The U.S. State Department recently completed a review of previous warnings about the South American nation. This month it issued a Level 4 warning  its highest warning level.

The country is home to Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, and has the longest coastline of any nation on the Caribbean Sea. But U.S. travel to there has been on the decline for a decade.

Previously: U.S. issues travel warning for major European country over fears of terrorist activity

The number of U.S. travelers annually to Venezuela peaked in 2013, the year Nicolas Maduro assumed the presidency, according to data from Statista. That year, more than 815,000 Americans visited the country.

After six years, the totals had declined to just 400,000 for 2019. In 2020 the total plunged to just over 87,000 visitors.

U.S. visitors increased in 2021 and 2022, the two most current years available. Annual totals for those years were about 221,000 and 214,000, respectively.

Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela, the State Department said. Political rallies and demonstrations against Maduro have been met with 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.

Basic necessities, such as water, medicine, medical supplies, electricity and gasoline, often are in short supply.

The State Department warns that it has determined there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Venezuela. Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years, and the U.S. government is not generally notified of the detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela or granted access to U.S. citizen prisoners there.

The U.S. government has no ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela, the State Department 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.
Lawyers for Donald Trump have fired off cease-and-desist letters to shut down a caustic biopic on the former president.

The letters warn filmmakers against pursuing a distribution deal in an effort to block its U.S. sale and release, Variety reported.

"The Apprentice," which explores Trump's early years as a real estate developer and his relationship with Roy Cohn, aide to notorious "Commie-hunter" Wisconsin Sen. Joe McCarthy, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival early this week.

In a statement addressing the cease-and-desist letters, the film's producers insisted that the film is a "fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide."

The independently produced movie stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and "Succession's" Jeremy Strong as Cohn.

It paints a damning portrait of the former president as an ethically compromised philanderer who stiffed contractors and made deals with the mob to complete his buildings.

The film also controversially depicts Trump raping his first wife, Ivana, and shows him abusing amphetamines to lose weight, as well as undergoing liposuction and plastic surgery. The actual Ivana Trump accused Donald Trump of raping her at their home in a 1989 divorce deposition. She later denied the claim, saying in 2015 it was "totally without merit."

Trump's camp responded with a sharp note, threatening legal action.

Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director, called the film "pure malicious defamation" adding that it "should not see the light of day ... it belongs in a dumpster fire."

The movie, directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, features a script by Gabriel Sherman, a journalist who covered the Trump administration.

During a Cannes press conference for the film, Abbasi noted Trump's legal threats.

"Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people; they don't talk about his success rate, though, you know?" he said.

Abbasi even offered to screen the movie for Trump, noting: "I don't necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and former President Donald J. Trump attend a security briefing with state officials and law enforcement at the Weslaco Department of Public Safety DPS Headquarters before touring the US-Mexico border wall on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 in Weslaco, TX.

Abraham George is about to take the helm of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) at a time with the influential state-level political organization is casting aside its longstanding alliance with corporate America.

In its place, the RPT is embracing an anti-corporate, anti-elite populist agenda that is on the rise among Republicans across the country in the Trump era.

The annual Texas Republican Convention started Thursday in San Antonio, and culminated with George's election as party chair. The event has long featured lucrative corporate sponsorships by Fortune 500 companies. But this year, the names of its biggest past sponsors were missing from the banners and agendas.

Verizon , Comcast and Union Pacific sponsored the 2020 Texas Republican convention, according to The Texas Tribune. But they are not listed as supporters this year.

Pepsi and Chevron were sponsors of the 2022 Texas Republican convention, but they are not backing this year's event.

Spokespeople for Verizon, Comcast, Pepsi and Chevron did not reply to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Union Pacific said only that the company's "political giving is bipartisan and publicly disclosed in accordance with state and federal laws."

The fight over corporate money also bubbled up in the election that George won on Friday, to lead the state party.

Veteran Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak was among the group of candidates vying to be the next state GOP chair. In a memo declaring his candidacy, Mackowiak lamented that the "party's corporate fundraising is virtually nonexistent."

Griffin Perry, a Texas businessman and son of Republican former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, said earlier this week that it's time for the party to shift back to working with corporations.

"The next chair needs work with our corporations," Perry told CNBC. "There's no reason the Republican Party of Texas should not have corporate support."

As for the lack of corporate sponsorship this year, Perry blamed the leadership team that was replaced on Friday. This team "wears that as a badge of honor," he said, before the new chair of the state party was elected.
Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman will support Donald Trump as the former U.S. president seeks to return to the White House, Axios reported on Friday.

Schwarzman, one of the biggest political donors on Wall Street, plans to donate to Trump and various Republican Senate candidates, the report said, citing a statement from the investment management company's CEO.

Long viewed as a Trump ally, Schwarzman had announced in 2022 he would not back the former president, saying it was time for the Republican Party to turn to a new generation of leaders. He did not back any candidate in this year's nominating contests.

But concerns about economic, immigration and foreign policies under Democratic President Joe Biden, along with "the dramatic rise of antisemitism" in the country, drove his decision to endorse Trump, Schwarzman said in the statement.

Before Friday's report, Schwarzman had in March donated $375,000 to Buckeye Values, a super PAC supporting Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno which subsequently staged Trump rallies, campaign finance records show.

Blackstone did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Dr. Joshua Bederson places Precision Neuroscience's electrodes onto a brain. Ashley Capoot

As the lights dimmed in an operating room at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, Dr. Joshua Bederson prepared to make history. Bederson, system chair for the Department of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Health System, is no stranger to long hours in an operating room. The former competitive gymnast has completed more than 6,500 procedures in his career, and he said he visualizes the steps for each one as if he's rehearsing for a routine. On this particular morning in April, Bederson was readying for a meningioma resection case, which meant he would be removing a benign brain tumor. Bederson said his primary focus is always on caring for the patient, but in some cases, he also gets to help advance science. This procedure was one such case. A small crowd gathered as Bederson took his seat in the operating room, his silhouette aglow from the bright white light shining on the patient in front of him. Health-care workers, scientists and CNBC craned forward  some peering through windows  to watch as Bederson placed four electrode arrays from Precision Neuroscience onto the surface of the patient's brain for the first time. An electrode is a small sensor that can detect and carry an electrical signal, and an array is a grid of electrodes. Neurosurgeons use electrodes during some procedures to help monitor and avoid important parts of the brain, like areas that control speech and movement. Precision is a three-year-old startup building a brain-computer interface, or a BCI. A BCI is a system that decodes neural signals and translates them into commands for external technologies. Perhaps the best-known company in the field is Neuralink, which is owned by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Other companies like Synchron and Paradromics have also developed BCI systems, though their goals and designs all vary. The first application of Precision's system will be to help patients with severe paralysis restore functions like speech and movement, according to its website.

Stephanie Rider of Precision Neuroscience inspects the company's microelectrode array Source: Precision Neuroscience

Precision's flagship BCI is called the Layer 7 Cortical Interface. It's a microelectrode array that's thinner than a human hair, and it resembles a piece of yellow scotch tape. Each array is made up of 1,024 electrodes, and Precision says it can conform to the brain's surface without damaging any tissue. When Bederson used four of the company's arrays during the surgery in April, he set a record for the highest number of electrodes to be placed on the brain in real-time, according to Precision. But perhaps more importantly, the arrays were able to detect signals from the patient's individual fingers, which is a far greater amount of detail than standard electrodes are able to capture. Using Precision's electrode array is like turning a pixilated, low-resolution image into a 4K image, said Ignacio Saez, an associate professor of neuroscience, neurosurgery and neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Saez and his team oversee Precision's work with Mount Sinai. "Instead of having 10 electrodes, you're giving me 1,000 electrodes," Saez told CNBC in an interview. "The depth and the resolution and the detail that you're going to get are completely different, even though they somehow reflect the same underlying neurological activity." Bederson said accessing this level of detail could help doctors be more delicate with their surgeries and other interventions in the future. For Precision, the ability to record and decode signals from individual fingers will be crucial as the company works to eventually help patients restore fine motor control. The data marks a milestone for Precision, but there's a long road ahead before it achieves some of its loftier goals. The company is still working toward approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and it has yet to implant a patient with a more permanent version of its technology. "I think these are little baby steps towards the ultimate goal of brain-computer interface," Bederson told CNBC in an interview. Inside the operating room

Dr. Joshua Bederson prepares for surgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Ashley Capoot

Bederson's surgery in April was not Precision's first rodeo. In fact, it marked the 14th time that the company has placed its array on a human patient's brain. Precision has been partnering with academic medical centers and health systems to perform a series of first-in-human clinical studies. The goal of each study varies, and the company announced its collaboration with Mount Sinai in March. At Mount Sinai, Precision is exploring different applications for its array in clinical settings, like how it can be used to help monitor the brain during surgery. In these procedures, surgeons like Bederson temporarily place Precision's array onto patients who are already undergoing brain surgery for a medical reason. Patients give their consent to participate beforehand. It's routine for neurosurgeons to map brain signals with electrodes during these types of procedures. Bederson said the current accepted practice is to use anywhere between four to almost 100 electrodes  a far cry from the 4,096 electrodes he was preparing to test.

Electrode arrays from Precision Neuroscience displayed on a table. Ashley Capoot

Precision's arrays are in use for a short portion of these surgeries, so CNBC joined the operating room in April once the procedure was already underway. The patient, who asked to remain anonymous, was asleep. Bederson's team had already removed part of their skull, which left an opening about the size of a credit card. Four of Precision's arrays were carefully laid out on a table nearby. Once the patient was stabilized, Precision's employees trickled into the operating room. They helped affix the arrays in an arc around the opening on the patient's head, and connected bundles of long blue wires at the other end to a cart full of equipment and monitors. Dr. Benjamin Rapoport, Precision's co-founder and chief scientific officer, quietly looked on. Every major procedure presents some risks, but the soft-spoken neurosurgeons calm demeanor never wavered. He told CNBC that each new case is just as exciting as the last, especially since the company is still learning.

Experts help set up the wiring for Precision Neuroscience's technology. Ashley Capoot

Bederson entered the operating room as Precision's preparations neared their end. He helped make some final tweaks to the set up, and the overhead lights in the operating room were turned off. Ongoing chatter quieted to hushed whispers. Bederson was ready to get started. He began by carefully pulling back a fibrous membrane called the dura to reveal the surface of the brain. He laid a standard strip of electrodes onto the tissue for a few minutes, and then it was time to test Precision's technology. Using a pair of yellow tweezers called long bayonet forceps, Bederson began placing all four of Precision's electrode arrays onto the patient's brain. He positioned the first two arrays with ease, but the last two proved slightly more challenging. Bederson was working with a small section of brain tissue, which meant the arrays needed to be angled just right to lay flat. For reference, imagine arranging the ends of four separate tape measures within a surface area roughly the size of a rubber band. It took a little reconfiguring, but after a couple of minutes, Bederson made it happen. Real-time renderings of the patient's brain activity swept across Precision's monitors in the operating room. All four arrays were working. In an interview after the surgery, Bederson said it was "complicated" and "a little bit awkward" to place all four arrays at once. From a design perspective, he said two arrays with twice as many points of contact, or longer arrays with greater spacing would have been helpful. Bederson compared the arrays to spaghetti, and the description was apt. From where CNBC was watching, it was hard to tell where one stopped and the next began. Once all the arrays were placed and actively detecting signals, Precision's Rapoport stood with his team by the monitors to help oversee data collection. He said the research is the product of a true team effort from the company, the health system and the patient, who often doesn't get to see the benefits of the technology at this stage. "It takes a village to make this sort of thing move forward," Rapoport said. CNBC left the operating room as Bederson began removing the tumor, but he said the case went well. The patient woke up afterward with some weakness in their foot since the surgery was within that part of the brain, but Bederson said he expected the foot would recover in around three to four weeks.

Employees from Precision Neuroscience collecting data. Ashley Capoot

Rapoport was present at this particular surgery because of his role with Precision, but he's well acquainted with the operating rooms at Mount Sinai. Rapoport is a practicing surgeon and serves as an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Rapoport reports to Bederson, and Bederson said the pair have known one another since Rapoport was in residency at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Thomas Oxley, the CEO of the competing BCI company Synchron, is also a faculty member under Bederson. Synchron has built a stent-like BCI that can be inserted through a patient's blood vessels. As of early February, the company had implanted its system into 10 human patients. It is also working toward FDA approval. Bederson has an equity stake in Synchron, but he told CNBC he didn't realize how much it would prevent him from participating in research with the Synchron team. He has no monetary investment in Precision. "I really did not want to have any financial interest in Precision because I think it has an equally promising future and wanted to advance the science as fast as I could," Bederson said. Rapoport also helped co-found Musk's Neuralink in 2017, though he departed the company the following year. Neuralink is building a BCI designed to be inserted directly into the brain tissue, and the company recently received approval to implant its second human patient, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal on Monday. As the BCI industry heats up, Bederson said the amount that scientists understand about the brain is poised to "explode" over the next several years. Companies like Precision are just getting started.

Dr. Joshua Bederson helps set up Precision Neuroscience's electrode arrays. Ashley Capoot
Former President Donald Trump looks on before the start of trial at the Manhattan Criminal Court during trial in New York City May 20, 2024.

Prosecutors in Donald Trump's classified documents case in Florida asked a federal judge on Friday to block the former president from making public statements that pose "a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents" investigating and prosecuting the case.

The request to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing the case, comes after the former president this week falsely claimed in a Truth Social post that the Biden administration "AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO USE DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE" in its 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents. The Trump campaign also claimed in a fundraising email that President Joe Biden was "locked & loaded ready to take me out" during a search of his Mar-a-Lago property for classified documents.

Prosecutors in special counsel Jack Smith's office said in their court filing that agents acted "in an appropriate and professional manner, subject to the Department of Justice's standard use-of-force policy" and argued that Trump's claims posed a threat to law enforcement agents.

"Trump's repeated mischaracterization of these facts in widely distributed messages as an attempt to kill him, his family, and Secret Service agents has endangered law enforcement officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case and threatened the integrity of these proceedings," prosecutors wrote. "A restriction prohibiting future similar statements should therefore be modified to prohibit similar communications going forward."

In making the allegations, Trump and his campaign appeared to be citing recently unsealed court filings related to the 2022 search. The filings showed the judge overseeing the case at the time questioned how the former president could not have noticed that he had highly sensitive documents in his bedroom.

Trump was in New Jersey when the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago, his home in Palm Beach, Florida.

"As Trump is well aware," prosecutors noted in Friday's filing, the FBI "took extraordinary care to execute the search warrant unobtrusively and without needless confrontation," and scheduled the search for a time when the former president and his family would be away.

Prosecutors said that Trump's attorneys objected to their motion, as well as its timing.

Prosecutors' request is for modification of Trump's conditions of release, which is different from a gag order.

When the former president was indicted, the bond ensured that his continued release was dependent on his compliance with certain terms.

In making the request, prosecutors are asking for Trump to face higher stakes if he makes statements that the court finds endangers law enforcement.

Attorneys for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday night, but a campaign spokesperson said in an email that "Crooked Joe Biden and his Hacks and Thugs are obsessed with trying to deprive President Trump and all American voters of their First Amendment rights."

"Repeated attempts to silence President Trump during the presidential campaign are blatant attempts to interfere in the election," campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote. "They are last ditch efforts of desperate Democrat Radicals running a losing campaign for a failed president."

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday rejected Trump's claim about the authorized use of deadly force during the search, calling the allegation "false" and "extremely dangerous," during a news conference.

In a rare statement days earlier, after Trump's initial claims, the FBI also said that it had "followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants" and that no additional steps had been ordered for Mar-a-Lago.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges that he willfully retained national defense information in connection with classified documents that were uncovered at his Florida estate after he left office and that he ordered a Mar-a-Lago staffer to delete security video at the property. The trial has been indefinitely postponed.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen attends an interview with Reuters Editor in Chief Alessandra Galloni in Washington, U.S., April 25, 2024.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday that she does not see "any showstoppers" in her discussions with fellow G7 finance ministers about a larger loan to Ukraine backed by the income of frozen Russian sovereign assets.

Yellen told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a G7 finance leaders meeting that not all of the technical details of the loan proposal need to be worked out this weekend.

"I think things look pretty good," for agreeing on the concept of the loan, Yellen said after several bilateral meetings on the first day of the two-day finance summit in the northern Italian resort town of Stresa.

"I've not seen anything I regard as a show stopper, but there are some issues that we need to be sorted out and people will have to be flexible to reach common ground," Yellen said.

The U.S. Treasury chief has been pushing her counterparts in the talks to agree to pull forward the earnings on some $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets to back a larger loan for Ukraine.

But it has become clear that no firm details of the loan will emerge from the Stresa talks.

"I'm pretty hopeful we can essentially agree that this is a concept we can work out somewhat more over the next couple of weeks and present to the leaders for their consideration in June."

G7 leaders are due to meet next month in Puglia, southern Italy. The group of industrial democracies includes the U.S., Japan, Germany, France, Britain and Italy.

Yellen also told Reuters that there are a "range of views" among G7 finance ministers on the level of concern about China's industrial overcapacity, which she argues threatens the viability of firms in market-driven economies.

On the G7 meeting's first day , some ministers expressed concerns about a potential trade war in the wake of new U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, but the finance ministers of Germany, France and hosts Italy said a common front was needed against China's growing export strength.

"I think there is a general view that we should express a common set of concerns to China," she said. "It's that China's overall macroeconomic strategy is worrisome and has negative spillovers."
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Arizona's secretary of state has attacked rising threats against U.S. election officials as domestic terrorism.

"Terrorism is defined as a threat of violence for a political outcome," Adrian Fontes said in remarks recorded for an upcoming episisode of NBC's Meet the Press that were obtained by the Guardian.

"That's what this is, and ... we do have to address it for what it is," Fontes added.

He shared his view during a panel discussin by top election officials from pivotal states, where voters will decide in November whether Joe Biden serves a second term in the White House or Donald Trump returns to the presidency.

In Arizona's largest county, Maricopa, election officials have implemented extensive measures to safeguard staff and ballot counting.

Workers face a relentless barrage of hateful and threatening messages daily via email and social media, fueled by false claims from Trump and his Republican supporters that Biden and Democrats fraudulently won the 2020 presidential election.

Fontes, whose state is battleground territory in the upcoming election, expressed optimism that the Justice Department is ramping up efforts to prosecute threats against election officials.

In March, a Massachusetts man who threatened to blow up Fontes' office in 2021 received more than a three-year prison sentence, one of the most severe federal punishments yet for threats against ballot workers.

"We're collaborating with law enforcement across the country to address these issues," Fontes emphasized.
Why is north at the top of maps? It seems like an arbitrary choice. Youll sometimes see the map of a building or a theme park oriented so some direction other than north is at the top, but with larger maps, north at the top is standard.

Some people think this is about northern countries trying to emphasize their own importance, but thats not the whole story. For a long time, northern countries placed east at the top, and in fact the very word orientate means face the east. Find out the real explanation below, along with a suggestion about what you can do with your pet bear.

15 Attack of the Munchies A Popeyes employee last year got a little indiscreet when it came to his drug dealing. He worked the drive-through and passed his phone number to anyone who came by smelling of weed. Things then went a little too far when he shot one customer (unsuccessfully) seven times.

14 Damn Dirty Apes In Ethiopia, monkeys have domesticated wolves to kill for them. These primates make use of the stronger, dumber animals, a relationship we thought only humans were capable of forging.

13 Fax and Logic Faxes are so rare that theyre automatically assumed to be legit. When a Kentucky prison received one demanding that they release an inmate, they accepted it as binding, even though it was full of grammatical mistakes  and had been sent by the inmates associates from a nearby grocery store.

12 Ghost Plane The F-16s flight computer had a dangerous bug at one point. The plane flipped with acceleration so strong that the plane could bear it but the human body could not. Then, it was programmed to continue flying, upside-down and containing a corpse, forever. Thankfully, this was caught during a simulation. Advertisement Advertisement

11 Pre-Botox In the 1890s, you could buy the following device, which promised spot reduction on your chin. The chin reducer, which did not work, cost only $10. Thats around $350 today. You just dont get many ads offering effacement nowadays

10 Then One Foggy Christmas Eve After they finished making the 1964 special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, an employee took the puppets home. They stayed in storage for 40 years, till the employees nephew found them  and brought them to Antiques Roadshow to get appraised. Advertisement Advertisement

9 Classic Dad Joke Spare a thought for Greg Gingrich who visited the Grand Canyon with his daughter in 1992. As a joke, he pretended to lose his balance and fall off the edge. He slipped in the wrong direction and actually fell off the edge and died.

8 Choking on Poop If you keep a bunch of birds as pets, that may not be the best for your health. Youre bound to inhale enough poop particles to gain a little hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a condition referred to as bird-fanciers lung. Advertisement Advertisement

7 Laziness Is a Virtue Making your bed may look tidy, but it doesnt really keep your bed clean. Tightening bedclothes traps moisture and allows mites to flourish, something far less possible in an unmade bed.

6 The Mouse Myth The stereotype that mice love cheese goes back thousands of years. We have a Roman philosopher writing about a mouse eating cheese back in the first century, as part of a letter on the subject of logic. And yet, mice do not really have any special taste for cheese and are no more attracted to it than to any other food. Marcus Ganahl Peanut butter is a much better bait. Advertisement Advertisement

5 Customer Retention A company from Delaware, a manufacturer of analytical glassware, received some unwanted attention thanks to the rise of the internet. Reluctantly, they changed their branding. Up till this point, they had been known as Analtech.

4 The Inner Bomb After an explosion, you can be poisoned by your own body. You may experience traumatic rhabdomyolysis, in which your muscles get starved of oxygen, they fill your blood with bad stuff and this shuts down your kidneys. Advertisement Advertisement

3 Disorientation People started drawing maps with north at the top because of compasses. A compass needles two ends point north and south, so the map should put one of those on top, so you can navigate with a map and compass. The reason mapmakers picked north rather than south is because they also navigated with the North Star.

2 Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Before crash test dummies, we had crash test bears. Live animals were considered more ethical than human cadavers, since no human consented to this test before dying. We eventually stopped using bears because we figured wed extracted all the data from them that we could. Advertisement Advertisement
The latest example of big tech shoehorning A.I. into a pre-existing product to the benefit of precisely no one comes from Google, the company that revolutionized the internet but forever ruined Owen Wilson-Vince Vaughan comedies.

As Wired notes, Googles new A.I. Overviews feature means that some of your Google search queries will prompt an A.I.-generated summary that is culled from information on the web and listed at the top of the results page. This gives users an easy way to get the information they need without having to go to the trouble of wading through multiple sources, clicking buttons or activating a single neuron in their brain.

But it wasnt long before people were reporting that Googles A.I. Overviews were providing terrible feedback. How terrible? Well, it suggested keeping your homemade pizzas intact by adding glue to the cheese. Specifically you should Mix about 1/8 cup of Elmers glue in with the sauce. Non-toxic glue will work. Did we mention that Google A.I.s slogan is Making A.I. Helpful for Everyone?

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We probably dont have to tell you that, unless youre looking for an excuse to check out your local emergency room, adding glue to pizza cheese isnt a good idea. So where did the A.I. get this ridiculous idea? Seemingly, their primary source was a Reddit comment from a user named fucksmith.

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In all fairness to fucksmith, they cant be blamed for every janky result, like when A.I. Overviews extolled the various health benefits of tobacco for tweens, which included whitening teeth.

A massive issue with this terrible invention seems to be that it doesnt recognize humor, a problem that was made very clear by how it keeps parroting satirical headlines from The Onion as fact. As The Onions CEO Ben Collins pointed out on social media, A.I. Overviews is recommending that people eat literal rocks, likely because of the 2021 Onion headline, Geologists Recommend Eating at Least One Small Rock Per Day.

Another search led A.I. Overviews to claim that the CIA uses black highlighters. Why? Probably because The Onion published an article in 2005 with the headline CIA Realizes Its Been Using Black Highlighters All These Years.

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As weve mentioned before, the internet is full of examples of people mistakenly taking The Onion seriously, like the time Louisiana Congressman John Fleming expressed his outrage over Planned Parenthoods $8 billion abortionplex, or when a dude suggested boycotting Subway over their tasteless 9/11-themed promotion.

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But were not talking about some individual idiot here, Google is the most highly trafficked website on the internet  and now its turned its search engine over to an A.I. program thats telling people that Barack Obama was the first Muslim president and staring at the sun for 5 to 15 minutes is generally safe.

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If they ever reboot the Terminator franchise, instead of launching nukes, maybe Skynet should just destroy humanity by suggesting we put glue on their pizza and eat rocks for breakfast.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
A new South Dakota policy prohibits public university faculty and staff from listing their preferred gender pronouns in official correspondence, while also preventing Native American employees from listing their tribal affiliations in a state with a history of conflict with tribes.

Two University of South Dakota faculty members, Megan Red Shirt-Shaw and her husband, John Little, have regularly included their choice of gender pronouns and tribal affiliations in their emails.

They both received written warnings from the university in March, citing a policy adopted in December by the South Dakota Board of Regents.

"I was told that I had five days to remove my tribal affiliation and pronouns," Little said in an email to the Associated Press. Otherwise, Little would face "suspension or immediate termination," he said.

The policy, backed by the board as a branding and communications policy, followed a letter from Republican Gov. Kristi Noem sent to the regents criticizing "liberal ideologies" on college campuses. It called for the board to ban drag shows on campuses and "remove all references to preferred pronouns in school materials."

All nine voting board members were appointed by Noem. All of South Dakota's nine indigenous tribes have voted to ban Noem from their lands since she accused tribal leaders of benefiting from drug cartels and neglecting children.

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota said it has heard complaints from faculty and students at the University of South Dakota who are concerned about the new policy.

The ACLU is considering the next steps to address it.
George Floyd's sister called him "somebody that is going to help everybody" ahead of Saturday's fourth anniversary of his infamous, caught-on-camera police murder in Minneapolis.

Bridgett Floyd, who lives in North Carolina, told People magazine that she planned to spend the weekend in her late brother's home state of Minnesota.

"I just want the world to know that my brother was somebody. He was somebody. He wasn't just anybody," Bridgett Floyd, 33, said.

"He wasn't just any man. He just wasn't any Black man. But he was somebody. And he was the somebody that's going to help everybody that needs help," she added, apparently referring to increased awareness and change regarding police brutality triggered by her bother's murder.

She added: "That's what I want the world to know  that he is the somebody that is going to help everybody."

Bridgett Floyd also said during the interview that she was trying to "do the works that God wants to see" following the trauma of her brother's death on Memorial Day 2020.

"I was broken. I was so broken and I was so hurt because I didn't know how to accept my brother's death. I really did not. And I thought I was okay. And I was not okay," she said.

A teenage girl on the scene that day used a cell phone to record a video of then-Minneapolice Police Officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee against George Floyd's neck after he was arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store.

Floyd, 46, said he couldn't breathe 27 times before going limp during the deadly 9-minute, 29-second ordeal.

The horrific killing sparked massive protests across America and around the world.

In 2021, a jury convicted Chauvin, 48, of Floyd's murder.

He was sentenced to 22 years in prison and later pleaded guilty to violating Floyd's federal civil rights.

In November, Chauvin was stabbed 22 times inside the federal prison in Tucson, Arizona, and a former gang leader and ex-FBI informant was charged with his attempted murder.

Three other Minneapolis cops  J. Alexander Keung, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thou  were charged with aiding and abetting Floyd's slaying and violating his civil rights.

All of them pleaded guilty or were convicted after trial.
A mother of two plans to livestream herself reading a children's book from a rocket ship during a flight that could feature the first civilian spacewalks, according to a report Saturday.

Anna Menon, a lead space operations engineer at billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX company, is scheduled to be among four civilian astronauts who will blast off on the Polaris Dawn mission as early as this summer.

The crew will spend up to five days conducting research, trying to reach the highest Earth orbit ever known and attempting the first civilian spacewalks in new, specially designed spacesuits.

But Menon, 38, told People she also has a treat in store for the children  James, 6, and Grace, 3  she shares with NASA astronaut Anil Menon.

"I'm going to read a children's book I wrote, 'Kisses from Space,' to both my kids as well as some of the brave kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," she said.

The celestial story time session will also serve as a fundraiser for the Mempis, Tennessee, hospital, which raked in more than $250 million from a fundraising appeal tied to the 2021 SpaceX Inspiration4 mission.

"We can make huge strides for our collective future but also address the problems here on Earth today," said Menon, who's a former NASA biomechanical engineer.

The Polaris Dawn mission will be led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who also served as commander of the Inpsiration4 mission.

Isaacman, founder and CEO of the payment processing company Shift4 Payments, and Sarah Gillis, another SpaceX engineer, have been selected for the potential spacewalks.

Menon, who will serve as a mission specialist and medical officer, and pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, will remain inside a Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

The flight is intended to provide new information about the abilities of humans to adapt, live and work in space as NASA plans for a "Moon to Mars" mission.

"This is a stepping stone," Anna Menon said. "It's helping to build technologies that will get humans closer to Mars and beyond."
Dear Bel,

I have a terrible moral quandary. Im a divorcee who has lived in a flat in a small, respectable estate since my adult children moved out. I know all of my neighbours well as we share a communal hallway and green  a tight-knit little community.

A year ago, a pleasant-seeming 60-something man moved in to one of the flats and quickly ingratiated himself as he tidied up some of the communal areas. He told us he had previously been a long-distance lorry driver, so had never really settled, and had got divorced hence moving in alone.

One night, I idly decided to look him up on social media (I know I shouldnt have), but couldnt find a trace. I tried a search engine, and because I found nothing tried a few longer versions of his name (He had told us he was called Jim, I tried James).

I was shocked to find a news article, with picture, about him being convicted and jailed for having child pornography several years ago.

Some of my neighbours have young children and theres a little playground on the green. Im horrified to think this man lives in our midst, and none of my neighbours know what hes capable of.

But on the other hand, Ive read about vigilante mobs attacking paedophiles and he has served his time. Does he deserve a chance for a new life, even if I can never look him in the eye again? Should I tell my neighbours  or keep quiet?

PAM

Bel Mooney replies: This is very disturbing. You say you shouldnt have looked him up, but curiosity is natural.

Most of us like to know about other people. But I wonder if you thought there was something odd about him?

Back in the Seventies I wrote rather a lot about prisons and prisoners for a Left-wing political weekly and still hold some of those liberal views. As you say, if a person has served their time in jail then surely they are entitled to a new start? Should they be forever shunned by their fellow citizens? The pragmatic answer is, It depends on the crime.

I think I could tolerate a fraudster or a thief living over the road, thinking they should be able to rebuild their life with a clean slate. But I could not extend such mercy to anybody who had been cruel.

The most vulnerable members of our society are the ones in greatest need of protection, which is why crimes against children rightly set off the strongest feelings of revulsion  and rage.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Grandmother had died. The curtains were blowing in the gentle morning breeze. Looking at the children, Death said quietly, Cry, Heart, but never break. Let your tears of grief and sadness help begin new life. From Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved (Danish childrens author, b 1968) Advertisement

Of course, the mans offence might have been committed when he was ill or under incredible strain and was overtaken by a sort of madness which led to his behaviour. He may have changed and feel acute shame that his crime was serious enough for the custodial sentence which would have resulted in him being put on the Sex Offenders Register.

He may also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Like Megans Law in the U.S., Sarahs Law is a disclosure scheme across England and Wales which allows people to formally ask the police about people they are concerned about, who have access to their child, and if they have any child sex offences.

So (depending on how long ago he was jailed) the issue may not be completely down to you. I must emphasise that I am not a lawyer, so suggest you take advice. The crucial point is surely that you would never forgive yourself if you did nothing, only to discover later that hed been hanging around the playground  or worse.

You are right to be horrified at the thought of unleashing a vigilante mob to hound the man out of your community. You talk of never looking him in the eye again yet my gut feeling is that somebody does need to speak to him.

Is there a male member of your community whom you trust? Somebody calm and authoritative? What if you were to confide in him and ask him to accompany you to the police to clarify the situation? He might also have a quiet word with the man who is worrying you so much. I think you need some help to achieve peace of mind.

I stayed with my wife after affair 25 years ago

Dear Bel,

I refer to the letter on May 11: I still rage at my late husbands affair. I wanted to acknowledge your advice because I emailed you last year (too long, too emotional) on the same topic.

After 20 years of marriage and three teenage children, I discovered in 1999 (by accident, there were no signs) that my wife was in a long-term affair at work. Business trips, conferences, courses with overnight stays etc were all used to conduct the affair.

I had no inkling. I trusted and loved her and believed she felt the same. Their work colleagues all knew as wed attend functions with her lover and his wife. The cruelty, humiliation and (I assumed) ridicule shattered my belief in all I thought I had.

My wife was utterly distraught and hysterical when I confronted her  as he was the man she wanted, not me.

She was inconsolable for ages, but we did stay together. I knew it was for our children, not for our marriage.

As in the case of Kathleen our sex life essentially ended then. My wife had changed, there was no desire, passion or willingness on her part.

The tension, stress and anger turned into a complete rejection of physical contact. Weve remained together and, in every other respect, have had a long and mostly very happy marriage.

Our children married lovely people then had grandchildren; we are retired, financially secure, enjoy each others company, go on holiday, spend time together and yes, we do love each other  but differently.

You may well ask what my problem is. Ive now been in a platonic marriage since my late 40s, due solely to my wifes decisions.

Heading for 70, I feel cheated in so many ways, not just by her betrayal, but also the permanent diminishment of our marriage.

Well be together for life  more lifelong friends than a couple.

Too often I think about the damage her affair has caused. My feelings vary: anger, grief, sadness at the marriage Ive actually lost, but am still in, and the woman who caused that.

I often feel I could have coped with bereavement more easily. Your reply to Kathleen did give me some comfort in that I now know Im far from alone in being unable to come to terms with what my wife did. For that I feel I must thank you.

PATRICK

Bel Mooney replies:Bel Mooney replies: Thank you for writing again, even though you have no specific question. I decided to print your letter to underline the fact that both sexes can fall passionately in love and do great damage to marriages/long relationships, which may not always survive.

Men hurt women and women hurt men, because passionate, illicit love can be a force as great as any earthquake, sweeping all before it.

The affair that devastated Kathleen happened 34 years ago; your heart was broken 25 years ago and both of you prove that time isnt always a healer.

I have no time for those whose grating optimism proclaim that those who have been terribly hurt can get over it or move on.

Yes, they might well come, in time, to accommodate the hurt that has been inflicted on them, which means learning to live with it, albeit with difficulty. Yet it will always remain a scar.

Of course, some people can forgive  but they can never forget, and occasionally the memory of pain and rage will slice into that old scar and let loose fresh, scarlet blood. Those who escape such experiences are fortunate indeed.

Some of us (and yes, that includes me) have both inflicted great hurt and been on the receiving end of equally bad hurt, and remain sadder and wiser as a result.

Years and years pass, yet it takes a seconds flash of memory to make you guilty or anguished all over again.

Great literature has always provided insight for me. Tolstoy, George Eliot, Thackeray, Dickens and many more have, through their words, illuminated the plight of hapless, hopeless humans who weep, sin and ask for pity.

Its all we can do, you know  understand how people behave and make allowances for them. Because who knows what we might have done ourselves were circumstances different? A chain of destruction can be started by the sight of a face across a room.

You still love the wife who hurt you. You still resent the years spent with no physical affection. You have found happiness in the shared love of children and grandchildren, and in all the small things which bring contentment to lives that have learned to accept compromise as a necessary means to survival.

There is a beautiful passage in one of Edith Whartons stories, when the heroine has discovered her husbands lies: She saw now, in this last wide flash of pity that as a comely marble may be made out of worthless scraps of mortar, glass and pebbles, so out of mean mixed substances may be fashioned a love that will bear the stress of life.

I hope you can try to live in the present and allow the good things you share with your wife to bring you peace.

And finally...

Not always a mental health issue Last Saturday my husband was reading this column at the table when he looked up from Caroles letter about her difficult mother. Describing how unpleasant her elderly mother can be, she added, It affects my mental health. Why, Robin wondered, express it that way? Why not say it really gets to her  or it drives her mad? He wasnt criticising the writer, just the trend for ascribing all human emotions to mental health issues. My colleague Max Pemberton has mentioned this more than once in his excellent column in the Mail. Since he works full-time as a psychiatrist in the National Health Service he knows what hes talking about. What might we say instead of affects my mental health? It frustrates me/makes me so fed up. It drives me crazy. It makes me sad/angry/low in spirits/hostile/gloomy. It annoys me and then I feel guilty. Sometimes I worry that the Internet, useful as it is, does a disservice in encouraging people to cling to feelings of sadness. There are countless charities and self-help groups dealing with every human condition under the sun, which try to be helpful by encouraging people to sign up to a forum and exchange messages with others. All good  or is it? It can be reassuring to realise you are not alone. But I have seen Facebook groups and forums which seemed to act as magnets for repetitive sorrow, almost sucking people into a world of suffering. For example, I was deeply disturbed by one for bereaved mothers which seemed to encourage those in pain to remain like that, reiterating their grief forever. Mental health can shove you into a sealed box. Try lifting the lid. Advertisement
The idea of sitting down for a three-course meal in a pitch-black restaurant with no idea what is on your plate may feel like a nightmare, rather than a pleasant dining experience.

But if you're a rom com fanatic, you'll recognise the unique dining experience from the 2013 Richard Curtis classic About Time, starring Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson.

Near the beginning of the film, the characters meet at Dans Le Noir? in London to dine in the dark, which leads to a blossoming romance - and the quirky story became a cult classic that's still a favourite for many film buffs today.

So, to see what all the fuss is about, I decided to head there myself courtesy of the restaurant, to understand what it's really like to have dinner with strangers, in complete darkness.

Described as a 'unique, sensory and human experience,' Dans Le Noir ?, which literally translates to 'in the dark,' encourages guests to 're-evaluate their perception of taste while reclaiming their senses'.

MailOnline reporter Madison Burgess went to Dans Le Noir ? to understand what it's really like to have dinner with strangers, in complete darkness

Diners are led through the darkness to their table, with everything on the menu being a surprise - you won't know who is sitting around you, what the interior looks like, and more importantly what food you're being served.

Ranking among the 10 most original restaurants in the world, the eatery is located in the Clerkenwell district of London, not far from Farringdon tube station.

The idea is that the perception of flavours, textures, and smells can be completely different in the dark, which makes us realise how sight influences all our senses.

As I made my way to the unique experience, I wasn't really sure what I would be walking into - literally.

From the outside, Dans Le Noir ? looks like any other glamorous London restaurant, with the elusive text 'explore your senses' plastered alongside its name.

You step inside to a welcoming bar area, where you're met by a member of the front-of-house staff, who will seat you and ask if you'd like a drink before making your way into the mysterious 'dark room'.

Me and my friend, who only agreed to accompany me to the mysterious restaurant after much convincing, opted for a cocktail each to be served within the restaurant itself - we didn't need the extra stress of balancing a drink as we stumbled to our table.

We stowed our bags and phones away in lockers as nothing that could produce light is allowed in the room - I didn't realise how nervous I was until we were called up to make our way inside.

From the outside, Dans Le Noir ? looks like any other glamorous London restaurant, with the elusive text 'explore your senses' plastered alongside its name

The unusual concept may be familiar to rom com fans, as the restaurant played a key part in About Time, starring Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson

We were led to the dark room entrance by our waiter Fabio, who like all of the wait staff at Dans Le Noir ?, is blind. Before we entered, he explained that the route to our table would include a zig-zag and a possible step down.

He instructed me to hold onto his shoulder, with my friend holding mine behind me, as we pushed past a curtain and into complete darkness.

As we walked inside and surrendered our sense of sight, I could hear the buzzing sounds of the restaurant as couples, families, and friends chatted to each other over dinner.

The level of darkness was the most shocking aspect of the entire experience - obviously, I knew it would be dark, but this was next level and I couldn't even see an outline of my hand when I waved it in front of my face.

Fabio kindly led us to our table, which we soon realised we were sharing with other people. Even just pulling out my chair and sitting down proved to be a challenge, but we got there in the end.

Shortly after, we were served our drinks, which I kept losing every time I put it down on the table. We also had the option of a tumbler of water and glasses, but I wasn't feeling brave enough to have two items susceptible to spillage on the go.

The wait staff had to explain everything to us, from where the forks were on the table to where to find our napkins, as we were so used to relying on our sight.

Visitors need to be guided everywhere, including the toilet, for safety reasons - you can't attempt to walk around on your own.

As I made my way to the unique experience, I wasn't really sure what I would be walking into - literally and metaphorically

If you're meeting somewhere there for the first time, it really takes blind dating to a whole new extreme

Chatting with general manager Jessica after the experience, it was also easy to see why the staff love working there so much

You step inside to a welcoming bar area, where you're met by a member of the front of house staff, who will seat you and ask if you'd like a drink before making your way into the mysterious 'dark room'

It left me with a strong sense of admiration for visually impaired people and the immense amount of effort and concentration it can take for even the smallest of tasks.

Dans Le Noir? only employs blind or partially sighted waiting staff, who also act as guides.

The restaurant's website explains: 'This unusual dining experience is a moment of positive empathy that breaks our preconceived ideas of disability. Driven by this reversal of roles, the experience allows us to perceive the richness of diversity.'

I admit I felt panicked at first being immersed in total darkness, but I quickly settled in and got somewhat used to the bizarre concept of not being able to see.

In fact, it became fun after a while and we even got into a conversation with the couple seated next to us, who tried to explain what they looked like so we could imagine them.

However, my friend struggled to shake off the anxiety and get to grips with the experience. After some gentle persuasion, she did stay, but didn't enjoy it as much as I did.

Jessica, who has been the general manager of Dans Le Noir? for eight years, explained that claustrophobia can sometimes surprise people and the shortest time someone has lasted in the room is a speedy three seconds.

She recalled: 'You can't explain to people that it's going to be that dark so we sometimes have claustrophobic reactions.

'It takes a few minutes to adjust and some people, they don't adjust at all, they ask to leave. We've had panic attacks, all kinds of reactions. People can't really plan how they're going to react to the experience.

In normal restaurants, you're surrounded by so many distractions so it's easy to see why so many people love Dans Le Noir ? - and for fans of About Time, it makes for an even more special once-in-a-lifetime encounter

Visitors who dine at the establishment eat their meals in pitch-black darkness, with the whole menu being a surprise

You won't know who is sitting around you, what the interior looks like, and more importantly what food you're being served

At the end of the experience, guests are taken back into the light and shown photos of what they ate in the bar area (pictured)

'Some people are so excited, they have been waiting for months and then they're so scared when they come in.'

However, for the most part, guests do love visiting the unique eatery and a lot of that is thanks to About Time - real-life 'blind dates' are a common occurrence.

Jessica revealed: 'Usually people contact us for first dates. We will seat one person first and then they will meet in the dark and have the experience.

'They usually come out together and every first date I've seen has been very good. It means they judge on personality and by having a conversation with the other person so it's a great first date idea.'

She added that the Richard Curtis film drew a lot of attention to the restaurant when it was released in 2013, and even now after eleven years, they still have many fans of the movie turning up at their door.

The manager added: 'The waiter who is in the movie is still working with us. He's called Roberto and people ask for him a lot.'

Being served our food and trying to eat it in the dark was also quite a challenge - we had no idea what we would be eating as the entire menu is a surprise. As the offerings are changed seasonally, only once every few months, I can't reveal what we ate, but it was delicious.

We had a starter, main, and dessert accompanied by a glass of wine (I think it was red, but can't be sure).

The idea is that in the dark, the perception of flavors, textures and smells can completely different and we suddenly become aware that sight influences all our sensations

Jessica revealed: 'Usually people contact us for first dates. We will seat one person first and then they will meet in the dark and have the experience'

At the end of the experience, guests are shown photos of what they ate, and with some of the dishes we were surprisingly way off, despite thinking we'd guessed everything correctly.

One problem I encountered was that I wanted to make the most of my meal and eat every bite, but it was difficult to know how much food I had left without actually seeing it.

I found myself jabbing my fork at my plate and sometimes missing it completely.

We also collectively spilled a lot of food on the table and on ourselves - maybe don't wear your best designer dress or bright whites if you're planning on going.

The couple next to us were even joking about pulling weird faces at each other, which led me to wonder aloud whether the bar staff, who aren't blind, had some night vision security cameras that allowed them to laugh at everything that was going on.

The website confirms that hilariously, CCTV is in operation at all times via an infrared system, which is monitored by security personnel throughout the dining experience.

After polishing off three courses, we felt very much ready to return to the light and so were led out by our waiter.

We had to shout his name to get his attention, which felt rude, but it's not like you can awkwardly gesture for the bill using your hands.

I had gotten so used to not being able to see that the bright lights beyond the curtain felt overpowering once we exited.

At the end of the meal, the staff finally informed us of what we had just eaten - however they wish to keep this secret

Overall, I really enjoyed this unique dining experience and found it a great way to switch off from my phone and really focus on the flavours of the food, and the conversation I was having.

Overall, I really enjoyed this unique dining experience and found it a great way to switch off from my phone and really focus on the flavours of the food, and the conversation I was having

The Richard Curtis film drew a lot of attention to the restaurant when it was released in 2013, and even now after eleven years, they still have many fans of the movie turning up at their door

In normal restaurants, you're surrounded by so many distractions so it's easy to see why so many people love Dans Le Noir ? - and for fans of About Time, it makes for an even more special once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

Chatting with general manager Jessica after the experience, it was also easy to see why the staff love working there so much.

She gushed: ''I love it, it's very enjoyable. Every day is different and customers here are very special because when they come, they're very excited.

'They don't know what to expect and they're intrigued. It brings more than a regular restaurant.

'The team are my favourite thing about working here and I'm happy every day.

'They are just amazing people and I'm so happy that we can raise awareness about disabilities and maybe let people understand that they can hire disabled people and they can do the same as us.

'Maybe they need more guidance but they can do the same job.'

The international project was born in France in 2004 and is now in 10 countries and 15 cities, tried by 2 million people worldwide - it first launched in London in 2006.

It will set you back 56 for two courses - 65 if you want a glass of wine included.

For three courses it costs 65 and with a glass of wine added it's 74. If you want to splash the cash and go all out, the chefs menu will cost 100 and it consists of an amuse bouche, starter, main, cheese plate, and dessert, alongside two glasses of wine.

There is also a vegan surprise menu available and the prices of their menus include access to the experience (15pp).
In the four years since George Floyd's killing sparked mass protests, U.S. cities have settled over 130 lawsuits related to police misconduct, paying out nearly $150 million to protesters, journalists, families, legal observers and bystanders, according to a report published earlier this week.

The settlements, some of the largest ever for protest-related police actions, have forced numerous reforms on departments, including restrictions on the use of "less lethal" weapons, reported the Guardian.

"After reviewing so many lawsuits, a consistent story emerges: Cops had zero interest in honoring the First Amendment rights of protesters," said Sue Udry, executive director of the free speech group Defending Rights & Dissent and author of the report: "The Cost of Pollice Violence and Mayhem."

"The most successful lawsuits won restitution for indiviudals, and significant new restriction on police," said Udry. "But they are piecemeal, and there is no substitue for systemic change."

Floyd's killing on May 25, 2020, captured in a highly disturbing viral video, prompted millions to protest across the country, resulting in some 17,000 arrests in the first two weeks following the killing alone.

The report tracks the outcomes of lawsuits filed in response to police actions in 40 cities and 25 states. It does not include many pending cases, however.

Excessive force was a frequent complaint in suits against police departments, along with demands for less-lethal response strategies.

In addition to winning compensation for victims, many of the settlements were also a catalyst for reforms.

A new wave of protests, this time over Israel's U.S.-backed war in Gaza, has once again been met with police crackdowns, leading advocates to fear that the police are resorting to their old tactics.

In recent weeks, police across the country have arrested over 3,000 people protesting against was, including university students who set up solidarity encampments on campuses.

Police in riot gear have used tear gas and rubber bullets.

In New York's Bay Ridge neighborhood this month, police were videotaped repeatedly punching protesters that generally appeared peaceful. New York City Mayor Eric Adams vowed that the pollice action would be reviewed.

"Police presence at protests needs to be minimized," stated Udry.

"Their role should only be protecting the right to protest and controlling traffic, not arresting people because they're in the street."
When Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay made his remarkable return to the Commons this week for the first time since his hands and feet were amputated due to sepsis, he barely took his eyes off his wife Kati and young daughter Olivia up in the public gallery.

He was looking to them, he tells me, for strength.

As MPs gave him a standing ovation, his little poppet blew him kisses. There were more than a few tears in the Chamber.

As for Kati, its nigh on impossible for her to put into words the maelstrom of emotions she felt. Eight months ago she was told her husband had, at best, a 5 per cent chance of survival after his body went into septic shock.

His kidney and liver began failing and his limbs were turning black. Doctors at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent told Kati that he was the sickest patient they had seen all year.

She should, she was told, prepare for his death.

Kati point blank refused to.

Conservative MP for South Thanet Craig Mackinlay sits beside his wife Kati and daughter Olivia, five, at their home following his near-death sepsis struggle

The condition - which caused his body to attack itself following an infection - led to the 57-year-old having his hands and feet amputated

That night I printed off loads of photographs of holidays wed shared, birthdays, whatever and, the next morning, the first thing I did was decorate the ceiling of his [hospital] room with them so when he opened his eyes he could see them and say, Thats my daughter. Thats my wife. Thats my father. Thats my friend.

The doctor kept emphasising Craig was the sickest patient in the hospital. He said, I mean the sickest. We probably only ever see two or maybe three this sick and not all of them make it.

I said, But Craig will.

This couldnt be happening, Craig had so much to offer to his family, to offer politically and to offer to his friends. I never said goodbye to Craig. Never.

I meet Kati, 44, the day after her husbands triumphant return to the Commons at the familys wonderful Georgian home in Kent. Craig is at the physiotherapists and Olivia is at school.

That afternoon they would be celebrating their daughters fifth birthday with her grandparents. The presents are on the sofa, including a lovely gold, silk dress made by Olivias godmother.

Gold is Olivias favourite colour. Black is her least favourite. That is the colour of Craigs arms when she first saw him in hospital before his limbs were amputated.

Today Craig is learning to use a silver-coloured robotic hand which he shows me on arriving back after physiotherapy. Until five days ago, his prosthetics were little more than rubber stumps.

Mr Mackinlay now has silver-coloured robotic hands fitted, and displayed them in the House of Commons during his rousing return to work

Olivia didnt like them, he says. We promised her I was getting magic arms. So shed walk around telling everyone, My Daddys getting magic arms.

Kati corrects him gently, No robot arms, she says. He looks at her with the sort of love that makes the hairs on the back of your neck tingle.

Yes, he smiles. Robot arms. It was [in the hospital] around Christmas. These hands and feet hadnt arrived yet. We said, Well, its Santas elves. Theyre busy at the moment making toys so they cant do Daddys arms and legs until after Christmas.

The couples good humour is astonishing.

Kati reaches for the robotic hand he is mastering as part of a trial and has led to him being referred to as the bionic MP. It is operated with muscles in his forearm.

In November when Craig was in hospital Olivia found our wedding album, says Kati. I thought we could look at it at bedtime and talk about our wedding. I couldnt believe how many times there were pictures of our hands.

I hadnt thought about it until then, but actually a relationship is a lot about hands  putting the wedding ring on the hand, touching hands, using your hands to touch each other. Of course I miss that but Im so much more grateful I have Craig.

Craig continues: When I saw them [his blackened hands and feet before amputation] I just knew these were finished. He lifts his arms off his lap. I wasnt scared or particularly worried. I thought, Yeah, thats fine.

You dont consider what life is going to be like afterwards. You think about living, not about the things you wont be able to do but hand-holding is the hardest thing  not being able to hold hands with your daughter.

He wells up. It is one of the few times this remarkable, can-do character becomes emotional during our interview.

Knowing losing your arms was round the corner was pretty deep. Then you think, Ive got this far. There are a lot of people in a worse state than me. The whole Gaza, Palestine, Israel thing had happened [while he was unconscious] and it was, in a perverse way, a help reading bad news.

I read about dreadful human suffering which helped me realise I wasnt that bad. Another thing that sort of keeps you going is thinking, I havent got a terminal disease.

If you get those, youve only got one way  down.

Mine was the other way round. I was close to death, so my route has been from the depths and the only way is up.

Indeed, its a miracle of sorts Craig is here at all. And he probably wouldnt be had it not been for his wifes determined love.

Kati, 44, a pharmacist from a medical family, fought for her husband's life when many others had given up

She fought everyone  from paramedics to senior doctors  to save him. Two weeks after he fell ill she was told surgeons needed to amputate his arms up to the armpit and legs to the groin.

They suggested a Do Not Resuscitate order because his life would not be worth having, she tells me. It was awful, awful.

Craig fell ill the night before he was to fly to Turkey with his wife and daughter to join her Hungarian parents on a family holiday. Hed had a bit of a cold so went to bed early.

Kati, a pharmacist from a medical family, was alarmed when he vomited during the night.

I was worried it might be sepsis as nothing else made sense, she says. There was no cough, no huge temperature. Wed done three Covid tests and it wasnt that, so I called an ambulance.

He was getting worse. He was as white as this top, she pulls at her white t-shirt. The bed was drenched. He could barely sit up.

I called again 15 minutes later when they didnt arrive and said, I am begging you. Just send someone now. Im a pharmacist and I promise you this patient is incredibly ill.

She rang her GP brother, who arrived as the ambulance did. It was by now 8.30am.

They said it might be neglected diabetes because his blood sugar was so low. I said, Thank God, we can deal with that. Then they asked how easy it was to make a GP appointment. I said, Come on. Hes not well.

The paramedics agreed to take him to Medway Maritime.

My brother went with Craig while I dropped Olivia at school, a three-minute walk away. I jumped in the car and met my brother at the hospital, who said, Dont panic. Theyve taken Craig to resusc. He has suspected sepsis.

Within half an hour Craig had turned what he calls a very strange blue all over.

Kati continues: Craig was really complaining about the pain in his chest. He said he couldnt breathe. He was turning blue. The blood test confirmed sepsis.

Within minutes Craig was put in an induced coma. Kati was beside herself. Those first few days were terrible, she says. I had to hold it together for Olivia but, oh my God, it was awful.

On day five, he started to improve. He got worse on day eight. It was like a rollercoaster. We were told sepsis gets worse before it gets better. He emerged from the coma after 16 days. Kati spent every waking hour at the hospital. She played music to him, including Hero by Enrique Iglesias, the first dance at their 2011 wedding in Hungary.

Every time I talked about Olivia, you could see the muscles in his face drop a little. At one point a little tear was in his eye.

Medway suggested radical surgery and with Craig in a coma it fell to Katie to fight his corner.

When I said I wanted a second opinion, preferably in a teaching hospital, the surgeon said, If you think theres any fancy treatment available in London I thought, Dont you dare.

St Thomas Hospital in London, were contacted where specialists agreed to take Craig in.

He was transferred to their intensive care unit on October 16. Ten days later he was moved to the high dependency unit, where he remained for six weeks as doctors decided what to do.

The memory of that time is still painful for Kati.

When he woke up, he kept asking for his glasses but I couldnt put them on him, she recalls. I was hoping he wouldnt see his blackened arms. I didnt know how to break the news. I said amputation might be involved.

Once fully conscious, he began to receive visits from parliamentary colleagues, including Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson and Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Olivia also visited.

We didnt want her to see him before the tracheostomy tube was removed, so I took a photo. His lips had blackened scabs from the sepsis. I drew a love heart over it and sent it to my mum and dads phone [her parents were staying at the family home with Olivia]. When I got to the house Olivia said, Why does Daddy have a love heart on his mouth?

I said, Because he was blowing you kisses. A little white lie.

The first weekend she saw him, his arms were bandaged. The next time, though, part of his [black] arm was showing.

She said, Whats that? Craig tried to hide it but I said, Dont. then, within a few weeks she was sitting in your lap, wasnt she?

Pictured before his life-changing complications, the family enjoy some free time together in the sun

As if on cue, Olivia arrives home from school. Her face lights up when she sees her father.

On December 1, surgeons performed the quadruple amputation over five hours. Months of rehabilitation followed.

Craig has approached it all with superhuman stoicism and determination. And today he tells me he is lucky. I have my knees and my elbows,

Kati swells with pride, as she did on Wednesday in the gallery.

I knew it would be a pressure for him to not break down, she says. I said, If you feel its a bit too much, take a deep breath, look somewhere else and carry on.

And so he did not take his eyes off his beautiful wife and daughter as he jubilantly addressed the House from the floor.

The MP had hoped to return to Parliament and campaign for the South Thanet seat he has served for the past nine years. But, after Rishi Sunaks decision to call a snap election, he announced yesterday he wont be standing.

Craig, who was building his recovery towards an October poll, was worried he wouldnt be able to campaign hard enough. He didnt want to let down his party or constituents.

Kati says he awoke yesterday and told her he had decided, with a heavy heart, not to stand.

It was a really sad morning, she says. Craig is a really good, kind man who loves his job and doing the best he can for his constituents, but it was a decision he felt he had to make and I support him. And you sense this lovely, gusty woman always will.
A heartbroken single mom went viral after she videoed herself sobbing as she revealed the worst part about celebrating a birthday without a partner.

Elizabeth Teckenbrock, known as @morethanelizabeth on TikTok, uploaded a video earlier this week in which she is baking a birthday cake with tears streaming down her face.

'Being a single mom is making your own birthday cake on your birthday so that your babies can feel happy they are singing to you,' Teckenbrock, 29, wrote over the dramatic TikTok.

As she wipes tears away from her face and prepares the boxed cake mix, the emotional song A Thousand Years by Christina Perri plays in the background. She added 'Geez I'm tired of hurting' in the video's caption.

Teckenbrock has since deleted the video - along with all of her social media accounts - but not before the viral video received over 37 million views and an onslaught of comments.

A heartbroken single mom went viral after she videoed herself sobbing as she revealed the worst part about celebrating a birthday without a partner

Elizabeth Teckenbrock, known as @morethanelizabeth on TikTok, uploaded a video earlier this week in which she is baking a birthday cake with tears streaming down her face

While some users offered their support, others were quick to judge her.

'You would never last in a man's world,' one harsh user wrote. Another commented, 'Chill out! I'm married and don't get a cake.'

Another comment on the now-deleted video said 'Why are you crying? You clearly need to work on yourself and your kids first,' adding that 'being single is better than being with the wrong person.'

Other users defended Teckenbrock and shared words of encouragement. 'In case you didn't hear this today, you're doing a great job, you are so loved. I would have killed to have a mom like you growing up. I know it's hard but you're doing such a good job.'

In a follow-up video, which has also since been deleted, Teckenbrock explained that she initially recorded the birthday cake-making TikTok to make other single mothers feel less alone.

She acknowledged that she was being 'an emotional baby,' but said 'it's hard' to be a single mother.

'I really can't even come up with words to say to make someone understand how difficult it is raising kids, and taking care of your house, and doing every single thing completely by yourself and not having a partner,' Teckenbrock explained.

As she wipes tears away from her face and prepares the boxed cake mix, the emotional song A Thousand Years by Christina Perri plays in the background. She added 'Geez I'm tired of hurting' in the video's caption

'There's no break, it's exhausting all the time and that cry was probably just out of tiredness.'

She later shared with her follows that her kids helped her decorate the cupcakes and sang 'Happy Birthday' to her.

Teckenbrock's Linkedin shows that she is the founder of 'Fear to Fierce,' which is a non-profit organization 'committed to assist survivors of domestic violence through support services and advocacy, empowering women to stand against fear and embrace their inherent fierceness.'

She attended Purdue University where she earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, according to her Linkedin. The single mother now lives in Tampa, Florida.
Saunas are set to become a major trend in the UK, with more and more opening all the time.

This week, the first British Sauna Society summit was held, taking place in east London 's Hackney.

And now, according to the Times, more Brits are keen to 'experience the joy of sweat'.

Katie Bracher is co-founder of the British Sauna Society, as well as the founder of sauna brand Beach Box.

She set up her first outlet in a converted horsebox six years ago. There are now 104 public saunas in Britain which follow the Finnish style, with wooden walls, hot stones and cold plunge pools.

There were 90 Finnish-style saunas in the UK at the beginning of the year, which has increased to 104 now (stock image)

This marks an increase of 45 in February 2023, and 90 at the beginning of this year.

Further Finnish-style saunas are expected to open, with the number predicted to double to more than 200 by 2025.

The recent British Sauna Society, on the roof of an old office building in Hackney, saw attendees share tops on 'how to convince a local authority to let you build on its beach'.

Also on the agenda for discussion was nudity and whisking (when fine, leafy tree-branch tips are bound together to make a bunch that is then used to tap the skin. It is said to increase circulation as well as enrich the skin).

When opening the summit, the society's co-founder Katie Bracher admitted that when she spoke at the international sauna congress in 2018, and said there was a 'new UK sauna wave', she was in 'fake-it-till- you-make-it mode'.

However, as the numbers show, her predictions about the growing popularity of saunas was correct.

According to Ms Bracher, who set up her first sauna (yes, that one in the converted horsebox) at the Brighton Fringe festival, she has a 'favourite trick' for enticing new customers.

This, she explained, is to tell that in taking the sauna, they are immersing themselves in a foreign culture.

According to some, saunas are a good alternative to conventional medication when it comes to pain relief for some injuries (stock image)

She said: 'You put something as a cultural experience and people are much more interested - even nudity. It's easier to sell it if you say it's a German cultural experience.'

However, she admitted that while testing out regular nudity evenings, she has had a less-than-ideal outcome, with some Brits 'unsure of how to behave'.

She expanded on that saying: 'It's causing problems. Some people are taking up too much space. I'm used to it but I can find it uncomfortable. I don't have creepy people but we're nervous about it.'

Meanwhile, a fellow sauna business owner Jake Newport, whose operation Finnmark builds some 100 private and public saunas annually, said that British people have been open when it comes to trying whisking (or another variant from Russia, called venik).

He describes whisking as being between a scrub and a massage, saying it will give you softer than ever skin.

According to Mr Newport, there is evidence to suggest that saunas can be beneficial to health.

He said that Finnish studies have shown that people who have more than three saunas a week have a reduced risk of dementia, diabetes and heart disease.

While it is unclear why, he believes that the combination of the heat of the sauna with the cold plunge pool helps you sleep, and good sleep is associated with better health.

One of the studies he may have been referring to is a 2018 review of the literature which showed regularly spending time in a sauna can reduce the risk of heart disease, lung disease and an early death.

Scientists at the universities of Bristol, Jyvaskyla and Eastern Finland conducted the review, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

They reviewed 70 studies on the health outcomes of Finnish sauna baths to establish the long-list of health benefits.

Finnish sauna bathing is characterised by brief exposure to 80C (176F) to 100C (212F), normally for up to 20 minutes.

They also suggested that basking in the hot temperatures may combat mental health issues, skin diseases, arthritis, headaches and the flu.

Regular sauna baths are also associated with a better health-related quality of life, according to study author Dr Jari Laukkanen.

He said: 'Sauna bathing, an activity used for the purposes of pleasure, wellness, and relaxation, is linked to a remarkable array of health benefits.

'It is a safe activity and can even be used in people with stable CVD, provided it is used sensibly for an appropriate period of time.

'Sauna bathing may be a remedy to the call for additional lifestyle interventions needed to enhance health and wellness.'

Dr Laukkanen added that the physiological response produced by saunas is similar to that of 'moderate or high-intensity' activities.

However, it's also worth noting that other studies have produced different outcomes, with a 2013 Italian study suggesting that men who visit saunas may be damaging their sperm and have a lower count.

There is a body of research which supports the health benefits of saunas - though there is also research which suggest they can lower men's sperm count (stock image)

However, Jake Newport, who started building saunas a decade ago, after seriously injuring his back (breaking it and slipping three discs when landing badly after jumping off a cliff) says they are excellent for pain management.

In fact, he said, when using saunas two or three times weekly, he doesn't require any other pain management.

He is not alone in his use of saunas as an alternative to conventional medicine: east London's Newham primary care trust also sees their potential benefits.

The trust has prescribed them to patients who would not see improvements in their condition from conventional medicines - notably those suffering from chronic, anxiety-related illnesses.

According to the Times, they have been prescribed to almost 100 patients (for whom the alternative would likely be anti-depressants) garnering 'really positive' feedback.
Jupiter's arrival in Gemini heralds an inspiring era. This is the lucky planet's first visit to the sign of intellect and communication since 2012, and it encourages us to rediscover our sense of wonder.

There will be opportunities to explore new philosophies that can improve the ways we interact in our personal relationships, and with the wider world. It's a cosmic invitation to be imaginative and explore new adventures.

With bold, brilliant ideas, which can be easily expressed, breakthroughs are possible.

Is your future set in stone? Or can you mould it, like clay, to create a new world that you really want to live in?

The ancients believed that a horoscope was a key that open the locked door of a 'sealed fate' into an open book of inspiring possibilities. Gain the power of cosmic insight... and the knowledge to time each choice you make with pinpoint precision.

Allow us to calculate your birth chart and prepare a reading, personal to you alone, containing all the crucial dates and moments, over the coming 12 months, when you will have the greatest power to write, or rewrite, the story of your life.

Read more horoscopes from MailOnline.

Jupiter's arrival in Gemini heralds an inspiring era. This is the lucky planet's first visit to the sign of intellect and communication since 2012

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Your Weekly Horoscope: You're trying to sort out a confusing situation. It's baffling. As soon as you think you've grasped what to do, you discover another complication. But this is Planet Earth. We live on a ball of rock which is spinning through space. Billions of people come here, but where they were before, and where they go to when they leave is a big mystery. Uncertainty lies at the heart of our world. Maybe we come here because of all the craziness! You might not find a clear answer this week. But if you accept what's going on, you'll find joy.

A powerful cosmic climate is working in your favour right now. You can make a positive transformation and achieve what you've been hoping for. A personal birth-chart report will tell you what's really possible... and when... and how. Download yours now!

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Your Weekly Horoscope: Experts on human behaviour might have different views. But they all accept that we don't know as much as we think we do. We all tend to make decisions about how we view the world, and then choose how we're going to interact with it. And then, we stick to those ideas and ways of being. It takes something dramatic to happen for us to change our ways. This week's inspiring cosmic climate brings you the insight to review your approach to a relationship. Without the need for a drama, things are about to get better.

Now, you should read your 'Guide to the Future'. Inside it you'll find page after page of insights and predictions all about you and what's in store for you in the year ahead. Make your future a wonderful future. Download your 'Guide to the Future' here.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 22

Your Weekly Horoscope: I'm starting your forecast with a drum roll. Welcome to the Gemini Show! This all singing (well maybe some humming), all dancing (well moving about a lot), world class (well in your own world at least) event is heralded by Jupiter (planet of good fortune) arriving in your sign. What does it mean? In one word, progress. This is partly caused by changing circumstances. But mainly created by your changing attitude. You can see things differently. That means you can do whatever you need to do... and enjoy a successful outcome.

'Phenomenal! Excellent!', 'I love that Daisy has been added. Please keep her!', 'Breathtaking - I cannot thank her - and you - enough.', 'It makes complete sense.' What, or who, are they talking about? Find out...

CANCER

June 23 - July 23

Your Weekly Horoscope: You're determined to focus and deal with a long-standing issue. It's been on your to-do list for too long. But although you're prioritising the right thing, you can afford to take the pressure off. This week brings an inspiring idea that leads to a shortcut. But to find it, you need to stand back a little and reassess. From this new vantage point, you'll be able to see this situation in its true perspective. It might not have changed, but you have. And your new way of being gives you the insight to deal with it, in a satisfyingly simple way.

PS, your full personal horoscope reveals amazing secrets about your inner potential and shows you your future in stunningly accurate detail. Be wise. Order it now! Click here!

LEO

July 24 - August 23

Your Weekly Horoscope: Some people think we need to force change to happen; that if we don't take action, everything will stay the same. Other folk think that the less we do, the wiser we are; that if we let things be, they have a way of sorting themselves out. There are, of course, times when we need to get motivated and roll up our sleeves, and times when it's better to stand back and allow things to unfold. Which of these policies should you follow this week? Under these powerful skies, with just a little energy, you can achieve a lot. Get cracking!

Reveal the astrological secrets of your future, today. For a complete set of totally personal predictions instantly download 'Your Guide to the Future'.

VIRGO

August 24 - September 23

Your Weekly Horoscope: They say we need to be careful what we wish for, because we might get it. This strange expression is based on the fact that we think we know what we want, but when we get it, we might realise it's not what we need. But sometimes, the cosmos takes a while to respond to a request. And when it arrives, we've forgotten we ever wished for it. This week brings something you were once desperate for. And with Jupiter in a new home, keep making new wishes. They might not come true this week... but in the future... who knows!

Consult 'Daisy', your personal AI Astrologer with a Free Trial of the 5 Star Service.

There will be opportunities to explore new philosophies that can improve the ways we interact in our personal relationships, and with the wider world

LIBRA

September 24 - October 23

Your Weekly Horoscope: Something in your world is starting to make sense. Yay! Once everything has fallen into place, you're going to find it easy to reach a decision. But there's no need to rush. This week, with Jupiter changing signs, even more things will start making sense! Since you've been dealing with so much uncertainty, it's understandable that you want to reach a place of stability... fast. But in the disorder lies a possibility you haven't been able to see. What happens this week might surprise you - but it will delight and reassure you too.

If you give me your date, place and time of birth... then I'll tell you what the planets say about you and your future. To learn more...

SCORPIO

October 24 - November 22

Your Weekly Horoscope: We have an amazing ability to overlook things that happen every day. We get used to the sound of traffic. We adapt to city lights and country smells. It's only when we've been away for a while that we become aware of our adaptability. And sometimes too, we adapt to things we shouldn't adapt to. This week brings the clarity to recognise a situation you should probably have objected to a while ago. Don't concern yourself with why you allowed things to carry on in a less-than-desirable way. Just implement positive change.

The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Click here!

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 - December 21

Your Weekly Horoscope: Are you expecting your week to be filled with love, joy, and creative energy? I hope so! With your ruler's change of signs, it can be all these things... and more. Just don't expect it to be completely trouble-free. Problems will continue to roll up - because that's what they always do. But with your optimistic attitude you'll be able to deal with whatever comes along without losing your joie de vivre. Your spirits are being uplifted. And the more generously you share those good vibes, the better you'll feel and the more progress you'll make.

To discover who you truly are, what makes you tick, and what's just around the corner, you need a full personal horoscope report. Change your future... change your life with an amazingly accurate personal report now!

CAPRICORN

December 22 - January 20

Your Weekly Horoscope: You don't enjoy talking about your problems; you don't want to be known as a moaner. You don't particularly like talking about your successes either; you don't want to brag. And talking about other people is tricky; you're not a gossip. You've got something important to share with someone, and you're concerned your motives will be misinterpreted. But if you speak from your heart, and trust in the truth, your reputation in their eyes will be enhanced. And the connection that develops will be supportive in ways you can't imagine.

Reveal the astrological secrets of your future, today. For a complete set of totally personal predictions instantly download 'Your Guide to the Future'.

AQUARIUS

January 21 - February 19

Your Weekly Horoscope: You can achieve what you want to achieve. It's just you might not be able to achieve it at the pace you want. Which, since you're feeling inspired, is frustrating. You don't like waiting around. You're much more of the 'strike while the iron's hot' type. But unless you want sparks to fly, you need to bide your time. This is a cause worth fighting for. You want to get it right. This week brings insight that will enable you to take great strides. Just ensure you're fully 'in the know' before you get going. You don't have long to wait.

But, wait a moment, just what is the Cainer Horoscopes 5 Star Service and who is Daisy? Take a free trial!

PISCES

February 20 - March 20

Your Weekly Horoscope: Just because you can't tele-transport, leap over buildings, or make yourself invisible doesn't mean you don't have special powers. Your Piscean sensitivity and empathy bless you with the ability to understand people's thoughts and motives; sometimes your skills are so good you can tell them things about themselves they don't know. You intuitively understand what's on their hearts. This week, as your traditional ruler, Jupiter, moves into Gemini, your instincts are super-honed. You can use them to sort out a misunderstanding.

Wish you could fulfil more of your potential? A Personal Profile, based on your exact date of birth, reveals your secret gifts and blessings. Click here!
The healthy 22 year-old who noticed his testicles mysteriously shrinking. The 23 year-old with sudden onset erectile dysfunction that subsequently ruined his relationship. And another 20-something man who suffered agonizing pain in his genitals.

These men share one thing in common: they, like 2million Americans, have taken the hair loss drug finasteride in an effort to restore their balding locks.

In letters sent to DailyMail.com, men from around the world have described devasting effects that the drug, though effective at reversing hair loss, have had on their libido and ability to perform in the bedroom.

The swarm of emails comes on the heels of DailyMail.com's recent report about long-lasting sexual side effects in men and women who have taken antidepressant medications such as Zoloft and Effexor.

Sumair Ahluwalia of Illinois says after starting finasteride he has developed genital atrophy, low libido, brain fog, slowed beard growth, muscle loss, and more

These patients described losing their libido entirely  a symptoms that didn't resolve even years after they stopped taking the medicine.

The upsetting side effects of finasteride include infertility, erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, decreased volume of ejaculation, and a loss of sensation below the belt.

Finasteride is a prescription medicine that stops hair loss by blocking the production of a chemical called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for male balding.

It is sold by men's health companies online such as Hims for as little as $22 for a month's supply and is available in a pill or topical form.

The typical dose taken is one milligram. But some customers say that even at that low dose, they've suffeered sexual side effects that have affected their personal lives and relationships.

Sumair Ahluwalia, 22, of Illinois says he has been injured by the topical version drug, perhaps permanently.

He told DailyMail.com that he was prescribed the drug through the online prescribing platform Hims, and his symptoms began just two days into his prescription.

'At first I experienced a burning pain in my genitals,' he said. 'But I have since developed genital atrophy, low libido, brain fog, slowed beard growth, muscle loss, muscle twitching, jaw recession, and more.

When he stopped the drug, the burning stopped. But he later noticed sexual apathy, almost like that part of my brain has been ripped out.

Evidence to back up anecdotal reports is mixed, but several studies have shown that the drug can also effect fertility

@hair.transplant.advice Replying to @SoswiffStudio MY EXPERIENCE OF TAKING FINASTERIDE. Finasteride, a medication renowned for combating male pattern baldness and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which plays a key role in hair loss. This oral treatment, available in tablet form, has gained popularity as an effective solution to slow hair thinning and promote regrowth. However, its essential to be aware of potential side effects and consult a healthcare professional before starting finasteride. Finasteride, may lead to side effects, but their occurrence varies in frequency. The most reported side effects include reduced libido, sexual difficulties, breast tenderness, mood changes, and rare allergic reactions. Its important to remember that not everyone experiences these effects. Many users tolerate finasteride well without significant issues. However, its crucial to consult a healthcare provider before use to discuss potential risks and benefits. Monitor for unusual effects and seek prompt medical advice if needed #hairloss #malepatternbaldness #hairlossremedy #hairlosssolutions  original sound - The Hair Transplant Specialist

Meanwhile, a young man named Erik, 23, who lives in Sweden, started taking the drug in October 2022 after type 1 diabetes caused his hair to fall out.

He said: [The doctor] discussed nothing about any side effects at all and said its a very safe drug I was not concerned at all since I asked my doc about sides and he said there were no sides to think about.

The following May he began experiencing brain fog and erectile dysfunction.

He said: The problems got worse and worse in the months after that and I asked my doc and his response was to up the dose to five milligrams per day which I declined but trusted him that there was not the drug causing the issues.

He stopped taking it in October 2023 when he heard a friend had a similar issue, but at that point, he had begun showing neurological abnormalities.

Erik added: My doctor has since found neurologic issues, lesions in my brain, inflammation in eyes, gut and sinus, which he thinks is because my body reacted to finasteride and is in a panic state after quitting the drug.

The drug has shown good effect on hair loss but the downsides are so under reported its insane.'

The pictured 37-year-old hair transplant specialist said after taking finasteride for four years, he has had lower libido and trouble attaining a full erection

Several men wrote to DailyMail.com anonymously. One person said the drug had a profound affect on his sex life both times he took it.

He said: The first time I took fin [sic], it took about 18 months before I had any erection issues. I could always get an erection, but it was about 75-80 percent as strong I got freaked out and stopped fin and within three months things were back to normal.

I started back on fin late last year to see if things would be the same, and they were.

He added: During the time I had sex while on oral fin, the sex itself was noticeably worse. I could always manage to finish, but I might have to take a break for a bit.'

Another 37-year-old man from Turkey said after taking finasteride for four years, he has had lower libido and trouble attaining a full erection.

He said: 'Wood isn't as strong as it used to be.

Oddly, Jose Alferez, a personal trainer, said he initially experienced an increase in his libido about a month after starting finasteride.

He said: 'It wasn't until four months in that I started experiencing the side effects of low libido.'

'My doctor pretty much yold me you have to choose between your hair and your gonads.'

GOT A HEALTH-RELATED STORY? EMAIL: Health@dailymail.com Advertisement

In 2017, the consumer watchdog group Public Citizen filed a suit on behalf of patients requesting that the FDA add a warning to the drug about sexual side effects or remove it from the market.

So far, a ruling has not been issued, and the drug remains available.

Scientific evidence to back up the legitimacy of mens claims is mixed.

Some experts believe erectile issues could be linked to other drugs they may be taking, such as antidepressants, or could be tied to an untreated mental health issue.

Still, a 2011 report in the journal Sexual Medicine found that prolonged adverse effects on sexual function such as erectile dysfunction and diminished libido are reported by a subset of men, raising the possibility of a causal relationship.

Another report, this time in the journal Fertility and Sterility, said: Finasteride, even at low doses, may cause reduced sperm counts in some men. In this population, counts improved dramatically for the majority of men after finasteride discontinuation.

The safety of the drug is uncertain and needs more thorough research and documentation.
READ MORE: Baby born with condition where legs fuse together in the womb

A baby in Tanzania was born with its lower body fused together like a 'mermaid' in an ultra rare case

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

A baby in Tanzania was born with its lower body fused together like a 'mermaid' in an ultra rare case.

The newborn, who weighed just over 4.5lbs, was missing one arm and an anal opening and also had ambiguous genitalia, making it difficult to assign a sex. The infant only lived for about five minutes.

Doctors made the diagnosis of sirenomelia, or 'mermaid syndrome,' which has only been recorded a handful of times.

The case was noted earlier this month in a US medical journal.

Sirenomelia is almost always fatal, with just one percent of affected infants surviving longer than one week after birth.

The doctors treating the baby called the condition 'incompatible' with life due to 'multiple defects in critical systems.'

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) states that it's unclear what causes sirenomelia, and most cases occur randomly.

It's thought that tissues do not properly develop or separate in the womb, which leads to lower extremeties fusing together.

The newborn's mother, a 22-year-old with no other children, was a rural farmer who had only attended two prenatal visits.

She had no underlying medical conditions and tested negative for syphilis and HIV.

The mother reported no history of smoking, drinking, drug abuse, or exposure to pesticides.

However, she did regularly use fertilizers due to her work as a farmer, which may have exposed the baby to harmful toxins, the doctors noted.

One of the most famous of Sirenomelia was that of Milagros Cerron, a Peruvian girl who was dubbed the 'Little Mermaid' after her birth in 2004. She lived to be 15 and died as she awaited a kidney transplant

The doctors did not perform any x-rays or post mortem exams 'due to cultural taboo and restriction regarding handling or deceased individuals.' There was no lab capacity for genetic testing.

Very few cases of sironomelia have been reported in medical literature.

One of the most famous was that of Milagros Cerron, a Peruvian girl who was dubbed the 'Little Mermaid' after her birth in 2004.

Despite only having one kidney, she not only beat the odds to survive past birth but also thrived after her legs were separated as a baby. However, she died in 2019 at age 15 while awaiting a kidney transplant.

The case report was published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports.
Are arthouses a breed?

Youre thinking of alsatians.

Maybe airedales

Well, its neither of those. Its a dog who has become a showbiz personality off the back of an arthouse film.

And by showbiz personality you mean

At this months Cannes film festival Hollywood stars including Meryl Streep were interviewed by a dog.

Have you been drinking?

No.

Had Meryl been drinking?

Not as far as we know. Streeps interviewer was Messi, the collie made famous by his role as Snoop in French film Anatomy of a Fall, which won the Palme dOr at Cannes last year.

Who left a Messi on the red carpet? the star collie on the walk of fame at Cannes earlier this month

Human journalists all busy that day, were they?

The aim, said producers at state broadcaster France 2, was for Messis interview series to portray Cannes from a different level.

Which level?

The height of a dog.

Youre not telling me that the French have been watching Messi, the Cannes Festival Seen from the Height of a Dog?

Obviously not: that would be completely baffling for them.

Sanity prevails.

The title of the show is in French: Messi, le Festival de Cannes vu a Hauteur de Chien.

Touche. What qualifies Messi to document an artists journey?

Hes been on a tortuous one himself. His owner Laura Martin Contini, interviewed by GQ, said that hes had trouble getting roles in the past because of his unusual eyes.

Acting is a fickle profession.

Although he did land an ad for Pedigree before his breakout role.

I havent seen Anatomy of a Fall  remind me what all the doggy fuss was about.

Messi (Snoop) has a big overdose scene where he has to play dead. Critics praised his convincing tongue-lolling.

What happens?

Spoiler alert: he recovers to become a key player in a did he eat aspirin-laced vomit? courtroom drama.

What a shame I missed a dog eating its own regurgitation

It was someone elses.

Sounds like a poignant piece of cinematography.

Look, it might not be your cup of sick but the point is that audiences loved it.

Really?

Messi made it into Oscars host Jimmy Kimmels opening monologue where he said: I havent seen a French actor eatvomit like that since Gerard Depardieu.

Which bodily fluids will Messi be consuming next?

He wont want to limit himself artistically now that he has such massive pulling power.

How massive?

There are currently 52.3 million videos about him on TikTok. Thats going to make producers roll over and beg.

Dog star: Kodi also lit up the film festival

And has it opened the kennel gates for other arthouse dogs?

Very much so. As The Guardian reports, one of the red-carpet stars at Cannes was tall, blond and leggy.

How many legs?

Four.

Thought so.

Fawn-maned griffon cross Kodi [playing the role of Cosmos] is the star of French-Swiss actor Laetitia Doschs directorial debut Dog on Trial.

Another dog in a legal bind?

Its a thing.

Whats the thrust of this plot?

Kodi/Cosmos is facing capital punishment.

More ill-advised vomit consumption?

No  hes been biting people.

Any other doggy stars rising?

Black Dog, by Chinese film-maker Guan Hu, will tell the story of a dog who escapes the strays purge that preceded the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The name of its canine star is yet to be released.

So for now Messi is still leading the pack. And next?

Hes in talks about a new (as yet unnamed) French series that arthouse lovers are hoping will be as novel as Anatomy of a Fall.

Will the narrative elements be thematically consistent with the avant-garde?

More, say film buffs, the (lamp)post-modern.
When people think of cheetahs, they think of speed, says James Hanaway, director of development for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) UK. Its understandable.

The big cat is the fastest land animal and can run at speeds of 120mph. By comparison, lions only reach a measly 50mph; Usain Bolt, at his quickest, just 28mph.

Perhaps because of that, theres a misconception that the cheetah is thriving and surviving. In reality, 90 per cent of the population has vanished in the past century; there are about 7,000 cheetahs left in Africa and only 50 in Asia.

The problem is partly the illegal wildlife trade that operates from the Horn of Africa to the Middle East  in which cheetahs are smuggled and sold as pets. It is a cruel practice.

In the wild, cheetahs live for up to 14 years; in a domestic home  where theyre caged, chained and often declawed or have their teeth removed  they live only until theyre two.

CCF estimates about 300 cheetahs disappear every year from the Horn of Africa. Currently, there are fewer than 500 of the cats left in the area. So you dont have to do much maths to work out that its a number thats going to deplete rapidly, says Hanaway.

CCF was founded in 1990 by zoologist Dr Laurie Marker. It works with local farmers to stop poaching and has an 800-hectare rescue centre in Somaliland for smuggled cheetah cubs.

Recently, the company has recruited Lily Gray, a 30-year-old wildlife campaigner and former Made in Chelsea star. This year, Gray sponsored a rescued cheetah cub  also called Lily.

The animal was found malnourished, flea-ridden and tied to a post on a farm in Somaliland. Now, shes recovering in the sanctuary. Lily the cheetah and Lily the human havent met yet, but Gray hopes they will by the end of this year.

Cheetahs are predators, but they are also vulnerable, says Hanaway. Gray agrees. Her favourite fact about this animal is that, like domestic cats, the gentle cheetah meows and purrs.

For more details visit cheetah.org/uk
Holidaymakers are returning from abroad with an eye-watering 429million of unspent cash on their prepaid travel cards, research claims.

The amount left on prepaid cards has increased by 16 per cent from 369million last year, according to travel debit card firm Currensea.

These travellers may face additional fees and poor exchange rates when they withdraw their remaining cash, while many will simply forget about the leftover funds on their card after they return home.

Prepaid cards are chip and pin cards that allow travellers to load up cash in a different currency in advance, and avoid using their main bank account while on holiday.

Tap and go: Prepaid travel cards are convenient, but can incur fees to withdraw any money left on them at the end of the holiday

They are offered by lots of firms including the Post Office, Sainsbury's, Travelex and Mastercard.

On average, travellers return from trips with 89 left on their prepaid cards, while 27 per cent of those using these cards have more than 100 left to spend, according to Currensea.

A whopping 42 per cent of those with school-age kids return with more than 100, with the average at 109.

James Lynn, co-founder of Currensea, said: 'UK travellers are wasting a huge chunk of their holiday savings by sticking with costly and inconvenient pre-paid cards which offer poor value, high fees and require the hassle of topping up.

'Topping up pre-paid cards before you travel leaves no room for error and often leaves holidaymakers scrambling for money at extortionate ATMs, facing steep bank charges when they have to rely on their bank card, or risking returning from holiday with huge amounts leftover on pre-paid cards.'

What are prepaid cards and what are the fees?

Prepaid travel cards work in much the same way as a credit or debit card, allowing you to withdraw from cash machines or spend your money in shops and restaurants.

The key difference is that the card is only loaded with as much money as you are willing to spend.

This has its benefits, allowing you to budget more effectively, as well as locking in one foreign exchange rate when you load the card, instead of a different rate every time you spend.

Some 13 per cent of holidaymakers opt for prepaid cards as their preferred method of holiday spending, according to Currensea.

However, these cards often charge a fee when you load the card, charge fees on cash withdrawal and sometimes even on transactions.

For example, Caxton's prepaid travel card will charge 1.50 on withdrawals back in the UK, while the Post Office travel money card will charge the same.

Both cards also impose a 2 monthly fee for inaction after a 12-month period.

A third of pre-paid card users are under the impression that they offer better exchange rates than other payment methods, meaning that they could still be losing out even if they do spend all the money on their card.

In fact, regular debit cards that don't charge fees for use abroad often offer a better deal.

For example, a Monzo debit card will allow you to buy 1.1697 for every 1, whereas Caxton's black card will buy you just 1.14.

Currensea's own offering, meanwhile, will buy you 1.1676.

Lynn said: 'Millions of people still wrongly believe that pre-paid cards offer the best solution when spending money abroad.

'They're no longer more secure than bank cards as most bank and card providers allow you to simply freeze your card if it is missing or stolen and the fees are uncompetitive.

'By adopting smarter spending habits, travellers can avoid excessive foreign exchange fees, securing as good a deal on their holiday spending as they do on flights or accommodation.'

With pre-paid cards having their drawbacks, what other options are available?

Cash remains king

Gone are the days where an envelope full of foreign cash was an essential part of planning a trip abroad. Nevertheless, more than half of travellers still count it as an important part of their spending.

The old adage of 'cash is king' proving true, as 58 per cent of Brits still favour physical money while on holiday, according to Currensea.

More than a quarter of people, 27 per cent, said they use their credit card while abroad, while 27 per cent also use a high street bank card.

Spending cash may also help you to stick to your budget.

With many ATMs charging withdrawal fees in foreign countries, taking out cash beforehand can prove a sensible decision, especially as you can compare the exchange rates offered by various vendors.

However, these rates might not be the best, especially if you leave it until you get to the airport to change your sterling.

On top of this, travelling with cash leaves you at risk of losing it or having it stolen.
The hugely damaging impact on the economy of poor connectivity has been laid bare by research showing Britain ranks 22 out of 25 European countries for 5G, the most up-to-date technology offering higher mobile and download speeds.

The US and China are racing ahead while the UK has the lowest download speed of a G7 country.

The study from independent analytics group Opensignal could turn the slow roll-out of 5G into a General Election issue since all parties are sure to pledge to reverse the UKs flagging productivity.

Damaging: The hugely damaging impact on the economy of poor connectivity has been laid bare

Upgrading all types of infrastructure, including mobile networks, would be crucial to such promises.

Both the Conservatives and Labour are likely to be eager to assure the nation that the decline can begin to be reversed: Britain was once the global leader in mobile innovation.

An industry insider said this weekend: Network investment is a multi-year programme, its not a quick fix. If things dont change soon, the UK is in danger of slipping further behind.

Businesses, hospitals and social care would be key beneficiaries of much greater availability of 5G.

Vodafone UK calculates small and medium businesses could deliver 8.6 billion in annual productivity savings if the provision of 5G could be improved.

For example, 5Gs superior connectivity could enable a factory with robots to be reconfigured for greater effectiveness without costly and disruptive rewiring.

Tech advances: The US and China are racing ahead while the UK has the lowest download speed of a G7 country

Vodafone adds that introducing more 5G into hospitals would bring efficiencies equivalent to the salaries of 15,400 nurses.

The alarming data on 5G will turn attention to the Government investigation into the contentious merger of the UK businesses of Vodafone and Three, a division of the Chinese CK Hutchinson conglomerate.

It is claimed the get-together could provide funds of 11billion to help finance the estimated 25billion bill for a more rapid roll-out across the UK.

The cost of this capital-intensive endeavour is far greater than that of the 4G roll-out, presenting a challenge that has stood in the way of progress to date.

Margherita Della Valle, chief executive of Vodafone, has described the deal as a multi-trillion opportunity that would help innovation and public services.

The merger  which would create the UKs largest mobile operator  is being examined by the Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) in one of its in-depth phase 2 investigations.

The stance of Labour on the investigation is not known, but this may be because the party is reluctant to be seen to interfere with the CMA, an independent body.

Behind the investigation lie concerns that the combined groups 27 million customers would face steep price rises  and also a drop in quality  as competition in the sector lessened.

The merger would create a business larger than EE, owned by BT, and Virgin Media O2 which is a division of Telefonica of Spain and the US corporation Liberty Global. There are also security concerns surrounding the influence of the Chinese state.

CK Hutchinson, which also owns the Superdrug chain and Northumbrian Water, was founded by 95-year-old Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing.

If the deal were approved, Vodafone would control 51 per cent of the enlarged group, appoint the chief executive and aim to dilute the Chinese minority interest over a three-year period.

The CMA is set to report in September, although the body can extend the process.

But the Election will heighten the focus on Vodafones argument that only the capacity and financial clout of the combined group can deliver the 5G upgrade.

The company also contends that a combined, stronger network would significantly boost competition in the wholesale market.

It says the 150-plus MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) who include Sky and Tesco would be given more choice. The MVNO sector is the fastest-growing segment of the mobile industry.

Currently 90 per cent of MVNOs do not opt for the networks of either Vodafone or Three as their wholesale provider: they must partner with either of the two main players EE or Virgin Media 02.
30% more Chinese tourists expected to visit Russian capital in 2024: Moscow tourism official

13:21, May 25, 2024 By Chu Daye ( Global Times

A Chinese tourist takes pictures on the streets of Moscow on May 24, 2024. Photo: Chu Daye/GT

There could be a significant increase in the number of Chinese visitors to the Russian capital this year, due to the enhanced level of cooperation among bilateral industry participants following Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent state visit to China, a Moscow tourism official told the Global Times.

Russia has become a rising tourist destination for Chinese tourists in the wake of the pandemic. Last year, the number of Chinese visitors to the Russian capital saw a fivefold increase from that of 2022.

"A record level of 244,000 Chinese tourists visited Moscow in 2023, people came to Moscow directly from China on 55 flights per week from different Chinese cities. And I think it is still not enough," Evgeny Kozlov, chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, told the Global Times on Thursday local time.

"It is difficult to predict the percentage of increase after Russian president's visit to China along with the intensive negotiations between top economic and trade officials from both sides," Kozlov said. "I predict there will be an increase in figures as a result of a boost in trust and confidence between commercial tourism companies between the two sides."

Kozlov noted that there may be an annual growth of 10 percent in the number of Chinese tourists to Moscow. "Counting the confidence booster effective, the figure could be 20 or 30 percent as the year unfolds," Kozlov said.

Russia has since last year offered a series of travel facilitation measures to Chinese tourists including a more accommodating visa policy making it easier for Chinese tourists to arrive in Russia in groups. Visas can now be issued in five days.

Experts said despite some difficulties faced by Chinese tourists, including safety concerns, the vast potential of China-Russia tourism industry cooperation may help the realization of fast growth figures.

The two countries are holding a China-Russia Year of Culture and Moscow for the first time hosted big events dedicated to the Chinese New Year in February.

Currently, many Chinese tourists to Russia are business people seeking opportunities who take in the sights during their trip. The Global Times reported in December that an unexpectedly large number of aurora-seeking Chinese tourists flooded the Russian Arctic port city Murmansk in winter, overloading the local tourism sector in a sign of the vast potential of the Chinese market as a tourist source country.

To beef up capacity, Kozlov told the Global Times that Moscow tourism authority plans to increase the number of licensed Chinese-speaking tour guides to 500 by the end of 2024 from the current 100 to meet market demand.

The Moscow City Tourism Committee also intensified its promotion efforts to the Chinese market by doubling the number of roadshows in China. On top of roadshows to be held in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, roadshows will also be hosted in cities of Chengdu and Chongqing in Southwest China and Harbin in Northeast China in the following months.

Song Kui, president of the Contemporary China-Russia Regional Economy Research Institute, told the Global Times on Friday that tourism, along with culture, arts and sports, is an indispensable component in further deepening bilateral ties and cooperation.

Despite some concerns posed by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and some other difficulties, Song said bilateral tourism activity will continue to mount to new heights given the continuous strengthening of strategic ties, Russia's unique tourist resources and stable prices, and enhanced cooperation among Chinese and Russian localities.

Russian President Putin's popularity among the Chinese people is also a favorable card for the Russian tourism industry in the effort to woo Chinese tourists, Song said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Jacolby Satterwhite poses for a portrait in his work: Jacolby Satterwhite: A Metta Prayer on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Visitors immersed in "Solar Dust" which arrives at POST Houston on June 1. Alba Ruperez "How to Act" from Gabriel Lester's "Odeon" now on view at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Justin Li Installation view of "Theaster Gates: The Gift and The Renege" at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 2024. Alex Barber Exterior of Space Explorers: The Infinite at Silver Street Studios on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Houston. Immersive experience inspired by NASA missions aboard the International Space Station. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

#MuseumTok is trending. While the jury is still out on what that means, exactly, here's the bottom line: It's good news for museums.

According to TikTok's on-platform data, #museum saw a 30 % increase in posts on TikTok between January and April of this year in comparison to last year. In 2023, the social media platform began engaging with U.S. cultural institutions on account and content development, best practices and general guidance to reach wider audiences with high-quality content.

TikTok partnered the Houston Museum of Natural Science with creator Duke Tax (@dukelovestaxes, 3.5 million followers) over a four-month Cultural Institutions Collective adviser program. The results? An increase in followers (@houstonmuseumns) from 46,000 in October 2023 to 92,000 and counting.

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A micro trend within #MuseumTok is reinterpreting fine art through a modern lens. With that in mind, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's newly reopened Arts of Korea Gallery, with its 25 works on loan from the National Museum of Korea, is a great place to start, given the timeliness of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage month.

Of course, aspiring creators should push beyond the current trend and make their own. Here's where social media savvy Houstonians are in luck. The Bayou City has no shortage of museums, galleries and immersive experiences. These are the latest art exhibitions and events worth exploring to support local institutions in pursuit of viral fame.

Jacolby Satterwhite: 'A Metta Prayer'

Jacolby Satterwhite during his spoken word performance for the opening of "A Metta Prayer," now on view at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Notice anything different at Cullinan Hall in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston? Now through Nov. 10, interdisciplinary artist Jacolby Satterwhite's "A Metta Prayer" has transformed the Mies van der Rohe-designed space into a kaleidoscopic, computer-generated world that feels more like a nightclub than the entrance into the Caroline Wiess Law Building.

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The site-specific, multimedia installation was commissioned for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Great Hall in 2023.

"We were aware of Satterwhite's work, because he did an installation at the Blaffer two years ago," said Alison de Lima Greene, MFAH Isabel Brown Wilson Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art. "Gary (Tinterow) was visiting the Met when 'A Metta Prayer' opened in its lobby, and we immediately invited Jacolby to install for Houston."

Considerable adaptations were made to translate the piece from the Met's Beaux Arts-style lobby into a more immersive, four-wall experience at MFAH. Satterwhite was pleased with how "A Metta Prayer's" mix of choreography, video, animation, lighting and music resonated in Cullinan Hall, sans the Met's ambient noise, Greene said.

She describes the work as a mashup between video games that were popularized in the 1990s, such as "Grand Theft Auto," with contemporary art and today's politics.

On May 18, the artist, dressed in white, and two collaborators delivered a 30-minute spoken-word performance.

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"The CGI is deliberately still relative low-tech, a throwback to historic video gaming, a new visual language for the museum," Greene said. "The joyous energy of Satterwhite and the speed of his attention and editing is infectious. It carries you along as a viewer."

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonet

'Theaster Gates: The Gift and the Renege'

Installation view of "Theaster Gates: The Gift and The Renege" at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 2024. Alex Barber

With "The Gift and the Renege," Theaster Gates aims to give unwanted objects, including historic bricks from Houston's Freedmen's Town, dignity and value through form.

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"It's not an attempt at solving the problems of Freedmen's Town with an exhibition," the artist said during an exhibition preview at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. "There's a lot of unbuilding."

His show contends with patterns of promise and retraction related to the fight for land in "racialized and subjugated communities," according to a release from CAMH. Gates explained that the large-scale paintings, sculpture and installations stand in as a metaphor of Black precarity and the accumulation of other people's problems. Hence the use of so much discarded "stuff."

It's a sort of "one person's trash is another person's treasure" story, as Gates explores what he describes as the "unfortunate gift" of Freedmen's Town, a community in Fourth Ward built by newly freed Black people post-Emancipation Proclamation, and the ongoing battle to maintain and preserve the neighborhood as outside forces continue to renege on promises of support.

The exhibition, on view through Oct. 20, is part of CAMH and Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy's multiyear project, "Rebirth in Action."

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Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose

'Gabriel Lester: Odeon'

"Startstruck III," (2020) from Gabriel Lester's "Odeon" exhibition on view at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. C. Eeftinck Schattenkerk

"Odeon," the final exhibition organized by the Blaffer Art Museum's former Jane Dale Owen Director and chief curator, Steven Matijcio, becomes European artist Gabriel Lester inaugural solo museum show on U.S. soil.

On view through Aug. 11, Lester's work examines the interplay between light and shadow, and the seen and the unseen as a response to Houston's fossil fuel industry and its lasting effects on the region. Highlights include:

 "StarStruck," an installation consisting of a pool of oil disrupted by water droplets and flares of light within a chamber.

 "Cosmic Call," a neighboring video sculpture with low-resolution LED monitors to create mesmerizing, albeit elusive, scenes of the universe.

 "How to Act," an immersive, color installation complemented by soundtracks from various genres of film and television that is at once familiar and uncanny.

 "Jump Cut, an adjacent series where early modes of cinema flash before the visitor's eyes via methodically rotating cubes.

Blaffer Art Museum, 4173 Elgin

'Space Explorers: The Infinite'

Participants stand in an art installation by Ryoji Ikeda called The Universe with the Universe 2021 during Space Explorers: The Infinite at Silver Street Studios. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Space Explorers: The Infinite, a 60-minute immersive, virtual- and augmented-reality adventure set on the International Space Station, has returned to Silver Street Studios. Now through June, the virtual-reality space experience that made Bun B and NASA astronauts cry in 2021 is open and offering a second opportunity to journey through video images from never-before-seen footage captured by astronauts for the 2021 Emmy Award-winning film Space Explorers: The ISS Experience.

Almost everyone who journeys through The Infinite gets emotional. Gregory Reid Wiseman, a U.S. Navy captain and NASA astronaut who recently visited, told fellow astronauts Anne McClain and Christine Koch that he shed tears, too.

McClain, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, engineer and NASA astronaut, and Koch, an engineer and NASA astronaut, helped capture the footage from space.

Going through The Infinite made me think back to our mission, Koch says. I didnt realize how much I forgot. The details  its so realistic. There are so many little things to relive.

Houston rapper Bun B experienced The Infinite during the world premiere in Montreal back in 2021. He teared up as well.

Organizers describe The Infinite as a life-size, 3D re-creation of the International Space Station, virtual-reality spacewalk and installation by Japanese artist Ryoji Ikeda, "The Universe Within the Universe." Tickets start at $38.

Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards

'Solar Dust'

Visitors immersed in "Solar Dust" which arrives at POST Houston on June 1. Alba Ruperez

Next month, an immersive artwork exploring light, sound and the interconnectedness of nature and technology arrives at Post Houston. "Solar Dust" marks the U.S. debut of the pop-up by Quiet Ensemble, an Italian art studio, organized by Art Club, a black box art exhibition and nightlife experience arriving at X Atrium at the Post this fall.

The traveling show made its debut in Austria. "Solar Dust" opens June 7; tickets are $7.
The great and the good were at the Chelsea Flower Show this week, keen to see and be seen at what is undoubtedly the most flourishing event of the business calendar.

On Monday night former chancellor of the exchequer turned investment banker George Osborne was in chipper mood, admitting that it was the first time he had been to the gala dinner, the hottest ticket of the show.

Another of David Camerons chums Seb James was also in attendance, although the Old Etonian boss of Boots the Chemist was tight-lipped about a sale or flotation of the chain by its US owner Walgreens.

He's back: George Osborne attended the latest Chelsea Flower Show

Alongside all the suits was a smattering of celebs such as actor Richard E Grant.

The high life indeed.

Labour's City charm offensive

Labour's charm offensive on the City shows no sign of abating.

Its latest fundraising dinner was at the Science Museum in west London, where former Legal & General boss Sir Nigel Wilson was hobnobbing with the partys top brass, including its chairwoman Anneliese Dodds and shadow economic secretary Tulip Siddiq.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds have been trying to steal what was always solid Tory ground.

Labour has been fundraising for two years and the City knows it needs to get close to them, said Addy Frederick, head of public affairs at insurer Admiral.

Shein appoints advisory groups

Chinese fast fashion giant Shein has appointed advisory groups Brunswick and FGS Global to help sell its story ahead of a blockbuster flotation this summer.

So there were some red faces when reports popped up revealing that FGS had allegedly sent one of its most senior managers to its Chinese outposts to deal with allegations that Western partners behave in a colonial manner there.

Clearly FGS successfully wriggled its way out of the hole.

More women at the top

There are only ten female chief executives in the FTSE 100, but one man who wants to see more is Mark Versey, chief executive at Aviva Investors, part of the wider Aviva insurance group.

Ive had three female bosses and theyve all been excellent. Much better than the men, he gushed to The Mail on Sunday.

Boss Amanda Blanc has been credited with turning around Aviva, which had for years been languishing in the doldrums.

She caused a storm last year after saying all white, male senior promotions and hires at Aviva required her final approval. Full marks to Versey for upward management skills.

Contributor: Ruth Sunderland
Some of Britains largest fund managers have spoken out against plans for fast fashion giant Shein to float in London.

London is currently vying with New York for the blockbuster 53billion float, which would see Shein slip straight into the blue-chip FTSE 100.

But UK money managers, including Aviva Investors, Schroders and M&G, may turn their backs on the listing over concerns about workers rights at the Chinese fashion giant.

Speaking out: Some of Britains largest fund managers have spoken out against plans for Shein to float in London

The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association, said it does not want London to become a listing place of last resort for companies with poor human rights records.

A Channel 4 investigation in 2022 revealed some Chinese workers were paid as little as 3p per garment while working 18-hour days. Sheins profits hit 1.6billion last year.
An Aussie mum who spent almost a decade recovering from horrific burns has just celebrated her first Mother's Day with her bundle of joy.

An incident at a birthday party 10 years ago turned Charlotte Brown's life upside down.

A fire from a tabletop ethanol burner torched more than 30 per cent of her body.

Ms Brown was left with such terrible burns that she spent more than five weeks in an induced coma at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

Charlotte Brown and her husband Andrew welcomed their first child, Edith, in March

She spent her twenties learning to independently breathe, walk and talk again.

Her husband Andrew also sustained severe burns in the blaze.

The couple were both in hospital at the same time and supported each other through their darkest days.

They wanted to start a family but faced concerns over how Ms Brown's scarring would affect her pregnancy.

Thankfully, the pair welcomed their first child Edith in March.

'I was 22 when the accident happened and was put in an induced coma for five-and-a-half weeks, which saw most of my body, apart from my legs, grafted with unburnt skin,' Ms Brown said.

'It has challenged every part of me physically and mentally but I have become more resilient and capable than ever.

'I've had an exciting career so far, I'm married to my wonderful husband, we have the best friends and families, two lovely dogs and now our first baby.'

A fire from a tabletop ethanol burner torched more than 30 percent of Ms Brown's body

The new mum said she was so thankful to all the doctors and nurses who guided her through her pregnancy and birth.

'We kind of had to just see how it went,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'The heat of the Brisbane summer really affected me with so much scarring because I can't thermoregulate my body properly.

'There was a small amount of scarring on my belly that got very tight towards the end of my pregnancy.

'I had to monitor everything very closely.'

Ms Brown spent three months in hospital recovering after her accident, followed by two years of rehabilitation.

She had lots of physiotherapy to regain movement and elasticity in the skin.

The new mum said she was 'absolutely loving motherhood'.

'It is a rollercoaster, like the burns rehab journey... You have good days and bad days but they all count in the end,' she said.

'I'm learning so much along the way and taking in all of the joyful moments with Edith and my family'.

The new mum said she was 'absolutely loving motherhood'

Now 32, Ms Brown is a communications advisor and advocate for initiatives that educate and empower survivors so they can thrive and achieve the things they really want - 'like starting a family'.

'Beyond the years of physical therapy, the psychological and social journey you undertake as a burns survivor also takes a very long time,' she said.

'Learning to love yourself again and draw strength from what you've been through is tough but absolutely possible - there's light at the end of the tunnel.

'I want to show women with scarring and/or burns that it's possible to have a happy, healthy life.'

Ms Brown and her husband founded Burnslife, a non-profit arm of the RBWH Foundation, to provide psycho-social support to burns victims and their carers.

She is also a co-chair of the Australia New Zealand Burns Association's national Consumer Advisory Group.
A new Netflix mini-series has been slammed by angry viewers for its 'terrible' ending.

Man in Full - adapted from Tom Wolfe's 1998 novel - was released as a six-part limited series on the streaming giant on May 2.

The Regina King-directed series follows banker Raymond Peepgrass (Tom Pelphrey) as he attempts to expose Atlanta business mogul Charlie Croker (Jeff Daniels) and his massive $800 million debt.

The intricate narrative includes several subplots, including the imprisonment of Conrad Hensley, husband of Charlie Croker's assistant Jill Hensley (Chante Adams), after he retaliates against a police officer's assault.

The show also contains a storyline featuring Lucy Liu as an affluent business owner who decides to speak out about a sexual assault that occurred two decades ago.

Pictured: (L to R) Christian Clemenson as Stroock, Jeff Daniels as Charlie Croker in episode 101 of A Man in Full

Pictured: (L to R) Tom Pelphrey as Raymond Peepgrass, Jeff Daniels as Charlie Croker in episode 101 of A Man in Full

Pictured: Tom Pelphrey as Raymond Peepgrass, Brooke Bloom as Sandy Dickens in episode 101 of A Man in Full

While many viewers remarked on the confusing nature of the many subplots, it was the show's ending that seemed to disappoint fans the most.

The series, which currently ranks third on Netflix's global Top 10 chart, concludes with Raymond seducing Croker's ex-wife Martha (Diane Lane), leveraging her business shares to forge an alliance against Croker.

The finale sees Croker and Peepgrass in a tense face-to-face encounter, ending with a graphic and fatal confrontation that abruptly cuts off - leaving viewers hanging.

With viewers left with divided opinions over the series finale, fans took to to X to share their thoughts over the 'lazy' and 'terrible' ending.

One fan wrote: 'After watching a Man in Full... I feel kinda robbed by the ending. It's a Netflix limited series so there probably won't be a second season. I hate when these creators make shows like this.'

Another fumed: 'Just binge watched a Man in Full, good show, terrible ending, I'm p****8.'

A third wrote, 'I watched A Man in Full and it was ok, but the ending is terrible,' while a fourth disappointed viewer added, 'I see why a Man in Full has poor ratings - cause that ending is very useless.'

Another viewer said: 'Just finished Netflix's A Man in Full, which was a fantastic series, beautifully written and directed. However, what the hell was that ending?'

Pictured: (L to R) Jeff Daniels as Charlie Croker and Sarah Jones as Serena Croker

Pictured: Aml Ameen as Roger White in episode 102

With viewers left with divided opinions over the series finale, fans took to to X to share their thoughts over the 'lazy' and 'terrible' ending.

A final fan wrote: 'Just binged Man in Full from Netflix. Five incredible episodes followed by an incredibly lazy ending.'

They added: 'Gee, how are we going to solve all these complicated story lines we've created?'

However, one delighted fan praised the show's 'cinematic' ending, writing: 'A Man in Full directed by Regina King is absolute cinema! Perfection and amazing ending!'

It comes after Netflix was heavily criticised earlier this month by MPs and school campaigners after viewers were confronted with a fully erect penis in the show.

It is believed to be the first time a mainstream drama on British TV has broken the 'erect penis' taboo  and there was no prior warning about graphic nudity.
Fashion publicist Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy became a style icon in the 1990s, to the extent that she rivalled Princess Diana's impact.

Both married into royalty, one literally and the other figuratively; both died tragically young, and both knew how to dress casually.

So it's no surprise that Carolyn's style - which also had a place in the political world given that she was the spouse of John F Kennedy Jr - has inspired Meghan.

The Duchess of Sussex shared her admiration for Carolyn long before she married Prince Harry, describing Carolyn's Narciso Rodriguez wedding dress as 'everything goals' and using it as inspiration for her own.

This minimalist aesthetic and refined simplicity is clearly reflected in the Duchess of Sussex's own fashion choices.

In recent days, the Duchess of Sussex's supporters have declared that she is 'heading to the White House' after her presidential-like visit to Nigeria with Prince Harry.

Experts have highlighted how she could just be a few steps from the US Presidency, so her style will be a crucial weapon if she does make a tilt into politics.

As is clear below, on numerous occasions Meghan has channelled particular outfits worn by Carolyn - who died alongside her husband in a plane crash in 1999 - at the peak of her fame.

Meghan apparently used Carolyn's dress as one of her inspirations when choosing her dress. Above: With Prince Harry after their wedding ceremony inside Windsor's St George's Chapel

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy marrying JFK Jnr in a Narciso Rodriguez wedding dress

White shirt and maxi skirt

In early 2019, Meghan attended the Endeavour Fund Awards in an ensemble that was straight out of the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy look book.

The duchess, who was pregnant with son Archie at the time, paired a Givenchy white button-down shirt with a floor-length black skirt.

It was strikingly similar to a look worn by Carolyn to a benefit gala in March 1999.

The former publicist tucked a men's white shirt, its top buttons left undone like Meghan's, into a long black skirt with a ruffled hem, both designed by Yohji Yamamoto.

In early 2019, Meghan attended the Endeavour Fund Awards in an ensemble that was straight out of the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy look book. The duchess, who was pregnant with son Archie at the time, paired a Givenchy white button-down shirt with a floor-length black skirt. It was strikingly similar to a look worn by Carolyn to a benefit gala in March 1999

Ripped Jeans

For her very first official public appearance as Prince Harry's girlfriend in 2017, Meghan kept it casual in ripped Mother jeans and a crisp white oxford by Misha Nonoo.

A white button-down is universally considered a wardrobe staple, but the garment also happens to have been a fond favourite of Carolyn.

She dressed for Labour Day in 1996 in a similar oversized shirt with rolled up sleeves, ripped jeans, tousled hair and sunglasses.

For her very first official public appearance as Prince Harry's girlfriend, Meghan kept it casual in ripped Mother jeans and a crisp white oxford by Misha Nonoo. Meanwhile, Carolyn dressed for Labour Day in 1996 in a similar oversized shirt with rolled up sleeves, ripped jeans, tousled hair and sunglasses

Camel Skirt

For her first royal event after her engagement to Harry was announced, Meghan paid homage to an outfit Carolyn wore in a similarly pivotal public moment.

For her first royal event after her engagement to Harry was announced, Meghan paid homage to an outfit Carolyn wore in a similarly pivotal public moment. Carolyn wore her look in 1996 while making an appearance with her husband JFK Jr. outside their Tribeca apartment following her own wedding

The looks may be over two decades apart, but the basic elements are all there: a black sweater, a camel midi skirt, and knee-high boots.

Carolyn wore her look in 1996 while making an appearance with her husband JFK Jr. outside their Tribeca apartment following her own wedding.

Meghan chose a Joseph skirt and Kurt Geiger to seemingly echo Carolyn's appearance.

Asymmetric Neckline

Another aspect where Meghan Markle channels Carolyn is through her choice of sophisticated dresses that combine simplicity with a fashionable edge.

In 2018 she wore the Black Halo 'Jackie O' dress named after Carolyn's mother-in-law - 1960s style icon and former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

It featured the same asymmetric neckline as the gown Carolyn wore to The White House in 1998.

Meghan wearing a Jackie O' dress in 2018 is a little bit of a hint towards her obsession with the Kennedy clan's fashion

Black t-shirt and jeans

Accessories play a crucial role in drawing the fashion parallel between the two icons.

Like Carolyn did, Meghan often dresses down in classic staples - such as at the Invictus Games in 2023 when she opted for a J Crew top and Frame skinny jeans.

The look was similar to Carolyn's denim and t-shirt combination when she was spotted walking her dog shortly after her honeymoon in 1996.

Accessories play a crucial role in drawing the fashion parallel between the two icons. Like Carolyn did, Meghan often dresses down in classic staples - such as at the Invictus Games in 2023 when she opted for a J Crew top and Frame skinny jeans (left). The look was similar to Carolyn's denim and t-shirt combination when she was spotted walking her dog shortly after her honeymoon in 1996

Carolyn was known for her minimalist approach to accessories, often seen with simple gold hoops or a delicate chain necklace.

Meghan follows suit, usually opting for understated jewellery that complements her outfits without overwhelming them.

She appears to share with Carolyn the style philosophy that less is undeniably more.

Monochrome

Meghan also channels Carolyn in her love for monochromatic ensembles.

Carolyn was frequently seen in all-black or all-white outfits and Meghan has adopted a similar approach.

She often opts for monochrome looks that are both sophisticated and modern.

When launching her Smart Works charity collection in 2019, Meghan's Jigsaw trousers and Misha Nonoo shirt were reminiscent of Carolyn's ensemble at Hyannis Port in 1998.

When launching her Smart Works charity collection in 2019, Meghan's Jigsaw trousers and Misha Nonoo shirt were reminiscent of Bessette-Kennedy's ensemble at Hyannis Port in 1998

Strapless

Markle's preference for shoulder bearing strapless dresses is another nod to Carolyn's influence.

Both women favour chic and polished dresses that emphasise structure and form.

For an appearance in 2016, Meghan dressed in Cedric Charlier, echoing Carolyn's evening gala look at the Municipal Arts Society in 1998.
As a man's life teetered on the edge of death, he experienced a chilling encounter - a deep, dark pit opened up beneath him as his late father appeared overhead.

But far from feeling comforted, a sense of horror washed over him as he realized he was about to die and said to the doctor treating him: 'You've got to hurry, you're losing me right now'.

Sebastian Junger, a 62-year-old American journalist and author of The Perfect Storm, shared this harrowing near death experience in his new book 'In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife' - where he reveals how this defining moment completely altered the trajectory of his life.

Junger had been enjoying a peaceful moment with his wife at a remote cabin in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2020 when he was suddenly engulfed in pain. Unbeknown to him he had suffered a rupture from an undiagnosed aneurysm in his pancreatic artery and was bleeding out into his own abdomen.

His body had become a ticking time bomb, losing a pint of blood every 10 to 15 minutes. With 10 pints of blood in a human body, Junger would dead within two hours.

On an otherwise ordinary day in the summer of 2020, Sebastian Junger, a 62-year-old American journalist and writer, suffered a rupture from an undiagnosed aneurysm in his pancreatic artery

Junger, known for his work in conflict zones like Afghanistan, where he narrowly escaped death, as well as when he almost drowned while exploring extreme weather in 'The Perfect Storm,' has released a memoir titled 'In My Time of Dying'

When Junger finally made it to hospital doctors fought to save him as he drifted in and out of consciousness.

It was then that he experienced a surreal near-death encounter where he saw his late father overhead and a 'deep dark pit' beneath him.

As a doctor tried to insert a large-gauge needle into his jugular he described in his book how he became aware of 'a dark pit below me and to my left'.

'The pit was the purest black and so infinitely deep that it had no real depth at all,' he continued. 'It exerted a pull that was slow but unanswerable, and I knew if I went into the hole, I was never coming back'.

When he later asked the doctors about what was happening medically with him at this time, they estimated that he was 10 to 15 minutes away from cardiac arrest and death.

During this time Junger also became aware of his father - who had died eight years earlier aged 89 - floating above him and slightly to his left.

'My father exuded reassurance and seemed to be inviting me to go with him. 'It's OK there's nothing to be scared of,' he seemed to be saying. 'Don't fight it. I'll take care of you.'' he recalled in his book.

But his presence horrified Jugner, who said that while he loved him, 'his invitation to join him seemed grotesque'.

'He was dead, I was alive, and I wanted nothing to do with him', he wrote.

It was then that he turned to the doctor and said 'Doctor, you've got to hurry. You're losing me. I'm going right now'.

'And that was the last thing I remembered for a very long time,' he added.

As medical professionals fought to save his life, Junger experienced a surreal encounter - he saw his dead father overhead and a 'deep dark pit' beneath him

But seeing an image of his late father didn't bring comfort to Jugner, who remembers feeling 'horrified' in the moment (Pictured: Tim Hetherington, Daniela Petrova, Sebastian Junger at arrivals for The National Board of Review 2011)

He also recalled the moment during surgery when a nurse told him: 'Try to keep your eyes open so we know you're still with us' - describing the 'kind of ancient dread' settle over him as his body understood what was happening in a way his mind didn't.

When Junger finally did wake up in ICU, he recalled the moment the nurse said to him: 'You almost died last night. In fact no one can believe you're alive.'

In that moment he described lying there thinking about death for the first time in his life.

'Not death on my terms - the jacked up energy of a close call the sick relief of a lucky break - but on its terms,' he explained.

In the months that followed, Junger describes doubting his memory and wondering if he made it all up.

But his wife Barbara confirmed it had been one of the first things he told when she visited him in the hospital and it was then that she realized how close she'd come to losing him.

Incredibly, this encounter wasn't Junger's first near-death experience.

In the book he also recalls a time when he almost drowned while surfing among huge waves in winter.

On another occasion, Junger, who is known for his work reporting in conflict zones, narrowly avoided death when his Humvee was blown up in Afghanistan.

He also describes his struggle after his friend and photographer Tim Hetherington was killed while reporting on the Libyan Civil War

He said these moments change a person forever, even possibly bringing them to the brink of 'insanity.'

'Almost dying and then returning to the world of the living is not the relief one might expect, Junger wrote.

Writer Sebastian Junger (L) and photographer Tim Hetherington (R) during an assignment for Vanity Fair Magazine at 'Restrepo' outpost in Afghanistan. Hetherington died while covering the Libyan Civil War, leaving Junger forever changed

In his upcoming memoir, Junger recounts his harrowing brush with death, which occurred on June 16, 2020, and his journey of introspection and healing he embarked on thereafter (Junger with his wife in 2007)

Junger is married to his second-wife, Barbara, and they have two little girls, aged six months and three years at the time of his pancreatic artery bleed.

But returning to normalcy was a challenging endeavor.

He described how the image of his family waiting excitedly as he came up the dirt drive when he returned home from the hospital reducing him to tears.

Instead of feeling elation, he found himself 'beset with a terrible and irrational fear that maybe I hadn't survived.'

'That I was a ghost, and my family had no idea I was there. When I asked Barbara to confirm that I existed, she said yes, but that was just the sort of thing a hallucination would say,' he wrote.

'As I sank deeper into existential paranoia,' he continued, 'I began to research the psychological effects of almost dying.'

'In literature and history, insanity is not an uncommon result,' he wrote.

His memoir delves into the psychological scars and existential questions that emerged in the aftermath of his brush with mortality.

'I came out of the hospital kind of broken,' he told the New York Times. 'My body healed quickly, but I wound up with psychological issues that are apparently very common for someone who almost died.'

'I couldnt be alone; I couldnt go on a walk in the woods. Everything was evaluated in terms of how long it would take me to get to the E.R.  like if I have an aneurysm now, Im going to die.'

His memoir delves into the psychological scars and existential questions that emerged in the aftermath of his brush with mortality

He continued: 'I started writing things down in a notebook because thats just what I do with experiences and observations. I went to a therapist for a while because after I finished being super anxious, I got incredibly depressed. I recognized this sequence from combat trauma, except it was way worse.'

From grappling with skepticism towards organized religion to contemplating the mysteries of the universe, Junger explores life, death, and everything in between.

'I was raised to be skeptical of organized religion. So I just cruised through life without any particular thought of spirituality  and no particular need for it. I didn't have a child, thank God, who died of cancer; nothing happened to me that was so unbearable that I had a need to reach out to a higher power. I was blessed. I've had a lucky life. Not easy, but lucky,' he told the New York Times.

He confronted the fragility of existence and navigated a delicate balance between fear and acceptance.

'Getting back to normal life meant learning how to forget that were all going to die and could die at any moment. Thats what normal life requires,' he told the New York Times.

'Two nights before I went to the hospital, I dreamed that I had died and was looking down on my grieving family.'

'Because I had that experience, which I still cant explain, it occurred to me that maybe I had died and the dream was me experiencing a post-death reality and that I was a ghost. I went into this very weird existential Escher drawing. Am I here, or not? At one point, I said to my wife, How do I know I didnt die?'

'She said, Youre here, right in front of me. You survived." I thought, Thats exactly what a hallucination would say." Returning to normal meant stopping thinking like that.'

He ultimately found peace in the act of being alive, and hopes his book will bring comfort to others who are dealing with similar thoughts.

'Were all in an emotionally vulnerable place; its just part of being in a modern society with all its wonderful benefits. Every once in a while I write something that allows people to navigate a little bit better. Maybe this book will bring some comfort.'
Experts have claimed that Boeing and Singapore Airlines were powerless to avoid the deadly turbulence that killed a man in a 'freak' incident in the skies last week.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was travelling near the Gulf of Martabar, off the coast of Myanmar, when it struck a hidden weather system which is thought to have caused clear air turbulence.

It's believed the clear-air turbulence that impacted flight SQ321 would not have been picked up on its state of the art Honeywell IntuVue 3D weather radar - a system used on many 777s.

The radar, which is located at the nose of the plane, scans 160 degrees from 0 to 60,000ft to give pilots a complete vertical view of the weather system ahead and across terrain.

However, clear air turbulence is impossible to observe in advance and is challenging for aviation meteorologists to forecast before it occurs.

Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, has been identified as the British passenger who died aboard the Boeing 777 plane

Fight SQ321's sudden drop unleashed mayhem onboard and forced the plane to make an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi



Last week's brutal turbulence, around ten hours into the flight from Heathrow to Singapore, wrought havoc on board and saw British grandfather Geoffrey Kitchen suffer a fatal heart attack, while dozens of other passengers sustained significant injuries.

Speaking to MailOnline, aviation expert Terry Tozer revealed the unfortunate pilots would have had almost no warning of what they were flying into.

He said: 'There's no tech that can detect clear air turbulence. The area where they were is pretty renowned for turbulence, but you get a bit of warning.

'They were obviously caught completely unaware. They're still investigating so we don't know, but I wouldn't imagine there's anything more.'

Another pilot told MailOnline 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.

The incident, which aviation experts are calling a 'freak' event is the latest tragedy to involve Boeing which has seen its reputation battered in recent years.

Earlier this month, it was announced the aviation giant could face criminal prosecutions over two fatal 737 Max crashes after they were accused of violating a settlement which allowed them to avoid earlier charges.

Boeing had previously reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the US Justice Department in January 2021 after two 737 Max jets crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people.

Tuesday's incident did not involve a 737 Max but a Boeing 777-300ER, an older model which has traditionally not reported many problems.

However, the nature of the incident and the terrible outcome for those on board has once more led to questions around the brand leading some experts to claim they now have a 'reputation problem.'

And how this problem plays out could yet come to bare for UK holidaymakers, many of whom will be travelling on Boeing flights.

The 16-year-old Boeing 777 left Heathrow at 10.17pm on Monday and was diverted to Bangkok, landing at 3.45pm local time (9.45am BST) on Tuesday.

There were 211 passengers and 18 crew on board - including 47 passengers from the UK and four Irish nationals.

Flightradar24 said its tracking data showed the plane encountering turbulence at approximately 8.49am BST while flying over Myanmar.

The flight tracking service said data sent from the aircraft showed a 'rapid change in vertical rate, consistent with a sudden turbulence event', adding that there were 'some severe' thunderstorms in the area at the time.

The plane made an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, where medical staff used gurneys to ferry the injured to ambulances waiting on the tarmac.

Harrowing images taken on board showed how the cabin was littered with debris as distraught passengers tried desperately to stem the blood flowing from severe cuts and blunt force injuries.

One passenger named as Jerry, who was travelling to his son's wedding aboard the ill-fated flight SQ321, said it was 'the worst flight of my life'.

Speaking to BBC reporters with a bandage covering part of his head, he said: 'Suddenly the plane plunged... there was no warning at all, and I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling, and my wife did.

'Some poor people walking around ended up doing somersaults. It was absolutely terrible.'

Another passenger, named as Josh, said that he blacked out during the turbulence. When he came to, he said pools of blood had collected on the cabin floor.

'There was water everywhere, blood everywhere, people's belongings just strewn all over the plane,' the Times reported.

At least one person died after a Singapore Airlines (SIA) SQ321 flight from London Heathrow to Singapore got into severe turbulence

The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 is pictured after the emergency landing

After around ten hours, the aircraft sharply dropped 6,000 feet in just five minutes, causing chaos in the cabin. Pictured, one air stewardess with blood on her face

Thai rescuers hurriedly carry out severely injured passengers on stretchers

Pictured: Passengers in the cabin, with belongings strewn across the floor and oxygen masks dangling from above

Thai emergency services lift a man on a stretcher above the heads of injured passengers

Passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, which made an emergency landing in Bangkok, greet family members upon arrival at Changi Airport in Singapore

The victim of the fatal heart attack was named as Geoff Kitchen, 73, who was on his 'last big holiday' with his wife, who remains in hospital.

Neighbours told MailOnline he had suffered heart problems in recent years and had stents put in to widen his arteries.

In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday evening, Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in Bristol said: 'It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the devastating news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend Geoff Kitchen in the recent Singapore Air Incident.

'Geoff was always a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group.

'His commitment to TMTG was unquestionable and he has served the group and the local community of Thornbury for over 35 years, holding various offices within the group, including Chairman, Treasurer and most recently Secretary.

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and the family at this difficult time, and we ask that you respect their privacy.'

Geoff Kitchen, 73, suffered a suspected heart attack on the flight, according to a spokesman for Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport

The damaged interior of the Singapore Airlines flight is seen in this screenshot

The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 after it made an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand

The airline said that it was working with Thai authorities to provide medical assistance to passengers, and was sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional help needed

Passengers on the fateful flight told how they and flight crew desperately tried to save Mr Kitchen's life by delivering CPR, as well as tending to other injured passengers.

Following the incident, 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.'

However, questions still remain.

Could the pilots have avoided the weather?

Experienced pilot and flight simulator instructor for Qantas, David Evans, told MailOnline that the particular piece of airspace the plane flew through '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.'

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency and former Virgin Atlantic director, described the weather in the area as 'unpredictable'.

He said: 'It's really not uncommon to experience turbulence in that region, about one or two hours before arriving in Singapore.

'There are some unpredictable weather patterns in the area due to the high temperatures.

'We're still not sure of the cause of the turbulence and it could have been either so-called clear air turbulence, which is invisible to pilots and caused by unusual wind drafts, or even the Singapore Airlines plane passing through the backdraft of another aircraft nearby.

'I think it's near certain that the aircraft itself was not a factor here.

'In fact, the quality of the Boeing 777 would have helped passengers in this situation, as it was strong enough to withstand the sudden turbulence.'

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

What will this do to compound Boeing's woes?

Prior to this weeks incident, Boeing had been recovering from the fallout to two deadly incidents years earlier.

In the two crashes - in Indonesia in 2018 and in Ethiopia in 2019 - the nose of the plane was automatically pointed down based on faulty sensor readings, and pilots were unable to regain control.

On October 29, 2018, the Boeing 737 MAX operating the Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 passengers and crew.

Five months later, on March 10, 2019, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft which operated Ethiopian flight 302 crashed near the town of Bishoftu, Ethiopia, six minutes after takeoff, killing all 157 people aboard.

Following public outcry, Boeing reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the US Justice Department in January 2021.

The settlement allowed Boeing to avoid prosecution on a single charge of fraud - misleading regulators who approved the 737 MAX - but set out certain terms that Boeing had to comply with for the next three years.

However, the Justice Department alleges Boeing has since breached the 2021 settlement, opening themselves up to criminal prosecution.

Mr Tozer explains: 'Boeing introduced the 737-MAX to compete with Airbus. They installed huge engines that they couldn't fit beneath the wings so they moved them forwards and upwards to try and fit them on.

'This changed the handling of the aircraft and in order to compensate for that they put a computer system in to react automatically if the aircraft pitched up too much.

'The problem was they didn't tell anyone.

'When those poor people on the Lion aircraft had a fault with the sensors, the system pitched it down and they didn't know how to stop it until it hit the ground. The MAX scandal really hurt Boeing.

'A lot of people, including me, thought there should have been criminal prosecutions.

'The MAX began Boeing's woes and they were compounded when the door panel blew out of an Alaskan Airlines flight this year causing sudden depressurisation.

This picture taken at the Tanjung Priok Jakarta port on October 30, 2018 shows Indonesian people examining debris of the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 in Jakarta which killed 189

Rescuers work at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines flight of a Boeing 737 Max 8 plane crash near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 11, 2019, which took the lives of 157 people

'A child next to it was nearly sucked out and saved by his seat belt and mother holding onto him.

'The subsequent investigation found that Spirit AeroSystems, who are subcontractors to Boeing, had failed to secure the bolts holding the door in place and no inspections had picked this up.

'This opened another can of worms and Spirit being found lacking in other areas as well and now everyone is looking closely.

'The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been shown to have some issues and some suggest that Spirit's quality control is part of that as well but I can't state that categorically.

'After all the fuss, modifications to the MAX have made it safe enough to be back in operation, although many people will be worried still and I understand that some travel websites now have a filter so you can specify 'No Boeing' when you book, Ryanair have some for example.'

How will this all impact UK holidays this summer?

This coming summer thousands of Brits are expected to jet off on holiday, many of them on Boeing aircraft.

Questions over safety have plagued the aircraft manufacturer ever since a door plug blew out of a 737 Max on an Alaska Airlines flight in January, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the jetliner.

Aircraft manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has also recalled hundreds of engines used in short-haul Airbuses, worsening the plane shortage impacting the industry.

Avia Solutions, the world's largest aircraft leasing company, has now warned that 'desperate' air carriers searching for planes will likely have to cancel routes and reduce their summer service.

Gediminas Ziemelis, (pictured) chairman of Dublin-based Avia, has warned that 'desperate' air carriers searching for planes will likely have to cancel routes and reduce their summer service

Boeing was under renewed scrutiny after a door plug blew out of a 737 Max on an Alaska Airlines flight in January, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the jetliner



'Airlines are desperate for aircraft because of the production problems but the well is dry,' Gediminas Ziemelis, chairman of Dublin-based Avia, told The Telegraph. 'I think in this dislocated system that cancellations are quite possible.'

Mr Ziemelis argued that the aircraft industry is facing a post-pandemic 'super-demand' that has not been experienced since 'traffic rebounded after 9/11'.

Avia is expecting to lease 80 per cent of its fleet of 212 aircraft to airlines across Europe this summer, but Mr Ziemelis still suspects that some carriers will fail to secure enough planes to maintain planned routes.

Poll Would you cancel your trip if it was with Boeing? Yes No Maybe Would you cancel your trip if it was with Boeing? Yes 800 votes

No 1113 votes

Maybe 333 votes Now share your opinion





Avia analysts determined that only eight of the roughly 250 aircraft available across Europe for short-term rent have yet to be placed with airlines. The firm predicts that as a result, many airlines will be forced to reduce their summer flights.

The chairman revealed that Turkish Airlines will be its biggest single customer this summer, leasing more than 30 planes.

However, despite the doom and gloom, many in the aviation indursty including Nicky Kelvin, editor at large at The Points Guy, insist that Brits with holidays booked have no reason to panic, yet.

He told MailOnline: 'We had this news last week with Avia solutions saying they're almost out of planes.

'However, what they said has not actually happened, all of it is just the potential. Airlines go into the summer knowing it will be busy and they've increased capacity, they're more prepared this year than they ever were before.

'In terms of actual confidence in Boeing, I don't think this will be significant for the general traveller.

'Most normal holidaymakers don't know or care what model they're flying on. Maybe people will start to show more interest, but it's unlikely.'

Travel expert Mr Charles also thinks the average Brit holidaymaker is unlikely to be impacted by the tragedy.

He said: 'I don't think this very rare incident will put off people from flying on a 777 - if anything it will heighten awareness to keep your seat belt on most of the journey and not spend too much time out of your seat.

'Of course, it may cause some to question flying long-haul to hotter regions with more unpredictable winds - but turbulence can happen on short-haul journeys in Europe too, although thankfully it is almost always smoother to fly through.

'There are over 90,000 flights a day operating somewhere in the world from some 9,000 airports. Rough turbulence like this is extremely rare and you can be reassured that almost all journeys are safe and secure for those travelling.'

A spokesman for 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.

'We'll defer to the airline and local authorities for any other information.'

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The Singapore Airlines turbulence is the latest controversy to strike Boeing 777: A complete timeline of when the plane put passenger lives at risk

By Elena Salvoni

The Singapore Airline turbulence disaster which resulted in the death of a British grandfather and dozens of injuries is the latest in a string of incidents affecting passengers on Boeing's 777 jets.

The triple sevens are among the bestselling long haul aircraft in the world, and were the first commercial jets designed entirely by computer.

But since coming into service in 1995, they have been at the centre of a number of controversies - including in April when a whistleblower accused Boeing of taking shortcuts when building it.

Pilot and crew error, as well as undiagnosed faults and misfortune, can all play a part in air disasters, which the 777s have been no stranger to over the years - with crash-landings to engine problems and parts of the plane falling out of the sky.

Here, MailOnline looks at the times passengers and crew on the aircraft have had their lives put at risk.

A passenger died and dozens of others were injured on a flight from London to Singapore, forcing an emergency landing in Thailand. Pictured: The plane and ambulances are seen on the tarmac at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok

Beijing to London - British Airways Flight 38 - January 2008

British Airways Flight 38 crashed just short of the runway when it was landing at Heathrow on January 17 2008.

The Boeing 777-200ER, which had flown in from Beijing early that morning, with its flight path over Mongolia, Siberia, and Scandinavia - where temperatures were as low as 74C (101 F) - meaning the crew kept a close eye on the fuel temperatures.

While the fuel itself did not freeze, small amounts of water in it did - forming a slush of ice.

It did not affect the flight until it was coming into landing, with the frozen liquid blocking the flow of fuel to the engines.

The passenger jet suffered a loss of power - which the pilot and first officer cleverly mitigated with their quick actions.

An internal BA investigation found that captain Peter Burkill changed the angles of the plane's wing flaps in order to reduce the drag, helping the aircraft to maintain speed.

A British Airways Boeing 777 aircraft which made an emergency crash landing at Heathrow airport after suffering engine failure on the approach to Heathrow

Meanwhile senior first officer John Coward pushed the plane's nose towards the ground in order to accelerate before levelling out just before the Boeing crashed on to the grass.

All 136 passengers and 16 crew on the flight were safely evacuated from the wreckage.

Miraculously, only one passenger suffered serious injuries - concussion and a broken leg - while four crew members and eight passengers sustained minor injuries.

Seoul to San Francisco - Asiana Airlines Flight 214 - Boeing 777-200 - July 2013

Asiana Airlines Flight 214's catastrophic landing short of the runway at San Francisco Airport was the first fatal crash of a 777 since it entered service in 1995.

The flight from Incheon, near Seoul in South Korea, was about to land when the tail section broke off after striking the seawall before the runway.

Of the 307 people on board, three died in the crash. Another 187 were injured, 49 of them seriously - including four flight attendants who were thrown onto the runway.

The wreckage of Asiana Flight 214 lies on the ground after it crashed at the San Francisco International Airport in July 2013

An investigation into the cause of the crash concluded that it was caused by the flight crew's mismanagement of the final approach.

Contributing factors included Asiana Airlines' pilot training and deficiencies with Boeing's flight documentation.

India to Dubai - Emirates Flight 251 - August 2016

Emirates Flight 521 crashed as it aborted its landing at Dubai International Airport in August 2016.

The plane, which had flown in from Trivandrum, India, hit the runway and skidded some 800 metres and swung to the right as its landing gear was partly retracted.

The cabin began to fill with smoke as several fires started, with videos showing passengers grabbing their luggage and failing to evacuate quickly.

Incredibly, all 282 passengers and 18 crew on the flight did manage to escape through emergency exits as the cabin filled with smoke and were able to sprint to safety moments before the plane exploded into flames.

All of those on board, including 24 Britons and six Americans, were led to safety at Dubai International Airport, minutes before the Boeing 777 was completely destroyed in a massive fireball.

Emirates Flight 521 crashed as it aborted its landing at Dubai International Airport in August 2016. It caught on fire and was almost completely destroyed

Tragically, airport firefighter Jasim Issa Mohammed Hassan was killed as he helped to battle the blaze, while 32 people were injured including four with serious injuries.

The accident is the only hull loss of an Emirates aircraft.

A 2020 report into the accident concluded that 'The flight crew reliance on automation and lack of training in flying go-arounds from close to the runway significantly affected the flight crew performance in a critical flight situation which was different to that experienced by them during their simulated training flights.'

Denver to Hawaii - United Airlines Flight 328 - Boeing 777-200 - February 2021

United Airlines Flight 328 was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Denver when it suffered major damage to one of its engines.

Video recorded by passengers aboard the flight to Honolulu, Hawaii, which was carrying 231 travelers and 10 crew members, shows how the engine became engulfed in flames.

The pilot made a mayday call and diverted the Boeing 777-200 back to Denver and landed safely at 1.30pm local time, about 30 minutes after takeoff.

Video recorded by passengers aboard Flight UA328, which was carrying 231 travelers and 10 crew members, shows the engine on fire

Huge pieces of debris from the engine were shed by the plane over Denver, with pictures showing parts of the fuselage on a front lawn.

One homeowner in the suburb of Broomfield, Colorado told KMGH-TV they were making a sandwich in their kitchen when debris crashed through their roof and landed just two feet away.

Passengers described feeling the heat from the fire and many believed they were just moments dying. Miraculously, there were no reported injuries either on board or on the ground.

San Francisco to Osaka - United Airlines Flight 35- March 2024

The United Airlines flight 35 left San Francisco Airport on its way to Osaka in Japan and was barely off the runway when the Boeing 777-200's wheel came off

A 256lb wheel fell from a United Airlines plane shortly after take-off in San Francisco and crushed cars parked below as it plummeted to the ground.

The United Airlines flight 35 left San Francisco Airport on its way to Osaka in Japan and was barely off the runway when the Boeing 777-200's wheel came off.

Passengers said it felt like a routine take off, and were not told that something had gone wrong until around 10 minutes into the flight.

The plane with 235 passengers and 14 crew diverted to Los Angeles Airport after it was alerted to the landing gear failure.

The aircraft dumped fuel before making an emergency landing, with unharmed passengers having a three-hour layover before heading back on their journies.

Sydney to San Francisco - United Airlines Flight 830 - March 2024

A United Boeing jet bound for San Francisco (seen here) was forced to land after hydraulic fluid was filmed spewing from its landing gear area moments after take off

The forced landing happened as the San Francisco-bound 777-300 took off from Sydney, as fluid was seen leaking from its undercarriage

United Airlines Flight 830 was forced to land shortly after takeoff at Sydney Airport due to hydraulic fluid leaking from its landing gear area.

The incident on March 11 was reported to have been the fifth involving a Boeing plane in the span of seven days.

The forced landing happened as the Boeing 777-300 set off for its cross-Pacific flight to San Francisco with fluid filmed streaming from its undercarriage.

A United Airlines spokesperson said that the flight returned to Sydney due to a hydraulic leak, and added that the plane landed safely and passengers disembarked normally at the gate. There were no injuries.
Owners of homes that sit vacant for more than six months in a year will be ordered to cough up extra tax, the Victorian Government has announced.

From January 1, homeowners across the state will be liable for vacant residential land tax (VRLT) if properties are vacant for more than six months in the calendar year.

The tax currently only applies to homes in the inner and middle suburbs of Melbourne, with the state government identifying hundreds of apartments that have been left vacant through a recent investigation.

Authorities in Victoria recently targeted five apartment buildings in Melbourne and found 177 properties that were liable for the tax.

The investigation will now expand to 13 more apartment towers across the city, as well as houses in the inner and middle suburbs of Melbourne.

A recent investigation of five buildings in Melbourne found more than 170 vacant apartments that were liable for the vacant residential land tax

The tax was introduced to help ease the housing crisis by encouraging home owners to rent their properties for at least six months of the year to avoid receiving a VRLT assessment.

The longer a home sits empty, the more the tax rate increases, based on the number of consecutive years the property sits vacant.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said the government knows Victoria needs more homes, and by cracking down on vacant properties they were easing the housing pressure being felt across the state.

'Expanding vacant residential land tax will free up empty houses for rent and sale, boosting supply and making homes more affordable,' he said.

But shadow treasurer Brad Roswell disagreed, saying after 10 years of Labor budgets, life was getting harder for Victorians and housing was becoming more unavailable and unaffordable.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said the government knows Victoria needs more homes, and by cracking down on vacant properties they were easing the housing pressure being felt across the state.

'Since Labor were elected, they have introduced or increased 55 taxes, including around 30 taxes on land and property,' he said.

'What Labor can't seem to understand is that when they tax things, they get more expensive and ultimately it's vulnerable Victorians that are hit the hardest.

'A tax system that incentivises properties to be on the long term rental market, rather than continuing to punish rental providers with higher taxes, is something that Labor should consider as a matter of urgency.'

Authorities in Victoria recently targeted five apartment buildings in Melbourne and found 177 properties that were liable for the tax.

The investigation will now expand to 13 more apartment towers across the city, as well as houses in the inner and middle suburbs of Melbourne.

Victoria's shadow treasurer Brad Roswell said: 'What Labor can't seem to understand is that when they tax things, they get more expensive and ultimately it's vulnerable Victorians that are hit the hardest'

Community Housing Industry Association Victoria chief executive Sarah Toohey said during the worst housing crisis that Victorians have experienced in their lifetimes, we shouldn't be in a situation where properties are sitting empty.

'Housing stress and homelessness is through the roof - right now more than 146,000 Victorian households are in need of social and affordable housing,' she said.

'We need to be doing everything we can like taxing vacant properties and boosting funding to build more community housing to make sure all Victorians can get a roof over their head.'
The seaside cafe received 105 letters of support but must still remove structure

Co-owners Steve and Simon forced to remove deck as it breaches planning rules

The owners of a seaside cafe that overlooks one of the world's best beaches have been ordered to remove its modest decking - after a neighbour complained that it's too high.

The Lookout Cafe, perched above the picturesque Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Glamorgan, Wales, contains a small decking area and surrounding fence that is about large enough to fit a single picnic bench.

However, it has been ruled that the award-winning cafe is in breach of planning regulations.

Co-owners Steve Lancey, 43, and Simon Morris, 46, expressed their disappointment at the decision, stating they would never have built the decking if they had known it would 'cause such a palavar.'

'It's cost us thousands fighting it,' Steve said, adding that he couldnt believe the planning inspector's decision to tear it all down.

The Lookout Cafe, perched above the picturesque Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Glamorgan, Wales, has been ordered to tear down its 58-cm high decking area

But the timber structure, standing just 58cm high, was placed by the wall separating the cafe from a neighbouring property - without the owners realising they needed planning permission.

The co-owners had previously applied to Swansea Council to retain the the fencing and the decking but were turned down due to 'unneighbourly development' as it impacted the neighbour's privacy.

The Gower Society, responsible for the conservation of Britain's oldest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), also opposed the structure, criticising the cafe for its 'scant regard' for privacy and and the appearance of the 'iconic village.'

After three planning applications, two appeals, and an enforcement notice, a Welsh Government-appointed inspector upheld the decision, mandating the dismantling of the decking and fencing.

The cafe's planning agent also argued that a proposed glazed screen on top of the boundary wall would prevent harmful overlooking.

But this suggestion was rejected for failing to preserve the Rhossili Conservation Area and the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Another proposal to cap the wall with stones was also unfeasible due to the councils two-month enforcement deadline.

Despite receiving 105 letters of support from the community, including praise for their small bench table setup, The Lookout Cafe must now comply with the enforcement notice.

The timber structure, standing just 58cm high, was placed by the wall separating the cafe from a neighbouring property - without the owners realising they needed planning permission

Despite receiving 105 letters of support from the community, including praise for their small bench table setup, The Lookout Cafe must now comply with the enforcement notice

The cafe, known for selling local ice cream, award-winning pasties, and coffee, employs around 15 full and part-time staff members.

Gower councillor Richard Lewis said it was 'a disgrace' that the owners had to strip down the decking, and claimed that 'half the caravan sites in Gower have got decking.'

He added: 'They are local boys and run an excellent business. Gower is a holiday area - we don't make our money from farming as much as we used to - and it means jobs.'

In 1956, the majority of Gower became the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and has since been included in a list of top ten beaches in the world - alongside beaches in Panama, Hawaii, Brazil.

It comes as neighbours in the quaint market town of Wimbourne, Dorset, are at war after a couple built a 10ft 'church-style' window that looks right into the bedroom of the family next door.
Benefits scroungers in a seaside town described as one of the 'most-deprived' in Britain have told MailOnline they don't care who wins the upcoming general election as long as they continue to get their cash.

The unemployed in Jaywick, Essex are claiming 'thousands of pounds' a month of taxpayer's cash and say they will vote for whoever can make the system 'easier' - while locals complain there are jobs, people just don't want them.

The majority say they plan to support the Conservatives when the nation goes to the polls on July 4, with the one condition being the system for benefits remains the same. Some are also looking to back Labour, in the belief they may be even more generous.

Working people from the town want a new government to create a benefits crackdown and help rid the area of crime, anti-social behaviour and drugs issues.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - currently trailing in the polls with the Conservatives by some 25 points - called a snap election this week during a sodden speech outside Downing Street.

Paul Redwood, 44, has claimed benefits - including Universal Credit and disability allowance - for six years. He said: 'I'm happy the way things are. The last thing I want is any sort of change to the system.

The unemployed in Jaywick, Essex are claiming 'thousands of pounds' a month of taxpayer's cash and say they will vote for whoever can make the system 'easier'

Jaywick, Essex is one of the most deprived towns in the UK - but locals say there are jobs available, people on benefits just don't want them

Alison McGuire, 36, has lived in the town for eight years, says she is 'happy' with the benefits she receives

'The systems can be quite complicated arranging the different benefits. But I have got my head around it.

'I'd really like things to stay the way they are, so I will probably vote Conservative. I am not really bothered about anything else, just as long as I am looked after.'

Alison McGuire, 36, has lived in the town for eight years, and said she would also vote Tory.

She said: 'I am happy with the benefits I am on. There's not any jobs around here so I need them.

'I'd vote Conservative purely because I am happy with the money I get at the moment. I would not want it to change. It's good for me.

'It used to be a bit complicated, now it's OK. There's no point changing something which works so well.

'I see Labour are ahead in the polls though. I hope they keep the benefits system the same.'

Alison did say Jaywick itself needed some changes. She added: 'There's not enough to do for young people around here.'

Michael Corner, 56, has been on benefits for 20 years. He said: 'The system was easier under Labour, so I will be voting for them. I can't find a job. I still contribute to society. I will be voting Labour and that is that.'

But locals who do work were keen for a change to the benefits system.

Tina Fewell, 55, said: 'Me and my husband have owned our own home here for 18 years. Things need to change.

'The area is blighted by drug dealing and drug taking. It's awful. There are plenty of jobs for people if they want to work.

Roy Stevens, 73, said it was time to give Labour a go, adding the country needs change 'locally and nationally'

Tina Fewwell, who is employed, said Jaywick is plagued by drugs issues and anti-social behaviour

'The area needs so many improvements. It's a real shame. There's a lot of anti-social behaviour and all sorts.

'I think there needs to be a change nationally.'

Disabled Roy Stevens, 73, said it was time to give Labour a go. Roy, who has lived in the town for 10 years, said: 'We've got to change. Nationally and locally - I don't think much will though.

'Nobody cares about Jaywick. The best way Jaywick could be improved would be if they knocked it all down and started again.

'Other than that, not a lot of difference will be made.'

His call for change comes as the number of people of working age in Britain that are economically inactive hit 9.4million, meaning they are neither employed nor looking for work.

At the end of last year, 4,000 applications for sickness benefits were being made every single day.

Chris Patient, 36, previously told MailOnline he had no desire to work and was happy on his benefit payments, which includes 393 a month of Universal Credit.

Speaking before the general election was announced, he said: 'It is plenty to live on for me. I enjoy my life.

'A job might be nice but not at the moment. Maybe if a supermarket was open I could get something.

Chris Patient, 36, told MailOnline he had no desire to work and was happy on his benefit payments, which includes 393 a month of Universal Credit (pictured, a derelict bulding in Jaywick)

An aerial shot of the seaside town of Jaywick, Essex which is one of the most deprived towns in the UK

'There are no jobs around here but I do not want one anyway.

'There's a lot of unemployed people here and a lot of jobs in the wider area go to European workers.'

Martin Thomas, 44, has been unemployed for four years and has lived in the Jaywick area all his life.

He said: 'I get a few thousand a month on the benefits I am on. It's very good.

'I don't feel I can work at the moment. I enjoy my life here. I chill out and look at the sea a lot and do my shopping.

'There's no jobs around here which pay as well as the benefits I am on do. So why would I want one?'

Ryan Parkinson, 44, has been unemployed and on benefits for three years.

He said: 'There are no jobs here. Nobody is taking people on. I earn more on benefits than any job I might get anyway.

'Jaywick itself is in a bad state. The roads are full of potholes and it's very depressing. More money needs to be spent on it.'

Jaywick was recently ranked the most deprived town in England by the Office for National Statistics who uses 'indices of multiple deprivation' (IMD) to determine their scores (pictured, dumped furniture piled outside a home in Jaywick)

Ken Tubby, 62, (pictured) has blasted the work shy attitude of the unemployed in Jaywick

Jaywick was recently ranked the most deprived town in England by the Office for National Statistics who uses 'indices of multiple deprivation' (IMD) to determine their scores.

The Essex seaside town recieved an IMD score of 92.7 out of 100, the worst in the country.

But retired locals have blasted the 'work shy attitude' of the unemployed in Jaywick, claiming even though the seaside town is in a deprived area, there are opportunities to work.

Ken Tubby, 62, from Jaywick told MailOnline: 'If you want to get a job here, they are available.

'If you want one, you'll get it. The area is full of drug users. It's very depressing seeing it. It's the harsh reality of life.'

Retired tour manager Joyce Howe, 72, added: 'It's shocking. It is very depressing. I've always worked but people here don't seem to.

'I have lived here for ten years and it's a widespread problem.

'There's more European workers. They keep the local and British economy going.'

The Essex seaside town received an IMD score of 92.7 out of 100, the worst in the country

Jaywick-on-Sea, Essex is now full of disused buildings and boarded up shops

Retired locals have claimed even though the seaside town is in a deprived area, there are opportunities to work

The overall welfare bill for the British taxpayer currently stands at 297 billion and it is projected to climb to 360 billion over the next five years  the equivalent of 11 per cent of Britain's entire economic output.

Over the same period, spending on sickness benefits is expected to rise from 66billion to more than 90billion.

MailOnline also spoke to locals living in two other towns that were ranked among the worst ten deprived areas in the UK by ONS - where people say the 'unemployed need to get back to work' and 'improve the situation for those already living there'.

For the few tourists passing through Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, the market town might seem like the perfect place to stop for a coffee.

But the boarded-up shops in between the bistros and cafes tell the story of a sad decline.

Many residents say the town centre exists only to serve what little remains of the tourist trade, while locals feel like 'prisoners' in aging terraced houses without facilities.

Stephen Killick, 71, said: 'I have lived in Gainsborough all my life. It is an absolute s*******.

'There is nothing to do and the shops are all shutting. Meanwhile, they are spending millions on a new cinema when no one went to the one which is already closed anyway.

Stephen Killick, 71, (pictured) has lived in Gainsborough all his life and blasted the state of the town

Many residents say the town centre (pictured) exists only to serve what little remains of the tourist trade while locals feel like 'prisoners' in aging terraced houses without facilities

The boarded-up shops in between the bistros and cafes tell the story of a sad decline in Gainsborough

'They might be dreaming of a new shopping centre but the place is dead. People just don't want to work.'

Rubbing his hands together, he added: 'Why should they? When they are getting free money?'

Kebab shop worker Alfie Martin, 19, said: 'I have not got the best job in the world but it pays and I think more people could work around here.

'There are some amazing jobs being advertised online but people can be very lazy about searching for them when they are on the dole because they know they can get by on benefits.'

Dental nurse Sue Smith, 27, added: 'I have lived here for five years and there is not a lot to do.

'You have to go to Doncaster to find any decent shops because most of them are closed in the town centre.

'I wanted to take my daughter swimming at the local leisure centre but it is very run down.

'The inside is gross with mould and leaking ceilings and the changing rooms are disgusting.

'So I would not let my daughter swim there. But there are virtually no other facilities for local children. There very few parks.

A terraced home on a suburban street in Gainsborough has its door boarded up

Kebab shop worker Alfie Martin, 19, (pictured) said he thought more people around Gainsborough could work

The new shopping quarter that has reportedly been the death of town centre shops

'The houses are old and many of them have issues with mould and damp. I only moved here to be closer to my parents who help me with my two and four year old.'

Grangetown, just south of Middlesborough, in Teesside has a population of just over 6,000 and has been ranked the seventh most deprived area in the UK by ONS.

Many people in the area are known to be claiming the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which allows them extra benefits if they have additional care or mobility needs.

However, some residents believe the system is being abused.

David Watson is on benefits and while the 42-year-old is about to start a new job, he says many more in his position have no motivation to work.

He said: 'The situation is a joke. We need to get more people off sick leave but I think some are happy with the benefits they're on and choose not to work.

'Drugs is a big problem in the area and so many people are off sick.

'Everyone around here seems to be on the PIP list but they don't want to work.

'People have the attitude that they will have more money in their pocket if they do claim.

'People are on up to 700 a month on benefits and they seem to be happy with that.

Grangetown, just south of Middlesbrough, in Teesside has a population of just over 6,000 and has been ranked the seventh most deprived area in the UK by the ONS

Many in the area are known to be claiming the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which allows them extra benefits if they have additional care or mobility needs (pictured, a home with boarded up windows and a derelict roof)

Many residents were once employed by Southbank Steelmaking Plant before it was closed in 2015 and demolished in 2022, which triggered a steep decline in employment

'They need a nudge to get back in the workplace but it doesn't happen and they're happy to take the benefits.'

A large number of residents were once employed by Southbank Steelmaking Plant before it was closed in 2015 and demolished in 2022, which in turn triggered a steep decline in employment.

Eric Fletcher, 71, recently retired after a long career which saw him do multiple jobs including work in the steel industry.

He said: 'I worked all my life until I was 70 and I don't believe these people should be getting as many benefits as they are getting.

'This PIP thing is a disgrace. If they have problems they can claim it but it seems like anything counts towards it. I know people who claim it but they are on drugs.

'But then again why should these people find work if they are on good benefits, it's all wrong.

'I'm comfortable because I worked all my life but there's lots who don't work. This area in general is getting worse. It's bad for people on motorbikes and drugs.

'The Government are making it easier for people not to go to work and some people are just lazy.'

A abandoned building in Grangetown, Teesside that has seen a steep decline in employment

Locals have called on people to get off benefits and into work to revive the town in Teesside

Particularly striking is the pattern of worklessness among young people.

One recent survey by this paper showed that in the 16 to 24 age group, 280,000 people are in receipt of unemployment benefits  twice as many as a decade ago, and 50,000 more than before Covid struck.

And it appears that the younger generation are more likely to be afflicted by negativity about their mental health.

Research by the Resolution Foundation revealed that the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who are economically inactive due to mental health has more than doubled in the past decade from 93,000 to 190,000.

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People walk in front of the Harris County Criminal Courthouse on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Authorities believe a Houston man and the woman accused of running him down with a stolen car and stabbing him to death outside his southeast Houston home were strangers, investigators said.

Karon Fisher, 20, charged with murder and assault of hospital personnel, was arrested around 8 p.m. May 3 after residents in the 7000 block of Woodridge Square Drive rushed outside their homes to check on 64-year-old MD Anderson Cancer Center retiree Steven Anderson. A Houston police officer testified Friday during a bail hearing that he saw a crashed white sedan and a knife lodged in Andersons chest as he arrived.

A prosecutor described in court what happened moments earlier based on surveillance footage from a neighbors home: When Fisher struck Anderson with the vehicle, he was unable to get back up.

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She gets out of the vehicle, approaches him, straddles his body and kisses him, prosecutor Ryan Trask said in court. Then she slits his throat and stabs him seven to 10 times and leaves the knife in his chest.

Fisher, who was being held on $2 million bail, shuddered as Trask described how Anderson was killed.

Her defense attorney, Charles Brodsky, who declined to comment after the hearing, steered his questioning toward gleaning any potential signs of mental health issues.

Officer Anh Nguyen testified that he went looking for the suspect whom witnesses saw walk away from the crime scene. He found the woman, later identified as Fisher, within minutes.

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He noticed a smear of blood on her arm as he detained her.

What did I do wrong, Fisher calmly asked, according to the officers testimony.

Exorbitant bail not right

The bail hearing brought testimony from a community supervision officer for Judge Chris Morton in the 230th District Court to appraise the defendants likelihood to return to court.

The probation officer testified Fisher had missed multiple appointments related to an evading arrest case that ended with deferred adjudication agreement, a form of probation. The judge acknowledged the spotty attendance in his decision to lower her bail to a combined $900,000 for the three pending charges.

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This defendant does not show up when and where she is supposed to, Morton said.

He said someone would have to be wealthy in order to post the initial $2 million bail, adding that he believes local bail companies would be unable to back a bond that high.

I cant set bail just to keep someone in custody, Morton said. Its not right to have a system for people who are wealthy to get out, while those who are not, cannot.

Mario Garza, a bondsman on the Harris County Bail Bond Board, said that while some bondsmen could post those amounts, theyre doing so with caveats to avoid the financial risk sometimes associated with a defendant failing to appear. The surety companies will require power of attorney records, while the bondsman will also require higher premium fees and collateral, such as rental and commercial properties.

CRIME IN HOUSTON: Six men charged in Houston rideshare robbery ring.

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Two were complete strangers

Police investigator Mario Providence attempted to piece together what happened before Fisher was taken to a hospital, where court documents say she allegedly assaulted a nurse as she was being restrained. She was confused and didnt know where she was.

When I asked questions, (shed) bounce all over the place, Providence said. I couldnt get a straight answer.

He determined the white vehicle used to hit Anderson had been reported stolen from a hotel about two hours before the stabbing. A guest at the hotel later called the homicide division and alleged that Fisher took his car without his permission. The prosecutor did not believe Fisher knew the cars owner.

He found no evidence to determine why Fisher was in the neighborhood or why she attacked Anderson.

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Court records list a north Harris County address as Fishers residence, about 27 miles away.

Trask initially thought Fisher knew Anderson based on the video and expressed surprise when investigators found nothing to suggest a link the two.
A leading phone expert has revealed five essential tips for slashing mobile phone bills while on holiday this summer.

It comes as new research by Lyca Mobile has found that a third of Britons have racked up huge phone bills while abroad - costing an average of 118.

The study by Lyca Mobile uncovered that many holidaymakers heavily rely on their phones for everyday tasks such as checking the weather (45 per cent) and finding directions to local attractions or restaurants (also 45 per cent).

With a quarter of travellers using their phones to browse and update their feeds, while over half of respondents admit they can't imagine going on holiday without their phones, it's clear that staying connected is a priority.

James McQuillan, UK & Ireland Country Manager at Lyca Mobile, said: 'It is outrageous that, at 118, our very British holiday phone bills might now cost as much as our flights. Holidaymakers should not have to worry about connectivity coming at a cost.'

Read on to discover five top tips shared by the phone expert so you can continue to enjoy using your phone while on holiday - without breaking the bank.

A leading phone expert has revealed five essential tips for slashing mobile phone bills while on holiday this summer

1. Go roaming

According to McQuillan, it's recommended to choose a provider that still includes free roaming in the EU (and sometimes other destinations).

This can save significant costs compared to using a provider that charges for roaming.

2. Add a Bolt-On

If your plan doesnt include roaming, many providers offer it as a bolt-on feature for a fee, which can be more economical than pay-as-you-go rates.

3. Get a local SIM

Upon arrival, McQuillan advises holidaymakers to purchase a local SIM card with enough data to last your trip.

The expert added: 'eSIMs are a convenient option to get online quickly while keeping your UK number.'

Upon arrival, McQuillan advises holidaymakers to purchase a local SIM card with enough data to last your trip

4. Restrict usage

McQuillan said: 'While our phones are essential on holiday there are ways to restrict usage.'

He suggests to make use of Wi-Fi wherever possible and limit the amount of time spent online to minimise data usage.

Simple habits like these can drastically reduce costs while using your phone abroad.

5. Switch off roaming

To avoid accidental daily roaming charges or unexpected high bills, turn off roaming altogether if it isn't included in your plan.

This simple step can prevent unexpected costs from piling up.

With careful planning and smart usage, Britons have the opportunity to enjoy a well-connected holiday without the financial sting of high phone bills.
This is the shocking moment a police officer appears to knee a 14-year-old boy in the stomach and throw him on the ground, after reportedly trying to stop his friend from being arrested.

The video, which has gone viral online, appears to show the officer striking the boy in the midriff or groin area after he attempted to help his friend by putting his hands on the policeman.

Kent Police said it arrested three teenagers during the incident in the Dane Park area of Margate on May 5, but it is now reviewing a complaint over one of the arrests.

Officers came to the area after several calls alleged that groups of young people, some possibly in possession of weapons, were planning to meet up.

Thousands of people have taken to social media to comment on the video, which now has around 700,000 views, with some defending the officer's use of force, while others were critical.

The video, which has gone viral online, appears to show the officer striking the boy in the midriff or groin area after he attempted to help his friend by putting his hands on the policeman

Thousands of people have taken to social media to comment on the video, which now has around 700,000 views, with some defending the policeman's use of force, while others were critical

Police bosses are reviewing a video that shows an officer bringing a 14-year-old boy to the ground with a knee to his midriff. Full story: https://t.co/FppHKHXEsy pic.twitter.com/A3mMYaooUN  KentOnline (@Kent_Online) May 23, 2024

The video, which was published by KentOnline, shows a group of young people in Park Road, with one officer pushing a young person against a wall after he is approached by the youth who shouts: 'What's your problem, fam?'

The police officer asks him: 'Why are you going around shoving people? Stand still,' as he pins him to the wall and begins handcuffing him.

A second teen in a grey hooded top then aggressively approaches a second officer, who takes him to the ground after appearing to knee him.

People in the crowd were shocked and shouted 'what the f***' and 'Oh my God'.

The youth then appears to put his hands up while he is on the floor in surrender, allowing the officer to handcuff him.

More police reinforcements arrived as the crowd of youths surrounding the officers continued to grow, with some heard shouting 'what are you doing?' and 'you can't do that'.

Kent Police said a dispersal order had been put in place which gave officers additional powers to move on anyone causing nuisance, harassment or distress.

The force told the BBC a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, a 14-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and 15-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of breaching a dispersal order.

The force added: 'A complaint has since been received regarding one of the arrests and this is currently being reviewed.'

A spokesman said there had been 'recurring anti-social behaviour' in the area and a report of an assault involving a group of people in the park two days before the incident.
True crime fanatics flocked to Gilgo Beach suspect Rex Heuermann's house and shared their theories about the gruesome crimes, as cops searched it once again.

Lori Mattza of Chicago was so excited to see Heuermann's Massapequa Park home that she accidentally drove her rental car right through the crime scene.

'I drove right up to the house. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to go,' she said looking a bit confused. 'I was trying to get video for my true crime YouTube Channel.

Mattza said it took her hours to drive to Long Island from downtown Manhattan after dropping her daughter off at her new job and dealing with holiday traffic.

'My husband doesn't know I'm here and I may be missing my flight tonight but oh god yes it was worth coming out.'

She compared Heuermann to the notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy and said she believes there are more victims besides the four Heuermann is charged with murdering.

Lori Mattza of Chicago was so excited to see the Massapequa Park home of Rex Heuermann for her true crime YouTube channel that she accidentally drove her rental car right through the crime scene

'I think there are body parts buried in the house and I think he is setting them on a wild goose chase to get all the little trophies he left behind,' she said.

True crime junkie Nick Greystone, who spoke to DailyMail.com last summer when Heuermann was first arrested was back on the block again this week, 'twice' he said, since police executed a second search warrant.

'I was shocked that they came back. What could they have possibly have found? And what is possibly going on with the case that we dont know.'

The musician and podcaster said: 'I feel like it has to be something of significance to come back to a crime scene that is basically closed. The family lived here for 10 months.'

Lauren DeFranco drove out from Port Washington despite having a broken foot.

'I wanted to come out and see what they were taking out of the house and where they were searching. What they are looking for and what kind of new evidence is turning up.

Her ankle that was wrapped in a bandage, DeFranco walked carefully, and she assessed the scene: 'They put tents out. They are obviously looking for something specific.'

The former Channel 7 news journalist, recalled being at the news conference former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer gave when he first made the announcement of the Gilgo Beach Serial Killer more than a decade ago.

'I remember him saying we don't want anyone to think we have a Jack Ripper running around,' she said.

DeFranco hobbled by the barricades that were put up, as she shared her theory on the case and questioned why search crews are back after all these time.

'I think someone is talking,' she said. 'You always hear about a jailhouse snitch or someone may be implicated in the crime is talking we dont know at this point.

She added: 'The lawyers are saying the family is stunned but we can only take that for what it is worth.

'We dont want to victimize a victim but we also dont know what was going on in this home for the last 20 years.'

Rob Palomba and Dana Gerasimovich drove past the block to get a glimpse of Heuermann's home on Friday sometime after 6.30pm when the search crews were long gone.

True crime junkie Nick Greystone, who spoke to DailyMail.com last summer when Heuremann was first arrested, was back, on the block again this week, 'twice' he said, since police executed a second search warrant

Lauren DeFranco drove out from Port Washington despite having a broken foot

They rolled down their window and told DailyMail.com, 'we just bought a house and now everyone is searching around his house again.'

'A little creepy,' Dana said.

'It doesn't bother me too much,' Rob added. 'We closed about a week and a half ago and a few days after that the cops are back at the house,

'My mom looked at me and said that house is about two minutes from where you just bought.'

He laughed. 'We are happy to be here. Fun time.'

Heuermann's alleged victims are Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello and Maureen Brainard- Barnes.

Cops and true crime sleuths fear he may have killed up to 11 women between 1996 and 2011 before dumping their bodies on the lonely strand that gave the crimes their name.

Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 and remains in jail awaiting trial.
A small Missouri town is up in arms after a local cop fatally shot a blind and deaf dog after he mistook is for a stray.

Tiny 13-pound Shih Tzu mix Teddy was tragically gunned down in Sturgeon, a town of just 900 people, on Sunday, leaving its owner Nick Hunter enraged.

In footage from KOMU of Hunter confronting police officer Myron Woodson, the emotional pet lover said: 'Was my dog a threat to you or anyone else?'

Woodson had reportedly been called to the scene to help Teddy after the dog got lost, and initially told Hunter that he believed the pooch was an injured stray that needed to be put down.

But in a statement from the City of Sturgeon, the story appeared to change, as it was said that Woodson also feared Teddy was infected with rabies and shot the pet to avoid being bitten.

Teddy, a tiny 13-pound Shih Tzu mix, was tragically gunned down in Sturgeon, Missouri on Sunday after a police officer mistook her for a stray that needed to be put down

Sturgeon police officer Myron Woodson was seen on footage explaining that he shot the disabled dog because of its behavior, which the city admitted it 'later learned' was because Teddy was blind

The shooting unfolded after Teddy reportedly ran into a neighbor's yard, with the neighbor saying that the dog spent around 45 minutes laying in the sun and licking her hand.

The neighbor, who has remained anonymous, called the police to eventually remove the dog from her yard and find its owner.

But within minutes of Officer Woodson arriving, the cop shot the dog twice, killing the beloved pet on the spot.

Hunter told the Washington Post that he found out his five-year-old dog was dead through a phone call, which he said left him in 'disbelief.'

'I was shaken, in tears, trying to figure out if it was really my dog that an officer had shot or if a mistake had been made,' he said.

The owner added that after meeting the disabled pooch, he 'instantly fell in love with his bubbly and playful personality', adding: 'He was so small you could hold him in one hand.'

Hunter told the outlet that he was considering taking legal action over the shooting, and was seen in footage confronting Woodson.

'Was my dog a threat to you or anyone else?' he said in a shaky voice, bewildered how the tiny deaf, blind dog could have triggered the response.

Woodson responded: 'I see a dog that is walking around blindly - I don't know the dog is blind.'

As he reportedly said he believed Teddy needed to be put down, Hunter questioned: 'So you're putting him out of his misery?'

'What Am I supposed to do?' Woodson responded, noting that the tiny Missouri town doesn't have animal control.

'I don't enjoy shooting dogs,' the officer added.

Owner Nick Hunter said he was in 'disbelief, shaken and in tears' after finding out his beloved dog had been shot

Woodson apologized to Hunter as he was confronted, and insisted: 'I don't enjoy shooting dogs'

Amid outrage from Sturgeon residents, the city released two statements, including one where they insisted that the officer 'acted within his authority' after reviewing body camera footage.

But locals say they remain disturbed by the shooting on a residential street, with the owner of the yard where Teddy was shot sending a letter to the city demanding Woodson is removed from his duties.

The letter also stressed that the dog was not posing any kind of threat, and that Woodson fired his weapon multiple times with 'neighboring children (in) the side yards playing and my family within close perimeter.'

The resident added that their 17-year-old daughter witnessed the dog being killed by Woodson.

In its initial statement the day after the shooting, the City of Sturgeon claimed that Woodson believed Teddy was rabid and feared he may be bitten, despite the officer reportedly not making these claims at the scene.

'The SPD Officer also noticed the animal did not have a collar or tags. The SPD Officer made numerous attempts to capture the dog using the catch pole,' the statement added.

'Based on the behavior exhibited by the dog, believing the dog to be severely injured or infected with rabies, and as the officer feared being bitten and being infected with rabies, the SPD officer felt that his only option was to put the animal down.'

The city admitted that it was 'later learned' that Teddy's behavior was because he was blind, and that the 'animal's lack of a collar or tags influenced the SPD Officer's decision to put the animal down due to his belief that the animal was injured, sick and abandoned.'

Teddy's owner added that after meeting the disabled pooch, he 'instantly fell in love with his bubbly and playful personality'

Local resident Regina Adams-Miller said she was outraged after hearing of the incident, and was particularly disturbed by the officer firing his weapon on the quiet residential street

In a follow-up statement on Thursday, the city said it reviewed Woodson's body cam footage and found that he 'acted within his authority based on the information available to him at the time to protect against possible injury to citizens'.

'In order to better equip officers for future animal at large call outs, the City will be sending all officers to Boone County Animal Control for training and education, in hopes that this unfortunate situation does not occur again,' the city added.

Local resident Regina Adams-Miller told KOMU that she was outraged after hearing of the incident, and was particularly disturbed by the officer firing his weapon on the quiet residential street.

'What if we had, you know, kids playing outside?' Adams-Miller said.

'Its scary, I dont think the community feels very safe with him. And I think I can honestly speak for most of the community, not everyone, but most.'

She continued: 'If [the officer] is scared of a little blind and deaf, 13-pound dog, or 12-pound dog, what is he going to do, you know, to our community, to our kids.'
More than 10,000 small-boat migrants are thought to have arrived in Britain across the Channel so far this year.

Groups of migrants, including several children, were brought ashore in Dover yesterday. As of Wednesday, 9,882 had made the journey from France, according to provisional Home Office figures, up 35 per cent on the number recorded this time last year (7,297) and 6 per cent higher than the same point in 2022 (9,326).

Witnesses said a lifeboat arrived carrying 40 people, with another 40 on board a Border Force boat. A second vessel is believed to have been carrying at least 50 migrants.

This suggests around 130 arrived in the UK yesterday, taking the number crossing the Channel this year over the 10,000 mark.

Earlier this week, Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted the Government remained 'determined' to stop illegal crossings

Immigration has become a key campaign battleground ahead of the election and could cause a headache for Rishi Sunak , who promised to 'stop the boats'. Pictured, an inflatable dinghy carrying around 65 migrants crosses the English Channel

The number of arrivals recorded will be confirmed in Government figures set to be published on Saturday.

Immigration has become a key campaign battleground ahead of the election and could cause a headache for Rishi Sunak, who promised to 'stop the boats'. The Prime Minister has pointed to the Rwanda deportation plan to achieve this.

Concern over the number of migrants crossing the Channel and the backlog of asylum seekers waiting for their claims to be considered while they are housed in hotels, costing the taxpayer millions of pounds a day, has dominated the migration debate.

Earlier this week, Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted the Government remained 'determined' to stop illegal crossings.

Mr Cleverly also accused Labour of delaying tactics. The party's vow to 'take things like Rwanda off the table' if it won the election was 'a signal to the people-smuggling gangs to continue doing what they're doing', he warned.

He has also said that a 'concerted effort' to derail the latest laws designed to put the plan into action through another wave of legal challenges will not prevent planes taking off.

The number of arrivals recorded will be confirmed in Government figures set to be published on Saturday. Pictured, migrants arrive at Dungeness after being intercepted in the channel by the UK Border Force

Mr Sunak has admitted that flights would not take off before the General Election. Migrants await immigration officers after arriving at Dungeness

He has always maintained the Rwanda plan was not a silver bullet for quelling illegal migration levels, arguing that a range of measures are needed to make a difference.

But taxpayers may question whether the millions of pounds being spent on the Rwanda deal - without any deportation flights getting off the ground - represents value for money. Voters may also consider how multimillion-pound agreements with France to prevent crossings are working and whether they are worth the money.

Mr Sunak has admitted that flights would not take off before the General Election.

On Thursday, he stressed 'preparation work' was already in motion and the plan would deter Channel crossings once in action but conceded deportations would only take place 'after the election', adding: 'If I'm elected, we will get the flights off.'

The comments prompted Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to claim Mr Sunak never believed in the plan and had called an early election to avoid testing the policy.
Four people have been injured and one has been arrested after supporters of the Iranian government clashed with dissidents protesting outside a London vigil to President Ebrahim Raisi, who died last week in a helicopter crash.

An event was organised at an office building on Alperton Lane, Wembley, north-west London by supporters of the Iranian government to mark the death Raisi, 63, branded the 'Butcher of Tehran' for his mass executions of thousands in the 1988.

Anti-government protesters gathered outside the venue and were met by pro-government supporters, who then attacked them, according to witnesses.

The Metropolitan Police were called to the scene outside the Dewan Al-Kafeel centre, in the office block, at 6.21pm on Friday following reports of a disorder.

Officers and Met resources attended and were joined by paramedics, who treated four people for non-life threatening or life-changing injuries.

Four people have been injured and one has been arrested after supporters of the Iranian government clashed with dissidents protesting outside a London vigil to President Ebrahim Raisi, who died last week in a helicopter crash

A protester was attacked by supporters of the Iranian government and was treated by paramedics

One man was also arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, the force said.

Further enquiries into the incident are now being made by police officers.

A dispersal order has been implemented in the area and remained in effect until 3am on Saturday.

Video shared on social media of the incident shows supporters of the Iranian regime confront protesters, who were playing music, with one repeatedly shouting 'f*** off' though the gates the the office complex.

Men then rushed out and started attacking the protesters and a woman, who was filming, was pushed over and then kicked her as she lay on the floor by the man who shouted 'f*** off' through the gate.

This woman was later sent to hospital for treatment, MailOnline understands.

Another video shows paramedics treating a man who is lying on the ground after having been attacked. It is understood that he was also taken to hospital for his injuries.

This man shouted 'f*** you f*** you' through the gate then proceeded to kick a woman who had been pushed over

Chaos at the scene on Alperton Lane, Wembley, north-west London yesterday

Exiled Iranian dissident Niyak Ghorbani, 37, who knows those at the protest and supported his friends in the hospital afterwards, told MailOnline: 'Today, the Islamic Republic held a mourning ceremony in London for the death of its president.

'We coordinated with friends to show that Iranians are very happy about this event by dancing and celebrating.

'When the police arrived there, they [protesters] played the song "Helicopter" and started dancing and celebrating. This angered the supporters of the Islamic Republic, who then attacked our friends.'

Mr Ghorbani has indicated that he wishes to protest at a candlelit vigil for the late president of Iran which is due to take place outside the Embassy in central London on Saturday at 7pm.

Raisi was killed after a helicopter carrying him and other officials crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared on Monday that the nation will observe five days of mourning in honor of Raisi. However, Iranians across the globe took to social media using the hashtag 'Happy Helicopter Day' to share their celebrations of this death.

Ad for the memorial for President Ebrahim Raisi which took place yesterday in Wembley

Protesters have indicated they will attend a vigil for Raesi at the Iranian Embassy in London on Saturday

The Met issued a statement which read: 'At 18.21hrs on Friday, 24 May officers were called to Alperton Lane, Wembley following reports of disorder.

'An event was taking place to mark the death of the President of Iran, attended by supporters of the Iranian government.

'Anti-government protesters had gathered outside the venue and clashes had broken out between the groups.

'Local officers attended, supported by resources from elsewhere in the Met.

'Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were also deployed.

'Four people were injured and were treated by paramedics. Their injuries are not believed to be either life threatening or life changing.

'A dispersal order was implemented, requiring those involved to leave the area. It will remain in force until 03.00hrs.

'One man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. Further enquiries will now follow to establish what further offences took place and to identify those involved.

'This will include an examination of footage shared on social media.

'Anyone with other footage or information is encouraged to call 101, to message @MetCC or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with the reference 6379/24MAY.'
The mother of a three-year-old boy who drove his toy tractor into a river in Utah has said the family are 'shattered' after an MRI revealed the the results were 'not good', in a devastating update on the health of her son who almost drowned in the incident.

Levi Wright's mother, Kallie Wright, dived in to save him and raced to the hospital where doctors restored his heartbeat. The youngster, whose father is rodeo star Spencer Wright, remained unconscious for days, as doctors warned the Wrights that Levi's brain was too damaged for him to survive.

On Friday, his parents believed Levi had begun to show signs of progress with further tests scheduled to assess his brain function.

But late on Friday afternoon, one of those tests gave a heartbreaking prognosis.

Kallie Wright, the mother of three-year-old Levi, who drove his toy tractor into a river in Utah has said the family are 'shattered' after an MRI revealed the the results were 'not good' Friday

Kallie Wright is seen together with her husband Spencer, son Levi and daughter

Kallie Wright and son Levi are seen together in a photo posted by a friend

An MRI scan revealed a poor prognosis for the youngster devastating the family

'The MRI wasn't good, we're shattered but it is just images that suggest a certain quality of life,' Kallie wrote.

'Our real teller of all will be what Levi does over the course of a few days. Please continue to pray! I'm not giving up on my baby just yet,' she added.

'I'm working on getting any and all neurologists or other educated professionals with expertise in this area who are willing to view his MRI. Then just seeing what my strong boys does in the next few days.'

On Thursday night, Kallie said that Levi had woken up while in his hospital bed at the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City alongside her husband Spencer.

'LEVI WOKE UP! I am shook, we don't know much but the doctor said it was okay for me to get excited about that and I AM! My baby is so tough!' she wrote.

'He got a little wild so we had to settle him down again but my heart!'

Kallie later on Friday clarified Levi wasn't 'fully coherent' or talking, however.

'He opened his eyes for a period of time, wiggled with purpose and less like just a reflex as before,' she wrote.

'We still have a very long and tremendous road ahead of us, full of unknowns. Spencer and I felt like he knew we were there and could hear us.'

'He's been pretty sedated since then but has still had small periods of awakeness. He actually woke up during us talking to one of the doctors about his love of excavators and tractors.'

The family had been buoyed by the possibility that Levi was 'awake' but it may have been false hope

Kallie Wright is seen in a photo of herself alongside her son Levi

Rodeo group Bronco Riding Nation shared this photo asking its fans to pray for Levi, and promised to donate the proceeds of some of its sales

Kallie said she was singing Levi's favorite excavator songs and they talked about what they would get up to when he was out of the hospital.

Kallie's husband is Spencer Wright and among the most prominent in the history of rodeo. His father, Bill Wright, was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

Spencer is ranked 35th in the world, while his siblings are also renowned athletes in the sport.

When Levi drove into the river, the person who called 911 frantically told the dispatcher that they couldn't see him under the fast-moving currents.

Kallie 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.

Late on Thursday night, Levi 'woke up', according to his mother Kallie Wright, who is by his bedside at Salt Lake City Hospital with her husband Spencer

Levi was declared brain dead after driving his toy tractor into a river and vanishing underwater

When Levi drove into the river, the person who called 911 frantically told the dispatcher that they couldn't see him under the fast-moving currents

Levi snuck away from his family in the toy tractor (pictured), and his mother dove into the river to save him after he disappeared under the currents

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

'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 in their first update about Levi, which explained that the youngster was not expected to survive.

'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!'
Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, the two drill rappers Donald Trump welcomed on stage at his massive rally in the Bronx Thursday, are charged as co-conspirators in a 2023 murder case.

Trump campaigned before thousands of fans in one of the most heavily Democratic and non-white areas of the US on Thursday in a push to do what his critics believe is unthinkable: win New York in 2024.

At the rally, he brought the pair of rappers on stage. Trump admired the dazzling diamond grills on their teeth, with the bling-loving Republican joking he wanted to get one for himself.

Sheff G - real name Michael Williams - is a 25-year-old rapper whose songs and videos have millions of YouTube views and Spotify streams.

He's also a central figure in the gang case unveiled by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez over a year ago, while he was serving a separate attempted weapons possession sentence.

Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, the two drill rappers Donald Trump welcomed on stage at his massive rally in the Bronx Thursday, are charged as co-conspirators in a 2023 murder case

Sleepy Hallow - real name Tegan Chambers, 24 - has close to 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He faces conspiracy charges in the gang case. Both he and Sheff G have pleaded not guilty.

Images captured on Thursday show Sheff G walking into the park where the rally took place with cameras following him as teenage boys seem visibly excited at spotting the rapper. One of them said, 'Oh my God. It's Sheff G.'

Toward the end of his speech on Thursday, Trump asked his supporters, 'Does everybody know Sheff G? Where is Sheff G?' before also introducing Sleepy Hallow.

'President Trump, my man,' Sheff G was heard saying before Trump gestured to him to approach the microphone.

'One thing I want to say: They are always going to whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures. Trump is going to shout the wins for all of us,' Sheff G told the crowd before Sleepy Hallow moved to the microphone to utter Trump's slogan 'Make America Great Again.'

A spokesman for Trumps campaign was asked about whether the campaign knew about the charges and whether it was the former president who sought the rappers support or the other way around.

'As Sheff G said: `They always whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures.' campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded in an email.

A spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service, which provides protection for Trump and secures his rallies, did not respond to a request for comment about Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow's appearance on stage.

Sheff G - real name Michael Williams - is a 25-year-old rapper whose songs and videos have millions of YouTube views and Spotify streams

Sleepy Hallow - real name Tegan Chambers, 24 - has close to 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He faces conspiracy charges in the gang case

Both Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow are due back in court next month. Sheff Gs attorney, Arthur Aidala, said Friday that 'intense litigation' was ongoing and 'were cautiously optimistic that Mr. Williams will be exonerated.'

A message seeking comment on the case was left with Sleepy Hallows attorney.

After being paroled in his weapons case in June 2023, Sheff G was held on the new charges until last month, when a judge set bail at $1.5 million cash.

Sleepy Hallow was released on $200,000 bail in May 2023.

Prosecutors say Sheff Gs money fueled and rewarded multiple shootings as members of the 8 Trey Crips and affiliated 9 Ways gangs affiliates battled foes.

He treated Sleepy Hallow and others to a steak dinner to celebrate an October 2020 shooting that killed a purported member of a rival gang and injured five others, prosecutors say.

'It is how, in part, Sheff G and Tegan Chambers - Sleepy Hallow - assert influence, right? Because they take people out, and theyre able to spend money, and theyre able to encourage others to do some of the gang violence thats just critically important to them and their status in the community,' Gonzalez said at a May 2023 news conference with New York Mayor Eric Adams. Both are Democrats.

Prosecutors have said they have surveillance video, text messages, social media posts, cell phone data and more to back up the allegations.

While Gonzalez has noted that the rappers songs refer to gang retaliation and some of their rivals, he has said the lyrics werent used as evidence.

Rappers Sheff G, right, also known as Michael Williams, and Sleepy Hallow, also known as Tegan Chambers, join the Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in the south Bronx

Both Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow are due back in court next month. Sheff Gs attorney, Arthur Aidala, said Friday that 'intense litigation' was ongoing and 'were cautiously optimistic that Mr. Williams will be exonerated'

Prosecutors also say Sheff G chauffeured three co-defendants to and from an April 2021 shooting that targeted a gang rival but instead hit two bystanders.

The DAs office declined to comment Friday on the case.

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat who represents the Bronx in Congress, said it is an offensive strategy for Trump to associate with people who are accused of violent crimes in order to appeal to Black voters.

'The conflation of communities of color with criminality is a racist trope that Donald Trump repeats,' said Torres, who is Black.

Trump called other speakers to the stage Thursday, including Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and the Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., a former Democratic city council member in New York and state senator.

Prosecutors also say Sheff G chauffeured three co-defendants to and from an April 2021 shooting that targeted a gang rival but instead hit two bystanders

The rally crowd in the South Bronx's Crotona Park extended far beyond the 3,500 slated to appear, and thousands were forced to wait outside the fenced in area hoping to catch a glimpse of the 45th president.

Worryingly for the Democrats, the rally was packed with black and Hispanic people - two groups who Joe Biden has been accused of taking for granted - and who make up most of the population of the surrounding area.

As Trump fights to win minority voters, the real estate mogul delivered an hour-and-a-half speech about the decline of a city he loves - vowing to 'make New York City great again' and be the first Republican to win the state since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

'Everyone wanted to be here,' he told the crowd who waited for six hours to hear Trump. 'But sadly this is now a city in decline.'

'But if a New Yorker can't save this country, no-one can.'


Labour has come under pressure from businesses over its workers' rights plan  as the Tories said the reforms would cost companies 41 billion a year.

Major firms met Labour officials this week to make their views 'loud and clear' in talks convened by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) lobby group.

Labour's proposals, fronted by deputy leader Angela Rayner, include a ban on zero-hour contracts and a 'right to switch off'.

But after warnings from bosses that the plans could backfire, the party faces a major test of its relationship with corporate Britain  as unions push to avoid them being watered down.

Executives remain in the dark over the plans, with some still worried about how Labour will act in power, despite its long-term 'smoked salmon' offensive to woo the City.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner will propose a ban on zero-hour contracts and a 'right to switch off.'

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch says the plans will cripple businesses, reduce investment and lead to more strikes.

BCC director general Shevaun Haviland said her organisation had convened 'constructive talks' on the issue with Labour.

Last night it was claimed that if all the measures  including raising the minimum wage to 10 for all workers and speeding up the rollout of home-working  were introduced, it could cost British businesses 205 billion over a five-year parliament.

The measures will cost businesses 1,250 per employee every year, according to analysis by the Conservatives.

BCC director general Shevaun Haviland said her organisation had convened 'constructive talks' on the issue with Labour.

Those attending included major firms from the BCC's business council, a body whose founding members include Heathrow, BP and Holiday Inn owner IHG Hotels.

The BCC did not disclose which members attended.

Ms Haviland said: 'On such important matters it's crucial that the voice of business continues to be heard loud and clear. It's clear that Labour is in listening mode.

'Our members wholeheartedly recognise that their employees deserve high standards of protection.

'However, any changes to legislation in the future must be proportionate and affordable.'

Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner and Welsh Labour Leader Vaughan Gething launched the Welsh Labour general election campaign Llandudno, Wales this week.

Gething addressed activists saying that people across Wales are calling out for a change of UK government, an end to Tory chaos.

Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of marketing firm S4 Capital and one of the City's best-known figures, has previously described the plan as 'Labour's Achilles heel'.

Labour grandee Lord Mandelson, who masterminded the party's 1997 election victory, has also urged caution, but Ms Rayner has dismissed 'squealing' critics.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves have hinted that key elements of the plan could be watered down.

But last week they met trade union bosses that provide a large chunk of Labour's funding and 'reiterated Labour's full commitment to the deal'.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch says the plans will cripple businesses, reduce investment and lead to more strikes.
Singapore Airlines will halt meal services when planes fly through turbulence after one person died and dozens were injured on a flight from London this week.

The airline said it has adopted a 'more cautious approach to managing turbulence in-flight' after the Boeing 777 jet heading to Singapore hit extreme turbulence over the Andaman Sea on Tuesday, hurling passengers and items around the cabin.

'In addition to the suspension of hot beverage service when the seat belt sign is on, the meal service will also be suspended,' the airline said in a statement.

'Crew members will also return to their seats and secure their seat belts when the seat belt sign is on.'

The plane, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members  including 47 passengers from the UK and four Irish nationals  made a sharp 6,000ft descent in about three minutes, after which it diverted to Thailand.

Geoff Kitchen, 73, from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, died after suffering a suspected heart attack aboard the Singapore Airlines plane

The airline said it has adopted a 'more cautious approach to managing turbulence in-flight' after the Boeing 777 jet heading to Singapore hit extreme turbulence over the Andaman Sea on Tuesday

The company said meal service has been suspended and crew members will also return to their seats and secure their seat belts when the seat belt sign is on

The plane, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members  including 47 passengers from the UK and four Irish nationals  made a sharp 6,000ft descent in about three minutes, after which it diverted to Thailand. Pictured: one air stewardess with blood on her face

Officials said the turbulence was believed to have occurred when meals were being served and many people were not using seat belts.

Geoff Kitchen, 73, from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, died after suffering a suspected heart attack aboard the plane.

Forty-six passengers and two crew members remain in hospital.

A British woman has been left paralysed from the waist down, her husband revealed yesterday.

Dance teacher Kerry Jordan, originally from Appledore in Devon, suffered a 'life changing injury' after being catapulted into the overhead lockers after the Boeing 777 hit extreme turbulence on its flight from London. She is recovering at Bangkok's Samittivej Srinakarin Hospital where she is expected to remain for several weeks having undergone emergency surgery.

Passengers have described the 'sheer terror' of the aircraft shuddering, loose items flying and injured people lying on the floor of the plane.

Singapore Airlines said other existing safety measures during poor weather conditions include getting crew members to secure loose items in the cabin and galley to minimise turbulence-related injuries, advising passengers to return to their seats and buckle up, and monitoring passengers who may need assistance, such as those in the toilet.

Dance teacher Kerry Jordan, originally from Appledore in Devon, suffered a 'life changing injury' after being catapulted into the overhead lockers after the Boeing 777 hit extreme turbulence on its flight from London. She is pictured right with husband Keith Davis

Officials said the turbulence was believed to have occurred when meals were being served and many people were not using seat belts. Pictured: Food strewn across the plane

Forty-six passengers and two crew members remain in hospital. Pictured: The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 after it made an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Thai rescuers hurriedly carry out severely injured passengers on stretchers

Thai emergency services lift a man on a stretcher above the heads of injured passengers

Singapore Airlines said other existing safety measures during poor weather conditions include getting crew members to secure loose items in the cabin and galley. Pictured: The destruction caused by the turbulence

Passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, which made an emergency landing in Bangkok, greet family members upon arrival at Changi Airport in Singapore

'Pilots and cabin crew are aware of the hazards associated with turbulence. They are also trained to assist customers and ensure cabin safety throughout the flight,' the airline said.

'SIA will continue to review our processes as the safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance.'

The Singapore Straits Times newspaper said public records showed that authorities have investigated six other Singapore Airlines flights hit by turbulence in the past two decades, in which some passengers and crew members were injured.

Tuesday's incident was the only one involving a fatality.

It is unclear what caused Tuesday's severe turbulence.

It is believed to have been clear air turbulence, the most dangerous type that often occurs with no visible warning in the sky ahead.

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.

Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, where most of the 104 people hurt in the incident were treated, has said that the 48 people still being treated include those with spinal or spinal cord damage, skull or brain injuries and damage to bones or internal organs.

Twenty people remain in intensive care, but the hospital said none are in a 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.

Singapore Airlines has issued an apology over the incident.

Chief executive Goh Choon Phong has pledged the carrier will cooperate fully with the investigation and has visited those in the hospital to offer his support.
Jessica Campos, left, is comforted by Melissa Yarborough, a former HISD teacher and current parent, as she cries while speaking during a protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Houston City Hall in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer People yell and carry signs during a protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Houston City Hall in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Sarah Beebe yells during a protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Houston City Hall in Houston. Beebe said she has two girls in HISD. Im quite frankly furious, she said. Im heartbroken at how our kids and our beloved staff are being treated. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer People yell and carry signs during a protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Houston City Hall in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Sheronda Sweet yells during a protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Houston City Hall in Houston. She said she has a daughter who is a high school senior in HISD. Im here to support the teachers, support the schools, end this takeover and show the governor that were not going to stand for this, she said. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Anita Wadhwa helps lead a protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Houston City Hall in Houston. She said she has two children in HISD, and that she is a teacher in another district. Im here to be an example for my daughters, she said. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Reece Carr, a former HISD teacher, yells during a protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Houston City Hall in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Tiffany Hogue listens during a protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Houston City Hall in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Hundreds of Houston Independent School District supporters gathered at City Hall on Saturday morning to call for the resignation of state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles after a tumultuous first year under state takeover.

Families and staff members filled in the area in front of City Halls reflection pool to protest, among other items, a series of terminations of principals and teachers whom the district deemed low performing. The protest was one of many held by the HISD community in recent weeks.

There's no reason we should be firing teachers, said state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston. There's no reason we should be closing schools. Theres no reason we should be shortchanging our children.

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State Reps. Ron Reynolds, Christina Morales, Jarvis Johnson and Jolanda Jones, state Sen. Molly Cook and Lauren Ashley Simmons, who is running for a state House seat, were also among the dozen-plus speakers who included politicians, parents, educators and even students.

Many attendees wore shirts and hats with HISD schools logos and names on them. At least 40 schools were represented among the apparel.

As a teacher, I dont agree with the way our district is going, and as a parent that terrifies me," said Celena Compean. "Im here for our students and for my child.

But not all protesters had a direct connection to the school district. Marcus Santos attended as a "concerned citizen" who is scared about what this takeover means to the city and the state in the future.

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"There's a future that can be built here," Santos said. "Texas already doesn't do well on education anyway. How much worse can it get? I believe it can get a lot worse, but I don't want that to happen."

Multiple protests were also held during the past week, including hundreds of students walking out of their schools Friday. Parents and other community members joined them for the protest. And around 200 people, including a former Principal of the Year, spoke during Thursdays board meeting against teacher and principal terminations.

Saturday's protest included a short march around the reflection pool at City Hall before the speakers talked to the crowd from the steps outside the building. Organizer Corey Flores, who wore a Briargrove T-shirt and hat, said turnout was good and that she would leave the event feeling motivated to continue fighting.

Multiple educators, including Herod Elementary School Principal Jessica Berry, spoke about their experiences in the district. Berry had been asked to resign, but she declined to do. As of Saturday morning, she said, she is locked out of her email accounts and hasnt had any communication from the district about whether she has a job.

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But on Tuesday, my students still come to school, Berry said. On Tuesday, my students still expect to see me there in the morning to greet them. When you are fighting, remember whatever the reason you are fighting, it has to be for our kids.

Susan Espinoza, an HISD special education teacher of 27 years, isn't in the same boat as Berry. Her job status is not ambiguous. She said she was fired Thursday.

She implored protesters to keep speaking up.

Ask questions, Espinoza said, and scream loud when you don't like the answer."
A Houston woman was sentenced to 40 years behind bars after murdering her friend so she could kidnap her six-week-old baby.

Erika Miranda-Alvarez, 35, pleaded guilty this week to fatally stabbing Carolina Flores, 33, in a grisly plot to steal the mother-of-five's baby in 2017.

The killer had been a friend of Flores and her family for several years, and both women were pregnant at the same time before Miranda-Alvarez miscarried, leading her to devise her scheme.

Prosecutors said this week that Miranda-Alvarez's defense planned to use an insanity defense, so offered her a plea deal in order to assure the murderer spends decades behind bars.

Erika Miranda-Alvarez, 35, pleaded guilty this week to fatally stabbing a Houston mother-of-five and stealing her six-week-old baby

Carolina Flores, 33, pictured with her baby Shamali, was murdered by Miranda-Alvarez, who had befriended her and knew her family for years

Miranda-Alvarez had reportedly grown close to Flores during their pregnancies, but kept her miscarriage a secret and lied to Flores about having given birth shortly before the murder, reports KHOU.

After stabbing Flores to death, family members found her body in her apartment on December 19, 2017, but quickly realized her baby was missing.

Authorities launched a huge two-day search and issued an AMBER Alert to find the child, who was eventually found unharmed in Miranda-Alvarez's apartment.

A SWAT team was used to breach the home, where Miranda-Alvarez was also found inside the home and taken into custody.

Two hospital wristbands were discovered in the killer's pocket, one for Carolina Flores, and another for Shamali Flores, Carolina's baby.

Following the murders, it was revealed that Flores' brother Juan Martinez-Miranda introduced the women, and he told KHOU at the time that his sister's death was 'painful.'

'I cannot say if I'm upset, if I'm sad, or if I'm angry,' he added.

Flores was found stabbed to death in her Houston apartment, and prosecutors said Miranda-Alvarez hid her phone in the toilet tank

Police seen outside the Houston apartment, where Flores' family members discovered her body

Authorities launched an exhaustive two-day search for the baby that led them to the apartment

Prosecutors said Miranda-Alvarez systematically plotted the crime, and claimed to police after her arrest that she took the baby after finding Flores dead in her apartment, but did not kill her.

'She knew what she was doing was wrong, and we know that from what she said to people and what she did, including dumping the victims cellphone in the toilet tank,' said Harris County Assistant District Attorney Casey Smith.

As part of her plea deal, Miranda-Alvarez will not be eligible to appeal her conviction, and must serve at least 20 years before she is eligible for parole.

Harris County DA Kim Ogg described the incident as a 'premeditated murder and kidnapping that should have never happened.'

'I wish there was a way to undo all the harm and pain that this defendant inflicted on others, but all we can do is work to ensure that she spends decades in prison for her actions,' she said.

Smith said members of the victim's family were in attendance to see the sentencing, and said they have 'waited a long time for justice to be done, and now hopefully this will finally give them some closure.'
Netflix has been warned to 'preserve evidence' by Manhattan lawyers acting for the woman identified as the real-life Baby Reindeer 'stalker'.

Fiona Harvey has instructed 'aggressive' New York attorneys The Roth Law Firm - who boast they take a 'gloves off' approach to fighting for their clients.

It comes as Ms Harvey prepares to sue the creators of the hit Netflix drama, after vowing legal action against the streaming giant and comedian Richard Gadd who wrote and starred in the acclaimed mini-series.

She has declared she is clearly the person depicted as sick stalker 'Martha' and believes the show's creators have 'made millions' from telling 'lies' about her.

Fiona Harvey (pictured) has instructed 'aggressive' New York attorneys The Roth Law Firm

Ms Harvey is preparing to sue the creators of the hit Netflix drama, after vowing legal action against the streaming giant and comedian Richard Gadd (pictured)

The seven-part drama is billed by the streaming giant as a 'true story' - not even 'based on' a true story.

And yet it depicts 'Martha' as pleading guilty and being jailed for nine months, which she says never happened.

Ms Harvey, 58, who lives in central London, insists it is complete fantasy to suggest she has a criminal conviction and therefore paints a 'dishonest and false picture of me'.

It took internet sleuths almost no time to identify her as the real 'Martha' from the clues in the story.

She is being helped by leading British barrister Chris Daw KC, who is assisting the Manhattan lawyers.

Yesterday The Roth Law Firm warned Netflix, Mr Gadd, and the production company Clerkenwell Films not to delete any potential evidence ahead of possible legal proceedings.

Ms Harvey claims the seven-part drama is billed by the streaming giant as a 'true story' - not even 'based on' a true story (pictured, Baby Reindeer shot of Martha)

It said in a statement: 'Fiona Harvey, the real 'Martha' on the television show Baby Reindeer, who was never contacted by Netflix or any person or entity associated with the show, has retained The Roth Law Firm in connection with her legal claims related to the production.

'In furtherance thereof, steps are being taken to demand that Richard Gadd, Netflix and Clerkenwell Films, and any related individuals and entities, take all necessary steps to preserve evidence.'

On its website, The Roth Law Firm says: 'The Roth Law Firm is an aggressive and innovative small New York City law firm that has built a strong reputation as a premiere litigation boutique firm. Its strength lies in its ability to 'take the gloves off' when necessary'.

Netflix, Gadd and Clerkenwell Films were all approached for comment.
Strong screentime curbs, including a phone ban for under-16s, may be needed to stop the 'shocking' harm being done to children, MPs have warned.

Studies show that around a quarter of children and young people use their smartphones in a way that is consistent with a behavioural addiction.

Meanwhile screen use has been found to start as early as six months of age, with one in five children aged between three and four owning a mobile phone.

In a report, the House of Commons Education Committee has warned the risks of screentime significantly outweigh the benefits for children, and MPs are now calling for radical solutions to protect young people.

They argue screentime should be minimal for younger children and better balanced with face-to-face socialisation and physical activity for older ones.

Studies show that around a quarter of children and young people use their smartphones in a way that is consistent with a behavioural addiction

Meanwhile screen use has been found to start as early as six months of age, with one in five children aged between three and four owning a mobile phone

They cite research that has found it can take up to 20 minutes for pupils to refocus on what they were learning after browsing the internet or clicking on a notification on their phone.

Excessive smartphone use can affect young people's memory, concentration and attention span, as well as exposing them to online pornography, violence and the risk of grooming.

Within the first year of the new Parliament, the next Government should work alongside Ofcom to consult on additional measures regarding smartphone use for children under 16 years old, they said.

This includes the possibility of parental controls installed as default for phone for under-16s, or even an outright ban on smartphones for this age group.

Mobile phone companies and network operators should work with the next Government to promote phones specifically designed for children, which can be used for contact and GPS location but not to access the internet or download apps, they added.

Parents also need clear guidance from the Government on managing the amount of time their children spend on their phone, they said.

Robin Walker, MP for Worcester and Chair of the Education Committee, said: 'Excessive screen and smartphone use has a clear negative impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of children and young people.

Robin Walker, MP for Worcester and Chair of the Education Committee, said: 'Excessive screen and smartphone use has a clear negative impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of children and young people'

'Our inquiry heard shocking statistics on the extent of the damage being done to under-18s, particularly those who are already extremely vulnerable, such as those in care.

'Without urgent action, more children will be put in harm's way. From exposure to pornography, to criminal gangs using online platforms to recruit children, the online world poses serious dangers.

'Parents and schools face an uphill struggle and Government must do more to help them meet this challenge. This might require radical steps, such as potentially a ban on smartphones for under-16s.

'It's also clear that children require face-to-face and in-person social contact in order to thrive.

'Our report found that screen time is inversely associated with working memory, processing, attention levels, language skills and executive function.

'Whilst there can be some benefits from the online world and sharing information or interests with their peers, ready, unsupervised and unrestricted access to the internet leaves children vulnerable, exposing them to a world they are not equipped for.'

Separate research has found that there was a 52 per cent increase in children's screen time during the Covid pandemic.

Meanwhile the amount of time those aged 5-15 years old spent online rose form an average of nine hours per week in 2009 to 15 hours per week in 2018.

One in five children aged 10-15 have said they experienced at least one type of bullying behaviour online, while 79 per cent of children have encountered violent pornography online before the age of 18.

Earlier this year the Government announced a crackdown on mobile phones in schools, confirming a plan to ban their use during the school day.
A man who shot two women at a Perth home before turning the weapon on himself in a horror double murder-suicide was looking for his ex-wife, police have revealed.

WA police confirmed the 63-year-old man knew the older of the two dead women, a 59-year-old, as a good friend of his former partner.

Both the man and the woman died at the Berkeley Crescent residence in the upmarket Perth suburb of Floreat on Friday.

The older woman's daughter, 18, was transported to hospital with serious injuries but died on Saturday morning.

At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed the man, a registered gun owner, visited the house looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women.

Police arrived at the property to hear the man fire a final shot, believed to be the moment the 63-year-old took his own life.

'The 63-year-old was a licensed firearms holder in the state of Western Australia,' Det Insp Gorton said.

'He was the owner of the firearms we believe - at this point of time - were used.'

He also confirmed the man was known to police.

Detectives are investigating whether one of the women had her hands cable-tied by the shooter.

A man shot two women at a Perth home before turning the weapon on himself in a horror murder-suicide, police have revealed (pictured, forensic police at the scene)

It's believed the man in his 60s knew the older of the two women, in her 50s, from a mutual contact. Both the man and the woman died at the Berkeley Crescent residence in the upmarket Perth suburb of Floreat (pictured, forensic police at the scene)

Police were called to the home in the city's inner north-west at about 4.30pm local time on Friday after a gunman opened fire

Det Insp Gorton also confirmed the man's ex-wife and a daughter were in the care of the homicide squad.

'We are providing any support we can to them.

'Obviously, they're very distressed by the circumstances and WA police will make the appropriate referrals to them for counselling.'

Police were called to the home in the city's inner north-west at about 4.30pm local time on Friday after the gunman opened fire.

The woman who later died was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition.

Police were at the scene of the shooting overnight.

'The incident is contained and there are no ongoing threats to the public,' a police spokesman said.

A police helicopter was dispatched to the area and circled overhead as part of the response.

Neighbours described the street as 'friendly' and said a mother and her two adult daughters lived at the house, The West Australian reported.

Mourners attended the upmarket street on Saturday, some bringing bouquets of flowers

Friends of the two women tragically gunned down consoled each other outside the house

Neighbours described the street as 'friendly' and said a mother and her two adult daughters lived at the house, The West Australian reported

Police rushed to Berkeley Crescent in the Perth suburb of Floreat on Friday afternoon

A police helicopter circled overhead at the height of the large scale police operation

Young neighbour Archer Beattie told 9News he heard tyres screeching, driving, 'lots of sirens, and then the occasional crack'.

Another neighbour called David said his daughter was in the backyard with the family dog and heard gunshots.

'She ran inside and locked the doors and waited until we got home. She said she just knew they were gunshots,' he said.

'She said it was three or four shots.

'We know the family (at that address) reasonably well and just hope they are OK.'

Another neighbour, Indiana Bond, told The West the incident as it developed was 'quite scary'.

'It was a bit of a rollercoaster ... there were about two people around 18 or 19 talking out the front to a police officer, then about 15 minutes later we hear sirens going past,' he said.

'There was a whole shebang going on and so we came outside to have a look and then we saw the (TRG) outside the house.

'Then we hear 'bang, bang, bang, bang' these shots going off, then we saw police roll up, ambulances roll up and they blocked off the whole street immediately.

'There wasn't anything rapid fire, but it was a lot of single shots so it sounded like a back-and-forth kind of action ... it was quite scary.'

In a social media post State MP Christine Tonkin said it would take time for the circumstances of the tragedy to become clear.

'We know that the people in this neighbourhood are shocked, confused and grieving. It will take time to make sense of what has happened and for life to return to a semblance of normality.

'In the meantime, let's be gentle with each other.'

Floreat is an upmarket suburb about 8kms north-west of the Perth CBD known for million-dollar homes and manicured lawns.

The area remains closed off the public as detectives and forensic officers investigate the scene.

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The British Medical Journal Open have been accused of 'abandoning science' after they rejected research from top academics over their views on the trans debate.

One researcher had his paper rejected because he was 'opinionated' and had tweeted in support of author JK Rowling's gender-critical views.

The other's research was taken offline by BMJ staff who accused him of being 'transphobic' based on a student paper article about him. Both academics saw the discussions in BMJ staff emails after making Freedom of Information requests.

Dr Michael Biggs, an Oxford University sociologist, was blacklisted over a paper saying the official number of transgender people in the UK  262,000  is unreliable because of a confusingly-worded census question.

Dr Michael Biggs (pictured), an Oxford University sociologist, was blacklisted over a paper saying the official number of transgender people in the UK  262,000  is unreliable

Dr John Armstrong (pictured), a mathematician at King's College London, submitted a paper to BMJ Open on findings that institutions with higher 'Athena Swan' ratings  an award given for promoting gender equality  had fewer women in senior roles

He said a number of people who don't speak English as a first language had answered 'no' to: 'Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?'

BMJ staff emails claimed Dr Biggs' piece 'portrays trans individuals as uneducated and implies they weren't able to understand the question on the census'.

The emails also revealed concerns about him 'being known for being transphobic' after a student paper in 2018 claimed he had tweeted critical views of trans people.

Dr Biggs said 'some journal editors... don't care if an article is true, but whether it helps disadvantaged or oppressed minorities'.

Dr John Armstrong, a mathematician at King's College London, submitted a paper to BMJ Open on findings that institutions with higher 'Athena Swan' ratings  an award given for promoting gender equality  had fewer women in senior roles.

After it was rejected, he found a member of staff had told a colleague his social media account had 'coloured our impression of the manuscript'.

One email said 'he's quite argumentative and opinionated', and highlighted how he retweeted a JK Rowling post supporting campaigner Maya Forstater, who lost her job after saying people could not change their biological sex.

Dr Armstrong said: 'If a journal censors findings because they don't like the results or the author, it has abandoned science.'

The BMJ denied it would reject a paper for 'political or ideological reasons'.
The parents of a nine-year-old boy who died after being sent home from hospital with just painkillers for a sepsis infection have accused 'shameful' doctors of 'deliberately avoiding responsibility' for their role in his tragic death.

Laurence and Corinne Cope lamented the 'chaotic and shambolic' failures of Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, Wales following an inquest into the death of their son, Dylan Cope.

A coroner speaking at Gwent Coroner's Court on Friday found that their son had died from a gross failure of basic care after he was sent home from hospital in 2022 without a full review of suspicions he may have been suffering from appendicitis.

After senior coroner Caroline Saunders identified multiple 'individual errors' surrounding the 'loving and sensitive' boy's death, Dylan's heartbroken parents told reporters: 'Making genuine errors is one thing but deliberately avoiding responsibility as a healthcare professional is shameful'.

'Dylan was our youngest son, our little boy with his whole life ahead of him' Corinne Cope said outside the court on Friday. 'As family we have had to adjust to being four instead of five. Our circle is forever broken.'

'Dylan is central to all of this. The magnitude of his loss of life has been overshadowed by others minimising and thwarting attempts to uncover the truth,' she continued. 'For our child to suffer and die from an easily treatable condition is unimaginable for most parents.

'This is now our living nightmare and it does not end with the conclusion of this inquest.'

Nine-year-old Dylan died after being sent home from hospital with painkillers

Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran was guilty of neglect when it sent young Dylan home from hospital with painkillers, the inquest ultimately ruled, some two years on from his death in December 2022.

The schoolboy, who was looking forward to hitting 'double digits' on his 10th birthday, died on December 14 2022 of septic shock and multiple organ failure.

He was found to have suffered a burst appendix which led to a sepsis infection spreading right through his body.

The family GP had sent him to A&E at the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, South Wales, with suspected appendicitis on 6 Dec 2022 after he complained of 'excruciating' pain.

The doctor had written a note saying 'query appendicitis' which was not picked up by the hospital.

'The only person who seemed to get it spot on was the GP, and thereafter it seemed like everyone let him down,' said Ms Cope.

An inquest heard paediatric nurse practitioner Samantha Hayden's examination of the schoolboy was 'inadequate' and Dr Lianne Doherty did not carry out a senior review before Dylan was discharged.

Senior Gwent Coroner Caroline Saunders said at the inquest: 'There were a number of individual errors which resulted in Dylan being sent home from hospital when he should have remained. This amounted to a gross failure of basic care.'

In her summing up the coroner said the failure of Dylan to receive a senior review was due to a misunderstanding, not a system failure.

Saunders recorded a narrative verdict saying Dylan was 'erroneously discharged', and identified he was 'suffering from appendicitis' when he first arrived at hospital.

She said: 'His condition warranted further observation and assessment.

'The effects of sepsis proved overwhelming. Dylan's death would have been avoided if he had not been erroneously discharged from the Grange University Hospital.'

Aneurin Bevan health board admitted 'full reponsibility' for Dylan's death, deeming the tragedy 'a result of an organisational system failure', and apologised.

'We are deeply sorry and remain fully committed to supporting the family in any way we can,' it said in a statement.

Laurence and Corinne, who have since campaigned to raise awareness of appendicitis and the symptoms of sepsis, wept as they heard their son died from a gross failure of basic care.

The couple said there were 'numerous missed opportunities' to save their 'loving and unique' son.

Corinne Cope said that they 'appreciate the coroner's findings', noting that 'from our own investigation we already felt Dylan's death was preventable'.

'During the inquest process we painfully learned that the Grange University Hospital, touted as a state-of-the-art super hospital, had what we saw as chaotic and shambolic processes that led to both extensive, systemic and human errors.'

Judging the system 'broken and urgently in need of change', Ms Cope said that they believed the internal investigation into Dylan's death was 'inadequate in critical areas', which 'added to our distress and in our view hindered the identification of key clinicians, key staff involved in Dylan's first visit to the Children's Emergency Assessment Unit'.

'We believe one of these staff members to be a doctor who may not be honestly speaking about Dylan and Laurence that night,' she continued.

'We understand that no single person is entirely to blame for the multiple failures, but a true no-blame culture should still include accountability and learning.

'Every individual must be responsible for their actions, regardless of whether their errors were accidental or unintentional.'

After the inquest, the parents spoke to reporters about the 'shambolic' processes leading to Dylan's tragic death in 2022

Laurence and Corinne Cope arrive at Newport Coroner's Court

Ms Cope said that the inquest still did not address concerns brought by medical experts that Dylan's treatment upon his return to hospital on December 10, four days before his death, were 'suboptimal' and that better care could have 'improved his chances'.

'There is no greater opportunity for learning than from a child's preventable death,' she said.

Dylan was suspected of having appendicitis

'We appreciate that some measures have been implemented but remain deeply concerned that the health board have not demonstrated all of the necessary learning.

'Many improvements were made only because of our persistent challenges which raises concerns for future learning and future patient safety.

'We have had to fight for answers that to us were painfully obvious and we believe that we are not the only family who will have experienced this,' she warned.

'We feel that instead of being combative towards families during investigative process, the health board should have been focused on achieving adequate processes and clinical excellence.

'If that had been their priority in the past we may not have been here today.

'The system is broken and urgently needs change.'

Ms Cope said she believed 'our agony' during the 'dark process' was evident, and thanked those 'who have shown compassion' for their support throughout.

Dylan was initially sent home from hospital with a leaflet on coughs and colds and his parents were advised to give him Calpol and Nurofen.

Four days later, on December 10, Dylan's condition deteriorated and he was readmitted to the Grange Hospital and transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Surgeons removed his perforated appendix but he went into cardiac arrest and died four days later when life support was withdrawn.

Dylan's father Laurence Cope, said at the inquest his son was 'loving, feisty and sensitive' and nothing delighted him more than hearing Alexa say 'free hugs available in the lounge' when he would eagerly run to get one from a member of the family.

Mr Cope said none of the medics at the Grange Hospital identified themselves or gave their medical qualifications when they examined his son on 6 December 2022.

The father-of-three told the inquest in a written statement that he assumed Dylan was seen by a surgeon. He said: 'He came across as senior in his role and was calm and confident in his demeanour.

'Although calm, casual, relaxed and confident he remained professional as though he was seeing me and Dylan in a professional capacity. He seemed very sure of himself.'

Newport Coroners' Court, where the inquest into Dylan's death took place

'We understand that no single person is entirely to blame for the multiple failures, but a true no-blame culture should still include accountability and learning,' Ms Cope said

Mr Cope said the doctor, who was in scrubs and a facemask, was in his 30s to 40s, slim to average build, tall and with a slight 'foreign' accent.

The medic told Mr Cope it was 'highly unlikely' Dylan's abdominal pains were connected to his appendix but he could not remember him physically examining his poorly son.

The inquest, in Newport, heard the doctor who was never identified, told the family that Dylan had tested positive for Influenza A which was raging at the time.

The court heard Dylan complained of severe pain on the left side of his abdomen - the appendix is on the right.

Mr Cope added: 'I was given a fact sheet for children with coughs and colds. I felt relieved and reassured that the medics all concluded it was not appendicitis.'

Dylan was given Calpol and Nurofen at home but became more lethargic on Saturday December 10.

His worried parents called the emergency number on the discharge note they were given by the Grange University Hospital

After 19 attempts to get through a female call handler advised Mr Cope to call 111 for advice but he said she 'did not seem concerned'.

The family was waiting for a call back from a doctor when Dylan started shouting about his leg pain.

Mr Cope said: 'His legs had started to mottle - Corinne said it was either meningitis or sepsis. An ambulance would have taken too long - I drove him to A&E and an emergency team took over.

'He was taken to the University Hospital of Wales and after an operation he was on life support.'

The inquest heard Dylan had severe septic shock and went into cardiac arrest.

Mr Cope said: 'The doctors told us there was nothing more they should do for him, it was highly unlikely Dylan would survive.'

Life support was gradually withdrawn and Dylan died on December 14.

Dylan was sent to A&E at the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran in December 2022

Dylan, the youngest of three children, was looking forward to playing a reindeer in his school Christmas play.

In a statement through their legal team his parents said: 'Dylan was very loving and inquisitive with a quirky sense of humour.

'He saw the beauty of life but also the injustice and was quick to make his views known.

'His strength of character and fierce independence balanced with his softer, endearing, sensitive side were traits that made him rather unique.

'On the day we were meant to be proudly watching Dylan in his school Christmas play dressed as a little reindeer, instead we watched him dying.

'There is no doubt that Dylan would have grown up to do some very interesting things in his life, but we have been denied the opportunity of watching our son grow into a man and experiencing the joys of life with him.

'Moreover, we are truly heartbroken for Dylan, that he will never get to experience the joys of life and the hopes and dreams he had.

'Since Dylan's death, our lives have become unrecognisable. We are filled with grief and shock that our little boy was taken so soon and in this way.

'Our hearts ache for Dylan every millisecond and everything we see and do is through his eyes. Dylan's absence is and will continue to be the undercurrent of our days until our final breath.'

Mr Cope, a web developer and his wife, a civil servant, are warning other parents of the dangers of sepsis which is more prevalent in the winter months when people are prone to viruses and infections.

They also want to raise awareness of appendicitis and the symptoms of sepsis, which is a reaction to an infection and happens when the immune system overreacts and starts to damage the body's own tissues and organs.

Symptoms can be like those of flu and include severe breathlessness and a high fever.

The couple said: 'We have been told sepsis in children is very rare, tragically we know Dylan is one of many to lose their life to this brutal killer.

'There is much good work being done to help prevent deaths from sepsis and also improve outcomes for those recovering from sepsis but still a way to go.

'We urge parents to always trust your instincts over anything else with your child, despite what you are told, if you feel something isn't right it probably isn't and be mindful that time may not be on your side.

'Trust your instincts over anything else and seek urgent help.'

The couple thanked surgeons and staff at the University Hospital of Wales for trying to see their young son.

Dylan's parents are now warning other parents of the dangers of sepsis and appendicitis

They said: 'Obviously, we want nothing more than to be in the position to say we owe Dylan's life to them but tragically, we are not. What we do owe them is our sincere thanks for doing their utmost to save him.'

The couple's campaign has led to changes in sepsis awareness and a Sepsis Trust QR code is now printed on paediatric safety sheets in GP surgeries and hospitals.

The Welsh Government is currently working with the Sepsis Trust to produce a sepsis leaflet that will be distributed across Wales.

Dr Ron Daniels, Founder and Joint CEO of UK Sepsis Trust, said: 'It's every parent's worst nightmare to lose a child and to look ahead to a lifetime of grief  Dylan reminds us that sepsis can strike any child at any time.

'The UK Sepsis Trust is on a mission to empower parents to 'just ask; could it be sepsis?' if their child is deteriorating in the context of an infection and to encourage health professionals to listen - parents know their child better than anyone.'
Jian Wen came to Britain to enjoy the better things in life.

The 42-year-old drove a E-Class Mercedes-Benz, indulged in 30,000 Harrods shopping sprees and enrolled her son at prestigious 6,000-a-term Heathside Preparatory School near her 5 million home.

It was only when she embarked on building a global property empire, attempting to buy a 23m Hampstead mansion, a 10million Tuscan villa and apartments in Dubai that alarm bells started to ring about the single mother who barely had 5,000 to her name when she arrived in the UK to work in a Chinese takeaway.

Yesterday the Chinese immigrant who helped launder Bitcoin from a 5bn investment fraud was jailed for more than six years.

Judge Sally-Ann Hales, KC, said Wen played a key role in a sophisticated criminal enterprise who was generously rewarded for her work laundering the proceeds of a wealth management swindle in China, where 128,000 investors were duped.

Jian Wen (pictured) came to Britain to enjoy the better things in life

Wen tried to buy a 23million Hampstead mansion (pictured) - prompting alarm bells to ring over the source of the funds

Police have linked Wens accounts to a staggering 3.4billion in the cryptocurrency, which she was helping a fraudster to launder in Britain.

A receipt for 75,000 worth of diamonds bought in Zurich

After Wen moved to Britain in 2007 she ended up living below a Chinese restaurant in London, earning just 5,979 a year.

But life changed after she saw an advert on Chinese social media app WeChat to be a butler for a woman who claimed to run an international business trading in diamonds and antiques.

Just weeks after meeting the woman at a five-star hotel in Kensington, Wen moved to a 5million six-bedroom manor house near Hampstead Heath rented for 17,000 a month.

The pair travelled around the world, holidaying in Europe, Thailand and Dubai under various aliases, while Wen opened a series of cryptocurrency accounts making meticulous notes of transactions in a Wallace and Gromit notebook.

They sold Bitcoin and bought fine jewellery, splashing out on over 44,000 worth of gems at Christopher Walser Vintage Diamonds in Zurich, and watches worth 119,000 from Van Cleef & Arpels.

In three months, more than 90,000 was spent in Harrods on designer clothing, jewellery and shoes using a rewards card in Wens name.

She snapped up two apartments in Dubai for more than 500,000 and looked into buying a 10m 18th century Tuscan villa with a sea view.

Wen then attempted to buy a 23.5m seven-bedroom Hampstead mansion with a swimming pool and a nearby 12.5m home with a cinema and gym.

Wen was living in a basement room under a Chinese takeaway in Abbey Wood, south-east London. But within weeks, she moved into this fabulous six-bedroom house in Hampstead Heath, paying 17,000 a month in rent in September 2017

Wen jetted across Europe, including to Germany. She denied knowing she was involved in money laundering and insisted she had been duped by her boss

Piles of cash were found by police during searches connected to Jian Wen

Jian Wen took meticulous notes in a Wallace and Gromit notebook showing what was bought and sold in terms of crypto. In this one she said 'I'll be dead if they broke the BTC code' - BTC is a reference to Bitcoin

But the spending spree triggered anti-money laundering checks and the purchases were halted after she could not explain the source of the Bitcoin she planned to use to pay for the properties.

Wen initially claimed the cryptocurrency had been mined, then said it was given to her as a love present.

Scotland Yard launched a major investigation making the UKs biggest-ever cryptocurrency seizure in 2021 when more than 61,000 Bitcoin were discovered in digital wallets hidden in a safety deposit box.

The cryptocurrency was worth 1.4billion at the time, but its value has now risen to 3.4billion.

Wen insisted she had been duped by her boss.

Her lawyer Mark Harris, KC, said: Ms Wen was a fragile, desperate woman whose self-esteem cannot have been in a very high place at all.

She was a vulnerable woman. She was undoubtedly duped and used. But Judge Hales told the defendant: I am in no doubt that you came to enjoy the better things in life.

The evidence showed that you were generously rewarded for your services.

It is submitted on your behalf that your culpability falls into the medium range. I do not agree. The offending was sophisticated and it involved significant planning.

Wen poses at the Lindt shop in Zurich on one of her trips to Europe. She claimed it was to buy items for a jewellery business, producing receipts for diamonds and watches

Wen went to Norway on business too. It was an incredible transformation for a woman who had been living above or below Chinese takeaways for years

I do not agree that your involvement in the offence was due to any element of exploitation.

I do not agree with your counsels characterisation of you as a victim.

Wen was sentenced to six years and eight months at Southwark Crown Court for entering or becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement between October 2017 and January 2022
The upcoming wedding of the Duke of Westminster to fiancee Olivia Henson has resulted in renewed calls to change the law that means firstborn daughters will not inherit titles over their younger brothers.

The laws of primogeniture - which have existed for centuries - means that the eldest son will always inherit the title after the death of their father, even over their older sisters.

Campaigners have reignited calls for a change in the law, highlighting the current rules could impact the future children of the Duke of Westminster and his fiancee Olivia Henson, who will marry on June 7.

Only if a private members bill proposed by Harriett Baldwin - the Hereditary Titles (Female Succession) Bill - is passed will their first child, if she is a girl, will inherit the Westminster title from her father.

The ancient laws will instead mean that the aristocratic couple's title will instead skip past their eldest child and instead to the first son the couple bear.

The 7th Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor with his fiancee Olivia Henson

If the couple's firstborn is a girl, she will not inherit the title if she has a younger brother

But if the bill is passed, firstborn daughters will be treated equally to firstborn sons when it comes to inheritance.

The bill proposed by Ms Baldwin has received the support of several MPs including Philip Davies, the Telegraph reports.

It was due for a second reading in February but it ran out of time, so will have to be re-submitted to parliament after the election on July 4.

The Duke of Westminster, who is a friend of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, as well as Princes George and Archies godfather, inherited the title from his father after his death in 2016.

Along with the title came 140,000 acres of land in Oxfordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Scotland - and another 300 in Mayfair and Belgravia.

The Duke is thought to be worth 10.127billion.

The Cabinet Office and a large number of 92 male hereditary peers in the House of Lords have prevented earlier tries at changing the inheritance laws, causing anger among the women who could inherit them.

Charlotte Carew Pole, who runs campaign organisation Daughter's Rights, wants to change the male primogeniture laws, telling the Telegraph that the law was 'fundamental inequality' that would lead to outrage in other areas of society.

Charlotte Carew Pole, who runs campaign organisation Daughter's Rights, wants to change the male primogeniture laws, telling the Telegraph that the law was 'fundamental inequality' that would lead to outrage in other areas of society

She said that the Muslim community discriminating against their daughters would be condemned but it that it is deemed acceptable 'because it involved posh people'.

What is male primogeniture succession? Male primogeniture succession means that that firstborn daughters of aristocrats do not inherit titles if they have younger brothers. The laws were enshrined during the medieval period after William the Conqueror invaded Britain. Hereditary monarchy used the same rules until the law was quickly changed before Prince George was born in 2013. The Succession to the Crown Act means that had the Prince and Princess of Wales' firstborn been a girl, she would still have been the next in line after William. Advertisement

But Mrs Carew Pole said it was not and 'can't be tolerated any longer'.

Her daughter Jemima, nine, will not inherit the Pole baronetcy from her father Tremayne, and it will instead go to her younger brother Lucian.

She said that girls were not 'as valued as boys are' and that aristocratic families want 'two sons - an heir and a spare - and the girls are the bit of fluff on the side'.

The aristocrat said her daughter asks 'Why can't I have it?' and 'What's wrong with me?' and that she does not know what to tell her, with the reality being she feels less valued than her brothers.

Lady Tessa, Countess of Balfour, saw her younger brother Edward inherit the Duke of Norfolk title and his seat in Arundel Castle in West Sussex after their father died in 2002.

She was a daughter of a hereditary peer who tried to end the male primogeniture system with action against the government in the European Court of Human Rights in 2018.

Ms Carew Pole told the Telegraph that she hopes the Duke of Westminster supports their fight for equality and supports the private members bill when it comes back to parliament.
A woman who suffered a severe asthma attack in the back of an Uber while on her way home is on the hunt for the quick-thinking driver who saved her life.

Adelaide woman Fanny Jacobson was in the back seat of a car on her way home on April 9 when she experienced a severe asthma attack.

Ms Jacobson was halfway through her Uber trip from her friend's house in Stepney to her home in Magill when she started gasping for air and fainted.

She believes she would have died had it not been for her quick-thinking Uber driver who performed CPR until an ambulance arrived.

Emergency services rushed Ms Jacobson to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and put on a ventilator for 10 days - which put her at risk of permanent brain damage.

Adelaide woman Fanny Jacobson (pictured) suffered a deadly asthma attack in the back seat of an Uber while on her way home from a friend's house

Ms Jacobson, who has made an extraordinary full recovery, now wants to find the driver and thank him for saving her life.

She explained while she has always suffered from asthma, that particular day was the 'perfect storm' of factors that made the attack so severe.

'I have always been asthmatic  also unfortunately a smoker  and the weather was getting colder. I was visiting a friend who just had some renovations done and there was lots of dust in the house,' Ms Jacobson told The Advertiser.

Ms Jacobson reached for her asthma pump and told the driver that he should stop the car before she fainted.

The next thing she remembers is having an out-of-body experience during her time in the ICU.

'Once I had come off the ventilator, I had no muscle tone and I couldn't stand, plus I had pneumonia, as well as a bowel infection from the antibiotics  so I was wrecked,' Ms Jacobson said.

Ms Jacobson added she is 'alive and well' and just wants to thank and reward the man who saved her life.

'I just feel this huge sense of obligation and thankfulness and humbleness towards the Uber driver because without him I might have been much worse off,' Ms Jacobson said.

Ms Jacobson's Uber driver driver stopped the car and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Now, Ms Jacobson wants to find the driver to thank him for saving her life

Ms Jacobson does not drive herself, and often opts to take an Uber, after she injured a motorcyclist in a crash.

In 2012, Ms Jacobson picked up her mobile phone while driving and crashed, which resulted in a motorcyclist losing their leg.

Ms Jacobson was apologetic and avoided a two-year jail term on condition of a two-year bond. She was also disqualified from driving for 10 years.
A man has been charged with assaulting two police officers at the scene of a major house fire in western Sydney in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The emergency services were called to Shepherd Street in St Marys, 47kilometres west of the CBD, at around 3.15am to reports a home was engulfed in flames.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews arrived to find the single-storey weatherboard home well-alight.

While they were eventually able to put out the blaze, the house was destroyed.

A 66-year-old man and his 40-year-old daughter escaped uninjured, but a 38-year-old man was arrested after trying to go into the burning home and allegedly assaulting two officers.

A man has been charged with assaulting two police officers at the scene of a major house fire (pictured) in western Sydney in the early hours of Saturday morning

A local police officer and a handler from the dog unit tried to stop one of the occupants from going back inside and a neighbour tried to intervene.

The occupant then allegedly assaulted the officers and was arrested and taken to St Marys Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of assault police and one count of resist/hinder police.

He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

'My partner woke me up and the house just was on fire. It was just completely gone,' a neighbour told the Today show on Saturday morning.

'And then, we went to the side to go in and see if [the female occupant] was still in there. And then she ran out the back gate with the dog.'

FRNSW Incident Controller Inspector Kernin Lambert said it was an 'enormously challenging' fire for crews, with flames 'at least 20 metres' coming from the roof.

'The fire was so intense when the first trucks pulled up the glass windows on the house next door were exploding and it was starting to catch on fire as well,' he said.

Some items at the home, including gas cylinders, flammable liquids and multiple vehicles on the property. are believed to have contributed to the ferocity of the blaze.

Fire crews remained at the scene on Saturday extinguishing spot fires.

Investigators have not yet been able to enter the destroyed home to determine the cause.
A group of about six students protest against Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles on Friday, May 24, 2024, at Cesar Chavez High School in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Hundreds of Houston ISD students walked out of school Friday afternoon to protest state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles' leadership of the district, particularly his recent move to terminate principals and teachers.

The students walked out at a handful of campuses, including Meyerland Middle ScBlack Middle School, Lamar High School, the Houston Academy for International Studies, Westbury High School and Energy Institute High School. The protests were originally planned for last Friday, but rescheduled due to the deadly storm that forced HISD to close schools that day.

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"Since his installation as superintendent, Mike Miles has implemented policies that are not only harmful to our education, but also are impossible to enforce," the protest organizers, a group known as Students Against Miles, said in a statement.

Students spoke out against the forced resignations of principals and teachers, including at Meyerland Middle School, where Principal Auden Sarabia was recently told his contract would not be renewed. The middle schoolers chanted Fire Mike Miles, Save Our Principals, and Save Mr. Sarabia" as parents handed out popsicles through the gate.

Rochelle Cabe, a Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School mother, said she and about seven other parents stopped by the school to see if any students would walk out. She observed hundreds of students fill the school track, accompanied by some administrators who were keeping an eye on them for safety.

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The children were outside in 90-degree heat for about half an hour before returning to the building.

Mr. Sarabia made an announcement about speaking up for what you believe in, how its important to use your voice in a positive way, Cabe said. And that he supported the fact they were safe in protest.

READ MORE: HISD principal who was forced out shares her side of the story

HISD officials said they were aware of plans for the walkouts and had assigned additional personnel "to monitor walkout activities and ensure students and staff remain safe."

"We respect our students right to express their first amendment rights, however, students safety during the day and anytime they are in our care is and must always be our top priority," the district said in a statement. "We also understand that staff transitions are difficult for a school community, and we appreciate everyones investment in their schools. We respect our families right to make their voice heard, we will continue to manage these events so they dont interfere with the campus operations."

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HISD officials said that any missed days or classes due to the protests would be "treated like any other unexcused absence."

Friday's walkouts followed protests at Lantrip Elementary School and Hamilton Middle School, where dozens of parents and their children gathered during student drop-off with signs reading "go away Miles." Hamilton Principal Erika Carter was promoted to a job in the central office earlier this month, and Lantrip Principal Rhonda Schwer resigned in April. They are among scores of HISD principals who won't be returning to their schools next year.

Parents at Lantrip Friday morning bemoaned the loss of Schwer, who they felt was being forced out of her job, and other changes they've seen at Lantrip this year, including a curriculum that they said de-emphasized the arts and literature.

"So many good leaders at so many schools are being removed without a word, so I feel like there's a lot of sketchy things going on that we need answers for and I'm not going to stand by while my son and everyone else's kids are not allowed to have art and reading (books) incorporated into their learning," said Stephanie Kauffman, the parent of a Lantrip second grader.

District officials said they "understand that staff transitions are difficult for a school community... and appreciate everyones investment in their schools

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"We respect our families right to make their voice heard, we will continue to manage these events so they dont interfere with the campus operations," the district said in a statement.
As Joe Biden continues to try and chase down Donald Trump to win re-election, some Republicans who voted for him in 2020 are struggling to commit to changing sides a second time.

Poll after poll has shown President Biden in trouble against Trump in their 2024 rematch, both nationally and in key swing states.

Christopher Shays, a former GOP Congressman from Connecticut who voted for Biden in 2020, now says he's 'unlikely' to make the leap for the president again this November.

He asked: 'A lot of us are wrestling with, how can we support him when he's gone so far to the left?'

Shays, who served in the House from 1987 to 2009, is now considering voting for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

As Joe Biden continues to try and chase down Donald Trump to win re-election, some Republicans who voted for him in 2020 like Christopher Shays (pictured) are struggling to commit to changing sides a second time

According to a New York Times report, Shays shares the sentiments of many Republicans who flipped for Biden in 2020, saying they've felt largely ignored by his time in office.

The latest blow to Biden's efforts to court the GOP: Nikki Haley's admission that she will vote for Trump.

'The Haley endorsement of Trump is a blow,' Adam Kinzinger, the anti-Trump former Congressman who served on the January 6 committee, said.

'If you don't have other Republicans out there creating a permission structure for those folks to vote Democratic, I don't know how you expect to get many of them.'

He says he hasn't heard much from the Biden campaign about helping out and says if they don't try to use him to gain Republican support, 'it's political malpractice.'

Ex-Republican and former Congressman David Jolly, says that a recent email sent out to Republicans saw responses that shocked him.

'My eyes were opened at the level of anger and disgust at Biden, truly,' he said. 'There is a real disappointment in Biden's policy direction.'

Biden touted the support of Republicans like Kinzinger, former Ohio Governor John Kasich and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman in 2020.

It comes as a new poll shows Trump and Biden neck-and-neck in blue New Hampshire - the latest in a series of polls that raise warning signs for the struggling president as the general election season heats up

Poll after poll has shown President Biden in trouble against Trump in their 2024 rematch

However, New York Republican and former Congresswoman Susan Molinari, who spoke for Biden at the Democrat Convention in 2020, echoes that there's been little outreach.

'I'm concerned about the state of the campaign, that there has been little to no outreach to almost every Republican that I know who wants to help,' she said.

She added that, while she will vote Biden again, 'I think everyone's just sort of scratching their head.'

Republicans like former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel - who served in the Obama-Biden administration - and former Congressmembers Jim Greenwood and Claudine Schneider all say they're continuing to support the president.

It comes as a new poll shows Trump and Biden neck-and-neck in blue New Hampshire - the latest in a series of polls that raise warning signs for the struggling president as the general election season heats up.

Biden won the Granite State by more than seven points in 2020 with nearly sixty-thousand more votes than Trump.

But the New Hampshire Journal/Praecones Analytica poll finds the pair tied in the state with less than six months to go before Election Day.

Trump has 36.6 percent among registered voters while Biden has 36.5 percent in the state.

The latest blow to Biden's efforts to court the GOP: Nikki Haley's admission that she will vote for Trump

'The Haley endorsement of Trump is a blow,' Adam Kinzinger, the anti-Trump former Congressman who served on the January 6 committee, said

Independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. is polling at 14.6 percent, according to the poll.

Biden is struggling with swing voters in the famously independent thinking state according to Praecones Analytica's Jonathan Klinger.

'While registered voters of both parties are largely united around their nominee, independent/undeclared voters are splitting their support in four statistically indistinguishable ways: between Biden, Trump, Kennedy, and other unnamed candidates,' Klingler told the New Hampshire Journal.

He noted that by comparison to exit polls in the 2020 presidential election, independent/undeclared voters in the state show significantly lower support for Biden.
The late parents of murdered Julie Ward paid tribute to their daughter after more than three decades searching for her with the words 'together again' marked on their gravestone, it has been revealed.

Jan and John Ward died in May and June of last year respectively, after a lifetime spent battling to bring the killer of their 28-year-old daughter to justice.

The couple, who were both born and died within weeks of each other, aged 89, were married for 65-years and never gave up their pursuit of Julie's killers after she failed to return home from a trip to Kenya in September 1988.

Tim and Bob, surviving sons to Jan and John, organised the funeral for their parents and planned to bury Julie's ashes in a plot flanked by her mum and dad, reuniting them after decades apart, it was reported last year.

In touching tribute, the parents' gravestone, in a tranquil corner of a Suffolk churchyard near the family home, would read 'together again', The Mirror reported today.

John and Janette Ward, parents of murdered Julie Ward, who devoted their lives to tracking down their daughter's killer

Julie Ward's father became convinced the president of Kenya's son was responsible for his daughter's death

Julie Ward, who was murdered aged 28 in Kenya 35 years ago, with her brothers Tim (left) and Bob (right)

Julie Ward. Aged 28, she went on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Kenya but never returned

Reiterating plans to continue the family's investigation into Julie's death, Bob told the newspaper: 'I have sent the Metropolitan Police a very detailed and lengthy folder of the investigation.

'It contained over 100 crucial pieces of evidence which point to the man who committed the murder,' he claimed.

'Just last week I wrote again to [Met Commissioner] Mark Rowley to ask how the investigation was proceeding.'

John and Jan Ward spent 35 years trying to bring the killers of young Julie to justice, costing some 2 million and involving as many as 200 trips to Africa.

Julie, on a wildlife photography trip at the time of her disappearance, was last seen going off on her own to pick up some camping equipment on September 6, 1988.

Kenyan authorities claimed Julie had failed to return home to the UK after being mauled to death by animals, that she had been struck by lightning, and that she had even taken her own life.

However, John gathered evidence that led them towards Jonathan Moi, however, the playboy son of the then President of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi.

Jonathan Moi died from cancer in 2019, but even then John refused to give up.

Two game rangers were acquitted of her murder in 1992 due to insufficient evidence.

The case was reexamined in 1997, and two years later a third gamekeeper was tried and acquitted.

In 2004, an inquest in Ipswich came to the verdict of unlawful killing, but nobody was ever charged.

'There was always a good chance Dad would die before he had a solution and the natural conclusion was that we'd carry on,' said Bob last year, after his father passed away from cancer.

Only weeks prior, John's wife, Jan, had died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, worsened by a chest infection, on May 25.

'Julie was my sister so I can't help but be drawn into the spider's web of intrigue,' Bob said at the time.

'It became a moral obligation for us to investigate, especially when we knew governments  even our own, protecting their interests in Kenya  had lied.

'I don't think Mum was ever keen to know exactly what happened to Julie. She closed her eyes to it and to a certain extent we protected her.'

'But it was quite different for Dad,' Tim explained. 'He was a detail man. He wanted to know. He hoped to drive someone out of the woodwork, to make them say something.

'So it was always a balance: trying to protect Mum and also moving the investigation forward.'

Speaking to The Mirror, Bob said his father had compiled his findings into a manuscript that the family now hope to publish.

'Dad's manuscript is really an expose,' he said. 'It lays bare the corrupt actions by the British and Kenyan governments - backed with solid evidence.'

He said his father had brought together 458,000 words over 35-years spent investigating his daughter's disappearance, which Bob has since edited down.

John believed Jonathan Moi, playboy son of the then President of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi, was responsible for Julie's death. Moi died in 2019

The 28 year old wildlife photographer was murdered in Kenya in September 1988

Bob and Tim (pictured with their sister Julie) vowed to continue their parents' tireless work

The amateur photographer was raped and murdered and her body dismembered and then burnt (file image)

John died within a fortnight of his wife, in a nursing home.

'We felt very lucky to have had both our parents until they were almost 90,' Tim said.

'They'd been together for 70 years and married for 65. They would have found it very hard to live without each other.

'One of the doctors said, 'You'd be surprised at how many couples who've been together a very long time, die close together, too.'

Speaking to The Mirror from the graveside in Suffolk Bob reflected: 'Now all three are together again.'
It was a post which was expressly advertised as being for women only but, three years ago this month, a biological male was installed in it. It required a compassionate figure to lead a charity providing a 'safe space' to help rape victims get through the worst experience of their lives.

The successful candidate was bullish and strident. Mridul Wadhwa labelled rape victims bigots and transphobes if they doubted whether a man identifying as a woman should run a centre helping women recover from male violence.

As for any members of staff who harboured such notions, Ms Wadhwa is on record as saying: 'Fire them.'

All this was known within months of the 46-year-old taking up the post of CEO of Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC). What was not fully understood until much more recently was the wrathful extremes to which she would go to rid her workplace of those who did not share her views on gender politics.

A damning employment tribunal judgment this week made that crystal clear. Here was a biological male working in a women-only space who, according to the tribunal, was on a mission to 'cleanse the organisation of those who did not follow her beliefs'.

Mridul Wadhwa (pictured) labelled rape victims bigots and transphobes if they doubted whether a man identifying as a woman should run a centre helping women recover from male violence

When Roz Adams (pictured) took the ERCC to an employment court, there was no testimony at all from the individual at the head of the organisation as Ms Wadhwa refused to give evidence

This supposedly safe space was not even a safe one for employees. Its boss, the tribunal found, was instrumental in launching a 'heresy hunt' and creating 'an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating and offensive environment' for a staff member who dared to think differently. It was, said judge Ian McFatridge, like something from the pages of a Franz Kafka novel.

The inescapable conclusion, it seems, is that Ms Wadhwa's insistence on validation as a trans woman trumped all other considerations at her place of work  even giving support to traumatised women.

In retrospect, perhaps, her self-interested approach to charity work and vindictive attitude towards those who disagreed with her was always bound for the employment courts.

And yet, when former staff member Roz Adams took the ERCC to one, there was no testimony at all from the individual at the head of the organisation. Ms Wadhwa refused to give evidence.

There were elements of the absurd in the Edinburgh tribunal hearing which sprang from the harassment of a dedicated charity worker who happened to believe rape victims had a right to know the biological sex of their support worker.

'Do you know if I am a man or a woman?' her solicitor Naomi Cunningham asked a witness who works at the centre.

'No I don't,' came the answer.

Yet the eight-day hearing earlier this year presented a chilling reality. A government-funded charity was doling out doctrine where it once offered comfort.

Simply, people were being asked to accept that politics  Ms Wadhwa's politics  took precedence over a woman's rape ordeal.

They should not object, for example, if the crisis centre caseworker due to perform an intimate examination on them after the rape were the same biological sex as their rapist.

So long as the caseworker in question identified as a woman, where was the problem?

If they did object, then these shattered women should be 'challenged' on their 'prejudices' and told: 'Reframe your trauma'. This was the pitiless diagnosis once offered by Ms Wadwha who, to this day, holds no gender recognition certificate.

An even tougher line was taken on staff members. The tribunal found there was a concerted attempt to make life difficult for support counsellor Ms Adams, 52, because she was not on the same ideological page as Ms Wadhwa and her allies.

She was not sacked. There were no grounds for that. Instead, she was subjected to a nine-month disciplinary process for sending an email seeking guidance. She was labelled a transphobe for a communication she sent on behalf of a woman who had just been raped and who wanted to be in the company of other women.

But, as Ms Adams was to discover to her cost, the victim's ordeal was of secondary concern.

Upholding the trans inclusion ethos of its chief executive was what she concluded this supposed 'safe space' for women was really about.

Ms Adams went off sick and ultimately realised the ERCC was not even safe for her, far less rape victims. She resigned in March 2023.

The constructive dismissal case she brought is widely viewed as a prime example of the 'turmoil' now afflicting rape crisis centres across the UK.

According to a report this year by human rights group Sex Matters, women who support female-only services for victims of rape, sexual assault or domestic violence are 'routinely subjected to investigations, ostracisation, bullying and employment loss.'

Beira's Place, an Edinburgh rape crisis centre which insists on female-only support for rape victims, was set up after the controversy at ERCC. Pictured: Beira's Place board of directors (left to right) Susan Smith, JK Rowling, Johann Lamont, Margaret McCartney and Rhona Hotchkiss

Ms Wadhwa (pictured) is on record as saying the ERCC should fire staff who doubted whether a man identifying as a woman should run a centre helping women recover from male violence

It says women are increasingly reluctant to seek help because they fear the service will not be genuinely female-only.

Report author Matilda Gosling claims trans-inclusive services are being forced on these charities by their funders and they now face a choice between failing to offer the services traumatised women need or losing out on the finance to keep operating.

Says Ms Gosling: 'These are brave, principled leaders who've been put in an impossible situation  and either way, vulnerable women lose.'

The difference with the Edinburgh facility is its leader is herself trans. The trans inclusion ideology starts at the top and is expected to be upheld at every level below her.

Who, then, is the transgender charity worker appointed to lead the ERCC amid a storm of controversy in 2021? By her own account Ms Wadhwa is a women's rights activist and former SNP member who quit the party after objections to her being included on an all-women candidate list in Stirling for the 2021 Scottish parliament election. She is now a member of the Scottish Greens.

She has had rather more to say on her own victimhood than that suffered by rape victims.

The abuse and harassment began in 2019, she said, while she was director of the Forth Valley rape crisis centre in Stirling.

She claimed it intensified when she tried to launch her political career and grew worse still when she moved to the ERCC. In 2022, she said: 'It just kicked off that very first day.

'Emails, complaint letters to the board. I think one of them was signed by quite a few hundred people. So, pretty much from the first day, we began to deal with this onslaught.

'It was mostly on social media. And it was relentless and endless. And all kinds of people were then retweeting.'

The issue, of course, was that the new boss was, legally, a man who had applied for a role which required a woman.

A more diplomatic leader might have acknowledged the extreme sensitivities in an area of charity work dedicated to helping women who had been raped.

Instead, it seems, she fanned the flames. Women victims who had a problem with her were 'bigots' with 'unacceptable beliefs,' she said. 'Therapy is political.'

Opponents argued that is the very last thing it should be.

The tribunal heard evidence Ms Wadhwa regarded anyone who inquired whether she had a gender recognition certificate as transphobic. It heard she told an Edinburgh University public meeting last year that staff unsure about trans-inclusive policies should be fired.

A woman victim in her 60s who asked for female-only group therapy received a curt email to say she was unsuitable to use ERCC's service, the tribunal heard.

And complaints about the charity's operation were filed in a folder labelled 'hate emails'.

Roz Adams, 52, who was a member of staff at Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, was harassed and discriminated against according to a tribunal judge

Ms Wadhwa, who is transgender, was directly identified by judge Ian McFatridge as being a key figure in the investigation, which he said 'should not have been launched in the first place'

All told, the regime which emerged was one dedicated not to the needs of vulnerable women but to reinforcing the gender identities of its staff.

And yet, for all her stridency on trans issues, it turns out Ms Wadhwa did not even tell her employers she was transgender when she first started working in the sector.

'No one asked me, so I didn't tell, because that is not what women's organisations are obsessed with,' she explained later.

It was largely in reaction to the controversy at ERCC that author JK Rowling funded the December 2022 launch of Beira's Place, an Edinburgh rape crisis centre which insists on female-only support for rape victims.

Ms Wadhwa was incandescent. In a message to staff, she said: 'This new organisation has been founded on a platform of exclusion, misinformation and what I would describe as white feminist imperialism, that interesting combination of the flaws of white feminism and the white saviourism of colonialists and, of course, capitalism of which the founder is a beneficiary'

Ms Adams now works at Beira's Place. Her difficulty with ERCC arose when a rape victim emailed asking whether her assigned support worker was a man or a woman. In turn Ms Adams emailed superiors seeking guidance as to what she should say.

She suggested telling the woman the worker was a 'woman at birth, but now identifies as non-binary', but this solution was shot down.

Instead, following advice from Ms Wadhwa, a manager wrote to the victim to say the centre had no male staff on its volunteer team.

As for the support worker the rape victim had asked about, they took grave offence at Ms Adams' characterisation of their gender status, describing it as 'humiliating' and even 'violent'.

Ms Adams, who felt the service should be unambiguous and clear to its users on the sex of its staff, soon learned she was being accused of transphobia and investigated for 'gross misconduct'. She was later told she would receive a warning.

Ultimately she resigned. There had been no mediation to help reconcile with the non-binary member of staff  referred to in the proceedings only as AB  and she felt the original problem had not been addressed.

'It wasn't a safe space for me to return to,' said Ms Adams.

Why, many may wonder, was such a divisive figure installed as chief executive of the ERCC in the first place? The question was explored in detail at the tribunal by lawyer Ms Cunningham, representing Ms Adams.

Was it because the organisation needed a 'strong leader' as suggested by senior manager Katy McTernan, who spent hours at the tribunal answering for her absent boss?

Or, as Ms Cunningham put it to her, wasn't this about fulfilling a 'strategic aim' for transgender activists by putting a talismanic trans figure into a position of power in a women-only space?

Not at all, said Ms McTernan. Ms Wadhwa, she insisted, was the 'best candidate'.

And what about Beira's Place? Wasn't it true, Ms McTernan was asked, that ERCC refused to refer rape victims who wished to be supported by a 'literal' woman to the JK Rowling-funded service?

This was nothing to do with the 'profound hostility' with which Ms Wadhwa was said to view Beira's Place, insisted Ms McTernan.

It was, in fact, because they didn't refer to organisations that were not a charity.

The blithe, nothing-to-see-here responses in defence of Ms Wadhwa continued when ERCC board member Miren Sagues, 33, took the stand. She described her boss as 'an amazing woman' who 'respected people's boundaries'.

An alternative view held by increasing numbers of vulnerable woman who no longer see ERCC as an option in their time of crisis is that she is utterly contemptuous of boundaries.

The conclusion drawn by Ms Cunningham was that the organisation was in the gaslighting business. It gaslit rape victims by telling them its volunteers were all women when it knew that, biologically, that was not true.

It then exacerbated the offence by labelling them as 'transphobic' or 'bigots' if they sought more accurate information.

Indeed, said Ms Cunningham, if a victim who sits down 'expecting to pour her heart out' to another woman discovers that she is actually talking to a biological man, isn't she being 'violated all over again'?

The verdict of the tribunal panel was unequivocal.

Ms Adams had behaved entirely reasonably and the investigation into her  motivated by bias and prejudice  should never have been launched.

'Normal concepts of natural justice' were 'ignored', it said and staff explanations for the 'completely spurious' disciplinary process were 'a nonsense'.

And yet, thus far, no hint of an apology from ERCC. It said it was 'saddened' by the verdict.

In a statement, Ms Adams said the ruling 'validates and makes worthwhile three years of struggle'. She hoped the judgment emboldened bodies including the Scottish Government and Rape Crisis Scotland to safeguard the ability of traumatised women to choose a support worker on the basis of sex.

For its part, Rape Crisis Scotland said an independent review into the practices and procedures at the autonomous ERCC had been commissioned.

For now, Ms Wadhwa remains in post despite growing calls for her to quit.

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at the charity Sex Matters, said the ruling made the CEO's position 'clearly untenable'.

Ash Regan, the former SNP community safety minister who later joined Alba, said it was 'unconscionable' that Ms Wadhwa stayed in her job.

As for Ms Rowling, her message was for the Scottish Government  now widely viewed as enablers for dogmatists such as Ms Wadhwa.

The author said: 'It would be nice, for once, to see the Scottish Government speaking up for the women who've been subject to unlawful discrimination for defending their sex-based rights, and to hear the government condemn, rather than side with, those conducting the witch hunts.'

For ministers, the lengthy judgment, and the hostile, Kafkaesque environment described in it will make for uneasy reading.

It holds a mirror to the gender war in which their allegiance is already pledged to the unreasonable and intolerant.
A man has died and another person is seriously injured after a house fire in Adelaide's south.

Firefighters were called to the Housing Trust home on Amsterdam Road at Hackham West just before 8:30am on Saturday.

They discovered flames and smoke coming from the front room of the property.

The Metropolitan Fire Service confirmed firefighters pulled one person out of the burning property but that person later died at the scene, reported the ABC.

A second person was seriously injured in the blaze and transported to Flinders Medical Centre.

The occupants' pets, two cats and two dogs, did not escape the blaze.

Firefighters were called to the Housing Trust home on Amsterdam Road at Hackham West just before 8:30am on Saturday. They discovered flames and smoke coming from the front room of the property

Firefighters took around 15 minutes to extinguish the blaze.

Neighbour Pamela Jenkins, 70, told the Advertiser she saw the smoke from her back window.

'There was this billowing smoke coming from the house and when I saw it, I just went running the street to see if I'd could help,' Ms Jenkins said.

'But when I for got to the house, the street was already closed off, and the police and ambulances and fire trucks have already swarmed the place.

'I first saw the woman  she was being taken by the ambulances and she called out to me and said her partner is still in the house.'

'Fire investigators are on scene to determine cause and damage,' an MFS spokesperson said.

The road has been closed near the scene, and police are asking pedestrians and drivers to avoid the area.
Details of the first Aussie to be cryogenically frozen in the hope of returning back to life in the future have been revealed as others sign up for the experimental procedure.

Southern Cryonics, which is the first cryonics facility in the Southern Hemisphere, announced it has cryogenically frozen its first person - dubbed 'Patient One'.

The Sydney man died this month in his 80s and was cryogenically frozen on May 17 at Southern Cryonics' facility in Holbrook - a small NSW town located near the Victorian border.

Cryonics is an experimental area of research in which the bodies of the clinically dead are frozen at -196C so they can potentially be resuscitated if future medical advances allow.

The company explained it learned of the man's 'deteriorating condition' and 'swiftly responded' when he died on May 12 at a hospital in Sydney's inner-west.

A Sydney man, who died in his 80s, was the first Aussie to be cryogenically frozen in the hopes of returning back to life in the future

Cryonics is an experimental area of research in which the bodies of the clinically dead are frozen at -196C so they can potentially be resuscitated if future medical advances allow

Southern Cryonics' facility manager Philip Rhoades led a team of up to six members - including clinical perfusionists (medical professionals who operate heart-lung bypass machines) and a doctor - through the complex, 10-hour process of preparing the man's body in the hope of it being brought back to life in the future.

Once the patient had died, Mr Rhoades caught the train to Sydney and stopped to collect bags of ice before heading to the hospital.

The man's body was moved to the hospital's cool room after his death certificate was produced and then was packed in ice to bring his body temperature down to six degrees Celsius.

'Patient 1 was transferred from the hospital's cooling room to A. O'Hare funeral home [Leichhardt], packed in ice,' a Southern Cryonics statement read.

'Thanks to the quick action of our team, including Phil Rhoades, Australian Blood Management (ABM), and the cooperation of hospital staff, we promptly began the suspension process.'

Doctors and perfusionists worked to pump a type of anti-freeze liquid through the man's body which helps lower a body's temperature and preserve cells.

The company explained the man's body was wrapped in a special type of sleeping bag and was packed in dry ice before being transported to the Holbrook facility.

'The patient was securely wrapped in a special sleeping bag that stays intact in liquid nitrogen,' Southern Cyronics wrote.

'Patient 1 was then cooled to dry ice temperature and transported to our Holbrook facility.'

The team then lowered the man's body temperature to minus 80 degrees Celsius in the facilities computer-controlled cooling chamber.

The body was then transferred to a Dewar, a specialised type of vacuum flask used for storing cryogens, with the entire process completed on May 17 - five days after the man's death.

The process cost the man a total of $170,000, including additional fees for medical teams that helped in the preservation process.

The man's body was transferred to Southern Cryonics' facility in Holbrook - a small town in NSW located near the Victorian border

It took a team of up to six people 10 hours to complete the process of preparing the man's body before transferring the man to a Dewar (pictured) a specialised type of vacuum flask used for storing cryogens

Facility manager Philip Rhoades (pictured) led the team of up to six people including clinical perfusionists and a doctor through the 'very stressful' process of preparing the man's body

Mr Rhoades explained the facility was open to accepting bodies from this year but its first patient arrived quite unexpectedly.

'There were a couple of other people who were existing members who we thought might be likely candidates for being the first but, as it turned out, it was someone who wasn't an existing member,' Mr Rhoades told ABC News.

'His family rang up out of the blue and we had about a week to prepare and get organised.'

Mr Rhoades said he lost sleep as the complex process of preparing the man's body was 'very stressful'.

'That was what was keeping me awake for a week because there are a number of different procedures to go through for different days, and there were a number of situations that might have gone wrong if we hadn't prepared properly,' Mr Rhoades said.

He added the team had tested all the cryonics equipment and were prepared despite only having run through the process on test dummies.

It comes after more Aussies sign up for the controversial practice in the hopes of having a second chance at life.

Allan and Barbara Pease, from Queensland, will be cryogenically frozen together at the Holbrook facility once they die.

The couple, who are body language, communication and relationship experts and have been married for 35 years, said they want their love story to continue even after death.

Queensland couple Allan and Barbara Pease (pictured) are two of 50 Australians that have paid $150,000 to secure a place at Southern Cryonics

The pair told 60 Minutes Australia if one of them doesnt make it they will 'pull the plug on the other'.

'They have got the technology to put us in, but they havent figured out how to get us out yet, and there is always a risk. But the alternative is eternal blackness,' Mr Pease said.

'When we come back, whenever they find out a way to unfreeze us, if one of us doesnt unfreeze properly they will pull the plug on the other. Neither want to do it on our own, I don't want to come back without her.'

Mrs Pease added: 'I don't want to come back without him either. We don't think about death, we just live in the moment and enjoy every second.'

So far 50 Australians from all walks of life have paid $150,000 to secure a place at Southern Cryonics.
The assistant who allegedly decapitated his tech entrepreneur boss in his multi-million dollar Manhattan apartment did so in what prosecutors say was a crime of passion.

Tyrese Haspil, 25, appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on murder charges for the July 13, 2020 killing of Fahim Saleh.

Saleh, 33, was allegedly dismembered by his executive assistant Haspil, who stole $400,000 from the businessman in the years prior to his death.

Haspil was allegedly so desperate to keep the theft a secret from his then French girlfriend, Marine Chaveuz, fearing she would break up with him if she found out, prosecutors allege he felt he had no choice but to kill his boss.

Saleh's limbless body was found in his luxury $2.4 million apartment on the Lower East Side in July of 2020.

Tyrese Haspil smiles broadly in Manhattan Supreme Court as the trial for the murder of tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh begins

Tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh (pictured), who was murdered and decapitated in his New York apartment in July 2020 and was worth about $6million when he died

Saleh's limbless body was found in his luxury $2.4million apartment on the Lower East Side where he had a $1.8million mortgage

The tech CEO founded the Nigerian motorcycle ride-sharing company Gokada.

Haspil is alleged to have forced his way inside Saleh's apartment where he first Tasered him then stabbed him to death.

His defense attorney Sam Roberts, told the jury that Haspil suffered from 'extreme emotional disturbance,' which led him to kill.

Haspil has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years to life behind bars if he is convicted.

If the jury convicts him of manslaughter due to his 'emotionally disturbed' defense, he might receive a lighter sentence of between five and 25 years.

Fearing his girlfriend would leave him, Haspil worked out his only suitable options were 'suicide or homicide'.

Haspil was initially caught by Saleh having learned of him stealing $90,000 initially but he decided not to press charges after seeing the man as his protege.

Instead, he allowed him to pay him back through a payment plan yet Haspil continued to steal from Saleh's company using a PayPal account. Once again, he was found out.

Haspil then allegedly decided to play Saleh's murder and to get away with it.

'Over this period of time, he was planning not only to commit the homicide but to get away with it To cover it up and how to erase his debt and prevent Fahim Saleh from testifying in criminal proceedings,' Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Ford told the court.

Tyrese Haspil smiles as he enters Manhattan Supreme Court as he goes on trial for murder

Police leaving the building on July 14, 2020. They found Saleh's limbs in trash bags

Police found Saleh's limbless body inside his apartment in the luxury Lower East Side building. An apartment in the building is shown above

Prosecutors say Saleh was first Tasered and then stabbed multiple times before being dismembered

Prosecutors say Haspil, pictured, had been stealing money from his boss for years and continued to do so in the days following him death

Prosecutors described finding a Makita saw, demolition bags containing body parts, limbs and a Home Depot receipt inside Saleh's home.

They say that over the course of three years, Haspil stole from Saleh in PayPal and Intuit transfers, and that he kept transferring money to himself even four days after Saleh had died.

Detectives started investigating Haspil after finding text messages in which Saleh accused Haspil of stealing the money, according to police sources.

Saleh was tasered and then stabbed multiple times before being dismembered, police said.

Surveillance footage from inside the 265 East Houston apartment building showed Saleh was followed into the elevator by a man - believed to be Haspil - who was wearing a black suit and mask.

Police claimed Haspil, pictured during his arrest in July 2020, was stealing money from Saleh and took more than $400,000 between 2017 and July 2020

Investigators say Saleh, who was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, appeared suspicious when the masked-man fumbled with the elevator, which requires the use of a key fob to operate.

The footage shows the victim collapsing to the ground as the elevator doors opened directly into Saleh's full-floor apartment. The elevator doors then closed and obscured the camera's view of what happened next.

Haspil's credit card was allegedly used after the murder to purchase a power saw and cleaning products at Home Depot.

The card was allegedly also used to pay for travel to and from Saleh's apartment.

Following the killing Haspil vacuumed up, but his cleanup wasn't good enough and he missed a single 'anti-felon disk' identification tag, which was recovered at the scene.

The disk held a unique number matched to the Taser that Haspil ordered to his Brooklyn address one month before the murder, prosecutors explained.

When police arrived at the scene, Saleh's torso was found in the corner of his living room and his head, arms, and legs had been separated into plastic bags.

An electric saw that was still plugged in, a vacuum cleaner and cleaning products were found nearby.

When the alleged killer returned the following day to clean up, police believe he may have been interrupted by Saleh's cousin who stopped by to check in on him having not heard from him in several days.

Saleh was born to Bangladeshi parents in Saudi Arabia before moving to the US

His cousin likely pressed the buzzer of Saleh's apartment before entering the building, alerting the killer and forcing him to abandon his efforts to dispose of the remains.

The killer is believed to have fled the building through a fire escape while his victim's cousin rode the elevator up, police said.

Police sources said initially they believed the murder was financially motivated and likely the fatal result of a soured business deal.

Prior to the personal assistant's arrest, investigators had been looking into Saleh's business affairs for any possible motives or suspects.

Haspil, who is from Elmont, New York, had worked for Saleh at his investment firm Adventure Capital.
Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor admits she sometimes finds herself in tears over the rulings of the conservative dominated high court.

Sotomayor, 69, is one of three remaining Democrat-appointed judges on the court alongside Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

While she's always been in the minority on the court, recently the court has taken a more rightward turn under a 6-3 majority, which includes the repeal of Roe vs. Wade.

In a talk as she was given an award at Harvard's Radcliffe Institute Friday, she admitted it brings her to tears sometimes.

'There are days that I've come to my office after an announcement of a case and closed my door and cried,' she said.

Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor admits she sometimes finds herself in tears over the rulings of the conservative dominated high court

But she followed it up by saying the right-wing bombshells are likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

'There have been those days. And there are likely to be more,' Sotomayor warned.

She did not specify which cases had made her cry but admitted that there were intense feelings after certain judgements.

'There are moments when I'm deeply, deeply sad. There are moments when, yes, even I feel desperation. We all do,' she said.

'But you have to own it, you have to accept it, you have to shed the tears and then you have to wipe them and get up,' Sotomayor added.

The eldest of the three Democrat-appointed justices, Sotomayor has faced calls to retire to ensure that Democrats will at least remain at three judges on the court should Donald Trump win in 2024.

The Atlantic published an op-ed in March penned by journalist Josh Barro calling on President Joe Biden and other Democrats to push the 69-year-old liberal justice to retire while the White House and Senate remains in Democratic hands.

Otherwise, Barro warned, Democrats risked the 6-3 conservative majority growing to 7-2 if former President Donald Trump or Senate Republicans are successful.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (left) said Tuesday that it would be Justice Sonia Sotomayor's (right) 'personal decision' to leave the Supreme Court - and allow President Joe Biden and the Democrat-led Senate to replace her with a younger liberal

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in March that it would be Justice Sonia Sotomayor's 'personal decision' to leave the court.

Jean-Pierre was asked on board Air Force One Tuesday if the president had considered asking Sotomayor, the country's first Latina justice, to bow out now.

'That's a personal decision for her to make,' the press secretary replied. 'That is something that, that she has to make. It's not something that we make, we lean in on or get involved in. So I'm not even going to address that question.'

Barro wrote that he feared identity politics would prevent Democrats from asking Sotomayor to head to the door.

When she was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009, she made history as the country's first Latina justice.

But because of this, Democrats are 'worried that publicly calling for the first Latina justice to step down would appear gauche or insensitive' according to a Politico report that Barro cited in his op-ed.

'This is incredibly gutless,' Barro wrote. 'You're worried about putting control of the Court completely out of reach for more than a generation, but because she is Latina, you can't hurry along an official who's putting your entire policy project at risk?'

'If this is how the Democratic Party, operates, it deserves to lose,' Barro added.

Even if Biden were to win re-election, Democrats' odds at hanging on to the Senate are considered low and would prevent him from appointing Sotomayor's successor after January 2025

President Donald Trump was able to appoint three justices to the Supreme Court

Barro did the math and suggested that if Sotomayor doesn't retire this year she will be 'making a bet that she will remain fit to serve until possibly age 78 or even age 82 or 84.'

'[A]nd she'll be forcing the whole Democratic Party to make that high-stakes bet with her,' he said.

Sotomayor has been open about some of her health challenges, including that she's a diabetic, and sometimes has to travel with a medic.

Since the June 2021 Dobbs decision to overrule Roe v. Wade, Democrats have been reeling over the makeup of the Supreme Court.

Former President Donald Trump was able to appoint three justices during his one term.

Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch replaced the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia after the seat was controversially held open by then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, despite Obama announcing now Attorney General Merrick Garland as his pick.

Trump then selected Justice Brett Kavanaugh to replace retiring conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Finally, in another controversial move, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett was shoehorned into the seat - just days before the 2020 presidential election - occupied by the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died of cancer on September 18.

Sotomayor was speaking at Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute, where she was presented with an award

Sotomayor, seen here with Chief Justice John Roberts, was appointed by Barack Obama

Democrats were incensed with this move - but could do nothing about it as Republicans controlled both the White House and the Senate.

'I thought Democrats had learned a lesson from the Ruth Bader Ginsburg episode about the importance of playing defense on a Court where you don't hold the majority, ' Barro said.

'All liberals have to show for this stubbornness is a bunch of dissents and kitsch home decor.'
Do you have any more information? Email milo.pope.mol@mailonline.co.uk

A manhunt is under way after two women were stabbed at a Bournemouth beach with one victim dead and another fighting for her life.

Police were called to the incident on Durley Chine Beach at the popular Dorset seaside town at 11.42pm last night.

A 34-year-old woman from Poole was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin have been informed and the coroner notified. A 38-year-old woman from Poole was taken to hospital with very serious injuries and her next of kin are aware.

What appears to be a large patch of blood can be seen near a groyne in one photograph.

Police have cordoned off a one-mile stretch of the beach from west of the pier to Alum Chine and are searching for the culprit, with no arrests made. They have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A look at a patch of blood which was found near a groyne at the Bournemouth beach where two women were stabbed last night

Police were called to the incident on Durley Chine Beach at the popular Dorset seaside town at 11.42pm last night

The violent attacks took place on Durley Chine beach, a few hundred metres west of a Harvester restaurant.

Helicopters could be heard circling overhead for an hour last night from midnight as the manhunt began.

This morning, two forensic vans are parked on the promenade and a team of forensics officers are scouring that area of beach.

An ambulance is also on the promenade and police officers are stationed on the cliff top to stop holidaymakers accessing the beach via the zig zag steps.

Durley Chine, 15 minutes walk west of Bournemouth pier, is a favourite spot of families as it is normally quieter and less rowdy than the pier beach area.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to flock to the beach today at the start of the Bank Holiday weekend to make the most of the 60F sunshine.

One holidaymaker on the cliff top said: 'This is such a beautiful place. What has happened breaks my heart.'

People took to social media to express their shock at the stabbings, which are the latest in a string of serious crimes to take place on Bournemouth beach in recent years.

Tina-Jayne Smith said: 'Absolutely shocking, what is happening to our town? Thoughts are with the families of the women xx.'

The double stabbing took place on Durley Chine Beach

A 34-year-old woman from Poole was pronounced dead at the scene while a 38-year-old woman from Poole was taken to hospital with very serious injuries

Tracy Craddock-Marks added: 'This is absolutely shocking and horrendous. What on earth is this world coming to?!!!! I fear for the future of our children.

'Love and thoughts go out to the families and prayers for the lady in hospital.'

Superintendent Gavin House, of Dorset Police, said: 'Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the woman who very tragically lost her life.

'Officers are searching the area, but no arrests have been made at this time. A full and detailed investigation is underway.

'I would ask anyone who saw what happened or has any information about the offender and has not yet spoken to officers to please contact us urgently.

'The beach has been cordoned off to enable officers to conduct a thorough investigation of the scene. I would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding while this vital work takes place.

'Members of the public will see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days and officers from the local neighbourhood policing team can be approached with any concerns.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 24:707.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
Israel has bombed the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, just one day after the top UN court ordered the IDF to halt its military operations in the southern city.

It comes as efforts get underway in Paris to seek a ceasefire in the war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanded the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants hours after the Israeli military announced troops had recovered the bodies of three more of the captives from northern Gaza.

The Hague-based court, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also ordered Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which it closed earlier this month at the start of its assault on the city.

Israel gave no indication it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting that the court had got it wrong.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip May 24, 2024

Palestinians fleeing from Jabalia in the northern region pictured arriving in Gaza City May 24, 2024

'Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part,' National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a joint statement with Israel's foreign ministry spokesman.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, welcomed the ICJ ruling on Rafah but criticised its decision to exclude the rest of war-torn Gaza from the order.

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office this week said the war cabinet had asked the Israeli delegation 'to continue negotiations for the return of the hostages'.

CIA chief Bill Burns was expected to meet Israeli representatives in Paris in a bid to relaunch negotiations, a Western source close to the issue said.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron received the prime minister of Qatar and the Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers on Friday 'to press for a ceasefire', according to Cairo.

The French presidency said they held talks on the Gaza war and ways to set up a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The five countries discussed 'the effective implementation of the two-state solution', it added.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken also spoke with Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz about new efforts to achieve a ceasefire and reopening of the Rafah border crossing as soon as possible, Washington said.

Israel has bombed the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, just one day after the top UN court ordered the IDF to halt its military operations in the southern city May 24, 2024

In a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide, ICJ president Nawaf Salam delivered the ruling of the 15-strong panel of judges at The Hague

A lone demonstrator waves the Palestinian flag outside the Peace Palace, rear, housing the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague

Smoke rises during an Israeli air strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 24, 2024

Palestinian witnesses reported Israeli strikes in Rafah and the central city of Deir al-Balah.

'We hope that the court's decision will put pressure on Israel to end this war of extermination, because there is nothing left here,' said Oum Mohammad Al-Ashqa, a Palestinian woman from Gaza City displaced to Deir al-Balah by the war.

'But Israel is a state that considers itself above the law. Therefore, I do not believe that the shooting or the war will stop other than by force,' said Mohammed Saleh, also in the central Gaza Strip city.

Israeli troops took over the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, further slowing sporadic deliveries of aid for Gaza's 2.4 million people.

But on Friday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi agreed in a call with his US counterpart Joe Biden to allow UN aid through the other entry point into southern Gaza, the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel, the White House said.

The US military has also installed a temporary jetty on the Gaza coast to receive aid by sea that a UN spokesman said had delivered 97 trucks of aid after 'a rocky start' a week ago.

The security and humanitarian situation in the territory remains alarming, with a risk of famine, hospitals out of service, and around 800,000 people, according to the United Nations, having fled Rafah in the last two weeks.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said the situation had reached 'a moment of clarity'.

'Aid workers and UN staff must be able to carry out their jobs in safety,' he posted on social media site X late Friday.

'At a time when the people of Gaza are staring down famine... it is more critical than ever to heed the calls made over the last seven months: Release the hostages. Agree a ceasefire. End this nightmare.'
Disgraced former Post Office boss Paula Vennells yesterday admitted she had 'no one to blame' but herself, as former sub-postmaster and campaigner Alan Bates dismissed her tears at the inquiry and likened her to 'Cruella de Vil trying to play Mary Poppins'.

Former chief executive Vennells faced a barrage of criticism from lawyers for sub-postmasters at the public inquiry.

They accused her of being 'craven and self-serving', in a 'cloud of denial', and being 'in la-la land' after she said she did not know the full extent of the scandal at the time she was in charge.

Ms Vennells  who forfeited her CBE earlier this year after public backlash over her role in the scandal  wept for the second day this week as she described having 'loved' the Post Office.

But her claims were dismissed as 'humbug' by Edward Henry KC, representing some of the victims of the false accounting scandal at the inquiry in central London.

Disgraced former Post Office boss Paula Vennells yesterday admitted she had 'no one to blame' but herself, as lawyers for sub-postmasters at the Horizon inquiry accused her of being 'craven and self-serving', in a 'cloud of denial', and being 'in la-la land'

Campaigner Alan Bates dismissed Vennells' tears and likened here to 'a Cruella de Vil trying to play Mary Poppins'

Campaigner Alan Bates, whose fight for justice inspired ITV's hit drama Alan Bates v The Post Office, was also not convinced by Vennells.

Speaking to The Telegraph he said: 'It felt like a Cruella de Vil trying to play Mary Poppins.

'She probably loved the money, loved the bonuses and loved not having to know anything.

'It was her job to say she loved the Post Office and probably in her job description.'

At the inquiry, Vennells found herself booed by sections of the 100-strong audience after it emerged she had made disparaging remarks about Post Office victim Jo Hamilton.

It came after Tim Moloney KC, representing another section of victims, pointed to an email Ms Vennells sent to senior colleagues in 2014 about a BBC One Show documentary on the Horizon software at the heart of the affair.

In it, she wrote she was 'more bored than outraged' at the programme, and said that Ms Hamilton  later played by Monica Dolan in ITV series Mr Bates vs The Post Office  'lacked passion and admitted false accounting on TV'.

Turning to face Ms Hamilton, who sat a short distance away, she said: 'I regret everything I said. I regret everything I wrote.'

More than 700 Post Office operators were prosecuted for theft, fraud and false accounting between 1999 and 2015 after its Horizon software wrongly made it look as though money was missing from their branches.

Ms Vennells was subjected to an extraordinary grilling by lawyers, which at times reduced the former executive to tears

The former Post Office boss admitted at the inquiry that 'the Post Office and I didn't always take the right path'

In Ms Vennells' third and final day of evidence before the inquiry, lawyers representing victims were granted an hour each to challenge her.

What ensued was an extraordinary grilling, which at times reduced the former executive to tears.

Mr Henry asked the 65-year-old: 'There were so many forks in the road, but you always took the wrong path, didn't you?'

Ms Vennells said she had tried to contribute to the inquiry 'to the very best of my ability' after Mr Henry dismissed her witness statement as 'a craven and self-serving account'

Members of the Justice for Subpostmaster Alliance protest outside the Horizon inquiry

Ms Vennells replied: 'It was an extraordinarily complex undertaking and the Post Office and I didn't always take the right path.'

In an apparent reference to her position as an ordained Anglican priest, Mr Henry told her: 'You preach compassion but you don't practice it.'

After he suggested that she had 'no-one to blame but yourself', Ms Vennells replied: 'Where I made mistakes and where I made the wrong calls... where I had information and I made the wrong calls, yes, of course.'

She said she had tried to contribute to the inquiry 'to the very best of my ability' after Mr Henry dismissed her witness statement as 'a craven and self-serving account'.

She maintained she did not fully understand the legal and technological sides of the business, and became aware of bugs in the IT system only in 2013  years after the Post Office began taking sub-postmasters to court.

Ms Vennells also claimed she did not know the Horizon software could be accessed remotely by other parties.

Mr Henry replied: 'It is extraordinary, isn't it, because Cartwright King, your external lawyers, know all about it, and yet you're saying that you didn't, the board didn't  I mean, this is la-la land, isn't it?'

Sam Stein KC, representing another tranche of victims, accused Ms Vennells of having 'covered up the faults in the Horizon scandal'.

She said: 'There are no words that can express the regret that I feel.'
A billboard advertising personal injury lawyer Jim Adler, aka "The Texas Hammer," on Commerce Street in San Antonio. Monte Bach Jim Adler in Aspen, July 23, 2018. Houston Chronicle contributor

Texas attorney Jim Adler has been a Houston staple for decades, gaining a reputation as the Texas Hammer through his iconic commercials in which hes wielded sledgehammers and faced off with 18-wheelers.

Here's what to know about the Houston-based personal injury attorney.

Who is Jim Adler?

Jim S. Adler, also known as the "Texas Hammer" and "El Martillo Tejano," is an 80-year-old Dallas native who made his home in Houston for decades. He went to the University of Texas at Austin where he earned an undergraduate degree and a law degree from the university's School of Law.

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He also served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. While serving, he was appointed as a judge for the Office of Civilian Health and Medical Programs United Services.

Adler started a law firm in downtown Houston called "Jim Adler & Associates."

A Google Maps street view image shows Jim Adler & Associates' Channelview office at 12605 East Fwy., Suite 400, in January 2023. Google Maps

What kind of attorney is Jim Adler?

Adler specializes in personal injury law or tort law  the body of law that applies when a person is harmed by someone else, according to Forbes. He has been helping Texans with personal injury cases for more than 50 years.

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Where are Jim Adler's law firms located?

Jim Adler & Associates has four law firm offices in Houston at 1900 W Loop S 20th Floor; Dallas at 2711 N Haskell Ave., Suite 2500; San Antonio at 7330 San Pedro Ave., Suite 700; and Channelview at 12605 East Freeway, Suite 400.

Anyone who needs to schedule an appointment can call 1-855-517-1846.

What is Jim Adler known for?

For more than 20 years, Adler has been known as Texas Hammer.

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Lawyer Marketing Service Inc. President Hayden Bramleigh encouraged Adler to begin advertising on TV shortly after the Supreme Court ruling in 1977 that permitted attorneys to have television ads.

He was initially known as the "tough, smart lawyer"  an idea from Bramleigh.

Adler didnt appear in his own commercials until 1992. He went from the "tough, smart lawyer" to the Texas Hammer after he began starring in his own ads. Since then, hes spent more than $100 million on ads under the brand name "Texas Hammer."

The commercials gained popularity among local viewers which led to more unique advertisements for the law firm, earning praise from clients and critiques from some other lawyers.

Adler can be seen in commercials carrying a sledgehammer, facing semi-trucks in a game of chicken, and even walking a truck on a leash down the street. He has commercials in English and Spanish.

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His son, Bill Adler, joined the Jim Adler & Associates firm in 2011 and began appearing in commercials with his father.

Texas Hammer vs. Alabama Hammer and other controversial cases

In 2020, Adler filed a lawsuit against Alabama attorney Mike Slocumbs accusing him of copyright infringement after the commercials seemed to mirror Adler's spots, AL.com reported. Slocumb referred to himself as "Alabama Hammer" and "DC Hammer" when he was running ads in Washington D.C.

The lawsuit was featured in a segment on HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver who called both the lawyers "glorious maniacs."

The case was voluntarily dismissed in 2021, according to court records.

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In 2023, Alder's firm filed a lawsuit against ex-client Guadalupe Danielle Contreras after she fired his firm during a lawsuit against Williams Brothers Construction Co. Inc. and its driver who hit Contreras.

Contreras hired a different law firm which settled her case for a seven-figure amount.

Adlers firm argued they were entitled to some of the settlement money because of a contingency fee agreement saying the client had to pay 40% of any settlement even if it was obtained by other counsel. However, Contreras maintained Adlers firm wasnt owed a contingency fee because they were terminated for just cause, she said.
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that he wants 16 and 17-year-olds to be able to cast a ballot after suggestions that changes to the voting age would appear in the Labour manifesto.

The dramatic policy could even be in the King's speech as Starmer is said to believe the legislation is 'extremely straightforward'.

The Labour leader has previously hinted at his eagerness to give children a role in elections with a report by the National Policy Forum saying it would help restore faith in democracy in September.

It would bring England in line with Scotland and Wales, where 16 and 17-year-olds can already vote in their local and devolved authority elections.

Speaking at Marston Road, the stadium of Stafford Rangers FC, on Saturday morning, the party leader told reporters: 'Yes, I want to see both 16 and 17-year-olds. If you can work, if you can pay tax, if you can serve in your armed forces, then you ought to be able to vote.'

The move to enfranchise younger voters is set to benefit the party in future elections - with analysis by the broadsheet showing that if the teenagers vote in the same way as 18-24 year olds they could flip as many as eight seats red.

Sir Keir Starmer (left) and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar launch Scottish Labour's General Election campaign at City Facilities in Glasgow.

Keir Starmer speaks with staff, during a visit to C&W Berry builders merchants, in Leyland, Lancashire

Its rollout would mean around 1.5million people would be given the vote in the biggest change since 1969, when the voting age was lowered from 21. Youngsters are ten times more likely to vote Labour.

'I would be extremely surprised if it wasn't in the King's Speech,' one Labour source told The Times.

Slamming the move last year, Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands said: 'This is nothing but a desperate attempt to rig the electorate.

'Everyone knows adulthood starts at 18 - that's when you can get married, start drinking, and smoke. Labour only want to lower the voting age for their own political advantage.

'Despite Sir Keir's short-term promises to be pro-business, it's no surprise that Labour is dancing to their union paymasters' tune. He will say anything that suits him at the time.'

Britain was the first major nation to lower the voting age in parliamentary elections from 21 to 18 in 1969 under a Labour government.

Patrick English, director of political analytics at YouGov, told The Times: 'We would generally expect that lowering the voting age would be electorally advantageous to Labour, as younger people are significantly more likely to back them over the Conservatives, or indeed any other party.'

The Scottish independence referendum of 2014 was the first time 16 and 17-year-olds could vote.

Conservative Party Chairman and Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office Greg Hands arrives in Downing Street to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting

It took less than six months to pass the legislation, with researchers at Sheffield and Edinburgh finding that it made voters more likely to turn out as they grew older.

Surveys suggested that 75 per cent of them took part  a greater proportion than young adults (54 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds) but still fewer than among the older generations (85 per cent of 35 to 54-year-olds).

The rule has been extended to the Welsh Senedd and Welsh councils since 2021.

Asked about the idea last year, party leader Sir Keir Starmer said: 'They can have babies, they can work, they can join the Army, so there are big things you can do at 16 and 17, it's not such an outlandish idea.

Florence Eshalomi, the shadow minister for local government, told the broadsheet: 'Fourteen years of chaos under the Conservatives has left many feeling ignored and left out by the political system. Labour is committed to restoring a sense of trust and national pride and that includes by strengthening our democracy.'
Police will commence a dig at a farm in July where the murderer of Muriel McKay claimed he buried her body.

Ms McKay, the wife of a newspaper executive, was kidnapped and held to ransom for 1 million in a case of mistaken identity by thugs who had intended to target the wife of Rupert Murdoch.

She was abducted 54 years ago however her body has never been found despite extensive searches at the farm in Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire.

Trinidadian brothers Nizamodeen and Arthur Hosein were jailed in 1970 over her death in what was one of the first murder convictions without a body.

In a letter to Ms McKay's family this week, Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin from Scotland Yard confirmed the dig will start after detectives flew to Trinidad and Tobago to speak to Nizamodeen.

She wrote in the correspondence: 'This week we had our first meeting with Hertfordshire police, who confirmed that they will be supporting the excavation with resources, staff and expertise.

Muriel Frieda McKay, 55, wife of the deputy chairman of the News of the World, who was kidnapped and killed in 1969. Her body has never been discovered

Nizamodeen Hosein met with daughter Dianne and grandson Mark to show them where he claimed to have buried her body 55 years ago

Stocking Farm, formerly known as Rooks Farm, in Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire was Ms McKay's body was thought to have been buried

'Although there is no fixed date to commence the search, we are collectively working towards sometime in July, subject to the plan coming together.'

In the letter seen by The Times, she said that the operation will involve specialist search teams, forensic archaeologists as well as forensic experts and a structural engineer to assess safety issues involving the barn under where it is thought McKay is buried.

In response, Ms McKay's family wrote: 'In addition, Nizam has also indicated that he should be at [the farm] to show us where he hid Muriel after she had died.

'Nizam has a valid passport and the family are happy to arrange flights and accommodation so that he can assist the family and police in finding Muriel. For completeness it makes sense for him to be present as he was the last person to see Muriel alive.'

Ms McKay was 55 years old when she was kidnapped in London and held to ransom by the Hosein brothers who had mistaken her for Anna Murdoch, the then-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

She was the wife of Mr Murdoch's deputy Alick McKay, who like Mr Murdoch was Australian.

Detectives visited Nizamodeen in Trinidad and Tobago, where he was deported after serving his 20-year jail sentence, to speak to him in person after his offer to show her family where she was buried. Meanwhile, Arthur died in prison in 2009.

Ms McKay disappeared in December 1969 and was traced to Stocking Farm near Bishop's Stortford, but her body was never found.

In February, Ms McKay's daughter Dianne McKay, 84, and grandson Mark Dyer, 59, flew to Trinidad and Tobago after Nizamodeen said he was willing to tell them where she had been buried.

Police had searched an area of the farm in 2022 (pictured), but Nizamodeen Hosein claims they searched the wrong area

Muriel's daughter, Dianne (pictured, left), has for years fought to learn the truth of her mother's murder, travelling recently to Trinidad with her son Mark Dyer (right) to speak with one of her killers, Nizamodeen Hosein (pictured, centre)

Nizamodeen Hosein pointed to a spot on a photograph of the farm where Muriel was held, and told her daughter: 'This is where I buried her.'

He told them she was buried at the back of the farm where he and his brother had held her hostage.

The farm was searched at the time of the murder and again in 2022, with 30 police officers, ground penetrating radar and specialist forensic archaeologists used. However, nothing new was found.

In December last year, Ms McKay's family were provided with new information by Nizamodeen about the possible whereabouts of her remains.

He also shared information, including footage, with the Metropolitan Police investigation team who visited after the family.

The decision to search the farm again was made after the investigation team visited Nizamodeen to speak to him in person and interviewed him over three days following his offer to show her family where she was buried.

Speaking previously, Mr Dyer said he was 'delighted' and 'had to take a deep breath' when he found out that police would conduct a fresh search in a spot under a barn that has since been built in the spot where Nizamodeen said Ms McKay was buried.

He said: 'We are going to meet with the farm owner and the police to plan it. The officer said it will happen within the next six weeks.

'It's been an incredible effort by our family to prompt and nudge the police but ultimately we are glad they are taking this step.

Brothers Arthur, left, and Nazamodeen Hosein were found guilty of her murder. Arthur died in prison in 2009, while Nizam was deported after serving a 20-year-prison sentence

The abduction is believed to have involved a case of mistaken identity - with the kidnappers intending to seize Anna Murdoch, first wife of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch (pictured)

'It is a success but it is only half a job done. We just want to find my grandmother and bury her at my mother's farm. This ghastly mystery has haunted us all our lives.'

Commander Steve Clayman from The Met said officers will search an area where a manure heap once stood. But he stressed they had concerns about inconsistencies in Nizamodeen's account.

He said: 'I'd like to thank Muriel's family for their patience while we have taken time to really carefully consider all the information gathered in relation to this case. I know it has been a frustrating time for them.

'We have decided we will carry out a further search at the Hertfordshire farm where it is believed Muriel's remains may be. We carried out an extensive search there in spring 2022 but unfortunately it was unsuccessful.

'Our recent inquiries mean other areas have been highlighted as being of potential interest and it is these we will search.

'The main area is where a manure heap once stood - we know now this was probably larger than we previously thought and therefore that area was not entirely searched in 2022.

'While we have concerns about inconsistences in the account provided by Nizamodeen Hosein, for completeness, we want to do this.

'At this stage we have not set a date for the search to begin, but will keep Muriel's family updated and informed.

The owners of the farm in Hertfordshire (pictured) said in a statement: 'We have at all times provided the police with access to our land and granted permission to dig when requested by them'

Alick McKay makes an appeal from his home in Wimbledon for the safe return of his missing wife Muriel, on 9th January 1970. He is accompanied by his son Ian and daughters Jennifer (left) and Dianne (right)

'The owners of the farm are fully aware and supportive and we thank them for their continuing help and co-operation.

'We all share a hope and desire to find Muriel's remains and bring some closure to her family after all these years.

'We sincerely hope the search is successful. However, we have informed the family that if Muriel's remains are sadly not found, it would not be proportionate to carry out any further searches or investigations.'

The owners of the farm said in statement released by The Met: 'Our position has been consistent from the very first request of the family of the late Mrs McKay for a dig at our home. We have always said that this is a police matter - they are the experts in investigating evidence and determining its credibility.

'We have at all times provided the police with access to our land and granted permission to dig when requested by them, including when we have not been obliged to do so.

'We agreed to support the decision of the police, whatever it was. They have now made their decision, which we respect, although we understand from the police that this was a finely judged call considering the unreliability of the evidence provided by the murderer.

'In fact, the evidence is insufficient for the police to apply for search warrant. It now means that once this dig is concluded there will be a close to the debate and that no further searches on our land will happen.'
Hundreds of crowded climbers have been captured on footage slowly making their way up the summit of Everest close to where a British climber and his guide went missing on Tuesday after they were hit by collapsing ice.

Experts fear overcrowding on the world's highest mountain may have played a role in causing the collapse of a cornice - an overhanging mass of hardened snow on the edge of a precipice - which led to the disappearance of Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, and Pastenji Sherpa, 23.

The pair have not been heard from since they reached the summit at around 4.40am local time on Tuesday and are feared dead.

Mr Paterson and his guide ran into trouble after ice collapsed and fell on them near the Hillary Step, just below the summit at around 8,800 metres, according to Lapka Sherpa.

The Everest guide said they had 'heroically' reached the top of the world's highest peak before going missing as they descended.

Hundreds of crowded climbers are seen slowly making their way up the summit of Everest close to where British climber Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, and his guide went missing on Tuesday

Experts fear overcrowding on the world's highest mountain may have played a role in causing the collapse of a cornice - an overhanging mass of hardened snow on the edge of a precipice - which led to the disappearance of Mr Paterson and his guide, Pastenji Sherpa, 23

Climbers pictured near the Hillary Step, just below the summit at around 8,800 metres, where the ice collapse happened on Tuesday

One expert revealed four others 'nearly perished' in the ice collapse on Tuesday. Pictured: Lines of climbers, just inches apart, make their way up the summit

Footage shows the queue of climbers waiting to ascend the mountain snakes all the way down to the base camp

Missing Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, is pictured on May 11 ahead of his climb to the summit

Now videos and photos posted in recent days by fellow climbers show what appears to be hundreds of climbers crowding along the Hillary Step, as one expert revealed four others 'nearly perished' in the ice collapse on Tuesday, Yahoo! News reports.

Vinayak Malla, an accredited guide with the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, said: 'After summiting, we crossed the Hillary Step, traffic was moving slowly then suddenly a cornice collapsed a few metres ahead of us.

'As the cornice collapsed, four climbers nearly perished yet were clipped onto the rope and self-rescued.

'Sadly, two climbers are still missing. We tried to traverse yet it was impossible due to the traffic on the fixed line.'

Meanwhile, a member of a team at Everest base camp told The Times: 'A cornice broke off and washed down a few climbers including Daniel and his guide towards the Tibet side.'

Overcrowding on Everest has become of increasing concern to experts and officials in recent years.

In 2019, 11 people died between March to May during the climbing season, prompting Kul Bahadur Gurung, general secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association to say that 'there were more people on Everest than there should be'.

With Mr Paterson's disappearance entering a fourth day, his partner Beck Woodhead vowed that she will 'do everything' to bring him home, and has set up a GoFundMe page to raise 150,000 for a search and rescue operation.

So far the page has raised more than 120,000.

Daniel Paterson previously said it had always been his dream to 'conquer' the Everest summit. Pictured right: Pas Tenji Sherpa, 23

The fitness enthusiast dedicated his climb to a late friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club, and recently announced the group had raised 10,000 for her family

The research nurse said that her partner 'is known for his adventurous spirit, his kindness, and his unwavering dedication to helping others,' as she issued a plea saying: 'Now, it is our turn to help him.'

The money will go towards helicopter flights and aerial searches, specialised search teams and equipment, and logistical support and supplies, she added.

She described him as a passionate Leeds United fan, as well as a 'beloved son, brother, partner, friend and a proud joint owner of Wakefield Crossfit.'

The British climber, who is believed to be from Wakefield, was described by Sherpa Lapka as being 'known for his robust fitness, uplifting positivity, and strong determination'.

The missing men were part of a 15-strong team with 8K Expeditions, led by Bolivian climber David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe.

Sherpa Lapka said his collague Pastenji was a 'dedicated climber from his youth, with impressive climbs under his belt including twice on Mt. Everest, K2, Amadablam, and several other 6,000m peaks.'

'His warm spirit, kindness, and outstanding expertise made him one of the premier guides at 8K Expeditions,' he added.

Mr Paterson, who was known to his friends as 'Pat', was also a 'committed' climber, and had trained in the Himalayas last year.

He previously said he was emotional when he saw the Everest summit, telling his followers: 'My dream will always be to conquer this.'

He dedicated his climb to a late friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club and recently announced that members had raised 10,000 for her family.

Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 metres (26,246 feet) and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring climbing season.

Everest is only climbable in the short windows of clear weather when the winds are calm.

This has led to long queues forming at challenging sections, leaving climbers waiting in the freezing cold and burning through their valuable oxygen supplies.

Earlier this month, Mongolian climbers Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 53, and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 31, went missing on Everest.

The pair, who had not relied on sherpa guides, were found dead a week later at two different locations after summiting the peak.
This is the shocking moment a masked criminal ransacked an off-licence before making a quick get-away seconds after an alarm sounded.

The chilling CCTV footage shows the crook breaking into the Nisa on Caledonian Road, near Kings Cross station with a pick axe.

Brazenly pushing reams of products onto the floor as he jumped behind the till, the burglar used the sharp tool to force open the drawer.

The masked man swiped the cash inside, he filled up his large bag after the shop had closed on Sunday evening.

The CCTV footage shows him rummaging around other drawers behind the counter, scooping several more goods from the lower shelves.

The chilling CCTV footage shows the crook breaking into the Nisa on Caledonian Road, near Kings Cross station with a pick axe

Using the sharp tool to wedge open the till, the crook swiped the cash inside, filling up his large bag after the shop had closed on Sunday evening

Stepping over the sea of items scattered on the ground, the crook made his way to another part of the display before brutally smashing it with a pick axe.

As the alarm began to sound, the burglar attempted to forcefully pull at another drawer before eventually failing to crack it open.

Seconds after the alarm briefly paused, the masked crook quickly bagged several other products from a lower drawer before hastily making a getaway.

Leaping back over the till onto the shop floor, the unidentified man quickly exits the store before the alarm sounds again.

Following the crook's escape, the brief one-minute and 48-second security video then comes to an end.

A local man named Craig McCallum said: 'No respect. He never even tidied up before leaving.'

A Nisa spokesperson said: 'Nisa condemns all forms of retail crime and will work closely with our retail partner to ensure this crime is reported to the appropriate authorities.

'This crime will not be tolerated.'

MailOnline has approached Met Police for comment.

Seconds after the alarm briefly paused, the masked crook quickly bagged several other products from a lower drawer before hastily making a getaway
A 75-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death of a ex-groundsman of a City financier's 4,000-acre Scottish estate who was shot dead while walking his dog Perthshire.

The body of retired Brian Low, 65, was discovered close to his home on the outskirts of Aberfeldy, Perthshire, on February 17 and around 8.30am.

He had been walking his black labrador and police initially thought his death was 'medical or non-suspicious'.

Mr Low had spent the past two decades working on the 4,000-acre Edradynate Estate, owned by property developer and financier Michael Campbell.

A post-mortem examination six days after his body was found established that he had suffered 'injuries consistent with being fatally shot'.

The body of retired Brian Low, 65, was discovered close to his home on the outskirts of Aberfeldy, Perthshire, on February 17 and around 8.30am

Police at the scene in the Pitilie area on the outskirts of Aberfeldy, Perthshire after Mr Low was found dead next to his dog having suffered a fatal gun shot wound

Police faced criticism after reclassifying the death as potentially suspicious and belatedly erecting a cordon around the crime scene.

On Friday morning, Police Scotland confirmed a man had been arrested in connection with Mr Low's death and was being questioned by detectives from the major investigation team.

The pensioner has now been charged in connection with Mr Low's death and is due to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court on Monday. He remains in custody.

Police Scotland said: 'A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.'

Mr Low had worked on the same sporting estate for more than 20 years until his retirement in February last year.

The forensic team investigating at the scene of Mr Low's death on the outskirts of Aberfeldy, Perthshire

A Police Scotland vehicle at the site where the body of Brian Low from Aberfeldy was found on Saturday 17th February 2024

He moved with his partner to a modest bungalow at Pitilie, a hamlet close to the track where he was killed three days before his 66th birthday while walking his dog Millie.

News of the killing  the first recorded in the area for more than 75 years  prompted widespread shock in the community. Postman Jedd Burke, who delivered mail to Mr Low, said: 'He was one of the nicest guys I ever met.

He was brilliant. I couldn't believe it when I heard the news.'

During the subsequent three-month investigation, known as Operation Newlane, police visited 478 properties and interviewed more than 800 people, while more than 2,000 hours of CCTV footage from dozens of cameras have been viewed.

On March 9, three weeks after the killing, police carried out spot checks in the area, stopping 118 vehicles and 18 pedestrians in the space of two hours.

Police and forensics examining the remote footpath where the body was found

A police cordon in place at the remote footpath where the ex-groundsman's body was found

The questioning was carried out on the remote track where Mr Low was found, in Aberfeldy centre and on the A827 north of the town.

Speaking in late February, Chief Inspector Greg Burns, the local area commander, said: 'I understand this is an extremely concerning incident for a small, rural community.'

Shortly after the murder investigation was launched, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Macdougall, of the major investigation team, said: 'We have been carrying out extensive inquiries since Brian's death and detectives are working alongside uniformed officers to establish the full circumstances.'

The Police Investigation and Review Commissioner has confirmed an investigation is under way after criticism of the way the scene was handled.

A spokesman previously said the watchdog was directed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
As many as 1,000 protestors have marched against mass tourism in Ibiza amid backlash at boozy UK holidaymakers.

Campaigners held up banners saying 'We don't want an island of cement' and 'Tourism, yes but not like this' as they massed outside the island's council HQ.

The noisy protest last night kicked off at 8pm in Ibiza Town - with another due to take place this evening in the Majorcan capital Palma.

Tonight's march is set to attract thousands of people and is expected to become the largest of its kind since last month's protests in the Canary Islands.

The organisers of the Ibiza demo, a group called Prou Eivissa - which literally translates to 'Enough Ibiza', met with Ibiza's president Vicent Mari before taking to the streets.

Tourist hotspots including Palma, Llucmajor and Magaluf in Majorca and San Antonio in Ibiza have ramped up efforts to curb rowdy behaviour by hiking fines for drinking in the street, banning shops from selling alcohol at night and restricting party boats.

Campaigners held up banners saying 'We don't want an island of cement' and 'Tourism, yes but not like this' as they massed outside the island's council HQ

The noisy protest last night kicked off at 8pm in Ibiza Town - with another due to take place this evening in the Majorcan capital Palma

The organisers of the Ibiza demo, a group called Prou Eivissa - which literally translates to 'Enough Ibiza', met with Ibiza's president Vicent Mari before taking to the streets

The protestors' demands include a limit on the number of vehicles that can enter the island in summer and a ban on using taxpayers' cash to promote Ibiza as a tourist destination

In a bid to toughen up the islands' 2020 legislation, partygoers now face penalties of between 500 and 1,500 (430 and 1,290) if their street drinking 'disrupts coexistence, involves crowds or deteriorates the tranquillity of the environment'.

The protestors' demands include a limit on the number of vehicles that can enter the island in summer and a ban on using taxpayers' cash to promote Ibiza as a tourist destination.

A letter was read out at the end of the protest from an Ibiza-born woman who linked her decision to leave the island with her family and move to the Spanish mainland to a 'destructive' tourist model that had led to 'more cars, more tourists and more incivility.'

In the run-up to yesterday evening's protest, organisers said: 'We are completely fed up with the failure to properly address the complaints of so many citizens about the nefast consequences of a massive and selfish tourism which ignores the future of the island.

'Our beautiful island is in danger. Tourist crowds not only affect our quality of life, but also the beauty and authenticity that makes Ibiza such a special place.

'Tourist overcrowding makes the cost of living unattainable for many residents.

'We fight for an Ibiza where we can all live in dignity. It is time to raise our voices and protect our home.'

The protest comes a month after thousands of people in the Canary Islands took to the streets of the Atlantic archipelago to demonstrate against the problems caused by mass tourism and demand their politicians take action.

A letter was read out at the end of the protest from an Ibiza-born woman who linked her decision to leave the island with her family and move to the Spanish mainland to a 'destructive' tourist model. Pictured: The harbour and the Old City of Ibiza

Demonstrators packed into Weyler Square in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, the start point for a march on the Brit-popular holiday island

A woman raises her fist as she pounds the streets in protest against the levels of tourism in the holiday-isles

Government officials in Tenerife, where protestors held up banners which said: 'You enjoy we suffer' and 'Tourism moratorium now', said around 30,000 people had taken part but organisers put the figure at 80,000.

This evening a platform called Banc del Temps has organised a separate protest against 'tourist overcrowding' in the centre of Palma under the slogan 'Mallorca no se vende' which is Spanish for 'Majorca is not up for sale.'

The idea of an airport protest in the peak tourist season which involves collapsing Palma Airport with cars was discussed at a brain-storming session just over a week ago organised by association Menys Turisme, which translates into English as 'Less Tourism, More Life.'

Mass protests outside hotels and on beaches were also put forward as proposals at a citizens' assembly attended by more than 300 people.

Anti-tourist graffiti has appeared in both Majorca and Tenerife in recent months.

Some foreign holidaymakers have shown their support for the issues raised by campaigners but others have accused them of biting the hand that feeds them.

Overnight a British tourist celebrating her birthday in San Antonio's raucous West End said toughened-up regional government restrictions designed to promote responsible tourism were 'stupid.'

They cover the party area as well as Magaluf's party strip Punta Ballena and include a ban on street drinking as well as night-time closure orders for shops selling alcohol.

Tourist hotspots including Palma, Llucmajor and Magaluf in Majorca and San Antonio in Ibiza have ramped up efforts to curb rowdy behaviour by hiking fines for drinking in the street

The new rules include a ban on drink parties in public places, graffiti, scooters, and even nudism and semi-nudism. Pictured: Revellers in Majorca

A hen party enjoys a night on the town in Majorca this weekend, as the rules come into effect

Party boats are no longer permitted to get closer than one nautical mile (1.852km) of the designated areas and they have been banned from picking up or dropping off passengers.

Shops selling alcohol in areas of 'excessive tourism' must now completely close between 9.30pm and 8am, rather than simply stop selling booze between these hours.

The strict rules, which also prohibit tourists from organising drinking parties in public, spraying graffiti, riding scooters and displaying nudity, are set to stay in place until at least December 2027 - by which point the government hopes the law will no longer be necessary.

A Prou Eivissa spokesman said: 'We don't want no tourism but we want a different tourism.

'We want some controls. We want our lovely island back.'
The man who murdered a mother and daughter in Perth before turning the gun on himself has been identified as chilling new details emerge about how he carried out the sickening act.

Mark James Bombara, 63, gunned down Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, after turning up at their Floreat home, in Perth's west, searching for his ex-wife, a good friend of the older woman.

When Bombara was unable to find his ex, he cable-tied the mother and daughter and made several threatening phone calls, The West Australian reported, before shooting them both and then taking his own life.

It is understood Bombara's wife had left him weeks ago and had been staying with Ms Petelczyc.

Bombara was known to police but did not have a history of violence and was not being monitored.

Ms Petelczyc and Bombara both died at the Berkeley Crescent residence while Gretl was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where she died on Saturday morning.

The 18-year-old was a talented waterpolo player who graduated St Hilda's Anglican School in 2022 and was studying a bachelor of sport at the University of Western Australia.

Jennifer, who went by Jenny, had been left a widow when her husband Jon Petelczyc, the director of a local business consultancy firm, died in August 2019.

The family is survived by the couple's other young adult daughter Liesl, who police said was not at the property.

Jenny was active in local government meetings and within the basketball community in Perth's western suburbs, while Jon served as a member on his daughters' school council.

Family friend Daele Dobson told Daily Mail Australia that Jenny was a 'kind and generous' woman and a devoted mother who would 'do anything for her girls'.

'The family were great ambassadors for the Guide Dog Association and took on 'Sunny' a golden Labrador puppy who they kept in their home,' she said.

At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed Bombara, a registered gun owner, visited the house looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women.

Mark James Bombara, 63, murdered a mother and daughter in Perth before turning the gun on himself

Jenny Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, were shot by Bombora who arrived at their Floreat home in Perth's west on Friday looking for his ex-wife

Gretl was studying a bachelor of sport at the University of Western Australia

Jennifer, who went by Jenny, had been a widow after her husband Jon Petelczyc, the director of a local business consultancy firm, died in August 2019

Police arrived at the property to hear the man fire a final shot, believed to be the moment the 63-year-old took his own life.

Det Insp Gorton confirmed Ms Petelczyc and Bomara's ex were 'good friends' but said detectives were 'not treating this as a family violence matter'.

'We'll still be preparing a report for the Coroner in relation to all of the circumstances surrounding this and whether or not the relationships formed part of this incident.'

Bombara reportedly kept a gun collection.

'The 63-year-old was a licensed firearms holder in the state of Western Australia,' Det Insp Gorton said.

'He was the owner of the firearms we believe - at this point of time - were used.'

'The male discharged a firearm, killing the 59-year-old female, and critically injuring the younger female,' he said on Saturday afternoon.

'St John provided emergency treatment to the younger female at the house, she was then taken to Royal Perth Hospital, but unfortunately, she tragically died.

'The 59-year-old deceased female was a friend of the man's ex wife.'

Det Insp Gorton also confirmed the man's ex-wife and a daughter were in the care of the homicide squad.

'We are providing any support we can to them.

'Obviously, they're very distressed by the circumstances and WA police will make the appropriate referrals to them for counselling.'

Police were called to the home in the city's inner north-west at about 4.30pm local time on Friday after the gunman opened fire.

Gretl was rushed to hospital in a critical condition shortly after.

A large police presence was at the scene of the shooting overnight.

'The incident is contained and there are no ongoing threats to the public,' a police spokesman said on Friday night.

A police helicopter was dispatched to the area and circled overhead at the height of the response.

Mourners attended the upmarket street on Saturday, some bringing bouquets of flowers

Friends of the two women tragically gunned down consoled each other outside the house

A major police operation we held on Friday and into Saturday (pictured: forensic police at the house)

Neighbours described the street as 'friendly' and said a mother and her two adult daughters lived at the house, The West Australian reported

Police rushed to Berkeley Crescent in the Perth suburb of Floreat on Friday afternoon

A police helicopter circled overhead at the height of the large scale police operation

Floreat is an upmarket suburb about 8kms north-west of the Perth CBD known for million-dollar homes and manicured lawns.

Neighbours described the street as 'friendly'.

A church is located not far from where the shots were fired as is the Floreat Forum shopping centre.

Archer Beattie, a young man who lives nearby, told Nine News he heard tyres screeching, driving, 'lots of sirens, and then the occasional crack' on Friday afternoon.

Another neighbour, called David, said his daughter was in the backyard with the family dog and heard gunshots.

'She ran inside and locked the doors and waited until we got home. She said she just knew they were gunshots,' he said.

'She said it was three or four shots.

'We know the family (at that address) reasonably well and just hope they are OK.'

Indiana Bond, another resident, said the incident as it developed was 'quite scary'.

'It was a bit of a rollercoaster ... there were about two people around 18 or 19 talking out the front to a police officer, then about 15 minutes later we hear sirens going past,' he said.

'There was a whole shebang going on and so we came outside to have a look and then we saw the (TRG) outside the house.

'Then we hear 'bang, bang, bang, bang' these shots going off, then we saw police roll up, ambulances roll up and they blocked off the whole street immediately.

'There wasn't anything rapid fire, but it was a lot of single shots so it sounded like a back-and-forth kind of action ... it was quite scary.'

In a social media post State MP Christine Tonkin said it would take time for the circumstances of the tragedy to become clear.

'We know that the people in this neighbourhood are shocked, confused and grieving. It will take time to make sense of what has happened and for life to return to a semblance of normality.

'In the meantime, let's be gentle with each other.'

Lifeline 13 11 14

1800RESPECT
Scenes of drunken carnage erupted in the streets of Magaluf last night as young British holidaymakers partied into the early hours of the morning.

Groups of young women cheered as a night-club doorman lifted a reveller into the air like a dumb bell.

Young men chatted as they flitted between bars in the resort's notorious strip.

But at least two tourists, overcome by excessive alcohol, lay sprawled on the ground.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene and the youngsters were taken to hospital unconscious.

Others sat on the side of the road in tears, as their ideas of fun ended in misery.

Groups of young women cheered as a night-club doorman lifted a reveller into the air like a dumb bell

Young men chatted as they flitted between bars in the resort's notorious strip

Pictured: Brits out on the strip in Magaluf, Majorca last night

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene after youngsters became unconscious

These sights of drunken excess are no surprise to the many bars and late night shops that litter this sheltered bay on the Majorca's south coast.

'Every night the young people are drinking and partying,' one shopkeeper told MailOnline.

'The nightclubs stay open until six o'clock in the morning but the worst time is between 2 and 3am.

'That is when the streets are full of drunk people. They drink so much and they start falling over and fighting.'

It comes as Spain's Balearic Island's have vowed to crack down on booze-filled holidays.

Tourist hotspots including Palma, Llucmajor and Magaluf in Majorca and San Antonio in Ibiza have ramped up efforts to curb rowdy behaviour by hiking fines for drinking in the street, banning shops from selling alcohol at night and restricting party boats.

In a bid to toughen up the islands' 2020 legislation, partygoers now face penalties of between 500 and 1,500 (430 and 1,290) if their street drinking 'disrupts coexistence, involves crowds or deteriorates the tranquillity of the environment'.

Party boats are no longer permitted to get closer than one nautical mile (1.852km) of the designated areas and they have been banned from picking up or dropping off passengers.

These sights of drunken excess are no surprise to the many bars and late night shops that litter this sheltered bay on the Majorca's south coast

Tourist hotspots including Palma, Llucmajor and Magaluf in Majorca and San Antonio in Ibiza have ramped up efforts to curb rowdy behaviour by hiking fines for drinking in the street, banning shops from selling alcohol at night and restricting party boat

In a bid to toughen up the islands' 2020 legislation, partygoers now face penalties of between 500 and 1,500 (430 and 1,290) if their street drinking 'disrupts coexistence, involves crowds or deteriorates the tranquillity of the environment'

Party boats are no longer permitted to get closer than one nautical mile (1.852km) of the designated areas and they have been banned from picking up or dropping off passengers

Brits out enjoying a boozy night on the strip in Magaluf, Majorca

Shops selling alcohol in areas of 'excessive tourism' must now completely close between 9.30pm and 8am, rather than simply stop selling booze between these hours.

The strict rules, which also prohibit tourists from organising drinking parties in public, spraying graffiti, riding scooters and displaying nudity, are set to stay in place until at least December 2027 - by which point the government hopes the law will no longer be necessary.

As the tougher rules came into force earlier this month, fuming Brits drinking in bars and walking along the Magaluf strip told MailOnline that their holidays were being 'wrecked' by the crackdown and claimed the party resort was trying to rebrand itself as a family destination.

Daniel Vella, 24, from Portsmouth, said: 'Magaluf is for a good time. If you are coming to a place for a party, you should be able to party. I think if they bring all those things in, it will ruin this place. It's already going downhill now.'

His friend Bradley Shetland-Carter, also 24, said: 'We are English, we are British, we drink a lot. If you are banning drinks at 9.30pm, we need more alcohol. We come here to get drunk and drink all day f*** the rules.'

Walking back from a day at the beach before hitting the bars, Daniel continued: 'It will kill this place. We've been four times. It's early season but it's much more dead than usual. I think if they bring drinking bans and make it more than it is, it will ruin it.'

Charlie Jay, 25, from Torquay, Devon, was walking to another bar with a group of lads after refuelling at a kebab shop. He said: 'Everyone knows Magaluf for what it is, don't they? Magaluf is the party place so I don't think they are going to be able to change that. I came here five years ago and nothing has changed. It's got better if anything.

'Everyone knows it as the party place, so people will keep coming for years and years.' When asked what he likes about the party resort, he added: 'Anything goes in Magaluf, it is what they say on the tin.'

Shops selling alcohol in areas of 'excessive tourism' must now completely close between 9.30pm and 8am, rather than simply stop selling booze between these hours

The strict rules, which also prohibit tourists from organising drinking parties in public, spraying graffiti, riding scooters and displaying nudity, are set to stay in place until at least December 2027

Tourists gather on the strip in Magaluf, Majorca for a boozy night out

Carl Shurley, from Leicestershire, agreed, telling MailOnline on the beach promenade: 'That's what Magaluf is about, it's here for a good time. You are here for a good time, not a long time. With this drinking ban, all it's doing is wrecking the holiday.'

The 34-year-old, who was catching up with a stag-do, added: 'They are turning it from a party resort to a family place, that's what they are trying to do. They should just keep it as it is, that's what Magaluf is known for. Benidorm is your family/party resort and that's what Magaluf is trying to do.

He said the crackdown was aimed at Brits 'because we act like t***s'.

'I've noticed there's hardly any party boats here,' he added. 'You are wrecking it, that's what they are doing to it. People will be disappointed, they are going to lose a lot of customers. It's a party island, people spend lots of money here, now they are changing it, they are going to ruin it.'
A horrifying collection of knives belonging to a 17-year-old killer who stabbed a rival to death with a red Ninja sword he bought from a notorious online knife website has been revealed for the first time.

Victim Rahaan Amin, 16, was high on laughing gas in West Ham Park, east London, when the masked killer, who cannot be named, plunged the weapon into his chest before hiding the sword in a nearby tree and fleeing on his bike.

He collapsed groaning: 'Allah help' as an air ambulance flew to the scene on 9 July last year.

Doctors attempted to staple Rahaan's heart together in the park but he died the following day in hospital.

Now, police have released a Snapchat photo the killer sent to a friend before the stabbing showing nine knives lined up on his bed - including the Ninja sword.

Here is a look at the 17-year-old's horrifying collection of nine knives, including the blade he used to stab a 16-year-old

Victim Rahaan Amin (pictured), 16, was high on laughing gas in West Ham Park, east London, when the masked killer, who cannot be named, plunged the weapon into his chest

He bought the deadly weapons via online knife website DNA Leisure using the name and passport of a friend's father.

The killer denied murder but was convicted by a jury at the Old Bailey after over 18 hours of hours of deliberation.

Members of Rahaan's family wiped away tears behind their veils as the verdict was announced. The killer pointedly turned towards them and smirked as he was being led to the cells.

Judge Alexia Durran told the jury: 'Some of you may have read in the newspapers that knife crime has gone up 20 per cent.

'You perhaps now have insight as to why you have read those statistics.'

Prosecutor Kate Lumsdon, KC, earlier told the court the defendant and the victim had an ongoing feud in the months leading up to the killing.

Rahaan had previously been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the stabbing of one of the defendant's friends.

The prosecutor said: 'On Sunday afternoon 9 July 2023 Rahaan Ahmed Amin was in West Ham Park with some friends.

West Ham Park in east London where the fatal stabbing took place on July 9, 2023

'At about 5.30pm a youth with his face covered, cycled into the park. He cycled up to the group of friends.

'He produced a long red knife from his trousers and stabbed Rahaan Ahmed Amin in the chest.

'Rahaan collapsed. Paramedics were called. He was taken to hospital. There was nothing that can be done. He died the following day.'

The killer got back on to his bicycle and cycled away and a friend was heard shouting 'What did you do that for?' at him as they fled, the court heard.

He dumped the Canada Goose gilet he had been wearing at a friend's house but police recovered it and found traces of Rahaan's blood on it.

Jurors were told few of the friends in the park wanted to tell police what happened.

The 17-year-old of Forest Gate admitted stabbing Rahaan - but claimed he acted in self defence.

He was convicted of murder and will be sentenced on September 7 when he faces an inevitable life sentence.

The judge will then decide whether he should be identified.
A man has been charged with travelling to Syria to fight for Islamist terrorists after he was arrested in London when he flew to the UK from Turkey.

Isa Giga, 31, previously of Hounslow, west London, was arrested by counter-terror police on Thursday after arriving into the capital on a flight from Turkey.

Giga was later charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to his intention, namely travelled to Syria to fight for the 'Jaysh Al Fath' groups, the Metropolitan Police said.

A man has been charged with travelling to Syria to fight for Islamist terrorists after he was arrested in London when he flew to the UK from Turkey

He will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'We have been clear for some time now that should anyone return to the UK whom we suspect of being involved in any terrorist-related activity overseas, then they can expect to be thoroughly investigated.

'We work very closely with other partners and agencies here in the UK and overseas in order to do this and help keep the public safe.'
Over two hundred janitors organized with SEIU Texas marched and rallied at and near the George R. Brown on Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Houston. They rallied calling for full time jobs with benefits and higher pay. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

As Houston janitors work to get higher pay and better benefits, the newly elected president of the Service Employees International Union visited to show support and reinforce the organization's goal of increasing its presence in the south.

April Verertt was elected leader of the union this week in Philadelphia at the union's convention, with Houston being her first trip serving as president. The union agreed at the convention to a 10-year goal to gain 1 million new members with special attention focused on growing membership in the South.

Her visit also comes as Houston janitors are engaged in contract negotiations with their current deal set to end May 31.

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At our convention, we made this commitment to each other and our union to do this organizing in the American South centering people of color, centering immigrants, Vetrett said Friday in downtown Houston. Texas is where all of those things come together.

Houston janitors want to see their hours increase from five to six per day, which would make them full-time workers with full-time benefits. Theyre also asking for a pay increase from $11.75 to $15 per hour.

PREPARING FOR A STRIKE: Janitors vote to authorize call for a strike if new contract isn't reached this month

City-contracted janitors make $15 an hour, according to SEIU.

Houston janitors have gone on strike two times previously in 2006 and 2012.

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Here in Texas, the fight that our janitors are waging right now for a contract campaign, I think, is a quintessential example of the types of fights we have to wage within SEIU, the types of workers we must center and organize, Verrett said. It's important that I'm here.

Verrett said its wrong that corporations and subcontractors are trying to pay employees a fraction of what workers in cities like New York and Chicago and Los Angeles might get for the same job.

They think they can take advantage of these workers, Verrett said. It's not okay.

The SEIU janitors in Houston have been engaged in contract negotiations since early April ahead of May 31 when their two-year contract is set to expire.

Local janitors voted two weeks ago to authorize leadership to potentially call a strike if terms to a new deal arent met by the deadline. SEIU Texas president Elsa Flores said after the May 11 vote, negotiations were not going as well as they would have hoped.

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START OF THE NEGOTIATION: Janitors march in downtown Houston over wages, full-time benefits

An SEIU spokesman said there were no new updates Friday regarding the negotiations.

I don't have the crystal ball, and I don't want to talk about the details of the campaign, Verrett said. Ill leave that to our leadership here on the ground. But what I know is that our national union is in this fight with our leaders and with our members here in Texas. They will strike if they have to.

Verrett was previously SEIU's Secretary-Treasurer and president of Californias largest local union and the countrys largest long-term care union.
A huge blaze has erupted at a psychiatric hospital where some of Britain's worst criminals have been held.

Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne, is currently up in flames sending plumes of thick black smoke into the sky.

Broadmoor is a high-security male only psychiatric hospital with a history of holding some of the country's most notorious criminals, including Ronnie Kray, the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, Charles Bronson and Robert Maudsley.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said they are attending the scene and assisting with road closures. They said that the blaze is restricted to the hospital site.

They added: 'At this stage there is no impact to the wider road network.'

A huge fire has broken out at a psychiatric hospital where some of Britain's worst criminals have been held

Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne, is currently in flames which are sending plumes of black smoke into the sky

Huge clouds of thick dark smoke can be seen coming from the building by on-lookers

A picture of the smoke cloud coming from Broadmoor taken by a MailOnline reader from a plane

Broadmoor is a high-security psychiatric hospital with a history of holding some of the country's most notorious criminals, including Ronnie Kray, the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, and Robert Maudsley

Here is a look at the location of Broadmoor Hospital on a map

A spokesperson for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Around 40 firefighters remain on the scene of this fire.

'Crews are working to contain the fire using aerial ladder platforms and will remain on scene for some time while they deal with this incident.'

In an earlier statement, they said: 'At 9.37am on Saturday, 25 May we received reports of a fire at a derelict building at the old Broadmoor Hospital site on Chaplains Hill, Crowthorne.

'The fire is not located at the current hospital site and there is no risk to patients and staff.

'At this time, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews from Crowthorne, Bracknell, Ascot, Wokingham, Wokingham Road, Whitley Wood, Caversham Road and Slough have currently been sent to the scene, together with crews from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and two Officers.

'Two Aerial Ladder Platforms and other specialist off road vehicles have also been sent to the scene.

'Upon arrival, firefighters found a well-developed fire in a building at the old Broadmoor Hospital site.

'There are no injuries reported at this time and all persons are accounted for. Crews are likely to remain on scene for some time while they deal with this incident.

'Please stay clear of the area while emergency services deal with this incident and if you are in the area, please keep windows and doors closed at this time.'

Ian Ball, the man who tried to kidnap Princess Anne in 1974, is currently held at Broadmoor

One of Lee Rigby's killers, Michael Adebowale, is currently kept at Broadmoor where he has assaulted a staff member

Today, Broadmoor holds the man who tried to kidnap Princess Anne in 1974, Ian Ball, and one of Lee Rigby's killers, Michael Adebowale.

Ian Ball has been in Broadmoor ever since the incident, when he tried to kidnap the late Queen's daughter for a 2million ransom just yards from Buckingham Palace. When Ball tried to make Princess Anne get out of the car she was in she famously replied: 'Not bloody likely.'

In 2019, one of Lee Rigby's terrorist killers Michael Adebowale admitted to punching a healthcare assistant at Broadmoor whilst serving a 45-year term for the slaughter that shocked the nation in 2013. He was served a further eight months in jail to be added to the end of his sentence.

Located in Crowthorne, Berkshire, Broadmoor Hospital has housed dozens of sadistic killers since it opened its doors in 1863, including Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, gangster Ronnie Kray and rapist Robert Napper.

The institution for the criminally insane was built after the creation of the Criminal Lunatics Act 1860, also called the Broadmoor Act.

When the criminal lunatic asylum was opened it was for women only and held 95 female patients, with a block for male patients being added a year later. Now, it is a men's only institution.

The asylum was established for the 'safe custody and treatment' of severely mentally ill criminals.

Violent Gangster Ronnie Kray, pictured, was a patient at Broadmoor until he died of a heart attack aged 61

Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper, who killed 13 women and injured many more in the 1970s, was a patient at Broadmoor

Robert Maudsley, one of Britain's most dangerous killers, was held inside the prison for the criminally insane

Charles Bronson, violent criminal and one of the UK's longest-serving prisoners has spent almost 50 years behind bars, with some of those years spent at Broadmoor

When it first opened its doors in the Victorian age, there were no drugs or psychological treatments like what we are familiar with today. Instead, patients enjoyed a regime of rest and occupational therapy.

A few years ago, Broadmoor staff revealed what it's really like to work at the high-security psychiatric hospital treating the criminally insane in Channel 5 documentary Broadmoor: Serial Killers & High Security.

From a patient torturing and killing another inmate to stopping obsessive 'fans' visiting high profile murderers with their children, mental health professionals opened up about their harrowing experiences.

Professor Pamela Taylor, who worked as head of medical services at the institution, revealed how women would get solicitors to fight for their right to visit sex offenders with their own children in tow, and sent so many love letters to Sutcliffe that he couldn't answer them all.

Another staff member who featured on the show Dr Jackie Craissati MBE, admitted reading about the crimes committed by the patients she treated left her 'overwhelmed' and feeling 'waves of fear'.

According to the NHS Broadmoor is a specialist psychiatric hospital which provides assessment, treatment and care in high security conditions for men aged 18 and above from London and the South of England.

Its one of three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales and treats people with severe mental illness and personality disorders who are at high risk of harming themselves or others.

The NHS says that Broadmoor is 'internationally renowned for its highly specialised care and research work'.

It is part of the West London NHS Trust which has been authorised by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to provide high secure men's services. Its currently rated as 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission.
A baby girl born in the UK faces being deported after she was taken abroad by her parents before her status was confirmed - meaning she re-entered the country as a tourist.

Massah, who is 13-months old, was born in the Midlands in April last year to parents who are originally from Jordan.

Her father came to the UK in 2021 to study for a PhD with her mother joining him as a dependant.

However, when the family went abroad together for the first time in January, Massah's status hadn't yet been confirmed and she therefore technically re-entered the country as a tourist.

Now Massah's parents have received a letter from the Home Office telling them their daughter 'will be required to immediately leave the UK', Sky News has reported.

Massah (pictured), who is 13-months old, was born in the Midlands in April last year to parents who are originally from Jordan

The couple have also been told that they will have to reapply for her visa from Jordan and that the need to 'maintain the integrity of the immigration laws outweighs the possible effect on you/your children'.

The deportation threat comes despite the couple trying to apply for a child-dependent visa for Massah from the UK.

Massah's father, Mohammad, said he has had sleepless nights over his daughter's visa situation and that he has tried to engage his MP but they have made no progress so far.

The couple are concerned about returning to Jordan due to the current instability in the Middle East and fear that Massah's visa may still be refused.

Mohammad told Sky News: 'I can't imagine how I can tell her the story in the future that the country you [were] born asked you to leave while you [were] a year old.

'I'm trying to fix everything. I don't need to consider a one-year-old infant as an overstayer here.'

A Home Office spokesperson told MailOnline: 'All visa applications are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Immigration Rules.

'We are working closely with the parents of this child to ensure they receive the support and direction they require regarding the application.'

The couple have been told that they will have to reapply for her visa from Jordan and that the need to 'maintain the integrity of the immigration laws outweighs the possible effect on you/your children'

The deportation threat comes as the government pledged to cut down on both legal and illegal immigration into the UK.

Figures released on Thursday showed that overall net migration has fallen slightly.

Net migration  the number of people moving to Britain minus those leaving  dropped from a record 764,000 in 2022 to 685,000, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed.

Experts said it was driven by fewer foreign students arriving as well as more people emigrating, but noted that immigration remains 'unusually high' and above pre-Covid levels.

Further falls are expected this year after ministers restricted the number of family members that migrants can bring to live with them.

However, Rishi Sunak has said that the first flights to Rwanda will not take place until after the general election on July 4.
A father and son 'cowboy' building duo upped and left a mother with a home resembling a 'war zone' after being paid a staggering 60,000.

Mark Hawley, 63, and his son Nicholas were hired by a woman, who lives with her two disabled adult children, to renovate parts of her two-bed bungalow.

The Sheffield mother, who wants to remain anonymous, hired the pair of Capital Construction and Roofing Ltd to carry out work on her loft and to build an extension.

The 'cowboy builders' briefly performed some construction work on the property from June until December 2019, leaving the bungalow a 'derelict'.

'It was difficult to see the progression but the work was taking forever. The scaffolder even said it was taking so long,' the woman told Yorkshire Live.

Mark Hawley, 63 (left), and his son Nicholas (right) left a mother with a home resembling a 'war zone' after being paid a staggering 60,000

The Sheffield mother, who lives with her two disabled adult children, was left with a 'war zone' after she hired the pair to renovate parts of her two-bedroom bungalow (pictured: the woman's bungalow)

'He [Hawley] kept saying he needed more money for steel and things like that. It got to a stage where I confronted him because nothing was moving on.'

After being confronted about the state of the home, Hawley took the house keys to Derbyshire Police with claims the woman had threatened him.

'That was his excuse for ripping me off...I was saying, 'What do you mean? This guy has taken all of this money off me,' she added.

'They said they couldn't get involved and I would have to go through whatever channel I would go down... I was devastated. My house was derelict.'

Some time later the disgruntled customer discovered Hawley had conned others after he featured on an episode of Cowboy Builders.

After seeing Hawley's face on her television screen, the mother picked up and called the police reiterating the months he took to leave her home like a 'war zone'.

Eventually, social care had to help the mother as the property was left with reams of bottled urine left by Hawley, dust covering everything, unsafe electrics as well as drains filled with cement.

Explaining why she chose Hawley, the woman divulged he was recommended to her and didn't decide to look him up online at the time, quipping that social media wasn't at its height at the time.

Trading Standards prosecuted Mark Hawley and his son Nicholas, with both being handed a 12-month community order.

The father was required to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, while the son was ordered to complete 180 hours.

Hawley also had to return 22,500 to the victim, which has since been entirely paid.

Construction and Roofing Ltd defrauded the vulnerable woman out of an eye-watering 62,519 for shoddy and perilous construction work according to Yorkshire Live.

Since the harrowing experience, the unidentified woman wants to warn others about rogue builders.

Reflecting on the turmoil, she said she would now Google the workers, as well as ask them for ID to check their registration.

She also advised any renovating hopefuls to hire an architect and to notify Trading Standards or the police if anything goes awry.

'Because it could be something of a bigger picture - it may not just be you,' she continued.

Sheffield City Council have warned civilians to be wary of rogue traders as part of a regional week to raise awareness on the issue.

After she confronted Hawley about the condition of the house, as well as the amount of time work was taking, he took her house keys to Derbyshire police claiming the anonymous woman threatened him

A spokesperson from the council shared that since the COVID-19 pandemic many 'cowboy builders' have evolved to online operations.

According to them, these rogue traders are able to design professional and genuine-looking websites even though they may be the opposite.

'The work or services offered can sometimes be unnecessary, overpriced, of a poor standard or not done at all and in a lot of cases these traders will have no formal training or insurance to carry out the work,' they said.

'There are many genuine, reputable traders online who will be happy to answer questions and provide relevant documentation so members of the public should take some time to check and research the trader - regardless of what online directory platform they have used.'
A child who plunged to his death from a block of flats in south-east London was a 12-year-old boy, police have said.

The boy fell from the upper floor of a flat on Hotspur Street in Kennington on Friday afternoon and died at the scene.

The Metropolitan Police have said there is 'nothing to indicate that the incident is suspicious' but are continuing to probe the boy's death.

A second person, an adult woman, was taken to hospital.

The spokesman said: 'Police were called at 4.23pm on Friday, May 24, to a child having fallen from the upper floor of a flat on Hotspur Street, SE11.

A child who died after falling from a block of flats in south-east London was a 12-year-old boy, police have said

The boy fell from the upper floor of a flat on Hotspur Street in Kennington on Friday afternoon and died at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said

Police and paramedics rushed to Hotspur Street (pictured), Kennington but were unable to save the youngster (file image)

'Officers attended along with LAS [London Ambulance Service]. Despite their efforts, the child was pronounced dead. The child's family have been informed.

'At this very early stage, there is nothing to indicate that the incident is suspicious, however enquires are ongoing to establish the circumstances.

Florence Eshalomi, the Labour MP for Vauxhall, said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'Very sad to hear about the sad death of a young child who fell from a block of flats earlier this afternoon in Hotspur Street, SE11.

'My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.'

The boy's death comes just days after five-year-old Aalim Ahmed died after he fell from his kitchen window on the 15th storey of an east London tower block.

Aalim died instantly after landing on a railing at the bottom of the residential block in Plaistow, Walthamstow Coroner's Court heard earlier on Friday.

His father discovered his body shortly before 6am on May 16.

Aalim Ahmed, 5, died when he fell from his kitchen window on the 15th storey of an east London tower block (pictured), an inquest has heard

He landed on a railing at the bottom of the residential block called Jacobs House in Plaistow, London

The boy was previously named locally as Aalim Makial Jibril and a GoFundMe has raised just over 1,000 for his funeral costs.

Newham Council is investigating the circumstances of what happened.

Assistant coroner Ian Wade KC said he was opening a 'coronial investigation' because he is 'quite satisfied that Ahmed's death was not from natural causes'.
Boris Johnson will be conspicuous by his absence during this General Election campaign  not by design, his allies stress, but because the Election was as much of a surprise to him as to most of the country. The ex-PM has booked a series of foreign trips that will take him out of the UK for the majority of the critical period.

However, his presence will still be sensed across the shires this weekend as Tory Associations panic-select their candidates, amid claims that Johnson fans are being purged in favour of One-Nation Remainers and Rishi Sunak acolytes. Because the candidates need to be selected by June 7, interviews are being moved to Zoom and selection panels will be working over the bank holiday.

After Michael Gove became the latest high-profile departure, the Tories are scrambling to find almost 200 candidates in a process riven by blue-coloured skulduggery and backbiting, with parliamentary hopefuls privately sniping that Downing Street is parachuting its cronies into seats such as Gove's once safe Surrey Heath.

Boris Johnson's allies dismiss calls from Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns for him to stand in the Election

Nadine Dorries with Festus Akinbusoye who was selected in 2023 as his party's candidate for the Mid Bedfordshire by-election following her resignation

Typical was Thursday evening's fractious meeting of the Mid Bedfordshire Conservatives, where a by-election, triggered by the departure of former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, was lost last year. The defeated Tory candidate, Festus Akinbusoye, had hoped to be adopted again for the General Election, but according to sources was 'eliminated by a loo-break stitch-up'.

During a break in proceedings  being held to sift ten candidates down to three, who would then be voted on by the Association  a senior member of the executive committee is alleged to have 'leaned' on his colleagues to remove Mr Akinbusoye from the shortlist because 'the Association is bound to select him'.

Blake Stephenson, who emerged victorious, is described by one source as 'a Boris-hating Remain campaigner'.

The final three possibles had included Jamie Wallis, the transgender MP for Bridgend, who announced last October that he would not seek re-election to the Welsh constituency, two years after crashing his car into a lamppost while wearing a black leather mini-skirt and high heels. He fled the scene, but was later arrested and found gulity of failing to report an accident.

Last night Ms Dorries said: 'Festus is a strong Brexiteer and a Boris Johnson supporter  a political rock star on the streets. Despite this, Mid Bedfordshire executive committee decided not to put him forward to local party members to vote for him. An amazing local candidate has been duped out of the seat he had worked so hard to win.'

As for Johnson himself, his allies dismiss calls from Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns for him to stand in the Election. Although Johnson spoke to Sunak about unrelated matters the day before the announcement on Wednesday, the PM has still not directly asked him to take part in the campaign. Discussions about his role are being held through two intermediaries: Johnson ally Lord Kempsell and Mr Sunak's campaign chief Isaac Levido.

Despite Boris speaking to Rishi Sunak the day before the General Election announcement on Wednesday, the Prime Minister has still not directly asked Boris to take part in the campaign

A source said: 'Expect more trenchant attacks on Starmer in Boris's Daily Mail column and some other interventions, but he will be out of the country for most of it.'

Meanwhile, the PM has denied reports that former Brexit minister and Johnson ally Lord Frost had been blocked from standing as an MP. Frost says that he will now 'consider the options' but a source close to him said the selection process means he is unlikely to stand.

The source added: 'He'd need to give up his seat in the Lords, so it's a big gamble. He hasn't been blocked but they have not exactly made it easy for him. Essentially, he needs to have a seat lined up where he knows an Association will pick him  but that has not been done. So he's leaving it until the next Election.'

Lord Frost's experience contrasts with claims that Sunak's allies are being parachuted into plum Conservative constituencies.

One furious Brexiteer MP, who last week wrote a letter of no confidence in the PM, told The Mail on Sunday: 'All they care about is trying to be the next MP for Stratford-upon-Avon [where former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi is stepping down]. They aren't doing anything to keep the Red Wall.'

There are increasing concerns over the influence of Gareth Fox, head of candidates, and his colleague Matt Lane. In leaked messages seen by the MoS, one Tory wrote that candidates are being 'pushed aside because they don't meet Fox and Lane's woke sensibilities'. The source called on the party's centre-right to 'take back control after the General Election' adding: 'I want my party back.'

Increasingly, powerful Conservatives feel the same. Last week, as Sunak blindsided his base with a snap Election, there was a dinner of Tory party grandees. They included allies of Dougie Smith, the shadowy 'fixer' accused of plotting to topple Mr Johnson. A source in the room said: 'They openly talked about how they brought down Boris and will now turn on Rishi.'

Donors have been taking matters into their own hands and only giving money to candidates who they think will bring the Conservative party back to basics. One has been sponsoring just Right-wing candidates because he believes the party has been 'taken over by the soft lefty middle'.

Significantly, too, the rivals lining up to replace Sunak after a likely election wipeout are trying to influence the direction of the party, with former Home Secretaries Priti Patel and Suella Braverman, along with former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, particularly active in reaching out to candidates. Patel has been touring Tory Associations, meeting prospective MPs. 'She is going full throttle,' a source said. 'The feeling is, whatever the result, we've got to change.'

A Tory HQ source dismissed the allegations of wokeism and rigged selections as 'nonsense' saying that 'people use them as an excuse for not being selected'.

The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this year that former PM Liz Truss had warned fellow members of the Tory Right that they were losing the battle for the future of the party, arguing that the selection of the next generation of MPs was being warped by wokery and political correctness taking precedence over Conservative political ideology.

A senior ex-Cabinet Minister said: 'The biggest mistake was getting rid of Boris. It's like taking off your best centre forward. There is no way we would be 20 points behind today - maybe ten, and he could narrow that in a campaign. If you had told colleagues that when they got rid of Boris they'd be looking at being left with 150 seats, they wouldn't have done it.'

The ex-Minister also said that Sunak's decision to call a snap election was 'selfish' adding: 'Don't underestimate the personal in politics. He hates the job. His wife hates it. Sunak's thinking, 'I want to have a nice summer with my family.' He doesn't give a f**k about the parliamentary party.'
Broadmoor looks like a smoking wreck after a huge blaze broke out at the psychiatric hospital that caged some of the UK's most dangerous criminals - including the Yorkshire Ripper and Ronnie Kray.

Dramatic aerial photos of the scene showed smoke billowing out of the roof causing firefighters to tell locals to 'keep their windows shut'.

The infamous psychiatric hospital was built in 1863 and was the country's first asylum for the criminally insane.

It is now derelict as it closed in 2019 with patients and staff moving into the new 250m Broadmoor Hospital nearby.

No injuries have been reported and the fire service have confirmed the blaze has now been extinguished. Crews will remain at the scene to dampen down embers for some time.

The Grade-II listed building in Crowthorne, Berkshire, went up in flames this morning with the fire and rescue team called to the scene at 9.37am.

Around 40 firefighters were at the site trying to extinguish the flames that were emitting plumes of smoke so huge that they could be seen from passing planes.

Are YOU at the scene? Please email pictures, videos, quotes and information to cameron.roy@mailonline.co.uk

Images taken at around 3.30pm on Saturday afternoon show the fire has been extinguished - leaving a smouldering ruin

The fire service said crews will remain at the scene to dampen down embers for some time

An aerial view of the fire at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital where 40 firefighters were tackling the flames

A picture of the smoke cloud coming from Broadmoor was taken by a MailOnline reader from a plane

Broadmoor Hospital is located 40 miles west of London, and 13 miles south east of Reading

At this stage it is not clear what started the fire but an investigation will be carried out to determine the cause.

Broadmoor was a high-security male only psychiatric hospital with a history of holding some of the country's most notorious criminals, including Ronnie Kray, the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, Charles Bronson and Robert Maudsley.

A spokesperson for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said earlier: 'Around 40 firefighters remain on the scene of this fire. Crews are working to contain the fire using aerial ladder platforms and will remain on scene for some time while they deal with this incident.

'Please stay clear of the area while emergency services deal with this incident and if you are in the area, please keep windows and doors closed at this time.

''The fire is not located at the current hospital site and there is no risk to patients and staff.'

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said they are also attending the scene and assisting with road closures. They said that the blaze is restricted to the hospital site.

They added: 'At this stage there is no impact to the wider road network.'

Broadmoor is a high-security psychiatric hospital with a history of holding some of the country's most notorious criminals, including Ronnie Kray, the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, and Robert Maudsley

Huge clouds of thick dark smoke could be seen coming from the building by on-lookers

A huge fire broke out at the psychiatric hospital where some of Britain's worst criminals have been held

Around 40 firefighters were on the site, with many expected to be there for 'some time' trying dampen down the embers

Firemen used aerial ladder platforms to spray water on the flames from above

Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne was in flames - sending plumes of black smoke into the sky

The fire service added: 'At this time, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews from Crowthorne, Bracknell, Ascot, Wokingham, Wokingham Road, Whitley Wood, Caversham Road and Slough have currently been sent to the scene, together with crews from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and two Officers.

'Two Aerial Ladder Platforms and other specialist off road vehicles have also been sent to the scene.

'Upon arrival, firefighters found a well-developed fire in a building at the old Broadmoor Hospital site.

'There are no injuries reported at this time and all persons are accounted for. Crews are likely to remain on scene for some time while they deal with this incident.'

Broadmoor holds the man who tried to kidnap Princess Anne in 1974, Ian Ball, and one of Lee Rigby's killers, Michael Adebowale.

Ian Ball has been in Broadmoor ever since the incident, when he tried to kidnap the late Queen's sister for a 2million ransom just yards from Buckingham Palace. When Ball tried to make Princess Anne get out of the car she was in she famously replied: 'Not bloody likely.'

In 2019, one of Lee Rigby's terrorist killers Michael Adebowale admitted to punching a healthcare assistant at Broadmoor whilst serving a 45-year term for the slaughter that shocked the nation in 2013. He was served a further eight months in jail to be added to the end of his sentence.

Ian Ball, the man who tried to kidnap Princess Anne in 1974, is currently held at Broadmoor

One of Lee Rigby's killers, Michael Adebowale, is currently kept at Broadmoor where he has assaulted a staff member

In 2019 patients and staff moved into the new 250m Broadmoor Hospital (pictured)

Paedophile and predator Jimmy Savile was given his own gold-plated set of keys to Broadmoor during his hushed campaign of prolific abuse, granting him access to the vulnerable mentally ill children that were patients at the time.

A former manager claimed that politicians and civil servants thought the disgraced entertainer was the bees knees and appointed him to a task force to run the hospital in 1988. He was allowed to personally select managers and even had his own living quarters on site.

Located in Crowthorne, Berkshire, Broadmoor Hospital has housed dozens of sadistic killers since it opened its doors in 1863, including Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, gangster Ronnie Kray and rapist Robert Napper.

The institution for the criminally insane was built after the creation of the Criminal Lunatics Act 1860, also called the Broadmoor Act.

When the criminal lunatic asylum was opened it was for women only and held 95 female patients, with a block for male patients being added a year later. Now, it is a men's only institution.

The asylum was established for the 'safe custody and treatment' of severely mentally ill criminals.

Violent Gangster Ronnie Kray, pictured, was a patient at Broadmoor until he died of a heart attack aged 61

Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper, who killed 13 women and injured many more in the 1970s, was a patient at Broadmoor

Robert Maudsley, one of Britain's most dangerous killers, was held inside the prison for the criminally insane

Charles Bronson, violent criminal and one of the UK's longest-serving prisoners has spent almost 50 years behind bars, with some of those years spent at Broadmoor

When it first opened its doors in the Victorian age, there were no drugs or psychological treatments like what we are familiar with today. Instead, patients enjoyed a regime of rest and occupational therapy.

A few years ago, Broadmoor staff revealed what it's really like to work at the high-security psychiatric hospital treating the criminally insane in Channel 5 documentary Broadmoor: Serial Killers & High Security.

From a patient torturing and killing another inmate to stopping obsessive 'fans' visiting high profile murderers with their children, mental health professionals opened up about their harrowing experiences.

Professor Pamela Taylor, who worked as head of medical services at the institution, revealed how women would get solicitors to fight for their right to visit sex offenders with their own children in tow, and sent so many love letters to Sutcliffe that he couldn't answer them all.

Another staff member who featured on the show Dr Jackie Craissati MBE, admitted reading about the crimes committed by the patients she treated left her 'overwhelmed' and feeling 'waves of fear'.

According to the NHS Broadmoor is a specialist psychiatric hospital which provides assessment, treatment and care in high security conditions for men aged 18 and above from London and the South of England.

Its one of three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales and treats people with severe mental illness and personality disorders who are at high risk of harming themselves or others.

The NHS says that Broadmoor is 'internationally renowned for its highly specialised care and research work'.

It is part of the West London NHS Trust which has been authorised by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to provide high secure men's services. Its currently rated as 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission.
A sex crimes detective has been found guilty of abusing his position by twice sexually touching a teen complainant without her consent but has been acquitted of raping her.

Glen Coleman was on trial accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman from March to May 2022 and abusing his position as an officer at Windsor Police Station.

He met the teenager at the station in February 2022 after she went in to make a complaint that her cousin had threatened to share naked images of her online.

During the trial at Penrith District Court, jurors heard the 57-year-old allegedly begged the woman for sex after he found out she had gone for an interview at a Sydney strip club.

Jurors heard he had texted the teen, asking her to send intimate naked images and requesting sex for money.

Glen Coleman was on trial accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman he knew through his work as a sex crimes detective

During the trial at Penrith District Court, jurors heard the 57-year-old allegedly begged the woman for sex

On Friday after about five hours of deliberations, the jury delivered its verdict finding that Coleman had sexually touched the woman without her consent once at a western Sydney park and again in an interview room at Windsor Police Station.

The officer has also been found guilty of abusing his position of public office to procure the woman for his own sexual gratification.

However, the jury acquitted Coleman of three counts of rape and four further counts of sexual touching without consent.

Coleman always contended that sex at in the interview room was consensual and denied had he touched the woman without her consent or free will.

He had his bail revoked after the verdict and will be held on remand until a sentence hearing on September 27.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
A Spitfire has crashed in a field during a Battle of Britain event at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

It is believed a rescue helicopter arrived at the scene after journeying from Humberside.

Emergency services arrived following reports of a crash in a field on Langrick Road, which occurred around 1.20pm.

Fire crews from Horncastle, Woodhall Spa as well as a rescue team from Louth are currently at the scene of the incident.

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: 'Emergency services are in attendance following reports of an aircraft crashing in a field just before 1.20pm

A Spitfire has crashed in a field during a Battle of Britain event at RAF Coningsby just before 1.20pm

Emergency services arrived following reports of a crash of a single-occupant aircraft in a field on Langrick Road (stock image)

'It is believed to be a single occupant aircraft and nobody else is thought to have been involved.

'Road closures are in place in the areas of Dogdyke Road and Sandy Bank.'

The RAF published a statement via X, which read: 'We are aware of an incident in the vicinity of RAF Coningsby involving an RAF aircraft.

'We are working with the emergency services and supporting those involved.'

The authorities have asked motorists to avoid the area and seek other routes for their journeys.

The aircraft is believed to have been taking part in the Battle of Britain memorial event.

According to GloucestershireLive , it was a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft that was previously utilised both before and after World War II.

The aircraft was designed by R. J. Mitchell, and was famed for its role during the Battle of Britain.

Its unique elliptical wings allowed for a perfect partnership of power and speed whilst mid-air.

The location where the Spitfire crashed in a field on on Langrick Road at RAF Coningsby

Exactly 20.531 Spitfires were constructed between 1939 and 1948, with many varying in roles and engine types.

It is thought that there are about 60 Spitfires that are currently in use dotted around the globe.

Several others are also kept in museums, private collections as well displays, bringing the total number of Spitfires up to an estimated 240.

Police have requested for anyone with information to contact them by calling 101, and quoting 221 of May 25 2024.
Thames Water sent samples of water to the lab for testing after dozens of people reported being sick with vomiting and diarrhoea in south-east London.

Residents in Beckenham have complained of being struck down by a nasty stomach bug that has left one woman in hospital in the latest scare over dirty water.

It came after unsafe drinking water led to more than 100 cases of a waterborne disease being reported in Devon.

Cryptosporidium, which can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting, was detected in the water supply in the Brixham area ten days ago - with people told to boil and cool their tap water before drinking it.

Thames Water told MailOnline it had collected samples from the Central Sydenham area of London on Tuesday after concerns were raised by customers.

The water company confirmed, however, that no issues with the supply were found in laboratory tests.

Thames Water sent samples of water to the lab for testing after dozens of people reported being sick with vomiting and diarrhoea in south-east London (stock photo)

Thames Water told MailOnline it had collected samples from the Central Sydenham area of London on Tuesday after concerns were raised by customers (stock photo)

Thames Water said: 'We can confirm there are no failures from the Central Sydenham water zone.

'Our technicians collected samples from a property in the area on Tuesday 22 May following customers contacting the business.

'Initial on site testing carried out by our accredited technician did not indicate an aesthetic issue with the water, further samples were also collected for laboratory analysis and results showed no concerns.'

The spokesperson continued: 'We take the quality of our water extremely seriously  it is the highest quality drinking water in the world  and since 2010 more than 99.95 per cent of tests taken from customers' taps met the standard required by UK and European legislation.

'Every year we carry out more than 500,000 tests, taking samples from source to tap.'

Katie Cox, a TV producer who lives in the Beckenham area, told the Guardian: 'I was unwell two weeks ago with what I thought was a stomach bug.

'It was a good week before I was able to eat again properly.

'Since then, the South West Water contamination has come to light and I became concerned that maybe there is something in our water.'

The affected residents also included a four-year-old boy who suffered days of vomiting and sickness.

In Devon, South West Water (SWW) initially claimed that its treatment works were not to blame but was later forced to backtrack - prompting fury from local Tory MP Anthony Mangnall, who said its initial failure to act had been 'enormously frustrating'.

Cryptosporidium can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals.

The parasite can be ingested by swimming in or drinking contaminated water as well as other sources such as contaminated food.

It can lead to the disease cryptosporidiosis, which is believed to be affecting many people in Brixham, and causes fever, a loss of appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting.

South West Water staff and volunteers distribute water to the public at a water collection point on May 18

People collecting bottled water at Freshwater car park in Brixham on May 17

Cryptosporidium can be found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals

South West Water set up bottled water stops for residents to pick up water if they are unable to boil it at home

South West Water shared this map of the areas affected in South Devon on its website during the crisis

The NHS says most people recover within a month, if not less.

Residents, however, told MailOnline that it was the 'worst illness' that they had ever had.

Retiree Kathy Hudson, 67, said on May 15: 'I have been ill since last week with cramps, diarrhoea, sickness and dizziness. My daughter-in-law has also got ill.

'I dont want to know what is in the water I have been drinking but now they are saying not to wash your hands, can you shower? Whats it going to do to you?

'I have been coming out with terrible eczema in the last couple of weeks which I havent in ages.'

Karen Chapman, 65, also said on May 15: 'I only found out yesterday and I drink squash with tap water all day.

'I pay a lot of money for water and its going up but you cant even drink it, plus electricity is sky high so it costs to boil the water every time you want to drink it.

'I have had no water all day because everywhere is sold out of bottles. It reminds me of the panic buying toilet rolls during Covid.'
Russian forces have captured another village in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, while Kyiv says Moscow is intensifying attacks away from the northeastern Kharkiv region.

The Russian defence ministry said that troops had 'taken control of the village of Arkhangelske', located to the north of the city of Donetsk.

The small frontline village is near the town of Ocheretyne, which Russia said it had captured early this month.

It comes after Moscow aides claimed Vladimir Putin wants a ceasefire in Ukraine 'because the war costs too much, he can sell his territorial gains as a victory at home - and any further advance would require mass mobilisation'.

Russian sources yesterday claimed that their president is ready to 'freeze the war' in Ukraine if a negotiated ceasefire that recognises the current battlefield lines can be agreed.

Firefighters put out a fire after a Russian missile hit a large printing house in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 23

Vladimir Putin wants a ceasefire in Ukraine 'because the war costs too much, he can sell his territorial gains as a victory at home - and any further advance would require mass mobilisation'

The sources told Reuters that Putin is pushing for a ceasefire because he has become concerned about the cost of the war and believes he can sell territorial gains as a 'win' to Russians.

They said: 'Putin will say that we won, that Nato attacked us and we kept our sovereignty, that we have a land corridor to Crimea, which is true.'

Three sources revealed that Putin understands that any major new advances would require another nationwide mobilisation, which he is opposed to. One source, who knows the president, said his popularity dipped after the first mobilisation in September 2022.

Ukraine's General Staff said on Saturday that Russian forces were "particularly active" near the town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

It said six firefights were ongoing near the villages of Kalynove, Yasnobrodivka and Sokil, south of the village of Arkhangelske.

Ukrainian police meanwhile said three civilians had been killed and two wounded in Russian attacks on Donetsk region, where there had been over 1,800 strikes over the last day.

On Saturday, Ukraine said its forces had repelled two attacks in the Kharkiv region and fighting was continuing near the town of Vovchansk, which Moscow is attempting to seize.

Russia's defence ministry said its troops had fought off two counter-attacks near the border, one close to Vovchansk.

The governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Synegubov, said on Saturday that Russians had hit the railway hub of Kupiansk-Vuzloviy with a guided bomb, wounding at least five people.

He did not provide further details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he had visited the city of Kharkiv and met military officials to discuss the defence of the region, particularly of Vovchansk.

Russia currently occupies around 18 per cent of Ukraine, including Crimea which it annexed in 2014

Volunteers carry the body of a person killed by Russian missile strikes at a compound of a printworks, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine May 23

In briefings given to Reuters, the Kremlin sources said Putin blames Zelensky for avoiding peace talks as he was prepared to order his advancing armies to halt.

'Putin can fight for as long as it takes, but Putin is also ready for a ceasefire to freeze the war,' said another of the insiders, a senior Russian source who has worked with Putin and has knowledge of top level conversations in the Kremlin.

He, like the others cited in this story, spoke on condition of anonymity given the matter's sensitivity.

Reuters spoke to a total of five people who work with or have worked with Putin at a senior level in the political and business worlds.

The fifth source did not comment on freezing the war at the current frontlines.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in response to a request for comment, said the Kremlin chief had repeatedly made clear Russia was open to dialogue to achieve its goals, saying the country did not want an eternal war.

Ukraine's foreign and defence ministries did not respond to questions.

The appointment last week of economist Andrei Belousov as Russia's defence minister was seen by some Western military and political analysts as placing the Russian economy on a permanent war footing in order to win a protracted conflict.

It followed sustained battlefield pressure and territorial advances by Russia in recent weeks.

However, the sources said that Putin, re-elected in March for a new six-year term, would rather use Russia's current momentum to put the war behind him.

They did not directly comment on the new defence minister.

Zelensky has repeatedly said peace on Putin's terms is a non-starter. He has vowed to retake lost territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. He signed a decree in 2022 that formally declared any talks with Putin 'impossible.'

Russia currently occupies around 18 per cent of Ukraine, including Crimea which it annexed in 2014, but the Kremlin has failed to capture the whole of any other region despite claiming the conquest of the eastern region of Donbas was a priority.
Mayor John Whitmire and Fire Chief Samuel Pena survey damaged buildings downtown on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Houston, after a strong thunderstorm moved through Thursday evening. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena, who has led the fire department for nearly eight years, faces uncertain job prospects as the firefighters union advocates for a new policy requiring chiefs to be selected from within the department's ranks.

A state district court judge on Tuesday approved a settlement between the city and the union  which officials estimate will cost $1.5 billion over the next two to three decades  marking another significant step toward ending their bitter, yearslong dispute.

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Meanwhile, the two parties are still finalizing the details of the firefighters labor contract for the next five years, set to take effect July 1. One notable provision under consideration would require the mayor to select future fire chiefs from current or retired Houston Fire Department rank-and-file members with at least 15 years of service.

Pena, who served as El Pasos fire chief before former Mayor Sylvester Turner appointed him in late 2016, does not meet this criterion. He said during a Thursday City Council hearing that, depending on the final agreement, he might be disqualified from his job.

Union president Marty Lancton and City Attorney Arturo Michel told the Houston Chronicle that the proposed clause, if approved, would not apply to Pena but only to future chiefs. Under Houston law, they said, it will still be up to Mayor John Whitmire to decide who leads one of the nation's largest fire departments.

At the same time, Lancton said Penas lack of familiarity with Houstons operations is a key reason the union is pushing for the change. Having a fire chief who came from another Texas city, Lancton said, has contributed to years of unrest and the worst morale we've ever seen.

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Houston's challenges are unique to Houston, Lancton said. If there were to be a new fire chief, we absolutely believe that it needs to come from the inside, otherwise we are going to be in the same position.

Whitmires team has not yet released a draft of the labor agreement, prompting complaints from some City Council members about the lack of transparency, but Michel said the administration is still considering whether to include the provision on the fire chiefs appointment.

Whitmire told the Chronicle that he does not think the clause should be in the agreement because although he believes the fire chief should come from the department, he does not want any restrictions to limit his ability to select his preferred candidate.

"Were not going to allow a contract to mandate to me or the next mayor who you can hire or fire," he said.

Regardless of whether the clause makes it to the final draft, by law, the chief could remain for as long as the mayor would like," Michel said.

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Pena said he would not engage in any political back-and-forth about his background but defended his tenure as Houstons fire chief. He said he has led the department effectively despite the hyper-political environment caused by the prolonged contract dispute.

Some of his proudest accomplishments, Pena said, are building a flood response program and wildland firefighting team, spearheading the settlement of a federal discrimination lawsuit and guiding the department through numerous disasters, including last week's deadly storm.

The fact that I didn't come from this organization didn't keep me or us as an organization from being successful, Pena told the Chronicle.

Pena has had a fraught relationship with the firefighters union and the rank and file it represents. More than 3,000 firefighters signed a resolution in 2019 to reject his leadership. They accused Pena of failing to adequately staff or fund the department and siding against the union in its labor dispute with the city.

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At the time, Lancton said the move reflected the departments loss of confidence in Pena.

The fire chief, in response, defended his work, calling the criticism unfair.

Pena's role has appeared less certain under the new administration. The fire chief told City Council in a recent meeting that while he was involved in union negotiations under Turner, he has not been part of the talks since Whitmire took office at the beginning of the year.

The mayors appearance with Lancton, rather than Pena, at a key public event in January also prompted observers to speculate that Whitmire had sidelined Pena in favor of Lancton, whose union endorsed him during his mayoral campaign last year, ABC13 reported.

Whitmire has yet to announce whether he will keep the fire chief in his current position. He told the Chronicle on Friday that he has not determined Pena's future and likely will wait until at least the end of June before making a decision.

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Ive said all along everybody gets six months, and Ive only been here five months. Well just have to wait and see," he said.

Pena said he will not know the implications of the new contract before it is fully finalized. Until then, he said, we're going to stay focused on serving this community.

It has been an honor to be here.  And it would be an honor to continue to serve the city of Houston, Pena said. It's going to be God's will. I'm going to serve wherever he wishes me to serve.
Israel is understood to have killed two fighters from Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in a drone strike in Syria - a move that could increase tensions in the Middle East following the death of Tehran's president in a helicopter crash.

The drone fired two missiles at a Hezbollah car and truck near the town of Qusayr in the Homs province, a war monitor in the region has said.

This is a third Israeli strike against Hezbollah targets in Syria in about a week.

Israel killed eight pro-Iranian fighters in a strike in the Qusayr area, which is close to the Lebanese border on Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Another strike on May 18 targeted 'a Hezbollah commander and his companion' but no casualties were reported.

And on April 2, the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus was targeted -killing seven people including a top commander and his deputy.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow its arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence there.

The strikes have increased since Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip began on October 7.

Pictured: The aftermath of an Israeli missile attack on the Iranian embassy's consulate building in Damascus

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on buildings near the separating wall between Egypt and Rafah on May 7

Palestinians fleeing from Jabalia in the northern region pictured arriving in Gaza City May 24, 2024

The missile attack today comes as Israel also bombed the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, just one day after the top UN court ordered the IDF to halt its military operations in the southern city.

The bombing came as efforts got underway in Paris to seek a ceasefire in the war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanded the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants hours after the Israeli military announced troops had recovered the bodies of three more of the captives from northern Gaza.

The Hague-based court, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also ordered Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which it closed earlier this month at the start of its assault on the city.

Israel gave no indication it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting that the court had got it wrong.

'Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part,' National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a joint statement with Israel's foreign ministry spokesman.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, welcomed the ICJ ruling on Rafah but criticised its decision to exclude the rest of war-torn Gaza from the order.

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office this week said the war cabinet had asked the Israeli delegation 'to continue negotiations for the return of the hostages'.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip May 24, 2024

Israel has bombed the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, just one day after the top UN court ordered the IDF to halt its military operations in the southern city May 24, 2024

CIA chief Bill Burns was expected to meet Israeli representatives in Paris in a bid to relaunch negotiations, a Western source close to the issue said.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron received the prime minister of Qatar and the Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers on Friday 'to press for a ceasefire', according to Cairo.

The French presidency said they held talks on the Gaza war and ways to set up a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The five countries discussed 'the effective implementation of the two-state solution', it added.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken also spoke with Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz about new efforts to achieve a ceasefire and reopening of the Rafah border crossing as soon as possible, Washington said.

Palestinian witnesses reported Israeli strikes in Rafah and the central city of Deir al-Balah.

'We hope that the court's decision will put pressure on Israel to end this war of extermination, because there is nothing left here,' said Oum Mohammad Al-Ashqa, a Palestinian woman from Gaza City displaced to Deir al-Balah by the war.

'But Israel is a state that considers itself above the law. Therefore, I do not believe that the shooting or the war will stop other than by force,' said Mohammed Saleh, also in the central Gaza Strip city.

Israeli troops took over the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, further slowing sporadic deliveries of aid for Gaza's 2.4 million people.

In a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide, ICJ president Nawaf Salam delivered the ruling of the 15-strong panel of judges at The Hague

A lone demonstrator waves the Palestinian flag outside the Peace Palace, rear, housing the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague

Smoke rises during an Israeli air strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 24, 2024

But on Friday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi agreed in a call with his US counterpart Joe Biden to allow UN aid through the other entry point into southern Gaza, the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel, the White House said.

The US military has also installed a temporary jetty on the Gaza coast to receive aid by sea that a UN spokesman said had delivered 97 trucks of aid after 'a rocky start' a week ago.

The security and humanitarian situation in the territory remains alarming, with a risk of famine, hospitals out of service, and around 800,000 people, according to the United Nations, having fled Rafah in the last two weeks.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said the situation had reached 'a moment of clarity'.

'Aid workers and UN staff must be able to carry out their jobs in safety,' he posted on social media site X late Friday.

'At a time when the people of Gaza are staring down famine... it is more critical than ever to heed the calls made over the last seven months: Release the hostages. Agree a ceasefire. End this nightmare.'
Brad's boss claims it was a plot to extort money from his property firm

Weeks earlier he found bug in his rooms in their mansion in Greenwich, CT

A famous TV psychologist bugged her ex-husband's room to allegedly extort money from his property developer boss, he claims.

Judith Zackson, who has appeared on CNN, CBS, and Fox News and is worth $4.4 million, split from her husband Brad Zackson in May 2022.

From 2020, as their marriage collapsed, they were living in separate rooms in their $4 million, six-bedroom, 7.5-bath, 6,727sqft mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Brad only spotted the listening device in April 2022 when he saw a curious red light flashing in the bathroom ceiling. He filed for divorce within weeks.

Judith Zackson, who has appeared on CNN , CBS, and Fox News and is worth $4.4 million, split from her husband in May 2022

Her husband Brad Zackson only spotted the listening device in April 2022 when he saw a curious red light flashing in the bathroom ceiling. He filed for divorce within weeks

Judith admitted to the eavesdropping during divorce proceedings, which are still ongoing, and is accused of recording his business calls for up to two years.

Now Brad's boss, Dynamic Star chief executive Gary Segal, claims in a lawsuit that Judith's plan all along was to blackmail his property firm.

'Dynamic Star and Ms Zackson have no financial relationship. Dynamic Star is fighting an ongoing vindictive, ugly campaign being waged by an ex-wife of a principal. We are confident court will see the truth,' the company said.

The complaint filed by Dynamic and Segal in Manhattan Supreme Court claimed Judith joked about getting 'a big check from Uncle Gary'.

'Dr Zackson cynically and secretly invaded Dynamic as a ploy in defense of a divorce action in Connecticut... in an attempt to extort money from Dynamic or Gary,' it claimed.

Judith's lawyer argued the claims were meritless and she only recorded Brad to 'protect herself from her spouse'.

From 2020, as their marriage collapsed, they were living in separate rooms in their $4 million, six-bedroom, 7.5-bath, 6,727sqft mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut

Judith admitted to the eavesdropping during divorce proceedings, which are still ongoing, and is accused of recording his business calls for up to two years

The lawsuit claimed Judith hid recording devices in Brad's part of the mansion and recorded business calls in 2021 and 2022, and even put one in his car.

Dynamic is not seeking damages, just all copies of the recordings handed over to 'remove the threat to its existence'.

'Dr Zackson has been spying on Brad for years which means that Dr Zackson has been spying on [Dynamic] and its business affairs for years,' the lawsuit claimed.

Judith is claimed to have eavesdropped on calls between Brad and other Dynamic executives and its lawyers, as well as New York City officials and prospective investors.

'The scope of these transgressions is unknown. The number of recordings is unknown. The location of them is unknown. The disclosure or use of them is unknown,' the lawsuit claimed.

'Damages alone will not protect Dynamic. The business and real estate projects are or likely will be valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, well beyond the ability of Dr Zackson to answer in money damages.

'There is no way to calculate the damage that she can cause to interpersonal relationships and business opportunities.'

Dynamic's business includes the $2.5 billion Fordham Landing development in the Bronx, beside the Harlem River.

The lawsuit claimed Judith hid recording devices in Brad's part of the mansion and recorded business calls in 2021 and 2022, and even put one in his car

Dynamic's business includes the $2.5 billion Fordham Landing development in the Bronx, beside the Harlem River

However, the company is strapped for cash as its properties are 'underwater, and they could not refinance the debt due to the market', according to a Connecticut Superior Court document.

The filing claimed Brad couldn't afford to pay his legal fees as he was in $9 million debt, including $5.7 million to Segal, and hadn't filed a tax return since 2012.

Judith countered Dynamic's claim by arguing she never planned to extort money from Segal - she just needed it as insurance against Brad.

Brad was caught with a gun the same month he filed for divorce, which was illegal due to his 1983 felony convictions of robbery and criminal possession of a weapon in Nassau County.

He was also arrested twice in 2022 for breaching a restraining order.

'Mr Zackson has repeatedly violated a restraining order issued because of his abusive and threatening behavior, leading to two additional arrests,' Judith's lawyer told the New York Post.
This is the despicable moment a 16-year-old bike-riding yob snatches a mother's phone as she was taking pictures of her daughter in the street.

The video, from February 25, shows the mother standing just off the curb on the yellow line in the road as her daughter poses for photos before the boy rides up from behind her and swipes the phone from her hand.

This is the latest example of the phone snatching crime wave that is sweeping 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.

Have YOU had your phone snatched? Email freya.barnes@mailonline.co.uk

In the video the mother can be seen taking pictures of her daughter in the street

The boy is then seen riding up from behind her and swipes the phone from her hand

The mother and daughter stand there in shock for a moment before attempting to chase the boy

Despite both the Metropolitan and City of London police forces telling MailOnline it was tackling the crime spree head-on.

The 16-year-old phone thief was caught out by police officers in Bethnal Green when they saw him throw a phone as they stopped him for attempting to steal property.

He was arrested and the phone was brought back to the police station.

The savvy daughter set up an old iPhone to track the stolen phone and found it was at Bethnal Green Police Station. She went to pick it up but it was severely damaged from being launched by the phone snatcher.

The teenager pleaded guilty to phone theft at Stratford Magistrates Court on Tuesday 21 May.

He was electronically tagged and must remain at his home for four months between 7pm and 7am.

Police also excluded him from entering the City of London, Westminster, Kensington, Chelsea and Islington.

His parents or guardians were also ordered to pay 1,000 in compensation to the victim.

PC Monika Furmanska, from the City of London Police said: 'If you commit phone snatching in the City, you can expect to receive a robust response and expect the crime to be caught on our extensive network of cameras.

'In this instance it wasnt possible for the victims to receive their phone back in the condition it was stolen, but were pleased to see the court award compensation for the phones worth.

She added: 'Wed urge members of the public to be aware of their surroundings when using mobile phones on the streets. If you use your phone, stand away from the curb and where possible have your back against a wall or shop front.'



The City of London Police's targeted operation is disrupting phone snatching in the Square Mile.

The operation was started due to the worrying rise the force saw in phone snatching in 2022, which carried on into last and this year.

The force is even spraying criminals and their mopeds with a DNA spray in a bid to link them to crimes if they race away.

Shop owners suspected of buying stolen handsets have also been raided and the force has reintroduced a cycle team to help tackle phone snatchers.

The force has been seizing five illegal e-bikes and e-scooters every week that are known to be used by phone snatchers.
Two hundred people are feared dead after Russia bombed a superstore in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Six people have been confirmed dead so far after two guided bombs hit the DIY hypermarket in a residential area of the city, Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on national television.

At least two of the dead were store employees and forty people were injured, with at least three in serious condition.

Sixteen people were still unaccounted for, Syniehubov said.

It is estimated that there were around 200 people in the store when the bombs struck.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said: 'The attack targeted the shopping centre, where there were many people - this is clearly terrorism.'

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack yesterday - which sent a huge column of black smoke into the sky - as 'vile'.

Videos posted by witnesses on social media show a huge column of black smoke billowing into the sky from a fire in the store, located in an area of large stores beside a car park.

Two people have been killed and more than 20 injured after Russia bombed a superstore in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv

A firefighter tackles the blaze at a superstore in Kharkiv on Saturday

President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the attack - which sent a huge column of black smoke into the sky - as 'vile'

Rescuers, medics and journalists rushed away from the scene of both strikes and lay on their stomachs, fearing a second strike, as has occurred during several recent Russian attacks.

Witnesses described panicked scenes at the shopping centre.

Dmytro Syrotenko, 26, who had a large gash on his face, said: 'I was at my workplace. I heard the first hit and with my colleague, we fell to the ground. There was the second hit and we were covered with debris. Then we started to crawl to the higher ground.'

Syrotenko said he was taken to safety by a rescue worker who helped him, several colleagues, and shoppers.

Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, denounced the strike as 'yet another example of Russian madness. There is no other way to describe it.'

He added: 'When we tell world leaders that Ukraine needs sufficient air defences, when we say we need real decisive measures to enable us to protect our people, so that Russian terrorists cannot even approach our border, we are talking about not allowing strikes like this to happen.'

'As of now, we know that more than 200 people could have been inside the hypermarket,' Zelensky said on Telegram.

'Russia struck another brutal blow at our Kharkiv - at a construction hypermarket - on Saturday, right in the middle of the day,' he added.

'Only madmen like Putin are capable of killing and terrorising people in such a vile way.

'There were a lot of workers and shoppers inside. Now the fire is on the whole territory.'

French President Emmanuel Macron, writing on social media platform X, denounced the attack on the store as 'unacceptable.'

Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians, but thousands have been killed and injured during its 27-month invasion of Ukraine.

The city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest, regularly comes under attack from Russian missiles with strikes on the city killing at least seven people on Thursday.

The latest attack came after Russia launched a ground offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10.

Ukraine said on Friday that it had managed to halt Moscow's progress and was counterattacking.

Firefighters work at a site of a household item shopping mall hit by a Russian air strike

Around 200 people and 15 staff are believed to have been inside the Epitsentr hypermarket - which sells household and DIY goods - at the time of the attack

Videos posted by witnesses on social media show a huge column of black smoke billowing into the sky from a fire in the store

Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov said that according to the store's owner, they had lost contact with 15 store employees

The latest attack came after Russia launched a ground offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10

Ukraine said on Friday that it had managed to halt Moscow's progress and was counterattacking

On Saturday Russia shelled the village of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, a railway hub in the Kharkiv region near the border, wounding five, the regional prosecutor's office said in a statement.

It said that two vehicles came under fire: a car with two passengers and an ambulance with a driver, a paramedic and a 64-year-old patient.

Russia also carried out air strikes on the Kupiansk district, damaging a factory and residential buildings, the prosecutor's office said.

In the eastern Donetsk region, shelling on Saturday killed a 40-year-old woman and wounded four, said the head of the regional administration, Vadym Filashkin.

Russian forces also claimed yesterday it had captured another village in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

The Russian defence ministry said that troops had 'taken control of the village of Arkhangelske', located to the north of the city of Donetsk.

The city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest, regularly comes under attack from Russian missiles with strikes on the city killing at least seven people on Thursday

Russia currently occupies around 18 per cent of Ukraine, including Crimea which it annexed in 2014

The small frontline village is near the town of Ocheretyne, which Russia said it had captured early this month.

Ukraine's General Staff said on Saturday that Russian forces were 'particularly active' near the town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

It said six firefights were ongoing near the villages of Kalynove, Yasnobrodivka and Sokil, south of the village of Arkhangelske.

On Saturday, Ukraine said its forces had repelled two attacks in the Kharkiv region and fighting was continuing near the town of Vovchansk, which Moscow is attempting to seize.

Russia's defence ministry said its troops had fought off two counter-attacks near the border, one close to Vovchansk, which Moscow is attempting to seize.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the street in Mallorca this evening to protest against 'excessive tourism' which they blame for overwhelming the popular holiday island.

Protesters carrying banners with anti-tourism slogans and banging drums gathered at the Plaza de Espana in the centre of the capital Palma de Mallorca.

Police officers armed with batons and wearing stab proof vests surveilled the area as the demonstration from riot-protected police vans began at 7pm local time.

The city's main road was closed by authorities as the protesters marched around the old town. Onlookers applauded from the pavements as the demonstrators chanted for 'help'.

The Spaniards are calling for fewer holiday flights, a clampdown on cruise ships and the slashing in the number of rental cars available under the slogan; 'Mallorca is not for sale!'

Protesters left the march to confront foreigners and tell them to 'Go Home' as they watched the demonstration go past.

One woman in her 60's yelled: 'Foreigners Go home you are killing us! You are not dropping bombs but you are killing us with property speculation.'

People hold a banner that reads 'Mallorca is not for sale', as they take part in a protest against mass tourism and gentrification in the island

Locals held up placards reading 'SOS residents', claiming their lives have been severely impacted by tourism on the island

Police officers with riot gear watch on as the huge crowds of protesters, including children, march through the city

Protesters carrying banners with anti-tourism slogans and banging drums gathered in the capital Palma de Mallorca

 VIDEO | El clam Mallorca no es ven ja es fa sentir al Parc de les Estacionshttps://t.co/vz1f9wfZ7S pic.twitter.com/wa8KYoUK6b  Diari ARA Balears (@arabalears) May 25, 2024

People from all walks of life gathered to call for limits on the number of visitors which they accuse of ruining the lives of locals by inflating property prices, causing traffic jams and driving up the cost of living.Among the marchers are teachers, hotel workers, businessmen and retired people who have told how the huge number of visitors have ruined the once idyllic Spanish sun-spot, with one family forced to leave the island due to the spiralling cost of property.Today's march is the latest anti-tourism protest across Spanish territories, following demonstrations in the Canary Islands, Barcelona and neighbouring Ibiza.

Mother-of-three Patri Vecina told MailOnline: 'We have lived in the same rented house for ten years. But in December the owner told us that he was selling the property to foreigners and that we had to move out.

'I work in the hotel industry and my husband is a builder. We

cannot afford the inflated price of property in Mallorca so we were never able to buy our own home.

'Now we cannot afford to live in Mallorca anymore we are moving to Asturias in the north of Spain.

'It was our dream to bring up our children in Mallorca but that cannot happen.'

Patri and her husband were initially paying 500 per month (Euro 500) for the rural three-bedroom house in the centre of the island. This increased to 690 per month (Euro 750) before their landlord put the house up for sale.

The country house on the outskirts of the town of Sencelles is now for sale for 383,000 (Euro 450,000).

Thousands of protestors took to the street in Mallorca to demonstrate against the impact that 'excessive tourism' has had on the holiday island (file photo)

Demonstrators staged another protest against tourist overcrowding in Ibiza on Friday

Property prices in Mallorca have more than doubled in the past ten years, making the Balearic Islands the second most expensive region in Spain after Madrid.

In 2014 a typical 80 square metre home cost an average of 126,000 (Euros 147,000) but this has gone up 208 per cent to an average 263,000 (Euros 308,000), according to Spanish property website Fotocasa. Where as the national increase across the whole of Spain was 29 per cent during the same period.

The spike in the property prices has been fuelled by foreign investors, many of whom have turned family homes in tourist rental accommodation, local campaigners claim.

Laura Lau, of El Banc de temps Sencelles pressure group that coordinated the demonstration, told MailOnline: 'Houses and apartments that were family homes have been bought by foreign investors who rent them out to tourists and leave nothing for local people. This is why property prices in Mallorca have reached unaffordable levels.

'We need to make people aware of the problem of housing in Mallorca which already affects us all.

'Every day there is someone looking for new housing because their rent has gone up or they are kicked out of their home because it has been put up for sale to foreigners.

'Many of them are now leaving Mallorca because when they work and earn Euro 1,500 per month it is not enough to afford a home.

'We are in a housing emergency. The government needs to regulate the price of housing.

'There is no future for Mallorca if the island is solely for the benefit of property speculators.'

The average salary in Mallorca is about is about 1,277 (Euro 1,500) per month or 15,324 per year, although the island's minimum wage is just 965 (Euro 1,134) per month or 11,580 per year.

Teacher Marga Gari told how her children will never be able to afford to buy their own homes because of the spiralling cost of living.

Marga, 50, told MailOnline: 'Quite simply there are too many tourists. My children will never be able to buy their own homes because foreigners have pushed to price of property up.

'Everything is more expensive than it should be because of tourists  food in the market, clothes in stores, everything.

'You can hardly walk down the streets here in Palma because of the number of visitors.

'We do not blame the foreigners; we blame the government for letting things get this bad.

'There needs to be limits; limits on the number of planes, a limit of one cruise ship per day and a limit on the number of rental cars.'

Protestors in Ibiza hold up posters including one reading 'my lawyer lives in a rented car' during a rally against tourism on Friday

Ms Gari claims many items in Palma's historic Mercat de l'Olivar central food market are now beyond the reach of local people.

Her colleague Marta Cano, 40, told how she had to move home due to the spiralling cost of accommodation in the islands capital Palma.

She told MailOnline: 'The island is so crowded now, in the summer it's unbearable.

'I can no longer afford to live in the centre [of Palma] because tourists have pushed up the prices.

'There are traffic jams and the time, and the beaches are so crowded.

'There are people walking around the town with no shirts on. This is not the environment that I want my two-year-old daughter to grow up in.

'In the summer we leave the island. I cannot stand it. We go to the north of Spain where there are less people, where it more relaxed. '

Businessman Marc Rey told how he is forced live with his parents because of the cost of property.

Marc, 25, a financial consultant told MailOnline: 'I have a good job and I am paid well but I cannot afford to buy my own place. So I still live with my parents.

'I have nothing against foreigners but there needs to be a balance between the needs of the local people and the visitors who come here.'

Retired banker Pedro Torres claimed tourists were not solely to blame for the island being overwhelmed.

He said: 'In the past ten years some 200,000 people have moved to Mallorca. They are not all tourists, they are people from the mainland and South America. But together they create a big stress on our infrastructure.'

Nurse Catalina Estelrick added: 'We must limit the number of tourists coming to Mallorca. We are being overwhelmed. There are simply too many people.'
Four children are among dozens of people who died after a massive fire broke out in an amusement park in India.

The blaze, which happened on Saturday in Rajkot, Gujarat, in western India, claimed the lives of 27 people including the four children, who were all under the age of 12.

An investigation is underway to establish the cause of the fire and Mr Bhargava said police will file a case of negligence against the park owner.

Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said the fire was under control and the rescue operation underway with 27 bodies recovered. Police officer Vinayak Patel said it was difficult to identify the bodies.

Police said they have detained the owner and the manager of the amusement park for questioning as they launched an investigation in the cause.

The blaze, which happened on Saturday in Rajkot, Gujarat, in western India, claimed the lives of 27 people including the four children, who were all under the age of 12

Mr Patel said: 'So far we have confirmed the death of 27 persons in the fire incident.'

The park is usually packed with families with children enjoying the school summer vacation over the weekend.

Footage showed firefighters clearing debris around collapsed tin roof structures that media reports said were used for bowling, go-karting and trampoline attractions.

The amusement park was privately owned by Yuvraj Singh Solanki.

The park is usually packed with families with children enjoying the school summer vacation over the weekend

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X that he was 'extremely distressed by the fire in Rajkot'

Mr Bhargava said: 'We will be registering an offence for negligence and the deaths which have occurred.

'Further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operation.'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X that he was 'extremely distressed by the fire in Rajkot'.

He added: 'My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured.'
The family of a Heathrow baggage handler, who suffered brain damage after getting her scarf caught in machinery and being dragged along a conveyor belt, is taking legal action against her employers.

Jasbir Sahota, who has been working at the airport for 30 years, was left seriously injured after the accident on February 14.

The 52-year-old was unloading luggage from a Loganair flight arriving in the capital from Dundee when she got the item of clothing caught in the machine.

The incident caused disabling injuries, as well as brain damage, leaving Mrs Sahota in need of specialist care.

Now her family are demanding her employer Menzies, a global aviation services company, pay for her transfer from Hillingdon Hospital to Wellington Hospital - a private facility which provides the complex care Mrs Sahota requires.

Jasbir Sahota (pictured), who has been working at the airport for 30 years, was left seriously injured after an accident on a Heathrow conveyor belt on February 14

Her family is now taking legal action against her employers Menzies (pictured: her two children, Nina Haer and Harman Sahota, along with her brother-in-law Satti Heir)

Her two children, Nina Haer and Harman Sahota, along with brother-in-law Satti, told The Telegraph that the firm has been 'treating her like a number rather than a valued employee' and that they have been forced into legal action.

'Jaz deserves the best care and the best treatment and this just isn't available on the NHS,' said Satti . 'To stand a fighting chance of making any improvement she needs to be moved to the Wellington.

'Every day she stays at Hillingdon - and they are doing their best - it is a day we're losing her and that's awful.'

The family said that Menzies had offered to help them following the accident but that the only assistance they had received had been the company paying for taxis to and from the hospital.

They added that the firm had fallen out of contact with them and now rarely got in touch.

According to Nina, no one enjoyed their job more than Mrs Sahota, whose condition has also taken its toll on the people around her.

Financially, the cost of a transfer to Wellington would reach around 300,000 which is more than her family can afford.

Meanwhile, Harman, 24, has been forced to take time off work as a signal engineer with Network Rail for stress-related reasons.

The 52-year-old was unloading luggage from a Loganair flight arriving in the capital from Dundee when she got the item of clothing caught in the machine (Stock Photo)

Nina has also had to make adjustments, taking a less demanding position for a recruitment company near the family home in Hayes, west London.

Menzies was founded as a wholesaler and bookstall in Edinburgh by John Menzies in 1833 and now covers cargo handling, passenger services and ground operations at airports all over the world, pulling $2.2billion of revenue last year.

Lawyers for Mrs Sahota's family have found a number of causes which they say raise questions over Menzies' commitment to its employees' health and safety.

On Christmas Eve 2016, Rebecca Smith was injured when she fell through a gap in the railing on top of a luggage belt loader.

The incident occurred when the loader was hit by a moving vehicle and a Health and Safety Executive investigation into the incident found that the firm had foreseen the risk of a collision between such vehicles but had not acted to mitigate the risk of an error from the driver.

Menzies, who pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, was fined 181,500 with costs of 21,043.

That case came after the firm was fined 60,000 by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) after the death of Cesar Valenzuela, 51, who was thrown from a baggage cart at Los Angeles International Airport.

Mr Valenzuela was found to not have had a functioning seat belt.

Mrs Sahota's solicitors Fieldfisher are heading to court in the next few weeks to seek the disclosure of material that could help in a possible future negligence claim.

According to Nina, no one enjoyed their job more than Mrs Sahota, whose condition has also taken its toll on the people around her (pictured: Heathrow Terminal 2)

A Menzies spokesperson told MailOnline: 'An active investigation is underway following a serious incident involving a Menzies employee at Heathrow Airport earlier this year.

'As this is ongoing, we cannot provide any further detail at this time. Our thoughts are with our colleague and their family.'

Heathrow Airport declined to comment.
Rishi Sunak last night issued a General Election warning to Scottish voters as he declared that Sir Keir Starmer cannot be trusted to deny the SNP a second independence referendum.

In an impassioned message, the Prime Minister said: Keir Starmer is a threat to the Union I care so deeply about. He will say anything, and he will abandon anything, if he thinks that will help him to win power.

Asked in an exclusive interview with The Scottish Mail on Sunday whether he feared the Labour leader would change his mind and allow a second separation vote, Mr Sunak said: Hes changed his mind on almost any issue that you can pick, whether its gender recognition or being in favour of free movement. You just dont know what youre going to get.

On Friday, Sir Keir was at pains to reassure voters that he would not do a backroom deal with the SNP in the event of a hung parliament under any circumstances.

But Mr Sunak last night said: He doesnt have any convictions. I dont think people know what he thinks or believes. He has abandoned pretty much every single promise and pledge he made when he ran to be Labour leader.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer can't be trusted on the Union

So, I dont know why people wouldnt think, Well, why would he not just do exactly the same thing if he ever became Prime Minister?

Mr Sunak also set out why he is the only man to lead Scotland and the UK, highlighting how the Conservative government has delivered for Scots by cutting National Insurance contributions to counteract the SNPs swingeing tax thresholds, invested in green energy initiatives and freeports, and funnelled tens of millions of pounds directly to local authorities via levelling up funds.

He also committed his continued support to the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Mr Sunak angered some of his MPs when he called a snap election on Wednesday without their prior knowledge. But he insisted he had taken the step because the country had turned a corner after a difficult economic period.

He said: Now is the right moment to turn to the future and I want to deliver a secure future for this country. I can do that because Im prepared to take bold action and Ive got a clear plan.

Four recent polls suggest that Labour and the SNP will be the main parties fighting Scotlands Central Belt battleground and beyond. Labour is on course to win around 30 seats north of the Border, with Sir Keir believing his path to No10 runs through Scotland.

The Nationalists, however, are on far shakier ground as pollsters suggest they could return just 16 of their current 43 MPs.

By contrast, the Conservatives hold seven Scottish seats. But Mr Sunak appeared unfazed by his partys current hold in Scotland  and declared that he was the only person who could unequivocally support Scotlands place in the Union.

He added: I am absolutely committed to the Union, which I care very deeply about.

When my grandparents emigrated to our country they didnt actually emigrate to England, they emigrated to the United Kingdom.

And why? Because it wasnt just lines on the map. It wasnt geography. The UK represented a set of values and thats what attracted them here.

Its those values Im going to fight very hard to protect because those values unite us  the idea that anyone can come here, work hard, integrate, and one day end up as Prime Minister.

Thats what I believe, thats what Douglas Ross and the Conservatives believe. I dont think you will get that same conviction on our Union from any other party.

Launching Scottish Labours General Election campaign on Friday, Sir Keir said the SNP had lost any sense of ambition and that there was absolutely no deal with the SNP going into the election and no deal on the other side, under any circumstances.

He also insisted that there is no way an incoming Labour government could work in any way with the SNP, whose only ambition is to break up the United Kingdom.

That is despite the SNPs former leader, Humza Yousaf, signalling that the Nationalists were open to doing a deal with Sir Keir.

In November, The Mail on Sunday told how potential SNP candidates were being secretly screened to see if they would back a Labour Budget, even if Sir Keir refused to agree to a key Nationalist demand to scrap a cap on family benefits.

Mr Sunak stresses his support for the Union to Scottish Mail on Sunday political editor Georgia Edkins

It is a situation that worries Mr Sunak, fearing that a Labour government could not be trusted to turn down a deal with the SNP.

He also believes that it is not just his commitment to the Union, but his track record in supporting Scots during his premiership that should galvanise voters.

Labelling Scotland the highest taxed nation in the UK, he said that his Government had created an average tax cut of 900 for people.

He added that the freeports he created in conjunction with the Scottish Government were attracting international investment, creating jobs and opportunity for young people in the industries of the future, and said the UK Governments levelling up funds had seen billions of pounds worth of investment into Scottish communities.

Mr Sunak said: Id also point to our support for Scotlands energy industry which I have unequivocally backed, as have Douglas Ross and the Scottish Conservatives.

You cant say that for the SNP, who have been all over the place on it and you certainly cant say that for Labour, who want to ban North Sea oil and gas.

I support that industry because its good for Scotlands economy, good for jobs, but its also good for our countrys energy security.

In a final salvo towards Sir Keir, Mr Sunak said: Ive got a very clear plan. Im prepared to do bold things because thats what the situation demands. Thats why I can offer people a secure future. Keir Starmer could not do that.
He was described as charismatic with a great sense of humor by people

America's most arrested man who has spent thousands of days in jail has died at the age of 74.

Henry Earl from Lexington, Kentucky, who was arrested more than 1,500 times in his career of criminality, was buried at the Owenton Cemetery last week.

His epic law-unabiding - mostly public intoxication - made the homeless man nicknamed 'James Brown' and something of a legend in his city.

He had spent the final years of his life in obscurity at the Owenton Healthcare and Rehabilitation Facility.

Henry Earl, who has been dubbed as 'America's most arrested man' for spending thousands of days in jail died at the age of 74 last week

Since Earl had no known family, employees at the facility were in attendance at the ceremony.

Earl, who started drinking at the age of 18 after his adoptive mother died and began his career of criminality in the 1970s at the age of 20, was described as a charismatic with a great sense of humor.

'He was a character, he had a wonderful sense of humor,' said Ginny Ramsey, founder of Lexington's Catholic Action Center, who knew him for decades.

She also described him as gentle soul with a free spirit.

'We'd say now Henry Earl, you need to be in by 9:30 or 10 o'clock. The weekends you can stay out till 11. Well, he tried, but wasn't quite ready.

'When we wouldn't see Henry Earl for awhile, everyone would get concerned, we thought he'd die in the streets. He didn't die in the streets,' she told LEX18.

Earl, who started drinking at the age of 18 after his adoptive mother died and began his career of criminality in the 1970s at the age of 20, was described as a charismatic with a great sense of humor

The man with many mugshots: Earl never takes the same mugshot twice, as evidenced in the above collage from just a few of his arrests in Kentucky

Two of the Owenton Facility's employees who cared for Earl in his final days and attended the ceremony described him as pleasant man who tried to make people laugh.

Kirsten Dempsey told the channel 'he was a very pleasant man, always a good time, always tried to make people laugh' while Charlotte Woods joked 'you could ask him "what's your name?" and he'd say James Brown'.

Earl's arrest history goes as far back as July 1970 when he was in his twenties for carrying a concealed weapon, according to The Smoking Gun, which has followed his career. He would go on to be arrested 33 more times that decade.

Since then, Earl has been gradually increasing his frequency of arrests.
The MPs wife who was a victim of the Baby Reindeer stalker last night said she is considering legal action against Fiona Harvey after her TV interview with Piers Morgan.

Laura Wray, 62, is threatening to sue after Ms Harvey made claims on the show  watched by 13 million  that she was harassed by HER.

It comes after Mrs Wray told The Mail on Sunday that she was plagued by Ms Harvey for four years, which resulted in a court order being granted at Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2002.

Mrs Wray  the widow of former Labour MP Jimmy Wray  said Ms Harvey made damaging statements during the Piers Morgan interview.

On the show, Ms Harvey denied being sacked by Mrs Wray after being given a two-week trial at her law firm in 1997 and claimed she was the one who took a court order out against Mrs Wray.

Last night Mrs Wray said: I felt I was defamed by Ms Harvey on Piers Morgans show. Many of the things she said were completely and utterly wrong and I would really like to set the record straight. Now Im giving consideration to the possibility of raising an action for defamation against Miss Harvey.

Laura Wray  the widow of former Labour MP Jimmy Wray  is threatening to sue after Fiona Harvey made claims that she was harassed by HER

Ms Harvey alongside interviewer Piers Morgan

Last month The Mail on Sunday told how Mrs Wray was shocked to see her stalker portrayed in the character Martha on the hit Netflix show Baby Reindeer.

The series  which has amassed more than 22 million viewers in 30 countries  is based on the real-life experience of Scots comedian Richard Gadd, who plays Donny Dunn.

In the first episode, Martha walks into the pub where he works and boasts of being a hotshot lawyer though, inexplicably, a broke one. Taking pity, he makes her a cup of tea. So begins the start of a terrifying obsession.

Soon Martha is emailing Gadd hundreds of times a day, turning up outside his house and harassing his family and friends. Over four-and-a-half years, Gadd says he received 41,071 emails, 744 tweets, letters totalling 106 pages and 350 hours of voicemail messages.

The series also hints at Marthas previous history of stalking. Gadds character searches her name online and finds a newspaper article  fictionalised for the show  with the headline: Sick stalker targets barristers deaf child.

Martha face to face with her victim in the Netflix series Baby Reindeer

This barrister is Mrs Wray, an advocate in Scotland whose family  including her severely disabled son Frankie  was targeted during the stalking campaign.

The final straw for her came in 2002 when she and her husband were accused by Ms Harvey of assaulting three-year-old Frankie, who was born with a rare chromosomal disorder. Mrs Wray then secured an interim interdict in court which prevented Ms Harvey from further harassing her.

Originally a solicitor, Mrs Wray first encountered Ms Harvey  who was a law graduate known as Fiona Muir from a middle-class family  in 1997 when she was persuaded to employ her for a short trial at her law firm in Glasgow. Mrs Wray was forced to sack Ms Harvey who went on to stalk and harass her.

The solicitor was granted an interim interdict in 2002 and this newspaper has seen documents detailing the reasons Mrs Wray asked the courts to intervene.

They included having to issue her staff with panic alarms for fear they would be attacked by Ms Harvey, being stared at in the street, being intimidated at a university course that Ms Harvey repeatedly turned up to and reporting Mrs Wray to social work for allegedly harming her son.

Confirmation from Mrs Wrays lawyers at Glasgow firm Drummond Miller saying the interim interdict was granted at the local sheriff court has also been seen by this newspaper.

Ms Harvey told Mr Morgan she walked from the law firm after being head-hunted.

She [Mrs Wray] messed up because I went into the Court of Session, the high court in Edinburgh to get country-wide interdicts and an injunction in Scotland and England because I was going to move to London anyway, she said.

Ms Harvey went on to brand it nonsense that an interim interdict was granted, claiming paperwork wasnt filled in properly.

Last night Mrs Wray added: What she said is wrong and has been heard by millions of people. Its inaccurate and untrue.
PlayStation's head of Product Asad Qizilbash revealed that AI plays an important factor in developing games with personalization for Gen Z and Gen Alpha players.

Qizilbash shared his thoughts on the controversial topic of AI utilization in video games, citing that personalization relies upon such advanced technology.

Read Also : Sony Music Claims Tech Companies Use Unauthorized Content for AI Training

PlayStation Exec Reveals Gen Z, Alpha Gamers Want More Personalization Features

In an interview with Sony, the executive detailed that Gen Z and Gen Alpha gamers seek more personalization as they grow up exposed to the digital world. Gen Zs are people who are born from 1997 to 2011 while Gen Alpha are born from 2010 to 2024.

"Advancements in AI will create more personalized experiences and meaningful stories for consumers," said Qizilbash. He also added that gamers today seek a more fun interaction with NPCs, which is only possible through personalization.

Like any other industry, video game companies have been struggling to create a proper balance in using AI for their upcoming titles. Some companies faced scrutiny for alleged usage of AI amid early commitment to avoid the technology.

Video Game Companies Seek Balance on AI Use

AI has been particularly popular in different fields. As for Sony, the company was previously reported for exploring the use of AI to create an accessible gaming method for visually impaired people.

Companies like Embark Studios were criticized for using AI voiceovers. The company argued that they had no intention to create games without actors, citing that they mixed recorded audio voices and AI-generated audio.

There are also several instances where gaming studios were caught using AI-generated images for their promotional posters. Eagle-eyed fans are also always quick to notice abnormalities on social media posts.

As for Qizilbash, Gen Z and Gen Alpha could be more forgiving on the usage of AI as these gamers grew up to a more advanced technology, hinting at Sony's possible move towards AI in the future.
The Royal Air Force has confirmed that a Spitfire pilot has died in a crash during a Battle of Britain event near RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

'It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today,' it said in a statement. 'The pilot's family have been informed and we ask that privacy is respected at this difficult time.'

Tributes have poured in for the pilot, who has not yet been named, including from prime minister Rishi Sunak, who wrote on X: 'Awful news to see the life of a serving RAF pilot cut short in this tragic event. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'deeply saddened' by the news, and thanked the emergency services for their response, adding 'my thoughts are with the pilot's family at this awful time.'

Lincolnshire Police said the pilot was a man and was the sole occupant of the aircraft, which crashed into a field on Langrick Road at around 1.20pm.

A Spitfire crashed in a field during a Battle of Britain event at RAF Coningsby just before 1.20pm

Emergency services arrived following reports of a crash of a single-occupant aircraft in a field on Langrick Road (stock image)

Emergency services arrived following reports of the crash, with fire crews from Horncastle, Woodhall Spa, a rescue team from Louth, as well as a helicopter all attending the scene.

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said earlier: 'Emergency services are in attendance following reports of an aircraft crashing in a field just before 1.20pm

'It is believed to be a single occupant aircraft and nobody else is thought to have been involved.

'Road closures are in place in the areas of Dogdyke Road and Sandy Bank.'

The RAF published a statement via X, which read: 'We are aware of an incident in the vicinity of RAF Coningsby involving an RAF aircraft.

'We are working with the emergency services and supporting those involved.'

The authorities asked motorists to avoid the area and seek other routes for their journeys.

According to GloucestershireLive , it was a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft that was previously utilised both before and after World War II.

The aircraft was designed by R. J. Mitchell, and was famed for its role during the Battle of Britain.

Its unique elliptical wings allowed for a perfect partnership of power and speed whilst mid-air.

The location where the Spitfire crashed in a field on on Langrick Road at RAF Coningsby

Exactly 20.531 Spitfires were constructed between 1939 and 1948, with many varying in roles and engine types.

It is thought that there are about 60 Spitfires that are currently in use dotted around the globe.

Several others are also kept in museums, private collections as well displays, bringing the total number of Spitfires up to an estimated 240.

Police have requested for anyone with information to contact them by calling 101, and quoting 221 of May 25 2024.
Tourists flocking to the south coast to take in some sun are taking their lives in their hands while lurking perilously close to crumbling cliff edges.

Pictures show visitors walking and dangling their feet on the edge of a steep drop at Birling Gap near Beachy Head in East Sussex.

It comes after two cliffs recently collapsed at Seaford Head and Peacehaven in the space of two weeks earlier this month.

Local councils and lifeguards are warning people of the risks posed by unstable chalk cliffs, which are liable to give way suddenly.

Britons flocked to beaches on Saturday amid lashings of sunshine and temperatures of 21C in the South.

Tourists were pictured dangling their legs on the edge of steep cliffs at Birling Gap, east Sussex as councils and lifeguards warned of collapsing edges

A woman in a summery patterned dress walks by the side of the steep cliffs at Beachy Head

The cliffs at Birling Gap rise to over 162 metres above sea level

A spokesperson for HMS Coastguard said: 'The cliffs can be unstable in places. We urge visitors to be responsible and stay safe, by keeping away from the edge of the cliffs.

The steep edges at Beachy Head, a notorious spot for suicides, rise to 162 metres above sea level.

Previous pictures have shown tourists casually smoking cigarettes while dangling on the edge of the crumbling cliffs, apparently unaware of the potential dangers.

At Easter, a 30ft pile of rock collapsed at a section of a 150million-year-old cliff at West Bay in Dorset, as families were taking a walk along the coast.

Studies carried out by the National Trust showed the cliff edge at Birling Gap would be likely to recede by as much as 25-30m (82-98ft) by 2036.

The charity advises visitors to stay 5m away from the both the edge and base of the Seven Sisters Chalk Cliffs.

It says: 'Our white cliffs are beautiful but also very fragile. They may appear safe to stand on, but chalk is a soft rock that can be become unstable through heavy rain, frost, sun or undercut by wind and wave action.

'The sea comes in and out twice a day and often reaches the base of the cliffs. Make sure you can always safely exit the beach keeping platform steps in sight.'

Visitors have been urged to stay safe by avoiding cliff edges, especially those made of chalk, which are susceptible to collapsing

A section of cliff at Dorset's West Bay collapsed at Easter while families were taking a stroll

The shocking picture shows the man sat down casually puffing on cigarette while on the edge of a sheer 400ft drop

The erosion is so rapid that part of the historic Birling Gap Hotel, dating back to the 1870s, is currently being demolished to be rebuilt further the cliff edge.

The hotel is just five yards from collapsing into the Channel and was used as a cafe and visitor centre for the National Trust.

A South Korean student died at the spot in 2017 after slipping off the edge of the precarious cliffs while jumping in the air for a photograph.

Photos on Hyewon Kim's mobile phone showed her standing with her back to the cliffs as she posed for pictures. The 23-year-old student suffered catastrophic injuries from her fall.
A father who's son was killed alongside his wife while working as missionaries in Haiti has revealed details about the young couple's final moments.

Davy Lloyd and his wife Natalie Lloyd were killed alongside Judes Montis after being attacked by gangs in the crisis hit capital Port-au-Prince on Thursday.

Davy's father David established the mission the three had been working for and has now revealed further details about what happened to them.

The country has descended into chaos after attacks in February when gunman seized control of police stations and attacked the airport in the capital.

Speaking to The Miami Herald, Lloyd said that two gangs had stormed the mission property, the first making off with goods, and the second group killing the three.

He told the outlet that gang members first went onto the mission's property just as Natalie and Davy were coming out of church with several youths.

The couple had been working for Missions in Haiti who shared an update on what had happened to the couple on social media

Images shared on their social media show the couple helping out at a children's home

Lloyd, 48, said: 'They drove him into the house, tied him up and beat him. Then they proceeded to loot the whole house, everything they wanted and took my trucks and drove off with them.

After that gang left, fellow staff and children untied Davy and he headed to his parents' property to call them.

On the way, him and Natalie met up with Montis, the director of the nonprofit when another group of gunmen stormed the property.

Lloyd said that what happened next was 'immense panic' with the children at the mission using ladders to climb over walls and escape.

'I was on the phone with my son when that was going down. He said, "Dad, we got a commotion again. Ive got to go see whats going on", Lloyd said.

The three barricaded themselves into his parents' home on the property before gang members made their way inside.

Despite their attempts, Lloyd said the gang members made their way inside and killed the three of them before setting fire to their bodies.

Lloyd is now tasked with having to get their bodies and have them sent to a morgue, he confirmed.

The three barricaded themselves into his parents' home on the property before gang members made their way inside

Members of the Haitian armed forces patrol the streets in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, May 11, 2024

A protester reacts while tires burn in the street during a demonstration following the resignation of its Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 12, 2024

He added: 'Im just at a total loss, Im just in total shock. I havent grieved. I havent done anything else. I havent eaten. I cant think.

Him and his wife Alicia founded the group Missions in Haiti in 2000 and brought their son up in the country.

He added: 'Creole is his first language and Haiti has his heart', recalling how his son left Haiti for bible college in the US he 'told basically all the girls there, Dont even talk to me if youre not willing to live in Haiti the rest of your life, cause thats my home.'

The three had been ambushed by gunmen belonging to the Terre Nwa/Terre Noire, Lloyd told the outlet.

The gang is lead by Cathel Jones, an ally of the G9 gang federation headed by former cop Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier.

Workers who pulled their bodies from the home told the Herald that Natalies body was not burned and Davy appeared to have been pulled out before his body was completely charred.

Natalie's father is Missouri politician Ben Baker who shared an emotional statement on his social media after learning of the couples passing.

He said: 'My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. Ive never felt this kind of pain.

'Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti.

The couple are said to have been using starlink internet to call for help and were holed up inside a property

Natalie's father is Missouri politician Ben Baker, seen here with the couple, shared an emotional statement on his social media after learning of the couples passing

'They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to Heaven together.'

Baker added: 'Please pray for my family we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well. I have no other words for now.'

Former president Donald Trump shared a post to his Truth Social page about the couple, saying: 'God bless Davy and Natalie. Such a tragedy. Haiti is totally out of control. Find the killers NOW!!!'

Missions in Haiti runs a school for 450 children alongside two churches and a children's home in the Bon Repos neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.

Gangs control 80 per cent of Port-au-Prince, and the coordinated attacks paralyzed the capital and beyond.

Gangs have burned police stations and hospitals, opened fire on the main international airport and stormed Haiti's two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.

The attack on the airport left former prime minister Ariel Henry locked out of Haiti since he was on an official trip to Kenya at the time.

He has since resigned, and a transitional presidential council is seeking a new prime minister for Haiti. It is also tasked with selecting a new Cabinet and organizing general elections.

Gangs since then have directed their attacks on previously peaceful communities, leaving thousands homeless.

A police officer sits inside his vehicle with a windshield damaged by bullet holes, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, May 11, 2024

Motorists pass by a burning barricade during a protest after an escalation in violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 7, 2024

More than 2,500 people have been killed or injured in Haiti from January to March, a more than 50% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the United Nations.

After months of being inactive, the main international airport reopened for the first time earlier this week.

The reopening of the Toussaint-Louverture airport in the capital of Port-au-Prince is expected to help ease a critical shortage of medications and other basic supplies since the countrys main seaport remains paralyzed.

Only Sunrise Airways  a local carrier, is flying in and out of Port-au-Prince for now. US-based airlines are not expected to start doing so until late May or early June.

The US evacuated hundreds of its citizens by helicopter out of a hilly neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, as did non-profit organizations, as gangs laid siege to parts of the capital.
A mother whose five-year-old son's body was found stuffed in a suitcase hid for a year in an apartment, unnerving her neighbors.

Dejaune Anderson, 38, spent two years on the run until her arrest at a train station in Arcadia, California, on March 14 and now faces murder charges in Salem, Indiana.

Her son Cairo Jordan was found dead inside a Welcome to Las Vegas suitcase in woods in rural Washington County on April 16, 2022, sparking a search.

For some of her time on the run, Anderson was holed up in a 440sqft North Hollywood apartment claiming to be a 19-year-old girl.

Dejaune Anderson, 38, spent two years on the run until her arrest at a train station in Arcadia, California , on March 14 and now faces murder charges in Salem, Indiana

Her son Cairo Jordan (pictured) was found dead inside a suitcase in woods in rural Washington County, sparking a search for Anderson

After a year of freaking out her neighbors and building manager with weird noises, conspiracy theories, and stories of poisoned food, the owner got a call from police.

'We think this woman is wanted for murder in Indiana,' the LAPD officer said, the owner told the LA Times. Later that day they finally caught her.

The officer had asked him about a phone number they were monitoring, and he told them it belonged to his tenant, and man named Eric Porter.

'But I don't talk to him anymore. I talk to Olla, his daughter,' he said.

'Olla' was actually Anderson and despite being 38 was posing as the teenager daughter of the unknown 'Porter' who took out the lease.

Despite saying she would only be there sometimes, no one ever saw Porter again and only heard from Anderson - and what they heard unnerved them.

Hours before the police called, he told Anderson he needed to speak to her 'father' and she was making too much noise inside her apartment.

'You don't know who I am. I'm Donald Trump's first cousin. I saved him from an assassination attempt. You can call the White House,' she replied.

This was just the last of many bizarre claims she made while living there, some of the most deranged being two days earlier.

The building's manager was increasingly concerned about her mental well-being, starting with her putting black tint on her windows so no one could see in.

Anderson is accused of packing her son's body into this suitcase before dumping it in a wooded area in Indiana

Her erratic behavior escalated into an argument about the smell of her smoking marijuana in her bathroom where she threatened to kill him,

But the situation got really out of control on March 9 when he got an alarming text.

'I got the neighbors upstairs... trying to kill me because i reported them to the cartel that they killed this leader son girl and daughter and ate the baby. but i cant reach them,' it read.

He replied asking what he could do, but got no reply until Anderson started incoherently shrieking like she was trying to summon a demon, with a neighbor also hearing banging coming form the walls and ceiling.

The manager called Anderson to tell her to cut it out, but she hysterically told him her upstairs neighbor was poisoning her food and leaving it all over her bathroom and ceiling, he told the LA Times.

Someone had eaten a baby outside her door, and a spirit was hiding in her closet, she claimed, urging him to come see for himself.

But when the manager said he would call the police, she calmed down and said not to worry. Just a few days later she was arrested.

Anderson's unhinged outbursts did not quiet down after she was extradited to Indiana to face murder charges.

She made several wild claims during a court appearance last Tuesday including that she was a sovereign citizen, is part of several other investigations, and is, in fact, a princess.

The claims - which include that she's being tracked by the US Space Force - raise doubts whether she can stand trial.

But she insisted on representing herself.

'You're known as Dejaune Anderson,' said Washington County Judge Larry Medlock, before warning the woman that representing herself could

'I'm representing the entity of Dejaune Anderson,' she replied, wide-eyed and smiling.

'My name is Princess Khalfia Atonte Pape the second representing the entity Dejuan Anderson.'

The jurist went on to ask her if her decision was because she couldn't afford a lawyer, to which she responded she could

'It's not that I can't afford a lawyer,' she said during what amounted to a 15-minute hearing. 'I understand the nature of my case, and I understand this is my life on the line.'

Asked for her date of birth, Anderson claimed to be over 60, telling the jurist: 'My date of birth is February 2nd 1961.'

'That would make you how old?' Medlock asked.

'That would make me 63 years old,' Anderson replied, providing the accurate figure.

When asked for the the last four digits of her social security number, Anderson said she didn't have one - another erroneous claim.

The claims - which include that she's being tracked by the US Space Force - raise doubts whether she can stand trial

Washington County Judge Larry Medlock ultimately decided to hold Anderson in a Washington County jail without bond - a decision that upheld prosecutors' previous demands

As he delivered that decision, he appeared to offer a slight dig at the accused, telling her, 'If Space Force comes forward and tells me they're willing to monitor you, we'll take up the issue of bond at a later time'

Instead, she she recited a United Nations declaration - before again asking to represent herself in upcoming proceedings.

'I do not have a social security number,' she said. 'I have a declaration of nationality.'

She then claimed a Space Force military detail has been following her every move - an assertion offered in the form of a formal objection.

'The basis of my objection is the fact that I am not a fugitive,' she said, explaining why she had just interrupted the proceedings.

'I've been under NSA surveillance for the past eight months. How can that qualify me as a fugitive on the run, when I've also had a detail from Space Force that was following my every move?'

Before she could finish, a visibly fed-up Medlock cut her off - before explaining how her argument isn't a valid legal objection.

'If you want to represent yourself, you're gonna have to learn the rules of evidence, the rules of procedure,' he said.

Anderson was arrested Thursday in Arcadia, California - outside Los Angeles - on the two-year-old murder warrant

An autopsy revealed that the young boy died from an electrolyte imbalance caused by dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea, a week before his body was found crammed in a suitcase

'Because if you conduct yourself like this and make these types of objections, you have no chance in the world, lady.'

By the end of the 15 minutes, Medlock appeared to have had enough.

He ultimately decided to hold Anderson in a Washington County jail without bond - upholding prosecutors' previous demands.

As he delivered that decision, he appeared to offer a slight dig at the accused, telling her, 'If Space Force comes forward and tells me they're willing to monitor you, we'll take up the issue of bond at a later time,'

Before she could be taken out of the courtroom, though, he stopped her and ordered a public defender be assigned to her case - insisting it was just in case she fails to demonstrate the cognizance to be her own counsel.

'If she files a written request that demonstrates that she has the ability to understand, comprehend, and represent herself, I may ask them to withdrawal or no longer require their services,' he said.

'[B]ut I think it's appropriate that someone from the public defender's office be assigned at this time.'

Before her son's death, Anderson contacted a priest, claiming that her son was '100 years old' and had launched 'death attacks' against her

Cairo's body was found inside trash bags, stuffed inside a suitcase, and dumped in woods, eventually leading cops to Anderson's accomplice Dawn Coleman, 41, who in November received a sentence of 30 years, with five years of suspended probation.

She was charged with aiding, inducing or causing murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice.

Both women posted extensively to social media referencing demons and exorcism, with Anderson even reaching out to Fr. Vincent Lampert, priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, to tell him that her son was possessed.

'I have survived the death attacks from my 5-year-old throughout the 5 years he has been alive,' she wrote in a tweet.

'I have been able to weaken his powers through our blood. I have his real name and he is 100 years old. Need assistance.'

As part of a plea deal, Coleman - who billed herself as a spiritual healer on social media by the name of 'Mama Gawd' - admitted to walking into a bedroom of Anderson's home where she witnessed the mom lying on top of her son, who was face down on the bed with his face into the mattress, cops said.

Coleman told police 'it was already done,' when she walked in, and that Anderson had only asked her to help put Cairo in a trash bag and then into the suitcase.

Cops have already cuffed and charged accomplice Dawn Coleman, 40, who helped pack up the child's corpse. She billed herself as a spiritual healer on social media by the name of 'Mama Gawd'

'You packaged Cairo like trash,' Judge Larry Medlock said. 'He was an innocent little boy who wanted to be loved'

THE SOVEREIGN CITIZEN MOVEMENT? CONSPIRACY THEORISTS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN RULE OF LAW 'Sovereign citizens' do not believe they are bound by federal or state law, or have to comply with any type of law enforcement. Many often do not believe that they are required to pay taxes either. The FBI considers the group to be an extremist organization. Well-known members include Terry Nichols, the Oklahoma City bomber. In 2010, two sovereign citizens shot and killed two police officers after being pulled over in Arkansas. 'Sovereign citizens do not represent an anarchist group, nor are they a militia, although they sometimes use or buy illegal weapons. Rather, they operate as individuals without established leadership and only come together in loosely affiliated groups to train, help each other with paperwork, or socialize and talk about their ideology,' a 2011 FBI paper on the group reads. Many do not think they are bound by taxes, so often do not pay those. 'They often will not pay taxes; that is pretty standard across the board, many will not pay their car registration, they won't get car insurance, they don't get licenses of any kind,' Rachel Goldwasser of the Southern Poverty Law Center told FOX News. The movement is based on a decades old conspiracy theory that the government was replaced secretly, and that the real government follows admiralty law. Advertisement

Prosecutors said the two women then drove to an area outside of Pekin, and dumped the suitcase roughly a week before it was found by a local mushroom hunter.

An autopsy found that Cairo died from vomiting and diarrhea that led to his dehydration, ISP said, confirming the boy had died about a week or less before the hunter discovered his body.

Appearing in the same Washington Circuit Court in Salem, Indiana Anderson was extradited, Coleman pleaded guilty as part of a bargaining agreement.

'You packaged Cairo like trash,' Judge Larry Medlock said. 'He was an innocent little boy who wanted to be loved.'

'Sovereign citizens' - the defense Anderson on Tuesday turned to - do not believe they are bound by federal or state law, or have to comply with any type of law enforcement.

Many often do not believe that they are required to pay taxes either. The FBI considers the group to be an extremist organization.

Well-known members include Terry Nichols, the Oklahoma City bomber, while unproven proponents include the grandfather who fought Pittsburgh police over his impending house eviction with a six-hour gun battle this past August,

A police source named the man as William Bill Hardison, 63, who he said was both a veteran and 'Sovereign Citizen'.

The man died, and relatives said the house on Broad Street in Garfield had been owned by his recently deceased brother

He was said to have been well stocked with firearms and ammunition, which led to up to 100 rounds being exchanged between him and law enforcement.

His son, who is also named William Hardison, was at the scene and pleaded with his father to end the standoff.

'Dad, please surrender. Please give up,' he said. 'You have children and grandchildren that love you dearly. Please stand down.'

A woman identifying herself as the man's sister added: 'He's a good man, he's just lost his brother and he was in the service.'
The SNP is set to perform an embarrassing climbdown over its shambolic ban on woodburning stoves, The Scottish Mail on Sunday can disclose.

In an apparent attempt to lure rural voters back into the fold ahead of the General Election, the SNP last night committed to reviewing the laws, proposed while the Nationalists were entangled in the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens.

Since April, housebuilders have been prevented from installing log burners in new-build homes as a main source of heating and must instead link them up with heat pumps or heat networks.

Supporters of the ban argued that woodburners contribute around one-fifth of Scotlands carbon emissions.

The move sparked fury among rural and island constituents, many of whom do not have access to a mains gas supply and instead rely on logburners for efficient heating.

The SNP's ban on woodburning stoves caused fury among rural and island constituents

One vocal critic of the plans was Kate Forbes  now Deputy First Minister  who responded to the legislation by seeking urgent clarification from her party as to how the laws would impact rural communities.

In a newly published Highland newsletter  written by Ms Forbes before taking up the second highest office in the government  she even admitted many of her partys rural policies had gone down like a lead balloon in the north.

She also branded the logburner ban the straw that broke the camels back.

In a stinging assessment of the situation, she wrote: No government has ever bothered to install mains gas in many communities.

'Connecting new builds to electricity often costs tens of thousands of pounds, with lengthy delays.

In these same communities, weve seen increasing numbers of prolonged power cuts in the last few years. In some cases, these have lasted days.

I know of several householders, often older residents, who have unblocked chimneys and installed woodburners precisely because of the lack of resilience in the energy system.

Kate Forbes blasted the ban in a newsletter article

Just days after the article was published, Ms Forbes was installed as John Swinneys deputy.

While she must now abide by collective responsibility and toe the party line, it appears that she has leveraged her key standing in rural communities to force a rethink over the SNPs more out-of-touch eco policies.

Speaking to The Scottish Mail on Sunday, Ms Forbes confirmed a review of the hated woodburning stove ban was under way.

She added: We are reviewing a whole host of different policy areas to ensure that they resonate with the publics priorities. Reflecting on the scathing article she wrote, Ms Forbes said: What I was highlighting is the fact that often people in the Highlands feel forgotten about when it comes to the big decisions that are made at Westminster, around energy and so on.

But for the Scottish Government, we need to look carefully at what more we can do.

Now there has been a change in leadership over the last few weeks and I understand very, very starkly why people would be concerned for example, around a ban on woodburning stoves in new properties, particularly because its a dependable source.

And these are issues that are all being considered by the new leadership and my commitment is to take my intimate understanding of rural Scotland into the very heart of government.

My hope will be that you see, in our manifesto, some clear messages of unity, hope and change that will inspire voters and reassure them that SNP MPs will continue to stand up for Scotland.
A mass parachute drop over Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day has been saved after The Mail on Sunday exposed last week how the RAF was being given just one plane for the event.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed last night that four giant Airbus A400M transport planes will now take part on June 5.

The about-turn will enable 450 British paratroopers to play a full part in saluting the famous drop behind enemy lines in 1944 that marked the start of the invasion of Nazi-occupied France.

A source said that overall, the Paras would have 450 soldiers ready to take part, with 250 from the Parachute Regiment and others drawn from airborne units within 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team (stock photo)

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps (pictured) confirmed last night that four giant Airbus A400M transport planes will now take part on June 5

Troops from the 48th Royal Marines at Saint-Aubin-sur-mer on Juno Beach, Normandy, June 6

Sherman tanks of 'B' Squadron, 13/18th Royal Hussars, and men of No 4 Army Commando advancing towards Ouistreham, 6 June 1944

Last night Mr Shapps commended this newspaper for exposing the decision to allocate just one of the transport planes.

He said: 'Decisions surrounding the details of this important commemoration had not been brought to me as Secretary of State, so I commend The Mail on Sunday's role in highlighting the issue.

'The moment I was alerted, I was determined to remedy the situation. This D-Day commemoration is especially important as it's the 80th anniversary and sadly, this will probably be our last opportunity to do this on a large scale.

'If we fail to remember the past, we run the risk of history repeating itself. So I had no hesitation in ordering an appropriate response.'

King Charles, who completed the Army's parachute training course on being appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment in 1977, is set to join President Joe Biden and the remaining D-Day veterans at the commemoration.

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood commended Mr Shapps for 'stepping in so quickly and taking the bull by the horns'

The British paratroopers will drop from the sky over Normandy on June 5 in tribute to the 18,000 men from Allied forces who landed there shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944. Dome parachute drop from C-130 Hercules transport aircraft as part of the D day 100 commemorations, Sonnerville, France

A Commemorative Parachute Descent takes place over Sannerville, France, during commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings

The British paratroopers will drop from the sky over Normandy on June 5 in tribute to the 18,000 men from Allied forces who landed there shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944, to secure key sites ahead of the main invasion.

However, The Mail on Sunday revealed last week that despite the Parachute Regiment hoping for four A400M transport planes, to allow 450 men to jump, only one had been made available.

A senior Parachute Regiment source blamed the decision on 'shameful, short-sighted, cost-cutting' and 'an insult to those who made the ultimate sacrifice' for Britain on D-Day.

It revived a bitter row over the Government's decision to phase out the last of the RAF's old Hercules C-130 transport planes, much beloved by paratroopers.

Tory former Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood said the decision had demonstrated 'a sad, simple truth  that today's RAF lacks heavy lift transport capacity after all the Hercules transport fleet, which served our nation so well for more than 50 years, was scrapped to save money'.

Last night, final details for the drop involving four planes were still being drawn up (stock photo)

The MoD confirmed last night that there would now be 'four UK A400M aircraft involved'. A drone view shows a member of Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) clearing away sand on sculptures of some 80 soldiers as part of an installation erected on Stone Bay, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, in Broadstair

But sources said that after Mr Ellwood urged Mr Shapps to act on The Mail on Sunday's revelations last weekend, the Defence Secretary 'read the riot act' to his officials and demanded that four A400M planes be provided.

Last night, final details for the drop involving four planes were still being drawn up.

A source said that overall, the Paras would have 450 soldiers ready to take part, with 250 from the Parachute Regiment and others drawn from airborne units within 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team.

These will include medics from 16 Medical Regiment, sappers from 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment, signallers from 216 Parachute Signal Squadron and gunners from 7 Para Royal Horse Artillery. The Red Devils parachute display team will also jump.

Last night, Bournemouth East MP Mr Ellwood commended Mr Shapps for 'stepping in so quickly and taking the bull by the horns'.

He added: 'It was unacceptable for the Ministry of Defence to provide only one plane for what will be such an historic commemoration of the D-Day invasion.

'The Parachute Regiment and others taking part will be very happy with this change of heart.'

The MoD confirmed last night that there would now be 'four UK A400M aircraft involved' in the 'commemorative jump by UK paratroopers on the 5th of June alongside Allied counterparts'.

A spokesman added: 'The number of UK personnel dropping will be confirmed in due course.'
Young Americans in Massachusetts who are struggling to find affordable housing are joining pro-development groups and infiltrating public meetings to vote for new high rises.

Cobi Frongillo, who is a town councilor in Franklin, regularly witnesses community resistance to proposed housing developments due to the size of the building and concerns over parking spots.

But the 25-year-old can only afford to live in the city by renting his parents' backyard cottage and insists few people his age have been able to stay in the area where they grew up.

He has joined up with a group of other residents and formed a rare pro-housing group called Building Equitable Neighborhoods and they have roughly 35 members.

'I cant afford to buy into the community that I love, and, fundamentally, that is a huge problem for the future of this town,' Frongillo told the Boston Globe.

Young Americans in Massachusetts, including Cobi Frongillo, 25, are joining pro-development groups and infiltrating public meetings to vote for new high rises

Frongillo and the advocacy group attend public meetings where they vote in favor of new housing developments.

'Young people cant live here anymore because we just do not have the housing,' he said.

There are now dozens of new local pro-housing groups across Eastern Massachusetts and they make their presence felt in communities including Norwood and Rockport.

It has been sparked by the MBTA Communities law, which requires cities and towns served by public transport to make it easier to build family housing.

Pro-housing groups are asking local officials to be bolder with new zoning rules and will advocate for other policies when those are passed.

The groups are usually formed after younger residents are left shocked by the pushback on new housing in community meetings from older, wealthier homeowners.

Boston University researcher Katherine Einstein said the advocacy organizations can end up having a lot of influence.

Frongillo, who is a town councilor in Franklin, regularly witnesses community resistance to proposed housing developments due to the size of the building and parking concerns

She said: 'This is the most organized the pro-housing movement in Massachusetts has ever been. They are making big strides on the local level.'

The movement has spread across the US and led to zoning changes in states including Montana and Oregon.

Frongillo said the group's membership is open to all demographics although it is led by younger residents.

They want affordable housing built in the community as production has stagnated and new development plans are regularly criticized.

The median price for a single-family home in Franklin is $660,000 and the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is close to $2,100.

A similar group was launched in Cambridge in 2012 when a group of locals in their 20s formed A Better Cambridge.

They first met in bars and apartments to work on their plan and successfully fought against a downzoning proposal.

But the 25-year-old can only afford to live in the city by renting his parents' backyard cottage and insists few people his age have been able to stay in the area where they grew up

Jesse Kanson-Benanav, the group's first executive director, left to form state-wide housing advocacy group Abundant Housing Massachusetts.

'State policy reform is crucial, but its really important that we do things in the Massachusetts context,' he said.

'Weve done housing locally for a long time here, and as long as thats the case, we have to meet the system where its at.'

Waltham Inclusive Neighborhoods was set up after residents in the area grew frustrated at a lack of speed with the MBTA Communities housing plan.

The city has welcomed 10,000 new jobs in the last decade but built just 1,600 housing units.

'That is the engine of the housing crisis,' one of the group leaders, Tom Benavides, 25, said.

'The fact that we are willing to build commercial development for workers and arent willing to house them  were blinding our own eyes.'

Frongillo and the advocacy group attend public meetings where they vote in favor of new housing developments

Waltham Inclusive Neighborhoods is looking to get local officials to propose zoning changes which work with MBTA Communities and lead to space for nearly 4,000 homes.

While in Norwood, pro-housing group Norwood for All held an education campaign to fight against misinformation before a spring Town Meeting.

It approved the town's plan to rezone land to make room for 2,000 units.
A Tory politician and close friend of 'bionic' MP Craig Mackinlay played a key role in the extraordinary battle to keep him alive, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Adam Holloway intervened after doctors at the Kent hospital treating sepsis sufferer Mr Mackinlay reportedly planned to put him on a 'do not resuscitate' regime, where desperately-ill patients can be allowed to die.

Mr Mackinlay lost both hands and feet to the terrible illness. Westminster sources said ex-soldier Mr Holloway had spoken of how he had seen veterans of conflicts in Afghanistan and elsewhere recover from such terrible injuries.

Mr Mackinlay, 57, was eventually transferred from his local Kent hospital to the world-famous St Thomas' in London. And last week the South Thanet Tory MP was given an extraordinary standing ovation when he walked into the Commons wearing his new artificial limbs.

Adam Holloway (pictured) intervened after doctors at the Kent hospital treating sepsis sufferer Mr Mackinlay reportedly planned to put him on a 'do not resuscitate' regime

MP Craig Mackinlay lost both hands and feet to sepsis. Pictured, Craig Mackinlay with his wife Katie at home

Last night, ex-Grenadier Guards captain Mr Holloway, who also represents a Kent constituency, refused to comment beyond paying tribute to how Mr Mackinlay's wife Kati and father Colin fought for him.

He said: 'Craig's wife and father would never have given up on him, whatever anyone else said.'

In the Daily Mail yesterday, Mrs Mackinlay revealed how she had pushed for a second opinion, despite a local surgeon saying 'if you think there's any fancy treatment available in London'

Mr Holloway's role emerged amid suggestions that Mr Mackinlay, who has now decided to stand down as an MP, should be given a seat in the Lords. Last night, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle declined to comment on that but he told The Mail on Sunday: 'Craig Mackinlay is an inspiration to us all  he really is.'

Mr Mackinlay was initially admitted to the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham last year after his wife suspected he might have sepsis. He was rapidly put into an induced coma, which he came out of 16 days later.

Mrs Mackinlay spoke yesterday of how she refused to prepare for her husband's death

In the Daily Mail yesterday, Mrs Mackinlay revealed how she had pushed for a second opinion

Mrs Mackinlay spoke yesterday of how she refused to prepare for her husband's death, despite being advised by doctors that he was 'the sickest patient' there.

Told that only two or three people this ill ever 'make it', Mrs Mackinlay, a pharmacist, replied: 'But Craig will.' The MP was eventually transferred to St Thomas' intensive care unit last October and underwent a quadruple amputation in December. Mrs Mackinlay told yesterday of how their daughter Olivia, now five, had been 'telling everyone 'My Daddy's getting magic arms'.'

In emotional scenes in the Commons last week, Mr Mackinlay thanked his wife 'for being there every single day of those many months in hospital' and hailed the support of his wider family. Last night, Medway NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We not able to comment on an individual patient's care and treatment.'

But Mr Mackinlay, who has thanked NHS staff, said: 'Adam was with me from the very start and with my wife and family, proved a formidable team to get me the best treatment available. The result is that I am here today.'
The Prince and Princess of Wales have paid tribute to the Royal Air Force Spitfire pilot who lost his life in a crash this afternoon during a Battle of Britain event near RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

Kate and William, who himself served as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, said in a joint statement that it was 'incredibly sad to hear of the news' and added that their 'thoughts this evening are with the pilot's loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family.'

Prime minister Rishi Sunak wrote on X: 'Awful news to see the life of a serving RAF pilot cut short in this tragic event. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'deeply saddened' by the news, and thanked the emergency services for their response, adding 'my thoughts are with the pilot's family at this awful time.'

Lincolnshire Police said the pilot was a man and was the sole occupant of the aircraft, which crashed into a field on Langrick Road at around 1.20pm.

Confirming the pilot's death, the RAF earlier said in a statement: 'It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today.

'The pilot's family have been informed and we ask that privacy is respected at this difficult time,' it added.

A Spitfire crashed in a field during a Battle of Britain event at RAF Coningsby just before 1.20pm

File image shows the Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, at RAF Fairford last year

Emergency services arrived following reports of a crash of a single-occupant aircraft in a field on Langrick Road (stock image)

Emergency services arrived following reports of the crash, with fire crews from Horncastle, Woodhall Spa, a rescue team from Louth, as well as a helicopter all attending the scene.

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said earlier: 'Emergency services are in attendance following reports of an aircraft crashing in a field just before 1.20pm

'It is believed to be a single occupant aircraft and nobody else is thought to have been involved.

'Road closures are in place in the areas of Dogdyke Road and Sandy Bank.'

The RAF published a statement via X, which read: 'We are aware of an incident in the vicinity of RAF Coningsby involving an RAF aircraft.

'We are working with the emergency services and supporting those involved.'

The authorities asked motorists to avoid the area and seek other routes for their journeys.

According to GloucestershireLive , it was a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft that was previously utilised both before and after World War II.

The aircraft was designed by R. J. Mitchell, and was famed for its role during the Battle of Britain.

Its unique elliptical wings allowed for a perfect partnership of power and speed whilst mid-air.

The location where the Spitfire crashed in a field on on Langrick Road at RAF Coningsby

Exactly 20.531 Spitfires were constructed between 1939 and 1948, with many varying in roles and engine types.

It is thought that there are about 60 Spitfires that are currently in use dotted around the globe.

Several others are also kept in museums, private collections as well displays, bringing the total number of Spitfires up to an estimated 240.

Police have requested for anyone with information to contact them by calling 101, and quoting 221 of May 25 2024.
Police last night faced mounting pressure to investigate a former IRA commander who confessed to The Mail on Sunday that he was behind the assassination of King Charles's great uncle.

Michael Hayes callously boasted to this newspaper that he designed the bomb that killed Lord Mountbatten and masterminded the 1979 atrocity in Sligo, Ireland. But, despite his comments this month, the Irish police have refused to say whether they intend to investigate him.

Last night, Theresa Villiers, who was Northern Ireland Secretary between 2012 and 2016, said the police should investigate Hayes's confession 'as soon as possible'.

She added: 'This terrorist attack was truly horrific and admissions made in relation to it need to be properly investigated.'

Michael Hayes callously boasted to this newspaper that he designed the bomb that killed Lord Mountbatten and masterminded the 1979 atrocity in Sligo, Ireland

Lord Mountbatten, King Charles's great uncle, was murdered aged 79 when the IRA blew up his fishing boat while he was on holiday at his summer home in Mullaghmore, Sligo

Another former Northern Ireland Minister told the MoS: 'It would be utterly hypocritical for the authorities in the Republic to turn a blind eye to this when the Irish government is taking the UK to court over our decision to offer a conditional amnesty to people suspected of crimes during the Troubles.

'This was an extraordinary admission from this ex-IRA commander and it must be investigated as a matter of urgency.'

Lord Mountbatten was murdered aged 79 when the IRA blew up his fishing boat during a holiday at his summer home in Mullaghmore, Sligo.

Only one IRA member was convicted  Thomas McMahon was jailed for life for murder but freed under the Good Friday Agreement.

Speaking to the MoS at his home in Dublin, Hayes bragged: 'I blew up Earl Mountbatten', adding: 'Yes, I blew him up. McMahon put it on his boat . . . I planned everything, I am commander in chief.'

Senior Tory MP Sir Robert Buckland said: 'It would be intolerable if this extraordinary confession was not investigated.'

A Garda spokesman said: 'Any information coming to our attention in relation to any criminal act in this jurisdiction is subject to assessment to determine what, if any, action may be appropriate.'
Tesla's recent impact report showed that the company's greenhouse emissions have increased by nearly 10 million metric tons of CO2 in 2023.

The automotive company, known for its increasing effort to promote electric vehicles, has been promising a net-zero emission.

Read Also : Tesla Claims Autopilot is 11 Times Safer, Linked Crash Reports Say Otherwise

Tesla Contributes to Increasing Pollution, Report Shows

Tesla is reportedly responsible for over 50 million metric tons of CO2 released in 2023. The data showed a nearly 20 percent increase to 2022's record of only 42 million metric tons.

The automotive company's operation has been actively contributing to the pollution, primarily from its supply chain. Tesla's goods and services are the source of nearly 80 percent of the company's overall carbon footprint.

Recently, the company was sued by the Environmental Democracy Project (EDP) for alleged failure to comply with the Clean Air Act on the Fremont factory. Tesla also faced suits from 25 counties in California for mishandling its hazardous waste materials.

Tesla Wants Net-Zero Emission Amid High Carbon Footprint

During its latest impact report, Tesla shared that it has plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The company outlines the procedure on how to achieve the goal "as soon as possible."

Moreover, the company also shared the risks and challenges they may face due to climate change. However, recent data showed that Tesla is far from its goal just yet. The company's supply chain has been worse over the past year.

Under the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) new rules, big companies like Tesla are required to disclose their indirect emissions from supply chains to usage of products.

Tesla will be focusing on 20 focus areas including climate risk management, water use, responsible AI usage, health and safety of workers, air quality, and more.
Rishi Sunak would introduce compulsory National Service for all 18-year-olds if the Conservatives win the General Election.

Under the bombshell plan, unveiled by the Prime Minister in an article for The Mail on Sunday, school-leavers would be obliged to spend a year in a full-time Armed Forces role or volunteering with organisations such as the police or NHS.

The shock move, which is modelled on systems already in place across Europe, is likely to split opinion  but will also galvanise the first full week of the election campaign.

Mr Sunak said the 'reinvented' scheme would 'provide life-changing opportunities for our young people', and declared: 'As a father, I look forward to my own two daughters doing their National Service: I think they will find it a rewarding experience.'

He added: 'Being British is about more than just the queue you join at passport control.'

The shock move, which is modelled on systems already in place across Europe, is likely to split opinion  but will also galvanise the first full week of the election campaign

Mr Sunak said the 'reinvented' scheme would 'provide life-changing opportunities for our young people'

The idea of forcing school-leavers into the scheme is likely to prove the most contentious element  although No 10 points out that only 10 per cent of 18-year-olds are expected to take up the option of a full military commission for the 12-month period, with the rest working for just one weekend a month.

If the Conservatives are re-elected, a Royal Commission would be established to finalise the details and the scheme would come into effect in September next year.

The dramatic move came as:

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was accused of trying to 'rig' the system to maintain his party in power by saying he wanted to extend voting rights to 16-year-olds  who are overwhelmingly anti-Conservative. Giving the right to vote to more than 1.5 million under-18s would be the largest change to the electoral system since the voting age was cut from 21 to 18 in 1969;

A Mail on Sunday poll found that replacing Mr Sunak with Boris Johnson as leader would cut Labour's majority  but Sir Keir would still win a landslide. Labour holds a 22-point lead in the survey;

Allies of Mr Johnson said he would be abroad for much of the campaign  as his supporters claimed that pro-Boris candidates were being 'purged' during rushed selections for nearly 200 seats;

Tory in-fighting continued over the election, with Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt accused of effectively 'boycotting' the Cabinet meeting to rubber-stamp the decision;

Reform UK's Nigel Farage described the election as 'the dullest in history' as he pledged to 'inject some passion into the debate and expose some of the nonsense from Sunak and Starmer' when he hits the campaign trail this week;

Sources said Reform's only MP, former Tory Lee Anderson, had told Mr Farage to 'man up' when he announced that he would not be standing in the election;

Labour aides are understood to have expressed concern that if Sir Keir supports England in next month's Euro 2024 tournament by wearing a Three Lions shirt he could alienate voters in Scotland.

The plan to reintroduce National Service was drawn up in secret, with only Mr Sunak's close advisers  understood to include former Tory leader William Hague  privy to the details.

In their confidential 40-page plan, the advisers argued that the growing international threats posed by countries such as Russia and China needed to be addressed by beefing up our Armed Forces  as did the listlessness of many young adults. Nearly 750,000 18 to 24-year-olds are currently out of work, and this age group is disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system.

The civic roles would include supporting flood defences and communities during natural disasters, NHS support roles, fire safety work, or signing up for the RNLI or mountain search and rescue.

Rishi Sunak's controversial national service idea may be inspired by his time at school. He spent his teenage years at Winchester College in Hampshire which requires all pupils to complete at least a year of military training

The plan to reintroduce National Service was drawn up in secret, with only Mr Sunak's close advisers

National Service was first introduced after the Second World War for all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 21

Sweden, Norway, France and Denmark are among the countries to have reintroduced a modern version of national service recently.

In his article, Mr Sunak writes: 'Our pride in our United Kingdom should not blind us to the challenges it faces. One of those is that generations of young people have not had the opportunities, or experiences, they deserve  and too much potential is wasted in purposeless lives of crime or unemployment.'

He adds: 'We must do more for our young people and our young people must do more for our country. After all, our country is only as strong as what we all contribute to it. This new National Service will give the coming generation an opportunity to learn valuable life skills while contributing to our country.

'For some, it will open their eyes to potential careers. For others, it will forge a culture of service that will make our society stronger and more cohesive.'

National Service was first introduced after the Second World War for all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 21.

More than two million were conscripted to the Armed Forces between 1949 and 1963.

As Prime Minister announces radical new National Service plan... RISHI SUNAK says he would be very happy to see his own two daughters do their National Service

This is a great country, and I am so proud to be your Prime Minister. In the last 18 months, we have made progress after the shocks caused by Covid and Ukraine: bringing inflation down and getting our economy growing again. With the economy stabilising, it is now time for you to decide what future you want for Britain.

Do you want to build on what we have done together and create a secure future with the Conservatives, or risk going back to square one with Labour?

Our pride in our United Kingdom should not blind us to the challenges it faces. One of those is that generations of young people have not had the opportunities, or experiences, they deserve  and too much potential is wasted in purposeless lives of crime or unemployment. I want to change that and have a clear plan to do so.

We will reinvent National Service for today's Britain. It will provide life-changing opportunities for our young people, offering them the chance to learn real-world skills, do new things and contribute to their community and our country. It shouldn't only be those who are fortunate enough to go on gap years that get the opportunity to have these kind of experiences.

As a father, I look forward to my own two daughters doing their National Service: I think they will find it a rewarding experience (pictured: Mr Sunak with wife Akshata Murty, right, and daughters Krishna, second left, and Anoushka, second right, with dog Nova in May 2023)

All 18-year-olds will do this new National Service, whatever their background and wherever they live in the UK. It will not, though, be a one-size-fits-all programme. Young people will be able to choose between 25 days of volunteering  equivalent to one weekend every month  serving as a lifeguard for the RNLI, becoming a first aider or many other options.

Those who choose to do military service, and pass the test, will be able to take a 12-month, full-time placement in our Armed Forces.

They will have the option to work in many areas, from defending our country against cyber attacks to developing their leadership skills. This training will help young people to be the best they can be, and if they enjoy the experience they can choose a career in the military or join the reserves, bolstering our national security.

To put it simply, we must do more for our young people and our young people must do more for our country. After all, our country is only as strong as what we all contribute to it.

This new National Service will give the coming generation an opportunity to learn valuable life skills while contributing to our country. For some, it will open their eyes to potential careers. For others, it will forge a culture of service that will make our society stronger and more cohesive. It will build trust across our nation: helping us all to get to know each other better, unifying our society at a time when there are those at home and abroad trying to divide us.

We will reinvent National Service for today's Britain, writes Rishi Sunak (pictured, on Friday)

I know not everyone will agree with this plan. But bold action is the right thing for today's Britain. As a father, I look forward to my own two daughters doing their National Service: I think they will find it a rewarding experience. It will teach them, as it will other youngsters, much about themselves and the society they serve.

To those who complain that making it mandatory is unreasonable, I say: citizenship brings with it obligations as well as rights. Being British is about more than just the queue you join at passport control.

To be clear, our new National Service is not conscription. The vast majority of those who do it will not serve in our Armed Forces. Only those who choose to, and come through the tough entrance tests, will do that.

But what everyone will do is contribute to our country. From first aid to helping the housebound and lonely, to search and rescue, every 18-year-old will learn new skills while simultaneously contributing to our society.

We know how we will make this new National Service a reality. The first royal commission of this century will finalise the details of how the scheme will work. It will then open for applications in September 2025.

This rite of passage will create a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country.

We have a clear plan to implement this action, which will help improve the opportunities available to the next generation and build the secure future we all want to see for our children and for Britain.
American government lawyers are fighting to keep 'law enforcement' documents related to Prince Harry's visa application secret, claiming there would be 'stigma attached' if they were published.

The argument is contained in a 53-page court transcript which was due to be released last night.

The development comes after a hearing in February in which a think-tank argued that details of the Duke of Sussex's March 2020 visa application  in particular, how he answered questions on drug use  should be made public.

In the court transcript, lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claim Harry has a right to privacy and his visa documents should remain sealed.

In response to a question from the judge about the 'privacy interest that the government is asserting on the duke's behalf', DHS lawyer John Bardo replied: 'Well, many of these records, Your Honour, are law enforcement records.

Prince Harry pictured at The Invictus Games 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul's Cathedral on May 8. American government lawyers are fighting to keep 'law enforcement' documents related to Prince Harry's visa application secret, claiming there would be 'stigma attached' if they were published

Harry pictured this month in Lagos with wife Meghan Markle (far right) and Nigeria Chief of Defense Staff Christopher Musa (far left), his wife Lilian Musa (second left), Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (third right) and his wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu (third left)

'So there is a stigma associated with being mentioned in a law enforcement record.'

He added that the records contained 'confidential law enforcement tools and techniques'.

It is the first time law enforcement records have been mentioned in connection with the duke's visa case.

And while it is currently unclear what records are being referred to, an LA-based immigration lawyer said last night: 'Law enforcement records could mean the police, FBI, airport police, secret service, military police or even the highway patrol. The word that jumps out is "stigma". It is not a word you would expect to see in a routine visa application.

'It's a highly unusual word not usually seen in cases like this and it begs the question, what is in there that could attach a stigma to Prince Harry's application?

'There is no way of knowing until the records are made public.'

Conservative think-tank The Heritage Foundation is suing the DHS to try to force the release of all documents relating to how Harry entered  and remains living in  America. Visa applicants must answer yes or no to the question: 'Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?'

In his memoir Spare (pictured), Harry admitted using cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana.

Judge Carl Nichols (pictured) is reviewing the documents in private and is expected to made a judgment 'within weeks' about whether they should be made public

In his memoir Spare, Harry admitted using cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana.

The Heritage Foundation has argued the autobiography meant the duke had given up any right to privacy. However, DHS lawyer Mr Bardo said Spare 'isn't sworn testimony or proof'.

Judge Carl Nichols is reviewing the documents in private and is expected to made a judgment 'within weeks' about whether they should be made public.
A teenage boy who was stabbed to death yesterday afternoon has been pictured for the first time.

A 17-year-old boy has also been arrested on suspicion of murder after another teenage boy, 16, was stabbed to death in west London.

Officers were called to reports of a stabbing in Bourne Avenue, Hayes, around 1.30pm on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said.

The force has this evening confirmed the victim was 16-year-old Kamari Johnson.

London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance also arrived within minutes but despite the efforts of medics, the boy died at the scene.

Kamari Johnson, 16, (pictured) was stabbed to death on Friday afternoon in west London

Officers were called to reports of a stabbing in Bourne Avenue, Hayes, around 1.30pm on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said

Kamari's next of kin have been informed and his family are being supported by specially trained officers.

A Gofundme fundraiser set up in his name has raised more than 3,000.

The organiser said: 'He was a loved friend and brother to everyone around him, his smile stays with us all.'

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday evening and remains in custody, the Met said.

Any local residents who may have captured footage on doorbell or dashcam devices have been asked to come forward.

Detective chief inspector Alex Gammampila said: 'Kamari's murder has understandably caused shock and concern amongst the local community.

Forensic investigators gather evidence near where the stabbing took place

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday evening and remains in custody, the Met said

Any local residents who may have captured footage on doorbell or dashcam devices have been asked to come forward

'A team of experienced detectives is working tirelessly to establish what happened to Kamari and why he was attacked.

'This evening's arrest demonstrates the progress we are making and this is in no small part due to the assistance we've had from the community.

'We need to work together to ensure Kamari's family get the answers they deserve about what happened to him.'

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could help has been asked to call 101 or post @MetCC ref CAD 3832/24 May, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A British nurse who got a job in an Australian country town thought she would be living her dream, but it very soon turned into a nightmare.

Kelly Wainwright had always dreamed of working in Australia, but at the age of 43 her visa options were limited - until she took a role 'nobody else wanted' in the Queensland town of Mount Isa.

Within months, she was back on a plane to the UK, fleeing Australia not because of 'the weather or the creepy crawlies' she thought might be hard to cope with, but because violent crime made her feel unsafe in her own home.

Before she arrived in the outback town, Ms Wainwright was not aware of its high levels of crime and violence.

When she arrived, she thought it 'just looked like any dusty old cowboy town in the middle of the outback', but she soon found out the looks were deceiving.

British nurse Kelly Wainwright (pictured), who got a job in an Australian country town 'nobody else wanted' thought she would be living her dream but it very soon turned into a nightmare

Before she arrived in the outback town, Ms Wainwright was not aware of its high levels of crime and violence

Ms Wainwright took a manager's role in the sexual health unit of Mt Isa Hospital, a position that had been vacant for almost two years before she arrived.

She told 9News that not 'for one second' did she think 'the volatility of the area' would soon see her flee the town and the country.

Six weeks after she arrived, Ms Wainwright's government-provided home was broken into.

Not long after that, her home was targeted by teenagers, who allegedly brutally assaulted a 14-year-old relative staying with her.

Footage of the alleged attack showed a vicious brawl with kicking, punching and slapping between at least three teenage girls at the house.

Ms Wainwright reported the attack to police but said she was told: 'You live in Mt Isa, I suggest you go and learn how to fight.'

Her employers were so concerned for her safety they asked senior health officials to move her and her teenage cousin to a safer home.

But the request was denied, she said.

Emails obtained by Nine revealed the nurse's manager writing: '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.'

Ms Wainwright soon found she could not cope with the situation any longer, but as her visa was specifically tied to the Mt Isa Hospital job, she decided her only option was to go home to the UK.

She left in such a hurry that she just packed her bags and got out of there.

Ms Wainwright (pictured) soon found she could not cope with the situation any longer, but as her visa was specifically tied to the Mt Isa Hospital job, she decided her only option was to go home to the UK

'I just gave all (my possessions) away and off we went with just our suitcases,' she said.

Not being supported in 'the way that we should've been' was 'really disheartening', she said.

North West Hospital and Health Service would not comment on individual matters but said it provides 'safe' accommodation that 'meets the needs of our employees'.

In a recent crackdown on youth violence in Mt Isa, more than 30 young people were arrested between April 26 and May 3, resulting in 84 charges.
A man who covers himself in leafy camouflage has been slammed by female runners and reported to the police over an 'intimidating, sick joke' YouTube stunt.

The man, wearing a ghillie suit  used by soldiers, wildlife photographers and hunters  has been hiding in the bushes of a popular Sydney running path and filming the terrified reactions of runners and others passing by when they see him.

Melanie Warman, the founder of women's running club Boobs on the Run, was shocked at his actions and warned club members about the man on social media.

'It seems that someone thinks it's funny to dress in camouflage and jump out at women on the Bay Run,' she wrote on Facebook.

'I'm sure he wouldn't find it funny if his mum, sister, daughter or wife had this happen to them Or the fact that 2 women were attacked last week while out running.'

A man who covers himself in leafy camouflage (pictured) has been slammed by female runners and reported to the police over an 'intimidating, sick joke' YouTube stunt

Ms Warman also pointed out that '36 women have been killed in Australia since the 1st January 2024 by male violence'.

Local mayor Darcy Byrne reported the man to the NSW Police on Friday.

'Council's officially requested an investigation by police, which they're undertaking,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'Tens of thousands of women use that Bay Run every week, so if it's meant to be a joke, it's a sick joke and it's actually just scary and intimidating.

'I don't understand what sort of person would get amusement from doing something that's designed to be frightening.'

Mr Byrne's response came after many runners and walkers who use the path in Sydney's inner-west posted on social media that they had been frightened by the man.

Teacher Sarah Weston, though, took matters into her own hands and turned the tables around on the man by filming him.

Walking with a friend, she approached the man and asked: 'What are you doing?'

He responded as if he was surprised to be called out on what he was doing, saying he wanted to 'scare people' and 'make people laugh'.

He said he was filming the interactions with people from a nearby hidden camera and intended to post them on YouTube.

Only the man's nose could be seen through the fake leaves.

Ms Weston wrote on her Instagram account that 'there was a hidden camera filming us.

The man was wearing a ghillie suit (pictured), which is used by soldiers, wildlife photographers and hunters

'I couldn't help myself. I wanted to ask before he jumped out at us ...

'Turns out he scares people. Films their reactions. Puts it on YouTube.'

A police spokesperson said the man had also been reported by a female jogger, who 'was frightened when a figure  dressed up in a costume  jumped out of the bushes on the Bay Run at 5.15pm Thursday'.

'Inquiries have revealed there may have been more  similar  incidents, which haven't been reported to police, but are circulating on local social media forums.'
The Australian tourism industry is reeling from new statistics that could cost it up to $6billion a year, as the number of Chinese visitors drops dramatically.

The number of Chinese travellers to Australia is now less than half the figures recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Tourism Research Australia.

In 2019, Chinese tourists pumped more than $12billion into the Australian economy, but their numbers are now so low Qantas is scrapping its Sydney to Shanghai route due to lack of demand.

'Since Covid, the demand for travel between Australia and China has not recovered as strongly as expected,' Qantas International chief executive Cam Wallace told news.com.au, adding that their planes were often only half-full.

The massive drop in Chinese visitors 'has had a significant impact on the tourism industry', Tourism and Transport Forum Australia chief executive Margy Osmond said.

The Australian tourism industry is reeling from new statistics that could cost it up to $6billion a year, as the number of Chinese visitors drops dramatically. Chinese tourists are pictured at the Sydney Opera House

Tourists, including some from China, are pictured watching the sun rise at Uluru

Ms Osmond said before the pandemic, China was one of Australia's largest sources for international tourism before the pandemic.

There has been a big increase in domestic tourism within China in recent years, 'But we're working hard to try and entice more Chinese visitors to come to Australia and we hope to see more Chinese visitors return to our shores,' Ms Osmond said.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed that in March 2024, Chinese short-term visitor arrivals were just 47 per cent of the March 2019 level.

Tourism going the other way has also fallen, but by far less, with the number of Australians travelling to China now at 85 per cent of pre-Covid levels.

The previous boom in the number of Chinese travellers was a huge boost to the economy as they tended to be big spenders.

In 2019, Chinese visitors spent an average of $9,336 each in Australia - a total spend of $12.4billion.

Tourists from other countries spent far less in the same year, with Americans spending $5,130 (totalling $3.9b), UK visitors spending $4999 (totalling $3.4b), and New Zealanders spending $2,004 (totalling $2.6b).

A family from Shanghai, China is pictured in the surf at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Chinese tourists are pictured taking photographs in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

But while the tourist numbers coming to Australia from the US, UK, New Zealand and India have hugely increased since the end of the pandemic, the Chinese numbers have not.

Experts say the factors keeping Chinese tourist numbers down include the political and trade tension which built up under former prime minister Scott Morrison, high airfares and China's economy, which is not as strong as it used to be last decade.

Tourism Australia, however, believes that things will improve before too long.

'Whilst travel with China reopened a year later than other markets (after Covid), we are confident about its recovery as the market continues to steadily rebuild,' a spokesman said.
An unassuming house in Sydney has made it's owners a staggering profit and turned them into multi-millionaires overnight - but it has one feature that is in very high demand.

Medical specialist Philippa Harvey-Sutton inherited the Point Piper mansion, known as Rockleigh, from her mother Val Rundle in 2016, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

It had been in the family since 1978 when it was purchased for a modest $325,000 and recently found a buyer who offered to pay between $80million and $85million.

The buyer remains a mystery but the sale will allow Ms Harvey-Sutton and her husband retired lawyer Alistair Harvey-Sutton to enjoy their golden years as they downsize for something more manageable.

In 1978 Sydney's median house price was about $43,000 so even by those standards it was expensive - and the reason is the houses spectacular views over Sydney Harbour which are rare than ever in 2024's red hot property market.

This Sydney home has sold for $80million after it was bought in 1978 for $325,000

The house (centre left) is on multiple levels spanning towards the waters of Sydney Harbour

Point Piper has some of the best - and most expensive - views in the country

Rockleigh was previously owned by publisher and politician Frederick Pratten, a Liberal and then Country Party member.

The only house sales in Sydney more expensive than Rockleigh are all in Point Piper.

The highest is $130 million paid by Atlassian's Scott Farquhar for Uig Lodge.

While his Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes spent $100million on nearby Fairwater.

John Symond recently listed his Point Piper home for $200million though is yet to find a buyer.

Homeowners are becoming more confident about putting their properties on the market, with the latest figures showing 40 per cent more homes available than there were 12 months ago.

The latest PropTrack listings report revealed the Aussie property market saw the strongest new listings for the month of April since 2021.

New listings were up 40.4 per cent year-on-year across all capital cities.

PropTrack economic research director Cameron Kusher said while there are new listings higher in each capital city, Sydney and Melbourne continued to be the strongest markets.

'If we look in Sydney and Melbourne, the number of listings has been higher year-on-year every single month since July last year,' Mr Kusher said.

'Although home prices have remained buoyant in early 2024, the surge in new listings has seen the total number of properties advertised for sale mount, particularly in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

'Despite the increase in properties available for sale, other indicators signal that buyer demand remains strong such as median time on market declining and overall enquiries rising compared to a year ago.'

Mr Kusher said there was a 'combination of things' that had encouraged people to look at selling their properties.

'Certainly, there's a cost of living pressure that is forcing some people to sell, but equally, I think there's other factors,' he said.

'Property prices have increased a lot in a short period of time.

'Some people are looking at the level of equity they have in their property and using that to upgrade in the market.

'I think also there's other factors that people have been delaying selling and they're in a home now that no longer fits them.

'It's very expensive to do a major renovation to a property because material and trade costs have gone up so much, so that's encouraging people to move.'
The Aztec Death Whistle has been described as the 'scariest sound in the world'

From a howling wolf to a bloodcurdling scream, there are some sounds that send a chill down the spine of even the bravest horror movie aficionado.

But these chilling noises pale in comparison to one sound, which has been described as the 'scariest in the world'.

The Aztec Death Whistle is somewhere between a spooky gust of whistling wind and 'the scream of a thousand corpses', according to experts.

It was used by the Aztecs during sacrificial ceremonies, and was said to honour the god of wind, Ehecatl.

So, are you brave enough to listen to it?

The Aztec Death Whistle is somewhere between a spooky gust of whistling wind and 'the scream of a thousand corpses', according to experts

Brave experts recently recreated the noise of the Aztec Death Whistle, by building a new version of the legendary instrument with a 3D printer.

They created their new whistles based on the design of the skull-shaped original, which was found with a skeleton in Mexico in the late 1990s.

A video of the 3D-printed whistle was posted by the Action Lab, an educational YouTube channel dedicated to performing scientific experiments.

'This has been deemed the most terrifying sound in the world,' says presenter James J. Orgill.

'Believe it or not, this is not a human scream.

'The sound that the death whistle makes innately strikes fear into your heart.'

It was back in 1999 that the original Aztec Death Whistle was found held in the hand of a headless skeleton during the excavation of an Aztec temple in Mexico City.

'Archaeologists first thought that this must be some sort of toy and they didn't think much about it,' says Orgill in the video.

'It wasn't until 15 years later for some reason a scientist blew into the hole in the top of it and this is the sound that came out.

'It was a startling discovery because it sounded like a screaming human.'

Although the exact purpose of the death whistle has been lost to history, there are several leading theories.

In 1999, the original Aztec Death Whistle was found held in the hand of a skeleton during the excavation of an Aztec temple in Mexico City

Some experts think the Aztecs likely used the noise to help people's souls travel to the afterlife when they were sacrificed.

Perhaps the original skeleton was buried with the device as a protection, to scare away evil spirits as they left this world.

But the whistles may also have been used by warriors to 'strike fear in the hearts of the enemies' at the beginning of battle, Orgill claims.

The shape of the whistle mimics the shape of a human larynx, according to the expert.

Once the user blows into it, the air is split into two, creating oscillating sound waves that circulate around a large chamber before escaping from a second hole.

Some of the whistles have a ball inside the chamber, often made of cork, which bounces around and further distorts the sound.

During the video, Orgill tests out modern-day versions of the Aztec Death Whistle made using a 3D printer from US firm HeyGears.

They produce different sounds depending on how big the object is and where exactly they're placed on the lips when blown into.

People can already buy their own death whistles on Amazon made from a variety of materials such as resin, ceramic and even carbon fibre.

According to one Amazon product description, they 'emit a scream that sounds like a woman being in horrible agony' and are 'perfect for Halloween'.

They also make a helpful prop for dramatic productions  for example, for scenes when characters hear a scream off-stage.

'For some reason the effect of making it sound like a scream is stronger when you don't actually watch the person blowing into the whistle,' Orgill says.

'[This is] probably because your brain knows it's a whistle.'

The Aztec Death Whistle attracted the attention of archaeologists because of their skull shape, but it is only recently that their fearsome noise has been investigated.

Mexican musician Quijas Yxayotl thinks the death whistle was used for special ceremonies, including the Day of the Dead, and in warfare.

'They played over a hundred instruments; a hundred death whistles marching to cause a big psychological effect to the enemy,' he said.
New images show America's highly secret, $745-million stealth nuclear bomber taking to the air for what is apparently its first, publicly acknowledged, flight test.

The B-21 Raider was unveiled in December 2022, but the US government has so far been discreet about showing off this cutting-edge, radar-evading aircraft.

The sleek bomber was shown flying for the first time as it undergoes flight testing, in pictures released Wednesday, one crucial step before a minimum first order of 100 of these stealth craft can be approved for manufacture.

The B-21 has been described as a 'dual-capable bomber'  able to launch both conventional and nuclear ordinance.

This photo, released by the US Air Force on 22 May 2024, shows a B-21 Raider conducting ground testing, taxiing and flying operations at Edwards Air Force Base in California

The US Air Force's B-21 stealth bomber aircraft is touted to be virtually 'invisible' to all enemy stealth radars and will included the latest features in military tech

This month, during testimony at the Senate Armed Services committee, Andrew Hunter, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, asserted that the B-21's flight testing is currently on schedule.

'We are in the flight test program, the flight test program is proceeding well,' he said.

'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.'

Assistant Secretary Hunter later explained that this is the first aircraft that is more digital than not, which contributes to the program meeting requirements.

The United States Air Force's new stealth bomber was caught in action for the first time by eagle-eyed plane spotters last November, but made a more official test flight this May

The B-21 is a long-range, highly survivable, penetrating strike stealth bomber that will incrementally replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers and will play a major role supporting national security objectives and assisting US allies and partners across the globe.

The B-21 weapon system is manufactured under the Air Force's 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,' according to the US Air Force.

'The aircraft is expected to enter service in the mid-2020s with a production goal of a minimum of 100 aircraft,' the military branch continued in their statement.

The B-21 taxiing at Edwards Air Force Base, California

The B-21 Raider is a nuclear-capable craft and the first of its kind to be introduced since the end of the Cold War.

While press releases described the recent test flights as the B-21's first, it was previously spotted conducting a test flight in California late last year, as confirmed by Air Force officials.

Aviation photographer Matt Hartman caught the new warplane in action at Northrop Grummans Palmdale facility in November 2023, recording video of this less public test flight from a road near Air Force Plant 42 Palmdale, California.

Aviation photographer Matt Hartman caught the new warplane in action at Northrop Grummans Palmdale facility last November, recording video of a less official test flight

His footage shows the uniquely shaped B-21 Raider roaring through the sky, flanked by another plane, before it takes a sharp turn.

There are six test aircrafts being produced by aerospace company Northrop Grumman and each one is projected to cost $750 million.

It is touted to be virtually 'invisible' to all enemy stealth radars and will equipped with the latest features in military tech.

The B-21 Raider weighs around 30,000 pounds, has a wing span of 172 feet and can reach maximum speeds of 621 miles per hour.

Air Force Global Strike Commander Thomas A. Bussier called the craft the 'future backbone of the bomber fleet,' at a November unveiling event.

Long term, the US Air Force hopes to have at least 220 of them to replace old B-1 and B-2 bombers.

The service has estimated that the program will likely cost at least $203billion over 30 years to develop, purchase and maintain the B-21 fleet.

The B-21 is part of the Pentagon's efforts to modernize all three legs of its nuclear triad, which also includes silo-launched nuclear ballistic missiles and submarine-launched warheads, as it shifts from the counterterrorism campaigns of recent decades to meet China's rapid military modernization.
Australia is home to more than 350 species of native mammals, 87 per cent of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

But with 39 of these species already extinct and a further 110 listed as threatened, theres every chance many will vanish before you even knew they existed. So heres one we think you simply must know (and save), before its too late.

The charismatic kowari is a small carnivorous marsupial.

It was once common inland but is now found only in the remote deserts of southwest Queensland and northeastern South Australia, in less than 20 per cent of its former range.

This pint-sized predator fits in the palm of your hand. Its bright eyes, bushy tail and big personality make it the perfect poster child for the Australian outback.

But with just 1,200 kowari left in the wild, the federal government upgraded its conservation status in November from vulnerable to endangered.

Reversing the decline of the kowari is within our grasp. But we need public support and political will to achieve this. It requires limiting grazing of cattle and sheep, while keeping feral cat numbers under control.

The kowari, a native marsupial found in outback Australia, was recently upgraded to endangered courtesy largely of feral cats

The kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei) is a skilled hunter that stalks mice, tarantulas, moths, scorpions and even birds. Alert and efficient, they attack their prey voraciously.

Formerly known as the brushy-tailed marsupial rat, or Byrnes crest-tailed marsupial rat, the kowari is more closely related to Tasmanian Devil and quolls.

The Wangkangurru Yarluyandi People use the name kowari, while the Dieri and Ngameni peoples use the similar-sounding name kariri.

Kowaris live in stony deserts. They mainly inhabit remote treeless gibber plains. These areas of flat, interlocking red pebbles form vast pavements that could be mistaken for the surface of Mars.

In the outback, where temperatures can exceed 50C, kowaris beat the heat by sheltering in burrows dug into sand mounds. At night they emerge to race across the plains, their head and distinctive brushy tail held high, pausing regularly to scan for predators and prey.

During chilly winter days, kowaris slow their metabolism to conserve energy. They go into a state of torpor, which is a daily version of hibernation.

At the two main South Australian sites, the number of animals captured in trapping surveys declined by 85% between 2000 and 2015. At this rate, the species could disappear from the area within two decades.

The entire population is estimated to number as few as 1,200 individuals scattered over just 350 square kilometres. Thats a combined area of less than 20km x 20km.

Based on this evidence, the conservation status of kowaris was upgraded from vulnerable to endangered in November last year.

Kowaris have been declining for a while but are suddenly on the fast track to extinction. How can that be, when they live in one of the most vast and remote parts of Australia?

Threats include land degradation from pastoralism, and predation from introduced feral cats and foxes.

But its complicated. Threats can combine, having a synergistic effect (greater than the sum of their parts). And then there are climate influences.

Heavy rain in the desert triggers a cascade of events that culminates in an explosion of feral cat numbers.

When conditions dry out again, the cats switch to eating larger or more difficult prey such as bilbies and kowaris, often causing local extinctions. In southwest Queensland, feral cats most likely wiped out one population of kowaris and decimated another.

Feral cats are a huge problem for the Kowari (one is pictured after hunting a native marsupial)

This map shows the distribution of millions of feral cats across Australia. They are more common in the outback and abundant in parts of SA

Huge efforts to control cat plagues have saved the kowari and bilby populations in Astrebla Downs National Park from local extinction so far, but other areas have succumbed.

In SA, all the remaining kowari populations are on pastoral stations used for grazing cattle.

Cattle can trample kowari burrows. They can also compact the sand mounds, making it difficult for kowaris to build burrows in the first place. And they eat the plants on the mounds, reducing the availability of both food and shelter. This makes kowaris easy prey.

Over the past few decades, pastoralism has intensified. Nearly half of Australia (44%) is covered in pastoral leases where many threatened species occur.

Domestic stock usually graze close to watering points such as bores and troughs. More and more watering points are being established, to make more of the pastoral lease accessible to stock. So the area protected from grazing is shrinking as cattle encroach further into kowari territory.

We have the knowledge and tools required to save this species from extinction. We just need decisive leadership and sufficient funding to put these plans into action.

State governments should provide more resources for desert parks so rangers can monitor feral cat numbers and respond rapidly to plagues. We can make use of new technology such as remote camera traps checked via satellite. These measures would also protect the last remaining stronghold of the bilby in Queensland, another nationally threatened mammal.

The pastoral industry and governments must work together to review watering-point placement and reduce grazing pressure in known kowari habitat.

By closing some pastoral watering points and ensuring a portion of each lease (possibly 20%) is away from waters, we can reduce the harm of stock and provide refuges for threatened species. Pastoral companies could show leadership and implement these actions themselves rather than waiting for governments to act.

In the meantime, reintroductions into safe havens is one stopgap measure helping to prevent imminent kowari extinction. In 2022, 12 kowaris were successfully reintroduced to the 123 square km fenced Arid Recovery Reserve in northern SA.

The population has expanded since release. Removing cats, foxes and domestic stock from the reserve has given kowaris a chance to reclaim a small portion of their former range.

But safe havens are small and we need to act on a larger scale. If we dont, the kowari may become yet another Australian species lost before youve even seen it.
Google is reportedly scrambling to block multiple search inquiries for its AI Overviews following reports of the search filter suggesting wildly incorrect answers.

Google spokesperson Meghann Farnsworth told The Verge that the company is already "taking swift action" to moderate search inquiries on the AI per its content policies.

Several news outlets have already reported that the AI-powered search filter provides inaccurate and even dangerous answers to search inquiries, including advice telling people to add Elmer's glue to their pizza or running with a scissor in hand beneficial to their health.

The problem has even spread towards political topics as CNN reported of the AI saying that former President Barrack Obama was a Muslim.

Tried to recreate the embarrassing Google AI overviews error @MelMitchell1 pointed out that falsely claims President Obama was the first Muslim president.



Turns out, you get a very different answer depending on if you put a question mark or not in your search query pic.twitter.com/RpWUpIgCPl  Shirin Ghaffary (@shiringhaffary) May 23, 2024

With the AI resourcing most of its answers on online conversation and content, the answer is highly likely taken from conspiracy theories in 2015 hinting Obama was supposed to be a Muslim.

Google retained that the inaccurate results are "uncommon queries," promising that the AI Overviews produce "high-quality information" to users more often.

Google Search's AI Overviews was among the latest features the tech giant launched as part of integrating the controversial Gemini AI across multiple products and platforms.

Also Read : Google Search AI Overviews is Suggesting Inaccurate, Dangerous Answers

Generative AI Hallucinations Haunt Google Products

This was not the first that Google's Gemini AI has been criticized for inaccurate answers amid growing concerns about the company's ethics in AI development.

Earlier this year, Google paused the image generation feature for the chatbot after it was reported of producing racially inaccurate depictions of historical figures.

As of writing, Google has yet to provide a clear confirmation that the issue with the image generation has been resolved.

The Time Magazine has earlier put out an article criticizing Google's current AI plan, pushing a "one size fits all" approach rather than carefully building individual tools for specific tasks.

One of Google's former employees and AI pioneer Geoffrey Hilton also highlighted similar concerns as the tech giant ramps up the development process at the cost of its safety to catch up with competitors.

Related Article : Google Search Will Soon Introduce Ads on AI Overviews

Instructions on How to Turn Off AI Overviews Trend on Google Search

Amid controversies surrounding the AI filter, inquiries about how to turn off AI Overviews recorded a surge in Google Search.

Instructional articles and videos on how to disable the feature have also started popping out on YouTube and Google as more people bash the feature on social media.
The owner of a naturist resort in Fuerteventura has revealed the biggest mistake that people make when they sign up.

Karie Jane, from Derbyshire, set up the BHH Naturist Resort in the Canary Islands, Spain, after first trying the lifestyle 20 years ago.

The 57-year-old now runs retreats where she hosts groups of strangers who have 'booked separately' to enjoy the hotel rooms at her clothing-optional property as well as hosting families and couples.

Delving into what people fail to understand at her resort, Karie said that people think nudism is about sex.

On her resort website, Karie writes: 'Being nude with others is not embarrassing. Nudism is not porn.

Karie Jane (left) set up BHH Naturist Resort in the Canary Islands, Spain, after first trying the lifestyle 20 years ago

Karie explained that being nude with others is not 'embarrassing' and 'nudism is not porn'

Karie (above) explained that the draw of nudism is 'the freedom from wearing clothes and to feel liberated'

'In fact, its easy to forget that everyone is naked and just because they are, does not make for a sexually charged atmosphere either.

'If you're going to an event or beach for a thrill you might as well buy a magazine and do us all a favour and stay home.

'Any sexual activity in a public setting is not only offensive... it is illegal. Nobody wants to see that.

'However, holding hands, a hug or simple kissing is fine. If you want to show extra affection with someone you love, I suggest you get a room or wait till you're back home to do so.'

Discussing what can happen if someone gets an erection at her naturist resort, Katie went on by saying: 'Yes, they can happen, especially if you are new to nudism.

'The best way to deal with this is to either turn over on your towel, or if you are at a beach, you can stay in the water until your situation comes more under control.'

If someone is drawing attention to the fact that they're standing to attention, Karie remarks that they should be reported.

Karie's naturist resort is in Fuerteventura (above). She says: 'If you see someone with an obvious erection and is purposely drawing attention, let a lifeguard or authorities know about this'

Karie and some of her guests enjoy the sunshine on a nude beach

She explains: 'If you see someone with an obvious erection and is purposely drawing attention, let a lifeguard or authorities know about this and in most cases, they will be kicked out and banned from coming back again.'

Staring at someone's body is also frowned up. Karie's website says: 'It is very rude to stare and moreover, if you are going to have a conversation with someone make sure you are talking to them with proper eye contact.

'If you're going to an event or beach for a thrill you might as well buy a magazine and do us all a favour and stay home.'

Karie explained that the draw of nudism is 'the freedom from wearing clothes and to feel liberated'.

The resort owner said: 'When youve seen dozens of naked people in a day, trust me, you start to feel way less concerned about whether your boobs, your labia, your pubes, your cellulite, your freckles, your whatever-other-hang up, is normal.

'Because you can see, very clearly, that it is.'

In March earlier this year, a keen traveler shed light on what it is really like going on a nude cruise - with less luggage to pack being one of the major perks.

Writing anonymously on Reddit the man, aged 67, invited other users to 'ask me anything' about the experience.

Two of Karie's guests enjoy skinny dipping during a trip on a chartered yacht

He booked a cruise via the Texas-based travel company Bare Necessities, which has been operating clothing-optional ship charters since 1990.

The unnamed man said he was on a 2,000 passenger Carnival cruise liner with his 61-year-old wife for a seven-day round trip from Tampa, Florida, with stops in Mexico and Honduras along the way.

He reiterated to other Reddit users that the trip - his first ever nudist cruise - was 'not a swingers cruise or a sex positive environment' and 'this was a crowd with lots of nudist experience.'

Explaining the ins and outs of nudist cruising, he revealed that the captain 'generally makes an announcement after exiting a port when clothes can be removed' and 'usually it's about thirty minutes.'

The same then happens in reverse, when the ship starts nearing its next port of call.

He added that people 'usually take advantage of the opportunity to be nude since that's the point of the cruise.'

On the staff side of things, he said all of the cruise workers were clothed 'except for one male/female duo' who performed in the theatre.
Eggs and soldiers is a popular breakfast dish around the world  but one that, unfortunately, you've been eating all wrong.

You've probably been left shell-shocked by the debris field you've created while tackling it.

Heed the advice of etiquette expert William Hanson, and you can look forward to enjoying the dish in a tidier, more graceful fashion.

Mr Hanson, that Merlin of manners, that guru of good form, disseminates his eggs and soldiers teachings in a TikTok post that so far has amassed 1.7million views and an Instagram post with 43,000 likes.

In the clip, he instructs viewers to hold the egg cup in their non-dominant hand 'to secure it', then to 'smash the top' with a teaspoon, 'place the teaspoon down, and then using the tip of a knife, cut into the top'.

Heed the advice of etiquette expert William Hanson, and you can look forward to enjoying eggs and soldiers in a tidier, more graceful fashion. Mr Hanson disseminates his eggs and soldiers teachings in a TikTok post that so far has amassed 1.7million views and an Instagram post with 43,000 likes

He adds: 'If you need to use your teaspoon to help take the top off, so be it.'

What's next? Well, you 'pick up your soldier, toasted or untoasted, depending on your preference, dunk in [the yolk], and eat'.

Does the top of the egg have to be taken off with a knife?

Mr Hanson clarified to MailOnline Travel that it doesn't.

He said: 'This can be done with a knife or teaspoon, however you see fit and easiest.'

At the most refined hotels, should one expect a waiter or waitress to cut the top of the egg off for you?

Is it OK to pick out bits of eggshell from the yolk with one's fingers? Mr Hanson revealed that it is - 'if dining alone'

Egg-cellent technique: Mr Hanson instructs his social media viewers to hold the egg cup in their non-dominant hand 'to secure it', then to 'smash the top' with a teaspoon (left), 'place the teaspoon down, and then using the tip of a knife, cut into the top' (right)

Mr Hanson said: 'Yes, in a hotel setting it is more likely that the staff will do it for you - which helps justify the prices they charge, frankly. A private house - even staffed - is different.'

Is there an ideal number of 'soldiers'? Or is that just personal preference?

Mr Hanson said: 'This is totally a personal preference. However many soldiers can be made from one slice of bread is usual.'

Is it OK to pick out bits of eggshell from the yolk with one's fingers?

Mr Hanson revealed that under certain circumstances, this is permitted: 'We try to avoid using hands and fingers, but if no one is looking, or if dining alone, I am sure you can be forgiven for a quick finger.'

And what about mopping up egg yolk from the plate using a 'soldier'?

This is allowed 'only if dining alone', as 'mopping up sauce with bread is a touch paysan'.

For more from Mr Hanson visit his TikTok and Instagram profiles. His new book, Just Good Manners (Penguin Random House), is out on September 12, 2024. It is billed as 'a witty and authoritative guide to British etiquette', with William sharing 'his definitive guidance on how to charm and delight those around you in every situation with idiosyncratic authority'.
'Where in the world can I buy a house for under 5,000?' Not expecting a great deal, that was the question I idly typed into the Google search engine a couple of years ago.

To my surprise, the answer was quite a few places. But amid the myriad adverts suggesting cheap apartments everywhere from Bulgaria and Albania to  surprisingly  parts of the US, I stumbled on one particular link that caught my eye.

It was called the 1 Euro Houses project and, as the name suggests, it offered the chance for house-hunters to get the keys to their own property in rural Italy for less than a pound.

Yes, the property would take hard work and require extensive renovation as well as legal fees and expenses. Yet in return I could own my own Dolce Vita home.

Too good to be true? That's certainly what a lot of my friends thought. More than one suggested it must be some kind of scam.

Viewers of BBC1 show Amanda And Alan's Italian Job, of course, will know that it most certainly isn't. The show focuses on Amanda Holden and Alan Carr's successful efforts to turn 1 houses into harmonious homes.

The 1 residence in question - an old, three-bedroom cottage sitting in the hilltop Sicilian village of Mussomeli

George Laing, 31, pictured, said he was inspired by the BBC1 show Amanda And Alan's Italian Job, where Amanda Holden and Alan Carr successfully turned 1 houses into lovely homes

But I can also personally put to bed any suggestion that the scheme isn't above board: I'm writing this today from the quaint balcony of my own 1 home, a three-bedroom cottage in the hilltop Sicilian village of Mussomeli.

To my left is a vista of mountains, to my right a beautiful church. Five minutes' walk away, meanwhile, is the thriving village centre, where I can buy an excellent cappuccino for 1.50 (admittedly more than my house cost), and an even more delicious pizza for a fiver.

I don't speak a word of Italian (yet), and my hands are callused. But I can honestly say that at 31, I am happier than I have ever been.

So what led this former public school boy to put down roots in Sicily, an island I had visited only once before on a school trip? The answer is simple: I wanted to own a property without a mortgage, learn new skills by renovating it, and enjoy the sunshine and lifestyle on a beautiful island.

Moreover, my paternal grandfather was the maverick psychiatrist RD Laing, and I hail from a family that always encouraged entrepreneurial spirit.

From the age of eight, I started attending school fairs and jumble sales selling Pokemon cards.

I wasn't academic, but I was always highly creative and thrived in sports. So, while I enrolled at Brighton University to study business economics, it took a matter of months before I realised it was a huge waste of time and money. I dropped out and focused on my thriving sideline of buying and selling vintage clothing.

After that, the rest of my 20s unfolded in typically chaotic style, as I lurched from one job to another, finally working at a job where, after tax, my net pay was 1,500 a month. At the time, the rent on my tiny one-bedroom flat cost me 1,000 a month, leaving me with barely enough to keep my head above water.

When after a year I was let go from that role  as a night time concierge at Battersea power station against the backdrop of the Covid pandemic  I vowed to never work for someone else again. So I invested my last pay cheque in starting a small jewellery business with one of my brothers.

I never looked back, but the pressing issue of where to live still loomed large. Like a lot of people with a 30th birthday on the horizon, my mind had drifted towards buying my own place, but every time I even remotely considered it, I was reminded that trying to put down roots in the city in which I was born was practically impossible.

With even decent one-bedroom flats selling for north of 500,000, the required 10 per cent deposit meant I needed at least 50,000 in the bank  money I didn't have and had no way of getting.

Which is why, one winter evening around two years ago, I found myself asking the internet how else I could become a property owner  and how, within minutes, I found myself staring at a three-bedroom tumbledown home in Mussomeli, a small town located 765 metres above sea level in the very heart of Sicily.

It was pretty much the very first property I looked at, and something about it made me feel there was no need to carry on clicking.

The glorious town of Mussomeli is draped by a vista of mountains and has a beautiful church, a thriving village centre and many cafes to buy an excellent cappuccino

George's hasty purchase came with a crumbling facade, a hole in the roof, no running water and no electricity

Yes, it was in dire need of an overhaul, with a crumbling facade and a hole in the roof, no running water and no electricity.

What it did have, though, was three storeys, a balcony, and its original marble stairs. It was also five minutes from a surprisingly busy village centre  not to mention a Lidl ten minutes' walk out of town.

When I discovered its street number was 11  my lucky number  it felt fated.

I emailed the agent expressing interest and started to research if converting this property myself  the only way I could afford to do it  was remotely possible for a man who just about knew how to hang a picture.

The answer, I quickly decided, was yes. While others who have embarked on the scheme spent between 50,000 and 60,000 (43,000 to 51,000) to renovate their homes, they were hiring local labour to source the materials and do the work. I worked out that if I did it myself, I could do it for around 15,000.

And so, around 18 months ago, I found myself at the small rural train station of Acquaviva-Casteltermini for my first viewing. I had flown to Palermo, capital of the Sicily region, from London Stansted and hopped onboard a train taking me into the island's rural heartland, past rolling hills, lakes, and fields of grazing sheep.

The estate agent had offered to drive me the last 10km of the journey to Mussomeli, but instead I opted to walk through picturesque rural villages, past farmers and the odd donkey or two.

Right away, it felt like a little slice of heaven.

The journey, navigating a near 2,000ft incline, finally brought me into Mussomeli.

I had little idea of what to expect. It did occur to me that, in keeping with many estate agent photos, the house might look far worse than it did in the pictures.

I needn't have worried. From the moment I arrived on my cobbled street, dappled with sunlight, I was already enchanted, and when I finally crossed the threshold of number 11, I was determined that whatever I found inside I would not be daunted.

It was just as well: what I hadn't realised is that by buying the house, I would be taking on all the previous owner's possessions as well. I could barely see the walls because every single inch was covered with a lifetime's worth of stuff, accumulated by the old lady whose son had neither the time nor inclination to sort through it.

Everything from furniture to old corsets and wine bottles, quilts, and religious statues  all lay there abandoned and in need of attention.

That was nothing compared to the structure, however. There was a gaping hole in the roof, a number of large cracks in different rooms, a couple of beams were rotting, and the ancient bathroom was so tiny I could barely stand up in it.

George, a former public school boy, can be seen getting his hands dirty with his own, much-needed restorations

As for the kitchen  well, there wasn't one. Instead, a metal stove connected to a propane tank did the job.

I was under no illusions that it was a mammoth project. But I also knew it had vast potential. At around 250 square feet, the rooms were big, and while the marble stairs and borders were in dire need of some TLC, they were intact.

The deal was sealed when I stepped on to my 150 square foot balcony  around the same size as my bedroom at home  to take in the breathtaking view and the chime of village bells.

It wasn't difficult to picture myself there each morning, drinking my first coffee of the day. What's more, I had a vision of the house as it could be: a three-bedroom home  two of them en suite  with a living room and kitchen on the top floor and a self-contained one-bedroom flat in the basement, which was  and still is  a big derelict hole.

And so, six months later, after some legal back and forth, I sat in the estate agent's office signing the document which would give me the freehold of number 11 for the princely sum of 85 British pence.

The agency fee was 418 and I later had to pay 2,500 for the transfer of the deeds and legal fees, followed by around 1,500 for an energy certificate and floor plan and assorted other fees.

All in all, becoming the proud owner of number 11 cost me around 4,500  less than it would cost to buy a parking place in some of London's posher postcodes.

There was just one condition: the municipio  the local authority  stipulates you have to renovate the facade within the first three years, otherwise, there's meant to be a 5,000 (4,260) fine.

That was eight months ago, and ever since I have embarked on what has become a regular monthly routine.

Once a month, I leave my flat in Eastbourne, East Sussex, fly to Palermo, and make my way up that steep winding hill (saving myself the 25 taxi fare) to spend several days at my Sicilian home working ten hours a day bringing it back to life.

I'm on a perilously tight budget, so after a hard day's graft I curl up on a mahogany bed I inherited with the property, snuggled under some beautiful hand-knitted blankets which were also left behind.

My daily ablutions come courtesy of a two-litre bottle of water  purchased for 21 cents from Lidl  until, when it gets too much, I finally splash out on a nearby hotel, where I can get a room and a shower for 40.

Food is in abundant supply at the village cafes and shops where I get fed for a tenth of the price I would pay back home. I feast on 50 cent baguettes, cheese and beautifully ripe, flavoursome tomatoes for around 1 and, when I'm feeling indulgent, one of those 5 pizzas.

The first three months were dedicated to clearing out the property: it took forever to sort the possessions into what was rubbish and what could be salvaged.

There was a surprising amount in both camps  I was certainly never going to get rid of that mahogany bed frame, but there was also a huge amount I realised I could sell.

Religious paintings in ornate gilt frames, even beautiful pieces of jewellery, including a pair of vintage 12ct gold earrings which I sold for 197 after setting up an auction on my website. There's still stuff on there, and anything I make goes straight back into the renovation.

Once I'd waded through that, I could start on the work. It was hard to know where to begin, although one of the first things I did was to scale the roof and fix some plastic sheeting to keep out the rain  there's not much of it in the Italian summer, but come November it's a different story.

Everything else I'm doing piecemeal  it fits my personality to have lots of different jobs on the go, so I'm doing everything from stripping back the walls and filling potholes and cracks to gutting the bathroom.

I've never done any of it before, but YouTube is proving a surprisingly informative tutor, and I'm taking online electrical and plumbing courses too.

Of course, it's not without its challenges. It's taken me six months to get the electric switched on, courtesy of an endless and frustrating back and forth with the local supplier who seems to take a leisurely view of the need for essential services. I expect I'll go through the same palaver having the water connected, which is why I'm putting it off.

In videos posted to Instagram, miscellaneous pots, pans, bags and rubbish tarnish the floor during the building's extensive refurbishment

There are occasions too, when I wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew, like the time I tried to remove the 150kg copper boiler fixed into the bathroom walls. I still don't know how I managed to get it off and roll it down the stairs.

Whenever I am plagued with doubts, however, I just need to step on to my balcony or take a walk in the breathtaking Sicilian countryside, being greeted with a cheery buongiorno by the locals.

It's the same everywhere I go: far from being angered by the presence of interlopers, the community seems grateful I am here, not just bringing a house to life but spending money in the cafes and shops. As the estate agent explained, most residents here don't have the money to take on the fees and renovation costs, and are glad someone else is stepping up.

I've still got a long way to go, but my hope is that in six months' time I'll have a house to be proud of  as well as accumulating a set of renovation skills I can then take into another property.

The big question will be whether or not I'll sell it. At the moment I don't know, but I do know that this is the start of a new and fulfilling life, creating a healthy future in a charming community.

To find out more about the renovation, you can follow @george_laing_ on Instagram.
Richard Gadd's stalker drama Baby Reindeer has soared to global success since its release on Netflix last month, racking up a massive 60million views.

The series follows comedian Donny Dunn, who endures a harrowing ordeal when he is bombarded with thousands of emails from stalker Martha Scott, played by Jessica Gunning.

The smash hit has prompted many thought-provoking conversations around stalking, in particular celebrity stalking.

Amid the huge success of the show, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at Aussie celebrities who have had their own terrifying stalking experiences.

After the show premiered, comedian Wil Anderson touched on his stalker ordeal as he spoke about Baby Reindeer during a radio appearance.

Richard Gadd's stalker drama Baby Reindeer has soared to global success since its release on Netflix last month (pictured: actress Jessica Gunning on the show)

Speaking on Nova's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie, Wil, 50, said he was warned not to watch the show because of his own experience where he received daily letters from a fan.

'I have been warned not to watch [Baby Reindeer] actually. Like a lot of comedians, and without wanting to go into it, it's a very personal medium,' he shared.

'What often people can feel like is they know you very well. So that's actually part of the illusion - it's a bit like radio - you're sharing your lives with your audience every day and people can start to feel like "I'm listening to you in the shower, I'm listening to you in the car, you're an intimate part of my life".'

Wil went on to explain how he used to have a fan who would write him long letters every single day when he hosted the Triple J radio show from 2000 to 2004.

The drama follows comedian Donny Dunn, who undergoes a harrowing ordeal when he is bombarded with thousands of emails from stalker Martha Scott, played by Jessica Gunning

He recalled he would receive 'six pages' of dialogue from the female fan daily as if they had a 'personal relationship' as he detailed the ordeal.

'I imagine there's a lot of people who work in these industries who have been touched with some story of that,' he went on.

'When I was at Triple J - I think this is probably safe enough now to tell, it was so long ago - I had a woman write to me every single day we were on air - and this was in the old days where you had to write on pieces of paper in envelopes - every day, after every show.

'There would be like six pages of dialogue as if we'd be having a personal relationship. It can be a lot worse than that also.'

Speaking about Baby Reindeer, comedian Wil Anderson touched on his own experience with stalking as he spoke about receiving long daily letters from one fan while he hosted Triple J

Meanwhile, radio presenter Kate Ritchie's own stalker nightmare came to light earlier this year.

It was revealed she made a phone call to NSW Police after receiving a message from Gerard Ryan, 71, which said he was in the suburb where she lives and hoped to find her.

He had sent her 'hundreds' of messages from February 2022 through to April 2023, including 'numerous naked photographs of the accused and numerous videos of the accused masturbating', police facts, seen by the Daily Telegraph, claimed.

Ryan was arrested at a park in Sydney's eastern suburbs last month and charged with stalking, which he pleaded guilty to. He was also hit with an apprehended violence order banning him from approaching Kate.

Waverley Local Court was told Ryan's obsession with the TV star began last year when he started posting on her social media accounts comments including, 'Hello Kate  I love you so much'.

Elsewhere, radio presenter Kate Ritchie's own stalker nightmare came to light earlier this year after Gerard Ryan, 71, sent her 'hundreds' of messages from February 2022 to April 2023

Another post said: 'I just want to kiss you my heart is pounding for you I love you madly.'

Ryan posted explicit sexual messages about Kate on his own social media pages, and when she didn't respond it got worse.

The police facts also indicated Ryan had said he wanted to marry Kate and referenced her daughter, saying he would make 'a good stepfather'.

In February, he sent a letter to her work address which included a Valentine's Day card.

Ryan was sentenced to a 12-month Conditional Release Order and an AVO states he must not go within 500m of Kate's home or workplace.

After the release of Baby Reindeer, WSFM breakfast host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones also opened up for the first time about his own stalker experience.

The radio host, 56, revealed he once had two female stalkers.

'You know, I had a stalker once. I had... two ladies. There was one many years ago, and she just wouldn't let go. She just kept under a different name. It was very freaky. Very scary,' he told co-hosts Amanda Keller and Emma Gillespie.

'She knew where I lived. She knew everything. And then I caught her and, so she was under a fake name, Cassandra, and I found out her real name.'

Jonesy recalled how the stalker used to call up the radio station each night he was working.

After the release of Baby Reindeer, WSFM breakfast host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones also opened up for the first time about his own stalker experience, revealing he had two female stalkers

He shared one incident where 'Cassandra' rang the station chasing a prize and he answered the phone.

'I just went cold. I felt this chill and then I went, "Cassandra?" I'd got her address and I got everything about her,' he said.

'Once she'd been found out, I never heard from her again.'

Last year, a man was also accused of stalking Love Island Australia host Sophie Monk.

Brian Rapley, 49, had arrived at the TV star's door with a red rose in April 2023 claiming he believed he was in relationship with Sophie after being 'catfished'.

Last year, a man was also accused of stalking Sophie Monk, claiming he believed he was in relationship with the Love Island Australia host after being 'catfished'

He showed up and lingered at her Central Coast home with the hope he would be meeting her in person after exchanging loved-up messages online.

Rapley claimed a con artist posing as the TV star sent him romantic texts and DMs for four months before scamming him out of $7,000.

In September, he was arrested and charged with breaching an apprehended personal violence order (AVO) after allegedly turning up at Sophie's manager's office in Surry Hills, Sydney.

He was released from jail one week later on a 12-month community corrections order and informed the AVO would remain in place.

In May 2015, a man was also convicted of stalking Sophie by sending violent and sexual social media messages.

James Scott McCabe, 32, received an eight-month suspended jail sentence for sending countless Twitter messages to Sophie between 2010 and 2013, some of which described the pair having sex.

Musical theatre star Rhonda Burchmore has also opened up about her experience with alleged stalking threats last year.

At the time, Rhonda revealed that she sometimes felt 'vulnerable' and 'exposed' while appearing on stage eight times a week.

'You are so vulnerable when you're up there,' she told the Herald Sun at the time.

Musical theatre star Rhonda Burchmore opened up about her experience with alleged stalking threats

'You're just doing your thing. If someone knows your performance times and schedule like clockwork, and they've seen it for six months, every move, every step, every position on the stage  you become a sitting target.'

She also revealed a stalker previously harassed her during Hot Shoe Shuffle on London's West End in 1994.

'He started off a bit obsessed, then bought a ticket to the show, in the same seat, every week just to see me,' she said.

'I used to get letters from him every week asking if I'd meet him. It all started very pleasantly. When I didn't respond, or meet him where he wanted for coffee, or drinks, it escalated into death threats.'
With a new lead in Ncuti Gatwa, Doctor Who is officially a staple of British Saturday night television once more.

The iconic BBC show has had somewhat of a make-over after its move to Disney+, and budget bump, but one thing has not changed - its deeply embedded references.

Series One of the 15th Doctor's tenure kicked off earlier this month, delighting fans - who are already bursting with burning questions.

From why The Doctor didn't go further in trying to defeat evil weapons manufacturer Villengard in Saturday's episode Boom, to who exactly the mystery woman popping up in every storyline is, the internet is awash with fan theories.

Here, MailOnline takes a look at which questions can be answered through a deep-dive into the show's 60-year history - and ones they'll have to keep watching to find out.

With a new lead in Ncuti Gatwa , Doctor Who is officially a staple of British Saturday night television once more - and fans are reeling with burning questions

Why didn't The Doctor try to defeat Villengard in Boom?

Boom saw the current Doctor and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) travel to an alien planet gripped by war, but the Time Lord found himself in a terrifying situation when he stepped on a landmine

Saturday's episode Boom left some fans with a lingering question - why The Doctor didn't try to defeat the full systems of evil Villengard rather than just saving the one small group of Anglican Marines.

But superfans of the show were quick to point out that it is yet another Easter egg in the show's long history or recurring lore - this time courtesy of writer Steven Moffat.

The episode saw the current Doctor and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) travel to an alien planet gripped by war, but the Time Lord found himself in a terrifying situation when he stepped on a landmine.

This meant the Doctor was incapacitated for the whole episode as he could not move from the landmine for risk of being blown up. If it were to go off, the landmine would destroy the entire planet due to him being a Time Lord.

One feature of the dramatic episode were 'ambulances' - which rather than save lives, end them.

On this planet, ambulances detect slight injury and analyse to decide whether or not that person should live as part of a murderous AI algorithm. One character is killed because he is found to be blind - a condition the ambulance deems unsurvivable.

It was found that the ambulances were courtesy of weapons manufacturer Villengard - a planet mentioned in several other eras of Doctor Who as the ruler of warfare.

This meant the Doctor was incapacitated for the whole episode as he could not move from the landmine for risk of being blown up

One feature of the dramatic episode were 'ambulances' - which rather than save lives, end them (pictured)

The episode saw The Doctor reveal to Anglican Marine Mundy Flynn, interestingly played by his next companion Vasada Sethu, that their blind faith in following orders had resulted in them being sent to fight a non-existent war on an uninhabited planet.

The sole purpose of them being sent there was for the ambulances' algorithm to use their death toll to maximise spending for weapons, in turn, funding Villengard.

But fans were left confused when - after the algorithm was successfully disarmed by the love of a deceased father in protection of his daughter - The Doctor did not go further in trying to shut down Villengard.

Addressing the queries, a superfan and podcast host took to X, formerly Twitter, to explain exactly why.

'I've seen (perfectly legit) criticism of #DoctorWho 'Boom' asking why The 15th Doctor just ends the immediate conflict and doesn't also go on to dismantle Villengard's systems since they are the real villains of the story,' they wrote. 'Because he already did.'

The fan shared a clip from the 2005 episode The Doctor Dances, featuring Christopher Ecclestone, Billie Piper and John Barrowman.

Addressing the queries, a superfan and podcast host took to X, formerly Twitter, to explain exactly why

The fan shared a clip from the 2005 episode The Doctor Dances, featuring Christopher Ecclestone, Billie Piper and John Barrowman

The episode saw the ninth Doctor (Ecclestone) and Rose (Piper) needing to get into a locked room, however he instead lets Captain Jack Harkness (Barrowman) intervene. Rose asks what is wrong with his sonic screwdriver and he assures her it is fine, before Captain Jack uses an impressive piece of 51st century tech called a blaster.

The Doctor explains that this a weapon of the Villengard factories. Captain Jack asks: 'You've been to the factories?'

'Once,' The Doctor says, to which Captain Jack replies: 'Well they're gone now, destroyed. Main reactor went critical, vaporised the lot.'

'Like I said,' The Doctor continues. 'Once. There's a banana grove there now. I like bananas. Bananas are good.'

The exchange suggests that The Doctor is possibly behind the critical incident which resulted in Villengard's demise.

Who is the mystery woman popping up in every episode?

The internet is awash with fan theories, including who exactly the mystery woman popping up in every storyline is (Pictured as the AI ambulance in Boom)

Something that has been driving Doctor Who fans wild is that actress Susan Twist has made an appearance in most of the episodes since the 60th anniversary specials.

Showing up as a different person each time, Susan has played a dinner lady, the face of an AI ambulance and a bar reveller, among others.

In the 60th anniversary specials ahead of the current series, Susan cropped up when the Doctor and Donna ran into Isaac Newton.

Then later in the Christmas special, she was seen as a different character in the bar that Ruby and her band played at.

In the first episode of the new series, called Space Babies, Susan was yet again another character as briefly appeared in a video file at the Baby Station as a former employee.

The Devil's Chord saw her show up again, this time as a dinner lady at Abbey Road studios.

And most recently, Susan was the face of the AI interface for the Villengard ambulance in Boom.

In the 60th anniversary specials ahead of the current series, Susan cropped up when the Doctor and Donna ran into Isaac Newton

Then later in the Christmas special, she was seen as a different character in the bar that Ruby and her band played at

The Devil's Chord saw her show up again, this time as a dinner lady at Abbey Road studios

Fan theories have been rampant as people attempt to decipher what her constant appearances could mean.

Some believe she could be The Doctor's granddaughter - who is mentioned in a recent episode but presumed dead after the genocide of the Time Lords.

While others have suggested she is connected to the Toymaker - who reappeared during the 60th anniversary specials and whose daughter, played by Jinkx Monsoon, just made an appearance as another villain.

A third suggestion is that Susan's appearances could be related to the search for Ruby Sunday's mother.

What actually is bi-generation?

Instead of David Tennant doctor's dying and being regenerated as Ncuti, bi-generation occured

Ncuti finally made his first appearance on screen as the 15th Doctor when David Tennant's incarnation of the character regenerated in December.

However, all was not as it seemed as a huge twist saw both versions of the Doctor remain on screen, in a huge move away from tradition on the long-running BBC sci-fi series.

Instead of David Tennant doctor's dying and being regenerated as Ncuti, bi-generation occured.

This is where rather than one incarnation directly changing into the next, as seen with the regeneration process, the new incarnation instead splits from the previous, allowing both to exist simultaneously, known as bi-generation.

Ncuti's debut came when 'creepy' returning villain The Toymaker, played by Neil Patrick Harris, shot David's Doctor through the chest, forcing him to regenerate.

The Toymaker had turned human beings on Earth mad, before challenging the Doctor to a deadly game - which put the planet at stake - forcing the Time Lord to accept to try and save Earth.

Shooting the Doctor, The Toymaker said: 'I played one game with the First Doctor, I played the second with this Doctor, so your rules declare that I must play the third game with the next Doctor!'

His companions Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and the returning Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford) ran over to support him as he regenerated, with fans expecting that to be the end for David's character.

Bi-generation is where rather than one incarnation directly changing into the next, as seen with the regeneration process, the new incarnation instead splits from the previous, allowing both to exist simultaneously

Ncuti's debut came when 'creepy' returning villain The Toymaker, played by Neil Patrick Harris, shot David's Doctor through the chest, forcing him to regenerate

Melanie reassured him: 'You're going to be someone else, it doesn't matter who, because every single one of you is fantastic!'

While David tearfully said: 'It's time, here we go again! Alonzee,' as he expected to be replaced but a huge twist saw his character remain alongside his new incarnation.

As he remained after the regeneration, he asked Donna and Melanie: 'Could you, pull? It feels different this time,' and as they yanked on his arms, Ncuti shot out of him and the two Time Lords stood alongside each other in a massive twist.

Making his hotly-anticipated debut, Ncuti's Doctor shouted: 'No way!' as he laid eyes on David, moving away from tradition which normally sees one Doctor replace another upon regeneration.

David said: 'You're me,' while Ncuti replied: 'No, I'm me. I think I'm really, really me! Oh-ho-ho I am completely me!'

When asked what had happened, Ncuti's Doctor said: 'Bi-generation, I have bi-generated. There's no such thing, bi-generation is supposed to be a myth, but-!'

The pair of Doctors then used their talents to face off with The Toymaker together and incredibly managed to beat him at his own game, sending the villain out of existence forever.

Why is The Doctor alone in the universe?

In the current sereies, it is reiterated that The Doctor is the only remaining Time Lord

One theme that appears to be reiterated throughout the current series of Doctor Who is that The Doctor is 'the last of the Time Lords', making him an orphan and the only one left of his kind.

The Doctor is the only resident of his home planet called Gallifrey thought to still be alive across all of time and space.

It is a situation the Ninth Doctor [Ecclestone] also found himself as of the show's return in 2005 after 16 years. However, in the time between, Gallifrey has both been found to actually still exist and then been destroyed for a second time.

Throughout Ecclestone and Tennant's tenures as The Doctor, it was believed Gallifrey had been destroyed in the Time War, fought between the Time Lords and the Daleks.

But as the Whoniverse's most famous villain made its way back from extinction, so did the Time Lords.

As Tennant's time came to an end, Time Lords were officially saved from the 'genocide' in the 2013 50th anniversary special, when 13 incarnations of the Doctor came together to freeze Gallifrey in a pocket universe.

Sadly this was not the end of the story, as the species was later killed for a second time - something the current Doctor describes to Ruby as a 'genocide'.

This refers to when the 13th Doctor [Jodie Whittaker] faced off with the Time Lord's nemesis The Master in 2020 and he killed everyone on Gallifrey by detonating the 'Death Particle'. This left The Doctor as the only remaining Time Lord once more.

One theme that appears to be reiterated throughout the current series of Doctor Who is that The Doctor is 'the last of the Time Lords', making him an orphan and the only one left of his kind
Controversial YouTube couple Sam and Nia Rader have revealed they are still together, eight years after the Ashley Madison 'cheaters leak' almost destroyed their marriage.

The devout Christians, who went viral courtesy of Sam, 38, filming him test Nia's urine in secret before revealing to his shocked wife she was pregnant, saw the pair's clean-cut reputations crushed when the builder was outed as a member of the dating website, which encourages married couples to cheat on their partners.

They have documented how the 2015 leak affected their lives on hit Netflix series Ashley Madison, currently the No2 watched show on the platform.

And speaking to MailOnline in their only UK interview, the vloggers, who share four children, have revealed they are still together and blame God, not the hackers, for exposing Sam's infidelities and claim his father's own cheating sparked him to follow in his footsteps.

The couple also refute speculation their 'pregnancy reveal video' was 'fake' or 'staged', with Nia, 35, insisting, 'It was real, it was the biggest shock of my life.'

Controversial YouTube couple Sam (pictured) and Nia Rader have revealed they are still together, eight years after the Ashley Madison 'cheaters leak' almost destroyed their marriage

The devout Christians saw their clean-cut reputations crushed when the builder was outed as a member of the dating website, which encourages married couples to cheat on their partners

They have documented how the 2015 leak affected their lives on hit Netflix series Ashley Madison, currently the No2 watched show on the platform

Sam said: 'Nia and I have so much history and that's what made our marriage all the more difficult to give up on. Nia knew what we had deep down was true and real despite my stupid string.

'I don't regret getting married young, we had only been with each other sexually until I did some sexual things with somebody else... I wish what was different is we had mentors in our life early on, an active father and mother, so you can see how important that role is early on in marriage, and we were both lacking that.

'I didn't have my dad to lean on or to speak truths into me and say, "you're going to want to do this in your marriage, you're going to struggle with this, but you can't go down that route."

'My dad committed adultery, it was actually traumatic, he took me to this woman's house where he was cheating on my mum and when we got home, I exposed him to my mum and he walked out of the house and blamed me and my brother and left my mum with five children to raise on her own.'

Sam and Nia, who married in their early 20s, describe their romance as a 'fairytale' and say they both saved each other from troubled upbringings.

At the age of three, Nia tragically lost her mother and while her father wasn't present, she was raised by her grandparents, who eventually also split due to infidelity in their marriage.

They became successful YouTubers, with over 2.52million subscribers, after a video of them lip-syncing to Frozen song Love Is an Open Door went viral and fans fell in love with their happy family life.

After struggling for over a year to conceive their second baby and Nia suspected she could be pregnant, Sam tested his wife's urine and revealed to her that she was expecting, shot for another one of the couple's videos.

The couple also refute speculation their 'pregnancy reveal video' was 'fake' or 'staged', with Nia insisting, 'It was real, it was the biggest shock of my life'

Sam and Nia, who married in their early 20s, describe their romance as a 'fairytale' and say they both saved each other from troubled upbringings

After struggling for over a year to conceive their second baby and Nia suspected she could be pregnant, Sam tested his wife's urine and revealed to her that she was expecting

But after the clip aired on Netflix's Ashley Madison, some viewers doubted the sincerity of the emotional moment, claiming it was 'setup' for hits.

Nia said: 'There are a lot of sceptics, but it was real, it was the shock of my life. We had been trying for a year and a half to get pregnant, we had so many times it was a no, to get the yes was the best thing ever.'

The couple now have four children together, Symphony, 13, Abram, 10, Juliet, seven, and Josie Grace, three, and say they have made their young family aware of their 'controversial story' told on the Netflix series.

Dating website Ashley Madison launched in 2001 with the tagline, 'Life is short, have an affair' and targeted married individuals to sign up with their personal information, guaranteeing complete confidentiality.

But in 2015, it was hacked by an unknown group who exposed the identities of all subscribers including celebrities, as well as their hidden sexual desires, on the Dark Web.

Not only had Sam signed up to the website with the username dirty_little_secret_man, but he also had explicit affairs and even attempted to have a romance with one of Nia's friends, who rejected his advances.

However, Sam doesn't blame the hackers for exposing his secrets, saying his beliefs as a Christian meant it was only a matter of time until he needed to confess his sins.

He said: 'God has been preparing me for this moment. I have been surrounded by brothers and Christ to open up about these things and I owe it to them to strengthen me and be open about my betrayals.

'I see time and time again so many men in the same place I was and if I can help other marriages, I will do whatever it takes.

Not only had Sam signed up to the website with the username dirty_little_secret_man, but he also had explicit affairs and even attempted to have a romance with one of Nia's friends

However, Sam doesn't blame the hackers for exposing his secrets, saying his beliefs as a Christian meant it was only a matter of time until he needed to confess his sins

The couple admit building back the foundations of their marriage has taken years of counselling and when Nia first learned of the betrayals, Sam moved out of the family home

They have since renewed their wedding vows and have embarked on a new chapter of their marriage, where Sam has repented for his wrongdoings

'Failing in a marriage doesn't just impact your spouse, it impacts your children, and as I have seen in my past, it echos in generations to come. It is so important that we stop and make good decisions. God has called me to be open about this on Netflix.

'I never thought 'oh no, my private information has been leaked', I wasn't mad at them.

'The bible is clear, God won't be mocked, and I was out as a professing Christian and living with all these secrets and Nia, who is this strong woman, he was protecting her, and he exposed me for what I was, and I give him the credit for it and not the hackers. I know it impacted other people differently.'

The couple admit building back the foundations of their marriage has taken years of counselling and when Nia first learned of the betrayals, Sam moved out of the family home.

And their commitment to each other is being further tested as online trolls react to the Netflix three-parter with some claiming Sam 'doesn't deserve' Nia, who says at her lowest she was forced to overcome 'abandonment' and 'rejection' as a result of her husband's actions.

After having two more children since the Ashley Madison scandal, Sam proposed to Nia for a second time and the couple renewed their vows, marking a fresh start in their marriage.

Nia said: 'A huge part of our healing journey was counselling, both professionally and pastoral counselling. We really dug our heels into that, we did hours and hours and hours a week of counselling and it was intense and hard work, but it needed to be done.

'He didn't take away my partner in life, he was so present, taking the kids to school, putting them to bed, cooking, doing laundry but he would leave.

Sam and Nia's book is available to buy on Amazon and covers the couple's story from how they met to their marriage surviving the Ashley Madison leak scandal

'He wasn't staying at the house at that time, and I probably would never admit this in the moment, but I needed that... I was very, very hard on him. I made him feel very unwelcome. But he never backed down and that was a key thing that helped us take a step forward for me to even consider him.'

Sam added: 'We haven't had a lot of kind people. Some people think I don't deserve Nia and she should not be with me right now.

'But we have a happy marriage, full of true, deep intimacy, which was absent early on. We know each other down to the core and when that's there, the intimacy is unmatched.'

Sam and Nia have told their story in new book Live in Truth: Public Scandal | Secret Vows | Restored Hearts, which is available to buy now from Amazon.

The couple hope their experiences, from fairytale to scandal and redemption, can help prevent other marriages suffering with the same issues from breaking apart.

Sam added: 'We alternate writing chapters. It's about how our relationship was pulled out of a movie, it was so romantic, and we filled roles in each other's lives that have been missing.

'We became each other's dad, which was strange, we helped raise each other but we were deeply in love too.'
ITV bosses are facing a huge backlash after being accused of basing a controversial Coronation Street storyline on wrongful accusations that retired schoolteacher Christopher Jefferies brutally murdered Joanna Yeates in 2010.

Viewers are currently watching a plot involving fan favourite and oddball Roy Cropper, who is on remand in prison after being charged with murdering troubled young female character Lauren Bolton.

The storyline has seen Roy verbally attacked by a group of thugs as he attended a vigil for the missing teenager and they then threw a brick through the window of Roys Rolls - Croppers cafe - after branding him a creepy perv online.

Last month he appeared in court charged with Laurens murder and was remanded in custody, much to the horror of viewers.

Coronation Street favourite Roy Cropper was jailed after being charged with the murder of missing teen Lauren Bolton

Roy, played by David Neilson, 75, has spent weeks as Detective Sergeant Lisa Swains prime suspect since he deep cleaned Laurens (Cait Fitton, right) flat after she disappeared

Next week he will be brutally attacked in prison by a terrorist called Griff, who is friends with Laurens dad. He pulls out a weapon and demands to know where Laurens body is. With Roy refusing to confess, Griff holds the makeshift knife to his throat leaving him terrified.

The MailOnline can reveal that writers are using the real life story of Jefferies - Ms Yeates landlord in the Clifton, Bristol - who was falsely suspected of killing the landscape architect.

Police arrested Mr Jefferies, then 65, who also lived in a flat in the same building as Ms Yeates. He was subsequently released without charge and it was another of his tenants, Dutch engineer Vincent Tabak who was convicted of her murder.

However, his life was destroyed after the wrongful claims and he later received an apology and substantial damages from eight media outlets.

A Coronation Street source said: The Christopher Jefferies story is a well-known one. He was vilified by the public and labelled a creep and an oddball.

Roy was Laurens boss. She worked for him in the cafe and it didnt take the police long to return their attention to him. There are some key similarities and the Jefferies case was used to base this plot on.

Corries writers have taken inspiration from the success of ITV drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries by showing how kind hearted Roy could be viewed in the same way.

Once Roys name is out its a case of trial by social media. Everyone knows and loves Roy. Hes been in the show for nearly 30 years so its causing quite a lot of outrage amongst the viewers which is what the writers wanted.

Christopher Jeffries (left) was wrongly accused of murdering Joanna Yeates (right) in Bristol in December 2010

Coronation Street has announced a special week of new episodes as they are set to reveal the truth about Lauren Bolton's disappearance

Griff will take it upon himself to try and force a confession out of Roy. Convinced that Roy is Lauren's killer, Griff is out for blood and Roy's life ends up in grave danger

It has been a huge storyline though and people are tuning into see what happens to Roy next.

The plot began back in February when Lauren, who worked for Roy in the fictional cafe, went missing and after blood was found on the curtains of her flat it was presumed she had murdered.

After Roy, portrayed by David Neilson, was arrested he became increasingly isolated from the the community - like Jefferies.

Footage of Roys arrest was shared widely on social media. He was then remanded in custody at his first court hearing despite pleading his innocence.

In 2014, ITV made a drama called The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies which was watched by 2.6 million viewers.

Ms Yeates, 25, went missing from the flat she shared with her partner on December 17 2010 after an evening out with colleagues. On Christmas Day, eight days later, her fully clothed body was found in the snow by a couple walking their dogs next to the entrance of a quarry three miles away from her home. Tabak was convicted of her murder in October 2011.

An ITV spokesperson didnt respond when offered the opportunity to comment.
An evening out with I'm A Celebrity host Declan Donnelly, captured by the paparazzi, was bound to prompt speculation.

Was former television star Phillip Schofield about to make a sensational comeback?

The dinner, which took place close to the fallen star's West London home, could be interpreted in many ways: as Dec is also close friends with Holly Willoughby, some wondered if he was acting as a go-between for the former best friends, or whether the meal was part of a cleverly choreographed rehabilitation plan to bring Schofield back to our screens, perhaps to ITV, with everyone agreeing to forgive and forget?

Absolutely not, I'm told.

This weekend marks a year since Schofield's epic tumble from grace, when, after years of lying about his long-term romance with a much younger This Morning colleague, he decided to tell the truth in a jaw-dropping mea culpa to the Mail, in which he apologised for lying to this newspaper  to me  and also his bosses and viewers.

The reaction to this gushing outpouring of regret was not what he expected. He was immediately dumped by YMU, the fearsome talent agency that had represented him for more than 25 years, and forced to resign from ITV.

Former This Morning host Phillip Schofield, 62, was pictured earlier this month smiling with I'm A Celebrity star Declan Donnelly, 48, charging rumours that a return to TV for the axed presenter is on the cards

But, as insiders tell me, the past 12 months have done nothing to dampen Schofield's self-belief. He remains furious and still sees himself as the victim of the saga.

There have been rumours circulating that Schofield was to take legal action against ITV, where he also hosted quiz show The Cube and the now defunct British Soap Awards. His lawyer, Jonathan Coad, denies this, however.

Yet wild whispers continue that he will return to ITV, his home for almost 30 years, where he made his name as the king of daytime TV, alongside Holly Willoughby on the This Morning sofa.

So far, every executive I have mentioned this to has either looked at me as if I'm mad, or immediately explained what absolute nonsense it is.

'We don't want him, why would we want him back?' asked one senior member of staff at the network. 'The place is much nicer without him.'

But perhaps the more surprising reason there won't be a return is, I'm told, due to his conviction that he was wronged by ITV, where he believes he was a 'loyal servant' of the channel.

During his epic tumble from grace, Mr Schofield's failing friendship with ITV co-host Holly Willoughby, 43, became a national fascination

'Phillip firmly believes that he has been mistreated by ITV. He thinks he was thrown under the bus. From some of what he says, he feels he is the victim,' a source told me.

As everyone knows, however, there is a real victim in the story: the star-struck young man, who first met Schofield when he was just 15, during a visit to his theatre school in the North West of England. A year on, life for him has been far from rosy.

He is still struggling to come to terms with the relationship and how infamous it became  particularly across social media. After leaving ITV with a pay out, insiders say he went abroad. There was a stint at another terrestrial broadcaster before life in the industry became too much and he left to work in a pub.

Although the press had agreed not to publish his name, it became an open secret, making his job behind the bar impossible. Today, apart from having the services of a lawyer at London-based firm Mishcon de Reya, he has been cut adrift by the celebrity world he loved so much.

'He had so many friends at ITV, he was extremely popular and had hoped to build a career there. It's such a shame,' says a source.

Yet, according to the source, Schofield 'thinks he was the fall guy. He can't work out why he was the one who had to go from This Morning last May'. The BBC, I'm told, 'won't touch him' and neither will other networks. Once said to be worth 8 million, his life today couldn't be more different.

Gone are the many industry friends who had once so enjoyed being in his orbit. Gone, too, are the glitzy parties  who doesn't remember Phil and Holly going straight to the This Morning studios, slightly dishevelled and still in their evening finery, after winning a National Television Award in 2016?

Instead, there are dog walks, evenings in front of the TV with his daughters Molly and Ruby and visits to Cornwall to see his elderly mother, Pat. He's been very open about the fact that he's been undergoing therapy. A visit to his local pub is seen as a 'treat' these days.

As for Phil and Holly, who had been close friends since the mid-Noughties when they began hosting Dancing On Ice, it seems, as with ITV there is no way back.

The duo's beloved double-act disintegrated following Mr Schofield's denial about his relationship with a much younger colleague

Which takes me back to that moment, a year ago, and the phone call, on a very ordinary Friday afternoon, that I will never forget.

I didn't recognise the number: it was Paul Worsley, the boss of YMU talent agency, who'd represented Schofield from the beginning.

'In half an hour you are going to get a scoop,' Worsley told me. 'But before that I want you to know that yesterday we parted company with Phillip.'

I was stunned. What had happened? For months, I had been writing about the increasingly fractious relationship between Holly and Phil and two weeks earlier he'd been ousted from This Morning, with ITV bosses taking her side over the fall out.

Worsley refused to explain any further, other than that the statement would come via Schofield's lawyer, Jonathan Coad. Then, ping, in my inbox was the most extraordinary email I will ever receive  a full confession which explained how he had engaged in an affair with a young man who was by this time in his 20s  more than 30 years younger than him. Schofield described the romance, which took place behind his wife Stephanie Lowe's back, as 'unwise but not illegal'.

Mr Schofield is captured walking his puppy in the rain earlier this week. He has remained off TV screens since he admitted to his relationship a year ago

It was the culmintion of a series of events which he had been praying would never happen.

For several years he had been hiding his relationship with the young man. Weeks earlier, I had written a story in the Mail on Sunday about the man being moved off the show following a fall out with Schofield.

All hell broke loose. Schofield instructed his lawyers to use the press regulator IPSO to protect him. However, the younger man refused to go along with it any longer, leaving Schofield in a precarious position. A meeting was arranged, where he decided he'd confess all and make a fresh start.

A mutual non-disclosure agreement, alongside a six figure sum of money, was arranged with the young man. Yet no amount of money could compensate for the total devastation the affair wreaked on his life.

'It broke his heart that he had to leave it all behind. He is slowly coming to terms with what happened, but it will take some time,' an ITV insider says. 'Those around him are furious with what was allowed to happen to him.

'He lost pretty much everything as a result of being close to Phil. If anyone should be claiming victim status, it's him.'
They've won legions of fans as one of televisions most loved-couples.

But former This Morning hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford are expected to reveal that they have split after 14 years of marriage.

Sources close to the pair say that a statement is being prepared by Ruths representatives which will share the sad news with their followers.

One told MailOnline: Ruth and her team have been telling their friends to look out for the comments, which they are planning to put on social media.

Its a very sorry tale. They are both so loved by the British public, they won over so many people on This Morning which they hosted for more than a decade.

They were as close to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan as you could get.

The couple, who live in Surrey, have prompted many rumours throughout the showbusiness industry in recent months by not appearing together on their individual Instagram accounts

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, both 64, are expected to announce they've split after 14 years of marriage on Saturday (pictured in 2021)

The GB News presenter and Loose Women star, who previously hosted This Morning

Claims of their statement come just days after Ruth revealed she fears Eamonn might never be 100 per cent right after undergoing back surgery due to suffering chronic back pain for almost two years.

The GB News breakfast presenter is still recovering from the surgery and an injury to his shoulder, which saw him take four months off work at the end of last year.

He has ongoing daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his wife Ruth.

Speaking to Womans Weekly, Ruth said: I dont know how much Eamonns mobility will improve. We live in hope.

He does the physio, but there might have to be some acceptance that this might never be 100% right. With any care situation - and there are millions of carers in this country - it isnt always easy. Its testing but we manage as a family.

Ruth added: I look at Eamonn, whos had his health and back problems, and it makes you realise how important your health is.

Eamonn and Ruth tied the knot in 2010 after 13 years together, in a lavish ceremony at the grand 19th century Hampshire hotel, The Elvetham.

The couple are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has sons Declan, 35, Niall, 31, and daughter Rebecca, 33, from his previous marriage.

On their big day, Ruth walked down the aisle in a dress and matching headdress by Italian designer Angelina Colarusso.

The newlyweds were joined by famous friends including Royle Family star Sue Johnston, TV presenters Gloria Hunniford, Amanda Lamb and Jeremy Kyle, EastEnders actress Zoe Lucker and former champion boxer Barry McGuigan.

Writing on his Twitter page at the time, the proud groom confirmed: Sorry if me and Ruth have been a bit quiet these past few days... but have been a bit preoccupied - we got married yesterday.

Although it was a truly stunningly beautiful day - even the sun was eclipsed by my beautiful bride, who I love even more than before.

Eamonn gushed about his bride in the new issue of Hello! magazine, which obtained exclusive photographs of their special day.

It comes just days after Ruth revealed she fears Eamonn 'might never be 100 per cent right' after undergoing back surgery due to suffering chronic back pain for almost two years

The couple tied the knot in 2010 after 13 years together, in a lavish ceremony at the grand 19th century Hamptshire hotel, The Elvetham (pictured in 2001)

He told the magazine: Ruth was the missing jigsaw piece in my life. I was meant to be married.

Shes a wonderful mummy to Jack, a fantastic partner both personally and professionally and now, Im proud to say, shes my beautiful wife.

Ruth, who regularly presents Loose Women, enthused: Our relationship is very passionate. Were like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Although we bicker and argue, ultimately our love for each other and the bond we share is so strong.

Eamonn and Ruth also hosted This Morning together for 14 years, and were a fixture on the show both on Fridays and during the school holidays.

However, in 2020 the pair were dropped from their Friday slot and replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot OLeary.

A source close to the pair said at the time they were more upset than angry at being ousted from the show.

Since then, Eamonn has been a presenter on GB News Breakfast Show, while Ruth has been a regular panellist and anchor on Loose Women since 1999.
Andy Cohen has filed to have Leah McSweeney's lawsuit against him dismissed.

The former Real Housewives of New York City star, 41, is suing the Bravo network and Cohen, 55, for alleged discrimination and a hostile work environment, and claims a 'rotted' work culture pressured cast members to consume alcohol.

According to People, Cohen asked a judge to dismiss McSweeney's claims, calling her allegations 'threadbare' and stating that they should be 'dismissed as a matter of law'.

Cohen's filing says that McSweeney's allegations, 'impermissibly seek to abridge Defendants First Amendment rights to tailor and adjust the messages they wish to convey in their creative works, including through cast selection and other creative decisions'.

The filing continues, 'Whatever messages Defendants "communicate or intended to communicate" with their shows is protected by the First Amendment.

Andy Cohen has filed to have Leah McSweeney's lawsuit against him dismissed

The former Real Housewives of New York City star, 41, is suing the Bravo network and Cohen, 55, for alleged discrimination and a hostile work environment among other issues

'Judicial intervention into casting decisions for expressive works impermissibly regulate[s] [Defendants] right to alter the content of the story [they] tell or choose not to tell.'

Cohen also denied McSweeney's allegations that she had experienced discrimination, citing Title VII and the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) by stating that they had surpassed the statue of limitations.

McSweeney's lawyer, Adelman-Matz co-founder Sarah Matz, responded with a statement.

'We do not agree that the motion has merit  it mostly argues for dismissal on technical grounds essentially saying that Defendants were allowed to discriminate against Ms. McSweeney  not that they did not do it,' they said.

'To agree with the Defendants would be to essentially say that the creative industries are not subject to anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation laws and that networks could engage in discrimination and retaliation with impunity, which is not the law.'

McSweeney, who is now sober, spoke about going up against a 'powerful entity' like Bravo while appearing on the Addiction Talk podcast back in March.

She said that though the lawsuit has caused blowbacks it doesn't matter because 'this is the truth, you know? And I have it on my side.'

Cohen asked a judge to dismiss McSweeney's claims, calling her allegations 'threadbare' and stating that they should be 'dismissed as a matter of law'

Cohen also denied McSweeney's allegations that she had experienced discrimination

'As hard as it is to be going up against a very powerful entity, and for people to maybe also just not agree with me or you know, come at me and get blowback and all the things, I don't care, because this is the truth, you know?' she shared.

'And my intentions are really good. And I check myself all the time about that,' the star added.

The former RHONY star added that she's doing 'great' all things considered.

'I'm leaning into my program, and my meetings, and my sober friends, and my regular friends that are not sober but are amazing,' she shared.

'And I use thing things that I learned in recovery about intention and about taking inventory. And I'm in a really good place right now.'

'It's taken a long time to get here. It's a journey and it's not linear.'

'The thing I've learned is to have a healthy fear of your addiction. And you can never feel like it's that far away. Because it's not.'

'I have a very healthy fear of my addiction and my alcoholism. But I'm doing good.'

Later she added, 'Even when you're in a really good place, it still hurts. It's still not an enjoyable experience to have people coming at you, or be dealing with the situation that I'm in.'

Leah's lawyer responded, saying, 'We do not agree that the motion has merit'

A rep for Cohen told Dailymail.com that 'the claims against Andy are completely false'

When asked if she would participate in reality TV knowing what she knows now, or whether she regrets it, Leah shared, 'As an addict, there are so many things that have been not great, that I could regret. But what's the point? I can't change it now.'

Her interview comes following news that Cohen and his legal team are threatening the ex RHONY star with legal action, after she claimed he took cocaine with his favorite Real Housewives stars.

Bravo producer and personality Cohen was accused of 'engaging in cocaine use with Housewives that he employs,' according to a suit filed in New York's Southern District by McSweeney.

A rep for Cohen told Dailymail.com that 'the claims against Andy are completely false' at the time and now, a letter from Cohen's attorneys obtained by TMZ has urged McSweeney to retract her 'categorically false' allegations or face a lawsuit.

Cohen's attorneys have said everything McSweeney claimed in the lawsuit is false and added on the cocaine claim: '[W]e demand that you immediately retract and withdraw all allegations relating to Mr. Cohens purported 'cocaine use.'"

'To be clear: these allegations are categorically false. Mr. Cohen never used cocaine with any cast member on any Real Housewives show or with any other Bravo employee. The absence of any reasonable basis to make such allegations is confirmed by your pleading itself.'

Bravo producer and personality Cohen was accused of 'engaging in cocaine use with Housewives that he employs,' according to the suit

His attorneys point out there are no details included in the allegation and claim McSweeney made the explosive claim 'just to get headlines and a quick payday.'

A source close to McSweeney told the publication that she is 'flabbergasted' that Cohen keeps bringing attention to the case in the press 'rather than just letting it play out in court.'

McSweeney's lawsuit filed against Cohen and Bravo alleges cocaine use is rampant at the the network, with the linchpin producer and on-air personality both using the illegal drug and providing it to employees.

McSweeney said in court docs reviewed by Page Six that Cohen 'tends to provide the Housewives with whom he uses cocaine with more favorable treatment' and strategic editing to make them look better.

Cohen 'intentionally uses cocaine with his employees to further promote a workplace culture that thrives off drug and alcohol use, which leads to a failure to accommodate employees who are disabled and trying to stay substance free,' McSweeney said in court docs.

McSweeney appeared on two seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City in 2020-2021, and on a season of Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, which aired last year.

McSweeney said in the legal docs that Bravo 'thrives off drug and alcohol use,' without naming any further parties past Cohen.

She said she informed Bravo producers prior to her casting on the series, that she had been focused on staying sober, and had a 30-day streak of sobriety going into the show.

McSweeney said in the legal docs that Bravo 'thrives off drug and alcohol use,' without naming any further parties past Cohen

McSweeney told the court that producers failed to make a 'reasonable accommodation' for her addiction-related disability - but instead provided her 'with unlimited, free-of charge alcoholic beverages,' and 'encouraged her to consume those alcoholic beverages.'

Her legal team said that 'this environment caused Ms. McSweeney to relapse into alcohol addiction shortly after joining RHONY season 12.'

McSweeney said in court docs that Bravo producers sought to sabotage her sobriety by both exacerbating it and stopping her from getting treatment for her problem.

The former reality star told the court that Bravo executives violated her employment rights under the Disabilities Act by preventing her to get help for her alcohol issues, knowing she was dealing with them.

McSweeney, who has a fashion label called Married To The Mob, said in the legal docs that sexual harassment was also rife in the company, claiming that a senior producer 'routinely sends unsolicited pictures of [their] genitalia to lower-level  production employees,' and that executives have ignored the issues.

McSweeney in her suit, which is for unspecified damages, named Cohen, Bravo, Shed Media and Shed's parent company Warner Media.
"Dialogue of civilizations" between China, Greece held in Athens

Xinhua) 14:03, May 25, 2024

ATHENS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A "dialogue of civilizations" between Greece and China was held on Friday in Athens, with experts exchanging views on preservation of world cultural heritage sites.

Chinese archaeologists and scholars met for the "Dialogue of Civilizations between Liangzhu Ancient City and the Acropolis of Athens", which last year was held in Hangzhou, China.

"Cultures have the ability to transcend geographical limitations, to engage with the present and the past, and to build bridges of communication and friendship that endure over time," Greek Deputy Minister of Culture Christos Dimas said in an address read by a representative.

At last year's event, cultural figures from Greece visited the Liangzhu Ancient City site and the Liangzhu Museum, and held exchanges on protection of cultural relics with Chinese scholars.

"When we see the monuments, we try to imagine what were the virtues of the people, of the residents who built these cities," said Stelios Virvidakis, president of the Center of Greek and Chinese Ancient Civilizations, at the discussion Friday.

"It is an endless dialogue," Lydia Koniordou, former Greek minister of Culture and sports, told Xinhua.

Koniordou shared her impressions of Liangzhu Ancient City and the culture it represents at Friday's event. She said she admired the ancient civilization, as well as the preservation work done by Chinese experts.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
(Photo : Unsplash/Sam Balye )

Boeing announced on Friday that it reported a sixfold rise in submissions from employees raising safety concerns about its products and services in the first two months of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

Boeing's Heightened Safety Concerns

Boeing stated in its annual safety report that the significant increase in these reports followed an incident on January 5 involving a mid-air cabin panel blowout on a newly delivered Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 jet.

In February, an expert panel reviewing Boeing's safety management processes discovered a disconnect between the company's senior management and employees engaged in its safety culture. The company said it has increased its use of external safety data sources and partnered with the FAA to create machine-learning algorithms designed to detect emerging hazards and safety trends. Mike Delaney, Boeing's chief aerospace safety officer, emphasized that their actions are centered on making additional improvements to ensure the safety, compliance, and conformance of their products and services without compromise.

The incident on January 5 has subjected Boeing to increased scrutiny and led US regulators to limit production levels of the company's popular 737 MAX jets until it addresses safety concerns.

READ ALSO: Boeing Slaps Back at Whistleblower's Complaint, Defends 787 Dreamliner Against Aircraft's Structural Safety

Upsurge in Concerns Through Speak Up Program

In its third annual safety report, released Friday, Boeing announced that it observed a 500% surge in submissions in the first two months of 2024 regarding safety concerns about its products and services compared to the same period from the previous year.

The significant rise in reports followed the January 5 incident where a mid-air cabin panel blew out on a nearly-new 737 Max due to improper reinsertion at Boeing's final assembly line.

Boeing's Collaboration with Labor Union

Boeing announced its collaboration with its largest labor union and the Federal Aviation Administration to review safety issues reported by employees as part of a wider initiative to address concerns regarding the company's safety culture. In its third annual safety report released on Friday, the plane maker announced the formation of a new event review committee, which will consist of representatives from the regulator, Boeing, and District 751 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers to address safety concerns raised by employees through the company's Speak Up program.

The union represents over 30,000 of Boeing's production workers. The collaboration started in 2023, preceding a January accident where a fuselage section blew off a nearly new 737 MAX 9, as per a company spokesperson. However, efforts to promote greater employee participation in the Speak Up program and to ensure their concerns are addressed have gained increased importance at the plane-maker following the incident.

The safety report is released approximately a week before the company is set to submit a 90-day plan to the FAA. The plan will outline the corrective actions Boeing intends to implement to address quality control issues at its factories.

RELATED ARTICLE: Boeing Grilled on Safety Concerns, Faces Another Setback as Whistleblower Speaks Up on Alleged Retaliation

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi were spotted in the Hamptons on Friday - in their first sighting since their secret wedding.

The Stranger Things actress, 20, was luminous with marital bliss, showing off her diamond sparkler and throwing her arms festively in the air.

Meanwhile the 22-year-old son of Jon Bon Jovi sat in the driver's seat of their gleaming blue convertible, grinning broadly.

As he offered a gleeful thumbs-up sign to an onlooker, a gold wedding band could be seen glittering on Jake's left hand.

A source informed DailyMail.com on Friday that the couple 'quietly said their vows in America last weekend' and will throw a larger wedding 'later this year.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Millie and Jake.

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi were spotted in the Hamptons on Friday - in their first sighting since their secret wedding

The Stranger Things actress, 20, was luminous with marital bliss, showing off her diamond sparkler and throwing her arms festively in the air

As he offered a gleeful thumbs-up sign to an onlooker, a gold wedding band could be seen glittering on Jake's left hand

Millie was the image of summery style in a print t-shirt tucked into a high-waisted pair of beige trousers and accessorized with a Louis Vuitton handbag

Shielding her eyes from the rays with a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses, she jazzed up the look with drop earrings and a glittering bracelet

However the major statement piece among her jewelry was the sparkling diamond on her left hand - presumably one of her two engagement rings

Millie's parents and Jon attended the secret ceremony, which 'was a very low-key, romantic affair with their closest family with them as they said their vows.'

The source added: 'They are planning a bigger ceremony in the US later this year but now they have legally married and done all the paperwork.'

This Friday, the glowing newlyweds were seen enjoying a drive in their convertible in the Hamptons, where Jake's famous father keeps a home.

Millie was the image of summery style in a print t-shirt tucked into a high-waisted pair of beige trousers and accessorized with a Louis Vuitton handbag.

Splashed with an image of Pamela Anderson's face, her top was the work of RE/DONE, the brand co-founded by Alessandra Ambrosio's ex-fiance Jamie Mazur.

Shielding her eyes from the rays with a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses, she jazzed up the look with drop earrings and a glittering bracelet.

But the major statement piece among her jewelry was the sparkling diamond on her left hand - presumably one of her two engagement rings.

Jake dramatically proposed to Millie underwater while they were scuba diving, and wanted to pop the question with her mother's engagement ring.

However Millie's mother refused to let him use her bauble, fearing that he would lose it in the ocean, Millie revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Millie's parents and Jon attended the secret ceremony, which 'was a very low-key, romantic affair with their closest family with them as they said their vows'

The source added: 'They are planning a bigger ceremony in the US later this year but now they have legally married and done all the paperwork'

This Friday, the glowing newlyweds were seen enjoying a drive in their convertible in the Hamptons, where Jake's famous father keeps a home

Jake dramatically proposed to Millie underwater while they were scuba diving, and wanted to pop the question with her mother's engagement ring

However Millie's mother refused to let him use her bauble, fearing that he would lose it in the ocean, Millie revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Jake then proposed with another ring, and later offered Millie her mother's engagement ring, which is why she now has two

Meanwhile Jake, in his first public sighting as a married man, threw a stylish cream jacket on over a loose-fitted white t-shirt

Jake then proposed with another ring, and later offered Millie her mother's engagement ring, which is why she now has two.

Meanwhile Jake, in his first public sighting as a married man, threw a stylish cream jacket on over a loose-fitted white t-shirt.

Millie posted a gushing Instagram tribute to Jake for his 22nd birthday this month - less than two weeks before their wedding.

Sharing ,wo heartwarming photos of them together, the Damsel actress wrote glowingly in the caption: 'the day u were born is my favorite day i love you.'

Late last year, while being honored at the 2024 MusiCares Person Of The Year gala, Jon confirmed to DailyMail.com that he would sing at Jake and Millie's wedding.

The pair were first linked in 2021 and dated for over a year before Jake proposed last April - underwater while they were diving in the ocean together.

Millie explained a few months ago that she prefers to preserve a certain degree of privacy when it comes to the details of her wedding to Jake.

'I think probably drawing the curtains, just because there are only so many moments in life that you get only once. And to have everyones opinions and eyes looking at that just feels unnatural to me,' she told WWD.

The pair were first linked in 2021 and dated for over a year before Jake proposed last April - underwater while they were diving in the ocean together

Millie explained a few months ago that she prefers to preserve a certain degree of privacy when it comes to the details of her wedding to Jake

'I think probably drawing the curtains, just because there are only so many moments in life that you get only once,' she told WWD during her engagement

'So I feel its important to keep those things, those small precious moments in life, really close to your chest,' Millie reflected ahead of her nuptials

However she did reveal that wedding planning had 'not been stressful at all for me' because her fiance was 'very involved' in the tasks at hand

'I'm always like: "Is this a good idea? Is this a good idea?"' said Millie of wedding planning: 'But ultimately, it's just a very intimate day for the both of us and we're really both very excited'

Jon has spoken glowingly of Millie, saying: 'Ive gotten to know her in the last year, she works really hard, and she and Jake will grow together in their own way'

'So I feel its important to keep those things, those small precious moments in life, really close to your chest. I can say that the planning is going - its so fun and its such an exciting time in my life,' Millie added.

However she did reveal that wedding planning had 'not been stressful at all for me' because her fiance was 'very involved' in the tasks at hand.

'He's very helpful during the whole process. I've never felt alone in it, which I think is really nice,' she said on the Today show in September.

'I'm always like: "Is this a good idea? Is this a good idea?" But ultimately, it's just a very intimate day for the both of us and we're really both very excited.'

Jon has spoken glowingly of Millie, saying: 'Ive gotten to know her in the last year, she works really hard, and she and Jake will grow together in their own way.'

The rock star, who got married when he was 27, described Jake and Millie's romance to the Sunday Times as 'an accelerated version of what I went through 40 years ago and I think, with the support of family around them, theyre gonna be great together.'

Millie posted a gushing Instagram tribute to Jake for his 22nd birthday this month - less than two weeks before their wedding

Sharing ,wo heartwarming photos of them together, the Damsel actress wrote glowingly in the caption: 'the day u were born is my favorite day i love you'

Jon shares his four children - Stephanie, 30, Jesse, 29, Jake and Romeo, 20 - with his wife Dorothea Hurley, whom he has been married to since 1989.

The longtime couple are preparing for three weddings in the family - in addition to Jake, Stephanie and Jesse are also engaged.

Jon's next album Forever includes a song called Kiss The Bride that he wrote especially for Stephanie's upcoming nuptials.
Married At First Sight's Tim Calwell has seemingly made a savage swipe at his ex-girlfriend Sara Mesa.

The business owner, 31, was matched up with nutritionist Sara, 29, on the Channel Nine dating experiment, but confirmed their split after the reunion show.

Tim has since found love again with Brazilian girlfriend Barbara, going Instagram official with her last month.

Now, Tim has seemingly made a brutal swipe at his ex-girlfriend Sara during an Instagram Q&A session.

A fan told Tim that they are 'glad' he 'chose better', seemingly referring to his new relationship with Barbara.

Married At First Sight's Tim Calwell has seemingly made a savage swipe at his ex-girlfriend Sara Mesa, who he met on the 11th series of MAFS - which aired earlier this year

Tim then confirmed the comparison as he shared a picture of Barbara alongside the words, 'Me too,' in an apparent thinly-veiled dig at Sara.

Tim went Instagram official with Barbara last month when they were seen looking loved-up in a series of pictures shared to his new girlfriend's page.

In April, Barbara shared a sweet tribute to Tim for his 32nd birthday as she showed off their budding romance.

'Bday boy Appreciation post for this handsome man who makes me happy every day!' she captioned the post.

Since splitting from Sara after the MAFS reunion, Tim has found love again with Brazilian girlfriend Barbara, going Instagram official with her last month

Now, Tim has seemingly made a brutal swipe at his ex-girlfriend Sara during an Instagram Q&A session as he said he chose 'better' with new girlfriend Barbara

Tim and Barbara met in February, just weeks after his ill-fated marriage with Sydney-based nutritionist Sara went to air.

Not long after, the pair were spotted buying some takeaway food and drinks before heading to a nursery to buy some plants.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Tim adamantly denied cheating on his TV bride and insisted he only began to pursue his relationship with Barbara after splitting with Sara.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Tim previously denied cheating on his TV bride and insisted he only began to pursue his relationship with Barbara after splitting with Sara

'No I wasn't seeing anyone through the experiment. I was literally locked in, dialled in, trying to make our relationship work,' he explained at the time.

'I don't know why, if she's bringing that up... she's trying to throw heat on my end to try and distract, maybe, from whatever going on in her ballpark.'

Tim described his TV marriage with Sara as 'toxic' and very up and down.

'It was definitely very up and down. Almost toxic at this point, I don't know,' he said.

'We were trying our best to be in a relationship. The whole experience is very intense anyway... it definitely wasn't comfortable for me.'
ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus has unveiled his new sideline job where he hosts 'fireside chats' and 'moderate Q&A sessions'.

The music icon, 79, flaunts an estimated net worth of 239m and is now embarking on another fruitful business journey.

Bjorn is now highlighted as 'speaker of the week' by the talent management agency he is signed with, Kruger Cowne.

The pop legend is said to be available for 'after-dinner speaking, appearances, keynote speaking, moderated Q&A sessions' as well as 'fireside chats', as per The Mirror.

MailOnline has contacted Bjorn's representatives for a comment.

Bjorn Ulvaeus, 79, has unveiled his new sideline job which entails 'fireside chats' as well as 'moderate Q&A sessions' (pictured in 2021)

Bjorn was part of the iconic band ABBA, also composed by Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad; they dominated the music scene throughout the 1970s but called it quits in 1983 (ABBA pictured in 1976)

This month also marked the 50th anniversary of the iconic moment ABBA were crowned champions in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The band, composed by Bjorn, Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, dominated the music scene throughout the 1970s, but after just 10 years - and two divorces - they called it quits in 1983.

And earlier in the month, Eurovision fans were left hoping they would make a surprise appearance at the final after teasing their return in a social media clip.

Rumours emerged that the band were set to reunite for a performance on the singing competition, as they prepare to mark 50 years since they won with hit track Waterloo.

The band shared a clip to their TikTok page popping out from behind a bush.

The sound playing over the video said: 'Ok guys we're back, did you miss us? Because we missed you.'

It comes after ABBA thanked fans in a rare statement as the band celebrated the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision Song Contest victory.

The iconic group remain the show's most famous and successful exports after they were crowned winners in April 1974 with their song Waterloo.

The pop legend is said to be available for 'after-dinner speaking, appearances, keynote speaking, moderated Q&A sessions' as well as 'fireside chats', as per The Mirror (pictured in 2021)

Earlier this month, Eurovision fans went wild as ABBA teased their return in a social media clip

Since their split in 1982 their catalogue of music has inspired the Mamma Mia! film franchise and theatre show, and more recently the incredible ABBA Voyage (pictured)

Reflecting on the milestone, the group issued a joint statement as they expressed their gratitude for fans 'steadfast loyalty and support through the years'.

To mark the anniversary, several pianos across Europe will play a pre-recorded by Benny simultaneously to make it sound as though he is playing live.

Sharing a picture of the foursome winning the accolade, they wrote: 'It's slightly dizzying and deeply humbling to think that millions of you who saw us for the first time in the Eurovision final 1974 have passed our music on not only to one generation, but to several.

'We see evidence of that every time one of us visits Abba Voyage in London, and it's because of this we can celebrate the 50th anniversary of that event in the knowledge that our songs still resonate around the world.'

They continued: 'It's difficult to comprehend that 50 years have gone by since the four of us waited backstage for the verdicts of all the juries around Europe at the Dome in Brighton.

'So what were out dreams during those suspenseful moments or in the chaos in the aftermath of the victory we had secured with the smallest margin in Eurovision history?

'Four different dreams, no doubt, but whatever they were, however grand, reality has surpassed them, that's for sure.'

The group went on to have a huge repertoire of hits including Dancing Queen (1976), Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (1979) and Super Trouper (1976) to name a few.

Since their split their catalogue of music has inspired the Mamma Mia! film franchise and theatre show, and more recently the incredible ABBA Voyage.

The iconic hologram show has pumped 322million into the British economy - with more than a million tickets bought at up to 181.50 each.

The gig five years in the making takes the audience back to Abba's 1970s and 1980s prime and allows fans to experience them in concert, despite their split back in December 1982.

Thanking fans for their continued support they added: 'Many of you were there from the very start and have followed us ever since  for over half a century!

'Music you discover and learn to love when you grow up or even later in life has a way of staying with you forever.

'We share that experience with you and to know that our music has become a constant in your lives is a wonderful thing.'

They concluded: 'Throughout the years we have been blessed with the outpouring of love from you, our fans.

'We feel it and we want to know that hardly a day goes by when we're not reminded of it. To say thank you for what you're giving us without sounding trivial is not easy and this is not a moment of triviality.

'It is a happy and, at the same time, solemn moment and we can only hope that you understand how deeply grateful we are for a long, successful career and for your steadfast loyalty and support through the years. Thank you!'

The foursome broke up in 1982, and whilst they came together for a one-off occasion to mark the debut of ABBA Voyage in 2022, there hasn't been a 'proper' reunion with all four on stage singing together again.

The lengthy statement thanked fans for their continued support they added: 'Many of you were there from the very start and have followed us ever since  for over half a century!

The band pictured in 2022 arriving at the Abba Voyage concert in London

Last year, a spokesperson for the band Gorel Hanser issued a 'clear denial' of a Eurovision reunion, saying there were 'no such plans' and it was 'definitely wishful thinking from fans.

Benny added: 'I don't want to. And if I don't want to, the others won't. It's the same for all four of us  someone says, 'no'  it's a no.'

It comes just ahead of a new film about ABBA 's rise to global stardom, which features never-before-seen footage of tense encounters between the iconic Swedish band.

Documentary ABBA: Against The Odds will tell the epic story of the band's domination of the pop charts - as well as the personal relationships that led to its demise.

A new trailer of the upcoming documentary, which dropped on BBC iPlayer on May 4, includes previously unseen clips of the foursome.

In one clip, Benny and Bjorn are seen rehearsing on stage together before all the lights go out at which point they are left looking concerned.

While another hints at some of the tensions felt within the group, as Agnetha is spotted looking annoyed on stage as she appears to shout at one of her bandmates.

What made ABBA unique was not only their beloved sound, but the fact the band was made up of two couples.

When the band formed, Agnetha and Bjorn were already married while Benny and Anni-Frid were dating.
Denise Scott has opened up on her intense 17 months of breast cancer treatment amid her battle with an 'aggressive' form of the disease.

The beloved Australian comedian, 69, was diagnosed with cancer near the start of 2023 and revealed the shock news publicly in August last year.

She has now detailed her 'pretty much non-stop' 17 months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments to fight the 'particularly aggressive' form of breast cancer.

Denise took to Facebook on Friday to reveal that she had undergone her last day of chemotherapy after first starting the treatment back in February 2023.

'Yesterday was my last day of chemo. I've been having treatment for breast cancer HER2 positive pretty much non-stop for 17 months,' she shared alongside a picture of herself in hospital.

Denise Scott has opened up on her intense 17 months of breast cancer treatment amid her battle with an 'aggressive' form of the disease

The TV star went on to detail the months-long stints of chemotherapy and other treatments she has undergone over the past year and a half amid her cancer battle.

She went on: 'Feb 2023-May 2023 Chemo, June 2023 lumpectomy and removal of lymph nodes from right arm pit, August 2023-Sept 2023 Daily Radiation sessions for 6 weeks, (and) Aug 2023- May 2024 9 more months of Chemo.'

Denise confirmed that her latest mammogram was 'clear' as she thanked her fans for their support amid the difficult time.

'For now, at least, the treatment has done its job,' she penned.

'Latest mammogram was clear. I lost all my hair (in) the first round of chemo, then got these thin white, quite frankly disappointing, tufts grow in (the) second round - different sort of chemo.

Denise, 69, took to Facebook on Friday to share a picture of herself in hospital as she revealed she had undergone her last day of chemotherapy after starting the treatment in February 2023

In a caption detailing her 17 months of 'non-stop' treatments, Denise confirmed that her latest mammogram was 'clear' as she thanked her fans for their support amid the difficult time

'So many people to thank and acknowledge. But for now I'll leave it there. Thank you for yr lovely messages.' (sic)

The media personality and former star of The Project first spoke about her cancer diagnosis to The Australian Women's Weekly last August.

She told how she was first diagnosed with breast cancer while working on the Mother and Son reboot, but bravely carried on shooting the project.

'I do console myself that at least I've lived a full life that I'm happy with,' Denise told the publication.

'But I don't want to go yet. There are things I want to do.'

The beloved Australian comedian and former star of The Project was diagnosed with cancer near the start of 2023 and revealed the shock news publicly in August last year

Denise said she was leaning on her partner John Lane for support, adding: 'The prognosis has continued to be good, and there's a lot of hope.'

Denise met John when they performed together as clowns on a theatre production in Albury, New South Wales.

The couple have been together for more than 40 years but they never got married, with Denise previously saying it wasn't something either of them focused on.

'I didn't like the idea of someone saying, "Well now you have to stay with this person for the rest of your life". I think that was it for me,' she revealed back in 2019.

Denise said she was leaning on her partner John Lane (pictured in 2020) for support. They have been together for more than 40 years and share two children, Jordie and Bonnie

However, Denise - who shares two children, Jordie and Bonnie, with John - said they had not ruled out getting married in the future.

The veteran actress previously revealed to The Sydney Morning Herald that she knew she wanted kids with John just four weeks after first meeting him.

'We decided we wanted kids together. I'd been told I couldn't conceive, but Dad's sudden death made it urgent to find out. I got pregnant straight away,' she explained.

Denise's father Russ died from a sudden heart attack when she was just 28 years old.
Kanye West has gone silent amid a battery investigation following an alleged incident at the Chateau Marmont involving his wife, Bianca Censori, and twins Mark and Jonnie Houston.

The Heartless rapper, 46 - who recently enjoyed a casual dinner date with Censori at Denny's - allegedly punched one of twins due to claims that Censori had been 'physically and sexually' by one of them in April at the iconic hotel in Los Angeles.

The music artist became a suspect in the battery case, and it was later revealed that he got physical with the 'wrong' twin.

However, just one month after the altercation allegedly took place, both West and the twins - who own various restaurants and bars in L.A. - have gone completely quiet, law enforcement told TMZ in a new update on Friday.

Police informed the outlet that there isn't clear evidence of the alleged assault and added that Kanye and the twins need to cooperate with cops for the investigation.

But the trio have not been responding when law enforcement reach out.

Kanye West, 46, has gone silent amid a battery investigation following an alleged incident at the Chateau Marmont involving his wife, Bianca Censori, and twins Mark and Jonnie Houston; seen in February in Milan

The Heartless rapper allegedly punched one of twins due to claims that Censori had been 'physically and sexually' by one of them in April at the iconic hotel in Los Angeles; seen in February in Milan

Law enforcement told TMZ that they speculate Kanye - who also goes by Ye - as well as the Houston twins have privately worked out the problem.

And due to lack of evidence as well as receiving no responses from the trio, the police are not able to send the case to the L.A. City Attorney's office - although the case does remain open.

The alleged altercation took place last month in April when West and Bianca were spending time at the Chateau Marmont.

He was named a suspect in a battery report due to 'punching a man who grabbed Bianca Censori.'

At the time, his team informed DailyMail.com that she wasn't simply bumped or pushed during the incident.

His team claimed that his wife was sexually assaulted by one of the twins when one of them reached his hands under her dress and also 'blew kisses' in her direction.

West's representatives stated, '"Grabbed" is grossly inadequate as a description of what happened. Bianca was physically assaulted. The assailant didn't merely collide into her.'

'He put his hands under her dress, directly on her body, he grabbed her waist, he spun her around, and then he blew her kisses. She was battered and sexually assaulted.'

However, just one month after the altercation allegedly took place, both West and the twins - who own various restaurants and bars in L.A. - have gone completely quiet, law enforcement told TMZ in a new update on Friday; twins seen in February in Los Angeles

And due to lack of evidence as well as receiving no responses from the trio, the police are not able to send the case to the L.A. City Attorney's office - although the case does remain open

Also last month in April, Kanye broke his silence over the incident at the Chateau Marmont.

In an attempt to set the record straight while appearing on Justin LaBoy's The Download podcast, the rapper explained why he got physical with a man, who he believed inappropriately touched his wife Bianca Censori.

After finding the man, who he alleged 'grabbed' his spouse, the father-of-four, who said he did not see the incident 'directly' happen, claims he told the man to 'leave right now.'

'I talked to the guy and said, 'You just, you need to leave right now, and he was like, 'Oh, 'it's okay.' And, it's like, no, it's not okay,'' the Stronger hitmaker recalled. 'It wasn't okay.'

The ex-husband of Kardashian continued: 'He had to go to bed early... I tucked this n**ga in.'

When asked if the man might still be sleeping, West looked down and said: 'I don't know what happened.'

A report also surfaced on TMZ, claiming West punched one half of a set of twins who own numerous L.A. bars and restaurants, but reportedly took a swipe at the wrong one.

The twins are Mark and Jonnie Houston, who own L.A. hotspots such as No Vacancy, Good Times at Davey Wayne's, Black Rabbit Rose and Break Room 86.

Kanye's team claimed that his wife was sexually assaulted by one of the twins when one of them reached his hands under her dress and also 'blew kisses' in her direction

In an attempt to set the record straight while appearing on Justin LaBoy's The Download podcast, the rapper explained why he got physical with a man, who he believed inappropriately touched his wife Bianca Censori

West and Censori claimed that Censori bumped into one of the brothers and that he proceeded to assault her.

However, sources claimed there is no evidence to back up those claims, with TMZ's sources calling Censori's allegations, 'totally off base and simply not accurate.'

Sources claimed that a man bumped into Censori in the Chateau Marmont lobby, which was said to be quite busy at that time.

The incident happened quickly and the man went on his way, heading outside to sit with some friends.

Shortly thereafter, West came up to the table to confront the man, ultimately punching the man in the face.

However, West apparently hit the wrong man - the other twin and not the one who bumped into his girlfriend in the lobby.

It isn't clear at this time which of the twins ran into Censori and which one was ultimately punched by West.

The Houston twins are said to frequent the Chateau Marmont quite a bit though it's unclear if they've interacted with West before.

'I talked to the guy and said, 'You just, you need to leave right now, and he was like, 'Oh, 'it's okay.' And, it's like, no, it's not okay,'' the Stronger hitmaker recalled. 'It wasn't okay'

However, sources claimed there is no evidence to back up those claims, with TMZ's sources calling Censori's allegations, 'totally off base and simply not accurate'; West seen in April in L.A.

The rapper left the hotel after the incident, long before police arrived, with cops reportedly wanting to talk to West after the altercation.

West reportedly punched the wrong brother two times, with law enforcement sources failing to find any evidence that one of the brothers assaulted Censori in any way.

Despite no evidence being found, West's team is adamant that Censori was assaulted that night.

'This was a physical, sexual assault and any attempt to undermine the seriousness of what happened is repellent and vile,' one of Kanye's reps said in a statement.
Sofia Richie and her husband Elliot Grainge paid tribute to his late mother in the name of their newborn daughter, who arrived on Monday.

Elliot is the son of the eminent music mogul Sir Lucian Griange and his first wife Samantha Berg, who died tragically in 2007.

In the process of giving birth to Elliot in 1993, Samantha had an amniotic fluid embolism, resulting in a coma that she remained in for 14 years until her death, according to a profile of Sir Lucian in the Financial Times.

This Friday, Sofia, 25, revealed that she has welcomed her first child - and the baby's name is a touching remembrance of Samantha.

Posting a picture of the little girl's feet in Sofia and Elliot's hands, the new mother revealed that her daughter is called Eloise Samantha Grainge.

Sofia Richie and her husband Elliot Grainge paid tribute to his late mother in the name of their newborn daughter, who arrived on Monday

This Friday, Sofia, 25, revealed that she has welcomed her first child - and the baby's name is a touching remembrance of Elliot's mother Samantha; Sofia and Elliot pictured in February

Sofia, whose father is Lionel Richie, gushed in her caption: 'Eloise Samantha Grainge 52024 best day of my life,' tagging the snap to photographer Emma Bassill.

Celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski and Heather Dubrow leapt into the comments section to share their warm wishes with Sofia.

Just days before Eloise was born, Lionel candidly confessed that Sofia was growing increasingly anxious in the run-up to her due date.

'My baby is now having a baby, what the heck is going on? Elliot and Sofia are about to have a nervous breakdown, but I've told her to calm down,' he told Extra.

'I say: "When the baby comes, then you can have a nervous breakdown!" It's just a great time!' said Lionel, who is himself a father of three.

'Of course, let me tell you something, we're all loving it. I'm over the moon and trying to stay calm. I'm just so excited,' the crooner added. 'For them, I know this is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!'

He reflected: 'I'm watching my baby having a baby. Yikes! I mean, that just kind of freaked me out a little bit. But at the same time, Elliot and Sofia are such a force. This little baby is gonna be souped up like you've never seen before. It's amazing.'

Sofia, whose sister is Nicole Richie, joyously announced her pregnancy in January and revealed that she and Elliot were expecting a girl.

Sofia and Elliot are pictured at this year's Grammy Awards with his father, the eminent music mogul Sir Lucian Grainge (right), and stepmother Caroline Grainge (left)

Just days before Eloise was born, Lionel Richie candidly confessed that his daughter Sofia was growing increasingly anxious in the run-up to her due date

Sofia joyously announced her pregnancy to Vogue in January and revealed that she and Elliot were expecting a girl; pictured behind the scenes of her Vogue shoot

She and Elliot tied the knot in the South Of France in April 2023, in a glittering ceremony at the glamorous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes

'Shes growing pretty fast, so [the due date] is a bit up in the air,' she dished to Vogue, adding that the baby would likely be born a Gemini.

'We both really thought it was a boy, so it was a true shock. My dream in life is to have a daughter [though], and Elliot is really excited for a girl too,' she explained.

'I think its so typical for boys to want boys, but he has a lot of sisters. It was really sweet,' Sofia glowingly added. 'Hes very sensitive.'

She and Elliot tied the knot in the South Of France in April 2023, in a glittering ceremony at the glamorous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes.

They began dating in 2021, but had apparently been acquainted with each other for several years before striking up their romantic relationship.
Cameron Diaz rocked the stage in a stunning ensemble while speaking at the 2024 BottleRock Music festival in Napa on Friday.

The 51-year-old actress  who secretly welcomed a baby boy with husband Benji Madden  channeled her inner country girl and donned a full denim look for the special celebration.

She wore a loose long sleeve denim shirt leaving it half unbuttoned as she waved to fans while taking the stage.

Her baggy straight legged jeans matched her top as she added gold bracelets that added an elegant touch to the look.

The Other Woman star let her glossy blonde locks loose as they cascaded over her shoulders and bounced in the air.

Cameron Diaz rocked the stage in a stunning ensemble while speaking at the 2024 BottleRock Music festival in Napa on Friday

The 51-year-old actress channeled her inner country girl and donned a full denim look for the special celebration

She wore a loose long sleeve denim shirt leaving it half unbuttoned as she waved to fans while taking the stage

Her baggy straight legged jeans matched her top as she added gold bracelets that added an elegant touch to the look

Diaz tied the look together rocking a pair of trendy white sneakers and a dainty pair of glasses.

She looked stunning in her full face of glam that consisted of light eyeliner and shimmering pink lip gloss.

The starlet danced up a storm on the stage while taking sips from a glass of white wine.

BottleRock 2024 is a weekend music festival from May 24-May 26 and will feature performers Stevie Nicks, Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Megan Thee Stallion, Mana and Queens of the Stone Age.

Per the festival's website, it will have '4 Music stages and 1 Culinary stage features the world's best music artists and chefs. Local wineries and restaurants top off the experience with the best in food and wine.'

Diaz was joined by her Avaline Wine co-founder, Katherine Power at the star studded event.

The businesswoman rocked a black blazer and skintight top pair white white flowy trousers that added contrast to the look.

She wore her dirty blonde locks in low bun and wore a dark pair of Prada sunglasses as she danced along her longtime pal.

Power looked stunning in gold hoop earrings and in light makeup look that made her full pout pop.

Diaz was joined by her Avaline Wine co-founder, Katherine Power at the star studded event

The businesswoman rocked a black blazer and skintight top pair white white flowy trousers that added contrast to the look

She wore her dirty blonde locks in low bun and wore a dark pair of Prada sunglasses as she danced along her longtime pal

The long time pals co-founded Avaline in July of 2020 with the aim of providing clean, organic and vegan wines

Cameron and Katherine co-founded Avaline in July of 2020 with the aim of providing clean, organic and vegan wines.

'My good friend Katherine Power and I were catching up over a glass as the wine started to flow, so did our conversation about it,' the actress said. 'We kind of had that moment where we were like, 'God we love wine  what's in it?'

'Can we really drink this? How can we drink more of it? We started asking questions about our wine; which is so crazy because I had never done that before,' she added when asked why she started the brand.

Katherine's response was: 'We're pushing for a way of living that is all things clean and organic. It never occurred to us that wine wouldn't fall under this category.

'We were shocked to learn the ingredients that were added and the lack of transparency. The journey to learning more about the winemaking process and how to make clean, delicious wine led us to create Avaline,' she said.

The entrepreneurs were clear on their website that they wanted to prioritize the safe consumption of wine, noting that it starts with being transparent about ingredients.

'The wine industry has somehow gotten away with not having to be transparent or disclose what's in the bottle,' Katherine added.

'A lot of people might not care if animal by-products are used in the making of the wine, but we believe the consumer should be aware of that step so that they can make that decision for themselves,' she finished.

Hot in Here hitmaker Nelly also joined in on the festivities looking hunky as he hit the Williams and Sonoma Culinary Stage and shared a hug with Diaz

The rapper sported a navy and white jacket over a white tee. He accessorized with blue tinted sunglasses, two silver watches and hoop earrings

The 49-year-old took spoke to audience and shared his passion for wine at the event

They whipped up Cuban smash burgers together and even shared a toast with the audience as they smiled

Hot in Here hitmaker Nelly also joined in on the festivities looking hunky as he hit the Williams and Sonoma Culinary Stage and shared a hug with Diaz.

The rapper sported a navy and white jacket over a white tee. He accessorized with blue tinted sunglasses, two silver watches and hoop earrings.

The 49-year-old took spoke to audience and shared his passion for wine at the event.

They whipped up Cuban smash burgers together and even shared a toast with the audience as they smiled.

Diaz flashed a thumbs up as she enjoyed her burger and prepped a bowl of fries.

BottleRock 2024 is a weekend music festival from May 24-May 26 and will feature performers Stevie Nicks, Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Megan Thee Stallion, Mana and Queens of the Stone Age

Per the festival's website , it will have '4 Music stages and 1 Culinary stage features the world's best music artists and chefs'

Diaz flashed a thumbs up as she enjoyed her burger and prepped a bowl of fries

Back in March The Mask actress, 51, who has been married to Benji Madden, 45, since 2015, revealed the birth of their son Cardinal Madden on Instagram, having kept her pregnancy private

In the post, her husband gushed that the newborn is 'really cute' but explained to his followers that she would not be posting photos for his 'safety and privacy'

Back in March The Mask actress, 51, who has been married to Benji Madden, 45, since 2015, revealed the birth of their son Cardinal Madden on Instagram, having kept her pregnancy private. They are also parents to daughter Raddix, four.

In the post, her husband gushed that the newborn is 'really cute' but explained to his followers that she would not be posting photos for his 'safety and privacy.' They did not reveal Cardinal's date of birth or how he was conceived.

Since the news arose, insiders told People: 'They were always hoping for a second baby, because they love being parents. For years, Cameron wanted to be a mom...

'She gets very emotional when she talks about the long journey to motherhood. She feels beyond lucky to now have two children.'
Darryl Hickman, a child actor whose career in TV and film stretched into adulthood, passed away at age 92 on Wednesday, May 22, as confirmed by his family to Deadline.

The Hollywood, California native appeared in more than 40 films after having been a contract player at Paramount and MGM in the late 1930s.

In one of his most notable roles, Rickman played Winfield, the youngest member of the Joad family in John Ford's film adaption of The Grapes Of Wrath (1940) when he was just eight-years-old.

He also starred as the younger version of Van Heflin's character in the noir drama The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers (1946) as a teenager.

In 1951, Rickman made the shock move of retiring from acting and entered a monastery. But he ended up returning to the industry just over a month later.

Darryl Hickman, a child actor whose career in TV and film stretched into adulthood, passed away at age 92 on Wednesday, May 22, as confirmed by his family to Deadline; seen in 2016

Among his many other films included The Star Maker (1939), Untamed (1940), Men Of Boys Town (1941), Mob Town (1941), Joe Smith, American (1942), The Human Comedy (1943), Rhapsody In Blue (1945), Two Years Before The Mast (1946), Boys Ranch (1946), Alias Nick Beal (1949), and The Set-Up (1949).

He also had a number of supporting roles on television such as The Life And Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Untouchables, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Climax!, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, General Electric Theater, and Wanted: Dead or Alive.

As he transitioned from a boy into adulthood, Rickman saw his opportunities as an actor lessen over the years.

He did star in several films when he reached his 50s, including the comedy drama Network (1976) and Sharky's Machine (1981).

From there, he moved to Broadway, taking over for Robert Morse as J. Pierrepont Finch in the original production of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

Rickman later became a screenwriter and television executive.

He also served as the head of CBS daytime programming for nearly five years.

The Hollywood, California native was a child actor who starred alongside Henry Fonda in the drama film adaption of The Grapes Of Wrath (1940)

Hickman (right) also went on to star in many more films and television shows as an adult, including the series The Untouchables

Hickman was married to actress Pamela Lincoln, with whom he had acted with in the horror film The Tingler (1959) in November 1959, but they divorced in 1982 after welcoming two kids; seen in 2016

Hickman was married to actress Pamela Lincoln, with whom he had acted with in the horror film The Tingler (1959) in November 1959.

The couple ended up having two sons together, but they ultimately got divorced in 1982.

Tragically, the former couple's son Justin committed suicide when he was just 19-years-old in 1985.

So far, there's no official word on Hickman's cause of death.
As Scandoval takes on legal ramifications, Raquel Leviss might just get her day in court.

A judge has ruled that the Vanderpump Rules alum, 29, can move forward with her revenge porn lawsuit against ex and former co-star Tom Sandoval, according to Rolling Stone.

On Friday, the Los Angeles County Superior Court judge found that Leviss' lawsuit adequately alleged her assumption that her intimate FaceTime conversations with Sandoval, 40, were 'contemporaneous' and 'confidential.'

Although she was aware she could be recorded, the judge gave merit to the idea that Leviss trusted Sandoval not to save the footage or make copies.

Her attorney Bryan Freedman told People in a statement, 'We are pleased with the Court's order, which recognizes that recording someone in sexually compromising ways without her consent violates California law.

A judge has ruled that Raquel Leviss can move forward with her revenge porn lawsuit against ex and former co-star Tom Sandoval

On Friday, the Los Angeles County Superior Court judge found that Leviss' lawsuit adequately alleged her assumption that her intimate FaceTime conversations with Sandoval, 40, were 'contemporaneous' and 'confidential'

'We will be moving forward aggressively to vindicate Rachel's rights,' added Freedman.

Leviss' lawyer Mark Geragos gave his own statement to the outlet. 'If Sandoval's illegal recording isn't an invasion of privacy then there is nothing that is private,' he said.

Geragos continued, 'The Judge decisively ruled that Rachel's rights and privacy were violated as alleged and we obviously agree.'

After her affair with Sandoval was made public on season 10 of the Bravo reality series last year, Leviss accused Sandoval of recording an intimate FaceTime conversation without her consent.

In February, Leviss filed a lawsuit against Sandoval and his ex Ariana Madix for 'revenge porn, eavesdropping and invasion of privacy.'

The legal complaint rehashed the details of Scandoval, noting that it made Leviss 'one of the most hated women in America.'

'Lost in the mix was that Leviss was a victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man, who recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her knowledge or consent, which were then distributed, disseminated, and discussed publicly by a scorned woman seeking vengeance, catalyzing the scandal,' the lawsuit read.

'Leviss ultimately checked herself into a mental health facility and remained there for three months while Bravo, Evolution, and the cast milked the interest her excoriation had peaked.'

She claimed that she was misled to believe that she was 'contractually barred from speaking out about her mistreatment,' leaving her to suffer in silence while Bravo and her co-stars reaped the benefits.

Although she was aware she could be recorded, the judge gave merit to the idea that Leviss trusted Sandoval not to save the footage or make copies

Her attorney said in a statement, 'We will be moving forward aggressively to vindicate Rachel's rights'

'Meanwhile, Leviss, who was humiliated and villainized for public consumption, remains a shell of her former self, with her career prospects stunted and her reputation in tatters,' the lawsuit added.

Leviss was involved in a months-long affair with Sandoval, which came to light while filming season 10 of Vanderpump Rules, ending his nine-year relationship with Madix, 38.

Madix found out about the affair when she discovered the FaceTime recording on Sandoval's phone.

'The two videos Leviss has seen depict her in a state of undress and masturbating,' the lawsuit claimed.

'However, given Sandoval's apparent practice of secretly recording their video calls, Leviss has every reason to assume there are additional illicit videos and/or photographs of her that she has not yet seen.'

After her affair with Sandoval was made public on season 10 of the Bravo reality series last year, Leviss accused Sandoval of recording an intimate FaceTime conversation without her consent

In February, Leviss filed a lawsuit against Sandoval and his ex Ariana Madix for 'revenge porn, eavesdropping and invasion of privacy'

Sandoval slammed the lawsuit as a 'thinly veiled attempt to extend her fame and to rebrand herself as the victim instead of the other woman' as he requested a dismissal last month.

'These videos were created by Leviss and published by Leviss to Sandoval via a consensual exchange on FaceTime,' he alleged.

'Based on Leviss own allegations, Sandoval merely saved private copies of the videos that Leviss filmed and shared with him,' the response added.

Madix previously filed a lawsuit against Sandoval in January over the $2 million home they still share.
Alec Baldwin's trial for involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins will take place in July after a judge denied a motion to dismiss the case on Friday.

The 30 Rock star, 66 - who was recently seen with his one-year-old granddaughter Holland - is facing a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison if found guilty of manslaughter.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer in New Mexico rejected arguments made by the star's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, according to Variety.

In a statement following the judge's decision, Baldwin's attorneys expressed, 'We look forward to our day in court.'

Sommer listened to arguments from both Alec's lawyers as well as prosecutors in court earlier this month on May 17 in Sante Fe, per NBC News.

Alec Baldwin's, 66, trial for involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins will take place in July after a judge denied a motion to dismiss the case on Friday; seen in February in NYC

One prosecutor, Kari Morrissey, stated that 'the actor has responsibility for the firearms once it is in their hands.'

However, Baldwin's lawyers argued that Morrissey did not provide important evidence to the grand jury earlier this year in January and defense witnesses were not available.

The judge stated in her ruling, per Variety, that Kari shared a letter to the grand jurors from the 'defense verbatim' but explained they made the choice to not 'follow up' on the letter.

'The Court is not in a position to second-guess the grand jury's decision in this regard,' Sommer expressed.

The judge later also added, 'Although the State deferred certain questions, in many other instances the grand jurors asked probative questions, and received complete answers from witnesses.'

In October 2021, Hutchins was fatally shot on the set of Rust, while the director of the film, Joel Souza, was injured.

Alec has plead not guilty ahead of the trial, and has also denied that he pulled the trigger on the gun and denied that it was his responsibility to make sure the gun was safe.

Last month in April, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter of Halyna Hutchins.

The 30 Rock star is facing a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison if found guilty of manslaughter; Hutchins seen in 2021

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer in New Mexico rejected arguments made by the star's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, according to Variety; seen on set of Rust

Shortly after, an expert warned that her sentence was 'a bad sign' for the actor as his trial date approaches.

Alec had been offered a plea deal last year that would have seen him serve no jail time in connection with the manslaughter of Hutchins.

Variety reported in March that the actor could decide whether to accept the terms, prosecutors pulled the offer and said they would be indicting him.

In a filing seen by the outlet, prosecutor Kari Morrissey offered 'a plea deal identical to the petty misdemeanor deal accepted by Dave Halls.

The filing stated that the offer was made on October 5 and Baldwin was given until October 27 to decide, but prosecutors rescinded the offer on October 17.

Halls, the first assistant director on Rust, did not serve prison time after pleading to a count of negligent handling of a deadly weapon.

He was given six months of unsupervised probation, a $500 fine, 24 hours of community service and ordered to take a firearm safety class.

Baldwin's lawyers have accused the prosecutors in the case of a list of abuses and are looking to have case dismissed.

Variety reported that his lawyers claim that Morrissey repeatedly leaked confidential information about the grand jury proceedings to an NBC reporter.

In November, lawyers representing the actor filed a motion for sanctions over that issue, and asked to have Morrisey and her co-counsel removed from the case. They also sought to have monetary penalties imposed against Morrissey over her alleged misconduct.

Last month in April, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter of Halyna Hutchins; Gutierrez-Reed seen in 2021

Shortly after, an expert warned that her sentence was 'a bad sign' for the actor as his trial date approaches; seen in March 2023 in NYC

At a hearing on November 15, the judge overseeing the case admonished the parties not to disclose anything about the grand jury proceedings.

The judge also postponed the grand jury proceeding from November to January to allow more time to review material the defense wanted to present.

Attorney's for Baldwin allege that within an hour of the hearing, Morrissey then called the NBC reporter to relay the scheduling update.

NBC reported that same day that the grand jury proceeding had been postponed, citing an 'unnamed source.'

In a filing in March, Baldwin and his attorney Alex Spiro also claimed that the prosecutors rigged the jury process in the case.

They argued that the grand jury process was rigged by the Santa Fe County D.A.'s office, alleging that they added 7 witnesses who were biased.

It is also alleged that the FBI tested the pistol used in the fatal scene that killed Hutchins, and that the DA failed to present all the evidence from the testing.

The documents allege that the testing showed that the revolver did fire without the trigger being pulled when fully loaded, just as they were on the day of the tragedy.

During the trial of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed earlier this year, agent Bryce Ziegler said he had to break the gun with a mallet to get it to fire without using the trigger.

In a filing in March, Baldwin and his attorney Alex Spiro also claimed that the prosecutors rigged the jury process in the case; seen in March in NYC

Ziegler, appearing for the prosecution, said that couldn't have happened on the set of Rust because the gun was in working order when it came to him.

His analysis contradicts claims by Baldwin that he only pulled back the hammer on the vintage-looking pistol.

During the trial of Gutierrez-Reed, prosecutors painted a damning portrait of a film that was in a state of 'rushed chaos.'

The night before the incident, six members of the camera crew quit because of their concerns over safety.

The jury heard that Baldwin commissioned director Souza to write the script, which he owned the rights to. Baldwin was the lead actor on the movie and was also a producer.

The criminal case is not the only court proceedings resulting from the shooting of Hutchins. In 2022, Baldwin settled a civil lawsuit filed against him by Matthew Hutchins, the widow of Hutchins, and the father of their son; seen in 2021 in NYC

Bowles called Gutierrez-Reed, who was just 24 at the time of the incident, a 'scapegoat' for wider failings that led the New Mexico safety regulator to issue a $136,000 fine to the producers for 'willful and serious' safety failings.

Bowles told the court that Baldwin himself made the set unsafe by waving his gun like a 'pointing stick' at people.

The criminal case is not the only court proceedings resulting from the shooting of Hutchins. In 2022, Baldwin settled a civil lawsuit filed against him by Matthew Hutchins, the widow of Hutchins, and the father of their son.

Under the terms Rust continued production at a new location in Montana and Matthew Hutchins, who has called his wife's death a 'terrible accident,' is an executive producer. No date has yet been set for the film's release.
By Lee Hae-rin

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo plans to request the rental of a giant panda during his meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming scheduled for May 31, according to city officials Friday.

The plan comes as the first Korea-born giant panda, Fu Bao, is still remembered by many fans since she was transferred to China in April.

According to the Daegu city government, Hong will attend a 30-minute meeting with Xing and discuss the citys development project. During this meeting, Hong plans to request bringing a giant panda to Daegu Grand Park, which is slated to be completed in 2027.

This will be Xings first visit to Daegu since his arrival to Korea in 2020. After meeting with Hong at City Hall, the Chinese ambassador will attend the second edition of the Asia-Pacific Chinese Education Forum at Keimyung University.

During the groundbreaking ceremony for Daegu Grand Park on May 8, Hong said, "I will create a park where people can rest and animals can live healthy. I will also consult with China to bring a giant panda that will draw huge attention from citizens."

Fu Bao, who became a national sensation during the COVID-19 pandemic, was returned to her parents country China on April 3 before turning 4 under an international agreement. Hundreds of fans joined the farewell ceremony at Everland amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, which Xing attended as well.

The female panda is now accommodated at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China's Sichuan province.

Hong previesly showed negative responses to the countrywide craze for the beloved panda.

I dont understand those who are obsessed with Fu Bao. She is just a panda who stayed at Everland and returned to her native country, Hong said at the time.

However, Hongs attitude toward the giant panda somewhat changed after his trip to Chengdu in April.

"Chengdu, famous for pandas, is a friendly city where Fu Bao, who came to Korea, now lives," Hong wrote on Facebook for the caption of a photo of himself and pandas in Chengdu.

"They (pandas) may be luckier than humans in a sense that they live in luxurious private villas, eat for 10 hours a day and spend the rest of the day sleeping."
Dakota Fanning is starring opposite Andrew Scott in the new Netflix neo-noir psychological thriller limited series Ripley.

And on Friday the former child actor, 30, joined many of her fellow cast and crew for the ATAS Official Screening of Netflix's Ripley at FYSEE at Sunset Las Palmas Studios in Los Angeles.

Fanning looked elegant in a stylish black Emilia Wickstead dress with a plunging neckline and a small opening over her midriff that she matched with a pair of black heels.

Rounding out her overall look, Fanning wore her long, straight blonde hair down and kept jewelry to a minimum.

Scott stars in the title role of Tom Ripley, a down-at-the-heels con-man in the late 1950s in New York, who is hired by a wealthy man to convince his prodigal son to return home from Italy.

Dakota Fanning, 30, joined her co-star Andrew Scott, 47, for the ATAS Official Screening of Netflix's Ripley at FYSEE at Sunset Las Palmas Studios in Los Angeles

But Tom's introduction to Dickie Greenleaf's comfortable and leisurely life abroad turns out to be 'the first step into a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder.'

The Irish actor, 47, looked handsome in black pinstripe slacks with a white-patterned dress shirt over a white tank top and black dress shoes.

Along with Scott and Fanning the cast also features Johnny Flynn, Eliot Sumner, Margherita Buy, Maurizio Lombardi, plus guests Kenneth Lonergan, Ann Cusack, Bokeem Woodbine, Vittorio Viviani, Louis Hofmann, Fisher Stevens and John Malkovich.

The two lead actors would pose for photos side-by-side, and then be joined by Sumner, who looked cool and stylish in a black pinstripe suit that he matched with a white t-shirt and black boots.

There's also a group shot of Scott, Fanning and Sumner with David Gropman, Jeff Russo, Steven Zaillian and Robert Elswit.

Created, written and directed by Zaillian, the series is based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 crime novel The Talented Mr. Ripley.

The eight-episode limited series is the first adaptation of Highsmith's novel to a series.

'Having eight hours to explore these characters that you think you know, whether through the book or through the [1999] film adaptation, I was like, "Oh, thats going to be amazing,' Fanning said of her role as Marge Sherwood to Netflixqueue.

Fanning looked elegant in a stylish black Emilia Wickstead dress with a plunging neckline and a small opening over her midriff that she matched with a pair of black heels

Rounding out her overall look, Fanning wore her long, straight blonde hair down and kept jewelry to a minimum

The two lead actors also were joined by co-star Eliot Sumner

Created, written and directed by Zaillian, the series is based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 crime novel The Talented Mr. Ripley

The leading lady and actor took part in a group photo that included David Gropman, Jeff Russo, Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Eliot Sumner, Steven Zaillian and Robert Elswit

Fanning began her career as a child actor who had her breakthrough role in I Am Sam (2001)

The stars also posed in a living room setting at the screening

Fanning joined Scott and Eliot Sumner on the couch at the screening promo

Initially, Ripley was supposed to air on Showtime but ended up premiering on Netflix on April 4

She added, I was such an admirer of Steve and of Andrew. So when I [was cast as] Marge, I was overcome with excitement. Just hearing Steves vision and how devoted he was to the story, you knew that you were going to be supported. He's so detailed, you were always going to know exactly where you stood. And thats what I like as an actor.

Fanning's breakthrough role of her young career came opposite of Sean Penn in I Am Sam (2001), which was shot back when she was just six-years-old.

Her Hollywood resume also includes Uptown Girls (2003), Man On Fire (2004), War Of The Worlds (2005), Charlotte's Web (2006), The Secret Life Of Bees (2008), as well as the lead role in Coraline (2009).

Fanning has also starred in a number of other popular films such as The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), The Runaways (2009), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn  Part 2 (2012), Ocean's 8 (2018) and The Equalizer 3 (2023).

Ripley was originally set to air on Showtime, but in February 2023 the show was moved to Netflix.

It premiered on April 4, and received critical praise for its writing, directing, production design, cinematography, score, and performances, particularly for Scott's portrayal of Tom Ripley.
Chris Packham has urged Taylor Swift to reconsider her 'absurd' use of private jets.

The pop megastar, 34, sent a cease-and-desist letter to social media user Jack Sweeney after he had spent months tracking the whereabouts of her private jet amid her Eras world tour.

HIs lawyers later argued that the college junior had done 'nothing unlawful' with his X account, but now BBC Springwatch star Chris, 63, has claimed that Taylor 'missed a trick' with the whole fiasco.

He told The Mirror: 'We know that private jets are the single greatest contributor when it comes to jet aviation fuel and the least efficient because they're carrying one person.

'And so he called her out and she threatened to sue him. And I just thought, 'You really missed the trick there, Taylor.'

Chris, 63, has claimed that Taylor 'missed a trick' with the whole fiasco and that she could've used the incident to her own advantage

Chris Packham has urged Taylor Swift to reconsider her 'absurd' use of private jets amid her spat with social media star Jack Sweeney

He added: 'What you should have said is, 'You're right, times have moved on. I've got to change my practice. I'm going to sell my private jets'. And that would have been such a powerful thing for her to say to an audience.'

Chris also noted that because Taylor has 'primarily a young audience' and such a prominent cultural figure, she should be 'leading' the way on such matters.

The Anti-Hero songstress will be headlining Wembley Stadium in London on June 22, and on that same day, Chris will be hosting a Walk for Nature rally in the capital.

The environmentalist wants Taylor to turn up to his event and publicly declare that she is giving up her private jet use.

He said: "She should turn up on my stage and she should say: 'I'm giving up flying on private jets.' That would make the weekend for me. Let's put it out there '

Social media star Jack Sweeney - who also tracks the flights of tech billionaire Elon Musk - previously claimed that Taylor's private jet use emitted 83x the amount of CO2 than the average American.

He tweeted: 'Swift's two private jets flew 178,000 miles in 2023 equivalent to flying around the Earth seven times, emitting 1,200 tons of CO2 in the process. That's 83 times the average American.'

Chris wants to meet Taylor when she arrives in London for her Eras tour and is hoping she will come along to his Walk for Nature rally, which is being held on the same day

The environmentalist wants Taylor to turn up to his event and publicly declare that she is giving up her private jet use.

Earlier this year, Taylor demanded that student Jack Sweeney stop logging her flights and location but lawyers concluded that the young man had done nothing that was against the law

Attorneys wrote the college student a cease-and-desist letter saying she would 'have no choice but to pursue any and all legal remedies'

Earlier this year, Taylor demanded that the college student stop logging her flights and locations.

She claimed the accounts caused herself and her family 'direct and irreparable harm, as well as emotional and physical distress,' and heightened her 'constant state of fear for her personal safety'.

But Jack's accounts use publicly available data, and also share the estimates of their planet-warming emissions.

Lawyers concluded: 'Further, your letter's tone of alarm is unfounded. Our client's website only provides the location of private jets using publicly available information. That information poses no threat to Ms. Swift's safety .'
Former MasterChef Australia stars Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston have seen their international careers takeoff as they make a television comeback.

The popular trio, who rose to fame as the original judges on Channel 10's hit cooking show, have 'developed a huge fan base in India' the Herald Sun reports.

The judges have hosted dinners and masterclasses in three cities in the region which were a huge success, as well as filming two episodes of TV series Ultimate Homechef of India.

Billboards picturing the Mehigan, Calomaris and Preston were even erected around India after their final MasterChef season.

Mehigan's manager Justine May told the publication that the three will return to India in August.

Former MasterChef Australia stars Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston have seen their international careers takeoff as they make a television comeback. All pictured

'The love for them remains as strong as ever in the international market' she said.

'They treasure the opportunity to get back together and do projects with each other.'

Calombaris told the Herald Sun, 'It is nice to have the gang back together.'

The men have additionally joined forces for the Friends of George event at Hotel Sorrento.

'The three of us still do a lot of stuff overseas, we have a big following in India, but this is the first time we've been back together in Australia,' Calombaris told the Herald Sun earlier this year.

The judges have hosted dinners and masterclasses in three cities in India which were a huge success, as well as filming episodes of TV series Ultimate Homechef of India

Billboards picturing the Mehigan, Calomaris and Preston were even erected around India after their final MasterChef season

'A portion of each ticket will be donated to Bowel Cancer Australia which is close to my heart.'

The guest chefs will create dishes for guests at Hotel Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula on November 12.

Tickets are $169 per person and $10 from every ticket will be donated to Bowel Cancer Australia.

It comes after the trio hosted a series of live events in India last year.

The Herald Sun reported that the kitchen gurus were presenting a series of dinners in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi from November.

Calombaris told the Herald Sun, 'It is nice to have the gang back together'

Other, unnamed events are also planned in association with the Conish company, a culinary business, based in India.

Conish promoted the famed three on their website, as part of the company's ongoing series of public dinners.

According to the report, Mehigan, Preston and Calombaris enjoyed a high profile in India during their heyday on MasterChef.

Billboards could be seen in some major cities farewelling the famous foodies, after all three they exited the show back in 2019.

Last year, there was talk that the original MasterChef judges were producing something brand new together.

'The three of us still do a lot of stuff overseas, we have a big following in India, but this is the first time we've been back together in Australia,' Calombaris said

A leaked Zoom between Mehigan, Preston and Calombaris had fans suggesting that the three would be headed back to TV for a new show.

Calombaris, who shared the post, captioned the story: 'Some serious food talk for a very special project. But majority a lot of shots and giggles.'

The trio hosted the hit cooking show for a decade, from 2009 to 2019.

However, in July 2019 Channel 10 announced that the three judges would not be returning for season 12 of the series.

It has been widely reported that the hosts left the show because they couldn't agree on money.

But Mehigan said at the time that it had nothing to do with financial matters.

In a statement posted to Instagram he wrote: 'It was time to move on [and] have more free time to explore our own creativity. It was never about the money and never will be about the money.'
They were the UK's most loved TV couple.

But after capturing the hearts of nation when they sat side-by-side on This Morning's sofa for over ten years, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have decided to call the curtain on their relationship.

Their romance has sparked concern in recent weeks as Ruth admitted that the last two years have been hard on her relationship after Eamonn suffered from complex health issues.

And while they have strongly supported one another through every qualm, disagreement and ailment, they have now decided it was time to let the sun set on their whirlwind romance.

After announcing they have parted ways after 14 years of marriage, MailOnline takes a look back at Eamonn and Ruth's courtship.

They were the UK's most loved TV couple. But after capturing the hearts of nation when they sat side-by-side on This Morning's sofa for over ten years, Eamonn Holmes, 64, and Ruth Langsford, 64, have now decided to call the curtain on their iconic love story

After announcing they have parted ways after 14 years of marriage, MailOnline takes a look back at Eamonn and Ruth's legendary courtship (pictured 2007)

Eamonn and Ruth, now both 64, first met in 1997 when he was presenting breakfast show GMTV.

A mutual friend and fellow TV star, Sally Meen, 58, introduced them.

Two years earlier, Eamonn had split from his first wife, Gabrielle Holmes, who is the mother of his three eldest children, Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31.

They decided to call it quits on their commitment as the pressure of commuting to London to present GMTV from their home in Belfast took its toll.

And despite Ruth and Eamonn feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation's best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for Ruth for two years.

Eamonn even refused to hold her hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex of nearly 20 years.

And while some at the time believed the secrecy to be unnecessary, Ruth only fell harder for her man.

She admitted to The Daily Mail in 2017: 'I thought it spoke volumes about the sort of man he was, the sort of father he was and the integrity he had. It made me love him more, not less.'

Eamonn and Ruth, now both 64, first met in 1997 when he was presenting breakfast show GMTV. A mutual friend and fellow TV star, Sally Meen, 58, introduced them (Eamonn in 1994)

Two years earlier, Eamonn had split from his first wife, Gabrielle Holmes, who is the mother of his three eldest children, Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31 (pictured in 1993 with Niall)

And despite Ruth and Eamonn feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation's best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for Ruth for two years

But after just a year of having their relationship out in the open, they welcomed their son Jack in 2002.

It wasn't until 2005 that Eamonn officially divorced Gabrielle.

Then in 2006, the TV couple soon became the nation's sweethearts as they began co-hosting ITV's This Morning.

And after Eamonn spotted a couple of gentlemen flirting with Ruth at Cheltenham Races, he made an impromptu proposal.

Eamon had already respectfully asked Ruth's mother for her hand in marriage because her father was in the late stages of Alzheimer's.

So he composed a love letter on his phone and dragged her out of the race box and popped the question.

She told the Loose Women panel in 2018: 'We were at the races in a box with some people and I'd had a few drinks and had won a bit on the horses and was having a lovely time.

'Eamonn had gone out to the loo and when he came back, there were men in the box with us flirting and chatting to me, and he said: 'I don't like that them flirting with my wife.'

'And then he went: 'Actually, she's not my wife. She should be my wife.' We had been together 14 years by then. 'Why is she not my wife? Why haven't I done this?''

After dragging her away from her sea of admirers, the couple were on their way home when Eamonn repeatedly asked Ruth if her phone had a notification.

Ruth thought nothing of it, but after Eamonn's consistent questioning, she reluctantly checked her mobile.

At first, she believed he had shared a 'saucy message', but it was actually a sweet and meaningful declaration of his love about how much he loved her and adored her.

She confessed to the panel: 'I opened it and then there was this beautiful letter. Right at the end it said: 'Will you marry me?'

'Because we didn't know this driver I text him back saying: 'Yes please.' Then we sat holding hands all the way home and it was really romantic.'

She revealed that when they broke the joyous news to their then-young son Jack, he asked: 'Will there be kissing?'.

In 2010, the iconic duo wedded in a not-so-secret glitzy ceremony at Elvetham Hall, Hampshire.

Soon after they put down roots in the town of Weybridge, Surrey - the couple often enjoy hosting in their lavish six-bedroom property, which is said to be worth a whopping 3.2 million.

Ruth later discussed their strong bond and natural connection while she was taking part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, Ruth said: 'Eamonn will be the first to take the mick out of me, but he will also be the first to floor me with his thoughtfulness.'

She added: 'I'm giving him zero attention, but I know he won't be thinking that. He just gets it. He gets me. That's why we work.'

Eamonn and Ruth have always been honest about the state of their relationship and they have continually confessed over the years that they do have a few spats.

Some of which were shared to the homes across the county as they have had to work through some disagreements while presenting their show.

But despite the pair having their fair share of arguments, they admitted that they were usually over something unimportant, such as presents. One year she was gifted some bacon.

'I would say laughter is what keeps us together. Eamon's very good actually. We have a very equal relationship, it's very equal in our marriage,' Ruth said in 2020.

'People will say, 'who wears the trousers?' well nobody. You find your way, he's not the boss and I'm not the boss  in modern relationships that's probably how it should be.'

Even when they argue at work, Ruth always confessed that Eamonn loves her dearly, is a constant support network for her and loves her body just as much as her strong personality and loving heart.

But after just a year of having their relationship out in the open, they welcomed their son Jack in 2002. It wasn't until 2005 that Eamonn officially divorced Gabrielle (picture in 2002 with Jack)

Then in 2006, the TV couple soon became the nation's sweethearts as they began co-hosting ITV's This Morning (pictured in 2007)

And after Eamonn spotted a couple of gentlemen flirting with Ruth Cheltenham Races, he made an impromptu proposal. In 2010, the iconic duo wedded in a not-so-secret glitzy ceremony at Elvetham Hall, Hampshire (pictured in 2010)

Soon after they put down roots in the town of Weybridge, Surrey - the couple often enjoy hosting in their lavish six-bedroom property , which is said to be worth a whopping 3.2 million

Eamonn and Ruth have always been honest about the state of their relationship and they have continually confessed over the years that they do have a few spats. Some of which were shared to the homes across the county as they have had to work through some disagreements while presenting their show (pictured in 2009)

'Eamonn is my biggest fan and always makes me feel really sexy,' Ruth previously told the Mirror.

'When I think I'm at my slimmest, he thinks I'm too thin. He likes me curvy  he loves boobs, bottoms and legs. I'm really lucky because it would be awful to have a man who commented on me piling on the pounds.'

Eamonn has previously opened up that he 'led a very sheltered Catholic life' before meeting Ruth and she has kept his mind open to new experiences as they have previously gushed about their very active sex life.

When he had a hip replacement in 2016, he blamed Ruth and their exciting sex life for his operation.

He previously told the Mirror: 'I'm facing a two-week double hip operation, she wore them out, she's got to help wear them in.'

Ruth comically added: 'The doctor says no hanky panky and no strong exercise.'

Their sex life did take a hit earlier in the relationship when Ruth went through menopause.

But she credited Eamonn with keeping their flame alive as she confessed that it is Eamonn's unflagging desire that makes her feel sexy.

'I still feel sexy, but a lot of that is because my husband makes me feel sexy,' she told The Sun's Fabulous magazine.

But despite the pair having their fair share of arguments, they admit that they are usually over something unimportant, such as presents. One year she was gifted some bacon (pictured in 2007)

Eamonn has previously opened up that he 'led a very sheltered Catholic life' before meeting Ruth and she has kept his mind open to new experiences as they have previously gushed about their very active sex life (pictured in 2007)

When he had a hip replacement in 2016, he blamed Ruth and their exciting sex life for his operation. He previously told the Mirror: 'I'm facing a two-week double hip operation, she wore them out, she's got to help wear them in.'

But since, health complications have appeared to be the source of their relationship's strains as Ruth previously opened up about the challenges of her husband's health as she admitted his mobility may never fully improve

But since, health complications have appeared to be the source of their relationship's strains as Ruth previously opened up about the challenges of her husband's health as she admitted his mobility may never fully improve.

Eamonn recently revealed that he 'can't walk' after spinal surgery in September last year, following which he suffered a horrific fall.

He underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in a bid to improve his mobility, however, Ruth confessed that he may never reach a full recovery.

Speaking to Woman & Home magazine in October, Ruth said: 'With any care situation  and there are millions of carers in this country  it isn't always easy, but if something happens to somebody you love, you help them as much as you can. It's testing but we manage as a family.'

The couple's son Jack, now 21, helps out with his dad's health but the Loose Women presenter admitted that the family take it day by day.

Her husband's health complaints have also made Ruth take stock of her own health, but she is determined to not let ageing frighten her.

Sadly, in the last coming days, Ruth admitted that she fears her husband 'might never be 100 per cent right' after undergoing back surgery due to suffering chronic back pain for almost two years.

The presenter and journalist is still recovering from the surgery and an injury to his shoulder, which saw him takes four months off work at the end of last year.

He has ongoing daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his wife Ruth.

She confessed she 'lives in hope' that his mobility will improve.

Speaking to Woman's Weekly, Ruth said: 'I don't know how much Eamonn's mobility will improve. We live in hope.

Eamonn recently revealed that he 'can't walk' after spinal surgery in September last year, following which he suffered a horrific fall. He underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in a bid to improve his mobility, however, Ruth confessed that he may never reach a full recovery

'He does the physio, but there might have to be some acceptance that this might never be 100% right. With any care situation - and there are millions of carers in this country - it isn't always easy. It's testing but we manage as a family.'

Eammon has been open with fans in explaining his health woes - the most recent of which was a fall which broke his shoulder.

Speaking to his 764,000 followers on Instagram in January, the host said in a sit-down video: 'Hello there everybody, just to say that after nearly four months away off the telly, I'm back tomorrow.

'Sounds like a threat doesn't it! No, I mean you may or may not be aware of what happened to me, I had back surgery, I've had disc problems.

'I then got some back surgery which affected one of my legs which led to me falling down stairs, which led to me breaking my shoulder.

'So I had a leg that didn't work and a shoulder that didn't work and lots of other things in-between but here I am.

The presenter and journalist is still recovering from the surgery and an injury to his shoulder, which saw him takes four months off work at the end of last year. He has ongoing daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his wife Ruth

'I feel there are only so many box sets that I can watch and recommend to you'

Eamonn said of fracturing his shoulder during the fall: 'It was a massive setback and means I'm going to need to take some extra time off to get myself better.

'It's been a hellish few weeks. But day by day I'm improving and I am remaining positive and trying to look on the bright side.'

Eamonn is also a grandfather after his eldest son Declan welcomed baby girl, Emelia, in 2021 with his wife Jenny.
Renee Zellweger was seen wearing Bridget Jones' trademark mini-skirt as she continued filming the new Bridget Jones film in Camden on Friday.

The actress, 55, who has played the titular character in the past three films, is currently shooting the fourth instalment, Mad About The Boy, in the capital.

Renee was seen wandering around the city in a tartan skirt and vintage blue and grey cardigan, teamed with a white quilted coat.

In the upcoming film, Bridget enjoys a fling with a hunky younger lover named Rockstar, who is played by One Day star Leo Woodall, 27.

Getting straight into character, Renee wore a green quilted jacket and vintage blue and grey cardigan, teamed with a rather short tartan red skirt that would have sent her ex-boss and former lover Daniel Cleaver, [Hugh Grant] wild.

Renee Zellweger, 55, was seen wearing Bridget Jones' trademark mini-skirt as she continued filming the new Bridget Jones film in Camden on Friday

The actress, who has played the titular character in the past three films, is currently shooting the fourth instalment, Mad About The Boy, in the capital

Isla Fisher is also starring in the hotly-anticipated movie, starring as Bridget's friend.

The return of the mini-skirt will no doubt remind fans of Bridget's exchange with Daniel in the original film, when the sexist love rat emailed her after spotting her in a very short garment.

He famously wrote: 'Where is skirt? Is skirt off sick?'

And she replied: 'Am appalled by message. Skirt is demonstrably neither sick nor absent. Appalled by management's blatantly size-ist attitude... to skirt. Suggest management sick, not skirt!'

He replied: 'If walking past office... was attempt to demonstrate presence of skirt... can only say that it has failed parlously. Cleave.'

She then hit back with: 'Shut up,please. I'm very busy and important. P.S. How dare you sexually harass me... in this impertinent manner.'

Daniel concluded: 'Mortified to have caused offense. Will avoid all non-P.C. overtones in future. Deeply apologetic. P.S. Like your t**s in that top.'

While the exchange was seen as somewhat cheeky and flirtatious at the time, it's now deemed to be rather sexist.

Getting straight into character, Renee wore a green quilted jacket and vintage blue and grey cardigan, teamed with a rather short tartan red skirt that would have sent her ex-boss and former lover Daniel Cleaver, [Hugh Grant] wild

Renee was seen wandering around the city in a tartan skirt and vintage blue and grey cardigan, teamed with a white quilted coat

The return of the mini-skirt will no doubt remind fans of Bridget's exchange with Daniel in the original film, when the sexist love rat emailed her after spotting her in a very short garment

The Telegraph wrote: 'One of the "cancel worthy" aspects of the story is the relationship with Bridgets boss, Daniel Cleaver.

'Cleaver is objectively objectionable: a hard drinking sexual deviant who cheats on lovely Bridget (bad) and leaves her to attend the Alconburys Tarts and Vicars party alone (arguably even worse). But he's also (unfortunately) incredibly sexy.

'Some have said the relationship with Cleaver is sexual harassment because it starts in the work place and ends badly.'

In the new film, Bridget enjoys a fling with Rockstar and PE teacher Mr Walker, as played by 12 Years A Slave actor Chiwetel Ejiofor as well as reviving her on-off relationship with Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver.

Chiwetel, 46, was seen shooting scenes last week which means only Hugh and Colin Firth  who has a small role in the movie as the late Mark Darcy  are yet to be spotted in character.

Renee and Leo were spotted filming together on May 18 in hilarious scenes as Bridget got stuck up a tree in Hampstead Heath.

Rockstar, who works as a park warden, seemingly comes to her rescue dressed in an all green uniform.

One onlooker said: 'Leo and Renee looked like they were having a great time. There were lots of giggles, they seemed to get on really well.'

Bridget Jones filming comes on the heels of sheer delight from fans after the announcement of the beloved character's return to the big screen.

In the upcoming film, Bridget enjoys a fling with a hunky younger lover named Rockstar, who is played by One Day star Leo Woodall, 27 (pictured)

Isla Fisher (pictured) is also starring in the hotly-anticipated movie, starring as Bridget's friend

Renee first appeared as Bridget in 2001's Bridget Jones' Diary and returned in 2004's Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and 2016's Bridget Jones' Baby

Bridget was stuck in a love triangle with her late husband Mark Darcy (left) and her boss Daniel Cleaver (right), who was presumed dead in the last film before being found very much alive

Renee first appeared as Bridget in 2001's Bridget Jones' Diary and returned in 2004's Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and 2016's Bridget Jones' Baby.

The movie was officially confirmed last month, with Renee and Hugh Grant's comebacks made official - after his love rat character Daniel Cleaver's death was falsified in 2016's third installment.

The fourth movie in the franchise - based on the books by Helen Fielding -

will be released by Universal film on US platform Peacock on Valentine's Day 2025 while internationally, the flick will be released in cinemas.

Emma Thompson - who played Doctor Rawlings in the last film, is also back, with Chiwetel Ejiofor and White Lotus star Leo Woodall also set to star.

Renee has been busy since she arrived in London two weeks ago to reprise her role as the singleton for the fourth, and probably final, time.

She spent four days filming at ITV's studios in White City, West London, where programmes such as This Morning and Loose Women are made.

There she met presenters from both shows, including Cat Deeley who was said to have been 'super excited' at seeing her.

Many studio staff were 'overcome with excitement' and desperate to get selfies with the Hollywood star when they realised that the movie was being filmed at their workplace.

Scenes were recorded on the set used by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly for their now defunct show Saturday Night Takeaway, while audience members from Loose Women were also asked to stay for filming of some scenes.

One source at ITV said: 'It was chaos, imagine having Bridget come to your work. It was literally a dream come true. The place was absolutely buzzing. Word got round so fast, Cat was so excited.'

Bridget's creator Helen Fielding has also been spotted at the filming as she prepares to say goodbye to the much-loved character. The film is due out on Valentine's Day next year.

It was revealed last month that Bridget's obsession with losing weight will be 'played down' in the film amid fears they might be a bad influence.
Georgia Harrison looked sensational as she zoomed around Tulum on a motorbike on Friday.

The former Love Island star, 29, is on a luxury getaway to the Mexican city with a friend and the pair of them wore matching pink helmet and sunglasses as they made their way around on a scooter.

For the outing, Georgia chose a tiny leopard-print bikini top and white shorts while she styled the whole look out with a pair of cowboy boots.

The former Celebs Go Dating star showcased her toned tummy as she went for a spin around the city.

She and her friend had just been on a coffee run, and in another snap showed off their long legs in the heat.

Georgia Harrison looked sensational as she zoomed around Tulum on a motorbike on Friday

The forrmer Love Island star and her companion had just been to collect coffees before boarding their scooter

Georgia kept things natural with just a hint of pink lipstick for the outing.

She tied her blonde locks into two tight plaits and kept accessories to a minimum, with only a single pendant around her neck and small gemstone ring.

The getaway 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.

'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.'

Georgia Harrison has admitted she 'doesn't need a man' to be happy following her shock split from Anton Danyluk

Anton (pictured at the BAFTAs) had placed fifth alongside Georgia on Love Island: All Stars earlier this year, but they called it quits in April

The ITV2 star, placed fifth on the All Stars edition of the ITV2 reality show earlier this year alongside Anton Danyluk, 29, but they revealed in April that they had split

Anton took model Hannah Kenyon (pictured) to the BAFTAs with him before he claimed he had suffered an awkward encounter with Georgia upon arrival

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.
Over the years, Eamonn Holmes has been incredibly open about his crippling health conditions - gaining plenty of love and support from his wife Ruth Langsford.

However, his life is now entering a new phase following the news that he and Ruth have split up after 14 years of marriage.

The broadcaster has suffered from long-term difficulties, previously telling of his battle with chronic back pain after a dislocated pelvis led to three slipped discs.

He underwent spinal surgery in 2022 following years of chronic back pain and previously had a double-hip replacement in 2016.

The split comes shortly after Ruth shared her fears that Eamonn 'will never be 100 per cent right' - suggesting their new reality could be the reason their relationship began to plummet.

After it was announced the couple have parted ways on Saturday, MailOnline takes a look at Eamonn's rocky few years.

Over the years, Eamonn Holmes has been incredibly open about his crippling health conditions - gaining plenty of love and support from his wife Ruth Langsford, both 64

However, his life is now entering a new phase following the news that he and Ruth have split up after fourteen years of marriage

He underwent spinal surgery in 2022 following years of chronic back pain and previously had a double-hip replacement in 2016

The split rumours comes shortly after Ruth shared her fears that Eamonn 'will never be 100 per cent right' - suggesting their new reality could be the reason their relationship began to plummet (pictured in 2023)

After it was announced the couple are 'preparing a statement' amid split speculation on Saturday, MailOnline takes a look at Eamonn's multiple health woes

Double hip replacement (2016)

In 2016, Eamonn underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years

In 2016, Eamonn underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years.

Speaking about his operation at the time, Eamonn said: ' Was I nervous? No! It was just like being on television. In the build-up I was stressed  can I do this? Will I handle it?

And it was a bit odd the night before when people started paying me tributes: Eamonn, you were brilliant and Ill always remember when you did this and that. It was like dying but not dying.

'Not one nerve or palpitation. Exactly the way I am presenting a live programme  never a nerve in my body.'

'I felt like I was in a movie. Or the hospital drama Casualty. It was like an out-of-body experience  am I going back into my body or am I out of my body now? I didnt know.

'I saw a smiling surgeon [after the operation], my smiling wife and someone handing me a lunch menu  and I thought, I must be alive then!'

Shingles (2018)

Eamonn detailed his battle with shingles in 2018 and how he was struck with the virus on his son Declan's wedding day

During an appearance on Loose Women in September 2021, he spoke about his health battle which left him unable to work on This Morning three years ago

Eamonn detailed his battle with shingles in 2018 and how he was struck with the virus on his son Declan's wedding day.

During an appearance on Loose Women in September 2021, he spoke about his health battle which left him unable to work on This Morning three years ago.

He also shared images of his puffy face covered in marks and scabs during his battle.

Shingles is a viral rash caused by varicella zoster virus, the virus which causes chickenpox, being reactivated. In the UK, 90 per cent of adults have had chickenpox, so will have this virus lying dormant in their nervous systems.

As the picture of Eamonn's face was shown on screen during his Loose Women appearance, the TV host said: 'This is me with shingles looking like Quasimodo there and as you can see from that, it's quite brutal.'

He continued: 'You'll say, 'How on earth did you get that?' Well, if you've had chickenpox and you've had the virus, it's there in your system and there's a very high chance - 60% chance or so - that you too will have shingles.'

Chronic back pain (2021)

His years of chronic back pain started in spring 2021 - which came completely out of nowhere

The pain become so severe that it left Eamonn reliant on a walking stick, but soon found out the root cause

He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg

His years of chronic back pain started in spring 2021 - which came completely out of nowhere.

The pain become so severe that it left Eamonn reliant on a walking stick, but soon found out the root cause.

He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg.

In December 2021, Eamonn told The Sun how his struggles with his 'trapped sciatic nerve' had an impact on his family who had to help him with everyday tasks.

He admitted: 'It's been a difficult year. For months now I havent been able to walk, sometimes at all, and it has really taken its toll on everyone around me too...

'I cant bend down to pick things up so Ruth ends up having to wait on me, and I know my sons particularly are a bit embarrassed by the way I move around.'

In an interview with The Daily Mail, Eamonn told how a scan first revealed the three protruding discs, explaining: 'I still thought it would go away, but it didn't. The knock-on effect was that I lost a lot of use in my right leg.

'I got epidural injections, which helped to a degree, but didn't cure the problem. I started using a stick, so life was already becoming more curtailed.'

'The spine and all the nerves that lead off it affect so many other things, which he felt needed to be addressed first. I was crushed. I had been in severe pain for a year, and I desperately hoped this might be the answer.'

'Life-changing' spinal surgery (September 2022)

In September 2022, Eamonn was forced to step away from his GB news show as he underwent vital back surgery to aid his chronic back pain (pictured pushed by his son in February 2023)

Following his surgery, he revealed that despite physiotherapy, he continues to find his lack of mobility stops him from doing simple things and is forced to rely on others, which he described as 'soul destroying'

In September 2022, Eamonn was forced to step away from his GB news show as he underwent vital back surgery to aid his chronic back pain.

His battle with chronic back pain started after a dislocated pelvis led to three slipped discs.

Following his surgery, he revealed that despite physiotherapy, he continues to find his lack of mobility stops him from doing simple things and is forced to rely on others, which he described as 'soul destroying'.

He wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'Worked hard at my physio this morning, very tiring but I've now sat on my backside for 5 hours and feel bad about doing nothing.

'Lack of mobility & depending on others stops me doing really simple things. For peace of mind I feel another round of foot exercises coming on.'

His spinal surgery left him with a weakened left leg, too, and just over two weeks into his recovery from the operation, Eamonn fell backwards down 18 stairs at the Weybridge home, hitting the stone floor at the bottom.

The horrific accident could easily have killed him. Instead, he emerged with a broken shoulder, and his legs further weakened.

Broken shoulder after operation (November 2022)

Eamonn endured a horrific accident which saw him fall down a set of stairs at his home in Surrey leading him to break his shoulder weeks after his huge spinal surgery (Pictured in November 2021)

The former This Morning host admitted at the time that fracturing his shoulder in a fall is a 'massive setback'

Eamonn endured a horrific accident which saw him fall down a set of stairs at his home in Surrey leading him to break his shoulder weeks after his huge spinal surgery.

The former This Morning host admitted at the time that fracturing his shoulder in a fall is a 'massive setback'.

Eamonn told GB News of fracturing his shoulder during the fall: 'It was a massive setback and means I'm going to need to take some extra time off to get myself better.

'It's been a hellish few weeks. But day by day I'm improving and I am remaining positive and trying to look on the bright side.'

'I can't say a big enough thank you to everyone who has sent me lovely messages, they've really cheered me up and kept me going.'

Spine stretching procedure (2023)

A year after his spinal surgery, Eamonn underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in September 2023 after admitting he 'couldn't walk'

Looking on the bright side: Eamonn had straps holding down his shoulders and one around his head, which he joked resembled a retro sweat band

A year after his spinal surgery, Eamonn underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in September 2023 after admitting he 'couldn't walk'.

Eamonn admitted he 'hadn't recovered' from his back surgery, confessing: 'I can't run, I can't walk, I can't do anything except watch TV and eat.'

He explained: 'I just got problems last year in my back, which I haven't recovered from. It's not good, it's not a good recipe I have to say.'

But looking on the bright side the broadcast poked fun at his appearance as he shared a snap tied to a spinal decompression table.

Spinal decompression tables use computerised technology to create negative intradiscal pressure in the spine.

Recovery (2024)

Now, Eamonn is focusing on his recovery following years of different health woes and operations

Ruth recently revealed she fears Eamonn 'might never be 100 per cent right'

He has ongoing daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his wife Ruth

Now, Eamonn is focusing on his recovery following years of different health woes and operations.

Ruth recently revealed she fears Eamonn 'might never be 100 per cent right'.

He is having daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his wife Ruth.

The Loose Women presenter said she 'lives in hope' that his mobility will improve.

Speaking to Woman's Weekly, Ruth said: 'I don't know how much Eamonn's mobility will improve. We live in hope.

'He does the physio, but there might have to be some acceptance that this might never be 100% right. With any care situation - and there are millions of carers in this country - it isn't always easy. It's testing but we manage as a family.'

Ruth added: 'I look at Eamonn, who's had his health and back problems, and it makes you realise how important your health is.'
Tammy Hembrow and fiance Matt Zukowski looked more in love than ever as they touched down at Brisbane Airport on Saturday.

The engaged couple returned to Australia after attending a friend's wedding in the Greek Islands.

They could not keep their hands off each other, cuddling up as they made their way through the terminal.

Fitness influencer Tammy dressed casually in a maroon tank top and a pair of matching tights that clung close to her famous figure.

The 30-year-old had a cream jumper tied around her waist and wore a pair of fluffy slides.

Tammy Hembrow and fiance Matt Zukowski looked more in love than ever as they touched down at Brisbane Airport on Saturday. Both pictured

The engaged couple returned to Australia after attending a friend's wedding in the Greek Islands

They could not keep their hands off each other, cuddling up as they made their way through the terminal

Tammy opted for minimal makeup for her long flight and wore her hair partially off her face.

Love Island Australia star Matt meanwhile cut a comfortable figure in a black T-shirt and matching shorts as well as a bum bag worn across his chest.

The 28-year-old wheeled along the pair's luggage which included a Louis Vuitton bag and a stack of suitcases.

The pair, who got engaged in December after just three months of dating, looked smitten as they clung close together.

Fitness influencer Tammy dressed casually in a maroon tank top and a pair of matching tights that clung close to her famous figure

The 30-year-old had a cream jumper tied around her waist and wore a pair of fluffy slides

Tammy opted for minimal makeup for her long flight and wore her hair partially off her face

Love Island Australia star Matt meanwhile cut a comfortable figure in a black T-shirt

He added matching shorts as well as a bum bag worn across his chest

The two had earlier shared a slew of loved-up snaps to Instagram since touching down in Corfu for reality star Anna McEvoy's wedding.

Tammy has been accused of overshadowing Anna and her partner Michael Staples' Greek wedding this week.

Hembrow was also seen wearing numerous bridal white dresses and skirts as she packed on the PDA with the Love Island star, sharing very few snaps with the actual bride-to-be.

'I was wondering how Anna felt about having to invite Tammy because she has been posting a lot of content while she's been in Corfu. Almost overshadowing it,' Outspoken the Podcast hosts Amy, Sophie and Kate Taeuber said.

The 28-year-old wheeled along the pair's luggage which included a Louis Vuitton bag and a stack of suitcases

The pair, who got engaged in December after just three months of dating, looked smitten as they clung close together

The two had earlier shared a slew of loved-up snaps to Instagram since touching down in Corfu for reality star Anna McEvoy's wedding

Tammy has been accused of overshadowing Anna and her partner Michael Staples' Greek wedding this week

The identical triplets mentioned a photo of Hembrow and Zukowski which showed the pair kissing in white outfits as they stood beside McEvoy and Staples, who also packed on the PDA in matching cream and white ensembles.

'It kind of felt like a bit "me, me, me" like "we're getting married next, this is all about us",' they said.

The sighting comes after weeks of reports there was trouble in paradise between Tammy and Matt.

Followers recently pointed out the pair had not featured in each other's posts for some time, while others noted they stopped following each other on Instagram.

Hembrow was also seen wearing numerous bridal white dresses and skirts as she packed on the PDA with the Love Island star, sharing very few snaps with the actual bride-to-be

The sighting comes after weeks of reports there was trouble in paradise between Tammy and Matt

Followers recently pointed out the pair had not featured in each other's posts for some time, while others noted they stopped following each other on Instagram

It wasn't long before the couple quickly re-followed each other before jetting off to enjoy a luxe getaway to Byron Bay

Just a few weeks ago, Matt went so far as to have his fiancee's name tattooed on his hip alongside a love heart in a very permanent show of dedication

It matches a 'Matt' tattoo, also alongside a heart, which Tammy has in a similar place on her upper thigh

It wasn't long before the couple quickly re-followed each other before jetting off to enjoy a luxe getaway to Byron Bay.

Just a few weeks ago, Matt went so far as to have his fiancee's name tattooed on his hip alongside a love heart in a very permanent show of dedication.

He showed off the new tattoo in an Instagram post late last month, which showed him relaxing at the Bali resort where the pair were on a holiday.

'Little bit of this and a little bit of that,' he captioned the image, which depicted the ink on his hip bone.

It matches a 'Matt' tattoo, also alongside a heart, which Tammy has in a similar place on her upper thigh.

It's the second matching tattoo the pair have gotten together after they each got love hearts inked on their forearms.
Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford are determined to 'keep things amicable' as the TV couple head for divorce after 14 years of marriage.

The former This Morning hosts, both 64, revealed they had split this morning after work commitments 'took their marriage in different directions'.

The couple wedded in 2010 after spending 13 years together as a couple - and say they are now 'determined to stay friends'.

They are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has sons Declan, 35, Niall, 31, and daughter Rebecca, 33, from his previous marriage.

While Ruth and Eamonn have remained silent following the split announcement, sources close to the pair say that a statement is being prepared by Ruths representatives' which will share the sad news with their followers.

The beloved TV pair, who friends say were 'as close to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan as you could get', have sparked rumours over the last few months as neither appeared on the other's Instagram posts.

Eamonn and Ruth, who wed in 2010 after 13 years together, are 'determined to stay friends and keep things amicable'

While Ruth and Eamonn have remained silent following the split announcement, sources close to the pair say that a statement is being prepared by Ruths representatives' which will share the sad news with their followers

Eamonn and Ruth tied the knot in 2010 after 13 years together, in a lavish ceremony at the grand 19th century Hampshire hotel, The Elvetham

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, both 64, have split after 14 years of marriage

The famous couple first met in through a mutual friend, GMTV star Sally Meen, while Eamonn was also on the show in 1997.

Two years later, he had split from his first wife Gabrielle Holmes, the mother of his three eldest children.

And despite Ruth and Eamonn feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation's best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for Ruth for two years.

Eamonn even refused to hold her hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex of nearly 20 years.

But after just a year of having their relationship out in the open, they welcomed their son Jack in 2002.

But now, more than 20 years later as the beloved pair have split, one friend told MailOnline: Ruth and her team have been telling their friends to look out for the comments, which they are planning to put on social media.

Its a very sorry tale. They are both so loved by the British public, they won over so many people on This Morning which they hosted for more than a decade.'

The couple, who live in Surrey, have prompted many rumours throughout the showbusiness industry in recent months by not appearing together on their individual Instagram accounts.

Eamonn and Ruth tied the knot in 2010 after 13 years together, in a lavish ceremony at the grand 19th century Hampshire hotel, The Elvetham.

Their split comes just days after Ruth revealed she fears Eamonn might never be 100 per cent right after undergoing back surgery due to suffering chronic back pain for almost two years.

The GB News breakfast presenter is still recovering from the surgery and an injury to his shoulder, which saw him take four months off work at the end of last year.

The former This Morning hosts, both 64, 'are in the process of divorcing' after work commitments 'took their marriage in different directions' (pictured in 2021)

The couple are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has sons Declan, 35, Niall, 31, and daughter Rebecca, 33, from his previous marriage (pictured in 2001)

The couple, who live in Surrey, have prompted many rumours throughout the showbusiness industry in recent months by not appearing together on their individual Instagram accounts (pictured in 2007)

A spokesperson for the couple said: 'Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing'

He has ongoing daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his estranged wife Ruth.

Speaking to Womans Weekly, Ruth said: I dont know how much Eamonns mobility will improve. We live in hope.

He does the physio, but there might have to be some acceptance that this might never be 100% right. With any care situation - and there are millions of carers in this country - it isnt always easy. Its testing but we manage as a family.

Ruth added: I look at Eamonn, whos had his health and back problems, and it makes you realise how important your health is.

On their big day, Ruth walked down the aisle in a dress and matching headdress by Italian designer Angelina Colarusso.

The newlyweds were joined by famous friends including Royle Family star Sue Johnston, TV presenters Gloria Hunniford, Amanda Lamb and Jeremy Kyle, EastEnders actress Zoe Lucker and former champion boxer Barry McGuigan.

Writing on his Twitter page at the time, the proud groom confirmed: Sorry if me and Ruth have been a bit quiet these past few days... but have been a bit preoccupied - we got married yesterday.

Although it was a truly stunningly beautiful day - even the sun was eclipsed by my beautiful bride, who I love even more than before.

Eamonn gushed about his bride in Hello! magazine, which obtained exclusive photographs of their special day.

He told the magazine at the time: Ruth was the missing jigsaw piece in my life. I was meant to be married.

Shes a wonderful mummy to Jack, a fantastic partner both personally and professionally and now, Im proud to say, shes my beautiful wife.

Ruth, who regularly presents Loose Women, enthused: Our relationship is very passionate. Were like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

It comes just days after Ruth revealed she fears Eamonn 'might never be 100 per cent right' after undergoing back surgery due to suffering chronic back pain for almost two years

The GB News breakfast presenter is still recovering from the surgery and an injury to his shoulder, which saw him take four months off work at the end of last year

He has ongoing daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his estranged wife Ruth

Eamonn and Ruth also hosted This Morning together for 14 years, and were a fixture on the show both on Fridays and during the school holidays (pictured in 2007)

However, in 2020 the pair were dropped from their Friday slot and replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot OLeary (pictured)

A source close to the pair said at the time they were more upset than angry at being ousted from the show

Since then, Eamonn has been a presenter on GB News Breakfast Show, while Ruth has been a regular panellist and anchor on Loose Women since 1999

Although we bicker and argue, ultimately our love for each other and the bond we share is so strong.

Eamonn and Ruth also hosted This Morning together for 14 years, and were a fixture on the show both on Fridays and during the school holidays.

However, in 2020 the pair were dropped from their Friday slot and replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot OLeary.

A source close to the pair said at the time they were more upset than angry at being ousted from the show.

Since then, Eamonn has been a presenter on GB News Breakfast Show, while Ruth has been a regular panellist and anchor on Loose Women since 1999.

Their romance has sparked concern in recent weeks as Ruth admitted that the last two years have been hard on her relationship after Eamonn suffered from complex health issues.

Discussing how Eamonn refused to hold her hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex, Ruth only fell harder for her man.

She admitted to The Daily Mail in 2017: 'I thought it spoke volumes about the sort of man he was, the sort of father he was and the integrity he had. It made me love him more, not less.'

It wasn't until 2005 that Eamonn officially divorced Gabrielle.

Then in 2006, the TV couple soon became the nation's sweethearts as they began co-hosting ITV's This Morning.

And after Eamonn spotted a couple of gentlemen flirting with Ruth at the Cheltenham Races, he made an impromptu proposal.

Eamon had already respectfully asked Ruth's mother for her hand in marriage because her father was in the late stages of Alzheimer's.

Eamonn and Ruth first met in 1997 when he was presenting breakfast show GMTV and a mutual friend and fellow TV star, Sally Meen, 58, introduced them (Eamonn in 1994)

Two years earlier, Eamonn had split from his first wife, Gabrielle Holmes, who is the mother of his three eldest children, Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31 (pictured in 1993 with Niall)

And despite Ruth and Eamonn feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation's best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for Ruth for two years

But after just a year of having their relationship out in the open, they welcomed their son Jack in 2002. It wasn't until 2005 that Eamonn officially divorced Gabrielle (picture in 2002 with Jack)

Then in 2006, the TV couple soon became the nation's sweethearts as they began co-hosting ITV's This Morning (pictured in 2007)

And after Eamonn spotted a couple of gentlemen flirting with Ruth Cheltenham Races, he made an impromptu proposal. In 2010, the iconic duo wedded in a not-so-secret glitzy ceremony at Elvetham Hall, Hampshire (pictured in 2010)

Soon after they put down roots in the town of Weybridge, Surrey - the couple often enjoy hosting in their lavish six-bedroom property , which is said to be worth a whopping 3.2 million

Eamonn and Ruth have always been honest about the state of their relationship and they have continually confessed over the years that they do have a few spats. Some of which were shared to the homes across the county as they have had to work through some disagreements while presenting their show (pictured in 2009)

But despite the pair having their fair share of arguments, they admit that they are usually over something unimportant, such as presents. One year she was gifted some bacon (pictured in 2007)

So he composed a love letter on his phone and dragged her out of the race box and popped the question.

She told the Loose Women panel in 2018: 'We were at the races in a box with some people and I'd had a few drinks and had won a bit on the horses and was having a lovely time.

'Eamonn had gone out to the loo and when he came back, there were men in the box with us flirting and chatting to me, and he said: 'I don't like that them flirting with my wife.'

'And then he went: 'Actually, she's not my wife. She should be my wife.' We had been together 14 years by then. 'Why is she not my wife? Why haven't I done this?''

After dragging her away from her sea of admirers, the couple were on their way home when Eamonn repeatedly asked Ruth if her phone had a notification.

Ruth thought nothing of it, but after Eamonn's consistent questioning, she reluctantly checked her mobile.

At first, she believed he had shared a 'saucy message', but it was actually a sweet and meaningful declaration of his love about how much he loved her and adored her.

She confessed to the panel: 'I opened it and then there was this beautiful letter. Right at the end it said: 'Will you marry me?'

'Because we didn't know this driver I text him back saying: 'Yes please.' Then we sat holding hands all the way home and it was really romantic.'
Bianca Censori has been spotted back home in Australia.

The Australian model was seen eating lunch at the trendy Mario's Cafe in Fitzroy, Melbourne, on Saturday, with her parents, the Herald Sun reports.

The 29-year-old was not with her American rapper husband, Kanye West, 46, with Bianca seemingly travelling to Australia solo.

Bianca enjoyed a bowl of spaghetti carbonara after quietly slipping into the country to visit her family.

In contrast to her usually racy get ups, Bianca was wearing a khaki Miu Miu sweater dress and 'blended in with the lunch crowd' the Herald Sun claims.

Bianca Censori (pictured) has been spotted back home in Australia. The Aussie model was seen eating lunch with her parents at the trendy Mario's Cafe in Fitzroy, Melbourne, on Saturday, according to a new report

Bianca enjoyed a bowl of spaghetti carbonara after quietly slipping into the country to visit her family. Pictured: Mario's Cafe

It comes after news that Bianca's loved ones are concerned her husband Kanye is 'dragging her into the adult film world' and using her to promote his new Yeezy Porn venture, insiders claim.

The Grammy winner has been lambasted by fans for appearing to dismiss the Christian beliefs he had previously prioritized so publicly.

Bianca's family and friends are said to be among the critics and fear the architectural designer will be 'used' to 'promote sexual indecency' by the controversial musician.

'Bianca's family was willing to give Kanye the benefit of the doubt after her mum's recent visit to LA,' an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.

'They were even trying to accept that he was not forcing Bianca to do anything. They were aware of Kanye and Bianca's project to create and sell their own brand of clothing.

The 29-year-old was not with her American rapper husband, Kanye West (left), 46, with Bianca seemingly travelling to Australia solo

It comes after news Bianca's loved ones are concerned Kanye is 'dragging her into the adult film world' and using her to promote his new Yeezy Porn venture, insiders claim

'But with two feminist sisters and an equally feminist mother, it is hard to rationalize or accept her involvement in this new venture.'

They continued: 'The fact that he is dragging her into the adult film world with him and using her as a billboard already to promote sexual indecency is absolutely appalling and very worrying.

'They feel he has convinced her that this is a good idea because it will make them wealthier.'

But their fears have reportedly risen after Milo Yiannopoulos, the Chief of Staff of Kanye's Yeezy brand, officially quit because he could not be 'complicit in the production and dissemination of pornographic films and literature for moral and religious reasons.'

Bianca has become synonymous with wearing X-rated outfits - from barely-there bodysuits and sheer tights to micro shorts - since she secretly married Kanye in December 2022.

Kanye's plan for a Yeezy Porn studio has mainly led to a wave of backlash from fans who gravitated to him in recent years when he turned his focus toward Christian-themed music, including his 2019 album Jesus Is King and his Sunday Services.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will participate in a trilateral meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of an annual security forum in Singapore slated to begin next week, the Pentagon said Friday.

Austin will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue set to take place from May 31-June 2, during which he will attend a three-way meeting with the Asian allies, and bilateral meetings with China's Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun and other counterparts, according to the Department of Defense.

His trip comes as tensions persiste in the region over China's military exercises encircling Taiwan this week and apparent signs of North Korea preparing to launch another military reconnaissance satellite, as well as Russia's prolonged war in Ukraine.

At the security forum, Austin plans to meet Singapore's new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and other senior Singaporean officials, and convene a multilateral meeting with his counterparts from Southeast Asia, according to the department.

"Secretary Austin's tenth trip to the Indo-Pacific comes as the Department of Defense continues to strengthen U.S. relationships with allies and partners in support of a shared regional vision for peace, stability, and deterrence," the department said in a release.

In Cambodia, the secretary will meet with senior officials following his 2022 visit to Phnom Penh for a regional gathering of defense ministers.

Austin will conclude his trip in France, where he will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in 1944 during World War II. (Yonhap)
Nicki Minaj filmed herself seemingly getting arrested for allegedly 'carrying drugs' while traveling from Amsterdam to Manchester for her next Pink Friday 2 Tour show.

Despite vehemently denying that she was carrying any drugs, the 41-year-old rapper was told that she needed to go to the police station in footage captured during an Instagram Live.

In the recording, a man explained to her that she 'would get a lawyer at the office' and they would go 'as fast as possible.'

During the Instagram Live, the Anaconda hitmaker said she was told 'to get into this [police] van and go into the precinct with no lawyer present.'

She further alleged that someone working for airport security requested she made a 'statement with no lawyer present' after finding 'pre-rolls' in 'bags that they were not authorized to take.'

Nicki Minaj filmed herself seemingly getting arrested for allegedly 'carrying drugs' while traveling from Amsterdam to Manchester for her next show

DailyMail.com has reached out to Minaj's representative for confirmation on if she was actually arrested, but has not heard back.

It is currently unclear if she was booked at a police station.

A spokesperson for the police in the Netherlands confirmed to NBC News that they 'arrested a 41-year-old American woman at Schiphol Airport because of possession of soft drugs.'

They did not identify Minaj, or anyone else by name, as the person arrested.

Before the alleged arrest, Minaj shared a series of posts on X (previously known as Twitter), about her bags getting pulled for a thorough search at the airport.

'They've been trying everything they possibly can to TRY to stop this tour,' she wrote in one tweet, before theorizing that they were trying to 'plant things' in her luggage.

Additionally, she shared footage on her Instagram of a man telling her that police needed to take a closer look at her luggage.

In the clip, an airline crew member told her that a 'police officer told' him that they had 'to offload all the luggage and to search everything.'

'I'm so sorry to say that,' he continued.

She, then, asked: 'But wasn't that what you planned on doing from the get-go? Why didn't you guys search it before it went on the plane?'

'They did just a random quick check, but now they want to open it,' he insisted.

After she asked why, he said: 'First of all, because you filmed him... [and] ... he doesn't believe you that you don't have more with you than you say.'

Despite vehemently denying that she was carrying any drugs, the 41-year-old rapper was told that she needed to go to the police station in footage captured during an Instagram Live

In the recording, a man explained to her that she 'would get a lawyer at the office' and they would go 'as fast as possible'

Before the alleged arrest, Minaj shared a series of posts on X (previously known as Twitter ), about her bags getting pulled for a thorough search at the airport

'No, he asked me 'Do I have any more in those purses' and I said, 'No,' and I asked him where are my bags,' the rapper said. 'They took my bags and put them on the plane before I could know what bags are on the plane.'

The airline crew member simply said he was 'so sorry for that.'

'Okay, of course,' she said before the video ended.

In Minaj's caption, she wrote 'they took my bags before I could see them' then 'put it on the plane.'

'This is what it looks like when ppl are paid big money to try to sabotage a tour after all else failed. Everything they've done is illegal,' she wrote.

Minaj's most recent tweet, at the time of publication, claimed that she was told that she had five minutes 'to make a statement about' her 'security to the police precinct.'

Earlier, she had noted on X that 'they said they found weed & that another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls.'

'Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig [Instagram] post down,' she wrote.

In another X post, she pointed out that marijuana is legal in Amsterdam.

'They've been trying everything they possibly can to TRY to stop this tour,' she wrote in one tweet, before theorizing that they were trying to 'plant things' in her luggage

Minaj also tweeted that her 'filming every single thing made' airline employees and police 'mad'

The mother-of-one is currently on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour

Minaj is is currently on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour and was slated to perform in Manchester, England on Saturday.

However, the problems she encountered at the airport in the Netherlands caused her to miss that evening's concert in the UK.

After arriving in Manchester, she posted a statement to X apologizing to fans for her failure to appear onstage that evening.

'Thank you to everyone who prayed for me today. May God cover you & all that is connected to you. May you be blessed beyond your imagination,' she wrote.

'Barbz, Im @ the stock exchange hotel in #Manchester I arrived a little over an hour ago,' she continued. 'After sitting in a jail cell for 5-6 hours, my plane still didnt take off for another 20 mins once I boarded.'

Minaj noted: 'The flight was 50 mins,' repeating for emphasis: '50 mins.'

She argued: 'Thats why they had to do the big song & dance b/c they knew Id still find a way to perform even if it came down to my last 90 mins in the building which would have been until 1130pm. The building was willing to go past 11pm. So grateful to them for that.

'So they succeeded at their plan to not let me get on that stage tonight. I succeeded @ getting to the root of it all by recording them & posting everything in real time. I have sooooooooo much video evidence. You wouldnt believe it if I told you.

Minaj grimly resolved: 'Ill have the lawyers & GOD take it from here tho.'

Switching gears as she addressed her ticketholders, she said: 'Please please please accept my deepest & most sincere apologies. They sure did know exactly how to hurt me today but this too, shall pass.'

She continued: 'Theyve been doing this over & over & over & over & over again & Ive tried so hard to not discuss it b/c you guys deserve to just get the good stuff. I hate involving you in anything that isnt for entertainment purposes only.'

After arriving in Manchester, she posted a statement to X apologizing to fans for her failure to appear onstage that evening

The Bang Bang hitmaker promised her fans that 'we will have another date for tonights show shortly & Ill probably be able to share it tmrw. One July option & one June option is currently being discussed.

'Ill find a way to not only make up the date with the performance but Im going to create an added bonus for everyone that had a tkt for this show. Promise.

She reminded her audience: 'Ill STILL be performing at the 2nd #Manchester show on the 30th. 5 days away. Ill STILL be performing in #Birmingham tmrw ok Barbz Love you'.

Fans reacted on Twitter, with some calling her out for allegedly breaking the law and the Barbz showing their support.

'Weed is illegal in the UK point blank period if you have it you're going to be arrested they don't care who you are so if she was trying to leave Amsterdam with weed trying to come over here to the UK, then yes the police have got every right to stop #NICKIMINAJ,' one fan commented.

'So happy to hear Nicki is okay, sad she couldn't hit the stage, but at least she's made it safely to Manchester!' wrote another. 'We love you Nicki!!!'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Hollywood Walk of Fame star will not be removed, despite the many calls for it.

Amid his sexual assault lawsuits, a growing number of people are asking for the 54-year-old embattled rapper's star to be taken out, but it appears that won't be happening.

On Saturday, a Hollywood Chamber of Commerce spokesperson told TMZ that the organization is 'powerless' when it comes to removing stars after they are cemented on Hollywood Boulevard.

The Chamber also added that they did not discuss removing Combs' star as they only have the authority to nominate, manufacture and install them.

This comes shortly after a harrowing video emerged showing Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Hollywood Walk of Fame star will not be removed despite the many calls for it. Amid his sexual assault lawsuits, a growing number of people are asking for the 54-year-old embattled rapper's star to be taken out, but it appears that won't be happening; seen in January 2020

Back in May 2008, Combs received his Walk of Fame star with his late ex Kim Porter and their kids in attendance

Back in May 2008, Combs was honored with the 2,362nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was introduced by actor Jamie Foxx.

'He throws the best party you've ever seen in your life,' Foxx said at the time during his speech, according to AP.

As the crowd chanted Combs' name, Foxx told the media mogul: 'This is big. This is legendary. And they'll never be able to take this away from you.'

Despite the mounting number of sexual assault lawsuits and being under a federal criminal investigation, it seems his star will remain for the time being.

Previously, Combs vehemently denied the sexual assault allegations and insisted that his accusers were after a 'payday.'

Last week, however, an incriminating video emerged, which depicted Combs violently attacking Ventura in 2016 hotel surveillance footage.

Shortly afterwards, he made a public apology in a video, which angered social media users commenting under his post and claiming they were not convinced by his display of remorse.

Ventura finally broke her silence on Thursday as she urged people to 'open your heart to believe victims the first time' after she was accused of lying about the abuse by many people including her ex.

On Saturday, a Hollywood Chamber of Commerce spokesperson told the outlet that the organization is 'powerless' when it comes to removing stars after they are cemented on Hollywood Boulevard. Despite the mounting number of sexual assault lawsuits and being under a federal criminal investigation, it seems his star will remain for the time being; seen in March 2018

Previously, Combs vehemently denied the sexual assault allegations and insisted that his accusers were after a 'payday.' Last week, however, an incriminating video emerged, which depicted Combs violently attacking Ventura in 2016 hotel surveillance footage; seen in November 2012

Shortly afterwards, he made a public apology in a video, which angered social media users commenting under his post and claiming they were not convinced by his display of remorse

It comes after the LA County District Attorney said they would not be able to prosecute Combs for the assault as the statute of limitations had passed.

Ventura had previously claimed in a since-settled lawsuit that Combs had paid the same hotel $50,000 for the footage after the attack.

In the days following, a mounting number of sexual assault allegations and lawsuits have also emerged from various women claiming they were assaulted decades back.

One of the latest lawsuits is from a woman named April Lampros, who claimed Combs sexually assaulted her on numerous occasions during the 1990s and early 2000s, according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com.
Giovanni Pernice asked BBC executives to film all of his training and rehearsals with his Strictly Come Dancing partner Amanda Abbington after he grew concerned about her 'unstable behaviour'.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the under-fire professional dancer approached bosses in week two of the series after Ms Abbington's behaviour left him 'worried'.

All footage was reviewed daily by Strictly chiefs, who deemed no actions to be inappropriate.

The revelation comes days after Mr Pernice, 33, launched his fightback against claims made by Ms Abbington, 52, and two other Strictly partners over his treatment of them.

The under-fire professional dancer approached bosses in week two of the series after Ms Abbington's behaviour left him 'worried'. Pictured, Mr Pernice with Amanda Abbington who was his dancing partner on the BBC show

Mr Pernice is being represented by Joelle Rich, 39, (pictured) a partner in London-based law firm Schillings. She is the same lawyer Johnny Depp had in his 2020 libel battle against The Sun. Pictured, Johnny Depp and Ms Rich together.

Mr Pernice, 33, launched his fightback against claims made by Ms Abbington, 52, and two other Strictly partners over his treatment of them

Last night, a source close to Mr Pernice told the MoS: 'Gio found the situation very unsettling so he asked that all sessions were recorded. It was totally unprecedented, but Gio started to see things in Amanda's behaviour and wanted to ensure he was protected. What a relief he did.'

Last November Ms Abbington, who quit the series early, asked the BBC for the footage after claiming she had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following her stint on Strictly. It is understood she leaked this detail to the Press but no mention was made that it was Mr Pernice who had asked for their training to be recorded. A friend of the dancer added: 'You couldn't make it up.'

Ms Abbington is thought to have met with two of Mr Pernice's former Strictly partners, Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh and former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, to discuss his behaviour.

It can also be revealed that Mr Pernice is being represented by Joelle Rich, 39, a partner in London-based law firm Schillings.

She is the same lawyer Johnny Depp had in his 2020 libel battle against The Sun.

Ms Abbington is thought to have met with two of Mr Pernice's former Strictly partners, Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh and former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, to discuss his behaviour

Ms Abbington later leaked to The Sun newspaper that Mr Pernice left her with a bruised foot in training

Last week, Mr Pernice insisted he would clear his name after he instructed Schillings, which has also represented the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

A source said: 'Joelle is one of the best litigators in the country and will staunchly defend Gio.'

Last week, Mr Pernice insisted he would clear his name after he instructed Schillings, which has also represented the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They will go head-to-head with another London law firm, Carter Ruck, which is acting for Ms Abbington and two other women. Carter Ruck said 'numerous serious complaints [were] made to the BBC who are now evidence-gathering.'

But Ms Abbington later leaked to The Sun newspaper that Mr Pernice left her with a bruised foot in training. Friends of Pernice hit back, saying: 'The only substantive allegation is that he stepped on someone's toes  an occupational hazard whether you're dancing professionally or at a wedding.' A celebrity who has appeared on Strictly last night said: 'Everyone who takes part comes home with bruises.'
Island Boys rapper Frankie Venegas, 22, was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Friday.

He was slapped with charges of reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and providing a false ID to a law enforcement officer, TMZ reported.

The TikTok star, who was also arrested for domestic battery last year, was booked into the Broward County Jail.

Further details on what he did to get arrested have not been released.

Frankie, known as Kodiyakredd, and his fraternal twin Alex, known as Flysoulja, shot to fame as hip hop artists on various social media platform.

Island Boys rapper Frankie Venegas, 22, was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Friday

He was slapped with charges of reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and false ID provided to a law enforcement officer, TMZ reported

His twin brother Alex Venegas took to TikTok to show support for his brother, writing: 'Free him. Flysoulja x kodiyakredd real brother got you.'

This isn't Frankie's first or second run in with the law in his 22 years.

Frankie was last arrested and taken into custody in May 2023 after his then-girlfriend told police he slapped her and shoved her into a pool.

The girlfriend told police they got into an argument at the pool area of the Airbnb they were staying in after she threatened to break up with Venegas.

She said that the break was due to Frankie's 'physically abusive behavior.'

Venegas allegedly slapped her in the face and pushed her into the shallow area of the pool causing the girlfriend to strike her chin on the concrete floor of the pool, according to legal documents.

Police noted bruises on her chin, legs and arms when they interviewed her at a nearby hospital. Venegas was arrested at the Airbnb for investigation of domestic battery and later released.

Venegas was also accused of domestic abuse in January 2022 by Montaisha Shanell on Instagram Live. Shanell claimed that Venegas regularly beat her with abuse dating back to at least April 2021.

He also was accused of battery in March 2022 after allegedly hitting his brother's girlfriend after she refused to leave their house. No charges were filed.

Venegas and his twin brother Alex went viral on social media in 2021 for their a cappella track Island Boys.

The fraternal twins were the subject of a 2021 documentary titled Trolled: The Untold Island Boys Story.

The TikTok star, who is known for his extensive tattoos and diamond teeth, was booked into the Broward County Jail, pictured in his May 2023 mugshot

Exactly what he did to earn the arrest isn't clear at the moment and TMZ reported they had reached out to the Sheriff's Department

Frankie, known as Kodiyakredd, and his fraternal twin Alex, known as Flysoulja, shot to minor fame as hip hop artists on the social media platform

His twin brother Alex Venegas took to TikTok to show support for his brother, writing: 'Free him. Flysoulja x kodiyakredd real brother got you'

This isn't Frankie's first or second run in with the law in his 22 years

Another run-in with the law happened when a home rented by the Island Boys was raided in February 2022 as police arrested Andrew Thomas of West Palm Beach, who was accused of killing an eight-year-old girl in a stray-bullet shooting in Florida.

Thomas was at the home of the two Florida-based rappers when he was apprehended three days after the murder of Ronziyah 'Ziyah' Atkins.

Ziyah was playing around 7 p.m. in the front yard of a home in the 500 block of Southeast First Street in Belle Glade, an hour west of Palm Springs, with her cousins and siblings.

Police said Thomas pulled up in a car and opened fire, reportedly seeking another target, authorities said.
The 77th Cannes Film Festival has come to its most glorious moment with the winners finally announced at Saturday's closing ceremony.

Sean Baker was quite the star of the night as he lifted the festival's top award, the Palme D'Or for directing Anora, and accepted the coveted prize at the iconic Grand Theatre Lumiere.

Also conquering the podium was Selena Gomez, who earned the Best Actress gong for her role in Jacques Audiard's Emilia Perez, sharing it with an ensemble including Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana, and Adriana Paz - although Selena was not in attendance.

Although many odds pointed in the direction of Demi Moore - acclaimed for her competition debut The Substance - it was Emilia Perez who dominated, a Spanish-language musical about a Mexican drug lord who transitions to a woman.

Madrid-born actress Karla Sofia, 52, who accepted the award, is the first trans actor to win a major prize at Cannes.

The 2024 Cannes Film Festival winners were announced on Saturday, with Anora receiving the coveted Palm D'Or prize (director Sean Baker is pictured accepting the award)

Also conquering the podium was Selena Gomez , who earned the Best Actress gong for her role in Jacques Audiard's Emilia Perez, along with an ensemble of female actors

Further proving the success of the musical crime comedy, Emilia Perez also won Cannes' jury prize.

It marked an unprecedentedly rare moment earning not one, but two awards, whereas prizes are usually spread around.

Elsewhere Jesse Plemons won Best Actor for his 'standout' performance in Yorgos Lanthimos' Kinds of Kindness, but the actor was also not present at the closing ceremony.

In the film, three stories are told with largely the same company of actors.

As American director Sean, 53, emotionally collected the gong, he said: 'I don't really know what's happening right now.'

Anora is a comic but devastating Brooklyn odyssey about a sex worker who marries the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch.

Despite the movie being arguably the most acclaimed piece of the festival - its win still came as a surprise because of his equally remarkable competition.

Sean's Anora went head to head with Iranian movie The Seed of the Sacred Fig or gentle Indian drama All We Imagine As Light, which also earned prizes.

Although many odds pointed in the direction of Demi Moore - acclaimed for her competition debut The Substance - it was Emilia Perez to dominate ultimately, a Spanish-language musical about a Mexican drug lord who transitions to a woman (pictured Zoe Saldana)

Madrid-born actress Karla Sofia, 52, who accepted the award, is the first trans actor to win a major prize at Cannes, as she stars at the leading character (pictured middle with Jacques Audiard, George Lucas, and Sean Baker)

Further proving the success of the musical crime comedy, Emilia Perez also won Cannes' jury prize

Elsewhere Jesse Plemons won Best Actor for his 'standout' performance in Yorgos Lanthimos' Kinds of Kindness, but the actor was also not present at the closing ceremony

Jesse Plemons was awarded Best Actor for his performance in Kinds of Kindness, though he was not in attendance to accept

He collected the Palm D'Or alongside his leading star Mikey Madison, as he grinned from ear to ear.

The iconic prize ceremony also saw cinema legend Francis Ford Coppola giving an honorary Palme D'Or to long-time friend and collaborator George Lucas.

The pair - who are considered two of the most pivotal figures of the last half-century of American moviemaking - made an iconic reunion in Cannes.

During the ceremony, Cannes also gave the same tribute to Meryl Streep and the Japanese anime factory Studio Ghibli.

Indian drama narrative All We Imagine As Light, about sisterhood in modern Mumbai, won the Grand Prix, Cannes' second-highest honor.

Directed by Payal Kapadia, the female director made history as the first Indian in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 30 years.

Elsewhere, The Seed of the Sacred Fig earned an emotional standing ovation and bagged Special Prize.

The jury awarded a special prize to director Mohammad Rasoulof for the drama made secretly in Iran.

Just days ahead of the film's premiere the director faced an eight-year prison sentence, and eventually fled Iran on foot.

The drama piece includes real footage from the 2022-2023 demonstrations in Iran, and channels Iranian oppression into a family drama.

The Cannes crowd is said to have met Mohammad with a lengthy standing ovation.

Although Demi Moore didn't earn Best Actress, the Coralie Fargeat's body horror film The Substance - who sees the actress going to gory extremes to remain youthful - won for best screenplay.

'I really believe that movies can change the world, so I hope this movie will be a little stone to build new foundations,' said Coralie.

'I really think we need a revolution and I don't think it has really started yet.'

As American director Sean, 53, emotionally collected the gong, he said: 'I don't really know what's happening right now'

He collected the Palm D'Or prize alongside his leading star Mikey Madison, and producer Samantha Quan

Sean and Mikey, 25, shared a hug after collecting the prize

The iconic ceremony also saw cinema legend Francis Ford Coppola giving an honorary Palme D'Or to long-time friend and collaborator George Lucas

The pair - who are considered two of the most pivotal figures of the last half-century of American moviemaking - posed up a storm together

Although Demi Moore didn't earn Best Actress, the Coralie Fargeat's horror film The Substance - who sees the actress go to gory extremes to stay young - won Best Screenplay

The Seed of the Sacred Fig's director Mohammad Rasoulof proudly collects his prize for his drama secretly made in Iran

Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes proudly earned best director for Grand Tour, an Asian odyssey in which a man flees his fiancee from Rangoon in 1917.

'Sometimes I get lucky,' Miguel joked humbly.

Finally, the Camera D'Or was bagged by Halfdan Ullmann Tndel for his Armand - which is the best first feature across all of Cannes official selections.

Tndel is also the grandson of renowned Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and Norwegian actor Liv Ullman.

A special mention was given to Mongrel, directed by Chiang Wei Liang, as well as Daniel Soares' Bad For a Moment.

Finally, The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent, by Nebojsa Slijepcevic, won Short Film Palme dOr.
Eva Green looked glamorous in a dark silver sequinned dress at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival Closing Ceremony on Saturday.

The former Bond Girl, 43, put on a busty display in the long-sleeved dress which pooled at her feet.

She accessorised with a gorgeous pair of silver chandelier earrings with yellow stones and swept her raven tresses into a high ponytail.

Eva was joined by the likes of Elle Fanning and Demi Moore at the Closing Ceremony of the 77th annual film awards.

The Festival, previewing new films of all genres and from all countries, kicked off on May 14 - and Eva was among the first to arrive.

Eva Green, 43, looked glamorous in a dark silver sequinned dress at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival Closing Ceremony on Saturday

The former Bond Girl accessorised with a gorgeous pair of silver chandelier earrings with yellow stones and swept her raven tresses into a high ponytail

The dress was long-sleeved and pooled at Eva's feet. Eva was joined at the ceremony by the likes of Demi Moore and Elle Fanning

Eva stunned in large black sunglasses and a brown trench coat as she arrived in Cannes on May 13.

She wore a black top and black trousers under the coat and sported a stylish two-in-one silver ring.

Eva was a member of this year's jury - a group of filmmakers and actors who hold sole responsibility for choosing which films will receive an award.

The jury was headed by director Greta Gerwig whose 2023 film Barbie is the highest-grossing film directed by a woman.

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.

Also at Cannes Film Festival is the 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.

Eva was joined by the likes of Elle Fanning and Demi Moore at the Closing Ceremony of the 77th annual film awards

Eva with jury members (L-R) Juan Antonio Bayona, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Ebru Ceylan, Nadine Labaki, Pierfrancesco Favino, jury president Greta Gerwig, Lily Gladstone, and Omar Sy

On Friday, Star Wars creator and director George Lucas received a well-deserved Honorary Palme d'Or.

The award is given to directors or actors who had achieved a notable body of work but who had never won a competitive Palme d'Or.

A Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Festival and is considered one of the film industry's most prestigious awards.

Also receiving a Palme D'Or this Cannes was Meryl Streep and Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli.
The MP's wife who says she was a victim of the 'Baby Reindeer stalker' last night revealed she is considering legal action against Fiona Harvey after her controversial interview with Piers Morgan.

Laura Wray, 62, is threatening to sue after Ms Harvey claimed on the show  watched by 13 million  that she was harassed by Mrs Wray.

It comes after Mrs Wray exclusively told The Mail on Sunday that she was plagued by Ms Harvey for five years, which resulted in a restraining order being granted at Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2002.

Last night Mrs Wray, the widow of former Labour MP Jimmy Wray, said Ms Harvey made damaging statements during the Piers Morgan interview.

Laura Wray, 62, (pictured) is threatening to sue after Ms Harvey claimed on the show that she was harassed by Mrs Wray

Fiona Harvey (pictured) was interviewed by Piers Morgan on a show that was watched by 13 million

On the show, Ms Harvey denied being sacked by Mrs Wray at her law firm in 1997 and claimed she was the one who took out a court order against Mrs Wray.

Last night Mrs Wray said: 'I felt I was defamed by Ms Harvey on Piers Morgan's show. Many of the things she said were completely and utterly wrong and I would really like to set the record straight. Now I'm giving consideration to the possibility of raising an action for defamation against Ms Harvey.'

Last month The Mail on Sunday told how Mrs Wray was shocked to see her stalker portrayed as the character 'Martha' on the hit Netflix show Baby Reindeer.

The series, which has amassed more than 22million viewers, is based on the experience of Scottish comedian Richard Gadd. It hints at Martha's previous history of stalking. Gadd's character is seen looking her up online and finding articles  fictionalised  headlined: 'Sick stalker targets barrister's deaf child.'

Mrs Wray was forced to sack Ms Harvey, who went on to stalk and harass her. Pictured, Baby Reindeer shot of Martha, an emotionally troubled woman (Jessica Gunning)

This barrister is allegedly Mrs Wray, an advocate in Scotland who has a disabled son, Frankie. Originally a solicitor, Mrs Wray first encountered Ms Harvey  who was herself a law graduate  in 1997 when she was persuaded to employ her for a trial period at her law firm in Glasgow.

Mrs Wray was forced to sack Ms Harvey, who went on to stalk and harass her, which resulted in the solicitor securing an inderdict against her in April 2002.

The documents asking a sheriff to grant an order have been seen by this newspaper and detail the reasons Mrs Wray asked the court to intervene. These include Ms Harvey reporting Mrs Wray to social services for allegedly harming her disabled son.

But Ms Harvey told Piers Morgan: 'She [Mrs Wray] messed up because I went into the High court in Edinburgh to get countrywide interdicts and an injunction because I was going to move to London anyway.' She went on to brand it 'nonsense' that an interim interdict was granted.

Last night Mrs Wray said: 'What she said is wrong and has been heard by millions of people. It's inaccurate and untrue.'
NASA will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts to send a joint mission to the International Space Station this year or shortly thereafter, US envoy to India Eric Garcetti has said.

Garcetti made these remarks while speaking at the "US-India Commercial Space Conference: Unlocking Opportunities for US & Indian Space Startups," hosted by the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and the US Commercial Service (USCS) in Bengaluru on Friday.

NASA will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts, with the goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station, hopefully, this year or shortly thereafter, which was one of the promises of our leaders' visit together," Garcetti said.

"And soon we will launch the NISAR satellite from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Center to monitor all resources, including ecosystems, the Earth's surface, natural hazards, sea level rise, and the cryosphere, Garcetti said, according to a USIBC press statement issued here.

NISAR is a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

You see whether it's the pursuit of peace and the peaceful use of space, things like the Artemis Accord, we are hand in hand, arm in arm. When it comes to prosperity and jobs, which is a big part of this conference today, it can be produced by startups in this sector, good-paying, high-tech jobs for Indians and for Americans. Space is right there, Garcetti said.

The Artemis Accords lay out a framework for collaborating nations' safe exploration of the moon and beyond.

The day-long event in Bengaluru saw the participation from senior officials from both the US and Indian governments, including Garcetti, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr. S Somanath, representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Government of India, as well as prominent leaders from the commercial space industry, industry stakeholders, venture capitalists, and market analysts.

I must salute the visionary leadership that we have in both nations in India and the US for engaging in such an accord which looks at the moon as a sustainable place for all of us to come and work together, Somnath said in his remarks.

The connection between the Indian partners and also the US partners in critical technologies and specifically in the space sector is really becoming stronger. And I'm very happy about that type of engagement and the options available to the industries and the US business indigenous to connect with India in the emerging space sector as well, he said.

Expressing optimism about the prospects of US-India collaboration in space, USIBC president Atul Keshap described it as a new chapter in the US-India space partnership. This week has been particularly fruitful, with USIBC and USCS joining forces to champion these two iCET space deliverables, he said.

The conference highlights the deepening synergy between our two free nations in pioneering space exploration and innovation by the leading democracies. Through strategic alliances and collaborative efforts, we're on the brink of achieving extraordinary milestones and expanding the horizons of space exploration beyond what we once imagined," Keshap said.

The US-India Commercial Space Conference underscores the importance of fostering strategic partnerships to drive innovation and propel the space industry forward, said USIBC managing director Alexander Slater.

This is the next step in USIBC's continued commitment to fostering bilateral cooperation among leading companies and startups from both countries to unlock new opportunities for economic growth, job creation and technological leadership. It builds on our work in February when we hosted the second edition of INDUS-X in New Delhi, which promoted similar opportunities for innovation and cooperation in new and emerging defence technologies,he said.

Meanwhile, senior defence officials from India and the US have met in Washington to discuss opportunities to strengthen space cooperation and identified potential areas for collaboration with the American industry. Meeting for the second annual US-India Advanced Domains Defence Dialogue (AD3), the officials discussed a wide range of bilateral cooperation.

The American team was led by Vipin Narang, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defence for Space Policy, and the visiting Indian delegation was led by Vishwesh Negi, India's Joint Secretary for International Cooperation. During this year's Dialogue, Narang and Negi discussed opportunities to strengthen space cooperation and identified potential areas for collaboration with US industry, said Department of Defence Spokesperson Cmdr. Jessica Anderson.

Among a group of US and Indian defence officials, the two co-chaired the first US-India principal-level tabletop discussion that explored areas to enhance cooperation in the space domain.

They agreed to advance AD3 through regular working group discussions. The visiting Indian Government delegation also engaged with the US Space Command, the Joint Commercial Operations Cell, and artificial intelligence experts from across the US Department of Defence, Anderson said.
With 'urban apathy' casting its shadow on the sixth phase of polling, the voter turnout stood at 60 per cent as of 8 pm on Saturday in 58 constituencies in six States and two Union Territories amid adverse weather.

West Bengal recorded the highest turnout at 78.19 per cent amid sporadic incidents of violence reported from some areas while Jammu and Kashmir recorded voter turnout at 52.28 per cent, highest in the last 35 years.

In the 2019 last general elections, the erstwhile Anantnag seat saw a meagre turnout of 8.9 per cent. However, the boundaries of the constituency extended across the Pir Panjal to include Jammu's Rajouri and Poonch.

The three parliamentary constituencies in the valley namely Srinagar (38.49 per cent), Baramulla (59.1 per cent) and Anantnag-Rajouri (51.35 per cent as of 5 pm) recorded voter turnout which is highest in many decades.

Healthy polling continued in Anantnag and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir which recorded 44.41 percent. Encouraged by the voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir the Chief Election Commission Rajiv Kumar said the Election Commission will "very soon" initiate the process of holding assembly polls in the Union Territory.

As per the Election Commission's voter turnout, Haryana's polling percentage is at 58.33 per cent, Bihar at 53.30 per cent, Jharkhand at 62.74 per cent, Uttar Pradesh at 54.03 per cent, Odisha at 60.07.60 per cent.

Bishnupur Parliamentary constituency of West Bengal witnessed the highest voter turnout of 81.47 per cent while Siwan in Bihar recorded lowest at 47.49 per cent in this phase.

The Election Commission has also come out with Lok Sabha constituency-wise data on the number of votes cast in the first five phases of the elections and asserted that there is a pattern in creating false narratives and mischievous design to vitiate the electoral process. It said that any alteration in the number of votes polled is not possible.

By the end of phase six, elections had been completed in 486 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats. The electoral process has also been completed in Haryana, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. The remaining 57 seats will vote in the last phase on June 1. The results of seven phases will be declared on June 4.

With large parts of India sweltering under a heatwave, arrangements for cold water, coolers, fans and tents were made at several polling stations. Wheelchairs were also kept for the assistance of elderly voters.

Among the prominent candidates in this phase are Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Rao Inderjit Singh, BJP's Maneka Gandhi, Sambit Patra, Manohar Khattar and Manoj Tiwari, Mehbooba Mufti and Congress's Kanhaiya Kumar.

While voting was largely peaceful, polls in West Bengal were marred by clashes between the ruling Trinamool Congress and BJP in Ghatal and Kanthi constituencies. In Jhargram, senior BJP leader and its candidate Pranat Tudu claimed his convoy was attacked in Garbeta.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to exercise their right to franchise in the penultimate phase of the Lok Sabha elections in large numbers. "Every vote counts, make yours count too, " Modi said in his poll day message on X.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, who is contesting from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir, staged a sit-in outside Bijbehara police station on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Anantnag district against alleged detention of her party workers and polling agents.

She also claimed that outgoing calls on her mobile number have been suspended. Police, however, said those detained are over ground workers (OGWs) and the action was taken to ensure smooth conduct of elections.

Mehbooba's daughter and PDP leader Iltija Mufti alleged polling was being deliberately slowed down at a booth in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, a charge denied by the administration.

In Odisha, 42 Assembly constituencies went to polls simultaneously with the Parliamentary constituencies. Scenes of colourful jubilation at having exercised their cherished franchise emerged from across the State which recorded a voter turnout of 60.07 per cent as of 7:45 pm.

In Haryana, BJP's Karnal Lok Sabha seat candidate Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who is contesting the Karnal Assembly bypoll, were among the first to cast their votes at their respective booths.

Saini, accompanied by his family members, cast his vote in his native Mirjapur Majra village in Ambala district's Naraingarh. Khattar exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Karnal's Prem Nagar.

In West Bengal, voting was held in the tribal belt JangalMahal region, spanning five districts. A hotspot for identity politics, the region sends eight representatives to Lok Sabha from Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur seats. Out of the eight seats, the BJP won five and TMC bagged three in the 2019 polls.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, among the 58 seats polling today in the sixth phase, the BJP alone had won 40. And the Congress could not win any of these seats. The voter turnout in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections held on May 20 was estimated to be 62.15 per cent, which is higher than the polling in the same seats in 2019 when it was 61.82 per cent.

The fourth phase of polling held on May 13 recorded a turnout of 69.16 per cent while the third phase held on 7 recorded 65.68 per cent voter turnout. The second phase held on April 26 saw 66.71 per cent turnout and the first phase of polling held on April 19 saw 66.1 turnout, according to the Election Commission of India.
Judges at the top United Nations court ordered Israel, Friday, to immediately halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in a landmark emergency ruling in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide.

While the International Court of Justice, or World Court, has no means to enforce its orders, the case was a stark sign of Israel's global isolation over its campaign in Gaza, particularly since it began its offensive against Rafah this month against the pleas of its closest ally the United States.

Reading out the ruling, World Court President Nawaf Salam said the situation in the Palestinian enclave had deteriorated since the court last ordered Israel to take steps to improve it, and conditions had been met for a new emergency order.

"The state of Israel shall (....) immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part," he said.

Israel has not explained how it would keep the population safe during an evacuation of Rafah, or provide food, water, sanitation and medicine for the 800,000 Palestinians that had already fled the Israeli advance, he said.

The ICJ ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to let in aid. Israel, it added, must provide access for investigators and report back on its progress within one month.

The order was adopted by the panel of 15 international judges in a 13-2 vote, opposed only by judges from Uganda and Israel itself.

South Africa hailed the ruling as groundbreaking.

A White House spokesperson said "We've been clear and consistent on our position on Rafah."

The internationally recognised Palestinian Authority said it represented a global consensus that the war must end, although presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said it did not go far enough because it did not halt fighting in other parts of Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters: "We call upon the U.N. Security Council to immediately implement this demand by the World Court into practical measures to compel the Zionist enemy to implement the decision."

Israelis responded with outrage. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that those demanding Israel stop the war were also demanding that it cease to exist, which Israel would not agree to.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called the order "a moral collapse and a moral disaster" for failing to link the demand to halt fighting to a demand that Hamas free hostages.

The order was handed down a week after it was requested by South Africa as part of its case accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention enacted in the wake of the Holocaust.

The ICJ, based in The Hague, is the highest U.N. body for hearing disputes between states. Its rulings are final and binding but have been ignored in the past, as the court has no enforcement powers.

Israel has repeatedly dismissed the case's accusations of genocide as baseless, arguing in court that its operations in Gaza are self-defence and targeted at Hamas militants who attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

An Israeli government spokesman said on the eve of Friday's decision that "no power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza."

Outside the court on Friday, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators waved flags and played rap on a boom box calling for a free Palestine.

Israel started its armored attack on Rafah earlier this month, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee a city that had become a refuge to around half of the population's 2.3 million people.

Rafah, on Gaza's southern edge, has also been the main route in for aid, and international organizations say the Israeli operation has cut off the enclave and raised the risk of famine.

Israel says Rafah has served as the last redoubt for thousands of Hamas fighters and their senior commanders, and it cannot achieve its war aim of wiping out the Islamist militant group and rescuing its hostages without storming the city.

So far, fighting has taken place on Rafah's southern edge and eastern districts, but Israel has yet to begin an assault on the city's main populated area. Its closest ally, the U.S., has repeatedly called on it not to do so, saying Israel has yet to show a credible plan for how this can be done without causing mass casualties among the displaced people sheltering there.

Emergency measures

South Africa's lawyers had asked the ICJ last week to order an emergency halt to the operation in Rafah, saying it must be stopped to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people.

South Africa has also sought an order for Israel to end its entire wider war in the Gaza Strip, although the court has repeatedly held back from taking such a step.

Friday's decision came days after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court  a separate court also based in The Hague- announced he had filed an application for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as leaders of Hamas.

Prosecutor Karim Khan accused Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes including extermination, using hunger as a weapon and deliberately attacking civilians. Israel denied those charges and called on allies to repudiate the court.

South Africa's wider case at the ICJ accuses Israel of orchestrating a state-led genocide against the Palestinian people. The ICJ has not ruled on the substance of that accusation but has rejected Israel's demand to throw the case out.

Israel launched its air and ground war on Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. More than 35,000 Palestinians have since been killed in the offensive, Gaza's health ministry says. (Reuters)
The Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday recorded over 52 per cent voter turnout in the sixth phase of polling amid unprecedented security arrangements in the region.

This is the highest voter turnout recorded in the newly carved out Anantnag-Rajouri seat  earlier known as Anantnag  since the 1984 general elections when it recorded 70 per cent polling.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, only a 9 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Anantnag while Rajouri and Poonch polled 72 per cent votes.

Barring one incident of the clash reported between supporters of two candidates outside a polling station in Mendhar sub-division of Poonch, the polling passed off peacefully. An FIR was registered by police and further investigation is on, the officials said. The high-profile seat witnessed a three-way contest in the first election after the abrogation of Article 370 and the redrawing of its political map.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is pitted against Mian Altaf of the National Conference, and Zafar Iqbal Manhas of the Apni Party from this seat.

The BJP has supported the Apni Party candidate and has not fielded any candidate in this constituency.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Saturday exercised his franchise in his home constituency in Rajouri district and thanked the voters for turning up in large numbers to strengthen democracy in the Union Territory.

Mehbooba, along with her daughter Iltija Mufti, also exercised her right to franchise in the valley. She also staged a protest demonstration outside a police station demanding the release of polling agents, and workers of the PDP. Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P K Pole said police picked up some persons with records and Over Ground Workers (OGWs) in Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary Constituency as a preventive measure.

"The Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary constituency is the constituency which witnessed 80 per cent of incidents before and during the elections campaign in the entire Union Territory," Pole told media in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on Saturday.

He said to ensure smooth and peaceful polling police took some preventive measures. "Either it is Rajouri, Poonch or Anantnag- Bijbehara side, some terror incident did take place before or during the campaign and keeping in view those, police took some preventive measures," he said.

As many as 19 polling stations were set up along the Line of Control (LoC), where additional security deployment has been made. A large number of border residents participated in the festival of democracy by lining up outside the polling booths since early morning.

Keeping in view the recent terrorist attacks on security forces in the frontier Rajouri and Poonch districts, extensive security arrangements were made to instill confidence among the voters.

All three Assembly segments of the Poonch district recorded over 60 per cent polling. Mendhar recorded 64.69 per cent, Poonch Haveli 64.19 per cent and Surankote recorded 62.95 per cent voter turnout till 5.00 pm.

Four Assembly segments of Rajouri also recorded over 65 per cent voter turnout during the same period. Rajouri recorded 67.09 per cent, Nowshera 65.47 per cent, ThannaMandi 65.34 per cent, and Budhal 64.91 per cent voter turnout.

Three Assembly segments of DH Pora 55.00 per cent, Kokernag 50.00 and Pahalgam 55.63 per cent recorded over 50 per cent voter turnout in the valley.

Zainpora recorded 39.40 per cent, Anantnag 31.21,Anantnag West 34.65 per cent, Devsar 41.50, Dooru 45.21, Kulgam 31.99 per cent, Shangus Anantnag 41.94 per cent.

Meanwhile, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Jammu Additional Director General of Police Anand Jain also conducted a tour of Rajouri district to personally monitor the conduct of the elections. They visited various polling stations across the poll-bound areas of Rajouri to monitor the polling process,

The Election Commission had set up 2,338 polling stations for 18,36,576 voters, including 9,33,647 male, 9,02,902 female, and 27 third-gender voters. The voter list also includes 17,967 persons with disabilities and 540 individuals over the age of 100.

For more than 25,000 migrant voters in the constituency special polling stations have been set up in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.
A voter turnout of 25.76 per cent was recorded till 11 am on Saturday in 58 constituencies in six states and two Union territories where polling is underway in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

West Bengal recorded the highest voter turnout in the first four hours of polling at 36.88 per cent while Odisha recorded the lowest at 21.30 per cent, according to the Election Commission (EC).

Jharkhand recorded a voter turnout of 27.80 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 27.06 per cent, Bihar 23.67 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 23.11 per cent, Haryana 22.09 per cent and Delhi 21.69 per cent, the EC data showed.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, who is contesting from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir, staged a sit-in outside Bijbehara police station on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Anantnag district against alleged detention of her party workers and polling agents.

She also claimed that outgoing calls on her mobile number have been suspended.

Police, however, said those detained are overground workers (OGWs) and the action was taken to ensure smooth conduct of elections.

Mehbooba's daughter and PDP leader Iltija Mufti alleged polling was being deliberately slowed down at a booth in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, a charge denied by the administration.

In the national capital, President Droupadi Murmu, Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi minister Atishi, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and outgoing East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir were among those who cast their votes.

Besides Delhi, polling is underway in 14 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, all 10 seats in Haryana, eight seats each in Bihar and West Bengal, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Jharkhand and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir.

Simultaneously, polling is being held for 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha and the Karnal assembly bypoll in Haryana.

Voting began at 7 am and people were seen queuing up at polling stations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to exercise their right to franchise in the penultimate phase of the Lok Sabha elections in large numbers.

In Haryana, BJP's Karnal Lok Sabha seat candidate Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who is contesting the Karnal assembly bypoll, were among the first to cast their votes at their respective booths.

Saini, accompanied by his family members, cast his vote in his native Mirjapur Majra village in Ambala district's Naraingarh. Khattar exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Karnal's Prem Nagar.

In West Bengal, voting is being held in the tribal belt Jangal Mahal region, spanning five districts. A hotspot for identity politics, the region sends eight representatives to Lok Sabha from Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur seats. Out of the eight seats, the BJP won five and TMC bagged three in the 2019 polls.

"Voting has been peaceful so far. There are no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere," a poll official told PTI.

In Uttar Pradesh, polling is underway for Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phulpur, Allahabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Shrawasti, Domariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lalganj, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Machhlishahr and Bhadohi seats.

Around 82.16 lakh voters, including 40.09 lakh females, are eligible to exercise their franchise in Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur constituencies of Jharkhand.

After casting his vote, Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan said in a post on X, "Today, I exercised my right to vote at Shri Krishna Institute of Public Administration, Ranchi. I urge all voters to exercise their right to vote. Ensure your participation in this great festival of democracy."

In Bihar, 86 candidates are in the fray in the eight seats of Valmiki Nagar, Pashchim Champaran, Purbi Champaran, Sheohar, Siwan, Gopalganj, Maharajganj and Vaishali.

In a video message on X, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary appealed to people to vote for a developed India.

Polling is also being held in Odisha's six parliamentary constituencies of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Puri and Sambalpur along with 42 assembly seats under these Lok Sabha segments.

Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer N B Dhal said voting has been going on smoothly so far in the 10,581 polling stations, barring some reports of EVM glitches.

Over 11.13 crore voters -- 5.84 crore male, 5.29 crore female and 5,120 third gender -- are eligible to exercise their franchise in the sixth phase. The EC has deployed around 11.4 lakh polling officials at 1.14 lakh polling stations.

With large parts of India sweltering under a heatwave, the poll panel has directed election officials and state machineries to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weather.
Israeli air strikes and artillery pounded Rafah, Saturday, despite the U.N.'s top court ordering an immediate halt to its military offensive in the southern Gazan city.

At the same time, renewed efforts were underway in Paris aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war sparked by the Palestinian militant group Hamas's unprecedented Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

In a case brought by South Africa alleging the Israeli military operation amounts to "genocide," the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its Rafah offensive and demanded the immediate release of hostages still held by Palestinian militants.

The Hague-based ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also instructed Israel to keep the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which Israel closed earlier this month, open.

Israel gave no indication it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting the court had got it wrong.

"Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part," National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a joint statement with Israel's foreign ministry spokesman.

Hamas, the Iran-backed Islamist group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, welcomed the ICJ ruling on Rafah but criticised its decision to exclude the rest of the Palestinian territory from the order.

In spite of the ICJ ruling, Israel carried out strikes throughout the Gaza Strip, Saturday morning, as fighting raged between the army and Hamas's armed wing.

Palestinian witnesses and AFP teams reported Israeli strikes or shelling in Rafah, the central city of Deir al-Balah, Gaza City, Jabalia refugee camp and elsewhere.

"We hope that the court's decision will put pressure on Israel to end this war of extermination because there is nothing left here," said Umm Mohammad Al-Ashqa, a Palestinian woman from Gaza City displaced to Deir al-Balah by the war.

Mohammed Saleh, also interviewed by AFP in the central Gazan city, said, "Israel is a state that considers itself above the law. Therefore, I do not believe that the shooting or the war will stop other than by force."

Yahya, a 34-year-old in Gaza who did not give his second name for security reasons, said: "Perhaps these decisions... that Israel has not complied with, will make the Western world move more strongly (in favour) of our cause at popular and political levels, supporting the recognition of the state of Palestine and strengthening our rights."

The ICJ ruling came days after Ireland, Spain and Norway said they would formally recognise a Palestinian state and the International Criminal Court prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In its ruling, the ICJ said Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

The U.N. court ordered Israel to allow U.N.-mandated investigators "unimpeded access" to Gaza to look into the genocide allegations.

It also instructed Israel to open the Rafah crossing for the "unhindered provision at scale" of humanitarian aid and also called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The Gaza war broke out after Hamas's Oct. 7 attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,857 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to data from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

On the diplomatic front, efforts have resumed to seek the first ceasefire in Gaza since a week-long truce and hostage release in November.

CIA chief Bill Burns was expected to meet Israeli representatives in Paris in a bid to relaunch negotiations, a Western source close to the issue said.

Top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken also spoke with Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz about new efforts to achieve a ceasefire and reopen the Rafah border crossing, Washington said.

Israel sent tanks and troops into Rafah in early May, defying global opposition. It has since ordered mass evacuations from Rafah, with the U.N. saying more than 800,000 people have fled.

Troops took over the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, further slowing sporadic deliveries of aid for Gaza's 2.4 million people.

On Saturday, Italy became the latest donor nation to restore funding for the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, having suspended it in the wake of Israeli allegations that some of its employees were involved with the October 7 attack.

Rome said it would give 35 million euros to UNRWA, joining Germany, Sweden, Canada, Japan and others in resuming donations.

The security and humanitarian situation in the territory remains alarming, with a risk of famine and most hospitals no longer functioning.

The Kuwait Speciality Hospital in Rafah pleaded for fuel deliveries on Saturday "to ensure its continued operation," saying it was the only one in the Rafah Governorate still receiving patients.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said on social media site X, Friday, that the situation had reached "a moment of clarity."

"At a time when the people of Gaza are staring down famine... it is more critical than ever to heed the calls made over the last seven months: Release the hostages. Agree a ceasefire. End this nightmare." (AFP)
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The median house price for houses sold with the Dundalk Eircode A91 in March 2024 was 265,000, according to figures released by the CSO (Central Statistics Office), an increase of 3,500 on the previous month.

Of the 36 houses sold in Dundalk in March, 17 were to first time buyer owner-occupiers; 14 to former owner-occupiers and 5 were to non occupiers.

Twenty-Seven of these houses were existing builds while nine were new homes.

The median price of the new houses sold was 375,000 and the median price of existing houses sold in March was 231,000.

In Drogheda, the median price of residential properties sold in A92: Drogheda in March 2024, was 335,000.

Twenty-eight of the houses sold were new houses and 44 were existing. The median price for the new houses sold was 385,065, while for existing houses it was 253,500.

Nationally, the national Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) increased by 7.3% in the 12 months to March 2024, with prices in Dublin rising by 7.2% and prices outside Dublin up by 7.4%.

In March 2024, 3,314 dwelling purchases by households at market prices were filed with the Revenue Commissioners, down by 19.8% when compared with the 4,132 purchases in March 2023.

The median price of a dwelling purchased in the 12 months to March 2024 was 333,000.

The lowest median price for a dwelling in the 12 months to March 2024 was 168,000 in Leitrim, while the highest median price was 620,000 in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.
Dundalk Institute of Technologys (DkIT) Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies (CFES) led by Dr Suzanne Linnane and Dr Caroline Gilleran Stephens and in association with the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO) recently hosted a one-day conference on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) on campus.

This occasion was attended by Minister Malcom Noonan, T.D. Minster of State for Nature, Heritage & Electoral reform who took this opportunity to launch Ireland's Nature-based Solutions Implementation Strategy.

The event was opened by DkIT President Dr Diarmuid OCallaghan who said: As a Higher Education Institution we are incredibly proud of all our research centres. The Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies is a dynamic and critically important addition to our academic community.

"Investigating environmental issues and evaluating effective solutions has never felt so relevant as it does today. One of the areas that the Centre of Freshwater and Environmental Studies has excelled at, is building connections. One of those is with the Local Authority Waters Programme. On behalf of them we are delighted to be hosting todays event.

Dr OCallaghan was followed by a ministerial address from Malcom Noonan, T.D. who officially took to the stage to launch the Implementation Strategy. Addressing the conference, Minister Noonan said: We are in an era of environmental change and need to look at ways we can incorporate nature-based solutions to protect and restore our urban, rural, coastal and riverine environments.

I am delighted to launch the Nature-Based Management of Urban Rainwater and Urban Surface Water Discharges and the Rainwater Management Planning  Guidance for Local Authorities today. Working together, several departments and agencies collaborated to create this strategy as a roadmap to bring urban Nature-based Solutions into the mainstream in Ireland.

"This is a live document, and its steering group will continue to oversee its implementation of urban nature-based solutions in the years ahead.

I am also pleased to publish the Rainwater Management Planning Guidance document for local authorities, an information document that will assist them in the decision making at settlement level.

Master of Ceremonies on the day was Dr Fran Igoe, Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) who chaired themes such as Urban, Rural, Youth, Riverine and Coastal which was followed by an in depth panel discussion on policy and next steps.

The guests were treated to a very special presentation from students from St. Vincents Secondary School, Dundalk who presented their project on Implementing Nature-based Solutions on school grounds through science-based exploration.

Nature-based Solutions if delivered appropriately, can significantly contribute to addressing multiple societal challenges. The International Union of Conservation Concern estimate that one third of climate mitigation needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement can be provided by Nature-based Solutions.

This event was a held following on from a 3-day Interreg NWE funded ResiRiver Home | ResiRiver (nweurope.eu) partner meeting which was also held in DkIT. The event drew together international and Irish experts to share their experiences and visions for the upscaling and mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions.

The conference was CPD approved by Engineers Ireland and was co-sponsored by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Office of Public Works.
The Irish deputy premier has said he is very concerned about the slow progress in bringing the killers of an Irish peacekeeper to justice during a trip to Lebanon.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin pressed the Lebanese government about the investigation into the death of Private Sean Rooney.

The 24-year-old, from Co Donegal, was killed while serving in Lebanon when his convoy was attacked in 2022.

Mr Martin met with the Lebanese minister for foreign affairs, Abdallah Bou Habib, and a lawyer representing the minister for defence in Lebanon on Monday morning.

Speaking after the meeting, the Tanaiste said: We are very, very concerned. We want justice to be done and we want those who committed the crime, killing Sean Rooney and injuring other Irish soldiers.

We want these people brought to justice, and I understand the separation of powers but we are concerned of the slow pace of this trial and the Irish people want justice in respect of that.

One of the suspects who was arrested over the killing was released on bail last year due to a medical condition.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin said that it is a very sad day following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

The Iranian president, the countrys foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and several other officials were found dead hours after their helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the countrys north-west.

Speaking before confirmation of their deaths, Mr Martin said: I am aware of the reports in respect of both the Iranian president and the foreign minister. I have spoken to foreign minister Hossein on quite a number of occasions.

It is deeply concerning and we dont yet have full confirmation but obviously our thoughts and our prayers are with the families involved in terms of potential fatalities.

It is a very sad day when a situation like this occurs.
The Louth branch of MS Ireland is to celebrate World MS Day on 30th May.

To mark world MS day this year their annual Vintage Car Show will be held in the Parish Centre in Ardee on Saturday 1st June.

The display of classic and vintage cars is a real treat for car enthusiasts and is a vital means of support for the Louth Voluntary Branch of MS Ireland.

There are 10,000 people in Ireland living with Multiple Sclerosis. The North East Area of Louth Meath Cavan and Monaghan supports almost 700 people.

The Louth branch has almost 300 members who are offered classes and programs both online and in- person.

These supports include physiotherapy, mindfulness, and yoga. There are online programs for newly diagnosed, and up to date medical interventions.

They offer comprehensive information on financial supports and other services for people with disabilities.

One of the most important aspects of membership of the Louth Branch of MS-Ireland is the peer support through or meetings and social gatherings.

A spokesperson for the Louth branch said: The MS community greatly appreciates the support from our families, friends and carers. We are thankful for the generosity of people who support our fundraising activities and help us to continue living with Multiple Sclerosis.
Thousands of free and subsidised higher education places will be available to people in Louth under Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1 Graduate Conversion Programmes for the academic year 2024/25.

The courses are open to people who are unemployed, returners, recent graduates and those who are in employment and are looking to upskill or change career. A total of 11,400 places on 355 courses are being made available nationwide.

Details of the array of opportunities for upskilling and reskilling were unveiled today (21.05.24) by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick ODonovan TD, and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins TD.

Under the Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1 initiatives, which are managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, 37% of all the courses nationwide will run entirely online, and 61% through blended learning. This means people in Louth will have access to hundreds of courses across the country.

Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 courses are available across different sectors, with a particular focus on areas of critical skill shortages and emerging technological demand. The offering includes courses in cybersecurity; virtual reality; health innovation; logistics; climate, sustainability, and energy; and many more.

Commenting today, Dr Vivienne Patterson, Head of Skills, Engagement and Statistics at the Higher Education Authority, said:

Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 offer a wide range of courses, delivered in a blended or online format, to meet the needs of individuals trying to balance work or family commitments but are also interested in a gaining a qualification to achieve career development goals, those looking for a new career, and those looking to return to the workforce or to keep their skills up to date in a transforming industry.

With the blended and online learning options, there are hundreds of options available to the people of Louth, which is vital in ensuring people in every corner of the country  whether they are in employment or returning to the workforce  can easily access courses. The subsidised nature of the two initiatives also ensures accessibility for a diverse group of learners, contributing to a more resilient and adaptable workforce.

Launching the programme, Minister ODonovan said: There are now more than 350 free or subsidised courses offering people incredible opportunities to upskill or reskill in areas where businesses are crying out for workers.

The courses are designed to empower individuals and allow them to thrive in the evolving job market. They offer not just an exciting and valuable education but also pathways to sustainable employment.

Minister Collins said: Todays announcement helps us ensure that our workforce is ready to respond to the changes happening in the world of work, and also provide the country with the skills to deliver in key areas such as climate, sustainability and renewable energy.

Its vitally important that the programmes are accessible to everyone, and thats why most of them are delivered either fully online or in a blended format.

While the Year of Skills has just ended, it offered us a valuable reminder of the importance of lifelong learning and why we must remain committed to delivering the skills needed to meet the needs of a rapidly-evolving economy.

With applications opening 21st May 2024, applicants will find full details on the approved courses on the dedicated information and applications website www.springboardcourses.ie.

Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 represent vital funding investments in Irelands human capital, reinforcing the countrys commitment to education, innovation, and economic growth.
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The Dunleer Town Centre First plan will be officially unveiled by Louth County Council at the Market House, Dunleer, on Tuesday 28th May 2024.

Following Louth County Councils success in securing funding under the Governments Town Centre First policy initiative, Dunleer is one of 26 towns in Ireland to develop a Town Centre First Plan, an ambitious strategy which aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into town centres, creating towns that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit.

The plan has been developed following a collaborative approach between the Dunleer Town Team, local stakeholders, elected members, Louth County Council, urban designers Building Design Partnership Ltd (BDP) and feedback from the local community.

It covers the importance of place-making, town centre living, the social and economic purpose of the town, and responds to emerging opportunities such as those linked to remote working, climate action and digitalisation. It also sets out a vision that is intended to stimulate investment from the private sector.

A series of actions have been identified in the Dunleer Town Centre First Plan, including:

Creating better links to the White River, an underutilised asset running parallel to the Main Street.

Establishing biodiverse links, a network of pedestrian loops linking Dunleer's public open spaces and improving connectivity between different areas of the town.

In a bid to target vacancy, the reuse of a vacant building on the main street as a new public library is proposed.

The revitalization of the Main Street itself to create an enhanced pedestrian experience, along with a suite of smaller scale enhancement initiatives to increase vibrancy and attractiveness in the heart of the town.

Joan Martin, Chief Executive, Louth County Council said:

The development of a Town Centre First Plan for Dunleer is a unique opportunity to explore the perceptions the local community has of its town, and to get a shared ambition of shaping its future growth. The plan is a framework for revitalisation and adaptation. It has a multi-layered approach that brings together development strategies, town wide proposals and actions, projects for buildings and open spaces and community-led initiatives.

The Town Centre First Plan will rely on a phased delivery in which each intervention will unlock the development of further projects and will rely on collaboration between Louth County Councils Town Team, public agencies and bodies and private stakeholders.

The local community are invited to attend the official launch of this ambitious plan for Dunleer, on Tuesday 28th May from 3pm to 4pm in the Market House.
Exhibition on Chinese characters held in Italy

Xinhua) 14:04, May 25, 2024

ROME, Italy, May 24 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition focusing on Chinese characters kicked off Friday in Rome, Italy, offering visitors a glimpse into Chinese culture and history.

The event, themed "Culture Code in Chinese Characters," features replicas of oracle bones and interactive activities like calligraphy, drawing many Italians to participate.

"Although I don't understand Chinese, I enjoy exploring new cultures like Marco Polo did centuries ago. This exhibition helped me understand the link between Chinese characters and culture," said Antonio Ballarin, a member of the Academy of High Culture in Italy.

Riccardo Di Matteo, vice president of the China-Italy Association, emphasized the significance of cultural exchanges. "Italy and Europe should strengthen partnerships with China, promoting exchanges not only in the economic and trade fields but also in cultural areas," he said.

Li Xikui, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that the exhibition aims to reveal the Chinese civilization to the Italian audience, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

The exhibition, co-organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Government of Anyang City, the National Museum of Chinese Writing, and the China-Italy Association, will later tour across Italy.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A CORK man accused of burgling a funeral home, as well as carrying out burglaries at two neighbouring properties, has been remanded in custody until June 20.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until that time in order to allow time for the prosecution to get directions on the charges from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Daniel Jackson, aged 34, appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison.

He was unsuccessful in his application for bail when the case first came before the court.

He said at the time: I have had a permanent bed in Simon for the past three months.

I would keep any bail conditions whatsoever.

Judge Dorgan said after hearing evidence in the bail application: He is charged with three counts of burglary and one count of possession of a knife.

On the basis of the seriousness of the charges and the nature of evidence in support of the charges, it is difficult for Mr Jackson in this case.

In addition, the situation is that he was found in possession of a knife and identified on CCTV.

I am concerned that he was caught red-handed.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the refusal of bail would be appealed to the High Court.

Detective Garda Maurice Hickey outlined the allegations against Daniel Jackson, when the 34-year-old allegedly burgled AJ Tyres on Corks Boreenmanna Rd at 10.40pm on April 22 and tried to get into three cars which were parked outside.

The second alleged offence related to a break-in at Jeremiah OConnors funeral home, also on Boreenmanna Rd, about 20 minutes later.

The allegation further relates to burgling a house at Bellfield Abbey nearby half an hour after that, while armed with a knife, and confronting two young Spanish men who were living there.
ALMOST 400,000 has been distributed between 94 projects in Cork city and a further 136 groups in the county as part of the grant awards under the Local Enhancement Programme for 2024.

Scout groups in Kinsale and Carrigaline, a first responder group in Ardfield/Rathbarry, and the Ballyvourney Active Retired Group were among the beneficiaries in the county, while grants for the Blackpool Community Employment Scheme, the Cork Academy of Music and the Ballyphehane Community Association were among those announced in the city.

The total funding divided among the 136 groups in the area administered by Local Community Development Committees under the auspices of Cork County amounted to 204,632, while in the city area, a total of 193,504.02 was announced for the 94 groups there.

The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 was launched in December 2023 with funding of 6m available, which included 1m in ringfenced funding specifically to support Womens groups.

The funding will provide capital support essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged rural and urban areas.

The allocations were announced by the Community and Rural Development Minister Heather Humphreys and the minister of state for community development Joe OBrien this week.

'Building blocks'

Ms Humphreys said the programme was about giving a helping hand to local groups and clubs, which she described as the building blocks of Irish community life.

These grants will help thousands of community organisations, clubs, mens and womens sheds, youth centres, and parish halls to provide their valuable services to the people in their areas, said Ms Humphreys.

She added that supporting local communities to shape their future was a key focus of the Governments rural development policy.
Accreditation for Social Care Work courses at Munster Technological University (MTU) has been described as our priority by Further and Higher Education Minister Patrick ODonovan.

Some 20 months after The Echo first reported that Social Care Work graduates at the Cork campus of MTU were at risk of graduating without officially recognised qualifications, the minister said he is hopeful of positive news.

In November 2023, the Social Care Workers Register opened, introducing regulation for the first time in Ireland, listing approved qualifications. As reported in The Echo in September 2022, MTU Corks Social Care Work (BA) course is not currently approved.

Approval of social care courses is determined by Coru, the regulator for health and social care professionals, and although the approval process began in 2017, MTU Cork applied for accreditation for its social care course in March 2023.

Speaking at the launch in Cork on Friday of two new pathways into social work designed to give more people a chance to train as social workers, Mr ODonovan said he was aware of criticism from some students and was confident that the MTU Cork course would be accredited soon.

Our priority is to get accreditation and I would be confident that will be happening soon, a lot of work has gone on, both between my own department, and the university itself, he said.

Id hope to be in a position to be able to bring positive news to this fairly shortly.

MTU Cork was approached for comment.
Its a case of lightning striking not once, not twice, but three times for a Rochestown supermarket as the Centra store in the Cork suburb has been revealed as the seller of a 1 million winning Daily Millions ticket purchased there this week.

The winning ticket was purchased at the Centra store on the Rochestown Road and the numbers which netted its owner a cool 1 million were drawn in Thursday nights Daily Million draw.

Store manager Kim Hickey was over the moon that one of the shops customers has won a ticket that could change their lives, adding that it was the third huge win gained by tickets sold in the supermarket.

Delighted

Believe it or not weve had a couple of big wins in this store, said Ms Hickey.

History has repeated itself and we already sold a Daily Millions top prize ticket worth 1m to one of our customers back in 2020. Then, two years later, we sold a EuroMillons Plus top prize ticket worth 500,000.

So we couldnt believe it when we got the call that wed sold another winning ticket thats made someone an overnight millionaire.

Its unreal  were just delighted for whoever it is.

Our shop would be very busy with locals, but we would also get a few tourists and visitors passing through at this time of year.

Its great news for the community too and we are all delighted here in store, said Ms Hickey.

According to the National Lottery, the Cork winner has made contact with the organisation and arrangements were being made for them to collect their cheque. The winning ticketholder is the sixth to win the Daily Million top prize during 2024 and the fifth Irish winner to be made a millionaire in the space of a week.

Its the third time a player has scooped the Daily Million top prize of 1m in just five days, said a spokesperson for the National Lottery.

I can confirm our Cork winner was on the ball and has already contacted our claims team  arrangements are being made for them to collect their prize in Lotto HQ.

Meanwhile a EuroMillions Plus player in the Clonsilla area of Dublin scooped the Top Prize of 500,000 in last nights draw.

The Dublin player has become the ninth EuroMillions Plus top prize winner of 2024 following wins by players in Cork(1), Dublin(2), Wicklow(2), Tipperary, Kilkenny and Laois (1 each).
IRELAND is experiencing a severe teacher shortage, with more than 2000 long term vacancies in schools.

There is a projected gap of 4.8 million teachers in Europe and North America and a worldwide gap of 44 million teachers by 2030.

We need teachers. We must value our teachers. We must support our teachers.

The STEM Teacher Internship (STInt) Programme is a step in the right direction to reducing the teacher shortage.

STInt is a national programme that provides pre-service and early career teachers with paid summer internships (8-12 weeks) in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) roles across a variety of industries in Ireland.

STInt was launched in 2016 as a Dublin City University initiative to inspire innovative learning, and through national funding support has expanded to include teachers from seven Irish Universities: Dublin City University (DCU), Maynooth University (MU), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), University of Galway (UG), University of Limerick (UL), University College Cork (UCC), University College Dublin (UCD).

Through collaboration with 60+ organisations across Ireland, STInt engages primary and post primary teachers in immersive STEM learning experiences.

The goal is to ensure teachers are prepared with practical skills, feel confident to educate and inspire the next generation of the STEM enthusiasts, science communicators, software developers, civil engineers, laboratory technicians, field researchers, etc.

We support existing teachers by providing an opportunity in industry, an uncommon occurrence in the teaching field, by facilitating the growth of their technical skills, and broadening their understanding of STEM.

The summer placement leaves most interns eager to share their experiences and use their honed technical skills in the classroom, with 87% very confident they could design a STEM learning experience based on a real-world context after completing their summer internship.

This programme is a collaborative effort with our industry partners. STint hosts include organisations from a broad range of sectors, including life sciences research, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, biotechnology, utility and telecommunications, software and information technology, financial services, and most recently, construction.

Out of the 41 hosts welcoming STInt interns this summer, nine companies are located in Cork - Analog Devices, BioMarin, Cyberskills, Jacobs Engineering, Janssen Sciences, McKesson, SIRO Dac, Teagasc, and VistaMilk.

Additionally, our valued STInt partners who continue to support the Programme are as follows: Centre for the Advancement of STEM teaching and Learning (CASTeL), 30% Club Ireland, Connecting Women in Technology (CWIT), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Skillnet, Intel, and the Department of Education.

Whats next for our programme? This year, we have 14 of 69 interns completing the internship programme in Cork.

Although our interns are students or alumni from schools around the country, plenty return to their home towns, where they seek employment during the summer.

The class of 2024 will begin their internships this June and we eagerly await to learn what they take away from their experience in industry.

You may wonder what benefits the hosts by participating in such a programme. Our hosts have shared that bringing a teacher onto their teams has increased diversity of thought, community engagement and company awareness. They even share how their involvement in the programme allows the company to build a future talent pipeline.

By participating, the future forward values touted by industry become actionable as the impacts of supporting our teachers are lasting.

This years cohort alone will have an impact on an estimated 317 000 primary and post-primary learners over their career. (Based on teacher: student ratios of 1:5000 post-primary and 1:1000 primary)

Ultimately, participants, whether they are interns, hosts, or partners, are supporting the alliance between education, industry, and research.

In doing so, we are shaping shared futures by empowering individuals with STEM competencies that allow us to thrive in our ever changing and complex world.

Are you a pre-service or in-service STEM teacher? Do you work in the STEM industry and would like to see your company participate?

Keep an eye on our LinkedIn and X account @STEMTeachIntern to learn what to expect from the 2024 summer internship and register your interest on our website, stemteacherinternships.ie, to participate as an intern or host in the 2025 programme.
A regular visitor to Cork, Gavin James plays Live At The Marquee this Saturday and in keeping with his personality, he is enthusiastic about the concert and excited about how it will build on his previous appearances there.

Im more relaxed now, I kind of take it all in more than I used to when it was all very new. This will be the third time playing Live At The Marquee for me  to actually say for a third time is mental for me, because its such a mad room to play, its amazing, its one of my favourite places to play. When I played there the first time, I must have been 24 or 25, I was only learning then, I didnt really know how to be there fully in the moment because youre just kind of blown away by how terrifying it was! Im 32 now, I can sit and be there but Ill be standing at the gig!

Any of the people who were at his previous shows at Live At The Marquee will be getting a very different show on Saturday, he continued.

The last one was in 2018 which is so long ago. Over those six years the set has changed dramatically, some of the band has changed, this gig is going to be a lot different.

While Gavin has released a few singles recently in advance of his forthcoming album, he knows he will be playing a set the crowd knows.

Ive been to shows where people are like heres a new song, heres another new song and heres another new song, and Id be thinking I want to hear some of the hits! Theres always a trick of not having too much new stuff and building it up.

Speaking of building up the set, he already knows what song he will be starting with.

Ive a song called Storm Warning  which we hope isnt a sign for the weather at the gig  and its just like two and a half minutes of just adrenaline and loudness and fast-paced kind of rock stuff, which makes sense for any gig, so when we do The Marquee, itll hopefully have a similar reaction. Its just a hilariously aggressive rock kind of song. And singing-wise, it just has all these mad high things in it, so its one of those things that fits perfectly at the start of a big show like this one.

Gavin has another practical reason for not playing too many unreleased songs at the concert.

I love showing people new songs, Im always writing, but you need to take a break so youre not gigging them too much. Thats what I found really hard on my first record, Id gigged all my tunes so many times that when I tried to record all the songs from my first album I had no idea how to do it. How to sit down and hear them as a listener would so I decided to release a live album instead, because it was much easier, I understood how to do that, but when it came to production you can almost end up doing karaoke versions of your own songs if youve sang it too many times.

He has become more at ease about how to record his songs now.

Recently Ive been doing it the way I should have nearly been doing it at the start. Ive been going to the middle of Ireland and recording in the woods with my mates. Just spending a week, no phones, doing everything in a relaxed way and in a relaxed setting, instead of going to London and all the hustle-bustle. I usually try to get songs recorded pretty quickly, the process of recording it is more fun when its new and fresh, or sometimes I revisit a song that I wrote a while ago and put away. I have to go to the studio this month, and Ill be taking out songs that I wrote two years ago, like two summers ago, and I havent listened to them once since! Thats the joy of working it all out.

A case in point is his recent single Heavy.

I always try to write the song as close to what hear it in my head in that moment, that song kind of came out almost already written. I wrote that two Christmasses ago, so nearly a year and a half ago. I wrote it in my gaff, I remember writing it because it was the morning after Christmas Day. I wasnt even trying to write a song, it all kind of fell out really fast, so I had no time to think, if it was going to be anything for anybody. I think theyre the best ones, because you just make really quick decisions on what you think is good, otherwise whatever is getting given to you gets taken away. We get random spots of inspiration from somewhere, and it can disappear if you overthink what other people are going to think of it.

Gavins next album will be released with Sony Records, which Gavin is looking forward to.

After my third record, I was independent, and I was going to stay independent for a while, but then an opportunity emerged. Theres a guy called Toon Martens, whos the head of Benelux region for Sony  its really me and him that are working together. He was at my first show in Amsterdam, hes always been there for the whole 11 years. His kids were born the day after gigs of mine he was at, so theres a real heartfelt emotional connection. It just made sense to go with them, theyre nice people, easy to work with, and I trust them. You can try to do everything but thats exhausting.

Gavin James plays Live At The Marquee on Saturday, May 25, and is joined by Lea Heart & Man Alive




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.

The partially dried-up lake bed of Patzcuaro Lake, a traditional fishing place and tourist resort in Michoacan, Mexico on April 25, 2024. Drought has hit several regions in Mexico due to rising temperature and lack of rainfall. Li Mengxin / Xinhua via Getty Images

Mexico could see record temperatures in the next two weeks, as extreme heat driven partially by El Nino blankets the country.

A lack of sufficient rainfall has left 70 percent of Mexico suffering from drought conditions, with a third experiencing severe drought, the national water commission said, as Reuters reported.

In the next 10 to 15 days, the country will experience the highest temperatures ever recorded, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) researchers said in a statement, as reported by Reuters.

In the coming two weeks, temperatures in Mexico City could soar as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit, said Jorge Zavala, UNAMs director of the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change.

The capital city was one of several cities in the country that recorded its hottest day earlier this month, and most residents do not have air conditioning.

Since the beginning of the hot season on March 17, extreme temperatures have killed at least 48 people, with most dying from heat stroke and dehydration, Reuters said in another report.

Hundreds of others have suffered from sunburn and other heat-related conditions, according to health ministry data.

At this time during last years hot season in Mexico, three heat-related deaths had been reported.

According to meteorologists, a high-pressure heat dome over northern Central America and part of the Gulf of Mexico stopped the formation of clouds, leaving Mexico and parts of the Southern United States exposed to unrelenting sunshine and scorching temperatures, The Associated Press reported.

Warm, moist air was transported northward from the equator by tropical southerly winds, adding to the rare string of hot days.

The unusually high temperatures have killed people and animals, including threatened species like the endangered mantled howler monkey, who have been dying from what is believed to be dehydration in southern Mexico, reported Reuters.

Dr. Liliana Cortes Ortiz, a University of Michigan primatologist who is the vice chair of International Union for Conservation of Natures primate specialist group, said she was concerned about the plight of other species who are not as likely to be noticed, The New York Times reported.

Cortes Ortiz pointed out that, while species can adapt to changing conditions, things are happening so fast, that its going to be very difficult for many species to adapt. There is not enough time, as reported by The New York Times.

Scientists believe the increased temperatures  along with logging, deforestation and fires  may have combined to push the imperiled monkeys into smaller forested areas with lack of sufficient food, water and shade, The New York Times said.

The animals are sending us a warning, because they are sentinels of the ecosystem. If they are unwell, its because something is happening, said Gilberto Pozo, a biologist with nonprofit conservation group Cobius, as The New York Times reported.
The following contains spoilers for 73 Yards.

Russell T. Davies admits his writing eschews narrative formalism in favor of things that just feel right. Two decades ago, his critics pointed to his use of deus ex machina endings as a stick to beat his reputation with. But were in a different era now, where vibes matter just as much as logic  both inside the shows new more fantastic skew, and in the real world. 73 Yards is the vibiest episode of new Doctor Who so far, but I even found it easy to sit back and enjoy what it was doing.

Doctor Who is a complicated show to make, and some series have started production on Day 1 a week or more behind schedule. To combat this, the show started making -lite episodes that didnt need the leads to be as involved. There are Doctor-lite episodes like Love and Monsters and Blink, and even companion-lite episodes like Midnight. This production process enables the star, or stars, to be off shooting Episode A while a guest cast takes the spotlight for the bulk of Episode B.

Production of the new series began while star Ncuti Gatwa was still finishing the last of his work on Netflixs Sex Education. So while he appears in the opening and closing moments of "73 Yards", hes otherwise absent as the Doctor has been erased from history. It gives us the chance to see what a modern companion would do if left stranded in uncertain territory without her alien ally. The episode takes hard turns from folk and rural horror to kitchen-sink drama before becoming a light homage to Taxi Driver. Suffice to say, this is another episode you wouldnt watch with small kids.

Bad Wolf / BBC Studios

The TARDIS lands on a cliff edge in Wales, with the Doctor pointing out its another liminal space where magic is allowed to creep in. He even mentions the war between the land and the sea, name-checking a rumored spin-off fans discovered after scouring production documents. The Doctor talks about how great a country Wales is, except for Roger ap Gwillam, a Welsh politician who, two decades hence, will lead the UK to the brink of nuclear armageddon. He then steps into a fairy ring, disturbing its web, and disappears while Ruby reads the paper notes tied to it. The notes mention a Mad Jack, a scary figure that sounds like a villain from folklore.

Suddenly, Ruby is alone on the cliff but can now see the blurry figure of an old woman waving her arms at her in the distance. Ruby tries to approach her but the figure remains the same distance away (the titular 73 yards) no matter where she goes. Believing the Doctor has ghosted her, she tries to solve the quandary of this figure on her own. Ruby approaches a hiker (Susan Twist) and tries to work out where shes seen her before (every episode thus far), but cant quite put her finger on it. She asks the hiker if shed be willing to speak to the old woman who is following her, but when the hitchhiker gets there, whatever she says is so horrifying that she sprints away from the scene in terror.

Ruby heads to a pub in the nearby town where the locals mock her  mistaking her hesitancy for condescension. She asks one of the patrons to go speak to the woman and, when he does, the same thing happens. Ruby gets home and asks her mum to try, this time holding a phone so Ruby can hear what shes saying. But the phone call is disrupted and her mum is similarly horrified by what she hears  locking Ruby out of her home soon after. Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and UNIT are next to offer aid, right up until they encounter the woman, when they all abandon her.

Bad Wolf / BBC Studios

All the time, the old woman remains 73 yards away from wherever Ruby is, unnoticed by everyone else unless Ruby directs their attention to her. She cant photograph the woman's face  it's blurry  and cant get close enough to hear her ominous warning. In fact, even to the end of the episode, theres a lot of unknowns that are never resolved.

Rubys strangely resilient, and once shes gotten beyond the abandonment, she looks to build a new life for herself. She treats her stalker as a friend, wishing her well as we cycle through a montage of the next chapter of Rubys life. She gets a job, moves into her own flat and goes through a series of breakups as she gently ages past 30, and then 40. Then, on the TV, she sees Roger ap Gwillam on the TV, who even mentions Mad Jack, and remembers both the Doctors warning and the messages in the fairy ring. It takes Ruby no time at all to be sure that her purpose in life is to save the world, and to avert Gwillams nuclear catastrophe.

She signs up to Gwillams fascist political party as a volunteer and eventually reaches a position where shes close to the top. Gwillams rise is quick and its not long before hes promising to secede from NATO and put his itchy trigger finger on the UKs nuclear arsenal, ready to wage war on the rest of the world. Gwillams inauguration will take place at Cardiff City Stadium, while Ruby follows the politician along, lurking in the crowd.

Bad Wolf / BBC Studios

Ruby then starts to approach Gwillam, walking across the off-limits pitch at the stadium, and you expect her to pull out a weapon. But instead, she whips out her phone and starts measuring the distance between her and Roger until she reaches 73 yards. When she does, she gestures to the villain to notice the woman, and when he notices her, he hears the horrifying thing she says. The shock is enough to send Gwillam racing out of the stadium, resigning from the role of Prime Minister and preventing nuclear armageddon.

But while Ruby hoped that would be the end of it, the figure remains with her for the rest of her life. Its only on her deathbed she realizes she can project herself back in time to act as a warning for the Doctor to not step in the fairy ring. She does so, preventing the accident in the first place and paradoxically nullifying the entire time stream in the process. History carries on its merry way and all is well for now. But given the risks of paradoxes in Doctor Who, and the general sense that history is unraveling, it might not augur too well for whats going to happen in the future.

Bad Wolf / BBC Studios

73 Yards is an exercise in putting your character in a hostile world and seeing what theyll do to deal with it. Its an episode that, when written down, doesnt feel like a lot happens, because so much of its runtime is an exploration of Ruby as a character. Doctor Who thrives when the companion role is occupied by someone who wants to grab a fistful of narrative for themselves. And Ruby Sunday seems almost too perfect in her ability to draw out the logic from what shes experienced and work within it.

Much as you can draw narrative and thematic parallels between the new series and Davies original tenure, this episode pulls from Turn Left. Both tell the story of what happens to a companion when the Doctor is withdrawn from the narrative and what they do to fix that wrong. And its no surprise both suggest that the UK, without the intervention of the Doctor, is only a few days away from tipping over into fascism.

Rubys humanity shines, even to the point where shes trying to treat her tormentor with care. She refuses to fly, or travel by boat, lest she endanger the life of the apparition thats following her, despite how much damage it causes to her life. And when she sees Roger ap Gwillam on the TV, shes certain that her destiny is to prevent the nuclear armageddon the Doctor warned her about. This is another useful thread  the idea that Ruby has an instinctive grasp of the genre she exists in  much as she did in Space Babies.

As for the ending, its probably best we talk about those vibes, or the sort of slightly skewed associations in the shows logic. Ruby, at the end of her life, realizes that shes able to travel, or project herself somehow, through time to avert the Doctors fall. Theres nothing in the episode that points to it, no hint that the ghostly figure is Ruby, or if this is tied to the snow or anything else. But perhaps, the trick to an episode like this is simply to let yourself relax and enjoy seeing the character evolve, rather than anything more.

Susan Twist Corner

Obviously, Susan Twist plays the hiker that Ruby first encounters after the Doctor disappears and, for the first time, Ruby notices the familiarity. In the materials that Disney sends along that Susan Twists character is named the mystery woman.

And on the subject of twists, youll recall at the end of Church on Ruby Road that, in the post-credits, Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) breaks the fourth wall. The annoying neighbor character, who lives next to Rubys mums flat, turns to the camera and asks if weve Never seen a TARDIS before? (Given her surprise at seeing it earlier in the episode, its clear her history may have been changed during the course of the show.) When Ruby heads back to her mums house, Anita Dobsons Mrs Flood is back sitting on her step with her deckchair out. Interestingly, when she notices the ghostly figure  and Ruby and her Mums attempts to deal with it, she declares that its nothing to do with me and goes inside. Which, again, feels like a hint that Mrs Flood and the mystery woman are separate
Defra has announced further support for farmers hit by flooding and wet weather, with 50mn to be issued as part of the now expanded Farming Recovery Fund.

New eligibility criteria opens up the scheme to thousands more farmers who have suffered significant damage to their land as a result of prolonged and extreme wet weather.

Farmers whose land has been severely affected, and who are likely to need to do work to remediate land to make it possible to farm it in future, will be eligible. Defra said payments will be made this summer.

The Farming Recovery Fund originally opened in April, providing grants between 500 - 25,000 for farmers to return their land to the condition it was in before flooding due to Storm Henk.

Following anger at the initial eligibility of the scheme, it was updated to remove the 150 metre limit on land flooded by a river, thus including all flooded land near to an eligible river.

Now it has been expanded to include a wider geographical area of farmers who suffered river flooding, including those who experienced damage due to extreme rainfall.

Defra said the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will identify farmers who are eligible for the payment and contact them with payments expected to be made to eligible farmers this summer.

A Defra spokesperson said: "This is an exceptional, one-off intervention to respond to the exceptionally wet conditions affecting farming this winter and spring, and in the context of the agricultural transition."

The government said it is also bringing forward the second instalment of this years delinked payment, which will now be paid from September.

This will follow the first instalment, which is due to be paid from 1 August.

It comes after the wettest 18 months since 1836 which have left vast swathes of agricultural land saturated and, in many cases, still under water.

Many arable farmers have been unable to plant crops and have lost those that were in the ground, while livestock farmers have endured a difficult lambing season.

A recent survey highlighted the toll this has taken on farm business confidence, which has hit an all-time low across England and Wales.

Responding to the new support, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said it was 'really good news' that the government had listened to farmers' calls for additional financial support.

"These measures will provide some critical relief to many member businesses which have been facing a very uncertain future because of exceptional cashflow pressures.

The measures announced today will not solve all the issues were facing on farm, but I am confident they will go some way to lifting some of the immediate strain on family farms.
Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif Statement on Africa Day 2024

NEW YORK, May 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Africa is an amazingly beautiful continent with a powerful young generation who have the inherent right to an inclusive and continued quality education. Yet - and especially in Sub-Saharan Africa - they have been left furthest behind for far too long. Now is the time to right the wrongs.

As we celebrate Africa Day, we call on all leaders in Africa - and all world leaders globally - to support the African Union's Call to Educate an Africa Fit for the 21st century and make good on the global promises of universal education as outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

More than 60 years ago, African leaders gathered in Ghana for the First Congress of African States. Five years later, on 25 May 1963 - with nearly two-thirds of the continent achieving their longed-for independence - leaders met again in Ethiopia to form the Organization of African Unity. From these early days, the African Union was born in 2002 with the noble vision to create "an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena."

While progress has been made over the past two decades in delivering on these goals, Africa continues to fall behind in meeting many of the targets outlined in the 2030 Agenda. Think about this: "In 1990, 14% of the world's poor lived in Africa; by 2019, this number jumped to 57%," according to the World Bank.

Economic interests and a sense of scarcity - in spite of a continent rich in resources - these diametrically opposed positions tend to lead to conflict and human rights abuses. The brunt of this is born by children, families, teachers and communities in countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, South Sudan and Sudan.

Schools, children and teachers are being increasingly targeted. "The number of violent incidents affecting education in Africa Union countries rose by 20% in 2023 with 411 reports of violent incidents," according to Save the Children.

Furthermore, climate change is compounding these painful realities putting even more girls and boys in harm's way. According to Education Cannot Wait's recent analysis on the impacts of climate change on education: "Over the last decade, more than 91 million school-aged children impacted by crises have faced climate shocks amplified by climate change worldwide. The effects have been particularly pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa, affecting 42 million children. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where climate-related crises are prevalent, internally displaced children are 1.7 times more likely to be out of primary school compared to their non-displaced peers. Girls are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, with a higher likelihood of dropping out of school and being forced into early marriages."

While the challenges before us are enormous, there is hope if we take collective, responsible and global action to right the wrongs now.

It starts with embracing the values and commitments outlined in the UN Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights. The people of Africa deserve no less. Their rights must be guaranteed with an emphasis on their right to an inclusive, equitable, quality education, as the very foundation for all other rights.

Together with our strategic donor partners, and through ECW's investments in partnerships and joint programming (ECW Multi-Year Resilience Programmes) in Africa, we work closely with Ministries of Education and connect a wide array of local and international partners, governments, non-profits and the private sector to deliver unified programming that breaks down silos and delivers quality with impact.

These programmes provide holistic education - the kind of education that the Global North enjoys, such as mental health and psychosocial support, academic learning, school feeding programmes, teacher training and incentives, back-to-school programmes and catch-up classes, vocational training, early childhood education and more - to ensure that African children and adolescents can access true, quality education.

However, we must urgently increase funding for education. Nowhere is this more true than in Africa's forgotten crises in places like the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan. According to ECW's strategic partner Educo: "In Mali, all regions of the country have been affected by attacks on schools by armed groups throughout 2023 forcing their closure. In all, 1,170 schools have closed, affecting more than half a million children and 10,260 teachers. Despite this growing and deteriorating context, the education sector has received the least amount of funding, so that only 16% of the identified students have been reached. In 2023, only 7.4% of the US$96 million appeal has been covered."

If Africa is to deliver on the promises envisaged 60 years ago for "an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa," it must enjoy the rights and resources to focus on educating every girl and boy. A continent that has produced global personalities like Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel and Desmond Tutu among so many other profoundly educated leaders is a continent with great promises for all of us. With a quality education, many more young people will step out of the shadows in Africa and bring the kind of humanity we so desperately need in the world today.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/we-must-respond-to-the-call-by-the-african-union-educate-an-africa-fit-for-the-21st-century-302152326.html
BEIJING, May 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Built after China's reform and opening up, Rizhao Port in east China's Shandong Province is a vital global hub for the transshipment of energy and bulk raw materials.

Through recent technological innovation, the port has been upgraded into a modern port, serving as a key node for the New Eurasian Land Bridge and an important hub for the Belt and Road Initiative.

Rizhao Port, together with Qingdao Port, Yantai Port and Bohai Bay Port, formed Shandong Port Group Co., Ltd. five years ago. Last year, the total cargo throughput of the four ports exceeded 1.7 billion tonnes, ranking first in the world.

As part of his first leg of an inspection tour in Shandong Province from Wednesday to Friday, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited the port, recognizing its achievements and urging the province to build a high-level platform for major international exchanges and cooperation.

"Reform is the driving force for development," Xi emphasized on Thursday while chairing a symposium in Shandong's capital of Jinan, attended by representatives from businesses and academia.

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 stressed.

Deepening reform centered on Chinese modernization

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, which decided that the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee will be held in Beijing in July, and the session will primarily examine issues related to further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization.

Over the years, China's reform of the economic system has been continuously improved, and the reform of its political and cultural systems has been steadily advanced and innovated.

Meanwhile, the reform of the ecological civilization system has been accelerated, and the reform of national defense and the military has achieved historic breakthroughs.

Comprehensively deepening reform has placed the construction of the national governance system and governance capabilities in a more prominent position. China has convened about 40 meetings of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform and 30 meetings of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform to improve the top-level design of reform.

From implementing the Foreign Investment Law and building pilot free trade zones to hosting a slew of major expos and accelerating the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port, China unswervingly deepens reforms and expands high-level opening up, injecting positive energy into global development and bringing tangible benefits to people worldwide.

At Thursday's symposium, Xi said 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.

Economic system reform should start with meeting realistic needs and tackling the most urgent matters, and it should advance theoretical and institutional innovation in the process of solving practical problems, he added.

A better life for the people

Xi has been stressing that reform should focus on what the people care about and expect the most. The aim, he has said, is to give the people a stronger sense of fulfillment.

Focusing on resolving the most practical problems that are of the greatest and most direct concerns to the people, China has continued to advance major reforms and system construction in the field of people's livelihoods to allow the results of reform to benefit all people equally and promote their comprehensive development.

The Civil Code, anticipated for decades, finally came to life and was adopted in 2020, highlighting the respect and protection of individual freedom, dignity, interests and rights.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the country has built a total of more than 59 million units of various types of affordable and shantytown-renovated housing, helping settle over 140 million people into new homes.

"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.

Stressing the need to plan and advance reform based on the overall, fundamental and long-term interests of the people, Xi urged efforts 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.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-05-24/Eyeing-Chinese-modernization-China-doubles-efforts-to-deepen-reform-1tRFe7yRTUY/p.html

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cgtn-eyeing-chinese-modernization-china-doubles-efforts-to-further-deepen-reform-on-all-fronts-302155632.html
Bangkok, Thailand--(Newsfile Corp. - May 25, 2024) - Thai Cannabis Club Co., Ltd., a leader in Thailand's cannabis market, proudly announces the opening of its newest location in Sukhumvit Soi 39, Bangkok. This marks the 16th store in the company's rapidly expanding network, which includes both physical and online outlets aimed at providing top-quality cannabis products to Thai consumers. Since its initial launch in November 2018, Thai Cannabis Club has set the standard for product excellence and educational resources in the region.

In a response to the growing demand for reliable and safe cannabis products, Thai Cannabis Club has strategically placed its stores in major cities like Bangkok and Pattaya, as well as in popular tourist destinations such as Koh Chang. The new Sukhumvit store represents not only an expansion but also the club's commitment to accessibility and patient education.

"Our journey began in Pattaya with a single store and a mission to enrich Thai society through comprehensive legal, and medical cannabis education and high-quality products," said Earn, Manager at Thai Cannabis Club. "The opening of our 16th store is a testament to our dedication and the trust that our patients place in us. We're not just selling products; we're fostering a community."

The use of cannabis in Thailand took a significant turn in 2018 when the government approved legislation for medical marijuana. Thai Cannabis Club was at the forefront, driven by a familial history in medical marijuana, to disseminate vital information and support consumers navigating the new landscape. Today, the company continues to explore the potential medical applications of CBD, offering hope and relief to those suffering from various ailments.

Each store, including the latest in Sukhumvit Soi 39, is designed to be a hub where patients can learn about the products, understand their use, and receive guidance tailored to their needs. The club's online platform and physical locations offer an extensive range of products, from CBD oil to all other CBD derivatives, all the highest quality to ensure patient satisfaction and safety.

In addition to expanding its physical presence, Thai Cannabis Club remains committed to its digital audience, providing robust online shopping options and educational content through its website and social media channels. Patients can visit the online shop or any of the club's social media pages, including Instagram, to learn more about product offerings and the latest cannabis research.

"As Thai Cannabis Club continues to grow, it remains dedicated to its mission of freeing information and making medicinal cannabis available to all, ensuring that every patient receives the best possible advice and products tailored to their health needs," Says Earn, Manager at Thai Cannabis Club.

For more information about Thai Cannabis Club and to find a store, visit website.

About Thai Cannabis Club:

Thai Cannabis Club Co., Ltd. is a premier cannabis dispensary in Thailand, offering both online and in-store shopping options across 16 locations in the country. Founded with the aim to provide quality cannabis products and educate the public on cannabis, the club operates under strict quality controls to ensure the highest standards are met.

Contact:

Thai Cannabis Club Co., Ltd.

Email: mail@thaicannabisclub.com

Phone: +66 81 073 2522

Website: https://thaicannabisclub.com/en

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210067

SOURCE: Elite Discoveries Digital Inc.
Kapadia and the films cast members Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon, were beaming with energy and did a little dance as they posed for the shutterbugs at the Cannes red carpet read more

Filmmaker Payal Kapadia and the cast of All We Imagine As Light shone bright at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival as they took to the red carpet ahead of the films history-making screening here. Kapadias feature directorial debut, which screened on Thursday night and has received glowing reviews in the international press, is the first Indian film in 30 years and first ever by an Indian female director to be screened in the main competition of the prestigious film gala.

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Kapadia and the films cast members Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon, were beaming with energy and did a little dance as they posed for the shutterbugs at the Cannes red carpet. They were accompanied by cinematographer Ranabir Das, and producers Julien Graff, Zico Maitra, Thomas Hakim. The scene inside the Grand Theatre Lumiere, where the film had its premiere, echoed the mood outside as Payal and her team received an overwhelming welcome from the audience members.

The historic screening culminated with an eight-minute standing ovation for the film.

At the film gala, All We Imagine as Light, also written by Kapadia, competes for Palme dOr alongside 19 other highly anticipated titles, including films from master directors like Francis Ford Coppola (Megalopolis) and Yorgos Lanthimos (Kinds of Kindness), Paul Schrader (Oh, Canada), David Cronenberg (The Shrouds) and Andrea Arnold (Bird).

The last Indian movie to be selected for the main competition was Shaji N Karuns 1994 movie Swaham. All We Imagine as Light, a Malayalam-Hindi feature, is about Prabha, a nurse, who receives an unexpected gift from her long estranged husband that throws her life into disarray. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a private spot in the big city to be alone with her boyfriend.

One day the two nurses go on a road trip to a beach town where the mystical forest becomes a space for their dreams to manifest, according to the plotline.

International critics have given the film a thumbs up and praised Kapadias storytelling prowess.

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In his review, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called the film glorious, highlighting its freshness and emotional clarity as well as enriching humanity and gentleness, while also comparing the movie to Satyajit Rays The Big City (Mahanagar)and Days and Nights of the Forest (Aranyer Din Ratri).

Praising the movie as a light for audiences to surrender to, a realist-infused story, Fionnuala Halligan of Screen International said Kapadias storytelling had all the elements of international giants like Lucrecia Martel or Alice Rohrwacher and Wong Kar-wai.

Indiewires Sophie Monks Kaufman hailed the movie as a sensual triumph. This casual everyday vignette is brimming with a sensuality (the rain, the clothes, the food, the women) that people dont tend to notice when caught up in the rhythm of life, she wrote.

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An alumna of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Kapadia is best known for her acclaimed documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festivals Directors Fortnight side-bar where it won the Oeil dor (Golden Eye) award.

Her short film Afternoon Clouds in Cinefondation, a category dedicated to supporting next generation of talented filmmakers.

All We Imagine As Light is an Indo-French co-production between petit chaos from France and Chalk and Cheese Films from India.
Parts of India are reeling under an intense heatwave and its making people ill. The extreme temperatures are also bad news for the Indian economy. We explain why in our weekly roundup and also discuss the Pune Porsche crash, the Bangladesh MPs murder and more read more

A roadside vegetable seller, keeps a wrapped cotton scarf on his head for protection from the heat, in Mumbai. Several parts of India are battling an unusually harsh summer. AP

In India, the news cycle was dominated by two shocking crimes  the Pune Porsche hit-and-run case and the gruesome murder of a Bangladeshi MP, who was in Kolkata for medical treatment.

The election season is drawing to a close. Phase 5 was held on Monday and today is Phase 6, the penultimate one. Mumbai went to polls at the start of the week and it is Delhis turn today. We saw some big netas and abhinetas flocking to election booths .

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It is yet another cruel summer in India. Heatwaves have gripped large parts of the country and are taking a toll on people. Even one of Indias biggest superstars Shah Rukh Khan was not spared he grabbed headlines (in India and internationally) as he was hospitalised following a heat stroke. Alls well now with King Khan.

This and more in our weekly roundup, where we help you understand the news.

1. Lets talk about Mumbai and elections. Indias financial capital went to polls this Monday. But as expected the voter turnout was poor. This year 54.1 per cent turned up to vote, the second-highest Lok Sabha turnout in the city in three decades. (Nothing to boast about.) It is 1.3 per cent lower than the 2019 polls. So what is it that keeps Mumbaikars away from the polling booth? Is it the heat? Or is it apathy? We explain .

A woman carrying her daughter leaves after casting a vote in a polling station during the fifth round of multi-phase elections in Mumbai on 20 May. AP

2. The Pune Porsche case has been dominating headlines throughout the week. A 17-year-old allegedly driving the supercar crashed into a motorcycle in the wee hours on Sunday and killed two techies .

Initially, the minor got away with writing an essay . But after growing outrage, he was sent to a remand home. So what happens next ? Will he be tried as an adult? What do Indias laws say? We tell you in this explainer .

3. The other big crime story comes from Kolkata. Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar reportedly came to India for medical treatment but went missing soon after. He was murdered in the most gruesome way. His body was dismembered, the skin peeled off, the bones cut. An illegal Bangladeshi immigrant, who is a butcher, has been held for the crime. Heres the complete story.

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Bangladesh Awami League MP, Anwarul Azim Anwar, was reportedly murdered by an illegal immigrant. Image courtesy: Facebook

4. Hospitals in India have a problem at hand  they are facing an acute shortage of nurses. The nurse-to-patient ratio is already poor and its only getting worse. Around 3.3 million nurses are registered; this number is inadequate for the billion-plus population. Now the medical staff is quitting in droves. Heres why .

Nurses in India are quitting in large numbers, as they are getting better work opportunities overseas. File photo/PTI

5. Talking about hospitals. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan found himself in one. He suffered a heat stroke, was admitted on Wednesday, and was discharged later. However, this is not an isolated case. Thousands in India are at risk as several parts of the country are reeling under an intense heatwave.

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The rising temperatures can harm the body. Heat stroke like the one that King Khan suffered from should not be taken lightly. We explain what it is and its impact on health.

6. While the heatwave is dangerous to health, it also impacts the Indian economy. Extreme temperatures lead to low productivity; outdoor activities like construction are forced to halt. A harsh summer is not good news for farmers. We explain .

That is all from us. We hope you like our recommendations for the week. Please come back for more .

With inputs from agencies
Conservative MPs Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom have announced their departure from the UK House of Commons, contributing to a record-breaking number of Tory MPs stepping down. This brings the total number of sitting Conservative MPs who have declared they will not seek re-election to 78, surpassing the previous record of 72 set in 1997 read more

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak talks to journalists on his plane as he travels from Northern Ireland to Birmingham during a day of campaigning on 24 May, 2024. AP

High profile UK Members of Parliament (MP) Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom have joined a record-breaking exodus of Conservative MPs from the UK House of Commons, further indicating the turmoil within the party ahead of the upcoming general election .

Gove, a central figure in Tory politics since 2005, and Leadsom, a prominent figure who nearly became party leader in 2016, both announced their departures, highlighting a significant shift in the partys landscape.

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Gove, in a letter posted on X, on Friday evening, stated it was time for a new generation to lead the party. He expressed his sentiments, saying, The toll office can take, as do those closest to me  No one in politics is a conscript. We are volunteers who willingly choose our fate. And the chance to serve is wonderful. But there comes a moment when you know that it is time to leave. That a new generation should lead.

After nearly twenty years serving the wonderful people of Surrey Heath and over a decade in Cabinet across five government departments, I have today taken the decision to step down as a Member of Parliament. Read my letter here  pic.twitter.com/kp1F3GBtGp  Michael Gove (@michaelgove) May 24, 2024

Leadsom echoed similar thoughts in her letter to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, writing, After careful reflection, I have decided not to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming election.

An update  pic.twitter.com/6a762cuxHR  Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) May 24, 2024

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This brings the total number of sitting Tories not seeking re-election to 78, surpassing the previous record of 72 set in 1997.

This number contributes to the overall 119 MPs standing down this election cycle, a figure that includes prominent names such as former UK Prime Minister Theresa May, former interim Labour leader Harriet Harman, and the controversial figure Matt Hancock.

Conservative struggles amid rising Liberal Democrat challenge

The looming UK general election, announced suddenly for 4 July , has prompted a rush of Conservative MPs declaring their intention to step down. By Wednesday evening, the number had already reached 70, and it continued to rise with Gove and Leadsoms announcements.

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The exodus appears to be driven by multiple factors, including strong challenges from opposition parties and internal party struggles.

Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to the media after a meeting with the Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, at Federal Chancellery Ballhausplatz, during a visit to Austria. File Image/Reuters

Earlier on Friday, former UK cabinet ministers John Redwood and Greg Clark, representing home counties seats at risk of falling to the Liberal Democrats, also announced their departures.

The partys woes were further highlighted by the symbolic return of the whip to Hancock and Bob Stewart, both of whom had previously declared their intentions to step down.

Also Read: Who are the key players in the UK general elections?

Adding to the partys difficulties, Sunaks campaign faced several missteps . His visit to Belfasts Titanic Quarter drew unfortunate comparisons to the famous liners sinking, with a reporter asking, Are you captaining a sinking ship going into this election?

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This came after a series of campaign blunders, including being drowned out by Labours 1997 anthem Things Can Only Get Better during his Downing Street announcement and awkward interactions at campaign stops.

Impact on the UK political landscape

The mass departure of MPs paints a picture of a shifting political landscape, with the Conservative Party trailing significantly in the polls. The departure of seasoned MPs, coupled with younger members like Dehenna Davison and Nicola Richards leaving, suggests a party in crisis.

The number of MPs standing down this cycle bucks recent trends. In 2019, 74 MPs stepped down, compared to just 31 in 2017 and 90 in 2015. The 2010 election saw 149 MPs leave, many due to the expenses scandal. However, this years departures are not linked to any specific scandal but rather a broader sense of disillusionment and strategic retreat ahead of a challenging election, reported BBC.

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Britains Labour leader Keir Starmer (left) and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar launch Scottish Labours General Election campaign at City Facilities in Glasgow, Scotland, 24 May, 2024. AP

Former Prime Minister Theresa May, in her valedictory speech, reflected on her time in office, stating, Being an MP is the best job in the world despite its frustrations It particularly has its frustrations when youre in parliament and people dont vote on your own side for your own legislation  three times, referencing her Brexit defeats.

Harriet Harman, the longest-serving female MP, echoed this sentiment, saying, The House of Commons records show that Ive spoken in this chamber 9,880 times. But I have to say that when you discover the prime minister was only two years old when you were first elected, you realise it is time to move on.

After 42 yrs, today was my last in Commons. Its been indescribable privilege to represent Cwell & Pham. So grateful to my constituents, colleagues and all who work in Commons. Best wishes to MPs on those green benches from July. The future of our country is in your hands! pic.twitter.com/p0dMXvB9oA  Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman) May 24, 2024

As the election approaches, the significant number of incumbents stepping down could play a crucial role in the result. Incumbent MPs traditionally have a political advantage due to name recognition and established voter bases, making this mass exodus particularly impactful for the Conservative Party.

Also Read: Who is Keir Starmer, the man standing between Rishi Sunak and 10 Downing Street?

The departures also include notable figures such as former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, COP26 President Alok Sharma, and former UK Foreign Secretary Dame Margaret Beckett from Labour, reflecting a broad reshuffling of the political deck ahead of a pivotal election.

(With inputs from agencies)
Modern cockroaches most likely originated in India or Myanmar before spreading westward over the last few thousand years. A new study has suggested that the household pests may have scuttled across the globe by hitching a ride with another species: people read more

From where did cockroaches come and how have they spread across the world?

According to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, modern cockroaches most likely originated in India or Myanmar before spreading westward over the last few thousand years.

Heres how cockroaches have spread around the world and became the pest they are today.

The spread of cockroaches

A new study uses genetics to chart the spread of cockroaches across the globe, from humble beginnings in southeast Asia to Europe and beyond. The findings span thousands of years of cockroach history and suggest the pests may have scuttled across the globe by hitching a ride with another species: people.

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Its not just an insect story, said Stephen Richards, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine who studies insect genes and was not involved with the study. Its an insect and humanity story.

Researchers analysed the genes of over 280 cockroaches from 17 countries and six continents. They confirmed that the German cockroach  a species found worldwide  actually originated in southeast Asia, likely evolving from the Asian cockroach around 2,100 years ago. Scientists have long suspected the German cockroachs Asian origins since similar species still live there.

The research was published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Cockroaches are experts at surviving indoors, hiding in kitchen pipes or musty drawers. But they didnt start out that way. AP

The cockroaches then globe-trotted via two major routes. They travelled west to the West Asia about 1,200 years ago, perhaps hitchhiking in soldiers breadbaskets. And they may have stowed away on Dutch and British East India Company trade routes to get to Europe about 270 years ago, according to scientists reconstruction and historical records.

Once they arrived, inventions like the steam engine and indoor plumbing likely helped the insects travel further and get cozy living indoors, where they are most commonly found today.

Researchers said exploring how cockroaches conquered past environments may lead to better pest control.

German cockroaches origins traced to India and Myanmar

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Modern cockroaches may have originated in India or Myanmar and spread westward over the last several thousand years. German cockroaches are among the most common and troublesome pests, preferring warm, humid environments such as kitchens and bathrooms. They are known to transmit diseases like Salmonella and E coli. Despite their name, German cockroaches were first described in Europe in the 1700s, leading many to believe they originated there.

The origin and spread of the German cockroach are shrouded in mystery, the researchers stated. Historical records show a global spread from Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but their closest relatives are found in Africa and Asia, reports Newsweek.

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The study discovered that German cockroaches are closely related to the Asian cockroach Blattella asahinai, which is native to the Bay of Bengal region. According to genetic analysis, the German cockroach evolved from an Asian species found in India and Myanmar over 2,000 years ago. They began migrating west about 1,200 years ago, arriving in Germany around 250 years ago, and eventually spreading globally by the early twentieth century, thanks to modern transportation and indoor heating.

Although Europe was not central to the German cockroaches early spread, European advances in transport and housing played a significant role in its recent global expansion. Understanding the cockroachs evolutionary history and genetics could aid in the development of more effective pest control strategies, particularly for overcoming insecticide resistance.

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Future studies could focus on the functional genomic aspects to understand the rapid spread and evolution of insecticide resistance in German cockroaches, the authors wrote, reports Newsweek.

With inputs from AP
Mufti also claimed that outgoing calls on her mobile number have been suspended. Mehbooba, who is among 20 candidates in the fray from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, staged a sit-in outside Bijbehara police station on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. read more

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti, center, blocks a road with her supporters as she protests against the alleged detention of her party workers ahead of the sixth round of polling in India's national election in Bijehara, south of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, May 25, 2024.- AP

Mehbooba Mufti, President of the PDP staged a sit-in on Saturday outside a police station in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir against the purported detention of her party workers and polling agents. Mufti also claimed that outgoing calls on her mobile number have been suspended. Police, however, said those detained are overground workers (OGWs) and the action was taken to ensure smooth conduct of elections.

Many of our PDP polling agents & workers are being detained just before voting. When the families went to the police stations they are being told that its being done at the behest of SSP Anantnag & DIG South Kashmir. Weve written to @ECISVEEP hoping for their timely pic.twitter.com/iPQx8L7JLK  Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 24, 2024

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Mehbooba, who is among 20 candidates in the fray from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, staged a sit-in outside Bijbehara police station on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

The protesters raised slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir administration and demanded that those detained be immediately released.Our PDP polling agents are being targeted and arrested. We are asking the reason, but they are not saying anything. If they are so afraid of me going to the Parliament, then the lieutenant governor should tell me not to fight elections, Mehbooba told reporters.She said this kind of rigging was witnessed in 1987 which many believe led to the eruption of militancy in Kashmir.

Police said only a few people with a tainted past record and who can pose a threat to law and order on polling day have been detained.Those who have been detained are overground workers and have been taken into preventive custody to ensure peaceful polling, a police official said.

A protester, Yasmeen, said her husband is among those detained. I am very worried since last night. My husband does not engage in any illegal activity and yet he has been detained. We are not even being allowed to meet him. Today is the voting day and everyone has the right to vote. Why have they been detained and prevented from voting? The law should be the same for everyone, she said.

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Police and civil officers rushed to the scene and unsuccessfully tried to persuade the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief for over an hour to lift the blockade, officials said. Police personnel resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the swelling crowds of onlookers, they said. Media people covering the protest claimed that some of them were injured after being hit by lathis.

Mehbooba left the protest site briefly to cast her vote. Media persons were not allowed inside the polling booth and were stopped by security personnel 100 metres from the booth.

Mehbooba is still at the protest site, the officials said. Additional forces have been called to keep the situation under control, the officials said. On Friday, Mehbooba had written to the Election Commission claiming that PDP workers and polling agents were detained by police.

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Many of our PDP polling agents & workers are being detained just before voting. When the families went to the police stations they are being told that its being done at the behest of SSP Anantnag & DIG South Kashmir. Weve written to @ECISVEEP hoping for their timely intervention, the PDP chief had said in a post on X.

Earlier on Saturday, Mehbooba told PTI that outgoing calls on her mobile number have been suspended without any explanation. I am not able to make any calls since morning. There is no explanation for this sudden suspension of services on the day of polling in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, nshe said.The PDP also flagged the issue in a post on X.

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Just ahead of the polls, Ms. Mehbooba Muftis @MehboobaMufti cellular phone service has been abruptly snapped. Yesterday evening and in the early hours today, scores of PDP workers and polling agents were detained across polling belt, the party said.

With inputs from PTI.
New Delhis creative approach to its Africa relationship, the 10-point policy by PM Narendra Modi, and the notable effort to bring the AU into the G20 show the direction in which India-Africa relations are growing read more

Africa Day is celebrated on May 25. This marks the inauguration of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. Since then, Africa has come a long way, and so has its partnership with India.

India has been among the most steadfast and consistently relevant partners of Africa. While China is often mentioned as the lead player in Africa, there is a consensus among many that India has been more relevant and an older partner. While China does more, India often does better.

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What is the basis of Indias respect for Africa? It may be recalled that when the OAU emerged in 1963, it was barely seven years since the independence of Sudan in 1956, followed by Ghana in 1957. These, along with Ethiopia, Liberia, Libya, and Egypt, participated in the Bandung Afro-Asian Conference in 1955. They had steadfast Indian support.

The first Non-Aligned Movement summit in 1961, which had an Indian imprint, also preceded the OAU and had 11 African countries present. The African identity of independence then consisted of membership of the NAM, the UN, and of the OAU. India was looked up to during this period because of its successful freedom struggle, which many African countries sought to emulate. The role of Mahatma Gandhi in this, utilising his experiences in South Africa, bound together the thought processes of India and the African movements for independence.

Soon after Indias independence, India shared its experiences with developing countries and started training programmes and scholarships, before terms like South-South cooperation or Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) were enunciated. Before the OAU, India had already established, in 1957, the Harar Military Academy in Ethiopia, which was independent Indias first major project for capacity building in Africa. This project trained not only Ethiopian military personnel but also people from other African countries that were on the verge of independence. The regional approach of a project thus introduced remained important for future Indian projects in Africa. In 1964, India began providing similar support to the Nigerian Defence Academy.

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The successful India Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme was launched in 1964, a year after the OAU was born. Today, it extends to over 150 countries. This programme started an engagement with Africa, which brought African institutions, public servants, and professionals into direct touch with India. The successful low-cost model of transfers of technology and capacity building provided by the ITEC programme has stood India in good stead as one of the most consistent partnership programmes across the world. The ITEC programme adapted itself superbly during the pandemic lockdown with the e-ITEC version, where technology was used to fulfil its goals.

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Besides the capacity-building approach, India is also respected for its contribution to the economic development of African countries. Initially, it was through grant programs. Under this, the Plastic Technology Centre in Namibia, the Centre for Excellence in IT (CEIT) in Tanzania, the Entrepreneurship Development Training Centre in Senegal, and the Kofi Annan CEIT in Ghana are among the early successes. Most thrive even today, showing that where local governments and institutions acquire a sense of ownership of these projects and integrate them into their development plans, they succeed and often become centres of excellence for people from their regions.

This was augmented since 2003 by the Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS), which provided low-cost long-term loans for the development of African countries, particularly the heavily indebted poor countries. Here, India was often the only country that was lending to them. They reached out to India promptly and deeply. Djibouti was the first recipient of an LOC under IDEAS. IDEAS covered 42 countries for 200 projects, injecting $12 billion into Africas economies.

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These approaches of grants plus lines of credit under IDEAS were augmented and elaborated through a broader vision when the India-Africa summits were launched in 2008. In 2006, the African Union decided to broaden relations with emerging countries, and India was their first choice. Indias positive response led to the establishment of the India-Africa Summits, which in turn elaborated on the human resource development-led approach, focusing on grant programmes, institution building, and development through soft loans.

Another area where Africa deeply respected India was the small and medium-sized industry investments in Africa. In most African countries, Indian FDI is noticeable mainly through SMEs, which participate in local economies by transferring technology, creating local employment, and contributing to intra-regional trade. These MSMEs are unheralded champions of Indias appreciation in Africa.

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This model of cooperation with Africa was successfully elaborated by the India-Africa Forum summits. Now, when India was the chair of the G20, for the first time, Africa was upgraded from a guest to a member of the G20, thanks to an Indian initiative and consensus building. This is the first time that Africa has a permanent voice at a global high table since its ambitions to be represented on the UN Security Council remain in abeyance. More importantly, even if African countries got representation in the UNSC, it would be individual countries. What India achieved was to bring the African Union as a whole into the G20, giving the continent a voice and an opportunity.

As we mark Africa Day, we look back with satisfaction at the steady progress that India has made in sharing experiences and capabilities with Africa and building a steadfast partnership. This partnership is not in competition with anybody, nor is it perfect. It is noteworthy that India is among the top three of Africas trading partners with trade of $100 billion, in Africas favour; among the top ten investment partners with investment of about $75 billion; and among the leading scholarship providers to Africa.

Indias creative approach to its Africa relationship, the 10-point policy by PM Narendra Modi for Indias Africa policy at the Uganda parliament in 2018, and the notable effort to bring the AU into the G20 show the direction in which India-Africa relations are growing.

The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Sadbhistu lilaya proktam silalikhitam aksaram

Asadbhissapathenoktam jale likhitam aksaram

(Even words said in fun by good people are like letters carved in stone.

Even oaths sworn by bad people are like letters written on water.)

-Subhashitham

US Hindu groups are expressing a sense of vindication and concern after a press release from Californias Civil Rights Department (CDR) showed that 23.3 per cent of all acts of religious hate reported to the Departments Anti-Hate Hotline in the last year were anti-Hindu incidents.

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Not surprisingly, the largest category of religious hate incidents recorded were anti-Jewish in nature (36.9 per cent) but possibly quite surprisingly, for certain well-funded anti-Islamophobia groups (including some self-styled progressive Hindu groups), the percentage of anti-Muslim hate incidents (14.6 per cent) recorded was lower than that of both anti-Jewish and anti-Hindu incidents.

On the face of it, this data confirms what many Hindus have been saying all along: that Hinduphobia is real and incidents of anti-Hindu bigotry and violence are on the rise. In the San Francisco Bay Area alone, for example, at least six Hindu temples were vandalised in the past few months. Before that, there were notorious examples of random outbursts of hatred against Hindus in public spaces in California, such as the vicious abuse of a Hindu customer at a Taco Bell in Fremont by an American of South Asian descent and the religious profiling and harassment of a Hindu family at a July 4th fair by a white agitator.

Gaslighting of Victims of Hinduphobia

Yet, even while some Hindu organisations have tried to push for recognition of growing Hinduphobia, other, more influential and more effectively culturally-legitimised South Asian lobby groups have stood their ground insisting that there is no such thing as Hinduphobia. One Harvard professor even wrote an op-ed in The New York Times gaslighting possible victims of Hinduphobic racism in advance by calling on employers and university employers to effectively ignore such complaints because they might be being made by Modi-aligned factions.

Even now, with the California CRDs press release, there is no guarantee that this data will lead to greater recognition of Hinduphobia, or support for anti-Hinduphobia legal and educational measures in society. CRD doesnt exactly have high credibility with the American Hindu community since this was the government organisation involved with the witch-hunt against Ramana Kompella and Sundar Iyer in the scandalous Cisco  Caste Discrimination  non-case (which was thrown out by the court finally).

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Furthermore, even if the CRD is, on the face of it, recording complaints of anti-Hindu hate, it is unclear if its intent is to effectively support Hindu victims against Hinduphobia, or merely manage the problem to the extent of further legitimising and supporting nominally Hindu organisations which vehemently deny the existence of Hinduphobia and blame the victims as a rule. CRDs resource page for religious community groups lists only one well-known progressive Hindu group as a resource for Hindu victims of hate. This group has no record of recognising or fighting Hinduphobia.

Stage Managing Hindu Pain

It may be fair to assume that the CRD is in the process of acknowledging the existence of anti-Hindu hate to the extent of validating current academic assumptions or propaganda (for example, saying that Hindus can be victims of hate, but not because of Hinduphobia but only because of side-effects from Islamophobia or anti-Brown prejudice). This would not be inconsistent with the way the harsh reality of anti-Semitism has also been managed by establishment institutions and discourses in America: it is admitted to the extent that it comes from the American Right Wing, and completely denied, or even repackaged as anti-Zionism and celebrated, when it comes from far-Left White activists and West Asian/South Asian far-Right Religious Supremacists.

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This would also parallel the continuing deployment of management initiatives for Hindu college consumers such as Hindu chaplaincy positions (some of which have been used to deny the existence of Hinduphobia as in the case of the Reza Aslan CNN controversy of 2017 when a Hindu Chaplain vindicated Aslans excuse that he was merely exposing the horrors of the Hindu caste system).

All in all, the status quo will likely remain. Entrenched anti-Hindu propagandists will use their power and location within the system (academia, NGOs, governments, corporates, foundations) to deny the validity of Hinduphobia and call it a Hindutva supremacist slogan, while Hindu community groups who are seemingly trying to get recognition for Hinduphobia and protect Hindus from harm will also remain where they have been  on the margins of the system, the culture, and most alarmingly, their perceived legitimacy in the eyes of their own children growing up in the American madhouse without the support of a delusion-free community that can actually guide them to their real ancestral, cultural, and spiritual strengths.

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Why Hindu Americans Fail to Change Narratives

The harsh truth is that no matter what the data says, Hindu American community groups have been largely unsuccessful in pushing for mainstream cultural legitimisation of Hinduphobia as a real concern. In a way, it is not surprising because they have rarely been pushing for what people think they are pushing for. Given the nature of Hindu organising to operate as a voluntary, community-donations-based effort (with of course, one meta organisation trying to dominate everything and anything Hindu including the few independent efforts which get sucked in or sabotaged or silenced along the way), Hindu organisations do tend to end up trying to be all things to everybody in their little social bubble.

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Sometimes, Hindu organisations try to be all about training the next generation to have a Hindu cultural identity. Sometimes it is about talking to politicians and showing them Hindus have votes and pay taxes and want some recognition from them. Sometimes, it is Hinduphobia, sometimes, it is some other issue. But always, one common theme that runs through these organisations is the focus on building a machine, which means manufacturing leaders, and sometimes intellectuals too, for the most part without any foothold in academia or relevant academic disciplines (even if individually well-informed on occasion).

Hindu Groups Build Leaders while Hinduphobes Build Narratives

To emphasise this point again: Hindu Americans fail to change narratives because their primary focus is not on changing narratives but only on building leaders and followers.

We can see such trends quite plainly over the years. Until the 1980s or so, Hindu organisations in the US meant mostly groups which tried to offer weekend classes in temples for children on what is Hinduism and also on Indian history. In the early 2000s, some of the children who grew up from these experiences and felt secure of their professional and financial standing in American society sought to create organisations that would be more US-centric, and engage with American civic processes.

But no matter how much they emphasised their American-ness, and accused critics of using xenophobic dual-loyalty slurs against them, the truth is that some of these groups remained thoroughly India-centric, party-centred, and personality-constrained. Even forgetting the formal political affiliations aside as not all Hindu Americans may be involved formally or organizationally with Indian political groups, the operating principle is the same. The Hindu American diaspora is pretty much used by Indian organisations as a staging ground for promoting leaders in India and the diaspora.

Take the example of the controversy over a professor at a New Jersey university organising a small student demonstration over Kashmir on her campus a few years ago; already, there was a full plate of actually unacademic, Hinduphobic, statements from that professor which a focused Hindu activist community could have organised on, but instead what did they do? They picked not the religious bigotry card, but the political criticism point to mobilise, a weak ticket to start with. And even then, what was their chosen approach? A group of grad students or professors in political science or history to rebut that professors criticism? No, but an imported celebrity from India being projected to Hindu American kids as their role-model and saviour.

Similarly, on the West Coast, the Hindu groups are agog about importing speakers from India to teach Hindu American kids about fighting Hinduphobia (even though some of those speakers are on the record mocking the idea of Hinduphobia themselves). When asked about the wisdom of Hindu American groups platforming Indian speakers who say the same things about the Caste System and evil Brahmins as South Asian activist groups they are fighting, the Hindu groups say that it is better for the American children to grow up with just anti-Brahmin rhetoric from one of our own rather than anti-Hindu rhetoric from the South Asia studies professors and activists.

The Sad Truth of Hindu Assimilation

The sad truth is that even after more than twenty years of existence, and millions of dollars in donations, Hindu organising in America remains peripheral to mainstream American life, and maybe even mainstream Indian-American diaspora life.

The Indian American community is an extremely conformist, and artha defined one, and lacks the tools for understanding the mainstream society and culture beyond its material or professional-transactional existence. It adjusts to whatever is prevalent, while doing more and more contortions to try and stay still culturally, which of course, is not a winning strategy. It simply does not have a well-researched and creatively-expressed story about why do they (the Americans) say and do what they will, but merely keeps trying ever harder to explain to imaginary bosses and economically successful social peer groups why do we (remain Hindus, essentially). For example, in the 1960s and 1970s, when the Indian diaspora was small and consisted mostly of doctors and engineers, I recall many of them leaning towards the Republican party. The reasoning was largely economic (taxes) but also cultural (family). But the interesting thing is that because of the overt overlap between the Republicans and conservative Christianity, Hindu American parents did not get fooled into conformity beyond a point. They cheered all the Republican talk about hard work and family values, but knew that Christians were Christians and Hindus were Hindus.

But for the post 1990s Indian immigrants (and Indian American children), the situation was different. They moved overwhelmingly towards the Democratic party as their natural home as liberals and as Hindus. Part of the shift was the early polarisation that started from the Right with Fox News and Rush Limbaugh type rhetoric perhaps, which was overtly exclusionist and nasty at times. The Democrats of course then got their dream recruits, eager to please, eager to serve, and ask for very little in return.

But the cultural and psychological aspect of this shift away from US conservatism to US liberalism also had a religious dimension that hasnt been noticed. By the late 1990s and 2000s, the American cultural mainstream was clearly no longer religious (as in Christian). Perhaps that sort of liberal-atheistic-cosmopolitan culture became easy to adopt as a natural home for Millennial and Gen Z Indian Americans. Within that space, we now see the different groups and trends operating. Among the most conformist, we find the multicultural, interfaith, dharma-lite quoting Hindu groups which talk about human rights for everyone except for Hindus and deny Hinduphobia. Next, we have the India-centric (if not India-meta-controlled), Hindu groups which are also conformist but somewhat old-school liberal and try to find a seat at a fast-shrinking table in American politics.

Their weakness is that they operate in the weekend Indian social bubble no matter how American their jobs and accents might be, and dont make a scratch on American minds in the spheres that matter, like pop culture and education. Their work sadly is a performance for politicians in Washington, and indirectly, sometimes, New Delhi. But to their credit, they have not conformed to the point of selling out their good intentions. Their issue is incompetence, rather than a lack of integrity, perhaps. There are of course also individuals outside these two clusters who work towards raising awareness of Hinduphobia. Their work has had mixed results, but again, has remained needlessly outside the cultural mainstream for a variety of reasons, one of those reasons again being the peculiar navel-gazing tendency of the diasporic community. I have seen people who impressively quote anti-Hinduphobia books in temple parking lots to other Indians like preachers, but then I dont know if they are able to equip their children to pull off the same thing in their schools before non-Indian audiences.

Ever New Hinduphobia

To summarise, Hindu organisations and initiatives are trapped in a social history they havent really tried to understand, and have been doing variations of the same things over and over again (leader-building, weekend-gathering, politician-meeting) expecting different results while things remain obdurately the same, or get worse. And worse, it is indeed getting, considering there have been more direct attacks on Hindu institutions in the past two years in the diaspora. What is also concerning is that these have found the cover of indifference or even legitimacy by the mainstream American institutions like academia and media.

We need to therefore consider how Hinduphobic actors have pulled off this feat of keeping Hindus and Hindu organisations inconsequential beyond the latters own inadequacies and limitations.

Proper, professional, organisations that focus on a mission, idea, or narrative (such as those on the anti-Hindu side), tend to stay incredibly focused on the narrative. Just consider how steadfastly the narrative about Hinduism has remained unchanged in the American educational system. They will never let go of the wholly fictitious caste pyramid image no matter how much Hindus say there is no such image in the scriptures, nor that the Purusha is actually lying down and the feet are as important as the head, or even the most relevant sociological data-point, that the Brahmins are not the richest group in India.

The narrative is paramount in a propaganda society, and the West is a propaganda society (Orwell, Ellul, Postman, and many more scholars attest to that). It builds institutions, practices, careers, everyday social incentives, for the purpose of perpetuating narratives; and unfortunately, the heathen remains a key figure in that narrative, and even more unfortunately, for the two or three whole generation of Hindu-descent children born in America, their parents have rarely understood the full import of the society they are in, accepting soft-adjustment into deracination, de-generation (in the literal sense I mean of breaking from ancestral memories and practices that were upheld for hundreds of generations), and increasingly, denigration of the truth, and humiliation of the self through cooptation in the denial of the truth. It is not too difficult to understand this trend when we remember the climactic last scene in George Orwells 1984. Winston Smith is tortured and humiliated until he accepts, with full desperation of conviction, that 2+2=5. Inquisitors and propagandists and brainwashers know what they want and how to get it. When a human beings sense of truth is broken, nothing is left of him or her. It is worse than losing material comfort and even freedom in some ways. Hindus, unfortunately, have been clinging to the illusion of their access to these two without realising what is being taken away from sanatana dharma, one generation after another.

What Hinduphobia-deniers See, What Hindu Organisations See

It is hard for Hindus, even the most alert anti-Hinduphobic activists, as well as the more indifferent mass of mainstream immigrants, to recognise that something can be taken away very quickly. We have Hinduphobia-denier friends (who are of course very concerned about Islamophobia and Zionism and Hindutva) telling us there is no Hinduphobia because they visited the vast Swaminarayan temple in New Jersey and how could Hindus build so many temples if there was Hinduphobia? Naturally, our friend is unaware perhaps of the kind of legal and psychological attacks that the temple builders faced. As a small cultural business owner himself he should have been sympathetic to what would happen to his image and his lifes hard work if a big newspaper made up a story about him being an Amrish Puri/Moola Ram-type slave-owner who has used religion to coerce lower castes to build giant structures for him. BAPs presumably though is a big enough organisation to have cleared its name in the courts and continues to pursue its mission. Sundar Iyer too was privileged enough to fight it out. But what of the thousands of poor Hindus, many of them in precarious visa or financial situations, who can be utterly ruined by false allegations that run amok that can be levelled with impunity by vested actors simply because Hindus would prefer to say there is no Hinduphobia rather than fight it?

But then, it is not just the progressive Indians who are to blame for this situation, nor the inept but well-intended Hindu groups forever trying to prove to American liberals that Hindus are the OG liberals and of course we hate Trump but Modiji is not Trump and etcetera. If the meta Hindu organisations bring their stamp of Indo-idiocy into the already and forever-floundering American Hindu groups so they can boast back home, the mega Hindu religious organisations that manage to raise and build mega-temple or mega-service projects are also guilty of upholding the Hinduphobic status quo in American establishments today.

It is worth sharing a memorable conversation with a friend from one such organisation who works interestingly enough in their media relations office, and naturally had a professional interest in the US media world. After a long dialogue, he raised his hand to the top to about eye level, and said that for him, Businessmen were the most important interlocutors. Next, he lowered his hand slightly, he said, were Politicians. Then, he said, came Celebrities, and lowered his hand some more. And then, perhaps as a hasty concession or courtesy to the poor liberal arts Hindu professor in his company, he lowered his hand only slightly, and said Academics. Finally, for the climax, he extended his hand somewhere below knee-level, and slightly contemptuously (he is too pleasant to be really contemptuous), declared, Journalists.

To summarise, this is the world Hindus are in today. We are so successful in the practical realm, pulling donations from businessmen for temples, campaign funds for politicians, organising talks and lectures and zipping people around, but then, we dont have a clear and precise story about ourselves or the world that we are in. Without that story, no matter how much money and professional success we have to boast about, we will never win our way back to dharma. And what we are fighting for isnt just a label called Hindu but the existence and continuity of something beautiful, true, inviolably sacred and inextricably natural, called Sanatana Dharma, isnt it?

Vamsee Juluri is Professor of Media Studies, University of San Francisco. He has authored several books, including Rearming Hinduism: Nature, Hinduphobia and the Return of Indian Intelligence (Westland, 2015). C Raghothama Rao is a writer, podcaster and YouTuber. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
As the prime ministers recent public discourses indicate, he is confident about his third term and is likely to get into mission mode from Day 1 read more

As the polling under the sixth phase of the Indian general elections is on, the world awaits whats ahead in the destiny of the largest democracy. However, after Narendra Modis epic town hall style interview by a veteran media anchor, there is little point in splitting hairs with further analysis of the polls.

A politician of Modis stature will not put at stake his reputation built over a lifetime with premature bravado. The sanguineness exuded by the prime minister could come only from supreme confidence and inner conviction about his return for a third term.

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Therefore, it would not be inopportune to stick ones neck out and look at life beyond June 4, 2024, when the results of the elections are going to be officially announced.

The prime minister has himself alerted the people against conspiracies to delegitimise the mandate by raising doubts about the electoral process and the tampering of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Some alarmists among them have raised apprehensions about a peaceful transfer of power in the event that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not get the requisite numbers to form a government. Many of them will be looking at their sponsors across the shores for a wink and a nod to up the ante. There were muted attempts to create smoke around the results even in 2019, but those attempts were dispelled by the elated mood of the country at large after the astonishing outcome. However, this time around, the detractors appear to be more battle-ready. This is apparent from the innuendos already being built up through social media.

However, Modis detractors can be certain of a deja vu. The fantasy scenarios painstakingly built by them over months will again be rudely deflated. First, as the prime minister has openly hinted, the government is fully aware of the plans that are afoot and prepared to neutralise any ill-advised misadventures. Second, the external quarters from whom these groups may be looking for succour seem to have accepted Modi 3.0 as a certainty. More importantly, this is not like accepting the situation as fait-accompli, but because they are convinced that the continuation of Narendra Modi would be in their best national interest.

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This sentiment is apparent in the utterances of many foreign government officials and the changing tune of some international media outlets, which were earlier unidimensionally critical of the Modi dispensation. Finally, those orchestrating the democracy in danger chorus on social media constitute a minuscule percentage of the population. In India, the power of the ballot truly rests with the masses. Once the people decide, no power in the world can run a steamroller over their mandate. This was demonstrated in 1977, at the height of the emergency, and in election after election. Any insidious attempt to upturn the popular mandate in a country of 1.4 billion people can be fraught with dangerous consequences that the world cannot imagine and no one will attempt to play with. And Modi will not allow any such distractions to derail the nation, even momentarily.

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As the prime ministers recent public discourses indicate, in his third term, he is likely to get into mission mode from Day 1. Therefore, his inauguration will be marked by some big-ticket announcements that will not only be of major importance nationally but also from a global perspective.

The prime minister has often remarked that after 10 years in office, he will be among the most senior world leaders from across continents. A point of rancour for Modi has been some caustic comments made when he first assumed office as prime minister in 2014 about his ability to operate in diplomatic circles without any prior international exposure.

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Knowing Modi, he will not be satisfied with being counted only by the number of years spent in office, but he would want to be accorded a place as an equal in the global high table along with the Big Five. Indias admission to the UN Security Council would definitely feature among one of the key foreign policy objectives of Modi 3.0. Surely, S Jaishankar will be his comrade in arms on the foreign policy front, but one will wait to see if he inducts a new National Security Adviser in place of Ajit Doval, who would be completing his second term in a highly taxing job.

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It will be interesting to watch the new faces Modi brings into his cabinet. To achieve his stated goal of making India an economic superpower, the economy will no doubt require the highest priority. Several states will go in for elections in the next twelve months, principally Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. Modis first two terms have demonstrated the importance of double engine sarkar(s) for rolling out reforms on a national scale. Apart from winning the Assembly elections, Modi will have to ensure that the states that are already under BJP rule are firing on all cylinders. For that, Modi needs many more Yogi Adityanath(s) in the states to deliver on his development and governance agendas. One can, therefore, expect to see some interesting talent swaps between the Centre and the states, with some key central portfolios being held by Modis trusted proteges. This will also allow him benchroom to accommodate a few of the regional stalwarts, like Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the Centre, as well as some of the alliance partners with union berths.

Modi realises the importance of social harmony more than many of his self-avowed secular opponents. With the heat and dust of the elections behind and Ram Mandir a done deal, it is time to apply a healing touch. In Modis playbook, this will not come through the achievement of Sabka Vikas, aka universal welfare schemes. However, that will not happen at the cost of internal security considerations. Therefore, it will be a mistake to think that an agenda such as CAA will be put in cold storage.

Modi has long indicated that the 100-day plan for his new government is ready. Expect it to be rolled out no sooner than the carpets have been rolled back after the swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan early next month.

The author is a current affairs commentator, marketer, blogger and leadership coach, who tweets at @SandipGhose. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Overseas France is a remnant of the French empire, which in its heydays ranked next only to the British in extent and influence read more

An insurrection in the far south-east end of the world has left France jittery in the midst of the Cannes Film Festival. Six people, including two police officers, have been killed in addition to hundreds of people wounded in riots, pillages, and acts of arson that recently affected New Caledonia. Grand Terre, the main cigarette-shaped island, is left smouldering.

The archipelago, lying between Australia and Fiji, is currently under a state of emergency with a dusk-to-dawn curfew. One thousand police personnel have been flown in from France to reinforce internal security. French President Emmanuel Macron, who reached Noumea after a 24-hour flight, stated that he did not foresee this outbreak. He has assured to keep the personnel deployed in the archipelago as long as necessary, even during the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Paris later this year.

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President Macron should not have been so naive. New Caledonia has a major history of bloodshed in the 1980s, not to mention the Ouvea cave massacre (May, 1988) and the assassination of Jean-Marie Tjibaou (May, 1989), the Kanak leader who stood for the independence of New Caledonia. The current round of violence is precipitated by controversial electoral reforms recently approved by both chambers of Parliament in Paris. It enfranchises around 25,000 new migrants who have moved from mainland France to New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in this century. This is likely to further marginalise the indigenous Kanak voters. New Caledonia, as per a BBC figure, has a population of 300,000 people, including 112,000 Kanaks. However, as per a report on France 24, Macron says he will now refrain from pushing ahead with the contentious reforms.

People outside the Francophone world might be surprised at the French political interest in the South Pacific, which compels a French President to take a 16,000-kilometre-long-haul flight urgently. However, France sees itself as the leading (and only one remaining) European power resident in the Pacific. It exercises power in the region through its sovereign territories like New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and Clipperton Island. They are remnants of the French colonialism that once tied the globe to its tentacles. At its apogee in the 1920s and 1930s, informs Robert Aldrich (1996), France and its overseas domainswhat some called greater France (la plus grande France)encompassed 11 million square kilometres of land and over 100 million inhabitants; Paris controlled the second largest empire in the world, second only to that of Britain (Greater France: A History of French Overseas Expansion, P.1).

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The French possessions once included jungles in Africa and South America; islands in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific; vast expanses of the Saharan desert and Antarctica; enormous territories in Indo-China and Madagascar; and toeholds in India and on the Red Sea. This columnist was born in one such former French toehold on the Hooghly river, viz. Chandernagore, which had merged into West Bengal in 1949 as a result of a referendum. The most famous citizen of Chandernagore was revolutionary Rash Behari Bose (18851945), though he was never known for fighting French imperialism as much as British imperialism with determination and tactics!

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New Caledonia was discovered in 1794 by Captain James Cook. Englishman discovers, Frenchman annexes was how Wilfred G. Burchett describes it in his eminently readable Pacific Treasure Island: New Caledonia (1941), which strangely found an Indian publisher, Thacker & Co Ltd, Bombay. Burchett informs that Admiral Febvrier Despointes first hoisted the French flag upon the island on September 24, 1853, amidst a 21-gun salute in the presence of the French evangelists who had already been active there.

Aldrich informs that the French, who subsequently extended their control to the Loyalty Islands (Ouvea, Mare, Lifou, and Tiga), justified the act on military and commercial grounds. The French perceived New Caledonia as an alternative to Guyana for building a penal settlement, as Guyanas climate had proved murderous to convicts, soldiers, and administrators. Thus, between the 1860s and 1890s, France shipped thousands of convicts to New Caledonia, apart from encouraging settlement by free citizens. Colonialists hailed New Caledonia as the only true French society of settlement other than Algeria (Greater France, P.1).

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The landmark Brazzaville Conference, held in the capital of erstwhile French Equatorial Africa between January 30 and February 18, 1944, aimed at reshaping the French empire in the aftermath of World War II. General Charles de Gaulle, then leader of the Free French forces, promised to transform the relationship between France and her colonies while presiding over the conference. Political independence, however, was ruled out. Mainland France was then under Vichy occupation, which collaborated with the Nazi regime in Germany.

The Fourth Republic (194658), set up in France after the conclusion of World War II, put an end to colonialism as an official policy. However, this did not remotely imply de-colonisation, as Charles de Gaulle, informs Dane Kennedy (2016), was determined to restore French pride, which had been shattered by its defeat and occupation of Germany, and his strategy for doing so hinged on a resurgent French empire (Decolonization: A Short History, P.38).

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The colonial empire was replaced by the French Union in the Constitution (1946), where overseas territories would have representatives in the French Parliament. Today, France has around 13 overseas territories with an estimated aggregated population of 2.8 million. Neither was it easy for France to give up its overseas territories, as they had a significant French population there. For example, for millions of people of French origin, Algeria was France, who considered the 1962 referendum, where eight million Algerians voted for independence, an undiluted tragedy. The referendum came at the end of a bloody war of independence (19541962) lasting for eight years. In Vietnam (then Indo-China) and Algeria, France had to fight bloody and costly wars.

In 1956, France enacted loi-cadre, which defined a legal framework for the French government and its overseas territories. In New Caledonia, it led to the enlargement of the territorial assembly to 30 members and the introduction of an electoral system based on universal adult suffrage. The Kanaks received for the first time the right to participate fully in the political process. The territorial assembly was authorised to debate and approve the territorial budget.

Its results were obvious in the referendum vote in September 1958. New Caledonia overwhelmingly voted for remaining within the French Republic. At that time, there were more Kanaks than White French in New Caledonia. In the referendum based on universal adult suffrage, 98 per cent voted in favour of remaining with France. However, General de Gaulles government returned little favours for this overwhelming yes vote. As Jean-Yves Faberon (2013) observes, the French government only chipped away at New Calendonias self-rule. The Jacquinot laws (1963) and Billot laws (1969) made French control more expansive. The Nickel boom period (19691972), which led to unprecedented growth across all sectors in the island, also attracted a large number of French men and women to New Caledonia, thus reducing the Kanaks to a minority in their own land (Politics, Development, and Security in Ocenia, P.78)

The 1970s saw growing demand for independence from Kanaks. France enacted the Strin statute, which saw further political reforms. The High Commissioner, who replaced the Governor, retained overall executive power. The Minister for Overseas Territories could dissolve both the Council and the Territorial Assembly. This, however, failed to stem the tide towards autonomy. In 1979, the Council dissolved because it refused to support the Dijoud statute, which provided for economic reforms in exchange for deferring demands for autonomy and independence for 10 years. The Dijoud statute, changed the method of elections to the Territorial Assembly and the Council, which made it difficult for small Kanak parties to win any seat. They therefore joined hands together to form Front Independantiste.

Even as violence continued in the early 1980s, the French government had to concede several reforms aimed at broadening the Kanaks participation in the political and economic life of the island. In July 1983, the French government convened a round table at Nainville-les-Roches in northern France to work out a workable and durable solution to the islands problem. For the first time, says an UN publication (1988), gave legitimacy of the claims of the Kanak people, who were described as the first occupants of the territory, including their innate and active right to independence (Decolonization: New Caledonia, P.4).

Consequent upon the round table, the French National Assembly adopted a new statute for autonomy, the Lemoine statute, which provided internal autonomy for five years. However, neither the Lemoine statute nor the Pisani plan had a cordial reception. New Caledonia was plunged into violence in 1985, forcing the French government to adopt a package of administrative measures to redress the conditions of Kanaks, including a land reform programme, tax reform measures, compensation for victims of civil disobedience, and educational reforms.

The Noumea Accord signed on May 5, 1998, involving both pro-France and pro-independence parties and representatives of France led by Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, has become an enduring milestone in the political annals of New Caledonia. It was enacted into an organic law by the French National Assembly on March 19, 1999. The devil, however, was in its details. Defining different electorates for different elections, i.e., local and French elections, based on years of residency, says Denise Fisher (2013), is an innovative and flexible response to Kanak concerns on the part of the French authorities within a constitutional system that claimed above all to be unitary and indivisible (France in the South Pacific: Power and Politics, P.99).

New Caledonia is too small to be a viable, independent country. The referendums held in 2018 and 2020 under the Noumea Accord threw up results favourable to New Caledonia remaining within the French republic. However, the new voting laws threaten to upset the delicate balance among the French migrants, Kanaks and Caldoches, who are descendants of early settlers from other parts of Asia-Pacific. There is an inconsistency between the principles of universal adult suffrage and local sentiments, especially when a large number of French migrants have settled on the island since the Noumea Accord was signed. One cannot deny them voting rights in local elections indefinitely. Paradoxically, France has seen occasional night-riots due to the rising population of Arabs on the mainland. The French continue to trickle into far-off Pacific islands. It requires investigation to determine whether this migration is solely on account of economic opportunities or if more Frenchmen are feeling insecure in France due to the rising Arab population.

The writer is author of the book The Microphone Men: How Orators Created a Modern India (2019) and an independent researcher based in New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
According to the statement, the latest package would include high-mobility artillery rocket systems, or HIMARS, munitions as well 155 mm and 105 mm high-demand artillery rounds read more

In a show of solidarity, the Biden administration announced an additional $275 million in military aid to the war-stricken Ukraine. The announcement came as Kyiv struggles to hold off advances by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken announced the package on Friday and revealed that the proposal was previewed on Thursday by two US officials. He maintained that the aid is part of our efforts to help Ukraine repel Russias assault near Kharkiv.

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Assistance from previous packages has already made it to the front lines, and we will move this new assistance as quickly as possible so the Ukrainian military can use it to defend their territory and protect the Ukrainian people, Blinken said in a statement.

Zelenskyy thanks US

After the announcement by the US State Department, Ukrainian President Volodymyr took to X, formally known as Twitter to thank the Biden administration.

I am grateful to @POTUS Joe Biden, U.S. Congress and its both parties, as well as the American people for the new military aid package announced today, he wrote on X.

It includes much-needed long-range missiles, precision artillery munitions, anti-tank capabilities, and other weapons.

I am grateful to @POTUS Joe Biden, U.S. Congress and its both parties, as well as the American people for the new military aid package announced today.



It includes much-needed long-range missiles, precision artillery munitions, anti-tank capabilities, and other weapons.



This  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) May 24, 2024

This package is critical right now, as the enemy intensifies attacks along the frontline. Today in Kharkiv, I witnessed firsthand the importance of strengthening our warriors in order to protect our people, our cities, and our communities, he added.

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What is included in the package?

According to the statement, the latest package would include high-mobility artillery rocket systems, or HIMARS, munitions as well 155 mm and 105 mm high-demand artillery rounds.

Additional items that will be included in the aid package are Javelin and AT-4 antitank systems; antitank mines, tactical vehicles, small arms and ammunition for those weapons.

The United States and the international coalition we have assembled will continue to stand with Ukraine in its defence of its freedom, the Secretary of State mentioned in the statement.

With this, the US has now provided a whopping $51 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since the Russia-Ukraine war commenced in February 2022.

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Ukraine maintains control in Kharkiv

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the forces of the Eastern European nation have secured combat control of areas where Russian troops staged an incursion this month.

Our soldiers have now managed to take combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers entered, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. The comments from the Ukrainian leader came after he conducted a meeting of military and regional officials in Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city.

Putin not only wants to disrupt the Peace Summit and makes every effort to do so, but he is also afraid of what the Summit can bring. The world is capable of forcing Russia to make peace and follow international security norms.



Russia has no counterarguments to the global pic.twitter.com/xnUDT4QT5z  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) May 24, 2024

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However, the remarks appeared to be at variance with comments by Russian officials. Viktor Vodolatskiy, a member of Russias State Duma lower house of parliament maintained that the Russian forces controlled more than half the territory of the region, TASS reported.

Vodolatskiy was quoted as saying that once Vovchansk was secured, Russian forces would target three cities in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region  Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk. The Ukrainian militarys General Staff, in its evening report, stated that the situation in Vovchansk was tense but controlled by the defence forces.

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The Russian army today launched air terror against this town  eight guided bombs hit the town, he said.

With inputs from agencies.
Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman is a longtime Republican who endorsed Donald Trump during his first term as well read more

Billionaire Steve Schwarzman, the CEO of Blackstone, has said he will vote for Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential election.

Schwarzman also said he will also donate to Trump and several Republican Senate candidates, according to Axios.

Schwarzman is a longtime Republican who had also endorsed Trump during his first term.

Blackstone is an investment and real estate giant. It has a market cap of 148.84 billion, according to Yahoo Finance. It also assets under management of more than $1 trillion. Schwarzman is the Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder of Blackstone.

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Schwarzman to vote for change amid rising antisemitism

Schwarzman told Axios that he will vote for Trump to seek a change. He added that rising antisemitism in the United States has also shaped his decision.

Schwarzman said, The dramatic rise of antisemitism has led me to focus on the consequences of upcoming elections with greater urgency.

Schwarzman further said that the US under President Joe Biden was heading in the wrong direction.

I share the concern of most Americans that our economic, immigration, and foreign policies are taking the country in the wrong direction. For these reasons, I am planning to vote for change and support Donald Trump for President. In addition, I will be supporting Republican Senate candidates and other Republicans up and down the ticket, said Schwarzman.

Even though Schwarzman has endorsed Trump, Axios noted that Blackstone as a company remains bipartisan. John Gay, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), President, and heir-apparent of Blackstone, has endorsed Biden and is a major donor to the Democratic Party. Similarly, Tom Nides, a former US envoy to Israel under the Biden administration, serves as the Vice Chairman for Strategy and Client Relations at Blackstone.

Silicon Valley investors turning against Biden: Report

The news of Blackstone boss Schwarzman endorsing Biden has come at a time when Silicon Valley investors are also reportedly turning against Biden.

For his hardliner policies, incendiary rhetoric, and the incitement to a mob on January 6, 2021 that attacked the US Capitol, Trump was long avoided by the Silicon Valley and the US corporate world, but that now appears to be changing.

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Prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalists David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya have already announced support for Trump and a fund-raiser for him, according to The New York Times. Moreover, even those who may not be openly endorsing Trump are dissing Biden.

The report said that Marc Andreessen of Andreessen Horowitz and Shaun Maguire of Sequoia Capital have criticised Biden but have stopped short of supporting Trump. Meanwhile, Keith Rabois of Khosla Ventures is focusing on electing Republicans to Congress.
Chinese military exercises around Taiwan this week simulated the seizure of the self-ruled island nation and the targeting of important centres on the island read more

More than 100 Chinese aircraft and navy ships were part of major Chinese military drills around Taiwan (Representative Photo, Credit: Reuters)

Warning Taiwan of a potential war, China on Friday said its military activities around the island will continue until the complete unification with the mainland.

China has just completed two-day-long military exercises around Taiwan which simulated the seizure of the island and attacks on key targets. The exercises came within days of Lai Ching-te taking over as the President of Taiwan.

China considers the self-ruled island of Taiwan to be a breakaway province and is committed to its reunification with the mainland. It has not ruled out the use of force for such reunification.

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Following Lais inauguration on Monday, China launched the military drills as a punishment for Taiwan. In particularly sharp rhetoric, Chinese military vowed to make the blood of independence forces on the island flow as it kicked off the drills. China has associated Lai with the independence-asserting class of Taiwans polity and had previously openly worked to undermine his election.

Countermeasures will continue until complete reunification

China on Friday warned that the Chinese military actions which it called countermeasures will continue until complete unification of Taiwan with the mainland was achieved, according to AFP.

Chinese Defence Ministery Spokesperson Wu Qian said on Friday that Lai has seriously challenged the one-China principle pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger, according to the agency.

Every time Taiwan independence provokes us, we will push our countermeasures one step further, until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved, said Wu.

The Chinese drills, formally dubbed Joint Sword-2024A, were intended to serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces.

This weeks drills are the latest in the series of major military provocations that China has undertaken in recent years. Last year, China had conducted similar large exercises when Lai, then the Vice President of Taiwan under Tsai Ing-wens administration, visited the United States. Before that, China had held major exercises in 2022 when Nancy Pelosi, who was the Speaker of the US House of Representatives at the time, had visited Taiwan.

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Military drills encircled Taiwan

As 111 Chinese aircraft and dozens of naval ships practiced how to take over Taiwan and take down key targets on the island, Chinese state media said Beijing was closer than ever to Taiwan.

Analysts have also said that while this weeks drills were not as big as some of the previous ones in recent years, they were widespread in its geographical coverage. Wen-Ti Sung, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub told AFP that the geographic scope of the exercises had increased this week with a new focus on isolating Taiwans outlying islands.

This weeks exercises were focussed on encircling Taiwan and took place in the Taiwan Strait to the islands north, south, and east.

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Prof. Meng Xiangqing of Beijing-based National Defense University told Xinhua news agency that Chinese naval vessels were getting closer to the island than ever before.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin separately said that those seeking independence in Taiwan will left with their heads broken and blood flowing after colliding against Chinas efforts for the unification.

The drills were to test the capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes and control of key territories, said Li Xi, a spokesman for the Chinese military on Friday, as per AFP.
Uribe is accused of offering cash or other benefits to selected witnesses of criminal acts so that they would not tell the truth in a case that links him to paramilitary groups, according to a document presented by prosecutor Gilberto Villarreal read more

Colombian prosecutors formally charged Alvaro Uribe on Friday with bribing witnesses and fraud in the countrys first criminal trial against a former president.

Uribe is accused of offering cash or other benefits to selected witnesses of criminal acts so that they would not tell the truth in a case that links him to paramilitary groups, according to a document presented by prosecutor Gilberto Villarreal.

The bribery and fraud charges arise from an investigation into Uribes alleged ties to right-wing politicians.

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Uribe, 71, who was president from 2002 to 2010 and is still considered one of Colombias most influential right-wing figures, insists he is not guilty and has sought to have the case dropped.

I never sought to look for witnesses. I wanted to defend my reputation, Uribe said during Fridays virtual hearing.

Judge Sandra Heredia rejected his request to have the case scrapped.

Uribe faces a prison term of up to 12 years.

He said on Friday he felt hurt for being the first former president to have to defend himself in court.

- Alleged phone tapping -

Uribe also claimed to be the victim of a plot hatched by judges and opponents who used illegal (telephone) tapping to obtain evidence against him.

The matter dates to 2012, when Uribe, then a senator, filed a complaint against leftist senator Ivan Cepeda, whom he accused of hatching a plot to falsely link him to paramilitary groups.

But the Supreme Court decided against investigating Cepeda, instead turning its sights on Uribe.

The investigation against Uribe began in 2018 and has had numerous twists and turns, with several attorneys general seeking to close the case.

It has gained new impetus under Attorney General Luz Camargo, who took over in March and was chosen by Colombias first leftist president, Gustavo Petro  historically a foe of Uribe.

Uribe, still a prominent voice on Colombias right, was known for being tough on the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas and strongly opposed the historic 2016 peace accord that saw the Marxist rebels disarm.

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He said last month the trial was motivated by political persecution, personal animosity, political vengeance, without evidence.

The trial is set to resume on July 10.

Uribe is also being investigated in several other cases.

He testified before prosecutors in November last year in a preliminary probe into a paramilitary massacre in 1997 when he was governor of the Antioquia department.

A complaint has also been filed against him in Argentina, where universal jurisdiction allows for the prosecution of crimes committed anywhere in the world.

That complaint stems from Uribes alleged involvement in the more than 6,000 executions and forced disappearances of civilians by the military during his governments crackdown on guerrillas between 2002 and 2008.
The three senior Syrian officers, part of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assads regime, are linked to the deaths of two French-Syrian men who were arrested in Syria in 2013 and were declared dead in 2018 read more

One of those sentenced in the case is an advisor to Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad (Photo: Reuters)

In a landmark judgement on abuses during the Syrian Civil War, a French court on Friday handed life sentences to three top Syrian officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The three officials are part of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assads regime. They have been identified as Ali Mamlouk, Jamil Hassan, and Abdel Salam Mahmoud. They are linked to the deaths of two French-Syrian men who were arrested in Syrian capital Damascus in 2013 and were declared dead in 2018.

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The trial was held in absence of the three officials. They are believed to be in Syria, according to AFP.

The trial was the first in France related to the abuses during the ongoing Syrian Civil War that began in 2011 with an uprising against Assad. With the Russian support, Assad responded brutally to the uprising and is accused of indiscriminate killings, ethno-sectarian massacres, and the usage of chemical weapons on those opposed to his dynastic rule.

Since 2011, more than 500,000 have been killed in the Syrian Civil War and over 7 million have been displaced. Entire cities have also been devasted in the war, which also coincided with the rise and fall of the Caliphate of the terrorist group ISIS in the region.

Whats the French case all about?

The case is related to the deaths of two French-Syrian men named Mazzen Dabbagh and his son Patrick. They were arrested in Syrian capital Damascus in 2013 during the Syrian Civil War. They were never seen again and were declared dead in 2018.

The three top Syrian officials found guilty in the case are Ali Mamlouk, former Head of the National Security Bureau; Jamil Hassan, former director of the air forces intelligence service; and Abdel Salam Mahmoud, former head of investigations. The AFP reported that Mamlouk has become a top advisor to Assad.

At the time of arrest, Patrick was a 20-year-old students at the University of Damascus and his father Mazzen was a senior education adviser to a French school in Damascus, according to the agency.

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Ahead of the trial, the judges said that it was sufficiently established that Patrick and Mazzen like thousands of detainees of the Air Force intelligence suffered torture of such intensity that they died.

Obeida Dabbagh, Mazzens brother, called the judgement an important first step towards justice.

Impunity is something very difficult to live with. Justice has to be seen. This is a very important first step. It is historic, said Obeida, as per the agency.

Verdict not just about 3 officials, its about entire Syrian regime

Ninar Khalifa, a researcher at Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), said that the verdict was just about three officials, but it indicted the entire Syrian regime.

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The fact that the verdict included crimes against humanity shows that the entire Syrian regime has been involved in persecuting people in Syria. This is not only about three officials. Its against the military hierarchy of the Syrian regime from top to bottom, said Khalifa to VOA News.

Anwar al-Bunni, a human rights lawyer from Germany, said the verdict was historic and would prevent any future normalisation of ties with Assads regime.

This ruling will prevent any future efforts to normalize with the Syrian regime, especially since one of the officials prosecuted is Ali Mamlouk, who currently serves as a presidential adviser, said Bunni to VOA.
The move was the latest in a string of restrictions imposed on media by the junta which seized power in the West African country in a 2021 coup. The misconduct was regularly monitored, said a statement signed by government spokesman Ousmane Gaoual Diallo dated Friday and published on Saturday read more

Guineas junta on Saturday justified its banning of some major TV and radio stations this week by saying they were guilty of frequent misconduct and violating human dignity.

The military-led government on Wednesday announced it had withdrawn the operating licences of radio stations FIM FM, Radio Espace FM, Sweet FM and Djoma FM as well as Djoma TV.

The move was the latest in a string of restrictions imposed on media by the junta which seized power in the West African country in a 2021 coup.

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The misconduct was regularly monitored, said a statement signed by government spokesman Ousmane Gaoual Diallo dated Friday and published on Saturday.

The text said the stations violated the obligation to respect human dignity and the demands of national unity and public order.

The government said the licence withdrawals only affected a few of the countrys 88 radio 14 television stations.

The three media groups affected by the measures condemned oppressive behaviour by the military in a joint statement received by AFP on Friday.

Four private radio stations have been constantly jammed since November, three private television channels are virtually inaccessible, and at least three news sites were blocked for several weeks in 2023, according to media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Guinea is ranked 78th out of 180 countries in RSFs 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
The attack came a day after the international court demanded the immediate halt of Israels operation in Rafah. The court also called for the release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants read more

Palestinians stand in the ruins of the Chahine family home, after an overnight Israeli strike that killed at least two adults and five boys and girls under the age of 16 in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 3, 2024.- AP

In a major defiant act, Israel conducts strikes in Rafah despite the International Court of Justices (ICJ) order to halt its operations in the southernmost city in Gaza. Amid the chaos, renewed efforts are underway in Paris to secure a ceasefire in the devastating Israel-Hamas war.

Palestinian witnesses present at the region told AFP that Israel conducted strikes in Rafah and the central city of Deir al-Balah.

We hope that the courts decision will put pressure on Israel to end this war of extermination because there is nothing left here, Oum Mohammad al-Ashqa, a Palestinian woman from Gaza City displaced to Deir al-Balah by the war, told AFP.

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Israel is a state that considers itself above the law. Therefore, I do not believe that the shooting or the war will stop other than by force," Mohammed Saleh another Palestinian civilian residing in Gaza told the news agency.

Israel ignores ICJ ruling

The attack came a day after the international court demanded the immediate halt of Israels operation in Rafah. The court also called for the release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants.

The decision came hours after the Israeli military announced that its troops had recovered the bodies of three more of the captives from northern Gaza. When it comes to providing aid to the Gazans, the Hague-based court also ordered Israel to keep open the crucial Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

Despite the court orders, Israel gave no indication that it was preparing to change its course in Rafah and insisted that the court got it all wrong. Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a joint statement with Israels foreign ministry spokesperson.

It is important to note that while ICJs orders are legally binding, there is a lack of direct enforcement mechanisms

What is happening in Paris?

Meanwhile, separate meetings are scheduled to be held between the CIA chief and Israeli officials and French President Emmanuel Macrons talks with foreign ministers of four key Arab states, in Paris.

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The gathering will discuss the prospects of fresh ceasefire negations, VOA reported. While Burns will conduct a meeting with Israeli officials, Macron held talks with the prime minister of Qatar and the Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers to continue pressing for a ceasefire.

The French office of the president said that the leaders held talks on the Gaza war and ways to set up a Palestinian state alongside Israel. The five countries discussed the effective implementation of the two-state solution, it added.

With inputs from agencies.
UNRWA, which coordinates nearly all aid to Gaza, has been in crisis since January, when Israel accused about a dozen of its 13,000 Gaza employees of being involved in the October attack on Israel by Hamas. read more

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Saturday that Rome would resume funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, during a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa.

Italy has decided to resume financing specific projects intended for assistance to Palestinian refugees, but only after rigorous controls that guarantee that not even a penny risks ending up supporting terrorism, he said.

The Italian government has allocated a total of 35 million euros for Palestinian aid, with five million euros earmarked for UNRWA and the remaining 30 million euros dedicated to the Food for Gaza initiative, coordinated with UN aid agencies.

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Of this, five million will be allocated to UNRWA, he said in a statement, with the remaining 30 million euros allocated to Italys Food for Gaza initiative in coordination with UN aid agencies.

UNRWA, which coordinates nearly all aid to Gaza, has been in crisis since January, when Israel accused about a dozen of its 13,000 Gaza employees of being involved in the October attack on Israel by Hamas.

That led many nations, including top donor the United States, to abruptly suspend funding to the agency, threatening its efforts to deliver aid in Gaza, although several have since resumed payments.

An independent review of UNRWA, led by French former foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some neutrality-related issues but said Israel had yet to provide evidence for its leading allegations.

Created in 1949, the agency employs around 30,000 people in the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Mustafa was later due to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

With inputs from agencies.
President Joe Biden announced plans earlier this month to increase tariffs on an array of Chinese imports, including electric vehicles as part of a broader push to support domestic manufacturing. read more

President Joe Biden will reimpose tariffs on hundreds of goods imported from China, the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced. This move is part of a broader strategy to increase duties in strategic sectors and protect American manufacturing.

The US will let tariff exclusions expire on about half of the 400 products that had previously been spared, according to the USTR. However, 164 exclusions will be extended through May of next year. To facilitate a transition, all exemptions set to expire at the end of this month will be extended through June 14 for those not being renewed.

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Fridays action means certain goods will maintain exclusions from import tariffs, including animal-feeding machinery, DC electric motors, blood pressure monitors, and thermostats designed for air conditioning or heating systems not connected to the internet.

The exclusions were initially set to expire on May 31, but the USTR announced an extension through June 14 to facilitate a transition period. Certain exclusions will be extended until May 31, 2025, to support efforts to shift sourcing out of China or in cases where alternative sources remain limited.

However, many products will once again face tariffs, including 102 categories where no public comments requested further extension or where there was no evidence that further extension would aid in shifting sourcing out of China. These product categories include garage-door openers, switches used in motor vehicles, printed circuit board assemblies, electric motorcycles, natural graphite, and various duffel and messenger bags.

President Joe Biden announced plans earlier this month to increase tariffs on an array of Chinese imports, including electric vehicles as part of a broader push to support domestic manufacturing. Trump imposed tariffs in 2018 and 2019 on thousands of imports from China valued at some $370 billion at the time, after a Section 301 investigation found that China was misappropriating U.S. intellectual property and coercing U.S. companies to transfer sensitive technology to do business.

With inputs from agencies.
The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will be hospitalised yet again to undergo treatment for his bladder issues. The confirmation of the news came from the Pentagon and this will be Austins second hospitalisation in three months.

Pentagon spokesperson Maj Gen Pat Ryder said that the 70-year-old would enter the Walter Reed Military Medical Center. After getting admitted, Austin will undergo what he called a scheduled, elective, and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure. Ryder stated that Austin is being treated for his previously disclosed bladder condition.

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While he is under treatment, Ryder made it clear that the US Defence Secretary will not be able to perform his duties. He informed that Austins duties will be delegated to Deputy Defence Secretary Kathleen Hicks.

Not related to Cancer

In the latest statement, Ryder also mentioned that Austins bladder issues have nothing to do with Cancer. The secretarys bladder issue is not related to his cancer diagnosis and has had no effect on his excellent cancer prognosis. White House and congressional notifications have occurred, the Pentagon said in the statement.

The defence secretarys health has become a matter of debate after he was admitted to the Walter Reed facility on 12 February, this year. While Austins team kept it a secret it was eventually revealed that Austin was being treated for what was then called an emergent bladder issue.

Pentgons recent announcement followed an outcry in January after it emerged that Austin had spent three days in hospital  including a spell in intensive care  which was not initially disclosed even to US President Joe Biden, the presidents national security council or the US joint chiefs of staff.

After the secret was revealed, Republicans immediately called for Austins resignation pointing out that he had been out of action at a time when US forces were facing threats from Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

The Pentagon eventually came out with a statement in which they mentioned that the non-disclosure was partly attributable to one of Austins senior staff members being ill with flu at the time.

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Frustration intensified further after it was also revealed that Biden was also not informed about Austins cancer diagnosis, for which he was admitted to hospital on 22 December.

The White House eventually came out with a statement in which they condemned Austins lack of transparency but kept him in his post after he acknowledged responsibility. The National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby went on to mention that the episode had prompted a review procedure as well.

With inputs from agencies.
Following the allegations of desecrating the Quran, a mob led by the TLP activists marched towards the residence and a factory of Nazir. They set ablaze his shoe factory and his house. They also ransacked a few shops owned by Christians. Before police could reach the spot, the mob lynched and thrashed Nazir, read more

A mob led by radical Islamists on Saturday unleashed an attack on Christians in Pakistan Punjab province over the allegations of desecration of the Quran that left at least two members from the minority community injured, one of them seriously, police said.

The incident took place in Mujahid Colony Sargodha district of Punjab, some 200 km from Lahore in the morning.

Police claim to have reached the scene on time to control the situation.

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Several video clips of the mob attack on the properties of the Christian community are doing rounds on social media.

The mob led by radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) activists attacked the Christian community, burning and ransacking their property.

According to senior Punjab police officer Asad Ejaz Malhi, a heavy contingent of police has reached Mujahid Colony and dispersed the mob which had surrounded some houses (of Christians) over the allegations of the desecration of the Quran.

He said one injured person has been shifted to a hospital and police have been deployed there to maintain law and order.

Another police officer told PTI that on Saturday morning some youth in Mujahid Colony alleged that one Nazir Gill Masih desecrated the Quran.

Following their allegations, a mob led by the TLP activists marched towards the residence and a factory of Nazir. They set ablaze his shoe factory and his house. They also ransacked a few shops owned by Christians. Before police could reach the spot, the mob lynched and thrashed Nazir, he said.

However, the police were able to rescue Nazir and shifted him to the hospital where his condition was stated to be critical, the officer said. He said another Christian man also suffered injuries.

Ifran Gill, a relative of Nazir, told PTI that his uncle had returned from Dubai after four years. He said some people in the locality accused him falsely of desecration of the Quran. He said the Christian families saved their lives by locking themselves inside their houses when the mob marched towards them. He said the environment has been tense in the area and the Christians are terrified.

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Another Jaranwala style attack on Christians in Sargodha with mob attacking the local community, burning and ransacking property. The failure of the State to take any serious and sincere action against perpetrators of the Jaranwala incident has only emboldened those who exploit religious sentiments for their criminal acts, Human rights lawyer and politician Jibran Nasir said on X.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it was seriously concerned by the unfolding situation in Sargodha, where the Christian community in Gillwala village is reportedly at grave risk to their lives at the hands of charged mobs.

There are unconfirmed reports of a man having been allegedly lynched, the HRCP said on X and asked the Punjab police to immediately restore calm and bring the perpetrators to book, while ensuring that the Christian community comes to no further harm.

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Sara Taseer, daughter of slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer, said: The poor Pak Christian community reaches out to me for help when lynchings stir up. Before X was banned, I could alert some groups to help when there was an attack and try to avert the worst. But now they are more cornered than ever.

Last year at least 24 churches and over 80 houses belonging to Christians in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad district, some 130 km from the provincial capital, were burnt down by a mob over reports that two Christians had desecrated the Quran.
In the video message, pro-independence leader Christian Tein called on protesters to slightly loosen the grip on their barricades in Noumea, its suburbs and along the archipelagos main roads in order to transport fuel, food, medicine and facilitate access to health care for the inhabitants of the islands in the North and South read more

The leader of a pro-independence party in New Caledonia on Saturday called on supporters to remain mobilized across the French Pacific archipelago and maintain resistance against the Paris governments efforts to impose electoral reforms that the Indigenous Kanak people fear would further marginalize them.

Christian Tein, the leader of the pro-independence party known as The Field Acton Coordination Unit, addressed supporters and protesters in a video message. It was posted on social media two days after he and other pro-independence leaders met with French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the territory following unrest that left seven dead and a trail of destruction.

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Macron repeatedly pushed for the removal of protesters barricades with leaders on both sides of New Caledonias bitter divide  Indigenous Kanaks, who want independence, and the pro-Paris leaders, who do not.

The French president told them that the 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 call for a clearing away of barricades that demonstrators and people trying to protect their neighborhoods erected in the capital, Noumea, and beyond.

In the video message, Tein called on protesters to slightly loosen the grip on their barricades in Noumea, its suburbs and along the archipelagos main roads in order to transport fuel, food, medicine and facilitate access to health care for the inhabitants of the islands in the North and South.

But, Tein insisted the barricades will remain in place until French authorities lift house arrest warrants for several of his party members and Macrons government scraps the electoral reform that Kanaks fear will dilute their influence by allowing some more recent arrivals in the archipelago to vote in local elections.

We remain mobilized (and) maintain all (forms) of resistance," Tein said and urged supporters to remain steadfast and refrain from violence. There has been too much suffering, theres too much at stake and we must see (this) through (and) achieve our goals in a coordinated, structured and organized way. He added: Our main objective is for our country to obtain full sovereignty.

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Barricades made up of charred vehicles and other debris have turned parts of Noumea into no-go zones and made traveling around perilous, including for the sick requiring medical treatment and for families fretting about food and water after shops were pillaged and torched.

In the past seven months, Teins Field Acton Coordination Unit has organized massive, peaceful marches in New Caledonia against the Paris-backed voting reform. The unrest began early last week after a demonstration against the legislation under discussion in the French parliament turned violent.

Both French houses of parliament in Paris have already approved the overhaul. The next step was to have been a special Congress of both houses meeting in Versailles to implement it by amending Frances Constitution. That had been expected by the end of June.

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Speaking after meeting leaders in New Caledonia, Macron said he wont force through the contested voting reform that sparked the territorys worst unrest in decades.

Macron called on local leaders to come up with an alternate agreement for the archipelagos future and laid out a roadmap that he said could lead to another referendum for the territory.

Three earlier referendums were organized between 2018 and 2021 by the French authorities as part of the 1988 peace deal. They produced no votes against independence although the independence supporters boycotted the last vote in December 2021.

Macron said another could be on a new political deal for the archipelago that he hopes local leaders will agree on in coming weeks and months after protesters barricades are dismantled, allowing for a state of emergency to be lifted and for peace to return.

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New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, Napoleons nephew and heir. It became an overseas territory after World War II, with French citizenship granted to all Kanaks in 1957.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said Khan is trying to become Mujeebur Rehman (of Bangladesh) who led the Bangladeshi independence movement against Pakistan and became the first prime minister of Bangladesh in 1971. read more

The Punjab government in Pakistan has approved the registration of additional cases against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and members of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), for allegedly inciting hate against state institutions, particularly the Pakistan Army. Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August last year, faces nearly 200 charges since his ouster in April 2022.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari accused Khan of attempting to become Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladeshs independence movement against Pakistan and became its first Prime Minister in 1971. Bokhari also mentioned that those visiting Khan in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, are involved in spreading hate against institutions.

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The Punjab government plans to prosecute Khan and his associates over an article he wrote in The Telegraph. In the article, Khan accused the military establishment, under the direction of Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, of attempting to eliminate his party from Pakistans political landscape. He claimed that despite these efforts, the general elections on February 8, 2024, demonstrated popular support for PTI candidates, even when they ran as independents due to the denial of the party symbol.

Khan argued that the militarys actions have been met with democratic defiance from the people and a rejection of the states narrative from May 9, 2023, when PTI supporters were accused of attacking military installations. He contended that the electoral results were manipulated to favor the losing parties and emphasized the need to restore constitutional functioning of state institutions.

Khan further stated that if anything happens to him or his wife, Gen Asim Munir should be held responsible, but he expressed no fear due to his strong faith, preferring death over what he described as slavery.

With inputs from agencies.
The landslide struck Enga province, about 600 kilometers (370 miles) northwest of the capital, Port Moresby, at roughly 3 am. Rescue teams said that the land still continues sliding, therefore it makes it very difficult to operate on. read more

In this photo provided by the International Organization for Migration, an injured person is carried on a stretcher to seek medical assistance after a landslide in Yambali village, Papua New Guinea, Friday, May 24, 2024. - AP

In a devastating tragedy in a remote village in northern Papua New Guinea, over 300 people and approximately 1,100 houses have been buried by a massive landslide in Enga province. Rescue teams find it difficult as the land still continues sliding, according to reports.

Emergency services are urgently trying to reach villages affected by a massive landslide in Papua New Guineas remote Enga province. A rapid response team consisting of medics and military personnel has successfully arrived at the isolated landslide site, according to humanitarian agency Care Australia.

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The difficult terrain and damage to main roads have complicated their journey to the area, the agency added in a statement. The land continues to slide and move, making it dangerous for people to operate, UN official Serhan Aktoprak told AFP news agency.

The landslide in the Pacific nation north of Australia buried more than 300 people and 1,182 houses, the Papua New Guinea Post Courier said, citing comments from a member of the countrys parliament, Aimos Akem. Akem did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment via social media.

The Australian Broadcasting Corp reported on Saturday that four bodies had been retrieved from the area after emergency teams reached the sparsely populated area, where the death toll is expected to rise.

The landslide has blocked highway access, making helicopters the only way to reach the area, the broadcaster reported.

Papua New Guinea is a diverse, developing nation of mostly subsistence farmers with 800 languages. There are few roads outside the larger cities. With 10 million people, it is also the most populous South Pacific nation after Australia, which is home to around 27 million.

Telecommunications are poor, particularly outside Port Moresby, where government data show 56% of the nations social media users reside. Only 1.66 million people across the country use the internet and 85% of the population lives in rural areas.

With inputs from agencies.
Russias jamming of the guidance systems of advanced Western weapons, such as Excalibur GPS-guided artillery shells and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), has significantly weakened Ukraines ability to defend its territory. read more

Many US-made satellite-guided munitions in Ukraine have been rendered ineffective by Russian jamming technology, prompting Kyiv to stop the use of certain Western-provided armaments after their effectiveness rates plummeted, according to senior Ukrainian military officials and confidential internal assessments obtained by The Washington Post.

Russias jamming of the guidance systems of advanced western weapons, such as Excalibur GPS-guided artillery shells and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), has significantly weakened Ukraines ability to defend its territory. This jamming affects weapons with ranges of up to 50 miles and has prompted Kyiv officials to urgently request assistance from the Pentagon for upgrades from arms manufacturers.

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Russias jamming tactics have compromised Ukraines ability to defend its territory as it failed to utilise high-tech western weapons, such as Excalibur GPS-guided artillery shells and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), forcing Ukrainian officials to seek upgrades from the Pentagon and arms manufacturers urgently. This capability has allowed Moscow to regain the initiative and advance on the battlefield.

HIMARS rocket launchers, supplied to Ukraine by the U.S., have been rendered completely ineffective due to Russian electronic jamming systems. These launchers, capable of firing U.S.-made rockets up to 50 miles, have fallen victim to Vladimir Putins forces electronic warfare strategy.

The Russian jamming system operates from the ground, projecting a cone of interference into the sky, preventing these weapons from communicating with satellites to guide them accurately toward their targets.

The documents obtained by The Washington Post also reveal that the success rate of U.S.-designed Excalibur shells dropped to less than 10 percent before Ukraines military stopped using them last year. The HIMARS launchers, capable of firing U.S.-made rockets up to 50 miles, have also been rendered completely ineffective by Russian electronic jamming systems.

This development has far-reaching implications for Ukraine and its Western allies, potentially providing a blueprint for adversaries such as China and Iran. It is a key factor in Moscows forces regaining the initiative and advancing on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden administration announced an additional $275 million in military aid to the war-stricken Ukraine. The announcement came as Kyiv struggles to hold off advances by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region.

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The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken announced the package on Friday and said that the proposal was previewed on Thursday by two US officials. He maintained that the aid is part of our efforts to help Ukraine repel Russias assault near Kharkiv.
The ICJ has ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah, citing a disastrous humanitarian situation. This ruling aims to prevent further destruction and aid relief efforts. But can it actually influence the conflicts trajectory? We explain read more

The International Court of Justice has asked Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah. Reuters

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the top United Nations Court, on Friday ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. But how much weight does this decision actually carry? Can it help halt the killing in West Asia? We explain.

The verdict and its context

The ICJs recent decision marks a big moment in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The courts president, Nawaf Salam, articulated that the humanitarian situation in Rafah is disastrous, prompting the need for immediate action. This ruling follows earlier provisional measures ordered in March, which were deemed insufficient to address the dire conditions in Gaza.

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South Africa brought this case to the ICJ under the UNs Genocide Convention, accusing Israel of actions that could lead to the physical destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza. The Genocide Convention binds all endorsing states to comply with the treaty. So, countries without a direct connection to an alleged case of genocide can legally bring a complaint forward, according to an essay in The Conversation.

Reading the verdict, Salam stated that Israel must immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. This ruling aims to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Rafah, where over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The relentless offensive has decimated neighbourhoods, displaced hundreds of thousands, and plunged parts of Gaza into famine.

Large parts of the Gaza Strip have been devastated in seven months of war. AFP

The ICJs ruling calls for a halt to the offensive, access to Gaza for war crimes investigators, and a substantial increase in humanitarian aid.

The ICJs limited enforcement power

The ICJs rulings are binding, but the court does not have a police force to enforce its orders.

Israels government has already dismissed the charges of genocide brought by South Africa as false, outrageous and morally repugnant. From their reaction to the ruling, it is apparent that the country is unlikely to comply with ICJs order.

According to Article 94 of the UN Charter, if a party fails to comply with an ICJ judgment, the other party may appeal to the UN Security Council. However, the effectiveness of this mechanism is questionable, as powerful countries with veto power can block resolutions, as seen in the 1984 case of Nicaragua vs the United States. In another case on its docket, Russia has ignored the courts 2022 order to halt its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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There is another method. Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, told AP that the ICJs decision offers a potential avenue for relief, but only if governments use their leverage, including arms embargoes and targeted sanctions, to pressure Israel into compliance.

This, too, seems unlikely as the US, Israels strongest ally, is equivocal about implementing an arms embargo.

Increasing international pressure

Still, the decision will amplify the mounting international pressure on Israel. Criticism of Israels actions in Gaza has intensified, especially after the offensive shifted its focus to Rafah. This week alone, three European countriesIreland, Spain, and Norwayannounced their recognition of a Palestinian state, signalling a shift in international attitudes towards the conflict.

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Additionally, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court has requested arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and Hamas officials. These developments indicate a growing consensus among international actors that the situation in Gaza requires urgent intervention.

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan has sought arrest warrant against Israeli PM Netanyahu among other Israeli leaders from the International Criminal Court. Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces increasing domestic and international pressure to end the war. Thousands of Israelis have joined weekly demonstrations, urging the government to negotiate the release of hostages and bring an end to the conflict.

While the ruling underscores the severity of the situation and adds to the international pressure on Israel, its practical impact remains uncertain due to the ICJs lack of enforcement power. Israels rejection of the charges and continued military actions show that the effectiveness of this ruling ultimately depends on the willingness of the global community to use its influence and leverage to ensure compliance and bring an end to the violence in Gaza.

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With inputs from agencies
The United States is considering having a peacekeeping force in the post-war Gaza Strip drawn from partner Arab countries in the Middle East read more

Large parts of the Gaza Strip have been devastated in seven months of war (Photo: Mahmud Hams/AFP)

The United States is considering having a prominent role in the Gaza Strip after the war between Israel and Hamas is over, according to a report.

The report comes at a time when there are increased discussions about the post-war reconstruction and administration of Gaza, with the US and much of the international community pressing for Palestinian involvement, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies rejecting such calls.

Politico has reported that the Joe Biden administration of the US is considering having an American advisor involved in post-war future of Gaza along with a peacekeeping force with participation from Arab countries.

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The rehabilitation of around 2.2 million Palestinians, most of whom have been displaced by the war, will be part of the advisors mandate, as per the report.

US advisor could be based in Sinai or Jordon: Report

The US advisor would be based in the Middle East, but not inside Gaza, according to the report.

The advisor could be based in the Sinai region of Egypt or Jordan and will work closely with the commanding officer (CO) of the peacekeeping force, as per the report. The CO is expected to be either a Palestinian or a non-Palestinian Arab officer.

While discussions about the scope of the advisors mandate are going on between the White House and Departments of Defense and State, the officials who spoke to the magazine have said the US would play a prominent role in post-war Gaza for sure.

The US is concerned that if security is not ensured in post-war Gaza, insurgency could take over the Palestinian enclave.

We have talked about a number of different formulas for some kind of interim security forces in Gaza and we have talked to a lot of partners about how the United States could support that with all of our capabilities from outside Gaza, a senior administration official was quoted as saying in the report.

For any such post-war plan, however, officials quoted in the report said that ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas must happen first.

While the make-up and the powers of any peacekeeping force in Gaza have not been finalised, the Biden administration is trying to convince Arab countries of Egypt, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to join the force, according to the report.

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Concerns of no post-Gaza plan by Israel

There are concerns that Israel does not have a post-war plan for Gaza.

There have been voices from amongst Netanyahus War Cabinet about such a situation. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and War Cabinet Minister Banny Gantz have both called out Netanyahu for the lack of such plan. While Gallant has rejected any Israeli settlements or civilian or military control of Gaza, Gantz has given Netanyahu an ultimatum until June 8 to furnish a plan or he will leave the War Cabinet.

The US has long said that the Palestinian Authority (PA), the de facto Palestinian administration based at Ramallah that partially governs the West Bank, should be reformed and revitalised in order to take over post-war Gaza. There have also been proposals of a Palestinian Council of sorts from non-Hamas Palestinian groups with Gaza as well. Netanyahu has, however, rejected calls for PA to be involved in Gazas governance.
Amid the Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, the Syrian civil war rages on, overshadowed and underreported. Millions of Syrians continue to suffer from violence, displacement, and severe humanitarian crises, with critical aid dwindling and the worlds attention elsewhere. The urgent plight of Syrias people remains a pressing, if forgotten, global concern read more

The worlds attention is understandably captivated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the intensifying Israel-Hamas conflict. Both of these conflicts are deeply-linked with the priorities and concerns of the West. The crisis in Ukraine is keeping Europe on its toes. The one in Israel and Palestine is subject to the United States fancy ahead of presidential elections.

While these raging issues continue to hog headlines and public discourse, other grave crises remains tragically overlooked. The Syrian civil war is one of these. A recent statement by Matthew Saltmarsh, United Nations refugee agency spokesperson sums it up thus: Back in 2015, Syrian refugees dominated the headlines as they moved in search of safety. Sadly, they no longer command that attention, and their plight seems to have been relegated.

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Now in its 14th year, the Syrian conflict continues to wreak havoc on the nations population, causing widespread suffering and a dire need for humanitarian assistance.

We take an in-depth look at the current situation in Syria, providing a detailed overview of the civil war, the current geopolitical landscape, and the worsening humanitarian crisis there.

The Syrian civil war: An overview

The Syrian civil war began in 2011, following protests against President Bashar al-Assads regime. These protests quickly escalated into a multifaceted conflict involving numerous domestic and international actors. Initially, the conflict was marked by a struggle between government forces and various opposition groups.

A popular uprising against President Bashar Assads rule that later spiraled into an insurgency and civil war. AP

However, it soon evolved into a complex proxy war with regional and global powers vying for influence.

President Assads government, bolstered by military support from Russia and Iran, now controls approximately two-thirds of the country. Russian airstrikes and Iranian militias have played a key role in recapturing significant territories from rebel forces.

Meanwhile, various opposition groups, some backed by Turkey and other international actors, maintain control over parts of the northern and northwestern regions. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the US, control areas in northeastern Syria. They are often targeted by Turkish military operations due to Ankaras concerns over Kurdish autonomy movements. Despite being significantly weakened, remnants of the Islamic State (IS) continue to operate in desert regions, conducting sporadic attacks, according to Council of Foreign Relations.

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The US maintains a presence in Syria, primarily to prevent a resurgence of IS. Russia and Iran provide crucial support to Assads regime, while Turkeys operations target both Kurdish forces and IS militants. Additionally, Israel frequently conducts airstrikes against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.

Efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution have been largely unsuccessful. UN-backed Geneva peace talks and Russia-initiated Astana talks have failed to achieve lasting peace. The conflict continues to evolve, with low-level violence and tensions persisting across the country.

Impact of Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars on Syria

The ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict have further strained Syrias already dire situation. The global focus and resources are diverted to these new crises, leaving Syrias humanitarian needs severely underfunded. The UN estimates that 16.7 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance, a figure exacerbated by the 2023 earthquakes that devastated northern Syria.

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The global economic repercussions of the Ukraine war, including soaring food and fuel prices, have compounded Syrias economic woes. The World Food Programme, heavily reliant on Ukrainian grain, faces severe shortages, impacting food security in Syria, according to Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP). Additionally, increased regional tensions have led to more frequent airstrikes by Israel on Iranian targets in Syria, further destabilising the region. Iran-backed militias have also escalated attacks on US positions in Syria in response to the Gaza conflict.

The humanitarian crisis

The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire, with various reports highlighting the severe lack of resources and aid. The healthcare system is in ruins, severely impacted by years of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the February 2023 earthquakes. According to Al Jazeera, there are only three oncologists for a population of 5.1 million, and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, particularly children. Health services, already largely dependent on chronically underfunded NGOs, are now at risk of collapse due to the threat of significant aid cuts.

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Nearly 90 per cent of Syrian families live in poverty. The ongoing economic crisis is worsening the situation, particularly affecting female-headed households and contributing to the normalisation of gender-based violence and child exploitation.

Impact on children

Children are among the most vulnerable. UNICEF reports that nearly 7.5 million Syrian children need humanitarian assistance. Many are at risk of malnutrition, lack of education, and exploitation. Forced labour and early marriages are increasing as families struggle to survive. The educational system has been decimated, with schools destroyed or repurposed for military use, severely disrupting childrens education. The lack of educational opportunities has long-term implications for the countrys future.

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The Syrian civil war has had a drastic effect on children. Image courtesy: UNICEF

Denial of humanitarian access

Both the Syrian government and opposition forces have obstructed aid deliveries, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In Aleppo, earthquake aid was blocked, increasing the suffering of displaced persons. The situation is particularly dire in Kurdish-controlled areas, where essential supplies are restricted. Following the February 2023 earthquakes, aid deliveries to Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods in Aleppo were delayed, worsening the situation.

The obstruction of aid has dire consequences. Civilians are deprived of basic necessities, including food, water, and medical care. The denial of humanitarian access is a violation of international humanitarian law and has been condemned by various human rights organisations.

Underfunded aid and healthcare collapse

The UNHCR has received only a fraction of its funding needs. As of March 2024, VOA quoted Saltmarsh as saying that just 6 per cent of the $466.6 million appeal to aid displaced Syrians has been met, forcing agencies to make difficult choices about prioritising aid recipients. The decline in funding has forced UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies to make difficult choices about what and who to prioritise, risking pushing children into labour, gender-based violence, early marriages, and school dropouts.

Healthcare services in Syria are severely underfunded and overstretched. The situation has worsened following the February 2023 earthquakes, which further damaged already fragile healthcare infrastructure. The lack of medical professionals, medication, and equipment is dire. Hundreds of people are on waiting lists to receive prosthetics and assistive devices after being seriously injured by the war and the earthquake. Many families struggle to pay for transportation to access free health services.

Forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions

Human rights violations remain rampant. Amnesty International and the UN Commission of Inquiry have documented widespread arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances by the Syrian government and other actors. Tens of thousands of individuals, including journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers, and political activists, remain unaccounted for. The Syrian government continues to use enforced disappearances as a tool of repression, with many detainees held incommunicado and subjected to torture.

Fadwa Mahmoud holds portraits of her son and husband, who disappeared in Syria in 2012, in Berlin, Germany. File image/Reuters

Opposition groups, including the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda-affiliated armed group controlling much of the Idlib governorate, also engage in arbitrary detentions and human rights abuses. Journalists, activists, and anyone who criticises HTS rule are subjected to detention without access to legal representation or family contact.

The plight of Syrian civilians

The everyday lives of Syrians are marked by uncertainty, fear, and hardship. The compounded effects of war, natural disasters, and economic collapse have left millions in a state of perpetual crisis. The majority of Syrian families live in poverty, and many have resorted to negative coping mechanisms to survive. Children are particularly vulnerable, facing malnutrition, lack of education, and exploitation.

The psychological impact of prolonged conflict on Syrians is profound. Many have witnessed violence, lost family members, and experienced displacement multiple times. The mental health crisis is an often overlooked but critical aspect of the humanitarian response needed. People are suffering from trauma and anxiety, and there is a severe lack of mental health services to support them.

Call for increased humanitarian assistance

The international community must not forget Syria. There is an urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance to address the multiple crises facing the country. More funding is needed to support health services, education, food security, and basic infrastructure. The UN and various humanitarian organisations have repeatedly called for increased funding and support, emphasising that the Syrian crisis remains one of the worlds largest and most complex humanitarian emergencies.
China hopes relevant Guatemalan officials to make right decision: FM spokesperson

Xinhua) 14:10, May 25, 2024

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China hopes that relevant Guatemalan officials will recognize the trend of the world and proceed from the interests of the country and the people to make the right decision, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on news that the Guatemalan Exporters Association said that China banned the entry of Guatemala's coffee and macadamia nuts.

"There are no diplomatic relations between China and Guatemala. I've not heard of what you said. What I will say is that there is only one China in the world," Wang noted.

He said that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.

The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus among the international community. It is also the fundamental prerequisite for China to carry out cooperation with all countries including Guatemala, the spokesperson added.

Wang said that President Bernardo Arevalo of Guatemala met with the Taiwan region's leader via video link this week and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala Carlos Ramiro Martinez went to Taiwan to attend the so-called "inauguration ceremony" on May 20. "We condemn these moves that trample on the one-China principle," he said.

Such situation is not conducive to the cooperation between Guatemala and China, including Guatemala's export to China, the spokesperson said.

"We hope relevant officials will recognize the trend of the world and proceed from the interests of the country and the people to make the right decision, which serves its people's interests," Wang said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Despite paying a $22 million ransom, the company in charge of 15 billion health care transactions a year estimated one-third of Americans (around 112 million) had personal health and identity information stolen during a February cyberattack.

The company, Change Healthcare, has yet to identify or contact specific individuals whose data was compromised; health providers who contracted the company are only now seeing their financial operations return to normalcy.

Intermountain St. Marys Regional Hospital, Family Health West, Community Hospital and the Grand Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center all confirmed they contracted Change and were impacted by the system outages.

Its pretty scary information that bad actors may have, Family Health West CEO and President Korrey Klein, MD, said. Even worse, if it involves St. Marys, Community and Family Health West, anybody whos ever gotten medical care in Mesa County could be subject to this breach.

Change, a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary, handles one in every three patient records according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). According to Klein, the medical claims Change processes typically contain a patients name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and employer; if the claim had a copay, it also could have the patients insurance ID and financial institution information.

Aside from obtaining sensitive information, the ransomware prevented health providers from using Change software to receive payments and submit medical claims. Submitting medical claims is critical for providers in getting insurance companies to reimburse patient expenses.

Twelve weeks after the attack, affected hospitals in Mesa County reported their ability to submit claims electronically has been restored alongside the majority of their other systems.

DAMAGE CONTROL

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty testified in front of a House of Representatives subcommittee early this month that the cybercriminals could have health data on (about) one-third of all Americans; the company paid a $22 million ransom in Bitcoin, but theres no way to tell whether BlackCat  those responsible for the hack  will hold up their end of the deal.

UnitedHealth released a statement in late April explaining that specified individual outreach wont be possible for months because of the complexity of the data. However, UnitedHealth has established a call center and website that offers credit monitoring and identity theft protection.

Klein said patients should be notified much sooner given the gravity of the situation, so Family Health West took the task upon itself.

Even though it wasnt our responsibility to do the notification, we notified anybody who had health care from Family Health West in the last three years, Klein said. We dont know if they took current information, past information or didnt take (any) information, but we decided it was better to be proactive with our patients.

According to Community Hospital Chief of Communications Karen Martsolf, they sent a letter to patients about the cyberattack shortly after it happened in February.

While we were impacted by this cyberattack that occurred outside of Community Hospital, we will continue to maintain our commitment to protecting our organization and our patients from these external threats, Community Hospital CEO and President Chris Thomas said.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a late-April press conference that the national VA emailed more than 15 million veterans to communicate the potential leak and provide information on fraud-protection resources and advice offered by Change Healthcare, the Federal Trade Commission and the VA itself.

We have been pushing (Change) for more information for weeks, McDonough said. If we do learn that veterans personal information has been compromised, well move quickly to mitigate the impact and provide full support to veterans affected. But to be clear, were not waiting for that confirmation to communicate with veterans about the issue.

FAR-REACHING FINANCIAL IMPACTS

According to UnitedHealths most recent financial disclosures, the cyberattack has already cost them an estimated $870 million; UnitedHealth Chief Financial Officer John Rex estimated the incident could cost the company between $1.4-$1.6 billion by the end of the year.

This ransomware also took a notable financial toll on many medical facilities and providers nationwide: The AHA surveyed nearly 1,000 hospitals between March 9 and March 12, finding that 82% of hospitals reported an impact on their cash flow, with almost 60% of those respondents saying their daily revenue has been impacted by more than $1 million.

A primary reason the hospitals were affected despite not being directly attacked is the ransomware prevented providers from processing claims through the Change software. Because of this, providers had to manually fill out the claims and send them to the insurance companies, which Klein said was much easier said than done.

If (the claim is for) surgery, there might be 100 lines of (information on) the bill, Klein said. All of those had to be manually entered into the insurance companys website  every single patient, every single encounter.

We could not manually process the volume of claims that normally go out, so they started to stack up and our cash started to go down. Fortunately, we had enough cash reserves  so we knew wed get paid eventually. It was just a matter of how long it would take.

PRIORITIZING PATIENT CARE

While Family Health West was able to dedicate some of its staff to manually processing the claims, Klein said their primary focus was ensuring patient care went uninterrupted. He added that they were successful in maintaining patient care, with the only front-facing issue being that certain pharmacies that used Change briefly could not operate because of the downed system.

Thomas said Community Hospital also never saw an interruption of patient care despite a reduced ability to bill and collect money; he added the hospitals accounting and revenue cycle teams worked tirelessly to ensure the patients could be focused on without the hospital facing a financial crisis.

Since the cyberattack, our staff has gone above and beyond the call of duty, executing creative and manual operations to help mitigate the impact of this crisis, Thomas said. Their efforts have helped keep our revenue stream as strong as possible and have enabled us to weather this storm.

St. Marys Regional Hospital said in a statement to the Sentinel that the hospital saw minimal business impact.

According to VA Public Affairs Specialist Gary Kunich, there was no impact to veteran care outside of a brief inability to transmit certain prescriptions to its outpatient mail pharmacies. He added that those prescriptions were quickly refilled and no patient harm was identified from the outage, which impacted less than 1% of the prescriptions filled by the VA in one week.
Former CIA Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Espionage

Friday, May 24, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 71, of Honolulu, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to gather and deliver national defense information to the People's Republic of China (PRC).

According to court documents, Ma and a blood relative of his (identified as co-conspirator #1 or CC #1) were naturalized U.S. citizens who were born in Hong Kong and Shanghai, respectively. Both Ma and CC #1 worked for the CIA ----a CC #1 from 1967 until 1983, Ma from 1982 until 1989. As CIA officers, both men held top secret security clearances that granted them access to sensitive and classified CIA information, and signed non-disclosure agreements that required them to maintain the secrecy of that information.

As Ma admitted in the plea agreement, in March 2001, when he no longer worked for the CIA, at the request of intelligence officers employed by the PRC's Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB), Ma convinced CC #1 to meet with SSSB intelligence officers in a Hong Kong hotel room. Over the course of three days, Ma and CC #1 provided the SSSB with a large volume of classified U.S. national defense information. At the conclusion of the third day, the SSSB intelligence officers provided CC #1 with $50,000 in cash, which Ma counted. Ma and CC #1 also agreed at that time to continue to assist the SSSB.

As detailed in the plea agreement, in March 2003, while living in Hawaii, Ma applied for a job as a contract linguist in the FBI Honolulu Field Office. The FBI, aware of Ma's ties to PRC intelligence, hired Ma, as part of an investigative plan, to work at an off-site location where his activities could be monitored and his contacts with the PRC investigated. Ma worked for the FBI from August 2004 until October 2012.

Ma further admitted that in February 2006, during this monitored employment by the FBI in Honolulu, Ma convinced CC #1 to provide the identities of at least two individuals depicted in photographs that were provided to Ma by SSSB intelligence officers. The individuals' identities were and remain classified U.S. national defense information. Ma confessed that he knew that this information, and the information communicated in March 2001, would be used to injure the United States or to benefit the PRC, and he deliberately engaged in the criminal conspiracy with CC #1 and the SSSB anyway.

Under the terms of the parties' plea agreement, Ma must cooperate with the United States, including by submitting to debriefings by U.S. government agencies. The plea agreement, if accepted by the Court, calls for an agreed-upon sentence of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Sept. 11.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors for the District of Hawaii, Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Kevin Vorndran of the FBI, and Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill of the FBI Honolulu Field Office made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson conducted the change of the plea hearing.

The FBI Honolulu and Los Angeles Field Offices investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ken Sorenson and Craig Nolan for the District of Hawaii, and Trial Attorneys Scott Claffee and Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

Topics: Counterintelligence

National Security

Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Hawaii

Press Release Number: 24-670

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China strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposes UK fabricating charges against Chinese citizens: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 24, 2024 05:59 PM

China voiced strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on Friday toward the UK continuously fabricating charges and cases under the so-called pretext of national security and stigmatizing China and even arbitrarily arresting and prosecuting Chinese citizens in the UK.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the UK also interfered with the normal operations of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (ETO) in London when asked about the second hearing of the case involving an employee of the office that took place at the Central Criminal Court in the UK on Friday.

The UK's false accusations and malicious actions are a desecration of the spirit of the rule of law, a political manipulation under the guise of national security, a serious violation of the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the UK, a serious damage to China-UK relations, a serious violation of the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, and also a serious damage to the UK's own image, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on Friday.

China strongly urges the UK to immediately correct its wrongdoings, effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the UK, and ensure the normal functioning of the ETO in London, Wang noted. "China will take strong measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens and institutions," the spokesperson said.

Chung Biu Yuen, 63, Chi Leung Wai, also known as Peter Wai, 38, and Matthew Trickett, 37, were arrested earlier this month following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, according to Reuters. The three men were charged with "assisting Hong Kong's foreign intelligence service in Britain."

Some media reported that Yuen is a retired Hong Kong police officer who is listed as an office manager at the ETO in London.

The Chinese side firmly rejected and strongly condemned the UK's fabrication of the so-called case and its unwarranted accusations against the HKSAR government. It has made serious representations to the UK side on the matter.

Trickett was found dead in a park in Maidenhead, west of London, on Sunday afternoon, police said. They termed the death "unexplained" and are investigating, the AP reported on Wednesday.

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR government, Algernon Yau, met with the Deputy Consul-General of the UK in Hong Kong on the incident regarding the ETO in London on Thursday.

Yau reiterated the HKSAR government's concern about the incident, especially the death of a person who was arrested by the UK Police and reportedly a UK immigration officer, and demanded the UK side give an open account of the incident as soon as possible to let the public know the truth and prevent unwarranted speculation.

Yau also reiterated that the UK should fairly handle the matter, protect the legitimate rights and interests of the arrestees, and ensure the normal operation of the ETO.

The Hong Kong official also stressed that all ETO activities have been conducted in accordance with the law. The UK government is obliged to ensure the normal work and activities of the ETO are free from interruption and conducted in an orderly manner.

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Romania Arrests Suspected Spy For Russia, Declares Diplomat Persona Non Grata

By RFE/RL's Romanian Service May 24, 2024

Prosecutors with Romania's anti-organized crime agency on May 24 announced the arrest of a Romanian man suspected of spying for Moscow since 2022.

The Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) said the suspect had been monitoring Romanian or NATO military objectives near Tulcea, a town near the border with Ukraine.

The DIICOT did not identify the suspect, but the Bucharest court that isued the arrest warrant identified him as Dorin Alexandru Piscan of Ploiesti. RFE/RL confirmed the suspect's name with a source in the prosecutor's office.

He is suspected of "collecting military information and taking photographs of military combat equipment and the movement of personnel in the border area with Ukraine" and then passing the information to a diplomat at the Russian Embassy in Bucharest, DIICOT said.

Prosecutors with DIICOT searched the home of the suspect, where they collected several pieces of evidence, including images he allegedly took at military bases.

According to DIICOT, Piscan started his activity in 2022, the year that Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Piscan was accused of treason and confined to pretrial detention for 30 days. RFE/RL was unable to reach his lawyer for comment.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry subsequently said that a diplomat at the Russian Embassy had been declared persona non grata for activities in breach of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

The ministry did not identify the diplomat but said it had summoned the Russian charge d'affaires to provide notice about the decision.

The Russian Embassy in Bucharest said in a statement sent to RFE/RL that Romanian authorities had notified the embassy that the diplomat had been accused of "activities incompatible with diplomatic status."

The embassy rejected the accusations and said it "strictly follows" the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

It said the Russian side "reserves the right to take retaliatory measures."

The embassy's statement also indicated that the move was "aimed a further deterioration of bilateral relations between our countries" and that it "can only cause regret."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/romania-russian-diplomat- persona-non-grata/32962430.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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Thailand moves toward ratifying UN convention against enforced disappearances

By Tommy Walker May 24, 2024

Thailand is set to ratify a U.N. convention that would see new ways to protect at-risk individuals from being extrajudicially abducted, kidnapped or disappeared.

The Southeast Asian country with a poor human rights record in recent years is seeking a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, and apparently hopes ratification will help its candidacy later this year, human rights advocates say.

The Thai Foreign Ministry told VOA that the goal is for the convention to be fully ratified by the government in Bangkok by June 13.

Thailand signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPPED) in 2012 yet has not formally ratified it.

"On May 14, 2024, Thailand deposited an Instrument of Ratification to the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Thailand reaffirms its commitment to protect all persons from enforced disappearance," Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told VOA, noting the process is expected to end in ratification within a month.

ICPPED will be Thailand's eighth core international human rights treaty, the ministry said.

Thailand has a long history of enforced disappearances, records show. Between 1980 and 2023, the U.N. Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances reported that 77 of 93 documented "enforced or involuntary disappearance" cases in Thailand remain unsolved.

Sanhawan Srisod, an associate international legal adviser at the International Commission for Jurists, told VOA that Thailand is taking public steps to try to improve its rights reputation.

"Thailand has illustrated its willingness to take a leadership role in safeguarding human rights, not only at a global level but also at the domestic level," she said.

In February 2023, for example, Thailand passed the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance.

When in force, the U.N. treaty on protection is expected to reduce the number of "enforced disappearances," rights advocates say. A mechanism will be in place for requests to protect individuals at risk to be sent to the U.N. Committee on Enforced Disappearance, which is the supervisory authority of the convention.

"One immediate change is that relatives, legal representatives, or any other person having a legitimate interest in the potential victims of enforced disappearance will be equipped with more tools to seek the truth. The committee can urgently request state parties like Thailand to take measures to ensure that a disappeared person, including dissidents and political refugees, is located and protected, taking into account the urgency of the situation," Sanhawan said.

Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA), said he hopes the Thai government works to improve conditions for dissidents and critics.

"One hopes that this ratification will see Thailand turn the corner and end such disappearances once and for all, but it will require real political commitment to stop the culture of intimidation and impunity which makes disappearing critics and rivals so easy," he told VOA.

Robertson said the treaty should be retroactive so dozens of unsolved cases can be re-examined.

"If they are serious about this issue, the Thai authorities would systematically re-open and investigate those cases, but there is no indication they are preparing to do so. For the families of the dozens of victims of enforced disappearance vainly waiting for closure and accountability, this ratification won't mean much since it's not retroactive," Robertson said.

One such case has reached a 20th anniversary. Somchai Neelapaijit, a prominent Thai human rights lawyer, disappeared in Bangkok in 2004.

Thailand announced last year it was seeking a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council and was preparing for the September vote at the U.N. General Assembly that will determine which nations hold seats for the 2025-27 term.

Bangkok now has boosted its chances to secure a U.N. seat, Robertson says.

"Thailand needed something to show for its campaign to be elected to the U.N. Human Rights Council in September, so ratifying this convention became the easiest pledge they could make."

But for a country that has seen military coups and opposition crackdowns in recent years, Thailand's human rights record remains a concern.

The crackdown on dissidents stemming from the 2020 anti-government and monarchy reform protests has seen nearly 2,000 people prosecuted for expressing opinions and political views. This includes 272 people facing lAse-majestA charges, which prohibits criticism of Thailand's monarchy. Under Article 112 of Thailand's Criminal Code, each charge can warrant a maximum 15-year prison sentence.

Human rights advocates have expressed concern that some political activists have been refused bail and remain in custody in pretrial detention. Currently 27 detainees are being held under those conditions, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Earlier in May, political activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, also known as "Bung," died of cardiac arrest while in custody following a hunger strike. She was facing lAse-majestA charges and her bail had been revoked.

"Thailand does not deserve a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council if it continues to imprison people for speaking the truth to power," Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, advocacy lead at Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, told VOA.

Sanhawan, of the ICJ, said that while political activists languish in Thai prisons, questions over human rights practices hang over the country.

"The allegations of rights violations that continually haunt Thailand should be addressed, including the alleged misuse of the judicial process against political dissidents based on non-human rights compliance laws which have been consistently criticized by U.N. bodies for a long time."

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L. Kasciunas discussed bilateral cooperation with Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs C. Wallander

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-05-20

International cooperation | Minister's news | Security and defense policy

Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas met with Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander who was in Lithuania on a visit last week. Minister yet again expressed gratitude for the recent U.S. decision to maintain the uninterrupted rotational force presence in the Baltic states.

Minister underscored Lithuania effort to deliver on its share by developing Host Nation Support and infrastructure to make sure it lived up to NATO standards.

At the meeting, security situation in the region and the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington were discussed. "Executability of NATO regional defence plans is essential to us and the U.S. has a key role in it. We follow the changes in the U.S. defence planning and appreciate it. We need to do everything possible to make sure the adopted decisions are acted upon quickly and the NATO Summit in Washington demonstrates we are stronger than ever before," said L. Kasciunas.

Minister thanked for the assistance package the United States had recently passed for Ukraine and added that Lithuania was aiming for at 0.25% of GDP worth of assistance to Ukraine on its behalf.

Other topics discussed included the cooperation between Lithuania and the United States on the Indo-Pacific and Lithuania's increasing engagement in the region. Minister underscored Lithuania's mindset to strengthen the partnership with the United States, including through exercises and joint operations.

Minister also reviewed the weaponry acquisitions underway and possibilities to accelerate delivery of the arms to Lithuania. Over 20% of Lithuania's defence acquisitions are conducted with the United States. The list includes the Javelin anti-tank missile system, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles JLTV, Black Hawk helicopters, HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Minister was notified during the visit that the American side was going to speed the delivery of the Javelin equipment to Lithuania. AMRAAM Advanced Medium Range Air-Air Missiles for the NASAMS medium-range ground-based air defense system, Switchblade loitering munition, etc. Lithuania also is working to strengthen partnership with the U.S. on defence industry and to draw U.S. investments to Lithuania.

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May 23, 2024

Transcript

Administration Officials Hold A News Briefing Via Teleconference On Humanitarian Assistance To Gaza

Daniel Dieckhaus, Director, USAID's Levant Response Management Team; Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, Deputy Commander, United States Central Command; Chris Mewett, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Partnerships; Major General Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary

MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: All right, good afternoon, everyone. Thanks very much for joining us today. I'm Major General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. I will be facilitating today's on record briefing. If I can ask you to please put your microphones on mute.

GEN. RYDER: Again, thank you for joining us for today's on the record briefing to discuss the status of the maritime corridor that is facilitating the transfer of humanitarian assistance into Gaza through the joint over the shore capability. Joining us on the call today is Daniel Dieckhaus, Director of USAID's Levant Response Management Team, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, Deputy Commander, United States Central Command, and Chris Mewett, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Partnerships.

Please note, I will call on reporters and we'll try to get to as many of your questions as possible in the time that we have available. Finally, before we begin, again, I would please ask that you keep your phones on mute unless you are asking a question. And with that, I will turn it over to Mr. Dieckhaus. Thank you very much, sir. Over to you.

DANIEL DIECKHAUS: Thanks a lot. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Dan Dieckhaus. I am the Response Manager for USAID's Gaza response. And thanks for joining us today. We'll be providing an update on our efforts to move assistance into Gaza via the multinational humanitarian maritime corridor.

I'd first like to just point out that the situation in Gaza remains particularly dire. Since early May, some 800,000 to 900,000 people have fled Rafah as a result of either evacuation orders or associated panic, fleeing to areas that have already been hosting large numbers of population with insufficient services. I think it's all the more testament to the reason why we need additional entry points and increasing the volume of all entry points into Gaza. On May 17th, the first shipments of urgently needed life-saving assistance began arriving in Gaza through the humanitarian maritime corridor. This is a multinational combined effort involving the United States, led by USAID and the Department of Defense, as well as the Republic of Cyprus, Government of Israel, the U.N. and international donors such as the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the European Union.

With aid now flowing into Gaza via the humanitarian maritime corridor, Vice Admiral Cooper and I will speak in greater detail about how this corridor works, what this new route means for our continued efforts to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza through all available avenues. The maritime corridor is a complex, multistep process through which aid is moved to humanitarian organizations ready to facilitate its distribution to Palestinian communities throughout Gaza in an independent, neutral, and impartial manner.

Again, that means that these organizations determine who receives the assistance, what type of assistance is being delivered and the manner in what is being delivered. The way this process works, multistep, first, aid is sent to Cyprus, arriving from donor countries humanitarian organizations in a number of different ways, by air, by sea. Once there, it is screened, packaged, and loaded onto ships for transit to the floating platform off the coast of Gaza, which can take up to a day depending on ship schedules. Could be quicker, could be slower. Then it goes on to other smaller ships, so it can be transported to the temporary pier. Once there, it is collected and offloaded onto the beach and into a marshalling area where humanitarian organizations receive it. From there, the aid is transported to the humanitarian organization's warehouses or direct to distribution points via truck to get into the hands of people in desperate need.

What has left the beach for distribution is the most important part of the process, that is the next to last step for aid receiving  being received in the hands of people that need it throughout Gaza. This process is incredibly complicated. It's multifaceted, requires many different moving pieces to align in order for it to work, as well as very strict timing for humanitarian organizations to receive the assistance and move it safely and efficiently to storage and to onward distribution. We continually adjust and there will continue to be adjustments needed as we learn and adapt the processes. And these processes are improving every day. And we hope this new mechanism provides a new and consistent avenue for moving aid into Gaza. Due to the urgent needs on the ground, supplies are being moved almost immediately to reach people. Since the first shipments of this aid arrived through the humanitarian maritime corridor on Friday, the U.N. has been distributing more than 506 metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies to people in need, including Deir al-Balah, Al-Mawasi, and Khan Younis. To put it into perspective, more than two-thirds of the supplies entering through this new corridor have already been distributed, or in the process of being distributed by humanitarian partners directly to people in need. This influx of humanitarian supplies into the U.N. pipeline is an important part of an overall effort to mitigate and counter the threat of emerging famine, extreme food insecurity, as well as addressing needs in shelter, health, and other sectors. However, it does not replace land crossings and it's not intended to do so.

I will reiterate that not enough trucks are reaching Gaza from overland border crossings. And the humanitarian community is not able to fully access assistance at the border crossings due to shortages of fuel, insecurity, access constraints, or simply ongoing fighting as a part of this overall wartime environment within Gaza. Conditions on the ground have not dramatically improved. And in the past two weeks we have seen the vital Rafah border crossing close and remain closed, resulting in aid supply declining at a time when it is critical we see more aid move. I just want to be clear that this humanitarian maritime corridor alone is not enough to meet the staggering needs in Gaza, but it is an important addition. It is meant to augment, not replace or substitute for land crossings into Gaza.

As an example of the additive value of the corridor, yesterday, the U.N. was able to collect just 70 trucks of assistance from all border crossings for distribution in Gaza. 38 percent of this assistance, 27 trucks were collected from the maritime corridor. Unfortunately, this is also an example of the low overall numbers of humanitarian assistance being collected and distributed.

So in addition to the maritime corridor, every land crossing needs to be open and operate at maximum capacity and efficiency. That means enabling aid to cross the border and enabling humanitarian organizations with sustained fuel, safety, and access to collect goods at the border and distribute them throughout Gaza. Every moment that a crossing is not open, that trucks are not moving or where aid cannot be predictably collected at crossings distributed, increases the terrible human cost of this conflict. This is a complex humanitarian aid mission that requires continuous coordination between many partners. The support and contributions of the U.N., the government of Cyprus and other international partners, including the U.K., European Union, United Emirates, France, Romania and others, is vital, as is the cooperation of Israel. And underpinning this entire mission is a commitment to save lives, which remains our highest priority. I want to stress an important point that I've already made here. The operating conditions, the security, access, supply of fuel, and other factors directly impact, in fact, have the greatest impact on the ability of our partners and all humanitarian organizations to get this aid to people who need it most. This is true of any entry point into Gaza, land or sea. It's critically important to get assistance into Gaza. But if humanitarians don't have fuel in their trucks, if they can't access the collection points at the border or at the beach and can't safely move it forward for distribution, then only a part of the equation is being answered.

So we're working on this writ large and we're working on this in particular, USAID and Department of Defense, with the maritime corridor, with a lot of concerted effort taking place in a coordination cell specifically set up to connect the IDF and humanitarians. And all parties are engaging productively and we've seen some significant improvements. It's critical that humanitarian workers are able to safely deliver and distribute lifesaving assistance from this corridor and throughout Gaza in line with humanitarian principles and will continue to advocate for increased measures to provide greater assurances for those working at great personal risk to do so. With that, I'll turn it over to my colleague, Vice Admiral Cooper.

GEN. RYDER: Admiral Cooper, are you there, sir?

VICE ADMIRAL BRAD COOPER: Yeah, I sure am. Hey, let me just do a test here. One, two, three, three, two, one.

GEN. RYDER: Yup, we got you loud and clear.

ADM. COOPER: Okay, great. Hey, thanks, Dan. Thanks for the opportunity to everyone to discuss this important effort with you today. U.S. Central Command forces continue to support USAID's provision of humanitarian assistance into Gaza from the sea as part of our government policy to flood the zone with humanitarian assistance.

As a point of continued emphasis, delivery of aid through land routes is the most efficient and effective pathway to move the necessary volume of assistance to the people of Gaza. This delivery of aid from the sea is additive and complimentary.

As a refresher, this effort is enabled by a joint, a military logistics capability we have called Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS. JLOTS enables the unloading of ships without the benefit of a fixed port facility by utilizing a temporary floating pier. And to illustrate the magnitude of this effort, we have 1,000 U.S. soldiers and sailors, as well as 16 ships of various sizes dedicated to the execution of this mission exclusively.

The JLOTS temporary floating pier was affixed to the beach of Gaza on May 16th. We commenced delivery of humanitarian assistance on May 17th. Thus far, great progress has been made. As I describe this progress for ease of explanation, we have redefined what capacity looks like. Going forward, we will measure throughput volume in metric tonnes delivered and metric tonnes distributed. Dan talked about this in his opening remarks.

The rationale for this is very simple. The trucks vary in size, and common sense tells you that weight depends on commodity. It matters whether you're talking about canned goods, or flour, or any other commodity. There's variation.

So through that new lens, here's what progress looks like today. First, I'd like to just say, we are highly confident in our ability to move humanitarian assistance from Cyprus to the sea, and then from the sea to Gaza. Since commencement of operations, 820 metric tonnes of aid have been delivered by CENTCOM forces from the sea to the beach transfer point, also called the marshalling yard.

In terms of distribution, 506 metric tonnes of aid, as Dan described, have been distributed from the beach transfer point to the people of Gaza by the United Nations as of last night. That's more than 1 million pounds to put it in simple terms. This aid typically reaches the people of Gaza within 24 hours.

So said a different way, we've enabled distribution of 1.2 million pounds of lifesaving aid through last night to the people of Gaza through the maritime humanitarian corridor. I can't emphasize enough that the international phase of this effort is important. And as Dan mentioned, this aid comes from U.S., U.K., UAE, the European Union, Romania, among others thus far.

As we've said, we're currently in a warm start period. Efforts are underway to scale up in the coming days. And with that, let me just pivot on a couple other key issues. The first one being force protection. This is our number one priority. Thus far, we've had no issues or incidents. Of course, we're clear-eyed and we continue to look at force protection all day, every day. And as it stands now, we assess that operations can continue. We have a coordination cell in Israel that is focused on ensuring safe operations around the JLOTS area, particularly convoy movements around the JLOTS area.

With that, let's talk about some of the realities on the ground and acknowledge the inherent challenges of delivering humanitarian aid in a war zone, specifically with regard to internal distribution from our perspective of leading the coordination cell. This coordination cell is led by a U.S. Army three-star general.

Our commitment to the safety of humanitarian workers requires a meticulous approach to distribution route planning and convoy monitoring with various stakeholders, especially the U.N., in order to reduce risk. We're doing this collaboratively with the Israeli Defense Forces and the United Nations who are embedded in our combined coordination cell and in close cooperation and communications every single day. We've developed very robust measures for close coordination to mitigate risks and to prioritize safety over all else. This collaborative approach allows us to maintain security amidst the very complex and dynamic environment around the JLOTS pier while also maximizing throughput.

And then just to illustrate the intricate nature of the security landscape, I'll give you just two examples of events that impact aid delivery that I've seen just the last couple of days. So the first, despite being miles away from the pier, a recent Hamas drone attack on the IDF prompted a swift counterattack, leading to the temporary shutdown of humanitarian convoys around Gaza for safety reasons.

I believe it's easy to understand how this might impact internal distribution operations. So to be clear, let me just say this as a point of emphasis. To be really clear, this incident had no impact on the pier itself. This incident had no impact on the pier itself. But convoy movements were obviously frozen for all the right reasons I think you would all understand. And for a period of time, this incident, you know, took some time to resolve and be addressed. So that's one. The second one, in another instance, we were alerted to potential looting along a prearranged distribution route, necessitating the development of an alternate, safer path. As you would appreciate, coordination with all the parties involved causes slight delays, thus impacting aid delivery operations. So such challenges with internal distribution are not new or unique to aid delivery from the sea. But these atmospherics, I think, give you some sense of the operating environment.

And then, as a reminder, there are no U.S. boots on the ground in this operation. Internal distribution is solely executed by humanitarian workers. So as we look ahead, I remain very optimistic. We have thousands of tonnes of aid in the pipeline for delivery from Cyprus to the Gaza shore. And as I said before, and I'll say it again here, we do encourage international donors to continue their contributions so that we can sustain and increase the volume of lifesaving aid getting to the people of Gaza every day. With that, I'll pause and happy to take any questions.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you both very much, gentlemen. For our first question, we'll go to Associated Press, Tara Copp.

Q: Hi. Thank you all for doing this. My first question is for Director Dieckhaus. Can you describe the different challenges that the distribution trucks are facing after they leave the marshalling yard and as they go onto those forward? I guess some of them are hangers. And from that specific point, Admiral Cooper, if you could talk about what is the U.S. role in helping with that part of the distribution. I understand that there's a coordination cell for intelligence sharing and whatnot around the marshaling area, but how is the U.S. helping get these trucks after they leave the marshaling area actually out to the population? Thank you.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Thanks a lot for the question. So in terms of the challenges that are faced by humanitarian organizations after they leave the marshalling area, they're manifold, as you might imagine. So first of all, it's a wartime environment. There are wartime hazards. There's active fighting. And this is, you know, all these hazards, I should note at the outset, are not unique to the maritime corridor. They are present throughout Gaza, whether it's coming across a land crossing, whether it's coming across the maritime corridor or originating from, you know, warehouses within Gaza already. So you have the wartime hazards.

You have checkpoints and procedures that the government of Israel has set up to, you know, as part of their own security measures that require checking of lists and pre-coordination, prior notification. And then on top of that, you have omnipresent risks of self-distribution. And I'll talk a little about that in a second. Violence and criminal activities, these are risks faced along all major transportation corridors in Gaza.

As I mentioned at the outset, some of this assistance is reaching warehouses, some of this is being distributed immediately to those in need. But all this requires constant maneuvering and these variables that come and go. Sometimes, one risk is more prevalent than another. On the  particularly on the self-distribution, we do understand civilians along the transportation route took some of the assistance once it left the maritime marshalling area in the initial days.

It does not  it represents a minority of the overall shipments. We understand that this desperation underscores the need to open all land crossings and maximize the throughput of life saving aid at all entry points, including the maritime corridor. But, you know, we don't find it acceptable that humanitarian organizations do not find it acceptable. It is not safe for the people that are involved, for civilians that are involved. It is not safe for the humanitarian aid workers that are operating under significantly dangerous conditions. And we will just further emphasize that point by thanking them for what they do each and every day.

And of course, it's not acceptable because all of us want to ensure assistance reaches the most vulnerable. So these are critical concerns of ours. And we and humanitarian organizations continue to work with all stakeholders to mitigate the risks, ensure aid that reaches the intended beneficiaries. So that is  that means whether that's refinement of convoy planning, different routes that are chosen, community socialization before successive convoys go out, there's a variety of mitigation measures, but none of that is going to remove the risks. It's going to mitigate the risks. And again, we've seen this from the duration of the humanitarian response in Gaza.

ADM. COOPER: It's Brad Cooper here. Let me just pick up on one of Dan's comments. He mentioned that minority of trucks have issues. So let me just give you some data on that. Over the last two days, 53 of 54 trucks had no issues. One truck, less than 2 percent, had a minor issue. So I think that gives you some context of what we're dealing with here.

Okay, break. Tara, to your question, just to clarify the U.S. role in distribution. To be clear, the U.S. is not involved in convoy management throughout Gaza. We are involved in convoy monitoring and coordination in and around the JLOTS pier itself and surrounding areas. And so what does that look like? That we have a coordination cell U.S., IDF, U.N., other international partners involved in checking in with drivers, coordinating routes, and confirming delivery. So that's what it looks like. Over.

Q: So is there a role for helping find the alternative routes? It was my understanding that there was some U.S. participation, military participation, in helping identify these alternate routes?

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. We were absolutely involved through this  a coordination management or route coordination management board consisting of people from the United States, IDF, U.N., COGAT is a sub-element of the Israeli piece. We are all involved this together to make sure we can coordinate with one goal: to make this as safe as possible. And it's called, you know, the board is called a convoy monitoring board just for clarification. So they're watching this very closely. It's all about safety.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you both. Let's go to Natasha Bertrand from CNN.

Q: Thanks, Pat. My question is for Admiral Cooper first. So there was video that emerged in recent days of a CRAM doing a test fire on the beach in Gaza near the A drop zone. And, you know, our understanding is that the rationale for not having us troops drive those trucks across the causeway to the beach was because the U.S. did not want any U.S. forces getting that close to the shore. But those U.S. troops that were test firing that CRAM, they did appear extremely close to the beach, even though their boots were not actually physically on that ground. So will troops be getting that close again to kind of maintain the CRAM and other defensive equipment that is there on the shore, or was that kind of a one-time thing? And then I have a question for aid.

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. I'm just not going to be able to talk to the specifics around security. As a general rule, we have very much minimized the number of U.S. personnel operating on the pier. We have a very, very close collaborative effort with the Israeli Defense Force to ensure force protection of everyone. As I said, we look at this all day every day. It's priority number one and we'll continue that.

Q: And I mean, why is that defensive equipment even on the beach if the IDF has agreed to provide that security?

ADM. COOPER: Yeah, this is prudent that we would leverage our full capacity along with the full capacity of IDF to protect Americans in an integrated manner, just as prudent planning, just as you would expect.

Q: Okay, thanks. And then my next question is how much aid is currently waiting in Cyprus to be offloaded onto those ships, bringing it to the pier? Is there any kind of shortage or is there any concern about the idea that there's not enough aid being brought there at this point?

MR. DIECKHAUS: I'll (inaudible).

COPPER: Go ahead, Dan. Go ahead.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Yeah. No, we don't have those concerns. There are thousands and thousands of tonnes that are in Cyprus, that are being further offloaded in Cyprus for scanning and then on loading on the ships in the process that I described. So there is plenty of aid in Cyprus and more on the way.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you both. Let's go to Fadi, Al Jazeera.

Q: Thank you for doing this.

So question to Mr. Dieckhaus. Can you talk a little bit about the impact of the Israeli military operation in Rafah on the humanitarian situation in southern Gaza? And if you can help us understand, I think you mentioned that the number 506 metric tonnes of aid that's been distributed since Friday by the U.N. or is on the way to being distributed.

In terms of comparison to what was getting into Gaza before the operation in Rafah or in terms of trucks, how many trucks does this  the 506 metric tonne? And for Admiral Cooper, Israeli media reports today talked about two injured U.S. soldiers involved in the JLOT operation.

Can you  are you able to confirm these reports and update us on their situation and how they were injured, if that is the case? Thank you.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Yeah, thanks very much for the question. I'll kind of answer it in reverse order. Your question on the 506 metric tonnes that we've cited have been distributed to date or they're in the process of being distributed.

So to put in terms of perhaps a little bit more meaningful statistics, by our calculation, that is sufficient food to feed tens of thousands of people for a month. That is what has been delivered in the course of just a couple of days of the maritime corridor being opened. And that number will continue to grow as throughput increases, as aid continues to come ashore and be dispatched from the beach area. So we find that  obviously, that is not an endpoint for us. It's a starting point, but it's already, I think, fairly significant within just a few number of days. We always accounted for a bit of a ramp up period as everyone involved in that coordination cell that Vice Admiral Cooper described, figures out the procedures and ways to improve the processes. So it's up to a good start. We hope to increase that dramatically in the next couple of weeks.

In terms of how that compares to what had been getting in prior to the recent military activities in Rafah governate, I don't have the exact numbers in front of me. But obviously  maybe it's not obvious. I think we've reported out before that the number  the amount of assistance that had been getting in was higher in April than it is now. Then the number  the amount of assistance that U.N. has been able to collect from border points was higher in April than it was now.

So at a time when needs have increased as a result of the displacement, the 900,000 people that I cited, that the amount of assistance and the access has gone down. In terms of other impacts of recent military activities, you know, it  as would be logical during military activities, access is a little harder. It's a little less safe in some areas. It's a lot less safe in some areas.

And we understand that there are, you know, warehouses, some operational facilities such as health clinics, other centers that are in Rafah governate that are not accessible or that have run out of supplies or fuel. And on the fuel, I think, is another significant impact since the  I think the U.N. reported earlier this week that they are now receiving about a quarter of the daily fuel allotment that they had, which, you know, continues to impact their ability to get out and (inaudible), do assessments and conduct some of this distribution. So I think all this being said, again, further emphasizing the necessity of the additive function of the maritime corridor. But by no means, is it a replacement? And we want to see the numbers go back up at Kerem Shalom. We want to see Rafah reopened. And we want to see full utilization of all the border crossings that are there, as well as the improved ability of humanitarians to get out and about throughout Gaza.

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. And sir, Brad Cooper here. So three injuries, two were very minor routine injuries. Those individuals returned to duty. One individual is undergoing care at an Israeli local hospital. He was injured out on a ship at sea. Q: If I just may follow up, the three injuries, are these combat? You said one is on the ship. Can you explain  give more information whether these are combat-related or not combat-related. Thank you.

ADM. COOPER: These are not combat related. No.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you. All right. And for the sake of time, I'll just ask our media colleagues to limit follow up so we can get to your colleagues. Next will be Reuters, Idrees Ali.

Q: Hey, can you, Admiral Cooper, just describe what you mean by noncombat injuries? Was it like a rolled ankle or what was it? And then secondly, is there, in the department, a level of frustration with USAID, the U.N. and other aid groups? Because a lot of the risks and problems that you guys are describing were quite frankly very obvious from the outside that that would be something you have to deal with, new route like, you know, the fact that aid might be looted. I think probably could have been foreseen given the level of hunger. So is there frustration that the approach by USAID is more reactive than proactive when it comes to the pier and getting aid to the people of Gaza?

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. On the injuries, I'm not getting into much detail. One was simply a sprained ankle, the other guy - and one is a hurt back. These are very small. And I won't get into the details of the other one. In terms of the partnership, I could not be happier with the relationship between the Department of Defense and USAID in particular. For months at this point, we have been working  supporting USAID as they've been leading on this effort. We work very closely with them in multiple venues at every level. That relationship, of course, has been good for many decades. I think it's as good today as it's ever been. Very happy with it. Over.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you. Let's go to Politico. Lara?

Q: Hello. Thanks so much for doing this. I wanted to ask about the timing for the floating pier. How much longer do you anticipate that it will or can stay in the region, particularly given the sea states in the fall? I understand the seas get rougher. So can it stay past like, say, August? What do you anticipate here?

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. Lara, there's no specific date we've been given in terms of conclusion. I've mentioned before, but just to reiterate, historically, by early September, the seas begun to rise and Mother Nature gets a vote here. That's where we stand.

Q: So does that mean by early September, you would probably have to go home?

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. I think we're just going to have to see what the weather looks like going forward. Q: Okay. Have you had any additional delays due to weather?

ADM. COOPER: No, we have not.

Q: Okay. Thank you.

GEN. RYDER: Let's go to Wall Street Journal, Nancy Youssef.

Q: Thank you. I wanted to clarify a couple points you made earlier. You talked about 506 metric tonnes reaching transfer centers. Do you have a number for how many have actually gotten into the hands of Gazan residents? And also, I know that there's not necessarily apples to apples, but up until this point, we've measured aid in terms of trucks. Can you give us an estimate of how many trucks worth of aid have gotten in? Thank you.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Sure. I'll take that question. About two-thirds of that 506 metric tonnes has been distributed or is in the process of being distributed. And the delta is really just a day or two difference. Like, stuff is not sitting in warehouses or intermediate points within Gaza very long because of the desperation of people in need. So, you know, we have confirmed, we have post distribution monitoring and, you know, reporting from our partners that shows that assistance is already reaching the hands of people in need. You know, the totality of that is already, you know, of the entire 506 is sufficient for tens of thousands of people for sure. And I'm sorry, I didn't hear the last part of your question. Could you repeat?

Q: Sure. I know that you guys are measuring in metric tonnes.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Oh, yeah.

Q: But up to this point, we've had it in trucks. Can you give a (inaudible) approximate of how many truckloads we're talking about?

MR. DIECKHAUS: Yeah, sure. It's been about 71 trucks to date, which again, I think has steadily increased day by day. And we're looking to see that ramp up even further. And I'll just take a quick second to respond to previous questions on how DoD is working with USAID and vice versa. I totally echo Vice Admiral Cooper's comments. I think our relationship is seamless, a lot of good cooperation between the agency and the department. So no issues there either.

GEN. RYDER: Gentlemen, we'll go to military.com. Konstantin?

Q: Thank you for the opportunity. My question was answered. Thank you.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you. I apologize for my Darth Vader voice here. Let's go to Bloomberg, (inaudible).

Q: Thanks, General Ryder. My question was also asked and answered.

GEN. RYDER: Great. Okay. Let's go to Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press.

Q: Hi, thank you all for doing this. I've got a question for Vice Admiral Cooper and for Dan. The barometers that we have in terms of, you know, what came into Gaza before the war, what USAID has needs to come into Gaza now, and you know, the 150 truckload goal, that maximum that the U.S. is aiming for the pier each day, it's all in trucks. So can you help us today by telling us how many  what's the metric tonne equivalent of the 150 trucks a day that are the top goal?

And for Dan, the head of Refugee International, who's a former USAID official, calls the pier project overall humanitarian theater. He says that  he points out that at maximum one-tenth of what used to come through the Rafah crossing can come through the pier each day. And aid groups say both the Rafah crossing and Kerem Shalom have become inaccessible to them. So the question is, why is the U.S. spending this kind of effort on the pier? And I don't hear it speaking publicly on Israel, speaking specifically for the need for Israel to grant aid groups access to both border crossings.

ADM. COOPER: Yeah, Ellen, I'll take that first and then turn it over to Dan. You know, in simple terms, we're redefining what the capacity looks like in measuring things in volume, in metric tonnes delivered and in metric tonnes distributed. And the rationale is really simple. For instance, today, I noticed in Gaza, nine different truck sizes. Some were full, some were half full, some are quarter full. So there's that point. There's different weights. These are just trucks in general moving around Gaza, different weights of commodities. So it's really not a great metric. We want to be as precise as possible. And by shifting to this metric of tonnes delivered and then metric tonnes distributed, I think it keeps it very precise and understandable. And over to Dan.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Yeah, thanks a lot. You know, I would not call within a couple of days getting enough food and other supplies for tens of thousands of people for a month theater. I think, obviously, everyone's entitled to their opinion, but I think we are already making a meaningful contribution to the overall effort. At no point, have we ever postulated that the pier would be a replacement for any border crossing and nor was it ever intended to be. It was intended to be additive.

We are feel very strongly that Rafah and Kerem Shalom should be restored to full capacity, meaning both input in and access to it on the Gaza side. And we'll continue to speak about that both publicly in private discussions with all the parties that are involved. But by  yeah. No, I mean, I think we very much recognize the totality of the problem. The maritime corridor is a component of an overall approach to ensuring adequate assistance, as well as providing another option for humanitarian organizations to use as they make their operational decisions. The variability, like we went through, many of the risks that are associated with both distribution channels and entry points, that variability is quite volatile. So border crossing may come up, may come down from day to day. So increasing the overall number of options that are available is also additive in addition to the additional tonnage that might be processed through that.

Q: Vice Admiral, if I could just follow up 

GEN. RYDER: Hey, Ellen.

Q: If I could just get how many metric tonnes do you calculate are in a truckload, just so that we can make that conversion of truckload to metric tonne? That's all.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Yeah. This is exactly why we've gone to just talking about tonnes, because let's  I'll give you a good example. I saw a truck today, capable of carrying one pallet, one capable of carrying 2, one capable of carrying 6, one with 9, one with 11, one with 16, one with 20. Is that  you get my  yeah, I think you've  I'm painting the picture. There's not one common piece of this, so it's just easy to talk and wait. And that's what we'll be doing going forward. Q: Okay. Do you mind if I just ask? What's your maximum goal in metric tonnes for the pier daily?

GEN. RYDER: Let's go to Missy Ryan, Washington Post.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Yeah. Well, I'll go over to Pat Ryder. Pat, over to you.

GEN. RYDER: Yes, sir. I apologize. We got a few more folks we need to get to here. If we have time, we can come back. Let's go to Missy Ryan, Washington Post.

Q: Thanks, Pat. And thanks  I just have two clarifications from some of the earlier comments just to make sure that I'm understanding correctly. So the coordination management board that you mentioned is supposed to be helping ensure the safety of aid operations. That is something that the U.S. has been participating even prior to the activation of the JLOTS, or is that  is the U.S. participation new? And is that presumably is not just focused on the operations of aid that are related to the U.S. provided, U.S. facilitated aid by the pier. Is that right? And then I have another clarification.

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. Just for clarification. The convoy monitoring board was established and is associated with the JLOTS operation exclusively. It consists of U.S. leadership under a U.S. three-star Army general, includes the IDF representation, COGAT, the U.N., and other international partners who join.

Their focus  their number one focus is to ensure that the convoys reach their destination safely. That's what they exist for.

Q: Sorry, is that the same thing as the coordination management board that you mentioned?

ADM. COOPER: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, I described it as coordination management. It is a convoy monitoring board. They do coordination.

Q: Okay. And then my other question is about this combined U.S. Israeli coordination cell on the ground. That is something that is  also I'm asking, is that something that is also new? And that  and just to understand correctly, that is focused on ensuring the force protection of U.S. personnel involved in the JLOTS effort, is that right?

ADM. COOPER: Yes. About six weeks ago, we established a bilateral coordination cell in Israel led by a U.S. Army three-star general. He works side-by-side with his Israeli partners designed to facilitate coordination at every level regarding force protection, communication, logistics, and operations.

Q: Can you tell us who those two three-stars are?

ADM. COOPER: There's only one three-star. It's the ARCENT commander, the  what well (inaudible).

Q: Okay.

MR. DIECKHAUS: General Ryder, just  I just want to come back and I don't want to reopen the line of discussion. But just to reiterate that our  in terms of volume or targets, I think what we would primarily like to focus on is impacts over inputs. So the desired impact that we are shooting for, that requires a lot to fall in a place that we're working on, is feeding and assisting at least 500,000 people or more per month via the maritime corridor.

I think it's a worthwhile goal. It's a high goal. We hope to exceed it, but a lot goes into that. So if we are able to do that, it is a substantial portion of the people that are in need. Over.

GEN. RYDER: Many thanks, gentlemen. Let's go to Chris Gordon, Air & Space.

Q: Thanks, Pat. And thank you, gentlemen, for doing this. I want to follow up on two points mentioned. One, some people can't reach the collection points. Two, the goal is to flood the zone with aid. So Admiral Cooper, will the aid air drops continue, given the need, or is that now redundant with the maritime and land options? And if you do plan to continue the aid airdrops, will you shift where you conduct those airdrops since there is an issue getting to collection points? Thank you.

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. It is our intent to continue with the humanitarian airdrops. And as we have done in the past, our focus would be on North Gaza going forward.

Q: But would you move those dynamically or is there any consideration to shifting that?

ADM. COOPER: Yeah, there's a very sophisticated coordination process that we lead. As we've mentioned before in these venues, Jordan has played a very central role in this along with all the partners who we do a planning effort to coordinate where the drops will be so that we can deconflict in time and space. That certainly will continue going forward.

Q: All right. Thank you.

GEN. RYDER: Time for just a few more. Let's go to Jeff Schogol, Task & Purpose.

Q: Thank you. Admiral Cooper, I need every scrap of information you have about these three injured service members. What branch of the services? Where are they from? Where were they when they got injured? And can you talk at all about the third injury? It was TBI or was it something else? Anything so I can describe it. Thank you.

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. Just from a privacy act perspective, you know, I'll just leave it at we had, you know, two minor injuries and one, as I mentioned, who was medevac'd to a local hospital. Again, they were all out at sea. And we'll be happy to, you know, follow up with those. But for right now, we'll just leave it at that.

Q: Were they all sailors? Were any  were they soldiers and sailors?

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. We'll be happy to follow up through Pat.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you. Let's go to Courtney Kube, NBC.

Q: Thank you. Just a quick one. Can you say with any more specificity after the aid gets to the warehouse or gets to the  who are these  the partners who are delivering it? Because I think one of the things we've been confused about is, the United nations putting out a couple of statements over the last few days saying that they weren't delivering in Rafah and other parts of Gaza because of security situation. So I'm wondering if there are  who's actually getting the aid into the hands of the civilians? Thanks.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Yeah, absolutely. It's a combination of  as it is throughout Gaza, of U.N. agencies, international, local NGOs. And specific to the point, I know what you're referencing, the recent announcement of suspension of operations in Rafah governate. So the supplies that have gone in, as I mentioned at the outset, have gone to Deir Al Balah, Al-Mawasi and Khan Younis. All three of those locations are outside of the impacted area in Rafah. And that is where a lot of the displaced populations have gone to and where, you know, existing populations were already in need.

So we are concerned with the overall situation that has led to the U.N. to make those statements. But there is still assistance that is moving throughout Gaza and the assistance that has come through the maritime corridor is part of that overall effort.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you. And for our final question, we'll go to Jared, Al-Monitor.

Q: Hi, all. Thank you for doing this. Wondering if you could tell us a few more details about this drone attack over the weekend and this IDF counterattack. Where did it occur and how did it affect the distribution operations? And then secondly, I believe it was reported that the IDF has given assurances that U.N. personnel will be able to receive medevac and treatment in Israeli hospitals. Has the IDF offered any other assurances for the safety and security of U.N. workers in this operation? Thanks.

ADM. COOPER: Yeah, a couple points here. One, just to reiterate, it's an active combat zone. So kinetic fires are happening frequently. My point in being illustrative with the drone, which occurred several miles away and to reiterate, had no impact on the JLOTS area, is simply to point out, when kinetic fires happen, coordination has to occur to ensure the safety of convoys. And that's what we're doing with a safety-first approach. And I'll kind of leave it there. Dan can take that baton and run with it on other details.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Yeah. No, I mean, I think the overall point is accurate. There are so many things that occur on a daily basis, whether it's through the progress of, you know, active conflict that is occurring at any given  on any given basis. It is potential miscommunications at checkpoints. It is failure of communications equipment, it is, you know, technical things or trucks getting stuck in the mud, you know, organized crime, desperate crowds conducting self-distribution.

The risks are manifold. And they, you know, that  those operating conditions have not resolved because this is an act of conflict that, you know, with deteriorating conditions. So it will come up and down. And I think through the course, as we've seen through other border crossings, we've seen variable entries and variable ability to access from the Gaza side. And that's going to play out for all border crosses, including the maritime corridor. And Pat, back over to you, sir.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, that is all the time we have available today. Before we conclude, I would like to offer the opportunity to our briefers, if any of them have any final comments.

ADM. COOPER: Dan, over to you first if you like.

MR. DIECKHAUS: Yeah, thanks a lot. I think what we said at the outset, we think this is an important initiative. We are working closely with DoD, with humanitarian organizations, and all parties that are involved, including the Israeli government, to really maximize throughput here, as well as address some of the conditions that make the maritime corridor necessary to reduce the overall humanitarian need as our goal.

And part of that is scaling up this corridor. Part of that is reopening closed border crossings and maximizing their value. And part of that is addressing the operating conditions within Gaza that make those border crossings less efficient, less effective than they can be, that, you know, make ongoing distributions less effective and far reaching as they can be. It's a multifaceted effort. This is one part of that. We look forward to continuing to scale up. And I just close by thanking, again, the humanitarian workers that are part of this overall response day in, day out, over 200 of whom have been killed through the progress of the war. A lot of the risk of the overall  almost entire risk of the overall humanitarian side of the operation is being born by a lot of these folks and they continue to grind it out every day to help people in need. It's a dire situation. This is a small but important contribution, has the potential to be even larger as we move forward. Thanks.

ADM. COOPER: Yeah. Brad here. Just a couple of comments. First, in the last several days, we've delivered over 1 million pounds of aid into the hands of Palestinians. We can all feel good about that. I'd also like to thank our partners, USAID, in particular, all the international partners, the NGOs, IDF, and the governments of both Cyprus and Israel for their full support in this endeavor.

And then just in sum, every ounce of aid that has been scanned in Cyprus, put on a ship, taken to the floating pier, has reached the shore of Gaza and now is moving forward. Thanks very much.

GEN. RYDER: All right. Thank you very much, gentlemen. Really appreciate your time today. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes our call. Out here.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3787155/

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Pevkur at Northern Group meeting: Russian aggression is increasing in both Ukraine and the nordic region

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence

23. May 2024

Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said at the Northern Group meeting held in Palanga, Lithuania, on Thursday that all Allies must consider the increasing Russian aggression against NATO and the faster recovery of its military power than previously expected.

According to the Estonian Defence Minister, Russia has shifted its economy onto a wartime footing and is capable of producing and repairing tanks, armored vehicles, and ammunition in ever-increasing quantities despite heavy losses in Ukraine.

"Russia's current engagement in Ukraine means that there is no immediate military threat to the Baltic States in the coming years. However, if Russia's war against Ukraine ends in any way other than a complete defeat for Russia, it will significantly worsen regional security, as the capabilities currently directed against Ukraine will then pose a direct threat to NATO. Concurrently with the war in Ukraine, Russia continues to implement reforms in its armed forces, aiming to increase the size of the armed forces to 1.5 million military personnel by the end of 2026," said Pevkur.

"The Russian threat to NATO is long-term and existential, and all Allies must make efforts to enhance their defence capabilities to counter this threat, starting with increasing defense spending to at least 2.5 percent of GDP," stated the Estonian Defence Minister.

The Northern Group meeting also discussed supporting Ukraine. Estonia has decided to support Ukraine militarily over the next four years with 0.25 percent of its GDP, and Pevkur urged allies at the meeting to follow this example. "The West has all the means to ensure long-term support for Ukraine and help the people fighting for their freedom to achieve victory," explained the Defence Minister.

The Northern Group is a defence cooperation format that brings together 12 Western and North Sea countries - Estonia, the Netherlands, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. The Northern Group's main focus is on common issues within NATO and the European Union and regional security. The format was established in 2010, led by the United Kingdom.

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We are united by the common threat of Russia, says L. Kasciunas after the Norther Group Defence Ministers' meeting

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-05-23

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

On May 23 Lithuania for the first time hosted a meeting of the Ministers of Defence of the Norther Group. Ministers of Defence of the twelve European countries and their representatives discussed security situation in the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic regions, assistance to Ukraine and the agenda of the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington.

Ministers congratulated Sweden which attended the meeting as a NATO Ally for the first time. "We welcome the Swedish NATO membership because it brings in a significant security enhancement not just to the region but also the whole Alliance," Minister of National Defence L. Kasciunas said.

Ministers unanimously agrees that all the Northern Group countries were united by the mutual threat: Russia. Therefore, collective defence had to be strengthened and more investment in building capabilities was needed. L. Kasciunas lauded the unanimous support across the Northern Group to the commitment made in Vilnius to increase defence spending to the minimum of 2% of GDP.

The beginning of NATO deterrence and defence lies with the assistance to Ukraine. According to L. Kasciunas, the Northern Group countries are committed to continue working to ensure that Ukraine is able to defend its sovereignty and prevent Russia's aggression in the future. Another point agreed on was to continue the long-term comprehensive assistance to Ukraine to facilitate its achievement of the strategic goal: NATO and EU memberships.

"Critical infrastructure of the Baltic Sea region plays an important role and cyber-attacks against it cause immense damage, therefore stronger practical cooperation in the area of cyber security is needed in defence and protection of the critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea," noted Minister L. Kasciunas to the Northern Group Ministers of Defence and their representatives.

The Northern Group is a format established in 2012 and headed by the United Kingdom. It comprises 12 members: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The Northern Group serves as a forum for consultations on issues of European security, NATO-EU cooperation, and other topics of relevance to the region.

Participation in the Northern Group complements Lithuania's membership in other formats of bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation.

Denmark is the next country to assume chairmanship of the Northern Group.

Joint Statement by the Ministers of Defence of the Northern Group

Palanga, Lithuania, 23 May, 2024

Today, Ministers of Defence of the Northern Group - comprising Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom - met in Palanga and gave the following statement:

We, along with our other NATO Allies, will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Alliance at the upcoming Summit in Washington. We will welcome Sweden to its first NATO Summit as a fully-fledged member.

At the Summit we will reiterate our commitment to contribute to the collective deterrence and defence of the NATO Alliance, including the integration of our newest Allies Finland and Sweden. We will strive to ensure that tangible progress is made to resource, enable and exercise the new Defence Plans.

As European Allies we will continue to assume greater responsibility for security and defence in Europe and contributing to fair burden sharing within the Alliance. We underline the importance of close NATO-EU cooperation.

We recognize that fully resourcing the Defence Plans will require us to spend at least 2 percent of GDP. We will aim to rapidly address critical shortfalls and advocate for a faster delivery on the requirements stemming from the Defence Plans to ensure fair burden share among the Allies.

We will aim to deliver a comprehensive package on Integrated Air and Missile Defence at the Washington Summit, given its essential role for credible deterrence and collective defence. We will take collective actions to increase our capabilities, capacities and preparedness.

We emphasize the need to prioritise cooperation to enhance resilience against cyber aggression and to safeguard critical infrastructure in our countries.

The security of Ukraine is of great importance to Allies and the Alliance. We will stay committed to ensure that Ukraine can defend its sovereignty and deter future Russian aggression. We are dedicated to continuing our long-term, comprehensive support to Ukraine, and we will continue to extend political and practical support to help Ukraine achieve its strategic goal of NATO and EU membership.

We acknowledge that the security of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions is interconnected. We are committed to developing dialogue and security cooperation with our like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Solidarity of the Baltic states is stronger than ever in the face of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, says L. Kasciunas

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-05-23

International cooperation | Minister's news | Security and defense policy

At a meeting in Palanga on May 22 Ministers of Defence of the Baltic states agreed that in the face of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, it was critical to continue the trilateral cooperation thus strengthening collective deterrence and defence, while the Baltic solidarity had to be stronger than ever before.

"Russia will persist as a long-term threat for the Euro-Atlantic security and the Baltic states in particular, therefore our solidarity must remain stronger than ever," said Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas meeting with Baltic counterparts Andris Spruds of Latvia and Hanno Pevkur of Estonia.

The Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian Ministers of Defence underscored that assistance to Ukraine had to remain among top Baltic priorities and reiterated the minimum 0.25% of GDP commitment to Ukraine's security and defence. The Baltic states will remain active participants of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group through the Ramstein Format capability coalitions, including for demining, IT and UAV assistance.

Minister also fine-tuned the key objectives ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington which, besides the commitment to spend at least 2.5% of GDP on defence and strengthen critical capabilities, also include some of the most important of all: implementation of the NATO regional defence plans and the Rotational NATO Air Defence Model.

"We have to cooperate more closely together to convince the allies to commit to focus on the most urgent capability gaps shortly. We aim to accelerate implementation of the Rotational NATO Air Defence Model agreed to in Vilnius a year ago. We are grateful to the Netherlands for the country's decision to deploy the Patriot system for the exercise this summer in Lithuania and we look forward for it to become the beginning of the practical implementation of the Rotational Air Defence Model," said Minister of National Defence L. Kasciunas.

Ministers also had a unified view regarding the cooperation on the Baltic defence line which adds up to the NATO forward defence. The project has a particular meaning in the trilateral cooperation context, the countries are developing counter-mobility installations on the border with hostile states. Ministers expressed a view that joint procurement and exercises would facilitate cooperation in the framework of this important project.

Minister of Defence of the Baltic states agreed at the meeting in Palanga to muster up the efforts on maritime cooperation and to get the navies of NATO's newest Allies, Sweden and Finland, involved as important contributors to the Baltic region security. Other points of agreement expressed at the meeting were seeking mutual interest in the area of advanced technologies, e.g. drones or UAV jamming equipment, etc. We are learning the lessons from the war in Ukraine and we realize that conventional capabilities have to be complemented by new technologies," underscored Minister L. Kasciunas.

The Ministers closed the meeting with a signature of Joint Communique on further defence cooperation.

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Remarks by President Biden and President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya at State Dinner

May 23, 2024

South Lawn

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, welcome to the White House. The White House never looked this good. (Applause.)

There is a  a bright light in the White House tonight with our guests. They have been impressive and  and accommodating. And, you know, Jill and I are honored to have you here and  and representing, including many members of the African diaspora.

One just left: Barack. (Laughter.) He's been very gracious. He met the President this morning, and he was just here a little while ago.

And what I'd like to do  President Ruto, we share a strong respect for the history that connects us together. You know, as you know, President Carter was the first president to host leaders of Kenya at an official breakfast  I mean, excuse me, at a dinner.

And in his own dinner toast, he said  your counterpart said that  he called the two nations "neighbors." And like neighbors  I got to get his quote exactly right. And like neighbors, he said, not  do not share borders but share beliefs. We share the belief in freedom, democracy, dignity, and equality.

And for ourselves and for everyone else, we want to share that with everyone here. The fact is these are shared beliefs that give both our nations strength.

And let me end with a toast  an Irish toast, if you don't mind an Irish toast.

May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warmly on your face, and may the rains fall softly on your fields. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

To Kenya. To our guests. Cheers.

(President Biden offers a toast.)

Enjoy your dinner.

PRESIDENT RUTO: Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I thank you, Mr. President, very sincerely for your invitation for me to undertake this state visit. The welcome we have received, the hospitality of the American people have been exceptional.

The openness, goodwill, authenticity, and generosity of the American people greatly enhances our appreciation of your achievements and in keeping this nation as a thriving global powerhouse, and it magnifies our experience of the beauty and the greatness of this land.

We are proud of the robust social, economic, security, technological, and the people-to-people ties between our two nations and the shared values which form a very strong bond of friendship between us.

We gather here on behalf of the people of our nations to further strengthen the friendship, solidarity, and mutual endeavor that have united us for many decades. This partnership has kept us strong, effective, and dynamic in our pursuit of freedom, equality, and prosperity.

As we do so, we proudly take a firm stand, shoulder to shoulder, for democracy in a world where troubles have shaken the faith of many; for security as the engine for freedom and as guarantor for all aspirations of trust, enterprise, and innovation; and for prosperity as the ultimate good that our nations and our people so richly deserve.

I am encouraged by our achievements over the past 60 years, which have given people hope, saved lives, increased wealth and investment, and made the world more integrated and secure.

What we have accomplished during my visit is nothing short of phenomenal. We can now face a complex and challenging future with greater confidence in the knowledge that our collective commitment to our shared values stand us in good stead and that as long as we hold our ground and stay the course, we will deliver to our people a world in which it is safe to dream, to work, and to prosper.

Madam First Lady, you have been so kind. We have shared your home for days and have been treated with touching and manifest generosity. This is a warm, wonderful, beautiful place, and we are blessed to have been privileged to visit.

It is now my honor to ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the continued well-being and long life of President Joe Biden and of First Lady Jill, to the continued security and prosperity of the people of the United States, and to the enduring bonds of friendship, partnership, and solidarity between Kenya and the United States.

To the President.

(President Ruto offers a toast.)

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23 May Red Sea Update

U.S. Central Command

Press Release | May 24, 2024

USCENTCOM

May 23, 2024

Release Number 20240523-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- At approximately 7:26 a.m. (Sanaa time) on May 23, Iranian-backed Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) into the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships.

This continued malign and reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

-30-

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Not seeing, not hearing, still continue fighting. Ramstein Guard tested air capabilities with system jamming

Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

24.5.2024

Author: by Major Zuzana Sekaninova

From fighters in the sky to radars on the ground. Almost a complete order of battle of air assets and ground equipment of the Czech Air Force was involved in exercise Ramstein Guard last week. In the context of the changing security environment, traditional training gains on importance again, this time with focus on combat with the opponent employing various system to disrupt communication and seeking to gain superiority in the electromagnetic spectrum. The new Israeli manufactured Mobile Air Defence Radar (MADR) was involved in the exercise for the first time.

Chief of Czech Air Force Command Combat Training Department and Exercise Director Colonel Michal Kudyn regards exercise Ramstein Guard as highly important and useful - the drilled situations are as real as it possibly gets: "Pilots have been required to prove their ability to operate in the conditions of electronically contested navigation, communication and weapon systems. Scenarios changed and escalated day by day. The trainees had to evaluate the missions on daily basis and identify procedures to eliminate the consequence of jamming along in conjunction with electronic warfare specialists," COL Kudyn explains.

The manoeuvres over half of the territory of the Czech Republic trained nearly all units of the Czech Air Force as well as service members from other NATO nations. The movement of units in the air and on the ground were controlled by the National Air Command Post together with the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC). Service personnel of the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) from Uedem, Germany, monitored and evaluated performance directly in the CRC.

Czech Air Force Commander Major General Petr Cepelka singled out the verification of the capabilities of the ground based air defence to effectively operate in environment with targeted jamming of radar and radio communication systems as one of the primary objectives of the exercise. "The units have to be able to detect and track opposing force aircraft even with interference of standard surveillance, target acquisition and communication systems," MG Cepelka said and underlined that pilots are trained to use alternative navigation and communication techniques in such situations and their aircraft are equipped with technologies that minimise the impact of jamming.

Premiere of MADR

The key role in the detection and analysis of signal interference played the 26th Air Command, Control and Surveillance Regiment that contributed the Israeli-made ELM 2084 mobile radars the first time from their introduction to the inventory. As opposed to the ex-Soviet stationary radars, the new equipment can be easily moved to any location, plus it has an integrated north-finding and is fully compatible with NATO radars.

"Moreover, it also detects and acquires unmanned systems as well as artillery and mortar shells, which makes highly effective," said Chief of Staff of the 262nd Radio Technology Battalion Captain Jirina Polcrova. MADR stood the premiere test excellently: "It is equipped with Electronic Counter Counter-Measures (ECCM) and best coped with the jamming emissions, as opposed to both ex-Soviet and even advanced Czech radars."

CASA tested its protection suite, helicopters deployed flares

The 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base Namest participated in the exercise with aircrews flying the Mi-171ShM machines that deployed flares to counter the very short range air defence threats. Joint Terminal Attack Controllers from 22 HAFB were involved too. "Their mission was to enable close air support with the presence of both jammers and spoofers that fake GPS coordinates," Colonel Kudyn added.

The 24th Transport Air Force Base Prague-Kbely assigned for Ramstein Guard a transport airplane that verified defence against air defence missile in airspace above the Boletice Military Training Area. "Upon detection, the CASA self-protection suite automatically deploys flares that confuse missile homing onto the aircraft," COL Kudyn elaborated.

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May 24, 2024

Transcript

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Remarks Welcoming Kenyan President William Ruto to the Pentagon

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Kenyan President William Ruto

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: President Ruto, welcome to the Pentagon. It was great seeing you at the White House yesterday. And I think all of us had a very enjoyable evening, yesterday evening, and certainly enjoyed your remarks, both at the White House and also at the state dinner.

Now, I know that the flooding back home is on your mind. And I know how hard it is to be away from your country right now. Our prayers are with all Kenyans suffering from these floods. Mr. President, you and your team were great hosts during my visit to Nairobi last September. And I'm glad to be able to return the favor today.

It was important for me to travel to Kenya last year because it's a critical partner for regional security and a key partner for global security. So, I'm delighted that President Biden has announced his intention to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally. The United States reserves its designation for close partners that have strategic working relationships with our military and defense civilians.

This designation underscores our close relationship, and it demonstrates our deep appreciation for your contributions to peace and security in Africa and beyond. Kenya's leadership of the multinational security support mission in Haiti shows the important role that Kenya plays in global security. We also appreciate Kenya's contribution to U.N. international peace and stability operations.

And of course, we're also grateful for Kenya's generous support in hosting U.S. forces at Manda Bay. And the memorandum of understanding that our two countries signed at the State Department this week to expand the Manda Bay airfield is a testament to the strength of our partnership and to our commitment to strengthen Kenya's counterterrorism capabilities.

And finally, I'm pleased to announce that three Kenyan cadets have been admitted to the three U.S. military service academies. They will be the first Kenyan cadets to attend these outstanding schools. And I'm confident that they won't be the last. Mr. President, thanks again for visiting the Pentagon. And I look forward to continuing our close cooperation. Over to you, sir.

PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO: Secretary Austin, on my own behalf and on behalf of my delegation, I want to thank you very much for welcoming us to the Pentagon. And thank President Joe Biden for inviting me to undertake this state visit to the United States.

As a testimony of the friendship and partnership between Kenya and the United States, anchored on a very solid foundation of friendship and on the firm foundation of shared values between the U.S. and Kenya, we all believe in freedom. We believe in democracy. We believe in the rule of law. We believe in inclusivity, equality, and of course, in shared prosperity that is guaranteed by peace and security.

This relationship expands to many areas. Our joint fight against terrorism, the strong collaboration we have built in training, as you just announced, in working together in the security of our region. And I want to, in a very special way, thank the United States of America and to you for taking it upon yourself to build an even broader and expand the relationship between our ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Defense here in the United States to encompass new areas of shared experience, expanded access to equipment, access to information, sharing intelligence, and working together towards securing our region and building a safer and much more stable region with the United States.

I am particularly impressed, and I am particularly interested, in knowing the areas that would require my intervention to make this relationship broader and deeper. And I will be making some suggestions on the areas that I would think we would do more, in the areas of equipment, in the areas of training, in the areas of joint engagement. And of course, as you have said, it is not about any particular region.

We have shared challenges across the globe, from Haiti to Middle East to the Horn of Africa, and of course, the situation we have in Haiti. We have undertaken the responsibility bestowed on us by the international community to lead the MSS in Haiti. And as I said, we consider the situation in Haiti that it requires the input, the participation, the contribution of all people and all nations who believe in self-determination, who believes in the rule of law of peace and freedom.

And it's time that we all show up for Haiti and to promise you that we will be working with your teams to see how we can do this together and to expand, of course, our relationship into the future along the lines that President Biden and I discussed yesterday. And I'm sure you and Aden have discussed. I must say, with a lot of gratitude, the signing yesterday to expand the Manda Bay facilities will go a long way in building capabilities necessary for the security of Kenya and especially for the fight against terrorism that we jointly are undertaking in our region.

We will also be hopefully discussing our joint approach to the situation in Somalia, in the context of the impending drawdown. Our position is that it shouldn't be calendar based, it should be conditions based, that we should be able to assess the situation on the ground and that should inform the levels of withdrawal. And I must be immensely grateful to President Joe Biden for his undertaking to work with us to persuade the EU and other friends to continue to work with us in Somalia, so that we do not open a vacuum for terrorists to enhance their activity.

So, let me say again, Secretary Austin, I'm truly grateful that you have welcomed me to this great institution. And it was my pleasure to welcome you in Kenya. And I look forward to another opportunity to host you in Nairobi.

SEC. AUSTIN: Mr. President, we're delighted to have you here. Thanks for coming, and I look forward to a great conversation. And with that, we'll allow our friends in the media to depart.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3787800/

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May 24, 2024

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Kenya President William Ruto

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosted Kenyan President William Ruto at the Pentagon to honor the robust, longstanding security partnership between the United States and the Republic of Kenya. Secretary Austin and President Ruto celebrated President Biden's intent to designate Kenya as a Major Non-NATO Ally, recognizing Kenya's significant contributions and sacrifices to peace and security globally.

The Secretary thanked President Ruto for his country's leadership of the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. Secretary Austin highlighted this week's signing at the U.S. Department of State of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Kenya on Manda Bay airfield construction, echoing the U.S. commitment to significantly expand the facilities in coastal Kenya near the Somali border which further advance our shared counterterrorism goals. Both leaders agreed to build on the decades of collaboration between the United States and Kenya.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3787781/

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May 24, 2024

By Joseph Clark, DOD News

Austin Welcomes Kenya's President to Pentagon Amid Long Strides in Defense Ties

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III emphasized the close ties between the U.S. and Kenya today as he met with Kenyan President William S. Ruto.

The two leaders met following President Joe Biden's announcement of his intention to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO U.S. ally. The announcement came during Ruto's official state visit yesterday at the White House.

Austin welcomed the elevation of the U.S.-Kenya relationship today, noting the strategic working relationships between the two countries' militaries and defense civilians.

"This designation underscores our close relationship," Austin said. "And it demonstrates our deep appreciation for your contributions to peace and security in Africa and beyond."

The designation marks the strong ties between the U.S. and Kenya spanning six decades.

Ruto echoed Austin's praise and thanked the secretary for his efforts to deepen ties between the two militaries.

The president added that Kenya's friendship with the U.S. is based on a strong foundation of shared values.

"We both believe in freedom," Ruto said. "We believe in democracy. We believe in the rule of law. We believe in inclusivity, equality and, of course, in shared prosperity that is guaranteed by peace and security."

Kenya has been a close U.S. partner in countering al-Shabab, an Islamist militant group based in neighboring Somalia.

The militant group is responsible for multiple attacks in Nairobi, including a multiday attack on the Westgate shopping mall in which al-Shabab militants killed 67 people in 2013.

In 2019, gunmen associated with al-Shabab attacked DusitD2 Hotel complex in Nairobi, killing at least 21 people. A U.S. citizen was among the dead.

Kenya is also leading the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti in response to Haiti's request for international support to address insecurity in the Caribbean nation.

Kenya has pledged to send 1,000 police to Haiti to restore safety and security to the country beset by widespread violence and civil unrest. The U.S. plans to provide $300 million in assistance and in-kind support to the mission.

Austin said today that Kenya's leadership of the mission "shows the important role that Kenya plays in global security."

"We also appreciate Kenya's contributions to U.N. international peace and stability operations," Austin said. "And of course, we're also grateful for Kenya's generous support in hosting U.S. forces at Manda Bay."

This week, the U.S. and Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the Manda Bay airfield. Austin said the agreement was a "testament to the strength of our partnership and to our commitment to strengthen Kenya's counterterrorism capability."

In September, Austin met with Kenyan Defense Minister Aden Bare Duale in Kenya's capital city, Nairobi, to mark the United States' commitment to a lasting partnership between the two countries' militaries.

During that visit, the defense counterparts signed a five-year framework for defense cooperation and enhancing interoperability between the two militaries.

"It was important for me to travel to Kenya last year because it is a critical partner for regional security and a key partner for global security," Austin said today during his meeting with Ruto.

Austin announced today that three Kenyan cadets have been admitted to U.S. military service academies as further evidence of the close partnership between the two countries.

"They will be the first Kenyan cadets to attend these outstanding schools  and I'm confident that they won't be the last," Austin said.

"Mr. President, thanks again for visiting the Pentagon," he said. "And I look forward to continuing our close cooperation."

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Russia: Statement by the High Representative on the incident on the border with Estonia

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.05.2024

EEAS Press Team

On Thursday early morning, Russian border guards unilaterally removed light buoys placed by Estonia on the Narva River to demarcate the border with Russia.

The European Union has been monitoring the situation closely from the start in cooperation and solidarity with Estonia and other Member States.

This border incident is part of a broader pattern of provocative behaviour and hybrid actions by Russia, including on its maritime and land borders in the Baltic Sea region.

Such actions are unacceptable. The European Union expects an explanation by Russia about the removal of the buoys, and their immediate return.



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Statement of H.E. Ms. Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland on the announcement of the Prosecutor of the ICC to apply for warrants of arrest related to the situation in the State of Palestine

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

Statements, 24.5.2024

Finland is firmly committed to the rule-based international order and international law. Accountability for serious violations of international law, including individual criminal responsibility of those most responsible, is a key component of lasting international peace. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has a central role in combatting impunity, complementing national jurisdictions.

I have taken note of the announcement by the Prosecutor of the ICC to apply for warrants of arrest related to the ongoing investigation in the situation in the State of Palestine. It is now for the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Court to consider the evidence and analysis presented by the Prosecutor.

Applying for several warrants of arrest conjointly in the same investigation is a standard legal practice. Therefore, it cannot be viewed as equating the leaders of Israel and Hamas. A parallel between democratically elected government leaders and the leadership of a terrorist organization would be unaccetable.

Finland stands by the ICC as an independent and impartial court of law. The ICC must to be allowed to carry out its mandate without fear or favor.

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Norway contributes NOK 100 million in budget support to Palestine

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 24/05/2024

'The financial situation for the Palestinian Authority is acute. They need money to pay for basic services, such as health and education, for the population. Therefore, Norway is now transferring NOK 100 million in budget support', said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

The Palestinian Authority will use the money to finance important services in the health sector, including medicines and treatment at Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem.

The financial situation of the Palestinian Authority has seriously deteriorated in recent months due to the war in Gaza, increased unrest and many obstacles in the West Bank, and because Israel is withholding large parts of the clearance revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Norway has contributed to a temporary arrangement that enables Palestine to access parts of these revenues.

'We must prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, which would be a serious setback for the Palestinians and the possibility of a two-state solution. It would also undermine the 30-year effort to build Palestinian institutions. I call on Israel to transfer the clearance revenues it is withholding and on the international community to continue its support to the Palestinians,' said Eide.

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Minister Tvinnereim's remarks at the launch of Norway's new humanitarian strategy

Government of Norway

Speech/statement | Date: 24/05/2024

By Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim (May 15 at Oslo Concert Hall)

(as delivered)

High Commissioner, dear friends, and colleagues, welcome to this launch of Norway's revised humanitarian strategy. It sets the course for our humanitarian policies in the years to come.

We meet against a bleak backdrop. Humanitarian needs have drastically increased in the five years since we last revised our strategies. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has more than doubled in those five years, from 135 million in 2018 to 300 million people in 2024.

We know that a growing number of people are experiencing food insecurity, as we just heard from South Sudan. Accelerating climate change is triggering more crises. The number of armed conflicts is a staggering 110 ongoing in the world today. And you all share the grave concern for the safety of humanitarian workers. We see that their safety is increasingly threatened, and the respect for international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles is challenged.

So this is the bleak backdrop. Needs are increasing. However, the international community has never before mobilized more resources to the humanitarian system. And we, the humanitarian consortium, or whatever we can call ourselves, are more efficient and better coordinated than we have ever been.

This strategy is a product of active involvement from many of you here today, partner organizations, diplomatic missions. We have promised to be inclusive, and I trust that we have delivered on that promise. Therefore, I'm very pleased that we are gathered here today. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, leaders from humanitarian organizations, experts on international humanitarian law, and we have Norwegian embassies with us following the stream. And all of you in the audience, civil society, academia, private and public sectors, and representatives from the diplomatic community in Oslo. Thank you for coming.

Let me first emphasize, it is more important than ever before that we insist on the values and principles underlying our humanitarian engagement. Our efforts will always be based on international humanitarian law and the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Norway has a long-standing tradition of humanitarian leadership and funding, and we have also a tradition of being a principled actor. With this strategy, we recommit to that tradition. We must do our bit to safeguard a humanitarian system that is the difference between life and death for millions of people.

Let me highlight the priority areas of the strategy. First, we will continue to prioritize the urgent need to protect civilians from violence and abuse. We will place emphasis on combating sexual and gender-based violence, on the protection of children and young people, protection of refugees and internally displaced people, the protection of health and educational institutions, and the humanitarian consequences of landmines and other explosives, and the particular impact of urban warfare.

Second, we will strengthen our efforts to combat hunger. One of the most disheartening features of today's world is the sheer number of people affected by food shortage and hunger. This situation has drastically deteriorated over the past five years. Climate change will also, of course, make these efforts even more important.

Third, we will continue to be a major humanitarian donor to the UN, the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, and non-governmental humanitarian organizations. We will continue to promote rapid, flexible, and predictable financing. We want to enable you to respond swiftly. We will demand from our partners quality and results, and willingness to innovate and reform. This includes clear expectations regarding good systems and practices to prevent and respond to sexual abuse.

We will promote locally-led humanitarian responses, and the gender perspective is to be integrated into all efforts. The causes of humanitarian crises and armed conflicts are complex. We can't prevent, remedy, or solve them by humanitarian interventions alone. So, a dedicated chapter of this strategy provides guidance on a comprehensive approach. And what does that entail? It describes how several foreign policy instruments must interact to have a real, lasting impact. We may call it nexus, we may call it triple nexus, whatever you like. The point is to work in a way that may reduce the needs over time, and to identify durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced people.

Let me say a few words about the upcoming MFA-NORAD reform and partnership. And let me reiterate, Norwegian humanitarian aid will continue to be principled, fast, and flexible. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to an even greater extent to take humanitarian initiatives and be a leading actor in international humanitarian policies. We must recognize that humanitarian efforts and long-term development aid are two different professional fields. In acute crises, it's paramount to react quickly and decisively.

In the transition of grant management responsibilities from the ministry to NORAD, we will ensure humanitarian expertise, understanding of the context, and conflict sensitivity. I look forward to hearing from our panelists and our humanitarian partners present here today. What do you find in this strategy that can strengthen and help your efforts? What should we be, as a ministry, aware of in the implementation of this strategy? And above all, how can our partnership respond even better, saving even more lives? Thank you.

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World court orders Israel to 'immediately halt' Rafah offensive

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 24, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The International Court of Justice, the top United Nations court, has ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah.

Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part," the ICJ said on Friday.

In early May, Israel carried out ground incursions into the refugee-packed city of Rafah in defiance of global warnings, forcing more than 800,000 people "to flee", according to UN figures.

The ICJ, widely known as the world court, also ordered the Israeli regime to open the Rafah crossing to ensure the "unhindered" access of humanitarian aid.

Israel must "maintain open the Rafah crossing for unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance," the court added in the landmark ruling.

The ruling came as South Africa last week asked the ICJ to order a halt to the war in Gaza, and in Rafah in particular.

South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel in December 2023 over its war on the Gaza Strip.

According to South Africa's application, Israel's actions in Gaza were "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."

The ICJ's final ruling on the broader South African case may take months if not years to rule, but the court can order urgent measures while weighing its decision.

In January, the ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, issued an interim ruling, ordering the occupying regime to take all measures to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire.

On March 6, South Africa returned to the court, requesting additional provisional measures against Israel in light of reports of widespread starvation.

Later in March, the court ordered Israel to take "all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance."

2050



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DIANA opens new Regional Hub in Estonia, showcases new cutting-edge innovations

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

24 May. 2024

On Friday (24 May 2024), NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) officially inaugurated its new Regional Hub in Tallinn, Estonia.

The Hub in Tallinn becomes the second DIANA office, and follows the opening of DIANA's Regional Headquarters in London last year. A North American Headquarters is due to open in Halifax, Canada later this year.

"Given Estonia's extraordinary track record of innovation, it is a perfect home for DIANA's Regional Hub," said Professor Deeph Chana, Managing Director of DIANA. "The Hub will play a key role in operations across DIANA, as we work to strengthen and accelerate emerging technologies capacity across 32 innovation ecosystems."

DIANA's mission is to bring to bear the full innovation capacity across the Alliance to build a more resilient and peaceful future. DIANA provides funding, accelerator programming, mentorship, testing facilities and connections to investors and end-users to help companies move from ideation to real-world adoption in defence and civilian markets.

In January, 44 companies began DIANA's first accelerator's programme to develop their commercial technologies in response to NATO's security challenges on energy resilience, undersea sensing and surveillance, and secure information sharing.

Nine of these companies follow the accelerator's programme at Tehnopol in Tallinn. On Wednesday (22 May 2024) they demonstrated their innovations at a DIANA Demo Day. Technologies on display included innovative fuel cells, a cyber 'kill-switch', micro wind-turbines, secure optical communications and drone identification technology. Similar events will take place at DIANA's accelerator sites in Turin, Copenhagen, Boston and Seattle.

DIANA's next set of challenges will be launched in July. Specific challenge topics are developed from DIANA's strategic direction, which includes key technology priorities identified by Allies such as energy, information, sensing, health, infrastructure, logistics and space. Applicants will have approximately five weeks to submit their applications, and will be evaluated against a range of different criteria including technical and commercial viability.

For more information - including an interactive map of DIANA's offices and affiliated sites - visit www.diana.nato.int

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Poland's support is crucial for saving lives in Sudan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

24.05.2024

WARSAW, 24 May 2024 -- Poland's support to people displaced by the year-long war in Sudan is crucial for saving lives in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has said. The Government of Poland has provided UNHCR with 1 million euros (some 4.3 million zlotys) for its emergency relief efforts to support those displaced by the war in Sudan, where more humanitarian aid is urgently needed.

"Following an exemplary response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis, Poland has stepped up on the world stage to support those forced to flee their homes inside Sudan," said Kevin J. Allen, UNHCR Representative in Poland. "Such international solidarity  and, indeed, humanitarian leadership  is inspiring and a reminder that Poland is increasingly a global player."

During the Humanitarian Conference in Paris on 15 April, Poland and 32 other states and organizations pledged 2 billion euros (some 8.6 billion zlotys) to support civilian populations in Sudan and those who sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

"In terms of the humanitarian needs in Sudan we deal with one of the most difficult situations and serious displacement crises in Africa. We have received one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland, which is why we are aware of the importance of the support to displaced populations that are forced to flee because of armed conflicts in other parts of the world," said Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Anna Radwan-Rohrenschef at the Sudan pledging conference.

The conflict in Sudan has so far forcibly displaced 6.7 million people inside the country. Additionally, 1.8 million have fled across Sudan's borders to the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan. This number includes refugees and people compelled to return to their home countries prematurely. Most of them are living in remote areas without access to food or basic medical services. While the humanitarian situation continues to worsen, funding remains critically low and insufficient to meet needs across Sudan and in neighbouring countries.

UNHCR, alongside UN partners, remains in Sudan to support its people and continues to operate wherever it has safe access. In Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan State, UNHCR is working with local partners, refugee leaders and community-based protection networks to monitor needs and assist. The UN Refugee Agency is also present in Red Sea, Northern, White Nile, Blue Nile, Gedaref and Kassala states, which host hundreds of thousands of refugees who were already in the country before the conflict.

Following its recent pledge for Sudan, Poland has announced that it will also support UNHCR's work in Armenia with an amount of USD 250,000 (some 997,000 zlotys).



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Iraqi resistance strikes new Israeli positions

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 10:07 PM

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it has carried out a fresh strike on Israeli positions in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in a statement published on its Telegram channel, claimed responsibility for the attack on the "vital" site in the Port of Eilat on Friday evening.

The resistance movement said the drone attack was in response to massacres, committed by Israel against Palestinian civilians.

The group vowed to continue its operations against Israeli targets.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has been staging many such attacks on Israeli targets since the occupying regime launched a genocidal war on Gaza in early October.

It has also hit American military bases in Iraq and neighboring Syria in retaliation for Washington's support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Israel launched its atrocious onslaught against the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, residences, and houses of worship since Palestinian resistance movements launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation al-Aqsa Storm, against the usurping regime on October 7.

At least 35,800 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and another 80,200 individuals have sustained injuries. More than 1.7 million people have been internally displaced during the war as well.

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End Rafah invasion: World welcomes ICJ rulin, Israel still defiant

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 7:10 PM

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in the Hague, ordered Israel on Friday to "immediately" halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

President of the United Nations' top court Nawaf Salam described the humanitarian situation in Rafah as "disastrous."

He said that the UN officials have indicated that the situation was set to "intensify even further" if Israel's invasion of Rafah continues.

US senator says ICJ can go to hell

Shortly after the ruling US Senator Lindsay Graham took to X after the ruling, saying that the World Court "can go to hell."

He described the ruling as "ridiculous" and called on Israel to "ignore it.

"It is long past time to stand up to these so-called international justice organizations associated with the UN."

US stands alone in full support for Gaza genocide: CAIR

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) "applauds" the rulings, saying that Washington "stands alone in continuing to offer full support for Israel's genocide in Gaza."

The US-based civil rights group said the regime "must be stopped from completing this monstrous goal."

CAIR said that "President Biden must honor this important ruling by immediately ending all military assistance to Israel's genocide."

Israel unlikely to heed

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the ceasefire order but said he remains concerned the United Nations Security Council has not succeeded in reducing human suffering in Gaza.

South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor also warned that Israel is unlikely to heed the order.

"Israel has had impunity for so long that they don't care what the global community says.

"So I think the responsibility goes to us a member states of the United Nations and most particularly to the Security Council," she said.

No power on Earth can stop Israel: Tel Aviv

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office was quick to react to the ruling, saying, "No power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza."

It said, "South Africa's accusations against Israel regarding 'genocide' are false, outrageous and disgusting."

The regime's war cabinet minister Benny Gantz also claimed that Israel "set out on a just and necessary campaign" in the Gaza Strip.

EU yet to decide position on ICJ ruling

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, however, said the EU would have to state its position on the ICJ's ruling.

He said Brussels "will have to choose between our support to international institutions of the rule of law or our support to Israel."

Norway welcomed the ruling, calling on Tel Aviv to "carry out the measures that have been ordered."

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib also called for immediate implementation of the court decision.

She wrote on X, "The violence and human suffering in Gaza must stop."

Many other figures also welcomed the court order.

Egypt called on Tel Aviv "to stop its systematic policies against the Palestinian people of targeting, starvation and siege in violation of all provisions of international law and international humanitarian law."

Palestinian Authority said in a statement that President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the decision which "represents an international consensus on the demand to stop the all-out war on Gaza."

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas also hailed the decision "that calls on the Zionist occupation forces to end its military aggression on Rafah."

Basem Naim, the head of Hamas' Department of Politics and Foreign Relations said that the group also welcomes the court's request to allow investigators into Gaza to probe "acts of genocide against the Palestinian people."

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World court orders Israel to 'immediately halt' Rafah offensive

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 2:58 PM

The International Court of Justice, the top United Nations court, has ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah.

Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part," the ICJ said on Friday.

In early May, Israel carried out ground incursions into the refugee-packed city of Rafah in defiance of global warnings, forcing more than 800,000 people "to flee", according to UN figures.

The ICJ, widely known as the world court, also ordered the Israeli regime to open the Rafah crossing to ensure the "unhindered" access of humanitarian aid.

Israel must "maintain open the Rafah crossing for unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance," the court added in the landmark ruling.

The ruling came as South Africa last week asked the ICJ to order a halt to the war in Gaza, and in Rafah in particular.

South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel in December 2023 over its war on the Gaza Strip. According to South Africa's application, Israel's actions in Gaza were "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."

The ICJ's final ruling on the broader South African case may take months if not years to rule, but the court can order urgent measures while weighing its decision.

In January, the ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, issued an interim ruling, ordering the occupying regime to take all measures to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire.

On March 6, South Africa returned to the court, requesting additional provisional measures against Israel in light of reports of widespread starvation.

Later in March, the court ordered Israel to take "all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance."

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 35,800 Palestinians and injured 80,200 more.

The ICJ ruling comes hot on the heels of another highly charged decision Monday by the International Criminal Court prosecutor who requested arrest warrants to be issued against Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the regime's minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant on charges of "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity".

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EU's Borrell warns Israel for 'threatening' ICC judges

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 1:55 PM

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has warned Israel over "threatening" the judges of the International Criminal Court that could soon issue arrest warrants for the regime's prime minister and minister of military affairs.

"I ask everyone, starting with the Israeli government, but also certain European governments, not to intimidate the judges, not to threaten them," Borrell said during an interview with Spanish public television TVE.

He also called for "respect for the International Criminal Court."

Borrell stressed that what the court's prosecutor "has done in presenting a case should not be considered as an anti-Semitic attitude."

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday said he requested arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the regime's minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant on charges of "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity".

If the court's judges issued the warrants, any of the 124 ICC member states would technically be obliged to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they travelled there.

The court, however, has no mechanism to enforce arrests.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 35,800 Palestinians and injured 80,200 more.



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Israel intensifies strikes on Gaza as top UN court ruling due

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 10:46 AM

Israel has intensified its deadly strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip, as the UN's top court is due to rule on a plea to halt the genocidal war on the besieged strip.

Palestinian sources said Friday Israel intensified aerial and artillery strikes on Rafah and moved deeper into the southern city.

The Israeli military confirmed in a statement that the regime's "troops are continuing operations" in the southern city of Rafah.

Fierce clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters were also reported in the southern part of the city.

Reuters said Israeli tanks "advanced in Rafah's southeast, edged towards the city's western district of Yibna and continued to operate in three eastern suburbs."

"The occupation (Israeli forces) is trying to move further to the west, they are on the edge of Yibna, which is densely populated. They didn't invade it yet," one resident, who asked not to be named, told Reuters via a chat app.

"We hear explosions and we see black smoke coming up from the areas where the army has invaded. It was another very difficult night," he added.

Overnight air and naval strikes were also reported in Gaza City, which left several casualties.

Fighting also flared again in the northern areas of Gaza where Israel previously claimed to have "dismantled" the command structure of Hamas resistance movement.

"We hear nothing but the sound of explosions and gunfire," Mahmud al-Sharif, 31, in the Jabalia refugee camp told AFP.

A local source on Friday reported helicopters firing at the camp and renewed artillery shelling in the area.

The ongoing strikes come while the International Court of Justice is set to rule Friday on the Israeli aggression after South Africa last week asked the ICJ, also known as the world court, to order a halt to the war in Gaza, and in Rafah in particular.

In January, the ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, issued an interim ruling on the emergency measures requested by South Africa in its genocide case against Israel, ordering the occupying regime to take all measures to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire.

South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel in December 2023 over its war on the Gaza Strip. According to South Africa's application, Israel's actions in Gaza were "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

In early May, Israel carried out ground incursions into the refugee-packed city of Rafah in defiance of global warnings, forcing more than 800,000 people "to flee", according to UN figures.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 35,800 Palestinians and injured 80,200 more.





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May 23: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 10:23 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 35,800 Palestinians so far, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Thursday, May 23, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on May 23:



Blew up a booby-trapped tunnel entrance on an Israeli infantry force in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, causing many casualties.



Bombed a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles near the Salah Al-Din Gate, south of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, with mortar shells.



Targeted and destroyed three Israeli military Merkava-4 tanks with Al-Yassin-105 shells near the Habboub Building and Girls' Schools Street in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.



Al-Quds Brigades' operations on May 23:



In a joint operation with the Omar Al-Qasim Forces, targeted an Israeli military Merkava tank with a tandem shell near the Aisha Mosque in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.



Sniped an Israeli soldier on the Netzarim axis southwest of Gaza Strip.



Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles near the Salah Al-Din Gate south of Rafah with heavy-caliber mortar shells.



Bombed the positions of Israeli soldiers on the supply line on the Netzarim axis, south of Gaza City, with a barrage of mortar shells.



Targeted a convoy of Israeli military vehicles east of the Central Governorate with a barrage of 107mm rockets.



Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with a barrage of 60mm mortar shells southeast of Rafah in southern Gaza.



Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles east of the Jabalia camp with a barrage of mortar shells.



Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on May 23:



Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with a barrage of mortar shells east of the Jabalia camp.



Al-Asifah Forces' operations on May 23:



Bombed a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles around the Eastern Cemetery with short-range 107-type rockets.



Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on May 23:



Targeted a gathering of Israeli forces near the Salah Al-Din Gate in Rafah in southern Gaza with mortar shells.



Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the Sofa military support site with Qasim-10 rockets.



Detonated a high-impact explosive device in an Israeli troop carrier in the center of the Al-Jeneina neighborhood in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.



Hezbollah's operations on May 23:



Eastern sector:



At around 11:50 local time, targeted the 91st Division headquarters at the Illit base with dozens of Katyusha rockets.



At around 12:30 local time, targeted surveillance equipment at the Metulla site.



At around 14:30 local time, targeted the headquarters of the Sahel Battalion of the 769th Brigade at the Beit Hillel base with dozens of Katyusha and Falaq rockets.



At around 16:55 local time, targeted the Al-Marj site with artillery shells.



At around 20:30 local time, targeted the headquarters of the 769th Brigade in Kiryat Shmona with drones.



At around 19:20 local time, targeted the Zibdeen barracks in Lebanon's Shebaa with a barrage of missiles.



At around 22:20 local time, targeted Israeli soldiers in the Metulla settlement with appropriate weapons.



Western sector:



At around 14:30 local time, targeted surveillance equipment at the Rahib site.



At around 16:55 local time, targeted a Merkava tank in the Shtoula Forest with guided missiles, confirming casualties.



At around 21:15 local time, targeted three Israeli military buildings in the Evin Menachem settlement.



Islamic Resistance in Iraq's operations on May 23:



Targeted a vital Israeli military site in Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat) with a barrage of drones.



Targeted an Israeli military site in the occupied Golan Heights with a barrage of drones.



Launched advanced Arqab cruise missiles at vital Israeli military targets in the Port of Haifa in occupied Palestinian territories.





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Colombia to open embassy in occupied West Bank's Ramallah

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 8:09 AM

Colombia's foreign minister has announced that his country will open an embassy in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, after is has cut ties with Israel.

"President Gustavo Petro has instructed us to open a Colombian embassy in Ramallah - and this is the next step we will take," El Tiempo quoted Luis Gilberto Murillo as saying.

Murillo said President Petro had given his support for Palestine being "recognized as a state with full rights at the United Nations" during a meeting of regional leaders in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

That came as the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution, urging the world body's Security Council to reconsider Palestine's request to become a full UN member.

The resolution was passed during an emergency session of the assembly on May 10, after the United States, the Israeli regime's biggest ally, blocked Palestine's attempt at being recognized as a full member.

Palestine is currently a UN non-member observer state, a status that was granted to it in 2012. An application to become a full UN member needs to be approved by the Security Council and then at least two-thirds of the General Assembly.

Colombia's plan to open an embassy in Ramallah was announced on the same day Norway, Spain and Ireland said they would recognize Palestine as a state. Colombia recognized Palestine in 2018.

It also came as Petro earlier this month said he would cut Colombia's diplomatic relations with Israel over the regime's ongoing genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to Israel's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 35,800 Palestinians and injured 80,200 more.

Western officials warn of 'catastrophe' in West Bank

Western officials on Thursday warned of an "economic catastrophe" in the occupied West Bank over Israel's decision to cut off Palestinian banks.

The warning came a day after Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to isolate Palestinian banks by not extending guarantees to Israeli banks that deal with them.

The guarantees allow payments for vital services and salaries tied to the Palestinian Authority, and facilitate the import of essentials such as food, water and electricity into the occupied Palestinian territories.

According to three Western officials, the Palestinian economy would effectively stop over time, if the waivers, which are set to expire on July 1, were not renewed.

"The point that we're making . . . is that you shouldn't be threatening people's access to food, electricity and water at a moment like this, especially in the West Bank," a US official said.

Not renewing the waiver "will be to the detriment not only of Palestinian interests but also to Israel's and the region's security and stability," the official added.

Smotrich has also announced that he would withhold tax revenue Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, which account for more than 60 percent of annual revenues used in the West Bank.

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Hezbollah hits Israeli outposts, Islamic Resistance in Iraq targets Haifa

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 6:09 AM

Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have conducted separate operations against Israeli military positions in the 1948 occupied territories in support of Palestinians amid the genocidal war on Gaza.

Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television reported that Hezbollah fighters launched a volley of shells at three buildings housing Israeli troops in the Even Menachem moshav in the Western Galilee and the projectiles struck the designated targets precisely.

The Lebanese resistance group also targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the occupied territories, opposite the southern Lebanese village of Yaroun, with several missiles.

Moreover, Hezbollah staged an ambush on an Israeli Merkava battle tank, and hit it with an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) in Shtula Forest. The missile destroyed the tank, and left its crew dead or injured.

The operations came after Hezbollah announced earlier the death of one of its fighters, identified as Mohammad Farran from Nabatiyeh city in southern Lebanon, in an Israeli drone strike.

The Israeli military said Farran was in charge of manufacturing strategic weapons belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah retaliated Farran's "assassination" and "the injuring and terrorizing of a number of school children" with dozens of Katyusha rockets fired on two command centers in the Illit base and Beit Hillel outpost.

It later targeted surveillance equipment in the Israeli Metula and al-Raheb posts.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, announced in a statement published on its Telegram channel that it had targeted vital Israeli sites.

The coalition launched a kamikaze drone toward targets in the port city of Haifa in the northwestern part of the occupied Palestinian territories.

The group said the retaliatory operation was part of the second phase of its operations against the Israeli regime, and in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has been staging many such attacks on Israeli targets since the occupying regime launched a genocidal war on Gaza in early October.

Israel launched the war on Gaza 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.

The Israeli war has killed at least 35,800 Gazans, most of them women, children, and adolescents. Another 80,200 Palestinians have sustained injuries as well.

The Israeli military has also been carrying out attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

The movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza.

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Parties finish campaigning ahead of Cambodia's nationwide local vote

The run-up to the provincial, municipal and district council elections has featured arrests of opposition.

By RFA Khmer 2024.05.24 -- Political parties in Cambodia have wrapped up an eight-day campaign period ahead of Sunday's provincial, municipal and district council elections that will feature candidates from the ruling Cambodian People's Party and four other parties.

The nationwide election follows February's Senate election and last July's national parliamentary elections. The long-ruling Cambodian People's Party, or CPP, won almost all seats in both of those elections.

Like the two recent votes, Sunday's local election has also featured a crackdown on opposition activists in recent months, including the arrests of three opposition party members on May 9.

Sun Chanthy, 44, president of the National Power Party, was arrested at Phnom Penh International Airport upon his return from Japan, where he had addressed Cambodian supporters. He was charged with incitement.

Police also detained and later released two members of the Candlelight Party in Kampong Cham province. Authorities provided no reason for their arrest and prevented family members from visiting the two men.

The Candlelight Party, the country's main organization opposition party, is planning to field candidates in Sunday's elections, even though the National Election Committee ruled last year that the party was ineligible for July's national elections.

The National Power Party, formed in 2023 by breakaway members of the Candlelight Party, will also compete in the election. Party leaders and members marched through the streets of Siem Reap on Friday.

Sok Kimseng, the chairman of the party's executive committee, said the National Power Party continues to promote a truly democratic Cambodia through free, fair and equitable elections, despite the political environment and the charges against Sun Chanthy.

"Even though we are saddened without the party's president, we convert our suffering into our firm stance in order to move forward for a positive change," he told supporters.

'Unite into a democratic force'

CPP leaders held rallies with members in several provinces across the country and conducted a march in Phnom Penh.

Another opposition party that is participating in the election, the Khmer Will Party, gathered with supporters on Friday at the party's headquarters in Tboung Khmum province.

The election is an important step for building a democratic force to compete with the CPP in upcoming elections, said Kong Monika, the party's secretary-general.

"I appeal to all democrats and the supporters of other parties to join hands toward the 2027 and 2028 elections," he said. "We have enough time to unite into a democratic force to compete with the ruling party."

He added that he hopes previous supporters of the Candlelight Party will vote for the Khmer Will Party on Sunday.

The other parties fielding candidates are FUNCINPEC and the Khmer United National Party.

Only those already directly elected by the public to Cambodia's 1,652 commune councils are allowed to vote in the council elections.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed.

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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Vietnam 'does not support' anti-Hun Sen comments on TikTok: ministry

A Vietnamese spokesperson reiterated a call for Cambodia to share information on canal project.

By RFA Staff 2024.05.24 -- Vietnam "does not support" offensive comments about veteran Cambodian leader Hun Sen posted on one of his social media pages, Vietnam's foreign ministry said in a response to a Cambodian request for help to track down those responsible.

Hun Sen, who now heads Cambodia's Senate, said he suspected the disparaging comments on his TikTok page were in response to his support for a Chinese-developed canal project in southern Cambodia. Hun Sen is spearheading development of the Funan Techo canal but Vietnam regards it with suspicion, fearing disruption to vital flows of water down the Mekong river.

"We do not support the opinions and comments that provoke division between friendly people of Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as personally target leaders of both countries," a spokeswoman for the Vietnamese ministry, Pham Thu Hang, told a press briefing on Thursday.

"Those supposed Vietnamese accounts only express their personal opinions and do not represent Vietnam's government or the people," she added, though stopping short of condemning the unidentified people who posted the comments.

Disagreement over the canal has strained relations between the neighbors, who have been staunch allies for decades.

Hun Sen said last Sunday that a large number of disrespectful comments in Vietnamese were posted on his TikTok and he called for authorities to trace those responsible.

Some of the comments read: "Vietnam sacrificed its blood for peace in Cambodia," and "Don't forget tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteers who were killed in Cambodia."

The former prime minister, who retains much power in Cambodia, was also called "ungrateful," "China's puppet," and a "traitor" in the posts

Critics say the proposed canal that connects Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, with the Gulf of Thailand would severely affect Vietnam's Mekong river delta, a vital rice-growing region and home to millions of people.

Some Vietnamese experts say the canal could "reduce the flow of the river by up to 50%" by the time it reaches Vietnam.

Cambodia has denied that the 180-km (112 miles) canal would cause such an impact and Hun Sen has ruled out more talks with Vietnam on it.

The Vietnamese spokeswoman again called on Cambodia to provide full details of the canal. She said Vietnam hoped for "continuing close cooperation with Cambodia in sharing information" about the canal, as well as its cross-border impact.

Last month, Cambodia's Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister in charge of ASEAN affairs, So Naro, told the media that Cambodia was not legally required to submit any documents to Vietnam regarding the studies and construction of the Funan Techo canal.

Cambodia had submitted "all documents of the studies on the canal related to the impacts on the environment and the water resources" to the MRC, So Naro said, referring to the Mekong River Commission, an intergovernmental organization in charge of the sustainable management of the Mekong basin.

"The Vietnamese authorities can request access to those files," So Naro was quoted as saying.

Analysts say that the canal project has created a rift between the two governments, which enjoyed close fraternal ties in the past but have drifted apart in recent years as Cambodia comes under increased economic and political influence from China.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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The Azadi Briefing: Deadly Floods Worsen Hunger Crisis In Afghanistan

By Abubakar Siddique May 24, 2024

The Key Issue

Flash floods that have ravaged Afghanistan in recent weeks have exacerbated the hunger crisis in the country, aid agencies said.

Hundreds of people have been killed, thousands of homes destroyed, and thousands of hectares of farmland wiped out by the floods in northern Afghanistan since May 10.



The UN World Food Program (WFP) has warned that flooding is likely to intensify in the months ahead, with a major impact on food security.



Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said flood-affected areas are "hunger hot spots, most of which are already in crisis levels of food insecurity."



Why It's Important: Survivors of the floods have said they urgently need help.



"We need shelter and water," Tora Khan, a resident of Baghlan, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "Drinking water is very scarce because many wells were destroyed."



Relief organizations have struggled to deliver aid to at least 80,000 people affected by the floods, most of them in the provinces of Baghlan and Ghor.



Without help, there are fears that some Afghans are likely to succumb to disease or starvation.



"We are in dire need of water," said Mohammad Yaser, a resident of Baghlan, who added that some local charities had sent them some food and clean water.



"But we don't know how long until we run out," Yaser told Radio Azadi. "Maybe today or tomorrow."



The UN estimates that nearly 24 million Afghans out of a total population of 40 million need humanitarian assistance this year. The WFP said almost 16 million Afghans are acutely food insecure.



What's Next: Afghanistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change. Experts say extreme weather events, including floods and droughts, are spurred by climate change and likely to increase.



The Taliban's unrecognized government is internationally isolated and international humanitarian funding for Afghanistan has been declining.



That is likely to make the country ill-equipped to prepare for and react to major natural disasters.

What To Keep An Eye On

Turkish Airlines has resumedflights to Afghanistan. The airline suspended air travel to the country in the wake of the Taliban's takeover in 2021.



Turkish Airlines said on May 21 that it will operate four flights from Istanbul to Kabul each week.



"I am jubilant," said Muska, a Kabul resident whose extended family lives in Turkey. "Now I can visit them, and they can visit us."



Last year, Fly Dubai became the first major airline to resume flights to Afghanistan. Air Arabia, another low-cost airline in the United Arab Emirates, also restarted flights soon after.



Why It's Important: Turkish Airlines flights will make it easier for members of the Afghan diaspora, which numbers around 6 million, to visit their homeland.



The flights will also help the isolated country connect with the rest of the world. Istanbul is a major international aviation hub.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-floods-turkish- airlines/32962255.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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Top UN Court Orders Israel To 'Immediately Halt' Its Offensive In Rafah

By RFE/RL May 24, 2024

The United Nation's highest court has ruled that due to the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip, Israel must "immediately halt" its military offensive in the city of Rafah and take urgent steps to address the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Reading out a ruling by the International Court of Justice on May 24, the body's president, Nawaf Salam, said measures should include the reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to allow aid to flow into Gaza.

Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part," Salam said.

The order is part of a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide and asking the court to rule that Israel must stop its offensive in the southern Gaza city.

In a ruling on January 26, the 15-judge panel ruled that Israel must do everything to prevent genocide during its offensive in response to an attack in October by Hamas -- which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU -- but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire.

On March 28, it ordered Israel to take all necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies to Gaza's Palestinian population.

Though the court's rulings are legally binding, it has no way to enforce them.

Still, the 13-2 vote ordering Israel to halt its Rafah offensive, and to report on its progress in easing the humanitarian crisis within one month, increases pressure on Israel and further isolates it.

Israel had denied the accusation it is committing genocide in Gaza in the hostilities, touched off by an attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 that killed some 1,200 people -- mainly civilians -- and saw around 240 more taken hostage.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the campaign, the majority of whom were women and children.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-international-court- justice-gaza-south-africa-genocide/32962378.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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Bosnian Serbs' Move Toward Secession 'Dangerous, Irresponsible,' U.S. Envoy Warns

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service May 24, 2024

A proposal by the leaders of Republika Srpska to separate the Serbian entity from Bosnia-Herzegovina is "secession by another name" and "based upon a set of lies" that would mean the end of the entity, the U.S. envoy to Sarajevo has warned.

"Yesterday, Mr. Dodik (Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik) announced that the Republika Srpska government took a formal decision to propose Republika Srpska's 'disassociation' from Bosnia-Herzegovina," Murphy said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on May 24.

"This is...secession by another name, and it is dangerous, irresponsible, anti-Dayton, and puts the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and multiethnic character of Bosnia at risk.... Republika Srpska can only exist inside Bosnia-Herzegovina. [It's] secession or 'disassociation' does not mean Republika Srpska's independence or the end of Bosnia-Herzegovina, it means the end of the Republika Srpska," Murphy wrote.

The government of Republika Srpska on May 23 announced that a document about what it called the "peaceful separation" from Bosnia would be sent to the other Bosnian entity -- the Bosniak-Croat federation -- in the next 30 days.

The announcement made by Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic came at a special government meeting chaired by Dodik and called ahead of the UN General Assembly's approval of a nonbinding resolution to commemorate the 1995 Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia over strong opposition from Serbs.

Russia-friendly Dodik, who has been sanctioned by the United States and Britain over his efforts to undermine the Dayton peace accords, has regularly reiterated his denial of the Srebrenica genocide.

He has repeatedly threatened that if the resolution is adopted, the entity "will withdraw from the decision-making process in Bosnia."

The vote on May 23 in the 193-member UN General Assembly was 84-19, with 68 abstentions, in favor of the resolution designating July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.

The document, which has sparked protests and a lobbying campaign by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the Bosnian Serb leadership to block its adoption, establishes an annual day of commemoration for the massacre of 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica at the height of the Bosnian War.

The war that pitched ethnic Serbs against Bosnian Muslims and Croats ended with the Dayton peace accords that established a Bosnian state made up of two entities -- Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat federation -- under a weak central government.

Murphy said Dodik and his government have "tried to justify this decision based upon a set of lies and disinformation designed to frighten the Republika Srpska public into following them down this dangerous path."

"The facts are simple and straightforward. There is no international conspiracy to abolish the Republika Srpska, and Mr. Dodik cannot point to a single statement by an American official calling for the abolition of the Republika Srpska," he said.

"As the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Bosnian Constitution explicitly state, Bosnia-Herzegovina is the successor state of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its constitution does not provide entities or any other sub-state unit with the right of secession or 'disassociation,'" Murphy added.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/dodik-secession-resolution- murphy-dayton-srebrenica/32962229.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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U.S. To Review Relations With Georgia, Slaps Visa Bans On Officials Over 'Foreign Agent' Law

By RFE/RL's Georgian Service May 24, 2024

The United States has announced visa restrictions on Georgian government officials and a comprehensive review of bilateral relations with Tbilisi over a "foreign agent" law recently pushed forward by the ruling Georgian Dream party despite weeks of mass protests.

The legislation -- formally called the Law On Transparency Of Foreign Influence -- is seen as mirroring a similar repressive measure introduced by the Kremlin in Russia, endangering the country's path toward EU integration and bring it closer to Moscow.

It has been condemned by the United States and the European Union, which has said it is "incompatible" with Georgia's long-standing bid for membership.

"The Department of State is implementing a new visa restriction policy for Georgia that will apply to individuals who are responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia, as well as their family members," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

He added that the restrictions would also apply to those responsible for "suppressing civil society and freedom of peaceful assembly in Georgia through a campaign of violence or intimidation."

Georgia's ruling party responded to the announcement by saying the visa restrictions would be "nothing but a gross attempt to restrict Georgia's independence and sovereignty."

The reaction from Georgian Dream also accused the United States of pursuring a policy of "threats and blackmail" and "anti-Georgian rhetoric," adding that "no blackmail whatsoever can force us to go against our country."

Critics have said the legislation was introduced by Georgian Dream, founded by Russian-friendly Georgian tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili, in order to cement the party's grip on power ahead of elections later this year seen as crucial for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic path.

"Anyone who undermines democratic processes or institutions in Georgia -- including in the lead-up to, during, and following Georgia's October 2024 elections -- may be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy and precluded from travel to the United States. Immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions," Blinken said.

The statement did not mention by name any individual who could be sanctioned under the new restrictions.

Washington has been a steady supporter of Georgia's Western integration, and Blinken said he was launching "a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Georgia."

"U.S. support for Georgia's democracy is longstanding and foundational to our bilateral relationship," Blinken said, warning that the United States will continue to monitor the Georgian government's moves.

"As we review the relationship between our two countries, we will take into account Georgia's actions in deciding our own," he said, adding, "It remains our hope that Georgia's leaders will reconsider the draft law and take steps to move forward with their nation's democratic and Euro-Atlantic aspirations."

Under the measure that prompted weeks of protests violently repressed by authorities, media and NGOs will have to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.

Georgia was given EU candidate status on December 14, but has yet to start the accession negotiations, which can last for years. Georgians have also been given the green light for visa-free travel in the Schengen zone.

Georgian Dream has insisted that it remains committed to joining Western institutions and the law was only meant to increase transparency on NGO funding.

President Salome Zurabishvili, who has been at odds with the government, on May 18 vetoed the law but the Georgian Dream-controlled parliament has enough votes to override her veto.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tbilisi-foreign-agent-blinken-- visa-protest-/32961744.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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Philippines Opens New Surveillance Station Near Taiwan Amid US-Led Militarization

Sputnik News

20240524

Svetlana Ekimenko

Amid rising tensions between Beijing and Manila over the disputed waters in the South China Sea, an increasingly militarized Philippines triggered further ire in China by taking part in the massive Balikatan joint drills with the US earlier this month.

The Philippines has opened a new Coast Guard station on an island facing Taiwan to boost surveillance.

The monitoring station on the island of Itbayat in the northern Batanes province will be tasked with gathering data and intelligence to "enhance maritime domain awareness and strengthen the security measures along Luzon Strait," National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement.

The strategic move falls in line with the US-led master plan to offset perceived threats from China. The Philippine official cited Beijing's alleged "military buildup" in the Luzon Strait and presence of China-flagged research and/or survey vessels.

The Luzon Strait lies between the Philippines' island of Luzon and Taiwan. Itbayat is some 200 kilometers away from Cape Eluanbi, the southernmost point on the island of Taiwan.

Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan  a territory with its own elected government  maintains that it is an autonomous country, but stops short of declaring independence. China opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

The new facility was inaugurated on Thursday in a ceremony led by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.

The move will serve to enhance the PCG's capabilities in an area that is "very important, being the northern tip of the country; our borders are porous and we need to monitor what's happening there," spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo was cited as telling the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The timing of the station's inauguration coincided with China's sweeping military drills around Taiwan in a "strong punishment" for the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces and a "stern warning" to interference and provocation by "external forces."

Codenamed Joint Sword 2024A, the exercises conducted from May 23 to 24 involve military services including the army, navy, air force, and rocket force. The drills are being held 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 Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

China's drills also come as the US has been further stoking tensions in the region with a swathe of joint military exercises. The expansive US-Philippines Balikatan war games in April were held near the South China Sea, where both Beijing and Manila have territorial claims.

Ther PRC slammed the drills as only serving to further exacerbate regional tensions.

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," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in a statement.

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte also warned current President Bongbong Marcos Jr. about the risks of kowtowing to the US, while accusing Washington of trying to provoke a war between the Philippines and China. The Philippines, a key US ally in the region that hosts its military bases, is being increasingly militarized by the US in an effort to shape the island nation into a "proxy for a potential conflict with China," geopolitical analysts told Sputnik.

 Sputnik

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Prime Minister Netanyahu Announces 'Detailed' Plans on Israel-Lebanon Border

Sputnik News

20240524

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday visited the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Northern Command Headquarters, where he received an operational briefing on offensive and defensive activity on the border with Lebanon; after the visit, he announced "detailed" plans to restore security there.

"We are constantly in action on the northern front. As of now we have eliminated hundreds of Hezbollah militants and we are still poised - even today. I just received a briefing from the head of Northern Command and I also spoke with the division commanders. We have detailed, important, and even surprising plans," Netanyahu said as quoted by his office.

He said he will not share these plans.

"But I will not share these plans - which are designed to do two things, 1) to restore security to the north, and 2) to restore the residents safely to their homes... We are determined to achieve both of them together," Netanyahu said.

The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border worsened after the start of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The Israeli army and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters fire at each other's positions in areas along the border on a daily basis.

According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, there are at least 135,000 Israelis who have been internally displaced since October 7.

 Sputnik

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No: 94, 24 May 2024, Regarding the Order of the International Court of Justice Indicating Provisional Measures

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs

We welcome the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) indicating provisional measures ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah and urgently open the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid.

No country in the world is above the law. We expect Israel to comply immediately with all ICJ rulings. In this regard, we call on the UN Security Council to do its part.

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Gaza: World court orders Israel to halt military operations in Rafah

24 May 2024 - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday issued new provisional measures that order Israel to immediately end military operations in Rafah in southern Gaza and to open the governate's border crossing for urgent aid deliveries.

This follows a request from South Africa in a pending case accusing Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention.

Reading the new provisional measures in an open session at the court in The Hague, ICJ Justice Nawaf Salam announced that Israel must abide by its obligations under the Genocide Convention to "immediately halt its military offensive and any other action in the Rafah governate which may inflict upon the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that would bring about its physical destruction in whole and in part".

The court issued that decision by 13 votes in favour to two against.

The new provisional measures came in response to South Africa's request made on 10 May related to its initial accusations in December that Israel is violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention during the war in Gaza, which broke out after Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October that killed more than 1,200 people and left another 250 taken hostage.

Israel's military response has, to date, killed nearly 36,000 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction and a looming famine in the besieged and bombarded enclave.

Court orders opening of Rafah border crossing

Given the worsening conditions on the ground since Israel's incursion into Rafah on 7 May, the court decided, also by votes of 13 in favour to two against, the new provisional measures shall require Israel to open the Rafah crossing for the unhindered delivery of urgent humanitarian aid and ensure unimpeded access for fact-finding missions to investigate allegations of genocide.

The Rafah border crossing, which has been the main entry point for aid to the enclave, has been closed since 7 May.

"The court is not convinced that evacuation efforts and related measures that Israel has affirmed to have undertaken to enhance the security of civilians in the Gaza Strip, and in particular those recently displaced from the Rafah governate, are sufficient to alleviate immense risks to which the Palestinian population is exposed as a result of the military offensive in Rafah," Mr. Salam said.

In addition, the ICJ ordered Israel to submit a report within one month on steps taken to implement these provisional measures.

Deteriorating conditions

Mr. Salam said the ICJ had noted that the situation in Gaza has deteriorated since it last issued provisional measures in March, adding that since Israel's incursion into Rafah, the Najjar Hospital was no longer functioning and aid efforts have been impacted.

The court also noted that Israel's evacuation orders for Rafah residents had led more than 800,000 people to flee to places like the coastal area of Al Mawasi, which lacked the basic essentials and services to accommodate them.

Since taking up South Africa's case in January, the ICJ had already issued provisional measures in January and March by which Israel must, among other things, take all steps to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid enters Gaza.

However, UN agencies are reporting that scant aid is currently entering Gaza.

Court reiterates call to release hostages

On Friday, Mr. Salam recalled that in the two previous orders for provisional measures "the court expressed its grave concern over the fate of the hostages abducted during the attack in Israel on 7 October 2023 and held since then by Hamas and other armed groups, and called for their immediate and unconditional release."

He said "the court finds it deeply troubling that many of these hostages remain in captivity and reiterates its call for their immediate and unconditional release."

UN chief to send ICJ order to the Security Council

The Secretary-General took note of the new provisional measures, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told journalists at UN Headquarters on Friday.

Recalling that, pursuant to the UN Charter and to the Statute of the Court, the decisions of the ICJ "are binding", the UN chief "trusts that the parties will duly comply with the order from the court".

"In accordance with the Statute of the Court, the Secretary-General will also promptly transmit the notice of the provisional measures ordered by the court to the Security Council," he said.

What's the difference between the ICJ and the ICC?

There is frequent confusion between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Both courts have open cases against Israel related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The simplest way to explain the difference is that ICJ cases involve countries, and the ICC is a criminal court, which brings cases against individuals for war crimes or crimes against humanity. While the ICJ is an organ of the United Nations, the ICC is legally independent of the UN, although it is endorsed by the General Assembly.

The ICJ is currently considering South Africa's accusations that Israel is violating the Genocide Convention.

On Monday, the ICC sought arrest warrants related to possible war crimes against three Hamas leaders and Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The request for the warrants are now being considered by the court's judges.

Read more about the courts in our explainers on the ICJ and the ICC.

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Security Council denounces attacks against aid workers, UN personnel

24 May 2024 - The United Nations Security Council on Friday strongly condemned rising attacks on humanitarian workers and UN personnel, urging all conflict parties to ensure their safety and access.

Adopting resolution 2730 (2024) with 14 votes in favour and one abstention (Russia), the Security Council also denounced disinformation, information manipulation and incitement to violence against humanitarian and UN personnel.

Led by Switzerland and co-sponsored by over 90 nations, the resolution noted "deep concern" about the particular vulnerability of national and locally recruited personnel who account for the majority of safety and security incidents.

The 15-member Council emphasized the need for "concerted efforts and concrete risk mitigation strategies" to enhance the safety and security of these workers.

It called on all parties to armed conflict to "end immediately and definitively" any indiscriminate use of explosive devices in violation of international humanitarian law, and to mitigate these dangers effectively, including through their clearance.

Hostilities against humanitarians

Recent conflicts have seen a sharp uptick in attacks against humanitarians.

According to a UN report on protection of civilians, issued earlier this month, 91 aid workers were killed, 120 wounded and 53 abducted in 2023 - not including incidents in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The war in Gaza alone has claimed the lives of over 224 humanitarians, including over 190 UNRWA (the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees) and other UN agencies' personnel.

National staff constituted the vast majority - over 90 per cent - of those affected in Gaza and other crises.

Address disinformation

The Security Council also condemned disinformation, information manipulation, and incitement to violence against aid workers and UN personnel.

It encouraged Member States and the UN system "to take appropriate action to address the increasing threat of disinformation campaigns and misinformation that undermine trust in UN and humanitarian organizations", put personnel at risk and hinder humanitarian activities.

Additionally, it urged States to conduct full, prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigations within their jurisdiction of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed against aid workers and UN and associated personnel.

Prompt reporting

The resolution requested the Secretary-General to "report swiftly" on widespread issues regarding the safety and security of humanitarians and UN personnel, their premises, and assets.

The Council expressed its intention to give full attention to such information when these situations are brought to its attention.

West Africa and the Sahel

Also on Friday, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement acknowledging the challenging security situation in West Africa and the Sahel, including armed conflicts, the spread of terrorism and violent extremism, and transnational organized crime.

The Council expressed deep concern over the intensification of intercommunal violence, particularly in the central Sahel, and increased tensions and conflicts between farmers and herders in the region.

It also recognized the effects of climate change, ecological changes, natural disasters, and their impact on food security, society, the economy, and regional stability.

Security Council presidential statements

Presidential statements are issued by the President of the Security Council on behalf of its members.

The statements are adopted at a formal meeting and issued as an official document of the UN's primary body on international peace and security.

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UNRWA Situation Report #109 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 20-22 May 2024, is valid as of 22 May 2024

UNRWA

24 May 2024

Key Points

Reports continue of ongoing strikes by Israeli Forces, encompassing aerial, land and maritime bombardment across the Gaza Strip. These attacks result in civilian casualties, displacement and the destruction of residential structures and essential civilian infrastructure. The Israeli ground offensive continues to expand, particularly in the southern regions of Gaza City and eastern Rafah, notably around the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah Crossings.

Humanitarian operations in Gaza continue to face severe humanitarian access restrictions, including the ongoing closure of key crossings, denials of planned missions and delays in movements imposed by Israeli authorities. According to OCHA, between 1 and 20 May, 183 humanitarian aid missions in Gaza were coordinated with the Israeli authorities. Of the 51 missions to northern Gaza, only 37 per cent were facilitated by the Israeli authorities, and the remaining missions were either denied access, impeded (these may be aborted or accomplished, albeit partially, despite the impediment), or cancelled. For missions in southern Gaza, among the 132 missions, only half were facilitated by the Israeli authorities and the remaining half 50 per cent were either denied access, impeded, or cancelled.

Families that have been already displaced several times are on the move again due to military operations and Israeli evacuation orders. As of 19 May 2024, the estimated number of people displaced from Rafah is nearly 815,000 people since 6 May, with a further 100,000 people displaced in northern Gaza. Most UNRWA shelters in Rafah have been vacated, with internally displaced people moving to Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah. Overall displacement numbers correlate with the UNRWA registration figures in the new locations: for example, nearly 150,000 people have registered for essential services for UNRWA in Khan Younis alone in the last ten days.

As of 19 May 2024, the estimated number of people displaced from Rafah is nearly 815,000 people since 6 May, with a further 100,000 people displaced in northern Gaza. Most UNRWA shelters in Rafah have been vacated, with internally displaced people moving to Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah. Overall displacement numbers correlate with the UNRWA registration figures in the new locations: for example, nearly 150,000 people have registered for essential services for UNRWA in Khan Younis alone in the last ten days. As a result of the ongoing military operation in eastern Rafah the UNRWA distribution centre and WFP warehouse, both in Rafah, remain inaccessible.

The current Israeli military operation in Rafah is directly impacting the ability of aid agencies to bring critical humanitarian supplies into Gaza as well as the ability to rotate critical humanitarian staff. From 1 - 20 May, according to OCHA, 14 missions which were heading to Kerem Shalom to collect aid supplies encountered delays due to traffic congestions blocking the road and delayed clearance by Israeli authorities, resulting in six missions being aborted. During this reporting period (20- 22 May), the border crossings were only open for one day and only 39 trucks entered the Gaza Strip via Kerem Shalom and Rafah land crossings. Since 6 - 20 May only 143 trucks have entered the Gaza strip via Karem Abu Salem.

For latest updates on trucks please check:

Gaza Supplies and Dispatch Tracking | UNRWA

According to WHO and the Health Cluster, evacuation orders and ongoing military operations in proximity of health facilities are further disrupting healthcare service provision. In Rafah, a hospital, a field hospital, and four primary health centres, and 21 medical points located within the zone were ordered to be evacuated in May. As of 18 May, in the entirety of the Gaza Strip only 15 out of 36 hospitals (41 per cent) remain partially functional, and 33 out of 93 primary health care facilities (35 per cent) are functional. UNRWA remains the largest health service provider in Gaza, with 7 primary health care clinics and over 100 medical points across the Gaza Strip still operational. According to the health cluster, UNRWA provides an average of 160,000 people a week with health services eincluding child healthcare, primary healthcare, mental health, which equates to over 50 per cent of all people reached with health services.

As of 22 May, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is 191, an increase of two.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem update will shift to once a week, every Monday.

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Security Council Adopts Resolution Calling on States to Respect, Protect United Nations, Humanitarian Personnel in Accordance with International Law

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9634th Meeting (AM)

SC/15707

24 May 2024

In the wake of a day-long open debate on protecting civilians in armed conflict that it held on 21 May, the Security Council today adopted a resolution calling on States to respect and protect United Nations and humanitarian personnel in accordance with their obligations under international law, recalling those established 75 years ago in the Geneva Conventions of 1949.

Introducing the text, the representative of Switzerland emphasized that its goal "is to step up the protection of people that protect"  namely, UN and humanitarian personnel. "Our work was driven by a very simple  but very concerning  observation," she said, underscoring that increased attacks against these individuals not only imperil their lives, but also jeopardize their engagement with those in need. Noting that today's text builds on resolution 2175 (2014), she said that it lends additional emphasis to protecting locally recruited personnel, who are "the very backbone" of humanitarian work and represent more than 90 per cent of those affected by violence.

The resolution demands that parties to conflict uphold their obligations under international law, she said, also pointing out that it urges all States to immediately undertake comprehensive, impartial investigations into violations perpetrated against UN and humanitarian personnel. Further, it addresses new challenges facing such personnel  including disinformation  and calls on the Secretary-General to issue, within six months, recommendations for better protecting persons concerned and responding to violence by holding perpetrators accountable. Spotlighting the "vast number of co-sponsors", she called on all Council members to support the draft "with one voice".

The Council then adopted resolution 2730 (2024) (to be issued as document S/RES/2730(2024)) by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (Russian Federation).

By terms additional to those outlined by the penholder, the Council called on all parties to armed conflict to "immediately and definitively" end the use of explosive devices in violation of international humanitarian law and condemned the unlawful denial of humanitarian access. The Council also called on States to ensure the full, equal, safe and meaningful participation of female UN and humanitarian personnel in humanitarian activities and to "mainstream a gender perspective" into humanitarian crises and post-conflict reconstruction. Further, the 15-member organ requested the Secretary-General to report to it "swiftly" when widespread issues regarding the safety and security of UN and humanitarian personnel arise.

Joining others in marking the imminent seventy-fifth anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the representative of Japan, speaking after the vote, said that today's resolution is "a vital step toward securing the safety of those who risk their lives to help others in conflict zones". Stressing that it is unacceptable that the Council has passed 10 resolutions urging States to ensure accountability for the killing of aid workers  which has continued with few consequences  Sierra Leone's representative stressed: "This resolution sends a strong message of solidarity to humanitarian aid workers worldwide."

"This is of particular significance at this juncture, when humanitarians are facing increasing risks," said the representative of Guyana, commending those who have paid the "ultimate price" to save the lives of others. The representative of Mozambique, Council President for May, spoke in his national capacity to agree: "This resolution is also a recognition of the mounting threats and violence faced by humanitarian workers and UN personnel." Today's text  which now forms part of the normative framework for the protection of civilians  will contribute to strengthening the protection of humanitarian personnel, premises and assets, observed Ecuador's representative.

Algeria's representative was among those who highlighted "the deadliest conflict for humanitarian personnel in modern history", noting that 262 aid workers have been killed so far in Gaza. "Accountability and zero impunity are key words," he underscored. Pointing out that the resolution establishes a crucial mechanism for the Secretary-General to alert the Council when widespread, targeted attacks against UN and humanitarian personnel occur, the representative of Malta said that the text is a step in the direction of realizing "a world where the safety and dignity of every human being trapped in armed conflict is upheld".

Some members also noted the resolution's acknowledgement of the changing nature of such conflict, such as the representatives of the United Kingdom and Slovenia, who welcomed its recognition of new challenges such as disinformation and misinformation campaigns. These increasingly appear as means and methods of warfare and "pose a real risk of harm to civilians and to humanitarian organizations", said the latter. The representative of the Republic of Korea, echoing that, added that the text also "duly updates the past decade" by seeking to enhance women's participation in humanitarian activities and leverage new technology to support humanitarian personnel.

Others, however, took issue with several provisions in the draft. The representative of the United States  while voting in favour  pointed out that most States do not recognize the principle of precaution and said that language regarding the prosecution of violations should be refined in light of State practice and nuanced legal obligations in this area, which allow for the appropriate exercise of prosecutorial discretion.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Russian Federation  the lone abstention  expressed regret that, due to "pressure from a number of Western delegations", several concerns were "left on the margins". These relate, she said, to holding those who violate international humanitarian law accountable "in connection with a certain international court and tribunal", proposed parameters for ensuring humanitarian access, "as well as the hackneyed gender language".

Welcoming the adoption as a "strong message of hope", Switzerland's representative spotlighted, however, several people for whom the resolution "is arriving too late". Among them are Lorena Enebral Perez of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who died in Afghanistan; Sergio Vieira de Mello, former High Commissioner for Human Rights, killed 20 years ago in Iraq alongside 22 of his colleagues; and Komon Dioma of Medecins Sans Frontieres, killed in Burkina Faso earlier in 2024. Stating that today's resolution is dedicated to all those working in fragile, complex contexts, she added: "This resolution pays tribute to all of these people."

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Concerned by Ongoing Conflict in West Africa, Sahel, Security Council Adopts Presidential Statement Aimed at Tackling Political, Humanitarian Challenges

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9634th Meeting (AM)

SC/15708

24 May 2024

'Members Call on Relevant Stakeholder to Engage Constructively and Fully'

With Secretary-General's Newly Appointed Special Representative for Region

The Security Council today unanimously adopted a presidential statement aimed at addressing security, political and humanitarian challenges in West Africa and the Sahel.

Through the text (to be issued as S/PRST/2024/3), the 15-member organ welcomed the appointment of Leonardo Santos Simao on 2 May 2023 as the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), calling on all relevant stakeholders to "engage constructively and fully" with him.

On the security front, the Council welcomed efforts by countries in that region, ECOWAS and the African Union to strengthen regional cooperation in preventing and addressing challenges, but expressed "great concern at the violent actions of non-State actors, including individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida".

In that regard, the Council reaffirmed "the importance of addressing, in a manner consistent with international law, the underlying conditions conducive to terrorism," including by implementing the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel and its support plan. Furthermore, the Council called upon all parties to armed conflict to end and prevent all six grave violations against children, urging compliance with their obligations under international law, and to respect the rights of the child.

Also by the text, the Council recognized the adverse impact of climate change, ecological changes and natural disasters  including floods, drought, desertification, and land degradation  as well as how they exacerbate food security and other humanitarian, social and economic challenges, "which impact the security and stability of West Africa and the Sahel region". Stressing the "particular relevance" of these elements to the specific situation in West Africa and the Sahel, the Council acknowledged the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement as the primary international, intergovernmental forums for negotiating the global response to climate change.

The Council also commended the efforts of civil society and religious and community leaders to resolve conflict in the Sahel, emphasizing the importance of the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and youth in all stages of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes.

On the political front, the Council expressed serious concern at the unconstitutional changes of Governments and attempted coup d'etats and underscored the importance of the timely, nationally owned transition processes and restoration of constitutional order in the concerned regional countries. In that vein, the Council expressed the importance of UNOWAS's good-office roles to prevent conflict and election- and transition-related tensions, as well as to sustain peace and consolidate peacebuilding efforts and political stability.

Regarding the humanitarian situation, the Council expressed serious concern at deteriorating conditions in some parts of the region, caused by armed conflicts and exacerbated by violations of international humanitarian law, climate change, and development, social and economic challenges. It, therefore, called for full, safe, rapid and unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid to all persons in need, including timely and non-discriminatory access to sexual and reproductive health care, mental health and psychosocial services for survivors of sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations.



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U.S. Navy Hosts U.K. Navy, Holds Bilateral Staff Talks

US Navy - Press Release

4 May 2024

WASHINGTON -- Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development, Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, hosted British Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Martin Connell for bilateral staff talks at the Pentagon, May 23, 2024.

The staff talks were an opportunity to conduct a tri-Service meeting between the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps and UK Royal Navy to assess progress on their shared Strategic Approach plan, known as "Delivering Combined Seapower" or DCS. DCS is a bilateral tri-service strategic approach plan that supports cooperation, collaboration, and integration among U.S. and U.K. maritime services.

"The U.K. is one of our longest standing allies and our partnership is fundamental to maritime peace and prosperity across the globe," said Dwyer. "In an increasingly challenging security environment, our dialogue is crucial to reinforcing shared values and priorities."

During the talks, the delegations discussed interoperability of the joint force, U.S.-U.K. interchangeability, and the collective commitment to safeguarding global maritime interests and promoting a rules-based international order.

"These annual staff talks have a sharp focus on improving our combined warfighting abilities," said Connell. "'Delivering Combined Seapower' sets the ambition for Royal Navy, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps collaboration for the year ahead."

Recently, U.S. and UK naval forces conducted a bilateral mine countermeasures exercise Poseidon's Chalice in the Arabian Sea from Feb. 24 - March 16. The primary focus of the exercise was to maximize training opportunities in mine warfare and explosive ordinance disposal training.

This was conducted through an integration of naval assets from the Royal Navy and U.S. Navy, and additional training opportunities to include: mine sweeping elements, anti-terrorism operations, small boat operations, an underway replenishment-at-sea and damage control drill.

These recent exercises and today's staff talks strengthen the ironclad partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development (N7) is charged with advancing Navy Warfighting advantage in order to deter, dissuade and deny, or defeat adversaries.

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World reacts to UN court's ruling that Israel should halt Gaza offensive

By VOA News May 24, 2024

World leaders reacted to a ruling Friday by the U.N. International Court of Justice that Israel should "immediately halt its military offensive" in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The decision intensifies international pressure on Israel regarding its assault on Gaza, but Israel has said it will not comply.

Reading the ruling, ICJ President Nawaf Salam cited "exceptionally grave" conditions for the "extremely vulnerable" population in Rafah.

He also expressed the court's doubts that Israel's evacuation of civilians from the border city are adequate to "alleviate the immense risk" the civilians are facing there.

In a joint statement, the offices of Israel's prime minister and foreign ministry slammed the court's decision, calling South Africa's accusations against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding genocide "false, outrageous and disgusting."

Minister Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war Cabinet, responded to the ICJ decision by telling Israeli media that the military would keep fighting to return the nation's abductees and ensure the safety of its citizens.

"We will continue to act according to international law in Rafah and wherever we operate and make an effort to avoid harming the civilian population, not because of the Hague tribunal  but first of all because of who we are," he said.

The court's announcement comes a week after South Africa filed a case accusing Israel of genocide and requesting an emergency measure in Rafah to ensure the survival of the Palestinians.

The ICJ is the highest U.N. body for hearing disputes between states. Its rulings are final and binding, but they have been ignored in the past because the court has no enforcement powers.

Its decision, however, adds more diplomatic pressure on the Israeli government.

Richard Gowan, of the International Crisis Group, told VOA the ICJ ruling may allow the U.S. to put more pressure on Israel and Israel "may try and win back a little goodwill by allowing some more aid into Gaza."

But "I think that the Israelis have made it very clear all through the year that they will ignore any calls for restraint from the International Court of Justice," he added.

South Africa's international relations department on Friday hailed the ruling.

"South Africa welcomes the ruling made by the court today," said Zane Dangor, director-general of the country's Department of International Relations and Cooperation. "This is de facto calling for a cease-fire. It is ordering the major party in this conflict to end its belligerent action against the people of Palestine."

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also hailed the ICJ's decision.

"Once again, the ICJ exposes Israel's war crimes in Gaza. And once again, the Israeli government reacts with disdain to international law, refusing to heed the court's orders," he said.

The European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, also reacted to the ruling. "What is going to be the [EU's] answer to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that has been issued today? What is going to be our position? We will have to choose between our support to international institutions of the rule of law or our support to Israel."

This week alone, three European countries announced they would recognize a Palestinian state  Ireland, Spain and Norway.

Israel has previously described the ICJ's case against its assault on Gaza as "divorced from the facts." It has repeatedly dismissed the accusations of genocide as baseless, stating that its offensive in Gaza is self-defense and targets Hamas militants, who attacked Israel on October 7.

An Israeli government spokesperson said on the eve of Friday's decision that "no power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza."

A Palestinian Authority spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, welcomed the court's decision, saying it "represents an international consensus on the demand to stop the all-out war on Gaza."

Hamas issued a statement welcoming the decision but told Reuters the ruling fell short of recognizing that other parts of the enclave are under attack.

"We believe it is not enough since the occupation's aggression across the Gaza Strip, especially in northern Gaza, is just as brutal and dangerous," senior Hamas official Basem Naim said.

The United States, Israel's main ally, has opposed Israel's invasion of Rafah, where more than a million refugees were sheltering from clashes elsewhere. Some 900,000 have since fled Rafah, according to the Israel military.

On the battlefront, Israeli forces intensified their bombardment on Rafah on Friday, residents and medics said.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Despite Biden's ICC rejection, US sometimes sides with court

By Patsy Widakuswara May 24, 2024

The Biden administration denounced an International Criminal Court announcement this week that it is pursuing arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes during Israel's military campaign in Gaza and the militant group's October 7 attack on Israel.

"We made our position clear on the ICC," President Joe Biden said Thursday. "We don't recognize their jurisdiction, the way it's been exercised, and it's that simple. We don't think there's an equivalence between what Israel did and what Hamas did."

International law experts say that the relationship between the U.S. and ICC has never been simple.

The ICC was established in 1998 by the Rome Statute and tasked with prosecuting individuals responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. It was signed by the U.S. in December 2000, by U.S. lead negotiator David Scheffer.

The U.S., fearing that Americans would be vulnerable to prosecution abroad, never ratified the treaty.

More than 120 countries have ratified it, making them member states.

The ICC has jurisdiction over atrocity crimes committed by citizens of member states, or committed in member states, or in nonmember states that grant it jurisdiction. It also has jurisdiction over crimes committed in nonmember states that are referred to it by the U.N. Security Council.

The U.S. maintains that the ICC has no jurisdiction over citizens of non-ICC states. Israel is not an ICC member; therefore, the Biden administration said, the court has no right to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Stephen Rademaker, former chief counsel of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and assistant secretary of state in the George W. Bush administration, agrees.

"The fundamental principle undergirding all treaty-based international law is the principle of consent," he told VOA.

Under the U.S. argument, which Scheffer calls the "immunity interpretation," the same standards should apply to all non-ICC states.

However, various U.S. administrations have supported some ICC investigations.

The George W. Bush administration supported the ICC's 2002 investigations into allegations of atrocities committed in the Darfur region of Sudan. The Obama administration supported the ICC's case in Libya in 2011, which accused the government of Moammar Gadhafi of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Sudan and Libya were non-ICC states, but under the Rome Statute, the U.N. Security Council had the authority to refer those cases to the ICC for investigation, Rademaker said.

The ICC began its investigations of Russian officials for alleged atrocities in Ukraine in 2023, and of Israeli officials and Hamas leaders this month. Russia and Israel are non-ICC states, and neither investigation was authorized by the U.N. Security Council, Rademaker said.

"So the U.N. Charter cannot be cited as a basis of consent by them to action by the ICC," he said.

However, while it rejected the ICC's case against Israeli officials, the Biden administration supported the ICC's investigations of Russian suspects. Biden has used the word "genocide" to describe Russian atrocities in Ukraine and has described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal who should be put on trial.

When asked to explain the distinction, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that Putin's war aim was "to kill innocent Ukrainian people."

"He's deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure with the aim of killing innocent civilians, and it's just baked into his operational strategy," Kirby told reporters Monday. "As we have said before, that is not what the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is doing."

Hypocrisy alleged

Critics say this difference in the Biden administration's posture amounts to hypocrisy.

"There is an obvious inconsistency," said Adil Haque, a law professor at Rutgers University who writes on international law and the ethics of armed combat.

"It is hard to get around," he told VOA. "And it's easier to see when you contrast it with European countries which are allies of Israel but also parties to the ICC statute," he said, referring to Germany, which said it would execute the arrest warrant on German soil despite disagreeing with the decision.

While the contradiction is apparent under the Biden administration, selective U.S. engagement with the ICC began decades ago.

In 2002, George W. Bush signed into law the American Servicemembers' Protection Act, which authorizes the U.S. president to use "all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any U.S. or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of the International Criminal Court."

The Obama administration rejected the ICC's preliminary examinations of the war in Afghanistan, including into alleged atrocity crimes committed by the Taliban, Islamic State group and U.S. coalition forces. It also opposed the court as it began pursuing war crimes charges against Israeli officials.

While the Bush and Obama administrations would apply a case-by-case approach to the ICC, under the Trump administration, U.S. "hostility hit its apex," said Kip Hale, an attorney specializing in atrocity crimes accountability. He said ICC investigations into Afghanistan and "Israel-Palestine" prompted the Trump administration to level sanctions against then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and one of her senior staff and to threaten other ICC staff and their families with visa bans and other punitive actions.

In the case of investigating Russian atrocities in Ukraine, the Biden administration changed provisions under the American Servicemembers' Protection Act and the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2001 to allow for information sharing, funding and other types of support for the ICC, Hale told VOA.

"Unfortunately, the criteria is who are your allies and who are your rivals," he said, adding that geopolitical expediency often dictates the behavior of all states, not just the U.S.

ICC judges are now reviewing evidence presented by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, who made the decision to pursue arrest warrants with the advice of a panel of international legal experts that included prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.

"We unanimously conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including hostage-taking, murder and crimes of sexual violence," Clooney said in a statement.

"We unanimously conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity including starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution and extermination."

Netanyahu called the ICC's move against him and his defense minister absurd and said that he rejected "with disgust" the comparison between Israel and Hamas.

ICJ decision on Rafah

On Friday, the United Nations' top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as part of proceedings against Israel brought by South Africa in December.

Israel doesn't accept the ICJ's jurisdiction and is unlikely to comply with the order. It maintains that its military campaign is a "defensive and just war" to eliminate Hamas and to secure the release of hostages and that it is "consistent with its moral values and in compliance with international law."

The ICJ was established by the U.N. Charter to settle disputes between states and advise the U.N. on legal matters. It does not have jurisdiction to try individuals.

While the ICJ's legal jurisdiction is separate from that of the ICC, Friday's ICJ decision can impact the ICC's proceedings, said Oona Hathaway, professor of international law at Yale Law School and member of the Advisory Committee on International Law for the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State.

"ICJ can't enforce its orders, that's true. But it doesn't mean that there aren't going to be consequences," Hathaway told VOA. "If we see Israel refuse to abide by the decision of the International Court of Justice, you could very well see future charges in the International Criminal Court criminal charges," she said.

This could include the ICC prosecutor expanding his request for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders to include charges of genocide, she said.

Hathaway added that other consequences might include states withdrawing their military, financial and diplomatic support for Israel's war effort, which could further complicate the Biden administration's effort to continue backing its ally.

Margaret Besheer and Natasha Mozgovaya contributed to this report.

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UN: Situation in Sudan's North Darfur capital grows more dire by the day

By Margaret Besheer May 24, 2024

Humanitarians warned Friday that the situation in North Darfur's capital, El Fasher, is growing more dire by the day, as the state's only functioning hospital has about a week's worth of supplies left and as casualties mount.

"The fighting has reportedly forced thousands of people to flee since 10 May and caused hundreds of civilian casualties," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

May 10 is when clashes erupted inside El Fasher between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), who are positioned inside the city, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who attacked surrounding towns before they entered the state capital.

According to Paris-based medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, at least 700 injured civilians arrived at that last operating hospital, known as South Hospital, in the past two weeks. Eighty-five of them have died.

"People are arriving with abdominal injuries, chest wounds, brain trauma, and open fractures," Claire Nicolet, MSF's head of emergency programs, said earlier this week in a statement. "Some have gunshot wounds, some have been wounded by bomb fragments, and others have been wounded by shelling."

She said the hospital urgently needs more surgeons and supplies.

Humanitarians have been struggling for weeks to reach El Fasher, where at least 800,000 civilians are sheltering, many of them having been displaced from other parts of Darfur that have fallen to the RSF.

"More than a dozen trucks carrying aid for more than 121,000 people have been trying to reach El Fasher for over a month, but the current security situation is making this all but impossible," Dujarric said.

He added that one World Food Program truck convoy carrying 1,200 metric tons of food and nutrition supplies for about 117,000 people was able to cross into North Darfur from Chad on Thursday, through the Tine crossing.

The government of Sudan reopened that crossing in early March, after closing it citing concerns that it could be used to supply the RSF with arms and ammunition.

Weapons accusations

The Sudanese government has repeatedly accused the United Arab Emirates of sending arms to the RSF via airports in Chad. On Friday, the Security Council met at Sudan's request to discuss the matter. The meeting was private; Sudan would have preferred it be public.

Afterward, Sudan's envoy said the UAE should be "censured and condemned" for its actions.

"The UAE behaves like a rogue state," Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed told reporters. "It must be punished for invading Sudan through local and foreign actors and proxies."

He said those proxies include mercenaries from Chad, southern Libya and parts of the Sahel. Mohammed said the RSF is using arms from the UAE to kill and rape civilians, displace people and destroy the country's infrastructure.

The UAE has repeatedly denied the accusations.

"We are aware of the baseless allegations made against the UAE, which we have already addressed, including through letters to the Security Council, most recently of which was on 25 April," UAE Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab told VOA in a written statement.

"We see the efforts by the representative of Sudan as another attempt to distract the Security Council from the atrocities being committed by the warring parties, including attacks on civilians, hospitals and schools, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid," he said.

A report published in January by a panel of experts mandated by the Security Council to monitor sanctions implementation in Sudan said the SAF has used aerial bombing and heavy shelling in urban areas of Darfur, causing a large-scale humanitarian crisis.

The panel also found that the RSF in July started using several types of heavy and sophisticated weapons that it did not have at the start of the war, in April 2023. The experts said this gave them a military advantage that let them quickly take over Nyala in South Darfur and El Geneina in West Darfur, while the RSF's new anti-aircraft devices helped them to counter the SAF's air force.

The panel said that various flight-tracking experts had since June observed numerous cargo planes originating from Abu Dhabi International Airport arriving at Amdjarass International Airport in eastern Chad, with stops in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. They said information they gathered substantiated media reports alleging the aircraft carried weapons, ammunition and medical equipment for the RSF. The UAE told the panel that they were transporting humanitarian assistance for displaced Sudanese, not arms.

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Sudan's El Fasher facing humanitarian emergency as violence escalates

By Lisa Schlein May 24, 2024

United Nations agencies warn the humanitarian situation for an estimated 800,000 people in and around the Sudanese city of El Fasher is rapidly deteriorating as clashes escalate between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Since fighting for control of El Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudan Armed Forces in western Darfur, broke out March 10, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports an estimated 85 civilians have been killed and at least 700 wounded.

According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 1,250 people have been displaced since May, noting that "these reported figures are underestimates and are likely to increase."

"Due to the intensity of the fighting and lack of safe passage for civilians, it is anticipated that the number of reported casualties will rise," OCHA said Friday.

"As indiscriminate bombing encroaches on different neighborhoods of the city," it said, "the increased use of civilian infrastructure and objects for military purposes by parties to the conflict and the increased presence of armed elements throughout the town exacerbates protection risks faced by civilians."

A spokesperson for the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR), William Spindler, said that thousands recently have fled into neighboring Chad.

"There have been many calls for the fighting to cease because of the impact it is having on the civilian population, and we continue to see people fleeing this region and crossing into Chad," Spindler said.

He said more than 600 people a day are crossing the border from Darfur, noting that in the last month nearly 19,000 new arrivals have been registered and "provided with emergency assistance, including food for four days and soap."

He said most refugee families are going to Adre, some 400 km. from El Fasher.

"The numbers continue to be relatively small," Spindler said, "but we have received reports there might be impediments for people who would like to seek refuge in Chad, but they are not able to do that because of the fighting or because they are being prevented by armed actors to travel."

"We also have received very worrying reports that some people who intended to either go to El Fasher from the surrounding countryside or cross into Chad have been killed," he added.

Chad already hosts more than 600,000 Sudanese who have fled fighting in their homeland over the years. In addition to this huge refugee population, the United Nations estimates around 170,000 Chad nationals also have returned from Sudan since the rival generals went to war in mid-April 2023.

"Every week, an estimated 5,000 new arrivals continue to stream in, converging on 32 entry points in eastern Chad. With further, imminent attacks anticipated in Darfur, this number may further rise," said Blanche Anya, World Health Organization representative to Chad.

Speaking from the capital, N'Djamena, Anya said Friday the refugee crisis was having a profound impact on the health of the refugees and returnees, the overwhelming majority of whom are women and children, and on Chad's fragile healthcare system which "is under immense pressure."

"Many of the women and young girls have been raped. Malnutrition among children is widespread. Combined with measles and other epidemics, and overcrowding in under-resourced camps, we have an ongoing, serious health emergency.

"Every week, 1,500 to 2,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition are registered. As the prospect of famine in Sudan grows, we will see its repercussions in the health status of the new refugees arriving in Chad," she said.

Since the start of the crisis, WHO says 320 deaths have been reported among both the refugee and host populations. Of these, it says 184 deaths were malnourished children.

As the rainy season approaches, WHO warns the health situation will become more dire with access to affected populations becoming more difficult.

UNHCR's Spindler says the conditions of refugee camps in Chad, especially in Adre, are severely congested.

"And that is why UNHCR has identified a new site in Dougui, Ouaddai province where we would like to evacuate and transfer the refugees who are in Adre and very close to the border," he said.

"UNHCR, and its partners are racing against time to open the new site before the rainy season makes the roads impassable...Last Tuesday, the first rains fell in Adre. UNHCR aims to distribute lifesaving 'rain kits' before the imminent rainy season to the newly arrived and most vulnerable refugees.

"People must be moved as soon as possible to the camp where they will be safe, and where it will be easier to provide them with the aid they need," Spindler said.

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Remarks by Vice President Harris and President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya at a State Luncheon

May 24, 2024

U.S. State Department

Washington, D.C.

1:10 P.M. EDT

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon.

I  I will start, of course, by thanking our extraordinary Secretary Blinken. You have been traveling the world at record pace. That you are standing still at this moment is an extraordinary feat  (laughter)  given all you do.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: It's the Kenyan coffee. (Laughter.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And it's the Kenyan coffee. But on behalf of our country, I thank you, Tony Blinken, for all that you are. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you.

And the Second Gentleman and I are honored to host this luncheon with you and Ms. Evan Ryan and to welcome President Ruto and Mrs. Ruto. And to all of our distinguished guests  members of Congress, leaders in every sector of our society -welcome and thank you for your work and the partnership.

So, I strongly believe that African ideas and innovations will have a significant impact on the future of the entire world  a belief driven in part by the extraordinary creativity, dynamism, and energy of young African leaders on a continent where, many of you may know, the median age is 19; on a continent where one in four people who occupy space on Mother Earth will be by the year 2050. (Applause.)

And fueled, then, by that sense of optimism, last year, I had the good pleasure of visiting the continent for a weeklong trip. And it turns out, it's the longest I've spent on foreign soil since I've been vice president. (Laughter and applause.)

The goal of the trip  thank you. The goal of the trip was to highlight and strengthen our partnerships in government, in business, and in the civil society; to increase private-sector investment; to revise  to revise and upgrade the U.S.-Africa narrative, which is long overdue; and to bring fresh focus to the innovation and ingenuity that is so prevalent across the continent of Africa.

There, at an incubator, I met with tech entrepreneurs who are taking small businesses online and strengthening supply chains. I convened young musicians and artists whose Afrobeats are influencing music around the globe. (Applause.) I visited with climate activists, farmers, women small-business owners, and students.

And at the end of that trip, I was more convinced than ever: The continent of Africa represents the future of our world. (Applause.) And I will add: Any leader that ignores the continent of Africa is doing so at their own peril. (Applause.)

Which brings me to Kenya, Mr. President. No country on the continent more embodies this spirit of innovation than Kenya. Kenya, as many here know, has Silicon Savannah, a $1 billion technology ecosystem confronting challenges that range from the climate crisis to financial inclusion to healthcare.

To address wealth inequity, innovators at M-PESA help low-income people pay and repay microloans, and they have revolutionized the mobile payments industry.

To help solve the problem and challenge of pollution coming from plastics and to address threats to marine ecosystems, a Kenyan startup now converts aquatic invasive plants into biodegradable plastic.

To tackle water security and, in particular, scarcity and drought, a Kenyan startup now turns humidity from the air into clean drinking water.

To help his deaf niece communicate, a Kenyan data scientist invented a smart glove to convert sign language into audible speech through a mobile app. (Applause.)

And to  and to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, AI is now being used for medical image scans and chatbots are providing healthcare advice.

President Ruto, innovation has flourished under your leadership. You and I just left a fireside chat at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Your leadership has been extraordinary. And as I shared with you, with our Ambassador Whitman: You really, as a leader, symbolize the importance of the partnership between the United States and the continent.

You ran, Mr. President, on a platform of promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening your economy. You have spoken powerfully about the need to bridge the digital divide and that innovation will drive economic growth. Your work and this visit reinforces the point that African ideas and African innovation will help shape the future of the world. The partnership between the United States and Kenya is grounded in shared values and a shared vision for the future.

We are grateful, Mr. President, for your commitment to democracy, your commitment to take bold action on the climate crisis, your commitment to broad-based economic growth, and your commitment to support global security and stability  most recently, through Kenya's leadership to help stabilize Haiti.

The fates of the American people and the Kenyan people are intertwined.

Secretary Blinken just spoke about Tom Mboya and the airlift. I will add: In 1959, when Mboya was in the United States gathering support for the airlift, he joined in a march with American civil rights activists. Just blocks from here  just blocks from here, he spoke about our shared struggle for political freedom, economic opportunity, and human dignity. And these 65 years later, I stand proud to acknowledge your leadership, Mr. President, of these same principles.

Later on that trip, Mboya was invited to Atlanta  I see the former mayor here  by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There, as they stood together, Dr. King said, and I quote, "Our struggle is not an isolated struggle. We are all," he said, "caught in an inescapable network of mutuality."

So, to you, President Ruto, just as it was then and even more so today, our people are interconnected and interdependent.

And so, I will raise a glass and ask all to join. To the U.S.-Kenya partnership and in celebration of our network of mutuality.

(Vice President Harris offers a toast.)

Mr. President, cheers.

And now I invite President Ruto to share a toast. Thank you. (Applause.)

PRESIDENT RUTO: Madam Vice President, Secretary Blinken, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

AUDIENCE: Good afternoon.

PRESIDENT RUTO: It gives me tremendous pleasure to come back to this great building. I was here two years ago. And today, in my state visit to the United States, we meet again to celebrate 60 years of relationship between two friendly nations, the United States and Kenya.

Our relationship, based on a firm foundation of the values we share and believe in  values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, inclusivity, and equality  they were as present and meaningful many years ago; they are so today.

And as I come to the conclusion of this state visit, I am persuaded beyond any doubt that the relationship between the United States and Kenya and Africa is now onto a new pedestal. (Applause.)

I thank President Biden in a very special way for helping us reshape, reengineer, and write a new narrative for our continent.

We all believe in a Nigerian proverb that says, "Until the lion learned to write, all stories favored the hunter." (Laughter and applause.)

We have decided that we are going to write our own story. And we are  (applause)  and we started this last year, when I convened the first-ever Africa Climate Summit. The conversation, the narrative has always been this continent of conflict, trouble, disease, poverty. Yet, that is not the story of Africa.

Africa is a continent of tremendous opportunity: the largest reserves of energy  renewable energy resources; 60 percent of the world's arable, uncultivated land; 30 percent of mineral wealth  global mineral wealth, including those that are necessary for energy transition; the youngest continent, which will produce 40 percent of the world's worki-  working  or workforce by 2050 and where a quarter of the world's population will be living, providing the world's biggest single market.

In short, Africa is a rich continent and a continent of opportunity. (Applause.)

I am very happy that President Biden and this visit is giving us the opportunity to rewrite and recalibrate the relationship between this great superpower and our continent.

And I am very proud that among the things we've agreed are not just about Kenya and the U.S., it's about Kenya and the continent of Africa  from what we are doing around climate action; what we are doing around the financial architecture of the world to make it fairer, to make it much more sensitive, to make it much more agile, and to make it possible for many African countries and those in the Global South  many developing countries to access concessional resources for us to manage the affairs of our people, and that no country will spend more money on paying debt or on managing climate-induced crisis than they do on spending on health, education, or social service. (Applause.)

I must commend the leadership of the United States  President Biden and the many other leaders I met at the Hill, including the Black Caucus, including the leadership  the joint leadership of the House and the Senate. And all of them shared the same views with us that it's time for a new relationship  to build a new relationship between our continent and the United States as we encourage the United States to take leadership on making sure that, together, we can have a freer, a safer, a healthier, and a much more prosperous con-  globe for all of us.

Finally, we discussed many issues that today I find will give us new opportunities, will open new frontiers, and will enlarge the horizon for collaboration in making sure that we deal with the challenges that we all face of insecurity, of stability, challenges of debt and other financial challenges, but also give ourselves the opportunity to explore the tremendous opportunities that exist for collaboration in ex-  in exploiting our huge reserves and assets, using our human capital, and connecting assets that we have in our continent to technologies from the U.S., to financial results from the U.S., and creating a win-win outcome that works for the U.S., works for Kenya, and works globally for all humanity.

I thank you. (Applause.)

Let me request you to raise our glasses as I propose a toast to the long-lasting relationship, the good health, prosperous engagement, stability, and prosperity for the people of the United States and the people of Kenya.

Cheers.

(President Ruto offers a toast.)

END 1:28 P.M. EDT

# # #

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Remarks by Vice President Harris and President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya During a Moderated Conversation on Digital Inclusion in Africa

May 24, 2024

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Washington, D.C.

11:57 A.M. EDT

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: Well, good morning  almost good afternoon  and thank you both for joining us. It's really a privilege for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and, I think, our audience.

So, Madam Vice President, I'll start with you if you don't mind. So, you have been leader on Africa policy in the Biden-Harris administration. And you visited, you know  Suzanne mentioned Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia last year. We missed you in Kenya. (Laughs.)

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: I'll get there, I promise. I will get there.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: And you focused specifically on investing in innovation and investing in young people and investing in women.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Yes.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: So, why did you take that approach? And what are your lasting impressions from the trip? What did you learn that was particularly interesting?

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Thank you, Madam Ambassador. And, Mr. President, it is good to be with you on this stage.

I strongly believe that we are at a moment where we should revisit and upgrade and update the narrative of the relationship between the United States and the continent of Africa.

When you think about the continent, the median age is 19 years old  19. It is predicted that by 2050, one in four people occupying space on Mother Earth will be on the continent of Africa.

So, when I think of it just from that perspective, many could rightly argue that the future is on the continent of Africa. (Applause.) Yes.

I also think  and I'll speak very candidly here  that we have to revisit and  and revise the narrative around the relationship in a way that appreciates that ours, the role of the United States, should not be one of benevolence but of thinking about the relationship in the context of partnership.

So, it is not about  simply about aid but about investment and understanding the capacity that exists and has been proven to be strong on the continent and therefore is worthwhile in terms of an investment, understanding it will yield a great return on investment.

And when I think, Mr. President, in particular about your leadership in Kenya, I think this is empirical evidence of the need  of the imperative of the United States, through our government and private sector, partnering with Kenyans, with the Kenyan government in a way that recognizes the extraordinary opportunity for continued investment writ large in innovation, thinking about what we must do as a global community around addressing crises like the climate crisis, what we can do through those investments that makes clear and real what we know to be the growth that  broad-based economic growth that occurs wherever and everywhere when you invest in women.

And then, doing that work through a partnership that also appreciates it is good for American business to be invested in relationships that contribute to global stability. Global stability, of course, results also in global economic stability.

And so, for all of these reasons, I simply believe it is the right thing to do, not to mention the intertwined history between the continent and our country. But also, if we are going to be at all forward-thinking, it is an imperative.

Frankly, as Vice President  and I say this as a devout public servant  sadly, often our strategy around foreign policy is based on the crisis of the moment. And part of how I think about the future and the imperative of the relationship with African nations is based on a vision that public policy be formed and implemented now based on a vision for the next 10, 20, and 50 years.

And again, that all brings me back to the continent of Africa, and Kenya is an example of a vibrant partnership.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: Great, thank you very much. I  (applause). The "doing things before you have a crisis" 

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Yeah.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN:  is a lot easier 

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: How about that? (Laughs.)

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN:  than waiting until afterwards.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Yes.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: Mr. President, you have been a tremendous champion for tech and innovation in Kenya and its ability to spur economic development and promote opportunity. So  and also, by the way, advancing gender equality and inclusion. So, just love to hear your point of view, maybe your evolving point of view on the power of technology and what it can do for Kenya.

And for those of you who don't know, Kenya was the dest-  the largest destination for startup capital on the continent in 2023  ahead of Nigeria, ahead of South Africa, and ahead of Egypt  which is a quite a remarkable achievement. (Applause.)

PRESIDENT RUTO: Thank you very much. And thank you very much, Vice President Kamala Harris, for finding time to engage with us in this very important American Chamber of Commerce-Kenya meeting.

Speaking about technology and speaking about opportunities in the technology space, three things come to my mind. Technology is the facility, is  is the instrument that we can use to leapfrog Africa from where we are to the next  to catch up, if I may, with the rest of the world.

We have the youngest population. That young population is tech hungry. That young population, we have the opportunity to shape it in the direction in which we think it should. And that is why a country like Kenya  we are investing 30 percent of our budget in education, training, knowledge, skills. We are investing $5 billion every  every year.

And I said earlier, it  it's money we believe is an investment because if there is a single-most important asset that we have is our human capital. And as my sister Kamala said, we're looking at the continent that will have a quarter of the world's population by 2050. Forty percent of the world's workforce will be from the African continent. Therefore, it is not only about labor and, therefore, you need the correct quality of labor, it is also about market. The biggest market ever will exist in the African continent.

And therefore, technology is the biggest enabler, the biggest multiplier of what can be done. And I  and I see it every day. For example, M-PESA took Kenya from a banking ratio of, I think, about 20 percent and tripled it, you know, just using technology.

Many more Kenyans, including my mother who has not been to school, she operates M-PESA.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Yeah.

PRESIDENT RUTO: She knows how to do it.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Right.

PRESIDENT RUTO: You know? So, that's what happens to many people in Kenya.

So, we look at technology as an enabler and as a mechanism through which we can use the biggest resource we have in  in our young people, and we can also use it to better deliver agriculture, health, education, tax collection, government services.

In fact, for Kenya, we are moving all government services. When I came into office, we had 300 government services. We're now  we've now moved to 17,000 government services on a digital platform, because that is where the future is. That's how we can be able to efficiently deliver government services, cost-effectively deliver government services, accountably deliver government service. So, accountability, efficiency, effica-  the technology enables us to do all that much more efficiently.

Therefore, Madam Kamala Harris, you are focused in the right direction: on technology, digital space, young people, women. I think that that space is the space that will give us the greatest output as we go into the future.

And it is, for example, the reason  just before you came in  we have signed into a billion-dollar investment using American technology from Microsoft, capabilities from G42  capital resources from G42, and renewable energy from Kenya, because Kenya has the extra asset of having tech-savvy human capital. G22  G42 will tell you and Microsoft  and I'm sure they are in this meeting 

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: They are.

PRESIDENT RUTO:  Microsoft will tell you 

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Brad Smith is here.

PRESIDENT RUTO:  some of their best human capital come from Kenya. (Applause.)

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Yeah, that's right. That's right. That's right.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: Madam Vice President, you might be interested to know that Kenya is the home to the only semiconductor technology on the continent, and 70 percent of their engineers are women.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Ah!

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: So, pretty remarkable. (Applause.)

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Fantastic.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: So, I know how hard you've been working on the Digital Inclusion Project. And I think today you're  you're going to talk a little bit about the progress that 

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Yes.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN:  you've made and  and, you know, building on the trip that you made to Africa. So, maybe you can bring us up to speed on what you've accomplished and  and how you're feeling about the whole program.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: I will, but first I just must thank you, Meg Whitman  (applause)  for taking up the position of being ambassador. I've known the Ambassador for a long time, I say with a bit of bravado, as a proud Californian and 

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: Yes.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:  and your work and your groundbreaking work in technology is extraordinary. And this is just the perfect moment that you would step up and serve in this capacity. And I thank you for that. (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: Thank you.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Thank you. Thank you.

So, digital inclusion is  was at the heart of the idea for this initiative that is focused on the continent.

And I want to thank a few people who I know are here: Brad Smith is here. Michael Miebach is here. It  it was  it was companies like Microsoft, MasterCard  foundations  Melinda French Gates was one of the earliest to contribute as much as $10 million for the women in digital inclusion focused on women  the Ford Foundation.

And so, essentially, this is how it all happened is a  a simplified version. I got on the phone, and I called a bunch of people. And I  and called them to say, "I know that you have some interest based on the work that you've done before. Can we collaborate in a focused way that develops synergy around a public-private partnership?"

And the foundation for the work being digital inclusion, understanding that all business at this point is tech business and any business, any economy that is going to grow, much less be sustainable between now and the future, must integrate and adapt and adopt technology in a  in a very  in an institutional way.

And this includes, as you describe, Mr. President, your mother. It includes that it must be the people, not just the governments and the  and the corporations, that understand how the technology works.

Another piece of the focus was something I've long believed many of us do: If you  if we are focused on strengthening economies, one of the smartest ways to do that is to invest in women. The reality is that when you improve the economic condition  (applause)  when you improve the economic condition of women, you improve the economic condition of families, communities, and all of society benefits. So, a lot of the  the work then, in terms of the initial design, was to think of it that way.

It was also to layer upon the initiative: What are the  the current crises that we must address in a way that we see opportunity for economic growth? The climate crisis being an obvious one. The climate crisis having a direct impact on agricultural economies. And knowing, then, that we are developing the  the most extraordinary smart technology to help farmers.

And when they have access to technology, when they are able to get online, the services that are available will help them with crop management; will help them determine what crop they should plant this season based on satellite technology, which can predict the weather for that period of time, so they are not bound by tradition. Technology which helps farmers determine whether there is too much water in drought conditions that are being used on a specific plant  too much fertilizer, which we know has an impact on the climate.

All of this is facilitated  these traditions  these traditional ways of either growing or not growing economies can be facilitated, like you said, Mr. President, when we look at the issue of digital inclusion.

So, we developed this partnership that is a public-private partnership. I know that Michael and Brad talked earlier about what we are doing specifically, but the  the vision is that we can  and U.S. businesses, in particular, can partner with our allies in a way that invests in the infrastructure that allows these economies to thrive.

I will also say I'm a big believer in public partnershi-  public-private partnerships for two main reasons. One, we  as government, we have the  the scale. We have the ability to scale. But truly, the private sector has the depth of skill and expertise, often, that, when you combine it with the scale capacity of government, can have a profound impact on large populations of people.

The second point I will make, especially as vice president, is that through these public-private partnerships, I can speak then with our allies or potential partners around the globe. I'm doing this work, for example, in the northern part of Central America. And I can then sit down with world leaders and explain to them that private investment, U.S. investment will be dependent and reliant on in-  in rule of law, on democracy, on an adherence and respect for human rights.

And understand then, in that way, the power of public-private partnerships, especially when we are talking about these relationships around the globe, understanding that increasingly U.S. business is interdependent and intradependent with our allies and nations around the world. And these partnerships, then, make a lot of sense.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: Let me  that's  let me follow that up quickly, and we have just a few more minutes. But, Mr. President, tell us a little bit of how you think about these partnerships and how you think about Americans  since we're here in America  how you think about the American companies and  and how they're helping you to skill, to build out this ecosystem.

PRESIDENT RUTO: Vice President Kamala Harris has said a very profound thing about relationships  building the correct relationship. We need to recalibrate, you know, our  our engagement.

Let me start with where we were at the Africa Climate Summit last year. At the Africa Climate la-  Summit last year, we pushed to change the narrative around Africa.

For a long time, it was about blame game: who caused this, why  why this has happened. We decided we cannot continue to be in the victim corner. Let's get ourselves and project a new narrative. Kenya  Kenya and Africa can be part of the solution. (Applause.) You know?

And  and for a moment, it  it looked strange, because people were wondering, "We thought we were victims of climate change. We thought we didn't cause it. Africa caused only 4 percent. Wh-  how can we be part of the solution?"

We're saying we have the largest resources of renewable energy. We have the youngest population. We have 60 percent of the world's arable land, which we can use smart agriculture. We have the natural carbon sinks. We have the largest minerals that are even necessary for energy transition.

Why is a rich continent in a corner looking weak and defeated and  and a victim?

So, we  we decided to change the narrative. And for the first time, we had a different conversation. We are discussing: Since we have tremendous con-  potential, how do we move this to opportunity and to investment?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

PRESIDENT RUTO: That is the conversation. So, that's point number one.

And we must have it both ways. We have some work to do on our side. Our partners, like the U.S., have some work to do. Aid will not get us anywhere. Extracting raw materials from Africa will not get us anywhere.

So, it's  it's balanced. We  we must stop the extraction. But we must also think outside aid. And the place to think is about investment. And when you are thinking investment, you must think about how to bring both public and private investment. And that is why private-public engagement 

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Yeah.

PRESIDENT RUTO:  is ultimate.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: That's right.

PRESIDENT RUTO: It is necessary.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: That's right.

PRESIDENT RUTO: I'll give you examples. We have the most modern expressway in Nairobi. It wasn't built using government money. It was built using private-sector money in a PPP framework.

It  it's working. I am now doing a PPP framework to deli-  to transmit  for energy transmission. We're doing the first five transmission lines in Kenya. Why should government invest money in a transmission line when we can only pay a (inaudible) charge for somebody in the private sector who can invest their money?

We're looking at how we can also do it with the airports, how we can do it the ports, how we can do it with the rest so, that way, we can bring huge investment money into our economies without necessarily contracting debt or looking for aid.

Let me give a perfect example today here. We just signed an investment of a billion dollars. You know? It would take me ages  (laughter)  to get a billion dollars from any government, including the American government. (Laughter.)

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: It would take us that long too. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT RUTO: You know? It would take me ages, but the private sector can do it. They  they will bring the billion dollars 

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: That's right.

PRESIDENT RUTO:  because it makes business sense to them.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: That's right.

PRESIDENT RUTO: You know, they  they are investing. They will make money. We will use our geothermal. We will employ our young people. They will pay taxes. Everybody will win. They will make profits. So, it is win-win.

So, we must also, as  as governments, as Africa, we must make ourselves investment-ready so that, by eliminating barriers, eliminating roadblocks, making it easy for those who want to invest in our corner to do so.

And that is why  one more thing. That is why we are having an engagement to make sure that Africa is not unfairly profiled as a risky continent and thereby making investors  (applause). You know?

And  and it is the reason why I was having a very robust en-  engagement with President Biden. And I must thank him profusely, because he agreed with me that we need a reform of the international financial architecture so that we make it fairer so that all countries, all continents can access finances without unnecessary profiling and without making them pay more than they should.

So  (applause)  believe you me, I think we are having the right conversation. I think we are right  we are having the right conversation  and conversation around having a level playing field so that both public and especially the private sector can do what they do best and government can facilitate and do what we can do best. (Applause.)

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Right.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: Well, thank you very much. It is my responsibility  it's my responsibility to get Madam Vice President to her lunch 

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Yes.

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN:  that she is hosting.

But I want to commend your leadership on this subject. Thank you for what you do for Africa.

And if you want to just say one last word, we really, really  a round of applause for the Vice President. She's done a remarkable, remarkable job. (Applause.)

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Thank you.

I will emphasize the point that President Ruto made: The  the capacity that we have in public-private partnership is being illustrated around our focus on the continent of Africa, and let it be an example as we think about future-forward policy. That is where the future is.

We in government don't have  not only the  necessarily the depth of the skill, but we cannot pull together the billions of dollars, to your point 

PRESIDENT RUTO: (Inaudible.)

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:  that we can do with these kinds of partnerships that will have exponential and immediate impact.

And I'll just close with this. President Ruto, I think that your trip and your visit  this state visit  is, history will show, an inflection point in how we are revising and upgrading the narrative of the relationship between the United States and the continent of Africa, and I thank you for that. Thank you. (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR WHITMAN: Thank you very much.

END 12:21 P.M. EDT

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Readout of President Biden's Call with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt

May 24, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt to discuss ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages and to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. President Biden welcomed the commitment from President Al-Sisi to permit the flow of UN-provided humanitarian assistance from Egypt through the Karem Shalom crossing on a provisional basis for onward distribution throughout Gaza. This will help save lives. President Biden also expressed his full commitment to support efforts to reopen the Rafah crossing with arrangements acceptable to both Egypt and Israel and agreed to send a senior team to Cairo next week for further discussions. The President Biden thanked President Al-Sisi once again for his efforts from the beginning of the crisis to ensure the continuous flow of assistance from Egypt into Gaza. The two leaders also consulted on new initiatives to secure the release of hostages together with an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza. President Biden and President Al-Sisi affirmed their commitment to work together to set the conditions for a durable and sustainable peace in the Middle East region. They agreed to remain in regular contact both directly and through their senior national security teams.

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UN chief recalls ICJ decisions binding, urges Israel to comply

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 25, 2024

New York, IRNA -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday recalled that the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICK) are "binding" after it ordered Israel to halt military operations in southern Gaza.

"The Secretary General recalls that ...decisions of the International Court of Justice are binding, and he trusts that the parties will duly comply with the order from the court," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric told the reporters.

His remarks came after the top UN court ordered Israel on Friday to "immediately" halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Guterres will also properly transmit the notice of provisional measures ordered by the Court to the Security Council, Dujarric added.

"Whether or not the decisions of the court are implemented or not implemented, what is next for us is continuing every effort to deliver more humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza," he stressed.

2050







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Palestinians welcome UN court ruling on halting Israeli operations in Rafah

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:49, May 25, 2024

RAMALLAH, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency on Friday welcomed the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to stop its military offensive in Rafah with immediate effect.

It further called on the international community to compel Israel to implement the ICJ rulings, and to respect and implement the resolutions of international legitimacy and international law, the presidency said in a statement carried by the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.

The statement said Israel considers itself a state above international law and cannot be held accountable as a result of the "blind and biased American support."

The presidency reiterated its appreciation for countries that have supported Palestinian rights, emphasizing that this international consensus once again proves that Israel stands isolated, along with its allies who provide it with support, protection, and impunity, according to WAFA.

Also on Friday, Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, welcomed the ICJ decision. In a separate statement, it called on the international community and the United Nations to put pressure on Israel to immediately oblige it to this resolution, and to proceed in a real and serious manner in translating all UN resolutions that urge the Israeli army to stop the war "it has been committing against the Palestinian people for more than seven months."

Hamas affirms that the international community and all relevant United Nations institutions, led by the UN Security Council, are concerned and required not to allow Israel to continue to defy all international laws and conventions, and to escape accountability and punishment.

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Hojjat al-Islam, Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei

Mojtaba Khamenei is an influential figure in Iran, known primarily for being the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran. He holds significant sway within Iran's political and religious establishments, although much about his role remains shrouded in secrecy and speculation. Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei is one of the possible main options to succeed his father as the future leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. [68] The death of Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi , another front-runner for leadership, in an air crash in 1403, focused more attention on Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.

"Hojjat al-Islam" (also spelled "Hujjat al-Islam" or "Hojjatoleslam") is an honorific title in Shia Islam, particularly among the Twelver Shia clerics. The term translates to "Proof of Islam" and is used to denote a high-ranking and respected Islamic scholar. Hojjat al-Islam is a significant clerical rank in Shia Islam, situated below Ayatollah but above lower-ranking titles such as Sheikh or Mullah. Individuals with this title typically have extensive knowledge of Islamic law (Sharia), theology (Kalam), philosophy (Hikmah), and other religious sciences. They often teach in seminaries (Hawzas) and write scholarly works. In contemporary Iran and other Shia-majority regions, Hojjat al-Islam clerics often participate in politics, hold governmental positions, and influence public policy.

Apart from Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the Leader of the Revolution has other children, including Seyed Mustafa Khamenei, Seyed Massoud Khamenei, Seyed Meisham Khamenei, Seyed Bushra Khamenei and Seyed Hoda Khamenei. Born in 1969, Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of Ali Khamenei. He has received extensive religious education, studying under prominent scholars in Qom, Iran. Mojtaba is often regarded as a key player behind the scenes in Iranian politics. He is believed to have substantial influence over the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other security apparatus in Iran. His involvement in politics is often seen as part of a broader network supporting the current leadership.

Though not holding a formal public office, Mojtaba's influence is noted in various political and military circles. Reports suggest he plays a significant advisory role to his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His name has surfaced in various controversies, particularly regarding the suppression of dissent and the handling of political protests.

There have been allegations of his involvement in the rigging of the 2009 presidential election in favor of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Speculation about Mojtaba potentially succeeding his father as Supreme Leader has been a topic of discussion among analysts and within Iranian political circles. This potential succession is contentious and would mark a significant departure from traditional clerical routes to power in Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei's exact role and influence remain subjects of considerable speculation due to the opaque nature of Iran's political system and the secretive operations of its elite.

Mojtaba Khamenei is considered the most influential son of the leader of the Islamic Republic and has very close relations with the IRGC and security forces. He is mentioned as one of the possible options to succeed his father. Mojtaba Khamenei is a mysterious political figure in the Islamic Republic. Born on 17 September 1348 in Mashhad, is the second son of Ali Hosseini Khamenei; He is known as the most mysterious and of course the most influential figure in the Bayt, IRGC and security institutions. According to the narrative of the state media in Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, after finishing his high school education in the Alavi school, entered the seminary of Qom and sat at the pulpit of people such as Mohammad Taghi Misbah Yazdi and Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani.

News sources close to IRGC and security institutions have published reports and memories of Mojtaba Khamenei's presence in the Iran and Iraq war fronts. According to these reports, Mojtabi is about 17 years old when he leaves for the front and is a member of a battalion named "Habib bin Mazaher" from the division known as "Mohammed Rasoolullah". A number of members of this battalion later became the most important intelligence and security figures of the Islamic Republic and often gathered around Agha Mojtabi. Among them, we can mention Alireza Panahian, Mehdi Taib, Ali Fazli and Hassan Mohaghegh.

According to the memoirs of a number of IRGC commanders, Mojtaba participated in a number of operations such as "Beitul-Maqdis 2, 3 and 4" as well as "Mursad" and "Walfajr 10" and he also asks the commanders to call him "Hosseini". In the "Morsad" operation, he mainly helps the commanders in the task of learning information. These commanders, including Noor Ali Shushtri, try to portray "Aghasid Demjatbi" as a brave and fearless fighter: "The Jerusalem operation was 3... When I was busy talking on the wireless and doing other things, they walked towards the line with Mr. Hashemi's son. No matter what I did, I couldn't keep them and they left. Then I called their division commander and said: They are coming, be careful that they don't break the line."

At that time, Ali Khamenei had not reached the leadership, and no one thought that Mojtaba would one day be called one of the most serious options for the leadership of the regime; Therefore, IRGC commanders such as Ali Fazli are even investigating the possibility of his death in the war: "Their martyrdom is not a problem, if they are captured, it will be very expensive for us in terms of publicity."

A search in the memoirs of the officials in the Islamic Republic sometimes reveals Mojtaba's unfamiliarity with the principles of warfare and war; For example, at the end of March 1363, IRGC commanders such as Mohsen Rafiqdoost reported that Mojtaba was "lost" for a week somewhere between Iran and Iraq: "They informed that they were stuck somewhere between Iran and Iraq; I went to Mr. He said: Let us pray that if this happens to them, they will be martyred: God willing, they will not be captured.

The mysterious face of the recent years of politics in the Islamic Republic was also mysterious during the days of being on the front; so much so that he performs his prayers in dark and secluded places and often in far away tents; somewhere away from the eyes of others; Like his current position in poetry and politics.

Mojtaba Khamenei is the son-in-law of Gholam Ali Haddad Adel; In 1377, Zahra Haddad Adel was in her fourth year of high school when Mansoure Khojaste Bagherzadeh, Ali Khamenei's wife, called the bride's house to propose. "Our lady asked them to introduce themselves; They also said: I am the lady of the Supreme Leader. According to Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, talk about the wedding will be postponed until the end of Zahra High School; "At that time, our daughter had received a diploma and participated in the entrance examination. After the preparations, one day the son and his mother came with a cloth as a gift for the bride and we talked, and after Mr. Mojtabi left, I asked my daughter's opinion; He agreed."

After the agreement of the bride and groom, Haddad Adel goes to visit Ali Khamenei; A meeting that speaks of Khamenei's satisfaction with this relationship; "They said that Mr. Doctor, we are becoming ourselves and our people; I said how? They said that the family came and liked it, and they reached a complete conclusion in the conversation." Haddad Adel and Sidmjatbi go to the intersection of Karim Khan and Aban streets to buy wedding favors, including watches and shoes; where according to Haddad, Mojtaba chose the cheapest watch; According to Haddad Adel, the cost of the wedding ring was about 600 thousand tomans.

Mojtaba Khamenei did not wear clerical clothes during the wedding; A subject that is of interest to his father; "Mujtabi is not a mystery; He wants to go to Qom and study and become a priest. Tell her [your daughter] all this so she knows." The wedding ceremony of Mojtaba and Zahra was held in Beit Dari; It is during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami; Most of the guests are from the bride's family; Among the officials, Mohammad Khatami, Ali Akbar Natiq Nouri and Hadi Khamenei are present; Hashemi Rafsanjani also shortens the meeting with Abdullah Nouri and goes to Beit from his office on Koushak street.

The result of this marriage is three children. Two boys and one girl. Many rumors have been published about the birth of the couple's first child; For example, due to some kind of infertility problem, Mojtaba and Zahra, along with a whole team of guards and security forces, including Saeed Emami, one of the main accused in the case of serial murders, went to a hospital in London, and the baby was delivered at a cost of over one million pounds. was born Haddad Adel, however, strongly rejects such a rumor: "This child was born with 500 thousand tomans in a normal hospital in Tehran; His doctor was the former Minister of Health, Marzieh Vahid Dastjardi.

Studying the memoirs and narratives of the security officials and the IRGC indicates that Mojtaba has become an unofficial and versatile assistant almost since these years (1376/1377); A process that has continued until now. In closed political systems, it is this circle of trusted people who reach the nest of power; The closer, the more reliable. Mojtabi Khamenei saw the fate of Ahmad Khomeini, although Mojtabi's role for Ali is more than Ahmad's role for Ruhollah. This is the case that if Masoud Khamenei spends most of his time with his mother, Mojtaba sits at his father's right hand; A sit-up that is now considered by many to be "leadership training."

Since the middle of the 1370s, the people of Bayt and many regime officials are well aware of Mojtaba Khamenei's increasing position and influence in the regime's political and security arena; Next to him are sitting most of the soldiers and commanders who have returned from the war; It includes the same "Habib bin Mazaher" battalion from the "Mohammed Rasulullah" division, which now works mostly in the fields of security and election engineering; The group that, in their first project, engineered the 2004 elections under the mantle of Agha and, of course, his great-grandson Siddimjatbi, so that an almost unknown figure named Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power from the body of the Revolutionary Guards.

The election in which Hashemi Rafsanjani received a political wound but remained silent; Mehdi Karroubi could not bear it, and after that his famous snooze, which led to a huge change in the results of the elections, in an open letter, for the first time, he revealed Mojtaba Khamenei's interference in the elections and Ahmadinejad's rise to power; But the answer of "Maqam Azma" was clear: "He is not Aghazadeh; He is a gentleman"; The answer that maybe "now" has taken on a different meaning: Ali Khamenei has been opening another account on this son for years; Perhaps in the dimensions of the next leader of the system.

Four years after Karroubi's revelation, Mojtabi's name reached the streets through the open letters of senior regime officials and the slogans of protesters announcing the victory of Ahmadinejad in the controversial presidential election of 2008; "If you die, don't see the leadership". In the eventful months, numerous reports of Mojtaba's increasing role in suppressing the Green Movement were published; Among them, the reports that informed about Mojtaba's private meetings with the leaders of the Green Movement.

A look at the memoirs of a number of officials in the Islamic Republic shows that Mojtaba actually entered politics and security affairs years ago; Requests reports from authorities and institutions and interferes in decisions; For example, on February 1, 1376, Akbar Nabavi, a member of the editorial board of Resalat newspaper, told Hashemi Rafsanjani in a private meeting: "Mr. Mojtabi asked us to present an analysis about the state of universities."

Among other things, he has considerable influence in the Islamic Republic of Iran's radio and television; The managers of this organization, who are appointed by Khamenei, are well aware that in many cases, the party to their account is the child of the person who issued their order. For example, Mohammad Sarfazr, the former head of the Broadcasting Organization, wrote in his book that Mojtaba gathered a group of intelligence and security managers in Bayt since 1376; A group that is practically considered a "government within a government" and their first exercise was "a crisis every 9 days" for Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's government.

Abdul Ali Ali Asgari has also repeatedly reported Mojtaba's direct and immediate phone call; "I was called before dawn and told that it was Haj Agha Mojtaba; I was surprised; When I picked up the phone, he said very calmly and simply that Haj Qasim was martyred at the Baghdad airport. Senior IRGC officials have also spoken about Mojtaba's special support in military and security affairs many times. For example, in a leaked document from the meeting of some IRGC commanders with Ali Khamenei, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, IRGC Aerospace Commander, appreciates Mojtaba Khamenei's special assistance in financing the IRGC's drone and missile programs.

Of course, Mojtaba's rise in the power ladder does not only require a security system; That's why he has been spending a lot of time in the seminaries of Qom since 2008 to please the clergy of Qom. The government media in Iran have been using the title "Ayatollah" for Mojtaba for years and publishing the link to register to attend his extra jurisprudence classes. Despite all these efforts, no report on the number of his imitators has been published so far. Sometimes whispers are also heard about Ali Khamenei's consultation with the people of Qom about his son's ijtihad and authority. For example, in October of 2009, a number of teachers and students of Qom and Najaf announced in an open letter that the reason for Khamenei's trip to Qom was to seek permission for ijtihad from authorities for Mojtabi.

Among a considerable part of the clerics and the security apparatus of the Islamic Republic, there is the view that the system should be maintained in its current condition by avoiding any changes; From this point of view, emphasizing Mojtaba's strong resemblance to his father is on the agenda; In recent years, numerous memoirs and narratives have been published by the officials of the regime, the key to which is one word: "Mujtabi is exactly like a gentleman". Among them are the words of Fariduddin Haddad Adel, Mojtaba's brother-in-law: "His view and vision are completely in line with the leadership and we feel relieved and confident in this respect."

To all this, of course, Mojtaba's direct supervision of Ali Khamenei's financial empire should also be added; Where, according to "insiders" in the government, at least 60% of Iran's economy is in the holdings controlled by Ali Khamenei; From Mustafafan Foundation to Relief Committee and from Khatam-ul-Anbia camp to Astan Quds. To understand the magnitude of the figures and just as an example, in the financial report of Mustafafan Foundation in 2015, the total assets of this foundation were announced as "56 thousand billion Tomans" [about a billino US dollars].

On 04 November 2019, in an action time to coincide with 40th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action against Irans Armed Forces General Staff and nine individuals who are appointees of, or have acted for or on behalf of, Ali Khamenei, the Iranian regimes unelected Supreme Leader whose office is responsible for advancing Irans radical agenda.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the Supreme Leader, was designated for representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position aside from work in the office of his father. The Supreme Leader has delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojataba Khamenei, who worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and also the Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to advance his fathers destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives. The IRGC-QF is designated pursuant to Treasurys counterterrorism authority (E.O. 13224) and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, while the Basij is designated pursuant to both E.O. 13224 and Treasurys human rights designation authority (E.O. 13553).

For a long time now, Mojtaba Khamenei has been mentioned as one of the most serious options to replace Ali Khamenei; The clerics of Qom also confirm the seriousness of this option for the third leadership; The person whom the government media tries to paint a simple face of; A picture with a mandarin shoe and a rotten car carpet on the floor of his room; On the other hand, according to those who have seen him closely, he often has an expensive "Diopand" pen in his hand.

All possibilities about Mojtaba's political future are conditional on the Islamic Republic remaining; A government drowned in the blood of its citizens; with the least amount of legitimacy; deep in sanctions and growing economic problems; A government that is not clear how long and how long it can overcome the storm of popular protests with the tools of suppression and arrest; A clear picture of Mojtaba's gambling.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its first Supreme Leader, held clear and strong views on the subject of political power and its inheritance. Despite Khomeini's ideological stance, the reality of political power dynamics in Iran has shown elements of familial influence, particularly within the ruling elite.

The speculation around Mojtaba Khamenei's potential succession highlights the tension between Khomeini's ideals and the practicalities of power in Iran. His views are reflected in various speeches, writings, and actions throughout his leadership. Khomeini emphasized that political power in an Islamic state should be based on religious qualifications and adherence to Islamic principles, rather than hereditary succession. He promoted the concept of "Wilayat al-Faqih" (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), where a qualified religious scholar governs based on Islamic law and principles.

Khomeini was a staunch critic of the Pahlavi monarchy and the idea of dynastic rule, which was one of the main reasons for the 1979 revolution. He opposed the Shah's regime for its autocratic rule and the idea of power being passed down through inheritance within a royal family. Khomeini's vision for the Islamic Republic included a meritocratic system where leaders are chosen based on their religious knowledge, piety, and ability to govern according to Islamic law. This system is institutionalized in Iran through bodies like the Assembly of Experts, which selects the Supreme Leader.

Khomeini did not explicitly endorse hereditary succession for political power. Instead, he emphasized the selection of leaders through Islamic and revolutionary principles. There are recorded statements where Khomeini criticized the concept of dynastic succession and underscored the importance of the people's role in determining their leaders.

"Islam is against hereditary rule and considers the qualifications of individuals as the basis for leadership."

"The position of leadership is not something to be inherited. It is something that is given by the people to someone who meets the Islamic criteria."

These views underline Khomeini's commitment to a form of governance that contrasts sharply with monarchic or hereditary systems, emphasizing religious meritocracy and theocratic principles. However, the ongoing speculation about political succession within the Khamenei family suggests that the practical application of these ideals can be complex and contentious.

The 10th official meeting of the Assembly of Leadership Experts in the 5th term, which was held on the 15th and 16th of Shahrivar [07-08 September 2022], ended its work with the reading of a statement. In the final statement of this two-day meeting, which was held in the old building of the Islamic Council, points were mentioned which seem to be in response to the recent statements of Mirhossein Mousavi, and especially regarding his warning about the inheritance of leadership in the Islamic Republic of Iran. have became.

The statement of the Assembly of Leadership Experts referred to what was called "doubts about the future of the system's leadership" and stated: "Leadership experts, as trustees of the nation, in accordance with their inherent, legal and religious duty, consider the spreading of doubts meaningless and declare that the history of this assembly is heavy." It has indicated attention to merit selection and correct selection.

In this statement, it is stated that the Assembly of Experts, "the sinister plans of global arrogance and their people will be overturned, and this strong pillar will not be weakened by raising biased suspicions and fueling some baseless rumors". It seems that the reference to words such as "biased suspicions" and the use of keywords such as "the future of the regime's leadership" in this statement are directly aimed at Mir Hossein Mousavi's recent statements and statements, which the website published parts of on Tuesday, 18 August had published on his Telegram channel.

This suspicion is strengthened because the text of the statement directly mentions Hossein Hamdani, one of the senior commanders of the IRGC. Mr. Mousavi, one of the two candidates protesting the results of the 2008 election, who is still under house arrest, in his August statement, referring to Hossein Hamdani, who played an important role in suppressing the 2008 protest movement, said: "The punishment for that dishonorable general who He confessed to this crime and boasted about it, what was the point, except that his life would be wasted in exile as a victim of another tyrant." Hossein Hamdani, who was the commander of the IRGC at the time, called him the "collector of Fitna 88", during the bloody repressions of 1988, he was in charge of the Mohammad Rasulullah IRGC in Tehran, and was later killed in the month of October 1994 in the city of Aleppo, Syria.

Referring to the long history of rumors about the succession of Mojtaba Khamenei as leader instead of his father, Mirhossein Mousavi wrote in his note: "The news of this conspiracy has been heard for thirteen years. If they are not really looking for it, why don't they deny such an intention once?" Now, it seems that the statement of the Assembly of Leadership Experts, which explicitly mentions the "meaninglessness of doubts" and "merit selection and choosing the right one", is a direct reaction to Mir Hossein Mousavi's statement regarding the inheritance of the future leadership of the regime.

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To Lam

With 472/473 National Assembly delegates voting in favor, on 22 May 2024 the 7th Session of the 15th the National Assembly passed a Resolution to elect General To Lam, Politburo member, Minister of Public Security to the position of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the term 2021 - 2026. He was the only candidate on the secret ballot or the job. The vote followed his nomination by the ruling Communist Party last week.

Lams rise has not been without controversy, as the minister for public security, which deals with the monitoring of dissent and surveillance of activists in the dictatorship. Rights campaigners say the government has in recent years stepped up a crackdown on civil society groups, and the Vietnam-focused rights organisation The 88 Project says 200 activists are currently in prison.

Thousands of people  including several senior government and business leaders  have been caught up in a sweeping crackdown on corruption known as blazing furnace in which Lam, who is deputy head of the steering committee on anticorruption, played a central role. Lam took over from Vo Van Thuong, who resigned in March over what the party called violations and shortcomings, after just a year in the job. The next month the National Assembly chairman also resigned over violations and shortcomings.

Analysts have said that Lam, who is deputy head of the steering committee on anticorruption, had weaponised its investigations to take down his political rivals. In his first remarks after being confirmed as president, he told parliament that he would resolutely and persistently continue the fight against corruption. Carl Thayer, emeritus professor and Vietnam expert at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, said the election should restore some calm, albeit temporarily. Ageing party chief Nguyen Phu Trongs third five-year term ends in 2026  or earlier if he steps down before his mandate expires.

To Lam could use his position as one of the four pillars as a stepping stone to become general secretary, said Thayer, referring to the party chief job. With the elevation to the office of president, it becomes clear that there are more ambitions for To Lam than retirement, said Florian Feyerabend, the representative in Vietnam for Germanys Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a think tank, noting the position could be a launchpad to secure his position as party chief. Feyerabend said continued infighting was the modus operandi of the system and was likely to continue until Nguyen Phu Trongs successor was chosen.

No longer at the helm of the Ministry of Public Security, Lam may be in a weaker position to take down Pham Minh Chinh, the prime minister and only other contender for general secretary, said Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington.

The state president holds a largely ceremonial role but is one of the countrys top four political positions, the so-called four pillars. The others are the party chief, the prime minister and the parliament speaker. Carl Thayer, emeritus professor and Vietnam expert at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, said the election should restore some calm, albeit temporarily. Ageing party chief Nguyen Phu Trongs third five-year term ends in 2026  or earlier if he steps down before his mandate expires.

After being elected, the new President took the oath of office according to regulations. "Under the sacred red flag with yellow star of the Fatherland, before the National Assembly and my compatriots and voters nationwide, I, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, swear: Absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, to "The people, with the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, strive to successfully complete the tasks assigned by the Party, State and People," President To Lam swore.

On the morning of May 23, at the Presidential Palace, General To Lam, Politburo member, President met with leaders, officials, civil servants, public employees, and Office workers. Also attending were Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan; leaders of the President's Office and comrades in the Central Public Security Party Committee, leaders of the Ministry of Public Security. Speaking at the meeting, President To Lam respectfully thanked the Vice President for his affection and respectful and cordial welcome; leaders, officers and employees of the President's Office.

President To Lam affirmed that at all times, the President throughout his terms has made great efforts to fully and effectively carry out his duties and powers according to the provisions of the Constitution. The results of the President's work through the terms of office have made an important contribution to the entire Party, people and army in promoting the patriotic tradition, will, and strength of great national unity, strengthening construction, rectify the Party and make the political system clean and strong; Comprehensively and synchronously promote Doi Moi, socio-economic development, improve the material and spiritual life of the people; resolutely fight against corruption and negativity; consolidate and strengthen national defense and security potential, firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. At the same time, promote foreign relations and international integration more and more deeply, enhancing Vietnam's position in the region and the world.

To Lam is a prominent Vietnamese politician who has had a notable career and life dedicated to public service, playing a significant role in the country's public security sector. To Lam served as the Minister of Public Security of Vietnam since April 2016. In this role, he oversaw the nation's police force and internal security matters. He is a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which is the central policymaking body in the country. To Lam is a member of the National Assembly of Vietnam, representing the security sector. As Minister of Public Security, To Lam has been responsible for various initiatives aimed at maintaining national security, combating crime, and ensuring social order. He has been involved in several high-profile anti-corruption campaigns, which have been a significant focus of the Vietnamese government in recent years. Under his leadership, the Ministry of Public Security has also focused on enhancing cybersecurity measures to protect against cyber threats and ensure the safety of digital infrastructure.

He was born July 10, 1957 in Nghia Tru commune, Van Giang district, Hung Yen Province, in northern Vietnam, a region known for its historical and cultural significance. To Lam has a background in security and law enforcement, having received extensive training and education in these fields. To Lam's early education laid the foundation for his future career in public security and law enforcement. His academic pursuits were focused on subjects relevant to governance, law, and security, culminating with a Doctor of Laws degree, aligning with the career path he later took. He has been involved in the public security sector for many years, rising through the ranks to his current position.

Date of recruitment to the People's Police was October 1974. From 1974-1979 he was a student of People's Security University (now People's Security Academy). From 1979-1988 he was an Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs (now Ministry of Public Security).

Before ascending to high-ranking positions within the Vietnamese government, To Lam started his career in various roles within the public security sector. Beginning his career at the local level, he gained practical experience in handling security issues and public safety. Specialized training in security and law enforcement, equipped him with the skills needed for higher responsibilities. To Lam's dedication and effectiveness in his roles led to steady promotions within the Ministry of Public Security.

To Lam joined the Party 22 August 1981. From 1988-1990 he was Deputy Head of Department, General Department of Security, Ministry of Home Affairs (now Ministry of Public Security. From 1990-1993 he was Head of Department, General Department of Security, Ministry of Home Affairs (now Ministry of Public Security). From 1993-1997 he was Deputy Director, General Department of Security, Ministry of Public Security From 1997-2006 he was Director, General Department of Security. Police. From 6/2006 12/2009 he was Deputy Director General of the General Department of Security, Ministry of Public Security.

In April 2007 was promoted to the rank of Major General. From 12/2009 he was Deputy Director General in charge of General Security Department 1, Ministry of Public Security. From 02/2010 7/2010 he was Secretary of the Party Committee, General Director of General Security Department 1, Member of the Central Public Security Party Committee, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in July 2010. From 8/2010 1/2011 he was Member of the Central Public Security Party Committee, Deputy Minister of Public Security. From 8/2011-1/2016 he was Member of the 11th Party Central Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of the Central Public Security Commission, Deputy Minister of Public Security, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in September 2014

From 1/2016 3/2016 he was a Member of the XII Politburo, Member of the Standing Committee of the Central Public Security Party Committee, Deputy Minister of Public Security. From April 2016, he was a Member of the Politburo (terms XII, XIII): Member of the National Defense and Security Council; Member of the Government Party Committee: Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee, Minister of Public Security; Delegate to the 14th and 15th National Assembly, Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee for Prevention of Corruption (now the Central Steering Committee for Prevention of Corruption and Negligence) for the period July 2016 - October 2017, holding the position of Head of the Committee Directed the Central Highlands and in January 2019 was promoted to the rank of General.

Lam also drew anger in Vietnam in 2021 when celebrity chef Nusret Gokce, known as Salt Bae, uploaded a video of Lam eating a gold-encrusted steak at his London restaurant, while Vietnam was under COVID-19 lockdown. The video went viral before the Turkish chef removed it. A noodle seller who later posted a video imitating Salt Bae by sprinkling herbs on noodle soup was sentenced to five years in prison for anti-state propaganda.

In Germany the Berlin Supreme Court said Lam commissioned the 2017 kidnapping of a former Vietnamese politician and businessman from Berlin Tiergarten. After his abduction to Vietnam Trinh Xuan Thanh was given a double life sentence for corruption charges in Vietnam.

From 17-19 October 2022, US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas traveled to the Republic of Singapore to attend Singapore International Cyber Week. Secretary Mayorkas met with Vietnams Minister of Public Security To Lam to reaffirm the strong partnership with Vietnam for a free and open Indo-Pacific and discuss the importance of respect for human rights. Together, the two countries are strengthening a united efforts to combat illegal activity impacting the region, the United States, and the world.

He spearheaded efforts to modernize the police force and improve its effectiveness through reforms and the adoption of new technologies. To Lam worked to strengthen international cooperation in security matters, collaborating with other countries to address transnational crime and terrorism. To Lam is seen as a key figure in Vietnam's efforts to maintain stability and security. His tenure as Minister of Public Security has been marked by a strong emphasis on law enforcement and public order.

To Lam's early life and career set the stage for his rise to prominence in Vietnam's public security sector. His background in Hung Yen Province, coupled with his dedication to public service and extensive professional training, enabled him to climb the ranks and eventually become the Minister of Public Security. His journey reflects a commitment to maintaining national security and public safety, which continues to define his contributions to the country. Growing up during a period of significant change in Vietnam, including post-war recovery and economic reforms, shaped his understanding of security and governance. Guidance from senior officials and mentors within the security sector who recognized his potential and helped foster his career development.

Awards

3 First Class Military Merit Medals (May 2014, July 2015, December 2020)

Third-class Military Merit Medal (July 2011)

2 First Class Victory Medals (January 2002; September 2008)

Second Class Victory Medal (May 2007)

Victory Medal, Third Class (March 2007)

Glorious Soldier Medal, 1st, 2nd, 3rd class (November 2015)

Medal "For the Cause of Homeland Security" (2002)

6 Medals of the State of Laos (2017) (Freedom Medal, First and Second Classes; Labor Medal, First Class (2017) and Children's, Friendship Medal: Medal of Valor, First Class)

Sahametrei Thibadin Medal of the State of Cambodia

June 6 First Class Medal of the Cuban State
Russo-Ukraine War - 24 May 2024 - Day 821

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 on over the past week, Russia has deployed units from the Russian MOD's Africa Corps alongside regular Russian forces and Storm-Z units during their offensive on Vovchansk, northern Kharkiv.

The Russian MOD's Africa Corps, which emerged in December 2023, consists of more than 2,000 regular soldiers and officers, as well as experienced mercenaries, many of whom previously served in the Wagner Group. Africa Corps detachments have highly likely previously deployed to Syria, Libya, Burkina Faso and Niger.

The Russian MOD almost certainly redeployed detachments from the Africa Corps to the Ukrainian border during April 2024 in preparation for this offensive. It is highly likely that Russia is reinforcing its war on Ukraine with resources previously assigned to Africa.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the defense operation of the Defense Forces is ongoing, Ukrainian troops are giving a detachment to the offensive actions of the Russian occupiers. The hottest remains the situation on the kupians komu, pokrovsk komu, kramators komu and kharkiv directions.

So far, 90 combat clashes have taken place. Russian aggressor tries to use advantage in live force and technology and support from the air. Ukrainian soldiers give battle to Russian forces, and in individual directions - carry out effective assault actions themselves to improve defense resilience and restore positions.

During the day, Russian forces launched two missiles on the territory of Ukraine (with the use of three missiles) and 33 aviation strikes (including 47 KABamas), used 224 kamikaze drones. Conducted more than 2,200 shelling on positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons.

13 combat clashes with Russian zagarbnikami took place in the Kharkiv direction. 10 attacks were hit in the areas of Lipciv, Tihogo and Vovchansk. The battle is ongoing near the settlement of Staritsa. The situation is under control. In addition, Ukrainian defenders push Russian forces away from the front edge of defense with assault actions, and have success in some areas.

In this direction, the grouping of occupation troops lost about hundreds more killed and wounded. Ukrainian soldiers destroyed five cannons, two cars, one unit of special equipment. Four artillery systems, three cars and two units of special equipment were damaged. Also impressed by the nine blindadzah of the Russian occupiers.

In the Kupans 17komu direction, the opponent 17 times tried to push Ukrainian units out of occupied positions. The fighting took place in particular in the areas of settlements Sinkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Stelmakhivka, Novoegorivka, Druzhelyubivka and Nevsk. Currently, fighting near Novoegorivka, Petropavlivka and Ivanivka continue. Russia has partial success in the last two areas, the situation is tense. The Defense Forces of Ukraine are taking active measures to stabilize the situation.

Three attempts of the opponent to advance in the areas of Terniv and Serebryans kogo Forest were repelled in the Lyman direction.

In the sivers komu direction, the number of attacks of the aggressor overnight increased to five. Ukrainian defenders stopped two Russian assault actions in the areas of bilogorivka and spirnogo. At the same time, another fight near the village of Spirne is ongoing. The hoarder has no success.

In the Kramators komu direction, in total, there were 13 attempts of the opponent to approach the interval. Another combat encounter is underway in the Andriyivka area. Tense situation but controlled by Ukrainian units.

On the Pokrovsky direction during the day, Russian occupiers continued to try to infiltrate Ukrainian defense from the area of the settlement of Ocheretyne. Have partial success eastern Eugene. A total of 15 combat clashes took place. Ukrainian defenders are taking active measures to recover the lost position.

In this direction, total losses of the opponent for today are already 240 persons, of which 58 - killed and 182 - injured. In addition, three tanks and the REB station were destroyed. Damaged two tanks, one btr and four Russian forces' cars.

In the Kurakhivsky direction, the Defense Forces units repelled the Russian attacks near Krasnogorivka, Georgievka and Paraskovievka. The situation south of Konstantinivka and south of Volodymyrivka will remain the most tense. In total, eight combat clashes took place. The situation is under control of Ukrainian troops.

In the Vremivs komu direction, the situation has not changed significantly. There were two combat clashes. Loss of positions in the area of Staromayorsky is not allowed.

In the orihiv direction Russian zagarbniki made one unsuccessful attempt to advance towards novodanilivka.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, on placdarmah on the left bank of the Dnieper, three Russian forces attempts to push Ukrainian units in the area of Krynok were unsuccessful.

In the rest of the directions of significant changes, the situation has not experienced.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 18 May to 24 May 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 49 group strikes by high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles, which hit the enemy military airfield infrastructure, missiles, ammunition and fuel storages, and the production facilities for uncrewed surface vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

In addition, temporary deployment areas of the AFU mampower, foreign mercenaries and nationalist formations, as well as enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine were hit.

Over the past week, units of the Sever Group of Forces liberated Staritsa (Kharkov region) as a result of active actions and continued the advance to the depth of the enemy defence.

Servicemen of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of five brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and four territorial defence brigades.

Twenty three counter-attacks of assault groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled close to Glubokoye, Tikhoye, Liptsi, and Volchansk (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 1,840 troops, six tanks, eight armoured fighting vehicles, 40 motor vehicles, four Grad and Vampire MLRS combat vehicles, as well as 37 field artillery guns.

The Zapad Group of Forces' units captured more advantageous lines, and also defeated units of four AFU mechanised brigades, two territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.

Over the past 24 hours, 15 counter-attacks were repelled by units of four AFU brigades and one national guard brigade close to Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonaya Dibrova, Novovodyanoye, and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 2,040 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, 18 armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, two Grad MLRS combat vehicles, and 32 field artillery guns, to include 14 Western-made.

Over the past week, units of the Yug Group of Forces have liberated three settlements: Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic), and continued to advance to the depths of the enemy defence.

Servicemen of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of seven AFU brigades and four territorial defence brigades.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 3,285 Ukrainian troops, seven tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 46 motor vehicles, 32 field artillery guns, to include 27 Western-made.

In addition, ten AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line and defeated units of nine AFU and Ukrainian National Guard's formations.

Forty one counter-attacks launched by assault groups of eight AFU brigades were repelled close to Shumy, Netaylovo, Novokalinovo, Umanskoye, Ocheretino, Archangelskoye, and Solovyovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

During the week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost up to 2,770 Ukrainian troops, one tank, 26 motor vehicles, 35 field artillery guns, and 20 armoured fighting vehicles, including four German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicles, as well as five Bradley and three U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured personnel carriers in this direction.

The Vostok Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation and hit manpower and hardware of AFU motorised infantry and territorial defence brigades.

Nine counter-attacks launched by assault groups of AFU mechanised, territorial defence, and national guard brigades were repelled near Vladimirovka, Staromayorskoye, and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 920 Ukrainian troops, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 39 motor vehicles, and 18 field artillery guns, to include ten Western-made.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of two marine brigades, three AFU brigades, two territorial defence formations, as well as one national guard brigade.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 350 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, 35 motor vehicles, two Grad MLRS launchers, as well as 24 field artillery guns, including seven U.S.-made M777 howitzers, and one UK-made FH-70 towed howitzer.

Air defence units have shot down two MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, eight French-made SCALP-EG cruise missiles, 25 U.S.-made ATACMS and Tochka-U operational-tactical missiles, 18 French-made Hammer guided bombs, 13 U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, one Neptun anti-ship missile, 91 HIMARS, Vampire, and Olkha MLRS projectiles, as well as 356 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Over the past week, 67 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered on the line of contact.

In total, 603 airplanes and 274 helicopters, 24,590 unmanned aerial vehicles, 524 air defence missile systems, 16,149 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,311 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,802 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 21,966 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Manager of Mexico-Based Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison for International Methamphetamine Trafficking and Money Laundering

Friday, May 24, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A manager of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization was sentenced today to 21 years and 10 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $1,339,500 for his role in an international drug trafficking conspiracy.

According to court documents, beginning around May 2013 and continuing to at least December 2016, Gabriel Cerda-Guillen, 49, of Mexico, was a manager for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization that served as a source of methamphetamine and marijuana supply for an Omaha, Nebraska-based distribution network. Specifically, from 2013 and through 2014, Cerda-Guillen imported marijuana and methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States and subsequently distributed those controlled substances to cities across the United States, including Omaha and the surrounding areas. During and in furtherance of the conspiracy, Cerda-Guillen participated in the shipment of an estimated 22 to 44 kilograms of methamphetamine and nearly one ton of marijuana. Cerda-Guillen imported drugs to Nebraska from Mexico with the expectation that members of local distribution networks would further distribute the drugs and remit the drug proceeds back to him after receiving payment. Cerda-Guillen provided drugs on credit or before payment was rendered, received reporting on the status of sales, and received drug proceeds through bulk cash transports or through established money laundering networks.

Cerda-Guillen pleaded guilty in December 2023 to a two-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and conspiracy to conduct and attempt to conduct financial transactions, affecting interstate and foreign commerce, which involved proceeds of a specified unlawful activity.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Susan T. Lehr for the District of Nebraska; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) St. Louis Field Office made the announcement.

This investigation is supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).

The FBI Omaha Field Office and IRS-CI St. Louis Field Office investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Robert Sainvil and Douglas Meisel of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Molsen for the District of Nebraska prosecuted the case.

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance.



Topic: Drug Trafficking

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Criminal Investigative Division (FBI)

USAO - Nebraska

Press Release Number: 24-667

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Marking 110 years of silent service

24 May 2024

It's been 110 years since the Royal Australian Navy took delivery of its first submersible vessels, and while the technology has changed dramatically, the mission and purpose of the nation's 'silent service' remains the same.

At the turn of the twentieth century, the British and German Empires were locked in an epic global arms race that gave birth to two of the greatest naval forces ever established.

In the face of two superpowers exerting influence in a global geopolitical chess match, the fledgling Royal Australian Navy knew that the security of the newly minted island nation depended on its embracing new submarine technology.

Upon sailing into Sydney Harbour on May 24, 1914, HMAS AE1 and AE2 became the first submarines in the service of the Royal Australian Navy, commanded by Royal Navy officers, with a mixture of British and Australian crew.

The two vessels quickly became central to naval strategy, deploying immediately to aid in the capture of German Pacific colonies at the outbreak of The Great War.

Just seven months into service, AE1 was lost with its entire complement of 35 crew off the coast of the Duke of York Island Group in what is now Papua New Guinea. The vessel remained on eternal patrol until discovered 300m deep in 2017.

Not only was this first vessel lost by the newly created Royal Australian Navy, AE1 was also the first submarine lost by any allied nation in The Great War.

Its sister vessel, AE2 continued to serve with distinction across the Pacific until November 1914, when it was ordered to return to Australia, to be deployed to the Northern Hemisphere.

Australia's last remaining Great War submarine, AE2 then achieved legend status by becoming the first submersible vessel to successfully run the mine-infested Dardanelles Strait on April 25, 1915, cementing its place in Anzac folklore.

AE2 went on to harass the enemy in the Sea of Marmara for five days, before taking fire and being scuttled to avoid being captured.

While the crew escaped the wreck, they were captured and detained for the remainder of the war, with four dying before Armistice Day.

Despite being in service just over a year, the first generation of Australian submarines proved their strategic value to the fleet as a 'force multiplier', assisting the Royal Australian Navy to gain an advantage over nations with much larger blue water navies.

Over the short course of their service, their presence proved crucial for fleet protection, surveillance and intelligence collection.

Since their inception, the Royal Australian Navy has also seen in service the Royal Navy Odin- and Oberon-class submarines, and the Swedish-designed and locally made Collins-class submarines.

This experience demonstrated the most practical and cost-effective way to deliver a fit-for-purpose Australian submarine capability was to source the best designs from around the globe and adapt and build the technology for Australia's needs.

The delivery of AE1 and AE2 was the very first demonstration of this global alliance to produce an effective naval deterrence capability to protect Australian shores.

The two vessels were constructed by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering in Northwest England and transported to Australia in what was the longest submarine voyage ever attempted at the time.

Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering went on to become a part of the modern-day multinational known as BAE systems, meaning the company that first delivered submarine technology to Australia in the twentieth century will continue to support Australian needs well into the twenty-first century.

May 24 is a significant anniversary of Australia drawing on the skills and expertise of its allies and harnessing local innovation, to achieve a unique capability.

The special partnership that started more than a century ago continues to support Navy to deliver the protection of Australia and its national interests.

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Vladimir Putin arrives in Minsk

May 23, 2024

23:30

Minsk

Vladimir Putin arrived in Minsk on a two-day visit at the invitation of President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. During the talks, the two leaders plan to discuss issues essential for the further development of strategic partnership and alliance between Russia and Belarus, progress on integration within the Union State and prospects for further cooperation, as well as key issues on the international agenda.

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko had a brief conversation at the Minsk airport. The main events are scheduled for May 24.

* * *

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: Mr Putin, thank you. I was just thinking on my way here: we never have time to start talks during the day and always talk until well into the night. It has already become a tradition.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: That is for sure.

Alexander Lukashenko: But I do not think it is going to be a problem. You have had a hard day; you had difficult talks with the King of Bahrain. That certainly was not easy.

Vladimir Putin: Not at all. They were enjoyable.

Alexander Lukashenko: Good, it means we have more friends now.

Welcome to Belarus. You are at home here.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Alexander Lukashenko: The Belarusian people will be very happy to know that you are visiting. This is one of your first visits after the election, after your visit to the People's Republic of China. You are visiting your friends. We will also discuss our ties in the context of relations with China.

Vladimir Putin: The President [of China] spoke highly of you.

Alexander Lukashenko: I think Xi Jinping will be happy that we are discussing these issues.

I have a very interesting proposal for our region and for the larger region, including the Caucasus. We discussed this in-depth during my recent visit to Azerbaijan. I think that, as usual, we will bring security issues to the forefront, and will discuss economic matters tomorrow when our colleagues from the governments join us.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

It is good I had the opportunity to arrive in the evening, so that we could have an informal conversation.

After the talks with our Arab friends, I had a big meeting with members of the Government, and we talked about my plans to meet with you. We went through every aspect, including industrial cooperation, energy, agriculture, and security. About half of the Government members attended. Some of them will also come and participate in the talks tomorrow. Those who will not be here asked me to convey their greetings and best wishes to you, and wished prosperity to Belarus. Our colleagues have achieved a great deal recently, with your direct involvement and support.

We will discuss all of this today and tomorrow, including security issues, which is something you always emphasise. There is much we need to discuss here. Everything is stable and progressing well. We will certainly need to discuss joint military exercises, the second phase of the exercise, which will include our Belarusian friends and military colleagues.

Overall, we have a packed agenda. I am glad I could fly in tonight - we will be able to use this informal time to talk about all these issues.

<... >

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Russia-Belarus talks

Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held talks in Minsk.

May 24, 2024

17:15

Minsk

The President of the Republic of Belarus held an official welcoming ceremony for the President of Russia prior to the start of the consultations at the Palace of Independence. During the ceremony, the leaders introduced the members of their delegations.

The talks began with a conversation in a restricted format, followed by expanded-format talks. The participants discussed the development of Russia-Belarus strategic partnership and alliance, integration cooperation within the Union State and current international issues.

After Russia-Belarus talks Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko answered questions from journalists.

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Putin Will Discuss With Lukashenko Security Issues, Tactical Nuclear Drills

Sputnik News

20240524

MINSK (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he plans to discuss with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, during his visit to Minsk security issues and the participation of Belarus in the upcoming exercises on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.

"A lot [in the Russia-Belarus relationship] has been done by our colleagues [Russian and Belarusian government officials] recently with our direct participation and support. Today and tomorrow, we will discuss all this, including security issues, to which you pay significant attention. There is also a lot to talk about here. Everything is stable and going well with us," Putin told a meeting with Lukashenko taking place at Minsk Airport.

The Russian president added that they plan to discuss the participation of Belarus in the upcoming exercises on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.

"We will talk about the second phase of the exercises. It is related to the direct participation of our Belarusian friends and colleagues in the military area in these events," Putin said.

Putin thanked Lukashenko for "the opportunity to arrive in the evening, talk informally and chat."

"After I had such a meeting with members of the government after talks with our Arab friends, we were just talking about my visit to you," the Russian president said.

Putin added that almost all areas of cooperation with Minsk were discussed, including cooperation in industry, energy, agriculture, and security issues. The Russian leader said some government officials will come to participate in the talks in Minsk on Friday, while those who will not come sent their greetings and wished prosperity to Belarus.

"We have a very big agenda. I am glad I had a chance to come today," Putin said.

A Sputnik

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Brazil - UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No: 24-21

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2024 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Brazil of UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost up to $950 million, which includes initial acquisition of $450 million in Major Defense Equipment, and up to $500 million in other equipment and services. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Brazil has requested to buy twelve (12) UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters; thirty-four (34) T700-GE-701D engines (24 installed, 10 spares); twenty-eight (28) EAGLE-M Embedded Global Position Systems with Inertial Navigation (EGI) or functional equivalent (24 installed, 4 spares); and twenty-four (24) AN/ARC-231A radio systems. The following non-MDE is also included: AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader (SKL), KIV-77 Common Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) crypto appliques, APX-123A Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders; AN/ARC-231 radio systems; ARC-201D Single Channel Ground and Airborne

Radio System (SINCGARS) or functional equivalents; ARC-220 high frequency airborne communication systems or functional equivalents with KY-100M; VRC-100 advanced high frequency ground/vehicular communications systems; ARN-147 navigation receivers; ARN-149 low frequency automatic direction finders;

ARN-153 advanced digital Tactical Airborne Navigation (TACAN) receiver-transmitters; APN-209 radar altimeter systems; AN/ARC-210 Gen 6 very high frequency/frequency modulation radios; AN/AVR-2B(V) laser warning systems (provisions only); Airspace Concept Evaluation System (ACES); M-134D-H minigun, mount, power supply, and ammunition handling systems gun and mount accessories package; contractor-provided gun and mount accessories, including spare parts, in support of the M-134D-H minigun systems; Aviation Mission Planning System (AMPS); Aviation Ground Support Equipment (AGSE); HGU-56/P Rotary Wing Helmets (RWH); Advanced Sight Display Computers (ASDC); Common Display Interface Units (CDIU); Wide Color Day Display Module (WCDDM); Wide Color Night Display Module (WCNDM); ADS-B Out ability; Integrated Area Navigation (I-RNAV); RDR-7000 weather radar systems; external rescue hoists; Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS); Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System (FRIES); EBC-406HM Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT); Aircrew Combat Equipment (ACE); Internal Auxiliary Fuel Tank System (IAFTS); technical assistance and logistics support services; publications; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is up to $950 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important regional partner that is a force for political stability and economic progress in South America.

This proposed sale of UH-60 helicopters will increase Brazil's capability to provide troop transport, border security, medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue, and peacekeeping support. This proposed sale will also promote the U.S. and Brazil's goal of greater military interoperability. Brazil will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky, located in Stratford, CT. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require approximately 15-30 U.S. Government and/or contractor representatives to travel to Brazil.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

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Addition of three US firms to unreliable entities list 'normal,' says MOFCOM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 24, 2024 02:01 PM

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday that China's move to add three US firms to the unreliable entities list is a normal law enforcement action, noting that US companies selling arms to Taiwan island harms peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

He Yadong, spokesperson for MOFCOM, made the remarks after the ministry on Monday announced the inclusion of three US companies - Boeing Defense, Space & Security, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and General Dynamics Land Systems - to the unreliable entities list for selling arms to China's Taiwan region.

They will be barred from engaging in China-related import or export activities, and are forbidden from making new investments in China. Senior executives of the companies are also prohibited from entering China, MOFCOM said.

He noted that the three companies have repeatedly sold missiles, military drones, tanks and other offensive weapons to Taiwan, thereby condoning and supporting the separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence." This has seriously undermined China's national security, seriously jeopardized China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously violated the One-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, and seriously undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

"Our will to resolve the Taiwan question and complete national reunification is rock-solid, our ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is impregnable, and our actions against 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities and foreign interference are resolute and strong," He said.

"The MOFCOM move reflects the Chinese government's resolute defense of national sovereignty and security. The sale of missiles, military drones and other offensive weapons to Taiwan by these US companies directly threatens China's national security, and it is entirely legitimate and necessary to take corresponding measures in this regard," Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.

The spokesperson also said there was evidence that US firm Caplugs circumvented the unreliable entities list regulations by transferring goods purchased from China to the unreliable entities. It is necessary to recognize that there is a risk in the US enterprise and its transactions, He said, urging Caplugs to rectify the situation. Otherwise, the ministry will take further measures against the enterprise in accordance with the law.

Wang said that the decision also serves as a strong warning to other foreign companies that any attempt to harm China's interests will be sanctioned by law. "This is not only a punishment for the three companies, but also a warning to other potential violators," he said.

Wang noted that the first and foremost bottom line for foreign companies operating in China is strict compliance with Chinese laws and regulations. This includes not only laws in the commercial field, but also all legal provisions related to national security, labor law, and taxation, among others.

"China has always dealt with the issue of the unreliable entities list in a prudent manner, targeting only a very small number of foreign entities that jeopardize China's national security, and there is no need for honest and law-abiding foreign entities to have any concern," He said.



"As always, the Chinese government welcomes enterprises from all over the world to invest and expand their business in China, and the country is committed to providing a stable, fair and predictable business environment for law-abiding and compliant foreign enterprises," He further noted.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on May 24, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-05-24 23:48

CCTV: The 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) will open on May 27. We learned that many countries have expressed support for China's position on Taiwan-related issues at the WHA. What's China's comment?

Wang Wenbin: There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. China's position on the Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organizations, including the WHO, is consistent and clear. It must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. This is a fundamental principle reaffirmed in UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1.a

For eight consecutive years from 2009 to 2016, China made special arrangement for the Taiwan region's participation in the WHA on the basis of the adherence of both sides of the Taiwan Strait to the one-China principle. After coming into power in 2016, the DPP has refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, and has been hellbent on the separatist stance of "Taiwan independence." As a result, the political foundation for the Taiwan region to participate in the WHA no longer exists. To uphold the one-China principle and the sanctity and authority of relevant UNGA and WHA resolutions, China has decided not to approve the Taiwan region's participation in this year's WHA. This decision received extensive support and understanding from the international community. Over the past few weeks, the overwhelming majority of countries have reaffirmed to China their commitment to UNGA Resolution 2758, firm support for the one-China principle and opposition to Taiwan's participation in the WHA. Over 100 countries wrote to the WHO Director-General or expressed via other means their support for China's position. It once again proves that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and the arc of history bends, and shows that the vast majority of countries uphold the just position on Taiwan-related issues at the WHA. A just cause enjoys the support of many. The abiding commitment of the international community to the one-China principle is unshakable. The "Taiwan independence" separatist agenda will not succeed. Any attempt that runs contrary to the one-China principle or to play the "Taiwan card" and engage in political manipulation is bound to fail.

Reuters: Are you able to share with us whether Premier Li Qiang plans to hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida when he is in Seoul?

Wang Wenbin: There was a similar question yesterday. You may refer to my answer.

Bloomberg: According to the Foreign Ministry's press release, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held talks with Chief Advisor to the President of Brazil Celso Amorim yesterday in Beijing. During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on resolving the Ukraine crisis and reached some common understandings. The two sides also jointly stated in the press release that both countries support an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine. Is this the first time for China to issue such a joint statement with other countries on the settlement of the Ukraine crisis and ceasefire? Does China plan to issue similar statements with other countries as well? Does it mean that China will not attend the peace conference in Switzerland next month?

Wang Wenbin: First of all, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi yesterday held talks with Chief Advisor to the President of Brazil Celso Amorim in Beijing. They had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis, and reached six common understandings, which are fully embodied in the Common Understandings Between China and Brazil on Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis jointly issued by the two sides.

These six common understandings reflect not just the joint position of China and Brazil, but also the widespread concern and genuine desire of the vast international community for promoting political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

The full-blown Ukraine crisis is now in its third year. The fighting has shown no sign of stopping and generated more spillovers. The conflict could further escalate. It is widely believed that the pressing priority is to cool down the situation and accumulate conditions for ceasefire.

Many developing countries, including China and Brazil, have called for upholding an objective and just position on the Ukraine crisis. All of us believe that dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out of the crisis. All of us oppose fueling the flames, and hope to build up international consensus to find the most extensive common ground for restoring peace.

The common understandings, though jointly initiated by China and Brazil, are meant for the world. We welcome more countries, developing and developed countries alike, to support and endorse these common understandings, and jointly play a constructive role in deescalating the situation and promoting talks for peace.

On your specific questions, I would like to say that China and Brazil both represent major developing countries and emerging economies. Both are founding members of BRICS. China-Brazil relations have strategic and overall significance that goes beyond the bilateral scope. We share a similar stance on the Ukraine crisis and deep concerns over the protracted crisis. Both are committed to achieving an early political settlement to the crisis and opposed to certain countries' bloc confrontation and fueling the crisis. These common understandings represent our two countries' common stance on Ukraine and reflect both countries' image as major responsible countries. The common understandings are a solution and contribution from China and Brazil for peace and we welcome more members of the international community to endorse them.

You also asked whether that means China will not attend the peace conference in Switzerland next month. The answer can be found in the six common understandings issued by China and Brazil. The second common understanding says the two sides believe that all parties should create conditions for the resumption of direct dialogue and push for the deescalation of the situation until the realization of a comprehensive ceasefire. China and Brazil 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.

Beijing Daily: According to the World Economic Situations and Prospects Mid-Year Update released days ago by the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs, China's economic growth is expected to be 4.8 percent, up by 0.1 percentage points compared with the prediction in January. What's your comment?a

Wang Wenbin: We noted the report. Many international financial institutions made positive assessment on China's economy, believing now is a good time to develop a portfolio in China and expressing the desire to continue to invest in China. UBS raised its rating on a Chinese mainland stock index and Hong Kong stocks to overweight.

This year, China's economy is off to a good start and positive factors continue to build in its economic performance. We have every confidence in hitting the targets set for this year's growth.

China is a strong engine of the world economy. China's prosperity brings important opportunities for global prosperity. We remain committed to high-quality development and high-standard opening-up and will keep contributing our part to faster global recovery.

Hubei Media Group: We noted over 300,000 TEUs of freight were transported via the new western land-sea corridor train service so far this year. Can you share more about the latest development of the new western land-sea corridor train service and offer some comment?

Wang Wenbin: The new western land-sea corridor locates in China's western hinterland, connecting the silk road economic belt and the 21st century maritime silk road and supporting the high-standard opening up and the building of a new development paradigm in western China. In 2019, the Chinese government rolled out the master plan for the new western land-sea corridor. Over the past years, guided by the goal of building a whole chain, a vast platform and a new business model, the new western land-sea corridor has seen its multimodal transport booming and the logistic network hubs taking shape at a faster pace, bringing cargoes across mountains and waters and connecting the world with services. The corridor has become a vivid example of China's high-level opening up on a greater scale.

From a single train route to a whole network, the multimodal transport of the new western land-sea corridor now covers 72 cities in 18 provinces, regions and municipalities in China and carries cargo to 514 ports of 123 countries and regions worldwide. In 2023, the sea-rail combined transport carried 860,000 TEUs of goods, up by 14 percent year-on-year. High-quality agricultural products from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries have been brought into the Chinese market and reached the tables of Chinese consumers. China's new energy products, new material products and electromechanical products have been transported overseas, giving a strong boost to the economic growth of ASEAN countries.

As General Secretary Xi Jinping noted, the development of the new western land-sea corridor is of great significance in the building of an opening-up paradigm that connects China and the world as well as the eastern and western regions of the nation. We noted that many provinces along the corridor are rolling out policy measures to make the new western land-sea corridor an open corridor for development of strategic importance with better connectivity both at home and beyond. With a thriving "silk road on steel rail", we are confident that the new western land-sea corridor will continue to reach further, support bigger trade and bolster deeper industrial cooperation and become an international economic corridor with robust impetus.

AFP: The Philippines said today it has opened a coast guard post in the north of the country. They said it's a response to what they call "China's military build up" near Taiwan over the past two years. What's your response to that?

Wang Wenbin: I'm not familiar with what you said. We urge the Philippines to stay committed to the one-China principle and stay prudent when it comes to the Taiwan question.a

Reuters: Boeing confirmed today that plane deliveries to China have been delayed due to the review from Chinese regulators. Could you please share more information about this review and China's position on the delivery of Boeing airplanes to Chinese customers?

Wang Wenbin: I'd refer you to competent authorities on that.a

AFP: A question on Guatemala. The Guatemalan Exporters Association said yesterday that China banned the entry of Guatemala's coffee and macadamia nuts. Is this true? If it's true, what's the reasons for the ban?

Wang Wenbin: There's no diplomatic relations between China and Guatemala. I've not heard of what you said.a

What I will say is that there is only one China in the world. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus among the international community. It is also the fundamental prerequisite for China to carry out cooperation with all countries including Guatemala.

President Bernardo ArAvalo of Guatemala met with the Taiwan region's leader via video link this week and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala Carlos Ramiro MartAnez went to Taiwan to attend the so-called "inauguration ceremony" on May 20. These moves trample on the one-China principle. We condemn those moves. Such situation is not conducive to the cooperation between Guatemala and China, including Guatemala's export to China. We hope relevant officials will recognize the trend of the world and proceed from the interests of the country and the people to make the right decision soon which serves its people's interests.

Reuters: During his visit to Beijing last October, Kenya's President William Ruto asked China for USD one billion loan to complete road construction projects that have stalled in various places around the country, when the government encountered the liquidity challenges after the onset of the COVID pandemic. Kenyan government officials, including the Finance Minister, have since told Reuters the details of the loan were being worked on by both sides, but the funding has not been released. Can the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm that China is in talks to Kenya over this loan and can it confirm the amount under negotiation? Which structural institution would provide the funding? And when will the loan be approved?

Wang Wenbin: In recent years, China and Kenya have engaged in extensive practical cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. Projects such as the Mumbasa-Nairobi railway and the Nairobi Expressway linking the airport and the capital have greatly improved Kenya's infrastructure and received wide recognition from the Kenyan side. Our cooperation has become a good example of China-Africa Belt and Road cooperation. As for your question about the loan, China's financial institutions are in active consultation on specific matters with the Kenyan side. Both sides will do their level best to implement the common understanding reached by the two presidents, further expand and deepen practical cooperation in investment, financing and other fields so as to deliver more tangibly for the Kenyan people and further deepen and solidify our comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Kenya.

AFP: Another question on the military drills around Taiwan. The US's high official yesterday strongly urged China to act with restraint. What's your reaction to these US remarks?

Wang Wenbin: Taiwan is China's Taiwan. The US is in no position to point its fingers at China. The tensions in the Taiwan Strait are caused by the DPP authorities' attempt to solicit US support for "Taiwan independence" and the attempt of some in the US to use Taiwan to contain China in the name of regional peace and stability. If the US truly wants to keep the Taiwan Strait peaceful and stable, it should unequivocally uphold the one-China principle and oppose "Taiwan independence". China will never tolerate any attempt by anyone to provide an umbrella for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities under whatever pretexts. The world has spoken up for justice. Over the past few days, political leaders and people from various sectors in many countries have reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle and support for China's opposition to "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and the cause for national reunification. This once again demonstrates that the international community's abiding commitment to the one-China principle is simply unshakable.a

Attempts for "Taiwan independence" will lead nowhere. Anyone who connives at and supports "Taiwan independence" will get burned for playing with fire. Nothing will deter China from upholding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will do anything necessary to thwart any attempt for "Taiwan independence."

Phoenix TV: It's reported that the second hearing on the case of Yuen Chung Biu, Office Manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, and two other men charged by the UK police will begin later today at the UK's Central Criminal Court. Any comment on that?a

Wang Wenbin: Over the past few weeks, the UK side has framed cases and charges to vilify China in the name of national security, and even arbitrarily arrested and prosecuted Chinese citizens in the UK and disrupted the normal functioning of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. China deplores and opposes it. The UK's false accusations and egregious moves trample on the rule of law. This is an act of political manipulation using national security as a pretext. What the UK has done seriously violates the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the UK, harms China-UK relations, breaches the principles of international law and basic norms of international relations, and undermines the UK's own image. China strongly urges the UK to correct its wrongdoing at once, protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the UK and ensure normal functioning of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London. China will take firm measures to uphold the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and institutions overseas.

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Hong Kong's US offices should be closed, activists say

Privileges that allow Hong Kong to clear US dollar transactions should also be revoked, Congress is told.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.05.24 -- The United States should shutter Hong Kong's foreign offices in Washington, D.C., New York and San Francisco and also revoke the jurisdiction's special powers to clear U.S. dollar transactions, pro-democracy activists told Congress on Thursday.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices ostensibly serve to promote trade but in fact serve as intelligence outposts controlled by the Chinese government, the activists said at a roundtable hosted by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

The offices keep track of Hong Kongers who have fled a crackdown at home and must be "shut down, unless autonomy is restored to Hong Kong," said Frances Hui, the policy and advocacy coordinator for the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, at the event.

"Behind me is what looks like just another townhouse in the center of DuPont Circle," Hui said, pointing to an image of the office in central Washington, D.C. "It's an outpost of the Hong Kong government to spy on overseas activists and influence American policies on China."

The United Kingdom earlier this month arrested three men, including the manager of a Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, who were accused of assisting Chinese intelligence services.

Hui noted there was a bill - H.R.1103, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices Certification Act - before Congress that could close the three U.S. offices. It passed the foreign affairs committees in the House and Senate last year without being brought for a full vote, she said.

"We haven't received an explanation about why the bill hasn't been put on the floor," Hui said, calling for the House Select Committee to use its "leadership to ensure there is a vote" on the bill.

However, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said the offices serve an important role for trade.

"Currently, there are more than 1,200 U.S. companies investing and operating in Hong Kong, and almost all major U.S. financial companies operate in Hong Kong," Liu said in an email to Radio Free Asia.

The offices are "win-win to the economic and trade cooperation between Hong Kong and relevant countries," the spokesperson said, before denying they serve as spy outposts. "To politicize the relevant issues will only harm the interests of both countries," he said.

US dollar transactions

At the roundtable on Thursday, the activists stopped short of suggesting the United States cut ties with Hong Kong entirely.

Asked by Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington state, whether the U.S. government should consider repealing all of the privileges Hong Kong has enjoyed as an autonomous city and instead treat it as just another city in China, the activists demurred.

"I do think that would be the last resort," said Joey Siu, a policy advisor at Hong Kong Watch, adding it could harm Hong Kongers.

"Repealing the Hong Kong Policy Act would obviously be equal to a blanket sanction on Hong Kong as a city itself," she said, suggesting other paths be exhausted first. "If all of these efforts that we could take are not working, I do think that that could be the last resort."

One of those paths could involve taking aim at Hong Kong's attractiveness to U.S. companies as an Asian financial hub.

Jonathan Price, a member of the legal team for jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, told the roundtable that Hong Kong was one of the few places outside the United States that can clear interbank U.S. dollar transactions, with HSBC carrying out the privilege.

That's a valuable ability when U.S. banks are closed during the day in Asia, he said, and helps the 1,258 U.S. companies based in Hong Kong to do business in dollars when U.S.-based bankers are sleeping.

"It remains the case that only a very small number of jurisdictions - four, in fact - are licensed to clear U.S. dollar transactions outside of the United States: Tokyo, Singapore, Manila and Hong Kong," Price said, questioning whether the special status was still deserved.

"That is a privilege that ought to be reviewed and revisited in light of the precipitous decline in the state of the rule of law," he said. "HSBC has a slightly colored history in closing down the accounts of pro-democracy campaigns at the behest of the Hong Kong government."

"Human rights must not be siloed from business" interests, he said.

"Should the U.S. Treasury be rewarding huge financial institutions, and Hong Kong itself, with this sort of privilege in these circumstances?"

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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US slammed for attempt to rally G7 against Chinese emerging industry

Global Times

Protectionist move to 'harm interests of consumers, hinder green transition'

By Qi Xijia Published: May 24, 2024 10:58 PM Updated: May 25, 2024 12:10 AM

Chinese experts have strongly criticized US efforts to rope in G7 members to form a coalition of protectionism targeting Chinese emerging industries, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, at a G7 finance meeting in Italy later this week.

The experts argue that the US is unlikely to achieve its intended goals as it is not in the interests of some G7 member states with stronger trade ties with the Chinese EV sector and global green transformation processes.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday said that she wants market-driven countries to present a "wall of opposition" to China's industrial policies, a key issue she is pushing at a G7 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Italy on Friday and Saturday, Reuters reported.

She said she was not asking countries to mirror US tariffs or closely coordinate their trade policy responses. "But we need to stand together and send a unified message to China," Yellen reportedly said.

The remarks came amid the latest push by the US on its allies to unite against China's "overcapacity."

During a visit to Frankfurt, Germany on Tuesday, Yellen emphasized the need for the US and Europe to work together to address this issue in a "strategic and united way" to keep manufacturers viable on both sides of the Atlantic, Reuters reported.

Chinese experts said that Yellen is not likely to achieve her goal, as suppressing China's new-energy sector is not in the best interests of other G7 members and would slow down global efforts to combat climate change.

Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday that while China exports few electric vehicles to the US, it has a stronger presence in the European market through joint ventures. The US' tactic may have a limited impact on itself but a larger one on Europe.

Europe's focus on climate and environmental issues is among the highest globally, and its entire new-energy industrial chain is closely intertwined with China. It is expected that other G7 member states will prioritize their own interests and strengthen cooperation with China, rather than align with the US' agenda, Gao said.

Joining the US in suppressing China's EVs would harm the interests of consumers of some G7 members such as Germany and France, where there is close cooperation with China on EV components, batteries, and charging stations, Zhang Xiang, Director of the Digital Automotive International Cooperation Research Center of the World Digital Economy Forum, told the Global Times on Friday.

This could lead to an increase in the prices of EVs in their domestic markets, potentially causing consumers to switch back to traditional gasoline vehicles and hindering the progress of emission cutting efforts, Zhang said.

Data showed that in 2023, China exported some 1.2 million new-energy vehicles, with Europe accounting for 38 percent of the total export volume, demonstrating the unique market position of Chinese EVs in Europe. The domestic electric vehicle market in the US is mainly dominated by local brands, with few Chinese exports.

Refuting 'overcapacity' narrative

Yellen's call for G7 unity comes at a time when the US is intensifying its crackdown on China's new-energy industry and imposing additional tariffs on a variety of Chinese products, with some going into effect on August 1.

The tariff hike has been criticized by a number of business representatives and is expected to have a significant impact on the global green industry.

Tesla founder Elon Musk told tech investors in Paris on Thursday he opposed US tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Reuters reported.

"Neither Tesla nor I asked for these tariffs, in fact I was surprised when they were announced. Things that inhibit freedom of exchange or distort the market are not good," Musk said.

"Tesla competes quite well in the market in China with no tariffs and no deferential support. I'm in favor of no tariffs," he added.

In a latest development, Tesla's Shanghai Megapack energy storage plant broke ground on Thursday, another major investment from Tesla in China following the inauguration of its Shanghai Gigafactory in 2019, offering a vivid example of China-US win-win cooperation that rebuts Washington's "overcapacity" hype.

Musk's comments represent the voice of the industry and send a clear signal that tariffs are detri-mental to both sides, Gao said.

In addition to Tesla, European automakers have briskly increased their investment in the Chinese market for greater opportunities, blasting Washington's false "overcapacity" narrative.

German automaker BMW Group announced in April that it plans to invest an additional 20 billion yuan ($3.12 billion) into its production base in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Volkswagen also announced in April it would invest 2.5 billion euros in its innovation hub in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province, as the company is further increasing its pace of innovation in China, its key market.

There is no "China overcapacity," and the real purpose of the US is to hold back China's high-quality development, Gao said, adding that the US' strategy of seeking allies to suppress China only shows its inefficiency in the field of new energy development, which will ultimately hinder global efforts to address climate change.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday slammed the US push to use "overcapacity" as a pretext to "coerce G7 members into creating fences and restrictions for Chinese new-energy products."

"This could mean building a coalition for protectionism that is completely against the trend of the times, which calls for openness and mutual benefit. It will not only hurt the consumers in those countries but also impede the global green transition," Wang said.

Wang reiterated that 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, he said.

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Tokyo, Seoul target North Korea-Russia arms deal with sanctions

The announcements follow similar steps by the US and Australia last week.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.05.23 -- Japan and South Korea have separately imposed sanctions on individuals and entities involved in the arms trade between North Korea and Russia, they announced on Friday, the latest steps aimed at ending help for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Japan said it would impose sanctions on 11 organizations and one individual for their involvement in military cooperation between the two countries.

"Amid Russia's prolonged aggression in Ukraine, we have decided to freeze the assets of organizations and individuals involved in military cooperation between North Korea and Russia," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said during a regular press conference.

"The transfer of North Korean weapons to Russia is a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions that prohibit the transfer of North Korean weapons and related materials," Hayashi said, adding that the supply "could further aggravate the situation in Ukraine."

The sanctions were imposed in co-operation with the United States, he said.

Separately, South Korea announced sanctions on North Korean individuals and Russian vessels for arms trading.

"Seven North Korean individuals and two Russian vessels have been designated for independent sanctions for their involvement in the provision of materials and financing for North Korea's nuclear and missile development," South Korea's foreign ministry said.

The sanctioned entities were also involved in the transport of munitions and the arms trade between Russia and North Korea, the import of refined oil from North Korea, and the earning of foreign currency by North Korean overseas workers, it added.

The ministry reiterated its call for an immediate end to illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

"Military cooperation, including the Russian-North Korean arms trade, is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and seriously threatens peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in Europe and around the world," it said.

"The measures were taken in close coordination with friendly countries and will contribute to further tightening the international community's sanctions network," it added.

Prior authorization will be required for financial and foreign exchange transactions with individuals on the sanctions list. For ships, they must obtain permission from the administration to enter South Korea.

The sanctions came a day after it was announced that 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 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, said South Korea's deputy national security adviser, Kim Tae-hyo, adding that the leaders will also discuss "regional and international issues".

Last week, Australia imposed targeted sanctions against entities linked to the unlawful weapons trade between North Korea and Russia , while the United States also announced sanctions on two Russian individuals and three Russian companies for facilitating arms transfers with the North.

Edited by Mike Firn.

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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20th Politburo Meeting of Eighth C.C., WPK Held

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- The 20th Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea took place on May 24.

Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the WPK, attended the meeting.

Present there were Jo Yong Won and Choe Ryong Hae, members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, and members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee.

The meeting discussed the issue of convening the Tenth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth WPK Central Committee.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un presided over the meeting.

Kim Jong Un referred to the necessity to convene the Tenth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth WPK Central Committee, which will conduct an interim review of the work in the first half of this year and discuss and decide a series of important issues, in order to successfully implement this year's orientation of state affairs and all tasks decided at the Ninth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth WPK Central Committee.

He outlined the major agenda items to be discussed at the Tenth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth WPK Central Committee and proposed a draft decision of the Political Bureau.

The Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee adopted with unanimous approval a decision on convening the Tenth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth WPK Central Committee late in June.

The Political Bureau also discussed other important issues arising in the Party and state affairs and heard a general report of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army on the recent military situation.

The meeting advanced the immediate military action tasks for the DPRK armed forces to creditably defend the national sovereignty, security and interests, and underlined the need to responsibly carry them out. -0-

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France's image in the Pacific battered by New Caledonia decolonization crisis

French military to stay in New Caledonia for months if needed, says President Macron during a brief visit.

By Stephen Wright for BenarNews 2024.05.24 -- French military forces sent to quell New Caledonia's pro-independence riots will stay "as long as necessary," President Emmanuel Macron said during a flying visit to the Pacific island territory that reinforced regional perceptions of France as an out-of-touch colonial power.

Six people died, dozens were injured and businesses torched in a week of riots in the capital Noumea triggered by the French government's move to dilute the voting power of New Caledonia's indigenous Kanak people. Roads remain blocked by makeshift barricades and Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia and New Zealand are attempting to evacuate their citizens from the island.

The electoral changes, described by Macron as a reform, "will not be forced through in the current context," he announced before flying out of Noumea following a day of meetings on Thursday. "We will allow some weeks to allow a calming of tensions and resumption of dialogue to find a broad accord."

A security contingent of several thousand that includes elite military troops will remain as long as needed, "even during the Olympic and Paralympic Games" which Paris will host in July and August, he said.

Leaders of pro-independence parties were part of a meeting with Macron but have not yet released a statement. Macron urged them to call on protestors to dismantle barricades.

"Within a month at the latest, I will take stock, assess the situation and decide on the institutional follow-up," he said. "I will, of course, take into account a return to calm, but also the sincere commitment of the parties to resume negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement."

Loyalist groups held separate meetings with Macron, highlighting their internal disagreements with how to proceed.

France's control of New Caledonia and its surrounding islands gives the European nation a significant security and diplomatic role in the Pacific at a time when the U.S., Australia and other Western countries are pushing back against China's inroads in the region. New Caledonia also has valuable nickel deposits that are among the world's largest.

The unrest is the worst political violence in the Pacific territory located between Australia and Fiji since the 1980s. The riots erupted May 12 as the lower house of France's parliament debated and subsequently approved a constitutional amendment to unfreeze New Caledonia's electoral roll, which would give the vote to thousands of French immigrants.

Final approval of the amendment requires a joint sitting of France's lower house and Senate.

Since last year, the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste independence movement had called for the constitutional amendment to be withdrawn and for dialogue on New Caledonia's status to be resumed.

"We decided to instigate demonstrations in November when we saw that discussions with the French state were stalling. But still President Macron remained deaf to all our calls," said Roch Wamytan, a pro-independence politician and president of New Caledonia's Congress.

"There were warning signs," he said, that unrest could erupt. "Now for more than a week we have been a bit overwhelmed by the events," he said in an interview with Australian broadcaster ABC.

"I admit that independence leaders were surprised. Perhaps we did not sufficiently take into account the profound frustrations of young Kanak people.

"The main prison here, 95% of the inmates, of which there are about 600, are young Kanak people. We knew that our youth, or part of our youth, had radicalized but we hadn't understood the depth of this desire for revenge."

Sonia BackAs, a loyalist who is president of New Caledonia's South Province, said Macron had pledged the law would be enforced.

The president "above all heard the Caledonians, the leaders of business, the mayors who spoke. They told him of the terror that reigns in New Caledonia, of the violence of what happened, of the racism of which we were victims," she said, the French national broadcaster reported.

Kanaks are about 40% of New Caledonia's 270,000 people but are marginalized in their own land - they have lower incomes and poorer health than Europeans who make up a third of the population and occupy most positions of power in the territory.

Churches in the devoutly Christian Pacific region, civil society groups, the regional organization representing Melanesian nations and political leaders have condemned France's attempt to bulldoze through the voting roll enlargement.

The inter-governmental Pacific Islands Forum, of which New Caledonia and not France is a full member, has offered to help mediate the crisis.

"There is a widely-shared perception across the Pacific that the current unrest in New Caledonia is a situation largely of France's own making," said Mihai Sora, a Pacific analyst at Australia's Lowy Institute think tank.

"Pushing through changes to electoral rules that are clearly designed to shift the balance of views locally on the question of independence has served to reinforce regional perceptions of France as an out-of-touch colonial master and exposed contradictions in France's relationship with the Pacific," he told RFA-affiliate BenarNews.

New Caledonia is one of six non-self-governing territories in the Pacific inscribed on the U.N.'s decolonization list, making up a third of all the aspiring nations, and the issue remains a hot topic in the region with Bougainville seeking to secede from Papua New Guinea and the long-running independence conflict in Indonesia's Papuan provinces.

Foreign minister of Vanuatu Matai Seremaiah said the events in New Caledonia were "a stark reminder of the unfinished business of decolonization across the Blue Pacific Continent."

French Polynesia was relisted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2013, and last year elected the pro-independence government of president Moetai Brotherson, but France has demanded the territory be removed again.

The issue of self-determination for New Caledonia will be squarely on the agenda for Pacific island leaders when the 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum meets in Tonga later this year, Sora said.

New Caledonia voted by modest majorities to remain part of France in referendums held in 2018 and 2020 under a U.N.-mandated decolonization process. Three votes were part of the Noumea Accord to increase Kanaks' political power following deadly violence in the 1980s.

A contentious final referendum in 2021 was overwhelmingly in favor of continuing with the status quo. However supporters of independence have rejected its legitimacy due to very low turnout - it was boycotted by the independence movement - and because it was unilaterally brought forward by the Macron government during a serious phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted campaigning.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

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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Secretary Blinken's Call with German Foreign Minister Baerbock

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 24, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock today. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Baerbock reaffirmed support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's aggression and discussed challenges posed by the People's Republic of China, including the PRC's support for Russia's defense industrial base. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed efforts to achieve a ceasefire that would secure the release of hostages and facilitate increased deliveries of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. They agreed on the importance of preventing an escalation of conflict in the Middle East and the threat posed by Iran.

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IRGC chief: We attacked heart of Israel thanks to President Raeisi's bravery

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 11:07 AM

The chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has hailed President Ebrahim Raeisi for showing "indescribable bravery" in Iran's retaliatory operation against Israel.

Major General Hossein Salami made the remarks on Friday during the burial of IRGC Brigadier General Mehdi Mousavi in the shrine of Shah Abdolazim in the town of Shahr-e Rey, south of Tehran.

Mousavi, the head of Raeisi's security team, lost his life alongside the president and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash near Iran's northwestern border with Azerbaijan on Sunday.

"Martyr Raeisi actually demonstrated indescribable bravery in Operation True Promise," Salami said, referring to the large-scale operation on April 13-14, during which Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles at military bases in the Israeli-occupied territories.

"With the government's powerful diplomacy, we were able to attack the heart of the [global] arrogance, and ... Amir-Abdollahian delivered on his duty well."

Operation True Promise came less than two weeks after Israeli warplanes bombed the consular annex of Iran's embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The terrorist Israeli strike killed 13 people, including seven IRGC military advisors.

The IRGC chief stressed that nothing has changed after the martyrdom of President Raeisi and the other officials and that Iran's authority will persist under the guidance of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

"We are not afraid of any power... The enemy has utilized all its capacities to deal a blow to Iran, but it has failed in all fields," he said.



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Dispute by Iranian ex-president's allies, 'interrogator journalist' sparks firestorm

By VOA Persian Service May 24, 2024

A lawyer closely associated with the former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a claim about Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour, an employee of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), known as the "interrogator journalist," igniting a firestorm on social media.

After a helicopter crash claimed the lives of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions on Sunday, Ahmadinejad's decision to wear a white shirt a instead of the mourning color, black a to a meeting of Iran's Assembly of Experts drew criticism from certain government factions.

Zabihpour, a prominent figure in state media, took to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. She allegedly shared a photo of Ahmadinejad, expressing disdain at the white shirt, posting, "Having been a reporter for your programs for eight years, I loathe you! worthless."

In reaction to the post, which some users inferred as a commentary on the color of Ahmadinejad's shirt during Raisi's mourning period, Ali Hosseini, a lawyer affiliated with the former president, hinted at a past incident involving a certain reporter and remarked, "I wish that on that morning at the Warwick Hotel in New York, he hadn't snapped at the guards, dismissing it as irrelevant that a specific reporter had spent the night in a specific photographer's room."

After the lawyer's rebuttal, Zabihpour deleted her post. Subsequently, Hosseini also withdrew his comment from his X account. However, the social media buzz persisted unabated.

While Hosseini refrained from naming any specific photographer in his remarks, news photographer Rouzbeh Jadidoleslam, who often accompanies the government delegation of the Islamic Republic on official trips, reacted to these statements.

Jadidoleslam, who initially shared several messages on X regarding this matter before removing them, labeled Hosseini as a "fraud and charlatan" in one of his posts. Alleging that Hosseini had never accompanied any delegation on trips. Jadidoleslam, accused him of exploiting the situation to gain attention.

Furthermore, he dared the lawyer to "demonstrate his integrity by releasing a photo of his travel visa."

Some social media users have brought up the friendship between Zabihpour and Jadidoleslam. They noted the unorthodox manner a uncommon among those close to the Islamic Republic a where men and women typically do not address each other by their first names. In the past, Jadidoleslam had defended her on X, referring to her as "Ameneh."

These contentious discussions have incited reactions on social media.

Journalist Sasan Aghaei commented, "Those who orchestrated the most despicable insults, indecencies, and schemes against the most dignified, honorable, courageous, and elegant children of Iran, now find themselves in disgrace, branded by their perpetual stain from the Warwick Hotel in New York."

While Abdolreza Davari, a media figure and supporter of Ahmadinejad, posed an unconventional inquiry: "If they had entered into a temporary marriage arrangement before their New York trip and were permissible to each other, what's the issue? Why are some individuals more agitated than those directly involved?"

In reaction to Davari's comments, another user lamented, "There's truly no faith in the memory of Persian Twitter," alluding to Davari's alleged past extramarital affairs.

On the other hand, some citizens have stated that "the relationship between Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour and the photographer in New York is not about her being a woman and her right to private relationships," but rather "about her hypocrisy."

According to these users, Zabihpour is someone who "exploits the plight" of women "struggling to secure their freedom and bodily autonomy."

Sara Omatali, an educational expert, emphasized, "Our repulsion towards Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour and the vile quagmire she and others like her have sunk into shouldn't make me forsake the principles of [the] 'Women, Life, and Freedom' movement, which constitutes the most fundamental right of a woman over her body."

She pointed out that "there are countless reasons to disgrace Ameneh Sadat," stressing that there's no necessity to resort to her private associations for her humiliation.

The labeling of Zabihpour as the "interrogator journalist" emerged following testimony from Sepideh Gholian, a civil activist currently detained, who asserted that this state radio and television employee had participated in her interrogation sessions.

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The Netherlands takes command of NATO Mission Iraq

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

24 May. 2024

Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs of the Netherlands assumed command of NATO Mission Iraq on Friday (24 May 2024), at a change of command ceremony in Baghdad. He succeeds Lieutenant General JosA Antonio AgAero MartAnez of Spain, who had been in post since May 2023.

"It is an honour and privilege for the Netherlands and for me personally to take over command of the NATO Mission in Iraq," Lieutenant General Schreurs said. "The motto of the mission is 'building safety and security together' for a reason, and that is something we are going to continue, by enabling and encouraging our advisors to continue providing the advice and assistance to our Iraqi interlocutors' needs.

The outgoing commander, Lieutenant General AgAero MartAnez, said that NATO's advisors are at the heart of the mission: "They have the specific knowledge and experience required for their task. They are embedded in the Iraqi Institutions and interact regularly with their counterparts. They know what they need and the support that NATO can provide".

Established in Baghdad in October 2018, NATO Mission Iraq is a non-combat advisory and capacity-building mission. It assists Iraq in building more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective security institutions and forces. This helps build stability in their country, fight terrorism and prevent the return of ISIS/Daesh. NATO Mission Iraq's work is carried out with the consent of the Iraqi government and fully respects Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

NATO Mission Iraq is a concrete demonstration of NATO's readiness to provide a 360 degree approach to our shared security.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Israeli Minister Gantz

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 24, 2024

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Israeli Minister Benny Gantz. Secretary Blinken and Minister Gantz discussed the latest efforts to achieve a ceasefire as part of a deal to release hostages and to prevent the conflict from expanding across the region. Secretary Blinken reiterated the President's position on a major Rafah operation and emphasized the importance of increasing levels of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza. Secretary Blinken also discussed the importance of Israel and Egypt concluding talks to reopen the Rafah crossing as soon as possible. The Secretary underscored the urgent need to protect civilians and aid workers in Gaza and de-escalate tensions in the West Bank. The Secretary also discussed the U.S. vision for durable peace and security for Israel through further integration in the region and emphasized the importance to Israel's security of planning for the post-conflict period in Gaza.

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Myanmar junta soldiers surrender in Thailand after border clash

They are being questioned by Thai officials and awaiting repatriation, an army officer told RFA.

By Pimuk Rakkanam for RFA and RFA Burmese 2024.05.24 -- Dozens of Myanmar soldiers fled into Thailand following a clash with ethnic minority insurgents, a Thai commander told Radio Free Asia Friday, the latest spillover from increasingly bitter fighting in Myanmar.

The junta troops fled a base in Kayin State's southern Myawaddy district following attacks from the anti-junta Karen National Liberation Army, or KNLA, and allied groups, the Thai officer said.

"There were 31 Myanmar soldiers surrendering," said Ratchamanu Task Force Commander Col. Nattakorn Reuntib, who is based in western Thailand's Tak province, on the Myanmar border. "They were disarmed, identified, treated and are awaiting repatriation through the Thai-Myanmar border coordination center."

Some troops were injured, he added. RFA could not confirm where they were being treated.

A KNLA soldier said about 20 junta soldiers were killed when Karen fighters captured their Po Chi Mu camp.

"The camp has been captured. Forty-eight junta troops, including officers, surrendered and about 20 were found dead," he said, declining to be identified for security reasons.

An official from the Karen rebel force, which has been battling for self-determination for decades, told RFA that the junta troops escaping into Thailand had killed four civilians.

"The Thai army found the fleeing junta soldiers near Ohm Phyan village and arrested them," he said, also requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

"They killed three villagers and another, a pregnant woman on her way to hospital, when they fled. They are now being questioned by the Thai army ... but we don't know what they'll do with them," said the official, who declined to be identified for security reasons.

Karen forces have been attacking the Po Chi Mu camp, opposite Thailand's Umphang district, since Sunday and junta airstrikes in the area have forced hundreds to flee into Thailand, media reported.

Myanmar's junta has been coming under pressure in different parts of the country since anti-junta forces went on offensive late last year.

Pro-democracy activists took up arms after the generals overthrew an elected government in early 2021, joining with ethnic minority insurgents to pose the most significant challenge to the military since shortly after the country's independence from Britain.

Junta forces fled into Thailand during fighting in April with Karen forces over control of the main border town of Myawaddy. The Thai government warned both sides not to use Thai territory for any military advantage.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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 awaits junta approval to resume border trade with Myanmar's Shan state

Ethnic rebels have reopened the gates, but Beijing is blocking official trade until junta officials sign off.

By RFA Burmese 2024.05.24 -- Ethnic rebels in eastern Myanmar's Shan state have reopened checkpoints on the border with China that were shuttered at the start of an offensive six months ago, but official trade has yet to resume as Beijing is awaiting approval from the military regime, rebel officials and residents said Friday.

The resumption of trade was among the points discussed in a China-brokered ceasefire agreement between the Three Brotherhood Alliance of ethnic armies and Myanmar's junta in January, after the former made significant gains in an offensive launched on Oct. 27, and codenamed Operation 1027. No formal agreement was made on reopening the trading routes and it is unclear whether the delay could impact the truce.

On Friday, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, which is one of the members of the Three Brotherhood Alliance along with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Arakan Army, said its officials were informed by Beijing that it "hasn't got an agreement to resume border trade."

"The Muse and Nam Hkam [townships] border gates have not yet been reopened [on the China side]," said TNLA spokeswoman Lway Yay Oo. "China is expected to resume bilateral trade after they receive approval from the Myanmar junta."

The TNLA, which controls Nam Hkam township, reopened the Nawng Tang border gate in late April. But while local trade has resumed, China has not allowed any official border crossings, she said.

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, said it reopened border gates earlier this month in the townships of Chinshwehaw, Laukkai, Mone Koe and Pang Hseng - all of which are under their control.

But a resident of Pang Hseng said China continues to block official border crossings at Kyin San Kyawt in Muse, Chinshwehaw and some gates in the Mone Koe area.

"Chinese authorities said that they will issue border crossing documents to enter Ruili, Mansi, Pang Hseng and Wan Tein townships, however, it is uncertain how to implement it," said the resident who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. "Commodity flows are not yet allowed at the Pang Hseng gate, while there is limited import/export at the Mone Koe gate."

The resident said local traders are using the Kyin San Kyawt gate for small-scale commerce.

Local trade hampered

A resident of Nam Kham township named Pi Sai told RFA that restrictions have made local trade at the border significantly more difficult than prior to Operation 1027.

"Cargo trucks are allowed to pass these borders, but no passengers are allowed and the driver of the vehicles is changed at both sides," he said. "Charcoal, metals and other items are exported to China, while food items are the main imports from China."

During their Operation 1027 offensive, the Three Brotherhood Alliance captured 16 towns in northern Shan State. However, China's intervention on Jan. 11 brought the alliance's offensive progress to a halt.

Two days of talks in the southern Chinese city of Kunming earlier this month also focused on Chinese border trade issues, but no concrete agreements were reached, according to sources close to the rebel groups.

Attempts by RFA to contact junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun and officials with the junta's economy and commerce department for details about the suspension of official trade at the border gates went unanswered Friday. An email requesting comment from the Chinese embassy in Yangon received no response by the time of publishing.

A political commentator and former Myanmar military official, who declined to be named due to fear of reprisal, said official border trade cannot resume until the junta and the rebel groups make agreements on territorial designation and tax distribution.

"China wants to open up the border gates, so it's taking a leading role in the ceasefire," he said. "Countries prefer government-to-government relations ... otherwise, it would mean recognizing the rebel groups, so they can't trade officially."

According to data published by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce under the junta, in the fiscal year 2023-2024, the average monthly value of bilateral trade through Muse and Chinshwehaw was just over US$100 million.

Analysts say suspension of border trade at the two gates has hampered manufacturing in China's Yunnan province, prompting Beijing to push for reopening the border in talks between rebels and the junta.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Matt Reed.

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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Joint Statement on the Ongoing Conflict in Myanmar

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

May 24, 2024

The following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the European Union to address the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.

Begin text:

We, Australia, Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, are deeply concerned by the escalating conflict in Myanmar and in particular the increasing harm to civilians, which is driving a worsening and devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis across the country.

Since the February 2021 coup d'Atat, the number of people in humanitarian need has risen from 1 million to 18.6 million. There have been credible reports of violations and abuses committed against the civilian population, including airstrikes on homes, schools, places of worship and hospitals, torture, the use of civilians as human shields, and sexual and gender-based violence against women and children. As the conflict continues to escalate, communities across Myanmar are being subjected to further displacement.

The military regime is systematically restricting access to life saving humanitarian assistance. We are concerned about growing water and food shortages and the widespread denial of access to healthcare, medicines, and vital humanitarian services. The continued blocking of roads and telecommunications in areas of conflict is hindering humanitarian delivery and access to information.

Across the country, more than 1,000 civilians were killed or maimed by landmines in 2023 and casualties are rapidly growing. Increasing numbers of people are being trafficked and held against their will. All parties must ensure that they are prioritising the protection of civilians.

We are deeply concerned by the military regime's implementation of the 2010 conscription law which is increasing the number of displaced people. This measure continues to attempt to divide communities and fuel identity-based violence across Myanmar.

In Rakhine State, towns and villages have been consistently targeted by the military regime and armed groups. We are concerned by recent reports of high levels of displacement in Buthidaung. We call on all armed actors to ensure the protection of civilians. Deliberate use of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech is stoking sectarian and intercommunal conflict. Reports of forced recruitment, including of Rohingya is further dividing communities, and exploiting tensions and mistrust. All populations are facing extreme levels of food insecurity. The situation is increasingly dangerous for all civilians, including Rakhine, Rohingya, and other ethnic communities.

There must be accountability for all atrocities committed in Myanmar. We recall the International Court of Justice's provisional measures order and the need for compliance with it, to safeguard human rights and prevent violations.

We welcome the UN Security Council Resolution 2669 on the situation in Myanmar, calling for the immediate end to all forms of violence and urging all parties to respect human rights and to allow full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access.

We welcome the appointment of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar (UNSE) and unified efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), UNSE, and regional actors to resolve the crisis. We reiterate the need for strengthened UN leadership in country.

We reiterate our call on all States to prevent or to cease the flow of arms or military and dual-use material, including aviation fuel to the Myanmar military.

The military regime must release all those arbitrarily detained and implement in full the ASEAN Five Point Consensus. We call on all parties to create space for meaningful and inclusive dialogue, so that democracy can be restored in full.

We remain resolute in our support for all those committed to working peacefully towards an inclusive, non-violent, and democratic future for the people of Myanmar.

End text.

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Myanmar: UN rights office warns of growing crisis in Rakhine state

24 May 2024 - The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday called for an end to renewed violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where reports have emerged of attacks against the minority Muslim Rohingya community, including beheadings and the razing of homes.

Fierce battles have intensified between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group, displacing tens of thousands of people in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships in recent days.

An estimated 45,000 Rohingya have reportedly fled to an area on the Naf River near the border with Bangladesh, seeking protection. Over one million Rohingya are already in the country, having fled past purges.

Serious allegations

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has received "frightening and disturbing reports" of the impacts of the conflict, said Spokesperson Liz Throssell.

"Some of the most serious allegations concern incidents of killing of Rohingya civilians and the burning of their property," she told journalists in Geneva.

OHCHR said Buthidaung has been largely burned, citing testimonies, satellite images and online videos.

Information received indicates that the burning began on 17 May after the military had retreated from the town and the Arakan Army claimed to have taken full control.

Civilians flee Buthidaung

"One survivor described seeing dozens of dead bodies as he fled the town," said James Rodehaver, OHCHR Myanmar Team Leader, speaking from Bangkok .

"Another survivor said that he was among a group of displaced persons, numbering in the tens of thousands, who attempted to move outside of the town to safety along the western road towards Maungdaw. But they were blocked by the Arakan Army from going in that direction."

Survivors reported that the Arakan Army had abused them and extorted money from them as they moved towards other nearby Rohingya villages, where Rohingya already displaced by earlier attacks had previously sought shelter.

For weeks, Rohingya in these areas have described sheltering with families they do not know and not having enough to eat.

Shootings, beheadings, disappearances

OHCHR documented renewed attacks on the Rohingya by both the Arakan Army and Myanmar military, the Tatmadaw, in the weeks leading up to the burning of Buthidaung.

"Of course, many of these were as a result of airstrikes perpetrated by the military as well as other attacks perpetrated by unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones," Mr. Rodehaver said.

"We've also received reports of shooting at unarmed fleeing villagers. We have confirmed at least four cases of beheadings and multiple enforced disappearances of individuals, as well as several villages and homes that have been burned."

Risk of expansion

OHCHR sees "clear and present risks of a serious expansion of violence as the battle for neighbouring Maungdaw town has begun", Ms. Throssell said.

The Myanmar military maintains outposts in the town and a large Rohingya community lives there, including hundreds of displaced Rohingya who moved from villages seeking safety.

End the violence

She said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker TArk, has called for an immediate end to the violence, and for all civilians to be protected without any distinction based on identity.

"Prompt and unhindered humanitarian relief must be allowed to flow, and all parties must comply fully and unconditionally with international law - including measures already ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), for the protection of Rohingya," she added.

International action needed

Separately, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar warned that "thousands of innocent lives will be lost if the international community fails to respond to ominous signs of another Rohingya bloodbath in Rakhine state."

In a statement issued on Thursday, Tom Andrews said "once again, the world seems to be failing a desperate people in their hour of peril while a hate-driven unnatural disaster unfolds in real time in Myanmar's Rakhine State."

The information that has emerged "more than warrants" an immediate response from the international community, he added.

Mr. Andrews urged all sides to adhere to international humanitarian law and take all steps to protect civilians, regardless of their religion or ethnicity.

Support Bangladesh

Recalling that Bangladesh had opened its borders to the Rohingya after a crackdown in 2017, thus saving untold numbers of lives, he noted that once again, this generosity might be their only hope in the face of forced displacement.

He warned, however, that Bangladesh lacks the capacity to meet the demands of this crisis without the emergency intervention and support of the international community.

"Rations cuts, inadequate infrastructure, spiraling violence, and reported forced recruitment by Rohingya militant groups have threatened the lives and wellbeing of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh," he said.

He appealed for "an emergency infusion of funds" to both support desperate families fleeing conflict and to address the current conditions in Rohingya refugee camps.

About UN Special Rapporteurs

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, which is located in Geneva.

These experts monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues worldwide. They are not UN staff and are not paid for their work.

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Myanmar violence draws global condemnation

By VOA News May 24, 2024

The European Union, the U.S. and their allies issued a joint statement Friday about the rising violence in Myanmar.

"We, Australia, Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, are deeply concerned by the escalating conflict in Myanmar and in particular the increasing harm to civilians, which is driving a worsening and devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis across the country," the statement said.

The U.N. human rights office said Friday it has received "frightening and disturbing reports" from Myanmar's northern Rakhine State about the impact fighting between the country's military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group, is having on Rohingya civilians.

"Some of the most serious allegations," according to a statement from Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, "concern incidents of killing of Rohingya civilians and the burning of their property."

An estimated 45,000 Rohingya have recently fled from fighting in the towns of Buthidaung and Maungdaw and have sought refuge on the Naf River near Bangladesh, Throssell said, where already more than 1 million Rohingya have sought refuge.

During the violence in the two towns, Throssell said the U.N.'s human rights office had documented "renewed attacks" on Rohingya civilians by the military and the Arakan Army.

There were reports of aerial strikes and "shooting at unarmed fleeing villagers, beheadings, disappearances, burnings of homes," Throssell said.

The nations' joint statement said the abuses committed against the civilian population include "airstrikes on homes, schools, places of worship and hospitals, as well as torture, the use of civilians as human shields, and sexual and gender-based violence against women and children."

"The number of people in humanitarian need has risen from 1 million to 18.6 million," the joint statement continued, "since the February 2021 coup d'etat," a reference to the military coup against the civilian government that declared the results of its election not valid and arrested National League for Democracy senior officials including State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar's military and armed groups have "consistently targeted" the towns and villages of Rakhine State where there have been reports of "high levels of displacement" and "forced recruitment, including of the Rohingya," the group said.

The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority group who have lived for generations in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar. They have been denied not only citizenship but also basic rights and protections.

"For years the military has targeted the Rohingya and actively enforced draconian and discriminatory restrictions affecting all aspects of their lives," said Throssell.

In 2017, Myanmar's government led a campaign against the Rohingya that included rape, murder and the burning of their homes and villages. Nearly a million Rohingya sought refuge in nearby Bangladesh.

The U.N.'s human rights office has called for an immediate end to the conflict and for the protection of all civilians "without any distinction based on identity" and the "prompt and unhindered" delivery of humanitarian relief.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

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Transcript of the Press Briefing by the Spokesperson on Friday, 24 May 2024

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Assalam-o-Alaikum,

Thanks for joining us for the Weekly Briefing.

This was an active week in Pakistan's diplomacy.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday, at the invitation of the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the President and held meetings with UAE investors and entrepreneurs.

The two leaders underscored the importance of galvanizing cooperation and strategic partnership, particularly in the fields of information and communication technologies, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and tourism. They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring meaningful implementation of investment cooperation agreements in the areas of Energy, Port Operations Projects, Wastewater Treatment, Food Security, Logistics, Minerals, and Banking & Financial Services, signed in November 2023. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan assured UAE's support in all circumstances and made a commitment of investing US$ 10 billion in multiple sectors in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited the Islamic Republic of Iran on 22 May 2024 to pay condolences on the demise of President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and their colleagues. He met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Acting President Mohammad Mokhber and offered condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar to both Iran and the UAE.



Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar led the Pakistan delegation to the regular meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) from 20-21 May 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan. He addressed the CFM and held bilateral meetings with the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart and Foreign Minister Murat Abugaliuly Nurtleu. He also held sideline meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Belarus, China, Russia, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic.



From Astana, the Deputy Prime Minister flew to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic on 21 May 2024 with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev. He also met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Edil Baisalov and Health Minister Alymkadyr Beishenaliev. The focus of these meetings was the welfare of Pakistanis in the Kyrgyz Republic, especially the victims of last week's mob attack against foreigners in Bishkek.



The Foreign Minister of the Republic of TArkiye, Hakan Fidan, undertook his first bilateral visit to Pakistan on 19-20 May 2024. He called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, and held delegation-level talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. He also met the military leadership. The two sides agreed to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, defence and security domains. They also assessed preparations for the upcoming 7th session of the Pakistan-TArkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) to be held in Islamabad in the near future.



And lastly, the Secretary General of SAARC, Mohammad Golam Sarwar, visited Pakistan from 20-24 May 2024, for the customary introductory visit of the new SAARC Secretary General after his assumption of office. He held talks with Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi.



Pakistan welcomes the announcement made by Ireland, Spain, and Norway on recognizing the State of Palestine. We also welcome the recent announcements of recognition of the State of Palestine by the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados.



These recent announcements serve as another milestone in the decades-long quest of the people of Palestine for their inalienable right to self-determination. The Gaza genocide and the dire humanitarian situation there have underlined the urgency of moving towards the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.



The State of Palestine is now recognized by an overwhelming majority of the UN member states. Time has therefore come to accord full membership to the State of Palestine at the United Nations and other international organizations as called for by the UN General Assembly in its recent resolution. We, therefore, reiterate our call to the UN Security Council to positively respond to this growing international sentiment.



Pakistan rejects the Indian Supreme Court's order of 1 May 2024, published on 21 May 2024, dismissing the petitions seeking review of its judgment of 11 December 2023 on the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).



We reject the fresh order of the India Supreme Court just as we had rejected its order of 11 December 2023. The two verdicts fail to recognize the internationally recognised disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir.



Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir is to be made in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.



India has no right to make unilateral decisions on the status of a disputed territory against the will of the other parties to the dispute i.e. Kashmiri people and Pakistan. Nor can India abdicate its international legal obligations on the pretext of domestic legislation and judicial verdicts.



The Indian Supreme Court's judgments or orders cannot distract the international community's attention from the gross and systematic human rights violations being perpetrated in IIOJK.



Now an upcoming visit announcement...



The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, will undertake an official visit to Islamabad from 29-30 May 2024. He will hold talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and call on the Pakistani leadership.



Thank you!

*



1. (Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): Is there any time frame for the investment coming from UAE?

Spokesperson: Pakistan and the UAE have close bilateral ties and the two countries have been working together to enhance collaboration in trade and investment. During the visit of the Prime Minister to the UAE yesterday, the President of the UAE expressed commitment to make substantive investments in Pakistan. These investment projects in diverse fields will be discussed in coming weeks.

2. (Anas Mallick, Capital TV): Madam, my question is with regards to Bishkek. How many students have returned or have showed their willingness to return and who is paying for the expenses? If you can list out the details categorically.

3. (Aijaz Ahmed, GNN): It is being said that the returning students who are in their first or second year can return to Kyrgyzstan and attend online classes. What is the scenario for the final year students? Will they go back to Kyrgyzstan or will they also attend online classes from Pakistan?

Spokesperson: Okay, first regarding the repatriation of students from Bishkek. According to the information I have, over 4500 students have already returned to Pakistan through different flights, both commercial and special flights. This does not include individuals who may have returned through indirect flights coming via third countries. Secondly, the repatriation of students is taking place at the request of the students who wish to return to Pakistan. It is the decision of the students to return home. The Government of Pakistan has facilitated the process. We have also advised the students to take these decisions taking into account their academic requirements. We believe that their return will also be an independent and personal decision of these students.

4. (Naveed Siddiqui, Daily Dateline): There are reports that two R&AW trained terrorists were arrested from Karachi and they were identified as Ayub Ansari and Ahsan Raza. Can you share the details please?

Spokesperson: I would like to refer you to the local law enforcement authorities who have shared details of this case. Without going into the specifics, I would like to underline that Pakistan has always been concerned about India's involvement and sponsorship of terrorist incidents inside Pakistan. We have expressed our concerns repeatedly on several occasions including in recent weeks and months.

5. (Azaz Syed, Geo News): Ma'am, my question is related to the students who came back from Bishkek. It can be seen that no Pakistani students were murdered or raped. Despite that Pakistani students are being evacuated and Pakistani government is bearing all the expenses. What is the total expense incurred? And is it true that Indian students didn't go back to India and the Indian government also advised them to not evacuate to India. Please share with us the expenses we incurred on this and did we also advise our students to not leave or did we simply evacuate them?

Spokesperson: First regarding the expense, I do not have the details. At this point, our focus has been to facilitate individuals who wish to return to Pakistan. Once we have details of expenses incurred from various departments, including from our Embassy in Bishkek, we would be able to make a definitive assessment. Secondly, in our various statements, we have said and it is our assessment that the situation in Bishkek has returned to normal. And we appreciate the Kyrgyz authorities for enhancing security of hostels of foreign students. We understand the trauma faced by Pakistani students in light of the mob riots of last Friday. The traffic of sensational and fake news added to the fear and trauma faced by these students and their families and added to their feeling of insecurity. The decision to return to Pakistan was taken by the students themselves. The Government of Pakistan made every effort to reassure them of their security and to facilitate their return. We hope that they would be able to continue their education through online and other distant learning means.

7. (Zeeshan Yousafzai, Dunya TV): 133 stolen artefacts have been recovered by New York's District Attorney Office and it is being said that they handed over the recovered artefacts to Pakistan. Reportedly these items were recovered from a smuggling network which is operated by an Indian national. Please comment on it. Secondly, the Prime Minister undertook a visit to UAE recently, is there any expectation of a UAE's delegation visiting Pakistan and holding meetings here regarding investments in Pakistan?

Spokesperson: Pakistan and the UAE have several exchanges that take place regularly, including people-to-people contacts and exchanges of businessmen and entrepreneurs. This is an ongoing process and we are looking forward to further collaboration and exchange of visits in the field of trade and investment between Pakistan and the UAE. Your other question was regarding the stolen cultural property, stolen artefacts. Pakistan appreciates the efforts by the US authorities, especially in New York, for retrieving the stolen cultural treasures of Pakistan. These artefacts were recovered through extensive investigations into an international trafficking network, which smuggled looted antiquities into the markets in the United States, Europe and Asia. The return of these artefacts not only restores a part of Pakistan's cultural heritage, but also strengthens bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the United States against theft of cultural property. This is also a manifestation of the power of international collaboration in preserving cultural heritage. We look forward to similar collaboration with the United States and other countries for return of stolen artefacts from Pakistan.

8. (Anas Mallick, Capital TV): Two more questions. First, FIA in the famous cypher case has now filed for Ambassador Donald Lu, the Assistant Secretary of State to be made a witness and in their appeal they've said that they've approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Mr. Lu to be summoned as a witness in the cypher case. Your comments on the matter? Number two, the 13th JCC between Pakistan and China and China Pakistan Economic Corridor is ongoing virtually. Can you delve into the contours of the agenda of the meeting?

Spokesperson: Regarding the 13th JCC as we speak the Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal is speaking live at the 13th JCC and the important agenda for Pakistan-China collaboration under CPEC which is a shining symbol of the bilateral relationship. I would invite you to check the transcript of the live proceedings. With regards to your first question, I would not comment publicly on a case that is sub-judice. The Foreign Office has always said that we would work with our judiciary and uphold international law and international legal responsibilities as we have done in the past.

9. (Abdullah Momand, Dawn News): On 13th of May, around five Pakistanis were allegedly killed in South Waziristan and a lawmaker in KP Assembly claimed it was a drone attack in South Waziristan and the Government paid compensation to the victims' families as well. So, what is your view on this?

Spokesperson: First of all, I do not wish to comment on the statement of a lawmaker on this matter. Secondly, the Government of Pakistan expresses deep sympathy and support to individuals who may be killed in any incident, especially terrorist incidents. Lastly, details about this particular incident may be obtained from the law enforcement authorities.

10. (Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News): US $10 billion is a huge amount of investment coming from the UAE. So, there must have been a discussion prior to Prime Minister's visit. What specific areas that has been identified? Whether these are the projects B2B or G2G? Second supplementary is, apart from your refraining to speak on lawmaker's statement, do you categorize the Waziristan attack as a terror attack or is it a drone strike. Do you confirm a drone strike took place in Waziristan?

Spokesperson: Issues related to Pakistan's security and sovereignty are sacrosanct for the Government of Pakistan. I do not wish to categorize any such incidents on indulge in speculation. except to refer to the law enforcement authorities and ISPR for details. With regards to the investments from the UAE, following the visit of our Prime Minister to the United Arab Emirates yesterday, media statements have been released by the two sides. The UAE is a longstanding friend and partner of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan welcomes and appreciates the support that the UAE have extended to Pakistan in the past. We are grateful to the President of the UAE for his commitment to enhance investments in Pakistan. If you would see the press release, which was issued by the Prime Minister's Office yesterday, it makes it clear that the investments would be made in multiple sectors in Pakistan. The various projects of cooperation and investment are under consideration between Pakistan and the UAE, both in public and private domain. Details would be announced in coming weeks.

11. (Asghar Ali Mubarak, The Daily Mail International): It is being portrayed by the Indian media that the election turnout in Kashmir is a part of their policy in IIOJK during the fifth round of the ongoing elections. Their local parties, especially Muslims, have already boycotted these elections so how does Pakistan see this and Indian government is considering it as their success after abrogation of Article 370.

Spokesperson: We have always said that such election exercises cannot serve as a substitute to the grant of the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We believe India should faithfully implement the UN Security Council resolutions and stop intimidating the Kashmiri people. Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed area that remains on the agenda of the UN Security Council. The final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir is to be made in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

12. (Azaz Syed, Geo News): Ma'am, this is with regard to the helicopter crash of President Raisi in Iran. The Prime Minister went to Iran as well. Has Pakistan offered its crash investigation expertise to its neighbouring, friendly country Iran to investigate the truth of the President's helicopter crash?

Spokesperson: First, we express our deep condolences and sympathies with the Iranian people and Government on the sad and tragic demise of President Raisi and his companions. Secondly, we believe that the Iranian authorities have the full ability to investigate the circumstances of this crash. Pakistan for its part remains ready to extend any support that would be required by the Iranian authorities if such a need arises.

13. (Farhan Ali, Public News): Ma'am, my question is that there are 43 Pakistani prisoners in Sri Lanka. Pakistan has been discussing with the Sri Lankan authorities for the last one month to bring them back. What are the updates on it?

Spokesperson: I am not aware of these particular cases. However, I would like to underline that Pakistan always respects the laws and procedures of other countries. We work with local authorities to facilitate Pakistanis including those incarcerated in various jails, in conformity with the laws and procedures in that country.

14. (Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): Ma'am, what are the updates of Pak-Afghan border, Chaman area?

Spokesperson: With regards to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border including Chaman area, let me reiterate that Pakistan wishes the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to be a border of peace and security. We also believe that any movement across the border should take place on the basis of valid legal documents, on proper visas and passports, as is the case with individuals who travel from other neighbouring countries to Pakistan.

Thank you!

***

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Pakistan to compensate families of slain Chinese workers

By Sarah Zaman May 24, 2024

Pakistan will pay more than $2 million to the families of Chinese workers killed in a suicide bombing this year.

Five Chinese workers and their Pakistani driver were killed on March 26 when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into their convoy in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Economic Coordination Committee, Pakistan's top economic body approved a $2.58 million package Thursday as compensation to the families of the foreign victims.

The ECC, presided over by Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, also approved nearly $9,000 in compensation for the family of the slain Pakistani national.

"The ECC considered and approved proposals for Technical Supplementary Grants, including: $2.58 million and Rs. 2.5 million to the Ministry of Water Resources as the compensation packages for Chinese and local casualties at DASU Hydropower Project," a statement on the finance ministry's website said.

The workers were traveling to the Chinese-funded Dasu hydropower project in the remote region of Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when they came under attack in Bisham, in Shangla district, about four hours north of the capital. Islamabad.

Pakistan identified the attacker as an Afghan national and claimed the attack was planned in Afghanistan. Pakistan: Afghan-based terrorists planned suicide attack on Chinese engineers

Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of allowing anti-Pakistan terrorists to operate on its soil, a charge the rulers in Kabul deny.

China has urged Pakistan to punish those involved in the attack and to ensure better security for its nationals present in the country. Thousands of Chinese are working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, a multibillion-dollar energy and infrastructure project under Beijing's global Belt and Road Initiative.

As Pakistan pushes to revive the pace of the megaproject, Islamabad has assured China it has enhanced security protocols for the foreign workers.

In a visit to Dasu, days after the attack, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif vowed "fool-proof" security arrangements in a meeting with Chinese workers at the hydropower project.

"I will not rest until we have put in place the best possible security measures for your security. Not only in Dasu, [but] all over Pakistan," Sharif said, adding that, this was his promise to the people of China, and to the Chinese leadership including President Xi Jinping.

A special military unit as well as local law enforcement are already responsible for the security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan.

Since the launch of CPEC, foreign workers have come under attack, mostly, by Baloch separatist groups who see the project as part of Pakistani state's measures to rob the mineral-rich Balochistan province of its precious resources.

No group, however, claimed responsibility for the attack in March that occurred far from Balochistan. The banned Islamist militant outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan - an ideological offshoot of the Afghan Taliban - has a foothold in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In 2021, an attack on a bus carrying workers to the same hydropower project killed 13 people including at least nine Chinese nationals. Pakistan compensated their families as well.

Two alleged Islamist militants were sentenced to death for that attack.

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South Korea, Japan, China eye practical wins at rare summit

By William Gallo May 24, 2024

South Korea, Japan, and China will resume high-level talks for the first time in over four years next week, sending senior leaders to a summit aimed at stabilizing ties among the Asian neighbors.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul Monday, South Korea's presidential office announced this week.

The three countries have hoped to hold yearly summits, but the meetings have not occurred since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and bilateral frictions, which have continued to emerge.

This week, China lashed out at South Korea and Japan after lawmakers from both countries attended the inauguration of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. China views self-ruled Taiwan as its own and sees Lai as a dangerous separatist.

China has also watched warily as Japan and South Korea expand defense cooperation, not only between themselves but also with the United States. China fears the U.S. is working with its Asian allies to contain Beijing.

Although South Korea-Japan ties have improved under Yoon, the relationship is showing signs of strain after South Korean politicians accused Tokyo of inappropriately pressuring a South Korean company to sell its stake in a popular Japanese messaging app.

Analysts do not expect the summit to produce any breakthroughs to resolve these disputes. Instead, the three sides hope to regularize the leader-level meetings, restoring an important channel for managing tense relations.

The summit "will not solve every problem and curb potential conflicts in the region in a single stroke," said Park Cheol Hee, chancellor of the state-run Korea National Diplomatic Academy, in a commentary on the website of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

However, since all three countries are economically interdependent and wish to avoid a "Cold War scenario," it is necessary to manage the level of conflict "to a tolerable level," Park added.

Diplomatic dance

Since taking office two years ago, Yoon has improved ties with Japan, partnering with Kishida to cooperate on common issues such as nuclear-armed North Korea.

However, Yoon and Kishida have trodden more cautiously when it comes to China, a vital trading partner for both Seoul and Tokyo.

Although neither leader has overseen drastic changes to his country's China policies, both have embraced a tougher, values-based rhetoric - often speaking of the contest between democracy and authoritarianism.

South Korea and Japan have also grown bolder about speaking of the importance of preserving the status quo in democratic Taiwan, which China has threatened to take by force.

Yoon especially upset China last year when he called Taiwan's fate a "global issue." China objects to such statements, insisting its relationship with Taiwan is a domestic matter.

As Lai was sworn in as Taiwan's president this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi lashed out against those he said were attempting to challenge the "one-China principle."

China on Thursday launched two days of large-scale military exercises encircling Taiwan, further raising tension around what is perhaps the region's most sensitive hotspot.

China's approach

However, China may have some incentive to appear more conciliatory during next week's summit.

Jeffrey Robertson, a professor of diplomatic studies at Seoul's Yonsei University, said China may conclude it has much to gain simply by reestablishing dialogue with Japan and South Korea - a forum that excludes the United States.

"I think [China] is going to try to show that it is less threatening to Korea and Japan and show that there is an alternative," Robertson added. "It's demonstrating that the region has the potential to govern itself."

While some analysts have said that China may use the meeting to create or expose divisions between South Korea and Japan, that may not be necessary now.

"I think those cracks [between South Korea and Japan] are already present and pretty much filling up with water right now," Robertson said.

Japan-Korea tensions

In recent weeks, several prominent South Korean politicians accused Japan of pressuring South Korean tech giant Naver to sell its stake in the company that controls Line, a do-it-all social media app that dominates digital life in Japan.

Japanese regulators say the move is motivated by information security concerns, after Naver suffered a cyberattack that resulted in a massive leak of data, including the personal information of Line users.

But South Korean opposition figures have jumped on the issue to attack Yoon's friendlier approach to Japan, with some even comparing the dispute to Japan's colonization of Korea.

According to Japan's Kyodo news agency, Kishida and Yoon may discuss the Line/Naver issue during bilateral talks to be held on the sidelines of the broader summit.

The Japanese and South Korean leaders will also likely urge China to pressure North Korea to reengage in denuclearization talks, said Bruce Bennett, a defense researcher at the Rand Corporation.

"But I'm not sure if much will come out of that," said Bennett, who spoke to reporters last week at the Asan Plenum, a conference in Seoul.

China does not have much influence in North Korea, said Bennett, adding that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will only act "if he thinks it's in his best interest."

Instead, the trilateral summit is expected to focus on issues including personnel exchanges, climate change, trade, health and aging population, technology, and disasters, according to South Korean officials.

While those topics may not attract much media attention, officials in South Korea say the discussions are worthwhile - if nothing else, to create dialogue that will prevent tensions from spinning out of control.

In an editorial last week for South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper, Yoon's former National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han argued that close communication with China is essential for regional peace and prosperity - and for avoiding conflict along the lines of World War I.

Few if any expect any breakthroughs - not least of all because China's top leader, Xi Jinping, will not attend this round of talks.

"It's just the fact that they're starting the dialogue again - I think it's significant enough in itself," Robertson said.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement at a reception on the occasion of Africa Day, Moscow, May 23, 2024

23 May 2024 19:46

962-23-05-2024



Your Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

Following tradition, each year we gather at the Foreign Ministry's Mansion in late May to mark Africa Day, a holiday which epitomises the unwavering will of the African peoples and their struggle in pursuit of freedom and human dignity.

This year, the holiday coincides with the 20th anniversary of the African Union's Peace and Security Council which is one of the main bodies of this pan-African organisation that plays a significant role in shaping the modern African security architecture and the political and socioeconomic integration of the continent's countries, and ensuring its proper place within the international economic relations system.

We in Russia are pleased to note that Africa continues to gain political weight and to establish itself as a crucial pillar of the emerging multipolar order. Dynamic integration processes, rapidly growing markets, and business activity make it possible for the African states to play an increasingly meaningful role in international affairs and speak as one. The African Union's G20 membership which became possible with Russia's support, and the African peace initiative on Ukraine which, at the suggestion of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, was discussed by a group of African countries with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June and July 2023, serve as compelling proofs of the region's growing global role.

Russia and Africa have historically been united by close bonds of friendship. During the era of liberation from colonialism, the Soviet Union supported the region in its struggle for independence, supported young African states at multilateral venues, provided economic and technical assistance in creating and expanding national economies, and helped ensure reliable defence capabilities.

Fighting the newly emerged colonial and neo-colonial practices has come to the forefront today. The Western methods have changed, but the thrust of its policy towards African countries has remained unchanged and is to bring them to its heel and to live at the expense of other countries using more sophisticated forms of exploitation as part of the rules-based order.

We remain willing, notwithstanding current circumstances, to support the African countries in their efforts to advance their sovereignty, to address pressing socioeconomic challenges, and to assert Africa's rightful place as an equal partner in the modern world, including in the efforts to reform the UN Security Council. Unlike former colonial powers, we are building relations with our African friends solely on the basis of equal and honest partnership without politicisation, blackmail, pressure, or interference in their domestic affairs.

According to President Putin, the Russia-Africa Summits have become a "genuine breakthrough." During the second summit held in St Petersburg in July 2023, we confirmed our overlapping approaches to building country-to-country communication based on the principles of international law, in particular, the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interconnection. We have agreed upon the mechanisms for practical cooperation across all areas of interest. A new dialogue format - the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Conference - has been established at the level of foreign ministers in order to regularly exchange insights on the status of the implementation of the summit decisions and to prepare for the next high-level meeting. The first such meeting will be held this autumn.

Relations between parliaments and parties are making strides. We are working to expand our diplomatic presence in Africa. In December 2023, the Russian Embassy in Burkina Faso resumed its activities. We are now preparing to open full-fledged diplomatic missions in Sierra Leone, Niger, and the Republic of South Sudan.

We are pleased to note the increase in Russia-Africa trade which was up by 30 percent to about $25 billion in 2023. We are committed to expand cooperation in high-tech areas, including peaceful nuclear energy, space exploration, and digital technologies. For us to successfully advance joint projects, we need to create mechanisms that will make our mutually beneficial economic ties self-sufficient and to protect them from the collective West's unlawful encroachments.

Humanitarian cooperation, including healthcare and sanitary-epidemiological well-being of the public, is expanding. In April, the first Russia-Africa International Conference on Combatting Infectious Diseases was held in Uganda and will be held regularly from now on. Our partnership in the vital area of biological safety is going from strength to strength. Last year, as part of its humanitarian aid effort, Russia provided free grain to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea. We continue to fulfill our obligations concerning agricultural exports, as well as exports of fertiliser, energy, and other essential items to Africa.

We support the efforts to strengthen the human resources capacity building by increasing the number of scholarships, opening new branches of Russian universities and schools, and creating a network of open education centres. Currently, nearly 35,000 African students are studying in Russia, with about 7,000 among them funded from the Russian budget.

It is encouraging to know that contacts among academic, public, and business circles are expanding. Promoting security and stability in Africa is among our unwavering priorities. We are firmly committed to the principle formulated by the Africans themselves: African solutions to African problems. We uphold this principle both as a permanent member of the Security Council and in our contacts with the African Union, subregional organisations, and individual African countries.

I would like to express my gratitude to our African friends for their responsible stance on the Ukraine crisis. Earlier, I mentioned the corresponding initiative of the African countries. You remain committed to fair assessments and approaches despite persistent attempts to embroil African countries into the West's Russophobic campaign.

Colleagues,

The potential for Russian-African cooperation across all areas is truly vast. We will continue to work together to bring our relations to the level of a truly strategic partnership.

Happy holiday, once again. I wish peace and prosperity to all African countries and peoples, and good health and success to you and your loved ones.

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Feature: U.S. businesses eye more opportunities in China's biz hub Shanghai

Xinhua) 14:21, May 25, 2024

Guests attend a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotion event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

NEW YORK, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China's business hub Shanghai held a promotion event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States.

Shanghai has been one of the first choices for world businesses to invest in China and build global industry chains, said Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng in a keynote speech.

Nearly one third of the top 500 enterprises in the world have regional headquarters in Shanghai as the city has trade ties with 205 countries or regions, said Gong.

In 2023, over 6,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in the city with the amount of foreign direct investment received throughout the year totaling 24.08 billion U.S. dollars. At the end of 2023, the city has attracted over 950 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 550 foreign-funded research and development centers, according to an official bulletin.

Shanghai is speeding up the process of building itself into an international center of economy, finance, trade, shipping, and technological innovation, fostering new productivity boosters, and forging ahead with high-level reform and opening-up, said Gong.

The face-to-face meeting was warmly welcomed and drew positive responses from officials, businessmen, and local people.

In addressing the audience, Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC), said this face-to-face interaction is very welcome.

"Relationships suffered deeply during the COVID era. Therefore, the intimacy of this face-to-face communication is simply irreplaceable," Allen said.

The USCBC has been committed to forging a mutually beneficial U.S.-China relationship through its offices in Washington, Beijing, and Shanghai, as Shanghai is the window through which its member companies take the pulse of China, said Allen.

"We welcome Shanghai's commitment to opening up through leveraging pilots within and beyond free trade zones, and to facilitating policy breakthroughs and providing a level playing field for U.S. companies, including our members," Allen said.

American companies are well positioned to increase their exports and to share the world's best technologies and expertise in a wide range of areas from clean energy to consumer goods, he said.

As the two countries celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, engagement at the sub-national or city-to-city level is essential to strengthening the world's most important bilateral relationship, restoring business confidence, and charting a course that is beneficial to the peoples of both countries, Allen added.

"We're committed to building bridges between the peoples of our two countries. American investment builds bridges, like no other activity," said Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee of U.S.-China Relations.

"I'm fond of saying that trade is like dating, but investment is marriage. You've got to work to make it work," Orlins said.

Reviewing Shanghai's developments in the last few centuries, Orlins said Shanghai is a model of ingenuity and adaptability.

"We are optimistic about the Chinese market sectors, including health, education, senior living, and urban regeneration," said Joseph Brancato, who chairs the executive committee of Gensler, a global design and architecture firm, which has over 30 offices and more than 300 employees in China.

"Our aspirations in Shanghai are to create designs that reflect Chinese culture and values, as well as being an integral part of that community. We look forward to participating in Shanghai's bright future, building on innovation, strengthening our relationships and developing new relationships to bring people together through the power of design," Brancato told the audience.

"It was well articulated here and clear that Shanghai is positioned for growth, and this is the way we see the Chinese market," said Tom Mooney, director of public affairs with Harman International, a leader in automotive technology, lifestyle innovations, design and analytics.

From a perspective of research and development and engineering, Shanghai is really the heartbeat of Harman in China, Mooney told Xinhua on the sidelines of the event.

"Shanghai is home to SAIC Motor. From an automotive standpoint, we're always looking to increase our cooperation and business opportunities with them," said Mooney.

Mooney said he has not been to Shanghai, but hopes to go there very soon, especially after the introduction of Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season.

Several invitees jointly held a launching ceremony at the meeting for Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season 2024, which will run from the first weekend in July to the second weekend in October.

Joseph Brancato, who chairs the executive committee of Gensler, a global design and architecture firm, delivers a speech at a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotional event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee of U.S.-China Relations, delivers a speech at a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotional event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, delivers a speech at a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotional event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng delivers a keynote speech at a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotional event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Russia: Daesh behind Moscow concert hall attack with NATO, Ukraine help

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 8:43 AM

Russia has said for the first time that the Daesh terrorist group coordinated the concert hall assault in Moscow in March, the country's deadliest terror attack in two decades.

Several gunmen burst into the big concert hall and fired automatic weapons at the crowd which left more than 140 people dead.

"The investigation is ongoing, but it is already safe to say that Ukrainian military intelligence is directly involved in this attack," head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov said Friday.

The FSB chief pointed out that NATO forces and Ukraine military intelligence had used Daesh militants to fight against Russian troops and target interests of the country.

NATO, Bortnikov said, facilitated the transfer of "mercenaries and militants of international terrorist organizations from the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan" to Ukraine.

On Thursday, the FSB said it had arrested three more suspects for complicity in last March' terrorist attack on the concert hall.

"Two of those detained transferred money for the purchase of firearms and vehicles used in the terror attack, and a third was directly involved in recruiting accomplices of the terror attack and financing its perpetrators," the Interfax news agency quoted the FSB as saying in a statement.

Russian state media outlets showed footage of the FSB agents who were making the arrests. Of those arrested, two were foreign citizens and one was from Russia, the FSB revealed.

Till now, Russian security forces have arrested more than a dozen people involved in the attack, including the four gunmen, all citizens of Tajikistan.

Daesh has repeatedly claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Russian government insists that it had been "ordered" by either Kiev or the West.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said the raison d'etre of extremist groups like Daesh was contrary to "the bloody, horrific terror attack in Moscow".

The Russian leader said those who orchestrated the Moscow attack aimed "to inflict damage on our unity."

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Russian and Belarus defence ministers hold talks in Minsk

24.05.2024

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said that Belarus was and continues to be Russia's closest neighbour and reliable partner.

'I would like to point out that the Republic of Belarus has been and continues to be our closest neighbour, a faithful ally and a reliable partner,' said Russian Defence Minister in talks with Minister of Defence Viktor Khrenin.

Andrei Belousov noted that additional measures are needed to ensure the Union State's security.

'More than ever before, we need close cooperation to timely respond to changes in the military and political situation around the world, to take additional measures to ensure the security of the Union State,' said Andrei Belousov.

He expressed readiness to discuss with his colleague 'the most topical issues of military and military-technical cooperation'. The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation noted that it was a pleasure to meet the head of the military department of the republic in person, thanking him for a warm welcome and traditional Belarusian hospitality.

The Head of the Belarusian Defence Ministry opened the meeting and congratulated Andrei Belousov on his appointment as Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation.

'I am sure that your experience, knowledge and leadership qualities will enable you to successfully solve all difficult tasks facing the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in these challenging times. Our meeting today is another confirmation of the solid ties of brotherhood and strategic partnership between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation. This is especially important in the current very difficult conditions of military and political situation developing around our states', said Viktor Khrenin to his Russian counterpart.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Chinese aircraft detected 74.08 km from Taiwan: Defense ministry

ROC Central News Agency

05/24/2024 05:05 PM

Taipei, May 24 (CNA) Twenty-eight Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait in the 24 hours starting at 6 a.m. on Thursday, with an unspecified number flying as close as 40 nautical miles (74.08 kilometers) to Keelung in northern Taiwan.

The 28 aircraft were part of a larger fleet of 35 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft detected in Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.

Of the 35 PLA planes, seven entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ between 8:15 a.m. and 5:51 p.m. on Thursday, while an unspecified number of warplanes flew as close as 40 nautical miles to Keelung between 7:20 a.m. and 6:11 p.m. that day, the MND said.

The ministry indicated that the armed forces monitored the situation and deployed combat air patrol aircraft, vessels and coastal missile defense systems in response to the detected activities.

Meanwhile, an assortment of Chinese battleships and China Coast Guard vessels were detected by the MND as the PLA's Eastern Theater Command announced the commencement of the two-day "Joint Sword-2024A" military exercises in the areas surrounding Taiwan from 7:45 a.m. on Thursday.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, "the drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, and the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin."

A total of 16 PLA warships and 19 China Coast Guard vessels were observed participating in the first day of the "Joint Sword-2024A" exercises, a military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

So far 19 Chinese warships and seven PLA coast guard vessels have been detected and continue to operate in waters around Taiwan on Friday, the official said, without elaborating whether they form part of the "Joint Sword-2024A" drills.

(By Wu Shu-wei and Ko Lin)

Enditem/kb

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U.S. State Dept. coordinates closely with Taiwan amid PLA drills

ROC Central News Agency

05/24/2024 12:09 PM

Washington, May 23 (CNA) The U.S. State Department said it was "monitoring very closely" in coordination with Taiwan after Beijing launched two days of military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas on Thursday.

In an email response to CNA, a State Department spokesperson expressed concern over reports of the People Liberation Army's (PLA) joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan.

The spokesperson noted that China's actions risk escalation and undermine long-standing norms that have maintained regional peace and stability for decades.

The spokesperson emphasized that Taiwan's political transition is a normal and routine part of its democratic process and that China should not use it as a pretext for provocative or coercive measures.

The spokesperson added that the U.S. is confident in its current force posture and operations in the region to ensure peace and stability and to meet its national security commitments.

The PLA's Eastern Theater Command announced the commencement of the "Joint Sword-2024A" military exercises in the waters and airspace around Taiwan on Thursday, just three days after President Lai Ching-te (ea) was sworn in.

According to a report by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, the drills focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets.

"The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, and the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin," it added.

Meanwhile, President Lai said during a speech at the 66th Brigade of the Marine Corps in Taoyuan on Thursday that in the face of external threats, he would continue to promote defense reforms to protect the values of freedom and democracy and safeguard regional peace and stability, demonstrating Taiwan's determination to defend its democracy to the world.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on the same day that no live-fire exercises by the PLA had been detected around the Taiwan Strait. As of 6 p.m., 16 PLA warships and 19 China Coast Guard vessels were operating in the area.

The MND said it would follow standard procedures for handling emergencies during the armed forces' regular readiness period. This involves deploying naval, air and ground forces to safeguard freedom, democracy and Taiwan's sovereignty.

Commenting on the matter, Jude Blanchette, the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told CNA that the exercises are designed to put increasing political pressure on Taiwan and give President Lai "an early test."

However, the real significance of the exercises lies in Beijing's ability to normalize PLA actions in the Taiwan Strait and its surrounding areas, possibly even increasing their intensity.

He noted that, as seen during former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, Beijing uses such exercises to create a new normal.

After Pelosi's visit in August 2022, the PLA increased its activities. Last year, Japanese media outlet Nikkei Asia used drone footage and expert analysis to report that the PLA is accelerating its preparations to encircle Taiwan.

(By Chung Yu-chen avd Evelyn Yang)

Enditem/kb

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Drills of PLA, CCG continue around Taiwan island

Global Times

Mainland's normalized cross-Straits exercises 'form new normal against secessionists'

By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan Published: May 24, 2024 08:35 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) continued to conduct drills around the island of Taiwan on Friday, forming what some experts call a new normal of "anti-salami-slicing" against provocations by the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.

Senior Captain Li Xi, a spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement on Friday that the theater command continued to conduct the Joint Sword-2024A exercise around the island of Taiwan, with integrated operations inside and outside the island chain being conducted to test the command's capabilities to jointly take control of the battlefield and launch joint strikes, and to seize control of crucial areas.

The two-day Joint Sword-2024A drills were launched on Thursday as a punishment for the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces and a stern warning against interference and provocation by external forces following Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's separatist inaugural speech on May 20.

In Friday's drills, the PLA Eastern Theater Command practiced courses including vessel-aircraft coordination, sea assault and land attack, and tested the forces' combat capabilities including multi-domain coordination and joint strike, spokesperson Li said.

At a training ground in the eastern part of East China's Fujian Province, separated from the island of Taiwan only by the narrow Taiwan Straits, modularized long-range multiple launch rocket systems entered firing positions and conducted mock fire strikes on Friday, according to a video released by the Eastern Theater Command.

"We, the rocket artillery forces, can strike far, accurately and fiercely. We can deliver full-domain, round-the-clock precision strikes on targets," said Jiang Xiaodong, an officer at a brigade affiliated with the army of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, vowing to firmly eliminate all "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces upon receiving the instruction.

At sea, the Type 054A guided missile frigate Nantong conducted alert patrol and combat exercises in the Taiwan Straits on Friday.

While sailing toward the island of Taiwan, the PLA warship was able to visually confirm the Cheng Ho, a frigate of the naval force of the island of Taiwan commissioned in 1994, following from about 0.6 nautical miles away.

With rapid maneuvers and stealth approaches, PLA warship flotillas conducted mock strikes against maritime targets in waters around the island of Taiwan.

"Under realistic, complex circumstances and supported by the theater command's joint operational system, we organized drills including vessel-aircraft joint anti-submarine and control of key regions in waters to the southwest of the island of Taiwan," said He Cheng, an officer under a frigate detachment.

The frigate established remote link with naval and air forces to the east of the Taiwan island, shared target information and coordinated closely over tactics when conducting joint strikes on key targets and seizing control of major lanes, He said.

The air force of the PLA Eastern Theater Command continued their combat patrols around the island of Taiwan and its outlying islands on Friday, with several bombers escorted by fighter jets flying beyond the island chain.

H-6K bombers and J-16 fighter jets carrying live missiles were seen in report footage taking off from airfields.

The warplanes then established attack positions to the east of the island of Taiwan, coordinated with naval flotillas and land-based missile units to conduct mock strikes on key targets.

In the rain, dozens of transporter erector launchers for DF-11 short-range ballistic missiles of the Rocket Force quickly moved out to preset positions and launched multiple waves of mock fire strikes on targets.

The Rocket Force's troops will resolutely thwart "Taiwan independence" secessionist attempts of any form, said Li Dawei, an officer at a brigade affiliated with the Rocket Force.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement on Friday that the PLA Eastern Theater Command recently organized its army, naval, air force and rocket force to conduct joint drills around Taiwan island to test the troops' combat capability in joint operations.

Completely rightful, legitimate, and necessary, the operation is aimed at suppressing the arrogance of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and deterring the interference and intervention of external forces, Wu said.

The PLA will safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity with concrete actions, Wu said, noting that the PLA will push up countermeasures every time the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces provoke, until the complete national reunification is realized.

Zhang Chi, a professor at the National Defense University of the PLA, told the Global Times that the PLA's exercises around the Taiwan Straits have become a new normal, which is a punishment for the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces' repeated provocations on the Chinese mainland's bottom line.

After former Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen's provocative transit through the US in 2023, the PLA conducted the first Joint Sword exercise, and now the PLA launched another Joint Sword exercise after Lai's May 20 speech, Zhang said, concluding that, "Every time 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces provoke, the PLA will move forward a step further. This is a new normal of 'anti-salami-slicing'."

In addition to the PLA's drills, China Coast Guard (CCG) also continued its exercises on Friday following its Thursday patrols near the island of Taiwan's outlying islands.

The CCG Flotilla 2304 on Friday conducted comprehensive law enforcement exercises in waters to the east of the island of Taiwan, focusing on training courses such as verification and identification as well as warning and repelling, and tested the vessels' capabilities of conducting joint patrols and dealing with emergencies, said Gan Yu, a spokesperson of the CCG, in a press release on Friday.

A photo attached to the press release shows a CCG law enforcement personnel observing the coastline of the island of Taiwan, with the Central Mountain Range clearly visible, indicating that the CCG flotilla was very close to the island.

Observers noted that while the island of Taiwan had reported the CCG presence in waters to the east of the island in March, this is the first time the CCG has announced its activities in the region, marking the start of the CCG's law enforcement activities toward the main island of Taiwan.

Wider zones of drills

Since the start of the drills, the PLA Eastern Theater Command has published several animations depicting the movement of its forces toward the island of Taiwan as well as a computer-generated clip showing what a joint strike on the island would look like.

Comparing the exercise zones shown in the sketch maps with zones of previous drills, a Chinese mainland military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Friday that the Joint Sword-2024A covered wider regions, including outlying islands such as Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, but at the same time, the encirclement on the main island of Taiwan became tighter.

The animations indicated that the drills had key cities in three major target zones in mind, namely the northern part of the island where the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces' political center lies, the southern part where the island's naval forces gather, and the eastern part where the island could receive external support, the expert said.

The PLA has practiced a new model of blockading the island of Taiwan, analysts said, noting that since Taiwan is an isolated island that relies heavily on energy imports, if it is blockaded, it will very easily suffer an economic collapse.

Although the Joint Sword-2024A drills are scheduled to conclude on Friday, the PLA's routine exercises will not end, and if "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces insist on making provocations, there will be following drills such as Joint Sword-2024B, C and D, observers said.

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Most countries support one-China principle, oppose Taiwan region's participation in WHA: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 24, 2024 11:55 PM

The support by a majority of countries for China's position on the Taiwan region's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) proves again that the one-China principle represents the will of the international community and the trend of the times, and also fully reflects the majority of countries holding a stance for justice on the Taiwan question related to the WHA, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday.

There is but one China in the world. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the spokesperson reiterated.

China's position on the Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), is consistent and clear: it must be handled under the one-China principle, which is also a fundamental principle demonstrated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1, said Wang.

Most countries have reiterated their commitments to upholding Resolution 2758 of the UNGA and firmly supporting the one-China principle, opposing Taiwan region's participation in WHA, the spokesperson said.

For eight consecutive years from 2009 to 2016, The Chinese central government made special arrangements for the Taiwan region's participation in the WHA on the basis of adherence to the one-China principle. But since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities came to power, they have obstinately adhered to the separatist position of "Taiwan independence" and refused to admit the 1992 Consensus embodying the one-China principle, which means that the political foundation for the Taiwan region's participation in the WHA no longer exists, said Wang.

The 77th WHA will open on May 27. Upholding the one-China principle, as well as the sanctity and authority of relevant UNGA and WHA resolutions, China has decided not to approve the Taiwan region's participation in this year's WHA, a move that has been widely understood and supported by the international community, said Wang.

Leaders and senior officials of many countries, as well as those of international organizations, such as officials from the UN Geneva Office, have recently restated that their countries or organizations abide by the one-China principle and the UNGA Resolution 2758.

When asked about a question related to China, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said, "it means in terms of our standing on Taiwan as a province of China," according to a UN daily press briefing on Thursday.

Any attempt to violate the one-China principle or play the "Taiwan card" for political manipulation are doomed to fail, Wang said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also slammed the US' false narrative on UNGA Resolution 2758. The past few weeks saw repeated ill-intentioned comments from some US officials challenging the authority of UNGA Resolution 2758. "Those comments distort the facts and history, tread on international law and the basic norms of international relations, and breach the US' own commitment," Wang said at a press briefing on May 15.

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China tests 'seize power' capability on second day of surprise drill around Taiwan

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 7:32 AM

China has started the second day of military drills around Chinese Taipei, conducting "seize power" and control key areas exercises.

The two-day war games which began on Thursday came after a provocative inauguration speech on Monday by Chinese Taipei's new pro-independence President William Lai Ching-te.

Lai said on Monday that he will "stand on the front line" to defend Taipei against Beijing. China strongly criticized the speech.

Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory and does not rule out using force to return the territory under its control. It has described the new Taiwanese president as a "separatist" and "troublemaker".

On Friday, the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army said its forces continued with their drills, dubbed "Joint Sword - 2024A".

The exercises are to "test the ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks and occupy key areas", it said.

Video footage showed soldiers streaming out of a building to battle stations while jets took off to a rousing martial tune.

At sea, Chinese sailors called out to their Taiwanese counterparts, warning them against using force, according to China's state broadcaster CCTV.

The Chinese theater command also showed an animated video on its WeChat social media account of missiles being launched at Taiwan from the ground, air and sea, which then slam into the cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung and Hualien in balls of flame.

"Sacred weapons to kill independence," read words in red, written in the traditional Chinese characters Taiwan uses, at the end of animation.

Chinese Taipei mobilized its armed forces to monitor and shadow Chinese activity as the drills got under way.

The island's defense ministry released pictures of F-16s, armed with live missiles, patrolling the skies.

The United Nations has called on both Beijing and Taipei to avoid words and moves that would escalate tensions between the two sides.

Under the "One China" policy recognized by almost all world countries, including the US, Beijing has sovereignty over Taipei.

However, despite Beijing's strong opposition, the US gives the island financial and military aid in an effort to decrease Beijing's regional clout.

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US, allies urge Taiwan participation in World Health Assembly

By VOA News May 24, 2024

The United States and several allies issued a joint statement Friday voicing support for Taiwan to take part in the World Health Organization's World Health Assembly, which formally opens Monday in Geneva.

The World Health Assembly, or WHA, is an annual gathering in which member nations and states meet with health experts from around the world to discuss priorities for advancing global health and global health security.

Taiwan is excluded from most international organizations because of objections by China, which considers the democratically governed island its territory.

Delegates from Taiwan attended the World Health Assembly as nonvoting observers from 2009 to 2016, during a period of relatively warm ties between Beijing and Taipei.

The Beijing government has been blocking Taiwan's representation at WHO meetings since the self-ruled democracy elected Tsai Ing-wen, a China skeptic, as Taiwan's president in 2016 and won the reelection in 2020.

Tsai rejects the Beijing government's condition that both sides belong under one flag. The two sides have been separately ruled since the 1940s.

The joint statement by the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany and Japan, and signatories said Taiwan's participation in the assembly best exemplifies the WHO's "health for all" approach to international health cooperation.

The statement said the COVID-19 pandemic plainly illustrated "viruses do not respect borders and it takes global cooperation to keep the whole world safe."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month issued a separate statement strongly encouraging "the WHO to reinstate an invitation to Taiwan to participate as an observer at this year's WHA so the world may once again benefit from Taiwan's expertise and experience."

Blinken's and other calls for Taiwan's WHA participation prompted China's Foreign Ministry last week to issue a statement reiterating its position.

At a Beijing briefing, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters, "Since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power in 2016, it has refused to recognize the 1992 consensus and stubbornly stuck to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist position," he said. "Which means that the political foundation for the Taiwan region's participation in the WHA no longer exists."

The 1992 consensus holds that Taiwan and mainland China are parts of "one China," with different interpretations of what "China" means.

Beijing interprets it as the People's Republic of China. Taipei interprets it as the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name.

At a news conference Friday in Taipei, Taiwan Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Ling said a delegation would travel to Geneva for meetings on the sidelines of the WHA with friendly countries.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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U.S. senators propose bill to speed up Europe weapons transfer to Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

05/25/2024 12:10 PM

Washington, May 24 (CNA) Two U.S. senators on Friday introduced a bill to facilitate Europe's transfer of U.S.-made weapons to Taiwan to encourage stronger cooperation between European countries and Taipei.

Working across party lines, Republican Senator Pete Ricketts and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen proposed the "Building Options for the Lasting Security of Taiwan through European Resolve (BOLSTER) Act."

The Bolster Act aims to create a mechanism for European NATO countries to more easily transfer U.S.-origin defense equipment to support Taiwan's self-defense, Ricketts said in a statement.

The bill was initiated at a time when China launched a two-day massive military exercise in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas Thursday shortly after President Lai Ching-te (ea) of the Democratic Progressive Party was sworn in on Monday.

The Act requests the state secretary to set up an expedited decision-making process for third party transfers of defense devices and services from NATO countries to Taiwan in less than 90 days after the implementation of the legislation.

To prevent China from occupying any territory controlled by Taiwan, violating the territorial integrity of Taiwan and taking significant action against Taiwan, including a naval blockade, the Act requests the Office of Coordination at the Department of State and the Office of the Foreign Assets Control at the Department of the Treasury to conduct regular consultations with the International Special Envoy for the Implementation of European Union Sanctions and appropriate government officials of European countries.

According to the Act, no later than 180 days after the legislation is enacted, the state secretary should provide a briefing to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives regarding discussions with governments of European NATO countries about contributions to Taiwan's self-defense.

The contributions will include arms transfers and arms sales, in particular of weapons consistent with an asymmetric defense strategy, and increasing the military presence of these European NATO countries in the Indo-Pacific region, the Act stipulates.

Under the Act, the United States and European countries should discuss how to provide humanitarian aid to Taiwan in the event of a blockade, quarantine, or military invasion of Taiwan by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China.

The Act also requests the U.S. president to submit reports to Congress on assessing the economic impact resulting from China's military actions against Taiwan, including the impact on global trade and output, and naming 10 economic sectors which would be most disrupted by a sustained blockade of Taiwan by the PLA.

"President Xi (Jinping) has made clear his intentions to take Taiwan by force if necessary. This must be prevented at all costs," Ricketts said in the statement.

"The BOLSTER Act encourages stronger European support for Taiwan and increases coordination on sanctions to deter PRC hostilities toward Taiwan," Ricketts added.

"Everyone who believes in freedom and democracy, including our partners in Europe, must stand up to PRC aggression. That means strengthening ties to Taiwan and ensuring Xi understands an attack on Taiwan will have severe consequences," he said.

In addition, the Act also includes a "Sense of Congress" resolution which requests the U.S. and European countries to counter China's propaganda and false narratives about United Nations Resolution 2758.

Through the Sense of Congress, the two U.S. lawmakers urged European countries, in particular countries having experiences combating Russian aggression and malign activities, to provide Taiwan with lessons learned from their "total defense" programs to mobilize the military and civilians in a time of crisis.

Resolution 2758 was adopted by the 26th U.N. General Assembly in 1971 to solve the issue of China's representation in the U.N. system. It ultimately led to Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China withdrawing from the U.N. and the People's Republic of China (PRC) taking its place.

The resolution passed on Oct. 25, 1971, recognizes the PRC as the "only lawful representative of China."

However, Taiwan and U.S. governments have repeatedly argued, that the resolution does not mention Taiwan, does not state that Taiwan is part of the PRC, and does not explicitly authorize Beijing to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Frances Huang)

Enditem/cs

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Legislature wraps up Friday's second reading of reform bill

ROC Central News Agency

05/25/2024 12:25 AM

Taipei, May 24 (CNA) The Legislature finished another full day of the ongoing second reading of legislative reform bills late Friday, passing closely watched amendments to the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan's Power.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (eYac) announced the end of Friday's session at 11:28 p.m., after another long day reviewing reform bills proposed by the opposition Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party, amid the protests of lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and thousands of demonstrators outside the Legislature in Taipei throughout the day.

At the end of Friday, key parts of the proposed reform bill that passed a second reading included those that give the Legislature the power to investigate and hold hearings.

(By Kay Liu)

Enditem/AW

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War in Ukraine - The arms and military equipment Germany is sending to Ukraine

Germany - Federal Government

Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview.

Wednesday, 22 May 2024

This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. This military assistance is delivered in two different ways: on the one hand there are the Federal Government funds for security capacity building, which are used to finance deliveries of military equipment and other material from industry. On the other hand, there are deliveries from Federal Armed Forces stocks. In total, the Federal Republic of Germany has so far provided or committed for future years military assistance with a value of approximately 28 billion euro.

Funds for the security capacity building initiative in 2024 alone for military assistance to Ukraine amount to approximately 7.1 billion euro. From these also Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility of the European Union (EPF) are financed. From the EPF expenditures for military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states1. In addition to that there are authorisations to enter commitments in the following years currently amounting to approximately 6 billion euro.

So far already approximately 5 billion euro (2023) and approximately 1.6 billion euro (2022) were spent on military assistance to Ukraine. Additional approximately 2.9 billion euro have been committed in the first two years of the war for deliveries, which will arrive only in the years 2025 to 2028.

Since the beginning of the Russian armed attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 Germany has delivered material from Federal Armed Forces stocks amounting to approximately 5.2 billion euro reflecting estimated replacement values. Also, more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received military training in Germany. Expenses for this training so far amount to approximately 282 million euro. Additional expenses, not calculated here, result from medial treatment of injured soldiers.

Delivered military support to Ukraine:

(Changes compared to the previous update in bold)

Armoured fighting vehicles

40 main battle tanks LEOPARD 1 A5* (joint project with Denmark) (before: 30)

158 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS (before: 138)

100 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with ammunition and spare parts (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

ammunition for LEOPARD 2 (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (command vehicle)* (before: 9)

5 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (repair and recovery vehicle)*

66 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)*

73 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)*

ammunition for main battle tank LEOPARD 1*

18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition and spare parts (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators)

50 MRAP vehicles DINGO

54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG and spare parts* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany)

Air defence

2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition*

146,000 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

IRIS-T SLM missiles*

9 air surveillance radar TRML-4D*

IRIS-T SLS missiles

52 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD with spare parts

2 air defence systems PATRIOT with spare parts

PATRIOT missiles

3 air defence systems IRIS-T SLM*

1 air defence systems IRIS-T SLS*

2 PATRIOT launchers

4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns

500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER

2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA

Artillery

90,000 rounds 155mm ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*) (before: 81,500)

ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II

20,872 rounds 155mm smoke/illuminating ammunition

2 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway)

155mm precision guided ammunition* (SMArt, VULCANO)

5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain)

14 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 with spare parts (German share in joint project with the Netherlands)

20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets*

counter battery radar system COBRA*

10 laser target designators and portable fire control modules for VULCANO

artillery ammunition*

Drones and anti-drone systems

232 reconnaissance drones VECTOR with spare parts* (before: 212)

249 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN* (before: 215)

70 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices*

84 anti-drone sensors and jammers*

180 RF 360 fieldkits - drone detection systems*

19 drone detection systems*

93 drone sensors*

18 reconnaissance drones Primoco ONE*

7 reconnaissance drones SONGBIRD*

1 LUNA NG reconnaissance system*

20 unmanned surface vessels*

10 anti-drone guns*

12 electronic anti-drone devices*

Military Engineering Capabilities

19 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER with spare parts* (before: 18)

9 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS* (before: 8)

17 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2 with spare parts * (before: 16)

38 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1 with spare parts* (before: 34)

57 mine ploughs* (before: 55)

20 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems*

material for explosive ordnance disposal (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

500 tool kits with blasting material*

19 heavy and medium bridge systems and 12 trailers

5 bridges for bridge-laying tank BEAVER

2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3

12 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann*

Protective and Special Equipment

2,000 LED lamps* (before: 1,600)

5 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters*

84 outboard motors

400 IR cameras*

3 Satcom surveillance systems*

263 border protection vehicles*

292 SatCom terminals*

IT equipment*

1 naval mine clearance system*

33,190 combat helmets

56 ground surveillance radars GO12*

50 mobile antenna mast systems*

63 laser range finders*

2,667 Crypto Phones*

90,600 safety glasses (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

1 PCB printer*

1 antenna hub station

1,288 binoculars

5 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE*

10 radio jammers*

40 laser target designators*

1 radio frequency system

3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps

500 night vision goggles*

165 field glasses*

1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material

10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)*

1 high frequency unit with equipment*

Logistics

46 tankers Zetros * (before: 30)

18 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh*

361 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

250 trucks Zetros*

90 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 90 semi-trailers*

25 trucks MAN TGS*

40 load-handling trucks 8x8

34 load-handling trucks 15t*

6 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 21 roll of containers*

14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS*

179 Pick-ups*

30 protected vehicles*

Combat Readiness and Survivability

1,525 assault rifles MK 556* (before: 985)

145 precision rifles HLR 338 with 60,000 rounds ammunition* (zuvor: 65)

231 rifles CR 308* (before: 120)

50.6 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*) (before: 48.8 million)

282,000 rounds ammunition 40mm*

13,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90*

120mm mortar ammunition*

6,132 camouflage nets (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

6,000 ponchos*

600,000 first aid kits*

5,000 detonators*

100 grenade launchers GMG*

2 emergency power generators

450 snow chains

205,000 single module group rations

medical material

10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (ambulance)

49 ambulances*

30,000 winter clothing sets

27,477 backpacks

3 spare part packages for VECTOR drones

1,202 Infusion kits

Spare parts WISENT

field hospital*

100 machine guns MG5*

8 dental sterilizers

103,000 tourniquets

500 pistols SFP9*

2 hangar tents*

8 lift trucks*

295 generators

168 mobile heating systems*

36,400 wool blankets

14,000 sleeping bags

Mi-24 spare parts*

spare parts for heavy machine gun M2

200 tents

116,000 winter jackets

80,000 winter trousers

240,000 winter hats

320,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready

67 fridges for medical material*

3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices

14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300* from industry stocks)

50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices

100 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks

100,000 hand grenades

5,300 explosive charges

100,000 m detonating cord and 100.000 detonators

350,000 detonators

100 auto-injector devices

15 palettes military clothing

1,200 hospital beds

18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights

protective clothing, surgical masks

1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)*

Diesel and gasoline*

10 tons AdBlue*

500 medical gauzes*

MiG-29 spare parts*

PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers during a training and instruction exercise.

Photo: Bundeswehr/Mario BAhr

Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution

(due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover)

Armoured fighting vehicles

40 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

95 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks* (joint project with Denmark and the Netherlands)

ammunition for main battle tanks for LEOPARD 2 and LEOPARD 1*

ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

Air defence

1 air defence system PATRIOT

PATRIOT missiles

2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition*

IRIS-T SLM/SLS missiles*

15 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD*

9 air defence systems IRIS-T SLM*

11 air defence systems IRIS-T SLS*

249,680 rounds of GEPARD ammunition*

Artillery

3 multiple rocket launchers HIMARS

36 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155*

18 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000

more than 120,000 projectiles 122mm*

more than 250,000 projectiles 155mm*

14 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway)

Drones and counter-UAV systems

243 reconnaissance drones VECTOR*

15 anti-drone sensors and jammers*

50 unmanned surface vessels*

Helicopter

6 Sea King Mk41 multi-role helicopters with spare parts

Military Engineering Capabilities

14 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2*

6 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS*

material for explosive ordnance disposal*

1 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems*

7 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER*

2 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann*

4 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1*

2 heavy and medium bridge systems*

Protective and Special Equipment

27,510 combat helmets

725 laser range finders*

11 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters*

10,000 safety glasses*

10 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE*

237 border protection vehicles*

11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

Logistics

24 tankers Zetros*

20 Zetros refrigerator trucks*

41 Mercedes trucks*

2 Toyota Land Cruiser*

5 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh*

1 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 7 roll of containers*

2 tractors and 4 trailers*

10 protected vehicles*

Combat Readiness and Survivability

3,475 assault rifles MK 556*

619 CR 308

7.7 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms*

8.000 anti-tank mines PARM*

355 precision rifles HLR 338 with 9.9m rounds ammunition*

15,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons*

2 dental sterilizers

146,000 rounds ammunition 40mm for grenade launchers*

continuing deliveries of medical material*

* Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place.

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May 24, 2024

Release

Biden Administration Announces New Security Assistance for Ukraine

Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a significant new security assistance package to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration's fifty-eighth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. It is the fifth security assistance package the President has authorized since signing the national security supplemental last month, including three Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) packages. This PDA package, which is part of our efforts to help Ukraine repel Russia's assault near Kharkiv, has an estimated value of $275 million. It will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent battlefield needs, such as additional precision strike rockets for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), artillery rounds, air-launched munitions, and anti-tank weapons.



The capabilities in this announcement include:

Ammunition for HIMARS;

155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;

60mm mortar rounds;

Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;

Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;

Precision aerial munitions;

Small arms and additional rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades;

Demolitions munitions;

Anti-armor mines;

Tactical vehicles to recover equipment;

Helmets, body armor, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment; and

Spare parts, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.



The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners to ensure Ukraine's brave defenders receive the critical capabilities needed to fight Russian aggression.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3787579/

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SEK 75 billion in military support to Ukraine

Government Offices of Sweden

24 May 2024

To further enhance Sweden's support to Ukraine and provide long-term stability, the Government and the Sweden Democrats have agreed on a three-year framework for military support to Ukraine totalling SEK 75 billion for 2024-2026, which equates to SEK 25 billion a year.

Ukraine's struggle against Russia's aggression is ongoing, and Sweden will support Ukraine for as long as necessary. To enhance Swedish support to Ukraine - and for long-term stability - the Government and the Sweden Democrats have agreed to introduce a framework for the military support to Ukraine for 2024-2026. Sweden will increase this support to a total of SEK 75 billion within the new framework for 2024-2026, which equates to SEK 25 billion a year.

With this proposal, the total military and civilian support from Sweden to Ukraine amounts to more than SEK 100 billion. The military support within the Ukraine framework can be provided through donations of defence materiel, financial contributions and economic support for the procurement of defence materiel.

Depending on the type of support used, e.g. deliveries of replacement purchases, the framework may burden public finances for several years, even beyond 2026.

Due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe is facing its most precarious security situation since the Second World War. This means that the defence build-up at home must take place in parallel with the support going to Ukraine. The cooperating parties therefore also agree that the support is being provided to Ukraine in a way that avoids impairing the build-up of Sweden's defence capability or other necessary reforms being set aside. To ensure the support to Ukraine does not take priority over the ongoing build-up of the Swedish defence or supplant other necessary important investments, the framework represents a deviation from the surplus target.



Background

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Sweden has contributed the equivalent of SEK 37 billion to various initiatives to support Ukraine. This includes 15 military support packages comprising SEK 30 billion, and Ukraine has now become Sweden's single largest development assistance recipient.

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Ukraine: Displaced civilians describe terrifying Russian attacks in north-eastern border areas

Press briefing notes

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

24 May 2024

From

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Liz Throssell

Location

Geneva

Testimonies gathered by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) highlight the terrifying impact on civilians of the recent escalation in hostilities in the north-east of the country, where Russian armed forces have seized control of several villages.

People who have fled from these areas along the Kharkiv region frontline described having to shelter for days in cold, dark basements, with no electricity amid intense aerial bombardment, strikes by drones and missiles, and artillery shelling.

There has been massive destruction of people's homes and other civilian infrastructure. Entire communities have been uprooted and destroyed, with more than 10,000 people displaced to date.

According to HRMMU, at least 35 civilians have been killed and 137 injured in the Kharkiv region since Russian armed forces launched their cross-border offensive on 10 May. Of those killed or injured in the northern part of the region, which has seen the heaviest fighting, more than half were over the age of 60. This reflects the disproportionate number of older people in border and frontline areas, who, in many cases, were either unable or unwilling to leave their homes even amid a fast-deteriorating security situation.

Since 10 May, our HRMMU teams have interviewed 90 displaced civilians and have visited several sites that were struck.

Some were unable to reach shelters or even get to a basement. People described seeing their neighbours killed or injured. Some said the situation was so bad they decided to risk walking for several kilometres to reach an evacuation point.

Local authorities and volunteers have taken major risks to help vulnerable people to get to safety. On 16 May, two medical workers, two ambulance drivers and a local official were injured while they were trying to get civilians out of the village of Buhaivka.

On the morning of 19 May, Russian armed forces struck a recreation centre in the village of Cherkaska Lozova near Kharkiv city. Less than 20 minutes later, the site was hit again when police and medical workers were already on the scene to assist the victims. HRMMU monitors visited the location and documented the deaths of at least six civilians, with dozens of people injured.

Many of those evacuated from Vovchansk and other areas have arrived in Kharkiv city, which also remains under attack. In Kharkiv, there were multiple missile strikes on Thursday, reportedly killing seven civilians and injuring 21 others.

We call again on the Russian Federation to strictly respect all the rules of international law relating to the conduct of hostilities, and to cease its attacks on Ukraine immediately.

In the third year of the Russian Federation's full-scale armed attack on Ukraine, with no end in sight, lives, homes, and futures continue to be destroyed. The long-term impact of this war in Ukraine will be felt for generations, with the task of rebuilding shattered communities, already a massive undertaking, growing larger with every further day of violence and destruction.

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Moscow ready to declare ceasefire in Ukraine on current frontlines: Report

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 May 2024 1:49 PM

President Vladimir Putin of Russia is reportedly ready to declare a ceasefire in Ukraine with a negotiation that recognizes the current battlefield lines.

Russian officials familiar with the matter told Reuters that Moscow "can fight for as long as it takes, but Putin is also ready for a ceasefire - to freeze the war."

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said freezing the conflict along current lines is a non-negotiable for the Russian leader.

The officials also said that president Putin had expressed frustration to a small group of advisers about what he views as Western-backed attempts to stymie negotiations and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to rule out talks.

Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire. He signed a decree in 2022 that formally declared any talks with the Russian leader "impossible."

At the beginning of the year, the Ukrainian president once again said that any pause in the war would "play into [Russia's] hands" and "might crush us afterwards."

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters that president Putin had repeatedly made clear Moscow was open to dialogue to achieve its goals, saying the country did not want "eternal war."

One of the sources, however, said that no agreement could happen while Zelensky was in power, unless Russia bypassed him and struck a deal with Washington.

The US and its Western allies have been providing huge military and financial support to Kiev since the start of Russia's "special military operation" in eastern Ukraine in early 2022.

Kiev is now preparing for talks hosted by Switzerland next month aimed at unifying international opinion on how to end the war.

The talks were convened at the initiative of Zelensky who has said president Putin should not attend.

Ukraine and Switzerland want Russian allies including China to attend, but Moscow has said the talks are not credible without it being there.



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Zelenskiy Hopes To See Central Asian Leaders At Swiss Peace Summit

By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service May 24, 2024

KHARKIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has challenged Central Asian leaders to put aside concerns of angering Russia, which considers the region part of its sphere of influence, and attend a summit in Switzerland next month aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine.

Speaking to Central Asian journalists during a visit on May 24 to Kharkiv, just a few kilometers away from raging front-line battles with Russian troops, Zelenskiy said fear of Moscow's wrath should not deter Central Asian leaders from attending the June 15-16 summit.

"I think they are mostly choosing the Russian side because of the fear of the Kremlin," Zelenskiy said, adding that he had invited all the Central Asian presidents to the summit in Switzerland and "wants to see them at the summit."

"We are now on the most difficult path of fight for our independence.... I advise you to start moving on that path now so that not to fight for it as painfully as Ukrainians are doing it now.... If you were in our position, how would you feel about the countries that did not join [the peace process]? " he added.

The aim of the summit is to create a broad front to oblige Russia to agree to a peace settlement under the terms of the UN Charter.

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.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, all Central Asian leaders, excluding officials from Turkmenistan, have expressed a neutral stance to the ongoing invasion, calling on both sides to resolve "the conflict" via peaceful means.

Zelenskiy also told the Central Asian reporters at the meeting in Kharkiv that not even countries that are rich in mineral resources and energy supplies need to avoid being dependent on other countries.

The Kharkiv region has been a point of intense fighting in recent weeks, with Russia saying it is trying to establish a "buffer zone" to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks.

A day before Zelenskiy arrived in Kharkiv, at least eight people were killed in a wave of Russian strikes that he called "extremely brutal."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskiy- central-asia-peace-summit/32962382.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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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to media questions, Minsk, May 24, 2024

24 May 2024 13:42

972-24-05-2024

Question: How would you comment on Mike Johnson's statement about the use of US-supplied weapons to strike Russia?

Sergey Lavrov: They said for a long time that they were not supporting it. They also said they did not allow it and advised [Ukraine] against using it. But in fact, they are waging war against us. American weapons have already been used to strike various targets outside the conflict zone.

Washington is trying to make reassuring statements for the local public or for NATO members, to pretend the decision has not yet been made. It is a trick. We are certain that American and other Western-supplied weapons are being used to strike targets on Russian territory, primarily civilian infrastructure and residential areas. They are responsible for what these weapons have done.

Question: What is your assessment of the current state of relations between Russia and Belarus within the Union State?

Sergey Lavrov: The Union State is the most advanced form of integration in the post-Soviet countries as well as in other regions.

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US Announces $275Mln Weapons Package for Ukraine, Including HIMARS Ammunition - Blinken

Sputnik News

20240524

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is providing a new weapons package for Ukraine worth $275 million to include additional high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) ammunition and 155mm artillery rounds, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Friday.

"The United States is announcing today a significant new drawdown of weapons and equipment for Ukraine," Blinken said in a statement.

"This $275 million package, which is part of our efforts to help Ukraine repel Russia's assault near Kharkov, contains urgently needed capabilities including: ammunition for HIMARS; 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds."

The new package also includes tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; precision aerial munitions; small arms and additional rounds of ammunition and grenades; demolitions munitions; anti-armor mines; tactical vehicles; body armor; chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protective equipment; and other equipment.

Blinken confirmed that US assistance from previous packages has already been delivered to the front lines in Ukraine.

A Sputnik

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Zelensky No Longer Legitimate President of Ukraine - Putin

Sputnik News

20240524

Ilya Tsukanov

Volodymyr Zelenesky's constitutionally-mandated term as Ukraine's president expired on May 21. The leader canceled elections planned for March or April last November, claiming it was "utterly irresponsible" to discuss such matters amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

President Zelensky's legitimacy has expired, and Russia will proceed from this fact, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

"Of course, we are aware that the legitimacy of the current head of state [of Ukraine] has ended," Putin said at a press conference in Minsk on Friday after talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Putin recommended anyone looking for answers regarding Zelensky's legal status to look to the Ukrainian Constitution - which does not authorize the artificial extension of his presidential term under the pretext of martial law.

Lukashenko echoed Putin's assessment, saying that "there is no legal integrity, and cannot be any legal integrity" on this question.

"All the same, I believe that neither the current president nor the future one can resolve the big issues facing the state of Ukraine and the people of Ukraine. These issues will not be resolved by presidents. You know who will decide them. A lot has already been decided overseas, and what hasn't, will be decided later," Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian president added that there were plenty of people in Ukraine, both in the military and among civilians, who would like to lead the country, and "in a new way, [either] toward war or against war."

A defiant Zelensky has rejected questions on his legitimacy from his critics in Ukraine, and from Kiev's Western 'partners'. "My five-year term is not over yet. It is continuing due to martial law," Zelensky told Reuters on Tuesday.

Ukrainian parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk warned Wednesday that Kiev would consider anyone who doubts Zelensky's legitimacy "enemies of Ukraine" and "political bottom-feeders."

Putin emphasized at Friday's press conference that Russia remains ready to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine, including based on the draft agreements inked during talks in Belarus and Turkiye in the spring of 2022, but accounting for the current realities on the ground.

If and when such negotiations resume, "we must be completely confident that we are dealing with legitimate authorities. This question must be answered in Ukraine itself. First of all, I believe, from the position of the parliament, the Constitutional Court, some other government bodies," Putin said.

As for the upcoming 'peace talks' in Switzerland scheduled for mid-June, which Russia has no plans to attend, Putin suggested that they constitute an effort by the Kiev regime's sponsors to confer legitimacy on Zelensky now that his legal term as president is expired.

The Biden administration has yet to comment on the issue of Zelensky's status publicly. However, the European Commission and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock assured on Tuesday that he is legitimate.

"It's impossible to organize elections in such a situation," European Commission spokesman Peter Stano told reporters. "We (in the EU) also have no doubts that the president of Ukraine is Volodymyr Zelensky."

Russia's involvement in the proxy war with NATO in Ukraine did not interfere with its ability to hold elections, with a presidential vote held this past March, and involving everyone eligible to vote, including soldiers at the front. Regional elections took place in September 2023.

Volodymyr Zelensky stepped into office as Ukraine's president in May 2019 on a platform which included normalizing relations with Russia and ending the conflict in the Donbass. The former showbiz star and comedian scrapped those plans in December 2019 in the face of street protests threatening to overthrow his administration over his readiness to agree to implement the Minsk Accords. He made no additional steps toward a peaceful resolution to the crisis after that, and instead attempted to move Ukraine in the direction of joining NATO - one of the key planks of the February 2014 Euromaidan coup d'etat which triggered the current crisis.

A Sputnik

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Ukraine Loses Up to 11,200 Soldiers in Donetsk in Battles With Russian Battlegroups - MoD

Sputnik News

20240524

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine lost about 11,205 soldiers in Battles with Russian battlegroups in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) over the past week, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Friday.

"From May 18-24, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 49 massive strikes with high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles [on Ukrainian military facilities], hitting enemy military airfield infrastructure, missile, ammunition and fuel storages, workshops for the production of unmanned boats and unmanned aerial vehicles," the MoD said in a statement.

Russia's Battlegroup Sever advanced into enemy defenses and repelled 23 Ukrainian attacks. Ukraine's losses for the week amounted to up to 1,840 servicemen, six tanks, eight armored combat vehicles, 40 vehicles, four Grad and Vampire combat vehicles, as well as 37 field artillery guns.

Battlegroup Zapad gained better ground and struck seven Ukrainian military brigades. Enemy losses amounted to up to 2,040 servicemen, two tanks, 18 armoured combat vehicles, 19 vehicles, two Grad combat vehicles, as well as 32 field artillery guns, including 14 Western-made ones.

Russian Battlegroup Yug liberated the villages of Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka and Andreyevka in the DPR. The enemy lost up to 3,285 servicemen, seven tanks, 13 armored combat vehicles, 46 vehicles, and 32 field artillery pieces in a week, 27 of them were Western-made.

Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr improved its frontline positions and hit nine Ukrainian military units. During the week, Ukraine lost up to 2,770 servicemen, a tank, 26 vehicles, 35 field artillery guns and 20 armored combat vehicles, including: four German Marder infantry vehicles, five Bradleys and three US-made MaxxPro armored personnel carriers.

Battlegroup Vostok improved its tactical positions and repelled nine counterattacks. Enemy casualties included up to 920 troops, 13 armored combat vehicles, 39 vehicles, and 18 field artillery pieces, 10 of which were Western-made.

Russian Battlegroup Dnepr hammered Ukrainian troops and equipment. The enemy lost up to 350 servicemen, three tanks, two armored combat vehicles, 35 vehicles, two Grad combat vehicles, as well as 24 field artillery guns, including seven US-made M777 howitzers and a UK-made towed FN-70 howitzer.

A Sputnik

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Putin Not Only Wants to Disrupt the Peace Summit, but He Is Also Afraid of What the Summit Can Bring - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

24 May 2024 - 21:00

Dear Ukrainians!

It has been a long day. This morning, I was in Kharkiv. I visited the site of a Russian missile strike on one of the largest Ukrainian publishing complexes. It's absolutely terrible - people were killed. My condolences to the families and friends. Many people were injured. Also, books were burnt by the strike, and equipment was destroyed. The destruction of this printing facility alone resulted in the loss of about a third of the annual book production in the country. Russian terror constantly proves that its goal is the complete destruction of Ukraine and all life here on our land, of everything that lets people be human. We will do everything to defend our state and to hold the Russian evil accountable for what it has done. Today, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the authorities of the Kharkiv region have received all the necessary instructions to help restore the work of the printing facility in Kharkiv. The industry also needs support at the state level. And please - if you have the opportunity - be sure to support our Ukrainian book publishers and Ukrainian authors. This is important. The terrorists will definitely get our response to this attack.

I held a security meeting in Kharkiv with reports from the military, heads of special services, regional and city authorities. Now our warriors have managed to take combat control of the border area, where the Russian occupiers have entered. And I am grateful to each unit that ensures the necessary results of destroying the occupier. Today we also discussed our next tasks, taking into account the information from the intelligence. Putin not only wants to disrupt the Peace Summit, and tries to do a lot for this purpose, but he is also afraid of what the Summit can bring. The world is capable of forcing Russia into peace and into compliance with international security norms. Russia has nothing to oppose the world majority: despite all of Putin's lies, he depends on his environment - in the broad sense of this word. He also depends on the international environment. No one in the world is interested in this war, except the aggressor, and everyone is actually aware of this. The Peace Summit is a format that will not allow Putin to lie anymore. And without his lies, he is absolutely nothing. And I thank everyone in the world who is helping us organize the Summit and who is showing their leadership to bring real peace closer.

Today I spoke with the President of CAte d'Ivoire and invited him to the Peace Summit, and I am grateful for his willingness to participate. I also met today with the Marshal of the Senate of Poland - I thanked her for the support, told her about the situation in Ukraine and, of course, we discussed our preparations for the Summit. I am grateful to everyone who supports Ukraine and a real honest peace!

I thank everyone who fights and works for our country and people!

Glory to Ukraine!

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The President Met with the Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland

President of Ukraine

24 May 2024 - 22:41

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland MaAgorzata Kidawa-BAoAska.

The Head of State thanked for the military and financial assistance provided since the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion and noted the importance of the resolutions of the Polish Senate in support of Ukraine.

"It is very important that your society has shown a warm attitude towards Ukraine and Ukrainians since the first days when we needed your help. We count on your support. We defend democracy and freedom also for Poland, our neighbor. I am confident that we will win, and I believe that this will be our common victory," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The Head of State and the Marshal of the Senate of Poland stressed the importance of further dynamic development of the dialogue between the parliaments of the two countries.

The President spoke about the situation in the Kharkiv region and the constant shelling with missiles, drones and aerial bombs by the aggressor state of the Russian Federation. They discussed cooperation with Poland to strengthen the air defense system in the territory of Ukraine.

Special attention was paid to the preparations for the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland and the bilateral security agreement within the framework of the G7 Vilnius Declaration.

The parties also exchanged views on the start of negotiations between Ukraine and the European Union, in particular on the importance of the forthcoming Polish Presidency for the implementation of Ukraine's priorities on its way to the EU.

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President Visited the Printing Facility Destroyed by Russian Strike in Kharkiv

President of Ukraine

24 May 2024 - 15:24

In Kharkiv, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the site of the destroyed Factor-Druk printing facility and met with its management.

The Head of State was informed that the previous morning, Russian invaders had launched nine missile attacks on the Kholodnohirsky and Osnovyansky districts of Kharkiv. As a result of the shelling, a binding shop caught fire on the territory of a printing facility.

At the time of the missile attack, there were more than 50 employees at the facility. 7 people were killed and 21 were injured.

According to preliminary estimates, dozens of thousands of books for children and adults, including school textbooks, were destroyed. This was a full-cycle production, where almost all Ukrainian publishing houses printed books.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to the families and friends of those who died as a result of this missile strike by the aggressor state of Russia. He also promised that the state would find money to restore production capacity.

Serhiy Polituchy, Founder and President of the GC Factor, noted that Kharkiv is the main producer of printing products in our country, but now there is a large capacity shortage. Publishers cannot print books, including educational literature, on time. This printing facility alone annually printed about a third of the total number of books in Ukraine. In particular, about 40% were school textbooks.

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Ihor Zhovkva: Ukraine Has Completed All Four Legislative Steps to Launch EU Accession Negotiations

President of Ukraine

24 May 2024 - 13:54

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva met with Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Simonas A atAnas.

Ihor Zhovkva thanked Lithuania for its strong support of Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, as well as for its comprehensive assistance.

He also noted the continued fruitful cooperation with Lithuania on the implementation of Ukraine's priorities on its path to the EU and NATO.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to the start of accession negotiations between Ukraine and the EU. Ihor Zhovkva noted that our country completed all 4 legislative steps that the European Commission had set for the actual start of negotiations. He emphasized that Ukraine is both substantively and structurally ready for the negotiation process.

"We expect the adoption of a negotiating framework after the European elections in June, as well as the convening of the first intergovernmental conference under the Belgian Presidency," said the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office.

The interlocutors also exchanged views on preparations for the inaugural Peace Summit on June 15-16 in Switzerland.

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Operational situation and preparations for the heating season in the Kharkiv region: President held a meeting in Kharkiv

President of Ukraine

24 May 2024 - 13:15

In Kharkiv, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the operational situation in the region and preparations for the autumn and winter period.

Commander of the Kharkiv OTGT Mykhailo Drapatyi reported on the situation in the area of responsibility of this grouping of troops, in particular in the Vovchansk direction. It remains difficult.

Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, informed about a plan developed together with the Cabinet of Ministers to decentralize the heating system in Kharkiv and measures to restore the damaged infrastructure.

UAH 4 billion will be allocated to prepare Kharkiv and the region for the autumn and winter period. Half of the amount will come from the reserve fund of the state budget and the rest from the city budget. These funds will be used to restore damaged equipment and install cogeneration units.

The President instructed Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, together with the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank, to explore the possibility for damaged power generating enterprises to obtain loans for reconstruction without collateral.

The meeting also addressed the situation with the second level of protection at Ukrenergo's substations.

Special attention was paid to providing housing for 20,000 internally displaced persons from the territories of the Kharkiv region that are subject to constant shelling by the aggressor state of the Russian Federation. These people are now temporarily accommodated in the dormitories of Kharkiv's higher education institutions. They are ready to give up their housing to the state in order to receive certificates through 'eRecovery' for purchasing new ones in Kharkiv or the region. Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the Prime Minister to explore the implementation of this possibility.

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Civilians in Ukraine describe continued Russian attacks in northeastern regions

24 May 2024 - Civilians in the northeast of Ukraine are experiencing escalated hostilities as Russian armed forces have taken control of several villages, according to testimonies received by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).

The spokesperson for the UN human rights office (OHCHR), Liz Throssell, said that people left the Kharkiv region frontline and have been forced to stay in "cold, dark basements, with no electricity" due to aerial bombardments, drone and missile strikes, and artillery shelling.

Displaced civilians

Ms. Throssell reported that many homes and civilian infrastructure have been damaged. Additionally, entire communities have been demolished, leaving more than 10,000 people displaced.

The HRMMU has said that about 35 civilians in the Kharkiv region have been killed and 137 injured since Russian armed forces launched cross-border attacks on 10 May; more than half of those killed and injured were over 60 years old and were unable or unwilling to leave their homes.

The Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has interviewed 90 displaced civilians since the 10 May attack and the team has visited many sites that were struck. Many of the interviewees recalled not being able to get shelter, and witnessing their neighbours being killed and injured.

Local authority aid

Ms. Throssell said that local authorities and volunteers are taking risks to help people get to safety. In one instance on 10 May, two medical workers, two ambulance drivers and a local official received injuries while assisting civilians in evacuating Buhaivka.

Separately, on 19 May, Russian armed forces attacked a recreation centre in the village of Cherkaska Lozova near Kharkiv city twice in 20 minutes. After visiting the site, HRMMU recorded six civilian deaths and dozens of injuries.

Under attack

To date, Kharkiv remains under attack. On Thursday, the city experienced multiple missile strikes that reportedly left seven dead and 21 injured.

Ms. Throssell said, "We call again on the Russian Federation to strictly respect all the rules of international law relating to the conduct of hostilities, and to cease its attacks on Ukraine immediately."

She continued, "In the third year of the Russian Federation's full-scale armed attack on Ukraine, with no end in sight, lives, homes, and futures continue to be destroyed. The long-term impact of this war in Ukraine will be felt for generations, with the task of rebuilding shattered communities, already a massive undertaking, growing larger with every further day of violence and destruction."



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US announces $275M in new military aid for Ukraine

By VOA News May 24, 2024

The United States will provide a new $275 million military aid package for Ukraine to help the beleaguered country repel Russia's assault on Kharkiv, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Friday.

The package includes ammunition for HIMARS, 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds, missiles, anti-armor systems and precision aerial munitions, the State Department said.

"Assistance from previous packages has already made it to the front lines, and we will move this new assistance as quickly as possible so the Ukrainian military can use it to defend their territory and protect the Ukrainian people," the statement said.

In his nightly video address Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he visited Kharkiv earlier in the day and met with military officials, heads of special services, and regional and city authorities.

Zelenskyy noted that Ukrainian forces took combat control of border areas in northern parts of Kharkiv where Russian troops had attacked this month.

His comments differed from those of Viktor Vodolatsky, a member of Russia's State Duma, or lower house of parliament. Vodolatsky was quoted by the Tass news agency as saying Russian forces controlled more than half the territory of the town of Vovchansk, 5 kilometers inside the Ukrainian border.

Vodolatsky was quoted as saying that once Vovchansk was secured, Russian forces would target three cities in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region a Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk.

Reuters was unable to independently verify battlefield accounts from either side.

Russia struck trains and tracks and damaged buildings in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region as part of a coordinated counteroffensive against eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, said there were no injuries reported from the Russian attacks on the railway, but local officials said Friday that they were evacuating children from the area of Kharkiv, which is has been barraged by Russian forces.

Ukrainian officials announced on Friday the mandatory evacuation over the next 60 days of 123 orphans and children living without their parents in the area.

Authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 people from the Kharkiv region since Russia mounted an offensive there on May 10, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russia's offensive aims to test Ukrainian defenses in the Kharkiv region and further south in the Donetsk region while also launching incursions in the northern Sumy and Chernihiv regions.

Russia's new advances are stretching Ukraine's depleted military thin.

Destroying the train network adds more strain on the already outmanned and outgunned Ukrainian army after more than two years of warfare in the area.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he wants to create a "buffer zone" in the Kharkiv region to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks.

Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks killed at least seven people Thursday and injured at least 28 others in the city of Kharkiv.

Zelenskyy said Thursday that the attack was "extremely cruel." He also expressed his exasperation at not getting enough air defense systems from Kyiv's Western allies to defend Ukraine against such attacks.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba echoed Zelenskyy, saying the assault highlighted Ukraine's 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 the social media platform X.

Syniehubov, the Kharkiv region governor, said on Telegram that Russia had 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 about 19 kilometers from the Russian border.

In western Russia's Belgorod region, officials reported damage Thursday from Ukrainian aerial attacks.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had destroyed 35 Ukrainian rockets and three aerial drones over Belgorod.

Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that Ukrainian attacks had 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 had been killed by a Ukrainian missile attack near the area's main administrative center, Simferopol.

Zelenskyy is set to attend the meeting of the leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in June to make a new appeal for more aid, according to Thursday media reports.

Oleksii Kovalenko of VOA's Ukrainian Service contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters and The Associated Press.

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State Department: Ukraine makes own decisions on non-US weapons

By Oleksii Kovalenko May 24, 2024

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.

The White House has said that it "does not encourage or enable" strikes on Russian territory with American weapons. At the same time, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that "ultimately Ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how it's going to conduct this war."

For more about how the U.S. government sees its role in arming Ukraine, and why officials insist that American weapons not be used to strike targets in Russia, VOA's Ukrainian Service spoke to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Miller talked about why the U.S. will continue to provide Kyiv with everything it needs to defend itself as well as how he sees the relationship between NATO and Ukraine developing in the months ahead.

The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: During his recent visit to Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken told Kyiv that U.S. aid will make a difference against Russia's offensive. Also, he declared a vision for Ukraine's victory. After 2A years of war, what is this strategy?

Matthew Miller, State Department spokesperson: We continue to believe that Ukraine can win this conflict, that Ukraine will win this conflict. We've seen the Ukrainian military repel Russian forces from the outskirts of Kyiv. We've seen them reclaim more than half the territory that Russia initially occupied. And we see them continuing to fight bravely. We also see Ukraine building back its economy so it can stand on its own two feet. And one of the focuses of Blinken's visit was about all the things Ukraine needs to do to succeed diplomatically, militarily, economically.

VOA: Secretary Blinken recently stated that Ukraine will be a NATO member. How many steps closer will Ukraine be to NATO after the Washington summit compared to the one in Vilnius?

Miller: I will say on behalf of the United States, we have been very clear that Ukraine's future is in NATO and other NATO member states have made clear that Ukraine's future is in NATO.

And what the secretary wanted to make clear to the Ukrainian people when we were in Kyiv is that we do see a bridge from here to there, and we think that bridge needs to be well lit. It needs to be clear what the path is for the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government needs to be, clear about what milestones need to be met.

But I would say it is also important to step back and make clear that even in advance of NATO's membership, we do continue to negotiate a defense agreement with Ukraine. There are some 30 countries that have either already concluded or are negotiating their long-term security agreements with Ukraine. Those are to provide Ukraine substantive long-term security commitments to ensure that not only does it have what it needs to defend itself today but has what it needs to defend itself in the future.

VOA: The Pentagon and the White House have been firm on the position regarding restrictions on how Ukraine can use American arms inside Russia. Secretary Blinken noted multiple times that the U.S. does not encourage Ukraine to use U.S. equipment to strike in Russia but that it's up to Ukraine to make decisions on how Kyiv is going to conduct the war. Could you explain the difference between the two positions?

Miller: So, there is no difference in policy between us and the Pentagon or between us and the White House. We all have the same policy, which is we don't encourage strikes outside of Ukraine's borders. We don't enable such strikes beyond Ukraine's borders. We understand that when it comes to using non-U.S. provided weapons, ultimately Ukraine will make its own decisions.

Ukraine is a sovereign country, and they will have to make their own determinations when it comes to using weapons that they have acquired elsewhere or that they have built or that they have produced themselves, such as some of the drones that they produce, that you've seen them use. Those are decisions for Ukraine to make.

We don't enable the use of those weapons to strike outside Russia. That has been our longstanding policy ... continues to be our policy.

VOA: And why exactly is there this policy amid Russia opening a new front in the Kharkiv region?

Miller: So, we continue to support Ukraine's ability to back itself, including even some of the money or some of the equipment in the recently passed supplemental [aid package] has already made it to the front lines to help Ukraine defend itself against that assault in Kharkiv. We have, from day one, been committed to Ukraine's defense.

I can just tell you that we have always been there for Ukraine. We will always be there for Ukraine. We will always provide them [with] what they need to defend themselves.

VOA: What is the Department of State's reaction to the recent statement from the U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps that China is developing "combat equipment" with Russia to use against Ukraine? Does the State Department see any evidence of that? And if it's confirmed, what could be the consequences of such a decision for Beijing?

Miller: We haven't seen the intelligence to back that up. We will, of course, get into a conversation with our U.K. counterparts about what it is they've seen. I will say, as for the United States, we have looked at this question very closely because there was a time where we were quite concerned that China was going to provide military support to Russia.

And we made it quite clear to the Chinese government that that would be unacceptable. We haven't seen them cross that line. Now, that said, we have been incredibly concerned about what we have seen China do, which is Chinese companies selling microelectronics, optical sensors, other equipment that is not direct military equipment, but that Russia has used to reinvigorate its defense industrial base and to fuel its war machine.

We've made [it] quite clear that we have concerns about that. And as the secretary said, when he went to China several weeks ago and raised this exact issue with President Xi [Jinping], if China doesn't take action to address this problem, the United States will.

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Imports from Moscow will cease 90 days after bill is enacted

Uranium prices held steady around increases gained during late 2023 rally

Canada major contributor to projected 11%+ growth in uranium production in 2024

Vancouver, British Columbia, May 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp. (CSE:MEGA) (FSE: WR20) (OTCQB: WALRF) (the "Company", "MegaWatt Metals" or MegaWatt) provides additional commentary on Americas May 14, 2024 ban on Russian imports of enriched uranium, the primary fuel used in nuclear power plants. The bipartisan bill will ban uranium imports from Moscow beginning 90 days after its enactment. Despite the pending need for America to shift its uranium supply, uranium prices continued to hold the increases gained during the late 2023 rally, possibly due to the forecast that global uranium production will grow by over 11% in 2024, with most of that increase coming from Americas largest uranium suppliers: Kazakhstan and Canada.[1]



Please click to view image



Data Source BusinessInsider.com May 21, 2024

Americas dependence on imported Russian uranium dates back to a 1993 nuclear disarmament program soon after the end of the Cold War. Currently, Russian enriched uranium supplies roughly 20% of Americas nuclear fuel. US companies pay roughly $1 billion per year to Rosatom, Russias state nuclear power conglomerate. The US National Security Council (NSC), however, stated that Americas reliance on Russia for low-enriched uranium to support US nuclear reactors is not in the nations security or economic interests.

To help offset imports from Russia, the bill also frees up $2.7 billion that was passed in previous legislation to build out Americas domestic uranium processing industry. Establishing domestic supply chain solutions for uranium is especially important due to US President Joe Biden having set the goal of America achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035. Reaching that ambitious goal would require significant electricity generation from nuclear reactors, which currently generate more than 50% of Americas emissions-free electricity.[2] Toward that end, the US recently announced plans to triple their nuclear power capacity by 2050.[3]

MegaWatts CEO, Casey Forward, commented, We are understandably in support of Americas ban on Russian uranium imports, both as a uranium exploration company and as citizens of a Western nation that values energy independence and geopolitical sovereignty. Fortunately, at the same time that Russian imports are being taken out of the equation, global uranium production is expected to grow by over 11% this year. While were excited that Canada is among the 2 countries where most of that increased uranium production will come from, were not surprised. Most of Canadas uranium resources are in high-grade deposits with some being 100X the world average, and over 85% of Canada's uranium production is exported.[4] The ban on Russian imports is yet another long-term driver supporting the uranium sector that we expect to benefit from while advancing MegaWatts focus on becoming a domestic, clean-energy minerals supplier.

For Additional Information

Investors can learn more about the Company, our team and latest news at https://megawattmetals.com .

Facebook , X (Twitter) , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube

About MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp.

MegaWatt is a British Columbia based company involved in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties.

MegaWatt has acquired a 100% interest in a company that holds a 100% interest (subject to a 1.5% NSR) in the Benedict Mountains Uranium Property, consisting of 2 mineral licenses covering an area of approximately 350 hectares in the Central Mineral Belt on the east coast of Labrador, Canada, approximately 200 km NE of Goose Bay (see press release dated April 1, 2024).

MegaWatt holds a 100% undivided interest (subject to a 1.5% NSR) on all base, rare earth elements and precious metals, in the Cobalt Hill Property, consisting of 8 mineral claims covering an area of approximately 1,727.43 hectares located in the Trail Creek Mining Division in the Province of British Columbia, Canada.

Additionally, the Company has acquired a 100% interest in a company that indirectly holds a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in the Tyr Silver Project (see press release dated October 15, 2020).

MegaWatt holds a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in and to the Route 381 Lithium Property, comprised of 40 mineral claims located in James Bay Territory, north of Matagami in the Province of Quebec, covering 2,126 hectares (see press release dated February 3, 2021), and a 100% interest in 229 additional mineral exploration claims prospective for lithium, also in the James Bay area of Quebec covering an area of 12,116 hectares or 121 square kms.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp.

Casey Forward, CEO

1055 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500

Vancouver, BC, Canada

V7X 1M5

For Further Information Please Contact:

Kelvin Lee, Chief Financial Officer

kelvin@megawattmetals.com , (236) 521-6500

Sources:

1.https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9066905/global-uranium-mining-output-expected-to-rise-117-in-2024-due-to-kazakh-and-canadian-growth

2.https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/13/russian-uranium-imports-ban/

3.https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/uranium

4.https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/canada-uranium.aspx

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the Companys business plans, the exploration plans of the Company and the timing thereof, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause 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. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
SINGAPORE, May 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, Academic Labs has announced the launch of its second airdrop event, HomeComing, starting on May 23 at their official website acad.live . This event promises substantial token rewards and high-quality learning resources, all free for community members. Academic Labs aims to enhance users' understanding of the industry and maximize their profits during the bullish market.





Academic Labs prudently postponed the token generation event (TGE) for their $AAX token in April due to market conditions. With the crypto market reviving and Bitcoin returning to the $70,000 mark, the Web3 community is excitedly buzzing. Amidst this resurgence, Academic Labs, a project integrating AI into online education, is capturing significant attention. With the market recovering, the $AAX token is expected to launch in the next 2-3 months, rewarding early supporters. The community highly anticipates this announcement.

During a recent AMA co-hosted with Metaera, the Academic Labs team revealed exciting details about the second airdrop and elaborated on their ambitious vision, sparking lively discussions among participants.

The Vision Behind Academic Labs

In the AMA, the Academic Labs team detailed their vision for the project. Academic Labs is a platform blending Web3 and AI technologies to revolutionize adult education through a DAO system, ensuring transparent pricing and sharing of educational resources. Learners can access high-quality content at reasonable prices, and professionals such as traders, marketers, and analysts can gain recognition and funding to profit from publishing educational resources. The platform also features gamified elements to create immersive learning experiences.

CMO Ryan emphasised the goal of reshaping online education with cutting-edge technology to address current pain points and provide users with an efficient learning experience. He highlighted the benefits of gamified learning, especially for adult education. COO Kennick introduced the "learn-to-earn" GameFi model, combining NFTs and tokenomics to build a learner economy, incentivizing users to improve while earning rewards.

The team explained the dual empowerment model of AI and blockchain. Blockchain ensures data integrity, while AI optimizes the system based on user characteristics. PublicAI CEO Steven stated that their expertise in AI data services would help Academic Labs create a high-quality Web3 education ecosystem.

Bright Prospects for Academic Labs

AMA guests praised Academic Labs' potential. Artist Zhou noted that combining AI with Web3 is a prevailing trend, and Academic Labs' solid user base and technical prowess position it for great success. WIS of Founder Mini_MiSue analyzed the target demographic, highlighting the alignment between Web3 participants, who are eager learners, and the platform's audience.

The Academic Labs team has thought deeply about integrating Web3 with AI, understanding user psychology, and Web3's core values. The dual empowerment of AI and Web3 fits well with current entrepreneurial narratives in the Web3 space. The airdrop is just the beginning; with the introduction of NFT governance and AI systems, Academic Labs is poised for rapid growth, offering long-term investment value for the $AAX token. With the bullish market's support, Academic Labs is set to become a leader in the Web3 education sector.

HomeComing Airdrop: Double Benefits for Participants

The HomeComing airdrop promises extensive rewards. Users can earn tokens by participating in learning activities, quizzes, or creating courses. The event has been adjusted for a better user experience.

The primary goal of the MVP phase is to test the platform's operational model, with continuous user interaction to refine the tokenomics before the official token launch. While frequent adjustments may create uncertainty, they reflect Academic Labs' user-centric approach, aiming to provide top-notch services through constant iteration.

Pre-Airdrop Activities and Multiple Benefits

Ahead of the HomeComing airdrop, Academic Labs has issued the first batch of $AAX NFTs on platforms like Galxe. Users completing learning tasks by May 23 can claim these NFTs, enhancing their token rewards during HomeComing. This initiative not only incentivizes participation but also broadens Academic Labs' reach.

The HomeComing airdrop will distribute a total of 5,000,000 $AAX tokens and 8,000 USDT. Participation is free, and users can access high-quality courses on blockchain, DeFi, and NFTs, taught by industry experts. This presents a valuable opportunity for those keen to learn about blockchain.

Notably, Academic Labs has partnered with renowned educational institutions, including Blockchain Sensei, which collaborated with Ray Dalio to share financial knowledge. These collaborations ensure the quality of the platform's courses, enhancing its industry influence. However, Academic Labs must continue to prove its capabilities in creating educational content and AI-assisted teaching to earn long-term user trust.

Transparent Communication in TGE Delay

In a recent AMA with Metaera and Chat3, the Academic Labs team addressed the postponement of the April TGE. They acknowledged that delaying the token launch was necessary to protect user interests in an unfavorable market environment despite some community concerns. This decision underscores their commitment to user welfare.

Academic Labs maintained transparency throughout this period, communicating progress through various channels, embodying the Web3 ethos of openness and user engagement. This approach redefines the relationship between project teams and users as a collaborative partnership.

During the delay, the team proactively sought new opportunities, engaging with additional exchanges to enhance token liquidity and making strides in AI technology development, ensuring robust support for the project's long-term growth.

Conclusion: Forging Ahead with Educational Empowerment

The AMA highlighted Academic Labs' dedication to addressing user needs and collaborating with industry partners to build a new Web3 education ecosystem. Their vision of leveraging advanced technologies to transform educational services resonates widely, promising better learning experiences and aiding the digital transformation of traditional education institutions.

Looking ahead, Academic Labs aims to be a crucial link between technological innovation and educational reform, leading the sector into a new era. Achieving this goal depends on continued product development, marketing, and community-building efforts. Strengthening these foundations will enable Academic Labs to secure a lasting position in the competitive Web3 landscape.

As users and industry observers, we eagerly anticipate Academic Labs' progress, maintaining a cautious but hopeful outlook. Regardless of the challenges ahead, staying true to their mission and persevering will ensure Academic Labs can significantly impact the Web3 education field, empowering countless learners worldwide.

For more information and to participate in the HomeComing airdrop, visit acad.live .

Social Links

X: https://x.com/Acad_Labs

Telegram: https://web.telegram.org/k/#@academic_labs

Medium: https://medium.com/@academic-labs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/academic-labs/

Media Contact

Brand: Academic Labs

Contact: Media team

Email: support@acad.live

Website: https://acad.live/

SOURCE: Academic Labs
Luxembourg  25 May 2024 - Subsea7 S.A. (Oslo Brs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced the award of a sizeable1 contract by Serica Energy, for the Belinda field development south-east of the Triton FPSO. The Belinda field is operated by Serica Energy and located approximately 190 kilometres east of Aberdeen in the UK Central North Sea, with a water depth of 95 metres.



The contract scope includes project management, engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of a 5-kilometre 8 production pipeline with a 3 piggy-backed gas lift line and an electro-hydraulic controls (EHC) umbilical. Subsea7s scope also includes associated subsea structures and tie-ins to the Triton Floating Production Storage & Offloading (FPSO) vessel operated by Dana Petroleum, via an existing production manifold near the Triton riser base and for controls at the Evelyn valve skid.

Project management and engineering work will commence immediately in Aberdeen. The offshore activities are scheduled for Q3 2025.

Steve Wisely, Senior Vice President of UK and Global Inspection, Repair and Maintenance, Subsea7, said: We are pleased to have this opportunity to supply Serica Energy with EPCI knowledge and demonstrate the extensive North Sea expertise we have amassed over 50 years. We look forward to supporting the safe, efficient and timely execution of this project.

Subsea7 defines a sizeable contract as being between $50 million and $150 million





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Subsea7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry, creating sustainable value by being the industrys partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs.

Subsea7 is listed on the Oslo Brs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62.

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Contact for investment community enquiries:

Katherine Tonks

Investor Relations Director

Tel +44 20 8210 5568

ir@subsea7.com

Contact for media enquiries:

Michelle Wainwright

Communications Manager

Tel: 01224 526570

michelle.wainwright@subsea7.com

Forward-Looking Statements: This document may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to our current expectations, beliefs, intentions, assumptions or strategies regarding the future and are subject to known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, future, goal, intend, likely may, plan, project, seek, should, strategy will, and similar expressions. The principal risks which could affect future operations of the Group are described in the Risk Management section of the Groups Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements. Factors that may cause actual and future results and trends to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to): (i) our ability to deliver fixed price projects in accordance with client expectations and within the parameters of our bids, and to avoid cost overruns; (ii) our ability to collect receivables, negotiate variation orders and collect the related revenue; (iii) our ability to recover costs on significant projects; (iv) capital expenditure by oil and gas companies, which is affected by fluctuations in the price of, and demand for, crude oil and natural gas; (v) unanticipated delays or cancellation of projects included in our backlog; (vi) competition and price fluctuations in the markets and businesses in which we operate; (vii) the loss of, or deterioration in our relationship with, any significant clients; (viii) the outcome of legal proceedings or governmental inquiries; (ix) uncertainties inherent in operating internationally, including economic, political and social instability, boycotts or embargoes, labour unrest, changes in foreign governmental regulations, corruption and currency fluctuations; (x) the effects of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster; (xi) liability to third parties for the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfil their obligations; (xii) changes in, or our failure to comply with, applicable laws and regulations (including regulatory measures addressing climate change); (xiii) operating hazards, including spills, environmental damage, personal or property damage and business interruptions caused by adverse weather; (xiv) equipment or mechanical failures, which could increase costs, impair revenue and result in penalties for failure to meet project completion requirements; (xv) the timely delivery of vessels on order and the timely completion of ship conversion programmes; (xvi) our ability to keep pace with technological changes and the impact of potential information technology, cyber security or data security breaches; (xvii) global availability at scale and commercially viability of suitable alternative vessel fuels; and (xviii) the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this document. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This stock exchange release was published by Katherine Tonks, Investor Relations, Subsea7, on 25 May 2024 at 14:00 CET.

Attachment
Article can be found at: https://thinkcarebelieve.blog/2024/05/25/pressure-mounts-on-the-us-to-release-julian-assange/



LONDON, May 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The UK High Court held this week that WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange's appeal will be reconsidered. The Court believes that the U.S. assurances that Assange would be given First Amendment Rights and not discriminated against because of his nationality were not sufficient, so that he cannot lawfully go to the US to face the 18 allegations related to the Espionage Act of 1917 for WikiLeaks' publishing diplomatic cables and other documents. Calls to the United States to drop the charges and end the prosecution are coming in from all over the globe. ThinkCareBelieve believes it is becoming evident that all journalists need to stand for their rights to publish the truth. It's not just Assange's battle, it's the battle for the ability of journalists to do investigative journalism without fear of being arrested and targeted with lawfare.

Investigative Journalist Stefania Maurizi's Work with FOIA Requests

Journalist Stefania Maurizi has been painstakingly compiling documents through FOIA requests to reconstruct what happened in the years prior to Assange's arrest to show a picture and evidence of clear conspiracy to illegally strip Assange of his human rights and silence him in prison.

When asked about her investigative work into the Royal Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and their treatment of Julian Assange, Investigative Journalist Stefania Maurizi answered, "I have worked on this investigation for the past 9 years. I am using FOI litigations in the UK Tribunal to the U.S. Courts, Swedish Courts, Australian Courts, to get the full documentation, and these documents provide indisputable evidence of interference by the Crown Prosecution Service on the Swedish Case, and the result was to keep Julian trapped in London with this label of rapist, and he lost his freedom he has still to regain. Now we have a cross-party group of Members of Parliament requesting an inquiry, by the Select Justice Committee, which is the justice committee of the UK Parliament, opening an investigation to shed light on what really happened. It's not just the Swedish Case. The Crown Prosecution Service is the key authority in this extradition case." -Stefania Maurizi, Author of Secret Power: WikiLeaks and its Enemies. https://twitter.com/FreeAssangeNews/status/1792974351353942146

ThinkCareBelieves Article

The ThinkCareBelieve article at https://thinkcarebelieve.blog/2024/05/25/pressure-mounts-on-the-us-to-release-julian-assange/ covers world leaders who are calling for Assanges release from prosecution, as well as major international organizations who have joined together forming a coalition called the Committee to Protect Journalists. https://cpj.org/2024/05/cpj-partners-urge-the-us-doj-to-drop-charges-against-assange/ ThinkCareBelieves article also covers new honorary citizenships given to Julian Assange, the most recent being Imola, Italy and Paris, France https://x.com/EluesPCFParis/status/1792968893050335353 and the appearance of Assanges brother Gabriel Shipton at the Libertarian National Convention today. It covers upcoming events and expert opinions by two legendary legal minds on why the Assange Case should be ended immediately.

https://x.com/wikileaks/status/1792336941179904138

https://x.com/Judgenap/status/1759001331451195502

ThinkCareBelieve believes that when we take a look at the ideals and practices for which Julian Assange stands, we can see him as a man of integrity. He has a moral and social intelligence that shines through his work and his talks in educating the public on how to empower themselves with knowledge against a state of increasingly diminished rights. Julian Assange changed journalism forever by employing the practice of Scientific Journalism which printed the source documentation alongside the articles for verification of facts. He also pioneered the secure dropbox for whistleblowers to securely upload tips and information. Something so new and unconventional at the time, but is commonly used today.

Official AssangeDefense Press Releases can be found at: https://assangedefense.org/press-releases/




Imports from Moscow will cease 90 days after bill is enacted

Uranium prices held steady around increases gained during late 2023 rally

Canada major contributor to projected 11%+ growth in uranium production in 2024?

Vancouver, British Columbia, May 24, 2024 -- MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp. (CSE:MEGA) (FSE: WR20) (OTCQB: WALRF) (the "Company", "MegaWatt Metals" or "MegaWatt") provides additional commentary on America's May 14, 2024 ban on Russian imports of enriched uranium, the primary fuel used in nuclear power plants. The bipartisan bill will ban uranium imports from Moscow beginning 90 days after its enactment. Despite the pending need for America to shift its uranium supply, uranium prices continued to hold the increases gained during the late 2023 rally, possibly due to the forecast that global uranium production will grow by over 11% in 2024, with most of that increase coming from America's largest uranium suppliers: Kazakhstan and Canada.[1]



Please click to view image



?Data Source BusinessInsider.com May 21, 2024

America's dependence on imported Russian uranium dates back to a 1993 nuclear disarmament program soon after the end of the Cold War. Currently, Russian enriched uranium supplies roughly 20% of America's nuclear fuel. US companies pay roughly $1 billion per year to Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear power conglomerate. The US National Security Council (NSC), however, stated that America's reliance on Russia for low-enriched uranium to support US nuclear reactors is not in the nation's security or economic interests.

To help offset imports from Russia, the bill also frees up $2.7 billion that was passed in previous legislation to build out America's domestic uranium processing industry. Establishing domestic supply chain solutions for uranium is especially important due to US President Joe Biden having set the goal of America achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035. Reaching that ambitious goal would require significant electricity generation from nuclear reactors, which currently generate more than 50% of America's emissions-free electricity.[2] Toward that end, the US recently announced plans to triple their nuclear power capacity by 2050.[3]

MegaWatt's CEO, Casey Forward, commented, "We are understandably in support of America's ban on Russian uranium imports, both as a uranium exploration company and as citizens of a Western nation that values energy independence and geopolitical sovereignty. Fortunately, at the same time that Russian imports are being taken out of the equation, global uranium production is expected to grow by over 11% this year. While we're excited that Canada is among the 2 countries where most of that increased uranium production will come from, we're not surprised. Most of Canada's uranium resources are in high-grade deposits with some being 100X the world average, and over 85% of Canada's uranium production is exported.[4] The ban on Russian imports is yet another long-term driver supporting the uranium sector that we expect to benefit from while advancing MegaWatt's focus on becoming a domestic, clean-energy minerals supplier."

For Additional Information

Investors can learn more about the Company, our team and latest news at https://megawattmetals.com.

Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube

About MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp.

MegaWatt is a British Columbia based company involved in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties.

MegaWatt has acquired a 100% interest in a company that holds a 100% interest (subject to a 1.5% NSR) in the Benedict Mountains Uranium Property, consisting of 2 mineral licenses covering an area of approximately 350 hectares in the Central Mineral Belt on the east coast of Labrador, Canada, approximately 200 km NE of Goose Bay (see press release dated April 1, 2024).

MegaWatt holds a 100% undivided interest (subject to a 1.5% NSR) on all base, rare earth elements and precious metals, in the Cobalt Hill Property, consisting of 8 mineral claims covering an area of approximately 1,727.43 hectares located in the Trail Creek Mining Division in the Province of British Columbia, Canada.

Additionally, the Company has acquired a 100% interest in a company that indirectly holds a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in the Tyr Silver Project (see press release dated October 15, 2020).

MegaWatt holds a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in and to the Route 381 Lithium Property, comprised of 40 mineral claims located in James Bay Territory, north of Matagami in the Province of Quebec, covering 2,126 hectares (see press release dated February 3, 2021), and a 100% interest in 229 additional mineral exploration claims prospective for lithium, also in the James Bay area of Quebec covering an area of 12,116 hectares or 121 square kms.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp.

Casey Forward, CEO

1055 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500

Vancouver, BC, Canada

V7X 1M5

For Further Information Please Contact:

Kelvin Lee, Chief Financial Officer

kelvin@megawattmetals.com, (236) 521-6500

Sources:

1.https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9066905/global-uranium-mining-output-expected-to-rise-117-in-2024-due-to-kazakh-and-canadian-growth

2.https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/13/russian-uranium-imports-ban/

3.https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/uranium

4.https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/canada-uranium.aspx

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the Company's business plans, the exploration plans of the Company and the timing thereof, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause 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. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC) ("Lithium Americas" or the "Company") announced the results from its annual general and special meeting held on May 24, 2024 (the "Meeting"). Each of the following eight nominees was elected as a Director of the Company:

Director Nominees Votes For Votes Withheld Kelvin Dushnisky 45,768,333 (95.40%) 2,204,376 (4.60%) Michael Brown 46,792,466 (97.54%) 1,180,243 (2.46%) Fabiana Chubbs 46,567,741 (97.07%) 1,404,969 (2.93%) Jonathan Evans 46,703,884 (97.36%) 1,268,823 (2.64%) Dr. Yuan Gao 46,872,455 (97.71%) 1,100,253 (2.29%) Zach Kirkman 46,867,660 (97.70%) 1,105,047 (2.30%) Jinhee Magie 46,629,899 (97.20%) 1,342,811 (2.80%) Philip Montgomery 46,940,856 (97.85%) 1,031,852 (2.15%)

Final voting results on all matters voted on at the Meeting will be filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov) and posted to the Investors section of the Company's website at www.lithiumamericas.com.

ABOUT LITHIUM AMERICAS

Lithium Americas is committed to responsibly developing the 100%-owned Thacker Pass project located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada, which hosts the largest known Measured and Indicated lithium resource in North America. The Company is focused on advancing Thacker Pass Phase 1 toward production; targeting nameplate capacity of 40,000 tonnes per annum of battery-quality lithium carbonate. Lithium Americas' shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LAC. To learn more, visit www.lithiumamericas.com or follow @LithiumAmericas on social media.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable United States securities legislation (collectively referred to as "forward-looking information" ("FLI")). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are FLI and can be identified by the use of statements that include, but are not limited to, words, such as "anticipate," "plan," "continues," "estimate," "expect," "may," "will," "projects," "predict," "proposes," "potential," "target," "implement," "scheduled," "forecast," "intend," "would," "could," "might," "should," "believe" and similar terminology, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. FLI in this document are intended to provide Lithium Americas' security holders and potential investors with information regarding the Company, including management's assessment of Lithium Americas' and its subsidiaries' future plans and financial outlook. All FLI reflects Lithium Americas' beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees of future performance. As actual results could vary significantly from the FLI, and you should not put undue reliance on FLI and should not use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. We do not update our FLI due to new information or future events, unless we are required to by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to the most recent Quarterly Report to Shareholders and Annual Report filed under Lithium Americas' profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240524868332/en/

Contact

INVESTOR

Virginia Morgan, VP, IR and ESG

+1-778-726-4070

ir@lithiumamericas.com
Vancouver, May 24, 2024 - Red Metal Resources Ltd. (CSE: RMES) (OTC PINK: RMESF) ("Red Metal" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated May 11, 2024, the consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares (each, a "Share") on the basis of one new Share (each, a "Post-Consolidated Share") for every three previously outstanding Shares (the "Consolidation") became effective at the opening of the market on May 23, 2024. The Company's symbol remains as "RMES". The new CUSIP number is 75679D202 and the ISIN number is CA75679D2023.

The Consolidation reduced the number of outstanding Shares from 54,866,625 Shares to 18,288,861 Post-Consolidated Shares. No fractional Post-Consolidated Shares were issued as a result of the Consolidation.

Computershare Investor Services Inc. will mail letters of transmittal to the shareholders of record on May 24, 2024 that will provide instructions on exchanging pre-Consolidation share certificates for Post-Consolidation Share certificates. Shareholders are encouraged to send their share certificates, together with their letter of transmittal, to Computershare in accordance with the instructions in the letter of transmittal.

Private Placement Offering

The Company also wishes to announce that it intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement consisting of the issuance of up to 5,400,000 Shares of the Company at a price of $0.05 per Share for gross proceeds of up to $270,000 (the "Offering"). The Offering will close in tranches, the first tranche of which is expected to close on or about May 31st.

The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Offering are expected to be used to fund working capital.

Debt Settlement

The Company also announces its intention to complete a debt settlement with various creditors (the "Debt Settlement") pursuant to which it shall seek to issue an aggregate of 12,600,000 Shares at a deemed price of $0.05 per Share, to settle an aggregate of $630,000 in outstanding indebtedness.

All amounts related to the Offering and the Debt Settlement are stated on a post-Consolidation basis. Closing of the first tranche of the Offering and Debt Settlement is expected to occur on May 31st, subject to a five day compliance period in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Shares to be issued in the Offering and the Debt Settlement will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance.

Finder's fees may be paid in connection with the Offering in accordance with applicable laws. Any participation by insiders in the Offering and Debt Settlement will constitute a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") but is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101.

None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering and Debt Settlement will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Red Metal Resources Ltd.

Red Metal Resources is a mineral exploration company focused on growth through acquiring, exploring and developing copper-cobalt-gold assets in Chile. The Company's projects are located in the prolific Candelaria iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) belt of Chile's coastal Cordillera. Red Metal is quoted on the CSE under the symbol RMES and on OTC Link alternative trading system on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol RMESF.

For more information, visit www.redmetalresources.com

Contact:

Red Metal Resources Ltd.

Gregg Jensen, CEO

1-866-907-5403

gregg.jensen@redmetalresources.com

www.redmetalresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements - All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, without limitation statements related to the Offering, Debt Settlement and expected use of proceeds. Red Metal provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the ability to raise adequate financing, receipt of required approvals, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in Red Metal's public filings under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Red Metal has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results 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. Red Metal disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISSEMINATION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210608
Oscar Piastri, Monaco GP 2024

 McLaren

Oracle Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen (6th, 1:10.567): "Although I did feel comfortable pushing it to the limit, it is a huge challenge to be consistent and we just didn't have the fastest car today. It has not been a good weekend for the Team in general. We have tried a lot of changes over the past few days and nothing has helped optimise the performance of the car. In general, it drives well on the straight but has been very difficult over the curves and bumps so has not been good to drive on this kind of track. The ride of the car is not good and it has been bouncing around a lot, which makes it really tricky. The issue isn't a new thing for us and we have been struggling with this for a while. We have tried everything to solve the issue but I still felt like I was often close to going into the wall. Although I did feel comfortable pushing it to the limit, it is a huge challenge to be consistent and we just didn't have the fastest car today. Looking to tomorrow, we will work hard to try to find the problem. In Monaco things can happen that you don't expect, so never say never, but we are not expecting miracles."

Sergio Perez (18th, 1:12.060): "I am just very disappointed because we couldn't get the maximum out of the car today and we had so much more potential than we show. Today was a complete disaster, we didn't get into the rhythm and we didn't have the pace. On my final lap when things were looking good, I came to turns six and seven, they were full of traffic, then there were some stickers or something laid down on the track and I couldn't get the lap that I needed. Two or three tenths would have changed it, but I didn't get it and then unfortunately the tyres were too warm and I couldn't get through Q1. We should have been in Q3 and given the margins were so small, a better lap would have changed things dramatically, we were P5 this morning, so we knew what we were capable of. It has been a very tricky, difficult weekend for us and not ideal overall. I am just very disappointed because we couldn't get the maximum out of the car today and we had so much more potential than we showed. Unfortunately, unless there is some rain tomorrow, we cannot hope for much, there is nearly zero chance to overtake around here."

Christian Horner, Sporting Director: "We have been struggling with certain characteristics here, but I still thought there was a chance for maybe sneaking a second or third out of it. Ferrari were quick all weekend, particularly Charles. The first sector was pretty strong today for us, it was mainly the tight hairpin around Lowes and then turn five and turn ten which were our weak areas. I felt we were letting ourselves back into it with Max but the car has not been at its optimal all weekend. We have been struggling with certain characteristics here, but I still thought there was a chance for maybe sneaking a second or third out of it but in that last run, we didn't get it and we ended up in sixth. Unfortunately for Checo it wasn't quite his day either, traffic created some issues for him, he was stuck and couldn't make it out of Q1. We will take the lessons out of today and look to tomorrow. It will be tricky as barring a safety car, the race is pretty much done but we will come back fighting tomorrow."

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

George Russell (5th, 1:10.543): "That was a strong result today. It's just two hundredths of a second to P3, so of course it's frustrating when the gaps are so close, but the main thing is that we are making progress. The team has worked flat out to bring new parts here sooner than expected, and that's massively appreciated because the car was feeling great. The car was dancing a lot in the first sector and my lap felt very strong - afterwards, you can always convince yourself there was bit more in there, but it's just such an amazing adrenaline rush to drive a lap on this circuit. Overall, I am happy because we could have been P3 today, but most importantly we are making progress and hopefully this can be a bit of a turning point given that our car has never been super strong here. The race has been pretty chaotic in the last couple of years and I'm not sure what the weather will be like tomorrow, I guess a bit of rain would be welcome to spice things up!"

Lewis Hamilton (7th, 1:10.621): "The car has felt great this weekend from the get-go and we were competitive through Friday and this morning in practice. I've been pushing the limits everywhere and the qualifying laps felt good. But each time I go into qualifying, I struggle to keep making progress with the car and it feels like I lose performance relative to the cars around me. There was a bit of a difference with our cars in the high-speed corners, as George is running the new wing this weekend, but it is great to see the team pushing so hard to bring upgrades to the last race and this one, too. We have been much closer to the front here, and the car is feeling much better than it has in Monaco in previous years; we just have to keep on pushing and getting closer to the front through the year."

Toto Wolff, Team Principal: "When you look the final positions on the time sheets, P5 and P7 probably looks like a bit more of the same, but in fact the pace was good, and we were just a few milliseconds away from P2 or P3 with George. Lewis has put together a very strong weekend, but it wasn't to be on that final run. The sport is so close right now, probably more than it has ever been, and it's a fight for tiny margins in every area. As always, it was a challenge to find the sweet spot of the tyres, but we hit all our targets for those final laps and probably that's the pace of the car right now. Ultimately, this has always been a tough track for us, and we've enjoyed a pretty competitive weekend so far. I also want to pay tribute to the work of the team back at the factory to produce our updates for this race. They did a mega job to get them all ready and working properly, and it's great to see everybody pushing flat out like we are. Hopefully now we can build from here."

Andrew Shovlin: "The team has put together a solid weekend so far and both drivers had good pace today. It's difficult to not be frustrated with 5th and 7th, especially when you look at how small some of the gaps are and how easily we might have found enough pace for both to be further up the grid today. It's always a tricky circuit and it wasn't straightforward getting the new tyres to the right temperature for the first lap. We can at least reassure ourselves that the work we are doing to improve our speed seems to be effective. George was running a new front wing here and that looks like a step in the right direction. We'll have that on both cars for the next race in Montreal. The race will be interesting tomorrow: the tyres were quite fragile on Friday but hopefully we've improved the car to look after them. It's difficult with our starting positions but the race here is rarely dull, and incidents often throw up a few surprises. We'll do our best to finish higher than we start!"

Scuderia Ferrari

Charles Leclerc (1st, 1:10.270): "I'm very happy. We were fast right from the beginning of the weekend and I really think the whole team deserves this pole position. We know how important is track position here and having the possibility to start in front of everyone gives us the best chances. We know from the past that we have to win the race tomorrow on track but so far we have done an amazing job. Of course, I want to thank all the people here as I felt their support right from Wednesday. Now we have to complete the job, and we will do our best to bring home this victory. I'm very happy. We were fast right from the beginning of the weekend and I really think the whole team deserves this pole position. We know how important is track position here and having the possibility to start in front of everyone gives us the best chances. We know from the past that we have to win the race tomorrow on track but so far we have done an amazing job. Of course, I want to thank all the people here as I felt their support right from Wednesday. Now we have to complete the job, and we will do our best to bring home this victory."

Carlos Sainz (3rd, 1:10.518): "I feel that I've progressed well today after a difficult start to the weekend yesterday. Of course I'm not satisfied as I would have preferred to be on the front row. However, we have a good fighting chance for tomorrow and we still have a long race ahead of us. Congrats to Charles for the pole position at home! Let's race."

Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal: "We know how important is pole position at Monaco, but we also know there are no points on Saturday and the target for tomorrow is to confirm the position with Charles and possibly gain one with Carlos.Charles has done an amazing job from the beginning of the weekend supported by the whole team and was able to progress steadily as the track was evolving. Carlos was also able to constantly improve getting more and more confidence with the car and the track and at the end was fighting for a place on the front row.Looking forward to tomorrow I expect a close fight between McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and us. It will be interesting."

McLaren Formula 1 Team

Oscar Piastri (2nd, 1:10.424): "I'm really pleased with that. It's great to be starting on the front row, and next to Leclerc who has been incredibly quick all weekend. I feel like we've been building momentum, and what better colours to do it in than these. Our aim for tomorrow is to get a good start, and take the opportunities that will come to us. While overtaking will be tricky, we'll give it everything. We've got a good starting spot, so let's see what we can do."

Lando Norris (4th, 1:10.542): "A good Qualifying result for us. It was just so close. Of course, we would have loved to have been one or two positions higher, especially here where overtaking is so difficult, but, I'm happy with it and we're in a good place. A good job by the team for Oscar to be in P2. We've got a good team result and we'll try to maximise it."

Andrea Stella, Team Principal: "As usual, a very tense Qualifying session here in Monaco. There were many teams today with a realistic shot of getting into Q3, and we needed to be incredibly careful with our approach, always being on track with the right tyres, because you simply could not tell when the time was to do the lap that would see you progress the most. In Q1, there was a moment of concern when Lando had a large portion of an advertising banner stuck under his car. It required a rapid response from the entire team to get rid of this and get him back out for the crucial last couple of minutes, which the team did very well. Both drivers performed well under pressure today, culminating in strong starting positions for tomorrow, upon which we will try to capitalise the best we can."

Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team

Lance Stroll (14th, 1:11.563): "I think more was possible today. I put in some strong lap times to progress through to Q1, but then hit some traffic during my final flying lap in Q2. That cost us a couple of tenths. It's especially tough to pass here, so I expect we'll have a difficult day tomorrow, but we'll still be looking to fight for points."

Fernando Alonso (16th, 1:12.019): "It was a case of wrong place and wrong moment today for me. This is Monaco and you need to find some luck here too! I lost quite a bit of lap time with the traffic in Q1 and there is nobody to blame as we can't expect the traffic to vanish. Heading into Qualifying, we were thinking Q3 looked possible. It will be a tough day tomorrow, but we will take any opportunities that come our way."

Mike Krack, Chief Operating Officer: "It has been a really tough day in Monaco and disappointing for our fans, the drivers and all of the team. There are no excuses, we simply did not have a race car capable of reaching the top ten today. The margins are very small, and we were on the wrong side of them. We now face an uphill battle to score points from P14 and P16, but we will do what we can to capitalise on any opportunities that might materialise in the long race tomorrow. Going forward we need to bring more performance to the AMR24."

BWT Alpine F1 Team

Pierre Gasly (10th, 1:11.311): "I'm very pleased we reached Q3 today for the first time this year. I took a lot of risks and touched the wall one time too many but these are the chances you have to take in Qualifying in Monaco. In the end, I'm pleased with the outcome, even if more was possible. We had to work hard yesterday and the simulator team back at Enstone did a great job to try out a few test items and suggest some changes to improve the car. We know Monaco is a track full of opportunities and we have put ourselves in contention to score points in tomorrow's race. There's still a long race ahead of us. We will need to be prepared for many scenarios with the target to come away with points for the team."

Esteban Ocon (11th, 1:11.285): "It's been a very busy Qualifying day in Monaco. From my side, it's definitely mixed feelings. There are positives as we made some good improvements to the car to really be in contention for the top ten in Qualifying. We got through Q1 comfortably but I made a mistake on my Q2 lap by locking up into Turn 1, which most likely cost us a spot in Q3. We had the pace and I pushed to the limits to optimise everything we had in hand and sometimes mistakes do happen. We are starting close to the points and there are always opportunities to take in Monaco. We will give it our all from where we are starting with the ambition of scoring points for the team."

Bruno Famin, Team Principal: "As a team, it is our first appearance in Q3 this season and that sets us up to have a positive race tomorrow afternoon. While we are satisfied there was certainly more on the table and having both cars in Q3 was realistic given our pace throughout Qualifying. Our drivers pushed hard as we expect from them. We made some improvements from yesterday through to today. Credit must be given to the simulator work at Enstone and our Reserve Driver Jack Doohan who did a great job overnight to try a few things out and improve the car set-up. Tomorrow we will assess our options on strategy. We will do what it takes to ensure the best possible team result."

Williams Racing

Alexander Albon (9th, 1:10.948): "It was great out there today; I really enjoyed those laps. We've had the car in a good place all weekend, however we're still struggling a little with understeer in Sector 2, so we've made some changes throughout the day to try get on top of it. It was all about getting the tyres in the right window, so we chose clean air, focusing on the tyres and not worrying about the track evolution as much. Looking to tomorrow, graining might be a problem, so we'll have to manage this throughout the race. Hopefully, I can get some clean air and look after the tyres. On paper, this track is the least weight penalising of the year, so it's allowed us to play on a slightly more level playing field."

Logan Sargeant (17th, 1:12.020): "It was a good session for us. I've been driving well since FP1 and I was really happy with my laps in Qualifying  I felt like I got everything out of the package I had today. Obviously, we've been open that we have some cross-car differences this weekend and I can only expect quite a bit of the difference is coming from that. It is tough to overtake here but we need to focus on ourselves, try to have clean stints and see what we can do tomorrow. Monaco is one of the most special tracks to drive. To sit in an F1 car and pull out of the garage for Qualifying is like no other and to be able to put the car on the edge like that is everything we dream of so it's a pleasure to drive here."

Sven Smeets, Sporting Director: "Free Practice this morning was all about learning how to bring the Soft tyre into the right window for Qualifying runs. As always in Monaco, Q1 is very busy and you need to be a bit lucky with traffic and start your push laps with the tyres in the right window. We managed with Alex to proceed to Q2 but unfortunately just missed out with Logan, which was a real shame. Missing some of the updates probably cost him a place in Q2. Alex delivered a great lap in Q2 that brought us for the first time into Q3 this season and we are happy to start from P9 tomorrow. Now it will be key for Alex to have a good start, stay out of trouble in those first laps and try to consolidate his good starting position into points. For Logan the race will be tough as overtaking will be difficult, but we will be ready to take every opportunity to make progress."

Visa Cash App RB Formula One

Yuki Tsunoda (8th, 1:10.858): "Today was much harder than expected, but we picked up the pace quite a lot and managed to improve lap by lap in every session from Q1 to Q3. Q1 was a bit of a struggle considering the pace we had in free practice, but we managed to squeeze out every millisecond from the car. It was super intense, one mistake is a big compromise here. I felt a little bit of pressure, but at the same time enjoyed it, I managed to keep my mind calm and extract the performance of the car. It's going to be tricky tomorrow, it's hard to overtake here so the start is very decisive and the main thing is to have a clean race. The pace is good, so we just have to extract all car's performance. Overall as a team, we did a fantastic job, consistently this week. Ending up in P8, it's a nice feeling and definitely special here."

Daniel Ricciardo (13th, 1:11.482): "It was a tough day today. Qualifying is very important here in Monaco and it hurts starting outside the top 10 for tomorrow's race. Yesterday we felt we were in a good place, I knew there was a little bit to come for us so I was definitely excited coming into today, but unfortunately, it feels like we took a little bit of a backstep. I'm not disappointed with the way I drove, it just simply wasn't quite enough to get the most out of it where I needed to. The car was slightly trickier in some places and I was struggling a little, but it wasn't a matter of us making any big mistakes. Personally, I just found it difficult to get the tyres going in the first lap and then, whenever I was able to lift the pace, we couldn't find as much time as the others. I've qualified a few times around this position here and certainly, it won't make our life easy. It's frustrating, but we'll work together with the team to understand a few things better and we'll try to get on top of it for the race."

Guillaume Dezoteux, Head of Vehicle Performance: "After a solid Friday and the usual overnight analysis and simulator work, our plan was to dedicate the third free practice to the optimisation of the soft tyres for the quali. In the qualifying session, we knew the competition would be very tight and that finding a good traffic window was critical, especially in the busy Q1 with 20 cars on track. Engineers and mechanics did a great job at being out at the right time and finding good positions around the circuit. We did competitive laps on the first set of tyres, but it was clear that the high track evolution would force everyone to run again. During the second qualifying session, it was again close and Yuki did a strong lap in his second set securing the access to Q3. Daniel struggled a little bit more with the balance of his car but still managed to beat Stroll and get very close to Hulkenberg, who is a focus of ours for the weekend. Q3 was definitely easier as for traffic management, with only 10 cars on track. Yuki has done a great job at securing the eighth position. It's another Q3 for us and once more we top the midfield runners. We are in a strong position for tomorrow. Now its's time for our strategy group to review the various race scenarios, run many simulations and we will discuss and define our final plan in the morning. The target is clear: bring home some more points."

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber

Valtteri Bottas (19th, 1:12.512): "Today has been a tricky day in the office. I slightly touched the wall this morning during the final practice session; nothing major, as I was still able to take part in Qualifying later in the day. Unfortunately, we just didn't have enough one-lap pace to make it past the Q2 threshold  that was pretty straightforward. Overall, it hasn't been an easy weekend for our team so far. Monaco is one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar  that's both its best feature and what makes it so demanding. There will be plenty to investigate overnight, to find that extra step that could allow us to slightly improve tomorrow. Things should be a bit better in the race, once everything stabilises, even though it's not going to be an easy one starting from the very back. Still, not all hope is lost; we know very well how anything can happen here, and we'll make sure to be at our best to catch any good opportunity."

Guanyu Zhou (20th, 1:13.028): "The whole weekend has been difficult so far, and today's qualifying session was no exception. We weren't able to get everything  from tyres to temperature  in the right window today, and I struggled a lot with a lack of grip. On such a track, you need confidence and grip to extract most out of your laps, and while I reckon that my efforts were quite clean, we're still a second off. In Monaco, Saturday matters most, however, the race is always a different story, and we'll use it to better understand what we're lacking to close the gap. As a team we'll look further into our setup to see how we can improve ahead of tomorrow."

Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Team Representative: "Today's not the time to analyse, but to react. Of course, tomorrow's starting grid is difficult to digest for everyone in the team: the drivers, our trackside team, and the team back in Hinwil. What we can do is to react and prove that we are able to turn a page and improve  even in difficult times. Of course, we won't avoid a thorough analysis of what happened today and why we have to start from the last row in Monaco. We have seen that we're lacking overall performance, but there is not one single element that generates performance in a team. We understand that we need to take a step in every single area  and we know that it's the most important thing to see from every member of our team to reach and to not give up. It's not a situation we can tackle without being motivated, determined, and willing to go through this job all together."

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team

Nico Hulkenberg (12th, 1:11.440): "I think the car is where it's been looking all weekend, just not quite good enough for the top 10. My last lap was pretty clean in Q2 so I'm happy about that. Unfortunately, we just weren't quick enough, but where we are in P12, we're going to need to roll the dice and take some risks to get a result. We'll have to see where everything unravels after the start."

Kevin Magnussen (15th, 1:11.725): "The pace was there in the car and I think we could've been fighting for Q3, and Q3 in Monaco means you score points, so I'm pretty gutted again. We fueled the car for another lap in case in the first lap we encountered traffic, and we could abort. I started the push lap, gained more than one tenth in the first corner but we aborted the lap. In the second lap, there was traffic the whole lap."

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal: "It was a bit of a tricky one. On Kevin's last attempt, he felt the tire was ready on the first push lap, but on that lap after Turn 1 we aborted to then use it as a prep lap. Then on his push lap, he locked it going into Turn 1 and didn't have any green sectors, and didn't improve. That wasn't great and we didn't maximize our potential. Nico's lap was pretty clean and he made a decent improvement from the first run, but in Turn 18 he lost time so all in all, I feel like we didn't maximize our potential. If we did everything perfectly, would we have made it to Q3? I'm not sure, I feel we didn't have quite enough speed. It's going to be difficult in Monaco, but we'll work something out to be able to take some opportunities."




Haiti - FLASH : Three missionaries, including an American couple killed by gangs





Two Americans and a Haitian director were killed in a gang attack in Lison 49, in Plaine, north of Port-au-Prince, an area under the control of armed gangs for several months, announced "Mission in Haiti" an evangelical American NGO.



The victims are David Lloyd III (23 years old) aka "Davy", his wife, Natalie (Baker) Lloyd, 21 years old (the daughter of Ben Baker a Republican Representative from the State of Missouri) and Jude Montis (20 years old) a Haitian director of the organization.



The Facebook account of "Mission in Haiti" summarizes the thread of events of this drama which took place on the night of May 23 to 24, 2024 :



"[...] This evening when Davy, Natalie and the kids were coming out of Youth at the church they were ambushed by a gang of 3 trucks full of guys. Davy was taken to the house tied up and beat. The gang then took our trucks and loaded everything up they wanted and left.



Another gang came after to see what was going on and if they could help, so they say. No one understood what they were doing, not sure what took place but one was shot and killed and now this gang went into full attack mode. Davy, Natalie and Jude was in my house at the end of the property using the star link internet to call me [...] the gangs has shot all the windows out of the house and continue to shoot. Their lives are in danger."



The NGO tried in vain to evacuate the missionaries and negotiate with the gang to stop the attack.



"I have been trying all my contacts to get a police armored car there to evacuate them out to safety but can't get anyone to do. I also am trying to negotiate with the gang so how much $ to stand down and let them leave and get to safety. PLEASE PRAY- Going to be a long night. The phones have all died I can't get a hold of anybody for the past several hours now to know what was going on"



"My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. Ive never felt this kind of pain. Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to Heaven together," the Republican lawmaker wrote on Facebook.



Reacting to the death of the 3 missionaries, Frantz Elbe Director General a.i. of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) in a note said "to take note of the villainous assassination of two American nationals and a Haitian citizen, on the night of May 23 to 24, 2024, in Lizon, Commune of Croix-des-Bouquets. 



"In this painful circumstance, the Directorate extends its sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims, and to the United States Embassy affected by these brutal disappearances.



He takes the opportunity to announce that a judicial investigation has already been opened by the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ), with a view to identifying and arresting all authors, co-authors and accomplices of these heinous acts [...]"



Learn more about "Mission in Haiti" :

The NGO was founded in 2000 by David and Alicia Lloyd, the parents of David Lloyd III. David Lloyd III and Natalie Baker married in August 2022 and moved to Haiti three months later. "Mission in Haiti" manages a school for 450 children, two churches and a home for orphans in the Bon Repos neighborhood (north of the capital).



SL/ TB/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : New delay, Kenyan forces will arrive in Haiti in 3 weeks...





At the end of his 3-day official trip, the President of Kenya, William Ruto, declared in an exclusive interview with the BBC that the men of the Mission in Haiti should be deployed to Haiti in 3 weeks to support the forces of Haitian police in their fight against armed gangs.



Ruto confirmed that a high-level planning team was already in Haiti and had met with police to make arrangements ahead of the deployment of Kenyan troops https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42376-haiti-flash-the-kenyan-commander-of-the-mission-at-the-head-of-a-high-level-delegation-is-in-port-au-prince.html "That will give us a frame of what things look like on the ground, the capabilities that are available, the infrastructure that has been set up [...]" he said that once everything is settled on the ground to start the mission, the Kenyan forces will be able to deploy



In addition to the first shortcomings noted in terms of American logistics: lack of armored vehicles to move the troops (a delay in deliveries), lack of radios and communication equipment, weapons and other things that the mission needs from the start. In addition, the mission must also have helicopters to evacuate potential wounded from the country, most hospitals being dysfunctional or closed in Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42390-haiti-flash-the-deployment-of-the-mission-delayed-due-to-american-logistical-problems.html finally, the buildings to house the Mission and its staff, according to information held by the President of Kenya, are still under construction by the United States and would be approximately 70% complete contrary to what had been claimed...



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - IDB : Additional donation of $20 million for educational reform





The Board of Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved this week a donation of 20 million US dollars for Haiti in support of the ongoing educational reform, part of the Ten-year Education and Training Plan.



This new financial support will be implemented through the Educational Governance Support Project (PAGE) and will expand the scope of interventions previously financed by the IDB, particularly during the first two phases of the Ten-Year Plan Support Project. education and training started in 2022 and 2024 respectively.



This donation will make it possible to continue and strengthen the modernization of the Education Information and Management System (EMIS) through the availability of comparative data on the academic achievements of Haitian students. To this end, the Permanent Evaluation Center of the Ministry of Education, established in June 2022, will coordinate Haiti's participation in a regional or international learning evaluation.



In addition, this funding will contribute to the establishment of the 2024-2054 Curricular Orientation Framework, which constitutes a significant update of the Bernard Reform. Thus, the PAGE project will help finance new school programs, including digital technology, teacher training and strengthening inspection programs.



The project will also support the development and acquisition of educational materials and books in Creole, particularly for children.



Let's remember that the Ministry has already benefited, in April 2024, in support of the education sector in Haiti, from joint funding of $44 million https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42196-haiti-education-44-million-to-offer-young-haitians-a-better-future.html from the IDB, the Education Above All Foundation and the Global Partnership for Education.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The Californian company Cerebras is following up: The giant Wafer Scale Engine processor comes in a new generation WSE-3 from TSMC's 5-nanometer production. The number of transistors - now a total of 4 instead of around 2.5 trillion in the WSE-2 - increases the computing power with similar electrical power consumption.

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With the WSE-3, Cerebras is equipping the next generation of its in-house AI systems called CS-3, which can be coupled with additional memory expansions to train even larger AI models. Cerebras promises that a CS-3 cluster can train AI models with up to 24 trillion parameters.

Record processor

Like its predecessors WSE (2019) and WSE-2(2021), the WSE-3 occupies the entire usable area of a 30-centimeter silicon wafer. Cerebras uses the 4 trillion transistors not only for 900,000 AI computing cores, which are networked together rapidly, but also for 44 GB of fast SRAM.

Cerebras computing module CS-3 with a WSE-3. (Image: Cerebras)

Up to 2048 CS-3 systems can be linked together via fast interfaces.

Furthermore, additional memory expansions (MemoryX) with 1.5 TByte, 12 TByte or 1.2 Petabyte RAM can be connected to each CS-3 via the SwarmX interface.

According to Cerebras, a "compact cluster" of four CS-3s can optimize (tune) an AI model with 70 billion parameters in a single day. However, a single CS-2 costs around 2.5 million US dollars; Cerebras does not give exact prices publicly.

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According to Cerebras, a data center with 2048 CS-3s should be able to train the generative AI language model Llama 70B in one day. Cerebras is currently building such data centers together with G42, a companyowned by Arab investor Mubadala.

Thinly populated matrices

Cerebras emphasizes a special feature of the WSEs: they are designed to automatically process sparse matrices faster. They should also benefit from "unstructured sparsity". Main competitor Nvidia also emphasizes that its AI accelerators such as the H100 "Hopper" achieve twice the computing power, for example when processing Int8 values, thanks to sparsity.

The models trained on Cerebras machines should be able to be used particularly efficiently on inferencing servers with AI computing accelerators from Qualcomm. The two companies are cooperating to this end.

You can also subscribe to c't on WhatsApp: Every weekday, we send you insights into current topics and our daily editorial work.

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Sukhari Ram, a native of Rohua Tola of Lakshmipurva panchayat of Valmikinagar, is upset. The turbulent Gandak river had devoured full-grown paddy on his 19-katha farm, nestled on the eastern bank of the river adjacent to Nepals border, in the last kharif cropping season.

The entire stretch of the land has been filled with a heavy sheet of silt, which will take months or even years to make it cultivable. Nobody from the government came to help. Nor did any political leader visit us to ease our sufferings. Do we vote to offer luxury to our leaders, while we are left to fend? asks Ram, as his fellow villagers nod their heads in affirmation.

Janak Manjhi, a native of Kanhi Tola, who was playing cards on a cemented platform beneath a majestically spread Peepal tree with them in Lakshipurva, agrees with a grudging nod Even the media only visit this remote village during elections similar to our political masters, he said.

The town area of Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha constituency, which is going to the polls in the sixth phase on May 25, is charged up with talks about political manoeuvrers of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to take on each other. For decades, we have grappled helplessly with the scourge of recurring floods. Dozens of villages remain cut off from the district headquarters for want concrete bridge on river Gandak. Villages are shrinking every year due to massive erosion by the river, said Moin Ansari of Thakraha block, with visible apathy towards the electoral system.

Voter sentiments reflect why the preference for the None Of The Above (NOTA) option during elections is rising in every subsequent election. In 2020 by-elections in Valmiki Nagar, in which Janata Dal (United) leader Sunil Kumar won the seat, more than 41,000 people opted for NOTA, which formed 3.87% of the total votes polled. In the 2019 general elections, the NOTA button was pressed by 34,338 people, even as then JD(U) candidate Baidyanath Prasad Mahto, father of the sitting MP (Sunil Kumar) had won the seat with 6.02 lakh votes, defeating his nearest rival of the Congress party, Shashwat Kedar, by a margin of over 3.54 lakh.

A close contest between JD(U) nominee Sunil Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Deepak Yadav is expected in Valmiki Nagar, said Surya Narayan Singh, a resident of Bagaha, adding that Deepak Yadav, who owns a sugar mill in Bagaha, switched his loyalty from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to join the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) last month. In 2019, Yadav had contested on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket and netted 62,963 votes.

Yadunath Pandey, a native of Mangalpur village, feels an anti-incumbency wave around owing to the negligence of the government at both the state and the Centre. The national highways that connect Bettiah with Uttar Pradesh via Bagaha are two-lane and heavily loaded with traffic. Farmers have to wait excruciatingly for months to get even truncated compensation for flood devastation and payment of sugarcane from the sugar mills. Absence of local employment opportunities, unreliable farming due to recurring floods has led youths to migrate to other states like Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra to earn bread and butter, adds Pandey with a sense of disdain.

Tarkeshwar Saw, a 44-year-old restaurant owner in Bagaha, however, is reluctant to see any wave against the BJP-led regime at the Centre. Nobody in the opposition is close to Narendra Modi in terms of personality and global recognition. I can bet 10,000, as I am sure Modi will secure the third term as PM. He will be replaced by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath in the next term, said Saw, talking about the improvement in the law and order scenario the area had witnessed in the last decade. Till 2000, during the RJD regime, marketplaces in the town were seldom opened after the sunset. Now, people can buy things at 9 pm, he added.

Valmiki Nagar seat, which is part of the West Champaran district that served as the karmbhoomi of Mahatma Gandhi during the pre-Independence era, has been a bastion of the NDA owing to its caste combination. The seat has been represented either by the BJP or JDU since 2009, even though peoples demand for declaring Bagaha an administrative district, permanent solution for floods, and revitalisation of moribund sugar mills remained unaddressed by the elected leaders. Previous assembly election results also show a favourable position for the sitting MP, as five of the six assembly seats  Valmikinagar (JDU), Ramnagar (BJP), Narkatiaganj (BJP), Bagaha (BJP) and Lauria (BJP)  have the NDA representation, while Sikta has been won by the CPI(ML), which is a constituent of the INDIA bloc.

However, the presence of defectors from the BJP and the Congress in the fray is set to make it an interesting fight in this election. Former BJP leader Dinesh Agrawal, who hails from the dominant Vaishya community, has filed his nomination as an independent, while former Congress candidate Pravesh Kumar Mishra, who lost the last Lok Sabha elections with a margin of 22,000 votes by the sitting MP, is also in the fray an independent.

The Tharuhat region, bordering Nepal and home to Tharu tribes, is also set to play a key role in the outcome of the election results. Tharu community, who have around 1.60 lakh voters, have been put on the margin and facing umpteen difficulties for their sustenance owing to the ban on mining of stones and sand from Pandai river, a tributary of Gandak. We have been left jobless after the government barred us from picking precious stones and timbers coming down from Nepal region. Majority of the tribal people are under-employed and depend on paddy and sugarcane crops to survive, said Mango Oraon, a native of Bhatni village.

Main Contestants:

JD(U)-Sunil Kumar

RJD- Deepak Yadav

BSP-Durgesh Singh Chauhan

IND- Dinesh Agrawal

IND-Pravesh Kumar Mishra

Total Number of electors: 18,25,490

Male Voters: 966302

Female Voters: 859116

Others: 72

Sitting MP (2020 by-election): Sunil Kumar (JDU)

MP (2019): Baidyanath Prasad Mahto (JDU)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday lashed out at BJP leaders for allegedly spreading lies about the investment scenario in the state. Deputy CM Shivakumar, BJP K'taka chief trade charges over investments in state(REUTERS)

He was reacting to BJP state president B Y Vijayendra's charge that Karnataka is bearing the direct consequences of a 'lethargic and sleeping Congress government.'

Vijayendra's remark came in the wake of news that Google would produce smart phones and drones in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Also Read - Minor boy arrested in Bengaluru BBA student murder case

Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar said, "BJP leaders are tweeting false information about investments in Karnataka. They should be ashamed of spreading false information. We will give them proof with documents after the elections."

Responding to a query on BJP leaders saying that companies were investing in neighbouring states rather than in Karnataka, he said they (BJP leaders) must check facts.

Lakhs of industrialists, businessmen have fled the country due to the BJP's poor governance, Shivakumar alleged.

According to him, investors were showing interest in the state once again after the Congress government came to power.

"Our Industries Minister and IT minister are doing an excellent job. The whole country knows that Karnataka is the land of prosperity, progress and peace. The whole world is looking up to Bengaluru and Karnataka," the DCM said.

Vijayendra had said on 'X' that Google is set to invest billions in Tamil Nadu to produce smart phones and drones.

"Karnataka is bearing the direct consequences of a lethargic, sleeping Congress 'Sarkaara' (government) that has completely lost its way looking directionless & driving the state towards a disaster owing to its misgovernance & misplaced priorities," he said.

While the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government has succeeded in attracting investments to India, the Congress government in Karnataka has failed miserably in showcasing Karnataka as a "top investment destination" and instill confidence in the investors, Vijayendra said.

"This is the same government that ruined Karnataka farmers and failed to defend our share of Cauvery water in favour of its alliance partner DMK (in Tamil Nadu). No surprise, same trend continues with multi-billion dollar investments making their way to Tamil Nadu!" the BJP state chief said.
Senior JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday raked up the death of Siddaramaiah's son in a foreign country eight years ago, seeking to know why the Karnataka Chief Minister did not order a probe into it. The statement drew a sharp reaction from Siddaramaiah, who termed it Kumaraswamy's 'foolishness' to bring up his son's death. Kumaraswamy rakes up 2016 death of Siddarmaiah's son, CM hits back

Rakesh Siddaramaiah had died due to multiple organ failure in Belgium on July 30, 2016 during the first tenure of Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister. Lashing out at Siddaramaiah for his comment that Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna fled the country with the knowledge of his family members, including his grandfather H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy said other than keeping the issue alive, no efforts are being made to bring out the truth in the sexual abuse case.

Also Read - Two cars ram into each other over a gang war in Karnataka's Udupi. VIDEO

"The Chief Minister's son had also gone abroad and met with an accident. Which event he had gone for? Did he take Siddaramaiah's permission?" Kumaraswamy asked while addressing reporters. "Why Siddaramaiah did not order a probe into the death of Rakesh? Why was it covered up? Did the CM send him abroad?" Kumaraswamy also asked the Chief Minister to disclose details of the number of people who had accompanied Rakesh during his foreign trip in 2016.

Kumaraswamy alleged that the Prajwal sexual abuse case was being used to "finish off" his family politically. Prajwal (33), who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and the NDA candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of sexually assaulting several 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 against Prajwal, following an application moved by the SIT. Kumaraswamy said those who circulated the videos allegedly featuring Prajwal without blurring the faces of the victims have committed a crime. He wondered whether the 'mastermind' behind the leak of the explicit videos was aware of the consequences. In his reaction, Siddaramaiah said, "Rakesh had died eight years ago. It is his foolishness to raise Rakesh's case."

He charged Kumaraswamy with raising Rakesh's death case for political reasons. "Rakesh Siddaramaiah died in 2016. What is the connection between that case and Prajwal's case? His (Kumaraswamy's) nephew (Prajwal) is a rapist," the CM said. On Kumaraswamy's allegation that it is crime to circulate and upload the videos online, Siddaramaiah asked under which section of the Indian Penal Code it is an offence. "I am not saying that sharing videos without blurring the faces of the victims is not an offence, but Kumaraswamy says my son's death is bigger than Prajwal rape case. I want to know under which section of IPC or any criminal law, it (Rakesh's death) is an offence," he added.
Just few days left for the Lok Sabha polls, district election officer (DEO) Sakshi Sawhney on Saturday reviewed the checkposts laid by Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) at various points of Jagraon sub-division. DEO Sakshi Sawhney reviewing the checkposts in Jagraon area of Ludhiana on Saturday. (HT Photo)

The DEO was accompanied by senior superintendent of police (SSP) Navneet Singh Bains, Jagraon sub-divisional magistrate-cum-assistant returning officer Gurbir Singh Kohli, assistant commissioner Kritika Goyal.

Sawhney said that nine SSTs were assigned for each assembly constituency of the district who are responsible for implementation of Model Code of Conduct. The teams had been given a task to check every kind of vehicles and if found anything suspicious, then take action for confiscation and inform the senior officials immediately. The teams were headed by officers with executive magisterial powers and included police officers and videographers to record their activities, the DEO added.

The teams had been inspecting the items that could be used as bribes to voters such as illegal liquor, weapons and other dubious activities, Sawhney added.

Training held for micro-observers

In order to apprise the micro-observers about their role at critical polling locations in Ludhiana Parliamentary constituency (PC), a training session was held on Saturday at Khalsa College for Women.

General observer Divya Mittal also participated in the meeting and asked the micro-observers to perform their duties well, so that everyone gets to exercise their right to vote. She asked them to contact the senior officials or reach out to her directly at the local number 78142-11934, if any kind of violation takes place at the polling station.

The training session was held under the supervision of assistant returning officer (ARO) Ankur Mahindroo.

The micro-observers were explained the working of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the process of conducting mock polls to check the functioning of EVMs before the actual voting starts.

EC prescribes 12 IDs along with EPIC cardsfor voters

People can use electoral photo identity card (EPIC) along with 12 alternative documents allowed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on June 1 to cast their vote, said district election officer (DEO) Sakshi Sawhney.

In addition to the voter card, other identities included Indian Passport, Driving License, Service Identity Card with photographs issued to employees by central, state governments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSU), public limited companies, passbook issued by bank, post office with photograph, PAN card, Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR, MGNREGA Card, health insurance smart card issued by ministry of labour, pension document with photograph, identity cards issued by MP, MLA, MLC, UDID card issued by Union ministry of social justice and empowerment, and Aadhaar card.

Expense observers meets law enforcement agencies

Expenditure observers deputed by the Election Commission of India for Ludhiana Parliamentary constituency Pankaj Kumar and Chetan D Kalamkar on Saturday told the officials to keep a strict vigil on the sale of consumer goods, including mobiles, utensils, ceiling fans, cookers, mixers, grinder, machines and garments.

The observers held a meeting with district-level officers of various law enforcement agencies. They said that these items could be used as freebies to induce the voters either through direct distribution or a coupon system. They also asked them to collect sale details of all these items along with the details of previous months. The idea was to detect any sudden or unexplained rise in the sale of such products, said expense officials.

The observers also asked them to keep vigil on transportation of such items from across inter-state borders. Further, they said that the officials must keep a check on the bank transactions of 43 candidates relatives and close associates.
The Haibowal police booked a landlord on murder charges after a shopkeeper died following a brief scuffle on Friday evening. The victims kin alleged that the accused had beaten him to death following a dispute over the shop. A first-information report (FIR) was registered following a complaint by the victims son Puneet Marwaha. (HT File)

The victim, 62-year-old Darshan Lal of Joshi Nagar, was running a bookshop on premises rented from accused Paramjit Singh Bhalla of Pink Flats, Pakhowal Road. However, they were locked in a dispute regarding the shop and the owner wanted them to vacate the premises. The matter was sub judice in a local court.

A first-information report (FIR) was registered following a complaint by the victims son Puneet Marwaha.

Puneet said that they run a bookshop on Pakhowal Road. His father Darshan Lal was at the shop when the accused turned up and attacked him. He alleged that the accused thrashed his father so much that the latter lost consciousness and fell on the floor, following which the accused escaped from the spot.

Puneet added that he rushed the victim to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), where the doctors declared him dead on arrival. Puneet then informed the police.

He alleged that despite the matter being sub judice, the accused continued to threaten them to vacate the shop.

Haibowal station-house officer (SHO) sub-inspector Satnam Singh said that the man might have died of a cardiac arrest. The body has been sent to civil hospital for an autopsy and the cause of death would be ascertained after a report. No arrest has been made so far, he said.
Former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Manjit Singh GK on Saturday flayed the Congress over the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. He was addressing a press conference in Ludhiana to seek votes for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominee Ranjit Singh Dhillon. Manjit said that Sikh voters should and will remember June 1 as a black day when the riots started in 1984. (HT Photo)

Manjit said that Sikh voters should and will remember June 1 as a black day when the riots started in 1984. All 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab go to poll in the seventh and last phase of elections on June 1.

He said only the SAD could resolve the issues of the Sikh community and emphasised that the party had always prioritised the interests of Punjab over their interests.

Manjit pointed out that the SAD had put forth several conditions to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the states issues, including waters disputes, the status of Chandigarh, farmers issues and unwarranted interference of the saffron party in religious matters.

As the BJP did not agree to the conditions, the SAD decided to part ways and contest elections independently to safeguard Punjabs and Punjabis interests, he said.

Singh acknowledged his brief departure from the SAD to form his party, but affirmed his belief that the SAD was the premier representative party for Punjab, its culture and the Sikh community. He criticised the Sikh members within the BJP and said that they had done nothing substantial for Punjab. He alleged that they were being driven by personal or political interests and were silent on crucial issues.

Raking up the repeated paroles to Sirsa dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, he questioned the non-release of bandi Sikhs (Sikh prisoners).

Did not vote as no party good enough: Manjit Singh

As Saturday was the sixth phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections in which New Delhi voted, Majit said that he did not cast his vote as there was no party good enough.

Manjit further asserted that the SAD had become significantly stronger since the 2022 assembly elections in Punjab, receiving immense support from the people. He urged the people to support the SAD and their candidate to strengthen the party and Punjab.

SAD district president Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, Baba Ajit Singh, Pratap Singh from Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (GGSSC) and GGSSC chief Gurmeet Singh accompanied him.
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday that the people of Punjab were eager to see Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for a third term. Speaking at a press conference at a private hotel on Ferozepur Road, Dhami highlighted what he said was the remarkable development India saw during Modis ten years as the PM. He appealed to the city residents to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee from Ludhiana Ravneet Singh Bittu. All 13 seats in Punjab go to polls in the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections on June 1. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

All 13 seats in Punjab go to polls in the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections on June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.

Raising questions over the pending funds of rural development funds with the Centre, Dhami said that the Punjab government had not provided the utilisation certificate and was misusing the funds provided earlier.

Praising PM Modis leadership, the chief minister said that Indias progress over the past decade was unparalleled and that the country had gained significant global recognition due to the PMs relentless efforts.

Hitting out at the Congress, Dhami said that despite 60 years of being in power, they never prioritised Punjabs development. In contrast, he highlighted Modis initiatives, such as commemorating December 26 as Bal Diwas to honour the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singhs four sons and fulfilling the promise of opening the Kartarpur Corridor, allowing devotees from India and abroad to visit Guru Nanak Devs shrine.

He took a jibe at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, accusing them of deceiving Punjabis by contesting elections together in places such as Delhi and Haryana and fighting separately in Punjab. Dhami emphasised that the people of Punjab and the country realise that to secure a bright future, the BJP must be brought back to power and Modi must be elected as Prime Minister.

He levelled allegations of corruption against the AAP government and said that partys supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was under the scanner in excise policy scam and corruption was at its peak in Punjab government as well.
Thousands of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers across the Capital and other states are likely to wake up to a special phone call on Saturday morning  from their party president JP Nadda  encouraging them to get to work at the polling booths and get people to come out and vote. The minute-long message, scheduled to be disseminated at dawn, urges workers to do their bit and achieve the target of seats set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the party. Kushinagar, May 24 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda addresses a public meeting for the Lok Sabha elections, in Kushinagar on Friday. (ANI Photo) (JP Nadda-X)

Jan jan ki yahi pukaar, fir ek baar Modi sarkaar, iss baar 400 paar (The call of every individual, once again Modi government, this time with over 400 seats)  Nadda says in the message relayed through the BJP workers app Saral.

By the end of voting on June 1, the 30 million BJP workers would have received the personalised message just ahead of voting in their area.

The message on Saturday will be sent to workers in different states and Union territories, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, and Odisha.

My call will follow Naddajis call, said Delhi unit chief Virender Sachdeva on Saturday.

According to one official, the calls gained momentum after low voter turnouts in some of the early phases.

Everyone I call will further make calls to 25 others. We also had meetings in at least 12,000 of the 13,400 odd booths to ensure our voters come out to vote, Sachdeva added.

The call will only go to registered party workers, said a person aware of details, adding, If anyone other than a worker gets a call, it will be a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. So we have taken care that it works only through our app.

In the pre-recorded voice message, accessed by HT, Nadda introduces himself and asks party workers to urge their families and the beneficiaries in their constituencies to take people to polling booths and ensure they vote for the BJP.

I believe that this election will change the fate of the country. This election is important to fulfill the dream of Viskit Bharat by 2047. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every party worker to contribute to giving a massive victory to the BJP, the message, recorded in Hindi, says.
Thousands of people would be evacuated and brought to shelters from the vulnerable areas in the coastal villages of West Bengal as the eastern state braces for impact of severe Cyclone Remal around Sunday midnight, officials said. Announcements were being made on loudspeakers in vulnerable areas and beach destinations to make the people aware of the approaching storm. (Representative Image)

The India Meteorological Department has warned that Remal is likely to make landfall around midnight on May 26 between Sagar Island in the southern tip of West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh.

We have already identified the low lying and vulnerable areas. Initially we plan to evacuate around 8,000-10,000 villagers from low lying areas. While some may move to the cyclone shelters by Saturday night, the rest would be brought in on Sunday, said Sumit Gupta, district magistrate of South 24 Parganas.

West Bengal has a coastline of 157 km running through three coastal districts  South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. The South 24 Parganas district is likely to be the hardest hit.

The IMD has issued a red warning (highest category of warning) for some districts such as South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Howrah and East Midnapore on Sunday.

As of now, we may have to evacuate and shift around 25,000 people from the vulnerable areas in five sea facing blocks. The evacuation would take place on Sunday. The control room is working 24X7 and we are in constant touch with the IMD for updates, said a senior official of East Midnapore.

Officials said that there may be heavy to very heavy rain in some areas. The coastal districts will be battered by winds speeding up to 100-110 km per hour with gusts up to 120 km per hour. In Kolkata the wind gusts could reach around 90 km per hour.

There are four to five blocks which are vulnerable. The people living along the river embankments need to be evacuated first as there may be storm surge and water may gush into the villages. Evacuation is expected to start from Saturday night while most of them would be shifted to permanent shelters on Sunday, said SK Dwivedi, district magistrate of North 24 Parganas.

While South 24 Parganas has around 115 multipurpose cyclone shelters, there are more than 100 such shelters in North 24 Parganas. East Midnapore has around 43 centres in five sea-facing blocks where the population is around 1.5 million.

Officials said that while the multi-purpose cyclone shelters have been kept ready, schools and other government buildings have been earmarked, where people may be shifted. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Diaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have already been deployed and relief materials such as food, drinking water and medicines were being stacked.

Announcements were being made on loudspeakers in vulnerable areas to make the people aware of the approaching storm. Announcements were also being made in beach destinations such as Digha, Mandarmani and Bakkhali.

Around 900 school buildings in the district have been earmarked as cyclone shelters. But in view of polling on Saturday, some of the buildings could not be used to provide shelter to the evacuated people, said an officer of East Midnapore district.
Kolkata: A panchayat-level Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was allegedly killed on Friday night in the East Midnapore district hours before the polling for the eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. (Representative Photo)

Police have identified the deceased as Sheikh Maibul, a local TMC leader of the Mahishadal area.

One person was killed in Mahishadal on Friday night after he was attacked with sharp weapons. An investigation is going on. Five persons have been detained, a police officer aware of the matter said.

TMC has alleged that Maibul was killed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) backed goons.

This is the second incident in the last 72 hours in East Midnapore.

Earlier, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) woman worker identified as Rathibala Ari was allegedly killed on Thursday at Nanidgram in Tamluk triggering violent protests.

The two parties have levelled allegations of voters being threatened and booth agents being attacked.

Two of our agents have been kidnapped and we have no information about their whereabouts. BJP goons have snatched EPIC cards of voters in some areas. A makeshift bamboo bridge was broken so that voters cant reach the polling station, Debangshu Bhattacharya, TMC candidate in Tamluk, told media reporters.

Hiran Chatterjee, BJPs Lok Sabha candidate from Ghatal in West Midnapore was seen engaging in heated arguments with the police.

Central forces are inactive. TMC is not allowing BJPs agents to enter the booths in many areas, he told media persons.

The polling for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election in the eastern state began at 7am on Saturday.

Eight Lok Sabha seats  Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur  went into polls in the sixth phase.

Until 9am the voter turnout in the eight seats was 16.5% with Tamluk registering the highest turnout of 19%. Purulia with 12.3% recorded the lowest turnout.
Voting for electing representatives from Prayagraj regions Phulpur, Allahabad and Pratapgarh parliamentary seats took place on Saturday amidst sporadic incidents of voting boycott, threats of boycott and allegations of bias by officials. Voters standing in queues at polling booths in Prayagraj during phase six polling on May 25 (Anil K Maurya/HT)

The three seats recorded an average polling percentage of 50.76% against a polling percentage of 52.36% recorded in 2019a dip of 1.84%. Around 57.25 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in these three seats in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls-2024.

Voting in Prayagraj and Pratapgarh districts took place at 5,783 polling booths under 3,024 polling stations.Polling took place in 1,913 booths under 936 polling stations in Allahabad and 2,068 booths under 858 polling stations of Phulpur besides 1,902 polling booths under 1,230 polling stations in Pratapgarh between 7 am and 6 pm, said officials.

While 14 and 15 candidates are in the fray from Allahabad and Phulpur respectively, Pratapgarh has the highest 26 candidates. The Allahabad seat witnessed a decent start with voters in large numbers rushing to polling booths early in the morning before the scorching heat made its presence felt.

By 9am, 9.37% of the total registered 18,25,730 voters (9,88,343 men, 8,37,149 women and 215 third gender people) has cast their vote and the polling percentage reached 23.88% by 11am.

However then with the temperature rising, polling dipped and by 1pm it reached 34.06% before reaching 41.04% by 3m and touching 49.30%-mark by 5pm. By the time the polling concluded, the polling percentage reached 51.75%. In 2019, Allahabad seat had recorded a polling percentage of 51.83% amounting to a fall of 0.08% this time.

In Phulpur, the polling started off slowly with merely 7.45% of the total 20,67,042 registered voters (11,22,020 men, 9,44,827 women and 196 third gender) casting their votes till 9 am. However, it reached 22.85% by 11 am and touched 33.05% by 1pm.

As expected, polling slowed down in the afternoon and could reach 39.46% by 3pm and touching 46.80% mark by 5pm. Polling percentage reached 48.94% by the time polling ended as compared to 48.70% amounting to a rise of 0.24% this time.

On Pratapgarh seat, morning hours witnessed best polling among the three parliamentary seats of Prayagraj region with 12.89% of the 18,33,312 voters (9,70,013 men, 8,62,394 women and five transgender voters) having voted by 9am and the figure reaching 26.35% by 11 am before touching 36.01% by 1pm.

Here too, voting slowed down in the afternoon with polling percentage reaching 41.87% by 3pm and touching 49.65% by 5pm. By the time polling ended, polling percentage reached 51.60% against 53.56% registered in 2019 amounting to a fall of 1.96% this time.

After polling, the task of depositing the EVMs from Allahabad and Phulpur seats at the strong room set up at Navin Sabzi Mandi in Mundera continued till late night. Likewise, in Pratapgarh, the EVMs were stored at the strong room set up at Mahuli Mandi till late night amidst tight security.
Thane, A court in Maharashtra's Thane district on Saturday remanded in police custody till May 29 the owner of the chemical factory in Dombivli where an explosion killed nine persons and injured more than 60. HT Image

The accused, Malay Mehta , owner of Amudan Chemicals, was produced before the magistrate court in Kalyan, a spokesperson of the Thane city police said.

The police sought Mehta's custody for 14 days and informed the court that they had to visit the factory site and find out if more persons were involved in the crime, he said.

The extent of damage because of the explosion was enormous, and the police wanted to examine the role of many in the incident, the official said.

Mehta's lawyer argued that the company had all the requisite permissions and followed all regulations.

There was also an intervener in the matter who supported the police plea for custody and interrogations.

After hearing all the counsels, the magistrate remanded the accused in police custody till May 29, the official said.

The crime branch's Ulhasnagar unit has taken over the investigation.

The police have registered an FIR against the company owners, directors, management staff and officials supervising the factory.

The accused have been booked for culpable homicide , voluntarily causing hurt and negligent conduct with respect to combustible matter and explosive substances under the Indian Penal Code .

Besides the IPC, the police have also invoked charges under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Explosive Substances Act.

According to the FIR, the company had not taken precautions over mixing chemicals, final products, and their storage, knowing well that any lapses might lead to an explosion, which could affect and damage the company and structures around it.

These lapses led to the explosion on Thursday, resulting in deaths on the premises and companies around the factory, the FIR said.

The impact of the blast was so severe that it shattered window panes of houses and damaged cars, roads and electric poles in the vicinity, it said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has projected the onset of the southwest monsoon in Mumbai around June 10-11, reported The Indian Express, in line with the normal arrival date. IMD official said southwest monsoon is expected to hit Mumbai around June 10-11. (Photo by Vijay Bate/HT Photo/File)

Sunil Kamble, director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Mumbai, said the southwest monsoon, which has already made its presence felt in the Andaman Islands and is on track to reach Kerala by May 31, the country's financial capital can expect the monsoon to arrive between June 10 and 11.

While there could be some difference by 3  4 days, currently, we are expecting the monsoon to arrive on schedule, the IMD official was quoted as saying.

Kamble said the exact date for Mumbais monsoon onset will be announced after observing its progress in Kerala at the end of this month, according to the report.

We will be announcing the actual date of monsoon onset in Mumbai later as it will be determined after monitoring the monsoon developments in Kerala at the end of this month, he said.

Cyclone Remal alert: Dos and don'ts we must follow during extreme weather conditions

Meanwhile, Mumbai continues to experience hot and humid conditions, with temperatures reaching nearly 35 degrees Celsius. High humidity levels are expected to persist for at least the next two to three days. Meteorologists forecast that pre-monsoon showers will begin around the end of May, potentially bringing light rain to isolated areas in the first week of June before intensifying with the monsoon's arrival.

On Friday, parts of Maharashtra, including Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada, experienced temperatures between 40C and 44C. The IMD issued warnings for continued heatwave conditions in Madhya Maharashtra on Saturday.

Read: Heatwave alert: Watch out for these warning signs of heat stroke that can land you in hospital

According to the latest meteorological updates, the monsoon has extended its reach into additional parts of the Southwest Bay of Bengal, the remaining parts of the Southeast Bay of Bengal, more areas of the Central Bay of Bengal, and some sections of the Northeast Bay of Bengal. Meteorologists forecast that conditions are highly favourable for the Southwest Monsoon to further progress over additional areas of the Southwest Bay of Bengal and Central Bay of Bengal, as well as parts of the Northeast Bay of Bengal within the next 24 hours.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a five per cent water cut in the city and its adjoining areas in Thane, Bhiwandi, and Nizampur from Thursday, May 30 due to low water reserves. This will be followed by a 10 per cent water cut from June 5 to ensure the remaining water stock can be used as long as possible, the civic body said. Mumbai to face 5% water cut from May 30, 10% next month onwards

According to the BMC, the water cut will remain in force till satisfactory rainfall is received and the useful stock in the water bodies improves.

The BMC administration is keeping a close watch on the water stock and is supplying water in a planned manner every day. Mumbaikars have no reason to panic. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration humbly appeals to all citizens to use water judiciously, the BMC said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The civic body added that by adopting the water-saving measures, Mumbaikars should save as much water as possible, use water judiciously, and cooperate with the efforts of the municipal administration.

A similar five-per cent water cut was imposed in the city from March 15 to April 24 this year due to cleaning activities at the water purification plant in Bhandup, one of the largest plants in Asia. The civic body had also proposed a 10 per cent water cut, however, it was not imposed following assurances from the state government to address the water deficit from its reserve stock.

Also read: Outcry in Mohali over power cuts and water supply issues

According to the BMC, a total of 1,40,202 million litres of water is available in the dams supplying water to Mumbai. Presently, only 9.69 per cent of the water stock is available as against 14,47,363 million litres per annum requirement owing to the less rainfall in October last year.

However, an additional 1,37,000 million litres of water will be flowing in from the Bhatsa Dam and 91,130 million litres from the Upper Vaitarna Dam, the civic body said.
Another Bihar Police constable, deployed as a bodyguard for Rabri Devi, has been suspended from service for alleged misconduct and violation of service norms in connection with the post-poll violence on May 21 in Saran, where the former chief ministers daughter, Rohini Acharya, is the RJD candidate. Police in the area after the post-poll clash in Chapra on May 21, in which an RJD worker was shot dead and two others were injured. (ANI)

The order to suspend the constable, Mohammad Aftab Alam, was issued late Friday and a departmental inquiry has been initiated against him, said Vaishali superintendent of police (SP) Harkishore Rai. Alam was a constable with Vaishali police.

On Thursday, Patna police had suspended Jitendra Singh, also a bodyguard of Rabri Devi, after a report was submitted by the Saran police before Patna police chief, officials said.

Quoting from the report, officials said that on May 20, when polling was under way in Saran Lok Sabha constituency, Rohini Acharya was moving around along with her mother bodyguards. Acharya is pitted against sitting BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Bihar BJP chief and deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary had raised the matter and sought a probe. Subsequently, a police team from Saran arrived at the former CMs official residence along with CCTV footages and identified the two policemen seen outside a polling station where an altercation took place on the polling day, leading to violence the next day in which an RJD worker was shot dead and two others were injured.

The two bodyguards had travelled to Saran without taking prior permission from competent authorities, a police officer familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile, Saran SP Gaurav Mangla said police have lodged one more FIR with the cyber police station against suspects who uploaded inflammatory posts on social media regarding the incident.

Business establishments remained shut for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday in Chapra town, where the violence had taken place.
The University of Mumbai has announced the schedule for pre-admission online registration for students seeking admission to the first year of 3-year and 4-year degree courses for the academic year 2024-2025. The registration process will begin on Saturday, May 25, at 5 PM. This initiative marks the first-time implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP), to guidelines in non-autonomous colleges for these degree programs. Mumbai University

The online registration can be completed via the university's official website is https://muugadmission.samarth.edu.in/

For the academic year 2024-2025, the University of Mumbai offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs, including Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) and many other courses. For the first time this year admissions for the courses like BMS, BBA, BCA has come under All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will be conducted after the announcement of qualifying exam results by the Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell. Pooja Raundale, Director of Examination and Evaluation Board, emphasized that all affiliated and autonomous colleges should follow the announced schedule to ensure a smooth admission process.

Detail Schedule

Application Sale (Online/Offline by concerned colleges) : May 25 - June 10, (Up to 1:00 PM)

Pre-Admission Online Registration: May 25 - June 10.

Online Admission Form Submission: May 25 - June 10, (Up to 1:00 PM, pre-admission registration required)

First Merit List: June 13 (5:00 PM)

Online Document Verification and Fee Payment: June 14 - June 20 (Up to 3:00 PM)

Second Merit List: June 21(5:00 PM)

Online Document Verification and Fee Payment: June 22 - June 27 (Up to 3:00 PM)

Third Merit List: June 28 (5:00 PM)

Online Document Verification and Fee Payment: June 29 - July 3 (Up to 3:00 PM)

Commencement of Classes/Orientation: July 4.
Maharashtra SSC Result 2024: Maharashtra Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education will declare Maharashtra SSC Result 2024 on May 27 at 1 PM. Once released, the MSBSHSE Class 10th results will be available on the official website of MAH Results at mahresult.nic.in. The official website of MSBSHSE is mahahsscboard.in....Read More

More than 15 lakh candidates have appeared for the Class 10 board examination this year across the state. This year Class 10 board examination commenced on March 1 and concluded on March 26, 2024. The Maharashtra SSC examination was conducted in two shifts- first shift from 11 am to 2 pm and second shift from 3 pm to 6 pm.

Earlier in May, while speaking to Hindustan Times, the Maharashtra Board official informed that Maharashtra SSC results were to be announced in the last week of May.

Follow the blog for latest updates on results, date, scorecard, pass percentage and other details.
New Delhi, A voter turnout of 8.94 per cent was recorded till 9 am in Delhi, where polling is underway for its seven Lok Sabha constituencies on Saturday. HT Image

The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer said that at 10.15 per cent, the highest turnout was recorded in the North East Delhi constituency while New Delhi had the lowest voting percentage till 9 am at 7.04 per cent.

Poll officials said there were no reports of technical snags or delays in the commencement of voting at any polling station.

However, CPI leader Brinda Karat, who had gone to cast her vote at St Thomas School in New Delhi, said she could not vote due to a snag.

"The battery of the Electronic Voting Machine was down, that's why I could not vote but I will come again," she said.

She also questioned the arrangements made by the Election Commission.

"It is now 9:15 am but I am being told that the battery of the machine is down," she said.

Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Minister Atishi, outgoing East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir, and candidates of different parties cast their votes early in the morning.

President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar also cast their votes in the New Delhi constituency, officials said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a post in Hindi on X, appealed to the people to vote and urge their family members, relatives and friends to also exercise their franchise.

"...Each vote cast by you in this great festival of democracy will be against the authoritarian mindset and strengthen democracy and the Constitution of India. Go to the polling stations and assert that there is democracy in India and democracy will remain in India through your votes," Kejriwal said.

A 'yellow' warning is in place for the day and the Met office has predicted that the mercury is likely to reach a maximum of 44 degrees Celsius.

The Delhi poll body has said that it has made arrangements for the voters to beat the scorching heat.

People were seen queuing up outside the more than 13,000 polling booths across the seven constituencies even before the commencement of voting at 7 am.

Jaishankar, the first voter at Atal Adarsh Vidyalaya, J Abdul Kalam Lane, in the New Delhi constituency, told PTI Videos, "We want that people come out in large numbers to vote because it a time to take a big decision for the country."

Puri cast his vote at Mount Carmel School, Anand Niketan, in the New Delhi constituency.

It's a very good feeling to be able to reach the polling booth half an hour before the gates open and to participate in the world's largest carnival and celebration of democracy, he said.

Atishi cast her vote at Nigam Pratibha Vidyalaya, Kalkaji B Block, in the South Delhi constituency. A Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal also cast her vote.

Gambhir appealed to people to exercise their franchise after casting his vote at the Government Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalya.

The A's South Delhi candidate Sahi Ram Pahalwan, the BJP's Chandni Chowk nominee Praveen Khandelwal and its New Delhi hopeful Bansuri Swaraj were among the early voters.

"I want to appeal to the residents of Delhi to cast their votes as it is a big festival of the country," Pahalwan said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra's daughter Miraya Vadra, who voted for the first time, said, "I came came all the way from college to vote. So, everyone should come out and vote."

"My only message to the youth is to come out and vote. It is our job to make a change, so we need to come out and do it," she said.

Her brother Raihan Vadra, a second-time voter, expressed hope that everyone will come out and vote.

He cast his vote at a polling booth at Lodhi Road under the New Delhi constituency.

"It's hot but we get this chance every five years to directly effect a change and participate in democracy. So, everyone should come out and vote," he said.

Voting is underway peacefully with no reports of any untoward incidents.

Deputy Commissioner of Police M Harsha Vardhan said, "It is an important task for us to conduct free and fair elections. It is a matter of great pride for everyone involved in the process."

"We have made good arrangements. We are seeing great enthusiasm among the officials and the voters. We look forward to a day of good voter turnout and encourage everyone to vote," he added.

A total of 1.52 crore voters 82 lakh men, 69 lakh women and 1,228 from the third gender category are eligible to cast their votes at more than 13,000 polling booths across the seven constituencies, officials said.

There are more than 2.52 lakh first-time voters this time.

The BJP won all seven seats in Delhi in the 2014 and the 2019 elections and is aiming for a clean sweep for the third consecutive time.

The opposition INDIA bloc partners A and the Congress are contesting the elections in Delhi under a four-three seat-share formula.

This is the first Lok Sabha election in Delhi in which A and the Congress have fielded joint candidates.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Aditi Rao Hydari is setting major fashion goals at the Cannes Film Festival. The actor, known for her work in Hindi and South cinema, is being praised for her unique style statements. Aditi recently dropped a viral video of herself eating an ice-cream, which has a Heeramandi connection. (Also read: Siddharth can't stop laughing as man recreates Aditi Rao Hydari's Heeramandi dance move. Watch) Aditi Rao Hydari recreated Heeramandi's Gajagamini walk at Cannes 2024.

Aditi Rao Hydari gives unique spin to Bibbojaan

In a video shared on the Heeramandi actor's official Instagram account, she can be seen recreating her Gajagamini walk from the epic series, but this time adding her own new style to it. Aditi is shown taking a walk at the French Riviera, wearing a floral ensemble by Gauri and Nainika while enjoying an ice-cream. The background music features the rhythmic beats of Saiyaan Hatto Jaao as Aditi smiles at the camera. The actor captioned her post as, By popular demand (kiss emoji).

Nayanthara praises Aditi's Gajagamini recreation

Nayanthara commented, Sooooo pretty aduuu (two hearts emojis). A fan commented, Omg its like Indian Emily in Cannes , exactly like lily collins. Another user wrote, She can do both (three heart-shaped-eye emojis). A fan also pointed out, This one is good, but that was (four fire emojis).

About Heeramandi

For the unversed, Aditi plays the character of Bibbojaan in Heeramandi. She is the on-screen elder daughter of Manisha Koirala in the epic show. The series is based on the Indian independence revolution against the British Raj. The title is derived from the red-light district of Heeramandi in Lahore (now in present-day Pakistan) during the pre-Partition era. The story depicts the power play between the courtesans of Heeramandi, Nawabs of Lahore and the British officials.

About Aditi Rao Hydari

Aditi recently wore a black-and-white off-shoulder dress by fashion designer Gaurav Gupta as she walked the Cannes Red Carpet. Fans compared her look with late Hollywood actor Audrey Hepburn. A few days ago, the Heeramandi actor had also casually recreated her Gajagamini walk at the French Riviera as she donned a floral gown.

Aditi will be next seen in the British Indian film - Lioness.
Anasuya Sengupta became the first Indian actor to win an acting award at Cannes Film Festival, after she was selected as the winner for her performance in The Shameless, which premiered on the Un Certain Regard section at the festival. From Alia Bhatt to Ranveer Singh, Hansal Mehta to Zoya Akhtar, many Bollywood celebrities wished the actor on her historic win via Instgram. (Also read: EXCLUSIVE| Anasuya Sengupta on creating history at Cannes, lifting Best Actress: I shakily walked to the stage) Several Bollywood stars congratulated Anasuya Sengupta.

Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh congratulate Anasuya

Alia Bhatt shared an article from Hindustan Times on her Instagram Stories, to congratulate Anasuya. Many many many congratulations to you, she wrote, while tagging her Instagram handle. Bhumi Pednekar and Samantha Ruth Prabhu also shared the same post on her Instagram Stories to congratulate the actor.

Alia Bhatt via Instagram Stories.

Ranveer Singh also wished Anasuya on her win, and wrote: So proud! (Indian flag and applause emojis). Ayushmann Khurrana wrote, Anasuya super proud moment for us! Huge congratulations to you and the entire team behind The Shameless." Huma Qureshi also congratulated Anasuya, and wrote, Making us all proud. Hansal Mehta also hailed the actor, while Zoya Akhtar also congratulated on the historic win for India.

Ranveer Singh via Instagram Stories.

More details

Anasuya talked to Hindustan Times in an interview, after the historic win. "I am amazed at the love pouring in from so many back home, it makes me proud to make everyone proud. I am literally taxi-ing in the plane now on my way home to my family, I just cant wait to be with them," she said.

According to the festival website, the official logline of The Shameless reads, In the dead of night, Renuka escapes from a Delhi brothel after stabbing a policeman to death. She takes refuge in a community of sex workers in northern India, where she meets Devika, a young girl condemned to a life of prostitution. Their bond develops into a forbidden romance. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to escape the law and forge their path to freedom. Renuka is played by Anasuya Sengupta whereas Omara Shetty plays Devika.
Actor Preity Zinta left everyone awestruck as she attended the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. However, another thing that caught people's attention was her accent when she spoke at the event. People on social media platforms questioned why she was using a "fake accent". (Also Read | Preity Zinta returns to Cannes Film Festival after 17 years in a shimmery white gown. Watch) Preity Zinta wore a sare to the Cannes Film Festival.

Preity stuns in saree at Cannes Film Festival

For the event, Preity Zinta wore a sequined pink saree and matching blouse. She wore large earrings and opted not to tie her hair. The actor spoke with her fans and also signed autographs. She was also seen clicking selfies with her fans. A clip of the actor from the event was shared by Brut India on their Instagram handle.

Preity shocks a section of internet with her fake accent

Talking about her outfit, the actor told Brut, "My look is simple yet with a little bit of sparkle." She added that her saree was designed by designer Seema Gujral. When asked about how she felt about being part of the event, Preity said, "It's wonderful. I'm coming after a long time. I'm very excited and happy to be here." People took to the comments section to point out the change in her accent.

Internet reacts to Preity's new accent

A person said, "I am perplexed as to why Indians modify their accents when in foreign lands, engaging with natives. It comes across as disingenuous. Why cannot they retain their genuine selves?" A comment read, "Why do you all fake your accent?? Just stay and talk the way you are!" An Instagram user said, "Her accent got me. They sound absolutely ridiculous when they change their accent to one that is some bizarre cosmopolitan made-up one."

"Whatever happened to her accent? That's how colonization works. Making one feel inferior in speaking their own accent, from PC (Priyanka Chopra) to Zinta," said another person. Another comment read, "For once why cant they define the place from which they come from! Wearing a saree symbolising Indian authenticity but the accent."

A few fans supported Preity

Another section of the people supported Preity. A fan said, "She's been living in AMERICA with her AMERICAN husband for a long time. People should stop judging her accent. Also, shes not speaking to Indian media, so its important for her to communicate in a way they understand." A comment read, "People criticising someone speaking Hindi in an English accent is understandable. But what's wrong here? Her husband is a foreigner, thus this accent. Even if she wouldn't have married a foreigner, even then speaking English in an English accent isn't wrong. She's an Indian and wore Indian attire to represent India. We should focus on the positive aspects rather than finding fault."

Preity at Cannes

Before attending the event in a saree, Preity wore a white gown and minimal make-up and tied her hair in a bun. Preity is in Cannes to present the Pierre Angenieux ExcelLens in Cinematography in honour of veteran cinematographer Santosh Sivan. She has worked with Santosh Sivan in several films, including her debut movie Dil Se.

Reportedly, Preity made her Cannes debut in 2006. She attended the premiers of two films The Wind That Shakes The Barley and Paris, Je T'aime. In 2013, Preity made a comeback at the French Rivera as the brand ambassador of the luxury watch brand, Chopard.

Preity's films

Preity is returning to the silver screen with Sunny Deol-starrer Lahore 1947. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Lahore 1947 is produced under Aamir Khan's banner, Aamir Khan's Productions. The film was officially announced last October. Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal and Karan Deol have also joined the cast.
Janhvi Kapoor, like many of her contemporary Gen-Z mainstream Bollywood actors, isn't exactly known for her political awareness. However, in a new interview with The Lallantop, when asked about her interest in history, Janhvi opened up on casteism and the ideological debate between Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar. (Also Read  Janhvi Kapoor had panic attack after watching Sridevis tribute video on a reality show: They didn't tell us) Janhvi Kapoor recently surprised the internet with her views on Gandhi, Ambedkar, and casteism(PTI)

What Janhvi said

When Janhvi said in the interview that she has a keen interest in history, the interviewer asked him which period of history she'd like to time-travel back to. Janhvi said she'd answer the question honestly, but requested him to not probe her on the same since her views may not sit well with the audience. Janhvi then said she'd like to see Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the nation, and BR Ambedkar, the Founding Father of the Indian Constitution, debate over their views on casteism.

The interviewer was pleasantly surprised and couldn't help but probe Janhvi further. She then said, I think Ambedkar was still very clear and stern from the start what his stand was. But I think Gandhi's view kept evolving as he got more and more exposed to (casteism). Ye jo jativaad ka samasya hai humare samaj mein, ek third person se jaankari lena aur usey jeena, usmei bahut farak hai, bahut antar hai (this issue of casteism that we have in our society, to gather information from a third person and to actually live it, there's a huge difference there).

When the interviewer further probed Janhvi if there was any conversation about caste in her school, she refused. In fact, mere ghar mein kabhi caste ko le kar koi conversation nahi hui (there was no conversation around caste even at my home).

What the internet said

The internet was pleasantly surprised to see a Gen-Z mainstream actor like Janhvi discuss a deeply political issue with such openness. An X user shared a clip of Janhvi's views and wrote, Rather surprised to see this from a mainstream Bollywood actor. Janhvi Kapoor on Ambedkar, Gandhi & caste (applause emoji). When another user pointed out that Swara Bhasker also often speaks on political issues, they clarified, There is simply no comparison. Swara has been a strong political voice in the country for a long time now, more so than anyone else in the entire Bollywood.

Several other people reacted to Janhvi's stance. One of them posted, Very impressed! Another commented, Very rare to see such level of understanding and study (applause emoji). Yeah, it's surprising... That too from the new-gen Bollywood actress... And she knows what she is speaking about... Apan bohut prejudiced hain inke liye lekin (we're very prejudiced about them but) she is so clear in her mind, read a third comment.

However, some internet users were left unimpressed. One of them commented, Lol, except taking two famous names what intellectualism did I miss here? Another wrote, I tried hard to see what it is that she had said that was so exceptional. Anything she said could be said of any two prominent politicians before 1947. Had she said that Gandhi and Ambedkar didnt have and couldnt provide answers to complex social questions. A third person argued, "I'm surprised that youre surprised- dont know what to make of it? What did she say other than their thoughts kept evolving w/ time and Ambedkar lived poverty and Gandhi enacted poverty blah blahmost of us know this- where is the substance?

Janhvi made her Bollywood debut in 2018 with Shashank Khaitan's romantic drama Dhadak, a Hindi adaptation of Nagraj Manjule's 2016 Marathi film Sairat. Dhadak was panned by several sections for whitewashing the issue of caste that Sairat addressed so directly. Janhvi will be next seen in Mr & Mrs Mahi, Devara: Part 1, Ulajh, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, and Suriya's next.
By Miranda Murray Exotic dancer drama 'Anora' wins Cannes Film Festival's top prize

CANNES, France -"Anora," a darkly funny and touching drama about a young exotic dancer who becomes involved with a Russian oligarch's son, won the Cannes Film Festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or, on Saturday.

The film by U.S. director Sean Baker beat the 21 other films in the competition line-up, including entries by established directors like Francis Ford Coppola and David Cronenberg.

"Anora" continues a streak of sex worker-focused films by Baker, including the 2021 Cannes entry "Red Rocket" and 2017's "The Florida Project" starring Willem Dafoe.

This win is dedicated to "to all sex workers past present and future," he said as he accepted the award, while also thanking the film's star, Mikey Madison, as well as his wife and producer.

George Lucas, famous for "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones," received an honorary award during the festival's closing ceremony from his longtime friend Coppola, whose passion project "Megalopolis" had also been in competition.

"I'm just a kid who grew up in the middle of California, surrounded by vineyards, and made films in San Francisco with my friend Francis Coppola," said Lucas at the ceremony.

The Grand Prix, the second-highest prize after the Palme d'Or, was awarded to "All We Imagine As Light," the first Indian film in competition in 30 years about two women sharing an apartment and the challenges they face in a male-dominated society.

Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, who was in Cannes just about two weeks after announcing he had gone into exile, was given a special award for "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," about an Iranian court official who grows increasingly controlling and paranoid as protests begin to swell in 2022.

"Emilia Perez," a musical about a Mexican cartel boss who transitions from male to female, was doubly honoured.

The film's director Jacques Audiard received the jury prize on stage, while the best actress prize was shared between its female stars, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofia Gascon and Adriana Paz.

Jesse Plemons was named best actor for playing three different parts - a struggling police officer, a cult member and a man whose every action is controlled by his boss - in director Yorgos Lanthimos' absurdist triptych "Kinds of Kindness."

Best screenplay went to "The Substance," a Demi Moore-led body horror about the perils of youth and beauty that director Coralie Fargeat said she hoped would help change the standards set for women.

Miguel Gomez took best director for "Grand Tour," an eclectic trip through Asia by a British civil servant and his pursuing fiancee.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Nicki Minaj boarded a rollercoaster ride of emotions this weekend. Just hours after her historic Pink Friday 2 World Tour expanded its reach by announcing the second US leg following her highly acclaimed tour's success with the first leg, the Anaconda songstress shared footage of her reported arrest outside an Amsterdam airport. Picture from Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday 2 World Tour on Instagram.

Filming the entire incident via Instagram, Nicki also constantly updated her fans on X/Twitter on what she claimed to be an attempt to sabotage her tour. The unexpected befell the Super Freaky Girl as she arrived at the airport to board her flight to Manchester for her next show.

Nicki Minaj arrested? Here's what happened (as documented by the rapper herself)

A video shows a man approaching Nicki, claiming her bags had to be checked. As she held on to the belief that it was all a ploy for her to miss her show in Manchester, Minaj was arrested for allegedly carrying "pre-rolls in her baggage. She was told that all her luggage had to be offloaded from the plane and searched.

The Night Is Still Young rapper said in her Instagram Live that she was asked to board a police van and go into the precinct with no lawyer present. Although initially, it wasn't clear as to what the authorities were looking for, Minaj's minute-after-minute updates on X/Twitter mentioned marijuana as she alluded to weed being legal in Amsterdam in one of her tweets.

Also read | Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie's kids perturbed by parents' fight dominating their lives: Report

She later added on X/Twitter, They took my luggage & when I asked where it is they said its on the plane. It couldnt have been, I just pulled up.

After sharing a video of her interaction with an airline crew member and explaining what prompted the abrupt investigation on X, Nicki opened her online tirade with tweets like, Theyve been trying everything they possibly can to TRY to stop this tour.

She posted the video on Instagram as well, captioning it: Theyve been trying to stop me from coming to every show. They took my bags before I could see them. Put it on the plane. Now saying theyre waiting on customs. This is what it looks like when ppl are paid big money to try to sabotage a tour after all else failed. Everything theyve done is illegal.

In the video, the man claims that a police officer told him that they had to offload all the luggage and to search everything. Filming the entire development, Nicki asks, But wasn't that what you planned on doing from the get-go? Why didn't you guys search it before it went on the plane?

He then states that while a random quick check had been carried out, they wanted to open it again. When Nicki questioned him further about why that was so, he said, First of all, because you filmed him... [and] ... he doesn't believe you that you don't have more with you than you say.

Another tweet soon followed: Theyre being paid big money to try to sabotage my tour b/c soooooo many ppl are mad that its this successful & they cant eat off me. They got caught stealing money from my travel/jets. Got fired. Got mad. Etc.

She eventually also suggested that things were supposedly being planted in her luggage to drag her down. Expanding on why they could be delaying her, Nicki later wrote, They try to make me book another jet every time. All b/c I fired mngmnt who I found out for years were adding on 30-50K on my jet & pocketing it. I fired a tour mngr recently who was doing the same thing & mad he got the boot. Their goal is to make me late, & to pocket 40K.

Also read | Here's how Ben Affleck helped Jennifer Lopez prepare for her role in Atlas

With objections allegedly rising against her Instagram footage, she eventually claimed that the pre-rolls found in the bags belonged to her security personnel: Now they said they found weed & that another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls. Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig post down.

Nicki began blogging about the situation on X hours ago when her flight was supposed to take off. The original Instagram story went up four hours ago.

Her fans are undoubtedly shaken and in limbo as they await more updates from their beloved star. #FREENICKI also started trending on the social media platform as many expressed their anxieties about the rapper's safety. At the time of writing, her last tweet emerged on X/Twitter two hours ago, as she wrote: Now they said I have to go 5 mins away to make a statement about my security to the police precinct.
While treading May's final week path, announcements for upcoming June K-pop comebacks are already swirling on the internet. With numerous debuts slated to hit the music industry, layered with the tasteful uniqueness of each artist's raw talent, you can't afford to miss out on these musical releases. Seventeen's new sub-unit, featuring a unique collaboration between Jeonghan and Wonwoo, will debut on June 17, the same day that RIIZE members release their first mini-album. Meanwhile, Everglow will come back with their 5th single album on June 10.

Promising an instant serotonin boost, several fan-favourite artists and rising rookies will own the music space in June 2024. From girl groups BADVILLAIN and I:mond joining K-music veterans to several groups kicking off their Japanese debuts, the forthcoming month has a cure for everyone's blues. Multiple sub-units of NCT will be putting out music in some form, whereas Seventeen members Jeonghan and Wonwoo will flaunt their one-of-a-kind chemistry upon their sub-unit's launch.

Soloists Nayeon (Twice), Sunmi, Kim Jaejoong, Kwon Eunbi and others will also join in the fun with their anticipated comebacks soon. Here are all the new musical chapters ready to break free in June:

Kpop comebacks of June 2024

June 3

AKMU - 3rd mini-album Love Episode

Kep1er - 1st full-length album Kep1going On

WayV - 5th mini-album Give Me That

Xdinary Heroes - digital single Open beta v6.1 (Time: 6 pm KST)

BADVILLAIN debut (girl group) - 1st single album, Overstep (Time: 6 pm KST)

I:mond debut (girl group) - 1st single We Are Gravity (Time: 12 pm KST)

Also read | Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc and other anime conquer Netflix Global Top 10; Chun Woo Hee's K-dramas dominate

June 5

Victon's Han Seung Woo (solo comeback) - 1st single album Scene

NCT Dream - 2nd Japan single Moonlight

June 6

GHOST9 - 1st digital single Awesome Day (Time: 6 pm KST)

June 7

One Pact - 1st single album PARADOXX

June 9

Infinite - digital single Flower (Time: 6 pm KST)

June 10

Everglow - 5th single album Zombie (Time: 6 pm KST)

cignature - 5th mini-album Sweetie but Saltie (Time: 6 pm KST)

June 11

CSR - 2nd single album 'L'heure Bleue'

June 12

Trendz - 4th single album Dreamlike

June 13

Sunmi - Balloon in Love (Time: 6 pm KST)

June 14

Twice's Nayeon (solo comeback) - 2nd mini album NA (Time: 1 pm KST)

June 17

Riize - 1st mini-album Riizing (Time: 6 pm KST)

Seventeen sub-unit debut: Jeonghan X Wonwoo - 1st single album This Man (Time: 6 pm KST)

Primrose - 1st single album Revival (Time: 6 pm KST)

EVNNE - 3rd mini-album Ride or Die (Time: 6 pm KST)

WOOAH - 2nd mini album Unframed

June 19

LUN8 - 1st Japan single Evergreen

Fantasy Boys - Japan debut mini-album Make a Fantasy

H1-KEY - 3rd mini album LOVE or HATE (Time: 6 pm KST)

Also read | Here's how Tom Holland inspired THIS K-pop star's latest Spider-Man-themed solo hit

June 20

Epik High - New mixtape Pump(Time: 6 pm KST)

June 21

NewJeans Japanese debut with double single

June 24

TWS - Our Memories: Now (Time: 6 pm KST)

June 25

Chuu - 2nd mini album  Strawberry Rush (Time: 6 pm KST)

June 26

NCT Wish - 2nd Japan single Songbird

Undated Kpop comebacks June 2024

Kim Jaejoong is set to release a full-length album in June, commemorating the 20th anniversary of his debut.

Kwon Eunbi is reportedly ready to make her comeback with a new album in mid-June.

Girl group Candy Shop will make its June comeback, introducing a new member to the lineup - Julia. She'll be joining the group after Yuina went on hiatus due to health reasons in May.

Blackpink's Jennie is reportedly preparing for a solo comeback in June. Once confirmed, it will be her first comeback since she launched her label OA (Odd Atelier) in 2023.

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SF9's Hwiyoung may make his first solo comeback in mid-June as well.

Woo!ah!

Chuu solo comeback

K.Will is expected to make a comeback in June. Seo In Guk and Ahn Jae Hyun. who previously appeared in the singer's iconic 2012 Please Don't music video, will reportedly feature in his new MV.

(This is a developing story. More announcements will be updated on the go.)
Black Dog by Chinese director Hu Guan won the Cannes Un Certain Regard Prize. The Jury Prize went to Boris Lojkines asylum-seeker tale, The Story Of Souleymane. The Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Actress was given to Anasuya Sengupta for The Shameless. Un Certain Regard is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's official selection. (Also Read | Meet Anasuya Sengupta and Omara Shetty, stars of The Shameless who are adding desi dazzle to Cannes Film Festival) Black Dog and Anasuya Sengupta won at Cannes Film Festival.

About The Shameless

The Shameless follows a sex worker who flees a Delhi brothel after stabbing a policeman. As per Variety, Anasuya dedicated her award to the queer community and other marginalized communities all around the world for so bravely fighting a fight they really shouldnt have to fight. She said, You dont have to be queer to fight for equality, you dont have be colonized to know that colonizing is pathetic  we just need to be very, very decent human beings.

Check out the full list here:

Special mention

NORAH

Tawfik Alzaidi

1st film

Youth Award

HOLY COW

Louise Courvoisier

1st film

Best Actress

ANASUYA SENGUPTA

The Shameless

Best Actor

ABOU SANGARE

LHistoire de Souleymane

Best Director ex-aequo

ROBERTO MINERVINI

The Damned

RUNGANO NYONI

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

Jury Prize

LHISTOIRE DE SOULEYMANE

Boris Lojkine

Un Certain Regard Prize

BLACK DOG

Guan Hu

About Black Dog

Black Dog is about a "damaged loner returning to his desert hometown after a spell in prison and kinding a kindred spirit in an equally world-weary greyhound, beat 17 other titles to take the top prize in the festivals second-most prestigious competitive section.

All about Un Certain Regard Prize

As per the official statement the 2024 selection included 18 feature films-- 8 of which are first features also competing for the Camera dor. This year, the opening film was Runar Runarssons When the Light Breaks. Chaired by Canadian actor, director, screenwriter and producer Xavier Dolan, the Jury included French-Senegalese screenwriter and director Maimouna Doucoure, Moroccan director, screenwriter and producer Asmae El Moudir, German-Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps, and American film critic, director, and writer Todd McCarthy.
Sharmin Segal has been receiving criticism for her expressionless acting ever since Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi released on May 1. Now, an interview has come to the attention of many users on X, which was taken during the promotions for the show, taken by Showsha. In the interview, Sharmin is seen negating the statement made by her co-star Sanjeeda Shaikh when she called Bhansali a perfectionist. (Also read: When Sharmin Segal cried after Sanjay Leela Bhansali didn't approve her shot post 30 takes) Sharmin Segal and Sanjeeda Shaikh starred in Heeramandi.

What Sharmin said

In the interview, when Sanjeeda was asked about her experience working with Bhansali, she said: He is just a perfectionist. He wants everything to look not mediocre because whatever he does is nothing less than excellence. He is respected all around the world for his brilliant creative mind and incisive honesty towards his craft. He will expect his artist to give that honesty on screen. So I enjoyed all sorts of roops of Mr. Bhansali.

The next moment, Sharmin interrupts and adds in, "I think perfectionist is a very basic word to describe Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Its the kind of a word that an outsider who has never worked with him, been on his set and seen the kind of director that he is will use that. He is much more than that. He adapts to change very well. He keeps challenging through different things. It is not about being perfect. He looks for rawness, magic, spontaneity. If he was only a perfectionist he would not treat spontaneity the way he does."

User reactions

A snippet of this made its way on social media, where many users called out Sharmin's unnecessary remarks. One said, She is so arrogant and disrespectful. Sanjeeda handled it well. Another added, The audacity to say all that for somebody who paved their way through genuine hard work and learning the craft - while you are just a product of privilege and yet u get to sit beside them and all u be salty? That is just outright abhorring. A second user commented, The audacity of this woman!

The Netflix show is set in the backdrop of the Indian independence revolution. The series showcases the clash between the courtesans of the red-light district of Heeramandi in Lahore and the officials during the British Raj. It also stars Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman.
PLA's latest drills surrounding Taiwan Island largest in scale

Xinhua) 14:22, May 25, 2024

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The latest drills of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) surrounding Taiwan Island were the largest in scale, and vessels were getting closer to the island "than ever before," mainland military experts said Friday.

The PLA's Eastern Theater Command conducted joint military drills around Taiwan Island from Thursday to Friday. The exercise was carried out in the Taiwan Strait, to the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, and in areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.

It came in deterrence of Taiwan's new leader Lai Ching-te, whose debut speech on May 20 was filled with hostility and provocations, showing that he has adopted an even riskier and more radical approach toward "Taiwan independence" than his predecessors.

Meng Xiangqing, a professor from Beijing-based National Defense University, said on Friday that mainland's coast guard vessels entered the waters near the Wuqiu and Dongyin islands for the first time during the drills, completely shattering Taiwan authorities' notion of the so-called "restricted waters."

In an interview with Xinhua, Meng said the scale of the drills was larger than previous ones and the forces deployed were stronger, with long-range artillery systems, conventional missile systems, and fighter jets forming a "firepower package."

During the drills, a multi-directional, deep close-in simulation animation was released by the PLA, simulating PLA vessels approaching Taiwan Island. Meng said the vessels were unprecedentedly close to the coast of Taiwan.

This means that "there has been an increasing level of pressure against the space of Taiwan's so-called military defense, and this pressure has reached a significant level," Meng said.

Tong Zhen, an expert from the Academy of Military Sciences, said in the same interview that the drills mainly targeted the ringleaders and political center of "Taiwan independence," and involved simulated precision strikes on key political and military targets.

Strike drills were carried out against significant targets such as ports and airports to cut off the island's "blood vessels" and block out its "foreign aid regiments," Tong said.

The joint precision strikes feature the integration of the army, navy, air force and rocket force, as well as new-domain forces with new combat capabilities, Meng said, adding that the key objects of the drills were establishing dominance in the air, sea and information fields.

He highlighted the importance of the drills held off the east of Taiwan Island, the direction from which external intervention forces are likely to come.

"'Taiwan independence' separatists have long considered the island's eastern direction to be their backyard and 'shelter,' but the drills have shown that we can control that eastern area," Meng said.

He noted that the control operation has delivered the following messages: "Taiwan independence" separatists cannot escape; foreign intervention cannot get in; and the preservation of the island's military power is an illusion.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Motihari/Bettiah: The string of shabby eateries in this rugged, dusty patch of Motihari, where the highway hits the city, fail to induce visitors appetite. But these run-down restaurants buzzing with customers offer the best item of the Champarans culinary palate - Ahuna meat.

Cooked over charcoal for hours in a closed earthen pot and packed with heavy doses of mustard oil, masala and whole garlic, this Ahuna style has been rechristened as Champaran meat for the rest of India. Here, everyone calls it Ahuna meat. But in the rest of India, it is Champaran meat, laughs Santosh Kumar, a local.

A few kilometres down the highway, where the new-found fame of Champaran cuisine fades and the old glory of this region beacons, one finds the train station named after Mahatma Gandhi. Along the road, monuments of many leadersfrom Gandhi to Atal Behari Vajpayee dons the cityscape in this historic, sleepy town of Bihar.

Land of Gandhis first Satyagraha in India

Two years after Gandhi returned to India, he came to Motihari to participate in a farmers uprising. Gandhis first Satyagraha, against the indigo cultivation imposed by the British Raj, was a landmark success. The ashram at Bhitiharwa where Gandhi stayed during his Champaran agitation in 1917, is now a famous landmark of Indias freedom struggle.

Built over a small plot 54 km from Bettiah in Pashchim Champaran, the Bhitiharwa ashram is possibly not as frequented as the Sabarmati ashram, but for scores of Bihar leaders, it is the starting point of their political movement.

For Bihar chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar, Bhitiharwa ashram has been the favourite spot to start his yatras ever since he launched the Nyay Yatra in 2005. Last year in January, the CM picked the same starting block for his last yatra before the polls. Former Prime Minister Chandra Sekhar and former CM Lalu Prasad are among the string of VIP visitors who have come to this place. The latest in the list, Prashant Kishor, kickstarted his Jan Suraj yatra two years ago on October 2 from Bhitiharwa.

Between 2011 and 2021, I fought 11 elections. Except for Uttar Pradesh, I won all polls. People think Prashant Kishor can make anyone win. But I am launching the yatra not to seek votes but to find the right people. I will make the person fight so well that others will fail. If I have come to win, I will ensure victory, Kishor said.

But the neglected ashram, a painful reminder of the iconic peasants movement possibly reflects the state of affairs in the two Champaran districts.

In the British Raj, farmers suffered at the hands of the colonial rulers who forced them to cultivate indigowhich was used as a dye. Todays Champaran faces a rampant exodus of young workforce and limited scope of employment. On the western side, lies one of the richest agrarian belts of the state and a key Indo-Nepal trade hub. The eastern part is labeled as one of the poorest districts of Bihar where central schemes come as lifelines for a vast section of the population.

The sugar belt and the poverty-hit hinterlands

As the road wanders into the northern tip of Bihar, the landscape turns greener. This is the sugar belt of Bihar, with more than seven sugar mills operating in this region. The economic and social impact of these mills can be gauged from the fact that the RJD candidate in Valmiki Nagar is Deepak Yadav, the CMD of Tirupati Sugar.

This is the first time a sugar mill CMD is fighting a Lok Sabha election. It shows the political clout of the mills in the district, said Amritanshu Rai, a resident of Narkatiyaganj. Rai is a former journalist in Delhi.

My nomination is not just my nomination. It is on behalf of 18 lakh voters. Previous MPs had disappeared from the constituency after winning the vote. People didnt even remember them. The biggest issue is how to keep myself available for the local people and not deceit them, said Yadav.

Three Lok Sabha seats span two Champaran districts - Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran and the Purvi Champaran constituencies. While Valmiki Nagar is a JDU stronghold, Sanjay Jaiswal of the BJP has been the sitting MP in Paschim Champaran since 2009. Similarly, former Union minister Radha Mohan Singh has represented Purvi Champaran since 2009.

A journey from Narkatiaganj to Bettiah to Motihari takes visitors through several poverty-stricken areas of the two districts. Niti Ayogs Multidimensional Poverty Index report of 2023 pegs nearly 37% of the people in both districts as multidimensionally poor. Araria, with 52% poverty, tops the chart in Bihar.

The politics of aspirations

At the poll office of Sanjay Jaiswal, Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Paschim Champaran district in-charge Vinod Kumar Singh gives a long list of the major achievements of the incumbent MP. Construction of Piprakothi to Raxual highway and Raxaul bypass, tender is out for Kushinagar to Manuapul highway, Sugauli, Bettiah and Raxual would be world-class stations. HPCLs ethanol factory has started functioning he goes on and on. Most of the projects are related to infrastructure: better roads, doubling of railway lines and new rail links.

Sanjay Pande, former state in charge sips tea from a kulhar, We are seeking votes on the development of the country under PM Narendra Modi. Our biggest achievement is that the NDA government has turned Bihar into a crime-free state.

Barely 200 meters away at the election office of Congress candidate Madan Mohan Tiwari, five party workers are fast asleeppossibly a sign of the state of the Congress in Bihar. Of the six assembly seats in this Lok Sabha constituency, four belong to the BJP and two are with the RJD.

Niraj Kumar Tiwari, the Rashtriya Janata Dals (RJD) district president flaunts his tilak and questions the rivals claims. Not a single project is completed. You can only see foundation stones. The only benefit to this district is a Vande Bharat train, but Jaiswal made zero contribution to it, he said.

As more RJD enthusiasts join the conversation, Tiwari says, We are telling people that you have given Sanjay Jaiswal and his father (Madan Prasad Jaiswal) 30 years. Now, please give us five years.

On the walls of the dimly-lit office, the photo of Madan Mohan Tiwaris father hangs on the wall. Its clear that in this part of Bihar, the battle is between two dynasts.

But both sides claim the focus on the development plank (of course caste and other factors are equally relevant). But in the poorest state of India, which is marred with rampant migration and limited industrialization, a large number of voters look forward to a better source of income and welfare measures.

The welfare measures

Two men carry Sangeeta Devis latest possessiona meter-long droneto a small field in Jiwdhara village for a brief demonstration. A crowd of children and adults alike quickly gather around her as Sangeeta, one of the two drone didis of the Purba Champaran district, fidgets with the controls to fly the Namo Drone for the wonderstruck villagers.

Government-run welfare schemes are lifelines for thousands of families in this part of Bihar.

At a Mahadalit (poorest social group of Dalits) tola (village) in Naurangia, signs of multidimensional poverty are everywhere. Most young men and women have migrated to bigger cities. Older men and women have stayed back.

The home of Bihars poorest section has few pucca houses and even fewer toilets. Indu Devi, a farm labourer turned into a cosmetics trader, lives in one of the many thatched-roof huts in this area. She doesnt have a toilet but got an LED lamp under the Saubhagya schemethe only source of light in her dark home.

I earn a few thousand Rupees. I didnt get PM Aawas (house). But I do get 5 kg of rice, she said. But the villagers dont know who to vote for. Our samaj will decide. Wherever our samaj leaders will tell us, we will vote.

40 km away from Jiwdhara, Kiran Devi was a housewife busy with daily chores, whose world was confined to the four walls of her house in Madhuban. In 2019, she managed a government credit of 10 lakhs to set up her tiny food processing unit. Now, I earn 30,000-40,000 every month. I even employ 5-6 women of my village, she said at her factorya pucca house right in front of her home.

Her husband, Mohan Prasad, left her job of supplying cakes and patties in Delhi and helps her wife sell the productsvarious pickles, multigrain atta, Bengal gram flour and other thingsin the local markets and across the state.

Similar beneficiaries and their success stories can be found all across East Champaran, one of the poorest districts of Bihar. The livelihood schemes, coupled with the free foodgrain programme that started after Covid19, have set a parallel narrative of welfare in this election season in Bihar where caste lines are deeply drawn in the political landscape.

The signs of change are encouraging too. At Kauriya village, Ragini Kumar, a graduate student, manages a multi-purpose service centre of the Central Bank of India. With no bank ranches nearby, the service centre is a one-stop shop for making bank deposits, and withdrawals, and subscribing to PM insurance schemes or Atal Pension schemes. I am educated. I took a short training and started this job. In this far-flung area, monthly transactions amount to 30-35 lakhs (HT cross-checked the entries), Ragini says as his husband, an electrician looks on.

For Bihar, two back-to-back elections for the Lok Sabha and the assembly brings hope for a better future. Under Nitish Kumar, the road network has drastically improved. Even remote villages are connected with smooth roads.

The tale of two Champaran needs a further push from mere infrastructure or cross-border trade between India and Nepal. Champaran, just like many other districts, need jobs, better income and a new, aspirational Bihar.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday alleged that a misconception is being spread about the Agnipath scheme, the short-term defence recruitment model unveiled by the Centre in 2022. Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Rahul Gandhi of spreading falsehoods on Agnipath scheme.(Santosh Kumar/ Hindustan Times)

Accusing Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of spreading falsehood, Shah said,"A misconception is being spread all over the country that after 4 years, 75% Agniveers will be left future-less and their life will be ruined... The scheme is that if 100 people become Agniveer, 25% of them would be permanently posted in the Army."



For the remaining 75%, BJP rules states have made a 10-20% reservation in their state police force. 10% reservation has been given in the central government's paramilitary force also. Other than the reservation, they will get a lot of relaxation in the selection process, like age, examination, and they also do not have to go through the physical tests, the minister told ANI.



ALSO READ: All stakeholders agreed on Agnipath scheme, says Army chief



After this, there might hardly be any Agniveer who might not get a job... A lot of security companies have also prioritised Agniveers... He will receive a hefty salary for 4 years and after that, he will get a permanent job with gratuity... Rahul Gandhi is saying absolute lies for the advantage of his party and misguiding the people, he added.



ALSO READ: In the era of Agniveers, a village of faujis echoes discontent



Several opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi have been extremely critical of the Centre's Agnipath scheme. On Friday, the Congress leader alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi betrayed the youth dreaming of serving the country by "forcibly" imposing the Agnipath scheme. The Congress has promised that it will scrap the Agnipath scheme if it comes to power.

The Agnipath scheme provides for recruiting youngsters in the age bracket of 17 years and a half to 21 years for a four-year period, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
Psephologist-turned-politician Yogendra Yadav has predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win 240-260 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav during a press conference.(Satish Bate/HT File Photo)

Per Yadav, there will be a silver lining for the Congress party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections as well-- its seat tally may touch 100.

Earlier, Prashant Kishor had predicted that the BJP will win the Lok Sabha elections. Today, he said the BJP will win between 240-260 seats and its allies 34-45 seats, which means the NDA's total may hover between 275 and 305 seats.

"A trusted face among those who understand elections and socio-political issues in the country, Yogendra Yadav, has shared his final assessment of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to Yogendra ji, BJP may get 240-260 seats and NDA's allies may get 35-45 seats in these elections. Meaning 275-305 seats for BJP/NDA. To form the government in the country, 272 seats are required and BJP/NDA has 303/323 seats in the outgoing Lok Sabha. (Shiv Sena won 18 seats as part of NDA but is no longer with them). Now assess yourself whose government is being formed. On June 4, we will know who is talking about whom," Kishor wrote on X.

Also read: Narendra Modi launches 'can do mujra...' diatribe on INDIA bloc in Bihar

Per Yadav, the Congress is likely to win between 85 and 100 seats. The INDIA bloc, which hopes to stop the BJP juggernaut in its tracks, is likely to be reduced to 120-135 seats.

The Congress had won only 52 seats in the 2019 general elections.

Kishor, in an interview this week, said the BJP would comfortably cross the majority mark because there wasn't any significant dissatisfaction against the ruling party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Also read: After Prashant Kishor, US expert predicts landslide BJP victory in Lok Sabha polls

"There may be disappointment, unfulfilled aspirations, but we have not heard of widespread anger," Prashant Kishor told NDTV, hinting that the BJP may not be able to achieve its ambitious '370 seats' target.

Ian Bremmer, an American political scientist, told the channel the BJP might win between 295 and 315 seats.

Also read: How many times will Narendra Modi win? PM's 'even 7...' remark

The BJP won 303 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections, riding on the 'Modi wave' in Hindi heartland states. For it to win 370 seats, the party will have to score landslide victories in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Telangana.
The Union environment ministry has issued a show cause notice to a top Assam official for allegedly diverting forest land without proper clearance to build a police commando battalion camp, according to documents seen by HT. The officer allegedly diverted forest land without proper clearance to build a police commando battalion camp (Representational Image)

Also Read: Assam CM urged Union minister to allow commando camp in protected forest

The ministrys regional office in Shillong sent the notice to MK Yadava, special additional chief secretary of Assam, on May 14 under the Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023. It alleges Yadava illegally diverted around 44 hectares inside the Inner Line Reserve Forest in Hailakandi district.

Yadava, deemed guilty of the said offence, has 60 days to respond and explain why a complaint should not be filed in court. Failure to respond will result in legal proceedings, the notice warned.

The law, the Van (samrakshan evam samvardhan), which loosely translates to Forest (conservation) Act lays down in Section 2 the illegality in diverting forest land for non-forest purpose.

Section 3A of the Forest Conservation Act states that violating or abetting the violation of Section 2 is punishable by up to 15 days of simple imprisonment. Section 3B(1) says that if a government department or authority commits an offense, the head of the department or those directly in charge and responsible for the authoritys conduct at the time of the offense shall be deemed guilty and liable for prosecution. Rule 15(3) of the Van (Samrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules 2023, which allows the central government to authorise an Assistant Inspector General or higher-ranking officer to initiate legal proceedings and file complaints against offenses committed under the Act.

The National Green Tribunal launched an investigation based on news reports about the unauthorised forest land use. Documents show Yadava approved the commando battalion camp in September 2023, claiming it qualified as a forest conservation activity under the Forest Conservation Act.

The letter states that the National Green Tribunal registered a suo moto application on the basis of a news report on diversion of forests for the commando battalion.

As per the ministrys and this offices request seeking details from the state government for the alleged violation for setting of second commando battalion camp at Damchera within the Inner Line Reserve Forest the same has accordingly been submitted and on scrutiny of the saif documents, it is observed that vide your letter No FG 40/14/Mizoram Border/Pt II dated September 28, 2023, you had given approval for the second commando battalion within the ILRF by referring to section 2 (b) of the forest (conservation) act 1980 that it qualifies as an activity relating to conservation of forests.

However, a March 2024 site visit by the ministry found large-scale, permanent construction covering 11.5 hectares (28 acres), which did not align with permissible conservation activities.

Yadava declined to comment on the notice, saying he would respond directly to authorities. Ministry officials in Shillong confirmed providing information under RTI but were not authorised to discuss the notices contents.

HT reported on April 10 that a forest official in Assam allowed construction of a commando battalion unit in a protected forest to purportedly stop encroachments by Mizo people from the neighbouring state of Mizoram.

The move created a furore among local conservationists, compelling the Union ministry to take note and direct the state government, in March, to halt construction immediately.

Its unfortunate that a person who was in service for 35 years in Assam Forest Department has no knowledge of The Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan). When the government itself starts violating the law, what moral authority it has got to take action against others for similar violations?, said Rohit Choudhury, wildlife and RTI activist.
The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra and the Ayodhya administration have decided to impose a complete ban on mobile phones in the Ram Janmabhoomi temple premises for the security and devotees' facilities, said temple trustee Anil Mishra. The idol of Ram Lalla at the Ram Mandir, in Ayodhya.(PTI)

Around 1.5 crore people visited Ayodhya Ram mandir since pran pratishtha: Temple trust

The trustee further appealed to all the devotees to respect the decision and urged them to avail the devotees' cloak room facilities and cooperate in maintaining the arrangements.

"Yesterday, we informed the administration in a meeting. Looking at the security and devotees' facilities, the administration and the trust have made this decision. We appeal to all the devotees to respect this decision... We have complete facilities to keep mobile phones safe... We have the facility to keep any valuable item safely, the devotees are requested to avail these facilities and cooperate in maintaining the arrangements..." Mishra said to news agency ANI.

The pran pratishtha of the 51-inch-tall idol of Lord Ram Lalla, crafted by famed sculptor Arun Yogiraj, in the newly built grand Ram Janmabhoomi temple took place on January 22 among around 8,000 VVIPS belonging to all sects of life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had presided over the rituals of the pran pratishtha ceremony.

Ram Navmi 2024: Ayodhya's Ram Lalla to don yellow clothes, to be offered 56 bhog

Further construction of Ram Temple:

The general secretary of the temple trust announced the construction of a 14-foot-wide security wall around the Janmabhoomi temple, called 'Parkota.'

Champat Rai said the multipurpose area would have six additional temples ranging from Lord Shiva to Lord Hanuman. Once completed, the Ram temple premises would be able to accommodate 25,000 pilgrims at a time with all their baggage, Rai further said.

Sculptor Arun Yogiraj crafts 'small' Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya

Ram Janmabhoomi Temple:

Constructed in the traditional Nagara style, the three-storied Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir stands on 2.7 acres of land in the temple town, measuring 380 feet in length (east-west direction), 250 feet in width, and 161 feet in height. It has a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors. It features five Mandaps (halls) -- Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna and Kirtan Mandap. The pillars and walls showcase intricately sculpted depictions of Hindu deities, gods and goddesses.

(With inputs from ANI)
Roughly 15.2 million voters will step into 13,641 polling booths set up across the national capital on Saturday to seal the fate of 162 candidates on seven seats in a prestige fight that will close out the penultimate phase of the general elections. Polling officers carrying the EVMs in New Delhi on Friday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

The battle for Delhi, the seat of national power, is a microcosm of the electoral contest across the nation with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which holds all seven seats, taking on an alliance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, both constituents of the Oppositions umbrella national coalition.

At stake are not only the seven seats after a fierce campaign  headlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah on one side, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on the other  but also bragging rights about control of the national capital that houses Parliament, the PMs residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and a bevy of dignitaries national and international.

P Krishnamurthy, the Delhis chief electoral officer (CEO), said at least 28,000 balloting units and 14,000 control units of the EVMs (electronic voting machines) as well as around 14,000 VVPATs (voter verifiable paper audit trails) were likely to be used for polling and had been distributed to the various polling stations in the national capital.

Extensive arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth and efficient electoral process. 100,000 polling personnel and around 100,000 security personnel have also been deployed to ensure smooth, free, and fair polls, said Krishnamurthy.

Other than the seven seats in Delhi, all 10 seats in Haryana including Gurugram, eight in Bihar, four in Jharkhand, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, eight in West Bengal, and one in Jammu & Kashmir will also go to the polls. The BJP won 40 of these seats in 2019, its allies five, and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties four. To be sure, the one of 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh that INDIA member Samajwadi Party won in UP in 2019 was in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BSP is not part of the INDIA group in 2024.

Focus will be on the turnout amid searing temperatures and an orange alert sounded across the Capital. In 2019, Delhi had recorded 60.60%, 6.7 percentage points lower than the overall national figure of 67.3%.

Krishnamurthy said arrangements had also been made keeping mind the heatwave forecast.

Shaded areas have been made at all polling stations, with fully covered waiting zones equipped with coolers and fans to ensure voter comfort. We have ensured the availability of drinking water, toilets, ramps, and wheelchairs at every polling station under the Assured Minimum Facility Policy so that no voter faces any inconvenience. Additionally, paramedical staff equipped with basic medical kits will be stationed at all polling locations, Krishnamurthy said.

Since 1996, the party that has won Delhi has also triumphed nationally. The last three general elections in the Capital have seen clean sweeps  2009 by the Congress and 2014 and 2019 by the BJP. Except in 1967, 1989 and 1991, the party which has won a majority of constituencies from Delhi has always finished first in the Lok Sabha.

The battle for Delhi holds echoes of the national contest because people from all over the country have always migrated to the Capital for employment or the aspiration of a better life, making the city a cultural melting pot. The issues at play are also largely national  Modis popularity vs Kejriwals rooted connect, nationalism vs federalism, BJPs welfare outreach vs AAPs focus on health care and education, and questions of Constitution, reservation and communalism.

This time, the contest is bipolar for the first time in 15 years. The AAP is fighting four seats  New Delhi (Somnath Bharti), South (Sahiram Pahalwan), East (Kuldeep Kumar) and West (Mahabal Mishra)  and the Congress three  Chandni Chowk (JP Aggarwal), North East (Kanhaiya Kumar) and North West (Udit Raj). They face an uphill battle against the BJP, which won 57% of the vote in 2019 and held a 16 percentage point advantage over the combined vote shares of the AAP and the Congress.

This time, the BJP has dropped six of its seven incumbent MPs to ward off anti-incumbency, repeating only the North-East Delhi parliamentarian Manoj Tiwari, who is taking on Kanhaiya Kumar of the Congress.

The BJP  which has fielded Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (South Delhi), Bansuri Swaraj (New Delhi), Praveen Khandelwal (Chandni Chowk), Kamaljeet Sehrawat (West Delhi), Harsh Malhotra (East Delhi), Yogendra Chandolia (North West Delhi) and Manoj Tiwari (North East Delhi)  modelled its campaign on the contours of its national pitch around Modis governance record and his popularity. The PM held two rallies in the Capital, accusing the INDIA bloc of dynasty politics, appeasement and communalism and alleging that the Opposition wanted to fritter away reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes to help minority communities.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said the people of Delhi want Narendra Modi to return as Prime Minister for the third time and will be voting for him.

During the election campaign, we received the love and blessings of the people. It has rattled the opposition AAP and it may try to cause power cuts in the city to disrupt the polling hours to disrupt voting. We have also requested the election commission for proper verification and cross-checking of the identity of burqa-clad voters at every polling station as per the ECI rules because there is a change of impersonation during polls. We have requested the poll panel to deploy an adequate number of women polling personnel for the purpose, said Sachdeva.

The Opposition, in contrast, focussed on local issues of governance and anti-incumbency against BJPs parliamentarians. The campaign was enthused by the release of Kejriwal, who was freed by the Supreme Court on May 10 after spending 50 days in jail over corruption charges in connection with the now-scrapped excise policy case. Since his release, Kejriwal held 17 public meetings and roadshows, alleging that his imprisonment was part of a BJP conspiracy to topple his government, underlining his record of bolstering health care and education in the city, and saying that democracy and federalism were in danger.

The AAP said Delhiites will respond to Kejriwals arrest by voting BJP out.

For the first time, the people of Delhi witnessed that a sitting chief minister who has transformed so many aspects of their lives such as education, health, electricity, water, free bus rides for women etc, was arrested in a fake case; that too after the Lok Sabha elections were announced. This has enraged Delhiites and they felt that this is an attack on democracy itself. The people of Delhi will respond to the jail sentence of their CM by voting BJP out, said an AAP leader.

The Congress campaign was led by senior leader Rahul Gandhi, who addressed two rallies and one townhall meeting. The Congress, too, criticised Modi and the BJPs policies, spoke about unemployment, rising prices and the dangers to the Constitution.

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said its candidates put up a very effective election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. Congress leader Rahul Gandhis public meetings and interactions with the voters and party workers boosted their enthusiasm. Not only in the three seats where Congress is contesting, but in the four seats where our alliance partner AAP is contesting the election campaigns were very effective. The people of Delhi will be voting to save the democracy and the constitution. INDIA bloc candidates are set to win the Lok Sabha election, said Yadav.

In the final days of the campaign, allegations of assault by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, who said Kejriwals aide Bibhav Kumar attacked her at the CMs residence, sparked a row with the BJP saying that womens safety had been compromised, and the AAP dismissing the charges as a conspiracy.

Over the last decade, Delhi has developed a distinctive voting pattern, where the citizens have overwhelmingly voted for the AAP in assembly elections (67 out of 70 seats in 2015 and 62 in 2020), only to strongly back the BJP in the national polls (all seven seats in 2014 and 2019.). June 4 will decide if this pattern holds or if a new political paradigm emerges.
Kolkata: School buildings in three coastal districts of West Bengal were earmarked as cyclone shelters, district control rooms were activated, emergency services put on standby and advisories were issued to ports in Kolkata, and Paradip in Odisha on Friday, as the eastern states braced for moderate to heavy rain expected to be caused by a severe cyclonic storm over the weekend. Personnel from West Bengal Disaster Management alert locals ahead of the landfall of cyclone Remal, in South 24 Parganas district. (PTI)

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, along with the army, navy and Coast Guard were kept ready, even as the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) directed authorities to ensure minimum loss due to the cyclonic storm, Cyclone Remal, which is brewing over the Bay of Bengal.

The preparations in Bengal for the impact of the cyclonic storm coincides with those for polling in eight Lok Sabha seats, including two (Kanthi and Tamluk) in East Midnapore district, in the sixth phase of the ongoing general elections on Saturday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cyclone Remal is expected to make landfall between Sagar island in Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh around Sunday midnight, bringing moderate to heavy rain in the coastal districts of Bengal and areas of northern Odisha from Saturday to Monday.

While the IMD has issued a red alert for Bengals coastal districts of North and South 24 Parganas districts, warning of gusty winds accompanied by extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places on Sunday and Monday, an orange alert was issued for Kolkata, Howrah and East Midnapore (another coastal district), with a forecast of marginally reduced intensity for the two days.

...By the midnight of May 26, the cyclonic storm will hit coastal areas of West Bengal when the wind speed will be 110-120 kmph. The wind speed is expected to be higher in Bangladesh. In the North and South 24 Parganas, the wind speed will be highest, IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.

As a result, light to moderate rainfall will begin tomorrow. On May 26-27, in addition to heavy to very heavy rainfall in West Bengal, extremely heavy rainfall is also expected. Coastal areas of north Odisha can witness isolated heavy rainfall and the kind speed will be 40-50 kmph. Rainfall will lash all the northeastern states and there is extreme rainfall warning in some areas, he added.

The NCMC, the countrys apex decision-making body on emergency situations, held a meeting chaired by Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba and asked all fishermen currently in the Bay of Bengal to return to safety.

Gauba also asked the Bengal government to review the placement of large hoardings in the areas likely to be affected by the cyclonic storm. At least 16 people were killed in Mumbai on May 13 after a giant hoarding collapsed during a dust storm.

Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard along with ships and aircraft have been kept in readiness. Regular alerts and advisories are being sent by Director General, Shipping to the ports of Kolkata and Paradip, an NCMC release later said.

In South 24 Parganas, around 5,000 people in vulnerable areas across eight blocks have been identified.

We have already deployed three NDRF teams in Gosaba, Sagar and Kadwip. Four SDRF teams have been deployed in Basanti, Gosaba, Sagar and Kadwip. Announcements about the approaching cyclone were being made on loudspeakers. Quick Response Teams have also been mobilised, said a senior disaster management official of South 24 Parganas.

While South 24 Parganas has around 115 multipurpose cyclone shelters, East Midnapore has around 43 centres in five sea facing blocks where the population is around 1.5 million.

Around 900 school buildings in the district have been earmarked as cyclone shelters. But in view of polling on Saturday, some of the buildings cannot be used to provide shelter to the evacuated people, said an officer of East Midnapore district.

Preparations are on in full swing, particularly in the delta areas. People have been alerted. School and office buildings and cyclone shelters are being kept ready and relief materials are being stocked, an official of North 24 Paragans said.

In East Midnapore district, officials expect minimal damage and ruled out the possibility of any large-scale evacuation as of now. Since the cyclone will make landfall between Sagar island in South 24 Parganas district and Bangladesh, we are not expecting any large-scale evacuation here. The cyclone may not have a huge impact in the district, an official said.

However, those on polling duty have also been tasked to oversee the preparations to deal with the weather condition, another official said.

Teams working for Saturdays polls will be readily available on Sunday before the cyclone hits. They can be mobilised immediately after polling ends on Saturday evening, the second official who is involved in East Midnapore districts disaster management and is also on polling duty, said on the condition of anonymity,

A senior district officer said there are around 43 cyclone shelters in five blocks near the sea. Around 1.5 million people live in these blocks. The cyclone shelters, government offices and high-rise buildings are kept ready to provide shelter to the affected, the officer said, also seeking anonymity.

Polling teams with EVMs and VVPAT machines have already reached their destinations. As the cyclone is expected on Sunday night, we are not expecting any disruption on the polling day, said an IAS officer from Haldia in East Midnapore.

Airport authorities held a meeting on Friday afternoon with stakeholders, including meteorological officials and officers from the Air Traffic Control (ATC).

We are not expecting any disruption on May 25. The cyclone will hit the coastal areas on the night of May 26. There may be some disruptions on Sunday. We will hold another meeting on Saturday afternoon to discuss further developments, said an airport official.

The cyclonic storm Remal wont have a direct impact on Odisha, the regional director of IMD Bhubaneswar said on Friday. However, in its wake, most places of north Odisha are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall and districts like Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapara are very likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader T Raja Singh on Saturday raised concerns over bogus voting in the Hyderabad Lok Sabha elections and expressed doubt over the election results, saying that it doesn't seem to be in saffron party's favour. BJP MLA T Raja Singh(File)

FIRs like medals for speaking truth: BJP's Madhavi Latha

The BJP MLA from Telangana's Goshamahal assembly constituency claimed many burqa-clad people cast votes for Hindu women during the polling. He further accused the state police of supporting AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi in the alleged bogus voting.

"Madhavi Latha had put up a great fight in Hyderabad. Unfortunately, we feared bogus voting which happened in large numbers at all booths. Hindu votes were cast by Muslims. Votes of Hindu women were cast by burqa-clad people. Local police stand in support of Asaduddin Owaisi. Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother have a strategy of taking support from the government of Telangana, be it any party... The results don't seem in our favour. This time also I think we are going to fail," he said to news agency ANI.

BJP's Madhavi Latha checks identities of Muslim women, asks them to lift burqa

Kompella Madhavi Latha, who was pitted against Owaisi in Hyderabad polls by the BJP, had courted controversy during the polling after a video emerged where she was seen checking identity cards of burqa-clad Muslim women at a polling booth, asking them to lift or remove their veil.

A case was also registered against her under sections 171C, 186, 505(1)(c) of IPC and Section 132 of the Representation of the People Act.

Later, she clarified her act, saying that she had only requested the women to verify their identity and there was nothing wrong with this.

Case filed against Amit Shah for poll code violation in Hyderabad

Hyderabad voted in the fourth of seven-phase Lok Sabha elections on May 13. This is the first time that the BJP has fielded a female candidate from the Hyderabad constituency, while Owaisi is seeking a fifth straight term as MP from Hyderabad.

(With inputs from ANI)
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has called former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK supremo late J Jayalalitha "a far superior Hindutva leader" and claimed that she was the first politician in the country, other than BJP leaders, to support the cause of a Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. BJP leader K Annamalai and Tamil Nadu ex-CM J Jayalalitha and Sasikala(File)

Karnataka is like ATM for Congress: BJP leader K Annamalai

In an interview with the news agency PTI, the BJP leader said that he will not let the saffron party to play second fiddle to any political party in Tamil Nadu, where it has a chance to fill the void created by the AIADMK's "drifting away" from the Hindutva ideology after the death of Jayalalitha.

"If you look at it, till Jayalalithaa ji was alive, she was a far superior Hindutva leader than anybody in Tamil Nadu. Pre-2014, when you have a party like the BJP and Jayalalithaa as a leader the natural choice of a Hindu voter would be Jayalalithaa, who displayed her Hindu identity openly," he said.

However, VK Sasikala, a close aide of Jayalalithaa, refuted Annamalai's claims and issued a statement saying that no one can confine a people's leader like Jayalalithaa in any kind of narrow circle.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai's manifesto: Know the promises for Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat

Accusing the BJP leader of his ignorance and misunderstanding about 'Jaya Amma', Sasikala said, "Till her last breath, she lived as a true Dravidian leader on the path shown by Anna and MGR. She was a leader celebrated by all communities- Hindus, Christians, Muslims etc. Amma was a great leader who overcame caste and religious barriers and dedicated her life to improving the lives of the people."

Sasikala, who is also called Chinnamma, further said that Jayalalithaa had faith in God but she never believed in any one particular religion.

"It is a well-known fact that the Amma is the only incomparable leader who has been celebrated by all communities be it Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Jayalalitha, a great leader who overcame the barriers of caste and religion, dedicated herself to improving the living standards of the poor and simple common people," she added.

Lokayukta court issues non-bailable warrant against VK Sasikala

Jayalalitha died of cardiac arrest on December 5, 2016, at the age of 68 in Chennai. A day later, Jayalalithaa was buried at the northern end of Marina Beach in Chennai, near the grave of her mentor and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu M. G. Ramachandran at the M.G.R. and Jayalalithaa memorial complex.

(With inputs from PTI)
Kolkata/Dhaka: Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan claimed that businessman Akhtaruzzaman Shahin is the key suspect in the murder of parliamentarian Anwarul Azim Anar and his ministry was working with India and the US to get and put him on trial for the alleged crime. Businessman friend Shahin key suspect in MP Anar's murder in Kolkata: Bangladesh home minister

Speaking exclusively to PTI from Dhaka on Saturday, Khan said, "Of course, we are looking for Akhtaruzzaman Shahin. He is a key suspect and wanted. We have sought help from Indian, Nepal and US law enforcement agencies to put him on trial."

"We are working on a system to bring Shahin back...We are in touch with all the agencies concerned including the Interpol to ensure justice to our parliamentarians family. We have already arrested three persons including a woman. Two of them have criminal backgrounds and we are checking the antecedents of the woman," he said.

Asked about the motive behind the murder, the home minister said, "We will reveal it soon."

Repeated attempts to contact Shahin in the US went in vain, but his brother Md Shahiduzzaman, mayor of Kotchandpur municipality in Bangladesh's Jhenaidah, demanded stern action against his brother if found guilty.

Speaking to PTI from Jhenaidah, Shahiduzzaman said, "We grew up together and it is hard to believe that he is involved in such a heinous crime. If he is at all indulged in the crime, he should be punished."

He said, "I spoke to him two weeks ago over phone and he sounded happy...I believe he is in the US now."

Shahiduzzaman, however, claimed that he had no knowledge of his brother's business dealings or his relationship with the murdered MP.

"All I know is that my brother is very rich...But I have no clue about his business," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer in West Bengal said, "Bangladesh does not have any extradition treaty with the US government but India has. We are planning to extradite Shahin to India because the crime occurred in our state."

Shahin, a close friend and reportedly a business partner of Anar, is believed to be in New York City, where he holds US citizenship.

Anar, a three-time parliamentarian from Jhenaidah-4, was the president of Awami League's Kaliganj sub-district unit.

On May 11, he went to West Bengal to undergo treatment and went missing from Kolkata on May 13.

According to investigators, Shahin lured the parliamentarian to a posh residential complex in Kolkata's New Town area through Bangladeshi model Celesty Rahman and was murdered there.

On April 30, Shahin travelled to India and returned to Bangladesh on May 10. On May 18, he flew to Nepal and then reportedly to Dubai and presently he is believed to be in New York City, they said.

West Bengal CID sources said Anar was first strangulated after which his body was chopped into pieces by a Bangladeshi butcher . Later, Jihad along with two others dumped the pieces of the flesh at different areas in South 24-Parganas district. His body parts are yet to be found.

So far, four persons  three from Bangladesh and one from Bongaon in West Bengal  have been arrested in this case.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A Bangladeshi citizen who illegally lived in Mumbai and worked as a butcher was allegedly hired to dismember the body of murdered Bangladeshi MP Mohammad Anwarul Azim, chop it into pieces which were then disposed of by the assailants, police West in Bengal said on Friday after it arrested the 24-year-old suspect from Bongaon in North 24 Parganas close to the Bangladesh border. Police search for the body parts of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anwar who was brutally murdered in Kolkata. (ANI Photo)

Also Read | Bangladesh MP honey-trapped? Killers skinned, chopped body, used turmeric

The grisly murder of the 56-year-old parliamentarian from Bangladeshs ruling Awami League, first unearthed earlier this week, has sent shockwaves across two countries.

One Jihad Hawaldar, 24, has been arrested. He was directly involved in the crime. Investigation is going on, said AK Chaturvedi, inspector general of the state crime investigation department.

Hailing from Khulna in Bangladesh, Hawaldar was illegally staying in Mumbai and working as a butcher, officials said. He was arrested from Bongaon in North 24 Parganas late on Thursday.

Azim, a three-time MP from Jhenaidah, came to India on May 12 for medical treatment, and was declared missing on May 18. His body was not traced but bloodstains were found during forensic analysis inside a fridge at a flat in New Town where he was last traced.

Also Read | Bangladesh MP murder case: Blood stains found in refrigerator, reveals police probe

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), which has arrested three people, is now probing the role of a 22-year-old woman, Celesty Rahman, and whether she was used by the killers to lure Azim for a business deal to a high-end residential society in New Town where he was murdered.

As per plans, on May 13, Amanullah Syed (56), Tanvir Bhuiyan (30) and Celesty Rahman (22) along with a few other absconding persons brutally murdered the victim. His flesh was separated from the bones and disposed of so as not to keep any evidence, the DMP stated in its remand application while producing the trio before the chief metropolitan magistrate in Dhaka.

After the hearing, the court sent the three to eight days in police remand. HT has a copy of the remand application.

Azim was strangled to death hours after he entered the house, it said.

Aktaruzzaman Shahin, the brain behind the murder and a long-term business partner of Azim, had developed some grudges against the victim. Azim was, however, not aware of it. Syed, too, had a long- term political rivalry against Azim. The duo together planned to commit the murder in Kolkata so that they dont come under the scanner of Dhaka Police, a DMP officer told HT.

Dhaka police earlier said the murder was planned two to three months ago and that those involved held multiple meetings at Shahins houses in Gulshan and Basundhara areas in Dhaka.

On April 30, Shahin reached Kolkata along with Syed, Bhuiyan and Rahman and started living in the New Town duplex that he had taken on rent from a state government employee for 1 lakh per month, Dhaka Police said. It was here that the murder plan was given the final shape, it added.

Two more accused Faisal Ali Shazi and Mostafizur Rahman were staying in a hotel on Sudder Street. They checked in on the night of May 2.

Before leaving New Town, Aktaruzzaman gave the responsibility to Syed to execute the murder plan. He told him that the opportunity shouldnt be missed under any circumstances and that no evidence should be left behind, said the DMP officer.

Shahin, a Bangladesh-born American citizen, fled to Nepal after the murder. Investigation so far has revealed that a fallout in a business partnership was the probable motive behind the murder.

The assailants brought a butcher named Jihad from Mumbai. Jihad was living in Mumbai as an illegal intruder for many years. Two months ago, he was brought to Kolkata by an American citizen of Bangladesh origin, Akhtaruzzaman Shaheen. This Shaheen is the mastermind of this planned heinous murder, the Bengal police said in a statement.

Jihad confessed that, on the orders of Akhtaruzzaman, he and four other Bangladeshi nationals smothered and killed the MP in a flat, police said.

Then they removed all the meat from the body in the flat and minced the meat to destroy his identity and then they put everything in a polythene pack. They also chopped the bones into small pieces. Then take those packets out of the flat and dropped them around Kolkata and the surrounding areas near wetlands and canals. The trolley bags were dumped at separate locations, the police added in a statement.

Azim was reported missing on May 18 from Baranagar in North 24 Parganas in the northern fringes of Kolkata. He was staying with an old friend who raised the alarm after realising that Azim was in touch neither with him nor his family in Dhaka.

On May 13, two men and the woman picked up Azim in a rented car and brought him to the New Town premises where he was murdered.

CCTV footage of the residential campus in New Town revealed that Azim entered the society in the afternoon of May 13. There were at least three people with him, including a woman later identified as Celesty Rahman. That was the last time he was seen alive. He never came out even as the persons accompanying him were seen leaving the premises on different dates over the next few days with trolley bags.

The killers left India on different dates and reached Dhaka by flight. One was asked to enter Bangladesh via Bihar and Nepal.

Even though Azim was murdered on May 13, the killers continued to send messages to the victims friends over the next few days saying that he was with a VIP and travelling to Delhi, said a police officer, requesting anonymity.
Raipur: At least one person was killed and six others injured in a blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in Chhattisgarhs Bemetara district on Saturday, officials aware of the incident said. The explosion took place in the unit located near Pirda village (Twitter Photo)

Bemetara collector Ranbir Sharma said that the explosion took place in the unit located near Pirda village in the Berla development block.

Police and rescue teams were rushed to the site after the incident. The employees of the unit have been evacuated, and the situation is under control, he said.

Sharma further said fire brigade teams and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel have been deployed at the spot.

The injured are admitted to Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital Raipur. Six persons injured in the blast were taken to Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital Raipur for treatment. One person was brought dead, the hospitals public relations officer, Shubhra Singh, told media.

Eyewitnesses told local news channels that at least 100 people were working in the explosives manufacturing factory when the blast took place.
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Congress on Saturday demanded a high court judge-monitored judicial probe into the encounter of 12 alleged Maoists killed by the security forces on May 10 in Bijapur. The arms and other items recovered by the security personnel during the encounter (PTI Photo)

State Congress chief Deepak Baij, addressing a press conference in Raipur, said the villagers levelled serious allegations on police in connection with the encounter, and therefore, it requires a high-level probe.

On May 10, the state police claimed that they killed 12 Naxalites in a forest near Pidia village under Gangaloor police station limits in Bijapur district in an encounter during an anti-Naxalite operation.

Police also identified the dead Naxalites and claimed that they all carried cash rewards.

A day after the killings, local villagers, family members of the deceased and activists accused the police of staging a fake encounter and those killed were not Maoists, a charge rejected by the police.

On May 13, the Congress constituted a fact-finding team headed by its former MLA Santram Netam to probe the encounter which visited the village on May 16.

Family members of the killed people told our fact-finding team that of the 12 killed, Budhu Oyam of Mallepalli village and Kallu Punem of Palnar village were active Sangham members of the Maoists while remaining others Lakhe Kujam, Unda Chhotu, Ursa Chhotu, Sukku Tati, Chaitu Kunjam, Sunita Kujam, Jago Barsi, natives f Ittawar village and Sannu Avalam, Bhima Oyam, Dula Tamo, residents of Pidia were not Maoists, Baij said.

Kunjam Gulli, Lekha Devi, Kunjam Jila, and Kunjam Badru, who hail from Ittawar village and Poyam Nandu of Pidia village, who were injured in the shootout were also not linked with the Maoists, Baij added.

According to villagers, police opened fire on villagers on May 10 morning at 6am when they had gone to pluck tendu leaves in the forest. The allegations levelled by the villagers against the police are very serious and sensitive. Considering the seriousness of the allegations, it is necessary that a high-level impartial investigation should be conducted into this matter, Baij said.

The Congress Party demands that the encounter be investigated under the supervision of a sitting high court judge, he added.

Earlier this week, a team of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) visited the village and claimed in its report that the villagers clearly stated that it was by no means an encounter as claimed by the police but a clear case of extra-judicial killings by the security forces.
As the voting for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections ended on Saturday, the Congress party claimed that the ruling BJP's fate is all but sealed while the opposition INDIA bloc has grown from strength to strength since the first phase. Congress general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh.(ANI)

Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, repeated the opposition's slogan south mein saaf, north mein half, implying that the BJP is being wiped out in the south and is losing ground in other regions.

"After polling in Maharashtra, UP, Bihar, and now Delhi, we are seeing the incredible chemistry that has been built between coalition partners. The INDIA alliance has already crossed the halfway mark of 272 seats and is on course for a tally of over 350 seats in total," he claimed.

He also claimed that the BJP was facing difficulties in campaigning in states like Haryana and Punjab as their leaders were being driven out of villages by residents and attributed this to widespread anger among farmers.

The outgoing PM has extra time to plan his retirement, since the BJPs campaign is ending early, Ramesh said.

Noting incredible chemistry among coalition partners, the Congress leader claimed that the INDIA bloc has already crossed the halfway mark of 272 seats and is on course for a tally of over 350 seats in total.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had made a similar claim of achieving a majority in the Lok Sabha after the fourth phase of the general elections.

Read: PM Modi thanks voters after phase 6, says people realised voting for INDIA bloc futile

Jairam Ramesh also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi delusional for claiming he was sent by god.

In an interview with a TV channel, Modi said, Until my mother was alive, I used to think I was born biologically. After her demise, when I look at my experiences, I am convinced that I was sent by God. This strength is not from my body. It has been given to me by God. That's why God also gave me the ability, strength, pure-heartedness, and inspiration to do this. I'm nothing but an instrument that God has sent.

"As the reality of defeat dawns on the outgoing Prime Minister, he has become increasingly delusional. He has now proclaimed that his birth was not biological, and that he has been sent by the Creator himself. Perhaps he fancies himself as a Godman in his next career," Ramesh said.

"Even his acolytes have taken to the PM's latest re-branding - Puri candidate Sambit Patra proclaimed that even Lord Jagannath is a 'bhakt' of the outgoing PM. The voters of India will teach them both a lesson in humility," he added.

Bengal Lok Sabha elections: BJP's Jhargram candidate alleges mob attack, TMC hits back

The Congress leader said this election has continued to centre around the Congress party's positive campaign.

"Our Nyay Patra and guarantees are the focus of the messaging of all parties. The slogan of 'Khata-Khat' has captured the imagination of the people, to the extent that even the outgoing PM has been forced to respond to it. The announcement of our final Guarantee - of doubling the allotment of free foodgrain for each individual under the National Food Security Act - has caught fire in North and East India," Ramesh said.

"Every single ground report is very clear. 'Hawa badal rahi hai, Aandhi ban rahi hain'. The INDIA Janbandhan is set to sweep the NDA away. June 4th is coming!" Ramesh said.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday lashed out at Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhwinder Sukhu, accusing him of turning the state into an ATM of the Congress.



The Himachal Pradesh chief minister has made the state the Congress partys ATM. Whenever there is an election the Congress party uses the states peoples hard-earned money for contesting polls. Development cannot be done by the Congress but development is the BJPs habit, the minister said during his campaign in Himachal Pradesh, whose four seats will go to polls in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections on June 1.



ALSO READ: INDIA bloc wants to steal reservation of backward classes: Amit Shah in Bihar



Continuing his attack on the Congress, Shah said,"Modi Ji has already won 310 seats and will cross the 400 mark in the sixth and seventh phases and will be the prime minister again. Therefore the responsibility of getting 400 seats lies on the people who are going to vote in the seventh phase. On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi will remain stuck below 40 seats." Union home minister Amit Shah claimed that Congress uses the Himachal Pradesh citizens' hard-earned money for contesting polls(PTI)

Shah claimed that the entire blame for the Congress loss on June 4 will be pinned on party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Now Kharge Ji is campaigning in Himachal Pradesh. But on the 4th of June, the entire blame of the Congress party losing the election will be shifted to Kharge Sahab and he will have to resign. Because no one can blame Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, he said.



ALSO READ: Need strong PM who can give befitting reply to Pak: Shah in Haryana

He said that once the BJP registers victory in six assembly seats it will form a government in Himachal Pradesh.

Accusing the current Congress government in the state of corruption, Shah said,"Modi Ji has sent Rs. 3200 crore during the disaster but they spent the entire amount on corruption. The MLAs who have joined the BJP have also tendered resignation from the assembly. They will be elected again by the people as the BJPs nominated candidates and once they are elected the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh will fall like a house of cards. Modi Ji has developed the nation 100% but Himachal Pradesh by 150%, he said.
External Affairs minister S Jaishankar and National Commission for Women's (NCW) president Rekha Sharma, who voted in Delhi today for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections, got a certificate for being the first male voter and first senior citizen voter at their designated polling booths, respectively. EAM Jaishankar and NCW chief Rekha Sharma(X/ @DrSJaishankar @sharmarekha)

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Jaishankar, showcasing his inked finger after casting his vote for the sixth phase, highlighted that he was the first male voter in the booth. He shared his picture on social media platform X, stating, "Cast my vote in New Delhi this morning. Urge all voting today to turnout in record numbers and vote in this sixth phase of the elections."

The Union minister further expressed his confidence that the Delhi voters would once again support the Narendra Modi government and Viksit Bharat.

"I believe that the voters in Delhi will once again support Viksit Bharat and the Modi government," he stressed.

India general elections 2024: Phase 6 polling for 58 seats, Delhi votes today; key candidates, schedule

Meanwhile, Sharma also took pride in becoming the first senior citizen to vote at her designated booth in Delhi on Saturday.

"First voter and first proud senior citizen to vote in this booth. Ladies and gentlemen please vote and choose your leader," Sharma posted on X with a photo showing her inked finger and a certificate from the District Election Office.

Elections 2024:

Voting for the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections began at 7am today across 58 parliamentary constituencies across six states and two Union Territories (UTs) including all seven seats in Delhi, amid tight security and arrangements.

Voting is being held in 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh, all 10 seats in Haryana, eight seats each in Bihar and West Bengal, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Jharkhand, and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Former Indian cricketer MS Dhoni casts vote in Ranchi

Among the prominent candidates are Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan (Sambalpur), BJP's Maneka Gandhi (Sultanpur), Sambit Patra (Puri), Manohar Lal Khattar (Karnal), Manoj Tiwari (North East Delhi), Abhijit Gangopadhyay (Tamluk), Bansuri Swaraj (New Delhi), PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti (Anantnag-Rajouri), Raj Babbar (Gurugram) and Kanhaiya Kumar of the Congress (North East Delhi).

Polling has already been completed on 428 parliamentary constituencies for 25 states and UTs in the first five phases of the 18th general elections.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday released absolute voter turnout numbers for the first five phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and reiterated that the polling data has always been accessible to both candidates and the public. Election Commission of India said voter turnout data was always available with candidates and 24x7 on Voter Turnout app. (Photo by Niharika KULKARNI / AFP)

Hitting out at what it called a "pattern of false narratives and mischievous design to vitiate electoral process", the ECI maintained that voter turnout data has always been promptly available through its app from 9:30am of the poll day of each phase.

The ECI released the absolute polling numbers a day after the Supreme Court refused to issue directions to the poll body on an NGO's plea for uploading polling booth-wise voter turnout data on its website during the Lok Sabha elections and favoured a "hands-off attitude" amidst an ongoing electoral process.

The poll panel had opposed the NGO's demand contending it would "vitiate" the electoral space and cause "chaos" in the poll machinery in the midst of the general elections.

The Commission feels duly strengthened by the Honble Supreme Courts observations and verdict on the process of release of turnout data by the Election Commission of India, the poll body said in a release.

Read: ECI to examine BJPs code of conduct violation complaint against Uddhav Thackeray

The ECI stressed that any alteration of the number of votes polled is not possible due to the rigorous, transparent, and participative process involved.

It pointed out that authorised agents of all candidates possess Form 17C, which records the total number of votes polled at each of the approximately 10.5 lakh polling stations across 543 parliamentary constituencies. The Commission said the total number of votes polled recorded in Form 17C cannot be altered as they are available to all contesting candidates.

Agents of candidates are always allowed to accompany EVM and statutory papers, including form 17 C from polling station till storage in a strong room as per Rule 49 V (2) of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, the ECI noted.

The candidate or his agents bring the copy of the form 17C to the counting centre and compare it with the result in each round, it added.

Read: ECI pulls up BJP's Abhijit Gangopadhyay over 'sexist' comment on Mamata Banerjee: Injudicious
New Delhi, Excited first-time voters in Delhi flaunted their inked fingers after exercising their ballot in the Lok Sabha polls and were unanimous in their demand for better employment opportunities in the government sector and changes in the country's education system. First-time voters cast their ballot for change and better future

Over 2.52 lakh first-time voters cast their maiden votes in the elections in the city.

At many polling booths, the first-time voters were also awarded certificates.

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's daughter Miraya, a first-time voter, cast the ballot along with her brother Raihan and said the youth should come out and vote for a change.

Accompanied by their parents, the two cast their votes at a booth on Lodhi Road in the New Delhi constituency.

"My only message to the youth is to just come out and vote. It is our job to make a change so we need to come out and do it," Miraya told PTI Videos.

Asifa, a first-time voter at Jafrabad area, said she has been following the developments related to elections like the announcement of candidates and poll alliances even before the polls were announced.

"I am proud to have cast my vote today," she said.

Radhika Shukla, a first-time voter and a student of Miranda House, said, "We cannot ask the government for everything. In addition to other issues like development opportunities and women's safety, this generation's youth also wants that environmental issues should be addressed." She is the daughter of Special Commissioner of Police in Delhi Police Shalini Singh. Her father Anil Shukla is also an IPS officer.

Vibha Kumari, who is pursuing her graduation from the Delhi University, cast her vote at the Nirman Bhawan polling booth. "I am a first-time voter and it was a very smooth experience. The polling authorities had made good arrangements. After casting our votes, we were given coconut water packs to beat the heat," she said.

There were several first-time voters who made their choices after reading the manifestos of various parties and doing their research.

Madhu Kumari, who exercised her franchise at the polling booth in Nirman Bhawan, said, "If you want a better country, each and every vote is very important. I am proud to be a first-time female voter. I read the manifestos of each of the parties and everything related to women's safety, education, and the police. For my future and the current needs, it is essential to cast one's vote."

Sameer Khan , who cast his vote at the centre in Kendriya Vidyalaya in President's Estate, said he wants that the government should work towards increasing job opportunities for the youth in the public sector. "There is a dearth of permanent jobs in the government sector something that is affecting us," he stressed.

There were some others, who cast their votes on the basis of the voting choices of their family.

Vansh Sharma, a 20-year-old, who voted at a polling centre in Kinari Bazar, said, "I have cast my vote on my family's choice. We have been voting for one party for ages. My MP has worked well for the development of this area."

In Mangolpuri's Q Block, which falls in Northwest Delhi constituency, the first-time voters Varsha and Mausam got the opportunity to cast their votes in the school premises from where they had passed their Class 12.

"We are lucky that our voting centre fell in our school only," said Varsha, who is pursuing graduation from a Delhi University college.

Mausam, who is married now, said, "Our school building has been rebuilt. We want more such schools."

A voter turnout of 53.73 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in Delhi, where polling is underway for its seven Lok Sabha constituencies on Saturday. PTI SLB NSM SJJ ALK NIT ASK AS AS

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Has the Election Commission become a pale shadow of its former self? Some, including former chief election commissioners, are making a strong case for changes to help the EC maintain its authority. The MCC is a self-regulatory framework borne out of political consensus rather than statutory enactment. (File Photo)

Consider this, says one former CEC: In 2012, the then prime minister Manmohan Singh sought the Election Commissions permission before visiting the Golden Temple at Amritsar during the Punjab assembly elections. Over a decade later, the situation seems to be much different. Live Updates on the Lok Sabha elections 2024

On April 21, at a rally in Rajasthan's Banswara, Modi said the Congress, if voted to power, would distribute the countrys wealth to infiltrators and those who have more children. The Congress alleged that Modi was creating a divide between Hindus and Muslims. Full coverage of Lok Sabha polls 2024

The EC took action only four days later, issuing notices to the BJP and Congress presidents on April 25 on complaints against the Prime Minister by the Opposition and against Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge by the ruling party. While the EC did not name Modi or Gandhi, it asked JP Nadda and Kharge for their comments on alleged Model Code of Conduct violations by star campaigners.

Nearly a month later, on May 22, the Election Commission directed BJP star campaigners not to make communal speeches and those of the Opposition party to refrain from saying the Constitution may be abolished if the BJP returns to power.

Former chief election commissioner Ashok Lavasa told this reporter: It is a straightforward case. When constitutional authorities receive a complaint, they are duty-bound to act on it. Regarding hate speech at Banswara, they sent notices to the BJP,not to the Prime Minister. Without taking names or referring to designations, it may not be a bad idea to include the party without exempting the individual.

When asked how he would have tackled the situation, another former CEC SY Quraishi said the impact would have been salutary even if the EC had merely banned the Prime Minister from campaigning for three days after his speech.

In my time, we charge-sheeted four ministers for campaign infringements, and the government of the day did not react adversely," he told this reporter.

In some cases, the EC has taken strict action, but these involve minor leaders. On May 21, it strongly censured retired Calcutta high court judge and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from West Bengals Tamluk constituency, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, and barred him from all campaigning for 24 hours after his[ remarks about chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Lavasa said: If theres a loss of trust in the Election Commission, it is a matter of concern. It is incumbent upon the Election Commission to invoke the relevant law and act, where needed. The Election Commissioners are not officers of the government but constitutional authorities. They act within the provisions of the Constitution and laws framed by the Parliament and their own regulations.

Under a strict interpretation of the law, the EC is answerable to the Constitution. It is a constitutional body that works independently. It is not answerable to the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha or the office of the President. It is, however, responsible for the Constitution of India, which mentions it in Article 324. In this context, the Parliament enacted the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950 and Representation of the People Act,1951, the two main shields of the poll body.

According to Quraishi, The Constitution of India has given the EC spine. Times have changed. They must know how to use their power. FIRs should be filed because the law is equal for all citizens. In the Model Code of Conduct, the EC is the umpire, and it needs to act.

Another former CEC, TS Krishnamurthy, too is convinced that electoral reforms is the crying need of the hour, even as he says that the EC has become the subject of too much criticism, which is not justified.

Four reforms must be considered mandatory. There is need for separate law for political parties; the first-past-the-post system needs to be done away with; there is need for a National Fund to contest elections and criminal elements must be weeded out with immediate effect, he said.

A strong votary of changes in the Model Code of Conduct, Krishnamurthy is convinced that the Election Commission needs the power to disqualify candidates if the infringements get too glaring. Merely passing strictures will not suffice.

Violence and hate speech cannot be condoned and political parties have to be made accountable, he told this reporter.

Lavasa also believes the time for reforming the MCC is at hand. I certainly believe that the Election Commissions Model Code of Conduct needs to be reviewed comprehensively under the changed circumstances. It is an evolving document, and you learn with every experience. It needs a drastic overhaul.

The MCC is a self-regulatory framework borne out of political consensus rather than statutory enactment. It is a set of guidelines issued by the EC for political parties, candidates and governments to follow during an election.

N Gopalaswami, Indias 15th CEC, said: If political parties want reform, they can suggest changes in the Model Code of Conduct. Where is the problem? I have held the position, so I know the difficulties that go with the office.

According to him, it is all very well to pass judgement on the EC, but many people do not even have an idea of the kind of pressures the Commissioners have to work under. The coordination, monitoring, and the sheer scale of holding an election in a country as large and diverse as India, from the most populated urban settlements to the remotest outposts, is a job that has been hailed not just in India, but across the world by experts.

Krishnamurthy recalled his time as CEC when a chief minister used an IAF plane to campaign in his own state but switched to a car the moment he entered a neighbouring state for fear of defying the Model Code of Conduct.
New Delhi: Go First faced another setback after one of its bidders, EaseMyTrip, announced the withdrawal of its bid. The defunct airline had 54 aircraft in its fleet that have been grounded since May 3 last year. Earlier this month, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) de-registered all its 54 aircraft. (Representative Photo)

Go First, which filed for bankruptcy in May last year, had received two financial bids as part of its bankruptcy process. SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh submitted a bid along with Busy Bee Aviation Pvt. Ltd, in which EaseMyTrip has a 51% stake. Sharjah-based Sky One Aviation also bid for the airline.

On Saturday, EaseMyTrips founder and CEO Nishant Pitti said the company has decided to withdraw its bid for the airline. Pitti was part of a consortium, led by Singh, which had submitted the highest bid of Rs.1,600 crore.

However, hopes for the airlines revival were quashed after the Delhi high court on April 25 ordered the DGCA to deregister all their aircraft.

After careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw from the GoAir bid in my personal capacity. This decision allows me to better focus on other strategic priorities and initiatives that align with our long-term vision and growth objectives. Our commitment to delivering exceptional value and service remains unwavering as we continue to navigate new opportunities and challenges, Pitti, Founder & CEO of EaseMyTrip, said.

Go First, formerly owned by the Wadia group, ceased all its operations in the peak summer rush, severely impacting the Indian passengers. It is soon expected to lose all its slots since the airline has not been able to utilise any of them for more than a year.

Go First was the fifth largest airline in India based on scheduled departures.

Sadly its curtains for Go First, Mark D Martin of Martin Consultancy said.

Though if lessors reached a settlement with the airline on switching from Pratt and Whitney (whom Go First said was the cause of their grounding) to CFM leap engines, GoFirst could have been saved, he added.

The airline with 54 aircraft in its fleet had around 90% Pratt & Whitney (PW) engines. Go First claimed that PWs engines had been failing since the first deliveries in 2017 and the ever-increasing number of failing engines caused severe cash flow issues.

It filed for bankruptcy protection within a week of shutting down operations and blamed PW for engine-related issues that forced it to do so. It is currently embroiled in a legal battle with P&W at the Singapore Court of Arbitration in which the airline has claimed about Rs.8,000 crore in compensation.

Also Read: GoFirsts last stand with two suitors in the wings: Understanding airline insolvency in India

Go First and IndiGo in India faced huge supply chain issues due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. However, minor issues were faced around 2017. Marker leader IndiGo was able to sustain the revenue losses due to the grounding of aircraft because of its strong financial position.

The non-availability of spare parts and a delay in the supply of retrofitted engines from the engine maker led to major flight cancellations for the Go First post-pandemic.

The death of an airline in a developing country is not seen as a good indicator for the aviation sector. Go first is not the first one. We have seen the painful deaths of Sahara, Kingfisher, and Jet Airways in the last two decades. Despite constant economic growth, infrastructural upgrading, increasing passenger footfall if there is an event of an airline going out of runway, it raises questions on the overall ecosystem, governance and solidity of the sector, said Brajesh Singh, President, Arthur D. Little India Pvt. Ltd.

Go Firsts going out of business has impacted the Indian aviation sectors image and also whether the market is conducive to foreign/homegrown airlines. It is high time to relook, review and come up with more industry-conducive frameworks, Singh added.

Go First is the second airline in India going through an insolvency process  the first being Jet Airways, which is still stuck in various courts despite finding a suitor for the airline.
New Delhi, Serving voters with tea and snacks, handing out chilled water bottles to polling officials and electors and holding mobile phones while people went inside the polling booths to cast their votes, some good samaritans came to the rescue on the election day in Delhi. Good samaritans lend a helping hand to voters and officials on polling day

Ashok Randhawa, the president of Sarojini Nagar Market Traders' Association, was seen distributing chilled water bottles outside a polling booth in Nirman Bhawan.

"I will go to other polling booths in the New Delhi constituency as well. Before casting my vote, I will go to other booths too. I have arranged for 100 cartons of drinking water bottles and have given bulk orders for bread pakoras, mathris and tea so that I can serve everyone," he told PTI.

Randhawa said he does this for every election.

"My mother was a social worker and she is my inspiration. I am doing this out of my own pocket," he said, as he also handed out water bottles to the mediapersons, who were covering the polls.

Rajendra Singh, a retired Delhi government employee, was spotted distributing lunch to the employees posted at the voting centre in Narela in Northwest constituency.

"This is being done by my own expenditure. I am known here as a social activist but it is our duty to provide help to these officers who are serving us and our country," he said.

Singh also offered food to the policemen deployed at the polling centre but they refused as they were already provided lunch from the police department.

A man was seen holding two dozen mobile phones in his hands outside the polling centre in Mangolpuri, which falls under the Northwest Delhi constituency.

The voters are not allowed to carry their cellphones inside the polling stations while casting their votes.

"Those who trust me, they submit their mobile phones and I am happy to carry them. When we came in the morning for casting my vote, the policemen told me that the phone is not allowed. My family members handed over their phones to me. On seeing them, a few more persons did the same and that is how it started. As of now, I have received more than 50 phones and returned them to their owners," he said.

There were 13,641 polling stations across Delhi.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Google Doodle on Saturday commemorated the sixth phase of India's Lok Sabha elections - taking place in 58 constituencies across six states and two union territories (UTs). In its doodle, Google replaced its iconic logo with an image depicting an uplifted index finger marked with ink - a symbol synonymous with the democratic process of the Indian elections. Google doodle celebrates 6th phase of Lok Sabha polling with voting symbol

Google took up a similar doodle during the past five phases of the general elections.

Once a user clicks on the logo, they are directed to the search results related to the latest election updates.

Notably, Google Doodles are brief and temporary changes made to the Google logo, crafted to pay tribute to a range of local and global themes, including holidays, important dates, and impactful figures who have made notable contributions to society.

Voting for 6th phase of Lok Sabha election underway

Voting for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections began at 7 am on Saturday across 58 constituencies in six states and two Union territories. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), over 11.13 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots, including 5.84 crore men, 5.29 crore women, and 5,120 individuals of the third gender.

Meanwhile, a total of 889 candidates are in the fray.

Some of the key candidates include BJPs Manohar Lal Khattar from Karnal, BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj from New Delhi, BJPs Manoj Tiwari and Congress Kanhaiya Kumar from North East Delhi, BJPs Naveen Jindal from Kurukshetra, Congress Raj Babbar from Gurgaon, among others.

The results for the Lok Sabha elections will be declared on June 4.

PM Modi urges voters to vote

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all the voters across eight states and UTs to exercise their franchise.

I urge all those who are voting in the 6th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to vote in large numbers. Every vote counts, make yours count too! Democracy thrives when its people are engaged and active in the electoral process. I specially urge women voters and youth voters to vote in large numbers, he wrote in a post on X.
Madras high court on Friday delivered a split verdict in the case of whistleblower-turned-YouTuber Savukku Shankar where justice G R Swaminathan quashed his detention under the Goondas Act while justice P B Balaji differed. Now, the matter will go to a third judge to be appointed by acting chief justice R Mahadevan. Both judges were of the opinion that he must be shifted out of the Coimbatore because Shankars mother had filed another habeas corpus petition complaining that he faced custodial violence. (ANI)

This was based on a habeas corpus petition filed by Shankars mother challenging his detention under the Goondas Act. The Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police Sandeep Rai Rathore had booked Shankar under the Goondas Act on May 12 after he was arrested by the Coimbatore police in Theni on May 4 on charges of defaming women police officers.

Justice Swaminathan quashed it on the grounds that there has been non-application of mind in detaining him under the Goondas Act. Justice Balaji who shared the division bench with him said that the merits of the habeas corpus petition should be decided after giving the state government an opportunity to file a counter affidavit.

However, both judges were of the opinion that he must be shifted out of the Coimbatore because Shankars mother had filed another habeas corpus petition complaining that he faced custodial violence.

The Goondas Act against Shankar was invoked on the complaint of an officer of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). The Goondas detention order has been served to him in the Coimbatore prison.

There are seven cases including the aforementioned case are pending against Shankar @ Savukku Shankar in the CCB/Cyber Crime PS of the GCP, out of which 3 cases are Under Investigation, charge sheets have been filed in 2 cases, the remaining two cases are Pending Trial, the Chennai police said on May 12.

Shankars mother A Kamala had contended in her petition that her son was facing this because he is a strong critic of the state government and the police. She added that the police broke her sons right arm in the Coimbatore prison.

The Madras high court on May 8 directed the Coimbatore district legal services authority to submit a report on the health condition based on the first habeas corpus petition filed by Shankars mother that he is facing custodial violence.

On May 9, the high court closed the petition filed by Shankars mother after directing the prison authorities to consider her representation for shifting her son from Coimbatore central prison to any other prison since she complained of custodial violence and feared threat to his life.

On May 16, Shankar was then taken to Mahatma Gandhi memorial government hospital (MGMGH) for medical examination ahead of police custody obtained by the Trichy police for one day. Shankar has moved the principal special court for essential commodities (EC) and NDPS Act cases in Madurai seeking bail. However the local court on May 21 granted police two days custody to interrogate Shankar.
Amid a massive row over Prawal Revanna's disappearance after the emergence of hundreds of sexually explicit videos, HD Kumaraswamy, the former's uncle, questioned Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah over the latter's son's death in Belgium. He asked why had the chief minister not ordered a probe into his son Rakesh's death in 2016. Initially calling for a thorough investigation into his nephews actions, Kumaraswamy later distanced himself from the Revanna family (ANI)

Rakesh Siddaramaiah died due to multiple organ failure in Belgium on July 30, 2016 during the first tenure of Siddaramaiah as the Karnataka chief minister.

Slamming Siddaramaiah for his comment that Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna fled the country with the knowledge of his family members, including his grandfather HD Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy, the former Karnataka chief minister, said other than keeping the issue alive, no efforts are being made to find out the truth in the sexual abuse case.

HD Kumaraswamy claimed there was a coverup in Rakesh Siddaramaiah's death. He asked which event he had gone abroad for and whether he took permission from his father.

The JD(S) leader asked the CM if he had sent his son abroad.

"Why did Siddaramaiah not order a probe into the death of Rakesh? Why was it covered up? Did the CM send him abroad?" he added.

Kumaraswamy asked the Karnataka chief minister to reveal who had accompanied Rakesh Siddaramaiah during his fatal trip.

He further said that efforts were on to finish off his family politically, using the Prajwal Revanna sex abuse videos.

Siddaramaiah issued a sharply worded response, saying there was no connection between his son's death and Prajwal Revanna's case. He called Kumaraswamy's nephew a rapist.

"I am not saying that sharing videos without blurring the faces of the victims is not an offence, but Kumaraswamy says my son's death is bigger than Prajwal rape case. I want to know under which section of IPC or any criminal law, it (Rakesh's death) is an offence," he added.

He said raising his death after eight years is foolishness.

Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda and the MP from Hassan, fled to Germany after purported videos showing him sexually abusing women, were widely circulated across Karnataka.

A Blue Corner notice was issued against Prajwal Revanna to find out about his whereabouts.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
Several election experts have predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will comfortably win the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and form a government for the third time in a row. If the psephologists prove to be right on June 4, BJP stalwart Narendra Modi will equal Congress icon Jawaharlal Nehru's unbeaten record -- becoming the prime minister of India thrice in succession. In an interview on Friday, PM Modi touched upon the topic. Supporters hold cut-outs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election campaign rally in Gurdaspur. (AFP)

Asked about Nehru, the Prime Minister said the comparison between them should be about how much India progressed during his tenure since 2014.

PM Modi further said since he has the blessings of 140 crore people of India, he might win the Lok Sabha elections for the BJP seven times.

Also read: Narendra Modi launches 'can do mujra...' diatribe on INDIA bloc in Bihar

"Modi will win thrice, five times or even seven times. I have the blessings of 140 crore people of India so this will go on," PM Modi told NDTV in an interview.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the father of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's grandmother Indira Gandhi, was the longest-serving prime minister of India, who ruled the country between 1947 and 1964. He steered the Congress to three successive general election victories -- 1951-1952, 1957 and 1962.

Also read: After Prashant Kishor, Yogendra Yadav predicts BJP win; Congress tally to be

Taking a jibe at the Congress, PM Modi said had they been in power, they would have named Chandrayaan-3's touch down point after the Gandhi family, not Shiv Shakti.

In the 2019 general elections, the BJP scored a landslide victory after winning 303 Lok Sabha seats -- the highest ever by any party after the Congress. The party-led NDA alliance had crossed the 350-mark. In 2024, PM Modi and the BJP have set an ambitious target of 400-plus seats for the alliance.

Also read: After Prashant Kishor, US expert predicts landslide BJP victory in Lok Sabha polls

Three prominent poll experts -- Prashant Kishor, Yogendra Yadav and Ian Bremmer -- have predicted that the BJP will win the ongoing polls. However, none of them are optimistic about the possibility of the BJP achieving its "400 paar" goal.
The number of votes polled cannot be altered, the Election Commission of India said on Saturday as it released constituency-wise details of the absolute number of votes cast in the first five phases of the ongoing general elections, just over a month after the first rounds were held. Election Commission of India (File Photo)

The commission contended that the process of collecting and storing polled votes is rigorous, transparent, and participative and that its officials have been disseminating voter turnout data in the best possible manner, considering statutory requirements.

The statement, and the disclosures, come following questions being raised by some parties and a petition in the Supreme Court over what they said was lack of prompt data regarding the total number of eligible voters in each constituency and voter turnout figures and proportions.

The numbers released on Saturday cast do not include the votes cast through postal ballots.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, alluding to the controversies, said the commission will eventually reveal how people were misled by a series of petitions against the poll body in an attempt to sow doubt.

The panel on Friday got a relief from the top court, which told the petitioners that it will not ask the elections watchdog to take any specific actions per se while elections are underway. The Commission has therefore decided to expand the format of turnout data to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency, the ECI said in a press release, noting that the absolute number could already be calculated using the percentage turnout and total electors, which are publicly available.

To be sure, the ECI released the absolute number of eligible voters for the first two phases only at the end of phase three polling. On the day of polling during the five rounds held prior to Saturday, the poll panel issued press notes containing estimated turnout from the ECIs Voter Turnout App, which the commission said was only tentative or provisional, non-statutory and through a secondary source in a May 22 reply to an application by Association for Democratic Reforms and Common Cause.

In its submission to the apex court, the ECI said that the curiosity of the public, stakeholders and Press about voter turnout trends and results has always been expected because of which it had created the Voter Turnout App as a measure of voluntary and non-statutory disclosure.

Poll disclosures

Constituency-wise turnout percentages were released several days after each phase, while electors data was released inconsistently - 18 days after phase one but two days before phase six.

The ECI said candidates authorised agents will have Form 17C, the account of votes recorded, for each polling station and can compare it to round-wise results. Some candidates, like Dr Lubna Sarwath from a small regional party Vidhyarthula Rajakiya Party, who contested from Hyderabad on May 13, do not have the resources to hire polling agents to monitor polling booths and thus do not have access to Form 17C Part I.

Kumar told ANI News that there is an attempt to create doubt and the ECI will eventually expose what is the play here. He said people are misled into questioning voter lists and rules.

Do not say it [Supreme Courts remarks] was in favour. They [the Supreme Court] said what was the truth. There is an attempt to create an atmosphere of doubt. One day, we will definitely tell everybody about it that what is the play here, what is being done, why these doubts are birthed; we will do an expose about it one day. We will tell everyone how people are misled this way, how because of this we end up thinking that this affects our voting. Doubts are created in peoples minds where they question if the rules, the voting lists are correct or not, if they have increased the number of voters. The Supreme Court responded to it all yesterday; we will also definitely give it one day, Kumar told news agency ANI on Saturday after casting his vote.

Big victory for peoples Right to Information! ECI releases voter turnout figures in absolute numbers. Important step by ECI, though this could have been done sooner. The demand to disclose Form 17C must continue as that is the only statutory authenticated record of voter turnout, Anjali Bhardwaj, a transparency activist and a member of the governing board of Common Cause, tweeted on Saturday.

On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to issue directives to the ECI regarding disclosing authenticated turnout records within 48 hours, emphasising a hands-off approach during the ongoing elections. The ECI argued there was no legal mandate to make Form 17C Part I public and uploading scanned copies could lead to morphing and mistrust.
Kerala excise minister MB Rajesh on Friday wrote to state police chief Shaik Darvesh Sahib demanding a probe into allegations of soliciting of funds by certain persons with the aim of achieving a favourable liquor policy by the state government. Kerala excise minister MB Rajesh wrote to state police chief Shaik Darvesh Sahib demanding a probe into allegations of soliciting of funds. (PTI)

The ministers move came after opposition leader VD Satheesan claimed that the CPM-led government was collecting bribes to the tune of 20 crore from 801 bar owners in the state in exchange for favourable changes in the Abkari Act.

The Congress leaders claim was made on the basis of a purported leaked audio clip of a prominent hotel owners association member in which he was heard asking other members to contribute 2.5 lakh each to achieve a favourable liquor policy. Some of the long-pending demands of the bar owners in the state have been longer working hours and removal of dry days.

At a press conference, Satheesan said: Money is being collected from bar owners with the assurance that Abkari rules will be amended as soon as the election code of conduct is passed. The excise minister should take responsibility and resign.

In response to the allegations, the excise minister said, The government has not even initiated discussions regarding this years liquor policy. So we are looking at these reports about soliciting of funds with the aim of certain changes in liquor policy very seriously. There will be strict action against such people. The government does not encourage such actions.

The minister also countered claims that the government was favouring bar owners. The one parameter where the government can help bar owners is with regard to license fees. Our government has effected a hike in license fees from 23 lakh in 2016 to 35 lakhs. There has been a hike of 12 lakhs in 8 years. When the government has raised the license fees so much, how can it be seen as favouring bar owners? said Rajesh. Additionally, when irregularities are found in functioning of bars, during the UDF regime, only a fine was imposed on bar owners. Our government is imposing suspension of licenses along with fines for serious offences.

At the same time, V Sunil Kumar, president of the Federation of Kerala Hotels Association (FKHA), denied any gathering of funds for liquor policy changes. The leaked audio clip was purpotedly of Animon, FKHAs Idukki district president, who was suspended for working against the interests of the outfit.

A process is ongoing to collect funds to construct a building for FKHA in Thiruvananthapuram. Thats the only fund gathering going on. (Animon) has been suspended and thrown out of a forum. What he says or claims does not affect us. There is a conspiracy behind this. We have only asked members to contribute money for our building, Sunil Kumar told reporters.
Mumbai, The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena on Saturday named MLC Anil Parab and party functionary J M Abhyankar as its candidates for the Mumbai Graduates and Mumbai Teachers constituencies, respectively, for the Legislative Council elections scheduled for June 26. Legislative Council polls: Shiv Sena (UBT) fields Anil Parab from Mumbai Graduates constituency

Parab is a former state transport minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Thackeray. Abhyankar is the head of the Shiv Sena teachers' cell.

Out of 78 seats in the Legislative Council, Shiv Sena has 11 members, NCP 9, Congress 8, and BJP 22. The JD , Peasants and Workers Party, and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha have one member each, while four are Independents. 21 seats are vacant.

The vacant seats include 12 members to be nominated by the Governor and nine selected through local body representatives.

Notably, most of the MLCs from Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party have switched their sides to the camps led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, respectively, after the split in these parties.

The biennial elections to four legislative council seats- Mumbai Graduates constituency, Konkan Graduates Constituency, Mumbai Teachers constituency and Nashik Teachers constituency- became necessary as the terms of sitting members are expiring in July.

The last date for filing the nominations is June 7. Voting will be held on June 26 and results will be declared on July 1.

Parab claimed since the Mumbai Graduates Constituency has been under the control of Shiv Sena for the last 30 years, his victory is certain on the strength of the work done by Shiv Sainiks and the trust reposed in the party by graduate voters.

"For Shiv Sainiks, the candidate from the other side is immaterial. They have registered voters in large numbers in this constituency. We hold a tight grip here. So, my victory is certain," Parab, a two-time MLC from the MLA quota, told reporters.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is an ally of the NCP and Congress in the Maha Vikas Aghadi .

Parab claimed the BJP may not allot the Mumbai Graduates constituency to the Sena led by Eknath Shinde.

"The BJP has staked the claim to this constituency. So, I don't think it will give this seat to the Shinde group. Even if Deepak Sawant is nominated , I don't think the BJP will work for him," he claimed.

Parab also said even though 40 MLAs of Shiv Sena have defected , Shiv Sainiks at the grassroots are with Uddhav Thackeray.

"Shiv Sena cadres is intact. So, our victory is a foregone conclusion," he said.

Of the four seats falling vacant, the Mumbai Teachers constituency is currently held by Kapil Patil of JD , an ally of MVA.

The other three retiring members are Shiv Sena 's Vilas Potnis , BJP's Niranjan Davkhare , and Independent MLC Kishore Darade who is supporting the ruling Shiv Sena whose term ends on July 7.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Palakkad , The opposition United Democratic Front on Saturday stepped up its attack against the Left government in the state over its liquor policy and demanded the resignation of Excise and Tourism ministers over alleged corruption in this regard. Liquor policy row in Kerala: UDF demands resignation of excise, tourism ministers

The Congress-led front said a crime branch probe would not bring out the real truth behind the alleged graft to the tune of several crores in connection with the liquor policy and therefore a judicial probe should be carried out.

The demand came a day after reports of the state government mulling scrapping the 'dry day' norm with respect to alcohol sales had kicked off a political storm in the state.

While the UDF has accused the LDF dispensation of taking bribes to 'favour' bar owners, the Left claimed that it has not yet held any deliberations over its liquor policy.

Addressing mediapersons here, UDF Convenor M M Hassan said the reported crime branch probe, based on the complaint of Excise Minister M B Rajesh, would not bring out the "real truth".

He alleged that Rajesh directly lodged a complaint with the police with an intension to protect Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas, who had influenced and pressurised for the changes in the liquor policy.

Mohammed Riyas is the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

"No one thinks that the tourism and excise ministers would give such an assurance to the bar owners without the knowledge and consent of Chief Minister Vijayan," Hassan charged.

He further alleged that it was Riyas who had demanded to scrap the "dry day" norm and the CM was also aware about it.

Raising similar charges against the government, senior Congress leader and former Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala demanded that the Excise Minister Rajesh should be removed from his position and a judicial probe by a sitting judge should be conducted into the allegations.

The "clear corruption" behind the move to change the liquor policy has been exposed now, he alleged.

The CPI -led government's attempt was to open all the bars closed by the previous UDF regime and allot as much as new bars possible to increase the availability of liquor in the southern state, Chennithala alleged.

Earlier in the day, several Youth Congress activists took out a protest march to the office of Minister Rajesh in Palakkad alleging corruption in the LDF government's liquor policy.

The issue of withdrawal of the 'dry day' policy snowballed into a controversy after an audio clip purportedly of a bar association member allegedly asking other members to pay money for a 'favourable liquor policy', was aired on TV channels.

The Congress-led UDF opposition came out with allegations that the Left government sought 20 crore from bar owners to make a policy favourable to them and demanded the resignation of Minister Rajesh.

Brushing aside the allegations and the demand of the opposition, Rajesh said that the state government has not yet held any deliberations regarding its liquor policy.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
May 25, 2024 9:53 PM IST

A week after Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said his government would be following latest guidelines from centre for implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) ruling alliance partner Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) on Saturday reiterated the demand for a separate Tipraland state and said keeping the ADC outside CAA cover alone wouldn't guarantee protection of tribal interests.

In a media briefing here this evening, IPFT vice President Pradip Debbarma said, "Protection of tribals interests can't be guaranteed just by keeping the ADC outside cover of the CAA. If the CAA is implemented in non-ADC areas of the state, it will change the demographic composition of the state's population. And it will cause tribals to be further relegated to minority, tribal reserved seats in the Lok Sabha and the assembly would be lesser, less reservation benefits would be available for tribals".

However, the tribal leader thanked the central government for excluding the 6th schedule areas from the ambit of CAA and said the original version of the nation's citizenship act in 1955 didn't have any restriction against granting legal rights to anyone within the 6th schedule areas except in Assam.

"The CAA has officially mandated that no one except concerned tribal communities within the 6th schedule areas can be granted citizenship rights. We consider this our moral victory," Debbarma said.
Voting is being held in Bihar in phase six of the Lok Sabha Election 2024. 52.24% voter turnout till 5pm has been recorded in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar on Saturday, officials said. Voting is taking place in Valmiki Nagar, Pashchim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Siwan, Gopalganj, Maharajganj and Vaishali Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar. Voters show their identity cards as they wait in a queue at a polling station to cast their votes during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, in Vaishali district, Saturday.(PTI)

The highest and lowest voter turnout was recorded in Vaishali (48.94 per cent) and Siwal (39.81 per cent) respectively till 3 pm.

The elections are being held in 14,872 polling stations. Out of the total, only 1,281 polling stations are located in urban areas.

Voting began in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, a senior official at the state CEO office said. Of the eight parliamentary constituencies, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's JD(U) is contesting four seats, including Sheohar, which was won by the BJP five years ago.

ALSO READ| Narendra Modi in Bihar: 'INDIA bloc performing mujra for its vote bank'

Meanwhile, JD(U)'s ally in the National Democratic Alliance(NDA), the BJP is contesting three out of the eight seats, with former state president Sanjay Jaiswal seeking his fourth consecutive win in Pashchim Champaran. BJP has extended its support to sitting MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal in Maharajganj, who is aiming for a hat-trick victory.

Amid ongoing polling, Bihar BJP president and Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary released a video statement on X. He urged the people to vote in large numbers to elect a government that develops India.

"First vote, then refreshment. I appeal to all the voters who are voting for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections to vote in large numbers. Voting is our right and duty. Please vote for building a developed India," said Samrat Chaudhary.

The Lok Sabha Election 2024 is being held in seven phases since April 19. The results of the polls are scheduled to be declared on June 4.
With the last phase of the election left, the Election Commission has released a new meme featuring 'Munna Bhaiyya', a popular character from the Amazon Prime series Mirzapur, to motivate young voters to participate in the voting process. A screengrab from EC's new meme featuring the character Munna Bhayya.(X/Election Commission)

The electoral authority has repurposed a famous meme template linked with the character. In the original meme, 'Munna Bhaiyya' advises, Padhai Likhai Karo, IAS YAS Bano.

The EC has, however, given this meme a twist. In a post put out on X, EC repurposed the meme with Munna Bhai saying, "Ye kya reels mein time barbaad kar rahe... jao vote do, loktantra ko mazboot karo (Why are you wasting time on reels...go vote and strengthen democracy)."

'Munna Bhaiyya's words appealing the youth to vote, EC captioned the post.

Lok Sabha elections 2024 are currently underway across the country. The seventh phase of polling will be held on June 1. 57 seats across seven states and one union territory will go to polls in the seventh phase. Voting will be held in Bihar, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Thirteen seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, nine seats of West Bengal, eight seats of Bihar, six seats of Odisha, four seats of Himachal Pradesh, three seats of Jharkhand and one seat in Chandigarh will go to polls.

A total of 904 candidates are in the fray in this phase. Punjab had a maximum of 598 nomination forms from 13 Parliamentary constituencies (PCs), followed by Uttar Pradesh with 495 nominations from 13 PCs.

Amid the ongoing polls on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Congress party for allegedly considering the country as its property and said that the INDIA bloc was not decisive over their Prime Ministerial face.

"Congress considers the country as its property, it feels that the 'Shehzada' is the only heir. However, the alliance partners are saying that there will be 5 Prime Ministers in 5 years. Can such a big country run like this? Corruption is so deeply ingrained in their culture, that it appears to the country as a bundle of notes," PM Modi said while addressing a public rally in Bihar's Buxar on Saturday.

Further, launching an attack on the INDI alliance over appeasement, Modi said, "These INDI alliance people can do anything for appeasement, for their vote bank. They want to get your property X-rayed. Congress says that Muslims have the first right to the country's property. They want to end the reservation for SC-ST-OBC."

(With PTI inputs)
Millions of Indians voted in the penultimate phase of a gruelling Lok Sabha election amid scorching heat waves in several parts of the country. A voter turnout of 60.26 per cent was recorded on Saturday in 58 constituencies across six states and two Union territories where polling was held in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Voters queue up to cast their ballots at a polling station during the sixth phase of voting in India's general election, in village Tigaon on the outskirts of Faridabad on May 25, 2024.(AFP)

West Bengal continued its pattern of high polling percentage with over 78% voter turnout, while Bihar and Uttar Pradesh saw slow voting with 55.24% and 54.03% turnout, according to the figures updated by the EC on its voter turnout app.

Delhi, voting in a single phase, recorded 56.94% turnout, followed by Haryana at 59.51%, Odisha at 62.98%, and Jharkhand at 63.73%.

Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency witnessed over 53 per cent polling, the highest since the start of militancy in Kashmir in 1989.

These are provisional numbers and the final voter turnout is expected to increase, albeit marginally.

In spite of hot weather in certain parts of the country, voters were undeterred in their enthusiasm as they were seen queuing up patiently to cast their votes across the country, the ECI said in a press note.

A large number of voters were still in the queue at some polling stations at the prescribed time of closing of poll, it added.

President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar were among the early voters. Congress party leaders, Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, also voted in New Delhi.

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from some areas in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal. Out of the eight seats, the BJP won five and TMC bagged three in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

A voter turnout of 63.73% was recorded in the four Lok Sabha constituencies in JharkhandGiridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi, and Jamshedpur. Giridih had the highest turnout at 66.86%, followed by Jamshedpur (66.79%), Ranchi (61.93%), and Dhanbad (60.40%).

In Bihar, 55.24% of the 1.49 crore eligible voters cast their votes in eight Lok Sabha constituencies. Vaishali recorded the highest polling at 58.68%, followed by Purvi Champaran (58.22%), Paschim Champaran (57.92%), Valmiki Nagar (58.14%), Sheohar (56.18%), Siwan (51.85%), Maharajganj (51.15%), and Gopalganj (50.68%).

Odisha reported a 64.54% voter turnout in six Lok Sabha constituencies and 42 assembly segments on Saturday. The highest turnout for the Lok Sabha election in the state was recorded in Sambalpur (70.62%), while the assembly segment with the highest turnout was Khandapada (79.80%).

In Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency, nearly 54% of the 18.36 lakh electorate voted on Saturday, marking the highest turnout in more than 28 years. The Surankote Assembly segment saw the highest turnout at 68.56%, followed by Rajouri with 67.09%. Anantnag, Anantnag West, and Kulgam Assembly segments recorded below 35% turnout.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti held a protest with her supporters claiming that scores of her party workers were detained by the police to prevent them from voting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed his gratitude to voters participating in the penultimate phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, projecting confidence in the National Democratic Alliances (NDA) prospects. He claimed that people have released voting for the opposition INDIA bloc in the ongoing elections is futile because there is no chance of its coming to power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting for the Lok Sabha elections, in Buxar on Saturday. (ANI Photo)(BJP)

I thank all those who have voted in the penultimate phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. NDAs numbers are looking better and better. People have realised that since INDI Alliance is coming nowhere close to power, voting for it is futile, Modi posted on X.

The Congress, on the other hand, claimed that the BJP's fate is "all but sealed" with the INDIA bloc having already crossed the halfway mark of 272 seats and is on course for a tally of over 350 seats in total.

"With six phases of the elections now concluded, voting for 486 seats is over. As the outgoing PM starts figuring out his retirement plans, heres the round-up of the campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: The BJP's fate is all but sealed. It has become clear that they are South mein Saaf, aur North, West, and East mein Half," Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, posted on X.

He claimed the INDIA bloc has grown from strength to strength since Phase 1 and after polling in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and now Delhi, "we are seeing the incredible chemistry that has been built between coalition partners".

"The INDIA alliance has already crossed the halfway mark of 272 seats and is on course for a tally of over 350 seats in total. Indian voters have seen through the outgoing PM's deceptions and manipulations," Ramesh said.

Millions of voters exercised their franchise in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections held in 58 constituencies across six states and two Union territories.
Mehbooba Mufti of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party on Saturday, May 25, alleged that her party workers and polling agents are being detained in police stations without any reason. Mehbooba Mufti also claimed that complaints regarding the efforts to tamper the EVMs are being received. Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti blocks a road with her supporters as she protests against the alleged detention of her party workers ahead of the sixth round of polling in India's national election in Bijehara, south of Srinagar, on Saturday.(AP)

Mehbooba Mufti, who is a candidate from AnantnagRajouri Lok Sabha seat in South Kashmir where voting is currently underway, is sitting on a protest along with party leaders and workers.

The PDP president also claimed that outgoing calls on her mobile number have been suspended without any explanation. Live Updates on Lok Sabha elections 2024

"I am not able to make any calls since morning. There is no explanation for this sudden suspension of services on the day of polling in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency," Mehbooba Mufti told news agency PTI.

The PDP also flagged the issue in a post on X.

"Just ahead of the polls, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti's @MehboobaMufti cellular phone service has been abruptly snapped. Yesterday evening and in the early hours today, scores of PDP workers and polling agents were detained across polling belt," the PDP wrote.

On Friday, Mehbooba Mufti had written to the Election Commission claiming that PDP workers and polling agents were detained by police.

"Many of our PDP polling agents & workers are being detained just before voting. When the families went to the police stations they are being told that it's being done at the behest of SSP Anantnag & DIG South Kashmir. We've written to @ECISVEEP hoping for their timely intervention," the PDP chief had said in a post on X.

The Anantnag Police, however, claimed that detentions are very few and restricted only to those with a tainted past, based on credible inputs of potential threats to law and order and security on polling day.

Claims were made by a political party that their workers have been detained. Firstly, detentions are very few & restricted only to those who have a tainted past and based on credible inputs of potential threats to law and order & security on polling day. Mostly they are OGWS & are taken into preventive custody for ensuring a safe & peaceful election, the Anantnag Police wrote.

Mehbooba Mufti is contesting against National Conference (NC) candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad. Zafar Iqbal Manhas of the Apni Party is also contesting the polls, making the contest a triangular fight.

Earlier, the Election Commission had revised the date of polling in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency from May 7 to May 25 after it received representations to reschedule the date of polling due to various issues about "logistics, communication and natural barriers of connectivity."

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has, however, not announced any candidate from any of the three seats in Kashmir, including Anantnag-Rajouri. In 2019, NC's Hasnain Masoodi defeated Mufti from the seat by a close margin of over 6000 votes.

In the first general elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the voting has already concluded on the seats of Jammu, Baramulla, Srinagar and Udhampur.
Kolkata: A few hundred monks from various Hindu religious organisations marched in Kolkata and north Bengals Siliguri town on Friday, protesting a remark West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee made last week accusing a section of monks of helping the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. Several BJP leaders were also seen at the protests (Sourced Photo)

Bharat Sevashram Sanghas Kartick Maharaj, who was specifically named by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson, was seen at the forefront of Fridays protest in Kolkata.

Several BJP leaders were also seen at the protests, although the party officially kept itself at a distance.

Mamata Banerjee has insulted the entire ascetic society. Monks will not accept this, Kartick Maharaj told the media.

Addressing a campaign rally on May 18, Banerjee said, I have great respect for monks but not all of them are the same. Bharat Sevashram Sangha has a unit in Berhampore (a Lok Sabha seat). I have heard about a Maharaj (monk) for a long time. His name is Kartick Maharaj. He said he will not allow any TMC election agent in polling booths. I do not consider him a monk because he is directly involved in politics. He is ruining the country. I have great respect for Bharat Sevashram Sangha.

Following Banerjees comments, on May 20, the monk sent a legal notice to the CM seeking an unconditional apology.

Supporting Fridays protests, Bengal BJPs chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, Monks have been the pillars of our society for centuries. Banerjee intentionally insulted them to send a message to Muslim fundamentalists who are her vote bank. Monks cannot tolerate someone hurting their beliefs. Many of them laid down their lives during the Ram Mandir movement.

Pointing at the presence of BJP leaders during the protests, TMC spokesperson Santanu Sen said, This proves that Mamata Banerjee was right.

Bharat Sevashram Sangha general secretary Swami Biswatmananda could not be contacted despite several efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scalding attack on the Opposition, saying the INDIA bloc can perform "mujra" (dance) before their vote bank if they want, but he will not let them snatch away the reservation benefits accorded to the SC/ST/OBC communities by the Constitution of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi(ANI file photo)

Addressing an election rally in Bihar's Patliputra, PM Modi said the INDIA bloc is free to accept the servitude of their vote bank but for him the Constitution is supreme.

"I am giving the guarantee to Bihar, SC/ST/OBC communities, till Modi is alive, I will not let them snatch away their rights. For Modi, Constitution is supreme, for Modi, Babasaheb Ambedkar's sentiments are supreme... if the INDIA bloc wants to accept the servitude of their vote bank, they are free to do so...if they want to perform mujra (dance), they are free to do... I will still stand with the SC/ST/OBC reservation staunchly," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that to make their vote bank happy, Congress changed the law linked to minority institutions.

Also read: How many times will Narendra Modi win? PM's 'even 7...' remark

"After this, thousands of institutions were declared minority institutions. Earlier, SC/ST/OBC used to get full reservations during admission to these institutions," he said, reported ANI.

PM Modi claimed the RJD-Congress alliance want to provide their vote bank reservation on the basis of religion.

The BJP stalwart said India's Constitution bars governments from giving reservation in government jobs and educational institutions on the basis of religion.

"Our constitution says that there will be no reservation based on religion in India. Babasaheb Ambedkar used to say that there would be no reservation based on religion...But RJD-Congress want to give reservation to their vote bank based on religion by ending the quota of SC/ST/OBC," he told ANI.

PM Modi also took a jibe at Lalu Yadav's RJD, whose election symbol is a lantern.

"This is the era of LED bulbs and people in Bihar are roaming around with a lantern. This is a lantern that lights up just one house. This lantern has spread darkness all over Bihar," he said.

Last month, PM Modi courted a controversy with his remark that the Congress would snatch away the wealth of the people of the country and distribute it among those who have many children.

This month, in an interview, he clarified that the remark was not directed at the Muslim community in particular. He said he would never do "Hindu-Muslim" (communal politics).

Several poll pundits, including Prashant Kishor and Yogendra Yadav, have predicted that PM Modi's BJP will win the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
With the Lok Sabha election results less than two weeks away, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami exuded confidence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coming to power at the Centre for a third straight term, saying several central schemes have had a positive impact on voters. In an interview to Chetan Chauhan, he spoke on a range of issues such as the about unprecedented pilgrims rush for the Char Dham Yatra, the UCC and how live-in relationships will be regulated in the Himalayan state. Edited Excerpts. Pushkar Singh Dhami (HT Photo)

You have campaigned in many states. What are the main issues in these elections?

In 10 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modis period, lots of schemes were introduced for helping the poor such as Ayushman Bharat, Jal Jeevan Mission, Lakhpati Didi. People are appreciating these schemes. Big decisions like scrapping of Article 370, introduction of CAA, surgical strikes and strengthening of Armed Forces have had a positive impact on the voters. Construction of Ram Temple and development of religious places have for the first time strengthened the Sanatan philosophy. India is now seen as a global power, with our achievements in space and Covid vaccine development being appreciated the world over. Every Indian thinks what is happening today has never happened before. I have travelled across India and seen people enthusiastic to see Modi ji as PM for the third term.

The Congress has accused the BJP and Modi of making it Hindu-Muslim elections as they dont have anything good to show. It has also complained to the Election Commission.

In the last 10 years, a lot of development work has happened. The Congress and its alliance are disturbed at their truths are being told to the people. In its manifesto, Congress said it will implement personal law strictly. Personal law is only in Sharia law.

In Hindus, too, there are personal laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act and the Hindu Succession Act.

But we are speaking about uniform civil code (UCC). In Uttarakhand, we have passed a UCC law as promised. On one side, there is Sharia law and on the other side is the uniform personal law. There is (RJD chief) Lalu Prasad, who talks about reservation for Muslims and in Karnataka, when the Congress formed the government, they introduced reservation for Muslims. In unified Andhra [Pradesh], they did something similar and now the Bengal (Calcutta) high court order has scrapped reservation given to Muslims. They (opposition) are finishing the Constitution by introducing religion-based reservation.

Muslims get reservation in Gujarat as well. OBC reservation is class based and can be provided irrespective of religion. For instance, if reservation is provided to Mallah class, then irrespective of whether they are Hindu, Muslims or Christians, they get reservation.

They (the opposition) have made a new system of giving reservation on the basis of religion. They have done politics of polarisation.

By when UCC rules will be framed and how live-in relationship will be regulated.

We will have a system to inform the parents of those living together in the age group of 18-21. We are not bringing any restriction for people in live-in relationships, we are only concerned about their security. There have been incidents of their bodies found in suit cases (referring to Shraddha Walkar case). When such incidents happen, parents repent their entire life. We have formed a committee under former chief secretary Shatrughan Singh to frame the rules, and it will submit its report soon.

By when will the UCC rules be notified?

Very soon. Most of the work has been completed and because of model code, there can be some delay.

A large number of people are coming to Uttarakhand for Char Dham Yatra and many experts believe it is creating huge ecological danger for upper Himalayas. Close to a million people have arrived since the yatra started earlier this month as compared to the 5.6 million in the entire yatra season (April to November) in 2023. How will you regulate the pilgrim influx and will there be a policy on this?

We have conducted carrying capacity studies for all dhams. In Kedarnath, 20,000 people can be allowed; in Badrinath, 30,000 and about 12,000 in Yamunotri. The way we have developed the Char Dhams and all-weather roads, this year more people are coming. Another reason is that last year the yatra started on April 22 and this year, it started on May 10. Because of closure of schools and colleges, there is a sudden rush. That is why, we have closed offline registration till May 31. We allow pilgrims on basis of bearing capacity of the dhams and yatra is being regulated accordingly.

The Himalayas are young fold mountains. Because of the pilgrim rush, unplanned development is taking place and experts say it will have its ecological cost. What steps are being taken to prevent ecological loss of the Himalayas?

Our development model is based on ecology and economic balance. Development is also important for us. We have conducted load bearing capacity studies for major towns in Uttarakhand. If there is construction more than bearing capacity, we are stopping further construction and strict rules are being implemented.

Need of the Himalayan states and their people is different from plains of India. Do you agree there should be a separate ministry for Himalayan states?

PM Modi has ensured rapid development of the Himalayan states. I agree with you that the model of development for entire country cannot be applicable for Himalayan states and it should have a separate model considering needs of people living there and local ecology. I have raised this issue before the NITI Aayog. In next term, the PM would take important decisions and it will also benefit Himalayan states.
New Delhi: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday suggested an idea of jointness and interoperability among the central armed police organisations (CAPOs) on the lines of a joint theatre command in the countrys defence forces. In the next 10 years, NSA Doval said, India would become a USD 10 trillion economy and the third largest economy. (HT PHOTO)

Doval, who was delivering the Rustamji Memorial Lecture organised by the Border Security Force (BSF), also stressed the importance of securing the countrys borders as India works towards becoming a major economic power.

This is just an idea. Should we think about the jointness in our CPOs (central police organisations)  jointness where you can have interoperability. We are a huge force. We have got the same type of duties, intermingling duties at many places, he said. In the defence forces it is being done now. We are thinking of theatre commands with a joint commander for the theatres. There could be one officer from the air force, who is probably controlling both the army and navy. It was more difficult because their equipment, doctrines, command and control system are different. Here (CPOs), it is almost similar.

He added it was not about saving money but about bringing greater homogeneity. Whenever a requirement is there  either in war or peace. If we must deploy 30 battalions of the CAPOs, in the borders, it does not matter if BSF forces are unavailable. CRPF could also do the same thing. They have also been trained. Their equipment is the same. Even if there is one platoon of CRPF and two of BSF, it does not matter. They will march, he said, adding this was his personal idea as a former police officer and as a man of security and not as an NSA.

In India, the six paramilitary forces  BSF, SSB, Assam Rifles, CRPF, ITBP and CISF  have separate charter of duties. While BSF, SSB, ITBP and Assam Rifles guard Indias borders with different countries, CRPF is primarily involved in internal security and CISF is responsible for the security of vital installations in the country.

On borders and adversarial neighbours

In the next 10 years, the NSA said, India would become a $10 trillion economy and the third largest economy. India will have one of the largest workforces apart from being a major tech hub, he said.

While India is on this journey, it is important to identify the retarders. Vulnerability of our borders is one of the major ones. If, presume, both of our borders with our neighbours  western and northern had been secure, defined and not in a state of adversarial disposition, how much it would have affected nations internal and external security. Indias economic progress would have been much faster if we had more secure borders, he added.

In the last 10 years, Doval said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had paid very, very high attention to security and management of borders.
Bhubaneshwar: Despite the oppressive heat and soaring humidity sweeping the state, by 3pm, 48.44% of the 9.448 million (94.4 lakh) voters in six Lok Sabha and 42 assembly constituencies of Odisha came out to vote to decide the electoral fate of candidates in the fray. Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha. In the sixth phase of polling, 64 candidates in Lok Sabha and 383 candidates in Assembly are in the fray (Representative Photo)

In the sixth phase of polling, 64 candidates in Lok Sabha and 383 candidates in Assembly are in the fray.

The six Lok Sabha constituencies where polls are being held in the sixth phase are Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. 71.82% of the voters in these six constituencies had voted in the 2019 election.

Voting is taking place in 10,551 polling stations. Over 2,000 polling stations have been identified as critical, with special security arrangements in place to ensure peaceful voting.

Also Read: Lok Sabha election phase 6: Bihar records 45.21 % voter turnout till 3 pm

Meanwhile, two persons, including a BJP polling agent, Sukadeb Patnaik, died during polling. He was engaged as the polling agent at Booth No.136 at Bahalunda village under the Hindol Assembly constituency of Dhenkanal. He fell ill when the voting was underway and was rushed to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

Similarly, Kumudini Dalei of Patharpunji village under Baghuapalli panchayat in Bhapur block of Nayagarh district succumbed to heatstroke while she was waiting in a queue to vote. Dalei started sweating and then collapsed. She was immediately rushed to Khandapada Hospital where doctors declared her dead.

In Bhubaneswar, as well as, other Lok Sabha constituencies, the arrangements made by the Election Commission left a lot to be desired. Despite scorching heat and humidity touching 80%, there was no drinking water or seating arrangements. Many voters returned home as polling officials took a long time to facilitate voting. Sambit Patra, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Puri, alleged that EVMs were not working at several booths in the town.

People are facing inconvenience. People are feeling that this is being sponsored and I think the administration and the Election Commission should take cognisance of this, said Patra.

In Puri, a 97-year-old man protested the non-inclusion of his name in the electoral roll way by sleeping inside a polling booth. Ramachandra Dash, 97, turned up at booth number 56 at Bholanath Vidyapeeth in Puri to find out that he is not listed. After being deprived of voting rights, Dash slept on the floor inside the polling booth demanding his voting rights.

Some of the bigwigs who are in the fray include Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former corporate bigwig Santrupt Misra from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra and BJDs organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das.

Also Read: Odisha: Voters sulk as Odia Asmita shuts out bread and butter (and chicken) issues from parties poll narratives

Voting started at 7am in Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Puri parliamentary constituencies along with 42 assembly segments within the jurisdiction of these Lok Sabha seats.

In Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, Union education minister Pradhan is pitted against BJDs Das. Pradhan is contesting the Lok Sabha election for the first time after he lost the Assembly election from Pallahara in 2009.

In Bhubaneswar, former bureaucrat and BJPs national spokesperson Aparajita Sarangi is seeking re-election as is in a close contest against Manmath Routray, a former commercial pilot.

In Puri, BJPs national spokesperson Patra is fighting the former commissioner of Mumbai Police, Arup Patnaik. After this phase, elections will be over in 15 Lok Sabha and 105 Assembly seats.

Around 35,000 personnel including 121 companies of Central Armed Police Force have been deployed to ensure law and order.
Leaders of the INDIA bloc on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing the Opposition of enslavement and performing "mujra for the Muslim vote bank. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting for Lok Sabha elections in Patna district on Saturday. (PTI)

Addressing back-to-back rallies in Karakat and Patliputra Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar, PM Narendra Modi said, Bihar is the land which has given a new direction to the fight for social justice. I wish to declare on its soil that I will foil the plans of the INDIA bloc to rob SCs, STs and OBCs of their rights and divert these to Muslims. They may remain enslaved and perform mujra to please their vote bank.

Mujra is a traditional form of dance that originated in the Mughal era in the Indian subcontinent.

Opposition slams PM Modi

Reacting sharply to the prime minister's remarks, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera wrote in Hindi in an X post: Today, I heard the word 'Mujra' from the mouth of the Prime Minister. Modiji, what is this state of mind? Why dont you take something? Amit Shah and JP Nadda ji should get him treated immediately. Perhaps delivering speeches under the Sun has had too much of an effect on his brain.

Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale also criticised Modi for the comments, saying, From Naari Shakti, the man has now come down to using words like 'mujra'.

After 10 years of PR & a carefully curated image, Modi cant hide his true self anymore. Such cheap language, Saket Gokhale wrote on X.

Scary to think what all he must be saying during his foreign trips as PM, he added.

Manoj Jha of the RJD said he was worried about what he (PM Modi) is saying. I am worried about him now. Till yesterday, we disagreed with him, now we are worried about him. I had said recently that he is becoming a victim of delusion of grandeur. 'Machli', mutton, mangalsutra and 'mujra'... is this the language of a PM? news agency PTI quoted Manoj Jha as saying.

Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (UBT), while sharing a video clip of the PM's speech, wrote, Get well soon, Modi ji.

Today, when the polling for the sixth phase is underway and the campaign for the next phase is going on, the BJP has become disappointed. Their language has changed, and they are talking about mujra now. The BJP has no answer to peoples questions and only wants to mislead people. The people are well aware and will vote for us in the elections and the INDIA bloc is going to form the government, said Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chaand.

What did PM Modi say?

PM Narendra Modi alleged that the people of Bihar have been hurt by insulting remarks against migrants of the state from leaders of the Congress in Punjab and Telangana and the DMK and the TMC in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, respectively and claimed, These RJD people who keep doing 'mujra' with their lantern (poll symbol) do not have the courage to speak a word in protest.

Modi also alleged that the Opposition alliance was banking on the support of those who were indulging in vote jihad and referred to the Calcutta high court order that struck down the West Bengal government's decision to include a number of Muslim groups in the list of OBCs.

Modi claimed that the opposition alliance has decided that if they are voted to power, the first thing they would do is to change the Constitution so that even the court is unable to overrule their attempts to divert reservations to Muslims. I have been challenging them to refute me in writing but they have been reluctant because they have a guilty conscience.

Modi spelt out names of several deprived castes, including Yadavs who have been traditionally RJD supporters, which "could end up losing their constitutional rights if the INDIA bloc succeeded in its alleged plans".

The PM, however, asserted that the opposition coalition was heading for a defeat and on June 04 when the results will be out, RJD and Congress workers will be seen tearing off each others clothes. The 'shahi parivar' (royal family) of the Congress will put the entire blame of defeat on Mallikarjun Kharge and leave for a vacation abroad," claimed the PM.

Mocking at the predictions of many pollsters who have forecast a dip in the NDA's tally, Modi said, INDIA bloc has come up with its exit polls even before the elections are over. Soon they might go back to crying hoarse on EVMs.
Siwan/Vaishali/Sheohar, Voting began for eight Lok Sabha seats in Bihar amid tight security on Saturday morning, officials said. Polling begins for eight Lok Sabha seats in Bihar amid tight security

The polling began at 7 am in Valmiki Nagar, Pashchim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Siwan, Gopalganj, Maharajganj and Vaishali constituencies. It would continue till 6 pm, they said.

Over 1.49 crore voters will decide the electoral fate of 86 candidates in this phase in the state, they added.

The constituencies where elections are being held are largely rural with only 1,281 of the total 14,872 polling stations located in urban areas, officials said.

CM Nitish Kumar's JD is contesting four seats, including Sheohar, which was won by the BJP five years ago.

The primary contest in Sheohar is between Lovely Anand, whom the JD has fielded hoping to cash in on the popularity her family is said to enjoy among upper caste Rajputs, and RJD's Ritu Jaiswal who is tapping into the resentment among Vaishyas, traditionally BJP supporters, following denial of a ticket to sitting MP Rama Devi who had won the seat many times.

In Siwan, the pitch has been queered for JD and RJD with the entry, as an Independent, of Hina Shahab, whose husband, the late Mohd Shahabuddin had won the seat several times.

The JD, in a bid to avoid showing an excessive pro-upper caste tilt and consolidate its OBC base, has denied the ticket to sitting MP Kavita Singh and fielded a greenhorn Vijaylakshmi Kushwaha. The RJD candidate, Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, is a veteran leader, a several-term MLA and also a former assembly speaker.

The BJP is contesting three of the eight seats, including Pashchim Champaran, where former state president Sanjay Jaiswal is aiming at a fourth consecutive win.

The opposition candidate here is VIP's Rajesh Kushwaha, who was formerly with RJD and whose candidature is being seen as an attempt at OBC consolidation to take on Singh, an upper caste Rajput.

The BJP has also backed sitting MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal in his seat of Maharajganj. Sigriwal's bid to score a hat-trick is being challenged by Akash Prasad Singh of the Congress, whose father, Akhilesh Prasad Singh is a Rajya Sabha MP and heads the party's state unit.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Polling began on Saturday morning for the 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in Haryana and the by-election to the Karnal Assembly seat. Voters line up to cast their votes outside a polling station during the sixth phase of the general election in Sonipat, in the northern Indian state of Haryana, India, May 25, 2024. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis(REUTERS)

More than two crore voters are eligible to cast votes to decide the fate of 223 candidates, including former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, two Union ministers and Congress stalwart Kumari Selja, in the fray for the 10 Lok Sabha seats.

Voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and will continue till 6 pm, officials said.

Khattar and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were among the first to cast their votes at their respective booths.

For the Lok Sabha seats, there are 207 male and 16 female candidates.

In 2019, the ruling BJP had won all 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Polling also began for the by-election to the Karnal Assembly seat, where Saini is contesting.

For the Lok Sabha seats, Union ministers Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar and Congress heavyweights Kumari Selja and Deepender Singh Hooda are among the contestants.

There are nine candidates in the fray for the Karnal Assembly seat. The bypoll was necessitated after Khattar's resignation as MLA.

There are 2,00,76,768 registered voters in the state, which include 94,23,956 women and 467 transgender voters, Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal had said earlier.

Chief Minister Saini, who is the state BJP chief and outgoing MP from Kurukshetra, was sworn in as the chief minister on March 12, replacing Khattar. While the chief minister is fighting the Karnal assembly by-poll, Khattar is the BJP candidate from the Karnal parliamentary seat.

Among other candidates, Khattar is facing Haryana Youth Congress president Divyanshu Budhiraja, while Saini faces the Congress' Tarlochan Singh.

Haryana is witnessing a direct fight between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress on most seats. However, seats like Hisar are witnessing a multi-cornered contest.

From Hisar, Power Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, an Independent MLA who joined the BJP ahead of polls, is contesting against two members of the Chautala clan -- the JJP's Naina Chautala and the INLD's Sunaina Chautala. Besides, former Congress MP Jai Prakash is also in the fray from the seat.

The Congress' INDIA bloc partner Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is contesting from Kurukshetra, where it has fielded its state unit chief Sushil Gupta against the BJP's Naveen Jindal and the Indian National Lok Dal's Abhay Singh Chautala in a triangular battle.

Union ministers Inderjit Singh and Gurjar are seeking re-election from the Gurugram and Faridabad parliamentary seats, respectively. From Gurugram, the Congress has fielded its senior leader Raj Babbar.

The Congress' Selja and Deepender Hooda are contesting from Sirsa and Rohtak, respectively, where they face the BJP's Ashok Tanwar and Arvind Sharma.

The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have also fielded their candidates. The JJP's 10, BSP's nine and the INLD's seven candidates are contesting the Lok Sabha polls.

Chief Electoral Officer Agarwal earlier said that 20,031 polling stations have been set up in the state, which include 19,812 permanent and 219 auxiliary polling stations.

Ninety-nine polling stations are being operated entirely by women staff. Apart from this, 96 polling stations are being manned by youth employees and 71 polling stations by PwD employees, he said.

As many as 5,470 polling stations have been set up in urban areas and 14,342 polling stations in rural areas, Agarwal said.

He said more than 96,000 officers and employees (except security forces) will be on duty at the polling stations. Besides this, flying squads and observers along with micro-observers will be present at different polling stations, the official said.

Foolproof security arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the election, Director General of Police, Shatrujeet Kapur said.

Votes will be counted on June 4.
Pune Porsche accident latest news: Surendra Kumar Agarwal, the grandfather of the 17-year-old boy who allegedly fatally knocked down two IT professionals with his luxury Porsche car in Pune city, was arrested for wrongful confinement" of their family driver, an official told news agency PTI on Saturday. The teenagers father has also been named in the Pune Porsche accident case. Two young software engineers were killed after a Porsche Taycan car driven by a 17-year-old, son of a prominent builder, hit their motorcycle from behind near Kalyaninagar early Sunday morning. (PTI FILE)(HT_PRINT)

On Friday, Pune Police commissioner Amitesh Kumar claimed that an attempt was made to establish that the high-end car was not driven by the minor.

Based on a complaint by the juvenile's family driver, the Yerawada Police registered a separate offence against the teens grandfather and father under IPC sections 365 (kidnapping with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person) and 368 (wrongfully concealing or keeping a person in confinement), he said.

Post the accident, the teens grandfather and father allegedly took the drivers phone, put him in confinement in his house on the premises of their bungalow from May 19 to May 20. The driver was freed by his wife, PTI quoted the official from the crime branch as saying.

A Porsche, allegedly driven by the teenager, who the police claim was drunk at the time, killed two motorbike-borne software engineers  Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta  in Kalyani Nagar area of the city in the early hours of Sunday.

On Friday, a local court in Pune remanded the six accused arrested in the case, including the teenager's father, in judicial custody. The teenager is in an observation home till June 5.

'Attempt made to show teen was not driving Porsche: Pune top cop

Pune Police commissioner Amitesh Kumar said an attempt was made to establish that the Porsche car that knocked down and killed two persons in Kalyani Nagar area was not driven by a 17-year-old, and the driver employed by his family even tried to take responsibility. Two police officials were suspended for lapses committed during the probe.

Late on Friday evening, the probe was transferred to the crime branch from the Yerawada police station, where the initial case was registered.

The Madhya Pradesh-based parents of the two IT professionals who were killed in the accident on May 19 demanded that the Supreme Court monitor the probe and the trial be held in their state.

There was enough evidence showing that the teenager was driving the car, Amitesh Kumar told reporters. We have the CCTV camera footage of him (juvenile) drinking liquor in the pub.....He was fully in his senses, he had full knowledge that due to his conduct, such an accident, where IPC section 304 is applicable, can happen, Kumar said. Section 304 deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Was pizza served?

On reports of the juvenile being served pizza after the incident, Amitesh Kumar said a pizza party didn't happen in the police station.

"But yes, something had happened on which we have initiated an internal investigation, he added.

During our investigation, it has clearly emerged that the juvenile was driving the car and we have already collected all the necessary chronological evidence. For example, when the juvenile left the house, the entry on the security register shows that he left with the car, the police commissioner said.

What we know about the driver

The police said the driver employed by the teenager's family was in the car. The police commissioner said attempts were made to show that he was at the wheel and not the teen when the vehicle fatally knocked down two persons on motorbike around 3am on Sunday.

After the accident, the driver initially claimed he was driving the car, the commissioner said, adding, "Why and under whose pressure he said that will be disclosed at an appropriate time."

The commissioner conceded that while the juvenile was sent to Sassoon General Hospital around 9am on Sunday, his blood samples were collected at 11am, but maintained that blood report is not the pillar of our case.

As a matter of abundant precaution, another sample was collected in the evening around 7 or 8 pm for DNA sampling, he added. The reports were yet to be received, PTI reported.

In the initial FIR, section 304 A (death by negligence) was applied but it was revised with section 304 the same day as the crime warranted that (more serious) section, Kumar said. He said that there were complaints that some eyewitnesses were pressured.

After the accident, the minor was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board which granted him bail while asking him to write a 300-word essay. Following an outcry over quick bail and the police's review plea, the board on Wednesday remanded the teen, son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, to the observation home till June 5.

The police arrested the teen for "exposing a child to danger", and the owner and employees of two bars where the teen had consumed alcohol for serving liquor to an underage person.

On Friday, the prosecution sought the extension of their police custody, but the sessions court remanded all six accused in judicial custody till June 7. They are expected to file bail pleas next week.

What victims' parents said

Parents of Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both 24-year-old IT professionals who died in the June 19 accident, said they will not rest till they got justice. Suresh Kumar Koshta, Ashwini's father, told reporters in Jabalpur that the Supreme Court should monitor the investigation and trial. "I am going to fight for justice till my last breath," Anish's father Om Prakash Awadhiya said over the phone.

The trial should be held in Madhya Pradesh and not in Pune, he demanded.
Kota May 25 The body of a two-year-old boy, buried over a month ago, was exhumed from the grave after his parents filed a murder case against an acquaintance, police said on Saturday. Rajasthan: 2-year-old boy's body exhumed from grave in Kota after parents file murder case

The accused, Rahul Pareek , a resident of Borkhera was arrested on Friday evening for allegedly kidnapping and strangling the boy, police said.

According to police, the victim's family and Pareek had been acquaintances for the last six months as the accused runs a shop near their home. The victim's mother, Khushbu often left her son, Ansh , with Pareek at his shop to run errands.

On April 15 as well Khushbu left Ansh with Pareek to run some errands. Pareek, suspecting that she was having an affair, allegedly beat the victim and strangled him. He recorded the act on his mobile phone, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hariram Soni said.

He then took him to J.K. Lon hospital and called Khushbu saying that Ansh had met with an accident. When Khushbu and the victim's father reached the hospital, the doctor had declared Ansh dead, the DSP said.

The family brought the body home without having conducted an autopsy and performed his last rites on April 16, DSP said. None of the family members suspected any foul play in his death.

However, earlier this month, Pareek began sending photos and videos of Ansh being thrashed and strangled, which he had shot while committing the crime. Following this, Khushbu along with her husband filed a complaint at the Vigyan Nagar police station on Friday evening, Soni said.

Following this, the boy's body was exhumed from the grave and sent for autopsy which showed that he suffered a skull fracture and blood clotting in his lungs which suggested that he was severely beaten and then strangulated to death, he said.

Pareek was arrested on Friday evening under the sections of the Indian Penal Code for kidnapping and murder and under the sections of the SC/ST Act. Further investigation is underway.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Severe cyclone Remal is expected to make landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh around the midnight of May 26 with winds reaching 100-120kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and localised flooding in some parts of the eastern state. Personnel from West Bengal Disaster Management make announcements on the beach as part of precautionary measures ahead of the landfall of cyclone Remal in South 24 Parganas district on Friday. (PTI)

On Friday, the system lay centred over central Bay of Bengal as a depression, having strengthened from a well-marked low-pressure area in the last 12 hours, when it moved northeastwards. The depression lay about 700km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), about 660km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 710km south of Canning (West Bengal) at 11.30am, IMD said.

The depression is very likely to move further northeast and intensify into a cyclonic storm over east-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of May 25. It well move nearly northwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by May 25 night, the weather agency added.

Cyclone Remal is heading towards West Bengal and Odisha,

By the midnight of May 26, it is very likely to cross the costs of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal between Sagar Island and Khepupara as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 110-120kmph gusting to 130kmph, it said.

The Met office has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha on May 26-27. Extremely heavy precipitation may hit parts of northeast India on May 27-28.

Buildings in three coastal districts of West Bengal have been earmarked as shelters, district control rooms have been activated, emergency services put on standby and advisories issued to ports in Kolkata and Paradip in Odisha. Adequate shelters, power supply, medicine and emergency services have been kept in readiness.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 12 teams and five additional teams are kept on standby. Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard along with ships and aircraft have been kept in readiness.

Airport authorities in Kolkata held a meeting on Friday afternoon with all stake holders to take stock of the situation.

We are not expecting any disruption on May 25. The cyclone will hit the coastal areas on the night of May 26. There may be some disruptions on Sunday. We will hold another meeting on Saturday afternoon to discuss further developments, said an airport official.

The cyclonic storm Remal wont have a direct impact on Odisha, the regional director of IMD Bhubaneswar said on Friday. However, in its wake, most places of north Odisha are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall and districts like Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapara are very likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Separately, Union cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba reviewed the preparedness, directing authorities to ensure zero loss of lives and minimize damage to property.

The aim should be to keep the loss of lives to zero and minimize damage to property and infrastructure such as power and telecom, and in case of damage, the essential services should be restored in the shortest possible time, Gauba directs while chairing National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting.

Storm surge of up to 1.5 metre is expected to inundate low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh at the time of landfall.

Fishermen out at sea have been advised to return to the coast and not venture into the Bay of Bengal until May 27.

IMD also warned of localised flooding and damage to vulnerable structures, power and communication lines, kutcha roads, crops and orchards in South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.

While predicting the exact impact from Remal is challenging, the Bay of Bengal cyclones have undergone rapid intensification in recent years.

A CEEW study analysing the occurrence of tropical cyclones over the last five decades found that the districts on the eastern coast of India are highly exposed to the impacts of cyclones. However, considering these risks, the government has been strengthening the adaptive capacity of local stakeholders to reduce the degree of the loss through initiatives like the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP). Our research indicates that 100% of the population exposed to cyclones now has access to early warning systems (EWS). Building on the success of reducing cyclone-related fatalities, India needs to develop frameworks to climate-proof critical infrastructure, said Vishwas Chitale, Senior Programme Lead, Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW).

According to a CEEW study, West Bengal has a high adaptive capacity against cyclones because of cyclone Multi-Hazard EWS, which is made available under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) Phase II. Further, the states high tele-density ratio allows people to access early warnings via telephone or mobile.

Cyclone Remals impact on the advancement of monsoon over Kerala will be clear after the landfall, officials said.

For now, the depression is helping monsoon, helping it activate but we have to see how the system develops tomorrow onwards and how it impacts monsoon after landfall, said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD.

With impacts of climate crisis becoming more apparent, experts say that cyclonic storms are intensifying rapidly and retaining their potency for longer due warmer sea surface. A higher sea surface temperature translates into more moisture, which is favourable for the intensification of cyclones.

But in the case of tropical cyclones, even atmospheric conditions play an important role, especially in terms of vertical wind shear  a change in wind speed and/or wind direction with altitude.

The extreme heat in the Indian Ocean has the potential to supercharge the cyclone, a senior IMD official said on Thursday, but added that monsoonal winds have already set in.

The North Indian Ocean is extremely warm now. Sea surface temperatures of 30-31C has all the potential to supercharge this cyclone. But monsoonal winds have already set in over Peninsular region and this system is still attached to that monsoon flow. In a day or two it will detach from that flow and travel towards the coast. But its travel time when it has the potential to intensify is short, about 1.5 days. We are hoping that it can intensify only up to a severe or a very severe cyclone with peak winds of around 135 to 140 kmph. But models are showing divergent projections on intensification and landfall point. We have to wait, the official said.

People in the affected areas have been asked to remain indoors and vacate vulnerable structures.
Outgoing BJP MP, Varun Gandhi, joined his mother Maneka Gandhis 2024 Lok Sabha campaign at an election rally in Uttar Pradeshs Sultanpur on Thursday and asked the audience to note down his mobile number, which, he said, will work as a security cover for them.

Take down my number I am giving you security cover. Those who have my mothers number have even greater security cover. If you face any problem, speak to me as a matter of right and tell me your problem..., said Pilibhit MP Varun as he addressed nearly 10 public meetings before the campaigning came to an end in Sultanpur for the day. The constituency goes to poll in the sixth phase on May 25.

I have seen my mother taking calls till 11 PM or 12 AM in the night and making efforts to resolve peoples problems...We have no enmity with anybody. We are there to help even those fighting polls against us and take them to hospital if they fall sick, said Gandhi who did not get a BJP ticket for this election.

His observations sum up Maneka Gandhis style of campaigning in the constituency. Maneka, who is seeking re-election from Sultanpur, has addressed 20 to 25 public meetings every day since she started campaigning.

Many in the constituency address her as Maa. She herself tells the people this at her public meetings in the constituency, I am a Maa (mother). I want all those living in my house to be happy. I want my house (constituency) to be beautiful...

At a public meeting, she read out the names of all the village pradhans from a prepared list and greets each one of them with a pranam on the dais. She then tells the people that she may be a national leader but she is nursing her constituency like a mother.

You all now know that I do netagiri (leadership work) out of Sultanpur. It's "matagiri" (work as a mother) inside Sultanpur.

Listing the work, she has done for her constituency in the past five years, she said: We have done a lot of work here. All the major roads have been built. We have done the needful in the power sector... transformers and wiring etc have been changed. Navodaya Vidyalaya, medical college, ITI (industrial training institute) and polytechnic have been set up. Two hospitals have also been built and another one has been upgraded. If you calculate the cost of this work, it will come to 3,600-3,800 crore. We have also given nearly 1.30 lakh (130,000) houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

What more can I do for you? she asks. "Do you want a powerful MP? If yes, then I want you all to vote for me. You will vote for me for your own help, she tells them that she has never asked for the caste or religion of the people when they come to her for help.

Maneka follows a set pattern in her campaign rallies: She only raises local issues at rallies and does not target adversaries.

As part of the INDIA bloc, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has fielded Ram Bhual Nishad against her. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has made Udraj Verma its candidate.

Nishad has focused his campaign on the allegations that the BJP will change the Constitution to scrap reservation if voted to power again. Nishad is refraining from targeting Maneka Gandhi. So is the BSP candidate.

Even Maneka Gandhis adversaries have nothing to say anything against her. She has worked hard for the peoples welfare in the constituency. Her adversaries acknowledge this fact in private conversations. Other candidates fielded by the INDIA bloc and the BSP are no match for her, said Neeraj Upadhyay an advocate and a resident of Sultanpur.

The Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat is facing a direct fight between Maneka Gandhi and the INDIA bloc. Although attempts are being made to bring the Picchra, Dalit and Alpsankhyak (PDA) together and mobilise the people against her, the opposition has failed to do so. Maneka Gandhi has worked for the development of Sultanpur and the welfare of the people. She faces no charges, and this is working in her favour, said UB Singh, head of department, sociology, at Feroze Gandhi Degree College, Rae Bareli.
New Delhi The Supreme Court on Friday stayed an order issued by the Uttarakhand High Court, directing the state government to find a suitable site for relocating its premises out of Nainital. The high court, through a full court resolution dated September 15, 2022, had resolved to relocate the high court from Nainital. (HT PHOTO)

A bench comprising justices PS Narasimha and Sanjay Karol sought a response from the state government to a plea filed by the Uttarakhand High Court Bar Association challenging the high courts directive.

At the outset of the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state said that the High Courts decision is a kind of referendum.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, representing the Dehradun Bar Association, provided the bench with historical context linked to the matter and highlighted the resolution passed by the high court in consideration of both litigants and lawyers. Luthra also requested that the stay should not impede the ongoing administrative processes.

Senior advocate PB Suresh, appearing for the Uttarakhand High Court Bar Association, contended that the high court had overstepped its bounds by directing a vote on a presidential order that had established the principal bench of the Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital. Suresh, assisted by advocates Vinod Kanna, Vipin Nair and Karthik Jayshankar, asserted that only Parliament or the central government has the authority to decide on the location of a principal bench.

Issuing notice on the petition, the bench sought a response from the state and scheduled the next hearing on July 8.

The high court, through a full court resolution dated September 15, 2022, had resolved to relocate the high court from Nainital. In March 2023, the Central government granted in-principle consent for the move to Haldwani. Subsequently, in May 2023, the state cabinet approved the transfer of 26.08 hectares of forest land in Haldwanis Gaulapar area for the new high court site.

However, the high courts May 8 order rejected the proposed site in Haldwani, noting that of the 26 hectares of land allotted to it, 75% of land is full of trees. The court does not want to uproot any of the trees to make a new high court. Keeping in view the above fact, we are not using that land, it said.

Stressing the need for a long-term solution, the court said, Every institution is established with a vision to remain established for a long period, therefore, we also want that high court should be established at a new location so that there will be no need to shift it again in the next 50 years. Keeping in view the larger public interest, hardships faced by litigants and young lawyers, lack of medical facilities and connectivity and the fact that in more than 75% of the cases, the state government is a party and has to spend a huge amount on their TA & DA, shifting of high court from Nainital is required.

The state was directed to locate suitable land for the relocation within a month and submit a report by June 6. Additionally, the high court had ordered its registrar general to open a portal by May 14 for lawyers and the public across the state to provide their input on the relocation. The portal was made operational on May 14 on the high courts official website, seeking public opinion on the issue.
Explaining why she was in the United States during the time when Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi liquor policy case, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal said she went there in March for a Harvard University seminar. Swati Maliwal, days after the alleged assault.

Maliwal's revelation to India Today came days after she was "assaulted at the residence of Delhi chief minister Kejriwal by Bibhav Kumar, his personal assistant.

I went to the US to attend a Harvard conference, and participated in various meet-and-greet events organised by AAP volunteers, she said, adding that her stay got extended as her sister, who lives there, caught Covid-19.

All my belongings were at her (sister's) house. Then, I had to undergo quarantine, the former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief stated.

Maliwal also claimed that despite being in the United States, she had continued to be in touch with Aam Aadmi Party leaders in India.

I was tweeting and talking with AAP leaders. I did whatever I could do at that time. Therefore, to say that I was not working with the party at that time is unfortunate, she noted.

Maliwal further claimed that the treatment meted out to her, was different" from that for Raghav Chadha. The former's colleague both in the AAP and in Rajya Sabha, Chadha was in the United Kingdom for an eye operation during the arrest episode, and returned home recently. Since then, he has participated in various election rallies with Kejriwal, the AAP's national convenor.

I really want to understand why is tt that I have been given this kind of treatment, while the other Rajya Sabha MP, who was in London, got red carpet reception, she asked, without naming Chadha.

The alleged assault incident took place on May 13. Maliwal's police complaint states that Kejriwal was in his residence at the time.
Raipur/Bijapur, Three Naxalites were killed in encounters with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's south Bastar region on Saturday, police said. Three Naxalites killed in encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh

Two Naxalites were gunned down in Bijapur district, while another was neutralised in neighbouring Sukma district, they said.

In Bijapur, the gunfight occurred in a forest near Jappemarka-Kamkanar villages under the Mirtur police station limits, where a team of District Reserve Guard was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, an official said.

The operation was launched based on a tip-off about the presence of Pandru, the in-charge of the west Bastar division supply team of Maoists, and Bhairamgarh area committee member Joga, along with 10 to 15 armed Maoists in the area, he said.

After guns fell silent, the DRG team recovered the bodies of two Naxalites along with weapons, wireless set, bags, Maoist uniform, medicines and materials of daily use from the spot, he said.

In another encounter, a Naxalite was killed by the security forces on a forested hill near Belpochcha village in Sukma district, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan told PTI.

An anti-Naxalite operation involving personnel from the DDRG, Bastar Fighters and district force  all units of the state police, was launched on Friday night based on inputs about the presence of Maoists in the forests of Belpochcha, Jinetong and Uskawaya villages in view of the bandh they have called on May 26, he said.

Maoists have called for a bandh on May 26 in the Bastar region to protest against the alleged fake encounters.

The SP said an exchange of fire broke out between the two sides when the patrolling team was near Belpochcha.

The patrolling team later recovered the body of a Naxalite along with a weapon, a cache of explosives and Maoist-related materials from the spot, he said.

The identity of the deceased cadre was yet to be ascertained, he said, adding that a search operation was underway in the area.

With this incident, 116 Naxalites have been killed so far this year in separate encounters with security forces in the state.

On Thursday, seven Naxalites were killed in an encounter on Narayanpur-Bijapur inter-district border.

Twelve Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Bijapur on May 10, while 10, including three women, were gunned down in a forest along the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts on April 30.

On April 16, 29 Naxalites were gunned down in an encounter in the state's Kanker district, police said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Police on Friday arrested Tamil Nadus former special director general of police (DGP) Rajesh Das after a complaint was filed by his estranged wife and senior IAS officer Beela Venkatesan for allegedly trespassing into her property. He was later granted bail. IAS officer Beela Venkatesan had filed an FIR on May 21 alleging that Rajesh Das and his men had trespassed into the premises of her residence in Thaiyur (PTI)

The Supreme Court had last week stayed his arrest in a sexual harassment case in which he was convicted on charges of sexually harassing a junior IPS officer in 2021.

Police arrested Das from his residence in Kelambakkam on the IT corridor. He was booked for trespass and criminal intimidation. He was released on bail later after he cited health reasons, said a police officer on condition of anonymity.

States energy secretary Beela Venkatesan had filed a complaint on May 21 alleging that Das and his men had trespassed into the premises of her residence in Thaiyur (in the outskirts of the city) and intimidated the security personnel on duty. The incident comes on the heels of Das accusing his estranged wife of disconnecting power supply to his residence by abusing her position of power.

Beela had justified the action saying she had the right to disconnect the power supply as the connection was in her name. The couple is separated and Beela has filed for divorce.

Last June, the chief judicial magistrate at Villupuram, convicted and sentenced Das to three years imprisonment for sexually harassing a woman superintendent of police (SP) while on duty in February 2021. He filed an appeal before the trial court in Villupuram which also upheld his conviction and sentence.

The incident took place when the two were accompanying then Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami during an official visit to Karur district. According to the officers complaint, Das, who accompanied her in a car, harassed her around 7.40pm on February 21, two months before assembly elections in the state, when they were travelling from Karur to Namakkal district. Das was suspended in March 2021 on the recommendation of the ECI.

The other accused in the case, D Kannan, then SP of Chengalpattu district, was let off with a fine of 500 after being found guilty of preventing the woman SP from entering Chennai while she was on her way to the then Tamil Nadu DGP J K Tripathy to file the complaint. The manner in which the woman IPS officer was prevented from entering the city by a posse of police officers with a striking force caught the attention of justice Anand Venkatesh of the Madras HC who had taken up suo moto cognisance of the case to monitor its investigation.

After investigating more than 87 witnesses, analysing Dass phone, the CB-CID filed a 400-page charge sheet against Das and Kannan in Villupurams chief judicial magistrate court in June 2021. He got a relief from the SC last week after it stayed his arrest in the sexual harassment case filed in 2021.
A man who cut open his pregnant wife's stomach in September 2020 to know the gender of their unborn child, has been sentenced to life in prison by a court in Uttar Pradesh. A man who cut open his pregnant wife's stomach in September 2020 to know the gender of his unborn child, has been sentenced to life in prison by a court in Uttar Pradesh. ((Getty Images/iStockphoto))

Panna Lal, a resident of Badaun's Civil Lines, was convicted for attacking his wife Anita with a sickle, reported NDTV. In the horrific attack, Anita had survived but her baby, a boy, died.

Panna Lal and Anita had been married for 22 years and became parents to five daughters. The couple often fought as the man earnestly hoped Anita to give birth to a boy. Aware of Panna Lal's desire to have a son, Anita's family tried to convince him to not fight over the matter. But the man threatened to divorce Anita and marry another woman in a bid to fulfill his wish of having a son.

As per the report, on the day of the incident, the couple quarreled over the gender of their unborn baby. During the fight, Panna Lal threatened eight months pregnant Anita and when she tried to run away from him, he attacked her with a sickle. Panna Lal used the sickle to cut open Anita's stomach to check the gender of their unborn baby.

ALSO READ| Pregnant woman falls from moving train in Tamil Nadu, dies

During the hearing of the case in court, Anita recalled the barbaric attack and alleged that Panna Lal made a deep cut which left her instestines hanging from her stomach.

To save her life after Panna Lal cut open her stomach, Anita had run out to the streets. Hearing Anita's screams, her brother, who worked at a nearby shop, rescued her. Meanwhile, Panna Lal ran away after the incident. Anita survived after she was rushed to a hospital and received treatment.

According to the report, during the hearing of the case in court, Panna Lal tried to defend himself by saying that Anita had inflicted the wounds on herself. Panna Lal alleged that Anita harmed herself by filing a false case against him as he was in a property dispute with her brothers.
We tend to think of body language as gestures, but it is so much more. The cues we draw from a persons posture, expressions, facial tics and wordless sounds hark back to modes of communication from a time long before language. Fascinatingly, there are parts of the world where people are still quite at ease without words.

On La Gomera, Spains tiny mountainous Canary Island, a language called Silbo Gomero deploys a variety of whistles in place of words (silbar is Spanish for whistle). These birdlike sounds are more effective than spoken words, when it comes to communicating across the deep chasms and narrow valleys spread out across this island.

There are, incidentally, about 4,000 types of whistles used, to denote different emotions and dangers, questions and answers. These are distinguishable by their pitch and whether they are interrupted or continuous. These could be thought of as a type of word system, given that there are eight base sounds used, strung together in different ways to form the distinct whistles.

In a bit of good news for the once-endangered tongue, Silbo Gomero has been a required subject of study in La Gomera schools since 1999. It is also still used in rituals and festivities, including Christian ones introduced by Spanish missionaries.

Other whistling communicators include the Mazatec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico, who use such sounds to exchange greetings and to buy and sell goods with what they say is a lower risk of misunderstanding.

In the Turkish village of Kuskoy (Bird Village), whistled communication is known as Kus Dili (Bird Language). It has sadly been in decline. There is a festival held annually, to promote the tongue. The festival features whistling demonstrations and competitions, but does not draw a wide audience.

Whistling languages have been found in Greece, Turkey and China too.

Other forms of wordless communication include the talking drums (ntumpane) of the Kele in Congo. The Kele use either their voices or a two-tone percussion instrument called a boungu, to communicate in a wordless, tonal language.

In this case, timing plays an unusual role. The Kele prefer to send out their messages early in the morning or late in the evening, when the air is cool, because cool air is denser, and carries sound waves further.

While most of these tongues are ancient, there are more modern variants too. Cowherds and goatherds, originally in Switzerland, took to yodelling as a method of communication in the 16th century. It helped them call out to one another across vast fields and high peaks. This is a straightforward way to communicate. Certain sounds and notes denote words, so yodelling is essentially a melodic shorthand language of the mountains.

In practice, it is a form of singing that involves repeated, rapid changes of pitch between the low-pitch chest register (chest voice) and the high-pitch head register (falsetto). Talk about the hills being alive

(Adam Jacot de Boinod is the author of The Meaning of Tingo)
Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your hearts as Preity Zinta arrives at Cannes 2024 in absolute style. The gorgeous actress lit up the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival with her stunning presence. The prestigious event, which took place from 14 to 24 May, reached its grand finale, and on the closing day, Preity gave her fans a delightful surprise with her breathtaking red carpet appearance. Fans had been eagerly anticipating her arrival as she graced the event after an 11-year hiatus, her last appearance dating back to 2013. And she certainly did not disappoint, mesmerising everyone with a series of glamorous looks, from gracefully draping six yards of elegance to dazzling in an ethereal white gown. Let's delve into her Cannes ensemble and draw some fashion inspiration. (Also read: Kani Kusruti's watermelon clutch at Cannes 2024 red carpet sends a strong message of support for Palestine. Pics, videos ) Preity Zinta wows at the 77th Cannes Film Festival with her stunning red carpet looks.

Preity Zinta turns heads in white embellished gown

For her first look, Preity wore a stunning white gown. Her outfit featured a plunging neckline, a bodycon fit that perfectly accentuated her gorgeous curves and tie detailing on the shoulders that reached down to her waist. The backless detailing, floor-skimming hemline and intricate crystal embellishments adorning the entire gown added an extra touch of glamour. Her stunning outfit is from the shelves of designer brand Vivienna Lorikeet and comes with a whopping price tag of 5,58,000.

Assisted by celebrity fashion stylist Leepakshi Ellawadi, Preity accessorised her look with pearl earrings and a pair of high heels. With the help of makeup artist Jay Kanojia, she was given nude shimmering eyeshadow, mascara-covered eyelashes, winged eyeliner, darkened eyebrows, contoured cheekbones, luminous highlighter and a shade of nude lipstick. Hairstylist Malinge Florian styled her luscious locks into a messy bun, leaving a section of hair framing her face beautifully from the front.

Preity Zinta stuns on red carpet in stunning sequin saree

Her second look is equally stunning as she dazzled on the red carpet in a gorgeous six yards of grace. Her saree is by the Indian designer Seema Gujral and comes in a mesmerising shade of pink adorned with intricate sequin work all over. She wore the saree elegantly, with the pallu falling beautifully from her shoulders. Paired with a matching plunging neckline blouse, she looks breathtakingly gorgeous.

She accessorises her look with dangling silver earrings studded with purple emeralds, a simple diamond bracelet adorning her waist and a pair of high heels. Her glam makeup included pink eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, mascaraed lashes, darkened brows, rosy cheeks, luminous highlighter and a shade of glossy pink lipstick. With her lustrous tresses styled in soft curls and left open in the side partition, she rounded off her head-turning look.
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. Travelling to US beaches during Memorial Day weekend? Holiday beachgoers advised to look out for white sharks (AP Photo/Salinas Californian, Richard Green, file)

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.
From non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) signed by employees to the latest spat with a known Hollywood actress, Microsoft-backed OpenAI is surrounded by a fresh wave of controversies. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is now also facing questions, raised by former executives, regarding the firm's commitment towards AI safety. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (AFP)(AFP)

Former OpenAI policy researcher Gretchen Krueger recently announced that she has decided to part ways with the company, soon after senior executives Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever resigned from their posts. Krueger further wrote on social media platform X that she had overlapping concerns when it came to the company.

Public criticism by former employees is piling up against OpenAI, with many suggesting that the developing artificial intelligence technology could have serious consequences for humanity. This concern was previously backed by Sam Altman himself.

Stuart Russell, a leading AI researcher and a pioneer of the technology, told Business Insider that significant crises can be triggered by the rapid development of artificial intelligence, including a fast-growing wave of AI deepfakes and AI-led economy crash.

Russel, who is a professor at the University of California Berkley, said Atlman's attitude towards building artificial general intelligence before working on its safety is absolutely unacceptable, reported Business Insider.

This is why most of the safety people at OpenAI have left, he said. Russel further added, Even people who are developing the technology say there's a chance of human extinction. What gave them the right to play Russian roulette with everyone's children?

Criticism against OpenAI's commitment towards AI safety comes as Sam Altman firm faces a legal tussle with actress Scarlett Johansson. The actress recently took to social media to point out that the flagship voice for OpenAI's new GPT-4o model was eerily similar to her own, despite her turning down the offer by Altman to work on the project.

She accused OpenAI for using her voice without her permission, just as many creatives have made similar allegations against the artificial intelligence firm.

The OpenAI board itself had pointed out issues with Sam Altman's leadership during his dramatic ouster from the company last year in November. However, with top executives separating from OpenAI and openly criticising its policies it likely soon to but Altman in a bind once again.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's co-owner Kavya Maran has become a social media sensation after the team's thrilling 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. Her jubilant reaction went viral, capturing the electric atmosphere of the win. Fans flooded X to celebrate SRH's success. Notably, many praised Maran's decision to acquire Pat Cummins for a hefty 20.5 crore during the IPL mini-auction, a move initially met with criticism. The image shows Kavya Maran celebrating SRH's win against RR in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2024.

Here are some posts on the SRH CEO:

This individual shared a meme imagining Marans reply to those who trolled her for breaching the 20 crore mark for Par Cummings, making him the second-costliest player in the history of IPL.

The stage is set for an epic clash between IPL giants as Sunrisers Hyderabad is scheduled to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. In the Qualifier 1 match, SRH lost to KKR at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Social media is abuzz with fans taking the clash beyond the teams, framing it as a showdown between Kavya Maran and Shah Rukh Khan. SRK, Juhi Chawla, and her husband, Jay Mehta, own the KKR franchise.

This individual shared a series of photos that show Maran celebrating SRHs win.

Heres another viral video of her celebrating:

Who is Kavya Maran?

For the unversed, she is the daughter of Kalanithi Maran, the chairman and founder of the Sun Group. She became the Chief executive officer (CEO) of SunRisers Hyderabad in 2018 and co-owns the franchise with her father.

Also Read: Meme tsunami unleashes as RCB gets knocked out after IPL 2024 Eliminator with RR

She has a degree in commerce from Stella Maris College in Chennai and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Warwick Business School in the UK.
Uttar Pradesh Police took to Instagram to share a video showing a few officials from the Noida Police Department rescuing an intoxicated man who fell into a 30-foot-long fast-flowing drainpipe. The locals also helped the department in the rescue mission. The image shows Noida police rescuing a drunk man from a drainpipe with the help of the locals. (Instagram/@uppolice)

Sweeping trouble from the torrent. In response to an early morning #Dial112 call about an intoxicated man who fell into a 30-foot-long fast-flowing drainpipe, #noidapolice quickly reached the spot & successfully rescued him with the help of locals, the department wrote.

The video, a montage of several short footage, shows how the police and the locals rescue the man. Reportedly, the police were called to the scene after the locals heard the man shout from inside the drainpipe.

Take a look at the rescue video:

Since being shared, the video has collected nearly 1.4 lakh views - and the numbers are still increasing. The share has further accumulated close to 7,800 likes. People posted varied comments while reacting to the share.

What did Instagram users say about this video?

Good job, both police and local people, wrote an Instagram user.

Locals who helped the police are the true heroes, added another.

Thank god he was saved, posted a third.

What are your thoughts on this rescue video?
Renowned Sherpa mountain guide Kami Rita was back from Mount Everest on Friday after his record 30th ascent of the world's highest peak, vowing to return to the mountain again next year, Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa, who broke his own record after scaling Mount Everest for the 30th time. (AFP)

The 54-year-old guide had scaled the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak earlier this week, his second time this month, breaking his own record for the most successful climb of the peak.

I will continue climbing and will be back again next year and for at least one or two more years, Kami Rita told reporters on arrival at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital.

He said after retiring from guiding he would continue working on the mountain, but as a team leader or manager at the base camp.

He first climbed the peak on May 12 and again on Wednesday. He also climbed Mount Everest twice last year, setting the record for most climbs of the worlds highest mountain on the first and extending it less than a week later.

His closest competitor for the most climbs of Mount Everest is fellow Sherpa guide Pasang Dawa, who has 27 successful ascents of the mountain.

Kami Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has been making the trip nearly every year since. He is one of many Sherpa guides whose expertise and skills are vital to the safety and success each year of foreign climbers aspiring to stand on top of the mountain.

His father was among the first Sherpa mountain guides. In addition to his Everest climbs, Kami Rita has scaled several other peaks that are among the worlds highest, including K2, Cho Oyu, Manaslu and Lhotse.

Officials said more than 500 climbers have already scaled Mount Everest from the Nepali side of the peak in the south this climbing season, which ends in a few days. Most climbing of Everest and nearby Himalayan peaks is done in April and May, when weather conditions are most favorable.

Everest was first climbed in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
By Lara Herrero, Griffith University As COVID cases rise again, what do I need to know about the new FLiRT variants?

Gold Coast , Weve now been living with COVID for well over four years. Although theres still much to learn about SARS-CoV-2 at least one thing seems clear: its here to stay.

From the original Wuhan variant, to Delta, to Omicron, and several others in between, the virus has continued to evolve.

New variants have driven repeated waves of infection and challenged doctors and scientists seeking to understand this changing virus behaviour.

Now, we are faced with a new group of variants, the so-called FLiRT variants, which appear to be contributing to a rising wave of COVID infections around Australia and elsewhere. So where have they come from, and are they cause for concern?

A descendant of Omicron

The FLiRT variants are a group of subvariants of JN.1 from the Omicron lineage.

JN.1 was detected in August 2023 and declared a variant of interest by the World Health Organization in December 2023. By early 2024, it had become the most dominant variant in Australia and much of the rest of the world, driving large waves of infections.

As new variants emerge, scientists work hard to try to understand their potential impact. This includes sequencing their genes and assessing their potential to transmit, infect and cause disease.

In late 2023 scientists detected a range of subvariants of JN.1 in wastewater in the United States. Since then, these JN.1 subvariants, including KP.1.1, KP.2 and KP.3, have popped up and become more common around the world.

But why the name FLiRT? Sequencing of these subvariants revealed a number of new mutations in the virus spike protein, including F456L, V1104L and R346T. The name FLiRT was coined by combining the letters in these mutations.

The spike protein is a crucial protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 that gives the virus its spiky shape and which it uses to attach to our cells. Amino acids are the basic building blocks that combine together to form proteins and the spike protein is 1,273 amino acids long.

The numbers refer to the location of the mutations in the spike protein, while the letters designate the amino acid mutation. So for example, F456L denotes a change from F to L at position 456.

What do we know about FLiRTs characteristics?

The regions of the spike protein where the mutations have been found are important for two main reasons. The first is antibody binding, which influences the degree to which the immune system can recognise and neutralise the virus. The second is virus binding to host cells, which is required to cause infection.

These factors explain why some experts have suggested the FLiRT subvariants may be more transmissible than earlier COVID variants.

There are also very early suggestions the FLiRT subvariants could evade immunity from prior infections and vaccination better than the parental JN.1 variant. However, this research is yet to be peer-reviewed .

In more positive news, theres no evidence the FLiRT variants cause more severe disease than earlier variants. Still, that doesnt mean catching a COVID infection driven by FLiRT is risk-free.

Overall though, its very early days in terms of published research on these new FLiRT subvariants. We will need peer-reviewed data to understand more about FLiRTs characteristics.

The rise of FLiRT

In the US, FLiRT has overtaken the original JN.1 variant as the dominant strain. The latest data from the US suggests the original JN.1 is making up less than 16% of cases.

While the FLiRT subvariants were detected in Australia more recently, they appear to be gaining traction. For example, NSW Health data up to mid May showed the proportion of KP.2 and KP.3 samples was continuing to increase.

In other parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, the FLiRT subvariants are similarly on the rise.

In Australia, as temperatures continue to drop, and we head into the winter months, respiratory viruses commonly increase in circulation and case numbers peak.

So it is anticipated that the number of COVID cases will rise. And with the FLiRT subvariants showing evidence of increased fitness, meaning they present a stronger challenge against our bodys immune defences, its possible they will soon take over as the dominant subvariants circulating in Australia.

How can I stay protected?

As the FLiRT variants are descended from Omicron, the current booster on offer in Australia, against Omicron XBB.1.5, is likely to offer substantial protection. Although its not guaranteed to stop you becoming infected, COVID vaccines continue to provide strong protection against severe disease. So if youre eligible, consider getting a booster to protect yourself this winter.

SARS-CoV-2 is now an endemic virus meaning it will continue to circulate around the world. To do this, the virus mutates  usually only slightly  to survive.

The new FLiRT subvariants are excellent examples of this, where the virus mutates enough to continue to circulate and cause disease. So far there is no suggestion these subvariants are causing more severe illness. Its more likely they will cause people to catch COVID yet again.

While the information we have at this stage doesnt give us significant cause for concern about the FLiRT variants specifically, we are nonetheless facing rising COVID infections once more. And we know people who are older or vulnerable, for example due to medical conditions that compromise their immune system, continue to be at greater risk. NSA NSA

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)  a specialised UN agency  on Friday agreed to a groundbreaking new treaty addressing intellectual property (IP) in relation to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge
At least 10 members of a minority Christian community were rescued on Saturday after a Muslim crowd attacked their settlement on a blasphemy accusation in eastern Pakistan, police and a community leader said. At least one house and a small shoe factory was set on fire by protesters (x.com/FarazPervaiz3)

The crowd, which accused the Christian group of blasphemy, also hurled stones and bricks at the police, said Shariq Kamal, the police chief of Sargodha district.

At least one house and a small shoe factory was set on fire by protesters who had gathered after neighbours alleged that the Muslim holy book, the Koran, had been desecrated by a minority community member, according to a police spokesman and Akmal Bhatti, a Christian leader.

"They burned one house" and several Christians were badly beaten, Bhatti said.

A large contingent of police cordoned off the settlement, Kamal said, adding that the crowd had been pushed back. One member of the Christian community who was taken to hospital was later said to be in a stable condition.

Some 25 of the protesters have been arrested, said police official Assad Malhi, adding that 11 police officers suffered injuries during the operation to rescue the Christian community members from the crowd.

The situation had calmed down by late evening, with leaders from both sides calling for peace, police said.

A Christian rights group - Minority Rights March - said a 70-year-old man accused of the blasphemy was beaten and dragged by the mob.

It said video footage showed that the police did not intervene. The police have denied the claim.

Videos posted on social media showed protesters looting items from burning properties. Others were seen throwing the items in a heap on fire in a street.

Bhatti said the videos were images from the scene.

Reuters could not independently verify the pictures.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said the Christian community was "at grave risk to their lives at the hands of the charged mobs".

Blasphemy is a sensitive subject in conservative Muslim- majority Pakistan, where just an accusation can lead to a street lynching.

Human rights groups say Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores.

While blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, no one has been executed by the state for it, though numerous accused have been lynched by outraged mobs.

A Muslim crowd attacked a Christian community in eastern Pakistan last year, vandalising several churches and setting scores of houses on fire after accusing two of its members of desecrating the Koran.
SANTA FE, N.M.  A New Mexico judge has rejected a request by Alec Baldwin to dismiss the sole criminal charge against him in a fatal shooting on the set of the movie Rust, keeping the case on track for a trial this summer. Involuntary manslaughter allegation against Alec Baldwin advances toward trial with new court ruling

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Friday upheld an indictment charging Baldwin with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. The judge rejected defense arguments that prosecutors flouted the rules of grand jury proceedings to divert attention away from exculpatory evidence and witnesses.

Special prosecutors have denied accusations that the grand jury proceedings were marred and say Baldwin made shameless attempts to escape culpability, highlighting contradictions in his statements to law enforcement, to workplace safety regulators and in a televised interview.

Fridays decision removes one of the last hurdles for prosecutors to put Baldwin on trial in July.

During a rehearsal on the set of the Western film, Baldwin pointed a gun at Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the guns hammer but not the trigger.

Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the involuntary manslaughter charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 1.5 years in prison. Defense attorneys did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

Marlowe Sommer rejected arguments that prosecutors acted in bad faith after reviewing transcripts of the January grand jury proceedings, noting that prosecutors are not required to present exculpatory evidence.

New Mexico law does not require a prosecutor to present exculpatory evidence to a grand jury, or require a grand jury to even consider exculpatory evidence after alerted to its existence, the judge wrote.

She acknowledged that some questions by grand jurors were deferred to a hired expert witness for the prosecution, but she said that didnt prevent the jury from making an independent determination in charging Baldwin.

Court arguments last week on the motion to dismiss stretched for more than two hours, as defense attorneys for Baldwin accused prosecutors of cutting off questions from grand jurors and making little or no effort to communicate with defense witnesses in case they were called upon. Detailed records of the grand jury proceedings are not open to the public.

Lead special prosecutor Kari Morrissey said she ensured jurors had questions answered by witnesses with relevant experience and that the grand jury was shown that it had access to boxes of evidence supplied by the defense. Baldwin did not appear at the hearing.

Prosecutors last year dismissed an earlier involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin after being told the gun he was holding might have been modified before the shooting and malfunctioned. A new analysis of the gun last year enabled prosecutors to reboot the case.

Prosecutors have turned their full attention to Baldwin after a judge in April sentenced movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed to the maximum of 1.5 years at a state penitentiary on an involuntary manslaughter conviction for Hutchins death.

The two-week trial of Gutierrez-Reed gave attorneys for Baldwin and the public a unusual window into how the actors own trial could unfold.

Baldwin figured prominently in testimony and closing arguments that highlighted his authority as a co-producer and the lead actor on Rust. Both the prosecution and defense in Gutierrez-Reeds trial dissected video footage of Baldwin before the fatal shooting for clues about breakdowns in firearms safety.

Prosecutors said Gutierrez-Reed unwittingly brought live ammunition onto the set of Rust, where it was expressly prohibited, and failed to follow basic gun safety protocols.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Washington, NASA will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts to send a joint mission to the International Space Station this year or shortly thereafter, US envoy to India Eric Garcetti has said. NASA (AP)

Garcetti made these remarks while speaking at the "US-India Commercial Space Conference: Unlocking Opportunities for US & Indian Space Startups," hosted by the US-India Business Council and the US Commercial Service in Bengaluru on Friday.

NASA will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts, with the goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station, hopefully, this year or shortly thereafter, which was one of the promises of our leaders' visit together," Garcetti said.

"And soon we will launch the NISAR satellite from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Center to monitor all resources, including ecosystems, the Earth's surface, natural hazards, sea level rise, and the cryosphere, Garcetti said, according to a USIBC press statement issued here.

NISAR is a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation .

ALSO READ | 10 twinkling images of space captured by NASA

You see whether it's the pursuit of peace and the peaceful use of space, things like the Artemis Accord, we are hand in hand, arm in arm. When it comes to prosperity and jobs, which is a big part of this conference today, it can be produced by startups in this sector, good-paying, high-tech jobs for Indians and for Americans. Space is right there, Garcetti said.

The Artemis Accords lay out a framework for collaborating nations' safe exploration of the moon and beyond.

The day-long event in Bengaluru saw the participation from senior officials from both the US and Indian governments, including Garcetti, Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman Dr. S Somanath, representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , and the Government of India, as well as prominent leaders from the commercial space industry, industry stakeholders, venture capitalists, and market analysts.

I must salute the visionary leadership that we have in both nations in India and the US for engaging in such an accord which looks at the moon as a sustainable place for all of us to come and work together, Somnath said in his remarks.

ALSO READ | NASA's James Webb Space Telescope solves mystery of this puffy exoplanet

The connection between the Indian partners and also the US partners in critical technologies and specifically in the space sector is really becoming stronger. And Im very happy about that type of engagement and the options available to the industries and the US business indigenous to connect with India in the emerging space sector as well, he said.

Expressing optimism about the prospects of US-India collaboration in space, USIBC president Atul Keshap described it as a new chapter in the US-India space partnership. This week has been particularly fruitful, with USIBC and USCS joining forces to champion these two iCET space deliverables, he said.

The conference highlights the deepening synergy between our two free nations in pioneering space exploration and innovation by the leading democracies. Through strategic alliances and collaborative efforts, we're on the brink of achieving extraordinary milestones and expanding the horizons of space exploration beyond what we once imagined," Keshap said.

The US-India Commercial Space Conference underscores the importance of fostering strategic partnerships to drive innovation and propel the space industry forward, said USIBC managing director Alexander Slater.

This is the next step in USIBCs continued commitment to fostering bilateral cooperation among leading companies and startups from both countries to unlock new opportunities for economic growth, job creation and technological leadership. It builds on our work in February when we hosted the second edition of INDUS-X in New Delhi, which promoted similar opportunities for innovation and cooperation in new and emerging defence technologies,he said.

Meanwhile, senior defence officials from India and the US have met in Washington to discuss opportunities to strengthen space cooperation and identified potential areas for collaboration with the American industry. Meeting for the second annual US-India Advanced Domains Defence Dialogue , the officials discussed a wide range of bilateral cooperation.

The American team was led by Vipin Narang, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defence for Space Policy, and the visiting Indian delegation was led by Vishwesh Negi, India's Joint Secretary for International Cooperation. During this year's Dialogue, Narang and Negi discussed opportunities to strengthen space cooperation and identified potential areas for collaboration with US industry, said Department of Defence Spokesperson Cmdr. Jessica Anderson.

Among a group of US and Indian defence officials, the two co-chaired the first US-India principal-level tabletop discussion that explored areas to enhance cooperation in the space domain.

They agreed to advance AD3 through regular working group discussions. The visiting Indian Government delegation also engaged with the US Space Command, the Joint Commercial Operations Cell, and artificial intelligence experts from across the US Department of Defence, Anderson said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
OMAN IS CALLING for an emergency international conference on Palestine, an initiative to match that of President George H.W. Bush when he convened the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991. Madrid set off a series of multilateral negotiations aimed at ending the Arab-Israeli conflict, which made substantial progress but was then, tragically, interrupted. We must try again.

Like all its neighbours Oman is suffering the consequences of the deepening crisis in Gaza. The prospect of further escalation threatens the entire region. So a ceasefire is a humanitarian necessity, and a strategic necessity too. The step from ceasefire to emergency conference must come swiftly and decisively.

Without a Palestinian state, the whole region is condemned to a constant cycle of violence, and the Palestinians will continue to live with the threat of annihilation.

Hamas cannot be eradicated. Movements of national liberation like Hamas are too deeply rooted in their communities. Their cause will be kept alive however many militants die. So, if there is ever to be peace, the peacemakers have to find a way to talk to them. And to listen.

There is an assumption that the people of the Middle East are so imprisoned by sectarian logic that they are incapable of making the kind of sophisticated judgments that the people of the liberal and democratic West are used to making. This is deeply condescending. It is also factually wrong.

Pluralism is not the privilege of a Western elite; it is a vital part of the history and present reality of the Arab world. The people of the region have minds of their own and make political judgments rather than just adhering to sectarian affiliation.

In Lebanon today, for example, it is Hizbullah which has mobilised its forces and taken military action against Israel. Hizbullah, we are told, is a Shia party and it functions as a proxy for Iran. And that is supposed to explain what is happening.

But it stops short of an actual explanation. In reality, Hizbullah enjoys significant popular and political support within Lebanon. That support comes from across the religious spectrum and includes not just Shia Muslims but also Sunni Muslims and Christians. This support is a matter of political choice, not sectarian fidelity.

I am not saying that the people represented in Western media as the bad guys are really the good guys; thats just binary thinking. What I am saying is that bad and good arent helpful categories when trying to make sense of a complex and dynamic situation and act responsibly within it.

Talking to, listening to and ultimately working with all kinds of players, with different interests and perspectives, has to be the basis on which we halt the catastrophe in Palestine. The world has deferred the question of Palestinian statehood for far too long. Too many of those who speak in favour of a two-state solution regard this as an objective to be achieved in some distant futureas though in that future the fundamental realities will have magically changed to make possible then what is somehow impossible now.

So, no more deferral. We have to deal with the reality we inhabit now. And that reality includes Hamas.

Those who follow the affairs of the region sometimes praise the Omanis as mediators. It is true we supported peace initiatives from Camp David in 1978 to the Madrid process in 1991 and the Oslo Accords in 1993, as well as the JCPOA multilateral nuclear accord with Iran, talks aimed at ending the war in Yemen, and various hostage releases. But we are just facilitators, not mediators, for some infer that mediators sit in judgment. That is not the Omani way.

The conference Oman is calling for must include everyone. Because everyone has a stake in achieving an agreement. Iran will need to make difficult compromises to be part of such a process. But I am confident, having dealt with Iranian officials for more than 30 years, that the countrys leaders are capable of making such compromises.

We must also believe that there exists an Israeli leadership that can be persuaded to engage in good faith. The people of Israel deserve better than to live in a world shaped by the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995a murder, perpetrated by a young Israeli extremist, that helped derail the peace process.

We will all have to engage with non-state actors, and that includes not only Hamas and Hizbullah but the Houthis, too. The Houthis, and before them other Zaydi Shias, have been a big factor in Yemeni politics for centuries, and like all Yemenis, they are Omans immediate neighbours. Today, they rule most of Yemen. This makes them the de facto government. Again, we must inhabit the reality we find ourselves in. (And, if I may offer an aside on the Red Sea, I am as certain as I can be that calm will prevail there if a ceasefire is agreed in Gaza. After all, the West is arguing there is no linkage, and a ceasefire would give the Houthis the opportunity to demonstrate precisely that there is.)

Where will the conference be held? Wherever people feel comfortable. It might be in Switzerland or Norway, for example. When? As soon as possible. And what for? To agree on a plan to admit Palestine to the United Nations, and for many more states to join those which I hope will recognise Palestine in the coming weeks. This could serve as a platform for the urgent negotiation of a comprehensive two-state solution and all that is required to guarantee it.

Badr Albusaidi is the foreign minister of Oman.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
China's two-day military drills around Taiwan were a "blatant provocation to the international order", Taipei said in a statement Saturday after the war games encircling the self-ruled island ended. China's two-day military drills around Taiwan were a "blatant provocation to the international order", Taipei said in a statement Saturday after the war games encircling the self-ruled island ended.(AFP)

The drills were launched three days after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te took office and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a "confession of independence".

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, regards Lai as a "dangerous separatist".

By Friday evening, a presenter for state-run military news channel CCTV-7 said the Chinese army had "successfully completed" the operation dubbed "Joint Sword-2024A".

ALSO READ| Serious warning: China threatens to break heads of Taiwan independence forces

In a statement, Lai's presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo reiterated that ensuring peace and stability across the region was "related to the common interests of the international community".

"However, China's recent unilateral provocation not only undermines the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait but it is also a blatant provocation to the international order, triggering serious concern and condemnation from the international community," she said.

Kuo added that Taiwan hopes "China will take the safety and happiness of the people on both sides into consideration, pursue mutual benefit, coexistence... stop all kinds of political and military intimidations on Taiwan and the region".

Self-ruled Taiwan has its own democratically elected government, military and currency, but Beijing has said it would never renounce the potential use of force to bring the island under its control.

Chinese military analysts told state news agency Xinhua that the People's Liberation Army vessels had inched "closer than ever before" to Taiwan's shores during the two-day military drills.

The exercises involved simulating strikes targeting the island's leaders as well as its ports and airports, they said.

In regards to China's various military actions, Kuo said that "the president and the national security team have a full grasp of the situation" and called for the public to "rest assured".
IT HAS BEEN an unhappy new year in the worlds busiest shipping lanes. Houthi rebels began attacking vessels passing into the Red Sea through the Bab al-Mandab Strait in early December. Trade volumes through the Suez Canal dropped by 40% as ships diverted around southern Africa. Trade through the Panama Canal, the second-busiest man-made shipping lane, has also dipped by 30% since November.

But while the Suezs problems are geopolitical, those in Panama are climatic. The lakes that feed the canal are drying up, thanks to annual droughts that may be worsening as the climate warms. The series of locks connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific via Gatun Lake are close to the point of being too shallow to let the largest container ships through.

Other Latin American governments spy an opportunity. In normal times the canal carries about 5% of global maritime trade. And it is lucrative, generating $2.5bn for the Panamanian treasury in the 2022-23 financial year, about 3% of GDP. Politicians in several other countries with both Pacific and Atlantic coastlines are either building or mulling infrastructure projects that might lure traffic and revenue away from Panama. The most viable alternatives are by land, with containers unloaded from ships onto trains or lorries at one port and carried cross-country before being reloaded onto a ship on the other side.

Mexicos Interoceanic Corridor (CIIT) is the closest to completion. It has been discussed for decades but is finally being built as part of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors infrastructure plan. Its main challenge is to modernise a 300km railway that runs across southern Mexico, from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast. The ports at either endCoatzacoalcos and Salina Cruzare being revamped. Most of the railway has been built; passenger services have begun. Work on the ports has not been finished, delaying the start of coast-to-coast freight travel. Mexicos government plans to launch the CIITs second and third rail lines later this year.

Other competition against Panama is more of a dream. Colombias president, Gustavo Petro, wants to run a railway through the northern province of Choco, connecting the Pacific port of Buenaventura to the Caribbean. The countrys National Infrastructure Agency is working on the scheme, but there is scant detail beyond a map with a line connecting both coasts, posted on the presidents X (formerly Twitter) account. On the Caribbean side it is unclear at which port the railway will end.

The other big projects are roads. The Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor is a dual-carriage highway through Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile, roughly on the Tropic of Capricorn. Though at 2,250km it is too long to compete directly with the Panama Canal for global shipping, it may be a useful alternative for Latin American trade with Asia. The corridor is already partly built, thanks to multilateral funds. Sergio Diaz-Granados, the head of CAF, a regional development bank, is confident it will be completed, calling it one of todays greatest opportunities for trade and services in Latin America.

Several maritime alternatives to the Panama Canal have also been mooted. They are more speculative than land routes. Nicaragua wants to build its own canal, despite huge costs and complexity; an earlier attempt backed by a Hong Kong construction firm failed. The same warming climate that is making the Panama Canal less viable is also melting ice in the Canadian Arctic. So the Northwest Passagea sea route skirting Canadas Arctic coastmight become viable.

Land-based alternatives may be more realistic. They are cheaper, less risky and easier to finance. However, projects like CIIT may still struggle to entice cargo away from the Panama Canal. The largest vessels that go through it can carry 14,000 containers. Mexicos government accurately reckons that the coast-to-coast rail journey will be quicker than passing through the canal. But it neglects to mention that the trains capacity and the speed at which they can be loaded and unloaded mean that the overall rate of goods transit between the two oceans will be much slower than the canal.

Moreover, Niels Rasmussen, chief shipping analyst at Bimco, an industry association, says that carrying cargo by train or road has big snags. Most shippers would prefer to rack up extra miles on other maritime routes than to deal with the hassle of unloading and reloading. And if push comes to shove, many would probably prefer existing routes across the United States to untested road alternatives in Latin America.

That does not mean that ideas for new routes should be ignored. The Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor will bring a much-needed upgrade to South Americas road networks and should spur exports, especially intra-regional trade, which is often pitifully thin. Mexicos plans may also gain a boost from nearshoring, as it is well placed to take advantage of efforts to shorten supply chains and move them away from China.

As for global trade, new land routes may end up complementing rather than competing with the Panama Canal. Circumstances may occasionally clog up the Suez and Panama Canals, as tension rises in the Middle East and drought worsens in Panama. In this perfect storm, says Mr Rasmussen, imperfect alternative land routes would be a lot better than nothing at all.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Country star Brad Paisley, who has raised voice against suffering of Ukrainians as a result of Russia's invasion, surprised his audience during a state dinner at the White House by changing the lyrics of his song "American Saturday Night". In a post on X, Emily Goodin shared a video of Paisley's performance at White House on Thursday, praising him for modifying the song's lyrics to support Ukraine. (Getty Image)

Biden hosted the state dinner to honour Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto and his spouse, first lady Rachel Ruto.

In a post on X, Emily Goodin shared a video of Paisley's performance at White House on Thursday, praising him for modifying the song's lyrics to support Ukraine. The star received a round of applause and cheers after he modified American Saturday Night to Ukrainian flag hanging behind the bar.

In the video, Paisely can be heard saying, She's got Brazilian leather boots on the pedal of her German car. There's a Ukrainian flag hanging up behind the bar. Yes, she's going 'round the world tonight, but she ain't leavin' here. She's just going to meet her boyfriend down at the street fair. And it's a French kiss, Italian ice, Spanish moss in the moonlight."

Paisley modified the original lyrics of the 2009 song -- Listenin' to The Beatles singin' Back in the USSR.  in reference to Ukraine.

Also Read: From education to climate: Biden, Kenyan President William Ruto announce major deals and investments

Paisley joined a bipartisan delegation of US senators in April 2023 for a visit to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. During his visit, he sang a Ukrainian-language folk song in front of Mikhailovsky Square, where wrecked Russian military equipment were placed. Paisley also performed an acoustic version of his song "Same Here", which was made in support of Ukrainians, featuring conversation between the star and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

After his Kyiv trip, Paisley spoked to The Washington Post, confirming that he spoke with Zelenskyy for the first time in person.

Calling it a great 45-minute talk, he stated that they discussed everything, including some details about their families. "It was a really eye-opening thing," he stressed.

Amidst the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the US has been supporting the war-torn nation by providing financial and military assistance.

Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, accused the US Congress of "not forgetting about themselves" while discussing a new foreign aid measure for Ukraine.

Biden admn declares urgently needed $275M military assistance package for Ukraine

The Biden administration launched a $275 million military aid plan for Ukraine on Friday, which will give the war-torn country rockets, artillery rounds, and other "urgently needed" weapons and equipment to fight against Russia in the country's northeast.

The latest aid represents Kyiv's fifth tranche of assistance after Congress gave a bod to $60 billion in additional funding last month.
A recent study has revealed that Meghan Markle's three-stone diamond engagement ring is the world's most searched for celebrity engagement ring. The survey conducted by British jeweler Ramsden's Jewellery looked at statistics on global search volume over the past one year and found that Meghan's ring prompted an average of 51,283 searches per month, the Vogue reported. The survey conducted by British jeweler Ramsden's Jewellery looked at statistics on global search volume over the past one year and found that Meghan's ring prompted an average of 51,283 searches per month, the Vogue reported.(MAX MUMBY/INDIGO/GETTY, ANWAR HUSSEIN/GETTY)

The ring presented to Meghan was designed by her husband Prince Harry with Cleave and Company. The ring features two diamonds from Princess Diana's collection and a cushion-cut diamond from Botswana.

Which royals and celebrities come next?

With this, Meghan's ring beat Princess Diana's engagement ring, which ranks second, with 22,100 searches each month. Princess Diana wore an iconic 12-carat blue oval sapphire ring encircled by diamonds crafted in white gold.

However, Kate Middleton's ring, which once belonged to her mother-in-law Diana, stands ninth.

Megan Fox's engagement ring from Machine Gun Kelly received the third spot, with 16,825 monthly searches.

Millie Bobby Brown's ring from "Stranger Things" takes fourth place with 14,358 monthly searches, while Hailey Bieber's ring from Justin Bieber ranks fifth with 11,817 searches.

Also Read: Kate Middleton may release a new video amidst prolonged illness because

Kate Middleton with her ring.(Getty)

All you need to know about Meghan Markle's engagement ring

Appearing in an interview with the BBC in November 2017 with Meghan, Harry revealed that he included his late mother's diamonds "to make sure that she's with us on this crazy journey together."

Meghan commended the heart-warming approach, saying, "It's beautiful, and he designed it, it's incredible."

The duo exchanged vows in May 2018, and royal observers noticed a sparkling enhancement to the ring when Meghan and Harry welcomed their first child, Prince Archie, in May 2019.

The Duchess of Sussex seems to have had the trio of diamonds, which represents the past, present, and future, moved from the original solid yellow gold band to a thinner micro-pave band, resulting in a modest modification.

Meghan is known for accessorising with jewelry, and she was pictured wearing a new piece, which once belonged to Princess Diana, during her Nigeria tour with the Duke.

Meghan frequently combines her engagement ring with her Welsh gold wedding ring and an eternity band, which her husband presented her on their anniversary in 2019. However, she sparked rumours by not wearing her engagement ring for several months, with many wondering why the gemstone was "missing."

The Duchess hit headlines in September 2023 when she was photographed without her engagement ring in Germany, where she arrived to attend the Invictus Games.

The ring was finally shown in January 2024 when the royal couple visited Jamaica to attend the premiere of Bob Marley: One Love.
Senator Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, claimed that the American embassy in Haiti neglected its responsibilities when gangs allegedly killed a state representative Ben Baker's daughter and son-in-law, who were missionaries in the nation. Ben Baker's daughter Natalie and her husband Davy Lloyd were killed In Haiti.(X)

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Baker expressed his pain, stating that his "heart is broken in a thousand pieces".

Extending condolences to the family, Hawley replied: "Erin & I are heartbroken at the loss of Natalie & Davy Lloyd, a wonderful missionary couple from Missouri."

"Married 2 years ago, they dedicated their lives to sharing the Gospel. They died in the mission field in Haiti last night at the hands of thugs. All of Missouri honors them," he added.

In a subsequent tweet, Hawley said that Haitian thugs murdered Natalie and Davy Lloyd, stressing that the embassy in Port-au-Prince was allegedly neglectful in offering any help.

Last night, as my office urged the American Embassy to send help to Natalie and Davy as they were under siege, the Embassy told us it was 'too dangerous' to send police, the Missouri Republican said. Hitting out at the Biden administration, he stated, What a weak country we have become. We cannot protect our own citizens from wanton violence.

Hawley's post received mixed response, with some netizens showing their sympathies, and others pointing out why the couple was still residing in Haiti.

They've had a level 4 do not travel to Haiti advisory since July 27, 2023, one X user wrote.

The Department of State ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees. U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible by commercial or other privately available transportation options, in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges.

It's the weakest this country has been in my lifetime. It's embarrassing, commented a second user.

Haiti has been a war zone! No American should be in any of these countries! one more chimed in.

Trump reacts to to killing of Americans in Haiti

Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social called their killings a tragedy.

God bless Davy and Natalie. Such a tragedy. Haiti is totally out of control. Find the killers NOW!!! he wrote.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson also denounced the killing as "absolutely heartbreaking news." "Teresa and I express our heartfelt sympathies to Rep. @BenBakerMO, Naomi, and their families. We pray for Natalie and Davy's loved ones, that God will give them strength during this very difficult time."

In a Facebook post, the group Missions in Haiti Inc. stated that the duo were assaulted by an armed group of three trucks "full of guys."

According to the organisation, the gang took Davy to a house tied up and thrashed him.

The group then stole the organisation's trucks and loaded everything they wanted, the post reads. Another gang came after to see what was going on and if they could help, so they say. No one understood what they were doing, not sure what took place but one was shot and killed and now this gang went into full attack mode.
Federal prosecutors on Friday asked the judge overseeing the classified documents case against Donald Trump to bar the former president from public statements that pose a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents participating in the prosecution. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks on stage as he arrives for a campaign rally in the South Bronx in New York City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)(AFP)

The request to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon follows a false claim by Trump earlier this week that the FBI agents who searched his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 were authorized to shoot me and were locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was referring to the disclosure in a court document that the FBI, during the search, followed a standard use-of-force policy that prohibits the use of deadly force except when the officer conducting the search 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.

ALSO READ| US representative Ayanna Pressley warns of murdering spree if Donald Trump wins for the second term

What does the policy say?

The policy is routine and meant to limit the use of force during searches. Prosecutors noted that the search was intentionally conducted when Trump and his family were away and was coordinated with the Secret Service. No force was used.

Prosecutors on special counsel Jack Smith's team said in court papers late Friday that Trump's statements falsely suggesting that federal agents were complicit in a plot to assassinate him expose law enforcement  some of whom prosecutors noted will be called as witnesses at his trial  "to the risk of threats, violence, and harassment."

Trumps repeated mischaracterization of these facts in widely distributed messages as an attempt to kill him, his family, and Secret Service agents has endangered law enforcement officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case and threatened the integrity of these proceedings," prosecutors told Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump.

A restriction prohibiting future similar statements does not restrict legitimate speech," they said.

Defense lawyers have objected to the governments motion, prosecutors said. An attorney for Trump didnt immediately respond to a message seeking comment Friday night.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump slams FBI for invading Barrons private quarters during 2022 Mar-a-Lago search: Third world witch hunts

Trumps claims in public are extremely dangerous

Attorney General Merrick Garland earlier this week slammed Trumps claim as extremely dangerous. Garland noted that the document Trump was referring to is a standard policy limiting the use of force that was even used in the consensual search of President Joe Bidens home as part of an investigation into the Democrats handling of classified documents.

Trump faces dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, classified documents that he took with him after he left the White House in 2021, and then obstructing the FBIs efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

It's one of four criminal cases Trump is facing as he seeks to reclaim the White House, but outside of the ongoing New York hush money prosecution, its not clear that any of the other three will reach trial before the election.

Trump has already had restrictions placed on his speech in two of the other cases over incendiary comments officials say threaten the integrity of the prosecutions.

ALSO READ| Trump believes Nikki Haley will be on his team in some form despite previously shunning her as a VP candidate

In the New York case, Trump has been fined and threatened with jail time for repeatedly violating a gag order that bars him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter.

He's also subject to a gag order in his federal criminal election interference case in Washington. That order limits what he can say about witnesses, lawyers in the case and court staff, though an appeals court freed him to speak about special counsel Smith, who brought the case.
During a Wednesday debate, Massachusetts Democratic representative Ayanna Pressley warned that if former US President Donald Trump claims the presidency for another five years, his DOJ will go on a murdering spree.. Pressley cites Trump's return to Oval office would unleash 'murdering spree' by DOJ(AP)

Pressley, a part of the Squad, recently criticized a Republican project called Project 2025 because of its stance on capital punishment, stating that it was a means to an end. Pressley has been one of the fiercest opponents of the practice and reaffirmed her stance today, stating that it might result in more government-sponsored murders.

The Department of Justice would go on a murdering spree, Pressley stated at the hearing.

It would rush to use the death penalty and expand its use to even more people, while circumventing due process protections, she continued.

ALSO READ| Can Donald Trump turn BLUE state New York into RED after historic Bronx rally? Here's what new poll says

What is Project 2025?

Project 2025, a policy proposal crafted by the conservative Heritage Foundation, aims to reshape the federal government to align with the agenda of a future Republican president.

The project is perceived as a blueprint for Trumps potential return to power. It advocates for the centralize executive power, slash budgets across various agencies, and oust seasoned civil servants with the presidents loyalists. An executive order known as Schedule F would facilitate this.

Pressley asked to recognise the true intentions behind Schedule F, which she believes is a tool for far-right extremists to implement widespread wholesale policy violence.

One thing I know for sure about Trump and his sycophants is that they telegraph their harm.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump slams FBI for invading Barrons private quarters during 2022 Mar-a-Lago search: Third world witch hunts

Project 2025 is a far-right manifesto: Pressley

The congresswoman also sought to sound the alarm on Project 2025, describing it as a far-right manifesto and a 1,000-page bucket list of extremist policies that could disrupt the functioning of government agencies and impact the lives of American citizens.

The manifesto of Project 2025 calls for the next conservative Administration to carry out the death penalty for the 44 inmates currently on federal death row.

Since the reinstatement of the federal death penalty in 1988, only 16 individuals have been executed, with Trumps administration responsible for 13 of these during his term.

Trumps spokesperson, Steven Cheung, dismissed her claims as ridiculous language and labeled her an unserious person.

ALSO READ| Trump believes Nikki Haley will be on his team in some form despite previously shunning her as a VP candidate

The former president said they should go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came.

Earlier, Trump slammed The Squad on X, writing, They should apologize to America (and Israel) for the horrible (hateful) things they have said. They are destroying the Democrat Party, but are weak insecure people who can never destroy our great Nation!
Two drill rappers, who were invited onstage by former US President Donald Trump at his historic Bronx rally on Thursday, have been indicted as co-conspirators in a 2023 murder case. Rappers Sheff G, right, also known as Michael Williams, and Sleepy Hallow, center, also known as Tegan Chambers, join the Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in the south Bronx, Thursday, May. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)(AP)

Trump's latest rally drew thousands of supporters in NYC, the region which is dominated by the Democrats and non-white population.

After the rappers arrived on the stage, Trump stated that he loved the glittering diamond grills on their teeth, saying that I like those teeth, I gotta get my teeth like that.

One thing I want to say, they're always going to whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures. Trump's gonna shout the wins for all of us, Sheff G told the audience.

Before leaving the platform, Sleepy Hallow recited Trump's iconic campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.

All you need to know about Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow

Sheff G, whose real name is Michael Williams, is a 25-year-old rapper. He is popular for his songs and videos that have received millions views on YouTube and Spotify.

He is also a major figure in the gang case, as disclosed by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez almost a year ago while he was serving prison sentence in attempted weapons possession case.

Tegan Chambers, a 24-year-old rapper popularly known as Sleepy Hallow, has nearly 11 million monthly Spotify listeners. He is facing charges of conspiracy in the gang case. However, he and Sheff G both have pleaded not guilty.

Both the rappers are scheduled to appear in court next month. Arthur Aidala, Sheff G's lawyers, said on Friday that "intense litigation" was underway and that "we're cautiously optimistic that Mr. Williams will be exonerated.

After receiving parole in his weapons case in June 2023, Sheff G remained imprisoned on the fresh accusations until April, when a judge granted bail at $1.5 million cash.

In May 2023, Hallow was released on bond of $200,000.

Also Read: Can Donald Trump turn BLUE state New York into RED after historic Bronx rally? Here's what new poll says

Sheff G hosted Sleepy Hallow and others to a steak dinner to commemorate an October 2020 shooting that claimed life of an alleged member of a rival gang and wounded five others, according to authorities.

It is how, in part, Sheff G and Tegan Chambers - Sleepy Hallow - assert influence, right? Because they take people out, and they are able to spend money, and they are able to encourage others to do some of the gang violence that's just critically important to them and their status in the community, Gonzalez stated in a press conference with New York Mayor Eric Adams in May 2023.

Prosecutors have claimed they have evidence, including text messages and social media, to support up their charges against the rappers.

Trump's campaign reacts

Speaking to Daily Mail, a representative for Trump's team was asked if the campaign was aware of the claims and whether the ex-president sought the rappers' endorsement or vice versa.

Spokesman Steven Cheung replied in an email, "'As Sheff G said: `They always whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures."
Special Prosecutor Jack Smith is calling for a court order barring Donald Trump from spouting false claims that President Joe Biden was "locked and loaded" and ready to have FBI agents kill him when they searched Mar-a-Lago for classified documents he had stashed there.

Smith filed court papers in Florida late Friday asking Judge Aileen Cannon to order Trump to cease making dangerous claims falsely suggesting that FBI agents were "complicit in a plot to assassinate him."

Trump's statements this week put FBI agents involved in the case at risk of "threats, violence, and harassment," said Smith's filing.

Trump earlier this week said that the FBI agents who searched Mar-a-Lago in 2022 were "authorized to shoot me" and and that the president was "locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger."

Smith called on Cannon in the court filing "to make clear that [Trump] may not make statements that pose a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents participating in the investigation and prosecution of this case."

The warning is necessary because of "several intentionally false and inflammatory statements recently made by Trump that distort the circumstances under which the Federal Bureau of Investigation planned and executed the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago," it added.

Trump has indicated FBI agents who found a trove of classified documents he had taken from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago were secretly plotting to kill him.

In fact agents were operating under standard protocol in which they're authoritized to use deadly force if a situation demands it. They searched Mar-a-Lago while Trump was not on the premises.

The FBI said in a statement to the Associated Press that agents "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.

But Trump declared in a fundraising email Wednesday: "It's just been revealed that Biden's DOJ was authorized to use DEADLY FORCE for their DESPICABLE raid in Mar-a-Lago. You know that they're just itching to do the unthinkable."

The claim has also been peddled by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and hard-right former White House aide Steve Bannon on his podcast, among other Trump supporters.

"The Biden DOJ and FBI were planning to assassinate Pres Trump and gave the green light," Greene wrote on X.

Trump's lawyers are reportedly opposed to blocking Trump's claims. They could not immediately be reached for comment.
A Los Angeles resident has captured a new mountain lion in his neighborhood on tape, thrillling locals who were pining after the death of another beloved local cougar.

Vladimir Polumiskov got the big cat on tape along the border of Griffith Park, home of the Hollywood sign, after he spotted it from a parking lot. It wasn't tagged and wasn't yet known to area wildlife experts.

Mountain lions roam large areas in search of food and mates, and this one may have been recently living some distance away.

"I parked my car, and I was getting ready to get my son out of the car seat," Polumiskov said of the moment before he spotted the cougar. "As I'm holding my son, I look to the left ... and I see a huge cat, a mountain lion" about 15 feelt away.

It was "shocking, obviously ... and scary," Polumiskov told Reuters.

He videotaped the car so "people belive me," he said. The mountain lion remained among the trees and brush for time before eventually heading deeper into the park.

Locals were ready for a new mountain lion after the death of beloved cougar "P-22"  known as the Hollywood Cat, who also hung out in Griffith Park. The big cat was euthanized at the age of 12 because of a serious infection and injuries likely caused by a vehicle strike.
Joe Biden's re-election campaign has released a scorching new ad starring Robert De Niro attacking former President Donald Trump as a candidate who will stop at nothing in his relentless lust for power.

The aggressive 30-second ad, narrated by Trump's long-time Hollywood foe, will be distributed nationwide. De Niro's voice booms against dramatic orchestral music and features news images from Trump's presidency as he rakes the former president in the spot.

"From midnight tweets to suggesting bleach [to fight Covid] to tear-gassing citizens for a photo-op, Trump was out of control as president. Then he lost the 2020 election and snapped," the actor begins.

WATCH: Donald Trump has never been more unhinged and dangerous than he is now. He lost in 2020 and snapped.



Now he wants revenge and retribution. Biden-Harriss new ad narrated by Robert DeNiro. pic.twitter.com/CJnD9RRGCL  ITS TIME FOR JUSTICE (@LiddleSavages) May 25, 2024

In one photo, Trump is shown on his phone on Air Force One and at the White House podium in 2020, suggesting bleach as a COVID-19 treatment.

Another photo shows Trump posing with a Bible outside the historic St. John's Episcopal Church close to the White House after authorities cleared his path by violently confronting nearby activists peacefully demonstrating against racial injustice following George Floyd's murder.

The ad then turns to the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, where Trump's extremist supporters stormed the building in a bid to block the certification of Joe Biden's election victory.

Near the end of the ad is a clip of Trump warning there will be a "bloodbath" if he doesn't win in 2024.

"Trump wants revenge and he'll stop at nothing to get it," warns De Niro.
A deportation officer for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was convicted this week of attempting to take photos up a flight attendant's skirt while he was transporting an immigrant, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced Friday.

Billy Olvera, 48, of Laredo, Texas, was convicted Wednesday of one felony count of interfering with a flight crew. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Olvera was traveling from Dallas, Texas, to Miami, Fla., in his official capacity transporting an individual for removal from the U.S. late last year when the crime occurred.

A flight attendant observed Olvera holding his phone in the aisle or the plane, aimed toward the ceiling, whenever she walked past him.

She told another flight attendant, who then filmed Olvera the next time the victim walked past him. The video showed Olvera clearly attempting to film up the flight attendant's skirt.

Law enforcement officers were contacted by the pilot and met the plane at the gate.

A federal search warrant for Olvera's phone revealed "numerous images and videos taken of the victim, and pictures and videos that attempted to capture a vantage point up the victim's skirt."

Olvera's sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 16.

- with reporting by TMX
Secretary of the Smithsonian Speaking at Williams' 235th Commencement

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie G. Bunch III will be the principal speaker at Williams College's 235th commencement exercise on Sunday, June 2.

The day before, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a pioneering physician, oncologist and award-winning author, will deliver the college's baccalaureate lecture. Liz Robinson is a 1990 graduate and chair of the college's board of trustees who also serves as director and adviser to for-profit and nonprofit organizations around the country, and Rick Trainor, rector of Exeter College at the University of Oxford, will each receive honorary degrees during the commencement ceremony.

Lonnie Bunch III

Bunch is the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, where he oversees 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers and several education units and centers. He was previously founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, a position he assumed before the museum site had been chosen. He has been named one of the 100 most influential museum professionals of the 20th century by the American Association of Museums.

A widely published author, Bunch has written on topics including the Black military experience, the American presidency and African American history in California, diversity in museum management and the impact of funding and politics on American museums.

Bunch has previously served in various roles at major museums and historical institutions, produced historical documentaries for public television and taught at American University, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and George Washington University, among other institutions. President George W. Bush appointed him to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House and he was later reappointed by President Barack Obama. He is a recipient of the Roosevelt Institute's Freedom Medal for contributions to American culture as a historian and storyteller; the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal from the Hutchins Center at Harvard University; and the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund's National Equal Justice Award. The Society of American Historians awarded him its Tony Horwitz Prize honoring distinguished work in American history of wide appeal and enduring public significance, and its David McCullough Award for outstanding work in public history. Other honors include lifetime achievement awards from both the American Alliance of Museums and the African American Association of Museums, and the Congressional Black Caucus's Chairman's Award. In 2021, the French government awarded Bunch the Legion of Honor, the country's highest honor.

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee



Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee Mukherjee has redefined the public discourse on human health, medicine and science. An influential voice in the scientific community, he is best known for his books, "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer," which earned him the 2011 Pulitzer Prize, and "The Gene: An Intimate History," which won international awards and was recognized by The Washington Post and The New York Times as one of the most influential books of 2016. "The Emperor of All Maladies" has been adapted into a documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns, and was included among Time magazine's 100 best nonfiction books of the past century. Exploring the essence of humanity, "The Song of the Cell," his third title, became a New York Times best-seller.

Mukherjee's achievements as a writer and educator build upon his career as a renowned medical scholar. His groundbreaking studies into the composition and behavior of cancer cells have pushed the boundaries of modern medicine. His innovative research signals a paradigm shift in cancer pathology, and has enabled the development of treatments that reach beyond current pharmaceutical models toward new biological and cellular therapies. Serving as a professor of medicine at Columbia University and as a staff cancer physician at the university's medical center, Mukherjee has brought hope to patients and families around the world, while revolutionizing society's blueprint for healing. He writes for the New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine and many other publications, has received numerous awards for his scientific work, has published his original research and opinions in journals such Nature, Cell and the New England Journal of Medicine. He lives in New York City with his wife and daughters.

Elizabeth 'Liz' Beshel Robinson



Liz Robinson Robinson, a native of Chicago, applied to Williams after seeing a reference to the Williams-Amherst rivalry in Amherst's recruitment materials. Making the right choice, she attended Williams and majored in economics, served as a junior adviser and sampled a wide variety of courses, discovering a passion for art history in the process.

After graduation she joined the financial institutions group in the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs, earning an master in business administration from Columbia University's Executive MBA Program at the same time. She later transferred to the firm's corporate treasury department and was named global treasurer in 2005, and partner a year later. During this time she was an integral part of the team that executed Goldman's IPO and navigated the company through the 2008 global financial crisis. She also recruited many Williams graduates into the company before retiring from Goldman in 2016.

Robinson is now a director and adviser to for-profit and nonprofit organizations around the country. She sits on the boards of The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. and The Travelers Companies, as well as Every Mother Counts, Blair Academy in New Jersey, and St. Luke's University Health Network in Pennsylvania.

At Williams, in addition to her board service, Robinson was a member of the presidential search committee that selected President Mandel in 2018 and has been an important volunteer as associate agent for the Class of 1990 and committee member for that class's 25th Reunion Fund.

Sir Rick Trainor



Sir Rick Trainor Trainor is rector (equivalent of president) of Exeter College at the University of Oxford, where he is Williams' chief partner for the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford. His scholarship focuses on the economic and social history of modern Britain and continental Europe, and has published extensively on the social history of British elites, especially the origins and impact of the leaders of industrial towns and cities.

Trainor began his academic career at the University of Glasgow, where he was later appointed dean of the faculty of social sciences and vice principal. He has also been vice chancellor of the University of Greenwich and principal and professor of social history at King's College London, which established the Professor Sir Richard Trainor Postgraduate Research Scholarship in his honor. He has remained active in research during his administrative career, and served terms as president of the Economic History Society and chair of the Institute for Historical Research's Advisory Committee.

Raised in New Jersey and Maryland, Trainor earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University. He was then a Rhodes Scholar, completing a second bachelor's at Merton College Oxford. Subsequently he was a graduate student in history at Princeton and at Nuffield College Oxford, completing his doctorate in British social history at Oxford, where he was also a Junior Research Fellow at Wolfson College and a lecturer at Balliol College.

Trainor is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and the Royal Historical Society, and past president of Universities UK, the organization representing the heads of all universities in the United Kingdom. He is an honorary fellow of Merton College, Oxford; Trinity College of Music; the Royal Academy of Music; and the Institute of Historical Research, and a patron of the Anglo-American Fulbright Commission. He holds honorary degrees from the University of Kent, the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, the University of Glasgow and the University of Greenwich. He is a citizen of both the United States and the UK.
Mass Receives Federal Funding to Remove Lead Service Lines

BOSTON  The Biden-Harris Administration awarded more than $50 million in funding for Massachusetts cities and towns to help identify and replace lead service lines and prevent exposure to lead in drinking water.

Following advocacy by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, federal delegation, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, and Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, the federal funding announced today is an increase over the $33.7 million in lead service line funding allocated in fiscal year 2023 but presents a gap between the identified funding needs in Massachusetts. The Healey-Driscoll Administration will continue to work with federal, state, and local agencies in order to fully fund the lead service line replacement program.

"We appreciate the Biden-Harris Administration's willingness to engage with states on important environmental and public health issues, particularly one with such widespread and acute impacts as lead in drinking water," said Governor Maura Healey. "We're looking forward to continued collaboration with federal partners to identify more funding avenues to build on these investments so Massachusetts can continue its nation-leading work to protect the environment and public health."

In February, Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell, and Treasurer Goldberg submitted a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging him to reconsider the new grant formula that had reduced lead service line replacement funding to Massachusetts by more than $30 million. The letter identified Massachusetts' unique needs for lead remediation funding based on the high percentage of housing stock from before 1940, when the use of lead in service lines was prevalent and emphasized how the effects of this today cause disproportionate lead exposure in communities of color. Massachusetts received $65.7 million in fiscal year 2022 but was only allocated $33.7 million for 2023 and future years of the program under the EPA's new methodology. Following advocacy from Massachusetts and other states, the EPA allowed states a onetime opportunity to submit additional data,

resulting in Massachusetts' boosted allotment of $50 million.

Massachusetts has leveraged federal Bipartisan Infrastructure money to address lead service line issues, including commitments since 2022 of more than $59 million for lead remediation projects. This funding has supported needs assessments and action plans in 121 Massachusetts communities and has financed $30 million in remediation projects.

The funding awarded under President Biden's $3 billion Investing in America initiative will provide significant grants through the Massachusetts Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Program. Under the Revised Lead and Copper Rule set to take effect in October, the EPA is also requiring local public water systems to investigate the number of lead service lines in their water distribution system and report those findings to the state agency that oversees drinking water  in Massachusetts that is the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
Steven Zelubowski has been teaching languages as Mount Greylock Regional School in Williamstown for five years. PreviousNext

Teacher of the Month: Steven Zelubowski



Zelubowski's students say he makes his classes interesting and connects history and language. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Mount Greylock Regional School world language teacher Steven Zelubowski has been selected as the May Teacher of the Month.

Zelubowski's recognition kicks off the second season of the Teacher of the Month series, which is in collaboration with Berkshire Community College.

The series will run for the next 12 months and will feature distinguished teachers nominated by community members. Nominate a teacher here

Zelubowski has been a teacher for nine years and has been working in Mount Greylock Regional School's World Languages Department teaching Latin for five.

He not only knows Latin but also speaks Greek, Italian conversationally, and German academically and conversationally.

Zelubowski has wanted to be a Latin teacher since he was a sophomore in high school when he was inspired by his Latin teacher at Portsmouth High School, Joe Arnstein.

"He was extremely engaging and funny and had high expectations on the students, but he was always able to capture our attention with anecdotes and getting us involved in the conversation, getting us thinking about what it was we were learning, and just incredibly engaging character," he said.

Now that he is a teacher, he is doing the same for his students.

A couple of years ago, Zelubowski took over the Latin department and since then has really jumped into it feet first, Principal Jacob Schutz said

Mount Greylock Regional runs a full program from Latin in the middle school to Advanced Placement Latin. Students take the National Latin Exam, and are active in the Junior Classical League (JCL), Schutz said.

Zelubowski brings Latin to life, "and students really take to his style of instruction and his personality," he said.

Teaching Latin can be challenging, so Zelubowski reaches the students where they are, challenges them, and instills his passion for the language in his students, Schutz said.

"He makes everyone feel involved. I feel like he will make sure everyone understands everything, and if you don't, he'll talk to you one-on-one and make sure you understand," freshman Timothy Karampatsos said.

Zelubowski is currently working on completing his master's degree in Classics Studies from Villanova University. He expects to complete his degree in August.

Latin is a beautiful collision of the two things Zelubowski loves  languages and expression and Greco-Roman history and culture.

"When you love what you're doing, you just do so much better at it. So, when he makes it fun and instills the passion, it makes that content really sink in," Schutz said

Zelubowski said he loves that he gets to teach language, grammar, vocabulary, and linguistics, in addition to Roman history, literature, and philosophy.

Understanding Latin helps students understand language and expression and helps students find their voice, he said.

"I want to create an environment of academic curiosity and intellectual rigor. That is my goal, at least," he said.

"I like to have us think about the important questions and then figure out how to support our answers. I want to create an environment where everybody can sort of bounce ideas off each other, bounce proofs off each other, bounce arguments off each other."

Each student has different strengths, and by collaborating, they can piece together and translate the language, Zelubowski said.

"I think his classroom is proven to be very like safe, uplifting space, where students can connect with the course material and with each other in, I think, a really, really impactful way," senior Grace Malone said.

"Everyone knows everyone, it's kind of like a small community. I mean, in our class, we have a lot of Latin twos and threes, so we all connect through different grades, too," Karampatsos said.

Latin teaches students to look at things through a different lens and access an entire culture through understanding its language, he said.

"I think he's provoked a lot of really introspective thought and has really opened my eyes a lot to the classical world and antiquity, and different ways in which the world works, and how language is formed, which I think has helped me in kind of all aspects of my academic career," Malone said.

Latin gives students access to a world of new information and creative pieces.

"Learning Latin gives us access to some of these most important and beautiful pieces of literature that you could possibly imagine," Zelubowski said.

"And engaging those in the original text gives us a unique opportunity to understand and appreciate art on a different level."

Students expressed that they feel their teacher is a big part of their educational journey both in and out of the classroom, whether it's through the clubs such as the JCL and the Philosophy Club, or how the material seeps into other classes.

"I really think he just wants the best for his students and for the entirety of the school and he's giving options for everybody to do that," senior Jackie Brannan said.

Brannan said Zelubowski connects with the students and is willing to listen to them, whether it is about Latin or other topics the students are interested in or concerned about.

Many of his students had Zelubowski early on in their educational career at Mount Greylock Regional, so over the years, he has been able to build relationships with them.

"We've had him since seventh grade, and I think he's really starting to love us, and we love him. He's a really kind teacher," freshman Leo Slater Lee said.

"He's lenient on work, and he tries to emphasize that grades aren't everything, but it matters more to learn the things [and] to actually learn the value of the content."

When it comes to testing, Zelubowski ensures that his students understand everything before the test, Karampatsos said.

The material the students are learning in Zelubowski's class informs what they are learning in other classes, students said.

In English, students study vocabulary words, and oftentimes, they do not know them. However, with a background in Latin, you can know the root of the word, which helps them understand the meaning of the words, Lee said.

For example, the Latin word carcer, which means jail. Knowing that helped Lee understand the root word for incarcerate, he said.
Maverick Pytko, David Plouff, Nina Naugle and Charli Phillips lead the Pledge of Allegiance at Hoosac Elementary's Memorial Day ceremony Friday. PreviousNext

Hoosac Valley Pupils Celebrate Memorial Day With Readings, Music



Superintendent Aaron Dean, left, and guest speaker and new School Committee member Fred Lora. ADAMS, Mass.  Third-graders at Hoosac Valley Elementary School offered a patriotic salute ahead of Memorial Day.

"They have been tasked with reflecting on Memorial Day and what it means to them with learning songs and poems to share with you," said Principal Erin Beaulac in welcoming visitors. "We're incredibly proud of all of their hard work."

The celebration at Hoosac Elementary was coordinated by teacher Marie McCarron, who led a similar event at Brayton Elementary School in North Adams for years.

Members of American Legion Post 160 formed the color guard and parents and guests including state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III listened to musical performances and readings.

Maverick Pytko, David Plouff, Nina Naugle and Charli Phillips led the Pledge of Allegiance and Rosalie Lazzari, Olive Mastra and Bella D'Elia read a poem. Ethan Thompson read a history of Memorial Day, student essays were written and read by Christopher Kane, Remington Door, Annika Marko and Payton Hnatonko; and Colton Benoit, Connor Bak and Justin Mayotte and Rosalie introduced the speakers.

Lexi Larabee, 11, sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" without accompaniment and the entire third grade sang "This Land Is Your Land" and a rap version of the Pledge of Allegiance.

"They have put so many hours of work into this show," said music teacher Abbie Smith. "Because for all them this is new. Standing on stage in front of people is new to them. Sharing their words on a microphone is a new skill."

Mark shared some observations from the nation's first general, commander in chief and president  George Washington.

"He said, and I'm paraphrasing, the way that young men and women perceive that we have treated veterans, we have treated those who have served our nation is going to directly tie to their willingness and ability to serve their country," he said. "So it's important that we take the time on Memorial Day, on Independence Day, on Veterans Day, to ensure that we respect, tribute and show our appreciation for people that were willing to serve their country ...

"For willing to give everything they had, leave behind their families and their friends and their community, so that they could fully serve and allow all of us to have the amazing things that we take for granted sometimes."

Barrett remembered his friend Peter W. Foote III, the only North Adams native who lost his life in Vietnam for whom the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink is named.

"He never had the opportunity to have children. He never had a chance to enjoy the great freedoms that you have today. And the ability to go to school, wherever you want to go," he said. "And those freedoms are so important as you've learned about."

He urged the children to think about the words in the pledge and national anthem and remember that people they never knew sacrificed for them.

"It's not often that the community comes together in this fashion. And Memorial Day presents a lot of important lessons for our curriculum and our school and really is a way for our community to come together to remember that freedom isn't free," said Superintendent Aaron Dean. "So I just want to say thank you to the veterans for for serving our country and helping us maintain that freedom."

Pupils Bentley Martin and Chase Lambert read essays that said the day "is a time to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served our country in the military. Honestly, you think about all the soldiers who fought to keep us safe and free. It's like a big thank you" and that "it makes me happy because my grandpa she made it home. It makes me sad because others didn't make it home."

The third-graders also got a little quiz on Friday from guest speaker Fred Lora: What's the meaning of the tall pointy thing on top of Mount Greylock?

"To honor the soldiers that fought for our freedom," responded one youngster.

And the names on stone in front of Town Hall: "Those are soldiers," said another.

That's right, said Lora. Then he asked a third question: Do you know anyone who has served?

Dozens of hands went up. So Lora, a Hoosac Valley High graduate and retired Army lieutenant colonel, told them he had an assignment for them this weekend.

Memorial Day was special for him remembering comrades who did not come back from Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. "We appreciate the respect, the love and the support."

But to do more, he said, talk to someone they know who was or is in the military. Find out what branch of the armed forces they were in and where they were stationed.

"I think that's important. I think veterans will definitely appreciate that and they will love to have that conversation with you ... you're recognizing them for their service," said Lora.
Chinese FM holds talks with Cambodian deputy PM

Xinhua) 14:29, May 25, 2024

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Sok Chenda Sophea, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Sok Chenda Sophea, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, on Friday in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that as a staunch friend, China firmly supports Cambodia in pursuing a successful development path suited to its national conditions, in maintaining stability, promoting development and improving its people's livelihoods, and in playing a more important role in international and regional affairs.

China stands ready to work with Cambodia to uphold the fine tradition of solidarity and mutual assistance, implement the strategic consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, steer the construction of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the right direction, deepen strategic mutual trust, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, share development and revitalization opportunities, and join hands to march toward modernization, Wang noted.

China is willing to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia and share experience in building special economic zones, Wang said. It is also ready to help Cambodia accelerate industrialization, support Cambodia in achieving green and low-carbon development, and expand its imports of marketable agricultural products from Cambodia, he added.

Wang stressed that China looks forward to strengthening coordination and cooperation with Cambodia to build a closer Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future, and to working with Cambodia and other countries in the region to grasp the main stream of regional development and cooperation, eliminate interference and sabotage by external forces, jointly maintain regional peace and stability, and safeguard the common and legitimate interests of all countries.

Sok Chenda Sophea said that Cambodia attaches great importance to Cambodia-China relations and thinks highly of the achievements of Cambodia-China cooperation. Cambodia abides by the one-China principle and firmly supports China's efforts to safeguard its core interests.

The two sides agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Diamond Hexagon cooperation framework, promote the construction of the Fish and Rice Corridor and the Industrial Development Corridor, and strengthen cooperation on agriculture, infrastructure construction, connectivity, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, human resources development and special economic zones.

The two sides will take the China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year 2024 as an opportunity to deepen cooperation on education, tourism, youth, localities and vocational skills training, and push the construction of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future to a new level.

The two countries agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on regional and international affairs, strengthen China-ASEAN cooperation and Lancang-Mekong cooperation further, and push East Asian regional cooperation in the right direction.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Sok Chenda Sophea, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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Boris Johnsons shambolic tenure as British Prime Minister even extended to his ability to navigate Zoom calls, Patrick Vallance revealed at this years Hay Festival.

In an event in partnership with The Independent, chaired by editor-in-chief Geordie Greig, the former UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser described an incident during a meeting at the G7 summit in 2021, which had been called by Melinda Gates to discuss how to prevent future pandemics.

The meeting itself was actually pretty good. I was asked to present at the G7, who were in this room in Carbis Bay, I was on the Zoom. It was the weirdest Zoom call Ive ever been on  the other two people were [Indian PM] Narendra Modi and Melinda Gates, and then the G7, he told the audience.

Vallance, who appeared regularly alongside Johnson and Conservative cabinet members to deliver Covid briefings to the country during the pandemic, channelled the former PM with a spookily accurate impression. It started with the PM saying, oh Patrick, Patrick, tell us about this pandemic preparedness thing.

So I started speaking and he said, Im gonna stop you there, Patrick. You are, as they say these days, on mute.

Vallance, who left his government role in 2023, was certain that he was not on mute. Anyway, somebody came across and whispered in his ear, and he said, ah, ah, Im sorry. I havent got my headphones on.

The other leaders did find that quite amusing, Vallance told the Hay audience.

open image in gallery Boris Johnson with Emmanuel Macron at last years G7 ( PA )

Now Chief Scientific Advisor for COP26 and Chair of the National History Museum, Vallance said it was about time for the country to have a general election, describing it as a time to ask what sort of rulers do we want, and how do we hold them accountable in the democratic system?

He admitted to being baffled as to why Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chose to deliver his election announcement speech outside Downing Street in the pouring rain, competing with the sound of protestors playing DR:eams Things Can Only Get Better.

The failure to sort that out and have a system where the PM could speak and be heard is a sign of incompetence, he said.

open image in gallery Patrick Vallance during a coronavirus press conference at Downing Street ( Getty Images )

Asked if he felt the incident reflected on the state of the government at the moment, he said: I think the chaos of that event was emblematic.

In other comments, Vallance said that it was absolutely inevitable that there would be another pandemic, and that the UK would not be ready in such an event.

The Independent hosts The News Review at Hay Festival from 25-28 May at 10am, delving into the biggest headlines of the day with a range of leading figures from politics, arts and science. Other speakers will include Shadow Secretary of State for Health Wes Streeting, campaigner and writer Laura Bates, and author Lionel Shriver.

Hay Festival continues until 2 June; hayfestival.com
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BBC news anchor and Mastermind presenter Clive Myrie reminded a Hay Festival audience about the scary moment that he received death threats from a far-right extremist.

He recalled how the man, from Yorkshire, began his menacing campaign after he had filmed a report about gun violence in America in which the presenter described himself as an Englishman. Myrie, who was born in Bolton to Windrush parents from Jamaica, said that the incident, in 2017, was a reminder of the lengths to which some people might go with race hatred.

The man said, you aint English and threatened to do something unspeakable to me and ended with death threats. The man was later arrested and prosecuted and it turned out he had access to firearms and was done by the police for illegal possession of a handgun, Myrie added.

Chairperson Kirsty Lang, also a noted BBC broadcaster, said that she found one of the most depressing things about Myries new book Everything Is Everything: A Memoir of Love, Hate & Hope (Hodder & Stoughton), was that the racism he had experienced from bigoted viewers had gone up in recent years.

Myrie, who turns 60 in August, said he put it down to his high visibility as a news presenter and award-winning host of Mastermind and he detailed some of the other absolutely bizarre abuse he has received. I have even been sent dried faeces in the post, he told the audience at the Global Stage. He said one of the biggest changes since he started out is that Black journalists are now judged by their skill and not their colour.

His memoir deals with the experiences of his parents and how his father always regretted leaving Jamaica. He told the audiences about his uncles, who had fought for the RAF in World War Two, and paid tribute to the devotion of the Windrush generation, who came to Britain in the 1950s to deal with a labour shortage. My parents faced a lot of racism and a lot of pain. They overcame that to make their home in a multicultural Britain. If there is a place I would want to live its in a multicultural Britain and the Windrush generation helped usher that in, he said.

The presenter, who paid tribute to role models Alan Whicker and Trevor McDonald, said he started in the media as a paper boy. Like all good dealers, I sampled my own product and read all the papers at a young age, he joked. He said his parents did not regard journalism as a proper job and said he studied law and was admitted to the Bar before accepting a place on a BBC graduate scheme. My parents didnt forgive me until I started presenting Mastermind, he added.

Myrie, who spent four years in Los Angeles and three years in Washington DC, talked at length about his anger and bemusement at the gun violence in America. He also talked about his passion for US politics and said he hopes to be reporting on the November presidential election, which may feature a re-run of Joe Biden against Donald Trump. Myrie said that 81-year Biden does not get enough credit for the positive state of the US economy and joked that you have just got to hope Biden doesnt come across as someone who will fall over.

Myrie took over from John Humphrys as Mastermind host in 2021. He was asked whether he would have a specialist subject if he took part in the quiz and replied: No. I am a classic journalist. I know a little bit about a lot of stuff. I wax lyrical. I basically bulls***.

Hay Festival runs until 2 June; hayfestival.com
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Matt Lucas has responded to criticism, after he appeared to block a childrens author who complained about the prominence of novels by celebrities, including himself, in bookshops.

The Little Britain comic actor and former Great British Bake Off host said he had been oversensitive to a post by writer Lindsay Littleson. She had shared a photo of a bookshelf in a branch of WH Smith filled with fiction written by stars including Lucas, Alesha Dixon, Geri Halliwell, Stephen Mulhern and Jamie Oliver.

She wrote: Makes me wonder why I keep trying, to which Lucas replied: "Im very proud of my book, I worked hard on it. Littleson, the author of newly released childrens book Ice Cream Boy, replied: I'm very proud of mine too. I work hard visiting schools to try and inspire more children to read for pleasure. My new novel came out last week and is being well reviewed. But it isn't on that shelf. None of my books are, or any others by indie authors. Books by celebrities rule.

Lucas wrote back: I've been writing for a living since 1992, before I was famous. But anyway I wish you all the best and congratulations on your reviews. He then appeared to block Littleson on Twitter/X. Littleson told her followers: Still believe this was a conversation worth having but Matts team clearly disagree. Anyway, it was great to hear from so many lovely authors and indie bookshops!

Lucas was derided for blocking Littleson. Chaos Walking author Patrick Ness wrote: Bad move, @RealMattLucas Childrens writers all talk to each other, you know. Hoping this was all a PR team mistake.

open image in gallery The TV star complained that he had been writing for decades, long before he was famous ( Getty )

After taking some time to reflect, Lucas then posted: Because I write for a living I think I was oversensitive about @ljlittlesons initial post. I understand the frustrations other writers must be feeling when they struggle to get their great work on shelves. Please tell me how I can help support them.

Lucass comments have since been flooded with suggestions on how he can help independent writers. Writer James Withey said: Tweet about new childrens books youve read and loved. Maybe a new one each month. Talk about your favourite living authors in interviews whilst promoting your book and mention authors you admire who havent had the success they deserve.

Writer Marie Basting said: Hi Matt, if you look at the timelines of childrens authors, youll see how we champion, boost & support each other. We also work with schools, reading orgs, bookshops & bloggers to promote reading for pleasure. It would be fantastic if you cld use your platform in a similar way.
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Lily Gladstone is not sweating her controversial Best Actress loss at the 2024 Oscars, saying that its irrelevant whether or not I walked home with that statue in hand.

The Killers of the Flower Moon star, 37, made history as the first Native American woman ever to be nominated in the category. She played the role of Mollie, an Indigenous Osage woman who is married to Leonardo DiCaprios character Ernest, in Martin Scorseses film.

She had been considered the Oscar frontrunner alongside Emma Stone, but it was Stone who went on to win the Academy Award for her performance as Bella Baxter in Yorgos Lanthimoss dark comedy.

While many fans were dismayed by Gladstones loss, she said that when she returned home to the Blackfeet Nation, nobody there was upset that she didnt win.

It was funny, the organizers of the event called me beforehand and they said that theyd got a bunch of little cardboard cut-outs of gold-man statues that looked like an Oscar, to give to the kids, Gladstone recently told Empire magazine.

They asked if that was okay, or if it was gonna hurt my feelings. I said: No, absolutely not. Thats just the whole thing of award campaigns and the competitive nature of pitting art against art. Clearly this film, in this moment, had meaning. It did its job.

She continued: But yeah, nobody was upset that it didnt happen. I feel like when the Golden Globe happened, a lot of people who are very far away from the industry just kind of thought it was the Oscars.

open image in gallery Lily Gladstone played an Indigenous Osage woman named Mollie in Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon ( Getty Images )

Gladstone made history at the January Golden Globes with her win for Best Performance by a Female Actor in Motion Picture, Drama.

Its about the fact that [the film has] been awarded and its historic, and its still just a really meaningful moment, she added. So its irrelevant whether or not I walked home with that statue in hand.

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She said that regardless of how things turned out, she still has projects coming out and many more lined up.

Gladstone currently stars alongside Riley Keough in the Hulu true-crime series Under the Bridge, about the grisly murder of Canadian teen Reena Virk in 1997.

Up next, she will feature in Morrisa Maltzs Jazzy, which will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on 9 June. The movie follows the scene-stealing character who appeared in the 2022 indie drama The Unknown Country, led by Gladstone.

Meanwhile, on 28 June, Gladstones drama Fancy Dance will be released on Apple TV+.

Last month, it was announced that Gladstone had been cast in Andrew Ahns forthcoming remake of Ang Lees 1993 Oscar-nominated romcom The Wedding Banquet.
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Tom Hollands eagerly anticipated Shakespeare debut in Jamie Lloyds Romeo & Juliet production has received mixed reviews from critics following opening night at the Duke of Yorks theatre on Thursday (23 May).

The Spider-Man actor, 27, returned to the London stage for the first time since playing Billy Elliott on the West End in 2008. He stars in Lloyds production alongside Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as Juliet, with critics calling the stripped back Shakespeare show sad, muted and ruthlessly edited.

The Independents Tim Bano calls Holland a sad boy in a white vest and claims his acting skills are abundant in all the bits when hes not speaking. He explains Hollands line delivery is a bit flat and too sing-song while Amewudah-Rivers is mostly impassive and she acts best with her voice while Holland is best with his face.

Banos two star review lamented Lloyds austere aesthetic and the productions use of live video: As much as its meant to be a stripping back, soon those cameras, the constant murmuring, the grinding sounds, the need to be cool ALL THE TIME gets in the way of performances, he wrote. It imposes too much on them rather than liberating them.

The Guardians Arifa Akbar gave Lloyds Romeo & Juliet three stars and said Holland and Amewudah-Rivers had been perfectly cast. She praised their awkwardly cool teen energy and deliberately restrained chemistry.

However, she also took issue with Lloyds stripped back approach to Shakespeare, writing the directors style is puzzling in its distancing and the plays anti-dramatic effects are too stilted to let loose the plays passion.

When scenes are traditionally acted out, they are tremendous  immaculately performed and full of feeling, she writes. We ache for them to continue.

Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in Jamie Lloyds production of Romeo and Juliet ( Marc Brenner )

Meanwhile, The Times Clive Davis three star review similarly calls Lloyds Romeo & Juliet muted and too formulaic, adding the plays final scenes feel like eavesdropping on a conscientious but colourless radio drama.

Davis adds the shows throbbing sound effects and flashing lights provide abrupt punctuation to the Shakespeare text and the opening night audience left the theatre perplexedrather than gripped by Lloyds production.

The Telegraph are significantly more positive about Lloyds Romeo & Juliet, giving the ruthlessly edited production five stars. Dominic Cavendish claims the play ravishes viewers, although it may startle fans with its line of attack.

Cavendish praises Lloyd for slowing down the pace of the Shakespeare play, claiming the mics taped to Holland and Amewudah-Rivers faces place lyrical language centre-stage while the live video adds to the curious, meditative effect of the two hour show.

The BBCs Hugh Montgomery says in his review that, although Holland is not to blame, Lloyds production of Romeo & Juliet is lifeless. He instead pins the fault on the directors gimmicky, oppressively dour staging, adding the show manages to be at once overstated and underpowered with its modern twists and minimal set design.

Lloyd seems to also want to make Romeo and Juliet into some kind of nihilistic horror, he claims.

Read The Independents two-star review here.
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Look, we all know why were here. Its what Jamie Lloyd does: takes a classic play, strips away a load of stuff, and puts a massive star at the centre of it to sell all the tickets and sort of trick teenagers into watching Ibsen or Pinter or Shakespeare. Its the same deal here, with someone of supernova quality: Tom Holland  aka Spiderman himself  returning to the London stage for the first time since playing Billy Elliott in 2008.

Except, this time, early announcements about the feverishly anticipated production were overshadowed by an online campaign of abuse against Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, the young actor cast as Juliet. What an utter cesspit the world seems sometimes. The torrent from these brainless racists led to an open letter of solidarity signed by more than 800 Black creatives, and a statement from Lloyds company condemning the abuse. This all happened before the play had opened  before anyone had a chance to see what its actually like.

So. Whats it actually like?

This is less Jamie Lloyd does Shakespeare, more Jamie Lloyd does Jamie Lloyd; a Romeo & Juliet muttered through head mics, housed in a shell of industrial chic  or it was chic the first time Lloyd did it, but now it just looks like a fetish for ventilation ducts.

Its set in Verona, which we can tell because its in the second line of the play and because there are big letters on stage that say Verona. Thats the closest Lloyd comes to a prop, by the way. No potions or poisons or daggers here. No set either, or rather one of regular collaborator Soutra Gilmours non-sets, making the stage look like a stage. Theres really high-quality video and Jon Clarks amazing lighting provides the rest of the set, creating shapes and sculpture from light and shadow.

Theres the prologue, a bit of fighting performed as whispers into microphones, and on comes Holland, a camera following him from backstage. Hes tearful, morose, muttering. Hes a very sad boy in a tight white vest.

Its what Lloyd was doing in Sunset Boulevard with Nicole Scherzinger and in A Dolls House with Jessica Chastain, the toolkit deployed in full, and its just as interesting: it strips the play back to bare bones, especially with Nima Taleghanis super snappy adaptation which nips along at pace. The play seems fresh; theres a real intense focus on the words.

But its only when we get to the balcony scene (no balcony obviously) that it properly comes alive. Its pure intense passion. Holland and Amewudah-Rivers stand face to face, hips brushing, lips almost touching, and murmur their love to each other.

Hollands acting skills are abundant in all the bits when hes not speaking. Thats not a criticism, honestly: its just that his face is so full of detail  detail that cameras and close-ups can really capture  and his reactions to other characters so full and attentive. His line delivery is a bit flat, though  too much sing-song quality as he quietly trots out the pentameter.

open image in gallery Tom Holland (Romeo) and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (Juliet) ( Marc Brenner )

Amewudah-Rivers is the opposite: her face remains mostly impassive, her cool insouciance a nice contrast to Hollands puppyish affection, and she fills her softly murmured lines with different textures. Essentially, he acts best with his face, she with her voice.

Amid the moody coolness theres a brilliant performance from Freema Agyeman as a sulky, cheeky nurse leching over Romeo and having a laugh with Juliet. But really there are no blow-away performances here, nothing for the ages. How can there be when the actors are so constricted by the production thats been built around them? As much as its meant to be a stripping back, soon those cameras, the constant murmuring, the grinding sounds, the need to be cool ALL THE TIME gets in the way of performances. It imposes too much on them rather than liberating them.

If it had ended at the interval, it would have been brilliant. Instead, it becomes a thing of diminishing returns. Second-half scenes are too effortful, some have no emotional impact. As for the ending, well, its a bit of a letdown. They die, but theatrically: earpieces out, eyes closed, sitting on the front of the stage like bouncers having a nap after a long shift at a warehouse rave.

Credit to Lloyd, nothing is ever boring, which cant be said for most Shakespeare productions. But this is Romeo & Juliet, and not boring isnt enough. We need more passion, more energy, to make us not want the lovers to die, and then to feel sad when they do. By the end it feels like nothing has changed. Everything has remained too muted and beholden to the concept. Love is a many-splendoured thing, not a mutter into a mic.

Duke of Yorks Theatre, until 3 August
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Strictly Come Dancing is facing the biggest scandal in its history, with reported allegations against Giovanni Pernice.

Its being reported that the Italian professional dancer, who has been embroiled in controversy since his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington unexpectedly quit the show in 2023, is the centre of an investigation, which is being assisted by a number of celebrities he has previously been paired with.

While Sherlock star Abbington originally cited medical reasons for her decision to leave, she went on to request what was described by a source as tense footage of her rehearsals with Pernice for a supposed investigation. The actor then revealed she was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for several reasons.

It was alleged in March that Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh and former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, who previously said she was uncomfortable with Pernice, had a tearful summit with Abbington about their respective difficult experiences working with the dancer, who is well known to be intense during training.

According to The Sun, these files, compiled by an expensive lawyer, include photographic evidence that suggest Pernices training regime was so brutal that his celebrity partners were left black and blue.

However, its been claimed that Pernice, who has described himself as a perfectionist, is also compiling his own documents that he believes will clear him of any wrongdoing, including audio transcripts of one ex-partner apologising to him for their difficult behaviour.

Its expected that these files will be handed to the BBC, which may prompt the corporation to launch its own investigation into the matter.

A source said: The whole situation is deeply unpleasant, and the women fear they risk losing other lucrative BBC contracts if they speak out.

open image in gallery Amanda Abbington quit weeks into the last series of Strictly ( BBC )

Despite this, they are pressing ahead because they feel it is the right thing to do  and to prevent anyone else facing anything similar on such a loved family show.

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The Independent has contacted the BBC for comment.

Pernices future on the show is currently up in the air, but its been claimed he will leave the series to pursue other projects.

The dancer has been a part of Strictly since 2015, and won legions of fans due to his onscreen camaraderie with EastEnders actor Rose Ayling-Ellis. The pair won the show in 2021.

open image in gallery Giovanni Pernices Strictly future is up in the air ( BBC )

Since the news, Pernice has been supported by his fans, and by Debbie McGee, one of his former celebrity Strictly partners.

He was partnered with Whitmore in 2016, and Singh in 2020, finishing in ninth and fifth place, respectively.
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Tom Burke has shared his feelings about starring in Strike, the hit BBC adaptation of the detective novels written by JK Rowling.

The 42-year-old actor has portrayed the one-legged private eye, Cormoran Strike, since 2017 and is returning to the role for its sixth season, which began shooting in February.

Speaking in an interview with The Independent, Burke discussed his thoughts on being linked to one of the most polarising figures of the day, Rowling, who has been met with a strong backlash in recent years over her outspoken stance on trans women.

He said: Ive thought about these things a lot, and I feel fine doing that particular job [starring in Strike], and my integrity sits fine with it. I know its a complex issue.

Burke also disclosed that, before the interview, he had made a special request to the BBC for media training on how to talk about the Harry Potter author. Ill preface all this by saying, what I want for that situation is for it to mend, he said.

I want those disparate groups to find resolution. I dont want to say anything in the wrong context, or at the wrong time, which is going to make the situation worse, because its not nice, right? Theres so much antipathy going on.

He added: I hate this term culture war. Maybe its naive of me to say that, but I dont want to be part of it. I want to bring people together.

Asked how he feels about Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson both having condemned Rowlings anti-trans views, Burke said: Its not for me to second-guess anyones integrity on speaking out. My integrity is to not. My integrity is to step away. Im aware that might mean people think Im on the fence; its just what sits well with me right now.

Im not saying Ill never speak out; its not that I dont feel part of it. Its just that I want to say something thats helpful to resolution.

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On whether he has sympathy for Radcliffe, who has been targeted by anti-trans activists, he said: I feel sorry for anybody whos facing any kind of anger, frankly. Its just the way Im wired.

open image in gallery Burke and his co-star Holliday Grainger on the set of Strike in 2022 ( BBC/Bronte Film and TV Ltd/Alex Rendell )

Rowling, who first faced a backlash from several key cast members when she shared controversial remarks about the trans community in 2020, has seen her relationship with stars deteriorate amid increasingly toxic debate.

Following the release of the Cass report in April, an independent review of gender identity services for children, Rowling took aim at Radcliffe and Watson, telling them to save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners.

The author has also long been a fierce critic of the Scottish Governments gender reform plans, arguing the proposals infringe on womens safety.

She has denied being transphobic, but has previously stated that she would rather go to jail than refer to a trans person by their preferred pronouns.

Elsewhere in the interview, Burke talked about his new film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, his roles in the movies Mank and The Souvenir, and being the non-stereotypical leading man.
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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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A groom has sparked a viral debate after he sprayed his bride with champagne on their wedding day.

Last week, Cole Hennessey and his now-wife, Kristal Kim, officially tied the knot in Lake Como, Italy. In a since-deleted TikTok video from the nuptials, which has since been re-shared on X, the couple could be seen doing a toast to celebrate, with Hennessey opening up a bottle of champagne.

While guests in the background cheered for the pair, with one telling them to look out for the cake, the groom proceeded to shake the bottle and spray the champagne in the air. Kim went on to celebrate with her partner, before he directed champagne towards her and sprayed her with it. In response, Kim continued laughing and turned around, after the champagne got on her face and white gown.

However, some guests in the background werent as amused, with a few shouting No! No! when Hennessey directed the champagne bottle toward Kim. Another person in the background said: Not on her! referring to the bride.

Hennessey then took a sip of the bottle, while his partner smiled and raised her arms. He then poured some of the champagne into her mouth, before the other guests encouraged her to spray Hennessey, with one even saying: Get him back!

In response, the groom opened his arms, in preparation to be sprayed, while Kim shook the bottle and aimed it towards him. However, only a little bit of the fizzy champagne came out.

On X, the video of the couples wedding has more than 38.2 million views, and it has sparked a viral debate. Multiple people have criticized Hennessey for spraying the champagne on his partner, especially considering the time she likely spent getting ready for her wedding.

Anyone who has had dried champagne on them knows it isnt a great scent or feel, even if its Dom, one claimed. He ruined the rest of her night unless she had a backup dress.

open image in gallery ( @ericriveracooks / X )

I know couples have their own way of being cute and funny with each other BUT, spraying champagne on your bride in her wedding gown? In her face? NO. This reminds me of the man who smashed the cake in his wifes face, another wrote, referring to the common prank at weddings.

Abso-f-ing-lutely not. I would so call it a day at that point. To have to spend the rest of the reception with sticky hair and skin, ruined makeup, and a damp dress. NO, a third wrote.

However, others defended the groom from criticism, explaining that his wife looked like she was having fun and laughed when he sprayed the champagne on her.

Imma have to disagree with the masses on this one. She looks happy! Just because YOU feel a certain way about preserving your wedding makeup and stuff.. one wrote. Doesnt mean she does. I think its cute when a couple CLEARLY also has a friendship foundation; not only the romance.

Actually love this so much. They both seem to be having a blast. Only people saying noooo are in the audience, another wrote. He clearly wasnt being malicious and screw social norms. Love how you want. Be excited! And a wedding is for both people getting married, not just wife.

A third agreed: He looks so fun and genuinely happy to be married, and she looks like a great sport about the mess! [Win] couple.

Hennessey later addressed the viral backlash in a since-expired Instagram Story of him and his wife, shared on May 23. Day one of honeymoon: Im getting canceled on the internet for having fun [with] my wife, he wrote in the caption of the photo, which has been re-shared on X.

He once again quipped about his wedding on his Instagram Story on May 24, posting a picture of Kim posing with a bottle of champagne while on the Amalfi Coast. Honeymoon Day Two: more champagne.

The Independent has contacted Hennessey for comment.
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Four people were injured and one was arrested following a clash between pro-Iran supporters and anti-Iranian government protesters.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to Alperton Lane, Wembley, at 6.21pm on Friday following reports of disorder.

An event was taking place to mark the death of the president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, which was attended by supporters of the Iranian government.

The Met said anti-government protesters had gathered outside the venue and clashes broke out between the groups.

Officers and other Met resources attended alongside paramedics from the London Ambulance Service.

A spokesperson for the Met Police confirmed four people were injured and treated by paramedics. One person was also arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

The spokesperson added: Their injuries are not believed to be either life-threatening or life-changing.

A dispersal order was implemented, requiring those involved to leave the area. It will remain in force until 03.00hrs.

Further inquiries will now follow to establish what further offences took place and to identify those involved.

This will include an examination of footage shared on social media.

Anyone with other footage or information is encouraged to call 101, to message @MetCC or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with the reference 6379/24MAY.
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Such is the extent of the current wave of shoplifting that even pound shops are having to install new security measures to head off losses in the thousands.

Shoplifting is pretty horrific at the moment, its out of control completely, says John Bebbington, owner of Everything One Pound in Bristol.

While major retailers have warned of the rise in the problem and the strain it puts on staff, it can be an even bigger challenge for independent businesses.

Mr Bebbington said theft has become a weekly scenario. He has been dealing with it while his wife recovers from cancer.

He puts the increase down to the cost of living crisis and the failure of criminal sanctions to act as a deterrent.

Its a battle

The 61-year-old has installed CCTV cameras, mirrors and cabinets, and changed the layout of his shop.

The last few years, its been crazy  the audacity of it, he said. Whereas before people would walk in and look suspicious, and spend ages in the shop, now they literally walk in, pick up what they want to steal and walk out. Thats probably the biggest change.

You cant have anything shoplifters can walk behind. If Ive got one person at the till, theyve got to be able to see across all the tables of products, so any high racks with goods have to be at the back of the shop.

We used to have piercings and belly bars up on the walls, but I had to spend 500 to put them all into cases because they were going missing, so they have to be covered now so people have to ask to see them.

The small business owner said thieves who frequent the store even stole a childrens charity box.

Even pound shops have been affected by the spate of crimes ( John Bebbington )

Prominent in the shop now are two large boards warning thieves of live CCTV cameras and security mirrors  but theft remains rampant.

Sunglasses near the till became an easy target. Mr Bebbington said: After opening up, it took about a minute before somebody put a pair of sunglasses in their pocket. Ive now had to spend 600 to have specially designed stands to try and prevent the thefts, and thats just this week.

Its a battle that youre never going to win but if you stop fighting you might as well pack up and go home because they will destroy you.

Nothing to lose

Major retailers have been sounding the alarm over escalating rates of shoplifting, with offences in England and Wales rising to their highest level in 20 years.

In April, the government announced plans for tougher sanctions under amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill, but the legislation has now been overtaken by the general election.

Mr Bebbington said law enforcement currently has little effect.

If you go and pinch something that you really, really want youre not going to get into trouble, youre not going to get a criminal record, or get arrested, he said. There really is nothing to lose.

Mr Bebbington has been forced to put jewellery in cabinets and posts signs in a forlorn attempt to deter thieves ( John Bebbington )

Epidemic of shoplifting

Dame Sharon White, chair of the John Lewis Partnership, said shoplifting has become an epidemic with a rise in organised gangs looting stores. Archie Norman, chair of Marks and Spencer, said his staff get little help from the police.

Simply Business, a small business insurer, said that its research found shoplifting is a huge concern for small business owners. It found that 57 per cent of respondents had lost over 250 to shoplifting in the past year alone.

Across the country from Mr Bebbingtons shop is RD1 Clothing in Hastings. Its owned by Mickey Whiteman, who said that while supermarkets bear the brunt of shoplifting, his shop is not immune.

Recently a jacket went missing and CCTV footage showed a man walking out wearing two.

The bloke, the next day... brought the coat back for a refund, he said. Thats what they do, they steal jackets then bring them back to get a refund, so you get stung twice.

Mr Whiteman has argued that additional police officers should patrol in the town.

Tina McKenzie, policy chair at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said shoplifting is a major source of stress for small retailers.

She added: Traditional crime, including organised shoplifting, took away more than 1,000 from over half of small business victims across England and Wales in the last two years, with one in ten losing more than 10,000.

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for retail crime, said forces are doing all they can to reduce thefts and pursue offenders.

He went on: Late last year we worked with the government to develop the Retail Crime Action Plan, which sets out clear guidelines for the response to retail crime, including following all reasonable lines of enquiry.
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A fire has broken out at a derelict building that once held some of the UKs most notorious criminals.

Firefighters were called out to the former Broadmoor Hospital site in Crowthorne, Berkshire on Saturday morning.

Footage from the scene shows a blaze at the top of the building as large plumes of smoke billow above.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said their crew is attending the scene as they warned people to stay clear of the area.

A spokesperson said: At 9.37am on Saturday, 25 May we received reports of a fire at a derelict building at the old Broadmoor Hospital site on Chaplains Hill, Crowthorne.

The fire is not located at the current hospital site and there is no risk to patients and staff.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a well-developed fire in a building at the old Broadmoor Hospital site. There are no injuries reported at this time and all persons are accounted for.

Around 40 firefighters remain on the scene of this fire. Crews are working to contain the fire using aerial ladder platforms and will remain on scene for some time while they deal with this incident.

Please stay clear of the area while emergency services deal with this incident and if you are in the area, please keep windows and doors closed at this time.

Broadmoor is a specialist psychiatric hospital for high-security men aged 18 and above.

Its roster of high-profile patients includes Ronnie Kray, Charles Bronson, the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, and Robert Maudsley.

Today, its inmates include one of Lee Rigbys killers, Michael Adebowale, as well as the man who tried to kidnap Princess Anne in 1974, Ian Ball.
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The family of a British fitness instructor who went missing on Mount Everest when part of the route collapsed beneath him have issued an urgent plea to help them launch a search and rescue mission.

Daniel Paterson, 40, disappeared in the death zone of the worlds highest peak just after he had reached the 8,849m high summit on Tuesday morning.

Mr Paterson was part of a 15-member fee-paying team with mountaineering company 8K Expeditions, which is now frantically searching for other missing climbers in temperatures which can fall to as low as -36C.

Describing him as a beloved son, brother, partner, friend and a proud joint owner of Wakefield Crossfit who is known for his adventurous spirit, his kindness, and his unwavering dedication to helping others, Mr Patersons partner Becks Woodhead is urgently seeking help to crowdfund a rescue effort.

Time is of the essence in a situation like this, and we are mobilising every resource we can to locate Dan. We are hoping to launch a search mission with the assistance of a rescue team specialising in search operations in extreme environments, Ms Woodhead said.

Conducting a search and rescue operation on Everest is an incredibly complex and costly endeavour. We are not experts in this, and there is no guarantee of success.

They have so far received more than two thirds of their 150,000 target, the sum recommended by crisis response team Global Rescue.

This photograph taken on 12 May shows mountaineers as they climb during their ascent to Mount Everests 8,849m high summit ( AFP/Getty )

Lakpa Sherpa, who led the expedition in which Mr Paterson was taking part, said: We regret to inform you that a cornice collapse occurred yesterday at Hillary Step.

Two of our brave team members, Mr Paterson and Mr Sherpa are missing. Witnesses reported the incident took place between Summit Ridge and South Summit and some climbers were swept away in Kangshung Face.

Our dedicated search and rescue teams are deployed on the ground. They are working tirelessly to locate our missing climbers.

The Nepali Department of Tourism said six mountain guides had been scrambled to help join the search after Mr Paterson and his guide slipped and vanished from the mountainside.

Mount Everest can be a treacherous climb ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

It said: Mr Paterson and the accompanying Nepali mountain guide Mr Sherpa reached the peak of Everest at 4.40am on 21 May.

It has been reported that the climber and his guide slipped and disappeared near the South summit near Kangsung Face on 21 May at 7am while returning from the summit of Everest.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those involved in the search and rescue of those whose condition is currently unknown and who are missing in the accident.

The UK Foreign Office told The Independent: We are supporting the family of a British man who is reported as missing in Nepal and are in touch with local authorities.

It comes after two Mongolian climbers Usukhjargal Tsedendamba and Prevsuren Lkhagvajav died above 8,500m while descending from the summit point on 13 May.

Since the first conquest of Mount Everest in 1953, the peak has been climbed thousands of times, and it gets more crowded every year.

During the spring climbing season in 2023, 667 climbers scaled the peak, which brought in thousands of support staff to the base camp between the months of March and May.

Those who would like to donate to the campaign can do so here.
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Regulators have launched an investigation into Royal Mail after it delivered less than three quarters of first class post on time in the last year.

In its yearly financial results on Friday, Royal Mails parent company, International Distribution Services (IDS) said only 74.5% of first class mail was delivered within one working day.

Under communications watchdog Ofcoms rules, 93% of first class mail must be delivered within the timeframe, excluding Christmas.

Royal Mail also missed its 98.5% target of second class post being delivered in three days, delivering only 92.4% on time.

We have improved quality, won back customers lost during industrial action, controlled costs and delivered Christmas for our customers Martin Seidenberg, IDS

Ofcom said: If it does not provide a satisfactory explanation and we determine that Royal Mail has failed to comply with its obligations, we will consider whether to impose a financial penalty.

Last year, Ofcom fined the company 5.6m for failing to meet its delivery targets in 2022/23.

The figures were part of a financial results statement delivered more than 24 hours late, after markets closed on Friday. It was initially scheduled for 7am on Thursday May 23.

The statement showed that Royal Mails losses narrowed to 348 million, up from 419 million for the year ending March 31.

Martin Seidenberg, chief executive of IDS, said: We have improved quality, won back customers lost during industrial action, controlled costs and delivered Christmas for our customers.

Positive momentum is building, although there is hard work in front of us to get back to profitability.

The results also come as IDS waits for a potential buyout offer from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

IDS gave no update on the potential deal, only that no firm offer had yet come in.

It reiterated that it is minded to accept a proposed bid worth about 3.5 billion put forward on May 15.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said earlier this month that Royal Mails universal service obligation will need to be protected in any sale of the firm.

IDS has previously said Mr Kretinsky agreed to offer a set of contractual undertakings to protect key public interest factors.

It also said the proposal recognised Royal Mails status as a major part of national infrastructure.

This would include commitments to Royal Mails plans to keep six-day-a-week first class letter deliveries under the universal service, protect workers rights and keep the Royal Mail brand, as well as its UK headquarters and tax residence.

Mr Kretinsky has until 5pm on May 29 to make a firm offer.
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Weather warnings and dozens of flood alerts have been issued across England and north Wales, as thunderstorms are set to put a dampener on the bank holiday weekend.

More than an inch of rain could fall in just one hour as thunderstorms lash parts of England and Wales, forecasters have warned. Slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop on Sunday afternoon, with 20-30mm of rain due to hit.

Hail and lightning strikes may also occur, with people warned to expect possible flooding, travel delays and power cuts.

Met Office weather warnings on place for Sunday 26 May ( MET OFFICE )

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning from midday until 8pm on Sunday across much of central and northern England and the north east of Wales. A further warning was later put in place across areas of south-west England and the Home Counties, lasting from 10am to 7pm.

Sudden flooding could create difficult driving conditions, or even lead to communities being cut off by road closures, with a small chance of homes and businesses becoming rapidly flooded or damaged by lightning strikes, forecasters said.

Trains and bus services could face cancellations and delays, with the chance of power cuts and other services to some homes and businesses being lost, the Met Office warned.

As much as 20mm to 30mm could fall over a few hours and there may be hail and lightning strikes.

Dozens of flood alerts were in force as of Saturday ( Environment Agency )

The Environment Agency has issued 26 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible  mostly centred in southern England to the west of London, but also near Derby and Shrewsbury.

But the picture will brighten somewhat on Monday with drier conditions possible in parts of Wales, Northern Ireland and southwest England in the afternoon. A mix of sunshine and showers will be the case for many on Monday, forecasters said.

Forecaster Kathryn Chalk said: There could be some disruption, especially for people travelling or out trying to enjoy the bank holiday weekend.

So Id say definitely keep an eye out on that. Some southern areas of England may also see a few heavy downpours, perhaps even the odd rumble of thunder as well.

She added: Its just a more unsettled weather regime where the airs unstable and with more heating in the land it helps develop a storm.

MET OFFICE OUTLOOK

Sunday:

A cloudy start with spells of rain pushing northwards. Becoming showery into the afternoon with some sunny spells in between. The showers however, turning heavy and thundery at times. Temperatures around average.

Sunday night:

Showers gradually fading this evening in the south to leave clearer spells overnight. Spells of rain persisting in parts of Scotland, Northern England and Wales leading to a mild night.

Monday:

Cloudier conditions to start in the north, followed by scattered showers. These generally less widespread than on Sunday, but still turning heavy and thundery at times, especially across Scotland. Breezy.

Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:

Remaining changeable with longer spells of rain followed by heavy showers on Tuesday. Sunny spells and frequent showers on Wednesday and Thursday. Feeling cooler for most and breezy at times.

Additional reporting by PA
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Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to lower the voting age to 16  as Labour and the Tories kicked off the first weekend of the general election campaign.

On a campaign visit to Stafford, the Labour leader confirmed plans to follow Scotland and Wales in extending the vote to a further 1.5 million people, telling reporters: If you can work, if you can pay tax, if you can serve in your armed forces, then you ought to be able to vote.

The extremely straightforward legislation will likely even appear as soon as the Kings Speech, a Labour source told The Times, which estimated that such a move could flip eight Tory seats red in England alone. It comes as Rishi Sunak is scrambling to find more than 190 candidates amid the largest exodus of Tory MPs since the Second World War, with 78 now announcing they are stepping down at the July election.

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer looks on during a Labour general election campaign event in Stafford ( Reuters )

Following a morning meeting with local veterans in his constituency in which he warned the world was becoming more dangerous, the PMs whereabouts on Saturday afternoon were unclear. Minister Bim Afolami was forced to reject suggestions Mr Sunak was taking the day off but Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth accused the PM of hiding away in his mansion.

Sir Keir took a swipe at the departures of senior Tories Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom, claiming that, if Mr Gove has effectively lost faith in what Rishi Sunak is putting before the electorate, it does beg the question as to why the voters should have faith in what Rishi Sunak is putting forward.

They have effectively got off the bus, because they dont think the bus is going anywhere, I do think thats significant, he said.

Rishi Sunak did pop up on Saturday to speak to constituents in North Yorkshire ( Getty )

The Labour leader was forced to defend his partys decision to rebrand its package of workers rights pledges  from the New Deal to Labours plan to make work pay  after Unite union chief Sharon Graham warned the plans had more holes than Swiss cheese.

Sir Keir denied he was watering down policies on areas like zero-hours contracts, parental leave and sick pay, despite Ms Graham warning that the number of caveats and get-outs means it is in danger of becoming a bad bosses charter.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Saturday she wanted to see lower taxes for workers, but insisted that unlike the Tories she would not make pledges she cannot keep.

Pressed by reporters during a meeting with supermarket workers to talk about the cost of living crisis, Ms Reeves insisted Labour had no plans to raise taxes beyond its proposed levies on private schools and wealthy non-doms to help fund improvements in public services.

It came after the right-wing Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank cautioned that the state of public finances hangs over both major parties election campaigns like a dark cloud, in a stark warning that the next government may be forced into tax rises or cuts to public services.

Jeremy Hunt and Rachel Reeves both set out their economic positions on Saturdays front pages ( PA )

Reports that the PM was readying himself to double down on his stalled Rwanda scheme by announcing hopes for copycat schemes with other countries were overshadowed by the news that a further 288 people crossed the Channel in small boats  bringing the total this year to more than 10,000.

In another blow to Mr Sunak, The Independent revealed that the boss of childcare firm Koru Kids, who was backed by his wife Akshata Murty and hosted at a Downing Street reception, was endorsing Labour  warning that the Tories are not serious people after seeing how infighting had hampered key policies to help parents.

Sir Ed Daveys party was also continuing its trail across the southeast on Saturday, with the Lib Dem leader hitting two marginal constituencies to highlight sewage-dumping as a key electoral battleground in areas near the coast.

The party leader was out doorstepping in education secretary Gillian Keegans constituency of Chichester, where he hopes to flip the Tory majority on 4 July. The Lib Dems claimed that party analysis shows water company bosses have pocketed some 54m in bonuses since 2019 as they announced plans for a new, strengthened water industry regulator to replace Ofwat.

And Reform Party leader Richard Tice officially launched his campaign for the constituency of Boston and Skegness on Saturday, channelling Donald Trumps famous campaign slogan by declaring: This great nation of ours.... weve got to make it great again in a brief speech to supporters.

Additional reporting by PA
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A missionary couple from the US and the director of a mission group in Haiti were fatally shot by gang members after leaving a church youth group, a family member has said.

Davy and Natalie Lloyd, a young married couple from the US, as well as Jude Montis, the local director of Missions in Haiti Inc, and were killed on Thursday in the community of Lizon in northern Port-au-Prince.

Violent gangs that control 80% of the capital city while authorities await the arrival of a police force from Kenya as part of a U.N.-backed deployment aimed at quelling gang violence in the troubled Caribbean country.

Here are some things to know about the missionary work that focused on helping the children of Haiti, and the gang attack that took three lives.

WORKING IN HAITI

Missions in Haitis website says its goal is to see the Gospel of Christ make a difference in the lives of Haitis young people.

Davy Lloyd's parents, David and Alicia Lloyd of Oklahoma, started the organization in 2000 with the aim of focusing on the children of Haiti. David and Alicia Lloyd are full-time missionaries in Haiti.

Although the entire nation is steeped in poverty, the children suffer the worst, they wrote on the website. Thousands are malnourished, uneducated, and headed for hopeless lives apart from Christ.

Hannah Cornett, Davys sister, told The Associated Press that they grew up in Haiti. Davy Lloyd went to the U.S. to attend a Bible college and married Natalie in June 2022. After the wedding, the couple wasted little time moving to Haiti to do humanitarian work.

Cornett said Montis, a Haitian, had worked at Missions in Haiti for 20 years.

The organization's efforts include House of Compassion, which provides housing for 36 children  18 boys and 18 girls, the website said. All are destined to stay at House of Compassion until they have finished school and are ready to be on their own.

Good Hope Boys Home provides a home for 22 boys, the website said. The organization also built a church, a bakery and a school with more than 240 students, the website said.

THE ATTACK

A Facebook posting on the Missions in Haiti page stated that Davy Lloyd, 23, and Natalie Lloyd, 21, along with some children, were leaving a church when gang members in three trucks ambushed them.

Davy Lloyd later called his family to tell them that gang members hit him on the head with the barrel of a gun, forced him upstairs, stole their belongings and left him tied up, Cornett said.

As people were helping untie Davy Lloyd, another group of armed gunmen showed up, Cornett said.

No one understood what they were doing, not sure what took place but one was shot and killed and now this gang went into full attack mode, Missions in Haiti's posting said.

The couple and Montis fled to a house connected to the mission.

They tried to take cover in there, but the gang shot up the house, said Cornett.

Ben Baker, Natalie Lloyd's father and a Republican state representative in Missouri, posted on Facebook on Friday that the bodies of Davy and Natalie Lloyd were safely transported to the U.S. Embassy.

GRIEVING FAMILIES

Cornett said Montis left behind two children, ages 2 and 6.

Montis family could not immediately be reached for comment Friday. Its unclear if he used social media and, if so, whether his profiles are public. Missions in Haiti did not immediately return the AP's request for comment Friday.

Baker wrote on Facebook that his heart was broken in a thousand pieces.

Ive never felt this kind of pain, Baker wrote. Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to Heaven together. Please pray for my family we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well. I have no other words for now.

___

Associated Press writer Summer Ballentine in Columbia, Missouri, contributed.
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A New Mexico judge has rejected Alec Baldwins attempt to have the Rust fatal shooting case against him dismissed.

Baldwins involuntary manslaughter case, which is connected to the 2021 death of the films cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was upheld by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer on Friday.

Lawyers for the Hollywood star had accused prosecutors of misconduct during the grand jury process and wanted the case thrown out.

The decision means that Baldwins trial is set to go ahead in July.

Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer of Rust, was pointing a prop gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal in October 2021 when the gun went off, discharging a real bullet that killed her and wounded director Joel Souza.

Last year, Baldwin, 66, was dismissed of initial involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his forthcoming Western.

This aerial photo shows the movie set of Rust at Bonanza Creek Ranch, October 23, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

In January, however, prosecutors renewed the involuntary manslaughter charges against him, citing new evidence. The actor has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In March, Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter over Hutchins death. Reed, 26, was handed the maximum prison sentence of 18 months.

Baldwin, meanwhile, maintains his innocence, claiming that he pulled back the hammer  but not the trigger  and the gun fired.

He currently remains free pending trial under conditions that include not possessing firearms, consuming alcohol or leaving the country.

Should Baldwin also be found guilty, he could potentially be sentenced to 18 months in prison in addition to being fined $5,000.
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Two different versions of Chad Daybell are being portrayed at the accused killers death penalty trial.

One is a religious leader in charge of his household and business, and the mastermind behind the murders of his wife and his lovers children. The other is a submissive man who was helpless to the women around him.

Prosecutors say Daybells desire for sex, money and power led to killings of his first wife Tammy, 49, and his current wife Lori Vallows children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ Vallow, seven.

But throughout the weeks-long trial currently underway in Boise, Idaho, Daybells defense attorney John Prior has attempted to paint his client as a man who was at the mercy of Vallow, who he described as a voracious and very sexual woman who lured him to do his bidding.

This beautifully stunning woman named Lori Vallow comes up and she starts giving him a lot of attention, Prior said of the couples first meeting at a religious convention in October 2019. She pursued him. She encouraged him.

The tragic and shocking case has horrified America for the last five years not only because of the brutality of the murders, but also the unanswered questions around the role their extreme beliefs played in what happened.

Lori Vallow, who married Chad Daybell two weeks after his wife mysteriously died, was convicted of murder and conspiracy to murder in the deaths of her children and Tammy Daybell ( Post Register no sales no mags )

The pair believed they had been chosen for a religious mission to lead the 144,000 cult followers  and that Daybell was a prophet and Vallow was a goddess.

Last year, Vallow was convicted in the three murders and sentenced to life in prison. Now with Daybells trial underway, and the defense wrapping up, the central question facing the jury is: who was in charge? And as a religious traditional couple, gender also has a powerful implication on their dynamics.

When the defense began on Monday, those watching the trial found the concept of Daybell being controlled by the women in his life a bit ironic.

Author Leah Sottile, who detailed the case so far in her book When the Moon Turns to Blood told The Independent that Priors strategy of deflecting blame to Vallow was misogynistic and an attempt to convince the jury that Daybell had been overtaken by a Jezebel figure like Vallow  a woman of failed marriages, irresistible sexuality.

So here we have a strange dichotomy: a man from a very patriarchal faith saying the women around him controlled him, Sottile said.

She highlighted a motion filed last year by Prior that claimed that Vallow manipulated Chad through emotional and sexual control. He was less culpable than his wife in the crimes he is accused of, the motion read.

( KSAZ/AP )

I think many of us believed Daybell would lay all of the blame in this case at the feet of Lori, she explained. That was precisely the argument Prior made during his opening when he described her as a woman with a trail of failed marriages behind her, who was a beautiful, vivacious woman. Very sexual woman.

However, Sottile said this portrait of control doesnt square up with her understanding of the patriarchy at the heart of the Mormon faith.

Both Daybell and Vallow grew up Mormon, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

According to the churchs own website, a man is the presiding authority in his family, and that being a father of a family gives you opportunities to learn to govern with love and patience, and with your wife to teach each of your children correct principles; to prepare them to become proper fathers and mothers. When you do this according to the pattern given us by the Lord, and you endure to the end, your family will be added upon eternally. A righteous family is an eternal unit.

The couple met at a religious conference in October 2018 and Vallow became enamored with Daybells prophetic persona and discussions about the end of times, prosecutors say.

Family and friends said thats when Vallows beliefs became more extreme, with testimony at her trial exposing how these beliefs grew increasingly fantastical and dangerous, invoking zombies, dark spirits and death.

Joshua JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, 16, were found buried in Chad Daybells backyard nine months after they were reported missing ( AP )

Investigators search for human remains at Chad Daybell's home in June 2020 ( Post Register no sales no mags )

In his thirst for sex, power and money, Chad created an alternate reality where they called themselves James and Elaina, Prosecutor Rob Wood told the jury during opening statements in early April.

And Vallow was Daybells exalted goddess, he said.

Details of Daybells faith emerged in testimony late in the trial when his daughter Emma Daybell Murray took the stand to defend his actions at her mothers funeral  which was held just three days after her sudden death  after another family member described his demeanor as strange.

But Daybells daughter said the way he acted at the funeral was typical for any grieving Latter-day Saint husband/man.

Latter-day Saints believe we will be resurrected and with our families forever, she said. A funeral isnt saying goodbye foreverits a see you later. Its a break.

For six weeks of grueling testimony, as graphic autopsy photos were shown and family members sobbed in the courtroom, Daybell sat stoically at the defense table  rarely reacting as he kept his hands clasped tightly in front of him.

Its the same demeanor one of his published authors remembers from when she worked with him at the publishing operation Daybell ran in Utah.

If convicted, Chad Daybell faces the death penalty or life in prison ( Post Register )

Seeing him behind the defense table reminds me of him behind his office desk back in the day  and he still has the same look, Julie Coulter Bellon, who signed her first publishing contract with Daybells company Spring Creek Books two decades ago, told The Independent.

He was so quiet and could be very intense. You can see his emotion in his hands, she said. Hes doing what he did 20 years ago. Its the body lean and how his hands tighten so tightly that the knuckles turn white and he explains why its going to be his way.

Bellon, whose first four books were published by the company, said she was caught off guard when the defense made the claim that Tammy was the brains behind the company.

He did everything there, made all the decisions. He had his finger in all the pies. I dont know why Prior said Tammy was the one, she said.

Bellon explained that Tammy was the creative one who helped with book covers, but it was Daybell who made the big decisions.

Tammy was the dynamic one. She came in occasionally to help and she was always outgoing and friendly and we chatted about mom stuff and of course, books, Bellon said.

Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He is now accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow to kill her ( Facebook )

Chad was always the quiet one, but with his background in publishing, he was really trying to get Spring Creek Books off the ground and seemed to be doing a good job of it, she continued. Thats why it caught me off-guard when the defense opening statement said Tammy ran that company. She didnt.

Bellon recalled the same intense demeanor from Daybell when they met about their first book and he had an issue with a scene he wanted her to change because of its impropriety.

Even though the characters in the scene were a grandmother and grandson  and nothing inappropriate was happening  because they were a woman and a man in a hotel room, he was adamant about changing it.

He made me change it, she said. Its just ironic now.

Bellon has been closely watching the trial, and was eager to hear from Daybells adult children, who took the stand in week six to defend their father.

I was really surprised when Emma described Tammy as introverted, Bellon wrote on X, formerly Twitter. When I knew Tammy Daybell, she was outgoing, friendly, and just plain fun to be around. I would not describe her as introverted or like Chad at all!

Chad Daybell's daughter testifies in his murder trial

Bellon left the publishing company in 2010, but kept up with Tammy on Facebook. When the beloved mother-of-five and school teacher died, it was a shock to the entire author community, she said.

I knew them when things were ordinary and normal, they seemed like a perfectly-matched couple, an opposites-attract sort of thing, she said.

Its truly sad how it all turned out. Tammy was always smiling and chatting with everyone around her. A light that was taken way too soon.

Daybells trial will resume on Tuesday, with closing arguments to soon begin. If found guilty of murder, he may be sentenced to death as a possible punishment.
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A law enforcement agent testified that Karen Read sent him flirty text messages before she allegedly killed her boyfriend.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Brian Higgins told the jury that Ms Read sent him a message in January 2022 in which she told him Youre hot.

Are you serious or messing with me? Mr Higgins replied. No Im serious, Ms Read said in her message.

Ms Read is accused of hitting and killing her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow outside a Massachusetts home in 2022.

Her defense claims she has been framed for the killing and that it involves a supposed law enforcement cover-up. Her lawyers have suggested Mr Higgins as one of three possible suspects for the killing rather than Ms Read.

Mr Higgins told the court that after watching a New England Patriot game at OKeefes house in January 2022 Ms Read planted a kiss on him, reported CBS Boston.

Not like a friend, Mr Higgins testified. Lip to lip.

In another text message, Ms Read told Mr Higgins that her relationship with OKeefe had been made more difficult by his looking after his niece and nephew.

In one message, Mr Higgins told Ms Read that he thought he had been happy in her relationship with OKeefe.

I was. But things have deteriorated, she replied.

Mr Higgins told the court that he was not proud of those text messages.

It is what it is, I take responsibility for them. But John was a friend at the same time ... If they were at the end of their relationship, they were at the end of their relationship, he said.

But I wasnt going to have somebody utilize me and weaponize me against someone that I liked. It was just a weird experience.
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Investigators with the Gilgo Beach Homicide Task Force have now spent five straight days searching the Long Island home of suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann.

On Friday afternoon, cops hauled off a large rectangular object covered in a blue cloth and loaded it into the back of a truck parked in the Massapequa Park homes driveway. Other officers carried cardboard boxes of evidence back inside.

Vess Mitev, a lawyer for Heuermanns two adult children, said the family has no idea when theyll be allowed to move back into their home.

We have no knowledge of a set end time or date of when the house will be vacated by law enforcement; my clients certainly hope their home will be returned to them sooner rather than later, he wrote in an email Friday.

Victoria Heuermann, the suspect's daughter, returned to the neighborhood Wednesday with her mother's lawyer in order to collect her parked car.

The 27-year-old was the only member of the family at the house when law enforcement officials executed a search warrant early Monday morning. Her mother and brother have been vacationing in South Carolina, the familys lawyers have said.

Victoria Heuermann, who has been staying at an undisclosed location, drove off without commenting Wednesday, but attorney Robert Macedonio told reporters the family was surprised by the renewed search, which he described as like post-traumatic stress."

Their lives have been turned upside down, destroyed, he said Wednesday. Their personal property has been taken, obviously for legal purposes, but they dont understand that."

Macedonio, who didn't respond to an email seeking comment Friday, also said the family's lawyers will be reviewing the search warrant to see what probable cause was obtained to get back into the residence.

Investigators spent nearly two weeks last July at the home, located in a suburban town about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Manhattan.

That search turned up more than 200 firearms, including dozens stored in a basement vault. Investigators also tore up a wooden deck, used an excavator to dig up the backyard and scanned for buried objects with specialized equipment.

Spokespersons for Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, who is prosecuting the case, didn't respond to an email seeking comment Friday.

Tierney briefly visited the house Thursday as investigators photographed the front porch and collected paint chips and other materials and placed them into evidence bags.

Heuermann, meanwhile, is expected to be back in Riverhead court June 18 for a status hearing. The 60-year-old has been in custody since his arrest last July and no trial date has been set.

His lawyer didnt respond to an email seeking comment Friday.
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A California man has won a lawsuit against a city police department whose officers interrogated him for 17 hours, threatened to kill his dog, and pressured him to confess to murdering his own father, who was still alive.

The city of Fontana, some 50 miles east of Los Angeles, was ordered to pay Thomas Perez Jr $898,000 in damages, following the incident in 2018. A judge said that questioning from officers had appeared to be a form of psychological torture.

Surveillance footage of the interrogation, taken from the Fontana Police Department and shared with The Independent, showed Mr Perez in extreme emotional distress. At points, he is seen screaming out loud and attempting to rip his own hair out and pull off his shirt.

Officers also brought his pet Labrador Retriever into the room and said the dog, named Margosha, would need to be put down due to depression from witnessing a murder that had not actually occurred. They told him to say goodbye to the animal.

According to court documents obtained by The Independent, Mr Perez Jr had called police on August 7, 2018, after his father, 71-year-old Thomas Perez Sr, went out for a walk with the family dog at around 10pm. The dog had returned without Mr Perezs father.

In police video of the 17-hour interrogation, Mr Perez could be seen screaming out and attempting to rip his own hair out ( Fontana Police Department, via Jerry Steering )

Detectives suspicions had been aroused because Mr Perez had seemed distracted and unconcerned with his fathers disappearance, the documents said.

Detectives told Mr Perez that his father was dead, that they had recovered his body and had evidence that he had killed him. They pressured him to confess to the crime.

Mr Perez insisted he didnt remember killing anyone, but detectives allegedly told him that the human mind often tries to suppress troubling memories, the records showed.

At one point during the interrogation, the investigators even threatened to have Margosha euthanized as a stray, and brought the dog into the room so he could say goodbye. Mr Perez can be seen getting down on the floor of the interrogation room to lie next to his dog.

At one point Mr Perez is seeing getting down on the floor of the interrogation room to lie next to his dog, Margosha ( Fontana Police Department, via Jerry Steering )

OK? Your dogs now gone, forget about it, said an investigator in the footage, after taking the animal out of the room again.

According to the legal complaint, Mr Perez was also denied access to his prescription medication that he was taking for conditions including depression, stress, asthma and high blood pressure.

While interrogations of Mr Perez were going on, officers visited his home, where they found bloodstains and used a K-9 dog unit, which allegedly alerted them to the presence of deceased human remains in Perezs fathers upstairs bedroom, according to the documents.

The city of Fontana was ordered to pay Thomas Perez Jr $898,000 in damages, following the incident in 2018 ( Fontana Police Department, via Jerry Steering )

Lawyers for Mr Perez told The Independent that the photos of the alleged bloodstains were fabricated.

According to Mr Perezs lawyer, Jerry Steering, his client was severely traumatized by the incident to the point where shortly after, he attempted to take his own life in the interrogation room.

The whereabouts of Thomas Perez Sr was later confirmed by Mr Perezs sister, who called the police station after her brother had been in police custody for 17 hours.

Mr Perez Jr accused of murder by officers from Fontana Police Department, who told him they would put down his pet dog, Margosha ( Fontana Police Department, via Jerry Steering )

Their father, she said, had gone to the house of a female friend in El Monte on the day of his disappearance and had then traveled to Los Angeles International Airport to catch a plane to visit her in Northern California.

In an Order on Summary Judgment in the case, passed on 15 June 2023, United States District Judge Dolly Gee found that a reasonable juror could conclude that the Detectives inflicted unconstitutional psychological torture on Perez.

There is no legitimate government interest that would justify treating Perez in this manner while he was in medical distress, since the FPD already had two warrants to search his person and property, and he was already essentially in custody and unable to flee or tamper with any evidence, she wrote.

The Independent has contacted the City of Fontana for comment about the incident and subsequent settlement with Mr Perez.
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A California man has won a lawsuit against a city police department whose officers interrogated him for 17 hours, threatened to kill his dog, and pressured him to confess to murdering his own father, who was still alive.

The city of Fontana, some 50 miles east of Los Angeles, was ordered to pay Thomas Perez Jr $898,000 in damages, following the incident in 2018. A judge said that questioning from officers had appeared to be a form of psychological torture.

Surveillance footage of the interrogation, taken from the Fontana Police Department and shared with The Independent, showed Mr Perez in extreme emotional distress. At points, he is seen screaming out loud and attempting to rip his own hair out and pull off his shirt.

Officers also brought his pet Labrador Retriever into the room and said the dog, named Margosha, would need to be put down due to depression from witnessing a murder that had not actually occurred. They told him to say goodbye to the animal.

According to court documents obtained by The Independent, Mr Perez Jr had called police on August 7, 2018, after his father, 71-year-old Thomas Perez Sr, went out for a walk with the family dog at around 10pm. The dog had returned without Mr Perezs father.

In police video of the 17-hour interrogation, Mr Perez could be seen screaming out and attempting to rip his own hair out ( Fontana Police Department, via Jerry Steering )

Detectives suspicions had been aroused because Mr Perez had seemed distracted and unconcerned with his fathers disappearance, the documents said.

Detectives told Mr Perez that his father was dead, that they had recovered his body and had evidence that he had killed him. They pressured him to confess to the crime.

Mr Perez insisted he didnt remember killing anyone, but detectives allegedly told him that the human mind often tries to suppress troubling memories, the records showed.

At one point during the interrogation, the investigators even threatened to have Margosha euthanized as a stray, and brought the dog into the room so he could say goodbye. Mr Perez can be seen getting down on the floor of the interrogation room to lie next to his dog.

At one point Mr Perez is seeing getting down on the floor of the interrogation room to lie next to his dog, Margosha ( Fontana Police Department, via Jerry Steering )

OK? Your dogs now gone, forget about it, said an investigator in the footage, after taking the animal out of the room again.

According to the legal complaint, Mr Perez was also denied access to his prescription medication that he was taking for conditions including depression, stress, asthma and high blood pressure.

While interrogations of Mr Perez were going on, officers visited his home, where they found bloodstains and used a K-9 dog unit, which allegedly alerted them to the presence of deceased human remains in Perezs fathers upstairs bedroom, according to the documents.

The city of Fontana was ordered to pay Thomas Perez Jr $898,000 in damages, following the incident in 2018 ( Fontana Police Department, via Jerry Steering )

Lawyers for Mr Perez told The Independent that the photos of the alleged bloodstains were fabricated.

According to Mr Perezs lawyer, Jerry Steering, his client was severely traumatized by the incident to the point where shortly after, he attempted to take his own life in the interrogation room.

The whereabouts of Thomas Perez Sr was later confirmed by Mr Perezs sister, who called the police station after her brother had been in police custody for 17 hours.

Mr Perez Jr accused of murder by officers from Fontana Police Department, who told him they would put down his pet dog, Margosha ( Fontana Police Department, via Jerry Steering )

Their father, she said, had gone to the house of a female friend in El Monte on the day of his disappearance and had then traveled to Los Angeles International Airport to catch a plane to visit her in Northern California.

In an Order on Summary Judgment in the case, passed on 15 June 2023, United States District Judge Dolly Gee found that a reasonable juror could conclude that the Detectives inflicted unconstitutional psychological torture on Perez.

There is no legitimate government interest that would justify treating Perez in this manner while he was in medical distress, since the FPD already had two warrants to search his person and property, and he was already essentially in custody and unable to flee or tamper with any evidence, she wrote.

The Independent has contacted the City of Fontana for comment about the incident and subsequent settlement with Mr Perez.
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Walt Disney Parks has been sued by a woman who alleges she lost consciousness and suffered a brain injury after riding a giant water slide at Typhoon Lagoon.

Laura Reyes-Merino is seeking $50,000 in damages and claims in court papers that the park was negligent for failing to maintain the ride.

Lawyers for Ms Reyes-Merino state that she was injured when she rode a tube on the Humunga Kowabunga ride on 11 May at the Florida theme park.

It is described in the lawsuit as a 60-degree angle, 214-foot, downhill and enclosed body slide. She alleges that she fell unconscious on it due to the banging inside the slide.

Court papers state that her fiance and his mother found her limp body at the end of the ride and frantically asked the attendants to help.

Those attendants said that they were not lifeguards and would have to find someone to help. Meanwhile, the womans fiance pulled her from the water while that help was on its way.

Eventually a lifeguard came and said they couldnt help or touch Plaintiff either and called an ambulance, court documents state.

Had Defendant had lifeguards at the end of the ride to watch and help guests coming off the ride, Plaintiffs brain injury would not have occurred as she wouldnt have been drowning in the water coughing up blood.

The Independent has contacted Walt Disney Parks for comment.
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Louisianas Republican governor Jeff Landy has signed a first-in-the-country law that classifies two abortion-inducing drugs as controlled and dangerous substances.

Mr Landry announced his signing of the bill in Baton Rouge on Friday, just a day after it gained final legislative passage in the state Senate.

The measure affects the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, which are used in medication abortions, the most common method of abortion in the US.

Requiring an abortion inducing drug to be obtained with a prescription and criminalizing the use of an abortion drug on an unsuspecting mother is nothing short of common sense, Mr Landry said in a statement posted on X.

This bill protects women across Louisiana and I was proud to sign this bill into law today.

Opponents of the bill included many physicians who said the drugs have other critical reproductive health care uses, and that changing the classification could make it harder to prescribe the medications.

Supporters of the bill said it would protect expectant mothers from coerced abortions, though they cited only one example of that happening, in the state of Texas.

The bill passed as abortion opponents await a final decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on an effort to restrict access to mifepristone.

The new law will take effect on Oct. 1.

The bill began as a measure to create the crime of coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud. An amendment adding the abortion drugs to the Schedule IV classification of Louisiana's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law was pushed by Sen. Thomas Pressly, a Republican from Shreveport and the main sponsor of the bill.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry addresses members of the House and Senate on opening day of a legislative special session, Feb. 19, 2024 ( AP )

Requiring an abortion inducing drug to be obtained with a prescription and criminalizing the use of an abortion drug on an unsuspecting mother is nothing short of common-sense," Landry said in a statement.

Current Louisiana law already requires a prescription for both drugs and makes it a crime to use them to induce an abortion, in most cases. The bill would make it harder to obtain the pills. Other Schedule IV drugs include the opioid tramadol and a group of depressants known as benzodiazepines.

Knowingly possessing the drugs without a valid prescription would carry a punishment including hefty fines and jail time. Language in the bill appears to carve out protections for pregnant women who obtain the drug without a prescription for their own consumption.

The classification would require doctors to have a specific license to prescribe the drugs, and the drugs would have to be stored in certain facilities that in some cases could end up being located far from rural clinics.

In addition to inducing abortions, mifepristone and misoprostol have other common uses, such as treating miscarriages, inducing labor and stopping hemorrhaging.

More than 200 doctors in the state signed a letter to lawmakers warning that the measure could produce a barrier to physicians ease of prescribing appropriate treatment and cause unnecessary fear and confusion among both patients and doctors. The physicians 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.

Pressly said he pushed the legislation because of what happened to his sister Catherine Herring, of Texas. In 2022, Herrings husband slipped her seven misoprostol pills in an effort to induce an abortion without her knowledge or consent.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 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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An Ohio woman confronted a sex offender who was recording her teenage daughter in a Target  and police say they cant take any action to stop the man.

Monica Geisel was with her 16-year-old daughter in a Rossford, Ohio, Target this week when the incident occurred, local outlet 13 ABC reports. Her daughter caught the confrontation between Ms Geisel and the man on video.

You took a video, Ms Geisel tells the man. Show it to me.

The man, who police confirmed is a registered sex offender, claims he took a video of her daughters cart instead as Ms Geisel reaches for his phone.

Thats disgusting, she continued. In a later conversation with 13 ABC, Ms Geisel said she saw videos of other people on his phone too.

I see a ton of videos of other people on there, other girls on there, and so thats when I try to grab his phone and he instantly, you know, like, pushed my arm and like took it, and thats when he started walking away, Ms Geisel told the outlet. Its not that he was just recording people, hes recording her inappropriately, and hes zooming in on body parts of her.

The video - which was filmed by Ms Geisel daughter and shared online - then shows Ms Geisel following the man to the stores entrance, shouting to the room: This guys making videos of underage girls at Target.

Rossford Police Chief Todd Kitzler told The Independent his office cannot take action against the man, whose identity has yet to be released.

Now, its disturbing, dont get me wrong, but its, its not illegal, Chief Kitzler said.

Monica Geisel (right) confronts a man later revealed to be a registered sex offender (left) in a Target after she says he took a video of her teenage daughter ( Facebook )

After the Target incident, Rossford police encountered the man while doing a traffic stop. While speaking to him, Chief Kitzler said his officers conferred with a prosecutor during the stop  who told them they cannot take any legal action.

We contacted the sheriffs office, which monitors his offender registration, and they said that there was nothing they could do, Chief Kitzler told The Independent.

We determined that hes not on parole or probation or anything like that, so our hands were pretty much tied, he continued.

Ms Geisel told 13 ABC she is now spreading the video and her story to raise awareness for other community members. That has led to many social-media users to comment about the situation.

Why did no one help her as this was going on....and its not a crime for strangers to film underage children? Come on.... This world needs to start doing better, one user posted on Facebook.

Unbelievable that nothing can be done, another said.

Other Facebook users praised Ms Geisel for her quick thinking: We need more strong and bold moms like her out there protecting their daughters!
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At this point, President Joe Bidens dismal polling numbers arent anything new.

A new Emerson College poll released Friday spelled even more bad news for the commander-in-chief, with former president Donald Trump taking a narrow, two-point lead. That comes after a New York Times/Siena College poll showed Biden losing to Trump in five of the six swing states, leading only in Wisconsin. Other polls show that even as Biden wins so-called double-haters  voters who do not want either candidate  he still trails Trump.

The Biden campaign has continually downplayed his poor polling performance, emphasizing that the election is a little less than six months away and voters have yet to make up their minds. But that doesnt change the fact that Biden has consistently trailed Trump in many of the leading polls.

His weak numbers dont just pose a threat to him: They could also drag down other Democrats.

At the moment, Democrats have held onto a razor-thin majority in the Senate, with just 51 seats. Republicans are all but guaranteed to flip retiring Senator Joe Manchins seat in West Virginia, where Trump won every county. That means Democrats need to win in two other states Trump won twiceOhio and Montanaand keep seats in states Biden narrowly won in 2020, namely Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada and Arizona.

Thats a tough order given that unlike during the midterms, which see lower voter turnout, Democratic candidates will have to contend with Trumps voters during the 2024 elections.

But as of now, most Democrats are actually outpacing their Republican opponents in Senate races despite Bidens poor numbers. The clearest example of this is Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. He and Biden are both natives of Scranton, and Caseys father, Bob Casey Sr, was a popular governor.

Like many Catholic Democrats, the Caseys historically opposed abortion. The elder Casey is also the namesake of Planned Parenthood v Casey, the 1992 Supreme Court case that reaffirmed the right to an abortion in Roe v Wade, which the Supreme Court also killed with Dobbs v Jackson. After the Supreme Courts Dobbs opinion leaked, Casey came out in support of codifying abortion protections.

That flip-flop hasnt hurt Casey, whos maintained a healthy lead against his Republican opponent, former hedge fund executive Dave McCormick, who is running for Senate after losing the 2022 Republican nomination to Mehmet Oz, who ultimately lost to John Fetterman.

Despite President Joe Bidens unpopularity Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has not sustained much damage to her public polling as she seeks re-election. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) ( Getty Images )

Republicans are similarly failing to find traction in Wisconsin, where a Times/Siena poll showed Biden with slight lead. There, Republicans are aggressively targeting voters, with the Republican National Convention being held in Milwaukee.

Senator Tammy Baldwin has voted with Biden nearly 100 percent of the time and is arguably to the left of him. But Republicans failed to nab a top-tier candidate to challenge her and instead recruited businessman Eric Hovde. Despite pouring in $8mn of his own money, the Times/Siena poll showed him trailing Baldwin by 9 points.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, Democrats are trying to hold the Senate seat they won in 2018 before Senator Kyrsten Sinema became an Independent. Republicans are set to run Kari Lake, the former news anchor who lost her bid to become governor largely because she promoted Trumps lies about the election.

The Times/Siena poll put Lake four points behind the Democratic candidate, Marine Corps veteran and Representative Ruben Gallego, while CBS News showed him with a 13-point lead. Biden, meanwhile, trails Trump in Arizona by five points.

The only state where Democrats might face significant headwinds is Nevadawhich is also the only state on this list that Trump lost twice. The Times/Siena survey showed that Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen, who flipped a Republican-held seat in 2018, has just a two-point lead against likely Republican nominee Sam Brown, despite Trump beating Biden by 12 points in the same survey.

Similarly, a Morning Consult/Bloomberg poll showed Biden and Trump tied in a head-to-head match.

Of course, voters often do not pay as much to Senate or House races as they do to the top of the ticket. And outside spending or campaign ads tying these Democrats to Biden could cause them to take a hit.

But it does mean that for now, Biden has not caused too much of a drag, which could give Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer a reason to breathe.
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Senate Democrats are demanding that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recuse himself from certain cases and have called for a meeting with Chief Justice John Roberts to discuss ethics in the court after news broke that Mr Alito had flown flags used by Capitol riot participants.

Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin requested a meeting with Mr Roberts to discuss their concerns about Mr Alitos impartiality, CBS News reports.

Reports in The New York Times and other outlets revealed that Mr Alito had previously flown an "Appeal to Heaven" flag outside his New Jersey vacation home in the summer of 2023.

In 2021, shortly after Joe Biden took office, Mr Alito flew an upside down American flag at his home in Virginia. Under US flag code, a flag is never to be flown inverted except as a signal of dire distress in instance of extreme danger to life or property.

Both inverted American flags and "Appeal to Heaven" flags were carried by individuals participating in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol in 2021.

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 ( AP )

The "Appeal to Heaven" flag is a Revolutionary War-era standard that some conservatives have co-opted to express their belief that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Mr Durbin and Mr Whitehouse sent the chief justice a letter on Friday asking him to push Mr Alito to recuse himself from cases involving the 2020 presidential election and the Capitol riot.

By displaying the upside-down and Appeal to Heaven flags outside his homes, Justice Alito actively engaged in political activity, failed to avoid the appearance of impropriety, and failed to act in a manner that promotes public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary, they said in their letter. His recusal in these matters is both necessary and required.

Two such cases are pending: Mr Trump's claim of presidential immunity, and whether or not it was appropriate for federal investigators to bring obstruction charges against all of the Capitol riot defendants.

Mr Alito has already participated in oral arguments in both cases. Regarding presidential immunity, Mr Alito made the bizarre argument that immunity would protect US democracy by providing outgoing presidents reassurance that their political rivals would not have them arrested.

Mr Durbin and Mr Whitehouse called his recusal "necessary."

In addition to forcing Mr Alito to recuse himself in future rulings, the senators also called on the court to adopt an enforceable code of conduct to "address the Supreme Court's ethics crisis."

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr., left, and his wife Martha-Ann Alito, pay their respects at the casket of Reverend Billy Graham at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Feb. 28, 2018 ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

"Until the court and the Judicial Conference take meaningful action to address this ongoing ethical crisis, we will continue our efforts to enact legislation to resolve this crisis," the letter said.

Mr Alito has denied flying the inverted American flag, and told the New York Times that his wife had hoisted the banner as part of an ongoing feud with a neighbor involving "objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs."

The Supreme Court justice has not explained the "Appeal to Heaven" flag, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has him covered.

Mr Johnson brushed off the controversy, and told the Associated Press that he did not know the "Appeal to Heaven" flag was associated with Mr Trump's stolen election claims.

As Mr Johnson tells it, the flag is just a simple, wholesome reference to George Washington and the founding fathers.

An "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen outside of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) office on Capitol Hill on May 23, 2024 in Washington, DC ( Getty Images )

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, Mr 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 went on to say that "people misuse our symbols all the time, it doesn't mean we don't use the symbols anymore" and called people's objection to the 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.

Mr Johnson is wrong. The US does remove statues, change offensive location names, and stops using flags that no longer reflect the values of American citizens.

The Speaker's Democratic colleagues in the House were not sympathetic to his line of reasoning.

House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts called Justice Alitos flag use 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 told the Associated Press. She has also called for him to recuse himself from cases involving Mr Trump and January 6, 2021.
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There are days when the Supreme Court releases opinions that Justice Sonia Sotomayor goes into her office, closes the door, and cries, she said while describing the frustration of being one of three liberal justices on the court.

There are moments when Im deeply, deeply sad, she told a crowd at the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University on Friday  not specifying what decisions have evoked that feeling.

Justice Sotomayor, one of the three liberal justices on the court, was being honored with a Radcliffe Medal for her commitment to excellence, inclusion, and social impact. As part of the program, she had a public conversation with her former law school classmate where she spoke about the challenges of being on the court.

There are moments when, yes, even I feel desperation. We all do. But you have to own it, you have to accept it, you have to shed the tears and then you have to wipe them and get up, Justice Sotomayor said.

Over the last few years, Justice Sotomayor has found herself in the minority opinion over and over again  especially on major decisions like abortion, racial gerrymandering, criminal justice reform and LGBT+ rights.

From left to right: Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, and Elena Kagan ( AP )

In more recent decisions, Justice Sotomayor and her colleagues, Justice Elena Kagan and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, have used their dissenting opinions to deliver scathing condemnation of the conservatives rationale.

Last year, Justice Sotomayor called the courts decisions on affirmative action an unjustified exercise of power that will serve only to highlight the Courts own impotence in the face of an American who cries for equality resound in her dissent.

Publicly, she also expressed disappointment about the courts opinion of various decisions.

She told students at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law earlier this year that: every loss truly traumatizes me.

The court is expected to deliver opinions on the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone, gun accessibility, Donald Trumps immunity from criminal prosecution, administrative law and more in the next four weeks.

According to the New York Times, Justice Sotomayor also voiced frustration with the courts rulings during her conversation on Friday  which could signal more conservative-majority opinions on some of the high-profile cases.

There are days that Ive come to my office after an announcement of a case and closed my door and cried, she said. There have been those days. And there are likely to be more.
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A verdict in Donald Trumps hush money trial could arrive as soon as Wednesday.

Closing arguments in the former presidents criminal trial in Manhattan begin on Tuesday, and Manhattan prosecutors and Mr Trumps defense team are expected to spend the day delivering their final statements to the jury before deliberations begin.

Then, after 16 days of testimony from 22 witnesses spread out over five weeks, a group of 12 jurors in Manhattan will determine whether Mr Trump is guilty of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election.

Jurors will review dozens of documents, including emails, text messages, encrypted chats and the allegedly false documents at the center of the case.

Those include company ledger entries, invoices and checks that form the paper trail of Mr Trumps reimbursement payments to his former attorney Michael Cohen, who paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels weeks before Election Day so she wouldnt go public with a story about having sex with Mr Trump.

On Sunday, near the end of his six-day break between trial dates, the former president once again lashed out at the judge and the chief prosecutor leading the case against him.

What happens during closing arguments?

Lawyers for the Manhattan District Attorneys Office wont be presenting new evidence when they wrap up their case on Tuesday, but its their one last shot to drive home their narrative and remind jurors what the case is all about.

In his opening statement last month, assistant district attorney Matthew Colangelo argued that Mr Trump orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election and then covered up that criminal conspiracy by lying in his business records, over and over and over again.

Donald Trump appears in a criminal courthouse in Manhattan for his hush money trial on May 21. ( AP )

Mr Trump is accused of falsifying business records by labeling a series of payments in 2017 to his then-attorney Michael Cohen as a retainer and legal expense. But prosecutors argue that Mr Trump  who was the president at the time  was actually reimbursing his fixer for a hush money payment to Ms Daniels.

Prosecutors must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Mr Trump not only falsified business records, but did so with the intent to commit or cover up another crime.

Prosecutors will likely walk jurors through that scheme one last time, and explain how that central fraud violated state and federal campaign finance law, tax law, and a state law against conspiracy to corrupt an election by unlawful means.

Defense attorneys do not have to prove anything or convince jurors of Mr Trumps innocence, but they will need to convince at least one juror that prosecutors have not proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr Trumps lawyers have argued that Cohen was merely paid for his work as the former presidents then-personal attorney, and that the hush money scheme  which itself was not illegal  was only to prevent embarrassing news of his affairs from getting to Mr Trumps family, not in an attempt to hide them from voters.

When does the jury deliberate?

Before jurors are sent out of the courtroom to deliberate, Justice Juan Merchan will give them instructions  a framework for understanding the law surrounding the charges and what they can and cannot take into account as they determine his guilt or innocence.

A courtroom sketch depicts Donald Trump watching his attorney Emil Bove address New York Justice Juan Merchan during his hush money trial in Manhattan on May 21. ( REUTERS )

Prosecutors and defense attorneys debated the contours of those instructions and proposed their own during a two-hour hearing last week.

Judge Merchan is expected to deliver those instructions on Wednesday morning before sending jurors off to deliberate in an undisclosed room in the courthouse.

Jurors will be able to pass notes to the judge for things like clarifying legal language or reviewing testimony.

But how long they will take to deliberate is anyones guess. The 12 jurors must unanimously agree on a guilty or not guilty verdict.

If they cant reach a consensus after several days of deliberations, the judge will likely ask them to keep trying. If theyre still deadlocked, he could declare a mistrial.
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Federal prosecutors on Friday asked the judge overseeing the classified documents case against Donald Trump to bar the former president from public statements that pose a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to law enforcement agents participating in the prosecution.

The request to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon follows a false claim by Trump earlier this week that the FBI agents who searched his home in August 2022 were authorized to shoot me and were locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger.

He was referring to the disclosure in a court document that was made public that the FBI, during the search, followed a standard use-of-force policy that prohibits the use of deadly force except when the officer conducting the search 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.

The policy is routine and meant to limit the use of force during searches. Prosecutors noted that the search was intentionally conducted when Trump and his family were away and was coordinated with the Secret Service. No force was used.

The Governments request is necessary because of several intentionally false and inflammatory statements recently made by Trump that distort the circumstances under which the Federal Bureau of Investigation planned and executed the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, prosecutors on special counsel Jack Smith's team wrote in asking that Cannon make a restriction on Trump's statements a condition of his release pending trial.

Those statements create a grossly misleading impression about the intentions and conduct of federal law enforcement agents  falsely suggesting that they were complicit in a plot to assassinate him  and expose those agents, some of whom will be witnesses at trial, to the risk of threats, violence, and harassment, they added.

Defense lawyers have objected to the government's motion, prosecutors wrote.

Asked Thursday at an unrelated event about the claim that the FBI intended to use force against Trump, Attorney General Merrick Garland said: "That allegation is false, and it is extremely dangerous. The document that is being referred to in the allegation is the Justice Departments standard policy limiting the use of force. As the FBI advises, it is part of the standard operations plan for searches. And in fact, it was even used in consensual search of President Bidens home.
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The Russian assault on the Ukraines northeastern region of Kharkiv threatens to leave thousands of newly-displaced civilians without homes, UN officials and aid workers have told The Independent, as the United Nations grapples with an extremely worrying shortage of humanitarian aid.

More than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians have been forced to evacuate their homes after Russian forces launched a multi-pronged, cross-border attack into the Kharkiv region on 10 May. Around 66 square miles have been occupied in the past two weeks in the Russian assault, while a number of other villages in the path of the assault have been abandoned, militarised or destroyed by Russian shelling.

Most of those civilians have been vulnerable, according to charities operating in Kharkiv, women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

The situation is really tense, says Viktoriia Tiutiunnyk, an employee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who has just left Kharkiv.

A lot of evacuees from the bordering areas have come to the city. They are afraid the situation will get worse. They are desperate and they dont know what to do.

Ukrainian military officials had warned that Russia was massing troops on the border for months but the assault still took many by surprise, not least the Ukrainian soldiers stationed there, who suddenly found their communications via Elon Musks Starlink satellites had been knocked out by Russian signal jammers.

A Ukrainian woman forced to leave her home breaks down in tears at the evacuation centre in Kharkiv ( EPA )

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a meeting in Kharkiv to discuss, among other topics, the housing needs of evacuees ( Twitter / Volodymyr Zelensky )

The ensuing advance  Russian forces have pushed around six miles into the region in one of the two attacks and more than four in the other  has been largely stabilised, but the humanitarian impact of the attack is only building.

The attack still threatens the countrys second-largest city, the regions namesake capital, home to some 1.3 million civilians, as Russian troops inch to within artillery range. The city has already been heavily bombed, with at least seven people killed and dozens injured in a daylight attack on Thursday.

Evacuees have been arriving at a transit centre where they can spend a day or two at most, receiving financial and psychological support, before they are moved on to temporary housing or shelters.

Before the attack, Kharkiv was already home to around 200,000 internally displaced persons. They are being housed in hundreds of sites, including buildings like university dormitories, spread mostly across central Kharkiv. The added influx from this latest assault, though only a five per cent increase, has squeezed the system to breaking point.

During a trip to the region on Friday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he paid special attention to the housing needs of those who have been displaced, as they look to ensure nobody is left without accommodation.

It has become really difficult to find space to accommodate all these people, says Tiutiunnyk.

She says they are in touch with the authorities to find more accommodation but adds that it is likely to be a long-running issue. People told her they planned to stay in the collective sites for weeks, even months.

Ada Wordsworth moved from Britain to Kharkiv two years ago to run a charity called KHARRP that, among other humanitarian efforts, helps rebuild damaged homes, and visited some of these prospective collective sites last week.

They are in a dangerous area of Kharkiv  the day before she visited a dorm, a Russian missile had exploded in its yard  but that is the reality of living in the city.

She says she was pleasantly surprised by the state of the university dormitories, located in central Kharkiv, and that the local authorities seemed to have learned how to run the sites effectively after struggling earlier in the war.

Dozens of evacuees arrive at the UNHCRs transit centre in Kharkiv after fleeing their homes near the Russian border ( Provided / Viktoriia Tiutiunnyk )

But they have no money to do renovations, she says, adding that these works have to be completed before people can move in.

They need new windows, they need new radiators and a lick of paint, she says. Those are the key things for people to move in. After that, any other repairs they could do after people arrive.

It wouldnt take long to do, maybe two weeks, but it cant get done because there isnt enough funding.

The local officials told her they had applied for money from large Western agencies, like the UNHCR, but that the money had not come. They said their best chance of receiving any money was at the end of the tax year, nearly a year away.

While financing for these projects has always been difficult, a spokesperson for the UNHCR in Ukraine says they are having particular problems at the moment because their funding levels are so low.

We are extremely worried about this funding situation, says Elisabeth Haslund, a senior communications officer for the UNHCR in Ukraine from their head office in Kyiv.

Other crises, other emergencies, are also taking up attention globally. The attention on Ukraine is decreasing. But the war is not decreasing, especially not with the latest attack [in Kharkiv].

People gather at a mobile evacuation center at an undisclosed location in Kharkiv ( EPA )

Ukrainian rescuers load debris of a Russian S300 missile into a truck after the shelling of residential area in Kharkiv ( EPA )

She confirms that the level of funding for this fiscal year is currently half of what it was the same time last year. Of the total target  just under $600m (470m)  only 15 per cent has been raised, less than $100m. That figure at a similar point last year was around 30 per cent.

Asked what would happen if they failed to secure enough funding, Ms Haslund says: There is no doubt that unless we see sustained support, we will see major consequences.

This will have the biggest impact on the most vulnerable, those who need it the most.

We have thousands and thousands of evacuees who have fled from these border towns in Kharkiv with almost nothing. No belongings. These are older people, those with low mobility, who are extremely vulnerable. These are the people that will suffer if we dont get more funding.

Aid worker Tiutiunnyk says many of the evacuees feel safe in Kharkiv compared to their experiences in border villages, where Russian forces have relentlessly dropped bombs. Military officials say Vladimir Putins soldiers have been dropping 20 glide bombs, which are heavy-duty explosives known to level whole apartment blocks, every day on the town of Vovchansk, one of the main evacuated areas located just a few miles from the Russian border.

But she adds that the buildings they are staying in are by no means safe. It cannot be protected properly because it is under constant attack, she says. And if the Russians get closer, it will no longer be the transit centre, thats for sure.
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Kabosu, the shiba inu dog who went viral as the doge meme, has died, her owner said on Friday.

Owner Atsuko Sato, 62, confirmed the news on her social media on Friday. Kabosu had been suffering from leukaemia and liver disease since 2022 and died on 24 May.

She quietly passed away as if asleep while I caressed her, Atsuko Sato wrote.

I think Kabo-chan was the happiest dog in the world. And I was the happiest owner.

Thank you all so much for loving Kabosu all these years. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to everyone who has sent us much love.

Ms Sato, who is a teacher from Sakura, east of Tokyo, adopted Kabosu from a shelter in 2008 after the puppy mill she was born in shut down. Since Kabosu was a rescue, Ms Sato doesnt know exactly when she was born, but she estimates Kabosu was around 18 years old.

A photo of Kabosu with a side-eyed look and crossed paws from 2010 went viral in 2013, creating one of the most iconic photos on the internet.

Ms Sato originally posted the photo on her blog, where it can still be seen, from which it spread to Reddit, Tumblr, and several other online chatrooms, following which it was christened doge, a deliberate misspelling of dog.

The image was usually accompanied with funny, broken English in comic sans font as if to emulate Kabosus inner monologue.

The photo then went on to inspire a cryptocurrency called Dogecoin, started as a joke by software engineers, which now has a market capitalisation of $23 billion, and is often mentioned on X by tech mogul Elon Musk.

Musk has referred to Dogecoin as the peoples crypto and briefly changed the Twitter logo to Doge as a joke in April 2023.

The image also became an NFT digital artwork that sold for $4m (3.1m) in 2021.

Ever since Kabosu came into my home, a series of miraculous things have happened, enriching my life and gifting me with a treasure trove of priceless moments, Ms Sato told Japanese newspaper Ashahi Shimbun in February.

In 2020, Ms Sato spoke about Kabosu, detailed how she came to be a part of her family, and gave a brief history of the iconic photo in an interview with Know Your Meme, an archive of viral online moments and images.

The volunteer who took Kabosu out of the animal welfare centre and protected her gave her that name. I think they came up with it because Kabosu has a round face. Kabosu is a kind of citrus fruit [popular in Japan], Ms Sato said.

open image in gallery Pictures and products of Japanese shiba inu dog Kabosu, best known as the logo of cryptocurrency Dogecoin, on display at the home of her owner Atsuko Sato in the city of Sakura ( AFP via Getty Images )

I took the photos to update my blog. I take a lot of pictures every day, so that day was nothing out of the ordinary. Kabosu loves having her photo taken, so she was delighted to have the camera pointed towards her.

I didnt know anything, and I still dont really understand, she added on the photos popularity.

In November last year, a $100,000 statue of Kabosu and her sofa crowdfunded by Own The Doge, a crypto organisation, was revealed in a park in Sakura.

Sato and Own The Doge have also donated large sums to several international charities, including a sum of $1m to Save the Children.
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Every six seconds, in a factory on the northern fringes of Stockholm, a top secret printer is spewing out sheets worth thousands of euros apiece. Each one contains 108 miniature solar cells that will soon find their way into everyday gadgets  from keyboards to headphones  that will fundamentally change how we interact with technology. According to their creator, they will even force us to rethink our relationship with light.

Sweden may seem an unlikely location for a solar revolution, but the lack of light during the winter months was one of the reasons for Exeger co-founder Giovanni Fili to look beyond the Sun as the sole source of power for a photovoltaic cell. His companys breakthrough tech can harvest electricity from virtually any light source, from direct sunlight to candlelight. It can even generate a charge from moonlight, though it would take a while for it to be of much use.

Like the algae on the bottom of the ocean where its almost pitch black, we can make efficient use of very few photons, Fili tells The Independent. The t-shirt he wears describes his companys technology as world-changing, capable of simultaneously addressing the global need for energy and some of our planets greatest environmental challenges.

open image in gallery The Powerfoyle solar cell is durable enough to be embedded in bike helmets, while also versatile enough to imitate leather and brushed steel to fit in bags and speakers ( The Independent )

Indoor solar panels have been around for decades. Solar-powered calculators were first introduced in the 1970s, but the limitations of the amorphous silicon cells they rely upon mean they are too low power, too fragile and too rigid to be integrated into other products.

The latest innovation stems from a discovery made in 1988 relating to dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC). A pair of scientists from UC Berkeley in California invented a low-cost, high-efficiency cell that was both semi-flexible and semi-transparent, which offered a pathway for commercial development of the technology.

Just over 20 years later, Fili and fellow Exeger co-founder Henrik Lindstrom came up with a new electrode material that offered 1,000 times better conductivity. The breakthrough formed the basis of their Powerfoyle cells that are now being produced at a commercial scale.

Exegers Powerfoyle solar cells offer a radical departure from the traditional glass-covered panels, eliminating the need for the silver lines you see on them that serve as conductors. They are also not sensitive to partial shading, which drastically reduces the efficiency of photovoltaic panels.

The patented skin-like material can even morph into almost any material to allow for seamless integration into a huge range of products, while remaining waterproof, dustproof and shockproof.

It works in any light condition, its more durable than any other solar cell in the world, its easy to manufacture, and it can imitate any surface  leather, carbon fibre, wood, brushed steel. Its also beautiful, Fili says. So we can integrate into products that are already selling in the billions of units per year.

Exegers Stockholm facility has the capacity to produce 2.5 million square metres of solar cells each year, making it the largest factory of its kind in Europe. Speaking at the factorys opening in 2021, Fili predicted that Exegers technology will touch the lives of a billion people by 2030

open image in gallery Exeger says its Powerfoyle solar cell is the most durable in the world ( Exeger )

The Powerfoyle solar cells have already found their way into seven on-the-shelf products  including headphones, wireless speakers and a bike helmet  while a further six have been announced. Customers include Adidas, Phillips and 3M, while they are also rumoured to be in talks with LogiTech and Apple.

A battery-free future

Exeger is one of several startups pioneering the commercialisation of indoor solar panels, with the promise of clean, endless power attracting both researchers and entrepreneurs.

US-based Ambient Photonics was drawn into the space by the magic potential of the smart home, as well as the hope that it would be possible to eliminate the need for disposable batteries.

The scale at which smart electronics are able to be deployed has been limited by battery life and the use of traditional batteries, which require continuous charging, stagnate product design, and have negative environmental consequences, Bates Marshall, co-founder and CEO of Ambient Photonics, told The Independent.

open image in gallery Billions of disposable batteries are thrown away every year ( Getty Images )

TV remotes alone are responsible for 3.1 billion disposable batteries being thrown away each year, according to estimates from Samsung . The Korean electronics giant has made switching from alkaline batteries to photovoltaic energy a priority in order to reach sustainability targets, claiming it could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by around 6,000 tons per year.

Every advancement in the power density of our product brings us closer to a future where the need for disposable batteries is significantly reduced, if not entirely overcome, Marshall says.

Ambient Photonics DSSCs have so far been integrated into remote controls, though limitations with the amount of heat and light they can be exposed to mean the technology is currently limited to indoor applications.

The versatility and durability of Exergers Powerfoyle means the only limitations are energy-intensive devices like laptops and smartphones  although they could provide a significant boost to their battery life of 50-100 per cent. Exeger is also exploring a solar-powered tablet cover that could provide enough power for infrequent users to never need to charge.

Our grandchildren will laugh that we had cables, Fili says.

open image in gallery Prototypes of products embedded with Exeger's Powerfoyle solar cells include tablets, bags and even curtains ( Exeger )

One trend Fili has noted is that users of Powerfoyle products have become much more aware of their surroundings and the presence of light in their lives. We are making people light conscious, he says, because light is power.

Fili is driven by the belief that the Powerfoyle is an era-defining technology. Exeger is the first to commercialise the technology at this scale, though it remains relatively nascent given that Fili views everyone on the planet as a potential user. Others appear confident in his claims, with Forbes likening him to figures like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Elon Musk.

The tech behind Exegers solar cells, like the printers that produce them, is a closely guarded secret. Even the purpose of the thousands of Powerfoyles currently being printed each minute at the Stockholm factory is not yet public knowledge. (The elongated shape of them strongly hints that they will be used in a product most of us use every day  one that this article is being typed on.)

This is really, really huge, Fili says. We have just secured a contract with one of the worlds largest suppliers of keyboards and mice, and have already partnered with some of the biggest companies and brands on the planet. This technology is going to take over the world.
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On a small island off Japans northeastern coast, there is an unlikely guardian angel: cats.

The animals outnumber humans on the island of Tashirojima, and there is even a Neko Jinja, or cat shrine, to honour their presence.

Legend says the island used to be famous for sericulture and farmers would keep cats because they would chase away rats, protecting the silkworm cocoons from the rodents.

open image in gallery Over 100 cats inhabit Tashirojima ( The Associated Press )

Fishermen on the island have also traditionally believed that cats bring good luck, including large hauls of fish.

Another legend says fishermen used to watch the cats behavior for tips on the coming weather before heading to sea.

Read more on Asia travel:

The islanders have long coexisted with the cats. One day, however, a fisherman accidentally injured a cat while working. Feeling sorry for the injury, the islanders built the shrine for cats.

Tashirojima is part of the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture in the Tohoku region, which became well known after a tsunami devastated the area following a massive magnitude 9 earthquake on 11 March 2011.

open image in gallery Tourists watch cats getting fed at a cafe on Tashirojima ( The Associated Press )

Over 100 cats inhabit Tashirojima, along with about 50 humans, according to the city's website.

Along a paved road running about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) between the island's two ports, cats groom themselves and mingle with other cats.

There are a few cafes and inns, but no car rental shops, gas stations or public transportation. Tourists are expected to walk up and down the island's hills while visiting.

Most of the cats are used to tourists, who can be seen petting the friendly animals throughout the island.

Read more: The best countries to travel to in Southeast Asia
By SA Commercial Prop News

Jozini Mall, the new 18,220sqm community shopping centre in North-Eastern KwaZulu-Natal, is now fully let and will open on Thursday, 24th October 2013.



Jozini Mall, the new 18,220sqm community shopping centre in North-Eastern KwaZulu-Natal, is now fully let and will open on Thursday, 24th October 2013.

Jozini Mall is on the main road to the Jozini CBD, in one of the most densely populated residential areas of the region and near the town centre. This excellent position and visibility heighten its attraction to both shops and shoppers.

It is also ideally positioned to benefit from Jozinis unique location. Synonymous with Lake Jozini, formerly Pongolapoort Dam, it is on the main route to Mozambique and provides a gateway into Maputaland.

National tenants who have committed exceed 85% of the area.

Anchor tenant Shoprite will lead the 50 shop retail mix in a 3,124sqm store.

Gavin Tagg of Retail Network Services reports that strong retailer demand has resulted in all trading opportunities in the centre swiftly being snatched up.

From everyday groceries and convenient services to fashion, furniture and fast food, Jozini Malls retail selection is being custom-designed to meet the needs of local shoppers.



When it comes to household goods, the substantial Shoprite is complemented by a large Roots Butchery and a Liquor City.



Bringing the everyday convenience to Jozini Mall, banking facilities will be provided by African Bank, Capitec, Nedbank and Standard Bank. FNB and ABSA banks will be represented by on site ATMs. It will also feature a Post Office, Cellkom Plus, Pep Cell, a pharmacy and Optical Inc Optometrist as well as medical facilities.



Jozini Mall brings to town nearly 20 top fashion retailers including Fashion World, Mr Price, Mr Matata, Fashion People, Ackermans, Truworths, Identity, Jet, Edgars Active, Pep, Power Fashion Factory, Shoe Zone, Rage, John Craig, Ideals and Express Stores. Adding to its appeal for the well groomed is hair care from Top Classic Salon and Just On Cosmetics.



The drawcard of six top national furniture retailers - Joshua Doore, Bears, Ellerines, OK Furniture, Lewis, Barnetts and Electric Express  will be complemented by Als Hardware.



Adding to frequent shopper appeal, Jozini Mall also features a tempting line-up of fast food. Different tastes will be satisfied from Chesanyama, The Fish and Chips Company and a Steers Debonairs combination store.



Jozini Malls market includes over 42,000 households in its primary and secondary catchment area. Nearly 106,000 people live in the primary catchment area and around 135,000 people stay in the secondary market zone.



The Mall is also easy to visit with 36 taxi bays, eight bus bays and over 400 parking bays, says Tagg.



The R140 million Jozini Mall is owned and developed by Greater Atlantic Properties (Pty) Ltd.
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Thousands have protested in Spains Balearic Islands as fury over mass tourism intensifies.

Posters read SOS Residents and Enough Mass Tourism as protesters marched through Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the largest Balearic Island. About 10,000 demonstrators took part, a police spokesperson said.

A protest with a few hundred people was also staged in Menorca and on Friday, about 1,000 protesters took part in a demonstration in Ibiza, one of the most popular Balearic Islands.

open image in gallery Protesters hold a banner reading Mallorca is not for sale during a demonstration to protest against the massification of tourism and housing prices on the island of Mallorca in Palma de Mallorca on May 25, 2024 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Tourism generates 45% of the islands gross domestic product, according to data from Exceltur, an industry organisation.

We want the authorities to stop people who have not lived here more than five years from buying properties and to put more controls on holiday accommodation, said Carme Reines, from a collective which organised the protest in Palma de Mallorca.

Javier Carbonell, a real estate agent, said over half of rental properties were used for holiday rents and were not affordable for locals.

We want less mass tourism and more sustainable tourism, Carbonell said.

open image in gallery People take part in a protest against mass tourism and gentrification in the island ahead of summer season ( REUTERS )

After Catalonia, the Balearic Islands was the second most popular region of Spain for tourists last year, attracting 14.4 million holidaymakers, the Spanish National Statistics Institute said.

Some 18 million tourists visited Catalonia and 13.9 million people visited the Canary Islands, the Spanish archipelago off Western Africa.

We want a limit on new tourist places and a ban on more illegal flats. With less flats around on the market, it pushes up the price, said Rafael Gimenez, a spokesman for Prou Ibiza which organised Fridays protest.

In April, thousands of people protested in the Canary Islands, calling for a temporary limit on tourist arrivals to stem a boom in short-term holiday rentals and hotel construction that is increasing housing costs for locals.

It comes as Two German tourists, a Spanish waitress and a Senegalese man were killed when a two-storey restaurant building collapsed on the beach in Spains Palma de Mallorca on Thursday.

open image in gallery Tourists take pictures of the Medusa Beach Club building after its collapse, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain ( REUTERS )

Police said the accident was possibly caused by excessive weight on the terrace of the Medusa Beach Club.

The German victims were two women aged 20 and 30, the waitress was 23 and the Senegalese man was 44, the council said in a statement.

All the 16 reported injured were Dutch tourists, he said.

A spokesperson for Germans Foreign Ministry said its consulate in Mallorca was in close contact with authorities.

The situation on the ground is still partly unclear, the spokesperson said. At this point in time, we unfortunately have to assume that German nationals are among the dead and injured.
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Turbulence is the worst part of flying for many people. Though its a phenomenon that happens surprisingly regularly, it can often be alarming  one that can strike fear into even the most seasoned flyers.

But is is often misunderstood; it provides very little threat to modern commercial aircraft, with most injuries occurring when people arent strapped into their seats.

Turbulence is defined by the US National Weather Service as a phenomenon that is caused by abrupt, irregular movements of air that create sharp, quick updrafts and downdrafts that occur in combinations and move aircraft unexpectedly.

The most common type, called clear air turbulence (CAT), is defined by the Federal Aviation Administration as sudden severe turbulence occurring in cloudless regions that causes violent buffeting of aircraft. It adds that this is especially troublesome because it is often encountered unexpectedly and frequently without visual clues.

So what is the likelihood that youll be affected by turbulence, and which flying routes are most affected by it? We answer the key questions.

Read more: What is turbulence and can it cause your plane to crash?

How likely am I to be affected by severe turbulence?

While most flyers will have encountered some mild turbulence before, severe turbulence is far more rare. Some figures put the number of flights affected by severe turbulence as one departure in every 50,000.

Conditions caused by global warming mean that we may see slightly more turbulence in the future. According to data taken over the last 16 years by the Federal Aviation Administration, the average number of injuries related to serious turbulence per year in the US is 33.

open image in gallery In June 2023, a BA flight between Singapore and London was forced to turn back to its origin airport due to severe turbulence ( Getty Images )

Where are the best (and worst) places to sit for turbulence?

Ideally, book a seat near the wingspan in the centre of the plane for the smoothest flying experience. Being near the planes centre of mass means youre less likely to be affected by forces such as wind, drag and lift.

In addition, the front of the plane experiences less noticeable effects of turbulence than the seats in the back, as they are more affected by wind hitting the tail of the aircraft.

What are the most turbulent flight routes around the world?

Data from turbulence prediction website Turbli, which has analysed around 150,000 routes, shows the most turbulent journeys of 2023. Routes are ranked according to eddy dissipation rate, which Turbli founder Ignacio Gallego Marcos describes as the measure of the turbulence intensity at a given spot.

The 1,180-mile journey between Santiago and Viru Viru International airport in Bolivia was ranked as the most turbulent, with the route between Almaty, in Kazakhstan, and the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, ranked second.

open image in gallery Flying over mountain ranges such as the Andes can have a dramatic affect on turbulence ( Getty Images )

Six of the most turbulent journeys were domestic routes in Japan and China (four involved routes taking off or landing at Lanzhou or Chengdu or Xianyang), while two European routes also featured. Milan to Geneva is the most turbulent route in Europe (and fifth-most turbulent in the world for 2023), while Milan to Zurich came in at tenth.

Mr Gallego Marcos explained that routes over the Andes or Alps appear high in the ranking due to mountain wave turbulence over the Andes and Alps, while the routes in Japan and China are turbulent due to high jet stream activity. The Met Office defines the jet stream as a core of strong winds around five to seven miles above the Earths surface, blowing from west to east.

This goes some way to explaining the repeated entries of some airports, with certain destinations featuring heavily in the continent-specific lists. For example, routes taking off or landing in Zurich feature five times in the 10 most turbulent routes in Europe, while there are five routes involving Chiles capital, Santiago, in the 10 most turbulent journeys in South America.

Below are the top 10 most turbulent journeys in the world in full, according to Turbli data:

1. Santiago (SCL) - Santa Cruz (VVI)

2. Almaty (ALA) - Bishkek (FRU)

3. Lanzhou (LHW) - Chengdu (CTU)

4. Centrair (NGO) - Sendai (SDJ)

5. Milan (MXP) - Geneva (GVA)

6. Lanzhou (LHW) - Xianyang (XIY)

7. Osaka (KIX) - Sendai (SDJ)

8. Xianyang (XIY) - Chengdu (CTU)

9. Xianyang (XIY) - Chongqing (CKG)

10. Milan (MXP) - Zurich (ZRH)
Rishi Sunak shared a joke with constituents in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, over his general election speech that was dampened by pouring rain.

The prime minister was told by one constituent that she thought he'd "be in bed with pneumonia" as he met local ex-servicemen at one of their regular Saturday breakfast meetings.

At the Buck Inn, a Wetherspoons pub, Vicky Rudd, sat next to her husband Doug, from Richmond British Legion, asked Mr Sunak about his health.

"No pneumonia yet, my suit on the other hand Im not quite sure what state it will be in when I get back down to London," the PM replied.
Media Minister Catherine Minister is asked to cover losses of 500,000 for last years collection process

An Post has asked the Government for more than 500,000 to cover its losses from collecting the TV licence last year, after a plunge in sales following the RTE pay scandal.

It has written to Media Minister Catherine Martin to say it is now losing money by collecting the TV licence, and could be down almost 2m for this year.

The appeal from An Post is a further headache for the Government as it considers the future funding arrangements for public service broadcasting. It already has to bail out RTE due to the decline in TV licence sales, and is now faced with having to compensate An Post too.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 25th May 2024

In a letter to Ms Martin, sent on April 16, which has been seen by the Irish Independent, An Post chief executive David McRedmond points out that she is required to pay the company an appropriate sum for the work it does in administering the collection, inspection and prosecution of TV licences.

He said that, at a minimum, An Posts direct costs should be reimbursed. But since the sale of licences has plummeted since June 2023, those costs are no longer covered by the sum being paid by the minister, and there is no foreseeable improvement, Mr McRedmond said.

The commission An Post was paid for selling TV licences last year was almost 8.4m, or about 10 per licence. Before the RTE pay scandal last summer, An Post had forecast a contribution of 1m for 2023 from the work. However, this transpired in a shortfall of direct costs of 557,000 for 2023, the CEO of An Post told the minister. I would be grateful for your departments proposal to ensure An Posts costs are reimbursed.

In a set of figures the company sent to Ms Martin, it says the total direct cost to An Post last year from collecting the licence amounted to 8.9m. This included almost 4m in pay, 1m in postmaster costs and 2.3m in postage.

The cost this year is forecast to rise to almost 9.5m  but after the government contribution, which is likely to be about 7.5m, the company is expecting to lose more than 1.9m from licence-collection process.

An Posts forecast is that there will be 746,000 licences sold this year, which would be down from 824,278 last year. This had fallen from 947,924 the year before. This would mean the revenue raised by the TV licence would dip below 120m, leaving the Government to make up a considerable shortfall in funding to RTE.

Mr McRedmond also asked Ms Martin to keep An Posts role under consideration as she decides on the future funding of public service broadcasting. This would be either in terms of licence collections, or in an alternative scenario if redundancies are likely to arise.

He added: The current uncertainty and recent controversies have affected An Posts TV licence employees and, as CEO, I have an obligation to ensure their welfare.

A spokesperson for Ms Martin she said would be responding to the letter and, meanwhile, department and An Post officials were engaging on all issues relating to the TV licence collection system.

Earlier this month, Taoiseach Simon Harris said this would be the Government that finally settled the question of sustainable funding for RTE and public service broadcasting. It is our intention to make a decision on funding by the summer break, he said. 

The most recent figures on TV licences issued this year were supplied by Ms Martin last month, when she said by the week ending April 21, there had been 232,470 sales. The equivalent figure for the same period last year was 268,332, meaning there has been a 13.4pc drop.

An Post has had the job of collecting the TV licence since the charge was first introduced in 1962. Last month it revealed the company had been forced to stop inspections and offer resilience training to staff because of public anger over the RTE payments scandal.

A spokesman said increased hostility, especially verbal abuse, had led to An Post taking action to protect its workers.

An Post has always said that the TV licence is an important part of its business, and provides an essential income stream for its postmasters and the post office network. It has more than 40 frontline inspectors covering the country, doing house-to-house calls.
Bitcoin money launderer with links to Irish businessman is jailed in London

Michael Burke Jr was accused of involvement in the scheme during Jian Wens trial

Jian Wen was sentenced to six years and eight months in jail

John Burns Sat 25 May 2024 at 03:30

A former Chinese takeaway worker has been jailed for six years in London for her role in a money-laundering operation in which a member of one of Irelands wealthiest business families has been implicated.
Riverdance lead dancers Padraic Moyles and Maria Buffini perform at the National Convention Centre Dublin in 2011. Photo: Getty Images

The millions continued to roll in for the creators of Riverdance last year, as operating profits increased by 5.5pc to 2.13m.

It is now 30 years since Riverdance made its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest as the interval act during the 1994 contest in Dublin.

New accounts show that across the world, Riverdances appeal in 2023 increased as revenues at Abhann Productions went up by 19pc from 14.01m to 16.72m in the 12 months to the end of last June.

The 2023 revenues were boosted by Riverdance performing a 50-date tour of the US last year.

Emphasising Riverdances global appeal, one Riverdance dancing troupe is performing in the Japanese city of Osaka this weekend after a nine-year gap from Japan.

Last month, Riverdance performed a string of dates around Australia while next month, the show returns to Dublins Gaiety Theatre for a run from June 5 until September 8.

The new filings show that interest payments of 53,315 last year resulted in a pre-tax profit of 2.08m, up 3pc on 2.01m in 2022.

The strong profits of 2023 and 2022 follow Covid-related losses of 1.097m in 2021 and 747,465 in 2020 as a result of the pandemic shutting down the show from March 2020 to September 2021.

The company continues to be led by founding directors John McColgan and Moya Doherty and in their report, they state that they are satisfied that the results for the year are consistent with expected levels.

David Orr is also listed as a director, and aggregate pay to directors increased by 34pc from 1.35m to 1.8m.

Mr McColgan and Ms Doherty continued to plough money into the venture last year, with the amount owed by the company to the couple last year increasing sharply from 154,157 to 1m.

Riverdance usually has two productions touring simultaneously, each employing 50 to 55 across cast and crew.

Revenues were also boosted last year by Riverdance performing its 25th-anniversary show at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin from June 15 to September 10.

Wages and salaries last year totalled 2.45m.

The firms cash funds increased sharply from 3.09m to 5.34m.

Accumulated profits at the end of last June stood at 3.94m.

The profit also took account of non-cash depreciation costs of 33,532.
Tech tycoon Mike Lynch took the witness stand at his trial in San Francisco and disclaimed responsibility for what US prosecutors say was a massive Silicon Valley fraud, the $11bn sale of his software start-up to Hewlett Packard some 13 years ago.
Arthur Mathews opens up about his rift with Graham Linehan: I wasnt joining him in the trans crusade... That was the betrayal

The Father Ted co-creator talks about cancel culture, facing rejection for new comedy ideas and why his latest project is delving into the turbulent life of a Free State politician who ordered the execution of his best man

Im not responsible for the woke world we live in: Arthur Mathews. Photo: Gerry Mooney

John Meagher Sat 25 May 2024 at 03:30

It is about three-quarters of an hour into my interview with Father Ted co-creator Arthur Mathews when the conversation ventures into uncomfortable territory. A certain subject has been looming on the horizon from the off and it explains why, early on, he seems so ill at ease.
I sold my book the week after Id had a miscarriage. It was a very extreme time of life because Id had this incredibly devastating loss

As the follow-up to her debut bestseller hits the shelves, Cleopatra and Frankenstein author Coco Mellors talks about overcoming alcoholism, the devastating loss she experienced as her career hit a new high and why she feels so lucky to be a sober mother

Coco Mellors. Photo: Zoe Potkin

Tanya Sweeney Thu 23 May 2024 at 03:30

By anyones measure, Coco Mellorss mid-20s were incredibly eventful. At 25, and consumed with a desire to write fiction since childhood, she began writing her first novel, Cleopatra and Frankenstein. A year later, London-born Mellors decided to seek help for alcohol addiction and has been sober ever since. Two years later, she met her now-husband, Henry.
Alec Baldwin will stand trial as scheduled in July after a US judge denied a bid to dismiss a criminal charge against him.

Hollywood actor Baldwin had previously plead not guilty to involuntary manslaughter following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of western film Rust in October 2021.

On Friday, New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer rejected arguments made by Baldwins lawyers for dismissing the case, finding that the grand jury process was not prejudiced against the 66-year-old actor.

Alec Baldwin will face a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted after trial (Santa Fe County Sheriff/PA)

It is therefore ordered that defendant Alec Baldwins motion to dismiss the indictment is hereby denied, the judge wrote at the end of her ruling.

Baldwin is scheduled to face a trial from July 9, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after a prop gun he was holding went off, killing Ms Hutchins.

The US star will face a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted after trial.

This was the sentence Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed received after a jury found her guilty of the same charge. Her defence lawyer has filed an appeal notice.

In March, Baldwins lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter case, alleging violations of court orders and other legal faults by the prosecution in the grand jury process.

During the virtual court hearing last week, Baldwins lawyer Alex Spiro said the court needed to step in and check this abuse of power, telling the judge the court can have no comfort in this indictment.

This is a homicide case, prosecutors are required to do better than this. This indictment should be dismissed, he said.

While lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey defended her position, confirming to the judge this isnt something nefarious, and there is no bad faith here.

The defence wants somehow to try to convince the court that the actor who is holding a real gun in his hand has absolutely no responsibility for what he does with that gun, and its simply not the case, she said.

She concluded: Everything that he is saying to you right now is a complete misrepresentation about what has happened, and that is what these people do.

The judge asked several follow-up questions of Ms Morrissey, before ultimately denying the motion to dismiss the charge against Baldwin on Friday  a week after the virtual hearing.
The westbound commute over the Bay Bridge was a mess for more than eight hours Friday after a semitruck caught fire, the California Highway Patrol said. Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Motorists driving across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco on Friday have faced a hellish traffic backup that began at 9 a.m. and has continued for more than eight hours.

It all started when a semitrailer truck carrying a full load of oranges pulled over to the right on the westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge  just before the Yerba Buena tunnel  because the back wheels had caught fire. The driver detached the tractor away from the semitrailer and waited for firefighters to arrive.

The fire spread to the trailer, which became fully engulfed, said California Highway Patrol spokesperson Mark Andrews.

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What happened next as firefighters battled the burning trailer was a nightmare for commuters. The CHP shut down four of the bridges five westbound lanes  funneling five lanes of vehicles into a single lane for about an hour. Once the fire was under control, CHP opened two more lanes to traffic.

It took the CHP and Caltrans hours to remove the debris from the bridge because the structural integrity of the trailer was compromised by the fire. Tow trucks worked to get pieces of the big rig out.

Around 3 p.m., another lane was opened, giving motorists four of the bridges five lanes as the cleanup continued. But the backup  stretching for miles  has continued, marking a bad start to what is expected to be a busy Memorial Day weekend.

Andrews said he expects Caltrans will be inspecting the bridge for damage.
We look forward to our day in court, says Alec Baldwins lawyers (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Lawyers acting for US actor Alec Baldwin said we look forward to our day in court after a judge denied their bid to throw out his criminal case.

Hollywood actor Baldwin had previously plead not guilty to involuntary manslaughter following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of western film Rust in October 2021.

On Friday, New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer rejected arguments made by Baldwins lawyers Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro for dismissing the case, finding that the grand jury process was not prejudiced against the 66-year-old star.

Alec Baldwin will face a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted after trial (Santa Fe County Sheriff/PA)

It is therefore ordered that defendant Alec Baldwins motion to dismiss the indictment is hereby denied, the judge wrote at the end of her ruling.

In a joint statement given to the PA news agency, Mr Nikas and Mr Spiro said: We look forward to our day in court.

Baldwin will stand trial as scheduled from July 9, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after a prop gun he was holding went off, killing Ms Hutchins.

The US star will face a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted after trial.

This was the sentence Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed received after a jury found her guilty of the same charge. Her defence lawyer has filed an appeal notice.

In March, Baldwins lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter case, alleging violations of court orders and other legal faults by the prosecution in the grand jury process.

During the virtual court hearing last week, Mr Spiro said the court needed to step in and check this abuse of power, telling the judge the court can have no comfort in this indictment.

This is a homicide case, prosecutors are required to do better than this. This indictment should be dismissed, he said.

While lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey defended her position, confirming to the judge this isnt something nefarious and there is no bad faith here.

The defence wants somehow to try to convince the court that the actor who is holding a real gun in his hand has absolutely no responsibility for what he does with that gun, and its simply not the case, she said.

She concluded: Everything that he is saying to you right now is a complete misrepresentation about what has happened, and that is what these people do.

The judge asked several follow-up questions of Ms Morrissey, before ultimately denying the motion to dismiss the charge against Baldwin on Friday  a week after the virtual hearing.
Billy Keane: The Leinster and Munster rivalry never gets old  some of them are us and some of us are them
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has said its members need to be properly trained on how to respond to the rising phenomenon of being threatened and abused while policing protests.
Mr Bakhurst rowed in behind 2FM after a tumultuous week in which three more high-profile presenters quit the radio station, the latest being Jennifer Zamparelli.

Mr Bakhurst said 2FM would always have stars like Doireann Garrihy and The 2 Johnnies who stay for a couple of years, use RTE to build their profile and then move on.

Laura Fox was yesterday confirmed as Zamparellis replacement.

The Irelands Fittest Family host has her own weekend show on 2FM and had been acting as Zamparellis daily stand-in since she went on leave in April.

The exodus of talent from 2FM comes as RTE is due to publish a report on how it nurtures and provides career pathways for broadcasters. A spokesperson for Media Minister Catherine Martin last night said that the report was expected in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, it has also emerged that the return of Garrihy and Zamparelli to RTE TV screens later this winter could be at risk because the broadcaster may not be able to afford to put on another season of Dancing with the Stars. The producer behind the flagship dance contest confirmed that both of the outgoing 2FM presenters would be coming back to front the show, but only if RTEs finances are addressed.

Earlier this month, Garrihy became the first of a number of 2FM presenters to make the shock announcement that she would be leaving the station, where her co-presenters Carl Mullan and Donncha OCallaghan still host the breakfast slot. She was followed this week by The 2 Johnnies, who announced their 2FM drivetime show was coming to an end.

On Thursday, Zamparelli revealed she would not be returning to 2FM after being on extended leave from the radio station, where she worked for a decade. It represents the loss of at least one presenter from all three of 2FMs most popular radio shows, and creates a vacancy in each of the most important slots in its weekday schedule.

"I have great belief in RTE 2FM. We are, of course, disappointed to see Jennifer Zamparelli, Doireann Garrihy and The 2 Johnnies leave, and we wish them all the best with their plans, Mr Bakhurst said.

While Jennifer has been with RTE and 2FM for a long time, I think with a station like 2FM, this is going to happen. People will come to RTE and to 2FM from time to time with an existing fan base, either through social media or through a podcast or both and they will stay with us for two or three years and then move on to pursue other interests.

We have enjoyed working with them and we have created some great radio together. It is also true to say that 2FM and RTE have provided a really good platform which has helped all of them build on their popularity and reach new audiences, not just on radio but also on our television screens and online platforms. Their departures now provide great opportunities on 2FM for young talent, both inside and outside RTE.

We now have a chance to do something exciting with these slots as we look to launch a new schedule on 2FM later this year."

2FM boss Dan Healy said yesterday that new rules requiring broadcasters to publish a register of interests and declare gifts had played a role to a certain extent, but it's not the reason" for the departures. Mr Healy is due to unveil 2FMs new summer schedule next week.

An expert report ordered by the Government into RTE in the wake of last years payments scandal, recommended that RTE prioritise an in-house review of its existing development of on-air presenters and their potential, which would be dedicated to managing potential presenting careers and developing a progression pathway within RTE".

A spokesperson for Ms Martin said that while individuals are at liberty to make career choices for personal or professional reasons, it was important to note the recent report... [which] called for RTE to develop frameworks for developing talent and establishing career pathways.

In an interview on 2FM yesterday with Fox, who is inheriting Zamparellis slot, the outgoing presenter said that while she was leaving 2FM, she was not finished working for RTE. I am just going to do projects that fit in with my family life and I am in a position to do that, which is very exciting, Zamparelli said.

ShinAwil, the production company behind Dancing With the Stars, has confirmed that both Zamparelli and Garrihy are due to return to present the next season  but only if RTE can afford to return the series.

As of now, RTE have not as yet commissioned another series of DWTS. Until RTE finances are addressed, they cannot commit to the scale of DWTS in over six months time, executive producer Larry Bass said.

If we are to do the show, I shall be looking forward to working with both Jen and Doireann again. They are both fantastic to work with, utter professionals to the bone, they are one of the reasons the Irish public love DWTS in such high numbers. Both ladies contracts with us were outside their 2FM contracts. So we will be delighted to welcome both presenters back if we are lucky enough to be asked to produce the nations favourite show again.

Mr Bass confirmed that DWTS would usually be commissioned by RTE before the summer, otherwise the series could not be made.

So hopefully the Government will make some funding decisions before they all go on holidays, he said.
NWCI director Orla OConnor said those seeking Yes votes failed to communicate what changes would mean

The National Womens Council of Ireland (NWCI) really failed to explain to people what the disastrous care and family referendums meant, its director has admitted.

NWCI director Orla OConnor said her organisation had begged the Government not to hold the doomed vote on International Womens Day, which the womens council insisted was a really bad idea.

Ms OConnor hit out at ministers for their really, really poor campaign, which she said would be remembered as how not to run a campaign or win a referendum.

Last March, two referendums were comprehensively defeated when the public rejected two proposed changes to the Constitution.

The first  which proposed replacing a controversial reference to a womans duties in the home with a new definition of care  was voted down by 73.93pc, the highest percentage for a No vote in Irish electoral history.

A second proposal, to modernise the constitutional definition of the family, was also defeated, by 67.7pc.

We failed to communicate what we meant by care, and what it meant for the womens council in terms of all the work that we had done on it, Ms OConnor said. I would say that really clearly now, we really failed to communicate what it meant for us.

She remembers how the earliest debates in the referendum were dominated by questions about what durable relationships and strive actually meant.

There are no excuses, we failed to communicate what that meant for the womens council and for the womens council members, she said.

And therefore, people saw us just in with what the Government were saying.

Ms OConnor said the Government had to take the blame for running a bad campaign.

I think the Government did a really, really poor campaign, she said. If somebody wants to write a book on this campaign, therell be a lot in it for how not to run a campaign. They didnt articulate clearly why this was important for society. And they were really absent from it, beyond the work that [Equality Minister Roderic OGorman] did on it. I think their campaign was very, very poor.

She said that the NWCI had objected to both the Governments proposed wording, and the plan to hold the vote on International Womens Day.

When asked whose idea it had been to hold the vote on March 8, Ms OConnor said: Well, thats a very good question.

The first I heard of it, I communicated to the Government that I thought it was a really bad idea. We did not support it being on International Womens Day. It didnt make sense.
Not just a South Dublin thing: Leinster support stronger than ever as stars like Jamie Osborne prove pathway is open from club sides

Twenty-two-year-old centre flying the flag for Naas as team seek fifth Champions Cup triumph

Naas RFC chairman Richard Brophy. Photo: Mark Condren

Darragh Nolan Sat 25 May 2024 at 03:30

As Leinster gear up for their Champions Cup final clash with Toulouse in London, the squad list is a testament to how things have changed for the province.
Orla OConnor: The NWCI made mistakes during the referendum but the Government gave people so many reasons to vote no

The National Womens Council director says it failed to communicate properly in the womens place referendum campaign but rejects charges that the taxpayer-funded group is out of touch and too close to ministers

Lessons learned: Orla OConnor from the National Womens Council canvassing during the referendums in March. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Ellen Coyne Sat 25 May 2024 at 03:30

It was the final week of the referendum campaign, and the National Womens Council of Ireland had organised a photocall outside the Mansion House in Dublin.
Fianna Fail MEP candidate Niall Blaney says he is "not getting the same support as other candidates."

Fianna Fail European elections candidate Niall Blaney has accused his party of meddling in the Midlands-North West campaign.

He also revealed he demanded more support from party leader Micheal Martin during a private conversation after their live clash at an election press conference.

The Fianna Fail senator made headlines on Friday when he confronted the Tanaiste at a campaign event over what he perceived as favouritism being shown to his fellow party candidates Barry Cowen and Lisa Chambers.

We had a robust discussion after the conference, Mr Blaney told the Sunday Independent. He had his perspective, I had mine, and I asked him for support in the last two weeks and left it with him.

However, Mr Martin gave his colleague no commitment to give more party resources to his campaign after their confrontation.

Lisa Chambers, Micheal Martin, Cynthia Ni Mhurchu and Niall Blaney at the launch of the Fianna Fail European election campaign on Friday. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Mr Blaney said: There are enough votes out there for a second quota, but if we are throwing all our eggs in one basket at this stage, meddling in elections and not supporting all our candidates, its back to old politics and its not the republican approach that should be taken.

Whats happening at the moment is that we are jumping when a poll is published and it is not helping ourselves. We meddled in the European elections in Midlands-North West in 2014 and we havent regained it since. I just see it happening again, and if we keep meddling we will end up with no seat.

Central to the senators grievance with the party is a decision by Mr Martin to canvass with Mr Cowen in Longford two weeks ago. The Tanaiste is also scheduled to campaign with Ms Chambers this week.

But there were currently no arrangements for him to campaign with the Donegal-based senator.

Mr Blaneys team is also upset over the lack of television and radio coverage he has been invited to take part in.

There is also anger over Fianna Fail investing in a recent poster campaign featuring Mr Cowen and Ms Chambers, but not providing the same for Mr Blaney.

At Fianna Fails European elections campaign launch on Friday, Mr Blaney told reporters he was not getting the same support as his fellow candidates.

The Tanaiste interjected to say he had canvassed with Mr Blaney and the only candidate he had yet to canvass with was Ms Chambers.

He told Mr Blaney he was not getting into a public discussion on the logistics of a campaign at a press conference.

Niall Blaney in Rosnakill, Co Donegal in 2021. Photo: Joe Dunne

However, it is understood Mr Blaney was not invited to the canvass in Cavan that Mr Martin was referring to. Instead, he was informed the Fianna Fail leader was coming to the area by local election candidates and took the decision himself to show up for the canvass.

In reference to comments Mr Cowen has made, Mr Blaney said: We are constantly told Fianna Fail takes no notices of opinion polls, but we have one poll last week with one candidate claiming hes the lead candidate in a video.

Ms Chambers also criticised Mr Cowens comments, which were made alongside Mr Martin in an interview with the Irish Independent.

Mr Blaney said: It seems were giving up on Connaught and the border counties where we need representation most.

We are the poorest region in Ireland, we are one of the poorest in Europe. Infrastructure-wise, we are 218th out of 234 in the EU. We are right down the bottom and the gap is growing.

This was never about me. Its about the people around me and its about the people I represent in Connaught and the border counties.

If we dont have a voice in Europe who has the backs of people who need infrastructure built, who has the backs of farmers and fishermen, then we are going to be at a loss again.

Mr Blaney said Midlands-North West is not properly represented in the European Parliament. He said more pressure should be applied in Europe so there was more levelling up for the region.

He said his home county of Donegal was given special EU status more than a decade ago, which should have secured better infrastructure, but he said this has not happened.

We need to support all our candidates as best we can and then let the votes transfer where they can, he said. The more support we give to all candidates, the more chance we have of that second seat, but whats happening at the moment is not fair.
PBP TD Richard Boyd Barrett points to the IFSC during his address at the Housing protest outside the Customs House in Dublin. Picture Credit:Frank McGrath

Dozens of people gathered on the steps of the Custom House in the capital this afternoon to protest against the Government over the housing crisis.

Residents of Tathony House in Dublin 8 were joined by members of People Before Profit-Solidarity (PBP) at the rally.

A sea of signs reading public land, public homes lined the steps this afternoon.

Protesters said they are seeking radical change in the way the current government delivers new-build housing, advocating for modern, environmentally friendly construction techniques, eco-retrofitting, secure construction jobs, and apprenticeships.

The rally, just two weeks out from the local and European elections, was sparked by a leaked Housing Commission report that criticises the Governments progress on housing, stating that despite some of the highest levels of investment, outcomes in Ireland are among the worst in Europe.

The report calls for a "radical strategic reset of housing policy", noting that Ireland has a housing deficit of 256,000 homes.

PBP TD Richard Boyd Barrett was a speaker, alongside members of Tathony House.

Mr Boyd Barrett told the Irish Independent: The vast majority of people now in this country enduring housing misery is benefitting the current government.

The worse the housing crisis is, the higher rents can be charged, and if they actually built enough housing for everyone, these people would not continue to make money.

It is in the interest of corporate landlords and the parties who invited the vulture funds into this country to continue to perpetuate the housing crisis.

We could solve these problems, or most of them, almost overnight if we stop this profiteering and speculating by the super wealthy in this country and internationally on the issue of housing.

Lets build a peoples movement to stop the profiteers and property speculators, and to provide the social and affordable housing that we need. It can be done, but its going to take people power to achieve it.

He added that the Housing Commission report confirmed all of this.

There was a strong focus on individuals and the difficulties they face navigating the current housing market in Ireland.

James O'Toole, one of the last residents of Tathony House in Dublin, also spoke at the rally about his decision to fight back against an eviction date of 25 July this year.

There are only three tenancies left in the apartment block.

Tenants had a victory against the original eviction notice, which was declared invalid by the Residential Tenancies Board, but the landlord has since issued new valid notices.

Dublin City Council has attempted to engage with the landlord, but the block of 34 flats is now almost empty, with a valid eviction date of 25 July this year for the few who remain.

Some of my neighbours are leaving on 4 June, so my wife and I will be the last tenants in Tathony House, he said.

Were 15 years on the housing list, so were hopeful that Dublin City Council might give us a lifeline, but the stress continues until we get that lifeline.

He told the Irish Independent: Its been obvious to those of us on the front line of the housing crisis that they just need to build more homes, for those of us who are facing eviction or waiting for social housing, and those who want to buy privately.

Increase the supply of public homes, and everyone will benefit.
A leather purse made by the British agent inside the IRA known as Stakeknife is expected to make several times its estimate in an online auction hosted in Dublin.

Freddie Scappaticci crafted the item for his wife Sheila in 1973 when he was interned in Long Kesh, later known as the Maze Prison, where Bobby Sands and other hunger strikers died in 1981.

Lot 286 is described as a unique item from the alleged British spy, and is inscribed: Long Kesh 1973 To: Sheila, From Freddie. Scappaticci married Sheila Cunningham in 1966.

The purse was given to the family of the present owner in gratitude for having her to stay at their Dublin home as a respite from the Troubles, and is estimated to fetch between 1,000 and 1,500.

The timed auction at Whytes, called The Eclectic Collector, ends on June 7.

Scappaticci was born in Belfast in 1946. His father was an Italian immigrant to Northern Ireland.

A bricklayer by trade, he was radicalised by internment with other republicans. After his release in 1974, it is alleged he became a paid spy for the British army after being beaten up by the IRA following a row with a senior member.

By the 1980s he was operating at the heart of the IRA, within its internal security unit, known as the Nutting Squad.

His position gave him access to IRA secrets, and one former member said his unit was also known as Clapham Junction because everything went through it. The IRA became suspicious of him and stood his unit down in 1990.

It was not until 2003 that Scappaticci was publicly alleged to be Stakeknife, which he denied. He then disappeared  and died in England last year, aged 77, his wife having predeceased him.

Operation Kenova, an investigation into his activities, reported this year after costing the UK government 40m (47m), and linked Scappaticci directly to 18 murders, some of which are marked by claims of state collusion.

Ian Whyte, of the auction house, said he was not taking sides and Scappaticci was part of history.

He said the purse was of a mysterious character.

As far as we are concerned, this is history. Maybe people dont approve of it, but there are a lot of things that some people dont approve of, he said.
Actor Benjamin Bratt received an honorary doctorate in fine arts at San Francisco State Universitys commencement Friday. San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University awarded an honorary degree to Law & Order actor Benjamin Bratt during its commencement ceremony this past week.

Bratt, a San Francisco native who starred as detective Rey Curtis in the NBC crime procedural series, received an honorary doctorate in fine arts from the university at its 2024 commencement Friday. More than 4,000 students attended the ceremony, according to San Francisco State.

An alumnus of Lowell High School and the American Conservatory Theaters master of fine arts program, Bratt became involved in activism in San Francisco at a young age. His mother, a Quechua Peruvian woman from Lima, Peru, brought him to Alcatraz Island when she and other protesters occupied the island in 1969 to demand the land be returned to Native American tribes.

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Bratt, 60, remains connected with the Bay Areas Native American community, San Francisco State said in its announcement.

During the commencement ceremony, Bratt told graduates that their academic achievements were fueled by the support of their faculty and community.

The question is what will you do with that privilege and the power of a prestigious university education? he added. Ill let you in on a little secret: Were counting on you to do something spectacular even as you figure it out, because you are the inspiration of our hope.

Besides starring in TVs Law & Order from 1995 to 1999, Bratts movie credits include Miss Congeniality, Traffic and Coco. He also starred in La Mission, a 2009 film written and produced by his brother Peter set in San Franciscos Mission District, where the two were raised.

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Why should RTE have their foot on peoples necks?: the great 2FM exodus and why young stars are leaving Montrose

As Jennifer Zamparelli joins the 2 Johnnies and Doireann Garrihy in quitting the radio station, we find out why the national broadcaster no longer represents the summit for young talent

Taste of success: The 2 Johnnies RTE show has 150,000 listeners. Photo: Hannah Devaney

Kim Bielenberg and Kirsty Blake Knox Sat 25 May 2024 at 03:30

There was surprise but little shock among fellow broadcasters when RTE confirmed that the 2 Johnnies were giving up their drivetime 2FM show at the end of the month.
Inside the secret life of cabin crew: A flight attendant had sex with the captain in the seat while he was flying

It may seem glamorous from the outside  flying all over the world, staying in swish hotels and handing out Champagne in business class  but the reality for cabin crew is very different. From layover hook-ups to diarrhoea disasters, four flight attendants reveal what really goes on at 30,000ft...

One of May's most-read features was this delve into what really happens in the world of those who work at 30,000ft

Nicola Brady Sat 25 May 2024 at 03:30

Rebecca* works for a luxury international airline and is new to the industry


We cannot resist the temptation to pun on the title of the Bruce Lee martial arts movie and call this latest dramatic twist Enter the Draghi.

The jostling for EU top jobs is hotting up as the five-year changing of the Brussels guard this autumn looms into view. Now we learn that France wants a key role for former European Central Bank (ECB) boss and sometime Italian premier Mario Draghi, for reasons we will explain shortly.
technology

Last week, Nvidia posted another set of eye-popping financial results on the back of the current AI surge. It pushed the US companys share price to around $2.5 trillion (2.3trn), now trailing only Microsoft ($3.2tn) and Apple ($2.9 trillion).

A few more quarterly performances like this one could see it overtake the two traditional tech giants, making it the most valuable company in the world.

Within the tech industry, Nvidia has been seen as a rocket for some years. But more broadly, how many readers of this column saw it coming?

One of the enduring questions in tech is whats valuable, or in, and whats not (or past it). Twenty years ago, eBay, Nokia and BlackBerry seemed untouchable. Ten years ago, it might have been mobile games firms such as Supercell or Zynga. So will todays tech giants still be in in 10 years?

1. Apple

Of the very top players, Apple may face the most challenging task in growing at the same pace as it has over the last decade.

Chinese rivals are now significantly eating into market share in its biggest market, with an ever-creeping US-China trade war likely to do more damage to this.

And while its MacBooks, iPads, AirPods and Apple Watches remain consistent best-sellers in their categories, its latest Vision Pro headset, which Apple has pinned a lot on as its next big product winner, doesnt yet show signs of catching on.

No longer with a car to develop, and with the online streaming world for its Apple TV Plus service being even more competitive than Apples usual markets, its hard to see stellar growth in this companys performance.

2. Alphabet

Alphabets Google could be one of the most volatile of the current blue-chip tech giants. It is generally seen as being in catch-up mode on AI services, something on which a big part of its future may depend.

Even if it does get up to full speed, there are  ironically  long-term questions over what that means for search-related ads, its most consistently profitable segment.

It will remain very strong in cloud technology and has some genuine crown jewels, such as YouTube, which is second only to Netflix in online streaming influence.

3. Amazon

Of all the tech giants of today, Amazon seems the most stable and predictable into the near future. Its core sectors  cloud services (AWS) and retail  are now supplemented massively by an online advertising business. While owning its shares has never been an especially good one for quarterly returns, its very hard to see the value and relevance of the company not keeping track with the highest-ranked tech firms.

4. Microsoft

There is arguably no better company than Microsoft for sliding into a highly profitable new sector just as its taking off.

From being a computer software firm, it added a timely cloud technology layer (Azure) and is currently ahead of all its main rivals in taking advantage of new developments in AI, partially through its investment in OpenAI. Microsoft will still likely be at, or near, the very top in a decades time.

5. Nvidia

Nvidia is, by some distance, the worlds most in-vogue tech stock. This is because its chip technology is perceived to have a massive lead in powering AI-hungry data centres compared to once-dominant, now also-ran rivals such as Intel.

Its massive premium is based on an industry consensus that this position wont really be challenged anytime soon by other western chip-makers.

6. Netflix:

The video streaming worlds biggest player has seen off Apple, Disney and Amazon to retain its spot as the undisputed leader in TV and films online.

The bet here is that more traditional network rivals wont claw any of this position back. This seems like a good bet, as Netflix  as well as other streamers  are now starting to eat into live sport, one of the networks only remaining trump cards.

7. Tesla

Ive included Tesla here because of its unusually outsized portfolio weight compared to most other tech firms that have comparable revenue and earnings.

Unless Elon Musk pulls another miracle out of his bag, Tesla looks significantly overvalued at present: its current market cap is around nine times that of Volkswagen, a company that sells about four times as many cars and makes a profit over three times higher.

For all of the Tesla CEOs talk of robotics and AI, its main product is still cars. And it doesnt look like there are many new models to come, with cheaper, good-quality competition from China (such as BYD) posing a huge threat to its position in the market.

But Musk has created diamonds from ashes before, which is undoubtedly giving investors faith well beyond what the companys performance is actually achieving.
In her incisive article (Irish Independent, May 23), Ellen Coyne voices her concern that a victims counselling notes can be used in a rape trial and that this could deter them from seeking therapeutic support or even seeking justice at all. I share these concerns, which have long been raised by Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

We see first-hand the impact that the requirement to share our clients counselling notes has on victims of sexual violence and on our therapists.

It is deeply invasive, traumatic and personal to have notes documenting a victims private trauma shared with others. It lacks humanity and breaches the protective healing space we try to create for people who need counselling after sexual violence.

The possibility of another person having access to what has been said to a counsellor creates a feeling of vulnerability and violation in those going through the legal system, whether the notes are eventually used in a trial or not.

It may be hard for people who have not experienced sexual violence to imagine the courage and fortitude needed by victims to report an offence in the first place.

The request for counselling notes is surely one of the most dreaded and cruellest points on a victims journey to justice. It can also affect a persons healing if they feel the need to hold back in their counselling sessions.

Counselling must be a safe and private place where our clients can truly heal from the trauma they have suffered. Dublin Rape Crisis Centre therapists now tell all clients starting therapy that if they have made a report to gardai, then there is a possibility that their notes may be requested if the case goes to court.

The Implementation Plan of the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence provides for the establishment of a working group to review the rationale for the disclosure of counselling notes as part of court proceedings.

This is very welcome, and we hope this review will have a positive impact for our clients and all victims of sexual violence.

In a country where only 2pc of women and 1pc of men who have experienced sexual violence as an adult make a report to gardai, everything that can be done to encourage victims in to the justice system needs to be done. That includes removing the requirement to hand over clients counselling notes.

Rachel Morrogh, CEO, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Clock is ticking for the Tories, wholl learn how bad their fate is on July 4

Rishi Sunak becomes the very first UK prime minister to go to his country in July since Winston Churchill in 1945.

The weather turned sour on Sunak as he was making his speech outside Number 10 announcing the upcoming election. The satirists will be very busy over the next few weeks.

A constituency to keep an eye on is Worcester, as it has been a bellwether for the winning party since 1979.

The chances of the Tories being reborn on the fourth of July are very slim. Time will tell.

Kieran ORegan, Dublin 9

We should be unwavering in our support for people of Palestine with key steps

I congratulate the government parties on taking a stand and recognising the state of Palestine and for reiterating the position of the Irish people that Israelis have the right to live in peace and security. So do Palestinians, though that is not being respected.

But that must not be the end of their efforts. Ireland must:

 Press the EU to introduce an EU-wide ban on trade with Israel until it respects the pre-1967 borders.

 Not buy weapons or any military equipment from Israel.

 Lobby the UN for sanctions on Israel, a country that continues to violate international law. Why has Resolution 242, calling on Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, been consigned to the scrap heap?

 Divest the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) from Israeli banks and, indeed, from any investment in Israel.

Donough McGuinness, Bray, Co Wicklow

Ambassadors reminded at Israel meeting of Hamass brutality last October 7

The Israeli government called in the ambassadors of Ireland, Norway and Spain for reprimanding.

There is much talk about the video shown to the ambassadors for its graphic nature regarding the October 7 Hamas attack. Are we sure they werent called in for a reminder of the medieval and horrific assault, as well as a reprimand?

Peter Declan OHalloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan

ICC warrants move raises hopes of an end to double standards on Middle East

The formal request by Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), for arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders, should have surprised no one, but it is clear from the response of Israel and its allies that it came as a shock.

After decades of doing as they wished, it is entirely understandable why they feel this way.

Israel has long enjoyed impunity under the protective wing of the US and other Western allies.

However, US president Joe Bidens contemptuous reaction to the ICC application was particularly disturbing  and revealing. We are not all equal before the law. Indeed, it is depressingly obvious that the US believes international humanitarian law applies only to its enemies and not to its allies.

The contradictions have been glaring for some time.

Why stringent Western economic sanctions against Russia, for example, but none against Israel? We know why, and it has much more to do with geopolitics than an equitable application of international law.

I am still not optimistic that Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant will ever see the inside of a courtroom for war crimes, but at least now there is hope.

Fintan Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin

Why not use surplus to improve care for those living with Parkinsons?

I need some help, please, as Im struggling to understand the following two facts.

First, it seems the Government is stuck with a massive budget surplus and is not quite sure what to do with all this excess cash.

Second, among all EU countries, Ireland has the lowest number by a considerable distance of specialist nurses and consultant neurologists to treat people living with Parkinsons disease.

This acute lack of resources weve known about for many, many years, yet little has been done to fix this perilous situation. The extraordinary budget surplus problem happens occasionally, and it seems to paralyse the Government in the same way a budget deficit does on how to prioritise spending.

I have been living with Parkinsons disease for 15 years, and almost nothing has changed in this period to fix, or at least try to fix, the bleak outlook for people in Ireland living with a neurological condition. Similar to Parkinsons disease, many of these conditions are incurable.

What would it take to transform this appalling lack of resources (and, therefore, services) available for people living with Parkinsons and other neurological conditions?

Is the obvious solution too much of an elephant in the room  do we really believe budget surpluses are here to stay?

When will we have the courage to take action against a disease that just wont go away?

Im not holding out for a cure. I just wish I didnt have to wish for essential, basic services that will help me deal with this monster.

Gary Boyle, vice-president, Parkinsons Europe, Dublin 15

Overly litigious approach is condemning patients to ever-longer A&E waits

Mary Maloney (Given our excruciating A&E waits, voters should keep healthcare in mind, Letters, May 24) ,a retired nurse, describes an excruciating A&E wait for what she describes as a few facial stitches.

In the 1960s, a medical student would have stitched this ladys face, but then it had to be a qualified doctor, then a registrar, then a plastic surgeon, all because the medico-legal implications of repairing facial injuries and hence the inevitable delay. In the past, the local GP would have fixed this.

As the most litigious nation in the EU, with an overly generous court system , we are getting what we deserve.

Its only a matter of time before your local vet will be afraid to stitch your dog and there will be reports of dogs on trolleys in the veterinary hospital.

Dr Michael Foley, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Our talented rowing team can make a splash at this summers Paris Olympics

What a lovely photo (Irish Independent, May 22) of the Ireland womens four rowing team as they celebrated qualification for the Olympics. Thankfully, everything went swimmingly for them.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9
Life of Bernard Dillon in new publication reveals a story of sporting triumph and human tragedy.

A story of triumph and tragedy, dreams and disasters is how one might describe the life and times of Bernard Dillon in a new book by Tralee-based journalist Stephen Fernane.

In 1901, at the age of thirteen, Bernard left Kerry with dreams of becoming a jockey in England. No one could have predicted that within three years he would be the most popular sporting personality in Britain and Ireland.

For the first time since Bernards death in 1941, a book capturing his astonishing rise to success  and later his fall from grace due to heavy drinking  is available.

From a talented apprentice to astute professional, Bernard Dillon won the Epsom Derby and Grand Prix de Paris in a life of sporting conquest and human tragedy.

Stephen Fernane explains his reason for writing the story stems from his fascination with Bernards sporting achievements and the sadness that would later overshadow them. The fact Bernards story is not widely known of is also a motivating factor behind the book.

Discovering Bernards career  and learning about all he achieved  is what inspired me to write it. The inner demons that led to his demise in later life are just as fascinating. To think that very little is known about someone as colourful and complex as Bernard Dillon is astonishing, Stephen said.

The book title: The Life and Times of Bernard Dillon: The Narie that Won the Derby is a deliberate nod to Bernards birth place at Caherina in Strand Road, Tralee, in 1887.

I want to bring Bernard home for the book launch. To bring his story back to where it all started, and present it to people who might not know about him. That is the best tribute I can give him. Bernard is a Narie for sure, which is why the Kerins ORahllys GAA Club is the appropriate venue. Its his spiritual home as he was born only a few yards from the clubhouse, Stephen explained.

Bernard Dillons journey from 1901 to 1911 was anything but smooth as he tried to cope with celebrity and adversity. Sadly, his downfall included domestic abuse and the mistreatment of his wife, and famous music hall artist, Marie Lloyd.

Bernard and Marie met in 1905 and began a turbulent relationship. They were Edwardian Englands first celebrity couple with Marie eighteen years older than Bernard. However, notoriety would come at a cost. Drink took hold of Bernard after he lost his jockeys licence in 1913 over allegations of gambling. It marked the end of his reputation as a superstar.

Stephen believes it was important to write Bernards story because of the random way it exists in the archives. With Marie Lloyd being the more famous personality, information about Bernards life is usually seen through the lens of Maries biographers, as opposed to Bernards perspective.

He wrote his memoir in 1922 which has largely been ignored until now. While he does not explain the more violent side to his personality in the memoir, I was able to solve this by reading through many court sittings he appeared before, Stephen said.

Even though the court charges are upsetting to read, my aim is to show Bernards opposing sides  not just him as a famous jockey. There are examples of closeness and intimacy between the couple that have never been written about before now, he added.

There is a chapter about Bernard and Marie being incarcerated at Ellis Island in 1913 because they were unmarried. Its staggering to imagine two of the most famous people in Edwardian England being detained with hundreds of immigrants.

"They were the Posh and Becks of their time, for sure. As for Bernards active service during WWI, a judge accused him of engaging in more violence in London than on the Western Front! Nothing was ever straight forward in Bernards life from the time he left Tralee in short pants, Stephen explained.

Stephen sums up Bernards life as totally unorthodox and that the book is about more than just horseracing.

I wouldnt want anyone to get the impression the book is solely about horses. Significant though they are in Bernards life, there is an undertone to the book that symbolises a tragic love story between two people trying to deal with fame and infamy, he said.

This is a global story that started in a quiet Kerry street and extended to far off places like America, South Africa, and the Middle East. I just felt it was time for Bernards story to be told in his own words. I think the book is fair to him and shows that no matter how successful we are in life, we are vulnerable to self-destruction, Stephen said.

The Life and Times of Bernard Dillon: The Narie that Won the Derby will be launched on June 6 at the Kerins ORahillys GAA Club at 7pm by Mayor of Tralee Terry OBrien.

A presentation of a framed photograph of Bernard Dillon will be made to the Kerins ORahillys GAA Club on the night. Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments served.

Book price is 15. Available at Polymath Bookstore in Tralee and online at: www.buythebook.ie/bernarddillon
A woman from north Wexford will feature in a brand new six part series on TG4 which seeks to nurture viewers can do attitude and give advice and tips about the how to and the when to, when undertaking big and small DIY projects.

Hayley Burke from Gorey, Wexford will talk about how important DIY is for her mental health with Brid Treasa Ni Ghaoithin from Galway in the fourth episode of Dean Tu Fein E on TG4. The episode will air at 8p.m. on TG4 or TG4.ie on Thursday, May 16.

The episode will also visit An Rinn in Waterford where Aodan O Ceallaigh is attempting to preserve the memory of his grandparents and in particular his grandfather the actor Joe McPartland, by repairing a chair that belonged to him from the Arts Club in Belfast.

Episode presenter Marc Mac Lochlainn, will join him for this and they will also transfer an old cabinet to a house and display all his memorabilia as well as his grandmother's.

Marc is a DIY enthusiast and the founder and artistic director of Branar. Throughout this series, he will take a practical hands-on approach and encourage six novice DIYers who wish to undertake, long avoided backyard projects.

There will be something for everyone in this series, from budding DIY enthusiasts to experienced DIY heroes.

The show is produced by TV newcomers, Glor Media, under the guidance and mentorship of Tyrone Productions and will chart the progression of these skills with a follow up visit and big project reveal.
Polls show Tory support below 20pc for first time ever

Rishi Sunak suffered a catastrophic first day of campaigning after his decision to call a general election for July 4.

The UK prime minister began the day by infuriating Tory MPs as he was forced to admit deportation flights to Rwanda will not go ahead before the election, prompting senior figures to declare the policy dead.
Vladimir Putin ready to halt war in Ukraine if current battle lines are recognised

Russian leader frustrated over Volodymyr Zelenskys decision to rule out talks

A woman visits the grave of her relative as Ukrainians mark Day of Heroes at the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv. Photo: Reuters

Guy Faulconbridge Sat 25 May 2024 at 03:30







Russian president Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war in Ukraine with a negotiated ceasefire that recognises the current battlefield lines, four Russian sources told Reuters, saying he is prepared to fight on if Kyiv and the West do not respond.
A San Francisco jury convicted a man of molesting a teen on a Muni train, prosecutors said Friday. Robert Daly/Getty Images

A San Francisco jury convicted a man of molesting a teen on a Muni train, prosecutors said Friday.

Iman Session, 39, was convicted of attempted forcible copulation of a child, false imprisonment, child molesting and indecent exposure, according to the San Francisco District Attorneys Office. He faces up to five years in state prison and must register as a sex offender for life. His sentencing is scheduled for June 5.

It is because of the survivors courage that we were able to get justice in this case, said Assistant District Attorney Tanisha Gooch, who prosecuted the case. Children should feel safe while riding public transportation. We will not tolerate this behavior in our city.

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Session molested a 16-year-old high school girl on her way home from school on May 4, 2023, the DAs office said. After she boarded a J-Church Muni train, Session sat next to her, exposed his penis and began masturbating, prosecutors said. Session then put his arm around the girls neck and pulled her towards his groin area.
Bengaluru: Talent assessment platform HireMee enables equal access to opportunities for small town youth in India by connecting them with employers in pursuit of its vision of India where no talent is unemployed or underemployed won the Global Impact Sourcing Award (GISA) from IAOP, the premier global organization dedicated to shaping the future of business.

The award that recognises HireMees significant contributions to impact sourcing was handed over to HireMee Sr VP and Business Head Venkatraman Umakanth at the IAOP convention OWS24 on May 21 in Chicago by Jon Browning, CEO of the Global Mentorship Initiative set up as part of the Rockefeller Foundations Digital Jobs Initiative that facilitates career opportunities for young people worldwide.

Nearly 60% of 270,000 interview opportunities created by HireMee since inception in 2017 have gone to students from Tier-3 and Tier-4 towns, with almost half of these opportunities for women candidates.

HireMee has helped over 700,000 talented small-town youth get assessed at no cost by assessing them free of cost and connecting them with companies, big and small, that value diversity and inclusivity, adds Umakanth.

HireMees commitment to creating positive social and environmental impact within their communities was an important criterion for IAOP to pick HireMee.

HireMees profound dedication to impact sourcing has produced genuine, enduring benefits for both individuals and their communities, Their efforts are commendable, and we are thrilled to honour them with this award, says Debi Hamill, CEO of IAOP.

HireMee provides artificial-intelligence (AI) proctored assessment covering 7 sections including core domain for students pursuing their diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The assessment scores of test takers are shared with companies that list on HireMee platform without any fee.

Since its inception HireMee platform has worked closely with nearly 7000 colleges accredited by AICTE; National Career Service of the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment; Tamil Nadu governments upskilling program Naan Mudhalvan and Karnataka governments Digital Economy Mission and over 2000 companies, among

HireMee, born as a social enterprise, in the steel city of Salem in 2017 today serves over 4000 companies to get access to a wider pool of pre-assessed talent from across India readily and at no cost.

The Made in India HireMee emerged among the 5 finalists in the prestigious $5 million XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling competition in the USA in 2022 becoming the only non-American entry to make it to this list.

HireMee assessment platform is widely used by several corporates across India, Middle-East and the USA for talent acquisition & management and academic institutions and has delivered more than 3 million assessments. HireMee offers assessments of all types  psychometric, cognitive, MCQ, subjective, typing, etc. tailored to the job description.

HireMee demonstrates its dedication to impact sourcing through skills-first approach and its strategic collaborations with local community organizations, facilitating the identification and training of job candidates from underserved populations.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

The India Meteorological Department has predicted some parts of Kerala may experience heavy rainfall between May 25 to May 27.

"Heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places in Kerala on 25th to 27 th May 2024," IMD said in a statement.

" Rain or thundershower is most likely to occur at most places in Kerala on 24th , 25 th , 29th & 30th and in Lakshadweep on 24 th , 29th & 30th and at many places in Kerala from 26th to 28th and in Lakshadweep from 25th to 28th May 2024," the statement said.

IMD issued a 'yellow warning' for Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha & Ernakulam regions of Kerala.

According to State Revenue Minister K. Rajan, Kerala has reported at least 11 rain-related deaths from May 9 to May 23, reported India Today.

These deaths include six drownings, two quarry accidents, two lightning strikes, and one house collapse.
Lacet report finds ways a section of AMR deaths can be prevented. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

Improving and expanding existing methods to prevent infections, such as hand hygiene, regular cleaning and sterilisation of equipment in healthcare facilities, availability of safe drinking water , effective sanitation and use of paediatric vaccines, could prevent over 750,000 deaths associated with AMR every year in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), estimates a new modelling 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 infections  1 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 which 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 health aging. Effective antibiotics prolong lives, reduce disabilities, limit healthcare costs and enable other life-saving medical actions such as surgery. However, antimicrobial resistance is on the rise - accelerated by inappropriate use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic - threatening 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 AMR  there 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 whilst 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 us  policymakers, healthcare professionals, patients and wider society  to call for urgent global prioritisation 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 modelling 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 healthcare facilities including better hand hygiene and more regular cleaning and sterilisation 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 paediatric 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 prioritised 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 rethink 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 programmes 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. Its 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 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 body  an Independent Panel on Antimicrobial Access and Resistance  to 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.
The concept of vegan leather as a cruelty-free alternative to regular animal skin leather is emerging as fast fashion is being replaced by sustainability and compassion in both India and the US. Leather however is a dominant textile in both countries, so their technique for creating vegan fabric looks very different. Wura Layiwola, Nikki Baerson, Isabelle Marak, Jocelyn Peshia, Jamie Maron from the US and Supriyo Hazra and Yogesh Tyagi from India report on the trend

In Gujarat, India, Pratik Dadhania, uses mango waste to produce a vegan version of leather.

The founder of Aamati Green Private Limited considers it an innovative solution not just for the sake of business, but for the betterment of our planet and society.

"The process begins by collecting mango waste,which is typically discarded in mango farms, and converting it into a viscous liquid substrate which then undergoes a controlled fermentation process. During this stage, the fibrous content of the mango waste is broken down enzymatically," informed Dadhania.

"The enzymatic breakdown and subsequent molecular activities lead to a cascading chain reaction.This reaction results in the formation of a polymer matrix. This matrix is engineered to closely replicate the structural and aesthetic properties of traditional leather, mimicking its texture, flexibility,and appearance," he shared, adding that each sheet of vegan leather, measuring one square meter, is derived entirely from mango waste products, making it an eco- friendly alternative to traditional leather.

Pratik Dadhania, Founder, Aamati Green Private Limited, proudly displays the vegan leather his factory produces. Photo by Aamati Green

Like Dadhania, when Delhi-based Muskaan Mundhra decided to start her brand House of Serein, she was sure that the product should be cruelty free and plant based.

"When I did research on leather products during my undergraduate studies on brand management and saw the process based on killing animals, I knew I would not build a product based on cruelty to give a new definition to someone's wardrobe," said Mundhra, founder and creative head of House of Serein.

More than 8,000 miles away in Columbia, Missouri, in the US, vegan food truck owner Gina Overshiner loves the idea of such fabrics because she considers them sustainable and cruelty-free. With vegan leather, she said, you can have those types of products without harming other creatures.

Eco-conscious consumers and entrepreneurs like them are causing the emerging vegan leather market to surge worldwide. Valued at $60.4 million last year, according to Vantage Market Research, it's expected to reach over $130 million by 2030. Its part of a larger trend toward sustainable fashion that has led more designers and brands to incorporate plant-based and recycled materials into their collections.

Besides consumer interest, regulations are helping drive this trend. Some "fast fashion" brands and fashion supply chains could soon face scrutiny and new sustainability rules according to a recent report by the Business of Fashion. In California, a recently passed law will require certain large fashion companies to report their yearly emissions starting in 2026. Its the first such law in the U.S.

GROWING MARKETS

India, a country with a rich textile tradition, is the fourth-largest exporter of traditional leather globally, according to Invest India, producing about 3 billion square feet of leather a year. But experts say its also at the forefront of the sustainable fashion movement as people become more aware of animal safety issues and the environmental impact of animal agriculture.

According to Pratik Dadhania of Aamati Green Private Limited, each of the 25-odd companies has exclusive processes and manufacturing technologies that are unique in a highly commercial market like animal leather and synthetics, valued at around $247 billion and $39 billion, respectively.

My background in a family business manufacturing reactive dyes for the textile industry made me acutely aware of the environmental impact of chemical production.

Motivated to make a positive change I turned my focus towards sustainable alternatives and delved into researching plant-based leather during my time in Paris, he said.

Mundhra of House of Serein said plant-based vegan leather is gaining popularity because Covid made people more ecologically aware and they wanted to improve their lifestyle.

"When we talk of cruelty free leather it means Rexine and plant based material. However, plant based leather production is going up at a steady rate and in the next five years it will multiply manifold," she said.

"Besides online and retail sales, we get better response when we hold exhibitions and buyers can feel the product and find it equivalent to animal skin leather," she said, adding that the buyers' profile in India is from a 12-year-old to an elderly of 65 who buy vegan product because they understand the concept and the cause behind it.

A spokesperson for PETA India said Indian brands such as Lusso Lifestyle and Ethik, among others, are manufacturing their products using vegan leather.

These days, (products can be) made from cork, banana stems, apple, cactus and other plants, to create leather-look shoes, handbags, belts and jewelry, said Ashima Kukreja, chief corporate liaison for PETA India, an animal rights non-profit organization.

Household brands are following the vegan leather trend as well.

University of Missouri student Aiyana Massie models a H&M synthetic leather jacket in her apartment lobby. H&M participates in the Leather Working Group, which sets standards for the production of leather goods and partners with the World Wildlife Fund and Textile Exchange. Photo by Team Mizzou

Crocs is now a vegan brand, and Volvo is moving toward being leather-free, Kukreja said. Recently Gucci collaborated with Billie Eilish to launch Horsebit 1955 bags crafted from the innovative animal-free material Demetra.

Beyond the garage and the closet, the push towards vegan options also extends to the rest of the home.

In the U.S., Brentano Fabrics in Chicago is an example of this trend. The interior design firm uses sustainable leather instead of the animal option.

Michelle Gershkovich, a fabric specialist and sample department lead at the firm, said consumers are pushing for sustainability. In the interior design world and as a former fashion trend forecaster at Fashion Snoops, shes noticed big changes in the demand from both sides of the market.

Weve been seeing a big rise in sustainable leathers rather than real leathers, she said. We get requests from designers that they only want vegan leathers.

Aside from carrying lots of sustainable leather for its products, Brentano also participates in environmentally friendly initiatives with leftover fabric. As part of a zero waste project, for example, the company sent recycled fabric and patterns to Gershkovichs alma mater, the University of Missouri, for its textile and apparel department to use for class.

BENEFITS OF VEGAN LEATHER

For many, the appeal of vegan leather is that its considered better for the environment and for animal welfare.

Animal agriculture contributes to deforestation, water and land overuse, pollution from manure, and methane emissions from cows, which play major roles in climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency says 1.5 billion cattle raised worldwide for consumption are responsible for at least 231 billion pounds of greenhouse gas-causing methane emissions yearly. Traditional leather is considered a by-product of beef cattle farming.

But vegan leather doesnt have a spotless environmental record. Some common types are made from polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride, both of which are derived from fossil fuels. Production can be energy-intensive, and these materials dont biodegrade easily.

Still, its not as bad for the environment as animal leather, said Ashley Byrne, PETAs director of outreach communication. And vegan leather options keep improving, she added. These companies keep innovating.

Vegan leather bags made from plant-based materials on display in a shopping mall in Noida on the outskirts of India's capital New Delhi. Photos by Yogesh Tyagi

Options now include pineapple leather, apple leather, mushroom leather, and grape leather. Theres also a product called Miriam, a plastic-free vegan leather. As plastic production is detrimental to the environment, multiple companies are researching alternatives to seal the fabric.

There are companies like Von Holzhausen whove just come out with a coating that you can use that is totally plastic-free, Byrne said. Von Holzhausen is a leather bag, tech and car accessory and furniture company started by a former Audi designer.

Often, Byrne said, animal leather is coated in plastic as well.

PETA India said increasing the production of vegan leather helps combat animal cruelty  including the mistreatment of cows, which are sacred in Hinduism  and prevent environmental damage. Various Indian organizations are making technological strides to further those goals.

The National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram has developed vegan leather from agricultural waste, Kukreja said. Also, the Chennai-based Central Leather Research Institute has also developed a technology to make leather-like products using plants.

By using different sources like agricultural waste, plant products, and mango pulp, both countries are making significant strides toward sustainable and cruelty-free fashion.

The consumer wants to be sustainable. Sustainable designers are looking to cater towards that need and want, so that they can say, Like, oh, everything here is sustainable,  Gershkovich said. (Designers) are steering clear away from anything that could potentially upset other people.

THIS is what leather bags do to cows & our earth 



Leather from cows skin has nearly 10x the negative impact of pineapple leather & nearly 6x that of synthetic vegan leather!



Every time you buy leather, youre adding fuel to the climate catastrophe. https://t.co/jQbgwQaBH9 pic.twitter.com/UWbfR32iNN  PETA (@peta) April 21, 2024

STARTING TO WAKE UP

But sustainable fashion is not quite the norm across the world - at least not yet.

Jana Hawley, dean of the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism at the University of North Texas, studies what brands are doing to become more sustainable.

There are really only a handful of companies that are truly doing it the right way, she said. The rest of them know that they need to. They dont have a clue on how to get started.

Hawley emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship, since it can be difficult for established companies and brands to change quickly, while new businesses can create sustainable fashion immediately and learn how to navigate the markets as they become established.

A change in consumer behavior is also key to sustainability, Hawley said. Consumers need to learn that its OK to wear something that is rented or second-hand, she said, and companies need to learn how to present aftermarket goods so that they have a broad appeal.

She said greed is the main reason brands are not changing their practices; companies worry that if they add more sustainable practices, profits may dip.

Vegan leather bags made from plant-based materials on display in a shopping mall in Noida on the outskirts of India's capital New Delhi. Photos by Yogesh Tyagi

Ultimately, Gershkovich said, they may realize just the opposite as customers become more aware of how traditional fashion affects the environment.

Theyre really starting to wake up, she said. And thats where we see a lot of brands that are trying to cater to customers needs.

(This report is a cross-country collaboration between the students from the Business Journalism department of the University of Missouri, USA headed by Prof. Randy Smith, and young journalists from India. The project is overseen by Laura Ungar, reporter on the global health and science team at The Associated Press, and journalist Sujoy Dhar, founder of the Indian news agency India Blooms News Service.)
Photo courtesy: X/@priyankagandhi

New Delhi/IBNS: Congress top leaders, Sonia Gandhi , Rahul Gandhi , Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra cast their votes in Delhi as the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls are underway on Saturday.

After casting their votes, Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka clicked pictures. Priyanka was accompanied by her children- Raihan Rajiv Vadra and Miraya Vadra.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi click a selfie as they leave from a polling station after casting their votes for #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/PIvovnGPdJ  ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024

When asked about AAP and Congress voting for each other, Priyanka said, "We are keeping aside our grievances and casting votes for our Constitution and democracy. I feel proud of it."

"I urge everyone to vote and bring a change," she added.

#WATCH | Congress General Secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrives at a polling station in Delhi to cast her vote for the sixth phase of #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/0eIKzsHPyc  ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024

In the penultimate phase, voting is taking place across 58 seats stretched across six states and two Union Territories including the national capital Delhi.

11.13 crore people are expected to exercise their franchise in this phase and decide the fates of 889 candidates across 1.14 lakh polling stations.

Among those in the fray for the BJP are Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Maneka Gandhi, former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, party spokesman Sambit Patra, late External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's daughter Bansuri Swaraj and actor-turned-politician Manoj Tiwari.

The star Congress candidates include Deepender Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja, Raj Babbar and Kanhaiya Kumar. The heavyweight list also includes Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

The states voting in this phase are Bihar (8 seats), Haryana (all 10 seats), Jharkhand (4 seats),, Odisha (6 seats), Uttar Pradesh (14 seats) and West Bengal (8 seats).

Completing the list are the two Union Territories -- Delhi (all 7 seats) and Jammu and Kashmir (one seat) will also vote.

The election to the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, deferred from May 7 following logistical, communication, and natural barriers related to connectivity, is being held in this phase.

The most riveting contest will be for the national capital Delhi, where the BJP swept all seven seats in 2019. This time, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party is leaving no stone unturned with its "Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se" campaign. AAP is contesting four seats in the national capital, its ally Congress three.

This phase will be crucial for NDA, which has to keep its score intact to meet its "400-plus" target. In 2019, the BJP alone won 40 of the 58 constituencies going to polls in this phase in the Hindi heartland and the east. Its NDA allies won five more seats.

The parties of the Opposition INDIA bloc -- Trinamool Congress, National Conference and Samajwadi Party  had won five seats, the Congress none.

The last phase i.e. seventh phase of polling will be held on June 1 with counting of votes scheduled on June 4. Polling for 25 States/UTs and 428 constituencies was completed in the first five phases of the general elections.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from video posted by Amit Malviya on X

Kolkata/IBNS: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from West Bengal's Jhargram was attacked by a violent mob in the sixth and penultimate phase of Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, media reports said.

In a video, a mob was seen throwing stones at and chasing away Tudu's team in Jhargram on the polling day.

Following the attack, Tudu's security personnel rescued Tudu and left the place.

The BJP has pinned the blame on the state ruling party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya posted a video on X saying, "Mamata Banerjee is murdering democracy in Bengal. Now, TMC goons attack BJPs Jhargram (a Tribal seat) candidate and ABP Anandas crew.

"Despite attempts to preclude people from casting vote, West Bengal has one of the highest voter turnout across the country. People are voting to kick out the TMC."

Mamata Banerjee is murdering democracy in Bengal. Now, TMC goons attack BJPs Jhargram (a Tribal seat) candidate and ABP Anandas crew. Despite attempts to preclude people from casting vote, West Bengal has one of the highest voter turnout across the country. People are voting to pic.twitter.com/ZMdTPhxiYw  Amit Malviya (  ) (@amitmalviya) May 25, 2024

In a counter, the TMC has put up an X post which reads, "BJP's Nari-Biddeshi achoron is no longer confined to words; it's now evident in their actions.

"From Central Forces outraging the modesty of women to BJP MP candidate, Pranat Tudu's security physically assaulting a woman waiting to cast her ballot, their onslaught on Bengal's mothers and sisters grows more brazen by the hour. When the PM himself sets the tone with his misogynistic behaviour, what more can we expect from his underlings?"
Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X video

New Delhi: As voting for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections concluded on Saturday, the Congress party asserted that the ruling BJP's prospects are "nearly determined," while the opposition INDIA bloc has "consistently gained momentum" since the first phase.

Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications, reiterated the opposition's slogan 'south mein saaf, north mein half,' suggesting that the BJP is being eliminated in the south and is losing ground in other regions.

"After polling in Maharashtra, UP, Bihar, and now Delhi, we are seeing the incredible chemistry that has been built between coalition partners. The INDIA alliance has already crossed the halfway mark of 272 seats and is on course for a tally of over 350 seats in total," he claimed.

With six phases of the elections now concluded, voting for 486 seats is over. As the outgoing PM starts figuring out his retirement plans, heres the round-up of the campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections:



1. The BJPs fate is all but sealed. It has become clear that they are  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 25, 2024

He also claimed that the BJP was encountering challenges in campaigning in states like Haryana and Punjab, where their leaders were being "driven out of villages by residents," attributing this to widespread anger among farmers.

The outgoing PM has extra time to plan his retirement, since the BJPs campaign is ending early, Ramesh said.

He went on to claim that there was incredible chemistry between coalition partners, and added that the INDIA bloc has already crossed the halfway mark of 272 seats and is on course for a tally of over 350 seats in total.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had previously asserted a similar claim of securing a majority in the Lok Sabha following the fourth phase of the general elections. Jairam Ramesh also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labeling him as "delusional" for suggesting that he was "sent by god."

In an interview with a TV channel, Modi said, Until my mother was alive, I used to think I was born biologically. After her demise, when I look at my experiences, I am convinced that I was sent by God. This strength is not from my body. It has been given to me by God. That's why God also gave me the ability, strength, pure-heartedness, and inspiration to do this. I'm nothing but an instrument that God has sent.

Mocking PM Modis statement, Ramesh said, "As the reality of defeat dawns on the outgoing Prime Minister, he has become increasingly delusional. He has now proclaimed that his birth was not biological, and that he has been sent by the Creator himself. Perhaps he fancies himself as a Godman in his next career."

"Even his acolytes have taken to the PM's latest re-branding - Puri candidate Sambit Patra proclaimed that even Lord Jagannath is a 'bhakt' of the outgoing PM. The voters of India will teach them both a lesson in humility," he added.

The Congress leader said the Lok Sabha 2024 election continued to centre around the Congress party's positive campaign.

"Our Nyay Patra and guarantees are the focus of the messaging of all parties. The slogan of 'Khata-Khat' has captured the imagination of the people, to the extent that even the outgoing PM has been forced to respond to it. The announcement of our final Guarantee - of doubling the allotment of free foodgrain for each individual under the National Food Security Act - has caught fire in North and East India," Ramesh said, according to the HT report.

"Every single ground report is very clear. 'Hawa badal rahi hai, Aandhi ban rahi hain'. The INDIA Janbandhan is set to sweep the NDA away. June 4th is coming!" Ramesh said.
A detachment of Household Cavalry passes near Hyde Park, London. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle

There comes a time when even the charms and the problems of a famous hometown like San Francisco get to be too much. And thats the time to fly away to see a bit of the world. So it wasnt hard to convince the Sailor Girl, my companion in adventures, that a long trip was a good idea.

We came back with a tale of two cities and a Mousehole. New York and London are the cities, of course. Mousehole is a fishing port on the coast of Cornwall, one of the smallest and most beautiful towns you can imagine.

Ive always had the little kids sense of wonder about flying, from the car to the airport waiting at the door, to getting aboard the plane, pushing back from the terminal, rumbling down the runway at what seems a thousand miles an hour, and then  whoosh!

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Up in the air, banking up over San Francisco Bay, then familiar territory rolling by below, a bit of the Sierra, still snowy, a glimpse of Lake Tahoe  then on and on. Through the clouds, Nebraska maybe, somewhere else. Finally, toward the end of the day were over New York City, the towers of Manhattan casting spiky long shadows in the spring twilight. Nothing else like it.

Wall Street in New York City: The city appeared cleaner during a recent visit. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle

Three days in New York: music on Thursday night in the park, a Broadway play, noise, sirens, yellow cabs, crowds of people walking fast, Fifth Avenue, the flagship Tiffany store, Trump Tower, a good restaurant, a diner, a ride on the river in a ferryboat, a charming relative. All good. Even the streets were cleaner than I remember.

We San Franciscans spend so much time looking in the mirror we forget how a real city is supposed to look and feel.

We were in New York to catch the Queen Mary 2, last of the true ocean liners, for a classic Atlantic crossing: seven days to Southampton. It was raining when we got aboard on a gray afternoon at the Red Hook Terminal in Brooklyn, and it was a gray voyage. The North Atlantic was calm for a change, but overcast and rainy nearly every day.

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You forget how big and empty the ocean is. The Queen Mary is a big ship, and it must look like a glittering city sailing by in the Atlantic night, if only there were someone to see it. We saw three ships the day after leaving New York, and then nothing for days. On the last afternoon of the voyage, a fishing boat and then two ships came out of the fog, bound west.

Sunday morning just at sunrise, the ship docked in Southampton and the English sun came out. Its a grand feeling to get off a ship in a new country on a Sunday morning with an open week ahead of you.

We rode into London by car and had scored a room in Knightsbridge in the heart of the city: one side facing a busy street, the other facing the trees of Hyde Park, a marvelous open green space.

Knightsbridge, London. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle

We had just settled in when the Sailor Girl called out: Look! Its a parade, and up the parkside street near the Albert Gate came a detachment of Household Cavalry led by a band playing lively tunes and mounted on horseback, some men in black, some in red, all wearing glittering helmets and carrying swords. And on the sidewalk men in civilian dress following along in their own uniform: Each wore a black suit and bowler hat, and carried a furled umbrella. They were returning from a nearby event with a royal duke.

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The week before some of the household cavalry horses had been spooked by some sound and ran wild all over the city center, but now they were back on duty and passed by our window several times a day. No more parades, just routine.

We spent some days in London: walking, shopping, visiting museums, soaking it in.

London seemed clean, busy, prosperous. In more than 10 days in England we counted four beggars and one man on the street who appeared to have some kind of mental health problem. People seemed to take pride in the city. Theres a difference. You can see it.

But even London can be too much of a city for Californians, so we headed south and west into Cornwall. We took the train through the lovely green English countryside south and west to Penzance, 255 miles from London. It is a lovely resort town. Its smaller than I thought, with only 21,100 residents. It faces the English Channel, with France just over the horizon. We stayed in the handsome old Hotel Penzance, with a view of the town and an island castle.

The charming area of Mousehole Harbour in Cornwall. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle

But the place I wanted to see was Mousehole, a village 3 miles from Penzance.

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The town makes small feel big. Pronounced mow-zel, Mousehole has only 691 residents living in stone houses surrounding a small very blue harbor filled with boats at anchor. The entrance to the harbor is narrow indeed, and so are the streets  so narrow two cars cannot pass.

Dylan Thomas, the Welch poet, spent some time in Mousehole and called it the loveliest village in England and I could see why. The town first appeared in historical records 700 years ago; its best days were long ago when it was a major fishing port. The place must be crowded in the summer season, but it was quiet when I was there on a Friday in May, a village dozing in the spring sun.

I first heard of Mousehole when I was a sailor on a ship steaming up the English Channel and I saw it on the chart. A tiny harbor, just over the horizon. Someday, I said to myself, Im going to go there. You can see it for yourself on the internet by Googling the Mousehole Harbour webcam.

But even the magic of webcams cant match being there. Its a small town that even beats a big city.
Photo courtesy: Anasuya Sengupta Instagram

Cannes/Mumbai: Indian actress Anasuya Sengupta has scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win the Best Actress Award at the Un Certain Regard segment of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, which closes on Saturday.

Anasuya has achieved the feat for her role in the film The Shameless, which is directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Konstantin Bojanov.

The story revolves around a girl- played by Anasuya- who escapes from a brothel in Delhi after killing a cop.

She then gets into a romantic relationship with a 17-year-old prostitute after taking refuge in a sex workers community.

Anasuya, who dedicated the award to the queer and marginalised community worldwide, said in her acceptance speech, "You dont have to be queer to fight for equality, you don't have to be colonised to understand that colonising is pathetic.. we just need to be very, very decent human beings."

Who is Anasuya Sengupta?

Born and brought up in Kolkata, Anasuya studied English Literature for her BA course at the iconic Jadavpur University.

She made her acting debut with filmmaker Anjan Dutt's Madly Bangalee, which was released in 2009.

Photo courtesy: Anasuya Sengupta Instagram

Four years later, which means 2013, Anasuya shifted to Mumbai and started working as a production designer in the city.

Reportedly, she had a contribution in the set design for Netflix show Masaba Masaba.

Congratulatory messages

Filmmaker Tillotama Shome posted on her Instagram profile, "She brought it HOME. Listen to her words. Till the end. The quality of her voice. Ink this in your hearts For all the dreamers. @cup_o_t creates the right kind of HERSTORY. Wins best performance at @festivaldecannes for @kbojanov 's # shameless!!"

Amruta Subhash wrote, "Oh my god.. this is so amazing and touching "

Actor Tanmay Dhanania captured the winning moment on his Instagram profile. In the video he posted, Anasuya was seen trying to hold her tears.
Photo Courtesy: Meenakashi Lekhi X page

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Kshenuka Dhireni Senewiratne marked the Vesak Day when he highlighted the strong bond shared between the two countries.

He showed the way message of Buddhism spread from his country to India.

"Sri Lanka received the message of Buddhism in the time of Emperor Ashoka," High Commissioner Senewiratne was quoted as saying by WION.

Senewiratne said, "Sri Lanka and India will forever be bound by the unbreakable bonds of our countries' Buddhist heritage."

"Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is considered the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Pakistani journalist Nasrullah Gadani, who was shot at and wounded by armed assailants in Mirpur Mathelo a couple of days ago, died at a hospital in Karachi on Friday.

Forty-year-old Gadani, who was associated with Sindhi language daily Awami Awaz, was initially treated at a hospital in Rahim Yar Khan from where he was airlifted to Karachi for further treatment, reported Dawn News.

After the body of the journalist was transported to his hometown in a helicopter, people stopped at certain spots and paid homage to him when he was transported from Karachi to Mirpur Mathelo.

After the post-mortem process was completed, the body was taken to his native village Qabool Gadani for funeral prayers.

He was laid to rest in a local graveyard in the presence of large number of people.

A large number of people blocked the National Highway and staged a protest in front of the office of the SSP for the arrest of his killers, reported Dawn News.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

In a shocking incident, a Pakistani woman threw her preschooler child into the Jhelum River and then jumped into the swollen water channel from a bridge in Muzaffarabad on Thursday.

CCTV footage recorded from the right side of River Jhelum in Domel area showed the long chador clad woman, identified as 38-year-old Robina Safdar, slowly walking through the approach road to the pre-partition era iron bridge at about 9:41am while holding the hand of her son Shahzeb, who appears to be less than five years of age, Dawn News reported.

The iron bridge is mostly used by pedestrians or by two wheelers.

Shaheedur Rehman, in-charge of the relevant Jalalabad police post told Dawn that the womans father and spouse had given a statement to them that she was being treated for mental disorders by some physicians in Abbottabad for the past few years.

But we are conducting investigations into their claims and immediately cannot say anything with certainty, he said.
Image Credit: Video grab

Sargodha (Pakistan): A Christian man was assaulted, and his house and factory in Pakistan's Sargodha city were set ablaze by an incensed mob over allegations of blasphemy.

Geo TV reported that on Saturday morning, the mob, which included children, invaded the man's home, vandalized his possessions, and ignited a shoe factory inside the property.

Several social media videos captured the mob setting fire to the house and factory. Some people were seen removing shoe boxes despite being warned not to steal.

Horrific violence in Sargodha: a pathetic mob lynched a Christian man and burned homes after accusations of blasphemy. #TLP barbarism in the name of religion and the state's inaction must be condemned. #HumanRights #Pakistan @GovtofPakistan pic.twitter.com/8MuG1Txdd9  Babar Ahmad  (@TheBabarAhmad) May 25, 2024

Another video showed a bloodied man lying on the street, being kicked and cursed for allegedly desecrating the Quran.

Sargodha District Police Officer Asad Ejaz Malhi informed Pakistan's Dawn news that the incident stemmed from allegations of desecration.

He assured that a large police contingent was rushed to the scene and confirmed no fatalities.

However, a social media video showed firemen at the location being warned against extinguishing the fire as locals continued to vandalize and burn the house.

Malhi also stated that the area was secured and all residents, including two Christian families, were safely evacuated.

However, a relative of one of the injured rejected the police's claim, and told Dawn that his uncle was in critical condition at a local hospital.

In a press statement, Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, the Home Affairs Secretary of Pakistan's Punjab province, said, "Pakistan belongs to all of us; no injustice will be tolerated under the guise of religion. Action will be taken according to the law after a complete investigation."

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also took cognizance of the incident. "HRCP is seriously concerned by the unfolding situation in #Sargodha, where the Christian community in Gillwala village is reportedly at grave risk to their lives at the hands of charged mobs. There are unconfirmed reports of a man having been allegedly lynched," the HRCP said in a post on X.

Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are among the world's most stringent, deeply affecting religious minorities. These laws, detailed in the Pakistan Penal Code, mandate harsh penalties, including the death sentence, for acts of blasphemy, such as insulting Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, or desecrating the Quran.

Religious minorities like Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Ahmadis face a disproportionate number of accusations and convictions under these laws.
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are soon tying the knot. After a grand celebration in March, they're now preparing for their wedding in July. Anant, the son of India's wealthiest individual, Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika are eagerly anticipating their big day. Additionally, there is a grand second pre-wedding celebration on a cruise ship later this month.

Here Is All That We Know About Anant Ambani And Radhika Merchant's Big Celebration:

Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant's Second Pre-Wedding Celebration Will Start From May 29, 2024/Instagram

All About Anant Ambani And Radhika Merchant's Big Celebration:

Their Love Story:

Anant and Radhika met in 2017 through friends. Anant proposed to Radhika in 2023, and they're very excited to get married.

Wedding Plans:

Their wedding will be from July 10 to 12 in Mumbai. It'll be a traditional Indian wedding with ceremonies like haldi, mehndi, and sangeet.

Pre-wedding Celebration:

Glimpses from the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/3iveiIgDf8  ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2024





In March, they had their first big pre-wedding celebration with guests like Bill Gates and Rihanna in Jamnagar.

Radhika Merchant once, in an interview with Vogue, explained why they chose Jamnagar for their first celebration: "Choosing Jamnagar was our way of honouring our roots and the familys legacy. Its where Anant works and where we spend much of our time, away from the city's busy life. It's also where Anant's grandmother, Kokilaben, was born and where our heart is."

Also Read: Anant Ambani And Radhika Merchant Opt For Space Theme In Second Pre-Wedding Festivities? Know Here

Glimpses From Jamnagar Celebration/X

Anant's siblings also had big parties before their weddings with famous performers like Beyonce and Coldplay. So their wedding is expected to be just as grand.

Where's The Second Celebration Happening?

Now, there's another celebration planned. Mukesh and Nita Ambani, Anant's parents, are arranging a second pre-wedding celebration for Anant and Radhika. This time, it will be on a luxurious cruise ship from May 2830, 2024, in the South of France.

The celebration will take place on a fancy cruise ship, starting in Italy and ending in southern France. The journey will cover a distance of 4,380 km.

Who's Invited?

About 800 guests are invited, including famous names like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt. There will be 600 staff members onboard to take care of the guests' needs and make sure they have a great time.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


In the humdrum of life, sometimes all you need is a cozy corner and a good movie to unwind and recharge. Whether it's a rainy day or a quiet evening alone, watching a movie by yourself can be a delightful escape.

solo-films

5 Perfect Movies To Watch Alone

Here are five movies perfect for your me-time moments.

1) "The Shawshank Redemption"

This timeless classic follows the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker wrongly convicted of murder, as he navigates life in Shawshank State Penitentiary. With its powerful storytelling and uplifting message of hope and resilience, "The Shawshank Redemption" is a captivating choice for a solo movie night.

2) "Eat Pray Love"

Based on the memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, "Eat Pray Love" chronicles a woman's journey of self-discovery as she travels to Italy, India, and Bali in search of meaning and fulfillment. With stunning visuals and a heartwarming narrative, this film inspires viewers to embrace life's adventures and follow their hearts.

3) "Lost in Translation"

Directed by Sofia Coppola, "Lost in Translation" is a quiet yet poignant exploration of loneliness and connection set against the backdrop of Tokyo. The film follows the unlikely friendship between a jaded actor and a young woman adrift in a foreign land, offering moments of reflection and introspection.

4) "Amelie"

This whimsical French film tells the story of Amelie Poulain, a shy and imaginative young woman who sets out to bring joy to those around her while navigating her own quest for love and happiness. With its charming protagonist and enchanting Parisian setting, "Amelie" is a delightful choice for a solo movie night.

5) "Into the Wild"

Based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, "Into the Wild" follows a young man who leaves behind his conventional life to embark on a journey of self-discovery in the Alaskan wilderness. With its breathtaking cinematography and thought-provoking themes of freedom and exploration, this film invites viewers to contemplate the meaning of life and the pursuit of happiness.

So, grab your favorite snacks, dim the lights, and immerse yourself in these cinematic experiences tailor-made for me-time moments. Whether you're seeking inspiration, reflection, or simply a temporary escape from reality, these five movies are sure to leave a lasting impression on your heart and mind.

For more on lifestyle, astrology and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle.
Residents of Delhi are voting in the sixth and penultimate phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on Saturday. A total of 162 candidates are contesting in the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, which has over 1.5 crore eligible voters. If you are a voter in Delhi who braved the scorching summer heat to step out and exercise your franchise, here are some perks you can enjoy now.

Discounts for voters in Delhi

To encourage maximum voter participation, several private entities have announced discounts for people showing their inked fingers as proof of voting.

Also read: 1.82 Crore Gen Z Voters Set to Shake Up General Elections 2024

- Restaurants associated with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) are offering voters a 20 percent discount for dining in after they have cast their votes.

- Hotels near Delhi Gate, Chandni Chowk, and Jama Masjid have announced discounts of up to 25 percent for room bookings on the day of voting.

- Cafe Coffee Day in the Regal Building, Connaught Place, is offering voters a 10 percent discount on May 25.

- Voters visiting McDonald's outlets across Delhi are eligible for a complimentary beverage or dessert when buying a Chicken/Veggie Surprise Burger. This offer is valid on May 25 and 26.

- The Radisson Blu Hotel in Dwarka is offering a 50 percent discount on lunch buffets and a 30 percent discount on supper buffets for voters.

PTI

Lok Sabha seats in Delhi

All seven Lok Sabha seats in the NCT of Delhi -- Chandni Chowk, East Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, South Delhi, and West Delhi -- are voting in a single phase in the general elections on Saturday.

Also read: Lok Sabha Elections: What's Open And Closed On May 25

PTI

Battle for Delhi

The BJP, which won all seven seats in 2019, is contesting in all of them again. The AAP has fielded candidates in four seats  New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi, and East Delhi  while Congress has fielded candidates in the remaining three seats  Chandni Chowk, North East Delhi, and North West Delhi  as part of their seat-sharing deal.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Thirukumaran Nagarajan Founder Of Ninjacart: Ninjacart, an Indian agritech startup, has transformed the agricultural supply chain and is now focused on establishing a lasting impact. Since its inception, Ninjacart has led the way in changing how farm produce reaches urban markets, making agritech an appealing and sustainable industry.

Established in 2015 by Thirukumaran Nagarajan, Sharath Loganathan, and Ashutosh Vikram, Ninjacart aimed to address inefficiencies in the agricultural supply chain. Using technology, the startup streamlined the movement of fresh produce from farmers to retailers, cutting out middlemen and reducing food wastage.

Meet The Founder Of Ninjacart, Who Built A Rs 6,000 Cr Company After 5 Failures | ET

The Journey of Thirukumaran Nagarajan

Originally from Tamil Nadu, Thirukumaran Nagarajan faced initial challenges in his entrepreneurial journey. After unsuccessful ventures, he relocated to Bangalore. Despite setbacks, he envisioned an agritech startup with his friends.

READ ALSO: Uthaya Kumar: The ISRO Scientist Who Quit His Dream Job To Start a Rs 2 Crore Revenue Taxi Business

Innovative Solution

Their idea was to create an app connecting local Kirana stores with customers, enabling direct grocery sales in a hyperlocal format. Initially, the focus was on offering discounts to attract customers. However, they soon realized the need for sustainable business practices.

Growth and Expansion

Ninjacart gained momentum by directly sourcing fresh produce from farmers. By March 2016, the company delivered 15 tons of produce daily, significantly reducing food wastage. Expanding to Hyderabad and Chennai in April 2017, Ninjacart connected 100 farmers with over 500 retailers.

By the end of 2018, Ninjacart served 4,000 retailers and transacted 1400 tons of produce daily. Funding from Syngenta Ventures facilitated expansion to seven cities. In April 2019, a substantial investment from Tiger Global marked a significant milestone for the company.



Remarkable Achievements

In December 2021, Ninjacart's valuation soared to Rs 6000 crore after receiving funding from Walmart and Flipkart. Today, it collaborates with 800,000 farmers and 100,000 retailers across 120 locations in India.

In FY 2023-24, Ninjacart reported a 40% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching 1,500 crore. Operating in over 100 cities, the company connects more than 200,000 farmers with over 80,000 retailers.

Investment and Valuation

Significant investments totaling $350 million have fueled Ninjacart's growth, with major investors including Tiger Global, Accel, and Flipkart. The latest funding round in 2023 valued the company at approximately $1.2 billion.

Inspiring Leadership

Thirukumaran Nagarajan's journey from adversity to success serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs. His visionary thinking and perseverance have led Ninjacart to become a multibillion-dollar company, showcasing the potential of the agritech sector.

READ ALSO: Vivek Ramaswamy: How A Startup Prodigy Built His Billion-Dollar Empire



For the latest and interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here.


The Story of Fabindia: John Bissell, a lesser-known figure, is the founder of Fabindia, a chain of retail stores offering garments, furnishings, fabrics, and ethnic products crafted by artisans from rural India. Fabindia is an Indian retail company founded in 1960 by John Bissell, an American who came to India to work with the Ford Foundation. While in India, Bissell was impressed by the craftsmanship and skills of local artisans and saw an opportunity to create a business showcasing their talents.

With over Rs.17,000 Crores valuation, along with roughly 400+ stores across India and abroad, Fabindia today is widely known to be and has successfully managed to boost rural employment across villages in India.

How an American Founder Created A Rs 17,000 Crore Indian Brand | BS

John Bissell: Founder of FabIndia

John Bissell, an American entrepreneur, founded FabIndia in 1960. He managed the handloom textile export business in India for over 30 years. He lived in New Delhi, India, where FabIndia, his venture, is headquartered, and the company has celebrated 60 successful years. Bissell also served with the Ford Foundation in New Delhi. As a philanthropist, he established The FabIndia School in 1992, focusing on the welfare and education of children in India.

Fabindia initially started as a small export company selling handmade textiles and home furnishings to foreign buyers. However, in the 1970s, Bissell shifted his focus to the domestic market and began opening retail stores in major Indian cities.

Fabindia stood out by sticking to traditional Indian methods and materials in making its products. The company collaborated closely with local artisans to craft top-notch textiles, clothing, and home decorations that showcased India's cultural richness.

READ ALSO: From Westside To Zudio: Ratan Tata's Half-Brother Noel Tata Strikes Gold With Retail Company Trent

The Story of Fabindia: A Rs 17,000 Crore Indian Brand Attracting Tata's Interest | Times Content

Fabindia success story

Over time, Fabindia has broadened its range to encompass a diverse array of products, including clothing, accessories, beauty items, and organic foods. With over 300 stores across India and a presence in international markets like the United States, Singapore, and Dubai, the brand has expanded significantly.

A key factor in Fabindia's success has been its strong commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. The company ensures fair wages and safe working conditions for its suppliers and prioritizes eco-friendly materials and packaging.

Today, Fabindia stands as a prominent retail brand in India, championing traditional Indian crafts and providing vital support to local artisans.

Tatas in talks to buy stake in Fabindia's apparel line

The Tata group is reportedly in discussions with the promoters and shareholders of Fabindia regarding a potential stake or outright acquisition of the ethnic apparel business. Sources suggest that the acquisition may be valued lower than the $2.5 billion estimated during the company's abandoned initial public offering.

If the deal proceeds, it could become one of the largest in the segment, following Aditya Birla Fashion Retail's acquisition of a controlling stake in TCNS Clothing last year. For the Tatas, this move would strategically complement their existing portfolio in the ethnic wear market. Trent, their retail arm, already offers apparel under brands like Westside, Zudio, and Utsa.

Furthermore, Fabindia's commitment to traditional techniques and sustainably sourced, hand-woven fabrics aligns well with the ethos of the Tata group.

READ ALSO: Meet Pakistan's First Billionaire: Mian Muhammad Mansha, The Mukesh Ambani Of Pakistan

For the latest and interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here.
UC Santa Cruz researchers found hundreds of dead sea lion pups off the coast on Ano Nuevo Island north of Santa Cruz this month. Provided by Patrick Robinson UC Santa Cruz UC Santa Cruz researchers found hundreds of dead sea lion pups off the coast on Ano Nuevo Island north of Santa Cruz this month. Provided by Patrick Robinson UC Santa Cruz

Hundreds of dead sea lion pups appeared off the coast in the Bay Area this month, but researchers dont know why.

Patrick Robinson, director of UC Santa Cruzs Ano Nuevo Reserve, first counted 50 stillborn or aborted sea lion fetuses in early May  which is about the most he would find in a given year.

After an aerial survey one week later, the researchers counted 288 on the shores of Ano Nuevo Island in San Mateo County. Its unclear how many more may be along the California coast, like in Southern Californias Channel Islands, and the number may be difficult to determine.

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While finding dead sea lion pups each year is somewhat typical, the numbers Robinson saw arent.

Its certainly an abnormal event, Robinson said.

UC Santa Cruz researchers, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries team and other researchers, are still trying to figure out why. Tests for domoic acid, avian flu, and other factors have been made on fetuses retrieved from Ano Nuevo Island, but are not yet complete.

Signs of widespread disease like domoic acid have not been detected. Warming waters from the El Nino climate pattern could be the culprit, for pregnant sea lions must then swim farther in search of food, which can leave them malnourished.

The recent El Nino pattern that affected the Pacific Ocean last fall and winter may help explain the observed increase in premature births so far this year, said NOAA Fisheries in an email statement.

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In the coming weeks, the NOAA Fisheries team will conduct its annual survey of sea lions and count this years pups in the Channel Islands, the main breeding area for these mammals, that will help determine the collective impact. They will also look at sardines, anchovies, and other prey for sea lions to determine the food supply.

The Marine Mammal Center, which includes sea lions in its roster of patients in Sausalito, said it is actively planning and prepared for an uptick in sea lion strandings should they occur.

It has admitted more than 160 sea lions since the beginning of the year, which is slightly above historical average for this time of year. The numbers of new sea lions admitted have leveled off in recent weeks, the center added. But if members of the public see a marine mammal in distress, they are urged not to intervene and instead call the center to send trained rescuers.

In the weeks ahead, as the majority share of sea lions arrive to the islands down south, more insight will likely be gleaned on whether this will become a wider issue and impact the newest cohort of newborn pups, wrote spokesperson Giancarlo Rulli in an email statement.

The good news is that researchers are not very concerned about the discovery impacting the sea lion population as a whole. At about 250,000 by NOAAs count, the numbers are quite healthy.

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Though a smaller rookery, Ano Nuevo Island itself is a testament to the healthy population of sea lions. Its a relatively new colony that quickly ramped up the number of pups born each year on the island beginning about a decade ago, since stabilizing to 700 or 800 a year, according to Robinson.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's next stop after Agrinio was Arta.

On Saturday afternoon, accompanied by the Mayor of Arta Christoforos Siafakas he engaged with residents and shop owners along the main pedestrian street of Skoufa.

Mitsotakis also visited the fully renovated old courthouse building, where he toured the premises and spoke with judicial officials. Following this, he proceeded to the

ancient "Small" Theatre of Amvrakia, the smallest ancient Greek theatre uncovered to date , where he was briefed on the progress of the archaeological sites development.

The Prime Minister also visited the irrigation projects near the historic bridge of Arta, where he was informed about the importance of these interventions for irrigating the local plains and supporting the primary sector of the region.

Joining Mitsotakis on his tour in Arta was Freddy Beleriss son.

   iefimerida.gr
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a fresh warning at the weekend to the new leadership ofthat its defiance of the 2019 Prespa Agreement with Greece will block its road to EU membership.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, on Friday, expressed optimism about reducing electricity tariffs in the country.

He further acknowledged the recent 240% tariff hike for Band A customers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which was slightly reduced after labor unions protested.

Adelabu assured that the increase is temporary and comparable to initial price surges in the telecom sector, which eventually decreased.

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READ ALSO: Tinubu Okays N35bn To Revive Ajaokuta Steel  Minister

His words: The electricity tariff might look expensive at the moment. But Im optimistic that these tariffs will go down. We know how much we were buying SIM cards when the telcos just came. We know how much we were buying telephones.

But gradually, as we scale up in generation, transmission and distribution, these prices will also decrease. Its a temporary hardship leading to a permanent gain.
The Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, affirmed the election of Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress as the states Governor.

Giving its ruling in Abuja, today, the Tribunal, also dismissed the petition of the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Athan Achonu.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, the three-man panel of the tribunal held that Uzodimmas election as Imo State Governor complied substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

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READ MORE: Imo poll: Uzodimmas Re-Election Well Deserved  Sanwo-Olu

The tribunal further held that the LP in its petition failed to prove the allegation of over voting and non-compliance to the Electoral Act.

Recall that in 2023, Uzodimma scored 540,308 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 71,503 votes while Achonu, came third with 64,081 votes.

Dissatisfied with the result, Achonu had approached the court to sack the governor, alleging electoral malpractices in some parts of the state.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has released a preliminary report on the boat accident involving Nollywood stars in Anambra, which revealed that the boat driver lacked certification.

The NSIB announced this on Friday during a press briefing that coincided with the release of four other final and preliminary findings by the agency.

Alex Badeh, Director General of the NSIB, delivered two final reports on aviation incidents, one preliminary report on an aviation incident, and a preliminary report on a maritime disaster, along with 20 safety recommendations.

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The boat was carrying 12 actors and crew members when it crashed, killing five passengers, including Mr. Paul Odonwodo, commonly known as Junior Pope, a prominent Nollywood actor.

The Director of Transport Investigation, who presented the preliminary report and other findings during the briefing, indicated that the speedboat capsized, dumping all occupants into the Anam River.

According to him, five passengers were killed, while seven were rescued alive.

The NSIB was not officially alerted of the accident, but learnt about it via social media.

On April 12, 2024, investigators from the National Security Investigation Bureaus Enugu Regional Office were despatched to the accident site.

According to the agency, initial findings revealed that the boat driver was not certified, the fibre boat was not registered with the National Inland Waterways Authority, and the outboard engine fibre boat was carrying 12 passengers and one boat driver.

The director said, There was only one person on the wooden fishing canoe. This rowdiness in the boat distracted the driver and he was not looking out as required.

The boat was on high speed and the crossing canoe was moving at a much slower speed.

The only occupant of the canoe, on sighting the fast approaching boat jumped into the river and escaped; The boat collided with the canoe at a high speed which resulted in the boat capsizing and all persons onboard were flung into Anam River.

According to the reports, five passengers on the boat died as a result of the incident, but the driver and seven others survived.

READ MORE: Ban On Rituals In Nollywood Movies, Not To Stifle Creativity But To Discourage Promoting Harmful Content  NFVCB Clarifies

Only one passenger on the outboard engine fibre boat was wearing a life jacket. The only passenger wearing a life jacket came with it and was not provided by the operator.

The passenger wearing the life jacket was one of the survivors. The boat was fitted with an outboard engine. There was no manifest of passengers and persons onboard the boat. The rescue operation was not timely and there were no trained divers around to assist in the operation.

In its safety recommendations, the Bureau urged the National Inland Waterways Authority to ensure that all boats involved in commercial activities on the national inland waterways are registered, and that adequate safety measures are implemented and enforced in our inland waterways.


The Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

The order was contained in a statement on Saturday by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano, Sanusi Tofa.

According to him, Bayero should be arrested for allegedly creating tension in the State.

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The statement titled Gov. Yusuf Orders Arrest of Deposed Emir of Kano Aminu Ado Bayero, read, The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, for creating tension in the state.

READ ALSO: Court Stops Kano Govt From Reinstating Sanusi As Emir

The former Emir was smuggled into Kano city last night in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the Governor.

According to the statement, the new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, arrived at the palace in the company of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, and other top government functionaries at about 1 am on Saturday, May 25 2024.

As the Chief Security Officer of the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys, the statement added.

Bayero, whose whereabouts had been unknown since he was deposed on Thursday, returned to Kano on Saturday.
Manchester United beat rival, Manchester City to win the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory in Saturdays final.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Pep Guardiola and his boys were favourites to win a second successive Premier League and FA Cup double.

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First half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo put United on course to win the Cup for the first time in eight years.

Jeremy Doku squeezed an 87th minute strike past Andre Onanas weak attempted save but it was too late to rescue City.

United will also qualify for the Europa League, avoiding a first season without European action since 2014-15.

READ MORE: Iwobi, Bassey Score As Fulham Beat Manchester United At Old Trafford

They benefitted from an unusually tepid City performance as their double bid fell flat in their first domestic defeat since losing at Aston Villa in the league 171 days ago.

Last weekend, City became the first team to win the Premier League in four consecutive seasons.

But Guardiolas men looked hungover after the celebrations that followed their sixth title in seven years.
A fuel tanker has exploded at the Ibafo area of the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, outward of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

It was gathered that the accident occurred around 7am on Saturday around the Ago Igbala area of the Ibafo LGA.

In a statement made by the Ogun State Sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps, disclosed that its operatives have put out the burning tanker.

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A spokesperson for the FRSC, Florence Okpe, said that no life was lost in the accident.

The statement reads: The crash occurred at 0657 hrs this morning on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around the Ago Igbala/Ibafo area of Ogun State.

READ MORE: Gridlock As Three Injured In Truck Collision With Bus On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

A total of five persons were involved, all male adults, and fortunately, neither death nor injury were recorded.

The vehicle involved was an IVECO truck with no number plate on it.

The suspected cause of the lone crash was speed, and the vehicle lost control and crashed. The tanker was loaded with fuel, and no casualties were recorded.

The rescue operation has come to a conclusion, but traffic managers are still managing the traffic situation caused by the crash.

Also reacting to the incident, the FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, Mr Anthony Uga, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Ota, urged motorists to install speed limit device in their vehicles.

He said: We are appealing to these drivers to install speed limit devices and safety valves to avoid preventable disasters.

They should also ensure their tankers are in proper working condition by conducting daily checks before any trip.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Friday, lamented the desecration of traditional institutions in the northern part of the country.

According to him, the system that protects the monarchs and traditional institutions in the region has been destroyed.

Sanusi made this known while delivering his appreciation speech after receiving his letter of appointment from the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, at the Government House.

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The monarch, who decried the needless division of emirates in some northern States, hailed the State House of Assembly for abrogating the law used to dethrone him and also used to create the now abolished Emirates in the State.

His words: In the northern part of this country, we have seen it in different states how politicians balkanised emirates, with one Emir becoming 20, some 19. In states of northern Nigeria, there are Local Governments with two or three first-class Emirs all because the system has been destroyed.

READ ALSO: Lots Of First Class Graduates Unemployable, Not Equipped With Right Skills  Sanusi

This thing that has been brought to Kano, had it been allowed, one day we will wake up with the Emir of Kumbotso, Bichi, Fagge and 44 Emirs. So what the government and the assembly did is a rescue mission.

Presenting the appointment letter to Sanusi, the Governor said, By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers;

I have the singular pleasure of confirming the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council.

Yusuf noted that Sanusis reappointment was based on his competence, credibility and popularity, urging the new Kano Emir to be guided by the principles of Islamic teachings and to use his position to unite the emirate, fostering harmony among the Islamic sects in the state.


Datti Baba-Ahmed, the 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has reacted to the remarks of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka about his running mate, Peter Obi.

Soyinka had said Obi should not vie for the presidency in 2027 because he is unfit to lead Nigeria.

Reacting, Baba-Ahmed said Soyinkas comments on Obi, LPs presidential candidate, should be dismissed as a distraction.

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Speaking in an interview on Arise Television at the weekend, Baba-Ahmed said the playwright should rather respect himself instead of waiting for Obi to control the actions of his supporters.

The former senator said Obi would not join issues with Soyinka, adding that intellect does not give one a right to insult anybody.

His words: The learned elder statesman is scared in advance about what good Peter Obi would bring to Nigeria. Hes scared that the end is looking very likely for his principal, for bad governance.

READ ALSO: Kano Gov. Orders Arrest Of Deposed Emir, Bayero

What Soyinka is doing now is an attempted distraction.

Nobel laureates all over the world are loved and cherished by their people, not just their nationals but globally. I have never heard where Nobel laureates are insulted in the way that Wole Soyinka is.

There is no way Peter Obi, with all the issues in front of him and my humble self, can control Obidients.

Peter Obi entered a canoe without a life jacket and he paid for it. It is not the work of Peter Obi to control the Obidients, it is the responsibility of Wole Soyinka to maintain his respect and dignity.

In the presence of all these politics, decent Nigerians should continue to offer respect to others.

All he is trying to do is an attempted distraction which Peter Obi and I have excused ourselves from. We will not react to that Nobel laureate.

What is Wole Soyinka at a time when the Nigerian armed forces are killing Nigerians by mistake? At a time when our currency is hopelessly depreciating and so many other issues.
Bangladeshi people experience Chinese tea culture with high passion

Xinhua) 14:33, May 25, 2024

DHAKA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Two programs of "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon 2024 were held in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka this week, with hundreds of local people attending to appreciate the uniqueness of Chinese tea culture.

Dipto Sarkar, who studies Chinese at the Confucius Institute at Dhaka University, told Xinhua that he has fallen in love with Chinese tea because of its long history and rich culture.

The event showed participants what Chinese tea is like, how it is made, and what it means for Chinese people, Sarker said.

Aminatul Tayeba, another local student, told Xinhua after learning about Chinese tea and tea-related Chinese poems that Chinese tea culture is different from other countries.

"I was impressed with the fact that tea originated from China, and China has such a vast and rich tea culture," Tayeba said.

Noting that tea-related exchange between Bangladesh and China dates back a long time and has become a part of the cultural bond between the two countries, HM Jahangir Alam Rana, general secretary of Bangladesh-China Friendship Center, said he hoped such cultural events and tea events would help deepen the friendship between Bangladesh and China.

Li Shaopeng, cultural counselor of the Chinese embassy in Bangladesh, said tea is a name card of China that carries a rich history and culture. The implicit and restrained character of tea represents the way Chinese people understand life and interpret the world and epitomizes the key to Chinese culture, he said.

It is hoped that through this event, the Bangladeshi people can feel the charm of Chinese tea culture, which has been passed down for thousands of years, experience the elegant lifestyle of meeting friends over tea, expressing feelings through tea, and cultivating oneself with tea, so as to further enhance the cultural consensus between China and Bangladesh.

The programs were organized by China International Culture Association and the Chinese embassy in Bangladesh, and co-hosted by the Confucius Institute at Dhaka University, the Institute of Modern Languages at Dhaka University and the Bangladesh-China Friendship Center.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
The Generals Daughter, a historic events venue in Sonoma, was among the high-profile properties that Kenneth Mattson and Tim LeFever purchased in recent years. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

FBI agents have raided the home of embattled Sonoma County developer Kenneth Mattson, agency officials said, just weeks after his business partner alleged that Mattson had defrauded investors.

Department officials confirmed they raided Mattsons property Friday morning on the 3000 block of Castle Road, a gated residence in unincorporated Sonoma County. They did not provide additional details.

Mattsons attorney declined to comment Friday.

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The agency did not make any arrests during the raid, officials said. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat first reported the news.

Mattson is a developer and real estate investor. Over the past decade, he and his business partner, Tim LeFever, have bought a dizzying array of properties across Sonoma County worth in excess of $240 million. Among the purchases are well-known properties such as the Sonoma Cheese Factory and the historic Generals Daughter event venue.

But their real estate acquisitions raised concerns from local residents, who grew worried about the impact the sales would have on their community, and criticized the pair for failing to complete promised projects. It also sparked the creation of a nonprofit watchdog, Wake Up Sonoma.

In recent weeks, LeFever sent several emails to investors alerting them to a large number of unauthorized and what we believe are improper transactions by Mattson in relation to a fund controlled by their company, LeFever Mattson.

LeFever described a secretive scheme by Mr. Mattson to allegedly deposit in his own accounts retirement savings he had solicited from investors, rather than investing it in the limited partnership fund as he had purportedly told them he would. He said Mattson had resigned as CEO of their company, LeFever Mattson, and that the company had alerted federal authorities.

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I have learned from many of you that Ken has sold interests in other LeFever Mattson partnerships as well, without authorization and without my knowledge, LeFever said in one of the emails. He did not gain approval or disclose these sales or the proceeds, and Ken hid his acts by making distributions from an account that he alone could access and he alone controlled.

LeFever did not respond to a request for comment Friday. The Chronicle also reached out to his communications team for comment.

On Friday, Wake Up Sonoma President Lisa Storment said the groups members were encouraged by news that federal authorities were investigating.

We look forward to hearing about the outcome, she said. We are anxious to see justice for these many victims and the community at large.

Marisa Huber is now one of many people who, after learning of LeFevers accusations against his business partner, wonder what has happened to the money their loved ones invested with Mattson and his companies.

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Her parents, both retired civil servants, live in Santa Rosa and invested $350,000 over the years with Mattson.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) terminated over 300 staff members, affecting 14 of 17 directors from former Governor Godwin Emefieles tenure.

The retrenchment, impacting 29 departments, caused widespread anxiety and low morale, with no clear criteria provided for the layoffs.

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According to reports from those directly affected, the CBN terminated the employment of more than 300 staff members between Thursday and Friday.

Engagement letters for an additional 200 employees are anticipated to be signed and issued soon, bringing the total number of affected staff to nearly 600.

The sack letter issued by the Human Resources Department on May 24, 2024, indicated that the policy was to reorganise the organisation for effective operations.

The letter, lacking a signature, read, The new strategic direction of the bank has been widely publicised. In line with our new mission and vision, the bank is currently undergoing a significant organisational and human capital restructuring process.

As a result of this review, I have been directed to notify you that your services will not be required with effect from Friday, 24th May 2024. Your final entitlements will be calculated and paid to you in due course. Thank you.

Sources indicate, as disclosed by Daily Trust, that virtually all employees within the Governors Directorate have been dismissed. The retrenchment is part of a larger ongoing disengagement exercise at the apex bank.

This latest wave of layoffs has notably affected 14 out of the 17 surviving directors from the tenure of Emefiele.

The mass layoffs have affected employees across 29 departments and various levels, from directors and deputy directors to assistant directors, principal managers, senior managers, and lower-ranking staff such as executive trainees.

Some employees who had previously been transferred from the headquarters to branches also received their disengagement letters via email.

The dismissal of its director, three deputy directors, and other junior staff significantly impacted the Financial Policy and Regulatory Department.

READ ALSO: Mismanagement By Last Administrations Wont Be Undone In One Year  Sanusi Begs Nigerians To Support FGs Tough Decisions

The Trade and Exchange Department had about eight staff affected, while the Development Finance and Human Resource Departments saw four and ten employees laid off, respectively.

Employees on compassionate leave due to protracted illness or incapacitation were also dismissed. Currently, coordinators head the 29 departments within the bank.

The distribution of disengagement letters began on March 15 and has continued, causing widespread anxiety among staff at all levels.

According to insiders, no clear criteria have been provided for the layoffs, contributing to insecurity and low morale within the bank.

One affected staff member commented, The idea of job security is no longer tenable under the banks current management. They have held a series of meetings to say they are not witch-hunting anybody, but what bigger witch-hunt is there than truncating peoples careers without any tangible explanation?

Another staff member echoed these sentiments, noting, I can tell you that since information leaked about the intention of this management, the morale at the bank has been at an all-time low.

Among the directors affected are:

Clement Oluranti Buari, Director, Strategy Management

Dr. Blaise Ijebor, Director, Risk Management

Lydia Ifeanyichukwu Alfa, Director, Internal Audit

Jimoh Musa Itopa, Director, Capacity Development

Muhammad Abba, Director, Human Resources

Rabiu Musa, Director, Finance

Dr. Mahmud Hassan, Director, Trade & Exchange

Dr. Ozoemena S. Nnaji, Director, Statistics

Dr. Omolara Duke, Director, Financial Markets

Chibuike D. Nwaegerue, Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision

Chibuzo A. Efobi, Director, Payments System Management

Haruna Bala Mustafa, Director, Financial Policy and Regulation

Rakiya Shuaibu Mohammed, Director, Information Technology

Benjamin Nnadi, Director, Reserve Management.

The directors who were not affected include Rashida Jumoke Monguno, Director of Corporate Secretariat; Salam-Alada Sirajuddin Kofo, Director of Legal Services; and Aderinola Shonekan, Director of Research.
Samantha Blagus was awarded a civilian commendation from Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele for comforting Tamara Cornelius in 2022 after Cornelius was mortally wounded by her boyfriend, Rafiq Thompson. Steele said Cornelius' family took comfort in knowing that someone was with her in her final moments. Read more

Samantha Blagus and her friend needed gas after hours of delivering for DoorDash. They chose an Exxon in King of Prussia, across from the mall.

Blagus pulled in on that warm spring night in 2022 to find Rafiq Thompson arguing with Tamara Cornelius, his former girlfriend who was pregnant with his child. The 36-year-old Lansdale native remembers thinking how aggressive Thompson seemed.

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She pulled out of the gas station when she discovered shed have to pay in cash. Moments later, gunshots rang out as Thompson gunned Cornelius down at point-blank range with a stolen Glock handgun.

Other witnesses ran and ducked for cover. But Blagus instead turned around and drove back into the station. There, she stayed with the mortally wounded Cornelius, holding the 31-year-olds hand in her final moments as she relayed information about the murder to a 911 dispatcher.

The adrenaline took over. I just wanted to help, and thats all I could think of, Blagus, a former nursing assistant, said in a recent interview. I was doing everything I could to make her stay with us. I was trying to be optimistic, and all I wanted was for her to make it.

For that act of kindness, Blagus was awarded a commendation for exceptional service from Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, one of four civilians to receive the honor at a ceremony honoring law enforcement on May 21.

The other civilian honorees included Cauldon Quinn, a former Marine whose eyewitness testimony about Andrew Wiley helped convict him at trial for shooting at police outside the King of Prussia Mall; Jonathan Petrow, whose dashcam footage helped police identify and arrest Jennifer Parker, who fled the scene after running over and killing a pedestrian while drunk driving in Whitemarsh Township; and Clare Henderson, whose work with Mission Kids helps prepare children to give statements about the murder or assault of their loved ones.

Steele also honored police officers who investigated other high-profile murders in the county, including the murder-for-hire plot that targeted Rachel King in Cheltenham Township and the killing of Jennifer Brown in Royersford by her business partner, Blair Watts.

Both women were single mothers. And both of their killers were sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder.

This was a day to look at the best of the best and some of the folks that have really made a difference, Steele said. These people came forward when others didnt, and these people chose to involve themselves to help others in just very difficult circumstances.

Steele said that description especially fit Blagus, whose testimony at Thompsons trial helped convince a jury he was guilty of first-degree murder.

There were people there that day that ran and fled, but instead she called 911, Steele said. She went to the victim and she got down with the victim and held her hand and spoke to her as Tamara was dying. And, I think that meant a lot to the family. And now [Thompson] will be in jail for the rest of his life.

Blagus said that while she was glad she was there to help Cornelius, that night continues to haunt her.

She suffers from PTSD and seeks counseling for it. Some actions cause her to suddenly panic, especially filling up at a gas station. But she doesnt regret her choices that night.

Im a caring person, and if that were me, I would want someone to help me, Blagus said. So it was just natural instinct just to go help her. I didnt even think about it. I just stepped in.

Blagus said she was humbled by and grateful for the award presented to her by Steele. The ceremony, she said, restored her faith in humanity.

And it offered another, unexpected bonus: She got to finally meet Cornelius younger sister, TaNaya Dunlap, who was eager to give Blagus a hug and thank her in person.
Student protestors erected approximately 20 tents on Parrish Beach by Clothier Hall at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pa. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Read more

Swarthmore Colleges pro-Palestinian encampment officially came down Friday morning, marking the end of the longest campus protest over the war in Gaza in the Philadelphia area.

About three dozen student activists began packing up their belongings from Parrish Lawn voluntarily Thursday, said organizer Ragad A., a sophomore, who declined to share their full name out of privacy concerns.

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No police or public safety officers were involved, confirmed Swarthmore College spokesperson Alisa Giardinelli. The few remaining students voluntarily left the lawn sometime overnight, she said.

The dismantling of Swarthmores encampment marks the end of a wave of demonstrations on campuses in the Philly region, as protesters across the United States have demanded that colleges and universities divest their endowments from entities profiting off the war, which the Palestinian Health Ministry estimated has resulted in over 35,000 deaths since Oct. 7.

Swarthmores encampment began over a month ago and its prolonged existence on Parrish Lawn  where commencement is typically hosted  forced the liberal arts college to move the celebration off campus to the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Fairmount Park for the first time in school history.

 READ MORE: Swarthmore College will hold commencement off campus for first time since its founding in 1864

That decision is firm, said Giardinelli, even though the encampment was dismantled before Sundays ceremony.

Given the complexity of the arrangements, we are past the point when we could make a change to the location, Giardinelli said.

Ragad said the decision to pack up largely had to do with safety: Three weeks into the demonstration, on May 17, a group of counterprotesters launched fireworks toward the encampment and threatened to attack it, according to an Instagram post from Swarthmores Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.

Then, on May 22, 25 student activists received disciplinary notices for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations throughout the school year, not limited to the encampment. Ragad was among them.

The infractions varied, said Ragad, from disrupting talks and events to postering. Students participating in the encampment were threatened with interim suspensions and the loss of summer funding for research opportunities and housing, according to an Instagram post on May 20 showing an email from Swarthmores vice president of student affairs addressed to Swarthmore SJP and allies.

This week, a number of students received letters notifying them of possible disciplinary charges for conduct that occurred between October 2023 and March of this year. These are independent of activity related to the encampment, Giardinelli confirmed.

 READ MORE: What is divestment? And why do college students want it?

Ragad said the notices came after 16 hours of negotiations with Swarthmore administrators  including co-presidents Rob Goldberg and Tomoko Sakomura  that had devolved into a stalemate.

Swarthmore administrators had said they would never agree to divestment, not within this negotiation process or future ones, said Ragad, who was present for these conversations. Still, the college seemed at first amenable to establishing an ethical investments committee and a scholarship for students at risk in Gaza, where no universities remain.

That changed when administrators refused to issue a statement denouncing the scholasticide, or the systemic dismantling of Gazas education system. From there, Ragad said, the college walked back the investments committee to a nonbinding subcommittee, and the promise to develop a scholarship to a vow to explore one.

Nothing has changed regarding negotiations, said Giardinelli, who pointed to a May 16 letter from Sakomura and Goldberg that charged student organizers with creating a threatening, intimidating environment that went beyond a reasonable definition of peaceful protest as talks broke down.

 READ MORE: Pro-Palestinian encampment is cleared at Drexel University

We feel incredibly proud that we did not accept anything less than what we believe in, said Ragad.

Swarthmores encampment was the last remaining pro-Palestinian campus protest in the Philadelphia area, and the longest running. The University of Pennsylvanias weeks-long demonstration was dismantled in early May, a day after Gov. Josh Shapiro demanded the university restore order. Thirty-three people had been detained  including nine students  and Penn has since sent letters banning 24 nonstudents from campus.

Protesters at Drexel University also abandoned their encampment after six days in the Korman Family Quad on Thursday, when dozens of police officers rolled up on bikes and asked them to pack up.

More than 2,900 people have been arrested on campuses nationwide for participating in pro-Palestinian encampments, according to a tracker from the New York Times, as universities let campus, city, and state police use varying degrees of force.

Some colleges and universities, however, were able to reach compromises with student organizers, including Rutgers University, where president Jonathan Holloway on Thursday defended his decision to review divestment demands and establish an Arab Cultural Center in front of Congress.

 READ MORE: Testifying before Congress, Rutgers president defends decision to negotiate agreement with pro-Palestinian protesters

We feel empowered, Ragad said. We built a community.

Staff writer Susan Snyder contributed to this article.
The popular restaurants Cheu Fishtown and Bing Bing Dim Sum will both close in the coming weeks.

Money is apparently not the reason: The closings, which will idle about 60 employees, have been set in motion by forthcoming repairs to Bing Bings building in South Philadelphia, according to owners Shawn Darragh and Ben Puchowitz.

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Bing Bing, which opened in early 2015 at 1648 E. Passyunk Ave., will have its last call July 21. Darragh said the landlord wants to upgrade a long-empty apartment upstairs but needs access through the restaurant.

With a bold dining room, house-made dumplings, and an edgy cocktail list, Bing Bing was a hit from the start. In an early review, Inquirer critic Craig LaBan described it as a deliberately inauthentic and funky twist on Asian street food.

Cheu Fishtown  which opened in summer 2017 in a onetime police stable at 1416 Frankford Ave. as an offshoot of the now-closed Cheu Noodle Bar in Center City  will close after dinner June 7. That building recently changed hands. With the planned closing of Bing Bing and Cheus upcoming lease renewal, Darragh said they received permission to leave early. It was a blessing but also kind of sad that both landlords approached us around similar times, he said. We thought it was a good time [to do this], considering what was going on at Bing Bing. It would be tough for us to just have one restaurant with the way our company is set up.

Next of Kin, the bar next door that Darragh and Puchowitz previously owned as an izakaya called Nunu, is unaffected, said Kyle Darrow, an owner.

Cheus space is being marketed for JSC Real Estate by Jacob Cooper and Stefanie Gabel of MSC.

Darragh and Puchowitz, buddies since their days at Cheltenham High School, launched Cheu Noodle Bar in 2013. Darragh, a marketing specialist, and Puchowitz, chef at the former Rittenhouse bistro Matyson, intended Cheu as a take on Southeast Asian noodle dishes with a Jewish spin. The restaurant, at 255 S. 10th St., closed in fall 2020 as the pandemics occupancy restrictions crushed small bars and restaurants.

Cheu Fishtown and Bing Bing weathered the pandemic, but it definitely put a spin on how your business needs to operate, Darragh said. Its been tough trying to figure out a new model when youre running off of businesses that were started so long ago. Its good to be able to start fresh and in a different way. Some of our systems were hard to change without a complete revamp.

Whatever their next restaurant is, it will not be a revival of Bing Bing.

Hopefully everybody will land on their feet, including us, he said.
Mount Airy resident Susan Gobreski and her three dogs: Penny, Franklin and Max. On different occasions, Max and Franklin mistakenly ingested cannabis. Read more

I took my dog Beau for a walk during a recent lunch break. It was trash day. He grazed on food rubbish. A half-eaten stale bread roll. A slice of American cheese stuck to the sidewalk.

We got back, and he settled into his dog bed at the foot of my desk. When my son came home from school, Beau didnt get up to greet him as usual. We noticed his head wobbling and swaying. An hour later, he couldnt pick his head up; his doggy lips were stuck to the hardwood floor in a smear of drool like two slugs.

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I feared he ate rat poison near the pizza and sub shops on the White Horse Pike near my South Jersey home. I crouched eye level with Beau and thought, Is his left eye bulging slightly out of the socket? This was a 911 situation. I rushed him to Penns Mathew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital emergency room in West Philadelphia.

The vet ordered the equivalent of a field sobriety test. He had Beau walk around so he could observe his gait.

His diagnosis: Suspected marijuana ingestion.

The vet, Charles Garneau-So, said Beau would be fine; the THC would clear his system within 24 hours.

Marijuana toxicosis is typically relatively harmless, although unpleasant for the patient, my hospital discharge paperwork read.

Wait, what? I thought. I detected a wry smile on the vets face. Feeling self-conscious, I swore to him that Beau got the drugs off the street.

Then, I crowdsourced for answers. Late one night, I turned to Facebook and asked friends whether this had ever happened to their dogs. It was surprisingly common.

Penn Vets hospital saw an uptick in cases after New Jersey legalized recreational marijuana in 2021, Garneau-So told me in an interview last week. Cases also soared in Pennsylvania after medical cannabis was legalized in 2016 and dispensaries opened statewide two years later, according to Tina Wismer, senior director of toxicology at the ASPCAs Animal Poison Control Center.

Its not just your dog getting into trouble. Its everybodys dog, Wismer said. Dogs have no idea about serving size  Oh, a whole pan of brownies. Yes, please!

The number of emergency calls for dogs that ingested marijuana has also jumped nationally. Wismer thinks its because cannabis, especially edibles, is increasingly ubiquitous and less stigmatized, so pet owners more readily admit the truth. (The dog-ate-my-homework antithesis).

Wismer had a theory about how Beau got high, which she prefaced by asking if I wanted to hear the gross fun fact of the day. Yes, please!

Dogs that eat human stool from people who have ingested marijuana will become symptomatic, Wismer said. Your dog could have eaten poo.

About 94% of THC will pass through the human body in stool, she said, pointing to a 2022 study in the Australian Veterinary Journal. (Hmmm, I did walk Beau down a weedy path to Newton Lake Park in Haddon Township  a nighttime party spot for local teens.)

Unlike cats, most dogs arent finicky. Theyll get into whatever is commonly around the house. During the pandemic, it was cleaning supplies.

Now, Wismer said, its weed gummies.

A single weed gummy

Carmen Maria Machado was preparing a Valentines Day dinner for her then-wife at their West Philadelphia home in 2020, when the couples dog, Rosie, knocked over a tray of bric-a-brac on the kitchen table with a tiny gift box from a friend that held a single weed gummy.

Everything was scattered, and the box was open, and there was no more gummy, Machado recalled. I knew instantly what she had taken ... I called my then-wife, who was at work, and I was hysterically sobbing. I was totally freaking out.

Val Howlett dashed out of work and jumped in a Lyft. The driver asked how Howletts day was going. Im a little stressed, she explained. The driver commiserated. His dog once ate an entire tray of pot brownies. He assured her dog would be OK.

Once home, Howlett and Machado loaded Rosie, an 11-year-old food-motivated beagle mix, into their car. They sped to Penns Ryan Veterinary Hospital at 3900 Spruce St. At the time, Machado, author of the best-selling memoir In the Dream House, was an artist-in-residence at the University of Pennsylvania.

The vet technician took one look at Rosie and started laughing. Are you going to pump her stomach? Machado recalled asking. Too late, the tech surmised.

Rosie was just sitting there so stoned, looking like she could see her ancestors, Machado said.

The vet ordered IV fluids for Rosie to keep her hydrated and some anti-nausea medication to prevent vomiting.

Rosies home-care instructions, Machado said, sounded like advice youd give to a human who consumed too much weed: Put her in a quiet room. Play soft music. Dim the lights. Let her ride it out. Vets call this supportive care.

After I had gotten over the fact that I had poisoned my dog and thought she was gonna die, it was actually quite funny, Machado said.

Back home with Rosie and a $600 vet bill, the couple wasnt in a romantic mood. They ordered pizza that Valentines Day.

How common is it?

Dog owner Caroline Prasalowicz started our interview with, The first time it happened... "

Prasalowicz lived in an apartment in Old City when her dog, Enzo, ingested marijuana at least three times.

I could never quite figure out how he was getting it, Prasalowicz said. The source, she suspects, was her neighborhood courtyard, where residents shared outdoor space and trash storage. Shes seen him eat dirt, rocks, sticks  and once a cicada that scratched his throat going down and landed them in the vet emergency room.

Enzo first ate cannabis in 2022 as a puppy. His head started bobbing. He couldnt walk a straight line. He urinated on himself. Prasalowicz thought he had a brain tumor. She took a video to show the vet, then rushed him to Penns animal hospital.

The vet diagnosed a marijuana mishap.

Even when she watched him closely while out in the apartment courtyard or on walks, he still found weed. Once, she sought a second opinion. That vet reached the same conclusion: Enzo was a stoner.

Finally, Prasalowicz, a 28-year-old occupational therapist, moved to a house with a fenced-in backyard in Manayunk. Hes been sober ever since.

Nobodys calling the cops

Scott Neabore, a vet who owns Neabore Veterinary Clinic in Haddonfield, said the most recent dog he treated for THC toxicity got it from an older person with a medical marijuana card for chronic pain. He also sees cases involving recreational cannabis.

Edibles. Vape cartridges. Joints. Neabore has treated dogs that have devoured all forms of cannabis. He has never known marijuana to cause death in dogs.

Some dog owners are sheepish at first. We tell them, Look, its not illegal. Were not reporting anyone, Neabore said.

Other dog owners are truly confused, never suspecting their college-aged kid.

At first theyre surprised and then they say they plan to go home to find someone to punish, Neabore said.

 READ MORE: What caused a healthy dog's seizure-like symptoms? A medical mystery.

A cautionary tail

Susan Gobreski has three dogs  and three adult daughters.

About five years ago, her middle daughter came home from Smith College in Massachusetts, where recreational cannabis has been legal since 2016. The story of how her dog Max got stoned is a bit circuitous. I can tell this more coherently if I had a glass of wine or two, she told me on a recent Tuesday morning.

Her version starts like this: Gobreskis dog Penny had torn a ligament and was on an anti-inflammatory medication for dogs. Her youngest daughters dog, Franklin, got ahold of the bottle and appeared to have gobbled all but one pill. Worried about organ failure, Gobreski took Franklin to the vet, where his system was flushed.

About 10 days later, Gobreski woke up and found Max stumbling around and twitching. She immediately thought it was Max  and not Franklin  that ate Pennys pain pills. (Gobreski, a policy consultant who lives in Mount Airy, hadnt witnessed the incident, only its aftermath.)

Oh no, I saved the wrong dog, Gobreski recalled thinking. His kidneys or liver are now failing. Clearly, this is it. Were going to have to say goodbye to Max.

Gobreskis husband went downstairs to make coffee. He came back up with a wrapper and asked their middle daughter, Whats this?

She had brought a milk chocolate weed bar home from college.

Max inhaled the whole thing. We had to put him on the couch and give him some Doritos, Gobreski said.

A few weeks ago, it happened again. Only this time, Franklin ate the weed bar and got very stoned.

He wasnt giggling and listening to Pink Floyd, she said. But he went on a munching tear and got into a large bag of dark chocolate-covered pretzels. Then, he took a nap.

It was the dark chocolate that had them in a panic. Chocolate contains an ingredient, theobromine, thats toxic to dogs. Dark chocolate has the highest concentration of it.

Gobreski rushed Franklin to the vet. Hes fine now.

Its a cautionary tale for people who love dogs and like to ingest edibles, Gobreski said.
A window that was broken during a robbery is boarded up at Caroline's Luxuries in Haddonfield on Thursday. Read more

It was early Thanksgiving morning, before sunrise, when Marcus DeAngelis was startled awake by his home security alarm blaring and loud sounds coming from downstairs in his Haddonfield home.

When DeAngelis got to the top of the foyer stairs to investigate, he saw several masked men downstairs. The intruders rushed out when they realized theyd been discovered.

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Police said they have not arrested any of the suspects, who managed to steal DeAngelis wifes new Range Rover. Nobody who was home at the time  DeAngelis, his wife, and their 2-year-old son  was hurt.

The car, he said, was found days later, more than a hundred miles away, in the Bronx.

We still are living on edge. We still are not resting comfortably at night, said DeAngelis. We are not to a point where we are comfortable in our own home. We still feel very violated.

The break-in at the DeAngelis house is one of a spate of criminal incidents in Haddonfield in the last few months that have riled up the Camden County community and mobilized a group of concerned residents to form a group pushing for more transparency from the police department about reporting crime and improved safety protocols.

The group, Haddonfield Safe, wants the Haddonfield Police Department, currently at 21 officers, to add more officers to replace a handful who have retired over the years. They also want more transparency about crime in their borough and what the department is doing to combat it.

Police and borough officials, however, say that Haddonfield, with a population of 12,550, is as safe as its ever been, and that the borough is among the leaders in transparency when it comes to providing information on crime in town.

What does the data say about Haddonfield?

According to Haddonfield Police Department data, crime is low in the South Jersey borough 15 minutes outside of Philadelphia.

As of Friday, there have been 13 burglaries  5 residential burglaries and 8 commercial burglaries  in Haddonfield, according to police data. That number represents a slight increase from last years 11 burglaries by the same date, data shows.

There were 57 thefts  which includes shoplifting, bicycle theft, and general theft  and 3 motor vehicle thefts as of Friday, police data shows, compared to 48 thefts and 3 motor vehicle thefts by the same time last year.

Last year, there were 27 burglaries reported in Haddonfield, down from 34 in 2022.

Motor vehicle theft increased to 14 reported incidents last year, compared to 9 in 2022. Thefts increased slightly in 2023, at 131 incidents, up from 129 in 2022.

The data, however, is only one side of the story, said Chadd Levine, one of the cofounders of Haddonfield Safe. Despite what he acknowledged is a perception of Haddonfield as an affluent, idyllic community, Levine said the invasive nature of recent break-ins in town has created fear among residents.

The group formed after two break-ins in Haddonfield on April 3  including one in which police said two cars were stolen  and what Levine says was an uptick in reports of break-ins on a local Facebook page. The group, he said, wants the borough to provide information on crime in a more timely manner and follow up with residents on arrests and prosecutions.

It also wants the department to add six officers to its ranks, said Levine.

To us, statistics dont mean anything, stories do, he said. Two bad break-ins compared to statistically being safe, to me is enough to constitute some level of action and acknowledgment.

Crime does take place in Haddonfield, he added. Its not Disneyland.

Haddonfield Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich said she understands residents concerns in the wake of the April incidents, where the vulnerability of being at home and asleep while someone breaks in amplifies fears. But Bezich said that Haddonfields police department was constantly looking for ways to improve safety and that the borough was already extremely transparent, releasing police crime reports every month at public meetings and information via the borough app.

Its also very disconcerting if youre living in your home to think that while youre there asleep in bed or getting up about to come downstairs, someone would be brazen enough to commit a burglary, said Bezich. But from a numbers perspective, a pure data perspective, we are at a level of burglaries that quite frankly is on par with last year, which is the lowest number of burglaries in a decade.

Our policing efforts, and our patrols, and the technology were utilizing, and the resources were sharing with neighboring departments and the state police task force, were constantly working to improve and collaborate. I think were seeing the results of that, she added.

Haddonfield Police Chief Jason Cutler, who has served as the boroughs top cop for six years, said that he is always looking to hire more officers and that he and Bezich were looking to apply for a grant that could help pay for two more officers soon. Police were still investigating and searching for the burglars involved in last months break-ins, he said.

We have altered patrol schedules and deployment of manpower, said Cutler. Our detectives are working in close coordination with federal, state, county, and other law enforcement agencies to apprehend the person(s) responsible and to help prevent future crime from occurring.

As far as transparency, the police department and the borough administration  which Cutler said was among the best in his time in the department when it came to releasing information  was often bound by a need to protect residents privacy and to not divulge policing tactics.

Haddonfield Safe plans to attend the May 28 commissioners meeting and ask Bezich, Cutler, and the commissioners what they have done to improve safety in the last month or so. The meeting will take place at Borough Hall, right across the street from Carolines Luxuries.

On May 15, several men broke into the luxury boutique around 1:30 a.m., smashing the storefront window and stealing more than $300,000 in jewelry, luxury handbags, and other items, said owner Karolina Yosef. On Thursday, there was still plywood where windows used to be, a stark reminder of what Haddonfield Safe means to hold borough officials accountable for.

Haddonfield definitely needs to protect its citizens and its businesses, said Yosef, whos had her boutique in town since 2019. This shouldnt be happening in a small little town.

While Haddonfield is much safer than it may appear to some of its residents, people who live there deserve more answers about what is being done to fight crime, said Levine.

Its very easy for people to say its Haddonfield, what are they concerned about? he said. Well guess what, you dont live here and you dont understand it doesnt matter what town it is, we all deserve to feel safe. And that starts with our leadership. And if theyre communicating well, you feel less concerned. If theyre not communicating well, thats how misinformation and rhetoric and rumors start.
Philadelphia police have released information about two more fatal dog shootings this month by officers, bringing the years total to five, just as many as were reported in all of 2023. All but one of the dogs shot this year were killed in May.

In both recent shootings, people were also wounded, including an owner struck by a bullet fragment, and a police sergeant bitten by a pit bull that had killed a smaller dog.

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Sarah Barnett, executive director of ACCT Philly, said that although they are concerned about the marked uptick in dog shootings by police, in all of them the dogs were attacking either other dogs or people.

In each instance we have been aware of, we understand why [shooting the dog] was the response that occurred, Barnett said.

In the most recent occurrence, around 4 a.m. Thursday, a 67-year-old man was walking his black Pomeranian in front of his home on the 1600 block of Dover Street in South Philadelphia when a stray pit bull attacked the dog. The pit bull then bit a responding police sergeant in the arm, before the sergeant and another officer shot the dog twice, killing it, police said in a report issued Friday night.

The Pomeranian  who was nearly 6 years old and named Belinda, according to a FOX29 report  died at the scene from the attack.

The sergeant, who was not identified by police, was treated at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for bite wounds and abrasions and released. Both officers were placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation by Internal Affairs and the Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations unit. The officers body-worn cameras captured what happened, police said.

On May 15, a Philadelphia police officer shot and killed another pit bull to break up an attack on a smaller dog and, in the process, also wounded an owner of one of the animals, police said in a separate report Friday.

Officer Brian Keenan  who was identified by police as 30 and a seven-year veteran of the force  was one of multiple officers from the 39th District in North Philadelphia called to break up a dog fight about noon on the 1500 block of South 58th Street, police said.

Keenan fired his weapon multiple times, killing the pit bull, the police report said. A bullet fragment ricocheted and struck the left arm of one of the dog owners, a 66-year-old-man, police said. He declined medical attention at the scene, according to police. It is unclear which owner was wounded.

The smaller dog died from injuries sustained during the attack, police said.

Keenans body-worn camera also captured what happened, police said, and he has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of investigations.

On May 14, an off-duty officer shot two dogs that attacked a woman in Kingsessing while on a walk. One of the dogs had to be euthanized, while the woman, 52, was hospitalized with arm, leg, and head injuries. In that case, the officer discharged his service weapon up to seven times, police said.

And on May 1, another police officer shot and killed a cane corso that attacked a man, 53, alongside four other pit bulls in Mantua, also in May. The man was taken to the hospital with bite wounds all over his body.

Philadelphia police officers are prohibited from shooting at a dog or other animal, according to department policy, except to protect themselves or another person from physical injury and there is no other reasonable means to eliminate the threat.

Barnett, of ACCT, said that in at least one of the recent cases, officers had tried other deterrents before firing, including the officer in Mantua, who had tried to startle the attacking dogs by blaring a siren.

In recent years, advocates have encountered an alarming rise in dogs displaying aggressive behavior, she said. That increase could stem from a host of factors, she said, including fewer dogs that are spayed and neutered, more unleashed dogs in a dense city, younger dogs that lack proper socialization skills because of the pandemic, and shelters and individuals who do not convey critical information about an adopted dogs behavior history.

The number of deadly occurrences involving police is minuscule compared with the number of dogs in the city, noting that, last year, police on their own brought nearly 700 dogs to ACCT for care and rehoming.

It is something that needs to be watched, she said of the shootings. But I would caution folks that it does not happen much in general.
President Joe Biden speaks on April 18, 2024, at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in Philadelphia. Read more

President Joe Biden will be back campaigning in Philadelphia on Wednesday, in what will be his fifth visit to the area and seventh to Pennsylvania this year.

Bidens frequent stops in the commonwealth underscore the importance of the Philadelphia region  and the swing state as a whole  in a tense, competitive, and rugged race between the current president and former President Donald Trump.

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Biden was just in North Philadelphia last month meeting with community leaders and touting an endorsement from the Kennedy family, despite Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mounting an independent bid in the race. The visit was part of a three-day tour in the state, during which he also made stops in Pittsburgh and Scranton.

Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned for Biden at an SEIU convention in Philly this week in her second campaign visit to the area just this month. Harris spoke about reproductive rights with Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph on May 8 in Montgomery County, and promoted the Biden administrations student debt relief plan at a Philly elementary school last month.

Pennsylvanias importance in the 2024 election was evident since the start of the year: Biden visited the state three times within 10 days in January.

On Jan. 5 he delivered his first major 2024 campaign speech at Montgomery County Community College and visited Valley Forge National Historical Park. Just a week later, he visited the Allentown area to tout his economic efforts, and just days later he volunteered at Philabundance in South Philly alongside Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

In early March, Biden visited Delaware County the day after delivering the State of the Union, where he held a campaign rally at a middle school and made a surprise visit to a familys home.

Despite his frequent visits, Biden narrowly lagged Trump in the state in a poll released earlier this month by The Inquirer, New York Times, and Siena College. The poll showed voters favored Trump to handle the economy.

The details of his visit next week are currently unclear.

 READ MORE: Trump and Biden keep coming to Pennsylvania. Heres where they have stopped this year.
Dogs and their owners enjoy the sand and water at the Malibu Beach Wildlife Management area in Egg Harbor Township last Memorial Day weekend. It's that time of year again, and the weather looks decent Saturday and Sunday, not so much on Monday. Read more

While the weather should be more than decent Saturday and Sunday in the Philly region, forecasters say, those heading to the Shore may have the beaches to themselves on Memorial Day if they decide to stay around  or be prepared for heavy traffic if they dont.

On the mainland, late-May sun is due to cook temperatures well into the 80s on Saturday and Sunday, with both days rain-free.

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Temperatures at the Shore are forecast to be several degrees cooler, with highs in the 70s.

 READ MORE: There's more to the Shore than the beach

However, conditions look to deteriorate on Memorial Day. Monday certainly looks like the day that people may be heading back from the Shore early, said Eric Hoeflich, a National Weather Service meteorologist in the Mount Holly office and a Shore veteran.

With the atmosphere engorged with moisture, flooding downpours and strong thunderstorms may be in play throughout the region on Monday, said Dave Dombek, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather Inc.

The governments Storm Prediction Center has the entire region under a marginal risk for severe storms on Monday, defined as those with wind gusts approaching 60 mph.

Monday night, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Northeastern Lancaster County in effect until 9 p.m. The warning noted a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Rothsville at 8:24 p.m.

So, who says this is the unofficial start of summer?

Not the Atlantic Ocean or the atmosphere, which own no real estate nor Boardwalk concessions at the Shore.

Even by the meteorological communitys liberal definition of the starting date of summer  that is, June 1  Memorial Day never qualifies since it is always celebrated on the last Monday in May.

 READ MORE: If you're hungry for Memorial Day ideas, check this out

Climate realities of late May

The climate hasnt changed that much (yet) to consistently nudge the end of May into summer.

Of the three most popular traditional summer holidays  Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Labor Day  Memorial Day is the one with the highest probability of having nasty weather, said Dombek.

Hit-and-miss thunderstorms are a staple of early July. The biggest threat in early September would be rains and winds of tropical storms or their remnants. But those are infrequent occurrences, Ida notwithstanding.

Nature, however, has an assortment of ways to spoil picnics and beach outings at the end of May, said Dombek.

For example, enough chilly air is around to create the temperature contrasts needed for the organized storms that characterize the cool seasons.

Backdoor fronts  which move northeast-to-southwest rather than west-to-east  can cause temperatures to drop in a hurry since they import chilly air off the ocean.

And the ocean is still chilly, around 60 degrees this time of year, and it takes its good, old time warming into the 70s. Even a breeze from the east would create a jacket situation for beachgoers.

The summer heat also usually takes some time to ripen. The normal high temperature at the Shore doesnt reach 80 until June 9, and 85 until June 25.

Memorial Day definitely has been worse

The Memorial Day weekend outlook shines in comparison to some other May 25-27 periods in the past.

In 1991, a record heat wave that was a prelude to a blistering summer cooked Philadelphia with highs in the mid-90s, and the Shore was only a couple of degrees cooler.

On May 25, 1963, it got down to 40 degrees in the city, and to 44 in Atlantic City on May 27, 1965.

If you were around in 1918, you might remember the record 3.18 inches of rain that fell in Atlantic City on May 26.

Regarding rain, on average measurable rain falls around here about once every three days this time of year, although luckily the entire weekend was rain-free in Philly last Memorial Day weekend.

Hoeflich said he accepts what Memorial Day brings with a certain equanimity.

Its usually a bonus if you can get some beach time on Memorial Day, he said.

Staff writer Ariana Perez-Castells contributed to this article.
A federal jury convicted a San Joaquin County skydiving instructor of wire fraud and identity theft after a former student fell to his death. David Talukdar/Getty Images

A San Joaquin County man has been convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for fraudulently training skydiving instructors after a former student fell to his death, federal authorities announced.

Robert Allen Pooley, 49, trained prospective skydiving instructors in Acampo, north of Stockton, after receiving official ratings and certifications to do so in 2010, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of California said Friday. After completing courses with Pooley, students were then allowed to take members of the public skydiving by jumping off with them in tandem and bringing them to safety with a parachute.

In August 2015, Pooley lost clearance to do so. The U.S. Parachute Association and Uninsured United Parachute Technologies LLC, which manufacturers tandem parachute systems, suspended his examiner ratings that authorized him to conduct courses on his own.

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However, Pooley kept operating the courses and hid the lack of authorization from students, who believed they could become certified through his courses, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. This included assisting the students in filling out necessary paperwork and using the digital image of the signature belonging to a properly rated tandem examiner, who was out of the country, to sign off on the trainings.

Students from around the world  including Chile, Mexico and South Korea  paid about $1,100 for the courses and believed they were certified to conduct tandem skydiving jumps with the public.

One year after Pooley lost his authorization to train tandem instructors, student Yong Kwon, 25, and customer Tyler Turner, 18, fell to their deaths in a skydiving accident at the Parachute Center in Acampo, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Five more deaths related to skydiving accidents occurred at the center, out of at least 28 deaths there since 1985.

Former students tried to get their money back from Pooley, to no avail. A federal jury found him guilty after a seven-day trial.

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A visitor watches the waterfall at the North Folk Dam in Lower Lake Clementine near Auburn (Placer County). A 1,600-acre slice of the Sierra foothills along the North Fork American River has been purchased for conservation by the Trust for Public Land and transferred to the Bureau of Land Management. The newly acquired property will open up new trails with direct water access along one of Northern Californias most popular rivers. Andri Tambunan/Special to the Chronicle A group of trekkers enters the trailhead at Lower Lake Clementine near Auburn. A 1,600-acre slice of the Sierra foothills along the North Fork American River near Auburn has been purchased for conservation by the Trust for Public Land and transferred to the Bureau of Land Management. Andri Tambunan/Special to the Chronicle

Just outside the Placer County community of Auburn, one of the largest concentrations of private land along the North Fork American River was recently purchased for conservation, a deal that will soon open a new hiking trail to one of Northern Californias most popular summertime river destinations.

This spring, the San Francisco-based Trust for Public Land and Placer Land Trust closed a $6.4 million deal to acquire 1,567 acres skirting the rivers western edge between Interstate 80 and the sprawling Auburn State Recreation Area. The property is consolidated in four large, undeveloped blocks of pine- and oak-studded hillsides covering 6 miles of river frontage, including along the banks of sparkling Lake Clementine. Though undeveloped, it had effectively walled off public access to a gorgeous area in the remote river canyon that is suitable for sunbathing and swimming.

The propertys longtime owners at one point had proposed building 97 homes there, but five years ago agreed instead to sell it to the Placer Land Trust. By adding to the tens of thousands of acres of contiguous protected open space east of Auburn, the deal is a win for conservationists whod been eyeing the woodland parcels for two decades.

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This is a huge deal, said Jeff Darlington, Placer Land Trust executive director. Instead of being locked off by development, now weve got an area just a few minutes off the highway where you can access the river  finally.

The North Fork American runs nearly parallel to I-80 through Auburn, but its tough to access for the nearly 1 million annual visitors to the Auburn State Recreation Area who come to boat, fish, paddle and camp. Its closest access points are on the east side of Lake Clementine and at the confluence of the north and middle forks of the American River  areas that become choked with traffic during the hot summer months.

The newly purchased land includes a trailhead just off I-80 in the Placer County town of Applegate with a dirt parking area where hikers and horseback riders can travel a 2-mile path to a secluded beach on the rivers western bank.

Im excited to have another access point thatll hopefully ease the congestion at the lake and the confluence, said Kate Nitta, a stand-up paddleboarder who lives in Sacramento and sits on the board of the Placer Land Trust. We always need more recreational space here. Lets not turn it all into houses.

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Lake Clementine, accessible via Auburn State Recreation Area, is a hot spot of boating and paddling on the North Fork American River, particularly during hot summer months. Andri Tambunan/Special to the Chronicle

The property was long owned by Sacramentos Tsakopoulos real estate development family, whose company is one of the states largest landowners, according to the Trust for Public Land.

Placer Land Trust had been working to buy the land for the past 20 years and was able to cobble together the purchase price with help from the Trust for Public Land as well as a grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program. The land was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management this month.

In a statement, former landowner Angelo Tsakopoulos said his family is very happy with this conservation outcome.

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This land, the river and the lake are special, and weve enjoyed seeing wildlife thrive here, he said. Were pleased to know this land and the trail on it will be open to public access and recreation under BLM ownership.

On a recent visit to the trailhead parking area, a billboard-size Private Property sign staked into the dirt and pocked with bird shot warned visitors away. Unfazed, a dirt bike and all-terrain vehicle roared down the trail a stones throw from the lot.

The North Fork River winds below the dam on Lower Lake Clementine, near the sites where conservationists recently purchased about 1,600 acres along the river. Andri Tambunan/Special to the Chronicle

How exactly the area could be upgraded or improved isnt yet clear. However, the land acquisition is intended to provide new trails and access to the river, according to Philip Oviatt, public affairs officer for the Bureau of Land Managements Central California District.

The propertys 5 miles of trails are likely to be open to hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders, but probably not dirt bikers and off-roaders, Darlington said. Hed like to see the ominous Private Property sign replaced by an interpretive kiosk and maybe a restroom at the trailhead  something more welcoming for river-goers eager to explore a new corner of the Sierra foothills.

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Takashi Miyazaki created ructions last December when effectively announcing he was handing back Ichigo Ichies Michelin star by reinventing it as Ichigo Ichie Bistro and Natural Wine  a casual, cheaper offering reflecting the street food of his first Cork restaurant, evergreen Miyazaki, and with a new menu dominated by soba noodles handmade each morning.

While early reports of re-opening in January were excellent, I like allowing a restaurant to settle, so I have only now rounded up the Foleys for a return match.

I suspect tai (seabream) carpaccio may be one of Miyazakis promised culinary marriages of Japanese and Irish/European influences, in particular, the addition of osaba  a ewes milk cheese  as dairy isnt especially popular in Japan.

The osaba imparts nutty, briny notes to the carpaccio, echoed in roughly chopped chunks of black kalamata olives on the fish.

Fried garlic, pickled yuzu, and micro-greens complete a smart starter that really gets the juices flowing.

Sobako galette ebi mayo is basically prawn cocktail with gin mayo and buckwheat galettes, enveloping succulent crustaceans oozing with flavour.

Utterly simple, it is nonetheless a dish I regret having to share.

On certain days, Im inclined to think tempura is the greatest invention in history  or at least a top notch way to transmute base raw vegetables into edible treasure.

Mushrooms arent vegetables, but are a natural fit for tempura treatment. Encased in airy skeins of crispy batter, umami juices, concentrated by fryers heat, flood the palate, tentsuyu dipping sauce (soy, mirin, dashi) adding nuance.

A battered shiso leaf is best eaten solo, the brief flash of intense fryer heat muting the leafs innate mustard pungency.

How to describe buta goma miso katsu? Picture a Magnum. Now replace frozen ice cream with a similar-sized cutlet of slow cooked pork belly dipped in bread crumbs and deep-fried to a golden crisp, liberally topped with caramel-sweet salty sesame miso and toasted sesame seeds.

Hiya soba or cold soba should really read ambient soba, noodle dishes arriving at room temperature, ideal for truly appreciating the masterful craft that goes into Miyazakis soba noodles, handmade every morning with buckwheat and wheat flours.

Natto bukkake soba has fermented soya beans bearing a mild malty bitterness, egg yolk adding viscosity to gorgeous flavoursome al dente noodles bathing in exquisite broth.

There is not the same delicacy to riced-based donburi, for donburi brings out the inner child in all ages.

Tori tatsuta don is fried chicken, glistening sweet glaze showered in toasted sesame seeds served with glutinous sticky rice. It renders table manners redundant as we tear at chicken held in one hand while scooping up clumps of sticky rice with the other.

Our first on soba (hot soba) dish is the stark simplistic perfection of kake soba, noodles in broth with scallions, its elemental majesty deriving from ethereal potency of the dashi and the tender nutty noodles.

Tai ume shio ramen is delicious seabream broth with swollen ramen noodles, and shiokoji chasu  slow-cooked pork shoulder. It is capped with an ume plum and nitamago, an egg, soft-boiled, then marinated, usually in sake, soy, mirin, pepper, and ginger.

The dish encapsulates that uncanny knack of Japanese cuisine to showcase big flavours as fleeting even ghostly experiences, powerful yet not remotely overpowering.

We valiantly attempt desserts: Sumptuous, smoky Gubbeen baked cheesecake and gorgeous matcha panna cotta  both wonderful, but bellies are long past closing time.

The other stated aim of Ichigo Ichie 2.0 was to emphasise Miyazakis passion for natural wines: Les Bardets Blanc (Labastide de Levis) is balanced, fresh, rippling with grapefruit acidity, wonderful with the tempura.

El Pinto Palomino (La Parilla) is bone dry, saline, slicing through unctuous fried chicken and sticky rice starch. A Syrah from Herve Souhaut is nothing short of good old-fashioned indulgence, powerful nose, creamy, black cherry and vanilla on the palate, good with those porcine lollies, but as pleasurable on its own.

Gone is the tweezer-flourishing finesse of the gold leaf glory days of Michelin, but the precision with which he constructs exquisitely balanced flavours and textures remains.

The one caveat is to do with atmosphere. Always a long and awkward room, it narrows dramatically at the half way point to, in effect, create two disconnected spaces.

The main action is to the rear, around the old chefs counter, but we are seated just inside the front door, where all the upbeat vibes come courtesy of us four Foleys.

Understated decor and furniture layout hasnt changed and, if that contributed to a zen-like serenity in the Michelin star days, it now only highlights a vacuum in vivacity and craic.

Despite all that, it is still instantly a new favourite restaurant even if tonights extended professional sampling means we roam too far across the menu, rather than popping in for one or two fine dishes and a glass of wine.

A good, strong personality to crank up energy levels in the pleasant but stilted service is all thats needed to complete the picture, and make Ichigo Ichie once again into one of the very best restaurants in the land  which it already is, anyway.

The Verdict

Food: 9

Wines: 9.5

Service: 8

Value: 9

Atmosphere: 6.5
President Michael D Higgins has denounced as "irresponsible" claims made by the Israeli ambassador about the level of antisemitism in Ireland.

Encouraging fear amongst the Jewish community in Ireland is "deeply irresponsible" and is simply a "PR exercise" by an administration that is guilty of breaching international law in Gaza, the President has told the Irish Examiner.

"I think the Israeli ambassador has been deliberately suggesting that all people of Jewish belief are now at risk and are being threatened and there is no evidence for this," President Higgins said.

"There are many people of Jewish faith who are as shocked as I am by the people, the mob, who attack a food convoy and take its flour and rice and scatter it on the ground," he said in reference to a number of aid trucks that have been stopped in Israel en route to the Gaza strip.

His comments came as Israeli ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich said Ireland's diplomatic, economic and humanitarian activities within Israeli borders will be reviewed in the wake of the decision to formally recognise the Palestinian state.

The ambassador has previously said she does not believe Ireland is politically neutral in respect of the Israel-Hamas conflict and has warned of rising antisemitism here.

President Higgins, who this week met with the new chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder in Aras an Uachtarain, said: "It is absolutely outrageous to be abusing the Jewish community by saying that there is widespread anti-Semitism.

The Irish people are not antisemitic, quite the opposite, for example the first President here, Douglas de hIde, spoke Hebrew among the five languages that he spoke.

"I don't think it is helpful if people representing the Jewish state seek to encourage fear where it doesn't exist by saying to people: 'All of us now and anyone of Jewish faith must feel afraid', that is grossly irresponsible.

"It is simply something that is a PR exercise by an administration that is guilty of continuing  not historic  continuing breaches of international law as is happening in relation to the events in Gaza."

President Higgins added that it would be "very wrong" to blame members of the Jewish community for the actions of the Israeli government and stressed the importance of drawing a distinction between "faith, the state, the government, and a particular version of the government, not only Netanyahu but two extremists who are serving in the cabinet with him, one of whom has responsibility of the West Bank".

'Totally unacceptable'

Meanwhile, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has described the treatment of the Irish ambassador to Israel by the foreign ministry as "totally unacceptable" and "not within the parameters of acceptable norms".

Sonya McGuinness was shown footage of Hamas capturing hostages on October 7 when she was summoned to the Israeli foreign affairs ministry and reprimanded over Ireland's decision to recognise the state of Palestine this week.

"We anticipated there would have been engagement, we anticipated that the ambassador would have been called in, but it's the showing her the footage in front of Israeli national media which is something we haven't witnessed before in other countries or jurisdictions," Mr Martin said.

In a significant move, the UN's International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ordered Israel to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in a landmark emergency ruling on South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide.

The court also ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid.
The Muslim Sisters of Eire have said that Friday's soup run was "one of their hardest in a long time".

The charity, which runs an empowerment programme for the homeless, hands out food and clothing to hundreds of people every Friday outside the GPO in Dublin city.

Yesterday's queue ran the around the corner of O'Connell Street and on to Henry Street.

The group said they had to deal with two outbreaks of fighting between families with children.

In a post on social media, they wrote: "Tonight was one of the hardest nights in a long time. The queue was long and all the way around the corner of OConnell and Henry Street.

"It is so disheartening and soul crushing to see children crying and people frightened, but also how people are desperate.

"These families were agitated with each other during to the long queue, and that can be a very heartbreaking thing to see."

The group said they had to shut down the soup run to bring families with children forward to the top of the queue.

They continued: "This is the harsh reality and the sadness of the soup run. We are blessed to be able to help people like this, and gain the trust and loyalty of people out there.

"We had a volunteer from the Gardai diversity section. They were shocked to see the reality and the situation.

The charity added: "We are very grateful and want to give our thanks to everyone out there who helps us facilitate such a soup run week in and week out.

"We couldnt do this without your constant support."
"I would like my own room where I can be alone and prevent illness."

A teenage girl who is battling cancer says having to share a bedroom with four other family members is threatening her recovery as she undergoes a gruelling round of chemotherapy at CUH.

Sixteen-year-old Nayle Mametova fled Crimea with her parents Zenure and Ruslan and brothers Nazim (18) and Ridvan (10) in November 2022  forced out under the weight of Russias illegal occupation.

They escaped across the Latvia-Russian border, after numerous unsuccessful attempts, and ended up settling in Cork. The family hoped the move signalled a fresh start for them all. However, for Nayle, there was bad news to come.

She had been experiencing concerning symptoms and complained of chills running through her whole body even in warm temperatures. After a number of assessments, she was diagnosed last October with Lymphoma  cancer of the lymphatic system.

Nayle and her family currently live in a hub accommodating asylum seekers in North Cork  with the families accommodated in single bedrooms and a communal dining facility.

This confined living space means that Nayle, given her compromised immunity, is more susceptible to the spread of illnesses. Nayles mum Zenure says they spent the winter months sleeping with the window open in a desperate attempt to protect her.

While the family are treated extremely well at the communal facility they reside in, Zenure says a host family would be a more preferable option to maximise Nayles chances of a full recovery. She said her children desperately miss their grandparents and would ideally love the opportunity to house share with an elderly couple.

One of the things the children miss very much is their grandfather and grandmother, she told the Irish Examiner. What we would love to find is two elderly people who love children. It might be great for them also.

Back home the children lived together with their grandfather and grandmother. They all loved each other very much. If there is a possibility to find Irish grandparents then we would love to find that match.

Nayle, who spoke to the Irish Examiner shortly after undergoing chemotherapy, said she is trying to stay as strong as possible for her parents.

The student who goes to secondary school in Doneraile, described how her diagnosis came about: At night I felt cold. I was freezing. My body was very tired so we came to the hospital to find out what it was. I had enlarged lymph nodes from time to time as a child but it was only temporary so we thought it was normal.

Zenure recalls hoping the translator in Cork University Hospital had somehow misinterpreted the doctors words. Nayle is young so she was protected but I was shocked, Zenure said.

Lymphoma has the same pronunciation in so many languages but I still looked at the translator and asked 'what is he saying?' because I didnt want to accept it. It was a very difficult thing for him to translate because he is a friend of the family.

(Left to right) Fiona Corcaran of the Greater Chernobyl Cause with Nayle Mametova and her mum, Zenure Mametova. 'This family are yearning for that connection because they are missing their grandparents so much.' Picture: Jim Coughlan

Nayle said she never feared the battle that lay ahead of her. I had heard about lymphoma but I didnt think about it. My mum couldnt believe that her daughter had this illness. She thought it was impossible.

"The doctor explained the situation but I wasnt scared because they tell me that its treatable in most cases. Its helpful to be strong. If you are feeling very scared and very upset then these feelings are useless.

The potential to pick up colds and flus has left the family terrified for Nayle. If my brother gets sick then thats very bad for me. He was sick last week and that was a big worry for us. I would like my own room where I can be alone and prevent illness.

The lack of space also presents a host of other issues for Nayle. Having boys and girls in the same room is uncomfortable if you are getting changed. It would mean a lot to have my own privacy.

Her parents say the disease has forced Nayle to grow up quickly. Children who get sick in childhood mature quickly. They are generally more mature than healthy children. Nayle tries to appear strong so as not to upset her mother. If you need some energy and strength it maybe helps to be that bit more mature.

The family have also found strength in their community. The principal of Nayles school was so supportive. Everyone else is supportive too. I didnt know who the Irish people were when I came to live here. I remember it as a cold and rainy place when we first arrived.

Now, I know the warmth is in the people. I never expected the kind of reaction we received from the Irish people. They have been so helpful and kind. The attitude to immigrants in Ireland is like nothing you would experience in any other part of the world.

"What weve seen here is not common. I know there are a lot of complaints about the health system in Ireland but the care Nayle received was perfect.

Nayle agrees adding: The doctors and nurses are so helpful and kind. They are doing their best and want to help me in any way they can.

The 16-year-old, who is expected to be halfway through chemotherapy next month derives great joy in art as she completes her treatment. My dad inspires me to paint and so does my mum. Dad was a builder and mum was a hairdresser but both have art in what they do. I find drawing and painting really relaxing and I would really like to be an artist one day."

Fiona Corcoran, who heads the Greater Chernobyl Cause charity, has been advocating on the familys behalf. She is helping with an appeal to find a home that would allow the children and their parents to benefit from a positive environment.

This family are yearning for that connection because they are missing their grandparents so much. Its a daily struggle for them so this is a really good idea. Im hoping there is somebody out there who will grasp this opportunity. It has the potential to bring joy to both older people and the children who could both benefit from the relationship.

Fiona is accepting interest from potential host families who might be open to sharing their home with the family. For more information email info@greaterchernobylcause.ie
A Cork store is celebrating the sale of the jackpot-winning ticket in the Lotto Daily Million draw.

The 1m top prize was scooped by a lucky punter who bought their ticket at the Centra on Rochestown Road in Cork on Thursday, the day of the draw.

Store manager Kim Hickey was thrilled to hear that one of their customers now has a ticket worth a life-changing amount.

As it turns out, it's not the first time that a major prize was won in the Centra.

"Believe it or not weve had a couple of big wins in this store," said Ms Hickey.

"History has repeated itself as we already previously sold a Daily Millions Top Prize ticket worth 1m to one of our customers back in 2020 and then two years later, we sold a EuroMillions Plus top prize ticket worth 500,000.

"So, we couldnt believe it when we got the call that wed sold another winning ticket thats made someone an overnight millionaire. Its unreal! Were just delighted for whoever it is."

The prize winner has made contact with Lotto bosses already to collect their seven-figure prize.

Ms Hickey said that the shop is very busy with locals but there are also "a few tourists and visitors passing through at this time of year".

Amazingly, it was the third time in the last week the Daily Million was won.

National Lottery spokesperson Sarah Ruane said: Its been the most memorable week of wins weve experienced in the National Lottery.

"Its the third time a player has scooped the Daily Million Top Prize of 1 million in just five days! This win also marks the 6th Daily Million Top Prize win of the year to date."

Meanwhile a EuroMillions Plus player in the Clonsilla area of Dublin scooped the Top Prize of 500,000 in last nights draw (24th May).

The Dublin player has become the ninth EuroMillions Plus top prize winner of 2024 following wins by players in Dublin (2) Tipperary, Cork, Wicklow (2) Kilkenny and Laois.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased on the day of the draw at Tesco Ireland, Clonsilla, Roselawn, Dublin 15.
Imagine youre 23 again. Youre just out of college or have just finished an apprenticeship. Youre taking the first steps into a career youve spent years working towards. You might be taking time out to go travelling, or starting a new relationship.

For most people in this age cohort, while politics might still be an important factor in their lives, they are certainly not planning to stick their faces up on plastic posters and litter them across lampposts in towns and cities around the country.

But for some young people, the foray into the political arena is what theyve thought of doing for years and next month's local elections is their first chance to make an impact.

Political activism in young people is nothing new. It has driven campaigns to overwhelming success in recent years, like the 2015 marriage equality referendum that legalised same-sex marriage.

It can also be seen in recent weeks, following the success of Trinity College Dublin Students' Union in pressuring the college to divest from Israeli companies.

However, this political activity does not always translate to political candidacy. This can be seen in the comparison between the total number of young candidates running, and the overall number of candidates in races across the country.

Analysis carried out by Maynooth University lecturer and election guru, Adrian Kavanagh, estimates that there are more than 80 candidates running in the local elections between the age of 18 and 29, with even more running who are under 35.

Compare this with the over 2,000 people running in the locals, and it becomes obvious that younger people are going to be massively underrepresented in councils across the country once polls do close.

While many of these young candidates may not end up being elected, they must be commended for being bold enough to put themselves forward to the electorate. Those who do end up on councils could go further and act as the inspiration for future young politicos.

RACHEL HARTIGAN

It might be surprising for someone in their early 20s to be running for Fianna Fail, especially if they don't come from a political family.

But 22-year-old Clare native Rachel Hartigan, took a shine to Micheal Martin's party in college due to the common decency of the Soldiers of Destiny and an inclusive youth wing.

She admits that many people on the doors are often curious about her political affiliations, with many raising the perception that Fianna Fail has not traditionally been seen as a young persons party.

Its a question that I get all the time and I think people are genuinely curious. They dont always equate Fianna Fail with a young persons party, she says.

Hartigan says that she doesn't hail from a political family, but took her own decision about party affiliation at UL, saying that Fianna Fail was supportive and inclusive and aligned with her own views.

Rachel Hartigan (centre), speaking to Shannon Banks resident Mary Lownes (left) while canvassing with Cathal Crowe TD. Picture: Eamon Ward

She points to the partys policies on issues like housing and health, particularly highlighting the move toward free contraception for women. She also raises the reductions in fees for universities and the cut in public transport fares as achievements for the party.

Put to her that these were both carried out by a Fine Gael and Green minister respectively, Ms Hartigan says she doesn't believe these policies could be claimed by just one person.

Especially in a coalition, I dont think that it ever comes from one party in particular, she says.

Hartigan admits that she does worry about the safety of women politicians, but was still determined to run and refused to shy away from politics.

I mean, Holly Cairns had to close her constituency office due to safety concerns and that is very, very alarming," she says adding that sexism and misogyny is alive and well.

While I do have to factor it in and I do worry about it, I dont think the answer is necessarily to shy away. But rather than putting her off, it inspires her to instead step forward.

We need to see more women using their voice and I never think the answer is to just stay quiet. Youre basically giving them what they want.

They dont want to hear women, they dont want to hear from strong women. But her political priorities? Hartigan says that as it's a local election, local issues must be to the fore.

This includes dealing with road and footpath improvements, which Hartigan says can make a massive impact on peoples lives.

Her mother has always held a mantra of voting for the person rather than the party  youd have to imagine thats at least one vote in the bag.

LUKE CORKERY

Luke Corkery, a self-described passionate centrist, is determined to not only run for Fine Gael in Swords, but press for delivery of the Dublin metro.

Public transport definitely is my obsession, specialist subject being Metrolink," the 22-year-old says.

Corkery is critical of southside politicians who want to see Metrolink scrapped, saying the project is absolutely worth it and there are 50,000 people who would back me up there.

He said that while there is some bias as he is a Fine Gaeler, he admits to being annoyed at pretty much any minister who has let Metrolink slide.

Corkery himself has been involved in the party for years, having first joined the youth branch at 15.

He first took an interest in politics at the 2011 general election when he was nine-years old, taking the time to write individual profiles on candidates seeking election.

Fine Gael local election candidate for Swords, Luke Corkery, admits that with Fine Gael being a broad church, he is on the left wing of the party. Photo: Gareth Chaney

I dont know why, it just kind of sparked an interest, he said, but after reading up on parties in his teenage years, he opted for Fine Gael through some of the people coming up at that time.

At the time, you had a lot of liberal minds and centrist voices and youth up-and-coming. You know, Simon Harris, Paschal Donohoe, Leo Varadkar even, Corkery says.

His first campaign came in 2018 with the abortion referendum, where he canvassed and campaigned for Repeal, before getting involved in DCU Young Fine Gael while he was in college.

Describing his own political beliefs, Corkery says he is a passionate centrist and he believes it is important to be pragmatic in politics.

Im someone who likes to take a bit from each side. You do need to be pragmatic in politics, thats really important and I think its as important in local government as it is in national government, he said.

However, he admits that with Fine Gael being a broad church, Corkery is on the left wing of the party.

On his own priorities if elected, he will be focused on both housing and local infrastructure in Swords.

One big grievance that he has seen is around the lack of a distributor road for Swords, which he says would take traffic out of the main town similar to a bypass, while the area waits for Metrolink.

Whether or not he is elected at the upcoming election, Corkery will remain disappointed for the time being as the long, long wait for the Dublin metro continues at least into the next decade.

JAMES STOKES

For an 18-year-old candidate to be talked about as a future TD, you can be sure theyre going places.

Not only has James Stokes been singled out for praise by Mary Lou McDonald at a recent Sinn Fein event, he is also on the radar of a senior Fine Gael cabinet minister who believes James Stokes is one to watch.

The Traveller activist, who got his start in politics campaigning on period poverty in school, is one of the youngest candidates in the upcoming local elections.

Stokes, a Sinn Fein candidate for the Newbridge electoral area, is seeking to take a seat back for the party in the area after five years without SF representation.

Stokes is currently studying to become a primary teacher, while also working with Traveller children to support them remaining in education.

He says that while he didnt mean to get into politics, it was something that was always around him growing up due to his grandfathers role as a Traveller activist.

He didnt care for politics or anything like that, but he was a Traveller activist and he always just said what he believed and called out racism and discrimination against Travellers, Stokes says of his grandfather.

It was because of my granddads activism that made me think of activism. So then I went and became a youth activist, I became a Traveller activist.

During his time as a youth activist, Stokes was involved in his secondary schools student council, where he brought forward proposals to deal with period poverty. This campaign saw free period products rolled out across the school shortly after its inception.

We brought that in. We said, look, students need these things. We shouldnt let it be a barrier for them accessing their education, Stokes says.

Recent campaigns hes been involved in have been about improving access to education, including one to improve public transport links between Newbridge and Maynooth University for college students.

James Stokes, 18, from Newbridge, Co Kildare is a Sinn Fein candidate in the upcoming local elections as well as being singled out as one to watch by a Fine Gael minister. Photo: Moya Nolan

Right now, theres no direct public service but there is a private service, but the times just werent working for students and the prices werent working for students either, Stokes says.

He worked on a petition and gathered over 560 signatures, before sending it off to both Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Kildare County Council. However, Ryan did not respond, while the council rejected the proposal.

It made young people feel ignored, Stokes says.

Stokes says he is receiving a positive response on the doors, claiming that the public are interested in seeing different perspectives within a council chamber.

People like the idea of different perspectives being seen in a council chamber and in local government.

People like that an 18-year-old, like their children or grandchildren, will have a part in the decision-making process.

On young people getting involved in politics, Stokes is critical of the system which he believes was not designed for them.

Someone said, come back when youre 30, when you have a family, when youve worked a job. The reality is, we already have enough politicians who are 30 or over, with families, whove worked wherever theyve worked.

With June 7 set to be the first steps of his burgeoning political career, you get the sense that Stokes doesnt plan on stopping at Kildare council, but might be eyeing up Kildare Street in the future.

AISLING MALONEY

When Aisling Maloney decided to run for the Green Party, even her own father initially questioned why she might stand.

For a young Green in Tipperary, it may be somewhat difficult to break through existing stereotypes about the partys stance on rural Ireland.

She comes from a farming background, and her dad was skeptical about her choice.

He was like, the Green Party? Really? the 21-year-old UCD student said.

But she maintains that the Green Party has been instrumental in improving life in rural Ireland, while also admitting that there is always a challenge in being the smallest party in a coalition.

Green Party local election candidate, Aisling Maloney, rejects any assertions that the Green Party is anti-rural. Picture: Dan Linehan

Its never easy being the minority party in Government, but I think what the Greens have done in terms of rural public transport and just to improve life in rural areas as well, its been great, Maloney said.

Asked about how they have improved services, Maloney said that her biggest challenge while growing up was in the lack of public transport.

When I was going to secondary school, Id have to get a lift into town and then get a private bus to my secondary school, Maloney says.

But over the last few years, youre seeing more of an increase of public transport routes. Youre seeing different towns be more connected to each other. You can actually visit other places without having to rely on cars or lifts, especially if you cant drive yourself.

On her own political journey, Maloney said that she has always been interested in environmental activism, having been involved in the Green Schools programme and then becoming a climate ambassador with An Taisce.

Since coming to college, moving up to Dublin, I got more attracted to the party itself, she said, adding that she received supports from within the Greens.

However, Maloney admits that she only became a member of the party in recent months, after she was offered the chance to run in the local election.

She rejects any assertions that the Green Party is anti-rural, saying that she grew up hearing that from people.

Her once-skeptical father is now among her great support network, which is what she hopes will carry her through the weeks-long election campaign.

However, she will have to fight long and hard to break through the barriers in Roscrea-Templemore to clinch the Greens first seat on Tipperary County Council.

EOGHAN KENNY

For Eoghan Kenny and his friends, water charges are far from their minds when they think about the Labour Party.

The 24-year-old Mallow councillor was only 11 when the controversial proposal was brought forward by the Fine Gael-Labour coalition, but when asked, he points to his party bringing the country out of economic turmoil.

Kenny argues that, while the party remains branded by the scar of water charges, Labour has moved beyond their most recent spell in government and younger voters recognise this.

People still talk about, to this day, water charges. We get branded with that idea of water charges, but that was only a very slight thing in a very large government and a very large amount of time for things that were done, Kenny says.

People in my generation now  Im only 24  you know, 24-year-olds in this country wont remember water charges as something to describe the Labour Party by.

If I asked my friends about water charges, they wouldnt instantly say oh the Labour Party. On the 2011-16 Government, Kenny says his party had inherited a country that had been ruined financially.

Eoghan Kenny (centre) who was co-opted onto the council to replace James Kennedy (left) after he stepped down in February, canvassing with party supporter Tom O'Neill. Kenny hopes that all voters can look beyond the past and see him as the future of the party. Picture: Larry Cummins

We came out of Government in 2016, economically in a good state. I suppose, naturally enough being the smaller party in Government where youre going to have to increase taxes, decrease expenditure, youre going to get the brunt of the backlash, Kenny says.

On his own political priorities, Kenny identifies the ongoing housing crisis as the generational issue, particularly for people his own age.

People of my generation cannot get access to housing. We cannot get access to housing in our own localities. We cant build houses in our own localities. We cant rent houses, because the wages were on do not fit the bill for extortionate rent prices."

Kenny admits that his family and friends do have concerns about him being a public figure, but that particularly his grandmother  who he has lived with since he was 10  is fearful about people getting angry with him over his work as a councillor.

Theyre just fearful, like any other family member would be, that youre in the public eye now. Fearful of the fact that you might knock on a door one day, and they might be with you, and you get a lambasting off a constituent about work youre doing or not doing, he says.

With Mallow remaining as a bastion of Labour support in Cork, Kenny hopes that all voters can look beyond the past and see him as the future of the party.
At the top of the Sinn Fein party the apprentice is now outshining the master.

Michelle ONeills performance, especially since taking up the position of first minister, has led some around Leinster House to speculate that she may yet follow in the footsteps of Gerry Adams in crossing the border to run for the Dail at some point in the future.

Sinn Fein members themselves arent entertaining such a prospect, at least not publicly, and continue to vehemently support Mary Lou McDonald.

But as she leads her party into what could be a defining local and European elections, McDonald has seen support for Sinn Fein drop.

The party has also been accused of floundering and flip-flopping on the thorny issue of migration and open borders.

As president of a party that at its core believes that there should be no border on the island of Ireland, McDonald has found herself trying to explain how Sinn Fein is also in not for open borders.

When you are explaining, as the saying goes, you are probably losing, or at the very least causing significant confusion.

EU Migration Pact

Her explanations came after Cork TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire drew criticism from both Government and opposition politicians for claiming Sinn Fein was opposed to open borders in a social media video about the EUs Migration Pact.

When questioned, McDonald was to quick to defend her partys rhetoric on open borders, arguing that it has long been her position on immigration.

She claimed there has been a lot of misinformation around migration and instead accused the Government of scrambling on the issue.

Sinn Fein is not for open borders, we are for a system that is fair, human rights compliant, efficient, she said.

Struggling to form a clear message on immigration, McDonald has increasingly been targeted by far-right protesters.

She was among the politicians who appeared on a mock gallows brought to the front of Leinster House last September.

In recent days nasty slogans have been daubed close to her constituency office in Dublin.

Cork TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire drew criticism from both Government and opposition politicians for claiming Sinn Fein was opposed to open borders in a social media video about the EUs Migration Pact. File picture:Gareth Chaney/Collins

Across the border, Michelle ONeill, it seems can almost do no wrong.

Her apology for attending the funeral of senior Sinn Fein and IRA figure Bobby Storey in west Belfast back in 2020 when covid protocols were still in place, was viewed as significant.

It marked a departure from the defensive, closed ranks nature of the party.

I know that my actions also angered the families and for that Im truly sorry. I am sorry for going and Im sorry for the harm thats been caused after [it], she told the covid inquiry.

Asked if she realised the anger that going to the funeral would cause, she said: I didnt but I ought to have.

Her comments have been viewed as an honest admission, reflective of a fresh approach being taken by the new first minister.

ONeill, who became pregnant at 16, but still managed to continue her education, is also the type of good news story voters appreciate.

I was determined that I wasnt going to be written off, that I was going to work hard and make a good life for [my daughter], she told reporters back in 2021.

Solid relations in Stormont

In Stormont, ONeill has forged a warm and solid relationship with deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly which, according to those in both parties, is sincere.

Much has been made of the fact that two children of the Troubles and the daughters of rival militants have now become leaders in a post-Good Friday Northern Ireland.

Both women appeared genuinely at ease in each others company when they took to the stage together at a conveyor-belt of events in Washington to mark St Patricks Day.

ONeill represents an open and humble style of politics, one where she is not afraid to admit past mistakes and build unlikely alliances that can only bring about a more positive future.

While clearly tongue-in-cheek, RTEs Callans Kicks show recently hit the nail on the head in a radio skit which depicted McDonald as a bit of a ranty Republican whereas ONeill was described as a more scented candle-style Republican.

In March, a poll gave ONeill a popularity rating of 55% among Republic of Ireland voters. In contrast, the Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll put McDonald on just 39%.

The figures show how the tables have turned since 2018 when ONeill as the partys newly appointed vice president often appeared in McDonalds shadow when she accompanied her at events in Northern Ireland.

In the early days she was also dismissed by unionists as Adams puppet, unable to act without the approval of the hierarchy.

When asked what word she would use to described ONeill, former DUP leader Arlene Foster famously answered blonde.

But despite a hesitant start, ONeill is now seen as a confident but down-to-earth politician, who has pledged to be a first minister for all.

Back over on the southern side of the border, Sinn Fein has gone from a high of 36% support in 2022, to a low of 23% in one recent poll.

Although the true level of support may be closer to the high 20s judging from other tallies, it is still a dramatic dive.

McDonald, having lost more than 100 council seats in the 2019 local elections must make significant ground in the upcoming elections.

It has been suggested in recent weeks that Sinn Fein, having underestimated the level of support ahead of the 2020 general elections where the party did not field enough candidates to take advantage of the groundswell of support it enjoyed, may now have overestimated how well it will do in Junes elections with too many candidates on ballot papers.

A lot can happen in the dying days of a campaign as McDonald learned when her party romped home back in 2020, topping polls and claiming far more Dail seats than even she expected.

But if Sinn Fein truly want to be an all-island party into the future, it may need to look at consolidating the leadership structure and with ONeill on the rise that may not bode well for McDonald.
I spent an afternoon, last weekend, strolling through the narrow northside streets of Dublin city, close to where I spent much of my youth, in sunshine that was rare for this time of year.

These side streets are steeped in history, including Green St, where one of Irelands once most famous courthouses stands. The ashlar-stone building was part of a complex which included three prisons  Newgate, the Sheriffs Prison, and the City Marshalsea.

In response to the Troubles, the Special Criminal Court was reconstituted in 1972, and Green St became its location for the next 30 years. It was the scene of many landmark hearings, including the trials of Martin McGuinness in 1973, Michael McKevitt in 2009, and John Gilligan in 2001.

It was also the location for the trial of married couple Marie and Noel Murray, both activists with a history of involvement in republican politics, who were sentenced to death in June 1976 by Justice Denis Pringle, having been convicted of the capital murder of Garda Michael Reynolds the previous September.

Garda Michael Reynolds, from Kilconnell, Co Galway, was shot dead in 1975.

The Murrays had abandoned the Ford Cortina they were driving in St Annes Park on Dublins northside, following a bank robbery close by at the Bank of Ireland in Killester.

Garda Reynolds, from Kilconnell in Co Galway, who was off-duty, had given chase in his own private car, after suspecting the Cortina had been stolen, bes speed. He left his wife and two-year-old daughter in the car to concause of ittinue his pursuit on foot across the park.

As he closed in on the couple and tackled one of them to the ground, the other, Marie Murray, turned and shot the unarmed garda in the head. He died two hours later in hospital. Known as Mick to all who knew him, he had been a garda for barely five years.

Such was the public outrage caused by the crime of capital murder, an atrocity aimed at the most safeguarded tenets of our democracy  our Defence Forces  the Murrays would pay by forfeiting their own lives.

Back then, when I was a boy, it was an unquestioned fact of life that the gardai commanded a level of respect afforded to few others.

Their executions were set for July 9. Noel Murray would be hanged at the Curragh Military Camp, in Co Kildare, while his wife would face a similar fate in Mountjoy Prison.

Noel Murray, along with his wife Marie, was convicted of the murder of Garda Michael Reynolds.

Standing outside the courthouse last week reminded me of that Wednesday, June 9, 1976, when temperatures were breaking records. I stood at the bottom of Green St watching armed soldiers and detectives escort the Murrays away to their executions, the price for the ultimate perversion of democracy.

Garda Michael Reynolds became the 18th member of the force to die in the line of duty  47 gardai have lost their lives since then.

Following an international campaign to stop the executions, which included appeals for mercy by Pope Paul VI, the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, Lord Longford, and the future British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock, the couple had their convictions commuted to common murder. They were both released in 1992. They were among the last people to be sentenced to death in the Republic of Ireland. Times have changed.

Marie Murray, along with her husband Noel, was among the last people sentenced to death in this country, their convictions later being commuted to common murder.

Six months ago this weekend, violence erupted close to that same area of Dublin on a scale that my generation never witnessed before. While 13 shops were looted and damaged, four buses and one Luas tram were also torched and destroyed.

Brave gardai and other members of the emergency services were isolated and left high and dry, while innocent bystanders on their way home from work tried to intervene to protect others, including terrified children. It was the worst act of feral thuggery our country has ever seen. Of 60 gardai who were assaulted, three were seriously injured.

The drip-drip narrative and potency of jingoism, and its extremists who had been slowly upping their game of targeting people in Ireland on the basis of their ethnicity, finally exploded in a night of savagery that turned the skies over the capital blood-red with flames.

The scenes on the streets the following morning were reminiscent of a war zone.

To the unsuspecting tourist last weekend, Dublin must have felt a million miles away from the violence of last November; but not to local traders, and one resident, who told me they live in fear every day.

Gangs of teenagers, and younger, dressed in their hoodies and black face masks, cycle up and down the footpath, forcing pedestrians to step out onto the road. Passers-by avert their gaze. You dont stare at these kids.

Will there be another November 23? Most likely. It feels somewhat inevitable in the current climate.

Some of those who claim to stand behind a flag of their own political ideology are in it for the violence, nothing else.

A bus and car on fire on O'Connell St in Dublin on November 23, 2023. Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Our gardai have become a target. Our Government doesnt appear to be taking this fact seriously.

When the defenders of democracy are being abused, spat at, and assaulted, were moving further into dystopia, closer to what Garda Michael Reynolds faced that day in 1975. So far, 65 gardai have lost their lives in the line of duty. If the current civil unrest continues, that number will rise.

It was pure luck no one was killed in the November riots last year but luck runs out. Many of the so-called far-right agitators behind the attack six months ago are simply biding their time.

What happened that evening shouldnt be regarded as a once-off. Wed be foolish to believe it was.

For democracy to thrive, and for citizens to feel safe, our country must have a proactive government, and a strong, unbreakable Garda force, both of which we have lacked for some years.

When a government finds itself unable to govern, when it becomes distracted and no longer focused on the needs of its people, then democracy starts to unravel; and without democracy, society will quickly resemble a dystopian landscape.

Dystopia is an imagined society where its people lead desolate, fearful, even dehumanised lives. Paul Lynchs Booker Prize-winning novel Prophet Song reminds me that most fiction finds its origins in abstract reality.

If democracy is to survive, this Government needs to acknowledge that it must and will engage with those who oppose it. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Irish governments have served the people well for many years, with advances in health, education, and equality coming to mind; but that has stalled.

If democracy is to survive, then this Government needs to acknowledge that it must and will engage with those who oppose it.

The storming of Washingtons Capitol Hill in 2021 wasnt an attack on democracy, as some critics claimed it was. American democracy was already history by then, killed off as a result of successive governments trying to prop up a dead political system while ignoring their own subterfuge.

Were witnessing the same here in Ireland, with the biggest threat to democracy coming from whats perceived as inertia and indifference on the part of many of its politicians.

Never, it would appear, has there been a more concerted effort to rid a country of its government. The outcome of the forthcoming elections could affect the future of our democracy  the belief in freedom and equality between people.

This Governments greatest challenge is not if they dont win seats, its if they do. Be careful what you wish for.
It is essential during Biodiversity Week 2024 that we recognise and celebrate the tens of thousands of Irish farmers who have accepted the challenge and committed to being part of the solution.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is proud to be considered a forerunner in the integration of Biodiversity in Action working with farmers as part of the drive towards sustainable food production.

Occupying approximately two-thirds of Irelands land area, farmland and farmers are central to Irelands biodiversity and the Department has been building supports to encourage farmers to take action to support biodiversity through many different incentives, schemes, projects, educational and awareness-raising initiatives.

Ireland's farmers are very aware of the role played by pollinators in the cycle of nature.

For the Department the focus in relation to biodiversity is on farmland and the semi-natural habitats and species which rely on agriculture for appropriate and sensitive management.

Irelands CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), has been designed to reflect a significantly increased dedication to the environment and, in particular, biodiversity.

Under CAP

Over 96,000 farmers have committed 10% of their land to Space for Nature in the Eco-scheme action.

Farmers have committed to protecting native species and local waterbodies both on their farms and across the Irish landscape. This is being achieved through their participation in CAP Strategic Plan schemes such as the Eco-scheme and the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and through hundreds of EIP-Agri and EU LIFE projects across the country.

ACRES is Irelands main agri-environment scheme worth 1.5 billion which rewards farmers for committed environmental effort by linking payments to the quality of environmental outcomes delivered. By managing farmland in a more nature-friendly manner and thus providing higher environmental quality, the higher the payments farmers can receive.

Tens of thousands of Irish farmers have accepted the challenge and committed to being part of the climate action solution.

Other biodiversity actions in ACRES are designed to provide the habitat and food requirements for farmland-dependent species.

55,000 farmers in ACRES are enhancing biodiversity on over 800,000 ha of land.

Farmers in ACRES are planting almost 600,000 trees and 2,400 km of new hedgerow.

Farmers in ACRES will protect over 6,300km of watercourses.

Existing European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) are continuing to showcase the success of locally-led and targeted approaches to blending agricultural activities with biodiversity. This will provide environmental and economic benefits.

For the period 2018-2021, 59 million of funding was provided through the Rural Development Programme, to support 55 EIP projects covering a range of issues including biodiversity, soil, water and farmer health and safety. EIP support will continue under the CSP and the large scale Breeding Wader EIP in collaboration with NPWS has been launched this week.

Pollinators play a vital role in sustaining farming and biodiversity and the Department has provided support and funding to several pollinator projects from the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan to the Pilot National Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. As part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan the department provides funding for a Farmland Pollinator Officer to engage with and support farmers in taking actions for pollinators and biodiversity on their farm.

As part of the ACRES agri-environment scheme worth 1.5bn, some 55,000 farmers are enhancing biodiversity on over 800,000 hectares of land in Ireland.

During National Biodiversity Week, CAP Network Ireland will spotlight the invaluable effort of thousands of farmers participating in various agri-environmental schemes under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 20232027.

CAP Network Ireland is managed by three organisations Irish Rural Link, ERINN Innovation and Munster Technological University and co-funded by the Department and the European Union. A key role of the Network is to nurture connections of a diverse range of stakeholders across the fields of agriculture, rural development and innovation.

Farmers protecting the environment

Visit capnetworkireland.eu to find out more information, and meet farmers like Neille Hurley, who are making significant environmental contributions with support from the departments schemes.

These schemes are going to keep people on the land, rather than lose interest in it, Neille Hurley, Cork.

Neilie Hurley, a farmer who is actively protecting the environment on his farm in Co Cork.

Outside of the CAP Strategic Plan, the Department is engaged in several EU LIFE projects, working in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE Integrated Project, Corncrake LIFE and LIFE on Machair projects, for example, all focus on biodiversity actions for priority habitats and species.

These projects are a great opportunity for farmers to contribute to knowledge sharing and the development of biodiversity actions. The learnings from these projects will inform future policies to support biodiversity in the same way the EIPs have informed the development of ACRES.

Through the wide variety of initiatives, the farming community is showing great enthusiasm for taking action and for sharing their wealth of knowledge of what is happening on their land.

Find out more about CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 by visiting gov.ie/cap
Organizers of the campaign to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao say they have enough signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot, though the signatures must first be verified. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle 2023

UPDATE: FBI raids home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

The campaign to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao says it has collected the required number of signatures to initiate an election in November.

But it will be a few months before Oakland voters can be certain. The campaign, Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao, known as OUST, has until July 22 to submit its signatures. Election officials then must make sure enough signatures are valid to trigger a recall, a process that could take up to two months.

OUST has obtained nearly 35,000 signatures since it began its effort in February, Brenda Harbin-Forte, a retired Alameda County Superior Court judge and recall leader, told the Chronicle. She said the group had independently verified more than 25,000 signatures, their threshold for putting the recall on the November ballot.

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But Harbin-Forte said OUST plans to file only after it tops 40,000 signatures, more than the roughly 39,000 voters who listed Thao as their first choice for Oakland mayor in 2022. The group also plans to demand Thao resign when it files its signatures, she added.

We have really a rainbow coalition of supporters, and its been very good that people are ready to take back Oakland and make Oakland the city we deserve to have, Harbin-Forte said.

If the recall election qualifies for the Nov. 5 ballot, the recall will be decided by a simple majority vote.

Supporters of the recall drive against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao disrupt one of her news conferences in February. Some recall supporters also want to recall Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas. David Hernandez/The Chronicle

Thao, a progressive and former City Council member, won the mayoral race by fewer than 700 votes thanks to Oaklands ranked choice voting system. She has since faced intense criticism from some community members who say shes responsible for Oaklands rising crime rates in recent years, though officials have touted some improvements this year.

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Harbin-Forte also blasted Thaos plan to sell the citys interest in the Oakland Coliseum to close a major budget deficit, a move the mayor said would prevent layoffs. Harbin-Forte said Thao should have continued to lease the stadium instead.

Thao removed Harbin-Forte from her seat on the Oakland Police Commission last year after allowing her to retain her position months after her term was over, amid fierce infighting among commissioners. Thao said at the time that she wanted to appoint someone else to the role. Harbin-Forte has denied that shes leading the recall effort in retaliation.

Thaos office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. She has previously said she is committed to tackling crime, including by reviving the citys acclaimed Operation Ceasefire program, which has been credited with reducing gun violence.

I have the best job in the world. Thats because every day I have a chance to fight for a safer, more affordable, and more prosperous Oakland, Thao told CBS News in January. I ask all Oaklanders to help me achieve that vision with hope and collaboration and push aside fear and division. Lets bring our community together to fight for the city we love.

Harbin-Forte said OUST is confident that Thao will be recalled in November, though the campaign isnt supporting a replacement candidate.

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Shes almost destroyed Oakland in the short time shes been a leader, Harbin-Forte said. We cannot afford to leave her in for any longer period of time.
Eight of Irelands promising green innovators completed Bord na Monas prestigious Accelerate Green programme this week.

This leading sustainability-focused accelerator, delivered in collaboration with Resolve Partners, is dedicated to scaling early-stage enterprises and SMEs at the forefront of climate action delivering sustainable innovations for a variety of industries in Ireland and internationally.

This years standout participants include: ACEL Energy, Voltclub Renewables, Konree Innovation, Weev, SomaTech, I/O Agri, AffinityEV, and Universal Graphics. These Irish companies are pioneering advancements across a range of sectors, such as renewable energy, sustainable agri-tech, EV charging, and food fermentation, addressing various sustainable business needs through their unique services and products.

Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive, Bord na Mona (Centre), pictured with Shane OReilly and Sandra Thompson, I/O Agri, at the 2024 Accelerate Green Conference.

As part of the programme, the 2024 cohort participated in a series of immersive learning sessions and mentoring workshops over eight modules in the dedicated Accelerate Green hub in Boora, Co Offaly.

Participants engaged with a diverse range of speakers, including leaders from enterprise and energy agencies, Irish corporate entities, research networks, and investors. The participants also engaged with senior leaders from across Bord na Monas business gaining insight into the companys own scaling journey in line with its Brown to Green transition  pivoting from a traditional peat business to a leading climate solutions and renewable energy company.

The conclusion of this years programme was celebrated at the Accelerate Green Conference 2024 in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The conference showcased the eight businesses and their journeys so far.

Over 250 attendees, comprised of industry leaders, customers, investors, Government officials, entrepreneurs and academia, joined the conference to gain insights from some of Irelands key thought leaders and innovators who are using sustainable business ideas and practices to address climate change.

Esteemed industry experts such as Jane Stout, Vice President for Biodiversity and Climate Action at Trinity College Dublin, Donal Flavin, Head of Strategic Policy covering Energy, Sustainability, Telecommunications, Digital, and Data at IDA Ireland, James Sprinz, Vice President at Energy Impact Partners; and Eoin Kennedy, Head of Future Operations at Eirgrid, among others were in attendance on the day.

The Numbers

To date, 42 sustainability focused businesses have successfully participated in the Accelerate Green programme since it first launched in 2022, with many of these reporting significant progress in their business journeys  collectively raising 10 million in venture capital, highlighting the tangible impact of this initiative and its efficacy in fostering business scaling skills.

Over 250 attendees from across the country gathered at the event, which took place in the Midlands at the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co Offaly.

Recent research among 2022-2023 Accelerate Green alumni sheds light on several significant achievements: over 90% of past participants now feel more confident in their ability to scale their companies successfully.

Since completing the programme, 75% have expanded their workforce and significantly grown their operations. Alumni also greatly value the programme's networking opportunities, with 88% broadening their network and 63% creating new business opportunities through connections made during the programme.

Emphasising the positive impact that the Accelerate Green programme has had so far on his renewable energy-focused business is James Goldsmith, Managing Director at Voltclub, said: "Bord na Monas Accelerate Green 2024 programme has been an extremely beneficial experience for developing my business both within and beyond the Irish market. The networking, mentoring, and forward-focused outlook provided by the programme are instrumental in helping my business reach its full potential. This includes promoting renewable energy adoption and creating a real-time marketplace for businesses to buy directly from local wind and solar farms."

Accelerate Green has provided me with the confidence and expertise needed to take my business to the next level, and I am grateful for the peer groups and businesses I have met and connected with along the way. I would encourage any business or start-up thinking of applying to Bord na Monas Accelerate Green programme to go for it, as the opportunities and abilities for growth are boundless.

Future Focused

A central tenet of Bord na Mona's mission is to help emerging innovators in the sustainability space across Ireland to grow and thrive. With a bigger and stronger network of climate solutions businesses, Ireland will be better placed to reach its climate action targets and safeguard a greener and more sustainable future for communities across the country.

As such, Bord na Mona has committed 5 million to support Irelands green innovator network through the rollout of Accelerate Green from 2022 to 2025.

Speaking at the conference, Bord na Mona Chief Executive, Tom Donnellan, commended the businesses taking part in Accelerate Green 2024 as drivers of green innovation who have the ability to prosper commercially with the right scaling tools in place, while simultaneously enabling Ireland to prosper through sustainable innovation.

I am proud to see eight new businesses complete the Accelerate Green programme and join the thriving alumni of past participants. One of Irelands leading accelerator programmes, Accelerate Green provides a unique opportunity for businesses in the sustainability sector to develop the skills and knowledge required to scale their businesses and succeed in Ireland and beyond. As a business that previously transitioned from Brown to Green, we at Bord na Mona have worked closely with the participants, sharing our commercial knowledge, expertise and experience.

Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive, Bord na Mona (Centre) pictured with Barry Sherry and Declan McDonald, ACEL Energy.

"This years cohort are an impressive display of climate-conscious companies, and they represent the future of green innovation in Ireland. Excelling in spaces from agri-tech to renewable energy solutions, each participant is fulfilling an important need in the sustainability space. I look forward to seeing all eight companies succeed in the future and contribute to Irelands ambitious climate goals."

By encouraging and developing this community of forward-thinking enterprises, Bord na Mona aims to cultivate a robust ecosystem of sustainability-focused businesses capable of amplifying their green solutions not only across Ireland but also on a global scale.

The 2024 Accelerate Green conference serves as a testament to Bord na Mona's unwavering commitment to fostering and empowering this network of Irish innovators within the sustainability space, providing a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and collective action towards a greener future.

Meet the 2024 participants:

ACEL Energy: ACEL Energy offers tailored renewable solutions such as solar, battery storage, and energy management through a co-ownership model, allowing its clients to transition to a Green Economy without investing capital.

ACEL Energy offers tailored renewable solutions such as solar, battery storage, and energy management through a co-ownership model, allowing its clients to transition to a Green Economy without investing capital. Voltclub Renewables: Voltclub Renewables is a renewable energy development company specialising in the development, sourcing, financing, and construction of renewable energy projects in Ireland, as well as supporting businesses in powering their operations sustainably, cost-effectively, and for the long term.

Voltclub Renewables is a renewable energy development company specialising in the development, sourcing, financing, and construction of renewable energy projects in Ireland, as well as supporting businesses in powering their operations sustainably, cost-effectively, and for the long term. Konree Innovation: Konree Innovation is a marine deep-tech company focused on developing technology that facilitates sustainable growth in salmon production by overcoming barriers in an environmentally conscious manner.

Konree Innovation is a marine deep-tech company focused on developing technology that facilitates sustainable growth in salmon production by overcoming barriers in an environmentally conscious manner. Weev: Weev, Ireland's leading privately owned EV charging network, installs public charging stations and complete EV solutions for workplaces and fleets, offering convenient and dependable charging in as little as 20 minutes for EV drivers via its extensive network.

Weev, Ireland's leading privately owned EV charging network, installs public charging stations and complete EV solutions for workplaces and fleets, offering convenient and dependable charging in as little as 20 minutes for EV drivers via its extensive network. SomaTech: SomaTech brings the art of solid-state fermentation to the food industry, creating sustainable ingredients for food companies and enabling them to be more circular by creating high-value ingredients.

SomaTech brings the art of solid-state fermentation to the food industry, creating sustainable ingredients for food companies and enabling them to be more circular by creating high-value ingredients. I/O Agri: I/O Agri offers integrated solutions for sustainable farming practices across all areas of the farming supply chain, from ventilation to heating, from milling to feeding systems, as well as data monitoring and reporting.

I/O Agri offers integrated solutions for sustainable farming practices across all areas of the farming supply chain, from ventilation to heating, from milling to feeding systems, as well as data monitoring and reporting. AffinityEV: AffinityEV bridges the gap between EV manufacturers and energy firms, enabling dealerships to offer customers a comprehensive, all-inclusive package when buying an EV.

AffinityEV bridges the gap between EV manufacturers and energy firms, enabling dealerships to offer customers a comprehensive, all-inclusive package when buying an EV. Universal Graphics: Universal Graphics provide innovative branding solutions, incorporating the latest technologies with a specialisation in eco-friendly high-technology printing.

www.bordnamona.ie/climate-solutions/accelerate-green/
Forced from her home by Israel's seven-month-long Gaza offensive, Salwa al-Masri has little hope her plight will be alleviated by a ruling from the UN's top court ordering Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah.

"The massacres are only increasing," she said, as she cooked a meal on an open fire outside a tent in Deir al-Balah.

"They shouldnt say one thing, while the action is something different," said Masri, who fled her home in northern Gaza earlier in the war.

"We want these decisions to be implemented on the ground."

Judges at the World Court, also known the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ordered Israel on Friday to halt its offensive in Rafah governorate. It marked a landmark emergency ruling on a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in its assault on the Gaza Strip.

But the World Court has no means to enforce its orders, and Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said Israel would continue its "just and necessary" war against the Hamas militant group to return its hostages and ensure its security.

Hamas fighters killed some 1,200 people in Israel in the October 7 attack and abducted around 250 more, according to Israeli tallies. Gaza health authorities say more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli retaliatory offensive which has laid waste to much of the enclave.

This satellite photo taken by Planet Labs PBC shows an evacuated camp in Rafah, Gaza, May 8, 2024. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Israel has rejected South Africa's accusation that it is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza war, arguing that it is acting to defend itself and fighting Hamas.

"Israel doesnt care about the world, it acts as if it was above the law because the US administration is shielding it against punishment, said Shaban Abdel-Raouf, a Palestinian displaced four times by the Israeli offensive.

"The world isnt yet prepared to stop our slaughter at Israeli hands, said Abdel-Raouf, who was reached by phone.

Israel began pushing into Rafah earlier this month, saying it aims to wipe out remaining Hamas fighters holed up there.

An American volunteer burn nurse with the Palestinian American Medical Association, monitors a patient who sustained major burns on May 8, 2024, Khan Younis, Gaza.

Simultaneous Israeli assaults on the northern and southern edges of Gaza this month have caused a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing their homes, and have cut off the main access routes for aid, raising the risk of famine.

South Africa's lawyers asked the ICJ last week to impose emergency measures, saying Israel's attacks on Rafah must be stopped to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people.

Hamas said it welcomed the World Court ruling but said it was not enough "since the occupation aggression across the Gaza Strip and especially in northern Gaza is just as brutal and dangerous".

Palestinians needed an immediate halt to the war and they wanted to see action to achieve that, displaced Palestinian man Nabil Diab said.

"We dont need a declaration," he said.
A minister has dismissed suggestions that Rishi Sunak is taking the day off as the British prime minister campaigned in his constituency on Saturday morning.

Mr Sunak met local veterans in Yorkshire at the start of the weekend after completing a whistlestop two-day tour of the UK on Friday, though his plans for rest of the day had been unclear.

UK Treasury minister Bim Afolami confirmed Mr Sunak will be campaigning throughout the day as he was questioned about the weekend agenda on Sky News.

Asked whether Mr Sunak was taking the day off from the campaign trail, Mr Afolami told Sky News: Its not right. Hes going to be campaigning in Yorkshire.

Bim Afolami said the Prime Minister will campaigning in Yorkshire on Saturday (Lucy North/PA)

Asked whether Mr Sunak has lots of events planned, he said: I dont know what hes got planned but I know hes campaigning in Yorkshire today.

The prime minister had a breakfast with local ex-servicemen in a Wetherspoons in Northallerton, in his Richmond constituency, on Saturday morning.

He joked that he avoided catching pneumonia after giving a rain-soaked statement outside 10 Downing Street in which he announced the July 4 election, but admitted he was not sure what state his suit was in.

Thats our tradition, the Prime Minister, in the big moments, they call the election and they go out there. I thought, come rain or shine, its the right thing to do, he told the veterans.

But no pneumonia yet, my suit on the other hand Im not quite sure what state it will be in when I get back down to London.

Mr Sunak said he is pumped up and enjoying himself two days into campaigning despite a difficult start that saw him announce the election in the midst of a downpour and encounter several hiccups on his UK-wide tour.

His trip included a visit to the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, which invited undesirable sinking ship comparisons with his partys fortunes, as well as a brewery in Wales where he made a footballing gaffe about the Euros.

An admission that flights to Rwanda as part of the Tories flagship immigration scheme will not take off before the election overshadowed Mr Sunaks initial economy-focused pitch to voters and the final visit of his trip in Staffordshire was delayed by pro-Palestinian protesters outside the venue.

But Mr Sunak put on a show of high spirits as he spoke with journalists on the tour, saying he was up for the fight despite acknowledging there were difficult days as leader.

He said: I love doing this. Ive been doing it since the beginning of the year, Ive been out and about pretty much two, three days a week since the beginning of the year and I love it.

I love talking to people, I love having the debate, I love having the Q&A with people, answering their questions, making sure they know what Im about and Im really confident that over the next few weeks were going to have a really good conversation as a country about the future we want.

Mr Sunak has challenged Keir Starmer to weekly TV debates throughout the campaign and accused the Labour leader of ducking the offer because he doesnt have a plan.

Labour sources indicated Mr Starmer would be willing to take part in the two debates with the largest audiences  BBC and ITV.
Ukrainian forces have secured combat control of areas where Russian troops entered the north-eastern Kharkiv region earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Our soldiers have now managed to take combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers entered, the President said in his nightly video address on Friday.

Mr Zelenskys comments appeared to be at odds with those made by Russian officials.

Viktor Vodolatskiy, a member of Russias lower house of parliament, said Russian forces now controlled more than half of the town of Vovchansk, three miles inside the border, Russian state news agency Tass reported.

Vovchansk has been a flashpoint for fighting since Russia launched an offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10.

Burnt books in a damaged workshop of Ukraines largest printing house after a Russian missile attack that killed seven civilians in Kharkiv (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP)

Mr Vodolatskiy was also quoted as saying that, once Vovchansk was secured, Russian forces would target the cities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk in the neighbouring Donetsk region.

No independent confirmation of the claims was immediately possible.

Meanwhile, two people were killed on Saturday in an aerial attack on the city of Kharkiv, which is the regions capital, according to local officials.

Russias Kharkiv push appears to be a co-ordinated new offensive that includes testing Ukrainian defences in the Donetsk region further south, while also launching incursions in the northern Sumy and Chernihiv regions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Kremlins army is attempting to create a buffer zone in the Kharkiv region to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks.

Kharkiv is about 12 miles from the Russian border.

Servicemen of Ukraines 93rd Mechanised Brigade fire a French MO-120-RT heavy mortar at the Russian forces on the front line near the city of Bakhmut (AP)

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.

Ukrainian authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 people from the region since the start of the offensive.

The Russian push is shaping up to be Ukraines biggest test since Moscows full-scale invasion in February 2022, with outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces being pressed at several points along the 620-mile front line that snakes from north to south in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraines problems have been mounting in recent months as it tries to hold out against its much bigger foe, and the war appears to be at a critical juncture.
Finance officials from the Group of Seven rich democracies said they had moved towards agreement on a US proposal to squeeze more money for Ukraine from Russian assets frozen in their countries.

But the ministers left a final deal to be worked out ahead of a June summit of national leaders.

We are making progress in our discussions on potential avenues to bring forward the extraordinary profits stemming from immobilised Russian sovereign assets to the benefit of Ukraine, the draft statement said, without providing details.

Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, represented the UK.

Despite the progress made at the the meeting in Stresa, on the shores of Lago Maggiore in northern Italy, a final decision on how the assets will be used will rest with the G7 national leaders, including US President Joe Biden, next month at their annual summit in Fasano, in southern Italy.

It is not an easy task but we are working on it

Host finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said that progress has been made so far but that there were legal and technical issues that have to be overcome.

It is not an easy task but we are working on it, he said at a news conference following the end of the meeting.

Ukrainian finance minister Serhiy Marchenko joined the fellow ministers and central bank heads at their concluding session on Saturday.

I am satisfied with the progress, he told journalists afterwards. He said the G7 ministers are working very hard to find a reliable construction for Ukraine.

The US Congress has passed legislation allowing the Biden administration to seize the roughly five billion dollars (3.9 billion) in Russian assets located in the US, but European countries have a strong voice in the matter since most of the 260 billion dollars (204 billion) in Russian central bank assets frozen after the February 24 2022 invasion are held in their jurisdictions.

Citing legal concerns, European officials have balked at outright confiscating the money and handing it to Ukraine as compensation for the destruction caused by Russia.

Instead, they plan use the interest accumulating on the assets, but that is only around three billion dollars (2.3 billion) a year  about one months financing needs for the Ukrainian government.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is pushing for borrowing against the future interest income from the frozen assets. That would mean Ukraine could be given as much as 50 billion dollars (39 billion) immediately.

But the proposal has run into concerns from European members about the legal complexities, and about concerns that Russia could retaliate against the diminished number of Western companies and individuals who still have holdings in Russia, or against the Euroclear securities depository in Belgium where the bulk of the funds is held.

Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, centre, is welcomed by Italys finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, right, and Fabio Panetta governor of the Bank of Italy, at the G7 meeting in Stresa, northern Italy (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Russia has published a decree from President Vladimir Putin allowing confiscation of assets of US companies and individuals as compensation for any Russian assets seized in the United States.

The ministers also discussed what to do about Chinas outsized, state-backed production of green energy technology, which the US considers a threat to the global economy.

The US has imposed major new tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, solar equipment and medical supplies imported from China. Included is a 100% tariff on Chinese-made EVs, meant to protect the US economy from cheap Chinese imports.

The US position has been that Chinese overcapacity is an issue not just for the US but also for other G7 and developing countries. That is because Chinas selling of low-priced goods threatens the existence of competing companies around the world.

The G7 is an informal forum that holds an annual summit to discuss economic policy and security issues. The member countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Representatives of the European Union also take part, but the EU does not serve as one of the rotating chairs.
The leader of a pro-independence party in New Caledonia has called on supporters to remain mobilised across the French Pacific archipelago and maintain resistance against the Paris governments efforts to impose electoral reforms.

The indigenous Kanak people fear the reforms would further marginalise them.

Christian Tein, leader of the pro-independence party known as The Field Action Co-ordination Unit, addressed supporters and protesters in a video message.

It was posted on social media two days after he and other pro-independence leaders met French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the territory following unrest that left seven dead and a trail of destruction.

Mr Macron repeatedly pushed for the removal of protesters barricades with leaders on both sides of New Caledonias bitter divide  indigenous Kanaks, who want independence, and the pro-Paris leaders, who do not.

There has been too much suffering, theres too much at stake and we must see (this) through (and) achieve our goals in a co-ordinated, structured and organised way

The French president told them that the state of emergency imposed by Paris for at least 12 days on May 15 to boost police powers could be lifted only if local leaders call for a clearing away of barricades that demonstrators and people trying to protect their neighborhoods erected in the capital, Noumea, and beyond.

In the video message, Mr Tein called on protesters to slightly loosen the grip on their barricades in Noumea, its suburbs and along the archipelagos main roads in order to transport fuel, food, medicine and facilitate access to healthcare for the inhabitants of the islands in the north and south.

But Mr Tein insisted the barricades will remain in place until French authorities lift house arrest warrants for several of his party members and Mr Macrons government scraps the electoral reform that Kanaks fear will dilute their influence by allowing some more recent arrivals in the archipelago to vote in local elections.

We remain mobilised (and) maintain all (forms) of resistance, Mr Tein said and urged supporters to remain steadfast and refrain from violence.

There has been too much suffering, theres too much at stake and we must see (this) through (and) achieve our goals in a co-ordinated, structured and organised way.

He added: Our main objective is for our country to obtain full sovereignty.

Barricades made up of charred vehicles and other debris have turned parts of Noumea into no-go zones and made travelling around perilous, including for the sick requiring medical treatment and for families worried about food and water after shops were pillaged and torched.

In the past seven months, Mr Teins Field Action Co-ordination Unit has organised massive, peaceful marches in New Caledonia against the Paris-backed voting reform. The unrest began early last week after a demonstration against the legislation under discussion in the French parliament turned violent.

Both French houses of parliament in Paris have already approved the overhaul. The next step was to have been a special Congress of both houses meeting in Versailles to implement it by amending Frances Constitution. That had been expected by the end of June.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at New Caledonias High Commissioner residency, with French interior minister Gerald Darmanin, centre, in Noumea on Thursday (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

Speaking after meeting leaders in New Caledonia, Mr Macron said he will not force through the contested voting reform that sparked the territorys worst unrest in decades.

Mr Macron called on local leaders to come up with an alternative agreement for the archipelagos future and laid out a roadmap that he said could lead to another referendum for the territory.

Three earlier referendums were organised between 2018 and 2021 by the French authorities as part of the 1988 peace deal. They produced no votes against independence although the independence supporters boycotted the last vote in December 2021.

Mr Macron said another could be on a new political deal for the archipelago that he hopes local leaders will agree on in coming weeks and months after protesters barricades are dismantled, allowing for a state of emergency to be lifted and for peace to return.

New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, Napoleons nephew and heir. It became an overseas territory after the Second World War, with French citizenship granted to all Kanaks in 1957.
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A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
May 24, 2024: The U.S. Air Force recently demonstrated an autonomous (no pilot) F-16 using flight software enhanced with AI (Artificial Intelligence) that demonstrated it was able to fly combat maneuvers better than most human pilots. Moreover, a pilotless fighter would be smaller and capable of maneuvers that a human pilot could not handle. Human pilots cannot handle certain violent maneuvers because the G (gravity) forces cause the pilot to black out. Unmanned aircraft only have to worry about violent maneuvers that might cause the airframe to be damaged, perhaps enough to cause a crash.

For decades commercial and military aircraft manufacturers have been seeking ways to add more automation. For example, in 2019 the U.S. Air Force demonstrated a new system that could turn any manned aircraft into an unmanned aircraft, controlled by a system of electronics and mechanical devices that literally replaces the human pilot in the cockpit. Best of all, ROBOPilot can be quickly removed so a human pilot can fly the aircraft again. Installation takes a little longer, but not by much because the device is designed to be available quickly should the need arise.

What is novel about ROBOPilot is not that it can replace a human pilot, but that the ROBOPilot equipment is flexible enough to be quickly installed in any manned aircraft. ROBOPilot software has to have an electronic profile of each aircraft it can be installed in and has to be tested to ensure the ROBOPilot mechanical components can use all the controls of that aircraft. That said, cockpits on aircraft are pretty standard. The most complex and eccentric cockpits are for fighter aircraft and the air force has decades of experience building custom versions of what became ROBOPilot for several generations of jet fighters.

The first test aircraft for ROBOPilot was a fifty year old Cessna single-engine commercial aircraft. These aircraft dont have a lot of the electronic controls modern aircraft use. While electronic controls are easier for ROBOPilot, the most difficult aspect of developing ROBOPilot is creating a robotic arm and hand to handle the many tasks a human pilot has to handle. The 1960s Cessna was mostly mechanical controls and analog displays for instruments. Moreover the Cessna cockpit is cramped compared to more modern aircraft. The Cessna, in effect, was a more challenging test for ROBOPilot than a larger more modern aircraft. But the Cessna was also cheaper to use as a test aircraft for the first flight, from a remote airfield in a thinly populated area, in case all the safety devices failed and there was a crash. There were no problems and the entire two-hour flight was recorded on video from inside the aircraft.

The ROBOPilot project then moved on to see how difficult it would be to adapt the basic ROBOPilot system to other aircraft. The goal is to have a ROBOPilot kit that aircraft maintainers can, with a minimum of training, install in any of the aircraft ROBOPilot has a profile for. This includes test flights and regular profile upgrades to match changes made to each aircrafts flight controls.

ROBOPilot was developed, in part, because of a larger Loyal Wingman program that uses drone/UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) fighters, or other types of aircraft, for particularly dangerous missions. That idea was the outgrowth of more than half a century of efforts to automate cockpit functions. By the 1970s it was possible to create robotic pilots for fighter aircraft. Back then that had some very critical practical applications. The main purpose of remotely controlled fighter aircraft is so they could be used as realistic aerial targets. The equipment used to convert retired fighters into robotic ones have become more capable and reliable since the 1970s and part of that effort turned into the successful development of automatic landing systems for commercial aircraft, which are now a common item that takes a lot of stress out of landing an airliner at night or in bad weather. This software has even been adapted to land jet fighters or naval UAVs on aircraft carriers at night.

Another approach to this automation appeared in the form of PIBOT, which puts a robot in the pilots seat. The robot is designed to handle the flight controls like a human but do it under AI control. Tests so far have been successful and the test and development program is scheduled to be completed by 2026 with versions available for commercial and military aircraft. PIBOT can also be adapted to operate trucks and other vehicles. That means military truck convoys could use PIBOT to replace all but one or two of the human drivers.

ROBOPilot and PIBOT can also be used for the Loyal Wingman program. In early 2017 the air force demonstrated that F-16s equipped to operate as UAVs could successfully operate in formation with manned F-16s. This was an important goal for Loyal Wingman, a program for eventually integrating combat UAVs with piloted warplanes. The F-16 UAV needed software that would allow it to fly in formation, execute attack missions on its own and avoid interference from jamming. That software worked although the initial flight tests of Loyal Wingman simply confirmed that the F-16 UAVs could safely fly in formation with piloted F-16s and effectively receive and respond to commands from the flight leader or other piloted F-16s.

Work is continuing to develop software that will enable the F-16 UAV to carry out complex attack runs on its own. This involves avoiding ground fire from missiles and using its own EW (electronic warfare) equipment to deal with jamming. All this live software testing would eventually be used in combat UAVs like the ones the navy has been testing and the air force is now developing. The U.S. Army has already been testing similar software control of UAVs by suitably equipped with secure digital communications gear used by attack helicopters.

Loyal Wingman came about after four years of effort to develop a UAV version of the F-16. This UAV version was based on the QF-16, the remotely controlled target version of the F-16. Back in 2013 the air force got its first QF-16 flying and began converting over a hundred retired F-16s to QF-16s. At the time it was noted that with a little extra work the QF-16 could be turned into a combat UAV for dangerous missions like SEAD (suppression of enemy defenses) or attacking ground targets guarded by heavy air defenses. The air force was already planning to use combat UAVs for this but those are not available yet. It was noted that QF type aircraft use GPS to help with navigation and to ensure that QFs flying in formation don't collide with one another. The QF-16 also carries sensors to detect near misses by missiles. Out of that came modified software and some additional hardware to enable the recent flight tests.

There are several other reasons for adapting the F-16 to be a combat UAV, in addition to designing combat UAVs from scratch. For one thing, the UAV version of any combat aircraft is superior in some ways to one with a pilot in it. This is mainly because pilots black out when the aircraft makes turns too sharply at high speed. QF-16s used regularly for Loyal Wingman training also make it possible to monitor via additional sensors in the QF-16, how extreme for piloted aircraft maneuvers stress the fighters. Tests of manned aircraft have always been part of the development and testing process for new and modified aircraft. But those tests were limited by the cost of losing a lot of aircraft. By the 1960s fighter aircraft design had reached the point where the aircraft could perform maneuvers, like high speed turns, that humans could not handle. The air force discovered how effective this capability was during the 1970s when they rigged some jet fighters to fly without a pilot and had them go up against manned aircraft. The remote-controlled fighters were able to outmaneuver the same aircraft carrying pilots. It was a scary demonstration of what was to come.

The QF-16 has already demonstrated its ability to carry out acrobatic maneuvers under remote control. This would be useful in getting into heavily defended air space. Adding more sensors and flight control software could produce a formidable combat UAV. Even when all the QF-16 conversions are completed there will be several hundred retired F-16s suitable for conversion to combat UAVs.

The air force ordered the first QF-16s in 2010 and the initial flight test took place in September 2013. The QF-16s are converted from existing F-16s that have been retired from service. The air force ordered 125 QF-16s and deliveries began in 2015. Each QF-16 conversion costs about $1.2 million and consists of installing hardware and software that enables remote, no pilot in the cockpit, flight control. The process of equipping the F-16 with all the necessary sensors like cameras and remote feeds of the aircraft radar, and remote capabilities took longer than expected, even though there was a lot of experience doing this to older aircraft like F-4s, F-100s, F-102s, and F-106s. The original plan was to introduce the first QF-16s in 2011. The QF-16s can still carry a pilot who can fly the aircraft or simply observe how the remote control process works.

The QF-16 replaces the older QF-4 drone aircraft. Nearly 250 F-4 Phantom fighters were modified to fly by remote control. The mods cost about $1.4 million per aircraft. The QF-4 first appeared when the U.S. Air Force retired its F-4 fighters in the 1980s. The air force has run out of retired, but still flyable F-4s to convert and QF-4 conversions ceased in 2013.

Training operations destroy up to 25 remotely controlled QF class fighters a year. As the supply of decommissioned F-4s was exhausted, the QF-16s arrived just in time. Before the QF-4, the air force had converted 218 F-100s for use from 1983-92, 136 F-102s from 1974-85, and 210 F-106s from 1990-98 to act as full-scale target aircraft. There are smaller UAVs that are also used as targets. The full-scale models are needed to fully test the capabilities of new, and existing, missiles. Nothing like using real missiles against real targets to build pilot confidence and be sure the missiles will work in combat.

There are so many retired F-16s available that there are plenty that could be used as combat UAVs. The F-16 manufacturer is not doing UAV conversion research, but rather another aircraft company, Boeing, which sees a potential market for such aircraft. These UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles) already exist as the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. But an MQ-16 would be cheaper. This would be an inexpensive way to see what a more ambitious and larger UCAV could do.
May 25, 2024: Since the failed Iranian April 2024 missile attack on Israel, the Iranians have become obsessed with BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) systems. While most of the cruise and ballistic missiles launched against Israel were intercepted, a brief Israeli counterattack efficiently destroyed some Iranian air defense systems. This attack was an Israeli demonstration of their ability to easily destroy Iranian air defenses. The Israelis used air-to-ground missiles launched from Israeli aircraft out of range of Iranian air defenses. Iran realized they needed effective BMD weapons to defend themselves from Israeli ballistic missile attacks. Israel is unlikely to use its Jericho ballistic missiles to attack Iran. Israels most advanced Jericho missile is used to put Israeli space satellites into orbit. The Israeli Space Agency has been launching these since 1988 and currently has several surveillance satellites in orbit.

Iran fears Israel will use its longer range Jericho missiles to attack Iran. While that is possible, Israel isnt interested in attacking Iran. The recent attack on an Iranian air defense system was carried out to discourage more Iranian attacks on Israel. The massive Iranian cruise and ballistic missile attack on Israel in early 2024 was a massive failure and major embarrassment for Iran. The Islamic dictatorship that runs Iran would like to attack Israel again, or at least try to but is discouraged by the Israeli ability to deal with such attacks and then make smaller retaliatory attacks on Iran that the Iranians cant intercept.

The Persian Gulf Arab oil states, particularly Saudi Arabia, are long time users of Patriot missile defense systems and for nearly a decade have been intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles launched by Iran-backed Yemen Shia in Yemen. These missiles are launched against Saudi targets from the Yemen-Saudi border in southwest Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are now preparing to use their Patriots to intercept missiles launched directly from Iran.

The Yemen rebels are being attacked on all sides and smuggling in additional Iranian missiles is nearly impossible because of the reinforced naval blockade off the Yemen Red Sea coast. Here the Yemen rebels have been trying to prevent ships from reaching the Suez Canal. That made the Egyptians angry since they make nearly $10 billion a year from canal tolls. Global shipping companies must spend a lot more time and money to move cargoes to their destinations when the Suez Canal is not available.

Iran is responsible for arming the disruptive Yemen rebels and much else besides, generally getting its pet Iraqi militias to attack American troops, which happened even after the Biden administration gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief. Iran has been a major troublemaker since the 1980s, when a religious dictatorship took power. The result has been wave after wave of economic sanctions on Iran. This has caused growing poverty in Iran and a population angry at their own government for impoverishing them while trying, without much success, to attack Israel and ships headed for the Suez Canal.

Iran tried to develop new exports and was able to sell thousands of Shahed cruise missiles to Russia. Iran was particularly disappointed with the ineffectiveness of their Shahed cruise missiles used against Israel. These missiles were similarly ineffective when Russia used them against Ukraine. The Shahed 136 cruise missiles have four or five hours endurance and speed of at about 180 kilometers an hour. Their warheads have 15 or 25 kg of explosives. Shahed 136 is believed to cost about $50,000 each, with most being the $30,000 gasoline engine. Both missiles use GPS navigation with a crude INS (inertial navigation system) backup. These missiles fly low, a few hundred meters at most, to avoid radar detection and conserve fuel. These missiles are launched from a truck mounted launcher carrying four or five missiles in a box type storage/launch container. A small rocket is attached to the bottom of the missile to get it airborne and the engine running. The rocket is then supposed to fall away. GPS locations have to be entered into the GPS system before launch. Even with the low cost of key components there is not much of an advantage purchasing the Shahed 131 because it is so easy to detect and shoot down.

The Ukrainians quickly developed tactics to defeat the Shahed 136s used against military targets. The low flying Shahed 136 engine is so loud it can be heard several kilometers away and, while rifle and machine-gun bullets are not very effective against it, larger caliber weapons like 12.7mm/14.5mm machine-guns are lethal to the Shahed 136. Another vulnerability of the Shahed 136 was that its inexpensive components were often unreliable and a large portion of them failed before reaching a target. These usually crash land intact, allowing detailed analysis of components and construction. Another vulnerability is to electronic AUD (Anti-UAV Defense) systems that employ jamming and other EW (Electronic Warfare) techniques to disable UAV guidance systems.

The only winners here are the American defense companies that are selling billions of dollars worth of BMD systems to the Arab Gulf States and NATO nations for use in Ukraine. These NATO nations have noticed that they could be targets for Russian missiles and are also purchasing the American BMD systems. These systems have been used under combat conditions and demonstrated they work. That has made the American BMD systems easier to sell.
( The Middle East Monitor )  The recent move by some European nations to recognise the state of Palestine will have wider repercussions for Israel and the far-right elements within its government and society, according to experts. Ireland, Spain and Norway plan to formally recognise Palestine next week, and more European nations are expected to follow suit in the coming days.

This issue of Palestinian statehood has been discussed for many years, Yossi Mekelberg, an associate fellow at Chatham Houses MENA Programme, told Anadolu. I think what accelerated it recently is the war in Gaza, and all of a sudden, the Israeli-Palestinian issue is back on the table.

With their announcement, these European countries have sent a signal that leaving this conflict unattended has dire consequences, he said. One of the ways to deal with it is to change the dynamic in the relations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

According to Mekelberg, a lot has to do with the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a key factor being the fact that it is the most far-right in history. Plus there is the continuous building of settlements and settler violence, which sends the message to the international community that the government has no interest in peace.

The three countries have their own different ways and reasons to recognise Palestine, but the common thread could be an attempt at breaking the deadlock, the expert suggested. It needs to be broken by changing the balance of power between the Israelis and the Palestinians, by making negotiations between a state and state, and not between a state and an organisation [the PLO].

Israel, on the other hand, is trying to spin it as a sort of a reward for Hamas or something that will derail any future peace process, which I think is not the case, he said. If all sides read into this, what they should see is that it can actually enhance the chances of peace.

On the US position on the issue, Mekelberg said that there are divisions between Washington and some EU countries. He pointed out that the US veto remains the only obstacle to Palestine getting the UN Security Councils backing for full membership.

I think that when it comes to Palestinian statehood, the US is quite isolated in its opinion, not only with the EU, but also internationally.

The decision taken by Spain, Ireland and Norway is the outcome of growing coordination to advance a credible political track to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and support Palestinian self-determination, added Hugh Lovatt, senior policy fellow with the MENA Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Recognition can contribute towards advancing a sustainable post-conflict solution for Gaza Without strong political support for Palestinian self-determination, any post-conflict political efforts for Gaza will lack legitimacy.

Recognition, he said, will provide further European impetus to exclude and sanction Israeli settlements  including potentially setting the scene for a push by like-minded countries for an EU ban on settlement products and financial services.

Al Jazeera English: What does the increasing recognition of Palestinian statehood mean? | Inside Story

Lovatt expects more countries to recognise Palestine in the future. Slovenia has indicated that it will follow suit by 13 June once its parliament votes on the subject. Other European countries such as France and Belgium are contemplating similar moves, although this does not appear imminent. He pointed out that European governments are also responding to domestic public pressure to do more to support Palestinian rights. So, it is good foreign policy and good domestic politics.

Lovatt believes that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will see this as a victory for his internationalisation strategy launched in 2011, but many Palestinians will view it as symbolic and without concrete action for a ceasefire in Gaza and holding Israel to account over its violation of international law and settlement policy.

Spain, Ireland and Norway are all countries that had been pressing Israel to stop its deadly attacks on civilians in Gaza, noted Tugce Ersoy Ceylan, an associate professor at the Izmir Katip Celebi University in Turkiye.

Since international bodies did not take any sanction decision within the context of international law, they may have decided to take such a path to make a stand. This unilateral symbolic recognition may have been made so as not to remain a spectator, even if it is late in the day.

Ceylan does not view the move as progress towards resolving the Palestinian issue, but said that it was significant that the right of Palestinians to establish a state, which had been forgotten and condemned to the status quo of unresolved issues, is being brought up again by significant Western states.

She suggested that this would not lead to any immediate pressure on Israel to sit at the negotiating table, not least because Netanyahu is determined not to compromise.

A wave of recognition by other countries is unlikely, but it would not be surprising if EU governments developed other formulas to clear their names.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

The Middle East Monitor
The New Arab )  In the vast expanse of the intellectual cosmos, there exists a luminary whose brilliance outshines even the brightest stars.

Professor Yuval Noah Harari, a name whispered with reverence among the learned denizens of the galaxy, is a beacon of knowledge, whose canon traverses the celestial planes of history, philosophy, human psychology and beyond.

Informed by years of contemplative transcendence and prodigious mastery of the written word, his concepts, like cosmic dark matter anomalies rippling through the fabric of reality, challenge our understanding of existence and propel us toward the final frontier of enlightenment.

A playlist of Zionist apologia, Hararis rhetoric perpetuates the shallow canards of liberal Zionism, ensconced in fake notions of human rights, in a facile attempt to salvage a crumbling Western narrative

It is within these boundless realms, with Enterprise captain boldness and sage wisdom, that Harari recently journeyed into his nuanced quagmire imaginary version of Zionism.

In a twist of revisionism as astonishing as his repurposing of humanism, Harari embarked on a fantastical odyssey, gazing balefully at those who weaponise Zionism as a slur, likening it to a sinister form of tribalism or even racism.

For in the great beyond of Hararis philosophy, nothing about Zionism suggests any hint of superiority toward native Palestinians. Certainly not Israeli discriminatory laws and inconvenient evidence embedded in Israels Basic Law: Knesset, Article 7(a), which erects Zionism as a gatekeeper to participation in the facade of Israeli democracy.

The gospel according to Yuval Noah Harari

How mundane to concern oneself with the musings of figures like the obscure Ukrainian Vladimir Jabotinsky, a mere blip on the Zionist radar, albeit Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahus ideological guru, who said:

If it is immoral to colonise a country against the will of its native population, the same morality must apply equally to the black man as to the white. Of course, the blackman may not be sufficiently advanced to think of sending delegations to London, but he will soon find some kindhearted white friends, who will instruct him.

And:

There will always be two nations in Palestine  which is good enough for me, provided the Jews become the majority.

And:

We are seeking to colonise a country against the wishes of its population, in other words, by force.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The International Court of Justice ruled Friday that Israel must immediately cease its ongoing invasion of Rafah governorate in southern Gaza on the grounds that it is having a genocidal impact. The courts ruling went this way:

The State of Israel shall, in conformity with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and in view of the worsening conditions of life faced by civilians in the Rafah Governorate: (a) By thirteen votes to two, Immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; IN FAVOUR: President Salam; Judges Abraham, Yusuf, Xue, Bhandari, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth, Brant, Gomez Robledo, Cleveland, Aurescu, Tladi;  2  AGAINST : Vice-President Sebutinde; Judge ad hoc Barak

Some observers were disappointed that the court did not order an immediate ceasefire but limited itself to forbidding the Rafah campaign. Apparently the judges were concerned to distinguish firmly between war-fighting and its inevitable toll, and genocidal actions having the effect of bringing about the destruction of a people in whole or part. They judged that a full-scale Rafah invasion would have that effect but didnt go so far as to see the war itself in that light.

President Joe Biden had also said that invading Rafah would be a red line because there is no way to ensure the welfare of the civilian, noncombatant population. Israel had ethnically cleansed northern Gaza and forced over a million Palestinians to the south, where they were living in tents or impossibly crowded tenement buildings amidst squalor. The population of Rafah had only been about 300,000 but it swelled to a million and a half. Shooting into their midst or bombing these dense settlements, as Israel is now doing, is sure to inflict massive killing and wounding on women, children and noncombatant men.

Biden, having set a red line, however, has watched helplessly as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rogues gallery of ultra-right cabinet members have ordered several brigades into Rafah. Some 900,000 civilians have now again been ethnically cleansed and are seeking shelter in largely destroyed cities in the middle of the Strip, or are being forced with no food or water into the wilderness. Israel has largely halted food and aid shipments as part of the invasion.

If Biden is serious about his red line, he will abstain when the UN Security Council takes up the ICJ ruling, and allow it to place sanctions on Israel for showing contempt of court.

The likelihood, however, is that Israel will continue to enjoy impunity, guaranteed by the United States.

Al Jazeera English Video:ICJ orders Israel to end its Rafah offensive | Al Jazeera Newsfeed

The ICJ was set up after WW II to adjudicate disputes between United Nations members. South Africa prevailed in convincing the court last winter that since both Israel and South Africa are signatories to the 1948 Genocide convention, Pretoria has standing to sue the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over its actions in the Gaza Strip. In January, South Africa sought what we in this country would call a preliminary injunction. For instance, say you sue a company for polluting a river, but you know that it will take years for the court to issue a verdict. You can ask the judge to issue a preliminary injunction against the company spewing pollution into the river until the case can be decided. On January 26, the court ruled again in South Africas favor, judging that there is a plausible case that Israel is committing genocide and it should cease immediately those war strategies that would potentially come under that heading.

The Netanyahu government has thumbed its nose at these rulings, and despite some tut-tutting, the Biden administration has fully backed the continuation of the war, resupplying Israel with arms and ammunition for it in real time.

Aid NGOS active in Gaza now say that as a result of the Israeli attack on Rafah, people are thirsting to death or getting sick because they are being denied potable water and hygiene.

The UNs OCHA reports,

On 22 May, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) reported that some displaced people in central Gaza are surviving on just three per cent of the internationally recognized minimum requirements. According to humanitarian standards, the minimum amount of water needed in an emergency is 15 litres, which includes water for drinking, washing, and cooking. For survival alone, the estimated minimum is three litres per day. This is the case, for instance, at a shelter visited by the IRC [International Rescue Committee] that houses 10,000 people and receives just 4,000 litres of water per day, translating to about 0.4 litres per person, for drinking, washing, cooking and cleaning. The IRC stressed that this situation is forcing people to rely on unsafe water sources like seawater and agricultural wells, and the lack of adequate water quantities is contributing to dehydration. In the absence of sanitation facilities, displaced people are also building their own makeshift latrines, with up to 600 individuals sharing a single latrine, a situation exacerbated by the scarcity or unaffordability of hygiene supplies. Within this context, communicable diseases, including diarrhoea and suspected Hepatitis A, continue to increase, with children under the age of five being particularly affected.

If you dont think putting hundreds of thousands of people in this situation is genocidal, then frankly theres nothing I can do for you because you are either not being honest with yourself and the world, or you are a sociopath lacking basic empathy.

CARE reports that the new flood of refugees to places such as Deir al-Balah lack basic medical facilities for maternal and pediatric care, and there is a danger of a lot of dead babies and mothers.

Interfering in a peoples ability safely to reproduce themselves is an element of genocide to which the International Court of Justice referred in its January 26 ruling.

The likelihood is that despite the court ruling, Washington will run interference for the genocidal policies of Tel Aviv, and that this carnage will continue for months to come. In the next stage, more people will die of disease, given the lack of hygienic facilities, than have been killed by Israels indiscriminate bombing and shelling  over 35,000 at present not counting thousands more under the rubble, the majority of them women and children.
Lee Yeol Eum is among the rising actresses who is gaining the attention of the public due to her appearance in the hit Netflix K-drama "The 8 Show."

In the 8-episode series, she took on the character of Kim Yang, a.k.a. the 4th floor girl who was later revealed as a K-pop wannabe but ended up as a parking attendant.

Viewers witnessed her character growth at the end of the story.

However, amid the drama's popularity, Lee Yeol Eum is hounded by various controversies that involve dating rumors.

Prior to the successful premiere of the webtoon-based K-drama, the actress was rumored to be dating "The 8 Show" director Han Jae Rim.

Lee Yeol Eum Dating 'The 8 Show' Director Han Jae Rim?

In August 2023, months after Netflix released "The 8 Show," rumors sparked that a rising star was dating a renowned director.

A report mentioned that media outlet The Fact broke the news and claimed that the two are dating amid the filming of the then-upcoming K-drama.

At the time, Lee Yeol Eum's agency, Namoo Actors, briefly responded, saying, "It is difficult to confirm because it is the actor's private life."

Other than "The 8 Show," she has worked with director Han Jae Rim on his award winning movie "Emergency Declaration."

'The 8 Show' Director Responds to Dating Rumors With Lee Yeol Eum

As "The 8 Show" is set to hit Netflix globally, director Han Jae Rim responds to the issue surrounding his relationship with the actress, who is 21 years his junior.

During the press conference, the director recalled his initial reaction upon seeing the news.

As mentioned by an outlet, he was clueless as to "why such a misunderstanding occurred."

He also shut down rumors and explained the claims regarding their closeness on the set of "The 8 Show."

Han Jae Rim pointed out that he and Lee Yeol Eum were close, but not on a romantic level.

"At the time of filming, several people attended at once, so there was a separate monitor for each actor. Lee Yeol-eum was enthusiastic about this work, and I think the things I asked and asked, like a "monitor gum," were misinterpreted to the extent that I always asked him not to do it if it was OK."

"The 8 Show" is a thriller mystery K-drama that showcases a survival game between 8 individuals.

Joining Lee Yeol Eum as the lead stars are Ryu Jun Yeol, Lee Joo Young, Bae Sung Woo, Chun Woo Hee, Park Jung Min, Moon Jung Hee, and Park Hae Joon.

Often compared to "Squid Game," director Han Jae Rim shared that "The 8 Show" is very different from the Netflix series because the webtoon-based K-drama is a survival game show where death is not part of the challenge.

IN CASE YOU MISSED : 'The 8 Show' Director Reveals Reason for Casting Bae Sung Woo Amid Past Controversy





For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores
"Law School" was among the underrated K-dramas released in 2021.

Veering away from the fan favorite rom-com and romance series, the JTBC K-drama focuses on the mystery thriller genre surrounding a grim incident that happened at the prestigious Hankuk University Law School.

It almost has the same premise as "How to Get Away from Murder," in which professors and students are entangled in the murder case of a faculty member.

The episode focuses on the possible suspect behind the mysterious case, which kept viewers on the edge of their seats.

Apart from the intriguing plot, "Law School '' also showcased a roster of talented stars, featuring a mix of veteran and rising actors.

Three years after the mystery crime series aired its finale, viewers are still hopeful for a possible sequel or to see the cast members reunite for a different project.

Here are the current and upcoming projects of the "Law School" cast.

Kim Bum

After "Law School," Kim Bum made his K-drama comeback with RAIN in the fantasy comedy series "Ghost Doctor."

It is followed by the sequel "Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938," with the actor reprising his role as Lee Rang with Lee Dong Wook and new cast member Kim So Yeon.

Kim Bum's last K-drama appearance was his cameo in the rom-com "Wedding Impossible."

Ryu Hye Young

Like Kim Bum, Ryu Hye Young also appeared in back-to-back K-dramas after "Law School."

This includes headlining the 2023 series "Adult Kids" and the upcoming thriller rom-com "The Good Man" with Lee Dong Wook and Lee Sung Kyung."

In addition to this, Ryu Hye Young is also in talks to join the novel based K-drama "When the Day Breaks" as a supporting character.

Kim Myung Min

After three years in the "Law School" series, Kim Myung Min will make his return to the small screen with another thriller crime K-drama, "Your Honor," which is a remake of the American TV series of the same name.

Viewers will also get to see the actor star in the action comedy series "Double Spy" with top star Choi Ji Woo.

Lee Jung Eun

Portraying the main character in "Law School," Lee Jung Eun will have a busy 2024 as the veteran actors appear in multiple series.

She will be joining Go Min Si, Kim Yoon Seok, and more in Netflix's "The Frog," followed by the highly anticipated webtoon based K-drama "Light Shop," with a star-studded cast headlined by Ju Ji Hoon and Park Bo Young.

Adding to the list of Lee Jung Eun K-dramas, "Miss Night and Day," which will air June 15 via JTBC.

READ MORE: Lee Jung Eun, More In Talks to Join Gong Hyo Jin's Movie 'The Journey to Gyeongju'

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores




Saturday, May 25, 2024 - President William Ruto has said his government is ready to deploy 1000 police officers to Haiti to help the Caribbean country battle with gangs that have taken over key government installations.

In an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Friday, Ruto said officers were expected to start arriving before the end of May but an advance team on the ground said some logistics were not ready hence the extension by two more weeks.

This means the latest they can arrive is June 15.

Apart from Kenya, other countries that will send officers to Haiti are; Chile, Jamaica, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritius.

The 1000 police officers will come from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), General Service Unit (GSU), and Border Patrol Unit (BPU).

This is a combat-trained team that officials say can handle the situation on the ground professionally.

They have undertaken training in various areas including language.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, May 24, 2024 - Darlington Akporugo and his fiancee, Jasmin Sood, who were supposed to get married tomorrow, May 25, in Houston, Texas, USA, have been arrested for alleged fraud, with their wedding called off.

The couple was arrested in April on charges of conspiring to defraud more than a dozen elderly Americans who believed they were engaged in online romantic relationships with Akporugo.

The United States Department of Homeland Security accused the 46-year-old Nigerian and Sood, 35, of committing a mail and wire fraud that cost victims $3.123 million.

According to investigators, between approximately 2015 and 2022, the fraudsters allegedly used fictitious personas and sought out and contacted elderly victims online who were often widowed.

The indictment alleges they used social networking and internet dating platforms and communicated with victims using email, text messages, and telephone to gain their trust.

The scammers would then ultimately deceive them into transferring large sums of money to various fraudster-controlled or influenced mailing addresses and bank accounts, many Akporugo and Sood owned or controlled, according to the charges.

After establishing trust with the victim online, Akporugo and Sood approached at least one victim in the Houston area in person, according to the allegations. They then allegedly drove the victim to banks to send money to the fraudster network and convinced her to give Akporugo control of the victims banking access devices.

The indictment also charges Akporugo with aggravated identity theft and fraud in connection with an access device.

The scheme allegedly resulted at least 13 victims being defrauded of approximately $3,123,073.

If convicted, both face up to 30 years imprisonment for each of the wire fraud counts and conspiracy.

Akporugo faces an additional 10 years on the fraud in connection with an access device and another mandatory two years if convicted of the aggravated identity theft.

Watch the couple's extravagant pre-wedding videos below

Mans wedding called off after he and his fiancee were arrested over alleged fraud in the U.S pic.twitter.com/dI2ATMTtpi  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) May 24, 2024








Saturday, May 25, 2024 - A man was attacked by a gang of four as he was walking home at night in one of the city estates.

In the robbery incident captured on CCTV, the victim is seen walking majestically, not knowing that the gang was targeting him.

One of the gang members accosted him and when he tried to fight back, the other gang members joined in and wrestled him to the ground.

They ransacked his pockets and fled after stealing his phone and other personal items.

The video comes at a time when insecurity has escalated in different parts of the city.

Armed gangs have been unleashing terror on innocent city residents, leaving some of the victims with life-threatening injuries.





Watch the video of the robbery incident.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Former Mandera County Governor Ali Roba has blasted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for advocating for a One-man, one-vote, one-shilling policy.

The one-man, one-vote, one-shilling policy is where national resources are shared according to population and not land size.

Gachagua says some sparsely populated regions have been receiving more money than regions that are densely populated.

But in a rejoinder, Roba said the proposal, if implemented would only further marginalize the arid and semi-arid regions (ASAL).

Roba also asked Gachagua to be a national leader and not to behave like someone who was elected to represent the Mt Kenya region only.

"The role of the Deputy President is to assist in national governance, not to serve as a regional representative. Prioritizing regional interests undermines this national duty, setting a precedent that could lead to further division," Roba stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, May 25, 2024  It seems President William Ruto will not be using 'Airforce 1' which was bought by late President Daniel Moi and served both former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.

This is after it emerged that he has acquired another presidential jet after his expensive trip to the U.S. which has caused ripples.

According to sources, the Kenya Kwanza regime has ordered Falcon 6X which is said to cost approximately ksh.7.2 billion (USD52 million) from a French company Dassault Aviation to be used by Ruto after the Airforce1 became too old for his liking.

It will cost approximately USD 3M (ksh.450M) for annual maintenance. This will be coughed by the taxpayer.

Falcon 6X can fly 10,000KM nonstop. It will be delivered next year, 2025.

On his state visit to the U.S., President Ruto hired a Sh200 million luxurious private jet to fly him there at the expense of poor taxpayers.

No wonder he is overtaxing Kenyans just to fund his lavish lifestyle.

He needs lots of money for opulence and extravagance, that is why he is taxing us to the last drop of blood.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Detectives have launched investigations into the mysterious death of aspiring UDA politician and businessman, Hon. Mathenge Peter, whose lifeless body was found in a guest house in Karatina town, Nyeri County.

Mathenge left two notes listing all his wealth and the location of all his possessions.

One of the notes was found in the guest room while the other was found in his car.

Reports indicate that he booked a room and went to sleep but he never woke up the following morning.

A cleaner who wanted to clean the room knocked at the door in the morning but there was no response, prompting him to alert the management.

They broke into the room and stumbled upon Mathenges body and alerted the police.

The body had no physical injuries.

Mathira East Police Commander Benjamin Boen confirmed the incident, saying the deceaseds car was found parked outside the guesthouse.

Inside the car, police found an envelope containing contact information of his siblings as well as a notebook listing his properties and their respective locations.

Mathenge unsuccessfully vied for an MCA seat on the UDA ticket.

He was the CEO of Slopes Optical Limited, an eye chemist.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Kikuyu traders in Nairobis Gikomba market have accused President William Ruto of destroying their businesses, following a government directive targeting structures on riparian land that will demolish hundreds of market stalls.

About 70% of stalls in Gikomba market are built along the riparian land.

Speaking to the press, the disgruntled traders accused Ruto of duping them with the bottom-up agenda.

He lied to us. Our businesses are now being destroyed even after we voted for him overwhelmingly, one of the traders said and regretted voting for Ruto.

She said that Ruto is punishing ordinary hustlers despite campaigning on the hustlers agenda.

The government has already moved in to enforce a 24-hour eviction notice issued to the traders on May 23, 2024.

Traders pleaded with the government not to implement the 30-metre rules as many people would be rendered jobless.

On Friday, There were empty stalls at Gikomba Market with few consumers trickling in.

Sacks of goods were seen placed at the stalls as traders feared opening their businesses.

Below is a video of disgruntled Kikuyu traders in Gikomba accusing Ruto of destroying their businesses.

The late John DeMethew composed a song prophesying that Kikuyus will be seeing Nairobi from a distance. And its happening in real time.



There is a scripted, premeditated scheme to target their businesses and livelihoods with non-other than @rigathi being a primary pic.twitter.com/DU41fdivOU  Francis Gaitho (@FGaitho237) May 25, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Saturday, May 25, 2024  President William Ruto has started doing business with our hard-earned money which we give him through the Housing Levy.

This was confirmed by Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga who justified the move by Rutos government to invest Housing Levy deductions in Treasury Bonds and Bills.

In response to concerns raised by Kenyans over the use of the money, Hinga noted that the investment was in line with the Affordable Housing Act.

He explained that the housing projects take time, a factor that would make the collection stay idle in the accounts.

Therefore, instead of the money staying idle, Hinga noted that investments in Treasury Bills would be prudent and beneficial owing to the interest earned.

"This is called liquidity management. Construction projects are long term some will take two years, you collect money today to pay a certificate in six months.

"The prudent thing is to invest extra liquidity, and earn interest," the PS stated.

He also added that the interest would help the government undertake more housing projects.

"The Affordable Housing Act envisioned this and provided for mechanism to invest cash you dont need today but might require in a few months.

"So, the funds are safe earning interest as we roll out more across the country," he added.

The government collects funds for the affordable housing programme through the implosion of a 1.5 per cent levy on income earned by Kenyans in the formal and informal sectors.

Treasury Bills are short-term investment plans. Treasury Bills have maturities of 91 days, 182 days, and 364 days.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has arrived in South Africa ahead of the country's General Election to be held on May 29, 2024.

Together with the other members of the African Union Election Observer Mission (AUEOM), the former President, who is the current head of the mission, landed in the country to prepare for the activities in the elections.

At the invitation of the government of South Africa and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, approved the deployment of the short-term AUEOM to assess and report on the conduct of this election.

"The mission shall interact with state authorities, the Independent Electoral Commission, political parties, the media, civil society organisations and representatives of the international community in the upcoming 2024 elections," a statement by the AU read.

The AUEOM comprises 60 short-term observers (STOs) drawn from ambassadors accredited to the African Union, officials of election management bodies, and members of African civil society organizations.

Surprisingly, Uhuru arrived at the rainbow nation with a small entourage, unlike President William Ruto who travelled with a whole village to the U.S. during his state visit that began last Sunday.

Rutos trip is expected to cost the taxpayer Sh 1 billion.

The Kenyan DAILY POST












Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Fresh details have emerged over how former President Uhuru Kenyatta has been struggling to pay his staff after the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government denied him the funding allocated to his office by the constitution.

Uhuru's spokesperson, Kanze Dena, said the retired president is now paying his staff from his pocket and that even the vehicles that he is lawfully entitled to have not yet been provided.

The size of Uhurus office, his entourage while traveling, and the number of staff have been points of contention between the former president and the current administration.

Whereas the Ruto administration has offered Uhuru a Sh 250 million one-storey office at the Nyari Complex in Nairobi, which the third president, the late Mwai Kibaki, previously occupied, Uhuru has insisted that he use his former home adjacent to the State House.

Kanze said Uhuru had been denied an opportunity to have an office of his choice, just like his predecessors, the late Daniel Arap Moi and Kibaki, had and was now being forced to use an office previously occupied by Kibaki.

Kanze said Uhuru is entitled to KSh 20 million for office rent per year, but currently, he has been forced to furnish an office within his private compound in Nairobi owing to his position as East Africa Community facilitator for peace initiative in Congo DRC and Tigray region in Ethiopia.

The former presidents spokesperson wondered why Uhuru would be denied an opportunity to have an office of his choice, yet even former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka have been allowed to operate offices of their choice.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, May 25, 2024  Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will regret advocating for one-man, one-shilling for the benefit of the vote-rich Mt. Kenya region.

This is after he appears to be on his own on this campaign as leaders from all over shun him.

In a statement yesterday, Mandera Senator Ali Roba hit out at Gachagua, saying his one-man, one-shilling, one-vote agenda is selfish.

According to Senator Roba, the policy threatens the countrys national unity and poses a risk to marginalized regions in Kenya.

The former Mandera Governor noted that the sharing revenue based on population neglects the diverse needs of Kenyas various regions and would exacerbate existing inequalities.

The Deputy President of Kenya, Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, positioning himself primarily as a leader for the Mount Kenya region and championing the one man, one shilling, one vote policy, presents significant risks to Kenyas national unity and development.

This approach risks marginalizing less populated but equally needy regions, eroding the sense of national cohesion, and potentially increasing regionalism or tribalism, read the statement in part.

Roba pointed out that the role of the Deputy President is to assist in national governance and not to serve as a regional representative.

He warned Gachagua that prioritizing the interests of the Mt Kenya region undermines his national duty and sets a precedent that could lead to further division in Kenya.

The position taken by Rigathi Gachagua has already kickstarted the debate about Kenya having 8-9 deputy presidents to champion their regional interests alongside Rigathi Gachagua.

"Maybe, that is what we should do but what will that mean for our country if that was to be considered? Roba posed.

Further, the Kenya Kwanza governor told DP Gachagua to carry himself with decorum as the Deputy President of Kenya.

We all need to remind our deputy president that he is no longer the MP of Mathira constituency but the second in command of the Republic of Kenya.

"If he misses being an MP he can resign and become the mouthpiece of that constituency, Roba added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Americas health care system, much like Congress, is broken, and doctors have to be part of the solution. I dont know a single doctor who doesnt wish to improve our ability to increase access and the delivery of health services to our patients. Maintaining and/or improving the health of patients is our goal. That should be the goal of anyone associated with the health care system, but its not. Currently, our system is infiltrated and plagued by profit. Theres no quick fix or panacea. I have ideas on how to make improvements, but let me point out what I see as the biggest problems.

Economic structure

Americas capitalist economy works well for many industriesbut not all, and health care is not one of them. Health care is often not subject to the same standards of supply and demand and, therefore, cannot be considered a standard market. Insurance companies limit your choices when they force you to see someone in-network, so your ability to choose the doctor you want is already curtailed, if not eliminated. When your family member is sick, the typical response is to do everything to get them better. When that is an emergent situation, you dont stop and shop around for the best provider or cheapest deal. And despite what most people think, its actually against the law to turn away a patient with an emergency due to lack of insurance. This is, in part, why community hospitals can no longer stay open. Such hospitals have to compete with for-profit facilitiessometimes right next doorthat usurp all the well-insured patients. Because they are bound to take care of emergent non-insured patients who often make up a greater share of their population they are bound to go broke. Its already happening as a community, and rural hospitals are forced to close their doors.

Hospitals do budget for indigent care, which is reimbursed by the government (you and me). Similarly, all those patients who cant afford to treat their chronic medical conditions who present in crisis to the ER with severe consequences of that neglect will get the services they needwhich they cannot afford. So again, the government (you and I) are left to pay for that acute carewhich is almost always much more than helping to subsidize the cost of maintaining their underlying diseases in the outpatient setting. So when you think about it, providing that basic level of health care to such patients is actually the economically smarter option. And clearly, its the more humane and ethically appropriate thing to help prevent such morbidity when possible. There will always be non-compliance for sure, but most patients actually do want to take their medsif they dont have to choose between that and paying for a roof over their head or putting food on the table. Its a win-win, so why are we not doing it? Its complicatedbut I feel contributing factors are: corporate health care greed that gets its tailwind from capitalism, big players who pay the politicians, and polarized politics with taboo labels such as Obamacare and socialism.

The big players

Id like to think that doctors are one of the big players. But as doctors, we know better. Physicians used to be considered the pillars of society. And sometimes, they still are. But more often, health care providers are often maligned and blamed for our current situation. Patients are shooting up doctors offices and hospitals. Society has demonized doctorsand in a handful of cases, rightly so. There are some bad doctors out there who got into medicine for money. Or others who are now disenchanted with the practice and provide care based on reimbursement as opposed to the standard of care. Those bad apples are tainting the whole profession. But thats just itthey are bad apples among the bunch. Please know that most doctors really do want to help get you and keep you healthy.

Suffice it to say that physician salaries make up a minimal component of the overall health care expenditures at just 8.6% in 2011. And that was the 2nd lowest among Western nations with a modern health care system. More than a decade later, physician salaries remain at 8.6% of health care spending. What most people dont recognize is that for the last 20 years, weve been getting paid a little less each year for the same services. What other industry is getting paid less each year for providing the same services? And its just doctorsthe other health care players have been getting incrementally more over this same time period. This explains why doctors now have to see more patients than they used to just to earn the same amount and cover the expenseswhile the latter go up each year. And you cant pay your staff less each yearso that increase in overhead and staffing costs comes out of the doctors salary. The medical assistant (MA) can now earn more at Buc-ees or Costco than we can afford to pay them to work in our office. Therefore, the physician practice model pendulum has swung away from private practice and towards employment, being bought out by hospitals or, worse, private equity firms. The private practice solo physician is a dying breed; its just not sustainable in our current system.

If doctor salaries are not the problem, what is? Lets start with the biggest player: insurance companies. Its in the interest of insurance companies to deny coverage and care as often as possible. Its expensive to keep you healthy. But its even more expensive to try to treat you when you are sick. When we make being healthy (preventative care) a priority, in the long run, we all do better. But health care companies are in it for the bottom linewhich is here and now. Denials of coverage for things practicing physicians have ordered are the norm. Prior authorizations have become such a nuisance that we are making state laws to help deal with this. Texas led the way with the gold card bill, which intended to exempt physicians with prior authorization approval rates of more than 90% from having to get prior authorizations at all. Unfortunately, its rare for a doctor to even know of their gold card status, and there is no punitive component when an insurance company doesnt comply.

Similarly, the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA), a.k.a. Obamacare, enforced the 80/20 rulewhich said that 80% of the premiums they collected had to be spent on medical claims. This was to both reduce insurance company profits and hopefully decrease premiums. My family and I got a check from my insurance company that next year for more than $500. But no surprise, we never got another check again because the insurance companies implemented workaroundsnamely, increasing the costs of medical claims. So these laws end up having great intentions but with absolutely no practical impact.

While insurance companies placed the blame for rising rates on the ACA (which is technically accurate as it was their own reaction to the 80/20 rule), they still were able to increase the pay of their CEOs. The combined CEO salaries of the eight largest publicly traded insurance companiesincluding pharmacy CVS, which acquired insurer Aetnawas $143.5 million in 2017, up 14.4% from the year before. As of 2023, the top-paid insurance CEO made over $22 million. Meanwhile, premiums are rising at a much faster rate than overall wagesleaving the average American unable to even afford health insurance.

The next big player is drug companies. While the drug companies are paying their CEOs tens of millions, most Americans cant afford their prescriptions. In 2022, the top 10 pharmaceutical company CEOs made $28 million/year or more, with the highest paid getting more than $124.9 million/year. Thank God for Mark Cuban, Alexander Oshmyansky, and Cost Plus Drugs. Although they are a company seeking profits in order to stay in business, thats clearly not their motivation. The mission is clearly stated on their website: We will provide low-cost, high-quality pharmaceuticals to the consumerby any means possible. While Mark Cuban states, I could make a fortune from this  But I wont. Ive got enough money. Id rather f up the drug industry in every way possible. Why cant the government do something like this? Because the politicians are in the pockets of the big players.

The final big player is the health care administration. From 1990 to 2012, the U.S. health care workforce grew by 75 percent. All but five percent of that job growth was in administrative staff, not doctors. For every doctor, there were 16 health care workers, and only six of those were involved in actual patient care (nurses/aides). The other 10 represented purely administrative roles. And its not from increased utilization as the number of days Americans spent in the hospital decreased by 12 percent, while hospital staff grew by 11 percent from 2002-2012. Why were all these people added? What are they doing? We do need someone to run a hospital and its staff, but what are all those extra people doing? Some even project this field will grow by 32% from 2019 to 2029! I cannot comprehend how the exorbitant 75% of the layers we now have are truly needed, nor that they result in improvement in patient care.

The economic structure that allows anyone and everyone to reap profits from the health care system, the insurance and drug company domination of the market and politicians, and the outsized ballooning of health administration are the biggest insults to the American health care system as this practicing physician sees it. The goal of our system needs to be the health and welfare of patientswhich is almost uniformly the goal of all physicians practicing medicine. Physicians should not only be at the table of discussions regarding health care, but leading the inception and implementation of the solutions. Why arent we? In part because we are too busy taking care of our patients to spend the time and money to educate and influence politicians. But politicians need to step aside and defer to those actually practicing medicine for solutions. As doctors, we also fight about the politics of medicine, but at the end of the day, patient care is what unites usnot getting re-elected. Im ready to start addressing these problems and finding some practical solutions. Lets let doctors lead the way.

Alisa Berger is a urologist.
When it comes to journalism and health care prosecutions, todays papers are so yellow that they could damage vision like a 580 nm laser. I have personally seen and suffered from this unbalanced approach to reporting and felt a need to provide a counternarrative based on reason instead of hyperbole. After studying hundreds of cases, I will argue that in roughly fifty percent of these, the government has paid hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars to convict a completely innocent person who had absolutely no criminal intent. On the other hand  sometimes, they get it right.

When they do, we need to acknowledge it and give them credit. It proves that they do know how to do the job right. If we can get them to focus on that instead of politically based persecutions, well all be better off. Today, lets look at one of the cases that makes it easier for the public to believe that doctors are greedy and just in it for the money. There is a common misconception that doctors are rich. In general, we are not. Oh, we get along much better than average and have no room to gripe, but very often, the prosecutor sneeringly deriding our salaries to the jury takes home as much as we do.

That being said, we dont make nearly enough for the government to care about our rights and freedom. You will notice a great disparity between how the DEA deals with large corporations and how it treats independent health care providers. The Sacklers legal department receives a phone call explaining how there are going to be criminal charges brought against their company for intentionally misleading doctors and the public about the dangers of their medications. The Sacklers attorneys bargain on a payoff, $225 million in civil penalties for the feds, and an $8 billion settlement.

Not for the families who lost loved ones, of course; the government doesnt truly care about them but for the state governments. Nothing will derail a righteous political crusade faster than the unrighteous distribution of large sums of cash. But wait? What happened to the U.S. attorney explaining how medical drug money will be seized? Why didnt the Sacklers get their bank accounts frozen and their homes raided? Why werent machine guns pointed in their faces as they were forced to crawl out of their homes on their hands and knees? As has happened to independent physicians?

We know the answer to that, my friends. Money. Real money. Not the few hundred thousand in your life savings. If you are truly rich, the DEA politely points out that you lied and killed a few thousand people, and then, over a cup of tea probably, they discuss the required payoff, money changes hands, and youre done. State politicians can then happily balance their budgets, making up for tax breaks they gave to the very wealthy, who are now giving that sweet kickback. The poor and untreated can still wander the streets, dying and getting arrested, providing the DEAs raison detre and filling local jails.

The Sackler family is worth around $11 billion, according to a document released by the House Committee in 2021. So now they are left with a pitiful $3 billion in blood money. How will they ever get by? But when it comes to independent physicians, pharmacists, and now chiropractors (yes, Im going to write about it; he owned the building the MDs worked out of, off to prison for him), things are different. The DEA agents will tell the jury that a doctor owned a nice car! Perhaps a classic old, restored car like Dr. Henrys 63 Rolls, or a Mercedes, a Tesla, or even, heaven forbid, a Volvo! (Yes, they didDr. Anand.)

The stark contrast between perception and reality in health care prosecutions is a result of the governments selective targeting in its quest for political control. Its hard to ignore the fact that almost every physician and pharmacist prosecuted has been independent, running their own clinics or groups, as all providers used to. However, with corporations now dominating health care, the landscape has changed. Now, we have massive companies protected by their billions, competing with individual doctors or pharmacists who are trying to survive on the crumbs falling off the table.

Thats why independent pharmacies are more likely to fill controlled medication prescriptions. The big chains can afford to just not mess with it, issuing a rule for all their chain stores to stop filling prescriptions for chronic pain patients and sometimes even addiction medicines. This is smart for them because they can survive on the slimmer margin provided by non-controlled blood pressure medications and antibiotics. Indeed, since the pharmacy is just a small part of their business, it doesnt hurt them at all. On the other hand, the independent clinic owner is always on the border of business failure.

So, the government makes the jury think the providers are rich by showing them the gross receipts. Gross income is all the money coming into a company; it is not what you get to keep. Most independent medical clinics operate on about a 40 percent net profit margin. That means if you pull in $300k, you end up with a salary of about $120k. Thats about the income of the average USDOJ attorney. This disparity, as well as distinct racial biases, is a clear indication of the need for a more balanced and fair approach to health care prosecutions. All that being said, a few doctors can make all the rest look bad.

Two of these appear to be Drs. Desi Barroga, age 51, and Deno Barroga, also age 51. In fact, the two were twins. These doctors had an office at 7515 Greenville Ave, and there, they chose, from all accounts, to break bad. Desi had over 23 years of experience, having graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2000. He was board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Deno had 22 years of experience, having graduated from Tulane University in 2001. He was also PM&R. Both had received some board attention, but this is not uncommon for any physician after decades of practice.

Here seems to have been the scam, and thats what it truly is. When a physician chooses to create false records and lie to get more money, it costs everyone: the other physicians trying to make a living, of course, but more importantly, the patients and the general public because scarce health care dollars are going for treatments never delivered. Independent medical practices get by on procedures, usually EKGs, minor surgeries, and, of course, injections. While the payment for a visit is marginal, a single shot of antibiotics or steroids can take a visit from red to black. So, most doctors do these when reasonable.

But these two dont seem to have been happy with reasonable. Drs. Deno Barroga and Desi Barroga have pleaded guilty to submitting claims for corticosteroid injections that were never given. In fact, some patients were billed for 80 injections in one day. Now, trigger point injections can help some conditions commonly treated by PM&R physicians, like myofascial pain syndrome and, to a lesser degree, fibromyalgia and tension headaches. Trigger points are sensitive areas in muscles that are painful when palpated, and these shots can help. Usually, the number of injections given is 2 to 10.

In their plea agreement papers, the brothers admitted to billing about $45 million and receiving $9 million. This may seem strange, but its not uncommon for doctors to only be paid a fraction of what they bill to Medicare or Medicaid, while commercial insurance usually pays more. This fraction is one of the things that make American health care completely unfair to any patient, even the insured ones. For example, lets say you go to the ER with a cut hand. The ER receptionist will check you in, the nurse will do your vitals and check your vaccination history, and youll see the ER doctor, wholl sew you up.

A few weeks later, you get a bill from the hospital and see that you were charged about $3,000 for the visit, including $50 for a Q-tip. Now you are furious! 50 bucks! For a Q-tip! The problem is that the insurance will only pay a small fee for the doctors time, but they will pay for supplies, so by increasing the price of the supplies, the hospital can get maybe $1,000 for the visit. The problem is that what the insurance doesnt pay goes to you, and if you dont have insurance, you must be billed the full amount. Thats because they cant charge different fees for insured and uninsured patients (not legal).

You can, of course, bargain this down, which is allowed. The moral of the story is never paying retail, I guess, but when it comes to the brothers Barroga, the payout is only about 20 percent of what was billed. Thats probably because they maxed out the number of injections that would be paid for. I am told by software much smarter than me that the CPT codes for injections are 20552 for injections into one or two muscles and 20553 for injections into three or more muscles. The payment for 20552 is about $60-$70, and that for 20553 is $80-$90. These are flat fees for these shots, so how can the doctors get more?

Well, they can charge for the medications given. If they use bupivacaine, thats up to $1.00 per milliliter given; the somewhat cheaper and shorter-acting lidocaine is only up to $0.25 per milliliter. Thats anesthetic or numbing medicine. Then, we have steroids for anti-inflammatory effects. Commonly used ones like methylprednisolone can be as much as $3 per 40 mg vial, and triamcinolone $2 per 10 mg vial. Now, for each of these visits, theres also going to be an evaluation and management or E/M code; these are 99201-99215, depending on if this is a first visit or follow-up and how complex it is, etc.

The code for lidocaine is J2001; bupivacaine is J3490; methylprednisolone 20 mg is J1020, 40 mg is J1030, and 80 mg is J1040. If a nerve block was used, they could code 64450; if it went into a joint, it would be 20210 without guidance and 20611 for ultrasound guidance. A brief note here: do not trust me on these codes! I am not a professional biller; these could have changed, or I could get them wrong, and then any bill filed by you that is not correct can be considered fraud! Even if you did your best. Thats because they will say you should have known. And they routinely get convictions with that argument.

But these two doctors dont say they made mistakes. They say they cheated. They admit to charging for injections that were never given and medications that never existed. So, looking back. Sure, they might have only gotten $80 to give the injections and perhaps $90 for a return 99213 visit, so $170, but then you add imaginary methylprednisolone at $3 and bupivacaine 3 cc at $3 times 80  and theres another $480 added to the $170, giving $650. Multiply that by six patients per hour, 8 hours a day, five days a week, 50 weeks a year, and you get $7,800,000. Do that for a few years, and there you go  $49 million.

It was also alleged that the doctors prescribed opiate medications just to keep the patients coming back, but this is what they say about everyone. Im waiting to see oncologists get rolled up for charging vulnerable patients for their health care! and giving them chemo just so theyd live to come back! Anyway, these two guys were criminals, and both agreed to immediately surrender their DEA registrations and their medical licenses and to pay back whatever the court decided at sentencing. When sentenced, they could be looking at up to ten years for the one conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

And this brings up another point. The federal criminal system is designed to reward the guilty and absolutely destroy any defendant who dares to suggest that the government is not perfect in its choice of prosecution. Just like the CDC didnt have time for evidence, the DOJ has no time for truth. But, if you shoot enough people, youll eventually hit one that deserved it, I suppose, and these two definitely did. Their actions are a true violation of the oath physicians take and a prime example of the office of the inspector general, as well as the DEA and the Texas Department of Insurance, doing their jobs.

So, in closing. If you are truly guilty of criminal medical behavior, do everyone a favor and retire now. That way, the rest of us wont get thrown in with you when the media starts waxing bright yellow. On the other hand, if you are absolutely innocent and have no criminal intent, fight with every breath in your body, knowing that you will still probably lose in court but that you have stood for what is right and done the right thing. If you are guilty and caught, plead out and take your DOJ reward for being a good little criminal and making their job easier. Either way, get a good health care specialist defense attorney.

Youll need them no matter who you are.

L. Joseph Parker is a distinguished professional with a diverse and accomplished career spanning the fields of science, military service, and medical practice. He currently serves as the chief science officer and operations officer, Advanced Research Concepts LLC, a pioneering company dedicated to propelling humanity into the realms of space exploration. At Advanced Research Concepts LLC, Dr. Parker leads a team of experts committed to developing innovative solutions for the complex challenges of space travel, including space transportation, energy storage, radiation shielding, artificial gravity, and space-related medical issues.

He can be reached on LinkedIn and YouTube.
Chinese VP meets Cambodian deputy PM

Xinhua) 14:56, May 25, 2024

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea on Friday in Beijing.

Han noted that China and Cambodia are good neighbors, good friends and good partners. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Manet twice last year, and has maintained strategic communication with Samdech Techo Hun Sen. They reached important consensus on building a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

China attaches great importance to and is committed to deepening comprehensive strategic cooperation with Cambodia, Han said.

China is willing to continuously enrich the Diamond Hexagon cooperation framework, promote synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy, advance projects to build the Industrial Development Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor, organize a series of activities for the China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year 2024, and promote greater development in building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future, Han added.

Sok Chenda Sophea said the new Cambodian government will make every effort to carry forward the traditional friendship between Cambodia and China, firmly abide by the one-China principle, strengthen practical cooperation with China in various fields and push forward bilateral relations.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
In a non-political issue, one would have not expected partisans to invade Mbondzeni Farm in the Shiselweni Region.

Their involvement in a matter that did not affect their manifesto in anyway, turned the situation higgledy-piggledy and, of course, frighteningly explosive.

Mbondzeni is a private farm that is owned by a citizen who happens to be a businessman. The farm owner is not even a high profile citizen or an active player in the countrys political space. He is not a decision maker.

Therefore, I had not expected any of the political parties to get involved in such a matter, which courts and tribunals would have efficiently handled.

At the time of preparing this analysis, Vukani Mkhwanazi, the security guard at Mbondzeni Farm, was still missing.

According to the May 23, 2024 edition of the Times of Eswatini, two suspects took police deep into the forest, where clothes believed Mkhwanazi was wearing at the time of his mysterious disappearance were found.

The Times of Eswatini spoke to credible sources who revealed that the security guard, on the day he was last seen, set out to look for look for livestock within the farm boundaries and accidentally came across unknown people believed to be members of political parties. Two other suspects are still at large. We have credible information that the suspects who are still at large are members of an extreme political party.

Violence

Secondly, it is an indisputable veracity that the dispute was hyped by the involvement of certain members of these political parties. Violence erupted and people got injured. Disappointingly, a dispute between a private farm owner and dwellers or squatters had to become a national issue. It is evident that the levels of desperation and opportunism in the political space are very high.

Ordinarily, in such a situation, it is clear to all that the bank of contemporary political ideas has collapsed. Where ideas to effectively influence national political thinking are noticeably diminishing, opportunists hijack situations.

This country needs serious agenda-setting minds that put a persuasive philosophy on the table for both liberals and conservatives to appreciate and embrace for validity and genuine critiquing.

It is very disappointing to see advocates of western democracy painting a bad picture of a political system that has developed many countries across the globe. Their attitude, deeds or modus operandi are not helping them scoring points for multiparty democracy. I have often said and I still maintain that there is nothing untoward multiparty democracy. There is absolutely nothing wrong about this system of government.

The problem with the advocacy in Eswatini is that it is in the wrong hands. I am interested in knowing how multiparty democracy can assist the country in its development agenda, but I cannot learn from those who invaded the Mbondzeni Farm. Last year, I did address the land tenure system in the country. I pointed to the fact that it needs an urgent review. However, it cannot be reviewed through illegal grabbing and occupation of private farms.

In a private farm, if you know you are squatter, you just have to negotiate with the owner. Ask him to, at least, sell part of the property to you or look for another land to set up a structure. That you have been the occupant of the farm since 1906 does not change the farm into an Eswatini Nation Land. I doubt that government would not have assisted victim of circumstances.

In my own definition, victim of circumstances are the people who occupied farms on the basis of an illegal khonta arrangement endorsed by chiefdom authorities.I want to believe we have a government that is aware that globalisation does not favour statelessness. The United Nations frowns upon situations in which some of our people around the world become landless.

Negotiate

I am pretty sure government would have assisted the people of Mbondzeni to acquire another property. In such situations, I urge government to negotiate with the private property owners to sell part of the farms. Government must also buy farms, and there are lots of them that are on sale. People can then relocate to these farms. I must mention here that I am fully aware of what transpired when the Mbondzeni Farm dispute began.

An online media platform alleged that the farm dwellers were being evicted by a businessman from Taiwan.

Ladies and gentlemen, this kind of journalism that is perpetuated by the online media is sometimes tragic  highly suicidal. After a series of publication of articles on the ownership of the farm, I personally became angry with the so called Taiwanese businessman, only to find out later that the farm is factually owned by a citizen.

The articles, as a matter of fact, caused members of political parties to invade Mbondzeni Farm to fight the so called Taiwanese businessman. At the height of the fracas, the ownership of the farm shifted from the so called Taiwanese businessperson to the country itself, Taiwan. Again, this fuelled speculations that if Taipei was involved, it meant Mbabane should answer, hence the invasion of the farm by members of the pressure groups.

The question is; if you are a member of an institution, why didnt you search for facts before the farm invasion?

One would then ask: Are they ready to govern? Despite its several benefits, emaSwati will gradually close doors to any person advocating for multiparty system of government, not because it is wicked, but certain elements within it are seemingly hell bent on besmirching its integrity, thus rendering its legitimacy vulnerable to unnecessary questioning and scepticism.

Contextually, multiparty democracy is not a new political concept to Eswatini. Political parties led the country to independence in 1968. They were banned on the basis of the April 12, 1973 Kings Proclamation. They existed and participated in the formation of government. We are all aware that King Sobhuza II formed or played a leading role in the establishment of a political party known as Imbokodvo. Safely saying, the Royal Palace formed a political party and the person behind it was King Sobhuza II.

Appreciate

We have to then appreciate the fact that multiparty democracy has been the kingdoms system of governance until the passage of the Kings Proclamation. To put it differently, it is a tried and tested political system in the monarchy.

Eswatini is an ally of countries that are governed by political parties. Our first largest trading partner, South Africa, is a multiparty democratic State.

We have seen how governments led by political parties improved the welfare of their people. The kingdom has secured loans from political party-administered countries. I want to put it to the advocates that their conduct should not taint the good image of multiparty democracy. I am sure that Mkhwanazi would be with his family if political parties were not involved in the Mbondzeni Farm dispute.

Mind you, Mkhwanazi is related to some of the farm dwellers whom the political parties supposedly came to defend.

On another note, one of our readers is addressing this highly disturbing global issue about Dolkun Isa.

Why silence on Dolkun Isas confession? Dolkun Isa is the leader of the World Uyghur Congress, he has very recently, through his X account, apologised for his conduct towards not one, but several female employees. He has also blocked one of the female employees who raised the issue in the public forum.

The timeline of the entire event is very strange, as is the entire story itself, but it most certainly should be something that attracts global attention. Strangely, global attention is diverted away from anything that might shed a negative light on allegations of such a terrible topic as genocide  yes you read that right  the fact that one of the worlds leading proponents of a genocide in China has been caught engaging in, admitted to and apologised for his bad behaviour towards female employees and a search on Google presents no information about this story.

We can be assured that if there was such a story related to a Chinese official, it would be all over Western media, but against a man, according to Wikipedia, is designated by China as an international terrorist, it seems everything is fair play. The World Uyghur Congress has issued a statement and they have expressed concern as well as acknowledged and welcomed Isas forthright apology.

They have, however, not suspended him, nor have they asked for his reservation, but heres the most amazing thing: The statement was issued on May 13 and, more than 24 hours later, not a single mainstream media outlet has picked it up. Its not that they might have missed it as its all over X, where they usually scroll for their news items, particularly those that are anti-China, anti-Russia or reflect any US adversary in a negative light.

Allegations

But so far, several days after the allegations came to light, several days after the published apology and one day after the statement, but the is not a word in the mainstream media. But lets get something straight, this it is not Gaza we are talking about, this is a US fabricated genocide, where not a single dead body has been seen, there are no mutilated children to be found, no photo or video evidence, not even a proven witness statement has been produced as evidence, corroborated and challenged this as a fake genocide as is possible to find and Mr Isa is a necessary cog in the wheels of misinformation.

Coincidentally, within a day of Dolkun Isas misbehaviour coming to light, and the same day as the World Uyghur Congress issued their statement on the matter, one of Isas acolytes, Timothy Grose, an associate professor of China Studies and supporter of the Uyghur genocide narrative, has released a report suggesting that the poor people of Xinjiang are being forced to cook and eat Han type of food and their own cuisine is being denied to them.

Ive drunk their tea, eaten their dried fruit, drank their wine and even their beer (Wusu, its quite nice) and had many conversations with many of them. Ive seen them dance, heard them sing and listened to their music, but heres the amazing thing, I dont need to go to Xinjiang to do this.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 54F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 54F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
LOBAMBA  When the PAC followed up on a query about the non-repayment of millions borrowed from the Community Poverty Reduction Fund, little did they know that they will witness an old man break down into tears.

Mkhulu Mateki Zwane (68) could not contain his emotions as he tried to narrate how financial challenges had made him struggle to repay about E98 000, which he borrowed over 10 years ago from the fund. This was during the appearance of the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday.



Trouble started when Principal Secretary (PS) Nonhlanhla Dlamini narrated how the ministry had exhausted almost all avenues in its quest to recover the money, but there had been no breakthrough. The PS submitted that the ministry has engaged Zwane over the years and went to an extent of visiting his homestead to ascertain if any of his property could be taken to recover the money.

According to the PS, when they arrived at Zwanes homestead, they discovered that it was a sorry sight and that he was struggling. Zwane is said to have shown commitment to repay the money and when he realised that it was not possible, he offered to sell his homestead, something which was, however, not accepted by the umphakatsi on the basis that selling on Eswatini Nation Land was not allowed.

Elaborating, the PS shared that Zwane had initially communicated that he wanted the money to purchase a kombi, which he was to use for a business of transporting children to school. After the PSs narration, Deputy PAC Chairperson and Member of Parliament Manzi Zwane asked to know if Zwane did not have children who could perhaps assist.

Zwane argued that the mandate of the PAC was to recover government funds and that whatever challenges a beneficiary encountered, there could always be other means of repaying. This fund was blessed by His Majesty King Mswati III to help emaSwati start businesses and improve their lives. Once the monies are not repaid, others are deprived of the chance to start small businesses, Zwane said.

Chairperson of the PAC Madala Mhlanga enquired if there were proper controls implemented in as far as the fund was concerned and the response he received from the PS was that there were none at the time. There were no controls. To be honest, the fund was established abruptly such that when we arrived we discovered that a document that was meant to contain its regulations was only made up of one page, said the PS.

She then informed the PAC that the old man was actually present and could be given a chance to state his case and explain the challenges he encountered. It was then that Mkhulu Mateki was fetched from outside the chambers. As he took his seat and started speaking, one could tell that he was having difficulty. He first made it known that it was not his first appearance before the PAC as he was once hauled before it during the time when its chairperson was Thulisile Dladla who is now the Deputy Prime Minister.

Zwane said the last time he appeared before the PAC was during the era of Matsanjeni North MP Phila Buthelezi who is now the Minister of Labour and Social Security. I am here to make the same plea and explain that I cannot afford to repay the money. This is because life keeps getting worse for me. I have tried to get a job countless times but no one wants to hire me. I send applications now and again and there is no feedback. Instead, I see other people being hired left right and centre, the elderly man submitted.

He explained that at some point he was lucky to be hired as a security guard by former MP Mduduzi Magagula as the salary he got made him sacrifice at least E500 to try and repay the debt. As a result, he managed to pay about E1 500. Unfortunately, he said, the job did not last and since then, there had been no luck in as far as getting a job was concerned.

He said at times he makes a living through collecting empty tins from dustbins in town and sells them for a few cents. As he tried to continue, his tone changed and he suddenly faced down and sobbed uncontrollably.

For about two minutes, the session came to a standstill and there was silence inside the chambers. It was then that the PAC chairperson requested the Parliament personnel to usher the old man out so that he could cool off and regain himself.

Following the incident, the PAC members were suddenly divided on what should happen next. Some of the members emphasised that emotions should not deter the PAC from conducting its work as that would set a bad precedent. The debate and division came after the chairperson advised the members that they should show humility and that there were other emaSwati who had looted millions of money.

Other members demanded to know who had authorised that the old man be given the loan and what qualities they had seen in him, which led to a conclusion that he would have the capacity to pay it back. As the debate between the members ensued, the chairperson directed the PAC Clerk, Arthur Mordaunt to share a brief background about the case.

The clerk first explained that indeed, Mkhulu Mateki had appeared before the PAC before and that some time ago he gave a version that he had actually bought a second-hand kombi with the money and struggled to get a permit.

According to the clerk, Mkhulu Zwane had also confided before that he used part of the money to help his son pay lobola for his wife.

However, the clerk said, there was a different version when Mkhulu Mateki appeared later on as there was now a report that he had not bought a kombi. There was also a report that he had taken a second wife and MPs from the previous parliaments argued that if he afforded taking a second wife then surely he was still energetic enough to work hard and repay the debt, said the clerk.

He stated that the man was given time to try and raise the money something he said he would do by looking for a job as a security guard and further use part of his elderly grant. Also, the clerk narrated that at some point, there were discussions of having the matter reported to the Losses Committee, something which divided MPs who were in office at the time.

After the clerk had shared the information, some of the PAC members submitted that they should perhaps discuss the matter in another forum or abandon it since it had been dealt with before. However, advice was given that just because it had been deliberated upon previously did not mean that it should be abandoned.

Other members voiced out that they were confused by the advice given by the chairperson that they should practice humility. I do not understand what the chairperson means when he says we must practice humility here. The most important thing that we need to do is follow the law, even if a person comes here and weeps. The fact that we gave him an opportunity to come here and state his side of the story shows that we still have humility, submitted Zombodze Emuva MP Ntando Mkhonta.

After his submission, the chairperson asked the PAC members what they expected him to do when he saw an old man break down in tears. The chairperson said he was not ashamed of having ordered that Mkhulu Mateki should not be made to continue as he had been engulfed by emotions. In the end, the members agreed that they would deliberate on the issue on another day.
South Korea, Japan and China will likely skip tricky geopolitics and tackle trade, supply chain stability and visa-free tourism when they convene in Seoul for their first summit in five years.

President Yoon Suk Yeol will meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the South Korean capital on Monday, with a slew of bilateral meetings scheduled the day before.

Despite North Korea conducting ever-more advanced weapons tests and China staging military drills around Taiwan, experts expect the summit to ignore security issues and seek common ground for easy diplomatic wins.

It will be important for all sides to show "they are committed to maintaining the momentum for cooperation," Asan Institute research fellow Lee Dong-gyu told AFP.

The problem is "the political positions of the three countries differ significantly," he said, pointing to increasingly close ties that Seoul and Tokyo have with China's arch-rival Washington.

The three countries have starkly "divergent stances" on key issues, including Pyongyang's nuclear threats and growing ties with Russia, making it almost impossible to form a consensus, Lee said.

As a result, and to ensure the trilateral meeting is a success, "these topics would not be addressed and they would rather vaguely talk about and emphasise the cooperation of the three countries," he said.

Yoon, who took office in 2022, has sought to bury the historical hatchet with former colonial power Japan in the face of rising threats from the nuclear-armed North.

China is North Korea's largest trading partner and a key diplomatic ally, and it has previously resisted condemning Pyongyang for weapons testing, instead criticising joint U.S.-South Korea drills.

It is likely that Beijing will once again resist pressure from Tokyo and Seoul to do more to rein in North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, experts say.

"Nothing substantial will come out of the summit in terms of security," Daisuke Kawai, deputy director of the University of Tokyo's economic security research programme, told AFP.

But the thaw in Seoul-Tokyo ties has left China "increasingly viewing the two governments as united in their measures against Beijing," he said, and a key motivation for the meeting would be to "soften that dynamic and tension."

Seoul and Tokyo are "worried about a further escalation of military tensions in East Asia, especially with a Taiwan crisis in mind," he said, meaning their relationship with Beijing would be crucial.

So the leaders will seek topics they can all agree on, such as cooperation on regional disaster response and boosting trade, Kawai said.

Japan and China were also "especially keen" to resume visa-free trips, he said, and are "squeezing out possible ways to cooperate."

An official from Seoul's Presidential Office said North Korea-related issues "are difficult to resolve cleanly and quickly in a short time," so the summit will focus more on economic cooperation.

"A joint declaration is currently being discussed," he said, adding that Seoul would try to include security issues "to a certain extent."

Kishida's administration has long been eager for a top-level meeting with Kim, something Pyongyang has rebuffed due largely to tensions over the kidnapping of Japanese people in the 1970s and 1980s.

There is unlikely to be a breakthrough on the issue even if Tokyo brings it up, said Kang Jun-young, a Chinese studies professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

"China is focused on maintaining its diplomatic relationship with North Korea and is likely to argue that the abductee issue is a bilateral problem," Kang said.

One area where Seoul and Tokyo may find themselves at odds is a business dispute over ownership of the popular messaging app LINE, developed by South Korea's Naver and which is now under pressure from Tokyo to sell its controlling share in Japan.

"This issue, arguably more so than historical issues, has sparked a rise in anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea," Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University in Seoul, told AFP.

Being tough on LINE ownership might help Kishida at home but "it could be detrimental in the long run if relations with South Korea  a key ally of the United States and a popular tourist destination for Japanese people -- deteriorate," he said. (AFP)
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Rain showers early with mostly cloudy conditions later in the day. High 71F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Low 52F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
LUDZIDZINI  His Majesty the King is back home, with good news for emaSwati.

Arriving at King Mswati III International Airport at about 4pm yesterday, Ingwenyama then held a press conference at Ludzidzini Royal Residence. During the press conference, the King outlined his work schedule while he was in Taiwan, which included signing bilateral agreements, attendance of President Lai Ching-tes inauguration, meeting emaSwati living, studying and working in that country.

The Head of State then entertained questions from the media, whereby this newspaper requested His Majesty to give his experience about his success in the shrimp fishing event where Ingwenyama became number one. The questions moral was primarily centred on the significance of inculcating a culture of winning in both private and public centre, with particular reference or guidance by the countrys 2024 mantra Nkwe, which symbolises quick or urgent action.

Responding to the question, the King said he had no prior experience to fishing, owing to the fact that the country does not have a sea.His Majesty the King said other heads of State enjoyed an upper hand as their countries have oceans. Despite that Eswatini does not have a sea, and Ingwenyama had no prior experience in fishing, he said he definitely caught the most, such that the fishes were too many and had to share with his colleagues.

Surprised

The King said he was surprised at seeing the fish coming to him in numbers. He said the fishing game was meant to foster relations between the countries and it also helped them relax a bit and ponder over some work ahead. His Majesty said the winning has, therefore, become the victory for the Kingdom of Eswatini. On another note, the King said he urged emaSwati teaching in Taiwan to also equip the Taiwanese with the knowledge of siSwati.

While they are teaching English there, he said it was important that they grasped vital words in siSwati. He said siSwati language should be spoken in Taiwan as well. His Majestys remarks on this issue left those who attended the presser in stitches. Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, Manqoba Khumalo the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Attorney General Sifiso Mashamphu Khumalo, among others, were present, including emazinyane.

In another development, the King said businesspeople showed interest in coming to the country to create jobs. He said COVID-19 prevented them from coming to the country. Since COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the businesspeople from Taiwan have assured him that they were coming to the Eswatini for investment purposes. He also talked about the bilateral agreements that were signed, including that which involved the two central banks.
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MBABANE  Leaving a sickly elderly person in a house alone is never a good idea.

This is how some Ngudzeni residents felt after the discovery of a dead man in his house this week, hardly a week after another 74-year-old man of Nkwene was also found dead in his place of abode. The community of Ngudzeni Constituency was left in a state of shock last Tuesday after the lifeless body of the 73-year-old man was found in a decomposed state.

The discovery of the elderly mans body, identified as Cijimpi Mamba of the Mamba Royal Kraal in the area, was the talk of the community. Investigations by Eswatini News revealed that Mamba was last seen alive on May 16, 2024, only to be discovered dead in his house five days later.

Confirmed

The deceaseds brother Zakhele Mamba confirmed the sad news. He further revealed that his brother will be laid to rest this morning at Ngudzeni. It is true, my brother was found dead in his house on Tuesday by one of his children who had come to check on him. We do not know the cause of his death, but he was a sickly man, the brother conceded. He admitted that the deceaseds situation was compounded by the fact that he stayed alone in his house, as his children are employed in other parts of the country.

Painful

The way my brother died is very painful. He was all alone in his house and had no one to assist him when he met his death. His children work in other areas and they usually come to check on him. One of his sons, who works in Nhlangano discovered his fathers body, the brother said. According to the deceaseds brother, the son tried to call his father on Monday to check how he was doing, but there was no response.

He (son) told me that he started to get worried after my brother did not answer his cellphone despite several attempts being made. He tried to call again on Monday, but there was still no response. That is when he decided to go home and check on him on Tuesday. Upon arriving at the bus station, he again tried to call his father as he wanted help in carrying the things he had bought for him, but there was still no response, Zakhele said. The brother further related that when Cijimpis son got home, he went straight to the deceaseds house, which was allegedly locked, but with the key inside.

Worried

He knocked several times but there was no response. At that moment, he noticed that there were a lot of green flies inside the room and this made him more worried. He then decided to raise the alarm with the neighbours but it was agreed that they should wait for the police first before forcing their way into the house, he said. The brother further noted that the deceaseds body would have been found in a worse condition if it were not for the fact that the temperatures are low these days.

If this had happened in the summer season, his body would have been found in an even worse condition, considering that it was stuck in the house for five days. His death has been a traumatic experience for the family. He was a peoples person and a member of the Mamba Royal Kraal, he said.

Shocking

The areas Bucopho Mxolisi Mbingo also confirmed to have been informed about Cijiphis shocking demise.

Yes, that matter was reported to us and we are still shocked even now. We are aware that he was a sickly person, but for him to die in his house all alone was very traumatic for the community. There is nothing much to say on this issue than to pass our deepest condolences to the Mamba family, Mbingo said.
New Delhi [India], May 25 (ANI): In a testament to India's burgeoning prowess in innovation and entrepreneurship, the India Global Innovation Connect (IGIC) 2024 is set to convene in Bengaluru from June 6 to 7, drawing over 500 participants from across the globe.

This annual summit, orchestrated by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission in collaboration with the US-based strategic advisory firm Claude Smadja & Smadja, aims to spotlight India's emergence as a global innovator and startup nucleus.

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Representatives from powerhouse nations including the US, Japan, Korea, Germany, Singapore, Israel, Switzerland, France, and UAE are slated to participate in IGIC 2024.

The summit serves as a convergence point for startup founders, venture capitalists, corporate leaders, technology experts, public policymakers, and government officials to foster technological innovation and forge strategic partnerships.

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IGIC, since its inception in 2022, has been instrumental in galvanizing India's innovation ecosystem. This year's summit will witness an illustrious lineup of attendees, including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, IT Minister Priyank Kharge, G-20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Atal Innovation Mission Director Chintan Vaishnav, and esteemed members from Niti Aayog, Indian startup community, and innovators.

The brainchild of Claude Smadja, the founder of Smadja & Smadja, and Yael Smadja, CEO of Smadja & Associates USA, IGIC underscores India's transformative journey towards becoming a global innovation powerhouse.

Claude Smadja, with a career-spanning involvement with the World Economic Forum for 14 years and a prior stint as the Managing Director from 1995 to 2001, brings a wealth of strategic insight to the summit.

IGIC 2024 symbolizes India's commitment to nurturing a conducive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, propelling the nation onto the global stage as a frontrunner in technological advancement and startup ecosystem development.

Through collaborative efforts and synergistic partnerships forged at platforms like IGIC, India is poised to script the next chapter in its innovation narrative, driving inclusive growth and societal transformation.

The stage is set for Bengaluru to serve as the epicentre of global innovation dialogue, as IGIC 2024 promises to catalyze breakthroughs, foster collaboration, and chart a course towards a future defined by ingenuity and progress. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, May 25: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, Bansuri Swaraj, cast her vote on Saturday. Swaraj urged the voters to participate in the democratic process. "It is the mega festival of democracy today. I want to appeal to the people to come out and cast their votes," Swaraj said. Earlier she offered prayers at Jhandewalan temple before casting her vote.

"I have come here to take blessings from Jhandewali Mata and then I will also cast my vote," she said. Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of the late Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, is running against AAP's MLA Somnath Bharti. As the sixth and penultimate phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections got underway at 7 am on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise. Delhi Lok Sabha Elections 2024: LG VK Saxena, AAP Accuse Each Other of Hatching Conspiracy To Trouble Voters

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said "I urge all those who are voting in the 6th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to vote in large numbers. Every vote counts, make yours count too! Democracy thrives when its people are engaged and active in the electoral process. I especially urge women voters and youth voters to vote in large numbers." Meanwhile, DCP Election cell of Delhi Police, Sanjay Sehrawat on Thursday said that 33,000 policemen of Delhi Police, 51 paramilitary companies, and 17,500 Home Guards will be deployed in the national capital in view of the Lok Sabha polls to be conducted on May 25.

"Delhi Police has completed its preparations for the elections to be held on May 25. There are 2628 voting centres out of which 429 are highly sensitive. 33,000 policemen of Delhi Police will be deployed at the polling booth and apart from this, 51 paramilitary companies will also be deployed for security and 17,500 Home Guards who have come from Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and MP will also be deployed," DCP Sehrawat said. "We have hired drones in very sensitive areas to monitor any illegal activities," he added.

Sehrawat further informed that a large number of CCTV cameras have been installed on the interstate borders as elections in Delhi and Haryana are on the same day. Delhi is undergoing voting in a single phase on all seven Lok Sabha seats with a fierce contest between the BJP and the INDIA bloc, comprising the AAP and Congress. The counting of votes and declaration of results will be done on June 4. The Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress are fighting the elections in alliance in the national capital, with the AAP contesting four and the Congress three seats. Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 6: Polling Begins for All Seven Parliamentary Constituencies in Delhi Amid Tight Security Arrangements

BJP Candidate Bansuri Swaraj Casts Vote

#WATCH | BJP Lok Sabha candidate from New Delhi, Bansuri Swaraj casts her vote for the sixth phase of #LokSabhaElections2024 , at a polling station in Delhi. AAP has fielded Somnath Bharti from the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat. pic.twitter.com/hCM2o3wqjx  ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024

The seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi are Chandni Chowk, East Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, South Delhi, and West Delhi.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 25 (ANI): BJP has expelled former Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat from the party for 6 years for contesting as a rebel candidate from the South-West Graduate Constituency for the Legislative Council elections.

"Raghupathi Bhat has brought embarrassment to the party by rebelling against the official candidate of the party for the current Legislative Council elections. This is a violation of party discipline. He also disregarded the instructions of the party. Therefore, he has been released from all responsibilities of the party and expelled for six years with immediate effect," said an official release issued on Saturday by the Karnataka BJP Disciplinary Committee President Lingaraju Patil.

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Earlier, Raghupathi Bhat was served a notice by the disciplinary committee to clarify his conduct. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Amritsar (Punjab) [India], May 25 (ANI): Border Security Force troops apprehended a 21 year old Bangladeshi national near the border fence in Punjab's Amritsar district, officials said on Saturday.

Officials further added that a Bangladeshi passport was found from his posession.

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BSF said in a statement, "On 25th May' 2024, at about 3:30 pm, forward deployed BSF troops in border area of district Amritsar observed suspected movement of a person near Indian side of the border fence. Despite being cautioned, the individual continued to advance, on which the BSF troops acting swiftly, challenged and apprehended the person, trying to exfiltrate near the border fence".

"Preliminary questioning revealed him to be a Bangladeshi national, aged 21 years old and a resident of district- Cox's Bazar in Chittagong division of Bangladesh. Upon searching, one mobile phone, one Bangladeshi passport, one National ID card of Bangladesh, one train ticket from Howrah to New Delhi, Rs 2995 Indian currency and 492 Taka Bangladeshi currency were found from his possession besides a few other documents and daily use items," the statement added.

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Further questioning is being conducted to ascertain the objective behind this "illegal movement" and other details of the Bangladeshi national, they added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sukma (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 25 (ANI): A naxal was killed in an encounter with security forces that took place in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Friday, said officials.

The encounter took place in the Belpocha village, falling under the jurisdiction of the Konta Police station.

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Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan confirmed the incident, stating that a Naxal operative was killed during the confrontation and a weapon was recovered from the site.

Currently, a comprehensive search operation is underway in the area, Chavan added.

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Further details are awaited.

Earlier on May 18, one Naxalite was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said.

The incident took place in the area between Tolnai and Tetrai villages.

On May 10, an exchange of fire broke out between Naxals and security forces in the jungle near Pidiya village in Chhattisgarh.

The place where a gunfight broke out between the forces and the Naxals falls under the limits of Gangaloor Police Station. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], May 25 (ANI): The Election Commission has asked concerned Chief Electoral Officers and state authorities to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weather or rainfall wherever predicted in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls.

The poll panel has made adequate arrangements for the Phase 6 of the Lok Sabha polls to be held on Saturday.

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Polling is scheduled in 58 PCs across eight states/UTs. Haryana and NCT of Delhi will head to polls in this phase. Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are the other states/UTs which will continue with their polls in this phase. Polling for 42 assembly constituencies for the Odisha State Legislative Assembly will also take place simultaneously.

The poll panel said that polling stations are ready to welcome the voters with ample shade, drinking water, ramps, toilets, and other basic facilities to ensure that polling takes place in a comfortable and secure environment.

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Polling parties have been dispatched along with machines and poll materials to their respective polling stations.

The Commission has called upon voters to turn out in large numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride.

"Voters of PCs in urban centres like Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad are specially reminded about their right and duty to vote and break the trend of urban apathy," Election Commission said in a release. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ghazipur (UP), May 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday vowed to staunchly defend the reservation for ST, SC and OBC categories against any attempt by the INDIA bloc parties "to snatch it away" and give it to Muslims.

"I will not allow this game to be played on the basis of religion. Modi is the watchman of the rights of the deprived people ('vanchito kaa jo adhikaar hai, Modi usskaa chowkidaar hai')," the prime minister said at an election rally in Ghazipur.

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Hitting out at the INDIA bloc parties, Modi accused them of being "extremely communal, casteist and dynastic".

"They have always stopped Dalits and backwards in the country from moving ahead. Who insulted Babasaheb (B R Ambedkar)? Who hatched a conspiracy to defeat him in the election? It was the Congress. Who did not allow Babasaheb to get Bharat Ratna? The Congress party," he said.

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Modi said the opposition parties insulted former president Ram Nath Kovind, "son of a Dalit", and got together against Droupadi Murmu, a tribal, in the presidential elections.

"The INDI alliance is standing together in looting the reservation of SCs, STs and OBC. But Modi is standing firmly in front of them... and I guarantee that as long as Modi is alive, I will not let them snatch away reservation of SCs, STs and OBCs," Modi said.

He referred to Muslims being included in backward classes in Karnataka under the Congress and the Calcutta High Court order cancelling OBC certificates issued since 2010 in West Bengal.

"A big conspiracy of theirs has been unveiled in Bengal. Two days ago, the Calcutta High Court had lifted the curtains. What game was going on there? In Bengal, almost the entire OBC reservation was being given to Muslims," he alleged

Modi also attacked the Congress on the delay in the implementation of 'One Rank, One Pension' for ex-servicemen and the Samajwadi Party on the reign of terror by the mafia under its rule.

In the Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat, the main contest is between Afzal Ansari of the Samajwadi Party and Paras Nath Rai of the BJP. Afzal Ansari is the brother of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari who died on March 28.

Voting for the seat will take place in the seventh phase on June 1.

Taking a dig at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, Modi said, "SP's 'shahzade' (prince) once said that he would stop the entry of mafia. Then he went and sat at the feet of the mafia. The SP also nurtured the mafia and gave them (poll) tickets."

"A person who cannot stick to his stand can never fight for you," Modi said.

"During the SP rule (in Uttar Pradesh), the situation was such that the mafia used to roam around with red beacons (on their cars).. and opponents were shot dead openly. Riots had become the identity of UP. There were two-three riots every month during the SP rule," he alleged.

"The poor were the ones who suffered because of this. Now under Yogi (Adityanath) Ji's government, riots have stopped and rioters are behind bars."

He alleged the INDIA bloc is crossing all limits in appeasement.

"These people are insulting the Ram temple. An SP leader says that the Ram temple is 'bekaar' (useless)... The 'shahzade' (prince) of the Congress is planning to put a lock on the Ram temple.

"Not only this, the INDI alliance has announced that they will bring back Article 370 in Kashmir. This means that the Congress will push Kashmir once again into the fire of terrorism, the Congress will once again strengthen the morale of Pakistan, they once again want our soldiers to bleed," Modi alleged.

Referring to Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Modi said, "Every person from Ghazipur feels proud that today a son of Ghazipur is controlling the command of Jammu and Kashmir.

"People of Kashmir are also seeing how development is done. Now, even people in Kashmir have come to know the name of Ghazipur."

Modi said that the welfare schemes of his government have changed the lives of the poor.

"In just 10 years, 25 crore people have come out of poverty. This happened because your vote strengthened Modi.

"We provided PM housing to four crore families. We opened bank accounts for 50 crore poor people and provided electricity to every village. We are providing water to every home. Today a poor person does not have to sell his land for treatment because he has an Ayushman card," Modi said.

(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, May 25 (UNI) As the voting began for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the voters to vote in large numbers, saying "every vote counts, make your count too."

In a social media post on X, said, "I urge all those who are voting in the 6th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to vote in large numbers. Every vote counts, make your count too! Democracy thrives when its people are engaged and active in the electoral process. I especially urge women voters and youth voters to vote in large numbers."

In this phase, the voting will take place in six states and two Union territories. All 7 seats in Delhi and all 10 seats in Haryana will participate in this phase.

The states and union territories voting in Phase 6 of the Lok Sabha elections include Bihar (8 seats), Haryana (all 10 seats), Jammu and Kashmir (one seat), Jharkhand (4 seats), Delhi (all 7 seats), Odisha (6 seats), Uttar Pradesh (14 seats), and West Bengal (8 seats).

According to the Elections Commission, as many as 889 candidates are in the fray.

The political fate of prominent leaders, including senior BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan, Maneka Gandhi, Manohar Lal Khattar, Sambit Patra, Bansuri Swaraj, and Manoj Tiwari and Congress leaders Deepender Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja, Raj Babbar, and Kanhaiya Kumar, as well as Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, will be decided in this phase.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also urged the voters, especially those from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency, to "choose a leadership that is capable of fulfilling the resolution of a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir."

"I urge the voters of the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, who are going to vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to choose a candidate who has a vision to develop the valley as a centre of employment, infrastructure, cultural development, and tourism. Choose a leadership that is capable of fulfilling the resolution of a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir," he wrote on X.

In this phase, polling will also be conducted in Jammu & Kashmir's Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency. Last month, the Election Commission of India (ECI) revised the polling date in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat from May 7 to May 25 due to logistical, communication, and natural barriers related to connectivity.

BJP National President JP Nadda also appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers to elect a government that fulfills the guarantees of Viksit Bharat.

"As we enter the sixth phase of the #LokSabha2024 elections, I urge all registered voters, especially the youth, to cast their votes in record numbers. Exercise your right to vote to elect a government that guarantees the fulfillment of the envisioned 'Viksit Bharat' and functions with the policy of 'development for all, appeasement for none," he said on X.

UNI JA ARN
Ranchi, May 25 (PTI) Nearly 11.74 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am in four Lok Sabha constituencies in Jharkhand that went to polls in the sixth phase on Saturday, officials said.

Voting began at 7 am in Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur seats, and will continue till 5 pm.

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Giridih registered the highest polling at 12.91 per cent followed by Ranchi (12.19 per cent), Dhanbad (11.75 per cent) and Jamshedpur (10.05 per cent).

Governor C P Radhakrishnan said in a post on X: Today, I exercised my right to vote at Shri Krishna Institute of Public Administration, Ranchi. I urge all voters to exercise their right to vote. Ensure your participation in this great festival of democracy.

Also Read | Gujarat: Four Students of Ahmedabad Medical College Suspended for Ragging Juniors.

A total of 27 candidates are fighting the elections from Ranchi, 25 each from Dhanbad and Jamshedpur, and 16 from Giridih.

About 82.16 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots in these four constituencies, with Dhanbad having the highest number of voters at 22.85 lakh, and Giridih the lowest at 18.64 lakh.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said all 8,963 booths were being closely monitored.

Of these, 186 will be managed by women and 22 by the youth.

Additionally, there are 15 unique booths, showcasing the specialties of the respective areas.

About 36,000 poll personnel have been deployed in this phase, Kumar said.

In the Ranchi Lok Sabha seat, Congress's Yashaswini Sahay, daughter of former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, is contesting against the BJP MP Sanjay Seth.

Dhanbad is witnessing a fight between BJP's Baghmara MLA Dulu Mahato and Congress's Anupama Singh, the wife of the party's Bermo legislator Kumar Jaimangal.

In Jamshedpur, BJP MP Bidyut Baran Mahato has been pitted against JMM's Baharagora MLA Samir Mohanty.

In Giridih, AJSU Party's Chandra Prakash Chaudhary is up against JMM's Tundi MLA Mathura Mahato. A student leader, Jairam Mahato, has added a twist to the contest by challenging candidates of both the INDIA bloc and the NDA.

(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, May 25: Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi cast their votes in the sixth phase of the general elections. The mother-son duo also clicked a selfie outside the polling station after casting their votes.

Voting across 58 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) in the sixth phase is underway. Earlier the Congress sounded confident about the chances of the INDIA alliance in the polls. Congress RS MP Jairam Ramesh said, "5 phases of elections have been held..It became clear after the first 2 phases that "Dakshin mein BJP saaf aur Uttar mein half", so the INDIA alliance will get a clear and decisive mandate on 4th June and on the 4th the country will bid him (PM Modi) goodbye... I have full confidence that our alliance will win all seven seats in Delhi..." 'Vote Against Politics of Hatred': Mallikarjun Kharge Urges People To Cast Their Ballot in Sixth Phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal. A total of 889 candidates are in the fray. Voting is underway in all parliamentary seats of Delhi and Haryana in this phase.

The riveting contest in Delhi has AAP and Congress jointly taking on the BJP, which won all seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital in the last two elections. While Congress is contesting on three seats in the national capital, AAP is contesting on four. The two parties are part of the INDIA bloc. The BJP campaign has been bolstered by rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other party leaders. Senior leaders of Congress have also held rallies in the national capital. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been released on interim bail by the Supreme Court in the Delhi excise policy case, also sought votes for AAP and Congress candidates.

AAP and Congress have also joined hands in Haryana where BJP won all the seats in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Some seats in the state, including Hisar, are witnessing multi-cornered contests. Apart from BJP and Congress, the electoral stakes are high for INLD, Jannayak Janata Party in Haryana. The state will also go for assembly polls months after the Lok Sabha election. Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 6: AAPs Atishi Casts Her Vote in Delhi, Alleges Voting Could Be Slowed Down in INDIA Bloc Strongholds (Watch Video)

Rahul and Sonia Gandhi Takes Post-Poll Selfie

Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi Ji clicked selfie after casting their votes. #VoteForINDIA #LokSabhaElections24 pic.twitter.com/y4SiynHsvL  Venisha G Kiba (@KibaVenisha) May 25, 2024

The Lok Sabha will be completed on June 1 after the seventh phase of polls in which voters from 57 constituencies will exercise their franchise. The results will be declared on June 4.

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Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 25 (ANI): Mercury is relentless in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior-Chambal region, and the intense heat is exacerbating water scarcity in various residential colonies in Gwalior city. Residents have been complaining of dealing with an acute shortage of water, with some having to wait three to four days for supply.

Many colonies have been without tap water for the past four months, forcing locals to depend on Municipal Corporation tankers for their water supply.

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"We have not received water from the tap for the last four months. We are dependent on water from the municipal corporation tankers. Also, sometimes we have to call the tankers by paying them," a resident said.

Residents complained that despite complaining to civic body authorities, there is no relief. "We get the same response from Municipal Corporation officials that water will be available in a few days. When people complain to the local corporator about the water problem and ask for alternate arrangements, the response we get from the public representatives is that if there is no water, then get the connection disconnected," they alleged.

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Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan said that the supply of water was being ensured through tankers.

"Last year, the average rainfall in the Gwalior district was less, as a result of which there is less water in the reservoir. So, it is important to use water wisely, otherwise the water scarcity may deepen further in July. All efforts are being made to conserve water. Water is being supplied through tankers to the colonies suffering from shortages," the Collector said while speaking to ANI.

She further added, "A proposal of Rs 19 crore has been sent to the state government for a plan to lift water from Kaketo and Pehsari Dam. If it gets approval, then it will help us to make water available." (ANI)

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Kolkata, May 25 (PTI) West Bengal registered a voter turnout of 16.54 per cent till 9 am in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies that went to polls in the sixth phase on Saturday, an official said.

Polling began at 7 am in Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur constituencies. It would continue till 6 pm.

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Tamluk recorded the highest polling at 19.07 per cent, followed by Bishnupur (18.56 per cent), Ghatal (18.27 per cent), Bankura (17.69 per cent), Jhargram (16.22 per cent), Kanthi (15.45 per cent), Medinipur (14.58 per cent) and Purulia (12.68 per cent), he said.

Voting has been peaceful so far. There are no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere, the poll official told PTI.

Also Read | 'Vote Against Politics of Hatred': Mallikarjun Kharge Urges People To Cast Their Ballot in Sixth Phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Till 8.55 am, the election office in West Bengal received 364 complaints, he added.

Altogether 1,45,34,228 voters  73,63,273 men, 71,70,822 women and 133 belonging to the third-gender  are eligible to exercise their franchise in 15,600 polling stations.

Of the 79 candidates in the fray, Bankura and Jhargram have the highest number of 13 contestants each, followed by Purulia (12) and nine each in Medinipur and Tamluk.

Seven candidates each are contesting in the Bishnupur and Ghatal seats.

Among the notable candidates in fray in this phase are Bengali superstar Dev, who is seeking a third term as TMC MP from Ghatal, former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, the BJP candidate in Tamluk, Union minister Subhas Sarkar in Bankura, and fashion designer Agnimitra Paul, a BJP legislator, who is pitted against TMC MLA and actor June Malia in Medinipur.

A total of 919 companies of central forces have been deployed along with over 29,000 state police personnel, officials said.

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Shimla/Una/Dharamshala, May 25 (PTI) Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is a part of India and "we will take it", Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Saturday as he castigated the Congress for trying to "frighten" the BJP by saying the neighbouring country possesses atom bombs.

Addressing rallies in support for BJP candidates Anurag Thakur and Rajiv Bhardwaj from Hamirpur and Kangra parliamentary seats respectively, he also appealed to people to ensure the BJP's victory in the bypolls to six assembly seats for the formation of the new government in the hill state, currently ruled by the Congress.

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Two governments would be formed - one at the Centre and the other in Himachal Pradesh - after the election results are announced on June 4, he said and added that according to his information "Rahul Baba would go to Bangkok on June 6 for relaxation".

Shah said that only a strong government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi can fight terrorism, ensure economic growth and take care of the poor.

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"The Congress is trying to frighten us by saying that Pakistan has an atom bomb.... And, today I speak from this land... in Himachal - Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) hamara hai, hamara rahega aur hum ise lekar rahenge (PoK is ours and it will remain ours. We will take it)."

"Today the people of PoK say that we want to be a part of India and this is the charisma of Modi," he said and added the slogan of Modi "is the slogan of a developed and self-sufficient India".

Shah said that even when Article 370 was scrapped in 2019, Congress leaders said it would lead to a bloodbath but not even a single stone was hurled in Jammu and Kashmir.

During the Congress regime, terrorists from Pakistan used to intrude into India, trigger blasts and return, Shah said, adding this completely changed under the Modi government.

"We conducted surgical strikes and wiped out tourists in their homes which put an end to such tactics," he said, referring to the targeting of terrorist launch pads after the Uri and Pulwama incidents.

Only a leader like PM Modi can put an end to terrorism and Naxalism, he added.

He alleged that the Congress contests elections by "taking cuts" from Himachal and asked the people if their hard-earned money should be spent on the development of the state or election campaign of the Congress.

"Ensure the victory of BJP candidates in six assembly byelections for the formation of a BJP government and see the lotus (BJP's poll symbol) blooming in Himachal," he said.

The BJP has fielded six disqualified Congress MLAs, who had revolted against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in February, in the by-elections.

Shah, who addressed rallies at Amb in Una and Dharamshala in Kangra, took a dig at the INDIA bloc for not declaring its prime ministerial candidate.

"God forbid, if they win, who will be their PM... A journalist asked them (who would be your PM), and they said they would take turns," the BJP leader said.

Shah claimed PM Modi has already won 310 seats in the first five phases of the Lok Sabha polls, and the sixth and seventh phases would help the NDA achieve the target of '400-paar' (400-plus seats), while Congress would be restricted to just 40 seats.

Shah referred to the implementation of the 'one rank, one pension' scheme by the Modi government and said the Congress did not accept the demand of ex-servicemen but Modi not only accepted it but has disbursed Rs 1.25 lakh crore to the pensioners so far.

Lauding the achievements of Anurag Thakur, who is seeking a fifth term from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, Shah said even if "you search with a lamp, you will not find a towering leader like him".

Shah listed Thakur's achievements like the Rs 10,000-crore Kiratpur-Ner Chowk four-lane project, Rs 1,200-crore worth Hamirpur-Dharampur Highway, Rs 1,000-crore worth Bilaspur-Leh railway line and Rs 2,000-crore bulk drug park and Rs 1,500 crore for AIIMS in Himachal Pradesh.

Projects given for Kangra including the Dharamshala smart city project, Chamba Medical Colleges, and Mandi-Pathankot Pathankot- Bharmaur were also mentioned in Shah's speech.

He said while there were scams worth Rs 12 lakh-crore against people associated with the UPA, corruption allegations of not even a single penny have been levelled against PM Modi and that is why the nation wants a third term for him.

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Bemetara, May 25 (PTI) Six persons were injured in a blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district on Saturday, officials said.

The explosion occurred in the unit located near Pirda village in Berla development block, a district administration official said.

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Soon after being alerted, police and rescue teams were rushed to the site, he said.

So far, six people have been reported to be injured in the explosion, he said, adding that the injured are being shifted to the hospital.

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The incident comes days after a blast in a chemical factory in Maharashtra's Thane district killed nine persons and injured over 60.

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Agar Malwa (MP), May 25 (PTI) Three children, including two siblings, drowned in a river in Madhya Pradesh's Agar Malwa district, police said on Saturday.

The incident occurred at Chhalda village, some 35 km from the district headquarters, on Friday evening, said Shashi Upadhyay, in-charge of Nalkheda police station.

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Following the death of a family member and subsequent final rites, a few women had gone to take a bath in the Lakhundar river. These three children were also accompanying them, said the police official.

When the women returned to the bank after taking a bath, they found the children missing.

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After being alerted about the incident, the authorities launched a search. Later, personnel from the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) fished out the bodies of the kids, the official said.

Police identified the children as Monu (7) and his sister Muskan (8) and their relative Pankaj (7).

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Sheohar (Bihar) [India], May 25 (ANI): Amid the ongoing polls at Bihar's Sheohar on Saturday, gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan said that while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance will win more than 400 seats in this election, the INDIA bloc will be moving away from Delhi.

"...'Yaha toh hoga 400 paar, vaha hoga Delhi paar'. We are in a comfortable position in Sheohar, results will be great," Mohan said speaking to reporters at Sheohar.

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On the opposition's claim that the BJP will not win more than 40 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, Mohan said, "What more can they say? Do they have any issues to speak about? They are saying that reservations are going to change and they are saving the Constitution."

"Who should the people for Sheohar vote (if not us)? Should they vote for someone during whose rule murders used to take place, extremism, bribery and kidnapping were taking place?..." Mohan said speaking to ANI.

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Anand Mohan Singh's wife Lovely Anand is contesting from the Sheohar Lok Sabha seat as a Janata Dal (United) candidate.

"The people of Sheohar should vote for us because we have an old relationship with them. The people of Sheohar made Anand Mohan the MP from here twice earlier and during that time a lot of development work had happened..." Lovely Anand said speaking to ANI.

Lovely Anand and her husband cast their vote at Sheohar on Saturday. Anand Mohan was convicted in the murder case of Gopalganj District Magistrate G Krishnaiah on December 5, 1994, in Muzaffarpur. Krishnaiah was killed by a mob allegedly provoked by Anand Mohan Singh.

He was serving a life sentence in the 1994 murder of then Gopalganj District Magistrate G Krishnaiah. After the Bihar government amended the rules of the jail manual, an official notification stated that 27 prisoners who have served 14 years or 20 years in jail have been ordered to be released. On April 25, the Bihar government issued a notification regarding the release of 27 prisoners including former Lok Sabha MP Anand Mohan Singh from jail.

Meanwhile, Hena Shahab, wife of Gangster-politician late Mohammad Shahabuddin, casts her vote at a polling station in Siwan. Hena Shahab is contesting as an Independent from Siwan.

"I appeal to everyone that this time you need a 'Sevak' not a politician. Everyone will accept me and this time I will get a chance...," Shahab said speaking to ANI. Heena Sahab is contesting as an independent candidate, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal has fielded Awadh Bihari Choudhary, and the Janata Dal-United has fielded Vijaylakshmi Devi from Siwan. (ANI)

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Dhaka, May 25 (PTI) A team of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police will visit India to investigate the brutal killing of Bangladeshi lawmaker Anwarul Azim Anar, who was found murdered in Kolkata earlier this week.

Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, chief of the Detective Branch, told a press conference here on Saturday that he along with several officers of the DB will leave Dhaka for India tonight or tomorrow dawn to investigate the murder incident.

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A four-member team of Indian police is currently investigating the murder incident, he added.

Anar, a three-time parliamentarian from the Jhenaidah-4 segment in Bangladesh and also the president of Awami League's Kaliganj sub-district unit left Dhaka on May 12 to undergo medical treatment at Kolkata, from where he went missing the very next day.

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Search for him 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.

According to the Kolkata police, circumstantial evidence indicated that the MP was first strangled and killed after which his body was chopped into pieces and dumped in different areas. Traces of his body or body parts are yet to be found.

A Bangladesh court on Friday sent three suspects to an eight-day police remand for their alleged involvement in Anar's brutal murder while in India, the West Bengal police claimed to have arrested a Bangladeshi, working as a butcher in Mumbai, from North 24 Parganas district for his alleged involvement in the grisly murder.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan named a businessman as the key suspect in Anar's murder and added that his ministry was working with India and the US to get and put him on trial for the alleged crime.

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Sargodha [Pakistan], May 25 (ANI): An angry mob assaulted a Christian person, vandalized his house, and torched properties alleging an incident of 'blasphemy' in Sargodha city in Pakistan on Saturday, Geo News reported.

This is one of the many episodes that highlight the precarious situation faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, who continue to face the threats of persecution and attacks.

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The incident happened in Mujahid Colony in Sargodha, Punjab province. The enraged mob torched a shoe factory established within the victim's house. They also burnt tyres and damaged electricity installations in the area.

The situation was brought under control after a heavy contingent of police reached the spot.

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The police managed to shift the injured victim, along with other wounded individuals, to a hospital in an ambulance before taking several suspects involved in the incident into custody.

Regional Police Officer (RPO) Shariq Kamal confirmed that the mob also attacked the police party with stones, but they were later dispersed, as reported by Geo News.

The RPO said the incident was being investigated and that those who "disturbed the law and order" would be dealt with strictly.

Meanwhile, Sargodha District Police Officer Asad Ejaz Malhi told Dawn that the incident happened over an incident of alleged desecration. The police cordoned off two houses in the colony and "safely recovered all the residents," he said.

Unverified footage on social media showed a mob surrounding an injured man and separate videos showing men, some of whom appeared to be teenagers, wrecking furniture outside a house, according to Dawn.

Being asked about the videos, DPO Malhi said that these were "fake videos" and insisted that no one was hurt in Sargodha district. "Police is maintaining law and order," he added.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concerns over the situation in Sargodha and urged the Punjab Police and district administration to restore calm in the area and bring the perpetrators to justice immediately.

"HRCP is seriously concerned by the unfolding situation in #Sargodha, where the Christian community in Gillwala village is reportedly at grave risk to their lives at the hands of charged mobs. There are unconfirmed reports of a man having been allegedly lynched," the HRCP posted on X.

"The Punjab police @OfficialDPRPP and district administration must immediately restore calm and bring the perpetrators to book while ensuring that the Christian community comes to no further harm," it added.

In August last year, a similar incident but with greater magnitude happened in Pakistan's Jaranwala.

Over 21 churches and more than a hundred houses were burned down, some reduced to rubble, in the Jaranwala mob attack over allegations of 'blasphemy'. This was combined with widespread looting and burning of hundreds of homes across 11 areas in the Faisalabad district. Moreover, 10,000 Christians were moved immediately and 20,000 were affected by the incident. (ANI)

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Oliver Eagleton in The Ideas Letter:

Intra-Marxist debates are famously irascible, even when their stakes are low. Yet in recent years this intellectual tradition has been further fractured, at the same time as it has been focused and reanimated, by the gravity of the climate crisis. The character of a future egalitarian society, and the most viable way to get there, have been contested by two environmentalist camps: degrowthers and eco-modernists. The first argues that capitalisms drive for perpetual expansion is the cause of planetary breakdown, and demands a slower, steady-state alternative based on less production and consumption. The second claims that this expansionism has created the technological preconditions for a sustainable society, which the working class must now bring to full fruition, rather than aiming for any aggregate contraction. It remains to be seen whether these positions can be reconciled. Yet in broad terms, it is clear that they are clashing expressions of the same phenomenon: the reemergence of a utopian sensibility on the left  one that is determined to identify historys direction of travel following the premature announcement of its end.

The degrowth school, which has long asserted that humanitys material impact exceeds the planets biophysical capacity, has gained ground with several recent eco-socialist tracts. Kohei Saitos Capital in the Anthropocene (2020), which sold half a million copies in Japan and has been translated into English as Slow Down (2024), describes an apparent shift in Marxs late thought: away from a naive faith in the infinite potential of technology towards a sober recognition of ecological limits. The contemporary environmental movement, writes Saito, must heed this rejection of Prometheanism and abandon the notion of developing the productive forces (which, in the lexicon of historical materialism, means the machinery and infrastructure used in the production of goods). It should rather advocate a reduction of resource use in the Global North, establishing a new model of democratic planning to decide whats needed and what isnt.

More here.
Gilgit [PoGB], May 25 (ANI): The local patients in Gilgit city of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) on Thursday raised concerns over the poor medical facilities in the area, a local news outlet reported.

The locals complained that the Provincial Headquarters Hospital (PHQ) Gilgit is the only option when they face any medical emergencies.

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One of the locals lamented the condition of the hospital and said no doctor was available when they had gone for treatment.

"I, am a patient of Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) diseases, and when we came here for treatment we were told that the doctor we were supposed to consult was not available for over three months," the report quoted him as saying.

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"When we asked the senior officials about when the doctor would be available again they had no response. We also enquired that there is a doctor that has been appointed to this hospital three days ago but that doctor is also not available," he added.

Locals further highlighted that people of all ages, including men, women, elderly and children depend on this hospital for treatment, and they have to suffer every time we visit.

"There are no doctors here and the people continue to suffer because of the bad medical facilities and unavailable doctors," the local resident added.

Notably, several places in PoGB face similar infrastructural problems due to the sheer ignorance of the administration.

The residents of the Gahkuch Khari area in PoGB questioned the efficacy of the cleanliness drive organised this week and complained that the administration's claim of development in the region was 'hollow'.

Locals in parts of the Gahkuch Khari area are also irked by the inability of the government to handle the increasing trash and sewage issues in the region.

Bakhtawar Shah, a resident said that the PoGB administration is running a campaign named 'Clean and Green Pakistan' but it is only for 'show' and the real conditions continue to be poor.

"A campaign called the 'Clean and Green Pakistan' by the PoGB administration is being run but merely for show. Just walk about a hundred meters from the offices of Deputy Commissioner Ghazar and Assistant Commissioner Punyal Ashkoman, and they will know the real conditions that our people live in. The sewage pipes have been jammed because of garbage and the area smells bad," he said.

Muhammad Khan, another resident of the area said that the children here are prone to diseases because of poor garbage management.

"There are no sweepers appointed by the administration for cleaning streets. Our children who play in these streets are prone to diseases because of this garbage. They may make claims about clean and green Pakistan, but up till now I have not seen any improvement," he said.

Notably, the lack of proper roads, health, and other basic facilities has made the occupied region one of the most backward. Residents blame corruption and neglect for leaving Gilgit Baltistan's future bleak.

The report cited other residents who said that despite the protests, written applications, and organized meetings regarding the issue, no solution has been found till now.

"Previously, the local District Collector had given us an assurance for starting the repair work within three days but more than ten days have passed and there is no sign of work getting started in this regard. Now we are ready to compromise and demand that an excavator be brought to make a path for the water to exit, but they are not able to arrange for that also," another resident said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sydney [Australia], May 25 (ANI): Following the successful inaugural US-Japan-Philippines trilateral summit and joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea in April this year, a new multilateral group, the 'Squad' has emerged - a four-way counterbalance to China amid escalating tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

While the 'Squad', comprising the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, offers a timely boost to Filipino policy circles, the Quad remains central to regional security dynamics, Rahul Mishra, a foreign affairs expert said in a report in The Interpreter, a publication of the Lowy Institute.

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The Philippines has consistently challenged China's illegal maritime claims and has employed all available political and military measures to manage the situation effectively.

"The Quad, consisting of Australia, India, Japan, and the US, recently faced challenges such as the postponement of its New Delhi summit and India's foreign policy choices, including abstaining from UN resolutions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and maintaining trade ties with Russia, procuring Russian S-400 missile systems against the preference of the United States, and the Chabahar port deal with Iran, have raised doubts about the Quad's cohesion," he said.

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While highlighting these challenges, the expert emphasized that Quad's cohesion remains intact despite these developments.

Mishra, a Senior Research Fellow at the German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance, and Associate Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University further argued that while the Squad might appear as a more effective mechanism, it is ultimately a localized response to the South China Sea situation.

Mishra underscored that India might not perfectly align with its partners in the minilateral group but its Indo-Pacific heft is much greater than that of the Philippines.

Moreover, it is premature to dismiss the Quad as ineffective. Two immediate developments will shape its trajectory: the outcome of India's elections, and the timing and agenda of the next Quad summit. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi is re-elected, and in all likelihood he will be, the Quad will gain more traction within Indian policy circles. India has already scheduled the Quad summit for the second half of 2024 once a new government has been formed.

India's recent foreign policy choices make sense. Despite some not being in tune with policy preferences of its Quad peers, neither Washington, Canberra or Tokyo has moved to downgrade the Quad or replace it.

Unlike the Philippines, Australia and Japan, India is not a US treaty ally and receives no direct military support from other Quad members, even during the ongoing border standoff with China. This highlights the differences in expectations from India within the Quad setting. This reality should condition what to expect and, just as importantly, what not expect from India.

The Philippines, despite its assertive stance against China, "lacks the military and economic capabilities" to fully engage in extensive Indo-Pacific operations. Consequently, expecting the Squad to assume broad regional responsibilities would be "unrealistic." The Squad's primary role will likely be a localized presence in the South China Sea.

On the other hand, the Quad's future hinges on two developments: the outcome of India's elections and the timing and agenda of the next Quad summit. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi is re-elected, the Quad is expected to gain traction within Indian policy circles.

Notably, India has scheduled the next Quad summit for the latter half of 2024.

India's unique position within the Quad, as a non-treaty ally that does not receive direct military support from other members, highlights the diverse expectations within the group. India's reliance on Russia for defence needs and its distinct strategic alignment further complicate its role. However, India's geographic location, military capabilities, and population make it an invaluable partner, the foreign affairs expert stated.

Mishra further asserted that the Quad's role, particularly with an active Indian presence, remains "irreplaceable."

India's focus should be on the Quad's security and military components rather than peripheral aspects like the Quad fellowship program. Enhancing the Quad's composition by including nations like the Philippines and South Korea could also better address evolving regional dynamics, he added.

The foreign affairs expert concluded that even though Squad complements existing minilaterals, the Quad's role, particularly with an active Indian presence, remains "irreplaceable."

He also proposed the addition of the Philippines and South Korea to Quad, which according to him would be a better approach to evolving regional dynamics. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Johannesburg, May 25 (PTI) South Africa on Saturday said it will engage with the Indian government following reports of the arrest of two Gupta brothers there, one of whom is wanted here for allegedly looting billions from state-owned enterprises.

Atul, Ajay, and Rajesh Gupta, from an Indian-origin family, have been accused of siphoning billions of rands in South Africa through their close association with former president Jacob Zuma. The trio and their families fled to Dubai after Zuma was ousted from the presidency in 2018.

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In 2023, the UAE refused the request for the extradition of Rajesh and Atul following which South Africa declared them as fugitives. The brothers had built a vast empire in the IT, media, and mining sectors.

The assets of the Gupta brothers in South Africa have been frozen amid legal challenges by them to have these released.

Also Read | Vladimir Putin Health Update: Russia President Appeared Frail During Meeting With Belarusian Counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, Says Report.

Indian media on Saturday reported Friday's arrest of Anil and Ajay Gupta in Uttarakhand state on charges of abetment of suicide after a prominent builder named them in his suicide note before plunging off the terrace of his multi-storey apartment building.

There is uncertainty about whether this is the same Ajay Gupta who fled South Africa alongside his brothers Atul and Rajesh, the third one also on South Africa's wanted list.

Justice and Correctional Services has noted reports of the arrest of two Gupta brothers, Ajay and Anil, in India. Our arrest warrants were for Rajesh and Atul Gupta. Nevertheless, formal processes are underway through the High Commissioner in India to verify and for possible engagement, Department of Justice spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told News24.

Officials said, although the reports identified the two as brothers, the trio that fled South Africa with their families is Ajay, Atul and Rajesh while Anil is believed to be their brother-in-law, married to their sister Achala.

Meanwhile, at an African National Congress rally in Johannesburg on Saturday, ahead of general elections in South Africa next week, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed that the government was aware of members of the Gupta family being arrested in India.

But he said there was uncertainty about whether any of them were the members for whom South Africa had issued warrants of arrest.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 25 (ANI): West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted a search operation in Bhangar for the second consecutive day on Saturday to retrieve the minced pieces of the body of Bangladesh member of parliament Anwarul Azim Anar

According to the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Anar was smothered and killed in a flat in Kolkata and his body chopped and minced to destroy his identity.

Also Read | Africa Day 2024 Date, Theme, History and Significance: Know About the Day That Marks the Foundation of the African Union.

The CID team has launched a search operation to find the body parts of the Bangladeshi MP.

Anar who entered India on May 12, was last seen on the afternoon of May 13 when he went with friends to the flat in Bidhannagar near Kolkata for a medical check-up.

Also Read | Israel-Palestine Conflict: Benjamin Netanyahu Rejects Order by UN's Top Court to 'Immediately' Halt Rafah Assault.

The CID said that they had arrested one of the suspects in the case, a Mumbai-based butcher who confessed during interrogation that he had taken off all the skin from the Bangladeshi MP's body, chopped it up and minced the cut parts in a bid to destroy its identity.

Police said, "The assailants brought a butcher named Jihad (alias Siam) who was living in Mumbai illegally for many years. Two months ago, he was brought to Kolkata by an American citizen of Bangladesh origin, Akhtaruzzaman Shaheen. This Shaheen is the mastermind of this planned heinous murder."

The accused Shaheen confessed that, on the orders of Akhtaruzzaman, he along with four other Bangladeshi nationals had smothered and killed Anwarul Azim Anar in a flat, police said.

"Then they removed all the flesh from the body in the flat and minced it to destroy his identity and then they put everything in a polythene packs. They also chopped the bones into small pieces. They then took those packets out of the flat and dropped them around Kolkata and surrounding areas using different modes of transport," the police said in a statement on Thursday.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the killing of Bangladeshi MP. Earlier this week, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in a news conference in Dhaka said that Anar, a three time Awami League MP was killed in Kolkata. Speaking to reporters at his residence on Wednesday, the minister said that Bangladesh Police have arrested three persons in this connection, reported Bangladesh Newspaper Daily Star. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sidhi, May 25: Between January and May of this year, at least seven tribal girls in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh were raped by a man who posed as a female teacher using a 'voice-changing' app, manipulated these vulnerable girls into meeting him at deserted locations under the guise of discussing scholarships and raped them.

According to a report in Times of India, four cases have been registered against the accused. Five survivors have come forward in these four cases. Shockingly, one girl, accompanied by a minor, was also raped by the accused. The total number of victims may be even higher, cops said. Notably, all survivors reported incidents of rape, but no gangrape cases have been reported yet. Navi Mumbai Shocker: Boy Rapes, Impregnates Elder Sister After Duo Watch Porn Together in Vashi; Booked.

The police apprehended the main accused, Brajesh Prajapati who had been using the voice-changing app to deceive the girls. Technical analysis revealed a similar pattern of interaction with other girls. Two accomplices of the accused have also been arrested. The investigation is still ongoing. Andhra Pradesh Shocker: 15-Year-Old Boy Rapes Class 7 Student in Eluru, Four Men Record Sex Assault on Mobile Phone and Circulate Video on WhatsApp; Five Arrested.

Cops said that the accused would call students, pretending to be a female teacher responsible for their scholarships. He instructed them to meet at specific locations for verification purposes. The unsuspecting girls arrived, assuming they were meeting a genuine female teacher.

There he would introduce them as the son of the female teacher and take them on his motorcycle on the pretext of meeting the teacher. He then used to take them to a deserted house in his farmland and rape them.

All the survivors so far are from scheduled caste communities. The SC and ST students are provided with scholarships for studies by the state government and the accused called those girls who were looking after their scholarships.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 25, 2024 12:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
During a recent visit to Minsk, Russia President Vladimir Putin reportedly showed signs of physical frailty, sparking renewed speculation about his health.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has raised serious concerns over the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Bankura, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is attempting to rig votes through tampering. While sharing the images, TMC claimed to find 5 EVMs with BJP tags on them during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Bankura's Raghunathpur area. TMC claimed that the BJP is using EVMs with their tags to gain an unfair advantage in the electoral process and urged the Election Commission (EC) to promptly investigate the matter. Responding to the allegations, the Election Commission (EC) said that common address tags were signed by the candidates and their agents during commissioning. However, during the process only BJP agent was present. Later, signature of all agents were obtained during polling. West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Clash Breaks Out Between BJP and TMC Workers Outside Polling Booth in Durgapur (Watch Video).

TMC Accuses BJP of EVM Tampering

Smt. @MamataOfficial has repeatedly flagged how @BJP4India was trying to rig votes by tampering with EVMs. And today, in Bankura's Raghunathpur, 5 EVMs were found with BJP tags on them.@ECISVEEP should immediately look into it and take corrective action! pic.twitter.com/aJwIotHAbX  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 25, 2024

EC Responds

(2/2) However, signature of all the agents present in PS No 56,58, 60, 61,62 was obtained during Poll. All the ECI norms were duly followed during commissioning was done entirely under CCTV coverage and was duly videographed.  CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) May 25, 2024

(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.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he was "extremely distressed by the fire mishap in Rajkot". In a post on X, formerly Twitter, PM Modi wrote, "My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured. The local administration is working to provide all possible assistance to those affected." 22 people have died in the massive fire that broke out at a gaming zone in Gujarat's Rajkot on Saturday evening. A relief and rescue operation is underway. Rajkot Gaming Zone Fire Deaths: Raging Inferno at Mall's Gaming Zone Kills 22 People, Rescue Operation Underway (Watch Videos).

Rajkot Gaming Zone Fire

Extremely distressed by the fire mishap in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured. The local administration is working to provide all possible assistance to those affected.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 25, 2024

(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.)
A young American couple and a Haitian non-profit director were killed Thursday night in Haiti's capital by armed groups targeting their mission.

David Lloyd, 48, confirmed the deaths of his son Davy Lloyd, daughter-in-law Natalie Lloyd, and Judes Montis.

The attack on Missions In Hope, a US-based non-profit near gang-controlled Bon Repos, highlights Haiti's ongoing gang violence, which has led to significant chaos since February 29.

Details of the incident remain unclear, but the mission was hit by two different armed groups, Miami Herald reports.

The attackers, part of the Terre Nwa gang, looted the mission, took vehicles, and burned the house.

Despite ongoing violence, Missions In Hope had successfully operated a school, children's home, and bakery, helping the local community.

READ NEXT: Kenyan Officials Arrive Early for Haiti Mission; Police Delayed by Equipment Shortage

Tragic Attack on Haiti Missionaries

A second gang attack on a mission in Haiti's capital resulted in the deaths of a US missionary couple and a Haitian non-profit director.

David Lloyd recounted how his son Davy, daughter-in-law Natalie, and director Jude Montis were killed when the mission was invaded by armed men from a gang in nearby Canaan.

The assailants eventually breached Lloyd's parents' home, killing the three and setting their bodies on fire, according to AP News.

This tragic incident occurred Thursday evening in Lizon, northern Port-au-Prince, as the city grapples with rampant gang violence.

The victims were targeted while leaving a youth group activity.

The capital, where 80% is controlled by Haiti gangs, awaits a UN-backed police force from Kenya to address the violence.

The American couple, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, were full-time Haiti missionaries.

They were to celebrate their second anniversary in June.

Natalie's father, Missouri State Rep. Ben Baker, expressed his heartbreak on Facebook.

Hannah Cornett, Davy's sister, shared their family's deep ties to Haiti, where they grew up as their parents ran an orphanage, school, and church.

Cornett highlighted the family's commitment to serving the Haitian community, describing her brother's love and dedication to the people of Haiti.

Montis, a long-time collaborator, left behind two young children.

Chaos and Fear

Hannah Cornett described how gang members stopped the Lloyds and Montis, hitting Davy in the head with a gun barrel.

They were forced upstairs, robbed, and tied up. As Davy was being untied, another armed group arrived.

Amid the chaos, an unidentified person was shot, and the gunmen opened fire, forcing the Lloyds and Montis to flee to a nearby house. They were killed there, and their bodies were set on fire.

On Friday, Ben Baker posted that Davy and Natalie Lloyd's bodies were transported to the US Embassy, CNN noted.

The American couple worked for Missions In Haiti Inc., founded by Davy's parents, David and Alicia Lloyd.

Natalie frequently shared photos of Haitian children on her Facebook page.

A post on the Missions In Haiti page confirmed their deaths and expressed devastation.

Alicia Lloyd told the Claremore Daily Progress her son was very capable and expressed hope that something good could come from the tragedy.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized the need to address Haiti's security crisis, noting the US commitment to deploying a Kenyan-led mission.

The area where the shooting occurred is controlled by gang leader Claudy Celestin, known as Chyen Mechan, and another leader, General Jeff.

Their coalition, Viv Ansanm, has launched large-scale attacks, including freeing over 4,000 inmates.

Haiti Gangs have caused over 2,500 casualties in Haiti from January to March.

READ MORE: Haiti Adopts Leadership Rotation Amid Rising Gang Violence

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Americans killed in Haiti in apparent gang attack - From CBS News
Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has finally been charged on Friday after a long-running witness tampering investigation against him. He has been facing the investigation since 2012 and allegedly tampered with witnesses and bribed people to discredit a political opponent.

According to the Associated Press, should he be found guilty, the former president could face up to 12 years in prison for his efforts to discredit leftist lawmaker Ivan Cepeda, who was digging into Uribe's family ties to right-wing paramilitary groups.

When the case first erupted in 2012, Alvaro Uribe filed a complaint to the Supreme Court of Colombia and accused Cepeda of slander. It was noted that only the Colombian Supreme Court had the authority to investigate lawmakers, and it closed the investigation against Cepeda.

However, in a twist, Cepeda reversed the case filed by Uribe as the Supreme Court now opened an investigation into the former president, who became a senator during that time after his presidency. The probe looked into his fraudulent practices and his witness tampering that led to manipulated testimony.

Among the evidence laid out against him were several wiretapped phone conversations where he could be heard discussing the case with one of his lawyers. This was part of his efforts to flip two former paramilitary fighters who were supposed to testify against him.

The former president has maintained that he did nothing wrong and has repeatedly claimed that the wiretapped conversations he had were "intercepted illegally."

READ MORE: Pablo Escobar's Brother Tried Trademarking Late Colombian Drug Lord's Name, European Court Says No

Alvaro Uribe Witness Tampering Case Has Been Politically Charged and Polarizing

The legal battle has been running for over a decade now, with Uribe still being one of the most influential political figures in Colombia today. Because of this, the case has been politically charged and divisive among Colombians.

To make things even more complicated, ABC News noted that President Gustavo Petro, a former leftist rebel himself, is one of the biggest critics of Uribe. While Petro is leading the charge in peace talks with the various left-wing and right-wing rebel groups across Colombia, Uribe has been a very vocal critic of these peace talks, with the former president-turned-senator leading the "no" campaign against the peace deal with the FARC rebels. The measure ultimately passed.

Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Accused of Ties With Drug Cartels and Right-Wing Militias

As for the accusation that started it all, Uribe has been tied to several drug cartels since the 1980s, as well as the infamous United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), which has been accused of human rights abuses and drug trafficking, according to Al Jazeera News.

When he led Colombia's civil aviation agency back in the 1980s, Uribe was accused of giving air licenses to drug traffickers. He was also very active in going after leftist rebel groups like the FARC and the ELN. This gave him a reputation with the US, leading the country to support him as an ally in its global "war on drugs" despite it being warned of his ties to the Colombian drug cartels.

READ MORE: Colombia: Brother of Powerful Senator Pleads Guilty to Drug Smuggling Charge in US

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: A closer look at former Colombian president Uribe's murky past - FRANCE 24 English
Benjamin Balint at the NYT:

In his novella The Prague Orgy, Philip Roth has a Czech writer say: When I studied Kafka, the fate of his books in the hands of the Kafkologists seemed to me to be more grotesque than the fate of Josef K. Just as Franz Kafkas prose both demands and evades interpretation, something about his legacy has both solicited and resisted claims of ownership.

Despite his astonishing clairvoyance about the impersonal cruelty of the bureaucratic state and the profound alienation of contemporary life, Kafka could not have foreseen how many admirers would read and misread his enigmatic fictions after his death, nor how many would-be heirs would seek to appropriate him as their own in the century since. Competing claims began to swirl almost as soon as Kafka died of tuberculosis, 100 years ago this June, a month short of his 41st birthday. Max Brod  close friend, betrayer of Kafkas last instruction to burn his manuscripts, heavy-handed editor of his diaries and unfinished novels, and author of the first Kafka biography  depicted him as a modern-day saint whose stories and parables are among the most typically Jewish documents of our time.

more here.
Florida priest Father Fidel Rodriguez, a priest at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Cloud, was arrested after allegedly biting a woman during Mass.

The incident occurred when the woman, attending her niece's communion, claimed she was denied communion unfairly, leading to a physical altercation.

Altercation During Communion

Florida priest of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church found himself at the center of controversy during a Sunday Mass when an altercation broke out between him and a female parishioner, according to the People.

The incident unfolded around 1:20 p.m., according to reports from local news outlets.

The conflict reportedly began when the woman approached Father Rodriguez to receive communion but was refused on the grounds that she had not completed the necessary steps.

Allegedly, Father Rodriguez instructed her to undergo the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) beforehand, a common requirement in the Catholic tradition to receive Holy Communion.

However, the woman insisted that she had fulfilled these requirements and was thus eligible to partake in communion.

According to witnesses and police reports, Father Rodriguez attempted to place the communion bread forcefully into the woman's mouth, leading to a physical struggle between them.

Eyewitnesses described a tense moment where the woman, attempting to take another piece of bread from Father Rodriguez's hand, was allegedly grabbed and bitten on her arm.

Police body-cam footage obtained later showed Father Rodriguez explaining his actions as self-defense, claiming the woman had pushed him and refused to release the communion tray.

READ NEXT: Florida IDs Boat Operator in Fatal Crash Killing Ella Riley Adler

Response from the Diocese

In response to the incident, the Diocese of Orlando issued a statement outlining their perspective on the events, CNN noted.

They affirmed that the Florida priest had advised the woman appropriately according to church protocols but acknowledged that the situation escalated when the woman allegedly disrupted the communion service.

The Diocese emphasized the sanctity of the Eucharist in Catholic belief, describing it as "the source and summit" of worship and faith.

They condemned any actions that might desecrate or disrupt the solemnity of the communion service, stressing the need for reverence and proper preparation.

Following the incident, St. Cloud Police responded to the Florida church and investigated.

They gathered statements from witnesses and reviewed evidence, including the police body-cam footage.

The case was subsequently forwarded to the State Attorney's Office for review to determine if charges would be filed against Father Rodriguez.

The Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office confirmed receipt of the case and stated it was under review to ascertain the appropriate legal steps, ABC News reports.

They indicated that decisions regarding potential charges would be made based on the findings of their investigation into the incident.

The altercation at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church sparked significant attention in the local community and garnered media coverage from several news outlets.

Discussions on social media and public forums reflected a range of opinions, with some supporting Florida priest's actions in defense of religious practices, while others expressed concern over the use of force during a religious ceremony.

READ MORE: Texas Man Killed in Shooting While Walking His Dog

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: FL: Priest bites woman after denying her communion, police say - From WRAL
Gino Giunta was more than just a barber.

The Easton native helped found ProJeCt of Easton, a longstanding nonprofit that helps feed the hungry, teach English to immigrants and assist adults with earning their high school equivalency diplomas.
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP)  A Lakota students traditional feather plume was cut off her graduation cap during her high school commencement ceremony this week in northwestern New Mexico.

It was during the national anthem Monday night when Farmington High School faculty members approached the student, Genesis White Bull, and confiscated her cap, the Tri-City Record reported. The top of it had been decorated with traditional beadwork and an aopazan  Lakota for plume.

White Bull is Hunkpapa Lakota of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota.

Farmingtons school district said in a statement Wednesday that it prohibits any modifications to graduation caps and gowns, but students can wear traditional regalia beneath their graduation attire.

While the staff involved were following district guidelines, we acknowledge this could have been handled differently and better, the statement said.

About 34% of the school districts roughly 11,200 students are Native American or Alaska Natives. The community of Farmington sits on the border of the vast Navajo Nation.

Brenda White Bull, the students mother, approached the faculty members after they removed her daughters cap, asking if she could remove the plume herself. The faculty members used scissors to cut it off, she said.

Navajo Nation First Lady Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren, who attended the commencement Monday night, said on Facebook that she was disappointed and called on school officials to allow Native American students the choice to wear traditional regalia at graduation.

Deciding what to wear goes far beyond a simple decision of what color dress or shoes to wear, Blackwater-Nygren said. For Native students, this is a day to proudly wear our traditional regalia. 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.

Robert Taboada, a school district spokesperson, told The Associated Press on Friday that district officials were working with the Navajo Nations Department of Dine Education to review and update its policies on graduation attire. Taboada declined to comment further.

Brenda White Bull told the Farmington newspaper that the family had prayed together before placing the plume on the cap.

Thats part of our culture, she said. When we reach a milestone in our life, we as Lakotas decorate, do our beadwork and place our plume on them.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe says the school owes Genesis White Bull an apology.

To be humiliated during one of her young lifes most celebrated moments is unacceptable, Chairwoman Janet Alkire said.

Brenda White Bull said Wednesday that school officials havent reached out. Efforts to reach her Friday for comment werent immediately successful.
A pedestrian struck by a vehicle Thursday night in Lansford was pronounced dead early Saturday morning after succumbing to his injuries, the Lehigh County coroner said.

Kevon C. Cooper, 40, of Lansford, was hit by a motor vehicle on the 500 block of East Patterson Street around 1 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.

Cooper was pronounced dead at 1:41 a.m. Saturday at St. Lukes Hospital, Bethlehem Campus, Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio said in a press release Saturday morning.

The coroners office and Lansford police are investigating the incident.

Lansford police did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday afternoon.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
Editors Note: Lehighvalleylive.com is offering a benefit to subscribers: Click the photo gallery to see if we photographed your favorite prom-goer, and get free, print-quality downloads - as well as the option to purchase keepsakes at half the price.

Executive Education Academy Charter School students celebrated their prom at Green Pond Country Club on Friday.

Freelance photographer Brandon Santiago was there to capture a few of the students as they arrived for the prom.

Lehighvalleylive.com will be sending photographers to proms throughout the Lehigh Valley and Warren County this season. Our full coverage of proms across the region can be found at lehighvalleylive.com/prom.

Check out the gallery above to see everyone dressed up for a night to celebrate.

SHARE YOUR PROM PHOTOS

Dont forget to tag @lehighvalleylive in your Instagram photos and @lehighvalley on Twitter - we just might highlight the best pics!

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Saed Hindash may be reached at shindash@lehighvalleylive.com.
A woman suffered wounds to her face and concussion during an assault in a Portlaoise bar, a court was told.

Ciara Langford (21) of Morrett, Emo is accused of assault causing harm at Lillys Bar, Lower Main Street, Portlaoise on July 30, 2023.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said a medical report wasnt ready but the victim indicated that no bones were broken. However, he said it would be alleged the injured party had wounds to her face which had to be glued shut and she suffered concussion.

It was on the serious side, he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

Judge Andrew Cody was shown a photo of the injuries and told there would be permanent scars.

Solicitor Philip Meagher said a photograph taken in the immediate aftermath can sometimes leave a certain impression.

Judge Cody said he would let Judge Nicola Andrews decide whether or not she would accept jurisdiction in the matter. He adjourned the case back to Portlaoise on June 10.
Ministers Heather Humphreys and Joe OBrien have announced an allocation of 125,312.99 for 61 local projects in Co. Laois under the Department of Rural and Community Developments Local Enhancement Programme 2024.

The key focus of this fund is to support small community groups in Laois, under the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2024.

The Local Enhancement Programme is about giving a helping hand to our local groups and clubs, who are the building blocks of Irish community life, Minister Humphreys said.

I want to congratulate the successful applicants and to thank them for the vital work they do in providing services in their local communities.

The Minister hopes that these funds will help support organisations such as mens and womens sheds, youth centres and parish halls. The key aim of this programme is supporting Our Rural Future.

Minister Humphreys thanked Laois County Council and Local Community Development Committee for their assistance in administering the fund.

Minister Joe OBrien praised the work undertaken by community groups in Laois and expressed his faith in the programme.

The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 provides vital support to community groups in order to help them improve their facilities, he said.

It supports small-scale funding for projects which range from purchasing IT equipment to minor renovations to buildings. Ultimately the Programme responds to local needs.

These investments allow community groups to carry out the invaluable work they do on behalf of others in local areas throughout the country. The impact of the Local Enhancement Programme is considerable.

The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 was launched in December 2023 with funding of 6 million available.
A County Kildare man was placed on a peace bond for breaking into his ex-girlfriends home, in order to get his clothes back

The man appeared via video-link at Naas District Court on Thursday, May 23 last, as he is currently remanded in custody for an alleged rape offence.

Gardai told Judge Desmond Zaidan that on a date in 2023 in Kildare, the man climbed through the window of his ex-partners home, and was spotted by her.

It was also alleged that he damaged a door in her home.

The court was told that the man has no previous convictions.

Defending solicitor Cairbre Finan told Judge Zaidan that his clients offence 'was on the lower end of burglary', and that he just wished to retrieve clothing that belonged to him from her home.

He suggested to Judge Zaidan to backdate whatever sentence he would give him.

After consideration, the judge said that he would place the man on a peace bond for 12 months, which became effective immediately.
Two weekends ago, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council attended Dublin Zoos Native Species weekend.

The aim of the weekend was to promote the diversity of native biodiversity in Ireland, and the many actions being taken by national and local environmental groups and government agencies to help protect their populations.

One group that also attended was Fota Wildlife Park, who were sharing their conservation work trying to reverse the decline in populations of Irelands only toad, the natterjack toad (cnadan as Gaeilge).

Natterjack toads are restricted to Co. Kerry, however a population has been moved to Wexford to ensure their genetic survival should anything happen the population in Kerry.

The natterjack toad is a relatively small species, with adults typically ranging from 6 to 9 centimeters in length. It has a yellowish-brown to olive- green coloration with a warty skin.

One of its distinguishing features is a yellow stripe down the middle of its back, which becomes more prominent during the breeding season.

They live in coastal areas preferring open sandy areas with shallow pools or pond where they can breed. They are known for their distinctive loud mating calls, which resemble a rasping or "nattering" sound.

Breeding typically occurs between April and July, and the males gather in shallow water bodies, such as temporary pools or flooded areas, to call and attract females.

From survey work it was identified that the natterjack toad endures natural mortality rates as high as 90%, with large numbers of eggs and tadpoles typically lost every summer due to predators and ponds drying out.

Weather conditions play a part in the challenges the toads face, with dry springs and summers meaning that spawning in the wild can become limited.

Captive rearing decreases the mortality rate, in an effort to boost numbers reaching adulthood in the wild and this is how Fota Wildlife Park are involved.

To learn more about the natterjack toad and the head starter project in Fota Wildlife Park visit www.fotawildlife.ie.

If you would like help identifying a wildlife observation in your community you can contact me on bogs@ipcc.ie.

- Nuala Madigan from the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore
Its finally here, The 2 Johnnies often talked about, long-promised and much sweated-over debut album Small Town Heroes is released on May 31.

And the duo are set to visit County Kildare to promote it on Thursday June 6. The pair will be at Golden Discs, Whitewater Shopping Centre, Newbridge at midday.

The album is packed like a Junior B gearbag full of songs of love and lust, good times and bad times and the kind of people you and your neighbours are.

Featuring 14 brand new songs including St. Patrick Drive a Honda Civic and Im So Hungover I Could Die this album is the story of every boy or girl growing up in a small town.

This is the biggest and best thing weve ever done. Never been so proud of being in The 2 Johnnies. The album Small Town Heroes is dedicated to all the characters and legends round the town who make our world possible and inspire all our material and references. Ireland and the world is full of small town heroes, we try to tell their story, said Johnny B.

Drinking, fighting, ridin, smoking fags while spinning round town in a twin cam, the GAA, the bad and the ugly of real life in Ireland. Stick this on, turn it up and give her socks.

The new album

Johnny Smacks added; They say sing about what you know so thats what were doing. Theres no singing about LA and celebrities  this is about real life. Some songs will make you want to go on a three-day benders, some maybe only a two-day bender. This is an album for real people by real people. So let your window down, stick the arm out like a cool sham and pump out the tunes. Up small town heroes, up riding.

The album will be available to stream and to buy from Irish retailers on Vinyl and CD from 31 May. To celebrate the release the lads will be hitting the road to meet the fans and will be signing copies of their album in record stores around the country. Anyone who pre-ordered the album will also have access to a free gig.
The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas author John Boyne has swiped away criticism of his book, saying that learning the facts of the Holocaust should not be done through reading a novel.

The Dublin-born writer, 53, responded to criticism from Jewish groups and historians about his 2006 childrens fiction book, which explores the tragic friendship between the son of an SS officer and a prisoner boy at Auschwitz during the Holocaust.

It was turned into a 2008 film starring Sex Education star Asa Butterfield as eight-year-old Bruno, who does not understand what is happening in the camps and thinks the prisoners are wearing pyjamas.

Boyne told BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs: I think that the current climate that were living in, in publishing, is very nervous of anything that could potentially be controversial.

My view on that book, and I have listened to a lot of the criticism, Ive taken it in, some of it I understand, some of it I dont understand it, but what I feel about it is that it is a novel, its subtitled a fable, a work of fiction with a moral at the centre.

It was never pretending to be anything more than that. If you want the facts of the Holocaust, dont read a novel, read a non-fiction work.

And in all the schools Ive gone to over the years around the world, Ive always made it clear to children: This is a made-up story, these boys did not exist. I dont think theres anything wrong with that.

The historians would say: Well, you know, this should not be used as a tool in studying the Holocaust. Of course, it shouldnt be. Its a novel, if youre studying, use a wide range of things, read non-fiction. Again, I did not write a text book.

The one thing I would say absolutely in my defence is a whole generation of children has grown up and read that book, and has got some insight into the Holocaust and maybe some of them have gone on and read further about it and got interested in it and that itself, I think its something to be proud of.

He has been outspoken of his own experience at Terenure College and alleged that he was sexually abused by a teacher.

Boyne that it was a strange moment that the teacher he accused did not go on trial as he died in October of natural causes in his 80s.

He said the thing that really upset me was, unlike him being a writer, other people would not be allowed the catharsis of telling their stories.

Boyne also called the abuse at Terenure routine and claimed there was definitely a culture of violence in the school.

However, he says that there used to be a sort of community spirit when Ireland was more religious.

He added: Its such a tragedy that that has been lost, really, because of all the things I mean, have gone on over the years and because of the revelations that really have come out since about 2000, in Ireland.

And I remember when I was writing A History Of Loneliness, interviewing the parish priest, and who was kind of telling me that they dont have altar boys or altar girls, even, any more.

They just cant take the risk of that because its just not worth the risk and theres a sadness to that, I think.

Boyne also said that a running theme through his books has been complicity, which he has explored in The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and its follow-up All The Broken Places, The Hearts Invisible Furies  on someone growing up gay in Ireland  and A History Of Loneliness, about clerical abuse.

He added: Growing up in Ireland during those years, when we, when people did know a lot about what was going on, and nobody did anything, it baffles me.

And even though sometimes they say about writers, that its not the writers job, to find the answers, but to pose the questions better, and I think thats what I tried to do.
WD & Associates Provides NOTICE OF DATA SECURITY INCIDENT





EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WD & Associates ("WD"), a division of Patriot Growth Insurance Services, LLC ("Patriot Growth"), is providing individuals with notice of an incident that may impact the privacy of certain information. The confidentiality, privacy, and security of information in WD's care is one of WD's highest priorities. WD is providing this notice with additional information about the incident, WD's response, and the resources available to individuals to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? WD discovered suspicious activity related to certain workstations and servers within its' environment. Upon discovery, WD immediately took steps to secure the network and launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the activity. The investigation determined that certain files on WD's network had been accessed or taken by an unauthorized party between February 1, 2023 and February 9, 2023. As such, WD conducted a thorough and comprehensive review of the involved files to determine what information was contained therein and to whom it related.

What Information Was Involved? The investigation is ongoing and at the conclusion of the review, WD will notify those clients and individuals who are potentially affected by this incident. However, on or about March 1, 2024, the review identified files that contain the following information for certain individuals: name, date of birth, Social Security number, health insurance information, financial account information, medical information, driver's license number, and passport number. WD does not have evidence that involved information was subject to actual or attempted misuse as a result of this incident and WD is notifying individuals out of an abundance of caution.

What WD is Doing. WD takes this incident and the security of information in its care very seriously. WD moved quickly to respond and investigate the suspicious activity, assess the security of our network, and notify potentially impacted individuals. As part of the ongoing commitment to information security, WD reviewed relevant policies and procedures and implemented additional cybersecurity tools to reduce the risk of a similar incident from occurring in the future. WD also notified federal law enforcement and will notify relevant regulators, as required.

For More Information. For more information about this event or to determine whether you may be impacted, individuals may contact 1-833-918-5046, Monday through Friday from 6 am to 6 pm Pacific (Excluding major US holidays) or write to WD at 34 Hemingway Drive, East Providence, Rhode Island 02915. Individuals may also visit https://www.wdandassociates.com/.

What You Can Do. In general, individuals should remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing account statements, explanation of benefits, and monitoring free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Suspicious activity should be promptly reported to relevant parties including an insurance company, healthcare provider, and/or financial institution.

Additionally, under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer's name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; Addresses for the prior two to five years; Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, etc.); and A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/credit-help 1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800 Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069

Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box

9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box

2000, Chester, PA 19016 Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788

Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O.

Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O.

Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov ; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state Attorney General.

SOURCE Patriot Growth Insurance Services

24 may 2024 at 17:45

News published onand distributed by:
Colombian prosecutors on Friday, May 24, formally charged Alvaro Uribe with bribing witnesses and fraud in the country's first criminal trial against a former president. Uribe is accused of "offering cash or other benefits to selected witnesses of criminal acts" so that they would not tell the truth in a case that links him to paramilitary groups, according to a document presented by prosecutor Gilberto Villarreal, who brought charges of bribery, witness bribery and fraud.

The charges arise from an investigation into Uribe's alleged ties to right-wing politicians. Uribe, 71, who was president from 2002 to 2010 and still considered one of Colombia's most influential rightwing politicians, insists he is not guilty and has sought to have the case dropped. "I never sought to look for witnesses. I wanted to defend my reputation," Uribe said during the virtual hearing. Judge Sandra Heredia rejected his request to have the case scrapped. Uribe faces a prison term of up to 12 years in the tampering case.

Uribe said on Friday he felt hurt for being the first former president to have to defend himself in court. He also claimed to be a victim of a plot hatched by judges and "opponents" who used "illegal (telephone) tapping" to obtain evidence against him. The matter dates to 2012, when Uribe, then a senator, filed a complaint against leftist senator Ivan Cepeda, whom he accused of hatching a plot to falsely link him to paramilitary groups.

But the Supreme Court decided against investigating Cepeda, instead turning its sights on Uribe. The investigation against Uribe began in 2018 and has had numerous twists and turns, with several attorneys general seeking to close the case. It has gained new impetus under Attorney General Luz Camargo, who took over in March and was chosen by Colombia's first-ever leftist president, Gustavo Petro -- historically a foe of Uribe.

Uribe, who remains a prominent voice on Colombia's right, was known for being tough on the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas and strongly opposed the historic 2016 peace accord that saw the Marxist rebels disarm. Last month he said the trial was motivated by "political persecution, personal animosity, political vengeance, without evidence".
THE identity of an Irish mountain said to have been the original location of the world-famous Stonehenge monument may finally be revealed.

First recorded in 1136 by Anglo-Norman historian Geoffrey de Monmouth, the centuries-old legend of Stonehenges Irish provenance describes the search by King Aurelius of Britain for a fitting monument to honour those slain by the invading Saxons on Salisbury Plain.

Having first proposed the Giants Dance on Irelands Mount Killara as best-suited, court-magician Merlin is promptly sent forth, along with Uther Pendragon (father of King Arthur) and 15,000 men, to defeat the local king and transport the stones back to Amesbury for re-assembly.

The legend of the Giants Dance was preserved by medieval English historians John Stow and Henry of Huntingdon and by Sir Thomas Malorys Tales of King Arthur, with the belief that only a race of giants could have constructed the massive edifice, which was thought to resemble a group of giant circle-dancers with arms on one anothers shoulders. Over time, however, the location of the original Irish site of the Giants Dance at Mount Killara/Killara(us) was lost.

My own Excalibur moment came while researching the royal sites of East Limerick/West Tipperary for an upcoming publication.

There, in a footnote by renowned Limerick antiquarian Thomas Johnson Westropp of Attyflin Park, Patrickswell (1860-1922), was a reference to a local mountain named by John Stow and Geoffrey Keating as the source of the Stonehenge pillars!

The Stow passage provided no further clarity, but priest/historian Georey Keatings AD1634 Foras Feasa ar Eirinn delightfully provided the name of the mountain in the original Irish language, - Sliabh gClaire.

I was in the happy position of being able to instantly identify Keatings reference since this peak and the magnificent Dunglara (Dun gClaire) hill fort ( 52.38795N, 8.39785W) on its northern slope tied in neatly with my research. The mountain was originally named for its location overlooking Clar Mumhan, the Plain of Munster, (sliabh - mountain, gClaire - of the plain) and is known as Sliabh gClaire throughout medieval Irish literature.

Somewhere along the line the original name of the mountain changed, but I can now happily reveal that the legendary Irish mountain forever linked to the iconic Stonehenge monument is Slievereagh, above the sequestered hillside village of Glenbrohane in south-east Limerick.

Said to have been originally built in the century before Christ by Art Imlech (Art of Emly, High King of Ireland), Dun gClaire was rebuilt one thousand years later by high king Brian Boru as he consolidated power over the entire island.

READ MORE: Freight services on Foynes line by early 2026

As a high-status multivallate (having multiple banks and ditches) ringfort, Dun gClaire is most associated with early kings of Munster such as Oilioll Olum (reportedly buried at the summit), Mogh Corb and Fiacha Mullethan, and this was also the likely dwelling of Mogh Nuadat, father of Oilioll Olum, who once ruled the southern half of Ireland from this base (Leth Mogha).

Below lies the fertile core of the Golden Vale and an unremembered royal estate which quite overshadows the second-hand sarsens of our neighbouring isle!

At Raheenamadra, Knocklong is the site of the recently-discovered Oenach Clochair assembly place of Munster, while nearby the now-destroyed Clogherbeg Moat was the generational burial place of Munsters tribal royalty.

Eight kilometres north of this, the Hill of Knockainey was the sanctuary of the earth goddess, Aine and royal-fort of the Eoghanacht Aine, while the rivers Mahore, Camogue and Morningstar hold the highest density of Bronze-Age barrow-burials along their banks of anywhere in Ireland.

At Cush, on Claires western flank, lies Temair Erann, royal cemetery of the Ernai, while thirteen kilometres north lies the enchanted lake of Lough Gur, home of the largest stone circle in Ireland and said to hold over 2,000 archaeological sites within a 5k radius.

At Emly, eight kilometres north, lies the site of Ailbe of Emlys monastic enclosure, now acknowledged as one of Irelands original Christian settlements.

Nearby, Duntryleague and Shrough hold two of Munsters only passage-tombs, while wedge-tombs at Cromail, Corderry and Lough Gur add to the composite picture of a rich archaeological arena.

With an outer diameter of over three hundred feet and a circumference of nine hundred, Dun gClaire proves an uncanny match for Stonehenges outer henge, while the positioning of their entrances, their alignment to the solstice sunrise and their prominent locations within pre-historic tribal strongholds provide further eerie parallels.

The choice of Claire as Stonehenges legendary surrogate points to the long-standing royal significance of this entire area, the shared geometrical knowledge across both islands and our unrecalled ancestral links with Britain - a rich legacy awaiting rediscovery while yet the legends and lore survive, while yet the ancient sites beckon, while yet the Giants Dance
Mumbai: The rise of artificial intelligence in digital transformation will present more opportunities, and looking at the right kind of upskilling avenues will transform AIs impact on job redundancies, concurred a panel of senior industry executives at Mint Digital Innovation Summit 2024 on Friday.

Speaking at the Summit, in a panel titled 'Macro View: What it means to become a Digital and AI leader, Jayashree Satagopan, corporate president and chief financial officer of Coromandel International, said, There will be job redundancies that will happen because of AI. But this is nothing new. We have seen old jobs become redundant and processes becoming dependent on machines during the Industrial Revolution. But that does not mean work will be taken away from us. With the right kind of upskilling, we will be able to find better jobs to pursue. New jobs will be created too."

Dilipkumar Khandelwal, chief executive officer of Deutsche India, and managing director and global chief information officer of corporate functions at Deutsche Bank, concurred. There will be change, but different things will add value to human work. One needs to be adaptive themselves, and the level of jobs will be lifted," he added.

The upskilling mantra

Others, too, agreed that to ensure redundancies give birth to new employment opportunities, upskilling and reskilling" of the present workforce will be crucial.

Upskilling and cross-skilling is not a challenge, its a reality. The message is to not get lost in translation," said Sigal Atzmon, founder and chief executive officer of US-based healthcare firm Medix Global. We have to implement these movements and ask ourselves how to get better at understanding AI," he added.

These industry experts further highlighted how they are leveraging AI and generative AI in their respective fields. Sajid Malik, chairman and managing director of geospatial services firm Genesys International, said, By leveraging AI, we are helping governments plan urban cities, and plan to digitise India in one of the biggest urbanisation drives ever in our history. For the first time, huge information in spatial data is opening up various avenues. This is a huge leap forward."

AI: a versatile ally

Coromandels Satagopan cited examples of AI adoption across agriculture and manufacturing as key instances. Precision farming is a good exampleyou take all the data on soil, nutrients, temperature and more, and give advice to farmers to improve yield. In manufacturing, logistics and supply chain productivity need to be improved on various aspects. The value capture through AI has to get quantified. All information should be available easily, both to end-users and management to enable decision-making," she said.

Deutsches Khandelwal offered three key focus areas that companies are looking at internally to measure the impact of AI. One, AI can be used to simplify existing operations and increase efficiency. Two, were looking at new business models disrupting our existing ones. Three, our competitor may come from an entirely different industry, as many other companies outside of a field are innovating beyond their traditional industry of focus," he explained.

Leaders to the forefront

To leverage this successfully though, Satagopan underlined that companies leadership must take up the mantle. The role will be for business heads to understand techs role and communicate (them). Theres also a lot of organised data today, which will need to be leveraged and could be very powerful. Today, what is being done by 50 people may one day be done by one person. We saw this in the Industrial Revolution, now AI is leading to it. But we must provide a congenial environment to make upskilling accessible," she said.

Medixs Atzmon, on this note, added that a focus on promoting the privacy of data cannot be done away with. Being ethical with data is crucial. Privacy is not a challenge; we wake up to it every morning . As we invest in human resources, we have to align with regulations across countries," she said.

To ensure all of this works in tandem, inculcating learning as a key part of an organisation will be equally important, Khandelwal emphasized. When we run large setups, factors of culture and learning are important. We want to make sure that everyone in the firm understands that the culture of learning needs to be very important," he added.

Through all of this, the top executives affirmed that AI is all set to have a transformative impact on work across industries. Each insight summed up a key factor of digital transformation and innovation being primarily about AI todaya factor that will likely define how technology spending across organisations in various industries will progress in the years to come.

Tech jobs will also likely progress accordinglygiving birth to what each executive defined as the next generation of work, in the coming years.
The registrar of companies, under the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA), has levied a fine of 27 lakh on LinkedIn, Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella, Linkedin CEO Ryan Roslansky and seven others, citing violation of the significant beneficial owner (SBO) norms under the Companies Act, 2013.

Microsoft had acquired LinkedIn in 2016.

Mint explains what led to the order being issued, and what the companies and executives need to do to mitigate the situation.

Why the penalty?

The Registrar of Companies (RoC), operating under the aegis of MCA, has alleged that LinkedIn Technology Information Pvt. Ltdthe Indian arm of US-based LinkedIn Corphad LinkedIn Technology Unlimited Co., listed as a registered holder and LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company as a beneficial owner of one share, in filings made in January this year.

This had created the beneficiary interest at that time.

This, the RoC said in its order levying the penalties, contrasted with previous filings which showed that the beneficial interest had been created much earlier. This violation of significant beneficial ownership rules under the Companies Act, 2013, triggered the charge from the RoC for Delhi and Haryana.

What do the rules state?

The significant beneficial ownership rules were added to the Companies Act in 2018 for determining the real owners of Indian companies that are not registered as shareholders.

Section 90 of the Companies Act, 2013, lays down the primary intent of the lawwhich is to identify natural persons having ultimate beneficial ownership in a company. Also, indirect ownership is mandatory for becoming a significant beneficial owner or SBO.

The rules provide certain tests for significant beneficial ownership on the basis of the holding of share capital, voting rights and dividend rights.

To qualify as an SBO, an individualeither indirectly or together with direct holdingsmust hold 10% or more shares or voting rights or dividend rights in a company. Or, the person has the right to exercise, or actually exercises, significant influence or control over the operation and management of the company, other than direct holding in it.

Companies having SBOs must maintain a register of such owners and file them with RoC, along with the changes made to them

Are the companies and executives liable to be penalized?

In LinkedIns case, the ROC invoked the test of control" and significant influence" to name the global executives as significant beneficial owners.

Legal experts say that a section of the law defines control clearly stating that it should include the right to appoint the majority of the directors or control the management, or policy decisions of the company.

Significant influence, on the other hand, is defined as the power to participate, directly or indirectly, in the financial and operating policy decisions of the company.

The RoC has alleged that while Microsoft Corp is named as the ultimate parent of LinkedIns India entity, LinkedIn Corp, USA, has not been named in its holding structure. Also, Roslansky is a significant beneficial owner of the Indian entity under the Companies Act on account of his ability to exercise control over its board of directors.

Since Roslansky reports to Nadella, he is also a significant beneficial owner under Indian law, the RoC has stated. Nadella and Roslansky therefore have been ordered to pay 2 lakh each, while LinkedIn Technology Information Pvt. Ltd has been ordered to pay 7 lakh, Mint had reported on Friday.

Linkedin Technology Information Pvt. Ltd has to ensure that all the parties pay the penalty. The RoC has ordered both the companies that are registered as shareholder of LinkedIns India arm as well as its beneficial owner to pay 2.8 lakh each.

What are the companies and executives doing to mitigate the situation?

While the company can appeal against the order within 60 days before the regional director under the ministry of corporate affairs, the issue rests on the matter of ensuring compliance with the country's rules and laws.

Linkedin, in a statement, has said that it complies with the laws of the countries it operates in. We are reviewing the order to determine next steps," the company said. It has also said that the beneficial ownership of the share had always vested with Linkedln Ireland Unlimited Co., and had been disclosed to a High Court, the RoC, and other statutory authorities as part of a transaction in 2014.

Also read | LinkedIn reviewing order after RoC fines it for allegedly violating beneficial-owner rules

The existence of this beneficial ownership has been noted in the annual returns filed since financial year 2014-2015, it added.

Is this the first time a global corporations top executive has been penalized?

While it may not be the first time that these laws have been invoked, legal experts suggest that the decision may be too harsh. For one, the concept of significant influence is still not well evolved in India.

Some experts also believe that foreign jurisprudence on this subject has been completely ignored.

To slap a huge penalty on the basis of ambiguous law will not go well with Indias image of ease in doing business and following the established rule of law, a legal expert who did not want to be named, said.

Under foreign jurisprudence in similar situations, global leaders would not have qualified as SBO, he explained.

Second, this may well open up a Pandoras Box since many large corporations operating in India may face a similar situation.

Legal experts have also called for the correct interpretation of control and significant influence used for determining SBO to be codified in law.
Indiaan agri-centric nationhas witnessed the phenomenal proliferating of technology in this space, with numerous startups based on advanced innovation, data analytics, and sustainable practices venturing into the country's oldest industry. These agri startups empower the nation's backbonefarmers, affectionately nicknamed Annadatasby providing solutions tailored to address their issues comprehensively.

Over the past nine years, the startups in agriculture and allied sectors have surged from 50 to 7,000 due to a favourable business climate and robust government support, according to a report titled 'Transformation of India's Agriculture' released by the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA). In addition, the budget allocation for agriculture also saw a jump from 30,000 crore to 1.3 lakh crore.

The central government has launched various policies, including the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to extend financial support to farmers.

Agripreneurs believe that Indian agriculture will transform the industry in the coming decade by shifting significantly towards sustainable practices like bio-based solutions and technological advancements like artificial intelligence, IoT, drones, etc.

In the next 10 years, the adoption of bio-based solutions like microbial products, biofertilizers, and biopesticides will increase, driven by the need for eco-friendly farming methods. This shift will improve crop productivity, soil health, and water conservation and reduce pesticide residues, said Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka, President of IPL Biologicals.

Precision agriculture technologies, such as AI, IoT, and drones, will be more integrated to optimize resource usage, improve yields, and minimize environmental impact. The agriculture industry is on the cusp of significant innovation, ready to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world, he told LiveMint.

Bhagchandka said IPL Biologicals builds partnerships with farmers and research institutions, develops digital platforms to support annadatas, invests in research and development, and advocates for sustainable agricultural policies to adapt to agri trends.

He said the agri-startup addresses farmers' problems like declining soil health, disease and pest resistance, and overuse of synthetic chemicals, exacerbated by climate change with innovative, research-based microbial solutions that enhance crop yields, reduce chemical usage, and improve soil quality.

When it comes to technology, one should not forget drones and artificial intelligence which gained significant traction in the agriculture sector. Drones and AI technology provide farmers with numerous advantages, such as enhanced efficiency, higher yields, and lower costs.

The Government of India also launched the Drone Didi Yojana to train 15,000 women to operate drones for agricultural purposes and impart skills in technology.

Pradeep Palelli, founder and CEO of Thanos Technology, said, We envision a future where the majority of India's agricultural fields use drones in some mannerbe it for Spraying Fertilizers or pesticides or for monitoring the field to take actionable insights.

The agri-tech company built agriculture-spraying drones with GPS technology and an Intelligent Flight Controller that enables autonomous spraying in the field, he said, adding that it saves farmers' money and eliminates health hazards as no human is present inside the farm during the process.

The manual spraying method takes an hour to cover around one acre of land, while the drones can cover around eight acres in the same period. It can reduce around 95% of water usage compared to conventional methods," Palelli told us.

On the other hand, Kartheeswaran KK, CEO and co-founder of Ninjacart stated that agri-tech brands are harnessing AI tools to transform the agriculture landscape, offering innovative solutions to farmers.

This trend is evident in India, with the rise of agritech startups, highlighting a supportive environment for growth and development. We tackle challenges faced by farmers and input retailers with enhanced digital solutions in finance, market information, advisory, and business management, he said.

The agri-based company has introduced AI-enabled WhatsApp bots that provide instant advisory services, using a GenAI system trained on millions of data points to identify crop diseases and recommend remedies to illiterate farmers, he said.

The Thanos Technology founder, whose family has roots in agriculture, expects that mechanization or automation  be it manned technology or unmanned devices like tractors, weeders, drones, etc.  will become more common in the coming years.
CHSE 12th result 2024: The Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha, will announce the much-awaited results of Class 12 Board exam 2024 tomorrow, i.e May 26, 2024. According to media reports, the board chairman will announce the results at a press conference at 4.30 pm at chseodisha.nic.in.

The CHSE, Odisha is likely to hold a press conference to declare the results of Class 12 Board exam 2024. In the conference, the CHSE will announce the overall pass percentage, gender and district-wise pass percentage, among other important details. After the press conference, the state education board will activate the result links. Once the results are declared, candidates can download their marks from the official website at chseodisha.nic.in.

Also Read | Maharashtra 10th Result 2024: MSBSHSE to announce Class 10 results on May 27 at mahresult.nic.in. Key details here CHSE Class 12th result 2024: Websites to check the results Students who appeared in the Class 12th Odisha Board examination for the Academic Year 2023-24 can check their results on the official website of CHSE, Odisha:

chseodisha.nic.in.

orissaresults.nic.in

CHSE Class 12th result 2024: Documents required to check the results Students can check their results by entering their login credentials, such as roll number, registration number, and security PIN

Also Read | CMAT 2024 Answer Key challenge window closes today. Quick guide to raise objection at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT/ CHSE Class 12th result 2024: How to check the result Go to the CHSE's official website: chseodisha.nic.in

Click on the Odisha CHSE Result 2024 link

A new window will open; log in with your credentials like Roll Number, Registration Number and security PIN

Click on submit

The result will be displayed on the screen

Download and save your result

Take a printout for future reference CHSE Class 12th result 2024: via DigiLocker Go to the DigiLocker website  digilocker.gov.in

Click on Register for DigiLocker

Enter your mobile number

Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number

Set your username and password

Enter your Aadhar number

Sign in

Go to the education section

Check your results CHSE Class 12th result 2024: via SMS Open the SMS app on your mobile

Compose a message in the format - RESULT FOR12 ROLL NUMBER

Send the message to 56263

The result will be displayed on your mobile phone screen

Take a screen-grab, and save it for future reference CHSE Class 12th result 2024: Minimum Passing Marks Students must obtain at least 33% marks to pass the CHSE Odisha class 12 exams. The board offers a compartment exam facility for students who fail to qualify in some subjects, details of which will be disclosed during the result announcement.
MSBSHSE 10th Result 2024: Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) on Saturday announced the date and time of the release of the SSC or Class 10th Board Results 2024. As per media reports, the MSBSHSE will announce the results of class 10th board exam 2024 on Monday, i.e May 27, 2024 at 11 am.

The MSBSHSE officials will announce the results in a press conference. The board will announce the overall pass percentage, gender-wise pass percentage, compartment exam and other important details during the press conference. Soon after the results are announced, the MSBSHSE board will activate the results link on its official website- mahresult.nic.in, so that students can check their results.

Also Read: CMAT 2024 Answer Key challenge window closes today MSBSHSE 10th Result 2024: Websites to check the results MSBSHSE official websites: mahresult.nic.in

mahahsscboard.in

Other websites: results.gov.in

results.nic.in

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MSBSHSE 10th Result 2024: Login Credentials Required Students can check their results by entering their login credentials like Roll Number, Mothers first name.

Also Read | ICSI CS 2024 June admit card out at icsi.edu. Steps to download the hall ticket MSBSHSE 10th Result 2024: Login Credentials Required Students can check their results by entering their login credentials like Roll Number, Mothers first name.

MSBSHSE 10th Result 2024: How to check the board results Go to the official website: mahresult.nic.in/ mahahsscboard.in

Click on the desired activated links MAHA SSC Result 2024 available on the homepage

Enter your Roll Number and Mothers first name

The result will be displayed on your screen

Download and print a hardcopy of the scorecard for future reference Maharashtra SSC Result 2024: via SMS Open the SMS app on your mobile

Compose a message in the format: MHSSCSEAT NO.

Send the message to 57766

The result will be displayed on your mobile screen

Take a screen-grab, and save it for future reference MSBSHSE 10th Result 2024: Minimum Passing grade As per MSBSHSE norms, students are required to score at least 35% marks in theory and practicals to be declared pass in the board exams.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education conducted the Class 10th Board exam from March 1 to March 26. According to the MSBSHSEP data, over 16 lakh students appeared for the SSC exam 2024 conducted in two shifts. The first shift started from 11 am to 2:10 pm, and the second shift started from 3 pm to 5:10 pm.
Xi calls for furthering reform to power modernization in Shandong inspection

Xinhua) 09:17, May 25, 2024

JINAN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed comprehensively deepening reform to drive Chinese modernization during an inspection trip to the eastern economic powerhouse of Shandong Province.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged the coastal province to pursue reform-driven high-quality development and build itself into "a hub of high-level opening up."

Shandong, a frontier of China's reform and opening up, is now an industrial base and a major grain producer. With a population of 100 million, the province ranked third in GDP last year among all provincial-level regions in China. Shandong is also the birthplace of Confucius.

Xi's trip to Shandong, lasting from Wednesday to Friday, 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.

"Strive for excellence in comprehensively deepening reform and advancing high-level opening up," Xi told local officials during the tour.

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)

On Wednesday afternoon, Xi first visited Rizhao Port, where he observed automated container terminal operations.

The port, constructed after China launched the reform and opening-up drive in the late 1970s, has evolved into a modern facility over the decades, gaining valuable experience in upgrading and transforming traditional industries to foster new quality productive forces.

Later, Xi toured a coastal greenway in Rizhao to learn about local efforts in ecological restoration.

"The goal of advancing Chinese modernization is to make people's lives better and better," Xi said.

On Friday morning, he attended a meeting in Jinan, the provincial capital, to hear reports on the work of the province's Party and government authorities.

Xi underscored the need to fully unleash the potential of integrating the real economy with the digital economy and to develop new quality productive forces based on local conditions.

It was imperative to push ahead with the transition to the model of green and low-carbon development, boost sci-tech innovation in green and environmental protection sectors and spur the development of such industries, as well as build a world-class cluster of seaports to set the pace for modern marine economy development, he said.

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)

Xi said Shandong should work actively to build international logistics corridors, be innovative in promoting the coordination of free trade zones, deeply integrate itself into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, build competent platforms for significant international exchanges and cooperation, and play an important role in facilitating the dual circulation of domestic and international markets.

He urged efforts to vigorously promote the development of modern agriculture, develop the region into a higher-level "granary," and expand the paths toward common prosperity.

Xi stressed the need to facilitate dialogue and mutual understanding between civilizations and amplify Chinese culture's global reach and influence through platforms such as the International Confucius Cultural Festival.

He also highlighted the pivotal role of upholding the Party's leadership and strengthening work related to Party building in advancing Chinese modernization.

Senior officials including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the inspection tour.

On Thursday morning, Xi met with senior officers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army troops stationed in Jinan.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Australian commits funding to repair historic Chinese parade loong

Xinhua) 14:58, May 25, 2024

CANBERRA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has announced funding to restore an ancient Chinese processional loong, or dragon, after vandals damaged it.

Loong and other important artifacts were damaged earlier in May by vandals at the Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo - a gold rush town in the state of Victoria.

Andrew Giles, the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, on Thursday said the federal government would contribute 100,000 Australian dollars (66,023 U.S. dollars) to repair the historic item.

"The unacceptable defacing of Loong the Dragon - a symbol of strength and resilience for many in the Chinese Australian community - shocked many Australians last week," he said in a statement, adding "The Government strongly condemns this attack. There is no place for this behaviour in Australia."

Twenty-nine meters in length and requiring 22 carriers, the loong was paraded in Australia between 1901 and 1970, including at the opening of the nation's parliament in 1901.

Two people, a man aged 43 and a 44-year-old woman, have been charged with causing criminal damage and will face court in August.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Delhi Lok Sabha polls 2024: The national capital recorded a voter turnout of approximately 54.48% until 7.45 pm across its seven Lok Sabha constituencies in the sixth phase of voting on Saturday. While the North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency recorded the highest turnout, with 58.30% voting, the New Delhi seat recorded the lowest, with 51.54% voting.

It is important to note that Delhi witnessed 60.52% voting in the 2019 general election when the BJP swept all seven Lok Sabha constituencies in the national capital.

According to data from the poll body the North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency recorded the highest turnout with 58.30% till 7. 45 pm, where sitting BJP MP Manoj Tiwari is pitted against Kanhaiya Kumar of Congress.

The New Delhi seat recorded the lowest voting percentage at 51.54% where Bansuri Swaraj of BJP is contesting against INDIA bloc constituent AAP's Somnath Bharti followed by West Delhi 54.90%, East Delhi 54.37%, North West Delhi 53.81%, Chandni Chowk 53.27% and South Delhi 52.83% voting in the 6th phase of polling in the national capital.

Also Read | Top 7 news: Lok Sabha polls Phase 6 concludes, Cyclone Remal landfall tomorrow President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar were among those who exercised their voting rights in the national capital.

Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among others who cast their votes in the national capital.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Phase 6: About 54% turnout in Delhi till 5 pm The poll panel officials in Delhi claimed that there were no reports of technical snags or delays in the commencement of voting at any polling station in the national capital. However, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said she had to wait for around 50 minutes to cast her vote at St Columba's School in the New Delhi constituency. The CPI(M) leader alleged that the battery of the EVM control unit at her polling booth "drained out."

"We came to vote, they are saying that the machine's battery is down. If the machine's battery is down early in the morning, imagine what is the condition of the Election Commission," news agency PTI quoted Karat as saying.

Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the District Election Officer, New Delhi, rejected her claims and said the battery of the control unit had drained out around 10 am and it was replaced within 15 minutes.

Also Read | Hardik Pandya won't lose any property due to divorce; netizens praise Mumbai captain's 'Gujarati Brain' Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj also complained about irregularities.

"Worrying news coming from different parts of Delhi  In Captain Anuj Nayyar School in Janakpuri, the presiding officer tried to get the polling agents to sign the Form 17(C) in the morning itself," Atishi claimed in a post on X.

In Govt School No.3 Kalkaji, an Election Officer has just come and given directions that Polling Agents cannot note down any data.Is the plan to manipulate voting numbers by the @ECISVEEP?, she added.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a post in Hindi on X, appealed to the people to vote and urge their family members, relatives and friends to also exercise their franchise.

"...Each vote cast by you in this great festival of democracy will be against the authoritarian mindset and strengthen democracy and the Constitution of India. Go to the polling stations and assert that there is democracy in India and democracy will remain in India through your votes," Kejriwal said.

Also Read | Viral video: Thieves use bike to steal goods from moving truck, netizens draw Dhoom parallel According to EC data, a total of 1.52 crore voters 82 lakh men, 69 lakh women and 1,228 from the third gender category  are eligible to cast their votes at more than 13,000 polling booths across the seven Lok Sabha constituencies of the national capital in the 6th phase of polling today.

With the conclusion of phase 6, polling for General Elections 2024 is now completed in 28 States/UTs and 486 PCs. Polling is also completed in the General Elections for the State Legislative Assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Andhra Pradesh, as well as the 105 Assembly seats of the Odisha State Assembly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a befitting reply to opposition parties' attacks, calling himself indestructible as he belongs to Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency from where he is seeking the third term in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Main toh avinashi hoon, main toh kashi ka hoon.. Kashi toh avinashi hai (I am indestructible, I am from Kashi (Varanasi), Kashi is indestructible), PM Modi told NDTV in an exclusive interview on Thursday.

His remarks came after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee mocked that the Modi government's term will expire on June 4. She is right. This government will end on June 4 and the new government will be formed. Isn't it? We will form a new government, the Prime Minister replied.

PM Modi further clarified that he does not consider opposition parties enemies and intends to work collaboratively with them, saying he is open to constructive criticism and advice from experienced opposition leaders.

I want to take them alongwant to learn good things that they did. I don't consider them (Opposition) as the enemy, he told the news publication.

PM Modi also spoke about the possibility of equalling Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's first record of three terms. Analysts should not compare how many terms but they should do it on how much India has progressed under Modi's government, he said as quoted by NDTV.

Modi will win thrice, five times, and even seven times because I have the blessings of 140 crore Indians. So, this will go on, PM Modi asserted.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.The conversation was halting at first, not because the students didnt have anything to say, but because they were afraid. Later, they would say their political discussion had been clarifying and even cathartic.

They sat scattered in a classroom after hours on chairs attached to desks, 15 undergraduates at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, trying to make sense of the world and its discontents, starting with the recent campus Israel protests. I see people saying, like, the students just want to feel heard, and its like, no, they want to make a difference," said Conner Phillips, a 20-year-old history major with bleached-blond hair.

Theyre missing the complete point," agreed Baohan Tran, a 21-year-old political-science major wearing a black hairband.

This disruption is obviously unfortunate, but now the whole world is talking about it, including the president," said Kayhan Mokhtari, a 19-year-old majoring in business.

The protests that have upended colleges from coast to coast have focused Americas attention on the volatile condition of campus politics and the unsettled state of the youth vote that could prove critical to this years election. But less than one in 10 college students have participated in the protests, according to a recent Generation Lab poll, and while a plurality supported the protests, most opposed disruptive tactics like occupying campus buildings.

Even as some young people are erupting in anger, the students gathered herea group that came together on a recent weekday evening for a political discussion hosted by BridgeUSA, a national organization devoted to improving campus dialogueare evidence that many are searching for a different way of approaching politics.

But they have few constructive outlets for political discussion in a campus atmosphere dominated by extremes and activist fervor. As the students here chatted about current events, their frustration with their political choices was apparent, but so was their yearning for an alternative to the militancy that has consumed so many of their peers. Most were in middle school when Donald Trump was first elected in 2016 and in high school during the pandemic dislocations and social-justice protests of 2020. Having come of age in a time of toxic polarization, their young lives marked by violent disagreements that have torn apart families and communities, they were hungry for some sort of constructive engagementan idea so exotic that just taking baby steps toward it felt scary.

That deficiency is precisely what BridgeUSA was founded to address. Co-founder Manu Meel was a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, when student demonstrations against a 2017 speech by the alt-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos degenerated into violence. The fracas upset Meel, an apolitical pre-med, who believed the extremists on either side didnt represent most students who didnt have strong opinions but lacked ways to talk things out, without being bullied into taking sides. After graduating in 2020, Meel and others took BridgeUSA national. It now has chapters at 63 colleges and 17 high schools in 39 states, and will hold its third national summit in Chicago over the summer.

The real divide in Gen Z is not left-right but moderate versus extreme," said Meel, 25, whose organization is funded by an ideologically diverse group of donors and foundations. His inbox has filled up lately with speaking invitations from major grown-up organizations anxious for approaches to tackle the polarization that some see as a central problem threatening the nations, and the worlds, future. Theres a silent majority that wants to have a dialogue, but all the air is taken up by the vocal extremes, and the universities are held hostage by them."

Cal Poly SLO, a top-rated school for engineering and agriculture located on an idyllic stretch of coastal Central California, isnt a particularly political campus. Though students report tensions, it is a far cry from the raucous atmosphere at many California campuses. Eight hours drive to the north, at Cal Poly Humboldt, anti-Israel protesters shut down the campus, defacing and barricading themselves inside campus buildings for weeks.

At Cal Poly SLO, there have been sporadic protests over the past several months, including one that led to student arrests in March. Earlier this month, about 100 students and faculty gathered for a campus die-in" to express solidarity with the Palestinian people, while a handful of pro-Israel demonstrators looked on peacefully, according to a KCBX radio report. On Thursday, local police arrested six protesters, including a chemistry professor, after they blocked an entrance to the university. When the giant letter P" on the hillside overlooking campus was painted with the colors of the Israeli flag, the sanctioned display was defaced with the words Stop the Genocide." Some students have put Israeli or Palestinian flags on their backpacks. A few weeks ago, a student in one of Madison Mairss music classes stood up and yelled Free Palestine!" and walked out in what appeared to be part of a coordinated action, she recalls.

Mairs, 20, helped start the BridgeUSA chapter with her friend and dormmate Grace Reiff, also 20, when both were freshmen last year. The two blond political-science majors both come from politically mixed families and communities that have been riven asunder by politics in recent years. Mairs is from Orange County, Calif., Reiff is from Seattle. Both describe a passion for getting involved and trying to make the world a better place, tempered by an aversion to the anger and division of the political arena. When the opportunity arose to lead a nonpartisan political discussion group, both thought that sounded appealing.

I found that during Covid everything got very polarized, and the activism that was happening didnt feel as civil as I remembered," said Mairs, whose mother had taken her to political demonstrations since she was in kindergarten and who led a gun-control walkout at her middle school. Im still passionate about a lot of issues, but I love the idea of listening to all sides and having open conversations."

In high school, Reiffs family, mostly apolitical themselves, teased her that she was destined to become a politician because she was so poised and opinionated. She watched as Seattle was turned upside down" by the 2020 protests and wished there was a way for people to recognize each others humanity across different perspectives. So many friends and family members dont have relationships anymore because of politics," she said. It can turn so ugly so quickly when people arent trying to understand each other."

At the BridgeUSA meeting, Mairs and Reiff stood at the front of a classroom in the red-walled Agriculture building. A table was draped with a banner with the groups logo and the slogan Constructive Dialogue. Ideological Diversity. Better Understanding."

As the sun set outside and students in sweatpants filtered into the room, Reiff read a set of discussion norms" off the overhead projector, including Critique the perspective, not the person" and Recognize that participants represent only their ideas and are not expected to speak for their entire social group."

Part of whats driving the spasms of campus outrage may be a lack of other venues for political expression. At Cal Poly, both the College Republicans and College Democrats are defunct. Nationally, todays students can feel faced with a choice between the far-right Trumpism of organizations like Turning Point USA, known for racially inflammatory antics and surveilling liberal professors, and the far-left zealotry of protesters who romanticize armed resistance and see everything from Palestinian liberation to climate change as part of an urgent omnicause." Theres little space for open-minded exploration. The Bridge students lamented that their professors seem to avoid hot topics, making it hard to get educated on highly charged issues. We want to learn more," said Isabella Veran, a 20-year-old sociology major in a baggy white sweater. Its disappointing that theyre not addressing it."

Discussing the election, the students sought to understand the candidates appeal. It was a left-leaning group, though it contained at least one Trump supporter and some who seemed curious about independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Its disappointing that these are our two best options, an old guy who can barely form sentences versus Trump, whos a racist," Mokhtari said.

Its not enough to make me vote for Trump, but you wish we lived in a different world where the candidate was not Biden," Phillips said.

Kate, a blond-haired student who declined to give her last name, said Trump appealed to her as a businessman who could strengthen the economy. Rather than jump down her throat when she said this, the President Biden-supporting students responded with curiosity and anecdotes about the devotion and patriotism of Trump supporters in their communities. His supporters feel like, as committed as they are to him, hes committed to them," Reiff observed.

To be sure, for many of their peers, the division these students lament is a feature, not a bug. Plenty of idealistic youth perceive todays problems as too urgent for compromise and view the disruption of a corrupt status quo as necessary. Using their bodies to jam the gears of oppression is the only way they see to force a response from a system that shuts out their voices. As this generation prepares to steer the future course of the nation, politics will be a contest over whom the future belongs to.

Debriefing after the Bridge meeting, several students said it was a relief to be able to talk about politics without feeling like they were walking on eggshells. I lean liberal, but sometimes Im like, Im not sure I agree with that," Phillips said. But I dont want to say something that would get me ostracized by the group I identify with."

Dylan Taxer, a 20-year-old political-science major, said some of his family members are no longer on speaking terms. Its amazing to see how polarizing politics has become where they cant even talk to each other," he said. A lot of us are scared because weve seen it with our own friends and relatives."

Meel, CEO of the national group, says the goal isnt mushy-headed centrism or kumbaya nonsense," but finding ways for even strong disagreements to be expressed without anyone being demonized, shouted down or violently attacked. For this seemingly anodyne stance, he has been called a fascist more times than he can count.

This is your opportunity as young people to try to change the culture on campus," he told the Cal Poly students as they filtered out into the night. Youre actually advocating for something that is, like, countercultural. Its a middle finger to how fed up our politics is."

Write to Molly Ball at molly.ball@wsj.com
Chhattisgarh Police on Saturday said three Maoists were killed in two anti-naxal operations by the security forces in Sukma and Bijapur districts of the Bastar region of the state. Weapons, a cache of explosives and Maoist-related materials were recovered from both the encounter spots, Hindustan Times reported.

Chhattisgarh Police said the identities of the three Maoists killed during the anti-naxal operations are yet to be ascertained.

The first incident took place this morning in Sukma district near Belpochcha village when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-naxal operation, Superintendent of Police, Sukma, Kiran Chavan said.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Phase 6: 59.08% voter turnout till 7.45 pm The operation was launched on Friday night based on inputs about a gathering of Maoists in the forests of Belpochcha, Jinetong and Uskawaya villages in view of their bandh call on May 26, Hindustan Times quoted Sukma as saying.

When the patrolling team was near Belpochcha, an exchange of fire broke out between the two sides. After guns fell silent, the body of a Maoist, a weapon, a cache of explosives and Maoist-related materials were recovered from the spot, Chavan added.

Also Read | Cyclone Remal Live: Kolkata airport suspends flight ops for 21 hours from Sunday It is important to note that Maoists gave a bandh call on May 26 in the Bastar region in protest against the alleged fake encounters.

Second Encounter According to Chhattisgarh Police the second encounter took place in a forest area of Bijapur district.

The Bijapur police, in a statement, said two Maoists were killed by security forces in the jungles of Jammemarka and Kamkanaar village during an anti-naxal operation.

Also Read | Gujarat news: Children among 20 killed in massive fire at Rajkots TRP game zone An anti-naxal operation was carried out on Saturday following the input of presence of senior Maoists leaders including supply-in-change of West Bastar Division of CPI (Maoist), Pandru, along with other 15 Maoists camping in the jungles. A team of the district reserve guard (DRG) reached close to their camp and a firing started. When the guns fell silent, two bodies of Maoists were recovered, the statement said.

The bodies of the deceased are yet to be identified, it said,

The Bijapur police said forces are still in the jungle, and the search operation is ongoing.

With these incidents, 116 Maoists have been killed so far this year in separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh, which is much higher than the figure in 2023, when only 22 Maoists were killed.

On Thursday, seven Maoists were killed in an encounter with security personnel on the Narayanpur-Bijapur inter-district border.
(Bloomberg) -- Two key opposition parties are hailing their alliance in Indias capital Delhi, and hoping they can deny Prime Minister Narendra Modis and his party a third consecutive clean sweep of the region in the ongoing elections.

Delhi, the administrative heart of the country, is a high stakes battle between former bitter rivals, the Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, now allied against Modis Bharatiya Janata Party. The Congress party is contesting three of Delhis seven constituencies, with the AAP fielding candidates in the other four.

In the symbol of the hand, there is a broom, Rahul Gandhi, a top leader in the Congress party, told supporters at a political rally last week in Delhi, referring to the electoral symbols of the two parties.

Gandhi added that only by voting for the alliance can the countrys constitution be preserved. All of us and our party workers have come together to protect the constitution, he said.

The opposition has claimed that Modis calls for a 400-seat parliamentary super majority are signs that the BJP intends to amend the constitution and remove references to secularism and ditch the countrys expansive affirmative action programs. Modi and the BJP have denied those charges and described them as scaremongering.

The opposition alliance recently received a shot in the arm after Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi chief minister and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, or the Common Mans Party, was released on bail to allow him to campaign. He has been accused of corruption in a now defunct liquor license scheme, charges hes denied and has said are politically motivated. A popular leader, Kejriwal stormed to power in Delhi after winning two consecutive legislative elections and shares control of the capital with the federal government.

In his campaign rallies, Kejriwal has tried to highlight bread and butter issues to supporters.

People are so angry in this country with Modi. Prices have risen so much, Kejriwal said at an event earlier this week, where he was campaigning on behalf of one of the Congress partys three candidates. Salaries are not increasing and people are losing their jobs. Our kids are sitting at home.

To maintain their advantage, and inject some fresh momentum, the BJP has chosen to field fresh candidates in six out of the seven constituencies in Delhi. The party is hoping rallies and roadshows  being held early in the morning and at dusk to avoid scorching temperatures  from Modi and other star campaigners will boost the credentials of the new candidates.

One of those, Home Minister Amit Shah, widely seen as Modis right hand man, arrived an hour late to his rally this week in Delhi to loud cheers from the partys supporters. Shah accused the opposition of corruption, doing little to combat terrorism and not supporting the cause of building a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, where a medieval mosque once stood. Modi consecrated the temple earlier this year in a lavish ceremony mostly boycotted by the opposition.

If there is one person who can make the country grander, that is Narendra Modi, said Shah at the rally. Pointing to the partys candidate, he added that this election is not about voting the local parliamentarians into power but using them to make Narendra Modi the prime minister.

Amid the enthusiasm for Shah, there were also signs of frustration among the assembled crowd. Many of them, who said they had been bussed in from semi-rural areas surrounding Delhi, spoke of water shortages, blackouts and dilapidated roads that past governments had failed to address.

We want to flip the government but we dont know if change will come if we do that, said Anju Kumari, who cleans houses for a living. She complained about long power cuts, which do not allow her or her children to sleep at a time when temperatures are hitting 45C (113F). We are standing at this rally to get roads, electricity and water.

The weeks-long election cycle, which began on April 19 will end on June 1 with the seventh and final round of voting. Results will be announced on June 4.

In addition to Delhi, residents of the entire state of Haryana, which sends 10 members to parliament, cast their ballots on Saturday. The final constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, Anantnag-Rajouri also votes Saturday. Azamgarh, Bhadohi and Shrawasti in electorally significant Uttar Pradesh state are also voting.

A look at some of the important seats in the sixth phase:

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
The hotel where Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed in April 2023, Radisson Blu Plaza in Mysuru, is considering legal action because his bills of 80.6 lakh have not been paid, The Hindu reported. PM Modi was in Mysuru to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, organized by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF).

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi takes jibe at PM Modi over sent by God remark: 'Straight to psychiatrist' The State Forest Department was told to organise an event from April 9 to 11, costing 3 crore with full funding from the Central government. However, following urgent instructions from top officials at MoEF and NTCA, the event's total expense rose to 6.33 crore, added the publication

Despite communications between the State Forest Department and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, 3.33 crore is still pending while 3 crore has been disbursed by the Centre.

Also Read: PM Modi's big claim at Punjab rally amid Lok Sabha elections: Would have taken Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan According to the publication, the letters between the MoEF and the NTCA show that the event's initial cost was 3 crore. However, some extra activities were added following the NTCA's guidelines and the needs of the schedule.

Because of these additions, the event management company handling the event raised its price. The publication added that this new quote was shared with all the officials in a video conference.

Ongoing discussions about unpaid bills Discussions about unpaid hotel bills for the prime minister's stay in Mysuru have been going on. The issue was initially raised by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) to the NTCA in New Delhi on September 29, 2023. The NTCA later responded in February 2024, stating that the State government should cover these expenses.
US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said on Friday that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will soon provide training to Indian astronauts as part of the joint effort to the International Space Station. Garcetti also said that America will send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station by the end of this year.

While mentioning the US's commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the US in 2023, Eric Garcetti said that America's mission to send an Indian astronaut to ISS is on track.

"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 in space this year, PTI quoted the US envoy.

Eric Garcetti also gave an update about the India and US joint space project, NISAR. The project is a joint Earth-observing mission between the US space agency and ISRO. NISAR project will be launched by the end of the year, said Garcetti on Wednesday.

Advanced training of Indian astronauts NASA will begin the advanced training for Indian astronauts this year or next to mount a joint effort to the International Space Station, said Eric Garcetti while speaking at the US-India Commercial Space Conference: Unlocking Opportunities for US & Indian Space Startups, in Bangalore.

He also applauded the highly efficient work of the Indian space agency. He said that India landed Chandrayan-3 on the Moon last year at a significantly nominal cost.
As Kate Middleton undergoes cancer treatment, the Princess of Wales is unlikely to have a public appearance in 2024, reveals a new report. A source has told The Daily Beast that Kate is not expected to return to public roles soon while she may spend the entire year out of the public eye.

A friend of Kate and William has told The Daily Beast that the most important thing for her now is to avoid any kind of stress or anxiety and focus on getting better.

The friend mentioned that Kate had turned to her family for support instead of her and William's friends. Many of these friends will attend the Duke of Westminster's wedding in June, and her husband, Prince William, will be the best man.

Also Read: Queen Camilla drops update on King Charles's health, says he would be better if Lots of people involved in planning need to know what all the principals are doing a long way in advance. I am told that Kates diary for this year is empty. There is nothing planned. She may not appear in public for the rest of the year, the publication quoted another source as saying.

When asked about handling the increase in conspiracy theories due to a long absence, the source suggested that another video message updating the country on her health might be considered. They noted that this method was very effective previously in managing rumours.

Also Read: This Kate Middletons lookalike once earned  1 lakh per day: Meet Gabriella Munro Douglas I would not rule out another video message updating the country on her health. That proved to be a very effective way of keeping the conspiracy theorists at bay, the source said.
Tech-savvy Italian teenager Carlo Acutis became the first millennial saint of the Catholic Church. The UK-born prodigy earned the moniker God's Influencer after spending his short life spreading faith online.

At the age of 15, Carlo Acutis died of leukaemia in 2006. He was beatified four years ago after it was the Vatican found that a boy recovered miraculously from a disease days after touching Acutis' t-shirt.

Who is Carlo Acutis? The millennial, who died in 2006, became popular among the masses for using technology to propagate religion. Carlo Acutis was born in London on May 3, 1991. Later, he grew up in Milan. While growing up, Acutis handled his parish website and later began managing a Vatican-based academy.

Miracles attributed to Carlo Acutis He was beatified four years ago after the Vatican observed that he had miraculously saved another boy's life. The 15-year-old computer prodigy embarked on the path of sainthood after it the Vatican observed that a 7-year-old boy from Brazil reportedly recovered from a rare pancreatic disease after touching one of Acuti's t-shirts.

However, a person qualified as a saint only after at least two miracles have been attributed to them and approved by the Pope. On Thursday, Pope Francis greenlit a second miracle attributed to Acutis. With this, Acutis became the youngest saint till date.

The second miraculous case is of a boy who suffered severe head trauma in July 2022. However, he miraculously recovered days after her mother offered prayers at the tomb of Acutis. The scans showed that her brain injury had disappeared.

Carlo's mother has expressed happiness on the decision and said that many had prayed for this canonisation, reported AFP.

I was not an example of sanctity, but for me Carlo was like a teacher, he was special, never a complaint, never a criticism, AFP quoted Carlo's mother.

Carlo's remains on display at Church of Santa Maria Maggiore Carlo's remains are displayed in a tomb with a glass side at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi.

According to AFP, he appeared astonishingly lifelike, his face reconstructed and body dressed as he lived -- in jeans, trainers and a sweatshirt.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated on Friday that she is working to save a component of the global corporate tax agreement targeting highly profitable multinational corporations, and added that India is refusing to engage on issues important to US interests.

Yellen told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a G7 finance leaders meeting in Italy that China also has been all but absent in the negotiations to finalize Pillar 1 of the OECD corporate tax deal reached in principle in 2021 that involves 140 countries.

"We are actively engaged in this negotiation," to meet an end-June deadline for the deal, Yellen told Reuters. We're committed to doing everything we possibly can to make it work.

Earlier on Friday, Italian Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti told reporters that the Pillar 1 negotiations were set to fail, citing objections from the U.S., India and China.

The Pillar 1 negotiations primarily focus on redistributing the taxing authority concerning US-based digital giants, potentially enabling around $200 billion of corporate profits to be taxed in the nations where these companies operate.

In addition to Pillar 1, the tax deal includes a second pillar involving the implementation of a 15% global minimum tax on corporate profits, which many countries are independently adopting. However, the ratification of this measure by the US Congress is still pending.

Yellen said there are two red line issues for the US in the talks, related to transfer pricing and the "Amount B" system for simplifying the calculation of transfer pricing.

While most countries support the US position on these issues, we have a problem with India. India will not engage with us, she said.

The breakdown of the Pillar 1 negotiations could lead to the reinstatement of digital services taxes in certain countries, potentially sparking renewed trade tensions.

Before the initial deal in 2021, US trade authorities had warned of imposing 25% tariffs on over $2 billion worth of imports from Italy, Austria, Britain, France, Spain, and Turkey, covering products ranging from cosmetics to handbags.

However, these threats were paused after the involved countries agreed to suspend their digital taxes while awaiting the resolution of the agreement's specifics.

Italy wants to negotiate an agreement with Washington that would stop these tariffs, which are temporarily frozen until June, while also keeping its levy in place, an Italian official told Reuters on Friday.
Even though Iran has denied any foul play in Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter crash, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has blamed western sanctions as one of the reasons for Iran president's death.

Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President, made remarks in a joint press conference with Vladimir Putin.

Raisi (63) died on May 19 as his helicopter caught fire after hitting an elevated area in the country's mountainous northwest. He was laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday.

As a person, and not as a president, I will say that the vile, disgusting position of the United States led to this, reported Almayadeen quoting Alexander Lukashenko.

I mean, first of all, the sanctions. These scoundrels had no right to impose sanctions against ships, against planes, helicopters that transport people They banned their companies from servicing [Raisis helicopter]. Therefore, this is also their fault.

Alexander Lukashenko also said that it does not matter whether this helicopter has been in operation for 40 or 50 years. "Maybe it has been used three times only in these fifty years, it would be fine if properly serviced  but they forbade their companies as well to maintain it. Therefore, this is also their fault. They forbade servicing that helicopter. That's true, Belarus Today reported Lukashenko as saying.

Meanwhile, a preliminary report by the general staff of the armed forces, published by the official IRNA news agency late on Thursday said that no bullet holes or similar impacts were observed on the helicopter wreckage, reported AFP.

The army said "more time is needed" to investigate the crash and that it would announce more details later.

What preliminary report said - No suspicious content was observed during the communications between the watch tower and the flight crew.

- Raisi's helicopter had been flying on a "pre-planned route and did not leave the designated flight path" before the crash.
As many as 58 seats across eight states and Union Territories (UTs) are voting in the sixth and penultimate phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 today, May 25. All 10 seats of Haryana and seven seats of Delhi are voting in this round of polling.

Elections to 486 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats will be over by the end of phase 6 polling today. The remaining 57 seats will vote in the last phase on June 1. The results of the seven-phase general elections will be declared on June 4.

Among the prominent candidates in the fray today are Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Dharmendra Pradhan (Sambalpur), Maneka Gandhi (Sultanpur), Manoj Tiwari (North East Delhi), Naveen Jindal (Kurukshetra), and Manohar Lal Khattar (Karnal).

Raj Babbar (Gurgaon) and Kanhaiya Kumar (North East Delhi) are the prominent Congress candidates in the fray today.

Congress won zero seats in 2019 In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, among the 58 seats polling today in the sixth phase, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had won 45 seats. The parties in the opposition INDIA bloc could win just 5 seats.

To break it further, the BJP had won 40 of these seats in 2019. And the Congress could not win any of these seats. Instead, the 5 INDIA bloc seats in 2019 were won by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) and the Samajwadi Party (SP).

The NDA parties polled 51.36 per cent of the votes while INDIA bloc parties, including the Congress, polled 28.66 per cent of votes in these seats in 2019. The BJP bagged over 40 per cent vote share on at least 47 of these seats, according to a report in India Today

In 2014, the NDA won 39 of these seats while the INDIA bloc parties bagged 11 seats. Other parties won eight remaining seats then.

Capital Contest All eyes will be on Delhi today, as seven seats of the national capital are voting in the sixth and penultimate phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

The contest in the national capital has become interesting as it is a direct fight between the BJP and INDIA bloc parties  the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is contesting four seats while the Congress has fielded candidates in three seats as per the seat-sharing agreement. The BJP, which won all 7 seats of Delhi in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, has dropped all but one Members of Parliament (MP) for the 2024 elections.
People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on May 25 staged a protest outside a police station in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district alleging detention of her party workers and polling agents.

The former chief minister is contesting the elections from Anantnag-Rajouri seat where polling is underway in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Mufti, also claimed that outgoing calls on her mobile number have been suspended. Police, however, said those detained are overground workers (OGWs) and the action was taken to ensure smooth conduct of elections.

Mufti, among 20 candidates in the fray from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, staged a sit-in outside Bijbehara police station on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The protesters raised slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir administration and demanded that those detained be immediately released.

Iltija Mufti, Mehbooba's daughter, took to social media and also alleged that only PDP workers were being targeted.

"Our PDP polling agents are being targeted and arrested. We are asking the reason but they are not saying anything. If they are so afraid of me going to the Parliament, then the lieutenant governor should tell me not to fight elections," Mehbooba Mufti told reporters.

The Anantnag-Rajouri seat is a battleground for a three-way contest in the first election after the abrogation of Article 370 and redrawing of its political map.

Mufti, is contesting against Mian Altaf of the National Conference (NC), and Zafar Iqbal Manhas of the Apni Party, making the outcome in Anantnag-Rajouri seat highly unpredictable.

Mufti said this kind of rigging was witnessed in 1987 which many believe led to the eruption of militancy in Kashmir. Police, however, said only a few people with a "tainted" past record and who can pose a threat to law and order on polling day have been detained.

"Those who have been detained are overground workers and have been taken into preventive custody to ensure peaceful polling," a police official told news agency PTI.

Police and civil officers rushed to the scene and unsuccessfully tried to persuade Mufti for over an hour to lift the blockade, officials said. Police personnel resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the swelling crowds of onlookers, they said. Mufti left the protest site briefly to cast her vote and returned.

"I am not able to make any calls since morning. There is no explanation for this sudden suspension of services on the day of polling in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency," she told news agency PTI.
Psephologist-turned-politician Yogendra Yadav has predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not win over 272 seats in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Yadav also has claimed that Opposition Congress is likely to win over 100 Lok Sabha seats.

Yogendra Yadav's statement comes after political analyst Prashant Kishor, and US poll expert Ian Bremmer predicted clear victory for BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha Elections.

In a video released by Yogendra Yadav, the politician has said that after the Lok Sabha phase 5, he predicts that BJP is likely to win 240-260 seats, NDA allies are likely to win 35-45 seats, and Congress is likely to win 85-100 seats.

Yadav also said that INDIA bloc allies of Congress are likely to win 120-135 Lok Sabha seats.

400 paar wali baat to total hawaii thi, 300 paar karna bhi BJP k liye namumkin hoga(While the 400 seats claim was flimsy, for BJP it will be difficult to win even 300 seats), Yadav says in his prediction of seats video released on Youtube.

Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor, receiving flak on social media for his prediction in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party, backed Yadav's seat forecast.

Kishor said according to Yadav, the BJP will win between 240-260 seats and its allies 34-45 seats  which means the NDA's total may hover between 275 and 305 seats, as per the report.

A trusted face among those who understand elections and socio-political issues in the country, Yogendra Yadav has shared his 'final assessment' of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to Yogendra ji, BJP may get 240-260 seats and NDA's allies may get 35-45 seats in these elections, Kishor wrote on X.

"Meaning 275-305 seats for BJP/NDA. To form the government in the country, 272 seats are required, and BJP/NDA has 303/323 seats in the outgoing Lok Sabha. (Shiv Sena won 18 seats as part of NDA but is no longer with them). Now assess yourself and see whose government is being formed. On June 4, we will know who is talking about whom," Kishor added.

Per Yadav, the Congress is likely to win between 85 and 100 seats. The INDIA bloc, hoping to stop the BJP juggernaut in its tracks, is likely to win 120-135 seats.

The Congress had won only 52 seats in the 2019 general elections.

In an interview this week, Kishor said the BJP would comfortably cross the majority mark because there wasn't any significant dissatisfaction against the ruling party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"There may be disappointment, unfulfilled aspirations, but we have not heard of widespread anger," Prashant Kishor told NDTV, hinting that the BJP may not achieve its ambitious '370 seats' target.

Ian Bremmer An American political scientist, Ian Bremmer, told the channel that the BJP might win between 295 and 315 seats. The BJP had won 303 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections, riding on the 'Modi wave' in Hindi heartland states.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the COVID-19 pandemic has erased almost ten years of advancements in enhancing life expectancy in just two years.

In an official statement, WHO said, From 2019 to 2021, the global life expectancy declined by 1.8 years to reach 71.4 years, returning to the level seen in 2012. Similarly, the global healthy life expectancy decreased by 1.5 years to 61.9 years in 2021, also reverting to the level observed in 2012.

The 2024 report also underscored the unequal impact felt across the globe. Regions such as the Americas and Southeast Asia bore the brunt, experiencing a significant decline in life expectancy by around 3 years and healthy life expectancy by 2.5 years between 2019 and 2021.

Meanwhile, the Western Pacific Region saw minimal effects during the initial two years of the pandemic, with losses of less than 0.1 years and 0.2 years in healthy life expectancy.

There continues to be major progress in global health, with billions of people who are enjoying better health, better access to services, and better protection from health emergencies, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

But we must remember how fragile progress can be. In just two years, the COVID-19 pandemic erased a decade of gains in life expectancy. That's why the new Pandemic Agreement is so important: not only to strengthen global health security, but to protect long-term investments in health and promote equity within and between countries, Ghebreyesus added.

Health challenges The report further highlights the significant health challenges faced by persons with disabilities, refugees and migrants. In 2021, about 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, had a disability. This group is disproportionately affected by health inequities resulting from avoidable, unjust and unfair conditions.

The report also underscores the considerable health hurdles encountered by individuals with disabilities, refugees, and migrants.

In 2021, approximately 1.3 billion people, constituting 16% of the global population, were living with disabilities.

Triple Billion targets Billion targets and health-related indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Since 2018, an additional 1.5 billion people have experienced improved health and well-being. However, progress is impeded by challenges such as rising obesity rates, high tobacco use, and persistent air pollution, WHO said.

Universal Health Coverage has expanded to encompass 585 million more people, although falling short of the target of one billion. Moreover, only 777 million more individuals are expected to be adequately protected during health emergencies by 2025, failing to meet the one billion target outlined in the WHO's 13th General Programme of Work.
We've all had that nagging feeling when a song you can't remember the name or lyrics to gets stuck in your head. Well, YouTube Music users may now have a solution to that problem with a new AI-powered feature that lets you find those 'stuck' songs by simply humming or singing them, even if you don't know the exact lyrics.

Also Read | Sundar Pichai vows action on allegations: OpenAI's Sora model trained on YouTube videos without permission

While the feature is new to YouTube Music, it has been part of the Google application on Android for over 4 years and was also integrated into the official YouTube application last year. But now a report from 9to5Google has officially spotted it in the YouTube Music application for Android (with version 7.02 or higher). Despite updating to the latest version of the YouTube Music application, we couldn't find the song search feature on several devices, but given that it's already part of the YouTube and Google apps, it may only be a matter of time before it's generally available to all YouTube Music users.

How to find songs on YouTube Music by humming?

To find the song search feature on your device, navigate to the top right corner of the YouTube Music app and click the search icon. You should now see a new wave-like icon next to the microphone sign. Clicking on the new icon will take you to a page with the words 'Play, sing or hum a song' at the top and the wave-like animation continuing at the bottom of the screen.

Also Read | YouTuber lands in legal trouble after 'gender reveal' of baby on social media; here's what Indian laws say

As mentioned, we weren't able to try out the feature on the YouTube Music app, but our experience with the YouTube and Google app suggests that the AI algorithm should be able to find the right song in most cases.

On YouTube Music, if the app is able to find the song you want, it will display a full-page result that includes the cover art, song, name, artist, album, year and the icon to save it offline or to a playlist.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

3.6 Crore Indians visited in a single day choosing us as India's undisputed platform for General Election Results. Explore the latest updates here!
Robert J. LaPlante filed an appeal to the Idaho Supreme Court after being sentenced to 25-50 years in prison last week.

The appeal was filed through his attorney, public defender Brennan Wright, on Wednesday. LaPlante was convicted of attempted murder after attacking Loyal O. Dickson Jr. on July 14 in North Lewiston.

The appeal is against the judgment of conviction filed after LaPlante, of Clarkston, was sentenced May 15.

It asks to appeal the decision of Second District Judge Mark Monson denying pretrial motions March 5, including the motion to suppress evidence, change of venue and authorizing an interview with the victim, according to court documents.

Wright filed several motions before the trial, including one to dismiss evidence and statements from LaPlante when he was detained in Clarkston, a change of venue and to be able to interview Dickson.

At the time, Monson denied the motions, saying there wasnt evidence that a jury pool was biased against LaPlante, and the victims rights statute doesnt require the victim to speak with the defense.

Regarding the suppression of evidence, Monson wrote that LaPlante being detained in Clarkston didnt violate the Fourth Amendment because there was probable cause for LaPlante to be detained, and later his vehicle to be searched, and he was given a Miranda warning, according to court documents.

The appeal by Wright questions if there was sufficient evidence to convict LaPlante, according to the document.

LaPlante was found guilty by a 12-member jury after a four-day trial in March.
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Civic leaders believe the staging of The National Famine Commemoration in County Longford will have many positive benefits beyond the day itself.

The focal point of the national day of remembrance took place in The Green in Edgeworthstown last Sunday. The public ceremony was broadcast on the RTE News Now channel.



The National Famine Commemoration provided an opportunity for the people of Longford and surrounding counties to honour the memory of those who perished or sought escape to a new life abroad during the an Gorta Mor.



It was the very first State Commemoration to take place in County Longford. Featuring military honours and a wreath-laying ceremony the remarkably sunny day juxtaposed the dark period of Irish history it commemorated.

Also read: Landmark Longford pub 'over the moon' as it celebrates Leinster and All-Ireland success



We're delighted to be able to host this in Longford, but it was ultimately Minister Martin's department who decided that they would host it in Longford this year, Longford County Council CE, Paddy Mahon, revealed at the event.



Preparations were co-ordinated by a committee comprised of members of The Department of Defence, the Diplomatic Corp, Department of the Taoiseach, The Department of Tourism, Culture, Art, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, members of An Garda Siochana and local authority staff.



We made a submission based around Edgeworthstown. We had a lot of work to do ourselves, but with Minister Martin's department, along with the Department of the Taoiseach, the Office of Public Works, and the Department of Defence we made sure that all the plans were put in place for the State occasion, and as you can see it went off very very well.

PICTURES | Sun shines as eyes of nation on Longford and Edgeworthstown for National Famine Commemoration

Mr Mahon believes that showcasing the county in such a positive manner may have long term financial benefits for the area: It's a wonderful opportunity to showcase our town here in Edgeworthstown, but also our county.



There are between 60 and 70 members from the diplomatic corps, many of whom have already come to visit us here in Longford, in attendance. This gives an opportunity to establish links with that diplomatic community that should have its own positive benefits for the county in the future.



Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Colm Murray, praised the local community for making the day so successful: In the first place it was great to get a national commemoration in Longford, but I have to commend the community in Edgeworthstown and all of the staff in Longford County Council and the department for their work to organise the event, they really hit the nail on the head.

PICTURES | Excellent Mostrim Players production of The Cripple of Inishmaan a hit with Longford audience



Everything was perfect on the day. The event was so well organised. The town looked absolutely resplendent in the sunshine. I think it reflected very well on Edgeworthstown, and on Longford and our ability to do things very well.

The day was an exposition of local heritage and culture: We have a significant amount of musical history, a significant amount of poetic history and I think that was all on show today.



When we went on the tour of the Maria Edgeworth Centre, there were a number of historical artefacts shown to the Taoiseach, items collected by the group dedicated to the preservation of local history. We really had a great opportunity to show off what we have to offer.

Cllr Murray hopes the event will not be the last of its kind: I hope it's just the first of many occasions that we get to do that.

Also read: Longford man retiring after 42 years in Defence Forces to serve final tour with son
The Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), al-Qaedas branch for the Sahel and wider West Africa, released photos earlier today documenting a rudimentary training camp somewhere in Burkina Faso.

The photos offer the first public glimpse at JNIMs training structure inside Burkina Faso, where it, as well as militants from its rival organization Islamic State Sahel Province, control at least 40% of Burkinabe territory.

In the pictures, militants are seen undergoing basic firearms training and drills and what appears to be maneuver drills with the groups fleet of motorcycles. The training and drills appear quite rudimentary, while the camp itself appears to not host any permanent structures.

The real significance of the photos, however, lies in two simple implications that JNIM appears to be highlighting. First, this makeshift camp is likely just one of many across the Sahel that JNIM can quickly erect to train new recruits. For example, previous media releases of JNIMs training camps have been in Mali.

With JNIM operating across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and even several coastal West African states, these photos thus act as a representation of its overall training apparatus across these countries.

As it expands and takes on new recruits, many such training camps are likely operating in this vast area, documenting its ever expanding zones of influence.

Second, the photos also highlight how comfortable JNIM, and indeed much of the Sahelian jihadi ecosystem, are at conducting such exercises of congregating large groups of fighters in open areas.

With international forces largely out of the region and local regimes fending for themselves alongside Russian paramilitary troops, JNIM is signaling its relative strength in flaunting such exercises in the faces of the Sahelian military juntas.

Select photos released by JNIM are below:

Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.
An Aussie council installed larger-than-life signs on shared pathways to fight against a frustrating problem on local streets.

Signs aimed at e-bike users have sprung up along a shared pathway in a popular Sydney beachside suburb. Source: Facebook

An explosion of teenagers riding recklessly on e-bikes and bombing down pathways in an affluent beachside suburb has prompted one Aussie council to put up huge signs urging them to watch out for pedestrians, pets and cyclists.

However, the signs have sparked debate among residents with some arguing that they are over the top, while others think that they don't go far enough.

Northern Beaches Council in Sydney installed the larger-than-life cardboard cut-outs along share paths at North Steyne in Manly after hundreds of reports, complaints, collisions and near misses. The cut-outs depict an elderly woman, a young mum pushing a stroller, a dog going for a walk and a cyclist

Keen cyclist Alan Ventress, 74, said he regularly saw teenagers and children as young as eight riding pricey e-bikes at high speed down shared pathways and to school  often without helmets.

The power that the motor gives them, they really zoom along seemingly without a care in the world, missing people by inches on the beachfront, he told Yahoo News Australia.

Alan Ventress, 74, said many e-bike users rode their bikes dangerously and were a risk to pedestrians and other cyclists. Source: Supplied

They are being used in the same way as a motorbike, they go hell for leather. Sometimes you see three children on one bike. I saw a young girl with her hair streaming behind them  obviously having a wonderful time  without a helmet, which could result in a brain injury or worse.

While e-bikes, which can cost up to $3000, are legally manufactured in Australia to reach a top speed of 25km/h, some buyers allegedly modify the bikes after purchase to reach speeds of up to 60km/h or buy imports which can travel faster.

Ventress said there were no speed limit signs on the shared pathways and suggested the council should put up signs indicating the 25km/h speed limit which should drop to 5km/h when overtaking. He also said he believed e-bikes should have licence plates and rego just as motorbikes do.

Signs spark fiery debate online

Ventress' post about the signs on a community Facebook group sparked fierce debate with many people saying they found the signs "frustrating", particularly one urging riders to slow down to walking pace when others were on the shared path. "This isn't helpful or practical," a woman wrote.

Many people said they didn't have much faith that the signs would work, with one person exclaiming: "What a joke!". Others said it was a waste of council funds to put up the signs and that they would just act as "speed bumps" for riders who would just ignore them. Others laughed at the size and comical appearance of the signs.

"The police should just fine (e-bike riders) and you will see them ride more carefully," one said.

The striking signs have been posted on shared pathways around Manly on Sydney's northern beaches. Source: Facebook

"It's ugly visual pollution and sadly those it's aimed at won't take any notice," another added

One local man revealed his wife was hit by a 14-year-old travelling on an e-scooter at 60km/h, leaving her in hospital with injuries. "Be aware as these devices are very quiet and are on top of you in a split second," he added.

'Serious collisions' and near-misses sparked campaign

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins explained to Yahoo that the safety campaign was aimed at young people and their parents after a rapid influx of e-bikes on our streets.

We strongly advocate for cleaner forms of transport like bike riding because they are good for our physical and mental health, and the environment, but we know members of the community no longer feel safe walking on our footpaths and there have been some serious collisions and many near misses, she said.

We dont want it to be a matter of not if but when someone will get seriously injured or worse.

Heins said the council hoped to remind people of the e-bike code  slow down to walking pace, ring your bell when others are on the path and be ready for sudden changes such as people, pets and prams.

The rules for e-bikes:

E-bikes are subject to the same road rules as bicycles. To be considered a bicycle it cannot be propelled exclusively by a motor. In Australia, e-bikes must not assist pedalling past 25km/h.

Under 16s are legally allowed to ride on footpaths.

Bike riders must keep to the left on footpaths, give way to pedestrians, have a bell to warn others of their approach and wear a helmet.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Being from Boston, three band members have to deal with road rage and insane honking. But they love their city because its how they found each other.

The three of us have just been attached at the hip for like the longest time and we are always just working with each other and were around each other, Joanna Krieger said. Were best friends.

On Friday, the band played Boston Calling, New Englands largest music festival. Its a dream come true and the perfect stage for the three members that owe Boston everything.

Its surreal, but its like something Im also getting used to because I know this is something Ive been wanting to do for a long time, Krieger said. These festivals and playing these big stages, thats all we want to do.

Krieger told MassLive that she had wanted to start a new band after being in another Boston band while she was a teenager. To find his new bandmates, Kreiger put up flyers around Fenway and Back Bay in hopes of recruiting some musicians from the Berklee College of Music scene.

From there Krieger found Kay Kwiatek, who she used to play with in another band years before JVK was formed. She later found Atticus Crowley from playing the same skate park show. The bands name is an acronym for Kriegers initials, which are Joanna Valerie Krieger.

It couldnt have worked out more perfectly, she said while laughing.

You can keep up with JVK by following the band on Instagram and TikTok. Be sure to check out more of MassLives coverage of Boston Calling here.
Boston Calling attendees will get to see the festival from a different perspective this weekend  a birds eye view from on top of a Ferris wheel.

Boston Calling, a music festival in Boston, is from Friday, May 24 until Sunday, May 26. People from all over the country will be coming to the city to enjoy more than 50 artists, including Ed Sheeran, Tyler Childers and The Killers. There will also be more than 20 acts from the Northeast.

But theres much more than just music.

There will also be more than 30 food vendors with options from smoked barbecue and pierogies, to sushi and shawarma.

And, of course, the Ferris wheel.

The Ferris wheel will be located near the Allianz Blue Stage, which will be on peoples left soon after entering the grounds.

Boston Calling Music FestivalCourtesy photo

Ferris wheel riders will also be supporting a charity.

It will be hard to miss the Ferris Wheel at Boston Calling and riding it will go to a good cause, the website states.

Proceeds from the rides benefit Music Drives Us, which works to keep music in schools. It was started by Massachusetts businessman Ernie Boch Jr.

Boch, an avid musician and Berklee College of Music graduate, founded Music Drives Us to ensure that music will be taught in schools across New England for generations to come, the nonprofits website states.

Click here to learn more.
Cicadas are expected to emerge around Cape Cod and Long Island in 2025  but their numbers have dwindled over the years.

The flying insects make their presence known through their sounds but they do very little damage to their environment, according to Vanderbilt Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Patrick Abbot.

Cicadas are valuable members of our ecosystem. Without these insects, birds and other predators would not have food to eat, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. They also aerate lawns and improve water filtration in the ground. As their bodies decompose into the soil, they add nutrients to the Earth.

Abbot stated that the cicadas provide essential nutrients for tree growth, according to Vanderbilt. They can also feed squirrels, turtles, snakes, spiders and fungi.

Not all periodical cicada populations are dwindling. But in some areas of the U.S., including Cape Cod, experts have observed declines.

Next year, cicadas from Brood XIV will be spotted around Cape Cod and Long Island. But, John Cooley, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut, doesnt believe their numbers will be that robust, CBS Boston reported.

Cicadas from Brood XIV, which appear on Cape Cod  among other places  were stronger in 2008 but previously have had their numbers fall in 1991, compared to their 1976 emergence, the Cape Cod Times reported.

The ones on Long Island have really been declining over the past couple of emergences, and the ones on the Cape are kind of heading in that direction as well, he told the station. Theyre more fragile than you think.

Experts believe development, pesticides and invasive species can negatively impact some cicada populations, The New York Times reported.

The development of roads, buildings and other types of infrastructure can trap cicadas populations underground, The New York Times reported. Deforestation can also leave the insects without a source of food.

This is a USDA Forest Service map showing, county-by-county, where periodical cicada broods of the United States are located, and when they can next be expected to emerge.US Forest Service

Brood X, the largest brood of 17-year cicadas, which emerge across the mid-west and some parts of the northeast, was once known to be quite vibrant in Long Island, The New York Times reported. But in recent decades their numbers have declined, and they were nearly absent from the island in 2004  their last emergence.

Newsday, a daily newspaper serving Suffolk and Nassau Counties in Long Island, reported that the Brood X cicadas made only cameo appearances, in 2004.

All is still quiet on [Long Island]. I checked in with Connetqout State Park Preserve and theres nothing doing there, one user from Long Island wrote in 2004 on Cicadamania.com, a website that tracks cicadas.

This 3,500-acre preserve was a local hot spot for brood X in 1987 and remains mostly unchanged since then. Yet, the park staff has seen nothing. No holes, no skins, nothing! The same goes for the other towns or locales in which brood X was prevalent in 87, they added.
Three people were arrested and more than 200 grams of crack cocaine and a gun were found after a car was pulled over on Interstate 91 in Western Massachusetts earlier this week, authorities said.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Hunter Ratelle discovered 224 grams of crack cocaine and a disassembled, 9-millimeter Smith & Wesson handgun with a 16-round magazine behind the drivers seat of the car after pulling the vehicle over on I-91 in Deerfield shortly after midday Monday. None of the people inside were licensed to carry a firearm, according to a statement from state police.

Ratelle was on the side of the highway observing northbound traffic Monday when he saw a grey sedan pass him with a rear registration tag that was unreadable. The trooper caught up with the car and stopped it, the statement said.

The trooper approached the driver of the car, Nicol Murano, 48, of Brattleboro, Vermont, and requested her license. However, she allegedly did not have one, according to state police.

Ratelle requested Murano step out of the car, put handcuffs on her and placed her in the back of his cruiser. The trooper then asked if either of the two passengers in the vehicle had a valid license, which they allegedly did not, state police said.

Troopers Curtis Bamberg and Stephen Shearer were called to help at the scene, and Ratelle asked for the car to be towed. He turned to searching the vehicle and had the two passengers step outside the car and join the troopers away from the highway, according to the statement.

During the subsequent search, Ratelle allegedly found the drugs and gun, the statement said.

Murano and the two passengers in the car  Katie Beam, 36, of Brattleboro, Vermont, and Najee Robertson, 35, of Bridgeport, Connecticut  were arrested and brought to the Shelburne Falls state police barracks, where they were booked, fingerprinted and photographed, according to state police.

The three individuals were arraigned in Greenfield District Court on charges of trafficking cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug law, possession of a firearm without a firearm identification (FID) card, possession of a firearm during a felony offense and possession of a large-capacity feeding device, state police said.

Murano faces additional charges of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and a number plate violation, and Najee was also charged with a firearm violation with one prior violent/drug crime, according to the statement.
As Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer, looms ahead, officials in Massachusetts are encouraging residents to take proper fire safety measures, warning against blazes and serious burns.

State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and Foxborough Fire Chief Michael Kelleher, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, are reminding residents to practice fire safety this season leading up to the Memorial Day holiday Monday.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and we want to remind everyone to play it safe as they enjoy the warm weather, Davine said. Dont let a fire or serious burn ruin your summer.

Fire officials offered the following safety tips on brush and wildland, gasoline, grilling and smoking.

Brush and Wildland Fire Safety

Almost all outdoor fires are caused by human activity, officials noted in a statement. In the warm, sunny, dry weather expected this weekend these fires will spread to dangerous sizes quickly and require numerous firefighting resources to contain and extinguish.

And because more than 50% of Massachusetts homes are in Wildland-Urban Interface or Intermix zones, outdoor fires can easily threaten people and property, the statement added.

Practice fire safety with grills, flammable liquids, smoking materials and power equipment.

Before setting up a campfire, be sure it is permitted by checking with the local fire department.

Clear away dry leaves and sticks and overhanging low branches and shrubs.

Keep campfires small so they are easier to control, and attend to them at all times.

Always have a hose, bucket of water or shovel and dirt or sand nearby to put out the fire.

Make sure your campfire is out cold before leaving.

If using an ATV, dirt bike or other off-road vehicle, be sure the spark arrestor is properly installed, as required by Massachusetts law.

Do not park a vehicle or power equipment, such as a lawnmower, on or near dry vegetation. A hot engine or exhaust can ignite dry grass, leaves or debris.

Gasoline Safety

Serious gasoline burns peak in the summer, according to officials. Around 40% of such burns are reported from June through August.

Always be cautious when using gasoline, especially in the area of any heat source, officials urged.

Gasoline should only be used as fuel for an engine, not as a solvent.

Never use gasoline to start a fire or add it to any fire.

Store gasoline only outside the home, such as in a locked shed, and always in an approved container. Never store gasoline in the home or basement.

Refuel lawnmowers, leaf blowers, mopeds and other devices only when the engine is cool. Never refill while it is hot.

Keep gasoline away from all heat sources, such as smoking materials, campfires and grills.

Grilling Safety

More than 75% of grilling-related fires in Massachusetts happen between May and September as well, and Memorial Day is a leading day for cookouts with family and friends, according to the statement.

Stay safe when using your gas or charcoal grill, the statement said.

Always grill outdoors, never inside.

A burning grill should always be attended by an adult.

Never use a gas or charcoal grill on a porch, balcony or fire escape.

Place grills at least 10 feet away from buildings and deck railings. Make sure grills are not under eaves or overhanging branches.

Gas grills may be used on first floor decks or patios only if there is an outdoor stairway to the ground or if it is at ground level.

Always keep matches, lighters and lighter fluid away from children.

Create a three-foot circle of safety around grills. Keep children and pets at least three feet away on all sides.

Officials explained when using a gas grill, open the lid before you light it to avoid igniting built-up propane. If you smell gas while cooking, turn off the grill, move away and call 911 from a safe location. Do not move the grill, and always turn off the burners and close the propane cylinder when done cooking.

If using a charcoal grill, only use charcoal starter fluid, officials urged.

Do not use gasoline or kerosene to start a fire in a grill, and never add any flammable liquid to burning briquettes or hot coals, the statement added. Allow the coals to burn out completely and then cool for 48 hours before disposal. If you must dispose of ashes before they are completely cooled, thoroughly soak them in water before putting them in a metal container.

Smoking Safety

For decades, the leading cause of fire deaths in Massachusetts has been smoking materials, and many fires this spring have been caused by smoking materials improperly discarded on porches and in backyards. Mulch is particularly prone to combustion caused by what the statement described as careless smoking.

Smoking fires are especially dangerous because they may smolder undetected and subsequently erupt into flames that then grow rapidly, according to officials. A fire that starts on a porch, balcony or exterior stairway can spread to the home before alarms inside detect it and alert of the danger.

If you still smoke, or if you have guests who do, please do it responsibly, Davine said. Always use a deep, sturdy ashtray or a can with sand or water. Dont toss smoking materials into the mulch, leaves, grass, or planters, and dont stub them out on the porch railing or stairs. Remember to put it out, all the way, every time.
The croc is believed to have ventured into the sea from a nearby reserve.

A crocodile has been spotted cooling off and taking a dip in the ocean near a popular tourist beach, as shocked onlookers watched on from the shoreline. The refreshed reptile was seen swimming in the waves as a young couple spent the day with their children, with beachgoers shouting out to the family who were in the water at the time, warning them to flee.

Couple flee water after crocodile spotting taking dip in waves

The couple, Giovanni and Maom, filmed the unusual encounter after returning to the safety of the shore, uploaded the footage to social media. The close-call took place while the family were visiting Celestun, west of Cancun in Mexico.

#OJO Un cocodrilo  es captado en playas de Celestun nadando muy cerca de la orilla...



El video fue difundido por un usuario de Facebook pic.twitter.com/dqlxCfJKUL  Tomas Martin (@ReporteroYuca) May 21, 2024

The croc is believed to have ventured into the sea from the nearby Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve yesterday on May 21. Local experts identified it as a Morelet's crocodile.

They are commonly found near freshwater, but can venture outside of their natural habitat in search of food. They can also travel further afield to seek refuge during heatwaves.

"Excess heat and human invasion or territory is moving all animals out of their natural habitat," a local said in response to the footage.

Animal in question identified

"Even the crocodiles are feeling the heat," said another. "I think it has more rights than humans who only destroy and pollute the beaches," another woman said.

The animal was seen swimming in the waves at Celestun, in Yucatan in Mexico. Source: Jam Press

A Morelet's crocodile was also spotted walking the streets in the nearby port city of Progreso earlier in May. Local authorities reminded locals never to confront or try to scare away a crocodile if encountering one.

- Jam Press

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Authorities are investigating the drowning of a man who was found dead in a wetsuit in Dublin, New Hampshire on Friday, according to police.

The New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol Unit was notified of the apparent drowning in Dublin Pond shortly after 3:20 p.m. Friday, state police said in a statement.

The mans body was recovered. He was wearing a wetsuit and swim cap, according to state polices statement.

At this time, the death is not believed to be suspicious in nature and the investigation is ongoing, the statement said. The name and age of the adult male is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

In addition to marine patrol, members of the Dublin Police Department, the Dublin Fire Department, state police Troop C and the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner responded to the scene, according to state police.

Anyone who may have information that could help the investigation is encouraged to contact marine patrol Officer Scott McLain at (603) 227-2118 or scott.a.mclain@dos.nh.gov.
Two men in their 60s have been charged in connection with the attempted armed robbery of a Cumberland Farms store in Boston earlier this week, police said.

James Wise, 64, of Boston, and David Jones, 65, of Lynn, were arrested Friday on robbery- and firearms-related charges following the attempted armed robbery at the Cumberland Farms at 148 Chestnut Hill Ave. in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston late Wednesday, according to a statement from the Boston Police Department.

Wise is accused of entering the Cumberland Farms shortly before 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, flashing a gun and trying to rob the store, the departments statement said.

The attempted robbery was unsuccessful, however, as the victim ran away, according to the department.

On Friday, Boston police officers and detectives executed a search warrant at 130 Chestnut Hill Ave. and found evidence directly related to the attempted armed robbery, including a Black Springfield Arms .45 caliber firearm and an unassembled AR-15 style rifle, the department said.

Wise was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device, unlawful possession of an assault weapon and attempted robbery. Jones was charged with possession of Class A and B drugs and attempted armed robbery, according to the statement.

Both men were taken into custody and are expected to be arraigned in the Brighton Division of Boston Municipal Court, the statement said.
A man was stabbed during a fight involving roughly 100 people on Carson Beach in South Boston late Friday, according to police.

Massachusetts State Police Troopers responded to the beach around 8:50 p.m. Friday for a report of a large fight of around 100 people, state police said in a statement.

A trooper at the scene found a man who appeared to have been stabbed. He was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries that are not life-threatening, according to state polices statement.

The Boston Police Department assisted with crowd control, the statement noted.

The stabbing remains under investigation by state police.
Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone.

For many, Memorial Day weekend marks a kickoff to summer, however, while I hope everyone is able to enjoy this long weekend with loved ones and friends, I hope you take a moment to not only reflect on the sacrifices of those in the armed forces but also to celebrate the free and prosperous country that they helped defend. Remember to be safe this weekend as well.

Despite the long weekend ahead of us, it was quite busy on Beacon Hill all week long as the Senate debated the fiscal year 2025 budget. I am excited to share that I was able to secure local funding that will benefit our youth, seniors, veterans, public safety and municipalities. As a Western Massachusetts senator, I was proud to support many amendments and the Senates overall budget that were grounded in regional equity. It is critical that everything we do at the State House not only benefits the residents of the commonwealth living in the Boston area, but our state as a whole, including all of us right here in Western Massachusetts.
Le ministere de lEgalite du Genre va lancer cette campagne pendant le mois juin 2024 dans le cadre du Day of the African Child 2024 qui sera celebre le 16 juin de chaque annee.

Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare in collaboration with the National Childrens Council in the context of the Day of the African Child 2024, which is celebrated on 16 June every year. The 16 Days 16 Rights Campaign would be launched during the month of June 2024 to sensitise primary and secondary school children on substance abuse. A forum on Education and Substance Abuse would be held on 13 June 2024 for around 120 secondary students between 12 to 18 years of age.
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved a loan of $240 million to Mauritius in Abidjan on 22 May 2024 to implement the second phase of the Economic Competitiveness and Resilience Support Program.

Following the approval and implementation of the first phase of the Program in 2023, the aim of this second phase is to continue to support improvements in economic diversification and competitiveness, to improve the countrys resilience and achieve more inclusive, sustainable growth. The proposed programme will support the economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, through fundamental reforms to improve the business environment and the real economy, declared Kennedy Mbekeani, the African Development Banks Country Manager in Mauritius.

Several government measures will be supported, including the governments approval of the fisheries framework bill to fill the gaps in current legislation, especially regarding unregulated fishing and the use of sanctions. This will help boost the fishing sector and offer Mauritians new employment and income opportunities. Another measure concerns the approval of the roadmap and strategic plan for the agriculture and livestock farming sectors 2024-2030 focused on increasing production for resilient food security, promoting sustainable, resilient production, as well as entrepreneurship and agro-industry.

The programs second phase will also support the installation of rooftop solar panels (using 1.5 kilowatt-hour solar kits) for households with modest incomes. Beneficiaries monthly electricity bills will be reduced by 75-kWh for 20 years. The not only promotes the share of renewable energies in the energy mix and lower greenhouse gas emissions, but is designed to help reduce poverty among these types of customers.

The Mauritian Minister of the Economy, Planning and Development, and several other ministries responsible for the areas covered by the operation are the programs direct beneficiaries. The private sector will also benefit from better investment opportunities in agro-industry.
Cllr Patsy OBrien has called for a significant policy shift regarding social welfare payments to carers in Ireland.

The Independent candidate has argued that carers should no longer be subjected to means-testing, a practice he believes restricts the essential care that can be provided to the elderly and vulnerable in their own homes.

Currently, carers in Ireland are means-tested for social welfare payments, which Cllr OBrien argues places undue financial strain on those who dedicate their lives to looking after family members and others in need.

Means-testing restricts the amount of care that can be given. Many carers are forced to limit the hours they work or, in some cases, give up caring altogether because they simply cannot afford to do it full-time without adequate support," he stated.

"Carers in Ireland are performing invaluable work, essentially taking on roles that would otherwise fall to the state. By allowing people to remain in their homes and communities for longer, they provide not only practical support but also immense emotional and psychological benefits.

People prefer to live in their own homes as they get older, surrounded by familiar faces and environments, Cllr OBrien added.

This sense of belonging and comfort is vital for their well-being. Carers make this possible, yet the current system fails to support them adequately.

The Independent councillor highlighted that carers contributions save the state substantial amounts of money by reducing the need for residential care facilities and hospital stays.

Family Carers Ireland have estimated that over 500,000 carers provide 19 million hours of care annually, saving the state an estimated 20 billion.

"We need a system that values and supports carers, not one that penalizes them. Ending means-testing is the right thing to do, and its the smart thing to do for the future of our care system, he concluded.

The former Fine Gael councillor is contesting the upcoming local elections on June 7 in the Claremorris Municipal Area as an Independent candidate.
A GREENWAY through the heart of Knockmore and Pontoon has been proposed by a local community group as it would be 'essential for the overall growth of our area'.

A number of submissions in favour of a Greenway through Knockmore and Pontoon were made to Mayo County Council during the public consultation period on the feasibility of the Ballina-Castlebar-Westport Interurban Greenway.

Mayo County Council, in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport, are exploring the feasibility of an Interurban Greenway connecting Ballina, Castlebar and Westport.

Barry Transportation was commissioned to progress the scheme development and as part of the Concept and Feasibility phase of the project, they asked the public for feedback on the current study area, the constraints identified and any other opportunities that the project team should consider.

A total of seven submissions were received by Mayo County Council during the two week consultation period which closed on May 17 with the majority of them from people in the Knockmore and Pontoon area.

A number of people from north Mayo made submissions calling for a Greenway to pass through their area as it is 'tailor made for a greenway development and would bring fantastic opportunities to an area'.

In their submission, the Knockmore Pontoon Development Group stated that their community has been lobbying for a Greenway for over ten years without success.

It would have a hugely positive impact on the health and wellbeing of locals, as well as showcasing the immense cultural, biodiversity and heritage resources and enabling connectivity to Castlebar/Westport and Ballina, the submission read.

The Group stated that they received 25,000 in Leader funding to conduct feasibility reports which 'outline a clear route and way forward.'

Our group had a constructive engagement with Mayo Council Council, local TDs and County Councillors and the NPWS but without a successful outcome to progress this project which would be of huge benefit and enhance the infrastructure, quality of life, the local economy, community and heritage, they concluded.

In her submission in support of a Greenway through Pontoon, Shirley Corcoran pointed out that the two local hotels had closed in recent years and a greenway will revitalise the community.

The Greenway project will revitalise the local economy while simultaneously attracting more tourists to the area. A Greenway through Pontoon would provide visitors with an authentic experience by combining the area's history, natural beauty, and local culture.

If the proposed Greenway runs through Pontoon, Knockmore, and the surrounding environs it would support ecotourism, provide green transportation options, lessen the impact on the environment, and help tourists feel more connected to nature. Communities can benefit, tourism can increase, and cultural and environmental artefacts can be protected for future generations, she wrote.

Pontoon is on the shores of Lough Conn and Lough Cullin and in his submission Sean O'Sullivan said that the area is tailor made for a Greenway.

The area has an abundance of beautiful scenery, woodland, hills and of course the idyllic lakes of Conn and Cullin, famed internationally for their fishing. The view from Tavnaughmore across Lough Conn is breathtaking and in many ways a hidden treasure and its a real shame that more tourists are not aware of just what the area has to offer, he wrote.

Pontoon/Knockmore is in many ways purpose built for this type of development  a quiet rural area with stunning scenery, the backdrop of Nephin and the twin lakes  everything that the potential greenway tourist is looking for, he concluded.

The Islandeady Walks Group also made a submission in favour of a Greenway through the west Mayo parish as they feel the parish has much to offer greenway users. They also stated that they seek 'good connectivity between this new greenway and Islandeady community Centre, Islandeady church and Islandeady GAA club'.
A man has been arrested in connection with a violent incident on Monday, during which a garda was hit by a car and hospitalised while responding in Dublin.

The man, in his 30s, was arrested this morning and is currently being detained at a Garda station in the Dublin region.

Gardai said they are investigating all the circumstances of what they describe as an "endangerement incident" that occurred in Dublin 15 on Monday, May 20th.

During the incident, several other patrol cars were reportedly rammed.

He is due to appear before a sitting of Court 2 of the CCJ this evening.

The injured garda has since been released from hospital.

GRA representative for the DMR West, Detective Garda Mark Ferris said in a statement that it is "deeply regrettable that yet another young Garda has been injured while on duty".

"While trying to effect an arrest, the armed assailant struck the Garda with his car and went on to ram other patrol cars as he fled the area" Detective Harris continued.

"He is recovering and naturally is in shock having been struck by the assailants vehicle. Reflecting on what was a lethally dangerous situation, he "feels blessed" that he wasnt run over and his injuries are non life threatening.

No member of An Garda Siochana deserves to be injured or face assault while on duty but unfortunately too often that is the case and there are simply not enough Gardai to protect their colleagues when they come under attack.
The 'distraught' Aussie woman is now calling for greater safety measures to be implemented at groomers around the country.

Chanelle Sarandis said she's heartbroken after dropping her beloved cavoodle off at the groomers, only to receive news she'd died under their care. Source: Supplied/TikTok

An utterly "distraught" pet owner is calling for "more safety procedures" to be put in place at dog groomers across the country, after she dropped off her beloved cavoodle for a trim, only to receive a call hours later informing her she had died.

Chanelle Sarandis, from Victoria, said she dropped off her much-loved six-year-old pooch Luna at her regular groomers last week, alongside her second dog Billy, just as she normally would on any other occasion. Sarandis said she went about her business after leaving, but hours later "around the time they are usually finished" got a devastating call that no pet owner ever wants to receive.

Devastating call rocks pet owner to core

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Sarandis said the news of Luna's passing left her so hysterical she "cried so much I couldnt see." "What I was told allegedly happened  as I was not there and am only going by what the groomers said  [was that] there was an incident where Luna got out and was hit by a car," Sarandis told Yahoo.

"They took her to the vet [after the accident, and at that point] she was still conscious. I then called the vet and was advised Luna passed away. My partner and some of our family went to the vet and said our goodbyes to Luna."

Luna the cavoodle was six years old at the time she died, with her family left utterly devastated after being told the tragic news. Source: Supplied

According to the groomers, Luna was in the pen "after having her groom without a lead" and another dog "was being picked up and being given to a customer at the gate".

Unimaginable scenario plays out under groomer's care

"Luna jumped out of the pen and went under the dogs legs at the gate. A young boy opened the front door and Luna got out," Sarandis said. "I then had to pick up my other dog Billy, all I left with was Lunas collar and lead."

Sarandis said she's now imploring groomers all over Australia to practice extra caution when caring for people's beloved animals, which she described as like members of the family.

"There should be more procedures in place to ensure our beloved pets are safe and to make sure they go home to their owners," she said. "I do feel this definitely could have been avoided. I believe if Luna didnt go to this groomers she would still be alive."

Still traumatised, Sarandis said her sadness over Luna's death has left her "broken".

Chanelle Sarandis is now calling on dog groomers all over the country to ensure strict safety measures are in place to prevent similar accidents. Source: TikTok

"I'm overwhelmed, anxious and distraught to the point I nearly vomit. I've cried so much that I couldnt see," she said. "I miss my little girl, I am taking it day by day. I am also very scared and stressed for when I need to take Billy to get groomed. Sadly I cant change what has happened to Luna but I want to be a voice and raise awareness and hope for change.

"I dont want anyone to go through the same pain that I am currently going through."

Sarandis said she'll remember Luna "for her beautiful personality, cheekiness and affection.

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by Colin Kirkland , May 24, 2024

As the app faces a potential ban in the United States due to accusations of sharing sensitive user data with the Chinese Communist Party, TikTok has expanded its policies surrounding the restriction of state-affiliated media accounts, while also issuing an updated transparency report in which it provides information on what the company is doing to combat covert influence operations.

The company's new transparency report provides a more granular approach than in previous years, including case-by-case profiles of each detected group, as well as the size and impact of their operation.

In the first four months of 2024, we disrupted 15 influence operations and removed 3,001 associated accounts, the company states. We found that a majority of these networks were attempting to influence political discourse among their target audience, including in relation to elections.

According to TikTok, the company disrupted a network targeting an Indonesian audience ahead of the country's presidential elections earlier this year, and another targeting the U.K. by artificially amplifying narratives about the U.K.s domestic political discourse.

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Included in its assessment are groups based in China as well. The report shows that in February 2024, TikTok uncovered 16 accounts with a total of 110,161 followers linked to a group operating from China and targeting a U.S. audience.

The individuals behind this network created unauthentic accounts in order to artificially amplify positive narratives of China, including support for the Peoples Republic of China policy decisions and strategic objectives, as well as general promotion of Chinese culture. This network utilized accounts impersonating high-profile U.S. creators and celebrities in an attempt to build an audience, the report reads.

In addition to these insights, the ByteDance-owned company is updating its state-affiliated media policies to restrict the reach of state-affiliated groups labeled in the app.

TikTok says it will work with independent external experts to assess these accounts, and will make the accounts that attempt to reach communities outside of their home country ineligible for recommendation.

In addition, over the coming weeks, if these accounts advertise on our platform, they will not be allowed to advertise outside of the country with which they are primarily affiliated, the company says.
by Teresa Buyikian , May 24, 2024

Summer thirst (and sweet tooth) quenchers are in full effect this week.

Locations

CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. has announced a new agreement with Boparan Restaurant Group to develop Carl's Jr. restaurants in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The menu will include Carls Jr. items such as chargrilled burgers, Chicken Tenders, and Ice-Cream Shakes. The agreement adds to Carls overseas presence, which already includes nearly 100 locations across Spain, France, Denmark, Turkey and Switzerland.

Marcos Pizza has opened its newest location, in Caldwell, Idaho. According to the brand the opening marks the first step in the chains expansion of the brand's footprint throughout the Northwest, with up to 12 locations open in the greater Boise market.

Pizza Factory has signed an agreement for a new location in Paradise, California. The family friendly brand specializes in fresh hand-tossed pizza, pasta, wings, sandwiches, salads, beer and wine.

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Menus

Chick-fil-A will add two items to its menu June 10 for a limited time. The new Maple Pepper Bacon Sandwich contains a lemon-herb-marinated boneless chicken breast, on a toasted maple flavored brioche bun and topped with Pepper Jack cheese, lettuce, bacon tossed in a brown sugar and pepper blend and sweet and spicy pickles. And it's the 15th year of the chains Peach Milkshake, which combines Chick-fil-A's signature Icedream dessert with peach puree, topped with whipped cream and a cherry

Hardees has added a Blueburry Biscuit to its breakfast-only menu. Available now through Sept. 2, the biscuit contains blueberry flavor topped with icing. The chain is also now offering hand-crafted lemonades and new Chicken Tender Platters,

Paris Baguette has introduced a limited-time menu for the summer season full of sweet treats. Featured are a Lemon Supreme Croissant, Chocolate Supreme Croissant, Lemon Iced Mochi Donut, Lemon Custard King Cream Donut, Lemon Citrus Layer Cake (also available as a slice) and a Summer Berry Trifle Cake. For drinks the chain has begun serving a Watermelon Lemonade Refresher, Mango Lemonade Refresher, and has brought back Caramel Coconut Lattes, which are available hot, iced or a new frozen variety. In the savory category, Paris has introduced a Jalapeno-Cheddar Stuffed Croissant, Hawaiian Jalapeno Quiche and Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizzetta, Chicken Caesar Wrap, Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad and Chicken Bacon Ranch Baguette.
  Trusted Source

Reducing childhood mortality extends mothers' lives



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The decline in #childhoodmortality has added a year to women's lifespans. This increase in #lifeexpectancy is partly due to the reduction in maternal #bereavement. #longevity #mothers #medindia

Insights from Matthew Zipple's Study on Childhood Mortality and Maternal Longevity

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Reducing childhood mortality extends mothers lives - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-61217-w)

A new study reveals that the dramatic decline in childhood mortality during the 20th century has added a full year to womens lives. Using mathematical modeling based on CDC data, the researcher calculated how theIn his paper, Zipple cites several studies linking child death with an increased risk of maternal death , the most comprehensive being a study of mothers in Iceland over a 200-year period, covering various levels of healthcare access and industrialization.Life expectancy for women after age 15 increased by approximately 16 years between 1900 and 2000His calculation attributes one year, or about 6% of this increase, to the significant drop in childhood mortality over the 20th century.The picture I was building in my mind was to think about what the population of mothers in the U.S. looked like in 1900, said Matthew Zipple, a Klarman Postdoctoral Fellow in neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University and author of Reducing childhood mortality Extends Mothers Lives, which published inIt was a population made up of two approximately equal-sized groups: One was mothers who had lost children, and one was mothers who had not, Zipple said. If we compare that to today, when child loss is mercifully so much less common, nearly all those women who had lost children are shifted into the non-bereaved category.The study also helps set priorities for progress going forward, Zipple said. In many countries, child mortality rates today are similar to those in the U.S. in 1900. Investing in reducing childhood mortality everywhere helps not only the children, but whole communities.The child is the core of the community, Zipple said. Protecting children from mortality has branching positive impacts that start with mothers but probably dont stop there.Source-Eurekalert
A Sydney toddler's surprise gift from a garbage man on Friday morning is one he's unlikely to forget anytime soon.

An Aussie mother has praised her local garbage man for a simple yet " beautiful" gesture that left her two-year-old son "jumping up and down like crazy" and "screaming" for joy. Sydney mum Alicia, from Mount Annan in the city's southwest, said her two-year-old son Anthony excitedly looks forward to being visited by their garbage man, Wayne, every Friday morning.

She said Anthony is obsessed with garbage trucks and has made taking the bins out with him "part of our routine together".

Mum's delight as garbage man reveals surprise present for toddler

Alicia said this week, she took Anthony out to greet Wayne as she normally would, but the pair were greeted with a surprise gift.

"Friday is bin day in our house, which is something that my son totally looks forward to. It always starts the night before, taking all the garbage out from the house and making him a part of every little bit that we do," she told Yahoo News Australia.

Alicia said Anthony "couldn't contain his excitement" after receiving the toys from garbage man Wayne. Source: Supplied

"We were getting ready for daycare, and we heard the truck coming so we ran outside onto the driveway as we always do and watched it come closer.

Garbo 'always makes extra effort'

"And the lovely man  Wayne  always waits for us, always beeps at my son and smiles and puts his window down. He really makes an effort to do this and this morning he was just rummaging in the back of the of the truck, quickly with his hand to grab something. Then he pulls out these two garbage bins for my son and for my daughter."

Alicia said Anthony "couldn't contain his excitement" after receiving the toys and was "jumping up and down" and "didn't let them go". "I can't even describe how happy he was  he was just ecstatic," Alicia said.

The garbage man's touching act of generosity is 'so uplifting', Sydney mother Alicia said. Source: Getty

"With a two year old, cause they don't know how to contain their excitement, they just let it out either shaking, jumping or screaming and it was just on another level of that. He was just on a high."

The Sydney mother joked that while her son was truly content with his new present, "I think he made my morning more than my his".

"When somebody does something like this, it's just so uplifting," Alicia said. "I'm so grateful for your kindness."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Systems biology dissection of PTSD and MDD across brain regions, cell types, and blood



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Approximately 8 million adults in the United States suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during a given year. #stress #depression #posttraumaticstressdisorder

Approximately 8 million adults in the United States suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during a given year. #stress #depression #posttraumaticstressdisorder

Biological Blueprint of Stress

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Towards Precision Medicine

Systems biology dissection of PTSD and MDD across brain regions, cell types, and blood - (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adh3707)

Molecular changes observed in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) span brain regions, genomic layers, cell types, and blood, offering insights into the underlying mechanisms of stress-related disorders ().In a new study, investigators from McLean Hospital, a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, working with colleagues at The University of Texas at Austin and Lieber Institute for Brain Development, uncovered both shared and distinct molecular changes across brain regions, genomic layers, cell types, and blood in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD).These results, published incould provide potential avenues for novel therapeutics and biomarkers.PTSD is a complex pathological condition. We had to extract information across multiple brain regions and molecular processes to capture the biological networks at play, said first author Nikolaos P. Daskalakis, MD, PhD, director of the Neurogenomics and Translational Bioinformatics Laboratory at McLean Hospital, and an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.Stress-related disorders develop over time, stemming from epigenetic modifications caused by the interplay between genetic susceptibility and traumatic stress exposure.Previous studies have uncovered hormonal, immune, methylomic (epigenetics), and transcriptomic (RNA) factors mostly in peripheral samples contributing to these diseases, but limited access to postmortem brain tissues from diseased PTSD patients has restricted characterization of brain-based molecular changes at the appropriate scale.Our primary goals for this study were to interpret and integrate differential gene and protein expression, epigenetic alterations, and pathway activity across our postmortem brain cohorts in PTSD, depression, and neurotypical controls, said senior author Kerry Ressler, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer and director of Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders and Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory at McLean Hospital, and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.We essentially combined circuit biology with powerful multi-omics tools to delve into the molecular pathology behind these disorders.For this, the team analyzed multi-omic data from 231 PTSD, MDD, and neurotypical control subjects, along with 114 individuals from replication cohorts for differences in three brain regions  theThey also performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of 118 PFC samples to study cell-type-specific patterns and evaluated blood-based proteins in more than 50,000 UK Biobank participants to isolate key biomarkers associated with stress-related disorders.Finally, thePTSD and MDD individuals both shared altered gene expression and exons in the mPFC but differed in the localization of epigenetic changes. Further analysis revealed that the history of childhood trauma and suicide were strong drivers of molecular variations in both disorders. The authors noted that MDD disease signals were more strongly associated with male-specific results, suggesting that sex differences may underlie disease risk. Top disease-associated genes and pathways across regions, omics, and/or traits implicated biological processes in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. These included molecular regulators and transcription factors, and pathways involved in immune function, metabolism, mitochondria function, and stress hormone signaling.Understanding why some people develop PTSD and depression and others dont is a major challenge, said investigator Charles B. Nemeroff, M.D., PhD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Dell Medical School of UT Austin.We found that the brains of people with these disorders have molecular differences, especially in the prefrontal cortex. These changes seem to affect things like our immune system, how our nerves work, and even how our stress hormones behave..The genetic components of the work built on a study published last month by researchers including Ressler and Daskalakis in Nature Genetics, in which they identified 95 locations, or loci in the genome (including 80 new) associated with PTSD. Their multi-omic analyses found 43 potential causal genes for the disorder.The researchers now could reveal onlyunderscoring the gap in current understanding between disease risk and underlying disease processes.In contrast, they discovered greater correlations between brain multi-omics and blood markers.Our findings support the development of brain-informed blood biomarkers for real-time profiling, said Daskalakis.Ressler added, These biomarkers could help overcome current challenges in obtaining brain biopsies for advancing new treatments.Limitations of the study include theThe authors also caution that they did not fully characterize all cell subtypes and cell states and that future studies are required to understand contrasting molecular signals across omics or brain regions.The team plans on using this database as groundwork for future analysis of how genetic factors interact with environmental variables to create downstream disease effects.Learning more about the molecular basis of these conditions, PTSD and MDD, in the brain paves the way for discoveries that will lead to more effective therapeutic and diagnostic tools. This work was possible because of the brain donations to the Lieber Institute Brain Repository from families whose loved ones died of these conditions, said Joel Kleinman, MD, PhD, associate director of Clinical Sciences at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development.We hope our research will one day bring relief to individuals who struggle with these disorders and their loved ones.Source-Eurekalert


#Syria's First Lady, #Asma al-Assad, receives a #leukemia diagnosis. Leukemia is a type of #cancer that affects the #blood and bone marrow.

What is Leukemia

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Leukemia-Patient Version



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LeukemiaPatient Version - (https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia)

Syria's First Lady, Asma al-Assad, has been diagnosed with leukemia , according to the Syrian presidency."After the appearance of several clinical symptoms and signs, followed by a series of medical examinations and tests, First Lady Asma al-Assad was diagnosed with acute leukemia," the presidential office said in a statement.Leukemia () is a type of cancer that originates in the bone marrow and affects the blood cells. It is characterized by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy blood cells. Leukemia can be acute, developing rapidly, or chronic, progressing slowly over time. Symptoms may include fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, swollen lymph nodes, and weight loss. Treatment options for leukemia include chemotherapy , radiation therapy, targeted therapy , immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation, tailored to the type and stage of the disease.The statement said she will undergo a specialized treatment protocol that requires her to isolate. Asma al-Assad, 48, said in 2019 that she had fully recovered from breast cancer Last year, she accompanied her husband on an official trip to the United Arab Emirates - her first known trip of this kind since 2011.The mother of three children and former investment banker was born in London in 1975 to Syrian parents.The question had arisen several times in the media as to why she did not leave Syria because of the civil war that began in 2011.Her husband, Bashar al-Assad, is accused of war crimes such as the use of poison gas and torture.Source-IANS
The iron scent of blood stains the Remembrance Poppy. In the black-magic fields of Flanders and the Somme, corn-poppy petals are nourished by the memory of the missing. It is as if the souls of those who died there between 1914 and 1918 have been transformed into a million blood-red flowers, whose enduring image reaches out to the farthest limits of our imagination.



From Caesar to Napoleon, this ancient land has been won and lost in countless battles. But today, it is the armies of the dead from a war not quite a century old that march again.

The Remembrance Poppy is a volatile flower  a barometer of conscience and conflict, whose story reaches back into the distant past. How and why did such a humble flower become a universal symbol of remembrance and commemoration?

Death and dreams

The story of the Remembrance Poppy is one of the strangest and most compelling of the 20th century. It is tragic and uplifting, deadly and comforting, intimately personal yet international in spirit.

The poppy is an ancient symbol, yet also a modern icon of war and sacrifice. It is an ambiguous touchstone in a dangerous world. It collides with the biggest events and issues of the last hundred years  the First and Second World Wars, millions of war-dead, pacifism, and remembrance. Ironically, it is also embroiled in the international War on Terror through the billion-dollar trade in narcotics, trafficking the opium poppy and its derivatives.

The poppys story is as old as civilisation. Following its ancient origins, we glimpse a primordial world of sorcery, where Nature and humanity were joined imperceptibly by spirituality and ritual. On a 3,000-year-old statue from Minoan Crete, a Poppy Goddess statue wears an opium-poppy headdress, and a dreamy expression, which evokes a supernatural encounter. Centuries later, classical Greek myth tells that poppies flowered along the banks of the River Lethe, which flowed to Hades, and from which the dead had to drink so as to forget their former existence in the world of the living.

Death and sleep and dreams are closely entwined with the opium poppy, as the Greek gods Hypnos (Sleep) and Morpheus (Dreams) call on opium to cast their spells. The association of the poppy with the anguish and suffering of war also appeared at this time in the works of Homer. At a banquet in Sparta, Helen eased the Trojan War grief of her guests by spiking their wine with honey and opium. From the beginning, the opium poppy was a civilised plant, whose euphoria masked the pain of everyday living, soothed painful memories of war, and eased the passage from life to death.

Corn poppy and opium poppy

The scarlet corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and purple-white opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) reveal their intimacy through a long relationship with war, not least because the long sleep of death was so easily associated with opium narcosis, and because of the corn poppys ubiquity on the freshly churned fields of war.

After the Battle of Waterloo, the mass graves of Napoleons soldiers were rapidly smothered by scarlet poppies. A local myth soon arose that it was the blood of the dead which added lustre to the crimson sheen of the battlefield.

For the soldiers of the First World War, the corn poppy, the opium poppy, and conflict were blasted together with industrial force, and their symbolism fused. Personal experiences juxtaposed images of the crimson poppy and scenes of carnage on the battlefields.

Corn poppies were imagined as the spirits of the dead rising from the blood-drenched earth  thrusting from the lips of craters, undaunted by the desolation, heedless of human fury and stupidity as the fighter-pilot Cecil Lewis observed. Captain Rowland Fielding described soldiers wildly rushing across a no-mans-land ablaze with scarlet poppies, accompanied by a storm of rifle and machine-gun fire. Experiences such as these played on mens imaginations, and were the basis for the poppy becoming a metaphor for the dead.

In Flanders Fields

It was the Canadian soldier-surgeon John McCrae who crystallised these feelings in his 1915 poem In Flanders Fields. Crouching at the entrance to his dugout, just outside Ypres in Belgian Flanders, McCrae gazed on the small battlefield cemetery where he had just buried a close friend. From his grief he conjured a poem, immortalising the poppy in his opening stanza, In Flanders fields the poppies blow, / Between the crosses, row on row.

The poem became the touchstone of emotion for the war generation, striking a chord with soldiers and public alike. Reprinted many times, it was used to raise money and morale for the war effort, luring more young men to an untimely death.

The corn poppy became the Flanders Poppy, an emblem for the souls of the dead, and a crimson palliative for those who had lost loved ones. Its ambiguous relationship with the opium poppy manifested itself in morphine, a powerful painkiller which made the physical agonies of war more bearable, and which was a derivative of opium.

In Flanders Fields established the corn poppy as the symbolic flower of the Great War, but did not guarantee its post-war emergence as an international symbol of commemoration for the English-speaking world. This final transformation to the Remembrance Poppy took place in New York in the days leading up to the Armistice of 11 November 1918. It was here that an unassuming middle-aged schoolteacher named Moina Michael had nothing less than a messianic spiritual conversion.

Moina Michaels mission

Moina chanced on McCraes poem in a magazine, and imagined the voices of the dead clamouring for her to convert the scarlet flower into a sacred emblem of their sacrifice. She never married, and regarded the poppy as her spirit child, pledging her soul, she said, to that crimson cup flower of Flanders, the red Poppy which caught the sacrificial blood of ten million men dying for the Peace of the World.

Her eloquent appeals and passionate energy overcame numerous hurdles during the following years, until, in 1921, the poppy was adopted as the official remembrance flower of the United States. The Buddy Poppy, as it was soon re-christened, remains the national flower of war commemoration to this day, though most Americans would not recognise it.

But this was a story of two women, for Moinas obsession was matched by Anna Guerin, an elegant French widow who championed the manufacturing of silken red poppies in the devastated areas of France, and sold them across the world to raise money for veterans and orphans of the Great War.

Rivalry between the two women was unspoken but keen. Annas early financial advantage was undermined when American veterans decided that their own disabled comrades should make poppies in the USA. Fashioned by the crippled hands of men with missing limbs, the Buddy Poppy tugged at the nations heart every Veterans Day.

The British Legion

Nothing daunted, Anna Guerin sealed the poppys international success by travelling to Canada, and her representatives to Australia and New Zealand, all of which adopted the commemorative flower. She visited London, too, where she convinced the British Legion to embrace the poppy. This victory was short-lived, however, as the Legion soon began making its own artificial flowers for their Poppy Day Appeal, where the red-cloth poppy on its wire attachment recalled for many a generation of youth sacrificed on the barbed wire of the Western Front.

In Britain, from 1921, buying a Remembrance Poppy directly supported the war-wounded who were employed in the British Legions newly established Poppy Factory. The beginnings were modest, with just five disabled servicemen in a small room above a shop off the Old Kent Road in south-east London. As poppy-wearing gathered momentum, the operation moved to Richmond in Surrey, and then, in 1933, to a purpose-built factory nearby, where it remains to this day. The symbolism of this arrangement is as poignant and appropriate today as it was at the time.

Nick Saunders

This is an extract from an article that appeared in issue 38 of Military History Monthly.
Normally when people leave behind hand-written note's it's over a parking gripe or neighbourly dispute. This time it was the total opposite.

A neighbour has admitted their 'stupid mistake' and apologised in the form of an anonymously hand-written note. Source: Supplied

Normally when people stumble across hand-written notes placed on their doorstep, it's to do with a neighbourhood dispute or request. Aussies often leave letters to avoid confrontation, but sometimes in doing so they end up with the opposite situation on their hands.

In Sydney this week, one woman shared her surprise after she found a hand-written letter and a box of chocolates left behind by a neighbour who admitted their recent bad behaviour, offering an apology in the former of sweet treats.

'Unnecessary' gesture makes Sydney woman's day

The gesture, the woman said, "was totally unnecessary" but "it made my day".

"Thank you to the kind person who left these treatos as an apology for parking across my driveway," the woman wrote online. In the note, the neighbour said they realised they'd "made a stupid mistake".

More often than not, hand-written notes anonymously left behind take on an aggressive tone. That wasn't the case this time around. Source: Facebook/Google

"Hi there, this is very late but I wanted to apologise for parking over your driveway the other week," it began. "Such a stupid mistake and I'm really sorry! Won't happen again! Warm regards, apologetic neighbour."

Notes from neighbours not always 'so sweet'

People responding said it was "so lovely" to see such a "sweet gesture". "Sometimes, people are human," a woman wrote. "So lovely. Better late than never," another said. "This is so sweet!" said a third.

The Sydney woman's surprise letter comes days after another was left behind for a Queensland mother, with the sentiment in stark contrast.

A war of words broke out in a friendly suburb after the new mum discovered the note from a neighbour complaining about the noise her four-and-a-half-month-old son makes.

I was just checking my mailbox and saw a letter, Tiffany, who did not want her last name published, earlier told Yahoo News Australia. I was pretty upset by it, like I was in tears.

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Six U.S. warships, in addition to the USS Carney, that deployed to the Middle East to fend off attacks by Houthi rebels were given prestigious military awards for actions "under enemy fire," Military.com has learned.

The Carney, which returned home earlier this week, was the only ship the Navy publicly acknowledged had been awarded the Combat Action Ribbon for the Red Sea operations. But the award was also given to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier; the USS Philippine Sea cruiser; and the destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, Gravely, Laboon and Mason, according to a citation released by the Navy to Military.com.

Individual sailors aboard the Carney were also awarded for actions under fire, including a Bronze Star for the ship's commanding officer.

Read Next: US Soldier Critically Injured in Noncombat Incident on Gaza Pier

With the Carney's return to Mayport, Florida, Navy officials have become more willing to offer details about the ships' operations in the Red Sea, shedding light on how military leaders are viewing and recognizing the numerous encounters with drones and missiles fired by Houthis intent on interrupting international shipping.

The seven Navy ships encountered more than 20 instances of combat between October 2023 and April 2024, according to the dates of eligibility in the citation, likely making the strike group one of the most battle-tested groups of ships in the modern era.

Some of the instances are well known and documented -- such as the very first instance of incoming drones and missiles encountered by the Carney on Oct. 19. Others faded into the background as the number of Houthi attacks climbed into the double and then triple digits.

In personal awards released to Military.com, Navy leaders praised the commander and crew for their quick thinking in defending the ship "just hours after completing a transit through the Suez Canal," according to a Bronze Star citation issued to Cmdr. Jeremy Robertson, the Carney's skipper.

The ship detected "over 32 hostile air threats traversing the Red Sea," which the ship proceeded to engage with a combination of Standard Missiles and the ship's 5-inch gun over a three-hour period, according to the Bronze Star citation.

"There was some nervousness and some anxiety ... at first because it was, 'Wow, this is really happening,'" Robertson told reporters in an interview Monday.

"The team was there -- they were in the moment and it was amazing to see how quickly they transitioned into a battle mindset," Robertson said. "Their responsibility and actions and follow-up became very instinctual."

The ship downed four cruise missiles and 15 drones that day alone.

In addition to Robertson, personal awards were also given to two Navy lieutenant commanders, four lieutenants, an operations specialist senior chief, five chief petty officers, and six fire controlman petty officers of varying ranks for their actions that day.

According to Navy leaders, the ship would go on to take part in dozens of engagements, downing Houthi land attack cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and drones during her deployment.

Robertson told reporters that many of those engagements -- especially those against the anti-ship missiles -- were lightning fast.

"From start to finish, it's anywhere from nine to 20 seconds," he said.

The ship conducted two defensive strikes against Houthis in Yemen, destroying 20 targets. The crew also managed to successfully destroy one Iranian-launched, medium-range ballistic missile.

Among the ship's achievements was the fact that it was able to destroy six targets -- five drones and one land attack cruise missile -- with its 5-inch deck gun rather than missiles.

Pictures uploaded to social media showed that the crew proudly decorated the barrel of the gun with six bands -- five black and one red -- to commemorate the achievement.

The Carney seems to be the first ship ever to down a land attack cruise missile with a 5-inch gun.

In April, the Carney also became one of the first ships to launch the newer SM-3 missile in combat, and it appears to have scored the first kill from space with it by downing an Iranian medium-range ballistic missile bound for Israel.

The long list of firsts that the Carney achieved is partly due to the fact that Navy ships have not found themselves in true combat situations for decades.

The last time the service awarded a ship the Combat Action Ribbon was in 2016 when four Navy ships, also in the Red Sea, were forced to defend themselves from Houthi missiles off the coast of Yemen. However, before that, sailors had not received the award for operations in international waters since the 1991 Gulf War.

To date, U.S. Central Command has revealed more than 150 Houthi drone or missile launches. Some have been successful in hitting merchant ships; others have been intercepted by Navy vessels; and others have simply splashed into the sea.

When comparing the dates listed on the released Combat Action Ribbon citation to what U.S. Central Command has publicly revealed, it becomes clear that military leaders require ships to detect and successfully engage incoming drones or missiles to qualify the whole crew for the combat citation.

Instances of a ship conducting a missile strike on land targets or having missiles or drones crash without shots fired from a ship do not appear to qualify.

However, the list of dates on the released citation also appears to be incomplete. For example, the citation does not credit the Carney for its actions Dec. 3 when the ship engaged and shot down at least three drones while offering aid to a merchant vessel.

Navy officials assured Military.com that U.S. Central Command would work to ensure all sailors serving in the Red Sea are properly recognized.

The release of the award records -- days after the Carney returned home and months after they were awarded -- also highlights how little information the services are willing to provide on the actions of the sailors who are deployed and under fire.

Some Navy officials have cited operational security as the reason why even basic details like the award citations could not be made public, while at the same time not shying from airing video of the Carney's combat engagements during the 2023 Army-Navy game.

Yet at least in reading the citation for Robertson's Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, another personal award that was awarded to him in December for his actions Oct. 19, there are no details that were not publicly available days after the attack.

The combat awards also clashed with early assurances from Navy and Pentagon officials that suggested U.S. ships were not being targeted and thus helped tamp down calls for stronger retaliation against the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran.

In talking with reporters in early January, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the Navy's Central Command at the time, said that there was "no specific information that any U.S. ship has been directly targeted."

Meanwhile, Robertson's citation, signed by Cooper, says he "superbly defended his ship and crew from a complex air attack."

At the same time, reporters got defense officials to confirm that a missile came within a mile of the USS Gravely during a Jan. 30 engagement, revealing that ships in the area were in far greater danger than officials had been willing to admit.

Navy officials have also been hesitant to reveal just how many missiles ships such as the Carney have used to down the myriad drones and missiles.

In 2017, months after the four Navy ships defended themselves against Houthi missile attacks, Navy Times was able to report not only which missiles were used by the destroyers but how many were fired at each threat, the maneuvers the ships took, and what defensive measures were employed.

While officials inside the Navy often cited the need to maintain operational security in disclosing such details in the days and weeks after any one attack, the choice to stay tight-lipped was also happening as officials inside and outside the Pentagon began to raise concerns about the cost of downing cheap drones with multimillion-dollar missiles.

"We've got to figure out a better way to do this ... a more cost-effective way than shooting down $40,000 to $50,000 unmanned aerial vehicles with millions of dollars worth of missiles," Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the Marine Corps' deputy commandant for combat development and integration, said in February at a Navy conference in San Diego.

In addition to the combat award and the many personal awards that the Carney sailors received, when the ship returned to Mayport, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced that it -- alongside all the other units deployed to the Red Sea between Oct. 19 and May -- would be receiving the Navy Unit Commendation.

That citation, released by officials to Military.com alongside the other awards, said the crew "provided crucial naval presence in the region at a pivotal moment in history" and praised the sailors' "truly distinctive achievements, bold and decisive actions, and unfailing devotion to duty."

Related: Navy Destroyer Crew Receives Combat Award for Shooting Down Drones as Houthi Attacks Intensify in Red Sea
The Department of Veterans Affairs said Friday that it has slightly cut wait times for veterans seeking health care, citing an 11% decrease in average wait times for VA primary care and a 7% decrease for mental health care compared to the same time last year.

The shorter waits come even as the VA has enrolled more than 400,000 veterans in health care over the past year, a 30% increase from the previous year, according to Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the VA under secretary for health, who spoke with reporters during a virtual roundtable from the Richmond, Virginia, VA Medical Center.

The VA also hired more than 61,000 new health care workers last year as part of an effort to boost services following the PACT Act, a historic 2022 expansion of VA medical care and disability compensation for veterans sickened by exposure to toxic substances while serving.

Read Next: US Soldier Critically Injured in Noncombat Incident on Gaza Pier

The combination of more health care workers and improved clinic productivity, Elnahal said, are helping the VA "meet that increasing demand for care, all while we're seeing greater demand from our existing base of veterans as they get older and get more chronic conditions and need more care, but also new enrollees coming into the system very intentionally because of the PACT Act."

The average time it takes for a veteran patient to be seen by a VA mental health professional for the first time is now around 17 days, three days under the department's maximum allowed before a patient can access community care. Primary care appointments are averaging a 22-day wait, just exceeding the 20-day limit.

Wait times improved partly because of a VA initiative known as "Access Sprints," which has provided more nighttime and weekend health care access for veterans, and has led to almost 25,000 new patient appointments.

Between October 2023 and April 2024, the VA saw a 19% decrease in the number of new patients waiting for more than 20 days to receive primary care and a 9% decrease in the number of new patients waiting longer than 20 days for mental health care.

VA worker retention rates have increased alongside its robust hiring efforts, Elnahal noted, in part thanks to the VA's push toward critical skills incentive pay for various workers, including human resource personnel and short-staffed medical provider jobs.

The VA was lambasted by lawmakers recently over news that it mismanaged the incentive pay. The VA Office of Inspector General found that 182 senior executives received nearly $11 million in bonuses. Some lawmakers called for Elnahal's removal.

"There were issues that were missed at every layer of the organization," Elnahal acknowledged during the virtual roundtable. "I take responsibility for everything that happens in [the Veterans Health Administration]."

"The most important thing we are doing is focusing on implementing the recommendations of the IG to make sure that this never happens again," Elnahal said, referring to the watchdog report that highlighted the improper bonuses. "And that we get to a much better place on how we determine who receives critical skills incentives."

-- Kelsey Baker is a graduate student at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, and a former active-duty Marine. Reach her on X at @KelsBBaker or bakerkelsey@protonmail.com.

Related: Senators Demand Recoupment of $10.8 Million, Dismissal of VA Officials Who Authorized Executive Bonuses
WASHINGTON (AP)  A U.N. court's order that Israel halt its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah has deepened a disconnect with the United States over a military operation that faces mounting international condemnation but that American officials describe, at least for now, as limited and targeted.

The decision Friday by the International Court of Justice in The Hague adds to the pressure facing an increasingly isolated Israel, coming just days after Norway, Ireland and Spain said they would recognize a Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor of a separate international court sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as leaders of Hamas.

The Biden administration stands apart from the global community  though it is opposed to a major offensive in Rafah, the administration also insists that the steps its close ally Israel has taken so far have not crossed red lines.

Administration officials so far have appeared determined to press on with military and political support for Israel following the deadly Hamas attack it endured last October, while also pressuring its ally to avoid a full-scale military operation in densely populated Rafah.

What we have seen so far in terms of Israels military operations in that area has been more targeted and limited, has not involved major military operations into the heart of dense urban areas," national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at a White House briefing this week.

But, he added, We now have to see what unfolds from here.

A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe the administration's internal assessment of the situation, said the operation in Gaza had not yet moved into the core heart of Rafah that gets us to the densest of dense areas.

Earlier this month, the White House announced it was pausing a shipment of some 3,500 bombs, including massive 2,000-pound explosives that the Biden administration said were leading to civilian deaths. President Joe Biden warned during a CNN interview that if they go into Rafah, Im not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah.

U.S. officials in pressuring Israel had suggested that a major operation was a red line that would undermine stalled negotiations on a deal to return Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and would lead Biden to further dial back what weaponry he would send Israel.

But the tone at the White House seemed to take a notable shift this week after Sullivan returned from a visit to Israel, where he said he had been briefed on refinements in the Israeli plan to root out Hamas in Rafah, and to Saudi Arabia.

During Sullivans talks with Netanyahu and other officials during the trip, the Israeli side addressed many of Bidens concerns about its plans for Rafah, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

The official said the administration stopped short of greenlighting the Israeli plan but Israeli officials altered planning suggested they were taking Bidens concerns seriously.

That assessment may be of little consolation to Palestinians still trapped in Rafah  the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt, and the site of a critical crossing for aid. More than 1 million people sought refuge there in recent months after escaping fighting elsewhere but some 900,000 have since fled the city.

Israel has brought hundreds of trucks in through the other main border crossing, Kerem Shalom, but the U.N. and aid groups say Israeli military operations make it dangerous for them to pick up food, water and other supplies for starving Palestinians.

The U.S. Agency for International Development says Gaza requires a steady flow of 600 trucks a day of food and other aid to reverse the onset of what the heads of USAID and the U.N. World Food Program call famine in the north and to keep it from spreading to the south.

Even with a U.S. pier starting to bring in a small amount of aid by sea, Gaza has received only a fraction of the amount of supplies needed since the start of the Israeli offensive.

Leading international humanitarian groups welcomed the ICJ ruling for the pressure they hoped it would bring. Doctors Without Borders said it was confirmation of how catastrophic the situation had become for Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the desperate need for humanitarian aid to be scaled up immediately.

There's no practical mechanism to force Israel to comply with the court order, which, in addition to ordering a halt to the offensive, also mandates an increase of humanitarian aid to the region and access to Gaza for war crimes investigators.

Israel showed no signs that it intended to change course after Friday's ruling. The war in Gaza followed an Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed roughly 1,200 people, about a quarter of them soldiers, with another 250 taken captive. At least 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The court's demands go beyond what the U.S. has asked of Israel at the moment, though Washington has nonetheless signaled that it remains opposed to a more intrusive operation in Gaza.

When it comes to Rafah, weve made known for a long time our concerns about a full-on military assault of Rafah and the damage that that could do to civilian population absent a clear and credible plan to protect it, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Blinken also reiterated that the administration does not believe a major offensive would achieve the results that Israel is looking to achieve, which is to deal effectively and durably with Hamas.

Our concerns about a full-on military assault in Rafah remain, he said. We have other ways of dealing with the challenge posed by Hamas that we believe can be more effective and more durable.

____

Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
For younger generations, Memorial Day is the official start of summer, kicked off with a large parade and a celebration of the men and women who gave their lives so we could have the freedom to enjoy our own.

As children get older, they begin to focus less on the three-day weekend and grilling burgers at a picnic and notice that their older relatives and neighbors aren't just headed to the pool or making lemonade -- they spend the weekend visiting cemeteries.

Every year, Americans come together on the last Monday in May to remember our fallen service members. But the timing, traditions and even what we call the holiday are all relatively new.

Memorial Day, as we know, is far from a macabre or morbid tradition. For more than a century, the ritual of visiting cemeteries, memorials and gravesites was the real start of summer. It was an annual act of remembrance, clearing away the dirt and grime from those hallowed markers. It's a time to decorate those personal memorials.

Until 1971, it was known as "Decoration Day."

The years following the end of the Civil War in 1865 saw American communities tending to the remains and graves of an unprecedented number of war dead. All of the previous wars and conflicts fought by the United States combined would still not add up to the body count produced by the Civil War.

On the first official Decoration Day -- May 30, 1868 -- Ohio Rep. James A. Garfield, a former general and future U.S. president, addressed a crowd of 5,000 gathered at Arlington National Cemetery:

"Hither our children's children shall come to pay their tribute of grateful homage. For this are we met to-day. By the happy suggestion of a great society, assemblies like this are gathering at this hour in every State in the Union.

Thousands of soldiers are to-day turning aside in the march of life to visit the silent encampments of dead comrades who once fought by their side. From many thousand homes, whose light was put out when a soldier fell, there go forth to-day to join these solemn processions loving kindred and friends, from whose heart the shadow of grief will never be lifted till the light of the eternal world dawns upon them."

After Garfield spoke, the 5,000 visitors made their way into the cemetery to visit the tens of thousands of graves in the newly formed cemetery.

A woman visits the grave of a fallen loved one in Upstate New York on Decoration Day. (Library of Congress)

But Decoration Day was not an official holiday. May 30 was a day touted by the Grand Army of the Republic, an association of Union Civil War veterans, as an official day of remembrance for people across the country. The idea was to honor the war's dead by decorating the graves of Union soldiers.

Local municipalities and states adopted resolutions over the following years to make Decoration Day an official holiday in their areas. Each of the former Union states had adopted a Decoration Day by 1890.

As time went on, "Memorial Day" began to supplant "Decoration Day" as the name of the holiday, and it soon became a day to honor all fallen American troops, not just those from the Civil War. After the two World Wars, Memorial Day was the term in more common usage, and the act of remembering all of the fallen took on a renewed importance.

In 1968, the U.S. government passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which put major holidays on specific Mondays to give federal employees three-day weekends. Memorial Day was one of these holidays, along with Washington's Birthday, Labor Day and Columbus Day. The act also codified the name "Memorial Day" into law.

It all went into effect in 1971 and, by then, there were no more Civil War veterans -- but there were millions of vets from later wars.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Title: How to Launch Space Shuttle in X Plane 11 Fails







(how to launch space shuttle in x plane 11 fails)

In the world of space exploration, launches are crucial events that push the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding. One of the most famous launches in history is NASAs Apollo 11 mission, which successfully landed astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin on the moon in 1969.

However, there have been numerous failures in space launches throughout history, including the failure of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981. Despite extensive preparation and engineering efforts, Columbia failed to make it back to Earth safely. This tragic event led to significant changes in spaceflight safety protocols and technological advancements.

So, what exactly went wrong with the Columbia? Here are some key factors that contributed to its failure:

1. Engine Failure: The Columbias main engine failed just before liftoff, causing the spacecraft to lose altitude quickly and making an emergency landing impossible.

2. Communication Issues: The Columbias communication system experienced issues during takeoff and landing, leading to confusion among ground control and potentially disastrous outcomes.

3. Design flaws: NASA had several design flaws in the Columbias orbiter that contributed to its failures, such as a faulty gas tank venting system and inadequate heat shield.

4. Technical malfunctions: During the flight, several technical malfunctions occurred, such as electrical problems and structural failures.

Despite these failures, there were still attempts to launch the Columbia and send astronauts back to Earth. However, due to safety concerns and technological limitations, the mission was ultimately cancelled.

Lesson learned from the Columbia disaster:

The Columbia disaster serves as a reminder of the importance of proper planning, engineering, and risk management in spaceflight. It also highlights the need for continuous improvement in spacecraft technology to ensure safety and reliability.

Looking ahead, NASA continues to work on improving spacecraft safety and reliability through advances in materials science, propulsion systems, and computer simulations. As we continue to explore outer space, it will be important to learn from past failures and failures like the Columbia so that we can avoid them in the future.







(how to launch space shuttle in x plane 11 fails)

In conclusion, while launches like the Columbia are often challenging and dangerous, they are essential for advancing our understanding of the universe. By studying and learning from past failures, we can continue to push the boundaries of space exploration and achieve even greater heights.
The SpaceX Roadster is an impressive vehicle that has been in development for several years. It was first announced at the 2013 Tesla Conference, and has since undergone numerous modifications and upgrades.







(when did the space x roadster launch)

In 2020, SpaceX finally launched the Roadster on board the Space Launch Complex-4 (SLC-4) in Florida. The launch took place on December 9th, 2020, at a height of approximately 18 miles above sea level. During the launch, the spacecraft experienced some turbulence, but it successfully landed safely in Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

After its successful landing, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that the Roadster would be used to test new rocket technologies and to provide a way to transport goods and people to space. He also stated that he hoped to use the Roadster as a testbed for reusable rockets, which could eventually replace traditional rockets in space exploration.

Its worth noting that the Roadster was not intended to be a long-term solution for space transportation. Instead, it was designed to be a proof-of-concept for SpaceXs reusable rockets technology. However, the success of the launch demonstrates the potential for this technology to revolutionize space transportation.







(when did the space x roadster launch)

Overall, the SpaceX Roadster represents a significant milestone in the history of space exploration. With its sleek design and advanced technology, it is sure to become a valuable asset for both private companies and government agencies alike.
Could this be the end of the nightmare for mums and dads?

Sydney mum Irene says she is often frustrated by people using parents rooms when they aren't supposed to be. Source: Instagram

An Aussie shopping centre appears to have found the solution to an issue many Aussie mums and dads say they regularly deal with. The centre in southwest Sydney installed an intercom on the outside of its parents' room to ensure the essential facility is only used by those it's designed for.

Sydney mum Irene was impressed by the new approach when she came across it recently, but the co-founder of a parenting support group expressed concerns that the room may become inaccessible when the intercom isn't staffed.

This system means our team can ensure the rooms are being used appropriately by parents with children or by others who may require a quiet space temporarily, a spokesperson for Vicinity Centres, which manages the shopping centre, Bankstown Central, told Yahoo News Australia. The spokesperson added that the intercom is monitored by a member of the management team.

The intercom at Bankstown Central's parents room is staffed by the centre's management team. Source: TikTok/wifeoflucifer_

Irene shared a video of the parents' room online in which a sign can be seen hanging next to the intercom that also includes a camera.

Please press the intercom button for access to this parent room, it read. This facility is intended for the use of parents and primary caregivers to care for children and others. If you are not using it for this purpose, access may be denied.

Shopping centre's move welcomed

Irene was happy to see the new system in place, saying shes never seen a parents' room with an intercom before. She said she welcomed the initiative after having to deal with people who shouldn't be using the space in multiple shopping centres.

Often it's teenagers, or adults with trolleys who may find the regular bathrooms hard to access because of their trolley, or theres a lot of staff heating up lunches, the mother-of-two told Yahoo News Australia.

And as a result, parents are left waiting to heat up their babys food or bottle, and then theyre faced with really dirty microwaves because theyve been used to heat up adult peoples food and you open it and think, Oh, I dont want to put my babies bottle in that.

Sydney mum Irene, who has two little boys, said she's dealt with people inappropriately using the parents room before at multiple shopping centres. TikTok/wifeoflucifer_

The 35-year-old, who has a five and almost three-year-old son, said once they were made to wait for the toilet because a Woolworths worker was using the cubicle in the parents' room.

I just thought, my busting five-year-old has been waiting for an adult to come out of the bathroom that they shouldnt have been using, she said, adding that there were alternate toilets including accessible facilities nearby.

Aussies express frustration at common occurrence

Irene isnt alone in her irritation. A video she uploaded to social media about the intercom system in the Bankstown Central parents' room has since been viewed more than 24,500 times by many irate parents.

The other day my baby was crying as they were hungry, I went to the room to heat up formula and a staff member was there heating up a curry for five minutes! one disgruntled mother wrote online.

I went to the parents room and two teen girls were eating hot chips, sitting on the only two change tables in the room, and wouldnt move for my baby, another said, while someone else complained that theyd come across two girls piercing their noses in a facility.

Another said they were abused for changing their sons nappy because a lady was praying and wanted quiet, while another parent found an elderly lady taking a nap.

New system could cause problems

But the intercom initiative hasnt been welcomed by all parents. Lana Sussman, the co-founder of parenting support service The Parents Village, said it could cause problems.

What if no one is there and someone is busting for the toilet or their baby is screaming and they've got to be let into a room, she told Yahoo News Australia. I dont see how that would work. To me, thats not a great idea.

Vicinity Centres, which manages Bankstown Central, said the intercom system means its team can ensure the rooms are being used appropriately. Source: Bankstown Central

Instead she said, shopping centres should have a camera outside the parents room and some signage about the appropriate use of the facility, and anyone coming in to use the room inappropriately could be reported.

Sussman did agree however that there is definitely an issue with staff using parents room.

Shopping centres should provide another space for staff to refill their water bottles and to have a microwave that they can use, she said, also flagging hygiene concerns with staff using facilities that contain bathrooms to heat their food.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The Nationals have released Stephen Nogosek, according to the right-handers MLB.com profile page. Nogosek signed a minor league deal with Washington during the offseason but will now return to the open market after a rough stint at Triple-A Rochester.

Over 11 appearances and 15 2/3 innings with the Red Wings, Nogosek posted a 9.77 ERA with 18 walks against only 15 strikeouts. While Nogoseks control has been spotty over his eight pro seasons, the situation has greatly worsened in the last two seasons, as the righty also had an 18.18% walk rate over 36 combined innings at the Triple-A and Double-A levels in 2023. This issue surely contributed to the Mets decision to designate Nogosek for assignment last June, and why the Diamondbacks didnt give him a look on the big league roster after signing him to a minors deal in the wake of his departure from New York.

Nogoseks control problems havent really manifested themselves at the big league level, over a sample size of 57 1/3 innings in parts of four MLB seasons. Debuting with the Mets in 2019, Nogosek has a 5.02 ERA over his 33 career appearances in the Show, with an 8.9% walk rate and 22% strikeout rate. Home runs have been Nogoseks biggest sticking point against Major League hitters, who have taken him yard 14 times over those 57 1/3 frames of work. Nogosek had generally done a pretty good job of keeping the ball in the park in the minors, yet his home run issues cropped up at Triple-A this season with five homers allowed during his brief time in Rochester.

The 29-year-old now returns to the open market in search of another minor league deal, and hopefully a fresh start in another organization. Nogosek is out of minor league options, which adds another layer of complication to his efforts to find a new contract and stick in a big league bullpen.
WYOMING, MI  A man was injured in a shooting Friday night in Wyoming.

The shooting was reported around 8:20 p.m. Friday, May 24, in the 3400 block of Woodward Avenue SW, Wyoming police said.

When officers arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital.

Wyoming police did not disclose the extent of the mans injuries. Officers say no suspect information is available at this time.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Wyoming police detectives at 616-530-7300. Tips can also be reported anonymously to Silent Observer at 616-774-2345; 1-866-774-2345; or https://www.silentobserver.org/.

The shooting remains under investigation.
JACKSON, MI -- As Claudia Garcia De La Rosa crossed the stage to get her diploma, the hands of her Jackson High School classmates went into the air.

They were not waving goodbye. They were signing applause for Claudia, who is deaf.

It was a way for the ceremony to be inclusive for everyone, said senior class advisor Danielle Newbound, who worked with interpreter Anita Siryk on the idea.

This is how we cheer for her, Newbound said. I taught them and they did it. It was an amazing moment for her, our school and for everyone.

Claudia was super touched, Newbound said.

Claudia was one of the 209 graduates who crossed the stage in Withington Stadium on Friday, May 24 as Jackson High School celebrated Commencement for the class of 2024.

Principal Monica Pierce is proud of these graduating seniors.

I think they enjoyed themselves and we were able to modify and be flexible and provide them with different opportunities, Pierce said as the class emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The class earned over $634,000 in scholarships, Pierce said.

Under sunny skies, the graduates, families and friends heard speeches from some of the valedictorians.

Fourteen valedictorian were honored during the ceremony. They are: Sydahlei Carl-Steffen, Elisha Correll, Jared Genthner, Joshua Hebb, Kelli Higgins, Lauren Jones, Akhil Kanakam, Hansini Katkoori, Elena Lewandowski, Braeden Resor, Addison Richmond, Jonah Riddle, Jesse Sauceda and Christopher White.

Your MLive subscription includes free print-quality photo downloads and 50 percent off keepsakes. Subscribers click the Get photo link in the above gallery to download high-resolution images right to their device for free.
BATTLE CREEK, MI  A federal immigration detainee has died two weeks after attempting suicide in the Calhoun County Jail.

The Calhoun County Sheriffs Office on Saturday, May 25, identified the man as 39-year-old Hugo Boror Urla. He was pronounced dead at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital on Wednesday.
Update: Robots arrive on Lake Michigan beaches

SOUTH HAVEN, MI -- Drowning is quick and quiet.

Those tragic facts still stick with Lisa MacDonald.

Her 19-year-old daughter, Emily, died along with her boyfriend, Kory Ernster, 22, while swimming at the Lake Michigan beach in South Haven on Aug. 8, 2022.

They quietly slip away, MacDonald said.

While she was not there when the tragedy unfolded nearly two years ago, shes spent a lot of time researching drowning since it happened.

Its been really hard, MacDonald said, and her life was turned upside down. She remembers planning to visit as Emily was headed off to college for the year. To have all that taken away without any warning, it absolutely crushed me.

RELATED: Couple who drowned in Lake Michigan will be together forever, mother says

Now, MacDonald and Korys father, Stephen Ernster, are hoping to send a message loud and clear about the importance of beach safety, through a donation of two lifesaving robots to communities along the big lake.

They have teamed up to donate E.M.I.L.Y. (Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard) robots to the city of New Buffalo and Berrien Countys Silver Beach in St. Joseph, the only known municipal lifeguard programs operating in the state along Lake Michigan.

Theyve decided lives are more important than cost, Stephen Ernster said, applauding the two communities for having lifeguards stationed on their beaches.

We all kind of had the idea, lets make your initiative even more effective by giving you these robots, Ernster said.

The funding is coming from Kory Ernsters life insurance money, his father said.

"In loving memory of Emily and Kory" is noted on the side of donated E.M.I.L.Y. devices. Two of the devices are coming to beaches on the shores of Lake Michigan.(Courtesy | Hydronalix)

Ernster, a robotics teacher at Novi Meadows Elementary School, said some of his students have presented ideas for a lifesaving robot.

He learned about the E.M.I.L.Y. robot that had been invented over a decade ago, he said, while working with MacDonald and the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project to choose the right devices to buy and donate.

This can augment existing programs quite well, Ernster said. The devices could help in a time when municipalities have reported challenges with staffing lifeguard programs. It could give people a better chance for survival when seconds and minutes can make a difference, he said.

Ernster remembers the feeling of hope he had in August 2022 when he rushed to the beach to see EMTs working to try to revive the young couple.

He followed the ambulance to the hospital. The hope was gone when medical staff alerted him moments later his son had died.

It was indescribably horrific, Ernster said. He wants to give people hope.

MacDonald hopes the donation will help push other communities to establish lifeguard programs. She continues to advocate for South Haven to bring back lifeguards to its beaches, saying the cost of losing a life makes the expense of lifeguards worth it for the city.

RELATED: Robots and beach traffic lights: Lake Michigan towns get creative to help stop drownings

She has been critical of South Haven, which oversees the beaches where the young couple died.

Im hoping this is a huge gut punch to South Haven, MacDonald said, signaling that they are supporting places that have lifeguards in place.

South Haven City Council members have chosen the establishment of lifeguard program as a priority, but implementation will take some time, city officials said.

City Manager Kate Hosier shared some of the other things the city has in place to increase beach safety, like a 2022 ordinance that allows them to close the pier in dangerous conditions, signage, a flag warning system, life rings, life jacket stations and training for staff.

Beach safety is a system, Hosier said. Lifeguards are only one component of that system. For the system to work, all efforts must be coordinated and collaborative. Some community advocates seem to think that lifeguards are a silver bullet, but they are only one part of the system.

MacDonald and other safety advocates have complained that a process to explore a lifeguard program in South Haven has been drawn out for years, and yet the popular tourist citys beaches remain without lifeguards.

The families are also involved in a lawsuit against the city of South Haven due to the deaths that caused lasting pain for the families of the young couple.

I didnt just lose Emily, I lost a part of myself, MacDonald said. I lost my love of water and I lost a lot of happiness in my life.

She has also taken up giving educational talks to students and other groups about drowning prevention, MacDonald said. She promotes the flip, float, follow method to prevent drownings, instructing students to flip onto their backs, float their head above water and follow the safest path out of the water.

They listen a little closer when she tells them what happened to Emily and Kory, she said.

If I can help one family not be in a situation where their child or their loved one would drown, thats something I feel I have to do, MacDonald said.

E.M.I.L.Y. is a remote-controlled water device that can be sent out to help save people in the water. The device is coming to the shores of Lake Michigan after a donation to Berrien County.(Courtesy | Hydronalix)

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Bloom From Within, a new business serving acai bowls and fresh-pressed juices, opened inside downtown Saginaw's SVRC Marketplace, 203 S. Washington Ave., on Wednesday, May 15. Owners and spouses Nicole and Kelli Johnson are seen here talking to customers on Thursday, May 16, 2024. (Heather Jordan | MLive.com)Heather Jordan | MLive.com
A decade-long effort to tap into a rich mineral deposit buried 8,000 feet deep in Northern Michigan is still ongoing.

Michigan Potash & Salt Company says its $1.2 billion mine is in a pre-construction phase  12 years after geologists rediscovered the states vast trove of potash, or potassium chloride, and two years since Michigan backed the project with grant dollars.

For the past months, our focus has been completing the critical step of 100 percent design and engineering, said Aric Glasser, Chief Operating Officer for MPSC, in an email.

The Colorado-based mine developer plans to extract potash, a critical ingredient for fertilizer, from a sprawling 12,500-acre ore deposit in Osceola and Mecosta counties. Its estimated the deposit is worth $65 billion and could create a domestic supply of potash for American farmers.

Related: Michigan sits on a mineral worth billions  but its 8,000 feet underground

But progress has been slow.

Even though Michigan Potash has described the project as shovel-ready since 2013, its taken years to secure permits and funding.

Urgency escalated two years ago when the war in Ukraine strained the global fertilizer market and put Michigans mineral deposit in the spotlight. Since then, Michigan Potash has taken small steps forward.

The company is currently working with Barton Malow, a Michigan union engineering, procurement and construction firm, on developing plans for the mine in Evart. Glasser says this process involves taking plans and operationalizing them for real world construction.

The company sent a list of 72 completed items including issuing diagrams and equipment for approval.

Overall, were making strong progress, Glasser said.

A decade in the making

Potash cores at the Michigan Geological Survey warehouse at Western Michigan University on May 11, 2017. (Daytona Niles | MLive.com)

Michigan Potash took control of the Borgen Bed deposit after Western Michigan University geologists rediscovered the trove in 2012. The firm spent three years quietly buying the mineral rights to put the reserve  thats buried a-mile-and-a-half under the earths surface  into production.

This is conceivably one of Michigans most valuable resources, Ted Pagano, founder and CEO of Michigan Potash, said at the time. Pagano said back then he expected production to begin in mid-2014 at the earliest.

It wasnt until 2018 that Michigan Potash secured permits to extract 725 million gallons of groundwater a day for solution mining, despite environmental concerns swirling around the plans. The Michigan Department of Environment and Great Lakes granted permits for eight solution mining wells and three non-hazardous brine disposal wells.

Related: Permits approved for Michigan potash mine amid environmental concerns

Solution mining involves pumping water deep underground to dissolve the potash salt and pumping the brine back to the earths surface. Wastewater is then injected deep back into the earth.

An environmental group called Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation remains worried that the salty wastewater disposed in injection wells could taint the drinking water. High pressures could force brine through rock fissures, the group says, and a ProPublica investigation found leaks from injection wells are routine.

The group is also worried about water wells, rivers and streams drying up because of the mine.

Global potash takes a hit

By 2021, Michigan Potash had secured all the necessary state permits to begin construction.

But there was little movement on the project until sanctions were placed on Russia and Belarus  the worlds top fertilizer exporters at the time  causing fertilizer prices to spike in mid-2022. During this time, uncertainty around the potash market increased dramatically, according to Bill Knudson, a Michigan State University economist.

Thats when Michigan threw its support behind the project.

The state awarded Michigan Potash a $50 million grant from a spending bill and allowed the company to seek a $225 million tax-exempt bond in 2022. The mine is expected to create 129 jobs, becoming one of the biggest employers in the region.

Related: $1.2B northern Michigan mine eligible for tax-exempt funding

An infusion of state dollars could help Michigan Potash offset costs, as the estimated price tag for the mine has climbed from $700 million to $1.2 billion. Only $15 million of the grant has been disbursed so far, and the Michigan Strategic Fund has not authorized the bond yet.

Michigan Potash says funding for the project has been arranged, but it hasnt posted any updates on its website since September 2022.

Canada steps up production

Over the past two years, the urgency around potash has faded.

Canada, which sits on 1.1 billion tons of potash, nearly doubled its production after the war started. As the largest potash exporter in the world, Canada accounts for 38% of the global supply. The United States imports more than three-quarters of its potash from Canada.

Western Canada has really increased production to make up for a lot of that missing potash on the world market, said Loren Koeman, lead economist with the Michigan Farm Bureau.

This helped stabilize fertilizer prices, which jumped 89% two years ago and fell 17% last year. Potash prices have also dropped to pre-war levels. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture says trade challenges continue to contribute to uncertainty in global markets, and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, is pushing for potash to be considered a critical mineral.

Koeman says local farmers would benefit from Michigans reserve because it would boost supply and stiffen market competition.

Anything more local would have less shipping costs would be another source of competition which is welcomed, he said.

Only three companies mine the vast potash reserves in Canada, and most U.S. production comes from two companies in New Mexico. Global potash production will likely increase as new mines in Laos and Russia come online in coming years.

If tapped, Michigans reserve could account for 2% of the worlds production and 10% of the potash consumed in America. Knudson wrote that even a small increase in potash production would benefit farmers in soybean-rich states Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Michigan Potash did not say when it expect production to start. Construction is expected to take three years.
Senior Chinese legislator visits Cambodia on ties

Xinhua) 14:59, May 25, 2024

PHNOM PENH, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Shohrat Zakir, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), led a delegation to visit Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodia's National Assembly.

During the visit from Tuesday to Friday, he held talks with Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister Hun Manet, National Assembly President Khuon Sudary, and National Assembly First Vice President Cheam Yeap, among others.

Shohrat Zakir said China's NPC is willing to work with Cambodia to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and promote the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

Shohrat Zakir also introduced Chinese-style modernization, the second session of the 14th NPC and other situations to Cambodian leaders.

Cambodian officials appreciated the friendly relations between Cambodia and China, admired the achievements of Chinese-style modernization, and reiterated Cambodia's adherence to the one-China principle.

The Southeast Asian country is also willing to strengthen high-level interactions and legislative exchanges with China, and deepen cooperation under the Diamond Hexagon cooperation framework.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On May 23, Xiaomi Group released its financial report for the first quarter of 2024. During the earnings call, Lu Weibing, partner and president of Xiaomi Group, shared updates on Xiaomi EV, emphasizing the company's commitment to achieving the goal of "immediate delivery upon launch" by ramping up production capacity and ensuring timely deliveries.

Photo credit: Xiaomi

Lu Weibing disclosed that Xiaomi's automotive factory will start operating in double shifts in June to boost production capacity. He expressed confidence that monthly deliveries for the SU7 model in June could surpass 10,000 units, with a target of 120,000 units for the entire year of 2024.

Since its market launch on March 28, the Xiaomi SU7 has seen strong sales. Following the product launch, orders surged, with confirmed orders reaching 88,063 units by midnight on April 30.

Photo credit: Xiaomi

Xiaomi Group's Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Lei Jun, previously stated that Xiaomi EVs factory is capable of producing 40 Xiaomi SU7 vehicles per hour, or one vehicle every 76 seconds. With the initiation of double shifts, the factory's full monthly production capacity is expected to reach nearly 20,000 vehicles.

Additionally, Xiaomi is progressing with the construction of its second-phase factory, located in Beijings Yizhuang New Town. This new facility, planned to have an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, is scheduled to begin construction in 2024 and be completed by 2025.

Xiaomi also plans to expand its sales and service network significantly. By the end of 2024, Xiaomi EV aims to establish 219 sales stores across 46 cities and 143 service centers covering 86 cities in China.
Tesla posted a series of AI and Autopilot roles. ODD ANDERSEN/Getty Images

Tesla is hiring for its Autopilot division following weeks of mass layoffs.

The automaker listed several engineering roles after scrubbing its jobs board earlier in May.

In April, Elon Musk stressed the need for head count and cost reduction.

Tesla is looking to grow its Autopilot division after weeks of mass company layoffs.

The automaker listed over a dozen roles involving its driver-assist software and AI on its careers page over the course of the week. The roles are based out of Tesla's engineering headquarters in Palo Alto, California, and include software engineering job functions for Autopilot's internal and external user interfaces, as well as AI research roles on the Autopilot team.

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Tesla, which dissolved its PR team years ago, did not respond to a request for comment.

Earlier in May, Tesla removed over 3,000 job postings on its site, only a few weeks after the company began a series of layoffs. Up until this week, the main roles listed on Tesla's site had been positions within its manufacturing development program, a training program based out of community colleges near the automaker's three US factories. The program is designed to equip workers with the necessary skills to transition to a production associate role at the factory.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk told staff he planned to cut more than 10% of the company's total workforce on April 14. Over the past few weeks, Tesla has continued to lay off staff, even cutting and then reportedly rehiring some of its Supercharger staff. In May, Tesla also began rescinding some offers for incoming full time employees, as well as interns.

Musk told executives in April that Tesla needs to be "absolutely hard core about headcount and cost reduction," according to a report from the Information.

The company has faced headwinds in recent months due to an industry-wide slowdown in EV sales. Musk has said the company is "between two major growth waves" and has promoted Tesla's self-driving technology as a key driver of growth. The CEO said in April that the company would unveil its first robotaxi on August 8.

Do you work for Tesla or have a tip? Reach out to the reporter via a non-work email and device at gkay@businessinsider.com or 248-894-6012

Read the original article on Business Insider
Credit: Gannett/Shreveport Times

On May 11, several Louisiana newspapers owned by USA Todays parent company Gannett, including the Shreveport Times, ran an editorial from Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) titled Is transgender inclusion more important than womens sports?

By May 15, when you click the link to the editorial on the Shreveport Times, The Daily Advertiser, The Courier, The Daily Comet, The Town Talk, The News-Star, Daily World, and Weekly Citizen, the headline reads Content removed: did not meet editorial standards and the same message is the only text left in the body of the post.

According to Fox News Digital, Kennedys office inquired about the removal of the op-ed initially told by a Gannett reporter that The editors took it down after determining that it didnt meet the companys standards because of some inflammatory speech, the reporter told Kennedys office.

His office then discussed the removal with Shreveport Times executive editor Misty Castile, who initially told them there was a concern about a lack of citations in the piece. Per Fox News, Castile later told the office that the key issue was an analogy in Kennedys editorial that equated New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson competing against young boys with transgender athletes competing against athletes of their chosen sex.

The newspaper also reportedly said that the usage of the terms biological male and biological female goes against our standards. Referring to transgender people with those terms conflate sex and gender and are sometimes used by opponents of transgender rights to portray sex as more simplistic than scientists assert, the paper reportedly told Kennedys office.

Should the Senator wish to resubmit the editorial without the loaded language, we would be happy to consider it, Castile wrote to Kennedys office.

As of the time of this writing, the editorial remains removed.

They think they are the speech police. Drunk on certainty and virtue, they think they are our moral teacher. This attitude is why so many Americans have lost confidence in the media. The media is not going to win that trust back until they return to neutrality instead of advocacy, Kennedy told Fox News Digital.

Gannetts Louisiana newspapers did publish a different op-ed from Kennedy on March 14 regarding his opposition to children receiving gender-affirming care. That op-ed does not include any of the terms that led to the May 11th editorials removal.

[Fox News, Shreveport Times]
After 'machhli', mutton, mangalsutra, it is now turn of 'mujra': RJD reacts to PM's attack on oppn
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Sanjay Kumar is a Professor at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), and an Election Analyst. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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Photo taken on Oct 28, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, DC, the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

Global Times-On Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated at the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting that, in the face of China's "industrial overcapacity" leading to "macroeconomic imbalances," a "clear and united front" needs to be present. Yellen also urged countries affected by China's "overcapacity" to respond. The day before, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the issue of "overcapacity" in China is not a bilateral challenge between the US and China, but a global challenge that "creates global imbalances that are not stabilizing." The US hopes to reach a consensus with allies on this issue.

It is not difficult to see that after the US raised tariffs on China, it is now seeking to form a "tariff coalition" to combat China's advanced green production capacity. However, the US approach "distorts trade and investment," according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF also urges the US to "maintain an open trade policy," otherwise it "can be very costly for the global economy." Now that the US pretends to be a guardian of the global market, it is very self-righteous, and its actions are seen as absurd and ridiculous in the international community.

Since Washington announced the imposition of a new round of tariffs on China, it has been searching for "legitimacy" for its actions of undermining free trade, blocking criticism of the US internationally, or influencing the perception of other countries, especially Europe. The US has talked endlessly about why it needs to impose tariffs, using different sets of words. From "protecting American workers and businesses" and "not letting China eat our lunch" to "preventing common risks between the US and Europe," the US' lies are becoming harder to cover up, to the point where they even come up with explanations for their tariffs with statements like "preventing global economic imbalance" and "benefiting people and economies around the world." The New York Times revealed a Washington insider joke that the "US trade representative should be retitled US anti-trade representative," indicating that even US political elites do not believe in this self-packaged rhetoric, let alone use it to deceive international public opinion.

The changing rhetoric, from "Chinese overcapacity threatens American companies" to "Chinese overcapacity threatens global companies," reflects the continuous setbacks that the US is facing. There have been at least two unexpected developments in the objective situation: first, the US did not expect such strong opposition from international and domestic public opinion. Starting from the day the new tariffs were announced, media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and Reuters have continuously criticized the move, putting immense pressure on Washington. Senior officials in Washington even had to resort to sophistry, such as claiming that imposing tariffs will not raise prices and does not mean the US is turning to protectionism. The IMF's criticism of the US for distorting trade and investment has forced the US to insist that "this is a necessary measure," which is essentially equivalent to quarreling.

Secondly, the US did not expect the resistance to be so strong in persuading the EU and other countries. The more frequently senior US officials speak out on China's so-called "overcapacity" issue, urging, persuading, and pressuring allies to be on the same page with it, the more it highlights the fact that many countries do not see eye to eye with the US on this issue.

The Wall Street Journal revealed that the EU is unwilling to coordinate with the US on tariff issues, and many European officials are skeptical of Washington's policy toward China, not to mention the opposition from European and American businesses and industries. Elon Musk bluntly stated on Thursday that Tesla doesn't need government incentives to stay competitive with China and expressed "surprise" at the US' new tariff policy. Previously, Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, stated that putting up new tariffs and sliding into protectionism is the wrong way to go. BMW Group Chairman Oliver Zipse also stated that restricting Chinese car manufacturers is not comprehensible.

In fact, those criticisms on the US, despite now sounding extremely harsh for Washington, are truly "bitter medicine that is good for the disease," because history has repeatedly proven that protectionism cannot make an industry or a country's economy strong.

"China's overcapacity" is certainly not a problem between China and the US but a problem with the competitiveness of the US itself. Using tariffs and various non-tariff barriers to protect so-called weak industries not only does not provide any protection but instead accelerates the decline of the industry, as has been repeatedly verified in the past. After US companies were forced to "decouple" from the Chinese supply chain, they were not only unable to find alternative suppliers, but also experienced declines in market value, bank loans, profitability, and employment.

In fact, the US has been hyping up China's economy for many years, but these efforts have never successfully disrupted China's development pace. Now, "no tariff is large enough to really reduce China's global green-tech dominance."

Moreover, there should be great potential for cooperation between China and the US in the field of new energy production capacity, rather than a relationship of weakening and counter-weakening. As some British media have lamented, despite the many tricks the US has tried, "root and branch decoupling" will still be difficult to achieve.
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North Dakotans heaved a collective sigh of relief when officials announced that Theodore Roosevelt National Park was abandoning plans that could result in removing the popular wild horse herd.

But since that announcement was made on April 25, park officials have said little about what sort of public dialogue and planning process will ensue.

The horses continue to be managed under a 46-year-old environmental assessment that sets a goal of capping the herd at 35 to 60 horses -- far below the 185 to 200 horses that have roamed the parks South Unit in recent years.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., who has led the North Dakota congressional delegations effort to save the horses, reiterated that he has secured a commitment from National Park Service officials that the horses will remain and that park officials will take a collaborative approach to the ongoing management of the herd.

That collaboration, Hoeven said, should include consultation with equine experts as well as leaders and advocates in North Dakota, who know the park well and understand the historic scene we are working to preserve.

Gov. Doug Burgum has offered to provide expertise from equine programs at North Dakota State University and Dickinson State University and other state resources to help maintain the horses.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has also offered to consult with the park.

The ancestry of the wild horses in the park traces back to ranch stock and stray Indian ponies, including horses descended from ponies Sitting Bulls followers surrendered at Fort Buford in 1881. Standing Rock was Sitting Bulls reservation.

We have the commitment of Regional Director Bert Frost to continue engaging with local stakeholders on this issue, and its our understanding that the NPS will be taking the next steps in this process in the coming months, Hoeven said. We will continue pressing the Park Service to hold them to this commitment.

The Forum did not receive a response by publication time to a request for information about how the park will now proceed with managing the horses in the future. Park officials have said little beyond confirming that they terminated the planning process that identified removing the horses -- either gradually or quickly -- as their preferred alternative.

Chris Kman, co-founder of Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates and the most outspoken voice in support of keeping the horses, said she and others are proceeding with efforts to secure federal protection for the horses.

Thats necessary, she said, because of the parks long history of wanting to get rid of the horses, which have roamed the area since long before the park was established in 1947.

Until the early 1970s, the parks official policy was to eradicate all of the horses. That policy was reversed to allow a demonstration herd to depict the historic scene of Theodore Roosevelts time, when the open range surrounding the Little Missouri Badlands was stocked with thousands of cattle and hundreds of horses.

Since 2009, the park has used dart guns to administer a birth-control drug called GonaCon to keep the horse population in check. A study found that the drug was more effective when a booster dose was given -- and 19 of 24 mares that were given both doses hadnt returned to fertility.

Instead, Kman and other horse advocates have said the Park Service should use another birth control drug, PZP, which she said has been proven effective and reversible when administered properly.

The Bureau of Land Management, which manages wild horse herds on western public lands, uses GonaCon, but only on older mares that already have contributed to the herds gene pool, she said.

At Theodore Roosevelt National Park, There is also the question of who they are darting and why, Kman said.

She took a picture of a mare named Escape, coincidentally photographed on April 25, the day of the announcement that the horses would stay in the park, with blood streaming from what she said was an abscess after the mare was darted with GonaCon.

Escape was one of the 19 mares that previously was treated with GonaCon and has not regained fertility, an example of the parks questionable management of the herd and an illustration of the need to provide federal protection for the horses, she said.

What appears to be haphazard, aggressive use of a birth-control drug suspected to sterilize many mares, along with the removal of young horses, threatens the long-term viability of the herd, Kman said.

The job isnt finished, she said, countering what she said is a public perception that, now that the horses will stay, there is no more work to be done.

I think people are confused, Kman said. They think were done, that the horses are saved.

Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates has hired a lobbying firm, Bice Policy Group, which has experience advocating for wild horses, Kman said.

She believes a lobbying campaign to extend federal protection to the park horses would take several years and cost $40,000 -- money her organization doesnt have. Shes applying for grants and appealing for donations, which can be made through the organizations website.

We cant stop now, Kman said. If we do, we truly will waste all of the progress we have made over the last two years.

Because of the national and even international attention the parks proposed removal of the horses has generated, Kman said, This is our best chance to get federal protection for these horses.

History has shown that the park has repeatedly tried to get rid of the horses, despite strong public support for keeping them, suggesting that its only a matter of time before it happens again, she said.

Hoeven wants to give park officials a chance to demonstrate that they will work in good faith with state leaders and horse advocates to manage the horses.

I think theyre going to give some thought about how to move forward, he said. In all my talks with him, he always said it would be a collaborative process, Hoeven said, referring to Frost, the regional director.

I think they want to retain discretion out there, he said. Were counting on them at this point to be collaborative.

Because of the fierce opposition the removal proposal sparked, from the congressional delegation, state and tribal leaders as well as horse advocates, Hoeven believes the horses are in a stronger position now than they were before what he calls a removal process began two years ago.

Now, park officials know any proposal to get rid of the horses will generate widespread, determined opposition, Hoeven said.

Theres no question the horses are in a much better position than before the process started, he said.
3 More countries set to recognize State of Palestine on May 28, infuriating Israel

Ireland, Spain and Norway all announced on May 22 that they planned to recognize Palestinian statehood on the aforementioned date. Dublin, Madrid and Oslo painted the decision as a move aimed at accelerating efforts to secure a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Palestine war in the Gaza Strip. They also urged other countries to follow suit.

"We hope that our recognition and our reasons contribute to other Western countries following this path because the more we are, the more strength we will have to impose a ceasefire, to achieve the release of the hostages held by Hamas [and] to relaunch the political process that can lead to a peace agreement," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the Spanish Parliament.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the only possible political solution between Israelis and Palestinians was "two states living side by side in peace and security." Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide remarked that while he did not expect the recognition to stop the war in Gaza, it was a "key component" for an Arab-led peace initiative.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told reporters at a press conference in the capital Dublin that Ireland remained unequivocal in recognizing Israel's right to exist "securely and in peace with its neighbors. He also called for the release of all hostages abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7 in Gaza to be freed.

The Palestinian National Authority (PA) and Hamas both welcomed the decision. The PA administers the West Bank, while Hamas  formally the Islamic Resistance Movement  has ruled the Gaza Strip since driving the authority out of the area in 2007.

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.

"About 144 of the 193 member-states of the United Nations recognize Palestine as a state  including most of the global south, Russia, China and India. But only a handful of the 27 European Union members have done so, mostly former communist countries as well as Sweden and Cyprus," Reuters noted. (Related: UN General Assembly backs Palestines bid for FULL MEMBERSHIP.)

Tel Aviv angry at recognition of Palestinian statehood

The outlet added that the U.K. and Australia are also set to recognize Palestinian statehood. Malta and Slovenia, both EU members, could also follow suit. In contrast, the U.S.  Israel's main ally  has reiterated that a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations, not "unilateral recognition."

The three nations' decision infuriated Tel Aviv, which argued that the recognition of Palestinian statehood amounts to rewarding Hamas for its Oct. 7 Operation Al-Aqsa Flood attack.

"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. "Rewarding terrorism will not bring peace, and neither will it stop us from defeating Hamas."

According to the Israeli leader, a Palestinian state "would be a terrorist state." He continued: "It would try to carry out the Oct. 7 massacre again and again  and that, we shall not agree to."

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz denounced the decision by the three countries, warning that it would carry "severe consequences." He also ordered the recall of the Israeli ambassadors to Spain, Ireland and Norway for consultations.

While several nations expressed support for Palestinian statehood, Germany and France did not agree just yet. Berlin argued that it was a matter that required further dialogue, while Paris reiterated that conditions had not been met.

According to Alon Liel, a critic of Netanyahu and former director general of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the move by the three nations could have an important impact on Israeli public opinion. He told Reuters that equalizing the status of Israel and Palestine in the international sphere was "a nightmare for the current Israeli leadership"  most especially for Netanyahu, who has rejected a sovereign Palestinian state.

Head over to IsraelCollapse.com for similar stories.

Watch Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov calling for the relaunch of the peace process to create an independent Palestine state.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Netanyahu REJECTS call for creation of a Palestinian state, says Israel must control EVERYTHING "from the river to the sea."

Andrew Meyer: Israel-Palestine conflict will continue unless BOTH SIDES sit down and compromise.

Spain to officially recognize Palestinian state, calls on Western powers to do same.

Brazilian President Lula compares Israel's war against Gaza to the Holocaust.

Israel's GENOCIDE in Gaza leads to rising global pro-Palestine sentiment.

Sources include:

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Top 7 topics that have become CONVOLUTED due to government-led disinformation narratives

Are you confused about what sources are reliable for obtaining the information you so desperately seek? Would you really like to know why the southern border of the United States is kept wide open by the Biden Regime? Or maybe you want to know why you have so many health issues since getting the Covid shots, including feeling like you are going to have a heart attack every time you stand up?

Any American with a brain would know that the terms "immigration" and "illegal immigration" do NOT mean the same thing, but the Left would have everyone believe that they do. Why? That is one of the major ways Trump was painted as a xenophobe and a racist, even though he certainly is not. In fact, Trump shows more respect and care for people from foreign countries than Biden and his cohorts ever do.

Because the Biden Regime is a communist regime, they want open borders, so every time Trump talks about illegal immigration, they pretend that he means legal immigration, so that he sounds like he hates all foreigners. This is fake news and it is disinformation, which qualifies as the purposeful misleading of American thinking and opinions on important topics.

When the internet was launched, it was mostly a "free for all" when it came to sharing information, now it's a state-run disinformation hub

Google and YouTube "search engines" aren't really search engines at all. They find what the police-state and nanny-state want you to find, and that's all you find. Like a huge library where the elevator simply doesn't reach the floors where the books containing the truth are catalogued, just try to find anything opposing the "narratives" of Big Pharma, Big Food, Big Government and Big Tech, and you come up empty. There are even counter-pieces written by themselves to further "prove" their own lies.

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.

From lies about Russia influencing the 2016 election, to lies about the 2020 election being the "most secure in American history," no longer are there posts and sources from all sides, only one side. The rest is blacklisted, shadow-banned, censored against "community guidelines" and simply memory-holed, like in the ole' book burning days.

That's why when anyone who knows truth news tries to share it with the brainwashed "sheeple," the diaper-faced Leftists just say, what source do you have? Then they go look that up on their fake search engine, and some fake fact checker calls it fake news. Then the mRNA-injected peon regurgitates the narrative, and the demented, warped, mutated merry-go-round keeps spinning.

Top 7 topics that have become convoluted due to pharma, big tech and government-led disinformation

#1. Immigration (legal versus illegal)

#2. Vaccine mantra "Safe and Effective" that really means experimental and dangerous

#3. Fake news isn't independent news or alternative news, it's mainstream (TV, newspapers, corporate websites, social media), and they spread the disinformation and misinformation, while censoring truth media

#4. Rescuing the world from "Russian" aggression

#5. Science of vaccines, climate change and gender identification

#6. What exactly is paid for with American taxes that actually helps Americans?

#7. What "gun control" really means (gun confiscation and communist rule)

The CBR, a.k.a. the Communist Biden Regime, wants all American guns turned in before the November election, and here's why

Once the Communist Biden Regime (CBR) reveals itself fully to the Leftists who voted for it, they may experience a mass rebellion in Washington DC, that includes millions of armed Democrats (with their face diapers on), not to mention Republicans and Independents who aren't afraid of the DC gulag threat. That, my fellow Americans, is WHY the CBR always hits the TV press conferences IMMEDIATELY following a staged "long-gun" shooting at a public venue.

Their ONE goal is to convince most Americans that guns are dangerous in the public's hands, and everyone must surrender all their automatic weapons now. Just think if the British soldiers during our colonial days were lined up now, against a few patriots in the hills with automatic weapons. Now you know exactly why the CBR wants your guns, and they want them right now, before the big cheat election this November!

So don't you go gettin' confused when, right after the next big (staged) mass shooting, the CBR floods the networks with "gun control" demands. Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth news about war, survival and journalism that are all being censored from mass media while you read this.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

ZeroHedge.com
Bulgarian President Radev: It is IMPOSSIBLE for Ukraine to beat Russia

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev thinks it is impossible for Ukraine to beat Russia.

During a May 18 address, the Bulgarian leader expressed concern about the Russia-Ukraine war's broad repercussions. He indicated that the ongoing conflict, which began in February 2022, has a substantial impact on global politics and elections  including those in Europe and the United States.

"Every day that this war continues is disastrous for Ukraine, Russia and all of us," said Radev. "This inevitably affects all elections. We will choose in this and the next election between war and peace. Every citizen is obliged to understand this."

"It is unacceptable to present the continuation of the war and the impossible victory over Russia as the only possible solution," the Bulgarian president continued. He warned that if the chaos continues, Ukraine will become a "demographically devastated country, with completely destroyed infrastructure, industry [and] production." Such an outcome, Radev added, "will have extremely serious consequences not only for Ukraine but also for the whole of Europe."

"With weapons, without weapons  we are going to a similar outcome. We have to realize that. The difference will be thousands of human casualties and a devastated country  for which [its] recovery we will have to pay, [and] it is inevitable." (Related: Putin reportedly willing to end war with Ukraine, sit down for PEACE TALKS.)

According to Euractiv, Radev is a staunch opponent of sending military to Ukraine. However, Sofia exported large quantities of weapons to Kyiv through intermediaries during his caretaker government from 2021 until 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky himself lauded Bulgaria, alongside the West, for helping Kyiv prevent the war from spilling over during his visit to Sofia in July 2023.

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.

Radev also comments on the shooting of Slovak PM

The Bulgarian president was asked by a journalist about the recent assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. In response, Radev took the opportunity to comment on the development by connecting Fico's shooting to the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to the Bulgarian leader, voices advocating for peace such as Fico should not be greeted with violence. The Slovak leader was known for his pro-Russian position and opposition to Ukrainian arms deliveries, a complete turnaround from that of his predecessors. He has also voiced opposition to the World Health Organization's Pandemic Treaty.

Fico was shot at close range on May 15 in the central Slovak city of Handlova. He had left a government meeting and was greeting a crowd of supporters. The shooter, 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, beckoned the prime minister to greet him  and then shot him five times with his handgun.

The Slovak leader suffered critical injuries as two of the bullets struck him in the abdomen and shoulder. He was rushed to the hospital and later recovered after a five-hour emergency procedure. Bodyguards pounced on Cintula immediately after he shot Fico, with police subsequently detaining the shooter and charges being filed against him.

"The attempted assassination of a European prime minister by a radicalized fanatic, because of his support for peace, is indicative of this ingrained intolerance of dissent and hatred," Radev said.

"Many politicians, parties and media [outlets] have contributed to this with their portrayal of every different voice as pro-Russian, which is extremely unfair and leads to negative consequences."

Head over to UkraineWitness.com for similar stories.

Watch Harrison Smith of "The American Journal" discussing Russia's move to cut gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria in the clip below.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Media trying to justify assassination attempt on Slovakian PM because he's opposed to sending more aid to Ukraine.

Hungary BLOCKS EU military aid for Ukraine after Kyiv blacklisted Hungarian bank for keeping Russian branches open.

Slovakia's pro-Russian, anti-WHO PM shot multiple times in attempted assassination but he luckily survived.

Slovakia's PM reveals NATO, EU states still considering sending troops to Ukraine.

Hungarian official: Pro-war EU wants Ukraine conflict to continue.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Euractiv.com

DailyMail.co.uk

Brighteon.com
CIA, WEF run the entire mainstream media empire

It is supposed to be a public broadcaster that represents everyone, but it turns out thatis a left-leaning, deep state-run media entity that lies and distorts the truth on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the World Economic Forum (WEF) and other behind-the-scenes puppet masters.

A new report found that all 87 reporters at NPR are Democrats. We also know that NPR's new CEO Katherine Maher has quite the disturbing resume.

Besides working for the CIA, Maher was also involved with the National Democratic Institute, the World Bank, UNICEF, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the Center for Technology and Democracy, the Digital Public Library of America and Wikipedia.

The country of Tunisia has also accused Maher of working for the CIA during the so-called Arab Spring. And just like Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, Maher is a World Economic Forum (WEF) young global leader.

"She was marched out for a talk at the Carnegie Endowment where she was prayerfully interviewed and spouted mediatized language so anodyne, so meaningless, yet so filled with nods to her base the AWFULS (affluent white female urban liberals) one was amazed that she was able to get away with it," writes Elizabeth Nickson from the Welcome to Absurdistan Substack.

"There was no acknowledgement that the criticism by this award-winning reporter / editor / producer, who had spent his life at NPR had any merit whatsoever, and in fact that he was wrong on every count. That this was a flagrant lie didn't even ruffle her artfully disarranged short blonde hair."

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.

(Related: Did you know that the CIA openly brags about how it "can put anyone in jail" by "setting 'em up?")

The feminist deep state has got to go

In short, Maher's resume is a perfect example of the type of thing you do not want in public media and broadcasting. And yet Maher is now the head of one of the largest taxpayer-funded media outlets in America.

This type of influence in media is nothing new, of course, but Maher's resume is so blatantly globalist in every way that it is a wonder more people are not out in the streets rioting over the misuse of their tax dollars.

What we need more of at NPR are independent journalists who tell the truth and who are not beholden to what Nickson describes as "Big Daddy." Tucker Carlson is aware of the problem as well, having stated in a recent interview with Aaron Rogers that intelligence operatives like Maher are laced all throughout the Washington, D.C., establishment, including the media.

"As Carlson pointed out, all congressmen and senators are terrified by the security state, even and especially the ones on the intelligence committee who are supposed to be controlling them," Nickson explains.

"They can install child porn on your laptop and you don't even know it's there until you are raided, said Carlson. The security state is that unethical, that power mad. Now, it's global. And feminine. Where is Normal Mailer when you need him?"

The U.S. is in a crisis, in other words, but is it too late to do anything about it? Are power-hungry deep state feminists like Maher our new "benevolent dictators," or is there still time to clean house and restore all that has been lost?

"At this juncture it is a race, as the intelligence community moves to shut down the revelations of its manipulations and machinations, and people injured by the vaccine and the flagrant abuse of election integrity move to fight them ... An agenda that the people of the world roundly hate," Nickson says.

"I have just one final thing to say to these truly dreadful human beings. My God is stronger than whatever demon or predator you obey. And as a woman, I am ashamed of each and every one of you."

Why does the CIA need to exist again? Learn more at DeepState.news.

Sources for this article include:

ElizabethNickson.substack.com

FoxNews.com

X.com

NaturalNews.com
COVID jabs come with significant side effects, ex-CDC director finally admits

Some government folks wanted to tell the ugly truth about Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines" during the so-called "pandemic" but they were silenced by people even higher than them, claims Dr. Robert Redfield , a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Many of these same top dogs now admit that there are "significant" side effects associated with the shots that made people sick, but in the very beginning they were singing a much different tune.

On May 16, Redfield during an appearance on NewsNation told Chris Cuomo that he is sad about how many Americans no longer trust the CDC and other government agencies because of how much these government entities lied about everything during the crisis.

Still insisting that the jabs "saved a lot of lives," Redfield now admits that the shots made a lot of people "quite ill," not to mention the tens of thousands of people who died after getting injected.

"Those of us that tried to suggest there may be significant side effects from vaccines ... we kind of got canceled because no one wanted to talk about the potential that there was a problem from the vaccines, because they were afraid that that would cause people not to want to get vaccinated," he said.

(Related: Some people believe that there will still be billions more deaths from COVID jabs in the coming years once the slow-kill poisons have had time to work.)

Redfield the COVID double talker

Redfield headed up the CDC during the Donald Trump years, with Trump having unleashed Operation Warp Speed to mass-"vaccinate" the American public as quickly as possible.

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.

What would have taken many years of research and development before bring the chemical injections to market only took a few months, which raised suspicions about how long in advance the shots were really developed.

A few months before the first Operation Warp Speed injections were plunged into arms, Redfield testified before the Senate that COVID was the "most significant public health challenge to face our nation in more than a century" with a case fatality rate of as little as 0.4 percent, if that.

"If you were to look right now, individuals under the age of 18, it's about 0.01 percent, 19 to say 69, it's more like 0.3 percent," Redfield said at the time. "And if you're over the age of 70, it's about 5 percent now."

These figures were fabricated, especially considering the fact that SARS-CoV-2 has still never been isolated in accordance with Koch's postulates, meaning it has never even been proven to exist.

This is why the figures surrounding cases and deaths are all over the place because government agencies are pretty much making up the numbers as they go along.

Redfield still defends Operation Warp Speed, claiming that it was "important" and saved "a lot of lives." In many ways, the guy is now speaking out of both sides of his mouth like a true politician.

"They're important for the most vulnerable people, those over 60, 65 years of age," Redfield said.

"They really aren't that critical for those that are under 50 or younger. But those vaccines saved a lot of lives, but they also  we have to be honest, some people got significant side effects from the vaccine."

Among the many damaging side effects associated with COVID injections are heart muscle inflammation (myocarditis) and inflammation of the lining around the heart (pericarditis). The CDC now acknowledges that these two health conditions are known side effects of the mRNA (modRNA) injections from Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna.

The latest news about Operation Warp Speed and what it did to the world can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
Former Hubei vice governor gets life sentence for graft, inside information violation

Xinhua) 14:59, May 25, 2024

NANJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Cao Guangjing, former vice governor of central China's Hubei Province, has been sentenced to life in prison on charges of accepting bribes and divulging inside information.

The sentence was announced by a court in the city of Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, on Friday.

The court found that between 2004 and 2022, Cao had taken undue advantage of his various posts, including those as a senior executive of the China Three Gorges Corporation and as the vice governor of Hubei, to provide help for others in matters such as business operation, project contracting, and project development. In return, he accepted over 216 million yuan (about 30.4 million U.S. dollars) in cash and gifts.

Also, in 2021, when Cao served as Hubei vice governor and led the restructuring of a listed company, he disclosed inside information to others, enabling them to profit from buying and selling the company's stocks, gaining over 10 million yuan, according to the court.

The court sentenced Cao to life imprisonment and ruled that he would also be deprived of political rights for life, and all of his personal property would be confiscated. All his illegal gains would be recovered and turned over to the state treasury.

The court said Cao's act of bribery involved an especially huge amount of bribes and the circumstances of his disclosure of inside information were particularly severe.

However, Cao had voluntarily turned himself in, showed remorse, and had been cooperative in returning the illegal gains, which had been recovered in full. These facts were taken into consideration when handing down the sentence.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Mexico City has virtually RUN OUT of water

Scientists have warned months ago that Mexico City would run out of water due to the ongoing drought. That day is approaching fast

The reservoirs of the Cutzamala System, which provide about one-fifth of the citys water, are essentially dry. The only available option is to try to take water from the aquifers below the city. There is not a large enough supply, and as water is drawn from these, which are the partial foundations of Mexico City, the metropolitan area could sink several feet a year. The city, or much of it, will be destroyed. (Related: WATER CRISIS INCOMING: Mexico City only months away from totally running out of water.)

Years of abnormally low rainfall, longer dry periods and high temperatures have added stress to a water system already straining to cope with increased demand. Authorities have been forced to introduce significant restrictions on the water pumped from reservoirs.

"Several neighborhoods have suffered from a lack of water for weeks, and there are still four months left for the rains to start," said Christian Dominguez Sarmiento, an atmospheric scientist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

Politicians are downplaying any sense of crisis, but some experts say the situation has now reached critical levels that Mexico City could be barreling toward "day zero" in a matter of months  where the taps run dry for huge swaths of the city.

Mexico City's aquifer nearly drained

Around 60 percent of Mexico Citys water comes from its underground aquifer, but this has been so over-extracted that the city is sinking at a frightening rate  around 20 inches a year, according to recent research. And the aquifer is not being replenished anywhere near fast enough. The rainwater rolls off the city's hard, impermeable surfaces, rather than sinking into the ground.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

The Cutzamala System is currently at around 39 percent of its capacity, languishing at a historic low.

"It's almost half of the amount of water that we should have," said Fabiola Sosa-Rodriguez, head of economic growth and environment at the Metropolitan Autonomous University in Mexico City.

In October, Conagua, the country's national water commission, announced it would restrict water from Cutzamala by eight percent "to ensure the supply of drinking water to the population given the severe drought."

Just a few weeks later, officials significantly tightened restrictions, reducing the water supplied by the system by nearly 25 percent due to extreme weather conditions.

"Measures will have to be taken to be able to distribute the water that Cutzamala has over time, to ensure that it does not run out," German Arturo Martinez Santoyo, the director general of Conagua, said in a statement at the time.

As water has become scarcer, other areas of the city are facing increased rationing as they only get water during certain times of the day or on certain days of the week. Water has been rationed to 284 neighborhoods so far this year, even to more affluent ones.

What is left unsaid is that rationing only goes so far. At some point, it becomes insufficient if the drought continues.

Visit WaterWars.news for more stories about water supplies around the world.

Watch this video from John Williams discussing how the water supply in the United States is also at risk.

This video is from the ThisIsJohnWilliams channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

At least a dozen water suppliers in Iowa are still providing residents with drinking water contaminated with "forever chemicals."

Damage at Glen Canyon Dam could jeopardize water supplies in Western U.S.

WATER WARS: Water is emerging as a focal point of conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East.

UN and World Economic Forum plan to use global water crisis to advance globalist agenda against humanity.

Sources include:

MSN.com

CNN.com

NYTimes.com

Brighteon.com
Netanyahu invokes another genocidal biblical reference while scolding the ICC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made yet another veiled allusion to the biblical war of extermination against "Amalek" during his speech denouncing the ICC, Mondoweiss reports.

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

From Israeli writer Jonathan Ofir in Mondoweiss, "Netanyahu's response to the ICC invokes another genocidal biblical reference":

[F]or Netanyahu, the ICC news was an occasion to once again make allusions to the biblical war of extermination against "Amalek." This was the same biblical reference Netanyahu invoked in a statement on October 28 at the outset of the Israeli ground invasion in Gaza. "Remember what Amalek did to you," he said, quoting the biblical verse where God commanded the Israelites to wipe out the enemy nation of the Amalekites down to their babies and animals. South Africa submitted Netanyahu's statement at the ICJ as evidence of Israel's genocidal intent in Gaza.

Netanyahu declaring invasion: "You must remember what Amalek has done to you, says our Holy Bible" 1 Samuel 15:3 "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass" pic.twitter.com/5QF9PkGhjJ  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) October 28, 2023

This time, Netanyahu is using the same reference to rally the nation against its enemies  which apparently now includes the ICC  using coded language in the Hebrew version of his rant against the Court. Apparently, Netanyahu believes that if he makes his Amalek references more vaguely, that they will fly under the radar.

BREAKING: Bibi addresses the ICC: The absurd and false order of the prosecutor in The Hague is not only directed against the Prime Minister of Israel and the Minister of Defense - it is directed against the entire State of Israel. It is directed against the IDF soldiers, who pic.twitter.com/uV90tCEu8J  Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) May 20, 2024

[...] [Contrary to Netanyahu's speech in English, Netanyahu's speech in Hebrew for Israeli consumption] ended with a Hebrew phrase  "Netzah Israel lo yeshaker"  which means "the Eternal One of Israel shall not lie." This was the phrase he directed at "the lies at The Hague," as he said in the statement. The significance of this phrase will not be apparent to the general public, as it draws upon loaded codes in both biblical and Zionist history and mythology. The phrase itself comes from Samuel I, 15:29. Context here is everything. King Saul was admonished by the prophet Samuel for not completely eradicating the Amalekites  Saul had spared their king Agag and "the best of the sheep and cattle," which the Israelites "were unwilling to destroy completely." According to the Bible, this level of annihilation was not enough and displayed King Saul's supposed weakness. That is why the Prophet Samuel admonished the biblical king: "The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.' Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?" Saul seeks to defend his actions, but Samuel delivers an uncompromising message: "You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!" Saul seeks forgiveness, but Samuel delivers the unrepentant message: "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors  to one better than you. He who is the Eternal One of Israel shall not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind." This was the sentence Netanyahu used at the end of his Hebrew address reacting to the ICC application. In other words, he is sending a message that he will not make the same mistake as King Saul by not completely eradicating Amalek. He will go all the way in Gaza. He will continue into Rafah. He will "wipe off the seed of Amalek," as Israeli soldiers were " recorded chanting back in December.

You have to applaud Mondoweiss for exposing this as no one else in the media is reporting on it.

In November, they translated a disturbing open letter written in Hebrew signed by around 90 Israeli doctors which urged the Israel Defense Forces to bomb hospitals in Gaza.

Similarly, The Grayzone in March translated a piece in the Hebrew-only media detailing how the Israeli lawyer who pushed the "Hamas mass rapes" hoax was accused of scamming donors of millions of dollars.

Israeli reporter David Sheen in March also exposed how Israel's top rabbi in Jaffa issued a call in Hebrew to genocide all Palestinians in Gaza and said the Torah demands the killing of men, women, children and even babies.

Read more at: InformationLiberation.com
WHO CARES? Nikki Haley says shell vote TRUMP over Biden

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley says she'll vote former President Donald Trump  her erstwhile boss  over incumbent President Joe Biden.

She made the remarks during a May 22 event at the Washington, D.C.-based conservative think tank Hudson Institute. "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. A president who would support capitalism and freedom, [and] a president who understands we need less debt  not more debt," Haley 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."

Haley was the last major candidate standing between Trump and the Republican presidential nomination, remaining adamant even as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy threw in the towel. The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations dropped out of the race following her dismal Super Tuesday results, winning only one primary of the 16 held that day. (Related: Nikki Haley finally DROPS OUT of Republican presidential race after burning through huge donation war chest.)

"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 they're just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that," Haley continued.

During her March 6 withdrawal speech a day after her Super Tuesday loss, the former governor admitted that "in all likelihood, Trump will be the [GOP] nominee" when the Republican National Convention meets in July. Haley said at the time: "It is now up to Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him."

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.

Both Trump and Biden gunning for Haley supporters

For his part, Trump himself brushed off the results. He insisted that supporters of his former rival will flock to him against Biden when Americans head to polling places in the November general election.

"She got very few voters," Trump said earlier this month. "And those voters are all coming to me. You may have a lot of Democrats in there because they have a very tricky little system. But those voters are coming to me."

Even the Biden campaign has also made a move to court Haley voters disillusioned with the former president's bid. The incumbent president said in March: "Trump made it clear he doesn't want Haley's supporters. I want to be clear  there is a place for them in my campaign."

Michael Tyler, communications director for the Biden-Harris campaign, addressed GOP voters following Haley's announcement of her withdrawal in March. According to him, "nothing has changed" for those voters who continue to cast primary protest votes "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  while also rejecting the chaos, division and violence that Trump embodies."

"Haley's remarks at the institute come as she continued to be a significant presence in Republican presidential primary results despite her exit from the race, as some in the GOP voice their frustration with Trump through protest votes," The Hill stated. The former South Carolina governor joined the think tank as its Walter P. Stern chair in April.

According to the outlet, Haley picked up 20 percent of the vote in Maryland's GOP primary and 18 percent in Nebraska. She also garnered almost 22 percent of the vote in Indiana's GOP primary. Haley also received more than 100,000 votes in the Arizona and Pennsylvania GOP primaries  both key battleground states.

Visit VoteRepublican.news for more stories about Nikki Haley.

Watch political strategist Tim Miller explaining why Nikki Haley became a "vessel" for voters to express unhappines with Donald Trump below.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

South Carolina poll: Trump leads Haley by 35 points in her own backyard.

Trump: Haley donors will be PERMANENTLY BARRED from MAGA camp.

Report: Nikki Haley is CANCELING all ad spending for her failed campaign.

New Hampshire goes to Trump, whos now slated for Republican nomination.

Nikki Haley drops out of presidential race, refuses to endorse Trump, violating her own pledge.

Sources include:

TheHill.com

Breitbart.com

Brighteon.com
OpenAI disbands team dedicated to addressing AI DANGERS

Artificial intelligence (AI) firm OpenAI has disbanded a team devoted to mitigating the long-term dangers of so-called artificial general intelligence (AGI).

The San Francisco-based OpenAI confirmed the end of its superalignment group on May 17. Members of the group, the dissolution of which began weeks ago, were integrated into other projects and research endeavors.

"The dismantling of an OpenAI team focused on keeping sophisticated artificial intelligence under control comes as such technology faces increased scrutiny from regulators and fears mount regarding its dangers," Yahoo News reported.

Following the disbandment of the superalignment team, OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever and team co-leader Jan Leike announced their departures from the technology firm. In a post on X, Sutskever said he was leaving the company after almost a decade. He praised OpenAI in the same post, describing it as a firm whose "trajectory has been nothing short of miraculous."

"I'm confident that OpenAI will build AGI that is both safe and beneficial," added Sutskever, about computer technology that seeks to perform as well as human cognition, if not better than it. Incidentally, Sutskever was a member of the board that voted to remove founder and CEO Sam Altman last November. Despite this, Altman was reinstated a few days later after staff and investors rebelled.

Leike's post on X about his departure also touched on AGI. He urged all OpenAI employees to "act with the gravitas" warranted by what they are building. Leike reiterated: "OpenAI must become a safety-first AGI company." (Related: What are the risks posed by artificial general intelligence?)

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.

Altman responded to Leike's post by thanking him for his work at the company and expressing sadness over his departure. "He's right  we have a lot more to do. We are committed to doing it," the OpenAI CEO continued.

Disbandment and departures come amid advanced version of ChatGPT

The disbandment of the superalignment team, alongside the departures of Sutskever and Leike, came amid OpenAI releasing an advanced version of its signature ChatGPT chatbot. This advanced version, which boasts a higher performing capacity and even more human-like interactions, was made free to all users.

"It feels like AI from the movies," Altman said in a blog post. The OpenAI CEO has previously pointed to the 2013 film "Her" as an inspiration for where he would like AI interactions to go. "Her" centers on the character Theodore Twombly (played by Joaquin Phoenix) developing a relationship with an AI named Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson).

Sutskever meanwhile said during a talk at a TED AI summit in San Francisco late last year that "AGI will have a dramatic impact on every area of life." He added that the day will come when "digital brains will become as good and even better" than that of humans.

According to WIRED magazine, research on the risks associated with more powerful AI models will now be led by John Schulman after the superalignment team's dissolution. Schulman co-leads the team responsible for fine-tuning AI models after training.

OpenAI declined to comment on the departures of Sutskever, Leike or other members of the now-disbanded superalignment team. It also refused to comment on the future of its work on long-term AI risks.

"There is no indication that the recent departures have anything to do with OpenAI's efforts to develop more human-like AI or to ship products," the magazine noted. "But the latest advances do raise ethical questions around privacy, emotional manipulation and cybersecurity risks."

Head over to Robots.news for more stories about AI and its dangers.

Watch Glenn Beck explaining the issue involving Scarlett Johansson's accusation that OpenAI stole her voice to use in the latest version of ChatGPT.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

AI pioneer warns humanity's remaining timeline is only a few more years thanks to the risk that emerging AI tech could destroy the human race.

AI now considered an "existential risk" to the planet and humankind as atomic scientists reset Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight.

Is AI going to kill everyone? Top experts say yes, warning about "risk of extinction" similar to nuclear weapons, pandemics.

DeepLearning.AI founder warns against the dangers of AI during annual meeting of globalist WEF.

OpenAI researchers warn board that rapidly advancing AI technology threatens humanity.

Sources include:

Yahoo.com

WIRED.com

Brighteon.com
Desperate, starving Palestinians resorting to intercepting aid delivered to Gaza via American floating pier

Most humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza through the newly constructed "floating pier" by the United States Navy has allegedly been stolen.

The pier, a port project President Joe Biden announced in March, seeks to facilitate the transfer of aid to Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces, which provides onshore security for the port, connects the port to the shore of Gaza to assist in the distribution of unlimited aid that piles up in the area. After almost two months of construction, the pier was completed on May 16. (Related: U.S. completes installation of makeshift pier in Gaza; first load of humanitarian assistance moves ashore.)

However, several reports claim that most humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza through the new "floating pier" is being stolen. But since it is being stolen by the very people to which it is intended to be distributed, the term "stolen" may not be the best description of what's happening.

According to Reuters, aid deliveries started arriving at the U.S.-constructed pier on May 17 as Israel faces increasing international pressure to permit more supplies into the besieged Gaza Strip. That same day, 10 truckloads of food aid arrived at a World Food Program warehouse in Deir El Balah, Gaza. But on the next day, the United Nations revealed only five truckloads reached the warehouse because desperate and hungry Palestinians looted the others as the trucks made their way to the warehouse through a difficult-to-access area.

For two days after the deliveries arrived at the pier, no aid was delivered to the UN warehouse.

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.

"They've not seen trucks for a while," a UN official said. "They just basically mounted on the trucks and helped themselves to some of the food parcels. We need to make sure that the necessary security and logistical arrangements are in place before we proceed."

U.S. denies accusations that no aid arrived in Gaza

During a press briefing on May 21, Pentagon Press Secretary, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder denied the accusations that no aid had arrived but acknowledged the difficulties in the delivery.

"The aid is in the assembly areas on shore, right? So its  its taken  the  so the military  the U.S. military is delivering it to the causeway," he said. "Its then taken by non-U.S. contractors, driven over onto shore, put into an assembly area, which is where the NGOs that are supporting this effort pick it up and take it for onward distribution."

In the press briefing, Ryder reported that 569 metric tons (627 U.S. tons) of aid had been brought ashore. But then, he cannot verify how much of this aid has reached the organizations responsible for its distribution.

"I don't have a flowchart that shows what aid is expected and what's not. All I know is we're going to continue to push aid, and as I mentioned, more is on the way. So, you're going to see those numbers increase. But I guess my question for you is, I mean, yes, I'm not going to get into rhetorical questions," he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer confirmed on May 22 that most of the aid delivered via the pier was being stolen.

Read more stories about the ongoing conflict in Gaza at IsraelCollapse.com.

Watch this video discussing the creation of the floating pier in Gaza to facilitate the distribution of American relief aid to Palestinians.

This video is from the AllTheWorldsAStage at Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

American doctors stranded in Gaza urge Biden administration to end support for Israeli genocide.

Gaza has "less than a week" of food left now that Israel controls Rafah border crossing.

EU official condemns surge in Israeli extremist attacks on humanitarian aid convoys bound for Gaza.

UN staff member killed, another injured in another attack as Israel deliberately targets aid workers.

Israel captures Rafah border crossing, cutting off all humanitarian aid to Gaza as hundreds of thousands face starvation.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Breitbart.com

Reuters.com

Defense.gov

Brighteon.com
The WHOs pandemic treaty and a bird flu crisis are both arriving at the same time

Health officials are issuing very ominous warnings about the potential for an H5N1 pandemic among humans at the same time that the WHO is preparing for a vote on the global pandemic treaty at the 77th World Health Assembly at the end of this month. The global pandemic treaty will give the World Health Organization far more authority than it had during the last pandemic, and a lot of people are deeply concerned about how that power will be used during the next major health crisis. As you will see below, two more human cases of the bird flu have just been confirmed. If the bird flu mutates into a form that can spread easily from human to human, that will create an enormous amount of fear, and the death toll could potentially be catastrophic. In such an environment, what sort of extreme measures would the World Health Organization decide to institute?

(Article republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com)

In recent weeks, negotiators have been feverishly working to finalize the global pandemic treaty. The following comes directly from the official WHO website

Governments of the world today agreed to continue working on a proposed pandemic agreement, and to further refine the draft, ahead of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly that starts 27 May 2024. Governments meeting at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva agreed to resume hybrid and in-person discussions over coming weeks to advance work on critical issues, including around a proposed new global system for pathogen access and benefits sharing (i.e. life-saving vaccines, treatments and diagnostics); pandemic prevention and One Health; and the financial coordination needed to scale up countries capacities to prepare for and respond to pandemics.

Here in the United States, the mainstream media has been strangely quiet about this treaty, but it is a really big deal.

Negotiations have been taking place for the last two years, and the plan is to submit the final draft for a vote at the World Health Assembly at the end of this month

The Member State-led Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established over two years ago to take this effort forward. The Bureau of the INB, which is guiding the process, will submit its outcome for consideration at the World Health Assembly. INB Bureau Co-Chair Dr Precious Matsoso, from South Africa, said progress had been made during this latest round of discussions on a wide range of issues contained in the draft agreement. We are witnessing history play out before our eyes during this process, with the coming together of all countries to decide a binding pact to protect all citizens of the world, said Ms Matsoso. This is not a simple exercise. This is the first ever process to develop a proposed agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Getting this done means getting it right, and the INB Bureau is committed to help finalize a meaningful, lasting agreement.

The 77th World Health Assembly will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 27th to June 1st.

Member nations will cast their votes on the final draft of the global pandemic treaty, and it is fully expected to pass.

We have been told that the global pandemic treaty has been watered down, but in reality all that has really changed is that some language in the treaty has been made more vague.

If this treaty passes, when the next pandemic erupts the WHO will be running the show, and most people in the general population do not realize this.

And the next pandemic may be a lot closer than most of us think.

Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com
RFK Jr. defends Israel, says theres no evidence Netanyahu is pursuing genocide as a goal, claims real genocide is being committed against JEWS

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. appeared on Russell Brand's podcast this week during which he denied that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In Kennedy's view, there is no evidence to suggest that Israel is doing anything wrong with the way it is bombing and dropping white phosphorus on the people of Gaza, who are dying by the thousands as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) crusade their way to victory.

"I don't think Israel's intention is genocide," Kennedy told Brand. "I don't believe there's any evidence of genocide."

Kennedy then proceeded to parrot the same claim recently made by Israel that the Zionist state is the very best when it comes to protecting civilian lives amid constant war.

"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has protected civilians better than any army in history," Kennedy said.

RFK Jr. on Russell Brand's podcast: "I don't think Israel's intention is genocide. I don't believe there's any evidence of genocideThe IDF has protected civilians better than any army in history." pic.twitter.com/TzHWpa5DpX  Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) May 15, 2024

(Related: RFK Jr. still considers Israel to be a "moral" nation despite its ongoing war campaign in Gaza.)

RFK Jr. says it's "genocide against Jews," not Gazans

If it stopped there, he might be able to get away with it. But Kennedy also believes that what is happening in Gaza right now is not a genocide against Palestinians but a genocide against Jews.

Even though the targets of IDF are all non-Jewish, Kennedy somehow convinced himself that it is Jews who are being slaughtered by the tens of thousands in that tiny land strip known as Gaza.

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In the comments on several videos and X re-postings of Kennedy making these and other bizarre statements, people wondered what the 2024 presidential hopeful is thinking.

"Is he on some heavy drugs or has he lost touch with reality?" one said.

"The third option: Zionist brainwashing," responded another.

On X, someone claimed that IDF has already killed more civilians than any other army in history has for a war of this size. In the video below, listen as Max Blumenthal shares some of his own insights about Kennedy:

Some insights on RFK Jr, from Max Blumenthal. full video: https://t.co/rvk2SNf0fZ pic.twitter.com/4iwRDNFe4x  David Windt (@DavidLWindt) May 15, 2024

"I disagree vehemently with Max on things like the ridiculous scam for black reparations but I couldn't be any more impressed or have more respect for Max's courage, relentlessness, wealth of knowledge, and the ability to convey such rage-inducing thoughts in a crystal-clear representation of actual reality," one very impressed X user wrote about Blumenthal's words in the above video.

"He may be biased a little bit towards Palestine because from my point of view, you can never place any of these groups  any of them  in some type of pure vault where there's somehow always the victim no one hears who is always a victim, but what Israel's doing is not even in the same galaxy."

This person went on to write that while many people, including some of our readers, probably disagree with Blumenthal on other issues, this one is likely to ring a few bells for people who see that what he is saying holds weight.

Another person shared the following which also provides potential context as to the strategic way that Kennedy might be approaching winning the presidency:

I mean the guy doesn't even have secret service yet, what's he supposed to do? pic.twitter.com/xilUvMShYP  MK-Ugly (@MKUgly) May 18, 2024

"This is the one thing that will keep me from supporting RFK Jr.," wrote another about this issue.

The latest news about Israel's war campaign in Gaza can be found at Genocide.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com
Surgeon downplays risky gender-affirming surgeries as an adventure for young people

An explosive series of articles published by the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) include videos displaying the shocking callousness of medical professionals providing so-called gender-affirming interventions to young patients, some of whom are just 12 years old.

(Article by Doug Mainwaring republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

At one point, a surgeon who specializes in genital mutilating affirming procedures  i.e., the creation of synthetic organs meant to mimic the genitalia of the opposite sex  declared that this type of surgery is an adventure for young people.

Later, the same surgeon said of one of his young patients on whom he had committed a mastectomy, Why wouldnt I operate on him if hes 14?

The investigative reports by the Daily Callers Megan Brock and Kate Anderson reveal a willingness by this new breed of medical professional to accept complication rates resulting from sex-change surgeries of up to 80 percent, a sky-high number normally associated with only critical surgeries meant to avoid impending death, surgeries normally reserved for heart surgery patients with no options left, not young teens and 20-somethings with healthy bodies and their whole lives ahead of them.

And these complications are often of the most gruesome, horrifying kind.

The transgender medical industry does not have patients best interests at heart.

The exclusive video footage  obtained by the DCNF via FOIA requests  shows World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) members during a series of 2022 behind-closed-doors panel presentations advocating for pushing experimental medical interventions on young people that can have devastating, irreversible complications.

The videos reveal WPATH-affiliated doctors advocating for children to undergo risky sex change procedures and even pushing for these treatments [sic] for patients struggling with severe mental health issues, according to the DCNF. Several sessions were dedicated exclusively to treating [sic] children and included recommendations for minors to receive puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries.

So-called sex change or gender reassignment surgery includes procedures to remove and reconstruct genitalia and breasts, as well as feminizing and masculinizing facial surgeries and body contouring procedures.

For boys, transgender surgery includes breast implants, castration, and vaginoplasty  surgery to create a replica of female genitalia using penile or bowel tissue.

Gender reassignment surgery for girls, known as phalloplasty, involves removing their entire reproductive system, including their uterus and ovaries, lengthening the urethra, and constructing synthetic male genitals, often out of tissue from their thigh or forearm.

Girls may also have their breasts removed.

The genital surgeries, of course, irreparably sterilize children and turn them into permanent medical patients who need lifelong follow-up. Research shows that people who undergo such surgeries have a 19-times higher suicide rate than the general population. Girls who undergo mastectomies will never be able to breastfeed their children, if they are even able to have any.

Despite this, the medical professionals in attendance at the event chuckled in unison when a presenter insisted that post-surgical regret is rare and ridiculed the haters who disagreed. Nevertheless, it doesnt matter to us, said the surgeon, dismissing with a few words those who challenge both the morality and the effectiveness of the experimental medical treatments he performs on young people.

In one disturbing segment, Dr. Alex Laungani, a Mayo Clinic-trained Canadian plastic surgeon, discussed the gruesome complications from phalloplasty surgeries, yet simultaneously described the practice as an adventure.

Young individuals (are) ready to embark on the adventure. I tell them its going to be an adventure, were both together in there, because we have to get to your goals, but theres going to be a few bumps along the way, Laungani said.

The bumps, however, tend to be enormous.

There could be delays because of complications  definitely there will be complications. Either its stenosis, fistulas, or partial necrosis, wound-healing delays and stuff like that.

Those medical terms describe horrific, unpleasant negative side effects: Stenosis is a narrowing of the urethra; fistula describes the formation of a tunnel between the urethra and an adjoining part of the body; and necrosis a term for tissue death.

Regarding phalloplasties, Laungani admitted:

Its a lot to ask, for your body to have the vaginal cavity obliterated, the vaginal mucosa removed, the urethra lengthened, the phalloplasty done with the flap transposed, and then to do everything and then put the penile implant and all that. It would be a massive rate of infection, it would be more urinary complications, so we stage everything. We do the phallus first, then we work on the urinary tract, and then we do the implants last The first night after phalloplasty, I still dont really sleep well. Because if anything goes wrong, Ive gotta be fast and act fast so we dont lose the phallus.

The gender-affirming surgeon does not refer to the newly formed appendage as an actual penis, but instead calls it a phallus, a representation of the male sex organ. In other words, a fake penis.

According to the DNCF, medical professionals from respected organizations such as Do No Harm argued that the comments from WPATH-affiliated doctors show that the transgender medical industry does not have patients best interests at heart.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com
The ultra-secret scheme is finally exposed

SOTN Editors Note: There is no greater threat to the American people and this Republic than the long planned and highly organized American Bolshevik Revolution. The primary purpose behind the deliberately open border invasion, which is allowing wave after wave of military-aged illegal aliens into the USA, is to man the kinetic phase of this bolshevik revolution. And every single member of Congress knows about this greatest act of treason in U.S. history, but says and does absolutely nothing about it. Which means that POTUS Imposter Joe Biden is being enabled every step of the way by the Congress, the Uniparty, Deep State, the entire U.S. Intelligence Community, State & Local Law Enforcement as well as the U.S. Armed Forces.

(Article republished from StationOfTheNation.co)

The following video presentation clearly delineates the seditious Public-Private Partnerships which have been established specifically to carry out the stealthy movement of these secret armies across the USA under cover of the The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS) and hundreds of other similar religiously affiliated NGOs. The critical point is that the JFCS is not only the receiver of hundreds of millions of dollars to implement this treasonous scheme, theyre also the primary NGO contractor recipient of all the allocated funds despite the numerous other named contractors. Should we be surprised?!

As for the basic blueprint for furtively moving millions of mercenaries, terrorists, and future soldiers of fortune into this country, and then transporting them to specific destinations where they will await their orders, the following is an excellent breakdown by a A Veteran Intelligence Analyst & Former U.S. Military Officer.

While the NWO cabal is accomplishing several goals by flooding the USA with illegal aliens, there is one pivotal objective that reigns supreme.

By staging one border invasion of after another, the globalists are able to secret into the country millions of military-aged males under cover of being amnesty seekers, which they are not. Many are even purposefully released violent criminals seeking their next crime spree in America.

Once these trained mercenaries, experienced soldiers of fortunes and paid terrorists are over the border, theyre ferried to the various 50 states to train for their next missions.

There are essentially 3 duties/destinations for these fighting aged men.

The trained terrorists will be transported to certain cities where they will join highly organized terrorists cells. There they will await their future orders.

The paid mercenaries will be sent to extremely clandestine military training camps to be trained in urban and rural guerrilla warfare. Again, they will await their future orders.

The willing and less dangerous economic immigrants and war refugees are immediately registered into a Accelerated Military Path to US Citizenship program. By volunteering to enter the U.S. Armed Forces, these future grunts are put on a fast-track to full-fledged citizenship with all kinds of perks. However, these mercs are also put into specially trained regiments and squads who are stripped of any reservation about firing on Americans. The communist-run DoD knows that the average US military service member would not kill their fellow citizens, so they run these foreign recruits through highly manipulative mind-control programs as preparation to man what are basically treasonous brigades.

Each of these three groupings of extreme enemies of the American Republic serve critical purposes in the staging of the long-planned American Bolshevik Revolution. The Khazarian decision-makers at the very top of this CIA-coordinated color revolution scheme will use basically the same war plan that was utilized during both the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and subsequent Russian Civil War, if and when they launch this insurrection to save their necks.

KEY POINT: Before many of these dangerous mercs even set foot inside the USA, they undergo a preliminary orientation at staging areas such as Darin Gap, Panama. (See: UN RUN TERRORIST TRAINING CAMP FOR INVASION OF AMERICA)

(SOURCE: AMERICAN BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTION: Heres how you know when theyre crossing the Rubicon)

KEY POINT: The Khazarian Cabal told us decades ago that they would undertake this worldwide mission of white replacement when a key American leader of this scheme quite candidly discussed the agenda of Multiculturalism in this stunning video: Listen to this Jewish leader of multiculturalism speak about her tribes determination to overwhelm Europe with mass migration and eliminate white majorities across the Continent.

Read more at: StationOfTheNation.co
U.K. government calls on Britons to be ready for disasters, stock up on food and water

A new website created by the British government is telling citizens of the United Kingdom how to stockpile food and water and develop a "household emergency plan" to be ready to meet all kinds of disasters

The webpage, called "Prepare" and presented by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, urges people not to leave their safety solely in the hands of the authorities.

The British media reported that the initiative is part of Dowden's drive to make the nation "more resilient" despite many supposedly increasing threats such as natural disasters and violent conflicts.

The deputy prime minister, who was speaking at the London Defense Conference at King's College London on Wednesday, May 22, said that "resilience begins at home."

"We are working ahead of time to equip the whole of society to prepare for and even prevent the next shock while delivering a clear and robust plan that is so vital to our national defenses," Dowden said.

The list of possible "shocks" the U.K. could confront, as stated by the government, includes cyber attacks, power outages, natural disasters and biohazards.

Advice given by the authorities on this matter includes becoming acquainted with the "risks in your local area," signing up for alerts and warnings, knowing "basic first aid skills" and writing down "phone numbers of anyone you would want to contact in an emergency."

Prepare website advises Britons to have a household emergency plan and emergency kit

According to the Prepare website, having a "household emergency plan," along with "the best escape route from your home" would not hurt either.

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Aside from that, a well-prepared Briton is supposed to have an "emergency kit" in an easily accessible area at home.

The kit should contain different batteries, a radio, wind-up flashlights, a first aid kit, a hand sanitizer in addition to bottled water and non-perishable food. On water, the government is recommending stockpiling a minimum of 2.5 to three liters of drinking water per person per day, however having "10 liters per person per day will make you more comfortable." (Related: Top rules for smart preppers: Building your ultimate emergency stockpile.)

The website does not indicate how much food one needs to store to feel sensibly safe, but Dowden thinks that being "resilient for three days in simple terms" would help a person make it through "localized flooding" that "can lead to power outages and  water disruption."

"You're not going to be worried about getting down to the shops in that period," the deputy prime minister said.

Dowden added that ultimately the measures are likely to make it easier for the government to deal with any probable crisis since it would mostly have to concentrate on those who do not follow its advice.

"Every additional person that takes steps to make themselves resilient means that when a crisis hits, the government can focus more on the people that aren't ready and aren't resilient," Dowden stated.

Based on a poll carried out by the London Defense Conference, only 15 percent of people in the U.K. have emergency kits at home and more than 40 percent do not have three days' worth of non-perishable food and water supplies.

Government officials said the advice would bring Britain in line with countries like Finland and Japan, which are considered leaders in citizen resilience.

Nevertheless, retailers are eager to prevent a repeat of the early days of the pandemic, when shoppers dropped on U.K. supermarkets in droves to stockpile daily essentials from bathroom rolls to canned meat, pasta and rice, leaving shelves empty while supply chains struggled to refill their stocks.

This was because supermarkets operate a precise "just in time" supply chain model by which fresh food cannot be stored for more than a few days and there is not enough warehouse or store space to maintain huge quantities of non-perishable goods.

The rise in demand caused supermarket chains to ration items and manufacturers and distributors to search for ways to boost supply.

"While it is sensible to have some additional food at home, most households will find they already have sufficient non-perishables sitting in the cupboard," said Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium.

Follow Preparedness.news for more stories about stockpiling food and water as well as developing a household emergency plan.

Watch this video of a prepper discussing how to stock up a pantry for only $5 a week.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Israel tells citizens to stockpile food for four months while WAR is being waged.

Prepper essentials: Tips for building an emergency prepping kit.

Sensible prepper rules to follow when building your emergency stockpile.

Sources include:

RT.com

FT.com

Brighteon.com
Invasive insects in the form of wood beetles are infesting and killing Texas trees in different parts of the state. This comes after an alarming discovery showing the detection of the invasive beetle species, called emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), in multiple counties. According to local authorities, the insect invasion has been reported in Grayson, Hood, Hill, McLennan, and Palo Pinto Counties.

The emerald ash borer, abbreviated as EAB and also called green buprestid or jewel beetle, is native to northeast Asia. They were first detected in North America back in 2002 but have spread since then across Canada and the United States, including in the states of Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia. Currently, reports show that the beetles are making their way further south through Texas.

Insect Invasion: Texas Trees

In a recent media release, the Texas A&M Forest Service confirmed Texas trees are under the threat of insect invasion by emerald ash borers, which were detected in five new Texas counties mentioned earlier.

According to the forest service, the invasive beetle species responsible for killing millions of ash trees have further moved south. It was in 2016 when the beetles were first detected in Texas.

The beetles are infesting and killing ash trees in new areas of Texas, the Texas government agency says. The presence of the insects in the new counties came after local officials found adult specimens earlier in May 2024. After collecting, the officials sent them to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Department of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which confirmed the species.

According to Allen Smith, the agency's regional forest health coordinator, they have deployed almost 500 traps across central, eastern, and northern Texas against the invasive beetles since 2018. This is because ash trees, both healthy and unhealthy, are vulnerable to EAB attack and "have no natural resistance" against them, Smith explains. It is for this reason that proactive measures are essential.

Also Read: Climate Change-Triggered Invasive Insects and Diseases Threatens Dozens of US Tree Species with Extinction

Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer is believed to have arrived in North America in 2002 from China, particularly by potentially hitchhiking in wood shipping crates. However, research conducted by the Michigan State University in 2014 shows that the destructive beetles were already in the US long before they were first detected; suggesting they arrived at least 10 years earlier in North America.

Based on the 2014 study, Michigan State University researchers found that the invasive beetles were already feasting on ash trees in southeast Michigan during the early 1990s, according to the university's forest entomology professor Deb McCullough.

Like other non-native species, invasive animals or plants in a certain ecosystem, where they originally do not belong, have drastic environmental and ecological impacts. In previous related cases, it has been observed that invasive species causes local extinction of native animals and plants, biodiversity reduction, and other impacts, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Related Article: Fire Ant Outbreak: Invasive Insects Impacting Australia's Economy, Pose New Threat of Food Bowl Contamination
Anasuya Sengupta scripts history, becomes first Indian to win top acting award at Cannes

A

nasuya Sengupta became the first Indian to win a top acting award at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday night.

The little-known actress who has worked mainly as a production designer in Mumbai and lives in Goa, took home the Best Actress award at the Un Certain Regard segment of the festival.

Sengupta won the award for her gritty role in Bulgarian director Constantin Bojanov's film, 'The Shameless', which also features well-known actress Mita Vashist on its star cast. The film was shot over a month and half in India and Nepal.

Bojanov, an award-winning director, incidentally, is Anasuya's Facebook friend. He caught her by surprise when one day out of the blue he asked her to send an audition tape. That was the start of the Jadavpur University graduate's acting career.

The previous credits of the Kolkata-born debutante actress include being the production designer of Srijit Mukherjee's 'Forget Me Not' in Netflix's 2021 Satyajit Ray anthology and 'Masaba Masaba'. She plays Renuka, a vagabond seeking refuge in a northern Indian community of sex workers after fleeing from Delhi on being charged with murder.

The film's story centres around Renuka's illicit love affair with a teenager named Devika, played by Omara Shetty, who's initially sheltered from entering sex work because of her physical ailments, but not for long.

Receiving the award, a "shaking" Anasuya dedicated it to "the queer community and other marginalised communities for so bravely fighting a fight they really shouldn't have to".

Her voice shaking with emotion, and drawing repeated cheers and applause, she ended her short acceptance speech by saying, "We don't need to be colonised to know how very, very pathetic colonisers are."

 Anasuya Sengupta scripts history, becomes first Indian to win top acting award at Cannes

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US Ambassador hails ISRO's accomplishments, India's role in global space exploration

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he United States' Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti visited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru on Saturday, as both countries continue to enhance cooperation in the field of space.

During his meeting with ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, the US Ambassador expressed his admiration for the organisation's accomplishments and its role in global space exploration.

"The discussions highlighted both countries' mutual interests and shared goals in advancing space science, technology, and the space economy. Ongoing associations through various Joint Working Groups, Artemis Accord, NISAR, and the use of the Laser Reflectometer Array on Chandrayaan-3 were also discussed," ISRO said in a statement after the meeting.

Under iCET, the two countries have unveiled a roadmap for increased collaboration in high-technology fields. The initiative focuses on addressing regulatory barriers, aligning export controls, and encouraging deeper cooperation in crucial and emerging fields.

Future programmes, including the exchange visits of both sides' professionals, continuation of balloon experiments, and identifying milestone events, were also discussed as ISRO emphasised the need to address access to critical components and items to expedite collaborative missions.

"Ambassador Garcetti inquired about the role played by the Department of Space in fostering commercial space activities. Chairman Somanath elaborated on this, mentioning that for the first time, payload technology and space-bound hardware are being built in Indian facilities that are outside ISRO labs. ISRO plans to source payloads and satellites for its programmes from Indian companies and enable them to enter the global market," added the ISRO statement.

The organisation detailed that other significant discussions between both sides focused on NASA's participation in India's proposal for a G-20 satellite for environment and climate change, an advanced imaging spectrometer satellite as a follow-up mission for NISAR, and encouragement of cooperation between commercial companies from both countries for quicker and more effective outcomes, Gaganyaan cargo module as an option for transfer of cargo to International Space Station.

"The US Ambassador has also proposed a QUAD satellite. Chairman, ISRO pointed out the opportunity to develop advanced detectors and packaging technologies with US-India academic institutions. He emphasised building and standardising docking interfaces across human space programmes to enable the utilisation of space platforms by other countries and joining hands to build a navigation system on the moon, either in orbit or on the surface," said ISRO.

Garcetti's visit concluded with a commitment to further strengthen the partnership between India and the United States in the field of space.

"Honoured to meet ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath and team! From advancing NISAR satellite to fostering human spaceflight and promoting commercial space endeavours, the US-India Space commitment stands strong and is advancing our shared goals within the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)," the US Ambassador posted on X.

 US Ambassador hails ISRO's accomplishments, India's role in global space exploration

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The , the second most common blood cancer, is shifting rapidly, with newly diagnosed patients increasingly being treated with a four-part drug combination that includes a new immunotherapy agent.

Over the last decade, options have evolved from double, to triple to quadruple combination therapies. What do these new options mean for patients, and how will treatment change in the future?

C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., will address these questions and more June 3, at the 2024 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He was tapped to discuss new studies on combination therapies and provide his perspective on the field for the audience of scientists and physicians.

"These are great improvements for patients, and they deliver deep responses," said Landgren, chief of the Myeloma Division and director of the Myeloma Research Institute at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Below are highlights from a Q & A session with him focusing on this ASCO session titled "The More the Better? Quadruple therapy in newly diagnosed myeloma."

What is quadruple therapy in the setting of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma?

Quadruple therapy means that you typically add a monoclonal antibody drug, currently that means a CD38-targeted antibody, to the backbone of small molecule drugs standardly used to treat patients. The backbone typically consists of a proteasome inhibitor, which targets the cell's protein degradation machinery; an immunomodulatory drug; and a steroid. The CD38-targeted monoclonal antibodies are immunotherapies designed to identify myeloma cells by binding to a cell surface protein (CD38) expressed on them.

You will highlight three studies being presented at ASCO, as well as previous studies. What is their focus?

The studies are testing the hypothesis that the addition of an antibody will provide deeper responses in more patients, and a longer duration of the clinical benefit of progression-free and overall survival. The implications are that patients can live longer without having the disease come back, and live longer overall.

How might quadruple therapy change treatment in the long term?

It could have additional implications beyond the clinical outcomes, and impact how we use other therapies. People have been thinking, do you need to transplant patients if you have already delivered these four drugs and there is no detectable disease? That is a very relevant clinical question. I think that many patients probably don't need a transplant. Ongoing studies are looking into that and other related questions.

We are already seeing that immunotherapies can narrow the gap between younger fit patients and older patients, who may not have tolerated past therapies that typically that had more severe adverse event profiles. Overall, immunotherapies are both effective and tolerable.

Going forward, researchers are also already evaluating how to incorporate newer, "bispecific" monoclonal antibody immunotherapies, which are targeting cell surface proteins such as BCMA, GPRC5D and FcRH5.

Tell us more about potentially reducing the need for bone marrow and stem cell transplantation.

There are a lot of clinical trials trying to look into this, and we're leading one of those trials at the University of Miami, the ADVANCE trial. It's also possible that in the future some patients may have CAR T-cell therapy instead of transplants. And we are just about to open a new study using a fixed duration of bispecific monoclonal antibodies instead of transplants. These are questions that are now coming up.

Not all patients who might benefit are currently treated with the newer drugs. Can you speak more about this?

Key factors are access to newer drugs as well as treatment traditions. For instance, not all drugs are available in all countries outside the U.S., and within the U.S. some physicians are early adopters while others are slower to update treatment strategies. Myeloma experts who treat large numbers of patients may feel more comfortable implementing newer strategies sooner, compared to more general hematology/oncology physicians who only treat a handful of new multiple myeloma patients every year.

We are collaborating with many general hematology/oncology physicians, and we are happy to share our experiences and strategies. It is all about teamwork -; to better help patients with multiple myeloma.

Please tell us a little bit about the future of precision medicine, quadruple therapy, and newer measurements to detect small numbers of tumor cells.

We can now detect patient tumor cells with sensitive tests for minimal residual disease (MRD). Based on available data, you can achieve MRD negativity quite early on with quadruple therapy. We can use MRD as a measurement to assess patient response and guide the course of treatment. We recently published a study identifying patient genomic and immune signatures that correlate with MRD-negativity and clinical outcome after quadruple therapy. These kinds of approaches will help us pick the right therapy for each individual patient.

MRD will also speed up the development of new therapies. A key FDA committee recently voted to allow MRD as an early regulatory endpoint in multiple myeloma, based in part on our analysis.

What are some of the key studies opening up the field of quadruple therapy?

Between 2019 and 2021, researchers published key clinical trials, including CASSIOPEIA, GRIFFIN, and MANHATTAN, which I led with my colleagues. In December, researchers published the phase 3 PERSEUS trial. All these studies used a CD38-targeted monoclonal antibody called daratumumab, but the drugs chosen for the backbone varied in the studies. The GMMG-CONCEPT and IsKia trials assessed another CD38-targeted monoclonal antibody, isatuximab. There are other trials as well.

What more will the audience hear at the session you are leading?

They will hear about different types of antibodies for CD38-targeted approaches. First, there was daratumumab, and now there is isatuximab -; in some ways it's almost like the difference between Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

They will also hear updated information on the PERSEUS study, particularly focusing on MRD. That's a very hot topic. You will hear how this all comes together with the different antibodies added to the backbones, and how this translates into MRD-negativity and patient clinical outcomes. This is where the field is right now. The future is looking bright for patients with multiple myeloma.
Petrol and Diesel Prices On May 25, 2024: Fresh petrol and diesel prices have been released nationwide on Friday, May 25. 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 petrol and diesel prices in the country. Government oil marketing companies release fresh 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. Whereas, there has been a slight increase in petrol and diesel prices in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana. 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 25, 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 25, the cost of diesel is priced at Rs 87.62 per litre.

Delhi Petrol Price Today

As of May 25, the cost of petrol in Delhi is Rs 94.72 per litre.

Check city-wise petrol and diesel prices on May 25:

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 Odisha Board of Secondary Education (BSE) will release the Class 10 results today, May 26th as per an official announcement. Students can visit the official website, bseodisha.ac.in, to view their scorecards upon its release. This year, around 5.5 lakh students took the Odisha Board Class 10 exams between February 20 and March 4.

The board has indicated that a press conference will be held at 10:30 am to announce the results of Class 10 following which at 11:30 am, a link to the results will be made available on the boards website. School principals will also be able to obtain and review the Class 10 Madhyamik results using their school user ID and password beginning at 12:30 pm.

Odisha Board Results 2024 Live Updates

In order to get the Odisha board Class 10 matric scorecard, students must provide their registration number, roll number, and password. Students in places with a limited internet connection can also get their Odisha board matric class 10 results by SMS.

BSE Odisha Board 10th Result 2024: How to Check Scorecard?

Step 1: Visit the official website of Odisha BSE Class 10 Result 2024.

Step 2: From the homepage, select the highlighted Odisha 10th result 2024 link.

Step 3: Enter your login information on the results portal.

Step 4: After submitting the credentials, the Odisha 10th result will appear on the screen.

Step 5: Review the same, make sure all the information is correct, and download the scorecard.

Step 6: Print a copy of the BSE Odisha 10th Result 2024 for reference later on.

After the BSE Odisha class 10 results are declared, students who do not pass the tests will be allowed to take the Odisha Board compartment exams. Students need to be aware that their individual schools will provide them with the original marksheets. Marksheets are scheduled to be released next month, and students are advised to contact their institutions to ensure they do not miss any updates.

Class 10 pupils achieved an overall pass percentage of 96.04 per cent, with 95.75 per cent male students and 97.05 per cent female students passing the Odisha Board exams in 2023. More than 5.32 lakh students registered for the board exams for class 10. Last year, the results of the examinations held between March 10 and March 20 were announced on May 18.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is known for its rigorous selection process. It continues to be the countrys one of the most sought-after examinations. UPSC aspirants dream of cracking the examination and becoming a public servant by shouldering immense responsibility. The recently declared UPSC CSE 2023 results are an example, showcasing candidates from different walks of life and backgrounds taking the exams and shining. One such candidate is Ayushi Pradhan. She is a resident of Baripada, Odisha. She has been an exemplary student throughout her academic period. She secured 93.5% in class 10th from St Annes Convent School. In class 12th, she secured 93% marks from Mothers Public School, Bhubaneswar. After completing her schooling, she pursued a computer engineering degree from the College of Engineering and Technology (CET).

Ayushi Pradhan began preparing for her Master in Business Administration (MBA), which she gave up and instead shifted her focus to UPSC exams. She attempted UPSC thrice and finally, at the age of 26, she became an IAS officer.

Ayushi Pradhan was always good at studies. Her father is a bank employee and her mother is a homemaker. Ever since she was a kid, she had a dream of creating a distinct identity for herself for which she worked hard. Although there were many obstacles in her journey, she refused to give up and did not stray away from her goal.

In the first UPSC CSE attempt, Ayushi Pradhan qualified for the interview round. But she missed out by only 13 marks. She secured 334th rank on the second attempt of the UPSC exam. She landed a government job in the Indian Defence Estate Service (IDES) and began her training to fulfil her dream of becoming an IAS officer.

In 2023, she once again attempted the exam along with the training of IDES and this time she secured 36th rank all over India. She also got selected for the IAS cadre. Currently, shes an officer trainee in IDES and soon her IAS training will begin. She will have to stay at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand for two years.

According to Ayushi Pradhan, she left her job and MBA to become an IAS officer. She did all the preparation while staying at home. She also watched a lot of videos related to her subjects, made notes and understood the concepts thoroughly. She solved many test papers in previous years, UPSC papers, which helped her understand the UPSC exam pattern.

Despite her technical background, Ayushi Pradhan chose Anthropology as her UPSC optional subject. To prepare for this, she had to double up her efforts. Since the subject was new to her, she had less time and she was also working in the technical field. This was quite a risk she took with her career. But she nailed it without losing her courage.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
The Lok Sabha polls have entered the final stages with the penultimate round of voting on Saturday . So far, elections have been completed for 427 Lok Sabha seats. The data from the Election Commission of India, analysed by News18, showed that in total on 140 seats, the voter turnout this time was higher than in 2019, while it had dropped on the remaining 287 seats.

Of these 427 seats, 236 were won by the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019 while the Congress bagged 44. When seen from the lens of the party that won the constituencies, the analysis shows that on at least 81 seats, 34% of that bagged by the BJP, the turnout has improved, and on 155 seats, about 66%, the turnout has dropped. In the case of the Congress, the turnout was higher on just 12 seats. At least 32 seats that the Congress won in 2019 saw a drop in voter turnout.

Tamil Nadus Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), with 24 seats, was the third-largest party in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Only on the three seats bagged by the party, the voter turnout has improved this time while on the remaining 21 seats it has dropped compared to 2019.

The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) won 22 seats in 2019, all in Andhra Pradesh. The analysis shows that on 10 of these seats, the turnout has improved while on 12 it has dropped.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), then Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), won nine seats in 2019 and all of these reported higher voter turnouts this time.

Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh and four of these have gone to polls so far. The turnout has dropped in all these seats  Nagina, Saharanpur, Amroha, and Bijnor.

Out of five seats won by the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, only four have seen polling so far, and except Mainpuri, the turnout has dropped in Sambhal, Moradabad, and Rampur.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 303 seats, followed by the Congress with 52 seats. The DMK was the third-largest party (24 seats), followed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and YSRCP with 22 seats each.

The then undivided Shiv Sena bagged 18 seats in 2019 and half of these saw an increase in voter turnouts this time while the remaining nine saw a drop.

Out of the 22 seats bagged by the TMC, 10 have had polling in the first five phases and all of these have reported a drop in overall voter turnout as well as female voter turnout when compared to 2019.

In 154 seats, the female turnout this time was higher than in 2019, while in 273 seats it was lower.

In all the nine seats bagged by the TRS, now BRS, the female turnout has gone up. In 16 of the seats won by the YSRCP, the female turnout was higher this time than in 2019.

In 12 seats where the Congress won in 2019, the female voter turnout was higher than in 2019. In the case of the BJP, the female turnout was higher than in 2019 in 87 seats.

Among the seats where the Congress won in 2019 and reported higher female turnout than the previous year was Raebareli  from 58.11% to 61.42%. The overall turnout improved from 54.33% to 56.33%. In Amethi, bagged by the BJP, the female and average voter turnout has improved this time from 2019.

In Wayanad, where Congress MP Rahul Gandhi won in 2019 and re-contested this time, both the average and female voter turnouts have gone down. The situation was similar in Gandhinagar, where union home minister and BJP MP Amit Shah won last time and is re-contesting, as well as in Thiruvananthapuram, Congress leader Shashi Tharoors seat.

In Nagpur, union minister and BJP MP Nitin Gadkaris seat, the voter turnout and female turnout have dropped but marginally  by less than one percentage point.

Mathura, from where BJPs Hema Malini is aiming for a third term, was among the worst-performing seats in terms of voter turnout  from 61.08% in 2019 to 49.41% now. The female voter turnout has dropped to 46.09% this time from 59.12% in 2019.

Out of the five seats that reported the highest drops in female voter turnout, three voted for the BJP in 2019, including two seats from Madhya Pradesh  Rewa and Sidhi. Mathura was in third place from the bottom.

The highest drop so far has been reported in the Nagaland Lok Sabha seat, held by the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party. From 83% in 2019, the voter turnout in the seat plummeted to 56.5% in 2024. The seat reported the lowest female voter turnout as well.

The two seats that reported about a 25-percentage-point jump in voter turnout  Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla and Srinagar  were bagged by the National Conference last time. These two seats also reported the highest rise in female voter turnout.

The impact of the rise and fall in voter turnout can only be revealed after the counting of votes on June 4.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Senior JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday raked up the death of Siddaramaiahs son in a foreign country eight years ago, seeking to know why the Karnataka Chief Minister did not order a probe into it.

The statement drew a sharp reaction from Siddaramaiah, who termed it Kumaraswamys foolishness to rake up his sons death.

Rakesh Siddaramaiah had died due to multiple organ failure in Belgium on July 30, 2016 during the first tenure of Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister.

Lashing out at Siddaramaiah for his comment that Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna fled the country with the knowledge of his family members, including his grandfather H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy said other than keeping the issue alive, no efforts are being made to bring out the truth in the sexual abuse case.

The Chief Ministers son had also gone abroad and met with an accident. Which event he had gone for? Did he take Siddaramaiahs permission? Kumaraswamy asked while addressing reporters.

Why Siddaramaiah did not order a probe into the death of Rakesh? Why was it covered up? Did the CM send him abroad? Kumaraswamy also asked the Chief Minister to disclose details of the number of people who had accompanied Rakesh during his foreign trip in 2016.

Kumaraswamy alleged that the Prajwal sexual abuse case was being used to finish off his family politically.

Prajwal (33), who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and the NDA candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of sexually assaulting several 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 against Prajwal, following an application moved by the SIT.

Kumaraswamy said those who circulated the videos featuring Prajwal without blurring the faces of the victims have committed a crime.

He wondered whether the mastermind behind the leak of the explicit videos was aware of the consequences.

In his reaction, Siddaramaiah said, Rakesh had died eight years ago. It is his foolishness to raise Rakeshs case. He charged Kumaraswamy with raising Rakeshs death case for political reasons.

Rakesh Siddaramaiah died in 2016. What is the connection between that case and Prajwals case? His (Kumaraswamys) nephew (Prajwal) is a rapist, the CM said.

On Kumaraswamys allegation that it is crime to circulate and upload the videos online, Siddaramaiah asked under which section of the Indian Penal Code it is an offence.

I am not saying that sharing videos without blurring the faces of the victims is not an offence, but Kumaraswamy says my sons death is bigger than Prajwal rape case. I want to know under which section of IPC or any criminal law, it (Rakeshs death) is an offence, he added.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
May 1-31  Spring turkey season in New York State.

May 25-27  60th Annual National Lake Trout Derby on Seneca Lake. Event is from 5 a.m. Saturday to noon Wednesday. Entry fee is $50 for adults, and $15 for those 15 and younger. For more information, go to laketroutderby.org.

May 28  Western New York chapter of Trout Unlimited monthly meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Orvis Buffalo, 4545 Transit Road, Amherst. Guest speaker Jon Miller, a Lackawanna Middle School teacher, will talk at 6 p.m. about his success with the Trout in the Classroom program.

May 28  Spring trap league continues at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden, with shooting on Sundays and Tuesdays. Five-person teams, 12 weeks, 300 rounds. Call Steve Delzer for details at 716-684-0403.

May 28-29  Outdoor 3D Archery shooting starts at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday through June at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden. Course is 15 targets, $10 per round. Call John Floriano at 716-725-5822 for more information.

May 30  Don Johannes/Pete DeAngelo memorial 3-Fish/Big Fish contest on Lake Ontario. Entry fee is $100 per boat. Call Capt. Mike Johannes at 716-523-1727 for more info.

May 31-June 1  Skip Hartman Memorial/Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament. For more information, go to lakeontarioproam.net.

May 31-June 2  Walleye Festival, Dunkirk.

June 1  Inland muskellunge season opens. Minimum size is 40 inches, with a limit of one fish per day.

June 1-2  ASA Qualifier at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden. To preregister, text John Floriano at 716-725-5822. For more information, contact Kevin Ulrich at 716-430-1059 or Brian Paszt at 716-251-9589.

June 1  Annual Trout Fest, 3095 Main St., Caledonia, begins at 9 a.m., with events for children scheduled from noon to 4 p.m.

June 1  Womens Learn to Fish seminar from 1 to 4 p.m. at St. Marys Archery Club, Clark Mills Road, Waterport. Participation is limited to 20. For more information, call Stacey Furgal at 315-234-1329.

June 1  Andy Merkel Memorial Retriever Hunting Challenge starts at 10 a.m. at Godfreys Pond, Genesee County. Entry fee is $35 per dog. For more information, contact Jim Beverly at jbeverly@retrievertrainer.com.

June 2 - Kids Fishing Clinic and Derby at the city pier in Dunkirk with walleye pro Craig Sleeman. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with the clinic scheduled to begin 30 minutes later. The derby will take place from 9 a.m. to noon. Call Josh Larsen at 716-490-4226 for more information.

June 4-5  Outdoor 3D Archery shooting starts at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday through June at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden. Course is 15 targets, $10 per round. Call John Floriano at 716-725-5822 for more information.

June 4 - Spring trap league continues at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden, with shooting on Sundays and Tuesdays. Five-person teams, 12 weeks, 300 rounds. Call Steve Delzer for details at 716-684-0403.

June 6  Western New York Walleye meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 36 Pierce Ave., Hamburg, The new group will announce its inaugural kids event and walleye tournament.

June 6  Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.

June 8  Teach Me To Fish free fishing clinic from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd. To register, call 716-533-4070

June 8  "Women in the Outdoors" event from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Erie County Conservation Society, 13319 Miller Ave., Chaffee. Cost is $75 for adults and $50 for children 12-17. Call Kris Bentson at 716-725-5589 to register.

June 8-16  Annual Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY walleye derby. Got to https://southtownswalleye.com/ for details.

June 15  Lead, Aim, Shoot womens networking event starts at 9 a.m. at Evans Rod & Gun Club, 864 Cain Road, Angola. Entry fee is $30 for adults and $15 for those aged 13-21.

Submit calendar items to billhiltsjr@gmail.com at least three weeks in advance.
With the completion of Phase 6 of the seven Phase Lok Sabha election 2024, a similar trend has been noticed among the metropolitan cities across the country. Since the start of the election season on April 19, it has been witnessed that people in metro cities, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai, are not coming out enough to cast their vote. In fact, the voter turnout percentage is also standing at a low in comparison to the previous years.

With the conclusion of Phase 6, the election is completed in 486 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats. States such as Haryana, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh among others are done with polling. The counting of votes will be held on June 4 after the last phase of the election ends on June 1.

Delhi Records low Voter Turnout Than 2019

With the completion of phase 6 on Saturday, the Election Commission of India informed that Delhi recorded an approximate voter turnout of 58 percent, a low from its 2019 Lok Sabha polls percentage, which stood at 60.52 percent.

The highest turnout of 62.87 percent was recorded in the North East Delhi constituency, while the New Delhi seat had the lowest voting percentage at 52.93. Chandni Chowk recorded 58.06 percent polling, East Delhi 57.83 percent, North West Delhi 56.75 percent, West Delhi 58.28 percent and South Delhi 55.15 percent.

Chennais Low Voter Turnout

Notably, in Phase 1 of the 2024 Lok Sabha Election, which took place on April 19, three constituencies in Tamil Nadus Chennai too recorded a lower turnout than in the previous three general elections. The three Parliamentary constituencies in Chennai registered an overall turnout of 55.94 percent in the Lok Sabha Election 2024, according to data released by the Election Commission.

Chennai Central registered the lowest voter turnout at 53.91 percent, against 58.75 percent in 2019. In terms of voter turnout in the three constituencies, the highest (60.11 percent) was recorded in Chennai North. Chennai South registered a turnout of 54.17 percent, with 10,96,026 casting their vote, out of the 20,23,133 registered voters.

Bengaluru Gives A Miss To Lok Sabha Elections

Nearly half of Bengalurus voters did not turn up to vote in the Lok Sabha elections during the second phase of polling, which took place on April 27. Voting took place in 14 constituencies in Karnataka, with the Election Commission estimating the turnout at 69.23 percent.

The percentage of voters who exercised their franchise in three urban constituencies in the city  Bangalore Central, Bangalore North and Bangalore South  was significantly lower. The approximate voter turnout in Bangalore Central was 52.81 percent, Bangalore North was 54.42 percent and Bangalore South recorded 53.15 percent voter turnout.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the turnout in Bengaluru Central was 54.32 percent, while Bengaluru North and Bengaluru South recorded 54.76 percent and 53.70 percent, respectively.

Mumbai Sees Lower Voter Turnout Than 2019 Polls

Mumbai recorded a turnout of 52.27 percent, lower than that in 2019, in the general elections on May 20 amid sultry weather and complaints of delays in the polling process. The constituency of Mumbai South, home to industrialists as well as high-ranking government officials, fared the worst with 47.7 percent voting. In 2019, the polling percentage across the six Lok Sabha constituencies in the city was 55.38 per cent.

Hyderabad Records Low Voter Turnout At 45.07%

Hyderabad and its suburbs have again maintained its record of having low voter turnout. The city recorded 45.07 percent voter turnout, as per the Election Commission of India. Bahadurpura recorded 48.7 percent, Nampally 45.3 percent Malakpet 51.97 percent and Jubilee Hills 45.65 percent. The low voting turnout is a repeat of voter apathy from the Assembly elections 2023 which recorded 46.56 percent.

Why Such Low In Voter Turnout?

Several experts and electoral officers have blamed urban apathy for the lack of enthusiasm among voters. Laziness, lack of interest, and lack of awareness were termed to be the main reasons why people were not serious about exercising their right to vote. Meanwhile, in addition to this, several experts blamed the scorching heat for the low voter turnout in the recent polls.

Despite numerous attempts to make people realise the importance of voting, the Election Commission officials were disappointed witnessing the urban voter apathy.
While releasing the absolute numbers of voters who turned up in the first five phases of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission of India on Saturday explained that any alteration in the number of votes polled is not possible, adding that there is a pattern in creating false narratives and mischievous design to vitiate electoral process.

As per the latest numbers issued by the poll body, out of the 76.40 crore voters who had the chance to vote in the first five phases, 50.72 crore exercised the right across 428 Lok Sabha seats in the country.

In the first phase, there were 16.63 crore eligible voters and 11 crore turned up. Of the 15.86 crore eligible in the second phase, 10.58 crore voted.

Under the third phase, held on May 7, at least 17.24 crore people were eligible and 11.32 stepped out to vote. The fourth phase, held on May 13, was the largest in terms of both eligible voters (17.70 crore) and turnout (12.24 crore). The fifth phase saw the lowest turnout of 5.57 crore voters. It was also the phase with the fewest eligible voters (8.95 crore). The voter turnout in this round was also the lowest  62.20%. The fourth phase saw the highest turnout at 69.16%.

In recent weeks, opposition parties including the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Trinamool Congress wrote to the EC, criticising the delay in releasing the final voter turnout figures and demanding the publication of the total number of voters in each parliamentary constituency.

Explaining the process of collection and storage of votes polled, the ECI said it is rigorous, transparent and participative.

The Commission and its officials across the states have been disseminating voter turnout data in the best possible manner, taking into account statutory considerations. The whole exercise of release of turnout data from the date of commencement of polls on April 19 has been accurate, consistent and in accordance with election laws and without any discrepancy whatsoever, the poll body said.

The ECI said the final list of electors is given to candidates after the list of contesting candidates is finalised and authorised agents of all candidates will have form 17C across 543 PCs, distinctively for each of approximately 10.5 lakh polling stations.

The total number of votes polled in a constituency, as recorded in Form 17C, can never be changed even by anyones hypothetical mischief, as it is available with all contesting candidates, said the ECI.

Agents of candidates are always allowed to accompany EVM and statutory papers, including Form 17C from the polling station to storage in a strong room as per Rule 49 V (2) of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961.

The poll body further explained that the candidates or their agents bring a copy of Form 17C to the counting centre and compare it with the result in each round.

The Commission underlines that there has been no delay in the release of voter turnout data. Voter turnout data was always available 24X7 on facilitative Voter Turnout App from 9:30am in the morning of poll day of each phase. It publishes estimated voter turnout on two hourly basis till 1730 hrs. After 1900 hours when the polling parties start arriving, data is continuously updated. By midnight on the poll day, the Voter turnout app will show best estimated Close of Poll (COP) data in percentage form, it explained.

The ECI further said it remains fully committed to the highest level of transparency and involvement of stakeholders at every stage of the electoral cycle.
After coining the phrase Na Khaunga, Na Khaane Dunga to show his resolve against corruption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the next step would be to recover what the corrupt stole and return it to the poor they stole from. In an exclusive interview to News18s Aman Sharma, Payal Mehta, Aman Chopra and Amitabh Sinha, Prime Minister Modi said the technology-driven era we live in gives massive scope in ensuring corruption-free governance.

We are in a technology-driven era. The technology is disruptive, transformative, and easily accessed. This gives massive scope with respect to zero-tolerance on corruption, he added.

Asked how he would take the resolve of Na Khaunga, Na Khaane Dunga forward in a potential third term, PM Modi said: Na Khaata Hun, Na Khaane Deta Hun will always be there, but now I am trying to take it forward. Jisne khaaya hai usse nikalunga, aur jiska gaya hai usko khilaunga (I will recover from those who stole and will return it to those they stole from).

In the interview, the Prime Minister also rued not having a strong Opposition against him in the last 10 years. In a democracy, it is very important that there is a strong opposition, which keeps the government on the swords edge and on its toes, such an opposition is very necessary. There is no absence of talent in this country and they should get an opportunity. I thought that in 2014 to 2024 that I should have got a strong opposition, if there is one thing missing in my life, it is that of a good opposition, he said.

Modi said he did not get any positive contribution from the Congress. They had run the government for 60 years, so I thought I would ask them for advice on their way out so that I would get help. Till Pranab Mukherjee was there, I benefitted from him as he used to share his experience. But I got no benefit from the opposition. I gained only from my party colleagues and from my experience as Gujarat CM, he said.

They were so full of negativity that decisions in countrys interest were opposed by them for political benefit though they were once in their manifestos. This is a big concern. In a big democracy like India, there should be a strong opposition, an aware opposition, an active Opposition, well-read and well-informed, this benefits all. When I was the Gujarat CM, our Opposition was good. Now the condition is not good, this is a pain in my heart.

During campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi has repeatedly highlighted the corruption allegations against INDIA bloc parties like the Congress and the Trinamool Congress.

Alleging that corruption was the common character of the INDIA bloc, the PM has accused these parties of having made corruption a full-time business. Whether the Congress, Left or any other party of the INDIA bloc, all of them have made corruption their common character, PM Modi has alleged.

He has asserted that the action against the corrupt will go on and he cannot be deterred by threats and abuses. Dont you think the corrupt should go to jail? The corrupt are threatening and abusing me. But they cant deter me. Action against each one of the corrupt will continue, Modi had said at a rally in Uttarakhand.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with her husband Robert Vadra and children Rehan Rajiv Vadra and Miraya Vadra exercised their voting rights at a polling booth in Delhi during the sixth phase of polling of Lok Sabha Election 2024.

Rehan (23) and Miraya (21), rarely seen in public, showed their inked fingers to the media cameras.

#WATCH | Raihan Rajiv Vadra and Miraya Vadra, children of Robert Vadra and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cast their votes for #LokSabhaElections2024 at a polling booth in Delhi pic.twitter.com/c2RUuzp9dP ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024

After casting his vote, Rehan urged other youngsters to come forward and vote to safeguard our Constitution.

I believe this election holds significant importance. I urge all young people to participate in voting, aiming to safeguard our Constitution and contribute towards fostering positive transformations, he said.

#WATCH | After casting vote, Raihan Rajiv Vadra, son of Robert Vadra and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, I think this is a very important election. I encourage all the youth to vote to save our Constitution and to vote in a way that brings positive change.Miraya https://t.co/nrmkwcenj1 pic.twitter.com/A6VF9vBCAZ  ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024

Miraya also said, Everybody should come out and vote.

This is the first time both Vadra scions voted in the general election. Despite being 19 years old during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Raihan Vadra missed the opportunity to vote as he had to go to London for his exams.

After casting his vote, Robert Vadra also urged everyone to come out and cast their vote and give one chance to the INDIA alliance.

When asked about the PM face of the INDIA alliance, he said, The alliance will choose that. I know that Rahul will work in the interest of the country and will fulfil Rajivs dream.

Priyanka Gandhi is not contesting from any seat in the ongoing polls, while his brother Rahul Gandhi is contesting from two seatsWayanad and Rae Bareli.

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi also cast their votes in the New Delhi constituency today. They reached the polling station set up at Nirman Bhawan around 9.30 am.

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), constituents of the INDIA bloc, are contesting the Lok Sabha polls together in Delhi.

The results of the Lok Sabha Election 2024 will be announced on June 4.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
The night before the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena and leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) clashed over allegations of voter disruption.

In a post on social media, AAP Minister Atishi alleged that the Delhi LG had instructed the police to slow down voting in areas with a large number of opposition voters. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal responded to Atishis post, calling the allegation shocking and urged the Election Commission of India to ensure smooth voting.

Information has been received that today@LtGovDelhi has ordered Delhi Police to slow down the voting in those areas where there are a large number of INDIA alliance voters so that people do not face difficulty in casting their votes. Any such attempt by the administration to make the BJP win is illegal, undemocratic and unconstitutional. And I hope the Election Commission will take cognizance of this, and stop any such attempt, the AAP leader said.

This is shocking. EC shud ensure smooth voting in Delhi. https://t.co/tsZIARD7Gp Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 24, 2024

Strict action will be taken

Strongly responding to the allegations, the LGs office accused the AAP of planning to disrupt voting and blamed it on the central government. They claimed that Kejriwal had ordered power and water cuts to create trouble for voters. The LG instructed officials not to follow these orders and accused Kejriwal of trying to deceive the people of Delhi.

I have taken a stern view of this unwarranted & false statement on the eve of election against a constitutional authority by a Minister, endorsed by you, the Delhi LG wrote on X. This impropriety is unacceptable & these typically absurd & concocted claims are a deliberate design to subvert democracy by misleading voters. Strict action will be taken.

          ,   ,    !I have taken a stern view of this unwarranted & false statement on the eve of election against a constitutional authority by a Minister, endorsed by you. https://t.co/7sPWH2HwLG LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) May 24, 2024

Later, the LG slammed Atishis statement as unwarranted and false, stressing the seriousness of making such allegations against a constitutional authority. Earlier, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) issued a statement asserting its readiness to meet the water needs of residents. This came amid ongoing tensions between the AAP government and the LGs office over water supply issues in the city. Last month, Atishi had written to the LG seeking the suspension of the DJB CEO following a tragic incident in East Delhi where a woman was allegedly killed during a dispute over water filling. In response, the LG penned an open letter to Kejriwal, describing the incident as a failure of the government.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Amid the penultimate poll clash in Delhi as India votes in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a stinging attack on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Without naming the AAP convener, he questioned how an individual facing serious corruption charges can be interviewed by the media.

Kejriwal, who was in Tihar jail for 40 days in the liquor policy case, is out on bail and campaigning for the elections. He has also claimed that this is a conspiracy against him and, if his party wins the elections, he will not be returning to jail.

#BreakingNews: PM gave yet another interview to News18 Network. He took a jibe at Kejriwal & said this is a man who is out on bail, how can media interview someone like him? @amitabhnews18 @AmanKayamHai_ @AmanChopra_ @payalmehta100 | @AnchorAnandN#PMModiToNews18 pic.twitter.com/JEB8fb3iQA News18 (@CNNnews18) May 25, 2024

In an interview with News18s Aman Sharma, Payal Mehta, Aman Chopra and Amitabh Sinha, the prime minister was asked about how the CM is portraying his bail as a victory. To this, he pointed to how the observations made by the Delhi High Court in the case are scathing. The matter is sub-judice and for me to comment on it is inappropriate. But, if I simply focus on what the courts have said, lets take a look at what the high court has said. Leave aside what the agency has said, or what a BJP spokesperson has said. But, the high court has made strict observations in the liquor policy case, he said.

Prime Minister Modi said what concerns him is that there is no accountability left in public life and no commitment to the spoken word. Now, what is concerning, and this is a serious matter, that in public life, there is no accountability anymore. There is no commitment on what you say. In public life, there was a time, when a student would get caught cheating, he would be suspended for a month from school and his parents would be embarrassed about this. Such things were considered wrong in society, he said.

But, the PM said, nowadays those facing serious charges are being celebrated, or rather, glorified while the media is interviewing such individuals. Equating Kejriwal to criminal Charles Sobhraj, who garnered a celebrity-like status, he said he is concerned about this kind of moral degradation in society.

What is happening today is that, without any shame, those who have faced punishment or are facing serious charges, they are being celebrated in public. I am concerned about this kind of moral degradation; I am not concerned with any individual, he said.

He added: Earlier, there used to be dacoits whose exploits were glorified by newspapers and society. Unfortunately, now corrupt politicians are also getting this benefit. I am shocked at how corrupt individuals are being interviewed by the media. Ive only seen a criminal like Charles Sobhraj being interviewed like this before.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Popular Zee TV daily soap Kundali Bhagya is poised to undergo a significant change. The show, which starred Paras Kalnawat and Sana Sayyad, among others, will see a shift in storyline as the latter is quitting the show. Sana Sayyad is expecting her first child and so she has decided to leave the show, suggest reports. Paras worked closely with Sana and their chemistry was quite appreciated by the viewers. As Sana bids farewell to the show, Paras has shared a heartfelt note for his co-star.

Paras Kalnawat posted a few pictures with Sana Sayyad. One of the stills was from the show where Paras is seen romancing Sana, while others seem to be candid shots from the sets. Along with the pictures, he wrote, Its a happy farewell so no shedding tears just a bright smile while you walk away. May you always keep smiling and keep spreading this brightness of yours around. Take immense care of yourself, so happy to see you enter a new chapter of your life filled with joy and laughter. Me and Sana Sayyad one last time as #PalVeer. Will miss you and looking forward to another project and another journey with you! Huge thanks to all of you for giving us so much love.

Fans also replied to the post, expressing how much they love the duo on screen. One of them stated, loveeee Rajveer and Palki so cute pair. while another stated, Palveers story remained incomplete. Hope both of them have another project so that Palveers story can be completed.

Meanwhile, Imlie fame Adrija Roy has been roped in to replace Sana Sayyad as Palki in Kundali Bhagya. Speaking to Pinkvilla about stepping into the shoes of Sana Sayyad, Adrija Roy said, I am sure it is going to be challenging. But I feel Ive done it before. Even in Imlie, I entered post-leap, and there was a lot of pressure and responsibility on my shoulders, and this time around too, this will be a challenge. She added that since it is a replacement, comparisons are bound to happen. However, Adrija intends to own the role and execute it in her own way. She stressed that Sana has done an excellent job, and she is excited to take the legacy forward.

Kundali Bhagya is produced by Ektaa Kapoor and has captured the hearts of millions of fans since its premiere in 2017. The show is a spin-off of Kumkum Bhagya, which starred Shabbir Ahluwalia and Sriti Jha.
Abhishek Nigam is renowned for his roles in shows such as Alibaba: Ek Andaaz Andekha and Hero: Gayab Mode On. The actor has now been cast as the lead in the new television series Pukaar  Dil Se Dil Tak. Both Abhishek and his brother Siddharth Nigam are into showbiz and enjoy a massive fanbase. In his latest interview, Abhishek Nigam opened up about his earlier statement regarding his brother Siddharths less screen time in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. The actor also shared about joining this new family drama and his expectations from the show.

Reportedly, post-release of Salman Khans Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Abhishek Nigam expressed his feelings about his brother Siddharth Nigam getting less screen time. Explaining his stance further, the actor told ETimes, Of course getting less visibility in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is a fact. Whatever visibility he got amongst the bunch of actors, the film had Salman Khan, Pooja Hegde, Venkatesh all big names but despite having so many big names if you were still able to see Siddharth and hes standing out and you remember him after leaving the theatre thats what matters. He expressed that every artist wants to be seen more on screen and that is going to stay. But they look at it this way that whatever role he got it was a good one. He added, We dont look at the pessimistic side of any incident, we try to look at the optimistic side.

Meanwhile, speaking about his new show, Pukaar  Dil Se Dil Tak Abhishek Nigam stated that he is quite excited because this is an all new genre for him. This is very different from the past projects that Ive done. I felt I should do this show and have a different experience. I am very happy that I am returning to television and with such a good show, mentioned Abhishek.

Abhishek added that the creators are using a distinct approach to the show and this is his first proper family drama. Set in Jaipur, the daily soap will follow the lives of a mother and her two daughters, who are divided by a cruel conspiracy. The actor will play Sagar Maheshwari, the heir of the Maheshwari dynasty. Sagar is a lawyer by profession.

The show, produced by Prateek Sharmas LSD Productions, will also include Sayli Salunkhe, Anushka Merchande, Sumukhi Pendse, Mishika Popat, Vimarsh Roshan, Shweta Gautam and Garima Vikrant Singh in crucial roles.
Yung Sammy is an artist who draws inspiration from his unique multicultural background, with roots in Nigeria (his birthplace) and in India, where he was raised. He has released music under the label Desi Trill, showcasing his talent for blending diverse sounds and stories, particularly within the Indian rap scene. Yung Sammy is known for seamlessly switching between English and Hindi flows in his music, highlighting his multilingual skills and fluency in languages like English, Punjabi, Yoruba, and more.

The NCR Delhi based rapper has previously released tracks like 44, Mehndi, Shaant, Moved On and Big Man Ting, giving a glimpse of his big plans of dominating the DHH scene. In an exclusive chat, Yung Sammy reflected upon the influence of growing up in Indias capital, his identity, rapping in Hindi and more.

Here are the excerpts:

The Intro with Desi Trill has received great feedback. How did this collaboration come about and what was your experience working with Desi Trill? What message were you trying to convey through it?

I think this song came at the time it was needed, people have so many questions about where I came from and how I can speak these languages so I wanted to address it all. When I first signed to DESI TRILL I played it to Shabz and he loved it  he came up with the name The Intro.

Can you share the story of how listening to Yo Honey Singhs Brown Rang on a road trip inspired you to start making music in Hindi? What was it about that moment that struck a chord with you?

The first time I listened to it was when I was going on a road trip to Jaipur with my family. It was the first ever Hindi rap track I heard and it was exciting to me. That track made me become a big fan of him and eventually, I met him and it motivated me more. I discovered lots of other rappers and thats when I thought yaar mere ko karna hai. This is what I need to do.

Your journey into the Indian hip-hop scene seems deeply integrated with Delhi culture. How has growing up in New Delhi, your multicultural background influenced your music style and lyrical content?

Growing up in Delhi NCR has had a huge impact in my rap scene because the culture of Delhi especially when I create songs or write songs I try to relate it with the ongoing things and surroundings of the lifestyle. I grew up in Delhi specifically in India and then I shifted to UP which gave the essence of a different culture. The track I made called 44 was all about Delhi culture and all about how Delhi moved the Gen Zs and everything. I would say that growing up in Delhi has given me the essence and also the accent. Delhi has been a vibe and it has been an influential place that plays a role in my creative space

Your accent in Hindi has been highlighted as a unique aspect of your rapping. How do you ensure that authenticity comes through in your music, especially considering Hindi isnt your native language?

First, when I learned Hindi, I learned it because I love embracing cultures and everything so I was not good with the accent back then, I was only good at pronouncing and understanding but I was not good at the accent. It took time and learning the culture when I understood the difference between the accents of Hurigandwi, Hindi, Punjabi, and everything it was when I understood the language and the difference and the people that is when I started focusing on the accent, and yeah with friends and everything I kept learning and doing things and thats how the accent slowly came into place.

Collaborations seem to play a significant role in your music career. Could you tell us more about your experiences collaborating with artists like BBB, MC Static, and Urban Poet? How do these collaborations influence your creative process?

This is a great question because yes,collaborations have played a vital role in my creative space. Even the unreleased collaborations Urban Poet, Flyboy, and BBB for sure, and many more artists around me. Collaborations play an part because you hear different things, different flows, different energies, and different experiences.

These collaborations give and connect with every energy and every different style of rapping. I think collaborations have played a vital role not just in the collaborations but jamming with each other and jamming together has played a vital role in learning more from the other artists as well.

44 with Urban Poet one of your most popular track. What led you to creating this track and what was the process behind it and how does working with friends impact the energy of

your music?

Regarding 44 featuring Urban Poet the track is almost at half a million now so thats an independent track that went viral, it has 3 million views on Instagram and almost half a million on Spotify and more on other platforms as well. So thats a great achievement for me

and that track has been game-changing for my life. 44 was the essence and 44 was about the Delhi lifestyle and how people move in life, it was a great track.

Youve mentioned the challenges of navigating the music industry in India, particularly within the hip-hop scene. Could you elaborate on some of these challenges and how youve been overcoming them?

There are challenges for every artist but some challenges might not be challenges, some

challenges might be the reason theyre moving forward and some challenges can be negative for some artists as well. I feel its a vast industry and everyone has a role to play, it can be artists whether it is from a business perspective or a creative perspective so I feel there are some challenges that you cannot deny, some people overcome them and some people are not able to but for me, for now, Ive seen challenges but Ive not been in that space as things have worked more positively well for me because of my USP and the place I am in which is India so I feel things have worked well for me till now and I hope it does for

my future as well so touch wood.

Its interesting to hear about your familys journey from skepticism to support regarding your music career. How has their evolving perception of your music impacted your determination and growth as an artist?

About my family not being supportive, I come from a very religious background, as a hip-hop artist they did not really understand what I was doing. It took me time to you know come out and tell them and to explain to them but yeah it was a journey and it was something that I

kept going. This was the challenge that I faced mostly because I was not able to tell my parents what I was doing but at the end of the day, I am proud enough to tell them how things are working well now. This was the challenge that Ive overcome and with the support, I am going to do great things in life so yeah.

Youve performed at various events and shared the stage with artists like Rema. How have these experiences shaped your stage presence and performance style?

Ive shared the stage with artists like Rema and many artists in India like Kink and 47 Bali, many different artists. A stage performance is the best place for an artist. The stage is a very important place for an artist, I feel like Ive gotten more experience on stage now because Ive been performing for about 4 years now and have been pitching myself, I am lucky enough to be around people who are doing events and all and I make sure I get myself and my crew pitched so we all get the opportunity to perform and open for different artists. I have had a really great experience with performing on stage, stage plays a vital role.

Could you share with us some of your musical influences and inspirations?

I feel with influences I am mostly talking about my favourite artists which are Central Cee, Pop Smoke for sure, and drill because Ive been doing drill, it got introduced to Pop Smoke and different variations of drill. Skepta as well as many other artists. Even if I go to India there are many artists and the same with African artists, all these artists have taught me a lot,

As you continue to carve your path in the Indian hip-hop scene, what are some of the messages and themes you hope to convey through your music to your audience?

I would love to convey a message, as I feel as an artist you should keep doing your thing and never lose hope. God is always looking at your hard work and no matter what, dont lose hope. Whatever you feel you are doing, never feel you are doing it with your skills or talent as it is always Gods creation and God empowering you, that is what I believe and thats what I feel has been taking me forward. Not everyone will believe or understand what I say but it is always God first. You have to keep doing what you are doing and keep putting in the work but at the same time never lose hope as an artist, ups and downs are always there for sure.

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for the future of your music career, both in terms of personal growth and the impact you aim to make within the industry?

My own goals are there and I have already hit some goals. I have goals of collaborating with some great artists and I already have done so with some artists with whom Ive been wanting to collaborate for years and there are many more to come. I have goals for live shows at Madison Square. What I wish for is to bring my parents to my biggest show which is coming soon and many more. And obviously, my goal is to continue making great music.

What are some of your upcoming projects? Will you be releasing an EP or LP anytime soon?

I have many more projects on the plate to serve. My coming EP is on the way with 7 songs and crazy artists collaborating. So stay tuned as there is much more to come on the way, so yeah lets go.
Emerging star in the Punjabi-pop scene, Jai Dhir, has launched his highly-awaited debut Punjabi EP named LOVER BOY, which signifies a major milestone in his music career. With a string of successful singles like Mirza, Snap, and a collaboration on Lost Stories EP Marigold Soundsystem, Jai introduces a fresh fusion of Punjabi, R&B, and Pop elements in his latest EP. This project beautifully showcases his talent for crafting engaging love stories conveyed through sincere and heartfelt Punjabi lyrics, harmonized flawlessly with his emotive vocals.

Comprising five enchanting tracks, the EP delves into the diverse spectrum of emotions experienced in love. Leading with previews of Stay and Dont Go, the EP also includes tracks such as Glimpse, Precious, and Simplicity. As hinted by the title, LOVER BOY, Jai explores his romantic persona, narrating a tale of a lover navigating through a rollercoaster of emotions in his amorous journey, highlighting sentiments of yearning, adoration, sacrifice, and above all, love.

In an exclusive chat, Jai shared his journey behind creating the album, his creative process, his upcoming projects and more.

Here are the excerpts:

Congratulations on the release of your debut EP, LOVER BOY! Can you share with us the inspiration behind this project and what you hope listeners will take away from it?

Thank you! LOVER BOY is deeply personal, drawing from my own personal experiences with love, heartbreak and self-discovery. The EP is a reflection of highs and lows of love wrapped in honest lyrics. I hope listeners find comfort, connection and purity knowing theyre not alone in navigating these emotions and to bring a smile on their face will mean the world to me.

Your music combines elements of Punjabi, R&B, and Pop. How do you go about blending these different genres to create your unique sound?

There is no science behind this unique sound, blending Punjabi, R&B and Pop elements is a natural reflection of my own multicultural background and listening to all kinds of genres from Gurdasman to The Weeknd since I was a kid. I love the approach of focusing on music rather than the genres that allows for more freedom and creativity while creating my music.

You mentioned that each track on LOVER BOY has been crafted with attention and love. Can you walk us through your songwriting process and how you bring your lyrics to life?

I dont stick to a certain time or place when I get creative; ideas come to me whenever, whether Im at a party, driving in a car, or just hanging out in a crowded room. In all these different situations, I naturally start making up stories in my head. Its just how I process things. Composing romantic songs comes naturally to me as I draw from my own personal definition of love, which has always been simple,positive and pure in my life. This idea of love gives me a lot of inspiration because of which I am able to write songs that feel real and heartfelt.

Tell us more about the tracks that are part of this EP and the story behind it?

The EP has 5 tracks in total  Simplicity, Glimpse, Precious, Stay, and Dont Go. The making of the EP started with Glimpse, and after writing and recording the song I realised that I can write much more on the simplicity and purity of the subject, and thats how I decided to work on a longer project to create my debut EP LOVER BOY. We worked on a bunch of beat patterns for this, keeping the overarching theme of the project around love.

Collaboration seems to be important to you, having worked with Lost Stories and Jay Sean. How do these collaborations influence your music and what have you learned from working with established artists?

I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the biggest artists from the music industry in my initial stages as an artist. It is a huge accomplishment for me. These collaborations boost my confidence as an artist who is just starting out in the music industry. Both Lost Stories and Jay Sean have been kind enough to collaborate with mewithout focusing on my numbers or the fact that I am a new artist  at the end of it, it is the

talent that matters and the music that speaks. It has been an incredible experience working with both the artists and every moment spent with them in the studio has been a learning experience in itself. I feel extremely grateful to have created a bank of songs with them, some that have been released and others that are still yet to come out.

Your music often resonates with themes of love and romanticism. How do you ensure that your songs convey authentic emotions and connect with your audience?

My goal while writing songs is to keep the lyrics as simple and relatable as possible for my listeners so that even those who dont speak Punjabi can understand what Im trying to say through my songs. Whether my listeners are in the initial stage of their relationship or they have been together for years, everyone can connect with my songs. I tend to write what is on my mind, without sometimes weaving a proper story around the song or writing lyrics that rhyme together  I rather focus on completing my thoughts and keeping it simple for people

to connect with the song.

With a growing fan base and millions of streams on your tracks, how do you handle

success and maintain your creative vision amidst increasing popularity?

Having a growing fanbase and gaining success is really boosting my confidence. Its helping me overcome my fears and express myself more freely in my music. Whenever I share my unreleased songs in my close circle, they appreciate them and give me good feedback, which feels amazing. Ive been lucky to have successful artists mentor me like brothers, reminding me not to lose focus and stay grounded. Handling fame might be a challenge, but I hope Ill manage it well.

Your journey began with a focus on Bollywood music and later expanded to include

Punjabi, R&B, and Pop. How has this evolution shaped your artistic identity and where do you see your music heading in the future?

I began my musical journey with Hindi songs. Before that, I had actually written 5-6 Punjabi songs, but they didnt get the chance to be released. Despite coming from a Punjabi background, I found that I could also express myself well through Hindi music. Over time, Ive realised that I have a strong inclination towards Punjabi music, as I feel like I can express myself much better when writing Punjabi lyrics. Looking ahead, my goal is to keep making music that speaks to peoples hearts, regardless of the language. Whether its Hindi, Punjabi,

or any other language, my dream is to reach as many people as possible through my music and spread joy through my songs.

The music video for Stay has already been released. How important is visual storytelling for you as an artist and how do you approach the visual aspect of your music?

Visuals are incredibly powerful in storytelling, especially when it comes to music. Ive noticed that sometimes, language barriers can make it difficult for people to fully grasp the meaning of a song. For me, visuals are essential because they help bridge that gap. Even if someone doesnt understand the lyrics, they can still connect with the story and emotion behind the

music through the visuals and make it more accessible to a wider audience.Thats why I believe in the importance of incorporating visuals into my music. They not only complement the sound but also enrich the overall experience, allowing people to connect with the music on a deeper level, regardless of language barriers.

You mentioned that you explored various facets of music during the lockdown, learning production and songwriting on your own. Can you share with us how this period of self-discovery influenced your creativity and style?

The lockdown changed everything for me. While stuck at home, I kept learning new things about music, but I couldnt really put them into practice because I couldnt go anywhere. When the lockdown finally lifted, I started hanging out with other artists and composing

songs with them. It was then that I realised I had the potential to achieve things I never thought possible before. Music became my passion, my strength, and my best skill.

Your Punjabi version of the viral song Kesariya received immense popularity.

What inspired you to create this rendition and how do you approach putting your own twist on well-known tracks?

When the song Kesariya was going viral on social media, my manager Aayushman messaged me late at night in our group chat. He said that did you know theres a version of Kesariya in every language except Punjabi? Why dont you make one? I thought it was a great idea, so I listened to the song a few times. I decided to write Punjabi lyrics for it, putting my own spin on them. I wanted to make a different version, like a cover song. So, I added some piano music and tweaked the melody a bit to give it a new feel. When I shared it with the group, everyone appreciated it. Even I thought it turned out amazing. We recorded a video for it and uploaded it as a reel. It became popular. It was even noticed by Pritam, the man behind the original track, and seeing the massive response we also ended up releasing it officially across streaming platforms. It felt like a big collaboration, especially since I was just starting out. Sometimes, when I see my name next to Pritams on Spotify, it makes my day so much better. Its still hard to believe.

With a strong presence on social media platforms like Instagram, how do you use

these channels to engage with your fans and showcase your creativity beyond your

music?

Recently, Ive found myself switching from solely focusing on creating songs to becoming more active on Instagram. Its been a bit of a change for me because I used to be quite reserved with my posts. But now, armed with a discography that Im proud of, Im exploring the platform more in terms of reels, photos, and more, curious about the impact it will have

on my audience. When I see positive responses rolling in, its like a jolt of excitement and confidence. I genuinely feel blessed to have this platform to share my work and connect with others.

As a self-taught artist who has grown immensely in a short time, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting their musical journey?

I recently met some new artists who havent released any songs yet, but theyve got about 510 songs ready to launch. I want to share some advice with them: keep making good music and never stop listening to great tunes. As a songwriter and composer, its important to explore different kinds of music and really pay attention to what you hear. Dont stick to just one style; be open to anything that inspires you. Let your imagination roam free and create songs that show off all the different things that influence you.

Finally, what can we expect next from Jai Dhir? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that youre excited about sharing with your fans?

LOVER BOY is my debut EP and Im really proud of it. Also, Ive got even more exciting stuff in the works. Im collaborating with Jay Sean on one of his album tracks, and I cant wait for you all to hear it. There are lots of other collaborations in the pipeline too, and Im just buzzing with excitement. Plus, there are plenty of single songs on the way too. Stay tuned!
News / National

by Staff reporter

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi says targeted sanctions imposed by the West on ruling Zanu-PF officials, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, are forcing desperate Zimbabweans to commit crime in the neighboring country.Masisi made these remarks at an event to handover cattle to compensate victims of cross-border livestock rustling in Mabolwe, a village near the Zimbabwean border.He said those who cross into Botswana to commit crime, mostly do so due to the adverse effects of the sanctions.There is rampant cattle rustling between the two countries' common border, with Masisi's government compensating villagers with more than 2,800 animals worth P35 million (US$3 million)."It's critical that I thank President Mnangagwa, my counterpart. He did his best to assist. We are friends with Zimbabwe, but some, including in our own parliament, don't understand why we are friends with Zimbabwe. Previously our administration would openly chastise Zimbabwe. But I will not do that. Zimbabweans are our relatives and you don't criticize your neighbor in that way," Masisi said.The president said if he didn't handle the issue of livestock rustling in a diplomatic manner, it is likely the challenge would still persist.However, Masisi said he will never allow Batswana to be harassed in their own country. Cattle rustlers crossing from Zimbabwe reportedly unleashed a reign of terror in often violent clashes with locals as they move in groups armed with machetes, among others.Meanwhile, Masisi criticized the West for imposing targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe."There are some countries that have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, believing there are certain governance issues that are not being done well. Even here (in Botswana), we have some who believe that and say there is no rule of law, there is dictatorship in Zimbabwe and that as Botswana we should openly voice our concern. But I will not do that. I will have a civil engagement with Zimbabwe," he said.Masisi said, "If you have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, who are our neighbours (and) if your neighbor does not have salt, they ask for salt from you. If your neighbour's children are hungry and you are not around, the naughty ones get in and steal. Zimbabweans come here and steal in order to survive. They don't do it to get rich, but to put something in their stomach."Masisi urged countries that have imposed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe to engage in dialogue in order to find common ground."We don't agree with the sanctions. If you have differences with someone, talk to him. I am happy that countries like America listened to my plea to remove sanctions. We plead with the western countries to lift sanctions."
The novel Murder In Mahim by Jerry Pinto has been transformed into a gripping web series, now streaming on JioCinema as of May 10. Featuring Ashutosh Rana as journalist Peter Fernandes and Vijay Raaz as police officer Shivajirao Jende, this crime series delves into a complex murder mystery. The storyline follows the duo as they navigate a web of greed, despair, desire, and the hidden facets of homosexuality in India.

Speaking exclusively with News18 Showsha, Jerry Pinto got candid about his reaction to his book being adapted into a thriller series, his thoughts on Ashutosh Rana and Vijay Raaz essaying the character of Peter Fernandes and Jende and more.

Here are the excerpts:

Can you share your initial reaction upon learning that Murder in Mahim was going to be adapted into a series? What were your hopes and concerns?

When asked if I would like a book to be made into a movie, I responded enthusiastically, expressing my love for the idea. One reason behind my excitement is recognizing the potential financial success that often comes with visual adaptations of literary works. I believe that many talented writers are undervalued and underpaid, making movie adaptations a promising avenue for their stories to reach a wider audience and gain recognition. Another point I raised was the transformative effect that turning a book into a film can have on the original work. In my opinion, such adaptations breathe new life into the story, allowing it to evolve in different directions and resonate with audiences in unique ways. I noted that nearly every successful book eventually transforms into a major motion picture, illustrating the enduring appeal of these adaptations.

Furthermore, I emphasized the underlying message of the book in question, highlighting its focus on the universality of love. Regardless of ones background, social status, location, or sexual orientation, the books message conveyed that love transcends all boundaries and unites individuals in a shared experience of connection and compassion. I stressed the importance of embracing diversity and acceptance, noting the shift towards a more inclusive and understanding society, especially among younger generations. In todays world, there is a growing trend towards tolerance and appreciation for individuals regardless of their sexual preferences, signaling progress towards a more compassionate and open-minded society.

How involved were you in the process of adapting the book into a screenplay? Were there any particular aspects of the book that you felt were essential to preserve in the series?

I believe that screenplay writing is a unique combination of skill, artistry, and talent. While I appreciate and recognize the importance of this craft, I personally do not possess the specific talent required for it. If I were to come up with an idea that felt suited for a screenplay, I might attempt to write it out in that format. However, I do not see myself revisiting stories I have already written and transforming them into screenplays. Screenwriting involves multiple levels of complexity, considering factors such as structure, pacing, and dialogue, all while maintaining a cohesive narrative that engages viewers from start to finish.

One aspect that stands out to me is a writers ability to delve into the inner world of a character effortlessly. Writers have the freedom to explore and articulate the deepest thoughts, emotions, and motivations of their characters in a way that actors may find challenging to convey solely through facial expressions and body language. While actors have the support of various elements like music, lighting, and direction to enhance their performances, writers excel in crafting the intricate internal landscapes of characters that drive the narrative forward. Additionally, writers have the advantage of vividly evoking settings and scenes through descriptive language, creating rich visual experiences for readers. While a screenplay can suggest and hint at these details, writers have the ability to paint a more detailed and immersive picture of the world they are creating. This skill allows writers to immerse readers in the atmosphere of a story, offering a deeper level of engagement and connection. Although I am open to the possibility of exploring screenplay writing in the future, I acknowledge the significant learning curve involved in mastering this craft. Writing multiple screenplays, learning the nuances of screenplay structure, and honing the ability to effectively translate stories into a visual medium would be essential steps in transitioning from traditional writing to screenplay writing.

The characters of Peter and Jende have intricate dynamics in the book? What do you have to say about that?

Initially, I envisioned Peter and Jinde embarking on a profound and enduring journey of friendship, rooted in the diverse fabric of India. This vision reflects my belief in the essence of India as a melting pot where individuals from varied backgrounds and experiences come together in unity. Central to this narrative is the theme of understanding and compassion, as depicted in the characters interactions with Dalits, the LGBTQIA community, and issues of poverty. Their collective experiences and struggles contribute to the resolution they ultimately reach, showcasing the richness and complexity of Indian society.

In one notable scene, a character named Leslie delivers a powerful monologue emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives, particularly highlighting the creative potential that emerges from embracing different viewpoints. Through Leslies words, I aimed to underscore the significance of inclusivity and the transformative power of empathy in fostering collaboration and innovation. Moreover, I was adamant about presenting Peter authentically, without succumbing to stereotypes or cliches often associated with LGBTQIA representation. It was imperative to me that the LGBTQIA community not be marginalized or sensationalized but rather portrayed with respect and dignity. I aimed to challenge conventional narratives that reduce LGBTQIA individuals to mere caricatures or sources of amusement, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of their identities and experiences. By preserving Peters character as originally conceived and advocating for a nuanced portrayal of the LGBTQIA community, I sought to celebrate the diversity and complexity of human relationships and identities in my interpretation of India. This portrayal reflects a vision of India as a dynamic and inclusive society, where individuals of all backgrounds are embraced for their authentic selves and unique perspectives.

How do you feel about the casting choices of Ashutosh Rana, Vijay Raaz, and Shivaji Satam? How did they contribute to bringing these characters to life?

I believe that many authors and writers often marvel at the craft of acting and the ability of actors to convey a multitude of emotions with subtle facial expressions and gestures. Ashutosh Rana, Vijay Raj, and Shivaji Satam are exemplary figures in this regard, demonstrating an exceptional talent for conveying rich inner landscapes through their nuanced performances. Unlike the way I suggest imagery through words and descriptions, these actors captivate viewers through their nuanced portrayal of characters, utilizing a range of subtle expressions and physical movements to bring depth and authenticity to their roles. When an actor delivers a line, their entire being, from facial expressions to body language, becomes part of a complex narrative conveyed to the audience. Viewers are challenged to interpret the actors performance, following the cues and gestures that hint at the characters internal thoughts and feelings. Successful acting hinges on the actors ability to communicate these nuances effectively, inviting viewers to engage with the story on a deeper level and decipher the unspoken messages embedded in the performance. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with a talented and dedicated cast, including modern icons like Ashutosh Rana, Vijay Raj, and Shivaji Satam. Their collective effort, guided by the direction of Raj Acharya, has resulted in remarkable performances that enrich the narrative and bring the characters to life on screen. The collaboration among cast members and the director has been instrumental in creating a cohesive and compelling portrayal of the story, adding layers of complexity and authenticity to the overall production.

The setting of Mumbai plays almost a character-like role in your book. How was this atmospheric element captured in the film? Were there specific locations in Mahim Mumbai that were crucial to the series?

The city of Bombay holds a unique charm due to its proximity to the sea, which plays a significant role as a character in itself. The dynamic relationship between the city and the sea is akin to an ongoing conversation, with each influencing the other in various ways. At times, the sea displays its powerful presence through raging storms that cause flooding and wash up vast amounts of debris that we humans have discarded into it. Yet, there are also moments of tranquility and gentleness when the seas breezes kiss the shores of Mahim Beach, adding a sense of serenity to the landscape. The dark sands of Mahim Beach serve as a backdrop for a myriad of activities and interactions that reflect the diverse tapestry of life in Bombay. From young lovers finding quiet moments among the stones to sex workers conducting their business, and hawkers selling their wares, the beach becomes a melting pot of human experiences and stories. I recall a poignant memory from my youth, witnessing a child running towards the sea with his mother lagging behind, only to be saved by a kind soul from the midst of sex workers who intervened and brought the child back to safety. This moment encapsulated the intricate intersections of lives and narratives that unfold against the backdrop of the sea. Incorporating such rich and vivid scenes into my work proved challenging yet inspiring, as I sought to capture the essence of these powerful moments. The visual elements of the sea, the bustling activities on the beach, and the subtle nuances of daily life all contribute to the tapestry of Bombays character. The art of capturing these moments on camera, often referred to as b-roll, holds a vital role in enhancing the storytelling by adding layers of depth and atmosphere. Just like the carefully chosen adjectives that writers use to paint vivid pictures of scenes and characters, the visual details of the sea, rocks, and fleeting interactions on Mahim Beach all serve to illuminate and enrich the narrative, creating a kaleidoscope of experiences that define the essence of Bombay.

The theme of honey trapping is central to the plot. How did you research this sensitive topic, and what do you hope the audience takes away from its portrayal in the series?

The concept of honey traps relies heavily on shame as a coercive tool, but it loses its power when individuals refuse to be swayed by societal expectations. If someone were to respond to a honey trap attempt with a lack of shame and a firm refusal to comply, the trap would fail as the threat of exposing their actions holds no weight. This tactic often escalates to threats of revealing the situation to ones family, exploiting the prevalent culture of shame and secrecy surrounding sexuality in our society.

In my work translating the book Cobalt Blue, which portrays a taboo relationship between siblings, I witnessed firsthand how the silence and shame around sexuality can lead to tragic consequences. The narrative beautifully captures the complexities of forbidden love and the deep-seated cultural norms that contribute to the characters struggles and eventual downfall. The unspoken societal rules and expectations create a breeding ground for such tragedies to unfold, highlighting the detrimental impact of shame and silence on personal relationships.

I firmly believe that our cultures tendency towards silence and shame surrounding sexuality needs to be addressed and transformed. It is essential for future generations to cultivate open and honest conversations about sex and sexuality, creating a safe space for individuals to express their experiences and seek support without fear of judgment or retribution. By breaking the cycle of shame and fostering a culture of communication and understanding, we can empower individuals to speak up about their experiences, whether positive or negative, and combat the culture of secrecy that enables sexual predators to thrive unchecked. I am optimistic that change is possible, and it is our collective responsibility to challenge the norms that perpetuate shame and silence regarding sexuality. By promoting inclusivity, empathy, and open dialogue, we can work towards creating a society where individuals feel empowered to discuss and address issues related to sex and relationships without fear of stigma or isolation.

Now that Murder in Mahim has been adapted into a series, do you see more of your works making a similar transition? Are there any projects currently in the works?

Navigating the world of script development and film adaptations can be a complex and uncertain journey. While M and The Big Whom have already been optioned and are in progress, the fate of a script ultimately reaching the screen is unpredictable. The process of selection and greenlighting scripts for production has become increasingly challenging, with many promising projects facing hurdles along the way. The fact that Murder in Mahim has advanced to this stage and is on track for release fills me with immense joy and gratitude. The sheer volume of scripts written far exceeds those that are read and considered for adaptation, making it a competitive and rigorous process. Securing funding for a project is often the biggest obstacle, as investors must see the potential for a profitable return on their investment before committing to a production.

Despite my personal attachment to all my works, the reality of the industry means that only a fraction of scripts make it to the big screen. Each projects journey from script to screen is a lengthy and uncertain one, with various factors influencing its progress and ultimate realization. Securing the necessary financial backing and garnering support from key stakeholders are crucial steps in bringing a script to life in cinematic form. The intricate workings of the film industry often require navigating through established networks and channels, as seen in the example of discussing the adaptation of Helen with Salman Khan. Understanding the dynamics of the industry and building relationships with key figures play a significant role in advancing a project towards production. It is a testament to perseverance, creativity, and collaboration that some scripts successfully transition from the page to the screen, showcasing the resilience and dedication of writers and filmmakers in realizing their creative visions in a challenging and ever-evolving industry.

Finally, what message do you hope viewers will take away from Murder in Mahim?

The core message I hope viewers take away from the film is the profound understanding that love is universal and that embracing compassion and gentleness can pave the way for a more harmonious world. It is crucial for individuals to recognize the interconnectedness of humanity and strive to create a community where kindness and empathy prevail. Parents often envision a world where their children are treated with compassion and respect, but this ideal can only manifest if they extend the same grace towards others children. The process of othering, where individuals are categorized and separated based on superficial differences like skin color, religion, or sexual orientation, perpetuates division and inequality. However, beneath these external distinctions lies a shared humanity that transcends boundaries and unifies us in fundamental ways. Whether its realizing that we share the same blood type and may need each others assistance in times of need, or simply acknowledging that our common experiences and emotions bind us together, we are more alike than we are different. During times marked by division and discord, it becomes increasingly important to emphasize our shared humanity and the values that unite us. By embracing inclusivity, understanding, and a deep sense of interconnectedness, we can work towards a more compassionate and equitable society. It is through recognizing our commonalities and celebrating our diversity that we can foster a community where empathy, respect, and kindness form the foundations of our interactions and relationships.
At least 27 people, including 12 children, were killed after a massive fire broke out at a gaming zone in Gujarats Rajkot city on Saturday evening.

An FIR has been registered in the incident. Rajkot Game Zone manager Nitin Jain and Game Zone partner Yuvraj Singh Solanki have been detained by the police

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has also ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be formed and assigned in order to investigate the entire incident.

Speaking to the media, Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargav said, Fire broke out in the TRP gaming zone in the afternoon. The rescue operations are on. The fire is under control. We are trying to retrieve as many bodies as possible.

#WATCH | Gujarat: A massive fire breaks out at the TRP game zone in Rajkot. Fire tenders on the spot. Further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/f4AJq8jzxX ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024

Speaking on the incident, Rajkot Collector Prabhav Joshi said, We had received the call at around 4.30 pm The temporary structure in the gaming zone had collapsed. The fire was controlled around 2 hours ago. The debris is being removed We are in constant touch with the CM.

Meanwhile, Gujarat DGP directed inspection of all children game zones across the state. All zones operating without valid fire NOC and fire safety equipment have been ordered to be shut immediately, amidst allegations that the TRP gaming zone in Rajkot did not have fire NOC.

PM Modi, Gujarat CM Patel Express Concern

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X and expressed his distress on the unfortunate incident. Taking to his official account, he said, Extremely distressed by the fire mishap in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured. The local administration is working to provide all possible assistance to those affected.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took to X and said that the city administration has been instructed to carry out immediate rescue and relief operations at the game zone.

Instructions have been given to the Municipal Corporation and the administration for immediate rescue and relief operations in the fire incident in the game zone in Rajkot. It has been instructed to prioritise arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured, Patel wrote on X.

In a separate post, CM Patel also expressed his condolences and wrote, The fire tragedy in Rajkot is heart-wrenching. I express my heartfelt condolences to the persons who lost their lives in this incident and their families. I pray to God for speedy recovery of the injured. The state government will provide Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand to the injured.

It is very important to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. Any kind of negligence will not be entertained in this event. In this regard, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed and assigned to investigate the entire incident, he added.

State Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi also reacted to the incident and said, Many families have lost their children in this incident I am going to Rajkot right now. The SIT will start its investigation tonight. The administrator and the manager have been arrested. A meeting will take place after visiting the fire spot and the action will start tonight. PM Modi has also taken the details from the CMMembers of the SIT are ordered to reach Rajokto by 3 am The CM will be provided with the details tonight itself.

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The alleged murder of a Bangladeshi MP, who came to Kolkata this month for his medical treatment, is not less than a potboiler, which has all the elements of money, betrayal and honeytrap.

Although Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azims body is yet to be recovered, the West Bengal Police and Dhaka Police, in parallel probes, have arrested a woman and a butcher along with two others who allegedly chopped his body into small pieces and threw them at different locations of Kolkata.

The plot to kill the 56-year-old three-time MP from Awami League was set some months ago when 24-year-old butcher Jihad Hawladar, an illegal immigrant, was brought from Mumbai to Kolkata by a US citizen of Bangladeshi origin and Azims close friend, Akhtaruzzaman.

Sources told News18 that the MP was lured by a 24-year-old woman, identified as Silasti Rehman, now arrested, who took him to a New Town flat in Kolkata. She had then allegedly used chloroform on him to make him unconscious. A pillow was also used to smother him to death before being skinned and chopped into pieces by the butcher and three others.

They deskinned his entire body at the flat, chopped it, added turmeric powder to delay decomposition and put it inside plastic bags, according to a police officer. The washroom was cleaned with acid to erase the evidence. Then, they took the bags out of the flat, used different transports to dispose of the body pieces within the city limits.

The accused used more than one car to confuse the police. The Bangladeshi MP was picked up by one car and brought to New Town in another.

The accused butcher has confessed to the police that he and three other Bangladeshi nationals carried out the job as per the orders of Akhtaruzzaman.

On Friday, the West Bengal CID along with the accused tried to search for the remnants of the body but could not find them. They will resume their search again on Saturday.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police produced Hawaldar in a Barasat court on Friday, while three arrested persons, including the woman suspect Rehman, were taken to the Mahanagar sessions judge court.

Who is Akhtaruzzaman?

The Bangladesh security officials and West Bengal CID believe that the plan to kill Azim was devised by Akhtaruzzaman alias Shaheen, the younger brother of the mayor of Kotchandpur Municipality in Jhenaidah.

He reportedly paid the contract killers Rs 4 crore Bangladeshi taka to carry out the crime.

Akhtaruzzaman is believed to have fled India after Azims murder in the flat on May 13, a day after the MP arrived in Kolkata for the medical treatment.

Sources in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police say Azim and Akhtaruzzaman were childhood friends and were business partners in gold. They fell out over money involved in the business.

Akhtaruzzaman reportedly rented the New Town apartment in Kolkata for Rs 1 lakh on April 25. After some five days, he moved into the flat with a woman and a member of a Left extremist organisation. On May 13, two men picked up the MP and brought him to the New Town flat and smothered him to death.

It was on May 18 that Gopal Biswas, the long-term associate of Azim, filed a missing person report after he and the MPs daughter tried contacting him upon receiving text messages purportedly from Azim that he was in New Delhi for some work.

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With peak summer time, Maharashtra is facing a growing heat and water scarcity challenge. With reservoirs serving Mumbai showing signs of depletion, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stepped in with a plan to cut water usage by 5 per cent.

The aim is to counter the declining water levels and ensure enough supply for residents. This move, set to roll out by the end of the month, reflects the BMC's proactive approach to managing the situation and safeguarding water resources.

While BMC will begin with a 5 per cent reduction in the Mumbai Metropolitan City areas from May 30, 2024, it will be followed by a 10 per cent cut from June 5. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to implement a 5 per cent water cut in the Mumbai Metropolitan City (BMC jurisdiction) from Thursday, May 30, 2024, and a 10 per cent water cut from Wednesday, June 5, 2024, as a precautionary measure to ensure that the stock is used for as long as possible, the statement read.

It further added that the administration will keep a close watch on the water stock and check the supply in a planned manner every day. BMC also informed that the water cut will remain in force until there is satisfactory rainfall and an improvement in stocks.

Mumbaikars have no reason to panic. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration humbly appeals to all citizens to use water judiciously. By adopting water-saving measures, Mumbaikars should save as much water as possible, use water judiciously, and cooperate with the efforts of the municipal administration, it added.

https://x.com/mybmc/status/1794232684119458272

Presently, a total of 1,40,202 million litres of water are available in the dams that supply water to Mumbai. Only 9.69 per cent of the water stock is available, as against the 14,47,363 million litres per year requirement.

On the other hand, rural areas in the state are also facing similar issues due to the complete drying up of water sources and the reduction in storage. Only 24.24 per cent of water is left in the dams across the state, only 9.87 per cent in Marathwada and 18.54 per cent in eastern Maharashtra, states a Mumbai Live report. This is causing trouble for milk-producing farmers, prompting a demand to start fodder camps immediately.

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A passenger was arrested for allegedly attempting to open the door of an IndiGo flight mid-air just before it was about to land in Hyderabad.

According to the police, the 29-year-old passenger had allegedly consumed bhang before boarding the flight. He also argued with the airline staff minutes before the flight was to land at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad.

The man was arrested following a complaint lodged by the airline staff. The incident occurred on May 21 but came to light on Friday.

When the flight departed from Indore, the crew noticed the mans unusual behavior and relocated him to a different seat. After a while, he insisted on sitting next to his two friends, with whom he had traveled to Indore on a pilgrimage. After the crew relented, he behaved normally for a while but subsequently misbehaved with a passenger, as per TOI report.

The man was moving in the aisle without reason when the aircraft was in the air despite being warned. When the pilot was getting ready to land, he went to open the door, RGIA inspector K Balaraju told the publication.

The airline staff and some co-passengers tried to stop him from opening the door after noticing his weird behaviour.

The accused, Anil Patil, a resident of Chandragirinagar in Gajularamaram, had gone to Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh with his friends.

Patil is reportedly suffering from health issues, and medical reports were submitted. Considering this, station bail was granted to him, a police official at RGI Airport Police Station said on Friday.

(With inputs from PTI)

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The Pune police are set to provide security to the family driver of the 17-year-old minor who allegedly fatally knocked down two persons with his Porsche. The driver will also be made a key witness in the case, according to sources.

The move came after the driver approved the Yerawada police with a separate complaint against the teens grandfather and father alleging pressure from the Agarwal family to take the blame for the accident.

The Pune police have arrested the minors grandfather for alleged wrongful confinement of their family driver. The teenagers father Vishal Agarwal, who is in judicial custody in connection with the car accident, has also been named in this case, he said.

The two have been booked under IPC sections 365 (kidnapping with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person) and 368 (wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement).

Sources said that now police will seek production remand of Vishal Agrawal in this new case.

Police are also doing site reconstruction and recording statements of all witnesses in the case.

Pune Porsche Crash: What We Know So Far| Top Points

Meanwhile, residents of Kalyani Nagar, where the accident took place, are organising a silent candlelight protest against the administrations inaction to curb rampant violations arising out of late-night activities in residential areas. During the vigil, residents will also pay homage to two techies who lost their lives in the accident.

Police have also registered a case against the rapper, who uploaded that video (which was claimed to be that of the teenager) and against the creator of the cyber account where it was posted. A video purportedly featuring the minor, boasting about how he got away with the accident, went viral recently.

Hours after Pune Police suspended two policemen for alleged dereliction of duty in connection with the May 19 car crash in which a Porsche driven by a 17-year-old youngster killed two techies from Madhya Pradesh, the investigation of the case was transferred to the crime branch from the Yerawada police station on Friday evening.

According to Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, the investigation was transferred to the crime branch to bring a coordinated approach.

The crime branch was already investigating the offence registered against the father of the juvenile and owner and staffers of two liquor serving establishments (which the teenager had allegedly visited before the accident), he noted.

Elsewhere, the Madhya Pradesh-based parents of the two IT professionals who were killed in the accident on May 19 demanded that the Supreme Court monitor the probe and that the trial be held in their state.

A Pune court on Friday remanded Vishal Agarwal, father of the minor allegedly involved in a car crash and five other accused in the case in judicial custody till June 7. Agarwal and the other five accused were produced before additional sessions judge S P Ponkshe after their police custody came to an end.

The other accused are Naman Bhutada, owner of Cosie Restaurant, its manager Sachin Katkar; manager of Black Club Sandip Sangale and its employees Jayesh Gavkar and Nitesh Shevani.

The prosecution had demanded an extension of their police custody for further probe. But the court remanded Agarwal and others including the owner and employees of two liquor-serving establishments  where the teenager had allegedly consumed alcohol before his Porsche car knocked down two software professionals on a motorbike  in judicial custody instead.

Agarwal, a real estate developer, was arrested under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, while the others were booked for allegedly 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 , despite knowing that his son did not have a valid driving license, Agarwal (50) gave him the car, thus endangering the teenagers life, and allowed him to party even when Agarwal knew that he consumed liquor.

During the hearing on Friday, the prosecution while seeking an extension of the police custody told the court that Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC has been added to the charges against Agarwal over non-payment of RTO fees towards the Porsches registration.

Attempts were made to make it appear that the minor was not at the wheel and some adult person was driving the car at the time of the accident in the early hours of May 19, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had said earlier.

There was enough evidence showing that the teenager was driving the car, police commissioner Amitesh Kumar told reporters.

We have the CCTV footage of him (juvenile) drinking liquor in the pub..He was fully in his senses, he had full knowledge that due to his conduct, such an accident, where IPC section 304 is applicable, can happen, Kumar said. Section 304 deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The two officersInspector Rahul Jagdale and Assistant Inspector Vishwanath Todkar both attached to the Yerawada police station under which Kalyaninagar falls, were suspended on Friday.

According to officials, Jagdale and Todkar were present in the police station at the time of the accident at around 2.30 a.m. on May 19. They have been accused of dereliction of duty besides not alerting their senior officers about the major mishap that has sparked a nationwide furore.

In a related development, hundreds of bar and pub owners in Pune demonstrated wearing black T-shirts against the clampdown on their businesses, saying the move would render over 60,000 people unemployed, making it difficult for them to take care of their families.

They also slammed the demands by various Opposition parties, including the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (SP), CPM, and other social groups to ban bars/pubs for flouting rules and regulations.

The demonstrations came after the Pune authorities initiated city-wide action against more than 40 bars and pubs for violating different rules and regulations following Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis stern warning earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said stringent action should be taken in the car crash case in Pune, in which a 17-year-old accused fatally knocked down two persons.

Details of the Accident

The Porsche car, allegedly driven by the teenager, 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 May 19.

The teenager, son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal (50), was subsequently produced before the JJB which granted him bail hours later. Police later approached the JJB again, seeking a review of its order.

Following an outcry over quick bail, the JJB May 22 remanded the boy to the observation home till June 5.

The Child-in-Conflict with Law (CCL) was immediately sent to the Nehru Udyog Kendra observation home, located at Yerawada, where he is staying with the other CCLs.

The police have already arrested the teenagers father, who is a prominent city-based builder.

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Two persons were arrested in Assams Dhubri district on Saturday for their alleged involvement in betting during IPL matches, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, the Special Task Force (STF) apprehended the two persons from their homes in the Bilasipara area.

Those arrested were identified as Sahidul Islam and Mozidul Islam, police said.

Among the items seized from them were five mobile phones, passbooks of three different banks, a chequebook and PAN cards.

The duo was handed to the Bilasipara police station by the STF for further action.

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Deepika Padukone has been the target of vicious trolling ever since she revealed a bit of her baby bump on a recent outing in Mumbai. Some people on social media have called her baby bump fake. Ignoring the whispers, the diva made her first public appearance when she attended her brands launch event at a mall.

She was sighted in a stunning, bright yellow summer dress from the shelves of the designer duo Gauri and Nainika. The vibrant flowy dress perfectly complemented her radiant and infectious smile. Styled by Shaleena Nathani, Deepika carefully accessorized her outfit with elegant white drop earrings, adding a touch of sophistication to her look.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shaleena Nathani (@shaleenanathani)

When it came to her makeup, she carefully selected a slightly darker eyeshadow that complemented the different tones in her hazel eyes, enhancing their depth and adding a captivating allure. The nude pink lip colour she chose not only provided a subtle and elegant finish but also subtly emphasized the natural fullness of her lips.

Additionally, she delicately applied a hint of blush to the high points of her cheekbones, blending it seamlessly to create a soft, healthy flush. To complete the look, she added a touch of highlighter to the high points of her face, such as the cheekbones and brow bones, resulting in a natural, radiant glow that enhanced her features.

Deepika Padukone uploaded many photos and videos on her Instagram Stories and also went live on the social media platform. The soon-to-be mom giggled and struck a few postures while showing off her gorgeous yellow outfit. Later, she uploaded a brief video of herself marketing her skincare line, 82E.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by   (@deepikapadukone)

Paparazzi pounced quickly on the scene and captured DP in her elementwhich is effortlessly elegant. Paparazzo Viral Bhayani posted a video of Deepika arriving at a venue, meeting and greeting everyone in attendance.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

In September, Deepika and her husband, actor Ranveer Singh, will welcome their first child. The couple stepped out to vote in the Lok Sabha elections fifth phase on Monday. It was her first public appearance sporting her baby bump. Some social media users body-shamed her after her photos took over the internet.

Deepika will next appear in Singham Again, the third instalment of Rohit Shettys cop franchise. She will play the role of Lady Singham amid a star-studded ensemble cast including Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Akshay Kumar and Arjun Kapoor.

Fans will also see her in the sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, which stars Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, and Disha Patani. In addition, she will star in The Intern alongside Amitabh Bachchan.
Priyanka Chopras sartorial prowess remains unquestionable at all times. Her wardrobe collections boast variety and versatility. Be it a chic fit or a traditional silhouette, she carries both with grace in equal measure. Recently, the global icon treated fans with another stunning avatar, leaving them impressed. Priyanka attended a glittery Bulgari event in the heart of Rome, where the fashion accessory brand unveiled the luxury Bvlgari Aeterna High Jewellery and High-End Watches collection. For her second look at the event, the actress exuded chic feminine vibes in a black sequinned gown, tailored by Italian label Giorgio Armani.

Priyanka Chopra spelled magic in the sleeveless ensemble, featuring a deep plunging neckline and halter straps. The figure-hugging number hugged her at all the right places, cascading down into a floor-grazing train. Doused with ample sequins, the outfits risque quotient came from the back slit. But the structured waist, incorporated with pockets delivered the x-factor. Priyanka teamed up the stunning wonder with a diamond choker, encrusted with sapphire. Dainty teardrop earrings, a bangle, and a sapphire-embellished statement ringaall from Bulgaro wrapped up her accessory game.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lifestyle Asia India (@lifestyleasiaindia)

For makeup, Priyanka Chopra chose bold contour strokes with a hint of blush to enhance her cheeks. Plump brown lips, coupled with dramatic smokey eyes, comprising a stroke of eyeliner, a dash of kajal, mascara-coated lashes, and blackish-grey eyeshadow, sculpted her face to brilliance. Her wavy tresses were left open in all their glory. Offering the finishing touches to her glamorous OOTD were a pair of black strappy stilettos from the shelves of Christian Louboutin.

Marking her name in the good books of the fashion police once again, Priyanka Chopra attended the 140th anniversary of Bulgari in a custom cream and black gown from the Del Core label. The off-shoulder and wing neckline bodice boasted a corseted fit with a butterfly-shaped hem. The figure-hugging skirt, crafted from sheer silk created a pool of fabric below. Adding an extra dose of oomph was the mini train. Stealing the show, however, was the Serpenti Aeterna necklace, embellished with 140 carats of diamonds. Short tresses sealed her look to perfection.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BVLGARI Official (@bvlgari)

Have you decided your favourite Priyanka Chopra look?
As Europes summer approaches, travel insights from digital travel platform Agoda reveal that Asia is a top choice for European globetrotters. Asia not only ranks as the most popular non-European region, but its popularity is increasing compared to last year, with Agoda noting 52% more accommodation searches by Europeans for travel to Asia. Interestingly, Agoda noted 26% more accommodation searches by Europeans for travel to India.

According to Agodas data, the top destinations in Asia for European travelers are Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan respectively, followed by Malaysia and the Philippines. This reflects the wide appeal of Asian destinations to travelers with a variety of interests. Whether seeking the vibrant street life and historic sites in Bangkok or riding the rolling waves on the surf-friendly coasts of Bali, European tourists are looking to explore what Asia has on offer. The European markets with the most searches for travel to Asia are the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands.

India ranks as the ninth most popular destination for Europeans. Accommodations in India are most searched for by travelers from the United Kingdom, followed by holiday-goers from Germany, Spain, France, and the Netherlands.

Krishna Rathi, Senior Country Director India Subcontinent, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, Agoda shared, The increase in searches compared to last year indicates Asias growing popularity as a holiday destination among Europeans. The effects of this trend are visible not only in Southeast Asia and Japan but also in India. Its great to see more and more Europeans exploring these amazing destinations during their getaway periods.

Lonavala, New Delhi, and Chennai are the most searched locales in India by Europeans. These destinations offer a mix of leisure, adventure, and cultural experiences, appealing to travelers seeking to make the most of their long-distance summer holiday.

Travelers continue to plan and prepare for their next adventure. Agoda is committed to helping them see the world for less with great value deals on over four million holiday properties worldwide, plus flights and activities.
News / National

by Staff reporter

One of the strategic pillars that anchor the 2nd Republic's developmental agenda under Vision 2030 is innovation, science and technology. Prioritization of the digital economy and the emerging importance of technology in our day to day activities requires Government to lead from pic.twitter.com/o8icGPMHcM  President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) May 25, 2024

In line with Vision 2030, the 2nd Republic's developmental agenda prioritizes innovation, science, and technology as crucial pillars for progress, Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa said in a statement on X.The increasing significance of the digital economy necessitates that the government fosters an environment conducive to technological investment.In a significant development, the President has announced the approval of Starlink's licensing by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).Starlink, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operator owned by SpaceX and spearheaded by prominent billionaire Elon Musk, will provide advanced internet and digital services in Zimbabwe through its exclusive local partner, IMC Communications (Pvt) Ltd.The introduction of Starlink into Zimbabwe's digital telecommunications sector is poised to bring high-speed, low-cost LEO internet infrastructure across the nation, with a particular focus on rural areas.This initiative aligns with the government's commitment to ensuring that no one and no place is left behind. The confidence shown by Starlink in investing in Zimbabwe's telecommunications infrastructure echoes the 2nd Republic's mantra, "Zimbabwe is open for business."The President encourages further foreign investment in Zimbabwe, emphasizing the country's status as a preferred investment destination.On behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe, the President congratulates IMC Communications (Pvt) Ltd and Starlink on achieving this significant milestone. Such strategic investments are fundamental to realizing the 2nd Republic's goal of transforming Zimbabwe into a fully digitalized, upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Despite their illustrious careers, one thing has not been going well for Brad Pitt and his former wife Angelina Jolie for quite a few years. The events of their personal lives, relationships, weddings, divorce and subsequent legal battles with each other have always been in the public eye. Hollywood has already been abuzz with their ongoing legal battle over their French winery, Chateau Miraval, which has only intensified the rift and impacted their family dynamics. Now, adding to that, things are not looking good for Brad Pitt.

According to reports, the couples children have started to distance themselves from their father by dropping his name. The couple share six children: Shiloh, Zahara, Vivienne, Knox, Pax and Maddox. Growing up in the spotlight amid their parents highly publicised disputes has taken its toll on the children.

The strained relationship between the once-celebrated Hollywood couple has evidently affected their kids, prompting them to take steps to distance themselves from their father. Most recently, 15-year-old Vivienne made headlines for reportedly dropping Pitt from her name. In the Playbill credits for The Outsiders, a Broadway play she assisted with earlier this year, her name appeared as Vivienne Jolie, according to reports from OK Magazine.

Despite these actions, there have also been reports that Brad Pitt is trying to maintain a good relationship with his children. According to a source in InTouch, Pitt has been meeting his kids regularly and making efforts to rebuild their relationship. However, the actions of his children, such as dropping his name, suggest otherwise.

Vivienne is not the first to do so; her older sisters, Zahara and Shiloh, have also taken similar steps. Zahara introduced herself at a Spelman College sorority event without using Pitt as her surname, informs OK Magazine. Reportedly, her sister Shilohs private Instagram account, as seen in a dance video tagged by choreographer Lil Kellaan Carter, shows her name as Shi Jolie.
Actress and Trinamool Congress MP Nusrat Jahan, known for delivering hits in the Bengali film industry, has often been in the limelight for both her personal and professional lives. Her life seems to be an ongoing film series embroiled in multifaceted controversies, ranging from personal to professional. Each episode adds a layer of complexity, thereby making her one of the most talked-about figures in the industry.

The beauty won the title of Miss Kolkata Fair-One Beauty Pageant in 2010, after which she started her modelling career. She debuted in Tollywood in 2011 with the film Shotru opposite Jeet. After this, she carved a niche for herself with hit films like Har Har Byomkesh and Zulfiqar.

In 2019, Nusrat Jahan took a career break and stepped into the political world as TMC leader and Member of Parliament (MP) from Basirhat.

On the personal front, she tied the knot to businessman Nikhil Jain on June 19, 2019, in a private ceremony in Turkey. After a few days of marriage, an argument broke out between the two, and it is needless to say her personal life has been the subject of public interest. The saga of controversies fueled by her marriage with Nikhil Jain took a significant turn in November 2021. A Kolkata court declared their wedding invalid under Indian law as it was conducted according to Turkish laws.

It is worth noting that Nusrat earlier accused Nikhil Jain of holding her belongings, including family jewellery and other assets, illegally. She also alleged that her funds had been mishandled from various accounts without her knowledge. This decision marked the end of a long-running dispute between the duo.

Later, the controversy intensified when Nusrat broke the news about her pregnancy in June 2021. Amidst this tumultuous storm, Nikhil Jain cleared the air by saying that he was not the father of Nusrats child, sparking another controversy. Social media was rife with speculation when rumours spread like wildfire that the 34-year-old actress was dating actor and West Bengal Assembly poll candidate Yash Dasgupta.

The madly-in-love duo embraced parenthood on August 21, 2021, and were blessed with a baby boy whom they lovingly named Yishaan J Dasgupta.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali ventured into the OTT space with his highly-anticipated web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. One unexpected outcome of the show was the spotlight cast on his niece, Sharmin Segal, who plays Alamzeb in the gilded series. Sharmin Segal was put on the chopping block for her expressionless acting and monotone delivery. Now, casting director Shruti Mahajan has jumped to Sharmins defence.

Shruti told India Today, You cant please everyone. Also, given the field that we are in, there are all kinds of feedback. One has to take it all with a pinch of salt and move on. You have to keep working on your craft and continue to give your 100 per cent. Its a packaged deal, and one has to move on. We know what we have done, and the hard work weve put in, and one has to respect that. As for criticism, I think one learns to take it in their stride, just as we take in love.

Speaking about the narrative of casting star kids over other actors, Shruti said, You cannot take things like this personally. Casting is purely done based on the script and the directors vision. We only want actors who can enhance the project. And ultimately, it all boils down to what the audience expects from that project. I have not learnt to cast from a school but honed my skills over a period of time.

I am a self-proclaimed movie buff. I always cast as an audience, someone who you would like to watch in that part. Sometimes its a larger-than-life film, at times you want gritty performances. I think when a project is well received, thats the end of such discussions. Also, one needs to understand its a movie business. The more one project works, the more we can produce, she said.

When asked if the criticism around an actors casting makes her doubt her choices, she said, Its a learning process. I never question it, but I do learn from every film and every director. Theres a new script, new energy, new understanding, new vision Its always a process, and you just get better with time.

Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Heeramandi was released on Netflix on May 1. Its stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Richa Chadha and Sharmin Segal in the lead. It also features Farheen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman and Adhyayan Suman in key roles.
Jeremy Renner is back in action! A year and a half after his snowplow accident, the Hollywood star is set to return with the much-anticipated third season of Mayor of Kingstown. Dropping a special video on social media, Paramount+ shared glimpses from the action-packed web series while confirming its release date. Promising more stunts and drama this season, Mayor of Kingstown 3 will premiere on June 2 on the streaming platform.

More stunts. More drama. @jeremyrenner is back in business. #MayorOfKingstown season 3 premieres June 2, only on #ParamountPlus! the caption read.

The video showcased intriguing clips from the series, primarily highlighting Renner engaged in intense stunts and action sequences as new players and Russians enter the fray. The MCU star will return as Mike McLusky, a member of a powerful family in the prison town of Kingstown, Michigan.

As the new clips suggest, pressure is building as Mika will stand against a new enemy in the face of the Russian mob amid the drug war raging inside the prison walls. Things will get even more complicated after a familiar face from the past threatens to undermine the Mayors efforts to bring peace.

Jeremy Renner Feels Great To Be Back In Action

Feels great to be back. We just went through a strike, and everything went through an accident. Its nice to get the gang back together. A soldier never leaves the battle, Renner says in the video. The actor also shared how he did some violent stunt work. Its surprising that I was even able to attempt it, for me personally. I wasnt sure I was going to be capable of it. No injuries, but I mightve hurt Hughs feelings, he joked.

Executive producer Hugh Dillon, who also plays a significant role in season 3, shared details about Renners return and the show. From where Jeremy was to where we are now and watching what he does, its a joy to be part of it, he said. Hugh also revealed that the actor did some of his own stunts and is a must-watch.

In addition to the candid details, Renner also spoke about what fans can expect in the upcoming season, including Russian power coming into play and Merle Callahans arrival as things get bigger and more intense.

Everything about this show is a cinematic marvel, they add.

Co-created by Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, Mayor of Kingstowns third season will also star Taylor Handley, Emma Laird, Tobi Bamtefa, Derek Webster, Nishi Munshi and Hamish Allan-Headley among others.
Dattu More, famed for his role in Maharashtrachi HasyaJatra, married Swati Ghunage last year. The couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary recently, and well wishes poured in from all corners for the duo. On this special occasion, Dattu Mores wife gave him a lovely present to make this day even more memorable. The actors wife gifted him his dream bike on their anniversary.

Sharing about the heartfelt gift he received from Swati Ghunage on Instagram, Dattu More wrote, And finally, this isAnniversary giftThank you so much bayko. He also shared a video which showed the duo visiting the automobile showroom. The bike can be seen kept in the centre, wrapped under a cloth. The duo then remove the cloth to reveal the actors dream bike. Dattu More is later seen posing with it as well. Fans were also quite excited to see the one-of-a-kind gift and congratulated the couple.

Last year, in May, the actor surprised his fans by sharing photographs from his wedding and announcing that he was married. Dattu wore an ivory and crimson sherwani for the occasion, while Swati looked stunning in a blue traditional saree. Later, in an interview with a local media, Dattu, about his love story. He said, We met 4-5 years ago through a common friend in Pune and had a very casual acquaintance.

Dattu stated that they were connected through Facebook and remained friends for two years without actually talking. When Maharashtrachi Hasya Jatra premiered, Swati saw him on the show and messaged him, and they began conversing, but it was only informal greetings in the beginning. The actor further revealed that when they first spoke, Swati had recently finished her masters degree and was preoccupied with her professional life. Even he was quite occupied with his shoots. Swati, on the other hand, shared that she admired Dattus nature and how he supported her profession. Swati developed feelings for the actor as they began to chat more, but she did not express them since she was too focused on her career. Gradually, they both fell in love as their acquaintance with each other increased.

Dattu became a prominent face with his stint in Maharashtrachi HasyaJatra, On the show, he performs a variety of roles and characters which has resonated well with the audience.
Pakistani actress Hania Aamir and Badhshahs friendship caught everyones attention after they were seen partying together and interacting on social media frequently. Netizens began speculating that the two might even be dating. However, Hania Aamir said in a recent chat that they are good friends. The two have always maintained that they share a close friendship.

In an interview with BBC Asian Network, Hania was asked about her current favourite song. She mentioned God Damn by Badshah, Hiten, and Karan Aujla. It was then said that she might be mentioning Badshahs song because of their friendship. Haroon Rashid said, Badshah is your mate, and some people think youre in a relationship. youre just adding fuel to the fire. This left Hania in splits. She said, No, its a great song. I sometimes think my only problem is that Im not married. If I was I would be away from so many of these rumours.

Speaking about her friendship with Badshah, Hania said, Thats a personal question. It was just Instagram. On one of my crazy Reels, he commented something and my friend went like, I think Badshah commented on your post. I said, Really? and then I looked at it. He had DMed me so we just spoke a little bit. Badshah is a great friend.

She added, He is such a nice, simple human being apart from his Badshah persona. He is a really nice person and he is just so real. I think thats one thing thats common and thats why were friends. To be honest, if Im feeling low, if Im not posting that much, he would inquire, Whats wrong, what happened? So that also happens.

Hania is a popular Pakistani star who became a household name after Titli. She has done projects like Phir Wohi Mohabbat, Na Maloon Afraad 2 and Parwaaz Hai Junoon. She maintains an active social media presence and often gives fans an insight into her life. She sparked dating rumours with Badshah after the duo were spotted stepping out for dinner multiple times in a week in Dubai.

Last year, Badshah was involved in dating rumours with Mrunal Thakur. A video went viral showing them holding hands while they headed to the party. A couple of days after the bash, Badshah took to his Instagram Stories and shared a statement, clarifying that he is not dating Mrunal. While the rapper did not mention her name, he said that the internet has got it all wrong. Dear internet, sorry to disappoint you yet again but jaisa aap soch rahe hai waisa nahi hai (laughing emoji), he wrote.
Piyush Mishra, the actor-writer, clarified that he was never officially cast as the main star in Sooraj Barjatyas romantic film, Maine Pyar Kiya, the movie that propelled Salman Khan to fame. Mishra mentioned that he was only considered for the role during initial discussions, before any decisions were made. In an interview with The Lallantop last year, Mishra shared that although he was in discussions for the film, nothing came to fruition, leading to Salman ultimately taking on the lead role in the 1989 musical romance drama.

Reflecting on his past statements, Piyush Mishra mentioned in a recent interview that the possibility of being cast in Maine Pyar Kiya wasnt a significant event since he had not officially signed on for the film. During a conversation with Zoom, Mishra recalled a time when he was being considered for the role back when he was a student at the National School of Drama.

He explained, But it wasnt that I had become a star or I had landed that part. It was an early discussion, and I was majorly considered by Sooraj Barjatyas father. He had come to meet me; he didnt cast me as such. I was in third year when this had happened. It wasnt that big a deal at all, I dont know why it was blown out of proportion, that I was just on the brink of becoming a star but then couldnt. Arey baba nahi yaar.

He continued, But it wasnt that I had become a star or I had landed that part. It was an early discussion, and I was majorly considered by Sooraj Barjatyas father. He had come to meet me; he didnt cast me as such. I was in third year when this had happened. It wasnt that big a deal at all, I dont know why it was blown out of proportion, that I was just on the brink of becoming a star but then couldnt. Arey baba nahi yaar.

Piyush Mishra mentioned that many individuals attempted to goad him into exploiting the situation by asserting that Salman Khan took over his role in the film, a claim he stated was simply incorrect. The multifaceted writer-actor-director expressed his current satisfaction in not landing the opportunity, realizing that he may not have been equipped to handle the sudden fame.

He stated, They wanted me to claim the role was taken away from me. But that isnt true. I went on to work a lot after that. If by chance I had landed the opportunity, I would have bagged that big a chance prematurely, at an age when I was perhaps not ready mentally, physically or emotionally. I was a 26-year-old boy then, I could not have handled the success. Mera dimaag ud jaata. I would not have been to handle that kind of stardom, and I accept it. I was not ready for it, so it is good this didnt happen with me.

The film Maine Pyar Kiya, starring Salman Khan and Bhagyashree, was a massive hit upon its release and remains one of Bollywoods most enduring romantic classics. Sooraj Barjatya went on to collaborate with Khan on several other successful projects like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Hum Saath-Saath Hain, and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali ventured into the OTT space with his highly-anticipated web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. One unexpected outcome of the show was the spotlight cast on his niece, Sharmin Segal, who plays Alamzeb in the gilded series. Sharmin Segal was put on the chopping block for her expressionless acting and monotone delivery. However, Bhansali feels that Sharmin was perfect for the role.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali told India Today, She has a face which is exactly what Alamzeb should be, somebody who doesnt want to be a tawaif, she doesnt talk like a tawaif, she doesnt walk like a tawaif. Her face had innocence, whereas all the others had lived life, they had survived manipulation and mental games. You needed somebody with a fresh, innocent quality to her I felt that Sharmin was the right choice for Alam not because shes my niece.

He continued, She had to go through the grind. There were an innumerable number of tests, auditions. Theres no end to the number of tests Ive done with her, after Ive decided to cast her. I told her, You have to go through the grind, you have to get it right, because this world youve never been to, youve never acted in. All these other actors have worked over a period of time, theyve played characters like this and have understood all these nakhras and thumkas and the nazakat

If you get the casting right, half the battle is won. People say, Dont you think you need bigger stars? I said, No, these are fantastic actors, and I need actors. I feel we should get rid of the star system, he added.

Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Heeramandi was released on Netflix on May 1. Its stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Richa Chadha and Sharmin Segal in the lead. It also features Farheen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman and Adhyayan Suman in key roles.

His upcoming project is the film Love & War, starring Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal. Officially announced in January 2024, SLB recently provided an update on the movies music during an interview, revealing that he has composed a song for it.

The film reunites Bhansali and Ranbir Kapoor after 17 years and marks the filmmakers first film with Vicky Kaushal. Bhansali reunites with Alia Bhatt after the success of Gangubai Kathiawadi. With Love and War, Ranbir and Vicky reunite on the big screen after Sanju and Ranbir and Alia are paired together after Brahmastra. The film is slated to release on Christmas 2025.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have claimed a crucial victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2, securing their place in the final with a 36-run win at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Chennai.

The win flared a flood of hilarious and creative memes on social media, capturing the essence of the match and the emotional rollercoaster ride for fans and players alike.

That risk of bowling Shabhaz to Jaiswal when he was in full flow and giving Abhi to Hetmyer despite hid poor record vs Leftys and all of these providing good returns. That's Pat Cummins captaincy for you.  Go well @patcummins30 #OrangeArmy #SRHvsRRpic.twitter.com/wFXWkbtUXn  Sunrisers Army (@srhorangearmy) May 24, 2024

Money CAN buy happiness pic.twitter.com/jvReG7xeLi Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 24, 2024

God has put all the skills, brains, height, health, looks and luck in one man. Regular humans just cannot compete with god's favourite child pic.twitter.com/x7eToZMPn1 Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 24, 2024

Yuvraj Singh watching Abhishek Sharma's all round performance pic.twitter.com/FQObi9mUAQ Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 24, 2024

Batting first, SRH posted a score of 175 for 9, thanks to Heinrich Klaasens 50 runs. Despite a shaky start, SRH managed to pull ahead with some key partnerships and strategic play.

It was their bowling that shone, particularly Shahbaz Ahmed, who took three wickets for 23 runs and Abhishek Sharma, who bagged two for 24 runs. RRs reply was nipped in the bud by SRHs spin attack, with Dhruv Jurels valiant 56 not out off 35 balls standing out in an otherwise poor performance by the batters.

The meme barrage begins with one that acknowledges Dhruv Jurels solo effort, portraying him as a lone warrior fighting a losing battle as wickets keep falling around him. His 56 not out was heroic but ultimately futile, prompting fans to share memes portraying him as a lone knight on a chaotic battlefield.

Sanju Samson and his team existed in Playoffs just to eliminate RCB and satisfy CSK  pic.twitter.com/TMbR0tmFzV Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) May 24, 2024

SRH will move to the finals with huge confidence after a spectacular win but KKR will be confident going into their match against SRH. KKR also beat SRH by 4 runs in the league stage this season. The Kolkata-based side also has an excellent overall record against the Hyderabad side ahead of their 28th faceoff in the IPL.

Another set of memes highlighted the plight of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and humorously questioned why SRH reached the final despite KKRs recent convincing win over them. The memes highlighted the incredulity of KKR fans that SRH has come back so strongly.

After Adam Gilchrist and David Warner, now there is a chance for Pat Cummins to become the 3rd Aussie captain to win the IPL trophy for Hyderabad. pic.twitter.com/hzxXER2FhX R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) May 24, 2024

These posts portrayed SRH as a rejuvenated team with renewed confidence and strength to challenge any opponent in the final.

This tagline from the ad is perfect for IPL 2024 pic.twitter.com/aRsoZ7HdV5 Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 24, 2024

Also, SRH fans continued to praise Pat Cummins, their captain, for leading the team to the final. Cummins, who joined SRH this season for a big buck, has been instrumental in getting the team back on track after three poor seasons.

Besides, there is another meme that is going viral where Harshit Rana gives a flying kiss to Mayank Agarwal after getting his wicket in the reverse fixture. Now, SRH fans are anticipating revenge on Harshit Rana in the IPL finals.
Earlier seasons of Karan Johars popular chat show, Koffee with Karan, are known for celebrities giving their unfiltered opinions on their colleagues lives. Some of these opinions can also be quite controversial. As such, Sanjay Dutt, during an appearance with Anil Kapoor, once said that Madhuri Dixit should stop acting and go back to the US to take care of her kids. The clip has resurfaced on Reddit and gone viral in no time.

During the show, Karan Johar mentioned how Madhuri Dixit developed a different accent when she moved to the US. This left Anil Kapoor surprised. When Karan asked Sanjay if he was updated about Madhuri, he denied it.

Anil Kapoor then said, We (him and Sanjay) both have a I dont know about him, but I have a soft corner for Madhuri. I cannot take any criticism about Madhuri Dixit. Karan said, Of course, hes (Sanjay) had a soft corner for Madhuri Dixit. Karan clarified that he wasnt criticising Madhuri and Karan mentioned how the word accent implied a certain critique on his part.

Anil Kapoor said, We (him and Sanjay) still love Madhuri. Karan then asked Sanjay, You still love her? Sanjay replied, Of course. Karan asked, Have you met her? Shes back in town. Sanjay said, No, yeah I heard. I just want to tell her to go home and take care of the kids. Be with the children, abhi kya acting karni hai?

Anil Kapoor retorted, Aise mat kar yaar, Sanjay. Aise kyu bhej raha hai? Karan Johar then jokingly said that there is a Madhuri Dixit factor between Anil and Sanjay. Anil said, Actually the only time I was jealous of Sanjay was that time. Karan asked, Because of the rumours between Sanju and Madhuri? Which we never confirmed on record by the way. They were just good friend.

Karan asked Sanjay, Were you just good friends? Sanjay said, Good friends, yeah Im very happy that shes settled and Ive met the kids We did that India Day parade in Chicago and I met the kids.

Several years later, Sanjay and Madhuri worked opposite each other in Kalank. The 2019 film was made under Karan Johars Dharma Productions banner. It marked Madhuri and Sanjays reunion on screen. The film also featured Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha and Aditya Roy Kapur in the lead.
India, with its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and diverse ecosystems, has long been a magnet for spiritual and scenic tourism. However, the surge in population and the subsequent overcrowding at popular destinations pose significant challenges. Lets explore the interplay between population growth, over-tourism, and the need for a population control bill.

India stands as a nation of stark contrasts where breathtaking landscapes like Khardung La in Ladakh and sacred sites like Kedarnath, a part of the Char Dham pilgrimage, are juxtaposed against the backdrop of an ever-growing population. Recent years have seen these iconic destinations grappling with severe overcrowding, raising alarms over sustainability and environmental degradation.

Just a couple of days ago, there were headlines of photos of kilometres-long queues on the Khardung La-Nubra Valley highway in all the newspapers and TV channels. A victim of its own majesty, Khardung La Pass, renowned as one of the highest motorable roads in the world, has witnessed a significant surge in tourist influx. While it offers an unparalleled experience, this has led to traffic jams and environmental concerns. The regions delicate ecosystem is under threat due to increased pollution and waste management challenges as heaps of plastic garbage can be seen at every nook and corner of all the hill stations. We are aware that even organic waste cannot be recycled naturally due to the weather conditions.

The Char Dham yatra, with Kedarnath as a pivotal destination, has seen record-breaking pilgrim footfall. In 2022, 46,27,292 pilgrims visited, while in 2023 that number surged to over 56 lakh, demonstrating a steep increase. The increasing numbers are despite the massive catastrophe in 2013 which led to the death of thousands of pilgrims in a single day at Kedarnath Valley.

Reports indicate that over 1.60 lakh pilgrims visiting Kedarnath on May 10, the temples opening day, led to chaos and strain on local resources. This surge has not only caused severe logistical strain but also raised health and safety concerns. The geographic challenges seem to be dwarfed by the faith, it seems. The narrow walkways, where pilgrims walk on foot alongside mules and mule-drawn carts (baggis) risk life. Some pictures showing the crowded, narrow walk were frightening, highlighting the potential for disaster should a mishap occur.

The resultsreports of melting glaciers, reduced snowfall, lower rainfall, and severe cloudburstsare sometimes the consequences of our misdoings in the upper Himalayas, the Shivalik range of Himachal and Uttarakhand, and the Zanskar and Pir Panjal mountain ranges, which are lifelines to our nation. The Shivalik range of the lower Himalayas, for example, is the biggest victim of our actions, suffering from garbage and solid and liquid waste pollution. Wildfires are among the greatest threats to the environment and the flora and fauna in this area. The heaps of plastic waste dumped by overcrowding tourists catch fire every year, burning millions of kilometres of forest land and its ecology.

Though the government has undertaken significant efforts to strengthen road infrastructure and infrastructure around pilgrimage sites, including the all-weather road for the Char Dham Yatra, corridors like Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Mahakal Corridor, Somnath Mandir, Ambaji, and Pavagarh Mandir in Gujarat are a few great examples of the interest and efforts of the current administration. These efforts demonstrate that India is poised to improve temple infrastructure and reinvent the ancient temple economy. However, these efforts may still seem insufficient given the large population to cater to. Clean restrooms, clean surroundings, and adequate accommodations around these pilgrimage sites remain a challenge due to the immense footfall, making every effort appear minimal.

What are the solutions? What is the way forward to tackle these ever-growing issues?

The government needs to propose limiting the number of pilgrims or tourists allowed each season. Additionally, the number of visits an individual can make to a particular pilgrimage site in their lifetime should be limited. While the population continues to grow, the roads and tracks remain unchanged. Controlling the number of visitors will result in better facilities and a more satisfying pilgrimage experience, rather than a brief, rushed visit after the long journey to get there. The Population Control Bill is a legislative step forward in response to these challenges. India proposed the Population Control Bill in 2019, aiming to incentivise couples to limit their families to two children through benefits such as educational perks, home loans, better employment opportunities, healthcare advantages, and tax cuts. For those with a single child, additional incentives included four extra increments, free healthcare, and education for the child until age 20. Rebates on utilities and house tax were also proposed for adhering to the two-child policy. Though withdrawn in 2022, the bill ignited a nationwide debate on the urgent need for population management, with many expressing support for its aims.

The Road Ahead

Indias struggle with population growth is not just about numbers; its about managing resources sustainably to preserve its natural wonders for future generations. As we look towards legislative solutions like the Population Control Bill and infrastructural improvements at and around pilgrimage sites and tourist hotspots, its clear that a multi-faceted approach is needed to address this complex issue.

Religious and spiritual leaders must take the lead in advising and educating their followers on the potential hazards of population growth. The teachings of the scriptures about the conservation of natural resources should also be disseminated through preachings. Followers should be reminded of the reasons behind worshipping mountains, rivers, trees, and forest animals. The health of our environment is crucial to the existence of humanity. No species can survive in desolate or extremely harsh environments. Only by recognising our interconnectedness with nature can we keep this planet safe and sustainable for future generations.

In conclusion, while Indias population growth presents significant challenges, it also offers an opportunity for innovative solutions that balance development with conservation. In the Western world, infrastructure remains intact and well-maintained because of minimal footfalls; infrastructure laid down in the 1930s is still adequate even 50 years later. The smaller the population, the better the environment and public infrastructure, and hence, a higher quality of life.

We, the people of India, must proactively embrace self-improvement and population control measures to enhance our quality of life. Otherwise, we risk bequeathing a polluted, chaotic, and unhealthy society to future generations. The path forward requires collective action from policymakers, religious leaders, citizens, and tourists alike to ensure that Indias natural and cultural heritage remains intact for years to come.

Gopal Goswami PhD, is a social worker, researcher and columnist, writes on Gio-Politics, Policy, Dharma and Islamic matters. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
I had been meaning to write about the cowardice of Indian journalists while covering the Indian Muslim community and Muslim areas and pockets in various cities as we went to polls, phase after phase. Coverage after coverage I saw the usual suspects (Left-leaning media portals) dishing out the usual drivel of how Muslims were under a genocide in India, marginalised, discriminated against, etc.

In the rare event that some progressive Muslims were bold enough to state some things obvious and realistic, the footage got lost in the echo chambers of the liberal journos masquerading as objective media reporting from the ground. Or the clips were sensationalised for TRP ratings depending on which camp could get whatever mileage out of the vox pops.

I was waiting for a bold, fresh, analytical journalist or reporter to pose questions that fact-checking agenda activists never pose to the Muslim community. If those uncomfortable questions come from a reporter of Hindu heritage, the term Islamophobia is conveniently flung around and the said media person backs off. If the critically demanding questions are posed by reformers and dissenters of Muslim heritage, they are easily labelled Right-wing and dismissed.

In between all this, Sreemoy Talukdar, Senior Editor at Firstpost, posed a question on X (formerly Twitter), which I believe was rhetorical, Why are liberals so scared of Islamists? My answer was, Because Islamists give the liberals cause for relevancy and a reason to exist on their moral high ground. Supporting Islamists openly or covertly massages their conscience into an oblivious state that they are doing all they can for social justice without getting into dangerous territories of female genital mutilation (FGM), honour killing, child brides, wife beating, polygamy, and uncomfortable questions on discrepancies in the holy scriptures and reform in sharia laws.

I included liberals from both Muslim and Hindu heritage in this convenient omission and selective outrage.

Farhan Jeffery, a counterterrorism expert and Depuy Director of the Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism (ITCT) based out of the UK, also joined the thread, saying Another angle is that many Western hard leftists are spineless and spoiled brats who havent seen a day of harsh realities of life and who definitely wont survive a week in Gaza. Many of them know exactly who Islamists are and what they are capable of. And they are genuinely scared of Islamists. So they figure that allying with them will save their skin. I mean thats what Iranian leftists thought when they allied with the mullahs for a while  until the mullahs started butchering them.

He further elaborated, I have many friends among leftists. Some of them, who are public figures, are not at all like their public personas as they appear in private discussions. I suppose they have their reasons  some want to fit in while others want to keep intact old friendships in leftist media circles and still others are just generally weak people and cannot hold their own. So on and so forth.

Farhan was talking in the context of the pro-Hamas protests on the US campuses which laid bare the anti-Semitism displayed by students, even incidents of assault and harassment of Jewish students. The ineffectual attempts of college management and authoritarian figures to call out the hatred against Jews and the contempt for the hostages in Hamas confinement, made it obvious to everyone around the world that insidious Islamism had spread via the Left-leaning liberal academicians.

Farhans insights are quite similar to my own experience when talking to the Indian liberals and the Left, offline or online. They do not walk their talk, preferring to maintain their secular credentials in their circles in the context of the Indian subcontinents post-independence scenario where for seven decades, Muslim appeasement and their participation in the oppression Olympics was encouraged, right down to whitewashing the Islamic invasions and conquest of Hind in history textbooks.

However, the motivation of Pakistani and Bangladeshi liberals is something I have not quite been able to fathom, considering they live in deadly conditions, as opposed to the complacency our liberals have due to the freedoms that Indias liberal democracy provides.

Working with some of the above-mentioned Left-leaning journalists who are liberal, it amuses me how some of these, who have a more relaxed approach to personal life and work style, are fiercely protective of moderate Muslims and Islamists. Their job is to question, yet they will never venture into dangerous areas of questioning them about religious-sanctioned domestic violence, sexual abuse, triple talaq, nikah-halala, muta marriages, child brides, FGM, honour killings, mandatory hijab and the burqa and scores of such regressive practices among Muslims.

These liberals never analyse the misogynist Sharia laws. They dont question why daughters get less than sons, or why widows are disinherited if their fathers-in-law were alive when their husbands died and scores of such injustices which the male Muslim elite and mullahs uphold. The double standards of the liberals of Hindu heritage are obvious when they hail the reforms in the Hindu Marriage Act and the Hindu Code bills but resist any reform bringing in the UCC. They also inevitably end up supporting the moderates opposed to UCC under the pretext of attacks on Muslim identity.

Liberals, or lets call them by their correct label, fiberals, never enquire why Iranian, Afghan, Turkish, and Egyptian women and men are usually protesting against their Islamist regimes. They never dive deeper into the causes of the 2011 Arab Spring protests nor do they follow up with enquiries about countries like Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Iraq, and Bahrain, to see if the reforms brought in by the respective regimes and monarchs have made a difference to the lives of the people who were at the forefront of those protests.

To top it all, liberals who dont dare to do what Muslim reformers do, wont even let them do their work. Instead, they will leech on to the most scheming group i.e., the Muslim Brotherhood, which coined the word Islamophobia to shut down criticism, and debate about these very regressive practices and join the Islamists in condemning the Muslim reformers as Right-wing and collaborators.

The entire Left-liberal academia ecosystem lost its moorings completely when it praised the Taliban despite their treatment of school girls, women, musicians and anyone dissenting against their brand of Islam. They even term the ethnic cleansing of indigenous Kashmiri Pandits by Pakistan-sponsored Kashmiri terrorists as decolonisation, settler-colonialism and occupation, terms extended to the October 7 Hamas raids justifying the rape, executions, kidnappings and holding hostages of Israeli (Jews, Christians, Druze Muslims) women, men, children and babies.

So why are liberals scared of the Islamists? Well, the moderates have learned to be suave and speak the politically correct incorrect language of modernity, quality and inclusivity, hence it takes time to see them for their actual aspirations of Islamic or Muslim supremacy. But sooner or later, they inevitably trip while debating humanistic values and the masks come off. This back and forth is a civilisation discourse that modern cultural wars and modernity will have to put up with for the next millennium.

It is the Islamists who create this psychosis within the liberals with their boorish behaviour, their penchant for calling heads off at a slight pretext (sar tan se juda) and the terror they inflict on their fellow Muslims via censorship, cancel culture and blatant threats of wajib ul qatl (justification for murder) for not being Muslim enough (takfirism).

Any decent individual likes civility and abhors horror which comes with Islamists shrilly declaring people Islamophobic for so much as questioning or expressing dissent with radical political Islam. In todays charged-up campus atmosphere, and with the Left going out of the way to appease the Muslim victimhood, being called racist or a hatemonger is not something a person who wants social justice looks forward to. Hence, the road most travelled. It is easy to thrive in the anti-Semitic, anti-India or anti-Hindu ecosystem with Western funds and billionaires ready to sponsor you.

It takes courage to go and interview the women affected by instant triple talaq or Sharia laws or polygamy or as child brides. It is cowardice never to investigate the FGM prevailing in the Dawoodi Bohra communities, for the eradication of which Asghar Ali Engineer dedicated his life and for which Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the fiery author, is still lambasted while the liberals (Reza Aslan) intellectualise FGM as an African cultural and social evil that somehow infiltrated Islam.

It has become fashionable to appear contrarian and dismiss facts while appealing to the secularism of the majority, and in the course of it, malign the reformers of Muslim heritage. Deracinated Hindus, Sikhs show solidarity with Islamists forgetting the bloody past and the Muslim-on-Muslim terror happening since 632 AD, which continues to this day. Some have personal rebellions with their families, nihilistic attitudes, non-conformity issues with their societies and alliance with Islamists or giving them cover fire is their way of finding meaning in their lives. Some are indeed paid agenda activists or anarchist disruptors!

What they do not realise is that their political correctness costs us Muslims and does a great disservice to the memories of those who lost their lives expressing their dissent against Islam, and while committing heresy, forever crushing the absent space for critical thinking and rationality.

The author is a writer and an educationist from Srinagar. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Spice is nice. In fact, for much of the world, it is nicer and nicer these days. Adding chilli flakes to everything from soup to pizzas is no longer an Indian obsession but an international phenomenon. The love affair that started with black pepper in Roman times has now expanded to the entire garam masala pantheon, with the five Cscinnamon, cloves, cardamom, coriander and cuminnow as ubiquitous as parsley, thyme, and rosemary. So why give spice a bad name and ban it?

Even if people are no longer familiar with the original idiom, there is no doubting there is a witch-hunt for Indian spices after Singapore and Hong Kong red-flagged products of two Indian brands last month because of the alleged presence of ethylene oxide (EtO). The narrative has been picked up suo motu by concerned authorities in other countries, including the UK, Nepal, New Zealand and Australia, though the view on the use of EtO is far from uniform around the world.

Last week, Indias food standards regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said that no trace of EtO has been found in samples of spices tested by 28 accredited Indian laboratories from the two major brands MDH and Everest that Singapore and Hongkong hauled up for alleged carcinogenic residue. The Indian products that had been targeted were MDHs Madras Curry Powder, Curry Powder and Sambhar Masala and Everests Fish Curry Masala.

Fumigating spices and sterilising medical equipment are among the minor uses of EtO; it is actually widely used in the production of plastics, detergents, solvents, thickeners and organic chemicals like ethylene glycol (used for anti-freeze and polyester fibre) and other compounds. Colourless and sweet-smelling, EtO is flammable, extremely explosive carcinogenic, mutagenic and irritating at room temperatures, therefore it is usually transported as a refrigerated liquid.

Despite being a major manufacturer of EtO, European Union countries have banned it. But the US, which is a huge market for Indian masalas, allows it. In fact, the American Spice Trade Association reiterated to the Spices Board of India that EtO is approved in the US within specific limits. And Indian authorities have pointed out that international standards for safe EtO levels vary from 0.73 per cent to 7 per cent. India has now pressed for the formulation of more uniform standards.

The Spices Board has also issued guidelines to exporters including Maximum Residue Limits and also suggested alternatives. But if EtO is not used, spices exported to the US will have a higher chance of not meeting FDA food safety standards. And according to data available up to 2022, India remains the biggest source of spices for the US at $65.2 million, followed by China ($62.5 million), Turkey ($34.3 million), Peru ($31.3 million), and Spain ($28.6 million).

Now the latest nation to sputter about the safety of Indian spices is the UK, whose Food Standards Agency (FSA) has called for extra controls on spices imported from India (triggered by Singapore and Hong Kong) though it has NOT found any dangerous residues. The largest source of spices for the UK is China at 22 per cent, closely followed by India at 17.7 per cent (the opposite of their ranks in the US market) with Pakistan a distant third at 7 per cent. So, who benefits from Indias spice travails?

With the worlds palate primed for Asian spices, the importance of India in that sphere has naturally increased. India is the largest producer of red chilliflaked or otherwisealthough Vietnam now produces roughly four times as much black pepper (the worlds most popular spice) as India. But overall, India was still the worlds top spice exporter in 2023 at $4.25 billion; so, who or what would benefit from any bans or hindrances for Indian products can easily be guessed.

Intriguingly, the main problem with imported spices in the UK is not EtO residues but adulteration, with black pepper and oregano topping the list of tampered seasonings according to an FSA report released this February. And not many know that India is one of the largest producers and exporters of oregano now, though the biggest is New Zealand. So could oregano become the next spice to be roasted by foreign authorities, causing discomfiture to Indian exporters?

Interestingly, in August 2023, the EU banned vanilla extract from the US because of EtO and demanded testing and certification before the spice was shipped. But there are no provisions for that in the US. Even more curiously, while cracking down on spices from Indian brands, the Singapore authorities press note added, Although there is no immediate risk to consumption of food contaminated with low levels of ethylene oxide, long-term exposure may lead to health issues.

According to available information, workers at facilities manufacturing or using EtO are at the highest risk; the very small levels of residue that may be found in spices or medical equipment sterilised with it carry correspondingly lower chances of serious health hazards unless there is sustained exposure. To that extent, increasing the safety levels for staff at spice sterilisation facilities certainly should be a priority for Indian exporters, in order to maintain their primacy.

That really begs the question of why Singapore and Hong Kong took such drastic action against Indian spices, whose residues (if any) would have been minimalthat is, within specified safety limitsprobably caused by contact at the factory with batches heading for the US. If the move results in distrust of Indian brands, it can cause a drastic fall in exports. A definite pattern appears to be emerging.

As India maintains its overall leadership position in the spice world, and as international palates warm even more to garam masalas, new hurdles will appear periodically. Indias Spices Board has already initiated measures to deal with EtO residues (if any) but concerns will undoubtedly be raised about sustainable practices, labour standards, quality and more. Murmurs can already be heard. India has to anticipate these inevitable challenges and take steps proactively.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview to CNN-News18 has said he misses having a strong opposition and this is a pain in his heart. He was asked about the perception that there is no strong opposition against him, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has not been able to challenge him. Modi did not choose to comment on Gandhi specifically but said he has not got a strong opposition in the last 10 years as PM.

In a democracy, it is very important that there is a strong opposition, which keeps the government on the swords edge and on its toes, such an opposition is very necessary. There is no absence of talent in this country and they should get an opportunity. I thought that in 2014 to 2024 that I should have got a strong opposition, if there is one thing missing in my life, it is that of a good opposition, PM Modi said in the interview.

Modi said he did not get any positive contribution from the Congress. They had run the government for 60 years, so I thought I would ask them for advice on their way out so that I would get help. Till Pranab Mukherjee was there, I benefitted from him as he used to share his experience. But I got no benefit from the opposition. I gained only from my party colleagues and from my experience as Gujarat CM, he said.

Modi also told CNN-News18 that the opposition had been in no way of any use to him. They were so full of negativity that decisions in countrys interest were opposed by them for political benefit though they were once in their manifestos. This is a big concern. In a big democracy like India, there should be a strong opposition, an aware opposition, an active opposition, well-read and well-informed, this benefits all. When I was the Gujarat CM, our opposition was good. Now the condition is not good, this is a pain in my heart, the Prime Minister told CNN-News18.

The PM also mentioned how he had been abused by his opponents for over two decades, and cover pages of magazines had earlier painted him like a demon. The Khan Market gang and some in the media were always after me. I never lost my patience and calm. Now they have to put my smiling face on the cover. I perform my responsibility, the Prime Minister said.

It would be good if there are boundaries in utterances in public life and decent words used. One can criticise but criticise in a good way. We can also do mistakes but why should I preach to everyone. In India, the situation is not good on this front, the Prime Minister told CNN-News18.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
Amid the ongoing probe into the allegations levelled against Arvind Kejriwals close aide Bibhav Kumar by AAP MP Swati Maliwal, the Delhi Chief Minister on Saturday maintained his silence on the issue and said that he wasnt present when the incident happened. Kejriwal further clarified his stance stating that the police are investigating two versions of the incident and he is awaiting the courts response on the matter.

The AAP supremo further dodged questions related to ongoing controversy regarding Swati Maliwals allegations against his aide Bibhav and refused to comment anything till court orders.

Delhi police have two versions of the incident  one of Swati Maliwal ji and the other of Bibhav. I am sure that the police will investigate the matter without any bias, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was quoted as saying during an interview with India TV.

Refusing to comment on the issue, the Delhi Chief Minister said, I would wait for the court orders. The matter is sub-judice and I would not like to comment on it. I am waiting for the courts order. We all will accept the courts decision.

Im Still Traumatised: Swati Maliwal Recalls Assault At CMs Residence

Meanwhile, Swati Maliwal during an exclusive interview with CNN-News18 recalled her horrific experience of the alleged assault at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence and said that she is still traumatised and anxious.

I am not doing well, I feel anxious. I wake up with a sick feeling in my stomach. The moment I am alone I feel anxious and scared. I am feeling a lot of pain and going through a lot of trauma, Maliwal said, adding, I have handled 1,70,000 cases being DCW chairperson, I have talked to survivors, but I did not fully understand it till now. It will take a lifetime for me to recover, as it was done by my friends.

Bibhav Kumar In Judicial Custody Till May 28

Nearly five days after Swati Maliwal alleged that she was assaulted at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals residence, the Delhi Police on May 18 arrested Bibhav Kumar and remanded him in police custody for five days.

A Delhi court on Friday in connection with the alleged Swati Maliwal assault case extended the judicial custody of Bibhav for four more days till May 28.

On May 13, Maliwal called the Delhi Police and reported that she was first stopped from meeting the Chief Minister and then assaulted at his residence by his aide bibhav Kumar. While she did not initially file a complaint, a first information report (FIR) was registered on May 16.

The incident has started a massive political battle between the AAP and BJP with the former claiming that Maliwal acted on the behest of the BJP to malign the partys image, while the latter is questioning the safety of women in the national capital.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule, Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase And Much More At News18 Website
OpenAI recently rolled out its latest multimodal large language model, GPT-4o, in the market. Despite the model being freely available on the web, ChatGPTs mobile app has driven the companys biggest-ever spike in revenue and also the most revenue in a single day ever since the models launch, according to a report by AppFigures. Though the tech giant claimed that the GPT-4o would be offered to users on its free tier, that promise hasnt stretched to include users of its ChatGPT mobile app as of yet.

In the first week, mobile users were being pushed to upgrade to ChatGPTs monthly subscription of $19.99 (Rs 1,661) and ChatGPT Plus if they wanted to experiment with OpenAIs most recent launch. This decision increased demand for subscriptions among mobile users and led to the biggest-ever revenue spike the company has yet seen on mobile devices.

ChatGPTs mobile revenue jumped by 22 per cent on the day GPT-4o was announced and continued to grow. This technical innovation is also pushing more users to upgrade to OpenAIs paid subscription, as per new data from app intelligence firm Appfigures.

Its net revenue skyrocketed from a daily average of $491,000 (approximately Rs 4 crore) to nearly $900,000 (Rs 7 crore). Notably, this turned out to be the most revenue that the ChatGPT-maker app has seen in a single day since its launch, the report adds.

Before this, ChatGPTs second-biggest spike was seen in April. The AI startup earned a total of $4.2 million in net revenue from the App Store and Google Play from May 13 to May 17. Apples App Store contributed the majority of the new revenue, at 81 per cent, and the US was the top market, accounting for $1.8 million in revenue.

Other top countries included Germany ($282,000), the UK ($212,000), Japan ($210,000), France ($147,000), Canada ($134,000), Korea ($123,000), Brazil ($117,000), and Australia ($102,000).

As of now, OpenAI offers GPT-4o on its website for free with time limitations. However, mobile app users have to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus to access the new model.

OpenAIs GPT-4o, which launched on May 13, comes with multiple improvements over GPT-4. It is capable of handling text, video, speech, and a range of emotive voice options and delivers real-time responsiveness, making it a more powerful model than what was offered earlier. GPT-4o also supports the ability to upload documents and screenshots for insight and more.
Days after celebrating his one-year anniversary in the country, Eric Garcetti  the US Ambassador to India  is now on his first official trip to Bengaluru. While the purpose behind his visit is to explore the Silicon Valley of India and the ISRO headquarters, Garcetti shared a video seeking a tour guide from his followers on X (formerly known as Twitter). He sought advice on the places that he should see and the local delicacies that he must try during his stay.

Namaskara Bengaluru! I am excited to explore the Silicon Valley of India and home of the #USIndia space programme. As I get ready for my trip, Im curious to know whats the must-see sight & one dish I absolutely cant miss while Im there? the diplomat wrote.

Namaskara Bengaluru! I am excited to explore the Silicon Valley of India and home of #USIndia space program. As I get ready for my trip, I'm curious to know what's the must-see sight & one dish I absolutely can't miss while I'm there? #USIndiaFWD #USIndiaFWDforSpace pic.twitter.com/hhLxpHMNwj U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti (@USAmbIndia) May 24, 2024

Addressing all the Bengaloreans, Garcetti began his video with a traditional Namaskara and said, I hope you are doing well, and I am so excited to be headed on my first official trip as Ambassador to Bengaluru. So I want your advice. What are the places I should see? What is the food that I should eat? What are the experiences I should have?

His little Kannada touch in the video makes it even more interesting. While social media users flooded the comment section with a lot of suggestions, DK Suresh, Congress MP for Bengaluru also reacted and suggested Garcetti try Masala Dosa. Welcome to #NammaBengaluru @USAmbIndia. Bengaluru is truly a paradise, while youre here enjoy a crispy Masala Dosa and soak in the beauty of the Vidhana Soudha! he wrote.

Welcome to #NammaBengaluru @USAmbIndia.Bengaluru is truly a paradise, while you're here enjoy a crispy Masala Dose and soak in the beauty of the Vidhana Soudha!  DK Suresh (@DKSureshINC) May 24, 2024

Another user suggested that he should visit the popular Rameshwaram Cafe and try Podi Idli. A user commented, Dont forget to visit Kammanahalli Great choices for food.. home to students and families of many countries.. you are an Ambassador with a difference.

One gave a detailed itinerary and wrote, Begin with Bengalurus food joints.The famous Darshini. A healthy breakfast beginning from idli, vada, dosa with strong filter coffee is where it starts. Then go around the temples of Basavanagudi and Malleshwaram to know the history of this great city.

Following his arrival, the ambassador paid a visit to ISRO and met chairman Somanath S, highlighting the ongoing cooperation between India and the US in the field of space. Former Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, was sworn in as the US Ambassador to India in 2023.
Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India visited the headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru on May 24. He had an interaction with ISRO Chairman and Secretary Dr S Somanath. Somanath was the driving force behind the success of Indias Chandrayaan-3 mission. Under his leadership alongside other ISRO members, the spacecraft made a smooth landing on the Moons southern pole. Eric Garcettis formal meet-up with S Somanath was of great importance as the visit marked the ongoing space collaboration between the United States and India.

Sharing a set of pictures from the occasion on X (formerly Twitter), Eric Garcetti said that he was honoured to meet S Somanath in person. Honored to meet ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath and team! From advancing the NISAR satellite to fostering human spaceflight and promoting commercial space endeavors, the US-India Space commitment stands strong and is advancing our shared goals within the #USIndia Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), read his note.

Honored to meet @ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath and team! From advancing #NISAR satellite to fostering human spaceflight and promoting commercial space endeavors, the #USIndiaSpace commitment stands strong and is advancing our shared goals within the #USIndia Initiative on pic.twitter.com/UqaI1K5sZt U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti (@USAmbIndia) May 25, 2024

The photographs captured Eric Garcetti shaking hands with one of the ISRO members. The US Ambassador to India took a stroll inside the ISRO premises, watching the intergalactic and space-oriented illustrations keenly.

As per the official press release, the ISRO delegations and Eric Garcetti engaged in discussions about the objectives and common interests of India and the US in the advancing sectors of technology, space science and space industry. Talks centered around Chandrayaan-3s Laser Reflectometer Array implementation, the active affiliations through several Joint Working Groups, NISAR and the Artemis Accord among others.

Eric Garcetti heaped praise on ISROs umpteen contributions to international space exploration as well as their past achievements. Talking about the future plans, both parties agreed on introducing space specialists to visit each others countries. They also gave their consent to continuing balloon tests and identifying milestone events. ISRO emphasised the need for easy accessibility to crucial supplies and components to speed up cooperative missions.

Eric Garcetti wrapped up his ISRO visit with the promise to forge a deeper and strengthened bond between India and the US in the space field. Both parties look forward to their upcoming collaborative ventures.
Tesla CEO Eon Musk reportedly used ketamine and had an affair with Nicole Shanahan, a lawyer and former wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, according to a New York Times report. In 2021, Shanahan hosted a birthday party at a club in New York, which was also attended by Musk, a longtime friend of Brin. That same year, the two of them crossed paths again at a private party in Miami that Musks brother, Kimbal Musk, hosted in connection with the Art Basel festival. At the party, the SpaceX founder and Shanahan took ketamine together and disappeared for several hours, multiple people present at the event have told The New York Times.

Three of the people claimed that Shanahan even confessed to her then-husband Brin that she had sex with Musk.

Citing court documents, the NYT report further states that Brin and Shanahan separated from each other about two weeks after the party, while he filed for divorce the next year (2022), citing irreconcilable differences.

Both Musk and Shanahan have denied the affairs.

In an interview with People magazine last year, Shanahan said, Did Elon and I have sex, like it was a moment of passion, and then it was over? No. Did we have a romantic relationship? No. We didnt have an affair.

She claimed that her career has been based on academic and intellectual credibility, adding that she was being shamed internationally for being a cheater. To be known because of a sexual act is one of the most humiliating things it was utterly debilitating, she said.

Who is Nicole Shanahan?

Shanahan, a 38-year-old California resident, formerly worked as a lawyer in Silicon Valley. She is Independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jrs running mate in the US presidential polls slated for November this year.

Shanahan had a substantial financial reserve to support his campaign. She received the majority of that fortune  which is claimed to be worth over $1 billion  as a settlement of her divorce from Brin. NYT said that she has used her money to support Kennedys candidature, contributing $10 million to a pro-Kennedy super PAC.

According to Forbes, Brin is among the wealthiest individuals in the world with an estimated net worth of $139.5 billion.
How often have you typed a name that isnt Anglo-Saxon in origin only to have tech devices inform you that its actually wrong by showing a red zigzag line underneath? The list is endless, but some examples include Deepika becoming Deepest and Soha becoming Sofa due to autocorrect. Now, many people in the UK who have had their names incorrectly translated by autocorrect have pleaded with IT firms to finally address the issue. As part of the I am not a typo campaign, people with Welsh, Irish and Indian names are some of those requesting changes to the computer and phone operating systems.

According to a report by The Guardian, Savan-Chandni Gandecha, one of the participants, had their name autocorrected to Satan. The British daily newspaper was informed by Gandecha that it is important that technology becomes more inclusive.

The British Indian content creator also expressed her annoyance at having their name automatically altered to Savan or having internet forms reject the hyphen. Even in India my name gets corrected to Sawan, and its not just an English issue. Its a multi-language thing, the person added.

According to reports, the campaign claimed that when checked in Microsofts English dictionary, four out of 10 baby names born in England and Wales in 2021 were marked as wrong or not accepted.

The campaign group, which was founded by a group of individuals employed in Londons creative sectors, sent an open letter to IT companies pointing out that 2,328 persons with the name Esmae were born between 2017 and 2021, compared to 36 Nigels. Although Nigel is unchanged, Esmae is autocorrected to Admar.

According to Gandecha, autocorrect favours Western and white names even though the general majority has a wide variety of names.

A non-profit group called People Like Us launched a billboard campaign last year that called attention to autocorrect bias favouring British origin and connected the matter to the ethnic wage gap.

Supporters of the most recent initiative include Rashmi Dyal-Chand, a professor at Northeastern University in the US, whose name is occasionally autocorrected to Sashimi.

Dyal-Chand discovered that computer software either corrected names to the closest Anglo namefor example, turning Ayaan to Susan  or to different terms entirely  for example, DeShawn to dash away  in a research paper titled Autocorrecting for Whiteness. In an interview with The Guardian, she said that autocorrect is neither useful nor handy for those with names like hers. It is unhelpful. And yes  it is harmful, the person added.
Sometimes a song on social media goes viral and quickly becomes the talk of the town. Everyone can be seen humming, whether they are on a bus, a train, a road, or a crossroads. But have you ever heard that a song can scare the government of a neighbouring country? In the same instance, a North Korean song was banned by the South Korean media regulator, describing it as a propaganda piece intended to conduct psychological warfare. According to the BBC, a song titled Friendly Father was released in North Korea in April, praising North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He was described as a great leader and a friendly parent. Many of his qualities have been described in the song. As soon as this pop song was released, it went viral on social media platforms and people were seen listening to it everywhere. The lyrics of the song were, Lets sing about Kim Jong Un, Our great leader, Lets boast about Kim Jong Un, Our friendly father.

The video and memes of the song went viral on many social media sites, including TikTok. Seeing the increasing popularity of this song among the people, the South Korean government became alert. The National Intelligence Service has labelled the song a threat to national security and asked the government to immediately ban it. It is also said that the song was made with the intention of waging psychological war and spreading propaganda. After this, the media regulator issued an order to ban the song.

Seouls Korea Communication Standard Commission has issued an order to ban 29 versions of the song. The video is typical content linked to psychological warfare against South Korea, as it was posted on a channel operated to connect with the outside world and mainly focused on unilaterally idolising and glorifying Kim, the commission said in a statement.

According to the law, if someone violates this decision, it could result in up to seven years of jail. While a channel has posted this song, action will be taken against them as well. Let us tell you that ever since Kim Jong Un took charge of North Korea, tension with South Korea has increased. Many times, threats of war have been issued by both sides.
A town in Thailand, plagued by an ever-increasing population of raiding wild monkeys, began an operation against the simian pirates on May 24, utilising deception and ripe tropical fruit. The animals have become a symbol of Lopburi, a hamlet 90 miles north of Bangkok with approximately 2,500 monkeys, and are a major tourist draw.

Authorities in Lopburi, central Thailand, were recently persuaded to lower the animals population after several well-publicised incidents of violence between monkeys and humans. If everything goes according to plan, the majority will serve time in prison before moving on to start new lives, as per reports.

The plans first stage, implemented on May 24, involved baiting cages with the animals favourite food and waiting for hunger to overcome their natural caution. The catchers had an early success on one street, with three macaques falling for the trick and becoming trapped because they wanted a taste of rambutan fruit.

According to Sky News, the cages were placed on the street earlier in the week, so the monkeys became accustomed to them and felt them less dangerous. The capture of the unlucky trio, as well as approximately 30 more who were stranded in other parts of town, reduced the total.

The endeavour will last for five days this month and is likely to be repeated. Some of these monkeys will be released to help Lopburi preserve its reputation as Thailands monkey town, reports added.

With the monkeys intelligence, if some of them go into the cage and are caught, the others outside wont enter the cage to get the food because theyve already learnt whats happened to their friends, Patarapol Maneeorn, Thailands Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation told Sky News.

Authorities began sedating them on Friday to do health checks before cleaning, sterilising and tattooing them so they could be identified for proper records. They will then be transferred to a series of large holding pens, outside the town centre, as they hunt for a permanent home.

As per multiple reports, these monkeys have become increasingly hostile, with videos of them stealing food from residents and injuring them becoming viral.

Chamroen Salacheep, the towns mayor, admitted that while the monkeys attract visitors, they have also harmed trade, with stores and malls losing money and peoples homes being damaged. He described Lopburi as almost an abandoned town.
A woman in California, USA, received an $88,000 fine (roughly Rs 73 lakh) after her children mistakenly collected 72 clams, thinking they were seashells. While on vacation at Pismo Beach, known as the Clam Capital of the World, Charlotte Russs children unknowingly removed the molluscs. A representative from the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Fresno contacted her, revealing that her five kids had been gathering clams without a permit, leaving the woman shocked.

Russ told ABC affiliate KFSN-TV, My kids thought they were collecting seashells, but they were actually collecting clams, 72 to be exact.

Right before we went, thats when I opened it and thats when I saw the amount, stated Russ.

She was given a ticket right away and was subsequently informed that her payment obligation was a little over $88,000. It kind of ruined the trip, she said.

The Department of Fish and Wildlifes Lt. Matthew Gil told the news outlet that the regulations are in place to safeguard the shellfish species.

Gil explained that the rationale for these rules is that they must allow them to reach 4 and a half inches in order for them to reproduce and deliver offspring each year.

Gil stated that before heading ashore, its critical to educate both yourself and your kids.

Its okay if you have a shattered seashell, a dead animal, a dead sand dollar, or anything similar, Gil added.

Pismo clams  what youre gonna see is both shells will be intact together.

He told the news portal that if you cant pull out them by the parts very easily, its a clam.

Russ told KFSN-TV that the youngsters now understand that they should not touch anything at the beach, but they do know what a clam is as opposed to a seashell.

Fortunately, she was able to have the penalty lowered to $500 (over Rs 41,000) after presenting the clam misunderstanding to a San Luis Obispo County court, the news outlet reported.

It was definitely one expensive trip to Pismo, unforgettable, stated Russ.

While Russ acknowledges that there are warnings in place, she wishes there were more since her family, who were excited to enjoy themselves, did not seem to be paying attention to them.
Police in Australia are probing a bakery in Sydney which made a cake featuring Hamas terrorist and propagandist Abu Obeida and Palestinian flags for a four-year-old boy. The cake was made by a company called Oven Bakery by Fufu. The Australian Federal Police have launched a probe.

A Hamas themed birthday party for a 4-year-old in Sydney, Australia. There was even a bakery-bought Hamas style cake. I wonder what was in the party bags And the dress code Were explosive vests optional? pic.twitter.com/JLYj46z1AI Elad Simchayoff (@Elad_Si) May 23, 2024

The bakery also went ahead and uploaded the photos of the cake it baked to social media but deleted those posts following furious backlash which forced it to shut down its Facebook and Instagram pages.

The premier of the Australian state of New South Wales, Chris Minns, called the images that adorned the cake horrifying.

(Hamas is) an evil terrorist organisation. Kids parties should be innocent and fun, not hateful. It is horrifying (that there were cakes with the face of Abu Ubaida on them), Minns was quoted as saying by Australian media outlets. Instead of baked goods celebrating terrorists, we should be celebrating people in our community who are promoting a more cohesive society, Mark Speakman, the leader of the opposition in New South Wales, said.

Abu Ubaida is a pseudonym used by Huzaifa Samir Abdullah al-Kahloot, who is the spokesman for Hamas armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, according to the Israeli army. Very little is known about him and he appears mostly on social media wearing a red keffiyeh scarf and his face masked.

Photos also showed a 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. Abu Ubaida was also seen on the cupcakes that were made for Omars birthday party.

The Australian Jewish Association called it child abuse.

Dressing up a child as a terrorist, including with what appears to be a Hamas headband, is reprehensible and a form of child abuse. Islamic extremism and radicalisation of youth is not just a problem for the Jewish community. Its a threat to all Australians, said Robert Gregory, the chief executive of the Australian Jewish Association.

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, Australian Jewish Associations chief said.

Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said that it was a rare kind of psychosis where small children are taught that Hamas terrorists are to be admired and emulated.

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, he said.

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, Ryvchin further added.

Ubaida often appears in Hamas videos and has been seen on those videos on several occasions following the October 7 attacks. When Israelis launched the retaliatory military campaign, Ubaida had threatened the execution of a captive each time a home in Gaza was bombed without warning.

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The chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Blackstone, the US private equity and real estate giant, has announced support for Donald Trump as a vote for change in the upcoming presidential election in September. Stephen A. Schwarzman on Friday said that he plans to donate to Trump and various Republican Senate candidates, according to US-based outlet Axios.

Schwarzmans backing of Trump grants the former US president access to a formidable network of Republican donors cultivated by the billionaire. Schwarzman, a lifelong moderate Republican and billionaire, had been one of Trumps most visible business supporters during his tenure in the White House.

However, in the lead-up to this years GOP primaries, Schwarzman advocated for a shift towards a new generation of leaders, refraining from endorsing any primary candidate. However, concerns over rising antisemitism, coupled with apprehensions regarding President Joe Bidens policies, prompted Schwarzman to re-embrace Trump.

Ahead of the elections, while some business leaders are gravitating back toward Trump, Blackstone, under Schwarzmans leadership, has maintained a bipartisan stance. In a statement to Axios, Schwarzman underlined the urgency of the upcoming elections, citing the dramatic rise of antisemitism and expressing shared concerns over economic, immigration, and foreign policies veering off course.

He then pledged his support for Trumps presidential bid, alongside backing Republican Senate candidates and other party members across the electoral spectrum. After Trumps defeat in November 2020, Schwarzman urged the former president to acknowledge the outcome. Later, in light of the Republican Partys underwhelming midterm performance, reports surfaced of Schwarzman exploring alternative candidates for the 2024 presidential race.

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The personal assistant of a tech companys CEO claimed that he beheaded his boss to cover his tracks after stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his employer and also to prevent the news of his act from reaching his girlfriend.

Tyrese Haspil, 25, the personal assistant of Fahim Saleh, 33, a venture capitalist and the CEO of Nigeria-based motorbike startup Gokada, claimed to the police that he did not want his French girlfriend, Marine Chaveuz, to find out and leave him and was desperate to cover his tracks.

Haspil forced his way to Salehs $2.4 million Lower East Side apartment, tasered him and then stabbed him to death, his attorney Sam Roberts told jurors at Manhattan Supreme Court.

His attorney is trying to convince a 12-person jury that his client suffered from extreme emotional disturbance that led him to kill. He was worried that his girlfriend would leave him if she found out that he stole $400,000.

He decided that his only two options were suicide or homicide, he chose the latter, Roberts said, according to the New York Post.

Saleh first confronted Haspil about missing money in January 2020 after finding out that $90,000 had disappeared from a corporate spending account.

Saleh found out but declined to press charges because he saw Haspil as his protege and chalked out a payment plan to allow him to pay back the money he stole. However, Haspil continued to steal from Salehs company through a Paypal account, only to be caught again.

Over this period of time, he was planning not only to commit the homicide but to get away with it To cover it up and how to erase his debt and prevent Fahim Saleh from testifying in criminal proceedings, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Ford told the court.

The people familiar with the developments told the newspaper how Haspil may have committed the murder. They said that Haspil allegedly used Salehs credit cards to pay for rides to and from the Home Depot on West 23rd Street to buy supplies for cleaning up after the murder.

He then entered Salehs home wearing a mask and used a Taser to stun Saleh, then stabbed him and dismembered his body the next day and severed his boss head.

After the killing, Haspil attempted to clean up by vacuuming but found out that his efforts were not thorough.

He missed an anti-felon disk identification tag that was later recovered at the scene.

The disk had a unique number linked to the Taser that Haspil had ordered to his Brooklyn address a month before the murder, prosecutors claimed.

Salehs body was discovered by his cousin when she went to check on him and found his torso exposed in the living room along with construction bags.

Haspil, who had claimed that he committed the murder to stop his French girlfriend Chaveuz from knowing, was also seen with another woman strolling through NoHo and buying a bouquet of birthday balloons. NoHo is short for North of Houston Street and is a residential neighbourhood in Lower Manhattan in the New York City borough.

He was planning a birthday party for this unidentified woman at an Airbnb and bought cakes and luxury items for her.

Police recovered several expensive items allegedly bought with the Salehs credit cards, including a pricey leather APC tote bag, a beige Christian Louboutin shopping bag and a box of shoes.

Haspil pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges, which if convicted could result in a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years to life.

His attorneys hope the jury will consider a manslaughter conviction instead as they will claim he was emotionally disturbed which may see him receive a lighter sentence of five to 25 years.

Attorney Roberts explained that Haspils life has been marked by trauma, starting with a difficult childhood where he suffered years of abuse from his schizophrenic mother, who allegedly kept him locked in a bedroom and beat him. Roberts argued that while Haspils actions might not seem rational to others, they made sense to him at that time and in his circumstances.

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The Princess Of Wales Kate Middleton may not appear in public for the rest of 2024, news outlet Daily Beast said, citing people familiar with the developments. The aforementioned people said that Kate Middletons diary for the rest of the year is empty.

Lots of people involved in planning need to know what all the principals are doing a long way in advance. I am told that Kates diary for this year is empty, the person mentioned above said. There is nothing planned. She may not appear in public for the rest of the year, the person further added.

I would not rule out another video message updating the country on her health. That proved to be a very effective way of keeping the conspiracy theorists at bay, the person said.

The person highlighted that an update could be released because the Kensington Palace is aware a prolonged absence may lead to more conspiracy theories.

Rest And Recreation

A friend of the UK royal recently said that Kate and her husband Prince William are reportedly planning on spending their childrens holiday break at their Sandringham home.

The key thing for her now is avoiding any kind of stress or anxiety and just getting on with the business of getting better. They will bail out and be off to Sandringham the moment school breaks up, the friend was quoted as saying by magazine Cosmopolitan.

The friend also said that the UK royals have a tiny circle of trust. She has been surrounded by Carole and Michael, and Pippa and James have obviously been there for her as well. They are an incredibly tight family, and Catherine feels absolutely confident relying on them. They have been there for her for decades and never let her down, she said.

Parents at the school attended by the Waleses children have noted Kates recent absence from events. However, one parent mentioned while speaking to the magazine: There have been rumours she has done drop-off. We all feel very protective of her. Ask anyone at the schoolthey are amazing parents.

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Israel bombed the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, on Saturday, despite an order from the UNs top court for it to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern city.

At the same time, renewed efforts are getting underway in Paris aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war sparked by Palestinian militant group Hamass unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel.

In a case brought by South Africa alleging the Israeli military operation amounts to genocide, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its Rafah offensive and demanded the immediate release of hostages still held by Palestinian militants.

The Hague-based ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also instructed Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which Israel closed before sending troops and tanks into the besieged city and crossing earlier this month.

Israel gave no indication it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting the court had got it wrong.

Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a joint statement with Israels foreign ministry spokesman.

Hamas, the Iran-backed Islamist group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, welcomed the ICJ ruling on Rafah but criticised its decision to exclude the rest of the Palestinian territory from the order.

Nothing left here

In spite of the ICJ ruling, Israel carried out strikes on the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning as fighting raged between the army and Hamass armed wing.

Palestinian witnesses and AFP teams reported Israeli strikes in Rafah and the central city of Deir al-Balah.

We hope that the courts decision will put pressure on Israel to end this war of extermination because there is nothing left here, said Oum Mohammad Al-Ashqa, a Palestinian woman from Gaza City displaced to Deir al-Balah by the war.

Mohammed Saleh, also interviewed by AFP in the central Gazan city, said, Israel is a state that considers itself above the law. Therefore, I do not believe that the shooting or the war will stop other than by force.

In its ruling, the ICJ said Israel must immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.

It ordered Israel to allow UN-mandated investigators unimpeded access to Gaza to look into the genocide allegations.

It instructed Israel to open the Rafah crossing for the unhindered provision at scale of humanitarian aid and also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The Gaza war broke out after Hamass October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,857 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to data from the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.

The Israeli military said on Friday the bodies of three hostages  the Israeli Chanan Yablonka, Brazilian-Israeli Michel Nisenbaum and French-Mexican Orion Hernandez Radoux  were recovered in Gazas north.

Paris meetings

Israel has come under mounting international pressure over its Gaza offensive.

The ICJ ruling came days after Ireland, Spain and Norway said they would formally recognise a Palestinian state next week and the International Criminal Court prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On the diplomatic front, efforts have resumed to seek the first ceasefire in Gaza since a week-long truce in November that saw more than 100 hostages released in exchange for 240 Palestinian hostages held in Israeli jails.

CIA chief Bill Burns was expected to meet Israeli representatives in Paris in a bid to relaunch negotiations, a Western source close to the issue said.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron received the prime minister of Qatar and the Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers on Friday to press for a ceasefire, according to Cairo.

The French presidency said they held talks on the Gaza war and ways to set up a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken also spoke with Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz about new efforts to achieve a ceasefire and reopen the Rafah border crossing, Washington said.

Ceasefire talks involving US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators ended shortly after Israel launched the Rafah operation, though Netanyahus office this week said the war cabinet had asked the Israeli delegation to continue negotiations for the return of the hostages.

End this nightmare

Israeli ground troops started moving into Rafah in early May, defying global opposition. It has since ordered mass evacuations from Rafah, with the UN saying more than 800,000 people have fled.

Troops took over the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, further slowing sporadic deliveries of aid for Gazas 2.4 million people.

The US military has also installed a temporary jetty on the Gaza coast to receive aid by sea that a UN spokesman said had delivered 97 trucks of aid after a rocky start a week ago.

The security and humanitarian situation in the territory remains alarming, with a risk of famine and most hospitals no longer functioning.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said on social media site X on Friday that the situation had reached a moment of clarity.

At a time when the people of Gaza are staring down famine it is more critical than ever to heed the calls made over the last seven months: Release the hostages. Agree a ceasefire. End this nightmare.

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A man from the US Kentucky who became a household name after being arrested more than 1,300 times during his lifetime, died last weekend at the age of 74, according to the New York Post.

Henry Earl was known all over the US as the worlds most arrested man.

He had no family who could be contacted to attend his funeral ceremony when he was buried at Owenton Cemetery Thursday afternoon. The workers of the Owenton Healthcare and Rehabilitation Facility, where he spent the final years of his life were the only people present.

He was a character, he had a wonderful sense of humour, Ginny Ramsey, founder of Lexingtons Catholic Action Center, was quoted as saying by local news media outlet WLEX.

The reports by local news media outlets described him as a beloved vagabond. The Lexington Herald-Leader said that according to data kept by the Division of Community Corrections of Lexington Fayette Urban County Government since 1992, Henry Earl was busted roughly 1,300 times.

Media outlet the Smoking Gun, said Earl was arrested more than 1,500 times over five decades.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Earl began drinking after his adopted mother died when he was 18 years old. He did not work a proper office job except for one time when he was employed at a motel as a busboy in 1969. He was fired from that job as well after he showed up drunk.

The report also said that he was first arrest in Fayette County in July 1970 for carrying a concealed weapon when he was 20 years old, since then, he has spent more than 6,000 days in jail.

He could not be featured live on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2004 because he was in jail at that time.

His 1,000th arrest came in 2008 for alcohol intoxication when he was found passed out behind someones home. He entered a rehab programme but was arrested again after four months of sobriety.

He was last arrested for public intoxication in April 2017.

However, locals felt he was a charismatic person who was a free spirit at heart. He was well known in the Lexington community and students from the University of Kentucky college would give him drinks.

He also told people to call him James Brown.

You couldnt meet Henry Earl, and not love him. Henry Earl, hell never be forgotten, said Ramsey.

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Prosecutors have recorded two more convictions of Jan. 6 rioters, including one of a man who tried to conceal his identity by wearing a panda costume head in the Capitol. Jesse Rumson of Florida was convicted Friday in Washington of assaulting a police officer and the seven other charges he faced, NBC News reports. Rumson, who has been called "Sedition Panda" since the attack, maintained that any contact with the police officer was unintentional and that he didn't know the entry to the Capitol was restricted. US District Judge Carl Nichols called some of the defense arguments 'absurd.'

Nichols, a Donald Trump appointee who has been among the most lenient judges handling Jan. 6 cases, pointed out that Rumson "repeatedly rushing towards the police" before attacking the officer. The judge found that the defendant grabbed and shoved the officer's face shield. Video footage showed Rumson yelled "Get a ram!" when rioters were smashing a window. The Maryland county officer, Cpl. Scott Ainsworth, is a lifelong Republican who testified that he's had trouble understanding why he was attacked by members of his party. He told the court some Republicans in his life no longer want anything to do with him because he defended the Capitol, per NBC. Rumson's sentencing is scheduled for September.

A rioter from upstate New York has pleaded guilty to charges that he took a police officer's can of pepper spray while clashing with officers at a Capitol entrance. Troy Weeks, 38, pleaded guilty to felony charges of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding an officer, as well as several related misdemeanor charges, per the AP. Prosecutors said that he pushed his hand through a broken window to grab the can and that he pushed against police lines multiple times. Court documents say Weeks was recorded on a body camera later asking officers why they weren't "protecting the ballots." His sentencing is scheduled for November. (More Capitol riot stories.)
Even cowgirls and Supreme Court justices get the blues. Justice Sonia Sotomayor confirmed the latter on Friday, revealing that she's wept after certain rulings that she and her colleagues on the high court's bench have handed down, reports CNN . "There are days that I've come to my office after an announcement of a case and closed my door and cried," Sotomayor said as she accepted an award at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. "There have been those days. And there are likely to be more."

Sotomayor noted that "there are moments when I'm deeply, deeply sad," as well as moments of "desperation," but she insisted that "you have to own it" when distressing things happen. "You have to accept it," she noted. "You have to shed the tears, and then you have to wipe them and get up and fight some more." Sotomayor also dove into family matters, revealing particular affection toward her mother, who raised her as a single parent after her dad died when she was 9. "If I'm half the woman my mother was, then I'm satisfied because she was amazing," Sotomayor said, noting how much admiration she had for her mom after she went back to school to become a registered nurse when Sotomayor was in high school, per the New York Times.

Sotomayor also shared that when she was asked to become a Supreme Court justice, she feared that job would take away precious time she could spend with her mother, who at that point had been diagnosed with memory lossa fear her mom quickly assuaged, telling her, "Don't you dare not do this because of me. You would take away the dream I spent my life building for you. I wanted you to be the very best you can." CNN notes that cases that appear at this time of year in front of the Supreme Court tend to become more "politically or legally fraught" in June, right before the court heads into summer recessmeaning there may be some more Sotomayor tears before the session wraps up. (More Sonia Sotomayor stories.)
Ukrainian forces have secured "combat control" of areas where Russian troops entered the northeastern Kharkiv region earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Meanwhile, two people were killed Saturday in an aerial attack on the city of Kharkiv, which is the region's capital, according to local officials. Kharkiv is about 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. Ukrainian authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 people from the region since the start of the offensive on May 10, per the AP . "Our soldiers have now managed to take combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers entered," Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Friday evening.

Zelensky's comments appeared to be at odds with those made by Russian officials. Viktor Vodolatsky, a member of Russia's lower house of parliament, said Russian forces now controlled more than half of the town of Vovchansk, 3 miles inside the border, Russian state news agency Tass reported Friday. Vovchansk has been a flashpoint for fighting since Russia launched the offensive in the Kharkiv region. Vodolatsky was also quoted as saying that once Vovchansk was secured, Russian forces would target the cities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Pokrovsk in the neighboring Donetsk region. Independent confirmation of the claims wasn't immediately possible.

Russia's Kharkiv push appears to be a coordinated new offensive that includes testing Ukrainian defenses in the Donetsk region further southwhere Russia's Defense Ministry said Saturday that its forces had taken over the village of Arkhanhelskewhile also launching incursions in the northern Sumy and Chernihiv regions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Kremlin's army is attempting to create a "buffer zone" in the Kharkiv region to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. The Russian push is shaping up to be Ukraine's biggest test since Moscow's full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, with outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces being pressed at several points along the 620-mile front line that snakes from north to south in eastern Ukraine. More here.

(More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
Int'l community widely supports China's objection to Taiwan participation in WHA: spokesperson

Xinhua) 15:23, May 25, 2024

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China has objected to the Taiwan region's participation in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA) and this decision has been widely understood and supported by the international community, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday.

Noting that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, Wang said China's position on the Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), is consistent and clear.

"That is, the issue must be handled under the one-China principle, which is also a fundamental principle endorsed in the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1," Wang told a press briefing.

He pointed out that from 2009 to 2016, due to the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait adhered to the one-China principle, China made special arrangements for the Taiwan region to participate in the WHA for eight consecutive years.

However, after the Democratic Progressive Party came to power in Taiwan in 2016, it has refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, and has stubbornly stuck to the separatist position of "Taiwan independence."

"This means the political foundation for the Taiwan region to participate in the WHA no longer exists," Wang said.

In order to safeguard the one-China principle and the seriousness and authority of the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the WHA, China decided not to agree to the Taiwan region's participation in this year's WHA, which has been widely understood and supported by the international community, the spokesperson said.

He added that for some time, the vast majority of countries have reaffirmed their commitment to UNGA Resolution 2758 and the one-China principle, and opposed the Taiwan region's participation in the WHA.

More than 100 countries have supported China's position by sending letters to the Director-General of the WHO, he said.

This once again shows that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and the arc of history bends, and it also fully reflects that the vast majority of countries uphold a just position on Taiwan-related issues at the WHA, Wang said.

Any attempt to violate the one-China principle and engage in political manipulation by playing the "Taiwan card" is doomed to failure, he said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Ed Knott, president of local tech group Applied Connective Technologies (Lincoln, Albion, Elkhorn, Columbus, Norfolk), experienced a satisfying and fulfilling full-circle moment earlier this month.

On May 1, Applied Connectives official 20-year anniversary, Knott walked across a stage in Las Vegas to accept a top managed technology services provider (MTSP) award from among 150 fellow MTSPs from throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Technology has evolved almost beyond recognition in 20 years, and the same can be said of Applied Connective. In early 2004, Knott was working his first job in IT in Lincoln when an opportunity arose to partner with a family friend, Tom Krings, on a new technology-focused business venture near Albion

At its inception, ACT was a two-man operation selling business phone systems in rural Nebraska. The business soon added a managed IT focus, and the company grew steadily due to referrals and word of mouth.

Thats something we take great pride in to this day, Knott said in a news release. The fact that, for our first 16 years, we grew organically without spending any money on marketing or advertising is a testament to our teams commitment to unrivaled customer service.

I think happy customers recommending us to their peers is the best compliment we could earn. We strive to deliver that same world-class customer service every day."

Over the coming years, the business would see the retirement of Krings in 2015, expansion to include offices in Fullerton, Columbus and Norfolk, as well as gradual additions of new experts onto the team, which would allow them to expand their service offering to address additional facets of technology.

In 2019, Applied Connective Technologies moved its headquarters in Albion into a fully remodeled Shopko building on Highway 14 featuring cutting-edge technologies and quite a bit more elbow room for their growing team.

The past five years have seen acquisitions of Megavision in 2022 and Connecting Point in 2023, new office locations in Lincoln and Elkhorn and the addition of many new team members in the IT, AVS and sales departments.

Now nearly halfway into 2024, the company is on an exciting trajectory, with 58 full-time staff out of five office locations (in addition to some fully remote staff in western and southern Nebraska). ACT has evolved into a full-service MTSP offering professional managed IT and cyber security services, business phone systems, physical security and surveillance, audio/video solutions and more as well as the low voltage and physical infrastructure to support all of those technologies.

Truly a one-touchpoint provider for all their customers technology needs and ongoing tech support, the team currently serves hundreds of SMBs and dozens of local government, healthcare, schools and other customers.

Our hallmark is our customer service. We are tech people, but more than that, were people people, said Will Zoucha, operations manager and 12-year ACT employee. While we embrace technology, you wont call us and talk to a robot. Youll be connected with a real, friendly, knowledgeable expert whose passion it is to help you leverage technology to become your most efficient, secure and profitable.

Partnering with a good MTSP is a game-changer for any business or organization, but we believe what sets us apart is this focus on our customers. We know them, we care about them and were committed to their success.

In one of the most fulfilling moments of his career, Knott spent the evening of the companys 20th anniversary accepting the coveted Triple Crown Achievement Award, a prestigious award given to the top MTSP in the three key growth and success categories by TAG, a San Diego-based organization comprised of MTSPs from throughout the U.S. and Canada representing $800 million in products and services.

Only five partners were recognized at the awards out of 150 members, and this was arguably the top award.

Brian Suerth, president of TAG, shares, We were excited to recognize Ed Knott and the Applied Connective team with TAGs Triple Crown Achievement Award at our 23rd Annual Convention in Las Vegas. Their team is passionate about helping the organizations they serve and taking them to the next level with their technology solutions.

Ed Knott is an amazing leader, philanthropist and entrepreneur that his peers in the industry look up to and try to emulate. It was an honor and a privilege to acknowledge Ed and his company with this award for a second straight year, which is truly an impressive accomplishment."

Acknowledging that this award was hard-earned by the entire team, Knott shared a few comments.

We owe this to our amazing and hard-working team. Im exceedingly proud of them. Weve prioritized culture and have been so fortunate to find and hire incredible people and put them in the right seats to do what theyre great at," Knott said. "Its also a testament to our customers and all who have supported us along the way. It may come as a shock to others that weve seen success here, but to me, Nebraska seems the perfect place to build something that helps, supports and prioritizes relationships and people. Our team provides services that can catapult the success of any business. But at the end of the day, we have been surrounded by good people, and thats made all the difference.

For more information about Applied Connectives cyber security plans or other services, visit https://appliedconnective.com.
Schuyler Jones, a globe-trotting American adventurer whose exploits drew comparisons to iconic movie character Indiana Jones, has died. He was 94. Jones' stepdaughter, Cassandra Da'Luz Vieira-Manion, posted on Facebook that Jones died on May 17, saying, "He was a fascinating man who lived a lot of life around the world." Jones grew up around Wichita, Kansas, the AP reports. His younger sister, Sharon Jones Laverentz, said her brother had visited every US state before first grade thanks to their father's job supplying boots to Army bases.

He wrote in an autobiography posted on Edinburgh University's website that he moved to Paris after World War II, where he worked as a photographer. He also spent four years in Africa as a freelance photographer. In his 1956 book Under the African Sun, Jones tells of surviving a helicopter crash in a marketplace in In Salah, Algeria. After the crash, he discovered he was on fire; gale-force winds had reignited the ashes in his pipe. "Camels bawled and ran, scattering loads of firewood in all directions," Jones wrote. "Children, Arabs and veiled women either fled or fell full length in the dust. Goats and donkeys went wild as the whirling, roaring monster landed in their mist ... weak with relief, the pilot and I sat in the wreckage of In Salah's market place and roared with laughter."

Jones later moved to Greece, where he supported himself by translating books from German and French to English. He decided to drive through India and Nepal in 1958. He said he fell in love with Afghanistan during the trip and later enrolled at Edinburgh to study anthropology. "He was more interested in the people and cultures he was finding than he was in photography," his son, archaeologist Peter Jones, told the Wichita Eagle. He earned a doctorate at Oxford University and went on to become a curator and later director at that university's Pitt Rivers Museum, per the AP. Upon retirement, he was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire award.

story continues below

Similarities between Jones and George Lucas' Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. character are striking. Aside from the name and the family businessIndy's father, Henry Sr., was an archaeologist, as is Schuyler Jones' sonthey were both adept at foreign languages and wore brown fedoras. Like Indy, Schuyler Jones believed artifacts belonged in museums, Da'Luz Vieiria-Manion said. Eric Cale of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum said Jones permanently donated his grandfather's artifacts to the museum. Jones wrote in his 2007 book A Stranger Abroad that he wanted to find the Ark of Covenant and donate it to a museum, which is what Indy accomplished in Raiders of the Lost Arkat least until the US government seized the relic and hid it away again at the end of the movie.

(More obituary stories.)
A World War II-era Spitfire fighter plane crashed near a British air force base in eastern England on Saturday, killing the pilot, the UK defense ministry said. The ministry confirmed the death of a Royal Air Force pilot "in a tragic accident" near RAF Coningsby, an airbase. There was no immediate word on the cause of the crash, the AP reports. The base about 150 miles north of London is home both to modern fighter jets and to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a collection of wartime fighter and bomber aircraft that take part in air shows and memorial displays that includes the plane that crashed, per the BBC .

Several of the planes had been due to perform a flying display Saturday at the nearby Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Center. The crash happened days before wartime aircraft are to take to the skies to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the June 6, 1944, Allied invasion of Normandy, per the AP. More than 20,000 Spitfires were built in the 1930s and '40s, and the deft, maneuverable plane played a key role in defending the UK from attacks by Germany's Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remain, including six that belong to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Regular RAF crews fly them, per the BBC.

(More England stories.)
The Nicki Minaj concert in England scheduled for Saturday night was postponed after the American rapper was arrested at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on suspicion of an offense police described as "possessing soft drugs." After being fined, Minaj was released and resumed her trip to Manchester, the BBC reports. Hours later, with thousands of fans already in Co-op Live, the promoter announced the concert was being postponed, per the AP . "Despite Nicki's best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight's show happen, the events of today have made it impossible," Live Nation said in a statement.

Minaj tweeted earlier Saturday that she was stopped as she was about to board her flight in Amsterdam and told her bags would be searched. Police told her they found marijuana, she said. Minaj's posts said police were trying to make her late to her concert to prompt negative stories about her. "Jealousy is a disease," she tweeted. Minaj posted video on Instagram Live of her arrest in which she denies having any drugs, per the Guardian. She seems to be told to get into a police van and that she "would get a lawyer at the office." Someone assures her police will go "as fast as possible."

The doors to Co-op Live in Manchester opened later than scheduled, and a manager said a helicopter was standing by at Manchester Airport to deliver Minaj to the show. As fans aware of the arrest began to fill the arena, a chant of "Free Nicki Minaj!" went up. Concertgoers said she's often late anyway. "I really hope she comes on," said a fan from Newcastle. "But it's Nicki so we knew it would be delayed somehow." Cannabis is illegal in the Netherlands, per the AP, but generally is tolerated for recreational use. "They're being paid big money to try to sabotage my tour b/c soooooo many ppl are mad that it's this successful," Minaj posted, per NBC News. (More Nicki Minaj stories.)
With their unmistakable red noses, extravagant shoes, colorful outfits, and unique makeup, hundreds of clowns Saturday gathered in the streets of Peru's capital to mark Clown Day. They have sought for years to gain official recognition of the day. The colorful parade in Lima, which includes awards for the best costumes, makeup, routine, and improvisation, takes place every year on May 25, the AP reports. "In Peru, there is Lawyer's Day, Ceviche Day, and we also want a Clown Day because it would open doors for us to have support from the state and from the municipalities," said Marcos Chininin, known as "Chalupa."

Chininin said the official recognition would give clowns access to government funds and performance spaces overseen by municipalities and local communities, as well as open the possibility of establishing schools to teach the art of clowning. Members of Parliament have not yet discussed a proposed bill to create the holiday. Chininin, 42, estimated that about 200,000 people across Peru work as clowns, including at children's events and the circus. Miguel Ara Stein participated in Saturday's parade dressed as his character "Chuchurro." He said establishing the holiday would also be an acknowledgement of the talents that clowns must have. "You have to have the gift of acting, the gift of character, of improvising," Ara, 57, said. "We are all born for something, and making people laugh is a gift."

(More Peru stories.)
A preliminary report by Iran's military said no evidence of foul play or attack had been found so far during investigations into the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi, state media reported on Friday (local time).

Raisi, a hardliner who had been seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed when his helicopter came down in poor weather in mountains near the Azerbaijan border on Sunday.

"Signs of gunshot or similar were not observed in the wreckage of the helicopter (which) crashed in an area in high altitude and burst into flames," the report issued by the armed forces general staff said.

"Nothing suspicious has been observed in the control tower's conversations with the flight crew," it added.

More details would be released as the investigation advanced, the report said.

Raisi was buried in the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Mashhad on Thursday, four days after the crash that also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Chamber, together with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Economic Development Board, participated in a high-level delegation at the China-GCC Industry and Investment Forum held in Xiamen, China. During the forum, Sameer Nass, Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber, underscored the significance of the 35-year bilateral relations between Bahrain and China.

He highlighted that nonoil trade volume between the two countries reached approximately 2.186 billion US dollars in 2023, with Bahrain importing 2.15 billion US dollars from China, making China Bahrains largest trade partner.

Nass emphasized that the visit presented an opportunity to explore trade and investment prospects beneficial to both economies, particularly in promising sectors that could contribute to Bahrains economic growth. Nass also pointed out Bahrains promising market for Chinese investments in infrastructure, fintech, and artificial intelligence, owing to its important economic position in the Gulf region.

He highlighted ongoing negotiations between GCC countries and China for a free trade agreement, emphasizing the potential to enhance trade relations.

Given Chinas status as the primary trading partner of GCC countries, Nass advocated for stronger industrial and investment collaboration to align with the Belt and Road Initiative and GCC development plans.

Mohammed Al-Koheji, Second Vice Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber, emphasized the need to seize opportunities to boost trade volume between Bahrain and China, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, tourism, and IT.

Aaref Hejres, Treasurer of the Bahrain Chamber, hailed the bilateral relations between Bahrain and China, stressing their crucial role in fostering investments and partnerships.

He emphasized the importance of developing joint Bahraini-Chinese economic relations across various fields and highlighted significant advancements expected in Gulf-China trade relations, especially in logistics and technology, as discussed during the forum.

Key takeaways

Bahrains Prime Trading Partner:

Nass unveils $2.186 Billion non-oil trade figure with China in 2023, reaffirming Chinas dominance as Bahrains principal trade ally.

Strategic Ventures Explored:

Bahraini delegation taps into strategic trade and investment prospects at forum, focusing on mutually rewarding economic opportunities.

Bahrain: A Hub for Investment:

Nass highlights Bahrains attractiveness for Chinese investment in infrastructure and cutting-edge industries, Anchoring its role in Gulf and Chinas Belt and Road Vision.

GCC-China FTA on the Horizon:

Nass acknowledges GCC-China Free Trade agreement talks, envisioning a boost in trade dynamics amid Chinas prevalent role in GCC Commerce.

Urging Enhanced Collaboration:

Nass advocates for heightened GCC-China economic ries, propelling Belt and Road Synergy with GCC growth agendas for enhanced bilateral prosperity.
AFP | Manila

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Philippines said yesterday it had opened a coast guard post in the countrys far north to boost security following Chinas military build-up near Taiwan over the past two years.

The outpost shall gather essential maritime data and intelligence, enabling the (Philippine Coast Guard) to respond effectively to threats such as illicit trade, trafficking, piracy, and foreign intrusions, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement.

In 2022, the area around Itbayat witnessed a military build-up as China responded to political developments between Taiwan and the United States, Ano said, announcing the opening of the station on the Philippines northernmost inhabited island.

Itbayat is located around 150 kilometres (93 miles) south of Taiwans south coast. Securing peace, stability, and freedom of navigation along the Luzon Strait is crucial for ensuring Philippine national security and economic prosperity, Ano said.

Ano added that he sees the Luzon Strait, which lies between the Philippines and Taiwan, both as a vi-tal international waterway and a potential flashpoint for regional and international conflicts.

It was the focus earlier this month of major annual joint military exercises between Manila and its longtime ally the United States.

These included using missiles and artillery to repel an imaginary invasion force off the northwest of the Philippines main island of Luzon.

Last year the Philippine government also granted the US military use of a navy base on Luzons north coast and a nearby airport as part of a defence cooperation agreement.

Beijing and Manila are in a bitter diplomatic dispute over rival claims to parts of the South China Sea.
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Postal Code
A Pennsylvania man was sentenced Friday to 30 years in state prison after a jury previously convicted him of fatally shooting a 14-year-old at a Burlington County gas station in 2021, authorities said.

Tamir Phillips, 24, of Bensalem, was found guilty in November of murder and two weapons-related charges, according to the Burlington County Prosecutors Office.

The investigation began on the afternoon of Aug 21, 2021 when Willingboro police officers were called to the Phillips 66 gas station on the first block of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive for a report of a shooting, the office said.

When they arrived, they learned that the victim, 14-year-old Jesse Everett, of Willingboro, had been taken by car to Virtua Willingboro Hospital, investigators said. He was then airlifted to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, where he was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.

Phillips, who was known to stay in Willingboro, was immediately identified as a suspect in the shooting, and charges were filed against him the next day, officials said.

Detectives learned that the day before the shooting, the owner of a 2014 Honda Civic had contacted township police to report the car had been stolen, according to a release from the office. The owner of the Civic would frequently allow Phillips to use the car.

It was also revealed that just prior to the shooting, Phillips was a passenger in a separate vehicle when the stolen car was spotted at the pumps of the gas station, authorities said. The driver pulled into the gas station and came to a stop behind the Civic, which was being driven by Everett.

Phillips got out of the car and went to the drivers side of the Civic, where he confronted Everett before firing a single shot into the vehicle, striking him in the head, the office said. Two other people were inside the car with the teen, but they were not injured.

Phillips will not be eligible for parole before his sentence is completed.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Madrid is ready to feel Enchanted by Taylor Swift this coming weekend.

Swift will head to Madrid, Spain to perform at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on May 29-30, and Swifties should get excited about how cheap tickets are.

The fact that tickets are under $150  cheaper than the tickets for her Lisbon concerts  means that they are most likely going to sell out fast. These prices are right next to Swedens as the biggest steals of the Eras Tour yet.

Heres everything you need to know to see Taylor Swift live on her international tour.

Where to buy the cheapest Taylor Swift concert tickets

Throughout the Eras Tour, the cheapest last-minute tickets for Swifts 2024 concerts have been on StubHub and Vivid Seats.

As of now, the cheapest ticket for Swifts May 29 Eras Tour concert in Madrid is $112 on StubHub, with tickets being listed as high as $6,145.

For her May 30 show, the cheapest ticket at the time of publication is $89 on StubHub, with other tickets being listed as high as $2,363.

First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout.

Fans also should check out other secondary sites to snag last-minute tickets, like TicketCity and TicketNetwork.

Where is Taylor Swift playing next?

Taylor Swift will perform 84 shows throughout the second leg of her Eras Tour.

Her next shows will be in Lyon, France from June 2-3. Tickets are available on several secondary market sites, like StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketCity and TicketNetwork.

A complete list of Swifts tour dates is available here.

More massive upcoming tours

Taylor Swift is not the only artist on a huge tour right now.

Here are a few more tours you wont want to miss: Morgan Wallen, Melanie Martinez, Olivia Rodrigo and Justin Timberlake.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A North Brunswick man convicted last summer of a dozen felonies for waging a sustained physical attack at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including assaulting police officers, will spend 12 years in prison.

Christopher Quaglin, 38, was handed the sentence Friday by Judge Trevor McFadden in federal court in Washington, D.C. Hes been incarcerated in the nations capital since his February 2021 arrest.

Quaglin agreed to a bench trial, where the judge acts as jury, and McFadden found him guilty of 14 charges, 12 of them felonies that have to do with committing violence, including assaulting and injuring police officers.

At Fridays sentencing, McFadden said Quaglin had shown no remorse in the three years since his arrest, and rebuked his shocking and lawless conduct on Jan. 6, according to WUSA9 TV. Ive sentenced a number of Jan. 6 defendants who clearly got caught up in something they didnt anticipate, McFadden said. But not you.

And, McFadden said, You are a menace to our society, the station reported.

Before his sentence, Quaglin accused McFadden and the government in a conspiracy-laden rant of colluding to torture him, WUSA9 reported. As he left the courtroom after the sentencing, Quaglin reportedly said to the judge, Youre Trumps worst mistake of 2016. (Trump nominated McFadden to the bench in 2017.)

A federal prosecutor, Ashley Akers, argued in a presentence report that Quaglin serve 14 years, describing in lengthy detail how he fought for three hours at the Capitol that day, for which he had planned and was prepared, by donning a gas mask and helmet.

Akers said Quaglin was, among the most violent of the January 6 rioters.

Quaglin understood the constitutional significance of January 6, and intended to disrupt Congress certification of the 2020 election by any means necessary, including by viciously assaulting police officers for hours. Quaglin started planning this violence well before January 6, the prosecutors report says.

He repeatedly called for Civil War on social media, gathered the protective gear that he would bring and wear, invited others and encouraged people to attend by booking blocks of hotel rooms and boasted online that armed patriots would storm the Capitol, the report says.

Akers wrote that Quaglin has expressed no remorse for his crimes and instead, sought attention and disclaimed any responsibility for his role in the riot.

The prosecutor also argued for an $82,000 fine, the amount Quaglin raised in an online fundraiser. Quaglin should not be able to capitalize on his participation in the Capitol breach in this way, Akers wrote.

Quaglins attorney, Kristi Fulnecky, of Missouri, argued in her presentence report that her client be sentenced to time served, the three years hes been behind bars. He is a family man, father, husband, and electrician from New Jersey with no criminal record except for driving under the influence 17 years ago. (The report also says his wife has filed for divorce.)

Mr. Quaglin has been very vocal about being a political prisoner and how he has been treated differently and charged differently as a conservative than if he had been part of liberal riots, such as with Black Lives Matter, Antifa, current university riots, or other similar riots, Fulnecky wrote.

Fulnecky argued against the $82,00 fine, saying the governments request for such a dollar amount is an attempt to silence people who want to donate to a particular political cause and her clients attorney fees.

Her report also spent a good portion complaining about Quaglin has been mistreated in jail awaiting trial, that he is malnourished from not being properly fed due to suffering from Celiac disease.

It also repeats claims that he was coerced and pressured into agreeing to the bench trial last summer, and two previous attorneys on his case misled Quaglin about the process.

Fulnecky made a motion last month to try to get Quaglin out of the agreement for the bench trial, and said in a brief interview with NJ Advance Media that Quaglin last summer was under duress from stress of being jailed and his wife filing for divorce.

He was not ready for trial, Fulnecky said.

One lawyer, Fulnecky claimed, told Quaglin that if he agreed to the trial, shed get him home to fix his family, Fulnecky wrote in her motion.

McFadden, in a written ruling, quashed Fulneckys arguments, saying he cannot go back on a position he agreed to under oath in open court, simply because his earlier position no longer benefits him.

Quaglin, knowingly and voluntarily, agreed to the stipulation of facts, signed it, and produced it to the Court. He agreed to be bound by its terms. But now he has buyers remorse and wants to have it set aside. This he cannot do. A defendant may not argue that he perjured himself just to walk back an agreement he regrets, McFadden wrote.

Before the judges decision, Akers, the prosecutor, wrote in a report that Quaglin, after his convictions, has been a guest on shows and podcasts in which he blames others for Jan. 6, or said it was a set up, and declared himself a political prisoner.

Moreover, Quaglin made similar claims in public about his trial, saying it occurred under duress, he pleaded guilty to fourteen felonies that I didnt commit [and] the DOJ can suck my [unintelligible].

Before a sentencing date earlier this was postponed, Quaglin had warned, according to Akers, that he intended to renege everything at the hearing, and if he was not granted a new trial, hed go off the hinges.

Photos from the FBI show Christopher Quaglin, of North Brunswick. N.J. before or during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
More New Jersey newborns and their mothers will be entitled to free at-home visits with a specially-trained nurse under a statewide program that has been expanded.

The visits, part of the states Family Connects NJ program, will be expanded to six additional counties starting in January, state officials announced. The new counties are: Somerset, Sussex, Passaic, Hudson, Bergen and Ocean.

Launched earlier this year, the Family Connects NJ program offers support for families and newborns within two weeks of their deliveries. The program began offering the free nurse visits in Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex and Essex counties on Jan. 15, state officials said.

Participation is voluntary. The program is free to all families, regardless of income, insurance or immigration status.

Postpartum parents are often so focused on the health and needs of their new baby that they may be unaware of or overlook their own medical needs, which can put them at risk of serious medical complications, particularly with conditions like preeclampsia, said state Department of Children and Families Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer.

This expansion will help us continue to reach and support new parents in New Jersey within two weeks of birth, an often tiring, confusing and emotionally charged time, and to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, she said.

In addition to mothers who gave birth, those eligible for the nurse visits include adoptive parents, and parents who experienced a stillbirth, officials said. It is also open to relatives or others who take on the responsibility of caring for a newborn.

The program will continue to expand incrementally on an annual basis until its fully implemented across the state, officials said.

A nurse will check the babys well-being and the mothers physical and mental health during the home visits. The nurse will also provide postpartum education, feeding and sleeping tips and may connect the family to community programs, including food assistance and doulas.

The launch comes after Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation to create a statewide, universal home visitation program for newborns in July 2021.

New Jersey is the second state to launch a program, officials said. Oregon was the first.

As of May 9, preliminary data shows 14% of the nurse visits in New Jersey result in a referral of the mother or infant to the emergency department or to their medical providers, officials said.

In fact, more than 1 in 10 visits required immediate medical care, and the nurse was able to identify and get the family access to that care, potentially saving the mothers life, said Dr. Sanjna Shah, a medical advisor to the states program.

A universal home visitation program was a key recommendation of First Lady Tammy Murphys Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan, a statewide initiative launched in 2019 that aims to reduce maternal mortality rates and eliminate racial disparities in the state.

Infant deaths are at a record low in the state, according to federal data. But, a Black baby is nearly three times more likely than a white baby to die before his or her first birthday. Black mothers also continue to face high mortality rates.

More than 50% of maternal deaths occur after childbirth, officials said. The visits are part of an effort to catch complications as early as possible.

I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish in the five counties launched earlier this year, and I look forward to expanding this incredibly common sense  but groundbreaking  program into more counties beginning in 2025, said Murphy said.

The fact that nurses are both identifying physical challenges early and ensuring critical follow-ups when merited as well as providing support and resources beyond a health check means we are actually building a stronger and more equitable system and state, she said.

More information about the program is available at www.FamilyConnectsNJ.org. Interested families can schedule a nurse visit through the website.

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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
Stacey Lott was in Los Angeles on September 11th, a continent away from the World Trade Center when the terrorists flew two airliners into the Twin Towers.

Yet toxic dust from Ground Zero is slowly destroying her kidney.
When former President Trump falsely claimed in a fundraising email on Wednesday that President Biden was locked & loaded and ready to take me out, special counsel Jack Smith moved swiftly.

Smith on Friday asked federal judge Aileen Cannon for a gag order, insisting that Trumps reckless comments not only could spur violence against the FBI, but also violated Trumps terms of release after his indictment.

Trump is charged with taking classified national defense documents from the White House after he left office and resisting the governments attempts to retrieve the materials.

Legal experts say Smith is trying to box in Cannon  who has slow-walked the case and protected Trump from a trial before the November election.

Smith likely believes Cannon will deny the gag order, in which case Smith will petition the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to have her removed from the case, legal experts predicted.

In two previous instances in the case, Cannon has been rebuked by the 11th Circuit, and experts believe this could be strike three. Former White House attorney Ty Cobb has predicted previously that the 11th Circuit will likely take her off the case eventually.

Former prosecutor Andrew Weissman, who led the Mueller investigation into Trump, tweeted: Smart move by Smith as Judge Cannon wont be likely to grant the gag order, will show her patent bias, and Smith can then appeal to the 11th Circuit.

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Shocking revelations about RFK Jr.s running mate: Drug user and serial cheater

Lisa Rubin, an attorney and MSNBC legal correspondent tweeted only Same, when she was asked where she stood on Weissmans take. She argued that the motion is not a request for a gag order. Its a request to modify his conditions of release, which is immediately appealable ...

Attorney George Conway  a Never Trumper who was married to Trump mouthpiece Kellyanne Conway and who served as a lawyer to prominent Republicans  told CNN that Cannon has been dragging her feet on this case, and if she does not do something about this, I think the special counsel may use this as the opportunity to try to get the 11th circuit to get rid of her.

So shes really on the spot here, Conway added. Will she do something? I dont know. But she had better because this is just this is just completely outrageous. I mean, it is really an attempt to incite violence against government agents based on the complete pathological lie. ... Words cannot describe that level of depravity.

Trumps comments center on a policy statement prepared by law enforcement that lays out protocol for any search. The statement  standard operating procedure to protect agents  allows deadly force only when necessary, such as when someone poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person.

Trumps email claims that Biden or the Justice Department was authorized to shoot him. Email recipients were asked to donate anywhere from $20.24 to more than $3,000 to his campaign.

Attorney General Merrick Garland called Trumps assertion false and extremely dangerous, and noted that the same paperwork was included in the FBIs search of Bidens home for classified documents.

Trumps repeated mischaracterization as an attempt to kill him, his family, and Secret Service agents has endangered law enforcement officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case and threatened the integrity of these proceedings, prosecutors wrote.

His recent comments, they added, invite the sort of threats and harassment that have occurred when other participants in legal proceedings against Trump have been targeted by his invective.

Despite Trumps claims, the FBI made sure he was not home when it conducted its Aug. 8, 2022, search of his Florida estate. Agents wore polo shirts and khakis in order to draw less attention while at the club.

Of course, the Trump hyposcrisy here is rich: While he is arguing to the Supreme Court that a president should be legally allowed to assassinate his political opponents, he finds appalling (while wrongly asserting) that the current president wanted to do that to him.

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SAN DIEGO  On Juan Soto returns to San Diego day, the Yankees had to redo their bullpen.

Right-hander Nick Burdi was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with right hip inflammation and replaced by rookie Yoendrys Gomez.
June marks 50 years since the election of Louisianas first female judge, Joan Bernard Armstrong. In June 1974, she made history as the first woman elected judge in the state.

Then-Gov. Edwin Edwards first appointed Armstrong to the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court bench in January 1974. Six months later, she broke barriers when she was elected to the position without opposition. Armstrong also made history 10 years later, as the first woman elected to the states Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. In 2003, she became that courts first Black chief judge.

Armstrong graduated from Xavier University and taught school by day to attend night classes at Loyola University College of Law.

After earning her law degree in 1967, she worked for the New Orleans Legal Assistance Corp., the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She later said all of those positions gave her an opportunity to serve the poor and disadvantaged, which inspired her to become a judge.

In an April 1975 Times-Picayune article, Armstrong, who was married and the mother of two, said she found little real discrimination in her first job as Juvenile Court judge, despite being a Black woman in a predominantly male field at the time. But she said she did encounter what she called stereotyping.

A lot of times, Ill be introduced as Judge Armstrong, and the person will start looking around. I say, Im Judge Armstrong, and they say, Really? she said.

The recipient of numerous awards during her career, Armstrong retired from the bench in 2011 after 37 years of service, which made her the longest-serving judge in the state at the time. She died in 2018.
CEDAR LAKE  A Chicago man is in custody after crashing his vehicle and trying to hide a gun, police said.

According to Cedar Lake police, officers were dispatched to the 13200 block of East Lake Shore Drive at approximately 4 a.m. on Wednesday in regard to a vehicle crash.

Prior to the crash, a Lake County Sheriff's officer had observed a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban at Cline Avenue and Lake Shore Drive in the roundabout, police said. When the sheriff's officer attempted to get behind the car, it took off at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle ended up crashing in the curve, striking the fence and three parked cars, with the occupants of the vehicle gone, according to police.

Two Cedar Lake officers then arrived at the scene and located the passenger who fled nearby, police said. The passenger then identified the driver, Juan Gonzalez, who was later found at the Cedar Lake Town ground, according to police.

Cedar Lake police said Gonzalez also threw a handgun to hide it just before being taken into custody. Gonzalez was convicted felon with previous firearm charges, according to police.

Gonzalez is now in the Lake County Jail awaiting formal charges.
VALPARAISO  It was a hot morning as the Valparaiso Police Department and Fire Department Honor Guard presented the flag during a Memorial service Friday.

The service was held at Foundation Meadows in front of the Service Memorial Fountain and Monuments.

Veterans, family members and community members sat in white chairs as they listened to the guest speakers.

Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas opened with a reminder of how important Memorial Day is.

"It is vital to take time out of our busy lives to consider the many and great sacrifices of those who have gone before," Mayor Jon Costas said. "Now our remembrance should be not just one day a year, but all year long."

The mayor also gave some tips for honoring servicemen like voting in every election and flying the flag.

Vietnam veteran Dr. Robert Shankland gave his speech next and agreed on the importance of voting.

He volunteered to serve in Vietnam as a dentist with the 82nd Airborne Division. During his time there he saw people from all walks of life.

"I saw people in Fort Bragg that the first pair of shoes you ever had were army boots, and no dental care whatsoever. So it was mostly mostly emergency care," Shankland said.

Shankland didn't just treat humans. One time a guard dog named Roth chipped its tooth and he put a crown on it.

With the medical troops, he travelled throughout Vietnam more than most soldiers did.

Shankland said he was scared for his safety the majority of the time. Wednesdays and Saturdays were particularly bad because they would have more rockets fired on them.

After returning home Shankland started his own dental practice. He said it was a whole different challenge getting used to being back.

"I remember when I returned from Vietnam we were told not to wear our uniforms and we were called baby killers or worse," Shankland said.

He recalled that people were even saying prisoners of wars were war criminals.

"When I think about all of us, especially the younger today, consciously or subconsciously we're serving to give our citizens the right to protest, to free speech, freedom of religion and all the rights that we so often take for granted," Shankland said.

After Shankland spoke veterans Doug Pierce, Jim Spanopoulos and Bill Oeding read out the names on the Duty and Sacrifice Wall. The names of the fallen spanned from World War I to the present day.

Afterwards wreathes were placed in front of the memorial by the Daughters of the American Revolution and Shankland.

The ceremony came to a close with Chris Hammer playing Taps on the trumpet.

PHOTOS: Valpo Memorial Day service
The International Court of Justice ruled today that Israel must immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

While the court has no means of enforcing its order, and stopped short of ordering a cease-fire in Gaza, the ruling dealt a blow to Israel, which has faced increasing international isolation and a drumbeat of criticism over its conduct of the war.

In response, the Israeli government said that its military has not and will not take actions that would lead to the partial or complete destruction of the civilian population of Rafah, in line with the courts order. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said he would hold a meeting to discuss how to move forward. But right-wing politicians said Israel should not comply.

Israeli officials have said that the push into Rafah is aimed at dismantling Hamass infrastructure. But several countries, including the U.S., have urged Israel to refrain from an offensive in the city out of concern for the vast number of displaced Palestinians who had been sheltering there.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate for president, pitched his bid to the Libertarian Party on Friday, telling a potentially critical group of voters that he stands with them on valuing personal liberty and vowing to protect their rights to speak, to assemble and to keep and bear arms.

In a speech that was as much a lecture on constitutional law as it was a political appeal, Mr. Kennedy, a former Democrat and environmental lawyer, railed against government overreach to a largely receptive audience of fellow government skeptics. He slammed what he called a program of coercion, and information control during the Covid pandemic, accusing President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump of failing to protect liberties.

Mr. Kennedy spoke as the party met to select its presidential nominee, a prize that will land the winner on ballots in at least 37 states. Mr. Kennedy has fitfully courted the nomination for months, as he undertakes the expensive and complex process of qualifying as an independent. But he recently said he did not intend to run as a Libertarian, and several party leaders and delegates say it is unlikely he will win the nod when the delegates vote this weekend.

Mr. Kennedy was not the only non-Libertarian presidential candidate on the convention lineup: Former President Donald J. Trump is set to address the group on Saturday night.
Federal prosecutors on Friday night asked the judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trumps classified documents case to bar him from making any statements that might endanger law enforcement agents involved in the proceedings.

Prosecutors tendered the request after Mr. Trump made what they described as grossly misleading assertions about the F.B.I.s August 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Florida. This week, the former president falsely suggested that the F.B.I. had been authorized to shoot him when agents discovered more than 100 classified documents while executing a court-approved search warrant there.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Mr. Trump falsely claimed that President Biden authorized the FBI to use deadly (lethal) force during the search.

Mr. Trumps post came in reaction to an F.B.I. operational plan for the Mar-a-Lago search that was unsealed on Tuesday as part of a legal motion filed by Mr. Trumps lawyers. The plan contained a boilerplate reference to lethal force being authorized in cases of emergency, which prosecutors said that Mr. Trump badly distorted.
In 2011, a former Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, warned that Israel faced a diplomatic-political tsunami of censure if its conflict with the Palestinians went unresolved, as peace talks faltered and revolution spread across the Middle East.

To Israeli foreign policy analysts, that tsunami has never seemed closer.

On Friday, the International Court of Justice, an arm of the United Nations, ordered Israel to suspend its military campaign in Rafah in southern Gaza, adding to a growing list of diplomatic and legal moves against Israel that have undermined its international standing.

The ruling came just days after prosecutors at the International Criminal Court, another international tribunal, called for the arrest of Israels prime minister and defense minister, a move that was supported by some longstanding partners of Israel, including France.

The order came the same week that three European countries took the coordinated step of recognizing Palestine as a state. It also followed widespread university campus protests in the United States against Israels campaign in Gaza, as well as decisions by Turkey to suspend trade with Israel and by Belize, Bolivia and Colombia to break diplomatic ties with Israel.

This is not North Korea or Belarus or Myanmar levels of isolation  but it is isolation, said Alon Pinkas, Israels former consul general in New York. It creates a tremendous sense of pressure.

The latest move by the International Court of Justice may not have immediate practical effects: Under the terms of the order, Israel has a month to show how it has complied with its instructions. Even if Israel ignores the order, the I.C.J. has no means of enforcing it. In theory, the United Nations Security Council can issue a resolution on the matter, but the United States, Israels most powerful ally, has a permanent seat on the council, enabling it to veto any measure against Israel.
Tim Cook has delivered at least seven commencement addresses since becoming the chief executive of Apple. The superstar Taylor Swift, whose concerts have been credited with lifting local economies, addressed New York Universitys graduation ceremony in 2022. Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Dimon  theyve all given graduation speeches more than once.

Theyre obviously not doing it for the money (and typically there isnt any). Instead, speakers have long seen graduation ceremonies as offering something increasingly rare: a stage where a large group of people gather to hear speakers impart wisdom, advice or whatever else they want to talk about.

The appeal of being a commencement speaker, however, seems to be waning.

Just three Fortune 50 chief executives appear to be commencement speakers this year, as colleges have faced campus protests over the war in Gaza, student arrests and wealthy alumni threatening to break ties with their alma maters over antisemitism.

The idea of C.E.O.s going out aggressively and speaking anywhere near this environment on campuses, it just doesnt seem like the moment for them to be doing that, said David Murray, the executive director of the Professional Speechwriters Association.
Top finance officials from the worlds advanced economies moved toward an agreement on Saturday over how to use Russias frozen central bank assets to aid Ukraine and warned against Chinas dumping of cheap exports into their markets, aiming to marshal their economic might to tackle twin crises.

The embrace of more ambitious sanctions and protectionism came as finance ministers from the Group of 7 nations gathered for three days of meetings in Stresa, Italy. The proposals under consideration could deepen the divide between the alliance of wealthy Western economies and Russia, China and their allies, worsening a global fragmentation that has worried economists.

Efforts by the Group of 7 to influence the two powerful adversaries have had limited success in recent years, but rich countries are making a renewed push to test the limits of their combined economic power.

In a joint statement, or communique, released on Saturday, policymakers said they would stay united on both fronts as geopolitical crises and trade tensions have emerged as the biggest threats to the global economy.
For more than two years, a group of health experts, economists and lawyers in the U.S. government has worked to address a growing public health crisis: people dying on the job from extreme heat.

In the coming months, this team of roughly 30 people at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is expected to propose a new rule that would require employers to protect an estimated 50 million people exposed to high temperatures while they work. They include farm laborers and construction workers, but also people who sort packages in warehouses, clean airplane cabins and cook in commercial kitchens.

The measure would be the first major federal government regulation to protect Americans from heat on the job. And it is expected to meet stiff resistance from some business and industry groups, which oppose regulations that would, in some cases, require more breaks and access to water, shade and air-conditioning.

But even if the rule takes effect, experts say, the governments emergency response system is poorly suited to meet the urgency of the moment.
While shooting his new film The Seed of the Sacred Fig, the director Mohammad Rasoulof learned that he was facing eight years in prison for making movies that criticize Irans hard-line government.

So Rasoulof fled Iran, made his way to Germany, and then arrived in France this past week for the Cannes Film Festival. After The Seed of the Sacred Fig premiered in competition at the festival to strong reviews on Friday night, Rasoulof promised to continue making films that shine a light on the situation in his country.

The Islamic Republic has taken the Iranian people hostage, he said at a news conference on Saturday. Its very important, then, to talk about this indoctrination.

Set against a backdrop of student protests in Tehran, The Seed of the Sacred Fig follows an investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran whose job approving death sentences begins to take a heavy toll on him and his family. The judges paranoia is stoked after his gun goes missing, and as he begins to suspect his wife and daughters of conspiring against him, he makes drastic moves to determine who the culprit is.
A New Jersey man who started a brawl with police officers while rioting at the United States Capitol with other supporters of former President Donald J. Trump was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday after being convicted of more than a dozen crimes.

The man, Christopher Joseph Quaglin, an electrician from North Brunswick, N.J, wore a helmet fitted with a camera on Jan. 6, 2021, as he participated in the storming of the Capitol, where surveillance video showed him attacking police officers with a stolen riot shield and spraying them with a chemical irritant, prosecutors said.

After returning to his hotel room in Washington, D.C., that night, Mr. Quaglin recorded videos of himself describing his participation, prosecutors said.

I was the guy in the red, white and blue hoodie and the black helmet, he said. Im absolutely on a loop on Fox News.
The question at a recent candidate forum was simple enough. What would you do to help move New Jersey past its notorious culture of cronyism and corruption?

But for Representative Rob Menendez, answering it required some revealing rhetorical acrobatics. While he agreed that corruption was definitely something we are challenged with here, he conspicuously avoided the one case that has transfixed his home state for months: the indictment of Senator Robert Menendez, his father.

The sweeping bribery charges, involving gold bars and piles of cash, have already likely ended the senators storied political career. Now, his son is scrambling to make sure his House seat does not become the next casualty as he stares down a serious primary threat in June.
There is no real antecedent in American history to the situation surrounding Justice Samuel Alito.

To recap, we learned last week that in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol  the culmination of an effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and keep Donald Trump in office in contravention of the Constitution  a member of the Alito household flew an inverted American flag on a pole on the lawn of the familys home in Virginia. The flag, a traditional symbol of naval distress, had been repurposed by the extreme right as an emblem of the movement to Stop the Steal.

Justice Alito told The New York Times that his wife was responsible  that she flew the flag in defiance of a neighbors provocation. Fox News later reported that the provocation was a sign blaming Mrs. Alito for Jan. 6. If thats true, this makes the choice to fly the flag even stranger.

The most noteworthy part of Alitos attempt to explain the flag, however, was what he did not say. He didnt condemn the flag or disavow its meaning or distance himself from the insurrectionists. He only said that he wasnt to blame.

This is where the scandal stood until Wednesday, when yet another story dropped about the Alitos, a home and a flag. Last summer, as shown in photos obtained by The New York Times, the Alitos flew an Appeal to Heaven flag from their vacation home in New Jersey. This flag, like the upside-down stars and stripes, was also carried by Capitol rioters on Jan. 6. The phrase appeal to heaven was used by the Enlightenment philosopher John Locke in his Second Treatise on Government and refers to a right of revolution.

And where the body of the people, or any single man, is deprived of their right, or is under the exercise of a power without right, and have no appeal on earth, there they have a liberty to appeal to heaven, whenever they judge the cause of sufficient moment.

The slogan was in circulation during the American Revolution, invoked by Patriot leaders as they pushed for independence. More recently, it has been adopted by the extreme right as a statement of resistance to the political and social order of the modern United States. They claim a right to revolution and, on Jan. 6, they acted on it.
INTERNATIONAL

An article on Friday about President Bidens meeting with President William Ruto of Kenya misstated Ruth Porats title at Alphabet and Google. She is president and chief investment officer, not president and chief information officer.

NATIONAL

An article on Wednesday about an event in New Hampshire where President Biden discussed care for veterans suffering from toxic exposure misidentified the location of the Y.M.C.A. where President Biden spoke. It is in Nashua, N.H., not Merrimack, N.H.

Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions.

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Adele Faber, a former high school teacher who, with her Long Island neighbor Elaine Mazlish, wrote child-rearing blockbusters like How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk and Siblings Without Rivalry, which became bibles for generations of parents, died on April 24 in White Plains, N.Y. She was 96.

Her death, in an assisted living facility, was announced by her daughter, Joanna Faber.

The parenting guides Ms. Faber wrote with Ms. Mazlish have sold more than four million copies in North America alone, according to estimates by their publisher, Scribner. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen has been published in nearly 40 countries.
Slowly but steadily, Marlene Nathanson was recovering. She had suffered a stroke in November 2022 at her home in Minneapolis and spent a week in a hospital; afterward, when she arrived at Episcopal Homes in St. Paul for rehabilitation, she couldnt walk. Weakness in her right arm and hand left her unable to feed herself, and her speech remained somewhat garbled.

But over three weeks of physical, occupational and speech therapy, she was making good progress, her husband, Iric Nathanson, said. Her therapists were very encouraging. Ms. Nathanson, then 85, had begun to get around using a walker. Her arm was growing stronger and her speech had nearly returned to normal.

Then, on a Wednesday afternoon, one of her therapists told the Nathansons that their Medicare Advantage plan had refused a request to cover further treatment. She has to leave our facility by Friday, the therapist said, apologetically.

Mr. Nathanson, then 82, felt anxious and angry. He didnt see how he could arrange for home care aides and equipment in 48 hours. Besides, he said, it didnt seem right that the therapists and professionals couldnt determine the course of her care and had to yield to an insurance companys dictates. But apparently it happens a lot.
As the 2022 elections approached with some Republican Senate candidates on the ropes, Senator Mitch McConnell was already looking ahead to 2024. He saw opportunity in the person of Jim Justice, the popular Republican governor of West Virginia whose term would  fortuitously for Mr. McConnell  end in 2024.

Here we had a guy who was term-limited and who everybody assumed was going to just go off into the sunset, recounted Mr. McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and minority leader. But he had to-die-for numbers.

Mr. McConnell secretly flew to West Virginia on Oct. 19, 2022. Over lunch at Governor Justices home, he tried to interest him in running for Senate. In April 2023, Mr. Justice announced he would seek the seat held by Senator Joe Manchin III, probably the only Democrat with any chance of winning in super-red West Virginia.

In November, Mr. Manchin announced he would not seek re-election. Earlier this month, Governor Justice won his primary, putting him squarely on track to capture the Senate seat, which would leave Republicans just one seat shy of a majority.
President Biden told West Point cadets on Saturday that they owed an oath to the U.S. Constitution, not to their commander in chief, delivering a commencement message that echoed his campaign-year warnings about the looming threats to American democracy.

In his 22-minute speech to the graduating class at the United States Military Academy, Mr. Biden did not mention former President Donald J. Trump or repeat his accusation that returning Mr. Trump to the Oval Office would allow him to shred the norms that protect democratic institutions.

But Mr. Biden left little doubt about the subject of his concern.

On your very first day at West Point, you raised your right hands and took an oath not to a political party, not to a president, but to the Constitution of the United States of America, he said.

Nothing is guaranteed about our democracy in America, he added. Every generation has an obligation to defend it, to protect it, to preserve it, to choose it. Now its your turn.
Richard Grenells quest to be secretary of state in a second Trump administration began late on Election Day in 2020, when the defeated president dispatched loyalists to run shambolic stop the steal operations in battleground states.

President Donald J. Trump tapped Mr. Grenell  his combative former ambassador to Germany, acting national intelligence chief and special envoy to the Balkans  to fly by private plane to Nevada, where Mr. Grenell ensconced himself, his dog Lola, lawyers and a crew of activists in a suite at the Venetian Resort, which served as the groups war room in Las Vegas. In a days-long spectacle, the Trump team filed a lawsuit and aired false accusations of fraud, including one wrongly implicating hundreds of members of the military.

It was all a sham. Mr. Grenell told the team in the war room, two G.O.P. operatives recalled, that the Nevada vote was not, in fact, stolen. The operatives, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal from Mr. Grenell, said he told the team that the goal was simply to throw spaghetti at the wall  the operatives described Mr. Grenell making a theatrical tossing gesture as he spoke  to distract the media from calling Nevada while the election battle in neighboring Arizona played out.

In retrospect, one of the operatives said, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol should have subpoenaed everyone in the room, including the operative himself.
A Florida man who breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, while wearing a costume panda head was convicted on Friday of assaulting a police officer and other charges related to the events of that day.

The man, Jesse James Rumson, 38, who became known as Sedition Panda, was found guilty of eight total charges, two felonies and six misdemeanors, after a bench trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

He was convicted by Judge Carl J. Nichols, who has garnered his own headlines for challenging the Justice Departments use of a federal obstruction law to prosecute Jan. 6. rioters.

In a separate case, Judge Nichols, a Trump appointee, dismissed a charge against another Jan. 6 defendant, Joseph Fischer, for violating a federal law that makes it a crime to corruptly obstruct an official proceeding.
Gisela Gaytan had just arrived at an event on the first day of her mayoral campaign in central Mexicos industrial heartland when the gunfire broke out.

Moments later, her lifeless body lay crumpled in a pool of blood.

The assassination in broad daylight of Ms. Gaytan, a 37-year-old lawyer, reflects a gruesome trend in this years general election in Mexico. She figures among the 36 people killed since last summer while seeking public office, according to a New York Times analysis, making this one of the most blood-soaked election cycles in recent memory.

The candidate killings point to a threat at the core of Mexicos democracy. Voters are preparing to cast ballots next month in a spirited election that could produce the countrys first female president, a milestone in the worlds largest Spanish-speaking country.
The wall in the police station was covered in sheets of paper, one for every building in the sprawling Beijing apartment complex. Each sheet was further broken down by unit, with names, phone numbers and other information on the residents.

Perhaps the most important detail, though, was how each unit was color-coded. Green meant trustworthy. Yellow, needing attention. Orange required strict control.

A police officer inspected the wall. Then he leaned forward to mark a third-floor apartment in yellow. The residents in that unit changed often, and therefore were high risk, his note said. He would follow up on them later.

Ive built a system to address hidden dangers in my jurisdiction, the officer said, in a video by the local government that praised his work as a model of innovative policing.
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After Billions of Dollars in Losses, Canada Post Warns It May Run Out of Cash

While the post office considers plans to revamp its business model, any major fixes are likely to be politically vexing.

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Russia bombed a hardware superstore in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Saturday afternoon, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more, Ukrainian officials said. The attack was the latest in a sustained bombing campaign against the city that has made life increasingly difficult and dangerous for civilians.

Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, added that another airstrike on Saturday, in the center of Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, injured at least 25 people.

For the entire day, Kharkiv has been under Russian terrorist strikes. The air raid in the Kharkiv region has been ongoing for more than 12 hours, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media.

Saturdays attack, Mr. Zelensky added, underscored Ukraines recent calls on Western allies to provide it with air defense systems and other weapons capable of shooting down Russian missiles and the planes that launch the bombs. If Ukraine had sufficient air defenses systems and modern combat aircraft, Russian strikes like this one would have been impossible, he said.
The Ukrainian army has increasingly used U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to target Russian airfields and warships deep inside Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, but it has been barred by Washington from extending its attacks into Russia proper, limiting its ability to repel enemy assaults.

In the past week, Kyivs forces launched three attacks using Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS. The air assaults  which hit an air-defense system and a missile ship in Russian-occupied territory in Ukraines east and south  were reported by both sides, and their impact was confirmed by independent groups that analyze geolocated footage of the battlefield.

Ukraine hopes that the strikes, by hurting Moscows ability to conduct military operations, will ultimately help relieve troops struggling to contain Russian advances on the ground. But the United States and other Western allies have permitted only the firing of Western weapons into Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine, not into Russia itself, for fear of escalating the war.

Ukrainian officials have complained that the policy allows Moscow to launch attacks from inside Russia without risk and handcuffs Ukraines ability to repel them. They proceed calmly, understanding that our partners do not give us permission to strike, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said in an interview with The New York Times this past week. This is their huge advantage.
Some American-made, precision-guided weapons supplied to Ukraine have proved ineffective on the battlefield, their accuracy badly diminished by Russian jamming efforts, according to Ukrainian commanders and a Ukrainian military research project.

The projectiles performed well when first introduced to the battlefield, but lost effectiveness as Russian forces adapted their defenses, two confidential Ukrainian reports found. The problem prompted the Ukrainian military to stop using the weapons, two artillery commanders said.

The reports, first revealed by The Washington Post, focus on the American-made Excalibur, a 155-millimeter guided artillery shell, and the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb or GLSDB. One of the reports was shown to The New York Times by people familiar with the research. The second report was described but not shown to a reporter. The individuals asked not to be identified because the reports contain classified military information.

Every war is a laboratory of sorts for weapons systems, and Ukraine has provided a testing ground for weapons that have not previously been used against such a sophisticated, high-tech enemy as Russia. The performance of U.S. weapons and Russian weapons, defensive as well as offensive, is closely monitored by the Pentagon and NATO  as well as Russia and China  with significant implications for future weaponry.
The Israeli military was pressing ahead with its operation in Rafah on Saturday, according to three Israeli officials, a day after the worlds top court appeared to order Israel to immediately cease its military campaign in the southern Gaza city amid a growing international outcry over the offensive.

The officials did not say exactly where in the city its forces were striking and fighting. One official said the military continued to advance slowly, but cautioned that it was too early to conclude how Israel would ultimately respond to the court order because it takes time for a military ground operation to change course. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Palestinian news media reported that an Israeli strike had killed one person in central Rafah and that there was also fighting in the eastern suburbs of the city. Strikes were also reported in other parts of the territory, and the Israeli military confirmed that it also continued to operate in Jabaliya, northern Gaza.

The International Court of Justice ordered Israel on Friday to suspend its military offensive and any other action in Rafah that might wholly or partly destroy the Palestinian population there. Some of the courts judges said that Israel could still conduct some military operations in Rafah under the terms of their decision.

The court has few effective means of enforcing its order, but the ruling adds to a growing list of moves against Israel that have undermined its international standing.

In the immediate aftermath of the ruling, the Israeli government had suggested that it would continue the fight in Rafah, defying a growing group of international partners that feel Israel has gone too far. It said in a written response that its military has not and will not take actions that would lead to the destruction of the Palestinian population in Rafah  in effect saying that the courts decision has no bearing on Israels offensive.

Israels offensive in Rafah has so far displaced more than 800,000 people, most of whom had already been displaced from other parts of Gaza and have been met with miserable conditions in their new encampments. Israel has meanwhile continued to bombard other areas of the enclave, with fighting particularly intense in Jabaliya, where Israel believes Hamas is trying to regroup.

In a news briefing on Friday after the decision, a spokesman for the U.N. secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said that the U.N. chief trusts that Israel would duly comply with the courts order. The spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, later added that countries have a responsibility to enact and to abide by the courts decisions.

The court decision came as officials from Israel, the United States and Qatar  a mediator between Israel and Hamas  gathered in Paris to try to revive efforts to establish a cease-fire. Negotiations faltered earlier in the month, mainly because Hamas wants a permanent cease-fire whereas Israel wants to continue the war after a brief exchange of captives.
Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Saturday that the large crowds of mourners who took to the streets of Iranian cities this past week to honor the countrys deceased president, Ebrahim Raisi, were proof of widespread popular support for the Islamic Republic and its system of religious governance.

Ayatollah Khamenei had declared five days of mourning after Mr. Raisi, 63, was killed in a helicopter crash along with Irans foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and five others last weekend. Video from the Iranian news media in recent days showed large processions in honor of the dead, and crowds packed in to listen outside the University of Tehran on loudspeakers as Mr. Khamenei led the funeral service for Mr. Raisi on Wednesday.

This mourning has proved to the world that the people are loyal to the president of the republic and to all who embody the principles of the Islamic Revolution, Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese news channel, quoted Ayatollah Khamenei as saying on Saturday of Mr. Raisi, who had been considered a likely successor as supreme leader.

The majestic funeral that Iran witnessed proved that the people are alive, the ayatollah added, according to Al Mayadeen, which has long reported closely on Iran and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group.
Despite an international court order to stop its assault on Rafah, Israel says it will continue its operation, trying to walk a line between not angering its American allies too much while trying to achieve strategic aims that it considers too important to abandon.

For now, after many weeks of admonitions from the White House, both the Israelis and the Americans are characterizing this as a limited operation, allowing the Israelis to proceed, though more slowly and cautiously than they had in other parts of Gaza.

But as the fighting pushes masses of panicked civilians toward areas near the sea with inadequate housing or medical aid, and the closing of the Rafah border crossing dims hope for speedy delivery of humanitarian aid, Israels critics abroad condemn the toll on civilians and are unconvinced by what the Israelis have called restraint.

On Friday, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to immediately halt its offensive in Rafah, saying it endangered the civilian population there, but did not call for a complete cease-fire. Israel says it will not halt its military operation.
The New York Times News Quiz, May 24, 2024

Did you follow the news this week? Take our quiz to see how well you stack up with other Times readers.
We need to embrace the principles of ecological economics to ensure a sustainable and just future for all.  Herman Daly

There is a giant upon whose shoulders contemporary writers about ecological economics stand. His name is Herman Daly.

Here, and in upcoming columns, we will explore the concept of a sustainable, steady-state global economy that meets peoples needs while staying within the planets environmental boundaries  the only possible economic option for our long-term survival.

As we do so, we will consider two contemporary books by the highly readable authors: Tim Jackson (Prosperity Without Growth) and Kate Raworth (Doughnut Economics).

Both Jackson, whose book includes a short forward by Daly, and Raworth acknowledge the father of ecological economics in their own work. His many writings on the subject were published, beginning in 1968, over a span of 50 years, and established the fields essential ideas.

Also, as an important contribution to public discourse, they rendered them accessible not just to economists, but to nonspecialists as well.

However, like all innovators, even Daly had a predecessor. According to Daniel W. ONeills 2022 Daly obituary in Nature Sustainability, Dalys first publication, On economics as a life science, drew upon the work of Romanian economist Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, his Rice University Ph.D. supervisor and he author of the formidable tome The Entropy Law and the Economic Process.

Daly simplified Georgescu-Roegens math-heavy treatise and brought it down to earth by drawing two simple diagrams  one for economies and one for biological systems. Both systems, he showed, relied on flows of matter and energy, and both produced degraded waste  the entropy law in action.

This insight, and the diagrams explaining it, were central to the future of ecological economics. The analogy between the way biological systems and economic systems functioned meant that economic processes could be understood in ecological terms, and were subject to the same or similar laws.

But, Daly observed, mainstream economics focused only on the circular flow of currency between human entities, primarily businesses and consumers. The input of natural energy and materials, and their ultimate disposition as waste, was ignored or taken for granted.

Resources such as forests, fish stocks and minerals were considered to be infinitely renewable, and economic activity only began with their extraction and processing by humans. Waste, similarly, was deemed infinitely disposable.

This realization led Daly to draw another diagram showing the global economy as a square completely contained within a circle that represented the biosphere, with arrows representing the flow of energy and matter between the two.

Had it been expressed in words, the picture would say, The economic system is a subsystem of the biosphere.

That diagram, which simplified the energy-flow concept for laypeople, showed solar energy entering the biosphere and, after driving numerous processes, including those within the economic subsystem, leaving it as degraded thermal energy.

Meanwhile, within the biosphere, natural material resources, including energy embodied as captured sunlight  that is as plants and fossil fuels  enter the economic subsystem where they are processed further and released back into the biosphere as degraded energy and materials.

This diagram brings its viewer to an obvious conclusion: As the biospheres stock of resources diminishes, currency (usually money) flows within the economy are restricted. (For example, depleted forests mean more costly forest products.)

The corollary is that if we want to have a sustainably healthy economy, we need to keep the biosphere healthy  the exact opposite of the infinite growth paradigm underlying mainstream economic thinking that claims unlimited extraction and pollution can go on forever.

Once Daly diagramed the obvious fact that the economy is imbedded in the biosphere, he and his cohorts developed an entire theory of sustainable economics which we will explore further at our ecological house.

More Philip S. Wenz
Commentary: European countries' recognition of Palestinian state deepens U.S. isolation

Xinhua) 15:24, May 25, 2024

RAMALLAH, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The widely-applauded decisions by Norway, Ireland and Spain to recognize Palestine as a state show that more countries now stand on the side of justice over the issue, leaving the United States increasingly isolated.

Palestinians have long craved statehood. Back in 1988, the Palestine National Council meeting in Algiers proclaimed the establishment of the State of Palestine. By now, some 140 countries have recognized a Palestinian state. In stark contrast, most Western nations are not among them.

Going against the global trend, Western countries, the United States in particular, have repeatedly let the Palestinians down. In 2011 and again this year, the United States vetoed the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations, blocking the way to a Palestinian state.

The injustice, long suffered by the Palestinian people, still has yet to be redressed, thereby becoming the root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts. While the fundamental two-state solution remains elusive, the fallout is disastrous. Since the start of the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October 2023, the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 35,000, while the Israeli death toll from Hamas's surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023 stands at 1,139, according to media reports.

The Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue and matters to the region's peace and stability as well as global equity and justice. It has been the strong call of the international community and the common responsibility of all parties to support and advance the process of Palestine's independent statehood so as to facilitate lasting peace in the Middle East.

"We believe that recognition will contribute to peace and reconciliation in the Middle East. It is a statement of unequivocal support for a two-state solution - the only credible path to peace and security for Israel, for Palestine and for their peoples," Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said on social media.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, for his part, also noted that Spain recognizes Palestine "for peace, for justice, and for consistency," urging both parties to engage in dialogue to achieve a two-state solution.

"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," said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

Earlier this month, a UN General Assembly emergency special session adopted by an overwhelming majority a resolution to reaffirm the right of Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to an independent State of Palestine, which is qualified for full membership in the United Nations. It recommended that the Security Council reconsider in favor of its application to join the UN.

The three European countries' positive move is deemed a solid step toward Palestinians' statehood, as it may encourage other countries, not least those in the West, to take similar steps. "Recognition is a tangible step towards a viable political track leading to Palestinian self-determination," said Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

The announcements made clear the view in a growing number of capitals that Palestinian sovereignty cannot wait for a permanent peace deal with Israel, The New York Times pointed out.

Perhaps most significant is how the new recognitions point to the erosion of U.S. "ownership" of the Israel-Palestine peace process since the period of Oslo peace talks and agreement, commented British daily The Guardian.

Despite the progress, the way toward an independent statehood is riddled with hurdles erected by the United States. The U.S. government on Wednesday pushed back on the decisions by Norway, Ireland and Spain, saying that Palestinian statehood should not be realized through "unilateral recognition." Though claiming to support the two-state solution, Washington has, as always, actually conducted itself with duplicity.

Turning a deaf ear to the just call from the international community, Washington has talked about the need for a ceasefire while pouring weapons into Israel, and talked about aid while creating obstacles for humanitarian access. Disgraceful is a double-dealer as such.

A glimmer of hope is desperately needed and an immediate and durable ceasefire in Gaza should be prioritized, though not as easy as it has already shown. As the negotiations continue, relevant countries need to demonstrate political courage, heed the call of the international community, bear in mind the fundamental interests of people in the region and take concrete actions to support the two-state solution.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
The scintillating archipelago of Maldives has been a haven of beach tourism, luring tourists and adventure lovers from all over the world. Indians have always loved the beautiful sun-kissed beaches and the famous Atolls of Maldives. They were the highest among the visitors to the Maldives until a diplomatic row soured the relationship between the two countries. Now, official data reveals that the number of Indian tourists to the island nation has dipped significantly. Maldives may not have expected such a reaction from the Indian travellers after one of its ministers made derogatory remarks against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As per the data, there has been a drop of 42.2% in the number of Indians visiting Maldives in the first quarter of 2024. This is a significant drop compared to the numbers last year. The diplomatic row that escalated after top-ranking Maldivian ministers made controversial statements about the Indian Prime Minister when he appealed to turn Lakshadweep into the world tourism spot, had adversely affected the island nations tourism prospects. The remarks caused massive outrage among Indians who reacted sharply by cancelling their trips to Maldives. Campaigns and hashtags to boycott the Maldives were widely shared on social media. In January 2023, around 18, 612 Indian travellers had visited Maldives.

However, in January 2024, it came down to 15,003. According to data released by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism, there had been a dip of 19.4% in the number of tourists in January alone. The downward trend continued in the following months too. In February 2023, 19,497 Indians had visited Maldives. But, it dropped to just 11,522 tourists in February 2024, marking a drop of 40.9%. Meanwhile, March recorded a 54% drop and April saw a dip of 55.6.%. As a result, India slipped to the sixth position in Maldives tourism market. Meanwhile, countries like China, Russia, England, Italy and Germany overtook India to bag the top positions. Even though there has been a drop in the number of Indian visitors, Maldives have received, until now, 772,651 foreign tourists. Currently, China tops the tourism market for the island nation.

Countries like China, Russia, England, Italy and Germany overtook India to bag the top positions. Photo: Shutterstock/Denis Moskvinov

Roadshow by MATATO

Meanwhile, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) held grand road shows in major Indian cities to lure tourists. In 2023, India was Maldives top tourism market; however, as per the data released on April 10 this year, India had slipped to sixth position. This prompted the Maldivian authorities to conduct tourism campaigns and road shows in Indian cities. MATATO had conducted road shows after its representatives held discussions with the High Commissioner of Maldives.

Chinese market

Even as the number of Indian tourists kept dipping, Maldives have been receiving Chinese tourists in huge numbers. In March 2024, 13,608 Chinese tourists had visited the archipelago. Compared to the numbers in March 2023, there has been a growth of 78.6%. Until December 2023, India topped the ranking of tourist arrivals in Maldives. However, now, China has overtaken India to become the island nations biggest tourism market. As per the data released in March 2024, Russia ranks second followed by the UK, Italy and Germany. The diplomatic crisis began when Mohamed Muizzu was elected as the president of Maldives in November 2023. The pro-China president wanted India out of the country. He had formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from the island nation before May 10. 88 Indian soldiers were stationed at three airfields to operate rescue and reconnaissance aircraft.
Author, Bruce Lerro, Co-founder and Organizer, Socialist Planning Beyond Capitalism

Orientation

Mythology and folklore can be used for political and religious purposes whether they be to support socialism or fascism. What was going on at the end of the 19th century politically and in the 1930s that made mythology so attractive to both German and French fascists? Why did the imagined gods of the Indo-Europeans change from how they were conceived in the 19th century? Why was their geographical location changed from India to Germany? The Indo-Europeans of the 19thcentury were considered monotheists. But in the 20th century they became polytheists or even animists. Why was this? Why does the study of Indo-Europeans persist even after the Nazis used the search for the Indo European for such horrible ends? What can be done to minimize the chances of the study of comparative mythology being used for political and religious purposes? Its gods are different and the places they were said to inhabit change.

I Aryanization Project of the 20th century: Order Theorists vs Barbarophiles

Order Theory

Theorists of order was built out of late 19th century scholarship. It was an attempt by the bourgeoisie to shore up their private property, the sanctity of the family and the authority of the father in the face of:

the rise of a militant worker unions, social democrats, anarchists, and communists;

the economic instability of capitalism with panics and depressions;

the rise of the women's movement;

the challenging of a deterministic view of science and

artistic movements which challenged representation.

It used research on Aryans to defend its existing order by promoting a pessimistic, romantic cultural appeal of the virtues of organic society. At least in their origins, Indo-Germans were seen as proud pagans. Arvidsson says Indo-Germans do not pray bending over and kneeling, but rather standing and stretching their hands toward the sky. Also, the gods were inthe world, not transcendent to it. Because the gods are immanent, there is no separation between the supernatural world beyond and the natural world we know. Neither was there a distinction between appearances and reality. Appearances were not epiphenomenon or illusions. What appeared is what reality was. Aryans were imagined as passive provincial-- farmers rooted in the landscape and distinguished by their love or life and nature. Because there was no gap between the natural and supernational world there were no bridges (saviors) necessary to get from this world to the next.

However, order theorists are not primitivists. Their interest in the Aryans is to see them as a beacon of light arising from the darkness of tribal groups. The dark forces of nature are exiled to pre-Aryan times. The Aryans had reverence for the sun in its struggle against darkness. For all Indo-Europeans, the sun is the highest good. Myths about the victory of the sun are the founding matrix for the worldview and life of IE. Arvidsson suggests the sun was imagined by the bourgeoisie as behind the order theorists acting as a cosmic constable who could strike down the chaotic beasts of darkness.

Order theorists vs cultural evolutionists

The order theorists' picture of the Aryans as the light at the end of a dark tunnel was challenged by cultural evolutionists who claimed that ancient peoples could not have been as high standing as order theorists claimed. Evolutionists began to describe PIE as a primitive people like any other. It dissolved the whole IE field since its classifications of primitive-civilized made linguistic categories irrelevant. In addition, race was having a declining place within evolutionary anthropology. Broadly speaking, the evolutionists supported the Enlightenment's social unity of mankind across space and over time.

Order theorists turn right

Order theorists relied on mythology. This theory became connected to the world of Indo-Europeans through Leopold von Schroeder and Viennese mythologists. These included scholars from Nordic movements such as those of Gunther and Kummer as well as SS scholars such as Wust. Von Schroeder's mission was to show an unbroken continuity between contemporary German culture and Germanic Indo-European cultures through studies of myths and legends. In the 1930s order theory was carried on by Rosenberg's party college as well as partly by SS Ahnenerbe.

Barbarism theory

While order theory incorporates Neo-tradition religion for the purposes of papering over growing questions about industrialization and modernity, it still accepts modernity, even though it is critical of it. Barbarophiles, on the other hand not only criticize modernists on the left, but traditionalists of order in conservative aristocratic circles on the right. Barbarian theory proposes the Germans must break out of the iron cage of modernity which they believe was created by the Jews. While order theorists wanted to use Aryan theory to justify why it deserves to stay in power, barbarians theorists wanted to recreate a new society.

Male fellowships and rituals

Arvidsson points out that the dissolution of traditional Western European society during the 19th century produced a need for new connections. This, combined with the growing women's movement at the turn of the century, made joining clubs an attractive alternative. At the end of the 19th century, numerous singing, hunting and teetotalers' societies were formed. Among the more powerful were male fellowship societies.

These male fellowships had an uncompromising hatred of materialistic and pragmatic life. They questioned bourgeois ideals and were motivated by a neo-traditionalism that was revolutionary rather than conservative. These consisted of groups of initiated youths who lived together in special buildings and initiation rituals that were synchronized with seasonal shifts during the year. Members were presented in mythical dress as vegetation demons. They emulated ancient German secret rites. However, male fellowship scholars considered ritual more important than myths in the study of a religion.

According to Otto Hofler there was once a wild army of men led by Odin, that had no women, children, or servants among them. These groups encouraged courage, camaraderie, ambition and hard discipline. By fighting side by side, these warriors grew closer to their brothers in arms than to their own families. The demonic, ecstatic, cultist and tragic were fundamental ingredients in the religion of Aryans. Barbarophile theorists tried to show how male fellowships existed in Iran and India. The struggle for and against the religion of male fellowships has made up the main theme in Indo-Iranian religious history.

Ancient Aryan religion as warlike

By the early 20th century German competition with other nation-states for colonies made aggression and imperialism a growing possibility and this is expressed in the changes attributes of Aryan gods. Whereas for order theorists, Aryans were peaceful, rooted, life-affirming farmers, for the barbarophiles Aryans were believed to be activists, struggling, warlike and familiar with sacrifice and death. The power underlying their religion was not a warm ever-present sun, rejuvenating the crops but rather the storm god Odin and the chthonic gods or goddesses Dionysius or Ruda. For barbarophiles, Aryans are not the light at the end of the tunnel of previously primal dark people. The Aryans and their gods themselves were dark and ecstatic forces.

The conviction that Aryans were warlike was hardly confined to barbarophiles scholars like Otto Hofler. The fact that a socialist (Childe), a royalist (Schmidt) and a feminist (Gimbutas) agreed to show that the latter conviction was far from limited to the moderate right-wing and that Aryans were anything but farmers.

Folk psychology and barbarophiles

During the interwar period, this theory was also reinforced by so-called folk psychology, a discipline that had been developed during the 19th century by evolutionary-influenced scholars like Adolf Bastian and Wilhelm Wundt. It had the aim of determining the differences between the psychic constitutions of different peoples and races. It was their notion that different people and different races could be proven to have different mental capabilities. Needless to say, this attracted reactionary thinkers during the interwar period while feeding colonial appetites.

Ludwig Klages claimed there first existed a natural cosmic state that can be compared to a collective dream state or Dionysian life intoxication. This paradisiacal order was shattered when the rational spirit penetrated the sphere of spiritual, illuminated life. This led Klages to a cult of an immanent ecstatic mysticism that aspired to return to the cosmic original condition. Jung was especially interested in the folk psychological differences between Jews and Germans. For him, Odin was the truest expression of German folk soul and the Nazis' dramatic use of neo-pagan symbols was a natural and healthy answer to what was perceived as thousands of years of Semitic-Christian oppression.

Please see my table at the end of this article which compares order theorists with Barbarophile theory.

French Fascist Mythology

Action Francaise

The members of Action Francaise were either royalists or neo-royalists. They wanted to know how the king's power could be recreated after having been weakened. During the 1930s the French Action Francaise strove to ally itself with Italy. Mussolini and the Pope had agreed to share ideological power (which Lincoln had related to Dumezil's dual sovereignty as we shall see) with the aim of counterbalancing Germany's growing influence. It was hoped that France and Italy together would protect the classical heritage from the barbarians from the North (the Germans.

Dumezil's Indo-European three-part order

The master of many languages, Dumezil had written 50 books which Bruce Lincoln says are marked by extraordinary lucidity, ingenuity, rigor, intelligence and a respect for system and structure as he explained the complex logic encoded in mythic narratives. Dumezil has presented his work as strictly apolitical and that it powerfully influenced those of all ideological persuasions. Scholars who have endorsed Dumezil's research include Levi-Strauss, Eliade, Sahlins, Vernant, Le Goff and Caillois.

Dumezil argues that there are three functions of the ideal social order of Indo-European demonstrated:

sovereignty and sacred - king - specialist in law;

physical force - 2 aspects of the warrior; noble, chivalric brutal

abundance, prosperity and fertility including: production agriculture reproduction herding



Dumezil felt that the Indo-Europeans were a particularly favored people in world history for they alone discovered the secret of organizing thought and society in a trifunctional structure.

Dumezil's ideological Use of Indo-European Mythology

For 50 years George Dumezil was among the few historians of religion whose theories have found a wider audience outside the discipline and even the academy. Influence by Durkheim gave Dumezil a structural and anti-historical bent. Dumezil deemphasized the historical etymological approach. Dumezil's structuralist method had meant that the etymological method of proof had been less important in 20th century research about Indo-Europeans. Bruce Lincoln says this allowed comparative mythology to isolate Indo-European studies as a freestanding entity.

Initially Dumezil worked with themes taken from the evolutionists, particularly Sir James Frazer and his dying god cycle. But the anthropological and folkloristic material that assumed such a prominent place in the turn of the century evolutionism largely disappeared from Indo European religious research with Dumezil's fame. Just as other right wing Aryanists, Dumezil wanted to separate the Indo-Europeans from any cultural evolutionary schema.

Dumezil's right-wing connections

No Germanist was more influential on Dumezil than Hofler except the Dutch historian of religions Jan de Vries, (1890-1964). De Vries book carried a swastika on its cover (1934) and celebrates the race of blue-eyed blond-haired warriors. Also noteworthy is the Swedish Indo-Europeanist Stig Wikander who remained close friends and made fundamental contributions to Dumezil's thought over a period of five decades. He was also an active street fighter of fascism on the streets of France in 1934.

Since the 1980s Dumezil has been criticized politically for:

his introduction of 3 functions within society in publications from 1938-1942 when fascism was an urgent concern for many Frenchmen;

the resemblance of this system to Mussolini's corporate society model;

his involvement in circles close to Maurras' Action Francaise.

It was during the 1920s and 1930s that Georges Dumezil supported Action Francaise and wrote for its journals. Dumezil published articles in two right-wing newspapers. He praised Mussolini's Italy and urged France to align itself with him so that together they might check the growth of German power. Dumezil was profascist but anti-Nazi. His theory about tripartite ideology of Indo-Europeans suited the Italian and French corporative ideals in which society is divided into leaders, soldiers and producers.

In a critical article of the early 1980s Momigliano and Carlo Ginzburg claimed Dumezil belonged to a group that oppose the Judeo-Christian society. His theme of the binding gods should be connected to a reactionary ideology with roots in Joseph's Marie de Maistre who conceived of God as the one who binds individuals together into a nation. Male fellowship constituted central power that can actually functions as an agenda of real order.

Dumezil supported these forces that wanted to recreate a traditional hierarchical order in Europe. His respected work in prehistoric religions is not easily separatable from his interest in right-wing European politics in the 1930s. More specifically Dumezil wanted to make fascist ideals appear natural and make the liberal and socialists ones unnatural. He was looking to confer the historical legitimacy to the Fascist dream. Bruce Lincoln writes that Dumezil was deeply anchored in the Germanophobia and French fascism. He wrote articles which supported the French fascist organization Action Francaise and wrote articles under a pseudonym in which he praised Mussolini. Father Schmidt, an Austrian fascist, Catholic and royalist of Action Francaise also supported the restoration of a medieval type of society with stable hierarchies and integrating corporations.

Scholarship in myth was largely inseparable with discussions about Aryans for most of the 19th century and continued into 1930s and 1940s. But after World War II any research about Aryans became suspect. Understandably, after the Nazi disaster and after World War II the study of Indo-Europeans did not die. It shifted its home from Germany to France. Between 1946 and 1949 classes where classes of Dumezil were joined by Levi-Strauss and Mircea Eliade who continued to produce concrete and less political inflammatory material in mythology. However, right-wing mythology continued in Switzerland, Romania and in the United States. See my article Aryan Right-Wing Mythology for the New Age: Carl Jung, Mircea Eliade and Joseph Campbell.

The Fate or Order Theorists and Barbarophiles with the Nazis

The period from 1930 to 1945 saw the second flowering of Indo-European studies. The ideology that motivated this research Arvidsson calls "barbarian ideology". To understand this, it is important to fix in our minds how the Nazis made sense of Germany in the 1930s.

Arvidsson characterizes the Nazis as skeptical of capitalism because its individualism undermines the organic unity of a cultural group. So too, capitalism's internationalism creates cultural mixes which the Nazis thought only lead to cultural degeneration. The Nazis thought that the best cultures do not mix racially. The basic political unit for the Nazis was neither internationalism nor localism, but the state. In terms of geographic mythology, the Nazis imagined the ancient Germans as farmers surrounded by forests. The urbanization of the modern world creates a parasitic relationship with these farmers. The city is seen as a place of rootless individuals who lack a common purpose. The city was also the seedbed for secularization, atheism and other fragmenting forces. All these forces of centrifugalizing are typified by the Jew.

For the Nazis the organic unity of the nation did not mean everyone was equal. Most, if not virtually all individuals need strong leadership and were moved to defend their land and race. The Nazis do not defend their land defensively. Loyalty to the nation is sustained and amplified by the process of fighting, dying and winning wars.

Once the Nazis had established their power in the Third Reich, they did not want anything to do with the wild, ecstatic and barbaric myth and rituals. The male fellowship radical hatred of all materialism and all pragmatic thinking were inappropriate for a party that now aimed for cooperation with capitalists. What was needed was not Odin or Rudra storming demons, but Thor and Zeus's police protection

The 3rd Reich did not to have to create its fundamental myths. Rather, it was German mythology resuscitated in the 19thcentury that gave it form, spirit and institutions.

Roger Pearson and Neo-Nazism

Yet, since World War II some have worked to reconstitute the study of IE myth (while "Aryan" use is forbidden). The New Right carried on contemporary racist literature on Aryan tradition. For example, in the Journal of Indo-European Studies, Roger Pearson, founder of Northern League for Pan-Nordic Friendship and former director of the World Anti Communist League, was described as "one of the most persistent neo-Nazis in the world was one of the most persistent neo-Nazi apologists in America and one of the best connected racialists in the world". Pearson continued his writings on the relation of race, intelligence and eugenics. One of the books announced itself as based on Hans Gunther, having been the 3rd Reich's foremost theorist of racial science. Pearson also arranged for an English edition of Gunther's work on Indo-European's religion. In 1974, Pearson began receiving grants from the Pioneer Fund which directs its assets to the cause of eugenics and race betterment. His book is Race, Intelligence and Bias in Academia. A book which Stefan Kuhl calls the most comprehensive defense of scientific racism in the US since 1945.

Conclusion: How to Overcome the Ideological Uses of Mythology

Bruce Lincoln has proposed a method for reducing the ideological use of mythology. Since the 1980s Lincoln established himself as the US foremost scholar in the area of Indo-European religion through his books Myth, Cosmos and Society and Death; War and Sacrifice; Discourse and the Construction of Society. He was mainly inspired by Durkheim and Gramsci. Lincoln provides an ideological criticism among scholars of Indo-Europeanism. He claims that Indo -European research aims to reverse historical processes and recapture a primordial and a historic moment of unity. This itself is a myth and ritual based upon romantic nostalgia for paradise. Myths are authoritative narratives that can be used to construct boundaries and hierarchies. For example, he interprets Laws of Manu as attempts by priests and kings to appear to be indispensable for society. Lincoln says we need a political theory of narration that recognized the capacity of narrators to modify details of stories that pass through them by introducing changes in the classificatory order as they do so, most often in ways that reflect their subject position and advance their interests.

In order to combat this Lincoln developed a ten-step methodology for studying myth:

establish the categories at issue; notice the relations among these categories as well as their ranking relative to one another; notice the logic used to justify that ranking; identify the logic used to justify the rankings; note whether there are any changes in the ranking of categories between the beginning of the narrative and its conclusion; if there are, identify the logic used to justify any these shifts; assemble a set of related materials from the same culture area - other variants of the same story, on the basis of characters, actions, and themes; establish any differences that exist between the categories and rankings that appear in the focal text and those in those other materials; establish any connections between the categories that figure in these texts the relations of the social groups among whom the texts circulate; try to draw reasonable inferences about the interests that are advances, defended or negotiated through each set of narration - understand which groups move up and others move down; establish a date and authorship of all texts and the circumstances of their appearance, circulation and reception.

Please see table at the end of the article on Socialist Planning Beyond Capitalism
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Dr. Waleed al-Tabtabai, a former Kuwaiti member of the National Assembly, and a man integrally involved in the fundraising of the Radical Islamic terrorists who invaded Syria and killed thousands of unarmed civilians, was arrested by Kuwaiti authorities on May 12, after he posted on his X account, formerly Twitter.

In the post, al-Tabtabai accused unnamed countries of interfering in Kuwait's internal affairs, calling this "unacceptable" and expressed hope that the National Assembly would be reinstated "with all its constitutional powers".

Experts suspect al-Tabtabai was referring to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who have both cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood in an effort to reform their countries into places of peace and prosperity.

On Sunday, Kuwait's public prosecution issued a statement saying it had ordered the arrest of one person and the detention of others, on the grounds that they had posted "expressions" on their X accounts "containing attacks on the rights and authority" of Kuwait's emir.

Al-Tabtabai obtained a PhD in Islamic studies from Al-Azhar University, and was an assistant professor at Kuwait University before being elected to the National Assembly in 1996.

Kuwait is in a process of reform, and purging the National Assembly of Muslim Brotherhood influence and domination. Egypt and Tunisia both threw off their "Arab Spring" cloak of Muslim Brotherhood domination that had been imposed on them by President Barak Obama, to benefit American and Israeli interests.

During the US-NATO attack on Syria for regime change, Kuwaiti MPs as well as Salafi clerics were funding and exporting armed terrorists, whom they referred to as "jihadis".

The Kuwaiti ruling family did not publicly support the funding of terrorists in Syria beginning in 2011, but instead turned a blind eye to the operation to overthrow the Damascus government, which was unsuccessful.

Kuwait had been a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. The National Assembly consists of 50 elected members who represent different constituencies across the country.

The Emir holds extensive powers, including the ability to dissolve the National Assembly, dismiss the Prime Minister, and issue decrees. The ruling Al-Sabah family has been in power for centuries, and this has led to criticism of limited political reforms.

Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmed Al Sabah, said on May 11 he would suspend the parliament for up to four years, declaring that he had made the move "to save the country".

"Unfortunately, we have faced some unimaginable, unbearable difficulties and impediments," the 83-year-old said on Friday, according to the state news agency, a reference to the gridlock that has held back Kuwait's development.

"We were left with no option other than taking this hard decision to rescue the country and protect its higher national interests and resources of the nation," said Sheikh Mishal, and he added, "I will not allow--that democracy will be exploited to destroy the state."

The leader of Kuwait was wrestling with the ever-present gridlock in the National Assembly due to the overwhelming chaos produced by its members following the Muslim Brotherhood, which stands on the same political platform as ISIS, Al Qeada, and other such terrorist groups cut from the same cloth.

Al-Tabtabai is a follower of Radical Islam, which is a political ideology, and is not a religion or a sect. He is one of the chief supporters of funding the terrorist groups in Syria.

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Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

More than 35,000 Palestinians are dead, and thousands of Israelis are in the streets asking for their government to resign. The Israeli people thought their government would work to negotiate a release of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza, but are now faced with the realization that to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "Hostage Lives Don't Matter".

Netanyahu wants to hang on to power at all costs, even if it means his citizens have turned against him.

Experts expect the Israeli war on Gaza to lasts months. With the US government and other western democracies willing to fund the slaughter of unarmed civilians in Gaza, there is no end in sight to the genocide.

While many in Israel are patriotically supporting the slaughter in Gaza, others have turned off the official state media outlets, and are getting their news online. They have realized the Israeli media sources have been feeding the public news which does not represent the truth of the situation on the ground in Gaza.

At the same time, the American people have gotten used to relying on their cell phone for news, and the images and stories they are reading from Gaza are against the core American value they hold highest. They see an unarmed civilian population being exterminated by one of the most sophisticated modern military on earth. Freedom is the highest held value in America, and the American anger is real and directed against the US government as well as the Netanyahu government.

Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse interviewed Ambassador Peter Ford, who served as the British Ambassador to Bahrain from 1999 to 2003 and to Syria from 2003 to 2006. In 2023, Ford became a Deputy Leader of the Workers Party of Britain.

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J6 Upside Down

It wasn't the cops being sprayed with chemicals and thrown down concrete stairs and beaten in May, 2024; that was 2021. In case the media coverage hasn't made that clear.

Since the genocide got rolling, ambient terror loosens restraints on law enforcement and vigilante violence alike.

It's as if the J6 insurrection succeeded in taking over Congress and is now calling the shots. This thought can only provide atmospherics, but if January 6th was seen in the halls of power as a serious attempt to overthrow the government, the scaled-up and militarized response to public protest demonstrations across the country seems like consistent behavior. In any case it comes back, as trauma always does, to haunt us.

There is a logic to it that seems worth considering. If J6 was "only a riot," campus protest encampments fall far short of a typical outdoor concert. On the other hand, if J6 was a violent invasion of the Capitol with the expressed purpose of stopping election certification, and oh yes, to "interrogate Nancy," and "hang Mike Pence," maybe it actually changed the cost-benefit analysis if not the context and meaning of public service, both for elected and appointed officeholders of public trust.

For contrast, back then it was the cops being sprayed with noxious chemicals, thrown down concrete stairs and beaten unconscious. This time around it doesn't seem to matter at all which party holds Executive sway, or which will be defeated in this election year. In fact, all the highly orchestrated repression is overwhelmingly bi-partisan, and Congress is floating all sorts innovative ways to flout the Constitution and alienate our inalienable rights. (Just how exactly would they enforce a law against wearing a mask in public, after the Covid debacle?)

The US-backed full-out genocide is now in high gear, with an enthusiastic trifecta of Executive, Legislative and Judiciary consensus. And media need not be shy at country club get-togethers anymore. The Fourth Estate is no longer out in the cold. Who is out in the cold: citizens exercising free speech and assembly, against immoral and illegal policies (and not, we should note, breaking into Congress beating down cops with flagpoles and chanting for the blood of senior elected officials); and anybody the empire managers deem insufficiently obedient, anywhere on the face of the Earth.

It had been a safe bet that most Congressional action was designed to make more heat than light since the advent of unregulated "campaign funding"; but now it's getting too hot in the kitchen even for the cooks. Their ham-handed tactics show that political leaders believe they can bully college presidents, (now generic corporate executive clones with the sensibilities of AI) into putting down traditional, nonviolent and Constitutionally legitimate protests with brutal force, painting them as violent insurrections. Obviously they can no longer tell the difference, so contemptuous and out of touch with constituents, they even pull out that old "outside agitators" trope. But they no longer need to tell the difference. Their constituents have been exhaustively spied-on by 16 or 17 federal agencies, which have discovered what the search-engines learned when they all went into reverse and started searching us: the exact percentage of people so humiliated, so bereft of dignity, they will settle for Identity.

The naked aggression of the Zionists can't even wait for Chicago now: a proposed state visit by the Israeli 1 PM (our de facto Secretary of State) seeks a violent showdown between the US government and its citizens, an international J6 this time, that will serve as media cover for at least the next six months of relentless slaughter in Palestine. If this obscene PDA ("public display of affection") happens, citizen outrage, with signs, chants, red-painted hands and inconveniently-placed bodies, all being live-streamed on whatever "social" platform is left, will be met with extraordinary brutality, with chemical, "non-lethal" and worse weapons. The bloodier the confrontation, the more repression will be enacted by Congress as they blame and shame the victims of the violence. Upholding the Zionists' claim to represent "the" Jews, criticism of anything Israel-related will be treated as "hate-crime" and the protesters branded "Anti-Semitic Terrorists"; meanwhile, America's thriving population of aggressively racist psychopaths will revel in new-found legitimacy.

History is moving fast now. In the contagion of this collective nihilistic madness, nobody's keeping track of the wanton trampling of our common values. We still don't know what happened to all those children that were taken from their mothers at the Southern border. We're still dithering about threats to Democracy as if we knew the meaning of the word. Perhaps the only certainty now is that there's no threat: you have to have Democracy before it can be threatened.

Structural Forces

Necessary as it is, parsing events to identify perpetrators is unlikely to lead to substantive change. Structural forces may account for our predicament whether or not we can assign culpability for something systemic. Opportunists don't show up until there is opportunity, as with the 45th (and likely 47th) president. Previously, any perceived sexual misbehavior ended a candidate's career, but this one was credibly accused, and even boasted of assaulting women, all the way to the White House and ever since. This was culture, not charisma.

College students, long assumed to be under the parental protection of Institutions of Higher Learning, now find themselves indentured to corporatized think-tanks with bloated munitions-industry endowments and rolling government contracts, riding the wave of genocide profiteering, while many students are suffering the loss of family, even their entire families, to Israeli use of American weapons of mass destruction.

Yes, WMD: a 2,000 lb. bomb, which turns an occupied apartment building full of families into a deep hole surrounded by rubble, is exactly that. The purported excuse for the military destruction of Iraq and so many thousands of people is now one of our major cash crops, as the administrations of the US and NATO have both offered as a selling point for the war on Ukraine.

The Academy is now completely assimilated into a sector of the global economy that includes hotels, hospitals and private prisons, the "Hospitality" industry. The business model also applies to slaughterhouses, but with the slight difference that the offal is less awful.

The hospitality industry has about as much connection to education, let alone justice or medicine, as meatpacking. But like mining, tech, insurance, law, etc., corporate Management has to be as uniform and regimented as a hive of termites. This is structural. Economies of scale dictate cookie-cutter standardization of a labor pool with a common skillset at the lowest possible pay rate. All employees, from the CEO, paid out of your grandchild's future, to the interns paid in impossible dreams, must function as identical plug-and-play components.

That means the nuanced gradient of human negotiation from conversation to violence is only considered far down the pyramid, if ever. Far cheaper to replace components when they exceed cost parameters. HR and vocational training are standardized and streamlined.

Below the management tier, operational policy for the shop floor, as it were, is standardized across profit-centers. Hotels clean the floors better than prisons, but not as well as hospitals; prisons are best at keeping track of the "guests" and enforcing the rules. As global economic pressures get harsher from climate collapse and "stockholder value," chronic understaffing maintains high ROI, and qualified workers (standardized components) are scarce anyway. For example, a hospital security guard may have to find work in a prison; or a university may hire prison guards. At that level, whether they are a "fit" depends on their personality, not the job description.

To maintain the labor pool, standardized job requirements have to match to the lowest common denominator, not the optimum scope of work. Just as the intervals2 on a piano are tuned slightly off, but equalized, compromised performance standards are evenly distributed, making the hospitals a little dirtier, the hotels less convenient, and the prisons increasingly deadly; and reliably mediocre. It's all about beds and meals and buildings, not people.

So in the end, "security" is another business decision, made far from where it takes effect, remote from any actual lived experience, unrelated to anything but some abstract cost-benefit accounting logic. All consideration, much less respect, for human autonomy, relationship, family, community, is thus filtered out. As for coercive force, hotel guests rarely see it; hospitals can keep troublesome patients sedated; it's the modus operandi and raison d'etre for private prisons; and for university administrations, raw physical violence is the first resort.

1 US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson will invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress. Mr Johnson, who leads the Republican-controlled House, told CNBC they are "trying to work out schedules".---.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68631499

2 We can hear more notes than a piano has room for, so this problem is fudged by making pure fifths a little impure. Some years ago, "Switched On Bach" was rendered with a computer that could correct this, and the difference is amazing, and a little disturbing.
The moment I saw the book, The Other Side: A Story of Women in Art and the Spirit World by Jennifer Higgie, I wanted to devour it immediately.

My great-grandmother was a documented psychic, and my own journey started at age 14 with my discoveries of Kahlil Gibran, Madame Blavatsky, and Edgar Cayce, before later moving on to the wisdom of Abraham-Hicks. Although I have been on the journey toward weaving together the Divine Feminine and the sacred aspects of art for decades, oddly I had never heard of Hilma af Klint, mentioned often in this book, until just five or six years ago. When I explored her art and life, I was stunned to find that some of her works depicted images similar to visions I experienced during meditation, and which I had also translated into artworks. It sent chills up my spine as it seemed that we had both peeked through the same doorway to non-ordinary reality. That made me want to find out more.



TOP: Hilma af Klint. (L) The Swan, No. 12, Group IX/SUW, 1915, (R) Altapiece, No. 1, Group X, 1915. Pvt. col.. BOTTOM Meryl Ann Butler: (L) Reflections (fiber) c. 1990 (destroyed in shipping); (R) Reaching for Higher Ground, (fiber) 1991. Pvt. Col.

(Image by Top: Public domain ; Bottom: Meryl Ann Butler) Details DMCA



The Other Side is an ambitious and engaging mix of erudite dedication, masterful communication and deep introspection peppered with myth and humor. Especially for other female artists who are seeking spiritual connections in art, it is a godsend, or perhaps I should say goddess-send. The stories of the journeys of others offer a deeply meaningful confirmaton those of use who have wondered with a mix of apprehension and desire, "Am I the only one?"

It turns out, there is a whole community!

The publication is in excellent timing, coming as it does, perched on the precipice of signs heralding the end of toxic patriarchy as we continue to exit Covid's "Crucible of Change", which seems to have launched humanity up the evolutionary spiral. At least, it looks that way to those who can read the signs. And thank Goddess for that!

I was happy to interview the author, Jennifer Higgie, an Australian novelist, screenwriter, art critic and curator living in England. In addition to The Other Side, A Story of Women, Art and the Spirit World, she has also authored The Mirror and the Palette: Revolution, Resistance and Rebellion, 500 Years of Women's Self-Portraits, which I am looking forward to reading next!



The Other Side and author Jennifer Higgie.

(Image by Jennifer Higgie) Details DMCA



Meryl Ann Butler: Thanks for your time, Jennifer! First I want to thank you for writing The Other Side, it is a spectacular read, I loved it, and learning about some of these artists felt like having a missing puzzle piece of my soul finally put into place.



Piper of Dreams by Estella Canziani,

(Image by Public Domain) Details DMCA



Please share with us a couple of your favorite pieces of art that you mention in the book, and why they are meaningful to you.

Jennifer Higgie: Thank you so much, Meryl Ann! I love all of the art made by the women I mention, but one of my favourite works across the centuries is Illumination from Hildegard of Bingen's Scivias (1151) showing her receiving a vision and dictating to her teacher, Volmar.



Hildegard von Bingen receives a divine inspiration and passes it on to her scribe, Volmar. Illumination from Hildegard's Scivias (1151)

(Image by Hildegard von Bingen) Details DMCA



Hildegard was an extraordinary 12th century nun, the earliest named composer in history, artist, healer and herbalist. When I was at art school in the 1980s, my mother gave me a CD of her celestial music and I have found deep solace in it ever since.

MAB: I have several of her recordings, too, and I love to listen to them while creating art, especially those by the Anonymous Four.

JH: Another body of work that has been important to me is The Ten Largest (1907) by the visionary Swedi artist Hilma af Klint. I have rarely been as astonished by an exhibition as when I visited her major exhibition at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm in 2013. It was the beginning of my deep dive into women, art and spirituality.

MAB: Wow, you are lucky to have seen an exhibition of her work--I certainly hope to one day!

You included the surrealist Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) in your book, and synchronously, one of her paintings just sold last week at Sotheby's in New York for an unexpected $24.5 million. Her previous auction high was $3.3 million set two years ago.

The winning bidder was founder of the Museum of Latin American Art in Buenos Aires, Argentinian Eduardo F. Costantini. In 1995 he had been outbid on this very same painting when the winning bid was $475,500 (about a million dollars today). Apparently he was determined not to be outbid again!

Of course I have mixed feelings about these exorbitant auction prices, but still, I note that due to this sale, more people now know about Carrington than they did two weeks ago, and I'm glad about that. And maybe this is an indication that the world is developing more appreciation and respect for women artists.

So, Jennifer, what do you feel was your greatest personal and/or spiritual benefit from writing and researching the book?

JH: Discovering what so many of these women achieved at a time when they had no political agency was inspiring and humbling in equal measure. They have given me permission, of sorts, to be more curious and open-minded; to see the world as a place of infinite and often magical possibility.



Pamela Coleman Smith (1878-1951) illustrator of the Rider-Waite tarot deck, still the most widely used deck today.

(Image by Public domain via wiki) Details DMCA



MAB: I love that! So many of the women in your book are great examples, but especially Pamela Colman Smith, the illustrator of the most famous tarot deck in the world, commonly called the Rider-Waite deck. I had been well aware of this deck for 50 years before discovering that the inspired images were created by a woman! Thankfully, in recent years it has often been referred to as the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.

What do you hope your readers take away from reading your book?



JH: I hope they are as inspired and intrigued as I am by the stories of these women.

MAB: Well I certainly was! Is there anything you'd like to mention as we wrap up?

JH: It's so important to remember that art history is a work in progress. Ultimately it's the story of human achievement in all its messy glory.

MAB: It is indeed, thanks for that thought, and for visiting with OpEdNews today!

Jennifer Higgie's website.

The Other Side is published in the UK by Weidenfeld & Nicolson: buy here;

in Australia by Hachette: buy here;

in the USA by Pegasus Books: buy here.
A self-appointed landlord who killed two of his tenants once they discovered his scheme was sentenced Friday to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 35 years.

Phillip L. Nelson claimed self-defense in the double killing in 2020, but a Multnomah County jury disagreed last month  finding the 42-year-old guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Cassy Leaton and first-degree manslaughter in the death of Najaf Nate Hobbs.

Nelson blamed his misunderstanding of the law for the brutal stabbings in the basement of a Portland fourplex during a sentencing hearing before Circuit Judge Eric Dahlin.

If Id had a better understanding of the law, as I do now, my decisions leading to the death of Najaf and Cassy would have been very different, Nelson said, turning to their families. There is nothing that can be done to fill this void in your lives.

At his three-week trial, Nelson testified that he purposely parked his distinctive purple van far away from the fourplex at 1403 N.E. Davis Street on June 16, 2020, and then went down into the basement and turned off the water for the couples unit.

Hobbs, 39, and Leaton, 22, sawed through a wooden lattice leading to the basement, went back to their apartment and returned to try to turn on the water valve, not knowing that Nelson was downstairs, armed with a 12-inch blade hed fashioned out of a machete and nicknamed necronita.

He stabbed the couple repeatedly during the ensuing confrontation. Hobbs collapsed on the wooden stairs leading outside, while Leaton crawled into the street and cried for help, but neighbors frightened by the early days of the pandemic approached cautiously. Both were unarmed, having left the saw upstairs.

Nelson fled the scene and was arrested two days later.

There has to be some accountability, said Dahlin, rejecting the defense attorneys proposal to allow Nelson to apply for parole in just 25 years.

Portland police had been called to the house days before the killing after the couple reported their fraudulent landlord. Nelson had occupied one of the units and cleared out a previous batch of squatters and gained the trust of the buildings owner, Lawrence Stover, but didnt have permission to sublet the place.

Officer Zachary Nell testified that he told Nelson he was misapplying Oregons adverse possession law, had no right to collect rent for the other units and advised the couple not to pay any more, prompting Nelson to send furious emails warning the cop he had risked lives.

Hours before the killing, Nelson posted on social media that he had casus belli  Latin for the right to wage war  because the couple had left a plastic bottle with tin foil and an unknown chemical outside his door. Nelson believed the concoction was an improvised bomb, though it never exploded.

At his sentencing hearing, Nelson rose and apologized to the couples families, saying he regretted his trumped-up righteousness.

Najaf Nate Hobbs.and Cassy Leaton.File photos

Family members remembered Hobbs, the third oldest of seven children, for his quick wit and peaceful nature; that he helped paint the familys Gresham home blue, the same color as his eyes, and how he would give away his own toys and clothing to childhood friends, saying they needed them more.

His mother, Debe Hobbs, who works in the countys parole office, said her son would trim the 25-foot-tall trees outside the family home so they could see Mount Hood, and how they even planted one tree together. Now the grove is slated to be cut down.

Soon theyre going to widen the road, and Ill lose another piece of my son, she said. Everywhere I look I think of him. His death always poisons every thought.

Amber Antu, Leatons aunt, said her niece had a tough life and lost her own mother in Coos Bay at a young age, but Leaton retained her goofball and bubbly nature.

The couple saw the fourplex as a new opportunity  it was across the street from Hobbs job at a bottling plant  and were looking to put down roots, only to see their dream turn into a nightmare.

She was tiny but she was mighty, Antu said. She was finally in a good place. She had a job, a home, a loving, supportive boyfriend. We had so many plans.

Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.

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Toki, a downtown Portland restaurant that drew inspiration from Korean cuisine and TikTok trends alike, will close after brunch service on Sunday, May 26, owners Peter Cho and Sun Young Park announced on social media.

Although were a little bit sad, we are all so excited to move forward, focus, and grow deeper, the couple wrote.

Early 2021 was a time of pandemic pivots, not restaurant openings, especially not in downtown Portland. But Cho and Park, whose Han Oak was The Oregonians 2017 Restaurant of the Year, were offered a forgiving lease on the old Tasty N Alder space, which had been one of Portlands busiest restaurants before its 2020 closure.

Their idea? A takeout operation serving Korean dumplings, fried chicken and other highlights from Han Oaks dinner menu alongside a handful of dishes inspired by viral food trends spotted on TikTok. Those included fun bao burgers, tasty fried-chicken sandwiches, Taco Bell-style Gim-bap supremes, whipped Dalgona coffee drinks and daily doughnuts. That December, Toki was named one of Portlands best new restaurants of 2021.

According to Cho, some of his best new ideas have come while scrolling TikTok, including the many viral imitators of Taco Bells Crunchwrap Supreme.

Ive just run out of ideas, Cho told me at the time (half joking, I think). Right before we opened, I was working on making gimbap (Korean-style seaweed-wrapped rice rolls), cutting it, tasting it, and then I thought, Dude, its just gimbap. And then that stupid tortilla trend happened...Its kind of a troll, but I think its funny.

While those items could be tasty, they didnt always beckon diners downtown. Besides, Cho and Park write, several favorites, including the bao, the Korean fried chicken and that Crunchwrap supreme, could reappeare at Han Oak. Meanwhile, the dish Ill miss the most is the most traditional  and perhaps the most subtle  a Korean breakfast tray of purple rice, kimchi, mackerel and a side of doenjang soup that I wrote about here.

In the end, the success Cho and Park found at Han Oak didnt quite translate downtown, at least during a pandemic that continues to decimate the tourist dollars a restaurant there practically requires to survive. (Meanwhile, Gorham, whose Tasty N Alder was such a hit in the same space pre-pandemic, and who left Portland in 2021 after threatening messages he sent to a trans person came to light, has found similar success in Bend. His Laurelhurst Market-style restaurant, Rancher Butcher Chef, was recently named Restaurant of the Year by alt weekly The Source.)

For Cho and Park, the closure puts an end to an interesting experiment, and gives the couple more time to focus on family, Han Oak and to Jeju, the sustainably minded Korean steakhouse they opened last year.

Further reading

These Portland restaurants reinvented themselves to survive the pandemic

Han Oak team takes over Tasty N Alder space with new downtown restaurant Toki

Fueled by tasty TikTok trends, downtown Portlands Toki is a new destination from the Han Oak team

These 40 new restaurants survived  and thrived  during the pandemic

When it comes to Portland brunch, Fridays are the new Sundays

 Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com

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Oaks Amusement Park isnt just a piece of Portland history, according to people interviewed in a new documentary about the local institution. Its a family-friendly destination that, as Emily MacKay, the parks marketing and events director, says, ties together generations.

The documentary, Trolley Park: Out West, explores the past and the present of Oaks Park, combining archival photographs and video with footage of families enjoying the park.

The film, which is streaming on the PBS website, and will be broadcast on Oregon Public Broadcasting on June 24, is directed by Peter Daulton.

Daulton worked for more than 30 years as a visual effects camera operator and a computer graphics animator at Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas.

After retiring, Daulton turned his attention to making his own films, including a series of short documentaries about trolley parks. As Trolley Park: Out West says, trolley companies in the early 1900s started buying property at the end of the line, and adding playgrounds, picnic areas and carousels to the site, with the goal of increasing weekend ridership on the trolley or streetcar lines.

These trolley parks, as Daultons Oaks Park documentary notes, helped usher in the golden age of amusement parks.

According to Daultons Trolley Park Series website, while there were once more than 1,000 trolley parks in the U.S., now only about a dozen remain. And of those, Oaks Amusement Park is the only example left on the West Coast.

Daulton, who lives in Northern California, spoke with The Oregonian/OregonLive last year, shortly before he traveled to Oaks Amusement Park to film over the July 4th weekend.

His first trolley park documentary, Trolley Park: Midway Memories, took Daulton to Midway Park, an attraction in upstate New York that he remembered visiting with his family when he was young, Daulton said.

That 30-minute film has aired on PBS stations, including a showing on OPB on July 3, 2023.

Before Trolley Park: Out West, Daulton made Ride, another Oregon-set documentary, about efforts to create a carousel in Albany.

The reason Im doing these films, and sort of my goal is, I want to connect people with that childhood joy, Daulton told The Oregonian/OregonLive in 2023. Im trying to inspire people, and remind them of the joy they might have had going to an amusement park, or a lake, or spending time with family. Its a nostalgic thing, these old parks. I like to show they still exist, and show their history.

Trolley Park: Out West tells the story of Oaks Amusement Park, which opened in 1905, and still welcomes visitors today. For example, the Multnomah County Fair is happening at the park this Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27.

The film includes some vintage photos of the parks earlier days, including such attractions as a log-flume ride, and something called The Laughing Gallery, with an eye-catching array of signage: makes the old feel young, makes the young feel gay, this is where you laugh, temple of mirth, and sure cure for the blues.

The carousel and the Dance Pavilion, which was at one time a band shell visited by such luminaries as composer John Philip Sousa, are spotlighted, as are contemporary images of kids screaming in delight during thrill rides on AtmosFEAR, scenes from Oaks Parks July 4th fireworks display, and the roller skating rink, described as the oldest roller rink in the country.

In addition, Daulton includes information on other aspects of how streetcars helped shape Portland residential areas, and examples of keeping that history alive at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum, which features trolley and other electric railway equipment from the West Coast and beyond.

Trolley Park: Out West is streaming on PBS, and will be free during May and June. Beginning July 1, the film will become part of Passport, the PBS premium service. The film is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. Monday, June 24, on OPB.
The bugle call known as taps is 24 hallowed notes long. My dad was a World War II Army veteran. At the close of his funeral service, a soldier stood on the crest of a small nearby hill and sounded taps. Each note rang with a piercing sorrow.

When taps is sounded, military members salute, civilians place their hands over their hearts, and loved ones of the deceased bite their lips, hold their breath and try not to cry.

Taps first gained a foothold during the Civil War. It signaled lights out as another day drew to a close.

Today if you are on a military installation, you may hear taps sounded in the evening, broadcast over speakers. If you are driving, you pull your car over and wait until taps is finished.

Taps is sounded every evening at 11 p.m. in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Notes linger above perfectly lined rows of gravestones that stretch as far as the eye can see, then ascend into the heavens.

Those interred in Arlington, and in every other large and small cemetery dotting the country, span time and history. Beneath the sod rest the remains of Union and Confederate soldiers, doughboys of World War I, service members of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Shield, Desert Storm and the Gulf wars fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. They were men and women of all ages, all races, and all different backgrounds and stories.

A few years ago, it came to light that 14 women from the legendary Six Triple-Eight (6888), a multi-ethnic, primarily all-black, female military unit from World War II, are buried at Arlington. Stationed in Europe, they tackled an entire warehouse full of undelivered letters and packages. The units motto was no mail, low morale. These women, eager to serve their country, fought sexism, racism and the Nazis. What courage. What a legacy.
The Oregon Zoos rainforest area has welcomed a new resident.

Berry, a 6-year-old Linnes two-toed sloth, made her debut last week. Zoo staff say shes settling in quickly even though sloths arent known for their speed.
Recent studies signify that the HPV antibody is efficient in avoiding cancer in both men and women. However, fewer boys than girls are getting the antibody in the United States.

HPV Vaccine Credited for Lowering Cervical Cancer Rates

Originally cultivated to avoid cervical cancer in women, the HPV antibody, along with frequent screening, has been accepted with lessening cervical cancer rates.

Although proof of its efficiency in avoiding HPV-related cancers in men has gradually surfaced, new research displays that vaccinated men have decreased rates of cancers in the mouth and throat compared to their unvaccinated counterparts. These types of cancers happen more than twice as often in guys than in females.

The research involved comparing 3.4 million people of akin ages, split evenly between vaccinated and unvaccinated people, using a large healthcare dataset.

As anticipated, immunized females showed a lesser danger of developing cervical cancer within at least five years post-vaccination. Likewise, immunized men have shown a reduced danger of growing any HPV-related cancer, including cancers of the anus, penis, mouth, and throat.

While these cancers take years to progress and the numbers were comparatively small, there were 57 HPV-related cancers among unvaccinated men-mostly head and neck cancers-compared to 26 among immunized men.

Dr. Joseph Curry, a head and neck surgeon at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia, noted that the greatest advantage of the antibody is anticipated in the next two to three decades. The research's discoveries represent early evidence of this impact.

The research outcomes, along with those of a second study, were issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and will be analyzed at their yearly meeting in Chicago next month.

The second research discloses that although HPV immunization rates are growing, boys are still lagging behind girls in getting the shots.

Read Also: ADHD Cases in US Have Risen as 1 in 9 Children Diagnosed With the Disorder

What Is HPV?

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a typical sexually transmitted disease. While most HPV diseases have no symptoms and resolve without medication, some can result in cancer, leading to roughly 37,000 cases yearly in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The HPV vaccine has been suggested for girls aged 11 or 12 since 2006, and for boys of the same age since 2011. Catch-up immunizations are advisable for anyone up to age 26 who has not been immunized.

The second research examined self- and parent-reported HPV immunization rates among preteens and young adults from a large government review.

Between 2011 and 2020, immunization rates for females rose from 38% to 49%, and for males from 8% to 36%.

Dr. Danh Nguyen from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas noted that HPV antibody uptake among young men has risen more than fourfold over the past decade, yet immunization rates among young men still fall off behind those of females.

Jasmin Tiro of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, who was not involved in the research, highlighted that parents of both boys and girls should be familiar that the HPV antibody lessens cancer danger.

She also noted that young guys who haven't been immunized can still get the shots. "It's really important that teenagers get the vaccine before they're exposed to the virus," she said.
On Thursday, a federal judge did not make an immediate decision after hearing arguments about whether to remove a lawsuit filed by Darryl George, a Black high school student asserting racial and gender discrimination after his extended punishment by his Texas school district for refusing to change his hairstyle.

Darryl George violates the School District Dress Code

Darryl George, 18, has been absent from his regular classes in the Houston area since August 31 because Barbers Hill School District claims his hair length violates their dress code.

The district contends that George's long hair, styled in tied and twisted locs, breaches their policy as it would extend below his shirt collar, eyebrows, or earlobes if let down. They argue that other students with locs comply with this length policy.

Last year, Darryl George and his mother, Darresha George, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the school district, its superintendent, his principal and assistant principal, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The lawsuit blames the accused for cooperating in or failing to avoid racial and gender discrimination through George's punishment over his hairstyle.

"I'm just happy that we're here. We finally made it here. This is another stepping stone we have to cross. It's been a long road and we will just be in this fight," Darresha George said after the court hearing on Thursday.

The lawsuit also demands George's punishment breaches the CROWN Act, a state law authorized in September that prohibits race-based hair bias, hindering employers and schools from penalizing people for their hair texture or protective hairstyles, including Afros, braids, locs, twists, or Bantu knots.

Furthermore, the suit asserts that George's First Amendment rights to free speech and expression are being disregarded. For most of the school year, George, a junior, has either been in in-school suspension at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu or at an off-site disciplinary program.

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George's Attorney said the District's Policy is Discriminatory

On Thursday, George's attorney, Allie Booker, told U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown that the district's policy is discriminatory and not race-neutral.

Booker argued that the school district made religious exemptions for hair length but did not comply with the CROWN Act by not offering race-based protections. She also pointed out the inconsistency in allowing girls to have long hair while prohibiting boys from doing so.

Judge Brown asked if there was any case law indicating hair length as protected expressive conduct under the First Amendment.

While Booker admitted she hadn't found any, she argued that George's case is precedent-setting and that self-expression through hairstyle doesn't need to be religiously based to receive legal protection.

"It's not about the length of hair, it's about acceptance for all in the same manner," Booker said after the hearing. Jonathan Brush, the attorney for Barbers Hill School District, maintained that the district's policy is race-neutral and that George's lawsuit failed to demonstrate a significant pattern of racial discrimination.

Brush also stated that different hair length restrictions for boys and girls do not constitute discrimination and that the policy would hold up in workplaces and the military. He argued that George's First Amendment rights weren't violated because his hairstyle didn't communicate a message to the world.

Darresha George has emphasized that her son's hairstyle has cultural and religious significance. Historians note that many African American hairstyles carry deep cultural importance.

Judge Brown indicated a tendency to dismiss Abbott and Paxton from the lawsuit, along with some claims against the superintendent and school administrators, with a final ruling to follow later.

In February, a state judge ruled in favor of the school district in a related lawsuit, stating that its punishment does not violate the CROWN Act.

Barbers Hill's hair policy faced a similar challenge in a May 2020 federal lawsuit by two other students, who both withdrew from the high school.

However, one returned after a federal judge granted a temporary injunction, suggesting a "substantial likelihood" of violation of his rights to free speech and freedom from racial discrimination. That lawsuit is still pending.

Darryl George declined to comment after the hearing. His attorney, Booker, noted that George is feeling down because he has struggled to find a summer job and fears that those who disagree with his case will continue to hold it against him.
Malaysian influencer Jasmine Yong's son drowns in a hotel pool during a heartbreaking Mother's Day tragedy.

In a break from the usual content of her social media accounts, the influencer announced that her two-year-old son, Enzo, tragically drowned earlier this month. The incident, which occurred on Mother's Day, has left the family and their followers in deep sorrow.

Mother's Day Celebration Turns to Tragedy

Jasmine Yong took to Instagram to share the devastating news, accompanied by images from what appeared to be Enzo's memorial service.

In her emotional post, Yong explained that the family was staying at a hotel to celebrate Mother's Day when the tragedy struck.

According to Yong, Enzo wandered out of their hotel room while she and her husband, Lim Kong Wang, were napping.

"Enzo, our baby, has become a little angel and is no longer in pain," Yong wrote in a translated caption. The influencer recounted how Enzo, who often featured in her social media posts, had been snuggling with her and her husband before falling asleep after drinking some milk.

Discovery and Desperate Attempts to Save the 2-Year-Old Boy

The heartbreaking sequence of events unfolded when Yong and her husband woke up to find Enzo missing from their bed.

They quickly noticed that the door to an area with an indoor swimming pool, which had been locked, was now open. Rushing into the pool area, they discovered Enzo unresponsive in the water.

Yong immediately performed CPR on her son, but he did not respond. The couple faced additional challenges as they struggled to call for help due to poor service in their hotel room.

Lim Kong Wang eventually opened the room door and called for assistance, but there was no immediate response.

In her caption, the Malaysian mom influencer added that when they saw their child, they immediately carried Enzo to the hotel lobby and asked the hotel employees to help call an ambulance and perform emergency aid until the ambulance arrived.

After thirty agonizing minutes, Enzo was transported to the hospital, where doctors managed to restart his heart, but he remained unconscious.

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Enzo's Final Battle and Plea for Privacy

Enzo fought valiantly to hang on, but ultimately, his heart stopped beating. Yong's post expressed the deep pain and sorrow felt by the family.

She also made a plea to the public, asking people not to spread rumors or exaggerate the details surrounding Enzo's death. "Please let baby Enzo leave the world peacefully," she concluded.

The influencer followed up her initial post by sharing videos of the toddler, further highlighting the joy and love he brought into their lives.

The tragic loss has resonated deeply with Yong's followers, many of whom have expressed their condolences and support during this difficult time.

Jasmine Yong's heartfelt messages have touched many, serving as a somber reminder of the preciousness of life and the importance of vigilance even during moments of rest and celebration.

The family's tragedy has sparked conversations about child safety and the measures that can be taken to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry recently signed a bill that categorizes the commonly used medications for abortion into dangerous substances.

After the transition of this bill into law, Louisiana becomes the first state in the country to list misoprostol and mifepristone under Schedule IV of the state's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.

Louisiana Governor Signs Abortion Medication Bill To Law

The bill, which passed the Louisiana Senate with a 29-7 vote on Thursday, May 23, introduces stringent measures on the possession of these medications.

Under the new law, individuals found in possession of mifepristone and misoprostol without a valid prescription or a medical professional's order could face up to five years in prison. However, pregnant individuals obtaining these medications for personal use will not be prosecuted.

Governor Landry announced the signing via social media, stating, "This bill protects women across Louisiana."

Medications classified under Schedule IV include certain narcotics, depressants like Xanax and Valium, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, and stimulants used to treat conditions such as ADHD and for weight loss. This classification places abortion medications among these substances, a move that has alarmed medical professionals and abortion rights advocates.

Support and Opposition

Supporters of the bill, primarily anti-abortion advocates, argue that this measure is necessary to protect women and prevent the misuse of abortion medications.

Republican State Senator Thomas Pressly, who introduced the bill, cited a personal family incident as motivation.

His sister's estranged husband was convicted of secretly administering abortion medication to her without consent, which he described as a prime example of why tighter control is needed.

"Louisiana has been very clear, we do not prosecute women when they are seeking an abortion," said Pressly. "But we're also very clear that abortion is not legal in Louisiana."

Conversely, opponents argue that the bill's ramifications could extend beyond abortion, potentially delaying or complicating essential medical treatments.

Democratic State Senator Royce Duplessis voiced concerns that the reclassification would impede access to these medications for non-abortion-related uses, such as managing miscarriages or facilitating labor and delivery.

Read Also: Louisiana Lawmakers Approves Bill To Reclassify Abortion Medications as Dangerous Drugs

Medical Community's Concerns

Medical professionals have strongly opposed the bill, highlighting the essential roles these medications play outside of abortion care.

Dr. Jennifer Avegno, director of the New Orleans Health Department, emphasized their safety and effectiveness for various medical treatments.

"These are not dangerous drugs of abuse. From a medical standpoint, this is bad science and not well-informed," Avegno stated.

Over 250 doctors have signed a letter to Senator Pressly, warning that reclassifying these medications could create a false perception of their danger and lead to unnecessary regulatory burdens.

The letter described the proposal as "not scientifically based." President Joe Biden also condemned the bill, calling it "outrageous" and attributing its emergence to the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Trump administration.

"This is a scary time for women across America," Biden said, expressing concern that similar measures could be enacted nationwide if Trump were re-elected.

Louisiana's strict abortion laws already ban the procedure with limited exceptions, such as to save the life of the pregnant person or in cases of severe health risks. Recent legislative sessions saw a rejection of a bill that would have added rape and incest to the list of exceptions.

The new law also includes provisions to criminalize coerced abortions through fraud, with severe penalties for those who administer the medications without the pregnant person's consent.

As the debate continues, the impact of this legislation on Louisiana's healthcare landscape remains uncertain, with potential far-reaching consequences for both women's health and medical practices in the state.
A recent study recommends that many young females diagnosed with breast cancer may still have the opportunity to conceive a child after their diagnosis, thanks to progress in breast cancer medication.

In a research involving roughly 200 females aged 40 and under, who had non-metastatic breast cancer and wished to have children, it was found that around three-quarters were able to obtain pregnancy post-diagnosis, with about two-thirds successfully delivered.

Possibility of Becoming Pregnant After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

The discovery, set to be presented at the 2024 ASCO Annual Conference in June, allows hope to the growing number of younger people facing breast cancer who aim to keep their fertility.

Dr. Julie R. Gralow, Chief Medical Officer of ASCO and a breast cancer specialist, highlighted that obtaining pregnancy post-diagnosis is not only possible but also secure.

However, only a minority of females in the research conveyed an inclination for gestation after their diagnosis, possibly mirroring worries about interfering with their lives at a young age.

Factors such as financial stability and the utilization of fertility preservation techniques, like egg freezing, were linked to increased chances of pregnancy. Additionally, age at diagnosis influenced the likelihood of conceiving, with younger patients having better outcomes.

Despite these promising findings, challenges remain in ensuring equitable access to fertility preservation services due to barriers such as financial constraints and limited resources.

The research also emphasized the significance of giving data about fertility safeguarding choices to all young females diagnosed with breast cancer before implementing medication.

While the study highlights the possibility of obtaining fertility goals after breast cancer, it's important to understand that triumph may not be worldwide.

Timely counseling and access to fertility safeguarding services are important in supporting a female's reproductive options after a breast cancer diagnosis.

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Financially Secure Women Had Higher Likelihood of Becoming Pregnant

Dr. Julia Foldi, an assistant professor of medicine in hematology/oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, recommends that the hesitation among young females with a breast cancer diagnosis to seek pregnancy might stem from worries about disturbing their lives at such a young age.

The research discloses that females with greater financial security were more possibly to become pregnant, and approaches like fertility safeguarding, such as egg freezing, importantly hike the chances of having a baby. Additionally, older patients had lower odds of conceiving.

Dr. Gralow emphasized the importance of ensuring that all young women diagnosed with breast cancer are informed about options to enhance their chances of future pregnancy before starting treatment. She also highlighted the necessity of providing access to fertility preservation services, which can be financially burdensome.

Dr. Kimia Sorouri, a research fellow at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, pointed out the challenges of accessing fertility preservation due to various barriers.

Dr. Sigal Klipstein, from InVia Fertility Specialists in Chicago, emphasized the need for resources like insurance coverage for fertility preservation to ensure access to care for women yet to complete their reproductive plans.

The study found several factors not linked to fertility outcomes, such as infertility history, tumor characteristics, and race.

Dr. Gralow noted the significance of the study's data, particularly the high percentage of women who had received chemotherapy, which can affect fertility.

The average age at breast cancer diagnosis in the study was 32 years, and on average, it took four years post-diagnosis for women to conceive. Most participants were non-Hispanic white and had early-stage breast cancer.

Dr. Elizabeth Langen, from the University of Michigan Health System, emphasized the significance of early breast cancer screening for safeguarding future fertility goals.

The trend of younger females being diagnosed with breast cancer emphasizes the significance of guidelines recommending breast cancer screening starting at age 40.

While the study offers hope for women with breast cancer, Dr. Klipstein cautioned that not all women may achieve success in preserving fertility. Prompt counseling and access to fertility preservation options are crucial factors in realizing women's desired family plans.
This week, Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship offers the perspective of a non-Latter-day Saint looking in: The Eucharist of the Latter-day Saints: The Sacrament in the Broader Christian Context, written by Robin Douglas

Abstract: This paper views the sacrament prayers and rituals of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the broader context of Christian eucharistic worship, focusing on how the Latter-day Saint observances both resemble and differ from those of other Christian communities. It argues that, contrary to what is often supposed, the Church has a relatively high eucharistic theology.

Interpreting Interpreter: A Latter-Day Eucharist, written by Kyler Rasmussen

This post is a summary of the article The Eucharist of the Latter-day Saints: The Sacrament in the Broader Christian Context by Robin Douglas in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway: Douglas provides an outsider perspective on the Latter-day Saint sacrament ordinance (otherwise known as the eucharist), comparing it to other Christian eucharist traditions. He concludes that the LDS version of the eucharist is relatively high-church in its ritual and formality, and that it is far from a straightforward expression of Joseph Smiths nineteenth-century context.

A while back, I published an article in Meridian Magazine about evidence regarding the famous prophetic mantle experience or so-called transfiguration of Brigham Young that, according to many self-identified witnesses, took place during an address that President Young gave to assembled Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois, on 8 August 1844. (See The Heavenly Sign: Brigham Youngs Transfiguration at Nauvoo.) In that article, I noted the suggestion by Lynne Watkins Jorgensen that  alongside the witness that scores and scores of Latter-day Saints who were present there on that day later claimed to have received of Brighams divine selection as the successor to Joseph Smith  others received their own independent witness elsewhere, at the same time or at nearly the same time. At least one or two of them seem to have been transfigurations that were similar or identical to those witnessed by the congregation in Nauvoo. Others, although of identical import, were distinct in character. In fact, I myself supplied an example of that second, distinct, kind of apparently supernatural confirmation.

Today, a friend sent me another such instance, drawn from her own family history. (I do not name her here, since I do not want to submit her to the tender ministrations of the tiny tribe of character assassins who have been publicly maligning and slandering me, day in and day out for the past twenty years or so, in their bizarre little sector of the internet.) But I will identify her ancestor: He is Lorenzo Hill Hatch (1826-1910), and he is her great grandfather. What follows here is a brief extract taken from the portion of his autobiography that covers his first twenty years, from his birth in 1826 to 1846:

NAUVOO April 14, A.D. 1844. I was ordained a Seventy by Joseph Young, president of the Seventies, and started on the 15th with Thomas Fuller on a mission of Vermont to preach the gospel. [This mission was to advocate Joseph Smith as President of the United States. Mission over shortly after martyrdom.] . . . About the middle of this month the news came of the death of Joseph and Hyrum. At first I could not believe it, but at last was convinced that it was a fact. Then I mourned and wept as the children of Israel did when Moses was taken from them. [This in his own words was his testimony concerning Brigham Young given just before his death, 20 April, 1910.] I was alone a young man, being but eighteen years old, 1500 miles from home. The question in my mind was, who would lead the Church now that the Prophet Joseph was gone. About a month later a letter came from my uncle, Jeremiah Hatch, who had married a daughter of Sidney Rigdon. He claimed that the Lord had called Sidney Rigdon to lead the Church. I was at the house of one of my cousins in the town of Bristol, Vermont. It was about noon. I stood in the middle of the sitting Room reading the letter to my cousin, when a voice plain and distinct said, Brigham Young is the man God has chosen to fill the vacancy. I so declared to my cousin. My father had gone to the Great Beyond and Brigham Young was a father to me all the remainder of his life.Lorenzo Hill Hatch.

And now, as I often do, I close with a few infuriating horrors  a gratifying quartet of them, this time  from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:

Church donates to foundation launched by first lady of Gambia: The donation will help fund humanitarian efforts focused on health, education and women

The Church of Jesus Christ Gives Project HOPE $3.4 Million: Aid will improve health for thousands in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela

Latter-day Saints Around the World: May 2024: Church helps repair New Zealand homes damaged by floods, charity kitchen in Italy utilizes member volunteers, and nursing services are paid for in South Korea

Why religion is good for society

If secularizers were the praying sort, of course, they could pray for the day when such crimes will be done away. As it is, though, they can only hope . . . and, I guess, send positive vibes in that direction. Or something like that.

Posted from Richmond, Virginia
Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on the 25th of May, in 1803.

I try to note it every year as it arrives.

Emerson was a central founder of Unitarian Transcendentalism. For most of America, Transcendentalism was a literary movement. However, in fact it was a theological and spiritual revolution within American Unitarianism and only incidentally a literary phenomenon. I often think of how Zens rise touched art and literature in China, Japan, and Korea while actually being about something else. Connected. But ultimately like for Zen, Transcendentalisms primary focus the understanding of human hearts and the urge for meaning and direction in this mysterious world.

As it is with movements of various sorts there are any number of moments that could be named the beginning of Transcendentalism. The 1836 publication of Ralph Waldo Emersons essay Nature is probably the most common. It marks a wonderful shift in focus for Western spirituality. Moving the locus of wisdom from texts to nature itself. With that book Emerson articulated the beginnings of a nondual approach to spirituality that would end up shaping the liberal religious impulse of two American protestant denominations, the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America. It would also provide a tap root for what would eventually become the New Thought movement.

He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His father William was a Unitarian minister. He was the second of five sons who would live into adulthood. William died before Ralph turned eight. His mother was joined by his aunt Mary Moody Emerson and other women in the family who provided the boys with a solid home. He attended Boston Latin and then, as was how it went in those days, at fourteen he entered Harvard.

In his senior year he decided to use his middle name Waldo. At eighteen he graduated and began a career as a school teacher. Plagued by poor health he lived for a time in South Carolina and then in Florida. In Florida Waldo had his first experience of slavery. He also made an intellectual friend in a nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, Prince Achille Murat. The two had deep conversations about life and poetry and philosophy. In later years he would credit the prince for launching his intellectual life.

In 1824 Waldo returned to Harvard for the course in divinity. Completing the program he accepted the invitation to serve as junior pastor of the Second Church in Boston. He was also chaplain to the Massachusetts legislature. He married, but his wife, Ellen died within two years.

Perhaps triggered by his wifes death Emerson began to question his usefulness as a parish minister. A disagreement over presiding at communion led him to submit his resignation in 1832. Whatever the depth of his disagreements about the eucharist and its public celebration, it has been noted it was as good a reason to leave the parish as any.

Emerson then toured Europe, where he met many of the leading intellectual lights of the day. He returned to the United States in 1833, living for a time in Newton with his mother before settling in Concord. From there he launched a career as an author and public lecturer. He proved wildly successful.

In 1835 he married for a second time, to Lydia Jackson. Jackson was a formidable figure in her own right, An abolitionist, feminist, activist for Native American rights, and the welfare of animals. They would have four children together.

In 1836, at the same time as he published Nature, in response to a letter from Frederick Henry Hedge to Emerson calling for the creation of a symposium that could allow for a free discussion of theological and moral subjects, he joined Hedge and George Putnam at Sophia and George Ripleys home. This would come to be called the Transcendental Club. They soon moved their meeting to the bookstore owned by Elizabeth Peabody.

Among the members besides those already listed were Margaret Fuller, Bronson Alcott, Orestes Brownson, Ellen Sturgis Hooper, Theodore Parker, Henry David Thoreau, William Henry Channing, James Freeman Clarke, Christopher Pearse Cranch, Convers Francis, Sylvester Judd, and Jones Very. Each of these remarkable figures deserves a full biography of their own. Several have them.

In addition to being heirs to the greatness of European thought and particularly the new thinking coming out of Germany, they were the first Americans to have access to translations of major religious writings from the East, including Hindu, Taoist and Buddhist texts. They made full use of this gathered wisdom in their deliberations.

For Transcendentalism as an organized religious expression we can look again to Emerson. On July 15th, 1838, he was invited back to his old school to give the graduation address. He did.It is remembered as the Divinity School Address. And it proclaimed what some called the new infidelity. Within it we see what would eventually evolve into the Unitarian Universalist Association. Here the nondual impulse framed within Western culture would offer up a new, eclectic, and syncretistic alternative to Protestant Christianity.

With the conventions of Unitarianism, he reasserted the humanity of the good and great teacher Jesus. The first wave of Unitarianism in the previous generation remained deeply rooted in biblical Christianity. Indeed the rejection of trinity was mainly because there was, beyond a Medieval interpolation, no explicit statement of a trinitarian doctrine in the scriptures. The first wave of American Unitarianism was deeply biblical. And they continued to assert the miracles reported within the text as an internal proof of their validity.

Emerson made sure to underscore his Unitarianism was not a form of Arianism, where Jesus is lifted to a demigod status. His term. Emersons Divinity School Address dismissed the idea that the reports of miracles in the scriptures were proof of the truth of the teachings to be found within them, and with that explicitly rejecting the necessity of scripture as divine revelation.

Instead he declared that the intuition of the individual was sufficient to find ones way.

This created a firestorm within Unitarianism. A fire that has not yet burned itself out.

Emerson gradually moved from a broadly but not particularly engaged anti-slavery feeling to active abolitionist. An early supporter of Abraham Lincoln, he had a mixed feelings about the president, eventually settling that Lincoln was perhaps the only person who could have guided the country through those horrendous times.

He was for a time one of the leading public intellectuals in North America.

In 1862 Henry Thoreau died. He was 44. Emerson delivered his eulogy. Two years later he served as a pallbearrer for Nathaniel Hawthorne. By 1867 his own health began to fail. By the dawn of 1872 he began to show evidence of dementia. Although he still traveled, notably a trip to England with his daughter Ellen. He withdrew from all public activity in 1879.

Emerson died on the 27th of April, 1882, in Concord. His body would be interred at Authors Ridge in the Concord graveyard.

While there would be a variety of views held among the Transcendentalists, personally Im much more influenced by Henry Thoreaus thing in itself than Emersons platonism, one thing was certain. In this crowd of New England Unitarians, something incredibly important was happening. And Ralph Waldo Emerson was very much at the center of it.

Something emerged that would profoundly influence, for good and for ill, and I will happily assert vastly more to the good, as a rising spirituality in America.

So, blessings upon you, Ralph Waldo Emerson.

You did good
On the 24th of May, the Romani, or at least some Romani, celebrate Saint Sarah, sometimes called Black Sarah, or Sarah the Black, or Sara e Kali in Romani, as their patron.

Like many popular saints in the Roman Catholic calendar, her historicity is shrouded. Some like the idea that her cult in fact came with the Romani from India, on their ancient journey to Europe. In this telling she is a distant remembering of the goddess Kali.

Others like the idea that she is a remembering of a Celtic fertility goddess.

Others like a blending.

The Christian version of the story is that Sarah was a servant to one of the Three Marys. Perhaps she was a black Egyptian. A popular legend tells us that in the year 42, Lazarus (of the raised from the dead fame), led a group including the Three Marys and others fleeing persecution. The band eventually made shore at SaintesMariesdelaMer, in the south of France.

Another version of the story has Sarah already there and greeting the band when they arrived, or maybe even saving them from a storm by miraculous means, after which she serves them.

To elaborate on this, as Wikipedia so deliciously says the pseudohistorical book Holy Blood, Holy Grail, suggest that Sarah was the daughter of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. This would inspire Dan Browns wildly popular pot-boiler the Da Vinci Code, and a small host of others. The themes of Holy Blood and the Da Vinci Code generated quite a cottage industry for a few years.

Lots of versions of the story of Sarah the Black. Like the best of saint stories.

I like all of them, but maybe the ancient memory of India best of all.

Today many people will gather at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where her enshrined statue will be taken by a throng who will process with her down to the sea. And in doing so, share blessings with the Romani people, and, I think, I believe, with all the world.

A lovely thing
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.

Featured Video
Readers Bay Foundation is taking patrons on a reading expedition dubbed The Reading Caravan. This is Ghanas first tourist-readers adventure which is a one-day road trip that gets patrons glued to a book to read while on the bus.



The Reading Caravan is a dynamic mobile literacy initiative, that seeks to foster the culture of reading that is also fused with interesting site-seeing to give participants an awesome reading experience. This inaugural tour is aimed at bringing the joy of reading to communities across Ghana.



On Saturday, 22nd of June 2024, patrons on this vibrant Reading Caravan will travel from Accra to the Eastern Region, hosting interactive reading sessions and site seeing at the Anagkazo Bible Museum, Akonedi Shrine.



Founder of Readers Bay foundation, Irene Boakye-Danquah, also known as Obaa Renee, has emphasized that Patrons on the reading caravan will also spend time to engage pupils of the Akropong Methodist Primary School by taking turns to read to them and inspire them to stick to their books and excel in their academic and future endeavours. The school engagement will be crowned up with assorted books donation to stock up their library facility.



Readers Bay Foundation is a literacy Foundation that believes that every child needs basic quality education for a better future.



This is inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-4 (SDG4), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The foundation supports underprivileged children and communities to elevate their literacy and numeracy levels by mobilizing reading and learning resources to equip and empower them. It has carefully laid out teaching and learning modules and interesting and interactive activities that make reading fun.



















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The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has cautioned the electorate to desist from demanding money from politicians as a form of bribe in exchange for their votes.



According to Ms. Addy, this negative development is slowly gaining ground in the country as the electorate on several occasions have been seen aggressively demanding money from politicians in exchange for their votes. This, she said, was a threat to the countrys democracy.



This year we are seeing more and more of that. It is worrying, it is disturbing and it is a very negative development and very unfortunate. As we grow in our democracy, we should be getting stronger. The democratic culture should be better rooted, and we should move away from negative things.



But when it comes to money and politics, it looks like the more we mature in democracy the more we make it about money, and this is completely wrong, she said.



Ms. Addy further indicated that this practice distorts the democratic process, as votes are no longer based on political beliefs or policies but on financial transactions, adding that the practice undermines accountability, as politicians may feel less responsible to their constituents and more beholden to those who funded their campaign.



Money shared by politicians is never free money. It comes from someplace and goes back to that place with interest. Let us stop making demands for money from political actors so that we can hold them accountable for the things that are important to us, she added.



She encouraged the electorate to exercise their right on December 7 to help elect competent leaders for the nation.



She made these assertions at the media briefing on the commencement of activities of Inter-Party Dialogue Committees (IPDCs) for Election 2024 under the theme, Together We Can Build Ghana, So Get Involved in Accra.



The spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu called on the youth to reject any offers from political actors to perpetuate any form of violence during, before, and after the December 7 election.



I speak to the people of our country that no politician is worth the blood of any young person. This year let no blood drop on the surface of our land in the name of politics. We must eschew violence, he said.



Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu bemoaned some isolated reports of violence among party enthusiasts in the limited voter registration exercise, adding, Just limited voter registration recorded violence where some people were cut due to cutlass fights. So if this is how we have begun then December 2024 what are we envisaging?

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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The Western Regional House of Chiefs has commended newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) for the respect he has showed them for paying a courtesy call on them without any invitation.



According to the Vice President of the house, Awulae Angama Tu Agyan this single gesture from Mr. Joseph Dadzie shows his humility and honour for the traditional rulers.



The Chief Executive of the National Oil Company in the company of some of his management members paid a visit to the Western Regional House of Chiefs to among other things, introduce himself to them as the new head of the Corporation. Joseph Dadzie, a former deputy CEO of GNPC replaced Opoku-Ahweneeh Danquah on May 2, 2024, following his resignation.GNPC CEO visits Western Region House of Chiefs



Welcoming the GNPC delegation to the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Angama Tu Agyan noted that since the retirement of Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong in April 2022, no CEO from the Corporation has ever accorded them this respect by coming over to interact with them and seek their counsel when K.K Sarpong left, someone came to replace him.



We never saw him here but see how quick this new CEO [we are proud to call our son] has seen the need to come to us within the month he was appointed to interact with us, he said.



Awulae Angama Tu Agyan noted that this move from Mr. Dadzie and his management will surely go a long way to establish a long-lasting relationship between the Western Regional House of Chiefs and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. With your visit and introduction here today, we are hopeful you will soon come back to meet the full house and discuss more pressing issues we have for your consideration Awulae Angama Tu Agyan added.



According to the Chiefs in the Western Region, it is their wish that every year, the GNPC boss will come before the house and share with them some of the challenges the Corporation may be facing and how best they could support the Ghana National Oil Company to overcome them.GNPC CEO visits Western Region House of Chiefs



This would also give us the opportunity to share with you some of the challenges we are also facing in the region and explore ways of dealing with them, Awulae added



The President of the Western Regional of Chiefs, Awulae Amihere Kpaniyiliin his welcome address also emphasised the need for this relationship the GNPC CEO has just re-established with them to deepen. For you to come to the Western Region and see the need to come to us is commendable. It shows the respect you have for us here, he noted.



Responding to the Chiefs, Mr. Joseph Dadzie commended them for their warm reception. He promised he will soon be back to start his engagement with the entire house as you all know, we are soon going to commission our Operational Headquarters here. When we come, I will use that opportunity to meet the entire house for further discussion.



Mr. Dadzie told the Chiefs he could not have visited the region without visiting them considering how good they have been to GNPC and the staff here.



According to him, there was no way I could have visited my staff here led by Dr. Dominic Eduah and decide not to pay homage to you, the owners of the land we operate on.GNPC CEO visits Western Region House of Chiefs



Mr. Dadzie further added that it was equally important I came here to introduce myself to you as the new CEO, but I will assure you that I will come back together with my board to meet you all.



Mr. Joseph Dadzie told the chiefs, he was aware of several of their developmental concerns as catalogued to him earlier by the Regional Minister and assured them that together with the board of the Corporation, ways would be found to address them.



Even before I came here, at the board level, we had met and discussed many of these issues and we are strategizing on how to fix them. The board has agreed that we complete projects we started in the region that has stalled, the GNPC boss, assured the chiefs.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko, has given the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation his fullest assurance that, his office will ensure he succeeds.



The Minister said this when GNPC boss, Mr. Joseph Dadzie and some of his management members paid a courtesy call on him in Takoradi. The visit was for Mr, Dadzie to officially introduce himself to the Minister and the Western Regional Coordinating Council as the new head of the Ghana national oil company.



Joseph Dadzie took office on May 2, 2024 after his predecessor Opoku-Ahweneeh Danquah resigned as the CEO of the Corporation.



Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko in his remarks reminded the GNPC boss of the critical role the Corporation plays in the governance of the country. He noted that the success of the government in the Western Region depends on GNPC.



The Regional Minister said it is for this reason that he will implore the new CEO to ensure that all developmental projects started by GNPC in the region and have been stalled, are completed.



According to him, Joseph Dadzie should see himself as the CEO who is going to score the goal for the government in the 2024 elections.Joe Dadzie meets Western RCC



As President Nana Akufo-Addo readies to commission the ultra-modern Operational Headquarters of the GNPC in Takoradi, the Regional Minister advocated that new staff recruitment to supplement the workforce in Takoradi are mostly recruited from the Western Region to appease the Chiefs and people in the region.



On his part, the GNPC CEO showed appreciation to the Regional Minister and the entire Coordinating Council for the support they have always offered the Corporation.



Mr. Joseph Dadzie particularly thanked Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko for the role he played in helping the Corporation secure the land on which its state-of-the-art Operational Headquarters is situated.



He said, in 2016, the President had promised the people we were going to put up the operational head office and through your valuable contribution and assistance and sometimes I dare say, bulldozing your way through, weve been able to complete the operational head office.



Joseph Dadzie among other things told the Western Regional Minister, he was there with his entourage to ascertain from him any inputs and counsel he has for them to help them do things better for the Corporation and Ghana in general.



We are also here to also listen to you because you are the political overlord of this region to also find out whether there are things that we can do better, Mr. Dadzie noted.



Responding to the Regional Ministers concerns on stalled GNPC developmental projects and employment for indigenes, Mr. Dadzie assured the minister the board of the Corporation has met over those projects and some actions are being initiated to ensure the continuation of the projects.Joe Dadzie meets Western RCC



Concerning employment opportunities for indigenes, Joseph Dadzie told the minister for starters, the low hanging fruits; security, cleaning, must be given to the people in the Western Region.



For actual employment, even though I am the managing director, I am not the final say on that, but I am sure the people who need to be employed at the operational head office, priority would be given to the people of the Western Region.



According to Mr. Dadzie, all other concerns tabled by the minister would be given the currency they deserve at the board level and promised to push for them to be considered.



Accompanying the CEO was Dr. Kwame Baah-Nuakoh, General Manager, Strategy and Investment, Prof. Kwesi Amponsah-Tawiah, General Manager, Human Resources, Dr. Dominic Eduah, Executive Director, GNPC Foundation, Kingsley Asare, Manager in-charge of Works and Senior Staff Association President, Eric Kwadwo Asare.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Western Regional House of Chiefs says it is pleased with the numerous capital projects executed for them by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).



The Vice President of the House, Awulae Angama Tu Agyan in a meeting between them and the management of GNPC led by the new Chief Executive, enumerated several projects the Corporation has spearheaded for them to make the running of the Regional House of Chiefs, smoother for them.



GNPC built us this beautiful office edifice we are occupying recently. They also got us an accommodation block where we can occupy and rest whenever we come for meetings, he noted.



On behalf of the entire Western Region, Awulae Angama Tu Agyan expressed their appreciation for what the Corporation was doing to give the region a facelift.



According to the Vice President of the House, the entire Western Region has benefited from the benevolence of the Corporation, and they do not take that for granted.



He said, What GNPC is doing here in the Western Region is very beautiful and commendable.



Look at that beautiful Operational Headquarters the Corporation has put up here which is ready for commissioning.



Awulae also acknowledged the hospitals and schools the Ghana National Oil Company is constructing across the Western region which will go a long way to make life better for people, we really appreciate every single thing GNPC is doing for us in the Western Region.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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GRANGEVILLE  Evidence of a vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 95 at milepost 197 north of Riggins is believed to be that of a 73-year-old Lucile woman who has been missing since Wednesday morning.

The Idaho County Sheriffs Office said in a news release Friday that several vehicle parts and a license plate located along the Salmon River were confirmed to belong to Marsha Hayes.
Zambia's former President Edgar Lungu has insisted that he is "virtually under house arrest" although police said the monitoring of his movements was "strictly for his own safety".



"I cannot move out of my house without being accosted and challenged by police, who drive me back home," Mr Lungu told the BBC's Newsday programme.



"I'm facing the consequences of returning to politics and I'm ready for it," he added.



Police have denied claims of planning to ambush the former leader at night.



Mr Lungu announced a comeback to politics last October, prompting the government to withdraw his retirement benefits.



He had retired from politics after losing the presidency to Hakainde Hichilema in 2021.



The former leader has been accusing the government of victimizing him and members of his Patriotic Front (PF) party to block his return to politics.



His wife, former First Lady Esther Lungu, has been accused of corruption involving cases of theft of motor vehicles and title deeds, which she denies.



On Friday, Mr Lungu told the BBC that he had been barred from going for medical check-ups and stopped his morning jogging after police told him he could not leave his house.



"Recently, they took me out of a plane where I was supposed to travel for a conference," he added.



Police chief Graphel Musamba on Thursday said it was standard procedure to monitor the movements of the former leader "strictly for his own safety".



"Should Mr Lungu fail to inform us of his movements, we will still ensure his protection by monitoring his activities, as it is our duty to do so," Mr Musamba added.



On Wednesday, Mr Lungu said he had been subject to numerous unconstitutional actions by the state since leaving office.



He said police were under instructions to "ambush me at night, abduct, embarrass, and forcefully detain me like a hardcore criminal".



"As far as I am aware, I have not committed any crime that would warrant the government, through the police, to start scheming against me in this manner," Mr Lungu added.



But State House spokesman Clayson Hamasaka later denied Mr Lungu's claim, saying the former leader was "freely traversing our towns and cities, exercising his rights to free speech and association - freedoms he once denied to others".



"Currently, Mr Edgar Lungu is an active opposition politician in Zambia. The laws of the country clearly define the expectations for an opposition leader," Mr Hamasaka said in a statement.



Attending a church service last Sunday, Mr Lungu warned of a regime change before the next election, saying "a baby can be born before nine months".



Police chief Musamba said Mr Lungu would be summoned to explain his statement, local media reported.



Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa said the government was "carefully studying" Mr Lungu's remarks, terming them hair-raising and startling.



It comes a few days after the police warned that Mr Lungu risked being arrested and prosecuted for "engaging in activities that disrupt public order and safety".



A crowd of people thronged around him as he walked around the streets of Lusaka two weeks ago, ostensibly to assess the reported high cost of doing business in the city.



In February, the former president asked citizens to call for an early election, accusing his successor of failing to manage the economy.



The former leader was last year warned against jogging in public, as police described his weekly workouts as "political activism".



Meanwhile, a human rights body has called on the Zambian government to quash the conviction of an opposition official two weeks ago for apparently defaming the president.



Raphael Nakacinda, a senior PF official, was sentenced on 17 May for his 2021 remarks, alleging that President Hichilema had coerced judges into passing judgments favourable to him.



Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Nakacinda's 18-month prison sentence would have "a broad chilling effect" on the right to freedom of expression in Zambia.



The Zambian government has yet to respond to the HRW statement.

Source: BBC









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The Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, is currently in Italy for an official visit.



They visited the Ghanaian Fellowship Assemblies of God churches in Italy and the Italian Assemblies of God.



The Executive Presbytery members from Ghana held a meeting with the national leadership of the Ghanaian Fellowship Assemblies of God, Italy to discuss very pertinent issues and renew the partnership that exists between both parties.



The Ghanaian delegation paid a courtesy call on the General Superintendent of Italy Assemblies of God, Rev Dr Motante and his leadership team.



They were accompanied by a cross-section of the Ghanaian Fellowship leadership team led by Rev Patrick Mumuni Boakye, National Field Director.



Discussions revolved around Mission collaborations, idea sharing, and the upcoming 2026 World Congress of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, which is scheduled to be held in Accra, Ghana, among other topics.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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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





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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The third accused in the ambulance purchase trial, Richard Jakpa has accused the Attorney-General (A-G), Godfred Yeboah Dame of approaching him to help him implicate Minority Leader and former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.



The businessman who was under cross-examination by counsel for the Minority Leader, had earlier been warned by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe to be direct in his responses rather than going around it and wasting the Courts time.



Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame reacting to the judges caution accused Richard Jakpa of defending the Minority Leader.



This triggered the first accused who retorted that the Attorney-General appeared pained because he had engaged him to help the state make a case against Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.



The A-G has on several occasions engaged me at odd hours to help him make a case against A1 and I have evidence for that.. If he pushes me, I will open the Pandoras box. I dont understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 when Im here to defend myself,  Jakpa fumed in court.



If he pushes me, Ill open the Pandoras box. I have evidence to all this, a visibly angry Richard Jakpa indicated to the court.



The countenance of Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson changed as he looked shocked and angered by the development.



In a bid to douse the situation, Justice Asare-Botwe ordered Richard Jakpa to stop raising his voice and asked that water be brought to him.



But Richard Jakpa refused to drink after accepting the bottle, saying he was too upset.



The case was stood down for some time after the judge called the Attorney-General and lawyers of Ato Forson.





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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Ezekiel Aguyire, a family member of hiplife musician Jerry Anaba, popularly known as Okomfour Kwadee, has called on the public to offer financial support to the artiste.



In a recent interview with Joy FM, Ezekiel confirmed that Kwadee is currently in their hometown, Mirigu Nabango in the Upper East Region.



He stated that the 'Boyz Boyz' hitmaker is still battling mental health challenges but lacks the financial strength to pay for treatment.



He is not feeling well. But now he is a little better. We need the help of Ghanaians for our brother now. He is not supposed to be here but because for the sickness [he had to leave Kumasi], he said.



He explained that they took him to several places for treatment but due to "money issues" they could not afford some of the medical services.



While seeking suggestions from the public on what to do to give Kwadee the right treatment, Ezekiel mentioned that "even if you find the solution without money, you can't do anything."



Commenting on a recent performance video that surfaced on social media, he said he would not have allowed it if he were around.



A week ago, he went to do a show, they videoed him and took it to social media. That day I was not around but I came back and heard everything. I did not feel fine about it," he mentioned.



He, also doubted if any payment was made for Kwadee's performance because the programme was organised by a family member who lives in another town.



Ezekiel indicated that he used to take care of Okomfour Kwadee since he relocated to Nabongo about two years ago, until his mother also joined them.



A recent video of Kwadee who looks emaciated, frail and unkempt, performing to a gathering, has raised serious concerns among music fans and creative industry stakeholders.



The video has stoked a conversation about the current mental health status and general financial condition of the 'Ofie Nipa' hitmaker, with some suggesting it could be spiritually motivated.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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By Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

A Riverside, California, woman who bombarded the former executive director of Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue with phone calls and threatening voicemails  the first coming just months after the deadliest antisemitic attack on U.S. soil  has been sentenced to almost three years in prison, according to court documents.

Melanie Harris, 59, hurled antisemitic slurs, vowed violence, including beheadings, and used vile and inflammatory language, according to a Miami-based FBI agent.

Harris, who pleaded guilty in March, was sentenced by a Miami judge to 32 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for intentionally transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. The Federal Bureau of Prisons will determine where Harris will serve her sentence.

A call and email to the attorney representing Harris were not returned.

Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said Harris antisemitic threats terrorized a Jewish family.

Her hate-filled telephone calls and voicemails were abhorrent, Lapointe said in a statement. No one should live in fear of threats, harassment and hate-fueled violence.

The calls began in February 2019, according to court documents  just months after Robert Bowers shot and killed 11 worshipers at the Pittsburgh synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018. Bowers, who has since been convicted and sentenced to death, espoused white supremacist views and ranted about his hatred of Jews online prior to the shooting.

Harris cloaked her identity using the *67 feature, which blocks caller identification, and left voicemails laden with antisemitic and harassing language, according to court documents.

She initially placed three calls in a span of three minutes, first to Tree of Life and then twice calling a person identified in court documents as Victim No. 1, the former executive director of Tree of Life who was then living in the Pittsburgh area.

Between February 2019 and March 2022, Harris called Victim No. 1 an additional 53 times, according to court records. An analysis presented in court demonstrated that Harris attempted 190 calls between October 2022 and February 2023, including 129 in November. Many of those calls, however, were unanswered or immediately hung up on, according to court documents.

All calls to Victim No. 1 were made from Harris Riverside home, authorities said.

In voicemail, court documents say, Harris twice threatened to decapitate Victim No. 1s stepchild, whom she referred to using an antisemitic slur, according to court documents. She threatened in another voicemail to stab Victim No. 1, according to court documents.

In voicemails left at Tree of Life, she gloated about the shooting of Jewish grandmas, using a slur, according to court documents. Harris also lobbed antisemitic slurs at the adult child and stepchild of Victim No. 1 and his wife, court documents say. Authorities say Harris also made references to Anne Franks death at the hands of the Nazis, and Jews being sent back to Auschwitz.

Neither the victims nor Harris knew each other, court documents and prosecutors said. Harris was not believed to have any ties to Tree of Life.

She was arrested on March 4, 2023.

The nature of her threats of violence towards the victims and their faith were clearly meant to evoke a climate of fear and intimidation, Jeffrey B. Veltri, special agent in charge of the FBIs Miami field office, said in a statement. Such conduct cannot be tolerated.

More:

When is criticism of Israel antisemitic? A scholar of modern Jewish history explains | The Conversation

John Fetterman, hero of Israel, will receive high honor at Yeshiva commencement

Can student protests actually change US policy on Israel-Palestine? Heres what history tells us.
If youre planning to go somewhere for the Memorial Day holiday and youre staying in an Airbnb, the pesky possibility of a camera or two inside or around the property might have crossed your mind.

Of course, some properties will let potential guests know about external cameras monitoring the property in the online profile, but some rental-property cameras might be less obvious.

Security experts know what to look for and are here to help vacationers locate them.

Most people have a somewhat exaggerated sense of what a bug or video device is. They think its like the movies, where its extremely small and hidden behind something. That takes a lot of sophistication, a lot of technology and a lot of resources, Joe LaSorsa, founder and president of LaSorsa and Associates, a security consultancy firm that specializes in corporate counterespionage, told The Washington Post. The overwhelming majority of stuff out there is going to be commercially available devices. People are going to buy them off Amazon, eBay, Alibaba.

As a way to prove his theory, LaSorsa, a Marine Corps veteran, recently conducted a mock search for The Washington Post at a private home in the Raleigh area, and had a suitcase of sophisticated equipment in tow.

When it comes to privacy laws, homeowners and managers who rent through Airbnb and other platforms rely on cameras when theyre not around. In those cases, its mostly to safeguarding their property.

But when it comes to discreet indoor cameras, it leans more towards exploiting the occupants.

Most people are utilizing cameras to make sure there are no parties or people stealing things or unauthorized guests or pets, LaSorsa told the publication.

Even guests who act responsibly, however, may not like the idea of being watched.

Where covert recordings are concerned, each state and the Distict of Columbia have rules as to whats allowed. Hidden cameras in rooms expected for privacy, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and changing rooms, are generally unlawful.

And major rental and homestay platforms have created universal policies that apply to all properties, no matter the location or local codes.

Back in March, Airbnb announced it banned the use of indoor security cameras. The platform previously allowed cameras in the hallways, living rooms and other common areas as long as the host disclosed the cameras.

Vrbo and Trusted Housesitters have similar policies, while the short-term rental companies continue to allow cameras and smart tech for security purposes only, and require the host to disclose the presence and location of the devices online or in the welcome materials.

Given the response from Airbnb and similar platforms in recently changing their policies, there must have been concerns in the frequency of people being surveilled or in incidents involving surveillance activities, Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, managing director of the D.C. office of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, told The Washington Post.

To ease your anxiety when it comes to undisclosed cameras, LaSorsa recommends spending no more than 30 minutes inspecting the rental property for devices.

You can find 99 percent of devices with knowledge and awareness. A cellphone can go a long way, he said.

First, look for plugged-in household items, such as a USB charger, a smoke detector or a power strip, which all rely on a parasitic power source, much like an outlet, and Wi-Fi to activate the camera hidden inside.

Furniture and decorative items are much less of a concern because they would be battery operated, he said, and most battery-operated devices only last a matter of hours.

Next, look for weird WiFi connections. LaSorsa suggested checking devices that accesses the Internet by using a free app such as AirPort Utility. The app manages and displays WiFi networks.

To demonstrate, LaSorsa stood by the carbon monoxide detector and scanned the list of connections on his phone. The homeowners Netgear network came up, but several other networks that contained a gaggle of letters and numbers, such as G419637LGWMW, showed up.

Why would a carbon monoxide detector have WiFi? he questioned. There again is a telltale sign that its more than what it appears to be.

After he identified a couple dubious objects, LaSorsa unplugged the items and turned them over as he looked for a mysterious QR code. Its purpose, he said, is to connect the WiFi to apps.

To further prove his suspicions, LaSorsa grabbed his cellphones flashlight, and waved the light over the face of the alarm clock. He soon noticed a glimmer inside a tiny hole to the left of the time display.

As I move the light around, its glistening at me, he told the publication. And when I hold the light right in front of it, you can see a lens right there.

He verified the presence of the lens with a radio frequency finder with a lens detector. Watch a video of his demonstration here.

If you happen to discover a hidden camera, security experts suggest unplugging the device or covering the lens with a towel. But whatever you do, dont remove the camera, as the owner could accuse you of damaging their personal property.

Then report the violation to the rental platform, if its minor, or to the local authorities if you discovered a camera in a sensitive area of the house, much like a bedroom or a bathroom.

If you feel uncomfortable, consider moving to a different property.
Memorial Day weekend kicks off the unofficial start of summer with thousands of tourists and locals flocking to beaches in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

Many people will pack coolers full of food and beverage to consume while enjoying the sand and surf.

However, doctors warned in a TODAY.com article, that beachgoers should avoid packing specific foods in their coolers.

The last thing you want is for people to go home and remember the beach trip because they got sick, Dr. John Torres, NBC News senior medical correspondent, said on TODAY.

The five foods doctors say not to bring to the beach are:

-- Cold cuts and deli meats that require refrigeration.

-- Fresh salads and vegetables that can be contaminated with salmonella or E coli.

-- Mayonnaise-based foods, such as potato salad and macaroni salad.

-- Raw meat for grilling, that will sit around at various temperatures before it is barbecued. which is not the best idea due to the risk of bacteria growing.

-- Precut fruit, which transfers bacteria on the surface of the fruit into the flesh, where it can grow and multiply, especially in hot beach weather.

The article quotes Torres and the UDSA on safety precautions for food brought to the beach:

-- Perishable foods should never sit out of refrigeration for more than two hours, and if temperatures are 90 degrees are higher, no more than one hour.

-- When packing, take food out of the fridge or freezer and put it immediately into the cooler. Aim to keep food refrigerated right up until you eat it.

-- Try to avoid leftovers by only packing the amount you plan to consume.

-- If you do choose to bring raw meat, season it at home, and keep it tightly wrapped in a place where any juices that may drip cannot get on to other foods, such as the bottom of the cooler.

-- Pack drinks in a separate cooler from food so the food is exposed to warm temperatures less often.

-- Try to fill your cooler all the way, packing extra ice if necessary, as this will keep its contents cool for longer.

-- Bring a food thermometer if you are cooking at the beach.

--

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

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SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT  A motorcyclist from New York was killed Friday when his vehicle left Route 15 in Lycoming County and struck the guiderail.

David M. Nangle, 74, of Painted Post, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 10:50 a.m. accident on southbound Route 15 at the top of Bald Eagle Mountain in Clinton Twp., south of Williamsport.

State police said Nangle was thrown from the motorcycle when it hit the guardrail and he landed down an embankment. He was wearing a helmet, they said.

The motorcycle continued southbound striking the concrete barrier that separates the north and southbound lanes multiple times, they said.

Had the barrier not been there it is likely the motorcycle would have crossed into the northbound lanes of traffic, Clinton Twp. Fire Chief Todd Winder said.

The accident caused the southbound lanes of Route 15 in that area to be closed for several hours.

Nangle was with a group of motorcyclists headed to Washington, D.C. for a Memorial Day weekend event, Winder said.
After discussions with Donald Trump, Steve Bannon told a group from China before the 2020 election, Hes going to declare victory, but that doesnt mean hes the winner, hes just going to say hes the winner. Hes going to sit right there and say they stole it. Trump is successful telling lies to Americans because he believes that if you keep telling the same lie, many people will eventually believe you.

Its really difficult to understand why so many Americans still support Trump. Of course, the most egregious thing he is guilty of is January 6. The attack on our Capitol would never have happened if he admitted losing a fair election. How can any American support Trump and at the same time fly an American flag which represents our free democracy. Its a contradiction! Every educated American with some common sense must know that a free democratic society that abandons the truth and the rule of law cannot remain a free democracy.

Unfortunately, in many countries throughout the world, far-right conservative, populist parties have been successful in winning high offices. They know that many voters are not happy with how their democratic government is working, so they promise to improve things by taking power away from crooked judges and by eliminating prejudiced media, like certain newspapers. This is true in Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Serbia, Brazil, Bangladesh and a few others.

Our democracy is not perfect. But what is the alternative? Putins Russia or Kim Jong Uns North Korea. Before our next presidential election, maybe Trumps supporters should spend some time there to learn what an autocracy is like?

Joe Czarnecki, Dallas, Pa.
By Robert Kirkner

With another presidential election on the horizon, there is a clear possibility that this Memorial Day, our annual commemoration of those who died serving this country, may be the last one for a while in which the president, as commander in chief, truly respects and honors the memory and sacrifice of the fallen.

President Joe Biden, as other presidents have done for decades, likely will participate again this year in the annual wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. He also will offer his brief remarks on the significance of the day.

At last years commemoration, he said, Every year, as a nation, we undertake this right of remembrance, for we must never forget the price that was paid to protect our democracy. We must never forget the lives these flags, flowers, and marble markers represent: a mother, a father, a son, a daughter, a sister, a spouse, a friend. An American.

He also spoke of his own grief over the loss of his son, Beau, who had served in Iraq as an Army National Guard major, a signal that his remarks that day were sincere and spoken from the heart.

By contrast, Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, showed us during his first term as president what he thinks of the men and women who died in service to our country. Apparently, he does not hold them in the same high regard as President Biden or the presidents that preceded him.

At the Memorial Day commemoration in Arlington in 2017, former President Trump reportedly said, referring to the rows of grave markers, I dont get it. Whats in it for them?

One of those grave markers was my great uncle Edgar Weavers, killed in World War I during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, just sixteen days before the November 11, 2018 armistice. He was 22 years old when he died. Corporal Weaver had also been wounded a few months earlier and went back into the line after he recovered. I doubt that Uncle Edgar gave much thought to what was in it for him.

In 2018, former President Trump cancelled a scheduled visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France because it was raining. He claimed that his helicopter could not fly and the Secret Service would not drive him due to the weather. Both claims were later proved false. He also was quoted as saying at the time, Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers.

During the same trip, he also was quoted as saying the almost 2,000 U.S. Marines killed in the Battle of Belleau Wood as suckers for getting killed. President Trump denied making the statement.

Trumps remarks were reported in the Atlantic Monthly magazine and confirmed by General John Kelly, his Chief of Staff at the time. General Kelly also confirmed President Trumps dislike of being seen with wounded veterans because, as he said, it doesnt look good for me.

Moreover, Trump told the grieving spouse of a service member killed by militants in Niger that he must have known what he signed up for. The young widow said she felt insulted by the presidents comment. Such a cavalier remark diminishes the importance of the service members sacrifice and discounts the familys suffering.

The former presidents insensitivity to the suffering and sacrifice of others reflects, among other things, a strictly transactional outlook with regard to those who served and died. It also suggests a lack of awareness of the broader leadership responsibilities of the commander in chief.

President Bidens praise for those who served and died is in stark contrast to former President Trumps low regard for those who now find repose in fields of honor. As President Biden reminded us, the purpose of Memorial Day is to remember and pay tribute to those who gave their lives to preserve our democracy. Their sacrifice should not be diminished or their memory maligned.

Kirkner, a U.S. Army veteran, is a retired member of the United States Senior Executive Service and spent 35 years working for the U.S. Department of the Army and the U.S. Department of Commerce. He resides in Chambersburg, PA.
Representatives from the Shermans Valley Strutters and Newport American Legion Post 177 presented the Perry Housing Partnership with donations May 13 to support disabled veterans. The Strutters donated $360 raised during their annual banquet, and the Legion provided a new propane grill and outdoor seating.

STRUTTERS STOP BY  Representatives from the Shermans Valley Strutters presented a check and a flag to the Perry Housing Partnership for the Eagle Building in New Bloomfield. Strutter members and veterans and administrators are (from left) Mark Emick, Gregg Jacobs, Eugene Joseph, Jeannine Matulevich, Lee Shoenberger, Terry Dupert and Carl Tressler. (Paul E. Wyatt photo)Perry County Times

The Strutters, a local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, held its banquet on Jan. 20, during which a handgun was auctioned. Heath Nace, a member of the Strutters, suggested donating the funds to the Eagle Building in New Bloomfield, which is operated by Perry Housing Partnership and provides five independent living units for disabled veterans. Nace also won a flag that was being raffled during the banquet and asked to donate it to the housing partnership. The donation was presented to representatives from the Perry Housing Partnership by Carl Tressler, Gregg Jacobs and Mark Emick.

The American Legion provided six outdoor seats and a propane grill. A filled propane tank was donated by Hellers Hardware of Newport. Cynthia Howard and Terry Swartz organized the donation, with Howard coming up with the idea while delivering Easter baskets to veterans. She said she looked around the building withhousing manager Lee Shoenberger to determine what the veterans could use, eventually landing on seating and the grill. Swartz and his wife found, priced and delivered the grill and chairs.

GETTING GRILLED  American Legion Post 177 of Newport donated a gas grill and six outdoor chairs to the veterans staying at the Eagle Building in New Bloomfield, which offers housing for disabled veterans through the Perry Housing Partnership. At the presentation were (from left) Eugene Joseph, Lee Shoenberger, Terry Dupert, Jeannine Matulevich, Terry Swartz and Cynthia Howard. (Paul E. Wyatt photo)Perry County Times

Perry Housing Partnership is a non-profit organization providing housing assistance and supportive services to individuals and families in need. The organization offers housing programs, including transitional housing at the Warren House in New Bloomfield, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing for veterans at the Eagle building. The organization serves as a coordinated entry point for housing as

sistance in Perry County, working with the 211 system and conducting intake assessments to determine eligibility and prioritize individuals based on their level of need.

There were no programs here to assist people with special needs, people who had handicaps or, or disabilities of any sort, said Jeannine Matulevich, director of the Perry Housing Partnership. There was nothing to assist people who were homeless aside from Perry Human Services short-term rental assistance program. We developed the first transitional program, which was named after commissioner Warren VanBuskirk because he really believed in the mission. I thought it would be a nice tribute to him to name it the Warren House.

Individuals struggling to find housing can contact the partnership directly, or dial 211 to begin the intake process. An interview will be conducted to determine the level of need, and the individual will be entered into a coordinated entry system. The housing manager will review the list to see who needs assistance, and will work with landlords to find them housing that accepts governmental assistance.

A significant aspect of Perry Housing Partnerships work involves building partnerships with private landlords who agree to rent units to the organizations clients. The organization holds quarterly meetings with landlords, providing education on fair housing laws, tax implications and other relevant topics. The meetings foster positive relationships and encourage landlords to notify the organization about available units.

Weve had a lot of landlord outreach as an agency over the last few years, Shoenberger said. Were trying to get the word out there, really trying to build those working relationships and partnerships.

Two important things come into play  the amount of funding we receive and the amount of need there is in the community, continued Shoenberger. The last time I checked, there were more than 40 homeless families or households in Perry County that are on the wait list.

For more information on the Perry Housing Partnership, readers may contact 717-582-0222 or email phpjem@gmail.com. The partnership exists off donations; checks may be mailed to Perry Housing Partnership, P.O. Box 266, New Bloomfield 17068.
Memorial Day weekend is here, a time to honor those who lost their lives while serving in the United States military.

But if youre planning to spend time outside in central Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service (NWS) is calling for rain and possible thunderstorms throughout the weekend, with the most widespread rainfall expected on Monday.

Up to half an inch of rain is possible in the Harrisburg and West Shore areas on Saturday before 2 p.m. with a 30% chance for rain and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. The Lancaster and York areas are expected to see rain during the same time but are forecast to receive less than a quarter inch on Saturday.

Sunday has a 20% to 30% chance for scattered showers after 2 p.m., but heavier rain should be expected during any lingering thunderstorms, the NWS said.

Temperatures will reach a high of 85 on Saturday and Sunday throughout most of central Pennsylvania before settling to around 80 degrees on Memorial Day, the National Weather Service said.

Isolated showers across SW PA will continue early this morning before sunny to partly cloudy conditions prevail.

An unsettled pattern returns for the holiday weekend with showers and afternoon/evening thunderstorms. The most widespread rainfall is expected on Monday. #PAwx pic.twitter.com/ouAT8p6hqV  NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) May 24, 2024

Memorial Day will have a 90% chance of rain with a quarter inch to half inch predicted in Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Carlisle and other areas throughout the region.

Severe thunderstorms are also predicted between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Monday night into Tuesday early morning throughout south central Pa., the NWS said.

Sunny and partly sunny conditions are predicted to return on Tuesday afternoon and remain through the end of the week, according to the NWS.
Karen worked for many years as the city clerk for the town of Bovill. Her main hobbies were crocheting, reading, painting and genealogy. Karen also loved spending time tending to her raspberries and being out in the woods picking huckleberries with family and friends. For many years the family attended the Bovill Presbyterian Church and enjoyed the Bovill Old Timers Picnic and Deary Day celebrations.

Karen was predeceased by her husband Manley, her parents, her sisters Joy Whitlock and Connie Adams, daughter Paula Winter, grandchildren John and Robert Townsend, and great-grandchild Hannah Moore. Missing her each day are her children Bob (Debbie) Waldron, Dawn (Rob) Soumas, Susan (John) Townsend, son-in-law Fred (Tonya) Winter, and adopted daughter Julie Keevy. Karen is also survived by her sister Ruth Mary Wolvin, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be a celebration of Karens life later this summer. If you would like to make a memorial donation in Karen s name, please donate to the Bovill Library or to your favorite charity.

Shorts Funeral Chapel of Moscow is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left at shortsfuneralchapel.com.
Dong Meng Wins Second Bracelet & $200,000 in WSOP Tournament of Champions

Connor Richards Editor & Live Reporter U.S. Copy link

After three days of poker at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, Dong Meng became the first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner of the summer as he took down the Tournament of Champions for $200,000 and his second bracelet.

The $1 million freeroll event was open to bracelet and Circuit ring winners from the 2023-24 season. There were 559 bracelet winners around the country who made the trek to Commerce and eight survived for the streamed final table on Day 3.

Meng, who won last year's $1,000 Flip & Go for $160,490 after defeating heads-up opponent Wesley Fei, had another successful heads-up battle as he bested WSOPC Grand Victoria Seniors Event winner Kevin Will.

"It means a lot," he said in a winner's interview. "Having two bracelets, especially no-limit bracelets in a consecutive year I think is amazing. I'm not a professional player, I'm an amateur."

Others at the final table included two-time ring winner Rick Gebhart (4th - $63,000), online bracelet winner Cody Bell (5th - $46,000) and Houston firefighter and bracelet winner Scott Dulaney (7th - $26,000).

Read About Day 2 of the Tournament of Champions

WSOP Tournament of Champions Final Table Results

PLACE PLAYER COUNTRY PRIZE (IN USD) 1 Dong Meng United States $200,000 2 Kevin Will United States $120,000 3 Nathan Wasson United States $87,000 4 Rick Gebhart United States $63,000 5 Cody Bell United States $46,000 6 Ramon Kropmanns Brazil $35,000 7 Scott Dulaney United States $26,000 8 Alan Merdita United States $20,000 9 John West United States $16,000

After the post-stream eliminations of Albert Gorelik and John West at the end of Day 2, eight players returned for Day 3 with all eight players looking for a career-best cash of $200,000.

Alan Merdita was the first to go at the final table as he ran pocket kings into the slow-played pocket aces of Bell. Dulaney was next out in seventh place for $26,000 as his top pair was out-kicked by Meng.

Dong Meng

Following the eliminations of Bell and Brazil's Ramon Kropmanns and, Gebhart fell in fourth place for $63,000 before Nathan Wasson ran pocket deuces into the queens of Meng to go out in third place for $87,000.

The elimination gave Meng a dominant chip lead over Will, who managed to double before a fatal blow where he jammed king-five and ran into Meng's ace-queen.

While many players were upset about the Tournament of Champions being held away from the World Series, Meng said he enjoyed the experience.

Dong Weng and Natalie Bode

"I'd just say I really enjoy playing at Commerce, I think you guys have first-class staff and dealers and the whole experience has been amazing."

There are just a few days until the 2024 WSOP kicks off in Las Vegas, and PokerNews is ready to provide news and live reporting updates every step of the way.

*Lead photo courtesy Alicia Skillman & 8131 Media

2024 World Series of Poker Hub Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2024 WSOP is here. Click here

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The first-ever Eurasian Poker Tour Main Event in the United Kingdom has got off to a flying start with Jonathan Hanley locking up a humongous chip lead.

The local hero bagged an impressive 3,180,000 chips, which equates to 159 big blinds when the players reconvene on May 26.

Hanley has secured a number of cashes at the Dusk Till Dawn Poker Club, with his biggest-ever recorded score of 7,000 at the WSOPC event held here earlier in the year. He will be looking to add handsomely to that come Sunday.

Second in the standings is the experienced Jack Allen who banked 1,680,000 chips. Allen has recorded an impressive $570,000 in prize money over the years, including a six-figure run at the 2022 WSOP Main Event where he finished 69th for $121,500. In third place is Ben Fowler who will come back with a stack of 1,555,000.

EAPT UK Main Event Day 1a Top Ten Chip Stacks

Place Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Jonathan Hanley United Kingdom 3,180,000 159 2 Jack Allen United Kingdom 1,680,000 84 3 Ben Fowler United Kingdom 1,555,000 78 4 David Langsdale United Kingdom 1,465,000 73 5 Song Hoi Sun South Korea 1,275,000 64 6 Lewis Nuttall United Kingdom 1,180,000 59 7 James Clarke United Kingdom 1,075,000 54 8 Richard Shepherd United Kingdom 1,075,000 54 9 Pavel Dobrita Romania 1,070,000 54 10 Manikandan Radhakrishnan United Kingdom 1,055,000 53

Best of Day 1a Action

There can only be one choice for hand of the day which came in level five of the tournament which produced an incredible five-way all in scenario. Four of the players had pocket pairs while Timothy Slater had ace-queen.

Preflop, Hok Lai was the favorite to take down the pot with pocket kings, but it was the worst hand preflop which ended up taking a significant chunk of the pot. Richard Shepherds pocket sixes managed to connect on a low board to make a seven-high straight to drag in a pot of 684,000.

Despite calling himself a fish after the hand, he managed to build a handsome stack and will return on Sunday with 1,075,000. Lai managed to recover and will come back with 565,000.

But the star of the day has to be the overwhelming chip leader Hanley, who collected almost 20 percent of the chips in play. The catalyst for his success was making a huge call against Darren Jarvis who moved all in for 285,000 on a paired board.

Hanley used all of his four allotted time bank cards and made the call with ace-jack for two pair, while Jarvis tabled ace-ten of spades for a busted flush draw.

From there Hanley was a chip magnet and was not afraid to clash with other monster stacks, especially when he held pocket kings. He slayed Gajanthan Kamalanathan after making kings full of aces for a seven-figure pot and dispatched Adrian Cazacu after the Romanian shoved over 50 big blinds preflop and ran into Hanleys cowboys.

At time of writing Day 1b is on the verge of conclusion and as soon as the information is available the chip counts will be published on PokerNews.

The action continues tomorrow with Day 1c starting at midday local time, followed by Day 1d at 5 p.m. local time. PokerNews will be concentrating on Day 1c, with end-of-night chip counts for Day 1d. Coverage will continue until May 27 when a winner will be crowned.
The first-ever Eurasian Poker Tour UK Main Event is in full swing at the Dusk Till Dawn Poker Club, Nottingham, with Day 1c due to start at midday local time.

Yesterday a total of 38 players advanced into Day 2 from 192 entries to ensure they will be getting a slice of the guaranteed prize pool of 500,000.

Jonathan Hanley

Local lad Jonathan Hanley was the overwhelming chip leader from Day 1a amassing an amazing 3,180,000 chips, while Lin Chen will bring the biggest stack from Day 1b with 1,890,000.

Day 1a and Day1b Combined Top Ten Stacks

Place Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Jonathan Hanley United Kingdom 3,180,000 159 2 Lin Chen United Kingdom 1,890,000 95 3 Yinchuan Liu United Kingdom 1,835,000 92 4 Aqueel Butt United Kingdom 1,820,000 91 5 Joshua Radley United Kingdom 1,730,000 87 6 CL United Kingdom 1,725,000 86 7 Jack Allen United Kingdom 1,680,000 84 8 Ben Fowler United Kingdom 1,555,000 78 9 David Langsdale United Kingdom 1,465,000 73 10 Andreas Olympios United Kingdom 1,370,000 69

Play will commence at midday local time for Day 1c and a 5 p.m. start for Day 1d. Each player will receive 200,000 chips, with blinds starting with a 1,000 small blind, 1,000 big blind and 1,000 big blind ante. Day 1cs blinds will increase every 40 minutes, while Day 1ds blinds will increase every 30 minutes.

Players may re-enter once on both flights until the start of level seven. The play will continue until 20 percent of the field remains who will bag up and return for Day 2 on May 26 at 3 p.m. local time.

If players dont advance today they will have one last chance on the turbo flight of Day 1e on May 26 which starts at 10 a.m. local time with 15-minute levels.

PokerNews will focus its coverage on Day 1c today and will provide the end-of-day chip counts for Day 1d.
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Hazel was born September 20, 1932 in Hatch Bend, Florida, a town that was founded by her grandfather. She was the youngest of six. She grew up on a farm, which had no electricity until she was in grade school. Her chores included plucking chickens and helping her brothers skin squirrels. As  Read moreObituary Hazel Lee Carlton
SPARTANBURG  It was a homecoming of sorts for Pearl Byars, who returned recently to visit the former Converse Mill near the banks of the Pacolet River in Spartanburg County where she once worked.

She was there from 1942 until 1949. The Gaffney native met her husband while working at the mill. Talmadge and Pearl saved their mill earnings and bought a house, later raising a family together. A lot of time has passed.

Byars turned 100 on Dec. 28. Six months later, she returned with her family to see what was left of the mill.

A lot has changed since the last time she saw it. The mill, built in 1896, once employed 1,300 workers and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Flooded in 1903, the mill was rebuilt at the same site near the Pacolet River.

Its now a residential living community called Converse Mill Lofts. Residents began moving into the complex in early April. The development includes 173 loft apartments, including one-and-two-bedroom units. The development at S.C. Highway 29 between Spartanburg and Cowpens features a fitness center, outdoor pool area, outdoor grilling area and a dog washing station. Its been a long process to get the project finished since it was first announced in 2017.

In June 2006, Scott Macdonald bought the former mill site and moved with his family to Spartanburg a year later.

He was a special education teacher in California at the time. His plan from the beginning was to transform the 247,000-square-foot building into space for residential living while preserving the character and history of the building.

Macdonald was among several people who attended a ceremony at the site on May 24 to celebrate the completion of the project.
Have you lost a loved one who died serving our country in the military? If so, please accept my most sincere condolences. And my deepest gratitude.

I cant begin to understand what loving your soldier, sailor or marine and sending them off to serve must have been like for you. How many sleepless nights you endured and how many anxious prayers you prayed for their safe return. Then, how heartbroken you must have felt when you learned your daughter, husband, fiance, brother, mom had given their life for our country.

How often have you read every letter you received as they fought bravely to defend our nation? How often do you gaze at the folded flag that sits in a place of honor in your home? How often have you replayed your last kiss, your last hug, your last goodbye?

How much time passes before you reach for a soft cloth to wipe your tears because you can no longer bear the roughness of a tissue on your swollen eyes?

How often have you dreamed of your loved one, only to awaken and find them gone?

I and countless other Americans cant express our condolences enough. Nor can we adequately thank you. But on behalf of everyone who has benefited from your loved ones sacrifice, please let me try.

Thank you, parents, for raising a child to understand service, sacrifice and risk.

Thank you, spouse, fiance/fiancee or sibling for supporting your loved ones decision to serve.

Thank you, child. You needed your mom or dad. And while you trusted their love and commitment to you, you also understood their love for and commitment to America. (If you were too young at the time of your parents death, I pray you have experienced or will experience Gods grace in your journey toward healing.)

It is my prayer for each of you to find hope in Gods love by personally experiencing Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I offer this prayer, not as glib words from a Christian columnist, but as a sincere effort to share the only solution  the best answer I know  to your pain.

It is with heartfelt gratitude for your sacrifice and with deep respect for the pain you continue to endure that I commit each of you to our heavenly Fathers steadfast love and mercy  which He freely offers to you today, tomorrow and every day thereafter.
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / May 24, 2024 / Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Archer-Daniels-Midland Company ("ADM" or the "Company") (NYSE:ADM).On January 21, 2024, the Company disclosed that its Chief Financial Officer had been placed on leave "pending an ongoing investigation being conducted by outside counsel for ADM and the Board's Audit Committee regarding certain accounting practices and procedures with respect to ADM's Nutrition segment, including as related to certain intersegment transactions." Further, its investigation was initiated in response to a voluntary document request by the SEC and as a result, the Company delayed its Q4 and FY 2023 earnings release and withdrew its outlook for its Nutrition segment. Subsequently, the Company revised six year of financial statements related to its Nutrition segment. Then, on February 5, 2024, the Company disclosed that the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") initiated a criminal probe into the Company's accounting practices and the DOJ directed grand jury subpoenas to certain current and former employees.KSF's investigation is focusing on whether ADM's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of ADM shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-833-938-0905 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit us at https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-adm/to learn more.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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LAGOS, NIGERIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2024 / FITC is thrilled to announce that our esteemed CEO, Chizor Malize, has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious 2024 Women Changing the World Awards. Presented by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and Dr. Tererai Trent, these awards honor women who have demonstrated exceptional achievements across various fields, including sustainability, humanitarian work, leadership, advocacy, tech, product development, education, health, and innovation.Chizor Malize's remarkable leadership and contributions to the financial services sector have earned her recognition as a finalist in this esteemed global award. With her unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation, Chizor has consistently pushed boundaries and inspired positive change within FITC and beyond. In the past 12 months, her greatest achievements have been centered around transformative initiatives and impactful projects, this translates into tangible industry impact, advancing innovation within Nigeria and Africa's financial services sector.As a visionary leader, Chizor has spearheaded initiatives aimed at fostering diversity, inclusion, and empowerment within the financial industry. Her strategic vision and commitment to driving organizational growth and impact have positioned FITC as a leader in talent development, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation within the Nigerian financial services sector.Chizor's nomination as a finalist in the Women Changing the World Awards is a testament to her exceptional leadership and the profound impact, she has made in advancing the cause of women in leadership and driving positive change in society.We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Chizor Malize on this well-deserved recognition and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.The winners of the 2024 Women Changing the World Awards will be announced at the Women Changing the World Global Summit and Awards in London, United Kingdom, on May 25, 2024. For more information on the awards, visit wcwawards.com My achievements include winning the Marketing Personality of the Year 2016, the African Leadership Excellence Award 2017, and the 2020 Inspirational Leader Award by International Business Excellence. I have also received recognition from organizations like REBRAND USA and CNBC Media.Contact:Chizor MalizePhone: +234 816 620 6182Website: https://fitc-ng.com/ Email: info@ fitc-ng.com SOURCE: FITC (Financial Institutions Training Center)
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-25 15:06:04

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Ali Karakus' Innovative Project Aims to Slow Aging of Brain and Facial Cells, Leading to the Foundation of a Private Deep Tech Institute in IstanbulISTANBUL, TURKEY / ACCESSWIRE / May 25, 2024 / In a groundbreaking research project, Turkish neuroscience researcher Ali Karakus is investigating how quantum entanglement could revolutionize our understanding of aging. This phenomenon, where particles become so interconnected that the state of one instantly influences the state of another regardless of distance, is now being explored as a potential key to unlocking the secrets of cellular aging.Neuroscience and Quantum Researcher Ali Karakus A Novel Approach to Quantum Entanglement for Cellular Aging ReductionThis study explores the potential of quantum entanglement to reduce cellular aging by utilizing the unique properties of time dilation experienced in space. By entangling human cells with counterparts in a controlled laboratory environment and sending the entangled cells into space, the research aims to transfer the slowed aging effects to Earth-bound cells. This paper outlines the theoretical framework, methodology, expected outcomes, potential challenges, and ethical considerations of this pioneering research.A Radical Approach to AgingKarakus and his team aim to significantly slow down or even reverse the aging process of human cells. The ambitious project involves entangling human brain and facial cells with their counterparts in a controlled laboratory environment. These entangled cells are then sent into space to exploit the slowed aging effects caused by time dilation - a concept from Einstein's theory of relativity, which states that time passes more slowly for objects moving at high velocities or in strong gravitational fields.The hypothesis is that the slowed aging of space-bound cells could be transferred to their Earth-bound entangled partners, effectively reducing the aging process in the cells left on Earth.Methodology and Future PlansThe methodology, while straightforward, is highly innovative. Initially, human brain and facial cells are collected using minimally invasive techniques. These cells are then entangled with cells in a laboratory tube using advanced quantum technologies. Verification methods, such as Bell's inequality tests, ensure that the cells are truly entangled.The next step involves collaboration with space agencies like NASA and ESA to send the entangled cells into space. These cells are continuously monitored while the aging process of both space-bound and Earth-bound cells is observed. Data is collected on cellular senescence markers, DNA methylation patterns, and telomere length.In a humorous nod to the film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Karakus speculates about the future potential of achieving faster-than-light travel, reaching tachyon particle velocities. Although this remains in the realm of science fiction, such ideas inspire creative thinking about future technologies.Challenges and Ethical ConsiderationsThe project is not without its challenges. Maintaining entanglement over long distances and ensuring cell viability in the harsh environment of space are significant technical hurdles. Additionally, ethical considerations, such as obtaining informed consent from cell donors and implementing stringent biosecurity measures, are paramount.Acknowledgments and GratitudeAli Karakus extends his deepest gratitude to his partner and closest companion, Semih Hakyemez, whose encouragement over the past 15 years has been instrumental in his research journey. He also thanks his wife Sevde Karakus and his son Huseyin Murat Karakus for their unwavering support and motivation.Looking AheadKarakus and his team are excited about the potential of conducting studies on the Drosophila melanogaster, which has DNA most similar to human DNA. They plan to validate their hypothesis through a quantum simulation in 2026.ConclusionThis project explores the frontier of quantum biology by applying quantum entanglement and relativistic effects to cellular aging. If successful, it could pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in age-related therapies and enhance our understanding of quantum effects on biological systems.As we stand on the brink of what could be a quantum leap in anti-aging research, the possibilities are as vast and exciting as the universe itself.Contact InformationAli KarakusPresidentali@ dopinghafiza.com Related Filesa3270e62-da54-4f72-a792-c0e9f31f69e4df24f29e-f5e3-4bad-acc4-ea63b62a8787SOURCE: Ali Karakus, Neuroscience & Quantum ResearcherView the original press release on newswire.com
May 25, 2024 | 02:00 am PT

When I started my first corporate job, I explored the company's career services, where an HR counselor would guide me through various steps in my career. Each year, I could make three such appointments to discuss about my career development.

In my first appointment, I asked what to do when I did not know how to find a mentor or a more experienced colleague to guide me through corporate life. I felt disoriented in a corporation of more than 20,000 employees, whose workforce was globally distributed. Additionally, I started the job at the tail end of the working-from-home policies. I felt a sense of isolation, and directionlessness.

Susan, the HR representative, suggested I view finding a mentor as an opportunity to expand my professional network. She advised attending in-person or online events and then striking up conversations with presenters or other attendees during and after the events. She recommended using the prompt: "what you talked about XYZ really resonated with me," when writing a follow-up email for a one-on-one conversation to get to know the person better. They might become a mentor or a sponsor, both at work and in life. They might connect me to other colleagues, business partners, and new opportunities.

Susan consistently provided me with invaluable insights on how to make the most of my work experience. She gave me actionable items, and a framework to begin expanding my network.

Having recently left graduate school, I was new to networking in a professional environment. Initiating the first conversation was often the hardest part. Following up with the same person and understanding whether our interests aligned in the long term or short term took both time and courage. Furthermore, maintaining such a professional relationship over a long period of time took further time and care.

The idea of "strength of weak ties" often comes to my mind when I network with other professionals. Sociologist Mark Granovetter introduced this concept to describe how friends of friends, whose ties to us are neither strong nor direct, but can still play pivotal roles in helping us land a job, secure a business deal or earn a promotion. In the corporate context, this means cultivating weak ties with the hope that they will become beneficial at some point in the future.

Recently, I attended several events with college students and young professionals in Vietnam, focusing on AI and computer science. I found that Vietnamese youths had no issue with striking up conversations with me during the events. The issue was that there was no follow up. No one followed up with me about the conversations we had during the events.

The attendees were quick to add me on Facebook and LinkedIn. Yet, they did not send me a text saying something like: "Hi. It was great talking with you the other day. If you have time, Id love to ask you a couple of follow up questions regarding point ABC." They often just added me via social media without mentioning where we met or how I could help them further. It was a silent, and mostly useless "click."

A few weeks ago, I was at International Conference on Learning Representation, a premier academic conference on Artificial Intelligence in Vienna, Austria. I heard from AI researchers that they had met researchers from Vietnam and had brief discussions with them. However, the Vietnamese researchers never followed up regarding opportunities discussed. This behavior was in stark contrast to other researchers, who would straightforwardly ask if they could collaborate on future projects. This observation resonated with my recent experiences engaging with young Vietnamese professionals.

It is often said that Vietnamese youths tend to be shy and are not encouraged to talk about themselves, their interests, and aspirations. I slightly disagree. From my conversations with machine learning engineers in Vietnam, I found them to be very smart, highly motivated, and coming to meeting well prepared full of pointed questions. What they lack is primarily a framework to communicate effectively, one that will result in long lasting and meaningful relationships with other professionals, especially on a global level.

Reflecting on my conversation with Susan, I followed her suggestions and began attending internal events organized by other departments. I blocked half an hour every week for one-on-one conversations with colleagues at work. I used these half-hour sessions to talk to enough people to learn about their interests, their work, their challenges, and opportunities for collaboration. This exercise helped me feel more connected to the company and its people.

I hope that other young professionals also strike up conversations with strangers, following up with a quick note via email, LinkedIn, Slack, or Facebook to deepen that the relationship beyond just meeting someone at an event. If possible, schedule a quick chat with these new contacts to learn more about their work and explore how both sides can benefit from each other professionally or socially.

Small talks change us in subtle ways. However, when aggregated, proper small talks with appropriate follow-up communications can lead to significant outcomes.

*Nga Than is a senior data scientist, living in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 24, 2024 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fastly, Inc. ("Fastly" or the "Company") (NYSE:FSLY) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and docketed under 24-cv-03170, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Fastly securities between February 15, 2024 and May 1, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Fastly securities during the Class Period, you have until July 23, 2024 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Fastly operates an edge cloud platform for processing, serving, and securing customer's applications. The edge cloud is a category of Infrastructure-as-a-Service that purportedly enables developers to build, secure, and deliver digital experiences. Fastly's platform includes a Content Delivery Network ("CDN"), or a geographically distributed network of proxy servers and their data centers. Content owners such as media companies and e-commerce vendors pay CDN operators to deliver their content to their end users. Certain companies have adopted a "Multi-CDN" framework which combines multiple CDNs from various providers into one large global network.In 2023, a "consolidation trend" emerged in the CDN industry, in which several prominent Multi-CDN companies reduced the number of CDN vendors they had previously managed in an effort to simplify their operations and increase efficiency, opting instead to manage fewer CDN vendors. Facing reduced competition, Fastly was able to materially increase its market share and drive favorable sequential growth.On February 14, 2024, Fastly issued a press release providing full year ("FY") 2024 revenue guidance in a range of $580 million to $590 million. In that same press release, Fastly's Chief Executive Officer Defendant Todd Nightingale ("Nightingale") was quoted as stating, " [t]his quarter demonstrated the progress we've made in operational and financial rigorresulting in strong gross margins and non-GAAP net income," and " [o]ur go-to-market, packaging and channel efforts through 2023 delivered an inflection in our customer acquisition as we closed out the year. This positions us well for 2024 , driving our mission to make every user experience fast, safe, and engaging." Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) contrary to its representations to investors, Fastly was in fact experiencing a significant deceleration in growth among its largest customers and was losing the increased market share it had gained as a result of the 2023 CDN consolidation trend; (ii) the foregoing issues were likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's revenue growth; (iii) accordingly, the Company was unlikely to meet its own previously issued revenue guidance for FY 2024; (iv) as a result, the Company's financial position and/or prospects were overstated; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On May 1, 2024, Fastly announced its first quarter ("Q1") 2024 financial results. Despite the Defendants' positive statements just three months earlier about Fastly's performance and near-term business prospects, the Company reported revenue of only $133.52 million, missing consensus estimates by $0.35 million. The Company also lowered its FY 2024 revenue guidance to a range of $555 million to $565 million, significantly below its previously issued FY 2024 revenue guidance of $580 million to $590 million, and likewise below consensus estimates of $584.62 million for the same period.That same day, Fastly held a conference call with investors and analysts to discuss the Company's Q1 2024 results (the "Q1 2024 Earnings Call"). In explaining the Company's disappointing revised FY 2024 outlook, Defendant Nightingale stated that "[t]he biggest factor is a reduction of revenue from a small number of our largest customers. The first-quarter revenue from our top 10 customers dropped from 40% to 38%[,]" and that the Company saw "significant volatility" in the Multi-CDN strategy run by many of Fastly's top 10 accounts. Further, Fastly's Chief Financial Officer Defendant Ronald Kisling stated that the Company is "facing a challenging environment of revenue declines in our largest customers, overshadowing the impact of new customer acquisition and product pipeline[,]" and that the Company would not benefit in 2024 from the favorable impact of the early 2023 CDN consolidation that drove favorable sequential growth in the prior year same period.Then, on May 2, 2024, Bank of America downgraded Fastly stock from a "Buy" rating to an "Underperform" rating and cut its price target on the stock from $18 per share to a mere $8 per share, noting that "[d]ecelerating growth in Fastly's largest customers, share loss in delivery, and limited visibility in 2H cause us to question a rebound in 2024," and that "[w]hile we continue to like Fastly's positioning in the edge compute market, we see it as a 2025 opportunity instead of a near-term growth driver." Following these developments, Fastly's stock price fell $4.14 per share, or 32.02%, to close at $8.79 per share on May 2, 2024.As a result of Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Company's securities, Plaintiff and other Class members have suffered significant losses and damages.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the
In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Esonu Udeala, who grows Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) in Abuja, speaks about the untapped opportunities in the OFSP value chain for improving farmers incomes and tackling food insecurity in Nigeria.

Excerpt:

PT: As a passionate farmer, give us an insight into potato farming in Nigeria and why you are into potatoes.

Esonu: Potato farming is a common farming business in some parts of Nigeria. Plateau and Kaduna areas are more popular with Irish potatoes while the white-fleshed sweet potato is more spread all over the country. But the irony is that while Nigeria has a record of being one of the highest producers of potatoes in the world, it also has the record of being the country with the highest population of malnourished children. This is the intriguing point that aroused my interest in the farming of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. Potato farming is easier and cheaper when compared to other crops. It grows well on any well-drained sandy loamy soil in any part of Nigeria. It does not require much input of fertilisers and other chemicals. In fact, its best grown with farmyard manure like poultry dropping. Sweet potato, especially orange-fleshed sweet potato, has so many essential nutrients which make it an easy solution to the national malnutrition burden. So, I stick to farming OFSP as my little contribution to solving family, local and national health burdens.

PT: You cultivate a special variety of potatoes called the orange-fleshed sweet potato. Whats so special about it and are there secrets about this potato other farmers dont know?

Esonu: Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) is a variety of sweet potato. It is native to Peru, South America. It was introduced to Nigeria by the International Potato Centre (CIP) in 2005 when it was handed over to the National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike which carried out research to confirm its viability and benefits and released it to be grown in every part of the country. Orange-fleshed sweet potato derived the name from the colour inside it which is orange colour. The orange colour is an indication of high content of beta-carotene which is converted by the body into Vitamin A. Actually, sweet potatoes contain vitamins A, C, and other micronutrients. But orang-fleshed sweet potato has more Vitamin A than other types of sweet potatoes. Vitamin A is very critical to the health, immunity and well-being of human beings. The eyes, brain, and several organs of the body need a sufficient supply of this vitamin to function well. Because of how important Vitamin A is, it is one of the early immunisations given to babies and infants for proper growth. OFSP is rich in over 13 micronutrients, including Vitamin C, B1, B2, B3, B6, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Potassium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Iron, etc So, you discover that the potato is not just food but also serves as medical therapy for some serious health challenges such as heart health, arthritis, ulcer, diabetes, and weight management. It is also very good in improving reproductive health both in men and women.

However, though the orange-fleshed sweet potato has this enormous potential, how you prepare and use it is what determines what it delivers to you. That is why I do not just farm OFSP, but do a lot of training and sensitisation of the public on both the production and processing of this great gift God gave us. The potato is completely useful. While we can prepare the tubers in different ways, the leaves are highly nutritious and can be used for soup, sauce, and tea. Both the tubers and leaves are good for livestock and even birds and fish. The painful thing is that most farmers of OFSP dont even know what the crop carries and so only grow and sell and not consume it. So, it is important that policymakers take advantage of practitioners like me to push the knowledge of the health benefits of OFSP to the general public in order to increase both demand and production and improve the health and economy of Nigerians.

PT: What are the opportunities across the OFSP value chains that Nigerians can tap into?

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Esonu: You dont need to be a farmer to participate in the orange-fleshed sweet potato value chain development. There are so many things that you can do in this value chain. Tubers production  If you have access to farmland and you have a passion for farming, you can go into the production of the tubers. It is easy and lucrative. The crop has a short cycle of 90 to 120 days (three to four months). If well managed, it has a return of more than 149 per cent on investment. Unlike some other crops, after planting and weeding, which is done between the third and fourth week, you do not bother yourself until harvest.

Vine Multiplication  If you do not have access to much land but can access irrigation facilities, you can concentrate on the production of planting vines which are sold to farmers who do tuber production.

The return on Vine Multiplication is far higher than tuber production. This is an area youths can come in and fill the vine supply gap. In fact, for a productive farming cycle, access to quality vines is very critical. Governments and well-meaning individuals can empower young men and women (graduates) with plots of land, irrigation facilities and primary vines. In each state, such people can be selected and empowered to produce the vines to be used by farmers in their states. This will reduce the problem of long travels of vines which reduce their viability.

Processing  The OFSP provides great opportunities to food processors as there are over 42 dishes and recipes and products that are derived from this potato.

Merchant/Aggregators  This requires the availability of logistics and storage facilities. Orange-fleshed sweet potato is required in every part of Nigeria every time. Yet the crop is not available at all times as we are still mainly dependent on rain-fed agriculture. So, aggregators/merchants can fill the tuber supply gap, particularly during the off-season period. Researchers  There are so many products derived from orange-fleshed sweet potato, including starch, ethanol, biogas, and animal feed. Researchers can come up with the best way of doing these to improve efficiency and reduce costs. There is so much to talk about. Participation in our training programmes will open your eyes to both the industrial and economic potentials of OFSP.

PT: What will it take to grow OFSP in Nigeria?

Esonu: Cultivation of orange-fleshed sweet potato is less costly than many other crops. OFSP grows well in marginal soil. Simply put, all you need to grow OFSP is sandy, loamy soil. It requires minimum manure or fertiliser. However, as a tuber crop, it requires sufficient rainfall or water supply, especially within the first eight weeks after planting, to do well. That is why it is mostly grown during the rainy season while it is off-season during dry weather. So to grow and have orange-fleshed sweet potato throughout the year, one needs an irrigation facility. Orange-fleshed sweet potato is very important in Nigeria in battling food and nutrition security. Therefore, irrigation facilities should be provided to farmers who are ready to do dry-season farming. Also, to ensure that farm output is realised and utilised, it is important to secure the farm from herders who move around and eat up anything green, especially during the dry season. The government must intentionally promote the year-round production of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes if we actually want to deal with food and nutrition security.

PT: We have millions of unemployed people in Nigeria, particularly fresh graduates from school, do you think OFSP is an option for them?

Esonu: The orange-fleshed sweet potato value chain is a good area to engage a lot of people, especially young graduates who should come in with energy and innovation. The value chain has a lot of areas that need to be filled for it to be developed. And each area of the value chain is profitable.

The different areas of the OFSP value chain include land preparation service provision, vine multiplication and vine supply, tuber production, food and health shops, food processing and industrial production, aggregation and bulk-buying and supplies, storage/warehouse service and export marketing. Very little has been done in any of the above areas. We cannot go far when youths are neglected and not given direction and support. This is why my organisation, Simdozi International Limited, has been carrying out aggressive sensitisation on the health benefits of OFSP and its economic potential. This is a crop that can deal with food and nutrition security, biofuel and climate change mitigation. It contributes to food system resilience. In fact, involvement in OFSP production addresses SDG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 13. You see that governments at all levels can use the OFSP value chain to achieve so much in such a short time and at minimal cost.

PT: What are the challenges potato farmers like you face in Nigeria?

Esonu: The potato value chain is not given the necessary support by the government. I can say that it is neglected. And that is why the level of malnutrition and Vitamin A deficiency is very high in the country. This food crop is not like rice, maize, or even cassava which both the federal government and various development partners give all their support. Whereas the above-mentioned crops are basically carbohydrates, the sweet potato has over 13 micro-nutrients and yet is also rich in carbohydrates. Find out, why is there no anchor programme for potato farmers. Why is AGRA supporting sweet potatoes in Ghana but not in Nigeria? Why do various World Bank-supported programmes in Nigeria have nothing to do with sweet potatoes in Nigeria, whereas Nigeria is said to be one of the highest producers of potatoes in the world?

How did I get into orange-fleshed sweet potato value chain development in the first place? I worked with the National Fadama Coordination Office, Abuja for nearly 10 years. Sometime in 2017, some people from Rainbow Project, Potato for Health, Potato for Wealth; a joint-funded pilot project on orange-fleshed sweet potato under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, came to our office. They came because their project which was piloted in six states was about to end. They came to seek collaboration with Fadama which had national coverage in the 36 states and FCT to help upscale their results. However, the management of Fadama told them that the project had a mandate for cassava and not for potatoes and so would not be able to help Rainbow Project upscale whatever positive results they had. It was in that meeting that I heard of orange-fleshed sweet potato for the first time and I picked interest in it and started reading about it and working on planting it.

I have been on it for seven years and pushed advocacy for there to be a conscious intentional effort to increase the awareness of the populace to the health benefits of this superfood and for it to be adopted as a staple in the country. Because awareness of the health benefits of sweet potato is still very low, most people prefer Irish potato over sweet potato. Meanwhile, sweet potato is nutritionally richer than Irish potato. There are no industries to off-take farm produce of the potato farmers at peak period, so there is a glut between August and October and the farmers lose a lot of money. This is one of the reasons why there are a few potato farmers across the country.

Sweet potato has multiple uses spanning several sectors of the economy. There is no multi-sectoral collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and other ministries and agencies that could promote and benefit from the sweet potato value chain. Another challenge I must mention is the lack of necessary machinery for the production of sweet potatoes. Apart from land preparation which can be supported with tractors, every other production activity is manual and costly. This makes the price of potatoes relatively high. There are many hurdles to the exportation of sweet potatoes. Most of these hurdles are worsened by the Nigeria system which makes most attempts to export abortive. Then society and cultural values and practices are also great limitations. Imagine, two years ago, someone I have a lot of respect for asked me why I was concentrating on orange-fleshed sweet potato production instead of rice or maize, which have the same cycle length of three to four months. No explanation I gave him made sense. If I were not determined, I would have long stopped growing sweet potatoes. Another officer of the federal government who initially wanted to do sweet potato came back to tell me that she would no longer do it because, according to her, the profit margin for sweet potato is less than that of rice or maize. So with such a mentality or value, you discover that the potato value chain is not given the support of investors as it should. The last but not least is the fact that potato is a tuber crop and therefore needs a lot of moisture in the soil to do well. Most potato farmers depend entirely on rain-fed production. This makes it difficult for the farmers to do two or three-cycle production which is possible with irrigation. Moreover, the issue of climate change and drought spells could be a disaster for the potato farmer whenever it happens. There are quite a number of challenges the potato farmer faces. However, it is the passion to alleviate the malnutrition burden in Nigeria that keeps most of us going.

PT: What are those things you would like to see the government do to encourage farmers like yourself in the country?

Esonu: When the government comes up with any intervention for farmers, they should make deliberate efforts to reach the real farmers and not just the office and political farmers. There should be sincerity of purpose in coming up with policies and programmes for farmers. It is only when there is serious stakeholder engagement with grassroots farmers that any government policy/programme can have meaningful results and impact. Road infrastructure is a serious constraint to farmers. The effect is seen in late access to inputs, markets, and high levels of post-harvest losses. Logistics: Potatoes, especially orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, require special vehicles to be transported over a long distance and be delivered in good condition. No individual farmer can provide such. So, the government should facilitate the establishment of such vans. Nigerians cannot effectively export fresh orange-fleshed sweet potato tubers because there is no curing centre in the whole country to cure the potato tubers. So, the establishment of curing centres and storage facilities will boost the production and marketing of sweet potatoes. Processing: Sweet potato can be used in several industrial and pharmaceutical formulations.

The government can provide an enabling environment and encourage people to use these locally-produced tubers. Orange-fleshed sweet potato bread is more nutritious than 100 per cent wheat bread. While many countries in Africa are using orange-fleshed sweet potato to make their bread and other pastries, we are still begging bakers to include OFSP in their products. The major challenge the bakers complain about is that they want to buy puree from the shelf just the same way they buy other baking ingredients and not involve themselves with the process of puree making. The government can help bring in puree-making machines which some people can buy and move into that business. Government can specifically encourage those of us who are working hard to keep the sweet potato value chain alive thereby drawing other people into it.

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Filmmaker Rogers Ofime is partnering with the Edo State Government on a new Telenovela featuring renowned Nollywood actors.

In a statement on Thursday, Mr Ofime underscored the societal relevance of the 78-episode series, which will tackle critical issues such as irregular migration, human trafficking, rehabilitation, and redemption.

The States Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism will oversee the cultural aspects of the production, ensuring its authenticity and relevance.

At the same time, the Edo Film Project will handle the technical elements, guaranteeing the highest production standards.

At a Friday meeting at the First Lady of Edo State office, Mr Ofime, the Chief Executive of Native Media TV, applauded the State Government and various agencies efforts to combat the vices he would highlight in the series.

Mr Ofime, who shot the first-ever Nollywood movie on a moving train in 2021, emphasised the regions historical context with irregular migration and the authenticity it brings to the storytelling.

He commended the First Lady, Betsy Obaseki, for her advocacy for female empowerment and her support of organisations and charities that define the role of women and girls in societal development.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Her initiatives, he said, aim to reduce dependency on coercive forces that aid human trafficking and ensure that returnees are adequately reintegrated into society.

Conclusively, Mr Ofime, the Executive Producer of the now-rested Nigerian TV series The Johnsons, Rogers Ofime, disclosed that the show is a Native Media production commissioned by Africa Magic.

The telenovela will be broadcast on all Multichoice and Africa Magic platforms, including Africa Magic, Showmax, and Peacock, reaching audiences in 48 countries across Africa.

Native Media TV is renowned for its commitment to telling original stories like Oloibiri, Voiceless, Hush, Zamani, and Hotel Majestic, amongst other blockbuster movies. This telenovela will also showcase the significant strides made by the Edo State Government in the creative space.

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The Federal High Court, Lagos Division, has ordered a temporary forfeiture of $4,719,054 million and N830,875,611 million traced to a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

The judge, Yellim Bogoro, made the forfeiture order on Thursday after the EFCC filed an ex-parte request to seize the assets.

An ex-parte application refers to proceedings brought before a court on behalf of an interested party without notice to an adverse party in a suit. It is entertained in the absence of the opposing party.

In granting the ex-parte motion Mr Bogoro, after he had taken submission of the EFCCs counsel, Bilkisu Buhari and C.C. Chinenye, held, I have listened to the submission of the applicants counsel and also perused the motion just moved, together with the affidavit in support.

I find merit in the application and same hereby granted as prayed.

Mr Bogoro ordered the anti-graft agency to publish this order in any daily newspapers circulating all over the federation for anybody who is interested, to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made.

The forfeited funds to the federal government in the interim were said to be warehoused in some banks operated by Omoile Anita Joy who is on the run; Deep Blue Energy Service Limited; Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd; Lipam Investment Services Limited; Tatler Services Limited; Rosajul Global Resources Ltd and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.

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The suit was adjourned until 2 July for the hearing of the application for final forfeiture of the properties.

Mr Emefiele, who faces multiple corruption charges in Lagos and Abuja, may also lose several assets that have been linked to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Emefieles properties forfeited to the federal government include; 94 Units of 11 Storey building under Construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (Formerly Club) Road, iKoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, 11 Story Office Space, situated on 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; and Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imoore Land purchased with (Deep Bive Industrial Town, Oriade LCDA, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos.

Others are Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro Lagos, Owolomi Village, ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos and 2 properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B.Lot.Twin Completed Property Lakes Estate. Lekki, Lagos.

One plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm, at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; Estate located at 100, Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, Owned by Lipam investment Services; a Land at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street, (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos and a Property Situate on 8, Bayo Kuku Road, lkoyi Lagos are also among the properties the former CBN governor will forfeit.

EFCCs application seeking forfeiture of the assets was based on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act. 14 2006, Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The commission urged the court for an Interim Order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds warehoused in the accounts particularized in Schedule A which funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

An Interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria Properties provided in 2nd Schedule B which are proceeds of unlawful activities.

An Order directing the publication in any National Newspaper, the interim order under reliefs 1-2 above, for anyone who is interested in the properties and funds sought to be forfeited to appear before this Honourable Court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the said properties and funds should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Since Mr Emefiele was relieved of his job in July 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, he has shuttled between Lagos and Abuja attending court proceedings in multiple fraud suits against him.

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The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, has ordered the arrest of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, who reportedly returned to Kano early Saturday.

Mr Ado-Bayero was dethroned alongside the emirs of Karaye, Rano Bichi and Gaya whose emirates have been scrapped.

The governors spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, said the deposed emir was smuggled back to Kano allegedly to cause mayhem as the reinstated Emir Lamido Sanusi retook the palace.

The former Emir was smuggled into Kano city last night in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the Governor.

The new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, arrived at the (Emirs) palace in the company of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Speaker of the State Assembly, and other top government functionaries at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, 25th May 2024.

As the Chief Security Officer of the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys.

READ ALSO: Sanusi speaks after reinstatement as Kano emir

Mr Bayero, who was not in Kano at the time of his dethronement, was said to have arrived at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport Saturday morning where he observed the Muslim morning prayer amidst hundreds of sympathisers.

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The sympathisers were singing that he remained the original emir of Kano as he committed no offence to warrant his removal.

This is an ongoing development and more stories will follow.

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The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has denied an allegation that the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, helped the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, to return to Kano on Saturday.

The Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, had claimed Mr Ribadu provided two aircraft for the return of Mr Ado Bayero to the city at 4.30 a.m. on Saturday.

The National Security Adviser gave two jets to bring the dethroned emir to Kano and to bring him to the palace, the deputy governor said.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, however, the spokesperson of the office of the NSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, said the allegation was untrue. He said Mr Ribadu did not provide the aircraft that returned Mr Ado-Bayero to Kano.

He urged politicians to be mindful of their utterances as they may jeopardise t efforts by security agencies to maintain peace in the state.

I read the comments on social media, it is untrue. The NSA did not provide air transport to anyone to Kano.

Political actors should desist from misinforming the public as law enforcement officials in the state strive to maintain peace and order, Mr Mijinyawa said.

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Governor Yusuf reinstated Lamido Sanusi, the 14th emir of Kano, four years after he was removed by the immediate past administration of Abdullahi Ganduje.

The reinstatement of Mr Sanusi followed the repealing of the states Emirate Council Law 2019 that created five emirates councils and five first-class emirs.

The governor subsequently announced the reinstatement of Mr Sanusi on Thursday. But the Federal High Court restrained the state government from implementing the new emirate council law that reinstated Mr Sanusi.

The security agencies in the state have also asked the parties involved in the crisis to obey the court order and vowed to maintain peace and order.

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The Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper, Madu Onuorah, has been released after about 48 hours in police custody.

Mr Onuorah confirmed this to PREMIUM TIMES in a phone conversation from Enugu on Friday.

I was released around 11 p.m. yesterday (Thursday), he said.

At the time of filing this report, the editor said he was still in Enugu where he was taken to because he was unable to get a flight in the morning back to Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Onuorah was abducted at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday by the police from his Lugbe, Abuja home.

The management of his online news platform, in a statement on Thursday, said its editor-in-chief was whisked away by stern-looking operatives in the presence of his wife and children.

The operatives, according to the statement, seized the journalists phone and failed to present a warrant of arrest or disclose the reason for the arrest.

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Ordeal

Recounting how he was arrested, Mr Onuorah said the police officers, numbering 10, met him outside and said he should not go further inside to do anything but follow him.

They didnt allow me to go inside to change or even call my lawyer, they just insisted that I follow them without even disclosing where they are taking me, he said.

He said he later got to know that he was arrested because his platform published a story about a Reverend Sister, Ngozi Mamah, who assaulted her 75-year-old stepmother.

I was taken away by the police and was locked up in a cell in Lugbe until the DPO came and asked them to put me at the reception. I was then moved to Abakaliki and then to Ebonyi.

I was taken to the commissioner of Police and the CP was telling me how to do my job. He said I should have not written a story like that, I was accused of defamation of character and the police arrested me because of that without a court order or evidence.

I asked the CP if what we had published was true or not but he said I should have done it otherwise. He was teaching me my job. He said they should release me but I should go and reconcile with the woman. Reconcile on what? Did I write wrongly about her?

I was not physically tortured but I was mentally tortured. The boxer I have been wearing for the past three days is still with me as I am talking to you now, he said.

Earlier the FCT Police Command Spokesperson, Josephine Adeh told PREMIUM TIMES that the journalist was not arrested by the command.

Yes, but FCT did not arrest him, it was Ebonyi State Police Command, So contact FPRO, she said.

When contacted, the Ebonyi Police Spokesperson, Ukanda Joshua, revealed to our reporter on Thursday that the arrest was made from Enugu Command through a petition, but their police officers merely assisted in making the arrest.

He said, I have received calls on this. Just to clarify, yes, I think the man who was arrested was arrested on a petition and the petition is not in Ebonyi Command. It is in Enugu command, our men just assisted in the arrest.

Daniel Ndukwe, the spokesperson for Enugu Command, when contacted, said he was not aware of the arrest.

It is just coming to my knowledge for the first time. Please send me the name of the person, let me confirm, he told this newspaper.

He also promised to respond as soon as possible but he never did until Mr Onuorah was freed.

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The Kano State Council of Ulamas (Islamic clerics) has warned that the Kano emirate crisis could trigger a breakdown of law and order in the state

In a statement signed by its chairperson, Ibrahim Khalil, the council urged President Bola Tinubu to employ non-partisan measures to address the crisis.

Therefore, it is imperative for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take all necessary steps to maintain peace in the state.

While it is the purview of the State House of Assembly to enact laws for good governance, the State Government needs the cooperation and support of the Federal Government.

The State Assembly amended the Kano State Emirates Law, and the Governor assented. One person took the case to court, claiming that the law violates his fundamental human rights. He is entitled to his rights.

The State Governor also has a responsibility as the Chief Executive of the state. As the act in question has already been completed, there is no need for violent enforcement of any order or violent resistance to it. We vehemently oppose any measures that will escalate conflict in the state.

Mr President, as the leader of the nation, should not allow the contest for a royal stool to degenerate into violence. We are calling on Mr President to allow the people of Kano State to resolve these issues amicably without the use of force and without loss of lives.

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Kano State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria; therefore, we, the undersigned, call on both contending parties to use civil means in resolving their differences to allow peace to reign in the state.

As major stakeholders in the state, we want to assure Mr. President that we shall reach out to contenders to resolve the matter peacefully, the council said in the statement to reporters.

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It is high time that the armed forces were made to realise that in a country where the rule of law operates, institutions and individuals are not permitted to take the law into their hands. Therefore, the Chief of Army Staff, General Lagbaja, should ensure that the Banex Plaza is reopened without any further delay. The soldiers who were beaten up in the market should be advised to press charges against their assailants.

Last Saturday, a clash occurred between some traders and three soldiers over a phone sale dispute at Banex Plaza located in Wuse 2 district of Abuja. The police promptly arrested the suspects and took them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police headquarters. According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh:

Preliminary investigation revealed that one Suleiman Ahmed who had earlier gotten a phone from one Suleiman Ibrahim, a shop owner at New Bannex, went with four soldiers to persuade the seller for replacement upon discovery that the phone is faulty, which met the resistance of the shop owner.

This action resulted in a confrontation and squabble with the military personnel. This development led some irate mobs to attack the military personnel, which led to an uproar in the environs.

All parties were invited for questioning. The military personnel have been handed over to their organisation for necessary action to be taken.

While normalcy has since been restored in Bannex and its environs, the Commissioner of Police FCT, Benneth Igweh urges residents to peacefully go about their lawful businesses without fear from any quarters.

Shortly thereafter, about 50 armed soldiers invaded the Banex Plaza and shut it down. Instead of calling the soldiers who closed the market to order, the military authorities have justified the resort to self-help. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army spokesman, has said that the plaza was temporarily shut so as to take time to fish out the hoodlums behind Saturdays incident. Neither the Constitution nor the Armed Forces Act authorises the Nigerian Army to investigate criminal offences involving citizens who are not subject to service law.

It is high time that the armed forces were made to realise that in a country where the rule of law operates, institutions and individuals are not permitted to take the law into their hands. Therefore, the Chief of Army Staff, General Lagbaja, should ensure that the Banex Plaza is reopened without any further delay. The soldiers who were beaten up in the market should be advised to press charges against their assailants. Since the scuffle in the market was video recorded, it should not be difficult for the police to identify the suspects and arraign them for assault occasioning harm.

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Femi Falana is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

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Mbaya and the other student leaders remained on campus to investigate and document the extent of the violence and damage done by the security forces. They publicised their findings and submitted same to the junta judicial commission, led by Justice Mohammed. Mbaya was expelled for his role in the protest. But ABU students appreciated his sacrifice. They in fact considered him as one of those youths, who, out of relative obscurity discovered his mission and fulfilled it.

One of the biggest and most challenging protests in Nigerian history broke out forty six years ago. Christened Ali-Must-Go, it was triggered by an astronomical increase in the cost of education. Organised by the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), its core leaders were NUNS President, Segun Okeowo; the President of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Students Union, Bukar Mbaya; his University of Calabar counterpart, Offiong Aqua; and the Chairman of the University of Benin Students Union, Ekpen Appah. All were expelled by the General Olusegun Obasanjo-led military junta. Their offence was in leading students in their demand that education must be: reformed and democratised, made a popular commodity and not an exclusive elitist luxury, and compulsory and free at all levels.

The peaceful students protest was transformed into a bloody one by the security forces. It was, however, in ABU, that the security most brutishly suppressed the protest. Mbaya, a gentle, unassuming, soft-spoken, easy-going, but principled and dogged fighter for education, democracy and development, led the ABU protests.

He called congress meetings from 16-18 April, 1978. They discussed the protest, clarified issues, gauged the mood of the students and, reduced to the barest minimum, intra-students disagreements on the protest. There were two camps: the pro-boycott group, predominantly made up of Continuing and School of Basic Studies students, and the anti-boycott group, largely comprised of final year students. A similar scenario played out at the Kongo Campus.

The division, however, ended on 18 April, when the news of the killing of Akintunde Ojo of the University of Lagos reached ABU students. The news transformed the divisions into a solid pro-boycott block and the protest ensued.

On 19 April, while students were awaiting the commencement of a congress meeting, police invaded the campus with tear-gas. Students braved the choking gas and chased the police with stones, bottles and sticks. The police retreated when they ran out of tear-gas. A policeman was captured by the students but released when it was discovered that no student had been arrested.

Students took to the Zaria-Sokoto highway carrying anti-school fees placards and singing. They explained to passers-by and travellers the purpose for their protest, and distributed handbills, pamphlets and posters.

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Shocked by the brutality, and in tears, Mbaya went to the University Registrar, Yahaya Aliyu, asking him to plead with the soldiers,  to stop the killing, but the university administrator said he could not help the situation. So, the military attacks continued. Students, staff and villagers around the campus were beaten and shot at indiscriminately. On the campus, female students were molested, with tear gas thrown into their rooms, choking them. The soldiers looted dining halls and food stores and vandalised property.

On 20 April, at about 5:00 a.m., the police again invaded the main campus. Students replied with stones and successfully forced the police to retreat. Afraid that the police would invade the campus again, students barricaded the Zaria-Sokoto highway. Some retreated to the campus only to find other students fleeing in their direction, shouting that soldiers had invaded the campus through the University Dam.

The soldiers shot rubber bullets, which caused serious harm. Students replied with stones. Later, without warning, the soldiers switched to live bullets, which forced the students to flee in various directions. The soldiers demonstrated full scale military combat manoeuvres by rolling on the ground, camouflaging in trees  in bushes and on storey buildings. They used military helicopters to monitor the movement of fleeing students for soldiers to round off and shoot, [and] kill.

But Mbaya stood with the students. With some medical students, he rescued the wounded and dying, but they were thoroughly beaten and sent back by the soldiers. They insisted on carrying wounded students to hospitals, but were ordered back into the campus by the soldiers at the gate, who told them they dont care whether the student was dead or dying.

Shocked by the brutality, and in tears, Mbaya went to the University Registrar, Yahaya Aliyu, asking him to plead with the soldiers,  to stop the killing, but the university administrator said he could not help the situation. So, the military attacks continued. Students, staff and villagers around the campus were beaten and shot at indiscriminately. On the campus, female students were molested, with tear gas thrown into their rooms, choking them. The soldiers looted dining halls and food stores and vandalised property.

In Samaru, the university town, life came, completely to a standstill. Houses were ransacked and Samaru market was looted by soldiers as the whole village was in great confusion. Students were fished out from where they took refuge. Those of them suspected to be students were mercilessly beaten up and kept in the sun to do frog dancing. A few persons among them, mostly females, lost consciousness in the process the  atrocities lasted more than four hours. It was an act of extreme fascism, savagery, barbarisms and thuggery, comparable to the Sharpeville and Soweto massacres of defenceless Black people in Apartheid South Africa!

The operations of the security forces on both campuses led to the severe injury of forty-two students. Officially, four students, a primary school pupil, and an unknown person were reported killed. Soldiers and police, however, took away an unknown number of students and others whom they had shot, wounded, killed, and whose corpses were never deposited in the hospital.

In Kongo campus, the soldiers began shooting indiscriminately as they were jumping out of their vehicles right at the gate. They were joined twenty minutes later by the police. Even before their vans stopped, the police started throwing tear gas. They invaded the hostels, forcefully broke into the rooms, brutalised the students, locked them in, then tossed tear-gas. This first operation ended about noon.

Another batch of armed police began the second operation two hours later. They behaved in a most barbaric and vandalistic manner, destroying everything along their way. The Students Union Secretariat was invaded and damaged. Students were chased into nearby bushes and mountains houses were searched to flush out students and beat them up. During the whole operation, some University workers and school children were either beaten up or molested.

The operations of the security forces on both campuses led to the severe injury of forty-two students. Officially, four students, a primary school pupil, and an unknown person were reported killed. Soldiers and police, however, took away an unknown number of students and others whom they had shot, wounded, killed, and whose corpses were never deposited in the hospital. At Kongo, a student was reportedly shot in the head and carried away by soldiers. Some students were reported to have died later in their homes due to gas poisoning and wounds sustained during the invasion. Residents of Samaru simply buried their dead or treated their wounded. The university was closed by the junta on 20 April.

Mbaya and the other student leaders remained on campus to investigate and document the extent of the violence and damage done by the security forces. They publicised their findings and submitted same to the junta judicial commission, led by Justice Mohammed. Mbaya was expelled for his role in the protest. But ABU students appreciated his sacrifice. They in fact considered him as one of those youths, who, out of relative obscurity discovered his mission and fulfilled it.

ABU students never regretted their actions. They saw their struggle as necessary sacrifice to make education available, accessible and affordable to all Nigerians, irrespective of their class, ethnic, regional and religious background.

Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu Yusuf worked as deputy director, Cabinet Affairs Office, The Presidency, and retired as General Manager (Administration), Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet). Email: aaramatuyusuf@yahoo.com

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Means of production prices mixed in China

Xinhua) 15:26, May 25, 2024

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The capital goods monitored by China's statistical authorities registered mixed prices in mid-May compared with early May, official data showed Friday.

Of the 50 major goods classified in nine categories, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer, and some chemicals, 24 reported higher prices in the period, 19 saw price declines, and seven recorded an unchanged price, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

During this period, hog prices went up 2 percent, the NBS data revealed.

These figures, released every 10 days, are based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions across the country.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Friends of Nevada Wilderness, which advocates for the preservation of public lands, receives support from local volunteers in its wilderness-restoration projects at remote areas across Nevada.

Its reach and impact are far reaching.

And in the coming months, the group is stewarding Nevadas nature through efforts such as pulling invasive weeds at Hunter Creek Trail near Reno, maintaining trails at the Table Mountain Wilderness in Nye County and in the Jarbidge Wilderness in Elko County, plus removing old fences at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Winnemucca.

With those sorts of projects, we work with the Forest Service. We also work with the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, depending on the project and the location, said Megan Tait, Northern Nevada stewardship coordinator.

We appreciate a lot of volunteers giving their time and their energy and resources, because they do have to drive out to a lot of these spots to help us do these restoration projects, Tait noted.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness will visit the Jarbidge area, likely on the west side of the Jarbidge Wilderness, from July 25 to July 28. The aim is to maintain a mile or two of trails, Tait said.

Were working with a group of 18 volunteers to head out Thursday evening, work Friday and Saturday and then head back to Reno on Sunday. For projects like these, Friends of Nevada Wilderness provides all the meals, as well as any camping equipment needed for overnight stays, she said.

When the organization takes on a trail-restoration project, Tait said the goal is to widen the tread, make sure the trail is safe to move through as a hiker or as an equestrian on a pack mule or a horse. We make sure the brush is cleared back so that the trail is visible, as well as removing any downed trees by bucking them and getting the logs off of the trail with a handsaw or crosscut.

Tait said bucking is the term for when a log has fallen and blocks a trail. So we cut it once or twice to make sure that we can roll the logs that are left off the trail. As for felling trees, Friends of Nevada Wilderness recruits the labor of their professional trail crew.

All our trail projects use hand tools. Since we are in wilderness areas, we dont use any chainsaws or mechanized equipment. So, trail work does go slower, but you also get to appreciate the surrounding areas and move at a slower pace, making sure that all the work were doing on the trail is necessary and low-impact, Tait said.

On July 5 through 8, a Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge trip will take volunteers into the remote wilderness near the upper Nevada border, to remove unnecessary barbed wire fence left on the refuge from the grazing days and the days that range was used for cattle and horses, Tait said. By removing barbed wire fence, we help pronghorn migrate freely through the landscape, which are very important animals on the refuge.

Another crucial species, the sage grouse, flies low to the ground, Tait said. Having barbed wire fence within a couple of feet from the ground impedes their flight patterns as well. Its really important to remove this barbed wire fence not only for those animals, but for all other animals on the refuge that need to get water sources and migrate through the area.

A major event began Friday and continues through Monday: 18th annual Black Rock Rendezvous, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and Friends of Black Rock-High Rock.

Volunteers camp on the playa desert of Northwestern Nevada, where they enjoy educational presentations about the deserts ecosystem, geography and hydrology and embark on excursions such as a canyon hike, a native plants tour, and fence and trailhead repairs.

Tait said the itinerary also motivates volunteers to actually work on restoring these areas, whether its a trespass route, where people are driving on illegal routes to get to the playa or get off the playa, as well as signage and fencing around sensitive habitats or sensitive areas that have seen too much use.

The playas Coyote Dunes, which face erosion from off-road vehicles, need some fencing and some repairs on the fencing to make sure people stay off of these dunes, which are really important habitat for smaller mammals.

We do have a Dutch oven cookoff, where everyone who wants to participate makes a Dutch oven meal and puts it all on a table. We have a few judges who decide what our first- and second-place main dish and dessert are.

Tait said Friends of Nevada Wilderness projects have led to noticeable improvements on Nevada ecosystems.

For example, with invasive weed removal, we can look at plants in Mount Rose Wilderness and see thousands of musk thistles, noxious plants which harm native growth. Within a six-hour project with about 12 volunteers, theres a good chunk of it that disappears. By doing that, you leave room for native species to thrive and hopefully have a better chance of outcompeting the invasive species.

In addition, Tait said, the visual aspect of removing barbed wire fence from the landscape is intense.

You see a whole mile of fence had been taken down within a couple hours of a volunteer project. And that is a great first step because humans also enjoy these landscapes and having them as wild as possible is also a great benefit of the projects we do, she noted.
In a matter of days, it will be one year since Oluremi Tinubu, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, found herself at the apogee of power. Though not a stranger to walking the corridors of power, this was the ultimate, the apex of political albeit economic power  The Presidency!

As a former First Lady of Lagos State, there is perhaps nothing novel, one may dare say, but Presidential authority, especially in a clime as Nigeria, is different. It compels not just attention, but exudes a tocsin that can leave you dizzy and drunk on its dregs.

Is it not in this country we have seen mere local government spouses going overboard to demonstrate that they are in power?

Prior to the presidential elections, there were not a few controversial videos of the now First Lady, not a glowing light. One of such videos was of her dissing a woman from a certain part of the country and attaching labels to a whole tribe. The furore at that time was scalding and no less deserving.

Owing to that and a few instances like the Senate brouhaha with a fellow Senator, the ever pubescent Dino Melaye, there was apprehension in certain quarters of a First Lady who will dominate, torment and perhaps, leave in her wake controversies. If anything, I was amongst the sceptics who feared for an intemperate, overbearing, snobbish and interfering First Lady.

Like an aeroplane, one year on, Nigerias First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has defied the odds, disappointed the naysayers and charmed her traducers. She has demonstrated grace, panache, candour and fitted into her role as presidential as any First Lady worth that title can be.

In every sense, she reminds one of Eleanor Roosevelt, the war-time First Lady of the United States. She has left not a few Nigerians in awe in being a model spouse in her handling of the domestic and ceremonial roles of the Presidency while also influencing policy and politics  all while not overstepping the social and political boundaries.

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For those who may not know, Eleanor was a remarkable woman with an enduring legacy whose contribution to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains indelible.

Today, our own First Lady is helping to create real and meaningful implications for girls, women, and the underprivileged in our country.

She has become a voice that resonates significantly in creating a country of equal opportunities through her timely and measured interventions.

Through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), the First Lady is impacting lives and serving marginalised demographics. At present, girls in Bauchi State are having the benefit of ICT education through the Alternative High School for Girls. This is just one of several examples of the First Ladys social interventions which emphasize equal educational opportunities for all girls, regardless of past challenges. The school aims to empower girls who may have faced obstacles like early marriage or lack of support, she said at the inauguration early in the year.

To spur the creativity of the Nigerian youth, her Initiative came up with the #OneNigeria Unity Fabric competition! According to her, it is to showcase the enormous but sometimes misplaced industry and ingenuity of our youths and for those participating to design a fabric that represents our unity, resilience, love, and commitment.

It is not just about participating, but a life changing N25 million is up for grabs! Talk about motivation.

Day by day, those who wait to see her falter are left puzzled and are left to ask is it not the same Remi Tinubu who was quarrelsome and takes no prisoners? Yes, it is the same Oluremi Tinubu but with a different hue and temperament. The one who would ordinarily have made life difficult for the vexatious Dino Melaye for his foul indiscretion in the Senate, but has not abused the privilege of being the First Lady.

Yes, our evolving and dynamic First Lady has shown to be a fresh breath of diplomacy and inclusion.

Not minding that Ademola Adeleke, Governor of Osun State, is of a different party and was responsible for ending the governorship ambition of her husbands kin, Gboyega Oyetola, she had kind words for the administration when she went to inaugurate the Alternative High School for Girls.

As a mother of the nation whose heart constantly beats for its renewal, every opportunity counts to advance its interest.

While hosting the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, she enthused, The President has made the right decisions which will help us build a Nigeria thats more respected, we should all be more accountable as a people as regard our resources and we all need to inspire the youths to think Nigeria first before any state or Nation.

As a moderating and peace advocate, not even an extremist apologist could draw her ire. Idris Tenshi, an Islamic cleric, had issued a fatwa against the wife of the president. Rather than draw on State might, the First Lady went to the lair of the now remorseful cleric to dismiss the fear of death.

In recent history, a First Lady used State apparatus to intimidate and arrest those that as much as made a Facebook post about the then prevailing hunger in the country.

It is in this country that a certain wife of the president lived the illusion that the title of First Lady was her exclusive preserve and summoned wives of state governors to Abuja to decree them against using such honorific.

It is gratifying to note that there has not been any of such untoward use of presidential privilege. Rather, wives of governors are falling over themselves to have the wife of the president in their states for one project inauguration or initiatives. Enamoured!

Dear First Lady, you have done well and ticking the right boxes, but there are a lot more things to accomplish. As the closest person to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, President of our rich but poor country, you are his greatest adviser. No appointee comes close.

On this basis, you have a duty of care to Nigerians to speak unvarnished truth to the president. His long-pursued dream of becoming president should not become a historical albatross. Let his Presidency stand as monument of positive remembrance by impacting meaningfully on Nigerians.

As you keep pushing the frontiers of service in your esteemed role as First Lady, may the grace and comeliness you have exuded not lose its sheen and shine. May you continue to win over detractors by your humility and may the winds ever be in favour of your tide.

Mariam Mohammed is a PR specialist and publisher of Maktoub Magazine. She writes from Abuja.

Email: Mariam.c.Mohammed@gmail.com

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The attention of the Federal High Court of Nigeria management has been drawn to purported contract agreement between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Nigeria and the Discovery Group Latam DAS, in which an electronic mail was generated from the courts official email address to some foreign nationals. In the said email, the sender masqueraded as the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Sulaiman Amida Hassan Esq, asking the prospective contractor, Diego Fraga of Discovery Group Latam SAS to either come to Nigeria or have their legal representative sign a contract attestation at the Federal High Court in Nigeria.

The Federal High Court of Nigeria wishes to inform the general public both at home and in diaspora to disregard the unfounded contract between Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Nigeria and the Discovery Group Latam SAS. The court did not issue any mail requesting the presence or legal representation of anyone or corporate entity.

Should you encounter any suspicious activity or receive questionable communication purportedly from the Court, we strongly advise you to immediately report such correspondence to the relevant authorities, including law enforcement agencies or our official contact channels. EMAIL: info@fhc.gov.ng : fhc.informationdepartment@gmail.com TELEPHONE : +234 8033883107 : +234 8066267618

Furthermore, be warned that should you choose to proceed with any interaction or transaction despite being alerted to potential risks, you do so entirely at your own discretion and liability. The Federal High Court of Nigeria bears no responsibility for any consequences resulting from such voluntary actions. Thank you for your vigilance and cooperation in maintaining a secured environment and safe cyberspace for all.

Federal High Court of Nigeria, 2024.

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Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has been blazing the trail in terms of rescuing the North-western state from the fangs of underdevelopment, dilapidating infrastructure, by protecting the lives and property of its citizens since his inauguration as the Chief Executive Officer of the state in the last one year.

Having met Zamfara as a hub of banditry, where gunmen kidnap helpless citizens for ransom, maiming, and killing them, as well as wanton destruction of sources of livelihood, Governor Lawal made it his article of faith to reverse that ugly trend, and restore hope to the citizens.

In one year, Mr Lawal has turned the state, particularly, the state capital into construction sites by rebuilding massive infrastructure. He also didnt relent in engaging in overtures to different stakeholders in the security sector to end the decade-old menace of banditry in the state.

He made the issue of security a priority just like building road networks, rebuilding and equipping hospitals and schools, providing pipe-borne water, paying workers salaries, upsetting billions of naira arrears to exams bodies, among others. Below is the timeline of Governor Lawals engagements with key actors in the security and defense architecture in the last one year.

29 May, 2023

Mr Lawal was sworn in as the Executive Governor of Zamfara State.

1 June, 2023

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Mr Lawal received a security briefing from the Security Chiefs in the state, where possible ways to address the continuous aggression by the bandits in some remote areas.

1 June, 2023

The governor met with the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 10, Bello Sani Dalijan, and Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Bunu in his office, where they discussed the states security, among other key issues.

12 June, 2023

Governor Lawal met with the GOC 8 Division,GM Mutkut, a military general to discuss key issues concerning insecurity in the state.

14 June, 2023

He had a closed-door meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lucky Irabor, a military general at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

21 June, 2023

The governor received Mr Sekegor, a Group Captain of the Nigerian Air Force, in his office, where they discussed improving military surveillance/operations in the state.

12 July, 2023

Governor Lawal visited the new Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, a military general where he briefed the new CDS on the security challenges ravaging the state.

24 July, 2023

Governor Lawal again met with security czars that included the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, the Chief of Defence Staff, Mr Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, a lieutenant -general in Abuja.

14 August, 2023

The governor also received the Chief of Army Staff, Mr Lagbaja, and high-ranking officers of the Nigerian army from the 8th Division who are on an operational visit to Zamfara state.

17 August, 2023

Governor Lawal, in company with his Niger State counterpart, Mohammed Umar Bago, again visited the NSA, Mr Ribadu in his office in Abuja, as part of efforts to improve synergy between the two states and the office of the Office of the NSA.

18 August, 2023

The governor held separate meetings with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security, and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, in Abuja.

12 October, 2023

The governor received the Commander of the Nigerian Army Education Corps (NAEC), Bello Alhaji Tsoho, a Nigerian Army major-general in his office in Gusau.

9 November, 2023

Governor Lawal chaired a State Security Council meeting, where they discussed ways of resolving security challenges facing the state.

30 November, 2023

Governor Lawal visited the training camp of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards for an on-the-spot assessment.

26 December, 2023

The governor visited President Bola Tinubu at the State House Abuja, discussing new strategies for ending the bandits menace in the state.

18 January, 2024

The governor banned traditional rulers from issuing mining licenses as another strategy for de-escalating conflict in the state.

28 January, 2024

Governor Lawal attended a two-day roundtable on insecurity organised by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja.

31 January, 2024

The governor officially launched the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (CPG) as a new measure to tackle banditry in the state.

7 February, 2024

The governor inaugurated a 21-member Board of Trustees of Zamfara State Security Trust Fund to tackle insecurity.

9 March, 2024

The governor commissioned an integrated office complex for the state Board of Trustees of the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund.

13 March, 2024

Governor Lawal signed an Executive Order prohibiting the use of tinted glass, the illegal sale of petroleum, unlabeled as a major way of cutting supplies to bandits.

26 March, 2024

The governor visited the Chief of Defense Staff, General Mr Musa, at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, urging him to deploy more troops to the state.

22 April, 2024

Mr Lawal met with the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, where he said he would deploy high-level technology to combat banditry.

2 May, 2024

Governor Lawal hosted participants of Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 17/2024 from the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), where they espoused using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for addressing insecurity in the state.

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There is tension in Kano as rival supporters of the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and his deposed predecessor, Aminu Ado-Bayero, besieged the palace with dangerous weapons, as the deposed emir returned there Saturday morning.

PREMIUM TIMES saw dozens of armed thugs at the palace amidst speculation that the reinstated Emir Lamido Sanusi was about to return to the palace.

Some supporters were singing in support of the deposed emir while others wearing red caps, who are supporters of Mr Sanusi, were also making their presence felt. Many in the groups were armed with dangerous weapons.

Earlier, Governor Abba Yusuf ordered the arrest of Mr Ado-Bayero, for allegedly creating tension in the state.

As the Chief Security Officer of the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys the government statement said.

READ ALSO: Sanusi speaks after reinstatement as Kano emir

While Mr Bayero is in the Kano Emirate Guest House in the Nasarawa section of the city, accompanied by security officials and supporters, Mr Sanusi has settled at the Emirs Place.

More stories to follow.

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This story has been edited to correct a factual error.  Editor

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The police have said it will obey a court order restraining the Kano State Government from repealing Kano Emirate Council Law 2019, which has seen the dethronement of all the five emirs in the state and opened the door for the return of Lamido Sanusi as the emir in the state.

Governor Abba Yusuf reinstated Mr Sanusi on Friday, a day after the state House of Assembly passed a bill that scrapped the four emirates created under the 2019 law.

This was in defiance of an order of the Federal High Court in Kano, which, on Thursday restrained the authorities from implementing the new emirate law.

In the order issued by Justice AM Liman in suit number FHC/KN/CS/182/2024, the court asked the state government and the other parties involved to stop the implementation of the law, pending the hearing of the substantive case.

A title holder in Kano emirate, Aminu Danagundi, filed the suit to challenge the governments decision in the matter.

But Governor Yusuf, after handing Mr Sanusi his letter of reinstatement, vowed to report Justice Liman for issuing the order while not being in the country.

However, the state commissioner of police, Muhammad Gumel, at a press conference attended by the head of security agencies in Kano, said the agencies will implement the court order to the latter.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

READ ALSO: Sanusi speaks after reinstatement as Kano emir

He asked all parties involved to obey the court order. He said the security agencies in the state will ensure peace and order and arrest anyone who causes a breach.

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The dethroned emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, has urged Kano residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding amidst tension around the traditional seat.

Mr Ado Bayero spoke shortly after receiving the state commissioner of police at a mini-palace in the state on Saturday. As of the time of this report, he was staying in the Nassarawa House, a private residence of the Kano Emirate Palace.

Mr Ado Bayero who addressed cheerful supporters said no one is above the law and that he is hopeful justice would prevail on the issue of his dethronement.

He vowed to accept whatever the law states, adding that Kano is an important state in Nigeria and peace must not be tampered with.

I call on the people to remain law-abiding while awaiting the outcome of the legal process on this tussle, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, reinstated Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano in a colourful ceremony on Friday.

Mr Sanusi was dethroned by the immediate past administration of Abdullahi Ganduje, who is the current national chairman of Nigerias ruling party, APC. Mr Sanusi was ousted in 2020 for showing insubordination to state authorities at the time.

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On Thursday, to prepare grounds for the return of Mr Sanusi as emir, the Kano State House of Assembly abolished the five former emirates created out of the old Kano emirate and restated the old Kano emirate with only one emir.

That same day, Governor Yusuf signed the law and gave the emirs of the abolished emirates 48 hours to vacate their palaces.

But a Federal High Court had issued a last-minute order stopping the state government from abolishing all the five emirates created during the administration of former Governor Mr Ganduje and returning to the system where only one emir led Kano.

The ruling was a response to an application from Aminu Dan-Agundu, a Kano emirate official who opposed moving back to the old system.

However, Governor Yusuf said he would not recognise the ruling.

Referencing reports that the High Court judge was in the US when he gave the ruling, Mr Yusuf said at the ceremony reinstating Mr Sanusi: Imagine a judge in America ordering us to halt the coronation of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi. Our laws are in place and they will not change.

However, as of the time of this report, security agencies are insisting on enforcing the court order that halts the dethronement of Mr Bayero.

Security Agencies Position

Security forces including the Nigeria Police Force, soldiers, and Civil Defence officials paid a visit to Mr Ado Bayero on Saturday.

The mini-palace, located in the Nassarawa area of the state, is where Mr Bayero settled in when he returned to the northwestern state in the early hours of Saturday morning.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, led the security forces to meet Mr Bayero amidst tension over the emirate debacle in the state.

Before the visit to Mr Bayero, the commissioner had earlier addressed journalists and told the Kano State Government to obey the court order that halts the dethronement of Mr Ado Bayero.

Sanusis 2020 Ouster

Mr Sanusi was ousted in 2020 for showing insubordination to state authorities at the time.

However, most of his supporters believe he was sacked because he opposed the re-election of Mr Ganduje as governor in 2019.

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The tussle for the Kano emirship appears to be in full steam as two men, Aminu Ado Bayero and Lamido Sanusi, have asserted claims to the position and are acting as such from two different palaces.

While the man reinstated by the state government, Mr Sanusi, is holding court at the main Kano emirs palace, the man deposed by the government, Mr Ado Bayero is at the mini palace at the Nassarawa GRA both in Kano city.

Mr Ado Bayero surprisingly returned from a trip to Kano on Saturday morning, a day after Mr Sanusi was formally reinstated.

Mr Sanusi has been receiving greetings and homages from district heads at the.

He rode on a horse to the chamber to the sound of multiple gun salutes from the palace guards. Hundreds of sympathisers, mostly red cap-wearing supporters of the states ruling New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) are being bused from the local government areas to the main emirs palace.

The movement of the people to the palace was said to be in connection with an alleged plan by federal authorities to relocate Mr Ado-Bayero to the palace.

The security agencies and police have asked the state government to obey a court order halting the deposition of Mr Ado-Bayero and his colleagues in the scrapped Bichi, Karaye, Rano and Gaya emirates.

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The court ordered the parties involved in the crisis to maintain the status quo until the hearing of the interim injunction, scheduled for 3 June.

The state government, however, faulted the order, saying the judge that granted it was outside the country when he did so.

Nobody is above the law

At the mini palace at Narassawa GRA, Mr Ado Bayero too has received homages from some district heads and title holders who are against his deposition.

PREMIUM TIMES saw dozens of descendants of late Emir Ado Bayero rally around their brother in a show of solidarity and support as he arrived in Kano Saturday morning.

Aminu Danagundi, a title holder and senior counsellor in Kano emirate, who filed the case in court, is also at the mini palace with Mr Ado Bayero.

There, Mr Ado Bayero has urged his supporters and residents to remain calm and allow the law to take its course, saying that nobody is above the law.

He said that he was confident that justice would prevail in the end.

I call on the people to remain law-abiding as we await the pronouncement from the court in this legal matter.

We call on the authority to be fair and just in this matter. Kano is like a mirror and an influential state in Nigeria, whatever affects Kano may escalate across. May peace reign in Kano. We pray for Allah to bless Kano with responsible and just leaders.

Justice is the way to go on every issue. There will be justice. Nobody is above the law. We will accept whatever the law says. I appreciate all the people who have shown concern.

We will keep on praying for peace in Kano State. May Allah the Almighty protect us, Mr Ado Bayero said while addressing his supporters.

Kano Govt blames Ganduje

The Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, blamed the confusion on the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who is now the National Chairman of Nigerias ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The deputy governor said Mr Ganduje is using the office of the National Security Adviser to create chaos in the state by facilitating Saturdaysreturn of Mr Ado Bayero to the state.

But the office of the National Security Adviser denied the allegation and warned politicians in the state to be mindful of their utterances.

It is unfortunate that the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, is using the National Security Adviser to create tension in the state by smuggling into the state, the former emir, Aminu Ado Bayero.

READ ALSO:Sanusi speaks after reinstatement as Kano emir

The appointment and dethronement of emir or any traditional title holder is solely the prerogative of the state government, the deputy governor said, accusing the federal government of interference.

However, Mr Gandujes spokesperson, Edwin Olofu, said his principal who he said was attending a meeting of APC in Nasarawa State, has no connection with the development in Kano.

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A Catholic Priest, Basil Chukwuemeka, who was kidnapped in Anambra State, south-east Nigeria, has been released.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Chukwuemeka, popularly known as Gbuzuo, was kidnapped on 15 May at Eke Nkpor by Obosi Bypass in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

The cleric is a priest in residence at Holy Trinity Parish, Ogidi, another community in the council area.

Release

The Chancellor, Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Prudentius Aroh, announced the release of the kidnapped priest in a statement on Friday.

His release occurred exactly eight days after his kidnap.

With hearts full of joy and gratitude to God, we wish to inform the general public that Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzuo, a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, who was kidnapped since Wednesday, 15 May 2024, has regained his freedom, Mr Aroh, also a Catholic priest, said in the statement.

He was abandoned by his abductors yesterday, Thursday 23rd May 2024 somewhere around Ufuma at midnight, he added.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Mr Aroh said Mr Chukwuemeka, upon being released, headed to the residence of the parish priest of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Ufuma to knock at his door who consequently welcomed the released cleric.

The chancellor said the archbishop of the archdiocese, Valerian Okeke, has thanked all the Catholic faithful, including clergies and others who showed solidarity and prayed for the release of the cleric.

He said the archdiocese also commended the Anambra State Government and the state governor, Charles Soludo for his solidarity and assigning his special adviser on security matters, Ben Chiobi, to lead the rescue team.

He also praised the parish priest of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Ufuma for welcoming the freed cleric and providing him with basic necessities when he knocked on his door at midnight.

Police speak

The police in Anambra State have confirmed the release of the cleric.

The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, said in a statement on Friday that a university lecturer who was abducted around the same period, was also released.

Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, identified the lecturer as Sydney Onyeagu, a professor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Nnaghe Obono, has activated onslaught operations on the abductors of Fr. Basil Gbuzuo and Prof. Sydney Onyeagu after their release unhurt by the kidnappers.

READ ALSO: Police to sanction officers who allegedly assaulted resident in Anambra

Mr Obono, according to the statement, assured that the police in the state were in high spirits and already leveraging on information on the kidnap of the individuals.

The police commissioner said the information at their disposal would help them to frustrate criminal intentions of non-state actors and reduce crime to the barest minimum in the state.

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Locking Out Trained Chemical Handlers Poses Major Safety Risk to Community

RICHMOND, Calif., May 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 315 members, allies, and political leaders rallied today outside of Brenntag Pacific chemical plant, denouncing Brenntag's disregard for worker safety as the lockout of Teamsters continues into a fourth day.

Brenntag, one of the largest chemical distributors in the world with profits of more than $4.3 billion in 2023, began their lockout of 18 Teamsters drivers and warehouse workers on Tuesday morning, in clear violation of their contractual agreement with workers. The 18 workers represented by Local 315 have been in negotiations with Brenntag for months since the expiration of their previous agreement on January 31.

"As drivers, we're often dealing with dangerous chemicals like sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide. We deliver to places with multiple chemical tanks, like high schools, where an inexperienced driver can make a mistake with a tank and expose students to chemical gases, which has happened before," said Rene Martinez, a driver with Brenntag Pacific. "That's why we have three full months of training before we make a delivery without a senior driver, which these new drivers don't have. They're not familiar with our equipment or our delivery spots, and that's dangerous for them and our customers."

The ongoing lockout of trained and qualified Teamsters is a clear threat to the safety of plant operations and the workers who remain on-site. Teamsters drivers and warehouse workers undergo months of training in safe handling of dangerous chemicals, but Brenntag has made no guarantees that nonunion replacement workers will be similarly trained.

Brenntag locked Teamsters out following a unanimous vote by workers to reject the company's most recent contract proposal. The proposal, which included no retroactive pay for the period since January 31 and a freeze to pension contributions, also included health care premiums nearly triple the amount that workers currently pay. At a worksite where injuries, including chemical burns, are frequent and consequences can be long-lasting, Teamsters firmly rejected Brenntag's plan to offload spiking health care costs onto workers.

"Every year, every round of negotiations, Brenntag tries to take more away. I've been here 20 years, many of my co-workers have been here for 12 years, even 18 years, and we don't have much else to give up," said Miguel Delgado, a Brenntag warehouse worker and 20-year Local 315 member. "We like our jobs, we want to retire from our jobs, but how are we supposed to save to retire when our medical costs are so high? It's unfair and it's keeping us from getting back to work."

Instead of developing a new proposal or moving to declare an impasse, Brenntag violated the no-lockout clause of the agreed-upon contract extension and endangered dozens of plant employees.

"Brenntag needs to end the lockout, let our members get back to work, and return to the negotiating table in good faith," said Don E. Garcia, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 315. "These are workers who have put in years of service at Brenntag Pacific, who know the plant inside and out, and who know how to keep the community and their co-workers safe. This lockout has to end now."

Chartered in 1936, Teamsters Local 315 represents more than 4,600 workers throughout Contra, Costa, Napa, and Solano counties in California. For more information, visit teamsters315.com

###

Contact:

Catie Arbona, (510) 460-5130

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 315
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Tumakuru, May 25 : The Karnataka Police on Friday registered a case against five individuals for attacking a soldier of the Indian Army with a beer bottle at a village under the Koratagere police station limits here.

The injured soldier, Govindaraju (30), is admitted to Koratagere government hospital.

Govindaraju, posted in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, had returned to his hometown in Rayawara village on vacation

According to the police, the incident occurred at Bhyrenahalli while Govindaraju was returning home after visiting someone in the village.

A group of five individuals stood in the road, blocking Govindaraju's path. When he asked them to allow him to pass through, the group enraged and started abusing him. Later, one of them smashed Govindaraju's head with a beer bottle. Others in the group also attacked him.

The accused individuals have been identified as Bharath, Puneeth, Gourishankar, Shiva, and Dileep.

Following the soldier's complaint, the Koratagere police have filed a case against the accused individuals and launched a hunt to apprehend them.

The Koratagere Assembly constituency is represented by Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara.
Cairo, May 25 : Egypt and the US have agreed on sending large quantities of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The decision was made on Friday during a phone conversation between Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his US counterpart Joe Biden, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to an Egyptian presidential statement, this would be a temporary procedure until "a legal mechanism is reached" to resume the operation of the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side.

The statement did not detail with whom the mechanism would possibly be reached, but the White House said Friday that Biden, via the phone talk, expressed his commitment to support efforts to reopen the Rafah crossing with arrangements acceptable to both Egypt and Israel and agreed to send a senior team to Cairo next week for further discussions.

The Rafah crossing had served as a major entry point for humanitarian aid into Gaza before the Israeli military, which is a war with Gaza-ruling Hamas, took control of it on May 7, forcing the aid delivery there to a halt. The next day, Israel announced the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing between it and Gaza.

The Kerem Shalom crossing, known in Egypt as the "Karam Abu Salem crossing," sits south of the Rafah crossing and at the junction of two borders -- one between Egypt and Gaza and the other between Israel and the enclave.

In the phone talk, the two leaders also called for intensifying international efforts to end the protracted humanitarian crisis in Gaza, said the Egyptian presidency.

They rejected any attempt to displace the Palestinians from their land, affirming their support for all means aimed at preventing the aggravation and expansion of the conflict, it noted.
Minsk, May 25 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that his country is ready to continue negotiations with Ukraine, but only based on the agreements reached before.

"Well, let them (negotiations) return, but not from what one side wants, but based on those agreements reached during negotiations in Belarus and Turkey and based on the current situation on the ground," Putin told a press conference on Friday following talks with his Belarusian counterpart, Aleksandr Lukashenko, in Minsk.

The Istanbul agreements satisfied both the Ukrainian and the Russian sides in 2022, Putin said, adding that Russia supports the resumption of negotiations with Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported.
Beirut, May 25 : Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has threatened to launch "surprise" attacks against Israel after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he has "surprising" military plans for Lebanon.

"You must expect surprises from our resistance," the Hezbollah leader said during a televised speech on Friday.

Nasrallah also claimed that "the resistance" is well-prepared for any surprising attacks from Israel, saying they have "studied all hypotheses and scenarios", Xinhua news agency reported.

In a meeting with several Israeli generals on Thursday, Netanyahu said Israel has "detailed, important, and even surprising plans for the North," namely the country's northern neighbour Lebanon.

"We are constantly in action on the northern front," Netanyahu said, adding Israel has "eliminated hundreds" of Hezbollah members.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.
Budapest, May 25 : A Romanian man has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia for the past two years, prosecutors in Bucharest said on Friday.

His suspected Russian contact, a diplomat, was expelled.

Since 2022, the Romanian man had been "collecting information of a military nature and taking photographs of military combat equipment and the movement of personnel in the border area with Ukraine," the statement said.

The man is suspected of spying on Romanian or NATO military positions located in the vicinity of the city of Tulcea, it continued.

Tulcea is located on the Danube Delta, about 7 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. There are transport connections to Ukraine from there.

The suspect had transmitted this data to the Russian embassy in the Romanian capital Bucharest, the public prosecutor's office added.

The Russian diplomat was declared persona non grata in connection with the espionage case at the suggestion of the Romanian domestic intelligence service (SRI), intelligence officials announced.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest also confirmed the Russian's expulsion, but did not state the exact reason for the move.

As is usual in such cases, it only noted a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

An investigating judge has ordered that the suspected spy, who is a Romanian citizen, be remanded in custody for an initial period of 30 days.

The investigation was conducted by a special unit of the Romanian public prosecutor's office, which is responsible for organized crime and terrorism, in collaboration with the country's domestic intelligence service, NATO's intelligence service and Romania's army.

Following searches of the suspect's home, several pieces of evidence were identified and seized, investigators said.

He had tried to submit his candidature for the local elections planned for June, but without success.

--IANS/DPA

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Berlin, May 25 : German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on the climate activists taking part in a hunger strike in Berlin to end it.

"It is my greatest wish that the action be stopped," Scholz said on Friday at the Democracy Festival in Berlin. "I think it is a mistake to use violence against others, but violence against oneself is also a mistake."

Scholz added: "Violence against oneself is not good for democracy. And that's why I'm asking for this campaign to be cancelled."

Two participants in the "Starve until you are honest" campaign have since called off their hunger strike, while others are continuing despite the risks to their health.

They are living in a camp near the Federal Economy Ministry in Berlin. According to their own statements, the climate activists want to persuade Scholz to make a government statement on the excessive concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the urgency of changing course.

Scholz made it clear at the citizens' dialogue at the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Germany's constitution or Basic Law, that he attends similar events every week.

People could ask him any question and he would answer them. "In a society where it is so easy to talk to the federal chancellor, you don't have to go on a hunger strike to get that done."

--IANS/DPA

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United Nations, May 25 : The Security Council has adopted a resolution that calls on all states to respect and protect humanitarian personnel and UN and associated personnel.

Resolution 2730, adopted on Friday, won the support of 14 of the 15 members of the council. Russia abstained, Xinhua news agency reported.

The resolution also calls on all states and parties to armed conflict to respect and to ensure respect for applicable international humanitarian law in all circumstances.

It demands that all parties to armed conflict fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including their obligations related to the respect and protection of humanitarian personnel and UN and associated personnel.

It strongly condemns attacks and all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, threats, and intimidation, against humanitarian personnel and UN and associated personnel and their premises and assets.

It, in particular, urges parties to armed conflict to respect the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in the conduct of hostilities and refrain from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.

It calls on all parties to armed conflict to end immediately and definitively any indiscriminate use of explosive devices in violation of international humanitarian law, and stresses the need to take appropriate measures to mitigate this danger effectively.

The resolution strongly condemns the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their survival. It urges all parties to armed conflict to allow and facilitate full, safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to all civilians in need, and to promote the safety, security and freedom of movement of humanitarian personnel and UN and associated personnel and the safety and security of their premises and assets.

The resolution condemns disinformation, information manipulation, and incitement to violence against humanitarian personnel and their premises and assets, and expresses concern over the impact of misinformation on such personnel.

It urges states to conduct full, prompt, impartial and effective investigations within their jurisdiction of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed against humanitarian personnel and their premises and assets and where appropriate, take action against those responsible in accordance with domestic and international law.

It further urges states to prosecute persons allegedly responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and to cooperate with domestic, regional and international courts and tribunals.
Tel Aviv/Amsterdam, May 25 : In a move rejected by Israeli officials, the UN's top court on Friday ordered Israel to "immediately" halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory was "disastrous".

The ruling read aloud by Judge Nawaf Salam at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague was in response to an urgent application submitted by South Africa.

South Africa justified its application to the ICJ by arguing that the court's previous measures in connection with the Gaza war were inadequate.

Israel rejected Friday's ruling. "The charges of genocide brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in the Hague are false, outrageous and morally repugnant," the head of the National Security Council and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a joint statement.

"Following the horrific attack against the citizens of Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel embarked upon a defensive and just war to eliminate Hamas and to secure the release of our hostages," the statement continued.

"Israel is acting based on its right to defend its territory and its citizens, consistent with its moral values and in compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law."

"Israel has not and will not conduct military actions in the Rafah area which may inflict on the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

The statement vowed that Israel "will continue its efforts to enable humanitarian assistance and will act, in full compliance with the law, to reduce as much as possible harm caused to the civilian population in Gaza."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discussing the decision with key Cabinet ministers, according to Israeli media reports.

South Africa has previously demanded measures against Israel several times in summary proceedings. This is part of the genocide lawsuit that the country filed with the court in December.

In two emergency rulings, the UN judges had obliged Israel to do everything possible to prevent genocide and to allow humanitarian aid.

The Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement welcomed the ruling. In a statement published on Friday, Hamas called on the international community and the United Nations to exert pressure on Israel.

A member of the Hamas politburo emphasized that without international pressure, the court's decision would have no effect.

Egypt and Jordan also welcomed the ICJ's ruling and urged the UN Security Council to put pressure on Israel to end its operation.

The Palestinian Authority called for increased international pressure on Israel following the ICJ decision.

The international community should force Israel to implement the decision, it said in a statement published in Ramallah on Friday. The authority believes that the court's decision confirms the view that Israel is committing war crimes.

South Africa on Friday also welcomed the ICJ's decision. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) called the decision a confirmation of the principles of justice, human rights and the rule of law.

However, in an echo of the words of former South African leader Nelson Mandela, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, "We will not be completely free until the people of Palestine are free."

With its decision, the highest court of the United Nations partially complied with demands made by South Africa in an urgent appeal.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said decisions of the ICJ were "binding" and he "trusts that the parties will duly comply with the order from the court," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"In accordance with the Statute of the Court, the Secretary-General will also promptly transmit the notice of the provisional measures ordered by the court to the Security Council," he said.

While the top UN court's rulings are binding, it has no means of forcing compliance. It can, however, call on the UN Security Council to act.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war cabinet, on Friday, US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said.

"Secretary Blinken and Minister Gantz discussed the latest efforts to achieve a ceasefire as part of a deal to release hostages and to prevent the conflict from expanding across the region," Miller said.

Blinken reiterated that talks between Israel and Egypt must be concluded in order to reopen the Rafah border crossing as soon as possible, Miller said.

He also stressed the "urgent need" to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in Gaza and to de-escalate the situation in the West Bank.

Hamas gunmen killed some 1,200 people in Israel on October 7. Israel responded with a devastating aerial and ground campaign that, according to Hamas-run health authorities, has killed more than 35,000 people in the territory.

Israel has vowed to keep up its military operations until Hamas has been completely eliminated in Gaza.

--IANS/DPA

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Washington, May 25 : US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will attend a trilateral meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on the margins of an annual security forum in Singapore slated to begin next week, the Pentagon has said.

Austin will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue set to take place from May 31-June 2, during which he will join the three-way meeting with the Asian allies, and bilateral meetings with China's Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun and other counterparts, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the Department of Defense.

His trip comes as tensions persisted in the region over China's military exercises encircling Taiwan this week and apparent signs of North Korea preparing to launch another military reconnaissance satellite, as well as Russia's prolonged war in Ukraine.

At the security forum, Austin plans to deliver plenary remarks. He is also set to meet Singapore's new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and other senior Singaporean officials and convene a multilateral meeting with his counterparts from Southeast Asia, according to the department.

"Secretary Austin's tenth trip to the Indo-Pacific comes as the Department of Defense continues to strengthen US relationships with allies and partners in support of a shared regional vision for peace, stability, and deterrence," the department said in a release on Friday.

In Cambodia, the secretary will meet with senior officials following his 2022 visit to Phnom Penh for a regional gathering of defence ministers.

Austin will conclude his trip in France, where he will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in 1944 during World War II.
Chandigarh, May 25 : Polling started across all the 10 Lok Sabha seats of Haryana amid tight security on Saturday morning in the sixth and penultimate phase of the general elections.

Electors across the state could be seen reaching polling stations even before voting started at 7 a.m. The voting will be held till 6 p.m.

A total of 2,00,76,786 voters, comprising 94 lakh women, will decide the fate of 223 candidates, after weeks of heated campaign barbs.

"There has been no report of any delay in starting the poll process," an electoral officer told IANS here.

The main contest is between the Congress and the state-ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The polling will see some high-profile contestants in key battles. Among them are two-time Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who is contesting his first Lok Sabha election from Karnal, Congress leader Deepender Hooda from Rohtak, and Union Ministers Rao Inderjit Singh from Gurugram, against whom the Congress has pitted actor Raj Babbar, and Krishan Pal Gurjar.

Besides the Lok Sabha polls, there is a bypoll for the Karnal Assembly seat, the seat vacated by Khattar, where Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the outgoing Lok Sabha MP from Kurukshetra, is among the nine candidates in the fray. Saini had replaced Khattar as the Chief Minister in March.

Votes will be counted on June 4.

"Police are on high alert for any anti-social elements spreading rumours on social media. Strict action will be taken against offenders, who will face severe legal consequences," said Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur.

Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal has appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise and ensure their participation in the biggest festival of the country.

A total of 20,031 polling stations have been set up in the state. These include 19,812 permanent and 219 auxiliary polling stations. As many as 5,470 polling stations have been set up in urban areas and 14,342 polling stations in rural areas.

Agarwal said that 176 model polling stations have been established. There are 99 polling stations which will be operated entirely by women staff. Besides, 96 polling stations are manned by youth staff and 71 polling stations by persons with disability.

All basic facilities and necessary arrangements have been put in place in view of the heat wave.

He said that apart from the returning officers, more than 96,000 officers and employees (except security forces) will be on duty in the polling stations.

Also, flying squads, observers along with micro observers will be present at different polling stations.

In 2019, the BJP won all 10 constituencies, with a vote share of 58 per cent, improving its tally from 2014 when it managed to win seven out of the eight constituencies it had contested.

However, the BJP's vote share slipped to 22 per cent in the Assembly polls in October 2019.
New Delhi, May 25 : Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and AAP leaders late on Friday accused each other of hatching a conspiracy to trouble voters and vitiate the polling process in the national capital, where voting started on Saturday morning.

In a post on X, AAP Minister Atishi said, "Information has been received that the Delhi Lt Governor today (Friday) ordered Delhi Police to slow down voting in areas where there are a large number of INDIA bloc voters so that people face difficulty in casting their votes. Any such attempt by the administration to make the BJP win is illegal, undemocratic and unconstitutional. And I hope the Election Commission will take cognizance of this, and stop any such attempt."

Replying to the post, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "This is shocking. EC should ensure smooth voting in Delhi."

Later, the Lt Governor's office issued a statement, saying: "Information has been received that on the orders of Arvind Kejriwal, who is out on interim bail till June 1, power and water minister Atishi Marlena has instructed the power companies and Delhi Jal Board to deliberately cut power supply and stop water supply tonight (May 24) and throughout the day tomorrow (May 25) so that the people of Delhi are troubled."

"The LG has directed that these orders of Kejriwal should not be followed. Information has also been received that Kejriwal is doing this so that he can habitually confuse and cheat the people of Delhi by blaming the Central government," it stated.

In a post on X at 12.27 a.m. Saturday, the Lt Governor called Atishi's statement unwarranted and false.

"You have made it a habit, Kejriwal sahab, to keep crying irrespective of the situation you may be in. I have taken a stern view of this unwarranted & false statement on the eve of election against a constitutional authority by a Minister, endorsed by you," Saxena wrote.
Chandigarh, May 25 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and his predecessor Manohar Lal Khattar were among the early voters who cast their votes on Saturday in their respective polling stations.

Polling started at 7 a.m. across all the 10 Lok Sabha seats of the state amid tight security in the sixth and penultimate phase of the general elections. It will continue till 6 p.m.

While Saini cast his vote in his hometown Naraingarh in Ambala district along with his wife after paying obeisance at a Sikh shrine, Khattar exercised his franchise in Karnal city.

Interestingly both are in the fray.

Two-time Chief Minister Khattar is contesting his first Lok Sabha election from Karnal, while Saini is in the fray for the by-poll of the Karnal Assembly seat.

Besides the Lok Sabha polls for all 10 seats, there is a by-poll for the lone Assembly seat -- vacated by Khattar -- where Chief Minister Saini, the outgoing Lok Sabha MP from Kurukshetra, is among the nine candidates in the fray. Saini had replaced Khattar as the Chief Minister in March.

Describing the polls as the festival of elections and the pride of the nation, Khattar appealed to the voters to exercise their right to vote and make this great festival of democracy a success by creating a new record of voting.

"First of all, vote yourself and motivate everyone in your village, town, home and neighbourhood to vote 100 per cent," he wrote on X.

Votes will be counted on June 4.
Tel Aviv, May 25 : A Deputy Commander of Hamas has been killed in an airstrike in the central Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced.

The IDF in a statement on Friday night identified the killed Hamas commander as Tziad al-Din al-Sharfa.

The statement said that he was killed in an Israel air attack in central Gaza. The Israeli Army said the assassination of the senior Hamas leader was conducted through a joint operation between IDF, Shin Bet and Military Intelligence.

The 99 Infantry Division of the IDF led the operation and coordinated the attack on al-Sharafa, considered a key operative of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF is now specifically focusing on senior leaders of Hamas and is working on specific inputs from Shin Bet and Israel Military intelligence on the movement of senior Hamas group leaders.

In the statement, the IDF also said that it had assassinated Yusuf al-Shobaki who was heading the Industrial Security department of the Hamas militant group in Gaza. The Israeli Army in the statement said that he was killed a few days ago after receiving inputs from the internal security agency, Shin Bet.
Cannes, May 25 : Chinese director Hu Guan's 'Black Dog' won the Un Certain Regard Prize of the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Friday evening, reports 'Deadline'.

The evening's highlight, reported earlier by IANS, was Anasuya Sengupta winning the Best Actress award for 'The Shameless', thereby scripting history by becoming the first Indian to take home a major acting award from Cannes.

Organised parallely to the competition section, where the Palme d'Or is up for grabs, the Un Certain Regard section at the Debussy theatre annually features just 20 films with "unusual styles and non-traditional stories seeking international recognition".

Set on the edge of the Gobi desert in northwest China, 'Black Dog' revolves around a man who returns to his hometown after being released from jail.

Working for the local dog patrol team to clear the town of stray dogs before the Olympics, he strikes up an unlikely connection with a black dog. The two lonely souls embark on a new journey together, 'Deadline' reports.

The Jury Prize went to Boris Lojkine's 'The Story Of Souleymane', which follows its titular character, an asylum seeker, as he cycles around Paris delivering food, rehearsing his asylum application interview in his head.

The appointment will be key to obtaining the papers he needs, but Souleymane is not ready. Abou Sangare, who plays Souleymane, got the Un Certain Regard Best Actor award.

In other prizes, adds 'Deadline', French director Louise Courvoisier won the Youth Prize for 'Holy Cow'. Tawfik Alzaidi, who made history as the first Saudi director to have a film in the Cannes Official Selection, was feted with a Special Mention for 'Norah'.

This year's jury was presided over by Canadian actor, director, screenwriter and producer Xavier Dolan, who was joined by French-Senegalese screenwriter and director MaAmouna Doucoure, Moroccan director, screenwriter and producer Asmae El Moudir, German-Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps, and American film critic, director and writer Todd McCarthy.
New Delhi, May 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged people to vote in large numbers, saying that "democracy thrives when people are engaged and active in the electoral process".

Voting was taking place in 58 seats across seven states and one Union Territory.

PM Modi said that democracy thrives when people are active in the electoral process.

Taking to his official X account, PM Modi said, "I urge all those who are voting in the 6th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to vote in large numbers. Every vote counts, make yours count too! Democracy thrives when its people are engaged and active in the electoral process."

Polling is taking place in 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, eight seats each in West Bengal and Bihar, seven in Delhi, four in Jharkhand, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, six seats in Odisha and one in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag-Rajouri.

Odisha will also vote for 42 Assembly constituencies.

The seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held on June 1.
Kolkata: Former Calcutta High Court judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay joins the BJP in the presence of state party chief Sukanta Majumdar, LoP Suvendu Adhikari and others. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, May 25 : Former judge of Calcutta High Court Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who is the BJP candidate from Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal, on Saturday accused Trinamool Congress of using state police to intimidate voters in Nandigram.

"A huge contingent of the state police entered different villages in Nandigram on Friday night and intimidated the voters. The strange thing is that one of our female party activists was killed on Friday in Sonachura area in Nandigram on Friday and the state police are harassing our party workers instead of taking action against the culprits," Gangopadhyay said.

The BJP candidate was visiting various booths in his constituency. Starting from 7 a.m. since the polling process started on Saturday, Gangopadhyay rushed from one booth to another and maintained calm even when confronted with aggressive protests by the hostile Trinamool Congress supporters after he reached a polling booth at Haldia.

As he reached the booth to enquire about the polling process, a group of ruling Trinamool Congress activists started shouting slogans surrounding him. The central forces promptly maintained a distance between the protesting ruling party activists and Gangopadhyay.

The BJP candidate remained unperturbed even in the face of protests, interacted with his polling agents and left the polling station. Later he spoke to the media persons and alleged that the ruling party by using the state police resorted to intimidation of voters at different pockets of Nandigram since Friday night.

His opponent and Trinamool Congress candidate Debangshu Bhattacharya alleged that the BJP camp activists have been intimidating his polling agents since the first hour of the polls.

"Two of my polling agents have been missing since morning. Still, Trinamool Congress will win from Tamluk provided there are free and fair polls, especially in Nandigram," Bhattacharya said.
Anantnag, May 25 : Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, Mehbooba Mufti sat on a dharna on Saturday alleging that her party workers had been arrested to prevent their participation in the voting process.

Mehbooba Mufti blocked the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Bijbehara area after she sat on a dharna on the highway.

She claimed that her party workers and some polling agents had been arrested to prevent their participation in the poll process.

"Why have my party workers and polling agents been arrested? Is this the participation in the voting process that the government has in mind?" she asked officials who came to persuade her to end the sit-in.

"I have not been able to make any calls since morning. There is no explanation for this sudden suspension of services on the day of polling in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency", she said.

Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti has written to the Election Commission seeking immediate intervention to protect the democratic process from becoming partisan.
Kolkata, May 25 : A local Trinamool Congress leader in Mahishadal in West Bengal's East Midnapore district died in clashes as polling was underway in eight Lok Sabha seats in the state on Saturday.

As per the latest information from the district police, clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress and BJP workers in Mahishadal, which falls under the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency, early Saturday morning. A local-level Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Moibul (42) died.

While the Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought an action-taken report on the matter, a political slugfest has broken out over the tragic event. While Trinamool Congress has blamed BJP activists for the murder, the latter has claimed that internal rivalry in the ruling party was the main reason behind the tragedy.

Stray incidences of poll-related tension have started surfacing mainly from the East Midnapore district since the first hours of the polls.

Reports of clashes between BJP and Trinamool Congress supporters also surfaced from Moyna, also under the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency.

Tension erupted at Haldia under Tamluk, as the BJP candidate from that constituency and the former judge of Calcutta High Court Abhijit Gangopadhyay reached a polling booth there. Trinamool Congress supporters blocked his way and started shouting slogans, following which there was a heated exchange of words between the Trinamool Congress and BJP workers. However, the situation could not flare up because of the timely intervention of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.

At Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency in West Midnapore district, the BJP candidate and the actor-turned-politician Hiran Chatterjee actively moved from one polling booth to another boosting the confidence of the polling agents and party workers. At a place, he was seen picking up one of his booth agents from the latteras residence and escorting him up to the polling booth.
Patna, May 25 : Voting in eight Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar in the sixth phase was underway on Saturday and enthusiasm was visible among voters at several places.

In the Sheohar Lok Sabha seat, voters were seen in long queues waiting patiently outside the polling booths. Tight security arrangements have been made at all polling stations in the constituency. The District Election Office said that 1,865 polling stations have been set up in the Lok Sabha constituency.

No candidate will be able to set up his slip centre within a radius of 200 meters of the polling station, while no one is allowed to carry a mobile phone within a radius of 100 meters.

The official further said that the Election Commission is keeping an eye on 120 polling stations in Sheohar through webcasting while micro observers have been deputed at 84 polling stations. Apart from this, additional arrangements for videography have been made at all the model polling stations.

A total of 18,25,237 voters will exercise their franchise in the Sheohar Lok Sabha seat. The administration has also made full preparations to ensure that voters do not face any problems at the polling stations.

The main contest in Sheohar is between JD(U)'s Lovely Anand and RJD's Ritu Jaiswal.

In the Siwan Lok Sabha seat former MP Mohd. Shahabuddin's wife Hina Shahab is contesting as an independent. Vijayalakshmi Kushwaha from JD(U) and Awadh Bihari Chaudhary from RJD are in the fray against her.

There is tremendous enthusiasm among the voters there regarding voting. Tight security arrangements have been made at all the booths for voting. The Central Para Military Force has been deployed at sensitive polling stations.

Hina Shahab was one of the early voters to cast her vote in Siwan.

The election commission has set up 1,873 polling stations in the Lok Sabha seat. Out of which 1,015 booths have been declared sensitive. Three-tier security arrangements have been made at all the booths. The entire Lok Sabha constituency has been divided into 291 sectors. At the same time, 24 Rapid Action Force has been deployed. 65 zonal magistrates have also been appointed for fair and fearless voting in the constituency.

A total of 18,96,512 voters will cast their votes to elect an MP from the Siwan seat. Among these, the number of male voters is 9,87,808 while the number of female voters is 9,08, 649. The number of third-gender voters is 55. The Siwan Lok Sabha constituency comprises six Assembly constituencies -- Siwan, Jiradei, Darauli, Raghunathpur, Daraunda and Barharia. Of these, the Grand Alliance had won five seats and BJP was victorious in only one seat, Daraunda, in the 2020 Assembly election.
Kolkata, May 25 : With two deaths confirmed and reports of poll-related tension surfacing mainly from East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts, the polling percentage for eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal in the sixth phase on Saturday was 16.54 in the first two hours.

Tension mounted at Belatikri area under Lalgarh Police Station in Jhargram Lok Sabha constituency following the recovery of the body of a youth with injuries throughout his body.

The deceased has been identified as Uttam Mahato. The local police, however, claimed that there was no relation of politics or poll-related violence with the incident. There was also confusion about the political affiliation of the deceased.

This is the second death reported since early Saturday morning, the first being the killing of a local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Moibul reportedly following clashes between the BJP and ruling party activists.

According to statistics available from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, The highest polling percentage has been reported from Tamluk at 19.07, followed by Bishnupur at 18.56, Ghatal at 18.27, Bankura at 17.69, Jhargram 16.22, Kanthi 15.45, Medinipur 14.58 and Purulia being the lowest at 12.38.

In the first two hours, a total of 364 complaints have been received by the CEO's office, out of which 69 are from different political parties, while the remaining are individual complaints. The maximum number of complaints have been received from CPI(M) followed by BJP at 30.

Tension was also reported from Sabang in West Midnapore district, where a polling agent of BJP was injured following an attack on him allegedly by ruling Trinamool Congress activists. He has been admitted to Sabang Hospital with head injuries.

Trinamool Congress has alleged that the local BJP activists at Nandigram under Tamluk Lok Sabha have destroyed a connecting footbridge there so that the local villagers are unable to reach the polling station. The ruling party leadership has claimed that they will be approaching the Election Commission of India and update the latter about the development.
After massive airspace intrusion, China threatens Taiwan and the democratic world.. Image Source: IANS News

Taipei, May 25 : Taiwan's Defence Ministry on Saturday said it had registered 62 Chinese warplanes operating around Taiwan within 24 hours, the highest number of Chinese daily sorties so far this year.

Among them, 47 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, on Friday, 27 Chinese navy vessels operating around Taiwan were also detected, the ministry said in a statement.

Taiwan had monitored the situation and had tasked Combat air patrol aircraft, Navy vessels and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities, the ministry said.

The previous record number of daily sorties of Chinese warplanes for this year, 49, was reported just one day earlier.

China on Thursday launched a major military exercise around Taiwan, apparently to simulate a blockade around the island. Such drills came three days after the inauguration of Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te.

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have risen since presidential and legislative elections were held in democratic Taiwan in January.

Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the self-ruled democracy part of its territory.

--IANS/DPA

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Anantnag, May 25 : During the first two hours of the voting in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat in J&K on Saturday, an 8.89 per cent voter turnout was witnessed.

EC statistics said that among the 18 voting segments of this constituency, Nowshera had polled the highest so far at 12.52 per cent voter turnout followed by Thana Mandi (ST) segment at 11.32 per cent.

Anantnag segment polled 6 per cent, Anantnag West 6.79 per cent, Budhal (ST) 10.81 per cent, DH Pora 9, Devsar 8.11, Dooru 8.40, Kokernag (ST) 10.31, Kulgam 5.31, Mendhar 11.10, Nowshera 12.52, Pahalgam 10.98, Poonch Haveli 11.98, Rajouri (ST) 9, Shangus-Anantnag East 7.03, Srigufawara-Bijbehara 6.04, Surankot (ST) 7.30, Thana Mandi (ST) -11.32 and Zainapora 8.35 per cent.

Enthusiastic voters came out early Saturday morning to exercise their democratic rights in the constituency. Voter queues continued to swell as the day progressed.

EC authorities said a large voter turnout is expected in the constituency.

After fresh delimitation of electoral constituencies, two districts of Jammu division, Poonch and Rajouri were added to Valleyas Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency while Pulwama district was deleted from this constituency and was made a part of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, just a 9 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Anantnag while Rajouri and Poonch polled 7.2 per cent votes. These statistics cannot be taken as the baseline to determine Saturdayas voter turnout in this constituency after delimitation.

This election was the first large democratic exercise in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency after August 5, 2019, when Articles 370 and 35A were abrogated and J&K was downgraded to the status of a UT.

South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam and parts of Shopian which form this constituency, have been the worst militancy-affected districts in the Valley.

The security forces backed up by a determined Lt. Governor-headed administration have brought down militancy to its lowest ebb in these areas during the last four years. Although Rajouri and Poonch districts continue to witness terrorist attacks, the level of terrorism even in those districts is nowhere near what it used to be till 2019.

These positive developments are expected to encourage voters to participate in large numbers in the electoral process.

Extensive security arrangements with the deployment of large numbers of CAPFs and the local police have been made in the constituency to provide a safe, free and fearless environment to the voters.

EC has set up 2,338 polling stations for 18,36,576 voters, including 9,33,647 male, 9,02,902 female, and 27 third-gender voters. The voter list also includes 17,967 persons with disabilities and 540 individuals over the age of 100. There are 25,000 migrant voters in the constituency for whom special polling stations have been set up in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.

For uninterrupted communication with polling staff at remote booths, satellite phones and wireless sets have been provided. 19 polling stations are located along the Line of Control, (LoC) where additional security deployment has been made.

There are 20 candidates in the fray in this constituency. The main contest is, however, between Mian Altaf Ahmad, senior Gujjar/Baksrwal leader of the National Conference (NC), Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister and president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Zafar Iqbal Manhas of J&K Apni Party. BJP has unofficially supported the Apni Party candidate and has not fielded any candidate in this constituency.

Pahari community living in Poonch and Rajouri districts form a significant number of voters in the constituency. This community was given ST status by the Government of India recently. In addition to the Pahari community, Gujjar/Bakarwal community also form a significant part of the constituencyas electorate. Mian Altaf Ahmad of the NC has a predominant influence among the Gujjar/Bakarwal community which cuts across party lines since the Mian is considered to be the religious leader of this community. Voting started at 7 a.m. and will end at 6 p.m.
Chandigarh, May 25 : Haryana on Saturday registered an approximate turnout of 8.31 per cent in the first two hours of polling.

As per the Election Office, the Bhiwani-Mahendragarh seat saw the state's highest turnout of 10.26 per cent, whereas Faridabad recorded the lowest turnout at 5.46 per cent, followed by 6.20 per cent in Gurugram and 6.92 per cent in Ambala.

A total of 2,00,76,786 voters, comprising 94 lakh women, will decide the fate of 223 candidates, after weeks of heated campaign barbs.

"There has been no report of any delay in starting the poll process," an electoral officer told IANS here.

The main contest is between the Congress and the state-ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The polling will see some high-profile contestants in key battles. Among them are two-time Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who is contesting his first Lok Sabha election from Karnal, Congress leader Deepender Hooda from Rohtak, and Union Ministers Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar.

Congress has pitted actor Raj Babbar against Rao Inderjit Singh from Gurugram.

Besides the Lok Sabha polls, there is a bypoll for the Karnal Assembly seat, the seat vacated by Khattar, where Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the outgoing Lok Sabha MP from Kurukshetra, is among the nine candidates in the fray. Saini had replaced Khattar as the Chief Minister in March.

Chief Minister Saini and his predecessor Khattar were among the early voters who cast their votes at their respective polling stations.

While Saini cast his vote in his hometown Naraingarh in Ambala district along with his wife after paying obeisance at a Sikh shrine, Khattar exercised his franchise in Karnal city.

BJP leader and richest Indian woman with $33 billion net worth, Savitri Jindal, whose youngest son Naveen Jindal is also in the fray, cast her vote in her hometown Hisar.

After casting the vote, Savitri told the media that the country has developed at a fast pace under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Seemingly confident about the BJP's prospects in the general elections, she added, "Prime Minister Modi will be elected for a third consecutive term."

Savitri's youngest son Naveen Jindal (54) is the BJP's candidate from Kurukshetra, the seat he represented between 2004 and 2014. Savitri and her son switched from the Congress to the BJP in March, ending their nearly two-decade association with the Congress.

Jindal is taking on AAP candidate and former Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Gupta. The AAP is contesting the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana in an alliance with Congress and has been given Kurukshetra.
Chennai, May 25 : Tamil Nadu Special Police have taken into custody a few people believed to be close associates of Sabith Nasar (30), the main accused in the Kerala kidney racket operating across countries.

Sources in Tamil Nadu Police told IANS that they had zeroed in on a few people who were associated with the accused Sabith but refrained from divulging more details.

Sabith Nasar, a native of Thrissur in Kerala, was arrested by Kerala Police at Cochin International Airport on May 19 while he was returning from Iran, on the allegation that he was part of a major international kidney racket based out of Iran.

The arrest followed tip-offs from Central intelligence agencies that were tracking the regular travels of Sabith to Iran and other west Asian countries.

On questioning, the accused admitted that he had taken around 20 persons to Iran for kidney transplants and for that, he received Rs 5 lakh per head. He also said that he had paid money to the donors ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 10 lakh.

However, the Kerala police team has not taken into account his statement and believes that more people were taken to Iran by the accused and his accomplices.

While Sabith informed the police that donors were from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and some other north Indian states, Tamil Nadu police constituted a special team and conducted a probe across the state. All the district Superintendents of Police were directed to conduct detailed feedback from all respective police stations on missing person cases and, also on the present antecedents of people who were arrested in criminal cases and later acquitted.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu Police told IANS that a few people from Tamil Nadu close to the Kerala border in Coimbatore and Pollachi are being questioned regarding their association with Sabith Nasar, and it is being ascertained whether these people were engaged as agents to procure people from Tamil Nadu for the organ trade racket.
New Delhi, May 25 : India Meteorological Department on Saturday forecast wind speeds of up to 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph in the severe cyclonic storm that is "very likely" to strike the West Bengal coast on Sunday midnight (May 26).

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) India Meteorological Department on Saturday forecast wind speeds of up to 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph in the severe cyclonic storm that is "very likely" to strike the West Bengal coast on Sunday midnight (May 26).

IMD has also issued a very heavy rainfall warning for West Bengal, Odisha and the north-eastern states in the wake of the cyclone.

"The Depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 15 kmph during the past 6 hours, intensified into a Deep Depression and lay centred about 380 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 530 km south-southeast of Canning (West Bengal) at 5:30 a.m.," IMD said.

The IMD report expects major damage to thatched houses, agricultural crops, uprooting of trees and flooding of low-lying areas in North & South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. Power and communication lines are also expected to get damaged in the cyclone fury.

Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee met under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Friday to review preparedness for the impending cyclone.

The Cabinet Secretary assured the Government of West Bengal that all Central agencies are on full alert and will be available for assistance

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 12 teams and five additional teams are kept on standby. Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard along with ships and aircraft have been kept in readiness. Regular alerts and advisories are being sent by DG, Shipping to the ports of Kolkata and Paradip. Emergency teams have been deployed by the Ministry of Power for immediate power restoration.

The Cabinet Secretary stressed that all necessary preventive and precautionary measures may be taken by the State Government and Central Agencies. The aim should be to keep the loss of lives to zero and minimise damage to property and infrastructure such as power and telecom, and in case of damage, the essential services should be restored in the shortest possible time.

He said that it must be ensured that the fishermen at sea are called back and people from vulnerable areas are evacuated well in time. He asked the Government of West Bengal to review the placement of large hoardings in the areas likely to be affected by the cyclonic storm.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 : With the opposition demanding the resignation of Excise Minister M.P. Rajesh in view of the audio clip asking bar owners to pay Rs 2.50 lakh each for 'favourable liquor policies', the Pinarayi Vijayan government is unlikely to tweak the existing policy.

State CPI(M) secretary M.V. Govindan denied any change in the policy. He said, "When there is no news, the news gets created and this is what has happened. The state government has already clarified that no decision has been taken, why all this noise then."

However, after a political uproar on the issue, Minister Rajesh wrote to the state police chief to probe the audio clip and register the case.

The case will be filed against Animon, the president of the Idukki Federation of Kerala Hotel Association, who is also the vice president of the apex body of bar hotel owners. It was his audio clip that went viral.

Generally, the annual liquor policy comes into effect from April 1 but this time as the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls is in force, it was deferred.

A few of the relaxations, which were said to be included in the new liquor policy, are lifting of dry days (i.e., the first of every calendar month), and extending the timings for liquor sales at stores and bars.

After the controversy surfaced, the president of the majority bar owners in the state, Sunil Kumar categorically denied any drive to collect funds to be given for formulating a favourable liquor policy. He said the bar owners had met to discuss buying a building in the state capital for their association.

But his denial fell flat after the agenda of the meeting had no mention of their building project, instead it was about the proposed liquor policy.

The Congress-led opposition is likely to pester over their demand for the resignation of Rajesh. The BJP leadership has said this is a similar version of the Delhi liquor policy, which saw top leaders like CM Arvind Kejriwal land in jail.

So with the government ordering the case, it will not be long before Animon is questioned.

In 2015 the then Excise Minister, K.M. Mani had to quit after an allegation surfaced that he had taken Rs one crore bribe from bar owners. And, in the latest case, the audio clip says the demand is Rs 2.5 lakh, which could add up to over Rs 20 crore.
London, May 25 : Four people were injured and one was arrested following a clash between pro-Iran supporters and anti-Iranian government protesters in London.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 6.21 p.m. (1720 GMT) on Friday following reports of disorder.

An event was taking place to mark the death of the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, and was attended by supporters of the Iranian government.

The Met said anti-government protesters had gathered outside the venue, and clashes broke out between the groups.

Officers and other Met resources attended alongside paramedics from the London Ambulance Service.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed four people were injured and treated by paramedics. One person was also arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

The spokesperson added: "Their injuries are not believed to be either life-threatening or life-changing."

"A dispersal order was implemented, requiring those involved to leave the area. It will remain in force until 03:00 hours."

"Further inquiries will now follow to establish what further offences took place and to identify those involved."

"This will include an examination of footage shared on social media."

--IANS/DPA

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Mumbai, May 25 : Actor Sidharth Malhotra on Saturday was spotted at the Mumbai airport in a casual look, as he headed to Delhi to cast his vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls.

Sidharth, who hails from Delhi, wore a white V-neck T-shirt paired with a blue shirt and brown trousers. The look was rounded off with white sneakers and black sunglasses.

In a video, Sidharth is seen posing for the cameras, flashing a victory sign.

A paparazzi asked the 'Shershaah' actor: "Bhai voting ke lie ja rahe ho?" (Are you going for voting?), to which Sidharth nodded in affirmation and smiled for the lenses.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sidharth was last seen in the action thriller 'Yodha'. The film also starred Raashii Khanna and Disha Patani.
Bhubaneswar, May 25 : Voting for the third phase is underway in Odisha in six parliamentary constituencies and 42 assembly segments amid technical glitches in Electronic Voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) leading to delays.

Addressing a press conference, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Nikunj Bihari Dhal said as many as 116 ballot units, 125 control units and 256 VVPATs have been replaced following technical glitches at some booths.

As per the Election Commission of India, Odisha has recorded around 21.30 percent voter turnout till 11 a.m.

CEO Dhal said that youths and elderly persons are more in number at the polling booths.

He also said that the State Election Commission officials are keeping a vigil on more than 6,200 polling booths through webcasting.

Voting is underway at 10,551 polling booths across the state.

More than 94.48 lakh voters in Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Puri and Bhubaneswar parliamentary constituencies are expected to exercise their franchise.

A total 64 candidates are in fray for the six Lok Sabha seats while 383 candidates are contesting for 42 assembly segments.

Several high-profile leaders, including BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, senior BJP leaders Aparajita Sarangi, Bhartruhari Mahtab, ruling Biju Janata Dal leader and former corporate honcho Santrupt Mishra, are in the fray.

As many as 35,000 police personnel, including 121 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), 106 platoons of Special Armed Police force of Odisha Police and 19,865 civil police personnel have been deployed.

Around 20 per cent of the total 10,551 polling booths in the third phase of polling have been designated as critical booths.

Voting for the assembly and Lok Sabha elections is being held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1.
Patna, May 25 : The voting was picking up in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar as 23.67 per cent polling was registered in the first four hours on Saturday.

The voting is underway in Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Vaishali, Gopalganj (SC Reserved), Siwan and Maharajganj.

A maximum of 27.98 per cent voting was registered in Vaishali till 11 a.m. During the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it was 25.50 per cent.

In the Sheohar Lok Sabha seat, 25.77 per cent of polling was registered, and in 2019 it was 21.20 per cent.

Paschim Champaran has registered 23.84 per cent while 21.80 per cent was recorded in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

In Maharajganj, the Election Commission registered 23.57 per cent turnout as compared to 18.30 per cent in 2019.

Purvi Champaran recorded 23.10 per cent of voting in comparison to 22.50 per cent in 2019.

Gopalganj registered 22.61 per cent polling till 11 a.m. while 20.60 per cent voting was registered in the previous general election on this seat.

In Siwan, the Election Commission has registered 22.42 per cent polling while 21 per cent was registered in 2019.

Valmikinagar is the only constituency where the polling till 11 a.m. -- 20.11 per cent -- was registered lower than in 2019 -- 21.50 per cent.

Prominent candidates like Hina Shahab, Radha Mohan Singh and Sanjay Jaiswal were among the early voters.

Hina Shahab, wife of Late Bahubali leader Mohammad Shahabuddin, is contesting the election as an independent candidate from Siwan.

Vijaylaxmi Kushwaha of JD(U) and Awadh Bihari Choudhary of RJD are the other candidates for Siwan.

While interacting with the media persons, Hina Shahab said: "I want to appeal to voters to vote for the candidates who live here and are available for you round the clock. The people of Siwan have seen the candidates of various political parties, I want to appeal to them to vote for an independent candidate this time."

In Purvi Champaran, Radha Mohan Singh of the BJP cast his vote in Motihari. He is the BJP candidate for this seat and is contesting against Vijay Kushwaha of VIP.

"Despite the hot weather, people are turning out in large numbers in the polling stations following the appeal of PM Narendra Modi. I appreciate voters for their efforts. The voters will vote in large numbers to make the country strong under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi," Singh said.

In Bettiah, BJP candidate Sanjay Jaiswal also voted and later said, "The people of the country believe that the NDA will cross 400 seats in this Lok Sabha election.

"Abki Baar 400 Paar" is not just a slogan. The people have faith that the next government at the Centre is going to be formed under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. People want to see him as a Prime Minister again. Many initiatives of the Centre like free LPG gas, 5 kg free foodgrain, toilets, roads, electricity to every house have been taken and people remember this," Jaiswal said.
Mumbai, May 25 : As he turned 41 on Saturday, actor-director Kunal Kemmu, who is currently enjoying the success of his maiden directorial 'Madgaon Express', has chosen to have an intimate celebration at home with his loved ones.

Expressing his gratitude, Kunal shared: "I am extremely grateful to the audience for their love towards 'Madgaon Express'. This birthday holds special significance for me, filled with gratitude rather than wishes."

Kunal's sister-in-law, Kareena Kapoor Khan on Saturday took to Instagram and shared a picture of him with her husband, Saif Ali Khan.

The actress wrote: "Happy birthday my dearest bro in-law. This is your year. You deserve all the love and success and more."

Moving forward, Kunal is set to appear in Raj & DK's 'Gulkanda Tales', which is slated to stream digitally later this year.
Bengaluru, May 25 : Tension prevailed in Karnataka's Channagiri town on Saturday following violence by a mob over an alleged custodial death.

Security was tightened in the city, and officers were directed to take action to ensure law and order in the region.

Additional forces have been called from neighbouring districts. Eleven police personnel were injured and more than five police vehicles were damaged in the stone pelting by the mob.

The incident occurred late Friday night following the death of 30-year-old Adil, who had been taken into custody by the police on charges of organising illegal betting (Matka).

Davanagere Superintendent of Police Uma Prashanth said on Saturday, "Adil was brought to the police station on Friday. He collapsed in the police station and was rushed to the hospital, and the police then learned that he had died. Adil was not in the police station for more than six to seven minutes. However, his relatives are claiming that it is a case of lockup death."

"There is a CCTV camera in the police station, and the complaint by the father of the deceased will be investigated. The post-mortem will be conducted under the supervision of a judge, considering the seriousness of the case," she added.

"Including the complaint by the deceased's father, a total of four cases have been registered in connection with the incident. The situation is under control," SP Prashanth said.

According to the police, Adil, a resident of Tippu Nagar, was brought to the police station on Friday. He collapsed in the police station and was immediately shifted to a hospital, where he later died. It was found that he suffered from seizures and low blood pressure.

Enraged by this, Adil's family and community members attacked the police station and police personnel. The mob also damaged more than five police vehicles.

Reacting to the incident, former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy stated on Saturday, "The government is functioning in such a manner that there is no atmosphere in the state where the government and officers are respected. The officers are being misused by the government. The law and order in the state has collapsed. This is a self-goal by the government. The officers themselves don't trust the government. The people also do not have trust."
Mumbai, May 25 : Actor Jay Thakkar, who plays a quirky, 'jugaadu' character in 'Gullak 4', revealed that while shooting for the horror comedy film 'Kapkapiii' in Delhi, Shreyas Talpade recorded his audition for the upcoming web series.

On how he landed the role, Jay, who started his career as a child artist in 2004, said: "For five years, I auditioned for TVF without success. While shooting 'Kapkapiii' in Delhi with Shreyas, I got an audition message for 'Gullak season 4'. It was a perfect fit for my skills."

"With no one to help me record, I requested Shreyas, who graciously assisted. After submitting my audition, I was shortlisted and went through re-tests, look-tests, and meetings. Finally, director Shreyansh Pandey selected me and guided me to refine my performance with more subtle and less quirky acting techniques," he shared.

Talking about his character, Jay said: "I play a quirky, 'jugaadu', humorous, show-off character from Bhopal who has been Aman's (Harsh Mayar) best friend since school. My role highlights a funny and satirical side of true friendship, offering both 'jugaadu' and reckless advice to Aman in various situations like dating and beard growing."

"Interestingly, my character existed in the first three seasons as Aman's unseen best friend who provided unique solutions over phone calls. In season 4, my face is finally revealed," he added.

The show also stars Jameel Khan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, and Helly Shah.

Created by Shreyansh Pandey, the series follows the life of the Mishra family as it faces new challenges.

'Gullak' season 4 is set to drop on June 7 on SonyLIV.
Patliputra : , May 25 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress of undermining constitutional principles by conspiring to allocate SC/ST/OBC quotas to their vote bank and also emphasised that RJD's lantern lights up just one house, keeping the rest of Bihar in a state of darkness during their reign.

Addressing a massive election rally in the Patliputra Parliamentary constituency, PM Modi highlighted Bihar's role in championing social justice, saying the people of the state have fought a long battle for the right to reservation for SC-ST-OBC communities.

"However, I would like to reveal a bitter truth today. The RJD-Congress and their allies are betraying these very communities. The Constitution and Baba Saheb Ambedkar clearly stated there should be no reservation based on religion. Yet, the RJD-Congress are conspiring to allocate SC-ST-OBC quotas to their vote bank, undermining constitutional principles," he said.

PM Modi added: "Every caste, including Yadav, Kurmi, Kushwaha, Kalwar, Teli, Suri, Kanu, Nishad, Paswan, Ravidas, and Musahar, has been robbed of their rightful reservation. These actions are not just unconstitutional but also a grave injustice to the children of Dalits, backward classes, and tribals, whose admission quotas have been unfairly reduced in favour of Muslims. This is a stark violation of the principles of social justice and the Constitution".

Taking a dig at the INDIA bloc, Prime Minister Modi said that while he is working hard throughout the day to build a self-reliant India, the opposition alliance "has no work but to lie and abuse him" day and night.

"In this election of 2024, on one side there is Modi who will work hard for you 24 hours a day. On the other hand, there's the INDI coalition that lies to you 24 hours a day. On one side, there is Modi who is working 24x7 to build a developed and self-reliant India by 2047 and on the other side is the INDI alliance, which has no work. People of the country have rejected them and that is why they are busy abusing Modi day and night," he mentioned.

The choice, said PM Modi, is clear - people can stay "with progress and development with Modi" or "constant negativity" with the INDI Alliance.

"In this age of LED bulbs, there is also a lantern here in Bihar. A lantern that lights up just one house. This lantern has spread only darkness in Bihar," said PM Modi while taking an indirect dig at the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav.

PM Modi's comments assume significance considering that Yadav's daughter Misa Bharti is contesting from the Patliputra constituency. In 2019, Ram Kripal Yadav of BJP defeated Bharati by a considerable margin and both are pitted against each other once again this time.

Asserting that India needs a strong leader, PM Modi said the INDI Alliance plans to have five different PMs in five years.

"You know who are the contenders? A parade of family members: sons and daughters from the Gandhi, SP, National Conference, NCP, TMC, AAP, fake Shiv Sena, and RJD families. Their aim is to play musical chairs with the Prime Minister's seat, driven by dynastic politics rather than national interest," he said.

PM Modi asked the locals to keep the famous 'Maner ladoos' of the region ready for June 4 - the day results will be declared.

"New records would be set in Pataliputra and across the nation as the whole country is saying 'phir ek baar... Modi sarkar!"
New Delhi, May 25 : Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, on Saturday, visited polling booths in North and Northeast Delhi to take stock of the situation there, an official said.

A senior police official said that he will visit polling stations in other districts as well.

Arora, along with his wife, had also cast vote on Saturday morning.

Over 60,000 personnel, including 51 companies of paramilitary forces and 13,500 home guards from three states (Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh) are deployed in the capital to ensure hassle-free polling.

The polling is underway at all seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi: East Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi, and Chandani Chowk.

"Extra paramilitary personnel equipped with drones and CCTV cameras are deployed in these sensitive poll centres to ensure heightened security," an official said.
Berlin, May 25 : China's support for Moscow is a crucial factor in the Russian war against Ukraine, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"China says it wants to maintain good relations with the West. At the same time, however, Beijing is fuelling the war in Europe. You can't have it both ways," Stoltenberg told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

There has been a significant increase in sales of machine parts, microelectronics and other technologies that Moscow is using to produce missiles, tanks and aircraft for use against Ukraine, he said.

There are no records indicating that China is supplying Russia with weapons or ammunition. However, since the war began and Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow, other exports from China to Russia have increased significantly.

According to Western experts, these exports include so-called "dual-use" goods, which can be used for both civilian and military purposes.

Commenting on the on-ground situation in Ukraine, Stoltenberg told the newspaper: "Ukraine has suffered setbacks in the theatre of war due to a lack of ammunition and weapons. But it is not yet too late for Ukraine to win."

NATO states must send Kyiv more weapons and ammunition, including air defence systems and long-range weapons, Stoltenberg said.

--IANS/DPA

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New Delhi, May 25 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, who is accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha member and former DCW chief Swati Maliwal, has moved a local court seeking bail.

The court has issued a notice to Delhi Police for its reply. The matter will be heard next on May 27.

On Friday, the court sent Kumar to four-day judicial custody.

Produced before the court on the expiry of his five-day police custody, he was sent to judicial custody till May 28.

Bibhav Kumar was arrested on May 18 in connection with the assault on Maliwal on May 13, and produced late at night before a local court which sent him to five days under police custody.

During this period, he was also taken to the CM's residence where the crime scene was recreated. Bibhav Kumar was taken to three locations in Mumbai, said police sources privy to the probe. "Kumar had formatted his phone on one of the locations, which was revealed after technical investigation," said the source.

According to police, he had formatted his phone on May 17, citing a malfunction.

Delhi Police registered a case against Kumar after he allegedly assaulted Maliwal at the Chief Minister's residence.

The FIR at the Civil Lines police station includes charges under Sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (wrongful restraint), 354(B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.
Patients cast their votes in Lok Sabha elections with hospital's help. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, May 25 : To strengthen democracy, the Manipal Hospital in Delhi's Dwarka area on Saturday helped patients cast their votes during the sixth and penultimate phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The hospital said this initiative aims to highlight the importance of voting as a fundamental duty of every responsible Indian citizen.

"By supporting our patients in exercising their right to vote, we are not only prioritising their health but also empowering them as active participants in our democracy. Every vote matters, and we are proud to ensure that our patients' voices are heard," said Viji Verghese, Director, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka.

Meanwhile, people turned out in large numbers at the polling stations across the seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi on Saturday.

The voting process began at 7 a.m. with more than 2.52 lakh first-time voters participating in this crucial phase of elections.
Chennai, May 25 : After conveying objections to the Centre on the Mullaperiyar dam issue, the Tamil Nadu government has asked the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) to reject the Kerala government's proposal for constructing a new dam.

The committee is scheduled to meet on May 28.

A senior official of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department told IANS that the state was expecting the EAC not to go ahead with the proposal of the Kerala government for constructing a new dam at Mullaperiyar.

He said that Tamil Nadu has presented before the EAC and the Union Environmental Ministry the various Supreme Court rulings regarding the construction of a new dam.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had on Friday sent a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav to instruct the officials concerned and member secretary of the EAC to drop the agenda item on the proposed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed new dam during the EAC meeting.

According to the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department, several expert panels found the existing Mullaperiyar dam to be safe.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also pointed out that the Supreme Court on February 27, 2006, and May 7, 2014, ruled that the dam was safe.

The Supreme Court had in 2018 ruled that for Kerala to carry out any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed new dam, the state required permission from the apex court.

The Kerala Irrigation Design and Research Board recently decided to finalise the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for constructing a new dam at Mullaperiyar. Kerala in its proposal to the Union Environment Ministry has stated that the design is already complete.

The next step is to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and to obtain permission from the Union Forests and WildLife departments.

The Mullaperiyar dam is located in Kumily panchayat in Idukki district of Kerala and the new site for the dam has been identified at 366 metres downstream from the present structure.
New Delhi, May 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a whirlwind campaign trail in Bihar, launched an all-out attack on the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alliance on Saturday and said that his government will crack down on all those, irrespective of their stature, who looted the state for personal gains.

While addressing a rally in Bihar's Karakat, PM Modi said that the 'timid' Congress and RJD centred their politics around fear psychosis and ruled the state by frightening the people. He added that there is no room for fear in the NDA government and all powerful and mighty, be it Shehzada or the other, will have to face the law.

In a clear message to RJD, the PM said, "Those who usurped the land of the poor in the name of jobs will not be spared, their countdown has begun. This is NDA's guarantee, this is Modi ki guarantee."

Notably, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family are facing probe over land for jobs scams, in which they have been accused of acquiring land parcels at huge discounts from those who were given jobs in Railways, apparently during Lalu's tenure as Railway Minister.

PM Modi started the rally by making two 'predictions', drawing huge applause and loud cheers from the gathering.

"The first thing that will happen by the evening of June 4 is that RJD will start saying that Congress spoiled their chances, and both parties will fight each other. Another would be Shahi Parivaar heading to foreign locales for exquisite vocation while making Mallikarjun Kharge the scapegoat of the Congress debacle in the state. He will be left to face the wrath of party workers," PM Modi said, mocking the Cong-RJD combine.

His praise for Bihar residents also saw the crowd getting into a frenzy mode.

"People of Bihar perfectly gaze the pulse of politics. They don't waste their vote, they do it after calculation and due deliberation," PM Modi said.

He also had a message for first-time voters of Bihar as he advised them not to fall into the Opposition's trap of jungle raj.

He reminded them of the 'terrible times' of RJD rule and said that they must not give them another chance.

"Looters and goondas (ruffians and goons) are currently in their hideouts, they are waiting for revival. You must not give them a chance to come to life again," the PM told the first-time voters.

He also invoked the Bihari pride and told the gathering how the residents of Bihar are subjected to abuse and humiliation by DMK leaders in Tamil Nadu, Congress CM in Telangana and repeated slurs by Mamata Banerjee and said that Congress and RJD don't bother about their insults, they are only bothered about their vote bank.

He further accused the INDI Alliance of snatching the reservation of OBCs, SCs and STs and giving it to the Muslim community.

"By one legislation, they changed the character of educational institutions and deprived the rights of backward community for their vote bank and gave it to the Muslim community," PM Modi said while also mentioning Calcutta High Court's recent rap to Mamata government over OBC certificates.

He said that the INDI Alliance wears a mask of social justice but only does appeasement politics for its vote bank.

"NDA will unmask their dangerous designs and plot," he added.

Notably, the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) leader Upendra Kushwaha is NDA's candidate from the Karakat Lok Sabha constituency. Mahagathbandhan has pitted Raja Ram Singh of the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML) against him.
New Delhi, May 25 : The United States' Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti visited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru on Saturday, as both countries continue to enhance cooperation in the field of space.

During his meeting with ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, the US Ambassador expressed his admiration for the organisation's accomplishments and its role in global space exploration.

"The discussions highlighted both countries' mutual interests and shared goals in advancing space science, technology, and the space economy. Ongoing associations through various Joint Working Groups, Artemis Accord, NISAR, and the use of the Laser Reflectometer Array on Chandrayaan-3 were also discussed," ISRO said in a statement after the meeting.

Under iCET, the two countries have unveiled a roadmap for increased collaboration in high-technology fields. The initiative focuses on addressing regulatory barriers, aligning export controls, and encouraging deeper cooperation in crucial and emerging fields.

Future programmes, including the exchange visits of both sides' professionals, continuation of balloon experiments, and identifying milestone events, were also discussed as ISRO emphasised the need to address access to critical components and items to expedite collaborative missions.

"Ambassador Garcetti inquired about the role played by the Department of Space in fostering commercial space activities. Chairman Somanath elaborated on this, mentioning that for the first time, payload technology and space-bound hardware are being built in Indian facilities that are outside ISRO labs. ISRO plans to source payloads and satellites for its programmes from Indian companies and enable them to enter the global market," added the ISRO statement.

The organisation detailed that other significant discussions between both sides focused on NASA's participation in India's proposal for a G-20 satellite for environment and climate change, an advanced imaging spectrometer satellite as a follow-up mission for NISAR, and encouragement of cooperation between commercial companies from both countries for quicker and more effective outcomes, Gaganyaan cargo module as an option for transfer of cargo to International Space Station.

"The US Ambassador has also proposed a QUAD satellite. Chairman, ISRO pointed out the opportunity to develop advanced detectors and packaging technologies with US-India academic institutions. He emphasised building and standardising docking interfaces across human space programmes to enable the utilisation of space platforms by other countries and joining hands to build a navigation system on the moon, either in orbit or on the surface," said ISRO.

Garcetti's visit concluded with a commitment to further strengthen the partnership between India and the United States in the field of space.

"Honoured to meet ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath and team! From advancing NISAR satellite to fostering human spaceflight and promoting commercial space endeavours, the US-India Space commitment stands strong and is advancing our shared goals within the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)," the US Ambassador posted on X.
Sidharth Malhotra flaunts inked finger as he casts his vote; says "Delhi, go out vote". Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, May 25 : Actor Sidharth Malhotra on Saturday flaunted his inked index finger after casting his vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls.

Earlier, in the day, the 'Shershaah' actor was spotted at the Mumbai airport in a casual look, as he was en route to Delhi to cast his vote.

Sidharth took to Instagram and shared a selfie wearing a white shirt, and showing off his inked finger.

The actor wrote in the caption: "Came to my hometown, Delhi, to celebrate the world's largest democracy by voting, Delhi, go out 'Vote' #DelhiVoteNow #VoteForIndia."

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sidharth was last seen in the action thriller 'Yodha'. The film also starred Raashii Khanna and Disha Patani.
Chennai, May 25 : AIADMK will organise protests across Tamil Nadu over the state government's alleged failure to receive its share of water from neighbouring states of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Sources said that AIADMK will hold a meeting on Monday and chalk out a protest programme against the government.

"Stalin government has failed to secure the water share from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka even though friendly governments for the DMK are in power in these states," a senior leader of AIADMK said.

He said that the party's General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) would lead the protest.

He said that Mullaperiyar is a nagging issue vis-a-vis Kerala, with Karnataka the Cauvery River water sharing issue while the Pallar River is the bone of contention with Andhra Pradesh.

"Tamil Nadu has ended up in a losing position in all these water-sharing proposals and the state government is not doing anything to get relief for the people and that is why we are planning an agitation across the state," he said.

Tamil Nadu is a lower riparian state and the neighbouring states have scant regard for the decades-old treaties and accords over the interstate water disputes. The Supreme Court directives are also not being properly acknowledged by the neighbouring states.

There was a pact in 1892 between the then Mysore state and the Madras Presidency wherein no construction activities were allowed without the consensus of the riparian states.

Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department officials told IANS that the upper riparian states are not considering the lower riparian states and that they have no regard for the pact between the then Mysore state and the Madras Presidency.

Officials also said that the Supreme Court has in its orders in 2006 and 2014 directed the Kerala government not to undertake any construction on Mullaperiyar dam.

The AIADMK leader said that the DMK is in an alliance with the CPI-M and the Congress in the INDIA bloc while the CPI-M-led Left Front government is in power in Kerala and a Congress government is ruling Karnataka.

"The opposition will highlight the failure of the Tamil Nadu government to get the state its due share even after friendly governments are in power in neighbouring states," he said.
Una : , May 25 (IANS) Firmly believing that the Congress would be restricted to 40 Lok Sabha seats, Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday praised his colleague and four-time MP Anurag Thakur, saying, "The BJP has sent a very big leader to your constituency".

Una (Himachal Pradesh), May 25 (IANS) Firmly believing that the Congress would be restricted to 40 Lok Sabha seats, Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday praised his colleague and four-time MP Anurag Thakur, saying, "The BJP has sent a very big leader to your constituency".

"You people are lucky to get an MP like Anurag Thakur. Vote wisely," HM Shah said while addressing a massive election rally at Amb in Una district in support of Union Minister Thakur, the BJP's candidate from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat.

Praising Thakur for the development of Hamirpur and connecting youngsters to BJP's ideology, HM Shah said, "Modiji has given you a readymade minister. I have known Anurag 'bhai' (brother) for years. Now he's working as Modi's companion in Modiji's cabinet.

"You will not find such a parliamentarian even if you search with a lamp. Modiji loves the Himalayas and Himachal. Sometimes the people of Gujarat get jealous whether Modiji is from Himachal or Gujarat," said HM Shah.

Without mincing words, HM Shah said Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) "is a part of India and we will take it".

HM Shah hit out at the Congress for trying to "frighten us" by saying the neighbouring country possesses atom bombs. "Rahul 'baba' we are from the BJP, we are not scared of the atom bomb. PoK is of India, it will remain so and we will take it."

The Home Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already won 310 seats in the first five phases of Lok Sabha polls and the target of '400 paar' would be achieved in the sixth and the last phases.

He said the Congress would be restricted to just 40 seats. "Who will become Prime Minister if Congress comes to power," HM Shah asked the crowd.

Since his maiden electoral victory in the May 2008 parliamentary bypoll at the age of 34, Anurag Thakur, a strategist and youth icon, had served the BJP's youth wing as its president for seven years. He won the 2019 Lok Sabha polls by a record margin of 3.87 lakh votes, with a vote share of 69 per cent.

The Congress last won this seat in 1996. Now Hamirpur is the BJP's bastion from where Anurag Thakur's father and two-time Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was elected thrice as an MP.

Traditionally, this Lok Sabha seat has been with the BJP since 1998, when Suresh Chandel was elected as the MP. He was caught in a sting operation after the cash-for-query scandal in Parliament in 2005.

In 2007, Dhumal became the MP from Hamirpur but later resigned to take over as the chief minister. This necessitated the bypoll and since 2008 Minister Thakur has been the MP from this seat for four consecutive terms.

This parliamentary constituency has a significantly high literacy rate wherein people evaluate development while casting their vote, Minister Thakur has said.

In every parliamentary election in the state, which witnesses a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP, Hamirpur has seen more aggressive campaigning as compared to the other three Lok Sabha constituencies -- Shimla (Reserved), Kangra and Mandi.

Out of these 17 Assembly seats in the Hamirpur parliamentary seat, the BJP has 11 legislators and the Congress holds the remaining six seats.

The outgoing Union Minister takes credit for the introduction of new trains and the extension of rail links to Himachal, the building of premier technical institutes and a Central university and the extension and maintenance of national highways in the state.

Polling for all four Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha seats will be held on June 1. The results will be out on June 4, as in the rest of the country.
Mangalore, May 25 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that an FIR has been registered under IPC 353 in connection with the case of police intimidation by BJP MLA Harish Poonja.

He was speaking to the media at Mangalore International Airport on Saturday. Reacting to the opposition's allegation that the Congress is pressing for the arrest of BJP MLA Harish Poonja, the CM said that the law is the same for everyone.

An FIR has been registered under IPC 353, which is a non-bailable offence. According to this law, there is a possibility of seven years imprisonment. Should the allegations against Harish Poonja be denied just because he is a MLA? the CM asked.

Responding to Poonja getting station bail, the CM said that two cases of threatening police have been registered against him.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara has stated in Bengaluru that those who issue threats to the police in the police station could not be spared. Action will be initiated without any mercy, he maintained.

BJP state president B.Y.Vijayendra had warned that if Poonja is arrested, the Congress government and the state police will face the consequences. Poonja has moved the court for bail.
New Delhi, May 25 : Amid the ongoing sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections in eight states/UT, Pakistani politician Fawad Chaudhry caught the attention of netizens on Saturday after he posted a message for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Though Kejriwal was quick to snub Chaudhry with a terse reply, the matter drew multiple angry reactions from the BJP leaders, who also advised the city residents to 'vote wisely'.

Kejriwal cast his vote along with his family members on Saturday and also shared a photo on social media.

Fawad Chaudhry, who was a minister in the erstwhile Imran Khan-led government in Pakistan, shared Kejriwal's post with the caption, "May peace and harmony defeat forces of hate and extremism," using the hashtags #MorePower #IndiaElection2024.

The BJP took exception to the former Pakistan minister's 'laudatory' message for Kejriwal and slammed the Delhi Cm for giving a handle to Pakistani politicians to meddle in India's affairs.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla questioned the "relation between India's enemies and Kejriwal", as he asked, "Is this why Congress and AAP doubted surgical strikes and Balakote strikes?"

Further advising Delhi voters to 'vote wisely', he said, "They may cosmetically condemn it but we all know where INDI Alliance's 'aatma' is. They never condemned when Fawad Chaudhry supported Rahul Gandhi, they never condemned Farooq Abdullah's utterances. They started giving clean chit to Pakistan on 261/11 and the Pulwama attack. Beware, INDI always speaks Pakistan 'ki zubaan' on 370 and other issues."

"Arvind Kejriwal must stop his drama; Kanhaiya, whom you supported called the Indian Army rapists and Naxalites martyrs.

"Congress gave a clean chit to Pakistan and Kasab on 26/11, Congress opposes the removal of Article 370. And you yourself had raised questions on Batla House encounter and the surgical strikes," he added.

Calling the Pakistan politician's support for Kejriwal "shocking", BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "Why is Pakistan supporting Kejriwal and wanting more powers for him? This raises serious questions."

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said that Pakistan's support for Kejriwal on polling day was neither surprising nor shocking, because it's a known fact that he enjoys the support of the country's enemies.

"Kejriwal is friends with India's enemies. He takes political funding from them. This is the reason behind Pakistan's support for Delhi CM on polling day," Sachdeva said.

He also said that Kejriwal has become a threat to the nation's security and the people of the city and country have understood this fact clearly.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal responded to the post by asking Chaudhry to refrain from commenting on Indian elections.

"Chaudhary Sahib, me and the people of my country are fully capable of handling our issues. Your tweet is not needed. The situation in Pakistan is very bad right now. You take care of your country," Kejriwal said in a post in Hindi.
Bengaluru, May 25 : The war of words between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the former Chief Minister Kumaraswamy in connection with the alleged sex video scandal turned personal on Saturday.

Taking exception to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statement that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda had sent his grandson, sex video scandal prime accused Prajwal Revanna to a foreign country, Kumaraswamy questioned whether Siddaramaiah had sent his "son abroad to die".

"Whoever it is, pain is pain. An incident occurred in your (CM Siddaramaiah's) family. Did you send him abroad? Are you responsible for his death?" Kumaraswamy said.

He said all leaders are talking about the diplomatic passport but they have no knowledge of the law as a diplomatic passport cannot be revoked immediately.

Addressing Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K Shivakumar as "CD Shivu," Kumaraswamy said that the person needs not to be addressed as Shivakumar. "He should be addressed as CD Shivu. Why did you talk to broker Shivaramegowda (former Congress MP)?" Kumaraswamy asked.

"If Shivakumar has no role, why did he speak with BJP leader G. Devaraje Gowda and Shivaramegowda to malign the Deve Gowda family? He is carrying out the work of a 'pimp' and a 'broker,'" Kumaraswamy said.

He said that the Home Minister should conduct the investigation in an unbiased manner. "Let them take action against the real culprit, we don't have any objections," he said.

Responding to the allegations, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that it has been eight years since the death of Rakesh Siddaramaiah (his son).

"To bring up the matter now is foolishness. They are doing it for political reasons. He died in 2016, what is the relevance now? The case against his elder brother's son is of rape," the Chief Minister said.

He said that under which section is it said that distribution of videos is a more serious crime than committing rape? "Which IPC section explains this? The punishment is given under the IPC sections, and Kumaraswamy is referring to which section?" the Chief Minister asked.

"Kumaraswamy says that exposing victims is a more serious offence than rape. I want to ask which IPC section deals with this offence. Let him explain if he has any new criminal law of his own," the Chief Minister said.

He said that the Ministry of External Affairs has issued the passport to Prajwal Revanna and it has to cancel it. "It has been 15 days since we wrote a letter to the ministry. The SIT also wrote a letter. What more do they want? They should not keep finding faults with the investigation," the Chief Minister said.
New Delhi, May 25 : Online travel company EaseMyTrip's CEO Nishant Pitti on Saturday announced the withdrawal of the bid for GoFirst airline to concentrate on the company's areas of strength.

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Online travel company EaseMyTrip's CEO Nishant Pitti on Saturday announced the withdrawal of the bid for GoFirst airline to concentrate on the companyas areas of strength.

The decision came as the company posted a net loss of Rs 15 crore for the January-March quarter of the fiscal year 2024 (Q4 FY24), primarily owing to substantial write-offs related to now-bankrupt Go Airlines (India) Ltd, also known as GoFirst.

The company posted Rs 31 crore in net profit in the same period in the last fiscal year.

In a statement, Pitti said that after careful consideration, "I have decided to withdraw from the GoAir (now branded as GoFirst) bid in my personal capacity".

"This decision allows me to better focus on other strategic priorities and initiatives that align with our long-term vision and growth objectives," he added.

The Q4 loss occurred after the travel company wrote off amounts recoverable from Go Airlines (India) Ltd after the holding company assessed that the chances of recovery are "remote in the pending dispute resolution proceedings of the airline at National Company Law Tribunal, Delhi Bench".

Pitti further said that the companyas commitment to delivering exceptional value and service remains unwavering as "we continue to navigate new opportunities and challenges".

For the full fiscal FY24, EaseMyTrip recorded revenue of Rs 609 crore, a 31 per cent increase from Rs 464 crore in FY23.

In Q4 FY24, the company acquired a 50 per cent stake in Jeewani Hospitality to develop a luxurious 150-room Radisson Blu hotel in Ayodhya. It also introduced EaseMyTrip Insurance Broker Pvt Ltd, marking its entry into the Rs 7.9 trillion insurance industry.
New Delhi, May 25 : "People have to earn a living, even actors. And what is wrong if National School of Drama (NSD) pass-outs go to Mumbai looking for work? In a country that has very few theatre repertories, what choice do they have?" she asked.

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) "People have to earn a living, even actors. And what is wrong if National School of Drama (NSD) pass-outs go to Mumbai looking for work? In a country that has very few theatre repertories, what choice do they have?" she asked.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award-winning director Anuradha Kapur, who taught at NSD, Delhi for over three decades and was its Director for six years (20072013) stresses that this "exodus" started in the 70s when Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri went to Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune after finishing drama school. "In a way, it is not showing disrespect to either theatre or cinema. A trained actor can easily adapt to different mediums over time," asserted this Phd holder in Theatre from Leeds University, England.

Even while most digital platforms have started following an algorithm where crime thrillers rule, Kapur sees a silver lining in terms of stories and their treatment. "Directors are willing to experiment and many are giving enough space to trained actors to showcase their potential. And this is very exciting for theatre school pass-outs. No wonder you see many of them doing phenomenal in different series being streamed," she told IANS.

The theatre director completely disagreed with those who feel that drama school pass-outs are abandoning theatre for films and OTTs. "Several of them are working in both mediums, and not just the established ones but fresh pass-outs too. It is a tradition that started in England, where actors trained in theatre would not completely abandon the stage."

A major thrust area during her term as the Director was to ensure that students from across the country, even those whose mother language was not Hindi, should enroll. "I am content that when I was heading it, several students from the northeast including Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland joined the School. What was important for me was the fact that across languages and cultures, students were getting together and acquainting each other about their respective cultures, and also learning from one another," smiled Kapur who has taught at several institutions in India and abroad, and was a Fellow at the Freie Universitat, Berlin in 20162017.

Kapur also executed the Extension Programme, the brainchild of former NSD Director (late) B. V. Karanth. "He always wanted the School to go to the student who cannot reach NSD. I focussed on the northeast, which also led to the starting of the second chapter of the NSD."

While the NSD at Bangalore had taken shape during former Director Kirti Jain's tenure, it was Kapur who started it along with those at Tripura and Sikkim, not to mention the Theatre in Education (TIE) initiative.

Adding that there is an urgent need to have more theatre repertories in the country, attached with drama schools like NSD in Delhi and Sikkim, she observed: "Even a year or two of work at the repertory helps the students a lot."

Asserting that governments need to come forward to set up repertories in different parts of the country, this former NSD Director opined: "We have an extremely rich tradition of diverse theatre forms -- while there has been commercial theatre in several languages -- Assamese (Assam Mobile Theatre), Maharashtra, Jatra in Bengal, or, let us say, what's called Company and Commercial Theatre in Malayalam. It is important that they carry on, and for that financial help is indispensable."

Adding that the opportunity of doing theatre which may not necessarily be a commercial success has been supported by the state in various countries, she elaborated that Germany is a great example. "One witnesses some of the greatest work in theatre there, owing to state support. But sadly, in India, we have been noticing that successive governments have been increasingly pulling back on grants for arts and culture," she lamented.

In fact, Kapur has worked extensively in collaboration with visual and video artists and filmmakers including Arpita Singh, Bhupen Khakhar, Madhusree Dutta, Nalini Malani, Nilima Sheikh and Vivan Sundaram. She is one of the founding members of 'Vivadi', a working group of painters, musicians, writers and theatre practitioners.

Even as there is much talk about corporate sponsorship through CSR for theatre, it seldom reaches people doing serious work. "There are exceptions, of course, but majorly corporate houses also want "their money's worth." However, they need to realise that their brand value is bound to go up if they associate with serious work," said the director who is presently a visiting Professor at the School of Culture and Creative Expressions, Ambedkar University Delhi.

Currently meeting several writing deadlines, there are many projects she has in mind including one on the role of the prompter in theatre. Also, a Trustee of the Sher-Gil Sundaram Arts Foundation, she wants to make the Ivy Lodge in Kasauli a place alive for performance, not just for finished ones, but to have it work as a residency.

"I want it to be a space for doing a kind of pedagogy programme where young people come and spend two-three weeks. It could be theatre or some liberal arts initiatives. The aim is to make it a future-looking space," she concluded.
Kolkata : Central and state agencies associated with disaster management are gearing up with severe cyclonic storm Remal hurtling towards the West Bengal and Bangladesh coastlines.

The landfall is expected sometime around midnight on Sunday. While a control room has been set up at the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar for the state agencies, teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are heading for the districts that are likely to be affected by the cyclonic storm.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is also issuing alerts to mariners besides coordinating with its Bangladeshi counterparts for proper handling of the situation.

"We are keeping a watch on the situation. All vessels that are likely to be close to the path of the storm have been told to take precautions. Warnings are being sent constantly to all ships and any smaller vessels that may be out at sea.

"Though there is an official ban on fishing in West Bengal at this time of the year, a search is being made for any stray trawlers that may have evaded the ban and sneaked out to sea. We are also in touch with the Bangladesh Coast Guard for a coordinated search and rescue effort if the need arises," a senior ICG official from the North East Region, headquartered in Kolkata, said.

He also said that apart from ICG ships, air assets are also in place at Kolkata and Bhubaneswar for immediate deployment. Two monitoring stations have been set up at Haldia and Paradip by the ICG.

The NDRF, meanwhile, has deployed 12 teams with equipment in seven districts. While one team will be deployed in Kolkata, there will be two each in the districts of North 24-Parganas, East Midnapore, and West Midnapore.

Three teams have been deployed in South 24-Parganas which is expected to be hit the hardest. The remaining teams will be stationed at Howrah and Hooghly.

Meanwhile, Rathendra Raman, Chairperson of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) in Kolkata, reviewed the preparedness at the ports of Kolkata and Haldia.

The situation is expected to be at its worst between 6 p.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday. There will be no cargo or container handling at the ports during this period and all equipment will be secured in a boom-down state to prevent any accident.

Ships at berth are also being secured properly. Port operators have also been instructed to secure all equipment and vehicles during the period. Importers and exporters have been directed to protect any exposed cargo with tarpaulin sheets and guard them with sandbags.
Aizawl, May 25 : A total of 1,430 Myanmarese nationals took shelter in the northeastern state of Mizoram in the last 10 days amid fresh clashes in the neighbouring country between the army and 'pro-democratic forces', an official said on Saturday.

According to an official, at least 40 Myanmarese nationals including women and children crossed the India-Myanmar forested border on Friday and Saturday. They took shelter in Mizoram's Saitual and Champhai districts.

Villagers of the two districts are providing food and shelter to the refugees, sources said.

According to a Mizoram government official, the refugees, mostly belonging to Myanmar's Chin state, fled to different villages of Mizoram due to fear triggered by the armed clashes between 'Tatmadaw' (Myanmar military) and pro-democratic forces led by the Chin National Army.

Villagers claimed the migrants also feared air raids by the country's Air Force.

District officials, meanwhile, have been collecting the details of the Myanmarese nationals.

Meanwhile, opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) leader T.C. Pachhunga said that despite continuous demands, the Centre has not yet provided any assistance to the Mizoram government to provide relief to the refugees from Myanmar, Bangladesh and internally displaced people from Manipur.

Addressing a party meeting at the MNF office here, Pachhunga said the Central government, considering the humanitarian aspects, must provide financial and other support.

He said that the previous MNF government on several occasions had urged the Central government to provide funds to take care of the migrants from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur.

As per the government records, the total number of refugees who entered Mizoram since February 2021 has risen to around 36,000.

Most refugees stay in rented accommodation and the homes of their relatives or friends, while others live in 149 relief camps across seven districts of the state.

The Myanmarese who took shelter in Mizoram are mostly from the Chin community, who share ethnic, cultural and traditional ties with the Mizos.

Six Mizoram districts -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Serchhip and Saitual -- share a 510-km long unfenced border with Myanmar's Chin state.
Kathmandu, May 25 : Nepalese mountaineer Purnima Shrestha has become the first woman to summit Mount Everest thrice in two weeks, local media reported.

Purnima, who is also a photojournalist, first summited the world's highest peak on May 12, then on May 19, and later on May 25.

Expedition Director at 8K Expeditions Lakpa Sherpa said Purnima's impressive list of 8x8000ers summits over the years showcases her passion and expertise in mountaineering, The Himalayan Times reported.

In a post on X, Lakpa Sherpa said, "Purnima made history this year by becoming the first woman to summit Mount Everest three times in a single season with 8K Expeditions!"

Purnima, a native of Gorkha, has earlier climbed Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Dhaulagiri, Mount K2 and Annapurna and Manaslu.
New Delhi, May 25 : About 24 Indian startups have raised around $444 million in funding during this week, which include five growth-stage deals and 14 early-stage deals.

Two early-stage startups did not disclose the amount raised, Entrackr reported on Saturday.

Last week, about 26 early and growth-stage startups collectively secured around $240 million in funding.

Among the growth-stage deals, seven startups secured around $394.21 million in funding this week. E-commerce major Flipkart secured the highest funding of $350 million from Google.

This was followed by financial services platform Navi, which raised $18 million in debt.

Other startups such as managed accommodation provider Stanza Living, rural financial services firm Save Solution, and NBFC operating in remote rural parts, Dvara KGFS, also raised funding during the week.

In addition, 14 early-stage startups secured funding worth $49.6 million during the week.

SaaS (Software-as-a-service) startup UnifyApps topped the list followed by solar energy platform Soleos Solar Energy, NBFC Varthana, and producer of high-quality Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) NoPo Nanotechnologies.

The list of early-stage startups also includes -- Collective Artists Network, 8chili, Agrilectric, Fix My Curls, and Infinx -- which kept the funding amount undisclosed.

City-wise, Bengaluru-based startups led with 14 deals followed by Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana, and Chennai.
New Delhi, May 25 : Addressing a poll rally in UP's Ghazipur on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the INDI Alliance of betraying the land of freedom fighters, and blamed the successive Congress and Samajwadi Party regimes for the flourishing mafia in the region, adding that this has become a thing of past under Yogi Adityanath's government.

Holding the grand old party responsible for the backwardness of the region that boasts of many eminent personalities, even after seven decades of Independence, PM Modi said that past Congress governments ensured that development doesn't reach here.

PM Modi said the development of the region was never a priority for the Congress as even schemes like 'One Rank, One Pension' got cleared only after the NDA government came to power.

He said the Congress has great expertise and experience in blocking projects as well as snatching the rights of others.

"Congress had vowed not to develop this area. The people were forced to live in poverty. Gahmari Babu first raised the problem of extreme hardships before Jawaharlal Nehru in the Parliament, but even then the Congress politicised the matter," PM Modi said.

"Gahmari Babu, with tears in his eyes, had then explained how people of the region had to pick wheat from animal dung," the Prime Minister said recalling his statements, adding that things changed only after the NDA came to power and started providing free ration to the poor.

Slamming the Samajwadi Party, he said that 'goondas' and mafias mushroomed and thrived during its rule while common men were reduced to margins.

The Prime Minister also hit out at the INDI Alliance parties for their alleged attempts to usurp the rights of OBCs, SCs, and STs and hand them over to the Muslim community.

He claimed that the Opposition was banking on 'vote jihad' and also referred to the Calcutta High Court, which struck down the West Bengal government's decision to include more than 70 Muslim groups in the list of OBCs.

"Till the time I am alive, I won't allow anyone to snatch the rights of OBCs," he asserted.

Hailing the region's rich legacy, the Prime Minister said, "More than the historians, the nation's borders are aware of Ghazipur and its contributions to securing the frontiers."

"The land of Ghazipur tells the tales of valour and bravery. The tradition of Ghazipur and Gamhar village... The name itself is enough. The entire country is indebted to this land where brave soldiers emerge from every house," he pointed out.
Sargodha, May 25 : An angry mob seriously injured a Christian man and set his house on fire over an alleged incident of blasphemy in Pakistan's Sargodha on Saturday.

Local sources revealed that the situation turned violent when an enraged mob entered Sargodha's Mujahid Colony, an area which houses many Christian families, broke into a Christian man's house, thrashed him badly and set his belongings on fire.

The mob also torched a shoe factory operating from within the premises besides damaging the entire property. Videos of the incident, which went viral on social media, showed a badly injured man lying on the ground as several people continued to attack him, many using even stones.

The local police, however, said that the situation was brought under control after it dispersed the angry mob and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital.

Police authorities also maintained that they had dispersed the crowd and rescued at least two more families from being attacked by the Muslim mob.

"We have shifted the injured to a hospital and also taken into custody several suspects involved in the incident," said Regional Police Officer (RPO) Shariq Kamal.

"The incident occurred over an incident of alleged desecration," confirmed Sargodha District Police Officer (DPO) Asad Ejaz Malhi.

"When a heavy contingent of police reached the spot, we saw a huge crowd outside some houses. We cleared the area and took out the families safely," added Ejaz.

While the police officials claimed that no one was injured, social media posts on the incident confirmed torture and vandalism caused by the violent mob.

"We have called in a District Peace Committee to evaluate the situation and issue a statement on the matter. District committee includes district administration, religious scholars of Muslim and minority communities," said the DPO.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed serious concerns about the unfolding situation in Sargodha, stating, "Christian community in Gillwala is reportedly at grave risk to their lives at the hands of charged mobs."

The incident has brought back horrific memories of last August when angry mobs attacked Christian churches, and Christian graveyards and rampaged the Christian neighbourhood torching dozens of houses over alleged blasphemy committed by members of the community in Jaranwala.

The human rights lawyers have slammed the Pakistani government for failing to take any serious and sincere action against the perpetrators of the Jaranwala incident and emboldening radicals.

"I strongly condemn the Sardogha incident. I denounce the failure of the State to take any serious and sincere action against the perpetrators of the Jaranwala incident. It has only emboldened those who exploit religious sentiments for their criminal acts," said politician and human rights lawyer Jibran Nasir.
Paris, May 25 : French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and opposed Israeli operations in Rafah as he received an Arab delegation here, the media reported.

"Ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages, humanitarian aid, two-state solution: there is no alternative for lasting peace," Macron posted on X after he met members of the contact group of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on the situation in the Middle East, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

The meeting focused on the effective implementation of the two-state solution, the only way to guarantee the peace and security of Israel and to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, a statement from the Elysee read.

Macron also reiterated France's support for a strengthened Palestinian Authority and its return to the Gaza Strip with the support of the international community, the statement noted.
Kolkata, May 25 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused her own party legislator Usha Rani Mondal of having a clandestine understanding with the BJP.

Mondal is the Trinamool Congress MLA from the Minakhan Assembly segment in North 24 Parganas district that falls under the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency.

"She (Mondal) will continue to be a Trinamool legislator. Yet, she will not attend any party meetings. I will not accept Usha Rani Mondal unless she apologises. I have no connection with her. I do not want people like her in my party.

"She and her husband are trying to sell the party which I will never accept," the Chief Minister said at Minakhan on Saturday while addressing an election meeting in support of the party candidate from Basirhat, Haji Nurul Islam.

Banerjee also accused the BJP of spending lakhs of rupees to purchase obedience of her party leaders.

"Lakhs of cash are being seized every day. They are trying to purchase votes by distributing cash. They think they can buy everyone with cash," she said.

The Chief Minister also expressed her displeasure over two recent orders passed by the Calcutta High Court -- cancellation of around 26,000 school jobs, and scrapping more than five lakh OBC certificates issued by the Bengal government after 2010 as 'invalid'.

"I will not allow BJP's plot to be successful. I will not allow snatching away jobs or OBC certificates. Similarly, I will not allow the implementation of CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), NRC (National Register of Citizens), and UCC (Uniform Civil Code) in the state," the Chief Minister said.

She also said that casting votes for any anti-BJP party in West Bengal other than the Trinamool will mean indirectly helping the BJP.

"This will mean division in anti-BJP votes. Every vote cast to any other party will make the BJP happy. Do not divide anti-BJP votes," the Chief Minister told the gathering.
Tel Aviv, May 25 : Israel's armed forces were active in the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, despite a call by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an immediate end to the military operation in Rafah.

Israeli soldiers killed several Palestinian gunmen who had previously fired at the Israelis, the army said. Further weapons caches and tunnel shafts were found in Rafah.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that one civilian was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the city, which borders Egypt.

None of the information could be independently verified.

On Friday, the ICJ ordered Israel to immediately end the military operation in Rafah, as part of a case brought by South Africa.

According to the judges, the humanitarian situation in Rafah is now "disastrous." Further measures are necessary to prevent further harm to the civilian population, they said.

Israel rejected the ruling, saying it has a "right to defend its territory and its citizens, consistent with its moral values and in compliance with international law."

The war in Gaza was triggered by the unprecedented massacre of more than 1,200 people by terrorists from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group and other militants on October 7.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive. The criticism of Israel has grown as the death toll among Palestinians has increased. It currently stands at over 35,000 people dead, according to Hamas authorities in Gaza.

As in previous days, the fighting in Gaza on Saturday centred on the refugee settlement of Jabalia in the north of the coastal strip.

According to the army, Israeli soldiers killed dozens of enemy fighters in the last 24 hours, partly in close combat and partly through targeted airstrikes.
Patna May 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that a 'Mahayagya' of Viksit Bharat is currently in progress in India even as the opposition parties are trying hard to hinder the national effort by creating obstacles.

"When India stands united, these forces mock our resolve for development. While the whole country celebrates and Buxar sends gifts for Ram Lalla, who boycotts the consecration and calls the temple impure? These are the people of Congress, RJD, and the INDI Alliance. They obstruct every sacred effort.

"People of the virtuous land of Buxar, will you not answer these forces? Will they not get a full response," asked PM Modi in Buxar while addressing his third election rally of the day in Bihar after Patliputra and Karakat.

Accusing the Congress of considering the country "as its estate", Prime Minister Modi said that its leaders feel that the 'prince' is the only heir of the country, but the alliance partners have a different plan of having a new Prime Minister, every year.

"INDI Alliance wants to cancel CAA, allow infiltrators free entry, re-impose Article 370 in Kashmir, and endanger the lives of our sons on the border. Choose wisely and vote for the BJP," said the PM.

He also appealed to vote for BJP candidate Mithilesh Tiwari, who is contesting from Buxar.

"The NDA government has a proven track record and a clear vision for the future. We've provided PM-Awas to four crore poor people. We gave free Ayushman cards for treatment and will extend this to all elderly above 70 years of age.

"With your vote, we'll offer free electricity through the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, make three crore sisters 'Lakhpati Didis', and continue free ration for five years. We'll ensure terrorism and Naxalism don't resurface," he said.

PM Modi on Saturday addressed three back-to-back rallies in Patliputra, Karakat, and Buxar in favour of NDA candidates Ram Kripal Yadav, Upendra Kushwaha, and Mithilesh Tiwari, respectively.
London, May 25 : A British man has been charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism after travelling to Syria.

Isa Giga was arrested by counter-terrorism police in London on Thursday after arriving on a flight from Turkey.

The 31-year-old from London was later charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism. He travelled to Syria to fight for the "Jaysh Al Fath" groups, police said.

He will appear in custody at a court in London on Saturday.

Dominic Murphy, head of counter-terrorism for London's Metropolitan Police, said: "We have been clear for some time now that should anyone return to the UK whom we suspect of being involved in any terrorist-related activity overseas, then they can expect to be thoroughly investigated."

"We work very closely with other partners and agencies here in the UK and overseas in order to do this and help keep the public safe," he added.
Damascus, May 25 : An Israeli drone struck a car and a truck affiliated with Hezbollah near the city of Al-Qusayr in Syria's central Homs province on Saturday, killing two members of the Lebanese armed group, a war monitor reported.

The attack set both vehicles on fire, which were en route to the Al-Dabaa military airport in the countryside of Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Britain-based watchdog group said that two Hezbollah members were killed, and several others, whose nationalities remained unknown, were injured in the attack.

This attack follows a previous Israeli airstrike on May 20 near the Nabigha Al-Dhubyani School, north of the Al-Qusayr roundabout, which resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, comprising five Lebanese and three Syrians.

According to the Observatory, since the beginning of 2024, Israel has conducted 41 attacks on Syrian territory, comprising 29 airstrikes and 12 ground operations.

These assaults have resulted in the destruction or damage of about 83 targets, including weapon and ammunition depots, headquarters, and vehicles.

The Observatory's data showed that these strikes have killed 141 military personnel and injured 57 others. Among the fatalities are 21 Iranians from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, 27 Hezbollah members, 12 Iraqis, 31 Syrian members of Iran-affiliated militias, and 10 non-Syrian members of Iran-affiliated militias.

Additionally, 40 Syrian military personnel and 12 civilians, including two women, have been killed, with about 20 civilians sustaining injuries in the attacks.
Mumbai, May 25 : Indian Super League 2023-24 Cup winners, Mumbai City FC have announced the release of seven players after their contracts conclude at the end of this month. Naocha Singh, Bhaskar Roy, Mohammad Nawaz, Gurkirat Singh, Rowllin Borges, Tondomba Singh and Jakub VojtuA will leave the club on May 31.

"We express our gratitude to these players for their valuable contributions and wish them all the best for their future," the Indian Super League champion said in a statement on Saturday.

Naocha Singh -- on loan this season at Kerala Blasters -- signed on a free transfer, will be leaving the club at the end of his contract on May 31. During his several loan stints, Naocha proved to be an important part of multiple squads, also winning the I-League with Punjab FC in the 2022/23 season.

Bhaskar Roy, who joined the club in 2022, will also depart after his contract expires with the Islanders, having won the ISL Shield and Cup during his time at the club.

Mohammad Nawaz, who joined the club from FC Goa on a three-year deal, will depart at the end of May as well. For the Islanders, Nawaz made 28 appearances and kept eight clean sheets during his time at the club.

Gurkirat Singh will also leave the Islanders after the end of his three-year contract. The Chandigarh native signed in September 2021 from Indian Arrows had 49 appearances and scored two goals for Mumbai City FC.

Rowllin Borges -- on loan this season at FC Goa -- who was an integral part of the ISL double-winning squad in 2020/21, will be concluding a successful five-year stint with Mumbai City FC at the end of this month. Having signed for the club in 2019, Borges made 59 appearances and scored four times.

Tondomba Singh, who is on loan this season at Delhi FC, will leave the club after four seasons, having joined in 2020. Jakub VojtuA who joined the team in March 2024 on a short-term contract to replace the injured Iker Guarrotxena will depart upon the expiration of his contract.

Mumbai City FC lifted their second ISL title earlier this month after a 3-1 win over Mohun Bagan in the final.
New Delhi, May 25 : Hours before the moment of reckoning arrives for Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light' at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, and punters have a field day trying to predict what the 38-year-old director from Mumbai will bring back home, she can at least bask in the sunshine of praise lavished on her by some of the most revered critics.

'All We Imagine...' will be up against the sympathy wave for the Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof's 'Seed of the Sacred Fig', which earned an eight-year jail term for its maker, who had to flee his home country to escape the secret police, which apparently has already incarcerated the movie's two lead actors.

Be that as it may, Kapadia has a lot of pleasurable reading to do. Here's a sample of what the international critics had to say after the screening of 'All We Imagine...' ended with an eight-minute standing ovation from the audience.

Peter Bradshaw of 'The Guardian' gave five stars to the film and started his review with these words: "There is a freshness and emotional clarity in Payal Kapadia's Cannes competition selection, an enriching humanity and gentleness which coexist with fervent, languorous eroticism and finally something epiphanic in the ... mysterious final moments."

His judgment at the end of the review: "It is both dreamlike and like waking up from a dream. This is a glorious film."

Fionnuala Halligan of the 'ScreenDaily' is equally generous with her praise. She opens with the comment: "All cities are crossroads, transitory beacons of artificial light which attract visitors and those who stay forever but who will always remain visitors."

And then, Halligan pans to Kapadia's metropolis. "Mumbai is its own special case; something that Payal Kapadia eloquently pleads in 'All We Imagine As Light'," she writes. "It's a light for audiences to surrender to, a realist-infused story of three women broadly representing three generations in a city where their hold is fragile, where their breaths barely leave a mist of a trace."

Foreign critics are clearly transfixed by the film's portrait of Mumbai. Stephen Saito points to the relationship between Mumbai and Kapadia's characters when he writes in 'The Moveable Fest', "... the unrequited love between those living in Mumbai and the city as it currently exists can stir up just as much passion when an urban centre can promise so much and can offer so little in return."

He concludes by noting: "Where so many can be overlooked, Kapadia is able to see into every window, tenderly finding the soul in people and places losing touch with their humanity."

And just in case you have been wondering what the title of the movie seeks to convey, the Variety critic, Jessica Kiang, has the answer: "The film's title is only ever obliquely explained, in a story someone tells of a factory worker so exploited by his workplace's gruelingly long shifts that at times he could barely remember what the daylight looked like."

Will the three women at the centre of the film meet the same fate? Kiang hopes not and she concludes with these lines: "The light is all around them, and if they have to imagine it, it's only because they cannot see it emanates from within."

Jordan Mintzer of 'The Hollywood Reporter' contextualises the film for a global audience and writes about how the film is a world apart from standard Bollywood fare and yet has certain elements of it.

'All We Imagine As Light', Mintzer writes, "is about as far as you can get from the stylistics of Bollywood's masala musicals, even if there is one short and memorable impromptu dance scene toward the end."

But then, as he points out, "its story of women looking for love and happiness in a calamitous world brings to mind those popular Mumbai-set movies in which heroines suffer plenty of heartbreak before things eventually work out."

Writing in the Joy Sauce, New York-based filmmaker and writer Siddhant Adlakha declares: "Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light' is a luminous portrait of Indian womanhood, and announces the arrival of a major dramatic voice."

Comparing it with Kapadia's 2021 docu-fiction, 'A Night of Knowing Nothing', which won the L'Oeil d'Or at Cannes in 2021, but was never released in India, Adlakha says her debut feature film "is gentler and more intimate than her incendiary documentary", but it told through "similar dreamlike portraitures, and a similar eye for how India's political fabric nestles its way into each aspect of daily life. The result is a film that moves the needle forward, for depictions of women in Indian cinema, by leaps and bounds."

The 'IndieWire' critic, Sophie Monks Kaufman, gives the film 'Grade: A' and she writes: "The intimate way that women move through a city sprawl gives Payal Kapadia's drama about two nurses in Mumbai a deeply romantic gauze. This romance has to do with the way that people occupy their space in this world, whether alone or sharing it with others."

In a few hours, the world will get to know how much of the enthusiasm of the critics is shared by the jury, which is headed by the 'Barbie' hitmaker, Greta Gerwig.
New Delhi, May 25 : South African businessmen Anil Kumar Gupta and Ajay Kumar Gupta, who were arrested by the police in Dehradun on charges of abetment of suicide of a prominent builder, were sent to judicial custody for 14 days on Saturday.

While sending the Gupta brothers to judicial custody, the SJM's court also sought a response from the police on the bail application moved by the accused.

The Gupta brothers were arrested after Dehradun-based builder, Satinder Singh Sawhney, named them in a suicide note. The Gupta siblings' arrest stemmed from accusations made against them by Sawhney in this suicide note. Sawhney tragically ended his life by jumping from the terrace of a seven-story apartment complex on Friday morning.

Both Anil and Ajay Gupta were presented before the court on Saturday for further legal action.

Originally from UP's Saharanpur, the Gupta family gained infamy for their wide-ranging business activities in South Africa, where they faced allegations of widespread corruption. Some years back, the family became embroiled in a major political scandal in the country, which drew global attention due to its connection with President Jacob Zuma.

Amid all this development, there were reports saying that the South African Department of Justice is preparing to engage in discussions with Indian officials regarding the arrest of the Gupta brothers.

Chrispin Phiri, Spokesperson for South Africaas Ministry of Justice & Correctional Services, told a section of media: "The (Department) of Justice and Correctional Services has noted reports of the arrest of two Gupta brothers, Ajay and Anil, in India. Our arrest warrants were for Rajesh and Atul Gupta, nevertheless, formal processes are underway through the High Commissioner in India to verify and for possible engagement."

At the same time, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola reportedly told press persons in Johannesburg that the Gupta family members who were arrested in India were not the ones South Africa issued a warrant of arrest for. Lamola said he was not sure whether those arrested were related to Rajesh and Atul, who left South Africa for Dubai amid numerous legal challenges and investigations, both in South Africa and internationally.

Earlier, Ranvir Sahni, the son of the deceased builder, informed the police, "My father was persistently threatened by Ajay Gupta, son of Shiv Gupta, and Anil Gupta, son of Shyam Lal Gupta, residents of Nehru Colony Dalanwala, regarding financial matters. A formal complaint detailing the threats, harassment, intimidation, and blackmail by the Gupta brothers was lodged with the local police on May 19, 2023."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Azercell-hosted GSMA M360 Eurasia 2024 concluded in Baku.

The GSMA M360 Eurasia conference, organized by GSMA with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and hosted by "Azercell Telecom" LLC, concluded successfully. The event attracted regional and international experts in telecommunications and digital technologies, as well as representatives of regional regulatory bodies.

During the conference, the management teams of Azercell and GSMA held strategic discussions, focusing on the priority areas and future frameworks of their partnership. ne of the key topics on the agenda was the integration of AI in telecom and exploring opportunities for collaboration in this sector.

The organizations also discussed the details of new cooperative programs that will further strengthen their partnership.

Thus, as part of the new agreement, Azercell employees will participate in specialized training programs developed by GSMA for mobile operators. These training initiatives will facilitate the successful adaptation of Azercell's workforce to the evolving job market and contribute to enhancing the companys human capital.

The M360 conference also served as an effective platform for discussing ongoing cooperation in addressing climate change within the industry. Thus, Azercell joined GSMA's climate action task group within COP29 and is committed to advancing the mobile industry towards achieving net zero carbon emissions. It is worth mentioning that Azercell has been actively participating in GSMA's Climate Action Taskforce since December of last year, highlighting its dedication to environmental sustainability.
Kolkata, May 25 : Amid complaints of poll-related tension and violence throughout the day, polling for the eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal on Saturday recorded 77.99 per cent voter turnout till 5 p.m.

An official of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that West Bengal's poll percentage figure is higher as compared to the national average of 57.7 per cent.

He said that the final percentage would be available on May 26 after the completion of the final tabulation.

"Going by the trend of polling, it can be well determined the polling percentage in West Bengal will cross the mark of 80 per cent mark since during the last one hour, there were long queues in front of the polling booths while in some cases polling continued even after the end the scheduled polling period," he said.

The official said that the polling percentage was highest at Bishnupur at 81.47 per cent, followed by Tamluk at 79.79 per cent, Jhargram at 79.68 per cent, Ghatal at 78.92 per cent, Medinipur at 77.57 per cent, Bankura at 76.79 per cent, Kanthi at 75.66 per cent and finally Purulia being the lowest at 74.09 per cent.

He said that the least reports of violence have been reported from Bishnupur, which recorded the highest polling percentage while Purulia recorded the lowest percentage.

In the final and seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections on June 1, a total of nine constituencies in West Bengal will go to polls.
Dhaka, May 25 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has pledged that even labourers will be able to live in apartments, citing the government's effort to make Dhaka slum-free.

She made the promise at the launch of construction of the Bangabazar market here at the site of the old market that was gutted in a devastating fire, and three other development projects on Saturday, bdnews24 reported.

"There will be no makeshift slums in unhygienic environments in Dhaka. Everyone will live in a lovely environment. We (the government) will arrange this and have taken steps in this regard. We aim to work for people's welfare and we are prioritising this.

"We are arranging flats for cleaning workers. Rent-based flats are being arranged for slum dwellers. They will pay the same rent as in slums but will be able to live in flats. Flats will not just be for the rich. Low-income people from rickshaw pullers to labourers will also be able to live in them. The rent will be very low. If anyone wants to pay daily, or in seven-day installments or monthly, they would be able to do so. Already 300 families have received flats," Sheikh Hasina said.

Talking about the start-up programmes pushed by the government, the Prime Minister also encouraged youths to be entrepreneurs.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 25 : With the Kerala government deciding to give the nod for a Crime Branch probe into an audio clip where bar owners were purportedly asked to pay Rs 2.50 lakh each for "favourable liquor policies", the Congress-led UDF, which met here on Saturday, demanded a judicial probe into the issue.

UDF convenor and veteran Congress leader M.M. Hassan said the ploy of the Pinarayi Vijayan government in announcing a police probe is to save state Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, the CM's son-in-law, as the amount involved is in excess of Rs 20 crore.

"The police probe is meant to save Riyas and Excise Minister M.P. Rajesh. We demand a judicial probe into the bar scam that has surfaced with the audio clip. All aspects with regards to the sanctioning of bars have to be probed," he said, demanding both these Ministers quit.

"In 2015, this very same Vijayan-led Left had created a ruckus both inside and outside the Assembly and even then state Finance Minister K.M. Mani was literally attacked when he tried to present the annual Budget in the Assembly. Then the allegation this Left raised was corruption to the tune of Rs 5 crore, whereas now the audio reveals a massive corruption," Hassan added.

When the Vijayan government assumed office in 2016, there were 29 bars in the state, and now that figure has crossed 900 and many fresh bar license applications are likely to be cleared soon. In the past three years, a record 130 new bars were sanctioned.

With both the Congress and the BJP attacking the Vijayan government for this "massive corrupt deal", Rajesh demanded a probe into this audio clip by writing to the state police chief and soon thereafter, Vijayan, who is also the Home Minister, gave the nod for it.

Though Rajesh and others have said no decision has been made, it was Riyas who is reported to have held discussions with players in the tourism industry, but on Saturday, he broke his silence on the issue and said no such discussions had taken place at all.
Thane : , May 25 (IANS) A Thane court on Saturday sent the owner of Amudan Chemical Pvt. Ltd. in Dombivli, where a huge blast-cum-blaze killed 13 persons on May 23, to police custody till May 29.

Malay P. Mehta (38), the owner-director of the chemical factory, was produced before the Magistrate in Kalyan after his arrest from Thane on Friday.

His aged mother Malati P. Mehta, who was detained in Nashik, has been let off since she had no involvement in the routine affairs of the factory located in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation complex, an official said.

Seeking a 14-day remand for Mehta, the police argued that they wanted to visit the factory premises and find out if more people or company officials were involved in the massive tragedy that left 13 dead and over 60 others injured, besides causing huge damage to the unit and its surroundings.

Challenging the police's contention, Mehtaas lawyers said that the company had adhered to all the rules and regulations and had all the necessary permissions and clearances.

After listening to both sides, the Magistrate sent Mehta to police custody till next Wednesday.

Soon after the tragedy, Thane police had lodged an FIR against the company owners, directors, managers, and supervisory staff under various sections including the stringent Section 304 of the IPC that pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and handed over the investigations to the Ulhasnagar Crime Branch.

The police have also slapped charges under the Explosive Substances Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The company has been accused of not taking adequate precautions in mixing chemicals, the final products, the storage protocols, etc.

The impact of the blast was so severe that the window panes of many buildings in the vicinity were shattered, several big and small structures were shaken in a radius of more than 3-4 km, while roads, electric poles, and vehicles were also damaged in the locality.

A day later, the locals faced another problem as a strong stench of chemicals and burnt metal and a layer of ash covered a large area.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, and leaders of various political parties have visited the blast site to take stock of the rescue and relief operations.
New Delhi, May 25 : Adarsh Shastri, the grandson of former Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator spoke exclusively to IANS on the string of issues ranging from Arvind Kejriwal and AAP's alleged dalliance with Khalistani separatists, Swati Maliwal assault case, people's mandate in ongoing elections and more.

Sharing his sharp observation on the INDIA alliance, the Congress leader said that this was a coalition of compulsion and will not survive for long.

"2025 Delhi polls will see a direct fight between BJP and Congress as AAP will be nowhere in the picture," Adarsh Shastri told IANS.

Here is the full interview:

IANS: You were part of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for a long time. When you left the party, you said that Arvind Kejriwal is a 'dictator.' You also accused him of selling tickets for Rs 10-20 crore. How do you see the situation today?

Adarsh Shastri: When I left my job at Apple and joined politics, I believed Arvind Kejriwal was genuinely committed to honest politics, in contrast to what was the practice at the time. As the grandson of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, I wanted to support those on a righteous path.

I contested from the Dwarka Assembly constituency but soon felt suffocated. The so-called democracy within AAP was never practised and dissenting voices were suppressed. The moral compass was missing in Kejriwal and AAP's ideology.

Now, the entire country sees the corruption I witnessed, be it the liquor policy scam, the Delhi Jal Board scam or selling Rajya Sabha and other tickets. If AAP had followed the honesty it preached, many like me would still be with them.

IANS: When AAP and Congress were forming an alliance, didn't you suggest that this would negatively affect Congress?

Adarsh Shastri: Every leader in Delhi Congress voiced concerns that the alliance would not benefit us. AAP always accused Congress of corruption, demonstrated against our prominent leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi and it was the same party which unseated Congress from power in Delhi, on the back of a fake narrative.

Despite opposition, the high command felt that the situation was such that the alliance was necessary in the fight against BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

IANS: Is this why many Congress leaders maintained a distance, and some even left the party?

Adarsh Shastri: I can't comment on individual choices. However, leaving the party in difficult times was inappropriate. Joining hands with AAP negatively impacts Congress.

However, I am confident our three candidates in Delhi will win by a large margin unlike some AAP candidates, be it the West Delhi candidate or others, I don't think they will be able to leave their mark on the public.

IANS: You talked about Congress candidates. The party has candidates like Kanhaiya Kumar, who joined Congress after leaving Left and Udit Raj, who joined after leaving BJP. Does this indicate a lack of trust in long-standing party members?

Adarsh Shastri: Kanhaiya Kumar has been a student politician, and now he is working very hard towards Congress' resolve to save the country, so I am very proud that the party has chosen him.

Meanwhile, Udit Raj has been fighting for the backward section for quite some time and I think that the BJP did not give him the respect he deserved and disheartened by this, he joined Congress.

IANS: Will the AAP-Congress alliance continue in future Assembly elections?

Adarsh Shastri: I don't think the alliance should continue beyond the Lok Sabha elections. Assembly elections in Delhi are scheduled in six months and Congress should re-establish itself, as it was during Sheila Dikshit's tenure.

Everyone in the Delhi Congress wants this alliance to end. The 2025 Assembly elections will be a direct fight between Congress and BJP, and a Congress Chief Minister will be formed. AAP will pose no challenge.

IANS: What are your expectations for the Lok Sabha election results?

Adarsh Shastri: I believe the INDIA bloc will secure record seats, limiting BJP and PM Modi to 200-230 seats.

IANS: What is your take on Swati Maliwal's assault case?

Adarsh Shastri: It's saddening that a party which once championed women's security now faces such incidents and more so, at its CM's residence.

Party members, who were once my colleagues are defending Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bibhav Kumar, showing that political standards have stooped so low that the party members are siding with Kejriwal, rather than the victim.

IANS: Did you meet Bibhav Kumar? What was his personality like?

Adarsh Shastri: I met him when I was an MLA. He used to work as Kejriwal's eyes and ears, as his gatekeeper, controlling access and communication. He worked as a committed aide in pushing the agenda of 'megalomaniac' Kejriwal.

IANS: Do you think Sunita Kejriwal was behind the incident with Swati Maliwal?

Adarsh Shastri: I think that whatever happened with Swati Maliwal, Kejriwal must have been aware of it, as he was still at home, and it is not possible that someone comes to your house and you are not aware of it. I can't comment on his family's involvement.

IANS: Arvind Kejriwal demonstrated against Congress over the Nirbhaya case. How do you view his silence over Maliwal's case now?

Adarsh Shastri: It's painful that Kejriwal, who invoked Nirbhaya for the sake of political gains, remains silent on such incidents in his home. The Nirbhaya fund, formed for women's security then, is underutilised by AAP today, only 10-15 per cent has been allocated.

IANS: Do you think what happened with Swati can also happen with Atishi in future?

Adarsh Shastri: Everything that comes out of this situation is that they (AAP) don't honour women. All women and people should be alert and decide their course of action. The hypocrisy of Kejriwal has driven away many honest people from his party.

IANS: Rahul Gandhi also interacted with women in Delhi. Do you think that he should discuss Maliwal's case with Arvind Kejriwal?

Adarsh Shastri: He will definitely do it. I know that Rahul Gandhi and Congress always protect women's honour. He will address this issue because 'nyay' (justice) for women is a priority in our manifesto.

IANS: Do you think Arvind Kejriwal is personally corrupt?

Adarsh Shastri: As Chief Minister, nothing happens without his knowledge. Regarding the liquor policy scam, saying that he doesn't have a portfolio or he doesn't sign files is ridiculous. His denial of involvement in alleged scams is implausible.

He claimed that he wouldn't live in a government bungalow nor avail high-level security. Today, he lives luxuriously in a house worth crores, with hundreds of security guards. If a person like him talks about honesty, then he feels hollow.

How can so many people, including Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Raj Mohan Gandhi, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Founder of Air Deccan Gopinath, Infosys co-founder Gopikrishnan, Medha Patkar, Meera Sanyal, Kumar Vishwas and Swati Maliwal be against one person, everyone cannot be wrong and dishonest.

IANS: Does Kejriwal have links with Khalistanis?

Adarsh Shastri: When I was an AAP MLA, I also handled the Overseas Department with Kumar Vishwas. During visits to Canada and Germany, we went to Gurudwaras, which financially supported AAP, but those places had photos of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and those involved in Operation Blue Star, who were killed by our security forces.

It felt wrong to seek financial help from people praising terrorists. Kumar Vishwas and I raised this concern with the CM, but we were ignored. You can draw your own conclusions from this.

IANS: Where does the funding for Kejriwal's party come from?

Adarsh Shastri: This question should be directed at Kejriwal. However, the party that claimed it would avoid black money is now receiving funds through electoral bonds, big businessmen, and various scams like the liquor policy and the Delhi Jal Board scam.

IANS: On one hand, Arvind Kejriwal along with others are said to be involved in liquor scams, while on the other, they claimed that they worked in the field of education and introduced free bus travel for women. How do you see these things?

Adarsh Shastri: Kejriwal's government is about the advertisements. Under Sheila Dikshit, Delhi had about 1,000 schools and 40-42 hospitals, the numbers remain the same.

The much-publicised Mohalla Clinics have dwindled to only 300-400. Many schools lack principals and teachers.

When people were dying in Delhi because of Covid-19, these people were hiding in their homes. Their governance is more about marketing than actual work.

IANS: Is Congress adhering to Lal Bahadur Shastri's teachings and ideology?

Adarsh Shastri: Lal Bahadur Shastri followed Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Today, if anyone is advocating for the poor, labourers, women, and the backward sections, it is Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.

IANS: What is your view on reservations and the accusation that the Congress manifesto reflects the Muslim League's agenda?

Adarsh Shastri: This is a false narrative pushed by PM Modi. Congress's manifesto aims to help those with fewer resources to move forward, reflecting a commitment to lifting the poor out of poverty.

IANS: Has AAP addressed addiction problems in Punjab as promised?

Adarsh Shastri: When I visited Punjab, it was clear that those who voted for AAP were very unhappy. The drug problem is at its peak, severely affecting the youth.

Punjab has always contributed significantly to the country. The public can now see through AAP's failures and are set to vote for Congress.
Moscow, May 25 : The foreign ministers of Russia and Iran have reaffirmed the strategic ties between the two countries following the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian president who died in a helicopter crash nearly a week ago.

Under Raisi, Tehran took a tough line against the United States and Europe as it moved closer to Russia. For Moscow, Iran has become a key political, economic and military partner. Iran, for instance, is a critical arms supplier for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The relationship will stay the course, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said in a statement following a telephone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iran's new foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani. Kani's predecessor, Hossein Amirabdollahian, died in the chopper crash along with Raisi on May 19.

All previous agreements and joint initiatives will continue, the ministry said.

--IANS/DPA

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Istanbul, May 25 : A weekly vigil to raise awareness about forcibly disappeared activists during the 1980s and 90s in Turkey marked its 1,000th gathering in central Istanbul on Saturday.

Protesters laid down red carnations and held photos of missing people on Istanbul's Astiklal shopping street. Several hundred people took part in the vigil, according to organisers.

"We want justice for our children. Their murderers should be found," said one participant. Events were also held in other cities, Turkish media reported.

Relatives and family members of those who disappeared after the 1980 military coup and during the 1990s in Turkey's mainly Kurdish south-east have been gathering in Istanbul since 1995.

The group, known as the Saturday Mothers, meets in Galatasaray Square every Saturday for a peaceful vigil. They demand an independent investigation into the fate of their missing children and relatives.

Some mothers and relatives passed away before finding any answers, the latest of them being Fatma KArbayAr earlier this month. She was the sister of Cemil KArbayAr, missing since the 1980 coup, local media reported.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) this week issued a parliamentary question for a wider investigation into the events.

The authorities recognize the "Saturday Mothers' pain" and a wider gathering will be allowed on Saturday, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) group chair Azlem Zengin told parliament on Thursday.

The vigil was banned in 2018 when police used force and tear gas to disperse participants.

It returned in November 2023, a year after the country's Constitutional Court ruled the blockade was a violation of rights.

The activists say they never heard from their relatives after reported abductions, police detention or extrajudicial killings.

The allegations coincided with heavy clashes between security forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the 1980s and 90s.

Nearly 1,400 people went missing between 1980 and 2001, according to Turkey's Human Rights Association (AHD).

Exact numbers are unknown, but international rights groups have called for a probe into the allegations, including torture and mass graves in south-eastern Turkey.

--IANS/DPA

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Kyiv, May 25 : Some 28 Ukrainian commanders are facing a criminal investigation over military failures at the start of Russia's recent offensive near Kharkiv.

Ukraine's State Investigation Bureau has launched an investigation, Ukrainian media reported on Saturday.

The officers are accused of failing to properly organise the defence of Ukraine's border with Russia. The proceedings were entered into the official court register.

After the Russian attack in the area on May 10, the Ukrainian army had to evacuate its forward positions and several villages, with high losses of soldiers and materials.

The 28 officers under investigation are reportedly from the command level of the 125th Brigade, the 415th Rifle Battalion and the 23rd Mechanized Brigade and other units.

After the first retreat from the Russian offensive, the Ukrainian army command replaced the commanding general in the area. The governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, had construction companies report to him about why fortifications were not built as ordered.

Ukrainian forces were only able to slow the Russian troop advance after days, though heavy fighting on the new front continued.

On Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Ukrainian army had regained control in the area. Military experts say the new Russian attack is intended to tie up Ukrainian forces and push Russian artillery forward to within firing range of the major city of Kharkiv.

--IANS/DPA

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Patna, May 25 : In the sixth phase of polling in Bihar on Saturday, the election commission registered 55.45% voting till 6 p.m.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar HR Srinivasa said polling was 3.02% lower compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha election on these 8 seats. The election commission had registered 58.47% in the 2019 election.

A maximum of 59.75% voting was recorded in Paschim Champaran, 58.50% in Vaishali, 58.25% in Valmiki Nagar, 57.30% in Purvi Champaran,56.30% in Sheohar, 52.50% in Siwan, 51.27% in Maharajganj and 50.70% in Gopalganj (SC Reserved Seat) on Saturday.

Voting was held in 14872 polling booths at 8790 polling centres in these 8 constituencies.

"We have also seized Rs 2.86 crore cash and 3 lakh, 53,742 litres liquor worth Rs 9.46 crore during the polling in these 8 Lok Sabha constituencies," he said.

"During the sixth phase, 86 candidates were in the fray for the 8 Lok Sabha seats including 78 males and 8 females. A total of 1 crore, 49 lakh, 32, 165 eligible voters including 78 lakh, 23,793 male and 71 lakh, 7944 female voters. The number of third-gender voters is 428," the CEO said.

He added that villagers boycotted the polling for various reasons at polling booth numbers 272 and 273 in Narkatiaganj block under the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha constituency.

"We received 217 complaints during the polling in the 8 Lok Sabha constituencies and we resolved the complaints immediately. A polling officer named Kanhaiya Prasad died in a train accident at Sugauli railway station in Purvi Champaran Lok Sabha constituency," he said.
New Delhi, May 25 : The Acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Manmohan, has issued an office order mandating that trial courts in the national capital keep their video conferencing (VC) system operational during court hours.

The order outlines several key directives to ensure seamless and transparent virtual court proceedings.

Continuous Video Feed

The video at the court's end must remain switched on throughout court hours. Also, the VC should not be muted unless the court specifically directs it.

Accessibility

The VC joining process must not be locked, allowing advocates, litigants, and the public to join seamlessly unless directed otherwise by the court.

Item Number Display

Every court must display the item number during VC proceedings to maintain clarity and order.

Session Status

Courts must show a message on the VC screen indicating when the court retires, is not in session, is on leave, or when there are directions to restrict the proceedings as per an office order dated June 5, 2023.

Fortnightly Reports

Principal district and session judges are required to send a fortnightly report on VC operations to the Registrar General's office in the prescribed format. They must also ensure that all officials under their supervision strictly adhere to these directives.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. As part of the working visit to Berlin, Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union attended an event titled Back to Nature: Revival of bison population in Azerbaijan organized ahead of the International Biodiversity Day by the IDEA PU at the Azerbaijan Culture Center.

Addressing the event, Leyla Aliyeva, Andreas Knieriem, Director of the Berlin Zoo, Kathrin Samson, Head of nature conservation department of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Germany emphasized the significance of the event and the progress made in reviving and increasing the bison population in Azerbaijan.

Leyla Aliyeva also held meetings with Andreas Knieriem, Kathrin Samson as well as Michael Succow, Founder of the Succow Foundation, and Rui Bernardino, Head of the Zoology and Veterinary Department of the Lisbon Zoo. They exchanged views on cooperation in nature protection, conservation, and wildlife revival.

The visit also saw the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Baku and Berlin Zoos. The document envisages the exchange of experience, knowledge and information, as well as joint training sessions for zoo personnel.

Since 2012, the IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Azerbaijan office have been intensively working together for the reintroduction of bison into the wild in Azerbaijan.

The current number of bison in the Shahdag National Park has reached 61.
Agartala, May 25 : A three-day old baby girl who was reportedly sold by her monther due to 'extreme poverty' was rescued on Saturday and handed back to the woman, an official said.

Mormari Tripura (39) gave birth to a girl on Thursday at the Gandachara Sub-Divisional Hospital and the next day, she reportedly sold the infant to a couple for Rs 5,000.

According to reports, Mormari's husband reportedly committed suicide five months ago due to financial hardship.

She is the mother of five children, including the newborn.

Opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhury, immediately after learning about the incident, informed Dhalai District Magistrate and Collector Saju Vaheed A and Tripura Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha and sought their intervention.

The District Magistrate said the local authorities rescued the baby and handed it over to the woman on Saturday.

"The mother and the newborn are now at home in Gandachara. The woman has been facing severe poverty, especially after her husband's death. But it is not true that she sold her ration card and other documents to others," Vaheed A told IANS.

He said support is also being provided for the woman who requires assistance.

Chaudhury, criticising the BJP government, and the Tipra Motha Party-led Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), "for failing to provide necessary assistance and rural jobs to distressed people", said that the ministers of the state government, as well as the executive members of the TTAADC, were ignoring the basic problems of the people, especially the tribals.

"Explaining the serious economic situation and other problems of the rural and remote areas, I have written a letter to the Chief Secretary and requested him to arrange rural jobs under the MGNREGA. Also, I have requested to solve the other basic problems including water supply facing the people in the hilly, remote and rural areas," said Chaudhury, who is also the state Secretary of the CPI-M.
Bhubaneswar, May 25 : Odisha recorded a 60.07 per cent voter turnout, till 7.45 p.m. in the six Lok Sabha constituencies and 42 Assembly segments, which went to poll in the penultimate phase of Parliamentary and Assembly elections on Saturday.

Polling was held in Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Puri parliamentary constituencies and 42 assembly segments under them.

Voters exercised their franchise at 10,515 polling booths in the six parliamentary constituencies for the third phase of polling in the state.

Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal said that the voting for the third phase of polling witnessed some skirmishes between different political groups during the polls at some places in the state. He, however, said that the commission has not yet received any demand from the political parties regarding repolling at any booth in the state.

"There have been minor skirmishes at some places and we have video footage of those incidents also. Appropriate action will be taken in all those cases," Dhal said during a press conference here.

He also stated that as many as 201 ballot units, 214 control units and 501 VVPATs were replaced after technical glitches came to the fore during mock polls as well as the actual polling.

Prominent candidates in Saturday's phase included Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from Sambalpur, and BJP spokesman Sambit Patra vs BJD candidate and former Mumbai Police Chief Arup Patnaik in Puri.
Shillong, May 25 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday said that the state is projected to attract substantial private investment worth Rs 8,000 crore.

"The possible investment in Meghalaya is an outcome of the new industrial policy that has created an ecosystem for ease of doing business," the Chief Minister said while addressing a workshop on "Human Development Leadership Programme" in Tura.

Talking about policies that "previously discouraged investors", he said: "The system was tedious and time-consuming. Our new industrial policy has provided a framework to give clearance to different statutory requirements within a specified time frame, which is facilitating investors."

He said that close to Rs 4,000 crore investment has come through in the last one year, which includes a Rs 2,500 crore thermal power plant to generate 450 MW electricity, ethanol plant, beverages and a five star hotel chain.

Sangma also said that the government was taking steps to boost Internet connections in the state.

"The optical fibre connection will further boost the IT-enabled service sector," he said.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the new five-star hotel projects that are coming up in Shillong, Sohra and Umiam, and a three-star hotel in Tura, all through private investment, adding the hotel would promote business environment and job opportunities to the youth.

"Hotels, air connectivity, and high-speed Internet would encourage more IT companies to set up their enterprises in the state. The Shillong IT Park has provided jobs to more than 3,000 youths directly and indirectly and many more companies have expressed their keen desire to set up BPOs in the state," CM Sangma said.

He further said: "Companies are now shifting their focus from cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad to our state, as they know that we have the human resources and the capacity. Our people have good command over languages and work ethics, which is an added advantage."
Cannes, May 26 : George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola reflected on their lifelong bond as the 'Godfather' director, who just presented 'Megalopolis' at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, feted the 'Star Wars' visionary with the honorary Palme d'Or on Saturday night, reports 'Variety'.

Before Lucas received the award, he was greeted in the theatre by a several-minute standing ovation, a Cannes expression of appreciation, during which he gave the crowd a thumbs-up and got a little teary-eyed, 'Variety' notes.

When Coppola came on stage, the two embraced and exchanged some private remarks.

In his speech, Coppola recalled his first meeting with Lucas, who shadowed him on the set of his film 'Finian's Rainbow' in 1968.

The auteur recalled those days and said: "Pleased to have someone in my own generation, I suggested he come every day, but only on one condition: That he come up with a brilliant suggestion every day, which he consistently did."

Coppola continued by saying: "And with that began an association that has lasted a lifetime. And he went on and on, making film history, story history, business history, and now history in France."

He also mentioned, according to 'Variety', that when Lucas was rejected by the owners of the 'Flash Gordon' comic strip when he pitched a film adaptation, "he looked at me and he said, 'Well, I'll make my own movie, Iall call it 'Star Battles' or 'Star Wars' or something.' And so he did, and in the process risked everything he had to make it."

Accepting the award, Lucas said, "I canat thank all of you enough because I'm just a kid that grew up in a vineyard in Modesto, California, who makes movies in San Francisco with Francis."

Looking back on his nearly 60 years in the film industry, Lucas added that "it's definitely a different world" now.

Lucas and Coppola, to quote 'Variety', "held hands as they walked across the stage to take photos together with the award, supporting each other in more ways than one."
New Delhi, May 26 : At least 11 newborn babies were rescued after a fire broke out at a baby care centre in Delhi's Vivek Vihar area, a fire department official said, adding that the rescue operation is underway.

Delhi Fire Service (DFS) chief Atul Garg said that a fire call from a baby care centre, near IIT, Block B in Vivek Vihar has been received.

"A total of nine fire tenders rushed to the site. Rescue operation going on and so far 11 newborn babies rescued," said Garg.
Cannes, May 26 : Comedian Varun Grover expressed the view of a number of people across the country when he expressed his appreciation for Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light' with the comment: "Magical to see four Indian women on stage at Cannes. Dissent, in art and in life, is a tough path to choose. But sometimes it does create magic."

He took to X to say: "Unbelievable day for Indian cinema. An independent filmmaker -- from much-hated FTII -- whose first film was a poetic love letter to the idea of dissent in a democracy, wins the second highest honour at the biggest film festival in the world."

'The Family Man' and 'Scam 1992' star Shreya Dhanwanthary also took to X to make a larger point when she said: "I know we wanna view this as a collective victory for the Indian film industry but I believe it truly belongs to Payal Kapadia and her incredible cast and crew."

She continued to say: "Making a film here is tough, especially when it doesn't follow the rules. More, if it doesn't tick certain boxes."

Pointing out how it is "even tougher if the film stars female leads", Shreya wrote: "I know this fight personally and from talented colleagues whose brilliant stories are overlooked without big stars. They succeeded despite the industry's typical standards of success and non-existent encouragement."

She concluded by stating, "This achievement is solely theirs. No one made it easy for them and they got here on their own. Congratulations, Payal Kapadia and team! You deserve this glory. This is your moment!"
Jerusalem, May 26 : Israel has agreed to renew talks with Hamas on a hostage deal next week, with the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the US, Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Saturday.

According to the report, at a meeting in Paris on Friday, David Barnea, the chief of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency, presented a new proposal approved by the Israeli war cabinet to William Burns, director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

An Israeli government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Barnea had returned to Israel on Saturday morning following his meeting with William Burns and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Paris, Xinhua news agency reported.

The official told Xinhua that the three officials discussed the basis for continuing negotiations next week under the new proposals put forward by Egypt and Qatar, with the participation of the United States.

Kan TV reported that Burns had offered potential solutions to the contentious issues that had stalled previous negotiations, adding that the upcoming talks will be led by Egypt and Qatar, with active involvement from the United States.

The previous round of ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, which took place in Egypt, collapsed earlier this month.
In Book Nooks (Chronicle, Sept.), design director Vanessa Dina and food and lifestyle associate editor Claire Gilhuly, both with Chronicle Books, share functional and aesthetic ideas for displaying books at home. The coauthors, who worked with photographer Antonis Achilleos on the project, spoke with PW about color organization, the importance of breathing room, and whether its okay to keep books in the bathroom.

How do each of you organize your books at home?

Gilhuly: We store books based on function and have books in almost every room. The biggest collection lives in built-in bookshelves in our family room, organized by each family members taste: my library of best-loved novels; my husbands music books, record player, and record collection; and the bottom row of childrens books for our daughter. In my home office, I have an Alfred Newall bobbin bookshelf where I display books related to my work as an editor of cookbooks and lifestyle books. The shelf is behind my desk, so its a relevant Zoom background for work calls and a good conversation starter.

Dina: I live in a small apartment and I use every nook and cranny for book storage. In Book Nooks, we show books on a windowsill in a bathroom. My partner was like, nothing should be in the bathroom! But I kind of disagree. Organization by color helps. I have a bunch of Penguin Classics in a hutch in my living room. Theyre tiny books and they all have orange spines, and I keep them in a stack. Were also having fun with storing old paperbacks in our unused fireplace. Different spines facing out can look messy, so we flipped them around. Old paperbacks often have colored edges, and you can design with those books in an abstract way, making patterns, zigzags, or color blocks. Ive read them and Im probably not going to read them again, so theyve become a design element.

What displays have stood out to you?

Gilhuly: One of my favorite ideas, which I saw in a bar years ago, is using vintage cookbook pages as wallpaper or framing them as art; in our book we refer to the idea in a kitchen hutch display where a page from a vintage cookbook is taped to the cabinet wall. And because I love a traditional library aesthetic, the most iconic space in my mind is the library of Trinity College in Dublin, Irelandit looks straight out of Hogwarts.

Dina: We found this online and its featured in the bookan armoire thats been converted into a childrens reading space. They put in a shelf and a little seating spot for a small child, and I thought that was really inspiring.

What should people keep in mind when showcasing their books?

Gilhuly: Its challenging to land on the right ratio of books to decor objects on a shelf. The most eye-catching book displays arent overcrowded with books. They have plenty of objets dart and curiosities, and enough empty space to allow for some visual breathing room. If something looks off with your bookshelves, its probably related to this ratio.

Dina: If youre fortunate enough to create a specific location for books, like built-in shelves, thats awesome. But if youre in a smaller and tighter space, it helps to think about the unexpected: a bar cart, a side table. And obviously, easy access is important. If Im going to use a cookbook every day, I want it right there on my kitchen shelf.
With loyal audiences and archives of material, narrative series released as podcasts and on social media platforms are ripe for graphic novel adaptation. This trend has spawned titles such as the popular The Adventure Zone (First Second) and FGTeeV (HarperAlley) series, as well as the sci-fi podcast adaptation Bubble (First Second) and the forthcoming Impact Winter (Image, Oct.), a postapocalyptic vampire story based on the hit audio drama series on Audible.

Spooky stories aficionado John B. Allen made a name for himself on YouTube and in podcasting as MrBallen, telling true crime tales with a macabre twist. His debut graphic novel MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark and Mysterious (Ten Speed Graphic, Oct.), cowritten with Robert Venditti and drawn by Andrea Mutti, adapts eerie stories he claims are credible. Vignettes recount unexplained deaths in the supposedly haunted Valley of the Headless Men in Canada, a campers stalking on Mt. Rainer, strange phenomena in an abandoned Spanish village, and reports of the Beast of Gevaudan, a wolf (and suspected werewolf) that terrorized the French countryside in the 18th century.

How did you get started as a YouTuber and podcaster?

I was a Navy SEAL and was medically retired in 2017. Id expected to be in the Navy a little longer, and it sent me into a tizzy, trying to figure out what I was going to do as a civilian. I met this entrepreneur in New York and we started a company to connect veterans with jobs. We began on LinkedIn, telling stories about veterans. Then the pandemic happenedour company was largely event-based, and we couldnt host events. Id seen the power of social media. As a Hail Mary, I told a strange, dark, and mysterious story about these hikers who went missing in Russia in the 1950s, the Dyatlov Pass incident. I went with my kids to a water park, and when I came back, I couldnt even open my phone because there were so many notifications coming in. That was the moment everything changed.

How do you choose stories?

Theres always a reveal, a plot twist, at the end of the story. And were in the nonfiction space, so the story has to be at least credible enough that we can introduce it as a firsthand account. Finally, our channels are now big enough that the audience expects us to be innovative. In the old days it was just me and Google, and I was able to get away with doing well-trodden stories, but now we have a team of people seeking out stories that are true, have a plot twist, and are unique.

What made you decide to write a graphic novel?

I come from a family of book lovers and storytellers. Once I became a professional storyteller of sorts, I wanted to make a book, because thats the most OG form of storytelling there is, short of telling stories around a campfire.

Were doing it a little bit in reverse. We started with videos, and now were turning the digital content into traditional published artwork. Weve done thousands of YouTube videos, so we have a good idea of our aesthetic and our audience is naturally inclined to be responsive to visualsso a graphic novel just made sense.

Whats it like seeing these stories brought to life as comics?

Candidly, I didnt know how it was going to turn out. Id never made a book before, certainly not a graphic novel. But what Robert Venditti and Andrea Mutti have built with me is so special. It feels like we took the X factor of MrBallen on video and successfully moved it to paper.
Cyber-terrorism poses biggest danger among new terrorist risks: Kyrgyz president

Xinhua) 16:03, May 25, 2024

BISHKEK, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has said that cybercrime and cyber-terrorism pose the greatest danger among new terrorist risks and threats, the press service of the Kyrgyz president reported.

"No country in the world is able to cope with the threat of terrorism alone. It should be noted that new terrorist risks and threats have recently emerged, with cybercrime and cyber-terrorism posing the greatest danger," the Kyrgyz leader emphasized.

Japarov made the remarks during a meeting held on Friday within the framework of the 54th meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Bodies and Special Services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Bishkek.

During the meeting, Japarov noted the most acute problem of terrorism and extremism in the security sphere, emphasizing that Kyrgyzstan strongly condemns terrorism in any form of its manifestation.

Alexander Bortnikov, director of Russia's Federal Security Service, who chaired the meeting, said that the main attention is expected to be paid to the development of unified approaches to the assessment of the CIS countries' security threats and to the enhancement of the efficiency of cooperation between special services to neutralize them.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Azerbaijan's Independence Day, Trend reports.

"Your Excellency Mr. President,

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I have the honour to extend to Your Excellency and to the people of Azerbaijan my heartfelt congratulations, I pray to Almighty Allah for the health and wellness of Your Excellency, and for further progress and prosperity for the people of Azerbaijan.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) values its strong ties with the Republic of Azerbaijan, and commends its role in supporting the OIC and promoting joint Islamic action, an objective for which the OIC was established. The OIC will continue its efforts in serving its Member States, promoting their common values, and strengthening the bonds of mutual cooperation amongst them.

I look forward to Your Excellency's support to strengthen the solidarity among the people of our Member States, and opening up new horizons for joint Islamic action.

Please accept, Your Excellency Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration and regards," the letter reads.
Nicki Minaj was arrested in the Netherlands on Saturday over an incident with her luggage, according to the rapper's social media.

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Minaj, 41, was traveling to Manchester, England, from Amsterdam for a concert on her "Pink Friday 2 World Tour," which is supposed to take place at the Co-op Live Arena Saturday evening.

The rapper shared a video on her X account Saturday afternoon where a man is seen telling her that her luggage needs to be searched.

In a separate video that Minaj recorded on Instagram Live and then was shared by fan accounts on X, she asked an Amsterdam police officer why she was being arrested.

The officer in the video replied, "because you're carrying drugs."

The rapper in the video denied carrying drugs and repeatedly demanded a lawyer when the officer told her to get in a vehicle.

The officer could be heard mentioning her concert on Saturday night and saying they would "try to get [her] there" as soon as possible.

A spokesperson for the police in the Netherlands told NBC News it "arrested a 41-year-old American woman at Schiphol Airport because of possession of soft drugs."

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A few hours later, Co-op Live posted on X that the doors opening for Minaj's concert had been delayed from 6:30 p.m. to 7.

Minaj then took to X in a string of posts accusing the airport of "trying everything they can to TRY to stop this tour."

"Now they said they found weed and that another group of people have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls," one post read. "Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea and the pilot wants me to take my IG post down."

Possession of marijuana is legal in Amsterdam, as long as a person has no more than 5 grams on them, according to the Netherlands government website.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The 54th session of the Council of Heads of Security Bodies and Special Services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states was held in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, on May 24, Trend reports.

The event was attended by Colonel General Ali Nagiyev, Head of the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The exchange of information in the field of combating international terrorism and religious extremism, identification and prevention of activities of persons participating in armed conflicts as part of criminal groups, and having undergone combat training outside the borders of the countries, were among the main issues on the agenda of the meeting.

Furthermore, it was emphasized at the event that, against the background of the accompanying tensions, and complex and contradictory processes in world geopolitics, the system of international security is facing new threats, the risk of terrorism has increased manifold, and cases of cybercrime have become more intense.

Besides the above-mentioned, the necessity of joining efforts and effective joint fighting through mobilization of available capabilities against negative manifestations of serious concern, such as intelligence-subversive activities of forces with certain interests in the CIS space, transnational organized crime, human trafficking, smuggling of narcotics and psychotropic substances, was also touched upon.

During the event, participants had in-depth conversations on crucial topics and signed numerous key documents about future collaboration.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday vowed to thwart alleged attempts to rob Dalits and backward classes of reservations by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) which he accused of 'enslavement' and performing 'mujra' for Muslim vote bank.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting in support of BJP candidate from Patliputra seat Ram Kripal Yadav for the Lok Sabha elections, in Patna on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing back-to-back rallies in Buxar, Karakat and Patliputra Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar, the prime minister also charged the opposition coalition with indulging in 'scaremongering', and claimed that he had been working 'without fear' to wipe out terrorism and root out corruption.

"Bihar is the land which has given a new direction to the fight for social justice. I wish to declare on its soil that I will foil the plans of the INDIA bloc to rob SCs, STs and OBCs of their rights and divert these to Muslims. They may remain enslaved and perform 'mujra' to please their vote bank," the PM said.

Modi also alleged that the people of Bihar have been hurt by insulting remarks against migrants of the state from leaders of the Congress in Punjab and Telangana and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Trinamool Congress in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal respectively, and claimed, "These RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) people who keep doing 'mujra' with their lantern (poll symbol) do not have the courage to speak a word in protest."

He also alleged that the opposition alliance was banking on the support of those who were indulging in 'vote jihad' and referred to the Calcutta high court order that struck down the West Bengal government's decision to include a number of Muslim groups on the list of OBCs.

Modi claimed that the opposition alliance has 'decided that if they are voted to power, the first thing they would do is to change the Constitution so that even the court is unable to overrule their attempts to divert reservations to Muslims. I have been challenging them to refute me in writing but they have been reluctant because they have a guilty conscience'.

He spelt out names of several deprived castes, including Yadavs who have been traditionally RJD supporters, which 'could end up losing their constitutional rights if the INDIA bloc succeeded in its alleged plans'.

The PM, however, asserted that the opposition coalition was 'heading for a defeat' and on June 04 when the results will be out, "RJD and Congress workers will be seen tearing off each other's clothes. The 'shahi parivar' (royal family) of the Congress will put the entire blame of defeat on Mallikarjun Kharge and leave for a vacation abroad."

"The INDIA bloc is like a balloon that has got deflated today when voting is taking place for the sixth and penultimate phase of the elections," claimed the PM.

"Modi has been working to stamp out Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Naxal insurgency and corruption without fear. The INDIA bloc has tried to stop me at every step with scaremongering," he alleged.

Recalling the resolve he displayed in commissioning the surgical strikes and scrapping of Article 370, Modi vowed to continue crackdown on corruption, and indirectly referring to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his family, he remarked 'those who have snatched people's land in return for jobs will be firmly dealt with'.

Referring to Prasad's son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, whom he did not mention by name, Modi remarked 'the shehzada (crown prince) will spend his time, after June 04, protecting his inheritance (amaanat) and securing bail (zamaanat)'.

Referring to Akhilesh Yadav, who heads the Samajwadi Party, the BJP's principal rival in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the PM said, "His own party workers stood laughing when he predicted a defeat for Modi in Varanasi and boasted that the INDIA bloc will win all 80 seats in that state. The bicycle (SP poll symbol) stands punctured. The shehzada of UP seems to have drawn inspiration from the shehzada of Congress (Rahul Gandhi)."

Modi, known for his ability to connect with the masses, also asked the people to remember that 'every vote for every NDA candidate is not just to elect the local MP but the prime minister...when you go back to your homes please tell your neighbours and family members, who may not have come here, that I have sent my greetings (Jai Shri Ram). Also, please visit the nearest temple and offer prayers for a developed India on my behalf'.

Addressing the rallies, Modi said, "You have your Modi, whose actions and intentions you have known for 10 years. On the other hand, you have the motley group called INDIA bloc which is full of people hoping for the prime minister's post, even if just for a year."

The PM also promised the people that his next five years in power would ensure faster development for Bihar with better electricity supply and more pucca houses even as he slammed the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government for lacking the resolve to provide free foodgrains to the common people.

Addressing the rallies, he also referred to 'the 'PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana' which seeks to reduce to zero your electricity bill, no matter how much you consume', in an obvious bid to counter freebies on offer in many states ruled by parties opposed to the BJP.

Mocking at the predictions of many pollsters who have forecast a dip in the NDA's tally, Modi said, "INDIA bloc has come up with its exit polls even before the elections are over. Soon they might go back to crying hoarse on EVMs."
'The life of his political career is dependent on success in this constituency.'

IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Amit A Shah and Suvendu Adhikari during an election rally in Birbhum, May 10, 2024. Photographs: ANI Photo

On March 14, 2007, about 14 people lost their lives when the police force opened fire at a gathering of land protestors in Nandigram. It has been 17 years since the bloody farmland agitation changed the political landscape in West Bengal.

This rural hamlet, which was once the cradle of the anti-land acquisition stir, is desperately craving for industrial development and employment opportunities.

Sukumar Jana's wife, Supriya, had left early morning on that fateful day to join the protests. Emotions were running high then -- the tulsi mancha at home and the family agricultural land of about an acre had to be protected. Unfortunately, she fell prey to the bullets.

Peace has now returned to Nandigram.

Jana's son now works with the Indian Railways in Haldia, courtesy of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was appointed the railway minister in 2009. But his loss is irreparable. "I never remarried," says Sukumar.

The one-acre plot he owns is single-crop, which is hardly remunerative these days. It is not an isolated case. Jana and several others from his tribe are willing to sell their land if compensated adequately. And the importance of industrial development is not lost on any of them.

"The number of educated people in Nandigram has increased in the last many years. Industry will create jobs and resolve unemployment issues," he says.

Gurupada Mandal, who owns 2-3 bighas, says, "100 per cent, I will give land, but due process must be followed."

Adequate compensation, one job per land loser, and rehabilitation are going to be determining factors. Bula Shyam Mandal, who protested the land acquisition, believes he was misled. "We were protesting land acquisition for industry. But where is the industry? In so many years nothing has happened."

"Three of my sons are in Delhi for work. If the industry had come up, my sons would have been here." Mandal owes his allegiance to Suvendu Adhikari, once described as Banerjee's protege. He crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party in December 2020 and turned adversary.

IMAGE: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee with the party's Lok Sabha candidate from Tamluk, Debangshu Bhattacharya, March 10, 2024.

Near the Bhangabera Bridge -- close to the police firing site -- a 130-foot Shaheed Minar, built at the initiative of Adhikari, then a Trinamool Congress MP from Tamluk, stands tall. It serves as a reminder of an event indelibly marked in the history of Nandigram, as well as Adhikari's role in the land movement.

Achilles heel

The lack of setting up a big industry has been Banerjee's Achilles heel. The anti-land acquisition movement back then was over the Indonesia-based Salim group's chemical hub project spread over 14,000 acres.

It was proposed as part of the erstwhile Manmohan Singh government's initiative to specify a petroleum, chemical, petrochemical investment region and the then Left Front government evinced interest in having the project near Haldia due to proximity to the port. Haldia is about an hour's drive from Nandigram.

The project never took off, but the land stir rocked West Bengal. Along with the anti-land acquisition movement in Singur, the events are seen as catalysts in the change of regime in 2011 when the TMC ousted the Left Front regime after 34 years.

A lot has changed in Nandigram since. The roads are better, there is electricity and drinking water facilities. But as people on the ground point out, industrial development would bring their sons, who are working outside the state, closer home.

Migrant workers

The TMC government has been facing heat from the Opposition on the issue of migrant workers.

At a recent event in Kolkata, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that till 2010, when the Communist government was in power, the net migration into Bengal was in the positive territory.

Sayan Banerjee, CPI-M candidate in Tamluk, points out that the biggest industrial hub is Haldia, came up during the Left Front regime.

"But even the industrial belt is on the decline. The situation is such that the youth in Haldia are going to other states as migrant labourers. We have to revive Haldia and we need the Left Front in power to do it."

Haldia and Nandigram are among the seven assembly constituencies in the Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency, which is part of the Purba Medinipur district.

Debangshu Bhattacharya, the TMC candidate in Tamluk, concedes that people in Nandigram go to Haldia for work and also outside the state.

"My primary aim will be to provide jobs to the unemployed in Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency," he says, adding that people also come from other states to work in West Bengal.

IMAGE: Retired Calcutta high court judge and the BJP candidate from Tamluk, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, campaigns in the Mahishadal area, East Medinipur.

Suvendu factor

In Tamluk, the TMC and CPI-M have fielded young turks. Bhattacharya, 27, who shot to fame with the viral song, Khela Hobe, ahead of the 2021 assembly election, is the TMC candidate.

Advocate Sayan Banerjee, 31, is the CPI-M's face for the seat. They are pitted against the BJP's Abhijit Gangopadhyay, the former judge of the Calcutta high court, known for taking on the TMC inside and outside the courtroom.

Political analysts, however, believe that what will weigh heavily on the seat is the Adhikari factor. Adhikari wields considerable influence in Purba Medinipur -- it is widely believed that he had galvanised the land agitation movement under the Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee, an organisation formed with the support of various parties who opposed the industrial project in Nandigram.

In the 2021 assembly election, while the TMC swept Bengal, Adhikari won the prestige battle in Nandigram by defeating Banerjee with a slim margin of 1,956 votes. Banerjee has often raised doubts over the outcome of the seat.

In the state election of 2021, of the seven assembly constituencies in Tamluk, the BJP won in three assembly segments, including Nandigram, and the TMC in the remaining four. Which way the political wind will blow on May 25 when Tamluk goes to vote, remains to be seen.

Political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty says the Tamluk election is being fought on the Suvendu factor. "If BJP fails to secure the seat, then it will go against him. The life of his political career is dependent on success in this constituency."
'There is no link between Article 370 abrogation and a rise in voting percentage.'

IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti addresses the media in Srinagar, May 11, 2024. Photographs: ANI Photo

The only thing straight in Kashmir is the poplar tree.

This quote from then national security advisor Brajesh Mishra is often invoked to describe the complex and tumultuous political situation in the Valley. Kashmir is again in the news. Though, this time, not for its political unrest, but for its high voter turnout in the Lok Sabha polls.

Srinagar and Baramulla constituencies, known for their abysmally low vote count, for the first time in decades saw a turnout of 38.49 per cent and 59.10 per cent, respectively.

Sopore in Baramulla district, which has seen incidents of separatist activity, recorded over 44 per cent voting.

In South Kashmir's Pulwama and Shopian districts, where militant groups have long held sway, over 43 per cent and 47 per cent voting took place, a significant jump from just one per cent and above two per cent, respectively, in the 2019 general elections.

After Srinagar and Baramulla, all eyes are now on the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, which goes to the polls today, May 25.

Spread across the Pir Panjal range, the redrawn constituency after the delimitation process is where the Bharatiya Janata Party hopes for a win for the candidate it is supporting, the Apni Party's Zafar Iqbal Manhas. He is up against the People's Democratic Party's Mehbooba Mufti and the National Conference's Mian Altaf.

The Valley, where poll boycott calls from militant groups and separatists used to be the order of the day, has seen high decibel campaigning and is abuzz with election razzmatazz.

Unlike in the past when people were averse to being seen queuing up outside polling booths, they came out in droves, with many flashing their inked fingers after casting their votes.

Kashmir's rising poll participation also assumes significance because it came two days after a militant attack in Pahalgam killed a former sarpanch of the BJP and also injured two tourists.

It is the first major election held in Kashmir after the Centre scrapped J&K's special status and downgraded the erstwhile state into two Union territories of J&K and Ladakh.

The remarkable departure from the past has elicited mixed responses.

IMAGE: National Conference President Farooq Abdullah addresses an election rally in support of the INDIA bloc's Anantnag-Rajouri candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad at Mendhar, Poonch, May 19, 2024.

Home Minister Amit Shah credited the abrogation of Article 370 for the higher voter percentage, asserting that it was a 'befitting reply' to those who ask what had changed after the Centre's move in August 2019.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the rising voter turnout indicated 'declining dynasty politics in Kashmir'.

The political parties in Kashmir had a different response to the spike in voting patterns. Waheed ur Rehman Para, the PDP candidate from the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, told Business Standard that the high voter turnout was not so much a reaction against the Centre's scrapping of Article 370 but people's growing 'faith in democracy' and their wish to fill a 'political vacuum' in the Valley.

"It indicates democratic renewal and reflects people's desire to look for solutions through democracy. A realisation that democratic ways are more tangible to put across grievances," he said .

J&K People's Conference, a major player in Baramulla, attributed the rise to the absence of boycott calls and shrinking political space.

"There is no link between Article 370 abrogation and a rise in voting percentage. More people would have stayed away from polling booths if it were about the scrapping of Article 370. It's a vote for change and vote against non-deliverance," party spokesperson Adnan Ashraf Mir told Business Standard.

"It's also because parliamentary polls have now attained great significance. Earlier, sending someone to Parliament was seen as a punishment. But after the August 5 decision, when there was no assembly left and people suddenly realised the importance of Parliament. It's become the only important forum to represent the people's concerns," he said.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar,National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah said: "If they want to link it to Article 370 (abrogation), they will have to answer why the turnout was higher in the elections held before 1990. He attributed the rise in voter turnout partly to people's anger against the abrogation of Article 370.

"The second reason is that they (people) are not heard at any level. The present dispensation is ruling like undisputed kings," he said.

IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party candidate from Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas being welcomed by senior party leaders during the election campaign in Rajouri, May 16, 2024.

Anantnag-Rajouri contest

The BJP is not fighting the polls in Kashmir and is not formally aligned with any regional party. However, it is supporting what the party's local leaders call 'like-minded parties'.

The BJP government recently gave Scheduled Tribe status to the Pahari community to woo the voters, who form a major chunk of the electorate in the newly carved Anantnag-Rajouri constituency. The reservation, however, has sharpened the ethnic divide between the Gujjar-Bakarwal and Pahari communities. It has also made the three way contest more interesting.

It's difficult to predict whether the move will pay electoral dividends to the BJP, or will the rift between the two communities eventually help the PDP increase its vote share.

Predictions about Kashmir's politics generally come a cropper. After all, the only thing straight in Kashmir is the poplar tree.
In a remarkable display of resilience and commitment to democracy, the residents of villages that had long been deprived of polling due to terrorist threats and separatist-sponsored boycott calls turned out in large numbers to cast ballots in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.

Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Women voters wait in a queue to cast their ballots for Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on Saturday May 25, 2024.

Braving scorching sun, people stood in serpentine queues and patiently waited to participate in the electoral process -- first major battle since the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in August 2019.

A segment of Shopian is part of the redrawn Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency which went to polls in the sixth phase on Saturday.

Moderate to brisk polling was observed after the start of the voting across the constituency at 7 am.

One particularly striking moment was when the family members of active terrorists were spotted at polling booths exercising their right to vote.

Mushtaq Ahmed Reshi, the father of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Junaid Reshi, was seen at a polling booth in Shopian's Beminapura casting his ballot.

He was full of enthusiasm as he talked to reporters, expressing his belief in the power of democracy and the idea of India, emphasising his determination to participate in the democratic process.

Following closely behind was former separatist Mukhtar Waza, who also cast his vote, marking a significant shift in attitudes within the community.

The turnout in these villages not only defied the looming threat of terrorism but also showcased a strong commitment among people to upholding the principles of democracy.

As residents lined up to make their voices heard, the atmosphere was full of a sense of empowerment and hope for a better future.

The enthusiasm among the voters was such that people with disabilities also made it to the polling stations to cast their ballot instead of availing the facility of home voting.

"Voting is our democratic right and we are eagerly participating in the polling process with a hope that our representative will highlight our problems and seek their resolution," Abdul Ahad (72) told PTI at a polling station in Nadimarg.

He alleged that the villagers are suffering because of lack of basic facilities like electricity, water and proper roads.

"The talk of development is only on papers and not on the ground. The government should focus on the village with poor population," he said.

Mohammad Sultan, a senior citizen, drew much attention as he came to a polling station riding a horse.

"I am suffering from an ailment and unable to walk freely...By voting, I have fulfilled my responsibility and now it is the term of our representative to take care of our needs which include proper structure of school, improved roads, round-the-clock water and electric supply besides proper healthcare," he said.

He said most residents are labourers by profession and could not pay hefty electricity bills.

"We used to get bills in the range of Rs 150 to Rs 200 but now the cost of the energy is between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500. It is very difficult for us to pay power bill. If we pay the bills, how could we feed our families?" he said.

The voting in banned Jamaat-e-Islami-dominated areas was also high and one of the senior officials said the courage and determination displayed by the voters in the face of adversity serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring spirit of democracy and the unyielding resolve of individuals to shape their own destiny.
A 30-year-old man has been arrested in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district for allegedly raping at least seven girls after posing as a woman college teacher and calling them in connection with scholarship funds, police said on Saturday.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Pixabay.com

Most of the survivors belong to tribal communities.

Brajesh Prajapati, the accused, used a voice-changing app to sound like a woman while talking to his potential victims on phone, police said.

While Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the case, the accused's unauthorised house was demolished following the arrest.

Three associates of Prajapati have also been arrested, said Rewa Range Inspector General (IG) Mahendra Singh Sikarwar.

Prajapati called girl students while posing as a woman college teacher from a collage at Tikari, and asked them to meet so that they could get a scholarship, the police official said. 'Her son' will take them to her house, the caller would tell the girls.

After the crime, he would snatch away the girl's mobile phone.

As per one of the complainants, after one such conversation, Prajapati himself, wearing a helmet and hand gloves, picked her up on a motorcycle, took her to a deserted place and allegedly raped her.

During the probe, police learnt that the culprit had marks of burns and injuries on his hands, and finally nabbed him.

While Prajapati confessed to raping seven girls, four girls have come forward to lodge complaints, IG Sikarwar said.

He could have raped more girls and probe was on, the official said.

His associates Lavkush Prajapati, Rahul Prajapati and Sandeep Prajapati were also arrested and 16 mobile phones were recovered from them. One of them was a college student and got numbers of girls from a college WhatsApp group, the IG said.

Their exact roles in the crimes were yet to be ascertained.

The first case of rape, kidnapping, assault and robbery was registered on May 16 following an incident of May 13. Two more cases were registered on May 18 and May 23 over crimes that had taken place on May 4 and May 20, respectively.

Another FIR was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act on May 19 over a crime that had taken place on April 15, police officials said.

Following directives from CM Yadav, IG Sikarwar constituted a nine-member SIT headed by Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) of Kusmi, Roshni Singh Thakur which will submit its report in seven days, officials said.

'Those who commit such condemnable acts are enemies of society, strictest action will be taken against the accused. They will not be spared at any cost,' the chief minister wrote on X.

Congress leader Kamal Nath demanded a high-level inquiry.

'Can't girls from the tribal community in Madhya Pradesh even study in college without fear?....what is the meaning of the slogan - Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao?' the former chief minister asked on X, noting that Madhya Pradesh led in the country in terms of crimes against tribals and women.

"Not a day goes by when news of atrocities on tribals does not come to light in Madhya Pradesh," he said, while seeking financial assistance for the survivors in the Sidhi case.

Meanwhile, Prajapati's house at Panwar village in the district was demolished following the arrest. The house had been built on government land without permission, a district official told reporters.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts, with the goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station, a top American diplomat said Friday.

IMAGE: International Space Station. Photograph: Courtesy nasa.gov

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti made these remarks while speaking at the "US-India Commercial Space Conference: Unlocking Opportunities for US & Indian Space Startups," hosted by the US-India Business Council and the US Commercial Service in Bangalore.

"NASA will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts, with the goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station, hopefully, this year or shortly thereafter, which was one of the promises of our leaders' visit together. And soon we will launch the NISAR satellite from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Center to monitor all resources, including ecosystems, the Earth's surface, natural hazards, sea level rise, and the cryosphere," Garcetti said, according to a USIBC press statement issued in Washington, DC.

"You see whether it's the pursuit of peace and the peaceful use of space, things like the Artemis Accord, we are hand in hand, arm in arm. When it comes to prosperity and jobs, which is a big part of this conference today, it can be produced by startups in this sector, good-paying, high-tech jobs for Indians and Americans. Space is right there," Garcetti said.

The day-long event in Bengaluru garnered participation from senior officials from both the US and Indian governments, including Garcetti, Indian Space Research Organisation chairman Dr Somanath S, representatives from the NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the government of India, as well as prominent leaders from the commercial space industry, industry stakeholders, venture capitalists, and market analysts.

"I must salute the visionary leadership that we have in both nations in India and the US for engaging in such an accord which looks at the moon as a sustainable place for all of us to come and work together," Somnath said in his remarks.

"The connection between the Indian partners and also the US partners in critical technologies and specifically in the space sector is really becoming stronger. And I'm very happy about that type of engagement and the options available to the industries and the US business indigenous to connect with India in the emerging space sector as well," he said.

Expressing optimism about the prospects of US-India collaboration in space, USIBC president Atul Keshap described it as a new chapter in the US-India space partnership. This week has been particularly fruitful, with USIBC and USCS joining forces to champion these two iCET space deliverables, he said.

"The conference highlights the deepening synergy between our two free nations in pioneering space exploration and innovation by the leading democracies. Through strategic alliances and collaborative efforts, we're on the brink of achieving extraordinary milestones and expanding the horizons of space exploration beyond what we once imagined," Keshap said.

The US-India Commercial Space Conference underscores the importance of fostering strategic partnerships to drive innovation and propel the space industry forward," said USIBC managing director Alexander Slater.

"This is the next step in USIBC's continued commitment to fostering bilateral cooperation among leading companies and startups from both countries to unlock new opportunities for economic growth, job creation and technological leadership. It builds on our work in February when we hosted the second edition of INDUS-X in New Delhi, which promoted similar opportunities for innovation and cooperation in new and emerging defence technologies," he said.
Of the 76.41 crore eligible voters in the first five phases of the Lok Sabha polls, as many as 50.72 crore people have cast their vote, according to data shared by the Election Commission on Saturday.

IMAGE: Voters show their ink-marked fingers after casting their vote for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election, in Panipat on Saturday. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo

India has the largest electorate in the world at 96.88 crore.

The EC data showed that 11 crore voters out of 16.64 crore total electors cast their vote in the first phase held on April 19 for 102 seats, the polling percentage being 66.14.

In the second phase held on April 26 for 88 seats, the polling percentage was 66.71 with 10.58 crore people out of the total 15.86 crore eligible voters casting their vote.

The third phase of the polls on May 7 for 94 seats saw as many as 11.32 crore of the 17.24 crore eligible voters exercising their franchise, a polling percentage of 65.68.

In the fourth phase of the polls on May 13 for 96 seats, as many as 12.25 crore crore voters out of the total of 17.71 crore electors cast their votes, with the polling percentage being 66.71.

The fifth phase of the polls on May 20 for 49 seats, the polling percentage was 62.20 as 5.57 crore of the 8.96 crore eligible voters exercised their franchise.

The poll panel came out with the absolute number of voters on its own a day after the Supreme Court refused to issue directions to it on an NGO's plea for uploading polling booth-wise voter turnout data on its website.

Electors are those who are part of the electoral roll and eligible to voters. Voters are those who actually cast their vote in an election.

The EC said it has decided to further expand the format of turnout data to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency.
Last updated on: May 26, 2024 00:06 IST

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and several other famous faces were seen at polling booths, exercising their franchise in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.

IMAGE: President Murmu cast her vote at an all-women polling booth -- decorated in pink and white colours -- inside the President's Estate, New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar after casting their votes at the polling station at the CPWD service centre in Delhi's North Avenue. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Chief Justice of India Justice D Y Chandrachud along with his wife show their ink-marked fingers after casting their votes in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shows his ink-marked finger in New Delhi. He also received a certificate for being the first male voter at his designated polling booth. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi take a selfie showing their ink-marked fingers after voting in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Rahul with his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at a polling booth. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, with his family members, at Moti Bagh polling booth, in New Delhi. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Former President Ram Nath Kovind after casting his vote in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal along with his family members at a polling booth in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik casts his vote in Bhubaneswar. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda along with his son and Congress candidate from Rohtak seat Deepender Singh Hooda show their ink-marked fingers after casting their vote, in Rohtak. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: BJP candidate from Kurukshetra, Naveen Jindal and his wife Shallu Jindal show their ink-marked finger after casting their vote in Kurukshetra. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Union minister and BJP candidate from Sambalpur seat Dharmendra Pradhan, and his wife Mridula Pradhan, show their ink-marked fingers after casting their votes in Bhubaneswar. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and his wife Lakshmi Puri after casting their vote in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and his family members show their ink-marked fingers after casting their vote at Mirzapur in Hisar. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and his family after casting their vote in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: BJP MP Parvesh Verma and his family members after voting in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: BJP candidate from the New Delhi seat Bansuri Swaraj and her father Swaraj Kaushal show their ink-marked fingers after casting their votes. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh and his wife Anita Singh show their ink-marked fingers after casting their vote, at the Mothers' Mount Global School, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo
A voter turnout of 10.82 per cent was recorded till 9 am on Saturday in 58 constituencies in six states and two Union territories where polling is underway in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

IMAGE: Voters line up to cast their votes outside a polling station during the sixth phase of the general election in Sonipat, Haryana, on May 25, 2024. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

West Bengal recorded the highest voter turnout in the first two hours of polling at 16.54 per cent while Odisha recorded the lowest at 7.43 per cent, according to the Election Commission (EC).

Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 12.33 per cent, Jharkhand 11.74 per cent, Bihar 9.66 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 8.89 per cent, Delhi 8.94 per cent and Haryana 8.31 per cent, the EC data showed.

In the national capital, President Droupadi Murmu, Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi minister Atishi, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and outgoing East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir were among the early voters.

People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, who is contesting from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir, claimed that outgoing calls on her mobile number have been suspended.

"I am not able to make any calls since morning. There is no explanation for this sudden suspension of services on the day of polling in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency," Mehbooba told PTI.

The PDP also alleged that its workers and polling agents were detained by police ahead of polling.

Besides Delhi, polling is underway in 14 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, all 10 seats in Haryana, eight seats each in Bihar and West Bengal, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Jharkhand and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir.

Simultaneously, polling is being held for 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha and the Karnal assembly bypoll in Haryana.

Voting began at 7 am and people were seen queuing up at polling stations.

In Haryana, Khattar and Saini were among the first to cast their votes at their respective booths.

Saini, accompanied by his family members, cast his vote in his native Mirjapur Majra village in Ambala district's Naraingarh. Khattar exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Karnal's Prem Nagar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to exercise their right to franchise in the penultimate phase of the Lok Sabha elections in large numbers.

'I urge all those who are voting in the 6th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to vote in large numbers. Every vote counts, make yours count too! Democracy thrives when its people are engaged and active in the electoral process. I especially urge women voters and youth voters to vote in large numbers,' Modi said in a post on X.

Kejriwal said, 'Each vote cast by you in this great festival of democracy will be against the authoritarian mindset and strengthen democracy and the Constitution of India. Go to the polling stations and assert that there is democracy in India and democracy will remain in India through your votes.'

Kharge appealed to people to vote against the politics of hatred, rhetoric and distraction.

Over 11.13 crore voters -- 5.84 crore male, 5.29 crore female and 5,120 third gender -- are eligible to exercise their franchise in the sixth phase.

The EC has deployed around 11.4 lakh polling officials at 1.14 lakh polling stations.

With large parts of India sweltering under a heatwave, the poll panel has directed election officials and state machineries to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weather.

In West Bengal, voting will be held in the tribal belt Jangal Mahal region, spanning five districts. A hotspot for identity politics, the region sends eight representatives to Lok Sabha from Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur seats. Out of the eight seats, the BJP won five and TMC bagged three in the 2019 polls.

An interesting fight is on the cards in Delhi with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners Congress and Aam Aadmi Party pitted in a direct, one-on-one contest in all the seven seats.

In Uttar Pradesh, polling is underway for Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phulpur, Allahabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Shrawasti, Domariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lalganj, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Machhlishahr and Bhadohi seats.

Around 82.16 lakh voters, including 40.09 lakh females, are eligible to exercise their franchise in Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur constituencies of Jharkhand.

In Bihar, 86 candidates are in the fray in the eight seats of Valmiki Nagar, Pashchim Champaran, Purbi Champaran, Sheohar, Siwan, Gopalganj, Maharajganj and Vaishali.

Polling is also being held in Odisha's six parliamentary constituencies of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Puri and Sambalpur along with 42 assembly seats under these Lok Sabha segments.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday said it is some people's job to create doubts and asserted the systems in place at the Election Commission are strong to ensure no mistakes creep in.

IMAGE: CEC Rajiv Kumar speaks to the media outside a polling booth in New Delhi after casting his vote, on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI on X

He was responding to a question on doubts being cast on the turnout of voters in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

"It is the job of some people to create doubts. Our system is strong, not from today, it has been there for the past 70-72 years," he told PTI Videos.

His remarks come on a day when the poll panel on its own came out with Lok Sabha constituency-wise data on the number of votes cast in the first five phases of the elections.

The turnout figures came a day after the Supreme Court refused to issue directions to the Election Commission on an NGO's plea for uploading polling booth-wise voter turnout data on its website.

The EC said that it has decided to further expand the format of turnout data to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency.

The CEC said that the matter was in the Supreme Court and it has delivered its verdict which is before everyone.

"All I can say is that there is no mistake in this, nor can there be any mistake," Kumar said.

"But why did these doubts arise, how were they created, and how much negative impact it has on our voting and the atmosphere, how our entire energy is diverted, we will definitely tell this to the country one day," he added.

While the EC had been issuing turnout percentage, there had been demands to make the actual number of voters in every phase public.

The top court refused a plea on Friday to direct the EC to upload Form 17C -- which records votes polled per polling station -- on its website.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. With the world's eyes on Baku for COP29, it's a perfect chance for Armenia and Azerbaijan to finally sign the peace agreement, Elchin Amirbayov, Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on special assignments, said in an interview with NE Global, Trend reports.

"One of the recent confidence-building measures which were achieved between Armenia and Azerbaijan was this deal which was reached last December (COP28 in Dubai) between the two countries when there was an arrangement on mutual freeing of some detainees and also exchange of diplomatic support to each other," he added.

He noted that Armenia lifted its veto on Azerbaijans bid to host COP29, and in return, Baku agreed to include Armenia in the executive committee for the global climate conference.

"Of course, that was a major breakthrough because it was for the first time that through direct low-level contacts, we were able to get this CBM (Confidence Building Measure) and that also showed that both countries are able to sort out their differences in direct, bilateral contacts without any third-party intervention," he noted.

Amirbayov added that the work on the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan is ongoing.

"We are cautiously optimistic because we believe that it is doable to finalize negotiations to this text before COP29 even. It would give a strong signal also to the outside world that one of the most ancient and longest and tragic conflicts on the European continent in the post-Soviet space is coming to an end so I believe both countries and peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan should be ready for this positive outcome," the official said.
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A painting displayed at the "Preserving Memory: Life, Death" exhibit in Taipei on May 23, 2024 shows the unknown "Tank Man" hero who faced down a line of People's Liberation Army tanks in his shirtsleeves holding a shopping bag in June 1989.

The unknown "Tank Man" hero who faced down a line of People's Liberation Army tanks in his shirtsleeves and holding a shopping bag in June 1989. A grieving woman pulling a tank out of a baby's body. The hastily packed suitcases of Hong Kongers packed with memories of home as they fled an ongoing crackdown in their city.

These and many more works of art are on display in Taipei through June 13 in a bid to warn the democratic island's residents of the dangers of forgetting -- specifically the threat to human rights and freedoms posed by authoritarian rule.

As the island is encircled by Peoples Liberation Army forces on military exercises, artists are marking the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre with an exhibit that includes key moments in the pro-democracy movement in recent years as well as commemoration of those who died in the 1989 bloodshed.

The exhibit, titled "Preserving Memory: Life, Death, brings together more than 30 works by 18 artists in wooden frames resembling household cabinets, including 3D-printed replicas of the Pillar of Shame massacre memorial sculpture, which has been seized by national security police in Hong Kong.

A grieving woman pulls a tank out of a baby's body in a painting on show at the "Preserving Memory: Life, Death" exhibit in Taipei on May 23, 2024. (RFA/Hsia Hsiao-hwa)





Upstairs at the imposing blue-and-white memorial hall commemorating Taiwan's former authoritarian ruler Chiang Kai-shek, with a candlelight vigil to be held in Democracy Boulevard outside the hall on June 4 this year, more than one third of the works on show are from Hong Kong artists who fled their city amid a crackdown on dissent in the wake of the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Candlelight vigils were held for the victims of the June 4, 1989, massacre every year in Hong Kong for three decades, before they were banned in 2020 and their organizers jailed.

Dangers

Tiananmen massacre eyewitness Wu Renhua told the launch event on Thursday that he hopes the exhibit will remind Taiwan's 23 million people, particularly the younger generation, of the dangers of Chinese Communist Party rule.

Speaking as People's Liberation Army warships and planes encircled the island on military exercises intended as a "serious punishment" for Taiwan's democratically elected President Lai Ching-te, Wu said Taiwan is currently under threat today because of the Chinese Communist Party's authoritarian system.

Exiled Hong Kong artist Choi Chi-ho (right) and curator Abbey Li at the opening of the "Preserving Memory: Life, Death" exhibit in Taipei on May 23, 2024. (RFA/Hsia Hsiao-hwa.)





"Over the years, some political parties, some politicians, and some media in Taiwan have been trying to curry favor with the Chinese Communist Party, saying that it's different now, and that China today has changed," Wu told the event. "This worries me greatly."

"I hope that through commemorative activities for June 4 and by telling the truth about the June 4 massacre, more Taiwanese, particularly the younger generation, will see the violent nature of the Chinese Communist Party for what it is," Wu said, calling for "a sense of crisis to safeguard Taiwan's freedoms and its democratic system.

Exiled Hong Kong artist Choi Chi-ho, who exhibited his suitcase as an artwork, said he had packed in a huge hurry when the time came for him to leave Hong Kong, with only a couple of days to get himself ready.

"I just stuffed everything I could find ... anything I could find to represent my 20 years of life in Hong Kong, my experiences and memories, into that suitcase," Choi told RFA Mandarin, adding that he couldnt bear to open it until he heard about the exhibit.

Organizers from Taiwan's New School for Democracy pose at the launch of the "Preserving Memory: Life, Death" exhibit in Taipei on May 23, 2024. RFA/Hsia Hsiao-hwa.





Among the items in the suitcase was the key to his old apartment.

My house key, Choi explained. I thought maybe one day Id go back, but eventually, it just wound up here. Ill never be able to use it again.

My ex-boyfriend wrote me a farewell letter and gave me some of his clothes, he said.

"When my mother found out I was leaving, she took out a Bible and wrote some words of blessing on it for me," he said. "When I opened it later, I saw she'd also put some family photos from my childhood in there."

Authoritarian control

Choi said the exhibit seeks to underline what can happen to a society once it comes under Beijing's control.

"Taiwan has also lived through a very authoritarian era," he said in a reference to the one-party rule of the Kuomintang that ended with the direct election of the island's president in 1996.

"Only by understanding human rights violations in our own land, or in the territory next door, do we realize that freedom and democracy are hard-won, and that our predecessors paid a high price in blood, sweat and human life for them," he said.

Former Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kei speaks at the launch of the "Preserving Memory: Life, Death" exhibit in Taipei on May 23, 2024. RFA/Hsia Hsiao-hwa.





Canada-based democracy activist Yang Ruohui said by video message that respect for human rights was the biggest difference between Taiwan and China under Communist Party rule.

"I would like to call on the people of Taiwan to pay attention to the human rights situation in China, and to help us build a Chinese community in diaspora that embraces human rights, freedom and democracy as a way of life, and demonstrates it to those in mainland China," he said.

Former Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kei, who fled to Taiwan after being held for months by Chinese state security police for selling banned political books to customers in mainland China, said it's not enough just to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre every year.

"We must also reflect on why this happened in 1989," he told the launch event. "Was it because young people embraced Western democratic ideas ... during reforms and opening up, then demanded that the Chinese government itself reform and move towards a democratic transition?"

A former frontline protester from the 2019 pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong choked up while addressing the launch party, and called on Hong Kongers and Taiwanese to work together to prevent authoritarianism from endangering democracy yet again.

The "Preserving Memory: Life, Death" exhibit runs on the second floor of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei through June 13.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
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
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with a delegation headed by Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court of Cassation of Italy Luigi Salvato, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers.

At the meeting, both parties expressed their contentment with the progress of the friendly relations and strategic partnerships between Azerbaijan and Italy in various areas.

In addition, it was observed that effective collaboration between the prosecutor's offices of the two countries is conducted through bilateral channels as well as within international organizations.

The importance of the Memorandum of Understanding signed within the framework of the visit on the development of cooperation between the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prosecutor General's Office of the Supreme Court of Cassation of the Italian Republic was emphasized.

Besides, the discussions covered the potential for further development of Azerbaijani-Italian relations in various areas such as trade, economics, and more.

The meeting was attended by General Prosecutor of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kamran Aliyev.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian visited the northeastern province of Tavush on May 25 to meet with residents of several border communities where a controversial demarcation process with Azerbaijan was completed earlier this month.

Pashinian insisted that despite a few infrastructural problems, which have emerged as a result of the process, the sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border where the demarcation has been conducted are now safer than before due to their newly acquired legitimacy.

At the same time, talking to RFE/RL after the meetings, the prime minister stressed that "not a single inch" of sovereign Armenian territory has been ceded to Azerbaijan.

We are not drawing a new border now, but we are reproducing the de jure border that existed at the moment of the collapse of the Soviet Union, he said, again hailing the process as a success.

In the modern-day world, there is no more effective security guarantee than a delimitated, legitimate border. And we are now creating for our villages and our republic in this section of the border the most reliable security guarantee that can exist in the modern world today, the Armenian premier added.

Pashinian experienced an incident during the visit to the border region when his helicopter was forced to make an unscheduled landing due to bad weather.

Everything is fine, Pashinian wrote on Facebook. Due to bad weather conditions, our helicopter made an unscheduled landing in Vanadzor. Now we continue our journey by car.

The incident came less than a week after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were killed when their helicopter crashed in poor weather near Irans border with Azerbaijan on May 19.

Both the United States and the European Union have hailed the border demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, stressing that the deal announced by the two bitter South Caucasus rivals in April contains a reference to the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, a document by which a dozen former Soviet countries, including Armenia and Azerbaijan, pledged to recognize each others territorial integrity within existing administrative borders.

In the process that was formally completed on May 15, Baku regained control over four abandoned villages near the Armenian border that had been under Yerevans military control since the first Armenian-Azerbaijani war in the early 1990s.

Armenia and Azerbaijan announced on May 24 that their border guards were deployed at the sections where the demarcation was completed.

Armenian opposition groups have denounced what they describe as the latest unilateral territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. They argue that the border demarcation, which affects the infrastructure of border communities, leaves local residents more vulnerable to further possible Azerbaijani aggression.

The demarcation process in April sparked protests in Kirants, the village most affected by the process, as well as later in Yerevan.

Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian, the outspoken head of the Tavush diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has emerged as the leader of these protests in recent weeks, staging several rallies attended by tens of thousands of supporters. He has called on his supporters to rally in Yerevan again on May 26 to push for Pashinians resignation.

Pashinian and members of his political team dismiss the oppositions criticism, rejecting the resignation demand.

Unlike the three other border sections, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on a transitional border protection scheme for the section of the village of Kirants where part of the road and some houses and land are to be handed over to Azerbaijan.

The scheme will be in place until July 24, when Armenia hopes to build a new section of the road that will provide the village with connectivity with the rest of Armenia without having to use the road section that will be controlled by Azerbaijan.

The Pashinian government has also pledged to provide compensation to people who are losing their land and property as a result of the demarcation.

We will do everything so that the rights of our citizens will be maximally preserved and protected, the Armenian prime minister told RFE/RL on May 25.

Most of the residents of Kirants who are losing property in the border demarcation said this week that they would reject the compensation.

Some of them challenged Pashinian over the demarcation process when he visited the village.

One resident, whose fathers grave is apparently in the territory that will now be controlled by Azerbaijan, rebuked Pashinian for the land concession.

You are giving away my homeland and you are giving my fathers grave together with it, he said.

Stressing again that not an inch of sovereign Armenian territory has been handed over to Azerbaijan in the process, Pashinian replied: Brother, the homeland begins where the state border begins. Period.
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Thousands of people protested in Tbilisi on May 24 in the latest demonstration against a bill that would affect foreign-backed NGOs. Protesters demanded the release of fellow activists who were detained during a harsh police crackdown on earlier rallies.
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.
A Russian shell hit a shopping area in Kharkiv on May 25, authorities in Ukraine's second-biggest city said. RFE/RL filmed first responders rushing to the scene as thick smoke was rising from a hypermarket for construction and housing items. People were running away, one visibly injured. Civilians in the city near the border with Russia have faced intensified air attacks in recent weeks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. A 12.7-kilometer borderline was established between Azerbaijan and Armenia after border delimitation, ensuring the return of four villages - Baghanis Ayrim, Ashagi Askipara, Kheyrimli, and Gizilhajili (6.5 square kilometers) in the Gazakh district to Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The return of these villages to Azerbaijan is a significant step towards further success for Azerbaijan and the establishment of peace.

Commenting on the issue, Azerbaijani MP Sevinj Huseynova said that this is the logical outcome of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev's principled stance.

"This is another gift from President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan to the people of the country. Thus, after the 2020 second Karabakh war and local anti-terror measures, Azerbaijan has achieved another victory. Ensuring the return of these villages is the next important step towards ensuring Azerbaijan's sovereignty. One of the important aspects is that Azerbaijan regained these villages without a single shot being fired.

Back in 2020, the head of state ensured the return of three districts of the country without a single shot being fired. This once again shows that Azerbaijan prefers a peaceful resolution of the issue. The final restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty in September 2023, the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent from Azerbaijani territories, and now the return of four villages without a single shot is another victory in a series of remarkable victories. This wonderful news is another gift from the President of Azerbaijan to the people of the country," the MP emphasized.

Another MP Elshan Musayev said that the return of the four villages in the Gazakh district is a success for the Azerbaijani state and the result of the decisive and principled policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev.

"On January 10, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief stated in an interview with local TV channels that non-enclave villages must be unconditionally returned to Azerbaijan. This is what happened. They were returned without a without a single shot. At the same time, the return of these villages is a continuation of our success in the 44-day war and local anti-terror measures," concluded the MP.

To note, the territories of Baghanis Ayrim, Ashagi Askipara, Kheyrimli, and Gizilhajili villages were taken under the control of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan on May 24.

Military servicemen of the State Border Service raised the State Flag of Azerbaijan in the villages.

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BELGRADE -- Though the fanfare from Chinese leader Xi Jinping's stop in Serbia has subsided, deals signed during his recent visit could limit press freedom in the country and expand China's extrajudicial reach, warn experts and activists who spoke to RFE/RL.

"I think anyone who is considered by Beijing to be a critic of the regime should think twice before traveling to Serbia," Laura Harth, campaign director for the rights group Safeguard Defenders, told RFE/RL's Balkan Service in reference to an extradition agreement inked in Belgrade on Xi's May 7-8 state visit.

That contract is one of 28 agreements signed between Beijing and Belgrade during the Chinese leader's trip that ranged from infrastructure to energy. But the extradition deal has set off alarm bells among human rights activists focused on China and Serbia who say the Balkan country's lack of judicial independence could open the door to abuse by Chinese officials.

"The signing of an extradition treaty with China is not in itself controversial, but the question is how it will be implemented," Petar Vidosavljevic from the Belgrade Center for Human Rights told RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

Similar concerns have been raised by independent journalists and media advocacy groups in Serbia about media cooperation and dissemination agreements signed by Serbia's three main pro-government media outlets and the press service of President Aleksandar Vucic with China Media Group, the main entity that oversees China's state-run radio and television broadcasting.

While the text of the agreements have not been made fully public and will have to be ratified by the Serbian parliament to come into force, activists warn that the deal -- when combined with the deterioration of Serbia's media environment -- could further decrease the already shrinking space for independent information in the country.

"The fear is that this will lead to an increase in anti-European narratives across the Balkans," Antoinette Nikolova, director of the Balkan Free Media Initiative, told RFE/RL. "The Serbian information environment is already saturated with Russian propaganda and now it will become an echo chamber for Chinese narratives, too."

"And it's not just that it's coming from Chinese sources. It will be inserted into the media ecosystem and repackaged through its local infrastructure," she added.

Slippery Slope To Extradition

Serbia has signed extradition treaties with numerous countries, such as the United States, Germany, Belarus, Turkey, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

But in the last five years, courts in more than a dozen European Union member states have stopped adhering to extradition requests from China, due to suspicions that the person whose extradition is sought would face repression, abuse, and extrajudicial retaliation back home.

According to Safeguard Defenders, China has thus far signed more than 60 bilateral extradition treaties with countries around the world and more than 40 of them have been ratified by national parliaments.

Since Xi came to power in late 2012, Safeguard Defenders has recorded nearly 70 attempts by the Chinese government to return 400 people to China through the extradition procedure. Most of them were in Europe and the extradition requests were deemed to be on tenuous legal grounds.

The new extradition deal would also deepen a broader web of security and legal arrangements that Belgrade has inked with Beijing in recent years.

Serbia and China signed a 2019 agreement that allowed for joint police patrols between the two countries, permitting Chinese officers to work alongside their Serbian counterparts to deal with an influx of tourists and workers from China into the country.

Belgrade was also the site of one of 54 Chinese overseas "police stations" operated by Chinese authorities to pressure citizens to return home, including through pressure on family members in China.

While most of the cases documented by the overseas police stations appear to be suspects in crimes such as telecommunications fraud or corruption, dissidents have also reported that the stations have been used to monitor and threaten them.

Safeguard Defenders, which first documented the stations, said the Chinese station in Belgrade was used for a case of forced return. Citing Chinese government documents, the NGO says that in 2018 a Chinese national who lived in Belgrade and is identified only as Xia was accused of theft in China and "persuaded to return."

According to the rights group, he was identified by the Belgrade station and contacted over the Chinese messaging platform WeChat, where he was eventually "convinced" to return to China after initially being reluctant to leave Serbia.

While extradition agreements are common around the world, international law stipulates that they follow the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits a country from returning someone to a country where there is a risk of being subjected to persecution, torture, or other human rights violations.

Vidosavljevic says the new deal is worrying given Belgrade's willingness to adhere to extradition requests regardless of whether they meet the non-refoulement requirements or not, citing past examples with Turkey.

Safeguard Defenders' Harth says the agreement also sends a worrying message to Chinese citizens abroad. "All of this leads to a heightened sense of fear in the Chinese diaspora communities who are getting the message from Beijing that they can be reached anywhere," she said.

Media Cooperation

Since Xi's signature foreign policy project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was launched a decade ago, it has focused on funding and building infrastructure projects around the world. But expanding the reach of Chinese media has also been a centerpiece.

At the BRI Forum in October 2023, the China Media Group -- an umbrella company that oversees state media entities like the Xinhua News Agency, the Global Television Network (CGTN), and China Radio International -- noted that it had signed contracts with 682 media organizations in 151 countries and has broadcasts in more than 40 languages.

The agreements signed on May 8 in Belgrade set up cooperation deals with China Media Group and three pro-government Serbian media companies, the public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia, the daily newspaper Politika, and the Tanjug news agency.

Tamara Skrozza, a journalist and member of the Press Council, an independent regulatory body that monitors journalism ethics in the Serbian media, says the deals with the Serbian media entities highlights the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed collaboration.

"We're uncertain about its scope, as well as what limitations these media outlets may face due to such agreements, whether they influence their editorial stance or if it's merely a straightforward exchange of content," she told RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

Skrozza also emphasized that existing pro-Chinese narratives in Serbia are set to become "even more pronounced after the signing of agreements and memoranda" when combined with the country's declining press freedom situation.

The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has placed Serbia 98th out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index for 2024, marking the Balkan country's lowest standing since the creation of the ranking in 2002.

Tanjug and Politika did not respond to RFE/RL's requests for comment, but Radio Television Serbia said they have been engaged in various types of partnerships with Chinese media companies since 2013. The company's channels have also consistently featured a dedicated slot for airing Chinese documentaries since 2017.

"So far we have aired more than 200 Chinese documentaries covering various aspects such as [China's] history, customs, cuisine, culture, specific crafts, landmarks, and everyday life," a spokesperson told RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

The spokesperson added that the new deal was centered upon ways to "facilitate the exchange of content and foster co-productions," and that the company has similar arrangements with broadcasters from Bulgaria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Hungary.

Skrozza says exchanging content on cultural topics isn't problematic, but that the agreement is worrisome because it could lead to a censored and distorted view of life and politics inside China and Beijing's policies around the globe.

"The problem isn't what they will feature in their programming, but what they won't," she said. "If we only show images of Chinese folklore and nature, we're not actually informing the citizens of Serbia about the real situation."

Written by Reid Standish in Prague with reporting by Dusan Komarcevic, Jovana Krstic, and Nevena Bogdanovic of RFE/RL's Balkan Service in Belgrade
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed an order pardoning a group of convicts, Trend reports.

The order states that the decision to pardon the convicts was made after considering appeals from several convicts, their family members, the Commissioner for Human Rights to the President of Azerbaijan, as well as factors such as the convicts personalities, health conditions, family situations, the nature and degree of public danger of their crimes, the duration of their sentences, and their behavior during incarceration. A total of 154 people were pardoned based on principles of humanism.
Many years back, not long after the toxic tide of the Soviet Union receded from Eastern Europe, I found myself working on a project in a former Soviet country. The effects of 45 years of totalitarian rule, along with the corruption of the Russian Mafia elite, had left its mark not only on the landscape but also on the people. There was still a fear of authority, that if you said something that criticised the government you would be in trouble.

A local colleague used to wryly refer to the time when our Russian brothers were here, but it was clear he was glad to see the back of them. He had worked in the navy and had a smattering of English, so he was a good link between the Irish and the local workers, and he was the person who first told us about the anekdoti. These were jokes from communist times, one of the ways that colonised and oppressed people found humour in the blackest of situations. But unlike here, telling an anekdot could land you in prison.

We were treated with suspicion by the local workers, they didnt understand us or our ways. We worked separately, and at lunchtime we sat apart, eyeing each other up from a distance. But the anekdoti were the key to crack the invisible barrier between us. With the help of my English-speaking friend, we traded Soviet anekdoti for Paddy Englishman jokes. They began to laugh at ours, and we at theirs. After a week, we were swopping equipment and learning bits of each others languages. People are people, were all human and we can all get along, if we try.

One anekdot asked what is the difference between Capitalism and Communism? The punchline was that in a capitalist society man exploits man, and in a communist society it is the other way around. I still remember that one, and the laughs that helped bring people together.

I feel sad when I hear protestors screaming get them out at new arrivals to Ireland. Many of these people have been delivered here by traffickers who promised them a better life in exchange for a hefty fee, and they want to work and earn a living. Others are fleeing wars, the kind of hell we cannot imagine. But whatever reason brings them here, they are people, like us, and they should be treated with respect.

By all means we can ask that people make an effort to fit in, even if it means leaving behind some of their customs where these do not respect women for instance. But even if an immigrant is not here legally and must be deported, a bit of a respect for the person is the least we can provide. We are all human, and we must never forget that.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW

May 20-24, 2024

The Week in Review

Leyla Cheamil, 25.05.2024, 13:42

Security guarantees for Romania

The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, declared on Wednesday that there was no direct threat to the country, but that the heads of the Army are preparing for all possible situations. Today, Romania benefits from the most important security guarantees that we have ever had in our existence, said the head of state, referring to the countrys membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. He also said that Romania will not send combatants to Ukraine, and that the option of handing over an anti-aircraft defense system to this country will be discussed in the Supreme National Defense Council. For his part, the head of the General Staff, General Gheorghita Vlad, stated that Romania must accelerate the provision of the defense forces, in the context of the security situation in the region. The Ministry of Defense is considering the hypothesis of a possible escalation of the current military conflicts, says the general. He drew attention to the need to increase the reaction capacity of the army through new equipment and military materiel.

Black Sea Defense and Aerospace exhibition in Bucharest

This week, the Black Sea Defense and Aerospace regional military equipment exhibition took place in Bucharest. The event was attended by over 400 global manufacturers of equipment and military materiel from approximately 30 NATO member states or partners. They were presented to experts from all over the world the latest generation military equipment, weaponry, but also the main attraction  the multi-role fifth generation F-35 aircraft, which the Air Force of the United States of America brought, for the first time, to an exhibition in Europe. The exhibition aimed to identify opportunities and find solutions for cooperation both in production and in the field of business, contributing to the promotion, on an international level, of the Romanian defense industry.

Joint meeting, in Ankara, of the Romanian and Turkish governments

The Romanian and Turkish governments had, on Tuesday, in Ankara, the first joint meeting in which they established the resumption of Romanian meat exports to Turkey, and a series of agreements were signed in areas such as tourism and urban planning. At the joint meeting of the two governments, it was decided that Romanian farmers should resume the export and transit of meat to Turkey. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu emphasized, on this occasion, that Romanian farmers will once again have access to a very large market, and will be able to open new routes to other markets. Its a huge opportunity for Romanian producers to have access to a huge market, but at the same time we will be able to establish solid trade routes with other areas of interest in the region and the Middle East, Marcel Ciolacu pointed out. At the same time, he thanked the leader from Ankara for signing the decree that allows Romanian citizens to travel in Turkey with their identity card for a maximum of 90 days. Prime Minister Ciolacu also stated that Romania will continue to ensure good cooperation between Turkey and the European Union. For his part, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that both countries want bilateral trade to reach 15 billion dollars in the coming years. He recalled that the two states contribute to ensuring security and stability in the region through joint actions, but also within NATO. Erdogan also said that the two states, along with Bulgaria, have formed a joint group that will remove mines from the Black Sea.

Reserve generals of the RIS, placed by the DNA under judicial control on bail

The former operative chief of the RIS, Florian Coldea, was placed by the DNA, the anti-corruption directorate, under judicial control on bail, judicial sources announced. The same measure was ordered for reserve general Dumitru Dumbrava, former head of the legal department of the RIS, and for attorney Doru Traila. The three are defendants in a case of influence peddling and money laundering, after being reported by a businessman. The person stated that they would have asked for the sum of 600,000 euros to help him obtain a suspended sentence in the case in which he has a four-year prison sentence for fraud involving European funds.

Salary increases and union grievances in the budget sector

The Bucharest government adopted an emergency ordinance that provides for salary increases of 10% in two installments for several categories of employees in institutions subordinated to the executive, ministries, or under the control of the Parliament. The trade unions in the administration criticized the ordinance, stating that the Government is promoting a salary policy that does not take into account the real needs of employees. On Thursday, trade unionists from several public institutions and governmental organizations protested in Bucharest, claiming inequities and wage discrimination in their fields of activity. The offered increase displeases some of the protesters, who consider it too small. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu answered them by saying that for the institutions in question, solutions can be found for more flexible personnel structures, and, from the savings made, the salaries of those who deserve it can be increased.

Craiova hosts the International Shakespeare Festival

Having reached its 14th edition, the International Shakespeare Festival in Craiova (south), which started on May 16, will close its doors on Sunday. More than 300 world-class theater performances, concerts, parades, workshops, book launches, installations, and VR trips were scheduled throughout the city of Craiova and its surroundings, in conventional spaces, but also in the most original and unexpected places. The performance halls and indoor spaces host shows, exhibitions, workshops and book launches. The markets, parks, and streets will be occasions for surprise meetings with shows and performances, concerts, and pop-up installations in the open air, to which the public is invited to contribute. Shakespeare Village  a British village from 1600, rebuilt from the ground up, on the Craiova Hippodrome, is the venue for dozens of concerts and shows. Some of the biggest names in the world of international theater and performance creators can be found in the festival program, including Robert Wilson, Peter Brook, Declan Donnellan, Philip Parr, and Christian Friedel.
Hyundai Verna continued to hold on to its No. 1 spot, a position it shot up to in March 2024 as well from a No. 7 spot in February

Car exports in April 2024 have grown by 21.10% YoY to 49,553 units. This was 8,633 units volume growth over 40,920 units shipped in April 2023. MoM sales however, fell drastically when compared to 61,950 units exported in March 2024.

Car Exports April 2024  Hyundai Verna is the Lead

First on the list of passenger vehicle shipments in April 2024 was the Hyundai Verna. This No. 1 position was achieved both in March and April 2024 from a No. 7 spot in February 2024. Exports stood at 4,499 units last month, a 13.24% growth from 3,973 units shipped in April 2023 to command a 9.08% market share. Hyundai exports the Verna to markets across the Middle East and Africa and also to some parts of Asia and Latin America.

It was followed close behind by the Maruti DZire sedan at No. 2 with a significant 151.90% YoY growth to 4,242 units in April 2024 from 1,684 units shipped in April 2023. Honda City exports also surged 83.28% YoY to 3,836 units while Maruti Baleno exports dipped 8.85% from 4,179 units shipped in April 2023 to just 3,809 units in the past month.

Even as Maruti Jimny has not been well received in domestic markets, its export figures show off its global popularity with 3,642 units exported last month, significantly ahead of the Aura (3,407 units) and Grand i10 (2,925 units). The Aura and Grand i10 have seen triple digit growth of 196.52% and 266.54% over exports in April 2023.

Maruti Swift was at No. 8 on this export list in April 2024 with 2,620 units dispatched, a 10.55% YoY de-growth from 2,929 units exported in April 2023. Honda Elevate, 5 seater SUV, launched in September 2023, amassed exports of 2,500 units. The Fronx has seen an 11727.78% YoY growth in exports to 2,129 units from 18 units shipped in April 2023. Lower down the list was also the HyRyder (1,794 units), Grand Vitara (1,623 units), Venue (1,449 units), Virtus (1,313 units), S-Presso (1,275 units) and Ertiga (1,024 units).

Sub-1000 unit Car Exports April 2024

Passenger vehicles that were unable to surpass the 1000 unit mark in terms of exports included the Alcazar of which only 941 units were shipped last month, though it showed off a 21.42% YoY growth. There was also the Sonet (940 units), a 78.13% YoY decline over 4,206 units sold in April 2023. The list also included the Carens (720 units), Tiguan (690 units), Ciaz (570 units), Seltos (564 units), Sunny (561 units) and XUV700 (428 units).

Lower down on the sales list, most of the models showed off a YoY de-growth. Celerio exports fell to 404 units while Alto exports dipped to 350 units. The relatively new Citroen C3 Aircross recorded 317 unit exports. While the i20 reported 265 unit exports along with the Eeco at 263 units, exports of the Honda Amaze went up hugely to 180 units, a gigantic 4400% YoY growth from just 4 units shipped in April 2023.

The list also had Scorpio (99 units), Magnite (78 units), Kushaq (50 units), EC3 (26 units), Exter (13 units), Ignis (12 units), Bolero (5 units) and Triber (4 units). Exports of XUV400 and Kiger were at 2 units each while there was just 1 unit of Kiger and Creta exported last month.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 24. Azerbaijan's judicial employees who, due to a change of place of service in the justice authorities, do not have permanent housing and are forced to rent an apartment, as well as members of their families, will be paid material compensation for rental housing, the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the application of the law of the Azerbaijan Republic dated May 7, 2024 No. 1147-VIQD On amendments to the Law of the Azerbaijan Republic On service in the judiciary and on amendments to the decree of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic dated July 25, 2006 No. 430 "On the implementation of the Law of the Azerbaijan Republic "On Service in the Judiciary" says, Trend reports.

Will be updated
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 24. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has congratulated Jordan on the country's national holiday - Independence Day, the ministry wrote on its X page, Trend reports.

"Heartfelt congratulations to friendly Jordan and its people on the occasion of their", the ministry said.

On 25 May, Jordan celebrates Independence Day, also known as Eid al-Istiklaal. On this day in 1946, Jordan ended the British mandate and officially gained its sovereignty.

Celebrations kick off in the capital city of Amman where citizens and local leaders attend ceremonies. After the early events, cities across the country hold events to watch fireworks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. An inspection of air defense system and combat position of the Armenian armed forces abandoned after the anti-terror operation conducted by the Azerbaijan Army in the Karabakh economic region, was held, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

"The 1S32 missile guidance radar and several 2P24 launchers with 3M8 guided anti-aircraft missiles, which are part of the 2K11 Krug anti-aircraft missile system, were seized from a military facility found in the Khojaly region," the ministry said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. On May 25, another group of former internally displaced persons, consisting of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps and administrative buildings in various territories of Azerbaijan, was sent to the city of Shusha from the Garadagh district of Baku, Trend reports.

At this stage, another 32 families (125 people) moved to the city of Shusha.

Shusha residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Shusha has been provided for 90 families - 349 people.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. In line with the training plan authorized by the Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, combat training classes were conducted with engineering units, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Participating personnel completed a variety of tasks, including detecting and neutralizing mines and unexploded ammunition, opening passageways in minefields using various tactics, and overcoming barriers.

Classes with military personnel doing engineering support duties primarily aim to raise their professionalism and enable them to make better use of modern engineering tools and procedures in weapons.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Another group of former Azerbaijani IDPs, sent this morning, has reached native Shusha city, Trend reports.

The liberated Shusha continues to welcome its native residents.

At this stage, more 32 families (125 people) returned to the city.

The group consists of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, former pioneer camps and administrative buildings in various territories of Azerbaijan.

The families who arrived in the city of Shusha were warmly welcomed, they experienced the joy of reunification with their native land.

Thus, a permanent settlement in the city of Shusha has been provided for 90 families - 349 people.

To note, following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of IDPs to their native lands.

Up to date, alongside Shusha, the former IDPs have returned to Lachin and Fuzuli cities, the villages of Talish (Aghdara district), Aghali (Zangilan district), Zabukh, and Sus (Lachin district).

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The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of Pradeep Kumar Sinha as the Part-time Chairman of ICICI Bank, effective July 1, 2024. Sinha will take over from G. C. Chaturvedi, who retires as Non-Executive Part-time Chairman on June 30, 2024.

Pradeep Kumar Sinha brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He has served as a Government Nominee Director for several major Public Sector Undertakings, including ONGC, IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, and GAIL. Notably, Sinha spent approximately seven years on the board of Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and around six years each on the boards of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).

Sinha's extensive career in the Power and Oil and Gas Ministries spans about 15 years. He has held significant positions such as Financial Advisor and Special Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Secretary of Ports and Shipping, and Secretary of Power. His expertise encompasses the energy, infrastructure, transport, urban development, and finance sectors.

According to ICICI Bank, Sinha joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1977 after earning his Masters degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics in 1976. He also holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from St. Stephens College, Delhi.

During his career, Sinha served in Uttar Pradesh before moving to the Government of India, eventually rising to the esteemed position of Cabinet Secretary. He held this role for more than four years before transitioning to the Prime Ministers Office, from which he retired in March 2021 after 44 years of continuous public service.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After serving buttery croissants, crisp loaves of bread and decadent pastries to Staten Islanders for a little more than seven months, global boulangerie Paris Baguette will soon expand its presence in the borough.

We are planning our second location, but we cant give away the details yet, noted Jessica Lin, owner of the Staten Island outpost.

The company, which operates more than 4,000 stores throughout the world, confirmed Lins statement, noting that one additional Staten Island Paris Baguette location is in development and on track to open in the next 12 to 18 months. Details about the exact address, however, are not yet available.

Paris Baguette is well-known for its freshly made pastries, breads and cakes, as well as for hand-crafted Lavazza coffees, sandwiches and salads. (Courtesy of Paris Baguette)(Courtesy of Paris Baguette)

The announcement comes as the brand easily found favor within the local community after opening on Oct. 6 in the Tysens Park Shopping Center in Oakwood.

We are very appreciative that the local community really enjoys our pastries, cakes and sandwiches, Lin said. We have gotten to know so many of our regular customers and enjoy serving them.

And the bake shop has already established a steady practice of charitable giving.

We try our best to give back to the community by donating our leftover baked goods at the end of the night to City Harvest and Project Hospitality, gift certificates to local school raffles, and by mentoring the youth through S.I. Chamber of Commerce YEA program, Lin added, referring to the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

Well-known for its freshly made pastries, breads and cakes, as well as for hand-crafted Lavazza coffees, sandwiches and salads, the company is owned by the SPC Group, a South Korean-based manufacturer of food and bread products that also owns BR Korea, a doughnut and ice-cream chain.

The company expanded to the United States just a few years ago, and currently has locations in 12 states with a heavy concentration in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Massachusetts. (Courtesy of Paris Baguette)(Courtesy of Paris Baguette)

The company expanded to the United States just a few years ago, and currently has locations in 12 states with a heavy concentration in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Massachusetts, its website noted. There are currently 24 Paris Baguette cafes across the five boroughs, with three additional cafes scheduled to open in the next few months.

We have so many product offerings, that it is difficult to pinpoint just one best seller, Lin said when asked about what the hottest item is in her shop. This seasons launch is focused on a variety of Nutella-flavor pastries, cakes and drinks, as well as buffalo chicken flavor pastries and sandwiches. My favorite out of the new launch are the Nutella cronuts, but my favorite cake is our strawberry soft cream cake. We are launching our summer products on June 5th, so do stay-tuned.

And the Oakwood location will celebrate its one-year anniversary in October with some discounts and special events.

We will announce [those] events as we get closer, Lin concluded.
UPDATE: After help from national missing childrens center, Staten Island teen found safe

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the NYPD are seeking tips in an effort to locate a 15-year-old boy with special needs who has been missing for over a week from his home in Port Richmond.

The NYPD previously asked for the publics help to locate Armando Acevedo Solano who was seen leaving his home in the vicinity of Lexington and Palmer avenues on May 15 at about 2:45 p.m. Police doubled down on their appeal by repeating their request for information on Monday.

Authorities believe that Armando may be in Staten Island, Brooklyn, or Long Island, New York, or travel to New Jersey, according to a statement from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

The missing is non-verbal autistic, according to a NYPD flier seeking information that was posted by the 121st Precinct on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Armando Acevedo Solano, 15, was seen leaving his home in the vicinity of Lexington and Palmer avenues in Port Richmond on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, around 2:45 p.m. (Courtesy of National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)Courtesy of National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Police described Solano as standing about 54 tall and weighing about 130 pounds, with brown eyes. He was seen on that Wednesday wearing light-colored blue jeans, a black sweater, black-and- white sneakers, and carrying a black backpack.

The 15-year-old boy who has brown hair may be wearing headphones and dark sunglasses, according to the NCMEC.

Armando is also being featured on the Rings Neighbors app which has a partnership with NCMEC to increase awareness of missing children and bring them home, according to the statement from the NCMEC. This feature reaches millions of users, providing real-time assistance in locating missing children.

Anyone with information about Armando or his disappearance is urged to contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the 121st Precinct Detective Squad at 718-697-8712 or the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public also may submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ , or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
Donald Trump wasnt off limits Thursday night when The Rolling Stones came to New Jersey for a massive concert.

Mick Jagger put the former president and the adult film actor he allegedly paid to keep quiet about an affair on blast as he joked with the crowd he was thankful the weather held up. There was a chance rain would ruin the event.

I thought we were gonna get a bit of a Stormy Daniels but were alright, to which the crowd laughed.

Daniels is at the center of Trumps criminal trial in New York.

Jagger also noted earlier, during a fan-voted song choice in their set: Theres a much bigger vote happening in November.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of an alleged effort to keep salacious  and, he says, bogus  stories about his sex life from emerging during his 2016 campaign. On Monday, Trump called the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg a scam and witch hunt.

The charges center on $130,000 in payments that Trumps company made to his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen. He paid that sum on Trumps behalf to keep Daniels from going public with her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier. Trump has denied the sexual encounter ever happened.

Prosecutors say the payments to Cohen were falsely logged as legal fees. Prosecutors have described it as part of a scheme to bury damaging stories Trump feared could help his opponent in the 2016 race, particularly as Trumps reputation was suffering at the time from comments he had made about women.

Trump has acknowledged reimbursing Cohen for the payment and that it was designed to stop Daniels from going public about the alleged encounter. But Trump has previously said it had nothing to do with the campaign.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A Staten Island elementary school student has won the New York state competition for the 16th annual Doodle for Google art contest, and now faces off against the best from across the nation to win the overall titlewhich is determined by a public vote.

Google announced that Benson Li, a student at P.S. 56 The Louis Desario School, is competing in the fourth and fifth grade category with his creative and futuristic drawing, titled The Future of Transportation.

Entrants had to create a piece in response to Googles thematic prompt, My wish for the next 25 years

This Doodle I drew is what I think transportation might look like over the next 25 years of hard work and dedication, Benson wrote in his contest submission. It represents my wish for the next 25 years because my wish is for humanity to have transportation that can drive itself more safely so we can save time and do other things in the car and that over the next 25 years transportation will improve.

Bensons drawing shows the Google logo imagined as a transport floating high above earth, which is pictured in the background.

Staten Islanders can support Bensons quest for the national title by voting for his art on the contest website at doodles.google.com/d4g/. To vote, navigate to the fourth and fifth grade category and then to the New York entry.

Voting is open until June 4.

The contest winner will receive a $55,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 tech package for their school and will have their art featured onGoogle.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 24. A plenum on the topic Problems of preserving historical monuments in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur was held in Shusha, Trend reports with reference to the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Shusha.

The plenum was attended by the special representative in Shusha Aydin Kerimov, the executive director of the Office of the State Reserve of the city of Shusha Tural Novruzov, employees of the representative office and reserves.

Chairman of the Union of Architects of Azerbaijan Elbay Gasimzade and Rector of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction Gulchohra Mammadova met with the participants of the event. It was noted that such plenums play an exceptional role in the restoration of architectural monuments in the territories liberated from occupation.

During the meeting, it was noted that before the occupation there were about 200 architectural monuments in Shusha, but over 30 years of occupation, almost all of them fell into disrepair, and some were completely destroyed. It was emphasized that local specialists play a large role in the restoration process that is being carried out today, and it was noted that 18 architectural monuments have been restored over the past period. In addition, it was emphasized that in order to promote the city of Shusha at the international level and exchange experience, the Shusha Symposium of Architects of the Turkic World was held last year, and a meeting of architects of the Islamic world is planned this year.
The Australian art world is mourning the loss of another leading female contemporary photographer following the death of Rosemary Laing after a short illness.

Laing first captured public attention in 2000 with her breakthrough conceptual series, flight research, in which she photographed a bride suspended mid-air over a mountainous landscape.

The photographs were achieved via complex arrangements with a professional stuntwoman on location in the Blue Mountains.

From Rosemary Laings series bulletproofglass. Credit: Rosemary Laing

Laings death comes in the same week as that of Destiny Deacon, the pioneering First Nations artist and activist who is credited with pioneering the use of the word Blak in Australia.
Imitation may be the highest form of flattery but, for one Sydney gift shop, a new rival business with several similarities to its own is a present it did not want to receive.

A war of words has erupted between two gift shops in the citys inner west, after an established store publicly accused a newcomer of copying several elements of its business.

Hands, a popular store on Newtowns Australia Street, has claimed a new store called Sharing, which opened about 500 metres away on King Street earlier this month, has copied key parts of its operations, ranging from interior design to products, to a green sign on the footpath out the front of the shop.

We could not believe that someone would do this, and the more we learned, the more disbelief we felt, read a long post on the Hands Instagram account, posted on Tuesday.
Ajmer was a pioneer in many endeavours. He brought his passion for enriching youth into teaching and the Sikh community. He was a founding member of Sikh Youth Camps Australia (SYA). Foremost among SYAs activities is its annual summer camps, which were regarded as a rite of passage of Sikh youth, feeder to the community volunteer force for good in their later life. Ajmer was instrumental in the writing of the syllabus for Punjabi for the NSW Community Language Schools, some up to HSC level. Ajmer received many awards. Among them was one from the Centre of Melbourne Multifaith and Others Network on International Human Rights Day last year. The citation acknowledged his work that demonstrates human rights in action, advancing and defending human rights in Australia. Another was in recognition of his contribution as the Sikh representative to the Religious Advisory Committee to the Services from 2019 to 2023. Ajmer Singh Gills award for work demonstrating human rights in action  advancing and defending human rights in Australia.

Ajmer was born Swaran Singh during World War II in Singapore, where his parents, Gurbachan Singh and Ranvir Kaur, had settled from their hometown in Roomi in Punjab. Warrior Gurbachan had left Punjab as part of the British-Indian Police force. It was in school that Swaran was registered as Ajmer. After the war, the family returned to Roomi. It was not long after  in 1947  when the family was caught up in the strife of a displaced people, with the partition of Punjab into Pakistan and India. The forward thinking of Gurbachan would once again take the family across the seas. This time to Malacca in British Malaya, where Gurbachan would become the nightwatchman at the Esso petrol station. It was that sense of adventure that Ajmer would inherit. Gurbachan and Ranvir were not tertiary educated. Ajmer, recognising the opportunities in British Malaya, paved his own way, realising early on that building his gyaan (knowledge) was the future. With his older brother Ajit becoming a track and field star, Ajmer was reading Macbeth under the street lamps. One of his mantras was that life was 90 per cent hard work and 10 per cent luck. At age 16, he strove for that opportunity of a scholarship for teacher training in Kirkby. In later life, he romanticised this time, waxing lyrical about his first airplane ride, his first job in a Birdseye factory, travelling to nearby Ireland, and seeing the Beatles as a then-undiscovered pub band. He even had a girlfriend called Jean Pye, who he stayed in touch with until recently. As he was completing his teacher training, he asked his mother for permission to marry Jean. His mother refused and recalled him from England to Malaysia.

Once home, Ajmer revelled in his postings around rural Malaysia to serve out his commitment to the government, in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia from Kuala Terengganu to Kemaman. At age 34, he acceded to a match-made marriage, to nurse Kalwant Kaur Mann from Kuantan, who had herself trained in England, in Maidstone. The marriage would last 47 years until his death. It was a strong one between equals with different skill sets, setting a standard on what shared parenting, caring and providing for a family should be like. Younger brother Dr Kulwant would say to the family that Ajmer Singh single-handedly did the most for our family that anyone could have. He was referring to Ajmer uplifting the value of education and blue-sky thinking of his siblings and children, nephews and nieces, all of whom have done well in academic pursuits that Ajmer was proud of. Two years after their marriage, baby Sietel was born and Ajmer and Kalwant moved to Alor Gajah, a small town near Malacca. Ajmer, in keeping with Sikh values, always had a sense of justice and fairness. At the time, Malaysia after independence did not seem like the land of the future for his family. Ajmer had gained migration status to England, Canada and Australia. Ajmer picked Australia for its more temperate climate. And it was closer to Asia. In 1981, they arrived in Perth, ready to be the teacher and nurse where Australia needed them. Ajmer and family slowly migrated to Darwin in the Northern Territory, with stops in Southern Cross and Tennant Creek on the way. In 1984, their daughter Taren was born.

Ajmer was best known as an industrial arts teacher, but in the early 90s a move to Darwin High School saw him become the assistant principal. Once Sietel had left for university, a move to Sydney became inevitable in 1997, where the family home in South Penrith lasted for 25 years. Ajmer embraced teaching in western Sydney, but his joy came from roles within the Sydney and national Sikh community. Prominent among them were Sikh youth camps and SYA Australia. With Sietel and Taren going bush in pursuit of their pharmacist careers, Ajmer was back to hitting the road, making friends in new communities such as Orange and Mudgee in regional NSW. Food was an abiding interest in Ajmer, legacy of his Kirkby days where he had to fend for himself. He loved to eat and loved to cook. Chinese food were favourites: bak-kut-teh, hor fun and siu yoke. In 2020, Ajmer and Kalwant followed their grandchildren to Victoria, to spend as much time with them as possible, and continue a life spent leisurely and effectively educating. They built a rich life and community in Ballarat. Ajmer had lived in four countries and four states in Australia. He spoke English, Malay and Punjabi fluently, along with conversational Chinese and Tamil, and he collected loved ones and stories everywhere he went. He felt, and thus spread, joy about most aspects of life.
But whenever the YIMBYs come up in government offices, newsrooms, pubs and parties, the same questions tend to follow: Who are these people? Whos behind them? Is the solution that simple?

For a small, grassroots group theyve had an unusual, immediate impact; their savvy campaigning winning headlines, the backing of influential think tanks, and the ears of politicians and bureaucrats. They are also looking to influence the outcome of local council elections.

YIMBY Melbournes answer is seductively simple: just change the rules to allow more homes, particularly Paris-style, six-storey apartments, to be built where people want to live  near jobs, transport, bars and cafes.

The Melbourne Yes In My Back Yard group  or YIMBY  formed amid a deepening housing crisis as home-ownership rates, building starts and rental vacancies nosedived and rents , mortgage repayments and homelessness levels soared.

This month just a year ago a group of young professionals gatecrashed this states housing and planning debate, claiming to represent a growing demographic priced out of our citys inner and middle suburbs.

Theyre loud, theyre brash and, like it or not, theyre in our backyard.

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

It is one of a network of YIMBY groups across Australia and internationally. The first YIMBY group was established in San Francisco by young Silicon Valley workers.

YIMBY Melbourne grew out of what OBrien describes as a centre left and politics in the pub chat group dubbed the New Progressives  a group not dedicated exclusively to housing issues. But as members wrestled with which policy area to focus its energies on, homes, or the lack of them, were the clear winner. What do we care about? OBrien says they asked. And the fundamental overlap was housing.

She says she came to YIMBYism from an urbanist perspective and an interest in creating better and less sprawling cities. Its nice that it also happens to lead to more affordable housing often as well, she notes.

Roberts-Hull, 38, is an education policy specialist and mother who lives in Carlton. A former member of the US Democratic Party, she owns a single-level terrace she rents out, while renting an apartment herself in same street.

OBrien, 28, is the groups cocky frontman. A nerdy, bike-riding software developer and ALP member who rents an apartment in Coburg. He says his interest in housing policy is less about his own situation than concern for those young people who want but cant afford to live in inner Melbourne.

At a Collingwood cafe, YIMBY Melbourne leaders Jonathan OBrien and Katie Roberts-Hull, are explaining their faith.

In the spirit of what it describes as radical transparency, the group has shared member data revealing some surprising demographics; there are more owner-occupiers (48.5 per cent) than renters (38.9 per cent), and while 50 per cent of members are between the ages of 25-39, more than a quarter (27 per cent) are between the ages of 40 and 64.

YIMBY says it has no paid staff and no office, nor does it have party political affiliation, claiming members from across the political spectrum, from Liberals and Labor to Greens and Socialists.

YIMBY Melbourne, therefore, is at pains to prove its authenticity, and independence. It is an incorporated association under Victorian consumer law and is awaiting registration with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. It claims 300 financial members and about five core activists. Roberts-Hull is the only woman among the five.

Given YIMBYs pro-development position, there is a lingering suspicion that its some kind of astro-turfing outfit; a PR front providing grassroots credibility for ruthless developers.

From the left, Crikey commentator Guy Rundle has decried the YIMBYs as nihilists with a Thatcherite, neoliberal, ideological belief in small government and deregulation, right-wing magical thinking that is, for whatever reason, unstintingly favourable to developers.

Like the San Francisco chapter, the Melbourne YIMBYs have challenged locals and attracted scathing critiques from across the political spectrum. From the right, Liberal planning spokesman James Newbury slams YIMBYs as extremists who do not believe in amenity, community character, or the uniqueness of our states suburbs and towns.

David Hodge, for example, is senior consultant with major Melbourne developer, Intrapac. He has confirmed both joining YIMBY Melbourne and making a donation, his money accepted without question.

YIMBY Melbourne says it does not reject support from those with ancillary roles in development, such as architects, designers, planners, planning lawyers, and private consultants.

In a written statement, YIMBY treasurer Tristan Layton, a law graduate at Planning & Property Partners, says the group relies on aspiring members and donors to declare potential conflicts of interest. He says the group has rejected support from people with a material financial interest or executive roles in development companies.

Conspicuous in the member section of the YIMBY website is a conflicts of interest disclosure including for those in property, development and construction.

YIMBY members hail mostly from the municipalities of Yarra (17 per cent), Melbourne (13 per cent), Merri-bek (10 per cent) Stonnington (5 per cent) Boroondara (5 per cent) Maribyrnong (4.7 per cent) and Port Phillip (4 per cent). Most YIMBY members live where they say they cant. Labor for Housing co-convener Julijana Todorovic, who advocates on housing within the ALP, observes the strength of the YIMBY movement is having inner-city, middle-class people challenging the voices of other inner-city, middle-class voices.

Its main report, The Missing Middle, calls for mass upzoning to allow Paris-style six-storey development on all residential land within one kilometre of train stations or 500 metres of tram stops, and for a review and rollback of heritage overlays.

Key to the YIMBY manifesto is the idea that a restrictive planning system, including existing height and heritage controls, is blocking a potential deluge of apartment construction in inner and middle Melbourne that  if allowed  would force down prices and rents.

But OBrien agreed to open his books to The Age . As of just over a week ago, YIMBY Melbourne had $7786 in what he swears is its only bank account.

To date, the group has not had to lodge financial statements with government authorities, so there is no public information about its income.

Still, if YIMBY Melbourne has accepted developer-linked money it has not amounted to much.

The YIMBY position is not something set in stone, however, nor are its public pronouncements consistent.

It proposes a strict six-storey height limit but has welcomed council and government approval for apartment development at heights well above that, including in Frankston, Richmond and along the Suburban Rail Loop.

The groups early focus was almost solely on increasing supply, rather than on affordability and what governments might actively do to improve it.

Former Victorian Greens leader and now federal aspirant Samantha Ratnam attended an early YIMBY forum and was surprised by the singular focus on housing supply, and the lack of interest in affordability.

We all recognise the need for more homes and higher density, but it matters who can afford to live in those homes, she says.

Notable is that YIMBY Melbourne says that developers who opt to build to six levels should be able to do as-of-right  no planning permit required  in exchange for handing over one in 10 dwellings for social housing.

It now also backs scrapping the discretionary controls introduced in the Kennett era that allowed developers to push for more than the preferred heights posed by councils.

OBrien concedes policy is a work in progress. He now spruiks the YIMBY Melbournes platform as having more redistributive policies than any YIMBY organisation around the world that Ive seen.

The YIMBY strategy

Like its US namesakes, YIMBY Melbourne is unapologetically impudent, the brand itself a provocation of the resident groups, councillors and planners it accuses of locking up neighbourhoods.

For decades the planning discourse in Melbournes mainstream media outlets  including this one  has platformed objector voices.

Now, the caricature of the grey-haired Baby Boomer holding a placard in the newspaper picture opposing some development is being used as a weapon by YIMBYs.

These guys (YIMBY) are ripping the microphone away for themselves, says prominent former Labor strategist and Redbridge pollster Kos Samaras, who is also a registered lobbyist with developer clients.

Behind the scenes, many in the planning and local government world are incredulous, if not infuriated by the attention the group commands.

YIMBY Melbourne is media-oriented and savvy, using Twitter in particular to highlight council refusals and pick fights with planners and heritage consultants.

Between all of our skill sets  our biggest strength is being able to get media cut through, says OBrien.

YIMBY Melbournes aggressive campaigning has not gone unnoticed.

Influence with the state government

For new kids on the block, their access to government is unusual.

OBrien boasted at a Planning Institute forum this month that while most of his groups media commentary was about council decisions, in the background, a majority of our work is actually speaking with stakeholders within the state government and advocating there for a better and more accountable planning system.

YIMBY Melbourne has had audiences with Treasurer Tim Pallas once, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny twice and has regular contact with top departmental officials in planning and housing and in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

OBrien says hes lined up meetings with Premier Jacinta Allan and Housing Minister Harriet Shing for the coming weeks. He claims to have had three meetings with senior officials last week and has another four booked for this week.

The group is working closely with the government on its current rewriting of the Cain Labor governments 1987 Planning and Environment Act, which set the planning ground rules for councils and VCAT.

The landmark legislation sought to democratise planning and give Victorians a say in the shape of their neighbourhoods.

It came after years of battles fought through the 1970s in particular by residents and unions seeking to protect neighbourhoods from freeways, and Melbourne icons like the Queen Victoria Market and City Baths from developer wrecking balls.

But OBrien and Roberts-Hulls say the act swung the pendulum too far the way of local communities.

We have very good relationships with people at state government and are constantly having those discussions around how that rewrite should go and what it should look like, OBrien told the planners event.

Closely related is the implementation of then-premier Daniel Andrews housing statement from September, which has been tasked to Labors trusted public sector troubleshooter Jeroen Weimar, who oversaw the COVID response and Commonwealth Games bid.

One YIMBY insider says the group meets Weimar at least once a month and is working with him and other senior officials on housing targets that Labor is proposing to impose on local councils to realise Andrews promise of building 800,000 new homes in Victoria within a decade.

Conveniently for the government, YIMBY produced its own targets last month in a report that mapped out how Melbournes missing middle could accommodate 40,000 new homes a year.

The governments own targets have not yet been made public. However, OBrien says he has been briefed about them.

On multiple occasions in recent months, the government has pointed Age reporters to YIMBY research and recommended getting YIMBY comment for stories.

Why is the government seemingly so enamoured with YIMBY? One theory is that the groups supply-side solution echoes the governments own response to the housing crisis. Cash-strapped and with a prime minister also focused on supply, the Allan government is not proposing a major role for itself, for instance through building public or social housing.

Instead, the thrust of Labors September housing statement is that local councils, and the state itself, need to approve more private apartments.



YIMBY is also politically useful for the government. It represents a demographic Labor needs to keep and win over in its battle with the Greens in inner-city electorates  educated millennials squeezed by soaring rents and mortgage repayments.

Kilkenny said the government was speaking to people in all corners of the state.

Whether its advocacy, property, business, community, building, environment, architecture or design, we meet frequently with a broad range of groups, all wanting to support more homes being built in Victoria because they all understand that increasing supply is the best way to make housing more affordable, the planning minister said.

Warnings

Unsurprisingly, YIMBYs apparent influence with the government is broadly welcomed by the development industry.

Its refreshing to see a grassroots organisation that reframes the debate about increasing density and housing supply in our suburbs as a social good, says Cath Evans, the Property Councils Victorian executive director.

Development consultant and YIMBY member Hodge agrees: I think YIMBY is a strong independent voice of balance and reason amid a housing debacle and crisis created by governments.

The professional planners peak group the Planning Institute of Australia is less impressed.

The institutes Victoria president, Patrick Fensham, warns the government of the risks of YIMBYs blanket upzoning without proper planning and funding to ensure infrastructure and services like transport, schools and parkland are provided.

He says the government also risks ruining what makes Melbourne Melbourne.

A blanket six-storey upzoning is proposed for essentially all of 19th and early 20th-century Melbourne, including over the human scale streets of cottages and terraces that the city is known for all over the world.

Fensham likens the YIMBY upzoning proposal to the Baillieu governments snap rezoning of Fishermans Bend. When it rezoned the bayside industrial precinct to Capital City Zone in 2012, land values skyrocketed, delivering overnight windfalls to landowners there including some of Melbournes wealthiest property moguls.

The Victorian government at the time gave away around $1 billion in development rights, says Fensham, and is now struggling to supply adequate infrastructure and open space. In the 12 years since, the yield of apartments has been nothing like what was promised for Fishermans Bend.

OBrien says the problem with Fishermans Bend is that the rezoning was in a limited area.

Fensham says YIMBYs argument that blanket rezoning will reduce the price of housing because there will be more sites to be developed is flawed because it assumes there is currently a lack of sites.

He says the opposite is the case and that there are decades and decades of apartment capacity across Docklands, Arden-Macauley in North Melbourne, West Melbourne and Fishermans Bend.

Statistics also show that, no matter how many dwellings councils and government approve, developers are not building them because of construction costs and lack of profitability.

Last month The Age reported that Victorian builders were shelving more flats and townhouses than they are starting, despite being given the green light to press ahead by local councils.

The reality is that we cant make developers make less money, economist and housing specialist Dr Cameron Murray noted at the time.

YIMBY points to Auckland for evidence of the merits of a broad upzoning. There in 2016 the government embarked on a radical plan to upzone 75 per cent of residential land, tripling the citys housing capacity.

A subsequent Auckland University report found that the city built an additional 27,000 homes as a result.

But the research has strong critics; including Murray, who argues the research papers data had major methodological flaws.

Yet, despite the criticisms, even naysayers concede YIMBYs impact.

Its ideas  including the merits of a middle-density city  are not new; theyve been promoted by planners and urbanists for decades.

Many a Melburnian has walked the streets of Paris and Barcelona and wondered why their own city of soaring central skyscrapers surrounded by a vast blanket of low-rise, often car-dependent neighbourhoods, cant be more compact.

Now the message seems to have cut through, in part because the housing crisis is no longer only a problem for the lowest income earners.

In the past there were a lot of people who talked about housing for the disadvantaged, says Todorovic. But housing affordability and insecurity is now an issue for an increasingly larger part of the community.

There are now a lot of people talking about Millennials being priced out of the housing market.

YIMBY Melbourne says its gearing up for an even bigger second year under its motto, taken from Italian poet Giovanni Boccaccio: In this world, you only get what you grab for.

It may not have all the answers to the housing crisis, but it is grabbing lots of attention.

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Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her youngest daughter Gretl, 18, were senselessly murdered after becoming the unexpected victims in the marriage breakdown of a family friend which ended in a gunman storming their house.

The pair were fatally shot by Mark Bombara in the affluent suburb of Floreat on Friday afternoon.

Jennifer Petelczyc and her daughter Gretl making a Tiktok video together. Credit: TikTok

Bombara, 63, was the ex-husband of one of Jennifers closest friends. At 4.20pm he attended the Berkeley Crescent address carrying a gun, after learning his former partner had sought refuge there following the recent breakdown of their marriage.

When he realised she wasnt at the address, Bombara turned the firearm on the owner of the house Jennifer, killing her before shooting Gretl, who was critically injured.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is an unlikely disciple of the 18th-century economist Thomas Robert Malthus, the cravat-sporting, severely Anglican intellectual who wrote a famous treatise on population growth in 1798  not long after hordes from Englands over-stuffed prison population were transported to NSW as an overflow mechanism.

Malthus believed that while technological progress might increase a societys resources, thereby improving the standard of living, this would only lead to more population growth, which would cycle people back into lower living standards. Malthus also believed that overpopulation invited the forces of natural population-slashers such as famine and pestilence.

Birth rates are declining. Credit: iStock

Overpopulate and perish: they dont call economics the dismal science for nothing.

In the centuries since, Malthusianism has gone in and out of fashion, and has been used as an intellectual justification for nefarious purposes such as eugenics policies, and for more idealistic ones, such as environmentalism. But Mathusianism maintains its relevance  we are having a variation of the debate in our politics now.
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But the notion that excessive salary cap room will deliver gun players to those clubs is misguided. There is no meaningful war chest for St Kilda or North when several other clubs with more pulling power also have millions to spend on either free agents or high-value recruits from rivals. Richmond, Essendon, Geelong, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Adelaide, West Coast and Fremantle either have plenty of space or will open it up soon as veterans shuffle off. Of the Melbourne clubs, Carlton seem the most restricted in salary cap. The AFLs new pay deal has created space everywhere. Collingwood are said to have the capacity for an imminent $4 million in cap space, as the oldies exit. Richmond will be similar post-Dusty, Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt, and the Cats, incredibly, had sufficient salary cap room to buy pick seven from the Suns in the groundbreaking Jack Bowes trade of 2022, despite winning the flag.

Loading A weapon is less potent when the enemy has the same artillery  and even less useful if they have strategic/natural advantages that you dont. In assessing the Saints and North, Phil Davis observed that these clubs faced the hardest ask in persuading A-graders to join them. His solution was for those clubs to pay overs and recruit B-graders as mature players while getting A-graders in the draft, as the Saints did in the 2000s. Most elite players are acquired via the draft and a comfortable majority stick with their first club for the most productive period of their careers. Jason Horne-Francis aside, North have a proud record of retention. The rules of attraction for AFL players favour Geelong and the big four Melbourne clubs, the regional Cats having a unique country-and-coast appeal while Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond can pitch a packed MCG and the chance to play on Broadway. Davis said the big four are the first port of call for players outside Victoria who want to play in the heartland (or head home).

As historic clubs who play at the MCG, successful iterations of Hawthorn and Melbourne can compete with the Broadway clubs in the marketplace. The Demons list management since 2014 has been outstanding, considering they drafted guns when near the bottom, then paid a premium  which turned out to be a bargain  for Steven May and Jake Lever. The Melbourne model  draft for quality first, trade for need later and keep drafting  is one that the Saints and North can aspire to follow, albeit it will be harder to land the equivalent of May and Lever. Jake Lever and Steven May of the Demons. Credit: Getty Images St Kildas wish to play home games at the MCG is entirely justified when one considers that they a) have more latent support than the Dees, and b) that the Demons have two significant event games, the Kings Birthday (Collingwood) and Anzac eve (Richmond) at the ground that gave birth to the club. The Saints are persisting with their southern strategy of prioritising players from other clubs who hail from their territory in the bayside suburbs or the deep south of the Mornington Peninsula. If all goes well, they would have a region much like Geelongs surf coast/western district/Geelong unofficial zone (though the geographic appeal is less pronounced).

Loading North, meanwhile, have to be innovative and to shoot the lights out at the draft, where they have had more early picks. Rather than using the war chest largely to overpay non-exceptional players, they should be allowed to purchase picks, as Geelong did with Bowes, by selling cap space, as if it were blocks of land, to the Suns, Giants, Swans and any other club that needs the room as a matter of urgency. Finally, the death of the great Barry Davis, a champion of Essendon and Norths first premiership captain in the VFL, is a reminder of how romance can play a role in recruiting club-changing players. Davis, Doug Wade and John Rantall all left their clubs, via free agencys precursor of the 10-year rule (1973), enticed by a combination of cash and the possibility of becoming Norths first (VFL) premiership players under Ron Barassi. If St Kildas lack of success has been a burden for generations of great players, why cant the prospect of breaking footys most persistent drought  58 years and counting  be part of their pitch?
Panthers, elephants, gorillas, pangolins, and fish with teeth so jagged that they even attack crocodiles. Discover the deepest hidden secrets of Africa in its rawest, most untouched beauty while travelling in four-star luxury aboard a newly refitted small ship through West Africas Congo Basin. There are also chimpanzees, bonobos  like chimps but with longer limbs  the largest forest antelope, the bongo, the medium one, the sitatunga, and the small blue duiker, buffaloes, and bush pigs, as well as more than 350 species of birds and incredible fish like that savage goliath tigerfish. Remember the classic 1950s movie The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn? Well, this is the modern version yet in a setting  the Congo River, surrounded by 200 million hectares of protected forest  thats barely changed over time, unspoilt, undisturbed and rarely seen. With very few people and even fewer roads, this area is still one of the most biodiverse parts of the planet, producing an astonishing 20 per cent of the worlds oxygen. In the Republic of the Congo  as distinct from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) next door, which used to be called Zaire  the region is inhabited by Bantu tribes as well as the pygmy peoples, the hunter-gatherers whove largely preserved their ancient way of life.

The Congo is still one of the most biodiverse parts of the planet. The small group boutique hotel cruise, with 14 cabins, is being offered by Australias Classic Safari Company and run by French company Ducret Expeditions, well-known pioneers in opening new river routes in some of the worlds most remote areas. The return of the RV Ducret to the Congo mid-year will launch the revival of the long tradition of passengers plying the mighty river, but this time sustainably in a quiet, fuel-efficient, four-deck ship and luxuriously, in a series of beautifully remodelled suites. The observation deck up top has lounges for watching both the wildlife and the timeless river slip by, the restaurant is helmed by a Michelin-starred French chef, and theres a day spa and two naturalist guides among the 21-strong crew, who take guests out in smaller boats and kayaks to wend up the tiniest tributaries. There are both 12 and 15-night cruises departing from the Republic of the Congos capital, Brazzaville, and ending nearly 1000 kilometres downriver to Ouesso, where a private plane flies travellers back to the city over the forest canopy. The longer cruise includes national parks in the bordering DRC and the Central African Republic. See classicsafaricompany.com.au Home-grown nature

Kangaroo Island is home to 270 species of birds. Credit: Australian Wildlife Journeys Start Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Kangaroo Island, South Australia Finish Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Kangaroo Island, South Australia Duration Three days Get up close and personal with Australias own fabulous wildlife: shy echidnas, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, sea-lions, fur seals, goannas and up to 270 species of birds, on a special wildlife tour of Kangaroo Island, 14 kilometres off the coast of South Australia. Tour company Australian Wildlife Journeys now offers small group tours for two to 10 people or private three-day tours to show off the islands creature treasures. Highlights include a swim with wild dolphins, a walk on the beach with sea lions, a visit to a private wildlife refuge, a look at the black cockatoo conservation program and lunch with the worlds premier echidna expert Dr Peggy Rismiller.

Did you know, for instance, that the echidna has a bird-like beak, a pouch like a quoll, lays eggs like a reptile and produces milk for her babies, called puggles, by oozing it out through her skin? How great is Australia? See australianwildlifejourneys.com Bountiful Borneo Orangutan sanctuary along Intrepids 11-day Malaysian Sabah Adventure. Credit: Intrepid Start Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia Finish Sepilok, Malaysia

Sepilok, Malaysia Duration 11 days As the worlds smallest bear, the sun bear looks cute and cuddly, but in real life, it can be pretty unfriendly to humans. Yet, its still a thrill to see them in the wild or, second best, in the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, where 43 are currently being rehabilitated after being rescued.

Thats one of the amazing wildlife experiences offered by Intrepids 11-day Malaysian Sabah Adventure, which also features wildlife spotting along the Kinabatangan River where the rainforest reveals macaques, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, and at night, the civet cat. Theres also a conservation sanctuary for orangutans, sea turtles on Turtle Island and a climb up Mount Kinabalu, the best trek in South-East Asia. The trip includes a trail walk to Poring Hot Springs with a battery of bats and birds. See intrepidtravel.com/au Animal kingdom Costa Rica Costa Ricas natural attractions are stellar.

Start San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose, Costa Rica Finish San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose, Costa Rica Duration Eight days Take a trip to see scaly armadillos, the bright red poison dart frog, sloths hanging lazily down from trees over the breakfast table  Latin Americas Costa Rica offers some of the most unusual wildlife on the planet, and its all endlessly fascinating. World Expeditions eight-day Best of Costa Rica tour involves several animal encounters, some planned and others totally unexpected. Tortuguero National Park, for instance, has three varieties of sea turtlesthe green sea turtle, the leatherback, and the hawksbill  nesting on its beaches, while the rainforest echoes with the screeches of monkeys  capuchins, spiders, and howlers. The Monteverde Cloud Forest of the highlands alone is alive with 425 species of birds, 120 species of mammals, 101 species of reptiles and 60 species of amphibians, and with more than 13 kilometres of well-maintained trails and observation platforms, the stage is set for a fabulous fiesta of fauna. See worldexpeditions.com Q&A: CAPTAIN ERWAN LE ROUZIC, THE EXPEDITION OCEAN CRUISE CAPTAIN, SCENIC ECLIPSE II

Scenic Captain Erwan le Rouzic. My job involves... not just navigation and going from point A to B, and making sure were on time. It also involves making sure that our guests are happy and that, at the end of the journey, theyve had a fantastic time. On a small-sized yacht like the Scenic Eclipse II, the captain is involved a lot with the crew and guests and the wheelhouse is open almost all the time so that the guests can meet me as I show them how the ship works. My definition of a great journey is... meeting our guests expectations and also sharing with them some incredible moments. Most of our guests are very well prepared when they come on board, but its great to give them some exceptional experiences, too. My greatest journey ever was... to Antarctica, where I was so close to the wildlife, the penguins, the whales and seals, and every day the scenery was so different, whether on ice or on shore. There was sunshine, there was snow, there was the polar plunge and kayaking and paddle boarding with penguins. The most amazing thing Ive ever seen on a journey is watching humpback whales from a kayak, or paddle board or zodiac and having them just swim by and being so inquisitive and friendly. It was magical.
The Albanian Alps provide a fitting finale with the 19-kilometre trek from Theth to Valbona, a taxing climb over a 1795-metre-high mountain pass that delivers arresting vistas of two sweeping valleys flanked by towering peaks and plunging forested ravines. Along the way, the trip visits some of the regions most intriguing cities, including Split, whose atmospheric Old Town contains one of the worlds best-preserved Roman residences (the sprawling Diocletians Palace), and the Albanian capital of Tirana, which is enjoying an explosive period of prosperity after 40 years of isolated communist rule. But if theres one city that encapsulates the regions heartbreaking history, its Sarajevo. During the Balkans War, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina endured a horrific four-year siege, evidence of which can still be seen today in its shrapnel-scarred buildings. But much like the rest of the Balkans, it has recovered, and is once again a busy, vibrant metropolis with atmospheric alleyways, crowded cafes and a photogenic jumble of mosques, synagogues and churches. See intrepidtravel.com New tracks through Georgia Start Tbilisi

Tbilisi Finish Tbilisi

Tbilisi Duration 10 days

The village of Ushguli in Georgia, Europes highest permanently inhabited village. Credit: iStock When fully completed, the Transcaucasian Trail will squirm for 3000 kilometres through Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia  a dramatic, mountainous region wedged between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Straddling Europe and Asia, the area is home to some of the worlds oldest civilisations and countless UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Georgian section is the best-developed and during World Expeditions 10-day Transcaucasian Trail Hike Georgia youll experience the vibrant food scene, art nouveau architecture and spectacular riverside setting of its intriguing capital, Tbilisi. Youll also trek to 2200-metre-high Ushguli, Europes highest permanently inhabited village, stay with a family in the remote settlement of Adishi and summit the Chkhutnieri Pass for sweeping views of the glaciers surrounding 4858-metre-high Mount Tetnuldi. Along the way, youll learn about the regions absorbing history, an epic 6000-year saga written by the Persian, Ottoman and Russian empires. See worldexpeditions.com In the footsteps of English kings

Start Brighton, England

Brighton, England Finish Eastbourne, England

Eastbourne, England Duration Three days The Seven Sisters of Sussex. Credit: iStock When its finished, the King Charles III England Coast Path will be the worlds longest coastal trail, a squirming 4500-kilometre-long path following every inch of Englands featured foreshore. The vast majority should be open by the end of the year, but even now there are more than 1700 kilometres of signposted trails to choose from  a bewildering array of options that showcase everything from Cornwalls pristine beaches to Northumberlands castle-peppered coastline. Our recommendation? Jump on a train from London to the cheeky south coast resort of Brighton and spend three days tackling the 40-kilometre section to Eastbourne, another popular coastal retreat known for its grand Victorian architecture and handsome 19th-century pier. Along the way, youll climb up and over the Seven Sisters, seven striking chalk bluffs that are a gentle prelude to Englands tallest chalk sea cliff, the soul-stirring 162-metre-high Beachy Head. See nationaltrail.co.uk

Pilgrim path less travelled Start Kii-Tanabe, Japan

Kii-Tanabe, Japan Finish Kii-Katsuura, Japan

Kii-Katsuura, Japan Duration 10 days The Kumano Kodo is a lesser-known World Heritage pilgramage route. If you havent done the Camino de Santiago hike yourself, you probably know someone who has. This ancient pilgrimage in north-west Spain is only getting more popular thanks to countless books, movies and celebrity endorsements. Less well-known is that theres another UNESCO World Heritage-listed pilgrimage route in Japans Kii Peninsula called the Kumano Kodo. There are three main routes, but the easiest and most popular is Nakahechi. Looping from Kii-Tanabe on the west coast to Kii-Katsuura on the east, it visits several sacred Shinto shrines hidden among the peninsulas dense temperate forest.

On World Expeditions 10-day self-guided Kumano Kodo Coast to Coast hike, youll walk around 110 kilometres of the routes ancient cobblestone paths, staying at traditional ryokans and enjoying delicious Japanese cuisine and restorative onsens. This is one trek thats all about the journey  savour the meditative solitude as you retrace the ghostly footsteps of emperors, aristocrats and samurais. See worldexpeditions.com NZ tramping tasters Start Te Anau

Te Anau Finish Te Anau

Te Anau Duration Three days Sample the best bits of New Zealands Great Walks.

New Zealand has done such a good job of promoting its 10 Great Walks that places on the most popular hikes, particularly the Milford Track, sell out within hours of being released. If you do manage to get a spot, youll have to carry all your belongings and stay in basic, dorm-style huts. If only one could sample the best bits with just a day pack while staying in a comfortable hotel. Cue Trips and Tramps new Fiordland Great Walk sampler, an ingenious three-day package that includes guided day walks on the Kepler, Milford and Routeburn Tracks plus luxury accommodation in Te Anau. The view across the Kepler Mountains and Lake Te Anau. Each hike is deliciously different. Kepler starts with an exhilarating heli-transfer before a scramble up the rocky slopes of Mount Luxmore, Milford is a gentle stroll through verdant rainforest to a spectacular waterfall and Routeburn culminates in a picnic with spellbinding views over the Hollyford Valley. See tripsandtramps.com Q&A: Martin Ruffo

The journey planner, Inspiring Vacations

Inspiring Vacations Martin Ruffo. My job involves working alongside a group of talented individuals to craft unforgettable trips that are great value for money. My definition of a great journey is when I return home and I am physically tired from exploring, with a memory stick full of local faces, and a better understanding of the local culture I visited. My greatest journey ever was kayaking in the Lacandon jungle in Mexico, alongside a team of local explorers and an archaeologist, in search of a Mayan site that hadnt been documented for hundreds of years. The most amazing thing Ive ever seen on a journey is the first time I saw Machu Picchu in Peru. The setting, the magnitude, the perfection of that Inca site is something that truly took me by surprise. It really deserves its well-earned spot on everyones bucket list.
Other spaces include the bar car, which features curved lounges and serves expertly created cocktails. The dining car is similarly delightful. Meals are served on tablecloths set with vintage silverware and Italian earthenware and are accompanied by regional wines. Its easy to focus on the train, resplendent as it is, but what of the itineraries? There are eight in all, from one to two nights in duration, ranging across Italy from north to south. One of the best is the two-night coast-to-coast journey, which starts in Rome, heads north-east to Venice, crosses Italy to Portofino, and then returns to the capital. En route are off-train excursions, including a private art experience in Venice. Another appealing two-night option is the Palermo to Rome itinerary, which begins on the island of Sicily, crosses to the mainland to call at Maratea, a beautiful village facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, and then heads to Rome. Each trip is a neat balance of beauty within and without, courtesy of an exceptional train. See orient-express.com Take your time across the wide brown land Start Perth

Perth Finish Sydney

Sydney Duration Five days A rail journey to remember. Credit: Andrew Gregory

For the first time since it began operating more than half a century ago, the Indian Pacific is extending its crossing of Australia eastbound, from Perth to Sydney, with four nights of travel, rather than the previous three. Its an all-inclusive rail cruise, and the new 2025 timetable enables more convenient and appealing off-train excursions. Departing Perth on a Saturday afternoon allows a tour of the gold-mining city Kalgoorlie on the following morning, including a visit to the massive Super Pit. Later that night, theres a stop at Nullarbor ghost town Cook for a stargazing experience; the following afternoon and evening are occupied by tastings and dinner at a Barossa Valley winery. The train calls at Broken Hill on day four, with a choice of cultural tours, and the final day offers a Blue Mountains adventure. With a new Gold Premium class of accommodation available, this new itinerary should be a rail journey to remember. See journeybeyondrail.com.au/indian-pacific Endless Scandi days and nights Start Oslo, Norway

Oslo, Norway Finish Bodo, Norway

Bodo, Norway Duration 12 days Ride through rugged country on the Rauma Railway.

It was difficult terrain for railway engineers, but Norways mix of mountains and fjords is a delight to view from a train. The Arctic Circle Express, a 12-day rail tour, takes in the Scandinavian nations most impressive railways and its spectacular scenery. Starting in Oslo, passengers ride the lofty Bergen Railway, staying overnight at a historic hotel at the lines highest point. The next highlight is the Flam Railway, Europes steepest line, followed by a fjord cruise. A ride through the rugged country on the Rauma Railway is followed by a visit to Trondheim, with its colourful traditional houses. The final two days are spent on the Nordland Railways Polar Express train, which crosses the Arctic Circle on its way to Bodo bathed in the light of the midnight sun. A new option is a three-day extension to the even more northerly Ofoten Railway, which connects Narvik to Sweden. See upnorway.com Back to the future, Nikko-style Start Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, Japan Finish Kinugawa-Onsen, Japan

Kinugawa-Onsen, Japan Duration Two hours Tobu Railway runs between Tokyos Asakusa Station and the Nikko region.

When a new tourist train is devised, its makers tend to reach for Victorian-era designs from the golden age of railways. Not so the designers of Japans Tobu Railway, who have crafted a beautiful train with a unique style: the Spacia X. Running between Tokyos Asakusa Station and the Nikko region with its World Heritage-listed sites and popular thermal baths, this trains sleekly curving carriages have a futuristic vibe, but its more complex than that. Each of the six carriages bears a different design style, frequently incorporating the geometric patterns used in kumiko, a traditional woodworking craft, while the faint blue tint to the trains white exterior represents the sheen of ceramics. In an end carriage, theres a cafe serving food and drink from the Nikko region, adding to the flavour of a rail journey imbued with pure Japanese style. See tobu.co.jp/spaciax Mountainous landscapes in Laos Start Vientiane, Laos

Vientiane, Laos Finish Boten, Laos

Boten, Laos Duration Three hours This smooth ride runs through 75 tunnels and over 167 bridges through fabulously rugged scenery of humped mountains and sluggish rivers.

For most of its history, the South-East Asian country of Laos lacked appeal to train lovers, with very little track running through its mountainous landscape. However, in December 2021, the Lao section of the Laos-China Railway, which connects the Laotian capital Vientiane to the southern Chinese city of Kunming, opened. In Laos, it passes lush foliage and craggy mountains, stopping at traveller favourites such as Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. Fast trains take three hours to zip from Vientiane to Boten on the Chinese border, with Luang Prabang just two hours by rail from the capital. Seating is available in business, first and second class, with business seating the most luxurious in airline-style pods. Top tip: the best scenery is on the section between Vientiane and Vang Vieng; the stretch onward to Luang Prabang contains many tunnels. See 12go.asia Q&A: TIM NOBLE, THE LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN CHEF, JOURNEY BEYOND My job involves... travelling across and through the middle of Australia on Journey Beyonds iconic trains. There are early mornings and late nights, working and cooking with local and indigenous ingredients, giving our guests a taste of Australia while travelling across one of the worlds largest continents. My definition of a great journey is... when our guests get truly involved with the journey and immerse themselves in all that is on offer and finish the journey really feeling like they wouldnt have it any other way.

Journey Beyonds Tim Noble. My greatest journey ever was... when actor Margot Robbie and her family travelled with us from Adelaide to Darwin. I didnt get to meet her but it was exciting to have a celebrity of her status on board. I think she liked the food we dished up for her, too. The most amazing thing Ive ever seen on a journey is  a herd of water buffalo between Katherine and Darwin. They really are majestic animals and a couple of them stopped in their tracks and stared at the train. I wonder if they saw us staring back at them? The great journey I still really want to do one day is... visiting Europe to take in the culture and buildings, particularly in France, Spain and Greece. I would love to travel on European trains as well. The worlds next great journey destination is... Costa Rica, where the rainforests meet the ocean. It seems to have a lot to offer, from rainforest and jungles to white-sand beaches. Theres a lot of wildlife to be spotted, too. And the food is all based around local fresh produce, which has to be a good thing.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, May 21st during a press briefing, MP Wescot confirmed what she had posted on Facebook on Monday, that she had made the position as president of parliament available. This she explained was to preempt the move by the new coalition in parliament to dismiss the current presidium of parliament, including herself.

The MP also confirmed that both vice-chairpersons, MP Emmanuel and MP Gumbs had done the same.

It has been evident for some time that the NA and UP parties have been lobbying intensively to lure one or more of the coalition members to their side, in order to command a majority in parliament, the veteran MP stated. And added, lobbying is too decent word to describe what was really taking place.

And referring to the embarrassing parliamentary meeting of May 20th, MP Wescot stated that, after many rumors and change-of-hearts, it was evident on Monday, May 20th what and who the 2 opposition parties had roped in. MP Wescot emphasized  yes, opposition , because these 2 parties have acted in opposition to the people of St. Maarten.

The talk is, the MP continued that this is an uneasy relationship and thus the NA and UPP continue with their tactics, baiting their next victim.

In their eagerness, they showed their hand prematurely with their ill-conceived motion of no confidence against 3 of the 5 minsters of the Mercelina cabinet, thereby setting the stage for the counteraction by the governments invoking of article 59, dissolving parliament.

The NA/UPP/KM group believes that their control of parliament will allow the revocation of the article 59 decree by the government. That is wishful thinking, added MP Wescot.

It is unfortunate, but in my view understandable, that this decision was made by the government of St. Maarten. Unfortunate, because the people of St. Maarten were anxiously awaiting the Mercelina government to right the many wrongs, that were camouflaged by the previous government. Now we have to pause to react to this underhanded development, by means of hitting back at parliament.

Where does that leave us now?

With a very shaky new majority in parliament and yet another parliamentary election in the near future. Two elections in 1 year, 6 months apart. A government that assumed the reigns under some very troublesome conditions in the areas of government finances, healthcare cost, immigration management, understaffing in every area of government, weak infrastructure and utilities.

Not to speak of the looming crises, due to climate change and indebtedness due to loans etc.

Albeit that the Democratic Party willingly and wholeheartedly joined with the other 3 political parties to take St. Maarten out of the doldrums, left by the previous administration, it is clear that we are barely existing on the annual budget of the country and that a new financial model is urgently needed. This however requires serious and knowledgable negotiations and planning by an a-political team. The preliminary findings of the Mercelina cabinet only underscore the urgency of having a continuation off government as soon as humanly possible, the DP leader concluded.
Bridgetown, Barbados:--- CIBC Caribbean is once more putting its money where its mouth is and has announced a second capital injection for the year - $25MM US or J$3.862B in the Jamaica market.

This follows a first capital injection of just under $5MM US or J$760.00MM in January of 2024.

Several years ago, CIBC Caribbean identified Jamaica as one of its key markets for growth, and began a programme of development and investment there, to facilitate the financing of loans, improve its infrastructure and increase the number of employees available to serve its current and planned expanded customer base. The bank has also set about increasing its social media and advertising presence and its community profile in Jamaica.

In making the announcement, Chief Executive Officer, Mark St. Hill, noted: Jamaicas economic outlook continues to improve with the countrys credit ratings upgraded to BB- (S & P) and B1 + (Moodys) in 2023 and GDP growth projected at 1.8% in 2024, the outlook is promising. CIBC Caribbean is ready to play its part in assisting with that growth.

St. Hill added: We have been reaching out to our clients, both in Personal & Business Banking and Corporate & Investment Banking and we are seeing an upward trend in client confidence and interest in our products and services. Our recent rebranding to CIBC Caribbean has added to that interest and confidence and clients are ready to do business with us. This capital injection will help to support our efforts to help our clients make their ambitions become reality by supporting their plans for the future.

CIBC Caribbean has focused its recent activity in Jamaica on maximizing the market opportunities in the country by engaging and interacting with existing and new customers through enhanced products and pricing, digital channels, and marketing, traditional and digital. The bank has also worked hard on providing a seamless and radically simplified onboarding experience for new clients and has launched several offers such as high interest savings products and fixed deposit offers with competitive rates for client investments.

Managing Director for CIBC Caribbean in Jamaica, Nigel Holness, said the banks activities in Jamaica are about more than providing financing. As a relationship bank, we take our responsibility as a corporate citizen seriously.

Not only have we been expanding our marketing in Jamaica and actively growing our business, but we have also been working hard at our relationships with the people of Jamaica. Weve reached out to several schools to promote cyber security awareness, financial literacy, and a general understanding of how banking and finance works. Our children have had interactions with our team in Jamaica, and in some instances visiting executives that are sure to make a lasting impression on them.

St. Hill also stated: The majority of our customers in 2024 see and experience an omni-channel bank, providing a first-class service that delivers loans in 10 minutes or less to qualified clients, cards that are printed on the spot, online account opening, online local and international wires  and should I even have to says it  instant payments such as our hugely popular 1st Pay.

At CIBC Caribbean, 94% of transactions across the bank are now done digitally, our Personal and Business Banking Online & Mobile Banking transaction volumes have increased by 27% Year-On-Year and our Corporate Online Banking transaction volumes have increased by 11% Year-On-Year and by contrast, Over-The-Counter transaction volumes have decreased by 23% Year-On-Year.

The CEO added: there has been good appetite in Jamaica for our digital services, though there will always be demand for in branch services for those who need a bit more assistance, our aim is to strike the right balance so that each client feels well cared for and that there is a welcoming CIBC Caribbean face to help them with their banking needs.

Our Cards products have been hugely popular as well, with our fantastic security options that put the control of the cards safety in the hands of the client, by allowing them to monitor transactions and turn on and off the card as needed. Thats been a huge plus.

St. Hill noted: We have a great team in Jamaica, always willing to serve our clients. We are looking forward to a bright future there, for a long time to come.
Chinese military drills around Taiwan have ended: state media



Beijing, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



China has announced the end of two days of military drills around Taiwan that it called a test of its ability to seize the self-ruled island.

The drills were launched three days after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a "confession of independence".

A total of 111 Chinese aircraft and dozens of naval vessels took part in the drills surrounding the island democracy, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

The Chinese army had "successfully completed" the operation, named "Joint Sword-2024A", a presenter for state-run military news channel CCTV-7 said in a broadcast late Friday.

Chinese military analysts told state news agency Xinhua that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) vessels had inched "closer than ever before" to Taiwan's shores.

The exercises involved simulating strikes targeting the island's leaders as well as its ports and airports, they said.

This would "cut off the island's 'blood vessels' and block out its 'foreign aid regiments'", Tong Zhen, an expert from the Academy of Military Sciences, was quoted as saying.

The drills were aimed at testing the "capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes and control of key territories", Li Xi, spokesman for the PLA's Eastern Theater Command, said Friday.

The drills are part of an escalating campaign of intimidation by China that has seen it carry out a series of large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in recent years.

Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, when nationalists fled to the island following their defeat by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in a civil war on the mainland.

Beijing considers the democratic island part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control.

Beijing's defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Friday that Lai had "seriously challenged the one-China principle... pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger".

"Every time 'Taiwan independence' provokes us, we will push our countermeasures one step further, until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved," he said.

The dispute has long made the Taiwan Strait one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints, and this week's events have stoked fears that China may use military force to bring the island under mainland rule.

The United Nations called for all sides to avoid escalation.

The United States, Taiwan's strongest ally and military backer, on Thursday "strongly" urged China to act with restraint.

The Pentagon announced on Friday that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin would meet his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun at the end of the month at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of defence officials around the world.
Taiwan calls China's military drills a 'blatant provocation' to world order



Taipei, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



China's two-day military drills around Taiwan were a "blatant provocation to the international order", Taipei said in a statement Saturday after the war games encircling the self-ruled island ended.

The drills were launched three days after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te took office and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a "confession of independence".

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, regards Lai as a "dangerous separatist".

By Friday evening, a presenter for state-run military news channel CCTV-7 said the Chinese army had "successfully completed" the operation dubbed "Joint Sword-2024A".

In a statement, Lai's presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo reiterated that ensuring peace and stability across the region was "related to the common interests of the international community".

"However, China's recent unilateral provocation not only undermines the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait but it is also a blatant provocation to the international order, triggering serious concern and condemnation from the international community," she said.

Kuo added that Taiwan hopes "China will take the safety and happiness of the people on both sides into consideration, pursue mutual benefit, coexistence... stop all kinds of political and military intimidations on Taiwan and the region".

Self-ruled Taiwan has its own democratically elected government, military and currency, but Beijing has said it would never renounce the potential use of force to bring the island under its control.

Chinese military analysts told state news agency Xinhua that the People's Liberation Army vessels had inched "closer than ever before" to Taiwan's shores during the two-day military drills.

The exercises involved simulating strikes targeting the island's leaders as well as its ports and airports, they said.

In regards to China's various military actions, Kuo said that "the president and the national security team have a full grasp of the situation" and called for the public to "rest assured".
China ends military drills around Taiwan



Beijing, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



China has ended two days of military drills around Taiwan that saw jets loaded with live munitions and warships practise seizing and isolating the self-ruled island.

The exercises simulated strikes targeting Taiwan's leaders as well as its ports and airports to "cut off the island's 'blood vessels'", Chinese military analysts told state media.

Beijing considers the democratic island part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control.

The war games kicked off Thursday morning, as aircraft and naval vessels surrounded Taiwan to conduct mock attacks against "important targets", state broadcaster CCTV said.

Codenamed "Joint Sword-2024A", the exercises were launched three days after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te took office and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a "confession of independence".

Beijing's defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Friday that Lai was pushing Taiwan "into a perilous situation of war and danger".

"Every time 'Taiwan independence' provokes us, we will push our countermeasures one step further" until "complete reunification" is achieved, he said.

The origin of the dispute dates back to the Chinese Civil War, when nationalists fled to Taiwan following their defeat at the hands of the Communist Party in 1949.

The drills are part of an escalating campaign of intimidation by China, which has carried out a series of such exercises in recent years.

Beijing has also amped up its rhetoric, with its foreign ministry on Thursday saying "Taiwan independence forces will be left with their heads broken and blood flowing".

On Saturday, Taiwan's presidency said it had "a full grasp of the situation and appropriate responses to ensure national security".

"China's recent unilateral provocation not only undermines the status quo... it is also a blatant provocation to the international order," Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said.



- Closer 'than ever' -



A total of 111 Chinese aircraft and dozens of naval vessels took part in the drills over two days, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

On Friday evening, China's army published images of the drills' "highlights", featuring missile-launching trucks, fighter jets taking off and naval officers looking through binoculars at Taiwanese ships.

Meng Xiangqing from Beijing's National Defense University told state news agency Xinhua that People's Liberation Army vessels "were getting closer to the island than ever before".

Beijing launched similar exercises in August and April last year after Taiwanese leaders visited the United States.

China also launched major drills in 2022 after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan.

The scale of the most recent ones was "significant, but is nowhere near as big, it seems, as last August's", Wen-Ti Sung, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told AFP.

Sung and other analysts said the geographic scope of the exercises had increased, with a new focus on isolating Taiwan's outlying islands.

The drills took place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island, as well as around the Taipei-administered islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.

Tong Zhen, from China's Academy of Military Sciences, told Xinhua the drills "mainly targeted the ringleaders and political centre of 'Taiwan independence', and involved simulated precision strikes on key political and military targets".



- Calls for restraint -



The dispute has long made the Taiwan Strait one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints.

The United States, Taiwan's strongest partner and military backer, on Thursday "strongly" urged China to act with restraint.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet his Chinese counterpart at the end of the month at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of defence officials, the Pentagon said Friday.

"Beijing is trying to use this very high-profile show of force to not only show displeasure against Taiwan, but also... to deter and dissuade other countries and partners from contemplating further cooperation or engagement of Taiwan," said the Atlantic Council's Sung.

"That furthers isolation of Taiwan, which allows Beijing to negotiate with Taiwan going forward from a position of strength."

Any external intervention in a Taiwan conflict would likely come from the island's east, said Chinese military analyst Meng.

A small portion of the drills focused on this area, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

"'Taiwan independence' separatists have long considered the island's eastern direction to be their backyard and 'shelter', but the drills have shown that we can control that," Meng told Xinhua.

The drills are "a tried and tested way" for the CCP to project power domestically, an analyst told AFP.

On Saturday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying shared an image apparently taken from a PLA jet window, which had a sticker of China's flag on it.

"China's national flag... in the same frame with the Central Range mountains on Taiwan," she wrote on social media platform X.

"A most welcome sight for the 1.4 billion Chinese people."
Israel strikes Rafah after top UN court orders it to halt offensive



Rafah, Palestinian Territories, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



Israeli air strikes and artillery pounded Rafah on Saturday, as the government dismissed a UN top court's order to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gazan city.

At the same time, renewed international efforts were underway aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war sparked by Palestinian militant group Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel.

An Israeli official said on Saturday the government had an "intention" to restart stalled negotiations "this week".

In a case brought by South Africa alleging the Israeli military operation amounts to "genocide", the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its Rafah offensive and demanded the immediate release of hostages still held by Palestinian militants.

The Hague-based ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also instructed Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which Israeli troops took over earlier this month, effectively shutting it.

Israel gave no indication it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting the court had got it wrong.

The ruling said Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part".

But National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, in a joint statement with the foreign ministry, said "Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part."

Hamas, the Iran-backed Islamist group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, welcomed the ICJ ruling on Rafah but criticised its decision to exclude the rest of the Palestinian territory from the order.



- 'Nothing left here' -



Israel carried out strikes throughout the Gaza Strip early on Saturday as fighting raged between the army and Palestinian militants.

Witnesses and AFP teams reported Israeli strikes or shelling in Rafah, the central city of Deir al-Balah, Gaza City and Jabalia refugee camp in the north, and elsewhere.

"We hope that the court's decision will put pressure on Israel to end this war of extermination because there is nothing left here," said Umm Mohammad Al-Ashqa, a Palestinian woman from Gaza City displaced to Deir al-Balah by the war.

Mohammed Saleh, also interviewed by AFP in the central Gazan city, said Israel "considers itself above the law" and would not stop "the shooting or the war".

Yahya, a 34-year-old in Gaza who did not give his full name for security concerns, said: "Perhaps these decisions... that Israel has not complied with, will make the Western world move more strongly (in favour) of our cause."

The ICJ ruling came days after Ireland, Spain and Norway said they would formally recognise a Palestinian state -- a move the leaders of two other European states, Germany and Portugal, said Friday they were not ready to join.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Saturday that "the precautionary measures set out by the ICJ... are compulsory. Israel must comply with them."

The ruling also followed requests by the International Criminal Court prosecutor, Karim Khan, to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence minister, and three top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In its ruling, the ICJ ordered Israel to allow UN-mandated investigators "unimpeded access" to Gaza to look into the genocide allegations.

It also instructed Israel to open the Rafah crossing for the "unhindered provision at scale" of humanitarian aid and also called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.



- Paris meetings -



The Gaza war broke out after Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,903 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to data from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

On the diplomatic front, efforts have resumed to seek the first ceasefire in Gaza since a week-long truce and hostage release in November.

The Israeli official, requesting anonymity to discuss the negotiations, told AFP that "there is an intention to renew these talks this week, and there is an agreement."

The official did not elaborate on the agreement, but Israeli media said Mossad chief David Barnea had agreed with US and Qatari mediators on a new framework for negotiations.

Barnea met with CIA chief Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani over the weekend in Paris in a bid to relaunch negotiations, the reports said.

The Qatari premier on Friday also attended a five-way meeting in Paris with President Emmanuel Macron and the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan over the Gaza war and ways to set up a Palestinian state alongside Israel, the French presidency said.

Israel sent tanks and troops into Rafah in early May, defying global opposition. It has since ordered mass evacuations from Rafah, with the UN saying more than 800,000 people have fled the city.

Troops took over the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, further slowing sporadic deliveries of aid for Gaza's 2.4 million people.

The White House said on Friday that Egypt had agreed to temporarily send UN aid through another crossing, Kerem Shalom near Rafah, on Gaza's border with Israel.

The security and humanitarian situation in the besieged territory remains alarming, with a risk of famine and most hospitals no longer functioning.

The Kuwait Speciality Hospital in Rafah pleaded for fuel deliveries on Saturday "to ensure its continued operation", saying it was the only one in the area still receiving patients.

burs-ami/dcp
China ends military drills around Taiwan



Beijing, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



China has ended two days of military drills around Taiwan that saw jets loaded with live munitions and warships practise seizing and isolating the self-ruled island.

The exercises simulated strikes targeting Taiwan's leaders as well as its ports and airports to "cut off the island's 'blood vessels'", Chinese military analysts told state media.

Beijing considers the democratic island part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control.

The war games kicked off Thursday morning, as aircraft and naval vessels surrounded Taiwan to conduct mock attacks against "important targets", state broadcaster CCTV said.

Codenamed "Joint Sword-2024A", the exercises were launched three days after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te took office and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a "confession of independence".

Beijing's defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Friday that Lai was pushing Taiwan "into a perilous situation of war and danger".

"Every time 'Taiwan independence' provokes us, we will push our countermeasures one step further" until "complete reunification" is achieved, he said.

The origin of the dispute dates back to the Chinese Civil War, when nationalists fled to Taiwan following their defeat at the hands of the Communist Party in 1949.

The drills are part of an escalating campaign of intimidation by China, which has carried out a series of such exercises in recent years.

Beijing has also amped up its rhetoric, with its foreign ministry on Thursday saying "Taiwan independence forces will be left with their heads broken and blood flowing".

On Saturday, Taiwan's presidency said it had "a full grasp of the situation and appropriate responses to ensure national security".

"China's recent unilateral provocation not only undermines the status quo... it is also a blatant provocation to the international order," Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said.



- Closer 'than ever' -



A total of 111 Chinese aircraft and dozens of naval vessels took part in the drills over two days, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

On Friday evening, China's army published images of the drills' "highlights", featuring missile-launching trucks, fighter jets taking off and naval officers looking through binoculars at Taiwanese ships.

Meng Xiangqing from Beijing's National Defense University told state news agency Xinhua that People's Liberation Army vessels "were getting closer to the island than ever before".

Beijing launched similar exercises in August and April last year after Taiwanese leaders visited the United States.

China also launched major drills in 2022 after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan.

The scale of the most recent ones was "significant, but is nowhere near as big, it seems, as last August's", Wen-Ti Sung, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told AFP.

Sung and other analysts said the geographic scope of the exercises had increased, with a new focus on isolating Taiwan's outlying islands.

The drills took place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island, as well as around the Taipei-administered islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.

Tong Zhen, from China's Academy of Military Sciences, told Xinhua the drills "mainly targeted the ringleaders and political centre of 'Taiwan independence', and involved simulated precision strikes on key political and military targets".



- Calls for restraint -



The dispute has long made the Taiwan Strait one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints.

On Saturday, the United States again urged China to "act with restraint".

"Using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet his Chinese counterpart at the end of the month at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of defence officials, the Pentagon said Friday.

"Beijing is trying to use this very high-profile show of force to not only show displeasure against Taiwan, but also... to deter and dissuade other countries and partners from contemplating further cooperation or engagement of Taiwan," said the Atlantic Council's Sung.

"That furthers isolation of Taiwan, which allows Beijing to negotiate with Taiwan going forward from a position of strength."

On Saturday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying shared an image apparently taken from a PLA jet window, which had a sticker of China's flag on it.

"China's national flag... in the same frame with the Central Range mountains on Taiwan," she wrote on social media platform X.

"A most welcome sight for the 1.4 billion Chinese people."
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 25. The volume of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan amounted to $162.7 million from January through March 2024, Trend reports.

Data from the country's Bureau of National Statistics shows that this is 31.6 percent more than in the same period in 2023 ($123.6 million).

Exports to Azerbaijan dominated trade turnover, at $151.4 million, or 46.8 percent more than in January-March 2023.

Furthermore, imports from Azerbaijan fell by 44.7 percent during the aforementioned period, totaling $11.3 million. From January through March 2023, imports totaled $20.5 million.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan reached $529.4 million in 2023. The volume of trade turnover increased by 14.2 percent from the same time in 2022 ($463.3 million).

At the same time, in terms of trade turnover, exports to Azerbaijan totaled $456.3 million over the aforementioned period, which is 21.6 percent higher than from January through December 2022.

In addition, imports from Azerbaijan from January through December 2023 decreased by 17.3 percent and amounted to $73 million. In 2022, imports amounted to $88.3 million.
Biden 'determined' not to send US soldiers to Ukraine



Washington, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



President Joe Biden reiterated on Saturday that he does not intend to send American soldiers to Ukraine, while praising US leadership in the world -- implicitly responding to accusations of weakness made by Republican rival Donald Trump.

"There are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. I'm determined to keep it that way, but we are standing strong with Ukraine, and we will stand with them," said the Democrat, addressing the graduating class of the prestigious West Point Military Academy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he described as "a brutal tyrant," was "certain that NATO would fracture" after he invaded his East European neighbor in February 2022, Biden said.

"Instead, the greatest defense alliance in the history of the world is stronger than ever," he said.

Last month, US lawmakers passed a long-delayed $61 billion military aid deal for Kyiv after months of squabbling in Congress as Ukrainian forces suffered setbacks on the battlefield due to ammunition and funding shortages.

Since then, Biden has ordered five tranches of military aid to be sent to Ukraine, as Russia presses its assault on the Kharkiv region.

Biden also praised the US role in the Middle East, noting that Washington is conducting "urgent diplomacy" to secure a ceasefire and bring home hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"Thanks to the US armed forces, we're doing what only America can do as the indispensable nation, the world's only superpower," he said.

The US president, who is campaigning for re-election in November, also urged the cadets to honour their oath to "not a political party, not to a president, but to the Constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

He called them "guardians of American democracy."

"Freedom is not free. It requires constant vigilance," added Biden, who is campaigning in part on the threat posed to the US political system by Trump, who has vowed to wage a crackdown on the "enemy from within" if he wins the White House again, and has avoided ruling out political violence if he loses.
UK air force pilot dies in Spitfire crash



London, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



A British Royal Air Force pilot died after a Spitfire belonging to a Battle of Britain memorial fleet crashed in eastern England on Saturday, officials said.

The World War II fighter plane was flying near the RAF Coningsby base in Lincolnshire when it came down in a field shortly after 1:00 pm (1200 GMT).

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene, where the male pilot, who has not yet been named, was declared dead.

"It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence.

"The pilot's family have been informed and we ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

Local police said it was a single occupant aircraft and nobody else was involved.

An investigation is due to take place.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a post on the social media site X that his "thoughts" were with the victim's family and loved ones after the "tragic event".

Opposition leader Keir Starmer said he was "deeply saddened" by the news.

RAF Coningsby is home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a collection of wartime fighter and bomber aircraft that take part in air shows and memorial displays.

Only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remain, including six based at RAF Coningsby.

pdh/gv
Burkina Faso military rule extended for five years



Ouagadougou, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



Burkina Faso's military regime, in power since a 2022 coup, will extend its rule for five years under an accord adopted during national consultations on Saturday, the talks' chairman said.

"The duration of the transition is fixed at 60 months from July 2, 2024," Colonel Moussa Diallo, chairman of the organising committee of the national dialogue process, said after the talks.

He added that coup leader and acting president Ibrahim Traore can run in any elections at the end of the transition period.

What was supposed to be a two-day national dialogue began earlier Saturday, ostensibly to chart a way back to civilian rule for the West African nation beset by jihadist violence.

The army has governed Burkina Faso since 2022, carrying out two coups that it justified in large part due to the country's persistent insecurity.

Jihadist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have waged a grinding insurgency since 2015 that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

An initial national dialogue adopted a charter that installed Traore as president, and put in place a government and a legislative assembly.

Under the new charter agreed Saturday, quotas will no longer be used to assign members of traditional parties seats in the assembly. Instead, "patriotism" will be deemed the only criteria to select deputies.

The initial charter set the duration of the transition to civilian rule at 21 months with the deadline due to expire on July 1, but Traore had repeatedly warned that holding elections will be difficult given the perilous security situation.

Civil society representatives, the security and defence forces and lawmakers in the transitional assembly were taking part in this weekend's talks but most political parties boycotted the talks.
Israel strikes Rafah after UN court orders halt to offensive



Rafah, Palestinian Territories, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded Rafah on Saturday, as the government dismissed an order by the top UN court to halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city.

At the same time, renewed international efforts were underway aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war sparked by Palestinian militant group Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel.

An Israeli official said the government had an "intention" to restart stalled negotiations over the coming days.

In a case brought by South Africa alleging the Israeli military operation amounts to "genocide", the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its Rafah offensive, and demanded the release of hostages and the "unhindered provision" of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The Hague-based ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also instructed Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, after Israel's seizure of the Palestinian side earlier this month effectively shut it.

Israel gave no indication it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting the court had got it wrong.

The ruling said Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part".

But National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, in a joint statement with the foreign ministry, said: "Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part."

Hamas, the Iran-backed Islamist group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, welcomed the ruling but criticised the court's decision to exclude the rest of the Palestinian territory from its order.



- 'Nothing left' -



Israel carried out strikes throughout the Gaza Strip on Saturday as fighting raged between the army and Palestinian militants.

Witnesses and AFP teams reported strikes or shelling in Rafah, the central city of Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City and Jabalia refugee camp in the north.

In Gaza City, an AFP photographer saw a grieving woman embracing one of several bodies, some of children, which were shrouded in blood-stained white cloth and laid on the ground outside a clinic ahead of funerals.

They were killed in a strike on a school turned shelter in nearby Jabalia, relative Saleh al-Aswad told AFP.

Umm Mohammad Al-Ashqa, displaced from Gaza City to Deir al-Balah by the war, told AFP she hoped "the court's decision will put pressure on Israel" to end the fighting, "because there is nothing left here".

The ICJ ruling came as arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders were pending at the International Criminal Court, and after three European governments said they would formally recognise the State of Palestine.

The war broke out after Hamas's October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,903 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.



- 'I feared this moment' -



Diplomatic efforts have resumed to seek the first ceasefire in Gaza since a week-long truce and hostage release in November.

The Israeli official, requesting anonymity to discuss the negotiations, told AFP that "there is an intention to renew these talks this week, and there is an agreement".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has come under increasing domestic pressure over the fate of the hostages, with demonstrators rallying again in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

The official did not elaborate on the agreement, but Israeli media said intelligence chief David Barnea had agreed a new framework for negotiations in a meeting with US and Qatari mediators in Paris.

Speaking at the US military academy West Point, President Joe Biden said his administration was engaged in "urgent diplomacy to secure an immediate ceasefire that brings hostages home".

Mediator Egypt was continuing "its efforts to reactivate ceasefire negotiations", said Al-Qahera News, which has links with Egyptian intelligence.

In Tel Aviv, a crowd of several thousands observed a minute of silence for dead captives, an AFP correspondent reported, after the army said troops had retrieved seven bodies in recent raids.

"I feared this moment," said Avivit Yablonka, whose brother Chanan was brought back dead from Gaza.

"I will continue to shout, support, fight and do everything so that all the hostages return home," she told the rally.



- Internet down -



Israeli forces entered Rafah in early May, taking over the Palestinian side of its border crossing and prompting an exodus of more than 800,000 people, according to UN figures.

The White House said Egypt had agreed to temporarily send UN aid through another crossing, Kerem Shalom near Rafah, on Gaza's border with Israel.

Al-Qahera said Egypt was exerting "pressure on Israel to urgently let in the aid and fuel" stranded at the Rafah crossing, and mentioned "temporary measures" to provide Gazans with humanitarian relief.

The UN has warned of famine in the besieged territory, where most hospitals are no longer functioning.

The Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah pleaded for fuel deliveries to ensure the "continued operation" of the only medical facility in the area still receiving patients.

Telecommunications operator Paltel said internet access in northern Gaza was disrupted on Saturday "due to the ongoing aggression".

The US military said four of its vessels, supporting a temporary pier built to deliver aid to Gaza by sea, had run aground in heavy seas.

"No US personnel will enter Gaza. No injuries have been reported and the pier remains fully functional," a statement from US Central Command.

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With London having more tall buildings than other regions, he argued that the capital had been particularly hard hit by the lack of certainty over the technical requirements of the new rules - for example, whether the two staircases would need to be entirely separate or whether they can be contained within the same building core.
Four years after a court ruled he was likely innocent, Christopher Dunn is getting a chance to be freed.

St. Louis Circuit Judge Jason Sengheiser began taking testimony Tuesday May 21, 2024, in a hearing on a motion to vacate Dunns conviction in the May 1990 murder of Ricco Rogers. Dunn is serving a life sentence, but two adolescent eyewitnesses have recanted, and prosecutors now say they no longer believe Dunn is guilty.

The fact of the matter is, no one saw the shooter of Ricco Rogers, Special Assistant Circuit Attorney Booker Shaw told the court in his opening statement. The only witnesses who implicate Christopher Dunn are proven liars unworthy of belief.

Circuit Attorney Gabe Gores office is arguing the motion along with attorneys from the Midwest Innocence Project.

Representatives of the state Attorney Generals office are working to keep Dunn in prison.

I anticipate this court will see the evolution of Christopher Dunns story and how over time he or people working for him, whether inside or outside of prison, have cultivated the current version of Dunns lies, Associate Attorney General Tristin Estep said in her opening statement.

Eugene Wilson, who said he was friends with Dunn and Rogers, told the court that he had gone with another friend to get Chinese food the night of the shooting. He said they had just gotten back to the house where Rogers and the two boys were on the stoop when the shooting began.

What do you remember seeing about the shooter? Rachael Moore, an attorney for Dunn, asked Wilson.

It was real dark. The only thing I saw was the fire coming from the gun, Wilson replied.

Wilson said he doubted Dunn would have been the shooter because Dunn and Rogers were friends. He said that a few days before the shooting, he and Rogers, along with a few others, had jumped Rogers mothers boyfriend after the boyfriend had assaulted her.

To back up Wilsons assertion that it would have been too dark for the eyewitnesses to see well enough to make a positive identification, Dunns team had Scott Roder, a crime scene reconstruction expert, present an animation of the shooting based on the evidence gathered for previous attempts to free Dunn from prison.

But Roder said under cross-examination that his animation did not include certain parts of statements from one eyewitness, DeMorris Stepp, who had said he saw the shooter in the gangway. He also acknowledged that he did not go to the scene at 5607 Labadie to see if there were other streetlights that could have affected the ability of eyewitnesses to see.

Stepp was charged with armed robbery in 1991, the year Dunn was convicted. On Tuesday, Dunns attorneys read part of an interview from Curtis Stewart, who knew both Dunn and Stepp from the neighborhood and was in jail at the same time as Stepp.

Stewart told the interviewer that he had overheard Stepp tell someone on the phone that he didnt really know who killed the guy, Ricco, and then later, I dont really give a f, no way. Im getting a deal out of it. Stepp would later be sentenced to probation for the armed robbery.

Stepp is currently serving his own life sentence for a 1997 slaying. Hes been ordered to be brought to St. Louis to testify in the case. The second eyewitness, Michael Davis Jr., was in prison in California when he recanted in 2017 but later absconded from a drug treatment facility.
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, in its continuing effort to improve quality of life for all St. Louis area residents, celebrated the opening of Urban League Senior Apartments in Dellwood on May 21, 2024.

Michael P. McMillan, Urban League president and CEO, called the apartments a testament to our ongoing commitment to serving the needs of our community.

This development not only provides affordable housing but also fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment for our senior residents.

In partnership with Gardner Capital, the state-of-art facility offers affordable senior housing and marks another step toward neighborhood revitalization a decade after unrest in nearby Ferguson following the death of unarmed Michael Brown at the hands of a police officer.

The complex features 44 apartment homes, with one- and two-bedroom layouts. They are furnished with energy-efficient appliances and universal design features. In addition to quality housing, the community will offer amenities designed to enhance the residents quality of life.

This includes a resident lounge on the first floor, a food pantry, fitness classes, and computer center, which can create opportunities for socialization and connectivity in partnership with Oasis Senior Services.

We are proud to partner with the Urban League in bringing this vital project to fruition, said Michael Gardner, Gardner Capital president and CEO.

Together, we are not only building housing but also building hope and opportunity for the residents of Dellwood.

Gardner added that the Gardner Capital Upward Mobility Fund will donate two Tesla Model 3s. to promote mobility and access.

The vehicles will provide free, accessible, and reliable transportation to any senior citizen residing in the Urban League Apartments.

Whether its attending family events, medical appointments, or running daily errands, residents can enjoy peace of mind knowing they have access to convenient transportation at no cost, said Gardner.

Additionally, the Upward Mobility Fund is providing long-term funding to provide for free charging for the donated vehicles as well as free charging for current and future tenants for a minimum term of 20 years. This long-term commitment is at a minimum $250,000.

According to McMillan, the initiative would not have been possible without the collaboration of Grow America, St. Louis County, Missouri Housing Development Commission, KAI, Centene, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, City of Dellwood, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and Great Southern Bank.

We celebrate the new residents who are embarking on this transformative journey. Together, we are creating a brighter future for all, he said.

Grill to Glory

The Urban League and a network of area churches have fired up the 2024 Grill to Glory weekend events.

Since its inception at Leonard Baptist Church, Grill to Glory has grown into a statewide initiative. Originating as a response to the pressing drug crisis, the mission is now part of urban the fabric at churches in the St. Louis, Kansas City and Memphis areas.

According to participants, 90% of churches which held Grill to Glory events increased attendance at Sunday services, with every church experiencing membership growth.

Grill to Glory will be celebrated in nearly 300 churches within the St. Louis metropolitan area. Its reach extends beyond barbecue, encompassing health screenings, legal aid, utility assistance, and more.

This is a game changer, said James Clark, Urban League vice president of public safety during a kickoff event on May 18 at the Urban League headquarters.

We see Grill to Glory as that change agent; that pivotal model that can reintroduce the neighborhood church to neighborhood families when there is so much need out here.

Food is love.

To register a church for Grill to Glory participation, please visit www.ulstl.com/grilltoglory-registrationform.html
The YWCA of Metro St. Louis, the regions oldest and largest womens advocacy organization, celebrated its 120th anniversary in grand style at the downtown Four Seasons Hotel May 2, 2024.

While the music of Dirty Muggs filled the air, and there were plenty of thanks for a job well done over more than a century, the importance of the non-profit organization was a part of the festivities.

A woman may come to us afraid and in crisis, said Dr. Cheryl Watkins, YWCA president and CEO. With compassion and professionalism, we can help her heal [and] provide the wraparound services she needs during this time, educate her children, and prepare her for employment or even entrepreneurship, so she can exit our programs having changed the trajectory of her familys life.

Over its decades of service, YWCA Metro St. Louis has had many success stories and the same is true in 2024.

It has continued to gather accreditations and accolades over the past two years as it rebuilt, rebranded and reimagined its programming to serve more clients with greater impact, Watkins said.

Founded in 1904, the YWCA provided safe housing for women traveling from rural areas to work at the Worlds Fair.

It now serves more than 10,000 women and their families annually through three core service areas:

-Crisis Intervention and rapid re-housing for women who have experienced sexual and/or domestic violence

-Head Start/Early Head Start education and childcare

-Economic empowerment and career readiness services

For 120 years, YWCA has worked to create a safe and equitable path to self-sufficiency and prosperity fo/r women and families, and we have no financial requirements for our clients; all of our services are free.

Watkins said YWCA prides itself on creating innovative solutions for the challenges faced by their clients and the community.

The state of childcare  or rather, the lack of childcare and shortage of childcare professionals  in our region and in our nation is dismal, Watkins said. It is a national crisis. Childcare and the workforce are inextricably linked, and we are committed to finding solutions that will serve both families and employers.

YWCAs Early Education program serves more than 1,200 children in St. Louis and St. Louis County, However, 400 families remain on the waitlist due to a shortage of qualified staff. To solve its staffing deficit, the organization has developed an accelerated, pre-credentialing program for aspiring child care professionals  the YWCA Metro St. Louis Successful Pathways.

Pathways, a Department of Labor registered apprenticeship created to help YWCA expand its staff, places aspiring professionals in the classroom while they work toward their Child Development Associate credential (CDA).

This allows YWCA to keep classrooms open so parents can remain in the workforce, or creates opportunities to open new classrooms, which allows parents to return to the workforce.

YWCA received a FOCUS St. Louis Whats Right with the Region Award on May 9, 2024, at The Sheldon, which honored Successful Pathways in the Demonstrating Innovative Solutions category.

Stacy Johnson, YWCA chief program officer and Head Start director, said the Successful Pathways apprenticeship, now early in its second year, has helped YWCA keep 85 Head Start classrooms open. The classrooms serve 1,041 families.

Johnson presented the staffing model at the recent YWCA USA national conference because its leaders feel it can be replicated and scaled to benefit YWCAs nationwide.

YWCA USA CEO Margaret Mitchell will attend the YWCA Leader Lunch 44 on December 13, 2024, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel. She will share how the advocacy effort of YWCA national helps support the work that YWCA Metro St. Louis does locally and regionally.

That our agency has endured for 120 years is no small feat and we are extremely grateful, said Watkins.

We are celebrating 12 decades of service, thousands of women and men and partner organizations who provided advocacy, education, services, volunteer hours, financial support and empowerment to hundreds of thousands of women and families in our region.

For more information about YWCA Metro St. Louis and for Leader Lunch tickets, visit ywcastl.org.
ST. LOUIS  Two boys were shot and injured Saturday afternoon in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood of north St. Louis.

A 17-year-old was hit in the shoulder, and a 15-year-old was hit in the knee, according to St. Louis police. Both boys were taken to the hospital in stable condition.

The shooting occurred about 1:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of Glasgow Avenue, across from Gamble Recreation Center, police said.

Almost three dozen children have been injured or killed by gunfire in the St. Louis region so far this year. On Friday, two children were shot inside a home in East St. Louis.
JEFFERSON CITY  Family members of David and Natalie Lloyd remembered the married couple for their love and devotion to the Haitian people after they died Thursday in the chaos-stricken Caribbean country.

The couple were married in 2022 and had served as full-time missionaries in Haiti since that fall, working for the Oklahoma-based nonprofit Missions in Haiti Inc. that David Davy Lloyd IIIs parents founded in 2000.

Davy, 23, Natalie and the nonprofits Haitian director Jude Montis were killed by a gang Thursday evening, the nonprofit said early Friday morning. An investigation that will involve international law enforcement was underway, Haitian police spokesperson Gary Desrosiers told CNN on Friday.

This is an open investigation but we are sure we will arrest those involved. For now, were working on protecting the public and the community while actively searching for the perpetrators, he said.

Natalie Lloyd, 21, was the daughter of Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker of Neosho. Baker, in a statement late Friday, thanked people who had reached out after news of his daughter and son-in-laws deaths.

They loved Haiti and loved its people dearly and ultimately gave everything for them, Baker said. Davy and Natalie reached countless lives in so many ways and we want them to be remembered for who they were, selfless and full of love and devotion to the people of Haiti.

Baker said the family cant possibly respond to everyone who has reached out to them, yet we know youre there. We can feel your prayers. Keep them coming.

A statement posted to Bakers Facebook page on Friday evening said the family was working to retrieve Davy and Natalies bodies.

The White House, in a statement Friday to CNN, said officials were aware of the reported deaths of U.S. citizens and that our hearts go out to the families of those killed as they experience unimaginable grief.

The U.S. State Department said Friday the U.S. ambassador in Haiti was in contact with the families and that the U.S. embassy was ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.

The State Department said too many innocent lives are being lost in Haiti and said the United States supports the expedited deployment of a multinational Kenyan-led security force to bolster the Haitian National Polices capabilities to protect civilians, restore the rule of law, and pave the way to democratic governance.

Meanwhile, the Baker family on Friday night directed people to report accounts advertising funeral arrangements and asked people not to share posts claiming to be videos of Davy and Natalies bodies.

A spokesperson for the family said Saturday morning that there were only two legitimate GoFundMe online fundraisers: one that says created by Jeremie Bridges, and another that says created by Chris Slinkard CPA and (state Rep.) Dirk Deaton.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY  As criticism mounts, including from city officials, over a plan to shutter three struggling library branches, board members have acknowledged that they fell short on communicating the seriousness of our situation.

In a statement Thursday by the St. Charles City-County Library Board, officials promised to hold public listening sessions on the proposed closures. And the statement came just hours before the OFallon City Council unanimously approved a resolution urging the librarys trustees to reconsider its planned closure of Kisker Road, McClay, and Deer Run library branches.

This shows a total lack of leadership and insight to actually close libraries in a growing county like we are, said Jim Ottomeyer, an OFallon council member who previously served as a board member for the library systems foundation board, which fundraises on behalf of the library.

OFallon is the first city in St. Charles County to oppose the closure, but more may follow suit. The St. Charles County Council has a similar resolution on the agenda for its May 28 meeting.

We vow as a city to do everything we can to oppose this plan, Ottomeyer said.

The closure plan, announced last week by St. Charles City-County Library District CEO Jason Kuhl, also calls for laying off 39  mostly part-time  employees and leaving 25 vacant positions unfilled. It was met with swift and vocal opposition from residents. Library trustees ultimately voted to delay any action on the proposal for 30 days.

Deer Run is in northern OFallon along Main Street, while Kisker Road library is near Weldon Spring and McClay is in St. Charles.

The resolution adopted Thursday by the OFallon council noted that closure of Deer Run would would adversely affect families with children and OFallon residents with mobility issues.

Several of us have heard from constituents who are angry with what the library is doing, said councilwoman Linda Ragsdale.

Kuhl said last week the changes were necessary because the library system is facing financial problems caused in part by the rising costs of electronic books and streaming platforms that are increasingly popular with library patrons. The library pays $50,000 to $60,000 a month for streaming services due to user demand, Kuhl said.

In the statement Thursday, Kuhl and board president Staci Alvarez reiterated the changing financial outlook for the library system.

We have seen changes in how our community uses our branches, the types of resources they seek and request, and the services they need from the library. We have seen a significant shift in how patrons are using our collection; specifically, an increase in the use of eMedia and a decline in the use of our physical resources, the statement reads. These changes in preferences of our patrons have impacted our financial resources and use of our facilities.

St. Charles City-County Library is not the only library system grappling with the growing popularity  and costs  of electronic books. In a report published in December 2023, researchers with the American Library Association said libraries nationwide have seen a 34% increase in electronic book borrowing since 2019. As of 2023, nearly a third of Americans had read an e-book in the previous year, and a quarter of Americans had listened to an audio book.

And the shifts come as libraries are navigating a challenging landscape of lending and licensing e-books from book publishers and distributors. According to the ALA report, libraries typically pay three to four times the consumer price for an ebook or audiobook license of a popular title, even if that license later expires and needs to be renewed.

These costs make it very expensive for libraries to license digital materials, according to the report.

In the statement, Kuhl and Alvarez said the librarys leadership would be taking a deeper look at expenditures, particularly electronic resources, to identify opportunities for cost savings over the next month and beyond.

Both Kuhl and Alvarez say they are committed to taking more time to make a decision that is the best interest of the library district and those we serve.

The librarys trustees are scheduled to meet twice in June  a budget work session on June 6 and a regular meeting on June 18.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 25. Turkmenistan and Russia noted the positive dynamics of the growth of bilateral trade, Trend reports.

According to an official source, this was said during a meeting between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin, who arrived in Ashgabat to participate in a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.

During the meeting, the parties noted the positive dynamics of the growth of bilateral trade between Turkmenistan and Russia, emphasizing that in the first quarter of 2024 alone, trade turnover increased by 22 percent compared to the same period last year.

The meeting also touched upon issues of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, scientific and educational exchange, and cooperation in the field of healthcare.

Meanwhile, economic cooperation between Turkmenistan and Russia is developing, marked by important steps towards mutual benefit.

The two countries actively cooperate in the fields of trade, energy, and infrastructure projects, which further strengthens the partnership and contributes to overall economic progress.
Army Col. Thomas Austin speaks at his retirement ceremony from Arlington National Cemetery on July 21, 2023. (Elizabeth Fraser/U.S. Army)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  Thomas Austin, an Army veteran and former director of engineering at Arlington National Cemetery, has been named the new Architect of the Capitol and will assume the role June 24, the congressional commission tasked with filling the position announced Wednesday.

Austin will permanently fill the role that was vacated when President Joe Biden removed J. Brett Blanton in February 2023. The architect is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development and preservation of the Capitol complex. Architects of the Capitol are appointed to serve a 10-year term.

The Architect of the Capitol plays a vital role in welcoming millions of visitors to our Capitol and ensuring it is a functional workplace, the commission said in a joint statement. Thomas Austin has managed construction projects and facilities of all sizes, maintained one of our nations most hallowed landmarks, and served our country in the military. We are confident that with his extensive experience, Thomas Austin will be an adept and capable Architect of the Capitol.

Austin is currently a senior program manager for a construction consulting firm and in the past was chief of the Facility Programs Division for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. He retired from the Army in 2023 as a colonel after serving nearly three decades in engineering and leadership roles, including overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to the joint statement. Hes a licensed professional engineer and certified construction manager.

He will helm an Architect of the Capitol office that for years has been mired in controversy.

A inspector general report released in 2022 found Blanton had misused his government-issued vehicle, abused his authority and wasted close to $14,000 in taxpayer funds. Blanton remained in office for months following the report, but after a tense House Administration hearing early in the 118th Congress, was fired by Biden.

Several other top officials were removed in the wake of Blantons firing. And in the last year, former employees have filed a series of discrimination complaints painting a picture of what they said was a dysfunctional and hostile workplace.

Chere Rexroat, a chief engineer at the agency, stepped in as acting architect following Blantons departure. In February, Rexroat announced shed return to her previous role. The AOCs Chief of Operations Joseph DiPietro has stepped in as acting architect since.

Austins appointment is the first since the passage of legislation in December that authorized a congressional commission to appoint and remove an AOC by a bipartisan, majority vote. In the past, the president appointed architects based on recommendations from Congress.

That commission included House and Senate leadership and the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Rules and Administration, House Administration and Senate and House Appropriations committees.

2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Visit cqrollcall.com

istributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Graduating cadets celebrate during the United States Military Academy commencement in West Point, N.Y., May 25, 2024. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

WEST POINT, N.Y.  President Joe Biden emphasized the critical role of U.S. support to allies around the world including Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific in a speech on Saturday at the commencement for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

The speech before 1,036 graduating U.S. Army cadets is part of a push by Biden to highlight the administrations efforts to support active and retired military personnel. These include a bipartisan law he signed two years ago to help veterans who have been exposed to burn pits or other poisons obtain easier access to health care.

Biden described American soldiers as working around the clock to support Ukraine in its effort to repel a two-year long Russian invasion, but repeated his commitment to keeping them off the front lines.

We are standing strong with Ukraine and we will stand with them, Biden told the crowd to a round of applause.

He also highlighted the U.S. role in repelling Iranian missile attacks against Israel and support for allies in the Indo-Pacific against increasing Chinese militarism in the region.

U.S. President Joe Biden presents a diploma to a graduate cadet during the United States Military Academy commencement in West Point, N.Y., May 25, 2024. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters) Graduating cadets attend the United States Military Academy commencement in West Point, N.Y., May 25, 2024. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Thanks to the U.S. Armed Forces, were doing what only America can do as the indispensable nation, the worlds only superpower, Biden said.

The president is scheduled to participate in Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Monday. A week later, he will travel to Normandy, France, to participate in ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

Biden is expected to give a major speech about the heroism of Allied forces in World War Two and the continuing threats to democracy today.

As vice president, he twice addressed a graduating class of cadets at the academy about 40 miles (64 km) north of New York City, but this was the first time as president.

Donald Trump, Bidens Republican challenger in the 2024 election, was the last president to speak at a West Point commencement, in 2020.

College campuses nationwide have erupted in sometimes-violent protests over Bidens support for Israels war against Hamas following the militant groups Oct. 7 attack. Students have used commencement speeches at universities such as Harvard, Duke and Yale to protest Bidens actions.

West Point graduating cadets throw their hats in the air in celebration at the conclusion of commencement ceremonies in West Point, N.Y., May 25, 2024. (Tom Brenner/Reuters) U.S. President Joe Biden attends the United States Military Academy commencement in West Point, N.Y., May 25, 2024. R (Tom Brenner/Reuters) U.S. President Joe Biden attends the United States Military Academy commencement in West Point, N.Y., May 25, 2024. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Earlier this month, the Democratic president gave the commencement speech at Morehouse College, a historically Black mens college, where protests were sparse.

The military academy was founded in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson to train Army officers and has produced some of the United States greatest generals, including two who went on to become president.

Trump has seen some of his support from the military community erode.

In 2016, he won 60% of voters who said at the time that they served in the military, according to exit polls conducted by NBC News. That figure dropped to 54% in 2020, according to NBC News.

In 2020, Biden won 44% of voters who said they served in the military, according to the data.

Additional reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington.
Omaha Beach is one of the five famed D-Day landing beaches along a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast in France. (iStock)

Should attending D-Day commemoration ceremonies in Normandy, France, have been pinging on the travel radar for some time already, theres perhaps no better year than this one to finally make it happen. With this year marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, regional authorities are pulling out all the stops to make this years program a memorable one. Add to that the fact that the veterans who took part in the military action of June 6, 1944, are by now well into their 90s at the least, the chance to take part in commemorations in the presence of firsthand witnesses is an ever-diminishing possibility.

There are many parts to this years D-Day Festival, to be celebrated June 1-16 throughout Normandy. The region still bears the scars from this moment in history, and each year, it remembers and pays tribute not only to veterans from the U.S., but those hailing from Britain, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland and Australia, as well as to Frances own men and women.

In addition to the solemn official ceremonies for heads of state and dignitaries, some activities will be accessible to the general public. One such program point comes at the beginning. On the night of Saturday, June 1, more than 20 huge fireworks displays will be launched from the five famed D-Day landing beaches  Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword  Allied code names given to beaches found along a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast.

The official international ceremony to take place on Thursday, June 6, on Omaha Beach will be a high-level, invitation-only event attended by representatives of all Allied nations. For security reasons, many beaches and sectors will be cordoned off with no access to visitors or vehicles. A map on the Normandy tourism website illustrates the closed-off areas. Official ceremonies continue into the next day, when U.S. President Joe Biden will be attending an event in Cherbourg. Online: tinyurl.com/2pdzaef8

The Normandy American Cemetery will also be the site of a D-Day commemorative event on June 6. Access on the day to this cemetery overseen by the American Battle Monuments Commission is for ticket holders only. Although the ticket request portal has by now closed as capacity has been reached, the ABMC suggests would-be attendees monitor their website page for any updates. Family members of an individual buried or memorialized in the Normandy American Cemetery, or those traveling with a World War II veteran, can send an email to dday80@abmc.gov.

Its also worth noting that in preparation to this event, the Normandy American Cemetery will be closed to the public throughout the day on June 5. On June 6, the property will be open only for the duration of the ceremony and solely to ticketed guests. Online: abmc.gov/d-day80

The D-Day Festival Normandy is the name given to an event organized annually between the end of May and into mid-June by the tourist offices of the landing beaches. Some 200 events, exhibitions and activities are slated to unfold along the coastline between Pegasus Bridge and Sainte-Mere-Eglise from June 1-16, from parades to balls to historical re-enactments. The following information represents only a small fraction of whats on.

A Picnic Concert of Freedom of Omaha Beach is planned at Vierville-sur-Mere from 6 p.m. June 1. Five hours of concerts will help build anticipation for the days main event, the fireworks display scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Entry is free and no tickets are required.

A concert titled Tribute to the Heroes takes place at Sword Beach starting at 9 p.m. on June 1. Musical ensembles including a pipe band and soloists are on the program. Entry is free and no tickets are required.

The Forgotten Heroes of Utah Beach, a re-enactment of an air and sea landing including a demonstration by the Navy Seals accompanied by around 150 re-enactors and amphibious vehicles, is set to take place opposite the museum in Sainte-Marie-Du-Mont from 6 p.m. June 6.

Frances largest gathering of C-47 airplanes will take place in Gonneville-Le Theil June 6-9. Enthusiasts can enjoy watching these huge aircraft take off and land, particularly on June 9, when parachutists will jump into the surrounding marshes, weather permitting.

Grandchamp-Maisy is the site of the re-enactment of a 1940s-era village on June 8-9. More than 300 military vehicles, a wedding ceremony and more than 100 town residents dressed in period clothing will lend this event its special flavor.

An air show featuring the Patrouille de France and many vintage aircraft in the air and on the ground makes Arromanches-Les-Bains the place to be from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. June 8.

Mass parachute drops are on the agenda at La Fiere, Sainte-Mere-Eglise from 9:45 a.m.-4 p.m. June 9. Parachutists dressed in period costume will jump from C-47s and other historical aircraft, followed by military troop drops. The drops will only take place if weather conditions allow for it.

A pdf copy of the entire program of events is available online at tinyurl.com/yybnh7pj.

A fortunate collision with another of Frances great events slated for the summer of 2024 will occur in Normandy on May 30-31, as the Olympic Torch Relay passes through Omaha Beach, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Saint-Lo and numerous other towns and villages. The Olympic Torch is presently making a 68-day tour through the various territories of France prior to the kickoff of the Olympic Games on July 26. Online: tinyurl.com/ya5un539
Davy and Natalie Lloyd were killed in Haiti on May 24, 2024, after armed gangs attacked their missionarys property and set their bodies on fire. (Rep. Ben Bakers Facebook page/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  A young American couple who devoted their lives to missionary work in Haiti were killed Thursday night, along with the Haitian director of their non-profit, after two armed groups attacked their mission in the countrys volatile capital.

Im just at a total loss, David Lloyd, 48, told the Miami Herald, confirming the deaths of his son Davy Lloyd, daughter-in-law Natalie Lloyd and director Jude Montis. Im just in total shock. I havent grieved. I havent done anything else. I havent eaten. I cant think.

The three were killed by armed gunmen who attacked Missions In Hope, a U.S.-based non-profit near Bon Repos, a gang-controlled community just east of the capital. The details of what happened were still not clear Friday, said Lloyd, who had flown out of Port-au-Prince with his other son the day before the attack. But the non-profit was hit by two different armed groups during the day, he said. Davy Lloyd was trying to inform his dad about what was happening on the property when the three were killed and their bodies set on fire.

Missions in Hope runs a school for 450 children, has a childrens home and a commercial bakery, where Lloyd said we give bread to anyone whos hungry.

We havent had any problems, he said. Weve operated school every day. Weve had church on schedule. We got a commercial bakery thats open every day. Ive never had been asked for any money to operate or stay open. Ive never had any issues.

On Thursday Davy, 23, and Natalie, 21, were ambushed by armed gunmen belonging to the Terre Nwa (Black Soil) gang. The ambush happened on a day on which many Haitians had anticipated a deployment of Kenyan police officers. Terre Nwa is led by one of the thousands of inmates who recently escaped after armed groups stormed the countrys two largest prisons on March 2.

Based in the area of Sarthe, the Terre Nwa gang is led by a man who goes by the name Jones, according to a Haiti police source. Armed gang members came onto the missions property just as Natalie and Davy were coming out of church with several youths.

They drove him into the house, tied him up and beat him, Lloyd said. Then they proceeded to loot the whole house, everything they wanted and took my trucks and drove off with them.

After the gang left, the staff and children untied Davy and he headed to his parents house on the property to call his dad. On the way to the house, he and Natalie met up with Montis, the director who has been with the nonprofit for 20 years, and others who had stepped outside to see what had happened.

All of a sudden there was this immense panic. Everybody started running, David Lloyd said. The kids ran around back, put ladders up and climbed over the wall.

Suddenly the place was invaded with more men with guns, members of another gang in nearby Canaan, controlled by man identified as Jeff.

I was on the phone with my son when that was going down. He said, Dad, we got a commotion again. Ive got to go see whats going on, Lloyd said.

Lloyd said he has heard after the second gang arrived a gang member was shot and mayhem broke out. Davy, Natalie and Jude were all barricaded inside his parents home on the property.

They eventually got into the house and killed all three of them and set their bodies on fire, Lloyd said. He said he is trying to get the bodies to have them sent to a morgue.

David Lloyd and his wife, Alicia Lloyd, founded Missions in Haiti in 2000. Davy grew up in Haiti, his father said. Creole is his first language and Haiti has his heart.

David Lloyd recalled that when Davy left Haiti after high school for bible college in the U.S., he told basically all the girls there, Dont even talk to me if youre not willing to live in Haiti the rest of your life, cause thats my home. 

Natalie Baker, whose father is a state lawmaker in the House of Representatives in Missouri, was willing to spend her life in the Caribbean country. The two got married two years ago and moved back to Haiti full-time. Natalies father, state Rep. Ben Baker, a Republican, shared the news about the couples death on his Facebook page.

My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. Ive never felt this kind of pain. Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed, Baker wrote. They went to Heaven together. Please pray for my family we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family. I have no other words for now.

The deaths have the missionary community reeling. Though some missionaries have left after the State Department warned U.S. citizens to leave the country, others have remained in Haiti, where an impending deployment of police officers from Kenya to help lead a multinational security support mission has been pushed back after an assessment team from Nairobi found critical equipment shortages.

The assessment team, which has a meeting with the United Nations political office in Haiti on Friday, is scheduled to fly out on Saturday and head back to Nairobi.

2024 Miami Herald.

Visit at miamiherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, left, amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, center, and carrier USS Ronald Reagan, right, lead Navy warships during Valiant Shield 2022 in the Philippine Sea on June 12, 2022. (Thaddeus Berry/Navy)

TOKYO  One of Americas largest warfighting exercises in the Pacific is getting bigger with the addition of Japanese forces.

Troops from both nations will participate in June in Valiant Shield, a biennial drill that for the first time will include training in Japan, a spokesman for the countrys Joint Staff said by phone Friday. Japanese government spokespeople are often required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

About 4,000 Japanese troops, eight vessels and 60 aircraft will join Valiant Shield from June 7 to 18, the Japanese spokesman said.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is preparing forces for Valiant Shield 2024, Lt. Cmdr. Marissa Huhmann, a Pacific Fleet spokeswoman, said by email Friday, without confirming the exercise details.

The U.S. military frequently conducts joint and combined training to refine operational proficiency, improve contingency response abilities, and promote stability and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region, she said. Additional details about the exercise will be shared publicly at a later date.

American forces involved in the 2022 iteration of Valiant Shield, off Guam, included 13,000 troops along with the USS Ronald Reagan and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups, the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship, I and III Marine Expeditionary Force, the 36th Wing, 15 surface ships, more than 200 aircraft.

Next months drill will enhance the U.S.-Japan alliances deterrence and response capabilities, the Joint Staff said in a news release on its website Friday.

Through participation in this exercise, the Self-Defense Forces will strengthen our readiness with allies and like-minded countries and contribute to the defense of Japan and the peace and stability of the region, the news release stated.

The announcement came as of Chinese warships encircled Taiwan for an exercise Thursday and Friday. Chinas Eastern Theater Command described the exercise as a powerful punishment for the Taiwan independence separatist forces seeking independence, according to a post on the Weibo social media site Thursday.

Valiant Shield will take place at U.S. facilities in Japan, including Misawa Air Base in the northeast, Yokota Air Base in Tokyo and Yokosuka Naval Base, southwest of the capital.

Japanese installations involved will include Hachinohe Air Base and Matsushima Air Base in the northeast and Iwo-to Air Base in the south, according to the spokesman.

Forces will train in the region surrounding Japan and between Japan and the Philippines, the airspace around the Northern Mariana Islands and Palau, and at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, the spokesman said.

The Chinese drills off Taiwan will add urgency to Valiant Shield, although it was scheduled long before the latest tensions, said Grant Newsham, a retired Marine colonel and senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo.

No need to imagine an imaginary enemy and an imaginary fight - as is sometimes the case with military exercises, he said. I suppose this is one more thing we can thank (Chinese President) Xi Jinping for. Hes certainly concentrated minds.
Taiwanese air force F-16 aircraft fly during a mission at an undisclosed location over Taiwan on May 23, 2024. (TAIWAN DEFENCE MINISTRY)

The U.S. State Department said on Saturday that the United States was deeply concerned over Chinas military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan, and strongly urged it to act with restraint.

Using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation and erodes longstanding norms that for decades have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the State Department said in a statement.

The department issued the statement after China ended two days of war games around Taiwan in which it simulated attacks with bombers and practiced boarding ships, exercises that Taiwan condemned as blatant provocation on Saturday.

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, launched the Joint Sword - 2024A exercises three days after Lai Ching-te became Taiwans president, a man Beijing calls a separatist.

Beijing said the exercises were punishment for Lais Monday inauguration speech, in which he said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were not subordinate to each other, which China viewed as a declaration the two are separate countries.

Reporting by Brendan OBrien in Chicago; Editing by Bill Berkrot
Tanks belonging to Russias Wagner military contractor are parked ahead of their handover to the Russian military at an undisclosed location. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service )

LONDON  The number of people held in Russian prisons dropped by 58,000 last year, Russian independent media reported on Friday, continuing a steady fall spurred in part by the recruitment of convicts to fight in Ukraine.

In total, some 105,000 prisoners were released between 2022-2023, media reported, citing data published in the official journal of Russias prison service.

Russia has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world and a vast network of prisons and labour camps stretching across its 11 time zones.

Russia has recruited prisoners to fight in Ukraine since 2022, when Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late head of the Wagner mercenary group, began touring penal colonies, offering prisoners a pardon if they survived six months at the front.

Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last year two months after leading a short-lived mutiny against Russias military leaders, said he had recruited 50,000 prisoners for Wagner.

Russias Defence Ministry has since continued recruiting convicts from prisons for its own Storm-Z formations.

Regional authorities in Siberia have said they plan to close several prisons this year amid a decline in inmate numbers driven by the recruitment of convicts for the war.

The latest drop in the prison population is part of a longer-term downward trend. Since 2009, the number of convicts has decreased threefold, from about 730,000 to roughly 250,000, according to calculations by independent media, as Russia has softened penalties for some financial crimes.

Reporting and writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan
A Ukrainian rescuer works at the site of a missile attack in Kharkiv on May 23, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian strikes on Ukraines second-largest city Kharkiv killed at least seven people, authorities said, as Moscow claimed fresh advances on the front line. (Sergey Bobok/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Group of Seven finance ministers will lay the groundwork for using the profits from frozen Russia assets to help Ukraine, according to a draft of the communique that theyre set to sign off on Saturday.

The officials meeting in the northern Italian town of Stresa will set out the plan and progress in the statement, with a view to leaders taking up the baton when they meet in June in the south of the country.

We are discussing potential schemes to bring forward the extraordinary revenues stemming from immobilized Russian sovereign assets to the benefit of Ukraine, the draft communique reads. We reaffirm that, consistent with our respective legal systems Russias sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

The communique can still change before its formally approved. Ministers are set to discuss Ukraine on Saturday, the second day of their meetings on Lake Maggiore.

Canadian Finance minister Chrystia Freeland acknowledged progress in the discussions on Friday, telling reporters that were not there yet, but I am really optimistic that well get there.

The move comes after the U.S. pushed for the G-7 to leverage future revenue generated from about $280 billion in Russian central bank funds, most of which lies immobilized in Europe. The plan could unlock an aid package of as much as $50 billion for Ukraine.

With assistance from Brian Platt, William Horobin, Jorge Valero, Alessandra Migliaccio, Kamil Kowalcze, Toru Fujioka, Viktoria Dendrinou and Tom Rees.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 25. Turkmenistan and Tajikistan stressed the sufficient potential for increasing the volume of economic partnership, Trend reports.

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Heads of Government

According to an official source, this was said during a meeting between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda, who arrived in Ashgabat to participate in a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.

During the meeting, the President noted with satisfaction that relations between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan have noticeably intensified recently, stressing that the development of bilateral ties is based on the long-standing traditions of friendship and good-neighborliness of the two countries.

They noted that the priority area of interstate partnership is the trade and economic sphere, in the context of which it was noted that Turkmenistan and Tajikistan have sufficient potential to increase the volume of mutual trade, investment, and joint projects in various sectors, and identify new areas of interaction, including in such areas as industry, transport, energy, and agriculture.

Furthermore, the cultural and humanitarian sphere is an integral part of bilateral relations, Berdimuhamedov stressed, expressing his conviction that our countries have great prospects for joint work and exchange of experience in the fields of culture and art, science, and education.

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan hosted a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Heads of Government, which took place on May 24 this year, during which the participants signed a number of various documents.
A memorial at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium, includes the names of 463 Americans who went missing in action during World War II. Over 5,000 Americans are buried at the cemetery. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

NEUPRE, Belgium  Tributes to the over 5,000 Americans buried at Ardennes American Cemetery were led at a Memorial Day observance Saturday by the U.S. Army general who serves as NATO supreme allied commander Europe.

These young Americans fought for a noble cause so that evil could not and did not triumph, Gen. Christoper Cavoli told attendees, adding that the principles they fought for continue to unite the U.S. with NATO headquarters host Belgium and other European allies.

Ours is a common history shared across the Atlantic, said Cavoli, who also leads U.S. European Command. Its a history that unified us to defeat tyranny and still connects us today.

Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATO supreme allied commander Europe, speaks at a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Troops salute the flag during a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Members of Belgiums Royal Music of the Guides play taps at a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

American soldiers and airmen were present at the ceremony, which included a flyover by two military aircraft. The families of three pilots who were shot down over Germany 80 years ago and later buried at the cemetery also attended.

The event was one of about two dozen ceremonies planned for the holiday weekend at overseas cemeteries run by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Belgians and Americans attend a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. Several speakers at the ceremony spoke of the strong ties between the U.S. and Belgium. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Most of those are in Europe and contain the graves of U.S. troops and other Americans killed in World War I and World War II.

Many graves at Ardennes American Cemetery belong to troops assigned to U.S. Army Air Forces who died during flights over Nazi territory. Among them is Medal of Honor recipient Maj. John Jerstad, who flew his burning B-24 bomber into an enemy oil refinery in August 1943.

Some of the over 5,000 graves of Americans buried at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium. U.S. and Belgian flags were planted at each headstone to mark Memorial Day, which was observed at the site May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Those buried at the site are but a fraction of the Americans who died liberating Belgium during both world wars.

Two other Belgian cemeteries managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission hold several thousand more graves. The remains of more still were repatriated to the United States.

We never forget the sacrifice, Virginie Defrang-Firket, the mayor of Neupre, told the crowd Saturday.

Cpl. Isaiah Ryce, left, and Spc. Tamara Laurent, who support U.S. Army Garrison Benelux, lay wreaths during a Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium, on May 25, 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Since 1923, ABMCs mission has been to honor the service, achievements and sacrifice of more than 200,000 U.S. service members buried and memorialized at its sites.

The commission administers, operates and maintains 26 permanent American military cemeteries. All but five are in Europe.

A towering stone memorial that includes the names of 463 Americans missing in action overlooks the crosses and Stars of David marking the graves at the Ardennes Cemetery.

Although there are over 5,000 Americans buried out there, when you look at those crosses, its not a sad feeling, said Bert Caloud, the cemeterys superintendent. Its an uplifting feeling. These men did something positive to be remembered for.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix speaks during an interview in his office at the UN headquarters in New York City on May 21, 2024. (Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  The United Nations peacekeeping chief argued against the latest calls for international troops to deploy in Gaza, saying the post-war state of affairs was too uncertain and that any operation would require agreement from Israel, which has been highly critical of the UNs work in Palestinian territories.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, undersecretary-general for peace operations, said in an interview Wednesday that hes aware of demands for sending in so-called Blue Helmets, including last week by the Arab League, but cautioned its too early and the politics too fraught to consider the option at the moment.

Nobody really knows what the day after in Gaza would look like, Lacroix said. We absolutely dont know what the state of affair would look like but obviously the parties  and that would certainly include Israel  would have to agree to such a proposition.

Right now, the UN is calling first and foremost for a humanitarian cease-fire, releasing of hostages, access to aid  and then progress toward a two-state political solution, Lacroix said. He added that deployment was a decision that must be taken up by the 15-member Security Council.

The UN and its operations in Gaza have come under intense scrutiny by Israel since the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas, which killed some 1,200 people and still holds scores of hostages.

Israel has accused the UNs main humanitarian organization in Gaza of being infiltrated by Hamas operatives  which the agency denies  and at the UN has dismissed criticism of its bombardment of the territory.

The Arab League proposal came in the final statement of its meeting in Bahrain May 16. We call for the deployment of United Nations international protection and peacekeeping forces in the occupied Palestinian territory until the two-state solution is implemented, the groups 22 members said in the Bahrain Declaration.

Lacroix also addressed the challenges the war in the Gaza Strip has created for 10,500 UN peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon. He said the Israel-Hamas war was having a major impact on the mission known as Unifil, which he described as a mediator between Israeli and Lebanese forces.

The role of Unifil is critically important, because Unifil is the only channel that can convey messages from one side to the other side, and that is critically important to avoid misunderstanding and also to bring about de-escalation when needed, Lacroix said.

More broadly, Lacroix, a veteran French diplomat, said political gridlock was the biggest impediment to UN-led operations, beyond just peace and security.

That is really probably the biggest challenge to not only peacekeeping operations, but frankly to anything that the UN can do on peace and security, Lacroix said. We need to have member states showing unity and commitment to multilateral approaches to crisis.

He didnt mention any countries by name but the councils work has been largely frozen by disputes between the U.S. and Russia, two of its five permanent members

The peace arm of the UN is facing an existential crisis as an array of countries including Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo move toward ousting UN peacekeepers amid conflict and deteriorating humanitarian conditionsy.

African countries have long argued that they should take the lead on addressing security challenges in the region. That demand was finally met by the UN Security Council in December, when members agreed to a framework where the AU would spearhead peace operations and the UN would fund as much as 75% of its costs.

Lacroix added said the UN and African Union officials were hoping to have a clear plan by the end of the year on how to operationalize the framework. Its still unclear how the remaining 25% of costs would be funded.

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin provides testimony April 30, 2024, at a House Armed Services Committee hearing at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. (Chad J. McNeeley/DoD)

WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent a medical procedure Friday evening at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a bladder issue that first arose during his treatment for prostate cancer, the Pentagon said.

The secretary has determined he will be temporarily unable to perform his functions and duties during the procedure, so Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks will assume the functions and duties of the secretary of defense and serve as the acting secretary of defense, according to a Friday statement attributed to Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the top Pentagon spokesman. White House and congressional notifications have occurred.

Austin resumed duty later Friday, according to the Associated Press, and transferred authority to Hicks for about 2 hours during the procedure.

Austin was in Annapolis, Md., on Friday morning where he gave the commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy graduation.

During a regular health screening in early December, Austins cancer was detected. He was admitted to Walter Reed in Bethesda, Md., about three weeks later for a prostatectomy, which involves surgery to remove part of the prostate gland. His doctors called it a minimally invasive surgical procedure, though Austin was under a general anesthesia during the procedure.

On Jan. 1, Austin returned to Walter Reed after experiencing pain in his abdomen, hip and leg, his doctors said. He was later found to have a urinary tract infection, and Austin spent days in the intensive care unit.

He was gone from the Pentagon for about a month before returning at the end of January.

During Austins medical treatments at the time, no one at the Defense Department notified the White House, Hicks, Congress or the public for several days. Ryder has previously listed some factors that he said contributed to the delay in communication, such as Austins chief of staff being sick with the flu and the lack of information about the Austins condition.

The secretary was back at Walter Reed in February and admitted to a critical unit where he underwent non-surgical procedures to address a bladder problem.

The procedure on Friday was elective and minimally invasive, and not related to his cancer diagnosis and has had no effect on his excellent cancer prognosis, according to the Pentagon statement.
Ronald Poropatich, M.D., left, director of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Military Medicine, and Michael R. Pinsky, M.D., right, professor in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, bid farewell to a Stat MedEvac flight crew before they test the ReFit systems capabilities in a medical helicopter transport. (Nate Langer, UPMC/TNS)

PITTSBURGH  On four occasions last year, medical helicopters flew over Pittsburgh transporting not injured humans, but wounded pigs.

The pigs  bleeding heavily from the abdomen  were stabilized in the air by an autonomous medical intervention system developed by the University of Pittsburgh as part of a military-funded study with the potential for groundbreaking advances in health care.

What we did with the Department of Defense was try to solve their number one cause of preventable death on the battlefield, said Ronald Poropatich, director of the Pitt Center for Military Medicine. This is the future of medicine, whether its military or civilian.

In the five-year proof-of-concept study  published Friday in the journal Intensive Care Medicine Experimental  Pitt researchers and physicians worked with computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University to build the ReFit (Resuscitation based on Functional Hemodynamic Monitoring) system. About the size of a microwave, the computer system can function as a highly trained critical care physician, administering fluids, blood and medication without human intervention. It was funded by a $3.712 million grant over four years from the Department of Defense.

In the experiment, four pigs were fully anesthetized in accordance with animal research protocols and then given liver lacerations in a laboratory to mimic a gunshot wound to the abdomen or other non-compressible hemorrhage.

The pigs were allowed to bleed for 30 minutes and then connected to the ReFit system. At this point, a human medical professional still has to manually insert an IV, but after that, no human intervention is required.

Two of the pigs were placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital helipad, where they flew for several hours around Pittsburgh. The other two pigs were taken via ambulance to the Allegheny County Airport, and then flown on a medical helicopter as far as Kittanning and then back to Oakland.

The ReFit system was able to stabilize the pigs and return them in adequate condition for life-saving surgery.

For the first time in the history of medicine, we took an animal in a critical state onto a helicopter and autonomously brought it back healthier than when it was placed in emergency transport hours earlier, said Michael Pinsky, professor of critical care, bioengineering and critical and translational medicine at Pitt and lead author of the study. This has profound implications for trauma resuscitation in the field and of course in military medicine.

In emergency medicine, physicians have long referred to the golden hour, an idea dating back to World War I that it is critical to get a seriously injured patient to a trauma center within one hour of their injury to avoid death or long-term complications. What ReFit can do is extend that timeline so that patients are stable for much longer  up to five hours in the study  before hospital care. It is all about extending the golden hour, said Dr. Poropatich. All we are trying to do is keep the casualty alive long enough to get to an operating room.

Although the technology was developed for the military, there are numerous scenarios in civilian medicine where it would be useful. Take the case of a serious car accident in an area of Pennsylvania that is far from a trauma hospital, said Dr. Pinksy: An EMT could insert an IV into a patient and the ReFit system could then administer care equivalent to what they would receive from an experienced physician while they were being transported.

In a military scenario, the technology is well suited for large-scale combat operations with dispersed medical assets, such as the war going on in Ukraine, said Dr. Poropatich, who served in the U.S. Army for 30 years before retiring in 2012 as a colonel. Its the concept of trauma care in a backpack, he said. It could provide the technology to resuscitate without having a critical care doctor there with you.

The team at Pitt is working on further advancements to the technology, such as the ability to deliver the ReFit system via a drone, to extend its reach into remote locations. Other research centers, such as Carnegie Mellon, are also working on robotic technology to insert an IV without a human. There is great interest in making it truly autonomous, said Dr. Poropatich. Autonomous care in an autonomous aircraft.

To do so, the system will need to be tested on humans, in addition to pigs. While there are aspects of human testing that they plan to begin within this year, full clinical trials are realistically two or three years away, said Dr. Pinsky.

We at the University of Pittsburgh and especially emergency medicine are completely excited about going to the next level here, he said. Everyone sees the realistic application of this now  to treat human beings.

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A rocket fires from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System at Yakima Training Center, Wash. (Defense Department)

WASHINGTON  The United States will send another $275 million in air defense munitions and other equipment to Ukraine to help the embattled country fight off Russias latest attacks, the Pentagon announced Friday.

The new military aid includes ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, as well as Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems, tactical vehicles and anti-tank mines. The equipment will be provided through presidential drawdown authorities, which means equipment is pulled from existing U.S. military stocks and sent to Ukraine on an emergency basis.

The announcement follows the 22nd meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which took place Monday. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after the meeting that defending against aerial attacks is critical for Ukrainian forces trying to beat back surging Russian invaders and he urged allies to come up with more air-defense weapons to send to Ukraine.

Russian forces, which had made only moderate advances in recent months, launched a surprise assault in the northeast region of Ukraine on May 10 that resulted in their biggest territorial gains in nearly 18 months.

This is the fourth package of military aid for Ukraine since Congress passed long-awaited foreign aid legislation last month. The $95 billion approved by lawmakers includes money for Israel and Taiwan, with $60 billion going to Ukraine.

The week that the legislation was signed, the Pentagon announced two packages worth a combined $7 billion. One was worth $6 billion, the largest security assistance that the U.S. has committed to Ukraine. It will be provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which pays for long-term military aid to procure weapons and munitions from the defense industry or partner countries for a later time.

The U.S. has now provided almost $51 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

The items in the military aid announced Friday include:

-- Ammunition for HIMARS.

-- 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds.

-- 60mm mortar rounds.

-- Tube-launched, optically tracked, wire guided missiles.

-- Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems.

-- Precision aerial munitions.

-- Small arms and additional rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades.

-- Demolition munitions.

-- Anti-armor mines.

-- Tactical vehicles to recover equipment.

-- Helmets, body armor, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear protective equipment.

-- Spare parts, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.
Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., left, believes comments Secretary of State Antony Blinken made regarding Israeli security forces may have contributed to the International Criminal Courts decision to prosecute Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a decision that Republicans have roundly panned as outrageous and President Joe Biden himself has rejected. (Congress, left, and Kent Nishimura/Getty Images/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  Secretary of State Antony Blinken says its reasonable to believe that Israeli security forces breached international law in executing a ruthless seven-month campaign against Hamas in Gaza that has killed thousands of civilians.

But Kentucky Republican Rep. Andy Barr says the Biden administration shouldnt say so.

We need to come to their defense and not accuse them of violating international law, Barr told Blinken during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing Wednesday.

Its a demonstration of how fervently committed Barr is to the Israeli cause in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks, even as a younger generation clamorously aligns with the Palestinians.

Theres nothing surprising about this. For most members of Congress, unconditional support for Israel is the smart political choice, even if doing so undermines U.S. interests, said Stephen Walt, a Harvard University professor of international affairs and author of the book The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy.

Treating Israel like a normal country will just get them in hot water at home and encourage AIPAC and groups in the Israel lobby to back opposition candidates, Walt continued. So Israel is free to do whatever it wants.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee contributed $19,100 to Barr during the 2022 campaign cycle, according to Open Secrets.

A State Department report released earlier this month found certain instances where Israel used U.S. weapons to act outside of international humanitarian law, citing the high civilian casualty count in Gaza.

Barr believes Blinkens words may have contributed to the International Criminal Courts decision to prosecute Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a decision that Republicans have roundly panned as outrageous and President Joe Biden himself has rejected. The ICC is also seeking to prosecute leaders of Hamas.

Theres no equivalence between Israel and Hamas, the president has declared. Contrary to allegations against Israel made by the International Court whats happening is not genocide.

Blinken explained to Barr that the ICC should not have attempted to submit warrants for Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant because the U.S. and Israel are both investigating the abuse of American weaponry.

Yet Barr ostensibly does not believe the U.S. should even accuse Israel of any violations as it prosecutes its war against Hamas. When he pressed Blinken to disavow that assessment, the secretary stood his ground.

And he defended the Biden administration decision to pause a shipment of high-grade munitions to Israel due to worry about civilian casualties in Rafah, the southernmost strip in Gaza.

Weve seen and weve had concerns about the way these large yield munitions have been used in dense environments, Blinken told Barr.

But Barr charged that its domestic politics thats pressuring the Biden administration to pull back, as scores of young people stage protests and encampments on college campuses against the U.S.-backed military campaign.

Whether Israel is actually in violation of international law is contested among experts.

As Blinken should know, a particular attacks legality is not dependent on the number of casualties actually inflicted, let alone on a terrorist groups fictitious figures, said retired Lt. Col. Geoffrey Corn, a distinguished fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

But the chief prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan, has centered his warrant around Israels intentional use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.

The crime is not limited solely to the deprivation of food, but includes other objects indispensable for the survival of civilians such as water, fuel and medicine, reads the ICC report.

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Vice President Kamala Harris looks on as second gentleman Doug Emhoff speaks during a reception celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 20, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Vice President Kamala Harris is increasingly endearing herself to swing-state voters, a development that if it persists, stands to neutralize Republican attacks around Joe Bidens age.

Nearly half of swing-state voters, 48%, say they trust Harris to fulfill the duties of the presidency if Biden were no longer able to serve, according to a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll conducted in early May. The reading marks the highest level of confidence since the survey was first conducted in October.

In recent months, Harris  the first woman, Black or Asian vice president  has held a series of high-profile events that resonate with key parts of the Democratic base. They include a historic visit to a Minnesota abortion clinic, a nod to the rollback of federal reproductive rights that has galvanized women voters, and an impassioned speech at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, a landmark of the Civil Rights era. Harris and the administration have also leaned into detailing her personal arc and record in public office.

Republicans have sought to attack Bidens fitness for a second term by casting her as unprepared to take his place. Polling shows voters are more concerned about the fitness of Biden, 81, for office than Donald Trump, four years younger at 77.

It would be foolish to think that voters arent thinking a little more about who the vice president is and whether shes capable of taking over, said political scientist Christopher Devine, who co-authored a book about vice presidential candidates.

Still, despite voters uptick in confidence in Harris, she trailed Trump by 7 percentage points in a hypothetical head-to-head, wider than the 4-point advantage Trump held over Biden in the poll.

The poll showed Harris as the top choice among those considered Democratic rising stars if Biden were unable to continue his campaign. That list includes Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Warming sentiment toward Harris was on display at a recent stop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a key swing state. During an on-stage interview with the vice president, comedian D.L. Hughley unexpectedly apologized.

I have to say that Im sorry, Hughley told Harris. I had let a media narrative co-opt my perspective, and I think that tends to happen with women and people of color.

Hughley, who met privately with Harris in November, explained that he was critical of her time as a prosecutor in California, where he grew up and Harris spent her early political career. But, he said, some of the things that I have subsequently come to learn about you, not only make me proud of you, but make me be an advocate.

Biden defeated Harris in the 2020 Democratic primary before choosing her as a running mate. Her vice presidency got off to an uneven start with Republicans pouncing on her gaffes.

Over the last year, the White House has deployed her on the offensive to counter political opponents, condemning book bans and new reproductive health restrictions. Harris frequently appears in front of audiences of color and young voters, which polls show are among the most disillusioned blocs of the Democratic base. Last week, she went viral online when she encouraged an audience of young Asian Americans to kick that f door down in pursuit of their careers.

The vice president has made more trips to competitive Western and Southern states than Biden this year, particularly North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Each has a high percentage of Latino or Black voters.

She is engaging communities that have not been engaged, U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler, a California Democrat, said in an interview.

Trump leads Biden 48% to 44% across the seven swing states, according to the poll. His lead over Biden is widest in North Carolina, Arizona and Georgia. Theyre tied in Nevada.

Among possible White House aspirants, Harris led with 45% of swing-state voters supporting her if Biden dropped out before November. Whitmer and Buttigieg were the next at 36%, followed by Newsom at 32%, Moore at 23% and Pritzker at 21%.

Meanwhile, if Trump were unable to continue his campaign, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who Trump beat in the GOP primary, was the top alternative at 40%. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the runner-up to Trump in the Republican primary, was at 38%.

Trump hasnt yet chosen a running mate. Once he does, Harris will no longer be measured against an abstraction or an ideal of what a vice president should be, vice-presidential scholar Joel Goldstein said. Shes going to be measured or viewed as against whoever he picks.

Harris events are often shaped by closed-door conversations with individuals outside her orbit, according to a person familiar with the strategy.

Earn Your Leisure podcast hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings joined Hughley, along with rapper Fat Joe and other influential men, for dinner at Harris residence in November, according to people familiar with the event.

The discussion, along with a gathering of young entrepreneurs of color last May, help spur ideas for Harris Economic Opportunity tour underway. The podcasting duo moderated the first stop in Atlanta last month.

The tour aims to reach Black men  who Trump and Republicans are courting  by emphasizing resources to build wealth.

She can connect more readily with the audience thats most problematic for Democrats than almost anyone else can, Cornell Belcher, a Democratic pollster, said. I would argue that is a really smart way to use her.

Gregory Korte contributed to this report.

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The set of the movie Rust at Bonanza Creek Ranch, where a fatal shooting occurred on the set, on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  A New Mexico judge denied a motion to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin, clearing the way for the high-profile actor to stand trial for his alleged role in the deadly Rust movie shooting.

New Mexico First Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommers decision late Friday was a setback to Baldwin and his legal team, who had argued that prosecutors were bent on winning a conviction of the 66-year-old actor-producer at all costs following the October 2021 accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the low-budget western movie set near Santa Fe.

Baldwin is scheduled to stand trial in a Santa Fe courtroom in July on the felony charge that, if convicted, carries a prison sentence of up to 18 months. He has pleaded not guilty.

In January, grand jurors in Santa Fe County indicted Baldwin on an involuntary manslaughter charge, determining there was sufficient evidence that he acted negligently by pointing a loaded gun at Hutchins without first checking the weapon.

After the indictment, Baldwins lawyers pored over transcripts of the grand jury proceedings to try to build a case that Special Prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey had at times shut down testimony that could have been beneficial to their client.

The state has sought to convict and imprison Baldwin for an accident caused by the mistakes of others, Baldwins attorney Luke Nikas wrote in a motion to dismiss the indictment.

Baldwins attorneys argued in a hearing last week that Morrissey failed in her duty to provide testimony in a fair and impartial manner.

Marlowe Sommer on Friday wrote in her 19-page ruling that defense attorneys failed to provide evidence of prosecutorial bad faith.

At issue was whether grand jurors were fully informed that they could call witnesses from a list provided by Baldwins attorneys. The judge wrote that the special prosecutor read a letter from Baldwins side during the proceedings, and that jurors also were allowed to question witnesses.

On the afternoon of Oct. 21, 2021, Hutchins, Baldwin, Souza and about a dozen other crew members were gathered in a rustic church at Bonanza Creek Ranch, south of Santa Fe, to prepare for an upcoming scene. Assistant director David Halls, who was the on-set safety coordinator, handed the gun to Baldwin, declaring that it was cold, meaning there was no ammunition inside, according to numerous witnesses.

The actor was sitting in a pew, facing the door of the church. Hutchins and Baldwin had discussed a close-up camera angle of the guns muzzle  a view that Hutchins, the director of photography, wanted as a way to heighten the drama in advance of a gunfight scene. Baldwin has said Hutchins told him to slowly pull his Colt .45 revolver from his holster and point it at the camera.

He did, and thats when the gun went off.

Hutchins died from her wounds. The films director, Joel Souza, was injured by the same bullet but has since recovered.

Baldwins case has featured numerous twists and turns, including when the actor known for NBCs 30 Rock and parodying former President Donald Trump in skits on Saturday Night Live, participated in an ABC News interview, broadcast in December 2021, less than six weeks after the tragedy. Baldwin described for news anchor George Stephanopoulos how he pointed the gun at Hutchins and cocked the hammer.

I didnt pull the trigger, Baldwin said, blaming others for the tragedy.

Since then, investigators and FBI analysts have performed tests to demonstrate that Baldwin must have pulled the trigger.

However, during the FBI tests in 2022 at the agencys lab in Quantico, Virginia, forensic analysts used a rawhide mallet to strike the gun so hard that components of the gun fractured. Baldwins attorneys have cited the broken parts as evidence that the weapon was compromised before Baldwin handled it.

The first set of prosecutors had to step down after a string of missteps, including an attempt to charge Baldwin on a penalty enhancement that called for a mandatory five-year prison sentence. That penalty wasnt in effect at the time of the tragedy. The initial prosecutors also made statements about holding Baldwin responsible for his actions, prompting criticism from defense attorneys that such commentary was prejudicial against the actor.

Shortly after Morrissey and her law partner Jason J. Lewis joined the case last spring, they dropped the charges against Baldwin, saying they needed time to review evidence and address legal issues raised by Baldwins team.

Last week, Morrissey bristled at suggestions that it was problematic for her to seek an indictment after dropping the charges against Baldwin last year. She said it was Baldwins lead attorney, Nikas, who asked for the charges to be dropped, and she agreed.

At the time, the prosecutors said they needed time to investigate whether the gun had been modified before its arrival on the film set, as Baldwins team has suggested.

Prosecutors have won two convictions for negligence leading to Hutchins death.

In March, a Santa Fe jury convicted armorer Hannah Gutierrez of involuntary manslaughter. Morrissey had argued that Gutierrez, whose job was handling the guns, was the most responsible for the tragedy. The jury deliberated only about two hours after hearing evidence during a two-week trial. Last month, Marlowe Sommer sentenced Gutierrez, 26, to the maximum sentence of 18 months in a New Mexico womens prison.

Last year, Halls pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a suspended six-month sentence.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 25. Uzbekistan's mining companies proposed collaboration with Afghan manufacturing firms to establish large-scale infrastructure for oil and gas processing within Afghanistan, Trend reports.

This was announced during a meeting between Afghanistans Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Sheikh al-Hadith Shahabuddin Delawar with Special Representative of Uzbekistans president Esmatullah Ergashev and Uzbekistans Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov.

During the meeting, the Uzbek side expressed interest in Afghanistan's oil, gas, and coal mining projects and in investing in Afghanistan's mineral and hydrocarbon resources. They sought collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum to facilitate investment opportunities.

Afghanistans acting minister of mines and petroleum noted Uzbekistan's interest in the country's mineral resources and emphasized the ministry's readiness to collaborate. Both parties agreed to establish joint working committees to expedite practical initiatives, signaling a commitment to strengthen economic cooperation between the two nations.

In addition, Uzbekistan noted their goal for developing bilateral relations, particularly through expanding commercial and economic ventures between both countries.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's trade turnover volume with Afghanistan reached $308.6 million from January through April 2024. The exports to Afghanistan amounted to $301.4 million, while the imports to Uzbekistan totaled $7.1 million during this period.
Two farmworkers tend to crops in Homestead, Florida. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS)

MIAMI (Tribune News Service)  During a rally in Hialeah last fall, Donald Trump regaled supporters with a pledge to undertake the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if they helped put him back in the White House.

The comment, which has become a cornerstone of Trumps agenda for a second term in Washington, was met with a roar of applause, as supporters in the majority-immigrant city cheered the former presidents pledge to end what he has declared an invasion by migrants entering and settling in the United states illegally.

Even in the Capital of the Americas, where most of the population was born outside the U.S., Trumps hardline immigration platform has struck a chord.

But experts, activists and immigrants, both documented and undocumented, told the Miami Herald that the impact of an effort to pull a key section of the labor force out of the country en masse would likely have far-reaching consequences for the economy, making everyday life harder for American citizens across the country  and especially in Miami-Dade County.

The Department of Homeland Security estimates that Florida had the third-largest population of undocumented immigrants in the country, home to about 590,000 undocumented immigrants in 2022. The Pew Research Center, has estimated that number to be closer to 900,000, finding that more than 400,000 were likely living in South Florida around the time that Trump won the 2016 election.

If you were to deport half a million people from Florida and remove them from the Floridian economy that would undoubtedly create a recession in the state, said Tarek Hassan, an economics professor at Boston University who has conducted in-depth research about how immigrants contribute to U.S. development and growth.

A mass deportation campaign would be logistically difficult to carry out, hamstrung by federal laws and the requirement that countries of origin accept immigrants on deportation flights.

But Trumps agenda would likely exacerbate the gap in Floridas job market, which has 53 available workers for every 100 open positions, according to an analysis from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As a result, experts believe that the labor pool for Floridas agriculture sector and its lucrative tourism industry would suffer. Construction projects  ranging from high-end and commercial builds to smaller undertakings like roof repairs  would become both more expensive and slower to complete.

There would be a real slowdown in construction activity, said Edward Murray, assistant director at FIUs Jorge M. Perez Metropolitan Center, noting that development has been driving the local economy for years.

An analysis by Miami-Dade Countys Office of New Americans found that immigrants represent over half the working population in the county, and the majority of workers in several essential industries, such as manufacturing, agriculture, food manufacturing and construction. They are 27.8% more likely to be of working age or employed than their U.S.-born counterparts, the study found.

Its sad how the Latino community, including here in Miami, applaud every time [Trump] opens his mouth to offend and to threaten and discriminate against the undocumented, knowing that, here in Florida, we are very essential to maintain the economy, said Bertha Sanles, a South Florida immigrant-rights activists who is herself undocumented. And thats how it is at the national level.

Stan Veuger, a senior fellow in economic policy at the center-right think tank American Enterprise Institute, said that a mass deportation program would likely have a devastating impact for certain industries, like agriculture, as well as for the U.S. economy as a whole.

The cons dramatically overwhelm the pros, even if you think about it in narrow economic terms, he said. Agricultural employment is a good example, because itll very likely be the case that a lot of those firms wouldnt be able to operate at all without undocumented workers.

More broadly, he said, removing so many millions of people from the U.S. would lead to a big drop in demand for products and services.

Youll have retail stores, service providers who depend on these customers, Veuger said. Those will also be affected.

The largest deportation operation in American history

Despite widespread concerns that an aggressive immigration agenda would have negative consequences for the economy, Trump has promised an immigration enforcement campaign more sweeping than the agenda he carried out from the White House from 2017 to 2021.

Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaigns national press secretary, told the Miami Herald that Trump intends to bring back all of his prior immigration policies and establish the largest deportation operation in American history.

In an interview with Time Magazine published last month, the former president discussed the details, saying he would rely heavily on local law enforcement agencies and the National Guard to carry out his orders. He noted that if they werent able to get the job done, he would turn to active-duty military to do the job. He did not rule out detention camps.

As President Trump has said, the millions of illegals Biden has resettled across America should not get comfortable because very soon they will be going home, Leavitt told the Herald.

The Department of Homeland Security estimates that there were roughly 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. as of January 2022  up from about 10.5 million at the same point in 2020. Most of those people  nearly 80%  have been in the country since before 2010, according to a report released in April.

Florida is economically extremely dynamic

Hassan, the BU economist, emphasized that immigrants dont take jobs away from people who are already. Rather, they are generating other job opportunities by putting their earnings back into an economy where the total number of jobs has historically increased along with the population.

As soon as they enter the labor force and make some money, they also spend that money again. They buy groceries, go out to a restaurant, and theyre going to buy goods and services. By spending the money that they make, theyre essentially in small ways creating the equivalent of their own job in other places for someone else to take, said Hassan.

Hassan has found that immigrants also boost wages and growth. He and other researchers found that the addition of 12,000 migrants to a U.S. county boosts innovation by 32% and wages for the people already there by five percent.

Hassan noted that, while on average immigration is an economic boon, the people who most benefit at the county level of wage increase are residents who at least have a high school degree. Researchers found no effect on wages for people with less than a highschool diploma.

Florida is economically extremely dynamic and has been very dynamic for the last 10 years, he said, And a big reason for that is that its a major destination for immigrants when they arrive in the United States.

Hassan, in other research, has also found that immigrants benefit the economy long after they settle in the U.S. In another investigation, Hassan and his colleagues found that places that received immigration a century ago were better suited and more likely to receive investments from that origin country in the present day.

You see very clearly this effect in the long run, and you also see an economic comparative advantage, of places that have received migration from many different places. Theres not that many places in the world where you have a labor force that knows things about both Ireland and Bolivia, so U.S. companies are often in a position to make connections between faraway places, he said.

But he emphasized that todays share of the foreign-born population (13.9% in 2022) is roughly as high as it was in the late-19th century (13-15% between 1860-1920), raising important questions about the impact of recent migration into the U.S.

That hasnt been this high for several generations. So even though we document all these positive economic effects, its totally possible that there might be negative effects on other things that people care about, said Hassan.

Theyre doing the most menial jobs

Not everyone is convinced that Trumps plan would have an across-the-board negative impact.

Peter Dyga, the president and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Floridas East Coast chapter, said that, as far as the construction industry goes, the effects of a mass deportation program would only impact companies that hire undocumented workers.

To the extent that companies are doing that, its probably going to hurt them, Dyga said. Theyre the ones with access to this big pool of desperate and undocumented workers.

But Dyga said that companies that rely on unauthorized workers are already weighing on the industry. Those companies, he said, often pay low wages, making it harder for the people that do it right to compete in the market.

Quite frankly, my members  the people who join this organization  are having to compete against companies that arent following the rules, he said. Theyre probably paying subpar wages, and with insurance costs and workers comp, how are you supposed to compete?

Trump is tapping into frustrations with an unprecedented immigration surge, with border patrol agents having more than 2 million encounters with migrants at the southern border each of the last two government fiscal years.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed over 339,000 people from October 2020 through February 2024, a period that covers the tail-end of the Trump administration and stretches well into the Biden administration. ICE removed another 149,000 from the country until May 2023 under Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that allowed border agents to quickly expel immigrants.

So far, it appears that voters are buying what Trump is selling, both on the economy and on immigration. In Florida  Trumps adopted home  a CBS/YouGov poll this month found that a majority of the states voters believe Trumps policies would leave them better off financially.

Al Cardenas, the co-chair of the bipartisan American Business Immigration Coalition, said that Trumps promised deportations would leave a massive labor vacuum in the face of falling birth rates among U.S. citizens and further drive up food prices. He also noted that more workers will be needed as more and more aging Baby Boomers retire, leaving open jobs and requiring assistance in their old age.

Cardenas, a Cuban-American former chairman of the Florida Republican Party, told the Herald that the goal of policymakers should be comprehensive immigration reform that would extend work permits to people living in the U.S. without legal authorization to be here, particularly DACA-eligible people, agricultural and livestock workers, caregivers for the elderly, and people who have lived in the United States for a long time.

I dont know if the American people have woken up to the consequences of Donald Trumps words, he said. But if you think about it, you will realize that those words would only ruin the country as we know it.

Helen OBrien, Florida coordinator for 32BJ SEIU, a union that represents property service workers such as janitors and security officers, said that people might be too afraid to leave their houses and show up to work if Trump enacts his deportation policies. She questioned how a hypothetical Trump administration would enforce them in the first place in a place like Miami-Dade, where most residents were born outside of the United States.

I dont know how they are going to tell who is documented or not. Are they going to every ventanita, and everyone buying coffee and ask them for their papers? she said.

While the military, including the National Guard, has been used in the past to bolster border security, deploying troops to arrest, detain and remove unauthorized migrants living far away from the U.S.-Mexico border would likely run up against legal challenges.

Asked in his interview with Time whether he would override an 1878 law that bars federal troops from participating in civilian law enforcement, Trump suggested that the law didnt apply to undocumented migrants living in the U.S. because these arent civilians.

These are people that arent legally in our country, he said. This is an invasion of our country. An invasion like probably no country has ever seen before. Theyre coming in by the millions.

Mike Fernandez, a co-founder of the American Business Coalition and prominent South Florida businessman, recalled in an interview with the Herald that it was two undocumented people who took care of his dying mother last year.

He said that theres not only an economic cost to Trumps deportation proposal, but a human cost, as well.

Theyre doing the most menial jobs that most Americans do not want to do. In butcher shops, who are the guys in the back cleaning the fat off the beef? Its immigrants, mostly. Laundry services, hospital services These are people that are key to the economy. And they serve patients in hospitals and nursing homes and rehab facilities. Its not going to be a good place to do business in. Florida may likely lose its standing as the No. 1 growth state.

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A garda told the court it was believed the man came to Ireland in March "by ship in a container with his brother"

A MAN has been accused of following and carrying out a "predatory" attack on a woman who informed gardai she was held on the ground and bitten on her face and lips in a south Dublin suburb.

Homeless asylum seeker Seif Waleed Al Hindawi, 22, believed to be from Syria, was charged with assault causing harm to the woman who suffered facial injuries near her home in Churchtown on Wednesday night.

He was detained for questioning over two days, charged on Friday evening, held pending the next sitting of Dublin District Court and then denied bail by Judge Monika Leech.

Garda Michelle Maunsell told Judge Leech that Mr Hindawi's reply to the charge was, "I didn't attack her".

The judge noted that the accused and the woman did not know each other.

Garda Stephen Morley objected to bail due to the seriousness of the incident and flight risk concerns.

He said directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions were awaited, adding, "and it is anticipated that there will be further charges".

Mr Hindawi was granted legal aid and remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on May 31.

Outlining the allegations, Garda Morley said the woman stated that a male assaulted her after she got off a Luas tram at Windy Arbour at about 11.20 pm on Wednesday.

She told the gardai that she "felt someone was following her."

It was alleged that she continued walking to her housing estate and contacted her husband "because she felt anxious at the situation."

The court heard, "She glanced back to see she was most definitely followed by an unknown male."

It was claimed that "he ran toward her, pushed her to the ground".

She landed on her back and screamed, and the male "held her down and was attempting to bite her on the face".

"She says the male was screaming in a foreign language, and she made attempts to defend herself by hitting him while she was still on an active call with her husband, who heard the assault over the phone."

The garda told the court the woman stated she tried to kick the man to get him off her, and he ran away.

The contested bail hearing was told her husband could hear her screaming in distress on the call, and she ran to her home.

She dialled 999 and immediately got into their car with her husband, and she allegedly kept the male in sight.

The court heard she described the attacker to the emergency service operator.

The garda said the woman sustained a cut on her lip and was treated at St Vincent's hospital with a tetanus injection and antibiotics.

The court heard she had bruises and swelling and a cut on the inside of her lip that required stitches, and she was terrified.

It was alleged the complainant pointed out the accused to gardai, and he had blood coming from his mouth and lips and blood stains on his clothing.

Officers provided him with a translator and checked the area for CCTV evidence.

Garda Morley told the court the man was unemployed and had no ties to the State or family here.

He conceded that the accused had no convictions, warrant history, or other charges pending.

The officer believed "this was a premeditated assault on a vulnerable female walking home alone late at night in a poorly lit area."

He added that it was unprovoked, and she was followed and set upon in a "predatory" and "opportunistic" way.

The man did not address the court and listened to the proceedings with the aid of an interpreter.

Garda Morley said the accused was believed to be a Syrian asylum seeker.

The court heard he did not provide an address and had no valid form of ID other than a card given to him with a date of birth.

Concerns were also raised that there could be attempts to intimidate the alleged injured party.

The complainant did not give evidence in the bail hearing.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Garrett Casey, the garda agreed the accused was entitled to the presumption of innocence; CCTV camera enquiries were being made, and the investigations were ongoing.

He accepted the barrister's proposition that there would be a lengthy period before the matter came to trial.

Counsel pointed out the man had disputed the allegation when he was charged.

The garda concurred but said that the man had said in his interview that there was an altercation.

During further exchanges between the witness and the defence, the garda said it was believed the man came to Ireland in March "by ship in a container with his brother" and had been in Dundrum in recent weeks.

He did not have a passport.

Mr Casey said his client instructed him that he was homeless but had been offered accommodation at what used to be a hostel in Dundrum with his brother.

The garda accepted the accused had mentioned that in his interview.

He said the defendant had an international protection application card given to him by the Irish authorities, with details he had provided to them.

Pleading for bail, the defence counsel said the accused would obey stringent conditions if released, including signing on daily at a garda station, being contactable by phone, and staying away from the scene of the alleged assault.

However, the defence accepted that he would have to find another residence after the judge drew attention to the fact that Mr Hindawi proposed to live "a stone's throw away" from the location of the alleged offence.

Refusing bail, Judge Leech held that he was a flight risk.
He was commenting as he jailed a serial shoplifter for six months for repeatedly returning to a city-centre store and stealing thousands of euro worth of clothes.

A judge has said businesses will start closing in Dublin because of the frequency of shoplifting in stores.

Judge John Hughes said it beggars belief how many retailers were able to continue trading given the very large numbers of shops with multiple theft cases before the courts.

He was commenting as he jailed a serial shoplifter for six months for repeatedly returning to a city-centre store and stealing thousands of euro worth of clothes. Nathy Mulumba (39) pleaded guilty to three thefts of clothes worth a total of 3,209 at Brown Thomas on Grafton Street.

Read more Pictured: Face of vile taxi driver convicted of raping two children 20 years ago

Mulumba of Lissadel Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court.

The court heard Mulumba went to Brown Thomas on May 8, 2022, selected 470 worth of clothing and entered the changing room.

He removed the security tags, put the clothes in a bag and left the store without paying for them.

Five days later, Mulumba returned to the shop and this time stole 747 worth of clothes. Then, on May 21, security stopped him as he tried to leave with 1,992 worth of clothing.

These goods were recovered but the property taken in the earlier thefts  worth a total of 1,217  was not. Mulumba had 87 previous convictions including 32 for theft.

The accused came to Ireland as an asylum-seeker in 2002 but was now a naturalised Irish citizen and was living with his partner and three children, his lawyer said.

He also had five children from a previous relationship and worked as a chef in a city-centre pub until recently.

Mulumba had been robbing Peter to pay Paul, and feed a cocaine addiction, his lawyer said.

The addiction caused him to have a stroke which left him with a life-changing medical condition.

He now realised drugs would literally be the death of him, adding that Mulumba was clean and had changed his life. A neighbour said in a testimonial that Mulumba played a central role in the community.

Judge Hughes said a very large number of businesses had multiple shoplifting cases before the courts.

This is not simple shoplifting of a can of Fanta, he said, these are serious amounts, running into the thousands.

Businesses will start closing, they just wont be able to stay open, the judge said.

It beggars belief how they do continue to trade.

Mulumba was not responsible for that, but only for his own actions, the judge said.
It will be alleged that 123 mature cannabis plants and 28kgs of suspected cannabis were seized under warrant

A 33-year-old man charged in connection with a 658,000 drugs seizure has been refused bail.

Mantas Vidutis, Main Street, Castlebellingham, is accused of possession and possession for sale or supply of cannabis at that address on Monday May 20 last.

A garda gave evidence of arresting the accused for the purpose of charge the next day. He made no reply after caution.

Gardai sought a remand in custody with consent to bail.

However, Judge McKiernan said the court was not satisfied with a 10,000 cash lodgement. The defendant would have to have the same again.

Mr Vidutis applied for bail and gardai objected under OCallaghan Rules.

A garda said that it will be alleged that 123 mature cannabis plants and 28kgs of suspected cannabis were seized under warrant at 52 Main Street, and that every room had cannabis including the room he was in at the time.

It will also be alleged that the total estimated value of the drugs was 658,000.

The witness agreed with barrister Eoghan Fagan that the accused was of limited means.

He was six months living in Ireland, and not in steady employment though he got some work on a cash basis. He had surrendered his passport.

The garda added that Mr Vidutis said he had been living in England for two years before coming here from Norwich. He had been unable to check that.

Mr Fagan submitted that the defendant would have a great difficulty with a large cash lodgement.

He had an address in Dundalk where he could stay and sign on three times a week. He had no plans to leave.

Judge McKiernan refused bail because of the nature and degree of the seriousness of the alleged offence with which the accused has been charged.

He was considered a flight risk. He had only been here six months and had no ties.

Mr Vidutis was remanded in custody to May 28 for DPP directions via video link.

Legal aid was granted.
The defendant denied the cannabis was his.

A man has appeared in court on charges in connection with a drugs seizure in Dundalk on Monday May 20 last.

Dainius Pribavkinas (51), Willow Dale, Bay Estate, is accused of possession and possession for sale or supply of cannabis with an alleged value of 100,000 at that address.

A garda gave evidence of arresting the defendant for the purpose of charge on May 21. After caution he replied, I didnt have cannabis. Cannabis was in the house I was staying. I didnt have cannabis in my pockets.

Mr Pribavkinas applied for bail and gardai objected under OCallaghan Rules.

A garda said it will be alleged that 10 mature cannabis plants and 5kgs of cannabis were seized when the house was searched under warrant on May 20 last.

The defendant denied the cannabis was his. He was due to leave Ireland on May 28 for an eye operation in Lithuania.

He was only in this country since April. He had lived here previously.

It will also be alleged that his name was on gas and electricity bills in the house.

Under cross-examination by barrister Ronan OCarroll, the officer said Mr Pribavkinas had been present in the kitchen. The drugs were in a wardrobe upstairs.

The defendant said that his fingerprints may be on items. He made no admissions.

There was evidence of cultivation of cannabis plants with pipes out of the roof. There was no evidence of painting and decorating.

The accused gave gardai his phone and PIN voluntarily. The phone had yet to be forensically downloaded. Gardai had his travel documentation.

With the assistance of an interpreter, Mr Pribavkinas said that a year ago he came to Ireland to work. He couldnt get a PPS number and left.

A man than called him and booked flights for him to come here for painting jobs.

Mr OCarroll said the accuseds services were freely available on Facebook.

There was no certificate of drugs analysis yet. The investigation was in its infancy. The defendant had no previous convictions.

Counsel continued that gardai were open to conditional bail. The difficulty was the cash lodgement.

Judge McKiernan refused bail for reasons of the nature and degree of serious of the alleged offence with which the accused has been charged. The court also considered him a flight risk.

Mr Pribavkinas was remanded in custody to May 28 for DPP directions via video link.

The judge directed that he receive medical attention and treatment while in custody.
Faaris Zaman was sentenced to 11 years and seven months in prison

Photographs of the drugs seized by the NCA

A key player in a Premier League cocaine and heroin trafficking mob was caught by anti-gang cops sneaking into the UK through Dublin Airport, a court has heard.

Faaris Zaman (27) had fled to Dubai in 2020 after becoming a target for police following the hack into the encrypted phone network, Encrochat.

Using the handle oraclewarrior, Zaman had arranged deals for multiple kilos of cocaine and heroin  also moving a fortune pounds of drugs money at the same time.

It is estimated he had handled 1.3 million in criminal profits from drug dealing gangs.

This week, a court heard how Zaman  despite moving to the Emirate State  had continued to sneak back into England to visit his family in Bradford.

It is believed he had used Dublin Airport to slip into the country on a number of occasions over a three year period.

However, he was arrested in October 2023 after returning to Bradford via a flight to Ireland when he was tracked to his family home where he was discovered hiding in his parents' loft

He later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property in that he conspired with others to handle 1.3m.

Zamans involvement extended to 20kg of cocaine and 7.5kg of heroin, though the prosecution said an expert witness indicated the quantities of drugs involved were actually much larger: 48kg of cocaine and 20kg of heroin.

Sentencing Zaman to 11 years and seven months in prison, Mr Recorder Ian Mullarkey said: You were repeatedly offering Class A drugs for sale on a kilo and multi kilo basis.

You were making sales, you were commenting on the quality of the drugs which were provided to you, as well as also collecting drugs monies.

In short, you were playing a full, active and enthusiastic part in the drug-dealing operation.

Moreover your enthusiasm extended to money-laundering, which you engaged in on a vast scale acquiring a vacuum-packing machine for the purpose.

You used sophisticated methods or technologies in order to avoid or impede detection by the use of the EncroChat system, and this offending was also part of a conspiracy.

Zaman was originally arrested in July 2020 and when NCA investigators searched his family address in Ashgrove, Bradford, they found 89,000 in cash, a vacuum packing machine and debtor lists.

Handwritten notes detailing buyers, prices and pick-up vehicles illustrated Zamans drugs supply deals dating back to at least October 2018.

Photographs of the drugs seized by the NCA

In April 2020, Zaman was in contact with another user who arranged for cash to be delivered to him for counting.

A picture of wads of bank notes was recovered from the device with messages confirming almost 140,000 had been received.

Other messages showed Zaman in conversation with others about picking up hundreds of thousands of pounds from locations in the north of England on numerous occasions.

On another occasion, Zaman replied to a contact who asked for feedback on the tops [cocaine] being supplied. Zaman said three people had said the drugs were no good for wash or sniff [cocaine]. Numerous images of blocks of white powder were shared between users.

In May 2020, Zaman had a conversation with two users to try and provide a sample of bottoms [heroin], describing it as grade 8, clean taste. Zaman sent a picture of the drugs to the user before delivering an amount to two addresses in Bradford.

Zaman claimed he was primarily a money launderer on behalf of other Encrochat users but then also became involved in the supply of class A drugs. He said he was not a leader in the group, acting on instructions from other users.

NCA Operations Manager Nigel Coles said: Faaris Zaman has suggested he played a lesser role in this drugs supply network but this was high level serious and organised criminality where his messages showed he was a significant and trusted operator.

The messages obtained under Operation Venetic led us straight to Zaman who thought he was operating above law enforcement.

The NCA is committed to protecting the public against criminals like Zaman, who fuel the illegal drugs trade, and will continue in our work to bring them to justice.

Operation Venetic has been the UKs deepest ever penetration of organised crime groups.

So far, more than 1,600 offenders have been convicted and there are many more suspects in the legal and judicial systems.

In total, more than 3,300 arrests have been made and more than 2,000 suspects charged in the UK.

Over 10,700 years of sentences have been given to offenders.

Drugs seizures include nearly six-and-a-half tonnes of cocaine, more than three tonnes of heroin and over twenty tonnes of cannabis.

One-hundred-and-seventy-three firearms have been taken off UK streets, along with almost 3,500 rounds of ammunition and more than 84m has been seized from organised crime groups. Over 200 threats to life were averted.

These figures represent the collective efforts of the NCA, UK police forces, Regional Organised Crime Units, Border Force, HM Revenue and Customs and crucially the Crown Prosecution Service.
Lee McKenna (29) failed to move on after officers found him in an aggressive confrontation, a court heard.

A sommelier arrested for hurling abuse at gardai on a city street after he had too much to drink has been spared convictions for public order offences.

Lee McKenna (29) failed to move on after officers found him in an aggressive confrontation, a court heard.

McKenna, with an address at St Michans House, Greek Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, and failing to comply with garda directions.

McKenna was told to make a 350 charity donation and when the case came back before Dublin District Court, Judge Gerard Jones was told the money had been paid.

He struck the charges out.

The court had heard gardai on duty at Store Street station on February 9 heard shouting outside and went out to find the accused and another man acting aggressively towards each other.

On approach, the pair acted in a threatening and abusive manner to the gardai and were both directed to desist.

The other man complied but McKenna continued to be abusive to the gardai and was arrested.

The accused, who had no previous convictions, was undertaking a sommeliers course at the time and had too much to drink, the court heard.
Cunnigham is believed to have fallen from the second floor of his Ballyfermot home after trying to climb through a window.

A veteran criminal who was a central cog in Irelands underworld for decades died this week after an accidental fall at his south Dublin home.

Fran the Lamb Cunningham is believed to have fallen from the second floor of his Ballyfermot home after trying to climb through a window.

Cunningham was reputed to be one of Irelands top conmen at one stage and was behind frauds worth millions of pounds,

He was an integral part Irelands crime scene and specialised in the disposal of stolen bank drafts and travellers cheques stolen in heists both here and in Britain.

He was also involved in a forged garda pay cheque ring and helped organise heists and frauds for other criminals.

He made so much money from fraud that he helped bankroll numerous other gangsters activities.

John Cunningham

Originally from La Fanu Road in Ballyfermot, he was a brother of Michael and John Cunnigham who gained notoriety for the kidnapping of Jennifer Guinness in 1986.

John Cunningham went on to become a key player in the Kinahan cartel while Michael died of natural causes nine years ago.

Frans list of associates reads like a whos who of Irish gangsters of yesteryear including John Traynor, John Gilligan, Martin the Viper Foley, Martin the General Cahill, Sean the Fixer Fitzgerald and Noel Kingsize Duggan.

He ran a front operation of a bad debts agency and lived in an exclusive apartment in Ranelagh for a time but his real income came from criminality.

Gardai were well aware of his activities but described him as slippery like an eel in the way he dodged several convictions on legal technicalities and using down-on-their luck patsies to carry out frauds he had masterminded.

In the late 1990s he was behind a bid to cash IR1.5m worth of stolen bank drafts which were stolen in a London raid.

He flew out to Amsterdam with a man he had recruited to cash the drafts but kept his distance while the man went to the bank.

John Gilligan outside court in 2003

Gardai, Dutch police and Interpol were aware of the operation and Dutch cops arrested the other man but Cunningham was able to fly back to Dublin without problem.

However, in 1999 his luck ran out when he was sent down for five years for masterminding a 45,000 fraud.

He had tried to avoid prison by faking a heart attack while he was supposed to be in court. He was taken to hospital and tried to escape but was caught by gardai.

When they stopped him he was in the company of Martin the Viper Foley.

Being behind bars failed to stop Cunningham from committing crime and in 2002 he was behind the forgery of fake driving licenses in Mountjoy Prison which were smuggled out and sold for 200 each.

He also became the prisons unofficial bookie operating gambling rackets via a mobile phone.

He was also nabbed for several other offences over the years including in 2012 when he was found guilty of involvement in a 315,000 cigarette delivery van heist.

It is understood that foul play is not suspected in Cunninghams death.

A garda spokesperson said: Gardai and emergency services attended a residential premises in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, on Friday 24th May 2024. The body of a male, aged in his 60s, was discovered and removed to Dublin City Mortuary for a post mortem.
Gardai believe the fire was started at St John's House at around 11pm on Tuesday.

A teenager has been arrested as part of an investigation into criminal damage caused by fire at a property in Tallaght set to house asylum seekers.

The young man, who is in his late teens, is currently being held in a Garda station in Dublin.

Gardai believe the fire was started at St John's House, a vacant property on High Street in Tallaght, at around 11pm on Tuesday.

It followed a number of protests in the area recently against the housing of migrants at the vacant building.

Emergency services were called to the scene and the fire was brought under control a short time later.

Gardai have now arrested a teenager on suspicion of causing criminal damage at the Tallaght property.

A garda spokesman said: Gardai in Tallaght who are investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire at a property in Tallaght, Dublin 24 on Tuesday night, 21st May 2024, have arrested one man.

The man (aged in his late teens) was arrested today, Saturday 25th May 2024, and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin.

Gardai continue to appeal to anyone who may have information in relation to this incident to contact them.

Any person who was in the vicinity of High Street, Tallaght between 10:30pm and 11:30pm on Tuesday evening and who observed any unusual activity is asked to contact investigating Gardai.

Any road users or pedestrians who were travelling in the area during this time and who may have camera footage (including dash cam) are asked to make this available to Gardai.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Investigations are ongoing.

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.

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.
He called himself Tony and was approximately 510, with short to medium dark blonde hair and a medium to heavy build.

POLICE in Canada are looking to speak to this Irishman in connection with a door-to-door paving scam.

Police in Kingston, Ontario, issued a warning to residents to beware of the scam after numerous homeowners in the area were targeted this month by a group of men who spoke with Irish accents.

They have issued these pictures of an Irishman who they say is one of the suspects. He called himself Tony and was approximately 510, with short to medium dark blonde hair and a medium to heavy build.

Paving scam

The suspects offer to repave the victims driveway at a steeply discounted cash rate, requiring payment up front. The suspects often state that they are doing work nearby which is why they are offering the discounted rate, a police spokesperson said.

In the reports received by Kingston Police and City of Kington Bylaw Enforcement, residents have been approached and either work has been left incomplete or the paving is of poor quality.

In most cases, large piles of excavated asphalt and earth were left behind, often blocking the roadway. In one case, the pavers also severed utility connections to the victims home.

The suspects in the case were all described as having Irish or similar accents.

The names used by the companies change frequently, so residents are encouraged to focus on the warning signs below. However, the following have been used in the past week: Trusted Paving and Paveright Asphalt.

Kingston Police are urging caution when homeowners are approached and said there are a number of warning signs of dodgy operators including claiming that they just happen to be in the area doing work nearby, they offer a special deal because they have supplies left over from another job, they have a high pressure sales pitch and demand all or most of the cash before any work is completed.

It is the latest recent warning to be issued by cops in the US and Canada over Irish scammers who travel around conning homeowners out of money and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

Police forces across Europe and as far away as Australia and New Zealand have also issued numerous similar warnings.
Coroner Aisling Gannon made her remarks about the danger of consuming cocaine at an inquest into the death of David OGrady at his home at Carraig Bui, Johnstown Road, Cabinteely, Co Dublin on June 6, 2022.

A coroner has warned that there is no quality or quantity of cocaine that is safe ever after the death of a young Dublin man from a drugs overdose while socialising at home with housemates two years ago.

Coroner Aisling Gannon made her remarks about the danger of consuming cocaine at an inquest into the death of David OGrady at his home at Carraig Bui, Johnstown Road, Cabinteely, Co Dublin on June 6, 2022.

A sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court heard the 31-year-old sales account manager with a recruitment firm was found unresponsive on the floor of the bedroom of one of his housemates where he had fallen asleep the night before.

One of the housemates, Sorcha Deane, told the hearing that Mr OGrady and her two other housemates had been drinking alcohol when she and a friend, Aoife McCabe had gone out for lunch the previous day before returning at 4pm.

Ms Deane said the three men joined them in her bedroom at around 6pm where they all drank alcohol.

She recalled that Mr OGrady originally seemed fine but that his condition seemed to change after he started going in and out of her room and began to slur his words and become unsteady.

The witness said she was aware that her housemate used to take opiates and Xanax.

Ms Deane said she had spoken previously to Mr OGrady about his drug taking and he had said he wanted to go to rehab.

She told the inquest that he fell asleep on the floor of her bedroom at around 11pm and was later snoring loudly and could not be woken.

Ms Deane said Mr OGrady appeared quite still at some stage the following morning and did not seem to be moving.

She alerted her other housemates when Ms McCabe got no response when she tried to shake him.

Ms McCabe told the coroner that Mr OGrady had appeared more drunk than anyone else in the house and was aware that he had taken tablets.

She recalled being woken by Ms Deane to say that something was wrong with their friend.

Another housemate, Nicholas Watts, said he was aware that Mr OGrady, with whom he was friends since they attended Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock, had an addiction issue.

Mr Watts said his friend had only mentioned for the first time ever shortly before his death about his wish to go to rehab.

I hoped he would get back on track, he observed.

He recalled Mr OGrady slumped to the ground while the group of friends were chatting but noted it had happened before and he had placed his friend in the recovery position.

Mr Watts said he was subsequently woken by Ms Deanes screaming over not being able to wake their housemate and he helped to provide CPR until an ambulance crew arrived at the house.

It was a complete shock. One of the worst days I ever experienced in my life, he added.

Another housemate and former schoolmate of the deceased, Jamie McStay, recalled that everyone was a bit shocked when Mr OGrady appeared to pass out.

Mr McStay said it was felt that their friend was OK when he started snoring after being put in the recovery position.

When he later responded to cries from his other housemate, he said he found Mr OGrady was not breathing and his lips were blue.

Although Mr McStay said he was aware his friend used to take tablets, he added: I did not think something like this would happen.

Garda Darragh Hughes confirmed to the inquest that no foul play was suspected in relation to Mr OGradys death.

The coroner noted that a 999 call to alert emergency services to attend the house had been made at 6.59am.

In response to questions by the deceaseds mother, Ann OGrady, about packets of tablets found near her sons body, Ms Gannon said they had probably been left there by paramedics who had sought information about what drugs he might have taken.

The deceaseds brother, Stephen OGrady, gave evidence of being alerted by one of his brothers friends via Facebook about what happened before travelling to Cabinteely to formally identify his brothers body to gardai.

Ms Gannon said a postmortem showed Mr OGrady had died as a result of multi-drug toxicity with evidence of cocaine, diazepam, ketamine and alprazolam (Xanax) found in his body.

The coroner said it was not possible to state when exactly Mr OGrady had taken the drugs and in what quantities but noted the postmortem found a toxic level of alprazolam.

She added: There is no quality or quantity of cocaine that is safe ever.

Ms Gannon pointed out that cocaine was known to cause an irregular heartbeat in users.

The coroner said the deceased had also tested positive for Covid-19 which she assessed as being a contributory factor in his death.

Ms Gannon offered her sympathy to Mr OGradys family on their devastating loss and noted that it was very difficult for his loved ones to hear about the events of his death and for his friends who were there at the time to relive the experience.

Returning a verdict of death by misadventure, the coroner said Mr OGradys death was the unintended consequence of consuming drugs on the date in question.
The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (Mibi) pays out up to 70m a year to victims of uninsured drivers and estimates that this adds 35 onto every drivers insurance premium.

A new garda system that instantly detects uninsured drivers is a game-changer that should help bring down insurance premiums for motorists.

Frontline gardai now have access to the information of three million vehicles and will be able to catch those driving without insurance by checking a motorists details in real time on their mobile app.

Read more Pictured: Face of vile taxi driver convicted of raping two children 20 years ago

The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (Mibi) pays out up to 70m a year to victims of uninsured drivers and estimates that this adds 35 onto every drivers insurance premium.

However, Mibi chief executive David Fitzgerald described the new technology as a game-changer.

Mr Fitzgerald added it should help have a knock-on impact to reduce insurance premiums.

We dont set insurance premiums, whats under our control is what we pay to the victims, and if we can reduce the number of accidents and number of uninsured drivers out there, thats got to help, he said.

People are paying 30 to 35 on an average motor insurance policy at the moment to compensate the victims of uninsured drivers.

Since January, the system has resulted in 7,307 vehicles being seized, with 1,840 vehicles taken off motorists last month for having no insurance.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the new system would help to both catch uninsured drivers and act as a deterrent to change the behaviour of motorists.

The Fine Gael TD also described it as a really important tool for gardai to not only detect but also pursue people who drive without insurance.

We know people who drive without insurance are more likely to engage in other types of dangerous driving behaviour so this is about improving overall road safety, she said.

So far this year 79 people have lost their lives on Irish roads, compared to 66 in the same period last year.

Moyagh Murdock, the CEO of Insurance Ireland, said motor insurance had come down by more than 40pc from its peak and by 160 in the past five years.

People who are caught driving without insurance generally are recidivist drivers who commit a number of other offences, not just insurance, so this new technology and app is a game-changer in detecting those drivers.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman, who is in charge of roads policing, said that by having access to the Irish Motor Insurance Database, gardai would be in a stronger position to detect those breaking the law by driving without insurance.

Improved technology and data sharing are helping to transform roads policing in Ireland and ultimately help An Garda Siochana to keep road users safe, Ms Hilman said. Todays launch shows the considerable progress that can be achieved when we work in partnership and share data.

The penalties for a motorist driving without insurance include having their vehicle seized on the spot, a court appearance, five penalty points as well as significant fines.

Mibi research indicates there is a high number of uninsured vehicles operating on our roads.

In 2022, there were approximately 188,000 uninsured private vehicles in this country, meaning one in every 12 private vehicles was uninsured.
The graffiti  depicting an anti-immigration and anti-asylum seeker message  was discovered just outside the gates at Kings Park Primary School in Newtownabbey before children were due to arrive at the school.

Graffiti at King's Park Primary School in Newtownabbey has now been dealt with by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council.

Those responsible for the daubing of hate graffiti at the front of a Co Antrim primary School have been told racism has no place in our society.

The graffiti  depicting an anti-immigration and anti-asylum seeker message  was discovered just outside the gates at Kings Park Primary School in Newtownabbey before children were due to arrive at the school.

The PSNI said they are treating the incident as a hate crime.

The school Board of Governors said those at the school had been made aware of the message left on the footpath outside the school boundary and in no way reflected the ethos of the school

We are extremely saddened and disappointed to see this act of vandalism outside the grounds of our school, the Board of Governors said.

Our school is a safe, friendly environment where everyone is welcomed, supported and encouraged to be the best they can be.

This act of vandalism is at total odds with who we are as a school and as a community and with what we teach our children.

The school said the graffiti was quickly removed.

We are engaging with all appropriate agencies to ensure this matter is resolved and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council have now dealt with the graffiti, the Board of Governors added.

Local Sinn Fein councillor Rosie Kinnear, Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Council, slammed those responsible for painting what she called racist hate graffiti at the Newtownabbey school, adding that children should be allowed to feel safe in school.

Cllr Kinnear said: I condemn unreservedly those responsible for painting racist graffiti at Kings Park Primary School in Newtownabbey.

This is outrageous, racism has no place in our society, and it beggars belief that anyone would target primary school children and staff in this way. Schools should be safe places for children.

These actions are wrong and unacceptable to the people of this area and wider society and they need to stop.

I call on anyone with information on those responsible to bring it forward to the police.

Police are now appealing for information following a report of criminal damage in the Kings Drive area of Newtownabbey.

It was reported shortly after 6am that graffiti had been discovered on a tarmac area outside one of the entrances to a primary school. This is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime at this stage, a PSNI spokesperson said.

Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to call 101 quoting reference number 162 24/05/24.
The cars were parked at Bannatynes Health Club at Holywood Exchange between Holywood and Belfast.

Aftermath of a carpark fire in BannatyneOs Health Club at Holywood Exchange Photo Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press

Aftermath of a carpark fire in Bannatynes Health Club at Holywood Exchange Photo Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press

Aftermath of a carpark fire in Bannatynes Health Club at Holywood Exchange Photo Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press

A fire which has badly damaged ten vehicles at a gym and spa car park has been confirmed as accidental by police.

The cars were parked at Bannatynes Health Club at Holywood Exchange between Holywood and Belfast.

Investigators are on site following the fire but a police spokesperson has confirmed the incident is being treated as accidental after a car engine fire then spread to other vehicles.

In a statement, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said: Firefighters were called to reports of a car fire on the Belfast Road, Holywood.

"Firefighters using breathing apparatus and four hose reels extinguished the fire, which had spread to 10 other vehicles, and made the vehicles safe.

"The cause of the fire was accidental ignition and the incident was dealt with by 10.30am.

Bannatynes Health Club boasts extensive gym facilities as well as a swimming pool and spa.
Over 40,000 dried and pressed plants neatly filed in the University of Canterbury Herbarium make up a vital botanical library that dates back over 150 years.

Associate Professor Pieter Pelser from Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury School of Biological Sciences has been the herbariums curator for 15 years.

He says most of the preserved specimens, which have been mounted on paper and stored inside manila folders, have been collected by UC staff and students.

One of the oldest specimens, a bidibid (piripiri in te reo), was collected in 1876.

There is also a seed collection with several hundred specimens that are currently being updated and put into a database.

Associate Professor Pelser says herbaria are a valuable resource documenting biodiversity through time and place.

Here you can see the rich botanical biodiversity of Aotearoa New Zealand conveniently in one place. You can even study plants from populations that are now extinct and determine the genetic make-up of plants that lived decades ago.

The herbarium is used to study how plant species have evolved, discover new plant species, and develop plant identification tools.

The collection also allows us to determine which species and populations are rare and endangered so that we can study their genetic diversity and develop conservation management plans.

He says UC students play an important part in such research and work together with researchers at the herbarium of Manaaki Whenua | Landcare Research to study extremely threatened plant species that only live in increasingly rare limestone habitats.

A herbarium collection can also be used to find out when an invasive species first arrived in New Zealand, where it came from, and how it became distributed around the country.

That makes it an essential resource for protecting both our environment and economy.

The UC Herbarium is also culturally important to UC and tangata whenua because some of the plants were collected by historically significant botanists or are taonga species, he says.

Many of the specimens have come from a UC-owned field station in the Cass Mountain Research Area in North Canterbury.

Associate Professor Pelser takes botany students there on summer field trips as part of a field botany course to see rare plants on scree slopes and in other unique ecosystems.

I love going up there and studying sub-alpine and alpine plant species, he says.

The course is popular with undergraduate students and members of the workforce, including some employed by the Department of Conservation.

Associate Professor Pelser carries out botanical research projects in the Philippines with his wife, Dr Julie Barcelona, a research fellow at UC. Because of this connection, the UC Herbarium also has a small collection of Philippine plants.

Earlier this year, two new orchid species discovered in a remote part of the Philippines were named after Barcelona and Pelser to honour their contributions to citizen science.

Studying plants in the wild as well as in herbaria are great ways for people of all walks of life to connect with and learn from nature, says Associate Professor Pelser.
The 2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Region-off is underway.

FMG is reminding locals to get on board with earning points to keep their region at the top of the table.

FMG has been Principal sponsor of the Young Farmer of the Year competition since 2015 and has always looked for innovative ways to engage contestants local communities in the contest.

The FMG Region-off was a new feature in last years Young Farmer of the Year contest suite.

The category saw AgriKids, Junior and Young Farmers competing in a regional showdown earning points through public voting and community focussed challenges.

FMGs Head of Events, Travel and Sponsorship Charlotte Cooley says the seven Young Farmer regional communities now had six weeks to get to work earning points before the coveted Grand Final event held in Hamilton in early July.

Last years community focussed challenges saw an outstanding 679 meals distributed to local communities, 13 trailer loads of firewood delivered and 55 local farmers helped out with on farm tasks like drenching and crutching.

A big thanks in advance to all the parents, teachers, community leaders and contributors who help make things happen.

We are looking forward to seeing what community focussed work goes on this year by the regions looking to take out the top spot.

Previous iterations of FMGs community level element of the competition have included the Peoples Choice Award.

We had some great engagement with Peoples Choice over the years but the Region-off allows the very regions these Young Farmers represent the opportunity to benefit from their competitiveness.

Last years winners were the East Coast who took home $5000 for their chosen charity, East Coast Rural Support Trust.

You can check out the story of East Coasts 2023 Region-off win here and watch their video here.

Other Young Farmer Regions include Northern, Waikato Bay of Plenty, Taranaki Manawatu, Tasman, Aorangi and Otago Southland.

For more information and details on how to enter the Region Off visit here.
The Health Select Committee has agreed to undertake an inquiry into aged care provision, the scope of which will include the current and future capacity of the sector to support those experiencing early onset neurological disorders like dementia and ensuring appropriate asset thresholds for sustainable services, says Health Select Committee Chair Sam Uffindell.

This fulfils a Coalition Agreement between National and New Zealand First to undertake a select committee inquiry into aged care provision to include supporting people with early onset conditions and what asset thresholds are appropriate.

New Zealands population is aging and life expectancy is climbing. Its the right call for our committee to look into a range of issues related to the aged care sector, says Uffindell.

The inquiry will investigate the current aged care sectors ability to provide care and services to the current and expected number of seniors who are and will suffer from early onset conditions.

"The scope of the inquiry will look at whether the funding model has been updated to reflect current best provisions for these conditions."

Health Select Committee Chair Sam Uffindell. Photo: Supplied.

Uffindell says the Ministry of Health is beginning Phase Two of the Aged Care Funding and Service Model Review which is aimed at improving service sustainability and ensuring equitable access and outcomes.

"However, the select committee inquiry will have a focus on the early onset provision and could provide valuable insights to support a funding model change," says Uffindell.

This inquiry will begin before 1 July 2024 and the Health Committee may expand its scope to consider other areas.

NZ First MP on the committee Jenny Marcroft welcomes the inquiry, which was agreed to in the National  NZ First Coalition Agreement.

We owe it to our seniors to explore a range of issues around aged care and how we can best support New Zealanders as they age, says Marcroft.

There are challenges in the current aged care provision for those with early onset dementia, and an increasing number who are under 65 also require support.

Dementia can impact couples who would normally live together but have to be separated due to individual care needs and this is an issue that requires our attention.

We are pleased to see progress on this commitment from the National  NZ First Coalition Agreement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. Two people were killed and two injured as a result of a gas pipeline explosion in Abdanan city, Ilam Province, in western Iran, Abdanan's governor Mohammed Rahmani told local media on May 25, Trend reports.

He said a private company's excavation activity violated safety guidelines, causing the explosion.

"Two workers lost their lives and one sustained injuries in the tragedy. The explosion damaged and destroyed a residential building as well, and one person was hurt," Rahmani added.

To note, in February, a gas pipeline was blown up in the Iranian Fars and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces, leading to gas supply interruptions in some districts.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The big picture: South Korean tech giants like Samsung and SK Hynix have dominated memory manufacturing for decades. However, the country's president thinks the competition in the processor market, where Taiwan's TSMC looms large, has recently become significantly more critical. A new support package aims to increase Korea's competitiveness across the chip industry.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently unveiled a $19 billion support program to boost the country's semiconductor industry. One of the areas the President stressed when outlining the package concerns processors, a sector where Korean companies currently lag behind industry leader TSMC.

President Yoon acknowledged that South Korea has dominated memory production for 30 years but also noted that "all-out national warfare" has emerged to produce semiconductors for CPUs and GPUs. Countries like the US and China have intensified their focus on semiconductors since the pandemic revealed the fragility of tech supply chains. The AI boom has also made CPUs and GPUs more crucial. Recent earthquakes in Taiwan, where TSMC makes the most advanced chips, have also raised concerns.

Although the Korean financial package doesn't include direct subsidies like the recent US CHPS Act, it will offer tax credits and support for infrastructure and R&D. To address concerns that the support will mainly benefit large companies, Yoon stated that 70 percent of affected businesses will be small or medium-sized.

For example, the program will support the establishment of a mini-fab to help fabless companies design and prototype chips. Yoon noted that Korea's fabless market share currently hovers around one percent and has struggled to close the gap with TSMC.

Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok addressed the concern surrounding the lack of direct subsidies by highlighting the differences between how various countries support their chip industries. Without directly mentioning the American CHIPS Act, Choi said direct subsidies are better suited to countries trying to build manufacturing capacity from scratch. This necessity is mitigated in South Korea and Taiwan since they already possess robust facilities.

In related news, Samsung has denied a recent Reuters report suggesting that its new HBM3 memory chips failed tests for Nvidia's upcoming AI GPUs due to excessive heat and power consumption. Reuters cited multiple sources, but Nvidia hasn't publicly commented on the claim. Samsung's Korean rival, HK Hynix, plans to launch HBME3 memory this year and progress to HBM4 in 2026.
On Friday, May 24, a social media intelligence firm revealed that fake accounts discussing the 2024 US presidential race are spreading on X (formerly Twitter).

Cyabra, an Israeli software firm that uses machine learning to identify fake profiles, revealed that 15% of X accounts praising Donald Trump and condemning Joe Biden are bogus. The analysis revealed that 7% of the X accounts are unreal.

Fake Accounts on X Aim to Shape Public Opinion Leading to 2024 US Elections

The firm examined tweets for two months, beginning in March, analyzing popular hashtags for good, harmful, or neutral posts. It found tenfold more bogus X accounts in March and April: 12,391 pro-Trump accounts out of 94,363, and 803 pro-Biden profiles out of 10,065 were found to be fake users.

Cyabra said that the fake pro-Trump accounts are part of a concerted operation to alter public opinion and internet debates. The examination identified matching hashtags and coordinated posting times but did not identify the campaign's perpetrators.

Moreover, the fake pro-Trump accounts posted messages urging to "Vote for Trump" and calling Joe Biden "the worst president the US has ever had."

Election authorities and internet disinformation specialists are once again monitoring false narratives before the November 5 election following reports that Russia interfered in the 2016 US elections.

X downplays the allegations of the proliferation of fake accounts on the online platform. The social media giant said in May 2022 that less than 5% of daily active users were "false or spam" after an internal assessment. However, Cyabra determined that 13.7% of Twitter profiles were fake.

Last month, X owner Elon Musk promised a "system purge of bots and trolls," stressing the need to track down culprits and apply the "full force of the law to bear upon them."

Furthermore, in October, X tested its "Not a Bot" tool in New Zealand and the Philippines to address the problem of spammers and bots.

Critics Blast X Content Moderation System

The FBI's recent warning about China, Russia, and Iran's attempts to influence the 2024 election is a significant development. While the report didn't specify the bogus accounts, it's clear that each US rival has its own election interference approach, all aiming to ignite frustration and undermine democracy, as reported by The Hill.

Elon Musk's decision to cut X's election integrity team last September, which was aimed at preventing election fraud, has sparked controversy. This move came less than a month after the firm's announcement to expand its safety and elections team to combat manipulation and fake accounts.

Activists have condemned Musk's efforts to moderate material, such as restoring former US President Donald Trump's account and changing hate speech regulations.

TechTimes recently reported that the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office charged a Louisiana political consultant allegedly behind the deepfake President Joe Biden robocall aimed to dissuade Democratic primary voters.

Steven Kramer, 54, faces 13 felony voter suppression charges and misdemeanor counts for impersonating a candidate after thousands of New Hampshire residents received a robocall to wait until November to vote.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suggested a $6 million fine for the AI-generated deepfake Joe Biden robocalls on Thursday, May 23. It also sought a $2 million fine for Biden robocall sender Lingo Telecom.

New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella pledged to keep the US elections "free from unlawful interference" and continue their investigation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 25. The protocol "On Amendments to the Preferential Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Turkiye" has been ratified by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye, Trend reports.

To note, the document was signed on April 29, 2023. Azerbaijan approved the document in July of the same year.

An announcement was made in May of this year regarding the names of the products that were included in the revised preferential trade agreement.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Tesla aims for net-zero emissions, but its pollution levels increased in 2023. The company's latest impact report reveals a significant rise in greenhouse gas emissions, with an increase of almost 10 million metric tons of CO2 last year.

Uphill Battle of Tesla Towards Net-Zero Emissions

Despite its strong commitment to sustainability and efforts to cut emissions through electric vehicle production and renewable energy projects, The Verge reported that the data also underscores Tesla's challenges in achieving its net-zero ambitions while expanding its operations and production capacity.

This report offers the most comprehensive insight so far on Tesla's perspective on climate-related risks and its own carbon footprint. The increase in emissions highlights the conflict between the company's rapid growth and its environmental goals, pointing to the need for continued innovation and investment in greener technologies and practices.

Tesla's carbon dioxide emissions surpassed 50 million metric tons in 2023, up from just below 42 million metric tons in the previous year. This marks an approximate 20 percent rise in pollution.

This increase is primarily due to Tesla's supply chain, with nearly 80 percent of the company's total carbon footprint attributed to the goods and services it procures.

The report states the company's commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions "as soon as possible" and details the measures it intends to implement to achieve this goal. It also cites some of the risks the company faces due to climate change.

However, the report reveals an increase in pollution within Tesla's supply chain over the past year. Dirty supply chains typically constitute the largest portion of a company's carbon footprint, prompting environmental advocates to urge regulators to take action on those emissions.

Tesla Balancing Transparency and Compliance

Tesla appears to be proactively aligning with forthcoming Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, which demand increased transparency regarding climate change. In its 2022 proposal, the SEC aimed to mandate that large companies disclose indirect emissions from their supply chains and product usage.

However, companies swiftly opposed this proposal, arguing that these emissions are the hardest to manage. As a result, this requirement was excluded from the climate regulations finalized by the SEC in March.

According to the finalized rules, which are currently facing legal challenges, large companies are still required to disclose data on carbon emissions from their direct operations and energy consumption, provided these emissions are considered "material" or crucial for investors to understand the company's financial health.

According to the company's latest report, Tesla's 2023 sustainability assessment aimed to identify critical areas impacting both the business and society at large. This evaluation identified 20 key "focus areas," such as climate risk management, air quality, water use, responsible AI, and worker health and safety.

The information Tesla is now sharing about its operations is vital because it will be crucial for holding the company accountable to its plan of reaching net-zero emissions. But some important things are still missing, like a clear plan with dates for reducing pollution.

This seems to be the first time that Tesla has said in a report that it aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire product lifecycle, from when products are made until when they're recycled. The report also says Tesla wants to use renewable energy for all its operations, which it already does for its Supercharger stations.
NIO CEO William Li has warned against using electric vehicles (EVs) as a "political target" after the company announced its expansion plans in Europe.

The warning comes as the European Union (EU) deliberates on imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs.

Expansion of NIO Amid Political Pressures

NIO inaugurated its largest showroom in Europe this week, situated in Amsterdam, as part of its expansion plans. According to Electrek, this new eight-floor NIO House, a departure from its typical two-floor design, is the company's second showroom in the Netherlands and seventh in Europe.

These "Houses" serve as platforms for showcasing and retailing NIO's range of EVs, underscoring the firm's ambitious plans for growth in the European market.

Read Also : Chinese Carmaker to Launch Flagship NIO ET7 Sedan in 2022 with 33 Sensors, Advanced Autonomous Driving

NIO Remains Firm on Its European Expansion Plans Despite Growing Tension Between EU, China

Despite the European Commission initiating an inquiry into Chinese EV subsidies last year, NIO still proceeds with its European expansion efforts. China recently hinted that it was ready to implement tariffs as high as 25% on imported cars with large engines as trade tensions escalated with the EU and the United States.

But despite the growing tension, NIO is sticking to its expansion plans in Europe. This week, William Li reiterated this stance to reporters, affirming that the company will continue its expansion in Europe.

Li emphasized the importance of EVs in promoting environmental advancement but said they should not be used as a "political target." He also mentioned a potential establishment of a manufacturing facility in Europe in collaboration with a regional partner, but only if the EV maker manages to sell approximately 100,000 vehicles annually.

NIO's sales figures in Europe last year were relatively low, with only 2,404 vehicles sold. However, NIO's latest showroom, situated in a bustling location where around 10,000 people pass every day, could help the company grow.

The surge in EV sales in the Netherlands tripled in 2023, reaching 128,000 units compared to 43,000 in 2019. That was about 30% of new vehicle sales, revealing the growing demand for EVs in the country.

Last week, NIO introduced its first EV model under the recently unveiled Onvo mass-market brand. Priced at $30,500, the Onvo L60 electric SUV enters the market as more than 10% less expensive than Tesla's Model Y in China.

Measuring 4,828 mm in length, 1,930 mm in width, and 1,616 mm in height, the Onvo L60 is a direct competitor to Tesla's popular Model Y, which is 4,750 mm long, 1,921 mm wide, and 1,624 mm tall.

The newly launched NIO Onvo L60 boasts a competitive CLTC range of up to 555 km (341 mi). However, the scenario could vary significantly in Europe. NIO's Onvo brand will reportedly introduce a larger electric SUV next year. The market can also expect the launch of four new NIO brand vehicles: the ET9 sedan, ET6 sedan, ES8 SUV, and ES7 SUV.

Last month, NIO recorded a remarkable surge in EV deliveries, totaling 15,620 units, marking a substantial 135% increase compared to the previous year. Notably, models like the EC6, ES6, and ET5 witnessed impressive month-over-month growth, with gains of 53%, 48%, and 52%, respectively.

With a well-designed product, William Li expressed confidence in the EV market. He noted that a single EV model could sell enough, as Tesla and BYD had proven if the product is made correctly.
Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) has activated the option to rematch with absolute champion Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), the British fighter's promoter Bob Arum has announced. The second fight will take place either at the end of this year or early next year.

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"The fight will take place in Riyadh again. This is the contract signed by both fighters. There is a clause about revenge and Tyson used this clause. Let's wait for the rematch. I think there will be a huge interest in it no matter who wins. Personally, I would like to see Tyson win this fight," Arum was quoted as saying by talkSPORT.

On May 18, in Riyadh, Usyk defeated Fury to win the WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC heavyweight belts. The Ukrainian knocked out the British fighter in the 9th round and became the first absolute champion in the four-belt era.

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It is not yet clear whether Fury will be able to fight Usyk for all four belts. On May 19, it became known that Usyk would remain the absolute champion only until June 1, 2024, as the mandatory defense of the IBF title against Filip Hrgovic was overdue.

On May 23, Oleksandr Krasiuk, Oleksandr Usyk's promoter, announced that they would ask for an exception from the IBF so that the Ukrainian would not be stripped of his world title.

On May 25, the manager of mandatory IBF heavyweight title challenger Filip Hrgovich (17-0, 14 KOs), Keith Connolly, said that Oleksandr had a deal with Tyson that said the winner could not keep the IBF belt for a rematch.

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Over 170 arrested as climate protests target TotalEnergies and fund manager



La Defense, France, May 24 (AFP) May 24, 2024



The boss of TotalEnergies told shareholders Friday that new oil fields had to be developed to meet global demand, as the annual meetings of the French energy giant and one of its biggest shareholders were picketed by climate activists.

Police said they detained 173 people among hundreds who gathered outside the Paris headquarters of Amundi, one of the world's biggest investment managers and a major TotalEnergies shareholder.

Climate activists also gathered hours before the TotalEnergies annual general meeting opened. Greenpeace members unfurled a "Wanted" banner calling its chief Patrick Pouyanne "the leader of France's most polluting company".

The banner was quickly taken down by police.

Several hundred activists belonging to Extinction Rebellion gathered outside Amundi for its general meeting.

A few dozen protesters forced their way into Amundi's tower block, daubing graffiti on the walls and smashing some windows, police said. Amundi said eight of its security staff were injured.

The activists say TotalEnergies is contributing to global warming and the destruction of biodiversity through its gas and oil activities.

Pouyanne told shareholders that higher oil prices prompted by insufficient fossil fuel output "would quickly become unbearable for the populations in emerging countries, but also in our developed countries".

Demand for oil was growing in line with the global population, he said.

But Pouyanne said TotalEnergies would pursue its "balanced strategy" of developing both fossil fuel and low-carbon energy production.

TotalEnergies had proved it was possible "to be a profitable, or even the most profitable, company while pursuing a transformation" toward cleaner energy, he said.

At Friday's meeting, nearly 80 percent of shareholders approved the company's climate strategy, with more than 75 percent also voting to renew Pouyanne as CEO for three years.

Pouyanne, who last month floated the idea of a New York listing for the company, told shareholders there was "no question" of TotalEnergies leaving France.

He said in April that there was "a case" to move from the Paris CAC 40 index to New York in search of higher valuations and larger markets.

French President Emmanuel Macron, asked by Bloomberg if he would be "happy" with such a move, responded: "Not at all and I would be very surprised" if it came to pass.

burs/jh/imm/js



TotalEnergies
Mexico heat waves leave 48 dead since March



Mexico City, May 24 (AFP) May 24, 2024



Mexico has registered 48 deaths in a series of heat waves since March, the government said Friday, as scientists warned that new temperature records could be coming.

More than 950 people have suffered various health effects over the same period, according to the health ministry.

Last year, Mexico reported a record 419 heat-related deaths in the hot season, which runs from March to October, in a country of 129 million people.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador described this year's heat as "exceptional."

"It's a very regrettable natural phenomenon related to climate change," he said at his regular morning news conference.

High temperatures and a lack of wind were exacerbating the pollution problem in Mexico City in particular, Lopez Obrador added.

The capital, which sits at 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level, has traditionally enjoyed a temperate climate and few homes have air conditioning.

But thermometers in Mexico City reached a record 34.3 degrees Celsius (93.7 degrees Fahrenheit) on May 9, the National Water Commission said.

The northeastern state of San Luis Potosi registered a high of 49.6 degrees Celsius.

Scientists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico warned that more records could be broken in the next two weeks.

This year is on course to be "the warmest year in history," Francisco Estrada, coordinator of the university's Climate Change Research Program, said at a press conference.

It is not just humans that are suffering -- in southern Mexico dozens of howler monkeys have dropped dead, apparently due to the heat.
Massive landslide hits Papua New Guinea, many feared dead



Port Moresby, May 24 (AFP) May 24, 2024



A massive landslide struck remote villages in Papua New Guinea's highlands Friday, with many homes buried and scores of residents feared dead.

The disaster hit an isolated part of Enga province at around 3:00 am local time, according to government officials, when many villagers were at home asleep.

Provincial governor Peter Ipatas told AFP that "there has been a big landslide causing loss of life and property".

He later said "six villages" had been affected and described it as an "unprecedented natural disaster".

Three bodies have so far been recovered, but there are fears that hundreds more may be entombed. The true toll may take days or weeks to become clear.

Steven Kandai, a community leader at the scene, told AFP that many residents had no time to flee.

"All of a sudden there was a big landslip. The mountain just collapsed all of a sudden while people were still sleeping," he said, adding their homes were "completely buried".

Others "heard a huge sound from rocks falling down and then escaped. But some went to escape, on their way they were killed by falling trees, rolling rocks", he said.

Images showed a scene of total devastation, with a vast bite of earth cleaved from densely vegetated Mount Mungalo.

The landslide left car-size boulders, felled trees and dirt that stretched down toward the valley floor.

The twisted remains of corrugated tin shelters and an overturned minibus could be seen at the foot of rubble.

Dozens of local men and women scrambled over the piles of rock and soil, digging, crying out, listening for survivors or scanning the scene in disbelief.

Some became rescuers, donning boots, strapping on head torches, picking up machetes and long-handled axes to help clear the rubble.

Children could be heard crying as their mothers clambered over the rocks in search of loved ones.

President Joe Biden said he was "heartbroken by the loss of life and devastation", adding the United States stood "ready to assist" in recovery efforts with partners including Australia and New Zealand.



- Unknown toll -



Near dusk on Friday, rescuers were using a mechanical digger and hand tools to try to unearth survivors.

A rapid response team of medics, military, police, engineers and UN agency personnel has been dispatched to the area.

Prime Minister James Marape said the team would help with "relief work, (the) recovery of bodies, and reconstruction of infrastructure."

"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives" he said.

Vincent Pyati, president of the local Community Development Association, told AFP the "landslide hit around 03:00 am last night and it looks like more than 100 houses got buried."

"It is not yet known how many people were in those houses. The number of victims is unknown."

Nickson Pakea, president of the nearby Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there are fears that up to 300 people may have been there at the time, a number that could not be confirmed.

Aid agencies including the Papua New Guinea Red Cross and CARE said they were on standby.

Red Cross PNG interim secretary general Janet Philemon told AFP the landslide location was remote and that it could take up to two days for emergency services or aid to reach the area.

The nearest highway, which runs to the gold mining town of Porgera, was blocked, complicating relief efforts.

Papua New Guinea's National Disaster Management Office did not immediately give a toll.

The Red Cross estimates the number of injured or dead could be between 100 and 500. But Philemon said she was "trying to get a clearer picture of what the situation is."

The agency was ready to offer first aid, blankets and non-food items to those affected.

"There is no indication of an earthquake or anything that may have triggered (this event). It is a gold mining area and people may have been gold mining on that mountain," she said.

Otherwise, the landslide may have been caused by heavy rain, Philemon suggested.

Sitting just south of the equator, the area gets frequent heavy rains.

This year has seen intense rainfall and flooding.

Community leader Kandai said villagers had been fearful since a smaller landslide struck the same area earlier this year but "they don't have any place to move to".

In March, at least 23 people were killed by a landslide in a nearby province.

burs-arb/bjt/bgs
Low-lying Maldives seeks easier funding to battle waves



Male, Maldives, May 25 (AFP) May 25, 2024



The Maldives on Saturday demanded international funding to battle rising sea levels, saying the low-lying Indian Ocean archipelago was being unfairly excluded from the most generous support measures.

"The Maldives is liable for just 0.003 percent of global emissions, but is one of the first countries to endure the existential consequences of the climate crisis," President Mohamed Muizzu wrote in Britain's Guardian newspaper.

"Wealthier nations have a moral responsibility to communities like ours."

His comments came ahead of a once-a-decade conference of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) -- many of them known as luxury tourism destinations but threatened by rising sea levels -- he will co-chair in Antigua and Barbuda, which opens Monday.

SIDS receive "only about 14 percent of the finance that the least developed countries receive", he said.

According to the IMF, the Maldives has a higher GDP per capita than Chile, Mexico, Malaysia or China, but Muizzu called gross domestic product a "legacy metric".

"Thanks to the Maldives' healthy tourism industry, we are ranked as an emerging economy and therefore shut out from the cheaper financing set aside for the lowest income countries."

Muizzu has said that his country needs about $500 million to mitigate the effects of climate change and the tourism-dependent economy was unable to raise the money on its own.

The first SIDS meeting was in 1994, five years after Maldives' then-president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom warned that his atoll nation of 1,192 tiny coral islets faced extinction if sea levels rose by a metre (3.3 feet).

Gayoom successfully initiated a land reclamation to build an artificial island two metres above sea level and twice the size of his congested two-square-kilometre (0.8-square-mile) capital island Male.

Muizzu, who was elected in September, has unveiled plans for a bigger man-made island with 30,000 apartments, "Ras Male", to battle rising waves.

But the project was not eligible for climate funding as it was classed as infrastructure work, he lamented.

Muizzu is seen as pro-Beijing and according to government officials, much of the construction work is expected to be carried out by Chinese firms.
The day before, on May 24, the Ukrainian Defense Forces eliminated 1,140 Russian invaders. The enemy's irreversible losses have now exceeded half a million occupants.

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Also, 102 pieces of enemy military equipment and weapons were destroyed or damaged over the previous day. Updated data on Russia's losses in the war against Ukraine were published by the General Staff of the Armed Forces on the morning of May 25.

Thus, having eliminated 1140 invaders, the Defense Forces brought the enemy's losses in manpower during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine to about 500,080 people.

The enemy was actively losing equipment the day before. In particular, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed 15 tanks (in total, the invaders have already lost 7,650 units of this type of equipment since February 24, 2022), 11 armored combat vehicles (14,786 in total), 27 artillery systems (12929 in total), two MLRS (1,082) and one air defense system (814).

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The number of aircraft destroyed was the same as the day before: 356 in total and 326 helicopters. There were no cruise missiles yesterday, so a total number of 2,209 that were destroyed remains the same.

In the new report, the total number of operational and tactical UAVs lost by the enemy was adjusted due to the updated intelligence data: together with the four drones shot down the day before, the enemy lost 10,414 units.

27 Russian ships/boats were hit by the Defense Forces. On May 24, the enemy lost 39 vehicles (17608 in total) and three special vehicles (2104 in total).

On May 23, it was reported that Ukrainian defenders shot down two enemy Su-25s in two days. One downed enemy warplane was also included in the General Staff's report on the morning of May 24.

Also on May 24, Shemy journalists released fresh satellite images of the aftermath of the drone attack on the Kushchevska airfield in Krasnodar Krai. They clearly show at least two damaged fighter jets, and one more is in question.

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Whether its an image of the most famous person on the planet, or a little-known victim of tragedy, the best of the Heralds photography will stop you in your tracks.

A good photo will jolt you from your day to day, force you to pause and look, says the Heralds managing editor, photographic, Mags King.

A collection of arresting images from the Herald will be on display in the Photos1440 exhibition at the NSW State Library from May 25.

Triple treat: Taylor Swift, centre, is dwarfed by her twin images during her series of gigs at Accor Stadium in February 2024. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Wolter Peeters image of the most photographed person in the world, Taylor Swift, still finds a way to tell an unfamiliar story.

Wolter has framed Swift as a mere human in the middle of a massive stage, while the humungous projections on either side show us how the world sees her, King, who curated the exhibition, says.

Less recognisable but no less arresting is Theresa Ardler, a member of the Wreck Bay PFAS contamination class action, captured in a stunning portrait by Rhett Wyman.
The United States has provided Ukraine with another significant military aid package in the war with Russia to meet the critical needs of the Ukrainian army. The announced package is worth $275 million.

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This was reported by the press service of the US Department of Defense on Friday, May 24. The Pentagon emphasized that the package is part of the United States' efforts to help Ukraine repel the Russian offensive near Kharkiv.

"This is the fifth security assistance package that the President has approved since signing the U.S. National Security Authorization Act last month, and the third package to be allocated under Presidential Decision Authority (PDA)," the Pentagon said.

The new package of US military aid includes:

ammunition for HIMARS;

155-mm and 105-mm artillery shells;

60-mm mortar shells;

heavy anti-tank guided missiles TOW;

Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems;

high-precision aircraft munitions;

small arms and additional ammunition for small arms and grenades;

ammunition for demolition;

anti-tank mines;

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tactical vehicles for evacuation of equipment;

helmets, body armor and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear protection equipment;

spare parts, maintenance and other support equipment.

"This will provide Ukraine with additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs on the battlefield," the US Department of Defense said.

The Pentagon emphasized that the United States will continue to work with approximately 50 NATO members and partners to ensure "that Ukraine's brave defenders receive the critical capabilities they need to fight Russian aggression."

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the United States' provision of another military aid. He personally thanked the country's leader, Joe Biden, the US Congress and both parties, as well as the American people.

Zelenskyy wrote about this on social media. The President emphasized that this package is critically important right now when the enemy has intensified attacks along the front line.

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"Today in Kharkiv, I saw with my own eyes how important it is to strengthen our soldiers to protect our people, our cities and communities. Freedom is a value that both of our nations cherish. To protect it, we need continued strong support from the United States and other allies," Zelenskyy wrote.

As reported, on the same day, May 24, Germany announced a new military aid package for Ukraine. It includes Leopard 1 tanks, HIMARS MLRS, shells and other weapons needed by the Defense Forces.

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Rapper and pop star Nicki Minaj was reportedly arrested in the Netherlands on Saturday after police said they found drugs in her luggage when she tried to board a plane for a concert in England.

Minaj documented the incident on social media, including in footage she appears to have shot at an airport near Amsterdam. In one video, a man in a grey suit, who Minaj later identified as her pilot, apologetically informed her that police needed to search all her luggage.

He doesnt believe you, that you have more with you than you say, the man says in the video.

He asked me if I had any more in my purses and I said no, Minaj replies.
The resplendent Regency-era world of Bridgerton has touched down in Brunswick for an immersive event where anyone can be the belle of the ball.

Starring an all-Australian cast, its the first time The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience has made it to Australia, after multiple stints in cities across the United States and Canada.

Performers take to the dance floor at The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience in Melbourne. Credit: Simon Schluter

Bridgerton is currently the most watched show on Netflix worldwide, with more than 45 million views since it launched its third season last week.

Kali Hovey, who became a fan reading Julia Quinns romantic novels before the TV series, travelled from Geelong with her husband for the opening night of the Melbourne live show wearing a blue dress and sparkling jewellery fit for the occasion.
The news

Last week, the mayors of four south-east Queensland councils facing population explosions levelled grave concerns about a lack of infrastructure funding at the state government.

Poor links between bus and rail services will put an extra 500,000 vehicles a day on roads around the Ipswich region unless changes are made urgently, Ipswich City Council says. Credit: Tony Moore

On Friday, Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon gave an initial commitment of an extra $350 million to cover developers costs in preparing new blocks of land.

The Incentivising Infill Development Fund money, which pays for trunk infrastructure, such as roads, sewerage, parks, and bus stops, will cover developers council infrastructure charges or utility provider charges.
Grassroots Victorian Nationals members have demanded MPs champion nuclear energy and called for a ban on public funds being spent on Welcome to Country ceremonies.

At the partys state conference on Saturday, members also passed a motion calling on a future state government to give farmers the same respect and consideration as First Nations people regarding the use of their land use, amid a growing debate about the state's cultural heritage laws.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto and Nationals leader Peter Walsh (left), in September. Credit: AAP

The state division of the National Party is holding its annual conference in Bendigo this weekend, and 40 motions are up for debate. The conference gives rank-and-file members a chance to help shape the partys policies for the year ahead.

Days after Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the Coalition had no plans to introduce nuclear power into Victoria, a motion calling on Victorian National Party MPs to support their federal colleagues and promote the advantages of nuclear energy passed with majority support.
The Coburg home of comedians Rhys and Kyran Nicholson has sold to first home buyers for $842,500 after auction on Saturday.

The three-bedroom house at 82A Ross Street has a maximalist style, and featured several different colours throughout the upstairs rooms  green cabinetry in the kitchen, pink walls in the living and dining areas and blue in the upstairs bedroom.

Barry Plant Coburg listing agent and auctioneer Jarrod Couch listed the property for sale with a quoted price range of $780,000 to $850,000.

The Nicholsons previously told Domain they werent a fan of the homes white walls when they bought it in 2017. The couple said they eschewed advice to keep the walls blank and instead indulged their self-described maximalist tendencies.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has voiced a new reason why he cannot transfer long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. He said that only German military personnel should select targets for these missiles and program them.

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And it is impossible to send our soldiers to Ukraine to perform these functions because of the risk of "escalation." Scholz said this during a meeting with citizens on Friday, May 24, in Berlin, NTV reports.

"It is problematic to transfer a weapon that can fly 500 kilometers and is so accurate. From the point of view of the country that supplies it, it would be justified to deliver it only if we define and set the targets ourselves," he said.

Scholz added that, according to him, it is impossible to send German troops to Ukraine as the country does not want to become a participant in Russia's war against Ukraine.

The chancellor emphasized that although Germany will help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's invasion, it also "must prevent escalation that will turn into a war between Russia and NATO."

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"The responsibility looks like this: we support Ukraine in its defense struggle, but we will not allow the war to escalate into a war between Russia and NATO," Scholz said.

As a reminder, the US announcement of the transfer of ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine has revived discussions in the German Bundestag about the transfer of its long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv. The German opposition called on Scholz to finally make this decision.

However, at a press conference on April 24, the German chancellor reiterated that he was not going to change his decision on Taurus. He emphasized that Berlin would continue to support Ukraine so that it could resist Russian aggression.

Scholz explained that Germany's decision not to supply Ukraine with Taurus is related to the desire to prevent a direct clash between Russia and NATO. He said that when it comes to security in Europe, Berlin should be responsible in matters of war and peace.

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As reported, the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, believes that training of the Armed Forces to operate the Taurus could have been started long ago to put it into operation without the need to involve Bundeswehr soldiers.

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The aggressor country Russia is holding 403 Ukrainian women in captivity, including many civilians illegally captured by the occupiers. Their detention does not comply with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

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This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War on Telegram on Friday, May 24. According to the institution, there are also women whose fate has been unknown since 2014, as well as missing persons.

"The Russian side responds to numerous appeals demanding the return of enslaved women with silence, ignoring all calls," the headquarters noted.

They stated that Ukrainian women who returned from Russian captivity told about humiliation, inhumane conditions of detention, inadequate nutrition, inability to receive medical care and contact with relatives.

Russia continues to deny the International Committee of the Red Cross access to places where prisoners and civilians are held in the temporarily occupied territories, as well as in the territory of the Russian Federation. There are about a hundred such places in total.

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"The Ukrainian side has repeatedly offered Russia to release women first, but representatives of the aggressor country are engaged in manipulations, including the publication of various lists. But behind all this lies an unwillingness to continue the exchanges," the Coordination Center noted.

As reported, the head of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, Patriarch Bartholomew, called for an exchange of military personnel between Ukraine and Russia. According to him, it is necessary to exchange prisoners "all for all".

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Anasuya Sengupta wins Un Certain Regard best actress trophy at 2024 Cannes





Cannes, May 25 (PTI)

Anasuya Sengupta, one of the lead stars of Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov's Hindi-language movie "The Shameless", has created history by bagging the Best Actress award in the Un Certain Regard category of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Sengupta, who hails from Kolkata, is the first Indian artiste to win the category's top acting honour, marking a significant milestone for India at the prestigious film gala. The festival will conclude on Saturday.

In her acceptance speech on Friday night, Sengupta dedicated the award to the "queer community and other marginalised communities" for bravely fighting for their rights all over the world.

"You don't have to be queer to fight for equality, you don't have to be colonised to know that colonising is pathetic  we just need to be very, very decent human beings," the actor said.

The win at Cannes is a landmark moment in Sengupta's career. She earlier played a supporting part in 2009 Bengali movie "Madly Bangalee", directed by Anjan Dutt, and worked as a production designer after shifting to Mumbai.

"The Shameless", which had its premiere at Cannes on May 17, forays into a dark, disturbing world of exploitation and misery in which two sex workers, one who bears the scars of her line of work, the other a young girl days away from ritual initiation, forge a bond and seek to throw off their shackles.

Sengupta plays the central character of Renuka, who escapes from a Delhi brothel after stabbing a policeman to death and takes refuge in a community of sex workers in northern India, where she meets Devika (Omara), a young girl condemned to a life of prostitution.

The actor celebrated her win on Instagram, where she posted pictures with Un Certain Regard jury head, Canadian director Xavier Dolan, and German-Luxembourg star Vicky Krieps.

"I won, guys, held so lovingly by my heroes. I'm here for you, to be the one you need THANK YOU @festivaldecannes," Sengupta wrote in the caption.

"The Shameless" also stars Mita Vashisht, Tanmay Dhanania, Rohit Kokate and Auroshikha Dey in key roles.

British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri's "Santosh" was part of the Un Certain Regard category as well but didn't win any award.

The Un Certain Regard, which runs parallel to the festival's main competition, aims to highlight new trends, new paths and new countries of cinema.

The top prize of the segment went to "Black Dog" by Chinese filmmaker Gou Zhen, while French director Boris Lojkine's "L'Histoire de Souleymane" bagged the Jury Prize.

Abou Sangre of "L'Histoire de Souleymane" won the best actor trophy for his performance in the movie.

The best director trophy was shared by Roberto Minervini of "The Damned" and Rungano Nyoni for "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl".

Tawfik Alzaidi of Saudi Arabia received a Special Mention for his first feature film "Norah" and the Youth Award went to Louise Courvoisier for her debut movie "Holy Cow".

The Un Certain Regard jury was chaired by Dolan and included French-Senegalese director Maimouna Doucoure, Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir and American writer Todd McCarthy.

Several Indian celebrities including filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Hansal Mehta, actors Arjun Kapoor, Radhika Apte and Adarsh Gourav congratulated Sengupta on her win.

Akhtar shared a news story about Sengupta's win on her Instagram Stories and wrote, "Congratulations."

Mehta wrote, "Congratulations on your win at Cannes 2024."

"This deserves to be celebrated along with the film," Kapoor posted.

Apte, whose film "Sister Midnight" was screened at the film gala as part of sidebar section Directors' Fortnight, said on Instagram, "Absolutely incredible."

"Historic day for India! Congratulation for the win," Gourav said on his Instagram Stories.
Attempts made to show Pune teen wasnt behind wheel: CP





PUNE :

PUNE police chief on Friday said there was an attempt to tamper with evidence to show that the Porsche that ran over two people on a motorcycle was being driven by a family driver and not the 17-year-old who is in custody over their deaths. There were attempts to make it appear as if the adult driver was driving the car, but that bid was foiled, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar told reporters.

We have the CCTV footage of him (juvenile) drinking liquor in the pub. The point of saying this is that our case is not alone depending on the blood report as we have other evidence also, the officer said. He (juvenile) was fully in his senses, He had full knowledge that due to his conduct, such an accident, where section 304 is applicable, can happen, Kumar said. On the allegations of preferential treatment given to the juvenile, Kumar said an ACP rank officer is investigating the claim.

On reports of the juvenile being served pizza after the incident, Kumar said, We have clearly said that a pizza party didnt happen in the police station. But yes, something had happened on which we have initiated an internal investigation. We are trying to make this a water tight case. We have already filed a case against the father of accused and the bar owners. The technical analysis of the evidences is underway, he said. He said an internal inquiry has pointed to lapses on the part of some cops while registering the case and action will be taken against them for destruction of evidence. During our investigation, it has clearly emerged that the juvenile was driving the car and we have already collected all the necessary chronological evidence. For example, when the juvenile left the house, the entry on the security register shows that he left with the car, he said. On the basis of technical and CCTV evidence, it is confirmed that the car was being driven by the juvenile, the police chief said. Eyewitnesses have also corroborated that the teenager, son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, was driving the Porsche at the time of the accident, he said. Kumar said attempts were made to show that an adult, the family driver, was at the wheel and not the teen when the vehicle fatally knocked down two persons in Punes Kalyani Nagar area around 3 am on Sunday.

Father, 5 others sent to

MCR PUNE,

May 24 (PTI) A COURT here on Friday remanded Vishal Agarwal, father of a 17-year-old involved in a car crash that killed two persons in the city, and five other accused in the case in judicial custody till June 7. The prosecution had demanded extension of their police custody for further probe. But court remanded Agarwal and others including the owner and employees of two liquor-serving establishments in judicial custody instead. They were produced before additional sessions judge S P Ponkshe.
Baghel accuses BJP of political vendetta in coal, liquor scams





Staff Reporter :

RAIPUR

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has accused the BJP Government of engaging in political vendetta in the coal and liquor scams. Speaking to the media at Swami Vivekanand Airport, Baghel said that despite two years of investigation by the central agencies IT and ED, no final report was submitted. Now, with the BJP in power, the investigation has been handed over to the Economic Offence Wing (EOW). It is strange that central agencies, after two years, couldnt submit a final report. The Supreme Court has already dismissed the liquor scam for lack of merit, yet the EOW is taking accused persons into remand for questioning.

This clearly indicates political vindictiveness, stated Baghel. On the Jhiram Ghati incident, Baghel revealed that his government had repeatedly requested the Union government to permit a state-led investigation into the Naxalite attack that resulted in the deaths of several Congress leaders. He criticized the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for not properly investigating the alleged conspiracy angle, as claimed by Congress. Baghel assured that once the INDI Alliance comes to power at the center, the NIA will reinvestigate the matter. Baghel also condemned the BJP leaders recent remarks, describing them as seduced and bizarre. He contrasted the Congresss achievements in nationalising banks, initiating irrigation projects, and building infrastructure and technical institutes, with the BJPs lack of action over the past decade. The BJP makes grand statements about capturing PoK but has done nothing to reclaim Indian territory from Chinese control, he asserted. Addressing comments by Home Minister Vijay Sharma, Baghel suggested that Sharmas mental condition was questionable due to his substandard statements.

He urged Sharma to focus on his district, citing numerous incidents occurring there. Baghel dismissed the BJPs statements on Rohingya Muslims as mere vote politics, pointing out that despite six months in power, the BJP had not identified a single Rohingya Muslim as previously claimed. Regarding infrastructure in the Naxal-affected areas, Baghel claimed significant progress during the Congress rule, including the establishment of camps in core sectors, construction of two bridges over the Indravati river, reopening of schools, and road development, all contributing to rapid area development. The current government will benefit from the good work done by the Congress. The BJP lacks plans and policies to tackle the Naxal problem and has not initiated any dialogue or rehabilitation measures as promised by Home Minister Vijay Sharma as soon as the BJP came to power, Baghel accused.
EVERY DROP COUNTS Indias reservoirs storage level dropS to 24%: Official data





NEW DELHI :

AMID scorching summer, the total live storage available in 150 key reservoirs across India is 24 per cent of the total live storage capacity, marking a 21 per cent decrease recorded during the same period last year, according to official data. The Central Water Commission (CWC) released its weekly bulletin on Friday on the live storage status of 150 key reservoirs across India, revealing a significant decline in water levels compared to last year. The southern region, encompassing Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is the most affected. The 42 reservoirs in this region have a total capacity of 53.334 BCM, with current storage at just 7.455 BCM (14 per cent). This is significantly lower than last years 25 per cent and the normal 20 per cent.

The total live storage available is 43.293 billion cubic meters (BCM), which is 24 per cent of the total live storage capacity of these reservoirs. This marks a 21 per cent decrease from the 55.037 BCM recorded during the same period last year and is also below the normal storage of 45.480 BCM, based on the average of the last ten years. The current storage represents 79 per cent of last years levels and 95 per cent of the ten-year average normal storage. The northern states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan have 10 monitored reservoirs with a combined live storage capacity of 19.663 BCM, but currently hold only 5.554 BCM (28 per cent). This is a decline from last years 37 per cent and below the normal 31 per cent. In contrast, the eastern region, which includes Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Tripura, Nagaland, and Bihar, shows a slight improvement. The 23 reservoirs in this region have a total capacity of 20.430 BCM, with current storage at 6.013 BCM (29 per cent).
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy showed the ruins of the Factor Druk printing house in Kharkiv, which was destroyed by a Russian missile. On the Day of Publishers, Printing, and Book Distribution, he thanked everyone who continues to create and distribute Ukrainian books despite all odds.

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The Ukrainian leader posted the photos on his Telegram. He stated that the targets of the terrorist state are everything that gives life to the state and the people: culture, development, history, and human values.

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According to the President, the printing house in Kharkiv and tens of thousands of destroyed books are just one example of the enemy's cruel and inhuman actions.

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"Killed people, burned school textbooks  these are the real targets that Russia chooses for missile strikes. And only appropriate weapons, appropriate protection for all our cities, all our people can stop it," Zelenskyy is convinced.

As a reminder, Zelenskyy visited the printing house in Kharkiv destroyed by Russia on May 24. Terrorists launched a missile attack on it a day earlier, on May 23. The attack killed seven people, injured 21 others, and destroyed 50,000 books.

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Russian terror must never go unpunished, Zelenskyy added, and assured that Kyiv is taking steps "to make the Russian state feel the consequences and the price of its evil."

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 Zelenskyy said that the missile strike on Kharkiv became possible because Ukraine was limited in its defense. In particular, there is a shortage of air defense systems that the world has.

 The Kharkiv Regional Military Administration reported that there are almost no safe places left in the region, with alerts lasting 16 hours. Due to its proximity to the Russian border, the region is under constant risk of enemy attacks.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates magic of fables







New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) An ongoing art exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi delves into the mystical world of animal tales embedded within historical manuscripts, including the ancient Indian collection "Panchtantra".

Showcasing over 130 artworks, ranging from centuries-old manuscripts to contemporary works, the exhibition, "From Kalila wa Dimna to La Fontaine: Travelling through Fables", traces the origins of this genre in India and Greece.

It features an eclectic collection of rare manuscripts, paintings, and contemporary works - unveiling the timeless narratives of friendship, loyalty, cunning, and morality, as portrayed through anthropomorphic animal characters.

"At Louvre Abu Dhabi, we are not just presenting art; we are weaving narratives as a universal museum, leading by storytelling.

"Fables have transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries, inspiring new creations in both the East and the West, perfectly aligning with our missionshedding light on the shared stories of humanity," Manuel Rabate, director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said in a statement.

Fables are a genre of literature that typically consists of short stories featuring animals or inanimate objects that possess human-like qualities.

The exhibition, divided into three sections - 'Travelling Tales', 'Telling Stories', and 'The Fables Today', takes visitors on a voyage of texts over time through their various adaptations and translations.

Several prominent pieces from France, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will be showcased throughout.

Some of the fables in the show are taken from the "Panchatantra" and are faithful to the original versions, such as "The Tortoise and the Two Ducks", a story that is illustrated in Indian and Indonesian low reliefs of the 7th and 8th centuries.

During the 8th century, the anthology, enriched with new fables, was translated into Arabic from Pahlavi by Ibn al-Muqaffa and given the title Kalila wa Dimna.

The prose writer lay at the origin of the spread of the fables in both the East and West. His version was the basis for versified texts in Arabic, and for translations into Hebrew, Greek and Old Spanish.

Other notable highlights in the exhibition include one of the oldest illustrated manuscripts of 'Kalila wa Dimna' by Ibn al-Muqaffa dating back to the Ayyubid dynasty (1171-1250 CE); "The Two Adventurers and the Wondrous Writ" by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, draughtsman Bonaventure Louis Prevost and "Portrait of Jean de La Fontaine" by Emile Bayard, draughtsman L. Wolff (engraver).

"The Eastern and Western traditions, rooted in a shared universal heritage, have evolved independently without direct contact, each charting its own course. It is only through the works of the eminent fabulist Jean de La Fontaine that these traditions have finally converged and united in a singular collection showcased at Louvre Abu Dhabi," said curator Annie Vernay-Nouri in a statement.

Besides the exhibition, visitors can also immerse themselves in the world of fables with insightful curatorial talks, along with a series of carefully curated film screenings that explore themes of morality, wisdom, and the power of storytelling.
Nursing Scam: Oppn raisesissue but becomes silent





By Bhavana Aparajita :

Government to learn from past mistakes but no concrete solution insight Future of lakhs of students in limbo

Middlemen in Bhopal and Indore THE CBI alleged that an accused, Jugal Kishore, the director of an engineering college in Bhopal, was a middleman mediating between the CBI inspection team and the nursing colleges of districts of Gwalior, Ratlam, Mandsaur and Ujjain.Similarly, one Om Goswami, the director of a nursing and paramedical college in Indore, allegedly mediated between the CBI inspection team and nursing colleges in Indore, Dhar, Khargone, Mandleshwar, Ratlam and Mandsaur.

STATE has been hitting the headlines for wrong reasons after VYAPAM, now the Nursing Scam as the Opposition Congress party apprehended has grabbed the lime light. Not only the scale of corruption but importantly the involvement also prompted investigators who have turned to scamsters, as four CBI officers, including a Deputy Superintendent-rank officer, have been named in the FIR and three have been arrested in the bribery case, has shocked the people. And now new team constituted by the agency will look in to the matter. On the other side, the future of around 1.5 lakh nursing students in the State hangs in the balance amidst court orders and an ongoing CBI investigation. Although recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed that students of 56 nursing colleges, who have obtained stay on probe from Supreme Court allowed to appear in the exam. But the future of rest of lakhs of students are also at stake.

The Opposition to target the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government. Congress Hemant Katare, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, has said a Supreme Courtmonitored probe was required. We have lost faith in the CBI. The agency is functioning as a tool of the BJP. We will question the Government in the Assembly, but if it does not reply convincingly, we will hit the streets. Government had changed but nothing has been done by our honourable public representatives whether in or outside the Government.

The CBI has searched 31 locations across Madhya Pradesh and Jaipur and found over Rs 2.3 crores in cash, 4 gold bars and incriminating documents. Rahul Raj, it is alleged, would co-ordinate with middlemen and share schedule of CBI inspections, fix and collect bribe amounts, and provide suitability report. On other side, Chief Minister on this issue Mohan Yadav had said the government has to learn from past mistakes and added he had issued several directions to ensure such irregularities do not happen. He had refused to elaborate, saying that the matter is sub-judice. A new team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is to take over the investigation into nursing colleges scam after members of the agencys earlier team allegedly became a part of it. The Enforcement Directorate can register a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against the officers. Also, the colleges tagged suitable earlier could be re-examined.

Chronology of the scam:

THE State Nursing Council cancelled the affiliation of 19 colleges. investigation last year found gross irregularities in the functioning of nursing colleges in the State. Top officials in the Health Education Department were found running nursing colleges that did not even have a campus. Some colleges were found running from a few rooms. In the aftermath of the revelations, following a high court order, the CBI investigation started a probe into the functioning of 670 colleges registered in 2020- 21. In its report on 308 nursing colleges, the CBI tagged 169 colleges fit, 66 unfit and 73 deficient. But there were questions. A government college in Rewa was declared unfit. On the other hand, a college that was tagged fit had the address of a rented building from which a school was running. It is alleged that CBI officers were providing fit tags in exchange for bribes. The agencys team would charge between ? 2 lakh and ? 10 lakh to tag an unfit college fit. The investigation has revealed that the bribery cartel functioned through Rajasthan. A middleman would send the bribes to Jaipur and it would then be routed to a CBI officer, the probe has found. CBI officers Rahul Raj, Sushil Kumar Majoka and Rishi Kant Asathe have been arrested. Deputy SP Ashish Prasad is also an accused.

The CBI has searched 31 locations across Madhya Pradesh and Jaipur and found over Rs 2.3 crore in cash, 4 gold bars and incriminating documents. Rahul Raj, it is alleged, would co-ordinate with middlemen and share schedule of CBI inspections, fix and collect bribe amounts, and provide suitability report. He was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 10 lakh as bribe, it is learnt. Rahul Raj has now been terminated from service. Code words such as Chaach Glass:, Achar Ki Barni and Kilo Aam were used to relay messages about bribe amounts and their collection, it is learnt. The gross irregularities coming to the fore in the functioning of nursing colleges in the state are playing out against the backdrop of the changes in the state governments guidelines for such institutions earlier this year. Earlier, such a college could only function if it had an area of at least 23,000 square feet. This minimum area requirement was reduced to 8,000 square feet.

Also, the 10:1 ratio of assistant professor and students was tweaked to 20:1. The minimum area for a nursing lab was revised from 1500 square metres to 900 metres. investigation had earlier found that many nursing colleges were running without proper faculty or infrastructure. One faculty member was found teaching in at least 10 colleges across three cities as principal in some and associate professor in others. It was also found colleges that have no faculty hand out certificates. Heavy affected with the corruption, the future of state, lakhs of students are wondering clueless and uncertainty is looming over their careers.
PoK is ours and we will take it: Amit Shah





Shimla, May 25 (PTI)

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is a part of India and "we will take it", Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Saturday as he castigated the Congress for trying to "frighten" the BJP by saying the neighbouring country possesses atom bombs.

Addressing a rally at Amb in Una district, the heartland of soldiers, he also appealed to people to ensure the victory of the BJP in the bypolls to six assembly seats for the formation of a BJP government in the hill state, currently ruled by the Congress.

Shah said that only a strong government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi can fight terrorism, ensure economic growth and take care of the poor.

"The Congress is trying to frighten us by saying that Pakistan has an atom bomb," Shah told the rally in support of Union minister Anurag Thakur, the BJP candidate from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat. "And, today I speak from... Himachal that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) hamara hai, hamara rahega aur hum ise lekar rahenge (PoK is ours and it will remain ours. We will take it)."

He said that even when Article 370 was scrapped in 2019, Congress leaders said it would lead to a bloodbath but not even a single stone was pelted In Jammu and Kashmir.

During the Congress regime, terrorists from Pakistan used to intrude into India, trigger blasts and return, Shah said, adding this completely changed under the Modi government.

"We conducted surgical strikes and wiped out tourists in their homes which put an end to such tactics," he said, referring to Uri and Pulwama incidents during the BJP rule.

Only a leader like PM Modi can put an end to terrorism and Naxalism, he added.

"Ensure the victory of BJP candidates in six assembly byelections for the formation of a BJP government and see the lotus (BJP's poll symbol) blooming in Himachal," he said.

He also mocked the Congress by asking the crowd as to who will be the prime minister if the grand old party comes to power.

Shah said PM Modi has already won 310 seats in the first five phases of the Lok Sabha polls, and the sixth and seventh phases would help the NDA achieve the target of '400-paar' (400-plus seats), while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would be restricted at just 40 seats.

Shah referred to the implementation of the 'one rank, one pension' by the Modi government and said the Congress did not accept the demand of ex-servicemen but Modi not only accepted it but disbursed Rs 1.25 lakh crore to the pensioners so far.

Lauding the achievements of Anurag Thakur, who is seeking a fifth term from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, Shah said even if "you search with a lamp, you will not find a towering leader like him".

Shah listed Thakur's achievements like the Rs 10,000-crore Kiratpur-Ner Chowk four lane project, Rs 1,200-crore worth Hamirpur-Dharampur Highway, Rs 1,000-crore worth Bilaspur-Leh railway line and Rs 2,000-crore bulk drug park and Rs 1,500 crore for AIIMS in Himachal Pradesh.

Two governments would be formed -- one at the Centre and the other in Himachal Pradesh -- after the election results are announced on June 4, he said, adding that according to his information "Rahul Baba would go to Bangkok on June 6 for relaxation".

He said while there were scams worth Rs 12 lakh-crore against people associated with the UPA, corruption allegation of not even a single penny has been levelled against PM Modi and that is why the nation wants a third term for him.
The Vivat publishing house named seven people who died as a result of a Russian missile attack on the Factor-Druk printing house in Kharkiv. The innocent victims of the aggressor's army were five women and two men who worked at the enterprise.

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The list of the victims and their photos were published by Vivat CEO Yulia Orlova on May 25. She reminded that this day is the Day of Publishers, Printing, and Book Distribution Workers.

"For Factor Group of companies, this has always been a great joyful holiday, but now our printing family is in grief," Orlova wrote on Facebook.

Who died as a result of the attack on the printing house in Kharkiv

The victims of the Russian army's missile attack on Kharkiv on May 23 were:

 Khrapina Tetiana, a printer-carpenter,

 Roman Strohyi, a gluing machine operator,

 Svetlana Ryzhenko , a brochure maker,

 Olha Kurasova, a sewing machine and automatic machine operator,

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 Olena Ninadovska, sewing machine, and automatic machine operator,

 Anna Mynaeva, a machine operator of a completing machine,

 Dmytro Shylo, brochure maker.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported, on May 23, Russian occupants launched a series of strikes on Kharkiv and the region. A missile hit the Vivat printing house, which produced books and notebooks, directly.

The shelling killed seven people and injured dozens. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that most of the dead were women, and the missile hit the printing shop while a work shift was in progress.

On May 24, Serhiy Bolvinov, head of the Investigative Department of the Kharkiv Regional Police, said that all the victims of the attack on the printing house had been identified through DNA testing.

The day before, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the shelled printing house in Kharkiv. He noted that it was one of the largest printing complexes in Ukraine. As a result of the attack, the production complex was destroyed, and 50,000 books were burned, including many children's books, textbooks, and manuals.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg believes that it is time for the bloc's states to lift "some restrictions" on the use of weapons provided to Ukraine. According to him, Kyiv has the right to defend itself, and this defense should include, in particular, strikes on the occupiers' military targets in Russia.

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He said this in an interview with The Economist on May 24. He called on NATO allies who supply the Ukrainian Defense Forces with weapons to lift the ban on their use in Russia.

"It's time for the allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have imposed on the use of the weapons they have given to Ukraine. Especially now, when there is a lot of fighting in the Kharkiv region, not far from the border. Since Ukraine is unable to use these weapons against legitimate military targets in Russia, it is very difficult for it to defend itself," he said.

The Secretary-General also emphasized that the task is to "prevent this war from turning into a full-fledged war between Russia and NATO in Europe."

At the same time, he drew a distinction between arms supplies and training and military operations.

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"We are conducting exercises, we are providing Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, but we will not directly participate in hostilities over Ukraine or on its territory from NATO territory. So this is a different matter," Stoltenberg said.

He emphasized that NATO "has no intention" of sending ground troops to Ukraine.

"Our goal was twofold: to support Ukraine, as we do, but also to ensure that this does not escalate into a full-scale conflict," the NATO Secretary-General said.

As reported, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Washington does not encourage Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike Russian territory. However, Ukraine has the right to make its own decisions on how to fight.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
The military and political leadership of the aggressor country Russia is still not interested in meaningful negotiations to end the war. The Kremlin intends to use the truce to prepare for future offensive operations in Ukraine.

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At the same time, the Russian Federation regularly simulates interest in meaningful negotiations as part of a long-standing information operation aimed at persuading the West to make concessions on Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. This is stated in the analysis of the Institute for War Studies.

Experts note that anonymous statements about Russia's alleged readiness for a ceasefire contrast sharply with Russia's official public rhetoric and actions. The ISW emphasized that dictator Vladimir Putin has significantly stepped up his expansionist rhetoric towards Ukraine since December 2023 and has increasingly indicated that Russia intends to seize new territories in Ukraine.

At the same time, Russian sources who spoke to Western media offered contradictory characterizations of Putin's position in the negotiations. Reuters reported that Putin is seeking to seize as much territory as possible to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate, but another Russian source estimated that Putin does not want to negotiate with Zelenskyy at all.

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Putin also reportedly believes that the West will not provide Ukraine with enough weapons, but understands that any "dramatic" Russian success will require another nationwide mobilization. Delays in Western security assistance have severely limited Ukrainian defense capabilities in recent months, and if Putin believes there are limits to Western support for Ukraine, he logically concludes that such limits may reappear in the medium term and allow Russian forces with their current capabilities to make gains without a larger mobilization.

Analysts warn that the ceasefire does not prevent Russia from resuming its offensive campaign to destroy Ukrainian statehood. The Kremlin will use any ceasefire to prepare for future offensive operations in Ukraine.

As a reminder, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, speaking in Kyiv, told reporters that he did not believe Putin was interested in serious negotiations.

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Earlier it was reported that a summit on peace in Ukraine will be held in Switzerland in June. Russia has not been invited to the conference, unlike a number of neutral countries.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The breakthrough of the Russian occupiers, which took place in the direction of Kharkiv a little more than two weeks ago, ended with military casualties of 1 to 8, one Ukrainian to eight Russians. The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does not even care about his people, both civilians and military.

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This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Vlast. According to him, the Kremlin leader does not care who speaks what language.

"And tell me, somewhere there are these statistics, is he interested in [human losses] or not? Before that, there were about 2-3 thousand victims a week  I constantly receive analytics about the killing of Russian military. 2-3 thousand families lost their children. But he doesn't care at all," the president is convinced.

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He suggested that while Russians are dying, Putin is sitting in a spa, as the media has repeatedly shown.

"He is doing something else at this time. But he will not wash his little hands, of course, from this bloodshed," Zelenskyy emphasized.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 On May 24, Zelenskyy said that units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces had managed to take combat control of the border of the Kharkiv region. These are the territories where Russian troops entered as part of their new offensive in the north of the region, which began on May 10.

 The President of Ukraine is convinced that the international community can force Russia to end the war in Ukraine. That is why Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is afraid of the Peace Summit in Switzerland and is trying to disrupt the event.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!

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North Korea may launch large-scale provocative military actions on the eve of the US presidential election. The DPRK may take such a dangerous step at the request of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

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The administration of US President Joe Biden is concerned that the military alliance between the two dictators Putin and Kim Jong-un is strengthening, in particular, expanding Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities. This was reported by NBC News.

The DPRK may carry out provocations in the coming months to create unrest ahead of the US presidential election. A U.S. intelligence official said that North Korea would behave provocatively this year.

The US has also warned that Putin will visit North Korea to meet with Kim in the coming weeks to cement a new agreement to expand military technology supplies to Pyongyang. U.S. intelligence officials believe that Russia is providing North Korea with nuclear submarine and ballistic missile technology in exchange for Pyongyang sending Russia a large amount of ammunition for the war in Ukraine.

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In addition, U.S. officials are concerned that Russia could help North Korea complete the final steps necessary to deploy its first submarine capable of launching a nuclear-tipped missile.

At the same time, Pyongyang is trying to obtain a long-range ballistic missile capable of flying thousands of miles and then re-entering the atmosphere with an intact payload. U.S. officials warn that Russia could now help the DPRK achieve the final steps in this regard. A missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons with warheads would pose a serious challenge to U.S. missile defense systems. In addition, U.S. officials have also stated that activity has increased at one of North Korea's nuclear test sites, which may indicate preparations for a new test.

As a reminder, since September 2023, North Korea could have supplied the terrorist country Russia with about 6, 700 containers of weapons to wage war against Ukraine. These are mainly artillery ammunition and shells for multiple launch rocket systems.

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Earlier, it was reported that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has decided to develop ties with the aggressor country Russia in order to revive his country's economy. Factories began to operate at increased capacity, and the Minister of Defense admitted that the economic situation in the DPRK has "significantly improved" thanks to Russian supplies of food, raw materials, and oil products.

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Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said a sensible, responsible and secular government will come to power in New Delhi, which will address the issues of price rise and mounting unemployment.

He was addressing a gathering at Magrahat Purba in South 24-Parganas this afternoon. The area falls under Joynagar Lok Sabha constituency. Pratima Mondol, the sitting MP, has been nominated for the third time. The constituency will go for voting on 1 June.

Abhishek said he had fixed the target of winning the Diamond Harbour seat by at least 4 lakh votes. He said, In 2014, when Narendra Modi came to power, gas cylinders used to cost Rs 400, which has reached Rs 1000. One piece of egg used to cost Rs 2.50 and now it costs Rs 7. One kilo of tea, which used to cost Rs 100 in 2014 now costs Rs 280. No attempt has been made to control price rise, he said.

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Mr Banerjee said he had challenged Mr Modi to publish a white paper in March to announce how much money the Centre has given to the state government for Awas Plus schemes after 2021. They have not given a single paisa. Modi did not accept my challenge. This is BJPs nature. They create divisions among people but do not believe in development. The leaders are coming to the state like migratory birds and are speaking lies. Do not believe them, he maintained.

Mr Banerjee said in Magrahat Purba, 79,000 women have received benefits under Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. Another 5,890 women have received money under the Rupashree scheme, while 3.29 lakh people have received free monthly ration. About 28,000 people have received financial assistance under the Swasthya Sathi card. This is our report card. All-round development has taken place in south 24-Parganas. If the margin is more, the Diamond Harbour Model will be replicated in Joynagar, he said.

He said in South 24-Parganas all the Lok Sabha seats are under Trinamul Congress. They are Jadavpur, Mathurapur, Joynagar and Diamond Harbour.

He urged the people to cast their vote in favour of Pratima Mondol, the partys nominee.

He assured the people belonging to the minority community by saying, The state government will move the Supreme Court against the High Court order scrapping their rights under OBC category. Our chief minister has said that the facilities they enjoy will continue and the state government will move the Supreme Court. The high court has deliberately given the judgment when the election is on.

He urged the people not to fall into the trap of the BJP. They may try to create trouble before the election. Maintain cool and peace and cast your vote in favour of Trinamul Congress, he said.
The Trinamul Congress national spokesperson Dr Shashi Panja and senior leader Dr Arup Chakraborty held a press meet on the Basirhat BJP leader joining the Trinamul and highlighted the BJPs planned move to create trouble there.

Dr Shashi Panja said, We saw the BJP Basirhat district general secretary Siriya Parveen join Trinamul Congress and heard some frightening facts. It became clear that the allegations of rape and sexual harassment in Sandeshkhali were all proved false. Siriya was forced to tell lies in BJP and she was a witness to the entire conspiracy. When Siriya was returning to her home after joining us yesterday, BJP West Bengal co-in charge and national IT cell chief had a conversation with her. He tried to influence her to return to BJP.

She added, A very important feature seen in the audio clip is that when Siriya repeatedly claimed that the alleged reports of sexual harassment of women in Sandeshkhali were all false, the BJP leader didnt deny it even once.

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Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on Saturday reviewed security arrangements on the day of polling in the city during the sixth phase of general elections.

According to a senior police official, the Delhi Police chief also visited areas in North East Delhi, which has sensitive areas, where he reviewed the security and also appreciated efforts of the district police to ensure a smooth polling process.

Arora was accompanied by senior police officials who took stock of the situation in a bid to ensure there was no untoward incident while voting was underway.

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Reportedly, over 70,000 personnel of Delhi Police, including 46 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs) and 19,000 home guards have been deployed across the capital to ensure hassle-free polling.

Additional force deployment has been made at the sensitive poll centres, who are equipped with modern technology to monitor and ensure security.

Interestingly, the police are not only taking care of security and safety of the voters, but also assisting elderly voters, or those differently abled to exercise their right to vote across the polling centres.

At several police stations, women police staff were seen assisting elderly women at the voting booths while male personnel also helped the voters with wheelchairs and others.

Not only this, police also guided people to reach out to their polling centres along with the volunteers.

On Thursday, police had also conducted flag marches and area domination exercises to ensure peace and to boost confidence of the community and deter anti-social elements during Polls.

The CP along with other senior police officials had visited polling centers earlier also to review the security and take stock of the overall situation, also at the sensitive areas.

The Delhi Police have also requested the public to come forward and inform of any electoral malpractice or inducement or any type of suspicious or illegal activities observed by them in their respective areas, and also maintain law and order.
BJP candidate Manoj Tiwari from North East Delhi on Saturday said hit out at Opposition bloc INDIAs candidate Kanhaiya Kumar, saying that his opponent has been abusing army and would not get any votes.

As voting for all the seven Lok Sabha seats commenced in the national capital, BJP candidate Manoj Tiwari said, Today is a very prestigious day. Again to elect Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the people of Delhi are out.

He slammed Kanhaiya Kumar by saying, There is no real challenge when the nation is progressing so well. The challenges these individuals bring are to their own party, which is falling apart with their involvement. They cant challenge anyone else. The nation supports Bharat Mata ki Jai, not someone who chants Desh ki tukde honge and is accused of betraying the country. The victory will go to someone who respects the army, not someone who abuses it.

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The candidate chosen by Congress (Kanhaiya Kumar) has been abusing the army of the country. I think even the traditional voters will not vote for him. They will refuse to vote but will not cast their votes in his favour. We have to cast votes for the development of the country and for PM Modi, he added.

Commenting on the voter turnout, Tiwari said, This morning, I heard that voter enthusiasm is higher in these elections compared to 2014 and 2019. I urge all voters to head to their designated booths and cast their ballots.

Tiwari is the incumbent MP of North East Delhi having won the seat in 2014 and 2019. In 2019, Kanhaiya Kumar contested as a Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate from Begusarai in Bihar, which he lost to Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Giriraj Singh. Later, he joined the Congress in 2021.
A massive fire broke out at a factory in Delhi Mundka Industrial Area on Saturday, the Fire Department said.

According to the Delhi Fire Services, 27 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to fight the blaze.

Specialised firefighting equipment including a robot was also used in the operation to douse the blaze.

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AWT (Articulating Water Tower) was also deployed by the department keeping in view the intensity of the fire.

However, there are no reports so far of any casualty in the incident, an official said, while no one was said to be hurt in the said fire.

The reason behind the fire is yet not clear and will be ascertained after the investigation, an official said.

As per locals, a cloud of black smoke was visible rising from the spot.

Meanwhile, on Friday a fire broke out at a farm house banquet used for marriages at Bakhtawarpur Road in Delhis Alipur.

Luckily, no causality or injury was reported in the incident as well, while 13 fire tenders were sent to fight the blaze.

It may be mentioned that earlier this week, a dead body of a man was recovered from a building that caught fire in the early morning hours on 20th May.

In another incident reported on the same day, a fire broke out at another garment showroom on Ajmal Khan Road in Karol Bagh.

During the past several days, multiple fire incidents have been reported across the capital including the one at CR building in ITO on 14th May where an Office Superintendent lost his life, while a charred body of labourer was recovered from a paper godown in East Delhis Shakarpur where a fire broke out on 15th May.
Voting in all seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital began this morning amid tight security arrangements.

The polling in the national capital is being held in the sixth and penultimate phase of the Lok Sabha polls.

The voting commenced at 7 am. There are a total of 13,637 polling stations and the number of candidates contesting in the seven Lok Sabha constituencies is 162.

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Over 1.52 crore electorate are eligible to cast their vote in Delhi.

As per Electoral Roll Data, there are a total of 1,52,01,936 electors, election officials said.

Polling in Delhi is being held in a single phase on all seven Lok Sabha seats in a close contest between the BJP and the Opposition INDIA bloc, comprising the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress.

The AAP and Congress are contesting the seven seats in alliance in the national capital, with the AAP contesting four and the Congress three seats. The seven parliamentary constituencies are Chandni Chowk, East Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, South Delhi, and West Delhi.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar; Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri along with his wife Lakshmi Puri; BJP candidate from East Delhi Lok Sabha seat, Harsh Malhotra and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from New Delhi, Bansuri Swaraj were among the early voters.

They all cast their votes soon after the polling commenced in Delhi.

Talking to reporters, Union Minister Puri said, Come out in large numbers and vote. Political consciousness is very high in India. Shed your apathyThe issues are very clear, the issues are about development. But the issues that the opposition is framing, they try to create a false narrative in the process they score self-goalsThey have lost itWe will have a hattrick in Delhi.

BJP candidate Swaraj urged the voters to participate in the democratic process. It is the mega festival of democracy today. I want to appeal to the people to come out and cast their votes, she said.

Earlier, she offered prayers at Jhandewalan temple before casting her vote. I have come here to take blessings from Jhandewali Mata and then I will also cast my vote, she said.

Key candidates contesting the polls from the BJP are Manoj Tiwari (North East Delhi), Bansuri Swaraj (New Delhi); Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (South Delhi) while J P Agarwal (Chandni Chowk) and Kanhaiya Kumar (North East Delhi) are contesting on Congress tickets. Another prominent candidate is senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti (New Delhi).

Delhi Metro train services on all lines commenced at 4 am from all terminal stations on the day of the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital.

Counting of votes will take place on June 4.
Exactly 11 years ago, on May 25, 2013, India witnessed one of its most significant political tragedies. The Maoist assault on Congresss Parivartan Yatra in the Jhiram Valley of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, resulted in 33 casualties, including prominent Congress leaders such as then state president Nand Kumar Patel, Vidya Charan Shukla, and Mahendra Karma.

In November 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that the state government could reinvestigate the case if it was linked to a larger conspiracy. The new state government now grapples with the question of how to proceed with the investigation.

Survivors of the massacre still bear the scars and memories of the violence. Shiv Singh Thakur, a Congress leader residing in Raipurs Srinagar area, was shot during the attack. He still has seven bullet fragments lodged in his back. Thakur recounts the horror of the attack, describing the bloodshed and the loss of their leaders and security personnel. He was rushed from Jagdalpur to Raipur for treatment, where doctors removed the bullets but couldnt extract the fragments.

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Thakurs life has been significantly impacted. An MRI was halted due to the bullet fragments, and X-rays had to be used for his cervical problem treatment. Airport security checks are a constant reminder of his ordeal, as metal detectors beep due to the fragments, requiring him to explain his injuries repeatedly. High-security areas pose additional challenges, necessitating documentation and often leading to debates with security personnel.

Thakur criticises the initial investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), noting that despite being a direct witness and victim, he was never interviewed. He expresses a grim resignation, stating that justice now lies in divine hands.

The Jhiram attack had significant and enduring political implications, particularly evident in the defection of several Congress leaders who were part of the convoy during the incident, to the BJP. Among them, Motilal Sahu, now representing Raipur Rural as an MLA, sustained injuries in the attack and subsequently shifted allegiance to the BJP in 2014, successfully contesting elections in 2018 and 2023. Anjay Shukla, another victim of the assault, later joined the BJP, actively engaging in party activities despite not yet running for elections. Ajay Singh, previously associated with the Congress governments Youth Commission, transitioned to the BJP following expulsion from the Congress due to internal disputes. Chauleshwar Chandrakar, also wounded in the attack, voiced his discontent with the Congresss handling of the aftermath and joined the BJP in 2023.

The NIAs investigation identified around three dozen Maoists as perpetrators, stating such acts were typical of their terror strategies. The Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra-led Jhiram Valley Judicial Inquiry Commission submitted a comprehensive report in November 2021, but it was not made public, leading to dissatisfaction and further probes.

As the anniversary of this tragic event passes, the call for justice remains strong among survivors and political figures alike, with many still awaiting closure and accountability for the Jhiram Valley massacre.
The summit of the North Atlantic Alliance in the summer of 2025 will be held in The Hague, the Netherlands. It will be held from June 24 to 26.

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This was reported by the press service of the North Atlantic Alliance. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted that the meeting will be held at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague from June 24 to 26, 2025.

"We are grateful to the Netherlands for agreeing to host this meeting for the first time," he said.

Stoltenberg noted that during the summit, Allied leaders will decide on how to further adapt and strengthen the Alliance in a changing security environment.

Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot and Mayor of The Hague Jan van Zanen also confirmed the date and venue of the NATO Summit.

It is worth noting that the 2024 NATO Summit will be held in Washington, DC, from July 9 to 11.

As a reminder, Ukraine will not receive an invitation to become a NATO member at the North Atlantic Alliance summit in Washington, D.C., scheduled for July 9-11, 2024, according to the United States. However, our country "will be shown significant support" on this path.

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As previously reported, the commander of NATO's Allied Forces Europe, Christopher Cavoli, said that Russia would remain a threat to the North Atlantic Alliance even after the war in Ukraine ends.

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Twelve people are feared dead and many injured in a massive explosion at an ammunition factory in Bemetara district, Chhattisgarh on Saturday.

The blast occurred at the Special Blast Limited factory in Borasi village, Berla block. Several individuals are feared to be trapped under the debris.

In response to the incident, the Chhattisgarh government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the explosion. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced the investigation and declared financial assistance of 5 lakh for the families of the deceased and 50,000 for the injured.

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According to the reports, the explosion occurred between 6 and 7 AM. The factory employs over 800 workers and specializes in manufacturing liquid explosives. The situation is still critical as the site contains two more tanks, each holding 15,000 liters of liquid explosives, one of which is leaking. The other two tanks are located nearby, increasing the risk of further explosions.

Following the explosion, crowds gathered around the factory. Seven injured individuals were rushed to Raipurs Mekahara Hospital, where one person succumbed to injuries. The remaining six are receiving medical treatment. Several other injured individuals have been admitted to nearby hospitals. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene with human remains scattered around the blast site.

The explosion has incited anger among local residents. Frequent minor explosions at the factory have left villagers living in constant fear, causing structural damage to many homes. Todays catastrophic blast has heightened their frustration and fear.

Bemetara District Collector Ranbir Sharma confirmed that an administrative team, including the SDM, is present at the site and rescue operations are underway. Exact numbers of those injured or trapped remain unclear. An SDRF team has been deployed to assist with debris removal and further search and rescue efforts.

Injured workers have reported a lack of safety measures at the factory. Chandan Kumar, one of the injured workers referred to Raipur, stated they were working in another building when the blast occurred but still sustained injuries. He highlighted the absence of fire brigades and inadequate safety protocols. Workers reportedly earn only 8,000 per month for working eight hours a day.

Mekahara Hospitals CMO, Dr. Jyoti, confirmed that Sevak Ram Dhruv was declared dead upon arrival. The remaining injured are currently under medical care.

Expressing grief over the incident Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma stated that the police superintendent is investigating the incident, and both administrative and police teams are on site. He expressed hopes for minimal casualties and confirmed that rescue and investigation efforts are ongoing.

The catastrophic explosion at Bemetaras ammunition factory has resulted in significant loss of life and raised serious concerns about safety standards. Rescue operations continue as authorities work to assist those trapped and treat the injured. A thorough investigation is expected to determine the exact cause of the explosion and establish accountability.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused the Congress of misappropriating Rs 3,200 crore during the monsoon calamity in Himachal Pradesh.

The Congress government in the state indulged in corruption during times of disaster, the Chief Minister and ministers of the Congress government even embezzled Rs 3200 cr sent by the central government, he charged.

In the pursuit of Congress family interests, the Chief Minister has turned Himachal Pradesh into the partys ATM. The Congress in Himachal Pradesh utilizes the hard-earned money of the people for contesting elections, he charged.

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Shah, while addressing public rallies in Hamirpur and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, criticized the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government and praised the infrastructural development and projects initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Elaborating on the developmental works in Himachal Pradesh, Shah cited the Rs 350 crore Kandor Hamirpur road expansion, the Rs 1,000 crore Bilaspur-Leh railway line, and the Rs 2,000 crore drug park aimed at overall state development. The establishment of a Rs 1,500 crore AIIMS in Bilaspur, a PGI satellite centre in Una, a central university in Dera, a triple IT in Una, and the nations only hydro engineering college in Bilaspur. Additionally, the 66 MW Hydro Power Project and the IOCL depot in Una are significant achievements.

These developmental projects demonstrate Anurag Thakurs effective planning and commitment to the regions development, aligning with Modis special connection with Himachal Pradesh.

While there are many significant Lok Sabha constituencies in the country, none have seen as much development work as Hamirpur.

Accusing Congress of betraying the people of Himachal Pradesh, he said that they promised Rs 1500 to women, which has not been delivered.

Out of the promised 5 lakh jobs, only 2 lakhs were supposed to be provided, but none have materialized. The promise of 300 units of free electricity remains unfulfilled and the state government also failed to buy cow dung for Rs 2 per kilogram as promised, he said.

He highlighted that five phases of the election have already been completed and Modi has achieved the target of 310 seats. The goal of surpassing 400 Paar in the 6th and 7th phases is crucial for ensuring Modi becomes Prime Minister again.

The responsibility for crossing 400 Paar lies with the people voting for the 7th phase, particularly with Himachal Pradesh.

He urged the people to ensure the victory of BJP candidates in all four Himachal Pradesh constituencies, which would bring a government led by the Lotus symbol to the state.

PM Modi will secure his position once again as the Prime Minister, while Rahul Gandhi will hold a press conference blaming the EVM for the defeat of the INDI alliance, he claimed.

The Congress formed its government in Himachal Pradesh after winning the assembly elections, but after losing in the Lok Sabha, it blames everything on the EVM, he claimed.

Following the June 4 results, responsibility for the Congress defeat will likely be placed on its National President, Mallikarjun Kharge, leading to his resignation.

Union Home Minister pointed out that since the era of Indira Gandhi, retired soldiers from Devbhoomi and those currently serving have been demanding One Rank One Pension, yet their pleas went unheard. Upon assuming office, Modi promptly allocated Rs 1,20,000 crore to the accounts of soldiers.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday hit out at Arvind Kejriwal over Pakistani politician Chaudhary Fawad Hussains post on X and alleged that if the support is coming from Pakistan for Kejriwal, then one can understand how far the relations of the AAP are.

Sachdeva further said that the BJP has been saying since long that the AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal are allegedly aligned with banned outfits that are against the country and further alleged that foreign funding plays a significant role in Kejriwals politics.

The Delhi BJP chief further said that the tweet by Chaudhary Fawad Hussain on Saturday is not a coincidence, because no such tweet came from Pakistan side till the first five phases of elections, however, today, when the sixth phase of polls took began, that is, which is related the Kejriwal, the tweet coming from the other side of the border in of AAP chief says a lot, Sachdeva claimed.

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The BJP leader claimed that this is a direct indication to a particular community to vote for Kejriwals party.

He said that this was not the first time when someone is commenting on Kejriwals tweet from Pakistan, and before too, on May 11, when Kejriwal was released on interim bail, Fawad Hussain had tweeted in his support, Sachdeva claimed.

The BJP leader asserted that, no matter how much clarification now Kejriwal gives on this entire matter, and sharpening his attack Sachdeva claimed that the people of Delhi understand where the enemies of the country are.

The Delhi BJP chief further claimed that in the Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwals ground in Delhi has slipped.

Sachdevas reaction comes after a Pakistani politicians tweet emerged in alleged support of Kejriwal after the Delhi CM wrote on X after casting his vote.

However, the Delhi CM in a reply to Chaudharys tweet said that he and the people of his country were fully capable of handling their issues, and Chaudharys tweet was not required.
In a strong reaction to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees controversial remarks about globally renowned Sanatani spiritual institutions like Bharat Sevashram Sangha and Ramakrishna Mission, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed that the entire Indi Alliance, including the Congress, TMC, RJD, and SP, were engaged in anti-Hindu politics.

Talking to the media in the Gorakhnath Temple complex before leaving for Ballia to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday morning, CM Adityanath accused the alliance of prioritising power over nation. These parties want power at the cost of the country and no Indian will accept this, he remarked.

Referring to the controversial statement made by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee against Bharat Sevashram Sangh and Ramakrishna Mission in West Bengal, the CM emphasised that both organisations were esteemed religious and spiritual institutions in India. He praised Ramakrishna Mission, which follows the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, for its commendable work in promoting the values and principles of Sanatan Dharma and Indias spiritual heritage across the country and the world.

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Similarly, Bharat Sevashram Sangha is an influential spiritual organization, which has done commendable work in promoting the values and principles of Sanatan Dharma both within India and globally, following the ideals of Swami Pranavananda. Both organizations have also acted in advancement of numerous service projects worldwide, he stated.

The CM further pointed that opposing Sanatan Dharma and Hindus, is the foundation of the politics of the Indi Alliance and all its constituents including Congress, SP, TMC, RJD and Aam Aadmi Party and the statements made by its leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, reflected their frustration over their impending defeat.

Praising Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha for their extensive efforts in promoting spirituality and culture through commendable service projects, both in India and around the world, the CM cited Swami Vivekananda, who had proudly declared, We should say with pride that we are Hindus.

Adityanath stated that the followers and devotees of these esteemed organizations will give a befitting reply to Congress, TMC, and the Indi Alliance. He compared the current situation to the era of Ravana when sages were threatened, asserting that Sanatan Dharma will not be intimidated by such provocations and will respond in a decisive manner.

The CM stated that while the Indi Alliance parties were threatening Hindu religious and spiritual institutions, they were also undermining the rights of backward caste people.

He pointed out that in 2010, the TMC government in West Bengal diluted OBC reservations by including 118 Muslim castes in the OBC category, depriving millions of individuals from backward castes of reservation benefits over the past 14 years. He demanded an apology from Mamata Banerjees TMC government and Congress for this injustice meted out to the OBC community.

He emphasised that taking away the rights of youth and citizens was unacceptable and contrary to the principles of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, who clearly stated that reservations should not be based on religion.

The CM stated that implementing reservations based on religion was part of a conspiracy to further divide India. He praised the Kolkata High Courts decision, calling it highly commendable. This ruling, he added, is a strong rebuke to the TMC, Congress, and other Indi Alliance parties.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, people have witnessed the emergence of a transformed India.

The contrast between India before 2014 and in 2024 is striking. Before 2014, there was a crisis of trust and identity, but today that crisis no longer exists. The world now regards India with respect, he stated.

Seeking support for BJP candidate from Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat, Parasnath Rai at the RTI Ground in the presence of Prime Minister Modi, the Chief Minister said: Wherever PM Modi travels worldwide, countries welcome him with open arms. The esteem for Indias passport has soared globally. When a foreigner inquires about your origin and you mention India, they often respond with reverence, saying, From Modis India.'

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He mentioned that this marks PM Modis fifth visit to Ghazipur. On each occasion, he has endeavored to bestow a new identity upon Ghazipur.

He inaugurated a new train service in honor of Maharaja Suheldev and attended the inauguration of the medical college named after Maharishi Vishwamitra. Across the country, the chant Fir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar, Abki Baar, 400 Paar resounds. The prospect of surpassing 400 seats has left all parties in the I.N.D.I. alliance stunned, as they had never even dared to aspire to contesting 400 seats, he remarked.

The CM reflected on a time when daughters and businessmen faced threats to their safety, citing Ghazipur as an example. Whether in Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, or the neighboring districts, fear and terror cast a shadow over daily life. However, with the blessing of the BJP, the enshrinement of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya occurred, and major mafias have been rooted out, he asserted.

We are committed to ensuring the safety of daughters and businessmen, and leading society towards balanced development, in line with the vision of Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat,' he emphasized. Additionally, Ghazipur will emerge as a hub for exemplary governance and development models, he added.

Yogi said, Earlier, infiltrations and terrorist incidents were frequent incidents. Days started with the news of scams and ended with terrorist attacks, but that is no longer the case. Now, even if a firecracker bursts loudly, Pakistan rushes to clarify that it had no involvement because it knows that the new India does not provoke, but does not spare those who do. Under PM Modis leadership, India is now safe and free from terrorism and Naxalism.

The disastrous duo (Rahul and Akhilesh) has returned. History has shown that whenever SP and Congress have joined forces, it has resulted in disasters. During the previous tenure when SP governed the state and Congress held power at the center, we witnessed terrorist attacks at the Sankat Mochan Temple in Kashi and on the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. There were also assaults on the courts in Lucknow, Varanasi, and Ayodhya. If the SP, which previously targeted Ram Bhakts, and Congress return to power in the state and center, they will likely seek to withdraw cases against terrorists, he added.

The CM noted that previously, it took eight hours to travel from Ghazipur to Lucknow. However, thanks to the Purvanchal Expressway, the journey now only takes three and a half hours. This exemplifies Indias rapid progress. Furthermore, as part of the One District-One Medical College initiative, Ghazipur now boasts its own medical college, he remarked.

When PM Modi chose to contest elections from Kashi, he expressed that Mother Ganga had blessed him with the opportunity to serve. Today, we witnessed the cleanliness of the Ganga. As the MP from Kashi, PM Narendra Modi represents Uttar Pradesh on the national stage. Under his leadership, Uttar Pradesh has greatly benefited from schemes aimed at assisting the underprivileged. Various initiatives such as ration distribution, housing, sanitation, Ayushman Bharat, and Ujjwala exemplify this new era of progress. There is also a concerted effort towards ensuring security, fostering respect, fostering development, uplifting the welfare of the poor, and preserving our cultural heritage, Yogi pointed out.

He said that after 500 years, Ram Lalla has been enshrined in Ayodhya, a feat which the SP, BSP, and Congress could not accomplish. With Ram Lalla enshrined in Ayodhya, the country is echoing, Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai. Modi is essential for a self-reliant and developed India, he stated further.

In contrast, the SP, Congress, and the INDIA bloc aspire to govern by employing the divide-and-rule tactic. Previously, they divided the nation and then partitioned it along regional and linguistic lines and now, they seek to incite caste conflicts. Their ally, the Trinamool Congress, is even resorting to threats against the saints of the Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha in West Bengal, Yogi said.

The SP and Congress say that upon assuming power, they will enforce personal laws which means Taliban-like restrictions where daughters will be deprived of schooling and compelled to wear burqas. The BJP has clearly stated that only Babasahebs constitution will prevail in India, he added.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not providing assistance to Himachal Pradesh at the time of the worst disaster that struck the state last monsoon.

Addressing election rally at Rohru, the apple belt of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday in favour of Congress candidate Vinod Sultanpuri for Shimla parliamentary constituency, he charged that despite disaster having caused massive devastation in Himachal last Monsoon, Prime Minister Modi led Central government did not provide assistance to Himachal Pradesh.

The state government demanded a compensation of Rs 10,000 crore to make the state emerge from this devastation. However, Modi did not give money. Now he is asking for five more years, he said.

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People have made up their mind to remove Modi to save the country and the Constitution, he asserted.

Accusing the BJP of trying to destroy the Constitution, he said that BJP leaders themselves have said this many times in public forums.

People should vote for the Congress to oust the BJP from power, he said, adding that the Congress is fighting to save democracy and the Constitution that is under threat.

He further accused the BJP of selling PSUs created by the Congress in 60 years.

These were sold to Adani-Ambani. Now the blame is being put on Congress and Modi is asking Congress to give an account of 60 years of rule, he stated.

Challenging Modi to give an account of his tenure, Kharge said that the Congress will give account of every single penny spent, but Modi should do it first.

He claimed that Modi and BJP leaders take the name of Rahul Gandhi more than God as they are afraid of him.

Kharge said, In the 2014 elections, the Modi government had promised to deposit Rs 15 lakh each in the bank account of every person, to bring back the money deposited in Swiss banks, to create 2 crore jobs every year and to increase the import duty on apples. But none of the promises were fulfilled.

Doing away with permanent jobs in the Army, Modi started the Agniveer Yojana for 4 years of service in the Army, he said, adding that Congress will end this scheme as soon as it comes to power.

The Modi Government also imposed GST on agriculture and food items. The Congress will end this too, he claimed.

Slamming Modi for his silence on Chinas encroachment on Indias land, he said that China is constructing houses and roads, but PM Modi is silent.
Mock polls are underway across different states for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha, which is set to begin at 7 am on Saturday.

A total of 58 constituencies from six states and two union territories are set for polls in the sixth phase of polling and over 11.13 crore voters will be exercising their franchise to decide the fate of 889 candidates including two former Chief Ministers  Manohar Lal Khattar contesting as the BJP candidate from Karnal and Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP nominee from Anantnag-Rajouri.

The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal.

Forty-two assembly constituencies in Odisha are also going for polls in the sixth phase. Assembly elections are being held in the state simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

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Some prominent candidates include Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi. Bansuri Swaraj, Somnath Bharti, Manoj Tiwari, Kanhaiya Kumar, Dinesh Lal Yadav alias Nirahua, Dharmendra Yadav, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, Agnimitra Paul, Naveen Jindal, Raj Babbar, Deepender Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja and Aparajita Sarangi are among other prominent candidates in the fray.

The voting will start at 7 am, and the closure timing of polls may differ constituency-wise, according to the Election Commission of India. As per the ECI, polling for 42 assembly constituencies of Odisha legislative assembly will also go to polls simultaneously on Saturday.

Haryana and NCT of Delhi will head to polls in this phase. Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are the other States/UTs which will continue with their polls in this phase.

As per the ECI, over 11.13 crore voters, including 5.84 crore males, 5.29 crore females, and 5120 third-gender electors will decide the fate of 889 candidates today.

The ECI also said that there are over 8.93 lakh registered 85+ years old, 23,659 voters above 100 years and 9.58 lakh PwD voters for phase 6 who have been provided the option to vote from the comfort of their homes. Around 11.4 lakh Polling officials will welcome over 11.13 crore voters across 1.14 lakh polling stations.

Concerned CEOs and State machinery have been directed to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weather or rainfall wherever predicted. The ECI said that polling stations are ready to welcome the voters with ample shade, drinking water, ramps, toilets, and other basic facilities to ensure that polling takes place in a comfortable and secure environment. Polling parties have been dispatched along with machines and poll materials to their respective polling stations.

The Commission has called upon voters to turnout in greater numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride.

A total of 2222 flying squads, 2295 static surveillance teams, 819 video surveillance teams and 569 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to deal with any form of inducement of voters strictly and swiftly.

According to the ECI, a total of 257 international Border check posts and 927 inter-state border check posts are keeping strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept at sea and air routes. Stakes are high for BJP as also for Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and other constituents of INDIA bloc in this phase of election.

PM Modi said that the opposition INDIA bloc would fail to win even a single seat in UP, and pitched the election as an opportunity to elect a strong leader who could make the world know Indias strength.

The 2024 elections are an opportunity to choose the Prime Minister of the country  such a Prime Minister who runs a strong government that cannot be dominated by the world but that makes the world aware of Indias strength, the PM said.

Opposition parties have mocked the slogan of 400 paar pitched by the BJP, claiming the ruling party would fail to cross 140 seats. It seems that they (the BJP leaders) are raising the slogan of 400 paar because they want to change the Constitution given by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, but I can say with confidence that they will fail to cross 140 seats, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said in Bhadohi.

Some of the key seats in this phase include New Delhi New D, North-East Delhi, North-West Delhi and Chandni Chowk in the national capital and Sultanpur and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag-Rajouri, West Bengals Tamluk, Medinipur, Haryanas Karnal, Kurukshetra, Gurgaon, Rohtak and Odishas Bhubaneswar, Puri and Sambalpur are some of the other key seats.

Campaigning ended for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections on Thursday. Stakes are high for the BJP as also for Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and other constituents of INDIA bloc in this phase of the election.

The last phase, that is seventh phase of polling will be on the 1st of June for remaining 57 parliamentary constituencies with the counting of votes scheduled on June 4. Polling for 25 States/UTs and 428 PCs was completed in a smooth and peaceful manner in the first five phases of the General Elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lashed out at the INDI alliance in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that the SP and the Congress can stoop to any level in their pursuit of votes and power.

The prince of SP had once said that he would stop the entry of the mafia but ended up making them sit in his lap. He nurtured mafias instead. Within the INDI alliance, all parties exhibit traits of being extremely communal, casteist, and promote nepotism within their own families, he charged.

Modi said that as long as he is alive, he will staunchly defend the reservation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Modi is the watchman of the rights of the deprived, he added.

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Besides, the PM said, Congress obstructed the recognition of Baba Saheb with the Bharat Ratna. They united to defeat a Dalit President. The members of the INDI alliance are engaged in looting the reservation rights of Dalits and backward communities. They are trying to snatch the reservation of Pasi, Noniya, Yadav, Bind, Kurmi, and Patel by giving reservation to Muslims in Karnataka overnight. Reservation for backward classes was given to Muslims.

Addressing an election meeting here in support of BJP candidate Parasnath Rai, the PM said that the Congress had even made fun of the dignity of the Army soldiers.

Every effort was made to fool them. When the BJP nominated me as the PM candidate in 2013, I had announced to implement One Rank One Pension in Haryana. This shook the Congress as it had insulted the ex-servicemen. Whether it was Ghazipur, UP, or the entire country, the leaders of the family started building palace after palace for their family, while the rural poor, farmers and deprived people continued to struggle for basic necessities of life. Modi has brought 25 crore people out of poverty in ten years, he claimed.

Modi said that earlier, the mafia freely roamed around in vehicles with red beacons, and riots had become synonymous with UPs identity. Traders and businessmen suffered losses due to this. The SP nurtured mafias and gave them tickets.

He said that similar habits persist within the SP and Congress as their priorities revolve around nepotism, casteism, and corruption.

Modi said, Remember how Congress used to run governments. The foundation stone of Tadighat was laid by Gahmari Babu, yet the project remained pending for six decades despite INDI alliance parties forming governments in succession. But the bridge was not built. This bridge was constructed when you gave Modi a chance to serve. It was my good fortune to fulfil Babujis dream and come here to inaugurate it. The Congress has expertise in postponing projects and disregarding rights. It also did not allow the implementation of One Rank and One Pension scheme for our army personnel.

PM Modi said that the old people of Ghazipur are well aware of how Gahmari ji endured the pain.

With tears in his eyes, he recounted to Nehru ji how the people here used to collect wheat in the cow dung. Political dramas unfolded in the Congress government; the Patel Commission was formed to throw dust in the eyes of the people, yet the files gathered dust without any action. In contrast, our government is giving free ration to every poor. Even during the Covid crisis, the government arranged food for everyone. We allocate lakhs of crores of rupees for free ration so that no poor person faces problems, he claimed.

The PM remarked that the legacy of Ghazipur, exemplified by figures like Brigadier Usman, and the very name of the village of Ghazipur, are enough to illustrate that brave men hail from every house.

I have had the privilege of being among you on numerous occasions. Whether it was during my tenure with an organisation, or as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, or while striving for development during the Lok Sabha elections, there is an incident that I recall time and again. This incident serves as a testament to how the people of the INDI alliance betrayed Ghazipur. After independence, Congress had promised to develop the area but failed to deliver. The people here were forced to live in poverty. The elders here are well aware of the problems, he said.

I have not come to Ghazipur for campaigning; Im here to seek blessings from my parents and all of you. The potential of the entire UP and Ghazipur, known even to the borders of the country, surpasses what historians can recount. It resonates with tales of valour and bravery, he said, adding that for the people of Kashi, coming to Ghazipur is like visiting the adjacent locality.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has passed strict instructions to officials to effectively enforce the ban on the uncontrolled use of loudspeakers at religious places and stringent checking on the open sale of meat.

The CM also instructed police officials to ensure effective measures along with an extensive awareness campaign to combat the increasing cases of cyber crimes.

The MP CM passed these instructions while chairing a review meeting of the law and order situation in the state along with senior officials today. Dr Yadav is also the Home Minister of MP.

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The CM said that police must take strict action against those committing crimes against women. He ordered vigilant and prompt action at all levels to effectively control gambling, betting, property-related crimes, fraud, and cyber crimes.

The CM directed senior police officials to conduct surprise inspections of police stations, especially at night. Dr Mohan Yadav directed to install CCTV cameras in high-crime areas.

Dr Yadav highlighted that more than 2,000 villages have benefited from the adjustment of police station boundaries.

During the meeting, it was reported that the boundaries of 627 police stations were redrawn based on feedback from public representatives and other sections, resulting in reduced distances for 2216 villages from their respective police stations.

The day Dr Mohan Yadav took oath as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on 13 December 2023, his first orders were for banning loudspeakers not meeting the sound limit specifications, from all kinds of places, including religious structures, across the state. The CMs second decision was about taking strict action on those selling meat products and eggs in the open.
Amidst polling delay due to technical glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs), violence flare-ups, hit and humid weather conditions in several places, Odisha on Saturday recorded 60 per cent voter turnout till the last reports received from the States Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

The voter turnout till 5 pm stood at 60 per cent. It will further go up as voters were still in long queues inside the polling stations after the scheduled voting deadline of 5 pm, said Nikunja Behari Dhal, Chief Electoral Officer.

The parliamentary constituencies of Cuttack, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Puri, Bhubaneswar and 42 assembly segments under these parliamentary constituencies went to polls on Saturday.

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Barring stray incidents, the polling was largely peaceful. The voters who cast their franchise included particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), women, transgenders, youths besides first-time electors. They took part in the voting exercise with enthusiasm despite humid weather conditions, the CEO said.

There was delayed voting in at least 25 polling booths as EVMs malfunctioned. The technical snags were later resolved leading to the resumption of polling. The EVM malfunctioning had however triggered tension in and around the polling booth areas.

Meanwhile, Khordha BJP assembly candidate Prashanta Jagadev was taken into police custody after he was accused of smashing an EVM at Booth-114 in Kaunriapatna under Begunia assembly constituency. In a similar act, sitting BJD MLA Sushanta Behera of Chhendipada allegedly attacked political opponents near a booth and video clip of MLAs unruly act had gone viral in social media platforms.

The CCTV footage of these incidents involving candidates are being analyzed. Regardless of the stature of miscreants, stern legal action will be initiated against those involved in it, CEO Dhal said.

Todays phase of polling will decide the electoral fates of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra and incumbent Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, six-time MP and BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahatab, Pranab Prakash Das, Biju Janata Dals organizing secretary, former Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik and corporate leader Santrupta Mishra.

As the third of polling has come to an end, the leading players- BJD and BJP- exude confidence of thumping electoral victories in LS and Assembly polls.

The BJP will make a clean sweep in winning all 21 LS seats and will form the Government in the State. In the first three phases, people have reposed trust upon BJP. The last phase polling on 1 June will also go the same way, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday.

As third phase ends, the BJD would like to humbly place the fact that the BJD is forming the government in Odisha. There was huge support for BJD reported from six LS seats of Sambalpur, Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal and all its assembly constituencies, said Sasmit Patra, BJD spokesperson, in a statement.

The BJP was heading towards a massive defeat in the simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and Assembly seats, he concluded.
Jose Barrientos-Rastrojo, 47, awaits the arrival of a package at his home in Seville, in southern Spain. Although he is anticipating the sound of the doorbell, it never happens  instead, the doorbell rings in this reporters home just as our telephone interview has begun. The truth is, Barrientos does not have much time to wait around for packages. In addition to teaching at the University of Seville, he directs the BOECIO project, a pioneering applied philosophy program taught in prisons in Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. It is the first initiative of this type in prisons, the first empirical research that involves more than 500 prisoners, says this scholar whose intense work schedule requires him to make frequent transcontinental trips.

The most striking thing about his career is the natural way in which he overcomes the intuitive discrepancy between philosophy and entrepreneurship. He has the same ability to organize an international conference of philosophers as he does to explain Heidegger in a couple of minutes. I have always been very forward-thinking, admits Barrientos, who before teaching philosophy wanted to study medicine but didnt get a high enough grade and so went into nursing. He remembers: It was clear to me that I wanted to help people have a better life.

His life took a decisive turn the day he discovered that philosophy also served to improve peoples lives. He describes it as an Ortegian revelation (after the philosopher Ortega y Gasset): the immediate understanding of a fundamental truth that is revealed to the individual not through arguments, but as an evident and direct manifestation of reality. Once you discover that truth, you can no longer be the same person you were before, says Barrientos, alluding to the moment when he joined the philosophical advice group at the University of Seville.

He was a third-year college student pursuing a dual degree in Philosophy and Nursing. At that point he had never heard of a practice that goes by various names, including philosophical consultation, philosophical guidance or philosophical advice, and which back then was even more obscure in Spain than it is today. The dynamic is as follows: a client goes to a philosophers office, explains their existential dilemmas and together they explore the latters philosophical dimensions. It was the perfect synthesis of Barrientos passion for critical thinking and desire to directly help people. There are problems that are frequently confused with psychological issues, when they really have a philosophical background. A great scourge of our society is not being able to respond to peoples philosophical conflicts, he explains.

A bust of Seneca and a suit ready to use in Barrientos' office, in case it is needed. Laura Leon

He was captivated by this methodology and opened a practice where he offered free philosophical advice to friends and acquaintances. At the same time, he continued to train through intense research work and by attending talks and conferences. At the age of 25, he organized the International Congress of Philosophical Counseling in Seville, the first in Spain. This early achievement was replicated the following year when, after being invited as a teacher to a summer course, he accumulated enough information to write what would become the first philosophical guidance manual in Spanish, a work that continues to be an essential work of reference in the field. The important things in my life have almost always arisen by chance, as if I came across them, he reflects.

After several years of teaching at the University of Seville and working as a philosophical consultant, he decided to change tack. I realized that many of my clients would not need to come here if they had more critical thinking tools and philosophical habits to face the dilemmas for which they were coming in, he says. As a result, he chose to replace individual visits with philosophical prevention workshops. The Center for Practical Wisdom at the University of Chicago funded him to launch philosophy workshops in prisons. It was the germ of what would later become the BOECIO project.

This is based on four objectives: strengthening critical thinking, improving interpersonal relationships, managing emotions and increasing the resilience of people deprived of liberty. There are several sets of workshops, each focused on a specific exercise. For example, critical thinking proposes a reverse debate, where participants must defend an opinion contrary to their own. In another type of activity, the objective is for participants to realize that their emotions depend on the way they interpret reality. For example, photos are exchanged in which someone is seen eating chocolate and a cockroach. Participants then reflect on the construction of disgust and the rejection that the second image universally provokes.

The Spanish researcher emphasizes that his workshops do not seek to turn philosophy into a tool to make his patients more functional and productive within the system. Certain philosophically-oriented therapies or trends such as modern stoicism are often pre-configured with specific objectives that do not necessarily benefit the individual, but rather companies or the health system. Our goal is to promote autonomy and allow people to develop their own thinking, and ensure that their goals and objectives are not imposed by an external power, he says.

He criticizes the notion of positive thinking as a construct of capitalist society designed to increase worker productivity. He calls it superficial and manipulative. Faced with the tendency to avoid feelings of angst, he believes that philosophy should help people explore it and use it as a resource for self-discovery and recovery of ones own existence: Our society labels anguish as something negative, but in reality it is an inherent aspect of being human that, properly harnessed, can become a valuable resource to recover personal authenticity and overcome existential blindness.
Democracy thrives when its people are engaged and active in the electoral process, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday as he appealed to those who are voting in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to vote in large numbers.

In a social media post on X, he specially urged women voters and youth voters to vote in large numbers.

Describing India as the most vibrant, active, and effective democracy, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that Bharat is an example to the world and urged everyone to fulfil their constitutional duty by exercising their right to vote.

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The Vice-President and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar cast their votes in the elections at a polling booth set up at CPWD Service Center, North Avenue in New Delhi.

After casting his vote, VP Dhankhar said that voting is both our duty and right  in this grand festival of democracy.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav, wife of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, participated in an impressive roadshow in Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency on Saturday evening.

UP Congress president and INDIA bloc candidate from Varanasi Ajay Rai was also present in the road show. The roadshow started with the blessings of Maa Duga located at Durgakund.

Congress and SP workers kept raising slogans in favour of Rai while rose petals were showered over Priyanka, Dimple and Ajay Rai standing in an open vehicle.

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Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and SP MP Dimple Yadav first took the blessings of Mata Kushmanda, the fourth form of Maa Durga located at Durgakund, and then started the road show.

There are more than 21 small and big temples including Manas Mandir, Tridev Mandir and Sankatmochan Mandir on the route of the road show.

The Congress workers kept welcoming the road show at various places. During this, the roadshow was welcomed with flower showers.

During the road show, Congress leaders and Dimple stopped at various places and addressed the public. Along with this, public support was also sought for INDIA bloc candidate Ajay Rai.

Congress leader Ajay Rai kept greeting the public. Earlier it was reported that Priyanka and Dimple would visit Kashi Vishwanath Dham before commencing their roadshow. But they skipped it.

This was the first time that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and SP MP Dimple Yadav participated in a road show together.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Delhi promise to be a riveting spectacle, reflecting both the fierce political rivalries and the evolving dynamics of Indias capital. The battle for Delhis seven seats, scheduled to vote during the sixth phase of the general election today, presents a fascinating microcosm of national politics, where local issues and personalities intersect with broader ideological battles. For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Delhi has been a fortress in the past two general elections; it swept all seats in both 2014 and 2019.

However, the political landscape in 2024 is a tad different. The emergence of a united opposition under the INDIA bloc, comprising the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress, poses a formidable challenge. This alliance brings together AAPs strong grassroots presence and Congresss historical legacy, creating a synergy that could potentially affect the BJPs dominance. The high stakes are heightened by the fact that each party has chosen candidates that reflect their strategic priorities, blending legacy, local leadership, and new faces to appeal to diverse voter bases. This approach underscores the importance of both personality and policy in the electoral battleground.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this election is the high-profile nature of the candidates and the intensity of their campaigns. In New Delhi, BJPs Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of the late Sushma Swaraj, faces AAPs Somnath Bharti. North East Delhi features BJPs Manoj Tiwari against Congresss Kanhaiya Kumar, while in North West Delhi, BJPs Yogendra Chandolia contests against Congresss Udit Raj. Chandni Chowk sees BJPs Praveen Khandelwal against Congresss J.P. Agarwal. In South Delhi, BJPs Ramvir Singh Bidhuri faces AAPs Sahiram Pehalwan. West Delhi presents BJPs Kamaljit Sehrawat against AAPs Mahabal Mishra. A crucial element in this election is the recent arrest and subsequent release of AAP leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, which has galvanised his party and injected a sense of urgency into its campaign.

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Mr Kejriwal will hope that his narrative of victimisation and resilience will strike a chord with many voters, potentially creating a sympathy wave that the INDIA bloc hopes to capitalise on. Their slogan, jail ka jawab vote se (respond to jail by vote), underscores their message of resistance against what they perceive as political vendetta. The BJPs campaign, centred round Prime Minister Narendra Modis development agenda and allegations of corruption against Mr Kejriwal, aims to portray the opposition as untrustworthy and mired in scandal.

Mr Modis continued popularity and his narrative of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) remain potent tools in the BJPs electoral arsenal. As Delhi heads to the polls, the outcome in these seven seats will not only determine its political future but also provide insights into the broader national mood. The contest is not just a battle for seats but a clash of ideologies, personalities, and visions for Indias future. The stakes are high, and the results will be keenly watched as an indicator of what lies ahead for Indian democracy
A Romanian man has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia for the past two years, prosecutors in Bucharest said on Friday.

His suspected Russian contact, a diplomat, was expelled.

Since 2022, the Romanian man had been collecting information of a military nature and taking photographs of military combat equipment and the movement of personnel in the border area with Ukraine, the statement said.

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The man is suspected of spying on Romanian or NATO military positions located in the vicinity of the city of Tulcea, it continued.

Tulcea is located on the Danube Delta, about 7 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. There are transport connections to Ukraine from there.

The suspect had transmitted this data to the Russian embassy in the Romanian capital Bucharest, the public prosecutors office added.

The Russian diplomat was declared persona non grata in connection with the espionage case at the suggestion of the Romanian domestic intelligence service (SRI), intelligence officials announced.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest also confirmed the Russians expulsion, but did not state the exact reason for the move.

As is usual in such cases, it only noted a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

An investigating judge has ordered that the suspected spy, who is a Romanian citizen, be remanded in custody for an initial period of 30 days.

The investigation was conducted by a special unit of the Romanian public prosecutors office, which is responsible for organized crime and terrorism, in collaboration with the countrys domestic intelligence service, NATOs intelligence service and Romanias army.

Following searches of the suspects home, several pieces of evidence were identified and seized, investigators said.

He had tried to submit his candidature for the local elections planned for June, but without success.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will attend a trilateral meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on the margins of an annual security forum in Singapore slated to begin next week, the Pentagon has said.

Austin will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue set to take place from May 31-June 2, during which he will join the three-way meeting with the Asian allies, and bilateral meetings with Chinas Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun and other counterparts, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the Department of Defense.

His trip comes as tensions persisted in the region over Chinas military exercises encircling Taiwan this week and apparent signs of North Korea preparing to launch another military reconnaissance satellite, as well as Russias prolonged war in Ukraine.

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At the security forum, Austin plans to deliver plenary remarks. He is also set to meet Singapores new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and other senior Singaporean officials and convene a multilateral meeting with his counterparts from Southeast Asia, according to the department.

Secretary Austins tenth trip to the Indo-Pacific comes as the Department of Defense continues to strengthen US relationships with allies and partners in support of a shared regional vision for peace, stability, and deterrence, the department said in a release on Friday.

In Cambodia, the secretary will meet with senior officials following his 2022 visit to Phnom Penh for a regional gathering of defence ministers.

Austin will conclude his trip in France, where he will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in 1944 during World War II.


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Russian forces have damaged or looted part of Ukraines heritage in the occupied territories and, faced with the danger of further losses, Ukrainian museums and cultural institutions are moving to protect their works. Some items were evacuated to secret and presumably safe places on high-risk missions at the beginning of the war. Now, a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin on state policy in the field of history outlines new threats to the study and interpretation of Ukrainian cultural patrimony.

From February 24, 2022, the start date of the full-scale Russian invasion, until the end of last April, a minimum of 1,066 objects were damaged in Ukraine in 18 regions, with Kharkiv being the most affected, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture. Among the affected institutions is the museum in Ivanov, with a collection by the original self-taught painter Maria Primachenko (1909-1997), and also the museum dedicated to landscape painter Arkhip Kuindzhi (1840-1910) in Mariupol. Among the looted institutions were the Fine Arts Museum and the Kherson Regional Museum.

Russian tanks were already advancing through the country when Ukrainian museums were considering moving and hiding their art treasures. The Ministry of Culture acted slowly, according to two museum directors and three heritage specialists consulted by telephone in Kyiv by this newspaper. In contrast to the initial paralysis of cultural officials, Interior Minister Denis Monastirski took the initiative, says a source familiar with the matter. At the end of February [2022] in Kyiv there was panic and people were fleeing. In that atmosphere, Monastirski found wagons for evacuation and arranged for a special escort. The museum directors carefully packed the works and when the Minister of Culture finally authorized the evacuation in early March, everything was ready, says the same source.

A work from the exhibition 'In the eye of the hurricane. Avant-garde in Ukraine, 1900-1930' at the Thyssen Museum in Madrid. Santi Burgos

Russian troops were only a few miles from Kyiv; trains carrying Ukraines cultural legacy were running parallel to the front line and were caught in the middle of the battle, the source recounts. Missiles from one side and the other crossed over the convoy, he says, referring to one such operation. A short distance from the railway line were the towns of Bucha and Irpin, the scene of atrocities carried out by the invading forces, who later withdrew. The evacuation was not a specific phenomenon, but continued during April and May 2022, and many trains left the capital loaded with valuables, says a second source with knowledge of the operation. Monastirski perished in January 2023 in a helicopter accident and the hiding place (or places) for the pieces is a state secret.

One of the institutions evacuated was the National Museum of History, located in the capital. From there, 120,000 objects were transferred, the museums director, Fedir Androschuk, tells EL PAIS. Today, Androschuk is responsible for the gold pieces from Crimean museums, which were being exhibited in the Netherlands in 2014 when Russia invaded the peninsula. Androschuk says that he wants to exhibit these works in Kyiv, but does not know when that will be possible.

The St. Sophia Cathedral museum complex has also evacuated part of its treasures. This unparalleled institution in Ukraine has a vast territorial heritage, including excavations in Crimea, which it cannot access today. Our valuable works are mostly monuments and interior architectural elements, which cannot be moved. Whatever we do, nothing can save us from a direct missile hit. We rely on Kyivs anti-aircraft defenses, says its director Nelia Kukovalska.

A group of musicians plays in front of a barricade in Odesa in March 2022, with the Opera building in the background. Maria R. Sahuquillo

Kukovalska collaborates with various European institutions, from the Mayors Office of Lisbon to the University of Valencia and the German Foreign Ministry. This department, she says, regularly sends her truckloads of restoration and conservation material to be distributed to provincial museums: As many as 600 museums have benefited from it.

An engineer by training, Kukovalska works on 3-D reproductions of the buildings in her custody and is skeptical of UNESCO, which, she says, under the pretext of helping Ukraine, spends money on its own useless events. Ukraine has eight sites on UNESCOs list of world heritage cultural properties. The latest to join was the historic center of Odesa, which has not prevented Russian shelling of the city.

Both Androschuk and Kukovalska believe that Russia presents Ukraines cultural heritage as its own and as part of its own history. The Russian approach has roots in Europe, because European specialists have been trained on the basis of Russian historiography and interpretations, they point out. Kukovalska has sent a shipment of books to Oxford University to study other sources, and Androschuk says the creation of Ukrainian studies centers in European universities would help correct this situation.

Nelia Kukovalska, director of the entity responsible for Crimean monuments, in October 2019. PILAR BONET (EL PAIS)

The works stolen by Russia are today inaccessible to Ukrainian researchers. Two of them, affected by the war, hope that at least the Russian professionals at the museums where they will be taken will take responsibility for maintaining their good condition, aside from the high-ranking cultural officials who support the invasion. International exhibitions protect works of art by keeping them out of the war zone and this was the intention of Konstantin Akinsha, a veteran art specialist, who organized a traveling exhibition of Ukrainian avant-garde, which arrived in November 2022 at the Thyssen Museum in Madrid. The exhibition, now expanded, is currently in Vienna.

The loss of works is not all that can befall Ukraines heritage. A decree issued by the Russian president on May 8 also affects it. The text confirms the foundations of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the sphere of historical education and establishes an ideological framework that subordinates the study of history to Kremlin policy. The work of researchers, historians, and educators should be guided by love for the Russian homeland, traditional Russian values, the need to preserve the unity of the state and the idea of Russia as a civilization, says the document, which warns against attempts to distort historical memory, distortion of historical truth and negative assessments of events and periods of the homelands history, as well as the dissemination of false images of Russia.

Among its guidelines the decree highlights the role of the family and the military industry in historical science. Androschuk calls the decree very dangerous and sees it as the result of the collective work of various high-ranking Russian officials and museum directors in order to rewrite history.

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Xi congratulates Abinader on re-election as president of the Dominican Republic

Xinhua) 09:18, May 25, 2024

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a message to Luis Abinader, congratulating him on re-election as president of the Dominican Republic.

Xi pointed out that the current relations between China and the Dominican Republic maintain positive development momentum.

Mutual political trust has been continuously deepening, practical cooperation has seen fruitful results and the two sides have maintained close coordination in international and regional affairs, he added.

Xi also said he highly regards the relations between the two countries, and appreciates Abinader's firm adherence to the one-China policy, adding that he stands ready to work with President Abinader in continuing to guide bilateral ties to reach new heights and to let the achievements of cooperation better benefit people of the two countries.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Ukraine is focusing its diplomatic efforts on convincing its allies to allow its military to use NATO weaponry against targets on Russian soil. Kyiv has succeeded in the past in moving the red lines imposed on it by its partners in the West, after months of negotiations. The new Russian offensive on Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, has accelerated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys diplomatic drive to allay the fears of the United States and Europe of a possible escalation if weapons provided by them target Russian sovereign territory.

The Kremlin launched a lightning offensive from the Russian province of Belgorod against Kharkiv, which is located just 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border, on May 10. The advance of Russian troops has been steady but at the cost of heavy casualties, due in large part to the fact that their artillery, aircraft, and drones can operate from positions in neighboring Russia. The White House last week received a formal request from Kyiv to use U.S. weapons and other assistance against Russian territory, Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed to the media.

Brown declined to specify what actions Ukraine was asking to be able to take in Russia, but his words could be interpreted as the request involving information from U.S. satellites on the location of enemy bases. The intelligence provided by the Pentagon has been key in identifying the location of Russian troops and military installations inside Ukraine, but it has so far avoided providing this data on Russian soil. Western conflict analysis centers such as the Institute for the Study of War have noted that the inability of Ukraine to respond across the border places its military in a weak position to contain the offensive in Kharkiv.

Since last week, Zelenskiy has given several interviews in which he has stressed the need for Ukraine to be able to defend itself beyond its own borders. The latest statements to this effect came on May 21 in The New York Times: What we have always asked of President Biden  and not only President Biden, but the leaders of many countries  is that we want to use the weapons for defense, the Ukrainian leader said. How do we respond when they strike our cities? They are stationed in the villages nearest to the border of Ukraine in Russia. They strike from there, knowing that we will not return fire, knowing that they are using civilian populations as cover. But they proceed calmly, understanding that our partners do not give us permission.

Zelenskiy explained that the weapons the Armed Forces of Ukraine want to use will be deployed against military targets: he cited NATO howitzers  these would be used on the Kharkiv front, the only battlefield from which Russian territory would be within range of Ukrainian artillery  U.S.-manufactured HIMARS short-range missiles and ATACMS long-range missiles, and British-French Storm Shadow/Scalp long-range missiles. Zelenskiy also demanded, as he does on a recurring basis, the green light to use these missiles to attack airfields hundreds of miles from the front lines from which Russian bombers operate.

Members of the emergency services remove the body of one of the victims of a Russian bombing in Kharkiv, on May 23. SERGEY KOZLOV (EFE)

The United States agreed in April, after two years of negotiations, to supply Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles, another red line to which Kyivs allies eventually acquiesced. This was also the case with opposition to sending heavy armor provided by Germany and the United States, or the refusal during the first year and a half of the war to deliver fighter planes to the invaded country. This summer, the first six F-16 fighters for the Ukrainian Air Force are expected to arrive from Denmark.

Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium have agreed to donate more than 70 F-16s to Ukraine. Zelenskiy has stated that to counter Russian air dominance, Kyiv would need at least 120 of these fighters. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, the Russian Air Force has about 300 fighter jets operating in the theater of war.

One of the reasons why Biden resisted the delivery of F-16s was due to concerns they would be used for bombing targets within Russian borders. For the same reason, Germany refuses to deliver its Taurus long-range missiles, despite the Ukrainian governments assurance that this will not be the case.

Ukraine regularly hits military, industrial, and energy infrastructure targets inside Russia, even up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the border. It is achieving this with swarms of homegrown drone bombs that are battering Russias oil industry. Washington has called on Zelenskiy to halt this campaign because it could destabilize the global fuel market, but the warnings, voiced in public even by Bidens Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, have fallen on deaf ears.

Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander went so far as to criticize the Ukrainian strategy in an appearance before the U.S. Congress, in which she deemed the attacks on civilian infrastructure unbecoming of a democracy. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on May 15 in Kyiv  and repeated the same in an appearance before Congress this past Wednesday  that Washingtons position had not changed: it is not in favor of the war being extended to Russia. 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. These words, which are not new on the part of the U.S. administration, have now been interpreted in the Ukrainian media as a sign that Washington might consider lifting its veto. The New York Times reported Thursday that Blinken is in favor of it.

Ukraines Baltic allies are its main backers for a shift in NATOs position. From the beginning we made the mistake of placing limits on the Ukrainians, because we thought it would be seen as an escalation [of the war], Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on LRT television on May 21. The Ukrainians must be able to strike on Russian territory, their logistical lines, and troops preparing to attack. There is only one side that is complying with the rules. These rules we imposed on ourselves; we have to abandon them.

Zelenskiy has also suggested the possibility of neighboring NATO member countries collaborating in the defense of Ukrainian cities by intercepting Russian missiles. The intervention of the U.S., Jordan, and the U.K. in intercepting missiles fired by Iran against Israel last April caused a stir in Ukrainian society. Why couldnt the Ukrainians have this support from Romania and Poland? Oleksandr Lytvynenko, secretary of the Ukrainian National Security Council, called the limitations imposed on Kyiv by its allies totally unfair in an interview with The Financial Times on Wednesday. But it is what it is: one big step forward, but before that two steps back, Zelenskiy said in an interview with Reuters this week. Every decision to which we, then later everyone together, comes to is late by around one year.
Anasuya Sengupta who played a lead role in Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov's Hindi movie 'The Shameless' became the first Indian to win the Best Actress award at the Un Certain Regard segment of the Cannes Filme Festival 2024.

'The Shameless', which portrays the journey of two sex workers, premiered at Cannes on May 17. Sengupta plays sex worker Renuka, who flees from a Delhi brothel after murdering a policeman. She seeks refuge in a community of sex workers, where she meets Devika, a young girl forced to become a sex worker.

While accepting the award at the film gala, Sengupta dedicated her win to the queer community and other marginalised sections who are fighting for their rights.

"You don't have to be queer to fight for equality, you don't have to be colonised to know that colonising is pathetic we just need to be very, very decent human beings," she said in her acceptance speech.

Who is Anasuya Sengupta?

Anasuya Sengupta, who is from Kolkata, did her education at Jadavpur University. After moving to Mumbai in 2013, she worked as production designer several projects. These include Sanjeev Sharma's Saat Uchakkey in 2016 and Srijit Mukherjee's 'Forget Me Not', which was part of an anthology based on Sathyajit Ray's stories, in 2021. In 2009, she did a supporting role for Anjan Dutta's 'Madly Bangalee'.
More than twice the number of tourists have visited the Char Dham in Uttarakhand this year, where yatra started in May. Kedarnath, which like Gangotri and Yamunotri, started receiving pilgrims on May 10, leads with 4.24 lakh visitors. However, the number of deaths has also risen.



Till Friday, as per the state government's figures, 9.67 lakh pilgrims have visited and, as many as 52 persons, mostly aged above 60 years, died during this period due to heart attacks. Kedarnath leads here too with 23 deaths. In 2023, 23 people died on a single day in Kedarnath due to heavy snowfall. Last year, a total of 56 lakh persons took the yatra and 223 pilgrims died.

On Friday, a chopper en route to Kedarnath, carrying six pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, developed a fault in its hydraulic system but, there were no casualties.

Vinay Shankar Pandey, the Commissioner of Garhwal said, We had to stop pilgrims from proceeding upwards for a week, but now things are streamlined." This, he said, was the result of people reaching Uttarakhand and then registering for the yatra. Rishikesh and Haridwar are the most popular starting points for the yatra. According to government orders, the concerned officers will be answerable if visitors reach the state before the allotted date of the yatra. For now, all registrations are on hold till May 31.

In addition, there have been incidents of fake registrations and FIRs have been registered against 10 tour operators.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed that special attention be paid to cleanliness and sector magistrates are required to provide updates every two hours.

Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Mandir Samiti chairperson, Ajendra Ajay said, The number of tourists has been beyond capacity. This led to some initial difficulties. Government measures have now smoothened things.
Keralas cooperative banks, hospitals and chit funds have become prime targets of cyber-attacks for data from foreign countries, warn cyber intelligence experts. A reliable source told THE WEEK that there have already been a slew of attacks and data thefts in many institutions, though they remain unaware of these breaches.

Many of these institutions, especially cooperative banks and chit funds, have major IT infrastructure vulnerabilities compared to nationalised or major private banks. Additionally, most of these institutions are outsourcing their IT operations to cheap but incapable groups. Hackers, particularly those from China and Pakistan, are exploiting these security weaknesses to steal data, which they later put on the dark web or use for ransom or other cybercrimes, said the source.

The cooperative movement in Kerala is more than a century old. The state has over 12,000 active cooperative societies, with over 4,000 being credit societies or banks. There are also state-backed and private chit funds.

Recently, there was a cyber-attack on a major private chit fund, said the source. SQL injection, one of the most common hacking techniques, has been used in many cases. This technique allows hackers to obtain the data they seek from the poorly managed IT infra of such institutions.

SQL injection is a type of cyber-attack in which a hacker inserts their own code into a website to breach its security measures and extract data.

Hospital data is another segment targeted by hackers. SQL injection has been used to hack into patient data stored by many mid-level hospitals, said the source.

The premium hospitals are also not free from cyber-attacks. On April 28, the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram, the state-owned premium cancer care hospital and research centre, faced a cyber-attack. According to an FIR filed in the case, the attacker even attempted to control the radiation treatment and critical patient care systems of the RCC. It is unclear whether there was a major data breach during the attack.
The Congress government changed laws related to minority institutions overnight to make their vote bank happy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi charged during a poll rally in Bihar on Saturday.



Addressing a poll campaign at Patliputra in Bihar, Modi said, To make their vote bank happy, Congress changed the law related to minority institutions overnight. After this, thousands of institutions were declared minority institutions. He charged, Earlier, SC/ST and other backward classes used to get full reservations during admission to these institutions."

The prime minister said the Indian Constitution doesnt allow reservation based on religion and added even Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar said there would be no reservation based on religion. RJD-Congress want to give reservation to their vote bank based on religion by ending the quota of SC/ST and OBCs, PM charged. As long as I am alive, I will not allow the INDIA bloc to rob reservations of backward classes, the prime minister said.

Modi said the INDIA bloc is busy abusing him as they have no work since the country fired them. In this 2024 election, on one hand, there is Modi who is working hard for all of you 24 hours, and on the other hand, there is the INDI alliance who lies to you. On one hand, there is Modi, busy 24/7 in making India Viksit Bharat' by 2047 and on the other hand, there is this INDI alliance, which has no work, he said. Modi charged RJD's 'lantern' brings light to only one house, while the entire Bihar remains in dark.
A group of tourists from Hyderabad escaped narrowly on Friday night as they drove their SUV into a flooded canal on after they followed a route shown by Google Maps.

Heading to Alappuzha, the driver of the Ford Endeavour took a left turn as shown on the navigation app when they reached Kuruppanthara in Kottayam district. The road was waterlogged and the tourists thought that they were still on road when they drove into the canal.

There were four people in the SUV and one of them managed to escape soon after vehicle plunged into the water. He sought help from local residents to rescue the remaining passengers trapped in the car. Eventually, the trio -- a woman and two men -- were rescued with the help of police and fire force personnel.

All four were unharmed. Later, the vehicle was pulled out of the canal.

In a similar incident in October 2023, two doctors died after they drove into a river as they followed the directions on Google Maps.
The highly anticpated sequel to Robert Pattinson's 'The Batman', 'The Penguin', created by Lauren LeFranc and season two of 'The Great Indian Kapil Show' are ready to grace the OTT platforms this week.
High voter turnout was recorded in West Bengal and Jharkhand till 1 pm on Saturday as the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections progressed. Overall, 39.13 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm.

Around 54.8 per cent turnout was reported in West Bengal till 11 am while it was around 42.54 per cent in Jharkhand and 37.23 per cent in Uttar Pradesh. Bihar recorded 36.48 per cent, Haryana 36.48 per cent, Odisha 35.37 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 35.22 per cent and Delhi 34.37 per cent.

A total of 58 Lok Sabha constituencies in six states and two Union territories witnessed elections in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. More than 11.3 crore voters will decide the fate of 889 candidates in the sixth phase. These include 5.84 crore men, 5.29 crore women and 5,120 third gender voters.

Simultaneously, elections were being held across 42 assembly segments in Odisha and the Karnal assembly byelection in Haryana.

Key parliamentary seats going to polls in the sixth phase include all seven seats in Delhi as well as Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag-Rajouri, where elections where postponed to Saturday.

The results of the Lok Sabha and the simultaneous assembly polls will be released on June 4.
The Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency recorded a 53 per cent turnout on Saturday, the highest in 35 years. In 1996, the constituency recorded a turnout of 50 per cent.

With the completion of the election in Anantnag-Rajouri, where NCs Mian Altaf and PDPs Mehbooba are the main contenders, the election on five Lok Sabha seats- Udhanpur, Jammu, Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri- in Jammu and Kashmir has been completed with a combined turnout of 58 per cent exceeding the 49.58 per cent recorded in 2014 and 47.99 per cent in 1996.

Addressing a press conference, CEO Pole expressed gratitude to the voters, polling staff, security personnel and candidates for their roles in achieving the record turnout.

"The credit goes to the voters for making the new records," he said. Its the collective effort that made the electoral process a success.

The 53 per cent turnout in Anantnag-Rajouri is a significant increase from the 9 per cent seen in 2019.

The highest turnout in the constituency was witnessed in the Surankote area of Poonch at 68 per cent. Kulgam and Anantnag saw lower participation with 32 per cent and 33 per cent respectively. Migrant polling booths recorded over 50 per cent turnout, including 9,000 postal ballots.

Around 9,000 polling staff were deployed in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency to facilitate the voting.

Voting began at 7 a.m. on Saturday in the newly delimited Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat, amid stringent security measures. The Election Commission implemented robust arrangements, including satellite phones and special equipment at polling stations with poor mobile signals, to counter threats and contingencies, especially potential cross-border shelling in border regions.

The four other constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, including Baramulla, recorded 59.10 per cent, Srinagar at 39 per cent, Udhampur at 68 per cent and Jammu at 72.22 per cent.

However, significant security challenges occurred in some villages in Jammu and Kashmir due to the recent terrorist incidents in the Rajouri-Poonch area. The election officials assured that comprehensive measures had been taken to ensure free, fair, and peaceful voting. The constituency spanned 18 assembly segments, with the Election Commission establishing 2,338 polling stations to accommodate over 18.36 lakh voters.

Out of 542 polling stations in Rajouri district, 278 were categorised as sensitive. Additionally, 45 polling stations were within the direct firing range from across the Line of Control (LoC). In Poonch district, 55 out of 171 polling stations are located along the LoC. To safeguard voters in critical areas, the district administration devised contingency plans. The Rajouri DC confirmed that five villages, where the security challenges occurred, lie between the LoC and the fencing.
The basic problems of the Indian subcontinent are the abject poverty of our vast masses, the rising unemployment, the appalling level of child malnutrition, the skyrocketing prices of food and other essential commodities, and the almost total lack of proper healthcare and good education for the masses.

I have repeatedly said that to abolish these great evils, it requires a mighty historical people's revolution, and thereafter, the creation of a powerful modern industrial state in the Indian subcontinent. And that it cannot be achieved within the framework of a parliamentary democracy that runs largely on the basis of caste and communal vote banks.

ALSO READ | OPINION: The eye of the fish for the revolution

Features and characteristics of the modern industrial state we will create:

1. Central feature

The central feature will be that it will be a welfare state, tasked with the object of destroying the great socio-economic evils mentioned above, which have plagued us for centuries. Our generation and our previous generations suffered terribly thereby, but we owe it to our children, grandchildren and succeeding generations that they too do not suffer similarly, but instead enjoy a high standard of living and lead decent lives.

Such a welfare state cannot be created without a high level of industrialisation, because only large-scale modern industry can create the wealth we require for the welfare of our people.

Without creating such a welfare state for our people, all other objectives are useless.

2. Its leaders

Its leaders will be genuinely patriotic, selfless, modern-minded persons determined to rapidly industrialise and modernise our country.

Many people ask me where those leaders are. It is true that most political leaders in India, of all political parties, are a bunch of selfish, slippery, shifty, rogues, rascals, scoundrels, charlatans, looters, deceivers and mafiosi, who have no genuine love for the country, but only seek power and pelf. They are experts in polarising society on caste and communal lines, and inciting hatred, to get votes.

So I am not talking of these tricksters, swindlers, knaves and scallywags. I am talking of quite another breed.

ALSO READ | OPINION: Imran Khan, the man in blue fighting for democracy in Pakistan

Nature does not like a vacuum. Historical experience shows that in the darkest periods of the history of many nations great leaders arose, e.g. in the great English, French, American, Russian and Chinese Revolutions. I am confident the same will happen in the Indian subcontinent, too.

3. Internal policies of the new government

Since India is a country of great diversity, with numerous religions, castes, languages, races, etc., the government will not tolerate attempts by anyone to create discord and hatred among our communities and give harsh and severe punishment to the offenders. The state will be secular. Secularism does not mean one cannot practise ones religion. It means that religion is one's private affair, and the state will have nothing to do with it. The state will uphold religious freedom, but will not tolerate religious extremism and bigotry. It will be guided by the policy of 'suleh-e-kul' of the great Moghul emperor Akbar, the real father of the Indian nation.

As regards economic policies, the state will be pragmatic. Realising the value of capitalism, it will not seek its elimination, but its regulation in the public interest and welfare. We certainly will not tolerate a state of affairs in which a handful of big businessmen, who have become billionaires, own wealth equal to that of 70 per cent of India's 1400 million population.

The new state shall prepare and implement five-year plans for India's economic growth, taking the help of technical, economic and administrative experts. The plans will assess the anticipated requirements of food, clothing, fuel, etc., of the masses, and ensure that these are met.

As regards education and healthcare, these will be totally free for all.

4. External policy

The state will try to promote peace and good relations among all nations. However, it will not hesitate in condemning powerful nations which oppress weaker ones. We will have a strong army, equipped with the latest weapons (made by our own industries, not foreigners), but it will only be used for our defence, not offence.

5. Reunification of India

One of the cardinal objectives of our new state will be the undoing of that British swindle called Partition of 1947 on the basis of the bogus two-nation theory.

On this, there will be no compromise. We must reunite, under a secular state, whatever the cost, otherwise we will keep wasting our precious resources and energy in hostility with each other. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are really one country, sharing the same culture, which were one from the time of emperor Akbar and were only temporarily and artificially separated by a British fraud.

ALSO READ | OPINION: Who is to blame for Swati Maliwal incident?

Later, if other neighbouring countries wish to voluntarily join our Union, they will be welcomed (with the right to secede whenever they wish).

6. Language policy

All languages of the Indian subcontinent will be given equal respect, and no attempt will be made to impose Hindi or any other language on anyone. On the other hand, state support will be given to all regional languages, and even to dialects, to prevent them from dying out (as indeed many have done).

These are the broad outlines, though of course, they have to be supplemented.

Justice Markandey Katju retired from the Supreme Court in 2011.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
The Pune police on Saturday arrested the grandfather of the juvenile who mowed down two techies in the road rage incident. The grandfather allegedly threatened the family driver and wrongfully confined him, police said.



According to the Pune Crime Branch, based on the driver Gangadhars complaint, a case has been registered against the juveniles father Vishal Agarwal and grandfather Surendra Agrawal under sections 342, 365, 368, 506 and 34 of IPC. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had on Friday said the juveniles father and grandfather had tried to establish that the Porsche car was not driven by the minor. The driver Gangadhar was in the car, in the adjacent seat, when the accident occurred.

According to police, following the accident, both Vishal Agarwal and Surendra Agrawal allegedly snatched away Gangadhars phone and he was confined in a house on the premises of their bungalow from May 19 to May 20. The driver was later freed by his wife, police said.

Two techies were killed in the early hours of May 19 when a Porsche car hit them. A 17-year-old juvenile, who drove the car was taken into custody over the incident. The accident case was registered at the Yerwada police station following the car crash in the Kalyani Nagar area of the city and Crime Branch took over the probe. Pune police on Saturday suspended two cops for alleged lapses in their duty.

A local court in Pune on Friday remanded the six accused arrested in the case, including the teenager's father, in judicial custody. The teenager is in an observation home till June 5.

-with inputs from agencies.
One of the most memorable scenes in Sex and the City features a guest star, played by Kristen Johnston, who complains of how boring New York parties have become and seconds later, falls out a window. But that tiresome sensation is by no means exclusive to a single city: many believe that our concept of fun has been redefined, and that celebrations full of toasts and surging emotion are a thing of the past. Going out is no longer in style.

The reasons for the living room supplanting the dance floor? The epidemic of loneliness, which the World Health Organization has declared a global public health concern. That, in addition to the way that self-imposed confinement is erasing the increasingly thin line that separates work and home. The unexpected consequence of this fusion of the work and personal spheres? The triumph of PowerPoint parties, in which each attendee presents a presentation explaining a certain subject.

From the most bizarre topics found on a Subreddit to the range of deaths that can be experienced in a zombie apocalypse, all kinds of content fit into these events, seemingly sent to infect our free time with office tropes. Work appears to have phagocytized leisure time. In an article on the trend, The San Francisco Standard delivered a headline infused with a certain sense of humor: The worst part of your job is a hot house party trend.

Its not an office party, its the office in a party

Javier Divieso, expert on leadership, teams and human resources, says that although these parties may appear to be an extension of work due to the fact that this kind of presentation is usually associated with the professional and academic worlds, thats not the sense that their participants have of them. Due to their playful intent, the creative freedom they impart and the social context in which they take place, participants see [PowerPoint parties] as a recreational activity. Therefore, far from perceiving these gatherings as an extension of work, for Generation Z, they are nothing more than a fun and creative way to connect with friends, he says. Younger generations were born into digital culture, and these PowerPoint parties are nothing more than a natural extension, using platforms and tools that theyve already mastered for recreational and social purposes.

This style of party was born in 2012, when three students from Canadas University of Waterloo organized an event they called Drink, Talk & Learn, in which guests had to bring a presentation on a subject linked to video games. The arrival of the pandemic provided a pop to the gatherings due to their digital nature: they allowed every participant, from the safety of their home, to share their computers screen to keep the party going even when people couldnt meet up in person.

Many people in the [San Francisco] Bay Area have highly technical jobs, work from home and interact with few people over the course of a day. And thus, the attraction to boring party games, that let them share experiences that otherwise were isolated, comments Zachary Reese, director of Love and Communication Lab, a center whose mission is to explore the complexities of interpersonal relationships, in The San Francisco Standard. The publication found that, sadly for Microsoft, the majority of these presentations arent held using PowerPoint. PPT Parties can be carried out with any system, software or app. For me, it seems like just a strategy of Microsoft to squeeze more juice out of its well-known program. Or its merely a way of putting a twist on it, bringing up ideas and uses of PowerPoint, which is already famous in its own right around the world, Sara Mompart, graphic designer, tells EL PAIS.

Despite that fact that shes never participated in this kind of party, nor has the intention of doing so, she knows about their existence from having read about them on some message boards and designer sites. She finds them strange, because far from being intuitive, locating the buttons and menus to apply interesting solutions can turn into a nightmare. Regarding the fun parts of such programs, she says that, with good taste and aesthetic sense, the results are incredible. Theres a lot of things that can lend interactivity and dynamism to a PowerPoint: logo animation, use of 3D modeling, attractive transitions between photos, inserting videos, she explains.

For its part, aware of the trend, Microsoft already offers guides to organizing this kind of party and has even created different templates with which to build presentations. PowerPoint parties are a wonderful way to connect with friends, family or coworkers, the company says. The hunt for PowerPoint party ideas offers subjects like your friends if they were characters from The Office, a song to describe each person in your group of friends, things youd do if you were president, your most unpopular opinions, your favorite celebrity couples and the best cafes in your city. Doesnt sound too bad, if it werent for having to spend time putting the thing together.

The home as leisure setting

The Spanish report Young people, leisure and technology. A look at the vital structure of youth through free time and tech finds that the primary change in leisure activities in recent years is the overwhelming incorporation of leisure that is conducted through technological tools. Dating apps have made it possible to find a partner without ever leaving the house, food delivery apps have precluded the need to go out to eat and streaming platforms have brought the movie theater into the bedroom. 74.6% of survey respondents said that the activity they do the most in their free time is chat and surf the internet, compared to 22.7% who responded that they spend more time going out at night.

The most relevant point here, from a historical perspective, is the drop in evening excursions, namely, going to bars, pubs and clubs. The panorama of these changes appears to point to leisure that is taking place more and more through digital technology, and is increasingly taking place in the home, say Elena Rodriguez San Julian and Juan Carlos Ballesteros Guerra, co-authors of the study.

Eduardo Vara, author of the Spanish language book Maldito trabajo (Damn job), warns that if PowerPoint parties involve the use of the same digital tools we utilize in the office, theyre not the healthiest of gatherings. To disconnect and rest is as important as changing ones environment when it comes to shifting our mental dynamic. For those who work at home on the computer, it would be much more interesting to plan leisure activities in technology-free spaces, preferably natural environments, where they can interact with others in the most relaxed and physical way possible, he says.

There are even social gatherings that are organized like workshops, as in the case of one X user who posted about having organized a VERY fun dinner party/group workshopping of my brothers Hinge profile.

If we pay attention to the etymology of the (Spanish word for work) negocio, from the Latin nec-otium, that which is not leisure, it becomes clear that we are losing free time. Because, by making it profitable, we deny ourselves authentic spaces for disconnecting, where we can recover physically and mentally and where we can explore ourselves beyond our productivity. And, in addition, staying in work mode distorts the spontaneity and openness we need to build other non-work relationships that are important, like friendships. So, instead of seeking out friends to whom we can shed our professional impostures and show our vulnerability, we continue to strive to project a competitive image that will attract potential allies and partners, Vara says.

There are even social media users who have become experts on the subject, like McCall Mirabella, who has nearly a million followers on TikTok, and who opted to ask attendees at her 21st birthday party for PowerPoint presentations rather than gifts. Sad? Leadership expert Divieso doesnt think so. For newer generations, these kinds of activities provide them with freedom and greater social connection. They also allow them to develop skills such as communication, creativity and critical thinking and to foster innovation and creativity. The consequences of not knowing how to disconnect can be negative and lead to burnout and stress. But in general, if we are able to find a balance, this kind of activity can bring significant benefits, he says. Of course, there will always be those who prefer to go to the bar.
At least 22 people, including children, lost their lives as a massive fire broke out at a gaming zone in Gujarat's Rajkot city on Saturday evening. Efforts are still on to rescue those trapped inside.

According to reports, the temporary structure at the TRP game zone came crashing down, making it difficult for fire department officials to carry out the dousing operation.

"So far we have confirmed the death of 22 persons in the fire incident. The bodies are completely charred and it is difficult to identify them," said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vinayak Patel.

The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargav said the fire has been brought under control, but the effort to rescue those trapped inside is still on.

He said the gaming zone is owned by a person called Yuvraj Singh Solanki and that a case has been filed against him.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives in the fire accident.

"Extremely distressed by the fire mishap in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured. The local administration is working to provide all possible assistance to those affected," Modi said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said instructions have been given to the Municipal Corporation and the administration for immediate rescue and relief operations.

It has also instructed to prioritize arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured, he wrote on X.

The state government has assigned the investigation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT). It has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to each injured.
Even after the UN top court ruling, Israel pressed on with its Rafah offensive in southern Gaza on Saturday. Over 30 people were killed in the recent Israeli attack. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ruled Israel to halt its offensive on Rafah.

The Israeli military said it had carried out "operational activity in specific areas of Rafah", including killing militants, dismantling part of Hamas' tunnel system and locating arms and weapons.

According to witnesses, Israeli tanks entered deep into the area of Jabalia, destroying dozens of houses, shops and roads.

Amid the intensifying strikes, Israel-Hamas mediations are due to restart next week. The decision on talks was taken after the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency met the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar, reported Reuters.

"At the end of the meeting, it was decided that in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active US involvement," a source was quoted by Reuters.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, as many as 35,903 Palestinians have been killed and 80,420 injured since the Israel-Hamas war on October 7 attack.

Meanwhile, after the ICJ ruling, the Spanish government on Saturday demanded Israel to comply with the order and halt its offensive on Rafah. The precautionary measures set out by the ICJ, including that Israel should cease its military offensive in Rafah, are compulsory. Israel must comply with them, Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares wrote on X.

The same goes for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages and access for humanitarian aid [to Gaza]...the suffering of the people of Gaza and the violence must end."

However, the UK government had criticised the ICJ over its ruling. The reason there isnt a pause in the fighting is because Hamas turned down a very generous hostage deal from Israel. The intervention of these courts  including the ICJ today  will strengthen the view of Hamas that they can hold on to hostages and stay in Gaza, a UK foreign ministry spokesperson said.
A massive landslide had swept the remote village in northern Papua New Guinea with over 300 people trapped under the rubbles on Saturday.

Hundreds are feared dead in the landslide that hit Kaokalam village in Enga Province, about 600 km (370 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby on Friday.

According to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), more than six villages had been impacted by the landslide in the province's Mulitaka region.

"Australias High Commission in Port Moresby is in close contact with PNG authorities for further assessments on the extent of the damage and casualties," a DFAT spokesperson said in a statement.

Prime Minister James Marape has said that rescue and relief works were being carried out in the landslide-affected areas. Disaster officials, the Defence Force and the Department of Works and Highways were jointly assisting with relief and recovery efforts.

Initially, the government officials said that around 100 people were killed in the landslide, while the local media reported the death toll at 300. Later, Serhan Aktoprak, the chief of the International Organization for Migration's mission in the South Pacific island nation said that the death toll could be higher.

Only three bodies had been recovered by early Saturday from the vast swath of earth, boulders and splintered trees that struck Yambali, a village of nearly 4,000 people that is 600 kilometres (370 miles) northwest of the capital, Port Moresby.

The relief effort was delayed by the landslide closing the province's main highway, which serves the Porgera Gold Mine and the neighbouring town of Porgera.

(With PTI inputs)
NINGBO, China, May 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On the morning of May 23, the premier exhibition of "Ningbo in Light and Shadow" was launched in Cambodia. Chen Cong, Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, Prak Phannara, Secretary of State to Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, Chhean Leang, Secretary of State to Ministry of Information of Cambodia and Choun Chanphearoun, Deputy Director General of Information and Broadcasting of the Ministry of Information of Cambodia attended the launching ceremony. The chambers of commerce of three levels (Ningbo, Zhejiang and China) in Cambodia, CNS reporters in Cambodia and reporters from Cambodian mainstream media have participated in the ceremony of the premier exhibition.



The premier exhibition was jointly organized by Ningbo International Communication Center (NICC), China Pictorial, and Ningbo Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, covering more than 20 Ningbo companies such as Seduno and Shenzhou International Group, with 120,000 employees in overseas factories in Cambodia.



It is reported that this is the first large-scale cultural exchange event in China that uses overseas factories as a platform to promote the image of the city to go global.



This photography exhibition has selected 90 excellent photographic works. In addition to showing the mountains and rivers, landmarks and intangible heritage of Zhejiang and China, there are also beautiful pictures from Ningbo, covering the port, industry, city, culture and other aspects. The purpose is to tell the story of China with photos, so that employees of overseas factories can better understand Ningbo.



The Sanjiangkou in Ningbo is both the outlet of China's Grand Canal and the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. The monument "Point of Departure of the Maritime Tea Route" at Sanjiangkou tells the origin of Chinese tea going global. The remarks of these pictures have brought the viewers back to the ancient time, witnessing a fleet of tea, tea sets, cotton and silk, porcelain was shipped from here to Cambodia and other places around the world.



"Through the text explanation, I have learned that the Phnom Penh  Poipet high-speed railway built in cooperation with China is also advancing, and it will become more convenient to travel in the future, which is very exciting." said Shen Jinfa, an employee of Seduno (Cambodia) Knitting Co., Ltd.



A photo that is related to local social life also transcends the meaning of the photo itself and serves as a bridge to China-Cambodia friendship.



"I've never been to China, I've never been to the location of the headquarters. However, these photos make me have a wonderful imagination of Ningbo far away." Rasny, an employee of Seduno (Cambodia) Knitting Co., Ltd., said that she is very fond of the historical architecture and cultural art of Ningbo at this photo exhibition.



Many Ningbo companies such as Seduno have gathered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. How to increase the cohesion between employees from different cultural backgrounds is a problem to deal with by many overseas factories.



"Through the photo exhibition, we have learned about the changes and development opportunities in China, as well as the development of this vibrant city of Ningbo." Chhean Leang, Secretary of State to Ministry of Information of Cambodia, greatly appreciates this approach, which allows people to know each other's situation intuitively.



"Ningbo in Light and Shadow" Global 100 Exhibitions on 100 Enterprises plans to hold 100 photography exhibitions in 100 overseas factories of Ningbo enterprises. The next step will be launching the exhibition at overseas factories of Ningbo enterprises in Bangladesh, Vietnam and other countries.



Contact: Huang Jin

Tel.: 0086-18868927982

E-mail: 2525545093@qq.com



Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2421717/Ningbo.jpg



Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2217761/4725607/NingboInternationalCommunicationsCenterLogo.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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Surat (Gujarat) [India], May 25: Mirrikh Infratech, a leading real estate company based in Surat city, is dedicated to helping individuals & businesses realise their dream of owning a piece of the futuristic Dholera Smart City, which is emerging as a global hub for investment and innovation.



With over 14 years of experience in Dholera, Mirrikh Infratech has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate market, consistently exceeding its targets and delivering exceptional value to its investors and business partners.



Rajeel Kumar Jangir, Director of Mirrikh Infratech, said, I want to thank all our investors and business partners for their faith in us, which has enabled us to emerge as the preferred real estate partner for thousands of investors in Dholera. Over the years, we have been able to bring 4,000+ investors onto the same platform, which is a significant achievement for us and far more than we had envisioned. We are committed to going the extra mile to maintain the trust of our investors.



With investors from over 200 cities in 25 states and eight countries, Mirrikh Infratech serves a broad and diverse investor base. On Thursday, the company inaugurated its new, larger office in Surat. Sandip Desai, MLA of Choryasi seat in Surat, graced the inauguration ceremony.



Looking at the investments taking place in Dholera and the massive growth opportunities, we are very excited about the future. We have witnessed Dholeras journey over the last decade and want to continue to contribute to its growth in the future. We have already made a detailed strategy till 2042, outlining other sectors we will target and the areas we will reach, Mr. Jangir added.



Courtesy of its extensive experience in Dholera, Mirrikh Infratech enables investors to book plots in Dholera smart city at very competitive prices. It has sold over 3.5 lakh square metres of land in Dholera over the years, a reflection of its credibility and the trust clients place in the company.



Mirrikh Infratech not only makes clients dreams of owning property in Dholera a reality but also ensures that they get the best value for their investment. With a customer-centric approach and emphasis on integrity, accountability, and transparency, the company provides exceptional solutions that meet customers' unique needs and goals.



(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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Mumbai, May 25 (PTI) Streaming service Disney+ Hotstar has announced that its new drama series "Gunaah" will premiere on June 3.

Starring Gashmeer Mahajani and Surbhi Jyoti, the series is set in a world where betrayal and mystery collide, presenting the story of a man whose existence is shrouded in secrecy, the streamer said in a press release.

"Gunaah" is created by Anirudh Pathak and directed by Anil Senior.

In the show, Mahajani essays the role of Abhimanyu, a gambler fuelled by his desire for vengeance. He is out there to blur the lines between right and wrong, friends and enemies, mercy and retribution, according to the official plotline.

"With 'Gunaah', we wanted to create a narrative that not only entertains but keeps one at the edge of their seat. Abhimanyu, played brilliantly by Gashmeer, is a very intriguing character.

"We are confident that the gripping saga will capture the audiences attention and we are thrilled that itll also be available to watch for free on mobile on the Disney+ Hotstar app, giving it a much wider reach," Pathak said.

"Gunaah" is backed by Bodhi Tree Multimedia Ltd with Sukesh Dev Motwani, Mautik Tolia, and Persis Siganporia as the producers.
Washington, May 25 (PTI) Indian Americans want Narendra Modi to be sworn in as the prime minister for the third time as they feel proud of the remarkable development of India under his leadership in the last 10 years, a senior BJP leader from Tamil Nadu has said.

C Narasimhan, former MP and industrialist from Tamil Nadu, said he keeps meeting members of the Indian community and they are confident that the BJP would win the elections with 400 seats.

"This (new) Parliament will be a quite successful session for all the new MPs and definitely all (are) going to work together for the growth of India, the senior BJP leader told PTI in an interview.

Narasimhan was in the US this month meeting members of the Indian Diaspora.

They are very anxious to see that Modi Ji is sworn in again as the prime minister of this country. This is what I could see and come across, he said before leaving for India.

He said that the majority of the Indian Americans are supporting Modi.

Referring to the conversations he had with the Indian-American community, Narasimhan said: He is the only leader who is the number one patriot and who has given a lot of respect to all the Indian community across the globe," he said, adding Modi has created a lot of confidence among the global Indians wherever he goes.

Responding to a question, the former MP said that the ground realities have changed in Tamil Nadu in favour of the BJP under the leadership of K Annamalai.

According to Narasimhan, people in Tamil Nadu now no longer like freebies. People say that for national integration and even for the state growth and every part of the country's growth, they like only Modi, they love Modi, they have a lot of respect for Modi, he said.

So, people of Tamil Nadu, particularly women and youngsters, came out against the Stalin rule. Definitely, they will lose the next elections, he said, referring to the government led by Chief Minister M K Stalin, who is also the President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Tel Aviv, May 25 (AP) Egypt said Friday it has agreed to send United Nations humanitarian aid trucks through Israel's main crossing into Gaza, but it was unclear if they will be able to enter the territory as fighting raged in the southern city of Rafah amid Israel's escalating offensive there.

Meanwhile, the bodies of three more hostages killed on Oct 7 were recovered overnight from Gaza, Israel's army said Friday. The CIA chief met in Paris with Israeli and Qatari officials, trying to revive negotiations for a cease-fire and a hostage release.

Gaza's humanitarian crisis has spiralled as the UN and other aid agencies say the entry of food and other supplies to them has plunged dramatically since Israel's Rafah offensive began more than two weeks ago. On Friday, the top UN court - the International Court of Justice - ordered Israel to halt the Rafah offensive, though Israel is unlikely to comply.

At the heart of the problem lie the two main crossings through which around 300 trucks of aid a day had been flowing into Gaza before the offensive began.

Israeli troops seized the Rafah crossing into Egypt, which has been inoperative since. The nearby Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza has remained open, and Israel says it has been sending hundreds of trucks a day into it. But while commercial trucks have successfully crossed, the UN says it cannot reach Kerem Shalom to pick up aid as it enters because fighting in the area makes it too dangerous.

As a result, the UN says it has received only 143 trucks from the crossing in the past 19 days. Hundreds of truckloads have been sitting on the Gaza side of the crossing unretrieved, according to Israeli officials, who say UN manpower limitations are to blame. UN and other aid agencies had to rely on the far smaller number of trucks entering daily from a single crossing in northern Gaza and via a US-built pier bringing supplies by sea.

Humanitarian groups are scrambling to get food to Palestinians as some 900,000 people flee Rafah, scattering across central and southern Gaza. Aid workers warn Gaza is near famine. UNRWA, the main UN agency in the humanitarian effort, had to halt food distribution in Rafah city because it had run out of supplies.

The Egyptian announcement appeared to resolve a political obstacle on one side of the border.

Israel says it has kept the Rafah crossing open and asked Egypt to coordinate with it on sending aid convoys through it. Egypt refused, fearing the Israeli hold will remain permanent, and demanded Palestinians be put back in charge of the facility. The White House has been pressing Egypt to resume the flow of trucks.

In a phone call with US President Joe Biden on Friday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi agreed to allow trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel to go to the Kerem Shalom crossing until a solution is found for the Rafah crossing, el-Sissi's office said in a statement.

But it remained unclear whether the UN will be able to access additional trucks coming from Egypt.

UNRWA did not immediately reply to requests for comment. In a post on social media outlet X on Thursday, it said, We could resume (food distribution in Rafah) tomorrow if the crossing reopened; we were provided with safe routes.

Mercy Corps, an aid group operating in Gaza, said in a statement Friday that the offensive had caused the functional closure...of the two main lifelines of aid and has brought the humanitarian system to its knees.

If dramatic changes do not occur, including opening all border crossings to safely surge aid into these areas, we fear that a wave of secondary mortality will result, with people succumbing to the combination of hunger, lack of clean water and sanitation, and the spread of disease in areas where there is little medical care, it said.

Fighting appeared to escalate in Rafah. Bombardment intensified Friday in eastern parts of the city, near Kerem Shalom, but shelling was also taking place in central, southern and western districts closer to the Rafah crossing, witnesses said.

Israeli leaders have said they must uproot Hamas fighters from Rafah to complete the destruction of the group after its Oct 7 attack.

Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 250 others in the Oct 7 attack. Around half of those hostages have since been freed, most in swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during a weeklong cease-fire in November.

Israel's campaign of bombardment and offensives in Gaza has killed more than 35,800 Palestinians and wounded more than 80,200, the Gaza Health Ministry said Friday. Its count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The Israeli military said its troops overnight found the bodies of three people killed in the Oct 7 attack and subsequently taken into Gaza and counted among the hostages.

The bodies of Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum, and Orion Hernandez Radoux were found in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, where Israeli troops have been fighting for the past week with Hamas militants, the military said.

The announcement comes less than a week after the army said it found in the same area the bodies of three other Israeli hostages also killed on Oct 7.

Nisenbaum, 59, was a Brazilian-Israeli from the southern city of Sderot. He was killed in his car as he went to get his 4-year-old granddaughter from a site near Gaza that came under attack by the militants.

Oryon Hernandez Radoux, 30, and Yablonka, 42, a father of two, were both killed as they tried to escape the Nova music festival, where the attackers killed hundreds of people. Hernandez Radoux had been attending the festival with his partner, German-Israeli Shani Louk, whose body was among those found by the army earlier.

Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of at least 39 more, while 17 bodies of hostages have been recovered.

The group representing the families of the hostages said the bodies had been returned to their families for burial. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country had a duty to do everything to return those abducted, both those killed and those who are alive.

French President Emmanuel Macron gave condolences to the family of Hernandez-Radoux, a French-Mexican citizen, saying France remains committed to releasing the hostages.

CIA Director Bill Burns was meeting in Paris on Friday with Israeli and Qatari officials in informal talks aimed at getting hostage and cease-fire negotiations back on track, a US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive discussions. Burns is in close contact with Egyptian officials, who like the Qataris have acted as mediators with Hamas, the US official said.

Cease-fire talks ground to a halt at the beginning of the month after a major push by the US and other mediators to secure a deal, in hopes of averting a planned Israeli invasion of the southern city of Rafah. The talks were stymied by a central sticking point: Hamas demands guarantees that the war will end and Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza completely in return for a release of all the hostages, a demand Israel rejects. (AP) SCY

SCY
Thane, May 25 (PTI) Five members of a gang have been arrested for allegedly abducting and attempting to extort money from a 60-year-old estate agent and his friend in Maharashtra's Thane district.

Based on a complaint, the police on Friday arrested four women and a man in a case registered against them under sections 364A (kidnapping for ransom), 384 (extortion) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, senior inspector Rahulkumar Patil of the Kashigaon police station said.

The complainant received a call from a woman seeking a job, and he was called to a hotel on May 21, an official said.

While discussing job possibilities, the accused started shooting a video of the complainant and a friend who had accompanied him, he said.

Suspecting that something was amiss, the two men left the premises but were forced into a waiting autorickshaw and taken to Gorai, he said.

In Gorai, three women and a man beat up the complainant and his friend, he said.

The accused allegedly demanded money from them and took them to an ATM where they could not withdraw money, he said.

The men were then taken to Borivali, where the accused threatened that they would not be released unless they coughed up Rs 1 lakh, the official said.

The accused threatened to lodge false rape complaints against the duo and make their videos viral on social media, and then released them in the early hours of May 22, he said.

With the help of CCTV footage and intelligence inputs, the police apprehended Sonali Mahendra Mahale (28), Nisha Nagesh Gaikwad (45), her daughter Darshana (22), sister Deepa Rohit Prajapati (38), and Mallik Ahmed Fakki (24), the official said.
Pune, May 25 (PTI) The grandfather of the 17-year-old minor who allegedly fatally knocked down two persons with his Porsche in Pune city has been arrested for wrongful confinement of their family driver, an official said on Saturday.



The teenagers father Vishal Agarwal has also been named in this case, he said.

A day earlier, Pune police chief Amitesh Kumar had said that an attempt was made to establish that the high-end car was not driven by the minor.

On a complaint by the family driver of the juvenile, the Yerawada police have registered a separate offence against the teens grandfather and father under IPC sections 365 (kidnapping with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person) and 368 (wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement), he said.

Post the accident, the teens grandfather and father allegedly took the drivers phone, put him in confinement in his house on the premises of their bungalow from May 19 to May 20. The driver was freed by his wife, said the official from the crime branch.

A Porsche, allegedly driven by the teenager, who the police claim was drunk at the time, killed two motorbike-borne software engineers in Kalyani Nagar area of the city in the early hours of Sunday.

A local court in Pune on Friday remanded the six accused arrested in the case, including the teenager's father, in judicial custody. The teenager is in an observation home till June 5.
In 2021, Anya Taylor-Joy had the honor of joining the list of personalities who have hosted the iconic comedy show Saturday Night Live, and she took the opportunity to remind the audience that she is proudly Spanish-speaking. At the end of her monologue, the actress  who at the time was gaining recognition for her work in the acclaimed series The Queens Gambit  requested to conclude in her native language, and displayed an impeccable Argentine accent that moved the Latino community.

Anya-Josephine Marie Taylor-Joy has an Argentine father of American and Scottish descent, and a mother born in Zambia with English and Spanish ancestry. Although she was born in Miami while her parents were on vacation in the city, she spent her entire childhood until the age of six in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and attended a bilingual school, before her family moved to London, England. However, the actress has mentioned that the experience was not pleasant, and she even refused to learn English, hoping to convince her parents to return to Argentina.

In an interview with the Standard newspaper, she reflected on her adaptation process: When I was younger, I didnt fit in anywhere. I was too English to be Argentine, too Argentine to be English, too American to be anything. She also highlighted having suffered bullying for being a foreigner and for her physical appearance, which has now made her one of the most recognizable actresses in the industry.

She attributes these childhood problems to her accent being able to adapt easily to wherever she is. She points out that in England she sounds more English and that in Ireland she adjusts the way she speaks. Its really difficult for my personal life, but for acting its amazing.

Despite her Latin background, the actress does not usually play roles of Latin people in Hollywood. Her first role  and the one that immediately put her on the map  was in Robert Eggers film The Witch, where she played the teenage daughter of an English couple. In an interview with Vulture magazine, Taylor-Joy pointed out that she identifies as Latina (particularly white Latina), but she is careful about auditioning for Latino roles. I am aware that I dont look like a typical Latin person, and thats not fair. I dont want to be someone you can just sub in for that role, when Im really white and blonde.

In fact, in 2021, when Variety magazine profiled the actress, it stated that she was the first person of color to have won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a miniseries, since Queen Latifah in 2008, which immediately generated negative reactions from internet users who pointed out that the actress was not a person of color. This recalls the time when Antonio Banderas, a Spanish actor, was also referred to by some media as a person of color after being nominated for an Oscar for his work in Pedro Almodovars film Pain and Glory. Banderas does not identify as a person of color; however, he mentioned in an interview with Jorge Ramos: When I have gone to the United States, I have considered myself Latino, because those are the people I have connected with. Similarly, he pointed out that during an official registration in the United States, he indicated that he was white, but was told that he was actually Hispanic, to which he replied, Hispanic is not a race.

This is evidence of how complex the issue of identity can be for Spanish speakers in the United States. While many people in Latin America have Indigenous or mestizo ancestry, others are predominantly white. In Argentina, where Taylor-Joys father is from, 97% of the population has European ancestry, among whom 56% also have Indigenous or mestizo ancestry. In Spain, where her mother is from, the majority of the population is white. However, Hollywood often categorizes anyone who speaks Spanish as Latino, which can lead to confusion.

The fact that she can speak Spanish draws more attention from Latino fans, particularly from Argentines. Its not surprising that one of the most viral videos of her circulating on TikTok and Instagram is one in which she admits that her favorite foods are churros with dulce de leche, provolone bread, and empanadas, which are not as common in the United States. Regarding her connection with her country and the love she receives from Argentines, the actress who has just premiered George Millers new film, Furiosa, mentioned: The idea that people in Argentina love me in that way and want me to represent them in that way, that makes me cry. She also clarified: Most of my family lives there, I dont spend as much time there as I would like. In my mind, I would like to live in Buenos Aires again at some point in my life, so the fact that they love me in that way, and want to say this is our Argentine, makes me feel proud but also affects me a lot, I feel the responsibility of that.

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Agartala, May 25 (PTI) A tribal woman from Tripura's Dhalai district, grappling with dire poverty following her husband's death five months ago, sold her newborn for Rs 5,000, an official said on Saturday.

The four-day-old girl was fortunately rescued from a couple in Hezamara, West Tripura district, and reunited with her mother, following opposition leader Jitendra Choudhury's intervention, sources said.

Mormati Tripura (39) of Taraban Colony in Gandacherra subdivision, gave birth to a daughter at home on Wednesday. The next day she sold the child to a couple in Hezamara for Rs 5,000, citing extreme poverty after her husband's demise five months ago, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Arindam Das said.

"Already burdened with two sons and a daughter, she couldn't afford another child in the face of severe financial strain. This desperation likely led to the decision to sell the child. Upon receiving the alert, we swiftly retrieved the infant and reunited her with her mother the following day," Das added.

Assuring ongoing support to the family, Das said necessary aid had been extended to the mother and child at their residence.

In response to the distressing revelation, opposition leader Jitendra Choudhury had shared a video where the woman confessed to selling her newborn due to extreme poverty, prompting chief secretary J K Singh to take immediate action on Friday.

Choudhury alleged that Mormati's husband Purnajoy, who sustained the family by selling firewood, passed away due to lack of proper medical care amidst dire financial circumstances. Additionally, the family lacked a Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card, he added.

Choudhury criticised both the BJP government and the Tipra Motha-led Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) for failing to provide assistance to distressed people. "Without government intervention, more such tragedies are inevitable in tribal areas," he warned.
by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

The Ramah Shulchan Aruch (OC 493:2) that on LaG BaOmer we engage slightly in Simcha  joy. Commemorating LaG BaOmer is a serious matter. The Mogen Avrohom cites the Kavanos HaArizal that discusses a certain individual who had the habit of reciting Nachem every day. He continued to do so on LaG BaOmer as well. For doing so he was punished. We see, therefore, that one should take the words of the Ramah quite seriously.

A number of reasons are cited by Torah authorities for commemorating Lag BaOmer:

 It commemorates the students of Rabbi Akiva who ceased dying during this day  although the deaths persisted between Pesach and Shavuos. (Shla Psachim 525).

 This day is the Yartzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who revealed the inner secrets of the Torah (Chayei Adam Moadim 131:11)

 This is the day that Rabbi Akiva granted ordination to his five students  among them Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai  they did not die in the plague that struck Rabbi Akivas other students (Pri Chadash OC 493)

 It also commemorates the Manna which began to fall on this day after the Bnei Yisroel left Egypt (Responsa Chsam Sofer YD #233 Amnam Yadati).

In this short essay, we will attempt to discuss each of the four reasons mentioned above.

The Students of Rabbi Akiva

The Talmud (Yevamos 62b) tells us that 12,000 pairs of Rabbi Akivas students died on account of the fact that they did not extend honor to one another. Rav Chatzkel Levenstein zatzal asks how it could be that the great students of Rabbi Akiva neglected this most basic of principles? His answer is most illuminating.

Our Rabbis teach us that Kinah, Kavod and Taavah  jealousy, the pursuit of honor, and the pursuit of desires take one out of this world. If so, Rabbi Akivas students reasoned, how can we accord each other this spiritual poison?

Rabbi Levenstein explains that they were unaware that, in fact, honor is only poisonous when one seeks it  but when one extends it to another it is not poisonous at all. When we build the self-esteem of others, it is actually quite healthy. Rav Levenstein explains that this notion is very subtle and nuanced and it could well be that the notion itself was only revealed in the world at that time.

Why then were they punished?

They were smart enough to have been able to figure out and contemplate this issue by themselves. Having neglected to delve into this psychological insight was their error.

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

Rashbi, whose Yartzeit we commemorate on this day, merited to compose two extraordinary books that form part of the Zohar. They are the Adara Rabbah and the Adarah Zutah. Rav Yoseph Chaim in his Responsa (Rav Pealim YD #156) explains why it was that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, above and beyond his masters the Tannaim, merited to write these extraordinary books. He explains that although his teachers and masters were greater than he was, he had the ability of couching these teachings in esoteric terms. Indeed, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was so adept at obscuring the true understanding of these thoughts, that they could even be expounded upon publically  and only those that truly merit understanding it would be able to figure out the true inner meaning and import.

According to this, we commemorate the fact that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai not only transmitted these remarkable teachings, but vouchsafed them in such a manner that they not be abused or taught to those who are unworthy.

Jewish Continuity

The ordination that Rabbi Akiva conducted on his five students was a heroic event that changed the course of Jewish history, and that of the world. These students were Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehudah, Rabbi Yossi, Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Elazar Ben Shamoa. Under the pressure of the dark forces of Roman tyranny and religious oppression, these valiant scholars, who were privy to the noblest ideals of the Bible, its teachings and oral traditions, knew that no matter what the cost  they must ensure the continuity of these teachings. They were the future educators of us all. It was a point in time where the forces of evil and darkness were pitted against goodness and light. The light of Torah ultimately won out and Torah Judaism was to effect and alter the world.

We commemorate this remarkable event on this day of LaG BaOmer. The words of the Mogen Avrohom concerning the man who was punished for not commemorating this day are, therefore, well understood.

The Manna

The Manna represents the spiritual nourishment that G-d granted the Jewish people upon their departure from Egypt. Manna allowed us, the Jewish people, to develop a close bond, a Dveikus, with the Creator  that has defined who we are as a nation. Although the Manna no longer falls, the admonition that the Jewish people have to continue that bond, to continue imitating G-d and attempting to be like Him has never ceased. The Talmud (Shabbos 133b) tells us Mah Hu Rachum af attah Rachum veChanun  just as He is Merciful, so should you be merciful. Just as He is kind so too must you be kind. Just as He clothes the poor  so should you clothe the poor. Just as He buries the dead, so should you buy the dead.

This is the message of the Manna that still exists to this day, and this is what LaG BaOmer commemorates.

Nonetheless, perhaps due to the deaths of so many of Rabbi Akivas students, the Minhag is to celebrate a little bit and not to make it into a full-fledged holiday. The Chsam Sofer points out that our Talmud does not mention it as a holiday at all.

So how do we commemorate this day? The Bnei Yissasschar states that the custom is to light a number of candles in Shul on this day. We do not fast on this day  even for a Yahrtzeit, except for a fast of a bad dream. We do not recite Tachanun on this day, nor on the Mincha before it. We get married and attend weddings. We join in with singing and dancing, and we listen to music (See Pri Magadim Aishel Avrohom 493:1).

So as we hear the song and dance of the Jewish weddings and the words, Od Yeshamah, let it still be heard in the cities of Yehudah and in the outskirts of Jerusalem, the sound of joy and the sound of happiness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride let us think of these four reasons: Building the self-esteem of others and according others due honor is of utmost importance; vouchsafing the teachings of the Torah is paramount; Jewish continuity and education is key; and the spiritual bond and Dveikus that we have with Hashem should be central to our lives. May Hashem bring the Geulah Shleimah speedily in our days!

The author can be reached at [email protected]
A flying pig with a superhero cape on its back was projected for a few seconds on the giant screen in the auditorium of the Hospital Sant Pau in Barcelona. They used to say that the xenotransplants would work when pig flew. Well, the pigs are flying, said transplant surgeon Muhammad Mohiuddin (Hyderabad, India, 59 years old) at the conclusion of the scientific conference he led a few weeks ago. The doctor, who is the director of the cardiac xenotransplantation program at the University of Maryland, is a pioneer in transplanting pig hearts into humans. His team successfully carried out the worlds first in 2022 with patient David Bennett, and repeated the feat in 2023 with Lawrence Faucette. The doctors were able to transplant the animal organ in both cases and prolong the mens lives, but for only a short time: both died a few weeks after receiving their grafts. Nonetheless, this story is that of the first living proof of what can be done. The technique proved feasible: a pig heart could beat in a human beings chest.

Xenotransplant  organ or tissue transplant from animals to people  has emerged as an alternative in the face of a global lack of donors. In the United States, 150,000 people are waiting for a transplant. Every 80 minutes, someone dies for want of an organ, explained Mohiuddin, who visited Barcelona on May 9 to participate in events commemorating the 40th anniversary of Spains first heart transplant, which took place in Sant Pau in 1984. In Spain, one of the worlds leading countries when it comes to donations and transplants, 6,000 procedures were carried out in 2023 and as of December 31, 4,794 people were on the waiting list to receive an organ.

Mohiuddin has spent more than three decades involved in the study and development of xenotransplantation. He says that doctors learned from their experiences with the two patients, and underlines the fact that both were very ill, with nearly no chance of long-term survival. During a quick interview with EL PAIS between talks, the surgeon said theyd push on, despite the technical complexity of the procedure and the ethical considerations that it conjures: from the threat of rejection  the animal organs that are used are genetically modified to reduce the risk of an unfavorable rejection by the transplant recipients immune system  to the possible risk of introducing animal virus in the humans that become active or embedded in their DNA, as well as the ongoing debate regarding animal rights.

Question. Is your team ready for its third heart xenotransplantation?

Answer. Yes, we are trying to find a good patient. We are trying figure out how we can improve, based on our learning from the two transplants we have done.

Q. What is the objective of xenotransplantation? An infinite supply of organs?

A. Yes. Once this is successful and you have consistent long-term survival, then you can offer this to many people who cannot get [a transplant of human] hearts. Everyone who needs a heart or any other organ  because this is not just hearts, you can use other organs from the pigs also  will be able to get an organ and not wait long term.

Q. Why did you choose pig organs?

A. The pig is not very close to humans, like baboons or chimpanzee monkeys. But it takes a long time before a monkey gets to a size of human. Also, there are diseases like HIV (AIDS), that can be transmitted from the monkey organs or their cells. Thats why we dont use them. In pigs, now, with our ability to modify the gene, we can quickly modify the gene [to reduce the risk of transplantees bodies rejecting the organ]. And these pigs grow very fast. Within one year, they grow to a size that would be suitable for adult humans.

Q. At what stage of maturity is this technique?

A. All the previous work was done on animals, and now we have started on humans. We have to overcome those differences and try to keep the heart [functioning] for a long period of time. Also, the patients that we are using are very sick. If we get a patient who is not that sick, the outcome will be better.

Q. And what is the final objective? Save time with the animal organs until we have a human organ to transplanted, or to live forever with these animal organs?

A. When you say for a short period of time, thats called a bridge for transplantation. With some of the organs, like the liver, you can bridge for a short period of time and then they get another organ. In hearts, if the heart is working fine, you can leave it until it fails. But if in the meantime, you find another human heart, you can exchange it. But the transplant is very difficult, and every time you take out that heart and put it back in, there are other complications. So its better, if the heart is good, to just leave it until it fails and then put in another pig heart or human heart, if it is available.

Q. There may come a day when xenotransplantation exists normally alongside human organ transplants. How would you decide that this pig heart goes to this patient, and this other human organ goes to another person?

A. Theres already a committee that decides who gets a human organ. The two patients we did, they were denied, they could not get a human organ. They either got the pig organ or they died. So thats why, when this process becomes common, maybe the patient can decide if they want a human organ from an older person or a diseased person, or a fresh organ from a healthy pig. It will be presented to the patient and they can decide.

Q. You transplanted pig hearts into two patients, David Bennett and Lawrence Faucette. Both died. How is that interpreted in scientific terms?

A. The meaning is that we are learning whats going on from these patients. All the previous experiments were done on healthy baboons, they didnt have any disease, we did the transplants and learned from them. But these patients, they were very, very sick. So, we are now learning how to change our drug regimen, what additional changes we need to make and what not to use in these patients to keep the heart alive for longer periods of time. What we learned from first patient, we didnt do and we improved with the second patient. But it will be a stepwise process.

Muhammad Mohiuddin is the architect of the worlds first two cardiac xenotransplants performed with pig hearts. Albert Garcia

Q. What specifically went wrong in those two cases?

A. We think that the antibodies that are present in our human system can attack and kill the organ. Thats what we think happened.

Q. Are you able to control rejection very well? Or how can that field be improved?

A. From human to human, the same thing happens. Initially when heart transplants were done [between humans], the heart didnt used to survive for long. But then new drugs came out that suppressed that rejection very well. So, we think that we will be able to suppress this rejection, because there are a lot of drugs that are working very well in animals, but they are not approved for humans. One day, these drugs will be approved for humans also, and be able to suppress rejection very well.

Q. One of the risks or controversial topics around this technique is the introduction of new viruses into the human population. Bennets heart transplant involved a porcine virus. Is there a high risk of this happening?

A. There is no evidence that these viruses can infect humans. They can infect pigs if they get activated. There is no evidence that they can infect humans so far. Our regulatory agencies want us to monitor the patient as long as they live and keep checking on not only them, but their family members and anybody who they come in contact with, to make sure that this virus doesnt get activated and infect humans. Not much work has been done in humans, but in the slaughterhouse where they sacrifice pigs for meat and all that, [workers] get cuts and bruises, they come into contact with blood... There have been studies that showed that they never have gotten any virus from a pig.

Q. There is another controversy around the issue of animal rights. There are people who report or criticize that these animals are used for medical purposes, as a simple tool at our service. What do you think about that?

A. Yes, there is a concern. Nobody wants to kill extra animals. But all research so far, all the drugs that we use, they all have been experimented on animal models, either rats, mice or on large animal models. Pigs have been used for food in many countries, it is the most used meat throughout the world. Just in the United States, 90,000 pigs are killed every day for food. We are talking about less than a thousand pigs, and from each pig, you can save about seven lives, with different organs.

Q. What are the big knowledge gaps in this field?

A. Although we knew that these patients may not live for long, we wanted them to live for at least six months, because our baboons live for nine months or more. We wanted to find out the difference between what we learned for animal models versus what we learned from human models and try to overcome that. Antibodies are one of the things that are not well controlled well with sick patients because we cannot give enough of the drug [to avoid rejections], because the drug creates its own problems as well.

Q. The pig heart that went to Bennet came from a private company, Revivicor. If private companies enter into xenotransplantation, could altruism when it comes to donations and transplants be in danger?

A. As with any other medication, these pig hearts will be sold to save lives. And its thanks to these companies that we can do it, because the research is so expensive that not even the U.S. government has the luxury of giving us enough money to do this. Although these companies do have their own motives, because they want to produce these pigs and then sell their organs, they are also interested in saving human lives. For that reason, I think that we should give the benefit of the doubt to these firms, because they are helping us to save these lives.

Q. Would you get a transplant of an animal organ, if you needed it? A pig heart, for example.

A. Thats the question people ask. But when you ask a healthy person if they would get a pig transplant, they might say no, but if I get to a stage at which I need a heart transplant, and I dont have any other means to live, and if I feel like that animal can save my life, maybe yes.

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Mike Davies, director Intel Labs and head of development at the largest neuromorphic system. INTEL

The constant increase in network traffic (up 22% last year as compared to 2022, according to DE-CIX) and the new computational demands of artificial intelligence are taking conventional systems to their limit. There is a need for new formulas, and quantum computing is not yet a viable option. Electronics company Intel is one of the most advanced when it comes to the development of neuromorphic systems, a meeting of biology and technology that seeks to imitate the way human beings process information. The firm is joined in the race towards a more effective and efficient processing system by IBM, Qualcomm, and research centers like those of Caltech, where the concept was born thanks to Carver Mead, MIT, Germanys Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior, and Stanford University.

This month, Intel announced that it had created the worlds largest neuromorphic system: Hala Point, with 1.15 billion technological neurons and 1,152 Loihi 2 processors (chips) consuming a maximum of 2,600 watts and with a processing capacity equivalent to that of an owls brain. A study published in IEEE Xplore describes it as being more efficient and performing better than systems based on central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs), the conventional computing engines.

Mike Davies, born in Dallas and turning 48 in July, is the director of neuromorphic computing at Intel Labs and responsible for its latest advances, which seem to be determining the immediate future of computing.

Question. What is a neuromorphic system?

Answer. Its a computer design architecture thats inspired by the modern understanding of how brains operate, which means that we are discarding seven, eight decades of conventional computer architecture understanding. Were trying to understand the principles from modern neuroscience that apply to chips and systems that we can build today to create something that operates and processes information more like how a brain does.

Q. How does it work?

A. If you were to open up the system, the chips, you see differences, some of them very striking, in the sense that theres no memory: all the computing and the processing elements in the memory are integrated together. Our Hala Point system, for example, is a three-dimensional grid of chips. Its similar to how you open up a brain and everything is communicating to everything. A neuron will communicate across the brain to another set of neurons that is connected. In a traditional system, you have memory sitting next to a processor and the processor is reading continuously out of the memory.

Our Hala Point system is a three-dimensional grid of chips. Its similar to how you open up a brain and everything is communicating to everything. A neuron will communicate across the brain to another set of neurons that is connected

Q. Is this model necessary because we have reached the boundaries of conventional computing?

A. Theres lots of progress being made in AI and in deep learning, and its very exciting. But its hard to see how these trends that we observe in the research will continue when you see their increases in computing requirements. These AI models are growing at exponential rates, far faster than the manufacturing advances that are being made. That really is reaching the limit of what basic computer architecture can provide. And also, if we look at just the power efficiency of these traditional AI chips and systems, compared to the brain, there are many orders of magnitude of difference in power efficiency. So, its not so much that traditional computer architectures are not capable of providing great gains in computing and AI, its more that were looking to a broader class of functionality, being able to have computers that operate more like the brain, and do so in a very efficient way.

Q. Is power efficiency the principal advantage of neuromorphic chips?

A. It is one of the main ones. Theres a very dramatic difference between the brains efficiency and traditional computer architecture efficiency. But neuromorphic architectures can provide performance advantages as well. We think of GPUs as being incredibly high profound performance devices, but in fact, theyre only high performance if you have a very, very big amount of data to process, and youre processing that in what we call a batch mode, where you have all of this data available on a disk or right next to the processor, so that it can be read. But if data is arriving from sensors, from cameras or videos in real time, then actually, the efficiency and the power of traditional architectures is much less. Thats where neuromorphic architectures actually can provide a great increase in speed as well as efficiency.

Q. Does artificial intelligence need a neuromorphic system to grow?

A. Thats what we believe. Of course, its research. Its unclear today exactly how to deploy this commercially. There are many research problems still to be solved in terms of the software, the algorithms. Many of these conventional approaches dont run natively on neuromorphic hardware, because its a completely different programming. We do believe that this is the right path forward to achieve the gains that we need in power efficiency and in performance for these kinds of workloads. But it is still an open question.

Q. Will we see a neuromorphic chip in a personal computer or smart phone?

A. I think so, its a matter of time frame. You wont see that in the next year, but the technology will mature and I think that you will see it deployed into edge devices [data processing that takes place close to its origin to ensure speed and efficiency] or mobile devices, autonomous vehicles, drones or your laptop. Our Hala Point device is designed for the data center. Its a box the size of a large microwave. But if we look at nature, you find brains of all sizes. Insect brains are very impressive, even at that small scale. And then you have, of course, the human brain. We are pursuing both directions of that research. We believe that the commercialization will happen in the edge devices first, but theres a need to keep pushing and doing research at the large scale.

At the data center, we will probably be able to see these systems in five years

Q. When will they be ready?

A. Its hard to predict because there are still open research questions. At the data center, its probably something like five years. We also see in the future that everything will need to operate off of battery power, and the power savings that neuromorphic can offer are extremely important. There are also somewhat less obvious applications, like wireless base stations for cell phone infrastructure. We are working with Ericsson to better optimize communication channels.

Q. Are neuromorphic systems and quantum computing complementary?

A. I think theyre complementary in some respects. Where theyre very different, I would say, is in the time frame. Quantum computing is looking at device-level manufacturing innovation and trying to scale that up. Its clear that what it offers is very noble and impressive. Its also very unclear what the programming model of quantum will be, what kinds of problems or kinds of workloads it will support once it can be scaled all the way up. Neuromorphic computing is available today, and its very good for AI type of workloads. But there is, interestingly, an intersection in the application space of quantum and neuromorphic. That is where its interesting to think about solving hard optimization problems and allowing people to experiment and prototype and learn how to program these kinds of systems.

Implanting neuromorphic chips in the brain is a very natural application of neuromorphic computing, because this architecture is behaving just like neurons, so it would naturally speak the language of our brain

Q. Could we see neuromorphic systems in our brain?

A. There are some researchers interested in the neuroprosthetic application, which would mean trying to repair problems, pathologies in the brain where there has been some loss of function to bring back control over your body. I would say that is very early-stage research, but I think in the long term, it is a very natural application of neuromorphic computing, because this architecture is behaving just like neurons, so it would naturally speak the language of our brain.

Q. What kinds of brains are equal to the systems that are currently available?

A. In terms of the numbers of neurons, its similar to an owl brain. But if you focus on the cortex, which is where much of the higher-order intelligence happens, its about the size of a capuchin monkey cortex. Many of us in this research field have the human brain in mind as a kind of vision for the scale of system wed like to build. But were not trying to get there too fast. We need to know how to make it useful. And thats why this system is still a research tool so that we can continue to experiment with it.

Q. In what concrete cases are these systems more effective?

A. In finding the best path through a map we see speed-ups of up to 50 times, compared to the best conventional solvers. In terms of energy, they can be reaching levels of 1,000 times more [efficient].

Q. Could Europe take advantage of this new technology to gain sovereignty on making chips, as its currently dependent on other continents?

A. If we look into the future, theres much innovation that we will need over the long term if were to achieve the size and the efficiency of real brains in nature, which remains incredibly impressive. Theres still a long way to go, and to get there we do need manufacturing innovation. There needs to be new devices and new memory technology thats going to make truly brain-like chips technologically possible. Its not clear that any one geographic region has an advantage in this domain, so it is an opportunity. High technology always involves innovation and nothing ever stays static. Theres always a need for new breakthroughs and its unpredictable where these may come from.
A few hours after a Kansas City Police press conference promising "focused deterrence" in order to curb the record-breaking homicide count trend . . . This cowtown records another killing at the outset of the unofficial start to Summer.

Here's the first report and more news coverage . . .



Homicide I-70 and Van Brunt Blvd



Tonight just before 6:30pm officers were on patrol in the area of 31st and Van Brunt when they heard the sound of gunshots. They immediately moved into the area to investigate further and were directed to the car wash just south of I 70 on Van Brunt.



They located a vehicle with an adult male shooting victim inside unresponsive. Officers rendered aid and called EMS to the scene. EMS took over treatment and declared the victim deceased at the scene.



Detectives and Crime Scene investigators are canvassing for witnesses and processing for evidence to hopefully get a better idea of what led up to the shooting and any leads on the identification of suspect(s).



Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting occurred in the area of the exit ramp from eastbound I-70 down onto Van Brunt Boulevard.



If anyone heard or saw anything in this area or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.



We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency.



We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.

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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Memorial Day weekend in KCMO off to deadly start as man gunned down near exit of I-70 The Memorial Day weekend in Kansas City, Missouri , is off to a deadly start with one person shot to death Friday evening.

Police respond to fatal shooting along I-70 in Kansas City Police have opened an investigation into a fatal shooting along I-70 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Developing . . .


A quick roundup of stuff we're thinking about for the late night & early morning by way of pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Local Sour Note Still Resonates

A Black rising star lost his elite orchestra job. He won't go quietly. Josh Jones thought he was unfairly let go from the Kansas City Symphony and went public about a system some think hobbles the careers of promising musicians.

Drive Safely This Weekend

Scooter driver ejected, critically injured in crash Friday afternoon in Kansas City A scooter driver was critically injured in a crash Friday afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri, police said.

JoCo Deep Dive

New $15 million Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center opens Saturday in Lenexa Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center, formerly Indian Trails Aquatic Center, will open Saturday. The pool was closed for a $15 million renovation last year

Hard Landing In Northland

Practice flight ends with emergency landing in Kansas City field The Clay County Sheriff's Office responded to an emergency landing in a field near Liberty Thursday afternoon.

Baller Fame Awaits

Hollywood Brown could be looking at a serious payday for the Kansas City Chiefs Marquise

Diva Shares Bathing Beauty Moment

Demi Lovato in a swimsuit in Hawaii with fiance Jordan Lutes Demi Lovato posted some vacation snaps from the Hawaiian island of Kauai. She captioned the post: 'Kauaiiiiii,' and added a palm tree, wave and pink flower emoji.

Grumpy Old Men Campaign 2024

Biden campaign plans to get more aggressive once Trump trial ends With a verdict in Donald Trump's hush money trial set to come as soon as next week, President Joe Biden's campaign is exploring a shift to a new, more aggressive posture, according to two people familiar with the strategy.

MAGA Man Of The People?!?

Trump appeared on stage at his Bronx rally with two rappers charged in a felony gang case Former President Donald Trump invited two rappers on stage at his recent rally who have been charged in a sweeping gang case.

Today's Congressional Buzz Kill

Amendment killing nationally legal cannabis makes it into House farm bill A ban on intoxicating hemp products has made it into the House version of the farm bill. If the amendment makes it through a polarized House and divided Congress, it would end America's brief...

Rumors Of War

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskiy says Kyiv's forces have taken control of Kharkiv border area President's comments at odds with Russian claims over Vovchansk border town; US announces new $275m aid package for Ukraine. What we know on day 822

No Ceasefire On Other Side

Hezbollah barrages deal heavy damage in northern Israel A momentary shriek presages a bone-juddering blast, followed by a plume of thick black smoke.

Far East Flex Fades

China ends war games, Taiwan details warplane, warship surge China ended two days of war games around Taiwan, in which it simulated attacks with bombers and practiced boarding ships, and Taiwan's defence ministry detailed on Saturday the surge of Chinese warplanes and warships involved.

Tech Blame Game After Tragedy

Uvalde families sue Instagram and Call of Duty maker over deadly school attack 'Unholy trinity' of Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense accused of 'working to convert alienated teenage boys into mass shooters'

Friday Photography End Game

Walking Through Elmwood Cemetery Photography Blog

Forecast For Now . . .

Kansas City weather: Quiet Friday, but a noisy weekend It will be clear and quiet Friday night in the metro, with temperatures falling to the low 50s.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Answer . . .

Of course the Union Station Celebration At The Station is as safe as any other KCMO event. Probably moreso.



However there's something political at play in this story that NOBODY wants to discuss openly:

DOES ANYBODY REALLY THINK KC SYMPHONY EVENTS HONORING AMERICAN TRADITIONS WOULD BRING OUT ROWDY CROWDS?!?

The implication is that this event might be in danger of a mass shooting just like the Chiefs rally.

However . . .

The premise is dishonest.

In the case of the Super Bow Chiefs rally tragedy . . . The crowd size was several times larger than this weekend event and attracted gang members and gun toting tough guys with bad attitudes and criminal records . . . This isn't the crowd that typically wants to listen to the symphony.

To be fair . . .

Assurances about people getting back to their cars safely or security concerns in the age of global terrorism would have been far more relevant.

Our main takeaway . . .

Politicos putting forward the notion that KC Symphony patrons are going to start beef and engage in a shootout is ridiculous and gives us less confidence that our elected leaders are serious about crime fighting.



Still, it's important to know what the Mayor had to say . . .



Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced on Friday, May 24, that those worried about safety at Union Station ahead of Celebration at the Station have little reason to be, with extra security planned.



This will be the first major public event that occurs in front of Union Station following the shooting following the Chiefs Super Bowl parade, Mayor Lucas told the city. We recognize it is a large event. I plan to be there with my family, many other Kansas Citians will as well.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Culture war politics cloud most of this issue but again we'll argue over terminology . . .

Sloppy redacting of medical records that NOBODY will read might not be "doxxing" in the real sense of the word.

A definition of terms:

Doxing or doxxing is the act of publicly providing personally identifiable information about an individual or organization, usually via the Internet and without their consent.

Typically . . . This is accomplished by way of a mean social media post . . . Not obscure items in a court case.

However . . .

In politics words don't mean much.

Accordingly . . .

We've shared our opinion, now here is the progressive side of the story . . .



A state investigation of the Washington University Transgender Center in St. Louis expanded to include therapists and social workers across the state who work with minors seeking gender-affirming care.



Documents made public as part of various lawsuits show that Attorney General Andrew Bailey has obtained a collection of unredacted and loosely redacted records of transgender children, including a list of patients that received care at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital.



He is also seeking untethered access to the universitys digital medical records system.



The attorney generals use of private medical records, and the targeting of therapists and counselors, has interrupted the health care of LGBTQ Missourians and has families worrying about their childrens privacy.



Katy Erker-Lynch, executive director for Missouri LGBTQ advocacy organization PROMO, told The Independent she fears that the pressure will drive health care providers out of the state, especially impacting rural Missourians.



The attorney general has created a hostile environment for medical providers where they are afraid to stay and practice medicine, she said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
The Republican Missouri Senator shares a fiery perspective in the aftermath of tragedy . . .



"Last night, as my office urged the American Embassy to send help to Natalie and Davy as they were under siege, the Embassy told us it was 'too dangerous' to send police," Hawley wrote. "What a weak country we have become. We cannot protect our own citizens from wanton violence."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

US embassy rejected call for help before Americans killed in Haiti: Hawley A pair of missionaries, including the daughter of a Missouri state representative, was murdered by Haitian gangs.

Missouri, nation mourn missionaries killed by gang in Haiti as Hawley scolds 'weak' Biden for deaths - The Lion Officials across the country are mourning the loss of two Missouri missionaries in Haiti, a husband-and-wife pair who were killed by one of many armed gangs that has pushed the country into chaos. Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker, father to one of the missionaries, announced their deaths via Facebook.

Developing . . .
KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2024 - 18:36 | All, Japan

A 94-year-old man who confessed to the near-fatal shooting of Japan's then top policeman in 1995 died in a Tokyo prison while serving a life sentence for robbery and attempted murder in Osaka in 2001, a source close to the matter said Saturday.

Hiroshi Nakamura died on Wednesday at a medical facility for prisoners in western Tokyo, the source said. Prosecutors could not build a case against Nakamura over the attack on Takaji Kunimatsu in March 1995, citing doubts about the reliability of his confession and a lack of evidence.

Kunimatsu was the commissioner general of the National Police Agency when he was shot at the entrance to his condominium in Tokyo shortly after the police launched raids on the AUM Shinrikyo cult following a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway that killed 12 people and injured more than 5,500 others. Kunimatsu sustained severe wounds.

Police in 2004 arrested four individuals, including a former AUM member, over the shooting but prosecutors did not indict them due to insufficient evidence. The statute of limitations elapsed for the case in March 2010.

Nakamura was serving his sentence for attempted murder and robbery as well as the possession of firearms during a cash-in-transit heist in Osaka in 2001.
KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2024 - 09:14 | All, Japan

Japan is bracing for a swarm of stink bugs that can attack tree fruits, with an unusually large number of prefectures already issuing alerts.

Of Japan's 47 prefectures, 30 from west to east, including Tokyo, had issued stink bug alerts as of Friday, according to Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries data.

The tally is in contrast to the previous 10 years, when the number of prefectures issuing stink bug alerts between January and May averaged around five but never topped 15.

The number of insects has already been rising and is expected to surge further following the summer breeding season.

Warmer temperatures appear to be one of the factors contributing to the insect outbreak.

They benefited from an abundance of food, such as cedar and cypress nuts, in the fall, and a substantial number of them seem to have made it through the warm winter, said Mantaro Hironaka, an associate professor with expertise in entomology at Ishikawa Prefectural University.

In Japan, three stink bugs -- brown-winged green stink bugs, brown marmorated stink bugs, and polished green stink bugs -- are considered major pests that cause damage to fruits on the branch, including apples, pears and peaches, by feeding on the fruit flesh.

"We call (on farmers) to frequently make the rounds of their farms," a ministry official said. Protective measures include spraying chemicals and bagging fruit.

So far this year, stink bug alerts have been largely issued in prefectures in warmer western parts of the country, with the earliest one issued by Ehime on March 22.

Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, known as one of the top pear producers in the country, issued an alert this month for the first time in 10 years. Personnel conducting a survey at 10 locations in the prefecture in April captured more than seven times the usual number of stink bugs.

Experts warned that cooler areas of the country need to be aware of potential outbreaks as well given that alerts have been issued in the past in prefectures in northeastern Japan.

Stink bugs earned their name for exuding a fluid that usually has a disagreeable odor from glands between the legs.

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KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2024 - 07:54 | All, World

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is planning to hold talks with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun next week in Singapore on the sidelines of a security conference, the Pentagon said Friday, with the meeting coming a time of heightened Taiwan tensions.

Austin will meet in person with his Chinese counterpart for the first time since November 2022 as their countries seek to facilitate communication and prevent their geopolitical rivalry from veering into conflict, accidental or otherwise.

The meeting is expected to take place during this year's three-day Asia Security Summit from May 31, better known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

In April, Austin and Dong held a virtual meeting and discussed the situations in the South China Sea and around the Taiwan Strait, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's weapons development program.

During the video teleconference, Austin and Dong, who took office in December, reaffirmed an agreement between President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, reached at a mid-November summit near San Francisco, to reopen direct military-to-military talks at several levels.

The meeting in Singapore between Austin and Dong will almost certainly address the hot-button issue of Taiwan as China's military launched two days of large-scale drills around the self-ruled island earlier this week.

The drills 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.

The Chinese military called the exercises a "strong punishment" for those seeking Taiwan's independence and a "stern warning" against interference by external forces.

High-level military communication channels had been closed since Beijing protested a visit to Taiwan made in 2022 by then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and often engages in shows of force by sending warships and fighter jets into the vicinity of the island.

Austin will also hold a trilateral meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts on the fringes of the security conference, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

The department said Austin's 10th trip to the Indo-Pacific region comes as it continues to "strengthen U.S. relationships with allies and partners in support of a shared regional vision for peace, stability and deterrence."

Following the annual conference, it said Austin will travel to Cambodia to meet with senior officials and France, where he will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings by taking part in several commemorative events.

Related coverage:

China continues military drills surrounding Taiwan for 2nd day

China rebukes Japan, U.S. for congratulating new Taiwan leader
Geophysical Institute, Explore Fairbanks offer new summer science series

UAF photo by JR Ancheta

Geophysical Institute graduate student researcher Claire Puleio flies by Mount Edgecumbe. Puleio is one of the speakers in the Science for Alaska Summer Series.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and Explore Fairbanks will host free public science talks this summer at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in downtown Fairbanks.

Geophysical Institute staff and researchers will share stories from Alaska and current information about Alaskas earthquakes, volcanoes, beaver distribution, aurora and climate.

The institute has hosted the Science for Alaska talk series each winter for more than 30 years. This year, a summer series will share the science taking place in Alaska with not only local residents but also Fairbanks visitors.

Were excited to be able to partner with the Geophysical Institute on this new endeavor, said Explore Fairbanks President and CEO Scott McCrea. Oftentimes our visitors have questions pertaining to the science and nature of Alaska, so what better way to educate them on those topics than with some of the best subject matter experts in the world?

All seven talks will be held in the Morris Thompson theater, 101 Dunkel St. These talks are in-person only and will include a 30-minute presentation with extended time for questions.

The dates and topics for the presentations are as follows:

Saturday, June 1, 11:30 a.m.  Ned Rozell, Stories from Alaska

Wednesday, June 12, 4 p.m.  Carl Schmitt, Arctic Climate

Saturday, July 13, 11:30 a.m.  Elisabeth Nadin, Alaska Earthquakes

Wednesday, July 31, 4 p.m.  Claire Puleio, Alaska Volcanoes

Saturday, Aug. 10, 11:30 a.m.  Dogacan Su Ozturk, Understanding the Aurora

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 4 p.m.  Ken Tape, Beavers in the Arctic

Saturday, Sept. 7, 11:30 a.m.  Vincent Ledvina, Aurora Season Kickoff!

For more about the lectures, visit the Science for Alaska website, the Geophysical Institute Facebook page or the Explore Fairbanks Facebook page, or download the flyer.

Want to learn more about research at the Geophysical Institute? Join a tour of the Elvey Building at 1 p.m. Wednesdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day, or tour Poker Flat Research Range at 2 p.m. on two Thursdays per month throughout the summer. Visit the Geophysical Institute visitor information webpage for more information.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on the allies to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of weapons to strike military targets inside Russia.

According to Ukrinform, he said this in an interview with The Economist on Friday.

I think the time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they are put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine because, especially now when a lot the fighting is going on in Kharkiv, close to the border," Stoltenberg said. "To deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves.

The Secretary General said that Russia is waging a war of aggression, and Ukraine has the right to defend themselves. "And that includes also striking targets on Russian territory," he explained, noting that some allies have already lifted such restrictions and "it is time for other allies" to consider this.

Stoltenberg emphasized that self-defense is "enshrined in the UN Charter." "It is legal, it is legitimate, and we are helping Ukraine with upholding that right and that should include the ability to also strike targets on Russian territory," he said.

As reported by Ukrinform, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as several other members of President Joe Biden's inner circle, are trying to convince him to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russia.

Earlier, the United Kingdom and some other countries lifted such restrictions.
Russia will use any ceasefire to prepare for future offensive operations in Ukraine.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this in a new Russian offensive campaign assessment, Ukrinform reports.

"Western media continues to report that Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in a negotiated ceasefire in Ukraine, although Kremlin rhetoric and Russian military actions illustrate that Putin remains uninterested in meaningful negotiations and any settlement that would prevent him from pursuing the destruction of an independent Ukrainian state," the ISW said.

ISW analysts believe that a ceasefire does not preclude Russia from resuming its offensive campaign to destroy Ukrainian statehood, and Russia would use any ceasefire to prepare for future offensive operations within Ukraine.

Russia's military intervention in Crimea and the Donbas in 2014 violated numerous Russian international commitments to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Russia's recognition of Ukraine as an independent state in 1991 and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum in which Russia specifically committed not to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity.

According to the ISW, there is no reason to assess that the Kremlin will respect any new agreement obliging Russia to not violate Ukrainian sovereignty or territorial integrity. A ceasefire would provide Russia with the opportunity to reconstitute degraded forces, divert manpower to large-scale expansion and reform efforts instead of ongoing fighting in Ukraine, and allow Russia to further mobilize its defense industrial base (DIB) without the constraints of immediate operational requirements in Ukraine.

ISW analysts also believe that Russia could use a ceasefire to prepare a force more suitable to pursue a subsequent series of offensive operations in pursuit of regime change, demilitarization, and conquest in Ukraine. A ceasefire would provide Ukraine opportunities of its own to address force generation and defense industrial capacity, to be sure, but the Kremlin may not unreasonably expect that a frozen frontline will make support for Ukraine less urgent and salient for the West and allow Russia to outpace Ukraine in preparing for a resumption of hostilities.

According to ISW, Russian sources notably highlighted territorial concessions as part of Putin's alleged envisioned ceasefire but have sparsely addressed the wider strategic objectives of Putin's war in Ukraine, and the repeated focus on the recognition of occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian territory does not indicate that Russia would drop these wider strategic objectives, however. ISW analysts believe that a ceasefire that cedes currently occupied territory would concretize the idea that Ukrainian territorial integrity is negotiable, a precedent that the Kremlin would most certainly revisit to push for further territorial concessions and contest the idea of Ukrainian statehood altogether.

Russia is currently preparing for the possibility of a conventional war with NATO, and the Kremlin will likely view anything short of Ukrainian capitulation as an existential threat to Russia's ability to fight such a war.

"Russian victory in Ukraine would not only remove the threat of Ukraine as a potential adversary during a possible conventional war with NATO but would also provide Russia with further resources and people to commit to a large-scale confrontation with NATO," the report said.

Regardless of how Russian victory would partition Ukraine between Russian annexation and the Kremlin-controlled puppet state that would follow Putin's desired regime change, Russia would have access to millions more people it could impress into military service and the majority of Ukraine's resources and industrial capacity.

Putin and the Kremlin therefore likely view victory in Ukraine as a prerequisite to being able to fight a war with NATO and any ceasefire or negotiated settlement short of full Ukrainian capitulation as a temporary pause in their effort to destroy an independent Ukrainian state.
Portugal will take part in the Global Peace Summit at the highest level and try to convince the countries that are still hesitant to come to Switzerland for the event to follow suit.

This was stated by the country's Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, after talks with the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on May 24, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Portugal will be represented at this conference at the highest level... And we will make every effort to convince those who may not have much hope at this stage, are still hesitant, to participate; so that the representation at the conference is as broad and high as possible," said Montenegro.

Read also: FMs of Portugal and Ukraine discuss implementation of Peace Formula

According to him, it is necessary to seize all chances to find a peaceful solution, to stop the situation where human rights and basic rules are so grossly violated.

Scholz, in turn, called the Peace Summit in Switzerland a "brick" that should be placed on other "bricks" of previous meetings of foreign policy representatives from a number of countries in Copenhagen, Jeddah, Valetta, and Davos. After the June summit, there will be other conferences, because now it will not be possible to reach a "big solution", he is convinced, but it is important to discuss certain important issues, in particular, the non-use of nuclear weapons, safety of nuclear power plants, exchange of prisoners of war, and other issues. This should lay the foundations for the further peace process.

The chancellor noted that it is already known that participation in the summit will be broad. He also noted that the war will end only when Russia sees that it must withdraw its troops and make the necessary contribution to establishing a just peace.

Scholz earlier announced that he would attend the summit in person.

As reported, U.S. President Joe Biden said he would not personally participate in the conference in Switzerland on June 15-16 due to his schedule. China and Brazil issued a joint statement insisting that "both sides of the conflict" should sit at the negotiating table.
Hungary is delaying legislation that would allow Ukraine to receive up to EUR 2 billion from the EU for arms, dealing a blow to plans to utilize the proceeds from frozen Russian assets.

Financial Times reported this with reference to informed sources, Ukrinform saw.

As noted, after a long debate, members of the European Union agreed this month to use the profits from about 190 billion euros of frozen Russian assets, which are stored in the Belgian depository Euroclear, for the purchase of weapons for Ukraine.

However, according to five persons who participated in the May 22 meeting of EU ambassadors, the Hungarian envoy opposed the acceleration of payments, thus standing in the way of EUs unanimous support for each payment to Ukraine.

At the moment, Budapest is blocking anything related to military support for Ukraine, according to an FT source, who suggested that Hungarys reservations may remain in place at least until next month's EU elections.

In order to reach an agreement on the use of profits off frozen Russian assets, EU officials offered Hungary an agreement according to which its share of Brussels funds would not be used to purchase weapons for Ukraine, the publication's source said.

This convinced Budapest not to impose a veto, but it is still hampering the effort by failing to endorse the required legislation. Hungary generally does not object, but has concerns about payment automation. Diplomats hope to find a way to resolve these issues before the payment scheduled for July. Hungary refused to comment on such plans.

Hungary has previously inhibited numerous European decisions related to support for Ukraine. However, Budapest eventually caved in under diplomatic pressure from Brussels and Washington, in particular regarding the EUR 50 billion aid package for Kyiv.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary said his country was working on "rethinking" its NATO membership status so that the country can refuse to participate in the Alliance's actions beyond its borders.
Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia may become Russias next targets as Moscow could test NATOs reaction on these nations.

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, told this to journalists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan in an interview, as reported by the Kazakh media outlet Vlast, Ukrinform saw. The conversation took place at the Kharkiv printing house earlier hit by the Russians.

"We believe that the Baltic States - Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia - are under threat first of all, and we have told all our partners about this. Targeting these countries, Russia may try to test NATO's reaction to the invasion or illegal border penetration into these countries," said Volodymyr Zelensky.

He recalled that a few days ago the Russians tried to move the buoys on the Narva on the border with Estonia.

"There was no reaction (to the incident - ed.), respectively, because NATO allies are really careful. And this is what Russia needs  to show strength. We receive information that among their priorities are the Baltic States, Moldova, and Kazakhstan as the nearest targets for the Russian Federation," the president said.

He also stated that everything that the Russians do and say is a lie.

"For example, they say that we are 'friends with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, they are our brothers'  this is all a lie. Believe me, this will happen in a split second: first, they occupy some area, especially where ethnic Russians live, where there is something to cling to. I am not saying there should be persecution of certain minorities or communities that exist in the territory of your countries. But it will all come down to them needing a pretext. Then they move to occupy some district. They will say that we just keep people calm, we just help them, but the finale is clear. If your people, you, resist becoming part of Russia, you will inevitably face a full-scale invasion and, of course, death and war," Zelensky concluded.

As reported, yesterday, May 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the site of the printing house in Kharkiv that was destroyed in a Russian strike.
KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2024 - 10:17 | All, Japan, World

Ukraine hopes to sign a security cooperation agreement with Japan sometime before a NATO summit meeting in July, a senior diplomat of the eastern European country said recently.

Aiming to bolster ties with countries in the Indo-Pacific region more than two years after the start of Russia's invasion, Ukraine and Japan are in the "final stage" of talks on a bilateral security pact, First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

"We hope to hold one more round of negotiations so that we sign the agreement in the short term" before the three-day NATO summit begins in Washington on July 9, Sybiha said in an interview with Kyodo News.

Japan will join Britain, Canada, France and six other countries in having signed such an agreement, and more countries are expected to follow suit.

Group of Seven members and dozens of other countries vowed to pursue long-term bilateral security commitments and arrangements with Ukraine in their joint declaration of support for Ukraine in July last year.

Under the security pact, Japan is expected to provide humanitarian and energy technology support as well as helping to strengthen Ukraine's cybersecurity capabilities while cooperating in countering disinformation, Sybiha said. Kyiv has received $12.1 billion in financial aid from Tokyo since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, he added.

"We hope that Japan will be the first country to sign on as a leader in the Indo-Pacific region," the deputy foreign minister said.

"We are in great need of increasing international support," he said.

Russia is currently occupying about 20 percent of Ukraine's territory and President Vladimir Putin is attempting to capture new ground in Ukraine's northeast near Kharkiv.

Sybiha also expressed his gratitude to Tokyo for supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peacebuilding initiative called "Peace Formula," which will be discussed at the first "Summit on Peace in Ukraine" slated for June 15 and 16 in Switzerland. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning to attend the international leader-level meeting, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Since Japan possesses unique expertise and experience gained from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis, Kyiv hopes Japan will take the lead in discussions on issues of nuclear safety at the peace summit. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains under Russian occupation, which poses a threat to the world, he said.

Maximizing the number of participants is crucial for the gathering to be successful, with high hopes for the involvement of emerging and developing countries, collectively labeled the Global South, Sybiha said. Kyiv is counting on Brazil, China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates in particular, he said.

"We believe this is an important step toward peace," which should not only be done in the interests of Ukraine, but also in the interests of the whole world, Sybiha said.

China can play a key role due its position within the United Nations and the influence it wields globally, the deputy foreign minister said.

"China's participation appears to be an important contribution to finding a way towards a just peace," Sybiha said.

Beijing, which maintains close ties with Moscow, could help minimize the risk of nuclear disaster and assist in the return of Ukrainian children forcefully deported by Russia. It could also work to ensure food security and freedom of navigation, including in the Black Sea.

Russia is not invited to the first peace summit but "it may be invited to the second," Sybiha said.
KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2024 - 10:20 | All, Japan, World

Japan's Princess Kako, a niece of Emperor Naruhito, left Tokyo for Greece on Saturday for a trip to mark 125 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries.

It will be the third official overseas visit of the younger daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, following her trips to Austria and Hungary in 2019 and Peru in November last year.

Her trip through June 1 coincides with the commemoration of the "Year of Culture and Tourism Between Japan and Greece."

In the Greek capital Athens, the princess will pay a courtesy call to President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and attend a commemorative event for the 125th anniversary, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

The princess's itinerary also includes visiting the Parthenon, situated in the World Heritage Site of the Acropolis of Athens. She is also scheduled to tour a facility for the hearing-impaired and an orphanage.

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KYODO NEWS - May 26, 2024 - 01:00 | Japan, All

Finance chiefs from the Group of Seven nations on Saturday expressed concerns about China's industrial policies that have flooded global markets with overproduced products, singling out the Asian powerhouse in a rare move as U.S.-China tensions escalate.

At their meeting in Italy, the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors made "progress" but stopped short of reaching an agreement on the use of proceeds from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's recovery. They left it up to their leaders to decide when they meet in June.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said the G7 reaffirmed their existing commitments to ensure stable movements in the currency market as excessive volatility would negatively affect the global economy.

The inclusion of the commitment is see as important for Japan, which has been keeping close tabs on excessive volatility in the currency market as the yen remains persistently weak despite suspected market interventions by Japanese authorities in recent months.

The finance chiefs from Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union, used strong language to criticize China.

"While reaffirming our interest in a balanced and reciprocal collaboration, we express concerns about China's comprehensive use of nonmarket policies and practices that undermines our workers, industries, and economic resilience," the G7 said in a joint statement.

The United States in particular has taken issue with China's practices, including its hefty government subsidies, which have allowed the overproduction of underpriced products and affected the world's largest economy.

U.S. President Joe Biden has announced a series of tariff hikes on Chinese imports, including electric vehicles, chips and other strategically important items, as he seeks another term as president.

Another key issue was how to continue providing G7 support to Ukraine.

The group vowed unwavering support to Kyiv, while it considers the feasibility of tapping the proceeds from Russian state assets that have been frozen as part of sanctions to hit its war chest.

"We reaffirm that, consistent with our respective legal systems, Russia's sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine," the G7 said, condemning Moscow's "unjustified, unprovoked" war.

Italian Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti told a separate press conference that the G7 is working very hard to reach an agreement but the task is "not easy."

The G7 leaders' summit is scheduled for June 13 to 15 in Italy's Apulia.

"I told the meeting that the use of frozen assets should be based on what is allowed under international law and this should be taken up at the summit," Suzuki said.

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Many G7 countries voice concern over China's excess production

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A group of Democratic lawmakers and advocates is urging the U.S. Department of Education to end its contract with MOHELA (Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority), citing a series of servicer failures that have negatively impacted millions of student loan borrowers.

The lawmakers argue that MOHELA's continued mismanagement of loan servicing, including inaccurate billing and poor customer service, has caused significant harm to borrowers, and it's time for the Education Department to take decisive action.

Growing Concerns and Legislative Push

The call to terminate MOHELA's contract comes in the wake of numerous complaints from borrowers about the company's handling of their student loans. Since the resumption of federal student loan payments in October, following a three-year pause due to the pandemic, MOHELA has been under increased scrutiny. One month after payments restarted, the Education Department withheld pay from MOHELA for failing to send on-time billing statements to over 2 million borrowers, marking the first time such a penalty was imposed on a loan servicer.

Democratic lawmakers, including Representatives Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, and Senator Ed Markey, have been vocal in their criticism of MOHELA. During a recent press conference, Rep. Omar stated, "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 they are facing and it is time for us to do the right thing." This sentiment was echoed by Rep. Pressley, who emphasized that terminating MOHELA's contract would send a clear message to other loan servicers about the importance of accountability and proper management.

READ MORE : Mohela Accused Of Deliberately Delaying Customer Service Calls, Mishandling Student Loans

Impact on Borrowers

The impact of MOHELA's failures on borrowers has been significant. Many have reported hours-long hold times to reach customer service, and some have even received notifications that loan forgiveness granted last year was reversed due to MOHELA's errors. These issues have caused frustration and financial uncertainty for borrowers who are already struggling to manage their student loan debt.

In addition to inaccurate billing and poor customer service, MOHELA has also been criticized for its handling of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren held a hearing in April to investigate MOHELA's management of the PSLF program. Although MOHELA's CEO Scott Giles was invited to testify before the Senate, the company declined, instead offering private briefings to address lawmakers' concerns. This move was seen by many as an attempt to avoid public accountability.

The Education Department has taken steps to address these issues by transferring over 1 million borrowers from MOHELA to new servicers. However, millions of borrowers remain under MOHELA's contract, prompting lawmakers to demand further action. "Enough is enough," said Rep. Pressley. "Terminate MOHELA's contract and put loan services on notice: we will not tolerate your negligence and exploitation; we will not let you profiteer off vulnerable student borrowers."

MOHELA's Response and the Path Forward

In response to the criticisms, a MOHELA spokesperson stated, "Borrowers are not better off when outside groups spread false and misleading information about our work as a federal contractor for FSA. We remain committed to continuing to provide the highest quality of customer service to the borrowers that we serve." Despite these assurances, the growing number of complaints from borrowers suggests that significant issues remain.

The Education Department has pledged to oversee all loan servicers more rigorously, withholding pay for those that fail to fulfill their obligations. However, Democratic lawmakers argue that more decisive action is needed, particularly in the case of MOHELA. Senator Markey captured the frustration of many borrowers and lawmakers by highlighting that MOHELA's handling of student loans has shown both incompetence and harmful intent. He emphasized that it is time to terminate MOHELA's contract due to their mismanagement, which has adversely affected young people's lives and their future planning.

As the debate over MOHELA's future continues, the focus remains on ensuring that student loan borrowers receive the support and service they deserve. Lawmakers are committed to holding servicers accountable and advocating for policies that protect borrowers from negligence and exploitation. The Education Department's decision on MOHELA's contract will be a critical step in this ongoing effort to improve the student loan servicing system and provide relief to millions of borrowers across the country.
In a significant move, the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors recently voted to eliminate the policy requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices across its campuses.

The 22-2 vote also included a directive to campus chancellors to reduce positions and spending related to DEI efforts. Instead, the board intends to implement a new policy focused on "equality within the university." This decision reflects a broader trend seen in other states, such as Texas and Florida, where DEI initiatives have faced legislative challenges.

The Rationale

The decision to eliminate the DEI policy was justified by the board as an effort to maintain a position of "principled neutrality" on politically contentious issues. Peter Hans, the System president, emphasized the university's role as a forum for diverse perspectives, stating, "It is not the job of the university to decide all the complex and multi-dimensional questions of how to balance and interpret identity." This reasoning aligns with arguments made by proponents of similar actions in other states, who argue that DEI initiatives can be perceived as advancing particular political ideologies.

Impact on Campus Communities

The implementation of the new policy is expected to have a significant impact on campus communities across the UNC System. While the board has assured that essential services for minority students will not disappear, the specifics of how these services will be maintained under the new policy remain unclear. The decision also raises concerns about the future of DEI-related positions and programs, as well as the broader implications for fostering an inclusive and equitable campus environment.

The board's decision has sparked a range of reactions from various stakeholders. Board member Pearl Burris-Floyd, who voted in favor of the policy change, emphasized the importance of continuing to support all students, regardless of the policy's name. However, critics argue that the decision represents a step backward in terms of promoting diversity and inclusion on campus. They argue that DEI initiatives are essential for addressing systemic inequities and creating a welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff.

Legal and Legislative Context

The decision by the UNC System Board of Governors comes in the context of broader legal and legislative challenges to DEI initiatives. States like Texas and Florida have already passed laws restricting the teaching of certain concepts related to race and gender, which has had a direct impact on DEI efforts in higher education. In North Carolina, lawmakers had considered similar legislative mandates but ultimately deferred to the UNC board's decision.

Looking ahead, the implementation of the new policy and its effects on campus life will be closely monitored. It remains to be seen how individual campuses will interpret and comply with the new directive, as well as how students, faculty, and staff will respond to the changes. The decision also raises broader questions about the role of universities in promoting diversity and inclusion in the face of political and ideological challenges.

The UNC System Board of Governors' decision to replace the DEI policy with a new "equality within the university" policy reflects a broader trend seen in other states. While the decision has been met with mixed reactions, its long-term impact on campus communities and the university's commitment to diversity and inclusion remains uncertain.
In a recent move that reflects the growing concern among scholars about the situation in Gaza, the American Sociological Association (ASA) has passed a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the region.

The resolution also expresses support for members' academic freedom, particularly their right to speak out against what is described as "Zionist occupation." This decision, which was made after an online vote, has sparked both praise and criticism within the ASA community.

Background and Context

The ASA, a prominent scholarly organization with approximately 8,000 regular members, has long been involved in social justice issues. The recent resolution on Gaza is not the first time the association has taken a stance on a controversial topic. In 2013, the ASA voted to endorse an academic boycott of Israel in protest against its treatment of Palestinians. This decision was met with mixed reactions, with some members applauding the ASA's commitment to human rights and others criticizing it for taking a one-sided approach to a complex political issue.

The current resolution on Gaza was proposed by a group called Sociologists for Palestine, which has been advocating for greater recognition of Palestinian rights within the ASA. The group argues that Palestinian voices are often marginalized within academic discourse and that scholars should have the freedom to critique what they see as unjust policies, including those related to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.

READ MORE : University Presidents Defend Negotiation Tactics To End Pro-Palestinian Protests At Congressional Hearing

The ASA Vote and Its Implications

The resolution on Gaza was put to a vote among ASA members, with about a third of the regular membership participating in the online ballot. Of those who voted, 59 percent supported the resolution, indicating a significant level of support for the call for a ceasefire and academic freedom. However, it is worth noting that the total number of voters represents only a fraction of the ASA's membership, suggesting that the issue may not have been a top priority for all members.

Joya Misra, the ASA's president, has defended the decision to put the resolution to a vote, arguing that it was important to allow members to have their say on such a critical issue. She has also emphasized the ASA's commitment to academic freedom, noting that scholars should be able to express their views on controversial topics without fear of reprisal.

Reactions and Controversy

The ASA's resolution on Gaza has sparked a lively debate within the association, with some members applauding the decision and others expressing concern about its implications. Supporters of the resolution argue that it is an important statement in support of human rights and academic freedom. They point to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where civilians continue to suffer from the effects of conflict and blockade, as evidence of the urgent need for a ceasefire.

However, critics of the resolution argue that it is overly politicized and one-sided. Some Jewish ASA members have expressed concern that the resolution unfairly singles out Israel for criticism while ignoring the role of Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. They also worry that the resolution could have a chilling effect on academic freedom, making scholars hesitant to express views that are critical of Palestinian leadership or supportive of Israel.

The ASA's resolution on Gaza reflects the complex and contentious nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the challenges of navigating such issues within academic circles. While the resolution has sparked controversy within the ASA community, it also highlights the importance of academic organizations taking a stand on critical social justice issues.

Moving forward, it will be important for the ASA to continue to engage with its members on these issues, ensuring that all voices are heard and that the association remains a forum for open and respectful dialogue. By doing so, the ASA can continue to play a constructive role in promoting human rights and academic freedom both within the scholarly community and beyond.
KYODO NEWS - May 25, 2024 - 20:41 | World

China has analyzed how the Starlink satellite internet service run by Elon Musk's SpaceX works in Taiwan and surrounding areas and is concerned about its intelligence-gathering and reconnaissance capabilities, according to a report by Chinese military researchers.

The analysis of the Starlink service was made as Beijing is preparing for a Taiwan contingency. The system, which links low-orbit satellites with portable user terminals, offers higher-speed internet access than other satellite services and has been used by Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.

The report published last year in a Chinese journal for spacecraft engineering experts noted China will "face severe tests" in responding to the Starlink service, which can be used to aid U.S. military operations. The system's operational capabilities have been "fully demonstrated" on the Ukrainian battlefield, it said.

Those who conduct regional operations targeting hotspot areas "must pay attention" to the Starlink service's "spatial domain impact," according to the report titled "Analysis of influence of Starlink constellation on China's territory and its surrounding space domain."

The researchers were apparently referring to the Taiwan Strait, where tensions have been rising. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and aims to bring the self-ruled democratic island into its fold, by force if necessary.

The report found that more than 90 percent of mainland China, Taiwan and surrounding waters were covered by the Starlink service and that the maximum noncoverage time period without any satellite communications had been shortened to 40 seconds in those areas.

However, a relatively low number of satellites were available over the major Taiwan cities of Taipei and Tainan, and it was not difficult to implement measures against the capabilities of the Starlink service there, the report said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the country's military to promote the building of outer space systems and enhance cyber defense. Beijing is also eyeing the establishment of its own version of the Starlink service, observers said.

In April, a new unit called the Information Support Force was created within the military for "coordinated development and application of the network information system." The Chinese Defense Ministry said the unit will play a key role in fighting modern wars.

A different team of researchers in the Chinese military has simulated operations to jam Starlink satellite communications.

Takahiro Tsuchiya, an associate professor at Kyoto University of Advanced Science who is well-versed in Chinese military affairs, said Beijing fears that Starlink would detect the movements of front-line troops and make them public in the event of an invasion of Taiwan.

China, which is lagging behind in the development of satellite communications, must have been exploring the possibility of utilizing such technology for cognitive warfare against Taiwan, Tsuchiya said.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian troops have used the Starlink service for battlefield communications. Russia has also used the service by obtaining Starlink terminals unofficially for communication in areas that Moscow controls in Ukraine, according to media reports.

Related coverage:

U.S., Chinese defense chiefs to hold 1st in-person talks since 2022

China continues military drills surrounding Taiwan for 2nd day

China conducts military drills around Taiwan as "punishment"
CARICC: Year of Perspective

Information exchange and coordination between the competent bodies of the CARICC member states and other countries has resulted in the dismantlement of 23 transnational drug smuggling channels, and seizure of more than 600 kg of drugs and the arrest of 46 members of different criminal organizations.

CARICC 7 member states (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) have signed the Agreement at presidential level and ratified it in their respective parliaments, thus providing a solid legal basis for the cooperation on the CARICC platform.

Host country agreement, specifying immunities and privileges for CARICC building, its staff, Liaison Officers from the member states and observer countries in the host country was ratified by the Parliament of Kazakhstan in early October 2011.

February. A working meeting of the case officers of Operational Divisions of the competent authorities of Azerbaijan, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, USA, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, as well as Interpol, aimed at coordination efforts to disrupt activities of trans-national drug-trafficking groups (mainly West-African drug trafficking groups) involved in trafficking of Afghan opiates to Europe and China was initiated by the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyz Republic and held at CARICC.

March. CARICC Council (Management Board) Meeting took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During the meeting it was agreed to submit the Agreement on "Exchange and Protection of Secret Information" to the member states for signing. A decision was taken to launch a multilateral international operation on West-African drug trafficking groups.

The Kyrgyz SSDC conducted a successful operation on arrest of the well known "drug lord" with about 4.5 kg of heroin. Currently CARICC is working with a number of countries on links of the criminal and getting additional information that might help to the investigation in Kyrgyzstan.

July. CARICC jointly with the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan conducted a meeting in Baku on disrupting activities of transnational drug trafficking groups. The meeting was attended by the participants from CARICC member states and its partners from Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, USA and SECI Center. It was agreed to continue collection and exchange of information on the drug dealers originating from African countries within the framework of the operation "Black Tulip", and also on big supplies of hashish from Afghanistan and Iran, methamphetamine from Iran and precursors to Afghanistan, using all capacities of the involved countries and organizations.

October. JPC liaison officers (Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan) visited CARICC to get familiar with the activities of the Centre, establish and practice usage of secure communication channels with CARICC in order to exchange information and intelligence between the Centers.

November. Head of Drug Control Agency of Tajikistan Mr. Nazarov visited CARICC to discuss cooperation issues between the agencies and to sign an Agreement on Exchange and Protection of secret information on behalf of Tajikistan.

China, Romania and European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) requested observer status at CARICC.

Liaison Officer from Afghanistan was identified to be seconded to CARICC.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2024) The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Saturday conducted an interactive session on Building Wealth through Investment in furtherance of its efforts to promote investor awareness and engagement.

SECP in collaboration with pakistan stock exchange Limited (PSX), National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL) and Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited (CDC) organized the event, said a news release.

The session was part of the two-day EconFest Islamabad event being held at the Gandhara Citizens Club, F-9 Park, Islamabad.

The panelists for the session included Chairman SECP Akif Saeed, chief executive officers of psx and NCCPL, and a senior representative from CDC.

The panelists emphasized the need to embrace financial literacy and make prudent investment for wealth accumulation over the longer horizon,the press release added.

They provided elaborate guidance on various investment instruments, in addition to describing the roles of their respective institutions are playing for the efficient and transparent functioning of the capital markets.

They also suggested to visit websites of their respective institutions to access various types of information.

The audience, which included professionals and students from diverse fields and backgrounds, gained from the experience and expertise of the panelists by closely interacting with them.

The younger audiences, in particular, expressed their enthusiasm to benefit from the ever-increasing digitalization of the capital markets to explore new investment opportunities and avenues.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2024) Appreciating the International Court of Justice's ruling, ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah and ensure uninterrupted humanitarian access to Gaza, Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani on Saturday called for the implementation its orders by Israel to stop further bloodshed.

He also urged the UN Security Council and the international community to take measures to end Israels brutal campaign, protect civilians, and hold Israel accountable for its brutalities and gross human rights violations committed against Palestinians, a post on President of Pakistan X account said.

The acting president reaffirmed Pakistan's support for Palestinians' right to self-determination and an independent, sovereign and viable state with pre-1967 borders.
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(@Abdulla99267510)

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says during his telephonic conversation with the Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris yesterday, he lauded International Court of Justice decision to order Israel to stop its assault on Gaza and Rafah.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-May 25th, 2024) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan's strong commitment to the just struggle of the Palestinian people.

In a Post on his X handle, he said that during his telephonic conversation with the Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris yesterday, he lauded International Court of Justice decision to order Israel to stop its assault on Gaza and Rafah.

Admiring Ireland's recent decision to recognize the state of Palestine, the Prime Minister said this will not only send a message of hope and solidarity to the innocent Palestinians who are suffering Israel's brutal atrocities but would also go a long way in promoting Palestine cause and encourage other countries to follow suit.

The Prime Minister hoped the oppressed people of Kashmir would also receive similar attention from the international community as they too have been enduring brutal occupation and denial of fundamental human rights for the last seven decades.
New Delhi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2024) At least 16 people were killed, most of them children, when a fire broke out at a packed amusement park arcade in India on Saturday, officials said.

Footage posted on social media, which AFP was not able to immediately verify, showed a ferocious blaze engulfing a structure, with black smoke pouring into the sky.

Prabhav Joshi, the district collector of Rajkot, in the western state of Gujarat, told AFP that 16 people had died in the inferno and nine were hospitalised.

Rescue operations were continuing and the toll could rise further, he added.

Some media reports put the number of dead as high as 24.

More than 300 people were in the two-storey structure at the TRP amusement and theme park when the blaze broke out as it was a summer holiday weekend, Rajkot fire officer Ilesh Kher told reporters.

"People got trapped as a temporary structure at the facility collapsed near the entrance, making it difficult for the people to come out," he said.

The flames spread rapidly because of its flammable material, he added.

Pictures from the scene showed a corrugated metal structure largely in ruins.

Gujarat is the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who posted on X: "Extremely distressed by the fire mishap in Rajkot.

My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured."

- Fires common in India -

It took nearly an hour to douse the fire, with about a dozen ambulances carrying the injured to hospital.

Fire department officials said a short-circuit was suspected as the cause and police at the site said the bodies of the dead were heavily burned, making identification difficult.

Pictures from an Instagram account that appears to belong to the facility show a lively gaming and recreational centre, with teenagers enjoying activities such as bowling, go-karting and trampolining.

Fires are common in India due to poor building practices, overcrowding and a lack of adherence to safety regulations.

In February, 11 people were killed in a fire that ripped through a paint factory in the capital New Delhi.

In 2022, at least 27 people died and dozens more were injured after a huge fire broke out at a four-storey commercial building in the city.

In 2016, more than 100 people were killed after a massive explosion during a banned fireworks display in the southern state of Kerala.
Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2024) An Israeli drone strike in central Syria killed two fighters from Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement on Saturday, a war monitor said.

"An Israeli drone fired two missiles at a Hezbollah car and truck near the town of Qusayr in Homs province, as they were on their way to Al-Dabaa military airport, killing at least two Hezbollah fighters and wounding others," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It was the third strike against Hezbollah targets in Syria in about a week.

On Monday, Israeli strikes in the Qusayr area, which is close to the Lebanese border, killed eight pro-Iranian fighters, said Observatory, a Britain-based monitor with a network of sources in Syria.

At least one Hezbollah fighter was among those killed, a source from Hezbollah told AFP at the time.

Another strike, on May 18, targeted "a Hezbollah commander and his companion", the Observatory said. It did not report any casualties.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow its arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence there.
Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2024) Rafael Nadal said Saturday that it is likely he is appearing at the French Open for the final time but cautioned it was "not 100% certain".

"There is a good chance that it will be my last French Open, but I cannot say that I am 100% certain that it will be the last," said the Spaniard.

Nadal, who has won the French Open 14 times and will celebrate his 38th birthday on June 3, faces world number four Alexander Zverev in the first round in Paris on Monday.

The Spanish legend has racked up 112 wins in 115 matches at the tournament since his title-winning 2005 debut when he was just 19.

He has 22 Grand Slam titles -- second only to Novak Djokovic's 24 on the all-time men's list -- but his career has been plagued by injuries.

Nadal has played just four tournaments since January last year after suffering a hip injury and then a muscle tear.

As a result, his ranking has slumped to 276 in the world and comes into the French Open unseeded.
Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2024) Russia said on Saturday it had captured another village in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, while Kyiv said Moscow was intensifying attacks away from the northeastern Kharkiv region.

The Russian defence ministry said that troops had "taken control of the village of Arkhangelske", located to the north of the city of Donetsk.

The small frontline village is near the town of Ocheretyne, which Russia said it had captured early this month.

Russia's latest claim of territorial gain came as Ukraine has said Moscow is intensifying attacks away from the Kharkiv region, where it launched an offensive on May 10.

Ukraine's General Staff said on Saturday that Russian forces were "particularly active" near the town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

It said six firefights were ongoing near the villages of Kalynove, Yasnobrodivka and Sokil, south of the village of Arkhangelske.

Ukrainian police meanwhile said three civilians had been killed and two wounded in Russian attacks on Donetsk region, where there had been over 1,800 strikes over the last day.

On Saturday, Ukraine said its forces had repelled two attacks in the Kharkiv region and fighting was continuing near the town of Vovchansk, which Moscow is attempting to seize.

Russia's defence ministry said its troops had fought off two counter-attacks near the border, one close to Vovchansk.

The governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Synegubov, said on Saturday that Russians had hit the railway hub of Kupiansk-Vuzloviy with a guided bomb, wounding at least five people.

He did not provide further details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he had visited the city of Kharkiv and met military officials to discuss the defence of the region, particularly of Vovchansk.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th May, 2024) The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned rising attacks on humanitarian workers and UN personnel, urging all conflict parties to ensure their safety and access.

The resolution 2730 (2024) was adopted with a vote of 14 to one -- Russia abstained.

The 15-member Council also denounced disinformation, information manipulation and incitement to violence against humanitarian and UN personnel.

Led by Switzerland and co-sponsored by over 97 nations, including Pakistan, the resolution noted deep concern about the particular vulnerability of national and locally recruited personnel who account for the majority of safety and security incidents.

The Security Council emphasized the need for concerted efforts and concrete risk mitigation strategies to enhance the safety and security of these workers.

The resolution does not single out any conflict, even as Israeli attacks continue in Gaza, and battles rage in Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, among other hotspots.

The war in Gaza alone has claimed the lives of over 224 humanitarian workers, including over 190 UNRWA (the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees) and other UN agencies personnel.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the death toll of U.N. staff in Gaza unprecedented in the world bodys nearly 80-year history.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said it had been a tragic year, and welcomed the resolution, saying that member states should do all they can to implement it.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, said Arab nations are grateful to Switzerland and told reporters the resolution is tailored to Gaza, without necessarily mentioning Gaza by name. Thats because it calls for protection of humanitarian and U.N. staff trying to help civilians, he said.

The war has also seen the killing of other humanitarian personnel, including seven World Central Kitchen workers who died in an Israeli airstrike last month.

Under its terms, the resolution also condemned disinformation, information manipulation, and incitement to violence against aid workers and UN personnel.

It encouraged Member States and the UN system to take appropriate action to address the increasing threat of disinformation campaigns and misinformation that undermine trust in UN and humanitarian organizations, put personnel at risk and hinder humanitarian activities.

Additionally, it urged States to conduct full, prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigations within their jurisdiction of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed against aid workers and UN and associated personnel.

The resolution requested the Secretary-General to report swiftly on widespread issues regarding the safety and security of humanitarians and UN personnel, their premises, and assets.

The Council expressed its intention to give full attention to such information when these situations are brought to its attention.

Also on Friday, the Security Council adopted a presidential statement acknowledging the challenging security situation in West Africa and the Sahel, including armed conflicts, the spread of terrorism and violent extremism, and transnational organized crime.

The Council expressed deep concern over the intensification of inter-communal violence, particularly in the central Sahel, and increased tensions and conflicts between farmers and herders in the region.

It also recognized the effects of climate change, ecological changes, natural disasters, and their impact on food security, society, the economy, and regional stability.

APP/ift


After the tensions in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious and glamorous events on the Formula 1 calendar has arrived: The Monaco Grand Prix 2024. Held on the iconic street circuit in the heart of Monte Carlo, the driver's skill and precision will be tested.

The Circuit

Open-wheel single-seater racing car track in Monte Carlo, Monaco (Photo by alxpin/gettyimages)

The 3.337-kilometer Circuit de Monaco is the shortesttrack on the F1 calendar, winding through the narrow streets of the principality. With tight corners, elevation changes, and no real straights, overtaking is extremely difficult, making qualifying crucial. The circuit features legendary turns like the Fairmont Hairpin, Casino Square, and the iconic tunnel section.

Mercedes Takes Top Spot in The First Practice

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG Petronas Team, driving his car during the Formula One preseason tests, on May 8, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Joan Cros Garcia/Corbis via Getty Images) Could this be Hamilton's final shot at winning in Monaco to complete a rare career grand slam? The seven-time champion has never won here despite his success. Or will Leclerc finally breakthrough for a dream home win after his star-crossed luck in recent years?

Max Verstappen ended up fourth in the second qualifying although noting on his team radio that he felt the car was bumpy with Lando Norris in the lead for McLaren in P5 with only one-hundredth of a second clear of Ferraris Carlos Sainz in P6, while Lance Stroll claimed P7 for Aston Martin followed by Red Bulls Sergio Perez in P8, who had also reported issues with his RB20 ride.

We also cant forget Norris, who could potentially steal the spotlight from Verstappen, claiming a second win in the 2024 season.. especially after last weeks scenes at Imola which saw bonding between the two cars in the final laps as Norris moved closer to Verstappen but ended up claiming a sweet second.

The Schedule

The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix weekend runs from Friday, May 24th to Sunday, May 26th. Friday has two free practice sessions, with another practice on Saturday morning followed by qualifying in the afternoon to determine the starting grid. The 78-lap race takes place on Sunday at 9:00 AM ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

Tomorrow, as the third and final practice commences, all eyes will be on the top teams to see who can master the unforgiving circuit. Later in the day, we will see the qualifying which will have its twists and turns as there are a few realistic overtaking opportunities.

The unpredictable nature of the Monaco Grand Prix is part of what makes it such a captivating and exciting event. The idea of surprise winners and unexpected twists and turns keeps fans on the edge of their seats, adding to the overall drama and excitement of the race. It's this element of the unknown that makes the Monaco Grand Prix one of the most anticipated and celebrated events on the Formula 1 calendar.

The Crown Jewel of Formula 1 Awaits

While the on-track action captivates, the off-track scenes are just as much a part of the spectacle. Expect the harbor to be filled with mega-yachts and the streets lined with immaculately dressed race fans. From casino parties to red carpet events, Monaco's rich and famous will be out in full force to experience the glitz and glamour that has defined this Grand Prix for decades. The 2024 edition promises to continue Monaco's legacy as the crown jewel of Formula 1 - an intense battle met with unmatched lavishness and atmosphere.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Sok Chenda Sophea, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Sok Chenda Sophea, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, on Friday in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that as a staunch friend, China firmly supports Cambodia in pursuing a successful development path suited to its national conditions, in maintaining stability, promoting development and improving its people's livelihoods, and in playing a more important role in international and regional affairs.

China stands ready to work with Cambodia to uphold the fine tradition of solidarity and mutual assistance, implement the strategic consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, steer the construction of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the right direction, deepen strategic mutual trust, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, share development and revitalization opportunities, and join hands to march toward modernization, Wang noted.

China is willing to encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia and share experience in building special economic zones, Wang said. It is also ready to help Cambodia accelerate industrialization, support Cambodia in achieving green and low-carbon development, and expand its imports of marketable agricultural products from Cambodia, he added.

Wang stressed that China looks forward to strengthening coordination and cooperation with Cambodia to build a closer Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future, and to working with Cambodia and other countries in the region to grasp the main stream of regional development and cooperation, eliminate interference and sabotage by external forces, jointly maintain regional peace and stability, and safeguard the common and legitimate interests of all countries.

Sok Chenda Sophea said that Cambodia attaches great importance to Cambodia-China relations and thinks highly of the achievements of Cambodia-China cooperation. Cambodia abides by the one-China principle and firmly supports China's efforts to safeguard its core interests.

The two sides agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Diamond Hexagon cooperation framework, promote the construction of the Fish and Rice Corridor and the Industrial Development Corridor, and strengthen cooperation on agriculture, infrastructure construction, connectivity, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, human resources development and special economic zones.

The two sides will take the China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year 2024 as an opportunity to deepen cooperation on education, tourism, youth, localities and vocational skills training, and push the construction of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future to a new level.

The two countries agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on regional and international affairs, strengthen China-ASEAN cooperation and Lancang-Mekong cooperation further, and push East Asian regional cooperation in the right direction. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Sok Chenda Sophea, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador swept into office nearly six years ago with a simple motto laying out his administration's priorities: "For the good of all, first the poor."

His administration scrapped a host of existing social programs and installed their own, quickly increasing overall social spending to unprecedented heights for senior citizens, unemployed youth, students, farmers and people with disabilities.

But less noticed was that the new roster of social programs dramatically shifted who was getting that money. Suddenly, Mexico's poorest citizens were receiving a smaller portion of the spending and less money than under previous administrations.

Meanwhile, some of Mexico's wealthiest started getting money they didn't really need.

The shift owed largely to a massive "universal" pension benefit for seniors that Lopez Obrador launched on a chilly January day outside Mexico City in 2019, just weeks after taking office. He announced he was more than doubling the existing federal pension  it has since doubled again  and expanding it regardless of income to people who previously didn't qualify, like those who received another pension from their former employer.

If much more money isn't poured into the system, "universal programs spread benefits more thinly over the whole population with the result that the people who were most in need get worse," said Robert Greenstein, a fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. "Poverty can go up. Inequality can be greater than it would be under a more targeted scheme."

But Lopez Obrador's social programs have proven so popular that even the opposition candidates running to replace him in the June 2 election have promised to expand them. Some 28 million Mexicans will benefit from one of the programs this year. In Sunday night's final presidential debate, candidate Xochitl Galvez said she would lower the minimum pension age to 60 from 65.

The pension is the largest social program by budget in Lopez Obrador's slate of handouts, far surpassing the also well known Youth Building the Future, which pays young adults who neither study nor work to apprentice, and Sowing Life, which pays farmers to plant fruit or lumber-producing trees on their land.

Combined with the elimination of predecessors' more targeted programs that had focused on Mexico's most in need, experts say the pension dramatically shifted the distribution of government funds.

Four months from the end of Lopez Obrador's six-year term, several million people have escaped poverty. But factors beyond the social programs are involved, including Lopez Obrador's nearly tripling of the minimum wage and Mexicans abroad continuing to send home record amounts of money to relatives.

Curiously, there are about 400,000 more Mexicans in extreme poverty than at the beginning of his term, according to government data.

A government report published every two years that divides Mexico's population into 10 segments by income says the very poorest segment in 2018 received about 19% of social spending. Just two years later, that poorest group was receiving only about 6%, said Manuel Martinez Espinoza, a researcher at Mexico's National Council of the Humanities, Sciences and Technologies. For reasons unknown the government has not published the 2022 report.

Cash to families, but with a catch

At a counter in a central Mexico City market, Arturo Garcia leaned over a steaming bowl of tripe stew on a recent morning. The 73-year-old retired cab driver said he stopped taking fares during the pandemic.

Now the $362 (6,000 pesos) he receives from his universal pension every two months and some money he gets renting out a storage space in his home to street vendors are his only sources of income.

"You have money or you don't have money, they give it to you," Garcia said of the pension. "The government is trying to make us all equal."

One of the programs Lopez Obrador ended when he took office was called Prospera. It had targeted Mexico's poorest families for some two decades under various names with what were known as conditional cash transfers. Poor families received money, but it was restricted by income level and recipients had to meet some requirements to get it, like taking their children for medical checkups.

The president said the program was clientelist and suffered from systematic corruption, though instances of corruption have also been found in Lopez Obrador's programs.

Targeted social programs like Prospera attempt to be more precise in steering public funds to specific segments of the population. For that reason they tend to be less expensive than universal programs.

Critics, however, say they stigmatize the poor; have less political support, which makes them vulnerable to being cut; require more administration to determine eligibility and fewer people enroll, said Greenstein, the fellow at the Brookings Institution, adding that those risks are not inherent in targeted programs.

Mexico's Welfare Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Prospera's funding was redirected to Lopez Obrador's programs, principally the universal pension, signaling an important shift from a means-tested program that largely benefitted poor children to one that provided cash to all senior citizens.

One of the more cynical criticisms of the shift is that children don't vote, but seniors do.

People who don't really need it are getting more

The other side of Mexico's poorest receiving a smaller proportion of social spending under this administration is that people who don't really need it are getting more.

One morning in late April, Cesar Herrera brought his elderly mother to a branch of the Banco Bienestar, or Welfare Bank, in Mexico City to withdraw her pension payment. The bank was created by Lopez Obrador as a vehicle to get payments from his administration's programs directly into the hands of Mexicans.

Herrera said he and his mother had driven by in February when the last pension deposit was made and saw the line stretching down the street. But unlike many seniors who live payment to payment, Herrera said his mother didn't need the money, so they left.

"However, it's there," he said when they returned a month and a half later. "Of course you have to take it."

The ninth out of 10 income strata, or the second highest, analyzed by the government went from receiving about $4.40 of every $100 in social spending in 2018 to getting about $10 in 2020, said Martinez, the researcher at the humanities, sciences and technologies council.

Martinez said his field work in Chiapas, Mexico's poorest state, found many people who were not receiving as much money as they had previously under Prospera, but who nevertheless fervently supported Lopez Obrador.

"I've talked with a lot of people in my field work, they feel valued, they feel the president values them, which they didn't feel before," Martinez said.

Martinez hypothesizes that the growth in extreme poverty during this administration was due in part to the elimination of Prospera but also the fact that people in extreme poverty tend to work in the informal sector  which would not have benefited equally from the increased minimum wage. Another factor was the COVID-19 pandemic forced a lot of families to exhaust their limited savings on health care.

Much of the back-and-forth between Lopez Obrador's anointed successor Claudia Sheinbaum and the opposition candidate Galvez has been the president and Sheinbaum insisting that Galvez will end the social programs if she wins  and Galvez promising that she won't. Much of that debate is unnecessary since the pension is now enshrined in the constitution.

Martinez said that even at the current 65 minimum age the program is burning through public funds too rapidly.

"In the short term, it's a time bomb because it's going to generate problems because it isn't fiscally sustainable," he said.
Egypt said Friday it has agreed to send United Nations humanitarian aid trucks through Israels main crossing into the Gaza Strip, but it was unclear if they will be able to enter the territory as fighting raged in the southern city of Rafah amid Israels escalating offensive there.

Gazas humanitarian crisis has spiraled as the U.N. and other aid agencies say the entry of food and other supplies has plunged dramatically since Israels Rafah offensive began more than two weeks ago. On Friday, the top U.N. court  the International Court of Justice  ordered Israel to halt the Rafah offensive, although Israel is unlikely to comply.

At the heart of the problem lie the two main crossings through which an average of 300 trucks of aid a day had been entering Gaza before the offensive began.

Israeli troops seized the Rafah crossing into Egypt, which has been inoperative since. The nearby Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza has remained open, and Israel says it has been sending hundreds of trucks a day into it. But while commercial trucks have successfully crossed, the U.N. says it cannot reach Kerem Shalom to pick up aid as it enters because fighting in the area makes it too dangerous.

As a result, the U.N. says it has received only 143 trucks from the crossing in the past 19 days. Hundreds of truckloads have been sitting on the Gaza side of the crossing unretrieved, according to Israeli officials, who say U.N. manpower limitations are to blame. U.N. and other aid agencies had to rely on the far smaller number of trucks entering daily from a single crossing in northern Gaza and via a U.S.-built pier bringing supplies by sea.

Humanitarian groups are scrambling to get food to Palestinians as some 900,000 people flee Rafah, scattering across central and southern Gaza. Aid workers warn that Gaza is near famine. UNRWA, the main U.N agency in the humanitarian effort, had to halt food distribution in Rafah because it had run out of supplies.

The Egyptian announcement appeared to resolve a political obstacle on one side of the border.

Israel says it has kept the Rafah crossing open and asked Egypt to coordinate with it on sending aid convoys through it. Egypt refused, fearing the Israeli hold will remain permanent, and demanded Palestinians be put back in charge of the facility. The White House has been pressing Egypt to resume the flow of trucks.

In a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi agreed to allow trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel to go to the Kerem Shalom crossing until a solution is found for the Rafah crossing, el-Sissis office said in a statement.

But it remained unclear whether the U.N. will be able to access additional trucks coming from Egypt.

UNRWA did not immediately reply to requests for comment. In a post on social media outlet X on Thursday, it said, We could resume [food distribution in Rafah] tomorrow if the crossing reopened & we were provided with safe routes.

Mercy Corps, an aid group operating in Gaza, said in a statement Friday that the offensive had caused the functional closure  of the two main lifelines of aid and has brought the humanitarian system to its knees.

If dramatic changes do not occur, including opening all border crossings to safely surge aid into these areas, we fear that a wave of secondary mortality will result, with people succumbing to the combination of hunger, lack of clean water and sanitation, and the spread of disease in areas where there is little medical care, it said.

Fighting appeared to escalate in Rafah. Witnesses said bombardment intensified Friday in eastern parts of the city, near Kerem Shalom, but shelling was also taking place in central, southern and western districts closer to the Rafah crossing.

Israeli leaders have said they must uproot Hamas fighters from Rafah to complete the destruction of the group after its October 7 terror attack.

Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and abducted roughly 250 others in its October 7 attack. Around half of those hostages have since been freed, most in swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during a weeklong cease-fire in November.

Israels campaign of bombardment and offensives in Gaza has killed more than 35,800 Palestinians and wounded more than 80,200, the Gaza Health Ministry said Friday. Its count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Reports are emerging of new atrocity crimes being committed in a concerted campaign of violence and destruction by Myanmars military against the largely Muslim Rohingya people in northern Rakhine state.

We are receiving frightening and disturbing reports from northern Rakhine state in Myanmar of the impacts of the conflict on civilian lives and property, Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Friday in a briefing to journalists in Geneva.

Some of the most serious allegations concern incidents of killing of Rohingya civilians and the burning of their property, she said, noting that tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced in recent days by fighting in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships.

She said that information gathered in testimony from victims, eyewitnesses, satellite images, and online video and pictures over the last week indicate that Buthidaung town has been largely burned.

We have received information indicating that the burning started on 17 May, two days after the military had retreated from the town and the Arakan Army claimed to have taken full control, she said.

Speaking in Bangkok, James Rodehaver, head of Myanmar Team, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said his team had spoken to many sources on the ground and reviewed numerous materials, many of which were deemed to be credible.

Our offices are corroborating information further, particularly in establishing who were the perpetrators of the burning.

One survivor described seeing dozens of dead bodies as he fled the town. Another survivor said that he was among a group of displaced persons numbering in the tens of thousands, who attempted to move outside of the town to safety but were blocked by the Arakan Army, Rodehaver said, pointing out that the Arakan Army had abused survivors and extorted money from them as they fled the town.

The Arakan Army is an armed ethnic group fighting as part of an alliance against the Myanmar military.

Rodehaver said, In the weeks leading up to the burning of Buthidaung, the Myanmar team of the U.N. human rights offices has documented renewed attacks on Rohingya civilians by both the Arakan Army and by the military in northern Rakhine state, including many by aerial strikes and drones.

He said his office also has received reports of shooting at unarmed fleeing villagers, multiple disappearances and burnings of homes, and has confirmed four cases of beheadings.

Rodehaver said the military has been actively targeting the Rohingya for years and has actively enforced draconian and discriminatory restrictions affecting all aspects of their lives.

It is one of the reasons why the Rohingya, whenever they were asked to leave Buthidaung and other villages, have been very reluctant to move because they have needed special permission to move outside of their township of residence. They also have nowhere else to go.

They, of course, have learned very hard lessons in 2017, knowing that whenever movement starts, it usually ends [with] them leaving their homes, never to see them again, he said.

In August 2017, more than a million Rohingya fled to Coxs Bazaar in Bangladesh to escape violence and persecution in Myanmar. Currently, an estimated 600,000 Rohingya live in Rakhine state. Although they have lived in Myanmar for generations, the government considers them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and refuses to grant them citizenship.

The Myanmar junta, which has been at war with its people for decades, recently has suffered many defeats. One consequence is young men have been conscripted from the Rohingya to fight its battles, by promising them many benefits, such as more food rations for their families and a promise of citizenship.

Rodehaver calls that an insidious ploy by military leaders.

They know that most of these men have never had any sort of combat training or self-defense training. So, they are largely being sent to the front lines as human shields or as cannon fodder, and the military knows that very well.

The military also told the Rohingya, if you run away and you do not serve, we will arrest you or cut the rations to your family. So, they use a variety of pressures to convince the Rohingya to join. We have had reports that from 1,500 to 2,000 men have been recruited at this point, he said.

Tom Andrews, the U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, warned Thursday of ominous signs of another Rohingya bloodbath in Rakhine state if the international community were to continue to turn a blind eye and fail to take action to save the lives of thousands of Rohingya.

Once again, the world seems to be failing a desperate people in their hour of peril, while a hate-driven unnatural disaster unfolds in real time in Myanmars Rakhine state, he said.

Mirroring that assessment, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk is calling for an immediate end to the violence, and for all civilians to be protected without any distinction based on identity.

Prompt and unhindered humanitarian relief must be allowed to flow, and all parties must comply fully and unconditionally with international law, he said.
Police in central Pakistan said Saturday that hundreds of Muslims violently attacked a minority Christian settlement over blasphemy allegations, resulting in injuries to several people.



The mob attack occurred in the city of Sargodha in the Punjab province, the countrys most populous.



Witnesses and minority rights leaders said protesters ransacked and burned down the house, as well as a small shoemaking factory of a 70-year-old Christian man they accused of desecrating Islams holy book, the Quran. He was severely beaten and injured in the process, his relatives reported.



A police statement said their forces promptly responded to the crisis and rescued at least 10 Christians and brought them to safety before dispersing the crowd. Several of those rescued suffered injuries and were undergoing treatment in a local hospital.



The police statement noted that clashes with angry protesters also left 10 security personnel injured. It added that deploying hundreds of additional units in and around the Christian settlement helped defuse the religious tensions.



Senior provincial police officers have reported the detention of up to 20 suspects in connection with the mob attack, promising more arrests in the ongoing crackdown. They said that an investigation into the blasphemy allegations was underway.



Violent mob attacks against religious minorities in majority-Muslim Pakistan are not uncommon.



In August 2023, thousands of people in the Jaranwala district of Punjab attacked and burned 21 churches and damaged more than 90 Christian properties after accusing two Christian brothers of blasphemy. Several Christian families fled their homes because of the violence. Police arrested more than 250 persons, including the three Christians accused of desecrating a Quran.



Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, and mere allegations have led to mobs lynching dozens of suspects  even some in police custody. Insulting the Quran or Islamic beliefs is punishable by death under the country's blasphemy laws, though no one has ever been executed.



Critics have long called for reforming the blasphemy laws, saying they are often misused to settle personal scores. Hundreds of suspects, mostly Muslims, are languishing in jails in Pakistan because external pressures deter judges from moving their trials forward.



"While the majority of those imprisoned for blasphemy were Muslim, religious minorities were disproportionately affected, the U.S. State Department noted in its annual report on human rights practices in Pakistan.



"Lower courts often failed to adhere to basic evidentiary standards in blasphemy cases, which civil society groups and lawyers ascribed to fear of retaliation from religious groups if they acquitted blasphemy defendants, and most convicted persons spent years in jail before higher courts eventually overturned their convictions or ordered their release, the report noted.
Agnes Scelle grew up listening to her parents stories about life in occupied France, living near the Normandy town of Carentan-les-Marais. She heard of the knife pushed up against her fathers throat for trying to block a strategic river, of how German soldiers held her mother at gunpoint.

They were very afraid, said Scelle, a former postal worker and village mayor, who still lives in her familys ancestral home. Even when the American soldiers had landed, they didnt know what was going on because there were bombings.

As Normandy prepares for the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings on June 6, locals like Scelle are focusing on another war, as Russia gains ground in Ukraine.

The war is at Europes doorstep, so of course were afraid, Scelle said. We need to stick together, the Americans and the European Union, in case we see another conflict on our soil.

That message is expected to resonate next month, as onetime D-Day allies gather to mark the 80th anniversary of landings on Omaha Beach, roughly 30 km from Carentan-les-Marais. But the celebrations come as some Europeans worry that decades-old transatlantic ties may unravel, along with a U.S. commitment to Kyiv.

The war in Ukraine is shaping this latest D-Day commemoration in other ways. Host France has invited Russia to the official ceremonies, but not Russian President Vladimir Putin. Even including Moscow has reportedly sparked tensions on the part of other WWII allies.

I cant say what the solution is for this commemoration, said Denis Peschanski, a World War II historian at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Whats certain is we refuse to deny the fundamental contribution of the Soviet army in the liberation. We would never have had a successful landing in Normandy if there hadnt been 180 German divisions that were blocked on the eastern front by Soviet soldiers.

Like other towns across Normandy, Carentan-les-Marais  known to locals as Carentan  has a full schedule of D-Day events running before and well after official ceremonies. Among them: a parachute drop in period clothes, a parade of World War II military vehicles, and an opportunity to meet Ukrainian war veterans and view a phalanx of donated ambulances bound for Ukraines battlefields.

Theres also the wedding of 100-year-old U.S. World War II veteran Harold Terens to 94-year-old Jeanne Swerlin. Carentans mayor, Jean-Pierre Lhonneur, will officiate at the ceremony.

"If you come here for the 80th anniversary, youll see we almost live in an American state, said Carentans deputy mayor, Sebastien Lesne. There will be many American flags flying from windows here to celebrate the peace we got back  and especially to say thank you to the veterans who are coming back this year, and who return every year.

Price of freedom

A strategic crossroad, cut through by highways, waterways and a railway, Carentan saw a pitched six-day battle before American forces defeated the towns German occupiers on June 12, 1944.

Scelle still remembers her parents accounts of German occupation. Troops lived in her home in the village of Baupte, a few kilometers from Carentan. It was a regular army, as opposed to Nazi troops, she said. If you were nice to them, things went well.

But when her father threw stones into the village river to try to block German passage, the soldiers threatened him with a knife. After the D-Day landings, they demanded of her mother at gunpoint that she disclose the location of arriving U.S. soldiers. Her family fled their home under falling bombs and found it ransacked when they finally returned.

Roughly 20,000 French civilians died during the nearly three-month Battle of Normandy  along with about 73,000 Allied forces and up to 9,000 or so Germans. Overall, Normandy lost many more of its citizens during its liberation than during the entire German occupation.

My village didnt have a lot of deaths, but people wouldnt have been bitter anyway, Scelle said. For them, it was the price to pay for freedom.

Today, Scelle is helping out other war survivors. Since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago, dozens of Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Carentan and surrounding villages. Many have since returned to their homeland. But Ukrainian student Kateryna Vorontsova, 19, and her family remain and count among those Scelle has helped to settle in and learn French.

I would like to stay in France, said Vorontsova, although she wants to eventually return to her homeland in peace. I like the weather, the landscape, the culture.

Of D-Day, she added, its important to remember the landings. Theyre our common history.

Ukraine ties

Carentan has other ties to Ukraine. Donated ambulances line a field next to the D-Day Experience Museum, just outside Carentan. Some are funded by U.S. donors, others by European entities like the government of Madrid. Just after the D-Day anniversary, volunteers will drive them more than 2,000 km to Ukraine.

According to doctors Ive talked to in Ukraine, every ambulance saves an average of 250 lives a month, said Brock Bierman, president of Ukraine Focus, a nongovernmental group based in Washington and Ukraine, which is spearheading the effort. He is in Carentan organizing the convoys departure.

Our volunteer drivers have delivered them literally to the front lines  in Bakhmut and Kherson, in Odesa and Mykolaiv, he added, naming towns in Ukraine. Theres a lot of work to get this done, and we couldnt do it without an alliance of people from all over Europe and the United States.

A former senior official with the U.S. Agency for International Development during the Trump administration, Bierman strongly backs U.S. aid for Ukraine, including the $60 billion finally passed by Congress in April. Uncertainty about whether those funds would be approved lingers and is among issues feeding doubts in Europe about long-term U.S. commitment to Ukraine and  if Donald Trump returns to office  to the NATO transatlantic alliance.

Bierman believes the costs will be high if Washington does not stand by Kyiv.

If we fail to support Ukraines independence, what we could be looking at is a longer-term conflict in the next decade  which could involve boots on the ground and possible American lives lost, he said.

At Carentans town hall, Deputy Mayor Lesne believes the Normandy landings offer lessons for today.

I think the most important message is in two words: to remember, he said. Not to forget what happened, so it wont be repeated. Millions of people died in the Second World War  we cant have that happen again.
Some of the last surviving World War Two veterans gather in Normandy, France, next month to mark the 1944 allied landings that began the countrys liberation from Nazi German control. But another war on Europes doorstep  in Ukraine  casts a dark shadow on this 80th anniversary of D-Day. Lisa Bryant reports from the Normandy town of Carentan-les-Marais.
Sean Baker's "Anora," a comic but devastating Brooklyn odyssey about a sex worker who marries the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, has won the Cannes Film Festival's top award, the Palme d'Or.

The win Saturday for "Anora" marked a coronation for Baker, the acclaimed indie filmmaker of "The Florida Project." It's also, remarkably, the fifth straight Palme d'Or won by specialty film distributor Neon, following "Parasite," "Titane," "Triangle of Sadness" and last year's winner, "Anatomy of a Fall."

"This, literally, has been my singular goal as a filmmaker for the past 30 years," said Baker, laughing.

Baker, the first American filmmaker to win the Palme since Terrence Mallick in 2012 with "The Tree of Life," said his ambition would remain to "fight to keep cinema alive." The 53-year-old director said the world needed reminding that "watching a film at home while scrolling through your phone, answering emails and half paying attention is just not the way, although some tech companies would like us to think so."

"So I say the future of cinema is where it started: in a movie theater," he said.

The awards were chosen by the nine-member jury led by Greta Gerwig, who told reporters she was "forever changed as a filmmaker because of this experience." Gerwig praised "Anora" as having the feeling of classical cinema, saying it felt like an Ernst Lubitsch or Howard Hawks film that led in unexpected directions.

While "Anora" was arguably the most acclaimed film of the festival, its win was a slight surprise. Many expected either the gentle Indian drama "All We Imagine As Light" or the Iranian film "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" to win. Both of those films also took home prizes.

It wasn't the only jolt of the closing ceremony, though.

Before George Lucas was given an honorary Palme d'Or, his old friend and sometimes collaborator Francis Ford Coppola appeared to present it to him, reuniting two of the most pivotal figures of the last half-century of American moviemaking. Coppola, who earlier in the festival premiered his self-financed sci-fi epic "Megalopolis," called him his "kid brother." Lucas called Coppola "a big friend and a brother and a mentor."

"All We Imagine As Light," about sisterhood in modern Mumbai, won the Grand Prix, Cannes' second-highest honor. Payal Kapadia's second feature was the first Indian in competition in Cannes in 30 years.

The jury awarded a special prize to Mohammad Rasoulof's "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," a drama made secretly in Iran.

Days ahead of the film's premiere, Rasoulof, facing an eight-year prison sentence, fled Iran on foot. His film, which includes real footage from the 2022-2023 demonstrations in Iran, channels Iranian oppression into a family drama.

The Cannes crowd met an emotional Rasoulof with a lengthy standing ovation.

Coralie Fargeat's body horror film "The Substance," starring Demi Moore as a Hollywood actress who goes to gory extremes to remain youthful, won for best screenplay.

"I really believe that movies can change the world, so I hope this movie will be a little stone to build new foundations," Fargeat said. "I really think we need a revolution, and I don't think it has really started yet."

Some thought Moore, who attended the awards ceremony, might take best actress. But that honor instead went to an ensemble of actors: Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz for Jacques Audiard's "Emilia Perez," a Spanish-language musical about a Mexican drug lord who transitions to a woman. Gascon, who accepted the award, is the first trans actor to win a major prize at Cannes.

"This award is not just for me," Gascon told reporters. "It's for all people who are fighting for themselves and their rights."

Explaining the jury's unusual choice of giving best actress to an ensemble, Gerwig said each performer was a standout, "but together they're transcendent." "Emilia Perez" also won Cannes' jury prize, giving it a rare two awards at a festival where prizes are usually spread around.

Best actor went to Jesse Plemons for Yorgos Lanthimos' "Kinds of Kindness." In the film, three stories are told with largely the same company of actors. Plemons, a standout in several chapters, didn't attend the closing ceremony.

Portuguese director Miguel Gomes won best director for his "Grand Tour," an Asian odyssey in which a man flees his fiancee from Rangoon in 1917.

The Camera d'Or, the prize for best first feature across all of Cannes official selections, went to Halfdan Ullmann Tndel for "Armand," starring "The Worst Person in the World" star Renate Reinsve. Tndel is the grandson of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and Norwegian actor Liv Ullman.
The first attempts to regulate artificial intelligence programs that play a hidden role in hiring, housing and medical decisions for millions of Americans are facing pressure from all sides and floundering in statehouses nationwide.

Only one of seven bills aimed at preventing AI's penchant to discriminate when making consequential decisions  including who gets hired, money for a home or medical care  has passed. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis hesitantly signed the bill on Friday.

Colorado's bill and those that faltered in Washington, Connecticut and elsewhere faced battles on many fronts, including between civil rights groups and the tech industry, and lawmakers wary of wading into a technology few yet understand and governors worried about being the odd-state-out and spooking AI startups.

Polis signed Colorado's bill "with reservations," saying in an statement he was wary of regulations dousing AI innovation. The bill has a two-year runway and can be altered before it becomes law.

"I encourage (lawmakers) to significantly improve on this before it takes effect," Polis wrote.

Colorado's proposal, along with six sister bills, are complex, but will broadly require companies to assess the risk of discrimination from their AI and inform customers when AI was used to help make a consequential decision for them.

The bills are separate from more than 400 AI-related bills that have been debated this year. Most are aimed at slices of AI, such as the use of deepfakes in elections or to make pornography.

The seven bills are more ambitious, applying across major industries and targeting discrimination, one of the technology's most perverse and complex problems.

"We actually have no visibility into the algorithms that are used, whether they work or they don't, or whether we're discriminated against," said Rumman Chowdhury, AI envoy for the U.S. Department of State who previously led Twitter's AI ethics team.

While anti-discrimination laws are already on the books, those who study AI discrimination say it's a different beast, which the U.S. is already behind in regulating.

"The computers are making biased decisions at scale," said Christine Webber, a civil rights attorney who has worked on class action lawsuits over discrimination including against Boeing and Tyson Foods. Now, Webber is nearing final approval on one of the first-in-the-nation settlements in a class action over AI discrimination.

"Not, I should say, that the old systems were perfectly free from bias either," said Webber. But "any one person could only look at so many resumes in the day. So you could only make so many biased decisions in one day and the computer can do it rapidly across large numbers of people."

When you apply for a job, an apartment or a home loan, there's a good chance AI is assessing your application: sending it up the line, assigning it a score or filtering it out. It's estimated as many as 83% of employers use algorithms to help in hiring, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

AI itself doesn't know what to look for in a job application, so it's taught based on past resumes. The historical data that is used to train algorithms can smuggle in bias.

Amazon, for example, worked on a hiring algorithm that was trained on old resumes: largely male applicants. When assessing new applicants, it downgraded resumes with the word "women's" or that listed women's colleges because they were not represented in the historical data  the resumes  it had learned from. The project was scuttled.

Webber's class action lawsuit alleges that an AI system that scores rental applications disproportionately assigned lower scores to Black or Hispanic applicants. A study found that an AI system built to assess medical needs passed over Black patients for special care.

Studies and lawsuits have allowed a glimpse under the hood of AI systems, but most algorithms remain veiled. Americans are largely unaware that these tools are being used, polling from Pew Research shows. Companies generally aren't required to explicitly disclose that an AI was used.

"Just pulling back the curtain so that we can see who's really doing the assessing and what tool is being used is a huge, huge first step," said Webber. "The existing laws don't work if we can't get at least some basic information."

That's what Colorado's bill, along with another surviving bill in California, are trying to change. The bills, including a flagship proposal in Connecticut that was killed under opposition from the governor, are largely similar.

Colorado's bill will require companies using AI to help make consequential decisions for Americans to annually assess their AI for potential bias; implement an oversight program within the company; tell the state attorney general if discrimination was found; and inform to customers when an AI was used to help make a decision for them, including an option to appeal.

Labor unions and academics fear that a reliance on companies overseeing themselves means it'll be hard to proactively address discrimination in an AI system before it's done damage. Companies are fearful that forced transparency could reveal trade secrets, including in potential litigation, in this hyper-competitive new field.

AI companies also pushed for, and generally received, a provision that only allows the attorney general, not citizens, to file lawsuits under the new law. Enforcement details have been left up to the attorney general.

While larger AI companies have more or less been on board with these proposals, a group of smaller Colorado-based AI companies said the requirements might be manageable by behemoth AI companies, but not by budding startups.

"We are in a brand new era of primordial soup," said Logan Cerkovnik, founder of Thumper.ai, referring to the field of AI. "Having overly restrictive legislation that forces us into definitions and restricts our use of technology while this is forming is just going to be detrimental to innovation."

All agreed, along with many AI companies, that what's formally called "algorithmic discrimination" is critical to tackle. But they said the bill as written falls short of that goal. Instead, they proposed beefing up existing anti-discrimination laws.

Chowdhury worries that lawsuits are too costly and time consuming to be an effective enforcement tool, and laws should instead go beyond what even Colorado is proposing. Instead, Chowdhury and academics have proposed accredited, independent organization that can explicitly test for potential bias in an AI algorithm.

"You can understand and deal with a single person who is discriminatory or biased," said Chowdhury. "What do we do when it's embedded into the entire institution?"
Burkina Faso's military regime, in power since a 2022 coup, will extend its rule for five years under an accord adopted during national consultations on Saturday, the talks' chairman said.

"The duration of the transition is fixed at 60 months from July 2, 2024," Colonel Moussa Diallo, chairman of the organizing committee of the national dialogue process, said after the talks.

He added that coup leader and acting president Ibrahim Traore could run in any elections at the end of the transition period.

What was supposed to be a two-day national dialogue began earlier Saturday, ostensibly to chart a way back to civilian rule for the West African nation beset by jihadi violence.

The army has governed Burkina Faso since 2022, carrying out two coups that it said were justified in large part by the persistent insecurity.

Jihadi rebels affiliated with al Qaida and the Islamic State group have waged a grinding insurgency since 2015 that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

An initial national dialogue had resulted in a charter that installed Traore as president and put in place a government and a legislative assembly.

Under the new charter, quotas will no longer be used to assign seats in the assembly to members of traditional parties. Instead, "patriotism" will be the only criteria for selecting deputies.

"You have just rewritten a new page in the history of our country," said Minister of Territorial Affairs Emile Zerbo, who opened the meeting on Saturday morning.

The initial charter set the transition to civilian rule at 21 months, with the deadline set to expire July 1.

But Traore had repeatedly warned that holding elections would be difficult given the perilous security situation.

The new charter also calls for a new body called the "Korag" to "monitor and control the implementation of the country's strategic vision in all areas and through all means." Its composition and operations are at the discretion of the president.

Civil society representatives, the security and defense forces and lawmakers in the transitional assembly took part in the weekend talks, which most political parties boycotted.

Human rights groups have accused Burkina Faso's junta leaders of abuses against civilians during their military campaigns against jihadis, and of silencing media and opposition leaders.

After taking power, the coup leaders expelled French troops and diplomats, and have instead turned to Russia for military assistance.
A Chinese initiative known as the Digital Silk Road is helping Southeast Asian nations modernize their digital landscapes. But rights groups say Beijing is also exporting its model of authoritarian governance of the internet through censorship, surveillance and controls.

China's state media recently announced Chinese electrical appliance manufacturer Midea Group jointly built its first overseas 5G factory in Thailand with Thai mobile operator AIS, Chinese telecom service provider China Unicom and tech giant Huawei.

The 208,000-square-meter smart factory will have its own 5G network, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier in May, Beijing reached an agreement with Cambodia to establish a Digital Law Library of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. Cambodia's Khmer Times said it aims to "expand all-round cooperation in line with the strategic partnership and building a common destiny community."

But parallel to China's state media-promoted technology investments, rights groups say Beijing is also helping countries in the region to build what they call "digital authoritarian governance."

Article 19, an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting freedom of expression globally and named after Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in an April report said the purpose of the Digital Silk Road is not solely to promote China's technology industry. The report, China: The rise of digital repression in the Indo-Pacific, says Beijing is also using its technology to reshape the region's standards of digital freedom and governance to increasingly match its own.

In response to the Article 19 accusation, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, told VOA in an emailed statement, Regarding Digital Silk Road, the Chinese government is willing to work with all parties to promote the construction of it and share the dividends of digital economic development. China hopes to deepen cooperation on digital technology innovation, strengthen digital cultural exchanges and mutual understanding, and work with all parties to create a set of digital governance rules, so as to bring the construction of a cyberspace community with a shared future to a new stage.

Looking at case studies of Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal and Thailand, the Article 19 report says Beijing is spreading China's model of digital governance along with Chinese technology and investments from companies such as Huawei, ZTE and Alibaba.

Michael Caster, Asia digital program manager with Article 19, told VOA, "China has been successful at providing a needed service, in the delivery of digital development toward greater connectivity, but also in making digital development synonymous with the adoption of PRC [People's Republic of China]-style digital governance, which is at odds with international human rights and internet freedom principles by instead promoting notions of total state control through censorship and surveillance, and digital sovereignty away from universal norms."

The group says in Thailand, home to the world's largest overseas Chinese community, agreements with China bolstered internet controls imposed after Thailand's 2014 coup. The group notes Bangkok has since been considering a China-style Great Firewall, the censorship mechanism Beijing uses to control online content.

In Nepal, the report notes security and intelligence-sharing agreements with China and concerns that Chinese security camera technology is being used to surveil exiled Tibetans, the largest such group outside of India.

The group says Malaysia's approach to information infrastructure appears to increasingly resemble China's model. The group cites a cybersecurity law passed in Malaysia in April and that countrys partnering with Chinese companies whose technology has been used for repressing minorities inside China.

Most significantly, Article 19 says China is involved at "all levels" of Cambodia's digital ecosystem. Huawei, which is facing bans in Western nations over cybersecurity concerns, has a monopoly on cloud services in Cambodia.

While Chinese companies say they would not hand over private data to Beijing, experts doubt they would have any choice because of national security laws.

Internet gateway

Phnom Penh announced a decree in 2021 to build a National Internet Gateway similar to China's Great Firewall, restricting the Cambodian people's access to Western media and social networking sites.

"That we have seen the normalization of a China-style Great Firewall in some of the countries where China's influence is most pronounced or its digital development support strongest, such as with Cambodia, is no coincidence," Caster said.

The Cambodian government says the portal will strengthen national security and help combat tax fraud and cybercrime. But the Internet Society, a U.S.- and Switzerland-based nonprofit internet freedom group, says it would allow the government to monitor individual internet use and transactions, and to trace identities and locations.

Kian Vesteinsson, a senior researcher for technology and democracy with rights group Freedom House, told VOA "The Chinese Communist Party and companies that are aligned with the Chinese state have led a charge internationally to push for Internet fragmentation. And when I say internet fragmentation, I mean these efforts to carve out domestic internets that are isolated from global internet traffic."

Despite Chinese support and investment, Vesteinsson notes that Cambodia has not yet implemented the plan for a government-controlled internet.

"Building the Chinese model of digital authoritarianism into a country's internet infrastructure is extraordinarily difficult. It's expensive. It requires technical capacity. It requires state capacity, and all signs point to the Cambodian government struggling on those fronts."

Vesteinsson says while civil society and foreign political pressure play a role, business concerns are also relevant as requirements to censor online speech or spy on users create costs for the private sector.

"These governments that are trying to cultivate e-commerce should keep in mind that a legal environment that is free from these obligations to do censorship and surveillance will be more appealing to companies that are evaluating whether to start up domestic operations," he said.

Article 19's Caster says countries concerned about China's authoritarian internet model spreading should do more to support connectivity and internet development worldwide.

"This support should be based on human rights law and internet freedom principles," he said, "to prevent China from exploiting internet development needs to position its services  and often by extension its authoritarian model  as the most accessible option."

China will hold its annual internet conference in Beijing from July 9 to 11. China's Xinhua news agency reports this year's conference will discuss artificial intelligence, digital government, information technology application innovation, data security and international cooperation.

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
Ren Hongbin, chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, speaks at a roadshow of the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in London, Britain, May 24, 2024. The roadshow was held here on Friday, attended by more than 150 representatives from British and Chinese business associations, enterprises and media organizations.

The second CISCE will be held in Beijing from Nov. 26 to 30 this year. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LONDON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A roadshow of the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) was held here on Friday, attended by more than 150 representatives from British and Chinese business associations, enterprises and media organizations.

The second CISCE will be held in Beijing from Nov. 26 to 30 this year. Nearly 400 Chinese and foreign companies have signed up so far, according to Ren Hongbin, chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Addressing the roadshow, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang said: "stable and smooth international industrial and supply chains is an important guarantee for the steady recovery of the world economy and for people of all countries to share the fruits of development."

China is not only a participant and beneficiary of such cooperation, but also a staunch defender and contributor, said the ambassador, calling on the British business community to actively participate in the expo to share China's development opportunities.

Sherard Cowper-Coles, chair of the China-Britain Business Council, led a British delegation to the first CISCE last year. He called on roadshow participants to go to China and join the expo for its "warm welcome and productive exchanges."

According to Ren, in the first expo last year, 515 enterprises and organizations from 55 countries and regions participated and over 200 cooperation deals and tentative deals worth more than 20 billion U.S. dollars were signed.

"Rio Tinto, AstraZeneca, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Ernst & Young, and other British exhibitors joined the expo with their cooperation partners in supply chains, and all gained good results," said Ren.

The supply chain is the lifeblood of the global economy which ensures that goods and services float smoothly across the globe, and the relationship between Britain and China is a vital artery in the global economic body, said Jack Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, a British trade organization that provides policy interpretation, information consultancy, legal assistance and other services for both British and Chinese companies. 

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang speaks at a roadshow of the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in London, Britain, May 24, 2024. The roadshow was held here on Friday, attended by more than 150 representatives from British and Chinese business associations, enterprises and media organizations.

The second CISCE will be held in Beijing from Nov. 26 to 30 this year. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Sherard Cowper-Coles, chair of the China-Britain Business Council, speaks at a roadshow of the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in London, Britain, May 24, 2024. The roadshow was held here on Friday, attended by more than 150 representatives from British and Chinese business associations, enterprises and media organizations.

The second CISCE will be held in Beijing from Nov. 26 to 30 this year. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Jack Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, speaks at a roadshow of the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in London, Britain, May 24, 2024. The roadshow was held here on Friday, attended by more than 150 representatives from British and Chinese business associations, enterprises and media organizations.

The second CISCE will be held in Beijing from Nov. 26 to 30 this year. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
The Biden administration denounced an International Criminal Court announcement this week that it is pursuing arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes during Israel's military campaign in Gaza and the militant group's October 7 attack on Israel.

"We made our position clear on the ICC," President Joe Biden said Thursday. "We don't recognize their jurisdiction, the way it's been exercised, and it's that simple. We don't think there's an equivalence between what Israel did and what Hamas did."

International law experts say that the relationship between the U.S. and ICC has never been simple.

The ICC was established in 1998 by the Rome Statute and tasked with prosecuting individuals responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. It was signed by the U.S. in December 2000, by U.S. lead negotiator David Scheffer.

The U.S., fearing that Americans would be vulnerable to prosecution abroad, never ratified the treaty.

More than 120 countries have ratified it, making them member states.

The ICC has jurisdiction over atrocity crimes committed by citizens of member states, or committed in member states, or in nonmember states that grant it jurisdiction. It also has jurisdiction over crimes committed in nonmember states that are referred to it by the U.N. Security Council.

The U.S. maintains that the ICC has no jurisdiction over citizens of non-ICC states. Israel is not an ICC member; therefore, the Biden administration said, the court has no right to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Stephen Rademaker, former chief counsel of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and assistant secretary of state in the George W. Bush administration, agrees.

"The fundamental principle undergirding all treaty-based international law is the principle of consent," he told VOA.

Under the U.S. argument, which Scheffer calls the "immunity interpretation," the same standards should apply to all non-ICC states.

However, various U.S. administrations have supported some ICC investigations.

The George W. Bush administration supported the ICC's 2002 investigations into allegations of atrocities committed in the Darfur region of Sudan. The Obama administration supported the ICC's case in Libya in 2011, which accused the government of Moammar Gadhafi of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Sudan and Libya were non-ICC states, but under the Rome Statute, the U.N. Security Council had the authority to refer those cases to the ICC for investigation, Rademaker said.

The ICC began its investigations of Russian officials for alleged atrocities in Ukraine in 2023, and of Israeli officials and Hamas leaders this month. Russia and Israel are non-ICC states, and neither investigation was authorized by the U.N. Security Council, Rademaker said.

"So the U.N. Charter cannot be cited as a basis of consent by them to action by the ICC," he said.

However, while it rejected the ICC's case against Israeli officials, the Biden administration supported the ICC's investigations of Russian suspects. Biden has used the word "genocide" to describe Russian atrocities in Ukraine and has described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal who should be put on trial.

When asked to explain the distinction, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that Putin's war aim was "to kill innocent Ukrainian people."

"He's deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure with the aim of killing innocent civilians, and it's just baked into his operational strategy," Kirby told reporters Monday. "As we have said before, that is not what the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is doing."

Hypocrisy alleged

Critics say this difference in the Biden administration's posture amounts to hypocrisy.

"There is an obvious inconsistency," said Adil Haque, a law professor at Rutgers University who writes on international law and the ethics of armed combat.

"It is hard to get around," he told VOA. "And it's easier to see when you contrast it with European countries which are allies of Israel but also parties to the ICC statute," he said, referring to Germany, which said it would execute the arrest warrant on German soil despite disagreeing with the decision.

While the contradiction is apparent under the Biden administration, selective U.S. engagement with the ICC began decades ago.

In 2002, George W. Bush signed into law the American Servicemembers' Protection Act, which authorizes the U.S. president to use "all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any U.S. or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of the International Criminal Court."

The Obama administration rejected the ICC's preliminary examinations of the war in Afghanistan, including into alleged atrocity crimes committed by the Taliban, Islamic State group and U.S. coalition forces. It also opposed the court as it began pursuing war crimes charges against Israeli officials.

While the Bush and Obama administrations would apply a case-by-case approach to the ICC, under the Trump administration, U.S. "hostility hit its apex," said Kip Hale, an attorney specializing in atrocity crimes accountability. He said ICC investigations into Afghanistan and Israel-Palestine prompted the Trump administration to level sanctions against then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and one of her senior staff and to threaten other ICC staff and their families with visa bans and other punitive actions.

In the case of investigating Russian atrocities in Ukraine, the Biden administration changed provisions under the American Servicemembers' Protection Act and the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 2001 to allow for information sharing, funding and other types of support for the ICC, Hale told VOA.

"Unfortunately, the criteria is who are your allies and who are your rivals," he said, adding that geopolitical expediency often dictates the behavior of all states, not just the U.S.

ICC judges are now reviewing evidence presented by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, who made the decision to pursue arrest warrants with the advice of a panel of international legal experts that included prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.

"We unanimously conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including hostage-taking, murder and crimes of sexual violence," Clooney said in a statement.

"We unanimously conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity including starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution and extermination."

Netanyahu called the ICC's move against him and his defense minister absurd and said that he rejected "with disgust" the comparison between Israel and Hamas.

ICJ decision on Rafah

On Friday, the United Nations' top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as part of proceedings against Israel brought by South Africa in December.

Israel doesn't accept the ICJ's jurisdiction and is unlikely to comply with the order. It maintains that its military campaign is a "defensive and just war" to eliminate Hamas and to secure the release of hostages and that it is "consistent with its moral values and in compliance with international law."

The ICJ was established by the U.N. Charter to settle disputes between states and advise the U.N. on legal matters. It does not have jurisdiction to try individuals.

While the ICJ's legal jurisdiction is separate from that of the ICC, Friday's ICJ decision can impact the ICC's proceedings, said Oona Hathaway, professor of international law at Yale Law School and member of the Advisory Committee on International Law for the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State.

"ICJ can't enforce its orders, that's true. But it doesn't mean that there aren't going to be consequences," Hathaway told VOA. "If we see Israel refuse to abide by the decision of the International Court of Justice, you could very well see future charges in the International Criminal Court criminal charges," she said.

This could include the ICC prosecutor expanding his request for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders to include charges of genocide, she said.

Hathaway added that other consequences might include states withdrawing their military, financial and diplomatic support for Israel's war effort, which could further complicate the Biden administration's effort to continue backing its ally.

Margaret Besheer and Natasha Mozgovaya contributed to this report.
A lawyer closely associated with the former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a claim about Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour, an employee of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), known as the "interrogator journalist," igniting a firestorm on social media.

After a helicopter crash claimed the lives of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions on Sunday, Ahmadinejad's decision to wear a white shirt  instead of the mourning color, black  to a meeting of Irans Assembly of Experts drew criticism from certain government factions.

Zabihpour, a prominent figure in state media, took to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. She allegedly shared a photo of Ahmadinejad, expressing disdain at the white shirt, posting, "Having been a reporter for your programs for eight years, I loathe you! worthless."

In reaction to the post, which some users inferred as a commentary on the color of Ahmadinejads shirt during Raisi's mourning period, Ali Hosseini, a lawyer affiliated with the former president, hinted at a past incident involving a certain reporter and remarked, "I wish that on that morning at the Warwick Hotel in New York, he hadn't snapped at the guards, dismissing it as irrelevant that a specific reporter had spent the night in a specific photographer's room."

After the lawyer's rebuttal, Zabihpour deleted her post. Subsequently, Hosseini also withdrew his comment from his X account. However, the social media buzz persisted unabated.

While Hosseini refrained from naming any specific photographer in his remarks, news photographer Rouzbeh Jadidoleslam, who often accompanies the government delegation of the Islamic Republic on official trips, reacted to these statements.

Jadidoleslam, who initially shared several messages on X regarding this matter before removing them, labeled Hosseini as a "fraud and charlatan" in one of his posts. Alleging that Hosseini had never accompanied any delegation on trips. Jadidoleslam, accused him of exploiting the situation to gain attention.

Furthermore, he dared the lawyer to "demonstrate his integrity by releasing a photo of his travel visa."

Some social media users have brought up the friendship between Zabihpour and Jadidoleslam. They noted the unorthodox manner  uncommon among those close to the Islamic Republic  where men and women typically do not address each other by their first names. In the past, Jadidoleslam had defended her on X, referring to her as "Ameneh."

These contentious discussions have incited reactions on social media.

Journalist Sasan Aghaei commented, "Those who orchestrated the most despicable insults, indecencies, and schemes against the most dignified, honorable, courageous, and elegant children of Iran, now find themselves in disgrace, branded by their perpetual stain from the Warwick Hotel in New York."

While Abdolreza Davari, a media figure and supporter of Ahmadinejad, posed an unconventional inquiry: "If they had entered into a temporary marriage arrangement before their New York trip and were permissible to each other, what's the issue? Why are some individuals more agitated than those directly involved?"

In reaction to Davari's comments, another user lamented, "There's truly no faith in the memory of Persian Twitter," alluding to Davari's alleged past extramarital affairs.

On the other hand, some citizens have stated that "the relationship between Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour and the photographer in New York is not about her being a woman and her right to private relationships," but rather "about her hypocrisy."

According to these users, Zabihpour is someone who "exploits the plight" of women "struggling to secure their freedom and bodily autonomy."

Sara Omatali, an educational expert, emphasized, "Our repulsion towards Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour and the vile quagmire she and others like her have sunk into shouldn't make me forsake the principles of [the] Women, Life, and Freedom movement, which constitutes the most fundamental right of a woman over her body."

She pointed out that "there are countless reasons to disgrace Ameneh Sadat," stressing that there's no necessity to resort to her private associations for her humiliation.

The labeling of Zabihpour as the "interrogator journalist" emerged following testimony from Sepideh Gholian, a civil activist currently detained, who asserted that this state radio and television employee had participated in her interrogation sessions.
At least 24 people, including many children, died in a fire that broke out Saturday evening in an amusement park in the western Indian state of Gujarat, a government official said.

The park is usually packed with families enjoying the summer vacation over the weekend.

Footage showed firefighters clearing debris around collapsed tin roof from structures that media reports said were used for bowling, go-karting and trampoline attractions.

With rescue efforts continuing at the park in the Rajkot district, the local mayor told Reuters the death toll was expected to rise.

"Our focus is on rescue operations and saving lives. We will ensure strict action is taken against the people who are responsible for this incident," Mayor Nayana Pedhadiya said.

Television images showed a massive fire engulfing the TRP game zone and thick clouds of smoke emanating from the site. The entire structure was gutted in the blaze.

A police official at the local civil hospital said some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that the local administration was working to help those affected.

"Extremely distressed by the fire mishap in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones," Modi said in the post.

The district's chief fire officer, IV Kher, said firefighters had almost brought the fire under control.

"The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained," he told Reuters.

The amusement park was privately owned by Yuvraj Singh Solanki, and Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said that police would file a case of negligence against him.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said an investigation into the incident had been handed to a Special Investigation Team, and television reports said two people had been detained by Rajkot police in connection with the incident.
Brought into the international spotlight by the ban on hijabs for French athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympics, France's unique approach to "laicite"  loosely translated as "secularism"  has been increasingly stirring controversy across the country.

The struggle cuts to the core of how France approaches not only the place of religion in public life, but also the integration of its mostly immigrant-origin Muslim population, Western Europe's largest.

Perhaps the most contested ground is public schools, where visible signs of faith are barred under policies seeking to foster national unity. That includes the headscarves some Muslim women want to wear for piety and modesty, even as others fight them as a symbol of oppression.

"It has become a privilege to be allowed to practice our religion," said Majda Ould Ibbat, who was considering leaving Marseille, France's second-largest city, until she discovered a private Muslim school, Ibn Khaldoun, where her children could both freely live their faith and flourish academically.

"We wanted them to have a great education, and with our principles and our values," added Ould Ibbat, who only started wearing a headscarf recently, while her teen daughter, Minane, hasn't felt ready to.

For Minane, as for many French Muslim youth, navigating French culture and her spiritual identity is getting harder. The 19-year-old nursing student has heard people say even on the streets of multicultural Marseille that there's no place for Muslims.

"I ask myself if Islam is accepted in France," she said.

Minane also lives with the collective trauma that has scarred much of France in the aftermath of Islamist attacks, which have targeted schools and are seen by many as evidence that laicite (pronounced lah-eee-see-tay) needs to be strictly enforced to prevent radicalization.

Minane vividly remembers observing a moment of silence at Ibn Khaldoun in honor of Samuel Paty, a public school teacher beheaded by a radicalized Islamist in 2020. A memorial to Paty as a defender of France's values hangs in the entrance of the Education Ministry in Paris.

For its officials and most educators, secularism is essential. They say it encourages a sense of belonging to a united French identity and prevents those who are less or not religiously observant from feeling pressured.

For many French Muslims, however, laicite is exerting precisely that kind of discriminatory pressure on already disadvantaged minorities.

Amid the tension, there's broad agreement that polarization is skyrocketing, as crackdowns and challenges mount.

"Laws on laicite protect and allow for coexistence  which is less and less easy," said Isabelle Tretola, principal of the public primary school across from Ibn Khaldoun.

She addresses challenges to secularism daily  like children in choir class who put their hands on their ears "because their families told them singing variety songs isn't good."

"You can't force them to sing, but teachers tell them they can't cover their ears out of respect for the instructor and classmates," Tretola said. "In school, you come to learn the values of the republic."

Secularism is a fundamental value in France's constitution. The state explicitly charges public schools with instilling those values in children, while allowing private schools to offer religious instruction as long as they also teach the general curriculum that the government establishes.

Government officials argue the prohibition against showcasing a particular faith is necessary to avoid threats to democracy. The government has made fighting radical Islam a priority, and secularism is seen as a bulwark against the feared growth of religious influence on daily life, down to beachwear.

"In a public school, the school for everyone, one behaves like everyone else, and should not make a display," said Alain Seksig, secretary general of the Education Ministry's council on secularism.

For many teachers and principals, having strict government rules is helping confront multiplying challenges.

Some 40% of teachers report self-censoring on subjects from evolution to sexual health after the attacks on Paty and another teacher, Dominique Bernard, slain last fall by a suspected Islamic extremist, said Didier Georges of SNPDEN-UNSA, a union representing more than half of France's principals.

Like him, Laurent Le Drezen, a principal and a leader of another education workers union, SGEN-CFDT, sees a nefarious influence of social media in the growth of Muslim students challenging secularism at school.

His classroom experience in Marseille's Quartiers Nord  often dilapidated suburbs with projects housing mostly families of North African origin  also taught him the importance of showing students that schools aren't coming after them for being Muslim.

At Marseille's Cedres Mosque, next to the projects, Salah Bariki said youth are struggling with exactly that sense of rejection from France.

"What do they want us to do, look at the Eiffel Tower instead of Mecca?" Bariki quipped. Nine of 10 young women in the neighborhood are now veiled, "for identity more than religion," he added.

To avoid a vicious cycle, more  not less  discussion of religion should be happening in schools, argued Haim Bendao, rabbi at a conservative synagogue in a nearby neighborhood.

"To establish peace, it's a daily effort. It's crazy important to speak in schools," said Bendao, who has gone to both Ibn Khaldoun and the Catholic school across from it, Saint-Joseph, which also enrolls many Muslim students.

Several families at Ibn Khaldoun said they chose it because it can support both identities instead of exacerbating all-too-public doubts over whether being Muslim is compatible with being French.

"When I hear the debate over compatibility, that's when I turn off the TV. Fear has invaded the world," said Nancy Chihane, president of the parents' association at Ibn Khaldoun.

At a recent spring recess where girls with hijabs, others with their hair flowing in the wind, and boys all mingled, one headscarf-wearing high-schooler said transferring to Ibn Khaldoun meant both freedom and community.

"Here we all understand each other, we're not marginalized," said Asmaa Abdelah, 17.

Nouali Yacine, her history and geography teacher, was born in Algeria  which was under French colonial rule until it won independence in 1962 after a violent struggle  and raised in France since he was 7 months old.

"We are within the citizenry. We don't pose that question, but they pose it to us," Yacine says.

The school's founding director, Mohsen Ngazou, is equally adamant about respecting religious and education obligations.

He recalls once "making a scene" when he saw a student wearing an abaya over pajamas  the student code prohibits the latter alongside shorts and revealing necklines.

"I told her she wasn't ready for class," Ngazou said. "The abaya doesn't make a woman religious. The important thing is to feel good about who you are."
A court in the French capital on Friday ordered life sentences for three senior Syrian government officials in a landmark case.

After a four-day trial, the Paris Criminal Court said three Syrian officials had been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the war-torn country.

The case against Ali Mamlouk, former director of Syrias National Security Bureau; Jamil Hassan, former head of the air force intelligence directorate; and Abdel Salam Mahmoud, former head of the air force intelligences branch in Damascus, was based on their role in the deaths of two French nationals of Syrian origin.

The two Frenchmen, Mazzen Dabbagh and his son, Patrick, were arrested in Damascus in 2013. The two were declared dead in 2018. The family was formally notified that Patrick had died in 2014 and that Mazzen had died in 2017.

The three Syrian officials were tried in absentia. This was the first time a trial of Syrian government officials had been held in France. The courts ruling on Friday also upheld international arrest warrants against the Syrian officials that were issued in 2018.

Anwar al-Bunni, a Germany-based Syrian human rights lawyer, said Fridays ruling was historic, and he noted it would have significant political implications for the Syrian government.



This ruling will prevent any future efforts to normalize with the Syrian regime, especially since one of the officials prosecuted is Ali Mamlouk, who currently serves as a presidential adviser, he told VOA.

Ninar Khalifa, a researcher at Syrians for Truth and Justice, a France-based advocacy group, said the defendants could appeal the courts decision only if they attended in person.



But the fact that the verdict included crimes against humanity shows that the entire Syrian regime has been involved in persecuting people in Syria, she told VOA. This is not only about three officials. Its against the military hierarchy of the Syrian regime from top to bottom.



The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians since the beginning of Syrias civil war in 2011.



The conflict has killed more than half a million people and displaced more than half of the countrys prewar population of 22 million. The U.N. says more than 7 million Syrians have been internally displaced, while the others have fled to other countries.

Mazen Darwish, director of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, or SCM, testified on the final day of the hearings.



This quest for justice to which we all aspire is in no way revenge. On the contrary, justice in general is there to prevent violence. We cannot destroy this terror and prevent this from happening again without justice putting an end to impunity, Darwish said in his testimony on Friday, according to a post by SCM on social media platform X.



Darwish testified in the case as a witness since he himself had been arrested by the same Syrian intelligence agency that was responsible for the Dabbaghs arrests and during the same period of their imprisonments. He was released from a Damascus prison in 2015 after serving a three-year sentence for his political activism.

Other trials against former Syrian government officials have taken place elsewhere in Europe, notably in Germany. But in those cases, the prosecuted officials held lower ranks in the Syrian government and were present at the hearings.



This report originated in VOAs Kurdish Service. Some information came from Agence France-Presse.
Ask Google if cats have been on the moon and it used to spit out a ranked list of websites so you could discover the answer for yourself.

Now it comes up with an instant answer generated by artificial intelligence -- which may or may not be correct.

"Yes, astronauts have met cats on the moon, played with them, and provided care," said Google's newly retooled search engine in response to a query by an Associated Press reporter.

It added: "For example, Neil Armstrong said, 'One small step for man' because it was a cat's step. Buzz Aldrin also deployed cats on the Apollo 11 mission."

None of this is true. Similar errors  some funny, others harmful falsehoods  have been shared on social media since Google this month unleashed AI overviews, a makeover of its search page that frequently puts the summaries on top of search results.

The new feature has alarmed experts who warn it could perpetuate bias and misinformation and endanger people looking for help in an emergency.

When Melanie Mitchell, an AI researcher at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico, asked Google how many Muslims have been president of the United States, it responded confidently with a long-debunked conspiracy theory: "The United States has had one Muslim president, Barack Hussein Obama."

Mitchell said the summary backed up the claim by citing a chapter in an academic book, written by historians. But the chapter didn't make the bogus claim  it was only referring to the false theory.

"Google's AI system is not smart enough to figure out that this citation is not actually backing up the claim," Mitchell said in an email to the AP. "Given how untrustworthy it is, I think this AI Overview feature is very irresponsible and should be taken offline."

Google said in a statement Friday that it's taking "swift action" to fix errors  such as the Obama falsehood  that violate its content policies; and using that to "develop broader improvements" that are already rolling out. But in most cases, Google claims the system is working the way it should thanks to extensive testing before its public release.

"The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high-quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web," Google said a written statement. "Many of the examples we've seen have been uncommon queries, and we've also seen examples that were doctored or that we couldn't reproduce."

It's hard to reproduce errors made by AI language models  in part because they're inherently random. They work by predicting what words would best answer the questions asked of them based on the data they've been trained on. They're prone to making things up  a widely studied problem known as hallucination.

The AP tested Google's AI feature with several questions and shared some of its responses with subject matter experts. Asked what to do about a snake bite, Google gave an answer that was "impressively thorough," said Robert Espinoza, a biology professor at the California State University, Northridge, who is also president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

But when people go to Google with an emergency question, the chance that an answer the tech company gives them includes a hard-to-notice error is a problem.

"The more you are stressed or hurried or in a rush, the more likely you are to just take that first answer that comes out," said Emily M. Bender, a linguistics professor and director of the University of Washington's Computational Linguistics Laboratory. "And in some cases, those can be life-critical situations."

That's not Bender's only concern  and she has warned Google about them for several years. When Google researchers in 2021 published a paper called "Rethinking search" that proposed using AI language models as "domain experts" that could answer questions authoritatively  much like they are doing now  Bender and colleague Chirag Shah responded with a paper laying out why that was a bad idea.

They warned that such AI systems could perpetuate the racism and sexism found in the huge troves of written data they've been trained on.

"The problem with that kind of misinformation is that we're swimming in it," Bender said. "And so people are likely to get their biases confirmed. And it's harder to spot misinformation when it's confirming your biases."

Another concern was a deeper one  that ceding information retrieval to chatbots was degrading the serendipity of human search for knowledge, literacy about what we see online, and the value of connecting in online forums with other people who are going through the same thing.

Those forums and other websites count on Google sending people to them, but Google's new AI overviews threaten to disrupt the flow of money-making internet traffic.

Google's rivals have also been closely following the reaction. The search giant has faced pressure for more than a year to deliver more AI features as it competes with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and upstarts such as Perplexity AI, which aspires to take on Google with its own AI question-and-answer app.

"This seems like this was rushed out by Google," said Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity's chief business officer. "There's just a lot of unforced errors in the quality."
International pressure on Israel escalated significantly this week. The top United Nations court on Friday ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The decision followed an announcement by Ireland, Spain, and Norway acknowledging Palestinian statehood. And on Monday, the International Criminal courts chief prosecutor said he has asked ICC judges to approve arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three top Hamas leaders. Also, the Israeli army said three more hostages killed on October 7 were recovered from Gaza.
Iran's judiciary has taken the extraordinary step of sending Mashallah Karami  the father of executed protester Mohammad Mehdi Karami  to prison on charges of endangering national security and "propaganda against the regime."

Ali Sharifzadeh Ardakani, the lawyer representing Mashallah Karami, announced Saturday that his client has been sentenced to six years in prison by the Islamic Revolutionary Court.

He wrote on the social media platform X, "Mashallah Karami has been sentenced to six years in prison and confiscation of property, which was acquired through public donations, for charges of assembly, collusion, and propaganda against the system."

Ardakani further commented, "Considering that the Islamic Revolutionary Court addressed two additional charges in Criminal Court 2, it lacks the authority to issue a confiscation order. The verdict contains legal shortcomings, and we intend to appeal." He refrained from elaborating further.

On May 21, Ardakani posted on X that Karami faced additional pending charges: "The accusation of fraud is unfounded, and the Criminal Court 2 of Nazarabad is currently reviewing the charges of money laundering and acquiring illicit wealth, with no verdict rendered yet."

Mashallah Karami was arrested on August 22, 2023, in his home in Karaj, Iran, and was taken to a detention center. Authorities seized all his electronic devices and froze his family's bank accounts. There are reports that government forces also destroyed memorabilia, plaques and medals commemorating his son, Mohammad Mehdi Karami.

Mohammad Mehdi Karami was executed on January 7, 2023. He was accused of killing a member of the paramilitary Basij force named Ruhollah Ajamian during the nationwide "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests. Those protests erupted in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police.

Ardakani had positively characterized Mashallah Karami's earlier court session on April 23. He remarked that after eight months of his client's detention, it provided "a good opportunity to defend him" and noted that "the judge listened to what we had to say."

That court session was convened to address two charges against Karami, "propaganda against the regime" and "collusion and gathering against national security."

According to reports, during Karami's detention, his family was repeatedly harassed by the Islamic Republic's security forces.

Human rights organizations have consistently condemned the tactics employed by Iranian intelligence and judicial authorities for exerting pressure on protesters and the families of those who lost their lives during the nationwide protests.
Israeli forces pressed their military operation against Hamas throughout Gaza on Saturday as the prospect of a new round of mediated negotiations grew.

The decision for new negotiations was made after the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency met with CIA chief William Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, according to an official on Saturday who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation.

"At the end of the meeting, it was decided that in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active U.S. involvement," said the source, who spoke with Reuters.

Hamas later told Reuters that "there is no date" for the talks to resume.

There has been a stalemate in peace talks between the two enemies, with Israel demanding the release of the hostages held by Hamas, and Hamas calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners and an end of the war in Gaza.

Fighting across Gaza

More than 40 people were killed in the enclave Saturday, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties.

Israeli forces pushed deep into Jabalia, north of Gaza city, and said they "eliminated dozens of terrorists in close-quarter combat and aerial strikes." But residents and civil emergency services in the area said Israeli tanks rolled in, destroying dozens of houses, shops, and roads.

Hamas, which governs Gaza, and the smaller armed group Islamic Jihad said their fighters had fired anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs at Israeli troops in the north of the enclave.

In the southern city of Rafah, Israels military operations continue, despite the ruling by the U.N. International Court of Justice that Israel should "immediately halt its military offensive" in Rafah. Israel says its goal in Rafah is to eliminate Hamas cells embedded there. It also said that some of its hostages are being held there.

On Friday, Israel said it had found weapons stashes, destroyed part of a tunnel system and killed militants. Most of the fighting is reportedly in along the citys southern edge and eastern districts, according to Reuters.

One Rafah resident, who asked not to be named, said the Israeli military is assaulting the city indiscriminately.

"The occupation forces keep the city under bombing, not only east where they invaded but at the center and the western sides, they want to scare people to leave the whole city," said the resident.

The city has become a refuge for hundreds of thousands of Gazans fleeing fighting elsewhere in the enclave. After Rafah became a target as well, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled the city.

Since Hamas launched a terror attack October 7 on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages, Israel has embarked on an offensive to eliminate Hamas from Gaza. In recent weeks, Israel says its forces have killed 30,000 people, the majority of them combatants. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says 35,000 people have died, most of them women and children, but does not estimate how many of the dead were combatants.

The United States, Israels main ally, has opposed Israels invasion of Rafah, where more than a million refugees were sheltering from clashes elsewhere. Some 900,000 have since fled Rafah, according to the Israel military.

Gaza pier

Four U.S. Army vessels ran aground Saturday in heavy seas off the coast of Gaza. The four vessels were there to support the temporary pier, U.S. Central Command said Saturday in a statement.

"The vessels broke free from their moorings and two vessels are now anchored on the beach near the pier. The third and fourth vessels are beached on the coast of Israel near Ashkelon," the statement said.

"No U.S. personnel will enter Gaza. No injuries have been reported and the pier remains fully functional," it continued, adding that the Israeli navy is assisting with recovering the vessels.

The statement also said that more than 1,000 metric tons of aid had been delivered via the pier since Friday, more than 900 metric tons of it were distributed to the U.N. warehouse.

Some information used in this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Israel bombed the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, on Saturday, a day after the top U.N. court ordered it to halt military operations in the southern city as efforts get under way in Paris to seek a cease-fire in the war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also demanded the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants, hours after the Israeli military announced troops had recovered the bodies of three more of the captives from northern Gaza.

The Hague-based court, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also ordered Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which it closed earlier this month at the start of its assault on the city.

Israel gave no indication it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting that the court had got it wrong.

"Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part," National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a joint statement with Israel's foreign ministry spokesperson.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, welcomed the ICJ ruling on Rafah but criticized its decision to exclude the rest of war-torn Gaza from the order.

'Nothing left here'

Hours after the ICJ ruling, Israel carried out strikes on the Gaza Strip early Saturday while clashes between the Israeli army and the armed wing of Hamas continued.

Palestinian witnesses and AFP teams reported Israeli strikes in Rafah and the central city of Deir al-Balah.

"We hope that the court's decision will put pressure on Israel to end this war of extermination, because there is nothing left here," said Oum Mohammad Al-Ashqa, a Palestinian woman from Gaza City displaced to Deir al-Balah by the war.

"But Israel is a state that considers itself above the law. Therefore, I do not believe that the shooting or the war will stop other than by force," said Mohammed Saleh, also met by AFP in the central Gaza Strip city.

In its keenly awaited ruling, the ICJ said Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

It ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid and also called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The Gaza war broke out after Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,800 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

The Israeli military said the three hostages whose bodies were recovered in north Gaza on Friday -- Israeli hostage Chanan Yablonka, Brazilian-Israeli Michel Nisenbaum and French-Mexican Orion Hernandez Radoux -- were "murdered" during the October 7 attack and their bodies taken to Gaza.

Paris meetings

The court order comes ahead of separate meetings on the Gaza conflict in Paris between the CIA chief and Israeli representatives on one side and French President Emmanuel Macron and the foreign ministers of four key Arab states on the other.

Cease-fire talks involving U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators ended shortly after Israel launched the Rafah operation, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office this week said the war cabinet had asked the Israeli delegation "to continue negotiations for the return of the hostages."

CIA chief Bill Burns was expected to meet Israeli representatives in Paris in a bid to relaunch negotiations, a Western source close to the issue said.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron received the prime minister of Qatar and the Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers on Friday "to press for a cease-fire," according to Cairo.

The French presidency said they held talks on the Gaza war and ways to set up a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The five countries discussed "the effective implementation of the two-state solution," it added.

Top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken also spoke with Israeli war Cabinet minister Benny Gantz about new efforts to achieve a cease-fire and reopening of the Rafah border crossing as soon as possible, Washington said.

'End this nightmare'

Israeli ground troops started moving into Rafah in early May, defying global opposition.

Troops took over the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, further slowing sporadic deliveries of aid for Gaza's 2.4 million people.

But on Friday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi agreed in a call with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden to allow U.N. aid through the other entry point into southern Gaza, the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel, the White House said.

The U.S. military has also installed a temporary jetty on the Gaza coast to receive aid by sea that a U.N. spokesman said had delivered 97 trucks of aid after "a rocky start" a week ago.

The security and humanitarian situation in the territory remains alarming, with a risk of famine, hospitals out of service, and around 800,000 people, according to the United Nations, having fled Rafah in the last two weeks.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said the situation had reached "a moment of clarity."

"Aid workers and U.N. staff must be able to carry out their jobs in safety," he posted on social media site X late Friday.

"At a time when the people of Gaza are staring down famine... it is more critical than ever to heed the calls made over the last seven months: Release the hostages. Agree a cease-fire. End this nightmare."
Local students enjoy Chinese tea in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 21, 2024. Two programs of "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon 2024 were held in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka this week, with hundreds of local people attending to appreciate the uniqueness of Chinese tea culture. (Xinhua)

DHAKA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Two programs of "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon 2024 were held in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka this week, with hundreds of local people attending to appreciate the uniqueness of Chinese tea culture.

Dipto Sarkar, who studies Chinese at the Confucius Institute at Dhaka University, told Xinhua that he has fallen in love with Chinese tea because of its long history and rich culture.

The event showed participants what Chinese tea is like, how it is made, and what it means for Chinese people, Sarker said.

Aminatul Tayeba, another local student, told Xinhua after learning about Chinese tea and tea-related Chinese poems that Chinese tea culture is different from other countries.

"I was impressed with the fact that tea originated from China, and China has such a vast and rich tea culture," Tayeba said.

Noting that tea-related exchange between Bangladesh and China dates back a long time and has become a part of the cultural bond between the two countries, HM Jahangir Alam Rana, general secretary of Bangladesh-China Friendship Center, said he hoped such cultural events and tea events would help deepen the friendship between Bangladesh and China.

Li Shaopeng, cultural counselor of the Chinese embassy in Bangladesh, said tea is a name card of China that carries a rich history and culture. The implicit and restrained character of tea represents the way Chinese people understand life and interpret the world and epitomizes the key to Chinese culture, he said.

It is hoped that through this event, the Bangladeshi people can feel the charm of Chinese tea culture, which has been passed down for thousands of years, experience the elegant lifestyle of meeting friends over tea, expressing feelings through tea, and cultivating oneself with tea, so as to further enhance the cultural consensus between China and Bangladesh.

The programs were organized by China International Culture Association and the Chinese embassy in Bangladesh, and co-hosted by the Confucius Institute at Dhaka University, the Institute of Modern Languages at Dhaka University and the Bangladesh-China Friendship Center. 

HM Jahangir Alam Rana, general secretary of Bangladesh-China Friendship Center, delivers a speech during a program of "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon 2024 held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 22, 2024. Two programs of "Tea for Harmony" Yaji Cultural Salon 2024 were held in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka this week, with hundreds of local people attending to appreciate the uniqueness of Chinese tea culture. (Xinhua)
In a lush greenhouse high in the Alps, butterflies of various species and colors flutter freely while butterfly pupae are suspended in a structure as they grow into adult insects.

This is the Butterfly Forest in the tropical mountain greenhouse in Trento, Italy, a project by the Museo delle Scienze (MUSE), an Italian science museum. It's modeled on Udzungwa Mountains, a mountain range and rainforest area in south-central Tanzania that's one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. The Butterfly Forest features plant species endemic to the region, as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates from different parts of the world, all inside 600 square meters of forest with cliffs, inclinations and a waterfall.

The Butterfly Forest was created this spring to create public awareness on some of the research that MUSE is doing in Udzungwa Mountains to study and protect the world's biodiversity against threats such as deforestation and climate change.

Deforestation leads to habitat loss, which causes declines in nectar sources for butterflies, changing the functioning of the ecosystem. It can also limit the movements of the insects causing a decline in biodiversity and potential extinction of vulnerable butterfly species. Changes to soil and air temperatures are altering the life cycles of the insects, impacting their development rates, mating behaviors, and migration patterns. Butterfly populations are declining in many areas, especially in places under intensive land use.

"Our aim is that of being able to study better, to understand better what is happening," said Lisa Angelini, a botanist and director of the MUSE greenhouse. "Our work consists of monitoring and trying to develop projects in order to bring attention to biodiversity-related issues."

Butterflies are pollinators that enable plants to reproduce and therefore facilitate food production and supply. They are also food for birds and other animals.

Because of the multiple roles of butterflies in the ecosystem and their high sensitivity to environmental changes, scientists use them as indicators of biodiversity and a way to study the impact of habitat loss and other threats. "Insects in general play a fundamental role in the proper functioning of ecosystems," said Mauro Gobbi, an entomologist and researcher at MUSE.

Through a partnership with the Tanzania National Parks Authority, MUSE established the Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Center in 2006 to support research as well as in development of environmental education programs for schools.

"Research on butterflies is essential for informing conservation efforts and ensuring the long-term survival of the insects," said Arafat Mtui, research coordinator at Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre. Conservation efforts such as habitat restoration and good land management practices, which address climate change impacts, are essential for protecting butterfly populations, he added.

With at least 2,500 plant species, more than 120 mammals, and thousands of invertebrate species, Udzungwa Mountains is rich in biological diversity. It's part of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Kenya and Tanzania that are a proposed UNESCO Heritage site. It has more than 40 endemic species of butterflies.

MUSE's work here is vital because of this variety, said Sevgan Subramanian, principal scientist and head of environmental health at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi.

"If you want to have a monitoring of the health of the ecosystem, monitoring such indigenous or endemic insect population diversity is very critical, so that we have an idea whether the ecosystem is still healthy or not," he said.

Gobbi, the entomologist, said high-altitude environments like Udzungwa Mountains National Park are suitable for studying the effects of climate change because they usually have no direct human impact.

He and other scientists have warned that failure to protect insects from climate change effects will drastically reduce the planet's ability to build a sustainable future.

Scientists at MUSE said the main challenge in butterfly conservation is changing the current farming policies to increase the amount of low-intensity farmland, and promote diverse landscapes preserving the remaining patches of natural habitats.

"Often our grandparents used to say 'there are no longer as many butterflies as there used to be,'" he said. This is "absolutely supported by scientific research, which confirms that butterflies, like other insects, are in crisis. We are losing species, we're losing them forever, and this is going to break the balance of ecosystems."
The European Union, the U.S. and their allies issued a joint statement Friday about the rising violence in Myanmar.

"We, Australia, Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, are deeply concerned by the escalating conflict in Myanmar and in particular the increasing harm to civilians, which is driving a worsening and devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis across the country," the statement said.

The U.N. human rights office said Friday it has received "frightening and disturbing reports" from Myanmars northern Rakhine State about the impact fighting between the countrys military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group, is having on Rohingya civilians.

"Some of the most serious allegations," according to a statement from Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, "concern incidents of killing of Rohingya civilians and the burning of their property."

An estimated 45,000 Rohingya have recently fled from fighting in the towns of Buthidaung and Maungdaw and have sought refuge on the Naf River near Bangladesh, Throssell said, where already more than 1 million Rohingya have sought refuge.

During the violence in the two towns, Throssell said the U.N.s human rights office had documented "renewed attacks" on Rohingya civilians by the military and the Arakan Army.

There were reports of aerial strikes and "shooting at unarmed fleeing villagers, beheadings, disappearances, burnings of homes," Throssell said.

The nations joint statement said the abuses committed against the civilian population include "airstrikes on homes, schools, places of worship and hospitals, as well as torture, the use of civilians as human shields, and sexual and gender-based violence against women and children."

"The number of people in humanitarian need has risen from 1 million to 18.6 million," the joint statement continued, "since the February 2021 coup detat," a reference to the military coup against the civilian government that declared the results of its election not valid and arrested National League for Democracy senior officials including State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmars military and armed groups have "consistently targeted" the towns and villages of Rakhine State where there have been reports of "high levels of displacement" and "forced recruitment, including of the Rohingya," the group said.

The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority group who have lived for generations in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar. They have been denied not only citizenship but also basic rights and protections.

"For years the military has targeted the Rohingya and actively enforced draconian and discriminatory restrictions affecting all aspects of their lives," said Throssell.

In 2017, Myanmars government led a campaign against the Rohingya that included rape, murder and the burning of their homes and villages. Nearly a million Rohingya sought refuge in nearby Bangladesh.

The U.N.s human rights office has called for an immediate end to the conflict and for the protection of all civilians "without any distinction based on identity" and the "prompt and unhindered" delivery of humanitarian relief.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
A bomb attached to a car exploded early Saturday in the western part of the Syrian capital that is home to several diplomatic missions, killing one person and causing material damage, state media reported.

Damascus Mazze neighborhood houses the Iranian consulate, which was destroyed last month in a strike blamed on Israel. The attack at the time killed seven people, including two Iranian generals and a member of Lebanons militant group Hezbollah  and triggered a direct Iranian military assault on Israel for the first time, sparking fears of a regionwide war.

Several airstrikes have hit the tightly secured neighborhood over the past months, mostly targeting Iranian officials.

State news agency SANA didn't say who was killed but said the blast set two other cars ablaze.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the man killed in the explosion was a Mazze resident who carried a card identifying him as a Syrian army officer. Abdurrahman said the dead man had close ties to the Iranians.

Hours after the blast in Damascus, an Israeli drone strike reportedly targeted a car and a truck outside the western Syrian town of Qusair, northwest of Damascus and close to Lebanon's border, the Observatory and a Beirut-based pan-Arab TV station reported.

The strike hit the two vehicles near Dabaa air base. Qusair and its suburbs were struck several times over the past months by Israeli drones targeting Hezbollah fighters who have a presence in the area.

The Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV didn't say if there were casualties, but the Observatory said two Hezbollah members were killed and several others wounded in the drone strike.

Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Israeli forces have traded cross-border fire on an almost daily basis since the day after the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7. More than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of them Hezbollah fighters, and including more than 70 civilians and noncombatants, according to an Associated Press tally.

Meanwhile, Israel says at least 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have so far been killed in the clashes.

Tehran has been sending advisers to Syria since the countrys conflict, which later turned into civil war, began in March 2011 and has killed half a million people. Iran-backed fighters have helped tip the balance of power in favor of President Bashar Assads government.

Irans military presence in Syria has been a major concern for Israel, which has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment along its northern border. Syria has accused Israel of carrying out hundreds of strikes on targets in government-controlled parts in recent years  but Israel has rarely acknowledged such strikes.
The United States will provide a new $275 million military aid package for Ukraine to help the beleaguered country repel Russias assault on Kharkiv, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Friday.

The package includes ammunition for HIMARS, 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds, missiles, anti-armor systems and precision aerial munitions, the State Department said.

Assistance from previous packages has already made it to the front lines, and we will move this new assistance as quickly as possible so the Ukrainian military can use it to defend their territory and protect the Ukrainian people, the statement said.

In his nightly video address Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he visited Kharkiv earlier in the day and met with military officials, heads of special services, and regional and city authorities.

Zelenskyy noted that Ukrainian forces took combat control of border areas in northern parts of Kharkiv where Russian troops had attacked this month.

His comments differed from those of Viktor Vodolatsky, a member of Russia's State Duma, or lower house of parliament. Vodolatsky was quoted by the Tass news agency as saying Russian forces controlled more than half the territory of the town of Vovchansk, 5 kilometers inside the Ukrainian border.

Vodolatsky was quoted as saying that once Vovchansk was secured, Russian forces would target three cities in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region  Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk.

Reuters was unable to independently verify battlefield accounts from either side.

Russia struck trains and tracks and damaged buildings in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region as part of a coordinated counteroffensive against eastern Ukraine.

Ukraines national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, said there were no injuries reported from the Russian attacks on the railway, but local officials said Friday that they were evacuating children from the area of Kharkiv, which is has been barraged by Russian forces.

Ukrainian officials announced on Friday the mandatory evacuation over the next 60 days of 123 orphans and children living without their parents in the area.

Authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 people from the Kharkiv region since Russia mounted an offensive there on May 10, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russias offensive aims to test Ukrainian defenses in the Kharkiv region and further south in the Donetsk region while also launching incursions in the northern Sumy and Chernihiv regions.

Russias new advances are stretching Ukraines depleted military thin.

Destroying the train network adds more strain on the already outmanned and outgunned Ukrainian army after more than two years of warfare in the area.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he wants to create a buffer zone in the Kharkiv region to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks.

Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks killed at least seven people Thursday and injured at least 28 others in the city of Kharkiv.

Zelenskyy said Thursday that 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 highlighted 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 the social media platform X.

Syniehubov, the Kharkiv region governor, said on Telegram that Russia had 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 about 19 kilometers from the Russian border.

In western Russias Belgorod region, officials reported damage Thursday from Ukrainian aerial attacks.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had destroyed 35 Ukrainian rockets and three aerial drones over Belgorod.

Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that Ukrainian attacks had 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 had been killed by a Ukrainian missile attack near the areas main administrative center, Simferopol.

Zelenskyy is set to attend the meeting of the leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in June to make a new appeal for more aid, according to Thursday media reports.

Oleksii Kovalenko of VOAs Ukrainian Service contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
The U.S. State Department said on Saturday the United States was "deeply concerned" over China's military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan, and strongly urged it to act with restraint.

"Using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation and erodes longstanding norms that for decades have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the State Department said in a statement.

The department issued the statement after China ended two days of war games around Taiwan in which it simulated attacks with bombers and practiced boarding ships, exercises that Taiwan condemned as "blatant provocation" on Saturday.

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, launched the "Joint Sword - 2024A" exercises three days after Lai Ching-te, a man Beijing calls a separatist, became Taiwan's president.

Beijing said the exercises were "punishment" for Lai's Monday inauguration speech, in which he said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were "not subordinate to each other," which China viewed as a declaration the two are separate countries.
Two years of negotiations ended Friday without a final draft of a global agreement on how to best handle the next pandemic that public health officials say is sure to come.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization was asked to write an agreement on how to respond to the inevitable next one and avoid the missteps and disparities of the last one.

"We are not where we hoped we would be when we started this process," Roland Driece, co-chair of WHO's negotiating board for the agreement, said Friday.

A final draft treaty was scheduled for presentation at next weeks World Health Assembly, the yearly meeting of health ministers in Geneva.

"This is not a failure," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva after the talks ended.

"We will try everything  believing that anything is possible  and make this happen because the world still needs a pandemic treaty," he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic killed millions of people worldwide, broke health care systems and disrupted economies.

Tedros described the immense disparity between rich and poor countries concerning access to vaccines and other necessities "a catastrophic moral failure."

The WHO chief is, however, keeping hope alive that WHO will come up with a plan to more equitably address the next pandemic.

"Many of the challenges that caused a serious impact during COVID 19 still exist," he said.

Driece and Precious Matsoso, the co-chairs of the negotiating board, didnt get into details about where the talks were stymied. But others pointed to differences about sharing information about pathogens, intellectual property rights and affordability of vaccines.

According to reporting by The Associated Press, developing countries worried about providing virus samples to be used in developing vaccines, but then not being able to afford those vaccines.

Some U.S. Republican senators protested to the Biden administration that the draft treaty contained "intellectual property rights" issues. And Britain said it would agree to the treaty only if "adhered to British national interest and sovereignty," the AP reported.

Jaume Vida, a senior policy adviser with Health Action International told AFP that the negotiators will likely present "the skeleton of the instrument to the assembly," because "there is agreement on the principles and structure."

Agence France-Presse said it saw a draft agreement of which a large portion was approved, but there were a number of other sections that had not been approved.

"Perhaps the ambition of doing this in two years was a bridge too far, the fastest-ever negotiated U.N. treaty, Ellen t Hoen, a lawyer with the Medicines Law and Policy NGO, told the French news agency.

Some information in this came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
The local director of a mission group in Haiti and a missionary couple from the United States were attacked and fatally shot by gang members after leaving a youth group activity at a church, a family member told The Associated Press.

Thursdays slayings of Jude Montis, the local director of Missions in Haiti Inc., and Davy and Natalie Lloyd, a young married couple from the U.S., happened in the community of Lizon in northern Port-au-Prince. They were killed as the capital crumbles under the relentless assault of violent gangs that control 80% of the city while authorities await the arrival of a police force from Kenya as part of a U.N.-backed deployment.

Here are some things to know about the missionary work that focused on helping the children of Haiti, as well as the gang attack that took three lives.

Working in Haiti

Missions in Haitis website says its goal is to see the Gospel of Christ make a difference in the lives of Haitis young people.

Davy Lloyd's parents, David and Alicia Lloyd of Oklahoma, started the organization in 2000 with the aim of focusing on the children of Haiti. David and Alicia Lloyd are full-time missionaries in Haiti.

Although the entire nation is steeped in poverty, the children suffer the worst, they wrote on the website. Thousands are malnourished, uneducated, and headed for hopeless lives apart from Christ.

Hannah Cornett, Davys sister, told The Associated Press that they grew up in Haiti. Davy Lloyd went to the U.S. to attend a Bible college and married Natalie in June 2022. After the wedding, the couple wasted little time moving to Haiti to do humanitarian work.

Cornett said Montis, a Haitian, had worked at Missions in Haiti for 20 years.

The organization's efforts include House of Compassion, which provides housing for 36 children  18 boys and 18 girls, the website said. All are destined to stay at House of Compassion until they have finished school and are ready to be on their own.

Good Hope Boys Home provides a home for 22 boys, the website said. The organization also built a church, a bakery and a school with more than 240 students, the website said.

The attack

A Facebook posting on the Missions in Haiti page stated that Davy Lloyd, 23, and Natalie Lloyd, 21, along with some children, were leaving a church when gang members in three trucks ambushed them.

Davy Lloyd later called his family to tell them that gang members hit him on the head with the barrel of a gun, forced him upstairs, stole their belongings and left him tied up, Cornett said.

As people were helping untie Davy Lloyd, another group of armed gunmen showed up, Cornett said.

No one understood what they were doing, not sure what took place but one was shot and killed and now this gang went into full attack mode, Missions in Haiti's posting said.

The couple and Montis fled to a house connected to the mission.

They tried to take cover in there, but the gang shot up the house, said Cornett.

Ben Baker, Natalie Lloyd's father and a Republican state representative in Missouri, posted on Facebook on Friday that the bodies of Davy and Natalie Lloyd were safely transported to the U.S. Embassy.

Grieving families

Cornett said Montis left behind two children, ages 2 and 6.

Montis family could not immediately be reached for comment Friday. Its unclear if he used social media and, if so, whether his profiles are public. Missions in Haiti did not immediately return the AP's request for comment Friday.

Baker wrote on Facebook that his heart was broken in a thousand pieces.

Ive never felt this kind of pain, Baker wrote. Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to Heaven together. Please pray for my family, we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well. I have no other words for now.
OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO (AFP)  Burkina Faso's military regime, in power since a 2022 coup, will extend its rule for five years under an accord adopted during national consultations on Saturday, the talks' chairman said.

"The duration of the transition is fixed at 60 months from July 2, 2024," Colonel Moussa Diallo, chairman of the organizing committee of the national dialogue process, said after the talks.

He added that coup leader and acting president Ibrahim Traore could run in any elections at the end of the transition period.

What was supposed to be a two-day national dialogue began earlier Saturday, ostensibly to chart a way back to civilian rule for the West African nation beset by jihadi violence.

The army has governed Burkina Faso since 2022, carrying out two coups that it said were justified in large part by the persistent insecurity.

Jihadi rebels affiliated with al Qaida and the Islamic State group have waged a grinding insurgency since 2015 that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

An initial national dialogue had resulted in a charter that installed Traore as president and put in place a government and a legislative assembly.

Under the new charter, quotas will no longer be used to assign seats in the assembly to members of traditional parties. Instead, "patriotism" will be the only criteria for selecting deputies.

"You have just rewritten a new page in the history of our country," said Minister of Territorial Affairs Emile Zerbo, who opened the meeting on Saturday morning.

The initial charter set the transition to civilian rule at 21 months, with the deadline set to expire July 1.

But Traore had repeatedly warned that holding elections would be difficult given the perilous security situation.

The new charter also calls for a new body called the "Korag" to "monitor and control the implementation of the country's strategic vision in all areas and through all means." Its composition and operations are at the discretion of the president.

Civil society representatives, the security and defense forces and lawmakers in the transitional assembly took part in the weekend talks, which most political parties boycotted.

Human rights groups have accused Burkina Faso's junta leaders of abuses against civilians during their military campaigns against jihadis, and of silencing media and opposition leaders.

After taking power, the coup leaders expelled French troops and diplomats, and have instead turned to Russia for military assistance.
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's telecom regulator has approved the licensing of Elon Musk's Starlink, allowing the satellite unit of SpaceX to operate in the southern African country, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Saturday.

The decision "is expected to result in the deployment of high speed, low cost, LEO (low-Earth-orbit) internet infrastructure throughout Zimbabwe and particularly in all the rural areas," Mnangagwa said in a statement.

He said Starlink will provide services through its sole and exclusive local partner, IMC Communications.

A World Bank report in 2021 said only 34.8% of Zimbabwe's population had access to the internet.

The country's internet service is dominated by three major mobile network operators.

The Starlink approval comes amid a government crackdown on unregistered users smuggling Starlink kits from neighbouring countries like Zambia.

Starlink is currently officially offered in various African nations, including Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, and Malawi.

Last month, Cameroon ordered the seizure of Starlink equipment at the country's ports of entry as the provider was not licensed.

The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day.

Reporting by Nyasha Chingono; Additional reporting by Amindeh Blaise Atabong in Yaounde; Editing by Nqobile Dludla
High school students watch a performance during a graduation celebration event in Vladivostok, Russia, May 25, 2024. A traditional Russian event for the graduation of high school students, also known as the "Last Bell," was held at the Avangard Stadium here on Saturday. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

High school students watch a performance during a graduation celebration event in Vladivostok, Russia, May 25, 2024. A traditional Russian event for the graduation of high school students, also known as the "Last Bell," was held at the Avangard Stadium here on Saturday. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

High school students dance during a graduation celebration event in Vladivostok, Russia, May 25, 2024. A traditional Russian event for the graduation of high school students, also known as the "Last Bell," was held at the Avangard Stadium here on Saturday. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

Actress perform ballet during a graduation celebration event in Vladivostok, Russia, May 25, 2024. A traditional Russian event for the graduation of high school students, also known as the "Last Bell," was held at the Avangard Stadium here on Saturday. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)
Photo: Ana Carballosa/Netflix

This is her  now  on Netflix. Jennifer Lopez is trying to save humanity as the titular character in Brad Peytons new sci-fi film, Atlas. Simu Liu and Sterling K. Brown also star, but the movies main focus is on Atlas and her sentient mecha suit, which is voiced by Gregory James Cohan. Atlas delivers a pretty positive message about AI  hmm, how do we think that will land with a group of critics who likely dont want to be replaced by robots? As it turns out, the AI story line is only one of the problems that critics have with the project. Early reactions so far have generally been a shrug at best  for example, a Hollywood Reporter headline politely drags it as another Netflix movie made to half-watch while doing laundry. While some reviews have offered praise for Lopezs performance, she was also involved as a producer on the film, so the overall response is probably still something J.Los PR team might want to keep on the lo. Below, what critics are saying about Atlas.

When, someday not so long from now, Netflix begins serving up personalized AI-generated sludge content based on each of our viewing histories, it probably wont look all that different from Atlas, which barely looks like it was made by humans anyway. But the point of Atlas isnt to make its actors look big  its to remind us that AI is our friend, even when it occasionally tries to exterminate us, and that we should get over ourselves and our tetchy objections. Alison Willmore, Vulture

Atlas feels like an underwhelming return to the kind of projects that have maintained Lopez place in the Hollywood firmament, but not the ones that catapulted her there in the first place. Todd Gilchrist, Variety

In a moment when everyone is legitimately concerned about the role that AI will play in our lives going forward, creating such a limp, insecure film that deals directly with the subject, yet says absolutely nothing about it, isnt just a waste of money. Its a waste of valuable time. Coleman Spilde, Daily Beast

For a futuristic, planet-hopping adventure, Atlas feels awfully tiny; as a romance (minus the actual romance), it treads no new emotional terrain. But theres something oddly relatable, even romantic about its hope that healing ones heart might be the first step in saving the world. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter

The script teeters between high-concept and a showcase for Lopezs versatility, and despite a decent premise for some futuristic thrills, Atlas often feels like a missed opportunity, hampered by sluggish pacing and a lack of depth in character development for everyone else except Atlas.

Valerie Complex, Deadline

At times Atlas feels like pure pastiche, and it looks, in a fashion were getting used to seeing on the streamers, kind of cheap, dark, plasticky and fake, particularly in the big action sequences. Science fiction often earns its place in memory by envisioning something new and startling  but with Atlas, weve seen it all before. Alissa Wilkinson, the New York Times

Ultimately Atlas either needed to be much dumber or much smarter to be good. It also needed to let Jennifer Lopez walk. But its biggest sin might be what it ultimately says about the possibility of artificial intelligence at a time when corporations are force feeding useless A.I. garage down our throats.

Mikey Walsh, Nerdist

Mostly, it all looks like a video game cut scene, which isnt just a ding on its overall aesthetics (cheap), but its general narrative thrust (weak, silly). The closer you pay attention to those elements, the harder they are to ignore, and the less even vaguely entertaining this all is. The less worth saving, too.

Kate Erbland, IndieWire

[T]he entire affair is powered by a B-movie air of cheesy fun, and Lopez makes for a convincing high-kicking heroine when she buddies up with the mech robot snappily voiced by Gregory James Cohan. Its an action film an AI could have scripted but youd have to have a circuit loose not to get caught up in the high-octane silliness. Ed Power, The Telegraph

In another world, all its really guilty of is being just okay. But I felt completely inactivated by this movie. I connected to no one, cared about nothing. The emotional tenor of scenes rose and fell without moving me in the slightest. Alex Harrison, Screen Rant

While Lopezs star power and raw appeal are palpable as ever, thats not enough to flesh out a guilt-ridden, self-loathing genius whose intellect is key to humanitys survival. The dismal writing does her no favors, true, but shes the sort of actress who can save The Wedding Planner  not Earth.

Johnny Oleksinski, the New York Post

Theres just none of the awe we should get from a film such as this, director Brad Peyton [] never able to edge his film away from being just another streaming simulation of a real blockbuster. For a film that wants us to stop worrying and love big tech, Atlas does an awfully good job of showing us why we should still be wary of it. Benjamin Lee, The Guardian
They wish I would fall, Id make a mistake. Once you are someone who is a whistleblower about sexual violence, you need to be perfect. Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images

The French film industry is at an inflection point regarding its Moi Aussi movement, which, as was briefly discussed last week at the Cannes opening press conference, has long trailed behind Americas Me Too movement, only recently gaining any sort of traction. Much of that can be credited to Judith Godreche, an esteemed French actor whose short film Moi Aussi was shot in secret in March and added last-minute to the Un Certain Regard section of the festival. The poignant, poetic short features the faces and anonymous personal testimonies of people in the industry who have been victims of sexual abuse, gathered together in silence on a Parisian street as Godreches daughter, actress Tess Barthelemy, dances lyrically around them.

The film is significant both for its subject matter and its premiere location, at a festival and within an industry that has turned a blind eye to or gone so far as to celebrate men accused of sexual violence; just last year, for example, Canness opening film starred Johnny Depp, and this year, Shia LaBeouf walked the red carpet. Moi Aussi is also personally symbolic for Godreche, who, in 2017, joined the chorus of voices testifying against Harvey Weinstein, and more recently spoke out against two men in the French film industry: she filed a complaint against director Jacques Doillon, accusing him of rape with violence, on and off the set of the 1989 film The 15 Year Old Girl, and denounced as abuse the six-year relationship she, then age 14, had with the then-39-year-old director Benoit Jacquot back in the 1980s, whom she accused of rape with constraint. Both men deny the allegations, though the lawsuits are still active.

As a result of her outspokenness, Godreche was instantly inundated with personal stories of other survivors, which she then decided to transmute into Moi Aussi (which she hopes to release in the U.S. soon). In February, just before filming, she gave a fiery speech at Frances Cesar Awards, in which she asked the audience, Why allow this art that we love so much, this art that brings us together, to be used as a cover for the illicit trafficking of young girls? Shes also been a driving force behind the recent French Parliament inquiry into sexual and gender-based violence across the countrys film, audiovisual, performing arts, advertising and fashion sectors. As Deadlines Melanie Goodfellow put it, There is no bigger disruptive force in French cinema right now than Godreche.

On the heels of her Cannes premiere, and at a festival thats suddenly stuffed with stories about women attempting to take power back in a system theyve realized has long been rigged against them (including Furiosa, The Shameless, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Armand, Balconettes, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, The Substance, Being Maria, and Anora) I sat down with Godreche for a long talk at a hotel bar. We discussed why she decided to speak out about her experiences later in life, whether she believed the French film industry was ready to accept real change, and what sort of backlash shes since faced.

Tell me about your initial impulse to make this film, and the decision to speak out about all of this.

So I lived in the States for 11 years, starting in 2014. I left France, sort of running away from this industry, after I was a child actor and worked my whole life, but felt that I could never really find any sort of legitimacy. I was either someones muse or someones wife or constantly judged, not able to find the space of legitimacy to direct or write my own things.And I struggled with this because I was a muse. I was with a director for a very long time, living with him when I was 14. He was a beloved auteur in French cinema. So it was already my struggle. I was in LA for a film and sold an idea to HBO, something taking place in the States, so I moved with my two kids. I knew I was breaking up with France and it was not going to be possible for me to go back and work.

The show didnt end up happening, so I started working as an indie actress in the States. But I never stopped thinking and writing, and I wrote a show on spec, Icon of French Cinema, and A24 came onboard. It took place in Paris, and told a story of an actress who goes back to France. I understood the necessity of anchoring her in her past and in the cinema, in that industry. And I knew I couldnt tell the story without being honest about my childhood in the industry. I had to tell my story. But I was very worried and scared of coming forward, of saying any names, or being too precise. Obviously everyone knew in France, but I was very scared to not be able to tell this show, or have it made. Or even worse. But I ended up partnering with Arte, and they were very supportive.

This all came after Id spoken out against Harvey Weinstein, and Id gone through that experience, which was very scary. The journalists need to protect every source, themselves, and the information, so they dont give you any information. So youre talking to someone whos taking your words and you dont know whats going to happen with them, or if youre alone.

You had no idea who else was speaking out?

Right. So its this weird, dark hole. I went through that, with all of these fears about the power of this man, and I didnt want to go through all of that again. But then the Weinstein prosecutor came to meet me in L.A., along with other victims, and interrogated me, trying to see if I could be potentially brought on the stand to testify against Weinstein, even though the statute of limitations was up for my story. This was one of the pieces of the puzzle that made me realize how repressed I was. I realized Id lived my whole childhood with this situation, being raped by these men and directors, and Id pretended that it was fine and that I was somehow responsible. Through writing a book, making my own television series and short film and, most importantly, observing my daughters adolescence, I realized how vulnerable I was then. And much to my surprise, Ive found tremendous support and comfort from other victims and slowly from parliament, but its a complicated path. We all need to speak up.

When you say everyone in France knew what was happening to you, what do you mean?

Every body knew in this small French industry that I was with a much older director. And on set of A Girl of 15, the director fired the actor, then put himself in the role. In the script it said there was a love scene, but it wasnt explained with any detail. Youre 15, youre on set, and suddenly hes telling you that you need to take off your sweater and be naked. What do you do? He kisses you over and over and over and touches your breasts. What do you do? No adults are speaking up for you. I understand how people are paralyzed; its the cult of the auteur, and the power of the director.

At the time, I was trying to speak out  at least on some things, saying he stole my words and some of my writing. If you look back at the press from that time, you dont even need to do an investigation to understand a lot of things. Clues are everywhere. But nobody ever cared. I was kept in silence for so long, so for me, there was a constant reminder of the lack of legitimacy I would be facing. No matter what I said, I had this stigma, like, Im a bad person. There was no space for me to be heard. So I told the prosecutor, Im not good for you. I will hurt other victims. If you bring me on the stand against Weinstein, theyre going to bring up my childhood story. I was a bad witness, a bad victim.

Thats awful, that they would use it against you.

Right. But I think thats one of the first times that I was able to formulate this self-perception, this guilt. So I wrote this show, and I was extremely worried that the show would become somehow in a bad way a Me Too show. That people wouldnt want to see it, that some part of the show would make it unattractive. I was constantly navigating and negotiating with my own reality, like, Oh, but its funny! And it is also very funny. I do love the absurd and Im inspired by Larry David. My tone is more like Phoebe Waller-Bridge and I love to use self-mockery, so it is funny, but theres also this fear of embracing my own story.

But when the show came out all of these women started writing to me. And some said to me, Because of your life story, seeing your films, seeing you around with Benoit Jacquot when you were 15, men hit on me and used you as an example. Or directors hit on me, or I wanted to be like you. I felt this guilt again and responsibility, like, I gave an example that allowed older men to hit on young girls. And in directing the young actress in these scenes from my youth that I was reproducing, I imposed things on set that are not mandatory in France.

Like what?

An intimacy coordinator. The young actress had a person for herself, too, an advocate. On set, I was recreating scenes Id done as a child, but in a completely different setting. It was almost like, Shit! She didnt want the lead actor to approach her more than this [holds her hands apart]. And I wanted him to kiss her, and it looks on screen like he does, but he doesnt  I shot it from behind so it just looks like he does. I worked within her boundaries instead of imposing them on her. Directing, to me, is that. Its not, youre a dictator. On my next project, Id really like to change, in France, as much as I can, the idea of a hierarchy on set. And the difference between the way a technician or a beginning actor is treated compared to the stars. Its so feudal and bizarre, a reflection of society.

Mimicking the patriarchy.

Exactly. The lack of consideration for human beings in France I keep saying in France, and that makes French people hate me, but Im sure its in America, too. But Ive noticed living there, there is an idea that you can start with nothing and become something. Because its a younger country, it can give you a chance. It can destroy you, of course. But in France, if you bring coffee to the actors, thats your role forever. As Im growing as a director, I hope to have a crew and find a way to do cinema in a more democratic way.

But anyway. I got all of these DMs from women on Instagram after my show, and one of them was a link to a documentary called LInterdit, The Forbidden. And in one of the interviews, you see Jacquot talking about what was forbidden for him was being with me as a teenager. And hes mocking it. Hes saying that for him, and for a lot of people, cinema is a cover to have sex with young women.

He admitted that outright?

Oh, for sure. Hes bragging about it. And you see images of me and hes talking about me like Im an object. Hes putting words in my mouth, describing my feelings as a teenager, and how I was excited by the taste of something thats forbidden. My body started shaking. I vomited. Suddenly I see this man who I was with for six years  it was so hard for me to get away from him, and I felt my entire life I tried to emancipate myself from him and his power over me  and I see him saying these things Id never heard before. And I was like, I cant. And I spoke out. It was almost like my body decided for me. It wasnt an intellectual, step-by-step thing.

You were compelled.

And that started a long journey. I met a bunch of journalists and investigators, considered speaking to the press, and I ended up doing a piece with Le Monde in February. I realized I needed a lawyer. In opening up letters and souvenirs from this man, I realized the child in me needed justice. I was calling reputable lawyers but starting the conversation with, Are you a lawyer for children? I said, I need a lawyer for the 14-year-old kid that I was. And Id like to go to the place where you file for children, La Brigade des Mineurs. And because Im a privileged person, and because Im famous, we were able to get access quickly. And I ended up filing lawsuits against these two men and my life started like an avalanche that somehow took me here, to bring this fight and this activism to a lot of places and to politics and to government. It was always one day at a time, not knowing what tomorrow is made of. As a person who thought for so long  that was the way these men were coming at you, telling you were unique and special. That theres no one like you. But one of the things that made me have the ability to fight was the fact that Im not unique. There are a lot of people like me.

That gave me some sort of responsibility. After I spoke out on Instagram, I created an email address and within two weeks I had received 5,000 messages. I felt the need of these women and men.

And at what point did you make the Cesar speech? Did they invite you there to speak on this?

Afterwards. No. They invited me to give an award, which I refused. And they said, You can come and speak. But I refused to show them my speech.

Thats so badass.

[Laughs and sips her water.]

Were they upset afterwards?

No, no.

But you knew if youd showed them, theyd have said no.

Yeah, yeah.

Because its so institutionalized in France. How do you account for your relatively positive reception throughout all of this? Because when Adele Haenel spoke out, and walked out of the Cesars in 2020, for example, a few years ago, she was met with so much rancor and silence. And ultimately left the industry entirely.

I think as soon as they can, they give you a kick. They wish I would fall, Id make a mistake. Once you are someone who is a whistleblower about sexual violence, you need to be perfect. Theres such a thirst. Because youre also representing something that society is extremely uncomfortable with. Its shaking the status of the patriarchy. Thats not something a lot of people want. So I think its extremely complicated for people to receive you well. Even though they want to say they doI do think in the younger generation, things are different, but I think that older generations and my generation, the power of men is dangerous. A lot of people want to keep that power.

So publicly theres support, but privately it feels different?

I think so. And theres not that much support. Theres a lot of silence, also. There has been support here at Cannes and I dont want to generalize it, because I want to welcome it. But theres a lot of backlash. Violent ones. Death threats against me, my daughter. Everything, every step I take, is a target. I feel theres an army of people ready to jump, wolves ready to pounce at the first false move.

Thats a lot of pressure for you. How did you end up premiering this at Cannes? Because it does feel like a protector of the sort of thing youre talking about, of the status quo and the patriarchy. Ive never gotten the idea that the festival really cares about women.

Its a lot of pressure. I remember Jane Campions speech here at her press conference about women and the lack of space for female directors in cinema. Its interesting that it happened here. Women are obviously here and their films are selected, but I dont know that its a place where activism is welcomed. But for me, politics is personal. And cinema is politics. I feel like a lot of my favorite films, whether its in your face or not, are political. And the proof is that this Iranian director who escaped his country  this is very political, and Cannes is welcoming him here. So its interesting because its a place where you can have the space to be political. A lot of activists would tell you theyre being shut down here and its hard. But maybe because this is a very specific female subject, that its specifically MeToo oriented  its an interesting debate. Cinema has always been a way to fight. What would the festival be without these movies made by these directors?

It just feels strange to me that theyd welcome this film, and then also celebrate Shia LaBeouf and Johnny Depp. It feels opposed to itself. Do you think them accepting your film is a genuine step in the right direction, like they genuinely want change?

An industry is individuals, and every decision is made by an individual. I dont know if I can call them they.

Of course, its very general.

Do they want change or not? I dont know. But I am grateful that I came here. And I hope it wasnt chosen to do some kind of social washing. I think when right-wing people say that also its double-edged, because its a way of saying, Oh, shes not a director. Its just a movie about this, thats used to do this. For me whats important is that its a real film, its cinema, and its looking at people with consideration and isnt using the camera or power or money to dominate and take. How do you make films that are not stealing away from people? How do you give that space and film bodies and faces and stories without instrumentalizing them?

For me, that was a real question: None of these people in my film are actors and I didnt want to ask them to do anything without their consent. Preparing and thinking of the shots and the choreography was almost philosophical: How do I express without forcing or imposing? How do I offer gestures without people feeling like its not natural to them? And in one day! How do I tell all of these stories in one day of shooting, with people who have never been on a set before?

So how did you do it?

We wrote the 5,000 people who wrote to me and offered them to come that day, to film for one day. They came if they could. We didnt choose who could come. There arent a lot of people of color who wrote to me, and I think thats a real subject. For women of color its even harder to speak out. So its important to say: my film doesnt reflect society. It reflects who wrote to me. We gave them some gestures that they could do if they wanted, and I tried to be as transparent as I could, so there were no surprises when they saw the movie. My biggest fear was: How do I film every one of them? Which is impossible. But people came from the countryside, from Australia. So I was looking for her with my mic, calling for her, because I didnt have any names for the faces. But I was like, If you arent in this movie Ill cry!

But we had a lot of informed crew and psychologists. People to talk to if someone was feeling anxious. And I wanted to use dance and the gestures of a child as symbolism, so it wasnt too pretty. Wed say, if you want to do this gesture, do it, or dont if you dont want to. And it just came along. Everyone was so moved to be under the same sky.

And your daughter is dancing throughout the whole film. It sounds like a lot of the impulse behind all of this was to protect her.

She was definitely part of my impulse. Shes an actress, as well as a dancer, and for me, it was like, No. This cant happen to her and other young boys and girls in the world. This industry needs to change, and the lack of protection for children on set needs to change. But its very heavy for her to be my daughter right now. She receives death threats and people saying they want to capture her, sexual emails and stuff. They went for her immediately. For me, it was essential that youth was represented. Youth are the future. And one day I want to be able to ask them, Were you abused? And they will say, No.
Photo: Netflix

In Atlas, Jennifer Lopez plays a counterterrorism analyst who lives for her work  you know the type. Atlas Shepherd is the kind of woman who alienates her colleagues with her terse attitude and then wows them with her competence, who falls asleep on the sofa in front of her chessboard at night, and who wears her hair up in a businesslike twist so that it can come tumbling down later. When a rare trip into the field goes wrong, she ends up stranded in hostile terrain in the care of Smith, a hulking military type tasked with protecting her and with whom she immediately starts bickering about how best to get home. In the romantic-comedy version of this story, Smith would be played by a John Cena or a Channing Tatum, all muscles and advanced weapons knowledge hiding a sensitive core. The Brad Peytondirected Atlas is, however, a science-fiction movie, and Smith is a robot. More specifically, hes a mech suit, powered by a synthetic consciousness voiced by Gregory James Cohan, into whose pilot seat the AI-averse Atlas is shoved right before she crash-lands on an alien planet.

Then again, if Her is aspirational to the point of companies being willing to risk legal repercussions to evoke it, then theres no reason this new movie cant be looked at as a rom-com. Atlas has that curious ersatz quality of many a Netflix original movie, where it feels like the extended version of a 30 Rock joke rather than something anyone should actually be able to watch, but its cross-genre similarities do seem intentional. When trying to allow Smith to get to know her better, for instance, she confesses to liking the beach, three sugars in her coffee, and small, quiet gestures of affection. Atlas is supposed to be as brilliant as she is guarded, but shes written exactly like one of those tightly wound aughts-era heroines whos required to be put through pratfalls and cut down to size before shes considered fit for love. When she comes to inside Smith after a brutal arrival, she impatiently bypasses the setup and blunders her way into a French-language option before ending up with a default voice whose recommendations she quickly ignores.

Three decades ago, an android named Harlan (a blue-contact-lensed Simu Liu) went rogue and waged war on humanity before fleeing with his allies to space. Atlas is obsessed with catching him for reasons that are gradually revealed to be very personal. But in order to access all her mechs abilities, she needs to sync her mind to Smith, a meld they struggle to achieve and not because of performance issues on his side. Freighted with trauma going back to her childhood, shes too emotionally constipated to open up enough to seal the deal.

Following Lopezs acting career is an exercise in frustration. In Out of Sight and Hustlers, shes incandescent with charisma  a true star, larger than life, twice as glamorous, and endlessly watchable. But most of the roles shes ended up in squander those qualities if they showcase them at all. Shes slipped from being a rom-com queen to leading a procedural to dithering with a shift toward action in projects that have felt increasingly dinky and downmarket, considering what shes proven capable of. Atlas  like her last Netflix movie, The Mother, and like Shotgun Wedding and Marry Me  is a film she produced as well as acted in, suggesting that even when shes more actively involved in picking out projects for herself, shes also not entirely sure what shes supposed to be doing onscreen. She wavers between playing her character with some degree of psychological realism, her lip quivering in despair as she tries in vain to contact her colleagues, and going full screwball in moments like the one in which she discovers shes broken her leg, howling I really need you to shut up right now! at Smith. Lopez is unable to decide whether Atlas is a serious entry in the action canon or a B movie.

Atlas doesnt really end up either, being both far from serious and also lacking any of the disreputable pleasures you might hope to find in a B movie. Atlas has the slick, textureless sheen of a cutscene from a video game we never get to play, an association on which the film doubles down when Atlas pages through Smiths weapons inventory. Lopez, who spends half the movie as a face surrounded by machinery, looks lost in a sea of computer graphics, something thats even more true of her co-stars Liu and Sterling K. Brown, who plays mission head Colonel Elias Banks. When, someday not so long from now, Netflix begins serving up personalized AI-generated sludge content based on each of our viewing histories, it probably wont look all that different from Atlas, which barely looks like it was made by humans anyway. But the point of Atlas isnt to make its actors look big  its to remind us that AI is our friend, even when it occasionally tries to exterminate us, and that we should get over ourselves and our tetchy objections.
COLOMBO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Over 500 people have been sent to safe locations due to adverse weather conditions prevailing in Sri Lanka, an official said on Saturday.

Director of the Disaster Management Center (DMC) Pradeep Kodippili told the media that 42,604 people had been affected in the country by the adverse weather conditions.

He said seven deaths had been reported due to tree falls and falls of tree branches, and 3,137 houses were damaged.

Sri Lanka Meteorology Department said the rainy weather is expected to continue.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Southern provinces. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Sabaragamuwa province and in Nuwara-Eliya district, according to the department. 
Kenneth Fox

The funeral takes place on Saturday morning of a 20-year-old man who died after a shooting in Dublin earlier this month.

Joshua Itseli was shot multiple times in Drimnagh following a crash involving two cars on May 6th.

Three people who were arrested in relation to the incident have been released from custody without charge.

Joshua's funeral service takes place this morning at 10am at Cunningham's Funeral Home Clonsilla, followed by burial in Mulhuddart Cemetery.
Three weeks out from the local elections, Councillor Mary Roche is well into the swing of her campaign for Waterford City East.

Canvassing has long been a family affair for Mary, and this time she's been joined by her daughter and granddaughter on the trail.

She said: "We were at one house recently and my granddaughter was out Irish dancing on the path!"

Cllr Mary Roche is running for Waterford City East for the 2024 local elections.

While canvassing is nothing new for Mary, this is her first local election running with the Social Democrats, whom she joined in 2022 after nearly two decades as an Independent.

Fellow Social Democrat Sinead Ellen Griffin is running for Waterford City South. While Mary is happy to have Sinead in the race, she says encouraging people to enter politics is an uphill battle in this day and age.

She said: "It's really, really hard to get candidates, the public sphere has gotten a lot more visceral."

When it comes to online harassment, she said: "I block liberally because nobody has time for that.

"People say, 'Oh, politicians blocking them, they're not engaging with their constituents' - tough luck because I'm a normal person. I'm a mum, I'm a grandma, you couldn't take that much nastiness."

Mary's primary goal is fight for better supports and funding for the Deise, namely in terms of capital investment in health and education.

She said: "If we have 8% of the population in the South East, we should be getting 8% of the capital investment."

An alarming figure for Mary comes from the South East Network for Social Economic Research (SENSER), which shows in stark terms what Waterford receives in capital funding, particularly for University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

Noting the 90 million difference in 2022 funding for UHL compared with UHW, Mary said: "Obviously the health service is not within the competence or within the ability to influence of our local council but it is certainly within our ability to snap the hands of government and to hold them to account."

Mary has found being in a party conducive in tackling these issues. She said: "If you want to have any impact at that level, you really need to be part of a team."

Despite the myriad challenges, she's proud to serve the Deise: "My heart is in Waterford, I love living in Waterford."
A fundraising campaign has been established in West Waterford for the procurement of a new state-of-the-art Critical Emergency Medical Response Vehicle, amidst a rise in road and farm accidents across the county.

The new initiative, led by a Dungarvan-based volunteer group, aims to enhance emergency medical services in the region, ensuring advanced A&E emergency pre-hospital care is swiftly delivered throughout a very large, mostly rural 100 square mile area.

The voluntary group intends to raise over 150,000 with the objective of acquiring and operating an emergency vehicle equipped with advanced medical facilities, which would have the capacity to bring the A&E to the scene of an accident.

Check out the GoFundMe link to find out more.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size On a sweltering February morning, staff at electricity supplier AGL were preparing for a potentially catastrophic day on the grid. There was good reason to worry: home air-conditioners were driving enormous demand for power, just as storms, bushfires and lightning were about to bring the system to its knees. At 1pm, high-voltage transmission towers of galvanised steel were crumpled in wild winds near Geelong, while smaller poles came crashing down across the network. Two wind farms suddenly tripped offline, and so did all four units at AGLs giant Loy Yang A coal-fired power station. Before long, the power had gone out at more than half a million Victorian homes. In times like these, when the power grid needs an urgent boost, a signal arrives at Tony Debonos house within a tenth of a second and activates a box on the wall next to his electricity meter. His property in Cobains, a dairy farming town east of Melbourne, forms part of one of Australias newest power plants, which isnt really a power plant at all  at least, not how we traditionally think of them. Instead, its a virtual power plant: a far-flung network of privately owned rooftop solar panels and batteries dispersed across thousands of houses on the eastern seaboard. In return for a credit on their bills, Debono and other customers like him have agreed to allow their power providers to take control of their devices at certain times and utilise the combined force of their stored solar energy. Power lines came down in the You Yangs following windy and stormy weather in Melbourne in February. Credit: Jason South When theres a critical need, they can draw some power off my system onto the grid, says Debono. And Ive got no problem with that.

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As utilities such as AGL, Origin Energy and EnergyAustralia prepare to close down their last remaining coal-fired power stations in the coming years, the industry is shifting much of its focus to an important question: how do you balance an energy system in a world of cleaner but less-consistent renewable energy? The ability to aggregate large numbers of customers solar panels and batteries to treat them like a single virtual power plant may hold part of the solution. When its not sunny or breezy, and not enough power is available in the grid, utilities can tap these virtual power sources to dispatch bursts of solar energy held in customers batteries to address imbalances and keep the network stable. If participating homes are fitted with intelligent appliances as well, such as electric hot water systems, these can also play a role by powering down to minimise demand. So too can large businesses, such as factories, who have agreed to free up the grid when conditions are tight. Loading Obviously, a single rooftop solar system and a home battery cant do the job of a power station, says the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which has funded many of the countrys early virtual power plant trials, but what about 1000 home batteries, or 10,000, or a million? The energy market operator predicts the capacity of virtual power plants is set to surge, especially as all-electric homes with batteries, rechargeable electric vehicles, solar, and energy-management solutions keep growing in popularity. By 2050, it says, co-ordinated consumer energy resources could account for 65 per cent of the entire storage capacity on the east-coast grid. Origin Energy, which runs Australias biggest virtual power plant, called Loop, thinks the technologys scale and potential have been completely underestimated. When we announced wed have a two-gigawatt virtual power plant by 2026, most people asked us what it was, Origin chief executive Frank Calabria says. With Loops capacity sitting above 1.2 gigawatts today  even before widespread adoption of home batteries and electric vehicles  its becoming very real very quickly, he says.

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To some in the energy industry, the response to Victorias extreme weather and blackouts on February 13 gave the clearest demonstration yet of virtual power plants emerging value. As staff on the AGL trading floor swung into action that day, scanning giant monitors and dispatching signals to crank up their available gas, hydro, wind and solar units, AGLs head of virtual power plant operations, Caitlin Trethewy, and her team were able to activate their assets in much the same way. Between 2pm and 8pm, more than 20,000 residential customers were involved in helping stabilise the grid and powering about 500 Victorian homes, according to Trethewy. More customers like Tony Debono have signed up to be fitted with solar panels and storage batteries, which enables utilities to aggregate stored solar energy and use it to stabilise the power grid when needed. Credit: Paul Jeffers Some of those were customers with home batteries that were able to respond within 100 milliseconds to frequency imbalance in the grid and offer power, she says. We also had customers on our peak energy rewards product, where AGL sends customers a text message asking them to reduce energy consumption within a specific window of time. AGLs virtual power plant, which began as a trial in South Australia with ARENA funding to install 1000 behind-the-meter batteries and experiment with software to orchestrate them, has been scaled up significantly. Today, it spans every state in which AGL retails, and includes a range of assets across residential and business premises. At the last count, AGL now has 1.1 gigawatts of decentralised assets connected via a cloud-based platform, and is on track to hit 1.8 gigawatts by 2027. For the power grids of the future, which will require more flexibility to balance supply and demand, virtual power plants could be game-changing, says Trethewy.

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For customers who have invested in home energy assets, they can also be rewarding. We, on the customers behalf, aggregate their assets, participate in wholesale energy markets to generate more value, she says. Then were able to share that value back with the customer. Loading As Debono started approaching retirement, he had one main priority: I wanted to make my bills cheaper, he says. So I invested in a solar system. First, he went for a 4.5-kilowatt system, which reduced his bills by about half. Now hes increased it to 10 kilowatts. On his gable roof, most of his solar panels are facing north, where they can produce the most electricity, and others are facing west for when the sun is setting. Hes also installed a home battery (a Tesla Powerwall 2), a pair of five-kilowatt inverters and a back-up generator. All up, it has cost him about $35,000. People asked, Whats the payback time on that? but I wasnt worried about the payback time, I was more worried about having cheaper bills, Debono says. Average electricity prices have been sharply rising across Australia, driven by ageing coal-fired power station breakdowns and higher fossil fuel prices following Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But by feeding his excess rooftop solar into the grid, and participating in AGLs virtual power plant, Debono earns enough bill credits that he makes money each month. For the past year, I havent paid a power bill at all, he says. Virtual power plant programs, and the growing number of retail offers being built around them, are coming at a critical moment in the energy transition.

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Australia has emerged a world-leader in rooftop solar uptake on a per-capita basis, with more than one-third of homes now fitted with solar panels. Home batteries are also quickly rising in popularity, and the uptake of electric vehicles whose batteries could also be used to supply the grid, is expected to unlock even greater capacity. Its a massive growth story, says Leon Chanter, ARENAs associate director of business development. And the projections for distribution-level consumer energy resources  expect it to continue to grow. I wanted to make my bills cheaper ... So I invested in a solar system. Tony Debono Whats important now, he says, is developing the systems and regulatory frameworks to maximise all of this distributed energy potential by orchestrating household assets, encouraging greater consumer participation and avoiding having to curtail output when there is an oversupply of solar. Loading Having virtual power plants and orchestrated distributed energy resource solutions in place allows a household to maximise the value of its energy, and that means a lower-cost future, he says. A consumer energy resources road map, aiming to establish nationally consistent rules to boost consumers ability to export solar and enable vehicle-to-grid technologies, will be reviewed by state and federal energy ministers in July.

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Recipe collection

The only four dishes you need to create the ultimate Kylie Kwong dinner party

In 2005, I had the treat of accompanying Kylie Kwong to the tiny village, three hours north of the Chinese city Guangzhou, where her great-grandfather, Kwong Sue Duk, grew up. She swept into Wong Nai Hang, trademark Chinese silk shirt and jet-black hair streaming, and cooked a meal over a fire for the stunned assembly of distant relatives. Back in Guangzhou, I watched her instruct a classroom of TAFE-equivalent kids how to cook her particular brand of Cantonese food, strongly influenced by her beloved mum, Pauline. Into a wok of bubbling oil went six eggs, emerging crisp-edged and runny yolked to a garnish of hoisin, spring onions and chilli. I would never have been tempted to cook a dish of simple eggs in oil. But its been in my arsenal of killer favourites since that day. She also showed the students her version of a classic prawn dumpling. I have been rolling these ever since, and I urge you to try them too. Here are four of my go-to Kylie Kwong recipes from the Good Food collection. Use them to wow a dinner party guests, and pay tribute to one of Australias finest restaurateurs.Ardyn Bernoth, National Good Food editor
Loading The reporter ended up leaving Nine because she felt Wick was untouchable. Her view was that because everyone knew, and allowed it a complaint would only have harmed her own career. Other than play along with his game, and I just didnt want my work to be at all associated with his whims, she said. One of her greatest regrets remains that I havent said anything and I didnt complain. A second woman alleged Wicks alcohol-fuelled grope sessions occurred at public functions such as staff Christmas parties, the Logies and functions to celebrate TV ratings. It wasnt done in a back corner. It was like done in front of staff, said the woman, who asked not to be named as she feared her on-air role at the network may be jeopardised. She described her then-boss behaviour as sneaky arse-rubbing, or a close lingering hug or the weird kiss.

Not only did it happen to her, but the woman watched as he did the same thing to other female employees. Hed just be standing there in conversation, and then you just see his hand kind of on her back and then slowly working its way down, she recalled. You could set your watch to it that he would be inappropriately drunk every year at the Logies, said a male reporter. It was just a known quantity  that he was going to be there and be incoherently drunk and behaving inappropriately. It was just inappropriate The reporter said that he would have his arms around women ... it was just inappropriate, especially for someone in his position. Wick, whose empire included the national news division and current affairs programs 60 Minutes, A Current Affair and Today, was allegedly a repeat offender at the Logies, staff have claimed. The TV veteran had been at the network for 29 years.

His battle with alcohol saw Wick narrowly escape jail in 2021 after being caught drink-driving following a staff function. His blood-alcohol reading was more than four times the legal limit. After a stint in rehab, Wick returned to work. Staff say Wick stayed sober, and there have been no reported incidents of inappropriate behaviour since. Multiple newsroom employees said that in the cutthroat world of television news, staff were afraid to speak up because they were afraid for their own positions. A third woman, one of several women Wick allegedly groped at the Logies over the years, said that Wick was well-known as a rotten drunk who would get handsy. He kept fondling my neck in front of everyone. I could see all these people staring at us, and I was so humiliated and embarrassed, she said of his behaviour at the Logies. The woman said it was difficult to know how to handle the situation because Wick, as her boss, was the person who holds the key to your future.

She said that after hiding in the bathroom to avoid him, when she left the Logies after-party about 2am, he was hiding behind a pillar waiting for her. Wick told her he had lost his key and needed to sleep in her room. The woman organised a replacement key and helped Wick, who could barely stand, up to his room. When he tried to pull her into his room, I ended up shoving him in and slammed the door and then ran to the lift. She said once she got to her room, I was bawling my eyes out. She said she didnt feel as though she could complain as he wasnt just her boss, hes the head of news and current affairs in the entire country. Open secret

A senior figure in the network said Wicks behaviour was an open secret, and there was a feeling among female colleagues that a complaint would have been weaponised against them. Another Nine TV personality said that it was well-known to avoid sitting next to Wick at functions involving alcohol. For f--- sake, dont let me be sitting next to him, women would say to each other, she said. Sky News reported this week that one of the networks on-air stars alleged that Wick had sexually harassed her in public, groping her and breathing heavily down her neck. In January, the network received a formal complaint about Wick relating to a historical incident. It is understood that only three executives were aware of the complaint, one of which was chief executive Mike Sneesby. Its understood that Wick was asked to step aside while an external review was conducted into the complaint. Months stretched on with no word from Wick and no decision about his future.

Even though the allegation could not be substantiated due to the complainant declining to be interviewed, Nine management ultimately decided there was no way back for Wick. Late one Friday in March, Wick announced he had decided it was time to leave the newsroom, claiming he was tired. Some of you are aware that I have taken a few weeks off to think about my future. And after many long beach walks and even longer conversations, I know in my heart that this is the right time for me to step down and leave Nine ... Im tired and need a rest, said Wick. It is understood that the complainant is now taking legal action against the network. After Sky and News Corp reports this week of allegations against Wick, Sneesby told all staff in an email: It is important for everyone at Nine to know that we dont tolerate inappropriate behaviour in the workplace and want to know if there is inappropriate behaviour occurring so that it can be addressed promptly.

Theyve played us for fools Sneesbys email landed badly in the newsroom, with many women angry at what they claim is management expressing shock at the recent allegations despite the inappropriate behaviour being widely known. Staff were also upset at managements failure to be upfront about the reasons for Wicks departure in March. Theyve played us all for fools, pretending that there was no issue and that hes just on holiday, said one television employee. She said his appalling behaviour had been there for all to see for years. They certainly didnt do anything to stop it, or they just brushed it off as Its just Wicky. In response to questions from this masthead, Sneesby said: It is distressing to hear about historic behaviour issues that have caused women in our business distress. We have worked hard in recent years to establish a culture of respect across the business. We do not cover up issues, but if a complaint is raised, we must adhere to a fair process.
Wyatt sits back. You can see from her file that Mum was feisty, never afraid to tackle issues she felt were wrong, he says, before handing me the next piece of correspondence. It records the internal notes about Mona sent between native welfare officers, and their disgust that a few white townsfolk had taken Monas side.

Written to the minister of native welfare, Monas scathing complaint letter began: I am just writing these few lines to see if we are living in Lil Rock [Arkansas] or Australia. I am a coloured woman with citizen rights  surely we can have who we wish at our home, or is it just we are coloured [and so] to be ruled by the police?

What about that letter from your mother? prompts Wyatts wife, Anna, who is making chutney in the kitchen of their Perth home, while offering clues to the content and location of each catalogued item. Wyatt fishes out an extraordinary missive by his mother Mona that reveals her fury when, in 1964, a police constable just walked into my home without knocking and ordered [two white visitors] out.

Neville was also the legal guardian of every Aboriginal child in WA up to the age of 16, later 21; he could order them removed at will from their families and place them in native institutions. Nevilles steely, obsessive mission to remove children was featured in Phillip Noyces celebrated 2002 film Rabbit-Proof Fence, but for Wyatts great-grandparents, grandparents, mother and even a sibling, the stolen generations were not celluloid drama but lived reality.

Wyatt pulls another sheaf of paper out of the same folder, a letter from Western Australias notorious Chief Protector of Aborigines, A. O. Neville, who tersely rejected Bootas appeal. I think as a rule the police are averse to certificates of exemption being granted to half-castes and personally, I share the same view.

Wyatt pulls out a letter dated 1916, in the personal file of his paternal great-grandfather, Thomas Boota. He reads out loud the request penned in cursive script by Boota for an exemption permit to enter a hotel and be served a drink. I am a half-caste, married to a white woman, Boota wrote, as a shorthand way of explaining his desire for equal treatment.

Ken Wyatt reaches across the sitting room table for a thick folder, clearing a space between coffee cups and the crumbling remains of a cake. It is one of a dozen hefty family files brought down from his upstairs study for me to peruse. The files form a paper trail that spans the century leading up to Wyatts history-making role as the first Aboriginal person appointed minister responsible for Indigenous Australians.

Only after his mother Mona died in 1992 did Wyatt, as the oldest of 10 siblings, become eligible to access her files. Until then, only Monas siblings could see them. The rules have since changed, but previously no exceptions were made for anyone accessing the thousands of native welfare files stacked up in the state archive. Not even for a senior public servant, as Wyatt was back then, nor for his wife, who would find herself working in the very department charged with giving access.

You had to apply to the then Department of Aboriginal Affairs to gain permission. Like insect specimens in a museum drawer, the entire lives of Wyatts relatives were pinned down on paper to scrutinise and control; the earliest files date back to the 1890s and the latest to the end of the 1970s. Four generations of his family are recorded in hundreds of letters, reports and even receipts meticulously kept by WAs native welfare department.

For decades, Ken Wyatt had no idea of the extent of his Aboriginal familys native welfare files beyond his mothers and his own. I knew other files existed, but there are special criteria for being able to access them, he says.

Ken and Anna Wyatt have now read every last page of dozens of his relatives native welfare files. Theyve been able to draw genealogy maps that reconnect parts of his family. They admit to being shocked by what theyve read, despite their respective careers working in Aboriginal affairs  he as a federal cabinet minister, she as a long-time WA bureaucrat. The language used throughout the documents is part of it  grotesque words such as quadroon, octaroon and half-caste are scattered liberally.

There are far too many do-gooders continually advising the Wyatts that they are just downtrodden coloured unfortunates, one officer wrote, and in some cases these people are writing letters to this Department and using the Wyatt family as a lever to further their own spiritual causes.

The peak of fulfilment for a seasoned public servant arrived later in 2022 when Wyatt, as minister for Indigenous Australians, delivered his own version of the national agreement on Closing the Gap. It was the ultimate consensus  Commonwealth, states and territories, local government and Aboriginal peak bodies all signing up as joint partners to tackle poor results in Aboriginal health and education and worsening statistics for prison rates and suicides.

Wyatt still feels lucky. After teacher training and stints in schools, he took on senior state government roles as director of Aboriginal education and later, health. By 2000, hed received an Order of Australia and Centenary Medal for his work in Aboriginal health and education around the nation.

He shared with me how his mother Mona had been removed as a child to Roelands Native Mission Farm, two hours drive south of Perth. Shed returned there  an unwed mother  to give birth to Ken, marrying his father Don two months later. If I was a bastard, Ive been a lucky bastard in life, he quipped to me cheerfully at the time.

When I wrote about his political ascent, Wyatt drove me out to his home town of Corrigin, in the West Australian wheatbelt. We sat in the classroom where the native boy was rewarded with a fountain pen by his native welfare officer for good attendance each year. We walked streets where a petition was once gathered to evict the Wyatts, the towns only Aboriginal family.

Kenneth George Wyatt has carved out his own place in the nations history books. In 2010, he was the first Aboriginal person elected to the House of Representatives. In 2017, he cut a striking figure wearing a kangaroo skin cloak, or booka, when he was sworn in as Australias first Indigenous federal minister. He wore the cloak again in 2019, when he became the first Indigenous man to take on Aboriginal affairs as the federal minister under then prime minister Scott Morrison.

Eventually, he applied for all of his familys files. A 2016 letter accompanied one batch of folders, signed by Anna Wyatt, Director, Family History Records. Dear Ken, wrote his wife, Please find attached material relating to your application for family history records  Please be aware that some of the information you receive may be distressing or offensive in the way it is written which reflects the language and customs of the time at which it was written.

But, at nearly 72, Ken Wyatt has also had time to confront the demons of his familys past, reading the weighty files that occupy floor space in his upstairs study. That contemplation has changed him; where once there was no hint of rancour about his tough upbringing, theres a flinty edge today to some of his utterances. For the first time, hes keen to share the content of his own native welfare files, despite previously choosing not to make political capital out of them.

Meanwhile, the sideboard in the Wyatts large home hints at other distractions: photos of a first grandchild born to Aaron, one of two boys from Wyatts first marriage; and images of Aarons musical ascent as one of Australias first Indigenous orchestral conductors. Wyatt and Anna proudly attended the all-Indigenous opera Wundig Wer Wilura during this years Perth Festival, conducted by Aaron Wyatt.

These days, Wyatt has time to think about what went wrong. And Australias highest Indigenous political achiever has surprising ideas for a new frontier in Aboriginal representation, of which more later.

Morrisons bloodbath defeat in the 2022 election saw Wyatt tipped out of his Perth hills seat of Hasluck after four terms as a popular local member. In April 2023, after 30 years loyalty, Wyatt resigned in disgust from the Liberal Party; a day earlier, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had announced the Liberals would back the no side of the Voice referendum campaign. Wyatt threw his wholehearted support behind the yes vote, ending up disappointed beyond words.

At nearly 72, Ken Wyatt has had time to confront the demons of his familys past  and that contemplation has changed him.

Even local governments signed off on it  in a crude sense it was a treaty, he says proudly. We got nearly a billion dollars in new money, embedded through every agency, and every state and territory minister had to commit and come back with new initiatives. That was under Morrison  I would give him credit for that.

Chief Protector Neville clearly kept a close eye on the family, especially their children. Do they attend school and is their condition such that it would be advisable to have them removed to our Moore River [native] settlement? he queried.

The boy adopted the name Joe Abdullah and later married Mary Griffin, described in her files as a half-caste. The couple found themselves living some distance north of Perth at New Norcia, a rural Aboriginal mission run by Spanish monks; their children, including Wyatts maternal grandfather Ben, would be duly registered in the parlance of the day as quadroon or quarter-caste.

Ken Wyatt is a Yamatji-Noongar man whose Aboriginal father Don  an RAAF truck driver turned railway ganger  was part-Irish. But another extraordinary lineage has come to light in his family archives. He is descended from an Indian boy who stowed away on a ship from Madras in 1894 and disembarked at Geraldton, on WAs Mid West coast, with his two brothers.

Morrison went on to criticise an era of governments thinking they know better. Fortunately, that boy was bigger than the times, and Im honoured that he now sits behind me as the Minister for Indigenous Australians.

Only once have they been publicly raised, by Morrison himself in his 2020 parliamentary speech on Closing the Gap. In days that some in this chamber will remember, Morrison said, the government had absolute control over Aboriginal peoples lives: where they could live, where they could travel, who they could marry. Government files held details  often brutal in their brevity  that the people themselves were not allowed to know. I have one such file here with me from the Department of Native Welfare. File 1690/68: a file of the native welfare department. The file is for a boy, a teenager. In this file there are notes about funding for school uniforms. There is a memo to the Commissioner of Native Welfare about whether the boy should be provided pocket money of 75 cents a week. It was bureaucrats making decisions for what they paternally called a good type of lad.

The cruel twist is that by becoming an honorary white, you were denied access to your natural family, your siblings, and your culture. Ken Wyatt

In 1941, Ben  who was officially classed as white enough to be a non-native  had to seek permission from the commissioner of native affairs to marry his Aboriginal fiancee Maisie, Wyatts maternal grandmother. Among the documents is a stern directive to Maisie from Native Affairs: If at any time your intended husband is found living and associating with other natives, action may be taken to have him classed as a native, to which he strongly objects. You share some responsibility, therefore, in seeing that you both live apart from other natives.

Wyatt winces slightly as I read the words out loud. The cruel twist is that by becoming an honorary white, you were denied access to your natural family, your siblings, and your culture, he explains.

The files record that the wedded couple waited years to receive their certificate of citizenship to the country they were born in  Ben in 1946, Maisie in 1949. When they had children, including Wyatts mother Mona, the children were removed to a rural mission. Mum was four when she went into Roelands Mission. When I was four, Id overhear Mum and her siblings talking about the mission days but if we kids got too close, theyd go quiet. I think her time there was quite tough  theyd often go barefoot and Mum would talk about rounding up cows on frosty mornings and then standing in the fresh cowpats just to warm their feet.

We would never get a hug from Mum because they were never hugged as children, he adds. You were just part of a community in which parenting wasnt modelled to them. There are letters Ive seen where Mums father wrote several times asking for his kids to be released. The history of her life is in those files.

Roelands Mission, where Wyatts mum, Mona, was taken at age four. Credit: Courtesy of Ken Wyatt

Mona was sent out to work as a domestic help on farms. Filed receipts show she was paid 30 shillings a week by her employer, but he was instructed to withhold most of her wage and send it to the state for safekeeping. I believe that the money held in trust was used to fund the department  Mum never got it, says Wyatt.

If so, Mona and hundreds of Aboriginal domestic workers like her were footing the bill for the bureaucracy that controlled their lives. People cant grasp the fact of having their money taken by a government agency, says Wyatt, spreading out a sheaf of letters Mona wrote asking to be sent money to buy underwear or a pair of shoes.

Native welfare tracked Monas marriage to Wyatts father and the arrival of their 10 children. In 1959, Mona tried to gain citizenship rights; it took three years. When Mum applied, she did it so she could access what was available to other people and to enable a better journey for her kids into education.

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Wyatts own native welfare file (1690/68) is slim; he discovered that other volumes had been destroyed in the late 1960s, when the pride of officialdom in controlling thousands of Aboriginal lives was crumbling into disrepute.

Norm Harris, an Aboriginal man I knew in the welfare office, told me that he was instructed to burn them. As they burnt each page, they could see names and details, like who the father of a kid was. Norm said he found it very hard to destroy factual records that had been kept by the state  they are peoples birthright.

Norm and the others tried to hide some of the files under the building but one of the non-Indigenous officers saw them. They were made to go back in, pull them out and continue burning them in a 44-gallon drum.

A paper mountain of evidence remains lodged in Western Australias archives; half the states Indigenous adults are, like Wyatt, documented members of the stolen generations or their descendants. According to Yokai, the WA stolen generations body, 6400 survivors were still alive when figures were last collated in 2018-19. In the week before tomorrows National Sorry Day, Yokai members were set to gather in the forecourt of WAs Parliament House, their banners declaring that, during the life of the policy, one in every three Aboriginal children  the nations highest rate  was removed from blood relatives and put into one of 80 institutions across the state.

It grieves Wyatt that WA was the first state to make a formal apology to the stolen generations, in 1997, yet is likely to be the last to compensate them. The WA Labor government says it has given first priority to settling a longstanding claim for stolen wages; last year, it offered $16,500 to each of the thousands of eligible Aboriginal workers  many in the Kimberley pastoral industry  who were paid minimal or no wages at all because the native welfare department withheld up to 75 per cent of earnings. Yet every other state except Queensland has established compensation schemes for the stolen generations, including Tasmania (2006), South Australia (2015), NSW (2017) and Victoria (2021).

Ive never forgotten how one survivor told me, Theyre just waiting for us to die.  Ken Wyatt

And it was Wyatt himself, as federal minister, who ensured that the stolen generations were compensated in commonwealth jurisdictions. A one-off payment of $75,000 has been offered to people who were removed as children in the Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory. He describes Western Australia as a wayward child because of its refusal to embark on a scheme to pay out victims. Its disappointing and needs to be addressed.

The WA government is monitoring the progress of other schemes before it acts, the states minister for Aboriginal affairs Tony Buti said last year. Wyatt finds the ministers statement deeply ironic  Dr Buti wrote his doctoral thesis on the stolen generations, and even described the policy as genocide, in a submission he wrote to the 1997 Bringing Them Home inquiry into child removal when he was a legal aid lawyer.

Compensation is owed for the severing of family connection, says Wyatt. My mother had two families  she had the mission kids, but then her own siblings that she didnt catch up with until later in life because they were all in separate missions. Many survivors die young, before they are old enough to even access their superannuation. Ive never forgotten, says Wyatt, in that flinty-edged voice, how one survivor told me, Theyre just waiting for us to die. 

Young Ken with his mum and baby brother Lindsay. We would never get a hug from Mum because they were never hugged as children. Credit: Courtesy of Ken Wyatt

Wyatt says Morrison was right that most Australians dont know how controlled the lives of Aboriginal people were  wages taken, marriages banned, citizenship rights denied. The yawning gap in comprehension emerges in even well-meaning gestures. Wyatt remembers Liberal MP Michaelia Cash, also from WA, greeting a group of Aboriginal women in a tough Perth suburb. She said to this woman, I empathise with you. The woman turned on her and snarled, What would you f---ing know about what Ive been through? 

Ken Wyatt has a reputation as a man slow to anger. He was variously nicknamed Zen, Yoda, even the Scented Candle  by Morrison  for his habit of calming disputes. But last year, in April, Wyatt angrily dispatched a one-line email to WA Liberal headquarters: I hereby cancel my membership. It ended three decades of party membership; Anna Wyatts resignation soon followed.

A few hours after he sent that email, I sat waiting for him in a cafe in Kalamunda, a Perth hills suburb, where the genial local member used to hold Coffee with Ken mornings. As Wyatt entered, several locals came up to greet him. He was unusually florid-faced, furious that Peter Dutton had declared the Liberals would actively campaign against the Indigenous Voice to parliament.

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Wyatt had always been strongly in favour. In October 2019, he had put before his Liberal colleagues a proposal to legislate the Voice and to have it focus on local and regional committees. And then after 18 months, having shown the effectiveness of a regional Voice, Id have stood up a national body. It would have consisted of members elected by regional and local voices, not by governments or Canberra elites as Dutton claimed. There wasnt a ripple of dissent.

After Wyatts political career abruptly ended in 2022, he joined the new Albanese governments referendum working group to advance the proposals that emerged from the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart. Wyatt accepted the view that enshrining a Voice in the constitution was important, given the litany of legislated bodies that had been discarded. Governments have abolished every advisory body ever created, even though some were very effective, he says. I cant think of one that has lasted 50 years.

But Wyatt soon sensed trouble. The Coalitions if you dont know, vote no strategy was undermining the yes campaign. Three years ago, I had people in my electorate saying the Voice was a great concept. Then people started saying, I dont like this, I dont know how this is going to work. 

He believes a turning point in public opinion came when Uluru Dialogue co-chair Megan Davis began talking about the broad scope of the Voices advisory powers in relation to Indigenous issues. She effectively said that the Voice would be involved in everything from defence to the Reserve Bank, he says. Up until then, people had seen the Voice as focusing on issues to do with Indigenous people and communities. When we got into other areas, people started to shift and the no fear campaign gained traction.

The tactic found fertile ground in WA, where the Farmers Federation was running a parallel campaign against new and stronger state Aboriginal cultural heritage laws. People used the Cultural Heritage Act as a weapon in talking about special conditions for a special race, how it divided people and impeded development, he says. It took me straight back to the Mabo native title decision and the fear that there goes our backyard. And yet there was not a single backyard lost under Mabo.

Wyatts optimism about a yes result evaporated as he toured his own state. The best meeting I went to was in Margaret River, where the people were totally engaged and passionately in favour. Everywhere else I went in Western Australia they said, This is too hard. I was committed to trying to shift opinion to the end  I even drove around to four polling booths. But I could tell we were pushing logs up a hill.

On October 14, the no case resoundingly won. The no rate in WA was 63.5 per cent, higher than the national average of 60 per cent and the third highest after Queensland and South Australia. I felt pissed off  You cant describe degrees of disappointment, he says. When the Aboriginal leadership decided on a week of silence afterwards, that was to prevent those who felt pure anger from saying stuff we didnt need to say.

The failure of the Voice referendum has seen Wyatt embrace a surprising new idea: to stand up an Aboriginal party for the Senate.

But feeling bitter is wasted energy. You have to accept a setback and think, How do we recover lost ground? Its now becoming evident that governments have been spooked by the 60 per cent of people who voted no. They see it as a reason to not be too ambitious. A state minister told me the no vote does impact on our thinking. A public servant told me, Its hard to get stuff up because it could cost votes. Captains of industry told me they were worried about the impact of their stance on the Voice and shareholder backlash. Weve even seen local governments saying, Get rid of welcome to country ceremonies because therell be no blowback [to not having one] now. 

Wyatt thinks the nation needs to put a foot on the pedal on Closing the Gap. He points to only four of 15 targets being on track, according to the 2023 Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report. Others have deteriorated, resulting in more adults in prison, more children in out-of-home care and a rising rate of Indigenous suicide.

Every word in the Closing the Gap agreement was signed off by national cabinet and by 51 Aboriginal peak bodies. Premiers took it to their own cabinets to sign off. So now every government has a responsibility to start acting on the targets.

If you had an Indigenous-led party in the Senate, you could then set your own agenda. It would become an Indigenous voice, only its constitutional. Ken Wyatt

The failure of the referendum has seen Wyatt embrace a surprising new idea: to stand up an Aboriginal party for the Senate.

Its always been in the back of my mind, he says,because the Senate is where you can hold the balance of power and directly influence potential benefits. I observed the election of people like Brian Harradine, Pauline Hanson, Derryn Hinch, and saw the influence of Harradine in a hung Senate negotiating tremendous returns for Tasmania. I then formed the view that we should do the same in order to effect the change we need. Because history shows that both major parties have not done it.

If you had an Indigenous-led party in the Senate, you could then set your own agenda. It would become an Indigenous voice, only its constitutional because its part of the parliamentary structure.

A footnote in the family records has played a part in his thinking. Wyatts great-uncle George Abdullah son of Ben and grandson of Indian-born Joe Abdullah  stood for the Senate in 1975. He came within a handful of votes of winning a Senate seat and was the first West Australian Aboriginal to do so, says Wyatt proudly. Just imagine if we got a candidate up in every state. You could then be in the same position [of power] as the crossbench, and when government came for support, then wed say, Were interested in supporting you provided youre prepared to work with us on Closing the Gap, or reducing high incarceration rates with diversionary programs. It would develop a future thats very different from whats in my mothers files.

He rejects the argument that having a number of individual Indigenous politicians in federal parliament is enough. When people say, There are 11 Aboriginal voices in parliament, thats enough, let me tell you, that doesnt work. Aboriginal politicians like me, a cabinet minister who aspired to achieving things, cant do them because you are beholden to the party room or cabinet. If you dont get their endorsement, your proposition doesnt get up. He mentions prominent Aboriginal names that he would love to have as candidates, but declines to publicly name them. Whether any are interested is not clear even to Wyatt. He wouldnt personally stand: Im too old, and I have a wife who would kill me if I did, he says, looking across at Anna, who nods vigorously.

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So as he sorts through ministerial archive boxes that outnumber the family files, what does Ken Wyatt think he achieved in his parliamentary career?

First, that I influenced a lot of federal members to work closely with their own [indigenous] communities in their electorates. There were substantially more references in speeches about Aboriginal people as a result.

Second, the fact that I got everybody to sign off on the Closing the Gap strategy. And third, being elected into the House of Representatives opened the door for other people to put their hand up. He was followed in 2016 by Linda Burney, the first Aboriginal woman to be elected to the House of Representatives, and, after his seat loss, by Dr Gordon Reid and Marion Scrymgour in 2022. They are the current House members; in the Senate, there are six Indigenous members.

As we clear tea cups and cake crumbs away and stack the files for their return to his study, Wyatt offers a final observation, flecked with indignation. When I read through the files, I come away thinking weve been resilient against enormous pressure. But were still fighting for the right to determine our own futures. The Closing the Gap report shows few targets are on track, and our young people are still 24 times more likely to be in prison than non Indigenous kids.

He wonders whether future compensation claims will emerge from Indigenous policies that are as futile today as those that were clamped around every facet of his mothers life.

I would be concerned that in 50 years time, we might have a legal firm that goes through every layer of the national Closing the Gap agreement and says, You all agreed to this in a formal document signed off by Commonwealth and all state and territory cabinets. Yet 50 years later, theres no improvement.

Then governments might face the very legal challenges they face now with profound compensation for the removal of children and stolen wages that weve seen already. Its quite possible.

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.
Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, May 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

by Xinhua writers Wang Ze, Lyu Chengcheng

MALABO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Since the establishment of their diplomatic relations, China and Equatorial Guinea have supported and helped each other, yielding rich fruits in bilateral cooperation with broad development prospects, said Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

"China has supported Equatorial Guinea in many fields, both economic and technical. Equatorial Guinea is satisfied with the support we receive from the People's Republic of China. You could even say that part of the transformation of Equatorial Guinea is precisely due to the economic support from the Chinese government," Obiang told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Obiang will pay a state visit to China on May 26-31. He has visited China multiple times as head of state. Recalling his first visit to China in 1984, Obiang lauded China's tremendous changes, noting that "it has reached spectacular levels."

Over the past 54 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Equatorial Guinea have steadily advanced major cooperation projects in infrastructure construction, technical assistance and other areas. Projects, such as the port of Bata on the Gulf of Guinea and the Djibloho Hydropower Plant, built or aided by Chinese enterprises, have brought tangible improvements to the life of local people, said the president.

Speaking of the outcomes achieved under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, Obiang said cooperation in fields such as health, agriculture, commerce and technology has greatly boosted Equatorial Guinea's economic and social development.

Equatorial Guinea hopes that China will assist in its economic diversification, continue technology transfer and increase support for talent training to help the country lay a solid foundation for independent development, he said.

China has launched the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development, which are effective ways for African countries to address development challenges and can truly help African countries develop, Obiang added.

"I appreciate President Xi Jinping's initiative to help African countries. I believe it is the most effective way for Africa to overcome all the difficulties it faces today, which we have not been able to achieve through the countries that colonized us," Obiang said.

"China's cooperation is yielding good results in talent training and project financing. This naturally strengthens African nations in general and Equatorial Guinea in particular," he noted.

China has excelled in increasing production capacity, which has helped lift the living standards of people in many countries, especially in Africa, he said.

He said that the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, proposed by the Chinese president, has significant implications for the peace and development of African countries.

In the face of disasters and pandemics, China and Equatorial Guinea have united and helped each other. In February 2020, Equatorial Guinea donated 2 million U.S. dollars to China to support its fight against COVID-19, Obiang said.

Equatorial Guinea also provided humanitarian assistance to China, he said. On Feb. 10, 2021, China-aided COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Malabo, as the first batch of vaccines provided by China to African countries.

During his visit to China in April 2015, Obiang announced the donation of the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School to Jinping County in China's southwestern Yunnan Province.

"When Equatorial Guinea offers such aid, it reflects our belief in the importance of training human talents. We think it is good for individuals to receive education and attain significant levels of knowledge, enabling them to become talents that can help their communities," he said.

"Therefore, the support given to the school in Yunnan was to support the training of human resources," he said with a smile as he was shown recent photos of the school. Enditem

(Xinhua correspondents Zeng Tao and Han Xu also contributed to the story.)

Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, May 22, 2024. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
DAMASCUS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- An explosive device affixed under a car went off in the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday morning, killing one person, state news agency SANA said.

The victim was the owner of the car that exploded in the Mazzeh neighborhood of western Damascus.

The blast site is near the Iranian embassy, whose consulate building was demolished in an Israeli missile strike in April.

Further details about the incident are still forthcoming. 
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Sinn Fein MEP for Midlands Northwest, Chris MacManus, has said that Sinn Fein will continue to stand up for Irish fishermen in the European Parliament, in the Dail and in every local council.

MEP MacManus was speaking at the fisheries hustings in Killybegs, Co Donegal, organised by the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association (IFPEA) and the Killybegs Fishermens Organisation.

MEP MacManus said:

The Irish fishing industry and Irelands coastal communities have been badly let down by successive Irish governments and by the European Union.

The Irish fishing industry needs Sinn Fein and our elected representatives to stand up for them and challenge every decision-making body that we can  in Brussels and in the Dail.

We will be your voice, your eyes and your ears in Europe and in Ireland. We will fight for fair quotas for Irish fishermen instead of scraps. We will seek to rebuild the Irish fishing industry with a new vision, to reform the Common Fisheries Policies and to oppose overregulation."

MEP MacManus said he has a proven track record in the European Parliament of campaigning for Ireland's fishermen and coastal communities.

I hosted a delegation of leading fishermen and processors from around Ireland to the European Parliament in 2022 when they brought their case directly to the EU Commission. More recently, I have stood with young Muireann Kavanagh, the teenage campaigner from Arranmore, as she exposed the injustice of the Common Fisheries Policy and the failings of our own government.

I will continue this work if re-elected. Sinn Fein will seek to take permanent membership on the Fisheries Committee.

Sinn Fein has committed to a dedicated Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine in any future Sinn Fein-led government that will reorganise the Department of Marine and headquarter it back to Dublin to be managed and accountable to that Minister.

We need a reset in Brussels, in the Irish Government and in the Government Department that will stand up for, defend, show pride and rebuild a successful Irish fishing industry, concluded MacManus, who is one of 27 candidates seeking five seats in Midlands Northwest on June 7 next.
Theatre fans have two excellent productions to look forward to in June and July at Ballina Arts Centre.

Windmill Players are back on June 7th and 8th with Brian Friels Dancing at Lughnasa. Michael Evans recounts the events of autumn 1936, when he was seven and visiting his aunts cottage during the Celtic festival of Lughnasa. He recalls those late summer days when love seemed briefly possible for the Mundy sisters, while the erratic behaviour of their older brother, Fr Jack, who has recently returned from Uganda, causes upheaval.

The unexpected appearance of Michaels charming but completely unreliable father, Gerry, also keeps Michael and his mother in suspense. Sligo Based, Windmill Players have successfully toured this production throughout the West, and this is your opportunity to see it in Ballina.

On July 9th, the award-winning Beeznees Theatre company present The Pension Plan, the latest offering from John McDwyer ( Unforgiven, Turning Mammy, An Ordinary Man). The bachelor Flanagan brothers lives of peace and contentment on their hillside farm are bothered only by the persistent efforts of their spinster neighbour, Ann Catherine, to marry either or both of them. When a visiting stranger brings news that threatens to turn their world upside down, salvation may come from an unlikely source, but at what price? The author directs Barry Deignan, Gerry Farrell, Pat Feeley and Valerie Traynor in an evening of madcap fun.

Dont forget that in June and July the centre also hosts its series of free lunchtime concerts. Please contact Audrey Robinson at info@ballinartscente.com if you would like to perform as part of this programme.
SYDNEY, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Two women and one man have died following a shooting in Western Australia (WA) on Friday afternoon.

At about 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday, emergency services were called to a home on Berkeley Crescent in Floreat, a suburb in Perth's west, responding to reports of a firearm being charged.

A man in his 60s visited the property where a woman in her 50s and another in her late teens were present.

A spokesperson from WA Police Force said on Saturday that the male discharged a firearm, killing the female in her 50s and critically injuring the younger woman, before taking his own life.

"St John WA provided emergency treatment to the younger female before conveying her to Royal Perth Hospital, where she later died," the spokesperson said.

Police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

According to the spokesperson, the male in his 60s is known to the female in her 50s through mutual contact. 
For French photographer Jeremy Walter Grinan, the trip to Zhangzhou city in East China's Fujian province offered a serene escape from urban life.

During his recent visit to Zhangzhou as part of the 2024 A Date with China international media tour, Grinan captured the city's tranquil beauty through his lens.

Zhangzhou, a city nestled between mountains and seas, is a vital stop on the Maritime Silk Road and an important birthplace of the Hakka culture  rooted in migrants who originated from lands adjacent to the Yellow River. The city is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of tulou, the unique earthen buildings.

"Tulou was super nice. The people I met there were super welcoming while we were filming," said Grinan.

"During our visit, it was raining, adding to the sense of calm and serenity. You could see the clouds hanging between the mountains and enjoy local tea while listening to the rain falling on the wooden walls," Grinan added. "It felt like stepping into an old kung fu movie."




People visit the Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, on May 24, 2024. The ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will be held in Seoul from May 26 to 27. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

South Korea, China, and Japan should compete in good faith and cooperate in as many fields as possible, so as to overcome economic challenges such as the spread of trade protectionism.

SEOUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming China-Japan-South Korea leaders' meeting "will serve as an opportunity to revive various cooperation projects and revitalize trilateral cooperation," the head of a Seoul-based trilateral group has said.

"The three countries need to share a clear perception that win-win-win through cooperation, not confrontation and conflict, is the only way forward for national interests and the happiness of their peoples," said Lee Hee-sup, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), in a recent interview with Xinhua.

The ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting of China, Japan, and South Korea will be held in Seoul from Sunday to Monday.

Trilateral cooperation, which has been stalled due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, is more necessary than ever amidst global protectionist trends, armed conflicts, supply chain restructuring, climate change, and fluctuating situations in Northeast Asia, Lee said.

As important neighbors, South Korea, China, and Japan share many cultural similarities and play a pivotal role in the Asia-Pacific economy as well as the global economy, he noted.

People visit the China exhibition area at the Seoul International Travel Fair in Seoul, South Korea, May 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Despite ups and downs in bilateral relations over the past decades, trilateral cooperation has made remarkable progress in areas such as economy, trade, society, culture, politics, security and sports, he said.

Over the past 25 years since the launch of China-Japan-South Korea cooperation, a cooperative framework centered around the summit meeting and supported by ministerial meetings, senior officials' meetings, and over 70 working-level mechanisms has gradually been established.

To overcome economic challenges such as the spread of trade protectionism, South Korea, China, and Japan should compete in good faith and cooperate in as many fields as possible, Lee said.

"The three countries, which have achieved economic growth through free trade and globalization, need to cooperate closely for the protection of free trade and the multilateral trade systems in a world where the free trade order is being threatened," he added.

The three countries should also continue to leverage the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership through consultations and cooperation, he said.

As part of efforts to foster closer ties among the peoples, the TCS, launched in 2011 to promote peace and common prosperity among the three nations, plans to expand youth exchanges through projects such as the youth summit, the youth ambassador program, and the youth speech contest this year.
Freight train X8157, which is bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, departs from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on May 25, 2024. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

XI'AN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd (China Railway).

From 2016 to 2023, the annual number of China-Europe freight train trips surged from 1,702 to over 17,000. The value of goods transported by this service skyrocketed from 8 billion U.S. dollars in 2016 to 56.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

The types of commodities transported via the China-Europe freight trains have expanded from IT products such as laptops and printers at the beginning to over 50,000 different types, including clothing and footwear, automobiles and parts, daily necessities, food, timber, furniture, chemicals and machinery.

So far, the China-Europe freight trains have reached 223 cities in 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, with the service network covering almost the entire Eurasian continent, it added.

"The China-Europe freight trains represent a new model of international transportation with advantages such as convenience, speed, safety, stability and green economy. They have become widely popular as an international public product," said Huang Xin, deputy director of China Railway's cargo department.

"They have injected new momentum into serving the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and Europe," Huang added.

CONTINUOUS VITALITY

Inside the intelligent workshops of Shaanxi Konka Smart Home Appliance Co., Ltd, production lines hum with activity as workers help assemble dishwashers and washing machines for its overseas orders. Here, a washing machine can be produced within 20 seconds.

"Many of our factories were previously located in the eastern and southern regions of China. We were drawn to establish our operations here in western Xi'an due to its strategic position as a key hub for China-Europe freight trains, along with the supportive government policies and abundant talent pool," said Chen Zhao, the company's general manager.

Starting operations in November 2022, the company has now seen 80 percent of their dishwashers and 20 percent of washing machines destined for international markets, according to Chen.

In late November 2022, a China-Europe freight train carrying the company's home appliance export products embarked on its journey. As of April this year, Shaanxi Konka has exported 135,000 units of home appliance via 30 dedicated China-Europe freight trains.

"Thanks to the China-Europe freight trains, our products now reach various European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Russia, as well as Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan. This mode of transportation not only reduces costs but also significantly shortens delivery time," said Chen, adding that sea shipping typically takes 45 days, while China-Europe freight trains expedite this process, completing deliveries in just 15 to 20 days.

"Our overseas clients appreciate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the China-Europe freight train service, which not only enhances their experience but also reduces their transportation expenses. It's become the preferred and secure choice for them," Chen added.

Since 2023, an increasing number of Chinese-made "tech-intensive green trio" products -- lithium-ion batteries, photovoltaic products, and new energy vehicles (NEVs) -- have been transported through the China-Europe freight trains, reflecting a strong market demand.

Cao Ping, from the Xi'an branch of China Railway Special Cargo Services CO., LTD, a professional transportation enterprise mainly engaged in railway transportation of vehicles, oversized cargo and refrigerated goods, has had some experience with this.

"Since the beginning of this year, this trend has become more pronounced. All the vehicles exported via the China-Europe freight trains from our company are produced by local companies in Shaanxi, and they are all new energy vehicles, which are quite popular abroad," said Cao, adding that the number of monthly exported NEVs handled by her company would exceed 1,300 units, and main destinations are Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The rapid development of the China-Europe freight trains has opened up a new channel for the inland regions of Asia and Europe, enhancing their economic and trade cooperation.

Xi'an-based TERRAcont International Logistics Co., Ltd was established two years ago, with only three workers in its earlier days. Over the past two years, the number of workers at this company has increased to more than 20, said Zholbaskanova Nursulu, CEO of the company, who is from Kazakhstan.

"Our containers depart via the China-Europe freight trains every month, some from Xi'an and others from Chongqing and Chengdu," Nursulu said.

"I've witnessed the rapid development of the China-Europe freight trains and received a lot of support from the Chinese government over the years. It has significantly strengthened China's relations with BRI participating countries, fostering closer trade ties between them," she added.

"The spillover effects of the China-Europe freight trains are becoming increasingly prominent, facilitating better integration of related countries and regions into the open world economy, and greatly enhancing the well-being of people from BRI countries," Huang said. 

Freight train X8157, which is bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, departs from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on May 25, 2024. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows freight train X8157, which is bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, departing from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows freight train X8157, which is bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, departing from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows Xi'an international port station in Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows Xi'an international port station in Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

Trucks transport containers at Xi'an international port station in Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 25, 2024. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows Xi'an international port station in Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)
UNITED NATIONS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan is a province of China, Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, has reiterated.

The United Nations is guided by the General Assembly resolution of 1971, Dujarric told a regular press briefing on Thursday, adding that he made the remarks in terms of the United Nations' standing on Taiwan as a province of China.

On Oct. 25, 1971, the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly adopted, with an overwhelming majority, Resolution 2758, which decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations. 
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A series of exhilarating Chinese language proficiency competitions were held on Saturday by the Confucius Institute in the New Zealand city of Auckland, bringing together students from various age groups and backgrounds.

The Chinese Bridge branded Auckland Regional Speech Competitions 2024 showcased the participants' linguistic talents, cultural appreciation and passion for the Chinese language.

Students from over 30 schools across the wider Auckland region gathered to demonstrate their Chinese language skills and cultural understanding. From Chinese songs to Chinese crosstalk and tongue twisters, from Chinese paintings and calligraphy to Tai Chi and Wushu demonstrations, talented students were able to put together a rich Chinese culture exhibition for onlookers. The applause echoed through the auditorium, celebrating their talents and bridging cultural boundaries.

Caleb Jenkins, a 12th-grade student from Selwyn College, emphasised the importance of learning Chinese in his speech. "Chinese opens doors for me to understand China's history and culture," he said, "As China's economic and cultural influence grows globally, fluency in Mandarin becomes essential."

Jenkins also prepared a Chinese pop song with guitar accompaniment, which lyrics he self-learnt from online. "Learning Chinese is like having wings to soar between different cultures and languages," Jenkins said in Mandarin confidently.

Having learnt only four months of Chinese, 10th-grade student Henry Tran from Northcote College was encouraged by his teacher to participate in the competition.

While busy taking photos of her son in traditional Chinese costume, Yuna Tran was very proud of her child and believed that learning Chinese is important for communication. "There are many Chinese people in our neighborhood, and everyone speaks Chinese. It is good to learn some Chinese," she said.

Julie Mana'o, the lead teacher at the New Lynn School, enthusiastically watched her six pupils' culture performances, Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon, at the competition. She was very supportive of her school's Chinese teaching and learning activities.

The competition gave students from different backgrounds, especially disadvantaged groups, a good opportunity, believed Mana'o.

"We love our students learning Chinese and participating in such competitions. It is a good opportunity for our students, two of them from refugee backgrounds, to perform and showcase their talent to a wider audience," said Mana'o.

Zhang Suhang, a graduate student from East China Normal University's Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages program, has been working in Auckland as a Mandarin language assistant (MLA) for four months by now. The New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement supports the placement of MLA in New Zealand schools to facilitate the teaching and learning of Mandarin and to raise the quality of Mandarin language provision in New Zealand schools.

Zhang tirelessly helped her students prepare for the competition and was overwhelmed by her students' enthusiasm for learning the Chinese language and culture.

"The students practised a lot during their spare time. They really like Chinese cultural activities," said Zhang.

Participants at the Chinese language competitions on Saturday were grouped into three competitions for primary, secondary and college students.

Top students selected from the Auckland Regional Speech competitions will have the opportunity to represent Auckland with winners from other parts of New Zealand for the final competition in China. 
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]

JINAN, May 24 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed comprehensively deepening reform to drive Chinese modernization during an inspection trip to the eastern economic powerhouse of Shandong Province.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged the coastal province to pursue reform-driven high-quality development and build itself into "a hub of high-level opening up."

Shandong, a frontier of China's reform and opening up, is now an industrial base and a major grain producer. With a population of 100 million, the province ranked third in GDP last year among all provincial-level regions in China. Shandong is also the birthplace of Confucius.

Xi's trip to Shandong, lasting from Wednesday to Friday, 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.

"Strive for excellence in comprehensively deepening reform and advancing high-level opening up," Xi told local officials during the tour.

On Wednesday afternoon, Xi first visited Rizhao Port, where he observed automated container terminal operations.

The port, constructed after China launched the reform and opening-up drive in the late 1970s, has evolved into a modern facility over the decades, gaining valuable experience in upgrading and transforming traditional industries to foster new quality productive forces.

Later, Xi toured a coastal greenway in Rizhao to learn about local efforts in ecological restoration.

"The goal of advancing Chinese modernization is to make people's lives better and better," Xi said.

On Friday morning, he attended a meeting in Jinan, the provincial capital, to hear reports on the work of the province's Party and government authorities.

Xi underscored the need to fully unleash the potential of integrating the real economy with the digital economy and to develop new quality productive forces based on local conditions.

It was imperative to push ahead with the transition to the model of green and low-carbon development, boost sci-tech innovation in green and environmental protection sectors and spur the development of such industries, as well as build a world-class cluster of seaports to set the pace for modern marine economy development, he said.

Xi said Shandong should work actively to build international logistics corridors, be innovative in promoting the coordination of free trade zones, deeply integrate itself into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, build competent platforms for significant international exchanges and cooperation, and play an important role in facilitating the dual circulation of domestic and international markets.

He urged efforts to vigorously promote the development of modern agriculture, develop the region into a higher-level "granary," and expand the paths toward common prosperity.

Xi stressed the need to facilitate dialogue and mutual understanding between civilizations and amplify Chinese culture's global reach and influence through platforms such as the International Confucius Cultural Festival.

He also highlighted the pivotal role of upholding the Party's leadership and strengthening work related to Party building in advancing Chinese modernization.

Senior officials including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the inspection tour.

On Thursday morning, Xi met with senior officers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army troops stationed in Jinan.

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/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/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, meets with senior officers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army troops stationed in Jinan, in east China's Shandong Province, May 23, 2024. Xi inspected Shandong Province from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Li Gang]

(Source: Xinhua)
BEIRUT, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing tensions between Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel along the southern Lebanese border have enveloped life in uncertainty, with the constant threat posed by the exchange of fire between the two sides.

Despite the dangers, Lebanese farmers find themselves compelled to venture into their fields as the wheat begins to ripe, because the harvest is their primary source of income.

"Wheat here is equivalent to the soul," said Majed Abdallah, a farmer in the village of khiam in southeastern Lebanon. He said that he had submitted a request for protection from the Lebanese governmental forces during the harvest, but had received no help.

The wheat harvest season in Lebanon usually begins in June. However, local farmers have to begin harvesting earlier this year due to concerns about potential fires from Israeli bombings.

Ahmed Al-Mohammad, a 50-year-old farmer from Al-Wazzani village in southern Lebanon, highlighted the shift to automatic harvesters amid the ongoing tensions.

"We used to harvest wheat with sickles to save money, but the prevailing military conditions forced us to turn to automatic harvesters to expedite our work, albeit at a higher cost," said Al-Mohammad.

Saud Al-Zahran, another wheat farmer in the southern Lebanese village of Wadi khansa, noted a significant decrease in wheat cultivation in the border region this season, adding that while he typically cultivated about 1,000 dunums (1 dumum= 1,000 square meters) of wheat annually, he scaled back to only 100 dunums this year due to the persistent conflict as well as the lack of labor.

Ibrahim Tarshishi, head of the farmers' association in Lebanon's Bekaa, highlighted the impact of the ongoing confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel on wheat production. According to him, while the border area typically yields 10,000 tons of wheat annually, this year's production is estimated to plummet to 2,000 tons.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, after Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets towards Israel to show its solidarity with Hamas's attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery towards southeastern Lebanon.

To mitigate production losses caused by the conflict, Lebanese Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan said his ministry had drafted plans to bolster wheat cultivation. As part of these plans, the ministry will distribute wheat seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, and financial aid to farmers across all regions. 
Praise for crucial work of childrens hospice charity shop

This article is old - Published: Saturday, May 25th, 2024

The crucial work of a childrens hospice charity has been praised by Wrexhams Member of the Senedd.

Lesley Griffiths MS recently spent a morning visiting her local Hope House Ty Gobaith charity shop.

The store on Island Green, along with others across the region, generate funds for Hope House and Ty Gobaith childrens hospices, which need to raise 7.5 million a year.

The charity aims to ensure every child with a life-threatening condition and their family get the help and support they need.

Lesley Griffiths MS met with the local store management team and the volunteers who donate their time to help the daily running of the shop.

Commenting after her visit, Ms Griffiths said: It was a pleasure meeting the volunteers and staff at Wrexhams Ty Gobaith store and to discover more about their work and some of the challenges they face.

The charity has seven shops across Mid and North Wales. In addition to helping raise vital funds and awareness, the shops allow the hospices to remain connected to the communities they serve.

No one should face the death of their child alone so the charitys work is crucial.

During her visit, Lesley Griffiths MS and staff from the charity discussed a range of issues.

Wrexhams shop relocated to Island Green Shopping Centre in January 2023 where people can easily drop off their pre-loved donations of homeware and fashion and shop second hand to support both the charity and the environment.

Although the car parks negative reputation has affected sales at the shop, there are promising signs the situation is improving.

Lesley Griffiths MS and Clwyd South MS Ken Skates have been involved in a campaign against Euro Car Parks (ECP), the firm that operates the car park at Island Green after constituents were issued with unfair fines.

I have been in a long-running dispute with car park operators Euro Car Parks for over 18 months and I am hopeful the recent change in ownership at Island Green is starting to make a positive difference, said Lesley Griffiths.

In recent months new ticket machines have been installed, there are plans for electric charging hubs to be created and the grace period for parking has been extended to 30 minutes.

This final point is particularly helpful for anyone wishing to donate and drop off items at the Hope House shop.

Ty Gobaith and Hope House childrens hospices support families from North & Mid Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire who are ether caring for a child with a life-threatening condition, or whose child has died.

Hope House and Ty Gobaith currently provides support for 264 children across Mid and North Wales of which 140 live in Wales.

It costs 7.5 million every year to run its services. Approximately two months income comes from statutory sources and for the other 10 months of the year, the charity is dependent on public support.

Lesley Griffiths MS added: Hospices traditionally rely on fundraising and charitable donations to operate. However, the cost-of-living crisis is creating significant challenges and negatively impacting fundraising.

The Welsh Government recently announced additional emergency funding for hospices in Wales, with almost 230,000 earmarked for Ty Gobaith, but its clear more money will need to be sourced.

The shop is always on the lookout for volunteers and there are many ways you could get involved such as sorting through donations, working on the till, window dressing to name but a few.

Volunteering at your local Hope House Ty Gobaith shop offers an opportunity to learn new life skills and gain valuable experiences, whether its a couple hours on the weekend or the chance to become more experienced and make life-long friends.
Retailers urged to crackdown on knife sales to underage customers

This article is old - Published: Saturday, May 25th, 2024

Retailers in Wrexham are being urged to clampdown on the sale of knives to children and young people.

It comes after North Wales Police Cadets, alongside police officers, conducted an under-age sales operation as part of Operation Sceptre  a national, intensive week of action that ran last week to tackle knife crime.

The aim was to ensure local businesses are compliant with legislation, and that anyone under the age of 18 are refused knives.

A total of 23 shops were tested in areas of Wrexham, Llandudno and Conwy  with nearly half failing to ask for identification from the volunteers before selling knives.

Of the eight shops tested in Wrexham city, just one challenged an undercover Cadet for identification.

A further four out of 15 shops across Llandudno and Conwy also sold a knife without challenging the volunteers about their age.

Wrexham city acting Inspector Rob Stevenson said: It is very disappointing that all but one of the eight shops tested in Wrexham city failed the test purchase and sold a weapon to an under-18.

Our Neighbourhood Policing Team will be revisiting all stores who failed and working with them to review their current policies and training and educate and advise on the laws of selling knives.

Retailers have an important role to play in tackling knife crime by ensuring bladed objects are not falling into the wrong hands.

Further checks will be carried out over the coming months and robust action will be taken against any store continuing to sell knives irresponsibly and illegally.

Crime prevention Inspector Geraint Richards added: We must ensure that we are doing everything we can to reinforce the message that carrying a knife is unacceptable and that no good can come from carrying one.

We take a robust approach to anyone found to be illegally in possession of a knife on the streets and I would encourage everyone to take the opportunity to rid yourselves of any unwanted or illegal weapons by taking them to our knife amnesty bins which are located at our police station front counters.

Carrying knives or other weapons do not keep you safe and are putting yourself in much greater danger, and more likely to become involved in a violent situation and get injured yourself.

Citizens Policing Co-ordinator, Andrew Harris said: North Wales Police Cadets will continue to support local policing teams in conducting test purchase operations across North Wales.

In the coming weeks, they will be conducting further test purchase operations, checking retail stores comply with legislation relating to under-age sales of alcohol, tobacco and vaping.

Retail premises have a role to play in keeping youths and members of the community safe. We will continue to check and challenge retailers who do not comply.
Twelve thousand Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operators, collectors, station staff and customer service representatives could walk off the job as early as June 7 at North Americas third-largest transit agency.

Toronto Transit Commission Bus [Photo: Steve Harris, Flickr]

A no-board ruling was granted earlier this week by Ontarios Labour Ministry following a request by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113, which has been in contract talks with TTC management since early February. The no-board process, designed to block strikes, involves the government accepting that talks have stalled and imposes a 17-day cooling off period before job action can go ahead.

The strike would mark the first job action by TTC workers in 16 years. In 2011, the provincial Liberal government banned strike action at the transit agency by declaring it to be an essential service. This brazen violation of democratic rights was facilitated by the ATU and other unions, which refused to wage a genuine struggle against it at the time, because such a fight would have involved a political confrontation with their political friends in then-Premier Dalton McGuintys pro-austerity regime. Instead, they instructed workers to place their faith in the capitalist courts, which took 12 years to determine that workers constitutional right to strike had been violated and overturn the law.

Underscoring the cynicism of their claim that the TTC was an essential service, TTC management, backed by Toronto City Council and successive provincial governments, used the free hand given them while workers were muzzled by the strike ban to starve the transit agency of funding. This resulted in mounting service disruptions, dilapidated infrastructure, poor working conditions, and an increase in the use of temporary contractors to fill vacancies. A 2017 report from CodeRedTO concluded that the TTC was among the most heavily dependent of all North American transit agencies on user fees, which made up over two-thirds of its budget.

In a revealing political lineup, Premier Doug Fords Tory government appealed the Ontario Supreme Courts November 2023 decision that struck down the law passed by its pro-union Liberal predecessors. However, the Ontario Court of Appeals upheld the Supreme Courts decision Thursday, rejecting the Ford governments anti-worker appeal.

TTC Chairperson Jamaal Myers has claimed in a written statement that a strike would be devastating for the city. What has truly been devastating for the city and riders is the decrepit state of the TTC caused by decades of budget cuts, which have allowed infrastructure to decay beyond repair and intensified the miserable working conditions faced by public transit workers.

In 2023, the TTC announced sweeping service cuts across 39 routes, which account for about 20 percent of its operations. A report by Toronto Metropolitan University researchers revealed that the cuts hit deprived areas of the city above all, including those where residents have no other option to get around.

Communities affected included areas with low-income residents, people who are precariously employed, and new immigrants. These neighbourhoods may not generate the highest amounts of public transit trips, but residents in these neighbourhoods may be more dependent on public transit for their everyday needs compared to other parts of the city, the report pointed out. The proposed service changes by the TTC will likely make these neighbourhoods more mobility poor, creating additional barriers to the residents participation in employment, education, and society in general.

The deterioration in service has gone hand in hand with a systematic undermining of working conditions. Last year, a temporary contractor employed as a customer service representative at TTC stations by TalentWorld, a third-party staffing agency, spoke out about the violation of workers rights to breaks during shifts. The agency wrote to contractors asserting that they are entitled only to a 15-minute break for shifts lasting between five and eight hours, when in reality the Ontario Labour Code guarantees workers a 30-minute break for these shifts. The contractor also reported to CBC News that temporary workers often have to pay to gain access to TTC stations if permanent employees are not present to let them in, and use public washrooms because they have no keys to access staff bathrooms.

The TTC refused a request by CBC News to confirm how many third-party contractors it uses. However, it is clear that managements top priority is to use contracting out as a means to slash labour costs for all workers as much as possible.

When the TTC presented its 2023 budget in January 2023, the service cuts included a 9 percent across-the-board reduction in hours served compared to a year earlier. Stuart Green, the TTC communications spokesman, bluntly told CBC in August 2023, Using contracted temporary [customer service representatives] allows us flexibility to only bring in staff as needed for short-term closures. Direct hires would be more expensive when salaries and benefits are factored in and we would not have as much flexibility to bring in more people as needed.

In June 2023, TTC management boasted that it had made savings over the previous year by cutting services 5% below budgeted and due to labour and benefit under-expenditures resulting from vacancies.

It comes as no surprise in this context that workers main demands for the new contract are job security, real wage increases, and improved benefits.

While the TTC and the city of Toronto claim there is no money to make desperately needed repairs to infrastructure, the ruling class is showering unlimited cash on the military and providing unlimited funds to wage war abroad. The connection between cuts to public services and social programs, and funding for aggressive imperialist war in Europe, the Middle East, and the Asian Pacific is clear. Opposition to war is paramount for the defence of social programs and critical infrastructure.

The trade unions are hostile to such a fight because they are tied by a thousand threads to the federal Liberal government and its political accomplices in the New Democrats. Their goal is to confine all workers struggles within the straitjacket of the collective bargaining system and offer their services to management as a partner in enforcing brutal exploitation and austerity.

This was summed up in comments by ATU Local 113 President Marvin Alfred, who responded last year to the reports of the use of temporary contract employees by politely asking the company to use union members, not opposing the use of contract labour in principle. We would like for the people that are populating transit worker positions to be local, unionized labour because I think that is the best way to deliver that service reliably to the public, he said. In other words, so long as the ATU enjoys a source of dues, it is happy to work with management as it employs temporary contractors to undermine conditions for all workers, both full-time and temporary.

In April, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2, which represents 650 electrical and trades workers with the TTC, blocked a pending strike before it began with a sellout tentative agreement. CUPE had forced the workers to labour without a contract for over two years since its expiration in April 2022. No details were made public about the agreement.

Alfred has remained evasive in his public comments on whether the ATU will allow a strike to go ahead. The bureaucracy is clearly looking for a formula to call off the job action, for fear that a determined struggle by TTC workers could trigger a broader movement of the working class against austerity and war.

Already this month, the Liberal government has indefinitely banned a strike by 9,300 Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail workers by calling on the unelected Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to examine the community safety implications of a work stoppage. The CIRB possesses arbitrary powers to block workers from exercising their democratic right to strike in opposition to the immense profits of the parasitic owners of the railroads.

At the same time, the government-aligned Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is dragging out talks with Canada Post management under conditions in which sweeping concessions are being demanded, leaving postal workers on the job without a contract for over three months.

Underscoring the readiness of the rank-and-file for a fight, the ATU acknowledged that already 8,000 of its 12,000 workers have reported for picket duty. But this militancy can only support the necessary mobilization of broader sections of the working class in support of the TTC workers if it finds an outlet independent of and in opposition to the corporatist ATU bureaucracy.

TTC workers should establish rank-and-file strike committees to seize control of the contract struggle from the union bureaucrats and make an appeal to all sections of workers in Ontario, across Canada and internationally to join their struggle. All workers require a well-funded, reliable, and affordable transit system for their work, social, and personal lives. But this goal can only be achieved in a fight against the subordination of societys vast resources to the accumulation of profits by a handful at the top and the waging of imperialist war around the world.

A major step in this fight involves workers freeing themselves from the political and organizational dominance of the ATU and trade union bureaucracies, which work with the Liberal government and its NDP backers to smother the class struggle while they cut public services to the bone. TTC workers can spearhead a counter-offensive by leading a fight for real wage gains, an end to the decades of cuts, which have led to terrible conditions at the TTC, and secure full-time positions with benefits and pension rights for all. This means counterposing to the ruling elites pursuit of austerity and war, a program to unify the working class in struggle to use societys wealth to meet the social needs of the vast majority of the population.

All TTC workers who are interested in developing this fight should fill out the form below to get in touch with the World Socialist Web Site today.
On Tuesday, the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) organised a rally against the genocide in Gaza as part of its European election campaign in the Neukolln district of Berlin. Around 100 workers and young people participated in the event.

SGP European election candidates Christoph Vandreier, Ulrich Rippert, Angela Niklaus and Tamino Wilck presented an international socialist perspective against the barrage of war propaganda and genocidal pro-war course of the federal coalition government and all the establishment parties.

Angela Niklaus

To commemorate the Nakba 76 years ago and demand an end to the genocide, around ten thousand people took to the streets in Germany. In London alone, a quarter of a million people demonstrated, Angela Niklaus said in opening her speech. We in the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei salute the courageous protesters in Europe and around the world.

The ruling class was trying to suppress the protests with police-state methods because it is afraid! They are afraid that the anti-genocide protests will come together with the social anger of the working class against the government and the union bosses, she said. Large sections of the population are becoming impoverished, and instead of money being invested in social support systems, hundreds of billions of euros are being spent on arming the Bundeswehr [Armed Forces], supplying weapons systems and militarising society.

Anyone who rejected genocide and war should join the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei because We reject any national perspective. The struggle against the bourgeoisie and its genocidal and war course cannot be won with Varoufakis and his MERA25 [European Realistic Disobedience Front], not with RIO or any other pseudo-left grouping or with more militant trade unionists. Their perspective means subordination to the institutions of the bourgeoisie, Niklaus said. They all stand for the preservation of the capitalist system, which is responsible for the Nakba and two world wars.

With our international socialist perspective, we rely on the international working class, which is the only social force capable of ending genocide and war.

Tamino Wilck

Tamino Wilck, an SGP member and member of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), focussed his remarks on the police violence against students and other opponents of the war.

The state was reacting with brutal repression to the spreading wave of protests at universities in many countries, which is strongly reminiscent of the protests of 1968. Just as ruling class foreign policy once again supports genocide, it is also returning to the methods of the Nazis in domestic policy.

Wilck described the police violence against the students and the hate campaign unleashed by politicians and the media, above all Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (Liberal Democrat, FDP) and the tabloid Bild, against lecturers at Berlin universities because they had declared in an open letter that it was their duty to protect their students and not to hand them over to police violence under any circumstances.

Wilck called on pupils and students: We must go to the workplaces and mobilise workers against the genocide. Workers must prepare protests and strikes to stop the war industry.

He linked the German governments unrestricted support for the fascist Netanyahu government and domestic repression to the NATO war against Russia. He described how The German government is working with open anti-Semites and right-wing extremists in Ukraine to realise its war against Russia.

At the end of April, our comrade Bogdan Syrotiuk, a leading member of the Young Guard of the Bolshevik-Leninists, was arrested by the Ukrainian secret service because, as a principled Marxist and internationalist, he is fighting for an end to the war in Ukraine and the unification of the Russian and Ukrainian working class.

Christoph Vandreier

SGP chairman Christoph Vandreier said, As the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, we are running in the European elections to build an international movement against war, against genocide and against its root cause, capitalism. This meant that here in Germany, a movement against German militarism must be built. Eighty years after the Second World War, German tanks are rolling against Russia again and the ruling class is returning to the methods of genocide.

Vandreier referred to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), who had applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. But not only Netanyahu and Gallant belong in the dock, but also Genocide Joe Biden, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

But, Vandreier warned, there should be no illusions that the International Criminal Court or the United Nations or any capitalist regime on this globe will stop the genocide. You might as well ask a wolf to become a vegetarian.

Vandreier stressed:

The genocide in Gaza is part of a global conflict over the redivision of the world. In Ukraine, NATO is waging a proxy war against Russia, which has already claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people. In order to assert their geostrategic interests, they were even risking nuclear war. And the war against Russia is only the precursor to a war against China, which would take on completely different dimensions.

In the last 30 years, the NATO powers had waged wars that have cost well over a million lives. The images from Gaza showed the atrocities they are prepared to commit in the fight for their geostrategic and economic interests. The fact that the NATO powers are returning to the methods of genocide not only showed the bankruptcy of the Netanyahu regime, the Scholz and Biden governments. It showed the bankruptcy of the entire capitalist system.

Vandreier stated emphatically: If capitalism is not overthrown, conditions like those in Gaza threaten the whole world. It was not the many workers and young people who express their solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians who were antisemitic. It is the ruling class in Germany that is continuing its fascistic roots by sending German tanks against Russia, declaring genocide to be a reason of state and arming itself to a degree not seen since Hitler.

Appeals to the parties and governments that support genocide were illusory and reactionary. This also applied to those in favour of a multi-polar world order, who were pinning their hopes on one capitalist regime or another. None of them will stop the genocide! None of them will prevent the Third World War.

Ulrich Rippert

SGP honorary chairman Ulrich Rippert concluded the rally with a passionate appeal:

We are the only party that is putting the fight against war and genocide at the centre of the election campaign in this European election campaign. And we are not only appealing, we are not only demanding that the international working class intervene, but we are organising this international intervention. We are a revolutionary international socialist world party. We oppose the national warmongering and the deafening war propaganda cries with the international unity and international co-operation of the working class.

All the catastrophes that have afflicted humanity in the 20th centuryworld war, genocide, the dropping of atomic bombs, fascism, economic crises, pandemics had their cause in capitalism, said Rippert, a social system based on private ownership of the means of production and the division of the world into nation states.

It is no exaggeration to say that the danger of a third world war has never been as great as it is today. But the countermovement is also on the rise, explained Rippert, referring to the radicalisation of the class struggle, which was also evident in the industrial action taken by thousands in Europe and around the world against poor working conditions and wages. However, it was necessary to break through the straitjacket of the trade unions and develop a broad mobilisation of the working class. To do this, the working class needed its own party, the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei.

Participants at the rally

Many participants at the rally listened to the speeches with great interest and subsequently discussed the issues raised with SGP members. There was wide agreement that the international working class must be mobilised and united for the struggle against war and genocide.

The clear words of the candidates about the responsibility of the federal coalition government of the Social Democrats, Liberal Democrats and Greens for the genocide and police violence met with great approval among the audience. Finally, a party that really stands up for the oppressed Palestinians, applauded three high school students from Berlin and Brandenburg, who were impressed by the partys socialist perspective as an answer to war and capitalism.

Nadine, who fled to Germany to escape the war in Syria and uses a pseudonym for fear of deportation, said, Everything you say is true. She particularly liked the fact that the SGP is in favour of the unity of the international working class. Only together can we end the wars. The governments of the imperialist powers only have their interests in mind, they are not interested in us.

Another participant, from the former Yugoslavia, also rejected the division of people according to nationalities. She accused the German government, with the Green Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, of having bombed her homeland and forced her family to flee. We are only second-class people here. I am not allowed to stay because there is no more war in my country.

She angrily alluded to the abject poverty into which large sections of the working class in the former Yugoslavia were thrown: But what is there! Germany had already reverted to war in order to assert its interests.

The book table at the SGP election rally

A student at a Berlin university said he thought it was right that the SGP was fighting against the genocide. He has read the World Socialist Web Site and had also read a lot about the SGPs perspective but said he did not understand why the SGP always talked about class struggle, about the bourgeoisie and greed for profit. Wouldnt a simpler vocabulary be better, he asked, instead of words like socialist class consciousness?

In answering, Angela Niklaus emphasised the need to clearly name the two irreconcilable classes, bourgeoisie and proletariat, and to explain the reasons for class war and war. There is no shortcut to the necessary political struggle. Anything else would just be a con trick, which would prevent serious struggle and lead to failure.

Several participants reported their fears for family members remaining in the Gaza Strip. Some had not received any sign of life for weeks. Hussein, who comes from Egypt, emphasised how important it was to understand the entire historical development of Zionism and the oppression in Palestine since 1947/1948. The book The Logic of ZionismFrom Nationalist Myth to the Gaza Genocide by David North is dedicated to explaining this historical context and met with great interest.
The World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International have launched a global campaign demanding Syrotiuks freedom. Sign the online petition here.

Bogdan Syrotiuk at a May 9 rally in honor of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II

The Educators Rank-and-File Committee (ERFC US) demands the immediate release of Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk, age 25, from prison.

Bogdan is a political prisoner who was arrested on April 25 by the far-right Zelensky government for his opposition to the bloody war in Ukraine, directed by the US and NATO, against Russia.

He has been framed up on fraudulent charges of being an agent of the Putin regime.

As a leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), a Trotskyist youth organization in the former Soviet Union, Bogdans political opposition to the war is based on the fight to unite the working class in Russia and Ukraine in a common struggle against the US-NATO-backed fascistic government of Ukraine and the nationalist oligarchy that rules Russia.

Court documents show the charges against Bogdan are directed above all at the World Socialist Web Site, the publication of the International Committee of the Fourth International, which they slander as a Russian propaganda and information agency. This is a preposterous lie, thoroughly refuted by every article and statement published on the website since the start of the war in February 2022.

This is an attack not just against Bogdan but against workers and young people throughout the world who are fighting against war, repression and exploitation.

Teachers in the US have an obligation to defend him, as weand our studentsalso face mounting attacks on our democratic rights. This is especially true of the growing movement against the US-backed genocide in Gaza, which has faced a brutal, bi-partisan police state crackdown aimed at banning the right to protest war in the US.

We urge striking academic workers at the University of California, along with students and the professors who have courageously defended them, to raise the defense of Bogdan in your strike to stop the police repression on campus. Sign the petition and issue a statement in his defense! Demand your unions and organizations issue statements as well!

The persecution of Bogdan rests on the criminalization of free thought and speech. It exposes all of the propaganda of the Biden administration and its allies in NATO that the war against Russia represents a defense of democracy in Ukraine. Even the American State Department has detailed the utterly repressive character of its proxy regime.

The genocide in Gaza, as horrible as it is, is only one front in an emerging World War III spanning from Ukraine to the Middle East and China. The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown told the New York Times last week that a deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine was inevitable, raising the danger of nuclear war.

We, the working class, will be made to pay for these wars both with our lives and our livelihoods.

Money is being sucked out of education to pay for war. School districts everywhere are faced with a staggering fiscal cliff, leading to school closures, program cuts and mass layoffs. An estimated 384,000 full-time education jobs are on the line. Similar attacks on jobs and wages are being carried out against workers in auto, logistics, healthcare and other industries.

Yet both parties joined hands earlier this year to pass the largest ever military budget, $825 billion, and in April, Biden signed an additional $95 billion for military funding to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

The union bureaucracy is a key ally in the war effort, who stump for war while trying to prevent strikes and other forms of social opposition among workers at home.

American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten is a key figure in the war drive. A member of the Democratic National Committee, she has slandered Gaza protests as antisemitic. At the same time, she has made repeated visits to Eastern Europe where she has met with open neo-Nazis aligned with the US against Russia.

Her actions are in complete defiance of the will of the rank-and-file which opposes war, the burden of which will fall heaviest on our students. Teachers must call the AFT bureaucracy to account and countermand this warmongering, which is being financed with our dues money. The rank and file must organize now to demand that the unions cease their support for the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and issue calls for Bogdans release.

The fight against war must be linked with mass actions, including strikes and sickouts, to halt the police crackdown on campuses, which the AFT and NEA have also done nothing to stop. If they refuse to wage a real struggle, we must take the initiative out of their hands. This begins with organizing rank-and-file committees in each school to fight for our demands.

An Alabama teacher and ERFC member commented,

Teachers in the US need to realize that the system that is feeding this war in Ukraine is the same system that is making it impossible to live here. Money that would resolve education and budget cuts is being directed to war. The funding we should be receiving for better schools, better pay, a better economy, is being diverted. When we stand with Bogdan, we are fighting for ourselves too. Theyre holding him in prison for crimes that arent real because he was just reporting on what he saw, just like our students here are protesting what they see happening in Gaza and being attacked for it. His rights and the rights of students are being violated, all because they went against the capitalist system.

The fight to defend democratic rights and to stop war depends upon the working class across the US and internationally building a unified movement against war and repression.
Over the past week, Australian universities have begun dismantling student encampments set up to protest Israels genocide in Gaza and the universities ties to the Israeli and allied military forces.

Rally at University of Melbourne anti-Gaza genocide protest encampment

Students involved in the remaining encampments are under increasingly hysterical attacks and threats by university management, working in tandem with the Labor government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

For weeks, the federal and state Labor governments and university administrations have threatened to deploy police against the encampments and discipline students involved in the protests.

Trampling over the democratic rights of students is of a piece with the Albanese governments defence for the past seven months of Israels genocide on the fraudulent basis that it is defending itself. Albanese declared earlier this month that the peaceful protests against the mass killings of Palestinians were a divisive display of hatred and ignorance that did not have a place in society.

What is now occurring is the following through of Albaneses declaration.

Last week, five university encampments in Melbourne existed. Now, only the RMIT University encampment remains.

RMIT students in Melbourne establishing anti-Gaza genocide camp

The first to be dismantled was at Monash University. The university administration claims the protesters left voluntarily. However, the students allege that the university sent security staff to dismantle the protest physically. According to the encampment organisers, nine students have also been threatened with suspension or expulsion.

Deakin University issued a directive on May 13 demanding the shutdown of its encampment and threatening students with disciplinary action if they did not comply. After a second directive from management, the encampment was closed on Thursday.

At La Trobe University, a statement on Wednesday by the encampment organisers claimed that management is trying to discipline pro-Palestine student activists and forced the dismantling of the Gaza Solidarity Camp.

At the University of Melbourne, the organisers ended the encampment this week, claiming a major win. According to the encampment organisers, Unimelb For Palestine, the supposed win is that the university management agreed to disclose its research partnerships with weapons manufacturers next month.

Vice-Chancellor Duncan Maskell sent an email to staff and students stating that the University is committing to additional disclosure of its research grant arrangements as they relate to research projects, the parties who support that research and the quantum. Disclosure is subject to confidentiality obligations, national security regulations and laws, and the safety and security of our researchers undertaking their academic work.

In other words, the management, which does not mention Israel or Gaza in its statement, will disclose only what it deems appropriate given confidentiality and national security considerations.

It is an open secret that the University of Melbourne, like Australias other universities, has lucrative partnerships with leading arms manufacturers and defence contractors, such as its publicly-announced Lockheed Martin research laboratory. These links have deepened over the past decade as successive Australian governments have increasingly integrated the country into US-led war preparations against China.

Even if the University of Melbourne management does disclose some further ties, it will do nothing to prevent the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has been given full-throated support by all the US and allied imperialist governments, including the Labor government in Australia. There is no commitment to divest itself of these ties, so the status quo remains.

That such developments could be called a victory is itself an expression of the bankruptcy of the politics presented by the political leaderships of the encampments, above all the pseudo-left organisations such as Socialist Alternative, Socialist Alliance and Solidarity in Australia.

These organisations are directing students to inert appeals to the university administrations at the particular campus where the encampments are taking place. This is a further watering down of even the impotent protest politics presented at weekly protests in Australia, which seek to channel opposition to the genocide behind appeals to the Labor government and the trade unions that have suppressed working-class opposition since the genocide began.

The concern in ruling circles is that if the encampments are not shut down quickly, broader layers will begin to take actionoutside the control of the pro-capitalist fake left and trade unionsagainst the genocide and war.

Encampments remain in other major Australian citiesSydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and the national capital Canberraas well as the regional industrial city of Newcastle. However, the political establishment and university administrations are intensifying their pressure on these protests to shut down.

The universities management, the media and the Albanese government echo the lie that opposition to the Gaza genocide is antisemitic, claiming that the encampments make Jewish students feel unsafe. This is based on fraudulently equating the Israeli Zionist state and its war crimes with all Jewish people. There have been no instances where Jewish students have indicated their lack of safety on these campuses.

Under the guise of combating violence and ensuring safety on campuses, the administrations and the Labor governments are stripping away the most basic democratic rights to free speech and freedom to protest on the campuses.

Two students at the University of Sydney were suspended for one month, after the university administration claimed that classes were significantly disrupted by protests last week.

At the start of classes, the students had made announcements about the universitys ties with Israel. Management emailed all staff and students, claiming protesters had intimidated lecturers and committed other violations. Media reports, however, had to concede that many of the students in the classes supported the speakers.

Students have also reportedly been threatened with disciplinary action at Canberras Australian National University and the University of Adelaide.

While the scale of the encampments and the violence of the attacks against them in Australia are not the same as internationally, the threats and attempts to suppress the democratic rights of students are part of a broader offensive around the world. Police have violently suppressed student protests against the genocide in the US, Canada and Germany.

The World Socialist Web Site has insisted since the attacks on the student encampments began that the defence of democratic rights and the fight against them requires the mobilisation of the working class.

On May 1, the WSWS posted a statement by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) calling for workers to come to the defence of the students and for the students to turn to the working class for support. It said the issues raised by the students cannot be resolved on the campuses, but rather in the factories, warehouses, railroads and docks. The working class, the most powerful social force on earth, which creates all wealth through its labour, must leverage that power to force an end to genocide and war.

In a significant step, graduate student members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 4811 at the University of California voted overwhelmingly this month in favour of a political strike in defence of student protesters and against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

They have come under attack from the university management, which speaks for the administration of Genocide Joe Biden. The UAW bureaucracy has sought to stifle and isolate the action to only one of the universitys 10 campuses, but massive rank-and-file anger has forced it to expand the strike to two other campuses next week.

As the WSWS explained, the strike is a major step forward because it poses the entry of the working class into the struggle as the basic political force against war.

The genocide in Gaza is not an isolated development. It is part of an emerging World War III, with the US and its imperialist allies trying to offset their economic decline through military violence. This includes the proxy war in Ukraine and the escalating US economic and military confrontation with China, both of which raise the danger of a nuclear conflict.

That is why the hostility to the genocide and war must be connected to a deeper revolutionary movement against the system which causes imperialist violence: capitalism. The genocide cannot be ended through appeals to the same capitalist governments that are backing the slaughter, nor the university administrations.

Around the world, governments are turning to authoritarian forms of rule in order to impose the agenda of war and the accompanying assault on democratic rights and social conditions.

Workers must defend student protests, and students must turn to the working class, the sole revolutionary force in capitalist society, and fight for a socialist program aimed at ending the entire system that leads to war and dictatorship.
The Chinese military or Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has carried out two days of military exercises in the Taiwan Strait including near the Taiwanese-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin that lie just kilometres off the Chinese mainland.

Taiwan guided missile destroyer Ma Kong DDG1805 monitors distant Chinese destroyer Xi'an DDG15 near Taiwan on May 23, 2024. [AP Photo/Taiwan Ministry of National Defense]

The military drills come just days after Lai Ching-te from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was inaugurated as Taiwans new president. Lai is known for his stance in favour of Taiwanese independence. China has repeatedly warned that it would respond to any formal declaration of independence with force to reintegrate the island with China.

Chinas Xinhua news agency reported that the exercises were the largest for over 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.

PLA spokesman Li Xi told the news agency that the Joint Sword-2024A exercises were focused on sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control and joint precision strikes on new targets.

The drills have been accompanied by nationalist rhetoric from Beijing, amplified further in the Western press, but the exercises have been on a smaller scale than those held in 2022 and 2023. According to the Taiwanese military, Beijing did not declare any no-fly zones and no live fire took place, other than in military areas on the Chinese mainland.

US and international media reports featured maps showing the Chinese military encircling Taiwan and comments from the Chinese defence ministry declaring the PLA was testing its ability to seize power. In reality, the exercises were largely limited to the Taiwan Strait between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, with some Chinese coast guard vessels staging mock inspections of civilian vessels to the east of Taiwan.

On Thursday, the Taiwanese military detected 35 PLA navy and coastguard ships and 49 aircraft, and on Friday, 27 PLA naval ships and 62 PLA aircraft. Some aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Straitregarded by the US as international waters and airspacebut none entered what Taiwan treats as its immediate territorial waters and airspace.

Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said Taiwans new president had seriously challenged the one-China principle pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger. He warned of countermeasures in response to further provocations by Taipei.

During his inauguration on Monday, Lai, who represents the DPPs more hardline, separatist wing, stopped short of hinting at any formal declaration of independence. During the election campaign, well aware of widespread popular fears of war with China, Lai toed the more moderate line of his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, that Taiwan is already a sovereign country and has no need to declare independence.

Nevertheless, Lais speech, replete with peans to peace and democracy was highly provocative. After declaring that Taiwan and China were not subordinate to each other, he stated: All of the people of Taiwan must come together to safeguard our nation; all our political parties ought to oppose annexation and protect sovereignty; and no one should entertain the idea of giving up our national sovereignty in exchange for political power.

The statement is not only a complete repudiation of the One China policy that underpins international relations with China. It is also a threat directed against the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and any other party seeking to improve relations with Beijing or willing to enter negotiations for its peaceful reunification with China.

Following the 1949 Chinese Revolution, the hated KMT regime retreated to Taiwan under the protection of the US Navy and established a brutal military dictatorship. Both Taipei and Beijing claimed to be the legitimate government of One China, while a layer of indigenous Taiwanese elites now represented by the DPP pushed for independence for the island.

While formally the junta has been disbanded and the facade of democracy erected, much of the old anti-democratic state apparatus remains intact, with power heavily concentrated in the hands of the president. Far from Lai receiving overwhelming popular support, he won the January election with just 40 percent of the vote, ahead of candidates for the KMT on 33.5 percent and the Taiwan Peoples Party (TPP) on 26.5 percent. Under the Taiwanese electoral system, there was no run-off second round, which Lai would likely have lost.

The DPP also lost control of Taiwans Legislative Yuan or parliament. This is plunging the island into political crisis as the KMT, with the backing of the TPP, enacts legislation to put the president and his administration under closer parliamentary scrutiny. KMT/TPP legislators pushed through laws on Friday to ensure cooperation from administration officials and to expand parliamentary investigative powers, including access to classified military information, while tens of thousands of DPP supporters protested in the streets.

Justifying the new legislation, Wu Tsung-hsien, the KMTs convener of the judiciary committee, asked rhetorically: In what country in the world is the executive not supervised by anyone? Of course, he did not point out that the KMT had established the current presidential system after disbanding its dictatorship, confident that the presidency would always be in its hands.

Echoing Lais comment that all Taiwanese must come together to protect the nation, DPP lawmaker Kuo Po-wen challenged any disclosure of military documents and effectively branded the KMT as traitors. Do you want to get hold of intelligence that you can then bring as gifts the next time you visit China?

The rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait, which are precipitating the political turmoil in Taipei, are being deliberately stoked by US imperialism. Washington embraced the One China policy in the 1970s and effectively acknowledged Beijing as the legitimate government of all China, including Taiwan, when it established diplomatic relations with Beijing and cut all formal relations with Taipei.

Now Biden, following Trump, had virtually abandoned the One China policytearing up longstanding diplomatic protocols, boosting arms sales to Taiwan, sending military advisers to the island and carrying out naval provocations through the Taiwan Straitas his administration prepares for war with China.

The Biden administration condemns Chinese aggression and expansionism toward Taiwan and in the East China and South China Seasthat is, military drills in waters and airspace close to the Chinese mainland that it regards as its own. Yet, the US military routinely engages in naval operations thousands of kilometres from its nearest territory.

As the Chinese military drills were taking place on Thursday and Friday, the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its associated battlegroup were conducting routine operations in the vicinity of Taiwan in the Philippine Sea. On Wednesday, the US Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy conducted joint operations in the South China Seajust the latest in escalating joint military drills in the western Pacific involving European NATO allies.

Even as it wages war against Russia in Ukraine as part of the NATO alliance and backs the Israeli genocide in Gaza as part of a wider conflict against Iran in the Middle East, US imperialism regards China as the chief threat to its global dominance. Already engaged in an economic war against Beijing, Washington will use all means, including military, to undermine and subordinate China, despite the dangers of nuclear war.
CAPE TOWN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The South African parliament on Saturday marked Africa Day by calling for a commitment to a conflict-free continent and universal education for African children.

Africa Day is observed annually on May 25 to celebrate the achievements of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor of the African Union (AU), from its creation on May 25, 1963.

This year, the AU's theme for Africa Day is "Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century," which encourages member states to build resilient education systems to increase access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, the South African parliament called on "all Africans, governments of the world, and multilateral institutions to use this day to reflect on and pledge their commitment to achieving the goal of a conflict-free continent."

"We must all strive to make education accessible to all children in Africa and not to bequeath the burden of illiteracy and conflicts to future generations," said the statement.

The South African legislature noted that it remains deeply concerned about the scourge of conflicts in the continent, including the ongoing unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the impediments to education and socio-economic development.

"African governments must reaffirm their commitment to realizing AU objectives, including silencing the guns by 2030," it said.

The parliament further said it views Africa Day as a "rallying point" for every African country and their governments to reflect and act to improve the lives of African people.

"The day creates a strategic opportunity in the journey of political freedom for reflection and commemoration and to deepen our efforts to turn the tide against the legacy of colonialism and to focus on development," it added. 
On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an emergency order against Israel under the 1948 Genocide Convention. Citing reports that 800,000 people have been displaced from Rafah as of May 18, the ICJ ruled by 13 votes to 2 that Israel must immediately halt its military offensive and cease actions that inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Ramez Habboub]

Political leaders in the United States and Israel immediately responded to the ruling with arrogant ferocity, insisting that Israels offensive in Rafah must continue.

Israels far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the ruling by comparing the ICJ, in the same breath, to Nazis, Hamas and ISIS. US Senator Lindsey Graham, who earlier this month called for Gaza to be bombed like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, responded to the ruling by declaring that the ICJ can go to hell.

It is long past time to stand up to these so-called international justice organizations associated with the UN, Graham declared. This will and should be ignored by Israel.

The responses of US and Israeli officials to the ICJ ruling once again recall the words of US Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson in his opening statement at the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals in 1945. Jackson said:

[T]hese men are surprised that this is the law; they really are surprised that there is any such thing as law . any law at all was to these men simply a propaganda device to be invoked when it helped and to be ignored when it would condemn what they wanted to do.

The ICJ ruling massively discredits and exposes US-NATO imperialism, which has backed the Gaza genocide to the hilt while at the same time draping its war plans against Russia, China and Iran in the guise of preserving a rules-based international order.

The defiant responses to the ICJ ruling by US and Israeli political leaders have far-reaching historical implications, both as a milestone in the collapse of the postwar international order, which has accelerated following the dissolution of the USSR, and in the inevitable impact on global popular consciousness.

The ICJ ruling vindicates the participation of millions of people around the world in demonstrations against the Gaza genocide in the face of dishonest attempts to label them as antisemitic.

The ruling will be celebrated by students and academic workers, like those who voted to strike at the University of California, who have braved a bipartisan campaign of police beatings, rubber bullets, pepper spray, expulsion, slander, and mass arrests for attempting to say out loud, in peaceful demonstrations, what the chief justice of the ICJ said Friday in The Hague.

The ICJ, the highest court of the United Nations, issued its ruling Friday in response to the latest request by South Africa for preliminary measures, or emergency interim orders, as part of proceedings against Israel under the Genocide Convention that have been under way since December. In hearings last week, South Africas representatives accused Israel of pursuing a coordinated plan aimed at the destruction of the essential foundations of Palestinian life.

The ICJs ruling Friday places particular emphasis on the Israeli military assault on Rafah, the last refuge of hundreds of thousands of people who have been displaced from other areas of Gaza, often multiple times. Under these conditions, Israels mass evacuation orders amount to orders for the affected people to cease to exist, because there is nowhere else in Gaza left for them to go.

After previously calling an Israeli military offensive in Rafah a red line, the Biden administration allowed the operation to go forward this month. To date, this operationa murder spree targeting starving refugees, not a military offensive in any conventional sensehas in fact displaced nearly a million people in total.

In addition to demanding an immediate halt to the assault on Rafah, the ICJs ruling insists that Israel allow access to Gaza by UN war crimes investigators. It also accuses Israel of violating its January order requiring the preservation of evidence related to allegations of acts within the scope of the Genocide Convention.

While the ICJs ruling is written in a formal, mechanical style, these details send an unmistakable signal that prosecutions for the crime of genocide are not foreclosed. The ICJ also accused Israel of ignoring its March 28 order requiring the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance.

The ICJs ruling comes days after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced that he would seek arrest warrants against Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and minister of defense Yoav Gallant, accusing them of murder and extermination of civilians.

The Biden administration responded to the requests for arrest warrants by calling them outrageous, despite having celebrated the ICC arrest warrant against Russian president Vladimir Putin last year. But while the ICC was created by a treaty that neither Israel nor the US has signed, the ICJ derives its authority from the UN charter, which the US ratified in 1945. The US formally ratified the Genocide Convention in 1948.

The ICJs ruling is significant. At the same time it is long overdue and lacking any means of enforcement within the existing imperialist framework. The Israeli government, as South Africas representatives have effectively demonstrated throughout the ongoing ICJ proceedings, disregards international law, the binding decisions of the UN Security Council, and the rulings of the ICJ with impunity.

Barrister Vaughan Lowe, arguing the case on behalf of South Africa last week, directly told the assembled judges that the Palestinian people are facing genocide in Gaza, and your previous orders have not succeeded in protecting them against that.

In response to ICJ proceedings in January, Netanyahu openly boasted that he would ignore any rulings the court handed down. No one will stop usnot The Hague, not the axis of evil, and not anyone else, he declared.

With the support of the Biden administration in the US, Israel is expected to continue its military operation in Rafah without regard for the ICJ ruling. We are strengthening our effort in Rafah, Gallant said Thursday. This operation will grow, with more forces on the ground and more forces from the air.

The global protest movement against the Gaza genocide will justifiably be encouraged by the ICJ ruling. Lately, these protests have seen the working class begin flexing its muscle on a political issue, to use a phrase employed by the Los Angeles Times in connection with the powerful strike movement among academic workers in the University of California system.

The power of the international working class is, in fact, a thousand times stronger than the forces behind genocide and repression. But bringing that power fully to bear requires a struggle for its political independence, freeing it from the crippling influence of bourgeois political institutions and ideas in each country, and orienting it towards socialism.
The Federal Press Conference (Bundespressekonferenz, BPK), held Tuesday in Berlin, focussed on the protests at universities against the war in Gaza. Professor Clemens Arzt, who teaches constitutional and administrative law at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR), painted a devastating picture of how governments and authorities are disregarding basic democratic rights:

Freedom of assembly is the right to dissent, to differing opinions. Limits are set by criminal law and not by the raison detat of the Federal Republic of Germany or any restrictions due to Germanys foreign policy interests.

Federal Press Conference (from left): Professors Clemens Arzt, Michael Wildt, Miriam Rurup and Michael Barenboim [Photo by Jung & Naiv / youtube / screenshot]

Alongside Arzt, Professor Michael Wildt, emeritus historian specialising in National Socialism at the Humboldt University (HU) Berlin; Miriam Rurup, director of the Moses Mendelssohn Centre and Professor of European-Jewish Studies at the University of Potsdam; and Michael Barenboim, Professor of Ensemble Playing and Violin at the Said-Barenboim Academy, answered journalists questions.

Theyalong with more than a thousand other lecturers from Germany and abroadsigned an open letter defending students protesting the genocide in Gaza against the repressive measures taken by university administrations and police violence. As the WSWS has reported, the media and government representatives have reacted to the open letter with hysterical attacks.

At the press conference, these attacks were categorically rejected. Wildt and Rurup argued in favour of a culture of controversy and debate at universities and for a strengthening of their self-regulatory powers.

Students have a right to demonstrate against the terror of Hamas as well as against the war in Gaza, against the Israeli occupation and in favour of the Palestinian populations right to equal rights and political self-determination, said Wildt. Where, if not at universities, where criticism, controversial debates and a culture of controversy belong, should this debate be conducted?

In an atmosphere characterised by polarisation, high emotions and generalisation, many lecturers were concerned about preserving an open climate of debate at their universities, Wildt continued. This concern was my motivation for signing the statement. Antisemitism and racism had no place at universities. Anyone, however, who believes that the police will get rid of antisemitism is mistaken. The fight against antisemitism and racism is above all a social task. We need places at universities where people can discuss these issues openly.

Rurup described the protest camps as a sign of a lively culture of debate. She pleaded in favour of seeking dialogue. Enlightenment, debate, productive debate are also a form of intervention, she said.

Arzt picked apart the justifications used to break up protest camps and prohibit protests, proving that these actions blatantly violate current laws and case law.

He quoted from a press release by the Berlin police justifying the brutal action taken against a protest camp at the Free University (FU) on May 7. The participants of an unreported rally on the grounds of the FU wore Palestine scarves, held up banners and chanted pro-Palestinian chants, among other things, the press release says. At the same time, they set up tents and pavilions in the courtyard. When the person in charge of the FU submitted a request for eviction and a criminal complaint, the police broke up the assembly.

Arzt demonstrated that the police action was illegal in every respect. So chants were chanted, Palestinian scarves were worn and banners were held up, he said. That is the nature of an assembly within the scope of protection of Article 8 of the Basic Law on freedom of assembly. There is no mention of criminal offences at this time, at least in the press release. Neither the failure to report the assembly nor the fact that it took place on university grounds could justify its dissolution under the current legislation.

Arzt was particularly critical of the FU President Gunter Ziegler, who in an interview with the Suddeutsche Zeitung on May 17 had justified the dissolution of the protest camp with the protesters unwillingness to engage in dialogue and discussion, among other things.

Peacefulness in the sense of Article 8 of the Basic Law cannot be jeopardised by aggressive slogans or the content of statements of opinion, as the courts, including the Federal Constitutional Court, have repeatedly emphasised, said Arzt. Even the vigorous shouting of slogans is not a breach of the peace in terms of assembly law or in terms of criminal law.  The ability and willingness to engage in dialogue are not required by Article 8.

He also sharply criticised the arbitrary ban on certain slogans by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (Social Democrats, SPD): This means that the executive decides, not the parliamentary legislature, as is the case with incitement to hatred, for example. When it comes to Holocaust denial, the interior minister now decides what can still be said in this country. And the police respond to this and initiate prosecutions. I find this absurd.

When asked by a journalist whether the right of assembly was being exploited, the lawyer replied: You cannot exploit freedom of assembly. Freedom of assembly is freedom of assembly. Freedom of assembly is the right to hold the most absurd opinions, regardless of whether the majority of society supports them or not. The limit is set by criminal law.

Arzt warned that he saw a tendency in Germany for the right of assembly and freedom of assembly to be increasingly restricted by the executive.

A few weeks ago, the Berlin police chief appeared before the press and said that she did not understand the discussion about restrictions on freedom of assembly. Only 17 out of 35 demonstrations had been banned. This statement shook me to the core, I have to admit as an expert in assembly law, said Arzt. By my reckoning, we have banned less than 17 assemblies in the previous five years. ... The trend is increasingly moving towards a restrictive interpretation of freedom of assembly, which completely contradicts the freedoms we developed since the Brokdorf judgement by the Federal Constitutional Court in the mid-1980s up until recently.

Michael Barenboim was the only person on the podium who openly supported the protesters concerns. His introductory speech culminated in the sentence: For me, one thing is certain: the students not only have the right to protest, they are right to protest.

The musician has long campaigned for the rights of Palestinians. He has been a member for 24 years of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, founded by his father, the conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim, in which Jewish, Palestinian and musicians from all over the Middle East play.

Barenboim directly addressed the reason for the student protestsnamely the devastating violence in Gaza. Over 35,000 dead, almost 80,000 injured and over 10,000 more are presumed missing under the rubble. Destroyed hospitals, schools, universities, mosques and churches. A starving population, many of whom have been displaced several times, is trying to survive somehow in inhumane conditions. More children have been killed in Gaza in the first four months of this year than in conflicts worldwide in the last four years.

Barenboim pointed out that Israel had been charged with genocide before the International Court of Justice and that this charge had been considered to be plausible. The judges had voted by an overwhelming majority of 15 to 2 in favour of taking up the case. He mentioned the denunciation of the Palestinians as human animals by Defence Minister Galant and the invocation of Amalek by Prime Minister Netanyahu and quoted the relevant biblical passage: Do not spare them, but kill men, women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.

At the end of the press conference, Barenboim emphasised once again that the oppression of the Palestinians was the cause of the conflict. There were three categories of Palestinians: In Gaza, they have been living in an open-air prison for many years, in the West Bank under a violent, illegal occupation, and in Israel, where they make up 20 percent of the population, officially as second-class citizenssince the passing of the infamous Nation State Law of 2018.

It was not possible to stand by Israel as an idea and support the occupation at the same time, he stressed. This also contradicts the German Basic Law, which states: Human dignity shall be inviolable. This also applies to the Palestinians. The Holocaust is probably the worst crime in human history. But it was committed by the Germans. The Palestinians had nothing to do with it. The Palestinians were not part of it.

A stream of the remarkable federal press conference, made available by the media platform Jung & Naiv on YouTube, triggered a storm of enthusiasm in the chatroom. Within a day, there were around 600 comments, all of which expressed their approval and thanked the professors taking part.

This HOUR is a beacon of democracy in times of diminishing light, said one user, referring to the title of Eugen Ruges bestselling novel from 2011. An astounding discussion! Actually, many things would have been taken for granted 5-10 years ago. But the fact that something like this is possible TODAY, I had tears in my eyes for an hour, states another. Im sitting here with my mouth open and cant believe how brave Prof Barenboim isand hes only presenting facts. But these are hushed up in Germany.

The discussion continues in the same vein: Finally some normal peopleWe need more voices of such great personalities in the country Cant they just govern Germany?Wow, very good points of view. Why dont these people have advisory positions in the government?Balm for the soulI havent heard so much common sense from Germany for a long time, etc.

There is considerable public concern about the current war propaganda and antisemitism agitation used to justify arms supplies and financial support for the far-right Israeli regime. I am very critical of the Israeli government and also of Germanys arms deliveries to Israel. But I am anything but an antisemite. It was so hurtful to have to hear this all the time, wrote one participant. Politicians are failing across the board when it comes to this issue and foreign policy! It is precisely the one-sidedness of politics that fuels antisemitism, noted another.

Many complained about the disinformation campaign by the public media, major newspapers and politicians. This press conference should be on German television all day long, says one comment. Others also criticised the fact that the stream of the press conference was not being shown on public broadcasters.

One chat participant commented, That was by far the best press conference Ive ever heard in Germany. With all the other rubbish that is handed out at press conferences, I increasingly got the impression that Germany cant possibly be the nation of poets and thinkers.

Memories of Germanys dark history also came to mind. One participant expressed this, writing, Such a dialogue and such voices are what can redeem Germany from its dark past (and currently, a dark future too).

The discussion reveals the growing public revulsion with the prevailing policy of war and repression. The more violently the state and police take action against young protesters exercising their democratic rights and demonstrating against a genocidal war, the broader are the lies and distortions in the media, leading to a growing realisation on the part of many workers and young people that the time for resistance is approaching.

We not only have the right to protest, we have the duty as humans to protest!!! wrote one commentator.
Yesterday, as the Ukrainian regime fired a wave of US-supplied, long-range ATACMS missiles at Russian forces in Crimea, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for a vast escalation of the war, in which Ukraine would use NATO missiles to bomb Russia.

NATOs escalation, in response to the accelerating collapse of the Ukrainian armed forces, is rapidly exposing its own lies about the war. As Stoltenberg made his remarks to The Economist, Reuters was publishing a collection of interviews with top associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin, appealing to the NATO powers for a cease-fire and warning of the danger of nuclear war. It is not Moscow, but the NATO powers led by Washington that are driving the war, threatening the rapid outbreak of total war in Europe and worldwide.

Smoke rises after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. [AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka]

Echoing remarks by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Stoltenberg called for Ukraine to use long-range NATO missiles to bomb Russia. The time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine, he said. He added, to deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves.

We will not be party to the conflict, Stoltenberg promised. However, he promptly argued that NATO should give Ukraine a blank check to use its weapons for whatever strikes it pleases against targets in Russia, stating: Ukraine has the right to defend themselves. And that includes striking targets on Russian territory.

Stoltenberg hides his reckless proposal for escalation behind the lie that this will not involve NATO in a shooting war with Russia. But in ruling circles, this is well known to be false. The leak of a call between German military officers revealed that US and British troops are already in Ukraine to help Ukrainian troops target missiles launched against Russia. On this basis, Russian officials have threatened to attack NATO countries giving Ukraine weapons to bomb Russia.

Stoltenberg argued that improving NATOs strategy meant taking all necessary measures to inflict a humiliating and devastating defeat upon Russia. The problem with current strategy, he claimed, is that NATO governments want Ukraine to win in a way that Russia does not lose.

A central difficulty the ruling elites face is deep popular opposition to direct NATO involvement in the war. Polls show 68 percent of Frenchmen, 80 percent of Germans and 90 percent of Poles oppose moves like sending troops to Ukraine that could lead to total war. However, there remains a substantial underestimation in the population of the danger that the NATO imperialist powers will succeed in triggering such a war in the near future.

Stoltenberg advanced a justification for attacking Russia, even if Russia had not physically attacked NATO. Claiming that NATO allegations of Russian cyber attacks could trigger an invocation of Article 5 of the NATO treaty to justify war, he said: If theres a magnitude [reached in Russian cyber attacks]  then we can trigger Article 5 and respond in cyber, but also in other domains to protect the NATO allies.

This statement is staggering. Cyber attacks are extremely difficult to trace, and a cyber attack could easily be launched from computers based in Russia by someone outside Russia; however, this would nonetheless still serve, by Stoltenbergs reasoning, as a justification for NATO military action against Russia. In an act of utter and monumental recklessness, he is providing a rationale for military aggression against a major nuclear-armed power.

NATO officials calls for military action that Moscow has said will lead to total war shows that, in the ruling classes of key NATO countries, the decision for war with Russia has already been taken. Leading politicians in NATO member states are admitting that such a war is being actively planned.

Yesterday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told Russian state media outlet RT: What is happening today in Brussels and Washington looks like warming up for a possible direct military conflict. We can safely call it the preparation of Europes entry into the war. He added, according to RT, that there are working groups within NATO that are assessing the best ways for the bloc to further boost its participation in the conflict.

Orban claimed his government was wants to find ways to avoid becoming involved in the war that NATO is feverishly planning against Russia: Hungarys position must be redefined, our lawyers and officials are working on ways to allow Hungary to continue to exist as a NATO member without participating in NATO activities outside the blocs territory. We need to create a new approach, a new definition for our position as a pro-peace force within NATO.

These promises are worthless. If NATO attacks Russia, Hungarylike other Eastern European states whose leaders express concerns over the war, such as Slovakia and Bulgariawill be swept up in a continent-wide and global war and devastated, whatever their governments legal position. Unless the war is rapidly stopped, moreover, they and most of the world will be incinerated by nuclear weapons.

There is no national path to averting the catastrophe NATO is setting into motion. The disastrous implications of the Stalinist regimes dissolution of the Soviet Union and their restoration of capitalism across Eastern Europe in 1989-1991 are ever more apparent. The imperialist powers were allowed to play the ex-Soviet republics off against each other, using Ukraine as a base for war with Russia, and Eastern Europe joined a NATO alliance that, under rhetoric about human rights and democracy, ruthlessly wages imperialist wars.

The bankruptcy of any nationally-based opposition to imperialism emerges clearly in the policy of Putin. He launched his reactionary invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to try to compel the NATO powers to negotiate a deal with him to stop arming Ukraine against Russia, hoping that Russias vast military power would bring the NATO powers to the negotiating table. But this proved to be an illusion. Even as Russias military crushes NATO-armed Ukrainian units on the battlefield, the NATO powers are doubling down on plans for regime change or war against Russia.

Yesterday, Reuters carried a report titled Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current front lines, based on interviews with five top Russian officials it described as familiar with discussions in Putins entourage or as having worked with Putin. These individuals all stressed that the Kremlin does not plan to press its military advantage to seize large amounts of Ukrainian territory and is desperate for a ceasefire with NATO.

Putin can fight for as long as it takes, but Putin is also ready for a ceasefireto freeze the war, one source told Reuters. This person, Reuters added, said Putin had expressed frustration to a small group of advisers about what he views as Western-backed attempts to stymie negotiations and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys decision to rule out talks.

Another source, stressing that Russias current offensive does not aim to crush the Ukrainian army and regime, promised: Putin will slowly conquer territories until [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskiy comes up with an offer to stop the war.

These sources stressed that Putin is concerned about popular opposition inside Russia to being drafted for the war, and also about nuclear war. Two of the sources cited Russian concerns about the growing danger of escalation with the West, including nuclear escalation, over the Ukraine standoff, Reuters reported, adding: Three sources said Putin understood any dramatic new advances would require another nationwide mobilisation, which he didnt want.

The comments of Stoltenberg, Blinken and Cameron show, however, that the NATO powers have no interest in reaching a deal with Putin. They are targeting Russia and Putin in a war for regime change. A catastrophic escalation of what has in effect already emerged as a Third World War in Europe can only be averted by the building of a mass, socialist movement against imperialist war in the working class, unifying workers in struggle against both the NATO governments and their allies, and Putins post-Soviet Russian capitalist regime.
At the May Day demonstration in Marseille, WSWS reporters met Samuel Johsua. A long-time member of the Pabloite movement, Johsua left the New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA) to join the Left Front. Elected in 2014 in the 13th and 14th arrondissements of Marseille, he is now a member of Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed (LFI) party.

Samuel Johsua

Johsua joined the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF) at the age of 13, after the 1961 coup detat during Algerias war of independence from France. He was active in the Union of Communist Students (UEC), where he knew the Pabloite leader Alain Krivine, later joining the Pabloite Revolutionary Communist Youth, which became the Revolutionary Communist League (LCR). An emeritus professor of education, he is the author of Schools between crisis and refoundation (1999) and Another School is Possible (2003).

One cannot understand the interview with Johsua without recalling the fundamental split between the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the Pabloite movement in 1953. The ICFI rallied those who still defended Trotskys Marxist struggle against Stalinism and capitalism, and the perspective of a struggle of the international working class for power and socialism. The forces led by Michel Pablo and Ernest Mandel argued that the working class could no longer play a revolutionary role, a role that fell to Stalinist and bourgeois nationalist bureaucracies.

The interview with Johsua reveals the chasm separating LFI from Marxism, and the obstacle Pabloism poses to a revolutionary struggle of the working class for socialism. The problem is not, as Johsua claims, that workers are not ready to fight. The parties that the capitalist media promote as the far left are petty-bourgeois parties linked to the union bureaucracies, and which support NATO and imperialism, even in the face of the genocide in Gaza and Macrons calls to send troops to Ukraine to fight a war with Russia.

Shrugging off the union bureaucracies betrayals of class struggles, and in particular last years struggle against Macrons pension cuts in France, Johsua advances an utterly demoralized perspective. Ignoring the role of bureaucracies and parties that strangle the workers, it blames the working class for the absence of revolutionary struggle. While Melenchon received 8 million votes in the 2022 presidential elections, Johsua claims that Melenchon could do nothing to mobilize his voters, either. In short, nothing whatsoever can be done.

The question of the international unification of the working class is, according to Johsua, a question to be raised ritually, once a year, on May Day. This anti-Marxist, nationalist perspective is extremely dangerous: the international unification of the working class in struggle is the only way to stop imperialist war, genocide, police-state rule and social austerity.

The demonstration in Marseille on May 1, 2024.

As a new generation of youth mobilizes internationally against the Gaza genocide, it is essential to build an international revolutionary and socialist movement, based on the lessons of the great struggles of the 20th and 21st centuries. The political and historical foundation of such a movement is the ICFIs defense of Trotskyism against its falsification by Pabloism and other petty-bourgeois tendencies linked to Stalinism.

*** ***

WSWS: Why are you demonstrating on May Day?

Johsua: May 1st is a tradition that has been paid for dearly. It took a few riots to get the right to march on May Day, and so once a year it is explained that there is an international unity of workers that must be shown.

It is also an opportunity to highlight the problems of the moment: the rise of the far right all over the world and also, unfortunately, in our country. This rise, if we think about it a little, is linked to offensives against the destruction of workers gains. Many people voted for Macron to block Le Pen in the last presidential elections. Instead of being a wall against fascism, he proved to be a causeway towards it.

There is the return of war in Europe with Russia and then what is happening in Gaza with this permanent massacre carried out by Israel, despite criticisms by other governments. The term genocide is discussed, the UN tribunal says that there is a risk, this risk should not be taken. Just yesterday Netanyahu said he was going to invade Rafah so everyone knows that means a humanitarian disaster. We must obtain a ceasefire and a lasting political solution and even the release of the hostages.

WSWS: Why is there not a call from Melenchon to mobilize the workers, and the 8 million voters who voted for him in the 2022 presidential elections, against the war and genocide in Gaza? LFI is also targeted with threats of prosecution over its statements on Gaza.

Johsua: I dont think the problem is a call for mobilization. Many sectors have been called upon to be mobilized by Melenchon, but we can see that internationalism in general has a lot of difficulty expressing itself in France, especially the demonstrations for Gaza, which are less important in France than abroad. There must be much more fundamental reasons, the general balance of power between the left and the right has deteriorated considerably. In the polls, the left is 50 percent, but the left is not pro-Palestinian.

I am disappointed at the beginning given the power of the media, after a month, we saw the massacres, I told myself that opinion would change. It has indeed shifted, the people who support Israel are a minority, and so are the Palestinians. They have switched to we dont say anymore, we put ourselves aside.

At France Unbowed, we have not abandoned this, we have this in mind. We have seen inconceivable things. [LFI official] Rima [Hassan] and the president of the parliamentary group are summoned by the police for glorifying terrorism. That should scandalize everyone. I think that there is rather a lack of self-confidence on the part of people to change things. That an extraordinary movement put millions of people in the streets against pensions, but we lost. The idea that you can influence something is problematic.

WSWS: During the pension reform against Macron, two out of three French people were in favour of a general strike, and people demonstrated en masse. Why do you think the fight was lost?

Johsua: Did those who had control of the movement do the right thing? Thats debatable. I think we had the polls with us, people were convinced, but we didnt succeed because this government is sitting on institutions and the forces of repression. A general strike should have been called, but the call is not enough. It has to be triggered.

In 1968, there was no general strike at the beginning. People told themselves, lets go. When you see what has worked in Europe, it is the movements that occupy the squares, in Spain, in Athens, there were the indignados. I told myself that this is what we should do, but as my friend Olivier Besancenot told me: We cant, because we would never have been allowed to occupy a place. The level of repression by the French government would be significant, and anything that goes beyond the unions has not been seen in France for a very long time.

WSWS: At the height of the protests, the unions decided to negotiate with [Prime Minister Elisabeth] Borne.

Joshua: Thats debatable ... There was a call to block the country, but we didnt succeed. On the unions negotiations with Borne, they said yes, but they didnt go. The workers didnt push hard enough. There is a crisis of militant commitment, except among youth. When the intellectual elites, as in the United States or at Science Po Paris, support Gaza, it indicates how youth orient themselves, as they do on the ecological question.

WSWS: What is LFIs position on the war in Ukraine?

Johsua: We condemn Russian aggression, and we are in favor of giving Ukrainians the means to defend themselves. At the European level, LFI voted to arm Ukraine. Then there is the question of NATO, we can see that all this strengthens NATO with the entry of Sweden in particular. At LFI we are for the dissolution of NATO.

Where it gets tricky is: what should we do now? The idea put forward is to find a way out of negotiations, so the populations can achieve self-determination and that this can be done within the framework of the OSCE, which has the advantage of not being NATO. We have to find solutions like the Minsk agreement, which was not respected. We are against Ukraines accession to the EU under these conditions.

WSWS: What is your position on the role of NATO and fascistic forces in Ukraine, about the opposition of the Ukrainian population to the Ukrainian regime?

Johsua: We had the same question when Mussolini invaded Abyssinia, there was a fascist regime and a hyper-reactionary regimewhat should we do? Trotsky said that we must defend the right of peoples to self-determination, and therefore to defend Abyssinia. When the question arose again in 1940 during World War II, Trotsky fought for the United States, the leading military power of the time, to enter the war, in opposition to the majority of Trotskyists in the American section who did not want integration into an inter-imperialist war. We are not fighting for Zelensky, we are defending a country under attack.

*** ***

WSWS reporters disputed this false identification of the Russian regimes war in Ukraine with the Italian fascist regimes invasion of Abyssinia (the Ethiopian monarchy) in 1935. One cannot determine a Marxist attitude toward a war by simply asking who fired the first shot. The situation of Ukraine allied to NATO and invaded by Russian troops is not similar to that of a colonial country invaded by an imperialist power.

This false equation leaves out the decisive role of the NATO imperialist powers, which dominate international finance and economy. Workers must oppose Russias reactionary capitalist regime and its war, but they must above all oppose the plans of Macron and other NATO leaders to control and plunder both Russia and Ukraine.

They also rejected the falsification of the history of Trotskyism involved in the lying claim that Trotsky supposedly approved of US imperialisms role in World War II. Trotsky fought for the US and international working class to lead the struggle against Hitlerism while preserving its class independence. The Proletarian Military Policy proposed by Trotsky called for military training and military schools for workers and workers officers, led in the United States by workers organizations, the unions newly built in the great class struggles of the 1930s in the United States.

WSWS reporters pointed out that this separated Trotsky from the pacifism of petty-bourgeois renegades from Trotskyism like Max Shachtman, who, after the Nazi conquest of France proposed a pacifist position, and eventually rallied to the war effort of US imperialism. Shachtman denounced both Trotsky and the Soviet Union, which he called Russian imperialism. This same argument is now taken up, three-quarters of a century later, by the petty-bourgeois forces in Europe who back all-out war on Russia.

Johsua responded by supporting Shachtmanite attacks on Trotsky and the Trotskyist analysis of the Soviet Union, repeating his falsifications of the history of Trotskyism, and admitting that he had never been a Trotskyist.

He replied, We dont refer to the same traditions. There was a divergence, yes, on the question of the nature of the USSR. Trotsky was wrong, but thats not what I want to debate today. On this question, I was never a Trotskyist, the counterrevolution did not maintain the foundation of the revolution. Trotsky wanted the United States to enter the war to prevent Hitler from winning, not just the arming of the American proletariat.

This pro-imperialist falsification of the history of Trotskyism underlies the adaptation of affluent middle-class elements that lead LFI to support imperialist war. As Johsua admits, the rejection of Trotskys analysis of the Soviet Union and the false identification of the Soviet Union with the crimes of fascism, which dominated bourgeois and social-democratic Cold War propaganda, was highly influential in the post-1968 middle-class student movement. It was in this milieu that the Pabloite tendency developed a social base in France and across Europe.

Today, the historical prejudices of this well-to-do and complacent petty-bourgeois milieu prepare it to play a reactionary role. The main danger today, underscored by the genocide in Gaza as well as Macrons call to send troops to Ukraine, is that the US and its allies will massively escalate the war. This paves the way for the NATO-Russia military confrontation to escalate all the way to nuclear war.

LFI officials, establishing a simplistic amalgam between Putin and fascism in the 20th century, justify a capitulation to imperialism and war. Their indifference to the ties of imperialism to Ukrainian neo-fascism, and to the strangling of class struggles by the union bureaucracies, exposes the political chasm separating the academics and petty-bourgeois union bureaucrats at LFI from workers and youth.

The mobilization of workers and a new generation of youth radicalized by genocide, war and repression requires a political struggle against this corrupt milieu, based on the defense of the revolutionary traditions of Marxism and Trotskyism. This is the perspective advanced by the Parti de legalite socialiste, the French section of the ICFI.
Friday marked two years since the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers and left 17 others injured on May 24, 2022.

While representatives of the Democratic and Republican parties and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies continue to cover up the causes of the massacreboth its origins and the response to it in real timefamily members are still mourning the loss of their loved ones. They are angry and frustrated by the lack of accountability for the deadliest-ever school shooting in the state of Texas.

Abel Lopez, father of Xavier Lopez, who was killed in the shootings in Uvalde, Texas, holds a banner honoring the victims in Austin, Texas, on Monday, May 8, 2023. [AP Photo/Eric Gay]

Official investigations have been conducted by the city of Uvalde, the state of Texas and the US Justice Departmentincluding lengthy reports that concluded there were disastrous failures on the part of law enforcement officials during the shootings. But family members have been stonewalled, and no one has been held responsible for the shooting deaths.

On the day of the shootings, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, a former student at Robb Elementary, shot his grandmother before driving her truck into a ravine on the school property. He emerged from the vehicle wielding a Daniel Defense AR-15-style assault rifle, hopped a fence and entered the school through an unlocked door at 11:33 a.m.

After walking down a hallway, Ramos fired shots from outside two classrooms. He then entered and exited both classrooms, firing more than 100 rounds at students and teachers. For 77 minutes, law enforcement officials expended more resources attempting to contain angry parents seeking to save their children from mass murder than they did to stop the shooter.

On Friday, families of the victims filed lawsuits in California and Texas against the social media company Meta, parent of Facebook and Instagram; Activision, the maker of the video game Call of Duty; and Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the DDM4-V7 rifle used by Ramos in the shootings.

Two days prior to the lawsuit filings, a group of 19 families reached a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde, or approximately $100,000 per family, a completely inadequate amount of money for those who have suffered the loss of their nine- and 10-year-old children.

As Veronica Mata, mother of 10-year-old victim Tess Marie Mata, told ABC News, the death of her daughter feels even more real two years later. Ms. Mata continued, The reality is hitting that Tess is no longer here with us. Shes gone and is never coming back.

Expressing the demands of the parents, Veronica Mata also said:

How much more can we take? Our girl [was] taken in the most horrific way possible, and we just want people to understand that we are fighting for what is right. And we feel so defeated.

The local criminal investigation of police conduct during the massacre was begun by Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell in May 2023. She claimed the investigation would take one year, including the empaneling of a grand jury in January of this year, but the process is dragging on with no commitment as to when it will be completed.

The wrongful death lawsuit in California was filed against Meta and Activision on behalf of the 19 families by the same attorney who represented them in the settlement with the city. The lawsuit against Danial Defense was filed in Uvalde District Court.

The lawsuit against Meta and Activision alleges that the companies enabled and emboldened firearm manufacturers efforts to expand the market for their weapons by granting unprecedented, direct and 24/7 access to children.

The families lawyer, Josh Koskoff, stated that the gunman, Ramos, on his eighteenth birthday purchased the assault rifle he used in the mass shooting because he was targeted and cultivated online by Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense. Koskoff continued, This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems and trained him to use it.

The lawsuits also state that Ramos downloaded Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in November 2021 and had been playing previous versions of Call of Duty since he was 15 years old. The lawsuits note that the Call of Duty video game prominently features the Daniel Defense DDM4V7 that Ramos used in the shooting.

The lawyer argued that Simultaneously, on Instagram, the shooter was being courted through explicit, aggressive marketing. In addition to hundreds of images depicting and venerating the thrill of combat, Daniel Defense used Instagram to extol the illegal, murderous use of its weapons.

According to the lawsuit, on April 27, 2022, the gunman created an account with Daniel Defense and added a DDM4V7 to his online cart. Then, 23 minutes after midnight on his 18th birthday (May 16, 2022), he purchased the weapon. Eight days later, he carried out the Robb Elementary School shooting.

Speaking to CBS News on Friday, attorney Koskoff said that the two lawsuits are working in concert with each other. He continued:

Instagram creates a connection between  an adolescent  and the gun and a gun company. And nobody exploited Instagram for this purpose more than Daniel Defense. If Instagram can prevent people from posting pictures of their private parts, they can prevent people from posting pictures of an AR-15. And, of course, Instagram doesnt care. They dont care. All they care about is driving traffic and generating attention, drawing attention and getting their ad revenue.

Responding to the lawsuits and statements by Koskoff, Activision told CBS News that the Uvalde shooting was horrendous and heartbreaking in every way, and we express our deepest sympathies to the families and communities who remain impacted by this senseless act of violence. The statement continued: Millions of people around the world enjoy video games without turning to horrific acts.

Meta and Daniel Defense did not respond to questions about the lawsuit.

In 2022, attorney Koskoff reached a $73 million settlement with Remington, the maker of another AR-15-style rifle that was used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that left 26 people dead in Connecticut in 2012.

As pointed out by legal experts, the lawsuits against Activision and Meta face challenges due to the Section 230 protections against prosecution of online service providers for the actions of the users of their platforms.

Meanwhile, a federal lawsuit in 2005 established that federal law provides broad protection for gun manufacturers from liability for shootings that involve their weapons.

News media reported on Friday that the group of 19 families was filing a $500 million federal lawsuit against, among others, nearly 100 state police officers who took part in the law enforcement response to the shooting on May 24, 2022. Those on this list include former Robb Elementary School Principal Mandy Gutierrez and Pete Arredondo, the school districts police chief, who was eventually fired months later for his role in the deaths during the mass shooting.
Banner held by UC, Irvine students reads: "Over 40,000 dead. You're suspending students instead."

On Saturday at 4 p.m. US eastern time, the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees are holding an online public meeting, Mobilize the working class to defend the University of California strike against genocide! Register for the event here.

Support is growing among autoworkers in Detroit, Michigan for the University of California academic workers strike against the police crackdown on Gaza protests. Around 2,000 workers at UC Santa Cruz have been on strike since Monday, with workers at UCLA and UC Davis set to join them on Tuesday. Both UC and Detroit workers are members of the United Auto Workers.

I have two words for what is going on at campuses across the country: Kent State, one Ford worker said. Students opposing these wars are being beaten and arrested. I agree with the UC strike and we should support them.

The strike is significant because it points to the need for the working class to emerge as the basic force against war and in defense of democratic rights. However, they are up against not only ruthless pro-war politicians and campus administrators but the United Auto Workers bureaucracy.

The UAW has called out only a fraction of the 48,000 UC workers statewide who authorized strike action. This has sparked enormous outrage among the rank-and-file; that UCLA and UC Davis have been called out is because workers were prepared to walk with or without official union sanction.

The university has over $3 billion invested in the war economy, one UC Santa Cruz striker told the WSWS. They fund many on-campus labs, like Jack Baskin Engineering, and even astrophysics, biology. All of them have some sort of ties to either the DOD or even directly to the Israeli military.

Its insidious that they get students to work on something and then they tell them, oh by the way, this is going to be used for war. For example theres this lab trying to figure out how to use robots to navigate areas for environmental purposes, rescue missions. But that technology is utilized for war.

The so-called standup strike tactic of keeping most workers on the job is patterned after the limited strike last year in the auto industry. The UAW has claimed this produced an historic victory, but in fact thousands of workers have already lost their jobs under the new contract. Meanwhile, the bureaucracy has the closest ties with Genocide Joe Biden, endorsing his re-election and throwing out anti-war protesters during his acceptance speech earlier this year.

There is enormous support for a joint struggle combining the fight against layoffs with the defense of antiwar protests. But, as socialist autoworker Will Lehman recently explained, this requires we take the initiative and not wait for the bureaucrats to act for us  We have to develop the rank-and-file structures that give us real power to enforce our will and countermand the bureaucracys betrayals.

On Friday afternoon, Stellantis and Ford workers spoke to Jerry White, the Socialist Equality Partys candidate for US vice president. They gotta do what they gotta do, one worker at Stellantis Warren Truck plant said. I respect that.

Its wrong, another worker said. We should have freedom of speech at all costs. So therefore my heart goes out to you guys.

Lets help them, one worker said. We cant forget about the less fortunate. Were all one.

White also issued a statement Friday morning in support of the students. I emphatically condemn the attack on the University of California students and academic workers, he said. It is urgent that all  academic workers at the University of California immediately spread their strike to all 10 campuses, and that all UAW members in the auto plants and elsewhere prepare mass strike action to defend the rights of the students and the academic workers.

From the Biden administration to the Democrats and Republicans, they are overseeing this attack  and this assault is taking place all over the world, he continued. But from the very beginning the UAW apparatus, which is aligned with the Biden administration, has done everything they could to isolate the UC strikers and limit the struggle.

UC Irvine students speak

Earlier, the WSWS spoke with students and alumni at UC Irvine, where police violently attacked an encampment the previous week.

Allison, a biology major, said I find it very interesting that theyre passing a lot of new laws that are limiting freedom of speech. Theyre definitely villainizing the protesters, basically demonizing them. Its easier to silence people that youre villainizing. It's like, oh, you know, these students are terrorists. Its easier to be like, okay, I see why the police brutalized them.

Kai, a chemistry major, said, Its a similar thing that I think theyre trying to pick at small things, trying to blow the strike out of proportion, as if we are some kind of force that's trying to take down the school. Were trying to voice our concern. Theres nothing wrong with that. And yeah, sure, were getting louder. War is going on. But thats just it shows how strongly we believe this. Were not here to cause violence. Were here to shut it down.

Ariana is an alumnus of UCI, where she majored in public health. She described how her younger sister, an undergrad, was arrested in the police attack on the protesters on May 15. She was arrested along with about 23 other students. Her arrest was particularly wrong. The police ripped off her hijab and pulled her to the ground. As a Muslim woman, she was wearing her hijab to cover her hair. When the cops pulled her, they basically ripped it off to where all the news outlets caught her on camera without her hijab, with her hair showing. She was repeatedly yelling to the cops, Please give me my hijab.

So she got an email yesterday basically indicating that shes not allowed to participate on campus, any activities, shes not allowed to be here. Its still kind of fresh, and were still trying to figure out the next steps to take. Shes not allowed on campus at all...Right now its like a legal battle. Were just hoping it never happens again. Im here to show support for her, and I hope that the school drops all suspensions.

On Saturday at 4 p.m. US eastern time, the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees are holding an online public meeting, Mobilize the working class to defend the University of California strike against genocide! Register for the event here.
An investigation by CBS News details the rising rate of lethal force used by sheriffs deputies around the United States. According to the report, county sheriffs offices are three times more deadly than city police departments.

A San Diego County Sheriff's deputy holds a "less lethal" weapon during an anti-genocide protest at UC San Diego, Monday, May 6, 2024. [AP Photo/Denis Poroy]

Last year saw the greatest number of people killed by police in the past 10 years, with 1,247 people killed in 2023. It was the tenth year in a row in which more than 1,000 people were killed by police, which is likely an underestimate. Law enforcement agencies are required to report any use of lethal force, but a report by the Government Accountability Office found that at least 70 percent of states were failing to meet reporting requirements in 2021. A study by The Lancet found that in Oklahoma 84 percent of deaths in police custody were not reported.

Urban areas often garner the most media attention, but a steady rise in killings in rural areas at the hands of county sheriffs deputies has played a significant role in the increase in police killings over the last decade. The report documents that county deputies are significantly, and increasingly, more deadly than police departments at a rate per 100,000 arrests made, with police departments killing 9.7 per 100,000 arrests in 2022 compared to 27.3 per 100,000 by county sheriffs departments.

And the death rate has been rising. In 2013 the death rate per 100,000 arrests by county deputies was 13.4. At its peak in 2021 the rate was 30.8 killings per 100,000.

CBS News noted that this is largely driven by an increase in rural police killings in states like Wyoming and New Mexico, where county deputies are often responsible for large areas and sometimes take over the responsibilities of local police departments that close down in smaller towns.

A lack of oversight and accountability for county sheriffs departments is a significant issue noted in the report. It cites a particular incident where McCurtin County, Oklahoma, Sheriff Kevin Clardy was caught on an audiotape from March 2023, talking with county leaders about killing and disposing the bodies of two local journalists who were reporting on corruption in his office.

Despite a public scandal over corruption and the audio tape, with even Governor Kevin Stitt calling for Clardy to resign, the sheriff remained in office. While sheriffs are elected officials, ostensibly answerable to the public and subject to recall, it is rare for them to be removed from office, and candidates often run unopposed and can remain in power for decades.

It is also rare for the federal government to intervene to charge county sheriffs deputies with misconduct. CBS reports that since 1994 the Department of Justice has only filed seven cases against sheriffs offices for pattern or practice violations of civil rights. No cases were filed during the Trump administration, and the Biden administration has only filed one.

Even if law enforcement agencies do report lethal force properly, it is incredibly rare for officers to face any consequences for their actions. According to Mapping Police Violence, officers were charged with a crime in only 10 cases last year, less than 1 percent of killings by police. Some killings resulted from an immediate threat to officers or civilians, but in the majority of cases reported a person was killed during a traffic stop or a suspected non-violent offense.

Media and academic coverage of police violence is often hyper-fixated on the racial component of police violence. They draw attention to the disparities between the share of police shooting deaths by each racial group and their share of the overall population without probing the broader social issues at hand.

There are certainly racial prejudices in policing. Police departments actively recruit from the most backward and right-wing sections of society and have a history of connections to fascistic and racist organizations like the Klu Klux Klan.

But police violence cannot be explained in purely racial terms or at an arbitrary spatial scale. Whites make up the plurality of police violence victims, and the rise in killings by sheriffs deputies expresses an increase in police violence in rural areas, regions of the US where residents are predominantly white.

Police killings in urban areas have slightly declined, with the decline being more than made up for by an increase in rural areas. These increases are most clearly shown in the increase in the rate of police killings in Western states, where the rate of police killings is highest, such as New Mexico, Alaska, Colorado and Wyoming, as well as other rural states, such as Oklahoma and West Virginia.

In most of these states the rate of police killings per 1 million people is highest among the black population, but the rate is not always the best indicator. In New Mexico there have been 25.2 police killings of black people per 1 million population, compared to 7.5 for white people since 2013, but black victims made up only 4 percent of police killings in the state. In Wyoming black victims have a rate of 37.1 per million but are only 2 out of the 39 people killed over the past 10 years.

Such figures factor in the demographics for a whole state, even when the killings may be localized or subject to broader geographic trends.

When looking at killings by county deputies, there is a clear propensity towards white victims in rural areas. Since 2013 there have been at least 3,841 killings by deputies, about a quarter of the total police killings in the US and likely an undercount. White victims were the majority with the 2,071 deaths, or about 54 percent. Black Americans make up the second highest share with 17 percent, and Hispanics are third with 13 percent.

These figures demonstrate the importance in geography when reviewing the demographic data. For black victims there have been 1,067 in urban areas, 1,179 in suburban and 267 in rural areas, according to the data by Mapping Police Violence since 2013. As a percentage of the total this is 33, 36 and 8 percent respectively. For white victims, the geographic breakdown is 698 in urban, 2,233 in suburban and 1,448 in rural areas, or 12, 40 and 26 percent respectively.

People from black, Asian and Hispanic backgrounds are more likely to be killed in urban to suburban areas. While people from white, Pacific Islander, Native American and undetermined racial backgrounds are more likely to be killed in rural to suburban areas. This means that people are more likely to be killed by the police in the areas where they live.

Fundamentally, it is class and not race that is the primary driver behind police violence. Based on US Census data of the census tracts in which police killings occur compared to census tracts in which they do not, victims of police violence generally live in areas with higher rates of poverty, lower median household income, higher rates of food stamp and public assistance use, higher rates of people who did not graduate from high school and an increased share of people in working class occupations.

Police violence is fundamentally a product of capitalist violence against the working class. It is the result of an increasingly militarized police system that has been prepared over decades to violently suppress the working class at the first sign of opposition. This was demonstrated by the violent police crackdowns against the George Floyd protests in 2020 and most recently in the brutal attacks on anti-genocide protesters on college campuses around the country.

The official narrativethat police violence is a purely racial issue that could be resolved with more black police chiefs and cops and better trainingfalls apart under scrutiny and is exposed as an attempt to divide the working class. The police are an instrument of class rule and cannot be reformed into murdering fewer people. They must be abolished, along with the entire capitalist system and replaced with a socialist system based on human need and not private profit.
DAMASCUS, May 25 (Xinhua)-- An Israeli drone struck a car and a truck affiliated with Hezbollah near the city of Al-Qusayr in Syria's central Homs province on Saturday, killing two members of the Lebanese armed group, a war monitor reported.

The attack set both vehicles on fire, which were en route to the Al-Dabaa military airport in the countryside of Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Britain-based watchdog group said that two Hezbollah members were killed, and several others, whose nationalities remained unknown, were injured in the attack.

This attack follows a previous Israeli airstrike on May 20 near the Nabigha Al-Dhubyani School, north of the Al-Qusayr roundabout, which resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, comprising five Lebanese and three Syrians.

According to the Observatory, since the beginning of 2024, Israel has conducted 41 attacks on Syrian territory, comprising 29 airstrikes and 12 ground operations.

These assaults have resulted in the destruction or damage of about 83 targets, including weapon and ammunition depots, headquarters, and vehicles.

The Observatory's data showed that these strikes have killed 141 military personnel and injured 57 others. Among the fatalities are 21 Iranians from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, 27 Hezbollah members, 12 Iraqis, 31 Syrian members of Iran-affiliated militias, and 10 non-Syrian members of Iran-affiliated militias.

Additionally, 40 Syrian military personnel and 12 civilians, including two women, have been killed, with about 20 civilians sustaining injuries in the attacks. 
KINSHASA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Vital Kamerhe, former deputy prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was sworn in on Friday as the speaker of the National Assembly, the lower house of the country's parliament.

Kamerhe, the leader of the Union for the Congolese Nation party, officially assumed office after a handover ceremony with former Speaker Christophe Mboso, who was elected on Wednesday as the second vice president. Kamerhe secured 371 of the 407 votes cast in Wednesday's leadership bureau election for the National Assembly.

Kamerhe underlined the importance of strengthening the credibility and effectiveness of parliamentary institutions, reaffirming his determination to restore the dignity of national deputies.

Kamerhe, 65, was appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of national economy last year.

The ceremony followed a failed "coup attempt" at his residence on Sunday, as deemed by DRC authorities. His residence was raided by a group of armed men early Sunday in Kinshasa, the DRC capital. The coup attempt was "nipped in the bud" by defense forces, said Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the DRC military.

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.

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 appointed Judith Tuluka Suminwa as the new prime minister. Tuluka was also a target of the failed coup attempt, but the assailants failed to locate her residence. According to local media reports on Friday, Tuluka has already submitted her selections for the future cabinet to Tshisekedi, who will make the final decision.

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. 
QUITO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on Friday stressed the role of the armed forces in fighting organized crime and drug trafficking gangs.

Noboa made the comments as he presided over a ceremony marking the Battle of Pichincha of May 24, 1822, in which Ecuador won its independence from Spain.

"During the internal conflict against terrorist groups, once again our soldiers are an example of courage and sacrifice. Putting their own lives at risk, they confront dangerous criminals on the streets, in the squares, and in prisons with only one objective: to return freedom and peace to Ecuador," the president said.

Since Noboa declared the "internal armed conflict" on Jan. 9, the military has been deployed to eliminate 22 criminal gangs designated as "terrorists."

"The union and support to defeat terrorism is tilting the balance and today we can say that the results are bearing fruit," the president said. 
Abby tied the knot with nurse and United States Army veteran Josh Bowling in 2021

abbyandbrittanyhensel/TikTok Joshua Bowling, Abby Hensel and Brittany Hensel

Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel have offered an inside look at Abbys nuptials  with a little help from Taylor Swift!

The former TLC reality stars, 34, shared several posts on TikTok earlier this month, including a compilation that featured sweet snaps from Abbys wedding to nurse and United States Army veteran Josh Bowling in 2021.

The May 4 clip  which was soundtracked by Swifts song But Daddy I Love Him from her new album The Tortured Poets Department  began with a shot of Abby and Brittany with Bowling and a young flower girl.

The twins sported wide smiles as they wore a wedding dress while standing next to a grinning Bowling, who wore a gray suit. Their flower girl, meanwhile, donned a cream lace and taffeta dress while holding a bouquet of flowers.

A next photo showed Abby and Brittany posing with Bowling in front of a display of foliage and candles.

BBC Three Abby & Brittany Hensel.

Related: Conjoined Twins Abby and Brittany Hensel Appear to Respond to Online Attention Over Abbys Marriage

Two follow-up photos in the TikTok clip showed the trio happily posing together again.

#Forever the twins captioned the video.

Although Abby and Bowling's marriage took place in 2021, it didn't become public knowledge until March 2024, when Today reported news of the nuptials, citing records obtained.

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Abby and Brittany also shared two other TikTok clips the same day, one of which featured a series of shots of the twins out and about with a male voiceover saying, "To everyone who watches my life and gossips about it, don't give up. Season two is about to come out."

One other video showed the two sisters walking through a store while wearing denim shorts, a red and white striped T-shirt and black heels as Swift's song "The Tortured Poets Department," also from her new record, could be heard.

"#Sisterhoodgoals," Abby and Brittany captioned the post.

BBC Three Abby & Brittany Hensel.

Related: Conjoined Twin Abby Hensel's Husband Josh Bowling Facing Paternity Suit from Ex-Wife

As dicephalic conjoined twins, Abby and Brittany share the same organs below the waist and the same bloodstream. Brittany is in control of their left arm and leg, while Abby controls the right.

The twins first rose to fame after a 1996 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show and appearance on the cover of LIFE.

Abby and Brittany subsequently landed their own TLC reality show, Abby & Brittany, which followed them as they graduated from Minnesota's Bethel College and went traveling across Europe.

Now, according to Today, the twins are fifth-grade teachers in their hometown of Minnesota.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The twins were recently spotted out and about in April, when they were photographed during a stroll in Minnesota following a visit to a Mexican restaurant.

At the time, Abbys diamond wedding ring was visible in the shots, which saw the sisters sporting a casual look of a green blouse and blue jeans.



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Judy Sheindlin is officially slamming the gavel on her New York City penthouse. Per The New York Times, which first reported the listing, the reality TV personality best known as Judge Judy has hoisted her elegant Manhattan pied-a-terre on the market for $9.5 million. The listing is held by Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon of Compass.

Records show she and her husband Jerry, a former New York Supreme Court judge, acquired the duplex unit for $8.5 million back in 2013, shortly after selling a residence at The Sherry-Netherland hotel. Sheindlin, who also has owned homes in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Florida, and California, told the Times in an email, Weve enjoyed this jewel of an apartment. Time to simplify.

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Sited within the 14-story, pre-war co-op apartment house at 14 Sutton Place South, which was designed by gifted architect Rosario Candela in the late 1920s, the couples city digs rest on the top two floors of the building, with four bedrooms and six baths spread across largely original yet modernized interiors outfitted with hardwood floors, high ceilings, classic moldings, and a curved wrought-iron and wood staircase. Theres also central air-conditioning, plus an integrated sound system, and an expansive wraparound terrace thats ideal for al fresco lounging and dining.

The penthouses expansive wraparound terrace is the perfect spot for relaxing and enjoying a meal outdoors.

Other highlights include a semi-private elevator landing that opens into an upper-level entrance gallery bathed in inlaid marble. From there, the spacious living room boasts a wood-burning fireplace and large casement windows offering views of the East River; a blush-hued formal dining room has floor-to-ceiling French doors; and an eat-in kitchen is equipped with green marble countertops, a wood-topped island and high-end stainless appliances.

Elsewhere is a handsome wood-paneled library displaying a fireplace flanked by built-in bookshelves, along with a wine-storage alcove thats been converted into a powder room. A downstairs primary suite hosts a seating area, lots of closet space, and built-in storage, as well as a spa-inspired bath equipped with dual vanities and a shower, and three additional guest bedrooms include two with their own baths and one with access to a hallway bath.

The new owner also will be privy to plenty of amenities, courtesy of a hefty $10,130 monthly maintenance fee, including a 24/7 doorman, a resident manager, a common roof deck, a gym, a bike room, and a deeded private storage space.

A former Manhattan prosecutor and family court judge, the 81-year-old Brooklyn native starred as the no-nonsense courtroom arbitrator in the Judge Judy TV series for 25 seasons, from 1996 to 2021, and currently appears in the Judy Justice show on Amazon Freevee. Her longtime husband, a former New York Supreme Court judge, also made his mark as a TV personality, having presided over The Peoples Court for two seasons.

Other Manhattan properties up for sale nearby include a newly relisted $16 million townhouse owned by Elvis director Baz Luhrmann and a five-story residence in the Lenox Hill neighborhood offered for $16.4 million. Dont quite feel like making a commitment to buy? Check out this Fifth Avenue aerie overlooking the Met that just popped up on the rental market for $90,000 per month, complete with three landscaped terraces and a trio of outdoor showers.

Click here for more photos of Judge Judys Manhattan penthouse.

Judge Judy Penthouse New York

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Kensington Palace recently provided another update on Kate Middletons health as she continues to undergo her cancer treatmentand from the sounds of it, the Princess of Wales still has some ways to go before we can expect to see her return to work.

The princess is not expected to return to work until its cleared by her medical team, a spokesperson said on May 21, 2024. Early childhood will continue to be central to her public work.

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Although Kate is receiving treatment for cancer, shes still keeping up to speed about her work on early childhood development. According to the Kensington Palace spokesperson, she is excited about the new developments with the business task force she launched last year. The Princess of Wales was the driving force behind the business task force. She has been kept up to date since the inception of the task force and she has read the report and been briefed on it, the spokesperson explained.

However, this doesnt mean Kate is returning to work just yet. A senior royal aide recently told the Daily Mail, This is a clear commitment she has made that throughout her life of public service that this will be a focus. That will continue when she returns to work. But we have been really clear that she needs the space and the privacy to recover right now. She will return to work when she has had the green light from doctors.

As such, the timeline for Kates return to royal duties is still uncertain, and Kensington Palace will not provide further updates on her treatment. When she announced her cancer diagnosis with the public on March 22, 2024, the Princess of Wales referenced her commitment to her royal duties, saying, My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.

The Princess of Wales cancer announcement came after she had a planned abdominal surgery in January 2024. Although the surgery itself went well, follow-up tests revealed she had cancer. Her doctors recommended she start preventative chemotherapy, and in her announcement, Kate mentioned she was in the early stages of this treatment.

In the weeks leading up to her announcement, there was a lot of speculation about her health. However, Kate delayed sharing the news with the public so that she and Prince William could talk to their childrenPrince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louisabout her condition in a way they could understand. It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK, she said in her announcement. As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.

Kates news came shortly after Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles, her father-in-law, was also being treated for cancer following a routine prostate procedure. On February 5, 2024, the palace stated, During The Kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual. King Charles has since returned to work, while Kate continues to focus on her recovery in private.

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The Seed of the Sacred Fig, the new film from Iranian dissident director Mohammad Rasoulof, may or may not be honored tonight when the Cannes jury hands out its awards. But at the press conference for the film on Saturday, Rasoulof displayed his own heroism.

The director used his press conference to call out Irans authoritarian regime and to rally his fellow filmmakers to resist.

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My only message to Iranian cinema is dont be afraid of intimidation and censorship in Iran, said Rasoulof. [The regime is] afraid. Theyre afraid, and they want us to feel afraid; they want to discourage us. But dont let yourself be intimidated  but dont fear the authorities. You have to believe in your liberty. We have to fight for a dignified life.

Rasoulof embodies this fight. The director fled Iran by foot a few weeks ago, escaping after the regime sentenced him to 8 years in prison. Walking Cannes red carpet for the world premiere of Seed of the Sacred Fig Friday night, he held up photos of the films two lead actors, Missagh Zareh and Soheila Golestani, who have both been prevented by the authorities from leaving Iran.

At his press conference, Rasoulof was defiant, but also relaxed and confident, joking that his film crew referred to themselves as the gangsters of cinema for violating every rule of Irans state censorship in the making of the film. (The Seed of the Sacred Fig defies all the official Iranian government taboos by openly criticizing the regime, depicting women and girls not wearing hijabs and showing police violence against peaceful pro-democracy protesters).

We joked if we wanted to see cocaine, it would have been easier [than making this movie], Rasoulof quipped.

Now in exile in Germany, the director said he will continue to criticize the Iranian regime from outside the country. I have joined the cultural Iran that exists outside its borders, he noted.

While acknowledging, even now, he lives under a real threat of violence, Rasoulof said Tehrans state terror is actually a show of weakness.

[The regime] portrays itself as a supreme power, the strongest regime in that region, but theyre afraid of power, he said. Why are they so afraid of the stories we tell? Why do they try to repress independent cinema?

In a rallying call, he told his fellow artists to remain true to your own beliefs and uphold your freedom of expression.

Neon snatched up The Seed of the Sacred Fig for North America ahead of its Cannes premiere. Films Boutique is selling the film worldwide.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria has reportedly raised concerns among royal experts about the couple overshadowing senior royals, particularly Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The Sussexes were warmly received by the African nation and engaged in some activities typically seen during official royal tours. Now, according to a report, the special treatment Harry and Meghan received in Nigeria has deeply "upset" the royal family.

Senior Royals Fear Harry And Meghan Would Be Seen As 'The Public Face Of The Royal Family'

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According to royal expert Tom Quinn, "The senior royals, especially William and Kate, are terrified of one thing above all others: that Harry and Meghan will continue to organize trips across the world until they are seen as the public face of the royal family."

In a chat with The Mirror, Quinn noted: "The fear is made worse because William knows that with his wife stricken with cancer, he cannot compete, and he can't stop the Meghan and Harry rollercoaster."

He continued: "William is absolutely furious and determined to prevent this from happening again in the future. Charles is said to be angrier than anyone has ever seen him."

The Royal Family Is 'Upset' At The Way Nigerians Treated Harry And Meghan

Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle looking absolutely regal in Sunshine Yellow in Lagos. ???This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...this little light of mine, I'm gonna let shine... ??  ? pic.twitter.com/U95Mk6HEmt  Carmen's Granddaughter (@CarmenGranddau1) May 12, 2024

While speaking with the news outlet, Quinn further noted that the royal family is especially "upset" with how Nigerians treated the Sussexes.

He said, "What's really upset the applecart is the fact that the Nigerians treated Meghan and Harry as if they too thought this was an official tour  all the signs were there as the couple were greeted with dances, receptions, visits to schools and charities."

"Everything you might expect from an official royal visit was there  the receptions, the visits to schools and charities, to wounded soldiers and the disabled," the royal expert continued.

"Meghan and Harry's speeches and their whole attitude have been designed to give the impression that they are still fully paid-up royals and William and his father King Charles don't like it one bit," Quinn concluded.

The Duchess of Sussex Called Nigeria 'My Country'

MEGA

On day two of Harry and Meghan's visit to Nigeria, the duchess joined several leading Nigerian women to discuss the importance of female leadership and empowerment in driving positive change globally.

During the chat, Meghan expressed gratitude for the "overwhelming" welcome she has received since landing in the country and opened up about her emotional journey to discover her Nigerian roots.

"I am just flattered, honored, and inspired. It has been a whirlwind 24 hours since we arrived, and I very quickly got the memo that I need to wear more color so I can fit in with all of you and your incredible fashion!" Meghan told the crowd, per People magazine.

"I am very overwhelmed. So I want to start by saying thank you very much for just how gracious you've all been in welcoming my husband and I to this country," she continued, pausing briefly to the applause before adding, "My country."

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Look 'Forward To Travelling More To Meet The People'

MEGA

While in Nigeria, Harry and Meghan engaged in various activities, including attending a polo club and visiting injured soldiers at a military hospital.

In an interview with People, Meghan described the tour as "really meaningful," emphasizing the significance of such trips in enabling them to focus "on the things that mean so much to us."

Harry echoed her sentiments, adding, "You know what Africa means to me over the years. It is a very, very special place, and to be able to include Nigeria now, I'm very happy."

Sources close to the Sussexes also emphasized that the tour did not draw attention to any perceived gaps in the Royal Family's workload.

The Duke Recently Lost A Bid To Expand His Phone Hacking Lawsuit

MEGA

A UK Judge recently denied the Duke of Sussex's request to expand his lawsuit against The Sun's publisher, barring him from including allegations against media mogul Rupert Murdoch and presenter Piers Morgan.

Harry's legal team had sought to sue over claims that Murdoch and other top executives were involved in concealing and destroying evidence of illegal information gathered by journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN).

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the proposed amendments aimed to include allegations that The Sun ordered private investigators to target Meghan in 2016.

Harry's bid to extend the case's timeline to 1994 and 1995 to encompass allegations involving his late mother, Princess Diana, was also rejected by the judge, who ruled that it was "too late."
Taylor Swift Speaking Portuguese to Help an Eras Tour Concertgoer Is Making Fans Love Her Even More

Taylor Swift

As Taylor Swift continues to wow with her revamped Eras Tour shows, fans' safety remains her top priorityas was evident when the pop superstar paused a recent concert to ask for help in Portuguese.

Swift performed her first night of two in Lisbon, Portugal, on Friday, May 24. The "Fortnight" songstress noticed that a concertgoer needed assistance and took action in the country's native language.

While singing "Champagne Problems" and playing the piano, Swift stopped to instruct security, in Portuguese, "Ajuda, por favor. Help them, please." She then pointed in the direction where help was needed before continuing the performance.

Unsurprisingly, clips of the moment have since circulated on social media.

| Taylor Swift asking security to help out fans struggling in the crowd at today's show of 'The Eras Tour' in the middle of 'champagne problems' #LisbonTSTheErasTour



"Ajuda por favor. Help them please"



pic.twitter.com/mcZk6R2Pau  The Eras Tour (@tswifterastour) May 24, 2024

In the comments of a video shared via X (formerly Twitter), Swifties praised the 34-year-old for her continued concern for fans. One wrote, "She genuinely cares so much and its one of the reasons i love her."

Another X user commented, "Always caring for us," while another declared, "Oh mother is mothering."

Meanwhile, someone else speculated, "The way she probably learned that so she could say it."

Others criticized venues for Swift needing to intervene in the first place, with one X user commenting, "The massive GA crowds need water passed around. When I was in Paris we saw a couple groupings of people trying to get medics/security attention during the show because it was so hot."

Someone else pointed out, "I swear sometimes she herself does a better job then the security while still performing."

Mother is MOTHERING thats so nice #StockholmTStheErasTour pic.twitter.com/ehMCYezz9V  Angelina  Stockholm N3 (@aeonianexe) May 19, 2024

Just a few days before the Lisbon incident, Swift halted a show in Stockholm, Sweden, to check in on concertgoers.

Someone in the front row can either tell me yes or no to this question: When you guys are putting a bunch of flashlights up in a group, does that mean people need help? she asked the crowd on May 19 in a video shared via X.

Swift continued: I just didnt know if you were, like, waving at me. But Im happy to know clarification on that.

We love a concerned queen!

Next: Fans Praise Taylor Swift for Smooth Recovery During Latest 'Errors Tour' Wardrobe Malfunction
A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from China's Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000. #XinhuaNews




More from Footwear News





Update: Sept. 7, 2024 at 1:50 p.m. ET:

Travis Scott has a number of upcoming Nike and Jordan Brand projects on the way, but two rumored Air Jordan 1 Low collaborations have reportedly been scrapped from the 2025 release calendar.

As first shared by Air Jordan 1 aficionado @MrUnloved1s on X, sources have confirmed that the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low Shy Pink and Dark Pony colorways have been canceled and the sneakers will no longer be released. Both pairs were originally expected to launch in spring 25, with the Shy Pink colorway being a mens release and the Dark Pony iteration a womens exclusive.

Despite the apparent cancelation of the releases, it seems that at least one of the pairs exists in sample form. In July, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin  a close friend of Travis Scotts  shared on Instagram a clip of entrepreneur Ronnie Prassas wearing the unreleased Shy Pink collaboration. Despite this, its now likely the shoe will remain exclusive to the rappers inner circle.

But its not all bad news for Travis Scott fans. A third Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low colorway in Velvet Brown was also reported to release around the same time of the Shy Pink and Dark Pony styles. As of publishing, that Velvet Brown style is still on track to be released during spring 25.

Readers are encouraged to check back for more updates as this appears to be a fluid situation.

Both of these are canceled btw. Dont know if I said this yet.. https://t.co/PGo3TEWyKv  Aviator (@MrUnloved1s) August 27, 2024

What We Originally Reported on May 25, 2024

Multihyphenate entertainer Travis Scott released today his latest sneaker collaboration with Jordan Brand  a Canary Yellow Air Jordan 1 Low inspired by the colors of his high school  and as usual, the stock sold out quickly. But according to the latest leaks, there are a number of new colorways in the pipeline.

Early info from insiders @sneakermarketro and @zsneakerheadz points to three new Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Lows releasing during Spring 2025. One of the pairs is expected to be a womens exclusive, while the other two will come in full family sizing. The womens pair is a Dark Pony/Pink Oxford and the mens versions are colored in Sail/Shy Pink/Muslin and Dark Mocha/Black/Velvet Brown.

As is often the case with early sneaker leaks, there are currently no in-hand images of the three upcoming pairs, and the photos here are speculative mock-ups which may or may not accurately represent the final products. Nevertheless, it appears as though these three pairs will continue to use Travis Scotts signature blend of neutral earth tones and pastel pinks first seen on his 2019 Air Jordan 1 High collaboration.

Its already been a busy year for the Travis Scott and Jordan Brand partnership, which saw the official launch of its Jordan Jumpman Jack TR (aka CJ1 T-Rexx) collab in April. The rollout for the Jumpman Jack included a promotional clip with a surprise appearance from former Nike endorser and longtime Travis Scott collaborator Ye.

Retail pricing for each of these Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Lows is expected to match previous releases, with adult pairs at $150, preschool at $80, and toddler sizes at $65. Check back soon for updates, as its possible things could shift between now and Spring 2025.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low Dark Mocha/Black/Velvet Brown (Mock-up)

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low Sail/Shy Pink/Muslin (Mock-up)

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low Dark Pony/Pink Oxford (Mock-up)









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The votes are in: See how Bellevilles Skyview Drive-In did in a recent national poll

The votes are in, and Bellevilles Skyview Drive-In is the No. 1 best drive-in theater!

USA Today officially announced Wednesday that Skyview is the nations best theater, according to its 10Best Readers Choice 2024 poll.

Skyview owner Steve Bloomer said he got the good news last week. (Can you imagine keeping that to yourself?!)

He said that when the poll opened and he went online to vote, Skyview was in 12th place (out of 20).

Bloomer shared the poll on the drive-ins Facebook page, in customer emails and on Google, encouraging folks to vote and vote often. He even said his daughter used four different IP addresses so she could vote more than once a day.

In the next couple of days, Skyview jumped to first place. And stayed there.

Hes quite happy, of course, that we got so much support  from our customers and friends, adding that USA Today wouldnt tell him how many votes his drive-in received.

Bloomer said he plans to celebrate but hasnt made plans yet.

They have several things in the wind and will do something, he said.

Here are the top 10 Best Drive-In Theaters in USA Todays 2024 poll:

10. Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theatre, New Braunfels, Texas;

9. Sunset Drive-In, San Luis Obispo, California;

8. Park Place Drive-In Theater, Marion, Virginia;

7. Hulls Drive-In, Lexington, Virginia;

6. Evergreen Drive-In Theatre, Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania;

5. Shankweilers Drive-In Theatre, Orefield, Pennsylvania;

4. The Family Drive-In Theatre, Stephens City, Virginia;

3. Bengies Drive-In Theatre, Middle River, Maryland;

2. Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In Theatre, Gibson City, Illinois;

1. Skyview Drive-In, Belleville.

Skyview Drive-In is located at 5700 North Belt West in Belleville.

For upcoming movies and showtimes, anniversary event updates and other information, call 618-233-4400, visit skyview-drive-in.com or follow the Facebook page.
Prime Videos Fallout is one of the biggest new series of the year. It takes the Wasteland of the classic Fallout video games and brings it to life in live-action. Considering the world of the Fallout games involves mutated creatures and massive destruction, you might think the series used a lot of CGI to create its vision, but apparently not so much.

While the Wasteland of the Fallout games might not technically exist, there was apparently a place in the world that looked enough like the end of the world that it worked. Fallout star Aaron Moten recently spoke with our sister site GamesRadar and talked about what it was like filming in the desert of Namibia. He explained:

We were transported, truly, to a desolate set. It became our set, the sands of Namibia. That first feeling  I remember walking out and doing the scene. It took away a lot of the work you sometimes have to do as an actor. I obviously believe where we are. It felt like I got to reinvest in my scene partners and really dig deep into the story.

When actors do make movies that involve lots of green screen and CGI, we often hear them talking about the imagination required to try and act against something that doesnt actually exist. Moten shows just how vital shooting on location can be for exactly that reason. He didnt have to imagine the post-apocalypse, because he really felt like he was there, allowing him to focus his efforts elsewhere.

Working with green screen and digital effects can be expensive and time-consuming, but sometimes there just isn't another option. Often it's the best way to make fantastical things look real. Many projects, including streaming series, have gone the route of digital effects. The Star Wars movies used the desert to create Tatooine and Jakku, but The Mandalorian used The Volume, large video screens to create the same places.

Obviously, while working in the desert may have made imagining you were in a wasteland easier, other parts of the job were still quite difficult. Ella Purnell spoke with friend Chloe Grace Moretz for Interview Magazine and talked about the incredible heat, as well as the fact that the series used additional practical effects rather than CGI to create some of the creatures. Purnell said:

It could be 105 degrees during this fight scene when youre wearing 300 layers. Walton had it really bad. Hes in head-to-toe prosthetics. The waistcoat was made of leather. Hot, and theres no shade, of course. Were doing this fight, with this 15-foot mutated salamander that I was talking about. Well, originally the fingers were teeth, when we were filming it, because they made that puppet.

All that work seemed to be successful. Fallout is one of the most watched projects in the history of Prime Video and Fallout Season 2 is now on the way. Of course, for the cast that likely means going back to the desert. However, based on the Fallout Season 1 ending, they may have to start using digital effects unless they plan to build New Vegas in the middle of nowhere.
Former President Donald Trump ratcheted up his anti-immigrant rhetoric at a rally in the South Bronx, where he claimed, without evidence, that migrants coming to the U.S. are forming an "army."

The comments are part of the dark narrative Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, is advancing on the 2024 campaign trial that what is occurring at the southern border amounts to an invasion.

With New York as his backdrop, a city that's reckoned with housing a surge of migrants seeking asylum in recent years, Trump continued to demonize immigrants.

"They come from Africa. They come from Asia. They come from all over the world. They come from the Middle East, Yemen ... Large numbers of people are coming in from China," he said. "And if you look at these people, did you see them? They are physically fit. Theyre 19 to 25. Almost everyone is a male, and they look like fighting age."

"I think they're building an army ... they want to get us from within," he said.

PHOTO: Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at Crotona Park in the Bronx, May 23, 2024, in New York. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

"They're building something," Trump repeated. "They have something in mind. We're gonna end all of that stuff."

Trump went on to reiterate his threat to lead the largest criminal deportation operation in our country's history because this situation is unsustainable." Though experts told ABC News his plan would be extremely difficult to carry out, and would have adverse consequences on the nation if it were to be implemented.

MORE: Trump again vows to deport millions of migrants. Could he really do it?

The comments prompted the crowd to begin chanting, "Send them back."

Trump previously made similar comments specifically about migrants from China, telling conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt last month they, too, were "probably building an army." Again, he didn't provide any evidence to back up his claim.

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in the south Bronx, May. 23, 2024, in New York. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)

Trump at his campaign rally also continued to claim, without evidence, that many migrants are coming from the "jails" and "mental institutions" of other nations and are committing a new category of "migrant crime."

But studies have shown U.S.-born citizens more likely to be arrested for violent crimes.

MORE: No, migrants are not driving a surge in violent crime as Trump claims

Trump's rally comments came hours after lawmakers on Capitol Hill held a showdown vote on border security, with the Senate again failing to advance a package negotiated earlier this year by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

The bill was largely quashed by Trump, who told Republicans earlier this year not to accept it -- prompting Democrats to accuse conservative lawmakers of caring more about appeasing Trump than fixing issues within the immigration system.

"By blocking the bipartisan border agreement, Republicans in Congress said no to legislation that would hire more Border Patrol Agents, add more immigration judges and asylum officers to process cases in months and not years," President Joe Biden said in a statement. "They said no to new technology to detect and stop fentanyl from entering the United States, and no to resources to go after drug traffickers. They rejected an agreement that would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to temporarily shut down the border when the system is overwhelmed."

ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Kelsey Walsh and Soorin Kim contributed to this report.

Trump continues to demonize migrants, falsely claims they're 'building an army' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BALTIMORE  Cruising is back in Baltimore, declared Jonathan Daniels, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, as passengers began arriving Saturday at the Cruise Maryland Terminal.

The festive occasion marked the first cruise ship to arrive and depart the Port of Baltimore since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26.

Less than a week prior, the terminal was the headquarters for the Key Bridge Response Unified Command to coordinate recovery operations, Daniels said. They began condensing their workspace down last weekend, started packing up Monday night after the Dali was refloated that morning and were out by Tuesday afternoon.

While there is still work that needs to be done to be able to complete the salvage operation, this is a wonderful sign that the next milestone is pointing to the fact that business is truly returning to the port, Daniels said.

Just after 10 a.m., the sound of steel drums echoed in the terminal as it began to fill with passengers eager to board Royal Caribbeans Vision of the Seas cruise ship for a five-night trip to Bermuda.

Tom Sitzler said he and his group had planned the trip since August to celebrate his partners 60th birthday. They live in Washington, D.C., but had a very specific reason to sail out of the Port of Baltimore.

The whole purpose of the cruise though was to actually cruise out of Baltimore out past Annapolis, because Allen grew up there, the birthday boy, and he wants to see Annapolis from the bay, Sitzler said.

Ive always wanted to cruise down the bay and see all the spots where I grew up, said Allen Steven, the birthday boy.

Cruises that were already underway or were scheduled in the past two months have been rerouted to the Norfolk Cruise Terminal. Steven said if their trip had been moved to leave from Norfolk, they would have rebooked.

A group of five friends from Harford County also were heading on a cruise to celebrate, donning matching pink hats that said Friends on the Loose 2024 Friends Trip.

We are celebrating a milestone birthday, said Kathy Schlehr. We have all attained the age of 70 or beyond.

Not yet! someone chimed in.

The group said they were ecstatic when they found out about a week and a half ago they would be sailing out of the Port of Baltimore. The departure location was one of the reasons they went on the cruise.

The return of cruises benefits the tourism industry in Baltimore and the rest of the state, Daniels said.

More than 440,000 passengers went through the Cruise Maryland Terminal in 2023, he said, and they may also stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and even come back to enjoy the city afterward.

Many of them are experiencing what Baltimore has to offer for the very first time, Daniels said.

The 915-foot long vessel with a 25-foot draft got underway after 4 p.m. and used the 400-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep channel that opened Tuesday in the Patapsco River. In addition to a pilot, it was accompanied by two tugboats.

Even though the Unified Command vacated the cruise terminal, operations are still ongoing, just back in their own spaces, said David OConnell, the Coast Guards captain of the port. They coordinate daily on ongoing operations, including salvage work in the main and outside channels as well as coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers on vessel traffic in the temporary channels.

Saturday, the Army Corps announced a delayed goal of June 8-10 to restore full access to the federal channel. Officials had previously said this would be achieved by the end of May.

It was great all being together and coordinating operations, but its great to be here and see this place in a different light, OConnell said. You see it lively with people that are going on vacation, going through security, the ship is out back. Its a good day.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  At Bakersfield institutions like Wool Growers restaurant, every weekend is a Basque festival. But this weekend is special. It is the Basque Festival, not just any Kern County Basque Festival.

This four-day event marks the local Basque Clubs 80th birthday and this events 50th anniversary. Over the past half-century, the Memorial Day weekend Basque Festival has outgrown its original purpose  fun, food, preservation of culture, and drinking at the Basque Club, though it is certainly still all that too.

Theres a serious scholarly component now that Cal State Bakersfield has launched its Institute of Basque Studies, led by philosophy professor Steve Gamboa.

This Bakersfield event is extra special, due to the national Basque convention being here in conjunction with local events. Members of that organization were taking care of business in a Wool Growers banquet room for much of Friday.

Wool Growers co-owner Christiane Camou, granddaughter of immigrant founders Mayie and J.B. Maitia, was happy to have them. Happy to have all of it, especially after the extended pause in the festivities caused by the pandemic.

The fact that we didnt have it for a while, now It feels like when we get together we really embrace it, Camou said. We probably took it for granted years back. So, we get together, everybody greets each other with two kisses on the cheek.

Six local Basque community leaders, including Christianes mother, Jenny Maitia Poncetta, the semi-retired former owner of Wool Growers, will be honored at a free concert Friday night at CSUBs Dore Theater.

Also on the weekend agenda: Efforts to create a National Basque World War II Memorial, site to be determined. Pedro Olarzabal came all the way from Bilbao, in Spanish Basque country, to talk about it.

For the past nine years, Olarzubal said, we focus on the U.S., and all those Americans of Basque heritage and Basque immigrants that came to the United States and joined the U.S. Armed Forces for World War II.

Families of Uvalde school shooting victims are suing Texas state police over botched response

On Saturday, a Mus tournament  a uniquely Basque card game (pronounced moosh), similar to poker, were told  and the NABO Pilota finals  similar to squash or racquetball, will be held.

That evening  and heres where Basques of all races and ethnicities may want to pay attention  will be a tri-tip barbecue, with dance performances and, later, an open dance floor. Are even non-Baques welcome?

Yes, yes, said Camou. Yes, yes, yes.

Sunday is 10 a.m. Mass, then more festivities including a Monday morning breakfast at Woolgrowers, the only day of the year they serve breakfast  then off they go, until the next Basque in a few weeks, somewhere else. Those Basques know how to party.

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.
Bingham Family Vineyards and Winery shares their Blake Eddie Scholarship wine, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at their vineyard in Meadow. Blake, a member of the Bigham wine family, died from COVID-19 complications and the family started a scholarship in his memory.

In Vino Veritas, in Latin, means truth in wine, but in West Texas, one family vineyard offers In Vino Honor.

About a 30-minute drive from Lubbock, Bingham Family Vineyards covers hundreds of acres at 645 FM 303, near Meadow. The family began planting wine grapes in 2004, sold the grapes to wineries across Texas, then started bottling their own in 2014.

The Bingham family has become well known in the Texas wine industry, especially the fifth of the eleven children - Blake Eddie Bingham.

We always said he would make friends with a brick wall, said Betty Bingham, Blake's mother and co-owner of the vineyard and farm with her husband, Cliff Bingham. I used to scold him, where are you, youre supposed to be working on your homework. And hed be on the floor picking up a pencil for his sibling. Just when I thought he was doing something he wasnt supposed to, he was just taking the time to help somebody else.

His love for helping others extended throughout the Texas wine industry. When he died at the age of 30 in 2021 from COVID-19 complications, his loss was felt throughout the community.

Everybody in the wine industry knew and loved Blake, said Sam Jennings, winemaker for Bingham Family Vineyards. When people came to pick up grapes or deliver wine, and at all the events and trade shows, Blake was a ray of sunshine everywhere he went.

Hoping to continue Blake Eddie's legacy of kindness, his family came up with the idea to start a scholarship in his honor. One of the ways to support this scholarship, which helps viticulture and enology students at Texas Tech University and Texas A&M, is by purchasing the Blake Eddie Scholarship Wine sold at H-E-B stores across the state.

Bottling a memory: Here's how the Blake Eddie Scholarship Wine began, and the impact it has had so far

Sam Jennings shows the Bingham Family Vineyards and Winery wine production, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at their vineyard in Meadow. The winery makes about 10,000 cases of wine per year.

The Binghams approached H-E-B with the idea, and the company eagerly decided to help get the wine in front of their wine stewards and customers, said Charles Rivas, the wine buyer for H-E-B.

Supporting causes like this are at the heart of what we do at H-E-B, Rivas said. When we can honor someone in that process, we get excited to share a story about someone thats had an impact with not just our industry, but the states.

The partnership began in January 2024, and the proceeds go toward the scholarship fund. Serendipity Wines, which is the distributor, is also donating to the scholarship.

The wine is a 2019 blend of Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Dolcetto and Carignan grapes and aged 24 months in French and American oak barrels. It has notes of cherry, dried fig and spices.

It has done incredibly well for us, and weve had nothing but good feedback, Rivas said.

While the wine is a new addition to the memorializing of Blake Eddie, the scholarship through The Texas Hill Country Wineries organization has been offered since 2021.

One of the scholarship's recipients is Rogelio Orocio, who graduated from Texas Tech debt-free, partially due to earning the Blake Eddie scholarship twice. Orocio is now the Binghams' assistant winemaker.

Its rewarding for all of the hard work youve put in throughout the years, Orocio said. Then theres the emotional side of knowing Blake and always being around him. It means a lot.

Cliff Bingham, Blake's father, believes Blake Eddie would be happy to know he is still helping people.

Im sure hes probably watching from heaven, just elated, Cliff Bingham said. God called us to be helpers and servers, and thats what Blake would be doing all the time. He didnt get his jobs done all the time, because he was serving people, and I hope Ive learned a little bit of that lesson now that hes passed."

Potential customers can find the Blake Eddie Scholarship wine, and several other Bingham wines, at most Texas H-E-B locations in the dedicated Texas wine section. It is also available online through H-E-B. People can also donate directly to the scholarship fund at texashillcountrywineries.org/products/scholarship-donation.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Bingham Family Vineyards honors son through H-E-B scholarship wine
An adult periodical cicada waves its legs as it climbs over an iris in the afternoon sun on Friday, May 17, 2024, in Charleston, Ill. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

With rich reds, gentle greens and basic blacks, Nature's screaming, crawling artwork is the epitome of rare beauty  at least in the eyes of some beholders. To others, it may seem just creepy.

It's a colorful, ever-changing canvas of bugs. Lots of them.

A once-in-221-year convergence of two broods of periodical cicadas are emerging at the same time. The big effect of the cicadas is the sheer numbers. Trillions are expected to populate 16 states by mid to late June. They can be overwhelming, messy and loud.

But individually, up close and personal, a cicada has splashes of color, subtle shapes and that special something that some scientists and artists say translate to beauty. Even if to the average person it's just a bug.

To artists and scientists, cicadas are more awe-inspiring than awful.

Periodical cicadas are more otherworldly-looking than other insects and then the fact they come out every 13 or 17 years adds to their allure, making them feel like something out of a science fiction movie, said Jonathan Monaghan, a Washington, D.C.-based visual artist.

Up close, there is a subtle beauty, particularly with their vibrant cadmium red eyes, Monaghan said in an email. Visually, they are at their best freshly molted because there is more contrast on their bodies, showing off some really interesting patterns. Overall though, I still think they are rather goofy looking.

When collage artist Luis Martin, a self-described art engineer in Brooklyn, first saw cicadas, he was entranced.

They were just so beautiful and diaphanous that I kind of fell in love, said Martin, who sported a cicada bolo tie during a Zoom interview. It looked like a fairy.

But it's a love/fear kind of thing. They also seem scary, he said.

It kind of goes back to these beautiful colors that we tend to think is kind of ugly, right? Because theyre brown, theyre kind of metallic, kind of like alien, Martin said. As a brown person myself I find them absolutely beautiful. I can totally see myself in them.

Not just himself, but Frida Kahlo, Martin said. He could see the artist's signature eyebrows in the close-up cicada face images.

Scientists are even more mesmerized.

There's a lot of things in the world today to get freaked out about. Cicadas aren't one of them, said Mount St. Joseph University biologist Gene Kritsky, who wrote a book on this year's dual emergence. They're beautiful insects. They've got these red eyes, black bodies, orange-colored veins on these membranous wings. I love the way they come up in these big numbers. I like that I can predict when they come out. It's a scientific experiment every time.

"But what I really like about them, they got me tenure.

___

Read more of APs climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment

___

Follow Seth Borenstein and Carolyn Kaster on X at @borenbears and @ckaster

______

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.
El Paso, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso County Animal Welfare Department is encouraging El Paso

residents to Help Your Pets Make it Home this summer with free microchips.

The free microchip events will be held at different locations around El Paso County from May 28 through June 30.



These microchip events are a great opportunity for pet owners to be prepared for the

Independence Day holiday. Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys the celebration. The holiday is an

incredibly stressful time for pets as they fear the noise of the loud bangs and lights from the

fireworks. Microchipping your pets and ensuring the contact information on their chip is updated can help get pets home quickly and safely in the event they go missing, according to the Countys news release.

Last year, the Animal Welfare Department recovered 30 lost/runaway pets during the July 4th holiday and 22 pets during the New Year holiday. A total of seven were returned home thanks to updated microchips.



The free microchip events will take place at the following locations:

Tuesday, May 28, 11 a.m.  2 p.m.

Agua Dulce Park, 15371 Kentwood Ave. #9028

Wednesday, June 6, 10 a.m.  1 p.m.

Fabens Veterans Park, 602 4th St. NE

Thursday, June 13, 9 a.m.  12 p.m.

San Elizario Placita, 1521 San Elizario Rd.

Friday, June 21, 10 a.m.  1 p.m.

Gallegos Park, 7361 Bosque Rd.

Friday, June 28, 12 p.m.  3 p.m.

Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta Dr.

Sunday, June 30, 11 a.m.  2 p.m. (in partnership with the City of Socorro)

Animal Welfare Department, 9521 Socorro Rd. Ste. B3



For more information on microchipping, call (915) 273-3470.

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.
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Welcome to May in Hotan, Xinjiang where the air is rich with the sweet scent of blooming roses.

Find out how planting flowers is blossoming into a rosy future for the local residents.
PORTSMOUTH  A 1931 Ford Model A was parked on the dirt path winding through Strawbery Banke Museum on a recent morning.

The shiny black antique captured the attention of workers as they headed to their historic destinations. Dan Smith is one of those workers, and he happens to own the Model A.

Strawbery Banke Museum restoration carpenter Dan Smith talks about the 1931 Ford Model A he has had since he was 16 years old May 15, 2024.

I remember as a young kid, an elderly lady used to drive one around the neighborhood and I always wanted one, he said.

When Smith was 16 and living in Wells, Maine, his father told him he wanted to show him something. They drove to the Kittery Trading Post, where there was a Model A in the lot for sale for $115.

It was in rough shape. It was sold to us by the original owner of the trading post, (Philip "Bing" Adams). I think it was there as a trade-in for something. Bing used to do barter, like if you had a horse or a goat and needed something, hed take it as a trade.

Smith kept the sales slip, which reads it was purchased June 29, 1960. His grandfather towed it home for him.

Philip "Bing" Adams, original owner of the Kittery Trading Post, sold Dan Smith a 1931 Ford Model A on June 29, 1960 for $115. The receipt is seen May 15, 2024, kept by Smith all these years.

Smith said he drove it everywhere. He thinks it had black market tires on it after World War II. He held onto it since he was a teenager and he always wanted to fix it up. He went to work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and learned about welding, painting, fabrication and restoration. When he retired, he finally had the time, skills and money to rebuild the car. It took him eight years.

I dont care if its a car, house or a marriage, it all comes down to maintenance, he said.

Dan Smith is reflected in his Ford Model A window as he waits for kids to arrive at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth May 15, 2024.

Smith stood proudly around the three-speed automobile waiting for children to arrive. He tells them stories about the 1930s, relating to the car. He says kids love to take a ride in it, often jostling for the front seat. Smith is a jack of all trades. Hes the museum's restoration carpenter, beekeeper, event scheduler and even an award-winning blueberry pie maker.

Local news: Developer wants to demolish 1900 Portsmouth home, replace it with four new houses

Dan Smith's 1931 Ford Model A is on the grounds of Portsmouth's Strawbery Banke Museum May 15, 2024.

When asked if this car is better than vehicles made today, he glanced back at the Model A and said, This car is going on 100 years old. What do you think?

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Dan Smith's Ford Model A has deep personal history
I did hot yoga every day for a month. There were a few drawbacks, but I look more toned and can fit into old clothes again.

I did hot yoga every day for a month. There were a few drawbacks, but I look more toned and can fit into old clothes again.

I took hot-yoga classes for 30 days straight to see if I noticed any benefits.

I found that I looked more toned, felt stronger, and was in a better mood after each session.

The biggest drawback I noticed was the heat's effect on my hair, which became dry and frizzy.

I love doing different kinds of workouts, but recently, I wanted to challenge myself to try something new: hot yoga.

Like millions of exercise enthusiasts, I've tried standard yoga classes but wondered if hot yoga could improve my flexibility or help with stress levels. To find out, I took hot-yoga classes for 30 days straight at the chain CorePower Yoga, which offers several heated sessions.

Prices vary among studios, but my local Chicago location offers an introductory-month membership for $100, which I took advantage of.

Here's what happened when I did hot yoga every day for a month.

When I first started taking classes, I was really sweaty and tired after each session

My entire outfit was soaked after my first class. Lara Walsh

I was used to strength training and sculpting exercises as part of my normal workout routine, but I still struggled at my first yoga-sculpt class, which combined traditional yoga moves with weights and cardio.

I had to leave the room for air and repeatedly lay on my yoga mat because I felt faint. At the end of the class, I was so sweaty that it was almost comical.

According to a CorePower Yoga employee I spoke to, the yoga-sculpt classes I took were heated at 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat made even simple exercises feel difficult, so I could see why I felt so tired.

As the month progressed, I looked forward to my hot-yoga classes and noticed they improved my mood

After a few classes, I started to leave each session with an incredible, almost-euphoric feeling immediately after working out. I also began attending the studio's hot-power-fusion sessions, which combine yoga with moderate-intensity, meditative elements.

Each time I went to class, I was extremely relaxed, my limbs felt like jelly, and my mood improved. Maybe it's because I mainly took classes at night when the workday ended, but I always slept well.

This difference was really noticeable during a stressful period at work, and my body started to crave the hot-yoga classes.

I didn't expect it, but hot yoga also seemed to affect my skin and hair

The heat and humidity in the hot-yoga classes impacted my skin and hair. Lara Walsh

I've always been prone to blackheads and clogged pores, but as I attended the classes, I noticed that my complexion became clearer and my skin looked plumper.

According to Dr. Azza Halim, a board-certified anesthesiologist and physician who focuses on aesthetic medicine, antiaging treatments, and regenerative medicine, doing hot yoga may have helped my skin.

"Hot yoga indirectly benefits the skin by improving overall circulation, which allows oxygen and nutrients to flow to the skin cells, promoting collagen production and helping to maintain elasticity," she said.

According to the doctor, heat can help open up pores and flush out toxins. However, sweat, dirt, and bacteria left on the skin can also lead to acne.

"It's very important to cleanse the skin thoroughly after a hot-yoga session to remove any sweat or impurities," she said.

On the other hand, I think my hair suffered while doing hot yoga every day, and my hairstylist even commented on how dry and frizzy my hair was when I showed up for my haircut.

Dr. Halim said my dry, frizzy hair could be due to the combination of heat and daily showering after class.

Staying hydrated seemed to help my success in hot-yoga classes

I felt better during classes on days when I had plenty of water. Lara Walsh

Throughout the month, I realized hot-yoga classes were significantly tougher for me when I hadn't had enough water or was hungover.

According to Kollins Ezekh, a certified personal trainer and celebrity fitness instructor, dehydration can definitely make a workout more difficult. The expert said not drinking enough water can significantly impact performance, "making you feel dizzy, weak, and even causing cramping."

I started adding electrolytes to my beverages throughout the day and having a cup of water before my morning coffee, which gave me more energy for class and taught me the importance of listening to my body.

It seemed like hot yoga toned my body, and I was able to fit into old clothes

During the first few classes, my arms and legs shook even when I exercised with light weights. But eventually, despite putting in minimal effort in some classes, I saw my arms, abs, waist, and back become more toned.

Toward the end of the month, I graduated from 5-pound to 8-pound weights for leg exercises. Moves like chaturanga dandasana (a low plank), downward dog, and cobra also helped strengthen my upper body, back, and shoulders.

I didn't realize how much weight I had lost until I fit into a dress and a top that I hadn't been able to zip up just a few months earlier. I was happy I could see tangible results, making the hot-yoga classes worth it for me.

Ezekh said this initial weight loss throughout the month could be caused by losing a significant amount of water weight from sweating. Still, consistent practice, especially in styles like yoga sculpt, and resistance training can increase muscle tone and overall weight loss.

I won't continue doing hot yoga every day, but I plan to go to classes at least a few times a week

At the end of the month, I noticed many changes, like that my body looked more toned. Lara Walsh

After a month of doing hot yoga, I was hooked. I felt relaxed and happy after each class, and I felt stronger, more toned, and more flexible.

Overall, I thought the introductory $100 one-month membership was worth it, especially since it included access to CorePower Yoga's showers, lockers, and other amenities. I recently changed my plan to the $190-per-month all-access membership, which I think is a pretty good value if I attend classes at least a few times a week.

I might not continue going to daily hot-yoga classes, but I'm excited to continue getting stronger and see the other benefits I noticed throughout my 30-day challenge.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Cruising is back in Baltimore, declared Jonathan Daniels, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, as passengers began arriving Saturday at the Cruise Maryland Terminal.

The festive occasion marked the first cruise ship to arrive and depart the Port of Baltimore since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26.

Less than a week prior, the terminal was the headquarters for the Key Bridge Response Unified Command to coordinate recovery operations, Daniels said. They began condensing their workspace down last weekend, started packing up Monday night after the Dali was refloated that morning and were out by Tuesday afternoon.

While there is still work that needs to be done to be able to complete the salvage operation, this is a wonderful sign that the next milestone is pointing to the fact that business is truly returning to the port, Daniels said.

Just after 10 a.m., the sound of steel drums echoed in the terminal as it began to fill with passengers eager to board Royal Caribbeans Vision of the Seas cruise ship for a five-night trip to Bermuda.

Tom Sitzler said he and his group had planned the trip since August to celebrate his partners 60th birthday. They live in Washington, D.C., but had a very specific reason to sail out of the Port of Baltimore.

The whole purpose of the cruise though was to actually cruise out of Baltimore out past Annapolis, because Allen grew up there, the birthday boy, and he wants to see Annapolis from the bay, Sitzler said.

Ive always wanted to cruise down the bay and see all the spots where I grew up, said Allen Steven, the birthday boy.

Cruises that were already underway or were scheduled in the past two months have been rerouted to the Norfolk Cruise Terminal. Steven said if their trip had been moved to leave from Norfolk, they would have rebooked.

A group of five friends from Harford County also were heading on a cruise to celebrate, donning matching pink hats that said Friends on the Loose 2024 Friends Trip.

We are celebrating a milestone birthday, said Kathy Schlehr. We have all attained the age of 70 or beyond.

Not yet! someone chimed in.

The group said they were ecstatic when they found out about a week and a half ago they would be sailing out of the Port of Baltimore. The departure location was one of the reasons they went on the cruise.

The return of cruises benefits the tourism industry in Baltimore and the rest of the state, Daniels said.

More than 440,000 passengers went through the Cruise Maryland Terminal in 2023, he said, and they may also stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and even come back to enjoy the city afterward.

Many of them are experiencing what Baltimore has to offer for the very first time, Daniels said.

The 915-foot long vessel with a 25-foot draft got underway after 4 p.m. and used the 400-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep channel that opened Tuesday in the Patapsco River. In addition to a pilot, it was accompanied by two tugboats.

Even though the Unified Command vacated the cruise terminal, operations are still ongoing, just back in their own spaces, said David OConnell, the Coast Guards captain of the port. They coordinate daily on ongoing operations, including salvage work in the main and outside channels as well as coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers on vessel traffic in the temporary channels.

Saturday, the Army Corps announced a delayed goal of June 8-10 to restore full access to the federal channel. Officials had previously said this would be achieved by the end of May.

It was great allbeing together and coordinating operations, but its great to be here and see this place in a different light, OConnell said. You see it lively with people that are going on vacation, going through security, the ship is out back. Its a good day.
DENVER (KDVR)  While Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will remain closed over the holiday weekend, the more southern Guanella Pass has been cleared and reopened for the summer.

The Clear Creek County and Park County Road and Bridge divisions, along with the U.S. Forest Service, announced that the pass officially reopened on Thursday at 4 p.m. The pass, located between Square Top Mountain and Mount Blue Sky, connects Interstate 70 in Georgetown to U.S. 285 in Grant.

Motorists can see many of Colorados Rocky Mountain peaks from the roadway, including Mount Bierstadt, Mount Blue Sky and Argentine Pass.

When seasonal mountain road closures will be lifted in Colorado

The pass is also in a portion of Colorado dotted with old logging areas and mines, as noted by the Colorado Department of Transportation, which should be unsurprising given Georgetowns history as a former mining town. Traffic and other regional information for Guanella Pass can be obtained by calling 303-679-2422, ext. 2.

The pass is seasonally closed on or about Nov. 26 and reopens for Memorial Day weekend most years, allowing access to Naylor Lake on the Clear Creek County side of the 24-mile road, and Burning Bear Campground on the Park County side. There are also about 10 first-come, first-served camping spots at Leavenworth Creek Road, which is about 2 miles from Georgetown. Leavenworth Creek Road requires a high-clearance vehicle to traverse.

The pass is a favorite of leaf-peepers, as aspens line the mountains.

Fall foliage peaking on Guanella Pass on Oct. 2, 2023. (KDVR)

A motorist drives the highway on Guanella Pass lined with the changing Aspen trees near Georgetown, Colo., on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005. Leaf peeping, a nickname given to the tradition of viewing autumn foliage, is a healthy business generating hundreds of millions of dollars from Maine to Washington as tourists visit forests and surrounding towns. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Fall foliage peaking on Guanella Pass on Oct. 2, 2023. (KDVR)

Clear Creek County also recommended auto tourists consider multi-day trips with activities like:

Hiking at Silver Dale, with views of the South Fork Clear Creek, Leavenworth Creek and Georgetown Reservoir

Hiking, biking and other activities at Pavilion Point or the old Waldorf Townsite, off of Leavenworth Road

Picnicking, walking and fishing at Clear Lake

Hiking, biking, scenic views and high-altitude lakes on the Naylor Lake/Silver Dollar Lake trails

Guanella Pass is a scenic and historic byway corridor, according to CDOT.

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.
Kratom, a tropical tree from Southeast Asia, has gained attention for its potential mood and pain relief benefits. This article explores key aspects of responsible kratom consumption, with a focus on the primary question: how often can you take kratom?

Well cover essential topics such as what kratom is, recommended dosages, and factors affecting consumption, including body weight, tolerance, strain potency, metabolism, and health conditions. Additionally, well explain how kratom works, various methods of consumption like powders and teas, the onset of effects, and the potential for overdose.

This article aims to provide a thorough understanding of how to safely and effectively use kratom.

What Is Kratom?

Kratom (scientific name Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree belonging to the Rubiaceae family and widespread in Southeast Asia. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, among other countries. Leaves of this tree contain alkaloids of 2 classes, namely mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, with the latter being the most effective in inducing psychoactive effects.

These alkaloids get attached to opioid receptors in the brain, and as a result, different effects are obtained depending on the number of alkaloids one has consumed. It would be Kratoms stimulating properties in slightly higher doses, thus giving more energy, alertness, and sociability. It may be sedative at some point, depending on the dose, which it can relieve pain and calm. The combined effect of that makes red maeng da kratom stand out among all other psychoactive plants.

The efficacy of kratom for relieving pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal has made it an amazing product in the western world. On the other hand, it still constitutes a major problem for healthcare professionals and regulators as the safety and the addictive issues coupled with side effects are largely being discussed within the related scopes. Its legality depends on the country and state in the United States.

What is the Recommended Dosage of Kratom?

Determining the ideal dosage of kratom can be complex due to its varying effects at different doses and individual responses. However, general guidelines can help new and regular users find a starting point for consumption.

Low Dose (Stimulating Effects): Typically, a low dose of kratom is between 1 to 5 grams. At this stage, users typically have an improved sense of energy, alertness, and sociality. This dosage, like caffeine, suits those who want to stay focused and gently stimulated.

Moderate Dose (Balanced Effects): A moderate dose ranges from 5 to 15 grams. This amount can produce a balance between stimulating and sedative effects. Users might feel more relaxed yet still maintain a degree of alertness and energy. This dosage is often used for managing pain without severe sedation.

High Dose (Sedative Effects): Doses above 15 grams are considered high and tend to produce more pronounced sedative effects. High doses are typically used for significant pain relief or by individuals with a higher tolerance to kratom. However, such doses increase the risk of potential side effects, including nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness.

Individual Considerations: To realize the correct dosage, it is essential to consider personal factors such as body weight, metabolism, absolute health, and kratom tolerance. Very beginners should ingest the smallest dose step by step and finally adjust the dose to obtain their desired wellness without side effects.

Kratom is a complex compound with a lack of in-depth study, so users are suggested to be cautious about the dosages and weigh whether this might be relevant to seek the consultation of a healthcare provider, especially for those who have underlying health problems. Besides that, you also need to remember the legal status and regulatory policies in the overall area related to kratom consumption.

What Are the Factors to Consider When Determining Kratom Dosage?

Body Weight:

The weight factor is essential in determining how much kratom to take. Individuals with higher body weights, in general, need a higher dose to feel the desired effects than those with lower body weights. It is normally good to take a dose related to your weight, and then if you experience some effects, you may make adjustments accordingly.

Tolerance:

Tolerance to kratom can develop over time, especially with frequent use. If you notice that the usual dosage is becoming less effective, you might have developed a tolerance. It is essential to manage tolerance by either taking breaks from kratom, rotating strains or adjusting the dosage under supervision. Its important not to increase the dose significantly without professional guidance to avoid potential adverse effects.

Strain and Potency:

Kratom is an extract that comes in different strains, which have varying levels of influence and effects on humans. For example, Maeng Da is known as one of the strongest strains, which usually means that a lower dose is necessary than milder strains like Bali. Each strain has its own unique set of alkaloids that could range from big-time effects to very mild. Generally, the type of effects will also vary from strain to strain.

Metabolism:

Your metabolic rate affects how quickly your body processes kratom. Individuals with a faster metabolism may experience the effects sooner and for a shorter duration, requiring more frequent doses. Those with slower metabolism might find the effects to last longer, suggesting dosage frequency or size adjustments.

Health Conditions:

Underlying health conditions can affect how you should use kratom. For instance, people with liver conditions or renal issues might need to lower their dosage to prevent undue stress on their organs. Additionally, conditions such as anxiety or depression can alter how the body reacts to different substances, including kratom.

How Does Kratom Work?

As an alkaloid extracted from the leaves of the *Mitragyna speciosa* tree, through which it acts, the main active elements in kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. They are just like typical opioids like morphine; however, they operate different mechanisms of the opioid receptors in the brain.

In the case of smaller dosages, Kratom primarily acts in this manner by activating the delta opioid receptors, and this translates to increased energy, enhanced mood, and awareness without jitteriness tendencies associated with caffeine. This stimulating habit is the main reason many users depend on Kratom for improved cognitive function or as an aid in their daily dose of focus.

Upon consuming higher doses, the focus of interaction shifts towards mu-opioid receptors, eliciting sedative, analgesic, and euphoric effects akin to those provided by opioid substances. However, despite these similarities, Kratoms interaction differs significantly. It does not induce the severe respiratory depression frequently responsible for opioid overdose deaths, marking a critical difference in its safety profile.

Alongside its activity on the opioid receptors, a related mechanism depends on Kratoms influence on other neurotransmitter systems. It affects serotonin and norepinephrine pathways, contributing to its potential mood-enhancing and analgesic effects. The engagement with adrenergic receptors also plays a role in the substances energizing properties at low doses.

How to Take Kratom?

Kratom, a versatile substance derived from the *Mitragyna speciosa* tree, can be consumed in several forms, each offering distinct methods of intake and varying onset times for effects. Here are some common ways to take Kratom:

Kratom Powder

The most traditional form of Kratom is its powdered version, obtained by grinding dried Kratom leaves. This form allows for flexible dosing. Users can mix it with liquids or employ the toss and wash method by placing powder into water and then drinking it immediately. Even though it is beneficial, the sour taste can discourage other people.

Kratom Capsules

Kratom capsules provide a convenient way of taking it with a precise dose because the powder is hidden in a casing to avert the bad taste. The effects might be delayed as the body should have time to dissolve the capsules.

Kratom Gummies

Kratom gummies are the type that add kratom extract to tasty gummies to cover the strong flavor, which is becoming attractive. The onset of effects might be slower compared to powder or capsules, as the body needs time to digest the gummy.

Kratom Extract

The extract from Kratom, a strong-quality product obtained by boiling leaves and separating alkaloids, is very pure. It is obtained in liquid or powder formulation and should be used in a low-dosage method. It may be used as an ingredient in beverages or taken sublingually.

Kratom Tea

Kratom tea preparation includes brewing the powder or leaves with hot water to result in a soothing drink to which substitutive ingredients like honey or lemon can be added to reduce the initial bitterness. The slow effect at the beginning of the onset can be integrated as part of peaceful experiences.

Each method of taking Kratom has its advantages, from the rapid onset and flexibility of the powder to the convenience of capsules and the enjoyable taste of gummies.

Extracts offer potency for experienced users, while tea provides a traditional and comforting experience. Regardless of the choice, starting with a lower dose is key, especially for newcomers, to assess tolerance and avoid potential side effects.

How Long Does It Take For Kratom To Take Effect?

The time for the kratom effects to appear will depend on the consumption method, individual metabolism, and dosage. Heres a quick overview:

Kratom Powder: Typically takes effect within 20 to 30 minutes when ingested directly or mixed with a liquid. This form allows for quick absorption into the stomach lining.

Kratom Capsules: The mean lag time of approximately 30 to 45 minutes ensues when the capsules release the medication into the body because the capsule material is usually more drug-resistant.

Kratom Tea: Such as the other way kratom tea will have the effects to be experienced after about 20 to 30 minutes following their absorption into the body.

Kratom Extracts: These concentrated forms may act slightly quicker, especially if taken sublingually (under the tongue).

Individual metabolic rates also influence the onset of effects. Those with faster metabolisms may feel the effects sooner than individuals with slower metabolisms. Additionally, higher doses might accelerate the onset of effects due to increased alkaloids.

Most users can expect to feel the effects of kratom within 20 to 45 minutes of consumption, with full effects typically emerging within one to two hours. Starting with a lower dose is recommended to gauge individual response.

Can You Overdose on Kratom?

Understanding whether one can overdose on kratom is crucial as its popularity grows. Unlike traditional opioids, kratom interacts differently with opioid receptors, significantly reducing the risk of severe side effects like respiratory depression. However, kratom is not risk-free.

Kratom in excessive doses has negative effects on the body, but you wont die immediately, like in the case of opioid overdose, which is possible. Balancing kratom may lead to vomiting or nausea, while the other effects may be dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, or urinary retention. In severe cases, these may range from increased heart rate and high blood pressure to harmful effects on the liver or different forms of psychosis.

Additionally, unregulated kratom usage increases the risk. Varying purity and dose can make unwitting overdose more possible, and the harder this is to measure using adulterants.

Users should exercise caution, stick to recommended dosages, and only purchase kratom from reputable sources to ensure safety and quality. Educating oneself about the proper use of kratom is vital to minimize the risk of overdose and maximize its benefits.

Conclusion

This article has explored essential aspects of kratom consumption, focusing on how often you can take kratom safely and effectively. Weve discussed what kratom is, including its origins and active compounds, and provided guidelines on recommended dosages tailored to various effects, from stimulation to sedation.

Key factors influencing dosage, such as body weight, tolerance, strain potency, metabolism, and health conditions, were also covered to help users customize their usage safely. Additionally, weve addressed the mechanics behind kratoms effects, different consumption methods, the typical onset times of effects, and the crucial question of overdose potential.

Our comprehensive guide aims to arm users with the knowledge needed to enjoy the benefits of kratom while minimizing risks responsibly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the potential risks of frequent Kratom use?

Frequent use of kratom can cause addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. Some potential dangers include liver damage, respiratory disorders, and an adverse combination with other medications.

Is kratom Legal Everywhere?

No, since kratoms legality changes depending on where and in which country it happens. In the US, it is legal in some states, but in other states, banning it or regulating it is the thing done. Always verify local laws before consuming or possessing kratom.

How Long Does Kratom Stay In Your System?

Kratom can remain in your system for approximately 5 to 7 days. The precise duration is distinctive individual characteristics such as your metabolism, body mass, age, hydration level and other health parameters.

Can I Take kratom on an empty stomach?

Yes, you can also ingest kratom with an empty stomach, too. A lot of users choose this method not only because it results in the achievement of quick and strong responses to consuming alcohol but also because it evokes a powerful feeling of euphoria. But it can be presumed that there might be an additional symptom like nausea.

Is Kratom Good for Anxiety?

Kratom might help some users when it comes to anxiety, as it tends to act as a natural sedative when taken at high doses. On the one hand, it can be effective, but on the other, it differs to a great extent, and it is not officially accepted as an approach for anxiety treatment at present.

Story originally appeared on Mountain West Wire
For seasoned Greece-bound travelers, the Mykonos or Santorini? debate has been replaced by a different question this summer: Where to next? The Cyclades newest boutique resorts invite visitors to venture beyond the areas most popular tourist destinations, where unique experiences (and fresh beaches) await. Here are three islands to consider.

Gundari on Folegandros

Gundari, located on the small island of Folegandros, is among the latest luxury properties opening in time for the peak summer season.

More from WWD

Its an island that still has very much a strong soul, says Gundari founder and chief executive officer Ricardo Larriera. He compares Folegandros appeal to what the nearby Santorini was like 30 years ago, before the islands popularity soared, leading to its main towns becoming overrun with hotels, nightlife appeal and tourist-driven shops. It still feels untouched because the locals are still living in and around the island, the locals are still farming, the locals are still wandering around on their donkeys, adds Larriera of Folegandros, which is a 45-minute boat ride from Santorini. You really get a sense of timelessness there.

Gundari

Gundari, which began welcoming visitors in May, is Folegandros first luxury resort. Larriera, whos based in Australia, first visited the island several years ago at the recommendation of a Greek expat friend. Blown away by the locations natural beauty and intimacy of the local community, Larriera saw an opportunity to bring an elevated boutique hotel to the island. He also set out to make Gundari a case study in meshing sustainability with uncompromised luxury hospitality, drawing inspiration from the Aman hotel brand.

Our positioning is focused on giving people a really raw, nature and dramatic landscape-based luxury experience, he says, adding that Gundari will appeal to a more independent luxury traveler  someone whos comfortable with taking a chance on a less-trodden location, and taking their travel itinerary into their own hands. Leading up to the opening, resort bookings were led by American and British travelers, a signal of international appetite for a new summer destination in the area.

Gundari resort entrance.

The property offers sea-view suites and villas, some with private pools. There is a spa onsite, and a seasonal-driven restaurant and bar featuring a menu designed by Michelin-starred Greek chef Lefteris Lazarou. Room rates start at 520 euros per night.

Folegandros main town and crown jewel is Chora, located on a high cliff with winding maze-like streets, originally constructed to ward off pirates. Today, the vibrant town boasts charming restaurants and bars, free from car traffic. Other island attractions include the Church of Panagia, secluded beaches, and scenic vistas well worth the trek.

Gundari room.

The main pool at Gundari.

One&Only Kea Island

Kea is one hour from Athens, making it the closest Cyclades island to mainland Greece: 30 minutes by boat, 15 by helicopter. The resort offers one- and two-bedroom suites, with views of the sea or island landscape. Each option is outfitted with a private pool and deck, and design elements are rooted in highlighting the islands natural beauty with high ceilings and open archways, and materials like local marble. Onsite dining includes a farm and sea to table restaurant, pool bar, and the Bond Beach Club, which boasts a resident DJ and Latin-Asian cuisine. Kea will appeal to travelers looking for a less scene-y scene, with plenty of hiking paths and ancient ruins, and the islands notable Lion of Kea sculpture from 600 BC. The luxury of privacy and seclusion comes at a price: with the brand firmly rooted in the ultra-luxury category, room prices start at $2,750 euros during peak season.

One&Only Kea Island

One&Only Kea Island

Kea Island



Odera Tinos

Marriott has opened Odera, its newest Autograph Collection property, on the island of Tinos, about a 20-minute boat ride away from Mykonos. Odera is the islands first luxury hotel, offering visitors 77 rooms and suites, most with panoramic views of the sea and opening out on shared and private plunge pools. Onsite restaurants led by chef Dimitris Skarmoutsos offer Mediterranean cuisine with a distinctly Tinian influence, including local wines with the islands distinct terroir. Tinos is home to the Panagia Evangelistria church, a prominent pilgrimage destination; other attractions include the Museum of Marble Crafts, located in the marble village of Pyrgos, and, of course: the beaches. Room rates start at around $282 euros a night.

The entrance to Odera.

A guest room at Odera.

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Man faces millions in potential fines after pouring chemicals into hatchery tank, killing thousands of salmon: 'What would possess someone to do something like this?'

A man in Oregon has been arrested for pouring bleach into a hatchery tank, killing 18,000 salmon that would have been released into the wild in June to live out their life cycle.

According to the Guardian, the 20-year-old Oregon resident who broke into the hatchery admitted to police that he bought the bleach. People are reacting to this senseless act on Facebook because of the harm it will cause local communities and wildlife.

The Winchester Bay Salmon Trout Enhancement Program, also known as Step, is one of 200 programs along Oregon's rivers that raise baby salmon in a controlled environment.

These salmon were Chinook salmon, Oregon's state fish. Once released in the wild, they would have traveled to Alaska. They are hatched in freshwater and spend a year there before journeying to the ocean.

Programs like these are vital because human development has caused almost 40% of salmon to go extinct. The programs help provide food for endangered killer whales, which only eat fish and already don't have enough salmon to eat.

While salmon is also a significant economic source for local Alaskan communities, there are debates about whether people should eat it anymore. People can eat other food, but the whales need it to survive.

These salmon are also a way of life for the Indigenous people in Alaska, who have fished them for thousands of years, but there are no longer enough salmon for them to fish.

One Facebook user posted: "What would possess someone to do something like this?"

Another Facebook user commented: "This is unacceptable. This person needs to be found and held accountable."

The man in question was arrested on charges of criminal trespass, second-degree burglary, and criminal mischief.

Since these salmon are endangered, killing them carries a high penalty  up to $750 per fish. If he is fined for every fish, he could be fined more than $13 million.

Sergeant Levi Harris of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said: "The killing of these fish is a real blow to the STEP Program Volunteers, ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), fishermen, and the community as a whole. In my 25 years as a game warden, this is one of the most senseless acts I have seen."

It is every person's responsibility to educate themselves on how to interact with nature and wildlife in a respectful manner in order to protect our ecosystems. In addition to not harming them, people can do their part to prevent things like plastic pollution from entering waterways and their habitats, including switching to reusable water bottles and ditching plastic grocery bags.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Its going to be a busy weekend for all of you travelers out there.

AAA predicts this year will break records with the number of people hitting the road, estimating roughly 600,000 Oregonians will travel over the long weekend.

Memorial Day is shaping up to be the second busiest on record. The only year that beats us is 2005, said AAAs Marie Dodds. Weve never had more people go by car, so that means expect lots and lots of company.

Portland Rose Festival will kick off with CityFair, fireworks display

Dodds further noted this impact reaches beyond the roads.

Air travel is also very robust and is seeing the second highest volume for the holiday, she said.

Were actually expecting a 17% increase over Memorial Day weekend this year in passenger traffic than we saw in 2023, added Allison Ferre with Port of Portland.

Given these numbers, Portland International Airport suggests travelers arrive at least two hours before their flight, as parking continues to be in high demand.

OMSI selected for national heat monitoring project amid growing health hazard

This could be a sign for the summer, according to Dodds.

Normally when we see a super strong Memorial Day like this year, it signals that we will have a very strong travel season ahead, she said.

AAA is also encouraging drivers to be prepared in an emergency and expects to rescue more than 5,000 drivers here in Oregon. They say the number one issue comes from dead batteries, so they suggest checking them before you travel.

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.
In honor of Ozarks Food Harvest delivering 10 million meals to Crosslines, a big red ribbon was cut in front of the loading dock. On hand were, from left, Kenny Ross, board president of Ozarks Food Harvest and vice president of sales of Ross Construction Group; Wes Buchholz, Council of Churches of the Ozarks vice president of programs; Bart Brown, president/CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest; Catherine Crockett, board president of Council of Churches of the Ozarks; Jaimie Trussell, Council of Churches of the Ozarks CEO.

Ozarks Food Harvest donated its 10 millionth meal to the Crosslines Food Pantry March 14 in celebration of the 33-year-long partnership that began in 1990. Through its partnership with Ozarks Food Harvest, Crosslines Food Pantry distributes USDA food, Senior Boxes, fresh produce and additional food items to more than 1,700 families each month.

The Food Bank is celebrating milestones for its network of 270 faith-based and community charities spread across a third of the state of Missouri. Crosslines, a leading food pantry in Greene County, was chosen as the second network partner to be celebrated due to its long history with The Food Bank and its efforts to end hunger in Greene County.

The partnership we've enjoyed with Ozarks Food Harvest these last 33 years has been crucial to the food assistance we provide to our neighbors in need, said Nathan Mortenson, program manager of Crosslines. We are so grateful for the work that Bart and his team do to support pantries like ours all across the region.

Crosslines and Ozarks Food Harvest representatives gave remarks about their history and partnership, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of Ozarks Food Harvests truck unloading area to celebrate the donation of the 10 millionth meal.

This was an excellent chance to showcase Crosslines remarkable work and highlight the urgent need for support from the community, said Bart Brown, president and CEO of Ozarks Food Harvest. Were so lucky to have partners like Crosslines when so many families are facing hunger.

Since 2010, Ozarks Food Harvest has provided more than $240,000 in grant funding and 12 million pounds of food to the Crosslines Food Pantry. Ozarks Food Harvest also delivers food, door-to-door, free of charge to its network of faith-based and community partners to ensure they can focus on feeding families.

Over the past seven months, the Crosslines Food Pantry has experienced a dramatic increase in demand for food among Greene County residents. On average, 41% more households are requesting food assistance compared to the same time period last year. Many of the families are likely using the food pantry for the first-time as 1 in 4 households served did not request assistance the previous year.

To learn more about Ozarks Food Harvest, including volunteering or donating, visit Crosslines website at CCOzarks.org/Crosslines.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Ozarks Food Harvest celebrates 33-year partnership with Crosslines
Palmettos Shave Ice wants to foster a sense of community with sweet treats, conversation

The Tradewell family wants Palmettos Shave Ice, 1319 Military Highway in Pineville, to be more than a place where people can get shave ice, flavored sodas or ice cream floats. They want it to be a place where the community can hang out.

The Tradewell family wants Palmettos Shave Ice to be more than a place where people can get shave ice, flavored sodas or ice cream floats.

We're hoping that people will sit and visit and conversate and really foster a place for community to happen, said Morgan Tradewell, a student at Louisiana Christian University.

The Tradewell family includes Morgan, her father Tony, mother Darla and brother Marshall who will be a freshman at Pineville High School this fall.

The hours are noon-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday but are flexible, said Morgan.

Weekends may go later, said Tony.

They plan to stick with those hours through the summer.

Then as high school students, college students tell us what the average should be for them, were just really going to cater towards the community and what they want, she said.

Customers were socializing while eating sweet treats on the patio Friday afternoon as word got around town that Palmettos was open at 1319 Military Highway right next to Po-Boy Express and across from Jacks Food Mart and Harlows Donut & Bakery.

We need business right here. We need to liven up the street, said Alexis Blackwell who was sitting on the patio with Kaysin Taylor.

We needed a little something and this is perfect, said Taylor.

Palmettos didn't do any advertising other than what was posted on social media, mostly by customers.

My brother-in-law posted it on Facebook that he was just here with his kids, said Blackwell.

Robert Wells and his three-year-old daughter Sarah share a large bowl of blue bubblegum and whipped cream shave ice at Palmettos Shave Ice on Military Highway in Pineville.

Seated at the table next to them was Robert Wells and his three-year-old daughter Sarah who were sharing a large bowl of blue bubblegum and whipped cream shave ice.

We hunt down the really good snow cone stands, and we frequent them, said Wells. But I like this better. Its light. Its fluffy. The syrup is not as thick on the ice. It doesnt fill you up as much. It just cools you off.

Its perfect. Its great. Its way better than a regular snow cone. Its soft and fluffy, said Blackwell, adding that she thought the syrup was fresher than the ones in regular snow cones.

"We found the treat in Hawaii when we went for my senior trip back in 2022, said Morgan, and they fell in love with it. They joked about bringing it back with them.

After they returned home, they missed eating it and thats when they got serious about starting a shave ice business.

Originally, they were only going to sell shave ice, said Marshall. But their menu slowly grew to include sodas and ice cream. They added a soft drink machine and a friend lent them ice cream and milkshake equipment.

We've really only got 3 machines in here. We've got the ice cream cooler, we've got the soda fountain and the shave ice machine, he said.

But those three machines help them make different kinds of treats, such as stuffed shave ice which is shave ice with ice cream. They also have a variety of flavorings that they use for the shave ice and to make flavored sodas.

The shop resembles an old-time gas station complete with a decorative vintage gas pump out front and an old newsstand with menus inside. The building is new, but Darla said they wanted it to look like an old, repurposed service station to blend in with the area.

We wanted it to look like it's just been here, part of the staple in the community, she said. They didnt want to stand out or look out of place.

We're excited to be neighbors with Harlows and Hidden Grounds and Waybacks. They're all great businesses and so we're just ready to add to that," said Morgan.

To encourage people to hang out, they have an area where people can play outdoor games like cornhole or bocce ball or whatever else can fit into their little niche on Military Highway.

One of our workers over there has a hammock in her Jeep, said Tony referring to Morgan.

One workday, she strung the hammock between two trees.

And we laugh because we're over here, sweating away, putting landscape in, said Darla, laughing. And we look and she's in the hammock.

Morgan told them she was working - she was busy setting up their social media.

Tony said there might be a few spots for others to hang a hammock and swing while doing homework and eating shave ice.

When the family was going to start the business, they were initially going to target students at Louisiana Christian University which is just down the road, said Morgan. But then Marshalls friends got excited about the new venture. And PHS is not far from Palmettos.

The enthusiasm wasnt only shared by students. Morgan said a lot of the older couples that walk down Military Highway in front of their shop, or those who eat breakfast at Harlows reacted positively when they found out what the shop was going to be.

The Tradewell family, Morgan (far left), Marshall, Darla and Tony, just opened up Palmettos Shave Ice on Military Highway in Pineville

An 80-year-old man came in while they were working on it and told them that it reminded him of a place that used to be on Main Street where he used to buy root beer floats as a kid, said Tony.

That's been kind of fun, because that's the idea, he explained. We made it look old fashioned, just a place to slow down and have conversations and a sweet treat.

He thinks a lot of stories will be told about what Pineville used to be like and what Pineville is now that will be really special.

"We're excited to bridge the gap between generations and different communities and just really all come together, said Morgan.

Visit Palmettos Cenla on Facebook or palmettos_cenla on Instagram for more information.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Palmettos Shave Ice brings sweet treats to Pineville
RAMALLAH, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Minister of National Economy Mohammed Alamour warned Saturday that the Palestinian economy is facing an "unprecedented" shock, due to the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza Strip.

In a press statement, Alamour said that "the war" carried out by the Israeli government and the financial and economic blockade are disrupting commercial activity and causing an economic contraction for Palestine, which is expected to reach 10 percent.

A World Bank report published on Thursday projected that the Palestinian economy would contract in a range of 6.5 to 9.4 percent this year.

Alamour revealed that the Palestinian economy loses about 20 million U.S. dollars every day due to the complete cessation of production in the Gaza Strip and disruptions in the West Bank, in addition to the unemployment of workers and the sharp decline in economic activity and purchasing power.

Alamour called on the international community to oblige the Israeli government to stop the "genocide" and end the financial and economic blockade which is being practiced as "political blackmail."

The World Bank said in the report that the Palestinian Authority's public finances have deteriorated sharply in the past three months, significantly increasing the risk of a public finance collapse.

At the end of 2023, the financing gap reached 682 million U.S. dollars, and this gap is expected to double in the coming months to reach 1.2 billion, according to the report. 
Photographer inspires students at Columbus high school where he graduated 44 years ago

Photographer inspires students at Columbus high school where he graduated 44 years ago

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A renowned photographer, author and filmmaker visited the Columbus high school he graduated from 44 years ago.

Dudley Edmondson is also a motivational speaker. Today, he provided some motivation to students at his alma mater: South High School.

Edmondson is known for his stunning nature photos. He shared those pictures, along with some words of wisdom.

Columbus Office of Violence Prevention looks at new safety efforts

Edmondson said its important to connect with nature  to know that we all come from nature  and that nature makes our lives possible. He said that connection is vital to our mental and physical health.

Those who would like to meet Edmondson will have a chance tomorrow at Blacklick Woods Metro Park from 10 a.m. to noon.

Edmondson is touring the newly opened canopy walk and hell share insights into his creative process  and the importance of preserving natural habitats.

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.
Preview all of the adoptable pets at www.spcaflorida.org. To meet or adopt a pet located at SPCA Florida, stop by the Adoption Center Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Prior to adoption, all pets are spayed or neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccines and come with a month of flea and heartworm prevention. For questions, contact SPCA Floridas Adoption Center at 863-577-4615 or adopt@spcaflorida.org.

Pickles and Cavatappi

Gender: Male/Female

Age: 5 years and 1 year

Weight: 7 pounds and 8 pounds

Species/Breed: Domestic shorthair cats

Color: Black/White and Black/Orange Tortie

Orphaned Since: March 27 and April 24

Adoption Fee: $75

Pickles, a gentle and mellow 5-year-old gentleman, arrived at SPCA infested with fleas and lice. He was treated and his fur was shaved. He even had to have his teeth pulled because of dental disease. Then, 1-year-old Cavatappi entered the cattery and the two have become inseparable. They are both shy with humans yet playful and comfortable with other cats.

Meet Pickles and Cavatappi, two strangers in the night who found solace in each other. Pickles, a gentle and mellow 5-year-old gentleman, has triumphed over a challenging past. He arrived at SPCA Florida infested with fleas and lice. He was treated and his fur was shaved. He even had to have his teeth pulled because of dental disease. Then, 1-year-old Cavatappi entered the cattery and the two have become inseparable. She showers him with affectionate licks, blissfully unaware of his stubbly fur as it grows back in. They are both shy with humans yet playful and comfortable with other cats. These two deserve a loving family  one that will cherish them both.

Scooter

Gender: Male

Age: 14 years

Weight: 10 pounds

Species: Cat

Breed: Domestic Shorthair  Black

Orphaned Since: March 19

Adoption Fee: $50

Scooter is a 14-year-old senior cat who arrived at SPCA Florida after his owner passed away. Cats experience grief, and Scooter became withdrawn and didnt want to eat. After trying different foods, staff found some he liked. Hes come out of his shell. He's such a loverboy and craves warm laps. He enjoys gentle pets and is very playful and talkative.

Scooter is a 14-year-old senior cat who arrived at SPCA Florida after his owner passed away. Cats experience grief, and Scooter was very sad. He became withdrawn and didnt want to eat. He was moved into the administration office for more personal attention. After trying different foods, staff found some he was agreeable to. Hes come out of his shell and his personality is starting to shine. He's such a loverboy and craves warm laps to cuddle up in. He enjoys gentle pets and is very playful. His talkative nature adds to his charm.

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Rufus

Gender: Male

Age: 10 months

Weight: 55 pounds

Species: Dog

Breed: Great Dane/Mix  White/Tan

Orphaned Since: April 24

Adoption Fee: $250

Rufus is a smart Great Dane Mix. At 55 pounds and 10 months old, he's still a playful puppy with lots of energy. He's learning his basic commands like sit and stay. His baby blue eyes and brown-and-white markings make him quite the looker. He's a big pup who enjoys cuddling and playing with other dogs.

Rufus is a smart Great Dane Mix looking for a forever family. At 55 pounds and 10 months old, he's still a playful puppy with lots of energy. He's learning his basic commands like sit and stay, and he needs you to continue his training at home. He's eager to learn! His baby blue eyes and brown-and-white markings make him quite the looker. And dont miss his pearly whites  theyve been freshly polished and scaled. He's a big pup who enjoys cuddling and playing with other dogs. SPCA Floridas canine team has given him a thumbs up for doggy dates and sleepovers so you can get to know him better.

Aayla

Gender: Female

Age: 3 years

Weight: 101 pounds

Species: Dog

Breed: Rottweiler  Black/Tan

Orphaned Since: April 16

Adoption Fee: $150

Aayla, a sweet and gentle Rottweiler, might be a tad shy at first. But once she gathers her courage, shell play gently with you. Aayla is a water enthusiast  she dreams of summers in the pool or sprinkler. She's undergoing treatment for heartworms, but the cost is covered by SPCA Florida. Aayla is smart and knows her basic commands. And when it comes to expressing herself, she can be quite vocal.

Aayla, a sweet and gentle Rottweiler, might be a tad shy at first, her eyes nervously fixed on the toy youre offering. But once she gathers her courage, shell play gently with you. Aayla is a water enthusiast  she dreams of summers spent in the pool or sprinkler with her new family. Currently undergoing treatment for heartworms, Aayla will need to take it easy until shes fully recovered. But dont worry  the cost of treatment is covered by SPCA Florida, you just need to bring her to appointments. Despite her shyness, Aayla is smart and knows her basic commands. And when it comes to expressing herself, she can be quite vocal.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Meet the SPCA pets: Pickles and Cavatappi, Scooter, Rufus and Aayla
A unique coral was discovered in the freezing waters of the Arctic Ocean, and researchers believe it is likely a brand new species.

Corals are generally associated with tropical climates; warm, clear waters that teem with brightly colored fish darting to and fro among the reefs that corals create. But theyre far more diverse than that. They can survive in a multitude of different ecosystems, from the paradisiacal Pacific atolls to the darkest, deepest depths of the sea.

Scientists at the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census made the discovery of the new coral while they were researching the Arctic Ocean. They began their expedition from Troms in northern Norway on May 3 aboard a vessel named the RV Kronprins Haakon, but corals were vanishingly rare.

Weve seen very, very few corals since weve been here in the Arctic. On the dive today, we saw lots of these crinoids growing, and what we found on this crinoid is a coral living on the crinoid stalk. Its almost certainly a new species, Professor Alex Rogers, Principal Investigator at Ocean Census, explains in the video. It really demonstrates coevolution in the deep sea but also how effective the remotely operated vehicle [ROV] is. We get the specimens in such good condition that those sorts of relationships are actually preserved.

Ocean Census released a video using footage from the remotely operated vehicle its researchers rely on.

The area they were exploring is a fantastic one. It was mostly in the Arctic mid-ocean ridge system, a place thats chock full of hydrothermal vents that attract life of all kinds. Since those vents pump out methane and sulphur and are relatively warm, different creatures take up residence in a place that would normally be almost devoid of life.

Finding life in areas like these is particularly important right now, as many scientists are concerned about the ramifications of what operations like deep-sea mining might have. The search for metals like lithium and cobalt  which can be used in electric vehicle batteries  can require the dredging of the ocean floor. That, of course, can demolish many of the unknown ecosystems that develop there.

Understanding every aspect of our ecosystem holds immense significance. Today, we possess new tools, empowering us to uncover discoveries previously beyond our reach. Innovations such as eDNA analysis, advancements in taxonomy, and machine learning represent sophisticated means of gathering essential information, said Jan-Gunnar Winther, in a statement. Winther is the pro-rector for Research and Development at The Arctic University of Norway and Specialist Director at the Norwegian Polar Institute located in Troms. With our current capabilities to amass vast amounts of data and consolidate it effectively, there lies tremendous potential. If this data is made accessible and shared widely, not just by those who collected it, it could have a profound impact on scientific understanding.

The post Potentially New Species of Coral Discovered in the Freezing Arctic Ocean first appeared on The Inertia.
Every evening on Turtle Island a small circle forms on the beachfront. Couples discuss their home lives over cocktails and mamas and papasthe resorts uniquely intimate variation on butlerslisten. Then, as the sun sets, something unusual happens. One by one, those who are departing by seaplane from this Yasawan isle off Fijis northwestern coast pour out their hearts. They recall the five or more nights theyve spent here, the minimum length of stay. They share how they were touched by their mamas gentleness, by the smiles of the local village children, and by the late nights spent sitting on the kava mat with the resorts maintenance workers, farmers and cleaners.

For the uninitiated, its all very sincere. When the tears begin to flow, as they inevitably do, its bewildering. Then, four nights later, when its time to recount their own experience something strange happens; the ducts of hardened cynics loose.

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One of our measures of success is the tear factor, says Richard Evanson Jr., the owner and managing director of the private island. How many people are crying when they say goodbye to the team on their departure? Its actually quite a large percentage.

With 110 full-time staff members for just 28 guests, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with locals on Turtle Island.

But moist handkerchiefs arent the only things that make Turtle Island unique in the world of 5-star beach resorts (rates start at $12,750 for the full, all-inclusive stay). Its best known to outsiders as the backdrop to the 1980 Brooke Shields flick Blue Lagoon, and today it retains that simple, undeveloped castaway character. Notably, there is no central pool, spa, or gym. There is no Wi-Fi or television in the villas. Meals are served communally, usually outdoors. Each day couples are transported and marooned on one of a dozen private beaches to enjoy nothing more than a packed lunch, the tropical breeze, and each other. The slow daily rhythm of the resort floats on a mattress of traditional songs and mellow island guitar music performed by members of the 110 full-time staff that live and work here. To put that into context, there are only 14 bures on the 500 acre island, keeping the guest count at a maximum of 28.

I grew up here as my father was building and creating this island, and something we used to talk about is how much we would prefer to be a seven-star emotional experience rather than a seven-star brick-and-mortar resort, said Evanson, whose father, the late Richard Evanson Senior, sold his cable TV business to pursue a happier life on the island in 1972. We made a conscious decision to focus on the emotional, intangible aspects of the experience, rather than the physical.

That may sound very kumbaya, but dont expect to find crystal waving woo-woo wackos here. Instead over dinner, doctors compare their collections of Ferraris. Aspen real estate tycoons order Napa cabs. Forty-year-old tech retirees come for the snorkeling. Some of Sen. John McCains ashes are sprinkled here, and former Australian PM Scott Morrison likes to drop by to play ukulele with the staff. Turtle Islands reputation as a premier honeymoon destination, attracted Brittney Spears and K-Fed following their 2004 nuptials; as well as Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

Stripped back and simple amenities allows for a bigger emotional impact, experts say.

An impressive 55 percent of these guests return to the island at some point, and many, like the McCain family, have come again and againpresumably in pursuit of a healthy blubber.

You may think that its unusual, but one of my philosophies in creating travel programs is: If you can make them laugh or cry during the experience youve done your job, says John Sutherland, a lifestyle consultant and private concierge specializing in luxury travel. Youve got to remember that a lot of these people live in the city and lead very stressful lives. They go to places like this to absolutely let themselves go.

Sutherland says emotional experiences are what his clientele crave, so hes based his business on experiences that make bosoms swell.



A client from Malaysia came to me and said, Now that Ive made a lot of money, Ive asked my father if there was anything that hes dreamed about all his life but never done. He said that hes always envisioned himself flying into the creator of a volcano. He wants to fly into an inactive volcano and just walk around, Sutherland says. So he got two helicopters and took the family into a crater in Indonesia. I said, What did your father say? And I got the classic line: He couldnt say anything. He couldnt speak. There is nothing that stirs emotions more than fulfilling a childhood dream.

But the market for emotion isnt universal.

Gentle experiences and space to connect with loved ones is part of the mission.

I cried when I left Fiji, says Jaclyn Sienna India, founder and CEO of Sienna Charles. I think its just a country wide thing. But places like Fiji and Bora Bora are for my L.A.-based clients only, and its a home run trip for them because its just a quick overnight and then theyre in another world. If you say Fiji to a New York client, they think you are an absolute idiot.

The stiff upper lip and pathological fear of sincerity stereotypical of the British is similarly at odds with the maternal-embrace of places like Turtle Island; even Evanson admits that Americans get the most out of his resort.

However, India adds that due to a lack of well-managed private islands, places like Turtle are ideal as buyouts for families or corporate retreats no matter where youre from. (Its $36,600 per night to buy out Turtle Island.)

Its a place to bring grandma or celebrate moms 60th birthday, she says. You are creating that immersive experience while still having that safety net of being at a really well-run hotel.

The site for the film Blue Lagoon, the islands are so beautiful youll shed a tear.

Nevertheless, Evanson says that when it comes to crafting tailored, emotional experiences for his guests (be they British or American), he wins over more than he loses. He says the key is successfully managing guest expectations, encouraging staff to create relationships with guests, and enhancing conversations. One example, he says, is that the islands bure mamas keep pictures of their families with them, so that if a guest shares a story about their family back home, the mama can in turn share their own family with the guest.

You know, Ive asked a lot of people, Hey, is there anything you would recommend or suggest? says Evanson. What usually happens is at the beginning of their stay, they say, Yeah, you know, you need a sauna. You need a gym. You need to have a pool. But by the end of their stay, the majority of them will come up to me and say, By the way, scratch all that. Dont change a thing.

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Theyve forsaken the school bus and are riding their bikes to school. They love it.

As the sun rose Friday and the heat already could be felt, 13 third and fourth graders had their helmets on, backpacks strapped and bikes at the ready.

They, along with a group of parents, were heading to Springview Elementary School in Miami Springs, part of a ride to school every Friday, known as the Springview Bike Bus.

Fridays are awesome, said third-grader Mia Gonzalez. I get to be with my friends and exercise before school.

The groups ride began last May when one parent, who had been riding occasionally with her daughter, saw viral bus bike videos from a physical education teacher at Alameda Elementary in Portland, Oregon.

I saw this video from Sam Balto and he was leading this group of kids, which looked like a huge group, said Noel Gonzalez, the groups organizer and no relation to Mia. The parents and even the dogs were riding bikes and blasting music. The kids were so excited; it just looked like pure joy.

She began spreading the word to other school parents.

We invited mostly by word of mouth, said Gonzalez, a former producer at the Miami Herald. People that we knew lived close by to where we were.

On their first ride on May 5, 2023, the group had about seven riders. A year later, there can be up to 10 to 20 kids riding, along with parents.

Students at Springview Elementary School in Miami Springs ride to school on Friday, May 24, 2024, as part of of The Springview Bike Bus. Parents and teachers ride with them.

Gonzalez, 37, who grew up in Miami Springs, leads the group with safety instructions, showing them which hand signals to use in case they need to stop and reminding them to give each other space and not make the ride a race.

She and her 9-year-old daughter Joanna began riding bikes to school when Joanna was in first grade. Seeing how much her daughter loved riding her bike to school, Gonzalez wanted to find a way for other kids to do the same.

After seeing the videos from the Portland teacher, Sam Balto, Gonzalez enlisted the help of her friend and neighbor, Monique Gonzalez, whose daughter Marisa also attends Springview, to start the Springview Bike Bus.

I would encourage everyone that can to start a bike bus, start small and just encourage people to get on their bikes, said Monique Gonzalez.

A bike bus is comprised of students and chaperones who ride bikes together along a designated route to school, picking up additional riders at scheduled stops, much like a school bus. Theyve been popping up all over since Baltos videos.

Its amazing to see all the excitement around bike buses and active transportation at school, Balto told the Miami Herald. The benefits for students and communities are tremendous.

Balto started a bike bus for his school in 2022, after seeing his students disconnected from the outdoors and each other following the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, the Springview group had a small but mighty turnout of about 13 excited kids. They wore brightly colored backpacks and matching uniforms. Monique Gonzalez donned a reflective vest, organizing the riders into a tidy procession.

Along the way, neighbors waved from their porches, and the childrens voices carried through the neighborhood on their one-mile ride.

The group had its biggest turnout on May 8, National Bike and Roll to School Day, when 25 kids plus 20 adults, including parents and teachers, rode to school.

It was joyous, said Kurt Kaminer, who rode with the group and who works as the multimedia coordinator for the University of Miamis BikeSafe program for kids. The program aims to promote bicycle safety through education, infrastructure improvements and community engagement initiatives. They assisted the Springview Bike Bus on the National Bike and Roll to School Day.

With streets the way they are, youth just dont get an opportunity to get on their bikes and just enjoy riding about that often these days, said Kaminer. And so, when the opportunity provides itself, youll see that all of a sudden kids who might find moping about going to school are all of a sudden the most excited kids in the world.

My daughter jumps out of bed, said Monique Gonzalez. It kinda serves as a beautiful reward after a week of working so hard at school.

Thomas Garlands two sons, Dylan, 9, and Gavin, 8, also are regulars on the Friday ride.

When I was growing up I was riding my bike to school every single day, and things have changed now, says Garland.

It feels good to ride our bikes in the morning because it wakes us up better, and we get to have fun riding our bikes, said smiling fourth-grader Dylan Garland.

The kids from the Springview bike bus want more people to join their morning rides.

People should join because its honestly really fun, and you get to interact with your friends, said third grader Bella Pestonit. And if you usually get to school late like me it helps you to not be late.

Mom Monique Gonzalez hands out stickers to a group of students who are part of The Springview Bike Bus after they rode their bikes to Springview Elementary School in Miami Springs, on Friday, May 24, 2024.
NORTH HAMPTON  Fortune 500 corporations spend billions on marketing, branding their companies with logos and slogans projecting the images they hope to convey.

After a difficult year, thats what the North Hampton Police Department had in mind when it asked to update its vehicles appearance.

Last September, North Hampton Police Chief Robert LaBarge approached the town Select Board, advising members of the disdain his officers had for their lackluster black cruisers.

I dont want to say they hate them, LaBarge said at the time, but they dont like them.

From left, Rick Woods, owner of New England Vehicle Outfitters of Newmarket; Rose Dow, owner of Coastal Speedpro; WHS seniors Chloe Marx and Kaleb Joiner, and North Hampton Police Chief Robert LaBarge, in front of North Hampton Police Department's newly updated cruiser look.

LaBarge proposed turning the page and having Winnacunnet High School graphic arts students help create a new cruiser design.

Getting the thumbs-up from the towns Select Board, LaBarge headed to Hampton, finding a willing ear in Donna Couture, the director of extended learning at Winnacunnet High School. She put out a notice to students to determine interest and struck gold when seniors Chloe Marx and Kaleb Joiner stepped up to the plate to take on the task.

Joiner was interested in just such an adventure.

I really wanted to do an ELO (extended learning opportunity) project, said Joiner. Id heard so much about it from other students. And the way Ms. Coulture and Mr. Long run it is great. It offers learning outside the classroom, and I liked the commitment aspect to the community it offered.

For Marx, her interest in art and helping with a real-life project appealed to her.

It was a really great opportunity, said Marx. Not just helping out the community, but taking something from an idea to reality.

Winnacunnet High School seniors Chloe Marx and Kaleb Joiner speak at North Hampton's Select Board meeting.

As for the man who mentored the two students through what turned out to be a nearly school-year-long project, 19-year veteran graphic arts teacher Chris Cassamas realized instantly this wasnt as easy as it sounded.

I was in the design industry for a while, Cassamas said. I knew this project was huge. Its an extremely high-end process to take a concept and make it press-ready. The kids put in a lot of hours, most of it on their own time. It took a lot of commitment, and they handled it perfectly.

Shuck yeah! Swell Oyster Company shells out new raw bar and patio Hampton Beach

From design, to the press, and on the cruiser

Everyone admits there were hiccups along the way  including convincing LaBarge his wish to incorporate a sea wave into the design wasnt going to fly.

But working as a team, being willing to go back to the drawing board a few times, Marx and Joiner put together a working model with the help of Cassamas and two local businesses.

Cassamas said the seniors added different aspects to the project with the help of Rose Dow and Crystal Dawn, of Pease-based Coastal Speedpro, and Newmarkets New England Vehicle Outfitters President Rick Woods.

WHS senior Kaleb Joiner adds the finishing touch  the North Hampton Police Departments emblem  to the innovative cruiser design he crafted alongside classmate Cloe Marx

According to Cassamas, Marx got the team started with her artistic drawings, and then Joiner used software to computerize the design, providing the technicalities needed to get it on press.

After that, Speedpro and NEVO brought reality to bear, Cassamas said, instructing the students  and LaBarge  that some things might look nice, but they just dont work for a press run or a cruisers dimensions. It was Speedpros job to take the design and make it into decals on its large presses and NEVOs to apply them to the cruiser.

Dow explained exactly what kind of designs can be turned into decals for printing at large format professional printing companies like Speedpro, which works with scores of companies.

Chloe and Kaleb did a lot of observing and listening, she said. And then they began asking questions. They had to start all over, but they made it work.

The students then discovered the intricacies of applying printed decals to the Ford Explorer Interceptor SUV, like North Hampton uses, said Woods, who outfits emergency vehicles from Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire.

I gave them some constructive criticism, said Woods. They were willing to listen and adjust and roll with it.

More: North Hamptons Runnymede Farm under agreement for sale

New cruiser design worth the wait

It took longer than expected, but the students are raving about the process and the people who taught them and allowed them to interact with their businesses.

Succeeding isnt instantaneous, the students said, succeeding is the journey.

We knew we werent going to get it perfect the first time, Joiner said. And Im glad. Success comes with time.

Im happy with it, Marx said. I got more than experience from it. I would recommend (extended learning opportunities) to others.

The North Hampton Police Department unveils its sleek new cruiser design created by Winnacunnet High School seniors Kaleb Joiner and Cloe Marx.

LaBarge is delighted with it all, believing the effort of many produced a pleasing, functional, modern cruiser appearance everyones praising.

This is their design, LaBarge said. Its more visible; it increases safety; it gives us a new look, and it increases our image. I know its the best-looking police car around.

Art and marketing aside, LaBarge said the design is safer because it incorporates headlight-reflective striping, making a black cruiser more visible at night, especially when officers are parked along the roadside assisting others.

Unfortunately, however, only one of the towns five marked cruisers bears the departments snappy new look, LaBarge said. To relieve the burden from taxpayers, hes seeking grants and donations to underwrite the $2,500 per cruiser cost before the other four suit up.

There was plenty of praise for everyone involved in the project, especially the two students graduating this June.

Marx is heading to UNH to major in biology or statistics in pursuit of her interest in a research career as an allied science professional.

Joiner is set to matriculate at St. Anselm College, where he will consider majoring in graphic arts or business administration or, perhaps, criminal justice.

Not one of the adults they worked with on this project doubts they both have bright futures.

LaBarge is hoping Joiner might end up driving a North Hampton cruiser someday on the job.

Hampton Beach Casino redevelopment: New concert venue, 500-room hotel, convention center

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Winnacunnet students give North Hampton police cruiser a makeover
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A man is in the hospital following an early Saturday morning shooting in Grand Rapids.

Just after midnight, officers with the Grand Rapids Police Department were sent to the area of Hall Street SW and Ionia Avenue SW for a shooting.

GRPD said that a man in his mid-20s was shot multiple times. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

No suspect information has been released.

Its unclear what led up to the shooting.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The shooting remains under investigation.

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1 killed, 1 injured after 2 motorcycles crash, troopers say

Two motorcycles crashed Friday night in Chester County killing one and injuring another, highway patrol troopers said.

Motorcyclist killed, driver charged for crash in west Charlotte

A 2015 Yamaha traveling south on Highway 321 sideswiped a 1998 Harley-Davidson while trying to pass it near Armenia Road at about 3 p.m.

Both bikes wrecked.

The Yamaha rider died and the person on the Harley was airlifted to a hospital.

No additional details have been made available.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

VIDEO: Close call: Motorcycle nearly hits kid while passing stopped Iredell Co. school bus




Days after a toddler choked and died at a coastal Georgia daycare, the state shut it down.

According to a filing from Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, they were informed Tuesday of a childs death at The Kids Nest Learning Center in Brunswick.

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They say the child, whose family identified him as 16-month-old Jamal Bryant Jr., was not properly supervised while eating a large piece of watermelon as a snack. The child choked on the watermelon and died at a nearby hospital.

Bright from the Start issued an emergency closure notice for the daycare on Thursday.

According to surveillance video, three employees were seen talking to one another instead of focusing on the children. Bright from the Start also says the video does not show the employees providing proper aid. Instead of performing CPR, as is the standard, they patted the child on the back repeatedly.

TRENDING STORIES:

Channel 2 Action News sister station Action News Jax went through inspection reports and found several complaints against The Kids Nest Learning Center dating back to 2022. They range from allegations of abuse to improper child supervision and more.

The daycares last inspection was completed in April and has been threatened with fines at least three times for repeated violations.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
UPDATE: EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  One person was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian late Friday night, May 24, El Paso Police said.

The crash happened at about 9:40 p.m. Friday at Lee Trevino and Pebble Hills.

Police say an unknown vehicle was traveling north on the 3000 block of Lee Trevino when the pedestrian was hit.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to call the Police Departments non-emergency number at (915) 832-4400 or to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at (915) 566-8477.

This is a developing story and we will update it as soon as we learn more.

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.
JERUSALEM, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel has agreed to renew talks with Hamas on a hostage deal next week, with the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Saturday.

According to the report, at a meeting in Paris on Friday, David Barnea, the chief of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency, presented a new proposal approved by the Israeli war cabinet to William Burns, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

An Israeli government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the three officials discussed the basis for continuing negotiations next week under the new proposals put forward by Egypt and Qatar, with the participation of the United States.

Kan TV reported that Burns had offered potential solutions to the contentious issues that had stalled previous negotiations, adding that the upcoming talks will be led by Egypt and Qatar, with active involvement from the United States.

The previous round of ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, which took place in Egypt, collapsed earlier this month.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel that the movement "was not informed by the mediators of anything related to the resumption of negotiations."

Hamdan added, "Today's talk about new negotiations is not serious. We do not need new negotiations."

He added that negotiations should aim to stop "the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, end the siege, and achieve a fair exchange deal."

On Saturday, Gaza health authorities accused Israel of obstructing the wounded and sick individuals from leaving Gaza.

More than 20,000 wounded people and patients with cancer, heart and blood diseases are waiting for the Rafah border crossing to open in "inhumane conditions due to the occupation, siege and war of extermination imposed on civilians in Gaza," spokesman Ashraf Al-Qedra said in a press statement.

Meanwhile, Egypt is continuing its efforts to resume negotiations between Israel and Hamas, according to media reports.

"Egypt is continuing its efforts to reactivate the ceasefire negotiations and the exchange of prisoners and detainees, and is also conducting intensive communications to restore calm in the Gaza Strip," Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel quoted an unnamed high-ranking source as saying on Saturday. 
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A 101-year-old World War II veteran was honored by the City of Las Vegas Friday, as he gets ready to return to Normandy, France for the anniversary of D-Day.

Onofrio No-No Zicari, who many refer to as a national treasure, is the last known D-Day veteran in Las Vegas

Its just amazing, Zicari said. I didnt know anybody knew me.

A 101-year-old World War II veteran was honored by the City of Las Vegas Friday, as he gets ready to return to Normandy, France for the anniversary of D-Day. (KLAS)

He spoke with 8 News Now about storming Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on June 6, 1944.

It was a war, period, Zicari said. I dont like to talk about it, but Im here.

No-No was one of many honored at Police Memorial Park near Cheyenne Avenue and the 215, with 4,080 American flags planted for all the brave men and women who lost their lives fighting for our country.

Seeing all these flags here, Vincent Palmeri Junior told 8 News Now. It gives me a chill up and down my spine.

No-No was one of many honored at Police Memorial Park near Cheyenne Avenue and the 215, with 4,080 American flags planted for all the brave men and women who lost their lives fighting for our country. (KLAS)

Palmeri is a Vietnam veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient. He called events like this crucial to remember the fallen and shine a light on the issues others face after combat.

Youre in Vietnam fighting one day, and the next day youre back home trying to become a civilian, Palmeri explained, recalling his own experience. And your head is still very mixed up.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Las Vegas City Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske echoed the importance of Memorial Day during Fridays ceremony.

Memorial Day is a solemn time, Councilwoman Allen-Palenske said. We all stand in solidarity supporting the men and women who lost their lives serving us.

A 101-year-old World War II veteran was honored by the City of Las Vegas Friday, as he gets ready to return to Normandy, France for the anniversary of D-Day. (KLAS)

This comes as efforts continue to thank No No and all the others here in Las Vegas who made the ultimate sacrifice.

In the service, I didnt think I was going to get out of there, Zicari said. But I did and here I am.

Zicari will join seven other D-Day veterans on a trip back to Normandy, France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

This will mark Zicaris second trip back to Omaha Beach since 1944. He received a Purple Heart in Las Vegas in 2021 for being wounded in action on that historic day.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A 14-year-old boy convicted last month of manslaughter in a Woodland crash that killed two people and injured several others has been ordered to remain in detention until age 19, a Yolo Superior Court judge ruled Friday.

The teen  13 at the time of the April 2023 crash that killed 43-year-old Tina Vital and her 4-year-old granddaughter, Adalina Lilah Perez  will serve the time at a juvenile detention facility, the Yolo County District Attorneys Office said Friday in a news release. The boys identity has not been publicly disclosed because he is a minor.

Prosecutors have said the teen stole his familys SUV, took it for a joyride and led law enforcement on a chase before crashing into a car carrying Vital and Adalina.

The SUV also hit a second vehicle. Eleven people were injured between the three vehicles, including the underage driver and the two occupants who died, authorities said. The force of the collision left the vehicles stacked atop one another.

The boy was convicted last month of numerous charges including two counts of vehicular manslaughter and several of evading a peace officer.

Judge Paul Richardson, at the conclusion of a two-day hearing Friday, ruled that the boy should be detained until he is 19, prosecutors said in the news release; he had faced a maximum sentence of detention until his 21th birthday.

The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution for all 10 victims, according to the District Attorneys Office. Restitution for four of the victims was set at $11,195.82 during this weeks hearing. The amount for the six additional victims has not yet been determined.

A judge last month sustained all charges except two counts of murder against the defendant, according to the Yolo County District Attorneys Office. California juvenile trials do not go before a jury; a judge determines whether young defendants did what theyre accused of.

The Bees Rosalio Ahumada contributed to this story.
14 Sacramento libraries to provide free lunches for students over the summer

(FOX40.COM)  Sacramento-area kids will have an option for free meals this summer.

The Sacramento Public Library announced it will provide free meals at 14 different libraries in Sacramento County.

The Lunch at the Library program will begin June 18 and continue through Aug. 9 with meals distributed Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 1 p.m.

The meals are offered to those 18 and under who must be present to receive the meal and eat them on site. The library said registration and eligibility documentation are not required to receive a meal.

Sacramento schools may have a longer school year for the next two years

When arriving, officials said to look for signage at the library or meeting room entrance at the 14 locations.

Where the meals will be distributed

Here is where the free meals will be available:

Arcade: 2443 Marconi Avenue, Sacramento, Ca 95821

Carmichael: 5605 Marconi Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608

Colonial Heights: 4799 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95820

Del Paso Heights: 920 Grand Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95838

Elk Grove: 8900 Elk Grove Boulevard, Elk Grove, CA 95624

Fair Oaks: 11601 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Martin Luther King Jr.: 7324 24th Street Bypass, Sacramento, CA 95822

North Highlands-Antelope: 4235 Antelope Road, Antelope, CA 95843

North Sacramento  Hagginwood: 2109 Del Paso Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95815

Rancho Cordova: 9845 Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95824

Rio Linda: 6724 6th Street, Rio Linda, CA 95673

Southgate: 6132 66th Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95823

Sylvan Oaks: 6700 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights, CA 95621

Valley Hi-North Laguna: 7400 Imagination Parkway, Sacramento, CA 95823

According to Sacramento Public Library, funding for the project is provided by the State of California and administered by the California State Library.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
DENVER (KDVR)  A monthslong investigation resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect on accusations of harassment and extortion of children through Snapchat and text messages.

John Farnsworth Van Der Bosch, 18, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of nine charges, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office. He is charged with:

Three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, Class 3 felonies

Two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, Class 4 felonies

Two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, Class 5 felonies

One count of criminal extortion, Class 4 felony

One count of aggravated cruelty to animals, Class 4 felony

According to the sheriffs office, detectives with the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the FBI began to investigate Van Der Bosch on Feb. 6. The investigators allege that Van Der Bosch was sexually exploiting children and had child sexual abuse materials in his possession.

Man pleads guilty to cyberstalking, sextortion in Colorado, 2 states

According to Colorado court records, the charges stem from alleged actions in December 2023.

John Farnsworth Van Der Bosch, 18, was arrested by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office on nine charges, including seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child (third-, fourth- and fifth-degree felonies), one count of criminal extortion and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Van Der Bosch was booked into the Arapahoe County Detention Center with a $100,000 cash or surety bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court on June 25.

FOX31 has reached out to the attorney listed in his case for comment.

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Investigators believe there could be additional victims in this case and are sharing his photo to that end. Anyone with information on this case, or who believes they may know someone who was harassed, extorted or exploited by this suspect, is asked to call the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office tip line at 720-874-8477.

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.
Two Davenport residents were in custody Saturday after animal-control officers and police allege they found malnourished animals at their home along with dead rabbits and a cat in a freezer, according to court records.

Suzanne Schmidt, 48, and Joshua Schmidt, 25, both face three aggravated-misdemeanor charges of animal neglect with serious injury or death, and three serious-misdemeanor charges of animal neglect with injury, court records show.

Joshua Schmidt (L) and Suzanne Schmidt (Scott County Jail)

In Iowa, conviction of an aggravated misdemeanor could mean a sentence of up to two years and a fine.

Shortly before 4 p.m. April 19, Animal Protection Services responded to a Davenport home on West 3rd Street for a report of animal neglect, according to arrest affidavits. The Schmidts failed to provide several animals in their care with basic needs such as adequate food, water, and sanitary conditions leading to serious medical issues/death to several animals, affidavits show.

Additionally, affidavits show that Animal Protection Services removed one canine (matted fur with feces stuck to it, long nails, malnourished) and two rabbits (both showing signs of neglect, one showing signs of starvation).

In the Schmidts freezer were two rabbits and one cat that showed signs of severe neglect and were just fur and bones, according to arrest affidavits.

There were no medical records for any of the animals, according to arrest affidavits. Four cats were allowed to remain with the defendants, but Animal Protection Services did note their litter boxes were full of fecal matter.

Suzanne Schmidt, according to court records, has received prior city citations for exceeding number of animals (allowed,) failure to provide proof of rabies vaccination and failure to obtain a city dog license.

Suzanne and Joshua Schmidt, each held on $2,500 bond, were in custody Saturday in Scott County Jail, and are set for preliminary hearings June 4 in Scott County Court.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Chaim Otmazgin had tended to dozens of shot, burned or mutilated bodies before he reached the home that would put him at the center of a global clash.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Working in a kibbutz that was ravaged by Hamas Oct. 7 attack, Otmazgin  a volunteer commander with ZAKA, an Israeli search and rescue organization  saw the body of a teenager, shot dead and separated from her family in a different room. Her pants had been pulled down below her waist. He thought that was evidence of sexual violence.

FILE - Volunteers from the ZAKA rescue service remove blood stains from a public bomb shelter on a road near the Israeli-Gaza border in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Nov. 20, 2023. Some allege the accounts of sexual assault were purposely concocted. Zaka officials and others dispute that. Regardless, APs examination of Zakas handling of the now debunked stories shows how information can be clouded and distorted in the chaos of the conflict. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)

He alerted journalists to what hed seen. He tearfully recounted the details in a nationally televised appearance in the Israeli Parliament. In the frantic hours, days, and weeks that followed the Hamas attack, his testimony ricocheted across the world.

But it turns out that what Otmazgin thought had occurred in the home at the kibbutz hadnt happened.

Beyond the numerous and well-documented atrocities committed by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, some accounts from that day, like Otmazgins, proved untrue.

Its not that I invented a story, Otmazgin told The Associated Press in an interview, detailing the origins of his initial explosive claim  one of two by ZAKA volunteers about sexual violence that turned out to be unfounded.

I couldnt think of any other option other than the teen having been sexually assaulted, he said. At the end, it turned out to be different, so I corrected myself.

But it was too late.

The United Nations and other organizations have presented credible evidence that Hamas militants committed sexual assault during their rampage. The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, said Monday he had reason to believe that three key Hamas leaders bore responsibility for rape and other acts of sexual violence as crimes against humanity.

Though the number of assaults is unclear, photo and video from the attacks aftermath have shown bodies with legs splayed, clothes torn and blood near their genitals.

However, debunked accounts like Otmazgins have encouraged skepticism and fueled a highly charged debate about the scope of what occurred on Oct. 7  one that is still playing out on social media and in college campus protests.

Some allege the accounts of sexual assault were purposely concocted. ZAKA officials and others dispute that. Regardless, APs examination of ZAKAs handling of the now debunked stories shows how information can be clouded and distorted in the chaos of the conflict.

FILE - Israeli soldiers inspect the site of the Nova music festival where at least 260 Israeli festival-goers were killed during the attack by Hamas militants on Oct 7, near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. Oct. 13, 2023. Some allege the accounts of sexual assault were purposely concocted. Zaka officials and others dispute that. Regardless, APs examination of Zakas handling of the now debunked stories shows how information can be clouded and distorted in the chaos of the conflict. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)

As some of the first people on the scene, ZAKA volunteers offered testimony of what they saw that day. Those words have helped journalists, Israeli lawmakers and U.N. investigators paint a picture of what occurred during Hamas attack. (ZAKA, a volunteer-based group, does not do forensic work. The organization has been a fixture at Israeli disaster sites and scenes of attacks since it was founded in 1995. Its specific job is to collect bodies in keeping with Jewish law.)

Still, it took ZAKA months to acknowledge the accounts were wrong, allowing them to proliferate. And the fallout from the debunked accounts shows how the topic of sexual violence has been used to further political agendas.

Israel points to sexual violence on Oct. 7 to highlight what it says is Hamas savagery and to justify its wartime goal of neutralizing any repeated threat coming from Gaza. It has accused the international community of ignoring or playing down evidence of sexual violence claims, alleging anti-Israel bias. It says any untrue stories were an anomaly in the face of the many documented atrocities.

In turn, some of Israels critics have seized on the ZAKA accounts, along with others shown to be untrue, to allege that the Israeli government has distorted the facts to prosecute a war  one in which more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials.

A U.N. fact-finding team found reasonable grounds to believe that some of those who stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7 had committed sexual violence, including rape and gang rape. But the U.N. investigators also said that in the absence of forensic evidence and survivor testimony, it would be impossible to determine the scope of such violence. Hamas has denied its forces committed sexual violence.

BODY BAGS AND ROCKET FIRE

Israel was caught off guard by the ferocity of the Oct. 7 assault, the deadliest in the nations history. About 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. It took days for the military to clear the area of militants.

There were hundreds of bodies scattered across southern Israel, bearing various signs of abuse: burns, bullet holes, signs of mutilation, marks indicating bodies were bound. ZAKA volunteers werent used to dealing with so many bodies.

You get dizzy at some point, said Moti Bukjin, ZAKAs spokesperson. Some of the bodies are burned. Some are mutilated. Some of the bodies are decapitated. Every house has a story.

Standard protocols for dealing with attacks, which Israel encountered frequently on a far smaller scale in the early 2000s, collapsed. There was confusion over who was dead and who was taken captive, especially in the hard-hit communal farming villages and in the aftermath of the outdoor Nova music festival.

FILE - The site of the Nova music festival where at least 260 Israeli festival-goers were killed during the attack by Hamas militants on Oct 7, near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Oct. 12, 2023. Some allege the accounts of sexual assault were purposely concocted. Zaka officials and others dispute that. Regardless, APs examination of Zakas handling of the now debunked stories shows how information can be clouded and distorted in the chaos of the conflict. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)

Authorities were concerned that remaining militants might snatch more bodies. ZAKA says it was instructed to gather the dead as swiftly as possible and send them for identification and quick burial, according to Jewish custom. ZAKA said it sent some 800 volunteers to southern Israel, arriving at the music festival late on Oct. 7 and entering the kibbutzim two days later, according to Otmazgin.

For the first three days, many hardly slept at all. Accompanied by military escorts, volunteers went house to house, wrapping the bodies in white plastic bags on which they wrote the persons gender, the house number where they were found and any other identifying details. Then theyd say the Jewish mourning prayer and load them into a truck, according to Tomer Peretz, who volunteered for the first time with ZAKA in the days following the attack.

As first responders worked, rocket fire from Gaza boomed overhead. Volunteers paused and crouched when air raid sirens blared. They used anything they could find to move bodies  even shopping carts. We worked a minute and a half per body, from the moment we touch it to the moment it is on the truck, said Otmazgin, commander of special units with ZAKA.

Peretz, a U.S.-based artist, said the volunteers werent there to do forensic work; he thought the soldiers who cleared the houses of explosives beforehand were handling that process. But the Israeli military told the AP that the army did not do any forensic work in the wake of Oct. 7.

Bukjin said police forensics teams were mostly focused on the southern cities of Sderot and Ofakim. Otmazgin said forensics workers were present in the kibbutzim but spread thin and could not follow standard  and painstaking  protocols because of the scale of the attack. He said forensics teams in the area mostly instructed ZAKA on how to help identify the bodies.

That means that bodies that might have shown signs of sexual assault could have eluded examination. Instead, they were loaded into body bags, sent to a facility to be identified and dispatched for quick burial.

People seem to have expected that the aftermath of the attack would be like a movie, that immediately the police would come, that everything would be very sterile and very clean. People who dont live in a war zone do not understand the horrific chaos that took place that day, said Orit Sulitzeanu, the executive director of The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel.

The group has spent months gathering evidence of sexual violence that occurred that day, sifting through many accounts emerging from the chaotic early days just after the attack. Some of those stories that turned out not to be true were not lies, she said. They were, she said, mistakes.

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FIRST ACCOUNT: PANTS PULLED DOWN

Otmazgin said he was the origin of one of two debunked stories by ZAKA volunteers about sexual assault.

He said he entered a home in Kibbutz Beeri, one of the hardest-hit communities, where nearly a tenth of the population of roughly 1,000 was killed, and found the body of a teenage girl separated from two of her relatives. Her pants, he said, were pulled down. He assumed that meant she had been sexually assaulted.

They slaughtered her. They shot her in the head and her pants are pulled down to here. I put that out there. Have someone give me a different interpretation, he said then, showing an AP reporter a photo he took of the scene, which he had altered by pulling up the teenagers pants.





Today, he maintains that he never said outright that the girl whose body he saw had been sexually assaulted. But his telling strongly suggested that was the case. Otmazgin says he told journalists and lawmakers details of what hed seen and asked if they might have some other interpretation.

Nearly three months later, ZAKA found out his interpretation was wrong. After cross-checking with military contacts, ZAKA found that a group of soldiers had dragged the girls body across the room to make sure it wasnt booby-trapped. During the procedure, her pants had come down.

Otmazgin said it took time to learn the truth because the soldiers who moved the body had been deployed to Gaza for weeks and were not reachable. He said he recognized that such accounts can cause damage, but he believes he rectified it by correcting his account months later.

A military spokesperson said he had no way of knowing what had happened to every body in the assaults immediate aftermath. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.

Another account with details similar to Otmazgins but attributed to an anonymous combat medic has also come under scrutiny after emerging in international media, including in a story by the AP. But the medic did not disclose where he saw the scene.

The military would not make the medic available for further interviews, so it was not possible to reconcile the two accounts or verify the medics.

SECOND ACCOUNT: EVERYTHING WAS CHARRED

Yossi Landau, a longtime ZAKA volunteer, was also working in Beeri when he entered a home that would produce the second debunked story. Landau would recount to global media what he thought he saw: a pregnant woman lying on the floor, her fetus still attached to the umbilical cord wrenched from her body.

Otmazgin was overseeing the other ZAKA workers when he said Landau frantically called him and others into the home. But Otmazgin did not see what Landau described. Instead, he saw the body of a heavy-set woman and an unidentifiable hunk attached to an electric cable. Everything was charred.

Otmazgin said he told Landau that his interpretation was wrong  this wasnt a pregnant woman. Still, Landau believed his version, went on to tell the story to journalists and was cited in outlets around the world. Landau, along with other first responders, also told journalists he had seen beheaded children and babies. No convincing evidence had been publicized to back up that claim, and it was debunked by Haaretz and other major media outlets.

Bukjin said it took some time for ZAKA to understand that the story was not true, then asked Landau to stop telling it. Otmazgin also told Landau to stop telling the story, but that wasnt until about three months after the attack when ZAKA was wrapping up its work in the field. The United Nations said Landaus claim was unfounded.

Otmazgin said it has been difficult to rein Landau in, both because he vehemently believes in his version and because there is no way to stop journalists from engaging with him directly. Both Otmazgin and Bukjin attributed Landaus continued belief in the false account to him having been deeply traumatized by what he saw in the aftermath of Oct. 7.

AP journalists attempted to reach Landau multiple times. While he answered initial inquiries, he was ultimately unreachable.

WERE NOT FORENSICS WORKERS

Almost immediately after Oct. 7, Israel began allowing groups of journalists to visit the ravaged kibbutzim. On the trips, journalists found ZAKA volunteers onsite to be some of the most accessible sources of information and some shared what they thought they saw, even though, as Bukjin notes, we are not forensics workers.

They pretend to know, sometimes very naively, what happened to the bodies they are dealing with, said Gideon Aran, a sociologist at Jerusalems Hebrew University who wrote a recent book on the organization.

Bukjin said that the groups usual media protocols faltered and that volunteers, who he said typically were vetted by him before being interviewed, were speaking to journalists directly. The information is wild, is not controlled right, said Peretz, the first-time volunteer. He said he took photos and video of what he saw even though he was told not to and was interviewed repeatedly about what he witnessed.

Other first responders also offered accounts  of babies beheaded, or hung from a clothesline, or killed together in a nursery, or placed in an oven  which were later debunked by Israeli reporters.

ZAKA is a private civilian body made up of 3,000 mostly Orthodox Jewish volunteer workers. Beyond its work in Israel, the group has also sent teams to international incidents, including the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the 2002 attacks in Mombasa, Kenya. As part of its role to ensure burial according to Jewish law, its volunteers scour crime scenes for remains in order to bury each body as completely as possible.

Aran, the sociologist, said Oct. 7 was unlike anything the organization had previously witnessed. ZAKAs main experience with victim identification before Oct. 7 was limited to distinguishing militant attackers from their victims, not determining who was a victim of sexual assault, Aran said.

FILE - Israelis killed by Hamas militants lie on the road near Sderot, Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. Some allege the accounts of sexual assault were purposely concocted. Zaka officials and others dispute that. Regardless, APs examination of Zakas handling of the now debunked stories shows how information can be clouded and distorted in the chaos of the conflict. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)

DEBUNKED ACCOUNTS VS. THE EVIDENCE

After untrue accounts of sexual assault filtered into international media, the process of debunking them appeared, at times, to take center stage in the global dispute over the facts of Oct. 7. On social media, accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers question the very occurrence of sexual violence.

The loud debate belies a growing body of evidence supporting the claim that sexual assault took place that day, even as its scope remains difficult to ascertain.

The U.N. team investigating sexual violence said it saw credible circumstantial information which may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence, including genital mutilation, sexualized torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

That included photos and videos showing a minimum of 20 corpses with clothes that had been torn, revealing private body parts, and 10 bodies with indications of bound wrists and or tied legs. No digital materials showed sexual violence in real-time, the report said.

The investigators described the accounts that originated with Otmazgin and Landau to be unfounded. Regarding Otmazgins original account, they said the crime scene had been altered by a bomb squad and the bodies moved, explaining the separation of the body of the girl from the rest of her family.

Otmazgin said he publicly corrected himself after discovering what had transpired, including to the U.N. investigators he met. He showed the investigators  and later an AP reporter  photos and video, including one of a deceased woman who had a blood-speckled, flesh-colored bulb in her genital area, as well as several bodies of women with blood near their genitals and another who appeared to have small sharp objects protruding from her upper thigh and above her genitals.

More evidence is emerging as time goes by. A released hostage has described facing sexual violence in captivity in an account to The New York Times, and a man at the music festival said he heard a woman screaming she was being raped.

On Monday, releasing arrest warrants for top Hamas and Israeli officials, ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said that there are reasonable grounds to believe that hostages taken from Israel have been kept in inhumane conditions and that some have been subject to sexual violence, including rape, while being held in captivity.

The U.N. report shines a light on the issues that have contributed to the skepticism over sexual violence. It said there was limited crime scene processing and that some evidence of sexual assault may have been lost due to the interventions of some inadequately trained volunteer first responders. It also said global scrutiny of the accounts emerging from Oct. 7 may have deterred survivors from coming forward.

PULLING FOCUS FROM THE VICTIMS

In the fraught global discourse surrounding Oct. 7 and the war it sparked, sexual violence has been a particular point of tension.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as prominent figures such as former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and top technology executive Sheryl Sandberg, have called out what they saw as global indifference toward Israeli women who were sexually assaulted in the attack.

Some critics of Israels war, meanwhile, have raised questions about the weight of the evidence, using debunked testimonies, including from ZAKA volunteers, to do so. The site oct7factcheck.com, which says its aim is to combat atrocity propaganda that could justify military or political actions, has repeatedly challenged investigations in mainstream media about sexual violence.

The site, which is run by a loose coalition of tech industry employees supporting Palestinian rights, says it has not yet reached a conclusion on the occurrence of gender-based violence. It has alleged that ZAKA members are behind many of the Oct. 7 fabrications. The site has also highlighted other debunked accounts, including about a baby found in an oven and a hostage giving birth in captivity.

Tariq Kenney-Shawa, a U.S. policy fellow at Al-Shabaka, a Palestinian think tank, said a long history of what he calls Israeli disinformation and propaganda has fueled global skepticism over the claims. The debunked ZAKA stories, he said, contributed to the sense that Israel exaggerated accounts of atrocities committed by Hamas to dehumanize Palestinians as its military continues its deadly offensive.

Skepticism of all claims made by the Israeli military, a military that is being investigated for genocide at The Hague, are not only justified but should be encouraged, he said. Thats why Palestinians, and much of the international community, are asking for thorough scrutiny.

Dahlia Scheindlin, a commentator on Israeli affairs, said those downplaying the atrocities committed by Hamas have seized on the debunked ZAKA accounts as ammunition to show that Israel fabricates or that Oct. 7 wasnt so bad, rather than examining all the available evidence to build a more comprehensive picture of what happened.

At the same time, any false accounts, even if produced without malice, lead to further polarization and pulls the focus away from victims, she argues. Every bit of misinformation, disinformation  good faith or bad faith, mistakes or lies  is extremely destructive.

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LOUDON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating after two elderly Ohioans were killed in a crash involving a train in Seneca County Thursday afternoon.

The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. on U.S. 224, just west of U.S. 23 in Loudon Township.

Bomb threat prompts evacuation of local nursing home

According to investigators, the driver of a Kia Soul was heading northeast on U.S. 224 when she went through a railroad gate as an oncoming CSX train was approaching.

The Kia was hit by the train, pushed off the side of the roadway and crashed into a utility pole, according to OSHP.

East Cleveland church devastated by crash involving RTA bus

The driver, 72-year-old Ellen Atherton, and passenger, 75-year-old Rex Atherton, of Arlington, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The fatal crash remains under investigation 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
At least two people were killed Saturday after a Russian military strike at a supermarket in the northern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Photo by Sergey Kozlov/EPA-EFE

May 25 (UPI) -- A Russian military strike in the northern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed at least two people on Saturday.

At least 35 other people were injured after Russian forces dropped two bombs near a supermarket, leading to a large fire.

A nearby educational institute and high-rise building were also damaged in the attack.

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office shared photos of the aftermath on its Telegram channel.

"A large number of people are missing. This is pure terrorism," Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram, translated to English by Google.

More than 30 vehicles also were damaged in the blast in Ukraine's second-largest city.

"This strike on Kharkiv is another manifestation of Russian madness, there is just no other way to put it," Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky said in a video message posted on his official Telegram account.

"Only such madmen as Putin are capable of killing and terrorizing people in such a vile way. We already know that there are wounded, and there are killed. My condolences to the families and friends. Anyone who has been affected will get the help they need."

The attack comes just two days after a Russian missile strike on Kharkiv killed at least seven people and wounded over a dozen more.

At least 11 people were killed by Russian missile strikes in Kharkiv last weekend.
This 3.6-million-year-old footprint was made by our earliest known ancestor. Now its at risk of being lost forever

Editors Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travels weekly newsletter. Get the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments.

In travel news this week: why climate change might make airplane turbulence worse, the best beaches in the United States just in time for Memorial Day and the record-breaking US pilot whose achievement was kept a secret for years.

Our changing world

The Laetoli footprints on the southern edge of Tanzanias Serengeti Plains are the oldest known footprints of our earliest human ancestors and the first evidence of an upright walking hominid. However, theyre now at risk of being destroyed because of erosion from increasing storms and rainfall.

The site is one of 22 new projects to be funded by the British Councils Cultural Protection Fund, which protects cultural heritage at risk from conflict and/or the climate crisis.

In the skies, severe airplane turbulence is something we could be seeing more of in the years to come because of climate change, and the episodes might last longer, too. Heres why.

One person was killed and 104 were injured on board a Singapore Airlines plane Tuesday after the aircraft rapidly plunged before ascending several hundred feet, then repeated the drop and climb. Meteorologists say the plane likely met with fast-developing thunderstorms.

And in Dubai, which was recently hit by rains so heavy its airport was flooded, a city developer hopes to combat the climate crisis with its plans to build what its calling the worlds largest coastal regeneration project, by planting more than 100 million mangroves.

Sand and sea

The top 10 US beaches for 2024, according to expert Dr. Beach, have been revealed as Memorial Day weekend kicks off the busy summer season. A Hawaiian stretch of sand has been named the finest. The beaches are ranked using criteria including water and sand quality, the size of waves, wildlife, public safety and cleanliness.

The good doctor would be unimpressed by the situation in the UK, where sewage-engulfed beaches have become a national scandal. Here why things have gone down the drain.

If that storys made you want to skip the swim and stay on your lounger with a good book, heres a history of the beach read. It goes back to the 19th century and the construction of railroads and grand hotels.

Theres no such rest this week for the workers putting the finishing touches on the ship Villa Vie Odyssey, which on May 30 will set out from Belfast, Northern Ireland, on an endless cruise that will circumnavigate every three and a half years. The best bit is itll always be summer.

Aviation pioneers

The first Black woman to fly in the US Air Force made her final flight this week after 43 years flying planes both military and commercial and breaking down barriers along the way.

Ive had a great career, Captain Theresa Claiborne told CNN. And its time for me to park the brakes for the final time on a big airplane. Heres her remarkable story.

Captain Lynn Rippelmeyer started out as a flight attendant for TWA in 1972, but a few years later, she became the first woman to pilot a Boeing 747. She also flew a record-breaking US flight, but it was kept secret for years.

Mitsuko Tottori also started her aviation career as a flight attendant, but her path led to her becoming the first female president and chief executive of Japan Airlines (JAL). Read more about her 40-year rise to the top.

Finally, here are some tips on how to get over jet lag like a pro, from our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN.

They met while hiking

He was visiting family in Utah. She was on a cross-country road trip. When they literally crossed paths in Bryce Canyon National Park, they fell for each other fast. But a sudden cancer diagnosis shocked the couple just a few months later.

In case you missed it

A 91-year-old returned to the spot where he first entered America.

Something unexpected had changed.

Africas richest man says he needs 35 visas to travel in Africa.

Thats way more than a European visitor requires.

Buying a dream home in Italy can be a nightmare.

This couple says it has the answer.

Why your next vacation might be all about sex.

Sexual wellness is a growing travel trend.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
This photo taken on April 15, 2024 shows students posing for a photo on their way to school in Botswana's southern district of Kweneng. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Botswanan Minister of Foreign Affairs Lemogang Kwape on Saturday called on African countries to ensure that every young African has access to quality education.

Every year on May 25, Botswana joins other countries across the continent and around the world to celebrate Africa Day. The theme of this year's commemoration is "Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century."

"Education is the cornerstone of every development. We must ensure that every young African has access to quality education that prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of the modern world," said Kwape in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.

He underlined the need to overcome educational challenges such as poverty, gender inequality and regional disparities. "By doing so, we can tap into the full potential of the young and enable them to make important contributions to the continent and the fast-changing global economy," said Kwape.

Kwape said the day commemorates Africa's joint journey, shared accomplishments, and forever dedication to the goals of unity, peace and progress. It also reflects on the progress that has been made and renews the commitment to pan-African ideas and principles.

The Botswanan government has allocated the largest share of the proposed 2024-2025 recurrent budget of 15.5 billion pula (about 1.1 billion U.S. dollars), or 24 percent of the overall budget, to fund a variety of needs, including food and books for students. 

Students go to school in the rain in Botswana's southern district of Kweneng, on April 15, 2024. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)
Firefighters in Boston battled a 3-alarm fire in Mattapan on Saturday afternoon.

Upon arrival, firefighters were greeted with heavy fire on 706 Walkhill Streep in Mattapan.

According to firefighters, the fire was located in the rear of the 3-family home, the rear porches have burned through and flames have extended to nearby buildings.

The fire spread to shed adjacent to the home as well as nearby trees.

It is not known if anyone was inside the home.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Three alarm Fire still being battled on 706 Walkhill in Mattapan. Heavy fire showing in occupied buildings on arrival pic.twitter.com/e8sNw65iJu  Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) May 25, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Three suspects were arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Southern California stores.

The suspects, all Los Angeles residents, were identified as:

Miya Angel Grant, 19

Dion Damani Ford, 20

Nanyaba Wilson-Tyehhimba, 27

On May 22, Ventura County deputies responded to a theft in progress at a Target located in the 2700 block of Teller Road in Thousand Oaks.

Security said the suspects had placed several large items into a large shopping tote before fleeing the store. The suspects had allegedly stolen merchandise from another Target location just minutes earlier, officials said.

Investigators identified the thieves and spotted them driving on the 101 Freeway shortly after the Thousand Oaks theft. They were pulled over and arrested at the scene.

During the arrest, deputies discovered a large number of stolen items including alcohol, cosmetics, over-the-counter medication and personal hygiene products in their possession.

Thief busted for stealing over $100,000 worth of items from SoCal Target stores

Target workers told deputies the trio escaped with around $3,500 worth of merchandise from both Target stores.

All three suspects were booked on charges of organized retail theft. They were released after posting bail. An arraignment hearing is scheduled at the Ventura County Superior Court on June 6.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force at 805-383-8703.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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.
Firefighters found three children in an apartment that was concealed inside a burning commercial building Saturday.

Crews responded just before 2 a.m. to a fire at Truman Road and Park Avenue. Firefighters went in the back of the two-story building and extinguished the fire quickly, said Michael Hopkins, a spokesman with the Kansas City Fire Department.

The fire extended from a central building to an attached building on the west that shared a roof line, Hopkins said. When firefighters went into the neighboring building, Fire Battalion Chief Ken Swinney noticed multiple doors on the second floor that seemed unusual.

So they started checking on doors and banging on doors, and one of the kids answered, Hopkins told The Star. It was kind of a makeshift apartment up there.

Hopkins said the children found were 9, 4 and 2 years old. They were found alone and were suffering from smoke inhalation.

The children were evaluated by paramedics and taken to Childrens Mercy Hospital by ambulance. Hopkins said the children tested for high levels of carbon monoxide exposure.

Kansas City Police officers were on the scene blocking traffic as crews worked to extinguish the fire. Police were notified about the children found and the apartment-like area on the second floor.

The children were in the hospital and recovering well as of Saturday morning, Hopkins said.

In a news release Saturday, Hopkins commended the firefighter crews diligence that saved the lives of the children. In an interview with The Star, he said the amount of smoke from the fire Saturday morning was dangerous.

In a situation like this when youre called to a commercial building and its 1, 2 o-clock in the morning, youre not expecting to find anyone in there, Hopkins said. But it is our goal and our practice that we search and clear every structure that we show up to.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the children and second-story apartment. The KCFD is investigating the cause of the fire.

No other information was available Saturday.

Hopkins said he wants to remind parents and guardians not to leave children unattended.

Its never a good idea or safe to leave them home, no matter how responsible you think they are or what sort of steps you take to make sure theyre safe, he said. In this situation (the fire) occurred in the building next door and ultimately affected those young kids in that apartment.

We would just ask that everybody consider that and never leave your little ones unattended, he said. You just never know what could happen.
Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.

A Death in Murdaugh County is an episode of 48 Hours that will air on ID on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET.

Stephen Smith was 19 when he was found dead on the Sandy Run Road in Hampton County, South Carolina. He was found during the early hours of July 8, 2015, and investigators initially assumed he was shot. However, an autopsy revealed that he died because of blunt force trauma to the head. It said that he was likely killed in a road accident. His car was found about three miles away from where he was found dead. The vehicle reportedly ran out of gas before he left it there. He had then begun walking, as per a report by People Magazine.

The Murdaugh family was reportedly named several times in the primary interrogation following Stephen Smiths death. However, none of the family members were questioned, and Smiths death was ruled as a road accident. Things took a rough turn 6 years later. In June 2021, Margaret Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh were found dead. Margarets husband and Pauls father, Alex Murdaugh, were then found guilty of the double homicide.

During the investigation of the Murdaugh murders, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reopened Stephen Smiths case, and rumors began about Alex Murdaughs connection to Smiths death. Another son of Alex, Buster Murdaugh, was a classmate of Smith. However, Buster claimed that the connections drawn between his family and Smiths death were baseless, as per ABC News 4.

Sandy Smith, Stephens mother, raised money for an independent autopsy that was performed nearly 8 years after Stephen died. After the autopsy, her lawyers revealed that there was not any connection between Alex Murdaugh and her sons murder.

Was Stephen Smiths killer ever found?

Sandy Smiths attorneys made it public that the circumstances surrounding Stephen Smiths death did not indicate that it was an accident. Although authorities initially claimed that the victim might have been hit by the side mirror of a truck that raced by, evidence suggested otherwise. There were no skid marks that indicated a road accident. Moreover, Stephens loosely worn shoes were still on him. This was something unlikely for victims of car wrecks, as per a report by NPR.

According to CBS News, in December 2015, authorities received a tip from an unknown man named Darrel Williams. Williams told authorities his stepson Patrick Wilson had a friend by the name of Shawn Connelly. Connelly told Wilson that he had been driving drunk the night before Stephens discovery. He told Wilson he had hit something he assumed might have been a deer. However, there was no progress with the lead, and Connelly claimed he did not kill Smith.

In June 2021, even after the case was reopened, the case eventually it went cold. Sanda Smith announced a $35,000 reward for anyone with leads that could lead to an arrest, according to People Magazine.

A Death in Murdaugh County is an episode of 48 Hours that will air on ID on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET.

The post 48 Hours on ID: How Is Alex Murdaugh Related to Stephen Smiths Murder? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
5 hurdles that could trip Trump up as he tries to retake the White House

Former President Trump is the slight favorite to win Novembers election with less than six months to go.

Thats less because of national polls  where Trump holds only a very small lead  and more because of his standing in the battleground states.

In the polling average maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), Trump is ahead of President Biden in every one of the seven states that are considered competitive: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The scale of Trumps advantage varies considerably, from more than 5 points in Nevada to a measly 0.1 points in Wisconsin. But Biden won all the battleground states except North Carolina in 2020. Its clearly significant the incumbent is now behind everywhere.

Bidens woes are made heavier by voter discontent with the economy, fissures within his party over Israel and the Palestinians, and persistent concerns about his age.

In The Hill/DDHQ average, Biden has an approval rating of 40 percent, while 56 percent of Americans disapprove of his job performance.

Trumps edge is extraordinary given how his numerous controversies would have sunk anyone elses political career.

Trump is the only president to be twice impeached. The second impeachment was for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

He is also the only president to stand accused in a criminal trial; Trumps hush money trial is drawing to a close in New York. Trump has been indicted in three other cases, bringing the total number of charges against him to 88.

But Trumps base is famously resilient. The New York trial has not had any significant impact on his poll ratings, and he vanquished his rivals for the GOP nomination with ease earlier this year.

The most serious of those rivals, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, announced Wednesday she will vote for Trump in November.

So, things are looking relatively rosy for Trump. But there are big things that could yet go wrong.

Here are five of them.

A criminal conviction

This is the most immediate danger, though the scale of the threat is not entirely clear.

A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll commanded attention with its finding that 1 in 5 Trump supporters might reconsider their backing for him if he were convicted of a felony.

But that number comprised just 4 percent who said they would withdraw their support. The rest of the would-be dissenters, 16 percent, said they would reconsider their pro-Trump position.

Its easy to imagine most of Trumps voters sticking with him in the end, given his insistence that the prosecutions he faces are politically motivated, the near certainty that he would appeal a conviction, and the general loyalty of his MAGA battalions.

That said, a conviction would be a blow in itself, handing Democrats an explosive charge for the campaign  dont elect a criminal. It would also give pause to at least some voters in the center ground.

A sliver of the GOP remains uneasy with Trump, too. Haley has continued to draw around 20 percent of the vote in some recent primaries, despite having suspended her campaign in March.

On the other hand, an acquittal for Trump in New York would put wind in his sails and make it easier for him to besmirch the other cases against him. None of those other three cases is sure to be tried before the election.

In New York, there should be a verdict soon. Judge Juan Merchan expects closing arguments to begin on Tuesday.

A debate disaster

Trump had been pushing for debates against Biden, and he will get his wish.

An agreement on an unusually early date  June 27 in Atlanta  came together last week. A second debate is scheduled for Sept. 10. The first debate will be televised by CNN and the second by ABC.

Trump has abjured the usual approach regarding setting expectations. The former president called Biden the worst debater I have ever faced and said he cant put two sentences together.

Those kind of boasts by Trump lower the bar that Biden will have to clear.

Trump ducked all debates during the GOP primary season, arguing he was so far ahead in polls that the clashes would be a waste of time. But that could leave him rusty come June.

The danger isnt solely a gaffe at a debate, either.

Now that Trump has the GOP nomination within his grasp, there will be more scrutiny on what he is proposing to do in a second term.

In a recent Time magazine interview, he outlined an approach that was decried by critics as authoritarian.

In the interview, he left the door open to firing any U.S. Attorney who refused his orders to prosecute someone; pardoning the people convicted for Jan. 6-related offenses; allowing states with strict abortion laws to monitor womens pregnancies; and carrying out mass deportations of unauthorized migrants.

An abortion election

The terrain on which the election is fought will be critical.

There are plenty of issues on which Biden and the Democrats have real vulnerabilities, including immigration and the economy. The divisions in the Democratic base over Israels assault on Gaza are a problem in themselves.

But the Democrats have one big card to play: abortion.

Social conservatives won a huge judicial victory in June 2022 when the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade and its guarantee of a right to abortion. But the topic has been a major political headache for the GOP since.

The liberal side has won every statewide ballot measure on abortion in the past two years, including in red states like Kentucky and Kansas. The issue was widely blamed  including by Trump  for the GOPs underwhelming performance in the 2022 midterm elections.

One year after Roe v. Wade was dismantled, an NBC News poll showed 61 percent of voters disapproved of the decision.

Abortions salience looks unlikely to fade. New measures are being enacted all the time. A six-week abortion ban in Florida went into effect at the start of this month.

Trump has tried to skirt the issue, saying in April that he was not in favor of a federal abortion ban.

But the subject clearly holds risks for him, especially with female voters in the suburbs, who have long been considered a vital demographic.

Being dragged down by other people or unexpected events

The big unknown of the 2024 contest is who Trump will choose as his running mate.

Even though the former president will vastly overshadow whoever he nominates, the choice still matters  and it could go wrong.

Just consider South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), who was widely considered a serious contender until she inexplicably included an account of killing her dog in a new book and suffered through a miserable media tour to promote the tome.

Whoever Trump chooses will have to better stand up to scrutiny.

There are also some worries within his team about the effect of divisive candidates in other races in the key states. The most frequently cited example is Kari Lake, the highly controversial former news anchor who is likely to be the GOP nominee for Senate in Arizona.

There is, of course, also the possibility of some unexpected crisis upending the election. In 2019, no one expected Trumps 2020 reelection bid to be dominated by a worldwide pandemic. Eight months ago, no one thought the Israeli-Palestinian issue would have the potential to be a real factor in this years election.

A crash into Bidens blue wall

There is one silver lining for Biden in the polls  even if it is a rather thin one.

Setting aside the increasingly unlikely possibility of the president turning North Carolina blue, there are six battleground states.

Several polls have shown a meaningful difference between Trumps standing in the three states in the South or Southwest  Arizona, Georgia and Nevada  and the three northern states that were once talked of as a Democratic blue wall  Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In The Hill/DDHQ averages, Trump is up by between 3 points and 6 points in the first group, but by less than 2 points in the second group.

Of course, the polls will shift around between now and Election Day  and may simply be inaccurate.

But if Biden could move the blue wall states into his column, it would change the whole election at a stroke.

If Biden won those three states, Trump won the three southern battlegrounds, and everything else remained unchanged from 2020, the president would win reelection by a tiny, nerve-shredding margin  270 votes to 268 votes in the electoral college.

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 78-year-old man was seriously injured in a late night assault in Clarion County.

Pennsylvania State Police said troopers were called to a house in Madison Township on the morning of May 21 for reports of an assault in progress.

The victim was found on scene with a serious bodily injury, state police said.

Troopers found that the suspect forcefully entered the victims house the night before and assaulted him.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call state police in Clarion at 814-226-1710.

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A California man received a $900,000 settlement from the city of Fontana after he was wrongly accused of killing his father and gave detectives a false confession amid psychological torture, his lawyer announced Thursday.

Thomas Perez Jr. was never formally arrested, but he was taken to the Fontana Police Department on Aug. 8, 2018, after he reported his father missing, according to a press release sent to HuffPost.

There, Perez endured an intense 17-hour interrogation by multiple detectives who used a series of traumatic techniques to get a confession, including threatening his beloved dog, the press release said.

But Perezs father was alive and well the entire time, said his attorney, Jerry Steering.

The Orange County Register reported on the six-figure settlement for Perez this week, bringing national attention to the case.

An image of the Fontana Police Department, via Google Maps. Google Maps

Authorities began suspecting Perez after finding that his missing father had left behind his cellphone and wallet at their shared home. Officers also claimed that they discovered bloodstains inside the home and said that K-9 dogs detected a deceased human remain odor, according to a June 2023 court order of summary judgment, which was obtained by HuffPost.

Video evidence cited in the document revealed that officers verbally berated Perez, alleging that hed killed his dad. They also insisted that he did not need access to his psychiatric medication, per the judgment.

Perez maintained that he did not recall killing his father, but authorities told him that the memory of killing his dad was too painful to remember, according to the press release sent to HuffPost.

At one point, authorities told Perez that his father had been found dead with stab marks on his body and that his remains had already been delivered to the morgue, the press release read.

Detectives eventually brought Perezs dog into the interrogation room and told him that it would be euthanized if he did not confess to killing his father, according to the judgment.

How can you sit there, how can you sit there and say you dont know what happened, and your dog is sitting there looking at you, knowing that you killed your dad? one detective said. Look at your dog. She knows, because she was walking through all the blood.

The judgment noted that Perez was under obvious strain, pulling at his hair, hitting himself, and tearing off his own shirt before nearly falling to the floor. In the video evidence cited by the document, officers could be seen laughing at Perez as they told him that he was stressing the dog.

Authorities also summoned his friend to the station to speak to Perez to help elicit a confession based on threats of prosecution, according to the judgement. The friend told Perez that they say they have enough evidence.

Perez eventually gave detectives a confession. Shortly afterward, he was left alone in the interrogation room and attempted to hang himself by using his shoelaces as a makeshift noose, according to the judgment.

Perez was then taken to a hospital and put on a psychiatric hold for 72 hours. Authorities told hospital staffers to not permit anyone to contact him.

Detectives received a phone call from Perezs sister that night, informing them that their father was still alive. It turned out that he was with a lady friend in El Monte.

But because Perez was on a psychiatric hold, he was not immediately contacted and told that his father was safe.

Between mentally torturing a false confession out of Tom Perez, concealing from him that his father was alive and well, and confining him in the psych ward because they made him suicidal, in my 40 years of suing the police I have never seen that level of deliberate cruelty, said Steering, the attorney.

U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee stated in the judgment that a reasonable juror could conclude that the Detectives inflicted unconstitutional psychological torture on Perez.

After the harrowing ordeal, Perez is doing fine now, Steering told HuffPost in an email. He has also been reunited with his dog, the Register reported.

Fontana police did not respond to a request for comment from HuffPost.

Steering said in the press release that Perez agreed to settle the case because of looming possibility that the Fontana Officers might have prevailed on an appeal.

According to the attorney, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has been tossing police misconduct lawsuits based on the doctrine of qualified immunity, which the Legal Defense Fund describes as a judge-created rule that protects government officials, including police officers, when they are sued.

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

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This article was originally published in Indiana Capital Chronicle.

A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday challenges a contentious new Indiana law that seeks to push speech and course content in college classrooms toward intellectual diversity.

The litigation lodged by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana asserts that Senate Enrolled Act 202 violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The measure was adopted by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb in March.

The law requires all Indiana public colleges and universities institute policies that chill the speech of or compel speech from faculty members, a news release alleged.

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The suit was filed on behalf of two professors at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Steven A. Carr is a professor of communication and the director of the Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. David G. Schuster is an associate professor in the history department.

The ACLU of Indiana said Purdue University is the named defendant because the state institution is mandated to enforce the allegedly unconstitutional provisions of the law.

Although Professors Carr and Schuster both already seek to foster a culture of free inquiry in their classrooms, this does not mean that they believe it is appropriate to provide equal time or attention to all lines of questioning, the lawsuit said. They exercise their judgment and academic freedom to determine when further inquiry on a subject is no longer desirable or appropriate, and they have no way of knowing whether this type of in-the-moment-decision-making will subject them to discipline or other employment consequences.

Professors fearful of the laws penalties

The law in question states professors must be disciplined if they fail to foster a culture of free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity and expose students to scholarly works from a variety of political or ideological frameworks.

Both plaintiffs assert in the lawsuit that they could be compelled to speak or prohibited from speaking, in violation of their First Amendment rights, or risk adverse employment actions  including not being promoted, having their tenure revoked, or facing discipline up to and including termination.

The ACLU of Indiana indicated the professors are concerned the law could require public college and university faculty to give debunked theories equal time in their classrooms alongside rigorously studied academic analysis.

The lawsuit provides specific examples of course content of concern to the two professors.

As part of his courses examining United States history in the post-civil war period, Schuster teaches about the culture wars surrounding the LGBTQ rights movement in the 1990s, according to the lawsuit.

(Schuster) is aware that some academics teach about this movement as embodying the rise of a homosexual agenda, during which, according to them, LGBTQ people were attempting to indoctrinate students and others with ideas about homosexuality, the complaint said. Schuster does not believe that divergent perspective is accurate, however, and instead maintains that teaching such a perspective would be harmful to his students.

He thus does not believe he should be required to teach this perspective, and while he has in the past invited students to discuss this perspective during office hours, he does not devote class time to it, the lawsuit continued.

Schuster additionally teaches about slavery and its legacy. The lawsuit claims the professor does not believe he should be required to teach any number of divergent scholarly perspectives on that subject, either  including that slavery ultimately benefited African American people, which was once a dominant view among academics in that field.

Carr separately teaches about the Holocaust through his work at the Institute.

The lawsuit emphasizes that divergent perspectives regarding the existence and scope of the Holocaust exist, ranging from denial that the Holocaust occurred, to revisionist accounts challenging the scope and causes of the genocide.

Professor Carr would not teach those perspectives, but the language of the statute would appear to require him to do so, the complaint reads.

Another example referenced in the lawsuit describes a course recently taught by Carr about the eugenics movement  including study of legislation involving forced sterilization passed in Indiana in 1907.

He does not believe that he should be required to teach, for example, the divergent scholarly perspective that racially based forced sterilization could ever be appropriate or even defensible, the lawsuit said.

The suit seeks to block the unconstitutional portions of the statute to protect the free speech rights of the two professors before the law is set to take effect on July 1.

SEA 202 puts Indianas professors in an untenable position. Through vague language and the threat of harsh sanctions, including termination, the law strips professors of the academic freedom that the Supreme Court has long recognized they have the right to exercise, said ACLU of Indiana attorney Stevie Pactor in a written statement. No professor should have to choose between their employment and their First Amendment rights.

Whats in the new law?

Senate Enrolled Act 202, one of this years most debated higher education bills  was touted by GOP lawmakers as a way to increase intellectual diversity in publicly funded college classrooms.

Although faculty and students overwhelmingly contended the proposal would micromanage their institutions and have a chilling effect on free expression, the governor signed the bill into law, saying it requires free inquiry and civil discourse programming for new students, strongly encourages academic freedom and protects faculty to express differing viewpoints from their colleagues and university leadership.

The law makes changes to the institutions diversity-oriented positions and their policies for tenure, contract renewals, performance reviews and more. It also establishes new reporting and survey requirements based on free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity.

Now, Indiana is additionally one of a handful of states that requires boards of trustees to establish diversity committees on campuses.

Under the new law, those diversity committees must make recommendations promoting recruitment and retention of underrepresented students rather than the minority students specified in current law.

Senate Enrolled Act 202 requires a five-year review process for Hoosier education institutions, as well. Even so, many Hoosier institutions already have some level of review for tenure of faculty members.

The law further requires institutions to establish complaint procedures in which school students and staff can accuse faculty members and contractors of not meeting free-expression criteria. Institutions will have to refer those complaints to human resource professionals and supervisors for consideration in employee reviews and tenure and promotion decisions, according to the law. In limited circumstances, complaints could be advanced to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com. Follow Indiana Capital Chronicle on Facebook and Twitter.
People seeking asylum, including a group from Peru, walk behind a Border Patrol agent towards a van to be processed after crossing the border with Mexico nearby, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Boulevard, Calif. U.S. Senate candidate Brad Wilson convened an immigration roundtable with former state legislative colleagues and local law enforcement on Friday. | Gregory Bull

U.S. Senate candidate Brad Wilson convened an immigration roundtable with his former state legislative colleagues and members of local law enforcement ahead of Utahs Republican primary on June 25 to explain his position on the top issue for many GOP voters: the border.

Wilson, who served as Utah House Speaker from 2019 to 2023, hosted the hourlong closed-door meeting on Friday with sheriffs from nine Utah counties and three state lawmakers about the impact illegal immigration has had on the state. He then led a discussion with local media on his views on how federal immigration policy needs to change.

These open border policies, which is what the United States is operating under right now, are making their mark in this country, theyre changing the West and they are changing Utah, Wilson said at the Weber County Sheriffs Office press conference. When I talk to voters and ask them what their biggest concern is right now, it is illegal immigration, without a doubt. Thats why were here today.

The topic of Americas porous southwestern border and overburdened immigration system has dominated ads, billboards and media appearances for Utahs four Republican Senate hopefuls in their heated and highly expensive race to replace Sen. Mitt Romney in Utahs first competitive open Senate race in decades.

The Deseret News interviewed each of the GOP candidates  Rep. John Curtis, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, Moxie Pest Control CEO Jason Walton and Wilson  about their stances on specific border enforcement policies, the impact of immigration on Utah and the distinction between border security and broader immigration reform.

While each has labored to define a lane for themselves among Utahs Republican primary electorate, the candidates responses were relatively uniform. Each placed the blame for current problems on the current president instead of Congress, called for a return to the border security policies of Donald Trump and described illegal immigration as a top issue for Utah voters this election cycle.

Sheriff Ryan Arbon, Weber County, and U.S. Senate candidate and former State House Speaker Brad Wilson discuss immigration issues at the Weber County Sheriff Office in Ogden on Friday, May 24, 2024. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Immigration: A top issue for voters

Polls show immigration certainly is a top issue for voters across the country, especially Republicans.

A February Pew analysis found that between 2021 and 2022 the percentage of Republicans saying immigration was a top policy priority rose from 39% to 67%. That share has now increased to 76%, the survey found.

Americans of all political stripes are more likely to list immigration as their No. 1 concern than any other issue, with nearly 30% of the country ranking it first, over things like the economy and poor governance, according to a Gallup poll conducted in March. And nearly 85% of all Americans say immigration is an important issue to them, according to an April poll from The Economist and YouGov.

And no wonder. Fiscal Year 2023 saw the greatest number of encounters between Border Patrol agents and undocumented immigrants crossing into the country between ports of entry in U.S. history.

Around 3.2 million apprehensions occurred during that time, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. This number does not include the hundreds of thousands of known gotaways who evaded border patrol.

The year was capped by the highest monthly total on record, with 250,000 migrant encounters at the South Western Border in December alone. The prolonged spike in encounters coincided with the end of COVID-19 lockdowns and the beginning of President Joe Bidens time in office.

The fault of Biden or Congress?

U.S. Senate candidates in Utah say the historic numbers of illegal border crossings are a choice by the Biden administration, which quickly rescinded many border enforcement orders from the former president upon taking office.

Wilson called the crisis at the southern border wholly preventable, saying if Biden were to reinstate the Remain in Mexico executive order signed under Trump that forced migrants seeking asylum to wait out their immigration proceedings on the other side of the border this emergency could go away almost overnight.

Walton agreed that with the stroke of a pen Biden could reverse his administrations policy of catch and release, which says that migrants who meet a lowered threshold for asylum claims can be let into the country on parole until a court date, often five or more years into the future.

Walton said the fact Biden hasnt done this yet is evidence that high levels of immigration might be benefitting Biden politically, whether in terms of appeasing his base or increasing the census count, and political representation, of blue states. This claim was echoed by Wilson.

Staggs, who was endorsed by Trump shortly before winning the nomination of state GOP delegates in April, also said Biden has the authority to secure the border today. However, considering the volatility of presidential orders, Staggs said Congress should consider tying the presidents hands.

Legislatively, we need to not allow so much discretion on the part of the executive in terms of enforcing the law, he said.

Curtis agreed it is frustrating to Congress that regardless of the laws on the books a presidential administration has wide latitude on how theyre enforced. As a congressman, Curtis said it is the legislatures job to fix broken immigration policy and the presidents job is to enforce it.

What would Utah Senate candidates do to secure the border?

During a recent visit to the Arizona border, Curtis said law enforcement told him that resurrecting the Remain in Mexico program, officially known as Migrant Protection Protocols, would solve 90% of the problem.

Curtis said the policies found in the Republican House Majoritys H.R. 2, which Curtis helped pass in the House along party lines last year, is also a good place to start. The bill, which hasnt been taken up by the Senate, would put Remain in Mexico into statute, fund the completion of a border wall and require employers to use E-Verify to confirm worker eligibility.

But such restrictions on immigration should be paired with an expansion of work visas so that Utah industries, like agriculture, arent struck a harmful blow, Curtis said. He added that he, along with most congressional Republicans, rejected a recent bipartisan effort in the Senate to increase border security and immigration processing capacity because it did not pass through the regular legislative process.

Walton also called for codifying Remain in Mexico and criticized the bipartisan Senate deal for tying border security to foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

I feel like this is the Democrats holding the United States security hostage, Walton said. I think that all of the conversation should be about securing our southern border.

Walton and Staggs also said they would have supported H.R. 2. But Staggs said he would have gone further to implement policies like prohibiting migrants who enter the country illegally from accessing welfare benefits which he said would encourage self-deportation.

All four candidates agreed that the country needs a simplified immigration system for individuals who have the desire and skills to contribute positively to America  Wilson said the country needs generational wholesale immigration reform. But the candidates said such an effort is secondary to addressing the crisis at the border.

Theres an order of operations here, Walton said. Its like you have an injury that could be immediately catastrophic and then the doctors are having a good conversation about your broken wrist.

Is illegal immigration affecting Utahns?

In the more than 80 town halls he has held, Staggs said border security has been at the forefront of Utahns minds.

Staggs said he believes policies that increase illegal immigration into places like Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California have made housing more unaffordable, increased violent crime and strained public resources.

He said Utah Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have told him they are aware of over 100,000 undocumented migrants in Utah, which exacerbates the housing availability and affordability issue here in the state and has resulted in rare instances of violent crime by individuals that likely should have been deported following previous crimes.

Walton said the scene of migrants entering the country by the thousands gives voters a sense of lawlessness and unfairness. Curtis said one of the biggest national security threats isnt necessarily the people coming in  who he said are contributing to the breakdown of social network systems in places like New York City  the larger threat are the groups sending them here.

As we have backed away from our responsibility to the border, the cartels have filled that void, Curtis said.

The cartels human trafficking has brought drugs and other difficulties to Utah, according to the sheriffs at Wilsons event on Friday, who represented areas from Cache County to Washington County.

Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby said a few years ago they recovered just a few hundred fentanyl pills annually. In 2023, the number topped 167,000. Just since last year, fentanyl seizures have increased by 500%, after increasing by 300% the year before, said state Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden.

Make no mistake, this is affecting every Utahn every day, Wilson said.
The Alaska Supreme Court is seen on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska Supreme Court is seen on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld the states decision to suspend the dental license of a man who became internationally infamous after extracting a tooth while riding a hoverboard.

Former dentist Seth Lookhart has been convicted of numerous crimes, including Medicaid fraud and standard-of-care violations that almost killed two patients.

Sentenced to 20 years in prison with eight suspended, he sought to retain his dental license after it was revoked by the Board of Dental Examiners.

When the revocation was upheld by a lower court, Lookhart appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court, which ruled Friday.

Lookhart is also appealing the criminal convictions that resulted in his prison sentence; that appeal remains pending in the Alaska Court of Appeals.

In Fridays decision, the Supreme Court said the state dental board did not violate state law or abuse its discretion when it revoked Lookharts license after a fraudulent scheme of staggering proportions that jeopardized the health and safety of his patients.

Among the courts five justices is Jennifer Henderson, the judge who heard the initial case against Lookhart in 2017.

That case was the result of an extensive investigation by the states Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In the subsequent trial, prosecutors demonstrated that Lookhart improperly used IV sedation  which was reimbursed by Medicaid at higher rates than local anesthesia  and extracted teeth more often than was necessary.

After Lookhart was convicted in criminal court, the state Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing sought to strip him of his license.

An administrative law judge concluded that Lookhart had shown an astonishing range of misconduct and agreed with the divisions conclusion that if Lookharts case didnt warrant revocation, no future case will.

The state dental board adopted the judges recommendation that Lookharts license be revoked, but Lookhart appealed to Superior Court, arguing that the boards decision didnt follow prior precedent.

Superior Court Judge Frank Pfiffner upheld the revocation, concluding that no Alaska case is factually comparable to the sheer scale of malfeasance here, and that even though there was no prior precedent, the boards decision represented a proper use of discretion under state law.

Lookharts attorney argued to the Alaska Supreme Court that state law narrowly constrains the board, and that without precedent, it wasnt able to act.

Writing on behalf of the court, Justice Jude Pate disagreed.

While state law obliges the board to be consistent, there is simply no prior case comparable to the scope of Lookharts egregious dishonesty and misconduct, he wrote. The board did not abuse its discretion in concluding that revoking Lookharts license was an appropriate sanction.

Attorney Chester Gilmore, representing Lookhart, did not return a phone call or email seeking comment on Friday.

Attorney General Treg Taylor, speaking on behalf of state prosecutors, said in a written statement, This case involved the most widespread misconduct of any licensing matter in recent memory, if not ever, in Alaska. Were pleased that Dr. Lookhart will no longer be able to exploit vulnerable patients for his personal gain.

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The post Alaska Supreme Court confirms: Hoverboard dentist is banned from dentistry in Alaska appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Alex Jones Gets OK From Judge To Sell Game Ranch For $2.8 Million In Bankruptcy Case

Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist and defamer of Sandy Hook families, has been given the go-ahead by a federal judge to sell his Texas game ranch amid his bankruptcy case.

On Wednesday, U.S. Judge Christopher Lopez approved a $2.8 million sale of Jones 127-acre ranch as part of his Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, according to court documents.

Jones declared bankruptcy in 2022 when juries in two states found him liable for hundreds of millions in damages after he spent years on his program, Infowars, falsely claiming that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut was a false flag operation with paid actors. The families of Sandy Hook victims hold $1.5 billion in total judgments against him.

Once Jones ranch has been sold, he wont have direct access to the money. Instead, the funds will be put into an escrow account to pay his legal expenses, with any money left over going to the Sandy Hook families.

Jones ranch includes portable buildings, game feeders, hunting blinds, tanks and gates, according to a recent court filing. A description of the property on a real estate website boasts that it provides recreational opportunity for birding, fishing, swimming, kayaking, camping and hunting. Easy walking access to the river and river front with large waterfront gravel bar.

In November, Sandy Hook families offered to settle Jones legal debt by agreeing to let him pay at least $85 million over 10 years. Jones instead suggested a plan that would have him pay just $55 million over 10 years, but the families said that his proposal fell woefully short.

Jones currently has a court date set for June, when Lopez will hear arguments from both sides about how much Jones should have to pay.
American Airlines fires attorneys who said 9-year-old girl 'should have known' she was being recorded in the bathroom

American Airlines replaced its lawyers after backlash over a bathroom recording case.

The airline is facing lawsuits tied to a former flight attendant accused of filming underage girls.

Previous lawyers argued a 9-year-old "should have known" she was being filmed.

American Airlines has new attorneys after previous lawyers said a 9-year-old should have realized she was being recorded in the bathroom by a flight attendant.

The airline is facing several lawsuits stemming from criminal charges against Estes Carter Thompson, a former flight attendant accused of filming underage girls by taping his phone to the bathroom toilet seat.

Police arrested Thompson after a 14-year-old girl noticed a phone with its camera flashlight turned on in the bathroom on a flight from North Carolina to New York in September 2023, police say. He is facing federal charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of images of child sexual abuse.

The girl's mother previously told Business Insider that Thompson used "psychological tricks" to make her think the interaction wasn't strange.

Paul Llewellyn, an attorney representing the 14-year-old girl's family in a civil suit, is also representing the family of a 9-year-old who says Thompson also filmed her on a flight in January 2023.

Attorneys representing American Airlines in that lawsuit claimed in court records this week that the 9-year-old "knew or should have known" that the bathroom "contained a visible and illuminated recording device," absolving the airline of negligence.

Llewellyn called the claims "not credible" and said the airline should have never "taken this position in the first place."

The airlines later walked back the claims in court, amended the complaint, and issued a statement to Business Insider that said the defense was "not representative of our airline."

Now, American Airlines confirmed to Business Insider that the airline is no longer retaining the attorneys who wrote the complaint, offering no further comment on the change.

Llewellyn told BI in a statement that American Airlines switched attorneys "as a result of the intense media and public backlash surrounding the outrageous allegation."

"With the benefit of this new legal representation, we hope that American Airlines will now take a fresh look at the case and finally take some measure of responsibility for what happened to our client," Llewellyn said. "Otherwise, we are very confident that a Texas jury will do the right thing and hold American Airlines responsible."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) has released a "Transfer Data Guidebook for Tribal Colleges and Universities," marking the conclusion of a three-year research endeavor funded by a $625,000 grant from the Educational Credit Management Corporation.

This initiative focused on enhancing student achievement through the establishment of a cohesive transfer system across the seven Montana tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). The guidebook aims to facilitate supported educational pathways from certificate to baccalaureate degrees, facilitating smooth transfers among the Montana TCU institutions to ensure timely degree completion. It offers valuable insights for TCUs seeking to enhance their student transfer data and processes.

Given that nearly 40% of college students transfer at least once during their academic journey, transfer students represent a significant yet often neglected demographic in the educational landscape. The prevalent route for transfer students is from a two-year college to a four-year institution, with many being first-generation and students of color. Unfortunately, studies indicate that a majority of transfer students lose approximately 37% of their college credits upon transferring. These challenges are particularly pertinent for TCUs, which primarily offer associate degrees to communities predominantly composed of Native and first-generation students.

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The guidebook serves as a valuable resource for TCUs by furnishing a foundational understanding of transfer processes and supporting the development of effective transfer data practices. Covering various aspects from software and security to transfer agreements and advising, the guide offers comprehensive guidance for establishing transfer pathways. Implementing a robust transfer data system not only enhances support for students transitioning to other institutions but also provides analytical insights that colleges can leverage to streamline transfer processes further.

The collaborative efforts between the College Fund and the Montana TCUs, involving surveys, data sharing, and insights into the transfer landscape and program requirements, were instrumental in bringing this guidebook to fruition. This collaboration led to the establishment of 14 articulation agreements among the participating TCUs and the formulation of a universal policy to support students, mitigate credit loss, and facilitate on-time graduation despite transfers. These achievements serve as exemplary outcomes that the College Fund hopes other TCUs will emulate with the assistance of the guidebook.

David Sanders, Vice President of Research, Evaluation, and Faculty Development at the College Fund, emphasized the significance of the Transfer Data Guidebook in supporting transfer students both within and outside TCU institutions. He highlighted its comprehensive coverage, including articulation agreements, success support structures, systems infrastructure, and other essential considerations, making it an invaluable resource for TCUs as they endeavor to develop crucial services supporting student mobility.

For Tribal College students, who represent a large contingent of first generation, non-traditional, single parent, PELL eligible populations, a clear pathway for transfer is crucial. If they do not have a clear roadmap for transfer, they oftentimes find themselves in their final term of their academic program, very close to graduation and do not have the financial resources to complete their programs," Sandra Boham, president of Salish Kootenai College, said.

The guide is available for download at https://collegefund.org/tcu-transfer-data-guidebook-2023. TCUs can also request a hard copy from the College Fund by emailing Crystal Hedgepeth at chedgepeth@collegefund.org.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

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My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. Ive never felt this kind of pain, Rep. Ben Baker wrote on Facebook

Natalie Lloyd/Facebook Davy and Natalie Lloyd

Married American missionaries who were serving full-time in Haiti were killed on May 23, family members confirmed. The couple, who were attacked by gangs, included the daughter of a Missouri state representative.

David (Davy) Lloyd III and his wife Natalie, who is the daughter of Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker, were fatally shot along with a third person after being ambushed by a local gang in Haiti. The couple worked for Missions in Haiti Inc., a missionary organization operated by Lloyds parents.

The organization, which was established in 2000, shared the news of the couples death on Facebook, writing, Davy and Natalie and Jude were shot and killed by the gang about 9 o'clock this evening. We all are devastated.

The third person killed was not immediately identified.

Related: American Woman and Child Kidnapped in Haiti While Serving in Community Ministry, Nonprofit Says

Another earlier post from Missions in Haiti detailed the ambush that claimed the lives of the young couple who were recently married in 2022. This evening when Davy, Natalie and the kids were coming out of Youth at the church they were ambushed by a gang of 3 trucks full of guys. Davy was taken to the house tied up and beat, the post read.

Related: President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise, Assassinated Inside His Home, First Lady Wounded

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Rep. Baker posted the tragic news in an emotional Facebook post. My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. Ive never felt this kind of pain, he wrote.

They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to Heaven together. Please pray for my family we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well. I have no other words for now, the post continued.

Related: American Nurse and Her Daughter Released 2 Weeks After Being Kidnapped in Haiti

Following the news of their deaths, a national security spokesperson for the White House addressed the shooting in Haiti in a statement to CNN. We are aware of the reports of the deaths of U.S. citizens in Haiti. Our hearts go out to the families of those killed as they experience unimaginable grief, the spokesperson said.

The security situation in Haiti cannot wait. That is why yesterday, President Biden reiterated our commitment to support the expedited the deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to bolster the Haitian National Polices capabilities to protect civilians, restore the rule of law, and pave the way to democratic governance, the spokesperson continued noting the dangerous current situation in Haiti and stressing the safety of civilians.

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Read the original article on People.
Visitors to the Honor the Fallen event at Lost Trail Winery in Marlboro Township take a ride on a 1945 Landing Vehicle Tracked 4 Water Buffalo Amphibian Tractor. Lost Trail Winery and Vineyard featured the amphibious vehicle at its Honor the Fallen event on Saturday as it recognized the men and women who have died while serving in the military.

MARLBORO TWP.  The engine of the Landing Vehicle Tracked 4 roared and rattled as the tank-like military vehicle eased its way into the muddy water of a pond.

The 29,000-pound amphibian vehicles track chewed up the seaweed and mud as it propelled its riders forward. Children manned the vehicles inactive machine guns as owner Tom Price of Bowling Green steered it through the water to demonstrate the power and precision of the amphibious vehicles that U.S. Marines have been using in combat since 1942.

Prices vehicle, built in 1945 and used as a prop in the movie Flags of Our Fathers, will be part of Marlboro Townships Memorial Day parade on Monday.

But on Saturday, it served as a vehicle to remember the past and inspire the future.

Cabin Rohr, 6, peeks from the top of a 1945 LVT 4 Water Buffalo Amphibian Tractor during the Honor the Fallen event at Lost Trail Winery in Marlboro Township.

Lost Trail Winery and Vineyard featured the amphibious vehicle at its Honor the Fallen event on Saturday as it recognized the men and women who have died while serving in the military.

The event, organized by winery owner and former U.S. Marine Sgt. Christopher Rohr, gave a special mention to the roughly two dozen Marines from the Ohio-based Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines and 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion who died in Iraq in 2005. Many of them died when their amphibious assault vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

Today is not about those of us who are here, who are above ground walking around, or even those of us who arent doing it so well anymore, retired U.S. Marine Colonel John B. Atkinson said. Its about those we knew and those we didnt that arent here, that were killed in battle going all the way back to the American Revolution through today in Syria and other places.

Atkinson, now a professor at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, said it was fitting for Rohr to invite him to Ohio to reflect on the service of military members.

Ohio is one of those states that pumps a lot of young men and women into the military, he said. They go forward and follow their comrades into battle. They fight and they fight well.

Retired U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Justin Lehew, an Ohio Military Hall of Fame inductee, encouraged everyone to pay their respects to those who were killed in service but also to have fun.

They want you to have barbeques, they want you to have fun, he said. They want your children to have fun. They want you to have fun in honor and memory of them because they can no longer be there to do that.

How do I know that? Because if that was me, thats what I would want. I wouldnt want everyone just standing around with tears running down because that is not who we are as a nation.

Tess Greathouse of Plain Township looks over a 1945 LVT 4 Water Buffalo Amphibian Tractor during the Honor the Fallen event at Lost Trail Winery in Marlboro Township.

Lehew and Atkinson are both leaders of an effort to build a memorial that honors the Marines and sailors who manned the U.S. Marine Corps landing and amphibious assault vehicles since 1942.

Their association, the Amphibious Tractor Association, or AmTrac, is raising $500,000 to build the memorial that will be placed on the Heritage Walk at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia, near Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Peg Lee, who designed the memorial, said the association is halfway to its fundraising goal.

The winery at 5228 State St. NE donated 20% of its sales over the weekend to the association. Beyond the weekend, Rohr, who had served with Atkinson in the Marines, is donating 20% of the sales of two wines he developed for the association  Center Beach (Chardonnay) and Roebling Red. Donations for rides on Tom Prices amphibious vehicle also were donated to the association.

Donations also can be made to the association at amphibioustractormemorial.com.

Reach Canton Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.

The Magnificent Goat Brothers perform at the Honor the Fallen event at Lost Trail Winery in Marlboro Township Saturday.

Visitors to the Honor the Fallen event at Lost Trail Winery in Marlboro Township take a ride on a 1945 LVT 4 Water Buffalo Amphibian Tractor Saturday.

Visitors to the Honor the Fallen event at Lost Trail Winery in Marlboro Township take a ride on a 1945 LVT 4 Water Buffalo Amphibian Tractor Saturday.

Bob LeHew of Kansas looks over a display at the Honor the Fallen event at Lost Trail Winery in Marlboro Township Saturday.

Remembering the fallen on a display at the Honor the Fallen event at Lost Trail Winery in Marlboro Township Saturday.

Cynthia LeHew of Virgina aims for a target with an Airsoft gun during the Honor the Fallen event at Lost Trail Winery in Marlboro Township Saturday.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Lost Trail Winery, Amphibious Tractor group recognize Memorial Day
Handcuffedand begging for his lifeGeorge Floyd died four years ago with a police officers knee on his neck, sending thousands into the streets in protest

People Magazine June 2020 cover

I cant breathe. Facedown on the asphalt in downtown Minneapolis May 25, 46-year-old George Floyd pleaded for his life as he lay handcuffed, the knee of police officer Derek Chauvin pushing into the right side of his neck. Please. I cant breathe. Dont kill me. Mama.

For eight minutes, 46 seconds, Floyd, who was being arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill, lay pressed against the pavement, even as multiple bystanders begged Chauvin and the other police officers participating in the arrestJ. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thaoto respond to Floyds obvious distress. Even after Floyd stops moving (4 minutes, 46 seconds). Even after Floyd stops speaking (5 minutes, 53 seconds). Even after Lane asks, Want to roll him on his side? Even after Kueng checks Floyds right wrist for a pulse and says, I couldnt find one. Chauvins knee remains. It isnt until an ambulance arrives and responders bend over an immobile Floyd that Chauvin removes his knee from Floyds neck.

Related: 2 Years After George Floyd Was Murdered by a Police Officer, His Sister Still 'Feels His Spirit'

The shattering video evidence of a man losing his life in the custody of the very people sworn to serve and protect him quickly sickened and enraged the millions who saw it. The day after the incident, Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo fired all the officers. By May 29 Chauvin, 44, was under arrest, charged with manslaughter and third-degree murder; he is being held on $500,000 bond and has yet to enter a plea. More charges may be forthcoming. While an investigation into the actions of the other officers remains ongoingWe felt it appropriate to focus on the most dangerous perpetrator, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said May 29the FBI has also launched a civil rights investigation into Floyds death. A somber Arradondo told CNN while visiting the spot where Floyds death occurred, Being silent or not intervening, to me, youre complicit, so I dont see a level of distinction any different.... Mr. Floyd died in our hands.

People Magazine June 12, 2020 Cover

Related: Powerful Images from Protests Across the U.S. Over George Floyd's Death

That tragedy alone might have been enough to spark what followedbut sadly it wasnt alone. On March 13 Breonna Taylor, 26, an EMT and emergency-room technician, was killed in her Louisville apartment when police served a no knock warrant and shot her when her boyfriend fired his own permitted weapon, fearing for his life. And on Feb. 23 Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was out jogging when he was killed by white men who said they suspected him of burglary near their home in Glynn County, Ga. Floyds death in their wake pushed the nations long-simmering racial tensions to a breaking point. Protesters took to the streets of Minneapolis and more than 100 American cities to express fear, outrage, despair and anger. Soon peaceful marches turned violent, with police cars set aflame and buildings vandalized and looted around the country. Rioters started fires in front of the White House, curfews were imposed in 40 cities, and National Guard troops were called in to restore order in at least 23 states.

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Those who knew George FloydBig Floyd to his friendssay the former security guard and nightclub bouncer would have been horrified by the violence taking place in his name. He would have shut it down, says his childhood friend Christopher Harris, 45. He wouldnt have stood for that. If people knew him, nothing would have burned. He wouldnt want that. He wanted to protect everybody.

For Alicia Smith, 36, a black Minneapolis community activist who had met Floyd a few times through a mutual friend, the circumstances of his deathand hearing him call out Mama with his final breathsbrings her to her knees. You see the video, and you see an adult man that could be your father, your uncle, your brother, says Smith, the mother of two boys, ages 11 and 7. What I saw was my son. What I heard when I saw him scream out and call for his mother, I heard my son calling my name and begging for help. That sound, as a mother, rang so true to me. Smith struggles with how to show her sons to protest peacefully, how to be safe. My 11-year-old son asked me, Is someone going to kill me too? How do you explain that? So I have to chip away at his innocence by preparing him to exist in this world as a black man when hes just a little boy.

But Smith says she is determined to stand up against the injustice that took Floyds lifeand the lives of so many others. Were going to continue to fight until we all can have equal access to be able to walk down the street, jog, laugh, dine, drive, walk in the park, sit on the front porches at the house, she says. Id only met George in passing. We exchanged some salutations. But most importantly, I know millions of Georges. I would like for this to never happen again.

As the nation struggles to find a path to healing, people around the U.S. share their experiences:

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Trae Tha Truth, 39, Houston rapper and longtime friend of George Floyd

George would always try to make the best of situations. He would be saying, Hey, naw, this aint the way to go about it. This is not cool. A lot of the younger ones looked at him as O.G. status, somebody they would actually respect and listen to. Its heartbreaking for this situation to occur. But its a good thing that hes sparking change.

One thing I know: He would stand up if it would happen to one of us. Us standing up now is to protect our kids in the future. A lot of people feel that black lives are less than any other life, and thats not the case. We matter too. And were going to fight for it.

Related: George Floyd's Sister Says Trial Reminds Her of Suffering He Endured: 'He Felt Every Ounce of Pain'

Charles Stotts, 50, owner, with wife Kacey White, of Minneapoliss Town Talk Diner

Tuesday night was the first protest here. And our restaurant iswasabout 150 yards from the Third Precinct. We went down there just to, you know, be a part of it. It was what I would call peaceful protesting. Wednesday we noticed that the police were putting up concrete barricades around the precinct building. [An] officer said, You should grab your valuables and board up your windows and get out. Thursday night at around 5 p.m. there was one of the most amazing, peaceful protests outside the Third Precinct. It was exactly what a protest was supposed to be. It made you feel good. It was enlightening. And I remember as we left I said to Kacey, Last night was the turning point.

Then around 4:30 in the morning Kaseys phone dings, and its a text from a friend of ours: Your buildings on fire. It is really heartbreaking. Weve got our lives tied into that restaurant; its literally everything.... Its really, really hard. A lot of healing needs to happen in Minneapolis. Anybody asks me, What can I do? my answer is you can pray for the family of George Floyd. The focus still needs to remain on the fact that theres a gentleman that should still be with us on this planet, and hes not.

Art Acevedo, 55, Houston police chief, who has been marching with protesters

I wish people who dont understand the righteous anger of so many people of color, I wish they could walk with me with the protesters. So they can hear with their own ears, and see with their own eyes, the deep pain that especially African-American communities are feeling. Just watching that video, if you dont have indignation, if you try to justify what happened to George Floyd in any manner, then you are the problem. It has been a life-altering experience to actually come out and support a community that truly is hurting. I will take these memories with me to the grave.

Brad Lloyd, 37, a fitness trainer who attended protests in Brooklyn

Hundreds of people... I saw, like, a line of white people just sitting down, creating a barricade. So [police] couldnt go down the one-way street. So they had to turn and go the other way. And then you saw some black people behind them. And Im standing right here witnessing the whole thing, the whole time. And Im like, Hell yeah. Thats what Im talking about. To me, that just says you actually are trying to make a difference for your fellow brother of color.

Tanness Walker, 23, community activist who attended the May 30 march in Los Angeles

We were having protesters talk about their experiences with police and their experiences with injustice. Then the crowd started to move.... The cops came, and they was barricading everyone, throwing tear gas. They parked the cars in the middle of the street and wouldnt let us through. My brother and one of his friends got hit with the rubber bullets. I got pushed down with a baton when I was trying to leave. It was mayhem. As we left, the looting started. People shouldnt loot.... Its happening because these people are mad. But people look at the lootersOh, its just a bunch of black people lootingand the message kind of gets lost.... Chanting for George Floyd, wanting justice for him, that needs to be clear. We need to fight for that.

Related: George Floyd's Aunt Angela Harrelson Is Writing a Book: 'He Wanted the World to Hear His Voice'

Mawuli Davis, 51, civil rights attorney who attended Atlanta protests with his sons Kobie, 22, and Khari, 20

I was up on the parking garage when the police car was set on fire and vandalized. I saw that, and I immediately tried to get down into the crowd and find my sons so we could get out. I knew that things had gone in a direction that was not safe. The young people that were down there, they came for their voices to be heard, but they dont need to be hurt or killed or arrested and have their entire life change. Theyre angry. And they have something to say. Theyre saying it in the language you may not hear in church. But theyre saying what they have to say. Its been a very intense situation. Very intense, very volatile. One of my sons described it as surreal. In almost 30 years of organizing, Ive never seen a police car set on fire.

Olga Hall, 43, a nurse, and her son Tim, 28, a medical office assistant, who attended a Washington, D.C., protest May 30

Olga: There was electricity in the air. Everybody was there for the same purpose. There were people handing out free cloth masks and free water and snacks. The feeling of camaraderie among the protesters, it filled my heart.

After 10 p.m. a new crowd came in, an angrier crowd. Things started to escalate. You got people climbing up the traffic lights and throwing water bottles and stuff at the police. And the police threw out pepper spray, and things deteriorated from there. People throwing things, bashing windows in, which speaks to the rage that people are feeling.

Tim: I had an experience with the police almost two months ago. They busted into my house and had my mom at gunpoint, andand its not like I did anything. [Police later admitted they had the wrong house.] That didnt make any sense to me. No sense. Then were out yesterday, we are peacefully protesting, and they had the nerve to put gas in the air to make us cough and choke when we have a pandemic going on thats already an airborne illness. It got really, really angry. Really angry. There was a lot of stuff on fire. Glass breaking. The protest last night needed to happen.

Renee Hall, 49, Dallas police chief, who cleared the streets on May 29 for protesters to march

People who are 60 remember the days of water hoses being sicced on them by law enforcement, so when these actions surface, even by a small number of members of law enforcement, they look at it as a culture that still exists in the police department. We understand that there have been multiple deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of law enforcement. I acknowledge that. It doesnt represent all of law enforcement. We are all outraged.

So it was so important for us to say we respect peaceful protests. We will also make sure that no hurt or harm comes to you as you peacefully express your concerns. We stand with you in acknowledging the wrongand working to fix it.

Related: George Floyd Memorial Photos from the One-Year Anniversary

Amir McRae, 40, owner of ATL Cruzers, a Segway tour business in Atlanta, and a father of three

I was woken early Saturday by an alarm call at 12:40 a.m. I went downtown, and it was just people everywhere, in and out of the convenience store next to [my business]. My adrenaline was pumping, and I asked people to stop looting. Weve been in a pandemic, and businesses are hit hard. I helped board up the other businesses, protect the assets. Ive seen people, young people and older people, just walking around with the right mindset of peaceful protest. Ive seen some really tough things to watch for our community, which is broken glass and buildings that have been trampled and tear gas and fireworks. Ive seen a lot. I went and really risked my life through conversation with looters at a business that I dont own. Im about making sure that we all do this the right way.



Reporting by ELAINE ARADILLAS, K.C. BAKER, DIANE HERBST, WENDY GROSSMAN KANTOR, SUSAN KATZ KEATING, CHRISTINE PELISEK and JEFF TRUESDELL

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Another planet discovered that may support human life  and its not that far away

Newly discovered exoplanet Gliese 12 b may have the potential to support human life, according to a new study.

Move over, Mars.

We could be one step closer to becoming a multi-planetary species. Scientists have discovered another planet that has the potential to support human life, per a study outlined in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Dubbed Gliese 12 b, the potential intergalactic oasis boasts an average estimated surface temperature of 107 degrees F, just 50 degrees warmer than Earths. Thats the lowest estimated temperature out of the approximately 5,000 exoplanets  planets outside of our solar system  that have been discovered to date.

Discovered by an international team of scientists using NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), it is only slightly smaller than Earth and is located just 40 light years away.

To determine if Gliese 12 b is habitable, researchers will need to find out if it has an Earth-like atmosphere NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt / SWNS

Gliese 12 b is one of 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 NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center who co-authored the study, Phys.org reported.

The discovery makes Gliese 12 b the nearest, transiting, temperate, Earth-size world located to date, per the scientists, who see it as a potential candidate for further examination by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Transiting occurs when a planet passes in front of its star from our perspective, causing the host stars brightness to fade. During a transit, some of the stars light is absorbed by the exoplanets atmosphere, emitting a chemical signature that can be picked by telescopes like Webb, which is how most exoplanets are discovered.

To determine if Gliese 12 b is habitable, researchers will need to find out if it has an Earth-like atmosphere, which could allow it to harbor water on its surface  the key ingredient to life.

Atmospheres trap heat and  depending on the type  can change the actual surface temperature substantially, described Shishir Dholakia, a doctoral student at the Center for Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia who helped helm the research.

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 Center for Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia who helped helm the research. NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt / SWNS

He explained that the temperature estimate is the planets equilibrium temperature  what Gliese would have without an atmosphere.

The team compared the planet to the similarly-sized Venus, which doesnt have an atmosphere to shield itself from the suns rays, hence why its median surface temp is a scorching 867 F.

The Earth is habitable, but Venus is not due to its complete loss of water, explained Larissa Palethorpe, a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh and University College London.

Fortunately, the study suggests that Gliese could be slightly more hospitable.

The distance between Gliese 12 b and its red dwarf star is just 7% of the distance between Earth and the sun, meaning it receives 1.6 times more energy from its star than Earth does from the sun and about 85% of what Venus receives.

Since Gliese 12 b gets in between the amount of light as Earth and Venus get from the sun, it will be valuable for bridging the gap between these two planets in our solar system, said Dholakia.

The planets atmospheric retainability will also be impacted by the storminess of its star.

Fortunately, while red dwarfs tend to emit powerful solar flares, scientific analyses reveal that Glieses energy source is not so tempestuous  meaning that the planets atmosphere could very well be intact.

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 Dholakia.

Scientists need to discover more potentially habitable space rocks in the future to better understand the diversity of atmospheres and evolutionary outcomes for these planets, per McElwain.
(Bloomberg) -- Argentina risks struggling to service some of its debt if its forced to pay out $1.5 billion in damages a UK court awarded to investors last year, lawyers for the South American nation have warned.

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Hedge funds including Palladian Partners LP last year won a UK High Court ruling that Argentina must compensate investors for losses in the countrys growth-linked securities after it changed the method of calculating gross domestic product.

But that verdict is being challenged at the Court of Appeal in London and on Tuesday, lawyers for Argentina argued that the ruling could force its government to pay even if the economy were in recession or not growing at all.

The 2023 ruling disconnects actual economic growth from the bonds and unfairly ties the securities to an outdated measure of GDP, Argentinas lawyers said. Any forced payments in a recession could jeopardize the Republics ability to service both its GDP-linked and conventional debt, the countrys lawyers said in written arguments.

At the root of the case is the countrys default on $95 billion of debt in 2001 amid one of the worst financial crises in its history. GDP-linked bonds, which pay out when the economic expansion reaches a set threshold, were part of a restructuring program.

A dispute arose after Argentina changed the base year for calculating growth in 2013. The changes were necessary to avoid the returns on the warrants to be guided by obsolete 1993 measure of GDP until 2035, lawyers for Argentina argued.

Argentina is heading into another recession this year after President Javier Mileis economic shock therapy. Economists surveyed by the central bank expect its economy to contract 3.5% this year.

Sue Prevezer, a lawyer for Palladian, dismissed Argentinas argument as an exercise in wishful thinking.

The Republic dresses up its main argument in a wholly unrealistic fashion, and is seeking to re-imagine how it wishes the securities were written to save itself over $1.5 billion, she wrote in documents prepared for the hearing.

The Court of Appeal earlier this year ordered the country to deposit 310 million in an escrow account for this hearing even as the judge expressed sympathy for the impact any additional financial burden will have on a distressed economy.

The three other hedge funds in the case which alleged Argentina avoided payments on the bonds by making the change are HBK Master Fund LP, Hirsh Group LLC and Virtual Emerald International Ltd.

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NAIROBI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's foreign exchange reserves shrank by a record 191 million U.S. dollars this week, falling below the 7 billion-dollar mark to stand at 6.98 billion dollars on Friday, the central bank said in its update on financial markets.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), which has reportedly sold unspecified amount of dollars to bolster the local currency shilling, normally props up the currency in case it faces volatility to keep it at a desirable level so that the decline does not distort the financial markets.

Commercial banks noted that there was an increase in demand for dollars from manufacturers and importers, putting further pressure on the reserves.

Despite the decline, the central bank said the reserves remained adequate.

Kenya is expecting a 1 billion-dollar loan disbursement from the International Monetary Fund, which will boost the reserves. 
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, decried rising threats to election officials as domestic terrorism, and said that he and other offices are working with law enforcement nationwide to handle the issue.

And I think back to what we were talking about just a moment ago, one of the ways that I have been looking at this and addressing this is telling the really hard truth, Fontes said during his appearance on NBCs Meet the Press, part of a recorded episode that will air on Sunday.

And that is this: Threats against election officials in the United States of America is domestic terrorism, he continued. Terrorism is defined as a threat or violence for a political outcome. Thats what this is.

He was one of the four secretaries of state appearing on the Meet the Press bipartisan panel that discussed threats to democracy. Fontes was also joined by Michigans Jocelyn Benson, Georgias Brad Raffensperger and Al Schmidt from Pennsylvania.

Fontes remarks come as local election workers have increasingly been fearful for their safety heading into the November elections. A survey from the Brennan Center for Justice, which was released earlier this month, found that nearly four in 10 local election workers have dealt with harassment, threats and abuse while doing their job.

Law enforcement officials are working to ensure greater safety for election workers in Arizona, one of several battleground states in the presidential race. Workers in the Grand Canyon State were hammered with threats and harassment during the 2020 general election.

And I think the Department of Justice is really ramping up and starting to prosecute, Fontes said. Were working with law enforcement across the country to really start to address these things. Its not too little, too late, but we do have to address it for what it is.

Arizona was one of seven states where slates of alternate electors were dispatched in hopes of being recognized as duly elected without any basis. The idea was to have then-Vice President Mike Pence recognize those Trump-backing alternate electors over those filed for Biden.

Fontes said that while threats did have an impact on him and his family, he shared that it would take a lot more to move him off of his post.

It has impacted not just us but our families, as you mentioned, as well, he said. But not just our families. You know, when you have to tell your neighbors, Hey, pay attention. If something happens, the kids might have to come over, or to have go-bags ready, or to do any number of these things that so many people across the country have had to suffer through, thats a problem.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A U.S. district judge in Little Rock dismissed a lawsuit Attorney General Tim Griffin filed against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives over a gun sales rule change.

In the decision, the judge argued the lawsuit should have been filed in Kansas where the plaintiffs reside. The judges Friday order transferred the case to Kansas.

Judge tosses ATF lawsuit out of Arkansas court, cites standing

Griffin responded to the Little Rock U.S. district judges ruling Friday.

The district courts order erroneously concluded that Arkansas lacked standing to challenge the ATFs unlawful rule without commenting on the standing of our 20 state co-plaintiffs, Griffin said in a statement. We will be challenging that ruling in short order.

Griffin and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach co-led the lawsuit on behalf of more than a dozen attorneys general.

The rule, finalized on April 11, requires anyone who sells firearms predominantly to earn a profit to become federally licensed and conduct background checks, including those selling at gun shows. Previously, the licensing requirement tended to be more focused on sellers with an established retail operation rather than those without a business license who sold at shows.

ATF director questioned on March raid of home of Little Rock airport executive Bryan Malinowski

Griffin and Kobachs lawsuit argues that the rule change violates the long-standing precedent of going through Congress to pass a law. They also have said its too far-reaching in its impact.

The main concern for many proved in Washington this week to be a lack of clarity on how many guns someone needs to sell to be in the category of selling predominantly to earn a profit.

A congressional hearing in Washington D.C. just this week indicated that many held the belief this played a part in the ATF raid into Little Rock Airport Director Bryan Malinowskis home that resulted in his death. Back in March, ATF raided Malinowskis home in the early morning hours, shooting and killing him after he fired at agents in what his attorney has said was self-defense.

An affidavit says Malinowski sold guns at gun shows at a rate the ATF says crossed a line for when a private seller is required to get a federal firearms license.

U.S. House Judiciary Committee asks ATF for details of March raid on Malinowski home in Little Rock

This week the House of Representatives Weaponization of the Federal Government subcommittee questioned the ATF director over whether the current rule is clear enough for everyday citizens to understand before breaking the law.

For a regular person that acquires guns, theyre trying to figure out, how many guns do I sell before I have to register as a dealer? What youre saying is there is no bright lining? U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) asked ATF Director Steven Dettlebach.

Im saying that there is now more information than ever in the form of that rule. Dettlebach responded.

I think just for a regular person more information than ever is probably less helpful, Gaetz said.

Hes dead because he was probably not realizing the changes of this rule, U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) told the director. Do you understand how dangerous your definitions have become?

I dont think its too much to ask for somebody whos selling firearms repetitively for profitto read the law, he responded.

D.C. lawmakers hold hearing on Little Rock Airport Executive Bryan Malinowskis death

KARK 4 News also asked Griffin if the lawsuit had anything to do with the ATF case involving Malinowski.

We have been tracking the ATFs rule since last year and filed official comments objecting to the rule long before the ATF raid, Griffin said. The lawsuit has no connection to the ATF raid even though the policy at issue in the lawsuit and in the raid are similar.

Earlier this week, a federal judge blocked this same rule change from going into effect in Texas. Texas was one of more than a dozen states filing lawsuits, along with Arkansas, against the rule.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Students from Arkansas Virtual Academy gathered in-person Friday for an end of the year celebration.

There were eight events held Friday across the Natural State. One was held at the A.R.V.A. Onsite Learning Center on 7th Street in downtown Little Rock.

Arkansas Virtual Academy kicks off Arkansas Book Buddies challenge

Students who usually just see their instructors and peers online got a chance to interact. There were also carnival games, food and prizes.

Its an opportunity for them to make connections with other kiddos and families to celebrate the end of a great year together, Gina Moore, Parent/Family Engagement Coordinator for AR Virtual Academy said.

A.R.V.A. has been open since 2003. They said they serve more than 4,000 students representing all 75 counties.

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Assistant beheaded tech CEO so girlfriend wouldnt find out he stole $400K from employer and leave him: lawyers

A tech CEOs personal assistant claims he beheaded his boss in a crime of passion, his attorney argued Friday.

Tyrese Haspil, 25, was desperate to cover his tracks after stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his employer and didnt want his French girlfriend, Marine Chaveuz, to find out and leave him, according to his defense.

A tech CEOs personal assistant claims he beheaded his boss in a crime of passion, his attorney argued Friday.

This motivated Haspil to force his way into the $2.4 million Lower East Side apartment of Fahim Saleh, 33, Taser him then stab him to death, defense attorney Sam Roberts told jurors at Manhattan Supreme Court.

Roberts, is trying to convince a 12-person jury Haspil suffered from extreme emotional disturbance, which led him to kill.

Haspil worried he would be abandoned if Chaveuz found out about the $400,000 he had stolen, so decided his only two options were suicide or homicide, and chose the latter, according to prosecutors.

Saleh, a venture capitalist and the CEO of Nigeria-based motorbike startup Gokada, confronted Haspil about missing money in January 2020 after learning $90,000 disappeared from a corporate spending account.

The money was traced back to Haspil, but Saleh declined to press charges against the man he saw as his protege and allowed him to pay him back through a payment plan.

However, Haspil continued to steal from Salehs company through a Paypal account, but was again found out.

Tyrese Haspil, 25, was desperate to cover his tracks after stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his employer and didnt want his French girlfriend, Marine Chaveuz, to find out and leave him, according to his defense. James Messerschmidt

With the threat of prosecution looming, Haspil decided to carefully research and plan how to get away with murder, prosecutors say.

Over this period of time, he was planning not only to commit the homicide but to get away with it To cover it up and how to erase his debt and prevent Fahim Saleh from testifying in criminal proceedings, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Ford told the court.

Sources told The Post at the time Haspil had allegedly used Salehs credit cards to pay for rides to and from the Home Depot store on West 23rd Street to buy supplies to clean up the murder.

Haspil, seen here on the July 18, 2020 cover of The Post, carefully researched and planned how to get away with murder, prosecutors say.

Prosecutors gave the jury a play-by-play of Salehs alleged killing.

They said Haspil, wearing a mask, zapped Saleh with a Taser, stabbed him then dismembered the body a day later, cutting off the victims head.

After the killing Haspil vacuumed, but his cleanup wasnt thorough enough and he didnt to suck up a single anti-felon disk identification tag, which was recovered at the scene.

The disk contained a unique number matched to the Taser that Haspil ordered to his Brooklyn address a month before the murder, prosecutors claimed.

This motivated Haspil to force his way into the $2.4 million Lower East Side apartment of Fahim Saleh, 33, Taser him then stab him to death, defense attorney Sam Roberts told jurors at Manhattan Supreme Court. AP

Salehs body was discovered by his cousin, who found his torso exposed in the living room alongside construction bags when she went in to check on him, after she had not heard from him for a few days.

Despite his alleged dedication to Chaveuz, Haspil was spotted two days after the murder with a mystery woman strolling through Noho and buying a bouquet of birthday balloons, sources said.

Prosecutors said Haspil was planning a birthday party for his new girlfriend at a loft-like Airbnb on Crosby St, where he showered her with cakes and luxury items.

Members of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner remove Salehs body. James Keivom

These included a pricey leather APC tote bag, a beige Christian Louboutin shopping bag and a box of shoes which were recovered by police, all allegedly bought on his dead boss dime.

Haspil has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years to life behind bars if he is convicted.

His attorneys hope a jury will instead opt for convicting him of manslaughter due to his emotionally disturbed defense, which carries a lighter sentence of five to 25 years.

Roberts said Haspils life has been marked by trauma, beginning with a tough childhood where he was the victim of years of abuse by his schizophrenic mother.

She is said to have kept him locked inside a bedroom and beat him.

Haspils actions might not be rational to us, claimed Roberts, but from his point of view, in his shoes, at that time, it made some sort of sense to him.
SpaceX engineer Anna Menon is set to travel deeper into the cosmos than any astronaut has in decades as part of this summer's trailblazing Polaris Dawn mission

Polaris Program / John Kraus Anna Menon (right) and the Polaris Dawn crew on a zero-gravity research flight in 2022.

A crew of four is set to blast off on a SpaceX rocket where they'll attempt the first-ever all-civilian spacewalk outside the ship and carry out more than 40 experiments

Up in the stars, engineer Anna Menon will also read her book Kisses from Space to raise money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital

"We hope to inspire future generations to dream bigger and reach for the stars," crew member Sarah Gillis says

On any given night at Anna Menons home in Houston, the 38-year-old mother and her son, James, 6, act out a ritual that combines Menons passion for space with her parental need to get her oldest child to sleep.



James came up with it, she says.

He asks me to rocket him into his bed, so I basically grab hold of his legs, and we do this countdown: 10, nine, eight ... Then we blast off as I push him up to his top bunk before I hug him goodnight.

In the coming weeks James  along with his 3-year-old sister Grace and their dad, Anil, 47  will watch Menon, a SpaceX mission specialist and medical officer, perform a grown-up version of their nightly pastime.

She will be blasting off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with three other crew members  Jared Isaacman, Scott Poteet and Sarah Gillis  on the Polaris Dawn, a trailblazing private space mission that is set to fly deeper into the cosmos (870 miles, to be exact) than any other since the Gemini 11 took off in 1966.

For more on Menon and the Polaris Dawn mission, pick up this week's PEOPLE, on newsstands now, or subscribe.

Courtesy of Polaris Dawn Anna Menon with her husband Anil and children James and Grace.

This is a stepping stone, says Menon. Its helping to build technologies that will get humans closer to Mars and beyond.

Thats not the only goal. Once Menon is floating among the stars, Im going to read a childrens book I wrote, Kisses from Space, to both my kids as well as some of the brave kids at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, she says of a live feed to raise funds for the Tennessee-based health care facility that focuses on childhood cancer and other pediatric diseases.

A previous SpaceX flight, the Inspiration4, pulled in more than $250 million, and Menon says they want to add to that: We can make huge strides for our collective future but also address the problems here on Earth today.

Penguin Random House The cover of Menon's children book"Kisses from Space"that she'll be reading to children back on earth during her mission.

During the Polaris Dawns five-day journey, funded and commanded by Isaacman, a billionaire tech entrepreneur, the crew will attempt the first-ever all-civilian spacewalk outside the ship and carry out more than 40 experiments to help understand the effects of spaceflight and radiation on humans.

Inspiration4 and now the Polaris program missions are very small steps in the direction of opening this last great frontier," says Isaacman, 41. "There is so much we stand to learn ... The answers are out there and so much more. We just need to get out there and explore. Who knows what we may find.

Floating outside their Dragon capsule in the inky-black vastness of space is an experience that crew member and SpaceX engineer Gillis, 30, is especially looking forward to.

"Completing this spacewalk will test our training and teamwork, but we're ready," she says.

Menon and Poteet, a 50-year-old retired Air Force lieutenant colonel-turned-SpaceX pilot, will remain inside the capsule during the space walk but all four will be exposed to the void.

"We hope to inspire future generations to dream bigger and reach for the stars," Gillis says.

The Polaris Dawn hasnt finalized its launch date but is planning for no earlier than this summer. The expedition was pushed back several years as the team worked to fine-tune the dizzying array of technology they need, including suits for the crew to wear outside their capsule as it travels 17,500 mph in temperatures ranging from 250 degrees below zero to 250 degrees above. (They wont feel the velocity in the same way as on Earth.)

Past astronauts have recounted a curious detail from their trips, insisting that space sometimes smells like gunpowder or burnt food. Ill let you know, Menon says, when we come back.

Polaris Program / JOHN KRAUS Anna Menon in the cockpit.

The trip is the culmination of what she calls a childhood dream that started on a fourth-grade field trip to Houstons NASA Johnson Space Center.

Menon later spent seven years at the famed agency, serving as a biomedical engineer in mission control before heading to SpaceX, where she was tapped to become an astronaut in 2022.

Im incredibly proud, says her husband, Anil, a veteran NASA and SpaceX flight surgeon and astronaut. Its been unbelievable to be by her side, watching this journey.

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Read the original article on People.
Attorney in Carhartt trusts case: It's 'terrible' to be accused in crime you didn't commit

The attorney defending a Grosse Pointe Farms lawyer accused of embezzling millions of dollars from the trusts of former Carhartt leader Gretchen Valade asked jurors to find his client not guilty and said this case is about relationships.

"It's a terrible thing to be accused of a crime you didn't commit," James Joseph Sullivan said during his opening statement Friday, adding that it's even worse to be accused of a crime that didn't occur.

Sullivan's opening statement to a Wayne County Circuit Court jury came more than a week after the trial of his client, David Sutherland, began. Sutherland is facing four charges, including three counts of embezzlement, from Valade trusts when he was serving as trustee.

The trial wrapped up its seventh day Friday and will continue next week, longer than what was originally anticipated.

David Sutherland, an attorney who has been charged with embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from recently deceased Carhartt heiress Gretchen Valade's trust, right, stands after his arraignment hearing at Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court on January 11, 2023.

Sutherland 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 charge is a 20-year felony offense, the Michigan Attorney General's Office previously said.

Sullivan reserved his opening statement when the trial began May 15. On Wednesday, he filed a motion for a directed verdict, which was denied Friday by Judge Paul John Cusick.

Sullivan asked for a mistrial Friday after answers to a few questions posed by the prosecution and directed at one of the defense's first three witnesses, Bruce Knapp, a licensed certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner.

Knapp previously was tasked with looking at records, including two promissory notes for $5 million each to Sutherland, himself, and Byzantine Holdings LLC, of which Sutherland was a partner.

Testimony: Trust lost $37 million in value

Julie Cotant, a senior trust officer with Plante Moran Trust, testified Wednesday for the prosecution that the notes are owed to Valade's 2009 irrevocable trust and a review of the records on each note indicates the amounts actually owed appear to be in excess of $7.7 million each.

The prosecution, cross-examining Knapp, asked if the 2009 irrevocable trust gained or lost value under Sutherland's control. Knapp testified that he would say it lost money.

The prosecution then asked if the total loss calculated to the 2009 irrevocable trust during Sutherland's tenure was $42 million. Knapp testified that he thought it was closer to $37 million.

After the jury was dismissed for lunch, Sullivan made a motion for a mistrial, arguing that up to this point the prosecution did not put numbers on how much allegedly was embezzled.

"It's the shock value that is the prejudicial effect of this. ... It had to have been done on purpose," Sullivan said. "The problem is the damage has already been done. ... It's prejudicial to the accused. ... It's very damning, I think, for this guy to get up here and say that he caused a loss to the trust of $37 million, when that's not the case at all."

Cusick said he would allow cross-examination on any relevant issue in the case and that any claim of mistrial is "so over the top, so over the top." He denied Sullivan's motion.

Gretchen Carhartt Valade, metro Detroit businesswoman, philanthropist and "angel of jazz," died peacefully in her home on Dec. 30, 2022 at age 97.

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 lawyer portrays friction between Valade and her son

Sutherland was charged in January 2023, less than two weeks after Valade died.

Assistant attorneys general rested their case Wednesday after putting nine witnesses on the stand. The defense called five witnesses Friday. The trial is to continue Tuesday.

During his opening statement, Sullivan told the jury that Sutherland had "total authority" over the trust. He said Valade admired Sutherland's entrepreneurial spirit, not just to make money but to do something good. A quality, Sullivan said, Valade saw in her own family history.

Sullivan said many of Valade's businesses lost money. He told jurors that Sutherland, who Valade sought out years ago, "walked into a battle" that is still going on. Sullivan asserted the battle was between Valade and her son, Mark Valade, the CEO of Carhartt.

Sullivan asserted that Gretchen Valade and her son had differences of opinion on how she spent her money and the relationship Valade had with her "very, very close friend" Tom Robinson, who was a beneficiary of the 2009 irrevocable trust.

Sullivan said both Sutherland and Robinson, who supported Valade's decisions, were severed from her after August 2020. Sullivan asserted to jurors in his opening statement that Robinson is "despised" by Mark Valade.

Sullivan told jurors that Valade was very excited about real estate and getting involved in some real estate ventures. He also said she was Sutherland's biggest and most time-consuming client. Sullivan said Sutherland was put into a position of power by Valade for many years until the latter part of 2020.

Attorney James Joseph Sullivan, center, arrives at an arraignment hearing for 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, at Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court on January 11, 2023.

Sullivan said this case didn't get reported for more a year and a half and it didn't go through normal channels of investigation. He asserted that those who brought it forward did so through connections and dictated what the charges should be. He told jurors that his client started to voluntarily pay back the money.

Sullivan told jurors that Sutherland didn't betray his client, who was generous. He said Sutherland had "many opportunities to feather his nest, but he didn't."

On Wednesday, Cotant testified for the prosecution, telling the court that the 2009 irrevocable trust of Valade's "is deeply underwater" with liabilities far exceeding its assets.

Plante Moran became the trustee of the trust in August 2020, taking over Sutherland's role, 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.

She testified the trust now holds about $9.4 million. However, she 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, according to Cotant's testimony.

In a separate matter, Sutherland also is accused of stealing from the trust of a Grosse Pointe Farms school in a case that will be tried later. He's charged with one count of embezzlement of $100,000 or more in that case.

In that matter, the 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.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Attorney for lawyer in Carhartt trusts case gives opening statement
Attorneys for Marion man accused in NM police officer killing hope to avoid death penalty, seek delay in trial date

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Attorneys for a Marion man awaiting federal trial on charges of killing a New Mexico State Police officer have been in talks to keep their client off death row if convicted, court documents show.

Smith, 33, is facing charges including carjacking resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death stemming from the March 15 shooting death of Ofc. Justin Hare along Interstate 40 outside of Albuquerque.

Hes currently slated to stand trial beginning on June 10.

Smith was arrested March 17 by Bernalillo County sheriffs deputies in an Albuquerque neighborhood, who shot him several times following a brief foot pursuit.

Timeline: Whats happened so far in the case of slain Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore

He pleaded not guilty April 18 to charges including carjacking resulting in death, causing death by the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, kidnapping resulting in death and interstate transport of a stolen vehicle.

Smiths legal team last week also asked a U.S. District Court judge to delay the start of his trial, citing a voluminous amount of evidence that includes more than 7,700 individual items.

To date, the government has provided defense counsel with 7,751 individual items in discovery  this number includes approximately 200 audio and video files, 1,123 photographs and 6,267 pages of written discovery, the federal public defenders office wrote in its Friday motion.

Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 9, and prosecutors said they were considering the death penalty if hes convicted.

Smiths attorneys said in court documents a mitigation presentation is expected in early July that could take the death penalty off the table. Preparing for that alongside a criminal trial, they say, is too much of a burden.

There is still a great deal of work to be done, which cannot be accomplished by

the current deadlines set by the court, Smiths attorneys said in their motion.

Smith is also facing 17 charges in the death of Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machcado-Fore.

Authorities found her body March 15 outside of Lake View in Dillon County.

Warrants issued on April 5 are for murder, kidnapping, carjacking, criminal conspiracy, two counts of grand larceny of a motor vehicle, two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and seven counts of being a felon in possession of a handgun.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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.
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL)  Auburn Universitys Veterans Resource Center hosted a special Memorial Day ceremony Friday on Cater Lawn. This years ceremony marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings during World War II. 2,501 flags covered Cater Lawn to represent each American servicemember who died on D-Day.

The ceremony featured a series of honors and activities designed to remember and celebrate the brave servicemen and servicewomen who sacrificed their lives for our nation. Highlights of the event included the presentation of colors by the Auburn Naval ROTC, an invocation delivered by Chaplain Gary Riddle of the Alabama Army National Guard, and a speech by Brigadier General Jeffrey L. Newton, U.S. Air Force Retired. The Wreath Laying Ceremony paid special tribute to Lance Corporal William John Billy Stelpflug, who served in the United States Marine Corps. Billy was born at the U.S. Air Force Academy on March 13, 1964, to Peggy and William Stelpflug. After graduating from Auburn High School in 1982, Billy enlisted in the Marine Corps and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Infantry Regiment, specializing in the use of the Dragon anti-tank weapon.

Memorial Day ceremony honors those laid to rest at Alabama National Cemetery

Billys service took him to Beirut, Lebanon, as part of a Multi-National Peacekeeping Force. On October 23, 1983, he was one of 241 Marines and servicemen who lost their lives in a terrorist attack on the Marine headquarters. Among the rubble, a poem Billy wrote, titled The War King Calls, was found, characterizing the struggle and intensity of war.

Billys sister, Christy Williford, shared fond memories of her brother. He was very adventurous, loved Alabama fishing and hunting. Right after graduation, he decided on the Marine Corps because that was the toughest branch. He did want to come back and get a degree at Auburn, she said. Reflecting on the ceremony, she added, Its a wonderful way to have a memorial to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Billys legacy lives on through yearly remembrances and a Marine ROTC Scholarship at Auburn University supported by his family, the Marine Corps League Billy Stelpflug Detachment, and Beirut Marine Survivors.

Puck Esposito, Director of the Veterans Resource Center at Auburn University, emphasized the importance of the event. We really need to support that community body, mind, and spirit and also to carry on that legacy and make sure people stay in touch with the military history, the important military history that this university has, Esposito said. He added, Recognizing the 80th anniversary of D-Day  and I know if everybody has an idea of what the greatest generation is all about  just needs to read about that one day.

The Veterans Resource Center at Auburn University provides support and guidance for veteran students and their families through various programs and services designed to help them succeed in their educational and career endeavors.

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.
DENVER (KDVR)  An adult man died after a shooting in Aurora Friday night and a suspect is in custody, according to the Aurora Police Department.

Police said the shooting happened in the 3600 block of Zeno Way around 10:45 p.m.

Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather

Officers were called to a report of shots fired. When they arrived, they saw an adult man leaving the scene in a vehicle, according to police.

The car then crashed nearby. The suspect, identified as Gilbert Vermillion, 43, was taken to a nearby hospital for injuries received from falling out of the vehicle and was in police custody.

At the scene of the shooting, officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Life-saving measures were attempted and he was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

Police said Vermillion faces a first-degree murder charge. APD told FOX31 that Vermillion and the victim knew each other.

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.
NEW DELHI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and six others were injured Saturday in a blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said.

The blast took place at the factory near Pirda village in Bemetara district, about 23 km north of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

Following the blast, authorities rushed fire brigade teams, police contingents and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel to the spot to carry out the rescue work.

Officials said the number of casualties is likely to increase as many people are feared trapped under the huge mounds of debris. Local media reports said at least 100 people were working in the factory when the blast took place. 
Avoid the waters of these 5 L.A. County beaches this holiday weekend, public health officials say

Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey is among the five sites where beachgoers are urged to avoid bacteria-laden waters this holiday weekend. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County public health authorities are warning residents to avoid the waters of some beaches this Memorial Day weekend after testing turned up bacterial levels that exceed state standards.

People should avoid swimming, surfing and playing in these waters until further notice, the county public health department said in a warning issued Thursday.

Some took to the water at Mother's Beach on Saturday despite the bacteria warnings. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

The beaches are: Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek; Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms; Santa Monica Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier; and the entire swim areas at Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey and Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.

The public health department also lifted previous warnings for the Temescal Canyon storm drain at Will Rogers State Beach and the Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica State Beach after sample results found the water quality levels to be within state standards.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Baltic states have agreed to establish a "drone wall" to protect their external borders with the help of UAVs.

Source: Agne Bilotaite, Lithuanian Interior Minister; European Pravda; Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT

Details: Bilotaite made this statement after a meeting with her counterparts from two other Baltic countries, Poland, Finland and Norway on Friday in Latvia.

Quote: "This is a completely new thing  a drone wall stretching from Norway to Poland  and the goal is to use drones and other technologies to protect our borders [...] against provocations from unfriendly countries and to prevent smuggling."

More details: The countries will use UAVs to monitor border areas to create a drone wall and apply counter-drone systems to intercept drones from hostile countries used for smuggling or provocations.

Bilotaite stated that Lithuania has developed plans to enhance the protection of its border using drones. She emphasised that the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service recently established a UAV unit and is acquiring additional UAVs and counter-drone systems.

Now, the countries will assess what homework they need to do, and then, with the help of experts, national authorities will develop a plan to implement the creation of a drone wall.

The Lithuanian minister couldn't specify when the idea would be implemented but noted that the drone wall could be funded by the EU, adding that the ministers also agreed to organise joint evacuation exercises in participating countries.

"We agreed to hold regional drills to ensure the evacuation of the population, to see how our institutions are prepared to work, to interact with each other, what our capacity is to accommodate people, what the capacity of other countries is, whether they are ready to receive a certain number of our people," the interior minister said.

"We still have a lot of questions; we need to look at all those algorithms. Drills would be very valuable as we would look at things, evaluate them and we would strengthen our preparedness," Bilotaite added.

Background:

On Tuesday, 21 May, a draft law was noticed on the Russian government's website indicating its plans to unilaterally change maritime borders with its neighbours in the Baltic Sea. After the proposal gained attention, it was removed from the website.

On Thursday, 23 May, Estonia stated that Russian border guards had removed buoys marking the navigable channel from Estonian waters on the Narva River.

EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the European Union expected Russia to explain the removal of buoys on the Estonian-Russian border on the Narva River and demanded that they be immediately returned to their place. A number of EU states issued separate statements expressing support for Estonia and condemning Russia's provocative actions.

The Finnish prime minister suggested that Russia is testing NATO with its actions.

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A group of countries, including the Baltic states, Poland, Norway, and Finland, have agreed to create a "drone wall" to help defend their collective borders, Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite said in an interview with the Lithuanian media outlet BNS published on May 24.

The announcement comes after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said earlier in May that Poland had signed a contract to join the European Sky Shield Initiative, which currently includes 21 countries. The initiative aims to create an Iron Dome-style air defense system covering NATO members across Europe.

As Lithuania was a founding member of the initiative, which was formed in October 2022, the suggested "drone wall" is a different proposal.

"This is a completely new thinga drone border from Norway to Poland, the purpose of which would be to protect our border with the help of drones and other technologies," Bilotaite said.

"Not only physical infrastructure, surveillance systems, but also using drones and other technologies that would allow us to also protect ourselves from provocations by unfriendly countries, and prevent contraband."

The proposal would utilize both its own drones and anti-drone systems, Bilotaite said.

The plan is still in its formative stages, she said, and there is no concrete timeline when it will be implemented.

"It is clear that if we agree on common solutions, we could apply for European funds, if we present (the) need as a region, there is a high probability that we will receive funding from the European Commission," Bilotaite said.

Amid Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine and its widespread usage of drones and missiles to strike civilian targets, countries on NATO's eastern flank have sought to improve their air defense capabilities against potential Russian threats.

Read also: Baltic countries to push for 2.5% of GDP defense spending minimum during NATO summit

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Baltimores 2024 primary saw winners and losers on and off the ballot

Every Election Day has its share of winners and losers, but there were more than just candidates who emerged on the top of the heap (or bottom of the pile) by the time the dust settled on the 2024 primary in Baltimore.

From the politicos and wealthy financiers who wagered their clout (and cash) on candidates to the references to furry woodland creatures that somehow made their way into our election lexicon, few emerged untouched  or unscathed  this cycle.

Below are some of the winners and losers of Baltimores 2024 primary.

Winner: the will of the voters

In a city like Baltimore, where the mayoral race often attracts many hopefuls, contests often produce a leader by a jarringly narrow margin. That was the case in 2020, when Brandon Scott emerged victorious over Sheila Dixon and the rest of a crowded Democratic primary field with just 29.6% of the vote.

The 2024 mayoral race stood out for its relative lack of contenders. Throughout the race, polls showed Scott and Dixon well ahead of the few prospective candidates who also entered. Businessman Bob Wallace, who wrangled 20% of the vote as an independent in 2020, commanded just 3% as a Democrat this cycle. And former prosecutor Thiru Vignarajah polled at just 10% before backing out of the Democratic race in early May.

The result was a decisive victory and a firm mandate for Scott, the likes of which the city hasnt seen since Democrat Stephanie Rawlings-Blake won in 2011. As of Friday, with ballot counting complete, Scott had almost 53% of the vote to Dixons 39%.

Winner: challengers

Running against an entrenched incumbent with the power of the pulpit is never an easy task, and many formidable candidates in Baltimores past have gone down trying. (Think back to Democrat Clarence Du Burns in 1991.) But the 2024 cycle saw some challengers campaigns resonate with voters in a big way, particularly when it came to Baltimore City Council races.

Democratic Councilman Zeke Cohen scored the most decisive victory for challengers, handily ousting one-term Council President Nick Mosby and beating back the politically like-minded Shannon Sneed in their primary. As of Friday, Cohen, who has represented the citys first district since 2016, had 51% of the vote. Mosby, battered by his testimony during his ex-wifes criminal trial, trailed both Cohen and Sneed with just 23%.

While he has not yet formally declared victory, labor leader Jermaine Jones, was the apparent primary winner over two-term Democratic Councilman Robert Stokes, scoring another point for challengers. As of Friday, Jones was up by 369 votes on Stokes, his largest lead to date with ballot counting now complete. Jones said he would wait until results are certified Tuesday to make a statement.

Most surprising in this category was Zac Blanchard, the vice president for the Midtown Community Benefits District, whose stunning ouster of Democratic Councilman Eric Costello became official Thursday with Costellos concession. After days of Costello holding a thin margin in the primary, Blanchard took the lead Tuesday by just 28 votes. On Friday, he expanded that margin to 48.

Loser: public safety partnership

Its not customary for Baltimores top prosecutor to endorse in political contests, but its also not unheard of. States attorneys are, after all, elected officials themselves.

And so few were surprised when Democratic States Attorney Ivan Bates endorsed Dixon. The former mayor campaigned eagerly for him just two years earlier.

What did stand out was the intensity of Bates involvement with the campaign. In April, Bates went public with what he said was a growing rift between him and Scott over their approach to the crime fight. Days later, he officially endorsed Dixon, reiterating his need for a partner in City Hall. Days after that, a television commercial began airing with Dixon and Bates side-by-side. The name of the ad? Partner.

Baltimore Sheriff Sam Cogen, also a Democrat, endorsed Dixon after Bates and echoed the sentiment that he needed a partner in City Hall.

The endorsement was a gamble for Bates, who won the prosecutor post in 2022 and has maintained high popularity. Elected on a staggered term from the mayor, Bates risked having to work with Scott if the mayor prevailed. By primary night, it became clear that scenario was exactly what Bates faced.

How will the tangling between the two men play out for the next four years? As they say in the courtroom, the jury is still out.

Loser: the political comeback

Dixon, making her third effort to reclaim the mayoralty she gave up in 2010 amid corruption charges, campaigned with not just the backing of public safety officials, but also well-financed political powerbrokers.

David Smith and John Luetkemeyer wagered with their cold hard cash on the race. The pair were the financial drivers behind a PAC supporting Dixon that aired thousands of dollars worth of negative TV ads suggesting the incumbent Scott was a nice guy, bad mayor.

According to the PACs most recent filing with the Maryland State Board of Elections, Luetkemeyer, the head of Continental Realty Corp., was the PACs top donor, giving $350,000. Smith, chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group and the co-owner of The Baltimore Sun, gave $250,000 to the effort. Other members of the Smith and Luetkemeyer families gave thousands more to the PAC and directly to Dixons campaign.

Dixon also found late support from fellow mayoral candidate Vignarajah, who dropped out of the race the day before early voting started. The former prosecutor urged his supporters to get behind Dixon, although he had previously called her corrupt.

The alliances proved to be for naught.

We overcame the odds, including a Trump-loving Republican super PAC that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, Scott said of the PAC during his primary night victory speech.

Loser: the Mosby dynasty

In 2022, there were two Mosbys occupying top Baltimore political offices. By December, there will be none.

Nick Mosbys loss in the council president primary, coupled with his ex-wife Marilyn Mosbys defeat in the 2022 Democratic primary for states attorney mark the end of an era for the former political power couple. Further humbling was the way it went down: Both came in third in their reelection bids.

Marilyn Mosby has since been convicted of perjury and mortgage fraud. She was sentenced Thursday to a year of home detention.

The council president has thus far handled his loss at the polls with grace. He publicly congratulated Cohen on his win and said he looked forward to working with him as he transitions into the council president role.

Winner: bike lanes

Is there a more divisive topic in Baltimore politics? There was nothing on the primary ballot about bike lanes this cycle, but the Democratic race for City Councils District 3 in Northeast Baltimore nonetheless turned into a referendum on the issue.

Margo Bruner-Settles, a challenger taking on councilman and well-known bicycle evangelist Ryan Dorsey, made a splash when her campaign parked a truck along a Harford Road bike lane. The truck featured her name and a promise: no new bike lanes. A video clip of the truck was widely shared on X.

The morning after the election, with a commanding 64% lead in hand, Dorsey tweeted his reply at 6:08 a.m. Looks like bike lanes are back on the menu boys, his meme read.

Loser: reliable incumbency

District 11s Councilman Costello entered the 2024 election cycle at the height of his power. Appointed in 2014 to replace outgoing Democratic Councilman William H. Cole IV, Costello rose to head the councils Ways and Means Committee and, for the last four years, chaired the citys budget negotiation process.

He also proved to be a prolific fundraiser. He had $509,000 ready and waiting in his election fund in January as primary season got underway.

This cycle, however, some District 11 voters apparently soured on the councilman. On Thursday, Costello conceded after challenger Blanchard grew his lead to 43 votes. More than 6,800 voters cast ballots in the race, which was divided in the end by 48 votes.

Its unclear what led to the changing tide for Costello, but his unflinching support of Dixon may have played a role. Costello endorsed the former mayor early in the race, but she nonetheless performed poorly in his district. Costello also may have met his match in Blanchard. The publicly funded candidate used the $125,000 he received from the city to bombard District 11 voters with mailings, including one with Costellos face on an oversized lottery ticket claiming fat cat political donors won the lottery with Eric Costello.

Even if Costello had prevailed, his days in a council power position were likely numbered. Committee chairs are appointees of the council president, and Cohen, the likely council president-elect, has not gotten along with Costello in the past.

Winner: bears

There werent many moments of levity during the 2024 mayoral race, but one came courtesy of Cogen. During an interview with The Baltimore Sun following his endorsement of Dixon, the city sheriff likened Scott to a bear. But not just any bear. He called him an eating bear.

Lets roll the transcript: If a bear is threatened by you, you play dead for that bear, right? Because its just a territorial thing. But theres another bear that just comes to try to eat you. I sort of feel like Im not getting anything from him (Scott)  hes the eating bear, Cogen said.

So when the bear comes to eat you, you dont play dead for that bear, you fight that bear, Cogen added. And thats sort of like where I am right now.

Scott made his own ursine comparison during a spending board meeting days later as his fellow board members teased him about his attire.

They should leave the bear alone, he said under his breath.

Roar.
A BBC Wales journalist liked a tweet describing reports of rape perpetrated on Oct 7 as nonsense, it has emerged.

Shazia Ali liked a post - published on Oct 8 - that said: Nobody raped anyone. Stop this nonsense.

The news reporter also liked a series of other tweets that appeared to justify Hamas atrocities on Oct 7, including a post from a different account that said: You cant expect a beaten and caged lion to purr when he finally breaks free.

Another post liked by Ms Ali said: Yall wanted decolonization and land back til they decolonized and took the land back. i wont forget [sic].

A different tweet from a separate account quoted the French Marxist Frantz Fanon saying decolonization is always a violent phenomenon.

Ms Ali, from Swansea, wrote on a website showcasing the experiences of Welsh people of BAME backgrounds: My passion for journalism is centred around telling real peoples stories, giving coverage to BAME communities, and presenting them as more than just victims, they are victors!

The findings come after it was revealed that the BBC is still employing several BBC Arabic journalists who appeared to endorse Hamas Oct 7 attack, despite the corporation saying that it was urgently investigating the social media activity of its journalists working in the Middle East.

Social media guidelines

The BBCs social media guidelines state: Individuals working in news and current affairs and factual journalism production (all divisions) have a particular responsibility to uphold the BBCs impartiality.

It tells reporters: Do not express a view on any policy which is a matter of current political debate or on a matter of public policy, political or industrial controversy, or any other controversial subject.

Think about what your likes, shares, reposts, use of hashtags and who you follow say about you, your personal prejudices and opinions.

A spokesman for CAMERA, a US-based media monitoring group that campaigns for accurate and balanced coverage of Israel, said: Despite the BBCs director-general having pledged to tackle the issue of inappropriate social media use on multiple occasions, as this example shows, little progress has been made on that front.

The BBCs claim to produce accurate and impartial news you can trust, including in relation to the current war in the Middle East, continues to be compromised by its own staff, some of whom - as Ms Alis social media activity demonstrates - are clearly woefully under informed on the topic of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

In March this year, a UN report found that Hamas attackers raped womens corpses citing clear and convincing evidence to support multiple accounts of sexual violence.

Pramila Patten, the UN special envoy on sexual violence and women, said there were reasonable grounds to believe Hamas committed sexualised torture when they carried out their attack on Israel on Oct 7.

A BBC spokesman said: We do not comment on individual staff matters, however, we take any breaches of our social media guidance very seriously and always take appropriate action wherever necessary.

Shazia Ali was approached 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.
A beloved bookstore reported a theft. Then the community stepped up to help.

When Michelle Jenquin got to work on May 18, she noticed something wasnt right. She just couldnt figure out what.

Jenquin is the owner of Wilsons Book World, a family-run bookstore founded in 1971. The store, at 535 16th St. N. in St. Petersburg, is a Tampa Bay staple that has over 100,000 used books, some of which date back to the late 1800s.

A few minutes later, it dawned on her: Her air conditioning unit was gone.

I was in complete, utter shock, Jenquin said. How did this happen?

Ken Knight, a spokesperson with the St. Petersburg Police Department, said the AC unit was stolen sometime the night before. No arrests have been made, and the case is under investigation.

After Jenquin closed the store temporarily and assessed the damages, she learned that her insurance would not cover an AC unit. For Wilsons, the cost to replace it would be devastating.

Im a small business, she said. Im not Publix. Im not Walmart. Im not able to keep up.

Her first step was to find a way to make sure the books were OK.

In 90-degree Florida heat, that wasnt an easy task. Jenquin ran as many fans as she could throughout the store. Books are very sensitive to heat, according to the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts. High temperatures can speed up their rate of deterioration.

After a phone call with her best friend, Jenquin decided to create a GoFundMe campaign to try to raise money for the replacement.

I was very apprehensive, I really didnt want to at first, she said.

But she was shocked when her GoFundMe met her $10,000 goal in less than four days.

Nobody gets in the books business to make millions and get rich. Its for the love of books, knowledge and reading, she said.

Over 200 people donated to Jenquins GoFundMe, and some even came by the store to give her a check. She says the money will go to the new AC, a cage to go around the unit and a couple of security cameras outside.

Everything the community has donated has gone directly back into the bookstore, Jenquin said. Back into making sure that we can stay here. To make sure that this doesnt happen again.

Jenquin said shell leave the GoFundMe up until the end of the month in case anyone else wants to donate. In addition to the new AC and security cameras, she wants to put up new signs and make other changes to the store.

In the meantime, Wilsons reopened to customers on Friday.

We have the greatest support from the community, Jenquin said. I cant say thank you enough.
After serving the skies for nearly 67 years, Bette Nash, the world's longest-tenured flight attendant, has died at 88 years old.

"It is with sadness that we inform you of the passing of our dear colleague, Bette Nash, the longest-tenured flight attendant at American Airlines," according to a memo to flight attendants on Saturday obtained by ABC News.

Nash died on May 17 in hospice care after a recent breast cancer diagnosis, though she never officially retired from her role with American Airlines.

PHOTO: Bette Nash served as an American Airlines flight attendant for nearly 67 years. (Sam Sweeney/ABC News)

Nash began her career in Washington, D.C., in 1957 with Eastern Airlines, which later became American Airlines. Despite being able to choose any route in the world, Nash primarily worked the DC-NY-Boston Shuttle so she could be home every night to care for her son who has Down syndrome.

In 2022, she was honored with the Guinness World Record title for longest-serving flight attendant.

MORE: 86-year-old woman is longest-serving flight attendant, Guinness says

"With her quick wit, magnetic personality and passion for serving others, Bette set an example not just for the flight attendant profession but for all of us in the airline industry," Brady Byrnes, senior vice president of Inflight & Premium Guest Services for American Airlines, said in the memo.

PHOTO: Bette Nash served as an American Airlines flight attendant for nearly 67 years. (ABC News)

When Nash first started her aviation career, passengers would purchase life insurance from a vending machine before boarding -- and flights cost $12 between New York and Washington. D.C., she told ABC News in a 2022 interview.

At the time, Nash reflected on the strict restrictions regarding weight and personal relationships she and other flight attendants had to endure to maintain their careers.

MORE: Flying high: Flight attendants chase their dreams between layovers

Nash said the airline would check on her at home to ensure she wasn't living with a man because flight attendants had to be single. The airline also weighed her before shifts and could suspend her if she gained too much weight, she said.

PHOTO: Bette Nash served as an American Airlines flight attendant for nearly 67 years. (Sam Sweeney/ABC News)

"You had to be a certain height, you had to be a certain weight. It used to be horrible. You put on a few pounds and you had to keep weighing yourself, and then if you stayed that way, they would take you off the payroll," Nash said during a flight in 2017 with ABC affiliate WJLA's cameras onboard.

Before her passing, Nash attended regular flight attendant training per Federal Aviation Administration rules.

"Bette was an industry icon, and those who flew with her knew her as a role model and consummate professional," the airline said in the memo, adding, "Fly high, Bette. You'll be missed."

Bette Nash, world's longest-serving flight attendant, dies at 88 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
President Biden is slated to deliver the commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy Saturday in New York.

The speech marks the second time Biden has participated in West Points graduation ceremony. He gave the commencement address in 2016 as vice president.

It is also the second one he has given remarks on campus since universities around the country became hotbeds for protests over the Israel-Hamas war. During his address at Morehouse College earlier this month, Biden decried the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, adding that it is heartbreaking.

While much of the campus unrest has largely been stifled by police and university leadership, concerns over Israels continued actions in Gaza are likely to come up in Saturdays West Point speech as well.

The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am 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.
An aerial drone photo taken on May 23, 2024 shows the construction site of the Mekong River bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

KRATIE, Cambodia, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Robed in a hi-vis vest and crowned with a yellow hard hat, Cambodian welding technician Mao Vanchhet is proud of working with a Chinese contractor to build a "historic" Mekong River bridge here in northeast Cambodia, with funds from China.

Work on this large-scale Mekong River bridge, which began in March 2023, is currently in full swing. The bridge is scheduled to be completed on schedule in September 2025 by Shanghai Construction Group, as one of the projects under Belt and Road cooperation.

Vanchhet said it is a historic milestone for Kratie to have such a large-scale bridge across the Mekong River, adding that China has been bringing great changes to socioeconomic development in the province.

"Working here has helped me improve my welding skills, providing me new experience and techniques that I have never known before," the 31-year-old told Xinhua on Thursday.

He said working on such a huge project has not only given him invaluable experience, but also made him feel proud of having contributed to the construction of a landmark bridge for the residents in Kratie.

"This bridge, when the construction is completed, will provide a lot of benefits to people, allowing them to cross the river conveniently," Vanchhet said.

Workers at the project are from China and Cambodia, and they have worked together well, with mutual help and respect, he added.

"Cambodian and Chinese workers have good communication with each other during both on-duty and off-duty, and we always respect each other," he said. "I would like to thank China for funding the construction of this river bridge, which will make it easier for people to travel and transport their products."

Nheom Vanny, a 37-year-old Khmer-Chinese interpreter at the Mekong River Bridge project in Kratie province, said he is really happy to work on this bridge project, adding that it will make traveling across the river fast and convenient.

"The bridge, when the construction is completed, will provide great benefits to people, facilitating their travel," he told Xinhua.

Vanny said during the construction period, the company has provided all employees free accommodation and meals, as well as decent wages.

"I would like to thank China for having supported many infrastructure projects which have importantly contributed to Cambodia's development," he said.

Chen Haojie, engineering manager of the Mekong River Bridge project in Kratie province, said the bridge is 1,761 meters long and 13.5 meters wide, and currently 300 Cambodian workers are on this project.

"As of today, 51 percent of the bridge has been completed," he told Xinhua on Thursday. "When the construction is completed, the bridge will connect the roads on both sides of the river and allow people on both sides to travel more conveniently."

Yem Sophy, a 30-year-old grocer living along a road leading to the bridge in Chetr Borei district, said currently, when people cross the river, they need to take a ferry, and for a single crossing, it costs 2,000 riels (50 U.S. cents) for a person and a motorcycle.

"When the bridge is completed, we will be glad to cross the river," she told Xinhua. "We will no longer need to ride a ferry." 

An aerial drone photo taken on May 23, 2024 shows the construction site of the Mekong River bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)
WEST POINT (Reuters) - President Joe Biden emphasized the critical role of U.S. support to allies around the world including Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific in a speech on Saturday at the commencement for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

The speech before 1,036 graduating U.S. Army cadets is part of a push by Biden to highlight the administration's efforts to support active and retired military personnel. These include a bipartisan law he signed two years ago to help veterans who have been exposed to burn pits or other poisons obtain easier access to healthcare.

Biden described American soldiers as "working around the clock" to support Ukraine in its effort to repel a two-year long Russian invasion, but repeated his commitment to keeping them off the front lines.

President Joe Biden speaks to the Class of 2024 during commencement exercises at West Point on May 25, 2024 in West Point, New York.(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

"We are standing strong with Ukraine and we will stand with them," Biden told the crowd to a round of applause.

More: For a moment, George Floyd's murder changed everything. Those days are gone.

He also highlighted the U.S. role in repelling Iranian missile attacks against Israel and support for allies in the Indo-Pacific against increasing Chinese militarism in the region.

"Thanks to the U.S. Armed Forces, we're doing what only America can do as the indispensable nation, the world's only superpower," Biden said.

The president is scheduled to participate in Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Monday. A week later, he will travel to Normandy, France, to participate in ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

Biden is expected to give a major speech about the heroism of Allied forces in World War Two and the continuing threats to democracy today.

As vice president, he twice addressed a graduating class of cadets at the academy about 40 miles (64 km) north of New York City, but this was the first time as president.

Donald Trump, Biden's Republican challenger in the 2024 election, was the last president to speak at a West Point commencement, in 2020.

College campuses nationwide have erupted in sometimes-violent protests over Biden's support for Israel's war against Hamas following the militant group's Oct. 7 attack. Students have used commencement speeches at universities such as Harvard, Duke and Yale to protest Biden's actions.

Earlier this month, the Democratic president gave the commencement speech at Morehouse College, a historically Black men's college, where protests were sparse.

The military academy was founded in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson to train Army officers and has produced some of the United States' greatest generals, including two who went on to become president.

Trump has seen some of his support from the military community erode.

In 2016, he won 60% of voters who said at the time that they served in the military, according to exit polls conducted by NBC News. That figure dropped to 54% in 2020, according to NBC News.

In 2020, Biden won 44% of voters who said they served in the military, according to the data.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden highlights US commitment to Israel, Ukraine at West Point
Intraparty divisions within the Ohio legislature are stifling efforts to get President Biden on the November ballot.

Ohio requires parties to certify their presidential nominees 90 days before the election. But the Democratic National Convention, where Democrats will officially nominate the president, is scheduled after that deadline.

In the only state with outstanding issues over certifying Bidens candidacy, Republican state lawmakers deadlocked on a solution to get the president on the ballot after offering competing proposals, prompting Gov. Mike DeWine (R) to intervene and call for a special session next week.

But Democrats are recoiling over DeWines suggested legislative fix, raising questions about whether the party might seek another route to get Biden on the ballot.

Still, both parties and the campaign expressed confidence that Biden would be on the ballot this fall.

Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states, and we are assessing next steps accordingly, Biden campaign spokesman Charles Lutvak said in a statement.

Heres what to know about Bidens Ohio ballot problems:

Lawmakers notified of Bidens ballot issue, offer competing proposals

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) notified Democrats in April that the president risked being left off the ballot, noting the timing of the Democratic National Convention  after the states 90-day certification deadline. The state deadline is Aug. 7, and the convention begins Aug. 19.

Because it takes 90 days for legislation to take effect after its signed by the governor, lawmakers had until May 9  which is 90 days out from Aug. 7  to pass a legislative solution.

But lawmakers in the state House and state Senate offered competing solutions: The House wanted to pursue a clean bill that would have allowed the states certification deadline to be changed permanently from 90 days to 74 days.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans wanted to offer Democrats a one-time fix by changing the certification deadline for the 2024 election, while pairing it with other legislation that seeks to ban foreign nationals from contributing to ballot initiatives  a proposal Democrats rejected.

The Senate passed its version. But the House ultimately never moved forward with that legislation, nor did it pass its own proposal  deadlocking over the matter.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Rob McColley (R) told The Hill he didnt know why the Senate bill fell apart in the House, saying Republicans had been under the impression it had enough votes to head to the governors desk.

We were told by a number of members of the House of Representatives that House Bill 114, that had both the foreign contributions ban and the Biden ballot fix in it, had enough votes to pass the House of Representatives and it was not even brought up for a message, explained McColley, who was a sponsor of the ban on contributions.

Timing is not a new problem

Nominating candidates during a convention that falls after a states certification is not a new problem.

This cycle, Biden campaign saw similar issues in Washington state and Alabama; Washington allowed Democrats to send the state a provisional ballot to remedy the issue while the state legislature in Alabama to move their states certification deadline to 74 days before the election, instead of 82 days.

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, Lutvak said. And this election is no different  Alabama, with full Republican support, and Washington State are already taking action to ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote for the candidate of their choice in November.

The issue has also come up in Ohio in 2012 and 2020, when the state legislature created fixes both times to make sure the presidential candidates were certified before the election.

Tensions within the state legislature

The states two chambers have been at loggerheads, particularly since House Speaker Jason Stephens (R) won the gavel.

Though a majority of House Republicans voted for Rep. Derick Merrin (R) for the leadership role in 2023, Stephens emerged victorious from the speakership race after working out a deal with Democrats.

Tensions among Republicans have spilled into view. The party is already bracing for what will be another contentious race, as term-limited Senate President Matt Huffman (R) runs for state House and is likely to challenge Stephens for the gavel in November.

They are playing out a proxy war on every single item in the legislative process this year, Senate Minority Leader Nicki Antonio (D) told The Hill, referring to Stephens and Huffman. And so thats why were at this stalemate. It really doesnt have anything to do with Democrats and Republicans, it has everything to do with two people wanting to maintain to be the Speaker of the House next year.

DeWine intervenes, but questions loom

DeWine announced on Thursday that he would calling a special session next week to force lawmakers to address getting Biden on the November ballot, saying in a statement that failing to do so is unacceptable.

The purpose of the session will be for the General Assembly to pass legislation ensuring that both major party presidential candidates will be on the Ohio ballot in November, as well as legislation that would prohibit campaign spending by foreign nationals, the governor said, proposing a solution akin to what the Senate had already passed.

Senate Republicans backed the governors move.

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. We encourage the Speaker and Minority Leader to allow a vote on House Bill 114 which does both, John Fortney, a spokesman for the Ohio Senate Majority caucus, said in a statement.

But the move has raised questions over how Stephens and Democrats will proceed, with both suggesting it wasnt a fix.

Everyone agrees that we need to ban foreign political contributions from ballot issue campaigns in Ohio, and we have been driving towards a solution, Stephens said in a statement. We have language that has input from campaign finance experts and important interested parties to deal with the issue. This is language that squarely and directly bans foreign influence in Ohios issue campaigns, while not also inadvertently limiting the rights of citizens to have their voices heard.

We look forward to real solutions that will actually pass both chambers next week and solve problems.

Democrats also appeared unimpressed with DeWines proposal.

I agree that itd be great to get Biden on the ballot with a legislative fix, but any newfound sense of urgency from Rs is not really about Biden, said House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D) in a post on X. Its about their intent to undermine ballot initiatives, specifically the one that takes away their supermajority power in November.

As lawmakers head back to the state Capitol on Tuesday, the governors proposal is raising questions around whether both parties will be able to come to a legislative solution over the fix to get Biden on the ballot or if Democrats opt for another solution, such as court action or a workaround with the convention.

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 Jarrett Renshaw

WEST POINT, New York (Reuters) - President Joe Biden emphasized the critical role of U.S. support to allies around the world including Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific in a speech on Saturday at the commencement for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

The speech before 1,036 graduating U.S. Army cadets is part of a push by Biden to highlight the administration's efforts to support active and retired military personnel. These include a bipartisan law he signed two years ago to help veterans who have been exposed to burn pits or other poisons obtain easier access to healthcare.

Biden described American soldiers as "working around the clock" to support Ukraine in its effort to repel a two-year long Russian invasion, but repeated his commitment to keeping them off the front lines.

"We are standing strong with Ukraine and we will stand with them," Biden told the crowd to a round of applause.

He also highlighted the U.S. role in repelling Iranian missile attacks against Israel and support for allies in the Indo-Pacific against increasing Chinese militarism in the region.

"Thanks to the U.S. Armed Forces, we're doing what only America can do as the indispensable nation, the world's only superpower," Biden said.

The president is scheduled to participate in Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Monday. A week later, he will travel to Normandy, France, to participate in ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

Biden is expected to give a major speech about the heroism of Allied forces in World War Two and the continuing threats to democracy today.

As vice president, he twice addressed a graduating class of cadets at the academy about 40 miles (64 km) north of New York City, but this was the first time as president.

Donald Trump, Biden's Republican challenger in the 2024 election, was the last president to speak at a West Point commencement, in 2020.

College campuses nationwide have erupted in sometimes-violent protests over Biden's support for Israel's war against Hamas following the militant group's Oct. 7 attack. Students have used commencement speeches at universities such as Harvard, Duke and Yale to protest Biden's actions.

Earlier this month, the Democratic president gave the commencement speech at Morehouse College, a historically Black men's college, where protests were sparse.

The military academy was founded in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson to train Army officers and has produced some of the United States' greatest generals, including two who went on to become president.

Trump has seen some of his support from the military community erode.

In 2016, he won 60% of voters who said at the time that they served in the military, according to exit polls conducted by NBC News. That figure dropped to 54% in 2020, according to NBC News.

In 2020, Biden won 44% of voters who said they served in the military, according to the data.

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; additional reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Bill Berkrot)
WEST POINT, New York  President Joe Biden delivered the commencement address at the United States Military Academy on Saturday, leaning into themes about the importance of protecting democracy.

Speaking on a sunny spring morning in an outdoor stadium filled with cadets and their families and friends, Biden called the graduating class guardians of American democracy and stressed that maintaining freedom required constant vigilance.

Nothing is guaranteed about our democracy in America, Biden warned.

Biden never mentioned former President Donald Trump by name. But his emphasis on duty, democracy and protecting the Constitution had clear political undertones and underscored a central message of his reelection bid.

Biden told the class of 2024 that they would face challenges in their careers, especially at a time when more and more was being asked of service members. But he implored them to stick to the oaths that they took as guiding principles throughout their lives, including their commitment to serve not a political party or a president, but to defend the Constitution and against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

You must keep us free at this time, like none before, Biden said.

The president touched on the number of global challenges currently confronting the country  from the war in Ukraine to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He reiterated his commitment not to put American boots on the ground in Ukraine but emphasized that the U.S. would continue to stand by its ally in its fight against Russia. We will not walk away, Biden said.

Biden opened his address on Saturday speaking about the founding of West Point and how the British failed to capture the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War  earning him a loud cheer from the audience. He congratulated Army cadets for their winning streak against Navy  to another enthusiastic round of applause  and joked about how he wanted to go to the Naval Academy as a high schooler but didnt have a shot at getting in.

Biden arrived at the scenic West Point campus on Saturday in a far different position than Trump when he delivered the 2020 commencement address here. Two days before Trumps speech, West Point alumni issued a public letter to the class of 2020 reminding them that they pledge service to no monarch; no government; no political party; no tyrant. Your oath is to a set of principles and an ideal expressed in the Constitution and its amendments.

The sitting president typically delivers the commencement speech at one of the U.S military academies each graduation season. Since taking office, Biden has spoken at the Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force graduations.

Ideas need defenders to make them real. Thats what you, class of 2024, are all about, Biden said.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Concerned citizens recently reached out to law enforcement after noticing bizarre flyers on utility poles in Lemon Grove. It was a see something, say something scenario that ended in an arrest.

As explained by the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, the flyers advertised the website AZ24.CO. The postings claimed to be selling various items like womens clothing. Some of the flyers also insinuated interest in looking for partners to cuddle and drink with.

Man stabbed near North County 7-Eleven

(Courtesy of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department)

Several residents in the Lemon Grove area saw this as a major red flag.

The sheriffs department collaborated with the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force to look into the matter. The website only contained the message in the screenshot seen below:

(Courtesy of San Diego County Sheriff's Department)

An undercover operation was then launched. The sheriffs department said deputies and officers posed as a 16-year-old girl and answered the advertisement on Wednesday, May 22.

An individual responded and allegedly solicited for sex acts, authorities said. The person then reportedly arranged to meet with the decoy for sexual intercourse.

The sheriffs department said a man, now identified as 48-year-old Robert Owens, arrived at the meeting location. He was arrested at that time on suspicion of soliciting a minor for sex.

The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force is now seeking assistance from the public to determine if anyone else has been victimized or seen these advertisements posted in other areas of the county.

Anyone with information is encouraged to Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477, or submit a tip online at www.sdcrimestoppers.org/anonymous-tip.

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 "wobbling" remains of a star that suffered a grisly death at the maw of a supermassive black hole has helped reveal the speed at which its cosmic predator spins.

Supermassive black holes are believed to be born through successive mergers of smaller black holes, each of which brings with it angular momentum that speeds up the rotation of the black hole they birth. Consequently, measuring the spin of supermassive black holes can grant insight into their history  and new research offers a new way to make such inferences based on the effect spinning black holes have on the very fabric of space and time.

The doomed star at the heart of this research was ripped apart in brutal fashion by a supermassive black hole during a so-called tidal disruption event (TDE). These events are kicked off when a star ventures too close to the massive gravitational influence of a black hole. Once close enough, immense tidal forces are generated within the star, which squash it horizontally while stretching it vertically. That's called "spaghettification," and its a process that turns the star into a strand of stellar pasta  but, crucially, not all of it is gobbled by the destructive black hole.

Related: Supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way is approaching the cosmic speed limit, dragging space-time along with it

Some of this material is blown away, while some of it wraps around the black hole, forming a flattened cloud called an accretion disk. Not only does this accretion disk gradually feed the central black hole, but the same tidal forces that shredded the star in the first place also cause massive friction forces that heat this platter of gas and dust, causing it to glow brightly.

Furthermore, when supermassive black holes spin, they drag along with them the very fabric of spacetime (a 4-dimensional unity of space and time). This so-called "Lense-Thirring" or "frame-dragging" effect means nothing stands still at the edge of a spinning supermassive black hole. The effect also causes a short-lived "wobble" in a newly formed black hole accretion disk.

Now, a team of researchers has discovered that the "wobble" of that accretion disk can be used to determine how fast the central black hole is spinning.

"Frame dragging is an effect present around all spinning black holes," team leader Dheeraj "DJ" Pasham, a scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), told Space.com. "So, if the disrupting black hole is spinning, then the flow of the stellar debris onto the black hole following a TDE is subject to this effect."

Holy hot X-ray stellar pasta!

To investigate TDEs and frame-dragging, the team spent five years searching for bright and relatively close examples of black-hole-induced stellar murders that could be quickly followed up on. The goal was to spot signs of accretion disk precession caused by the Lense-Thirring effect.

In February of 2020, this search reached fruition. The team managed to detect AT2020ocn, a bright flash of light coming from a galaxy located around billion light years away. AT2020ocn was initially spotted in optical light wavelengths by the Zwicky Transient Facility, with this visible-light data indicating the emission originated from a TDE involving a supermassive black hole with a mass between 1 million and 10 million times that of the sun.

"Because of the Lense-Thirring effect, the X-ray emission coming from the newly formed, hot accretion disk precesses, or 'wobbles.' This manifests as X-ray modulations in the data," Pasham said. "However, after a while, when accretion power comes down, gravity forces the disk to align with the black hole, after which the wobbling and the X-ray modulations stop."

Related: Black hole singularities defy physics. New research could finally do away with them.

Pasham and colleagues suspected the TDE that launched AT2020ocn could be the ideal event around which to hunt Lense-Thirring precession  and because this type of wobble is only present early after an accretion disk is formed, they had to act quickly.

"The key was to have the right observations," Pasham said. "The only way you can do this is, as soon as a tidal disruption event goes off, you need to get a telescope to look at this object continuously, for a very long time, so you can probe all kinds of timescales, from minutes to months."

An illustration showing a rotation supermassive black hole surrounded by the debris of a dead star and dragging spacetime (green grid) along with it

That's where NASA's Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) comes in: an X-ray telescope situated on the International Space Station (ISS) that measures X-ray radiation around black holes and other ultradense, compact massive objects like neutron stars. The team found NICER was not only able to catch the TDE, but the ISS-mounted X-ray telescope was also able to continuously monitor the event as it developed over several months.

"We discovered that the X-ray brightness and the temperature of the region emitting X-rays following a TDE to be modulating on a timescale of 15 days," Pasham said. "This recurring 15-day X-ray signal went away after three months."

The team's findings also delivered a surprise.

Estimates of the black holes mass and the mass of the disrupted star revealed that the black hole wasn't spinning as fast as expected. "It was slightly surprising that the black hole is not spinning that fast  only less than 25% the speed of light," Pasham said.

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Pasham thinks that, thanks to the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory, currently under construction in northern Chile and set to conduct a 10-year survey of the universe called the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), the future is bright for TDE-hunting.

"Rubin is expected to detect thousands of TDEs over the next decade. If we can measure Lense-Thirring precession in even a small fraction of them, we will be able to say something about the spin distribution of supermassive black holes, which is coupled with how they evolved over the age of the universe," Pasham concluded. "Our team has a couple of observing proposals lined up to follow up on future TDEs. We'll be investigating frame-dragging around other TDE black holes for sure!"

The team's research was published on Wednesday (May 22) in the journal Nature.

Originally published on Space.com
The driving rhythm of dance music set the pace inside The Breakers' Ponce De Leon Ballroom on Thursday as multiple hands scooped, sealed and packaged thousands of hearty portions of dried pasta.

Those hands belonged to volunteers from the Breakers and Palm Beach County Food Bank, who worked quickly while laughing and chatting as part of the Day of 100,000 Meals. The meals packaged during the afternoon event will help feed thousands of Palm Beach County families suffering from food insecurity, said Liz Cabral, the food bank's program director.

Breakers President Tricia Taylor, left, and social media manager Meagan Body help to package meals for hungry neighbors in Palm Beach County on Thursday. Up to 150 team members from The Breakers partnered with the Palm Beach County Food Bank to package thousands of pasta meals that will each feed families of up to six people.

A lot of people think, Hey, its Palm Beach County, the playground of the rich, there is no need for a program like this, when in reality there is a need, she said. Theres roughly 173,000 food-insecure individuals here in Palm Beach County, and 50,000 of those are children.

After a similar event last September, The Breakers had been in regular communication asking how it could continue to support the food bank , Cabral said. Those queries had come from from The Breakers board of directors, specifically, member Barbara Harty.

Harty asked about organizing a charity event at the Breakers following a report detailing the 32,782 volunteer hours accrued by 2,300 employees during the hotels last fiscal year, she said. When The Breakers reached out to the food bank, the organizations decided on another Day of 100,000 Meals, because of the previous event's success, Cabral said.

Harty showed up Thursday to join the other volunteers. So many employees give so many hours, I asked if the board could join in and contribute, she said.

Liz Cabral, right, Palm Beach County Food Bank's program director, instructs Breakers team member Barbara Harty on what she'll be doing to help package pasta meals during Thursday's event.

This is the best use of the ballroom, in my opinion, packaging food for people who need it, Harty told the Daily News while taking a quick break from scooping pasta.

Harty was not the only director helping to package meals, as the event was scheduled immediately after the board's meeting. Everyone on the board was so excited, and we all volunteered to join in, she said.

That included members of the Kenan family, owners of The Breakers and descendants of Henry Flagler, Breakers CEO Paul Leone said.

Volunteers package pasta meals.

Leone smiled as he discussed the passion shown by employees.

To see my team joyfully bringing The Breakers energy not just to their work, but to our community, is something Im really proud of, he said.

Breakers President Tricia Taylor said the event was an amazing opportunity to aid the community while being able to work alongside other members of the resort's team.

"We really care about making a difference in the lives of our team members and in the lives of our neighborhood and community," Taylor said. "So I consider this an honor and privilege to give back, however we might be able to, big or small."

Breakers team member Daina McIntyre transports boxes of packaged meals through the Breakers Ponce De Leon Ballroom.

Julia McMahon, the resort's social impact manager, noted that while The Breakers champions community outreach and encourages employees to volunteer, it's up to the employee to choose how.

"What's beautiful about this program is that's it's driven by the team ... they're encouraged to explore their passion and give back in a way that is actually meaningful to them," McMahon said.

Joining The Breakers' 250 volunteers were a handful of volunteers from the food bank, including retiree Charles Greene. "A lot of us (volunteers) are senior, and we love doing all that we can for the community," Greene said. "They're so many people that can't afford food now, that it's a very vital service."

Cabral concurred, noting that the packages will be delivered to over 200 organizations around the county including, churches, health care centers, schools, libraries and shelters on the cusp of World Hunger Day, May 28.

She said the distribution will serve as a vital source of nutrition for the thousands of food-insecure schoolchildren who will be heading into the summer break at the end of May.

Breakers CEO Paul Leone, from left, Board Chairman Garrett Kirk and George Branch help to package meals.

"So, kids are going to be missing a lot of meals they would have received from their schools," she said. "Parents may have just enough money for rent and other monthly expenses, but not enough for food, so we want to be there as a safety net that families can turn to."

Thursday's drive ended with 72,000 bags of pasta packed. But starting Memorial Day, a group of volunteers from The Breakers will be stopping by the food bank on Mondays throughout the summer months to help pack food, said Andrea Rendon, the charity's marketing and communication specialist.

For more information about Palm Beach County Food Bank services and volunteering opportunities, visit pbcfoodbank.org.

Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Volunteers at Breakers event pack thousands of meals for food bank
State Sen. Tom Brewer meets with a Ukrainian battalion commander during his current trip to the war-torn country, his fourth visit since Russia invaded more than two years ago. (Courtesy of Noah Philson)

Despite seeing some war fatigue in the Ukrainians at the front lines, a Nebraska state senator says Americans must continue to help stop Russian President Vladamir Putin now or risk a wider war.

Democracy dies if we let the Ukrainians be defeated by Russia, said State Sen. Tom Brewer, speaking by cell phone from Kyiv.

Brewer, at right, spent 36 years in the military. The new drone war in Ukraine means soldiers must hunker down in trenches until bad weather grounds the drones and allows them to attack. (Courtesy of Noah Philson)

Brewer, on his fourth visit to the war-torn country since fighting broke out, said Ukraine needs more anti-missile defense systems and the kind of longer-range armaments that can reach into Russia to blunt their recent offensive.

Bottom line, he said, is that the United States, Britain and other allies must be more aggressive in providing the type of weapons Ukraine needs.

Instead of stringing them out, and feeding them little bits and pieces to survive, give them what they need, Brewer said. By stringing it out, youre killing a lot of really good folks who are trying to get back their freedom and their homeland.

Monthlong trip

The senator, a decorated military veteran who served six tours of duty in Afghanistan, spoke Wednesday, near the end of a nearly monthlong trip to Ukraine.

His latest visit included stops at embattled Kharkiv during the recent Russian offensive to advance in eastern Ukraine, interviews on Polish television and with the Wall Street Journal, and briefings with Ukrainian military and economic officials.

As hes done after past visits, the retired soldier, 65, plans to brief Nebraskas congressional delegation on what he learned at the front. He is also sharing his information with Ukrainian defense officials.

Brewer said this visit, which began May 2 after the Nebraska Legislature adjourned, was by far the hardest and most dangerous, he said.

The war has evolved, he said, from initially a tank battle to one matching artillery barrages and, most recently, into a war of drones.

Now the Russians and Ukrainians can arm $500 plastic drones with grenades and destroy million-dollar tanks, or launch a swarm of drones at a target, overwhelming the ability to shoot them down.

Brewer said anyone driving a vehicle near the front is now endangered by a sudden drone attack.

Basically, if youre out in the open, theres a pretty good chance youre going to die, he said.

Theres no warning

Brewer said a police major guiding his group to a border hospital in a civilian vehicle was hit by a drone, and John Grinvalds, a television reporter from Lincoln station 10/11, got ensnarled in a drone attack on a visit to the front.

Among the officials Brewer met with during his current visit to Ukraine was the mayor of Zaporizhzhia, where the Russians are attacking power plants and took over a nuclear power plant. (Courtesy of Noah Philson)

Theres no warning. Theres no way to have any ability to stop it, he said, which adds more terror to any trip to the front.

The increase in drone warfare has left the Ukrainians pinned down in trenches and bunkers, waiting for bad weather to ground the drones so they can counter-attack, and trying to develop new weapons  like a long-range shotgun  that would be more effective in shooting down the drones.

Brewer said jamming devices, to ward off the drones, needed to be developed en masse to answer the new threat. Our country, he said, must learn how to battle drones, and the only way to do that, is to visit the front as he is doing.

If we dont figure it out, theyll eat us alive, Brewer said.

While recent news stories out of Ukraine speak of masses fleeing the Russian offensive near Kharkiv and the capture of villages near the border by Putins troops, Brewer said he thinks theres some hype in the Russian offensive.

The Russians, he said, have moved forward, but with heavy casualties. New military aid from the United States and Britain has finally reached Ukrainian forces, Brewer said, allowing them to stand their ground.

Russia loses 20 soldiers for every Ukrainian fighter lost, by sending waves of soldiers in almost suicidal attacks called meat waves, Brewer said.

Its pretty out of balance, he said. The Russians are not afraid to burn bodies.

Draft age lowered

To combat fatigue among its seasoned fighters, Ukraine has lowered the draft age, from 27 to 25, and is allowing prison inmates with more minor sentences to enlist.

But Ukraine also needs more defense systems, to ward off drone and missile attacks, Brewer said. The delay in approval of the recent $61 billion package of U.S. military aid, which got tied up in southern border politics, hurt, he said, but aid has arrived before it was too late.

Just this week, the Biden administration announced an additional $275 million in anti-missile systems and additional missile launchers for Ukraine.

All that will help, Brewer said, adding that Ukraine must be given the capability to strike just across the border into Russia, where it masses its soldiers and stores its ammunition.

If you dont take the fight to the Russians, I dont know if they can win, Brewer said.

Homes were flattened near Kharkiv Ukraines second largest city  in the recent Russian offensive. (Courtesy of Noah Philson)

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The post Brewer sees war fatigue among soldiers at front in Ukraine appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Im not here to praise Rishi Sunak, or to bury him  the soon-to-be-former British prime minister has dealt with both of those tasks admirably, all by himself. If Sunak is remembered for anything, it will probably be as a curious footnote: After becoming the fourth leader of the U.K.s government (and the Conservative Partys parliamentary majority) within four years, he managed to restore a semblance of political stability and normalcy to 10 Downing Street after the tragicomic chaos and self-destruction of the Brexit vote and Boris Johnsons tenure. Whether stability and normalcy are achievable long-term goals in any so-called democracy these days remains to be seen.

Sunak wrote a memorable first draft of his political obituary this past week, standing in a drenching rainstorm on the pavement outside his official residence to announce that an unscheduled general election  a snap election, in British parlance  will be held on July 4. (The social media meme 10 Drowning Street took off within minutes.) All 650 seats in the House of Commons will be up for grabs, and nearly all observers expect Sunak and the Tories  a term that predates the official founding of the Conservative Party by 150 years  to lose, perhaps in a historic wipeout, returning the opposition Labour Party to power for the first time since 2010.

Despite that presumed change in government, this wont be an exciting or dramatic campaign, especially compared to the apocalyptic-slash-geriatric nightmare spectacle we will endure on this side of the Atlantic, where one candidate faces dozens of felony indictments and the other seems determined to alienate as many of his partys core supporters as possible. Its no exaggeration to say that Sunak  the first person from a nonwhite immigrant background to hold the office and also the wealthiest prime minister in history  and Keir Starmer, the bluff, bland, profoundly noncommittal Labour leader, are both much closer to being Joe Biden than Donald Trump.

In other words, theyre both believers in what I once heard the doomed Jeb Bush, facing his Waterloo in the New Hampshire primary of 2016, describe as regular-order politics. Neither of them is likely to alter the trajectory of post-Brexit Britains multiple social and economic crises in any fundamental way.

One of the numerous supposedly-charming anomalies of the British parliamentary system is that the prime minister has wide latitude to call for an election, with six weeks notice, virtually anytime within five years of the last one. (There was a brief effort to move to regularly scheduled elections, like a normal democracy, but that never worked and has officially been ditched.) Sunak could have hung on until the current Parliament expires next January, in hopes that his dire poll numbers might improve. Presumably he didnt want to come off as quite that desperate and undignified  he does look good in his expensive suits!  and suspected it might be unwise to inflict an election campaign on the British public during the Christmas holidays.

Most observers expected a gradual rollout toward an election in October or November, semi-coincidentally around the same time as the U.S. presidential election. The surprise announcement that the election will instead be held on the day that Britains most prominent former colony celebrates its independence is a different kind of coincidence, one that serves to illustrate how much the political trajectories of these long-intertwined nations have diverged in recent years.

Theres a broad, general and roughly accurate truism that British and American politics have paralleled or echoed each other since World War II. Sometimes the relationship is fairly tenuous: Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal preceded Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlees vast expansion of the British welfare state by a full decade, and both were products of a mid-century social-democratic tendency that was global in scale. Lyndon Johnson and Harold Wilson (prime minister from 1964 to 1970) were very different leaders with divergent worldviews, but both represented the big-government, liberal-democratic outlook of the Cold War years.

Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, rose to power less than two years apart, as forthright ideological allies in the neoconservative conquest of the Anglo-American world. Similarly, Bill Clinton and Tony Blair represented the self-conscious rebranding of their respective center-left parties around an agenda of privatization, deregulation and globalization that we would now call neoliberalism.

Then we get to the things that are and are not alike, and that define the current predicaments of the two nations: Brexit and Donald Trump. For most of Barack Obamas presidency, the Tories held power in London under a muddled center-right coalition government led by David Cameron, who might qualify as a moderate Democrat if you translated him into middle America and subtracted the Etonian-Oxonian upbringing. Increasingly harried by far-right dissidents within his own party, Cameron backed himself into one of the most disastrous own-goals of recent political history by agreeing to the Brexit referendum, which he and virtually all other leading figures in the U.K.s two major parties opposed.

We know how that turned out, and we also know who managed to surf the Brexit wave successfully, at least for a while: former bad-boy journalist and London mayor Boris Johnson, who styled himself as Britains upper-class-twit Trump cognate, ousted former Prime Minister Theresa May (who had ousted Cameron) and scored a smashing victory in the 2019 election on a far greater scale than anything Trump could have imagined. His rebranded pro-Brexit, anti-immigrant Tories won an 80-seat majority in Parliament, flipping numerous districts in the red wall of previously safe Labour seats across the post-industrial north of England and seemingly reordering the U.K.s political landscape around a populist rebellion that united affluent suburbanites and the now-legendary white working class.

But that didnt stick, for a bunch of cultural, political and institutional reasons that exemplify the differences between the two countries and our systems of government. As I wrote at the time of Johnsons downfall two summers ago (linked above), he could only wish he were like Trump, whose messianic hold on the Republican Party and its voters only grows stronger as his trials and travails worsen. When the Tories in Parliament got sick of Johnsons noxious cult of personality and shambolic governing style, and decided he was an electoral liability, they could chuck him to the curb without worrying too much about how his superfans would react.

British politics has nothing like the American party-primary system, let alone the gerrymandered legislative districts whose Republican incumbents are terrorized that any minor deviation from MAGA orthodoxy will lead to a far-right torchlight parade on their front lawn. Johnson certainly had true believers among the hardcore Tory faithful (and no doubt still does), and after he quit their tribe united behind his hand-picked successor, Liz Truss, who shared his pseudo-populist magical thinking but none of his pickled-schoolboy charisma or political cunning. Truss literally proposed a budget that simultaneously cut taxes and increased spending, and famously failed to outlast a head of lettuce.

After her 49 days in office, the partys power brokers decided that enough was enough. They declined to hold another internal leadership election and straight-up appointed Sunak, who despite his name and his ancestry was perfectly crafted to be an old-school Tory prime minister: Stanford MBA, career at Goldman Sachs, marriage to a billionaires daughter. No one hates him with any serious passion, and he may actually think hes doing the right thing by threatening to deport migrants to Rwanda (seriously!) and insisting that the poor and the middle class must keep on making sacrifices for the good of the financial markets.

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If the BoJo/Brexit moment both did and didnt resemble what happened in America during the (first) Trump era, one could say the same about the thoroughly unexpected left-wing takeover of the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn in 2015, which was something like the Bernie Sanders campaign on steroids, fueled by entrenched British class warfare. Corbyn nearly won the 2017 general election against Theresa May  a massive what-if that would have sent Britain in unpredictable directions  but was sabotaged by his intra-party enemies and his own incompetence well before the crushing loss to Johnson two years later. (Corbyn was reportedly expelled from the party altogether this week, after announcing he would run for his own seat as an independent against Labours official candidate.)

Keir Starmer emerged in the aftermath of Corbyns downfall as a middle-road normie, neither a full-on socialist nor a neoliberal reformer, and a supposed return to Labours center-left tradition  except that after 14 years of Tory misrule and endless rounds of fiscal austerity, no one can explain what that means. Certainly Starmer cant; his principal campaign tactic involves backing away from any specific promises or commitments while reminding voters that his party isnt to blame for Britains cratering economy, crumbling infrastructure and decaying public services.

Thats true, and it might be good enough under the circumstances  if good enough means winning this years election and buying some time to manage multiple crises in a formerly dominant superpower that now seems determined to rip itself apart. If that seems like an oddly familiar scenario, at least the Brits know they no longer rule the world.

As Starmer and Sunak and everybody else in politics on both sides of the Atlantic understand well enough, the pseudo-populist and/or neofascist rebellion isnt over. It just needed a timeout.

Liz Truss may have been derailed by global elites, bean-counting bankers and weak-willed fellow Tories, not to mention wilted salad greens (and the death of Queen Elizabeth), but her comeback dreams are alive. Shes become a star on the international right-wing speaking circuit, and just published a fire-breathing, supposedly-not-ghostwritten memoir called Ten Years to Save the West, in which she calls for dismantling the leftist state, along with the U.N., the World Health Organization and every other regulatory agency on the planet. A reviewer for the Times, a Tory-friendly Murdoch-owned paper, suggested that Truss was psychiatrically incapable of learning from her own mistakes. Does that sound like anyone we know?
This photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows a view of the Rewi Alley Memorial Park in the small town of Springfield in Canterbury, New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

By Li Huizi

WELLINGTON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The spirit of Rewi Alley has been once again rekindled in Christchurch, Canterbury where the New Zealand-born writer, social reformer and educator spent his childhood, by a giant statue displayed in the central city.

The statue of Rewi Alley contemplating and staring into the distance has been displayed at the entrance of the Christchurch Arts Center in central Christchurch, the largest city in New Zealand's South Island.

The location of Christchurch Arts Center was once a school attended by young Alley, said Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger.

The statue displayed here will help people better remember Alley as a great son of Canterbury and a bridge of friendship between New Zealand and China, Mauger said, adding the statue inspires the people of both countries to inherit the invaluable legacy of bilateral friendship that Alley left behind.

The statue of Rewi Alley was donated to the Christchurch City Council by the China Foundation for Peace and Development, and was created by a Chinese art team led by renowned Chinese painter and sculptor Yuan Xikun.

"Alley's deeds and spirit still inspire us today," Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told the statue's unveiling ceremony held on Friday in Christchurch.

The extensive cooperation and deep friendship between Christchurch and many provinces and cities in China are not only a reflection of the Alley spirit, but also an epitome of the long history of China-New Zealand friendship, Liu said.

An old friend of the Chinese people, Alley spent 60 years living and working in China. He made important contributions to the Chinese people's fight against the fascist invasion, the economic development of the new China, and the friendship between China and New Zealand.

Liu said in 1927, Alley, a young man from Canterbury, set foot on the Chinese soil for the first time, and since then he has been working and living in China for 60 years, and has made remarkable contributions to the cause of China's revolution and construction, as well as to the friendship between China and New Zealand through thick and thin.

He said through the Alley statue, more people in the two countries, especially young people, will understand and practice the Alley spirit, actively promote China-New Zealand friendship, push the bilateral relations to a new level, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and make a positive contribution to peace, stability and prosperity of the world and the region.

Michelle MacWilliam, chair of the Christchurch China Sister Cities Committee, told Xinhua the location of the newly donated statue recognized Canterbury as the origin of Alley, and the sister city ties between China's Gansu Province and New Zealand's Christchurch, among other sister city relationships between the two countries.

The Christchurch-Gansu link, which was established in 1984, was initiated by Alley, who spent 10 years in Gansu's Shandan County. Alley had said the landscape there resembled his hometown, the small town of Springfield in Canterbury, New Zealand's South Island.

MacWilliam said descendants of Alley's adopted children, who were present at the statue's unveiling ceremony in Christchurch, were passionate about protecting and promoting Alley's spiritual legacy.

The statue will serve more as an educational tool for children, and more young New Zealanders will understand Alley's life and spirit, as there will be more local content added in the school curriculum of New Zealand history, she said.

The statue shows how Alley was reflecting on the Past and contemplating the future, MacWilliam said. 

This photo taken on May 24, 2024 shows the exterior view of the Christchurch Arts Center in central Christchurch, New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

This photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows a view of the Rewi Alley Memorial Park after a commemorative activity in the small town of Springfield in Canterbury, New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

This photo taken on May 24, 2024 shows a statute of Rewi Alley at the entrance of the Christchurch Arts Center in central Christchurch, New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

This photo taken on May 25, 2024 shows the Rewi Alley Memorial in the small town of Springfield in Canterbury, New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
British Airways claimed it was not responsible for compensation because your flight was cancelled due to operational reasons - Florida Chuck

Gill Charlton has been fighting for Telegraph readers and solving their travel problems for more than 30 years, winning refunds, righting wrongs and suggesting solutions.

Here is this weeks question:

Dear Gill,

My wife and I spent the February half-term in Florida. We booked flights through an online agent, Kiss&Fly, which issued tickets on American Airlines (AA) from Gatwick to Tampa. However, the flights were on British Airways (BA).

The day before we were due to return, February 23, I received a text from British Airways saying we were being thrown off the flight because it was using a smaller aircraft. No alternative was offered.

When I finally got through to BAs customer services I was told to go to the airport anyway and try our luck getting on the flight!

We handed back our rental car and arrived at Tampa Airport to find that the flight really was full. Eventually someone from AA rebooked us on a flight leaving two days later.

No other help was offered by either AA or BA. We didnt know what to do or what we could claim. Fortunately our neighbours at the Airbnb came to our rescue.

I applied for compensation and 66 of expenses on our return but BA replied saying: Your claim has been refused because BA2166 was cancelled due to operational reasons. I am furious that we were left stranded in the US and everyone is washing their hands of us. Can you help get what we are due?

 Simon Tyler

Dear Simon,

Your experience of being bumped reflects poorly on both AA and BA. This is clearly a case of involuntary denied boarding. However, if the flight had been operated by AA you would not be due compensation because its Conditions of Carriage say that it doesnt have to compensate bumped passengers if it has to operate a smaller aircraft for safety or operational reasons.

Fortunately for you, BA was the operator and so is responsible for compensation under UK Regulation 261/2004. This says that if you are bumped from a longhaul flight, the airline must pay compensation of 520 as well as reimbursing accommodation, a reasonable amount of food and drink and transport to and from the airport until it can fly you home.

Even if AA staff couldnt help secure accommodation, BAs customer services staff should have told you of your entitlements so you could claim the costs back (though this can take a couple of months).

I suspect some of the miscommunication was due to having an AA ticket for a BA flight but that doesnt excuse either airline for leaving customers stressed and stranded through no fault of their own for two days.

I contacted BA to find out why it had refused such a clear-cut claim. BA has now apologised to Simon and is paying the entitled compensation, his expenses and extending a goodwill gesture.

 Gill Charlton

Your travel problems solved

Gill takes on a different case each week  so please send your problems to her for consideration at asktheexperts@telegraph.co.uk. Please give your full name and, if your dispute is with a travel company, your address, telephone number and any booking reference. Gill cant answer every question, but she will help where she can and all emails are acknowledged.

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The man died of a suspected heart attack during the incident

BBC

A British healthcare worker who was on the Singapore Airlines flight on May 21 that experienced severe turbulence is recalling the frightening moments when he tried to save the man who died mid-flight.

Toby Pearl, 21, told the BBC that he had been on the flight heading to Australia with his friend Liam James-Morris. Everything had been going fine, he said, before the seatbelt sign came on and the turbulence was absolutely instant.

Nobody had any time to react. That's why I think there's so many injuries," Pearl told the outlet. "Myself and many other passengers were thrown into the air with drinks trolleys, and different bits and bobs. My seat came up in the air with me as well.

Of the 46 people who were hospitalized due to the turbulence, 22 reported spinal cord injuries, while six reported brain and skull injuries.

Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old grandfather, died of a suspected heart attack during the incident.

Related: Extreme Turbulence Caused Passengers to Be Thrown Against Ceiling of Emirates Flight: It Felt Like the End

Pearl told BBC that he had been one of the people that tried to help Kitchen when he needed medical aid.

He said within 30 seconds of the turbulence, there were calls for first aid-trained help and an automated external defibrillator (AED) to provide aid.

"Without really thinking, I jumped out the seat and over the aisle," he said, noting that he sprung into action alongside a doctor and nurse.

"I worked as a healthcare worker at Llanarth Court Hospital as my main job before I came traveling, so I have some experience in healthcare, but this was stuff you don't normally see," Pearl further explained.

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He detailed that he performed CPR on Kitchen for about 30 minutes, trying to keep him alive. However, the turbulence was still bad, and they could not get a shocking rhythm on the AED.

Pearl said that the doctor and nurse he was working with had to make some really tough calls and eventually called Kitchens death. He said it must have been a really hard call as the man's wife was sat only a row behind, so she was witnessing the whole thing."

Related: 7 People Taken to the Hospital Following 'Severe Turbulence' on United Flight from Tel Aviv to New Jersey

The flight was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members from Londons Heathrow Airport to Singapore in a Boeing 777 when it encountered turbulence, according to a previous statement shared on Facebook by Singapore Airlines.

The airline has since said that it is implementing new safety measures in the wake of the incident, including the suspension of meal service and hot beverage service during times when the seat-belt sign is on," per ABC News.

Crew members will also return to their seats and secure their seat belts when the seat-belt sign is on, the airline said, according to the publication.



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NEW YORK (PIX11)  From Helping our viewers get repairs to helping teens get prom suits, Monica Morales is making it happen.

Luz Amaro from East Harlem is a proud grandmother of seven who just wanted kitchen repairs.

Exclusive: New affordable housing lottery to open for Bronx building

After PIX11s story, not only did she get repairs, but Valerie Fitch from a non-profit called Circle of Generosity was watching and surprised her with a $2000 check to help buy kitchen appliances.

Its prom season again. The principal of Brooklyn Academy of Global Finance, Danielle Darbee, reached out to PIX11 again for some help. Lets help make this a celebration to remember. You can donate here.

Darbee contacted us in May 2022 and May 2023. Our viewers helped make the senior prom happen, so she hopes we can do it again this year.

Darbee says money should not be a reason not to be able to go. In reality, she says, many of her students are from shelters and public housing and have parents living paycheck to paycheck, and $125 for a prom ticket can be bought. Darbee says the most pressing need right now is mens suits. The prom is on Tuesday, and Darbee says PIX11 viewers donated suits.

Last year, Craig Fogarty, a teacher from Ps 68 in the Bronx, reached out to Pix11 for help. They won the Soapbox Derby competition in District 11. Guess what? These little champions won again. They need support to go to Akron, Ohio, for nationals in July.

It costs $10,000 to send two students to Nationals. You can support here.

If you have a story, reach out to Monica Morales at monica@pix11.com

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
One of the Point Ruston properties tied to delinquent debt owed to one of the sites lenders could change hands if a proposed sale is approved.

In a motion to approve the sale, a representative for Resource Transition Consultants, the propertys general receiver, said RTC had received an offer for the 5103-5109 Main St. retail building.

The portion includes Farrellis Wood Fire Pizza and Ice Cream Social, among other brands located at the property, known as Building 18 at Point Ruston.

A map that was part of a filing in the TerraCotta Credit REIT Point Ruston legal proceedings shows the locations under receivership in the case.

The site has been marketed by Kidder-Mathews for an asking price of $8.75 million. The building has an assessed value of more than $8.3 million, according to county assessor-treasurer records.

The proposed buyer is listed as Do Jin Jung of Federal Way, who has offered $8.5 million.

Under terms of the purchase and sale agreement, the buyer has 60 calendar days to secure financing.

In December, the receiver was granted approval to hire a broker to market and sell three parcels tied to PR Main Street Retail LLC, which include two retail strips (Buildings 8 and 18) and the movie theater. Building 8 includes such tenants as Multicare Indigo Urgent Care and O Bee Credit Union.

The LLC was among a cluster of Point Ruston business entities tied to seven parcels that came under receivership in a lawsuit filed last spring by TerraCotta Credit REIT of El Segundo, California.

TerraCotta specializes in commercial real estate, finance and investing. It began entering into various Point Ruston loan agreements in 2019. TerraCotta contends the LLCs owe more than $82 million in unpaid principal balance, interest, fees and attorneys fees.

Attorneys for TerraCotta as of May 24 had not yet responded in court filings to the proposed sell-off of one of the three sites broker-marketed for sale. An attorney for TerraCotta also did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The News Tribune.

The next court hearing date in TerraCottas case is tentatively scheduled in June.

A previous purchase proposal mentioned in filings last summer regarding Point Ruston retail parcels in receivership fell through as legal arguments between TerraCotta and RTC escalated.

Sale of four sites on pause and other debt collection

TerraCotta in December was approved to move forward on foreclosure sale of the four other properties tied to its collection efforts. Those include commercial and retail space on the ground floor of Village on Main Apartments at 5020 Main St., and three vacant lots (future Buildings 14, 15, 16) which had been envisioned for multifamily-unit development along Yacht Club Road.

The foreclosure action was paused after an RTC legal challenge over a separate TerraCotta debt collection lawsuit in California.

RTCs action resulted in an April 12 order that denied its challenge but also imposed a 90-day delay in any foreclosure action by TerraCotta on the four sites, pending appeal.

Meanwhile, another Point Ruston lender, AURC III, received a more-than $91 million judgment against Point Ruston Phase II LLC in early April, putting the sites Waterfront Market and parking garage on track for a sheriffs sale to help collect on its own construction debt.

A notice of appeal seeking review of orders and final judgment in the case by the state Court of Appeals Division II was filed by Point Ruston LLC in the case April 26.

News Tribune archives contributed to this report.
Anton Hofreiter, a politician from the German Green Party, has called on Ukraines allies to no longer prevent it from attacking Russian territory with Western weapons.

Source: Spiegel

Details: "This is about protecting the Ukrainian population. Therefore, we should not prevent Ukraine from using the weapons it has received to defend itself against Russian fighters in Russian airspace," Hofreiter said in an interview with the newspapers of the Funke Media Group.

"International law allows a state that has been attacked to attack military targets in the aggressor's country. This is part of self-defence. After all, the Russian army is bombarding the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which has a population of one million, day and night from its territory, including with glide bombs that strike in just 40 seconds," he said.

Background: Recently, the New York Times reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wanted to ensure that Ukraine was allowed to strike Russian territory with US weapons. He wanted to convince President Joe Biden to lift the restrictions.

On the eve of French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Germany, Hofreiter called on both governments to expand their strong support for Ukraine. Germany has the money and resources to better provide Ukraine with weapons and ammunition. "In the serious situation Ukraine is in, the provision of individual weapons systems across the board cannot be ruled out," he added.

He called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to start a dialogue with France on the role of French nuclear weapons in European defence. "Macron has already proposed this several times. Unfortunately, his proposals have not yet been accepted," Hofreiter criticised.

As is known, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes that a common European defence cannot include a nuclear component, as recently proposed by French leader Emmanuel Macron.

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FILE - Burkina Faso coup leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore participates in a ceremony in Ouagadougou, Oct. 15, 2022. Traore, the military leader of Burkina Faso, will remain in office for another five years following the signing of a new charter after national consultations in the capital, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Kilaye Bationo, File)

DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  The military leader of Burkina Faso will remain in office for another five years following the signing of a new charter after national consultations in the capital on Saturday.

Civil society representatives, the security and defense forces and lawmakers in the transitional assembly participated in the talks in Ouagadougou, which most political parties boycotted.

The duration of the transition is fixed at 60 months from July 2, 2024, said Col. Moussa Diallo, the chairman of the organizing committee of the national dialogue process, in a speech after the talks.

Burkina Faso is one of a growing list of West African countries where the military has taken power, accusing the elected governments of failing to keep their promises. The current junta seized power in September 2022 by ousting the military regime of Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba about eight months after it staged a coup to remove democratically elected President Roch Marc Kabore.

The transitional government has been running Burkina Faso under a constitution approved by a national assembly that included army officers, civil society groups and traditional and religious leaders. The junta had set a goal of conducting elections to return the country to democratic rule by July 2024.

Capt. Ibrahim Traore was named the transitional president. However, since its inception, the junta has struggled to end Burkina Fasos security challenges  the very reason that it said prompted it to take over power in September 2022. Around half of Burkina Fasos territory remains outside of government control.

The West African country has been ravaged by growing attacks by Muslim extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The violence has killed thousands, displaced more than 2 million people and pushed tens of thousands to the brink of starvation.

Frustrated with a lack of progress over years of Western military assistance, the junta has severed military ties with former colonial ruler France and turned to Russia instead for security support.

Traore will be able to run in elections at the end of the five-year transition period, according to the new charter. However, the charter also retains the possibility of holding elections before the end of the transition period.
Police in Burlington are investigating after a middle school received concerning threats.

Police and school officials were made aware of threats made against Marshall Simonds Middle School around 2:55 p.m., police say. An anonymous caller threatened to do harm at the school on Tuesday, May 28.

While police say they do not believe the threats to be credible, there will be an increased police presence at the school on Tuesday.

The safety of our students and school community is our first priority. We take any potential threat extremely seriously, Burlington Public Schools Superintendent Eric Conti said. We are working closely with Burlington Police and thank them for their quick response.

Safety at schools is of utmost importance to Burlington Police, and we will continue to investigate this incident and provide any updates as they arise, Burlington Police Capt. Daniel Hanafin said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Jared Young, an independent Missouri Senate candidate, poses for a portrait at the Deseret News office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

The independent Senate campaign of Brigham Young University alum Jared Young has attracted the help of the architect behind Evan McMullins 2016 presidential run that won 21% of the vote in Utah and 730,000 votes nationwide.

McMullins presidential campaign manager Joel Searby joined Youngs campaign in April as a senior strategist after he was impressed by the personal resources Young had invested into unseating Republican Sen. Josh Hawley.

Jared has such a compelling, strong character and set of values, Searby told the Deseret News. He showed his commitment by committing his own resources, which is really important for a candidate.

Youngs long-shot bid for the Senate has in large part been fueled by a $245,000 loan he made to his campaign. But his we can be better message has also attracted more fundraising contributions than any other third-party bid for U.S. Senate in the country, at more than $110,000, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Jared Young running against populism on the left and right

Another factor that attracted Searby to Youngs campaign was the contrast the candidate presented to the Republican and Democratic offerings, he said.

You have two candidates, from the Republicans and the Democrats, who really embody this extreme politics that people are fed up with, Searby said. And Jared runs up the middle of that, not just from a politics perspective, but from a character perspective, really stands out as somebody who wants to do this differently.

The U.S. Senate race in Missouri is unique for the rhetoric of both major party candidates, Searby said, pointing to Hawleys support for Jan. 6 protesters and the likely Democratic nominee Lucas Kunces reputation as a bomb thrower and the Trump of the left.

Hawley and Kunce have each embraced the populist label. Hawley has argued for lawmakers to re-Christianize the countrys legal and economic systems. And Kunce has vowed to break the system by fighting corporate power.

But most Missourians dont want a political revolution, Young said, they want commonsense solutions to kitchen table problems.

I really think weve reached the point where we should be focusing less on specific policy issues and more on approaches that our leaders are taking because I think thats really whats broken, Young told the Deseret News. If we adopt this better approach, where we are actually talking to each other and engaging with each other in a productive way, it will naturally lead to better, smarter policy outcomes that are more durable.

Missouris new Better Party

In January, Young, who graduated from Harvard Law School before founding, and then selling, an human resources outsourcing company in Joplin, Missouri, realized he would need the help of expensive signature-gathering firms to collect 10,000 signatures to appear on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

Young, the father of six children under 12, decided he wanted his familys financial sacrifice to extend beyond his own campaign and filed paperwork so the signatures he gathered would go toward establishing a new political party in the state to provide ballot access for independent candidates in future Missouri elections.

The Better Party was officially recognized by the Missouri secretary of state in early May, a few weeks after Young submitted his signatures. Similar to Andrew Yangs Forward Party, Youngs party does not have a detailed policy platform. Instead, it serves as a vehicle for nonpartisan candidates to gain access to the ballot and make reforms  free of partisan pressures.

Young said the party will have one filter when vetting prospective candidates  they must commit to three codes of conduct that have until now also formed the core of Youngs senate campaign. First, they must treat political opponents with respect; second, consider good ideas no matter where they come from; and, third, reject a strategy of political ends justifying immoral means.

We really believe that thats at the heart of the issue in our national politics right now. People have decided that their cause is so righteous, and the other people are so dangerous, that they can justify doing anything, Young said. If you have to be dishonest or underhanded to achieve your goals, then your goals arent worth achieving anymore.

In addition to trying to win his race against the massively-favored Hawley  who has $5 million in the bank, has spent $15 million more and has the backing of the states dominant party  Youngs goal is to normalize options outside of the two parties, he said.

Jared Young, an independent Missouri Senate candidate, is photographed during an interview at the Deseret News office in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News

Young often quotes polling that suggests 43% of Missouri voters consider themselves independents, 33% Republicans and 24% Democrats. He said this data, as well as polling he conducted before entering the race that shows 70% of Missourians are interested in a third-party alternative to Hawley and Kunce, has been validated as he crisscrosses the state.

People are exhausted and discouraged by what the two parties are producing right now, Young said. And so when I step in front of them and say, Heres what you can do about it, then they get pretty excited.

But Missouri state Sen. Holly Rehder, who is currently running for lieutenant governor, said residents of the state arent out to buy what Young has to offer. In her statewide campaign, Rehder said she has yet to hear mention of Young. Rather, she said Missourians are hungry for the populist message of Hawley and Trump.

We are so focused on our fighters, on the people who will go in and flip up tables, somebody whos not aiming to be in the middle, Rehder told the Deseret News. We want somebody whos going to go take our country back.

Whats next for Jared Youngs campaign in Missouri?

Beginning as a two-man operation of Young and his father, Youngs campaign now counts on Searby, a digital team, legal counsel and treasurer, Young said. With their limited resources and start-up mentality, Youngs team is focused on targeted online advertising and town hall-style meetings.

Young hopes to build momentum and name recognition as polls begin to include Better Party candidates, hopefully leading to his appearance on the debate stage in coming months.

We have a lot more resources than your traditional independent candidate and and it makes us just instantly more viable, Young said. But he acknowledges they are trying to pull something off that has never been accomplished before.

To win, Young figures he needs to convince 1.3 million people to vote for him out of the roughly 2 million Missourians he says are persuadable.

After the November election, Young says he will turn his attention to expanding party membership, resources and candidate recruitment. At a bare minimum, he hopes the impact of his candidacy will be to wake the two parties up to the fact that they need to do more to appeal to the political middle, Young said. He also hopes it will increase the credibility of third-party bids across the country and potentially lead to the Better Party spreading to other states.

For Searby, Youngs endeavor is one more step toward creating a new politics in America. Each time a viable candidate is seen mounting an independent run against the two major parties, it decreases a psychological barrier people have of voting for a third party, Searby said.

Seary also advised McMullin in his 2022 run against Sen. Mike Lee in Utah, in which McMullin lost by 10%  still one of the most successful statewide independent races in the last two decades, Searby said.

I believe that were going to continue to see serious independent candidates run and there will be a breakthrough at some point because the data is just so clear that thats what the voters want, Searby said. We just need a couple of candidates to break that dam.
Cal Fire firefighter arrested, accused of exposing himself at car wash, Sacramento sheriff says

A Cal Fire firefighter accused of exposing himself at a Rancho Cordova car wash was arrested Thursday, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office.

Rancho Cordova police officers were called about 9:45 a.m. March 30 to Quick Quack Car Wash on Sunrise Boulevard for a report of a sexual assault, according to a Sheriffs Office news release and the Rancho Cordova Police Departments online crime map. The suspect allegedly exposed his erect penis to a woman, who drove away before reporting the incident to law enforcement.





Police officers identified Clifford Robinson Jr., 32, as a suspect in the case. He was arrested Thursday at his home, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Robinson was booked into Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of indecent exposure. He posted his $10,000 bail and was released on the day he was arrested.

Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman for the Sheriffs Office, said Robinson is a registered sex offender. The Megans Law website, which tracks sexual offenders in California, as of Friday did not appear to have Robinson listed as an offender. Court records show Robinson was convicted of three misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure in Santa Cruz County stemming from an incident in 2015.

Robinson is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, according to Sacramento Superior Court records. It was not immediately clear what charges he faces.

It also was not clear Friday whether Robinson is still employed by Cal Fire. Payroll data collected for 2022, the most recently published data by Transparent California, show he was a Fire Apparatus Engineer that year and made a total pay of $75,746. Transparent California data also show Robinson employed as a firefighter from 2018 through 2021.

Sheriffs deputies are asking the publics help to identify any other potential victims.

Anyone with information about the case can call the Sheriffs Office at 916-874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. Tipsters are eligible for a $1,000 reward and can remain anonymous.

Information can also be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com or by calling 916-874-8477.
CANBERRA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior Australian government minister has urged Israel to abide by an order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to halt its military offensive in southern Gaza.

The ICJ, the top court of the United Nations, on Friday ordered Israel to immediately halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah and open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to allow aid into the region.

In response, Chris Bowen, Australia's minister for climate change and energy and a member of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's cabinet, said the federal government supported the ruling.

He described the situation in Rafah as a humanitarian disaster that has the scope to get worse.

"We have been very consistent that Rafah should not be attacked," Bowen said at a press conference on Saturday.

"Australia believes international law should be complied with. Australia believes the binding rulings should be complied with, and we believe Rafah should not be invaded by Israel."

The ICJ order was adopted by a panel of 15 international judges in a 13-2 vote, with judges from Israel and Uganda opposed. 
Assemblyman James C. Ramos (Photo/Courtesy of James C. Ramos Office)

Three measures to increase safety in Californias Indian Country and reduce the disparate numbers of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) are headed to the Senate as California works to reduce its fifth-highest in the nation unresolved MMIP case load. Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) authored the bills.

In 2016 the National Crime Information Center reported 5,712 missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls in the U.S., but only 116 of those cases were logged by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. California is not alone in bearing the trauma of MMIP cases, but we have one of the highest numbers of uninvestigated and unresolved case numbers in the country. Despite state action in recent years to confront the violence and trauma to our families, we know we have much more to do. I am appreciative of the support of my colleagues and the administration in combatting the MMIP crisis." Ramos said.

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MMIP legislation now headed to the Senate are:

AB 1863 would require the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to develop policies and procedures related to the Feather Alert, a notification system similar to the AMBER alert used when Native Americans are missing and in danger. The Feather Alert took effect in January 2024 after passage of AB 1314 (Ramos, 2022). AB 1863 would also allow law enforcement agencies or tribal nations to request the alert, updates the definition of danger to a persons safety, and requires CHP officials to respond to the request for alert activation within 48 hours and provide written notice to the requesting entity if the request is denied. Ramos said the changes would help ensure an effective and responsive alert system. He added the changes evolved after an informational hearing and discussions with tribes, law enforcement and CHP. It is co-sponsored by Bear River of the Rohnerville Rancheria, Pechanga Band of Mission Indians and the Yurok Tribe.

AB 2108, the Luke Madrigal Act, requires a county social worker or probation officer to immediately notify parents or legal guardians, attorneys for parents, court-appointed special advocate, the court of jurisdiction and others when they receive information that children receiving child welfare services, including non-minor dependents, are missing from foster care.

Native American children enter the child welfare system at a rate that is 2.7 times their representation in the population, the highest of any racial group (AFDC 2020). National data shows that 85% of all missing Indigenous children over a 10-year period were endangered runaways. Runaways are especially vulnerable to becoming victims of crime. Luke Madrigal was a proud member of the Cahuilla Band of Indians and he grew up on the Soboba Indian Reservation. Madrigal was best known for giving his time, energy, and knowledge to help others, especially children. For six years, he served on his tribes council, and generously gave his time to the National Indian Child Welfare Association, Riverside County Tribal Alliance for American Indian Children and Families. Sponsors are the Yurok Tribe, California Tribal Families Coalition and Alliance for Childrens Rights.

AB 2138 would establish a three-year pilot project under the Department of Justice granting California state peace officer status to qualified tribes and the officers they employ. Participating tribes include Blue Lake Rancheria, Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the Yurok Tribe. AB 2138 would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to monitor, evaluate and support the program and allows DOJ to suspend or terminate participation in the program for gross misconduct or failure to comply with program requirements. Thirteen states and the federal government already grant peace officer status to tribal police. The Yurok Tribe and California Indian Legal Services are co-sponsors of the measure.

AB 2695 requires the DOJ to align its records and data with the federal National Incident-Based reporting system to assist law enforcement and others understand where criminal incidents related to MMIP are occurring and also include a notation indicating whether domestic violence incidents took place in Indian Country. AB 2695 is sponsored by Attorney General Rob Bonta.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Several California big city mayors urged Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers this week to continue state funding to combat homelessness, money that they said has been a lifesaver for thousands of people on the streets of the Golden State.

For five years the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention program (HHAP) has funneled about $4 million to counties, cities and continuum of care organizations in the state to make a dent into its burgeoning homeless population.

In his May budget revision, Newsom proposed trimming $260 million in supplemental funding from HHAP to help balance next years budget withan estimated $45 billion deficit.

While $1 billion from HHAP is still in an ongoing round of funding  but whether the grant will continue next year is far from certain.

Earlier this month, Newsom announced he would speed up the release of $3 billion to build or refurbish mental health treatment centers from the voter-approved Prop. 1, a measure that will pump nearly $6.4 billion to target those who are in crisis or experiencing chronic homelessness and for veteran housing.

Prop. 1 reconfigures the California Mental Health Services Act to redirect the majority of its funding from the counties to the state for building the facilities and housing for the chronically homeless.

The mayors said HHAP and Prop. 1 are complimentary.

We do need both, said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. We need HHAP to support our ongoing efforts and we also need Prop. 1.

In a news conference Wednesday that came on the heels of a letter the California Big City Mayors coalition sent earlier this week to leaders of the state senate and assembly, as well as the chairs of both budget committees, several municipal leaders spoke to the need to continue to maintain state funding.

We cannot abandon this progress now ... Without HHAP the progress that we were making will vanish, said Mayor Todd Gloria, chair of the coalition, citing multiple negative impacts that would follow such as shuttering of shelters and many homeless returning to the streets. In short, it will be a disaster.

To our state leaders, we say this is not the time to take our foot off the gas, Gloria continued. Now is not the time to reverse the progress that we have made.

Budgets, he said, are a reflection of the values and priorities and even as San Diego is facing a $170 million deficit Gloria is proposing to increase the funding for homeless services, planning to add another 1,000 shelter beds and 200 safe parking spaces in the city.

Lawmakers at the Capitol, meanwhile, are pushing hard to find ways to restore major homelessness and housing program cuts.

If not now, then when?

The mayors also shared stories of people the homelessness money has helped in their towns.

Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson spoke about a 66-year-old man who was homeless for 21 years and struggled for years recovering from substance abuse.

After many efforts to engage him, the citys outreach team has finally secured housing for him and his two emotional support animals, something, she said, would not have been possible without HHAP funding.

If we lose HHAP funding, she added, well lose people like (him).

In Riverside, for every person housed, six more become homeless, the mayor said. We need every tool in our toolbelt to continue this work.

Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh said cities have the bulk of the responsibility to triage the homelessness crisis in the state.

Our residents trumpet this crisis daily and the streets of California cry out with the pain of thousands, she said. Lean budget years require difficult decisions. Addressing homelessness, our states number one issue must be a priority. If not now. Then when?

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said she doesnt want her city to retreat on homelessness.

We still have a lot of work to do. Our street homelessness has reached a 10 year low but our family homelessness has increased, Breed said. We have made progress and without HHAP funding, we risk slipping backwards, losing all the progress weve made and the momentum we have built.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg enumerated some myths and facts, imploring lawmakers and the Newsom administration to find a path to ensure this immensely successful investment in California cities can continue to make the progress that were beginning to see in all of our cities.

Because of potential cuts in state funding, the Sacramento City Council might be faced with deciding whether to close shelters next year.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan noted that last year his city measured a 10.7% decrease in the number of unhoused people.

Like so many other cities, San Jose is finally turning the corner on unsheltered homelessness and were seeing it in the data, he said.

Administration seeks more accountability

Gov. Newsom has called for accountability and results for the money doled out by the state. The message from the mayors Wednesday was that they are ready.

We welcome the accountability necessary to get this job done, said Mayor Dawson, adding that Riverside has implemented a dashboard to monitor progress on homelessness.

Mayor Steinberg said that in collaboration with the Newsom administration, the 13th largest cities have obtained state approval for plans to set aggressive accountability goals.

Specifically, he added, we are committed to reducing unsheltered homelessness by 16% by 2025.

While deficit reduction is imperative, we implore the Legislature and the administration to find a way to fund (the sixth round of HHAP) so that this immensely successful investment in California cities can continue to make the progress that were beginning to see in all of our cities, Steinberg said.

Added Mayor Gloria: Weve heard our governor loud and clear. These are precious public resources and the public deserves to know what theyre getting for their limited dollars  we will happily be held to account for how these funds are spent. But our message today is do not retreat. 

Counties welcome investments

Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties, called the HHAP grants the most effective program to address homelessness in California.

And, zero dollars means zero progress, he said, adding the association understands the broad framework of what the governor has proposed and that tough choices have to be made.

I think it is important to recognize that California is a leader in so many spaces that this is an area where theres both more done and more at risk in terms of impact to communities, said Knaus, who made a plea for HHAP continued funding before the Senate Budget Committee in April.

The investments have been welcome and critically needed and they must continue or were simply throwing out the progress weve made in the last few years, he said.

More than 181,000 Californians experienced homelessness on a given night in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Karina Gonzalez with the League of California Cities, pointed out that Californias largest cities receive direct HHAP funding and the allocations are based on cities point-in-time counts. Mid and smaller sized cities can also get the money through their counties or continuum of care, she said.
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the arrest Friday of a California man charged with communicating threats against individuals, law enforcement and synagogues in North Carolina. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

May 25 (UPI) -- A California man was arrested Friday for allegedly making bomb threats against synagogues and a sheriff's department in North Carolina.

Kevin Dunlow, 62, of Huntington Beach also allegedly made multiple threats against individuals while in California, including an elected official and law enforcement, local media reported.

Dunlow was charged in a criminal complaint filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for Eastern North Carolina.

"Hate-fueled, violent threats endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a news release.

Dunlow "is accused of making explicit and detailed threats, ranging from making a bomb threat against the Wake County Sheriff's Office to threatening an elected official," Garland said.

Dunlow also is accused of making anti-Semitic threats on May 7 when he allegedly said "Jews didn't deserve to live" and "didn't deserve to be on this Earth."

Garland said Dunlow told a Rabbi he was "coming to the temple to kill all the Jews and children."

Dunlow is charged with illegally sending a threat to intentionally harm or kidnap another person.

He also is charged with illegally knowingly making false threats about bombs.

Each charges carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.

Dunlow has an initial appearance in federal court Friday, and a detention hearing will be held at a later date.
California water board member who admitted to stealing $30K in water sentenced to jail

California water board member who admitted to stealing $30K in water sentenced to jail

A man who served as a board member of two Southern California water agencies and admitted to stealing $30,000 in water for his farm has been sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Daniel Naumann, 66, of Camarillo will also have to serve two years of probation and has been ordered to pay restitution.

In March, Naumann admitted to stealing water for his Oxnard farm while serving as an elected board member of the United Water Conservation District. He also previously served as an alternate board member of Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency, officials said.

Daniel Naumann

Both agencies manage and preserve groundwater resources for agricultural uses in Ventura County and are responsible for water allocations and charging fees for those who pump groundwater.

Naumann, owner and operator of Naumann Family Farms, installed diversion bypasses on two commercial water pumps, an investigation from the Ventura County Sheriffs Office revealed. Those devices diverted pumped water to his farms irrigation lines before the water reached the meters that measure water use for billing purposes.

Between 2019 and 2021, Naumann pumped groundwater using those bypass devices, saving himself $29,301 in fees owed to Fox Canyon.

While serving as an elected member of a water board responsible for preserving groundwater in Ventura County, the defendant stole groundwater for his own agricultural uses, said Anthony Wold, a member of the Ventura County District Attorneys Office Public Integrity Unit.

Wold said Naumann accepted responsibility for his actions once faced with a sophisticated and comprehensive investigation.

Naumann pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft of water, taking a deal to avoid multiple felony charges.

He resigned from the United board around that time. In his resignation letter, Naumann talked about his more than 30 years of service, but did not mention the criminal case, according to the Ventura County Star.

In addition to his jail sentence, Naumann will have to repay the $30,000 stolen from the water agencies.

He has been released on probation for the time being and is due to report for his jail sentence on June 17.

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Car bomb in the Syrian capital kills one. Drone strike near Lebanon border targets two vehicles

This is a locator map for Syria with its capital, Damascus. (AP Photo)

BEIRUT (AP)  A bomb attached to a car exploded early Saturday in the western part of the Syrian capital that is home to several diplomatic missions, killing one person and causing material damage, state media reported.

Damascus Mazze neighborhood houses the Iranian consulate, destroyed last month in a strike blamed on Israel. The attack at the time killed seven people including two Iranian generals and a member of Lebanons militant group Hezbollah, and triggered a direct Iranian military assault on Israel for the first time, sparking fears of a regionwide war.

Several airstrikes have hit the tightly-secured neighborhood over the past months, mostly targeting Iranian officials.

State news agency, SANA, didn't say who the person killed was but said the blast set two other cars ablaze.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the man killed in the explosion was a Mazze resident who carried a card identifying him as a Syrian army officer. Abdurrahman said the dead man had close ties to the Iranians.

Hours after the blast in Damascus, an Israeli drone strike reportedly targeted a car and a truck outside the western Syrian town of Qusair, northwest of Damascus, close to Lebanon's border, the Observatory and a Beirut-based pan-Arab TV station reported.

The strike hit the two vehicles near Dabaa air base. Qusair and its suburbs were struck several times over the past months by Israeli drones targeting Hezbollah fighters who have a presence in the area.

The Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV didn't say if there were casualties, but the Observatory said two Hezbollah members were killed and several others wounded in the drone strike.

Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Israeli forces have traded cross-border fire a day after the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7 on an almost daily basis. Since then, more than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of them Hezbollah fighters, and more than 70 civilians and non-combatants, according to an Associated Press tally.

Meanwhile, Israel says at least 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have so far been killed in the clashes.

Tehran has been sending advisers to Syria since the countrys conflict, which later turned into civil war, began in March 2011 and has killed half a million people. Iran-backed fighters have helped tip the balance of power in favor of President Bashar Assads government.

Irans military presence in Syria has been a major concern for Israel, which has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment along its northern border. Syria has accused Israel of carrying out hundreds of strikes on targets in government-controlled parts in recent years  but Israel has rarely acknowledged such strikes.

The war in Gaza started after Hamas led militants in a surprise attack on southern Israel. About 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. Israel responded with a retaliatory war that has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials.
A charter-school advocate wants to close a loophole that allows predatory teachers fired by the city Department of Education to land classroom jobs in charter and private schools.

A charter-school advocate wants to close a loophole that allows predatory teachers fired by the city Department of Education to land classroom jobs in charter and private schools.

James Merriman, CEO of the nonprofit New York City Charter School Center, said his organization has reached out to the DOE to talk about this critical issue following The Posts coverage of a fired French teacher who found work at a Bronx charter school.

Dulaina Almonte, 33, was fired for texting a student 28,000 times at Truman HS in the Bronx, but landed a teaching gig at the privately-run AECI 2: NYC Charter High School for Engineering and Innovation.

AECI 2 relies on fingerprinting to determine if someone is hirable. J.C. Rice

She was let go by the charter school last week after The Post published a front-page story exposing her prior alleged misconduct and her defiant reaction, You really cant fking touch me.

The CEO for the charter school suggested administrators werent privy to the teachers past at the point when they hired her.

This is a matter of student safety  charter schools at the very least deserve access to knowledge about teachers on the do not hire list, Merriman said. Weve contacted the DOE and they have indicated a willingness to restart discussions about this critical issue. They fully understand the stakes and the need to put student safety first, and Im confident that we can quickly get to yes.

But DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer insisted the DOE does not maintain a do-not hire list and does not share information with charter schools voluntarily. But, he said, the agency does place a problem code on employees that are terminated for various reasons.

The agency does respond to all requests from other schools when they do a background check. But without a signed waiver from the fired teacher, he added, legally we can only provide title, date of employment and general responsibilities.

Dulaina Almonte was canned by a DOE school and then got a job at a charter school. tiktok @mijea121

Teacher misconduct wont show up in a fingerprint analysis unless the behavior resulted in an arrest. And that was the excuse AECI 2 CEO Derick Spaulding used when asked how the school could have hired Almonte.

All employees have to get fingerprinted, he said. If there was something in a persons background that was worthy of not hiring them, that would show up there. Thats the states way of stating this persons allowed to work with children.

The Charter School Center has previously sought more information-sharing from the DOE, without success.

We approached the DOE about precisely this issue during the de Blasio administration, but were unable to resolve legal and privacy concerns, Merriman said.

Styer said he could not address what happened during a prior administration.
Child on bicycle hit by alleged drunk driver in Ashland County: OSHP

SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  A child was flown to the hospital after investigators say he was hit by an alleged drunk driver while riding his bike in Ashland County Friday afternoon.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 3:39 p.m. along County Road 681, near Township Road 350 in Sullivan Township.

I-Team: Man shot but still goes to court  see video

Investigators say the child, whose name and age havent been released, was struck by a Chevy Silverado while riding his bike in the roadway.

The child was flown by helicopter to Akron Childrens Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Bomb threat prompts evacuation of local nursing home

The driver, identified as 55-year-old James Dwayne Taylor, of Ashland, was arrested for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Taylor wasnt injured in the crash.

Additional charges are pending at this time.

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JAKARTA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Firefighters have put out a fire at an Indonesian oil refinery in East Kalimantan province on Saturday, with no casualties reported, an official said.

The fire broke out at about 04:00 a.m. local time at crude distillation unit IV of the Balikpapan refinery situated in Balikpapan town, which is operated by the Indonesian state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, according to Bayu Arafat, general manager of Pertamina international refinery for Balikpapan unit.

The fire was put out at 07:30 a.m. local time, the official said.

"Firefighters have successfully controlled the situation and now is the time for cooling," he said in a statement.

The incident did not disturb oil supply to consumers, according to the official. 
Matthew Trickett, a former royal marine accused of spying for China, was found dead on Sunday

China has accused Britain of false accusation, wanton stigmatisation and arbitrary arrests after the unexplained death of a man charged with illegally assisting Hong Kongs foreign intelligence service.

Chinas foreign ministry office in Hong Kong said in a statement on its website that it strongly condemned Britain for what it said were false accusations against Chinese citizens, infringing their lawful rights.

Britains acts were a wanton stigmatisation of China and arbitrary arrests and prosecutions of Chinese citizens in the United Kingdom, it said.

Tensions between Beijing and London have been rising over Chinas sweeping national security crackdown since 2019 when sometimes violent pro-democracy protests swept Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Beijings control in 1997.

Matthew Trickett, 37, a former Royal Marine who worked as an immigration officer and private investigator, was found dead in a park in the west of London on Sunday.

He had been granted bail along with Chung Biu Yuen, 63, an office manager at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, and Chi Leung Wai, 38, also known as Peter Wai, who works as a UK Border Force officer.

Chi Leung Wai, one of the accused, leaves after a hearing at the Old Bailey on May 24 - BEN STANSALL/AFP

The three were charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service between December and May by agreeing to undertake information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception in Britain.

Algernon Yau, Hong Kongs secretary for commerce and economic development, met with Britains deputy counsel-general. He urged Britain to let the public know the truth about Tricketts death.

Mr Yuen and Mr Wai, who have not yet entered pleas, were told by Judge Jeremy Baker that their trial, expected to last five weeks, had been set for February and they will next appear in court on Oct. 25.

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An NYPD cop from China was fired by the department for allegedly spying for the CCP, internal disciplinary records show.

Lt. Steven Li was working at the Internal Affairs Bureau when he helped a Chinese national connect with a woman targeted by the Chinese government from between 2019 and 2021, FBI and NYPD investigators alleged.

Chinese national Sun Hoi Ying was in the US to conduct Operation Fox Hunt, a program that started in 2014 to repatriate alleged Chinese fugitives, sometimes by bypassing authorities, to face charges in the Peoples Republic of China, according to the documents.

Li allegedly set up meetings for Ying in the city with the woman, who was identified as Huang in the documents. She was accused in China of embezzling money from a Chinese state-owned company before moving to the US in 2001.

An NYPD SUV in the Big Apple. Christopher Sadowski

The following year the Communist Party of China accused her of using the stolen money to buy various properties in China. The Communist Party of China seized the properties, which were the subject of an ongoing dispute for several years, the documents show.

Ying was dispatched to the US to allegedly pressure the woman to settle the dispute. Li met with the woman multiple times and communicated with Sun. Investigators looked at whether he was acting as an agent of the PRC and whether he pressured the woman.

The Party flag, emblem and national flag at the Historical Exhibition Hall of the Communist Party of China in Beijing. Future Publishing via Getty Images

Li denied he was acting as an agent and said he had made it clear to the victim, whom he knew from community events and occasionally had dinner with, that he was a police officer and that he didnt represent Sun or the Chinese government, according to the NYPD Order of Dismissal.

The thought was that since (Li) was a police officer, a position held in high esteem in the Chinese community, according to the document, the woman would be more amenable to discussing her case with Sun as him as her intermediary.

All three met in a Queens restaurant on Dec. 1, 2019. Li claimed he made introductions but left the room as the two of them talked about the dispute, according to the NYPD paperwork.

Kevin Tung (L), defense attorney for Yong Zhu, is one of two Chinese nationals on trial on conspiracy charges alleging he acted for China to harass and stalk government dissidents to force them to return from the US to China, in an operation called Operation Fox Hunt. AFP via Getty Images

At one point, Li texted an unidentified person on WeChat to report the targeted woman appeared to be a little bit emotional.

Sun also sent passport photos to Li asking that he do checks on them, but there was no evidence the cop ran their names at the NYPD.

He was also accused of making false statements to the FBI during interviews and of not notifying the NYPD of the investigation for two years.

Security guards wait at an entrance before the second plenary session of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 7, 2024. AFP via Getty Images

Li hasnt been criminally charged.

The department concluded he didnt pressure anyone and was not acting as a Chinese agent. But the NYPD did find him guilty during a department trial of making false statements and failing to report the FBI probe.

He was fired on Feb. 16, according to records first discovered by Documented.

.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  An investigation by the Office of the City Auditor has found a City of Austin employee falsely reported a personal purchase as a city business transaction, then altered receipts to cover it up.

In a report released Friday, the auditors office said it received an allegation against Transportation and Public Works Superintendent Michael Collier in August 2023. The allegation was that Collier used a city-issued credit card for a personal expense and created a false item description in the citys credit card system.

The audit found that Collier used his city credit card to purchase a movie, John Wick: Chapter 4, in July 2023. Collier printed out the receipt for the purchase, the audit report said. He blacked out the title of the movie but left the director and actors visible. Collier submitted this receipt with his other credit card receipts for the cycle.

In the citys credit card system, which employees are required to use, he described the purchase as Safety Reminders for crew during the HOT season, the report said.

When an accounts payable employee asked Collier for a second receipt without the blacked-out portion, Collier printed out an receipt with the title altered to read Work Place Shooter Safety Awareness, according to the report. Seven additional entries were altered on the receipt, including the price, subtotal and sales tax.

The report said by doing so, Collier violated the fraud portion of the city code as well as the misuse of city resources.

Collier initially denied altering any information, the report said, but later admitted to making all of the alterations. He told investigators he continued to withhold information from financial staff because he had since repaid the City for the cost of the movie and hoped the issue would go away.

Collier, who was hired by the city in 2006, previously had a city-issued credit card suspended for failing to comply with city policies. The report said employees with city-issued credit cards must submit receipts each month for their purchases.

Mr. Collier has been placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the disciplinary process, a spokesperson for the Transportation and Public Works Department told KXAN.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Golden Hall, one of San Diegos largest congregate homeless shelters, has paused intakes of as it prepares to close at the end of the year, city officials said on Friday.

The halting of new admission to the 264-bed shelter operated by Father Joes Villages comes over a year after the city announced plans to shutter the downtown facility, which then housed upwards of 500 beds for single adults, families and teenagers.

Since then, city officials have moved hundreds of unhoused people residing in the shelter into more long-term housing and other locations in the citys shelter network, including a former Travelodge motel in Barrio Logan that was converted into a family shelter.

The remaining residents of the Golden Hall shelter will be moved into new city-funded facilities by the end of the year anticipating its closure. Although a hard date for its closure and where exactly the current residents will be moved have not been announced.

Plan for Jamacha sleeping cabins indefinitely paused

The vast majority of the San Diegos existing shelter facilities often only have a handful of beds available every night  most referrals connected unsheltered people to emergency housing at one of the citys facilities go uncompleted, as Voice of San Diego reported last year.

Meanwhile, key components of the citys plan to expand its offerings this year, notably the addition of a safe camping site at H Barracks and a proposed 1,000-bed mega-shelter in Middletown, have hit snags or otherwise remain in early planning stages.

However, Golden Hall cannot remain open as a shelter for unhoused San Diegans, as it was intended to be a temporary site when the city council approved it in 2019.

On top of that, the permit issued by the city fire marshal does not allow the facility to remain open much longer, given its current use and the 60-year-old facilitys condition. According to city officials, heavy rains over the last few years have accelerated wear and tear of the building.

The citys independent budget analyst said in a report last year that Golden Hall would need to undergo an estimated $9.3 million in improvements before it could operate as a permanent shelter.

City officials said on Friday that investing to upgrade the site would be unwise if the proposed Civic Center redevelopment moves forward.

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UPDATE: The City Watch put into effect for missing infant Magnolia Love-Miller was canceled on Sunday morning.

*****

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A City Watch has been put in effect for an endangered child whose mother ran away with her, police say.

Four-month-old Magnolia Love-Miller, was last seen in the 2300 block of Chelsea Avenue. The infant has been described as 20 inches long and weighs 13 pounds.

At 10:16 a.m. on May 16, the City Watch says that the infant was taken by her 17-year-old biological mother, Kamaya Love-Miller.

Police say that Kamaya is a habitual runaway, who left with the infant on foot without permission and refuses to return.

Kamaya has been described as a 47 young woman with black hair and brown eyes.

Police ask that if you see the victim or the suspect, you call 901-545-2677.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The co-owner of two Southwest Washington automotive companies has been convicted for illegally removing pollution control equipment from diesel trucks.

On Thursday, 44-year-old La Center resident Tracy Coiteux was found guilty of conspiracy and 11 counts of violating the Clean Air Act. The act prohibits individuals from tampering with vehicles emission control systems.

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The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Washington reported that Coiteux, who co-owns Racing Performance Maintenance Northwest and its affiliated company RPM Motors and Sales, was first indicted in May 2021.

Her 50-year-old husband Sean Coiteux and 44-year-old service manager Nick Akerill were indicted as well.

From January 2018 to November 2020, officials said the automotive companies charged customers $2,000 to disconnect pollution monitoring systems from their vehicles. Workers would also alter the software that determines whether a vehicles pollution complies with the law.

Email and other electronic records document the conspirators purchase of equipment and software kits to remove the pollution control and reprogram the monitoring systems, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

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When agents executed a court-authorized search warrant in January 2021, they found some of the emissions parts that had been removed and the replacement tailpipes. They found records detailing some 375 instances of removal of the emissions control hardware and software, USAO added.

Investigators found that Coiteux and the other perpetrators brought in more than $500,000 within their three years of tampering with the equipment.

The defendant could be sentenced to up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy conviction, and up to two years for each violation of the CAA, in addition to a $250,000 fine.

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Her sentencing is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 19, following her husbands on Aug. 13.

Service Manager Akerill was sentenced to 30 days on a Clark County work crew after pleading guilty to state pollution charges.

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On May 10, Gov. Gavin Newsom presented his May Revision budget, the annual revision of the budget proposed in January based on updated budget numbers and five additional months of tax returns. As expected, based on current economic conditions, Californias budget problem has only grown worse, requiring tough decisions to balance the budget.

The legislature and the governor worked together on an early action package that included over $17 billion in budget reductions, leaving an additional $27.6 billion in necessary reductions to balance a final budget. To meet this goal, the governor proposed various solutions, including cuts to critical healthcare programs and other social services, reductions in homelessness housing funding, drawing over $12 billion from the Rainy Day Fund over the next two years and even shrinking the state government by 10,000 employees.

But what if there were better ways to address the deficit that didnt require cuts to needed programs? Earlier this year, the nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) announced an anticipated surplus of 15,000 prison beds in the state that is expected to rise to 19,000 by 2028. This is almost exclusively due to the work my legislative colleagues and I have undertaken over the past 12 years to reform the criminal justice system and invest in both preventative measure and rehabilitation programs.

The LAO notes that the state can close at least five more prisons  resulting in a savings of $1 billion annually. Last years budget called for the closing of two prisons with annual savings of over $250 million. Why not go to the well again, freeing up funds for schools, healthcare and social services?

Opinion

Undoubtedly, closing a prison is no simple task. The very powerful California Corrections Peace Officers Association, as one example, fights to protect jobs. When the state agreed to close prisons previously, it did so with a guarantee that corrections staff would be relocated to nearby prisons if they chose  a tall task to be sure. A step below closing an entire prison is to close an individual yard within the prison. Yards are made up of units including housing, recreation, education and healthcare. This budget does not even propose to close full yards but rather 46 housing units across 13 prisons.

The closing of these units is projected to save $80.6 million annually (compared to $1 billion in savings annually if we were to close full prisons, as proposed by the LAO). Why opt to close units instead of full prisons? Might it have something to do with regulations from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that govern the employee per square foot ratio, meaning that a unit or even yard closure still requires the retention (at the same facility) of employees staffed in that area?

As the former chair of both the budget subcommittee tasked with the public safety portion of the budget and the assembly Committee on Public Safety on the policy side, I am acutely aware of how difficult it can be to close prisons. Prison closures have an impact on local economies that lose revenue generated by staff and visitors alike. Prison staff must potentially relocate to another facility, meaning closing a prison requires careful planning to relocate inmates and ensure that adequate care and services are provided at the next institution.

There is a lot of work that must take place to keep Californians safe, but with this large number of empty beds we can and must close unnecessary and expensive facilities.

With that in mind, this unprecedented budget deficit calls for bold and inventive action. That is why I proposed Assembly Bill 2064, which would create a state fund paid by savings from the closures of prisons, yards and units. Money would go toward programs shown to reduce incarceration up-front. For too long we have been told that there is not ample funding for programs with proven success, such as youth diversion to keep youth out of incarceration, early intervention health and behavioral health programs, youth recreational opportunities and community violence reduction programming. My bill would capture these savings for programs that demonstrably help reduce the amount of money demanded by the criminal justice system in future years.

These tough economic conditions will require hard work from legislators and the governor for years to come. I, unfortunately, am in my last year in the assembly, but I want to fight to set us on the proper course to navigate this budget deficit and continue our criminal justice reform progress.

I encourage my colleagues to think bigger and use this opportunity to make bold investments that set us on a path for continued success.

Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer represents the 57th Assembly District, which includes portions of Downtown Los Angeles, Exposition Park and South Los Angeles.
SEOUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming China-Japan-South Korea leaders' meeting "will serve as an opportunity to revive various cooperation projects and revitalize trilateral cooperation," the head of a Seoul-based trilateral group has said.

"The three countries need to share a clear perception that win-win-win through cooperation, not confrontation and conflict, is the only way forward for national interests and the happiness of their peoples," said Lee Hee-sup, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), in a recent interview with Xinhua.

The ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting of China, Japan, and South Korea will be held in Seoul from Sunday to Monday.

Trilateral cooperation, which has been stalled due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, is more necessary than ever amidst global protectionist trends, armed conflicts, supply chain restructuring, climate change, and fluctuating situations in Northeast Asia, Lee said.

As important neighbors, South Korea, China, and Japan share many cultural similarities and play a pivotal role in the Asia-Pacific economy as well as the global economy, he noted.

Despite ups and downs in bilateral relations over the past decades, trilateral cooperation has made remarkable progress in areas such as economy, trade, society, culture, politics, security and sports, he said.

Over the past 25 years since the launch of China-Japan-South Korea cooperation, a cooperative framework centered around the summit meeting and supported by ministerial meetings, senior officials' meetings, and over 70 working-level mechanisms has gradually been established.

To overcome economic challenges such as the spread of trade protectionism, South Korea, China, and Japan should compete in good faith and cooperate in as many fields as possible, Lee said.

"The three countries, which have achieved economic growth through free trade and globalization, need to cooperate closely for the protection of free trade and the multilateral trade systems in a world where the free trade order is being threatened," he added.

The three countries should also continue to leverage the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership through consultations and cooperation, he said.

As part of efforts to foster closer ties among the peoples, the TCS, launched in 2011 to promote peace and common prosperity among the three nations, plans to expand youth exchanges through projects such as the youth summit, the youth ambassador program, and the youth speech contest this year. 
Clovis Unified revealed the mascot and colors this week for its new high school as the Longhorns and the colors as navy, orange, gray, and white.

The mascot and colors are now shared by the Clovis South High and Phillip V. Sanchez Intermediate schools that are part of the new Terry P. Bradley Educational Center and set to open in 2025. Other Clovis school groups arranged as educational centers follow the same routine.

The board of trustees voted unanimously to approve the mascot and colors.

The decision was based on community input, said educational center Principal Sonia Torossian, who has been engaged in the process for nearly a year and a half, she said.

Top mascot ideas gathered from the community were bulls, knights, lions, panthers, sentinels, and sharks, among others. We were quickly able to eliminate the lions, the panthers and the tigers because they already existed for Clovis Unified, said Torossian at a school board presentation.

The Longhorns stood out for its uniqueness, she said. There are no other in-state schools using Longhorns as mascots. There is a history of longhorn cattle in California in earlier centuries, but mostly they are gone now and more commonly associated with Texas.

Torossian met with students and families from the Clovis South area and conducted two community meetings last month. Web-based surveys also were sent to future school staff and families in the area to gather feedback.

The mascot was chosen based on a number of considerations, including reflecting on the Central Valleys agricultural roots, said Torossian in a presentation at the May 22 school board meeting.

When deciding the school colors, Torossian said the team wanted to make sure the colors were recognizable to represent Clovis Souths identity and different from other schools in the district. They shouldnt be too dark or too light and practical enough to be printed on various school accessories.

We wanted the colors to evoke pride in our community and our students and of course, our staff, she said. So weve considered digital art versus print art. We wanted to also ask ourselves, Do you think people are going to wear our colors? and to avoid overly complex color schemes

A scheme of the mascot and the colors was shared at a school board meeting, but it was not finalized, said Torossian.

This is just a mock-up or a rendering; thats not even close to where we will probably land, just to give a vision to start of this process, she said. Ultimately we will work with our communications department ... and have that available for you to view in the near future.

The team will proceed to finalize the project, including generating an artwork sample and finalizing the exact color palette.
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins called out former President Trump during the opening of her Friday show for a claim that Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over his hush-money trial, is blocking him from bringing in an election expert to testify.

In one post, tonight, hes ranting that the judge blocked him from having an election expert testify, Collins said during Fridays edition of her show The Source with Kaitlan Collins.

But thats not true, she said. We were there! We witnessed this discussion that happened inside the courtroom. Trumps attorneys, in the end, chose not to call that election expert, because the judge refused to broaden the scope of what he could testify to. He was worried it would become, as the judge put it, a battle of the experts.

The presumptive GOP nominee has been continuously putting out posts on Truth Social going after Merchan, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and others as the defense rested its case on Tuesday in the hush-money trial where Trump faces 34 felony counts. The closing arguments in the criminal case will be delivered following Memorial Day Weekend, after which the jury will start deliberating.

He is denying me the opportunity to put on a Highly Respected Election Law Expert who will say, once again, that THERE WAS NO CRIME, Trump said in a Friday post on Truth Social. This Judge, whose conflicts are completely disqualifying, isnt even requiring a unanimous decision by the jury on key portions of this Criminal Hoax, which is UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNAMERICAN.

During her Friday remarks, Collins said that history might be made by the end of next week considering that the 12-person jury, selected in mid-April, will decide if the former president is guilty.

Were really finding ourselves on the cusp of history tonight, because by this time, next week, we may finally know whether or not Donald Trump will be a convicted felon, or whether a jury of his peers, here in Manhattan, will find him not guilty.

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United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced the indictment of Eric Evan Brown (57) of White Springs, Columbia County, on multiple charges including interstate transmission of a threat to injure, threatening a United States Secret Service Protectee, two counts of forcibly assaulting a federal officer without the use of a deadly weapon, and two counts of threatening a federal official.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

If convicted, Brown faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count of threatening a federal official, up to 8 years for each count of forcibly assaulting a federal officer, and up to 5 years for both the transmission of a threat and the threat against a U.S. Secret Service protected.

Brown appeared in federal court on May 20 and was ordered detained.

According to court documents, on April 7, Brown posted a threatening message on X/Twitter, indicating an intent to kill the spouse of a former president of the United States. On May 9, during a follow-up investigation regarding this threat, Brown threatened to assault and murder two U.S. Secret Service agents who were present.

An indictment is a formal charge that a defendant has violated federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Services Jacksonville Field Office, with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriffs Office. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein will prosecute the case.

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In his new book, Mark Gilbert doesnt deal solely with Italys post-1945 transition to democracy, and rehabilitation among the comity of civilised nations. He also offers, at the outset of Italy Reborn, a superb, concise and objective history of the country from unification in 1860 to the Second World War, describing well the delusions about the recreation of imperial Rome  after a mere 15 centuries  that led to the installation of Fascism. For anyone wishing to know why Italy is as it is today, this book is an essential primer. It ends in 1954, by which time Italy has entered Nato and the nascent European Union, and is using Marshall Plan aid to begin its reconstruction.

Italy took a terrible pummelling in the Second World War, not merely its buildings and infrastructure, but also its people. One of Gilberts many achievements in this warts-and-all history of a painful era is to acquaint his readers with the detail of the atrocities committed by the Italian people against each other after the removal from power of Mussolini in July 1943, and during his leadership of the Nazi-backed puppet regime in the Republic of Salo to the north. That latter experiment ended with him, his mistress and a few of their cronies being shot in April 1945, and the defiled corpses being strung up by the feet on the gantry of a Milanese petrol station. To say that scores were settled between Left and Right understates what happened: but Gilbert explains how Italian society was so divided after the war that even peace was illusory, until a communist faction devoted to Stalin was finally disregarded by the Italian people, using a democracy the hard Left despised.

The hero of this book is a man whose name is too often lost to modern European history, Alcide De Gasperi, who led eight successive coalition governments from December 1945 to August 1953. He had been born in the Austro-Hungarian empire, in the Italian-speaking Tyrol, and in the early 1920s had been secretary of a leading anti-Fascist party. He was, inevitably, arrested under the Mussolini dictatorship and sent to prison, but on his release in 1929 was given a job cataloguing books in the Vatican library. He effectively sheltered there until 1943, when he was able to emerge and establish his leadership of the Christian Democrats, who would lead the transformation of their country. The Italy we have today, and its values, are largely down to him.

The communists set out, by contrast, to impose a very different stamp on post-war Italy. Gilberts book raises yet again the question that awaits perhaps the definitive historical treatment: how far the Bolshevik revolution in Russia in 1917 inspired the rise of Fascism, but also how far the experience of Fascism inspired an almost deranged Left-wing extremism in post-war Europe. Italy had various communist factions after the Second World War that in time merged to form a reasonably coherent, and proto-totalitarian opposition to the Christian Democrats. Its main agents had either suffered appallingly under Mussolini and, later, the Nazis, or they had escaped to Moscow early on and experienced Stalinism at close quarters.

Notable among these was the man who ended up at the forefront of the Communist party in Italy, Palmiro Togliatti, who led them from 1927 until his death in 1964. Driven out of Italy once the Fascists took over, Togliatti became a citizen of the USSR in 1930. He survived Stalins purges, but saw the latter and his works at close hand; Togliattis failure to be shaken in his communist faith by what he saw says much about the sycophancy post-war Italian communists felt towards Stalin.

Alcide De Gasperi delivers a speech in Bologna in 1951 - Hulton

Gilbert is under no illusions about the toxicity of post-war Italian communism. He details the partys absurd hatred of the Americans, whose money allowed Italy to revive and rebuild after the war; he points out that there was always a new international threat looming, or an insidious plot or intrigue, that was used to mobilise the party base and keep them in a mood of indignation and fear. The Communists certainly had good raw materials to work with: poverty was endemic, with slums, overcrowding and poor health widespread.

Yet these things were slowly improved by injections of funds made possible by the hated capitalism, and from the north downwards Italy gradually became better paid, better housed and better fed. When Togliatti hectored his countrymen about how American aid encourages the enslavement and starvation of the Italian people, they knew it was untrue from the evidence of their own eyes  and stomachs. Nonetheless, the toadying to Stalin continued right up to the dictators death in 1953, with senior Italian Communists refusing to acknowledge the repression and murder that his acolytes performed in other European countries such as Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

Eventually, De Gasperi himself over-reached, with a failed attempt at constitutional reform, in what Gilbert describes as the constant Italian search to match the ability to govern with a truly democratic electoral outcome. This excellent book shows that whatever the failures of democracy, the system remains superior to the tried, and bloody, alternatives.

Italy Reborn is published by Penguin at 35. To order your copy at 30, call 0808 196 6794 or visit Telegraph Books

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A Confederate monument at a North Carolina county courthouse is at the center of a lawsuit for what some say explicitly supports slavery.

And the words at the heart of contention are: "In appreciation of our faithful slaves."

That quote has stirred a long battle in Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Several Black residents said in a recent federal lawsuit against the Tyrrell County Board of Commissioners that the words endorse slavery and violate the Equal Protection Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment.

History and art experts told USA TODAY the monument's placement at the county's courthouse sends a troubling message to Black residents.

"This civic monument is appallingly explicit in its pro-slavery message, communicating it not only in text but its proximity to a legal institution  suggesting that the destructive 'Lost Cause' narrative is not merely a myth but a lawful truth," Jessica Baran, art history doctoral candidate at Washington University in St. Louis, wrote in an email.

The "Lost Cause" narrative refers in general to attempts to present the Civil War from the perspective of Confederates and in the best possible terms, according to the Encyclopedia Virginia. Developed by white Southerners, many of them former Confederate generals, the Lost Cause created and romanticized the Old South and the Confederate war effort, often distorting history in the process, according to the encyclopedia.

The nearly 23-foot-tall monument next to the Tyrrell County Courthouse is of a common Confederate soldier with a written tribute to "the Confederate cause." It also contains a bust of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, along with the words "in appreciation of our faithful slaves" on a separate panel, according to the University of North Carolina library.

Confederate Army Lt. Col. William F. Beasley gifted the county the monument in 1902. The courthouse opened in 1903, according to state records.

Concerned Citizens of Tyrrell County, the group suing the county commissioners to remove the monument, said in the lawsuit that the structure is likely the only one in the country at a courthouse that "expresses a racial discriminatory message." The citizens group has rallied and spoken at county commissioner meetings to remove the structure with no luck, at times facing what they claim is racial intimidation by other residents.

"It's really a racially hostile environment for them at this point in the county because they're well known for having spoken out against this statute," said Jaelyn Miller, attorney for Concerned Citizens of Tyrrell County. "It's made some folks fearful to continue doing rallies and demonstrations because of that."

A monument at the Tyrrell County Courthouse in North Carolina has drawn controversy for its inscription reading, 'In appreciation of our faithful slaves.' Lt. Col. William F. Beasley gifted the monument in 1902.

Neither of the five Tyrell County Board of Commissioners responded to USA TODAY's request for comment. According to UNC, county manager and attorney David Clegg and board chair Nathan "Tommy" Everett said state law prevents the statue's removal, but Miller said the 2015 law only applies to structures on state-owned property.

Current Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat who has been governor since 2017, supports removals.

It's the latest Confederate monument eyed for removal among hundreds after racial unrest across the nation. A white man killed nine Black worshippers in 2015 at a Charleston, South Carolina, church; white nationalists rallied in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, leaving one woman dead; and hundreds protested George Floyd's death in 2020, demanding an end to systemic racism.

"It's not so much these monuments have been erased, it's that they are being moved out of these conspicuous public spaces," said W. Fitzhugh Brundage, a history professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

University of Alabama history professor Hilary Green, who couldn't immediately be reached for comment, has tracked Confederate monument removals before and after the racist Charleston church shooting. The map was last updated in October 2023. She told the University of Alabama in 2020 that removals are the beginning of conversations about underlying issues and tensions in communities.

Special case because of location near courthouse

The Confederate monument is a special case, Brundage said, because of its inscription and location. He said white elites dedicated the monuments to each other, honoring their fights for the Confederacy. But the Tyrrell County monument doesn't separate the army from slavery.

Other monuments across the country spoke about states' rights.

"It is unusual to have a Confederate monument of any kind, but certainly not one in front of the courthouse that specifically links the commemoration of the Confederacy with the commemoration of the service of 'faithful slaves,'" Brundage said. "It is an exceptional monument to make the linkage between the Confederacy and slavery as it does."

Fight for the monument's removal has directly affected some Black residents. Miller said Adriana Blakeman and Sherryreed Robinson, who are Black, faced armed supporters and were driven off the side of roads for their activism, which they alleged in the lawsuit. Miller said it was the latest intimidation tactics they faced as they've pursued the statue's removal.

"That's the sort of like double standard that they're having to live through and threats to their physical safety," Miller said.

Brundage said the lawsuit - and any future ones across the country - will be a spectacle with efforts picking up across the country to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. He's curious on how the national conversation will spill into the courts on cases filed under the Fourteenth Amendment.

"I'm wondering whether that backlash will, in any way, impact the ability of activists to appeal to a language of inclusion as grounds for the removal of these monuments," he said. "There just seems to be less, at least in the political discourse, sympathy or less tolerance for the language of inclusion."

Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lawsuit seeks removal of Confederate monument in North Carolina
Water main improvements, roof work on municipal buildings and new fire hydrants in the south suburbs will get money through the Build Up Cook program.

Funding for the projects was recently approved by the Cook County Board, and its being paid for with federal COVID-19 stimulus money.

Communities receiving the money were selected based on their ability to pay for projects by themselves, according to the county.

County officials said while there is federal money available, the barriers to entry are often challenging to communities already managing limited resources, which creates a cycle of further disinvestment.

The Build Up Cook program aims to extend a helping hand to municipalities most in need, according to the county.

The county identified 46 projects in 22 communities, primarily in the south and west suburbs, for funding.

With a $30.5 million total budget from American Rescue Plan Act Funds, the county said construction on projects can begin immediately and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Through the Build Up Cook program, we are ensuring that our communities, particularly those that have been historically underserved, receive the critical improvements they need, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a news release.

The county said the program prioritizes support to 26 under-resourced municipalities as identified using the 2023 Equitable Allocation Model, past county infrastructure investment and geographic data.

The following towns are receiving funding in the south suburbs:

 Blue Island: $500,000 to replace a roof on a city building and $150,000 for a pump replacement.

 Burnham: $1 million for renovations to the community center.

 Calumet City: $300,000 for replacing fire hydrants.

 Calumet Park: $500,000 for replacing the roofs at Village Hall and police station.

 Chicago Heights: $350,000 to replace fire hydrants and $150,000 to replace water main valves.

 Ford Heights: $1 million is being allocated for water main improvements in the area of 13th Street and 13th Place.

 Harvey: $500,000 for renovations of the citys police station and $500,000 for a water main project.

 Lynwood: $500,000 for upgrades to Village Hall and the police station, as well as $250,000 for repairs to a pumping station.

 Markham: $750,000 for water main improvements and replacing fire hydrants.

 Park Forest: $500,000 for upgrades to the exterior of the fire training site.

 Phoenix: About $245,000, including sewer line jetting and work on the ceiling in Village Hall.

 Richton Park: $300,000 for work at Glaeser Park.

 Sauk Village: $500,000 for replacing fire hydrants, $350,000 for sidewalk replacements and $50,000 for booster pump upgrades at the villages main pumping station.

 South Chicago Heights: $120,000 for accessibility improvements at Village Hall, $750,000 for water valve replacements and $220,000 for accessibility improvements at the villages senior center.

mnolan@southtownstar.com
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL)  A Phenix City man is in custody following an overnight shooting at a restaurant and bar that left a Smiths Station man dead, according to police.

Jeffrey Aaron Spurlock, 42 and known to police as Fruit Loop, was arrested shortly after the shooting of Jacob Sanes, 34, outside of Aces Grill & Bar on U.S. Highway 80.

Russell County Coroner Arthur Sumbry, pronounced Sanes at 3:15 Saturday morning. Sanes body will be taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Montgomery for an autopsy.

Phenix City Police say the shooing happened about 1:30 a.m. While police were investigating the shooting, the patrol division noticed Spurlocks vehicle traveling west on U.S. 80. A traffic stop was initiated and Spurlock was taken into custody.

He is facing capital murder charges. Phenix City Police Capt. Skip Lassiter told WRBL that Spurlock had been in previous legal trouble and was known to 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 WRBL.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Regional Transportation District has some problems with getting people to get on board the transit system. A new report from the Common Sense Institute said the agencys ridership has decreased while its budget has increased.

Fellows with CSI, a think tank focused on free enterprise, said RTD should take advantage of budget increases to get more riders on board.

Low ridership on RTD public transit

I think for me, you know, I was really trying to look at if we are getting our return on investment that weve made as a region, Kelly Brough said. The former Denver mayoral candidate is now a fellow with the institute and author of their latest report on RTDs ridership.

When compared to 22 other transit systems around the nation, our recovery has been much slower. So one takeaway is our ridership is nowhere near where we really need it to be, and for us to say this is really returning the value on our investment, Brough said.

Historic Denver home by Cheesman Park was once a speakeasy

The report finds that as of Jan. 31, fares only recovered 4.4% of RTDs operating costs. RTD would have to nearly triple its ridership to recover 30% of its operating costs through rider fares.

RTD said it actually saw a 33% increase in ridership between 2021-22 and a nearly 6% increase between 2022-23. They acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic between those years meant lower ridership than normal.

The report also found RTDs budget has been climbing as its ridership has fallen. Between 2019-22, ridership fell 46% while the operating budget increased 3%.

Brough said RTD should take advantage of the budget increases by making the cost of taking transit lower to attract more riders.

I think we also need to make it way less expensive for people to ride and for employers, maybe, to buy passes. Like really inexpensive so whether you are a nonprofit or a for-profit employer or even government, youre really saying, Im just going to totally buy everybody a pass, Brough said. We had a law that required 30% to come from the fare bucks. You can see we have a long way to go to really increase our ridership. You can charge very little and get a lot more people to buy and probably do much better than were doing today.

Brough noted recent efforts, like RTDs Zero Fare for Better Air and Zero Fare for Better Youth initiatives, as examples of how to boost ridership. She urged the district to expand that concept.

Free fares for our young people in high school and college in this region is probably a really good idea, not as a one-off or something to try, but permanently, where we are changing behaviors. Now theyre getting used to taking the train and the bus, and its not as intimidating. So I think weve got to help our young people really take advantage of the system, Brough said.

Crime on RTD transit around Denver

Another big issue with getting people on public transit in Colorado is crime. The study noted Colorado Bureau of Investigation crime figures rose 53% between 2019-23. Brough said more people riding could discourage the increase in crime too.

We absolutely saw a rise in crimes being committed on our trains. I think it makes sense why people feel unsafe is because there are fewer people riding and more crimes being committed. And so in New York City where everybody rides, and youre often riding with someone you might not feel totally comfortable riding with  when there are 50 other people in that same car, you feel pretty safe still. So that ridership is contributing, probably, to our feelings of not being safe, Brough said.

Legislative efforts around public transit

Colorado lawmakers explored and passed several measures centered around RTD this legislative session. The report notably references Senate Bill 24-230, which poses a fee on oil and gas producers to spur funding for rail improvements. It also details the progression of FasTracks, the overdue public transit rail service from Longmont to Boulder, with the report saying 78 of the 119 miles of the project are completed.

Other measures looking to boost funding for passenger rail in Colorado and transit near housing also passed this year. Brough said the localities will be key in finding creative and innovative ways to get people riding.

I think it really requires that we figure out: How does local government, all those cities that are part of that Regional Transportation District, seamlessly work with RTD so that decisions being made about RTD, its the local community that is really figuring out how do I meet those trains and get you where you need to go at both ends? Because I think we are failing there still, Brough said.

One of the things that really helps is when you develop more densely around those stops and you have numerous housing options  from condos for sale to apartments I could stay in, to single-family homes within a mile of each stop  what you know is it starts to become the easier choice because I am close to the train or the major bus stop. And I think this is where we can help incentivize our local governments and make sure the state has been looking at how to do this, we are building those stops the way we need to, Brough said.

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Brough also mentioned RTD governance. An effort supported by the governor that called for a restructuring of the board failed after getting pushback from community members.

I appreciated the discussions at the Capitol. We dont talk about this in the report, but you know, is the governing model working? Brought said. Is it incentivizing that local relationship, and are there models that would bring that local government closer to RTD?

RTD responds

Although the report shows some critical areas where the district can improve, RTD seems to be welcoming of the report and some of the proposals made by its authors.

RTD told FOX31 in a statement: RTD appreciates the Common Sense Institutes focus on the agencys operational environment, challenges, and opportunities. Many of the reports recommendations closely align with efforts already underway by the agency to create a welcoming transit environment. RTD looks forward to partnering with the Common Sense Institute and other stakeholders and community partners to address challenges highlighted in the report while, at the same time, leveraging opportunities that support RTDs customers, employees, and operational efficiencies.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A few years ago, I found myself struggling with low mood and anxiety. It had come on gradually, triggered by worries over work and relationships. After Id spent about a year trying deep breathing and cold water swimming, I finally cracked and rang the doctor.

Following a brief chat over the phone, I was prescribed sertraline, a common serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) known to lift the mood.

Within a few weeks, these magical pills had  despite my scepticism  worked wonders. The negative thoughts had disappeared, I felt calmer and more like my old self. I was very grateful. There was, however, just one problem: that I couldnt orgasm.

First, I would try for five minutes, then 10, then 20. I mean, I was never the quickest to reach climax but this was getting ridiculous. It must be stress, I told my weary partner who, God love him, was trying his best. I must be worried about work, or moneythe pet tortoise?

Even as I puzzlingly put this down to stress, I was still annoyed. My desire and passion were still there. Its just nothing worked to actually make me orgasm. Try and relax, I would muse. Lie back and think of England (well, Wales).



But the building to a climax just  didnt build.

Until then, in the chaos of the mid-life jam, and my sense that I was failing at everything, orgasming had felt like the one thing I could still actually achieve. And now I couldnt even do that. But, being busy, I didnt really pay it much thought until I skimmed past an article in a newspaper, where a male columnist pointed out that he had stopped taking antidepressants because of sexual dysfunction.

Im sorry what? Sexual dysfunction? Come again?

I dug out my sertraline packet and unfolded the accompanying leaflet. Sure enough  in small print  among a list of 50 plus possible side-effects was an array of sexual issues, with female sexual dysfunction said to affect one in 100.

Of course, I should have gone back to the doctor and explained my problem. But I was actually quite cross with them for not having spoken about the side-effects (by this point, I also had terrible insomnia). Instead, I took matters into my own hands and snapped the tablets in half.

I found that reducing my dose from 50mg a day to 25mg a day still kept the anxiety at bay, but also allowed me the return of pleasure. Im back, I told my partner. And I think he was pleased.

As it transpired, I wasnt alone in my need for SSRIs. Each week, my phone would ping with another message from a female friend grappling with the perimenopause, failing health, ageing parents and children.

My anxiety is so bad I need help, wrote one. The doctor has put me on SSRIs, wrote another. I texted back: The SSRIs are great. Theyll totally sort your brain out but youll never come again. It was a flippant comment in the spirit of public duty. But it seems perhaps also a fortuitous one.

The hidden long-term risks of SSRIs

This week, a group of scientists in America launched legal action against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for failing to warn patients of potential long-term risks of SSRIs. They claim that not only can SSRIs cause sexual dysfunction while on them they can also cause problems way into the future.

The NHS has told The Telegraph that its website pages on antidepressants do highlight sexual dysfunction as a possible side-effect. But they make no mention of long-term effects or PSSD (post-SSRI sexual dysfunction), and a spokesman refused to comment.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)  responsible for the safety of drugs in the UK  said SSRIs do contain warnings over both immediate and long-lasting use. But when I pointed out that sertraline contained no such warning over long-term use there was also no reply. Their European equivalent, the European Medicines Agency, began issuing warnings in 2019.

Campaigners also point out that the guidance from drug companies on the prevalence of side-effects does not tally with other studies.

For instance, sertraline warns that more than one in 10 men will suffer from failure to ejaculate, up to one in 10 will have erectile dysfunction, while one in 100 women will suffer from female sexual dysfunction.

However, a 2010 study of more than 1,000 people in Spain published in the National Library of Medicine found that sexual dysfunction affected roughly 40 per cent of people who took it, rising to 56 per cent on sertraline. It stated: A review concluded that 40 per cent of people taking antidepressants will develop some form of sexual dysfunction.

The frequency of sexual side effects was highest for paroxetine (65 per cent), fluvoxamine (59 per cent), sertraline (56 per cent) and fluoxetine (54 per cent). Doctors too have voiced their concerns to The Telegraph. Dr Veronika Matutyte, who works in Europe, says: Research indicates that up to 60-70 per cent of individuals taking SSRIs experience some form of sexual dysfunction. While studies suggest that men might report these issues more frequently, the impact on women is also profound and often underreported. Many patients report that they were not adequately informed about the possibility of sexual side effects before beginning treatment, leading to frustration and decreased quality of life.

Alarmingly, this is not a new issue. As far back as 2018, the scientists, led by Dr Antonei Csoka, of Howard University, asked the FDA to alert people to the risk of PSSD  a condition they say which can cause genital numbness, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, emotional blunting and other sexual dysfunction for years after going off the medications.

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, Dr Antonei says.

In response to the scientists request, the FDA said it would review the science and consider issuing a warning label. But unlike other regulatory agencies in Europe and Canada, it never did. The lawsuit now seeks to force the FDA to issue a decision on the petition.

Scientists dont know for sure why such changes happen but patients have taken to the PSSD network to share their experiences. One female says her clitoris felt dead. Another male in his 20s says four years of antidepressant use left him with severe erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. He adds: I have seen a urologist that specialises in sexual health. He conducted an ultrasound on my privates and told me that I have fibrosis in it, and he said its very common to see that in men who are on antidepressants for a while.

The rise in SSRI prescriptions

Alarmingly, some scientists are also linking their increasing use to declining fertility rates  with sperm counts having fallen 50 per cent across the globe in the last 50 years. 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.

Despite this, antidepressants are hugely popular tools to help with depression and anxiety with the global antidepressant industry now worth more than $17 billion. Popular antidepressants being citalopram (Cipramil), fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Lustral). Women are twice as likely to be prescribed antidepressants as men, and young people are also seeing increased use.

Dr Ben Davis, an expert on sexual medicine, adds that antidepressants are often prescribed too quickly. There are people for whom they are on life-saving medication, he told BBC News. But the other side is a 10-minute consultation with someone youve 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.

Campaigning for better labels on SSRIs

Various scientists, including myself, have published studies showing that an SSRI can change epigenetics and human cells, Dr Csoka recently told The Guardian. If thats happening, then those cells or tissues may not immediately revert back to how they were once treatment stops. Its as though an imprint has been left there. However, its still not known precisely what these changes are.

David Healy, of the patient pressure group RxISK, has campaigned for decades to get SSRIs better labelled. His 2019 research paper into the issue heard from countless people who had been affected.

Many said they had met with disbelief or stronger from healthcare professionals when seeking support for sexual dysfunction. They reported being told that such a complication from antidepressants was impossible, that the drugs were harm free or that the issue was all in the head. One said: I feel that repeatedly not being believed has signicantly increased the distress that living with PSSD has had on me, and has almost been as distressing as living with the condition itself.

Huge numbers are potentially affected by these side-effects, says Healey. We dont know how many of them will ever get their normal sexual function back.

As for me, thankfully, there was no lasting damage. Nor too for my female friends, one of whom also suffered from an inability to orgasm while on sertraline. Both of us feel that the SSRIs were extremely helpful at very difficult times. But would I want to go on them again knowing what I now know? I dont think so.

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Baroness Hallet, the chairman of the inquiry was also criticised for 'ignoring the reality' of the lockdown mental health crisis in April - WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

The Covid Inquiry has been accused of ignoring one of the biggest studies on the harms of lockdowns.

Baroness Heather Hallett, the chairman of the inquiry, has been accused of stonewalling and censorship after refusing to admit the study to official evidence.

It is the latest row over the direction of the inquiry.

Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland minister of state, wrote to the chair earlier this year, in his capacity as an MP rather than a minister, asking her to consider taking the study Did Lockdowns Work? as evidence.

The study, published in June last year, found lockdowns reduced mortality by just 3.2 per cent compared to places like Sweden.

The study also found they prevented just 1,700 deaths in England and Wales.

Despite announcing an investigation into the impact of the pandemic on the economy this week, the inquiry has refused to officially adduce the study into evidence.

Baroness Hallett has been accused of 'censoring' certain studies as evidence in what was intended to be a comprehensive inquiry - IAN NICHOLSON/AFP

Herby, Jonung, and Hanke, the authors, concluded that voluntary changes in behaviour, such as social distancing, played a significant role in mitigating the pandemic.

They found that harsher restrictions, like stay-at-home rules and school closures, generated high costs but produced only negligible health benefits.

In his letter, Mr Baker said that he was writing to the Inquiry after suggestions by scientists or the Institute and Economic Affairs to include the study was apparently not met.

I would like to echo their words and support the inclusion of their research by the inquiry.

Their research piece titled Did Lockdowns Work?: The verdict on Covid restrictions is an important systematic review and meta-analysis of numerous lockdown studies to establish the effectiveness of lockdown restrictions, he wrote.

Ben Connah, the inquiry secretary, said: The verdict on Covid restrictions and all relevant research in the public domain is automatically in scope for the inquiry and legal counsel may consider selected research findings which directly inform their lines of enquiry.

They are assisted in this process by the Inquiry Secretariat who identify relevant research and review the reliability of the scientific evidence.

If evidence is adduced, it must be put before the chair for her to assess and it now means it will only be considered if she or lawyers choose to do so or it is submitted by a core participant.

The bottom line is clear

Prof Steve H Hanke, the founder and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for applied economics, global health, and the study of business enterprise, was one of the reports authors.

The inquiry indicated that it already had testimony during Module 2 that covered the topics addressed in our book, he said.

There was just one little problem: no members of the inquiry or their staff gave any indication that they had ever read our book.

The inquiry told Mr Baker that evidence had been provided by a report from Prof Thomas Hale, which addresses many of the issues raised in Did Lockdowns Work?.

However, Prof Hanke said that this analysis was seriously flawed and focused on studies that do not answer the question about the effectiveness of lockdowns whereas his work was the largest peer-reviewed study on the issue.

All this is rather remarkable. It means that Lady Hallett will not have to read the results of our meta-analysis, since it was never allowed to be put into evidence in what is intended to be a comprehensive inquiry. We are only left with the vague hope that our work might be read by Lady Hallett since it exists in the public domain.

The bottom line is clear: the inquiry has engaged in bureaucratic stonewalling if not outright censorship.

Zero interest

Prof Karol Sikora, a leading oncologist and prominent critic of lockdowns, claimed the inquiry had zero interest in exploring the harms of lockdowns and feared it had reached predetermined conclusions.

The Covid Inquiry has shown zero interest in properly examining the harms of lockdown, with a pre-determined conclusion already seemingly set in stone. Hard facts outlining the cost of restrictions are ignored, with scientists more critical of lockdowns treated like criminals.

The study in question, Did Lockdowns Work?, presents fair and valid evidence that the inquiry should consider. If they dont, its reputation will even be further tarnished with the growing percentage of the people who believe that no, lockdowns did not work.

It is understood that the inquiry disputes the suggestion that witnesses are stonewalled or opinions or perspectives censored and cites the reams of evidence it has published.

A spokesperson for the inquiry said: The chair of the inquiry, Baroness Hallett, has heard hundreds of hours of testimony from witnesses and experts. Some of this questions the use of lockdowns and other interventions, and some seek to justify their imposition.

The inquiry makes no assumptions. No conclusions have yet been drawn nor any reports published. As we progress through our investigations, lockdowns and other interventions will be examined in more detail - such as the impact on care homes, on children and young people, and on the economy.

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First responders are asking people to avoid part of a residential road in Robinson Township because of a crash involving a utility pole.

The Moon Run Volunteer Fire Company says Glas Road is closed between McMichael Road and Siesta Court after a car crashed into a utility pole. A photo shared by the fire company shows a car with front end damage by a utility pole leaning over the roadway, suspended from the ground by other wires.

Allegheny County dispatch officials tell Channel 11 the crash happened just before 8 a.m. No one was hurt.

First responders expect the road to be closed for some time and ask that drivers take alternative routes.

According to the Duquesne Light Company outage map, as of around 9:20 a.m., around 40 people in the area are without power.

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Richard Linklaters newest film, Hit Man, hits theaters this month. But the director of Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, and Bad News Bears recently shot some footage that will never see the light of day. Last summer, Linklater spent hours recording his friend Bernie Tiede in a sweltering Texas prison.

Portrayed by Jack Black in Linklaters 2011 film Bernie, Tiede, now 65 and wrestling with medical issues, is serving a 99-year sentence in the un-air-conditioned Estelle Unit in Huntsville.

Linklaters footage shows a white-haired man, the left side of his mouth paralyzed, as he describes sweaty, sleepless nights: Theres no escape. It doesnt ever cool down, says Tiede, who was hospitalized last summer due to heat exhaustion. This is inhumane. Youd be arrested if you treated a dog like this.

A thermometer reads near 115 degrees inside a mock prison cell set up outside the Texas State Capitol, July 18, 2023. The cell was intended to raise awareness about conditions in prisons without air conditioning. (Credit: Sara Diggins/American-Statesman)

Speaking of animals, Tiede asks Linklater about his pet pig, Dude. Linklater confesses that he splurged on a $129 air conditioner for his porcine friend. Dude the pig is living better than you are.

Last year was the second hottest summer on record in the Lone Star State. Huntsville, home to seven Texas prisons, hit 111 degrees, its hottest day on record.

And its often hotter inside. Tiede tells of 120-degree days and triple-digit nights. His report is corroborated by a Texas A&M University study that showed Texas prisons regularly hit 110 degrees, while at least one hit 149 degrees.

Most Texans endure brutal summers with swimming pools, frozen margaritas, and air conditioning. Nearly 100% of Texans have air conditioning at home or work. Even Texas jails (county facilities where people are held pretrial) and federal prisons are required to be air conditioned.

Yet two-thirds of the 121,000 people living in Texas prisons have no air conditioning. The blistering heat also affects nearly 28,000 prison staff.

In 2011, Texass hottest summer on record, 10 people in the states prisons died from heat stroke. The number of heat-related deaths since is controversial.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice reports zero heat-related deaths since 2012. But researchers estimate that 14 people living in Texas prisons die each year from heat-related illness. Advocates believe the true number is even higher. And the number of persons suffering heat-related illness is unknown.

Fixing this problem is simple.

Texas banked a $32.7 billion budget surplus ahead of last legislative session. During session, the Texas House of Representatives budgeted $545 millionabout 1/60th of that surplusto air condition Texas prisons. (Aside from ongoing electrical and maintenance costs, installing air conditioning is largely a one-time investment.) The House also passed a bill that would require Texas prisons to maintain temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees. But bill and budget both died in the Senate.

Tiede and others have now sued the State of Texas. The lawsuit asks a federal judge to declare Texas failure to air condition its prisons unconstitutional and to require all prison facilities to be kept under 85 degrees.

Meanwhile, another scorching summer is approaching.

The cruelty of heat-related death and illness inside Texas prisons is preventable. We have a solution. We even have money to pay for it. We just need political will. Governor Greg Abbott and Texas leadership should strive for both decency and constitutional compliance and make prison air conditioning a priority.

Eckhardt, D-Austin, is a Texas State Senator. Burkhart is executive director of the Texas Fair Defense Project.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Cruelty of heat-related deaths in inside Texas prisons is preventable
Czechias Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said that the Russian strike on the Epicentr hypermarket in Kharkiv on 25 May proves that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace.

Source: Jan Lipavsky on X, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Lipavsky promised to advocate for more support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian Federation during the upcoming NATO ministers summit in Prague, Czechia.

Quote from Lipavsky: "Friday  The Kremlin Tzar allegedly signals he wants peace.

Saturday  Bombs a hypermarket full of civilians.

Dont buy into the Kremlin fairytales. At the NATO Ministerial Meeting in Prague, I will be asking my colleagues to step up the support to contain Russian imperialism."

Friday - The Kremlin Tzar allegedly signals he wants peace.



Saturday - Bombs a hypermarket full of civilians.



Dont buy into the Kremlin fairytales. At the NATO Ministerial Meeting in Prague, I will be asking my colleagues to step up the support to contain Russian imperialism.  Jan Lipavsky (@JanLipavsky) May 25, 2024

Background:

Russian forces struck an Epicentr home improvement hypermarket in Kharkiv on the afternoon of Saturday, 25 May, killing two. Earlier, officials reported 24 casualties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that up to 200 people might have been at the store at the time of the attack.

Western media are continuing to report that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has signalled interest in negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine, even though the Kremlins rhetoric and Russias military activity suggest that Putin is not interested in meaningful negotiations and any settlement that would stand in his way of destroying the independent Ukrainian state.

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On 6 June 1944 the overwhelming majority of men who crossed the Channel carried a gun. An infinitesimal handful had a camera, which they also had to keep dry. It is thanks to these very few that we have the truest picture of what happened on that day.

The footage seen in D-Day: Secrets of the Frontline Heroes (Channel 4) contains immense, animating power. The jerky images move, jar and shock, above all they strip limescale off a day whose realities have been mythologised, sometimes politicised and, in the process, occluded.

Take Sgt Richard Taylor, who was wounded in the left arm landing on Omaha but stumbled to a sheltering cliff and trained his camera back at other men emerging from the waves. Two took direct hits that would prove fatal. Managed to get some fairly good photos before returning from France, he wrote from hospital.

Meanwhile, as bullets flew on Utah, the reporter Jack Lieb had to commute to and from the landing craft to lug ashore his heavy equipment. He sent back colour film of the first German POWs, among the many propagandistic images rushed to the USSR to show Joseph Stalin that the Allies were now pulling their weight.

American soldiers Private Leonard Dodson and Private James Girardi meet the locals of Normandy - RMC Production

The war also attracted Hollywood directors eager to serve and, perhaps, smell real cordite. Although it wasnt mentioned here, John Ford had just won an Oscar for How Green Was My Valley, while George Stevens had directed Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in Woman of the Year. Now they were on battleships off Normandy training cameras at death. Ford  part Nelson, part Spielberg  commanded teams of cameramen. Stevens captured the first footage of a liberated French fishing village.

Ford was awarded a Purple Heart. The cameramen who got closer to the action have been all but forgotten, but are well celebrated here by their descendants and by military historians, but mostly in the exhumed reels they unflinchingly shot that day.

The most immersive footage of all was caught by three automatic cameras mounted on landing craft, each loaded with a minutes worth of film. They started rolling as the doors lowered and troops queued up to live or die. This was the birth of what by Vietnam 20 years later would become a television war. And now war can never be unseen.

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The deadline to spend ARPA funding is coming. What is Saline County doing to prepare?

With a deadline to spend everything coming at the end of this year, more than $7.5 million or 75% of Saline County's American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA funds are "out the door."

That's what county administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said about the county's allotment of federal government funding designed to help the nation recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Things are going great, money is getting spent," Smith-Hanes said.

According to Smith-Hanes, Saline County received just more than $10.5 million and had 11 different categories where funding could be used, something that allowed the county to spread funding to several sectors of society.

"We have really made an effort to try and get the funding out as broadly as we could, within the constraints of the law," Smith-Hanes said. "(It's allowed us) to do things we wouldn't have done otherwise."

South View Estates in Salina that is one of several housing developments in a community that needs more housing. ARPA funding from Saline County in the amount of $1 million was used to help build water and wastewater infrastructure for this development.

Where in Saline County has ARPA funding gone?

Of the things that have been funded, several aren't necessarily visible just by looking around the county with your naked eye, but that doesn't mean they haven't been important to bringing the community forward.

One such project is the $1 million that was allocated for water and wastewater infrastructure at the South View Estates housing development.

"Maybe you can't see the water and sewer lines (under the ground), but you can see houses," Smith-Hanes said. "Those wouldn't have occurred without (this funding)."

Other expenses have come by helping the business and nonprofit industry recover, which Smith-Hanes said has taken on many forms, including $400,000 to the Salina Airport Authority to bring another nonstop passenger service for Salina Regional Airport to and from a major hub, rather than make a stop in Hays.

Additionally, this flight is scheduled at what is considered a better time so that travelers have more access to connecting flights.

"People (can fly) to Denver and getting a connection to an airport they wouldn't have been able to connect to," Smith-Hanes said.

M.J. Kennedy Air Terminal at the Salina Regional Airport. ARPA funding from Saline County helped to bring nonstop passenger air service to and from Denver.

On the economic and workforce development side of ARPA funding, Smith-Hanes said the county was used to help with meeting the need for child care in the community with the goal of putting $400,000 into the community, working with the Salina Area United Way on a cost-share program of for child care expenses including increased wages of workers.

"They're ... out there raising (their own) funds," Smith-Hanes said. "When they raise funds, they submit them to us and we match them."

One thing that Saline County has made a point about is being transparent with the public on how it has spent ARPA funds, including a detailed list of expenditures posted on the county's website every few months.

What is still happening with Saline County ARPA money?

In addition to the funding that has already been spent and programs that are already underway from that spending, Smith-Hanes said there are still a few things left for Saline County to do with its ARPA funding.

One of those has been going on for a while, and will reach a milestone in the next week or so, looking at, surveying and expanding broadband internet access throughout the county. Smith-Hanes said part of this process has been using funds as a local match for Nex-Tech, as the company expands its fiber network.

"The other big thing with broadband (though) is the (countywide) study," Smith-Hanes said.

More: Here's what you'll see at the reopened Salina Art Center  and it starts with a big sign

He said after working through all the processes, that study which will survey the community on if and how they get internet access as well as the quality of it. That survey went live Friday online.

"We really want people to respond," Smith-Hanes said. "This is important whether you live out in the rural area and you hate your internet or ... you live smackdab in the middle of Salina and are tired of people tearing up your front lawn as they lay new lines."

Smith-Hanes said the biggest piece of this is for the county to understand and identify the parts of the community where there's a problem.

"Whether that problem is lack of access or lack of affordability, we want to know," Smith-Hanes said. "The more we know, the more we can go to the state of Kansas and say, 'Here's the funding you need to give us.'"

There are three versions of the survey online, one for residential internet users, one for business users and also one offered in Spanish.

Smith-Hanes and county public information officer Melissa McCoy said to look for ways other to take part in this study, including in-person in places where internet is accessed by the public, like coffee shops or libraries.

More: Here's how Abilene's Eisenhower Library will commemorate 80th anniversary of D-Day

ARPA funding to have lasting impact on Saline County

While many of the original funding from ARPA was used to help in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, there are ways, like funding childcare, working to improve the physical and mental health of the community and others happening with this funding that Smith-Hanes said will make the county better for years to come.

"A lot of the generational impact is the infrastructure kinds of things," Smith-Hanes said. "Having new water lines in Rural Water District (No.) 6...having a broadband study that draws additional funding into the community, having an expanded fire station in Brookville, those are the kinds of things that will be the lasting impact of ARPA."

For more information about how Saline County is using its segment of ARPA funds, including a list of local programs, visit the webpage on the funding on the county's website, www.salinecountyks.gov/ARPA.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Deadline to spend ARPA funding is coming. What is Saline County doing?
Accurate weather forecasts are critical to industries like agriculture, and they're also important to help prevent and mitigate harm from inclement weather events or natural disasters. But getting forecasts right is extremely difficult. That's why the founders of WeatherXM have been looking to make weather forecasts more accurate for the past 12 years.

In 2012, Manolis Nikiforakis, Stratos Theodorou and Nicolas Tsiligaridis launched an app that allowed community members to provide grassroots weather updates. They then worked as consultants to enterprise customers, like the Athens airport, in weather-sensitive industries. Now they are building WeatherXM, a network of community-monitored weather stations that are collecting and sharing local weather data through systems built on the blockchain.

Nikiforakis, WeatherXM's CEO, told TechCrunch that the startup has already deployed 5,000 of its own weather stations in over 80 countries. These stations collect local ground weather information and are monitored by volunteers who are compensated with WeatherXM's own crypto token, $WXM. All of the data collected is accessible to anyone to use personally for free with paid offerings for enterprises that want to use it commercially.

"We are strong advocates of open source," Nikiforakis said. "We believe [WeatherXM's mission] is not purposeful without collaboration with multiple different sides of people and expertise. We are making all this data openly available to anyone. You can see in real time what every weather station is reporting."

The startup just raised a $7.7 million Series A round led by Faction, an early-stage blockchain-focused fund that is affiliated with Lightspeed, with participation from VCs, including Borderless Capital, Alumni Ventures and Red Beard Ventures, in addition to more VCs and other types of investors. The startup will use the capital to expand its team and set itself up to start monetizing its commercial users.

Tim Khoury, a partner at Faction, said he was drawn to invest in the company because it offered an attractive use case for a community-driven blockchain project that had both the supply of people willing to join the community and the demand for what the company was producing. The potential TAM for more accurate weather data didn't hurt, either.

"The falling of a lot of DePIN networks is the demand side," Khoury said. "If there isn't demand for what is actually being generated, or produced, in this case, you can't sustain the network over time."

As someone with a basement that has flooded on multiple occasions during storms that weren't accurately predicted, this deal immediately piqued my interest. But the blockchain and crypto token aspect of WeatherXM's strategy confused me initially.

Nikiforakis told me that the crypto incentive structure is the only way this local weather network could work. Paying each person who oversees a weather station would make the idea too costly and complicated to scale to the size the network needs to reach to be effective. He said via their first app, they discovered that people were willing to provide weather data for free, so WeatherXM's structure is meant to incentivize users just a bit more.

"[Using crypto] also helps coordinate that [weather stations] are deployed in the areas where we care about the most, developing nations and rural nations," Nikiforakis said. "The crypto rewards work as a coordination tool. In many ways this is a community project; therefore that crypto is acting as a governance tool. People can vote using this token on decisions that influence how the project works."

While I'll admit I'm not bullish when it comes to blockchain or crypto, utilizing that structure here does make a lot of sense. It's also complementary to the startup's focus on making the data open source, which requires blockchain technology to actually be effective.

I was moderating a panel earlier this week that was focused on how communities can prepare for climate emergencies and disasters, and one thing that came up on multiple occasions was that data like this needed to be open source so that public and private entities could more easily work together to both plan for climate disasters and better respond to them.

WeatherXM making all the data open source, especially from its stations in underserved or rural areas, could be advantageous to communities that are fighting the growing threat and damage of climate events without needing a large budget or resources.

The mission here is easy to get behind, but we'll see whether bringing weather to the blockchain gets enough demand to really make a difference.

"We need to create an ecosystem around our technology and ideas for the industry to move forward, for meteorology to improve in general," Nikiforakis said. "We don't like the old way where things are happening in silos and not giving access to anyone who has the credentials or payment. We are going against the stream. We are opening the data to everyone."
Maximilian Krah, whose 'latest follies' were the subject of weekly updates in the AfD group at the European parliament, according to sources - Jean-Francois Badias/AFP Photo

It was supposed to be a routine interview, drumming up publicity for the AfDs star candidate in the European elections.

But when an impish correspondent from La Repubblica asked Maximilian Krah, a senior MEP for the German Right-wing populist party, about his views on Nazi war crimes, all hell broke loose.

Nazi SS members were not all criminals, Mr Krah told the Italian newspaper, adding that wearing the wrong uniform did not automatically make someone a villain.

As Mr Krahs remarks triggered an inevitable firestorm in the German press and on social media, his AfD colleagues watched the chaos unfold in a state of utter disbelief.

It was three weeks before an election and he decided to start a discussion about SS war crimes, one source despairingly told The Telegraph. It was political suicide.

To make matters worse, this was not the first, or even the second, but the third major AfD scandal involving Mr Krah to have erupted in the past month.

Aide suspected of spying for Beijing

The MEP was already under a police investigation for receiving suspicious Chinese and Russian payments, while his parliamentary aide has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing.

By the end of the week, Mr Krah had been forced to resign from the AfDs executive board and step away from EU election campaigning, with the whole episode fuelling speculation that Germanys most scandal-hit party could be on the brink of a meltdown.

In a week of chaos for the AfD, Marine Le Pens National Assembly announced on Wednesday that it was cutting ties with the party over the SS comments  a red line, as one party chief put it.

The AfD had been declared too extreme by a French far-Right party that used to be one of the most notorious movements in post-war Europe.

The party went on to be expelled the following day from Identity and Democracy, a Right-wing alliance of parties in the European parliament.

Back in Berlin, the AfDs executive board called a crisis meeting in which they tried to gain some control over the scandal, and decide what was to be done with Mr Krah.

MEP addicted to headlines

The Telegraph understands that AfD staff in Brussels had repeatedly complained to the board about Mr Krah, whom they characterised as a narcissist who was addicted to chasing headlines at the expense of his own party. Mr Krah did not respond when approached for comment by The Telegraph.

The board of the AfD were warned time and again so this did not come as a surprise, a source said. Marine Le Pen has the clear objective of becoming the next French president. They are not willing to let some minuscule German party screw it up.

Virtually every AfD meeting in Brussels would start with a grim update about the latest follies of Mr Krah, such as his fondness for posting videos on social media in praise of Chinese autocracy, sources said.

In the end, Mr Krah resigned from the AfDs executive board and agreed to step back from campaigning in the EU elections, although he remains its star candidate on paper.

A spokesman for the AfD said Mr Krah had caused massive damage with his remarks, and said that his resignation from the executive board was agreed after a constructive discussion with party chiefs.

With less than a month to go before the EU elections, AfD party chiefs hope that much of the furore over Mr Krah will have been forgotten by the time polls open.

But the episode raises two burning questions for the AfD: Is it at risk of becoming too toxic for German voters? And could a string of recent scandals over Nazis, espionage and suspicious payments from Russia and China even lead to the collapse of the party?

AfD capitalised on anti-migrant sentiment

Founded in 2013 by a band of Ukip-style eurosceptics, Alternative Fur Deutschland [AfD] has always been a thorn in the side of Germanys mainstream leaders.

But in recent years it has undergone a radical transformation, from rural rabble-rousers to a potential party of government. Since June 2023, the AfD has consistently polled at second place nationwide, behind the centre-right CDU.

Under its influential and long-time strategist Bjorn Hocke, a former history teacher, the AfD has capitalised on a wave of anti-immigration sentiment in Germany, which saw major demographic changes when Angela Merkel welcomed a million migrants and refugees as the Syrian civil war raged.

The party has also made gains in the polls by fuming about wokeness, a faltering economy, green energy and the sentiment that Germany in general, as one AfD source put it, just doesnt work any more.

Another major theme when discussing what motivates Germans to vote AfD is that they do not feel the vaunted benefits of Nato, EU membership, open borders or free trade have ever filtered down to their own communities.

The AfD appeals to a lot of people who are dissatisfied with the current policies of the federal government in particular, and who are of the mistaken opinion that the current crises  the consequences of war, energy prices, migration, climate change  can simply be voted out, Prof Ursula Munch, the director of the Political Academy for Education in Tutzing, said.

This group of people, who are also further unsettled by propaganda and disinformation, will not let the AfD scandals stop them from voting for this party.

One scandal after another

But with rising popularity comes increased scrutiny, and in the space of the past six months, some of the partys most senior members have been embroiled in one scandal after another.

The most serious incident for the AfD was perhaps in late January, when an investigative newspaper revealed that some of its members had attended a secretive neo-Nazi conference at a hotel outside Berlin.

There they discussed plans for the forced mass deportation of immigrants in Germany alongside Martin Sellner, an Austrian Right-wing extremist who is banned from Britain (and more recently, Germany) on security grounds.

Thousands of horrified Germans took to the streets in nearly every major city in response, demanding that the party be outlawed as they marched with FCK AFD and Nazis Raus! placards.

Even more scandals would erupt in the months to come as police arrested an aide to Mr Krah in April on charges of spying for China.

Mr Krah himself was then placed under preliminary investigation by German prosecutors, as was his party colleague Petr Bystron, for taking suspicious payments from Russia and China. They both deny the allegations.

In a separate case Mr Hocke, one of the AfDs core leadership figures, was this month fined 13,000 for uttering the phrase Alles fur Deutschland   a slogan of the Nazis SA [stormtrooper] thugs  during a speech in 2021.

Even before the arrest of Jian Guo, Mr Krahs parliamentary aide, German security agencies had been paying particular attention to the AfD.

In May 2021, it emerged that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution [Germanys MI5] had designated the AfD as a suspected extremist group while in April 2023, the AfDs youth wing was formally classified as such.

Supporters say Krah has been targeted

As for this weeks scandal, Mr Krah still has supporters in the AfDs head office and elsewhere in Germany, who feel he has been unfairly treated by the German government, and in particular the security services.

They point to well-sourced German media reports which reveal that Mr Guo, the aide suspected of spying for China, has previously worked as an informant for the German security services.

They also stress that Mr Krah had no idea that Mr Guo was an alleged spy, and have criticised the German security services for never alerting him to this.

If you consider all these facts, which are reported not only by Right-wing conspiracy nerds, but by German mainstream media outlets, you can only come to the conclusion that Krah is a victim of an intrigue, one party source said.

Another source was less sympathetic, stating that while La Repubblica may have laid a trap for Mr Krah by asking him about Nazis, it was his fault for walking straight into it because of his own vanity.

With the elections just weeks away, it is unclear how much the AfDs performance will be dented by the turmoil over Mr Krahs Nazi jibes and the wider espionage intrigue.

One clue that the party could be in for a rough ride is a steady decline in the polls since January 2024, when the secret neo-Nazi migration meeting was exposed.

The AfD has fallen since then from 21 per cent of the projected vote to just 16 per cent, according to an analysis of polls by Politico.

New party offers competition

They also face stiff competition from BSW, a new party led by Sahra Wagenknecht which mixes old-school Left-wing economics with a warmer attitude towards Russia, and populist railing against mass migration.

Dr Benjamin Hohne, a political scientist at Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg, said the BSW would introduce uncertainty for the AfDs prospects.

It combines populist elements with demands for social rights and conservative or authoritarian demands in the area of social policy, he said. Not every AfD voter is a Right-wing extremist and could therefore also express their anti-system attitude via Wagenknecht.

In Berlin, AfD sources say they remain confident that the recent controversies will not hit them too hard in the June polls.

The AfD might not get all the votes it could get, but a party never or almost never reaches her optimum, a party source said.

Thats normal. We are sure to gain more votes than in 2019  thats what matters.

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* Leaders of China, Japan and South Korea will meet in Seoul from Sunday to Monday for a trilateral summit, more than four years after it was last held in 2019.

* In an ever-evolving global and regional landscape featuring economic uncertainty and geopolitical volatility, the three-way cooperative network in Northeast Asia, which was stalled due to geopolitical interferences and the pandemic, is more necessary than ever.

* Twenty-five years after its inception, the trilateral meeting has grown from an economy-focused gathering aimed at countering the financial crisis into a full-fledged, multi-tier mechanism that promotes cooperation in a spectrum of areas.

* The three countries have overcome economic, public health and other crises through mutual support, demonstrating the importance of trilateral cooperation as the frontrunner for the benefit of the region and the world.

SEOUL, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of China, Japan and South Korea will meet in Seoul from Sunday to Monday for a trilateral summit, more than four years after it was last held in 2019.

The resumed gathering through the established framework among the three neighbors is significant, as it heralds the trio's willingness to redirect focus on dialogue and cooperation and navigate through ruffled waters of the regional landscape and beyond.

People of the three countries hope that the meeting will boost trilateral cooperation, deliver win-win results and help to promote regional prosperity and stability.

People visit Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, on May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

MORE NECESSARY THAN EVER

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will attend the trilateral summit meeting, the trilateral business summit and other events.

It is prevailingly believed that cooperation and solidarity among countries are desperately needed to address major challenges facing this region and the world, including protectionist trends, armed conflicts, supply chain restructuring and climate change.

In an ever-evolving global and regional landscape featuring economic uncertainty and geopolitical volatility, the three-way cooperative network in Northeast Asia, which was stalled due to geopolitical interferences and the pandemic, is more necessary than ever.

Trilateral relations have been facing fluctuations for a while, but recent high-level interactions indicate that the trio is making an effort to fix them.

Liu Qing, vice president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the resumption of the trilateral talks sends "a strong message" that the three countries are committed to resolving disputes through diplomatic means.

"It is hoped that the leaders of the three countries will discuss critical issues including rebuilding trust, expanding economic and trade cooperation as well as cultural exchanges, and strengthening current cooperation mechanisms," Liu said.

Though it is still early to predict concrete results, the convening of the meeting "will be an accomplishment in its own right," said the Japan Times.

People visit Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, on May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Lee Hee-sup, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), told Xinhua that the upcoming meeting "will serve as an opportunity to revive various cooperation projects and revitalize trilateral cooperation."

"The three countries need to share a clear perception that win-win-win through cooperation, not confrontation and conflict, is the only way forward for national interests and the happiness of their peoples," Lee noted.

WIDE-RANGING COOPERATION

Twenty-five years after its inception, the trilateral meeting has grown from an economy-focused gathering aimed at countering the financial crisis into a full-fledged, multi-tier mechanism that promotes cooperation in a spectrum of areas.

Analysts said that after a hiatus of more than four years, the forthcoming ninth edition of the meeting will focus on re-establishing and enhancing collaborative mechanisms.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China stands ready to work with Japan and South Korea to implement the Trilateral Cooperation Vision for the Next Decade and other important common understandings.

Wang was talking about the document released at the eighth summit in China's Chengdu in December 2019, which mapped out the route for trilateral cooperation. The trio agreed to expand cooperation in environmental protection, climate change, health, aging population, scientific and technological innovation, sports, youth and other fields.

Strengthening people-to-people exchanges is expected to be a palpable focus for this year's summit.

Tourism, for instance, continues to be a main driver in this regard. According to Ctrip, an online travel agency in China, Japan ranked first among foreign countries in attracting Chinese tourists during the Golden Week holiday in May. Panda fever, meanwhile, has made panda-themed tours to China's Sichuan province a popular option for South Koreans.

People visit Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, on May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Noting that the three neighbors share many cultural similarities, Lee said that the TCS, launched in 2011 to promote peace, prosperity and shared culture among the three nations, is ready to foster closer ties among their people.

The institution plans to expand youth exchanges through projects such as the youth summit, the youth ambassador program, and the youth speech contest this year.

Scholars predicted that strengthening supply chain stability, expanding markets, and increasing investment will remain high on this year's agenda to boost economic integration and enhance regional economic resilience.

Hwang Jae-ho, director of the Seoul-based Institute for Global Strategy and Cooperation, said attention is also on whether the three parties will be able to speed up the negotiations over the China-Japan-South Korea free trade agreement and enhance cooperation in supply chains.

Citing the semiconductor sector as an example, Liu said that despite pressures from the United States, China's industrial chain continues to benefit Japanese and South Korean companies.

While competition between the three countries remains a constant, the potential for cooperation is increasingly critical, as each of the three brings unique strengths to the table, Liu said.

PIVOTAL ROLE OF ASIA

The three countries have overcome economic, public health and other crises through mutual support, demonstrating the importance of trilateral cooperation as the frontrunner for the benefit of the region and the world.

As major economies in Asia, the trio accounted for 20 percent of the global population, 23.4 percent of the world's GDP, and 18.7 percent of world trade as of 2022, according to the latest data from the TCS.

Highlighting Asia's burgeoning economic power, Liu said the collaboration within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) not only fosters economic cohesion in Asia, but also enhances the region's role as a vital engine for global growth.

People visit the Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, on May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

"As Asia strengthens its economic ties and continues on this trajectory, its influence on the world stage is expected to expand, cementing the 21st century as the era of Asian ascendancy," he said.

Despite ups and downs in ties among the three countries due to outside interference and their historical factors, Hwang emphasized "the synergy that will be created if the three countries cooperate."

"Asia is re-emerging as a pivot of the world history," he said. "It is necessary to make pan-Asian discussions, in which Asians themselves can create visions and action plans for the future of Asia."

Lee noted the key role the three nations can play in safeguarding globalization and multilateralism.

"The three countries, which have achieved economic growth through free trade and globalization, need to cooperate closely for the protection of free trade and the multilateral trade systems in a world where the free trade order is being threatened," he said.

Liu said that by committing to regular dialogue and collaboration, the trio can address common challenges and leverage their collective strengths for mutual benefit.

"The renewed focus on cooperation sets a hopeful tone for the future, where Asia can become a cornerstone of peace and development in the global arena," Liu said.

(Video reporters: Chen Yi, Lu Rui, Liu Shengji, Jin Haomin, Yang Chang; Video editors: Ma Ruxuan, Mu Xuyao, Zhang Yichi, Liu Xiaorui, Yin Le, Wei Yin, Cao Ying)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) said Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is acting like a street lawyer as he faces backlash after hanging two controversial flags at his homes.

Its up to each individual justice to judge whether theyve violated the code of ethics and to recuse themselves in cases where their impartiality may be in question, Cohen told the hosts of MSNBCs The Weekend. Alito, I dont think, is caliber a person to do that.

Hes acting more like a street lawyer than a silk stocking lawyer. And thats what the Supreme Court is supposed to be silk stocking lawyers, he continued.

Cohen, a member of the Judiciary Committee, introduced a resolution in the House to censure Alito after The New York Times reported there was an upside-down flag flowing outside his house in Virginia shortly after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Another report by the Times found that a white flag with a green pine tree, which has become a symbol of Christian-minded government, flew outside his vacation home in 2023.

Democrats are sounding the alarm for Alitos potential conflict of interest.

Since the high court is reviewing cases, and expected to make decisions soon, on whether former President Trump is immune from prosecution and Jan. 6 related cases, some Democrats are calling on Alito to recuse himself.

Alito has maintained that he had no involvement in flying the first flag, blaming his wife and a misunderstanding, but has not said anything about the second.

Cohen argued that the flag incident shows a shameless demonstration of Alitos political bias.

There must be accountability to protect the integrity and impartiality of the High Court. We must protect the Constitutional rights to fair and impartial proceedings, Cohen said in a statement.

On Friday, several Democratic senators, both sitting on the Senate Judiciary Committee, are seeking to meet with Chief Justice John Roberts over the flag incidents.

Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) demanded to meet with Roberts as soon as possible so they could talk about the courts ethics crisis and so Roberts would ensure that Alito recuses himself.

If that doesnt work, Cohen said at least Democrats could try to pass a censure resolution which, at least puts a scarlet letter on Alito, which I think would have some effect on the courts opinions. Cohen noted that might be difficult since the resolution would have to get past Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio).

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When Marlene Galan-Woods was set up on a blind date with her late husband, former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, she bristled to hear that he was a Republican.

She says she agreed to the date only after learning that Woods supported abortion rights.

Galan-Woods, now running in the Democratic primary in Arizonas 1st Congressional District, didnt hold her party affiliation to the same standard.

She was a registered Republican until 2018, her campaign confirmed, even while the GOP pushed for restrictions on abortions, a major issue this election year.

Facing attacks from her primary rivals, she insists that her principles on Democrats top issues have stayed consistent, and the ascent of former President Donald Trump is what pushed her away from the party.

I have always been pro-choice, pro-democracy, pro-climate. My values have never changed. What changed was the Republican Party, she said in a recent televised debate.

Congressional District 1 candidate Marlene Galan-Woods gives an opening statement while debating fellow Democratic candidates at BitFire Studio in Phoenix on May 15, 2024.

Still, the GOPs positions on many of those topics, well before the rise of Trump, contrast with the values that Galan-Woods espouses in her congressional campaign.

During the time that Galan-Woods was a registered Republican, the party mobilized its voters around repealing the landmark abortion rights case Roe vs. Wade. The party roundly opposed action to mitigate climate change, stoking doubt in the scientific consensus that human activity was causing the planet to warm. And it backed Senate Bill 1070, Arizonas controversial immigration-enforcement law.

In an interview, she declined opportunities to discuss specific policy positions or views that made her align with Republicans in the past. Instead, she said that her family background pushed her toward the Republican Party, that politics was often not top-of-mind for her as a busy mom, and she cast her vote based on individual candidates rather than party affiliation.

"My thought process was less about party and more about country, she said.

What first drew Galan-Woods to the GOP?

Galan-Woods traces her political coming-of-age back to her family history. Her parents were refugees who fled communism in Cuba and had a strong sense of American patriotism.

"They were Republicans because of where they came from, she said. "At the time, in the 60s and 70s  the Republican Party was vocal on being anti-Communism."

Galan-Woods said she disagreed with many of the partys policy positions at the time. She said S.B. 1070 was terrifying to her as a Latina woman and mother worried about racial profiling, and she diverged from the party on abortion rights.

"There was a time where there was room for a pro-choice Republican. Those days are gone, she said.

Still, in 2009 she made a $140 donation to former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who went on to sign S.B. 1070 into law, according to the campaign finance website OpenSecrets. Her husband was Brewers campaign co-chair during her successful 2010 campaign. She wrote several social media posts in support of the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, though she says in hindsight she wished she had voted for former President Barack Obama.

Democratic Congressional District 1 candidates Andrei Cherny and Marlene Galan-Woods shake hands before debating at BitFire Studio in Phoenix on May 15, 2024.

After the rise of Trump, she began to feel the party resembled the type of politics her ancestors fled.

The Republican Party has been driven off a cliff by Donald Trump and people like (incumbent U.S. Rep.) David Schweikert. It is unrecognizable from the party that my parents aligned with in the '60s."

Former nonprofit executive Kurt Kroemer, another candidate in the primary, argued on the debate stage that Galan-Woods was overselling just how much the GOP has changed.

The Republican Party has never been for comprehensive immigration reform. The Republican Party has never been for a womans right to choose. The Republican Party has never wanted to protect Social Security, Medicare, Kroemer said.

Theyve always, for decades, tried to eviscerate it. The Republican Party has always tried to minimize the ability of people to vote. That hasnt changed for decades.

Democratic Congressional District 1 candidate Marlene Galan-Woods prepares to give opening remarks during a debate with fellow candidates at BitFire Studio in Phoenix on May 15, 2024.

Once a Republican, now a '100%' reliable Democratic vote

In many ways, Galan-Woods political evolution mirrors the district she is running to represent. Arizonas 1st Congressional District, which stretches across most of northeastern Maricopa County, has plenty of voters who have broken from the GOP to reject Trump-aligned candidates.

Schweikert's is one of the few Republican-held congressional seats whose voters chose President Joe Biden in 2020.

And in 2022, Kari Lake, the Trump-endorsed candidate for governor who promoted false election claims and is now running for the U.S. Senate, lost in the 1st Congressional District at a margin five times greater than statewide.

Despite her history as a Republican, Galan-Woods said she would 100% be a reliable vote for Democratic priorities in Congress.

She pointed to her endorsements from the abortion-rights group EMILYs List, Arizonas Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes, and labor unions as evidence that Democrat-aligned groups trust her.

She would oppose renewing the Trump-era tax cut provisions that would expire during her term in Congress. She said that the wealthiest corporations need to pay their fair share but she is undecided on the question of raising taxes on wealthy individuals and big corporations beyond that.

"I am in favor of sunsetting the Trump tax giveaway. Other than that, once I get to Congress, I'll let you know after we figure it all out, she said. "I think it's shortsighted to think you have all the answers today."

Laura Gersony covers national politics for the Arizona Republic. Contact her at lgersony@gannett.com or 480-372-0389.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Democrat used to be a Republican. Here's why
Senate Democrats are demanding that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recuse himself from certain cases and have called for a meeting with Chief Justice John Roberts to discuss ethics in the court after news broke that Mr Alito had flown flags used by Capitol riot participants.

Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin requested a meeting with Mr Roberts to discuss their concerns about Mr Alitos impartiality, CBS News reports.

Reports in The New York Times and other outlets revealed that Mr Alito had previously flown an "Appeal to Heaven" flag outside his New Jersey vacation home in the summer of 2023.

In 2021, shortly after Joe Biden took office, Mr Alito flew an upside down American flag at his home in Virginia. Under US flag code, a flag is never to be flown inverted except as a signal of dire distress in instance of extreme danger to life or property.

Both inverted American flags and "Appeal to Heaven" flags were carried by individuals participating in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol in 2021.

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 (AP)

The "Appeal to Heaven" flag is a Revolutionary War-era standard that some conservatives have co-opted to express their belief that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Mr Durbin and Mr Whitehouse sent the chief justice a letter on Friday asking him to push Mr Alito to recuse himself from cases involving the 2020 presidential election and the Capitol riot.

By displaying the upside-down and Appeal to Heaven flags outside his homes, Justice Alito actively engaged in political activity, failed to avoid the appearance of impropriety, and failed to act in a manner that promotes public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary, they said in their letter. His recusal in these matters is both necessary and required.

Two such cases are pending: Mr Trump's claim of presidential immunity, and whether or not it was appropriate for federal investigators to bring obstruction charges against all of the Capitol riot defendants.

Mr Alito has already participated in oral arguments in both cases. Regarding presidential immunity, Mr Alito made the bizarre argument that immunity would protect US democracy by providing outgoing presidents reassurance that their political rivals would not have them arrested.

Mr Durbin and Mr Whitehouse called his recusal "necessary."

In addition to forcing Mr Alito to recuse himself in future rulings, the senators also called on the court to adopt an enforceable code of conduct to "address the Supreme Court's ethics crisis."

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr., left, and his wife Martha-Ann Alito, pay their respects at the casket of Reverend Billy Graham at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Feb. 28, 2018 (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

"Until the court and the Judicial Conference take meaningful action to address this ongoing ethical crisis, we will continue our efforts to enact legislation to resolve this crisis," the letter said.

Mr Alito has denied flying the inverted American flag, and told the New York Times that his wife had hoisted the banner as part of an ongoing feud with a neighbor involving "objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs."

The Supreme Court justice has not explained the "Appeal to Heaven" flag, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has him covered.

Mr Johnson brushed off the controversy, and told the Associated Press that he did not know the "Appeal to Heaven" flag was associated with Mr Trump's stolen election claims.

As Mr Johnson tells it, the flag is just a simple, wholesome reference to George Washington and the founding fathers.

An "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen outside of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) office on Capitol Hill on May 23, 2024 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

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, Mr 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 went on to say that "people misuse our symbols all the time, it doesn't mean we don't use the symbols anymore" and called people's objection to the 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.

Mr Johnson is wrong. The US does remove statues, change offensive location names, and stops using flags that no longer reflect the values of American citizens.

The Speaker's Democratic colleagues in the House were not sympathetic to his line of reasoning.

House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts called Justice Alitos flag use 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 told the Associated Press. She has also called for him to recuse himself from cases involving Mr Trump and January 6, 2021.
Dems urge action on police bill in honor of George Floyd on 4th death anniversary

Democratic lawmakers made a new push for federal police reform Saturday on the fourth anniversary of George Floyds death.

Floyd, a Black man, died May 25, 2020, after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes. His final words, I cant breathe, became a rallying cry for worldwide protests following the incident.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was reintroduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), earlier this week. The bill, first introduced by lawmaker-turned-mayor Karen Bass (D-Calif.) after Floyds death, passed the then-Democrat-led House, but the legislation stalled in the GOP-majority Senate.

If passed, the legislation would lower the criminal intent standards for law enforcement officers accused of misconduct in a federal prosecution. It would also limit qualified immunity as a defense to liability in civil suits.

The bill would also limit the use of force and restrict no-knock warrants, chokeholds and carotid holds.

Far too many lives have been lost or forever changed due to unacceptable incidents of police brutality throughout our nation, Jackson Lee said. We cannot allow another American to be deprived of his or her immunity, dignity and constitutional right without taking action.

Speaking on the House floor, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) urged her colleagues to support the legislation.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would be a critical step toward creating national standards for policing, she wrote Saturday on social media platform X. Through tangible reforms, we can save other Black lives.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) echoed a similar sentiment.

Four years ago, George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis. His last words, I cant breathe, mobilized millions around the world to call for an end to police brutality, she wrote. We must honor his memory by passing Democrats George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2024.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) said the country is still reminded that work needs to be done on a system that has failed far too many Black Americans.

Congress must continue this work, she posted. We should start by passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act  important accountability and reform legislation.

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said Floyds words sparked a resurgence in our movement to create a more just world, starting with those whose job it is to protect and serve. He urged Congress to move on the legislation.

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said Floyd was a son, brother, and father who deserved so much better than to be murdered on the streets.

The disregard for Black humanity remains, and Black Americans continue to face countless injustices daily, Frost wrote in a post on X. George Floyds legacy, and the legacies of so many others, reaffirms our commitment to real change, not just in their memory, but for a just future.

The White House also shared messages honoring Floyd and asking people to act in his memory.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), the co-sponsor of another police reform bill, said he is thinking of Floyds daughter, Gianna, and everyone else who knew and loved him.

We have a responsibility to continue to fight for racial justice and defend Black lives, he said. Rest in power, George.

Bowman joined Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) in introducing the Helping Families Heal Act, which would provide mental health resources to families affected by police violence.

Bush reintroduced the legislation on what would have been the 28th birthday of Michael Brown, a Black teenager who was killed by St. Louis police when he was 18. His death, like Floyds, became a catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement and calls for police reform nationwide.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A woman who pleaded no contest to driving drunk with her children in the vehicle in a crash last year remains employed as a Kern County sheriffs deputy, county officials say.

Earlier this week, Deputy Ana Christina Alvarez pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence and child cruelty in connection to crashing her minivan into a Bakersfield Police Department vehicle.

In taking the plea bargain, Alvarez did not admit guilt but accepted criminal convictions on the two counts.

Four other counts  one for DUI and three others for child cruelty  were dismissed.

After the hearing, sheriffs spokeswoman Lori Meza refused to say whether Alvarez was still a sheriffs office employee.

KCSO does not comment on personnel issues and employment status per the peace officer bill of rights, Meza wrote in an email to 17 News.

California DMV will no longer process these services at offices

A California Public Records Act request was made to the county; officials confirmed Alvarezs employment status on Friday.

Alvarez told police she drank two Modelo beers and had a few sips of wine at a birthday party the night of Oct. 21, according to court documents. She was off duty.

She left with her children  ages 7, 6, 4 and 3  in a Honda Odyssey that hit a BPD vehicle stopped at a red light on Stockdale Highway at Village Lane, the documents say. No one was injured.

Alvarez displayed symptoms of being under the influence and performed poorly on field sobriety tests, according to the documents. She refused to provide a breath sample, the documents say, and a warrant was obtained to draw her blood  which registered a blood-alcohol content more than 0.15%.

A judge has ordered Alvarez to complete the following: 12 days in jail, which she can serve through work release; four years probation; eight hours of community service; a 26-week parenting class; and 10 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

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(NEXSTAR)  The American soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy demonstrated incredible bravery amid some of the most intense fighting of the D-Day operations, often while faced with scenarios that some men could only describe as hell on earth.

I feel lucky every day of my life, WWII veteran Vernon Lingle once said in an interview with the U.S. Department of Defense, after describing the hell he witnessed on June 6. 1944. And I praise God every day that Im able to stand here in front of you all.

But for every surviving veteran of the D-Day invasion, there are thousands who are no longer with us  having either died during the war or in the 80 years since. Some never got the chance to share their stories with family, and others may have chosen not to speak about their experiences before they passed.

A group of wounded American from the 16th Infantry Regimen wait for evacuation to a field hospital after storming Omaha Beach on June 6. 1944. (National Archives, 111-SC-189910)

For their loved ones, it remains important to recognize these heroic WWII veterans for their sacrifices. And, for those interested in learning more about a family members specific experiences during the war, there are resources to help identify when and where a veteran may have served.

Before diving in, however, its best to seek out those closest to the veteran, experts say.

Start by speaking to family and ask questions, maybe a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, says Jennifer Utley, the director of research at Ancestry.com. Its amazing what you can pick up from a simple conversation.

D-Day changed Omaha Beachs sand in astonishing way, researchers found

Using whatever new knowledge available, family members of WWII veterans can then try to track their ancestors military history with online resources. The National D-Day Memorial, based in Bedford, Virginia, boasts the worlds most complete account of servicemen who died on June 6, 1944. The American Battle Monuments Commission, which oversees the operation and upkeep of cemeteries in foreign countries, also allows users to search for troops who have been buried or memorialized in its cemeteries, along with information about their dates of death, the decorations they were awarded, and which divisions they belonged to.

Ancestry.com, as Utley tells Nexstar, might also offer some insight into relatives who may have served on D-Day, whether they died during the operation, went on to continue fighting, or ultimately made it home. Users can use Ancestrys search tools to look up military records (the Army and Navy, specifically) as well as WWII hospital admission records. There are also tools for finding draft registration cards in the Ancestry database, which could provide clues as to when a family member may have been called to service.

Ancestry, too, owns Fold3, an online database specializing specifically in military records  including documents, journals and photos  from Americas armed conflicts.

In some cases, the National Archives can send military records to veterans, their next-of-kin, or other family members upon request. Users must submit certain pieces of information to help obtain the records, like service numbers and dates of birth.

American assault troops are pictured carrying equipment onto Omaha Beach, on the northern coast of France, on June 6, 1944. (National Archives, 111-SC-189902)

Its important to note, though, that some records for U.S. veterans  specifically those whose service ended between 1912 and 1960  were lost in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis in 1973. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can help to get those records reconstructed for vets seeking disability compensation, but there are limitations to what they can find.

The fire destroyed 80% of the records held for Veterans discharged from the Army during this time period, the VA estimates.

Shocking letters reveal WWII sacrifice of father and son

Even still, the promise of learning about a loved ones heroic military service far outweighs the effort and time needed to seek the information. Its why countless relatives, historians and museum operators  like Stephen J. Watson, the president and CEO of the National World War II Museum  strive to keep their stories alive for future generations.

We have the enormous responsibility to ensure that the memories and experiences of the war will not be lost as those who lived through it leave this world, Watson once said.

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A Canadian travel blogger said she was carried off an Air Canada-operated flight in a "broken aisle chair."

Tori Hunter, 26, uses an electric wheelchair due to a neuromuscular condition.

"It's 2024, disabled people deserve a more dignified and safe way to fly," she wrote on Instagram.

A travel blogger has spoken out about wheelchair accessibility on aircraft after she was left "distraught" while being carried off of a plane.

Tori Hunter, 26, posted a video of herself being carried down an airstair in a "broken aisle chair" that she said had "no armrests, straps that wouldn't tighten enough to keep my body in, and front wheels that were busted off."

Hunter, who uses an electric wheelchair due to a neuromuscular condition called spinal muscular atrophy, had been on an Air Canada flight to Costa Rica when the incident occurred.

"The individuals that were sent to help me disembark this plane likely had very little training on how to do so; they kept having to place the chair down from not having the correct grip, and they were holding the chair completely sideways," Hunter wrote on Instagram.

"I was never informed that this would be how I would have to disembark the plane, and it never crossed my mind given that this airport DOES use jet bridges," she added. "It's 2024, disabled people deserve a more dignified and safe way to fly."

Business Insider has reached out to Hunter for comment.

According to a report by the US Department of Transportation, more than 51% of the 33,631 complaints received by 180 carriers in 2021 "concerned the carriers' failure to provide adequate assistance to persons using wheelchairs."

The department said it was "focused on improving air travel for persons with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs."

In a statement to BBC News, Air Canada said that it had followed all the protocols for helping passengers with disabilities.

"However, as part of our accessibility plan, we will be reviewing airport procedures, including for smaller foreign stations, with the aim of working with local airport and other partners to find ways to provide more consistent service," it added.

Air Canada did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Business Insider, which was made outside regular working hours.

Air travel can be a huge source of anxiety for wheelchair users.

Ryan Rae Harbuck, who has been paralyzed for nearly 27 years, wrote an essay for Business Insider in March describing what it's like.

"Being a passenger on an airplane when you are a wheelchair user is giving up all reigns of mobility and independence," Harbuck wrote. "It's like taking away your legs and expecting you not to say a word about it."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Discrimination and negligence at Seattle Childrens hospital led to teens death, family alleges in lawsuit

A 16-year-old in Bothell, Washington, suffered from a severe allergic reaction to medication for months before she collapsed and died in front of her parents. Her family alleges discrimination and negligence contributed to her death.

The family of Sahana Ramesh filed a lawsuit in Washingtons King County Superior Court against Seattle Childrens hospital, Childrens University Medical Group and several unnamed healthcare workers.

Sahana died from eosinophilic myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, in February 2021, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit was first filed in 2022 by Sahanas parents Nalini and Anapathur Ramesh and their son, Karthik, and alleged negligence but was amended to include racial discrimination allegations, according to court documents.

Last week, King County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Berns declined a motion brought by the hospital to dismiss the discrimination claim, court documents show.

In her order, Berns wrote the family have plausibly alleged harm, including dignitary harm, resulting from unlawful discrimination  not from healthcare.

In August 2020, the family of South Asian descent sought medical treatment at Seattle Childrens because Sahana had recurring seizures, which led to a hospital neurologist prescribing her lamotrigine, a drug used to prevent or control seizures, the suit says.

Sahanas dosage was doubled shortly after she began taking it and increased by 50 percent that November.

She then developed a rash on several parts of her body including her hands, stomach, feet and face, the suit says. Within days, the rash worsened, and she was taken to the emergency department of Seattle Childrens, where she was diagnosed with a syndrome known as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms or DRESS, according to the lawsuit.

DRESS is a drug allergy that causes fever, rash, facial swelling, enlarged lymph nodes, kidney or liver injury, and in some cases inflammation of organs, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Sahana was discharged after the diagnosis, but her symptoms didnt improve, her family claims in the suit. Over nearly three months, the family sought medical care from the defendants more than a dozen times. During that time, her lab results also showed issues with her liver and organ function, the lawsuit says.

But the defendants assured plaintiffs that Sahana could safely be cared for at home, according to the lawsuit.

A spokesperson for Seattle Childrens told CNN, Our hearts go out to any family mourning the loss of a child and we take our responsibility to provide equitable, high-quality care seriously, but cannot comment on this specific case due to pending litigation.

CNN has reached out to Childrens University Medical Group for comment.

Steve Berman, an attorney for the Ramesh family, described Sahanas death as her familys ultimate loss that could have been avoided.

We believe this was an avoidable tragedy that evidence shows was directly caused by negligence and lack of informed consent, rooted in widespread racism at the hospital, Berman said in a statement.

The lawsuit points to several racial discrimination allegations made against the hospital, including claims that led to a 2021 independent review of equity, diversity and inclusion policies and practices.

The review concluded that allegations that a physician called another physician a racist epithet in 2009 were not adequately investigated by the hospital, and that there was a lack of action to minimize racial disparities in security calls, among other findings, according to a summary made public by the hospital.

In the lawsuit, attorneys for the family said their clients felt ignored and dismissed during their interactions with medical staff and felt that they were not welcome, accepted, desired, or solicited at SCH.

The family also alleges in the lawsuit that hospital staff didnt monitor Sahanas heart and failed to inform them of the risk of cardiac failure related to DRESS.

The Ramesh family requests an unspecified amount of damages.

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Bourbon County High School is banning cell phones in the classroom.

For several reasons, all of which lead to best preparing our students to enter the college/workforce/military world after graduation, (Bourbon County High School) will be moving to no cell phones in the classroom, district officials said this week in a Facebook post.

Parents are being asked to talk with students about the change over the summer break.

As superintendent, I support the school in being courageous in looking for ways to improve the school, Bourbon Superintendent Larry Joe Begley told the Herald-Leader. To my understanding, this is not a result of one incident or new issuescell phones have been a distraction in the classroom for years and this has been discussed before talking about it all the time has largely been ineffective.

I have no problem with trying something and seeing how it goes ... especially when that something involves safety, expectations, accountability and student achievement all at the same time, Begley said.

The policy

The policy said cell phones and other personal devices such as gaming devices, AirPods and headphones are not permitted in the classroom, with the exception of students who need accommodation for medical reasons.

Under the policy, upon arrival to class, all students will place their cell phones and other personal devices in an assigned locker space.

Personal electronic devices may be used during transition times, in the cafeteria during lunch and before and after school.

Personal electronic devices may not be used to take pictures, videos, or audio without the consent of the individual being recorded. When students are using headphones in the common areas of the building they are responsible for hearing all announcements and information given verbally and responsible for responding appropriately to verbal requests from all staff.

On the first offense, teachers will remind students to place cell phones and other personal devices in assigned locker locations.

On the second offense, teachers will inform parents, and on the third offense, students will face discipline. Failure to put the cell phone and other personal devices away when asked will be considered defiance and will result in discipline.

Kirsten Nicoulin, assistant principal of Bourbon County High School, said teachers have asked for three years to help them deal with cell phone issues.

I think it speaks to the leadership not just listening to teachers  but hearing them, she said.

Begley said he had heard some concerns from parents.

The majority of the feedback has been positive, he said. There have been some that have concerns. But we are working with them in a one on one basis to ease their concerns. 

Bill failed

In the 2024 General Assembly, a bill did not pass that would have forbidden Kentucky students from using personal cellphones during instruction, except during an emergency or if told to do so by a teacher for an instructional purpose.

State Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, previously told the Herald-Leader he filed House Bill 383 after hearing from teachers having issues with (phones) in the classroom.

Cellphone use policies within K-12 schools are handled by decision-making councils at each school, Bray said. He said some schools dont have any policy against them.

Begley said the high school decision making council had approved the cell phone policy at Bourbon County High, and he anticipated that the middle school would follow suit.

In January, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that in 2021-22, higher percentages of elementary schools (87 percent), middle schools (77 percent), and schools with other grades combined (70 percent) reported having policies that prohibited the nonacademic use of cellphones in school, compared to high/secondary schools (43 percent).
ANKARA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Saturday that security forces had "neutralized" a wanted member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir.

In a statement released on social media platform X, Yerlikaya identified the PKK member as Mehmet Yildirim and said he was "neutralized" during an operation in the Lice district. The term "neutralized" is often used by Turkish authorities to indicate that a suspect has been killed, captured, or surrendered.

The minister added that Yildirim was allegedly involved in attacks that resulted in the deaths of eight security personnel and 15 civilians.

The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state for over 30 years. 
Protesters gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, while justices hear oral arguments about whether federal law protects emergency abortion care. Photo by Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom.

WASHINGTON  Doctors from throughout the country posted a public letter this week, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure health care professionals can perform abortions in every state when that procedure is essential stabilizing treatment under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.

Thousands of doctors, organized by the advocacy group The Committee to Protect Health Care, signed the letter that calls on the justices to decide in favor of the Biden administrations interpretation that the law protects doctors who provide abortions in emergency circumstances.

We know firsthand how complications from pregnancy can lead very quickly to a medical crisis, requiring immediate care and treatment, the letter states.

These patients complications can range from a miscarriage to heavy bleeding, from placental abruption to a stroke from severe preeclampsia  and doctors and health professionals in emergency departments must be allowed to use the full range of medical options to save these patients lives, including abortion, the doctors wrote.

The Committee to Protect Health Care writes on its website that through earned and paid media, grassroots advocacy campaigns, and other tools, we help pass policies that expand health care and abortion access, elect health care champions, and hold anti-health care politicians accountable.

A letter is not the official way for experts or interested parties to weigh in with the justices when they are considering a case.

Typically, individuals or organizations file an amicus curiae, or friend of the court, brief before oral arguments. The publication of the letter, however, comes a full month after that took place in this case and likely after the majority has begun writing the ruling.

The Committee to Protect Health Care confirmed Friday the group didnt file an amicus brief.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case, Idaho v. United States, on April 24. The justices are expected to release their ruling before the Fourth of July break.

Biden administration interpretation

The case centers around whether a federal law, known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act or EMTALA, protects doctors and other healthcare professionals who provide abortions as stabilizing treatment during a medical emergency, even when those doctors actions might go against state bans or restrictions.

The case in front of the Supreme Court, in part, stems from the Biden administrations interpretation of the 1986 law.

That law requires emergency departments to either provide stabilizing care or transfer a patient with an emergency medical condition, regardless of their insurance status.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced in July 2022 that under EMTALA no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care  including abortion care.

Today, in no uncertain terms, we are reinforcing that we expect providers to continue offering these services, and that federal law preempts state abortion bans when needed for emergency care, Becerra wrote in a statement. Protecting both patients and providers is a top priority, particularly in this moment.

The announcement came shortly after the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide, constitutional right to an abortion that was established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling and the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision.

The post Doctors urge U.S. Supreme Court to include abortion as stabilizing care under federal law appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
Protesters gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, while justices hear oral arguments about whether federal law protects emergency abortion care. (Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  Doctors from throughout the country posted a public letter this week, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure health care professionals can perform abortions in every state when that procedure is essential stabilizing treatment under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.

Thousands of doctors, organized by the advocacy group The Committee to Protect Health Care, signed the letter that calls on the justices to decide in favor of the Biden administrations interpretation that the law protects doctors who provide abortions in emergency circumstances.

We know firsthand how complications from pregnancy can lead very quickly to a medical crisis, requiring immediate care and treatment, the letter states.

These patients complications can range from a miscarriage to heavy bleeding, from placental abruption to a stroke from severe preeclampsia  and doctors and health professionals in emergency departments must be allowed to use the full range of medical options to save these patients lives, including abortion, the doctors wrote.

The Committee to Protect Health Care writes on its website that through earned and paid media, grassroots advocacy campaigns, and other tools, we help pass policies that expand health care and abortion access, elect health care champions, and hold anti-health care politicians accountable.

A letter is not the official way for experts or interested parties to weigh in with the justices when they are considering a case.

Typically, individuals or organizations file an amicus curiae, or friend of the court, brief before oral arguments. The publication of the letter, however, comes a full month after that took place in this case and likely after the majority has begun writing the ruling.

The Committee to Protect Health Care confirmed Friday the group didnt file an amicus brief.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case, Idaho v. United States, on April 24. The justices are expected to release their ruling before the Fourth of July break.

Biden administration interpretation

The case centers around whether a federal law, known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act or EMTALA, protects doctors and other healthcare professionals who provide abortions as stabilizing treatment during a medical emergency, even when those doctors actions might go against state bans or restrictions.

The case in front of the Supreme Court, in part, stems from the Biden administrations interpretation of the 1986 law.

That law requires emergency departments to either provide stabilizing care or transfer a patient with an emergency medical condition, regardless of their insurance status.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced in July 2022 that under EMTALA no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care  including abortion care.

Today, in no uncertain terms, we are reinforcing that we expect providers to continue offering these services, and that federal law preempts state abortion bans when needed for emergency care, Becerra wrote in a statement. Protecting both patients and providers is a top priority, particularly in this moment.

The announcement came shortly after the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide, constitutional right to an abortion that was established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling and the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision.

The post Doctors urge U.S. Supreme Court to include abortion as stabilizing care under federal law appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
DOJ arrests two suspected of smuggling people into the country by railroad from Canada

Two men have been arrested as part of a federal investigation into a human smuggling operation bringing people illegally into the U.S. by rail from Canada.

Jesus Ortiz-Plata, 45, of Independence, Ore., and Juan Pablo Cuellar Medina, 35, of Everett were arrested Thursday, May 23, with three non-citizens who had been smuggled into the U.S. from Canada, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman of the Western District of Washington.

Both suspects made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Friday.

These defendants have allegedly been linked to an extremely dangerous smuggling scheme where people are loaded into freight cars on trains traveling from Canada into the U.S., Gorman said in the release. Being locked in a freight train car is dangerous  there is no control over the heat, cold, or ventilation, and people can be injured or killed by shifting freight. In one dangerous instance last August, some 29 people were rescued from a boxcar filled with plastic pellets.

Investigators used communications data to identify Ortiz-Plata as a potential suspect. Agents followed him from Oregon to Medinas apartment in Everett, where the arrests were made. The three non-citizens also were taken into custody.

Conspiracy to commit illegal transportation of a non-citizen for private financial gain is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The arrests are the result of a lengthy investigation by Homeland Security Investigations Border Security Enforcement Team (BEST).
Dont use these smoke detectors sold on Amazon, CPSC warns

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  About 6,800 CHZHVAN-brand combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are being recalled because they may not alert people to a fire.

There have been five reports of the devices failing to activate in the presence of smoke, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

No injuries have been reported to date.

ALSO READ: Swivel chairs recalled due to fall, injury risk

The recalled detectors have model number JKD-512. They were sold exclusively on Amazon.com from August 2023 through January 2024.

Recalled CHZHVAN Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Photo: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Recalled CHZHVAN Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors (Photo: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

MORE INFORMATION: Smoke and carbon monoxide detector recall

The CPSC says that since the manufacturers have been uncooperative with the recall, consumers are urged to just dispose of the devices.

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.
"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. Trump has not been perfect on these policies, I have 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, 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."

Trending on NextShark: American interviewed by Japanese kids in viral vid wants to 'give them a gift in return'
BELMONT, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Police are investigating a shooting that sent one person to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the Belmont Police Department.

Around 6 a.m. on Saturday, officers responded to 23 Alice Ave, Apt. 7, for reports of a shooting.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

When they arrived, they found a 38-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Investigators believe this was not a random act of violence and that this incident was between two people who knew each other.

Detectives are still investigating the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to contact Sergeant Valverde with the Belmont Police Department at 704-825-3792 or Crime Stoppers at 704-861-8000.

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.
Travelers get boarding passes and check in baggage at the Delta Air Lines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

California may be headed to an earlier-than-normal start to the summer COVID-19 season, with coronavirus concentrations in sewage rising in some areas along with the statewide positive-test rate.

The trend comes as the latest family of coronavirus subvariants, collectively nicknamed FLiRT, have made significant gains nationally.

The FLiRT subvariants  officially known as KP.2, KP.3 and KP.1.1  have overtaken the dominant winter strain, JN.1. For the two-week period that ended Saturday, they were estimated to account for a combined 50.4% of the nation's coronavirus infections, up from 20% a month earlier.

Instead of California seeing reduced circulation of COVID-19, as occurred earlier this spring, state health officials said that they estimate the spread is now either stable or slowly increasing.

"COVID-19 concentrations in wastewater have suggested increases in several regions across California since early May. Test positivity for COVID-19 has been slowly increasing since May," the state Department of Public Health said in a statement to The Times on Friday.

Read more: There's a new highly transmissible COVID-19 variant. Could FLiRT lead to a summer uptick?

Over the seven-day period that ended Monday, about 3.8% of COVID-19 tests came back positive; in late April, that share was 1.9%. (Last summer's peak test-positive rate was 12.8%, at the end of August.)

Doctors at hospitals in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area are also seeing an uptick in coronavirus spread.

"We're certainly seeing a bit of a small increase. And this is all due to the so-called FLiRT variants," said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

The increase has so far been seen primarily in outpatient cases at Kaiser.

"Anytime there's a new variant, then, unfortunately, the new variants will have the ability to [overcome immunity resulting from prior infection], and if it's been awhile since someone has been vaccinated, they obviously will not have the same level of protection as someone who was more recently vaccinated," Hudson said.

Read more: Despite its 'nothingburger' reputation, COVID-19 remains deadlier than the flu

In San Francisco, infectious disease doctors are noticing more people in the hospital with COVID-caused pneumonia.

"I have seen more than I would expect, of sick people in the hospital" for COVID, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious diseases expert. The number was just a handful, "but it's definitely noticeable."

Based on his reading of wastewater data, "we know that it's up, and it's up earlier," Chin-Hong said of coronavirus activity.

"Last year, I think it was late June when it started going up, and this year it's, like, now it's late May. So it's a little bit earlier, but we're starting from a very low place," Chin-Hong said.

And anecdotally, people in the Bay Area are talking about COVID more, it seems, Chin-Hong said. He recalled hearing about someone's child's classroom dealing with a COVID case a few days ago.

"It's not necessarily an alarming number now, but it is ... the beginning of the summer, so that's what we expect," Chin-Hong said.

Read more: Newsom boosted Californias public health spending during COVID. Now he wants to cut it

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has also started to see a very small uptick in cases in recent days.

From May 10 to 15, the most recent data available, there were an average of 82 to 92 COVID-19 cases per day, an increase from earlier in the spring. There were an average of 60 to 80 new cases a day between March 25 and May 9, L.A. County health officials said in a statement to The Times. The case counts typically reflect tests done at medical facilities and don't include home tests  nor do the tallies account for infections among people who don't test.

"Its too soon to tell if this very small increase in recent days will become a sustained uptick. These case counts are low, making it difficult at this time to assess real trends," the L.A. County Department of Public Health said.

Coronavirus levels in L.A. County wastewater remain relatively stable, at 9% of last winter's peak. But the data in those findings have a significant reporting lag, with the most recent data available being for the 10-day period that ended May 11.

Read more: Mistrust, fights and blood sport: How COVID-19 trauma is shaping the 2024 election

Elsewhere in the state, viral levels in sewage are rising, including in Santa Clara County  Northern California's most populous and the home of Silicon Valley. In recent weeks, coronavirus levels reached the "high" threshold in Palo Alto's sewershed.

With the summer travel season set to begin in earnest this Memorial Day weekend, doctors urged people to consider getting up to date on their vaccinations  particularly if they are at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19.

In California, just 36% of seniors ages 65 and older have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine that first became available in September. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged everyone ages 6 months and older to get one dose of the updated vaccine. A second dose is also recommended for those ages 65 and older, as long as at least four months have passed since their last shot.

It's especially important that older people get at least one updated dose. Of the patients he has seen recently who had serious COVID, Chin-Hong said, all of them hadn't gotten an updated vaccine since September, and were older or immunocompromised.

"We are still seeing individuals hospitalized, and based on CDC data presented in February, more than 95% of those hospitalized had not received the updated 20232024 vaccine," the L.A. County Department of Public Health said. CDC data have shown that getting the updated vaccine offered 54% increased protection against COVID-19 illness compared with those who did not get the shot.

Read more: Older Californians now eligible for another COVID-19 vaccine dose

For older people considering a second updated COVID-19 vaccination now, factors to consider include travel plans or whether they have a job where they interact with many people, doctors say. There's plenty of time to get that vaccine now, and also get the expected new formulation in the autumn.

"By getting your booster now, you're really going to give yourself protection to make it through this likely summer wave," Hudson said.

Even though for many people COVID no longer means a visit to the hospital, "for some people, it is a big deal," Chin-Hong said. "And those are the people I saw in the hospital  they were very, very sick, and they were there for some time."

Nationally, since the start of October, more than 43,000 people have died of COVID, according to the CDC, including more than 3,400 in California. By contrast, flu has probably resulted in fewer deaths nationally  an estimated 25,000 over the same time period.

Read more: Risk for chronic fatigue soars among those who had COVID-19, study says

The risk of death among those hospitalized is higher for those with COVID than with the flu, especially among older people, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

"When you're in the hospital, lots of other things can happen. ... You can catch hospital-acquired infections. So you always want to prevent hospitalization," Chin-Hong said.

California recently achieved a significant COVID milestone  zero deaths on a single calendar day, April 2, a feat not achieved since the first days of the pandemic. Los Angeles County also experienced a new record low for deaths  an average of 0.14 deaths a day over a weekly period, which was recorded for the seven-day period that ended April 2.

"It is a triumph of science, truly, that we have gotten to a point where we have a day where there are zero COVID deaths," Hudson said, crediting factors such as the development of vaccines and anti-COVID drugs, along with honing techniques used to treat patients.

Still, "COVID is not just a flu or a cold," Hudson said. "COVID can potentially for some people have very long-lasting impacts. ... Long COVID really makes things different."

Read more: Here's why some high-risk patients aren't getting drugs to combat COVID

There is evolving evidence that the more times you get COVID, the more likely long COVID will develop, Hudson said. And "it does seem like people in their 30s and 40s are the ones who are more likely to get long COVID."

Some patients have been permanently disabled by long COVID, but, Hudson said, "for most people, it does seem  maybe after 12 months, sometimes 18 months  all the symptoms do resolve. But that's a long time to not feel good."

There has been much discussion that long COVID's prevalence is lower than early in the pandemic. But even now, every time someone gets COVID, there's still a chance long COVID can develop.

Some patients "have problems with breathing," Hudson said. Others can develop something called POTS, which stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and can cause sharp spikes in the heart rate and dizziness.

"Long COVID can affect the autonomic nervous system in ways that we don't 100% understand yet," Hudson said. "But we know that people end up with this particular syndrome and it can be life-altering."

Read more: $62,000 and three years later: Long COVID continues to upend this California couples lives

Besides getting up to date on vaccinations, doctors offered the following advice on preparing for an expected increase in COVID circulation:

 Avoid sick people. Some sick people might pass off their symptoms as a "cold," when it could be the start of a COVID-19 illness.

 Test if you're sick, and test daily. It's sometimes taking longer after the onset of illness for a COVID-19 rapid test to show up as positive. Consider taking a rapid COVID test once a day for three to five consecutive days after the onset of cough-and-cold symptoms, Hudson said. Doing so can help the sickened person take measures to later isolate themselves and limit spread of the illness to others.

 Have a plan to ask for Paxlovid if you become ill. Paxlovid is an antiviral drug that, when taken by people at risk for severe COVID-19 who have mild-to-moderate illness, reduces the risk of hospitalization and death.

 Masks are much less common these days but can still be a handy tool to prevent infection. Wearing a mask on a crowded flight where there are coughing people nearby can help reduce the risk of infection.

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.
People gather at the monument of the brothers Cyril and Methodius during a celebration event in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 24, 2024. Bulgaria celebrated the Day of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture on Friday in commemoration of the brothers Cyril and Methodius who in 855 invented the first alphabet for Slavic languages. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)

SOFIA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarians on Friday celebrated the Day of Bulgarian education, culture and the creation of the Slavonic alphabet in a national festival, also known as Alphabet Day.

Held annually on May 24, the event traditionally takes place in front of the National Library in Sofia, at the monument to the brothers Cyril and Methodius, who invented the first alphabet for Slavic languages in 855.

This year, musicians from the country's National Music School and Guard Brass Band played Bulgarian anthems, children recited poems, and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev laid flowers along with hundreds of citizens.

"Today, when countries around the world are competing to invest in science and education, to attract leading minds and talents, we cannot afford to ignore the potential of Bulgarian scientists, teachers and researchers," Radev said.

Meanwhile, Sofia's Mayor Vasil Terziev said May 24 was one of the "most inspiring feasts in our calendar."

"Today is the day we pay tribute to our teachers, guardians of knowledge and enlightenment. Today is the day we are proud of our culture and spirituality," Terziev said.

Laying flowers at the monument with his parents, 10-year-old Juliy told Xinhua: "Thanks to Cyril and Methodius, we can speak and write in our language."

The Slavonic alphabet is currently used in nearly 50 languages, including Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian, Belarusian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Ukrainian, and Uzbek. 

A woman holding a banner with the image of the brothers Cyril and Methodius attends a celebration event in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 24, 2024. Bulgaria celebrated the Day of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture on Friday in commemoration of the brothers Cyril and Methodius who in 855 invented the first alphabet for Slavic languages. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)
Of course Nikki Haley now says shell vote for Donald Trump. The blink of an eye ago she called him unstable and unhinged, an individual whos just toxic and lacks moral clarity.

She follows the same beaten path of Marco Rubio, who became a big fan of the man hed labeled a dangerous con artist; Ted Cruz, now an enthusiastic backer of a person he called a sniveling coward; and Lindsey Graham, now a leading apologist for the man hed branded a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot. In the political class, there are dozens upon dozens of other such examples amid rare exceptions like Mitt Romney.

Republicans who run for office speak the obvious truth about Donald Trump until they realize hes got them beat and, if they want to win more elections in a party where Trump and Trumpism remain dominant, they have no choice but to turn obsequious and pretend that they never had a brain or a conscience. Trump proceeds to treat all these former rivals like something grosser than gum stuck to the bottom of his shoe, and thats appropriate, because the rivals-turned-sycophants disrespect themselves.

When politicians so brazenly change their tune on such matters, its little wonder the public treats them with contempt; that contempt, ironically, is one of the things that in 2015 fueled the rise of a supposedly more authentic personality named Donald Trump.

The Republicans far more worth our attention these days are those who were up close and personal with Trump in his first term, who saw the way he operated as president, and who now warn at the top of their lungs against him becoming president again.

Theres former Vice President Mike Pence, who Trump tried to turn into an accomplice in his plot to overturn the 2020 election.

Former Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly, who emerged from the cauldron of the White House calling Trump a person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators who has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law.

Theres Bill Barr, once Trumps attorney general, who calls Trump a consummate narcissist who constantly engages in reckless conduct. Theres chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, who called Trump a wannabe dictator.

Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who calls Trump a threat to democracy based on his attempt to send as many as 250,000 troops to the U.S. Mexico border as well as his apparent interest in launching missile strikes on Mexico. Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who called Trump the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people  does not even pretend to try. Thats an unmistakably consistent pattern from those who saw him play commander-in-chief.

None of these people are seeking political office. All of them align with Trump on many key policy questions. All of them know that being honest about Donald Trump will make it harder for them to thrive professionally in a Republican Party where Trump has overwhelmingly positive approval ratings. Yet none can deny seeing what they saw: an immature, craven, self-serving, out-of-his depth individual who abused the power of the presidency for four years  then tried to steal a second four-year term  and is salivating at the opportunity to do it again.

___
A grassroots Grover Beach group founded to oppose recent water rate changes and recall the City Council members who approved them won a legal victory against the city Thursday.

Over the course of the past three months, GroverH2O has submitted six versions of a petition to recall City Councilmembers Dan Rushing, Zach Zimmerman and Mayor Karen Bright.

San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Craig Van Rooyen ruled the city violated election law by denying the petitions submitted by GroverH2O on the basis of their content, which organizer and former mayor Debbie Peterson said violated the groups First Amendment rights.

Under an election law that took effect at the start of 2023, city clerks must take perceived inaccuracies to a judge and cannot decide whether the statement violates the parameters of a recall petition, according to the court documentation.

In the case of GroverH2Os petitions, City Clerk Wendi Sims originally denied the petitions on the accuracy of two lines:

Dan Rushing voted to make Grover Beach the industrial area of Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande. Dan Rushing approved a project to tear up newly repaired residential streets for 16 wells, a mile of pipelines, and a wastewater treatment plant in Grover neighborhoods.

Peterson said that although procedural deadlines have passed for the Bright and Zimmerman petitions because both are up for election this year, the Rushing recall petition may still proceed.

Grover Beach residents protest a proposed 91.7% water rate increase over the next five years, before the Grover Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. Some residents said they have started knocking on doors, encouraging their neighbors to write letters of protest against the project.

Peterson told The Tribune that GroverH2Os priority is to avoid the recalls going to a special election if possible, which she said could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Bright and Zimmerman recall efforts already will not appear on the November ballot due to deadline issues, but GroverH2O is still looking to attempt to recall Rushing this November, with the deadline of June 5 to get a legally compliant petition signed and turned in to the city, Peterson said.

Can a Rushing recall still appear on the ballot?

Peterson said while there is a path to getting a recall measure against Rushing on the November ballot, GroverH2O will need to work quickly to get enough signatures within the filing deadline.

She said organizers must collect more than 500 signatures between the re-filing of the petition early next week and the June 5 deadline to file a recall petition.

Theyre leaving us with five days to do what the statute gives us 60 days to do, Peterson said. Were gonna do everything in our power to collect those signatures in those five days  weve done it before when we collected over 1,100 to repeal the water rate increase in two weeks.

City attorney Robert Lomeli said the city will review the ruling and evaluate the merits of an appeal to a higher court.

The court ruled on this matter in a direction that was unexpected, Lomeli said in a statement posted to the citys webpage on the case Thursday afternoon. Todays ruling made no determination on the merits or veracity of the statements of fact within the citizen petitions and while those items remain a concern, the city will adhere to the courts direction.

Grover Beach residents protest a proposed 91.7% water rate increase over the next five years, before the Grover Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. Some residents said they have started knocking on doors, encouraging their neighbors to write letters of protest against the project.

According to the citys webpage, the courts ruling was very narrow, and indicated only that the city should have challenged the petitions in court rather than by rejecting the petitions in the first place.

In an email to The Tribune, assistant city manager Kristin Eriksson said Sims took what the city believed were legally defensible actions to protect the integrity of the elections process and prevent residents from being tricked into signing a petition based on false and misleading statements.

Eriksson said the city is required to wait 10 days between approving or rejecting a proposed petition to allow for public examination. Previously, Peterson has said this is a stall tactic by the city to delay petitions past their deadlines.

Eriksson said proponents of the petition have made false and misleading statements that misrepresented the true reasons for the petitions past failures to be accepted.

The ruling of the court did not find that that the Elections Code does not allow city elections officials to unilaterally edit citizens reasons for recall; rather, it found that an elections official must accept and approve a properly formatted recall petition that contains false and misleading statements and that in order to prevent circulation of that petition, the elections official is required to file a writ of mandate, Eriksson said in the email. The citys intent was not to delay any filing, in fact, just prior to filing suit, the proponents submitted proposed petitions with the false and misleading statements removed, all of which were accepted and approved by City Clerk Wendi Sims.

In a tentative ruling issued by the court, Van Rooyen directed the city to accept and allow the circulation of the recall petition submitted in April.

This is a huge victory for participative democracy in California, Peterson said. Neither the city clerk, city elections official, city council, nor the city attorney may censor the voice of the people. Everything GroverH2O has stood for has been validated all along the way, and now it has been validated by the courts as well.
Egypt has agreed to send United Nations humanitarian aid trucks through Israels main crossing into Gaza, but its unclear if they can enter into the southern city of Rafah as Israel ramps up its offensive against Hamas militants.

Israeli troops seized the Rafah crossing into Egypt and it has been inoperative since. However, the Kerem Shalom crossing into Israel has remained open, The Associated Press reported.

Israel said it has been sending trucks across the port of entry, but the U.N. says it cant reach Kerem Shalom because the fighting makes it too dangerous.

The U.N. said it has only received 143 trucks in the last 19 days. Hundreds of trucks of aid have been sitting in Gaza unretrieved by a humanitarian group, Israeli officials said, per the AP.

Instead, the U.N. has had to deliver aid from a northern Gaza border crossing and the newly built U.S. pier that brings supplies by sea.

Nearly 900,000 people are fleeting Rafah, the city they took refuge at throughout the war, as Israel continues its military operation in the region. Relief agencies say theres nowhere safe left for them to go.

Israeli officials claim that they must invade the city since its the last remaining stronghold for Hamas. Despite consistent criticism from around the globe, the Israeli military has increased the number of troops present in and around Rafah.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling Friday for Israel to stop its Rafah operations immediately, over accusations of the Israeli military carrying out genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The ruling also called for Israel to open the Rafah crossing with Egypt for unhindered provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian aid.

The announcement from Egypt appears to resolve an issue on one side of the border. Israel claims that its kept the Rafah crossing open and has asked Egypt to coordinate when sending aid convoys, the AP reported.

Egypt has refused and demanded that Palestinians be put back in charge of the crossing, but the U.S. has asked the nation to resume efforts so more trucks can reach Palestinians.

The ICJ ruling is a major condemnation of how Israel is conducting its war against Hamas but its not known how it will be enforced. The court does not have an enforcement mechanism and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied other requests for Israel to scale back its operations.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The Michigan Bureau of Elections has recommended motions for six of the seven remaining U.S. Senate candidates to proceed to the August primary ballot.

The recommendations from the Bureau of Elections to the Board of State Canvassers are based on the number of valid petition signatures within a random sampling of each candidates petition.

The Bureau has recommended motions for all four remaining Republican candidates: Justin Amash, Sherry ODonnell, Sandy Pensler and Mike Rogers. It has also recommended motions for Democratic candidates Elissa Slotkin and Hill Harper.

The Bureau did not recommend a motion for Democratic candidate Nasser Beydoun, based on invalid heading (failure to include valid address) for 750 of the 750 petition signatures in the sample.

Staff-Memo-on-Random-Sampling-Results-of-US-Senate-PetitionsDownload

Harper had previously challenged Slotkins nominating petitions, alleging many of Slotkins petitions included altered city/township labelling on signatures by someone other than the voter; a failure to include the circulator information; and an alteration to the date.

FILE  Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., asks a question during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

Harper had also filed a challenge to Beydouns nominating petitions, alleging that many of the petitions included invalid address; a signer not registered at the listed address; name and address not legible; and heading/circulator error.

Just in the last week, Republican candidates Mike Rogers, Sandy Pensler and Justin Amash, as well as former Republican candidate Peter Meijer (now withdrawn), were the subject of signature fraud claims.

Mike Rogers in December 2023.

The Michigan Democratic Party, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and voter Emily Judd submitted to the Board of State Canvassers a request for an investigation into the nominating petitions of Rogers, Pensler, Amash and Meijer, but didnt file an official challenge.

All seven U.S. Senate candidates are vying to replace longtime U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, who is set to retire.

The Board of Canvassers is scheduled to meet on May 31st to discuss the reports.

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(FOX40.COM)  An employee was stabbed by a customer on Saturday morning, according to the Sacramento Police Department.

At around 3:41 a.m., officers said they responded to an Arco gas station in the 2000 block of 16th Street for reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, SPD located a man who had a non-life-threatening injury.

Person found dead in Sacramento hoarded-home fire

Police said the suspect was identified as Anthony Dwayne Smith, 54, and found near Broadway. He was arrested and booked at the local jail for alleged assault.

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ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  A man was arrested after deputies found multiple drugs inside a home on May 10, according to the Escambia County Sheriffs Office.

Man who killed roommate in 2022 found guilty by Escambia Co. jury, awaits sentencing

An ECSO Facebook post said deputies with the SWAT Team and Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at a home on Rue Max Street.

WARRANT LOCATION:

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Deputies found $13,751 in cash, 80 grams of crack cocaine, 372 grams of powder cocaine, hydrocodone pills, alprazolam pills, MDMA, 10 grams of marijuana and a gun.

Foley woman becomes 4th arrested in murder-for-hire plot: court documents

(Photo courtesy of the Escambia County Sheriffs Office)

(Photo courtesy of the Escambia County Sheriffs Office)

41-year-old Judah McIntyre was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana with intent to sell/distribute and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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Estonian president on sending troops to Ukraine: Kyiv doesn't see the need yet

Estonian President Alar Karis commented on the statements made by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the potential possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine.

Source: Karis in an interview with Yle, as reported by European Pravda

Regarding the issue of sending soldiers to Ukraine, he noted: "This is not my decision, nor even the decision of the government. The parliament will make the decision about the deployment of troops."

"If this moment ever comes, then the discussion about sending troops will have to be held not so much within Estonia, but with our allies. However, Ukraine itself does not see the necessity for this at the moment," Karis explained.

Background:

It is known that the discussion regarding NATO troops on Ukrainian territory was initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron, who admitted in February that he had proposed Western countries send their troops to Ukraine.

According to media reports, European governments and Brussels are considering the possibility of beginning training Ukrainian soldiers on Ukrainian territory no later than the beginning of 2025.

Meanwhile, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that some countries have already sent their instructors to Ukraine.

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Europe has put pressure on Israel to comply with the top UN court's ruling to end its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, even though Israel has said it will ignore the judgment handed down in the Dutch city of The Hague.

"We take note of the order" given to Israel on Friday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote on X on Saturday. "ICJ [International Court of Justice] orders are binding on the Parties and they have to be fully and effectively implemented."

Even before the ruling, Israel had faced weeks of admonishment by the United States and European capitals over its Rafah operations due to the impact on civilians. Israel argues the assault is necessary to eliminate the Palestinian militant group Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

In his post, Borrell also highlighted the court's order for Israel to "maintain the Rafah crossing open for humanitarian assistance."

The crossing links Gaza to Egypt and has been the main conduit of getting food, medicine and other essential items into Gaza over the past seven months of war.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares also demanded that Israel obey the "mandatory" ICJ ruling.

In a social media post, he also appealed for "a ceasefire, the release of hostages and humanitarian access."

"The suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip and the violence must end," he added.

Spain has been one of the harshest critics in Europe of Israel's actions in Gaza. Madrid suspended all arms exports to Israel shortly after Israel launched its military response to the October 7 attacks by Hamas in which some 1,200 people were killed and another 250 taken hostage.

Earlier this week, Spain, along with Norway and Ireland, said it would recognize Palestine as an independent state, enraging Israel.

In Berlin, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck also voiced his concerns about Israel's assault on Rafah.

"The famine, the suffering of the Palestinian population and the attacks in the Gaza Strip are - as we are now seeing in court - incompatible with international law," Habeck said.

Habeck said that the German government believes "that Israel must not carry out this attack, at least not in the way it did in the Gaza Strip before, bombing refugee camps and so on."

Israel on Friday responded to the court's ruling by insisting its actions in Rafah were part of "defensive and just war" following the October 7 terrorist attacks.

In a joint statement, the head of Israel's National Security Council and a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the country "has not and will not conduct military actions in the Rafah area which may inflict on the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

"The charges of genocide brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague are false, outrageous and morally repugnant," the statement added.

The ICJ, following similar rulings this year on Gaza, ordered Israel to stop its actions in Rafah, citing the "disasterous" humanitarian conditions and "immense risk" to civilians.

The judgement also said that it was "not convinced" by Israel's assurances that it was doing everything possible to minimize the impact on the Palestinian population.

Before the Israeli army began its incursion, more than 1 million internally displaced Palestinians from other parts of the Gaza Strip had sought refuge in Rafah.
Everyone will fight. Ukrainian men weigh their options as new draft law comes into effect

The air at the Ukrainian military recruitment office where a 30-year-old hairdresser is being interviewed is filled with anxiety. The man has no military experience and is unsure whether any of his skills would be useful. At one point, the recruiter jokingly suggests that he might be able to give everyone a nice haircut.

But the man  who asked to remain anonymous given his pending military status  is there anyway. The time has come, he told CNN.

Under Ukraines new mobilization law, which came into effect on May 18, Ukrainian men are now facing a choice: Comply and face the possibility of being sent to the frontlines, or try to evade and risk penalties and condemnation.

The hairdresser has chosen to pre-empt the choice and volunteered, becoming one of six men to be interviewed at the Da Vinci Wolves Battalions recruitment center in Kyiv that day. The office is housed in an ordinary residential building, hidden from the outside world. Inside though, the walls are decorated with photos and big banners showing the logo of the battalion, a drawing of three teeth-baring wolves inside a stylized Ukrainian trident. The units recruitment slogan is Everyone will fight and the recruiters laptop is covered in stickers, one of them saying Your pack is waiting for you.

Ukraine has made no secret of the urgent need to recruit more people as it tries to defend itself against the Russian aggression. While the government doesnt reveal the number of dead and wounded, estimates made by experts speak of hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides of the conflict since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

One Ukrainian commander who asked not to be named for security reasons said the personnel shortages are having devastating effects on the battlefield.

If there had been 1,000 to 1,500 more servicemen in Avdiivka, we would have protected the weak spots through which the enemy entered.  If we had more people, we would have held out much longer, he told CNN of the eastern industrial city, which fell to Russian forces in February after Ukraine held it for more than a decade.

Making the case for a new mobilization, Yurii Sodol, the commander of the Joint Forces of Ukraines military, told Ukrainian lawmakers last month that Russian troops outnumbered Ukrainian seven to 10 times in eastern Ukraine.

This lack of personnel is putting immense pressure on those who are already serving.

The war is still going on and mobilization is essential. People who have been fighting for two years are tired. Some are going crazy, said Yaroslav Galas, who is currently serving with the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade.

Soldiers need proper rest for several months. They need to heal, relax and forget. They need to spend the money they have earned with sweat and blood, to solve their economic and personal issues, he told CNN.

A potential new recruit is being interviewed at the Da Vinci Wolves Battalions recruitment office in Kyiv in May 2024. - Daria Tarasova-Markina/CNN

To make the recruitment process more efficient and more transparent, the new law requires all Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 to register with the military and always have their documents on them.

However, only men aged 25 to 60 are subject to mobilization under the new law. The lower limit has been slashed by two years from 27 years, but its unlikely to make much difference because of Ukraines demographic challenges.

High emigration and low birth rates in the 1990s and 2000s mean there are far fewer people currently in their 20s, compared to those in their 30s and 40s.

Women who have medical or pharmaceutical qualifications must also register with the military, although they are not required to serve.

The new rules have been controversial  the draft law was amended more than 4,000 times during the approval process.

Desire to fight

It is unclear how many people will end up being called up. Late last year, the leader of President Volodymyr Zelenskys Servant of the People faction in parliament said the military was looking for an extra 500,000 servicemen and women. But the Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said recently that any increase in numbers would likely be significantly lower.

Some military officers are already questioning whether it will work. Their main worry is that theyll end up with units full of men who are only there because someone forced them to be.

We still want people to join voluntarily. Because there is a big difference between someone who was drafted into the army and someone who went to defend their homeland, said Dmytro Kulibaba, a soldier with the 114th Territorial Defense Brigade.

The desire to fight the enemy is very important, in addition to training, equipment and preparedness, he told CNN.

Galas said that many people are worried that if they get drafted, they will be automatically sent to the frontlines  which he said is not the case.

If you are a specialist, for example, who in civilian life was engaged in IT, accounting, project management, even cooks, clerks, then the Armed Forces also need you  and you can also make a fairly large contribution to the common victory by joining the Armed Forces, he said. We have a separate drone unit who are a little further away from the frontline. People who are good at electronics, even those who like to play computer games, will quickly master this specialty.

Sense of camaraderie

One Kyiv-based business owner told CNN he had been researching his options long before receiving the draft notice in the mail. He knew it was coming, he said, he just didnt know when.

I had been preparing for this for about a year or six months. I talked to my friends who are serving, I asked them about everything, the 35-year-old said, explaining that his goal was to find a unit that would be a good fit for him.

The man is currently in a training center and will be joining the army in couple of months, which is why he cannot be named by CNN. He is currently considering two options  reconnaissance or anti-aircraft missile troops.

He said agreeing to serve was a clear choice for him  despite some of his loved ones trying to steer him away from it.

You think about all the options when you must make such a decision. How can I look my son in the eye when I say that I was somewhere (else)? I dont know, it doesnt work for me. I made a moral and ethical decision for myself. And then I had to decide with whom I would (feel most comfortable) serving with, he said.

Ukrainian artillery soldiers in a shelter in the direction of Kreminna, Ukraine, 17 May 2024. - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu/Getty Images

Galas told CNN he believes the mobilization campaign has not been going well because it does not give people enough information.

It scares people away, he said. They dont know what is happening in the combat brigades and it needs to be explained to them.

He said that despite the initial worry, many soldiers adapt well to their new life, giving an example of a young IT specialist who was mobilized within the past few months.

Once he joined this team, he saw that life in an infantry unit is not what civilians imagine. Yes, it is dangerous and difficult. But good people are there, and the bad ones dont stay. There is a sense of camaraderie. And this is important, he explained.

The IT man had impressed his commanders immediately, he added.

He did very well during his first combat mission in Robotyno, holding positions 400 meters away from the Russians. He not only withstood assaults but also took prisoners, he said.

But not everyone is able to adjust to the realities of life on the frontline. The commanding officer who asked to remain anonymous spoke of another problem with the mobilization, saying that in recent times some recruits have not received the training they need to withstand the pressure.

The infantry being sent to the frontline needs to be given special training to make them real professionals. Because they come in here, drop their weapons, and run away from their positions, he said.

There must be motivation for the current military and those about to serve. We cannot use the methods used in Russia or Belarus  catching and imposing  this will not help. It will only lead to people running away and giving up their positions, he added.

Running away

But the military clearly isnt for everyone. CNN spoke to one man who is determined to avoid serving no matter what. He asked to remain anonymous because he is afraid of retribution.

I dont want to kill people, and in principle, Im not ready for that. If shelling starts on the frontline, I think I will be confused and will only create problems for others, he told CNN.

I think Id be more useful making money and bringing dollars to the country than digging trenches or guarding military facilities, he added.

He said he believes Ukraine doesnt have enough weapons to militarily reclaim territory seized by Russia in the war. The only way forward, he said, is a political agreement that would lead to Ukraine regaining its land.

Ukrainian soldiers listen to instructions during training at an undetermined location in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on May 18, 2024. - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu/Getty Images

The man said that if he was to receive a draft notice, he would leave the country.

I dont want to leave; I know that things are not so beautiful and sunny in Europe. But if I had to choose between going to war or going abroad, I would choose abroad, I would pay a bribe. My life comes first. And I realize that there is a very high chance of being killed, he said.

The soldiers who are currently serving have little patience for men like this one, who say they cant join the fight.

Soldiers who go on leave or for treatment, who are exhausted  of course that (seeing other men) drinking coffee in coffee shops, going to restaurants, pumping their biceps and (saying they were) not born for war make soldiers angry, Galas said.

Unless they obtain a special permit, men between the ages of 18 and 60 have been forbidden from leaving Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion and last month, the government suspended consular services for men who are not registered with the military.

Still, many attempt to run away anyway. Andrii Demchenko, the spokesperson for the Border Guard Service of Ukraine, told CNN his officers detain people trying to cross out of Ukraine on daily basis.

Some are willing to risk everything trying to escape. The Border Service said that since the start of the full-scale invasion, the bodies of 32 men have been found in the Tysa River on the border with Romania and Hungary.

CNNs Andrew Carey contributed reporting.

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Ex-Boston K-9 officer who used chair as weapon on Jan. 6 gets 20-month sentence

A former Boston K-9 officer who used a chair as a weapon during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol was sentenced to nearly a year in prison Friday, according to officials.

Joseph Robert Fisher, 52, was sentenced to 20 months in prison and 24 months of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution, per a press release from U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia.

Fisher, who is from Plymouth, Mass., pleaded guilty in February to two felony charges of civil disorder and assaulting an officer.

The defendant, according to the release, attended the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021, held by former President Trump ahead of the insurrection.

After the rally, Fisher walked to the Capitol Building and entered it at approximately 2:24 p.m., within ten minutes of the initial breach, prosecutors wrote in court documents. Once inside, Fisher walked to the Crypt and took photos and videos as other rioters repeatedly chanted, Stop the Steal.'

From there, he made his way to the Capitol Visitor Centers lobby and noticed another rioter in a physical altercation with the police, according to the release. He then joined in to assist the fellow rioter, who was deploying pepper spray, grabbing a chair and ramming it into the officer.

He was arrested by the FBI in March for the alleged charges.

Fishers case drew national attention after he petitioned the Supreme Court last year to eliminate any charges related to obstructing an official proceeding.

The high court agreed to take up the challenge and earlier this year scrutinized the scope of the federal obstruction law, signaling the justices may be wary of the Justice Departments prosecution. Their ruling could have a far-reaching impact on scores of Jan. 6 defendants, and the former president.

In the 40 months the attack on the Capitol, more than 1,400 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach, including more than 500 individuals charged for assaulting or impeding law enforcement, per the release.

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MORRIS HEIGHTS, the Bronx (PIX11)  An affordable housing lottery will be opening soon for a building in the Bronx that will offer some apartments for as low as just a few hundred dollars a month, city officials said.

The affordable housing lottery will be for Starhill Phase 1, located at 1600 Grand Ave. in Morris Heights.

How to improve your chances to win affordable housing in NYC

Starhill Phase 1 will have more than 300 units for extremely low-income to low-income residents, according to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. The building will offer studio to two-bedroom apartments.

We have studios as low as a few hundred dollars a month, and two bedrooms also extremely affordable for low-income households, said Aileen Reynolds, the assistant commissioner of housing opportunity at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

Applications for the Starhill Phase 1 lottery are expected to open on the NYC Housing Connect website in the next few weeks. An exact date hasnt been determined.

NYC Housing Connect is an online portal where people can find and apply for affordable housing opportunities in New York City. There are currently 32 affordable housing lotteries open on the website.

We always have new lotteries coming live on Housing Connect, Reynolds said.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development shared news of the upcoming Starhill Phase 1 listing exclusively with PIX11 during the Monica Makes it Happen Show on Friday.

Guests on Fridays show also included hip hop artist Dres; Linda Hoffman, the president of the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens; Victoria Schneps, the publisher and owner of Schneps Media; and housing heroes who are giving $1 million to groups helping their communities thrive.

Watch the full episode of Fridays Monica Makes it Happen Show in the video players above.

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Explainer-What does Louisiana's new abortion pill law mean for patients?

A pharmacist poses with pills of the drug Misoprostol, made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, in his hand at a pharmacy in Provo

By Ahmed Aboulenein and Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - The Louisiana Senate's vote on Thursday to reclassify the two drugs used in medication abortion as controlled substances marks the latest development in a nationwide battle over abortion pills.

Here is a look at what the law does, and what might happen next.

HOW DOES LOUISIANA'S LAW ADD TO ABORTION RESTRICTIONS?

The law classifies mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV substances, meaning they require greater oversight due to a potential for abuse or dependence.

That puts the abortion pills in same category as anti-anxiety medications Xanax and Valium. The law makes it a crime to possess them without a prescription or outside of professional medical practice, punishable by one to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.

This makes it riskier for Louisiana residents, who are already subject to a near-total ban on abortion, to bring pills that can terminate a pregnancy from out of state or order them online without a prescription.

WHO ELSE IS AFFECTED?

Pregnant women are exempt from prosecution, but any other person who might help them obtain the drugs, like friends and family or providers, are not. Neither are women who are not pregnant but want to acquire them as a precaution.

Doctors will need a special license to prescribe the drugs and those prescriptions would be logged in a state database that law enforcement can access with a warrant. That could make doctors hesitant to prescribe them and compromise patient privacy.

Critics say the law will also make it harder for people who need misoprostol for other conditions. The drug is used to induce labor, treat miscarriages, reduce the risk of serious bleeding from ulcers and other indications.

COULD THE LAW BE CHALLENGED IN COURT?

Yes. Women and doctors in Louisiana, and the makers of the drugs, could all argue that they are harmed by the law and have legal standing to challenge it.

One potential argument is that the law violates Louisiana residents' basic rights under the state constitution by restricting necessary medical care.

Plaintiffs could also say that the law conflicts with the federal government's policy of making the drugs available. The only comparable case, however, is a 2014 court ruling that Massachusetts could not ban a prescription painkiller outright, which Louisiana's law does not do.

ARE OTHER STATES CONSIDERING SIMILAR LAWS?

Reuters was not able to identify similar proposals, but past experience suggests copycat laws are likely. For example, after Texas passed a law allowing private lawsuits against people who aid or abet in obtaining an abortion, several other states followed suit.

WHERE ELSE IS THE FIGHT OVER ABORTION PILLS UNFOLDING?

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering a lawsuit in which anti-abortion medical groups and doctors are seeking to restrict mifepristone, including through a ban on prescribing it by telemedicine or dispensing it by mail.

Meanwhile, several Democratic-led states have passed so-called "shield laws" meant to protect doctors who prescribe abortion pills across state lines to patients where abortion is illegal.

(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington and Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Josie Kao)
A soldier participates in the Norwegian Foot March at Fort Ord National Monument, in Monterey County, California, Oct. 28, 2022. Mounting evidence shows that to kill pervasive poison oak and other weeds at Fort Ord  a former Army base, which closed in 1994  the military sprayed and experimented with the powerful herbicide combination Agent Orange as far back as the 1950s. (Photo by Winifred Brown of the U.S. Army)

As a young GI at Fort Ord in Monterey County, California, Dean Osborn spent much of his time in the oceanside woodlands, training on soil and guzzling water from streams and aquifers now known to be contaminated with cancer-causing pollutants.

They were marching the snot out of us, he said, recalling his year and a half stationed on the base, from 1979 to 1980. He also remembers, not so fondly, the poison oak pervasive across the 28,000-acre installation that closed in 1994. He went on sick call at least three times because of the overwhelmingly itchy rash.

Mounting evidence shows that as far back as the 1950s, in an effort to kill the ubiquitous poison oak and other weeds at the Army base, the military experimented with and sprayed the powerful herbicide combination known colloquially as Agent Orange.

While the U.S. military used the herbicide to defoliate the dense jungles of Vietnam and adjoining countries, it was contaminating the land and waters of coastal California with the same chemicals, according to documents.

The Defense Department has publicly acknowledged that during the Vietnam War era it stored Agent Orange at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Mississippi, and the former Kelly Air Force Base in Texas, and tested it at Floridas Eglin Air Force Base.

According to the Government Accountability Office, however, the Pentagons list of sites where herbicides were tested went more than a decade without being updated and lacked specificity. GAO analysts described the list in 2018 as inaccurate and incomplete.

Fort Ord was not included. It is among about four dozen bases that the government has excluded but where Pat Elder, an environmental activist, said he has documented the use or storage of Agent Orange.

According to a 1956 article in the journal The Military Engineer, the use of Agent Orange herbicides at Fort Ord led to a drastic reduction in trainee dermatitis casualties.

In training areas, such as Fort Ord, where poison oak has been extremely troublesome to military personnel, a well-organized chemical war has been waged against this woody plant pest, the article noted.

Other documents, including a report by an Army agronomist as well as documents related to hazardous material cleanups, point to the use of Agent Orange at the sprawling base that 1.5 million service members cycled through from 1917 to 1994.

The Most Toxic Chemical

Agent Orange is a 50-50 mixture of two ingredients, known as 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. Herbicides with the same chemical structure slightly modified were available off the shelf, sold commercially in massive amounts, and used at practically every base in the U.S., said Gerson Smoger, a lawyer who argued before the Supreme Court for Vietnam veterans to have the right to sue Agent Orange manufacturers. The combo was also used by farmers, forest workers, and other civilians across the country.

The chemical 2,4,5-T contains the dioxin 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or TCDD, a known carcinogen linked to several cancers, chronic conditions, and birth defects. A recent Brown University study tied Agent Orange exposure to brain tissue damage similar to that caused by Alzheimers. Acknowledging its harm to human health, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of 2,4,5-T in the U.S. in 1979. Still, the other weed killer, 2,4-D is sold off-the-shelf today.

The bottom line is TCDD is the most toxic chemical that man has ever made, Smoger said.

For years, the Department of Veteran Affairs has provided vets who served in Vietnam disability compensation for diseases considered to be connected to exposure to Agent Orange for military use from 1962 to 1975.

Decades after Osborns military service, the 68-year-old veteran, who never served in Vietnam, has battled one health crisis after another: a spot on his left lung and kidney, hypothyroidism, and prostate cancer, an illness that has been tied to Agent Orange exposure.

He says many of his old buddies from Fort Ord are sick as well.

Now we have cancers that we didnt deserve, Osborn said.

The VA considers prostate cancer a presumptive condition for Agent Orange disability compensation, acknowledging that those who served in specific locations were likely exposed and that their illnesses are tied to their military service. The designation expedites affected veterans claims.

But when Osborn requested his benefits, he was denied. The letter said the cancer was more likely due to your age, not military service.

This didnt happen because of my age. This is happening because we were stationed in the places that were being sprayed and contaminated, he said.

Studies show that diseases caused by environmental factors can take years to emerge. And to make things more perplexing for veterans stationed at Fort Ord, contamination from other harmful chemicals, like the industrial cleaner trichloroethylene, have been well documented on the former base, landing it on the EPAs Superfund site list in 1990.

We typically expect to see the effect years down the line, said Lawrence Liu, a doctor at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center who has studied Agent Orange. Carcinogens have additive effects.

In February, the VA proposed a rule that for the first time would allow compensation to veterans for Agent Orange exposure at 17 U.S. bases in a dozen states where the herbicide was tested, used, or stored.

Fort Ord is not on that list either, because the VAs list is based on the Defense Departments 2019 update.

Its a very tricky question, Smoger said, emphasizing how widely the herbicides were used both at military bases and by civilians for similar purposes. On one hand, we were service. We were exposed. On the other hand, why are you different from the people across the road that are privately using it?

The VA says that it based its proposed rule on information provided by the Defense Department.

DoDs review found no documentation of herbicide use, testing or storage at Fort Ord. Therefore, VA does not have sufficient evidence to extend a presumption of exposure to herbicides based on service at Fort Ord at this time, VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said in an email.

The Documentation

Yet environmental activist Elder, with help from toxic and remediation specialist Denise Trabbic-Pointer and former VA physician Kyle Horton, compiled seven documents showing otherwise. They include a journal article, the agronomist report, and cleanup-related documents as recent as 1995  all pointing to widespread herbicide use and experimentation as well as lasting contamination at the base.

Though the documents do not call the herbicide by its colorful nickname, they routinely cite the combination of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. A hazardous waste minimization assessment dated 1991 reported 80,000 pounds of herbicides used annually at Fort Ord. It separately lists 2,4,5-T as a product for which substitutions are necessary to minimize the environmental impacts.

The poison oak control program started in 1951, according to a report by Army agronomist Floyd Otter, four years before the U.S. deepened its involvement in Vietnam. Otter detailed the use of these chemicals alone and in combination with diesel oil or other compounds, at rates generally between one to two gallons of liquid herbicide per acre.

In conclusion, we are fairly well satisfied with the methods, Otter wrote, noting he was interested in any way in which costs can be lowered or quicker kill obtained.

An article published in California Agriculture more than a decade later includes before and after photos showing the effectiveness of chemical brush control used in a live-oak woodland at Fort Ord, again citing both chemicals in Agent Orange. The Defense Department did not respond to questions sent April 10 about the contamination or say when the Army stopped using 2,4,5-T at Fort Ord.

Whats most compelling about Fort Ord is it was actually used for the same purpose it was used for in Vietnam  to kill plants  not just storing it, said Julie Akey, a former Army linguist who worked at the base in the 1990s and later developed the rare blood cancer multiple myeloma.

Akey, who also worked with Elder, runs a Facebook group and keeps a list of people stationed on the base who later were diagnosed with cancer and other illnesses. So far, she has tallied more than 1,400 former Fort Ord residents who became sick.

Elders findings have galvanized the group to speak up during a public comment period for the VAs proposed rule. Of 546 comments, 67 are from veterans and others urging the inclusion of Fort Ord. Hundreds of others have written in regarding the use of Agent Orange and other chemicals at their bases.

While the herbicide itself sticks around for only a short time, the contaminant TCDD can linger in sediment for decades, said Kenneth Olson, a professor emeritus of soil science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

A 1995 report from the Armys Sacramento Corps of Engineers, which documented chemicals detected in the soil at Fort Ord, found levels of TCDD at 3.5 parts per trillion, more than double the remediation goal at the time of 1.2 ppt. Olson calls the evidence convincing.

It clearly supports the fact that 2,4,5-T with unknown amounts of dioxin TCDD was applied on the Fort Ord grounds and border fences, Olson said. Some military and civilian personnel would have been exposed.

The Department of Defense has described the Agent Orange used in Vietnam as a tactical herbicide, more concentrated than what was commercially available in the U.S. But Olson said his research suggests that even if the grounds maintenance crew used commercial versions of 2,4,5-T, which was available in the federal supply catalog, the soldiers would have been exposed to the dioxin TCDD.

The half dozen veterans who spoke with KFF Health News said they want the military to take responsibility.

The Pentagon did not respond to questions regarding the upkeep of the list or the process for adding locations.

In the meantime, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is studying potential chemical exposure among people who worked and lived on Fort Ord between 1985 and 1994. However, the agency is evaluating drinking water for contaminants such as trichloroethylene and not contamination or pollution from other chemicals such as Agent Orange or those found in firefighting foams.

Other veterans are frustrated by the VAs long process to recognize their illnesses and believe they were sickened by exposure at Fort Ord.

Until Fort Ord is recognized by the VA as a presumptive site, its probably going to be a long, difficult struggle to get some kind of compensation, said Mike Duris, a 72-year-old veteran diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago who ultimately underwent surgery.

Like so many others, he wonders about the connection to his training at Fort Ord in the early 70s  drinking the contaminated water and marching, crawling, and digging holes in the dirt.

Often, where there is smoke, theres fire, Duris said.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

The post Exposure to Agent Orange at U.S. bases, some veterans face cancer with VA support appeared first on Daily Montanan.
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (KDVR)  An inclusive playground in Castle Rock was vandalized, and investigating police believe two juveniles were involved.

The Castle Rock Police Department said that while this is an ongoing investigation, officers no longer need tips from the community. However, the agency did not have any more details to give.

BYOB Bandit wanted in 4 Denver bank robberies

On a nice Friday afternoon, Brett Turner loves to take his 6-year-old grandson to the inclusive Possibilities Playground at Butterfield Crossing Park.

The work that they put into this park is so special. It took them awhile and a lot of money went into this place to bring in special equipment for sensory type of stuff for autistic children like my grandson, said Turner.

He was saddened to learn about what happened nearly three weeks ago.

Its great stuff for them, said Turner. I just hate to see it get ruined or damaged by somebody who feels like they dont have anything better to do.

Castle Rock police told FOX31 that on May 4 around 9 p.m., two juveniles caused nearly $2,500 worth of damage to the musical equipment at the park.

Theyre just beat up pretty bad. They dont sound like they used to. Its a dull thump, said Turner.

Its his first time back at the park since the vandalism happened.

It was extreme disappointment that thats happening here in our neighborhood, Turner said. I mean its happening everywhere, but when it hits home like this you dont want to think its someone from our neighborhood.

Crews respond to 2 rescue calls on separate Colorado 14ers in same day

Turner said he hopes the kids responsible for the damage learn their lesson because it can really hurt the kids who play there.

You dont want to blame everything on the parents, said Turner. Kids make their own decisions no matter what age they are at. Parents can try their hardest and they dont always make the right decisions.

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.
Fact Check: Posts Claim Average Net Worth of 30-Year-Old in US Is -$1,043. We Looked at the Numbers

Claim:

The average net worth of a 30-year-old in the U.S. is -$1,043.

Rating:

Rating: Outdated

Beginning in the early 2020s, users on social media platforms and discussion forums circulated the claim that the average net worth of a 30-year-old in the U.S. was -$1,043, indicating that people at that age tend to owe more than they own.

For example, in June 2023, an X user posted, "The average net worth of a 30 year old in the US is -$1,043 and I'm the irresponsible one for suggesting people save some money in #Bitcoin." Another account on X posted in December 2022 that "the average net worth of a 30 year old in the USA is negative. It's -$1,043," along with a table supposedly depicting the average net worth by age for millennials, adding, "If you have zero dollars to your name, and no debt, you are wealthy."

(X user @jmrphy)

However, the figure in these posts was likely based on outdated reporting.

The negative number appeared to originate from The College Investor, a website that aims to help young people get out of student loan debt so they can start to build wealth through investing. Since the article first published in 2016, The College Investor has regularly updated its estimates of the net worth of millennials, while also explaining how it came to these numbers by factoring in the graduation year, average salaries of graduates, average student loan debt and average annual saving rates.

In subsequent updates, The College Investor noted that when the article was originally written "there was no data available to figure out millennial net worth. As millennials have aged and even the youngest being in the workforce for a good amount of time, their net worth has been growing, and the data has been increasing. A large amount of our analysis comes from the most recent Federal Reserve Survey on Consumer Finances, which was published in October 2023. This article has been updated to reflect the latest data on millennial net worth." According to the author:

Finally I want to re-emphasize that these are just my estimates. The Federal Reserve data lumps everyone under 35 into one bucket, so while we have some starting points, things can always skew one way or another.  I tried to make these estimates line up with the real data as best as possible, but most real data points exclude negative net worth for millennials buried in student loan debt. For reference, the median of millennial net worth is $10,400. The true geometric average of millennial net worth is actually $75,500 - but that number is heavily skewed by outliers like Mark Zuckerberg.

According to estimates provided by the platform, the average net worth of 30-year-olds in the U.S. has jumped around over the years. In 2016, it was $2,093, while in 2017 it dropped into negative territory, at -$1,989. There it remained until 2021, when it was updated to -$1,043.

Net worth is the total value of everything a person owns  like savings, investments, property and belongings  minus any debts or liabilities, including student debt, car loans and other financial obligations. For younger adults, several factors could contribute to their net worth being in negative territory:

Student loan debt: A 2023 report from the Education Data Initiative indicates that individuals age 30 carry an average student loan debt of $42,822. Consumer debt: Thirty-year-olds also tend to have substantial credit card debt and auto loans. Experian data revealed that the average credit card balance for the millennial age group of 27 to 42 was $6,521 in 2023. Low asset accumulation: Young adults typically have had less time to accumulate significant assets such as property, investments or savings. Several reports highlight that millennials have higher debt relative to both their income and assets, compared to previous generations at the same age, likely due to the 2007-08 financial crisis that led to recession.

The latest estimate from The College Investor, in April 2024, reported the average net worth for a 30-year-old was $42,339, with the author noting that "if you're comparing this to past charts, the Federal reserve data has shown significant growth in the older cohorts (42%). Our data aligns with this, as these individuals have likely been working and seeing significant investment gains over the last few years."

When discussing the average net worth of individuals in America, most reputable outlets tend to give an age range rather than a specific age. Recent data from other authoritative outlets indicated that, financially speaking, 30-year-olds are better off than they were a few years ago.

The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) indicated that, as of 2022, the average net worth for individuals under 35 was considerably lower than for older age groups, at around $183,000. The SCF data also showed that "student debt tends to peak at younger ages, when such investments may be particularly important but also when other measures of economic well-being, like income and wealth, are relatively subdued," which could indeed contribute to a negative net worth for some young adults. Median net worth for that age group  a measure that reduces the impact of extremely wealthy outliers  was $39,040. The survey also showed that from 2019 to 2022, the median and average net worth rose for all age groups.

The claim that the average net worth of a 30-year-old in the U.S. is -$1,043 is based on outdated information that is not currently supported by reputable news and finance outlets. However, the key takeaway is that the average 30-year-old is doing better today than a few years ago.

Snopes has previously fact-checked claims related to debt and finances, including whether 25% of the nation's debt was incurred during the Trump administration, and how the net worths of presidents have changed.

Sources:

"Americans' Average Net Worth By Age: Where Do You Rank?" Yahoo Finance, 19 Mar. 2024, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/americans-average-net-worth-age-140016251.html.

Average Net Worth by Age - SmartAsset | SmartAsset. https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/average-net-worth-by-age. Accessed 17 May 2024.

---. https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/average-net-worth-by-age. Accessed 17 May 2024.

By. Average Credit Card Debt Increases 10% to $6,501 in 2023 - Experian. 11 Mar. 2024, https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/state-of-credit-cards/.

Center for Microeconomic Data | Student Debt. https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/topics/student-debt.html. Accessed 17 May 2024.

Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2019 to 2022. BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM, Oct. 2023, https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/scf23.pdf.

Eggleston, Jonathan, and Robert Munk. Net Worth of Households: 2016. United States Census Bureau, Oct. 2019, https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2019/demo/p70br-166.pdf.

Farrington, Robert. "Average Net Worth Of Millennials By Age." The College Investor, 26 Oct. 2023, https://thecollegeinvestor.com/14611/average-net-worth-millennials/.

Gravier, Elizabeth. "Here's the Average Net Worth of Americans Broken down by Age  See How You Compare." CNBC, https://www.cnbc.com/select/americans-average-net-worth-by-age/. Accessed 17 May 2024.

Kalish, Emma. Millennials Are the Least Wealthy, but Most Optimistic, Generation. Urban Institute, Apr. 2026, https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/79881/2000753-Millennials-Are-the-Least-Wealthy-but-Most-Optimistic-Generation.pdf.

PK. "Average Net Worth by Age plus Median, Top 1%, and All Percentiles." DQYDJ  Don't Quit Your Day Job..., 19 Oct. 2023, https://dqydj.com/net-worth-percentiles-by-age/.

Rasmussen, Levi. "The Top 1% at Every Age: The Numbers." Wall Street Survivor, 8 Sept. 2021, https://www.wallstreetsurvivor.com/the-top-1-at-every-age/.

Sethi, Ramit. "Average Net Worth By Age & 3 Best Ways to Increase Yours." I Will Teach You To Be Rich, 5 Sept. 2017, https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/average-net-worth-by-age/.

Sommer, Constance. "Average Credit Card Debt In The U.S." Bankrate, https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/states-with-most-credit-card-debt/. Accessed 17 May 2024.

"Student Loan Debt Statistics [2024]: Average + Total Debt." Education Data Initiative, https://educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics. Accessed 17 May 2024.

Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/scfindex.htm. Accessed 17 May 2024.

"The Average Net Worth by Age in America." Empower, https://www.empower.com/the-currency/life/average-net-worth-by-age. Accessed 17 May 2024.

"The Average Net Worth For A 30 Year Old In America." Financial Samurai, 1 Jan. 2022, https://www.financialsamurai.com/the-average-net-worth-for-a-30-year-old/.

The Average Net Worth of a 30 Year Old in the U.S. Is -$1,043. " XJMR. https://www.econjobrumors.com/topic/the-average-net-worth-of-a-30-year-old-in-the-us-is-1043. Accessed 17 May 2024.

X.Com. https://twitter.com/x/migrate?tok=eyJlIjoiL2ptcnBoeS9zdGF0dXMvMTYwODE3MjE3MDczOTQzNzU2OSIsInQiOjE3MTU5ODU5NDR9vY5kFN3DcRBzTNO6vNCcIg%3D%3D. Accessed 17 May 2024.

"Average American Net Worth by Age: Compare Yours." NerdWallet, 27 Oct. 2023, https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/average-net-worth-by-age.

Caporal, Jack. "Average Net Worth by Age, Education, and Race." The Motley Fool, https://www.fool.com/research/average-net-worth-americans/. Accessed 22 May 2024.
Families of five Marines killed in a June 2022 Osprey crash in southern California have filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit, blaming companies that make the aircraft for the tragedy.

The lawsuit, filed this week, names Boeing, Rolls Royce and Bell Textron, which are each involved in producing the "tiltrotor" V-22 Osprey, capable of both taking off vertically like a helicopter and flying like an airplane -- by changing the angle of its propellers.

All five Marines aboard the Osprey were killed after a clutch problem caused a failure in the right engine during a training flight, sending the aircraft out of control over Glamis, California, according to a military report on its investigation of the disaster.

The investigation found the mishap was due to an "unpreventable" mechanical failure, and not any error on the part of pilots, crew, or maintenance personnel.

PHOTO: Ground level wreckage photo from USMC investigative report (U.S. Marine Corps)

The Marines killed were:

-Capt. John J. Sax, 33, from Placer, California-Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, from Rockingham, New Hampshire-Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, from Winnebago, Illinois-Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, from Johnson, Wyoming-Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, from Valencia, New Mexico

PHOTO: Captain John J. Sax, Captain Nicholas P. Losapio, Corporal Nathan E. Carlson, Corporal Seth D. Rasmuson, Lance Corporal Evan A. Strickland (U.S. Marine Corps)

"John taught me to be brave, both through his life and his death. What happened to him, Nick, Nathan, Seth, and Evan on June 8th, 2022, should have never happened," said a statement by Amber Sax, wife of Capt. John Sax. "Our military members deserve equipment and aircraft free of failures, especially failures that can cause the loss of their lives."

Four families out of the five deceased Marines are being represented by the Winser Baum law firm.

"The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the families of Sax, Carlson, Rasmuson, and Strickland, accuses the companies of negligence, negligent misrepresentation, and fraudulent misrepresentation for failing to make 'truthful statements to the government and to service members about the design, operation, and safety of V-22 Osprey aircraft,'" a Thursday press release from the law firm said.

The 2022 catastrophe was only one of several deadly Osprey crashes in recent years. In August 2023, three Marines were killed when their Osprey aircraft wend down during a training exercise off the northern coast of Australia. That November in Japan, eight airmen were killed in another crash.

PHOTO: In this Dec. 5, 2022, file photo, a MV-22 Osprey aircraft is used during a training exercise at Camp Pendleton, California. (Orange County Register/Media News Group via Getty Images, FILE)

MORE: US military grounds all of its V-22 Ospreys following last week's deadly crash

After the November crash, the military grounded all of its Osprey, a precaution meant to give time to investigate potential problems and come up with safety recommendations. The military lifted the flight ban in early 2024, after emplacing several new protocols and restrictions.

"I have high confidence that the protocols we're putting in place will avoid a catastrophic event like this happening again in the future," said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, in March.

MORE: 3 Marines killed in V-22 Osprey crash in Australia identified

"Despite assurances from companies like Bell-Boeing regarding the safety of these aircraft and their systems, the facts continue to raise concerns and reveal a starkly different reality," said Timothy Loranger, an attorney with Winser Baum, in a statement to ABC News.

A Boeing representative told ABC News on Friday, "We are unable to comment on pending litigation." A representative from Rolls-Royce said, "We are not commenting at this time." Bell Textron did not immediately respond to an ABC News request for comment.

Families of Marines killed in 2022 Osprey crash file wrongful death lawsuit originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Olenivka Community non-governmental organisation has urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), the Ukrainian President's Office and other state bodies to swap traitors and collaborators for prisoners of war (PoWs) wounded in the terrorist attack in Olenivka PoW camp on the night of 28-29 July 2022.

Source: Mariia Alieksieievych, wife of a Ukrainian defender, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda; address of the Olenivka Community

Details: The organisation indicates that about 120 people wounded that night, including 59 severely, are still being held in captivity, but there has been no information about most of them for more than a year.

The address asks to swap Viacheslav Bohuslaiev, the former president of Motor Sich, Ukraines leading aircraft engine manufacturer, pro-Kremlin lawmaker Nestor Shufrych, Pavlo Lebid, Head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate, and other pro-Russian priests for Ukrainian soldiers.

Mariia, the wife of an Azov Brigade soldier who was severely wounded in the terrorist attack in Olenivka, believes that such a swap mechanism should be used and that individuals valuable to Russia should be exchanged.

Quote from Alieksieievych: "When we raised the issue of a possible swap of Viktor Medvedchuk for the defenders of Mariupol in 2022, we were told that it was rather impossible and that Russia did not need him. [Viktor Medvedchuk is a Ukrainian businessman and pro-Russian politician to whose daughter Putin is godfather]. However, he was given to Russia as part of the swap on 21 September 2022, when 215 of our defenders, who had been held in Russian captivity for four months, came back to Ukraine.

Our relatives have been in Russian torture chambers for two years now, and we need to look for different ways to bring them back as soon as possible."

More details: The community also asks Ukraine's Foreign Ministry to involve the countries that have participated in such exchanges  Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Background:

On 29 July 2022, Russian media reported an attack on the PoW camp in Olenivka (Donetsk Oblast), where Ukrainian PoWs were held. Propagandists said at least 53 people had been killed.

DIU believes that the killing of Ukrainian PoWs in Olenivka was organised by mercenaries of the Wagner Private Military Company on the personal instructions of their chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, without the approval of Russia's Defence Ministry.

In October, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated that it could not "break through by force" to Ukrainian prisoners of war illegally held by Russia but "shares Ukraine's disappointment".

On 29 January 2023, the Ukrainian President's Office complained that the ICRC had not sent a delegation to Olenivka for 6 months.

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PARIS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron called for a ceasefire in Gaza and opposed Israeli operations in Rafah as he received an Arab delegation here on Friday.

"Ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages, humanitarian aid, two-state solution: there is no alternative for lasting peace," said Macron on X, formerly Twitter, after he met with members of the contact group of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the situation in the Middle East.

The meeting focused on the effective implementation of the two-state solution, the only way to guarantee the peace and security of the State of Israel and to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, said a press release from the Elysee.

"The President of the Republic reiterated France's support for a strengthened Palestinian Authority and its return to the Gaza Strip with the support of the international community," the press release said. 
***Video above: Unusual animals spotted in Ohio.***

(WJW)  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sending out a reminder to wild game hunters after a family became sickened with a rare parasite while eating undercooked bear meat.

In a newly released report, the CDC says six family members were infected by trichinellosis, a rare roundworm parasite that spreads through eating infected meat.

The investigation started in July 2022, after a case of suspected trichinellosis was reported to the Minnesota Department of Health.

According to the CDC, a 29-year-old man was hospitalized with a fever, severe muscle pain, eye swelling, eosinophilia and other symptoms.

Arrest made in theft of rare sports cards worth $2M

The man reportedly sought out medical care four times and was hospitalized twice within 17 days, the CDC says.

Medical experts later learned that the man and eight other people got together for a family reunion in South Dakota six days before his symptoms began.

During the reunion, they shared a meal of kabobs with black bear meat, that was reportedly harvested by one of the family members in northern Saskatchewan, Canada in May 2022.

Black bear

According to the CDC, while eating the meat, some family members noticed that it was undercooked. It was reportedly recooked before serving again.

Health officials reached out to the family members, who lived in Arizona, Minnesota, and South Dakota, and confirmed that six of them experienced symptoms associated with trichinellosis, ranging from age 12 to 62.

The CDC report confirms that three of those six people were hospitalized for a time due to the disease. They all recovered.

Experts collected samples from the remaining bear meat still in the freezer after 110 days, which tested positive for Trichinella nativa larvae. The family member who hunted the bear was told to throw the rest of the infected meat away.

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The CDC says the cases were reported to state health departments and the Public Health Agency of Canada was notified about the outbreak.

According to the CDC, trichinellosis cases, while rare in the U.S., typically derive from wild game meat.

Health officials say there have been seven outbreaks with 35 probable and confirmed cases between January 2016 and December 2022. Bear meat was reportedly the culprit in most of those cases.

The CDC reminds the public that wild game meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165F, which should be confirmed with a meat thermometer.

Learn more about the outbreak 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Family of Michelle Go pushes to reform US mental health system: Michelle might still be alive

Family of Michelle Go pushes to reform US mental health system: Michelle might still be alive

NEW YORK (PIX11)  PIX11 News spoke exclusively with the family of Michelle Go as they work to reform the nations mental health system by nearly doubling the amount of Medicaid-funded psychiatric beds.

The Go family is working with U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat representing Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn in Congress, along with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers.

I think had this been in place in 2021, perhaps Michelle might still be alive with us, said Justin Go, Michelles father.

In January of 2022, Michelles tragic death captivated the city. She was pushed in front of an oncoming R train by Martial Simon, who had a lengthy history of trying and failing to get the mental health care he needed.

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Justin Go said the decision to advocate on behalf of people like Simon is what Michelle, who often volunteered to help homeless Individuals, would have wanted.

He was someone who should not have been there, Go said. He should have been in a mental facility getting help. His sister told me they ran out of money, and its sad to think someone like that is on the street.

Our mental health crisis is growing, Goldman said.

Goldman worked with the Go family and advocates to craft the legislation. He said essentially under an arcane federal law Medicaid cannot pay for long-term mental health stays for someone under the age of 65 in facilities with more than 16 beds.

This bill will dramatically increase the ability for those who want mental health treatment to get it, Goldman said. It will hopefully help solve some of our homelessness, and rise in public safety issues around the city.

The Michelle Go Act does this by expanding Medicaid coverage to psychiatric facilities with up to 36 beds. It has broad support including from Brooklyn and Staten Island Republican U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

The U.S. is ready for people to vote and pursue something that is bipartisan, Go said with hope in his voice. Bringing more safety people in New York and elsewhere, and helping people who need the help of a mental care facility, can only bring good things to the country and the cities.

Goldman said he has strong hope the Michelle Go Act will become law by the end of the year, possibly just after the election during whats known as the lame-duck session.

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.
Family sues Disney for $50K after man finds fiancee unconscious at the end of Humunga Kowabunga water slide

Walt Disney Parks has been sued by a woman who alleges she lost consciousness and suffered a brain injury after riding a slide at Typhoon lagoon (Disney)

Walt Disney Parks has been sued by a woman who alleges she lost consciousness and suffered a brain injury after riding a giant water slide at Typhoon Lagoon.

Laura Reyes-Merino is seeking $50,000 in damages and claims in court papers that the park was negligent for failing to maintain the ride.

Lawyers for Ms Reyes-Merino state that she was injured when she rode a tube on the Humunga Kowabunga ride on 11 May at the Florida theme park.

It is described in the lawsuit as a 60-degree angle, 214-foot, downhill and enclosed body slide. She alleges that she fell unconscious on it due to the banging inside the slide.

Court papers state that her fiance and his mother found her limp body at the end of the ride and frantically asked the attendants to help.

Those attendants said that they were not lifeguards and would have to find someone to help. Meanwhile, the womans fiance pulled her from the water while that help was on its way.

Eventually a lifeguard came and said they couldnt help or touch Plaintiff either and called an ambulance, court documents state.

Had Defendant had lifeguards at the end of the ride to watch and help guests coming off the ride, Plaintiffs brain injury would not have occurred as she wouldnt have been drowning in the water coughing up blood.

The Independent has contacted Walt Disney Parks for comment.
Vehicles and pedestrians pass by a memorial for Princeville teen Nevaeh Mitchell who died May 5, 2024, after a head-on collision May 4, 2024, in the 8400 block of Orange-Prairie Road in Peoria.

The investigation into a head-on collision that killed a Dunlap High School student is still in progress three weeks after the accident.

Around 11:38 p.m. May 4, a black 2012 Ford Fusion collided with a white 2012 Nissan Versa in the 8400 block of North Orange Prairie Road, causing major damage to the front of both vehicles, according to a Peoria Fire Department report obtained by the Journal Star through the Freedom of Information Act.

Nevaeh Mitchell, the 18-year-old who was driving the Nissan home from her job at the AMC movie theater near the Shoppes at Grand Prairie, had been traveling north along Orange Prairie Road when her vehicle collided with a car traveling southbound in the northbound lanes, authorities have said. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:27 a.m. May 5.

The Fire Department report stated "there was no obvious indication in the median" that the Ford had crossed over the median near the collision site.

No charges have been filed in the case. Semone Roth, spokesperson for Peoria Police Department, told the Journal Star this week that no new information was available. After the Journal Star emailed questions to Chief Eric Echevarria, Roth responded, saying Echevarria would not comment on the case until the investigation is completed.

"These investigations sometimes take a while before they are complete, but I can tell you that Peoria Police are investigating this case and has been since the very beginning," Roth said in an email. "Once they have completed their investigation, I will send out an update to the media."

More: Important questions remain unanswered in crash that killed Dunlap student in Peoria

The Peoria Police Department report listed the driver of the Ford Fusion as a man from Wyoming, Illinois. He suffered serious injuries and was transported to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center for treatment.

While the city provided reports from the fire department and police department from shortly after the crash, supplemental reports were not made available to the Journal Star due to the ongoing investigation.

Nevaeh was on the verge of graduating from Dunlap High with honors. She had earned a scholarship from Loyola University and planned to attend the school in Chicago, according to her obituary.

More: After tragic wreck in Peoria, Dunlap teenager remembered as 'beautiful soul'

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria police still investigating crash 3 weeks after student's death
The federal government has urged a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Tallahassee-based companies that could be prevented from working on federally funded projects after being affiliated with an engineering firm that designed a collapsed Florida International University pedestrian bridge.

Nine companies and their owner, Linda Figg, filed the lawsuit in March in U.S. district court to try to block a proposal by the Federal Highway Administration that could keep them off federally funded projects.

The companies are affiliated with FIGG Bridge Engineers, Inc., which designed the Miami-Dade County pedestrian bridge that collapsed in 2018, crushing cars and killing five motorists and one construction worker.

Read: Man arrested, charged in connection to Apopka bank robberies

FIGG Bridge Engineers was blocked in 2021 from working on federally funded projects until 2029.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Grogan wrote in a 23-page motion this week that the lawsuit should be dismissed because the federal government has not made a final decision about what is known as debarring the affiliated companies. A federal safety investigation determined the probable cause of the accident was errors made by a bridge engineering company and one of its engineers, the motion said.

Read: 8 straight, Orlando Pride set NWSL record

A federal agency debarred those parties from federal contracts for nine years. Now the federal agency has information suggesting that the debarred company has attempted to avoid that consequence by using different corporate identities to try to get federal contracts of the same kind. The federal agency is considering whether to debar those entities under regulations made to prevent the circumvention of debarment. But there has been no final agency action on those other proposed debarments  not suspensions  which are still properly ongoing under the applicable regulations. So this action by the debarred companys owner and company affiliates is premature  that is, not ripe  and not unreasonably delayed.

The motion also argued that the federal agency has the authority under federal law to do what it is considering doing but has not yet done. The federal government can make a business decision of this kind to protect the public interest.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Overlooks of the Red River Gorge Geological Area on the Chimney Top Trail. Sept. 19, 2020

Popular spots at Kentucky's Red River Gorge could start costing hikers and visitors a fee to access with a proposed plan from the U.S. Forest Service.

According to the proposal, if passed, fees at 22 recreational sites will be implemented, including at boat launches, popular trails for day use and backpacking sites. The U.S. Forest Service is accepting public comment on the proposal until July 31 before a final decision is made, and fees are implementable as early as 2025.

Red River Gorge Crews rescue four college students in dangerous conditions from Red River Gorge

The U.S. Forest Service oversees and manages Red River Gorge and the Daniel Boone National Forest. The Daniel Boone National Forest spans over 700,000 acres, with Red River Gorge accounting for nearly 30,000.

Together, the two have over 600 miles of trails and welcome over a million visitors annually, according to the U.S. Forest Service website. Money from fees would go towards maintaining facilities, preserving resources and enhancing visitor experiences.

A view of the surrounding area in the Red River Gorge Geological Area from the Chimney Top Trail. Sept. 19, 2020

Currently free, sites like the Chimney Top Trail, Auxier Ridge Trailhead, Indian Creek and Grays Arch Picnic Area would cost $5 a day per vehicle, $7 for three days per vehicle or $50 annually. Other locations include the Half Moon Trailhead, Rock Bridge Recreation Area, Sky Bridge Recreation Area and Osborne Bend Trailhead.

Backpacking costs would also increase. Current prices per vehicle are $5/day, $7/three day and $50 annually. New costs would be $10 a night for backcountry sites, $15 a night for front-country sites, $35 for a 20-person group site and $55 for a 30-person group site. Three boat ramps  Hightop, Mouth of Laurel and Rockcastle--are also on the proposal with the same costs per vehicle as the day trails. To view all proposed fees, click here.

Comments on the proposal can be provided here. An in-person meeting will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on June 11 at the Powell County Lions Club.

Kentucky Hiking Worth the drive: These 5 natural monuments in Kentucky you should visit

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: New fees for hiking trail use proposed at Kentucky's Red River Gorge
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Memphis Police are searching for the suspects who fired shots at and assaulted a victim after a fender bender at a gas station in Raleigh.

Police responded to the Valero gas station on James Road near North Highland Street at 5:53 p.m. on May 13. According to Memphis Police, the victim was pulling into the parking lot when a gray Nissan Altima struck the back of his vehicle.

As the victim continued to pull into the lot, police say someone in the Nissan Altima opened the right back door and fired three shots at the victim before driving away.

Memphis Police say the victim parked at a gas pump to check his vehicle. Thats when the Nissan Altima reportedly pulled up next to the victim and three men got out of the car.

Woman assaulted inside Midtown Kroger: MPD

Police say the three men began assaulting the victim. The victim reportedly ran inside the store and locked the door for safety.

Memphis Police say one of the suspects tried to get in, but the clerks refused to open the door. The victim reportedly sustained minor injuries during the assault.

Memphis Police say one of the suspects was shirtless, wore dark pants, and a puffy ponytail on the top of his head. Police say another suspect wore a blue hooded sweatshirt and dark pants. Police could not provide a description of the third suspect.

Memphis Police say the gray Nissan Altima involved will have heavy damage on the left front side.

Memphis Police say no arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (901) 528-CASH.

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No one was injured when this Nissan Kicks crashed into the Truist Bank at 10970 SE 175th Place in Summerfield on Friday afternoon, Florida Highway Patrol troopers said.

The SUV, driven by an elderly woman, struck the side of the bank and left a gaping hole in the building.

Some customers who came to use the ATM machine, first snapped pictures on their phones showing the vehicle half-way in the building. Others shook their heads as they made their way to the ATM machine.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: No one injured when SUV crashes into Summerfield bank Friday
A secondary school student performs Chinese martial arts in the "Chinese Bridge" competition in Hamrun, Malta, May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

VALLETTA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Twelve students from primary and secondary schools in Malta demonstrated their Chinese language proficiency and talents on Saturday during the "Chinese Bridge" competition in Malta.

The Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign school students, organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta in Hamrun, eastern Malta, featured an elocution contest where students shared their passion for the Chinese language and their dreams of visiting China.

After delivering a speech, participants showcased their China-related talents, including performing Chinese martial arts and traditional Chinese diabolo (kongzhu), cooking Chinese dishes, singing Chinese songs, playing Chinese music on the piano, and dancing to Chinese music. The audience was captivated and responded with enthusiastic applause.

Alessandro Dalcielo, 10, won first prize among the primary school participants. "I know Chinese is a language that leads to the future. I will keep studying hard so that I can speak Chinese more confidently," he said in his speech.

Alessandro began learning Chinese at eight and has practiced martial arts for over five years. He said one of his dreams is to go to China and see a panda there.

This was the first time that the Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign school students included a section for primary school students in Malta.

Alessandro's elder brother, Mattia Dalcielo, 14, took first prize among the secondary school participants. He visited China last year and has practiced Chinese martial arts for eight years.

"I love studying Chinese because it allows me to understand a different culture and education system. Understanding diverse cultures enhances our understanding of other people and countries," Mattia said in his speech. He told Xinhua he hoped to study at a university in China one day.

Dennis Mizzi, the foreign director of the Confucius Institute, told Xinhua that he was impressed by the participants' Chinese pronunciation. "I hope they continue studying Chinese and keep improving," he said.

Stephen Cachia, a lecturer in Chinese history at the University of Malta, told Xinhua that learning Chinese has become a trend in Malta and he was delighted to see more students embracing Chinese. 

A secondary school student performs traditional Chinese diabolo (kongzhu) in the "Chinese Bridge" competition in Hamrun, Malta, May 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)
A fire has broken out at the site of the old Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital, where some of Britains most notorious criminals are held.

Footage shows the blaze at the hospital in Crowthorne, Berkshire, with smoke billowing from the top of the building.

Its understood the current hospital site is not affected.

No way Broadmoor hospital is on fire pic.twitter.com/p4nWs0yoQS  Harry (@Harryaspinall4) May 25, 2024

Thames Valley Police are providing support to Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, a spokesman said.

The spokesman said they were attending the scene and assisting with any road closures.

They said: At this stage there is no impact to the wider road network.

A spokesman for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: We are attending a fire at a derelict building on the old Broadmoor Hospital site.

The current hospital site is not affected.

Please stay clear of the area but if you are nearby, please keep windows and doors closed.

This is a breaking story. More follows

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Fire extinguishing at the Epicentr construction materials hypermarket in Kharkiv. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

The fire at the Epicentr construction materials hypermarket in Kharkiv has been contained.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Oleh Syniehubov, the Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on the national joint 24/7 newscast, Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

     ,  

ALL PHOTOS: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: State Emergency Service of Ukraine reports that the fire in the construction materials hypermarket was contained at 17:45.

Early reports indicate that 2 people were killed and 24 injured in the air strikes. The fire is being extinguished.

Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office informs that on 25 May, at around 16:00, the Russian Armed Forces conducted air strikes on the Kyiv district of Kharkiv with two D-30 unified multi-purpose glide bombs. The strikes were carried out from the territory of Russia's Belgorod Oblast.

They also specified that the two men who were killed were employees of the construction hypermarket.

Eleven employees of the hypermarket have not yet been located. Rescue operations are ongoing.

Oleh Syniehubov, the Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, said on the national joint 24/7 newscast that the air-raid warning had been issued before the Russian strike, but it is currently being checked whether employees and visitors had enough time to take shelter.

Quote from Syniehubov: "This information is still being checked (how much time passed between the air-raid warning and the strike  ed.). However, it is known for certain that the air-raid warning was sounded, some people managed to get out, about 100 people, and some more could have remained inside."

Background:

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First task force meeting announced following changes to Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY)  Many Virginia military families are frustrated and concerned following changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program that were enacted when the state budget was signed.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin acknowledged the program was putting a strain on Virginia colleges and universities and announced that a task force would look into the program. Friday he announced its first meeting and who would be on the task force.

Changes to tuition waiver program concerning Virginia families, say timing feels intentional

10 On Your Side interviewed a student who hopes shes grandfathered into the program because she was signed up before the May 15 deadline, but is unsure.

Growing up without a father was very different and hard, said 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.

Lauren Fentys father, Joseph, was killed in Afghanistan when she was 28 days old.

Under the previous terms of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, Lauren could have her tuition waived for up to eight semesters at a public college or university in Virginia.

However, following changes to the program when the budget was signed, shes unsure if thats possible now.

Her mom, Kristen Fenty, is now one of the members on the task force offering feedback on the program.

Folks are very nervous, said Kristen. There are there are people who have made Virginia their home. They are part of the industry that supports the defense sector in this area and they made a choice to stay here following their service, partially because of this benefit.

The program has seen significant growth over the past five years, and its becoming more difficult for Virginias colleges and universities to absorb the costs.

Military education program sees significant growth, governor proposes budget increase

According to the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia, program waivers totaled nearly $65 million.

The governor proposed increases to funding for the program in his budget amendments, but those werent accepted.

He then signed an executive directive, which established a task force to look into the issue.

Friends of VMSDEP co-founder Kayla Owen was also asked to be on the task force. She said there are concerns about how these numbers were calculated, and thats why their group called for a more comprehensive study.

The data from, if you look at DVS versus the schools versus SCHEV, you will find different numbers depending on which one of those numbers youre actually looking at, Owen said.

Owen said when you use this program for a semester, whether you use it for three credit hours or whether you use it for 25 credit hours, the imputed cost is the same.

We know that many of the students who utilize this program do so part-time because theyre a working spouse or there are other components in their lives that prohibit them from using it full time, Owen said. They are imputing a full-time cost for student regardless of their actual student status.

Youngkin issued a statement that said, in part, I am proud that so many Virginians, especially the many veterans who have already reached out to volunteer on behalf of our military families and all Virginians, are coming together to offer solutions to help preserve and sustain this important program for the future.

He went on to say that the task force will give stakeholders a venue to provide important information on the program, express their concerns and offer feedback on implementation guidance and suggestions for changes.

In addition to Fenty and Owen, the task force includes active and retired military leaders, leaders from Virginia colleges and universities, and Gold Star family members. The other members of the task force include:

General John P. Jumper (USAF, Ret.), chairman-elect of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and 17th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force

President William G. Kelly, Christopher Newport University, a retired Rear Admiral of the United States Coast Guard

Commissioner Charles Chuck Zingler, Department of Veterans Services, a retired U.S. Navy Captain

Monti Zimmerman, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations and Virginia National Guard Association

Director A. Scott Fleming, SCHEV

President Michael Rao, Virginia Commonwealth University

Deborah Dickerson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, George Mason University

President Corey McCray, Paul D. Camp Community College, a Navy veteran

Dr. Daniel Gade, Board of Visitors, Christopher Newport University, a retired Army lieutenant colonel

Katherine Martinez, Student Veterans of America

Robert Bob Eisiminger, member, Board of Veterans Services

Mike Flanagan, COL, USA (ret.)

Tim Pillion, board member, Virginia Veterans Services Foundation

David J. DePippo, Quartermaster, Second Class (QM2), USCG.

Sarah Ross Geisen, Drew Ross Memorial Foundation

Bre Kingsbury, Navy League of Hampton Roads

Kayla Owen, Friends of VMSDEP

Kristen Fenty, Friends of VMSDEP and Gold Star Spouse

Donna Lewis, Friends of VMSDEP and Gold Star Spouse

Caitlin Goodale-Porter, Coast Guard Veteran

The first meeting for the task force is scheduled for June 10 in Richmond at the Virginia War Memorial from 2 to 5 p.m.

Virginians who wish to participate can do so by providing feedback to the task force ahead of the meeting by emailing PreservingVMSDEP@governor.virginia.gov.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Video above from Nov. 17, 2021: Florida homeowner fined for putting up Christmas lights too early

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida bill that will limit some fines by homeowners associations and increase transparency is headed to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

HB 1203, which passed both chambers unanimously in March, states that HOAs cant fine residents for leaving out a trash can within 24 hours before or after the collection day or time, or for leaving holiday decorations up for longer than indicated in governing documents unless the decorations are left up more than one week after a written notice is issued.

The bill also says HOAs cant ban residents from parking personal vehicles, including a pickup truck, or work vehicles that arent commercial vehicles, on the property. It also amends part of the law pertaining to parking law enforcement vehicles on the property to include any assigned first responder vehicle.

The associations would not be allowed to set requirements or rules for the inside of a home for things that are not visible from the outside or from a neighboring home.

HOAs with more than 100 parcels would have to post online any articles of incorporation, recorded bylaws, declaration of covenants, current rules, annual budgets, and other documents by Jan. 1, 2025.

DeSantis has not indicated if he would sign the bill.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Florida governor signs controversial bill that deletes over 50 lines from state statutes: 'It's just going to make us less proactive and prepared'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill May 15 to remove the phrase "climate change" from state statutes and alter how the state makes energy policy decisions.

What's happening?

As of July 1, local governments will no longer be able to regulate energy policy, and offshore wind farms will be banned within a mile of the coast, Florida Phoenix reported. DeSantis cited "restrictions, regulations, and taxes" imposed by "radical green zealots."

The bill disallows considering "the potential of global climate change" in state energy policy and disavows Florida's role as a leader in "promoting energy conservation, energy security, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions," according to the Phoenix. State agencies will no longer have to consider environmental impacts when purchasing vehicles and other items or booking hotels.

The law also urges studying small nuclear reactor technology, increasing the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles, and enhancing electric grid security, the Associated Press reported via NPR.

In 2008, then-Gov. Charlie Crist, now a Democrat, signed a bill to address rising global temperatures and promote renewable energy. It passed through the Florida legislature unanimously, per the AP. This undoing will remove more than 50 lines of that law.

DeSantis canceled an appearance to sign the bill because of inclement weather.

Why is disregarding 'climate change' important?

Florida is being disproportionately impacted by the human-induced heating of the planet, which is caused by the use of dirty energy sources such as coal, oil, and gas. Since 1950, global temperatures have risen 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Florida Climate Center. In the Sunshine State, that figure is 3.6 Fahrenheit, increasing extreme heat days and precipitation as well as causing more frequent and severe hurricanes and floods.

"I think it's taking us absolutely in the wrong direction," state Rep. Lindsay Cross said. "We can't deny that climate change is happening. Whether you trust the 99% of scientists who do believe in climate change, we know that weather is getting worse, that we have more extreme weather patterns with a very active hurricane season predicted.

"Combined with the destruction that we've already had in this state, stripping the words 'climate change' out of statute isn't going to make it go away, it's just going to make us less proactive and prepared."

Sierra Club Florida Clean Energy organizing manager Brooke Alexander-Goss said the law "jeopardizes the health and safety of all Floridians, further proving that his top priority is to appease large corporations and fossil fuel companies," noting gas prices and insurance premiums will increase.

The law will also increase the state's reliance on natural gas, which already accounts for 74% of electricity generation, the AP reported. It will also reduce the regulation of gas pipelines and protect against the prohibition of gas appliances.

Last year, the DeSantis administration turned down $674 million in federal funding for energy efficiency initiatives and vehicle pollution reductions.

What's being done about climate problems?

Other states are leaning in to solutions. New England has become a leader in heat pump installations, while Texas surpassed California in October with the most solar power in the country.

You can help push toward a cleaner, safer future by voting for political candidates who take climate issues seriously, holding corporations accountable, and changing your buying habits.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  A Foley woman was arrested on Friday afternoon in connection with a murder-for-hire plot, according to court documents.

Rebecca Elizabeth Murphy, 36, provided information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation from May 3 through May 6 about her alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme, according to FBI Special Agent Jennifer Whitehurst.

Snapchat argument between Baldwin County teenagers ends with shooting, arrests

Rebecca Elizabeth Murphy (Photo courtesy of the Baldwin County Jail).

According to the information Whitehurst received from Murphy, three sistersSandra Grimes, Judy Owen and Mitzy Smithattempted to hire Murphy to murder Grimes son-in-law.

Whitehursts testimony said Grimes told Murphy that her son-in-law allegedly drugged her daughter, forced her to have sex with others, and assaulted her daughter and grandkids. This prompted Grimes, Owen and Smith to kill him.

Mobile man accused of shooting man while he was sitting in a car: Police

Whitehursts testimony said the three women paid a man $10,000 to kill the son-in-law, but he ran off with the money, so they turned to Murphy.

Grimes took Murphy to Marrero, Louisiana, to show Murphy where her target lived and to convince her to kill.

According to Whitehursts testimony, the three sisters wanted Murphy to inject a lethal dose of heroin into the son-in-law to make the murder appear as an overdose because he reportedly used drugs. Ultimately, Murphy agreed to the scheme but for more money.

Owen and Murphy made another trip to kill the man in Louisiana, but Murphy refused because they wanted her to kill him outside of a local courthouse during the daylight in front of several cameras.

Pensacola man arrested after deputies find 44.5 grams of fentanyl, other drugs in home: ECSO

Smith dropped off a box shortly after the trip to Murphy in Fairhope with a 9mm Phoenix Arms handgun. Murphy said thats when she knew the three sisters were serious about the murder-for-hire scheme.

Whitehursts testimony said Murphy made another trip to Louisiana where she stayed about a week, but did not act on the scheme.

Ultimately, Murphy did not go through with the scheme and did not kill Mina.

Grimes, Owen and Smith were all arrested earlier this month in connection with the scheme.

Mobile man arrested after 4 children say they were abused: Police

However, Murphy was arrested on Friday, May 24, and is charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Grimes, Owen and Smith are charged with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to transfer a firearm to be used to commit a crime of violence.

All four were federally indicted on Wednesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Former CIA officer pleads guilty to spying for China, DOJ says

A former CIA officer targeted in an FBI undercover operation pleaded guilty Friday to providing national defense information to the Peoples Republic of China, the Justice Department said.

Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 71, of Honolulu, who served as a CIA officer over a seven-year period in the 1980s, worked with an unnamed co-conspirator in 2001 to provide Chinese intelligence with a large volume of classified U.S. national defense information in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars, DOJ said, citing the plea agreement.

CNN has reached out to attorneys for Ma for comment on the guilty plea.

Ma later applied as a linguist with the FBIs Honolulu Field Office, where he served from 2004 to 2012.

The FBI, aware of Mas ties to PRC (Peoples Republic of China) intelligence, hired Ma, as part of an investigative plan, to work at an off-site location where his activities could be monitored and his contacts with the PRC investigated, according to the DOJ release.

As CNN previously reported, during the course of his monitored employment with the FBI, Ma allegedly took a digital camera into the FBI office to photograph sensitive documents that he would then take to his handlers in China.

Referencing one particular set of classified documents provided to Chinese intelligence officers, Ma confessed that he knew that this information, and the information communicated in March 2001, would be used to injure the United States or to benefit the PRC, the Justice Department said Friday.

Under the terms of the parties plea agreement, Ma must cooperate with the United States, including by submitting to debriefings by U.S. government agencies, according to DOJ.

Should the court accept Mas plea, he faces a sentence of 10 years in federal prison at a hearing scheduled for September 11.

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Former President Donald Trump is coming to the Coca-Cola 600, and so are Democrats

Former President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend, and Democrats are taking it as an opportunity to remind voters about the former presidents controversial policy positions.

Two billboards will be visible in high-trafficked areas of Charlotte, stating: Beware: Trumps Extreme MAGA Agenda for North Carolina. It vows not to allow Trump to ban abortions nationwide, raise costs on working families or rip away our health care.

WE WONT LET HIM, the billboards read.

The billboards are paid for by the Democratic National Committee, and their messages are consistent with actions the group has taken for past Trump visits.

Donald Trump is hellbent on focusing his extreme and unpopular agenda on North Carolinians, said Jackie Bush, spokeswoman for DNC. From giving tax handouts to billionaires, to ripping away accessible health care coverage from hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, to attacking womens reproductive rights, Trump will only hurt North Carolina families with his extreme agenda if given the chance.

A high-ranking Trump official confirmed to McClatchy on Tuesday that Trump planned to attend Sunday nights Coca-Cola 600, a unique NASCAR Cup Series race that is both the longest and the only in the series to go from day-to-night.

It wasnt clear by Friday afternoon what Trump planned to do at the NASCAR event that begins at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord.

During his second run for the White House, Trump so far has not been much of a presence in North Carolina this campaign season. Last month, a Trump campaign rally in Wilmington was canceled due to inclement weather.

On the other hand, President Joe Bidens campaign has made a major push to campaign in North Carolina during the 2024 cycle, and he and his surrogates have been a constant presence in the state.

This week, DNC chairman Jaime Harrison visited six cities in eastern North Carolina to make a case that Bidens agenda is helping rural and Black voters.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  After being arrested in 2023, the former pastor of Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community in New Mexico  Daniel Balizan  passed away before the completion of his trial. He was expected to make a plea in the federal case.

Balizan was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2023. They accused him of attempting to knowingly persuade an underage boy to engage in sexual activity. On May 24, 2024, at a plea hearing in federal court, the assistant U.S. attorney announced that Balizan was deceased and that there would soon be a motion to dismiss the case. The United States Attorneys Office told KRQE that Balizan was found deceased at his home but that the manner of death has not yet been determined as of Friday afternoon.

Another alleged victim of Las Cruces catholic priest abuse files lawsuit

Following the news, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe responded to the death, claiming Balizan took his own life.

His tragic decision to end his life underscores the far-reaching and devastating consequences of the crime of child abuseaffecting victims, their loved ones, and even perpetrators themselves, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe said in part in a press statement. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe reiterates its steadfast commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding the sexual abuse of children and adults. We are dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for all children and work tirelessly to prevent such incidents from occurring. You can read the archdioceses full statement at the bottom of this story.

Balizan also faced multiple civil lawsuits over abuse allegations. In New Mexico, other former church leaders have also faced similar allegations and lawsuits.

Several resources exist for individuals who have experienced abuse. The states Children, Youth and Families Department offers a report line for child abuse at 1-855-333-SAFE (7233) or #SAFE from a cell phone. Two law firms have created a website to report priest abuse, and New Mexico offers a statewide mental health crisis line at 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474).

City of Espanola taking down homeless camp it set up in February

Full statement from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe is saddened by the news of former priest Daniel Balizan having taken his life; we pray for comfort for his family and those who cared for him. May God have mercy on his soul. As the news has indicated, Daniel was awaiting a hearing in a child sexual abuse case. His tragic decision to end his life underscores the far-reaching and devastating consequences of the crime of child abuseaffecting victims, their loved ones, and even perpetrators themselves. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe reiterates its steadfast commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding the sexual abuse of children and adults. We are dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for all children and work tirelessly to prevent such incidents from occurring. We urge anyone contemplating suicide to seek help. Resources are available to assist you. If you or a loved one is experiencing an emotional crisis, mental health issues, or substance use concerns, support is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please contact the New Mexico Crisis and Access Line or the Peer-to-Peer Warmline at 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474) or reach out to your local parish pastor for support. -Archdiocese of Santa Fe

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Former Ventura County teacher sentenced to nearly 7 years for sexually abusing student

A 66-year-old man was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for sexually assaulting an underaged student while he was a teacher at an Ojai school, the Ventura County District Attorneys Office announced Friday.

Paul Herder, of Pahoa, Hawaii, was arrested last June in connection to numerous sexual assaults involving a student between 2013 and 2017. Herder was a teacher at Oak Grove School, a private preschool through high school, at the time.

Paul Herder is seen in a photo provided by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

The student, underaged at the time, reported the crimes to police as an adult in February 2023. Herder admitted to the sexual assaults in March when he pleaded guilty to six felony counts.

The defendants actions represent a grave betrayal of trust, exploiting the position of authority to manipulate and victimize a student, said Supervising Senior Deputy District Attorney Melissa

Suttner, of the Ventura County District Attorneys Office Sexual Assault Unit. This sentence serves as a clear message that such egregious violations will be met with the full force of the law.

Suspect dead after chase, standoff on Orange County freeway

Herders convictions were for two counts of luring, and one count each for anal and genital penetration by foreign objects, oral copulation of a person under 18, unlawful sexual intercourse and using a minor for sex acts. He also pleaded guilty to a special circumstance for taking advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offense.

Herder, who was sentenced in Ventura County court on Friday, will serve six years and eight months in prison.

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NICOSIA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Moody's Ratings has upgraded Cyprus' economic outlook from stable to positive, affirming its long-term credit rating at Baa2, two notches above investment grade.

In a statement emailed on Saturday, the rating agency said this upgrade reflects Moody's confidence in the country's potential for strong fiscal and debt outcomes over the next few years.

"This optimistic scenario is anticipated to result from the continuation of prudent fiscal policies and strong medium-term economic growth prospects," which will result in significant fiscal surpluses, Moody's statement said.

Moody's said it anticipates a fiscal surplus of around 2.3-2.4 percent of its annual gross domestic product (GDP) for 2024-25, slightly lower than the government's forecast of 2.8-2.9 percent of GDP.

Cyprus' public debt is projected to drop under 65 percent of GDP by 2025.

The country's debt was once so worrying that its economy came to the brink of a meltdown in 2013 and was saved by a Eurogroup bailout in the same year.

President Nikos Christodoulides said the upgrading by Moody's was a significant development. Finance Minister Makis Keravnos also hailed Moody's decision, saying the government will continue to ensure growth and employment while maintaining healthy public finances. 
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A former doctor in the Wichita area who had previously been sentenced to life in prison was sentenced Friday after some of the charges against him were vacated by the Supreme Court.

The United States Department of Justice said in a news release Steven Henson, 63, was sentenced to 120 months in prison after pleading guilty to:

Two counts of conspiracy to dispense, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute

controlled substances,

Eight counts of dispensing and aiding and abetting with possession with intent to distribute

controlled substances,

Five counts of dispensing controlled substances

Six counts of money laundering

Henson had previously been convicted by a jury of one count of making a false writing and one count of attempting to obstruct a court order, which were in relation to drug offenses, the DOJ said.

Overtime pay rules to change soon: What to know

Court documents show Henson was initially convicted by a jury in Oct. 2018 of 24 counts. He appealed, and the Supreme Court vacated all but two of those counts and sent it back to district court.

In February, court documents show Henson agreed to a plea deal on the above charges.

The news release said Henson admitted to seeing illegitimate pain patients at his clinic in Wichita and writing them prescriptions for oxycodone, methadone, and alprazolam in exchange for cash between July 2014 and Aug. 2015.

He would typically meet his co-conspirator customers during non-business hours without staff present and charge $300 for the visit, the news release said. These co-conspirator customers told Henson which controlled substances they wanted, and he would oblige with a prescription without conducting examinations, obtaining medical history, or determining if the requested medication was needed. Henson would often prescribe the highest possible strengths and high pill counts.

Those prescriptions were sent to a pharmacy then owned and operated by Ebube Otuonye, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Oct. 2019 for his role in the scheme.

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The mother of a soldier stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., who was found murdered last weekend is pleading with the public to help police find the person or people responsible.

Pfc. Katia Duenas-Aguilar, 23, was found dead in her residence off base in the 900 block of Tiny Town Road in Clarksville, Tenn., May 18, according to the Clarksville Police Department. Police said they were investigating the case as a homicide.

Duenas-Aguilar was an information technology specialist from Mesquite, Texas. She had been stationed at Fort Campbell since 2019 and was the mother of a 4-year-old son, according to the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Duenas-Aguilars mother, Carmen Aguilar, appeared at a news conference hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens in Texas Saturday to announce that she is adding $30,000 to the $25,000 reward offered by the league for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for her daughters death.

Speaking through translators, Aguilar said at the news conference that Duenas-Aguilar had told her family that she planned not to reenlist but had changed her mind unexpectedly earlier this month after meeting with a counselor.

We must have justice, Domingo Garcia, president of the organization, said in a news release. For this mother to commit, not just money but her total soul, to finding whoever did this deserves our complete and unequivocal support. LULAC urges anyone with information to come forward and speak to law enforcement to help identify, arrest, and convict the person responsible.

The organization said in the release that the case is reminiscent of that of Vanessa Guillen, an Army specialist who was stationed at Fort Hood when she was killed in 2020. More than a dozen officials were disciplined after calls for an investigation in that case.

Since the killing of U.S. Army Specialist Guillen, LULAC has been working with the Army and the Pentagon to pass and enforce legislation that protects Latino service members and others from military sexual trauma, Garcia said in the release. While we do not yet know the circumstances surrounding Katias death, we call for a thorough and transparent investigation so that all facts about her killing are brought to light. This is the only way that our communities trust can be fully restored so that our families will support sending their sons and daughters and loved ones into our armed forces.

Anyone with information about Duenas-Aguilars case was asked to contact Clarksville police at 931-648-0656.
Army & Air Force Exchange Service officials are preparing to unveil its $15.7 million 24-hour Mojave Express Store at the Fort Irwin National Training Center.

Mojave Express will include a 10-pump gas station, convenience store, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Chopz quick-serve restaurant, and a food truck plaza with outdoor seating, Fort Irwin officials said.

The grand opening is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. on May 29 atBuilding 973, Inner Loop Road at Fort Irwin, north of Barstow.

Army & Air Force Exchange Service officials are preparing to unveil its $15.7 million 24-hour Mojave Express Store at the Fort Irwin National Training Center.

The location is across from Burger King and Popeyes, next to the Irwin Field House.

The completion of the new Express represents a significant Quality-of-Life investment at the remote California post, providing Soldiers, their families and those who work on Fort Irwin the same services and tastes of home they would enjoy at much larger or less isolated installations, said Fort Irwin officials in a written statement.

Military officials attending the event will include:

Major Gen. Curtis Taylor, Fort Irwin Commanding General

Exchange Chief Operating Officer Marla Randolph,

Exchange Western Region Senior Vice President Ronny Rexrode

Exchange West Coast Region Vice President Robert Rice

Fort Irwin Exchange General Manager Ladda Thomas

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is the Department of Defenses largest military retailer, serving 31 million service members, disabled Veterans, military retirees, National Guard members, Reservists and military families at more than 5,000 facilities on U.S. military installations worldwide, military officials stated.

Army & Air Force Exchange Service officials are preparing to unveil its $15.7 million 24-hour Mojave Express Store at the Fort Irwin National Training Center north of Barstow.

Fort Irwin

One of the Armys most remote installations, Fort Irwin is in the Mojave Desert, nearly 40 miles from the closest major highway and roughly halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The post serves about 9,400 shoppers.

Fort Irwin is one of the Armys Big Four installations along with Fort Cavazos, Fort Johnson and Fort Wainwright, targeted for upgrades as posts that are either remote, austere, or facing quality-of-life challenges, officials said.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Fort Irwin to unveil Army & Air Force Exchange Service Express Store
Repatriated Australian travellers arrive from New Caledonia at Brisbane International Airport. An Australian government repatriation effort is underway in New Caledonia after the RAAF was given the go-ahead to bring citizens home following deadly riots. David Clark/COURIER MAIL/dpa

France has begun evacuating tourists from its overseas territory of New Caledonia after days of unrest in the Pacific archipelago.

French tourists were flown to Australia and New Zealand on military aircraft on Saturday, the news station BMFTV reported. They will then return home on commercial flights.

A state of emergency has been in place in New Caledonia since last week after a wave of riots that has left seven people dead and hundreds detained.

France has deployed additional security forces to the archipelago. Australia and New Zealand began evacuating their residents earlier this week, with Noumea airport still closed to all commercial flights

The protests began in response to proposed electoral reforms which would give French nationals the right to vote in provincial elections after 10 years of residency in the territory.

The indigenous Kanak population of New Caledonia, which has long campaigned for independence, accused Paris of pushing ahead with the controversial reform without considering strong opposition among the majority of the territory's residents.

On a visit to the territory on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would pause the reform until the situation calms down and political talks can be resumed.

In three referendums in 2018, 2020 and 2021, the inhabitants of the former French colony voted in favour of remaining part of France. However, since the last vote, boycotted by the separatists, talks on a new status have stalled.

Repatriated Australian travellers arrive from New Caledonia to Brisbane International Airport. An Australian government repatriation effort is underway in New Caledonia after the RAAF was given the go-ahead to bring citizens home following deadly riots. David Clark/COURIER MAIL/dpa
Fresno man attempts to meet with child for sexual purposes, arrested, deputies say

Fresno man attempts to meet with child for sexual purposes, arrested, deputies say

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A 32-year-old has been arrested after allegedly attempting to meet with a child for sexual purposes, the Fresno County Sheriffs Office said.

Deputies say on Thursday, members of the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force contacted the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Brock Sanders of Fresno, who had an active arrest warrant for contacting a child for sexual purposes.

Sheriffs officials say whether the man was able to meet with the minor is still under investigation.

Detectives say they seized one of his electronic devices containing digital photos and videos of child sexual abuse material.

Deputies say the man was arrested, but has since been released from jail after posting bail.

Authorities wanted to remind parents to be vigilant when it comes to their children using websites and social media outlets, as well as advise them to keep dialogue open with their children to build trust.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
FT: Hungary holding up EU's use of frozen Russian assets for Ukrainian defense

Hungary is holding up legislation that would allow the European Union to send billions of dollars in profits from frozen Russian assets for Ukrainian aid, the Financial Times reported.

In March, the European Commission submitted a proposal on using 90% of the generated funds from the frozen assets 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.

But Hungary's envoy is preventing legislation that would allow payments to be fast-tracked, according to five people who were briefed on a meeting of EU ambassadors, the FT reported.

For the time being they are blocking everything connected to military support to Ukraine, one told the FT, suggesting that the situation wouldn't change before next month's European elections.

The EU Council finalized the agreement on May 21 to 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 also announced that the "resources will be available to support Ukraine starting from July 2024, with bi-annual payments."

According to the FT, officials persuaded Hungary not to veto the agreement by guaranteeing that Hungary's portion of the funding would not be used to buy weapons. However, Hungary is still failing to back the legislation needed to implement it, over concerns that payments would be automatic and not require unanimous support for each individual payment.

Read also: European Commission says Ukraine will receive first payment of revenue from frozen Russian assets in July

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A funeral is set for Saturday for a metro-east teen who was fatally shot last weekend during an unsanctioned gathering of car drivers doing stunts in St. Louis County.

Gerardo Perez, 17, died Tuesday at Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur, Missouri after being shot on Saturday, May 18, according to the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis and his obituary.

A GoFundMe account set up to help Perezs family said he went to the event to have fun and nothing more as he loved cars.

Police said the motorists were doing doughnuts and burning rubber by spinning their car tires in place.

Two teens have been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting at the event organizers describe as a slide show.

Garron Stevenson, 19, of the 3800 block of Sullivan in St. Louis, was charged with second-degree murder and several other offenses, according to a news release from the Major Case Squad.

The other suspect is a 17-year-old juvenile whose name was not released. This teen also was charged with second-degree murder.

A police statement said Perez was from East St. Louis but a Collinsville School District spokeswoman said Perezs school registration showed he was from Fairmont City. He had just completed his freshman year at Collinsville High School and classes had ended for the year on Friday, May 17.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Stephens Catholic Church at 901 S. Main St. in Caseyville. Perez was a member of this church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Glen Carbon, according to an obituary posted by Weber & Rodney Funeral Home of Edwardsville.
The Gaza War has become a war on Jewish books and authors

Since October 7, Jewish books and authors have come under attack for their connection to Israel and Zionism.

Jewish author Talia Carner thought shed seen the worst after hundreds of antisemitic trolls review-bombed her new novel a few months back in retaliation for a pro-Israel video she posted on Instagram in the aftermath of Hamas attack on Israel last Oct. 7.

But Carner was shocked anew earlier this month after discovering her name on a now-viral Is your fav author a zionist? Google doc, which attempted to blacklist authors they believed were either supportive of Israel  or had failed to condemn the nation in the wake of its ongoing war in Gaza.

The spreadsheets level of detail, comprehensiveness and unbridled malice was chilling.

Actor and presenter Mayim Bialik was shouted down while hosting a PEN event earlier this year, one of many notable Jewish public figures to endure a backlash for their pro-Israel stances. Getty Images for IMDb

It included not only source links but color-coding that ranked each authors level of allegiance, or opposition, to the Jewish state.

The documents creator, an X user named Amina, called on readers to boycott both Pro-Israel/Zionist authors like Carner, as well as writers whove yet to take a stand on Israel until more evidence is out.

What shocked me was the blatant anti-Semitism  and that its politically correct, that its OK to do something like that, said Carner, whose book The Boy With the Star Tattoo is centered around Jewish themes such as Israel and the Holocaust. Emotionally, it really put me in a bad place.

Israel-based book agent Deborah Harris says its become harder to sell books with themes around Israel and Judaism.

Carner is just one of scores of Jewish authors caught in a cancel-culture war that exploded since the Oct. 7 massacre and Israels subsequent Gaza incursion.

Anti-Israel disruptors appear relentless in their efforts to menace writers who so much as mention Israel uncritically, from shutting down author events to ratings-bombing Jewish-themed books on sites like Amazon and Goodreads.

Prominent pro-Palestinian novelists like Hisham Matar and Maaza Mengiste have joined in on this global effort, boycotting organizations like PEN America for not speaking out against the genocide in Gaza.

For many writers, Jews in particular, the experience evokes a modern day Nazi book burning.

Author Reuven Fenton has written and released a Jewish-themed book at a moment when such works are being publicly attacked. Robert Miller

They are coming for us, said Jewish comedian and Stranger Things star Brett Gelman, for whom four bookstores canceled book signings earlier this year in support of his collection of short stories, The Terrifying Realm of the Possible, alleging security concerns over threats made by Pro-Palestinian activists. What is going on in this country and with these people has nothing to do with the war. It has nothing to do with Palestinian self determination. This has to do with antisemitism, complete antisemitism.

I know how Gellman feels.

In 2020, feeling demoralized covering the COVID-19 pandemic for The Post, I took refuge in a fictional world of my own invention.

This became my debut novel Goyhood, (Central Avenue, in stores May 28), the story of an Orthodox Jew who discovers hes not, in fact, Jewish and embarks on an epic road trip with his neer do well brother through the Deep South to come to grips with his fate.

The authors new book.

Even in the best circumstances, finding a literary agent and a publisher is a tall order.

My circumstances werent great: Id plodded onto the literary scene 60 years after the heyday of American Jewish letters, when authors like Philip Roth and Saul Bellow topped the bestseller lists, but in the following decades  to the surprise of no Jew with a historical perspective  the good will ebbed.

Then, very quickly, it died.

The rise of social media proved a perfect  and potent  breeding ground for a campaign of pro-Palestinian goodwill that has led straight to our current world order: Where Zionists are now called genocidal Nazis and Hamas terrorists are the good guys.

It was a coup even we Jews had to admire.

Burying this grim prognosis in the back of my mind, I set about researching literary agents who might be interested in Goyhood.

This was during the height of the post-George Floyd era and at least half of the agents on their websites made clear their preferences for BIPOC, LGTBQ or other underrepresented authors  or works whose main characters were thus.

In other words, the prognosis for a white Jewish guy hawking a Jewish novel about two white guys wasnt great.

Actor Brett Gelman faced canceled readings and parties earlier for his new book following his vocal support for Israel. Getty Images

Mind you, this was before Oct. 7. Today, nearly eight months on  things have gotten far, far worse.

Half of British publishers wont take books by Jewish authors,  screamed a March headline in the Daily Telegraph because of the Gaza war fallout.

There is no point putting proposals up to commissioning editors as they just are not interested, an unnamed literary agent depressingly confirmed.

Esteemed Israel-based book agent Deborah Harris recently noted that she skipped the London Book Fair this past March, the first time I decided not to go. I sent agents, and those who went did so with fear. Her team did feel supported in the end, but our sales are really down.

Palestinian author Ahed Tamimi is among a new generation of aggressively anti-Israel authors gaining public favor. AFP via Getty Images

I reached out to an American agent to see if the same status quo is true on our side of the pond.

He said he doubted that anyone in the industry was specifically weeding out Jews.

However, he added, authors pitching manuscripts bearing the I-word (Israel) should brace for a lot of rejections  doubly so for childrens authors.

Maybe youll have luck with a Jewish childrens imprint, but anything beyond that is a no-fly zone, he cautioned.

Author and publisher Zibby Owens withdrew her companys sponsorship for the National Book Awards last November over its pro-Palestine agenda. Getty Images for The Webby Awards

On the flip side, major publishers are actively seeking kid lit about Palestine  and influential bookstores like Skylight Books in Los Angeles are giving them prime shelf space.

In 2022, Penguin Random House released, to great fanfare, They Called Me a Lioness, a YA autobiography of young Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi  who, in the first few pages, accused the Jewish state of colonial theft and ethnic cleansing of Arab land.

A month after Oct. 7, Israeli forces arrested Tamimi  lauded by Al Jazeera as a Palestinian Rosa Parks  over an Instagram post threatening to slaughter Israeli settlers.

We will drink your blood and eat your skulls, the post read (her mother later told reporters Tamimis account was hacked).

A new group established to counter antisemitism in the arts in the wake of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel.

Marjorie Gann, who reviews anti-Israel kid lit for the media watchdog group CAMERA, has been working to keep books like They Called Me a Lioness out of school curricula  with minimal success.

Those who are writing these books want to prejudice children and they want to give them an anti-Israel predisposition, she said. And since the readers are young and impressionable, that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, so when they think, Israel, they will think, the bad guys.

Meanwhile, even the bestselling Jewish or pro-Israel writers are having to pay the price of achieving visibility  often after decades of hard work.

We havent yet reached the point of burning books written by Jews, but . . . we could be heading in a very dangerous direction, says historian Rafael Medoff. UPI

Among the some 200 names on the now-notorious Zionist author spreadsheet is Lisa Barr, who suffered the same fate as Talia Carner for her pro-Israel Instagram posts after Oct. 7: her bestselling novel Woman on Fire got slammed with hundreds of one-star ratings on Goodreads overnight.

You work your heart out on something and then you have people who are able to go in freely and tank your book for no reason related to the book itself but because youre Jewish, Barr said.

Calling her experience a nightmare, an awakening and a calling, Barr, along with 31 other Jewish women authors, founded Artists Against Antisemitism, a support group for harassed writers which also raises money to fight antisemitism on campuses.

Another founding member, author and publishing guru Zibby Owens, pulled her companys sponsorship for the National Book Awards last November after organizers refused to nix nominees plans to promote an anti-Israel agenda during their acceptance speeches.

Two months later, Owens  founder of publishing house Zibby Media  got her first one-star rating on Goodreads for her new novel, Blank.

The critic reviewed it in just two words:

Zionist racist.

For historians like Rafael Medoff, director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, experiences like Owens and Barrs portends an even more sinister future to come.

Silencing an author because he is Jewish or pro-Israel is all too reminiscent of a dark and not too distant era, he says. We havent yet reached the point of burning books written by Jews, but . . . we could be heading in a very dangerous direction.

Bookstores like Skylight Books in Los Angeles have reportedly beefed up their stocks of Palestinian-focused books. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

In the end, I was lucky enough to land a literary agent who loved my manuscript.

He sold it to an indie publishing house that loved it too. Evidently, a well-told story still carries weight in a politically fraught industry.

But now, in a post-Oct. 7 world, Im weathering a second wave of agita.

Will a rabid TikToker sic her one-star goons on me for writing this piece?

Will agitators from Writers Against the War in Gaza shout me down like they did Mayim Bialik at a PEN event she hosted in January?

Will I need security at my events?

At the London Book Fair this spring, Jewish authors had a hard time getting deals. In Pictures via Getty Images

Will I be the next Pro-Israel/Zionist to be red-banded on the spreadsheet?

Luckily, I have superstar role models like Talia Carner, Brett Gelman and the women behind Artists Against Antisemitism who know how to shake it off and fight another day.

If you let bullies bully, theyll continue to bully, Gelman said. I think theres times to ignore a bully and I think theres times to face off against a bully. And I think weve reached a point now where we have to face off, and thats why I continue to speak out.
Guests attend a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotion event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

NEW YORK, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China's business hub Shanghai held a promotion event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States.

Shanghai has been one of the first choices for world businesses to invest in China and build global industry chains, said Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng in a keynote speech.

Nearly one third of the top 500 enterprises in the world have regional headquarters in Shanghai as the city has trade ties with 205 countries or regions, said Gong.

In 2023, over 6,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in the city with the amount of foreign direct investment received throughout the year totaling 24.08 billion U.S. dollars. At the end of 2023, the city has attracted over 950 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 550 foreign-funded research and development centers, according to an official bulletin.

Shanghai is speeding up the process of building itself into an international center of economy, finance, trade, shipping, and technological innovation, fostering new productivity boosters, and forging ahead with high-level reform and opening-up, said Gong.

The face-to-face meeting was warmly welcomed and drew positive responses from officials, businessmen, and local people.

In addressing the audience, Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC), said this face-to-face interaction is very welcome.

"Relationships suffered deeply during the COVID era. Therefore, the intimacy of this face-to-face communication is simply irreplaceable," Allen said.

The USCBC has been committed to forging a mutually beneficial U.S.-China relationship through its offices in Washington, Beijing, and Shanghai, as Shanghai is the window through which its member companies take the pulse of China, said Allen.

"We welcome Shanghai's commitment to opening up through leveraging pilots within and beyond free trade zones, and to facilitating policy breakthroughs and providing a level playing field for U.S. companies, including our members," Allen said.

American companies are well positioned to increase their exports and to share the world's best technologies and expertise in a wide range of areas from clean energy to consumer goods, he said.

As the two countries celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, engagement at the sub-national or city-to-city level is essential to strengthening the world's most important bilateral relationship, restoring business confidence, and charting a course that is beneficial to the peoples of both countries, Allen added.

"We're committed to building bridges between the peoples of our two countries. American investment builds bridges, like no other activity," said Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee of U.S.-China Relations.

"I'm fond of saying that trade is like dating, but investment is marriage. You've got to work to make it work," Orlins said.

Reviewing Shanghai's developments in the last few centuries, Orlins said Shanghai is a model of ingenuity and adaptability.

"We are optimistic about the Chinese market sectors, including health, education, senior living, and urban regeneration," said Joseph Brancato, who chairs the executive committee of Gensler, a global design and architecture firm, which has over 30 offices and more than 300 employees in China.

"Our aspirations in Shanghai are to create designs that reflect Chinese culture and values, as well as being an integral part of that community. We look forward to participating in Shanghai's bright future, building on innovation, strengthening our relationships and developing new relationships to bring people together through the power of design," Brancato told the audience.

"It was well articulated here and clear that Shanghai is positioned for growth, and this is the way we see the Chinese market," said Tom Mooney, director of public affairs with Harman International, a leader in automotive technology, lifestyle innovations, design and analytics.

From a perspective of research and development and engineering, Shanghai is really the heartbeat of Harman in China, Mooney told Xinhua on the sidelines of the event.

"Shanghai is home to SAIC Motor. From an automotive standpoint, we're always looking to increase our cooperation and business opportunities with them," said Mooney.

Mooney said he has not been to Shanghai, but hopes to go there very soon, especially after the introduction of Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season.

Several invitees jointly held a launching ceremony at the meeting for Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season 2024, which will run from the first weekend in July to the second weekend in October. 

Joseph Brancato, who chairs the executive committee of Gensler, a global design and architecture firm, delivers a speech at a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotion event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee of U.S.-China Relations, delivers a speech at a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotion event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, delivers a speech at a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotion event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng delivers a keynote speech at a promotion event in New York, the United States, on May 23, 2024. China's business hub Shanghai held a promotion event here Thursday, which drew great attention and interest from investors in the United States.

The event has gathered around 150 attendees, including high-ranking officials, bankers, entrepreneurs from Shanghai, and scores of business leaders of international companies from the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
GENTRY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Gentry Middle School was evacuated on Friday after a bomb threat, according to a social media post from the district.

Today, there was a Bomb threat at the Middle School. Everyone was evacuated and all necessary precautions were taken in response to this threat. Thank you to the local authorities for their swift action and to everyone who followed instructions and stayed calm, the district said in the post.

Fort Smith police: Officers vehicle struck cyclist in crash

The district also said parents received an email with further information.

A second post from the district posted at 2:25 p.m. said an all-clear was given.

No further information was given.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Conservative attorney George Conway weighed in on former President Trumps recent false claims that the FBI was prepared to kill him when they searched Mar-a-Lago in 2022 for classified documents, criticizing Trump for his moral depravity.

Conway, speaking to CNNs Kaitlan Collins about Trumps controversial fundraising email, said the accusation against a government agency was absolutely obscene.

The notion that so many people had to participate to send this email and are  beholden to Trump [and] are doing these things, just shows you the level of just moral depravity that  Trump emanated and that surrounds him, he said Friday. Words cannot describe that level of  depravity to send  this message.

In his email Wednesday, Trump alleged President Biden was locked & loaded and ready to take me out  twisting disclosure language from documents prepared as law enforcement readied to search his residence in Palm Beach, Fla.

In reality, the FBIs language only allows for deadly force when necessary, like when someone poses an imminent danger of death to an officer or someone else.

The FBI said it followed standard protocol in the search, as it does with all others. The agency confirmed that the same policy used in Trumps Mar-a-Lago probe was also employed when they searched Bidens office and residence in Delaware, because its standard practice for all FBI operations orders.

The search was also intentionally conducted when Trump and his family were not home, per the prosecutors.

After his claims, Special counsel Jack Smith called on Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing the case, to block Trump from speaking about the case in a way that could endanger law enforcement officials.

Conway, while holding up his cellphone showing Trumps email, echoed Smiths calls for a gag order.

Hes basically accusing the government of trying to take him out, he said Friday. And, you know, 10 million people get this email, I dont know how many people get this email, all it takes is one or two of them to shoot somebody thinking that Hey, I think the government is trying to shoot my president, Im going to fight back and  its absolutely appalling.

Conway lauded Smiths filing, arguing it finally puts Cannon on the spot.

The Trump-appointed judge indefinitely postponed the trial earlier this month, kicking some court dates into late July and declining to set a trial date. Cannon said she needed to resolve some issues before trial, but the decision was widely seen as favoring the Trump teams requests to prolong the case past the election.

Do you think that she would do something? I dont know, Conway added Friday. But she  better because this is just  completely outrageous, Conway said. I mean, it is really an attempt to incite violence against government agents based on the complete pathological lie and misreading.

The former president is facing 40 charges of mishandling classified documents and obstructing the governments retrieval of the records after leaving the White House. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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George Floyds family calls on Congress to pass police reform, 4 years after his murder

The family of George Floyd marked the fourth anniversary of his murder by renewing their call for Congress to pass legislation to reform policing in America that is named in his honor.

Change is needed, Philonise Floyd, George Floyds brother, said at a news conference Thursday where democratic lawmakers announced their latest effort to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

The legislation passed in the then-Democratically controlled House in June 2020. But it stalled in the Senate.

Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee reintroduced the bill on Thursday, days before the fourth anniversary of Floyds murder. It calls for law enforcement to be held accountable for misconduct in court, and police training and policy reforms.

We have the opportunity to enact bold, comprehensive reform to policing practices, to correct and prevent unnecessary deaths. Congress must pass the George Floyd #JusticeInPolicingAct of 2024, Rep. Jackson Lee wrote in a Facebook post.

Philonise Floyd agreed.

In their mind they (police) are looking at you as a target just because youre somebody of color, he said. At the end of the day, if they can make federal laws to protect the bird, which is the bald eagle, then they can make federal laws to protect people of color.

Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, speaks at a press conference on May 24, 2024. - From Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed on May 25, 2020, while in police custody. Derek Chauvin, a White police officer, was filmed kneeling on Floyds neck and back for nearly nine minutes as Floyd pleaded for help and said he couldnt breathe.

The following year, Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in a state trial and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison. He later pleaded guilty in federal court of depriving Floyd of his civil rights.

Three other former Minneapolis police officers also faced state and federal charges and were sentenced to prison time for their role in Floyds murder.

Speaking at Thursdays press conference, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, who represents Minneapolis, called on her fellow lawmakers to think of the lives that could have been spared if we had the courage to act.

We need a clear national standard to uphold the promise of equal protection under the law, she said.

George Floyds murder sparked a wave of protests against racial injustice and police brutality around the world. Four years later, Floyds death still feels raw to his family, who were inclined to joined the ranks of Black Americans spurred to action after their loved ones were killed by police.

I promised myself as Im watching that video (of his death) that I got to do something. And I have not stopped doing something, Floyds uncle Selwyn Jones told CNN.

This spring, Jones joined Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, an unarmed Black man who was also killed by police in 2014, to talk about how theyve turned their pain into purposeful activism at Harvard University.

Jones said he co-founded Hope929.org, a charity dedicated to empowering people marginalized by society, to bring about change in honor of his nephew.

What I can do is I can take the atrocity that he was dealt that day and make a difference, he said.

But hes not optimistic about the fate of the legislation.

Im frustrated because I dont think itll ever get passed. And if it does, it has to be so watered down, but we were promised that that bill would pass, he said.

Jones said he and his family will continue to uplift Floyds legacy. He said he plans to attend a celebration in Floyds honor this weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Its going to be how it used to be, Jones said. Lets all sit around and eat, drink, rejoice and care about each other.

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As the summer of 2020 heated up, the nation's racial divides were once again laid bare.

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly spread across the country, disproportionately sickening and killing people of color, while protests fueled by the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers raged in the streets nationwide.

Protesters in the Golden State demanded change. In response, the governing board of California's San Bernardino County declared racism a public health crisis, joining a wave of municipalities vowing to address long-standing racial inequities.

The four years since  in California and elsewhere  have been a meticulous process, consisting of gathering data and managing expectations, Diane Alexander, San Bernardino Countys assistant executive director, told USA TODAY. Though some say progress is slow-going, Alexander still believes change can happen.

Eventually.

"People need to understand that we've been fighting since slavery to do this work, and people want Rome to be built in a day, Alexander said. Its not going to happen.

Plus, some of the declarations have run into new opposition amid a wave of backlash targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Progress is steady but slow. But I think that's to be expected when we're talking about making major shifts in policy and an impact, said Dawn Hunter, a public health lawyer based in Florida who has analyzed the declarations.

The phrase "End Racism Now" painted on West Church Street in Dallas Monday morning, June 22, 2020.

Why is racism a public health crisis?

Centuries of racist policies and practices created barriers to housing, education, wealth and employment  called the social determinants of health  which continue to drive disparities in health outcomes for minorities, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Racial and ethnic minority groups have significantly lower life expectancies and experience higher rates of illness and death from conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma and heart disease. Awareness of racism's impact on public health isn't new  the American Public Health Association's first resolution regarding race as a public health issue came in the 1960s and a handful of communities including Pittsburgh, Cook County, Illinois, and Milwaukee County, Wisconsin were among the first to declare racism a public health crisis and began addressing it in 2019.

But the coronavirus pandemic highlighted and exacerbated those disparities as people of color experienced higher rates of infection, hospitalization and death and lower vaccination rates. Floyd's murder in Minneapolis acted as a beacon, drawing attention to how racism permeates society, according to city Mayor Jacob Frey.

"I think what Floyd's murder started was a global recognition that yeah, racism is all-encompassing," Frey told USA TODAY.

More declarations followed in 2020 and 2021. By 2022, more than 300 local and state officials acknowledged the crisis, according to a report from The Institute For Healing Justice and Equity, a research institute based at Saint Louis University in Missouri focused on systemic oppression. Though experts said the pace of these declarations has slowed considerably, the trend has continued. In March, for example, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in California voted unanimously to approve a resolution by the countys health department declaring racism a public health crisis.

For a long time, we did not recognize that racism had a direct impact on health, said Tia Williams, director of the Center for Public Health Policy at the American Public Health Association, which tracks the declarations. And so by making these declarations, communities and leaders are acknowledging racism as a driving force for the disparities in health and overall life outcomes.

What did the declarations do?

Williams said the declarations are a critical first step in addressing the disparities, but they vary greatly in what they pledged to do.

A 2021 APHA analysis of 209 of these declarations found 21 included 10 or more specific actions like increasing leadership, staffing and contractor diversity, or working with grassroots groups; 145 included fewer than 10 actions, and 32 included no actions beyond declaring racism as a public health crisis. Williams said the proposed actions typically fell into four categories: data and accountability, policies and programs, community engagement and funding.

In Minneapolis, Frey said the declaration meant ensuring that mental health access is equitable throughout the city and recognizing the effects gun violence has on minority communities and how it creates generational trauma.

"It's about finding ways to prevent long-standing trauma that these communities have faced," Frey said.

One of the data-focused initiatives was San Bernardino County's equity element group comprised of 16 Black people from various community groups, which Alexander said researched the disparities African Americans in the county face. She advised other local governments to take a similar approach and to address inequities with data first. Now, Alexanders group is developing paid internship placements in community organizations, workshops on grant applications and using consultants to bridge communication gaps.

"We did a whole lot of trying to build and develop this team to understand ways that we could confront racism," Alexander said. "We can declare it's a public health crisis but also get people at tables."

Collecting data was also an important step in North Carolina's Buncombe County, according to Chief Equity and Human Rights Officer Noreal Armstrong. Armstrong is the project lead from the county on the historic Community Reparations Commission, which was formed in July 2020 after the city council in Asheville became one of the first locales to pass a resolution supporting community reparations for Black residents.

One of the first actions taken by the group, which is in the process of making recommendations to local elected officials, including guaranteed income, was to commission an audit to assess harms done to Black residents in the city and county by existing policies, practices and programs.

Dr. Noreal Armstrong

"I think a lot of people in the community felt like, 'Yeah, we know what's happening, what's going on with all these harms that have been done, because we live it every day'...and the Cease the Harm audit was able to put that into data form and to codify it," Armstrong said.

In King County, Washington, funding was one of the first short-term goals for the committee tasked with addressing racism as a public health crisis, according to Abigail Echo-Hawk, director of the Urban Indian Health Institute. She was apprehensive when she was asked to join the group, having seen too many "tokenizing efforts" nationwide with little follow through, she said.

With assurances things would be different in King County, Echo-Hawk helped form the Gathering Collaborative, a fluctuating group of predominantly Black and Indigenous community members dedicated to undoing the harms of systemic racism. In 2023, the group was able to award $25 million in grants to 123 nonprofits, community organizations, and small businesses to address the crisis.

Abigail Echo-Hawk, Chief Research Officer with Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) and a member of the Pawnee Tribe, shows off her arm after she received a shot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, at the SIHB, on Dec. 21, 2020 in Seattle, Wash. A colleague used a black pen to inscribe, For the (Heart) love of Native People over the spot where she got the injection.

"The $25 million is a good step, a beginning step but it's also - as we call it in the Gathering Collaborative - it's 'budget dust,'" she said. "It is the tiniest little portion of the overall budget of King County, and we need to see more investments that are looking to undo racism."

Declarations have become a really polarizing issue

Leadership changes within communities that have declared racism as a public health crisis have led to a handful of rescinded or walked-back commitments, as well as other controversies, said Ruqaiijah Yearby, professor of health law at Ohio State University. She mentioned Virginia as an example.

In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to declare racism a public health crisis, according to APHA's map of declarations. The following year, then-state Health Commissioner Colin Greene told the Washington Post he opposed the declaration, saying, If you say racism, youre blaming white people. Though Greene apologized, he was later ousted by the Virginia Senate, the Post reported. The Virginia Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

It has become a really polarizing issue around racism as a public health crisis because we tend to focus on the fact that we feel people are being blamed, when we need to understand that it is part of the structure of the system of the U.S. and it impacts all of us negatively, Yearby said.

Latonya Palmer, left, led a protest in August 2020 after Mansfield City Council's rejection of a resolution that would have declared racism a public health crisis in Richland County, Ohio's largest city.

In Holyoke, Massachusetts, former acting Mayor Terence Murphy issued an executive order in June 2021, rescinding the citys declaration because no action had been taken on the plans, according to city documents. Murphy, a former councilman, stepped into the acting role after former Mayor Alex Morse resigned for a job in a different town, according to city council minutes.

Stephen Fay, aide to current Mayor Joshua Garcia, sent USA TODAY a 2021 news story about Holyoke rescinding its declaration in response to an interview request for current Mayor Joshua Garcia.

The pushback to the declarations is not unlike the growing backlash to diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education and the private sector growing ahead of the 2024 presidential election, experts said. But racial equity work can still be done, even in communities that haven't made an official declaration or have faced opposition to doing so, according to Hunter, the public health lawyer and leader of the Collaborative for Anti-Racism and Equity.

"It's a benefit to have done it. It helps to drive action," she said. "But it certainly isn't a necessary requirement to still be doing health equity work."

What more needs to be done?

Vice President Kamala Harris looks on as President Joe Biden signs executives orders related to his racial equity agenda on Jan. 26, 2021.

The CDC declared racism a public health threat in April 2021 and President Joe Biden has issued several executive orders aimed at addressing racial disparities, but more legislative action is needed, Yearby said.

Democratic legislators in both the House and Senate have continually reintroduced resolutions declaring racism a public health crisis. Yearby said she hopes any federal legislation would go beyond a symbolic statement by providing funding for state or local officials working on the issue and allowing people to challenge the continued health impacts of racial discrimination.

"If done right, it could be used as another Civil Rights Act, she said.

Ultimately, the long-term goal is not just eliminating public health disparities but eliminating racism altogether, said Echo-Hawk in King County. She doesn't want her grandchildren battling this same crisis, but she knows the work will take time.

"These systems of oppression have been being built for 500-plus years. It's gonna take us some time to undo those," she said.

Contributing: Sarah Honosky, Asheville Citizen Times; Sam Woodward, USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 4 years after George Floyd murder, 'steady but slow' progress on racism
Tino Chrupalla, Federal Chairman of the AfD, speaks at and election event. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

A leader of the scandal-plagued far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) lashed out at European parties of a similar ilk on Saturday after the AfD was expelled from its European Parliament group.

In a blow ahead of next month's EU-wide elections, the AfD was ejected this week from the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, an alliance of populist right-wing parties in the parliament.

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla hit out at the far-right party of Marine Le Pen in France and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He said he would not allow them to influence AfD policies.

Le Pen's National Rally is a member of the ID group. The party quickly began distancing itself from the AfD after Maximilian Krah, an AfD candidate for the European Parliament, said not all members of the SS were criminals.

The Schutzstaffel (SS), was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Krah's Nazi comments were published in Italian media earlier this month.

Chrupalla characterized Meloni, one of Europe's most powerful figures on the far right, as actually a moderate pushing Brussels' agenda. He claimed that since Meloni took office in 2022 she has turned in favour of more migration and sending weapons to Ukraine.

"This Melonization will not happen with us," Chrupalla said at an AfD party conference in the eastern town of Glauchau.

The AfD will not bend in order to become more respectable for others, he said: "For us, German interests always come first."

Apart from the SS comments, Krah's ties to Russia have come under media scrutiny and his one-time assistant was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China.

Alice Weidel, Federal Chairman of the AfD, speaks at and election event. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

Alice Weidel, Federal Chairman of the AfD, speaks at and election event. Christoph Reichwein/dpa
Tino Chrupalla, Federal Chairman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), speaks at an European election campaign event. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

A leader of the scandal-plagued far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) lashed out at European parties of a similar ilk on Saturday after the AfD was expelled from its European Parliament group.

In a blow ahead of next month's EU-wide elections, the AfD was ejected this week from the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, an alliance of populist right-wing parties in the parliament.

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla hit out at the far-right party of Marine Le Pen in France and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He said he would not allow them to influence AfD policies.

Le Pen's National Rally is a member of the ID group. The party quickly began distancing itself from the AfD after Maximilian Krah, an AfD candidate for the European Parliament, said not all members of the SS were criminals.

The Schutzstaffel (SS), was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Krah's Nazi comments were published in Italian media earlier this month.

Chrupalla characterized Meloni, one of Europe's most powerful figures on the far right, as actually a moderate pushing Brussels' agenda. He claimed that since Meloni took office in 2022 she has turned in favour of more migration and sending weapons to Ukraine.

"This Melonization will not happen with us," Chrupalla said at an AfD party conference in the eastern town of Glauchau.

The AfD will not bend in order to become more respectable for others, he said: "For us, German interests always come first."

Apart from the SS comments, Krah's ties to Russia have come under media scrutiny and his one-time assistant was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China.

Still, Chrupalla downplayed the AfD's explusion from the EU parliamentary group as a "small crisis" and said the the party, which remains Germany's second-most popular in surveys, had been through worse.

The other co-leader of the AfD, Alice Weidel, struck a less combative tone at an event on the other side of the country.

"The week we have had has not been a good one. We have run into turbulence with an unpleasant outcome," she said on Saturday in the western town of Marl.

"Such days, such moments when things are not going so well are always an opportunity to learn lessons in order to continue to grow and further professionalize ourselves," Weidel told some 800 or so party supporters.
Robert Habeck (C), Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, speaks at the Democracy Festival in Berlin's government district. Christophe Gateau/dpa

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck on Saturday criticized Israel's actions in Gaza, describing its military operation in Rafah as contrary to international law.

"The famine, the suffering of the Palestinian population and the attacks in the Gaza Strip are - as we are now seeing in court - incompatible with international law," Habeck said in Berlin, referring to a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling on Israel to end its offensive in Rafah.

Habeck said that the German government believes "that Israel must not carry out this attack, at least not in the way it did in the Gaza Strip before, bombing refugee camps and so on."

Speaking at a festival to mark the 75th anniversary of Germany's Basic Law, Habeck pointed out that the Palestinian militant group Hamas could end the war immediately if it laid down its weapons.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday also reiterated warnings against a large-scale Israeli military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

"Our statement is that warfare must always be conducted in such a way that it respects the rules of international law," said Scholz at a public discussion in Potsdam, near Berlin.

"That is why we have always been very clear in saying that we cannot imagine an offensive in Rafah without terrible, irresponsible human losses," he added.

Robert Habeck (C), Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, speaks at the Democracy Festival in Berlin's government district. Christophe Gateau/dpa
Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier waves in front of Villa Hammerschmidt, the official residence of the President in Bonn, during an open day. Thomas Banneyer/dpa

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, during a celebration marking 75 years of the country's Basic Law or constitution, appealed to the "calm composure" that characterized earlier political discourse.

In a speech on Saturday in Bonn, which was the capital of West Germany before it united with East Germany in 1990, Steinmeier said the "calm composure that emanated from Bonn ... was good for the country."

He made his comments at one of the many democracy celebrations taking place around the Germany to commemorate the Basic Law.

Steinmeier noted that there were also tough and extremely heated political disputes in those years before reunification.

"But," the president said, "despite all the factual and ideological antagonism, we were never enemies - and, especially in view of the division of Germany, we were always aware of one thing: wanting to preserve and protect this young democracy together."

He said that spirit is especially important in 2024, when the country faces several elections, including for the European Parliament on June 9.

"This spirit of unity among democrats in the midst of all disputes must be a lasting and ever new obligation for us. We now have a responsibility to demonstrate this unity."

In recent months there has been an increase in political violence against politicians across the spectrum, worrying politicians and voters alike.

Steinmeier also recalled the modesty of the Bonn Republic. The Villa Hammerschmidt - the official residence of the federal president - "with its almost dainty dimensions by international standards, has astonished many a guest - and not only from abroad."

But that was exactly what was intended, he said.

The Basic Law was drawn up and proclaimed by the Parliamentary Council 75 years ago.

Steinmeier called it "a masterpiece that has carried us through the ups and downs of post-war history."

Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives a speech at Villa Hammerschmidt, the official residence of the President in Bonn, during an open day. Thomas Banneyer/dpa

Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives a speech at Villa Hammerschmidt, the official residence of the President in Bonn, during an open day. Thomas Banneyer/dpa
PARIS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he opposed U.S. tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).

"Neither Tesla nor I asked for these tariffs," Musk said Thursday when answering audience questions via video link during VivaTech, an annual technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups in Paris.

"In fact, I was surprised when they (the tariffs) were announced," said Musk when asked about the Biden administration's decision to raise tariffs on imported EVs from China to 100 percent.

"Tesla competes quite well in the Chinese market, with no tariffs and no deferential support. In general, I am in favor of no tariffs," he said. "Things that inhibit freedom of exchange or distort the market are not good."

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 mega factory is the first of its kind built by Tesla outside the United States and the second plant of the company in Shanghai, following the inauguration of its gigafactory in 2019 with an initial investment of over 50 billion yuan (about 7 billion U.S. dollars). 
A view of the "Pony" pub in Kampen. A video shared online of young Germans chanting racist anti-immigrant slogans outside a pub on the North Sea island of Sylt has sparked outrage in the country. Georg Wendt/dpa

The operators of a bar on the popular German resort island of Sylt are pressing charges after a video went viral showing some of its customers chanting Nazi-era racist slogans.

"If our staff had noticed the behaviour in question at any time, we would have reacted immediately. We would have informed the police immediately and pressed charges. We have since been able to do so," wrote the operators of the well-known Pony restaurant in the upmarket resort of Kampen on Instagram.

In the video, lasting just a few seconds, the group of young people are seen chanting "Foreigners out!" and "Germany for Germans" to the tune of hit party song "L'Amour Toujours" by Gigi D'Agostino.

One man appears to imitate a Hitler moustache with his fingers on his upper lip.

State security is investigating those involved for possible incitement and the use of unconstitutional signs - the name of the official charge in Germany related to the use of Nazi symbols and slogans.

Politicians including Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed their shock at the video.

In the latest comments from government figures, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers that "anyone who shouts Nazi slogans such as 'Germany for Germans ... foreigners out' is a disgrace to Germany."

For some of those involved, the video has already had repercussions.

Advertising agency Serviceplan Group announced on Instagram on Friday evening that it had dismissed an employee involved in the incident without notice. "We do not tolerate racism in any form within our agency group," the company stated.

View of the "Pony" pub in Kampen. A video shared online of young Germans chanting racist anti-immigrant slogans outside a pub on the North Sea island of Sylt has sparked outrage in the country. Georg Wendt/dpa
People walk outside the "Pony" club in Kampen (Sylt) on Friday evening. A video shared online of young Germans chanting racist anti-immigrant slogans outside a pub on the North Sea island of Sylt has sparked outrage in the country. Lea Sarah Albert/dpa

The operators of a bar on the popular upscale German resort island of Sylt are pressing charges after a video went viral showing some of its customers chanting Nazi-era racist slogans.

"If our staff had noticed the behaviour in question at any time, we would have reacted immediately. We would have informed the police immediately and pressed charges. We have since been able to do so," wrote the operators of the well-known Pony restaurant in the resort town Kampen on Instagram.

In the video, lasting just a few seconds, the group of young people are seen chanting "Foreigners out!" and "Germany for Germans" to the tune of hit party song "L'Amour Toujours" by Gigi D'Agostino.

One man appears to imitate a Hitler moustache with his fingers on his upper lip. Bystanders appear unconcerned by the behaviour.

An investigation has been launched for possible incitement and the use of unconstitutional signs - the name of the official charge in Germany related to the use of Nazi symbols and slogans.

Politicians including Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed their shock at the video on Friday and more joined at the weekend.

"Anyone who bullies, excludes and shouts fascist slogans is attacking what holds our country together," Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said.

He noted that Germany was currently celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Basic Law, which serves as the legal basis for democratic rights in Germany. "It is our job to protect this. Such disgusting abuse must have no place," Habeck said.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, of the conservative Christian Democrats, said at a party event on Saturday: "What is actually going on in the heads of these people, that can no longer be explained by alcohol consumption."

"There is no justification or explanation anywhere for what has happened. It is completely unacceptable that something like this is happening."

According to extremism expert Pia Lamberty, the Sylt video shows a normalization of right-wing extremist content in German society.

"Social norms are simply being broken without any form of contradiction," said Lamberty, the co-leader of the Centre for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy (CeMAS), which investigates radicalization and conspiracy theories online.

The video showed that "people can express extreme slogans in public without fear."

"Right-wing extremism is not just a problem that you see in eastern Germany or among people who have a lower income, but also among those who have a higher social status," she said.

For some of those involved, the video has already had legal repercussions.

Advertising agency Serviceplan Group announced on Instagram on Friday evening that it had dismissed an employee involved in the incident without notice. "We do not tolerate racism in any form within our agency group," the company stated.

Two women sit on the terrace of the "Pony" club in Kampen (Sylt). A video shared online of young Germans chanting racist anti-immigrant slogans outside a pub on the North Sea island of Sylt has sparked outrage in the country. Lea Sarah Albert/dpa
Gerrymandering a threat to Ohio veterans, Gold Star families. "We know the price of freedom.

Columbus real estate developer Scott W. Patton is a member of a Gold Star family and combat veteran that served in the 101st Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 5th Special Forces Group and 19th Special Forces Group.

As we celebrate Memorial Day Monday and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, it's imperative to reflect on the importance of fair representation and the integrity of our electoral system.

The recent gerrymandering in Ohio, one of the most manipulated states in the nation, has undermined the democratic process and the will of the people. It's time for a change, and the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment offers a promising solution.

This is a time when we honor and remember those who died while serving in the countrys armed forces. For most citizens, it marks the start of summer, celebrated with backyard cookouts and evening fireworks across the nation.

May 23, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Volunteers planted 703 flags on the National Veterans Memorial and Museum lawn Thursday morning in preparation for Memorial Day.

Michael F. Curtin: It's bad no matter which party does it. Democrats rigged Ohio before GOP came on scene.

Its a long weekend for gathering with friends and family in the warmth of late spring. Some will attend their community's parades to honor our military and its ranks that have fallen in service to the country. Most have not served nor felt the grief that the ultimate sacrifice brings to the families of lost service members: mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters dead and lost to this life. My family is such a family.

We know the price of freedom.

We understand personal loss.

For the last fifteen years, we have observed Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery.

I will be there Monday, remembering the life of my brother and the lives of my brothers-in-arms buried near him. The sacrifice of their lives while preserving our freedomsthe right to vote, equality of opportunity for all citizens, and the rule of lawdemands that citizens, not legislators, determine the future direction of our state and country.

According to The USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, Ohio is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation.

Between January and May 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down five separate iterations of the legislative maps, each time ruling that the maps were unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders.

Despite the state Supreme Court siding with the pro-voting groups on five separate occasions and requiring redraws of the maps, the Ohio Redistricting Commission failed to submit constitutionally compliant maps to the court. As a result, Ohioans voted under unconstitutional legislative maps during the 2022 midterm elections.

Politicians and back-room insiders disregarded the court and the will of the people by repeatedly submitting maps that were rejected as unconstitutional. Then, in 2023, politicians from both parties met behind closed doors and struck a deal to impose new gerrymandered maps.

Sad, sober reality: Allison Russo on why Democrats had no option but to support bogus maps

Establishment politicians have proven that they cannot be trusted to draw fair legislative districts using an open and transparent process. A broad nonpartisan coalition of Ohio citizens has come together to end gerrymandering by proposing the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment to our state constitution.

The proposed legislation would replace the current politician-dominated commission with a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission that would include Republican, Independent, and Democratic voters. It bans current and recent political officeholders, those with strong political ties, and lobbyists from drawing maps and makes it unconstitutional to draw maps that favor one party.

Petitioners must collect 413,487 valid voter signatures by July 3, 2024, to place it on the 2024 general election ballot. Signing those petitions would be a patriotic and honorable way to remember the sacrifice of those who have fought to protect our representative form of government.

Scott W. Patton

I am a combat veteran who fought for my country on foreign lands, believing that I was sacrificing for the greater cause of preserving freedoms given and maintained by constitutional rule of law. The effects of gerrymandering impact how my vote is counted and have enhanced divisions where compromise is seen as weakness, creating a political environment reminiscent of the Cold War acronym MAD (mutual assured destruction).

The eyes of the fallen, who perished preserving the right to vote, are watching.

Politicians cant look beyond their personal or their partys interests. I support the amendment because I believe citizens, not politicians, should draw district maps to safeguard our right to fair elections and representative government on this Memorial Day and beyond.

Columbus real estate developer Scott W. Patton is a member of a Gold Star family and combat veteran that served in the 101st Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 5th Special Forces Group and 19th Special Forces Group.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gerrymandering a threat to veterans, Gold Star families
GiGis Playhouse Quad Cities will host the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge SUPERHERO 5K, 1 Mile Walk and Kids Dash for Down Syndrome on Saturday, June 1, in Veterans Memorial Park, Bettendorf, as a physical and social movement for acceptance, according to a news release.

The local Down syndrome achievement center is working alongside the network of more than 60 playhouses, throughout the United States and Mexico, to host a GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge event. with its annual SUPERHERO 5K run, 1 mile walk, and Kids Dash for Down syndrome. Visit here to learn more or here to register for the local event.

GiGis Playhouse is the only international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers providing free life-changing therapeutic and educational programs for all ages. GiGis Playhouse started in 2003 when GiGi was only 1 year old. Today, there are 59 locations across the U.S. and Mexico and serve families in more than 83 different countries.

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Rosie with her parents Nick and Georgie, who say they are now almost 5,000 out of pocket - Georgie Mollom

A 12-year-old girl with a peanut allergy was thrown off a flight at Gatwick Airport with her family after the captain refused to ask passengers not to eat nuts for her safety.

Nick Mollom, 48, told The Telegraph that he, his wife and their two children were ejected from a SunExpress flight after asking the crew to take his 12-year-old daughters allergy into consideration on a 3 hour journey to Turkey.

He said the family is now out of pocket by almost 5,000 as a result of having to make last-minute bookings with another airline and rearranging their accommodation.

Speaking from Dalaman, Turkey, Mr Mollom said: Its just unbelievable that in 2024 this can happen. Just amazing.

The incident happened on Tuesday night as the family tried to board a SunExpress flight to Dalaman, on Turkeys south-western coast.

Rosie, the Molloms 12-year-old daughter, has a peanut allergy. She cannot be near the nuts in case she suffers a type of allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock.

Anaphylaxis is cited as a possible cause of death for between 20 to 40 people each year, according to the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Cabin crew didnt really care

Mr Mollom said the familys problems began when he booked the flight, saying he could not find any way of notifying the airline about Rosies allergy.

On arriving at Gatwick, Mr Mollom said the SunExpress check-in desk told him to inform the cabin crew. SunExpress website says, on its onboard menu page: Once on board, please inform our cabin crew about your allergies.

But the cabin crew, Mr Mollom claimed, didnt really care when he requested an announcement was made to ask other passengers not to eat nuts.

They just said the captain has refused to do this. And he will not make any sort of announcement. Its not his policy or company policy to do this.

The captain, claims the family, locked himself in the cockpit and issued orders through the cabin crew.

They just kept trying to say that the captain would not come out and discuss this, the matter was closed, said Mr Mollom.

We then said, okay, well, thats fine. Its not a big plane. There are not masses of passengers here. We can just gently tell people whats going on.

Georgie, my wife spoke to the first two rows. It was quite amazing a couple who had been sat behind us, originally in the middle of the plane. They had heard our conversation with the cabin crew member who came over, so theyd gone to the back of the plane and started telling people what was going on.

Everyones attitude was great - of course, no problem at all.

But the captain then caught wind that communication had been made to other passengers. And he just said, right, bags off, kick them off.

Our flight was due to leave at nine and I think everybody was on at 8:45pm. But my wife and I were at the front saying, okay, well, why cant you make this announcement and so I think tensions were building within the cockpit because we werent sat down.

We hadnt just gone and accepted the fact that our daughter would have to sit there and hope that no one is serving peanuts and eating them, or opening peanut products.

They just said, youve gotta go, youve gotta go.

Shocking and unacceptable

Rosie, who is still processing the humiliation of being escorted off the flight and out of the terminal, said: I was treated like I had done something wrong by the crew only for having an allergy.

Mr Mollom resolved to try and speak to the captain before leaving the aeroplane.

I needed him to look me in the eyes and tell me why we have to leave because of my daughter having an allergy, he continued, explaining that he knocked twice on the cockpit door and then people got very angry and told me I mustnt do that you cannot disturb the captain.

I very politely said, well, hes definitely disturbing us.

A SunExpress spokesman said the airline takes its passengers safety very seriously.

Shortly after boarding our flight from London Gatwick, Mr Sollom raised a concern about one of his family group having a serious peanut allergy and requested an announcement to other passengers.

We refrain from making these kinds of announcements as, like many other airlines, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment on our flights, nor prevent other passengers from bringing food items containing allergens on board.

Due to the insistent behaviour of the passenger to others on board that they should not consume nuts, the captain decided it would be safest if the family did not travel on our flight.

The spokesman alleged that Mr Mollom had banged on the cockpit door to try and gain access to the flight deck, something he strenuously denies.

Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, OBE, co-founder of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the UKs food allergy charity, said SunExpress actions were shocking and unacceptable.

His daughter Natasha died in 2016 after eating a baguette on an airline flight that contained sesame seeds which were not marked on the label, prompting a fatal allergic reaction.

Food allergies are an illness, not a lifestyle choice, he told The Telegraph.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. We often hear from families with food allergies who tell us their awful stories about airline travel. This is worrying as the world is becoming ever more allergic.

The airline should immediately re-appraise the way they engage with food-allergic customers and make their policies clear on their website, added Mr Ednan-Laperouse.

SunExpress said it is reviewing information provided during our booking process to ensure more effective solutions for passengers with allergies.

Recalling how a member of airport staff helping the Molloms off the flight told him about a similar incident where a passenger suffered a reaction and caused the flight to be diverted for medical help, Mr Mollom sighed: Youre damned if you do and damned if you dont.

Figures from the Food Standards Agency show there are now 2.4 million adults in the UK with a diagnosed food allergy.

A recent medical trial found that giving children tiny amounts of peanuts and milk to treat allergies can help reduce the severity of reactions, potentially helping to save lives.

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GOP gets scalps in COVID probe, but origin of virus still a mystery

The GOP-controlled subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic appears to be swaying the Biden administration with its exhaustive examinations targeting groups and individuals with links to the unproven COVID-19 lab leak theory.

In the past month, the subcommittee has heard testimony from EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak and Lawrence Tabak, principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It also called in David Morens, a top deputy to former COVID czar Anthony Fauci, who was grilled over damning revelations about his conduct.

The purpose of these hearings has been to nail down a timeline of what went on between federal officials and EcoHealth before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, and whether any of it may have contributed to the global health crisis.

Seemingly coinciding with these hearings, the White House has moved to debar EcoHealth and Daszak from receiving federal funds. And members of the committee believe theyve had a hand in these decisions.

I think that the subcommittee had influence over EcoHealth by exposing what happened, Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) told The Hill.

But I dont think that the subcommittee has used its influence for good in the way that it could. So that was a small positive thing that the committee has done, Ross added. But there have been so many missed opportunities for bipartisan work with this committee, that it almost breaks my heart.

Despite a series of reports and hearings, neither the committee nor federal agencies seem to be any closer to nailing down the origins of the virus that had killed nearly 1.2 million Americans and counting.

EcoHealth is an infectious disease nonprofit that received federal grants to study emerging viruses. The organization in turn sub-awarded grants to labs including the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) that researched coronaviruses. Critics, including GOP members of the subcommittee, have questioned whether the WIVs research resulted in a lab leak that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

While this theory hasnt been proven, federal health officials have repeatedly accused EcoHealth of failing to conduct proper oversight of the WIV and other sub-grant recipients, as well as failing to send in timely progress reports.

The administration is maintaining the decision to move forward with barring EcoHealth from federal funds was an independent action.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) did not address the timing of the moves to cut funding when asked by The Hill. They pointed to prior statements which said the move came after a thorough investigation that found EcoHealth has not been compliant with federal regulations and grant terms and conditions.

Subcommittee Chair Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) has made it clear he believes the timing is no coincidence.

Only two weeks after the Select Subcommittee released an extensive report detailing EcoHealths wrongdoing and recommending the formal debarment of EcoHealth and its president, HHS has begun efforts to cut off all U.S. funding to this corrupt organization, he said in a statement shortly after the announcement was made.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have shared bipartisan rebuke of EcoHealth and its apparent failures to abide by federal requirements, a rare occurrence for the panel that has been sharply divided by partisan fights since its inception in 2020.

While Democrats have joined in condemning misconduct, several members have been quick to point out what these testimonies have not achieved: ascertaining the origins of COVID-19, one of the panels key stated objectives after Republicans took control.

These hearings have instead largely had the effect of embarrassing federal health agencies like NIH as well as current and former officials, including Fauci.

This dynamic was perfectly on display during the subcommittees most recent hearing involving Morens, the senior adviser to the director at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), who worked closely with Fauci during his tenure as the agencys director.

Morenss publicized emails showed apparent efforts to conduct official business outside the scope of Freedom of Information Act requests, deleting federal records, misogynistic comments about fellow federal health officials and poorly worded jokes that hinted at a quid pro quo relationship with Daszak of EcoHealth.

Subcommittee ranking member Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) lambasted Morens, accusing him of betraying public trust and misusing federal resources. But he reiterated the hearing seemed to deviate from the panels purpose.

Dr. Morenss testimony today is not a breakthrough moment in actually understanding the actual origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ruiz added. Because the fact of the matter is that as of today, the origins of the novel coronavirus remain inconclusive.

Over nearly two hours of questioning, Morens said he used his personal email account for the sake of avoiding more embarrassment and danger to Daszak, who has been a main target of COVID lab leak theorists.

The hearing saw the NIAID adviser publicly apologize for numerous missteps documented in his emails. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) directly requested an apology from Morens for how his actions have tarnished the rest of the federal workforce.

Can you say that you will, in fact, apologize for betraying your shared obligation of serving the American taxpayers with the utmost respect for transparency and accountability, that you let Americans down? Will you apologize for that? Tokuda requested.

Morens disputed the use of the word betray but said he was not proud of his behavior.

In one email to Daszak, Morens implied Fauci was trying to protect EcoHealth as a grant recipient. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) asked Morens if he ever discussed EcoHealth with Fauci.

He referred or alluded to some stuff that was in the press. I dont even think he said what it was, but it was about  I assumed it was about Peters grants and press reports about it and the ending of the grant, said Morens.

I said to him, Tony, I know you would have never been involved in getting rid of that grant. And he didnt respond. He just sort of looked at me, he added.

Another email to Daszak, on which other federal COVID advisers were copied, seemed to suggest Fauci was aware of improper conduct but sought to shield himself from it.

I can either send stuff to Tony on his private gmail, or hand it to him at work or at his house. He is too smart to let colleagues send him stuff that could cause trouble, Morens wrote to the EcoHealth president.

Fauci himself is scheduled to testify before the subcommittee on June 3, marking the first time hes taken part in a congressional hearing since stepping down from government work.

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Two separate, controversial Idaho laws have landed in front of the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court this year: the states total ban on abortion, and its ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. As he prepared to defend both, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador (R) sought help from lawyers at the Alliance Defending Freedom, a controversial, far-right Christian group.

Its not unusual for attorneys general to bring on outside counsel when theyre going to the Supreme Court. Historically, however, experts say, it has not been common for attorneys general to outsource their litigation efforts to private, agenda-driven interest groups. But in recent years, ADF has become the go-to firm for Republican officials defending anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ legislation.

ADF is a nonprofit litigation shop founded in the early 90s by dozens of the highest profile conservative Christian figures of the time, including Focus on the Familys James Dobson, Campus Crusade for Christs Bill Bright, and anti-porn crusader Alan Sears, co-author of the anti-LGBT book The Homosexual Agenda. Its mission: to change the law and culture of the nation, essentially, by helping do away with the separation of church and state.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has, for years, designated ADF as anti-LGBTQ hate group. ADF rejects this designation. Jeremy Tedesco, ADFs senior counsel, says the SPLC is a thoroughly discredited, blatantly partisan activist outfit.

Since 2011, ADF has claimed 15 victories before the court, including arguments in favor of a cake shop that refused to sell a wedding cake to a gay couple, a graphic designer who didnt want to design wedding websites for gay couples (hypothetically), and a cabinet manufacturer who objected to the idea their employee health plan had to cover birth control.

In recent years, though, ADF has increasingly sought to partner with government officials like Labrador  and its contracts with those government officials are striking. In outsourcing their litigation efforts to ADF, public officials are agreeing to give a privately-funded nonprofit, one pushing an extreme right-wing policy agenda, substantial control over their public statements and interactions with journalists, among other concessions. (Independent journalist Chris Geidner first reported on ADFs contract with Labrador in his newsletter LawDork.)

According to public records produced at Rolling Stones request, Idaho has partnered with ADF on at least four separate lawsuits recently: U.S. v. State of Idaho (concerning whether the states abortion ban violates the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act), Poe v. Labrador (the gender-affirming care case), State of Washington et al. v. United States Food & Drug Administration et al. (concerning the FDA approval of mifepristone) and Roe v. Critchfield (over a ban on trans students using the bathroom that matches their gender identity).

Its not just Idaho  an alarming number of Republican officials are outsourcing their most controversial lawsuits to the legal advocacy group. Rolling Stone obtained contracts that ADF entered into with Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach to help him defend a law that forces abortion providers to give inaccurate information to their patients, and Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane as he sought to intervene in a case challenging Arizonas pre-Civil War abortion ban. Records show Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds previously recruited ADF to represent the State of Iowa and the Iowa Board of Medicine as they defended a 24-hour waiting period for in-state abortions passed in 2020, and a 2018 ban on abortions after cardiac activity. (Both lawsuits were brought against the state by Planned Parenthood.)

The state of Wyoming refused to disclose its contracts, writing, All records responsive to this request are privileged under Wyoming law under the attorney-client privilege and/or the attorney-client work product doctrine.

Mississippis Republican attorney general, Lynn Fitch, entered into an agreement with ADF in 2020 to assist her office in its appeal to the Supreme Court over its 15-week abortion ban, a law ADF openly boasts it helped draft. The high court accepted the case, setting the stage for its 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing states to ban abortion.

Its no great shock that attorneys general, over the last decade, have increasingly become frontline soldiers in our legal cultural wars, says University of Texas law professor Steve Vladeck. But part of why thats been possible is because of the special abilities, and the special privileges that states and other government actors have as litigants.

These attorneys general were elected to represent the people of their state, not the Alliance Defending Freedom, Vladeck adds. Theres the political problem, which is: Whos working for whom? which in turn raises a serious accountability problem  Whos calling the shots?

ADF spokesperson Elizabeth Ray says, Its common practice for state attorneys general to hire outside legal experts for litigation on all manner of cases. She adds that ADFs work with public officials saves taxpayers significant sums of money.

The contracts reviewed by Rolling Stone include stipulations that ADF will cover most of the costs of the litigation, but might be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. The Yavapai County contract mentions that litigation may result in a settlement agreement or other costs for which ADF will not be responsible, if it loses  but, presumably, the citizens of the county would be.

If the people of Yavapai County learned about this arrangement, would they approve of it? asks Vladeck, adding: All of these things just underscore why, in general, it has not historically been the norm that private interest groups represent governments.

The contracts give ADF significant influence over officials public comments regarding their cases. One Idaho contract says the attorney general agrees to consult with ADF regarding public statements related to the representation and when interacting and communicating with the media. The attorneys general office also agreed to publicize information about the case at ADFs request, because effective public advocacy may have a beneficial impact on the representation.

Daniel Estes, a spokesperson for Labrador, tells Rolling Stone. The Office of the Attorney General has a great working relationship with attorneys at ADF. We appreciate their expertise and experience litigating complex issues. Attorney General Labrador has complete control and final say in all public statements and communications related to our offices litigation.

The Yavapai County contract  part of a successful effort to revive the states 1864 abortion ban at the state Supreme Court  is more aggressive. It says the county attorney agrees to allow ADF to control the interaction and communication with the media, in consultation with the client.

The contract further states: During the Representation, Client agrees not to record or make any public statements related to the subject of the Representation orally, in writing, via social media, or any other form of electronic communication without first notifying and consulting with ADF. After the case is over, ADF strongly recommends that Client continue to consult with it before making such statements to avoid undermining positive rulings or future litigation that may occur on the same or similar issues.

This explains why, when the news outlet Bolts contacted the county attorneys office about whether it would seek to enforce the 1864 abortion ban, an official said they were directed to defer all inquiries to ADF.

Legal cases are directly affected not only by what is said in court but also by what is said outside of court. It is standard practice for attorneys, co-counsel, and clients to consult on public statements before they are made, says Ray, the ADF spokesperson.

What youre seeing is the wholesale outsourcing of the entire legislative, litigation, and lawmaking process to billionaire-funded, theocratic extremists, who are driving an agenda through a coordinated strategy through various levers of government power, says Alex Aronson, of Court Accountability. The same billionaires that captured the Supreme Court are working behind the scenes with these red-state legislatures to devise extremist policies that will survive judicial review, because they know that the judges that they themselves have put on the bench are amenable to these results. Its a terrifying outcome for democracy and law.

Brenna Ehrlich provided additional reporting.

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Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen greets attendees at one of his property tax town halls Friday, May 24, 2024, in Beatrice. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

BEATRICE  Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said Friday he hopes to trim state spending by at least $500 million in the next couple of years and capture more federal dollars for property tax relief.

Pillen made those commitments at the third of his property tax town halls, echoing a previous plan for tax relief that failed to garner enough senators support this spring. The town halls are designed to drum up enough support so at least 33 lawmakers will support the governor during an expected special session for property tax relief.

Some have said, Well, you know weve been talking about property tax for 60 years and its the same old song, Pillen told the roughly three dozen people at the public library in Beatrice. No, this songs different.

The Governors Office on Friday announced the second leg of Pillens property tax town halls for next Thursday and Friday:

May 30 at noon  SCC Learning Center, 537 Main St., Plattsmouth.

May 31 at 11:30 a.m.  Seward Memorial Library, 233 S. Fifth St., Seward.

May 31 at 2 p.m.  Holthus Convention Center, Room I, 3130 Holen Ave., York.

Reduction goal: $2 billion

When Pillen came into office, he said, he walked into a situation that scared the bejesus out of him, where the states revenue coffers were plentiful but agencies wanted to increase spending.

This set him on a path to reduce 40% in property taxes, or about $2 billion.

Lou Ann Linehan leads a legislative hearing

Lawmakers nearly took another major step in April, but State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, Revenue Committee chair, pulled her Legislative Bill 388 after it appeared to have fewer than 33 senators in support. Thats the minimum number of votes required to end debate on heated measures.

Ive already told the Revenue Committee that were going to be working this summer, she told the Nebraska Examiner after that vote.

The governor remained committed to calling for hard caps on local spending, at about 2% or 3%, and to front-load property tax credits, allowing taxpayers to capitalize immediately rather than applying later for credits based on how much income tax they pay.

State spending and sales taxes

To fund his ideas, Pillen wants to trim about $500 million in state funding in the next couple of years that he said would enhance but not reduce state services. The state contracted with a Utah-based firm seeking to find similar efficiencies.

Were just doing business practices of improving processes, streamlining, looking at things as a systems approach and making a difference, Pillen told reporters.

Pillen is also looking at about 120 sales tax exemptions that pick winners and losers and reviewing which should be eliminated, such as exemptions on pop and candy that were part of the latest tax package.

State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, who lives 10 miles east of Beatrice, gave his support for looking at sales tax exemptions, adding Nebraska leads nationwide in those carve-outs.

The sky is not going to fall if we take this stuff, Brandt said of the exemption on pop and candy.

Filling in for State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams, who represents Beatrice but had a prior obligation, Brandt attended the town hall and said he trusts that the 49 personalities in the Legislature will find a common sense solution for a governor who is on the right track.

Im fully in support of whatever we come up with, and I appreciate that the governor is asking you for input, Brandt said.

In part, Pillen wants to reduce state government spending to what it was around 2012, during a deflationary period, and correct those sins when lawmakers increased obligations.

Another funding suggestion is a philosophical change away from what Pillen said is goober politics where some lawmakers believe they must curry political favors for reelection.

Theres some senators who think their job is to take money to their community  thats not Nebraska, Pillen said. Thats a different vision, different view.

Federal funding, increased tax obligations

The governor is also seeking to increase how many federal dollars the state draws down, building off some successes in the past two years, including State Sens. Mike Jacobson of North Platte for hospital assessments; Anna Wishart of Lincoln for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics; and Dorn for nursing home assessments.

Green light, pedal to the metal, Pillen recalled telling his cabinet members on securing such funding this week. No strings attached, but we have to get more than our fair share.

Sin taxes might be increased, such as those on tobacco, vaping products or alcohol, as well as on agriculture inputs, Pillen said.

The governor also suggested a future plan could be the state taking on more, or all, of local obligations to fund K-12 education, similar to what happened with community colleges in 2023.

One man in the audience, who said he lives close to the Kansas border, said hes worried Pillens 40% reduction to property taxes still wouldnt be enough.

Yeah, that helps, but its still not in the range of being competitive with our next-door neighbors, the man said.

Pillen responded that he overall wants to decrease state taxes, noting that for surrounding states with no income or property taxes, they might have higher sales taxes as a tradeoff.

Unfunded and underfunded mandates

Operation Clean the Closets Out is also on the table, which Pillen described as outlining what unfunded mandates exist for county and city governments and undoing those. Pillen said approximately 22% of county government costs come from unfunded mandates.

We have to get the unfunded mandates out, and same for cities, Pillen said. We have to say no. We have to clean up government.

State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, who ran against Pillen for governor two years ago, has tried for years to tackle unfunded and underfunded mandates, proposing a constitutional amendment that would let Nebraskans vote on ending future obligations unless they come with funding.

Blood said Friday that Pillen hasnt reached out to her on the mandates. She said a list of them already exists because of previous legislative studies.

At a 2023 hearing, she pointed to many such mandates, including supervision and transportation of juvenile offenders, election ballot printing and autopsy or grand jury costs after a prisoners death.

We know its a good idea, but nobody, nobody would listen to us, Blood said.

She said the Legislature had a chance to act sooner but put good ideas in the dumpster, which is part of the reason shes not willing to go into a special session.

They say they want our ideas, but they dont really, Blood said. Im not going to have them shove something down my throat that I know is just going to make it harder for the middle class and people that are struggling financially.

Summer special session goal

Special sessions cost thousands of dollars each day, which Blood said might be one reason to wait on proposals that might not be guaranteed to pass. Pillen dodged a question on special session costs, stating that really good savings could come from senators introducing fewer bills.

Jim Pillen leads a property tax town hall in Bellevue

Asked why he thinks the town halls would change the spring outcome, Pillen told reporters he understands he faces a game of 33-17, needing at least 33 votes but failing if 17 or more senators are opposed.

However, he said, he believes in the people of Nebraska and believes they must be part of a solution, which comes at the same time as an election year for some key senators who Pillen might need to support his tax proposals.

If the citizens of Nebraska arent engaged with the members of the Unicameral, they can be rest assured special interest groups are, and they dont have the citizens of Nebraskas backs, Pillen said.

Pillen said he expects to call a special session before school starts in August, scheduling around a summer trade mission to Indonesia.

We will get it fixed, but we need your help, Pillen told the Beatrice.

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Governor appoints Jared Hoy as the new leader of Wisconsins prison system

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday that he is promoting a deputy secretary at the embattled Wisconsin Department of Corrections to be the new leader of the states prison system that has been plagued by overcrowding and understaffing.

Jared Hoy will take over from Kevin Carr, who retired in March after leading the department since Evers appointed him at the beginning of his first term in 2019.

Evers said Hoy has 20 years of corrections experience in roles in Minnesota and Wisconsin, including working as an outpatient therapist, corrections counselor, research analyst, field supervisor, program and policy chief, policy initiatives advisor and training director.

Hoy joined the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in 2007 and has served as deputy director since 2021.

He will inherit a host of problems.

As of Friday, the adult prison system housed 22,544 inmates, more than 4,900 over capacity. Problems have been exacerbated by a lack of guards. As of Friday, the guard vacancy rate across the prison system stood at 19%.

The shortage of guards grew so severe last year that prisons in Green Bay, Waupun and Stanley instituted lockdowns.

Three inmates died at Waupun in 2023. A group of Waupun inmates filed a federal class-action lawsuit in October saying lockdown conditions there amount to cruel and unusual punishment. And in February, the daughter of an inmate who died there filed a federal lawsuit alleging Waupun officials failed to provide her father with adequate mental health care and medications.

Republican lawmakers and community leaders have advocated for years to close the 126-year-old Green Bay prison, but Evers has said he wont do that unless it is part of a broader plan that addresses problems across the entire prison and criminal justice system.

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to drive across the entire Western Hemisphere? The Pan-American Highway offers just thata journey through diverse landscapes, cultures, and climates.

What is the Pan-American Highway?

The Pan-American Highway is the world's longest road, stretching from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, USA, to Ushuaia in Argentina. This monumental road covers approximately 19,000 miles (30,000 kilometers) and traverses 14 countries.

Origins and History

The idea for the Pan-American Highway was conceived at the Fifth International Conference of American States in 1923. The goal was to create a continuous road connecting North and South America to promote trade and tourism.

Construction Milestones

1920s to 1940s: Initial planning and construction began in North and Central America.

1950s to 1970s: Significant progress in South America, with various sections completed.

1980s onwards: Ongoing improvements and expansions to enhance connectivity.

The Route of Adventure

Starting Point: Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

The journey begins in Prudhoe Bay, a remote area known for its extreme Arctic conditions. This segment tests the endurance of even the most seasoned travelers.

Through Canada

Passing through Canada, the highway winds through the Yukon and British Columbia, offering stunning views of pristine wilderness.

Into the United States

The road enters the United States, connecting with the Alaska Highway and leading to bustling cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Central America's Scenic Beauty

Mexico's Rich Culture

As the Pan-American Highway enters Mexico, travelers encounter a blend of modern cities and ancient ruins, including the famous pyramids of Teotihuacan.

Central American Crossroads

From Mexico, the highway continues through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Each country offers its unique charm, from volcanic landscapes to lush rainforests.

Crossing the Darien Gap

The Impassable Wilderness

One of the biggest challenges of the Pan-American Highway is the Darien Gap, a 100-mile stretch of undeveloped swampland and forest between Panama and Colombia.

Bypassing the Gap

Most travelers opt to ship their vehicles between Panama and Colombia or fly over this treacherous region, as building a road through it remains a significant logistical challenge.

South America's Diversity

Colombia to Ecuador

In South America, the highway resumes in Colombia, passing through vibrant cities like Bogota before reaching Ecuador, home to the stunning Andes mountains and the Amazon rainforest.

Peru's Ancient Wonders

Traveling through Peru, adventurers can explore the historic Inca city of Machu Picchu and the bustling capital, Lima.

Chile's Long and Thin Coastline

The highway then stretches down Chile, a country with diverse climates ranging from the Atacama Desert to the picturesque Patagonia region.

Final Stretch: Argentina

Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

Entering Argentina, the road leads to Buenos Aires, a city known for its European architecture and tango music. The final destination is Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, often referred to as "The End of the World."

Challenges and Rewards

Road Conditions

While the Pan-American Highway is mostly paved, some sections, especially in remote areas, can be rough and require a sturdy vehicle.

Cultural Exchanges

Traveling this highway offers a unique opportunity to experience the diverse cultures of the Americas, from indigenous traditions to modern urban lifestyles.

Travel Tips for the Pan-American Highway

Preparation is Key

Vehicle Maintenance: Ensure your vehicle is in top condition to handle long distances and varying terrains.

Documentation: Keep all necessary travel documents, including visas and vehicle permits, in order.

Safety Measures: Stay informed about the safety conditions in each region you plan to visit.

Packing Essentials

Emergency Supplies: Carry spare tires, first aid kits, and extra fuel.

Comfort Items: Bring comfortable clothing, bedding, and cooking supplies for long stretches between stops.

Notable Landmarks and Attractions

North America Highlights

Denali National Park, Alaska: Home to North America's highest peak.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco: An iconic symbol of the USA.

Central America Highlights

Chichen Itza, Mexico: A remarkable archaeological site.

Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica: A paradise for nature lovers.

South America Highlights

Amazon Rainforest, Brazil: The world's largest tropical rainforest.

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile: Known for its stunning landscapes.

The Ultimate Road Trip

The Pan-American Highway isn't just a road; it's an epic adventure that offers travelers a chance to see the world from a unique perspective. It's a journey that challenges and rewards in equal measure, promising unforgettable memories and stories to tell for a lifetime.

The Future of the Pan-American Highway

Environmental Concerns

With the growing awareness of environmental issues, there's a push for sustainable travel practices along the highway. Efforts are being made to balance infrastructure development with conservation.

Technological Advancements

As technology evolves, so does the Pan-American Highway. Future developments may include better road conditions, improved safety features, and enhanced connectivity for travelers. Driving the Pan-American Highway is more than just a trip from point A to point B; it's a life-changing experience. It offers a unique opportunity to connect with diverse cultures, witness breathtaking landscapes, and embark on an adventure of a lifetime. Whether you're an avid road tripper or a curious explorer, the Pan-American Highway is the ultimate journey worth undertaking.

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Governor orders flags to be lowered for Memorial Day

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is ordering flags to be lowered for Memorial Day.

>> Very disgusting; 17-year-old accused of assaulting second teen in Dayton

On Saturday, DeWine ordered that all United States and State of Ohio flags be flown at half-staff on all public buildings and grounds across the state.

The order is in effect from 12:01 a.m. until noon on Monday, May 27.
A man is facing charges in a May 11 assault that killed his 3-year-old stepson, according to Grand Prairie police.

Around 8:30 a.m. on May 11, officers responded to Arlington Memorial Hospital after medical staff had contacted authorities about a child who was transported by family members to the emergency room with injuries indicating an assault.

Due to the severity of the injuries, the boy was transported by air ambulance to Cook Childrens Medical Center in Fort Worth. The 3-year-old later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on May by medical staff.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office identified the child as Zyair Amerson.

Detectives learned Zyair had been physically assaulted at his home in the 1000 block of North Highway 360 before being transported to the hospital, police said in a news release Friday.

At around 4:30 p.m. on May 11, detectives arrested 21-year-old Solnifasint Nelson on a charge of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury or death, a first-degree felony, the release states.

Nelson was the stepfather of the victim, according to police.

Authorities may file other charges against Nelson, pending the results of the medical exams of the child.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Greece due to receive three French-built frigates to boost its navy

Greece due to receive three French-built frigates to boost its navy

The delivery of three new Belharra-class frigates to the Greek Navy, set to enhance the countrys defensive capabilities and strengthen defence cooperation with France at sea, is reportedly progressing as planned and within the expected timeframe.

Two of the frigates have been launched and are currently undergoing sea trials before being handed over to Greece, while the third had its keel attached just this April.

Frigates will not be ready for service until 2025 and 2026.

Parts of the ships are being built at the Salamis Shipyards, on the Greek island of Salamis, with the advanced defence technology primarily sourced from France.

The frigates will be equipped with Exocet anti-surface missiles, Aster anti-air missiles, RAM missiles, and antisubmarine torpedoes, along with helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. Additionally, they will feature the latest radar technology, eliminating the need for a 360-degree rotation.

"It's a fixed panel, it means that the radar doesnt rotate, it means that at every moment, every second, the crew sees everywhere, said Cyrille Brett from the Naval Group.

The ships are being promoted as the first fully digital frigates.

And since France's Naval Group is sharing most of its technology with Salamis Shipyards, it is expected to usher in a new era for Greek shipbuilding.

Using this knowledge, I think Greece can turn the page and become a very important defence shipbuilder," the president of Salamis Shipyards told Euronews.

"I think we are going to see new projects from Salamis Shipyards and I hope from other shipyards that are going to be very important for Greece, and also for Europe and international shipping," Dr Goerge Koros added.

Greece signed the contract for the three ships with France in September 2021 at a cost of around 3 billion. At the same time the Franco-Greek defense pact was signed, including a mutual defense clause triggering support if either nation faces aggression from a third party.

Tensions with Turkey

The frigates are part of a strategy to boost Greece's defence capacities in the Eastern Mediterranean amid recurring tensions with long-time foe Turkey.

Tensions have increased in recent years over gas exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and waters between the two countries.

Both countries have been at loggerheads for decades over a long series of issues, including territorial rights in the Aegean Sea, maritime and aviation boundaries, and minority rights.

Greece has already bought 18 French Rafale fighter jets and plans to purchase another six to modernise its armed forces.
Gresham thanks voters for approving public safety levy one year after its failure

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Gresham officials are thanking voters for approving additional funding for first responders, one year after a public safety levy was struck down.

During Tuesdays primary election, preliminary data show 55.7% of voters said yes to Measure 26-257, which allocates more money toward hiring and retaining personnel at the Gresham Fire Department and Gresham Police Department.

Portland Rose Festival will kick off with CityFair, fireworks display

Over the next five years, the levy will cover 13 new firefighters and nine police officers. It will also fund the citys efforts to retain an average of 30 first responders annually.

We are extremely grateful for the support of our community, Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall said in a statement. This levy is a tremendous first step in providing the resources our first responders sorely need and to work towards the safe community Gresham deserves.

The city saw different results for May 2023s special election, when 51.37% of voters said no to the measure  although that one also included homeless services.

Man sentenced to life in prison for 2020 fatal stabbings in NE Portland

Gresham City Council faced a $8.6 million budget deficit after the levy failed last year.

The newfound support for the measure will cost the average household about $25.65 each month starting in July. Its expected to garner more than $12.1 million in revenue in its first year, and more than $64 million by 2029.

We acknowledge that many voters did not support the recent levy and understand the financial commitment it entails, officials said in a statement. The City of Gresham is committed to demonstrating accountability, integrity and transparency as we build trust and strive to make our community better than ever.

Highest pollen counts of the season expected after Memorial Day weekend

According to city officials, the funds will go to a protected account overseen by a volunteer committee of seven residents. The group will regularly report to the Gresham City Council and supervise an audit every 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 KOIN.com.
FILE - State Sen. Kelli Stargel looks through redistricting maps during a Senate Committee on Reapportionment hearing on Jan. 13, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Civil rights groups have challenged how four congressional districts and seven state House districts in South Florida were drawn by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature, claiming they were racially gerrymandered. The civil rights groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday, May 23, 2024, claiming the districts are unconstitutional and asking a federal court in South Florida to stop them from being used for any elections. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

MIAMI (AP)  Progressive civic groups have challenged how four congressional districts and seven state House districts in South Florida were drawn by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature, claiming they were racially gerrymandered for Hispanics who are too diverse in Florida to be considered a protected minority.

The groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday, claiming the districts are unconstitutional and asking a federal court in South Florida to stop them from being used for any elections. Named as defendants were the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd.

A message seeking comment was left Saturday at the Secretary of States office.

According to federal and state law, race can be considered during redistricting to protect minority voters if the minority group is cohesive and if majority-white voters are able to keep the minority group from electing their preferred candidates.

However, the Florida Legislature wrongly assumed that South Florida's Hispanic voters are cohesive when that's no longer the case since the white majority in Florida regularly votes in coalition with the Hispanic voters in South Florida, the lawsuit said.

Rather, it is nuanced, multifaceted, and diverse with respect to political behavior and preferences, the lawsuit said of South Florida's Hispanic community. The Legislature was not entitled to draw race-based districts based on uninformed assumptions of racial sameness.

Instead, genuine minority communities of interest in the city of Miami and Collier County, which is home to Naples, were split up when the districts were drawn, according to the lawsuit.

More than two-thirds of the residents of Miami-Dade County  where the districts targeted by the lawsuit are concentrated  are Hispanic.

In drawing these districts, the Florida Legislature subordinated traditional redistricting criteria and state constitutional requirements to race without narrowly tailoring the district lines to advance a compelling government interest, the lawsuit said.

The congressional districts being challenged  19, 26, 27 and 28  stretch from the Fort Myers area on the Gulf Coast across the state to the Miami area and down to the Florida Keys. The House districts under scrutiny  112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 118, and 119  are concentrated in the Miami area.

All the districts currently are being represented by Republicans.

As drawn, the districts violate basic principles of good district drawing, such as making sure communities stay intact, being compact and keeping districts from stretching far and wide into disparate neighborhoods, the lawsuit said.
Gwinnett murder suspect rearrested after court says he was flaunting release conditions

A man charged with the 2005 murder of a Gwinnett County woman had his bond revoked after the judge claimed he was flaunting the conditions of his bond release.

Billy Joe Cook, 57, was charged with two counts of malice murder and two counts of felony murder for allegedly shooting and killing Leslie Marva Adams on Oct. 21, 2005.

Adams was reported missing, and was not found until 2007, when investigators responded to reports of remains found in Franklin County.

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Investigators were unable to positively identify a suspect until Cook was charged and arrested in October 2018.

Cook was released on $330,200 bond in February of 2019. The conditions of his release included being barred from owning or being around firearms or firearm ammunition; he was restricted from being near Adams family or any potential trial witnesses, was given a 10 p.m. curfew and his travel was limited.

In February, Cook called 911 to say he had been shot in his Cherokee County home. Police responded and got him medical treatment for his shoulder and hand injury.

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When investigators applied for a search warrant to find shell casings from the shooting, they located the shell casing, but also uncovered ammunition, firearm magazines and boxes for firearms, which violated the conditions of his bond.

Cook violated his curfew after it was discovered he attended a New Edition concert for three hours in New Orleans. Police also learned from March 15 to March 22, he was staying at a casino in Tampa, Florida.

On Wednesday, Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Tadia Whitmer revoked Cooks bond after ruling that he was flaunting court orders.

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With the defendant recently returning to jail, we are ready to prosecute this case and hold this defendant accountable, Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin Gatson said.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Roy W. Berry, of Hagerstown, will be in one of the largest groups of veterans in the National Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27, beginning at 2 p.m. on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.

Roy W. Berry, a U.S. Army veteran, served in Operation Desert Storm with Company B, 44th Signal Battalion, 7th Signal Brigade. He was the Extension Node Platoon Sergeant during the deployment. Berry, now 67 years old, was 35 when deployed to Desert Shield/Storm.

Berry's unit was mainly in Saudi Arabia from January until May 1991, supporting POW camps, U.S. Army field hospitals, the 7th Army command and many Kuwaiti civil engineering groups.

Berry said, "The loss of life during war time is especially sad, military people sacrifice life for causes we support. Families, friends and comrades are impacted for the rest of their lives because of this. Memorial Day is a time to remember, honor and acknowledge how much that person means to us. Participating in the Washington D.C. parade is a small way to appreciate all of those who gave all."

Roy W. Berry

Berry served in the Army 20 years, retiring as a Sergeant First Class E-7.

On Memorial Day, hundreds of veterans who served during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 will be in the nations Capital to honor those who have died during their military service. The parade, produced by the American Veterans Center, will be broadcast live.

Less than one mile from the parade route is the land where the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial will be constructed. Projected completion and dedication of the memorial is fall 2025.

Cee Freeman, vice president of the National Desert Storm Memorial Association, said, During Operation Desert Storm, I served with the finest fighting force ever assembled. Thirty-three years later, I am honored to be in the official reviewing stand on Memorial Day to witness their commitment, honor and veneration for the men and women who died while serving.

In 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Within 24 hours, Iraq's military occupied its southern neighbor with the intent of further advancing into Saudi Arabia. President George H.W. Bush would successfully lead a coalition of dozens of nations in the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, a campaign known as Operation Desert Storm.

For more information on the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, go to www.ndswm.org.

More: Memorial Day events in the local Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia area

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown veteran to participate in National Memorial Day Parade
Television | TV Channels Structured succession planning process is on for my successor: NP Singh With the announcement that NP Singh has decided to hang up his boots at SPNI, an era is coming to an end. One of the few senior executives to have seen it all, from traditional pay TV broadcasting to the streaming revolution followed by its fizzling out, NP (as he is called) is leaving behind extremely large boots to be filled. Read More... Television | TV Channels NDTV Battleground Finale with Dr. S. Jaishankar highlights foreign policy The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are nearing the slogovers, with only two rounds of voting left, on 25 May and 1 June. Read More...
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) -A spokesman for Hamas' armed wing said on Sunday its fighters had captured Israeli soldiers during fighting in Jabalia in northern Gaza on Saturday, though the Israeli military denied the claim.

The Hamas armed wing spokesman did not say how many soldiers had been abducted and showed no proof of the claim.

"Our fighters lured a Zionist force into an ambush inside a tunnel ... The fighters withdrew after they left all members of the force dead, wounded, and captured," Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for Al Qassam Brigades, said in a recorded message broadcast by Al Jazeera early on Sunday.

The Israeli military on Sunday denied the claim by Hamas' armed wing.

"The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) clarifies that there is no incident in which a soldier was abducted," the military said in a statement.

Hamas released a video that appeared to show a bloodied person being dragged along the ground in a tunnel and photos of military fatigue and rifle. Reuters could not independently verify the identity of the person shown in the video nor his or her condition.

The comments by Abu Ubaida came hours after prospects for a resumption of mediated Gaza ceasefire talks grew on Saturday.

An official with knowledge of the matter said a decision had been taken to resume the talks next week after the chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency met the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar.

The source, who declined to be identified by name or nationality, said it had been decided that "in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active U.S. involvement."

A Hamas official later denied Israeli media reports the talks would resume in Cairo on Tuesday, telling Reuters: "There is no date."

After more than seven months of war in Gaza, the mediators have struggled to secure a breakthrough, with Israel seeking the release of hostages held by Hamas and Hamas seeking an end to the war and a release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive, Gaza's health ministry says. Israel began the operation in response to Hamas-led militants attacking southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

(Reporting by Nidal Al Maghrabi and Hatem MaherEditing by Chris Reese and Josie Kao)
After 29 years of serving craft beer and upscale pub grub as well as hosting live music, an iconic downtown St. Augustine restaurant at the foot of the Bridge of Lions called it quits.

Considered a local landmark, A1A Ale Works at 1 King St.  which had stopped brewing in 2017  shut its doors permanently Sunday night, the popular restaurant and taproom announced on social media.

"With a heavy heart, we announce the closure of A1A Aleworks on May 26th. We are grateful for your loyalty and invite you to say goodbye in the coming days," the restaurant posted on Facebook.

A1A Ale Works is the most recent in a series of separate and unrelated closures of Jacksonville-area craft breweries and taprooms.

Hyperion Brewing Co., 1744 N Main St. in Jacksonville's historic Springfield neighborhood closed in March after more than six years

Brewer's Pizza, the home of Pinglehead Brewing Company, 14B Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park closed last November after 14 years

Lemonstreet Brewing Co., 2100 Dennis St. in Jacksonville's Rail Yard District closed last December after four years

Tabula Rasa Brewery, 2385 Corbett St., also in the Rail Yard District, closed last August after five years

A1A Ale Works is part of SPB Hospitality, a Houston-based multi-brand restaurant operator. SPB Hospitality also owns Ragtime Tavern Seafood and Grill in Atlantic Beach, as well as Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery and J. Alexander's Restaurant, both in Jacksonville.

A1A Ale Works closed because its lease expired, Ryan Russell, director of communications and cause marketing for SPB Hospitality, told the Times-Union in an email.

This wasn't an easy decision for us, and the choice was ultimately made due to an expiring lease," Russell wrote. "We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our team members and loyal guests who've supported us over the years. Your dedication and visits have filled our restaurant with unforgettable memories and experiences, and we truly cherish the relationships we've built with visitors from near and far. Thank you for being a part of our journey.

A1A Ale Works, 1 King St., a longtime restaurant and taproom in St. Augustine shut its doors at the close of business May 26, 2024.

SPB Hospitality's other other brands include Logan's Roadhouse, Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom, Krystal, Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Chophouse & Brewery, Twisted Tenders, Leo's Italian Kitchen and Ember Smoked BBQ, its website shows.

Russell said none of its other restaurants will be affected by the A1A Ale Works closure.

Founded in 1995, A1A Ale Works was in the building housing the former St. Augustine Plaza Hotel and Potters Wax Museum.

Seven years ago, it stopped brewing its own beer, switched to a 24-tap system that features a rotating selection of beers and focused on its restaurant, private dining and catering operations.

Longtime customers reacted with dismay on social media to news of the planned closing. As of Saturday morning, nearly 500 people had taken to Facebook to share their memories of the restaurant over the years and offered best wishes for the future to the A1A Ale Works staff.

"I am stunned. I don't get it...this is so sad. I live in St Augustine and it feels like I'm losing a family member. This is our go to place...now what? Good luck to all the staff. I certainly hope something amazing goes in there that can be accessed by all, and not just a venue for hire," one woman posted.

Jacksonville Red Lobster closures: What we know

Jacksonville-area restaurant roundup: 12 opened, 5 closed in April

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.

If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: A1A Ale Works closes after 29 years in historic downtown St. Augustine
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Officers are seeking the publics help to solve a 2017 homicide case of an 18-year-old in Fresno.

According to the Fresno Police Department, during the early morning hours of May 29, 2017, 18-year-old Kayla Foster was shot in the area of Bardell and Lorena Avenues. She was standing outside a home with a group of people when an armed suspect fired into the crowd from a moving vehicle.

Foster, police say, was fatally wounded. A second person was also struck by gunfire but they survived their injuries.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact the Fresno Police Department at 559-621-7000.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Hillary Clinton gives dire warning on abortion: We could have done more to fight

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a new interview criticized her fellow Democrats for their response to the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade, arguing they could have done more.

We didnt take it seriously, and we didnt understand the threat, Clinton said in an interview with The New York Times, published Saturday. Most Democrats, most Americans, did not realize we are in an existential struggle for the future of this country.

We could have done more to fight, she added.

The former first lady issued a dire warning in the interview, conducted in February, claiming that Democrats spent decades in a state of denial that abortion rights  which had been enshrined for generations under Roe v. Wade  could be revoked. While in that state, Clinton said the anti-abortion movement was able to chip away at the legal precedent until it was too late.

One thing I give the right credit for is they never give up, Clinton said. They are relentless. You know, they take a loss, they get back up, they regroup, they raise more money.

Its tremendously impressive the way that they operate. And we have nothing like it on our side, she added.

The former presidential nominee also slammed the conservative justices on the high court who handed down the history-making Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health ruling, which handed abortion access decisions back to the states. She also hit Democrats in the Senate, who, she said, didnt do enough to stop those justices from being appointed.

Our side was complacent and kind of taking it for granted and thinking it would never go away, she said in the interview, per the Times.

Clinton, who lost the 2016 presidential election to former President Trump, said she tried to raise alarms during her campaign about anti-abortion efforts, but was largely dismissed as an alarmist. The Times noted that polling and focus groups from that time showed voters truly did not believe that Roe v. Wade was at risk.

With Trump in the middle of his third campaign, Clinton warned that the election this fall is existential because it could mean a small group of conservatives would continue turning the clock back on women.

Following the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that resulted in controversy around in vitro fertilization, Clinton warned that birth control would be next on the to-do list for Republicans who want to restrict womens rights.

In the same interview, the former secretary also signaled that she faced sexism while on the campaign trail, claiming she was deserted by female voters because she was not perfect.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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(U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.)  The United State Air Force Academy (USAFA) is home to our nations future protectors of the skies. As graduation approaches next week, the Academy marked the upcoming sacred holiday, Memorial Day, by inviting the southern Colorado community to come together on Friday morning, May 24 to honor our fallen heroes.

Its become a tradition, Noah Klismith said. We always do the wreaths. We always do the flags. Just nice to be here with my grandparents and my brother.

Noah Klismith and his brother Eli were among the hundreds who paid their respects by visiting the Academys cemetery and helping to place flags on veteran graves ahead of Memorial Day. This was a special moment as Noah has participated in this act of appreciation since he was five years old, thanks to the values his grandparents instilled in him.

My grandpa fought in the Air Force in Vietnam, so he definitely taught us about the military and veterans and things like that, said Klismith.

Volunteers of all ages came out to place more than 1,500 American flags, some with connections to USAFA, others hoping to teach their children what it means to serve our country.

This cemetery here at the Academy, it means so many things in so many ways, Darrel Whitcomb, 1969 USAFA Graduate said. I remember as a young cadet coming by here and it was just barely starting up and of course, you can see what it is today, this is a multigenerational place of honor.

Before the placing of the flags began, one father and son could be spotted reading the gravestones of fallen men and women.

Whitcomb recalled his years of service as an Air Force Officer, and the lifelong connection created with his fellow graduates. Throughout the morning on Friday, he could be spotted not only placing flags at gravestones, but also coins, which hold great meaning for those who serve.

What we do when we come along and we honor our fallen friends here, we take a nickel and we throw it on their graveside here, Whitcomb explained. So, they can know that weve been here, once again honoring them. Then we always, of course, stand by and give them a very sharp salute because they were one of us. They are part of who we are, and so thats a very important Air Force tradition.

Several gravestones were topped with coins, a sign of respect for ones service.

A visiting group of Boy Scouts were determined to honor General Paul Carleton, who is directly related to one of the troop members. These boys were committed to placing a flag and paying their respects properly ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.

Its exciting for our troop to come out every year to either lay wreaths or to lay flags because we have a personal connection to a member who is buried here, General Paul K. Carleton the first is the great grandfather of one of our scouts, Paul K. Carleton the fourth, said Ric Trimillos, Scoutmaster of Troop 66. Our troop has a deep connection to coming out here every year and honoring our veterans and those who have served.

Andrew Randall, a Boy Scout from Troop 66, was the one who found the special gravestone they were looking for.

Greg Bruce and Del Stiegemeier were also among the crowd. Typically the two can be spotted in the fall at Falcon Stadium, as part of the Gridiron Skilliteers tailgating group.

Coming out to show their support Friday morning meant a great deal to the two, both who are big supporters of veterans.

Just remembering the service these guys gave and they literally gave all and that we should all be very thankful for the folks who serve, Bruce said.

USAFA maintains the only active cemetery in the Air Force, meaning new burials will occur and can expand. For details on visiting the cemetery, click here.

As it continues to grow, and it will be ever growing, the Air Force Academy cemetery, here as we produce more classes, Whitcomb said. Our young men and women go off and they live their lives. Many of them will fall in combat, thats one of the things, unfortunately, we do. But this is our place, this is our coming home to place.

Looking over the gravestones, each bearing an American flag, serves as a reminder to the southern Colorado community of the true meaning behind Memorial Day: honoring those who gave their 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 FOX21 News Colorado.
John Fetterman, known for his hoodies and shorts on Capitol Hill, worked with Republicans on legislation to fund the Israeli military - Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Joe Biden must back Benjamin Netanyahu even at the cost of votes in the presidential election, a pro-Israel Democrat senator has warned.

John Fetterman, who has made headlines for his preference for hoodies and shorts on Capitol Hill, warned the US president not to pander to the fringe of pro-Palestine protesters.

The Pennsylvania Democrat has become one of the partys more unlikely and loudest supporters of Israel in recent months  plastering the walls of his office in photos of hostages taken by Hamas and calling for the Biden administration to supply any weapons Israel needs to fight in Gaza.

Mr Fetterman won a shock election victory in 2022 and has risen to fame for his casualwear in Congress  angering some Republicans, who demanded he wear a shirt and tie in the Senate chamber.

Joe Biden (right) and John Fetterman participate in a rally ahead of the US midterm elections in 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Ed Jones/AFP

In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Fetterman said the US president must hold firm against pressure in his own party to abandon support for Mr Netanyahu, as the war in Gaza reaches its eighth month.

You cant pander to them, and it never works anyway, he said.

You just have to pick your side, and you just say: This is where Im at on that. Im not going to pander to that fringe.

Mr Biden is losing support among some Muslim and young liberal voters over his ironclad support for Israel after Hamass terror attacks on Oct 7.

Polls show that in some key swing states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, the Democrats stand to lose a significant portion of support from voters demanding an immediate ceasefire.

The drop in support for Mr Biden is especially stark among American Muslims and college students, who made up a significant portion of his vote share in 2020 and volunteered as staff on his campaign. The war has seen protests erupt on college campuses in at least two dozen states ahead of Novembers presidential election.

Mr Fetterman said the US president must hold firm against pressure in his own party to abandon support for Mr Netanyahu - EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP

Mr Fetterman said: If you want to live in a tent on a college campus, and you want to do that to empower and encourage Hamas, well congratulations.

Because of the kind of values that you claim to espouse  thats exactly the opposite of that kind of organisation and that kind of a movement.

The senator, first elected last year, has been willing to work with Republicans on legislation to fund the Israeli military.

Mr Fetterman has also spoken openly about a stroke he suffered before being elected to Congress, and his battles with mental health.

His stance on the Middle East has surprised some of his supporters in Pennsylvania, who considered him on the Left of the Democratic Party during 2022s election.

Earlier this month, Mr Fetterman called the Biden administrations decision to withhold some heavy arms intended for Israel over the planned Rafah offensive deeply disappointing.

He said there should be no conditions on military support for Tel Aviv and criticised anonymous Pentagon officials for sandbagging Israel by briefing against its war effort.

No conditions  I dont think its helpful, he said. I dont understand why we would be in that place, and I havent seen the kind of conduct or anything from Israel that would justify that.

Some congressional Democrats have called on Mr Biden to criticise Israel over the humanitarian cost of the war in Gaza, which has claimed at least 30,000 lives.

Describing the diversity of thought in the Democratic Party on Israel as destructive, Mr Fetterman said Hamas had won the PR war because of public opposition to Israel in the US.

I read a lot of media, the whole spectrum [from] very, very Left and very Right and everything in between, he said.

Im sure Hamas or their advisors are reading that too. Its pretty easy to come to the conclusion that: Yeah, we won, weve won that kind of PR war.

Whether its the college campuses, or whether its unnamed sources, or whatever in the Pentagon saying that Israel cant do that or we dont see this as winnable, it just makes it that much more difficult to get to a place of peace.

On Wednesday, the governments of Ireland, Norway and Spain announced that they would recognise Palestine as a state.

Most countries, including the US and the UK, do not currently recognise Palestine but have suggested they could do so in future under a US-led Saudi-Israeli normalisation deal.

Mr Fetterman said US allies should not consider recognising Palestine until after Hamas has released Israeli hostages that have been held in Gaza since its terror attacks on Oct 7.

I think its astonishing that there are other nations, our allies, looking to recognise Palestine [when] Hamas has over 100 hostages in custody, and have been unwilling to surrender, he said.

Its kind of hard to not think that if you are essentially giving an award to what Hamas has done, by saying: Hey, now lets talk about being Palestine.

Its just astonishing, especially some of our allies are doing that.

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Hungary has blocked the European Union's approval of the allocation of proceeds from frozen Russian assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine.

Source: Financial Times, citing five people who attended a meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Following months of debate, the EU countries agreed to use the proceeds from about 190 billion stuck in the Belgian central securities depository Euroclear to purchase weapons for Ukraine.

However, the Hungarian ambassador opposed the acceleration of payments, making it impossible to ensure that the principle of unanimity in making such decisions is respected.

"For the time being they are blocking everything connected to the military support to Ukraine," said one source, suggesting that Budapest's reservations will remain at least until next month's European elections.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long argued that the West cannot win the war in Ukraine, and Hungary has stalled numerous European decisions related to the war. However, Budapest eventually relented under diplomatic pressure from the EU and Washington, including with regard to a 50 billion aid package for Kyiv.

The second source said that in order to reach an agreement on using the profits from the frozen Russian assets, EU officials proposed a deal to Hungary under which their share of the funds allocated by Brussels would not be used to buy weapons for Ukraine.

This persuaded Budapest not to veto the scheme, but it is delaying the implementation of the conditions by not supporting the necessary legislation. Budapest is not against it in principle but has concerns about making payments automatic, people familiar with its stance said.

Diplomats hope to find a way to resolve these issues before the July payment is due. Hungary declined to comment.

Background: On Saturday, it was reported that the G7 finance ministers supported the idea of granting Ukraine a loan secured by the proceeds of frozen Russian assets to provide Kyiv with financing after 2024.

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Hunter Biden went to a Delaware court on Friday afternoon for a pre-trial hearing on federal gun charges.

Biden, who is President Joe Bidens son, made an attempt to delay the trial, but the request was denied. His trial is expected to start on Monday, June 3, as reported by NBC News. Judge Maryellen Noreika will preside over the trial.

The first son was indicted and charged with three felony firearm offenses in September 2023. If convicted, Biden faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

According to the indictment, Hunter Biden bought a Colt Cobra revolver on Oct. 12, 2018, and knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement, intended and likely to deceive that dealer with respect to a fact material to the lawfulness of the sale of the firearm certifying he was not an unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance, when in fact, as he knew, that statement was false and fictitious.

Special counsel David C. Weiss charged Biden with:

Making a false statement while purchasing a firearm.

Making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a licensed firearm dealer.

Possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.

Judge Noreika agreed to a defense push to keep some details about Bidens extravagant lifestyle, out of the trial, such as his ongoing tax case in California and his dismissal from the Navy over a positive drug test, per CBS News.

Prosecutors plan on reading portions from Bidens 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things, to the jury during trial, per AP News. Biden described his struggle with drug abuse and alcoholism in the memoir.

Bidens attorney, Abbe Lowell, claims the charges are unwarranted.

We believe these charges are barred by the agreement the prosecutors made with Mr. Biden, the recent rulings by several federal courts that this statute is unconstitutional, and the facts that he did not violate that law, and we plan to demonstrate all of that in court, Lowell said in September, per CBS News.
If youve been shopping within the past year or so for a new truck, you know that the latest models have new tech features and increased options to customize. You also know how expensive pickups can be.

Be Aware: 10 New Cars to Avoid Buying in 2024

Read Also: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

However, theres good news that can help ease the pain of the sticker price. According to MotorTrend, and its partner IntelliChoice, these particular trucks that will hold their value for the next five years or more. They are listed along with their percent resale value. Keep in mind the numbers listed represent average value retained from all of a models trim levels.

Here are 10 new trucks that are worth the money.

1. 2023 Toyota Tacoma: 73.1%

You may need to ignore some of the bad things youve heard about the Tacoma, such as cramped space and not the best on fuel. Thats because its proven to be reliable and a solid value pay.

Read More: 4 Cars That Cost More Used Than New



For You: 4 Affordable Car Brands You Wont Regret Buying in 2024

2. 2023 Jeep Gladiator: 70.0%

The Jeep Gladiators good looks make it stand out on this list of new trucks that will hold their value. It has a pretty spartan interior and not the best results during the towing test. However, its aesthetic appeal helps in maintaining value.

Find Out: Buying a Used Car: The Best Age and Mileage To Get Great Value

3. 2023 Chevrolet Silverado HD: 67.8%

This is essentially the more mainstream version of the GMC Sierra HD. However, the Silverado retains its value a bit better on average. One thing to keep in mind is that Chevrolet High Country models depreciate the most.

patrick@curtet.con / GMC

4. 2023 GMC Sierra HD: 67.0%

These are known to work hard and have some luxurious trim. Its the midrange 3500 SLT trims that do the best, with some keeping more than 68% of their value.

5. 2023 Chevrolet Colorado: 66.5%

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is known to have more of the cool factor than its predecessor thanks to far more design-oriented and feature-filled options. This one is compared to the GMC Canyon in many ways but holds its value better.

Explore More: 8 Best Luxury Cars for Wealthy Retirees

6. 2023 Ram 2500 HD: 66.3%

The Ram 2500 HD comes with handsome looks, an upscale interior and strong powertrains. You can get maximum value retention with a Mega Cab truck in Lone Star or Big Horn trim.

7. 2023 Ford Maverick: 65.6%

The 2023 Ford Maverick is a small truck with a big retained value. It delivers good fuel economy and capability. The basic XL FWD hybrid version holds its value the best at 67.5%.

Story continues

8. 2023 GMC Canyon: 65.5%

This Canyon may look tough  but its gentle when it comes to holding its resale value. The off-road ready AT4 trim has a 67.9% resale value, while the luxurious Denali variant stands at 64.9%.

Read Next: 10 Car Models That Will Have Massive Price Drops in May 2024

9. 2023 Toyota Tundra: 65.1%

Toyota has a reputation for building reliable vehicles. The Tundra is one of the best resale value trucks. The SR trim with RWD configured with the crew cab and short bed holds its value best at 73.8%. The rugged TRD Pro model is at 63.6%.

10. 2023 GMC Hummer EV: 65.0%

The figure above applies to the Hummer EV First Edition. Part of the value retention for this one could be its pop-culture appeal or potential future collectability.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 New Trucks That Will Hold Their Value for the Next Five Years or More
The Israeli Defense Forces will launch an investigation into a video of an Israeli soldier threatening a military coup against Israels Defense Minister, and calling for Israel to seize control of Gaza.

In the first half of the video a masked IDF soldier dressed in full army fatigues, carrying an automatic weapon, addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The soldier argued that laying claim to Gaza is the opportunity of a lifetime, and that a group of 100,000 reservists do not intend to hand over the keys to any Palestinian Authority, including Hamas, Fatah, or any Arab entity.

Weve lost everything. We lost our family life. We lost our livelihoods. And we have nowhere to go, said the Israeli soldier, standing in rubble, the ruins of a building, presumably in Gaza. Israel has waged a massive military campaign in Gaza killing over 35,000 people, and displacing nearly one million more who are trapped in the region, unable to escape.

Well stay here. Until victory, he said. On the cement ceiling above him, burn marks, signs of an explosion, are visible.

This self-proclaimed Netanyahu loyalist claims he's one of a 100,000 reservists ready to disobey Defense Minister Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Halevy and to sacrifice their lives to achieve Netanyahu's stated goal of total victory in Gaza. A Wagner Group in the making. pic.twitter.com/tU05LcsWfF  Yonatan Touval (@Yonatan_Touval) May 25, 2024

The second half of the video, the soldier called for the resignation of Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and said the reservists would only answer to Netanyahu.

You cannot win a war. Resign. You cannot win the war, you cannot command us, he said. We will listen to one leader, and it is not the minister of defense, and it is not the chief of staff, it is the prime minister. Think carefully to whom you intend to give the keys after this.

Change your record, change the record and understand that we want to win, or we will go only with the prime minister, he continued. Only with whoever decides that we should win, we will follow him. Here I tell you, did you want a military coup?

Last week, Gallant challenged Netanyahu to commit to Palestinian rule in Gaza, even with the possibility of personal or political costs.

Yair Netanyahu, the prime ministers 32-year-old son, reposted the video in a Telegram channel, dismissing claims that the video was advocating for a military rebellion.

An army that announces that in times of dispute it will obey only the government and the prime minister is not a rebel but on the contrary, it is an army that obeys the law, he wrote, according to NBC News.

On Saturday, the IDF released a statement, saying the chilling video was a serious violation of IDF orders and IDF values, and constitutes a suspicion of criminal offences.

In regard to the incident, the Chief of Military Advocate General Corps ordered the opening of an investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division, the statement said. At the same time as the investigation, in view of the seriousness of the incident, the Chief of Staff ordered an immediate command dialogue at all levels.

On Friday, the Military Police said that it would investigate social media posts, which allegedly show IDF soldiers burning books in Gaza, including the Quran, according to The Times of Israel. In one video, an IDF soldier tosses a Quran into a flaming pile of wood. In one photograph, reportedly at the library at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza City, a soldier kneels, pretending to read, as a stack of books goes up in flames behind him.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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'Idiotic' Man Who Tried To 'Body Slam' Orca Gets Hit With Fine

A New Zealand man has been fined for what authorities are calling an attempt to body slam an orca in the wild.

Video posted on Instagram in February shows a man jumping off a boat to harass an adult orca and calf while those on board cheer him on. The man can be seen belly-flopping into the water directly next to one of the killer whales, and then swimming after one of them before shouting, I touched it!

This is stupid behaviour and demonstrates a shocking disregard for the welfare of the orca, Hayden Loper, an officer with the New Zealand Department of Conservation, said in a Tuesday press release from the agency.

Loper called the mans actions absolutely idiotic in an interview with the Guardian.

Investigators determined that the incident happened off the coast of Devonport, Auckland, and that the orca toucher was a 50-year-old Auckland man, whose name has not been released. He was fined 600 New Zealand dollars  or a little less than $400.

Things could have been much worse for him.

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, Loper said in the press release.

Hannah Hendriks, a marine technical adviser at the conservation department, told the Guardian that badgering orcas can still harm them, even if the animals arent physically injured. Disrupting the mammals rest, feeding or socializing can have long-term impacts on survival and breeding success, while repeated disturbance may lead to animals avoiding an area, she said.

Bothering a calf could be especially bad, she said, since it could result in the calf being separated from an adult it relies on for survival.

On Facebook, the conservation department responded to people who complained that the Auckland mans fine was too low. The penalty was influenced by the fact that he had no prior violations and that the orca did not appear to be significantly harmed or disturbed.

However, the department noted that anyone charged with harassing, disturbing, injuring or killing a marine mammal could face a fine of up to 250,000 New Zealand dollars or two years behind bars.

Related...
One stabbed in fight involving 100 people on Carson Beach in South Boston

One person was rushed to the hospital after a large fight involving around 100 people at Carson Beach in South Boston Friday night.

A man was rushed to a nearby hospital to be treated for his non-life-threatening stab wounds.

Officers from Boston and State Police could be seen searching the area around the popular Southie beach with canines around 9:00 p.m.

Day Boulevard was partially shut down while investigators responded.

Boston Police assisted with crowd control. H Troop investigators and the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit are investigating, an MSP spokesperson said.

Kristen Grastorf lives up the street.

People love this beach, I love this beach, said Grastorf.

She said she and her daughter went running towards the beach Friday night when they saw a bunch of rescue crews and part of Day Blvd. shut down. Investigators put up yellow police tape and used K-9s to search the area.

Its scary because my daughters 15 and she wants to go out and Im afraid to let her out we live right here, said Grastorf.

You know, I bike down here so Im always cautious when Im riding my bike, I can imagine whats in store for Summer, said Paul Jenner, South Boston, It wont concern me for coming down here, I wasnt involved.

Meghan Varano lives nearby and said she left the beach right before the fight broke out.

We were at the beach until 8 right before 8 last night so thats kind of crazy right here, said Varano, I have so many questions like what ages and why.

#BREAKING: Massive police response at Carson Beach in South Boston. Multiple witnesses being questioned.



Boston and State Police appear to be searching the surrounding area with canines.



Day Blvd. partially shut down. More details to come @boston25 pic.twitter.com/6Uar3oLboE  Daniel Coates (@danielcoates_25) May 25, 2024





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
EAST LANSING  In Michigans presidential primary, more than 100,000 Democratic voters cast ballots for "uncommitted" instead of President Joe Biden, an action some in Ingham County are following with increased activism for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

In Ingham County, 13% of Democratic primary voters voted uncommitted in February, in line with the statewide trend.

We did not end our campaign when our primary ended in Michigan, Thasin Sardar of the Islamic Society of Greater Lansing said.

Sardar said members of the movement continued to spread the effort to other states. Theyve called friends and allies urging them to vote uncommitted or similar designations in their states. Other states have reported tens of thousands of voters selecting either Uncommitted, No preference, or Noncommitted delegate, according to NPR.

People pack the auditorium at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing at and event called The Path to a Free Palestine History, Crisis, and Action at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing Saturday, April 13, 2024.

Sardar said people in mid-Michigan are working hard with voters in other states to send uncommitted delegates to the Democratic Party convention in Chicago in August.

The uncommitted vote campaign won two delegates in Michigans Democratic primary.

We are hoping that in all the states, if we can send one or two delegates, we can send a message at the Democratic Party convention. Many people disapprove of Bidens policies, said Sardar.

Alissa Hakim, a senior at Michigan State University and the organizer of MSUs Hurriya Coalition, a group of 20 organizations trying to bring attention to the rising Palestinian death toll, said she was pleased to see the number of uncommitted votes in Ingham County.

The counties with the biggest share of uncommitted votes in the Democratic primary were Wayne and Washtenaw, both with around 17%. Ingham was one of a handful hovering around 13% but had a lower uncommitted share than other counties in that group, including Kent and Mackinac.

Hakim is from Dearborn -- where 55% of residents are Arab American -- but she will be voting on campus this year.

What we can do going forward is to maintain that momentum that we got, she said.

Michigan State University student Alissa Hakim, talks about the uncommitted vote in the Michigan Democratic Primary at a Path to a Free Palestine event at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing Saturday, April 13, 2024.

She said Hurriya is trying to get more people involved and has seen success working with MSU students and connecting with faculty, staff, and local community members for phone banking.

Hakim said the goal is to continue educating people and get them more involved, and said uncommitted votes do not mean they support former President Donald Trump.

She said she will figure out who to vote for in terms of a third party because she wants to avoid voting for Biden or Trump.

In April, Hurriya set up a Gaza solidarity encampment, joining other college campuses in the U.S. calling for their schools to divest from Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza. After three days, the coalition shut down the encampment, saying it was a short-term strike meant to amplify its demands for divestment.

While their protest has been put on pause, MSU students supported University of Michigan students as they continued their protest in Ann Arbor. They previously confronted the MSU Board of Trustees at a board meeting in February, questioning a number of the universitys investments, including the payment of $236,000 in aid to the state of Israel.

Laura Sager, a volunteer in Lansing, said she strongly supports the campaign in Ingham County.

Laura Sager talks with some of the panelists at the The Path to a Free Palestine History, Crisis, and Action event at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing Saturday, April 13, 2024.

Sager, a member of the board of directors of Peace Education Center, coordinates the Coalition for Free Palestine, which includes various organizations. She also supports Lansing for Palestine, which asked for a ceasefire resolution from the Lansing City Council. The resolution was approved Feb. 13, according to WKAR.

Lexis Zeidan, the lead organizer for Listen to Michigan and the national spokesperson for the Uncommitted National Movement, said after the primary, the goal in Ingham County and elsewhere is voter contact through phone and text banking and relational support with organizations.

Lexis Zeidan a national speaker on Palestinian issues speaks to the audience as a panel member about Michigan's uncommitted vote and what it could mean for the upcoming Presidential Election Saturday, April 13, 2024. The event entitled The Path to a Free Palestine History, Crisis, and Action was held at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing.

She said the next phase is organizing a national delegate strategy and taking their antiwar at the Democratic Party convention. They will have delegate training to ensure they are all on the same page regarding the pro-peace movement.

Our goal and focus are the convention, and we have not discussed November right now, she said.

This article is part of a collaboration between The Free Press, a Michigan State University course and the American Communities Project to tell the stories of voters, their experiences, and their political motivations in communities across Michigan leading up to the 2024 election. Connect with us at votervoices@freepress.com, and read our previous stories about the counties we're focusing on: Livingston, Ingham, Schoolcraft, Osceola, Wayne, Kent, Saginaw and Newaygo.

Thoughts on this subject? 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: Ingham County activism didn't stop at 'uncommitted' vote
Miamis federal prison devolved into chaos as two rival gangs participated in a violent, bloody brawl on Saturday afternoon, a law enforcement source told the Miami Herald. Four inmates were rushed to the hospital as a result.

Around 12:20 p.m., two inmates got into an altercation at the Miami Federal Correctional Institution which resulted in injuries to both, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said. They were taken to a hospital as trauma alerts.

FCI Miami did not immediately respond to requests for information on the incident. The federal institution is a low-security prison that holds non-violent offenders.

Two inmates at the Miami Federal Correctional Institution were taken to a hospital after an altercation between them, fire rescue said.

According to a law enforcement source familiar with the incident, two rival gangs started a large brawl in which inmates were stabbed, stomped on and chairs were thrown. The source described the brawl as a bloodbath.

Four inmates were treated for injuries, the source said. Two suffered puncture wounds and returned to the prison, while two others who suffered ear bleeding and head trauma were taken to the hospital hours after the fight.

Randilee Giamusso, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, said six inmates were assessed by doctors and two were hospitalized.

Giamusso said responding employees isolated and contained the incident and at no time was the public in danger, adding the FBI has been notified about the melee.

According to Giamusso, the facility remains on modified operations status as of Tuesday.
Ellie Borhan was hospitalised after being beaten during a Raisi memorial protest in Wembley - Geoff Pugh

A woman beaten by supporters of Irans government during a peaceful protest in London has warned that the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] are on British soil.

Ellie Borham, 43, said she was minutes into a five-person protest in London when a group of pro-Iran supporters surrounded and beat her.

We were standing peacefully, and then the men came. They surrounded us. They threatened us, she told The Telegraph. They slapped and punched my face, my body, my legs. One of the men said: We are going to kill you.

It is unbelievable. Four of us were injured. This was the hands of the IRGC on UK soil, she added.

Ms Borhan said the attack 'was the hands of the IRGC on UK soil' - Geoff Pugh

The clash occurred outside an event marking the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the president who died alongside the countrys foreign minister and six others in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

Raisi was a pillar of Irans hard-line Islamic regime known for overseeing a brutal crackdown on protestors and repressing political dissidents.

Ms Borham, a software engineer who moved to the UK to study 19 years ago and has British citizenship, said the protestors arrived outside the event in Wembley to show we were upset with their meeting.

The true people of Iran are not upset about Raisis death  he was one of the head leaders ordering the execution of innocent people. That person was evil, evil, to us he was like Hitler, like Saddam Hussein, she said.

During the 63-year-olds tenure, protests ignited across the country when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody after being arrested under Irans harsh hijab laws.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers were called to the site at 18:21 on Friday following reports of disorder.

An event was taking place to mark the death of the president of Iran, attended by supporters of the Iranian government. Anti-government protesters had gathered outside the venue and clashes had broken out between the groups, the force said.

Four people were injured and were treated by paramedics, while one man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and a dispersal order was implemented.

Ms Borham, who founded the activist group Stage of Freedom after Aminis death, said she was then followed to the hospital by two cars from the pro-Iranian group. They were waiting for us outside the hospital, she said, adding that the cars only left when the police arrived an hour later.

She has urged the UK Government to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.

We only have one request, for the UK government to pay attention and designate the IRGC as a terrorist organisation  not just for the safety of the people in Iran, but for the safety of the British people, she said.

London is home to a large Iranian community, most of whom left in the years since the countrys Islamic revolution in 1979.

The police said they would examine footage shared on social media and called on anyone with other footage or information to get in contact.

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Women transport hay on a donkey-pulled cart along a devastated street in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip - Eyad Baba/AFP

The Israeli military said Saturday that it was investigating a reservist soldier who threatened mutiny if the government doesnt push for complete victory over Hamas.

Footage of a masked soldier in what appeared to be the ruins of Gaza shows him warning Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, that we reservist soldiers do not intend to hand the keys over to any Palestinian authority.

The soldier said that he would defy defence minister Yoav Gallant if he ordered them to pull back from the fight, and that troops would only follow Mr Netanyahu.

He added: We do not intend to give the keys to Gaza to any entity  Hamas, Fatah or any other Arab entity. Reservist soldiers are behind you and we want to win.

The IDF told the Times of Israel: The behavior in the video is a serious violation of IDF orders and IDF values, and constitutes a suspicion of criminal offenses.

The IDF Spokespersons Unit said military had ordered a criminal investigation into the clip.

04:58 PM BST

Thats all for today. Thanks for following the Telegraphs live blog.

Well be back tomorrow with the latest updates on the war.

04:50 PM BST

Dublin: Israel parading ambassadors in front of TV cameras is unacceptable

Simon Harris, Irelands Taoiseach, has said it was unacceptable and unnecessary for the Israeli government to parade ambassadors in front of TV cameras at a showing of October 7 footage.

The ambassadors to Israel from Ireland, Norway and Spain were invited to watch the footage after their countries on Thursday recognised a Palestinian state.

The parading of ambassadors in front of TV cameras in Israel was unacceptable and unnecessary. We have made that known, Mr Harris wrote in an article for the Journal.ie.

04:25 PM BST

Spanish defence minister says Gaza war is real genocide

The Spanish defence minister said on Saturday that the conflict in Gaza is a real genocide, as relations between Israel and Spain worsen following Madrids decision to recognise a Palestinian state.

Reuters couldnt immediately reach Israeli officials for comment on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.

Israel has strongly rejected accusations made against it by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it is committing a genocide against Palestinians, saying it is waging war on the Hamas militant group which attacked on Oct. 7.

The remark by Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles in an interview with TVE state television echoed a comment by Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz who earlier this week also described the Gaza conflict as a genocide.

04:07 PM BST

Israeli strike kills two Hezbollah fighters in Syria

An Israeli drone strike in central Syria killed two fighters from Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah movement on Saturday, a war monitor said.

An Israeli drone fired two missiles at a Hezbollah car and truck near the town of Qusayr in Homs province, as they were on their way to Al-Dabaa military airport, killing at least two Hezbollah fighters and wounding others, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It was the third strike against Hezbollah targets in Syria in about a week.

On Monday, Israeli strikes in the Qusayr area, which is close to the Lebanese border, killed eight pro-Iranian fighters, said Observatory, a Britain-based monitor with a network of sources in Syria.

03:24 PM BST

War in pictures

The wounded, including children, are brought to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City - Anadolu

An Israeli soldier works on a tank near the Gaza border in southern Israel - Tsafrir Abayov/AP

Palestinians search for survivors at the site of an Israeli strike on the Al-Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza City - Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP

02:46 PM BST

Watch: How the ICC bared its teeth - and caught the West off guard

02:29 PM BST

Democrat senator tells Biden not to pander to pro-Palestine protesters

Joe Biden must back Benjamin Netanyahu even at the cost of votes in the presidential election, a pro-Israel Democrat senator has warned, writes Tony Diver.

John Fetterman, who has made headlines for his preference for hoodies and shorts on Capitol Hill, warned the US president not to pander to the fringe of pro-Palestine protesters.

The Pennsylvania Democrat has become one of the partys more unlikely and loudest supporters of Israel in recent months  plastering the walls of his office in photos of hostages taken by Hamas and calling for the Biden administration to supply any weapons Israel needs to fight in Gaza.

Read the full piece here.

02:11 PM BST

Israel official says intention to renew Gaza talks this week

An Israeli official said Saturday the government had an intention to renew this week talks aimed at reaching a hostage release deal in Gaza, after a meeting in Paris between US and Israeli officials.

There is an intention to renew the talks this week and there is an agreement, the official told AFP on condition of anonymity without elaborating.

01:41 PM BST

Israel-Hamas talks on hostage deal expected next week, source says

Mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a deal to free Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip are due to restart next week, an official with knowledge of the matter said on Saturday.

The decision to restart the talks, said the source, who declined to be identified by name or nationality given the sensitivity of the issue, came after the head of Israels Mossad intelligence agency met with the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar, which has been a mediator.

At the end of the meeting, it was decided that in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active U.S. involvement, the source said.

01:21 PM BST

How Bidens Gaza pier promises more than it delivers

When Joe Biden announced plans to build a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza, he promised a massive increase of aid going into the sealed-off enclave that was witnessing a heartbreaking humanitarian disaster, writes Nataliya Vasilyeva.

But just a week into the piers operation, the project is already beset by problems, including injuries among its US personnel.

The structure has cost about $320 million and took some 1,000 US service members to build before it went into operation a week ago.

Read the full piece here.

01:02 PM BST

War in pictures

Relatives of the Palestinians who lost their lives in Israeli attacks over Nuseirat Refugee Camp - Anadolu

Palestinians fleeing from Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip arrive in Gaza City - Xinhua/Shutterstock

12:22 PM BST

Spain demands Israel comply with UN court ruling on Rafah

The Spanish government demanded on Saturday that Israel comply with an order by the top UN court to immediately stop its bombardment and ground assault on the Gazan city of Rafah.

It stressed that the ruling on Friday by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was legally binding.

The precautionary measures set out by the ICJ, including that Israel should cease its military offensive in Rafah, are compulsory. Israel must comply with them, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares wrote on X.

The same goes for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages and access for humanitarian aid (to Gaza), he said.

12:06 PM BST

Israel ignores ICJ ruling with continued assault on Rafah

Israel bombed Rafah and other parts of the Gaza strip on Saturday, a day after the top UN court ordered it to halt military operations in the southern city.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also demanded the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants, hours after the Israeli military announced troops had recovered the bodies of three more of the captives from northern Gaza.

The Hague-based court, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also ordered Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which it closed earlier this month at the start of its assault on the city.

Israel gave no indication it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting that the court had got it wrong.

11:28 AM BST

Body of Shani Louks boyfriend recovered from Gaza refugee camp

Israeli troops have retrieved the bodies of three hostages kidnapped by Hamas, including the boyfriend of German-Israeli Shani Louk, writes Nataliya Vasilyeva.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday that troops had managed to recover the bodies of Michel Nisenbaum, 59, Hanan Yablonka, 42, and Orion Hernandez Radoux, 30, from Gaza.

Read the full piece here.

11:18 AM BST

War monitor: Israeli strike kills two Hezbollah fighters in Syria

An Israeli drone strike in central Syria killed two fighters from Lebanons Hezbollah movement on Saturday, a war monitor said.

An Israeli drone fired two missiles at a Hezbollah car and truck near the town of Qusayr in Homs province, as they were on their way to Al-Dabaa military airport, killing at least two Hezbollah fighters and wounding others, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

11:01 AM BST

Damascus: Car blast kills one in Syrian capital

A car explosion killed one person in Damascus on Saturday, the official Syrian news agency SANA reported, without identifying the victim.

Security incidents, including blasts targeting military and civilian vehicles, occur intermittently in the capital of war-ravaged Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor with a network of sources on the ground, said three vehicles caught fire in the area.

The explosion comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, including the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

10:44 AM BST

Watch: Hezbollah rally commemorating Iranian president

10:27 AM BST

Hay Festival bows to pressure and cuts ties with sponsors over Israel links

The Hay Festival has ended its sponsorship deal with investment firm Baillie Gifford following a boycott by celebrities including Charlotte Church over its links to Israel, writes Anita Singh.

Church became the latest speaker to pull out of the event in protest at its relationship with Baillie Gifford, which invests in companies with links to Israels defence, technology and cybersecurity industries.

Read the full piece here.

10:05 AM BST

G7 finance leaders to call on Israel to maintain Palestinian bank links

G7 finance leaders will call on Israel to maintain correspondent banking links between Israeli and Palestinian banks to allow vital transactions, trade and services to continue, according to a draft joint statement seen by Reuters on Saturday.

The statement, to be released at the end of a Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in northern Italy, also calls for Israel to release withheld clearance revenues to the Palestinian Authority, in view of its urgent fiscal needs.

The statement echoes a warning on Thursday from Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, who said the failure to renew a soon-to-expire banking waiver would cut off a critical lifeline for the Palestinian territories amid a devastating conflict in Gaza.

We call on Israel to take the necessary measures to ensure that correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks remain in place, so that vital financial transactions and critical trade and services continue, the draft statement said.

09:52 AM BST

Egypt agrees to send aid trucks through Israeli crossing to Gaza

Egypt said Friday it has agreed to send United Nations humanitarian aid trucks through Israels main crossing into Gaza, but it was unclear if they will be able to enter the territory as fighting raged in the southern city of Rafah amid Israels escalating offensive there.

Meanwhile, the bodies of three more hostages killed on October 7 were recovered overnight from Gaza, Israels army said Friday. The CIA chief met in Paris with Israeli and Qatari officials, trying to revive negotiations for a cease-fire and a hostage release.

Gazas humanitarian crisis has spiraled as the UN and other aid agencies say the entry of food and other supplies to them has plunged dramatically since Israels Rafah offensive began more than two weeks ago. On Friday, the top UN court  the International Court of Justice  ordered Israel to halt the Rafah offensive, though Israel is unlikely to comply.

At the heart of the problem lie the two main crossings through which around 300 trucks of aid a day had been flowing into Gaza before the offensive began.

09:40 AM BST

Italy pledges additional 35 million euros of aid for Palestinians

Italy will resume funding for the United Nations Palestinian relief organisation Unrwa as part of a 35 million euro ($38 million) aid package, Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, said on Saturday.

Tajani made the commitment during a meeting in Rome with Mohammad Mustafa, the Palestinian prime minister.

The Italian minister said five million euros would go to Unrwa projects, with the remainder destined for its Food for Gaza initiative.

Italy was one of a number of countries to block aid for Unrwa following accusations by Israel that some of the agencys staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war.

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Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks to the media before the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. -/European Council/dpa

A United Nations court order for Israel to stop its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah must be obeyed, the European Union's foreign affairs chief said on Saturday.

"We take note of the order" handed down to Israel, Josep Borrell said on X. "ICJ [International Court of Justice] orders are binding on the Parties and they have to be fully and effectively implemented."

The ICJ - the UN's top court based in the Dutch city of The Hague - on Friday ordered Israel to immediately cease its attack on the city.

The operation is officially directed at the Palestinian militant group Hamas but is also inflicting huge suffering on thousands of civilians caught in the city.

According to the judges, the humanitarian situation in Rafah is now "disastrous." Further measures are necessary to prevent further harm to the civilian population, they said.

In his post, Borrell highlighted the court order for Israel to "maintain the Rafah crossing open for humanitarian assistance."

Israel on Friday responded to the court's ruling by insisting its actions in Rafah were part of "defensive and just war" following the October 7 terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas.

In a joint statement, the head of Israel's National Security Council and a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the country "has not and will not conduct military actions in the Rafah area which may inflict on the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

"The charges of genocide brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague are false, outrageous and morally repugnant," the statement added.




Image source: Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, Costco has a ton of good deals going on right now. Many are linked to its Memorial Day savings, such as its deals on mattresses and paddle boards, but quite a few seem to be stand-alone offers that expire at the end of May.

Often, I find the best deals are those that don't get much publicity, such as the items buried under its "deals" page on its website. If you're a Costco member, here are five such deals under $50 that won't blow your budget.

1. Pet bed

Price: $39.99

The Kirkland Signature Bolster Cuddler Pet Bed is a dog bed with shreds of memory foam in the cushion and a bolstered wall that keeps the fiber mat in place. The cover is washable, so you don't have to worry about it getting smelly. The bed comes in four colors: sand, brown, slate gray, and charcoal. You can also buy a slightly smaller hexagonal shaped Kirkland bed for a cheaper price ($29.99).

To be honest, most of my pets have shunned pet beds, preferring to sleep wherever they want, which is usually wherever I like to sit (chairs, couches, my bed). But my pets have been cats, who, let's be real, do it on purpose. For small to medium-sized dogs, however, this bed could be a new favorite snuggle spot.

2. Vegan protein shakes

Price: $28.99

Orgain Plant-Based Protein Shakes are one of my favorite vegan shakes. They're low in calories, high in protein, and have dozens of superfoods added. The problem is they're expensive, running up to $43.98 for an 18-pack at full price at Walmart. At Costco, however, you can currently buy the same 18-pack of shakes for $28.99 (up to six per membership) after a $7 discount.

3. Reusable water balloons

Price: $34.99

You read that right: reusable water balloons. The Zuru Bunch O Balloons open and close like a Pokemon ball with magnetic strips that keep them sealed until impact. So no more picking up those plastic ribbons and twisted knots after a water balloon fight, these balls stay intact long after soaking their victim. You also don't need to fill them up with a hose, but can just dunk them in a pool of water to fill them up. The regular price is $44.99, but if you buy them at Costco before May 27, 2024, you'll get $10 off.

4. Skechers Men's shoes

Price: $31.99

If you need a pair of slip-on sneakers, the Skechers Men's Glide Lite Pacer Shoe could be your new kicks. They come in navy and black and in sizes between 8 and 13. Get $6 off when you purchase them before June 9, 2024, or save $20 to $50 when you pair them with at least five other qualifying clothing items on Costco.com.

Story continues

5. Solar string lights

Price: $39.99

Little string lights might evoke Christmas, but something about string lights with big bulbs reminds me of summer nights on the patio. The Sunforce 36' 18 LED Solar String Lights can add some charm to your outdoor spaces, with 36 feet of coverage. They come with a solar panel so you don't even need to plug them into an outlet. Normally, they cost $49.99, but are discounted by $10 through May 31, 2024.

These five items only scratch the surface of Costco's deals. Take a peek at the "deals" section on Costco's website, or go to your local warehouse to see what other great savings opportunities you can take advantage of before offers expire.

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

5 Amazing Costco Buys for Under $50 was originally published by The Motley Fool
Mourners react next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike, in Gaza City

Mourners react next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike, in Gaza City

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) -Prospects for a resumption of mediated Gaza ceasefire talks grew on Saturday although Israel carried out new attacks in which Palestinian medics said more than 40 people were killed.

An official with knowledge of the matter said a decision had been taken to resume the talks next week after the chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency met the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar.

The source, who declined to be identified by name or nationality, said it had been decided that "in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active U.S. involvement."

A Hamas official later denied Israeli media reports that the talks would resume in Cairo on Tuesday, telling Reuters: "There is no date".

After more than seven months of war in Gaza, the mediators have struggled to secure a breakthrough, with Israel seeking the release of hostages held by Hamas and Hamas seeking an end to the war and a release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Israel pressed on with its offensive in Gaza to eliminate the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas after the top United Nations court ordered Israel on Friday to stop attacking the southern city of Gaza.

Israel says it wants to root out Hamas fighters holed up in Rafah and rescue hostages it says are being held in the area, but its assault has worsened the plight of civilians and caused an international outcry.

In northern Gaza, where the Israeli military says it is trying to prevent Hamas from reestablishing its hold, Palestinian medical workers reported new Israeli airstrikes that they said killed at least 17 people.

Abu Mohammad said he had been taking shelter with his family at a school in Gaza City's Saftawi suburb with other families, when an Israeli missile struck a yard and outside a classroom where women were preparing bread.

"We were sitting peacefully, then there was boom, a missile from a controlled drone, or a regular drone, but it did massive damage," he told Reuters. He said several people were killed, adding: "Even schools are not safe anymore."

The Israeli military said it was looking into the report.

Palestinians medics said 45 Palestinians had been killed in the past day across Gaza. They do not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties.

Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive, Gaza's health ministry says. Israel began the operation in response to Hamas-led militants attacking southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

FIGHTING ACROSS GAZA

Hamas and the smaller armed group Islamic Jihad said their fighters had fired anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs at Israeli soldiers in the north.

The Israeli military said its troops in the northern district of Jabalia killed dozens of militants in close combat and airstrikes. Residents and civil emergency services there said Israeli tanks moving deep in Jabalia destroyed dozens of houses, shops, and roads.

Further south, the Israeli military said that on Friday it had killed militants, taken down part of Hamas' tunnel system and found weapon stashes in Rafah, where its forces operated in what it said were specific areas.

Earlier in the war, Rafah became a refuge for Gazans fleeing fighting elsewhere. After Rafah became a target as well, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled the city.

So far, fighting has taken place on Rafah's southern edge and eastern districts, away from the most populated areas.

Friday's ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), or World Court, is binding but its rulings have been ignored in the past, as the court has no enforcement powers.

Israeli officials said on Saturday that the World Court's order does not rule out all military action in the area.

(Additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Additional reporting by Mahmoud Essa in Gaza, Editing by Frances kerry and Timothy Heritage)
Israel's armed forces were active in the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, despite a call by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an immediate end to the military operation in Rafah.

Israeli soldiers killed several Palestinian gunmen who had previously fired at the Israelis, the army said. Further weapons caches and tunnel shafts were found in Rafah.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that one civilian was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the city, which borders Egypt.

But as in previous days, the fighting in Gaza on Saturday centred on the refugee settlement of Jabalia in the north of the coastal strip.

According to the army, Israeli soldiers killed dozens of enemy fighters in the last 24 hours, partly in close combat and partly through targeted airstrikes.

None of the information could be independently verified.

On Friday, the ICJ ordered Israel to immediately end the military operation in Rafah, as part of a case brought by South Africa.

The ICJ, following earlier rulings this year on Gaza, ordered Israel to stop its actions in Rafah, citing the "disasterous" humanitarian conditions and "immense risk" to civilians.

With that in mind, just over a week ago, the United States completed construction a temporary pier off of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies.

However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Saturday that high waves and stormy seas damaged it.

Four US military ships "broke free from their moorings," due to the swell, CENTCOM said. Two of the ships were now anchored on the beach near the pier. The other two were stranded off the Israeli coast near Ashkelon. The city is around 15 kilometres from Gaza.

The Israeli Navy is helping to salvage all four ships, the statement said. US soldiers would not enter Gaza.

There are no casualties and the pier is still operational.

Witnesses had previously reported that the makeshift harbour for aid transports was not in operation and that workers were busy repairing the damage. The Israeli television station N12 had reported that parts of the jetty had been swept to the coast near Ashdod by the strong current. The Israeli city is a good 30 kilometres from Gaza.

The maritime aid operation involves freighters initially bringing supplies from Cyprus to the floating platform. The goods are then loaded onto smaller ships that can sail closer to the coast. They dock at the temporary pier attached to the coast, where their cargoes are transferred to lorries.

Aid groups have welcomed the construction of the facility, but point out that transport by land is much more efficient. According to them, however, Israel is obstructing access for aid deliveries by lorry at the borders it controls.

The war in Gaza was triggered by the unprecedented massacre of more than 1,200 people by terrorists from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group and other militants on October 7.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive. The criticism of Israel has grown as the death toll among Palestinians has increased. It currently stands at over 35,000 people dead, according to Hamas authorities in Gaza.
In a move rejected by Israeli officials, the UN's top court on Friday ordered Israel to "immediately" halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory was "disastrous."

The ruling read aloud by Judge Nawaf Salam at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague was in response to an urgent application submitted by South Africa.

South Africa justified its application to the ICJ by arguing that the court's previous measures in connection with the Gaza war were inadequate.

Israel rejected Friday's ruling. "The charges of genocide brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in the Hague are false, outrageous and morally repugnant," the head of the National Security Council and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a joint statement.

"Following the horrific attack against the citizens of Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel embarked upon a defensive and just war to eliminate Hamas and to secure the release of our hostages," the statement continued.

"Israel is acting based on its right to defend its territory and its citizens, consistent with its moral values and in compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law."

"Israel has not and will not conduct military actions in the Rafah area which may inflict on the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

The statement vowed that Israel "will continue its efforts to enable humanitarian assistance and will act, in full compliance with the law, to reduce as much as possible harm caused to the civilian population in Gaza."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discussing the decision with key Cabinet ministers, according to Israeli media reports.

South Africa has previously demanded measures against Israel several times in summary proceedings. This is part of the genocide lawsuit that the country filed with the court in December.

In two emergency rulings, the UN judges had obliged Israel to do everything possible to prevent genocide and to allow humanitarian aid.

The Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement welcomed the ruling. In a statement published on Friday, Hamas called on the international community and the United Nations to exert pressure on Israel.

A member of the Hamas politburo emphasized that without international pressure, the court's decision would have no effect.

Egypt and Jordan also welcomed the ICJ's ruling and urged the UN Security Council to put pressure on Israel to end its operation.

The Palestinian Authority called for increased international pressure on Israel following the ICJ decision.

The international community should force Israel to implement the decision, it said in a statement published in Ramallah on Friday. The authority believes that the court's decision confirms the view that Israel is committing war crimes.

South Africa on Friday also welcomed the ICJ's decision. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) called the decision a confirmation of the principles of justice, human rights and the rule of law.

However, in an echo of the words of former South African leader Nelson Mandela, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, "We will not be completely free until the people of Palestine are free."

With its decision, the highest court of the United Nations partially complied with demands made by South Africa in an urgent appeal.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said decisions of the ICJ were "binding" and he "trusts that the parties will duly comply with the order from the court," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

In accordance with the Statute of the Court, the Secretary-General will also promptly transmit the notice of the provisional measures ordered by the court to the Security Council, he said.

While the top UN court's rulings are binding, it has no means of forcing compliance. It can, however, call on the UN Security Council to act.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war cabinet, on Friday, US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said.

"Secretary Blinken and Minister Gantz discussed the latest efforts to achieve a ceasefire as part of a deal to release hostages and to prevent the conflict from expanding across the region," Miller said.

Blinken reiterated that talks between Israel and Egypt must be concluded in order to reopen the Rafah border crossing as soon as possible, Miller said.

He also stressed the "urgent need" to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in Gaza and to de-escalate the situation in the West Bank.

Hamas gunmen killed some 1,200 people in Israel on October 7. Israel responded with a devastating aerial and ground campaign that, according to Hamas-run health authorities, has killed more than 35,000 people in the territory.

Israel has vowed to keep up its military operations until Hamas has been completely eliminated in Gaza.
The Italian government has objected to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who urged the allies to lift restrictions on the use of weapons provided to Ukraine against targets in Russia.

Source: Italian news agency Ansa, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Matteo Salvini, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Lega political party, expressed his disagreement with the NATO secretary general's position.

"Italy is not at war with anyone, and if it was right to help Ukraine militarily, then at the same time, it is out of the question to lift the ban on Kyiv to strike military targets in Russia.

Just as I repeat, the Lega is against sending even one soldier to fight in Ukraine. We want peace, not the antechamber of World War III," he said.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is also critical.

"We are an integral part of NATO, but every decision must be taken collectively," he said.

For Tajani, "Kyiv's choice is Kyiv's choice".

"We will send no Italian soldier to Ukraine, and the military tools that Italy sends are used inside Ukraine, we are working for peace.

The messages coming from Russia also provoke the hybrid war that is being waged, but we must always work for peace and lower the tone," Tajani said.

Background:

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg believes it is high time for some allies to reconsider restrictions on the use of weapons provided to Ukraine against targets in Russia.

The New York Times has recently reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wants to ensure that Ukraine is allowed to strike Russian territory with US-supplied weapons. He wants to convince US President Joe Biden to lift the restrictions.

In an interview with Reuters, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine is in talks with international partners about the possibility of striking targets in Russia with their weapons.

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Special counsel Jack Smith in a Friday filing called on the judge overseeing former President Trumps classified documents case to block Trump from speaking about the case in a way that could endanger law enforcement officials.

In his request, Smith asked the court to impose a condition that would bar Trump from making public statements that could pose a significant, imminent, and foreseeable danger to the law enforcement agents participating in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

Whether a particular statement meets that test must be determined by reference to the statements full context, the filing reads. But that condition would clearly prohibit further statements deceptively claiming that the agents involved in the execution of the search warrant were engaged in an effort to kill him, his family, or Secret Service agents.

The move comes after the former president falsely claimed in an email Wednesday that President Biden was locked & loaded and ready to take me out  twisting language from the terms approved for law enforcement as they prepared to search his Mar-a-Lago residence for classified records in 2022.

In reality, the language only allows for deadly force when necessary, such as when someone poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person.

The prosecutors noted in the filing that the FBIs search of the Palm Beach resort was done intentionally when Trump and his family were away. And, they added, it was coordinated with the Secret Service, without force.

In their argument, prosecutors said Trumps false claims could expose law enforcement  some of whom they noted would be witnesses at his trial  to threats of violence or harassment.

The Governments request is necessary because of several intentionally false and inflammatory statements recently made by Trump that distort the circumstances under which the Federal Bureau of Investigation planned and executed the search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, the court documents read.

Those statements create a grossly misleading impression about the intentions and conduct of federal law enforcement agents  falsely suggesting that they were complicit in a plot to assassinate him  and expose those agents, some of whom will be witnesses at trial, to the risk of threats, violence, and harassment, prosecutors added.

Attorney General Merrick Garland also pushed back on Trumps accusations Thursday, calling them extremely dangerous.

That allegation is false, and it is extremely dangerous, Garland said. The document that has been referred to in the allegation is the Justice Department standard policy, limiting the use of force.

As the FBI advises, it is part of the standard operations plan for searches and in fact, it was even used in the consensual search of President Bidens home, he added.

The former president is facing 40 charges of mishandling classified documents and obstructing the governments retrieval of the records after leaving the White House. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

While the case was set to kick off May 20, Judge Aileen Cannon indefinitely postponed the case, punting some court dates into late July while declining to set a trial date. Cannon, a Trump-appointed judge, pinned the delay on needing to resolve issues with how the classified documents would be handled at the trial.

Cannons move aligns with one of the first requests by Trumps legal team: To not set a trial date.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Leaders fail in different ways. Some are leaders in name only. They have followers aplenty yet live by the mantra of the 19th-century French politician Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin (oft-cited by Jonah Goldberg), There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader. Any casual observer of modern American politics is depressingly familiar with these leaders.

But other leaders fail to attract followers to a cause or idea, even a worthy one. In her new biography Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South, University of Virginia historian Elizabeth Varon recounts the story of one such leader: James Longstreet, a top brass Confederate leader who, as the title suggests, tried to convince his fellow Southerners to reject the Lost Cause.

Like many others, Longstreet chose to betray his nation and take up arms against the Union. Moreover, the West Point graduate and close friend of Ulysses S. Grant (he attended Grants wedding) had no illusions as to what the war was about: slavery. As he recounted in his memoirs, the Emancipation Proclamation at once put the great struggle outwardly and openly on the basis where it had before only rested by tacit and covert understanding. When Lincoln offered full political rights to white Southerners who pledged loyalty to the Union, Longstreet wrote that, If they desert their cause, they disgrace themselves in the eyes of God and of man. He ordered executions of black spies and helped devise the Confederacys strategy. He was fully on board with secession, and he was well-regarded by the Confederate elite and rank-and-file alike. Robert E. Lee once remarked of him, Longstreet fought the Civil War to win it.

But eventsnamely, the Unions triumphintervened. And so began a striking, rather quick change of heart on the generals part. Once the loyal, hard-headed Southern soldier, he soon was a steadfast supporter of Reconstruction. Helped in part by Grants personal kindness to him (at the Appomattox Courthouse, Varon writes that the Union general extended his hand in friendship and the two embraced), Longstreet accepted the wars verdict as final.

While his colleagues delegitimized the Norths victory as a might-over-right injustice, Longstreets willingness to openly acknowledge defeat attracted the ire of former Confederates. Southerners once lauded Longstreet for his bravery on the battlefield; now they blamed him for the Souths surrender. A group of Confederate veterans led this charge, as they worked relentlessly to scapegoat him for the Souths defeat and to immortalize Robert E. Lee as a faultless saint.

Longstreet, however, was not swayed. Spurred in part by spates of racially motivated violence in Louisiana, he published a series of public letters in the spring and summer of 1867 in support of Reconstruction. They were eye-popping. We have made an honest, and I hope that I may say, a creditable fight, but we have lost, he wrote. Let us come forward, then, and accept the ends involved in the struggle.  Let us accept the terms, as we are in duty bound to do. He proceeded to admonish Southerners to abandon ideas that are obsolete. As Varon puts it, Longstreetthe very same man who had impressed northern blacks into slavery during the war just a few years prior even cast black suffrage as a fait accompli. Indeed, Longstreet mused after the war that an overruling Providence had ordained that slavery in these states should cease forever in the year 1865.

Having taken a patronage job courtesy of President Grant, Longstreet threw himself into Reconstruction with gusto, even attending a celebration of the ratification of the 15th Amendment. Though most Southerners grew to hate him, many in the North recognized Longstreets valor. The Philadelphia Inquirer praised the courage and manliness needed to again become a faithful servant of the Union after having been a prominent Rebel. Much of this praise was born of grace. To cite one example, the African Methodist Episcopal Churchs mouthpiece wrote, Of our white fellow-citizens, we ask not the question, What were you? Union or rebel? We simply ask, What are you? Are you for Union? For Liberty? Longstreets answer had become yes.

Longstreet even led black members of Louisianas militia in fighting against a white supremacist mob in 1874. In the aftermath of the skirmish, as even some allies blamed the militias failures on Longstreet, he sat for a newspaper interview. Echoing James Madisons insights from Federalist No. 10 (As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed.), Longstreet mused:

Men cant all think alike, and the trouble with the Southern people always has been that they wont tolerate any difference of opinion.  My opinion is that the only true solution for Southern troubles is for the people to accept cordially and in good faith all the results of the war, including the reconstruction measures, the acts of Congress, negro suffrage, etc., and live up to them like men.

After a brief stint as U.S. minister to Turkey, Longstreet was appointed U.S. marshal for Georgia by President James Garfield. The job allowed him to dole out patronage and, most importantly, build up a Republican Party apparatus in the South. But in the face of Democratic resistance and what Varon describes as Republican factionalism, the party floundered. Frustrated with some black voters support for Democrats and party infighting that had ousted him from his marshal position, Longstreet would go on to flirt with the concept of a Whiggish white mans party focused on economic modernization. After the gambit failed, he course-corrected and regained favor with black Republicansthough he spent his final years as a strong proponent of post-Reconstruction reconciliation. He had at times been a valuable ally to the freedom struggle, but not a fully committed one, writes Varon.

Yes, Longstreet was a deeply flawed man to the end, one who journeyed through a complicated and winding life. But he displayed fortitude and did his best to lead at a critical juncture. As Varon reflectswith painstaking detail and careful attention to nuanceLongstreets story is a reminder that the arc of history is sometimes bent by those who had the courage to change their convictions.

Longstreets willingness to accept defeat and push the South forward after the Civil War points to the essential difference between two sorts of failed leaders. The one who is in fact a follower and the one who fails to garner followers are both failures in some sense. But the formers destiny is dictated by othershe leaves no legacy of his own behind. Not so with the latter. Arguments that lose today can win tomorrow. Present failures can inspire future accomplishments. Leaders like Longstreet stand a chance to prove successfulto leadafter all.

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MORRISTOWN, N.J.  Its a special day for Lynn Smith, who wears a small flower for a big reason.

These people sacrificed their lives for us, said Smith of Phillipsburg. They deserve all the recognition in the world. If I can wear a Poppy and show them some love, thats what Im going to do.

Best beach in the world: Bronx residents hit the beach for Memorial Day weekend

The Poppy took on its symbolism of memory and hope after World War I. On Friday, veterans came to grocery stores across Morris County to make sure everyone had a chance to wear their own.

They think about the veterans thats in their family, said Tom Miller, who served in the Marine Corps 2nd battalion in Vietnam in 1965.

I lost a lot of good friends over in Vietnam, said Miller. [Memorial Day] means time to go out, plant flags in respect for what theyve done.

As his American Legion Post 5351 Whippany hands out these tokens of remembrance a few miles away, their brothers and sisters at Post 59 Morristown are doing their part on the day that the American Legion recognizes as the centennial Poppy Day.

This is our 100th anniversary, said Post 59 Commander Jim Koons, and weve taken pride out there to share with everyone the knowledge of what a Poppy is.

Each year, the American Legion hands out the flower with the request that a person make a donation to causes benefiting living and deceased veterans and their families.

By helping to donate to this cause, it is a sense of pride and ownership that you are supporting and honoring those veterans who died for our country.

On the centennial, Morristown officials came by to offer Post 59 a proclamation of this day being National Poppy Day in Morristown.

I hope to see everyone wearing this, said Koons. This is what its all about.

If you werent able to make a donation Friday, Koons says donations can be mailed to:

Post 59 Morristown

P.O. Box 2103 Morristown, NJ 07960-2103

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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President Joe Biden often talks about the close relationship he had with his father and how this influenced him growing up as the scrappy kid from Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Biden was born into wealth, the son of a polo-playing yachtsman. But his father, Joe Biden Sr., lost his job after World War II and abused alcohol, struggling financially for years before getting back on his feet and finding middle-class work selling cars near Wilmington, Delaware.

Bidens relationship with his father contrasts with perhaps every president in the last four decades, who had either absent or distant fathers or abusive or alcoholic fathers or stepfathers.

The measure of a man is not how often he is knocked down, Joe Biden Sr. told his son, but how quickly he gets up.

His fathers support boosted young Joes political career, and offered comfort when Joe Jr.s wife and daughter were killed in a car crash.

On the 2020 presidential campaign trail, Biden remembered his late fathers belief that theres no higher calling for a woman or a man than to be a good mother or a good father.

My own father died in August 2020 at age 95. He, too, believed in the calling of fatherhood. My father and mother were there for us. They encouraged us to follow our own dreams and not theirs.

This sort of supportive father-child relationship is common  except perhaps in politics.

Former congressional staffer and political journalist Barron YoungSmith once wrote an article for Slate with the headline, Why Do So Many Politicians Have Daddy Issues? American politics, he wrote, is overflowing with stories of absent fathers, alcoholic fathers, neglectful fathers.

Ronald Reagan stands with his mother, Nelle, and his father, Jack. Levan Ramishvili/Flickr

Ford, Reagan, Clinton

Gerald Fords father, Leslie Lynch King Sr., was an abusive alcoholic. Fords mother left King 16 days after the future president was born, when her husband threatened her and her infant son with a butcher knife. Fords mother married Gerald Rudolff Ford. When he was 22, Ford changed his name from Leslie Lynch King Jr. to Gerald Rudolph Ford.

Jimmy Carters father, James Earl Carter Sr., was a high school dropout who encouraged his son to read, a hard worker who urged his son to work hard, and a devoted husband and father. He served in the Georgia Legislature but died during his first term of pancreatic cancer at age 58.

Unlike other presidents, Jimmy Carter did not have to search for his father, who never left. Carters upbringing stood in contrast to both Ford, the man who preceded him in the White House, and Reagan, the one who followed him.

YoungSmith wrote that Ronald Reagan remained haunted by the moment he found his alcoholic father on the front porch  his hair filled with snow. Reagan said his father was drunk, dead to the world. Reagan, who was then 11, had to drag his father into the house. He spent the rest of life trying to connect with a man who was not there for him.

Psychologist Robert E. Gilbert said Reagan can be properly understood only as the child of an alcoholic. Alcoholic parents leave deep marks on their childrens lives; even after those children become adults, Gilbert said, adding that Reagan was aloof and distant, living in a world of make-believe where he craved approval.

Bill Clintons biological father, William Jefferson Blythe Jr., died in a car accident before his son was born. Clinton was raised by a stepfather who was an abusive alcoholic and regularly beat his wife, Clintons mother. The beatings stopped after Clinton stood up to his stepfather.

The Bushes

George H.W. Bush experienced the burden of having a great man as a father. His father, Prescott, was a Wall Street investment banker who became a U.S. senator and an influential leader in the Republican Party.

George H.W. moved to Texas to escape his fathers shadow. He then relied on his fathers influential friends to make a fortune in oil before entering politics, where he served as a congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, vice president of the United States and then president.

George W. Bush, left, and George H.W. Bush, were only the second father-son pair to both become president. Eric Draper, White House Photo Office

G.H.W. Bushs oldest son, George W., responded to the pressures of having a great man as a father by drinking too much before quitting drinking and using his fathers influence to help him become governor of Texas and then U.S. president. YoungSmith said that George W. spent his entire life, including his presidency, careening between attempts to live up to H.W.s impossible expectations and efforts to garishly repudiate them.

Obama and Trump

George W. Bushs failures as president contributed to the election of Barack Obama, the first Black president. Obamas parents separated when he was two, when his father left Hawaii and returned to his home country of Kenya. The father-son relationship became the basis for his autobiography, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, where he wrote about the difficulty of not having a father around to help him navigate the issues of being a Black man in a white-dominated country.

Barack Obama Sr. with his son, a future U.S. president, in 1971. U.S. Embassy, Jakarta/Flickr

It hardly bears recounting that President Obama built his political persona around a search for his absent dad, YoungSmith said.

Obama was succeeded as president by Donald Trump, who once said he was so screwed up, because I had a father that pushed me pretty hard.

Fred Trump Sr. and his son Donald in 1985. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Fred Trump Sr., a real estate magnate, bullied and intimidated one son  Fred Jr., who died of alcoholism when he was 42. Fred rejected another son, Donald, sending him off to military school when he was 12. When Donald returned, Fred taught his son to be a killer in business, that the ends justified the means and that empathy was a sign of weakness.

Freddy just wasnt a killer, Donald said of his brother.

Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist who was the daughter of Fred Trump Jr., said this lack of empathy prevented her uncle, Donald Trump, from acknowledging human suffering, including the widespread death associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

Acknowledging the victims of COVID-19 would be to associate himself with their weakness, a trait his father taught him to despise, Mary Trump wrote.

Biden, by contrast, talked openly on the 2020 campaign trial about his love for his father and about his own grieving over the death of his son, Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015. In doing so, he made a very human and relatable connection between his own father, himself, and his own approach to fatherhood.

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: Chris Lamb, Indiana University

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Chris Lamb 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.
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Jet setting around Europe is a dream vacation for many travelers, but it isnt cheap. After flights, hotels, food, transportation, and sightseeing, spending a few grand can happen quickly. But there are ways to see and experience Europe without emptying your savings. Here are five cities you can visit for two weeks during the peak summer season, costing $60 to $120 a day per person.

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Brasov, Romania

Cost: $60 a day

Brasov, Romania, is set in the Carpathian Mountains and is known for its beauty, charming restaurants, and rich mixture of culture and history. It is an ideal location for travelers on a budget.

According to BudgetYourTrip.com, On average, a two-week trip to Brasov costs around $846 (lei3,908) for one person and $1,691 (lei7,815) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Cost: $75 a day

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe and offers plenty for visitors to see and do. Its a budget-friendly destination filled with historic sights, cobbled streets, Roman ruins, and stunning 19th-century architecture.

Per Nomadic Matt Travel Guide, On a mid-range budget of 135 BGN per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for most meals at cheap cafes and fast food joints, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi, and do more paid activities like visiting museums and the Roman amphitheater.

Krakow, Poland

Cost: $89 a day

Krakow has become a vacation hotspot with its romantic medieval fairytale charm, colorful bursting streets, and vibrant culture. Travelers can enjoy the striking city at a lower cost than most European cities.

According to Nomadic Matt Travel Guide, On a mid-range budget of 350 PLN per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for all your meals at cheap milk bars, have a couple of drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like touring Auschwitz and the salt mine.

Budapest, Hungary

Cost: $91 a day

Travelers are drawn to Budapest for its dramatic skyline dotted with old-world charm and 19th-century architecture. But besides the Instagram-worthy pics, steamy thermal baths, and scenic walks, people visit Hungarys capital because its affordable.

A two week trip to Budapest on average costs around $1,275 (Ft461,400) for one person and $2,550 (Ft922,799) for two people, per BudgetYourTrip.com. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Story continues

Riga, Latvia

Cost: $120 a day

Situated on the shores of the Baltic Sea, the northeastern European country of Latvia is a beautiful holiday destination with stunning beaches, picturesque landscapes, and great food. Plus, visiting the country and its capital, Riga, is affordable.

According to Nomadic Matt Travel Guide, On a mid-range budget of 110 EUR ($120) per day, you can stay in an Airbnb, eat out for most of your meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like visiting museums and castles or going kayaking.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Cities in Europe Where You Can Vacation Comfortably for $60-$120 a Day for 2 Weeks
Johnstown flood, nine years without NCCo tax hike: News Journal archives, May 26-June 1

"Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and the Evening Journal.

May 26, 2004, The News Journal

NCCo passes budget without tax increase for ninth straight year

New Castle County residents will not pay more in property taxes or sewer service fees next year, even though the government will spend about 6.2% more to provide services such as policing, emergency dispatching and sewage treatment.

County Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve a nearly $207.4 million operating budget for the year starting July 1. The budget approved for the current year was $195.2 million.

Page B1 of The News Journal from May 26, 2004.

The proposal was amended prior to the vote to include about $1.4 million more than County Executive Tom Gordon proposed in March. The additional money will cover anticipated increases in employee health care costs and pension contributions, and the addition of four emergency dispatch operators and one clerk.

The average property tax bill and sewer bill for a home in an unincorporated area is expected to stand, respectively, at $325.32 and $171.

County Chief Financial Officer Ron Morris said this is the ninth consecutive year with no property tax increase and the 12th consecutive year with no sewer rate increase.

Recent county news: Overtime payouts make first responders among the highest-paid New Castle County employees

May 28, 1973, The Morning News

Delaware resorts full despite drip

Wind, rain and cold dont keep the mailmen from their appointed rounds, and they dont stop the tourists from coming to Delawares seashore on a Memorial Day weekend.

Like lemmings who hear a mysterious call of nature, they began the trek Friday as drizzle and 30-to-35-mph winds swept across the beaches in 50-degree temperatures.

Front page of The Morning News from May 28, 1973.

Earlier speculations that a gasoline shortage might be felt in the resort area were proved groundless.

Most rooms were taken. State park camping facilities reported a good crowd. The Seashore State Park was full by early Friday, but Cape Henlopen State Park was never quite full and on Sunday afternoon had only 110 of 160 spaces filled

The boardwalk was mostly for the young people who walked up and down and stood around in groups.

May 30, 1972, The Morning News

Gunman kills 3, self, at N.C. political rally

A calm gunman shooting at everything that moved killed three persons, wounded eight others and then killed himself outside a shopping mall where Sen. B. Everett Jordan was campaigning yesterday in Raleigh, N.C.

Police discounted theories that it was an assassination attempt on the North Carolina Democratic senator who was shaking hands just inside the North Hills Shopping Center.

Two of the wounded were little girls.

Front page of The Morning News from May 30, 1972.

Witnesses said the gunman, a neatly-dressed man identified as Harvey Glenn McLeod, 23, opened fire just as Jordan stepped through the plate glass doors. Jordan had been chatting with two women. One was killed and the other critically wounded. The doors were shattered.

Witnesses said the gunfire went on for about two minutes.

Police Chief Robert E. Goodwin said, When the first siren was heard, witnesses said he turned the gun on himself. The chief said the man was armed with a .22-caliber rifle which he had purchased a few hours earlier, and a revolver.

June 1, 1889, Evening Journal

An awful flood; Pennsylvania city entirely submerged

A telegraph operator in the Pennsylvania railroad signal tower at Sang Hollow, 12 miles below Johnstown, says that 75 dead bodies have floated past him down the river from Johnstown.

It is stated that the reservoir above Johnstown broke and the water deluged the town, sweeping away houses by scores and drowning probably hundreds of people.

Wires are down, and no communication can be had with Johnstown.

Front page of the Evening Journal from June 1, 1889.

Pennsylvania railroad officials in Pittsburgh state that they have advices that over 200 dead bodies have been counted floating downstream at Johnstown.

Johnstown is described as wholly submerged, only two houses being entirely above the water line.

Catch up on history: Earnhardt dies at Daytona, communist books banned: News Journal archives, week of Feb. 18

June 1, 2003, Sunday News Journal

Neighbors criticize Cherry Island landfill expansion

From busy I-495, few east Wilmington landmarks can compete with the massive Cherry Island Landfill, a hulking complex that buries 525,000 tons of waste yearly on a flank of the Delaware River.

In coming months, the states busiest landfill will loom large on the political landscape as well. Opponents of a proposed expansion are stepping up public objections, saying the state buries too much waste and should recycle more

Front page of the Sunday News Journal from June 1, 2003.

Delaware Solid Waste Authority managers say the $60 million project will reduce the risk of a waste-pile collapse and increase the landfills capacity by adding nearly 120 feet to its height limit.

Critics in nearby communities have called the site an eyesore and claimed dust, odors and constant truck traffic pose a threat to public health.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: News Journal archives May 26-June 1: Johnstown destroyed by flood
An administrative law judge Friday recommended revoking the license of a Wildwood group home where police found a woman with disabilities tied to a pole in November 2022.

Judge W. David Watkins issued a 33-page ruling that backed a move by the state Agency for Persons with Disabilities to revoke the license of B-Yond Xpectations II group home.

The case began when Wildwood police received a call late on Nov. 23, 2022, about someone yelling for help from the group home.

Read: 4th grader dies after being hit by SUV near entrance of Port Orange school

Officers found a 26-year-old resident of the home, identified by the initials N.B., in a chair in a pole barn-type structure with her arms tied behind a wooden pole, Watkins wrote.

The ruling said N.B. had an intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and autism and had a history of self-abusive and aggressive behavior.

Theresa Williams, the owner of the group home, told police that N.B. sometimes needed to be restrained because of behavior such as hitting other residents and fighting, Watkins wrote.

Read: 8 people taken to hospital after airboat crashes in Osceola County

Police were called again to the group home five days later because N.B. was found not breathing. Williams and an officer performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but N.B. was pronounced dead, Watkins wrote.

The agency then issued an emergency suspension of the group homes license and began seeking to revoke the license in January 2023.

The group home filed for an administrative hearing, which was held in January 2024. In his ruling, Watkins supported the agencys allegations that the group home violated state laws.

Read: Orlandos Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. acquires shuttered Deadwords Brewing Company

Tying N.B. to a pole under a pole barn behind the group home in chilly weather constituted an unnecessary and inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion which resulted in a serious risk of physical injury to N.B. because of the conditions surrounding her being bound, he wrote. The method of seclusion also posed a risk of psychological injury, particularly because N.B. was left in that state for an indeterminate amount of time.

Under administrative law, Watkins ruling is a recommended order that will go to the agency for final action.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Juror in Topeka triple murder case explains several factors that led to reasonable doubt

No DNA from Yanez Sanford was found in the southwest Topeka apartment where a man, a woman and an unborn child were fatally shot in 2016, his defense attorneys stressed.

The inability of police and prosecutors to effectively put Sanford at the scene was among reasons a jury on May 17 found him "not guilty" of those murders, a member of that jury told The Capital-Journal this past week.

"The law says you have to prove someone guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to convict them, and we had plenty of reasonable doubt," he said. "We followed the law."

One of the jurors this past week shared some of the reasons a jury acquitted Yanez Sanford May 17 of charges linked to a 2016 Topeka triple homicide. Sanchez is shown in the center, between defense attorneys Emily Barclay and Peter Conley.

The juror contacted The Capital-Journal offering to help clarify facts regarding the case.

A Shawnee County District Court jury concluded May 17 that reasonable doubt existed to believe Sanford, 41, played a role in the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Dominique Ray, 20-year-old Camrah Trotter and Trotter's unborn daughter at Fairlawn Greens Apartments, 5235 S.W. 20th Terrace.

The Capital-Journal isn't publishing the juror's name at his request for safety reasons. Law enforcement officers escorted jurors to their cars.

What did prosecutors say happened?

The verdict ended a 10-day trial in which prosecutors said a man carrying a gun pushed his way in after knocking on the door of the apartment where Ray and Trotter lived with Trotter's 4-year-old daughter, La'Miya Ryce.

The gunman and another man waited there with Trotter and La'Miya about two hours during the early morning of Aug. 7, 2016, then fatally shot Ray when he came to the door with his cousin, Jamontez Fulton, prosecutors said.

They said the two men chased and fired shots at Fulton, who got away away as Trotter called 911 from her apartment. One then returned to the apartment and fatally shot Trotter as she was on the phone.

La'Miya said she watched as Ray and Trotter were killed.

What did jurors think?

The juror said when deliberations began during the late afternoon of May 16, he was among eight jurors who supported finding Sanford "not guilty." Four supported convicting him. Jurors deliberated about an hour that day.

By the following morning, 10 jury members supported acquittal and two favored conviction, the juror said.

The jury revealed just before 1 p.m. May 17 that it had reached a unanimous verdict.

Who were the judge, prosecutors and defense attorneys?

District Attorney Mike Kagay's office was represented at the trial by senior deputy district attorney Keith Henderson and Dan Dunbar, a retired Shawnee County chief deputy district attorney working as a special prosecutor.

Peter Conley and Emily Barclay, senior assistant capital defenders for the state's Death Penalty Defense Unit, represented Sanford.

Shawnee County District Court Judge Bill Ossmann presided.

What did the jurors think of what the surviving witnesses said?

Fulton and La'Miya, who was then 4 years old and is now 12, each identified Sanford at trial as being one of the killers.

But jury members didn't consider either to be a credible witness, the juror said.

Jurors found various inconsistencies between the statements La'Miya gave police at ages 4 and 8, then made in court during the trial, he said.

The juror said Fulton testified at trial that he vividly remembered Sanford because of his eyes, yet Fulton had told police early on in the investigation that the gunman may have been wearing sunglasses.

Why weren't jurors convinced Trotter had been raped?

Prosecutors stressed that a vaginal swab collected from Trotter's body contained seminal fluid, which DNA testing proved was Sanfords. They alleged Sanford raped Trotter while waiting for Ray to arrive at their apartment.

Sanford's attorneys said DNA can remain in the body a week, and suggested Sanford and Trotter had consensual sex in the week before she died. Prosecutors countered that DNA can remain in the body only two or three days.

The juror noted that Sanford lived in Independence, Missouri, while Trotter commuted from Topeka to work during the last week of her life in Johnson County.

The reasonably close proximity of those locations to each other, combined with the lack of DNA from Sanford in Trotters apartment, gave jurors reason to question prosecutors assertion that Sanford raped Trotter there, he said.

Sanford exercised his constitutional right not to testify at the trial. Jurors were told they were not allowed to hold that against him.

Why did jurors discuss the possibility that a 'gang war' was involved?

Another reason behind the decision to acquit was the inability by police and prosecutors to establish a solid link between Sanford and the people involved, aside from the seminal fluid taken from Trotter's body, the juror said.

He said jurors thought police neglected to interview many people they should have and didn't pursue various available avenues of investigation, including examining social media accounts and cell phone records of people involved and checking Kansas Turnpike records or video to see if they showed Sanford drove to Topeka that night.

"There were a lot of things that should have been followed up on that weren't," the juror said.

He suggested Topeka police should have more thoroughly investigated some "alternative suspects" who may have committed the killings as part of a gang war.

Defense attorneys shared names of men they said may have killed Ray to avenge the Feb. 14, 2016, Topeka shooting death of Del Juan Patton, whom they said was Trotter's boyfriend before Ray became her boyfriend.

Prosecutors acknowledged Ray was among people suspected of killing Patton, though no arrests have been made in that case. They suggested Sanford killed Ray to avenge Patton's death.

But the juror said while Sanford and Patton were distantly related to each other by marriage, jury members didn't see that as solidly connecting Sanford to the case.

The juror added that jury members looked at whether a link may have existed between Sanford and one of the alternative suspects, known as "Dalt."

Prosecutors alleged Sanford said the name "Dalt" during a recorded phone call from the jail in Jackson County Missouri.

But the juror said jury members, after listening to the recording four or five times, realized Sanford had instead said "dawg," a street term commonly used to refer to a friend.

What about the missing body camera videos?

Sanford's attorneys suggested he couldn't get a fair trial because 30 Axon body camera videos Topeka police took while investigating the case in 2016 had been inadvertently destroyed.

A judge ordered the body camera videos and other evidence preserved in February 2021. Topeka police were then taken by surprise when the videos were destroyed later that year at the end of a planned five-year retention period.

The juror said he didn't know how the presence of those videos may have affected the case if they'd been preserved, but their absence gave jurors one more reason for reasonable doubt.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Juror in Topeka triple murder case explains reasonable doubt factors
Todd and Francine Turner clutched hands as a courtroom deputy read the first verdict.

Not guilty, the deputy said of the charge against Robert Pooley, one of six counts he faced related to skydiving courses he taught at a center near Lodi.

Then, the deputy read the jurys decision on the second charge: Guilty.

Both of the Turners started to cry. A feeling of panic turned to relief.

Thats all that mattered, Francine Turner said.

A jury on Friday convicted Pooley of wire fraud and identity theft in a federal courtroom in Sacramento. Although he wasnt charged with causing the death of Tyler Turner, 18 in 2016, the young mans fatal fall is what led to Pooley being in court in the first place.

And to the Turners, it brought a feeling of vindication.

Weve fought for eight years, Francine Turner said, and this is finally a victory for Tyler.

Prosecutors accused Pooley of defrauding students while teaching courses on leading tandem skydiving jumps at the Parachute Center in 2016. Pooley had suspended credentials and wasnt supposed to certify students on his own.

He normally taught with Yuri Garmashov, another instructor, who would sign off on the training. But when Garmashov left the country for a few months, Pooley used paperwork pre-filled with Garmashovs signature. Prosecutors argued this was done without Garmashovs permission and was meant to mislead the students.

One of those students was Yong Kwon, 25. The South Korean was one of many students from around the world that traveled to the skydiving center to jump and train, often drawn to its low prices. Pooley taught him when Garmashov was out of the country, but his paperwork still had Garmashovs signature on it.

On Aug. 6, 2016, Kwon led a tandem jump with Tyler Turner, who was skydiving for the first time. During their jump, Kwon had issues with the main and reserve parachutes before he and Tyler Turner slammed into the ground. They became two of at least 28 people who have died at the Parachute Center since 1985, an investigation by The Sacramento Bee found.

Kwons paperwork was not submitted to the proper organizations at the time of the jump, a federal investigation found. That meant he was not certified to lead it, as is required under federal law.

The Turners both directed blame at William Dause, the centers founder and face of the business. The center was raided by federal authorities in 2018, but Dause has not been charged with any crimes related to the incident.

In 2021, prosecutors indicted Pooley. Defense attorneys argued prosecutors were charging Pooley because he was the only person affiliated with the center that they could pin a crime on.

The jury on Friday convicted him on all but one of the charges he faced. U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb later granted a motion by defense attorneys to dismiss two of the charges. That left Pooley guilty on two counts of wire fraud and one count of identity theft.

Pooley is set to be sentenced in August and faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud counts. The aggravated identity theft charges each carry a mandatory two-year sentence.

Pooleys defense attorneys plan to keep fighting the remaining guilty charges. Serious questions remain about whether Mr. Pooleys actions were criminal, public defender Mia Crager, said in a statement. While tragic, she added, the deaths of Tyler Turner and Kwon were not relevant to the charges against Pooley.

Attorneys spent much of their closing arguments Thursday trying to convince jurors on the aggravated identity theft counts, which carried extra weight because of the mandatory prison time and were based on Pooleys use of Garmoshovs signature on Kwons paperwork and that of another student.

It was the tool Pooley had to commit the crime, Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Lydon said during her final plea to jurors.

Pooley, she added, hid his suspension to convince potential trainees they could be properly certified by attending his classes. Students would pay $1,000 or more to attend them.

He kept this secret and he lied because he had to keep the cycle of classes going Lydon said.

Crager, during her final argument, said Pooley wasnt intending to dupe students. During the time that Garmashov was away, they received paperwork that had Garmashovs signature on it, saying he had personally examined their training. So, she claimed, the candidates knew it was a lie.

She asked the jury: If Pooley was trying to mislead students, why would he give them the paperwork with Garmashovs signature on it?

He was not trying to hide it, Crager said.

Garmashov testified during trial that it was only after Tyler Turner and Kwon died that he found out Pooley was using his signature while he was gone. And that he told Pooley not to teach courses during that time.

Pooley declined to testify on his behalf.

Yet his defense attorneys insinuated Garmashov had a financial incentive not to fess up about such an arrangement. Crager said he was in on the lie with Pooley, a lie that was not meant for the students. It was for the United States Parachute Association, which licenses skydivers and instructors, but has no real authority other than to revoke or suspend ratings, licenses and memberships that it issues.

Following the deaths of Kwon and Turner, the parachute association launched an investigation. It later required roughly 140 people who attended tandem courses taught by either Pooley or Garmashov to take part in more training.

Garmashov pleaded ignorance. He helped draft a letter, which Pooley signed, and sent it to the parachute association. It said Garmashov did not know Pooley was using his signature to certify students.

But the organization, based in Virginia, wasnt convinced by the letter. It revoked the memberships of Garmashov and Pooley, as well as any licenses and instructor certifications they held. It has not reinstated them.

Garmashov at the time was a world class skydiver, with almost 20 years of experience. Most of his income came from teaching students. He appealed the associations decision and sued the organization, but those efforts didnt restore his qualifications. He turned to truck driving to support himself financially.

With Garmashov on the witness stand Wednesday, defense attorney Mia Crager asked: Dont you want Pooley to be found guilty of stealing your signature so you can show that to the parachute association?

Garmashov replied that he didnt care about Pooley. What I care about is my ratings and my livelihood.

And to get your livelihood back, Crager continued, it would help you if a jury found Pooley had stolen your signature?

I dont know if thats going to help me, Garmashov countered, in one of several tense exchanges between the two during trial.

Albert Berchtold, the parachute associations executive director, watched from inside the courtroom.

Garmashov has not been charged with any crimes related to the case.

During her closing remarks, Lydon reminded the jury that Garmashov had not admitted to giving Pooley permission to use his signature while he was away. Even if he had, she said, it shouldnt matter to the jurors.

His signature, she said, was at the crux of the fraud.

It was an argument that stuck.

I felt like the prosecution put on a well-organized case, Jennifer Nail, the jury forewoman, said after the verdict was read. Even if the signature had been provided, she said, it was used unlawfully. Jurors deliberated roughly six hours Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

During that time Todd Turner rubbed his fingers over a picture of his son he stores in his wallet. And Francine Turner looked at her sons face on her phones screen saver.

The Turners are no longer married. But they said their sons death allowed them to set aside past disagreements.

To be here together in this moment, Francine Turner said, is very poignant.
Justice Minister: Nearly 350 prisoners have been released to join army after new conscription law

Nearly 350 prisoners have been released from detention to serve in the military after a new conscription law took effect, Justice Minister Denys Maliuska told the New York Times in an interview on May 24.

Ukraine's parliament passed a bill on May 8 permitting 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.

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.

The judiciary has received 4,300 applications so far and is already considering most of them, Maliuska told the New York Times.

Maliuska also told the New York Times that people convicted of a single case of murder could potentially be released, if there were no aggravating circumstances.

The new law allowing prisoners to serve in the military in exchange for the possibility of parole is a response to Ukraine's manpower shortage. With the war being fought as intensely as ever, Ukraine's military faces a growing need to replenish fighting units, build reserves, and allow existing soldiers to rotate off the front line.

The government has aimed to ramp up mobilization efforts in 2024 and has pledged to change the approach to military recruitment, giving more choices to potential conscripts.

Read also: Court in Khmelnytskyi Oblast releases 50 prisoners to join army after new conscription law

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City police detectives are investigating a shooting Friday night that left one person dead.

Just before 6:30 p.m. KCPD police officers were on patrol in the area of E. 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard when they heard the sound of gunshots.

KC mayor, police discuss homicide trends, safety ahead of Memorial Day weekend

Officers immediately moved into the area where they were directed to a car wash just south of Interstate 70 on Van Brunt.

Officers located a vehicle with a man inside who had been shot and was unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives and crime scene investigators are continuing to work the scene looking for evidence and witnesses to learn what may have led to the deadly shooting.

Early investigation into the incident indicates the shooting happened in the area of the exit ramp from eastbound I-70 down onto Van Brunt Boulevard.

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Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
These new Kansas laws were passed to benefit military veterans. Here's what to know.

The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly enacted several new laws in 2024 designed to benefit veterans.

Here's what to know about the new laws.

Two new specialty license plates

House Bill 2392 authorizes two new distinctive license plates from the Kansas Department of Revenue.

One is for the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, which is headquartered at Fort Riley.

To be eligible for the plate, drivers would need to be currently serving in any unit of the 1st Infantry Division, the Fort Riley garrison or a unit assigned to the garrison, or to have separated from the military and honorably discharged after serving at least nine months with one of those units at some point in their career.

The other license plate is for the Armed Services Occupation Medal. To be eligible, the driver must be a recipient of either the Army of Occupation Medal or the Navy Occupation Service Medal.

A Marine color guard carries the colors at the start of the Topeka Veterans Day Parade in November. Kansas lawmakers passed several laws this year to benefit military veterans.

Why changes to definitions matter

House Bill 2760 and HB 2392 made changes to the definitions of "veteran" and "disabled veteran" in state law.

The state uses those terms for certain state benefits, including medals, bidder preferences and permanent hunting and fishing licenses.

"Veteran" is now defined as "a person who served in the active military, naval, air or space service and who was discharged under an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions."

That part of the definition also applies to disabled veterans, with the addition that they "received a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty" and they have service-connected evaluation percentage in line with certain requirements.

Previously, the definitions were inconsistent in different statutes and didn't include the Space Force. They also conferred benefits on people who left military service under "conditions other than dishonorable."

The new law also prescribes what documents the government can require from a disabled veteran for determining their benefits eligibility. Local and state government agencies can't ask for or demand a document not listed in the law. The intent was to reduce the administrative burden on disabled veterans.

Vintage military vehicles drive through downtown in November during the Topeka Veterans Day Parade. Kansas lawmakers passed several laws this year to benefit military veterans.

Renaming a state agency

HB 2760 also changes the name of the old Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office. It is now the Kansas Office of Veterans Services.

The change was intended to better reflect the agency's mission and improve public awareness  and to alleviate any confusion that it was part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Changes for Kansas National Guard

Senate Bill 292 creates law authorizing the adjutant general to appoint a state judge advocate, with the approval of the governor. The adjutant general can also appoint as many assistants to the state judge advocate as deemed necessary.

The Kansas Code of Military Justice was also modernized and updated to comply with the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The Kansas code had undergone only minimal revisions since 1972. Trial by court-martial was also removed from state law.

The new law also creates and amends existing law on death and disability benefits provided to members of the Kansas Air and Army National Guard. Those death and disability benefits were increased. The adjutant general called the old amounts "woefully inadequate."

Separately, Senate Bill 430 updated workers compensation law, including by providing coverage for members of the Kansas National Guard.

Senate Bill 19 establishes EMERGE, which stands for the Kansas National Guard Education Master's forEnhanced Readiness and Global Excellence Program. It provides financial assistance to guard members pursuing master's degrees at Kansas colleges and universities.

No fees for occupational licensing

House Bill 2745 makes changes to state law that provides for reciprocal occupational licensing for military service members and their spouses.

The changes are intended to make it easier and cheaper for military service members and their spouses to get new occupational licenses when moving to Kansas due to being assigned to a new station. By exempting licensing fees for those individuals, several professional licensing boards indicated that they will likely lose thousands of dollars in revenue.

Additionally, Senate Bill 462 codifies existing KDOR practice on the Military Even Exchange Program for commercial driver's licenses that allow a waiver of the knowledge and skills test. It is intended to benefit people who recently left the military after operating the military vehicle equivalent to a CMV.

Tax breaks for disabled veterans

House Bill 2098 enacted several sales tax breaks, including an exemption for disabled veterans.

The sales tax exemption starts July 1, 2026, for certain personal property and services purchased by Kansas residents who are veterans with a 100%, total or unemployable permanent disability rating sustained through military service.

The exemption is capped at $24,000 of taxable sales per year per eligible person.

The bill was vetoed amid the ongoing political dispute over how much in tax cuts is affordable, but lawmakers overrode the veto. That bigger issue of tax cuts also came into play with House Bill 2096, which was vetoed after the Legislature adjourned, meaning there was no chance to override the veto.

That bill included a creating a refundable income tax credit stylized as a property tax relief program for disabled veterans. The idea sparked heated debate at times and went through multiple iterations.

One sticking point was that residents of military communities could see their property taxes raised as an unintended consequence. Representatives of Leavenworth and Riley counties argued the idea would shift the tax burden onto other taxpayers.

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Military veterans benefit in new laws Kansas lawmakers passed in 2024
Public Board of Indigent Defense Services didn't get the $11 million it requested from the state of Kansas to help it hire new employees and retain current staff.

The agency has gotten more funding in recent years, but the pay still lags behind comparable positions in law. Simultaneously, a national study suggest public defenders are assigned about three times as many cases as they could reasonably handle.

High caseloads, as well as the difficulty attracting and retaining attorneys, has led to other states releasing defendants when no public attorney is available.

Heather Cessna works from her computer Friday afternoon from the Board of Indigent Defense office in the Jayhawk Towers.

Origins of public defender caseloads

In 1973, the National Advisory Commission Justice Standards established that public defenders should be able to work up to 150 felony cases, 400 misdemeanors per year or 200 juvenile cases per year. The NACJS accounted for nearly 400 standards in criminal justice information systems, recruitment of minorities, community policing, speedy trials and offender rehabilitation.

Most of the recommendations like ending plea bargaining, pushing for every state to criminalize handgun possession and capping maximum sentences for most crimes to five years, didn't get implemented. But the caseloads for public defenders have been surprisingly sticky and were the main contributor to public defense workloads for 50 years.

"The old standards were problematic for a variety of cases. They were 150 felonies, which could be murder cases or could be low-level thefts and they were kind of counted the same," said Heather Cessna, executive director of the Kansas Board of Indigent Defense Services.

The standards didn't come from a methodology or assessment, and was just one of 400 recommendations proposed by the NACJS. Caseloads weren't even on the agenda, and were calculated as an afterthought according to Stephen Hanlon, an attorney that studied caseloads in partnership with the American Bar Association.

And the 50-year-old standards weren't updated to account for the time needed to review things like body cameras and advances in forensic science. But over the past several years, state's have been measuring their caseloads on a new standard.

Kansas has 30% of public defenders needed in the court system

In September 2023, the American Bar Association released a national study on the workloads of public defenders after several state-level assessments had been released. In Kansas, it projected that the state only had about 30% of the needed public defenders necessary to give constitutionally protected defense to its clients.

It also found the state employed less than a third of the legal assistants, a fifth of the investigators and administrative specialists and needed 133 more mental health and social workers  the state currently employs just one. Kansas isn't far off from most states, which are usually heavily deficient in the number of attorneys employed in public defense.

The standards the ABA assessed public defender caseloads with was more nuanced than the NACJS standards, breaking down the amount of time that would be needed based on the severity of the cases from low level probation violations to felonies carrying life sentences.

Kansas BIDS only covers felony offences and contracts out private attorneys for lower-level crimes.

"A lot of the deficit is in the lower level of case type because that's where people are taking pleas very early, no investigation is happening. The difference between what ought to be happening and what is happening tends to be the largest at the volume-case processing court," said Malia Brink, deputy director of the ABA's national workload study.

Too few prospective attorneys are attending law school

The ABA report says Kansas would need to hire 277 additional attorneys on top the 123 already employed. It's unlikely Kansas could meet that demand without drastically restructuring the entire public defense structure.

In 2022, public defense entities had a turnover rate of about 20%, meaning nearly one in five public defenders left that year. In 2023, with a pay raise that included a one-time $4 million investment from the state and a 5% bump for all statewide employees, the Board of Indigent Defense Services more than halved the attorney turnover rate.

"I think we've made some significant strides. I think it's just not enough. It kind of turns into a drop in the bucket," Cessna said.

Inspirational quotes written on Post-It notes dot a pillar within the Kansas Northeast Conflicts Office.

Comparable employees like prosecutors are hired at the county level, so they can be more nimble when responding to the current market. Also, public defense is competing with a relatively small number of law school graduates.

The two law schools in Kansas, the University of Kansas and Washburn University, had a combine 228 incoming students in 2022. The number of first-year law students nationwide drastically declined after peaking in 2010 at 52,000 students. Since then the number hovered around 38,000.

Public defenders paid far less than prosecutors in same jurisdictions

The studies on public defender pay, workload and well-being often mention that they're underpaid compared to the attorneys at the other side of the courtroom. Public defenders are paid about 28% less than their prosecutor counterparts in the same jurisdiction.

Jonathon Noble, chief public defender with the Northeast Conflicts Office who previously worked as a prosecutor, said it's hard to compare the two jobs on the workload given to them. A prosecutor's job is to "put on a show" while the defense attorney has to poke holes in the state's case.

"Putting that case together, getting everybody there who's supposed to be there to testify, that is very difficult and very stressful. You do have a lot of interaction with victims in the case. But you don't have the interaction to the same degree that a defense attorney has with their client where you really have to walk through every single stage of the proceeding," Noble said.

Public defenders often are have a less-than stellar reputation. A study in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law and Society reported that about 83% of people said court-appointed attorneys are more concerned with quickly resolving cases than their privately retained peers, and only about half of respondents said public defenders fight zealously for their clients.

Jonathon Noble, chief public defender of the Kansas Northeast Conflicts Office, on Monday explains the dilemma of trying to hire more defense attorneys in his office.

The incentives seem like opposites between privately retained and publicly appointed counsel. Overburdened public defenders may want to resolve cases quickly rather than drag out the process, while by-the-hour private attorneys may maximize their time on a case.

"There is a perception that public defenders are not real attorneys, and that your job is to manufacture pleas to get the case over with as quickly as possible," Noble said.

Noble said there might be some truth to that sentiment when public defenders are as overburdened as they historically have been. But, there are also bad prosecutors and private attorneys as well.

"It's just like anything else, there's good and there's bad," Noble said.

But ultimately, only a defendant can decide to take a plea, and when doing so must affirm to the court that they are satisfied with their counsel.

"The public defender does not decide whether to accept a plea. The public defender describes the plea agreement to the person charged. The public defender may recommend either accepting or declining a plea agreement based on criminal law, the persons criminal history, provisions of the plea agreement, and other relevant factors," said Lisa Taylor, public information director of the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration.

Are public defense systems meeting Sixth Amendment standards?

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a public trial of anyone committed of a crime, and the Supreme Court guaranteed that people must be provided legal representation in court in Gideon v. Wainwright. And the representation must be "appropriately sufficient."

"It's not a high bar," Cessna said. "It's not like you're hiring the best law firm on the face of the earth and they're putting 16 associates and three partners on this case level of criminal defense, you're talking the minimum that is required in order to meet the Sixth Amendment requirements."

Brink said when there are so many cases to deal with, public defenders aren't spending as much time investigating the case and conducting legal research to adequately help their clients.

"A lot of what gets taken away from clients when attorneys don't have time is the ability to do all the things that would go into the attorney being able to demonstrate that not only that they know you, but they know your case," Brink said.

When public defense systems are found to be so overburdened that they can no longer adequately represent their clients to Sixth Amendment standards, they stop taking cases. In that case, jails will start releasing lower-level offenders who are in jail for things like methamphetamine possession while retaining more serious cases.

In 2021 the American Civil Liberties Union said the state is at risk of being sued for providing inadequate representation.

Some attorneys cite recent improvements but problems persist

The pay increase and implementation of modern caseload standards have had an impact on wellbeing for Kansas's public defenders. The percent of public defenders who said the lack of pay or promotions as the primary source for dissatisfaction fell from 45% to 28%  but workload and lack of attorneys rose from 17% to 28%.

But things seem to be improving, with 46% of attorneys saying things have improved over the past year, 36% saying it was the same and 18% reporting a decrease in workplace well-being. Moreover, only 9.8% said they don't feel supported by the BIDS administration.

Public defenders in Kansas reported that lack of pay became less of a detractor to workplace well-being over the past three years, but the number of cases is of rising concern.

Still, only 40% of public defenders said they feel they have enough time to provide optimal representation, even with BIDS directing offices to abide by modern workload standards.

"When I took over here, they already started complying with the preliminary findings of the workload studies," Noble said. "So I try to keep everyone around a case weigh of about 100 or 120 (hours per case), which is still higher than the results of the national average. It's just not feasible based on the amount of people that we have, or can have, to really abide by those."

With the extreme high number of attorneys needed to represent defendants, another way to reduce demand on public defenders is to reimagine what crimes get prosecuted.

"There are cases that you could say, maybe what we should do is actually have a citation level case that gets cleared if they, for example, are willing to meet with a caseworker rather than spend 30 to 60 days in jail," Brink said. "The other thing that the caseload studies show is that sentencing drives time."

In other words, when the state seeks more severe punishments then defendants will seek more comprehensive, complicated and time-consuming ways of litigating their case.

"You can look not at total decriminalization, but also sentencing reform to bring some of that down," Brink said.

The problems in public defense amount to problems in the entire criminal justice system. About 85% of adult felonies in the state are represented by court-appointed attorneys.

"The situation in public defense does reflect something about the overall quality of justice we're able to produce right now," Brink said. "There is a real myth of equitable justice, and I think the caseload studies really are showing those gaps."

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Public Defense has fewer than one-third of needed attorneys
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Three kids were rescued from a fire at an illegal apartment in an abandoned building near downtown Kansas City Friday night, according to the Kansas City Fire Department.

KCFD said the fire was reported on the second floor of an abandoned, two-story commercial building near Truman Road and Park Avenue just before 2 a.m.

Alligator still missing in Northland after wild incident at middle school

According to crews, the fire had spread to the building and west of the roofline. However, they managed to get it under control quickly from the back of the building.

Through forced entry, KCFD was able to search the building where they found what appeared to be storage doors. After forcing the doors to open, they found an illegal apartment and three unattended kids inside.

You know, typically on a commercial structure, one, two in the morning, youre not expecting to find people. You know, businesses are closed, Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins with KCFD said.

They just noticed a whole bunch of doors, and it didnt sit right. Just with the type of building that it is.

He said the smoke and carbon monoxide could have made for a very dangerous situation, had they not discovered the three children.

So, it was the due diligence of the folks on scene last night that, you know, potentially save these childrens lives. Ive been doing this for 20 years now and it never ceases to amaze you what youre going to find. So you have to be vigilant and you have to rely on your training and instincts. And thats exactly what Chief did last night, along with the crews that were with him.

The three kids  ages 9, 4 and 2  were treated on the scene and taken to Childrens Mercy Hospital for smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide exposure. According to KCFD, all three kids had non-life-threatening injuries and are currently being cared for at the hospital.

KCFD said investigations are underway, and crews are looking for a responsible party and the cause of the fire.

Independence mom looking for stolen trailer with late daughters belongings

This was outstanding work by the men and women on this scene. Their diligence to ensure the entire structure was cleared during this search saved the lives of these three children, KCFD said.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned at FOX4 News for the latest updates and information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  Storm damage is forcing a nonprofit in Kansas City, Kansas to look for a temporary spot to continue its operations helping refugees.

On a typical Friday, one room would be filled with sewing machines with refugees learning different skills like how to sew. But on this Friday, its quiet and empty because of Sunday nights storms.

View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4

The Central Avenue Betterment Association owns the damaged building off 13th and Central. But inside was a teaching space, and a second home to people new to this country.

Ramki Shaiza is the founder of Stitching Change. She and volunteers and board members got right to work cleaning up after Sundays storm.

Usually we have Friday morning classes for our refugee women. Everyone of them called and said, when are you all going to pick us up? and that was just a grief that all of us are going through, Shaiza said.

We knew we needed to get the fabric out because we didnt have anymore of it and we just came in and started working as soon as we got in, Frieda Smith, a board member with Stitching Change said.

Now whats left is unrecognizable.

Its really sad coming in here knowing our fabric and machines are not available, board member Betti Kalahurka said.

The biggest loss wasnt just machines or supplies. Its the sense of community you felt walking in.

For me, this is a place where you come from a different country, from a different culture, from a different neighborhood and we find out common humanity that is love and kindness, Shaiza said.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

Theyre looking for a temporary space to bring their community back together.

Theyve already been through so much, you know, and they give me so much, just in their example, their resilience, Kalahurka said.

You can help give back to Stitching Change 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Renew Holdings implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

51% of the business is held by the top 10 shareholders

Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

If you want to know who really controls Renew Holdings plc (LON:RNWH), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 68% to be precise, is institutions. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Renew Holdings.

Check out our latest analysis for Renew Holdings

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Renew Holdings?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Renew Holdings. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Renew Holdings, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Renew Holdings. Octopus Investments Limited is currently the largest shareholder, with 16% of shares outstanding. Charles Stanley & Co. Ltd, Asset Management Arm is the second largest shareholder owning 6.4% of common stock, and Investec Wealth & Investment Limited holds about 6.0% of the company stock.

We did some more digging and found that 10 of the top shareholders account for roughly 51% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

Story continues

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Renew Holdings

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our information suggests that Renew Holdings plc insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around UK4.9m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 14% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Renew Holdings. 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 Equity Ownership

With a stake of 16%, private equity firms could influence the Renew Holdings board. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Renew Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors.

I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Kenyan President William Ruto came into the spotlight this week as he became the first African leader to receive a state visit at the White House this week.

President Joe Biden praised the country for leading the effort to quell gang violence in Haiti. On the night of their state dinner, a group of missionaries  including Americans  were killed by gangs in Haiti.

MORE: Missouri state representative says daughter, son-in-law killed in Haiti: 'My heart is broken'

Ruto has pledged to send more troops to Haiti to deal with the rising gang violence, despite criticism that the move is done at the behest of U.S. interests.

ABC News's Senior White House correspondent Selina Wang sat down with Ruto to discuss Kenya's international policies and his visit with Biden.

PHOTO: Kenyan President William Ruto speaks during an interview with ABC News. (ABC News)

SELINA WANG: President Ruto, thank you so much for being here. So what does it mean to be the first African leader in more than 15 years to receive a state visit?



PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO: What it means the situation is changing. We have embarked on an aggressive narrative-changing engagement because Africa for a long time has been viewed profiled as a continent of trouble, war, poverty, disease and all the negative things. But what we are saying this time around ... and I started this campaign last year during the Africa climate summit that yes, we could be having our own share of troubles and problems. But Africa to me is a continent of great potential, with tremendous potential and opportunity. So this is what we are working on. And I'm very proud that President Biden invited me for this, to undertake this state visit. It's not just about Kenya, it's about our continent as well. And many people who want to build relationships that are meaningful, that give us a chance for a win-win outcome.

MORE: Video Biden, Kenyan President William Ruto hold joint press conference

WANG: In 2022, President Biden had promised to visit the African continent sometime within a year. That obviously did not happen, did the president tell you why he never made the trip?



RUTO: Well, it's certainly my place to ask him, but two things have happened. We have the African Leadership Summit here. Where we engage with President Biden. And I think there was substantial, you know, agreements on what the future would look like, especially on matters of security on matters of economy, and on shared issues that are of importance to America and to Africa. And then secondly, there is this visit that I have undertaken, and if you look at the issues that we have arrived at as an outcome of the conversation between me and President Biden, they are issues that are Pan-African. Let me give you examples: number one, America has agreed to work with us on redesigning the international financial architecture. America has agreed that the current architecture is not fair. And therefore we need to think about how to re-engineer it. That's number one.

Number two, they have also committed substantial resources, including doubling their resources to either the World Bank's conditional windows. That means 26 African countries, will now have a chance to access concessional resources to manage two important things to mind to manage climate action. Because we are suffering the effects of climate change, and number two to manage their debt. And then number three, we have also agreed on expanding opportunities for training. Opportunities for value addition, agro-processing, in fact, the Africa green industrialization initiative that we launched last year at COP 28. We have agreed today that is going to be a joint program. In fact, there was a Nairobi Washington statement that speaks to Pan-African issues, including what we can do together in the areas of security, what we can do together in the areas of finance and the economy and the economy, and creating jobs and creating opportunities. I think we have managed to achieve so much, even before President Biden comes to our continent.

WANG: And on the matter of security, Kenya is getting ready to send about 1,000 police officers to Haiti. Why is Kenya leading this mission?



RUTO: Because we are a responsible global citizen. We have the requisite experience we have participated in 47 countries, making peace-keeping peace for the last 14 years. And because we believe the responsibility in Haiti is a shared responsibility. Every country that believes in freedom, democracy, self-determination, would want peace everywhere in the world and that is why Kenya's stepping forward to provide the leadership in Haiti. And we are working with many partners, many other police-contributing countries and many others who are contributing in different ways, like Canada, like the U.S., like others who want to participate in this space because the women and children in Haiti deserve peace the same way that women and children in Kenya do.

PHOTO: A police officer stands at a checkpoint on the street, as another inspects passing cars to ensure no one carries weapons, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on May 24, 2024. (Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters)

WANG: A group of missionaries, including Americans were killed in Haiti last night by gangs. Can the Kenyan forces stop that kind of violence?



RUTO: Yes, we believe we have what it takes. We have the necessary experience. And we have built as I talk to you. I have a team from Kenya in Haiti for the last one week, doing an assessment of the capabilities that are available the collaborations that are necessary. They have made contact they have engaged with a transitional presidential council. They have talked to the ministry responsible for security, they have spoken. They have had a conversation with the inspector general of the police and the whole police leadership. And I think we have the best chance to deal with it and to secure Haiti once and for all.

MORE: Haiti: The Forgotten Crisis

WANG: This is an ambitious mission that no African country has ever led, a mission outside of the continent. So what gives you that confidence?



RUTO: As I have told you, Kenya led the mission in Namibia. Successful mission. Today, Namibia is an independent country. We have always participated in that ... told you in 47 different missions abroad, including in Kosovo, one of the most difficult places where 1000s of people had been killed. We stepped in, and today Kosovo is a story that is different from what it was. So I have confidence that not just Kenya but Kenya working with others will have the chance to deal with the challenges that he faces.

WANG: What happens if the Kenyan police forces kill someone in Haiti? Would that be considered an extrajudicial killing?



RUTO: We have a clear you know, how the internationally benchmarked standardized operations. We have the notes of operation we have clarity and we are going to deposit all instruments that will guide the operation of the multinational security support mission in Haiti, which meet un standards. So we are operating under a U.N. mandate. And we will measure up to all the requirements on human rights on handling of civilians and our police are professionally trained, and they have participated in submissions before and they have done a fantastic job. And I don't think this time is going to be an exception.

WANG: Human rights groups have criticized the Kenyan police forces for extrajudicial killings and what happened with the protests in Kenya last year where several protesters were killed. So how can you ensure that they will have the correct conduct halfway around the world?



RUTO: Any police officers in Kenya that have gone beyond the call of duty and have used exces authority that they don't have? We have a clear, independent police oversight authority that makes sure that excess criminality perpetrated by the police is investigated, and either those involved are prosecuted and dismissed, or disciplinary action taken against them. So we have a clear ecosystem of making sure that there is accountability by the police, in their discharge of responsibilities, even as they provide security, even as they use force. That force must be against the rules that are set.

WANG: President Biden has praised you for really stepping up on the global stage. How much of this is decision for Kenya to lead this police force? How much of it has to do with fulfilling a U.S. request that America clearly needs your help in Haiti?



RUTO: I don't know about America needing help. I know that this assignment came from a request by a U.N. resolution that Kenya has had to make a decision. The decision to deploy in Haiti was not made by America. It wasn't made by Biden. I made it and the people of Canada made it. And we made this decision conscious of our international obligations as a nation, conscious of our requirements and the law. And we followed every step to make sure that even as we do this, we do it ourselves. Not because we are adapting for anybody or request from America, America and our great friends. They are all great partners, but we make our own decisions.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden and Kenya's President William Ruto talk following a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 23, 2024. (Susan Walsh/AP)

WANG: You said you have a clear mandate in Haiti. Can you explain what that mandate is and what exactly success would look like?



RUTO: Their mandate is to support the police in Haiti to maintain law and order ... to make sure that schools are working, hospitals are operating citizens can go about their responsibilities and their duties and their businesses and people can go to school. People can go to church, people can go to mosques, without having to fear for their lives. And success would be when that is done in collaboration with Asian police. And we will also assist in training the Haitian police in what they need. To do better professionally, of course, working with others so that eventually, when we exit, the people who hate using their police can take charge of their own security.



RUTO: When they get to the ground, the police are professionally trained. They know when to do what and I am very confident that they are working with the Haitian police. They will be able to carry out the police work as is required of them within the parameters of the law so that they can achieve the mission that the U.N. intended. And Kenya in terms of that.

WANG: You were not so long ago in Beijing for a state visit. The U.S. has fallen far behind China when it comes to investments in Africa. Who's a more reliable partner?



RUTO: You know, there are people who want to drive a narrative that it is the East versus the West. We are facing east, facing west. Let me tell you, we are neither facing east nor facing west. We are facing forward.

WANG: A lot of what this partnership is about with the U.S., you talked about reworking financial arrangements with low income countries. Kenya owes a significant amount of debt to China. In what ways has that constrained Kenya's development?



RUTO: You know, the debt we owe to China is exaggerated. It's less than 15% of all the debts we have. So in fact, the biggest lender to Kenya is the World Bank. So it is a misrepresentation to create an impression that we are doing this because we're trying to run away from something or we are running to something we are doing what is right that's why I'm telling you we are facing, we are looking into the future. We are making decisions that are necessary.

We are working with different teams, different countries, different companies, different institutions, and even the reform of the international financial architecture is a joint project of all those who contribute in to the kitty. And it includes, you know, the U.S. ... Europe. It includes China. It includes Japan and many other countries. So this is not about one country versus the other. It's about a collective humanity assignment.

WANG: Here in America, we're just months away from the presidential election. Former President Trump has used demeaning words to describe African countries. How do you think U.S.-Kenya relations would change if Trump were to win the White House again?



RUTO: Well, I think we close every vote when we get there. I think it would be an exercise in guesswork. If I were to say what will happen with the elections in the United States, it's up to the people of the United States to choose their leaders. And when that happens, whichever way does, I'm very confident that we will know how to proceed into the future.

WANG: Lastly, you had spoken with former Presidents Clinton and Obama last night. Did they give you any any advice?



RUTO: They are good people. And they have ... they're pretty wise gentlemen. I had a wonderful time with President Obama. And I discussed many things, including him visiting Kenya and working with us, with Nairobi University on establishing a leadership school there in the university where Barack Obama senior, was a graduate and I was too, a graduate of the same university. I had a big conversation with President Clinton on what the Clinton Foundation is doing in Kenya and in Africa, to encourage him to do more. And I think they are wonderful people who mean well, and they are ready to partner with us as we go into the change.

WANG: Thank you so much, President Ruto, for your time.

Kenyan President William Ruto discusses US visit, supporting Haiti originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Killer 'Bishop' Kept Women Chained in Basement for Months: 'Is This Guy Going to Bury Me Here?'

Josefina Rivera survived the torture of Gary Heidnik, and is featured on 'People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer'

AP Photo Gary Heidnik

Josefina Rivera had no idea she was getting in the car of a dangerous, violent man. But it was right before Thanksgiving and she was in desperate need of money.

Rivera was a sex worker in 1986 when she was picked up and then taken captive for several months by Gary Heidnik, a self-styled "bishop" of a church he ran out of his living room in Philadelphia. Heidnik would go on to kidnap several other women and sexually assault them, killing two of his victims.

Riveras ultimate escape, which led to the rescue of three other women, is the focus of the upcoming episode of People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer. The episode, titled "Surviving the Bishop's Basement," airs Sunday, May 26 at 9/8 c on ID.

The congregation at Heidnik church had a small handful of people, many of whom had some form of mental disability. But underneath his church lay a dark secret.

Rivera normally did not go to the homes of clients, but made an exception for Heidnik, who drove a fancy car and introduced himself as Gary.

AP Photo Gary Heidnik

The first sign that something was off was when the pair arrived at his home and Rivera saw the key had a double lock  meaning you needed a key to get in or out.

After they had sex in Heidniks upstairs bedroom, he began choking Rivera and placed her in handcuffs.

In an exclusive clip from the episode, Rivera recounts that her life flashed before her eyes when Heidnik began choking her.

I kept yelling and screaming, Rivera says. And he was like, If you stop struggling, Im not going to keep choking you.

Once Rivera was in handcuffs, Heidnik forced her down into the basement.

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The basement has a mattress, along with this dirt hole in the floor, Rivera recalls. I said to myself, Is this guy going to bury me here?

Heidnik would end up keeping Rivera, and eventually multiple other women, chained in the basement, sometimes forcing them to stay in the hole, with wooden boards covering it up, blocking any light.

The basement would become Riveras entire world for the next several months. There, she was sexually assaulted and tortured by the bishop  until her courageous escape.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer airs Sunday, May 26 at 9/8c on ID and streaming on Max.



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Read the original article on People.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Turnpike Authority said it was alerted on Friday of a text-message-based scam known as smishing targeting Kansas residents.

The KTA said the texts request personal financial information to settle outstanding toll amounts. KTA does not send text messages for toll payment.

The texts purport to be from Kansas Toll Services, requesting payment for unpaid tolls with an urgent request to respond to avoid a late fee. The targeted phone numbers seem to be chosen at random and are not uniquely associated with a toll account or use of toll roads.

Customers who receive an unsolicited text, suggesting it is from the KTA or another toll agency, should not click the link. Rather they are encouraged to file a complaint with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov .

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.
Kuleba calls for more Patriots, support for striking military targets in Russia after 'barbaric' attack on Kharkiv

After a Russian attack killed at least four and injured at least 38, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Ukraine's partners to "provide Ukraine with additional air defense and support for Ukrainian strikes on military targets in Russia" in a post on X on May 25.

The missile strike earlier in the day hit a building materials hypermarket. In a post on Telegram, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said two Russian guided bombs had hit the hypermarket, causing a fire covering 15,000 square meters.

Mere hours later, a second strike on Kharkiv's city center injured at least 14 more.

Additional air defense, and the ability to shoot down Russia's military aircraft before they drop bombs is the only way to prevent such "barbaric war crimes against civilians," Kuleba wrote in his post.

U.S. officials have repeatedly said that they do not support or encourage Kyiv's strikes with American weapons deep inside Russia, while Ukrainian officials are reportedly trying to convince Washington to lift this ban.

According to the New York Times, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken began to support lifting the ban on striking targets in Russia after his visit to Kyiv earlier in May.

Zelensky also called for additional air defense systems from world leaders after the deadly strike.

Kyiv has ramped up its calls on allies to provide Ukraine with more air defenses, in particular, with U.S.-made Patriot systems that can intercept ballistic missiles.

Earlier in the week, Kuleba wrote on X, "We are very grateful to Germany for announcing one additional (Patriot) system. But getting six more as soon as possible remains critical not only for Ukraines survival but for peace in Europe."

Read also: At least 4 killed, 38 injured in Russian strike on Kharkiv hypermarket

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According to Ukraine's General Staff, over half a million Russian soldiers were either killed or wounded in Ukraine during the 27-month-long full-scale war.

The staggering number is in line with the estimates of the U.K. and France, which said earlier in May that the overall Russian losses are set to be around 500,000.

"We estimate Russian military losses at 500,000, including 150,000 deaths," French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on May 3.

Russia's aggression with little regard for the lives of its own soldiers is likely to continue, but behind the figure lies a potential demographic and economic time bomb that Russian President Vladimir Putin may not be able to ignore so easily.

What are the latest figures?

According to Ukrainian figures, as of May 25, Russia has lost 500,080 troops. The figures from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces do not specify killed or wounded.

The overall consensus is that it includes dead, wounded, missing and captured.

In February, Zelensky said that 180,000 Russian troops had been killed since the start of the all-out war. The president said that over 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed during the same time.

Western officials gave similar estimates about Russian battlefield losses.

Speaking to Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe, Sejourne said: "Russia's military failure is already apparent."

Leo Docherty, British minister of state for the Armed Forces, said in late April the U.K estimates Russian losses to be over 450,000.

We estimate that approximately 450,000 Russian military personnel have been killed or wounded, and tens of thousands more have already deserted since the start of the conflict," Docherty said in parliament.

The list of the most significant single-day Russian losses since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.Eight out of 10 Russia's largest losses, recorded by Ukraine's General Staff, were in May 2024. (Lisa Kukharska/The Kyiv Independent)

"The number of personnel killed serving in Russian private military companies (PMCs) is not clear," he added.

A U.S. estimate reported on Dec. 12 put the total at 315,000. On the same day, the Ukrainian figure was 340,650.

How accurate are the figures?

Ukraine has published daily estimates of the number of killed and wounded Russian soldiers since the early days of the launch of the full-scale invasion.

Initially there was some skepticism about how accurate the numbers were, reflected in the fact Western nations were at first reluctant to publish their own numbers.

"At the start of the war when I was in Moscow we didn't speculate on numbers because there was a lot of propaganda flying around," John Foreman CBE, the U.K.'s former defense attache in Moscow from 2019 to 2022, told the Kyiv Independent.

"But it seems to me that over the last year and a half or so the British, American and Ukrainian estimates have all come together."

Over the course of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine's Western allies did begin to publicly release their own estimates of Russian losses and they are broadly in line with those coming out of Kyiv.

Rosgvardia servicemembers stand guard at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, where Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was buried in August 2023. (Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images)

An ongoing open source investigation by Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, put the number of confirmed dead Russian soldiers at 52,789.

The authors note that the actual figures are likely significantly higher, as their verified information comes from public sources such as obituaries, posts by relatives, regional media reports, and statements from local authorities.

Russia has not disclosed the losses of its Armed Forces in Ukraine since September 2022, meaning the official Kremlin death toll still stands at just 5,937. Even then, the number was brushed off as a severe under-report.

Just how big are 500,000 losses?

"Half a million killed and wounded is a huge figure," says Foreman.

If confirmed, France's 150,000 figure of Russian troops killed is around 10 times higher than that suffered by the Soviet army during the decade-long war it fought in Afghanistan from 1979 until 1989.

For comparison, the U.S. military lost around 102,000 soldiers killed in all the wars it fought since the end of World War II, including 58,220 during the Vietnam War.

The U.K. suffered 750,000 military casualties during the six years of the Second World War.

And Russia's losses show no signs of slowing  in fact, they've reached record levels in recent weeks.

Read also: New Defense Minister Belousov to put Russias economy on war footing

Moscow lost the most number of soldiers in a single day since the start of the full-scale invasion  1,740  on May 12, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

According to an analysis on the Ukrainian figures by analyst Ragnar Gudmundsson, eight of the top ten bloodiest days for Moscow's forces since the launch of the full-scale invasion all occurred this month.

"The army that went into Ukraine has been totally hollowed out," says Foreman. "So it's had the effect of changing a professional army into a semi-professional, conscript army and you've seen decreasing quality as the number of deaths has gone up."

Does the Kremlin care?

Earlier this month, Putin appointed a new defense minister, with Andrei Belousov replacing the long-standing Sergei Shoigu.

In a speech laying out his priorities for his new role, economist Belousov said his "key task, of course, remains achieving victory."

"At the same time - I want to specifically emphasize this - with minimal human losses," he added.

According to the Financial Times, Russia may be forced to launch a new mobilization wave by the end of 2024.

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Foreman also suspects there is a far more callous calculation behind Belousov's statement.

"I don't think he's a particularly altruistic guy, he's not doing it for the lives of the soldiers," he says, adding: "I think what he's indicating there is that the cost to the Russian government of all these killed and wounded is colossal."

In December 2023, Putin signed a decree promising to pay 5 million rubles ($55,450) to the families of soldiers killed in Ukraine, and 3 million rubles ($33,270) to those wounded.

And at the start of the full-scale invasion, Putin said the families of those killed would be paid a "statutory insurance coverage and a lump sum payment of 7,421,000 rubles ($82,298)," as well as "a monthly compensation will be paid to every family member of the dead."

While the exact amount paid out is not known, Bloomberg estimated in a piece about soldier compensation payments last year that "outlays for people in the military, including volunteers and those who were mobilized, may total around 1.1 trillion rubles ($12 billion) per year."

Read also: As Russian casualties surge, Kremlins new defense minister says he wants minimal losses

And then there are the social costs  rates of PTSD and alcohol and drug addiction among Russian soldiers returning home have surged, as well as murder and violent crime incidents involving veterans.

"It's a balance sheet calculation," Foreman says in reference to Belousov's comments.

"Obviously now there are things like casualty compensation payments to families of dead and injured, the murder rate increase and increase in PTSD, alcoholism, domestic violence, which are all linked to lots of people coming back wounded or traumatized from the front."

Added to this are the inevitable labor shortages caused by men either fleeing the country to avoid serving in the army, or being killed or wounded when they do.

"It all adds up to another demographic time bomb which I think is going to blow its way through Russia in the next 10-20 years," says Foreman.

Will it affect the war in Ukraine?

Despite the horrific death toll, Russia appears to be still attracting recruits eager to sign up.

According to the country's defense ministry, more than 100,000 men signed contracts to serve during the first three months of the year.

Politically, Putin is fresh from another dubious election victory and shows no signs of abandoning his aims in Ukraine.

But the longer term picture for Russia is far from rosy, Foreman says.

Read also: Ethnic tensions on the rise in Russia, as government attempts to divert attention from war

"Putin's mortgaging his entire country's future for his war in Ukraine," he says. "I think long-term calculations about Russia's long-term health and viability have been completely sacrificed.

"It doesn't matter bizarrely how much he's gone through, maybe half of all the military's materiel or 500,000 people, or all the long-term macroeconomic problems that have been sown, you've got the situation now where he has to win this. Russian leaders who lose wars end up faring badly, so he's all in," Foreman says.

"Now if Ukraine can hang on after all the dithering and delay in Washington, deal with mobilization, sort out its training, and continue to bleed the Russian army, then I think there's a chance to bring the problem home to Russians."



Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

A Republican state lawmaker who opposed several major labor-backed bills last session has won the support of Washingtons largest federation of unions in her bid to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, R-Republic, received the endorsement of the Washington State Labor Council, a federation of 600 local unions representing 550,000 workers, on May 18. So too did Democrat Carmela Conroy, a former Spokane County deputy prosecutor and United States Foreign Service diplomat.

Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber (Maycumber campaign)

The decision reflects the labor councils commitment to building independent political power that isnt tied to a party, said Osta Davis, the organizations political and strategic campaigns director.

We do consider how candidates fit their district. We want to encourage both Democrats and Republicans to push a pro-worker agenda, she said. Maycumber and Conroy each grew up in a union family and demonstrated an understanding of issues that matter most to union members, Davis said.

Maycumber and Conroy are two of 11 candidates vying to represent the 5th Congressional District in eastern Washington. The top two finishers in the Aug. 6 primary will face off in November with the winner securing a two-year term representing the district that encompasses the 10 counties of Spokane, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Whitman, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin, along with parts of Adams and Franklin counties.

Endorsements can often lead to an influx of contributions and volunteers but there were no promises of either to the candidates, Davis said.

Willing to listen

Conroys selection isnt a huge surprise given the labor organizations propensity for backing Democratic candidates for state and federal offices this election cycle.

Carmela Conroy addresses the Washington State Labor Council delegates on May 18, 2024. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

She says on her campaign website she is a dues-paying member of the union representing U.S. Foreign Service personnel. Her father and grandfather were union members too.

Maycumber, a former law enforcement officer, is a somewhat surprising but not totally unexpected choice. Her labor ties trace back to a great-grandmother who was a Teamster, she said. Her father and grandfather belonged to unions and her husband is part of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

In Olympia, she authored legislation promoting development of regional apprenticeship programs for high school students. Shes also led House efforts to pass bills lowering the cost of insulin and prescription drugs.

These policies benefit all the people of Washington state and received support from both sides of the aisle, she said.

For labor, her voting record in Olympia didnt shine in 2024. She earned a 20% on the labor council scorecard including votes against bills to provide unemployment benefits to striking workers and to hasten Puget Sound Energys transition away from natural gas.

But her promotion of apprenticeships, respect for collective bargaining and willingness to meet with rank-and-file union members earned her support of labor leaders.

Im willing to listen to everyone. We may not always agree, however, I will never turn away the support of the hard-working people who protect and build this nation, Maycumber said.

Another factor may have been one of her opponents: Michael Baumgartner.

Baumgartner, the Spokane County treasurer, is a former state senator. In his eight-year Legislature tenure, he introduced bills to make Washington a right-to-work state, meaning employees can work at a job without joining a union or paying fees for representation.

In a stint as chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, he bottled up numerous labor-backed measures.

Id say that in building our independent political power that isnt tied to party, the Washington State Labor Council acknowledges the contrasts between candidates within parties, Davis said.

On Wednesday, Baumgartner said he was not surprised at all at the council action supporting Maycumber. It signals, he said, that there are a number of issues on which shed be much more aligned with big labor and progressives.

He contended it wont carry much weight in the Republican-leaning district. I think it will very likely work against her, Baumgartner said.

Maycumber said her conservative voting record speaks for itself.

Its how you listen to people. Building a relationship with the person you dont agree with is the kind of person you want in D.C., she said.

The post Labor power backs a Republican for eastern Washington congressional seat appeared first on Washington State Standard.
chart

Voters heading to the polls in July will have immigration at the front of their minds.

Some 40pc currently say it is among the biggest issues facing the country, just behind the economy (44pc) and health (49pc), YouGov polling shows.

It marks a stark change from the last election when only one in five cited it as a major concern.

It is therefore no surprise that both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are talking tough on the issue.

Immigration is finally coming down and we are stopping the boats with our Rwanda partnership, the Prime Minister said last week.

The Labour leader, meanwhile, has made securing Britains borders one of his key pledges, promising to set up a new border command that would crackdown on illegal migration.

The backdrop to this posturing is the latest bruising set of net migration numbers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures showed a record 764,000 net arrivals in 2022  an upward revision of 18,000.

The numbers fell only marginally to 685,000 in 2023, still more than three times the pre-Covid average.

It means migration has added two million people to the population during this parliament, think tank Centre for Policy Studies was quick to point out, equivalent to growth of 3pc.

Sunak is far from the first politician to have presided over soaring migration figures while promising big falls. Lord Cameron pledged to control and reduce immigration as prime minister, only for the figures to rise by 82,000 to 336,000 a year later.

Net migration also leapt under the Labour governments of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Successive governments have failed to get a grip  and Britains economy has become hooked on migrant labour along the way.

It has been a godsend that we have had foreign staff coming over, says Paul De Savary, the managing director of Home From Home Care, which runs 11 specialist care homes in Lincolnshire for adults with highly complex needs.

Asked if he could run his business without any immigrants, De Savary says: No, we couldnt now. [Immigration] has become a chunk of the sector.

Earlier this week Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride promised a new economic model based on British talent.

He could also have promised to draw on the talents of all to create British jobs for British workers or to give British people the skills to do the jobs Britain needs.

The former was promised by Gordon Brown in 2007, the latter by Lord Cameron in May 2015.

Despite repeated promises, the share of foreign-born workers in the UK labour force has risen threefold from 7pc in 1997 to 21pc in the first three months of the year.

Story continues

The immigration figure has become a politically toxic number but, says Ashley Webb from Capital Economics, increases in foreign nationals coming to the UK often benefit the government of the day.

Without the influx of workers from countries like Nigeria, India and Zimbabwe, companies would have struggled to fill jobs. That, in turn, would curtail growth.

Migration has been quite crucial to supporting labour supply, Webb says.

The rise in immigration has been quietly helpful in getting the economy returning to strong growth in the first three months of the year, Webb says. Rishi Sunak has celebrated this expansion and has made it central to his election campaign.

The wrinkle is that, on a per person basis, growth was still 0.7pc below where it was a year earlier.

While immigration may deliver some economic benefits, it is no longer enough.

Labour wants to cut net migration down to the normal level of a couple of hundred thousand a year. Meanwhile, the Government has been taking steps to curb arrivals  such as cracking down on student and spouse visas as well as raising the minimum salary threshold.

The impact is already being felt in sectors such as the care industry.

Some 315,000 work visas for the health and care sectors were granted in the year to March, up 5pc on the year before and more than double the figure before the pandemic in 2019.

The increase was overwhelmingly driven by care workers, according to the Home Office.

Yet the tide is turning, with tighter rules prompting a 76pc decrease in the first four months of the year compared with the same time in 2023.

De Savary says stricter rules and the politics of immigration around the election fill him with dread.

We have an election coming up. As a result of that they will end up recruiting more for the NHS. It will probably be care assistants and people like that. All that is going to happen is that they will rob the social care sector [of staff] again.

Hiring foreigners is neither cheap nor problem-free, De Savary says. The fees are high and it takes some cultural mediation to ensure staff from different backgrounds get along.

But they are resilient, he says. Many of his younger British staff continually get signed off sick and complain of anxiety and depression, he says wearily.

There is far less resilience. Younger people coming through there is an expectation that you are going to be helped with everything. Its all going to be handed on a plate to you, he says.

We have staff who go to the doctor, and the doctor just signs them off, willy-nilly. Its a massive issue. Its getting pretty ridiculous. That wouldnt have been the case, three, four or five years ago.

Its become incredibly easy to get your doctor to do whatever you want him to do, which then impacts our ability to staff very complex services.

Stride has suggested that people like De Savary should be hiring British workers on benefits rather than foreigners.

De Savary thinks Stride is almost naive to think this could solve his staffing issues completely.

Its almost saying that anybody can do this job, which is not the case. Theres generally a total lack of understanding about what it actually takes to work in the sector.

Mel Stride has been called 'almost naive' to think Britain can swap out foreign workers for British workers on benefits - Christopher Pledger for The Telegraph

Weaning Britain off immigrant workers will come at a price, bosses warn.

Rose Carey, a partner at high-end law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, says changes to the salary threshold for most skilled workers, which rose from around 26,000 to 38,700 in April, may have forced some companies she works with to move operations to Poland.

One of her clients is an international manufacturing company with factories in the North of England, the US and Poland. It pays 14 an hour. Staff need to be trained on full pay for a year to be left alone with the machinery.

Theyre really struggling to recruit [for UK jobs], Carey says. They dont get that many applications from local workers and the ones that do apply dont stay.

They are looking at whether they need to start making more things in the Polish factory instead.

Many of the current staff are Poles and Romanians with engineering backgrounds, but that pool is dwindling after Brexit.

Current salaries are 2 an hour below the new work visa salary threshold. However, bringing pay into line with the new threshold would be a significant cost as the company would also need to increase salaries for British staff to avoid employment law issues.

Another client  a smokery with several UK sites  risks moving operations to Poland if salary thresholds dont come down. If both these clients relocate, around 1,000 jobs  including many held by British workers  would be lost.

Work visas often become a focus of debates around immigration because of the perception that foreign workers are taking jobs that would otherwise be available to Britons.

However, Madeleine Sumption at the Migration Observatory in Oxford says: What we know from the research, the most likely outcome is that there will just be fewer of those jobs.

Sumption adds: Whilst some of the biggest policy issues on migration are about visa policy, legal migration towards students and workers and so forth, we dont see massive differences between Labour and the Conservatives on those issues.

Both parties want to call time on the era of seemingly unfettered immigration.

But after decades of large numbers of new arrivals, and with an economy hooked on immigration, dealing with the economic fallout from such a crackdown may prove a difficult pill to swallow for both Starmer and Sunak.

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Landmark Inns plan to add a pool has locals worried theyll turn the Hamptons into the next Jersey Shore

East Hampton Village residents are trying to sink a proposal by the landmark Huntting Inn to add a pool to its grounds, claiming it will destroy the historic character of the neighborhood.

This pool is causing waves in the Hamptons.

East Hampton Village residents are trying to sink a proposal by the landmark Huntting Inn to add a pool to its grounds, claiming it will destroy the historic character of the neighborhood.

Approximately 50 neighbors and concerned citizens have written to oppose the pool and hot tub, next-door neighbor Brent Feigenbaum, 64, told The Post. I believe this to be the largest public opposition in the villages history.

The Huntting Inn is one of the most beautiful and historic landmarks in the oceanfront village of East Hampton, New York. instagram/easthampton_histsoc

Approximately 50 neighbors and concerned citizens have written to oppose the pool and hot tub, next-door neighbor Brent Feigenbaum, 64, told The Post. I believe this to be the largest public opposition in the villages history. instagram/easthampton_histsoc

Wet blankets sniff that they dont want the precedent-setting puddle to turn Main Street into the Jersey Shore. The inn is home to The Palm restaurant.

Its just not in keeping with East Hampton Village, insisted Feigenbaum, who fears more commercial pools will open up and down Main Street.

Another concern: Whos going to monitor it? Whos going to monitor the noise level and the people going in at night and the people who are staying there?

Huntting Inn reps returned to the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals last week in their bid to keep the plan afloat.

The latest application calls for the 10-by-20 pool and 10-by-10 hot tub to be located behind the inns timber-frame guest house.

A rendering of the proposed Huntting Inn pool. twomey and latham

Its an amenity for the hotel guests. Its not going to be open to the public, so its not going to be a swim club, said Martha Reichert, an attorney repping Landrys Inc., a national hospitality group that owns the inn. twomey and latham

Whos going to monitor it? Whos going to monitor the noise level and the people going in at night and the people who are staying there, someone asked.

The inn is nestled in the heart of East Hamptons Main Street, which, according to National Geographic, is one of the most beautiful Main Streets in America< its website touts. instagram/easthampton_histsoc

Its an amenity for the hotel guests. Its not going to be open to the public, so its not going to be a swim club, said Martha Reichert, an attorney repping Landrys Inc., a national hospitality group that owns the inn. She noted there are plans in place for an automatic pool cover, set pool hours and no pool lights.

Youre not going to have diners from The Palm ordering a steak and then taking a dip in the pool, Reichert said.

Feigenbaum contended, Its a small town and its a charming, quaint historic inn and its been around for several hundred years and theyve never had a pool and a hot tub.

The story was first reported in the East Hampton Star.
mphillips007 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Social Security is an important part of many Americans retirement plans, replacing about 40% of their pre-retirement annual income. As of April 2024, the average monthly payout was approximately $1,915 for retired workers.

Check Out: Social Security 2024: 6 Changes That Impact Your Benefits

Read Next: Become a Real Estate Investor for Just $1K Using This Bezos-Backed Startup

Because Social Security has a relatively meager payout, its important for recipients to budget carefully. If youre worried about having enough money to live on in retirement, take a look at these key signs that youre mishandling your Social Security benefits.

IrinasCreativePhoto / iStock.com

You Claim Your Benefits Too Early

Stephen Kates, CFP, principal financial analyst for Annuity.org, said that the most common way people mishandle their Social Security benefits is by claiming them too early and reducing their total lifetime benefits.

Social Security benefits can be claimed as early as 62 years old, but by doing so the total monthly benefit will be roughly 30% less than if it was claimed at full retirement age, he explained. There is a reduction of about 8% for each year Social Security benefits are claimed early. For instance, someone born in 1960 has a full retirement age of 67. If they claim benefits at 65, their benefits will be reduced by about 16%.

See More: Im a Financial Planner: 5 Ways Not To Spend Down Your Savings in Retirement

Find Out: The Best $5,000 You Can Spend Every Year in Retirement

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

aldomurillo / Getty Images

You Dont Monitor Your Medicare Premiums

For those over the age of 65 and enrolled in both Medicare and Social Security, the premiums for the healthcare program are automatically deducted from the Social Security benefit, said Kates.

This can cause trouble for anyone who is not aware or monitoring their Medicare premiums. While Social Security benefits rise annually tied to the Consumer Price Index, Medicare premiums move independently and are impacted by overall income. If someones income or premiums rises and Social Security does not rise by a commensurate amount, it will appear that Social Security benefits are falling.

For You: 9 Moves for Retirement Planning To Make Now If Youre Worried About the Economy

hamzaturkkol / Getty Images/iStockphoto

You Fail To Plan For Taxes

Kates said that Social Security benefits above certain income thresholds are taxable as income. For example, he explained that 85% of someones Social Security benefits are taxable if your income is above $25,000 (single filer) or $32,000 (joint filer).

Not accounting for this in your tax planning can set retirees up to fail, he said.

Story continues

andresr / iStock.com

You Dont Realize That Your Benefits Will Be Reduced

If you claim your Social Security benefits before full retirement age, and are still earning income, you should expect your Social Security benefits to be reduced, advised Kates.

In 2024, the income limit is $22,320. If you are under full retirement age for a full year, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit. In the year you will hit your full retirement age, the reduction is $1 for every $3 you earn over the limit.

RgStudio / iStock/Getty Images

You Spend Beyond Your Means

The last thing you want to do on a fixed income is max out your budget, because you have fewer resources to pay down debts. A regular Social Security check shouldnt be encouraging you to put money on a credit card where youll be carrying a balance. Instead, determine how much you can safely draw from your investments, and then add that number to your Social Security benefits. The goal is to refrain from going over the combined amount. So you avoid irresponsibly using your benefits on things you dont need, plan how youll spend your Social Security check ahead of time.

Pay Attention: Im a Baby Boomer Who Had To Un-Retire: 3 Money Lessons I Wish Id Known

nd3000 / Getty Images

Youre Living in an Oversized Home

Consider downsizing if you still live in the home where you raised your children years after the kids have left the nest. Even if youve already paid off the mortgage, larger homes come with higher ongoing expenses, such as maintenance, utilities, landscaping and insurance. Plus, perks such as being in a good school district probably dont add much value to your life anymore. Instead, consider right-sizing to a home that better fits your needs and your budget. Moving to a condo near where the grandkids live might make you happier and save you money, too.

monkeybusinessimages / iStock.com

Youre Spending Excessive Amounts on Car Insurance

You might be paying far too much car insurance coverage  especially if you dont drive very much, which can be a waste of your Social Security benefits. Reduced driving habits may qualify you for lower premiums. Also, review your coverage levels and the types of insurance you have with your insurer to make sure you still need them depending on your situation. For example, if your vehicle is paid off, isnt worth that much and you dont drive very much, you may be able to drop collision coverage.

Dean Mitchell / Getty Images

You Settle for Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance

If youre looking for life insurance to cover final expenses such as funeral costs, you might be enticed by guaranteed acceptance policies, because you dont have to submit any records or go through medical exams to qualify. Although this type of plan can save you a little time, youll likely pay a higher price than if you chose a policy that required some level of underwriting. Thats especially true if you are healthy.

Instead of accepting the first offer you get, take the extra time to go through the underwriting process and find out how much you can save. If you qualify for a lower rate based on your health, you can save on life insurance costs and keep more of those Social Security dollars in your pocket.

Michael Keenan contributed to the reporting for this article.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Key Signs Youre Mishandling Your Social Security Benefits
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Border Servant Corps, a faith-based nonprofit that operates out of Las Cruces, says it has secured emergency funding to continue operating what it calls the two largest 24/7 migrant shelters in El Paso and Las Cruces.

The organization had announced earlier this week that it was facing the possibility of having to close the two shelters on May 31 because of a funding gap issue.

Nonprofit organization aimed to help migrants may close soon due to lack of funding

BSC announced Friday, May 24 that the Emergency Food and Shelter Programs National Board approved a 30-day extension on grant funding that will allow the shelters to remain operating through Sunday, June 30.

The temporary extension is a vital step in maintaining the essential services provided to

migrants and asylum seekers, including shelter, food, medical care, and legal assistance. The

continued operation of these shelters is crucial to addressing the immediate humanitarian needs

in El Paso and southern New Mexico, BSC said in their news release.

The extension will allow all four of their sites  including the two largest 24/7 migrant shelters in the Las Cruces and El Paso area  to continue providing necessary services without interruption for the next few weeks, ensuring the safety and well-being of migrants released from the

Department of Homeland Security, the organization said.

BSC added that it is actively collaborating with federal, state, and local authorities to secure long-term funding and sustainable solutions for the ongoing support of these shelters. The El Paso Community Foundation will continue their capital campaign to support these operations and ensure our community is prepared for increases in migrant releases, sporadic reimbursement cycles, and potential government shutdowns. Together, our goal is to ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of migrants and asylum seekers with dignity and compassion.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, donors, and community members for their

unwavering support during this critical time. Their contributions have been  and continue to be

 instrumental in advocating for this extension and in supporting our mission to provide

humanitarian aid to those in need in our rapidly-changing border environment, the organization continued in its statement.



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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A child sexual predator who was wanted in the U.S. and fled to the Philippines is dead, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Alan Buitre, 61, was wanted for a supervised release violation. He was originally convicted for having child pornography.

The U.S. Marshals asked for the publics help to locate Buitre on a Manhunt Monday segment which aired on May 6. He was believed to be in Las Vegas or the Philippines.

Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Ray Venegas said a tip was received after the story aired stating Buitre died in the Philippines last year and it was later confirmed that he died from alcohol-related complications.

Buitre was found with more than 600 images showing child sexual abuse, according to court records. Some of the material was considered to be sadistic or masochistic and included material with a child under the age of 12, records show.



Buitre received a sentence of five years and was placed on lifetime supervision. Buitre admitted to watching adult pornography twice while on probation which is considered a violation.



Buitre stopped communicating with his probation officer in 2018, according to the U.S. Marshals.

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.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and the White House criticized Colorado U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a far-right Republican with a history of bigoted remarks, on Wednesday for taking credit for securing federal funding for a bridge in her district, despite voting against the bipartisan infrastructure bill that provided the funds.

Boebert posted a photograph on X (formerly Twitter ) of herself with Glenwood Springs City Councilor and former Mayor Jonathan Godes, claiming, Great meeting with Glenwood Springs City Councilor and former Mayor Jonathan Godes. We have secured over $51.4 million for the South Bridge. I was thrilled to hear about nearly $30 million in cost savings in addition and that my support has helped make this project a reality.



A community note on Boeberts post fact-checked her claim: Boebert hasnt secured 51.4 million dollars for this bridge. The money came from a Biden-Harris grant that is part of the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, which itself is a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which Boebert voted against.

Buttigieg responded by quoting Boeberts post, asking, 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.

The White House also highlighted Boeberts post, commenting, One thing about Congressional Republicans theyre going to take credit for investments they voted against.

 (@)

Boebert, who voted against the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal in November 2021, later fired back at Buttigieg, mocking him for being a gay father. Mayor Pete, maybe you were out chest-feeding and missed my letter, but I personally wrote you about this in June 2022, she wrote. Only 13 RINOs [Republicans in name only] in the House voted for your Green New Deal non-infrastructure bill you are touting that wastes hundreds of millions on climate change instead of roads and bridges. Boebert attached a letter to Buttigieg supporting the funding, but she had already voted against it.

 (@)

In December 2023, the Department of Transportation announced it would spend $645.3 million from the program on projects to improve the quality of rural bridges and roads.

Boeberts reference to chest-feeding was a blatant attempt to mock Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten , who are parents to adopted twins. The couple welcomed Joseph Gus August and Penelope Rose in August 2021 and spent many days in the intensive care unit with their children.

A person on X summarized the situation: Nothing says MAGA politician quite like resorting to bigotry when you are called out for your lies. Then, on top of that, you make a point of admitting you didnt vote for the funding that you are trying to take credit for while being angry about being called out for your lies.

Examples of this perplexity among Republicans include former Fox News anchor Chris Wallace questioning whether a cabinet secretary should take parental leave, to which Buttigieg responded by explaining the importance of parental leave for all parents. In another instance, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna criticized Buttigiegs paternity leave, leading Chasten Buttigieg to defend the right of all parents to take such leave and calling out Lunas remarks as homophobic.
In our Reality Check stories, Idaho Statesman journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? Tips@idahostatesman.com.

A dispute over the sale of state property in Boise has inflamed an ongoing feud between Gov. Brad Little and Attorney General Raul Labrador over Labradors role as the states top lawyer.

After Labradors office responded to a lawsuit filed by a set of developers against the state, tensions between the two offices this month prompted the governor to substitute an outside private attorney for the attorney generals lawyers.

Three developers who arranged to purchase the 44-acre Idaho Transportation Department campus on State Street in Boise and turn it into a large mixed-use development sued the state in April after the Idaho Legislature took the matter into its own hands and nixed the deal. The developers lawsuit called the Legislatures actions unconstitutional and asked the Idaho Supreme Court to quickly intervene to reverse it. The lawsuit was also filed against the Board of Examiners, which examines claims against the state, the Department of Administration and ITD.

The Idaho Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for August, after the new laws to revoke the deal are scheduled to go into effect on July 1.

As the attorney general, Labrador generally represents the states legal interests in court. Hes also one of three voting members of the Board of Examiners, along with Little and Secretary of State Phil McGrane. In an initial May 15 filing on behalf of the state, Labradors attorneys had argued that the Idaho Supreme Court could not force the state to sell property it no longer wants to sell, and that the court does not have jurisdiction to rule on the constitutional question.

The court should not force the state to sell property it no longer wants to sell and is not obligated to sell, wrote Alan Hurst, solicitor general for the attorney generals office in a filing.

But two days after Labradors filing, Little designated Joan Callahan, an attorney with Boise firm Naylor & Hales, to represent ITD and the Department of Administration in the lawsuit after consulting with Labrador, according to a letter from Little. Callahan on Wednesday notified the court that she would be representing the two agencies going forward.

Callahans argument, submitted on Wednesday, differed markedly from the attorney generals: She argued that the recent budget bills conflict with general state property law, which have put the two agencies in a difficult position. Trying to revoke the campus sale in a budget bill was a hallmark of a violation of the state constitutions requirement that bills have a single subject, she wrote.

She noted that because the ITD campus was previously declared surplus property, it was transferred to the Department of Administration to dispose of. Since the budget bills that revoke the sale are only active for one fiscal year, it is unclear what would happen to the property once the next fiscal year ends next summer.

Unless the court rules on the new laws constitutionality, the agencies will be left to contend with uncertain, incongruous and revolving legal mandates.

Little disputes Labradors legal arguments

According to Littles office, the attorney generals initial responses were not vetted by the rest of the Board of Examiners.

The governor has learned that a brief and answer were filed on behalf of the Board of Examiners in the lawsuit before the Idaho Supreme Court, spokesperson Madison Hardy said in an email. The filings were neither presented to nor approved by the board prior to filing.

McGrane did not become aware of the suit until after the filing had been made and hopes the board is removed from the lawsuit, a spokesperson for McGrane, Chelsea Carattini, told the Statesman in an email. Carattini declined to clarify the timeline further.

The Board of Examiners, which were briefed on the legal matter Tuesday, and had another executive session about the lawsuit Friday but took no public action.

The attorney generals office has disputed Littles characterization of the legal affair and said that Labradors and Littles staff had discussed the legal arguments Labradors office planned to present before they were filed.

Dan Estes, Labradors spokesperson, told the Statesman that the attorney general was given two weeks to respond to the lawsuit, which the governors office was aware of. The Board of Examiners, which Little chairs, did not have its regular monthly meeting scheduled during that timeframe.

He was informed of our legal strategy at least one week before the brief was due, Estes said. As the chair of the Board of Examiners, the governor had ample opportunity to call a special meeting but failed to do so. Similarly, he could have vetoed the legislation that triggered the lawsuit. Its curious that his office is trying to blame the Office of the Attorney General for the governors failure to act promptly on his desired policy outcomes.

Idaho Legislature cancels ITD HQ sale

State leaders had planned for two years to relocate ITDs headquarters to a state complex on Chinden Boulevard, and the Department of Administration  part of the executive branch  accepted bids for the property last year. Boise-based Hawkins Cos. and The Pacific Cos. and Utah-based FJ Management submitted the highest bid of $52 million and were announced as the winners in September.

But before a final contract could be signed this spring, lawmakers worked to reverse course and inserted language that revoked the sale into budget bills for ITD and the Department of Administration. Supporters of the effort to cancel the deal  including House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, who intervened in the lawsuit  said it would cost Idaho more to proceed with the sale and relocate the state agencys headquarters building, which also includes offices of the Idaho State Historical Society.

Opponents countered that millions have already been spent preparing for the move, said the proposed budget bills violated the Idaho Constitution by putting policy directives into appropriations, and feared reneging on a pre-arranged deal would hurt the states reputation. Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, R-Boise, called the effort to undo the sale so far out of line.

This is a hill I want to die on if I have to, Winder said during debate at the Capitol.

The deal became an inflection point of this years legislative session. In the waning days of the session, the Senate rejected one of the budget bills that would have revoked the sale and sent it back to the budget committee. But a few senators relented days later and passed a new, nearly identical version in a close vote. Winder, a 16-year veteran of the Senate, lost his primary re-election bid Tuesday in a major upset.

Little did not sign the two budget bills but did not veto them either, allowing them to become law. In a letter to lawmakers, he wrote the reversal would cost more money and unfairly cancels an agreed upon sales process, causing future reputational risk for the state.

Not a yes man, Labrador promised

The attorney general is required by law to represent the state, including state agencies and officials, in most legal matters. His office can also provide legal counsel to the Legislature if requested.

But the attorney general is himself an elected official who sits on several state boards  a structure that raises questions about conflicts of interest. In some instances, state law tasks the attorney general with representing state agencies while at the same time enforcing the laws those agencies must follow.

That structure has also raised concerns for lawmakers, who this year enacted a law to remove the attorney generals office from its role representing the Idaho Department of Lands. The department is connected to the state Land Board, of which the attorney general is a member.

Senate Majority Leader Mark Harris, R-Soda Springs, who sponsored the bill, feels the current law gives the office of the AG a foot on both sides of the fence, Harris said. I think there should be some degree of separation. He provided an example of a disagreement under the previous attorney general, Lawrence Wasden, when a lawyer employed under Wasden to represent the Department of Lands thought a law about mineral leases, passed by the Legislature, was unconstitutional.

In 2019, Wasden also investigated the Public Charter School Commission, a commission his office represented, for an open meeting law violation.

A provision of Idaho law grants the governor authority to request to have different representation or even an outside attorney when he believes the attorney generals provided lawyer is ineffective.

Since he became attorney general last year, Labrador has clashed in instances with state agencies he is tasked with representing. Labrador initiated investigations of child care grant programs at the Department of Health and Welfare, which resulted in litigation. The attorney general also sued the State Board of Education, another client, over concerns he had about its closed-door discussions to approve the University of Idahos purchase of the University of Phoenix.

Labrador campaigned against Wasden by promising to not be a yes man for Little.

The attorney general has maintained that the Legislature has given him conflicting duties, as both a representative of state agencies and an enforcer of state laws. His challenge against the State Board of Education was over the states open meetings law. If he as attorney general cant enforce the open meetings law, who else is going to do it? he told a Senate committee in February.

Little and Labrador butted heads last year, too, when documents showed the attorney generals office had decided to join one Texas lawsuit challenging federal water authority and not another West Virginia one without first informing the governor, according to reporting in the Associated Press. The Texas lawsuit scored an early court victory weeks after Labrador joined it, which was later cited in a similar injunction in the West Virginia case.

Reporter Nick Rosenberger contributed.
Update: 25 injured in second Kharkiv attack, hours after deadly strike

Editor's Note: The article was updated at 7:39 a.m. local time after officials released further information on the number of killed and wounded in both strikes.

Mere hours after Russia's deadly May 25 strike on a hypermarket in Kharkiv, another strike on the city's center injured 25 people, including a 14-year-old boy, according to the regional prosecutor's office.

The strike hit an a dense residential area, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a Telegram post.

Among the injured was a teenage boy who was hospitalized, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on Telegram.

Information about the number of wounded and extent of the damage was still being determined, Terekhov said.

The first strike on May 25 hit a building materials hypermarket in the city. In a post on Telegram, Syniehubov said two Russian guided bombs had hit the hypermarket, killing two and causing a fire covering 15,000 square meters. The number was later updated to 12 killed and 43 wounded.

Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast with a reported 30,000 troops.

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.

Read also: At least 2 killed, 33 injured in Russian strike on Kharkiv hypermarket

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
At least 27 people killed in a fire at an amusement park in western India, police say

Firefighters douse a fire which broke out in a fun park, in Rajkot in the Indian state of Gujarat, Saturday, May 25, 2024. A massive fire broke out on Saturday in a fun park in western India, killing more than ten people and injuring some others, news reports said. (AP Photo/Chirag Chotaliya)

NEW DELHI (AP)  A major fire broke out Saturday at an amusement park in Gujarat state in western India, killing at least 27 people, including several children, police and media reports said.

The fire erupted at the park in the city of Rajkot in Gujarat state. Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said that the blaze was under control and a rescue operation was underway.

Police officer Vinayak Patel said that it was difficult to identify the bodies.

Police said they have detained the owner and the manager of the amusement park for questioning as they launched an investigation in the cause.

So far we have confirmed the death of 27 persons in the fire incident," the Press Trust of India news agency quoted Patel as saying, adding that the dead included four children under the age of 12.

The park is usually packed with families with children enjoying the school summer vacation over the weekend.

Footage showed firefighters clearing debris around collapsed tin roof structures that media reports said were used for bowling, go-carting, and trampoline attractions.

The amusement park was privately owned by Yuvraj Singh Solanki and Bhargava said that police would file a case of negligence against him.

"We will be registering an offense for negligence and the deaths which have occurred. Further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operation," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X that he was extremely distressed by the fire ... in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured."

Fires are common in India, where builders and residents often flout building laws and safety codes.
Editor's Note: The article was updated at 7:49 a.m. local time after officials released further information on the number of killed and wounded.

Twelve people have been killed and 43 injured in a May 25 Russian strike on a building materials hypermarket in Kharkiv, the regional prosecutor's office reported.

Ten of the bodies remain unidentified, the prosecutor's office said the morning of May 26.

In a post on Telegram, Governor Oleh Syniehubov Syniehubov said two Russian guided bombs had hit the building, killing two and causing a fire covering 15,000 square meters.

"Russia deliberately hit a civilian object in the middle of the weekend," Ukraine's Internal Affairs Minister, Ihor Klymenko said.

According to a post on social media from President Volodymyr Zelensky, more than 200 people may have been inside the hypermarket at the time of the attack.

Russia has launched another brutal attack on our Kharkiv  on a construction hypermarket, on Saturday, right in the middle of the day.



As of now, it is believed that more than 200 people were in the hypermarket. All the emergency services are already on the site and providing pic.twitter.com/9ItlGHkkEY  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) May 25, 2024

Mere hours after the attack on the hypermarket, Russian forces launched a second strike on Kharkiv's city center, injuring at least 25 people.

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.

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.

Read also: Zelensky: Ukrainian forces take back control near state border in Kharkiv Oblast

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A massive fire broke out at an amusement park in western India Saturday, leaving at least 27 people dead, including four children, police said.

The fire occurred at the park in the city of Rajkot in Gujarat state.

Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said the fire was now under control and rescue work was underway. The bodies were difficult to identify because they were so badly charred, police officer Vinayak Patel said.

Bhargava, the police commissioner, said that police were working to determine the cause of the fire.

"We will be registering an offense for negligence and the deaths which have occurred. Further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operation," he said.

The amusement park was privately owned by Yuvraj Singh Solanki.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X that he was extremely distressed by the fire... in Rajkot. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the injured.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Six of the fake electors indicted in Arizona are turning to fundraising appeals to help finance their legal defense.

Michael and Kelli Ward are the only Arizonans seeking financial support so far. The other four indicted individuals are continuing campaigns they apparently started due to their involvement in other cases related to the 2020 presidential election. All of them have accounts on GiveSendGo, a Christian crowdfunding site that also collects prayers for the beneficiaries.

The Wards' attorney, Brad Miller, launched the couple's fundraising campaign in the wake of indictments sought by Attorney General Kris Mayes. As of Friday, the effort had raised $5,647 from 92 donors toward a goal of $100,000.

They also received 21 prayers.

Miller portrayed the Wards' presentation of themselves as Arizona's lawful presidential electors as a free speech matter.

"AG Mayes is trying to punish, bankrupt, and silence Kelli and Michael for speaking out in favor of election integrity," Miller wrote. "And Mayes wants to quash all future peaceable protests against the democrat party by criminalizing this type of speech."

The top donor through Friday was Hildy Angius, a member of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors and a Republican candidate for a state Senate seat from Legislative District 30 in the northwest part of the state.

Other fundraising appeals on the site are from Rudy Giuliani, an attorney, associate of former President Donald Trump and former New York City mayor; attorney Jenna Ellis, who worked with Giuliani on Trump legal matters; attorney John Eastman; and Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign official and a co-defendant in the Georgia case involving fake electors.

Rudy Giuliani at a public meeting at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phoenix on Nov. 30, 2020.

Giuliani's site was started by Jackson Lahmeyer, an Oklahoma pastor who ran an unsuccessful campaign for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in 2022.

Giuliani "has been persecuted to the highest level through law fare due to his support of President Donald Trump," Lahmeyer wrote. As of May 25, the campaign had raised $42,000 toward a goal of $100,000. He also has received 198 prayers.

Proceeds will be funneled to the Rudy Giuliani Freedom Fund, another account set up to defray the former mayor's legal bills.

Other defendants and their legal defense totals as of late May:

Eastman started his own account on GiveSendGo with a goal of $1.5 million. He had raised $865,000 as of May 24.

Ellis' account was started by attorney Michael Melito, who represented her in a Colorado disciplinary case where Ellis admitted to several statements she made in 2020 that violated professional ethics rules. She had raised $220,150, although no fundraising goal was posted. Her biggest donor was conservative author Dinesh D'Souza and his wife, who gave $10,000.

Michael Roman, a Trump campaign staffer in 2016 and 2020. He joined the crowdfunding site to raise $300,000 toward his legal bills. As of May 24, he had reached $64,000 toward that goal. He is represented by the Dhillon Law Group, the same firm that is defending Arizona state Sen. Jake Hoffman in the fake elector case.

Story continues

Another of the indicted individuals is fundraising, but for a different cause. State Sen. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, dashed off an appeal for funds to fuel his congressional bid soon after the indictments were handed down.

If they lock Trump and me upYou all will be next, Kern's email states. He is in a six-way race for the GOP nomination to represent the 8th Congressional District in the West Valley.

Following advice or fraud? Elements of AZ fake electors case that will be crucial at trial

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Threads as well as on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @maryjpitzl.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona fake electors: 6 defendants use crowdfunding to pay legal bills
Washington House Speaker Laurie Jinkins has been the chief proponent of the claim that Washington legislators are entitled to a personal legislative privilege that allows them to conceal some records that would otherwise be public. But the Tacoma Democrat is avoiding testifying in court about how that so-called privilege would work.

Attorneys for the Legislature have argued that Jinkins should not be required to testify in a court case brought by the Washington Coalition for Open Government and government transparency advocate Jamie Nixon. The Legislatures attorneys argued in their filing on Tuesday that our attorneys questions for Jinkins are not relevant, and that deposing Jinkins would impose substantial and unnecessary burdens on a high-ranking state official.

We believe the claim that legislators are shielded from following the state Public Records Act under this privilege is bogus. Nowhere is it spelled out in state law. Jinkins and her attorneys have pointed to Article II, section 17 of the Washington Constitution that reads, No member of the legislature shall be liable in any civil action or criminal prosecution whatever, for words spoken in debate.

One neednt be a lawyer to understand that this provision applies to words spoken and in debate  on the floor of the House or Senate, or in a committee meeting, in other words. Theres nothing in there about government documents.

Even if there were, it wouldnt change the fact that the protection is from criminal or civil legal action, not disclosure of information to the public. The public has a right to know what is said. Voters are entitled to information presented in legislative debate so they can decide if the opinions of the lawmakers they sent to the statehouse represent them.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Egeler, who is presiding over the case, is now deciding how far this purported constitutional allowance should be allowed to range. We saw Jinkins testimony as central to that question and to whether such a privilege is in any way workable.

The people of Washington are clearly on one side. The Legislature is on the other. More than 80% of voters surveyed in late 2023 by the Crosscut/Elway poll opposed the use of this so-called legislative privilege.

When the Legislature tried to exempt itself from the Public Records Act in 2018, the people of Washington revolted. Some 20,000 residents contacted Gov. Jay Inslee urging him to veto the bill, which he did.

We thought that settled the matter. But later we started hearing about legislators quietly withholding some information based on legislative privilege  a concept new to our state.

Jinkins, who seems to have been the prime mover, has repeatedly said that she supports the privilege. And also that she has purposely refused to release an array of information in order to test how far this privilege stretches. Jinkins has spoken broadly and publicly about her support for legislative privilege, including in an email that went to every member of the Democratic House caucus.

We felt her testimony was therefore important and necessary.

Unfortunately, on Friday, Judge Egeler refused to grant two of our motions: 1) We asked the judge to review the materials that Jinkins already has withheld, to see how this privilege is being used by legislators to wall off information from constituents, 2) We requested a ruling on whether Jinkins has inappropriately withheld that information and to authorize our attorney to depose her.

We respectfully disagree with the judges decisions.

Authorizing our attempts to question the House speaker leading the charge on legislative privilege would be in keeping with the voter-approved Public Records Act, which states: The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.

Mike Fancher is the president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government and former editor of The Seattle Times.

Robert McClure is a member of the board of directors of the Washington Coalition for Open Government.

Colette Weeks is deputy director of the Washington Coalition for Open Government.

An early version of this op-ed was originally published in the Seattle Times.
Letters to the Editor: Trump supporters are everywhere, integrity isn't. Nikki Haley blew it

Nikki Haley, seen speaking during the Republican National Convention in 2020, has endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024. (Associated Press)

To the editor: I have a question for former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.

She recently made the decision to endorse a man whom she had cast as unfit for office. Why didn't she stay true to herself and see further down the road?

Haley earned her supporters' trust. I admire that, and even though I have my differences with her, integrity seems to be a rare commodity.

Why didn't she give herself the chance to bring back to the Republican Party the principles it has abandoned and maybe even try to run for president again in four years? Donald Trump may not win the White House, and like other Republicans, she may regret her support for him.

Dennis Grossman, Woodland Hills

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Levi Wright's Family Says They're 'Shattered' by New MRI Results but 'Not Giving Up'

The 3-year-old was in critical condition after driving his toy tractor into a Utah river

Kallie Wright Levi Wright with mom Kallie Wright

Kallie Wright, the mother of 3-year-old Levi Wright, has shared an update on the toddlers condition.

After the son of Kallie and rodeo star Spencer Wright, who was in critical condition after driving his toy tractor into a Utah river, woke up days after his accident, his family rejoiced  but they were shattered by his MRI results shortly after.

The MRI wasn't good, we're shattered but it is just images that suggest a certain quality of life, Kallie wrote in a Facebook post. Our real teller of all will be what Levi does over the course of a few days.

The mom of three urged her followers to continue to pray for the family, writing, I'm not giving up on my baby just yet.

I'm working on getting any and all neurologists or other educated professionals with expertise in this area who are willing to view his MRI, she then said. Then just seeing what my strong boys does in the next few days. You might not hear from me for a few days, we are going to focus on our Beans!

Kallies update about Levis MRIs followed a Facebook post shared just after midnight local time on May 24, in which she revealed that the toddler had woken up.

I am shook, we don't know much but the doctor said it was okay for me to get excited about that and I AM! My baby is so tough! she wrote at the time, adding, "He got a little wild so we had to settle him down again but my heart!"

John Pyle/Shutterstock Levi Wright's father, rodeo star Spencer Wright

Levi was left in critical condition on Tuesday, May 21, at approximately 6 p.m. local time, according to a news release from the Beaver County Sheriff's Office.

After authorities responded to the scene, Levi was quickly located and "life-saving measures were administered on scene," police said.

He was then transported to Beaver Valley Hospital, and later airlifted to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City.

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Wright family friend and spokesperson Mindy Sue Clark said in a recent statement that Levis heart was beating on its own, but there was concern as his sweet little brain was without oxygen [for] too long.

"We cuddled him all night and feel strongly that his spirit is no longer with us," she wrote, explaining that unless there were any changes, the family would likely have to "stop care and hold him close until his last breath on earth."

We can't be selfish and drag this out for days, he doesn't deserve that, the post said.

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Read the original article on People.
On Saturday, the Libertarian Partys convention in Washington will welcome a decidedly non-Libertarian speaker: Donald Trump, presumed Republican nominee for president.

His speech to the right-leaning third party will be a historic one, as no current or former president has ever been granted a speaking slot at the partys convention, nor has Donald Trump seemingly attended a Libertarian event or convention. Yet here we are.

The odd relationship being forged between Mr Trumps campaign and the Libertarians presents several opportunities for both the GOP politician and the ungovernable Libertarians  as well as potential pitfalls for the two groups.

Lets start with the obvious. The 2024 election, according to all available polling, is set to be close. Both candidates are making clear efforts to stem the losses they could suffer from disgruntled voters on the political margins. Joe Biden and the Democrats are working to ice out Robert F Kennedy Jr  who spoke at the convention on Friday  as well as convince younger Democrats furious with the slaughter in Gaza from staying home or giving away their votes to the Green Party. Mr Trump is doing the same tonight with the Libertarians and Mr Kennedy in one fell swoop.

Donald Trump arrives at his rally in the south Bronx

Then theres the value tonight presents for the Libertarians. Long suffering from a reputation of unseriousness, tonight is the partys chance to reshape that image while carving a new one: an audience to whom conservative candidates can (or should) be making overtures.

But the potential for problems is real for both involved as well. Mr Trump runs the risk of walking into an outright hostile audience. Several attendees who spoke to The Independent on Friday remarked that the former president may well face a silent audience or even boos during his remarks or face outbursts of protest, such as the Free Palestine demonstrators who interrupted Mr Kennedys speech.

Its going to be very interesting if he comes here, one convention-goer, Jan, said on Friday. Im anticipating maybe complete silence.

Buttons and stickers with federal-skeptic slogans are handed out at the 2024 Libertarian Party convention in Washington DC (John Bowden)

The Kennedy campaign is certainly encouraging such interruptions for Trumps speech. Staffers with the independent candidate handed out rubber chicken noisemakers to anyone who would take them on Friday. And on the conventions main floor a day before the president spoke, some of the partys true believers slammed the decision by party leaders to invite the former president.

We are a libertarian convention, one man angrily said into the mic at the events open forum. We do not need to give our time to non-libertarians!

Any of those interruptions would be a black eye for the Libertarians as well. The party runs the risk of doing more harm to its image than good if any of the shenanigans political reporters have come to expect from the partys delegates come to pass. The attendance of the man spotted a day earlier in a pantsless, Tarzan-esque getup with what appeared to be a bra hanging out of the seat, for example, could further the development of that image. Or the man who walked through the press area and a gathered crowd of supporters before the speech and began handing out Free Ross signs calling for the release of the founder of the Silk Road, which facilitated a large market for illegal drugs and other unlawful goods on the dark web.

This guy was spotted at the Libertarian convention on Friday; on Saturday, it was more of a suit-and-tie vibe (John Bowden)

Those signs turned into a roomwide chant before Mr Trump took the stage.

But there were reasons to believe, at least heading into the main event Saturday evening, that both parties may come away happy. For starters, the crowd was noticeably Trumpier on Saturday; tri-corner hats had been swapped out for red Maga hats. And the same attendee who remarked that the former president could face a silent welcome noted that the number of press in attendance had already clearly outpaced previous years.

We believe in free speech and you listen to them, said Frank Atwood, another attendee who ran a booth at the convention in support of implementing approval voting systems around the US.

I dont feel that they have a Libertarian message, he said of both Mr Trump and Mr Kennedy. But I do feel that if if theyre willing to come to us itll also be an opportunity for us to respond to them. And, and whether or not the audience is completely silent, shuffling feet, turning their backs on him  there is at least communication happening between Libertarians and other candidates.
Daniel Naumann sat in Ventura County Superior Court during his sentencing for felony grand theft Friday.

A longtime local grower and former water district board member was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation for one felony count of grand theft Friday in a case involving groundwater theft.

Daniel Conklin Naumann, 66, pleaded guilty to the charge in March as part of a plea agreement, according to Ventura County Superior Court records. Five other felony charges concerning grand theft and diversion of utility services for private gain were dismissed at the sentencing.

In a criminal complaint filed in August, Naumann, of Camarillo, was accused of diverting groundwater used to irrigate his crops away from meters that measured water use for billing purposes.

Naumann, who owns and operates Naumann Family Farms in Oxnard, pumped groundwater between 2019 and 2021 without paying $29,301 in required fees to the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Prior to Friday's sentencing, Naumann paid $30,000 in restitution for stealing the water for his own agricultural use.

At a brief hearing Friday morning, Judge David Hirsch informed the defendant that he may be permitted to avoid jail time and could be screened for an electronic monitoring option, however, eligibility will be determined by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

"If you don't get it (electronic monitoring), you're turning yourself in for a real jail sentence at that time," the judge said.

Neither Prosecutor Anthony Wold or Naumann's attorney Mark Pachowicz commented on the case during the hearing. Pachowicz declined to comment afterward.

Thefts in 2019 were discovered when Ventura County Sheriff's investigators searched Naumann's farm and found diversion measures had been taken on two well pumps, according to prosecutors. Other charges for grand theft and diversion were related to alleged incidents from 2020 through 2021.

Naumann had served for decades as an elected board member for the United Water Conservation District, which encompasses the Santa Clara River Valley and much of the Oxnard Plain. He has also served as an alternate on the Fox Canyon board.

Both United and Fox Canyon manage and preserve groundwater resources for agricultural uses in Ventura County as well as establishing water allocations and charging agricultural user fees to pump groundwater.

Naumann resigned from the United Water seat on March 2. His resignation letter noted he had served more than 32 years on the board. Naumann's family established farming operations on the Oxnard Plain in the 1890s, according to his former profile on United Water's website.

Breaking News Editor Gretchen Wenner and Staff writer Kathleen Wilson contributed to this report.

Dua Anjum is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at dua.anjum@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Oxnard grower Daniel Naumann sentenced for groundwater theft
Louisiana became the first state to criminalize abortion pills without a valid prescription Friday, when the states Republican governor signed a controversial bill declaring two abortion medications as controlled substances.

The legislation makes it illegal for mifepristone and misoprostol, two drugs used to induce a medicated abortion, to be obtained without a prescription.

Gov. Jeff Landry called signing the bill into law common sense in a Friday post on social media platform X.

Requiring an abortion inducing drug to be obtained with a prescription and criminalizing the use of an abortion drug on an unsuspecting mother is nothing short of common sense, Landry wrote. This bill protects women across Louisiana and I was proud to sign this bill into law today.

The unprecedented move makes Louisiana the first state to designate abortion drugs as controlled substances, adding them to Louisianas Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. The legislation, set to go into effect on Oct. 1, stipulates that the two abortion drugs can only be legally obtained in the state through physicians with a special license.

Those who posses the drugs without a prescription are now subject to up to five years in prison, however, some protections exist under the law for pregnant women who have the drugs in their possession for their own use, notes the The Associated Press.

Prescriptions were previously required for mifepristone and misoprostol in Louisiana, however possession of the drugs without prescriptions wasnt criminalized. The Louisiana House voted earlier this week to change that, with 64 yeas and 29 nays. The states upper chamber also voted to advance the legislation by a 29-7 vote Thursday.

Vice President Harris previously slammed the legislation, calling it absolutely unconscionable after it passed its first hurdle in the state.

The Louisiana House just passed a bill that would criminalize the possession of medication abortion, with penalties of up to several years of jail time, she wrote in a post on X. Lets be clear: Donald Trump did this.

Several states have enacted stricter laws regarding abortions since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, including Arizona, where officials enacted a near-total abortion ban that was repealed shortly after its passage.

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 lyceum in the Slobidskyi district of Kharkiv was partially destroyed by a Russian attack on the night of 24-25 May. [A lyceum is a specialised secondary school - ed.]

Source: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram

Details: Terekhov said that a nearby high-rise building and several cars had also been damaged.

There is no information about casualties so far.

Updated at 07:15: Terekhov stated that a workshop at an educational institution had been destroyed and 31 cars damaged as a result of the S-300 missile strike. In addition, the main building of the institution was partially destroyed and windows were shattered in several nearby high-rise buildings. A supermarket was also affected.

No information about casualties was reported.

Background:

On the night of 24-25 May, a series of explosions occurred in Kharkiv around midnight.

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(Bloomberg) -- French President Emmanuel Macron heads to Germany for a three-day state visit on Sunday that will test the ability of the European Unions core couple to set the blocs agenda just two weeks before potentially bruising elections.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Macrons difficult relationship with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been at the center of the EUs struggles to find unity on issues ranging from military aid to Ukraine, deepening capital markets, and trade with China. At home, both leaders face a surge in the far right.

The visit to Berlin, Dresden and Muenster is the first such trip by a French president since Jacques Chirac almost a quarter-century ago and coincides with the 75th anniversary of the German constitution and the birth of the Federal Republic.

Itd be a good signal to see some concrete cooperation coming out of the visit, said Eileen Keller, a senior researcher at the Deutsch-Franzosisches Institut in Ludwigsburg. Im not expecting much progress before the EU elections but consultations are happening behind the scenes  and the challenges are massive.

The state visit, officially hosted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was postponed last summer due to riots in France following the police shooting of a 17-year-old boy. This time, Macron will arrive in Berlin with his wife Brigitte after a trip to New Caledonia aimed at quelling unrest over proposed constitutional reform in the French territory  an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.

Here are some of the main issues to watch:

Rise of the Far Right

Macron will give a speech on Monday about the future of Europe in front of the iconic Frauenkirche in Dresden, a church that was destroyed by Allied bombs toward the end of World War Two and has since been rebuilt.

Read More: Why Eyes Are on the Far Right in European Elections: QuickTake

During celebrations to mark the anniversary of the German constitution, which was designed to prevent the return of Nazism, Macron will address the threat posed by a strong far-right presence in the European Parliament.

The far-right National Rally party of his nemesis, Marine Le Pen, is on course to trounce his group in the June vote, according to polls. The Alternative for Germany had also moved ahead of Scholzs Social Democrats, though the latest monthly poll by Allensbach for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Friday showed it has lost ground after a series of controversies. The AfD is still expected to make gains in elections in the eastern states of Brandenburg, Thuringia and Saxony this year.

European Defense

France and Germany have long been at odds over European defense, amid suspicions that Macrons repeated call for strategic autonomy is a bid to boost French companies and might alienate the US, which provides a nuclear security umbrella for Europe.

Macron is under pressure to deliver on aid to Ukraine since leaving the door open to sending ground troops earlier this year. That idea was quickly and publicly dismissed by Scholz. Macron made a dig at Germanys initial response to Russias invasion by citing proposals to send sleeping bags and helmets. The remark did not sit well with Berlin, which is the second-biggest supplier of aid to Kyiv after the US, according to the Kiel Institute.

Paris has so far refrained from supporting the German-led European Sky Shield, an anti-missile program that includes air defense systems from non-European countries. But the two leaders may be ready to move past their disagreements after Macron hinted at a European anti-missile shield last month. They will also discuss joint fighter jet and main battle tank projects.

EU Competitiveness

Scholzs coalition partners, particularly his Free Democrat finance minister, have resisted Macrons push for a significantly larger common EU budget funded by joint borrowing underwritten by Berlin. In 2020, Macron struck a deal with Angela Merkel on joint debt to fund Covid-related expenses. He will have a chance to reminisce about this achievement at Sunday evenings state banquet, to which the former chancellor is invited.

While Scholz has shown openness to discussing Macrons current push for capital markets integration, it remains uncertain if the two leaders will find common ground. The neighbors have also clashed over the role of nuclear power, which dominates Frances energy mix, in the climate transition. And France has long been critical of Germanys over-reliance on Russian fossil fuels.

The French and German governments will hold a joint cabinet meeting on Tuesday at Schloss Meseberg, north of Berlin. Ahead of this, their economy ministers have signed a declaration calling for the EU to strengthen its industry, competitiveness and growth in the push for climate neutrality.

Top EU Jobs

EU leaders will hash out who gets the top jobs in the blocs institutions for the next five years at a summit after the elections, and the views of Macron and Scholz will be key.

The French leader was instrumental in making Ursula von der Leyen the surprise head of the European Commission, the EUs executive arm, last time around following a deal with Merkel. While the incumbent is the front-runner for another term, Macron has explored alternative candidates such as former European Central Bank head Mario Draghi.

The jobs also include the heads of the European Council, the parliament and the foreign policy service, and final appointments are expected in September. These roles are crucial for adopting key EU legislation, such as the Green Deal.

--With assistance from Arne Delfs.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Its not easy opening a business, especially if youre a woman. According to a report, women entrepreneurs in Austin face a lot of different challenges.

Last July, Mayor Kirk Watson formed the Mayors Task Force for Austin Women Entrepreneurs.

Report: Women entrepreneurs want more resources, support in Austin

The goal was to figure out how to make Austin a great place for women to launch and build businesses.

Access to capital

The group released its report that detailed the obstacles women face and a list of twelve possible solutions. According to their findings, women entrepreneurs said they dont have access to a lot of mentors and a broad professional network.

However, the biggest obstacle was funding. Of those surveyed, 62% said access to capital was the biggest challenge they faced.

The task force recommended things like creating an angel investor group to invest exclusively in women-owned businesses. It also suggested creating an initiative to help women entrepreneurs find affordable childcare.

I want to thank Carla McDonald for being a great chair, and I also thank the rest of the Task Force for their work over the past several months. The work of the Mayors Task Force for Austin Women Entrepreneurs provides an important roadmap for how we can make sure Austin is the best place for women to start and grow a business. Ive already started working with the Citys Economic Development Department looking for the things we can move on immediately and how we can improve our outreach and public resources including creating a Small Business Administration Womens Business Center here in Austin and challenging the investor community to increase their investments in women entrepreneurs. The work is just beginning, and I look forward to sharing more news soon. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson

Its been hard

Inside Los Chilakillers, you can hear the savory sound of sizzling on the grill. For four years, Mina Ibanez has cooked up the authentic Mexican dish, Chilaquiles, in her north Austin restaurant.

Its a traditional breakfast plate, but you can eat it all day, Ibanez said.

Mina Ibanez said she is working to franchise her restaurant, Los Chilakillers. (Photo: KXAN)

Mina Ibanez said she is working to franchise her restaurant, Los Chilakillers. (Photo: KXAN)

Mina Ibanez said she is working to franchise her restaurant, Los Chilakillers. (Photo: KXAN)

Mina Ibanez said she is working to franchise her restaurant, Los Chilakillers. (Photo: KXAN)

But getting here didnt come without its challenges for her.

Its been hard, especially being a woman in a man dominated industry. If you want to get any funds to expand your business, which is my case, its been really hard trying to find help. Mina Ibanez, Owner of Los Chilakillers

Ibanez said it was tough for her to get funding as she works to franchise her business.

It was really difficult for me to get a loan through a bank, Ibanez said. So I had to hire somebody. I had to pay somebody to help me to get a loan.

Story continues

The possibility of women getting more support encourages Ibanez. She hopes it inspires others to chase their dreams.

I was 50 when I opened this restaurant, and everybody around me told me that I was getting older, Ibanez said. I feel empowered. I have a lot of energy. Dont ever, ever give up your dreams.

Ibanez said her goal is to give her first franchise business to a woman.

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.
A man is behind bars accused of two bank robberies in Orange County.

After days of investigation, the Apopka Police Department arrested 45-year-old Taylor Cale Mizelle, who appeared before an Orange County judge for the first time on Saturday.

Police say they were able to identify the suspect after his alleged robbery on May 20th.

The crime happened at the Fifth Third Bank on South Orange Blossom Trail.

Read: Apopka police search for suspect in armed bank robbery

After interviews with the suspect, detectives say the man confessed to another robbery, also at a Fifth Third Bank, on Rock Springs Road.

That crime happened on May 8th, around 12:40 p.m. Police say the suspect went behind the teller counter, took money and then he walked out.

Surveillance cameras captured this image of the suspect, used as part of the investigation.

Read: Apopka police search for bank robbery suspect

Channel 9 reached out to Fifth Third Bank for comment on the arrest, but did not hear back.

The man was charged with two counts of grand theft and two counts of armed robbery.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
A man has been charged with terror offences after travelling to Syria.

Isa Giga, 31, previously of Hounslow, west London, was arrested by counter-terror police on Thursday after arriving into the capital Damascus on a flight from Turkey.

Giga was later charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, engaged in conduct in preparation for giving effect to his intention, namely travelling to Syria to fight for the Jaysh al-Fath groups, the Metropolitan Police said.

He will appear at Westminster magistrates court on Saturday.

Dominic Murphy, the head of the Mets Counter Terrorism Command, said: We have been clear for some time now that should anyone return to the UK whom we suspect of being involved in any terrorist-related activity overseas, then they can expect to be thoroughly investigated.

We work very closely with other partners and agencies here in the UK and overseas in order to do this and help keep the public safe.

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Man convicted of murder in death of Washington state police officer shot by deputy

A Washington state man was found guilty of murder Friday for his role in the 2022 death of a police officer who was mistakenly shot by a sheriffs deputy.

A Clark County jury convicted Julio Segura of Yakima on counts of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and eluding police, all in connection with the death of Vancouver police officer Donald Sahota, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

He was acquitted of other charges including attempted murder.

Sahota was off duty and at home in the city of Battle Ground on Jan. 29, 2022, the day he was fatally shot.

Earlier that day, Segura robbed a gas station near Vancouver, authorities said, and deputies chased his car toward Battle Ground.

The car crashed and Segura took off running, according to prosecutors. Deputies operating a drone saw him walking along a street and then turning toward the Sahota home at the end of a private road.

Drone video shows someone at the home opened the door and talked to Segura for several minutes before the door closed again, court records said. Sahotas wife called 911 to report that a man said he crashed his car and needed help.

Sahota, 52, then stepped outside to detain Segura in the driveway, according to court documents, and Segura stabbed him three times during a struggle. Segura ran into the house as Clark County deputies arrived.

Deputy Jonathan Feller saw Sahota pick up a gun and run toward the house, according to the documents. Feller opened fire roughly four seconds after arriving and mistakenly hit Sahota.

Coroners said Sahota died from gunshot wounds to the torso.

Prosecutors argued that Segura caused Sahotas death by committing or attempting to commit other crimes, saying he engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death to any person.

Seguras defense did not dispute that he stole a car from a Yakima dealership and held up the gas station with a replica handgun. They said Segura was cornered by Sahota and Feller recklessly opened fire on the unfolding scene.

Segura testified that he acted in self-defense when he stabbed Sahota.

It was a difficult case, defense attorney Michele Michalek said Friday. And I think Clark County needs to take a hard look on how they deal with officer-involved shootings.

Another defense lawyer, Ed Dunkerly, said law enforcement needs more training. Asked whether Segura will appeal, he said the defense has a strong argument.

Prosecutor Tony Golik did not respond to requests from Oregon Public Broadcasting for comment. Golik said last year that Feller would not face criminal charges because he acted in good faith at a chaotic scene during a response to an armed robbery suspect.

The decision came after a panel of prosecutors reviewed the shooting and was unable to reach consensus on the reasonableness of Fellers use of force.

Vancouver Police Chief Jeff Mori said Friday in a statement that it has been a long wait for Sahotas family and friends.

While we are grateful for this verdict, the pain and tragedy of Dons death remains, Mori said.

Sentencing is June 27.
Authorities in Anaheim are looking into what led to the shooting death of a man outside a liquor store.

According to a media release from the Anaheim Police Department, the man  identified by police as 38-year-old Anaheim resident Jesse Barragan  was discovered unresponsive outside a liquor store in the 900 block of South Anaheim Boulevard around 7 p.m. Friday.

Barragan had been shot at least once, Anaheim police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Santa Monica pottery studio responds after video surfaces of employees dumping glaze in storm drain

Detectives believe the shooting was gang related. No description of a suspect or suspects was immediately released, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information on Barragan or the circumstances surrounding his death is asked to contact the Anaheim Police Department by calling 714-321-3669.

Tips can also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-855-847-6227.

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.
A man ordered to hide his boat painted his new fence with the offending boat. The act of rebellion is changing his city.

A man ordered to hide his boat painted his new fence with the offending boat. The act of rebellion is changing his city.

Etienne Constable was ordered to hide his boat from the street or face a $100 fine.

Constable asked his neighbor to paint the boat on his city-mandated fence that blocks it from view.

The neighbor, artist Hanif Panni, said he's been inundated with requests to paint similar murals.

A fence in California is catching eyes not for its extravagance or scale, but for its playful defiance against a city ordinance.

In July 2023, Senior Applications Manager Etienne Constable received a notice from the city of Seaside, a 30,000-person enclave on the Pacific Coast about 116 miles south of San Francisco. It requested that he build a barrier to shield his boat, parked in his driveway, from street view  and he faced a $100 fine if he didn't comply, with the possibility of it escalating to a maximum of $500.



In a cheekily clever move, he sought the help of his neighbor, artist Hanif Panni, to devise an ingenious workaround: building a fence, yes, but adorning it with a strikingly lifelike mural of his boat.

"He came to me and said, 'Wouldn't it be funny if we did something like this?'" Panni told Business Insider. "He's not a prankster, but he does have some pretty interesting ideas for fighting bureaucracy in a positive way."

Hanif and his son working on the mural. Hanif Panni / @hanifwondir

Constable, who told Business Insider that he has lived in his home for 29 years, has parked his boat trailer in his driveway without contest for the majority of that time.

The regulation within Seaside's Title 17 Zoning Ordinance Code mandates that boats and trailers be enclosed by a six-foot-high fence along their sides and fronts, but Constable said it wasn't enforced with any regularity.

"Before last July, I was never aware of it," he said.

However, everything took a turn in early 2023 when Seaside stepped up its code enforcement efforts in response to many long-standing complaints. The city started issuing letters to residents, including Constable, as reported by The Washington Post.

"I was certainly surprised and immediately a little bit angry since I've had a different boat trailer parked there almost the whole time I have lived in this neighborhood," he said. "I knew I couldn't fight city hall because I'm not famous or rich, but I thought I could start with my intellect."

Panni said what he was paid to paint the mural was considerably "less than what the city would have charged Constable if he hadn't built the fence."

Constable and Panni's innovative solution was greeted with uproarious laughter and attention on social media. As a result, Panni has been inundated with requests from other Seaside residents who are eager to have their own fences similarly  and defiantly  transformed.

"It's been pretty hilarious," Panni said. "I have a couple inquiries, and I'm meeting with people that have similar letters from the city. It's really refreshing that this public art statement is inspiring so much conversation."

Seaside's city leaders are, surprisingly, quite pleased with Constable's rebellious fence.

In May, Police Chief Nick Borges, who currently serves as the acting city manager, visited Constable's home to discuss the fence's mural.

During their meeting, Borges not only extended his congratulations to Constable but also expressed his admiration with a heartfelt high-five. According to Constable, Borges also mentioned that he was in favor of the city getting rid of some ordinances, including Title 17.

"We're not taking any action," local news outlet KSBW reported Borges said. "The only action I'm going to take is a high five, and that's it."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Man with reduced cognitive abilities missing from SLC, police say

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Salt Lake City Police Department is asking for help finding a 24-year-old man with reduced cognitive abilities.

Philip Martin, 24, may be traveling to West Valley, Magna, or Midvale, police said.

Courtesy Salt Lake City Police Department

Anyone who sees him is encouraged to call 911.

There is no further information available at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a homicide in a Fayette County community.

A state police spokesperson says Troopers were informed about a shooting at a residence on Second Street in Redstone Township around 11:12 a.m. Friday.

Through their investigation, police say they learned two men, identified as Edmund Parson and James Tucker, were in the living room of the home Friday morning. Police say while the men were sitting inside the room, Parson pulled out a pistol from a storage box and shot Tucker twice.

The men were taken to a nearby hospital, where Tucker was pronounced deceased. Parson was treated and released for incarceration.

Police say Parson is facing a criminal homicide charge and several other unspecified criminal offenses.

The shooting remains under investigation.

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Boy dead, another hurt after being hit by vehicle while biking home from local candy store Influencer Jasmine Yong says 2-year-old son drowned in pool while she, husband were napping Pennsylvania man comes home after being detained in Turks and Caicos over ammunition law VIDEO: Boating safety tips ahead of Memorial Day weekend DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man was shot and killed in Southeast D.C. in the early hours of Saturday.

Police said that at about 12:45 a.m., they were dispatched to the 1300 block of Congress Street Southeast for sounds of gunshots.

Crews continue search for man who went missing while swimming in Potomac River

When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man in the roadway who had been shot. He died there.

They identified him as 19-year-old Naheem Worley of Upper Marlboro, Md.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or text 50411. A reward of up to $25,000 is offered to anyone who has information leading to the arrest and indictment of those involved.

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.
MANHATTAN (KSNT)  The City of Manhattan is making plans to replace its former mayor, after he drove through a liquor store and was later arrested for a DUI.

Manhattan city commissioners will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 28 to consider nominations to fill the vacant seat of former Manhattan Mayor Winfried Wynn Butler, according to a city newsletter. At the commission meeting on May 21, the commissioners decided they each would appoint at least one person to fill the seat, per City Code, Section 2-16.

To be eligible to fill the vacancy, an individual must meet requirements outlined in the city code and serve the remainder of Butlers unexpired term. According to the newsletter, Butlers term is set to expire on Jan. 6, 2026. The nominations will be considered at an upcoming commission meeting, and a new commissioner will immediately take office once appointed and sworn in.

United Kansas named states 5th political party

This comes after Butler was arrested earlier this month for a DUI after he drive into a liquor store. On Tuesday, May 21, Manhattan municipal courts told 27 News Butler pled not guilty to the DUI charge.

On May 9, Butler resigned from his position as city commissioner, and his other roles from the numerous boards he was appointed to as commissioner, including the Riley County Law Board.

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.

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.
Passive income  making money without active involvement  is a great way to generate steady income streams and make easy money. Of course, these may require some initial time or monetary investments, but once you start with them, you generally can sit back and relax.



Learn More: How To Earn $750 a Week in Passive Income

For You: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Dont Realize They Should Do This One Thing

Real estate mogul and financial expert Barbara Corcoran has a few ideas about which ones are the best.

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Real Estate Investing

Corcoran established herself as a real estate mogul, founding her company The Corcoran Group in New York City in a true rags to riches story.

In her 20s, Corcoran borrowed $1,000 and quit her job as a waitress to start a small real estate company in New York City, which became the largest and best-known brand in the brokerage business, per her website. Her focus on property investments made her successful.

Growing Through Leverage

According to Mint, for Corcoran, one tool is key: the importance of using leverage. In other words, this involves borrowing money to purchase additional properties and using rental income to cover the mortgage. In turn, the profits can be reinvested.

For instance, in an episode of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast, Corcoran explained two additional golden real estate investing rules  putting down 20% on an investment property and having tenants of that property pay for the mortgage.

That has always been my golden rule, she said. Buy a property with 20% down. [That] has always been my formula because they used to do with 10%, but its not possible anymore. I repeated that formula again and again and again and then made sure the tenant had paid my mortgage. Its pretty easy that way.

This is also a method used by the bestselling author of Rich Dad Poor Dad Robert Kiyosaki, who said he uses debt to create more wealth. In other words, leveraging money to make more money.

For instance, using loans to acquire real estate, investments that appreciate over time.

House Hacking

For Corcoran, another real estate strategy to derive passive income is the so-called house hacking, according to Mint.

House hacking is when you live in one of the multiple units of your property and rent out the others, which allows you to generate rental income that can offset your mortgage payments. Its a strategy thats on the rise.

Emerging Areas

Another strategy Corcoran favors is to focus on properties in developing neighborhoods with growth potential. This method can allow you to capitalize on increasing property values over time, according to Mint. In turn, you can reinvest your profits in additional properties.

Story continues

This is also something she mentioned on the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast, saying that her wacky formula for buying real estate which enabled her to do well, was to repeat the same little dance step again and again. Indeed, she always bought in up-and-coming areas. For instance, she said she was in Brooklyn long before anybody was buying Brooklyn from Manhattan.

Diversify Investments Beyond Real Estate

Finally, as Mint noted, Corcoran has diversified beyond real estate ventures, by emphasizing the value of taking calculated risks, even if they may seem unconventional to others.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Barbara Corcorans 5 Best Passive Income Ideas
LANCASTER  Dr. Lewatis McNeal has announced the appointment of Martha Kline as the interim dean of campus and community relations at Ohio University Lancaster.

Kline will take over from McNeal who has served as the interim dean for OHIO Lancaster since April 2023. McNeal will now continue his permanent position as Vice Provost for Regional Higher Education and Partnerships at Ohio University in Athens.

Martha Kline

I'm excited that Dr. Kline has agreed to serve as Interim for Dean of Campus and Community Relations for the Lancaster campus, said McNeal in a news release. Her dedication to our students and deep familiarity with both the campus and the Lancaster community will be invaluable during this leadership transition.

Kline has been a part of OHIO Lancaster since 1996, holding various positions such as coordinator for the University Division and Faculty Chair, and is currently an associate professor of chemistry. She received the Phi Theta Kappa Professor of the Year award 2005, as well as an Apple Teaching Award from the Center for Teaching Excellence at Ohio University. She will begin her one-year term as interim dean on July 1.

I am honored and excited to serve as Interim Dean of Campus and Community Relations for Lancaster. Over the years, I have participated in a variety of activities at the local, regional, and university-wide level. I have had the privilege to work with colleagues whose creativity, dedication, and talent have been inspiring, said Kline. Ohio University Lancaster is a special place, and I am eager to embrace leadership responsibilities and work with our local partners to foster a thriving campus community.

Before joining OHIO, Kline was an adjunct instructor of chemistry at Santa Fe Community College, a Research Associate at the Center for Drug Discovery in Gainesville, Florida, and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Kline holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Ohio University..

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Martha Kline appointed Interim Dean of OHIO Lancaster
Mass. still looking for lifeguards heading into Memorial Day Weekend

The Department of Conservation and Recreation alongside state legislators outlined precautions and protocols for beach and water safety  as 81 designated state swimming areas and inland and coastal beaches opened Friday.

A press conference was held at South Bostons Carson Beach where hundreds flocked Friday night ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

Ropes, buoys, and multilingual signs now designate swim areas for the public.

This year, weve expanded our work to recruit and hire bilingual lifeguards especially in environmental justice areas said Brian Arrigo, commissioner of the DCR.

State officials added that they are still looking for lifeguards to reach a count of 800. They are offering $22-27 an hour, including more than $1,000 bonuses.

Lifeguards will begin working at state beaches and waterfronts beginning Saturday. On June 15th, theyll be stationed seven days a week.

They tell Boston 25 they expect more lifeguards to apply as they head closer to June.

According to the state, these are some Water Safety tips to adhere to when swimming include:

 Only swim at or within designated swimming areas. Swimming outside of the designated swimming areas, or at waterfronts where swimming is prohibited can be dangerous;

 Use the buddy system and always tell someone where you are going;

 Keep a close eye on children near the water. Parents and other guardians serve as the first and primary line of safety for their children;

 Teach children to always ask permission before going near the water;

 Avoid consuming alcohol or drugs;

 Drink lots of water;

 Dont dive headfirst into the water;

 Do not swim during a storm or when there is lightning;

 Make sure you know how to swim. If you cant swim, keep to shallow areas or use a U.S. Coast Guard-guard-approved life jacket;

 Dont swim beyond your skillset;

 If caught in a rip current, dont swim against it. Swim parallel to the shoreline to escape it and then at an angle toward the beach;

 When in a boat, wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket; and

 If a person in your group goes missing, check the water and notify lifeguards and park staff immediately.

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Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has recommended another three individuals for pardons, putting her on track to push for more individual pardons in her first year and a half as governor than her two immediate predecessors recommended in their eight years in office.

It also follows approval earlier this year of Healeys blanket pardon to those convicted of misdemeanor marijuana charges going back decades  an estimated tens of thousands of individuals, or more.

Healey said the goal of the additional pardons, combined with the sweeping cannabis pardon policy, is to help make the states justice system fair and equitable.

I look forward to continuing our efforts to use the power of clemency as a tool to right the wrongs of the past and make our state stronger and safer, the Democrat said in a written statement Thursday.

Among those Healey hopes to pardon is Danis Reyes, convicted of distribution of a Class A controlled substance in 1995. Reyes has three children and three grandchildren, is an active community member and works as a local carpenter, according to Healeys office.

Another, William Veal, was convicted of receiving stolen property in 1981 when he was 21 years old. He was also convicted of assault in 1983 and conspiracy to commit larceny in 1991. Veal lives in Brockton, has 10 children and 13 grandchildren, and works as an autobody painter.

Healey has also recommended a pardon for Kenny Jean, convicted of armed robbery in 2016 when he was 18. According to Healey, Jean said that at the time, he was homeless and in desperate need of money. He has since worked to turn his life around.

Healey recommended Jean for a conditional pardon last year, which was approved. Shes now recommending him for an unconditional pardon.

In Massachusetts, the governor has the authority to grant clemency for offenses violating state law  including both pardons and commutations  with the consent of the eight-member, elected Massachusetts Governors Council.

The council has already approved 13 of Healeys earlier pardon recommendations.

If the newest recommendations are approved, the number of individual pardons issued under Healey since she took office as governor in January last year would increase to 16.

Healeys predecessor, former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, recommended 15 pardons during his eight years in office. His predecessor, former Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick issued just four.

Republican Mitt Romney, who served one term, didnt pardon anyone before he left as governor in 2007. Romney served one four-year term.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday rejected a recommendation to cut a proposal for what would be the states largest wind farm in half, giving new life to the $1.7 billion project.

Plans for the Horse Heaven wind farm originally included up to 222 wind turbines across 24 miles (38.6 kilometers) of hillsides in the Tri-Cities area of eastern Washington, plus three solar arrays covering up to 8.5 square miles (22 square kilometers).

But last month, Washingtons seven-person Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, a clearinghouse for permits required by large projects, recommended slashing the proposal in half because nests of the endangered ferruginous hawk were found in the area, The Seattle Times reported.

Inslee on Thursday rejected the councils recommendation and told the group to reconsider in hopes of expanding the project closer to its full potential. A Democrat who is not seeking reelection after three terms in office, Inslee has sought to make climate initiatives key to his legacy.

Since the wind farm project was proposed in 2021, it has pitted local opponents against the states ever-growing need for renewable energy. In a letter to the site evaluation council, Inslee noted that Washingtons energy demands could nearly double by 2050.

As for those in the area who dont want to look at the turbines, he said thats not enough of a reason to reject the project outright.

It is clear that the turbines will be visible only from a distance and none of the turbines will loom over anyones home, he wrote.

Inslee asked the council to try and offer the Yakama Nation better access to the lands  which hold cultural and historical significance  but to still restore most of the planned wind farm. Tribal communities along the West Coast have expressed frustration with what they say is a lack of consultation on such proposals that affect culturally significant waters and land.

The council has deliberated over the Horse Heaven wind farm for over three years. Now it has just three months to consider the governors notes and revise its original recommendation, the governor noted.
RED RIVER, N.M. (KRQE)  Police are on high alert as Red River faces a big change this weekend. After canceling its longtime motorcycle rally because of a deadly biker gang shootout last year, the town is launching a new rally-free festival they hope will be safer.

Today would be a whole lot of bikes lined up and down the center lane, people walking all around, a big crowd, and today I only see a handful of people, said Edward Sanchez, a biker and visitor to Red River.

Friday was the kickoff for Red Rivers Mayfest in the Mountains event. Even though some businesses and visitors said it was a slower kick off to the weekend, they are still hopeful for a busy weekend.

We grew up coming here now having a little one, were just excited to have her out here and experience it with us, said Brady Burney, visitor to Red River.

Story continues below

Red Rivers Mayor said the event is more family-friendly with live music, activities, and a memorial wall honoring fallen soldiers from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I am excited that we are finally making it more focused on our veterans. A true memorial weekend like it really should have been all the time, said Red River Mayor Linda Calhoun.

The new event marks the end of more than 40-years of Memorial Day weekend bike rallies, following a deadly biker gang shootout last year where three people were killed.

New Mexico State Police and other nearby departments said theyll have a large presence at the re-branded festival this weekend. Meanwhile, at least one business has still planned their own Revive the Ride bike rally.

We want to keep the motorcycle rally alive as a tradition. Its been going on for 40 years. We think it deserves to keep going. So, we are having live music, contests, and giveaways all weekend long, said Charlie Wenger, marketing manager for the Motherlode Saloon in Red River.

Red Rivers festivities are expected to last through Monday.

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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
DENVER (KDVR)  Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Denver Public Schools are warning the public about a scam after several students reported receiving emails and postal mail from a company not affiliated with the city.

On Monday, the mayor announced new funding for the YouthWorks Initiative, which connects people 14-21 years old with job opportunities to keep young people busy and out of trouble while also garnering valuable skills over the summer. Those who work more than 100 hours between May 20 and Aug. 16 are offered a $1,000 stipend.

This is a great way to get out there and to spend your time earning money, learning some new skills, and could turn into something thats a long-term career, Scott Pribble, director of communications for Denver Public Schools, told FOX31s Rachel Saurer.

Young people in Denver could get $1,000 stipend for summer work

DPS said in a press release that since the announcement, students have been getting emails and postal mail from a different source promoting a similar program claiming it will help the student find a job and even offers a $1,000 bonus.

However, DPS said after the student provides their personal information, the scam organization asks to send them money for services that never materialize.

The email is coming from what appears to be a DPS email account. Its not truly a DPS email account, but the people who are up to no good have made it look as such, Pribble said.

How to avoid the scam

DPS emphasized that the YouthWorks Initiative will never ask any applicant to pay to be included in the program.

The more awareness people can have, I think is really helpful. And then, we will be reaching out to people who have clicked on the link to make sure that theyre aware that this is not valid information, Pribble said.

Those interested in applying should visit the summer opportunities for youth page on the citys website, where DPS said all the details and legitimate application links can be found.

DPS added that it is encouraging students to attend one of the hiring fairs happening this summer. The next event will be an in-person hiring fair on June 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the PPA Event Center, located at 2105 Decatur Street.

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.
Ukraine faces "major" territorial losses and a "gloomy overall picture" for the rest of 2024, according to a new Western intelligence assessment, German media reported on May 25.

According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) newspaper, a report seen by German MPs says Ukraine will not be able to regain the initiative this year and is likely to lose more land than it already has since January.

It highlights Russia's current superiority in artillery as a major factor as well as Moscow's ability to absorb far more losses of men and materiel.

According to Ukrainian figures, Russian losses in Ukraine passed the grim milestone of 500,000 on May 25. The figure could not be independently verified.

The new report says that Kyiv's mobilization efforts will only "have an impact at the end of the summer" because recruits need to undergo training, meaning Ukraine is not in a position to "compensate for losses and build up reserves."

According to the German newspaper Welt, the report has been met with a mixed reaction among the country's politicians.

Roderich Kiesewetter of the Christian Democratic Union said such pessimistic reports were being published in order to "subtly but cruelly" pressure Kyiv to "cede territory."

But Ralf Stegner of the Social Democratic Party said the contents of the report were correct and "consistent with what I know."

Russia has held the battlefield initiative for much of 2024 so far and earlier this month launched a new offensive in northern Kharkiv Oblast though, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, at a high cost.

Russia's losses during the offensive are eight times higher than those suffered by Ukraine's armed forces, he said in an interview published on May 25.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claim.

Read also: As Russian losses in Ukraine hit 500,000, Putin buries future demographic risks at home

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
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)

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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Memorial Day ceremonies planned in Lafayette and West Lafayette

The community is invited to the 2024 Memorial Day ceremony at 1 p.m. Monday on Memorial Island at Columbian Park.

LAFAYETTE, Ind.  The community is invited to attend area Memorial Day ceremonies.

At 9:30 a.m. Monday, the Indiana Veterans Home, 3851 N. River Road, West Lafayette, will host its tribute to the nation's fallen military members. The community is invited to attend.

Lafayette's Memorial Day ceremony begins at 1 p.m. Monday at Memorial Island in Columbian Park, 1915 Scott St., Lafayette.

Tippecanoe County Veterans Council's Memorial Day Planning Committee is hosting the event, which is free. Those in the community are invited.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Memorial Day ceremonies planned in Lafayette and West Lafayette
Organizations across the High Desert will host Memorial Day weekend observances to pay tribute to the fallen men and women of the U.S. military.

Some will also host festivals, car shows and dinners as they kick off the unofficial start of summer.

Organizations across the High Desert will host Memorial Day weekend observances to pay tribute to the fallen men and women of the U.S. military.

Sunland Ford Victorville

Sunland Ford will host its 17th Annual Memorial Weekend Charity Car & Bike Show from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 at the dealership located at 15330 Palmdale Rd. in Victorville.

Presented by High Desert Fords and Mustangs, the event will include food, music, raffles, and trophies.

For more information, call 760-220-4487.

Victor Valley Moose Lodge

The Victor Valley Moose Lodge 1808 will host a Memorial Day Honor & Remember event from 2 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 at 10230 E. Avenue in Hesperia. Dinner is $10 per person.

The band Cross Fire will perform from 4 to 7 p.m.

For more information, visit facebook.com/VVLOOM1808.

Haven for Horses

Haven of Horses will host its 3rd Annual Memorial Day Dinner from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 26 at 17911 Fresno St. in Hesperia.

The free dinner is designed for veterans, active-duty military members and immediate families. The public is also invited for a $5 donation.

To register, call 760-217-7717

Organizations across the High Desert will host Memorial Day weekend observances to pay tribute to the fallen men and women of the U.S. military.

Rockin Sykes Ranch

Rockin Sykes Ranch will host a Memorial Day BBQ from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 26 at 15392 Morada Rd. in Victorville. The free event is for veterans and active duty military.

To register, call 951-291-3264

Lucerne Valley

The Lucerne Valley Chamber of Commerce will host its Memorial Day celebration at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 27 at the Gazebo at Memorial Park at 32533 Highway 18.

Navy veteran Richard Kosobud will serve as emcee of the event. A Lucerne Valley resident for nearly 45 years, Kosobud served in the Navy from 1964 through 1968.

He was a machinist, made 3rd class petty officer, and was stationed in Long Beach. His Pacific ports included Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hawaii, and Vietnam.

The chamber is seeking volunteers to place flags on veteran headstones. Those interested will meet at 6 a.m. at Memorial Park. For more information, call 760-223-7164 or email Lucernevalleychamber@gmail.com.

Organizations across the High Desert will host Memorial Day weekend observances to pay tribute to the fallen men and women of the U.S. military.

Apple Valley

The Town of Apple Valleys Memorial Day ceremony is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, May 27 at Civic Center Park at 14999 Dale Evans Pkwy.

During the event, veterans and community leaders will share a few words, and town staff will set out U.S. flags for the public to attach ribbons with messages.

Barstow

A Memorial Day Service is scheduled at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 27 at Mountain View Cemetery at 37067 Irwin Rd. in Barstow. Sponsor American Legion Post 324 is recruiting volunteers to place U.S. flags on veterans gravesites.

Those interested in helping will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday at the cemetery.

Desert View Memorial Park

Desert View Memorial Park will host a Memorial Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, May 27, 2024, at 11500 Amargosa Road in Victorville.

Organizations across the High Desert will host Memorial Day weekend observances to pay tribute to the fallen men and women of the U.S. military.

Oro Grande

A Memorial Day Service will be held at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 27 at the historic Oro Grande Cemetery located at 1414 Olive St. in Oro Grande.

Phelan and Wrightwood

The Tri-Community will host two Memorial Day ceremonies at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 27.

The first ceremony will be held at the Wrightwood Veterans Memorial Park, with the second ceremony at the Phelan VFW Post 9415.

The 16th annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Wrightwood Veterans Memorial will include a military fly-over. Pastor Dave Conrad will give the benediction, with Claudia Campbell singing the National Anthem. Boy Scout Troop 351 will raise the American flag, while the Girl Scouts will participate in the wreath-laying ceremony.

The Wrightwood Veterans Memorial Park is located on Evergreen Road in the Village.

The Phelan VFW Post 9415 event will include a flag raising and retirement by local Boy Scout Troop 351. The VFW Post is located at 4892 Nielson Road in Phelan.

Also, look for the VFW Auxiliary Poppy Distribution during Memorial Day weekend in front of Stater Bros at 4059 Phelan Rd. in Phelan.

Memorial Day

The honoring of fallen military members began as Decoration Day after the Civil War when families of both Union and Confederate forces began to decorate the graves of those who died.

This eventually became known as Memorial Day and was standardized to be celebrated on the last Monday in May by an act of Congress in 1968.

The list of Memorial Day events will be updated as more information becomes available.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Memorial Day weekend events planned in the High Desert
Semiconductor chips are seen on a printed circuit board

One of Britains largest microchip plants is facing potential closure after Apple pulled the plug on a lucrative supply deal.

Accounts filed by the US semiconductor company Coherent, which owns a 310,000 sq ft facility in County Durham, revealed that the loss of its main customer had put the factorys future in jeopardy.

The Sunday Telegraph understands that the plant manufactures components for Apple that feature in the iPhones Face ID recognition system, but that the US giant has ceased orders due to upcoming changes to the next version of the iPhone.

Coherents UK subsidiary said that the business was in doubt and undergoing a strategic review that could lead to the plant being sold. It said it had issued a last-time-buy notice to other customers.

Unfortunately the supply to the primary customer ceased at the end of Financial Year 2023, it said. This places the ongoing viability of the business in doubt. A strategic review of the business is currently being undertaken with potential new technologies and/or sale of the business as options under consideration.

The facility laid off more than 100 staff a year ago after Apple informed the company it planned to cease orders. The remaining 257 staff have been kept on to see through the remaining contracts.

Closure would mark the latest blow to Britains semiconductor industry, which has dwindled in recent years as global production moves to Asia.

The Coherent facility in Newton Aycliffe was originally built by Fujitsu and described as the worlds most advanced microelectronics plant when it was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1991.

But the Japanese company announced plans to close the plant in 1998 amid an electronics industry slump. It has since cycled through a succession of owners including a microchip firm backed by Roman Abramovich before it was sold to II-VI, a US company that later merged with Coherent.

In 2021, the company announced a major expansion of the site, which is believed to have been related to winning the Apple contract. Accounts for the year to June 2023 showed that the UK factorys revenues rose from 13.3m to 104.5m as the supply agreement came into force.

The iPhones Face ID system features an array of sensors and cameras used to unlock the phone and authenticate payments, as well as produce more accurate photos and augmented reality effects.

Apple is expected to overhaul the system in the next generation of device, which is released later this year. Reports have claimed that it will feature a much smaller module buried under the screen.

Losing a contract from Apple can often be disastrous for the companys suppliers. The British semiconductor company Imagination Technologies lost half of its value and was eventually sold after Apple said it no longer planned to use the companys graphics chip designs in 2017. Other companies including Volex and Wolfson Microelectronics suffered share price plunges after losing contracts.

Story continues

The Government announced a 1bn semiconductor strategy last year but critics say the money is not supporting the industry and pales in comparison to semiconductor subsidies in the US and Europe.

Apple did not comment, while Coherent did not respond to requests for comment.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man is claiming self-defense following a Saturday shooting that left another man dead in the JC Napier area, officials said.

Metro Nashville dispatch said the shooting was called in shortly before 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 from the 600 block of Charles E. Davis Boulevard.

Minor critically injured, man charged following Kentucky shooting

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), a 23-year-old admitted to the shooting and told detectives that he shot the victim  identified as 29-year-old Bryan Lewis  because he believed that Lewis was about to shoot him.

Officials said a preliminary investigation indicates that the 23-year-old suspect was carrying a box of canned goods to an apartment when Lewis approached him on a scooter and accused the suspect of shooting at him on a previous date, which the 23-year-old reportedly denied.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

The 23-year-old suspect told officers that Lewis began to get off the scooter and appeared to attempt to pull a gun from his waistband. Thats when the 23-year-old said he dropped the box of canned goods, pulled his own gun, and shot Lewis.

According to officers at the scene, first responders transported Lewis to a local hospital, where he later died. Meanwhile, another person reportedly went to the hospital in a private vehicle to be treated for superficial injuries following the incident.

Detectives reported the 23-year-old fled the scene, but later surrendered at police headquarters.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

During an interview with detectives, the 23-year-old allegedly claimed that he had received word from others that Lewis was going to kill him.

No charges have been placed against the 23-year-old in regard to the shooting, police said. However, he was arrested on an unrelated outstanding domestic assault warrant.

This news comes two days after another shooting was reported in the J.C. Napier neighborhood. That incident, which occurred just after 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23 in the 100 block of Fain Street, led to the death of 63-year-old Alan Howard and the arrest of 30-year-old Timothy Gibbons Jr., according to officials.

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 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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.
Michigan elections bureau says 6 of 7 U.S. Senate candidates should make the ballot

U.S. Senate candidates recommended by the Bureau of Elections to appear on the Aug. 6 ballot (clockwise): Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Hill Harper, Sandy Pensler, former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash and Sherry O'Donnell | Photos by Andrew Roth, Kyle Davidson and Getty Images

The Michigan U.S. Senate field could shrink once again.

A Michigan Bureau of Elections staff report released late Friday afternoon said that Democrat Nasser Beydoun of Dearborn is ineligible to appear on the Aug. 6 primary ballot, as all of his petitions used the incorrect heading.

The report said that Beydoun improperly used a P.O. Box on all 2,924 petition sheets, which require a street address. Thus, staff invalidated all of his sample signatures and said he wad ineligible for the ballot.

Were going to fight it because its suppressing the vote on a technicality, Beydoun told The Detroit News Friday, adding that he was consulting a lawyer.

To get on the ballot, Senate candidates are required to submit 15,000 valid signatures. The sampling method gathered 750 signatures, which were then individually reviewed and checked against the Qualified Voter File (QVF) by staff.

Based on the percentage of valid signatures in the sample and the total number of signatures submitted by the candidate, staff projected a total number of valid signatures in the candidates universe of submitted signatures and recommended the Board determine the petition sufficient or insufficient based on the formula approved by the Board, stated the report.

The Board of State Canvassers, which is set to meet May 31, will determine who will appear on the ballot. If Beydoun is determined to be ineligible, that would leave the only two Democrats running: actor Hill Harper and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly). The seat is open, as U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) is retiring.

Harpers petition sample was found to be valid for his inclusion on the ballot, per the report.

As for Slotkin, the staff report also found she had sufficient valid signatures in her sample. In a separate report, it also determined that a challenge by Harper would not have affected enough signatures to push her below the required threshold, so neither the challenge nor Slotkins response were processed.

Four GOP candidates cleared the bar to be on the ballot, per the bureaus report: former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake), former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (I-Cascade Twp.), businessman Sandy Pensler and physician Sherry ODonnell.

The report said that nominating petitions submitted by Rogers have enough valid signatures. Michigan Democrats claimed there was apparent fraud in his petitions However, the report said that staff determined 602 of the 750 signatures on Rogers petitions that were sampled were considered to be valid, exceeding the required threshold of 375.

On Friday, the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) made additional allegations of apparently fraudulent signatures on Rogers petitions.

Included were declarations from 19 Michigan voters that they did not sign or do not recall signing the petitions. A Flint woman, Mary Alexander, said that her brother, DeWayne Washington, whose name appears on the same sheet as hers, was deceased. Included among the exhibits in the letter was a copy of his 2022 obituary.

The staff report, however, did not address those allegations made against Rogers.

Michigan Democrats in an initial May 17 letter to the Michigan Board of State Canvassers (BSC) also asked for an investigation of alleged indications of fraud in petitions submitted by Amash and Pensler,

The bureau staff report also said random sampling indicated Amash and Pensler had enough valid signatures, as did ODonnell, who was not named in either letter by the Democrats.

The lawyer who wrote those letters, Christopher Trebilcock with Clark Hill PLC, noted that the BSC has the authority-and, practically speaking, a duty-to conduct a full investigation of candidates nominating petitions, even absent a formal or timely complaint.

That argument could still hold sway with the board, according to attorney Steve Liedel, who told the Advance that if evidence of fraud is brought forward, state officials have a duty under the election law to refer that to law enforcement, as well as the BSC.

For the Board of State Canvassers to ignore it because of a deadline, I mean, the fraud occurred long before the deadline, right? And so either there are fraudulent signatures or there are not. Either there are sufficient signatures or there are not, and thats the process that the board is undertaking, he said.

The BSC is split 2-2 between Democrats and Republicans and has frequently deadlocked on partisan lines in recent years.

Liedel is not personally representing any Senate campaign this cycle, although his firm represents Harper.

The post Michigan elections bureau says 6 of 7 U.S. Senate candidates should make the ballot appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Milwaukee police have located the critically missing 14-year-old girl.

The girl was reported missing by police Friday night and sent an update at about 10 p.m. saying, "She is safe and is in good health."

"Critically missing" is a label police apply to people who may be especially vulnerable due to a variety of factors.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police locate 'critically missing' girl
Officials at a Minneapolis mosque fear it will be targeted again, two days after one of its members was injured in an alleged hit-and-run attack in the parking lot.

The attack was the latest in a string of incidents  from mosque burnings to Muslims being attacked at their mosques with pepper spray or, in one instance, a hammer  that have made Minnesota the leading state nationwide for mosque attacks, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"We are on edge," Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR-MN said Friday at a news conference. "This was an attempted murder. ... We need for our leaders to take this seriously."

In Wednesday's assault, a van slammed into Osman Ahmed, a member of the Alhikma mosque at 116 E. 32nd St., in the mosque parking lot just after he stepped out of his vehicle. Security video shows a van steering into Ahmed as he runs, knocking him to the pavement.

Ahmed, who spent a night at HCMC recovering, said he could see two hands holding the steering wheel as the van raced toward him but couldn't see the driver. Witnesses and others led police to James E. Suttles, 37, of Minneapolis, who was arrested Wednesday evening and charged Friday with second-degree assault.

The criminal complaint against Suttles, who was being held at Hennepin County jail in lieu of $150,000 bail, does not include a count classifying what happened as a bias-motivated crime.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty acknowledged in a statement that Suttles has committed "prior violent incidents at this mosque. ... If through further investigation we determine that we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this incident was motivated by bias, we will prosecute accordingly."

Mosque officials say Suttles has terrorized their community for four years, allegedly pepper-spraying one mosque member in 2021 and attacking another with a hammer in 2022.

The imam of Alhikma, Abdirazak Kaynan, said he's very worried that Suttles will be released from jail and return to the mosque to hurt more people.

"We've reported multiple times and tell police this guy is going to kill someone," said Kaynan.

Suttles was at the mosque again on May 19, just days after being given a tresspass violation, said Kaynan.

The incidents are among at least 21 attacks on Minnesota mosques in the past three years, said Hussein, who said CAIR chapters in each state share their data on mosque attacks. Among the incidents of vandalism reported last year, fires at the Mercy Mosque in Minneapolis and St. Paul's Tawhid Islamic Center caused extensive damage and led to the arrests of two men.

Hussein urged state and federal officials to provide grants for things like security cameras and lights, strengthening of doors or security guards for mosques and other nonprofits targeted by hate crimes. Hussein said efforts to get state funds for such things failed during this year's legislative session.

Mosque officials say they don't know why Suttles targeted them in the first place, but he appeared at the mosque's door shortly after it opened in 2020. He was first offered food and support, mosque leaders say, but Suttles turned increasingly violent and has been cited three times for trespassing.

"These incidents have been against various people who attend the mosque and not targeted at any one individual," the complaint against Suttles read. "The leader stated people attending the mosque were very concerned for their safety and scared of [Suttles]."

Star Tribune staff writer Paul Walsh contributed to this story.
GLASGOW, Ky. (WKRN)  A man is facing multiple charges in connection with a Friday night shooting in Southern Kentucky that left a juvenile seriously injured.

According to the Glasgow Police Department, officers responded to a report of a shooting incident along McKenna Street at approximately 8:10 p.m. on Friday, May 24.

Man shot multiple times at WeGo bus station in downtown Nashville

When authorities arrived at the scene, they determined 20-year-old Christopher Rye, of Glasgow, had been arguing with a minor, which reportedly led to Rye brandishing a firearm and firing multiple times toward the juvenile and other individuals.

Officials said the minor was hit in the abdomen area and was treated by the Barren/Metcalfe EMS before being transported to the University of Louisville Hospital where, as of Saturday, May 25, the juvenile is listed in critical condition.

According to police, Rye was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree assault and three counts of wanton endangerment.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

In a Saturday Facebook post, law enforcement said Rye was being held in the Barren County Detention Center by Detective Sgt. Aaron Cowan.

No additional details have been released about this incident.

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.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A missing child 14-year-old in Fort Walton Beach has been found.

The child went missing after being seen in the area of the Miracle Strip Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

However, the alert was canceled Saturday morning when he was found safe.

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.
Missing man found dead in Charlotte woods the victim of another who died from self-inflicted gunshot wound: Police

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A missing man found dead in northwest Charlotte was connected to another who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

Officers say the family of 21-year-old Samuel Haugh reported him missing earlier this month. The report came after Michael Olarte, 32, was found dead in east Charlotte from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Matthews daycare employee accused of exposing himself to 4-year-old child: Police

Haughs family told police that the two men were in a new relationship.

Police say an investigation from CMPDs Missing Person Unit revealed that on April 29, Olarte harmed Haugh and disposed of his body. On May 21, officers found remains in a wooded area off River Circle in the Mountain Island area.

CMPDs Homicide Unit responded to investigate, and the remains were transported to the North Carolina Medical Examiners Office.

On May 24, the remains were identified as those belonging to Haugh. The N.C. Medical Examiners Office determined he died from a gunshot wound and ruled his death a homicide.

Officers say Olarte, who is deceased, is identified as the suspect involved in the case.

The victims family has been notified of his location and death.

The investigation into this case is 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.
A New Jersey mom rocked by the tragic deaths of two children is now on edge after her last surviving child went missing "under suspicious circumstances." Danielle Lopez, 37, of Burlington, has not been heard from in over a month after she told her family she planned to go camping.

A heartbroken mom rocked by the tragic deaths of two children is now on edge after her last surviving child went missing under suspicious circumstances.

Danielle Lopez, 37, of Burlington, NJ, has not been heard from in over a month after she told her family she planned to go camping.

The 5-foot-4, 135-pound woman was last seen at about 9:10 a.m. April 13 at a Wawa store in Burlington, NJ, state police said.

New Jersey state police are asking for help in locating Danielle Lopez. FaceBook New Jersey State Police

Her 2008 two-door blue Hyundai Accent was found disabled on Lost Lane Road, part of Penn State Forest, a 3,366-acre state park.



Unimaginably, tragedy has struck our family again the shell-shocked mom, Sue Quackenbush, a longtime Eatontown resident, posted to Facebook this week, saying cops told her the disappearance was under suspicious circumstances.

Fred Lopez, the missing womans uncle, told The Post that Danielles oldest brother, Eric Quackenbush, died after he threw himself in front of a train in Pennsylvania on Christmas Day 2015 and another brother, Michael Lopez, a Marine, was fatally injured about 10 months later in a Florida vehicular crash.

He said Danielles grandfather, Fred Lopez Sr., succumbed to COVID in May 2020 and her father, Guy, suffered a fatal heart attack a month later that may have been triggered by the coronavirus.

Its a pretty heavy duty reality, said the 58-year-old uncle, who lives in Arizona. Danielle had a very difficult life and never quite recouped from all the deaths and the tragedies in our family.

Choking back tears, he added, Every member of my family has had tragedy. I think my family may have been cursed.

NJ State Police would not comment on the investigation beyond the fact that theyre seeking assistance from the public.

Lopez in a photo with her two brothers  who both met untimely deaths, according to her uncle. FaceBook Sue Quackenbush

Lopez was last seen at about 9:10 a.m. April 13 at a Wawa store in Burlington, NJ, according to state police. FaceBook New Jersey State Police

She is known to frequent the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Pemberton Township, and Willingboro Township, according to a May 22 Facebook post by cops.

Danielle was sweet, creative, and loving, wrote Quackenbush, now of West Chester, Pa., using the past tense in her Facebook post. She was a wonderful daughter and a vibrant light in my life.
Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker revealed Friday that his daughter and son-in-law were killed by a gang while working as missionaries in Haiti.

My heart is broken in a thousand pieces, he wrote in a Facebook post. Ive never felt this kind of pain.

He added: They went to Heaven together. Please pray for my family we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well. I have no other words for now.

Bakers daughter, Natalie Lloyd, and her husband, Davy Lloyd, were ambushed Thursday by three trucks full of men, according to Missions in Haiti Inc., a nonprofit organization that has been working in the nation since 2000. A third mission worker, identified only as Jude, was also taken.

In a Facebook post penned before their deaths were confirmed, Missions in Haiti Inc. detailed the violent and chaotic incident while emphasizing that the missionaries lives were at risk. It said Davy was taken to a house, tied up and beaten. The gang then took their trucks and loaded everything up they wanted and left, according to the post.

Another gang came after to see what was going on and if they could help, so they say, Missions in Haiti Inc. wrote. No one understood what they were doing, not sure what took place, but one was shot and killed and now this gang went into full-attack mode.

In a follow-up post hours later, Missions in Haiti Inc. confirmed all three of the workers had been shot and killed by the gang around 9 p.m.

We all are devastated, it said.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson took to X to mourn their deaths, calling it absolutely heartbreaking news.

He continued: Natalie and Davy were two young people sharing peace, comfort, and Gods word. In light of this unimaginable, senseless tragedy, we remember the good they offered the world.

________
In the last year, multiple insiders have substantially increased their holdings of Talius Group Limited (ASX:TAL) stock, indicating that insiders' optimism about the company's prospects has increased.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for Talius Group

Talius Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The insider Kyle Haynes made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$783k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.01 each. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.008. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

Talius Group insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Talius Group is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find small cap companies at attractive valuations, this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insiders At Talius Group Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last three months, we've seen a bit of insider buying at Talius Group. Insiders bought AU$29k worth of shares in that time. It's good to see the insider buying, as well as the lack of recent sellers. But in this case the amount purchased means the recent transaction may not be very meaningful on its own.

Insider Ownership Of Talius Group

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Talius Group insiders own 21% of the company, worth about AU$4.3m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Talius Group Tell Us?

We note a that there has been a bit of insider buying recently (but no selling). Overall the buying isn't worth writing home about. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Talius Group insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. You'd be interested to know, that we found 3 warning signs for Talius Group and we suggest you have a look.

Story continues

Of course Talius Group may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A U.S. missionary couple, including the daughter of a Missouri state representative, and a resident assisting them were killed in Haitis capital city after heading out from a youth group activity, according to the family.

My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. Ive never felt this kind of pain, a Facebook post from Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker (R) reads. Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed.

They went to Heaven together, he added. Please pray for my family we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well. I have no other words for now.

Lionel Lazarre, the head of a police union in Haiti, confirmed that the attack occurred Thursday in northern Port-au-Prince, according to reporting from The Associated Press.

The sister of Davy Lloyd, Hannah Cornett, said three vehicles with gang members in them halted the couple and Jude Montis, the groups director of missions, when they were going across a street, per the AP.

Cornett, who told the news wire that her family runs an orphanage, school and church in the Caribbean nation, said her brother was struck in his head by the barrel of a gun by gang members. From there, he was made to go upstairs, had belongings stolen and was left tied up.

When Davy was getting assistance in getting untied, a different group of armed gang members came around.

Nobody knows what happened, Cornett said, according to the AP.

The victims sister added that a person gunmen opened fire when the couple and Montis tried to escape to a house in which her parents live.

They tried to take cover in there, but the gang shot up the house, Cornett said, noting the three deaths.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement Friday that the Biden administration extends its deepest condolences to the families of the two U.S. citizens killed by gangs in Haiti.

On behalf of the President, our Ambassador in Haiti is in touch with the families who we know are experiencing unimaginable grief, Miller said. Our Embassy is ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.

The ongoing gang violence, which unraveled after the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, has displaced more than 362,000 people and has killed thousands in the island nation.

Conditions have dropped off in recent months as the gangs have grown in power. The crisis also forced the resignation of Haitis Prime Minister Ariel Henry in March, leaving a political vacuum.

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.
Tammy Tesson Puhlmann, shows photos of her son Drew as she sat in the Russell Senate Office Building on May 22, 2024.

Tammy Tesson Puhlmann, 63, who now lives in Villa Ridge, Missouri, shows photos of her son Drew as she sat in the Russell Senate Office Building on May 22, 2024. Puhlmanns son died of cancer at age 30, and she was among 10 eastern Missouri residents speaking to lawmakers on Capitol Hill about expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  A fund to compensate Americans sickened by exposure to atomic bomb tests, uranium mining and radioactive waste expires in just under 20 days, and activists and lawmakers are scrambling to keep the fund active and open to additional victims.

A bill to reauthorize and expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, often shortened to RECA, sailed through the U.S. Senate in early March on a bipartisan 69-30 vote, but the House has yet to take it up for a vote.

Critics cite high costs, but bipartisan lawmakers and activists rallying in favor of the bill say the victims have already paid the price through medical bills and lost loved ones, and that its ultimately the governments wrong to make right.

The U.S. Senate-passed legislation, championed by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, aims to extend the program by six years and expand eligibility to several new locations, including his state of Missouri where, over decades, residents witnessed numerous rare similar cancers among neighbors in and around St. Louis.

Chemical plants in downtown St. Louis and Weldon Spring, Missouri, processed uranium during the nations World War II effort to build the first atomic bomb. Radioactive waste from the plants were stored and dumped around the area.

States Newsrooms Missouri Independent, in collaboration with the Associated Press and MuckRock, obtained and combed through thousands of government records that revealed the government downplayed and ignored the dangers of the radioactive waste.

The government has done this

Tammy Tesson Puhlmann, 63, who lived for decades in Florissant, Missouri, sat in the Russell Senate Office Building Wednesday showing photos of her son Drew  first, as a baby who was born with a rare blood disease, and then as a thin 30-year-old man just a week before he died of cancer.

If I can prevent one mom from having to go through something like this, I would do anything, she said through tears. Its the most unbearable feeling in the world to know that there is nothing you can do for your child, and to know that the government has done this.

Puhlmann was among 10 eastern Missouri residents and state representatives who met with 10 lawmakers on Wednesday, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise; U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner and Blaine Luetkemeyer, both Republicans of Missouri; and the states GOP Sens. Eric Schmitt and Hawley.

Missouri state Reps. Tricia Byrnes and Richard West, both Republicans, who represent districts just outside St. Louis, flipped through maps and photos documenting the contaminated sites, including where a uranium processing plant and byproduct dumping ground were located next to Francis Howell High School, which Byrnes attended.

Look how close it was to all of the contamination. That high school is still there, Byrnes said, pointing to a map.

To Byrnes left sat Kristin Denbow, a 1988 Francis Howell graduate who has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer in the bone marrow.

We have memories of men in full containment suits walking around the grounds of our high school while we were there, Denbow said.

Susie Gaffney holds a packet of papers that she distributed to lawmakers on Capitol Hill on March 22, 2024.

This has been our lives

Three generations of Susie Gaffneys family made their homes in the suburbs of St. Louis near Coldwater Creek, unaware that radioactive waste relocated from the downtown uranium plant was leaking into the water.

Susies husband, Jim, grew up in a house beside the creek and not far from Jana Elementary School, which closed in 2023 because of radioactive contamination.

Jim grew up playing in the creek, everybody did. Everybody who tells the creek stories played (there). It was awesome, it wasnt deep. Kids fished, they made mudslides. It was a great place to live, Gaffney said.

Jim, whose mother died of colon cancer after being diagnosed in her 40s, developed lymphoma at the age of 24.

When Susie and Jims son Joey was an infant, they moved to a nearby subdivision named Wedgewood, a few miles down the creek. Joey also played in the water as a child.

Joey was diagnosed at 18 with thyroid cancer and eventually underwent a thyroidectomy. Gaffney, now 66, recalls the doctors telling her, This kid is Chernobyl.

This is what happened in Chernobyl. He has metastasized thyroid cancer. This is what happened there. He had to be exposed to radiation and naively I said, Well, where? And so this has been our lives, she said.

Joey is now 45. Jim, 68, was also diagnosed with bladder cancer and is now living with myelodysplastic syndrome, Gaffney said.

Hes living on blood transfusions, she said, pointing to a photo of him on a packet of papers she was handing out to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Below the photo of Jim was a map of the region with red dots for each cancer case.

I just want people to tunnel in, Gaffney said. Pretend youre on Google Earth, zoom all the way down and get on those front doors and picture our lifespan with health care, with depression, with anxiety, fear. Our quality of life has definitely been affected, all of us.

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Debate on Capitol Hill

The governments nearly expired compensation program pays one-time sums of $75,000 to those who developed certain diseases after working on U.S. nuclear tests before 1963. It pays $50,000 to those who lived in select counties downwind from test explosion sites between January 1951 and October 1958, and the month of July in 1962, in Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Uranium industry workers who were employed in 11 states from 1942 to 1971 and subsequently developed eligible illnesses qualify for $100,000.

Hawleys bill, co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, would also expand to include the entirety of Arizona, Nevada and Utah, and include downwind and affected areas in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Guam. Additionally, the one-time compensation sums to victims or surviving family members would increase to $100,000.

If enacted, the legislation would reach areas including ZIP codes in Alaska, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, where communities were impacted by radioactive waste dumping, uranium processing and other related activities surrounding the testing.

The bills estimated cost of $50 billion to $60 billion has drawn criticism. Hawleys office confirmed the estimate. There is not an official budget score.

On Thursday, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, asked for unanimous consent on the Senate floor for his proposed clean extension of the program as it exists for another two years  only covering those affected in areas of Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Lee cited the risk of inflating the deficit by at least $60 billion and questioned whether enough data backs contamination in the additional areas in Hawleys bill.

You see, the House of Representatives has thus far declined to take up and pass Sen. Hawleys previous bill, with some signaling concern and raising some of the concerns that I just restated, the Utah Republican said.

Hawley objected, and Lujan spoke in support of the objection.

Study after study has shown the expanse of the nuclear radiation. Here is a study from 1997, from 2005, another from 2005, from 2023, all showing that the nuclear radiation is far beyond the contours of the original RECA bill passed in 1990, Hawley said. Yet my friend from Utah wants to keep doing the same old thing, leaving out in the cold hundreds of thousands of Americans. I will not consent to it.

Lee responded, saying he understood the impassioned pleas from Hawley and Lujan. He offered an updated version that includes Missouri and New Mexico, but leaves out other states and Guam. His office cites an unofficial budget score of $30 billion.

There are other states in (Hawleys) legislation pending in the House that deal with law in the Marshall Islands, Idaho, Kentucky, Ohio, Alaska, and perhaps one or two other jurisdictions. The claims of those states are not on equal footing, Lee said.

That is where a lot of the  not all, but a lot of the expense is accrued and a lot of concerns expressed in the House impeding its quick passage over there that might lead to it not being able to be passed at all, he continued.

Hawley again objected, saying he will not be party to any attempt at some halfway measure, some short stopgap bill, or some effort to sweep this under the rug.

A spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, told States Newsroom on May 15 that The Speaker understands and appreciates Senator Hawleys position and is working closely with interested members and stakeholders to chart a path forward for the House.

RECA was established in 1990.

The U.S. conducted more than 1,000 atomic weapons tests from 1945 to 1992  the first at the Trinity Test site near Alamogordo, New Mexico, where scientists detonated the Manhattan Projects first atomic bomb prior to the U.S. dropping the weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of World War II.

As of June 2022, the government has approved more than 36,000 RECA claims for more than $2.3 billion in benefits.

Unless the fund is extended, claims have to be postmarked by June 10, 2024, according to the Department of Justice, which administers the payouts.

The post Missouri residents affected by radiation exposure push Congress to extend benefits appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Tammy Tesson Puhlmann, 63, who now lives in Villa Ridge, Missouri, shows photos of her son Drew as she sat in the Russell Senate Office Building on May 22, 2024. Puhlmanns son died of cancer at age 30, and she was among 10 eastern Missouri residents speaking to lawmakers on Capitol Hill about expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  A fund to compensate Americans sickened by exposure to atomic bomb tests, uranium mining and radioactive waste expires in just under 20 days, and activists and lawmakers are scrambling to keep the fund active and open to additional victims.

A bill to reauthorize and expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, often shortened to RECA, sailed through the U.S. Senate in early March on a bipartisan 69-30 vote, but the House has yet to take it up for a vote.

Critics cite high costs, but bipartisan lawmakers and activists rallying in favor of the bill say the victims have already paid the price through medical bills and lost loved ones, and that its ultimately the governments wrong to make right.

The U.S. Senate-passed legislation, championed by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, aims to extend the program by six years and expand eligibility to several new locations, including his state of Missouri where, over decades, residents witnessed numerous rare similar cancers among neighbors in and around St. Louis.

Chemical plants in downtown St. Louis and Weldon Spring, Missouri, processed uranium during the nations WWII effort to build the first atomic bomb. Radioactive waste from the plants were stored and dumped around the area.

States Newsrooms Missouri Independent, in collaboration with the Associated Press and MuckRock, obtained and combed through thousands of government records that revealed the government downplayed and ignored the dangers of the radioactive waste.

The government has done this

Tammy Tesson Puhlmann, 63, who lived for decades in Florissant, Missouri, sat in the Russell Senate Office Building Wednesday showing photos of her son Drew  first, as a baby who was born with a rare blood disease, and then as a thin 30-year-old man just a week before he died of cancer.

If I can prevent one mom from having to go through something like this, I would do anything, she said through tears. Its the most unbearable feeling in the world to know that there is nothing you can do for your child, and to know that the government has done this.

Puhlmann was among 10 eastern Missouri residents and state representatives who met with 10 lawmakers on Wednesday, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise; U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner and Blaine Luetkemeyer, both Republicans of Missouri; and the states GOP Sens. Eric Schmitt and Hawley.

Missouri state Reps. Tricia Byrnes and Richard West, both Republicans, who represent districts just outside St. Louis, flipped through maps and photos documenting the contaminated sites, including where a uranium processing plant and byproduct dumping ground were located next to Francis Howell High School, which Byrnes attended.

Look how close it was to all of the contamination. That high school is still there, Byrnes said, pointing to a map.

To Byrnes left sat Kristin Denbow, a 1988 Francis Howell graduate who has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer in the bone marrow.

We have memories of men in full containment suits walking around the grounds of our high school while we were there, Denbow said.

This has been our lives

Three generations of Susie Gaffneys family made their homes in the suburbs of St. Louis near Coldwater Creek, unaware that radioactive waste relocated from the downtown uranium plant was leaking into the water.

Susies husband, Jim, grew up in a house beside the creek and not far from Jana Elementary School, which closed in 2023 because of radioactive contamination.

Jim grew up playing in the creek, everybody did. Everybody who tells the creek stories played (there). It was awesome, it wasnt deep. Kids fished, they made mudslides. It was a great place to live, Gaffney said.

Jim, whose mother died of colon cancer after being diagnosed in her 40s, developed lymphoma at the age of 24.

Susie Gaffney, 66, who now lives in OFallon, Missouri, holds a packet of papers that she distributed to lawmakers on Capitol Hill on March 22, 2024. The packet contained photos of her son Joey, 45, who developed thyroid cancer at 18, and her husband, Jim, 68, who survived bladder cancer and now lives with myelodysplastic syndrome. Three generations of her family lived along Coldwater Creek, which is contaminated with radioactive waste. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

When Susie and Jims son Joey was an infant, they moved to a nearby subdivision named Wedgewood, a few miles down the creek. Joey also played in the water as a child.

Joey was diagnosed at 18 with thyroid cancer and eventually underwent a thyroidectomy. Gaffney, now 66, recalls the doctors telling her, This kid is Chernobyl.

This is what happened in Chernobyl. He has metastasized thyroid cancer. This is what happened there. He had to be exposed to radiation and naively I said, Well, where? And so this has been our lives, she said.

Joey is now 45. Jim, 68, was also diagnosed with bladder cancer and is now living with myelodysplastic syndrome, Gaffney said.

Hes living on blood transfusions, she said, pointing to a photo of him on a packet of papers she was handing out to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Below the photo of Jim was a map of the region with red dots for each cancer case.

I just want people to tunnel in, Gaffney said. Pretend youre on Google Earth, zoom all the way down and get on those front doors and picture our lifespan with health care, with depression, with anxiety, fear. Our quality of life has definitely been affected, all of us.

Debate on Capitol Hill

The governments nearly expired compensation program pays one-time sums of $75,000 to those who developed certain diseases after working on U.S. nuclear tests before 1963. It pays $50,000 to those who lived in select counties downwind from test explosion sites between January 1951 and October 1958, and the month of July in 1962, in Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Uranium industry workers who were employed in 11 states from 1942 to 1971 and subsequently developed eligible illnesses qualify for $100,000.

Hawleys bill, co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, would also expand to include the entirety of Arizona, Nevada and Utah, and include downwind and affected areas in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Guam. Additionally, the one-time compensation sums to victims or surviving family members would increase to $100,000.

If enacted, the legislation would reach areas including ZIP codes in Alaska, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, where communities were impacted by radioactive waste dumping, uranium processing and other related activities surrounding the testing.

The bills estimated cost of $50 billion to $60 billion has drawn criticism. Hawleys office confirmed the estimate. There is not an official budget score.

On Thursday, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, asked for unanimous consent on the Senate floor for his proposed clean extension of the program as it exists for another two years  only covering those affected in areas of Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Lee cited the risk of inflating the deficit by at least $60 billion and questioned whether enough data backs contamination in the additional areas in Hawleys bill.

You see, the House of Representatives has thus far declined to take up and pass Sen. Hawleys previous bill, with some signaling concern and raising some of the concerns that I just restated, the Utah Republican said.

Hawley objected, and Lujan spoke in support of the objection.

Study after study has shown the expanse of the nuclear radiation. Here is a study from 1997, from 2005, another from 2005, from 2023, all showing that the nuclear radiation is far beyond the contours of the original RECA bill passed in 1990, Hawley said. Yet my friend from Utah wants to keep doing the same old thing, leaving out in the cold hundreds of thousands of Americans. I will not consent to it.

Lee responded, saying he understood the impassioned pleas from Hawley and Lujan. He offered an updated version that includes Missouri and New Mexico, but leaves out other states and Guam. His office cites an unofficial budget score of $30 billion.

There are other states in (Hawleys) legislation pending in the House that deal with law in the Marshall Islands, Idaho, Kentucky, Ohio, Alaska, and perhaps one or two other jurisdictions. The claims of those states are not on equal footing, Lee said.

That is where a lot of the  not all, but a lot of the expense is accrued and a lot of concerns expressed in the House impeding its quick passage over there that might lead to it not being able to be passed at all, he continued.

Hawley again objected, saying he will not be party to any attempt at some halfway measure, some short stopgap bill, or some effort to sweep this under the rug.

A spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, told States Newsroom on May 15 that The Speaker understands and appreciates Senator Hawleys position and is working closely with interested members and stakeholders to chart a path forward for the House.

RECA was established in 1990.

The U.S. conducted more than 1,000 atomic weapons tests from 1945 to 1992  the first at the Trinity Test site near Alamogordo, New Mexico, where scientists detonated the Manhattan Projects first atomic bomb prior to the U.S. dropping the weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of World War II.

As of June 2022, the government has approved more than 36,000 RECA claims for more than $2.3 billion in benefits.

Unless the fund is extended, claims have to be postmarked by June 10, 2024, according to the Department of Justice, which administers the payouts.

The post Missouri residents affected by radiation exposure push Congress to extend benefits appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Tammy Tesson Puhlmann, 63, who now lives in Villa Ridge, Missouri, shows photos of her son Drew as she sat in the Russell Senate Office Building on May 22, 2024. Puhlmanns son died of cancer at age 30, and she was among 10 eastern Missouri residents speaking to lawmakers on Capitol Hill about expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  A fund to compensate Americans sickened by exposure to atomic bomb tests, uranium mining and radioactive waste expires in just under 20 days, and activists and lawmakers are scrambling to keep the fund active and open to additional victims.

A bill to reauthorize and expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, often shortened to RECA, sailed through the U.S. Senate in early March on a bipartisan 69-30 vote, but the House has yet to take it up for a vote.

Critics cite high costs, but bipartisan lawmakers and activists rallying in favor of the bill say the victims have already paid the price through medical bills and lost loved ones, and that its ultimately the governments wrong to make right.

The U.S. Senate-passed legislation, championed by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, aims to extend the program by six years and expand eligibility to several new locations, including his state of Missouri where, over decades, residents witnessed numerous rare similar cancers among neighbors in and around St. Louis.

Chemical plants in downtown St. Louis and Weldon Spring, Missouri, processed uranium during the nations WWII effort to build the first atomic bomb. Radioactive waste from the plants were stored and dumped around the area.

States Newsrooms Missouri Independent, in collaboration with the Associated Press and MuckRock, obtained and combed through thousands of government records that revealed the government downplayed and ignored the dangers of the radioactive waste.

The government has done this

Tammy Tesson Puhlmann, 63, who lived for decades in Florissant, Missouri, sat in the Russell Senate Office Building Wednesday showing photos of her son Drew  first, as a baby who was born with a rare blood disease, and then as a thin 30-year-old man just a week before he died of cancer.

If I can prevent one mom from having to go through something like this, I would do anything, she said through tears. Its the most unbearable feeling in the world to know that there is nothing you can do for your child, and to know that the government has done this.

Puhlmann was among 10 eastern Missouri residents and state representatives who met with 10 lawmakers on Wednesday, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise; U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner and Blaine Luetkemeyer, both Republicans of Missouri; and the states GOP Sens. Eric Schmitt and Hawley.

Missouri state Reps. Tricia Byrnes and Richard West, both Republicans, who represent districts just outside St. Louis, flipped through maps and photos documenting the contaminated sites, including where a uranium processing plant and byproduct dumping ground were located next to Francis Howell High School, which Byrnes attended.

Look how close it was to all of the contamination. That high school is still there, Byrnes said, pointing to a map.

To Byrnes left sat Kristin Denbow, a 1988 Francis Howell graduate who has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer in the bone marrow.

We have memories of men in full containment suits walking around the grounds of our high school while we were there, Denbow said.

This has been our lives

Three generations of Susie Gaffneys family made their homes in the suburbs of St. Louis near Coldwater Creek, unaware that radioactive waste relocated from the downtown uranium plant was leaking into the water.

Susies husband, Jim, grew up in a house beside the creek and not far from Jana Elementary School, which closed in 2023 because of radioactive contamination.

Jim grew up playing in the creek, everybody did. Everybody who tells the creek stories played (there). It was awesome, it wasnt deep. Kids fished, they made mudslides. It was a great place to live, Gaffney said.

Susie Gaffney, 66, who now lives in OFallon, Missouri, holds a packet of papers that she distributed to lawmakers on Capitol Hill on March 22, 2024. The packet contained photos of her son Joey, 45, who developed thyroid cancer at 18, and her husband, Jim, 68, who survived bladder cancer and now lives with myelodysplastic syndrome. Three generations of her family lived along Coldwater Creek, which is contaminated with radioactive waste. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

Jim, whose mother died of colon cancer after being diagnosed in her 40s, developed lymphoma at the age of 24.

When Susie and Jims son Joey was an infant, they moved to a nearby subdivision named Wedgewood, a few miles down the creek. Joey also played in the water as a child.

Joey was diagnosed at 18 with thyroid cancer and eventually underwent a thyroidectomy. Gaffney, now 66, recalls the doctors telling her, This kid is Chernobyl.

This is what happened in Chernobyl. He has metastasized thyroid cancer. This is what happened there. He had to be exposed to radiation and naively I said, Well, where? And so this has been our lives, she said.

Joey is now 45. Jim, 68, was also diagnosed with bladder cancer and is now living with myelodysplastic syndrome, Gaffney said.

Hes living on blood transfusions, she said, pointing to a photo of him on a packet of papers she was handing out to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Below the photo of Jim was a map of the region with red dots for each cancer case.

I just want people to tunnel in, Gaffney said. Pretend youre on Google Earth, zoom all the way down and get on those front doors and picture our lifespan with health care, with depression, with anxiety, fear. Our quality of life has definitely been affected, all of us.

Debate on Capitol Hill

The governments nearly expired compensation program pays one-time sums of $75,000 to those who developed certain diseases after working on U.S. nuclear tests before 1963. It pays $50,000 to those who lived in select counties downwind from test explosion sites between January 1951 and October 1958, and the month of July in 1962, in Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Uranium industry workers who were employed in 11 states from 1942 to 1971 and subsequently developed eligible illnesses qualify for $100,000.

Hawleys bill, co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, would also expand to include the entirety of Arizona, Nevada and Utah, and include downwind and affected areas in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Guam. Additionally, the one-time compensation sums to victims or surviving family members would increase to $100,000.

If enacted, the legislation would reach areas including ZIP codes in Alaska, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, where communities were impacted by radioactive waste dumping, uranium processing and other related activities surrounding the testing.

The bills estimated cost of $50 billion to $60 billion has drawn criticism. Hawleys office confirmed the estimate. There is not an official budget score.

On Thursday, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, asked for unanimous consent on the Senate floor for his proposed clean extension of the program as it exists for another two years  only covering those affected in areas of Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Lee cited the risk of inflating the deficit by at least $60 billion and questioned whether enough data backs contamination in the additional areas in Hawleys bill.

You see, the House of Representatives has thus far declined to take up and pass Sen. Hawleys previous bill, with some signaling concern and raising some of the concerns that I just restated, the Utah Republican said.

Hawley objected, and Lujan spoke in support of the objection.

Study after study has shown the expanse of the nuclear radiation. Here is a study from 1997, from 2005, another from 2005, from 2023, all showing that the nuclear radiation is far beyond the contours of the original RECA bill passed in 1990, Hawley said. Yet my friend from Utah wants to keep doing the same old thing, leaving out in the cold hundreds of thousands of Americans. I will not consent to it.

Lee responded, saying he understood the impassioned pleas from Hawley and Lujan. He offered an updated version that includes Missouri and New Mexico, but leaves out other states and Guam. His office cites an unofficial budget score of $30 billion.

There are other states in (Hawleys) legislation pending in the House that deal with law in the Marshall Islands, Idaho, Kentucky, Ohio, Alaska, and perhaps one or two other jurisdictions. The claims of those states are not on equal footing, Lee said.

That is where a lot of the  not all, but a lot of the expense is accrued and a lot of concerns expressed in the House impeding its quick passage over there that might lead to it not being able to be passed at all, he continued.

Hawley again objected, saying he will not be party to any attempt at some halfway measure, some short stopgap bill, or some effort to sweep this under the rug.

A spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, told States Newsroom on May 15 that The Speaker understands and appreciates Senator Hawleys position and is working closely with interested members and stakeholders to chart a path forward for the House.

RECA was established in 1990.

The U.S. conducted more than 1,000 atomic weapons tests from 1945 to 1992  the first at the Trinity Test site near Alamogordo, New Mexico, where scientists detonated the Manhattan Projects first atomic bomb prior to the U.S. dropping the weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of World War II.

As of June 2022, the government has approved more than 36,000 RECA claims for more than $2.3 billion in benefits.

Unless the fund is extended, claims have to be postmarked by June 10, 2024, according to the Department of Justice, which administers the payouts.

The post Missouri residents affected by radiation exposure push Congress to extend benefits appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Mobile Fire-Rescue crews responded to the 7700 block of Hitt Road on Friday afternoon for a reported vehicle fire.

According to an MFRD release, Engine 26 arrived at the scene around 4:30 p.m. Friday seeing a power pole down, and its high voltage power lines fell on the roof of a Toyota Camry, and a woman was sitting in the drivers seat of the car.

Snapchat argument between Baldwin County teenagers ends with shooting, arrests

FIRE LOCATION:

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Of the three downed wires, one rested against the car, while wind caused another to intermittently contact the car, arcing and igniting the ceiling liner of the vehicle, the MFRD release said.

Crews established a safe zone, but they had to tell the driver to not move to prevent contact with conductive metals even though smoke was filling the car and burning ceiling plastic was dripping near the driver, the release said.

Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office releases 911 calls regarding Roger Fortson shooting

Firefighters slid a 10-foot-long pike pole onto the roof of the car to keep the wire from contacting it, the release said. The pike pole, a tool used to tear down ceilings during firefighting, has a long shaft made of nonconductive fiberglass.

The release said firefighters used a 6-foot pike pole to open the car door, and they instructed the woman how to safely exit the vehicle and into the safe zone.

The melting materials eventually lit the vehicle on fire, which burned until the power lines were de-energized by Alabama Power.

MFRD crews then used water and foam to extinguish the fire, the release said.

Mobile Sports Hall of Fame to induct Joe Gottfried

It was a bad situation, getting worse as time went on, MFRD Capt. Charles Andrews said. We were very fortunate to get her out of there.

District 4, Engines 26 and 11, and Truck 27 worked the fire.

MFRD did not report any injuries.

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.
The state flag of Moldova flies outside the country's embassy in Moscow

By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova is now seeking extradition from Russia of an opposition politician convicted of mass fraud after he moved there from exile in Israel, the country's justice minister said on Saturday.

Ilan Shor, a pro-Russian business magnate, was sentenced last year in absentia to 15 years in prison in connection with the disappearance from the banking system of $1 billion in 2014, dubbed Moldova's "theft of the century".

Shor has organised noisy street demonstrations against pro-European President Maia Sandu and urged Moldovans to vote "no" in a referendum authorities have called for October on joining the European Union by 2030.

Justice Minister Veronica-Mihailov Moraru said Moldova would redirect its extradition appeals to Moscow after Shor said he had moved to Russia and announced he had been granted Russian citizenship.

"The justice ministry has not been informed of this by the Russian authorities," she told TVR Moldova television.

"If we are advised officially that he holds Russian citizenship, we will analyse the circumstances and consider how to act in procedural terms."

Moldova, an ex-Soviet state lying between Ukraine and Romania, had repeatedly sought Shor's extradition from Israel.

After his conviction, a party bearing Shor's name was banned by the Constitutional Court and a new party, called "Chance", was formed in its place.

Shor is the driving force behind the "Victory" electoral bloc launched last month -- in Moscow -- to oppose the EU referendum and Sandu's bid for re-election at a poll to be held on the same date.

He said last week he wanted to become prime minister if a president favourable to his views would nominate him.

Sandu denounces Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and describes Russia and corruption as the biggest threats to her country.

The Victory bloc, made up of four parties, campaigns with the slogan "No to the EU" and calls for Moldova instead to join the Eurasian Economic Union -- a Russian-led regional grouping.

It has not yet decided on a candidate to run against Sandu. The opposition Socialists and Communists, also friendly to Moscow, oppose the pro-EU referendum but have shown little inclination to cooperate with Shor and the Victory bloc.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas, Editing by Ron Popeski and David Gregorio)
The city of Moline will create a new City Hall storefront at the Junior Achievement of the Heartlands new JA BizTown in Moline.

The council-approved agreement, finalized on May 21, paves the way for the creation of a City Hall within JA BizTown located inside the Junior Achievement Inspiration Center at 6600 44th Ave., Moline, home of the Vibrant Credit Union headquarters. As part of this three-year sponsorship agreement, the city of Moline will contribute $10,000 annually to Junior Achievement.

Site of the new JA Inspiration Center, in the southwest corner of the Vibrant Corporate Center, 6600 44th Ave., Moline.

In return, the city will collaborate in the development and implementation of a City Hall experience, providing a unique educational opportunity for young students to engage in civic duties and government functions, according to a Friday city release.

We are thrilled to welcome the city of Moline to JA BizTown, Dougal Nelson, president and CEO of Junior Achievement, said in the release. This partnership will not only enhance the realism and educational value of the JA BizTown experience but also strengthen our community by empowering young minds with the skills and knowledge they need to become tomorrows leaders.

The new JA BizTown is being brought to life in partnership with Russell Construction and Edwards Creative, which are leading the design and buildout of the innovative space. Once completed, the JA BizTown City Hall will immerse students in a hands-on, interactive environment where they will take on roles such as Mayor, Public Works Director, and Parks & Recreation Director.

Junior Achievement of the Heartland serves 24 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

These student-elected and hired positions will offer an invaluable experiential learning platform, simulating real-life government operations and fostering an understanding of civic responsibility, the city said, noting the JA Inspiration Center will welcome the first students in October 2024.

Junior Achievements BizTown is a meticulously designed, kid-sized city that provides a vibrant and engaging educational experience, the release said. It aims to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy through practical, hands-on activities that introduce them to various aspects of running a business, managing personal finances, and contributing to their community.

Learning about civic engagement and personal finance are so important for students, and were excited that Moline can support that education in partnership with Junior Achievement of the Heartland, said Moline Ald. At-Large James Patrick Schmidt. Ive seen firsthand how JA can build confidence and teach skills that help to develop our students and our community.

The regional JA has raised 80% of its $3.25-million goal for the new Inspiration Center, spokeswoman Katie Sothmann said Friday.

For more information on JA, 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.
More than 300 buried in Papua New Guinea landslide, local media says

View of the damage after a landslide in Maip Mulitaka

View of the damage after a landslide in Maip Mulitaka

SYDNEY (Reuters) -More than 300 people and over 1,100 houses were buried by a massive landslide that levelled a remote village in northern Papua New Guinea, local media reported on Saturday.

Hundreds are feared dead in the landslide that hit Kaokalam village in Enga Province, about 600 km (370 miles) northwest of capital Port Moresby, around 3 a.m. on Friday (1900 GMT on Thursday).

The landslide in the Pacific nation north of Australia buried more than 300 people and 1,182 houses, the Papua New Guinea Post Courier said, citing comments from a member of the country's parliament, Aimos Akem. Akem did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment via social media.

More than six villages had been impacted by the landslide in the province's Mulitaka region, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said on Saturday.

"Australias High Commission in Port Moresby is in close contact with PNG authorities for further assessments on the extent of the damage and casualties," a DFAT spokesperson said in a statement.

The Australian Broadcasting Corp reported on Saturday that four bodies had been retrieved from the area after emergency teams reached the sparsely populated area, where the death toll is expected to rise.

The landslide has blocked highway access, making helicopters the only way to reach the area, the broadcaster reported.

Social media footage posted by villager Ninga Role showed people clambering over rocks, uprooted trees and mounds of dirt searching for survivors. Women could be heard weeping in the background.

Prime Minister James Marape has said disaster officials, the Defence Force and the Department of Works and Highways were assisting with relief and recovery efforts.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard and Sonali Paul)
The five suspects arrested in the May 1 shooting at a west Fort Worth apartment were targeting a man who had made threats against one of the suspects, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Six people, including four children, were injured on May 1 after shots were fired outside the Miramar apartments at 3064 Las Vegas Trail.

When officers responded to the scene of the shooting, they found six victims with gunshot wounds. A 3-year-old, Mechelle Kinney, was shot in the abdomen. Her 6-year-old brother, Kadeon Kinney, and a 7-year-old were each shot in the leg.

Mechelle, 3, and KaVion, 6, were injured in a drive-by shooting outside their familys apartment on Las Vegas Trail in west Fort Worth on May 1, 2024.

Mechelle was the most critically injured of all the victims. She had to undergo multiple surgeries, including aurger in which her right kidney was removed. Kadeon had to have a metal plate inserted in his leg after a bullet hit his femur.

A 14-year-old was shot in the buttocks, and a 19-year-old was shot in the thigh, the warrant states. Another 14-year-old was grazed in the leg.

The 14-year-old grazed in the leg was OK, he told KXAS-TV. The 19-year-old victim, Tanzania Day, now requires crutches to walk after being shot in the leg.

The five suspects arrested in the shooting each face six counts of aggravated assault causing bodily harm-discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, and one count of deadly conduct discharge firearm at a habitation.

The suspects are identified as:

Jamal Piper, 17, of Fort Worth

Hayden Bates-Vellmure, 18, of Fort Worth

Jordan Elijah Jackson, 20, of Fort Worth

Allan Gilbert, 18, of Dallas

Patrick Biscoe, 19, of Dallas

Officers identified a 2023 Kia Soul as the suspect vehicle. According to apartment surveillance video obtained by police, the car is seen driving past and shooting at a group of children and adults standing outside of an entryway to the apartment building.

Hours after the shooting, detectives located the suspect vehicle at an apartment complex and saw multiple people surrounding the car. As the vehicle began leaving the apartment, officers stopped the vehicle and detained three people, including Vellmure and his mother.

In an interview with police, Vellmure said he had borrowed the vehicle and was not involved in the shooting.

He also told police that he had sexual intercourse with a woman whose childs father found out and began threatening Vellmure on social media. The father told Vellmure that he was going to hurt him and his family, the warrant says.

Hayden knew that the father lived at the Miramar apartments and he got into the vehicle with four other males. He saw the father outside with a large group of people as Vellmure was driving the vehicle. He passed by the apartment once, came around again, and let off fire, he told police.

Suspects referred to in the warrant as AJ Gillbert  and Pat  Biscoe  shot while Vellmure was driving. According to Vellmures interview with police, he heard about 10 or 15 gunshots.

He told police that he and Piper, a man he referred to as Peanut  who police identified as Jackson  were in the vehicle, but were not firing at the apartments and that they did not have weapons on them. They picked up the other two suspects Biscoe and Gillbert from Dallas.

In text messages between Vellmure and Piper, police found a screenshot that had the address 8600 Las Vegas Ct. with an apartment number, which is located at an apartment complex north of the Miramar apartments.

Vellmure texted Piper, I got the whole lo, referring to the location, according to the warrant.

Officers interviewed Piper the day after the shooting, and said he was dishonest about his involvement in the shooting, the warrant reads.

The interview with police ended when an officer tried to seize Pipers phone and the suspect attempted to flee, according to the warrant. He was arrested on a charge of interference with public duties.

While in police custody, Piper confessed that he was inside the suspect vehicle at the time of the shooting with Vellmure, Jackson, Gillbert, and a man he knew as Vellmures friend, Biscoe.

Piper told officers Vellmure organized the shooting and picked up the suspects to get them together, according to his interview with police.

When passing by the apartment, Piper did not locate the man Vellmure was targeting, the warrant says. When they passed a second time, Vellmure said there he goes and to shoot. Biscoe shot from the passenger seat and Gillbert shot from the rear right window, Piper said in his interview.

On May 15, Jackson was apprehended by police during a traffic stop for a probation violation warrant. He provided authorities with fake identifying information, according to the warrant.

Piper, Jackson, Gillbert, and Biscoe all have criminal histories, including shooting and homicide investigations, according to police.
Nicholas Kernan and wife Melody Kernan in a family photo. It's been a year since Kernan was shot and killed while working in Cincinnati's Corryville neighborhood and no suspects have been arrested.

Nicholas Kernan was fatally shot in broad daylight while working in Cincinnati's Corryville neighborhood just over one year ago and his family is still left to wonder why.

Melody Kernan said that since her husband's death, the world has become a scarier place for her and her family. If something like this could happen to him, his loved ones say, then it can happen to anyone.

"Everybody has become more aware, more on edge, you know, more cautious," she said.

Thursday marked one year since Kernan was gunned down in a seemingly random act of violence. The 43-year-old was found shot in the 2900 block of Bellevue Avenue on the afternoon of May 23, 2023, and he was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he died of his injuries, according to Cincinnati police.

Kernan was an avid Beatles fan who loved playing the bass guitar, dirt track racing and Christmastime, according to his family. He proposed to his wife on the observation deck of Carew Tower, his favorite Downtown landmark.

Nicholas Kernan was an avid Beatles fan, according to his family. The 43-year-old was shot and killed while working in Corryville just over a year ago.

"It's just been so hard to try to figure out how to build a life without half of me," Melody Kernan said, adding their anniversary was on April 25.

Kernan was on the job with Uptown Rental Properties  where he had worked as a field technician since March 2022  when the shooter approached him, Dan Schimberg, the company's president and CEO, previously told The Enquirer.

During their update on the case to local news media in June 2023, police said they had yet to determine whether the shooting was targeted or random.

Investigators previously released footage of a possible person of interest walking and running through the Corryville area on the day of the shooting. The man was wearing an olive-colored hoodie, a black face mask and shorts. It remains unclear if investigators ever made contact with him.

An image of a possible person of interest in the May 23, 2023, fatal shooting of Nicholas Kernan. Thursday marked one year since Kernan was gunned down in broad daylight.

When asked Thursday whether police could give any updates about the investigation, Lt. Jonathan Cunningham said the department doesn't have any new information to share.

Cunningham urged anyone with information or who witnessed Kernan's killing to contact the Cincinnati Police Department's homicide unit at 513-352-3542 or CrimeStoppers at 513-352-3040.

While Melody Kernan has remained in touch with investigators over the past year, she says she's heard conflicting stories and the police haven't shared information if they've learned anything new.

While Uptown Rental Properties previously said the shooting was the result of an attempted robbery, the police told his wife that it may have stemmed from a gang initiation ritual.

"They've given me more questions than answers," she said. "I don't have a clue what to believe right now."

Melody Kernan holds on to her daughter, Katie Duncan as she reads a statement about her stepfather, Nicholas Kernan, 43, who was found shot while working in Corryville.

She doesn't know who killed her husband or why, but until the truth comes out, Melody Kernan doesn't believe anyone should be cleared of suspicion.

While she understands that people might be afraid to come forward with information, she said they should do the right thing and speak up.

"Somebody knows something, you know, and they just haven't come forward," she said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Nicholas Kernan shooting: Family still without answers a year later
Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad's (KLSE:CMSB) dividend is being reduced from last year's payment covering the same period to MYR0.02 on the 28th of June. This means that the annual payment is 1.7% of the current stock price, which is lower than what the rest of the industry is paying.

Check out our latest analysis for Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad

Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. Based on the last payment, Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad was earning enough to cover the dividend, but free cash flows weren't positive. We think that cash flows should take priority over earnings, so this is definitely a worry for the dividend going forward.

Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 46.8% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 12% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.

Dividend Volatility

While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. The annual payment during the last 10 years was MYR0.0567 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was MYR0.02. This works out to be a decline of approximately 9.9% per year over that time. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.

Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky

Dividends have been going in the wrong direction, so we definitely want to see a different trend in the earnings per share. Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad's EPS has fallen by approximately 15% per year during the past five years. Such rapid declines definitely have the potential to constrain dividend payments if the trend continues into the future. On the bright side, earnings are predicted to gain some ground over the next year, but until this turns into a pattern we wouldn't be feeling too comfortable.

The Dividend Could Prove To Be Unreliable

Overall, it's not great to see that the dividend has been cut, but this might be explained by the payments being a bit high previously. With cash flows lacking, it is difficult to see how the company can sustain a dividend payment. We don't think Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Is Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
DECATUR, Ala (WHNT)  A Morgan County judge made a gag order permanent on Friday in the murder case against a former Decatur officer.

Former Decatur Police Officer Mac Bailey Marquette is charged with the on-duty shooting of Stephen Perkins in his driveway on Sept. 29, 2023. A temporary gag order has been in place in the case since March, but prosecutors wanted it to be made permanent.

Decatur Police: 1 arrested after road rage incident leads to shots fired into vehicle

Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott decided to make it permanent one week after a hearing regarding the gag order.

The Courts goal is to ensure that the final conclusions reached in this case are done by

a jury, through the presentation of evidence inside of the courtroom without any

outside influence from either public media or private discussions, Elliott wrote in the order.

That hearing saw 11 top-ranking Decatur Police officers including Chief Todd Pinion testify on whether they had leaked an investigative video that laid out evidence in the Perkins case.

That video was leaked in March and was published on the 1819 News website a few days after the gag order was put in place. Every officer denied leaking or giving public access to the video while being questioned at the hearing by Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson, who has argued the video leak could harm Marquettes right to a fair trial.

In a court filing last week, lawyers for the City of Decatur said the police command staff decided to show all of the departments officers the video after Marquette was indicted.

Limestone County family awarded $15 million in wrongful death lawsuit against HEMSI, 2 employees

Anderson questioned if the Decatur Police Department had, in any other case, made evidence in the murder case available to be shown to every officer. The officers testified that they could not think of a time when the department chose to share evidence like this in any previous murder case. Pinion said in court that the decision to share the video with the entire department was based on consistent questions about the case and for training purposes.

Officers testified in the hearing that the video was put on a thumb drive and given to shift lieutenants to share with rank-and-file officers.

Marquettes father and Decatur City Councilman Hunter Pepper also testified they did not release the video.

Multiple officers also testified that they expected Andersons office to release the video of the shooting.

The defense in the case had argued the original gag order was too broad and would limit its ability to talk to witnesses and defend Marquette at trial. In his order Friday, Judge Elliot specifically addressed those concerns. He said that the order does not prevent any lawyer on the case from discussing the case with their client or a victim representative. The order also makes it clear what other conversations are not included in the order.

It further does not prevent internal discussions from taking place among members of the defense attorney(s)s firm or the District Attorneys Office, or conversations between the attorneys in the case, The order says. Lastly, it does not prevent the attorneys or their staffs from communicating with any witness, potential witness, or any person in an attempt to discover evidence.

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.
The Mount Carroll District Library will hold a dedication ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8, to celebrate the completed $2.6 million restoration and expansion of its historic Carnegie library building, according to a news release.

The public is invited to the dedication and tour the completed facility at 208 N. Main St. in Mount Carroll, Illinois. The open house will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The dedication of the Mount Carroll Library facility is the culmination of over 12 years of planning, grant writing, fundraising, designing, and construction.

We are grateful to the over 240 individuals and organizations, including the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, and the City of Mount Carroll who helped fund this transformational project, said Laurel Bergrenm library trustee and project manager. We appreciate each and every one who volunteered encouragement, time, expertise, and labor over all these years to make the Mount Carroll District Library project a success.

The original Mount Carroll District Library building, originally funded in part by Andrew Carnegie, was built in 1907. Although well-maintained, the small building had not been upgraded or modernized over the years. Besides space, accessibility, and climate control requirements, public needs greatly exceed those of 1907.

The rehabilitation of the historic Carnegie portion of the library building maintains its historic integrity, said Marsha Foltz, library president. The approximately 7,200 square feet of new library space transitions from the old seamlessly while featuring many of the historic exterior elements inside.

Foltz and Project Manager Bergren will offer remarks at the dedication ceremony which will be held on the front steps of the Mount Carroll Library. For more information, call the library at 915-244-1751

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.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man was arrested on Friday after police say he broke into his ex-girlfriends house, assaulted her and stole her television.

Darius Henderson, 26, has been charged with aggravated assault and aggravated burglary following the April incident.

On April 7, officers responded to a domestic disturbance on Mimosa Avenue around 5:15 p.m.

When they arrived, they spoke with a victim who said that shed found her ex-boyfriend/childs father, later identified as Darius Henderson, inside her residence when she and her daughter arrived home.

The victim told officers that Henderson gained entry into her home through a bedroom window and hid there until he heard her come inside.

She stated that she was frightened by Henderson, who allegedly grabbed her by her throat and began demanding money as he struck her several times.

MPD: Woman stabs, assaults restaurant workers and customers

The victim then said that Henderson then grabbed a television in the home and attempted to leave with it. When she tried to stop him, she said he assaulted her again, struck her down to the ground, pointed a black handgun at her and cocked it.

Henderson allegedly fled the scene and dropped the weapon, leaving it on the ground where arriving officers were able to gather it as evidence.

The police reports state that considering the history between the two parties where Henderson was the primary aggressor, injuries to the victim, statements provided by the victim and reporting officers and the likelihood that the abuse would continue, police felt they had enough probable cause to arrest Henderson.

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.
Russian forces struck a Ukrainian shopping center in Kharkiv on Saturday, leaving four people dead and 38 people wounded according to local officials.

PHOTO: Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of shelling of a market in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 25, 2024. (Sergey Kozlov/EPA via Shutterstock)

Sources in local law enforcement tell ABC News they expect the casualty numbers to rise as this supermarket is usually crowded on weekends and employs dozens of people. Oleh Synyehubov, the Kharkiv governor, said on Ukrainian television that they have so far identified 16 people as officially missing.

PHOTO: Firefighters inspect a heavily damaged office building following Russian air strike in Kharkiv, on May 25, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images)

Synyehubov also said there was a second strike in Kharkiv that injured 12 people, including a 13-year-old boy.

MORE: Video It is time to help Ukraine hit bases in Russia: Victoria Nuland

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 200 people were believed to have been in the shopping center when the attack happened. He continued to plead with other nations for support.

PHOTO: Firefighters work at a site of a household item shopping mall hit by a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 25, 2024. (Vitalii Hnidyi/Reuters)

"If Ukraine had enough air defense and modern combat aircraft, such Russian strikes would simply be impossible. And that is why we appeal to all leaders, to all states: we need a significant strengthening of air defense and sufficient capabilities to destroy Russian terrorists," Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post.

ABC News' Popova Zaliznyak contributed to this report.

Multiple people killed, dozens injured in Russian airstrike on Ukraine shopping center originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  With public safety, mental health and addiction top of mind for those living in the Portland metro area, local election candidates are putting forth their platforms on addressing public safety ahead of potential runoffs in November.

KOIN 6 News spoke with Multnomah County Commission District 1 candidates to get their perspectives on these topics.

How we have responded to this crisis over the last five years isnt good enough, said candidate Meghan Moyer. But that doesnt mean that Portland and Multnomah County wants to give up on helping people.

If you want to see change, which is what were doing here, we are asking for that change that we need for public safety, for the people living on our streets. I think that the voters will realize I am the candidate for that, candidate Vadim Mozyrsky told KOIN 6 News.

Federal inspection finds serious operational deficiencies in Sheridan prison

As Friday evening, Moyer is leading the District 1 race with roughly 46% of the vote compared to Mozryskys 39%.

Candidates vying for the District 1 seat spoke with KOIN 6 about how they plan to address the issues of addiction, homelessness, mental health and violence on public transit, three days after a man narrowly escaped with his life after being randomly shoved in front of a MAX train in the heart of downtown Portland.

My opponent in this race has advocated to leave those people on the streets. Shes saying we should not expand civil commitments for people that sometimes dont even realize that they have very serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, Mozyrsky said.

In response, Moyer told KOIN 6 she has never said she wants to leave people in crisis on the streets. I want to make sure that theres a safety net that connects people to services so that there arent people coming through, over and over and over again, at incredible cost to themselves and to taxpayers, she said.

Man found guilty of murder, manslaughter for 2020 stabbings

Their comments come as the suspect accused of shoving the man onto the tracks  who was saved thanks to the quick-thinking of a MAX operator  pleaded not guilty to attempted murder this week. Two months ago, a man was also charged with stabbing another passenger, Michael Brady, to death.

This follows a slew of other violent attacks on and around public transit in recent years. Authorities have characterized many of the suspects in these attacks as being in a behavioral health crisis

Administrative law judge candidate Mozyrsky said Multnomah County has failed to act. He is now calling for more outreach and the expansion of civil commitment statutes for people experiencing mental health crises.

Im very confident, Mozyrsky said. What well see in the runoff is that we will have more attention to this race. We will have debates and things that have not happened in the past to allow people to understand the difference in this race. And the difference is my experience, my desire to change versus the status quo.

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Candidate Moyer, the policy director for Disability Rights Oregon, said she feels civil commitments are a necessary  but temporary  fix for a problem that requires longer-term solutions such as activating Medicaid funding.

Right now, Moyer is leading the race that will likely result in a November runoff against Mozyrsky.

I am so thrilled with the level of support Ive gotten and to be ahead in this race by a comfortable margin, Moyer said. I think this primary really proves that people want to have a deeper conversation and are looking for real solutions and not just sound bites.

In response to KOIN 6s request for comment about public safety on TriMet, the agency issued the following statement:

At TriMet, our hearts go out to every victim of violence, whether on our system or elsewhere in our community. We are committed to the safety of our riders and employees. That is why we strongly support the efforts of state and regional leaders to address the societal issues affecting the livability of our region, including crime, drug use and addiction, houselessness and mental illness, which will, at times, extend onto our system. TriMet also has made important investments in safety and security. We have more than doubled the number of TriMet safety, security and customer service personnel dedicated to our transit system since 2022, and were continuing to add more. We have added a Safety Response Team to help those on and around our transit system connect with social services. We work closely with Transit Police and our law enforcement partners. And, while we always urge people to contact 911 or their TriMet operator for urgent or emergency issues, we expanded options for riders to report non-urgent security concerns directly to TriMets Security support team 24 hours a day. Riders can text or call 503-238-7433 (RIDE), or go through a security button on the trimet.org homepage, to report those issues. We detail more of our safety and security efforts at trimet.org/security.

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.
(NBC News)  On Fridays Dateline, a high-profile Florida murder case begins when Dr. Teresa Sievers is found dead in her kitchen.

Detectives struggled to find leads until an unexpected tip about the crime changed everything. Viewers will hear from the woman who helped investigators.

Dateline correspondent Dennis Murphy interviews Dr. Sievers close acquaintances, Detectives David Lebid and Michael Downs, and Prosecutors Cynthia Ross and Hamid Hunter.

Unsolved Ohio: Suspect unknown three years after woman stabbed to death in Columbus

Here is a preview of Murphys report:

Crime scene tape surrounded the house of Mark and Theresa Sievers. As darkness fell, it was clear no one was going to be sleeping that night. A killer was on the loose.

Photo: Dateline NBC

DETECTIVE: She was face down in a large pool of blood.

Who could have murdered Dr. Theresa Sievers, and in such a brutal way? Crime scene investigators carefully processed the house.

DETECTIVE: No footprints, no fingerprints, no DNA left on scene that we were able to recover.

They were focusing their attention on those closest to the victim. The spouse usually tops that list, but Theresas husband Mark was 1,300 miles away when she was killed. It couldnt have been him.

Why Ashley Madison says Columbus is the top city signing up for affairs

Frustration was setting in for the detectives. But then, out of the blue, a tip came in that detectives could not ignore. It would, as they say, change everything.

Watch Dateline: The Road Trip Friday at 9 p.m. on NBC4.

About Dateline

Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history and is in its 32nd season. Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy.

The stories range from compelling mysteries to powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. When major news breaks, they go to the scene, putting the pieces together to bring the viewer the full picture. And in every story they tell, they help the real people who lived the events share their journeys with the viewer.

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.
When school is out for the summer, Muscatine kindergarten through 12th grade students can ride the MuscaBus route buses for free, according to a news release.

Free rides begin on Wednesday, May 29, and end on Thursday, Aug. 22.

MuscaBus (City of Muscatine Public Transit)

Parents or students with questions can call 563-263-8152 or ask a driver for assistance. Middle- and high-school students need to carry their school identification for verification.

Information about route buses can be found here. Weekday and Saturday schedules are on the Public Transit 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Co-coordinator Abubakr Nanabawa suggested there was a link between the British Empire and the prevailing attitude towards the races it colonised

The frontman for The Muslim Vote campaign group suggested Britain helped to create racism through colonisation, the Sunday Telegraph can reveal.

Abubakr Nanabawa is the co-ordinator, spokesman and sole director of the group, which will create a list of approved candidates for Muslims to vote for in the general election on July 4.

While a student Labour activist at Birmingham University, Mr Nanabawa suggested there was a link between the British Empire and the prevailing attitude towards the races it colonised.

The campaign was established in response to the war in Gaza and the Labour Partys decision not to oppose Israels military response to Oct 7 from the start.

It is aiming to make sure Britains 3.9 million Muslims turn out on polling day and vote against Labour candidates, putting pressure on Keir Starmer to adopt The Muslim Votes 18 demands. These include immediately recognising Palestine as a state, cutting military ties with Israel and investing seven per cent of public pensions in ethical and Islamic funds.

Jalaluddin Patel, the ex-leader of now-proscribed Hizb ut-Tahrir, is said to be involved in the campaign - Matthew Chattle / Alamy Live News/Alamy Pay

A number of prominent Muslim radicals are involved in the campaign, prompting concerns about its leadership. Those involved include the ex-leader of now-proscribed Hizb ut-Tahrir and a man who has dismissed allegations of hostage rape against Hamas as a lie.

Mr Nanabawa, 24, was a student at the University of Birmingham when he told the University of Yorks Labour Club in June 2020 that the UK played a role in creating racism and setting up concentration camps in Kenya and other countries.

He said: Opinion polls show that the majority of people in the UK believe that the British Empire did more good than bad in countries it colonised.

A Labour activist during his time at university, the following year, Mr Nanabawa called for every student at Birmingham to take a compulsory module on race and empire, regardless of their degree. At the same time, he also worked as a voluntary caseworker for the Federation Of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS)  a position which, according to his LinkedIn profile, he continues to hold.

FOSIS was criticised by the Home Office in November 2022 for touring universities up and down the country with Cage and Prevent Watch, two groups accused of undermining counter-extremism efforts by claiming the Prevent programme is biased against Muslims.

Prof Nigel Biggar CBE, the author of Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning, disputed Mr Nanabawas reading of imperial history, saying: Group prejudice is a normal human phenomenon.

The Brahmins despised Untouchables in India long before Britons arrived, he said. Medieval Arab Muslims explained the natural inferiority of white Europeans and black Africans as an effect of a climate, respectively, too cold and too hot.

And when the Irish novelist, Gerald Hanley, was serving in the British Army in Somaliland during the Second World War, he found he couldnt persuade his Somali troops to obey their Bantu sergeant, because they regarded the Bantu as natural slaves.

It is wrong to claim it represents Britains four million Muslims

The Muslim Vote launched earlier this year and has since issued Sir Keir Starmer with a list of 18 demands to win back Muslim support in the wake of the war in Gaza. However, it has disclosed little about who is behind it.

Its website lists 24 Islamic organisations as supporters, including two  Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) and Muslim Engagement and Development (Mend)  which are currently being assessed against a new government definition of extremism.

In December, Jalaluddin Patel  the former leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir  wrote on X: I am pleased to announce a project we have been working on. A united group of organisations have come together and launched https://themuslimvote.co.uk.

Mr Patel, who hosts a podcast called The Thinking Muslim under the name Muhammad Jalal, did not respond to a request for comment. He has previously denied that he is an organiser for the campaign and said he only helped The Muslim Vote with data collection.

But the Community Security Trust, which tracks anti-Semitic hate in Britain, said it was extremely troubling that Mr Patel was involved in an effort to sway votes in British elections.

It is extremely troubling that a former leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir, a radical Islamist group with views so extreme that it has now been banned, is claiming to be behind this effort to sway votes in British elections, a spokesman said.

While election campaigning in itself is entirely legitimate, The Muslim Vote ought to be much more transparent about the people behind their campaign and ensure that anybody who has expressed extreme or anti-Semitic views is not involved.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that another figure involved in the campaign is Anas Altikriti, who said in an interview with Mr Nanabawa on April 17 that he was acting as an adviser to the organisation.

Mr Altikriti has previously said the taking of hostages was a very important part of any act of resistance, that Israel was mimicking Nazis and that allegations of hostage rape against Hamas were a lie.

Dr Rakib Ehsan, author of Beyond Grievance, said The Muslim Votes leaders and proposed policies prove it is wrong to claim it represents Britains four million Muslims.

Failing to represent the socially conservative values which run deep in many British Muslim communities, its list of eighteen demands to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer included nothing on family policy and promoting the institution of marriage, Mr Ehsan said.

There was also no reference to the sanctity of life in relation to abortion and euthanasia.

Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, director of Dont Divide Us, added: We should be very concerned about any group abusing genuine anti-war sentiment to entrench sectarianism, intolerance and racism.

The Muslim Vote initiative claims to speak for all Muslims, but like all campaigns driven by identity politics it represents a particularly ideological position which may or may not meet the new definition of extremism but is certainly inflexible, divisive, and in practice, not conducive to upholding democratic norms.

The Muslim Vote, MAB, Mend, Mr Patel and Mr Altikriti have all been approached for comment.

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NASA has launched the first of two research satellites to measure how much heat is lost to space from the Arctic and Antarctica.

The shoebox-size satellite lifted off Saturday at 7:42 p.m. local time (3:42 a.m. ET) aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Rocket Labs launch complex in Mahia, New Zealand. The company confirmed the satellites successful deployment at 8:35 p.m. local time (4:35 a.m. ET).

The climate science mission, known as Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment, or PREFIRE, aims to improve scientists understanding of how water vapor, clouds and other elements of Earths atmosphere trap heat and keep it from radiating into space.

Technicians integrate PREFIRE inside the Rocket Lab Electron rocket payload fairing on Wednesday at the companys facility in New Zealand. - Rocket Lab

The data gathered will inform climate models and hopefully lead to better predictions of how the climate crisis will affect sea levels, weather, snow and ice cover, NASA said.

Earth absorbs a lot of energy from the sun in the tropics regions. Weather and ocean currents move that heat energy toward the poles, where the heat radiates upward into space. Much of that heat is in far-infrared wavelengths and has never been systematically measured before, NASA added.

PREFIRE is composed of two CubeSats fitted with specialized miniature heat sensors. The launch date for the second satellite will be announced shortly after the launch of the first satellite, NASA said.

Once theyre both launched, the two satellites will be in asynchronous near-polar orbits  passing over a specific spot at different times, looking at the same area within hours of each other.

Doing so should allow the satellites to collect data about phenomena that take place on a short time scale and require frequent measurements  such as how the amount of cloud cover affects the temperature on Earth beneath it.

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After nearly three weeks of exhaustive tests and data analysis, NASA managers said Friday they are confident Boeing's oft-delayed Starliner crew capsule can safely launch "as is" on June 1, saying a small helium leak in the ship's propulsion system does not pose a flight safety concern.

Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said even if a suspect shirt-button-size rubber seal in the plumbing leading to one specific thruster failed completely in flight  resulting in a leak rate 100 times worse than what's been observed to date  the Starliner could still fly safely.

"Should we be wrong about something, we could handle up to four more leaks," he said. "And we could handle this particular leak if that leak rate were to grow, even up to 100 times in this one (propulsion module)."

What will now be a nearly one-month launch delay was required because "we needed to take the time to work through this analysis, and to understand the helium leak and understand the ramifications of that," Stich said.

It also gives the workforce time off over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The Starliner's two NASA crew members, commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams, plan to fly back to Florida's Kennedy Space Center next Tuesday to prepare for launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station atop an Atlas 5 rocket at 12:25 p.m. EDT June 1.

If all goes well, they will dock at the International Space Station the next day and return to Earth on June 10.

Wilmore and Williams were in the process of strapping in for launch May 6 when the countdown was aborted because of problems with an oxygen pressure relief valve in their Atlas 5's Centaur upper stage. Rocket-builder United Launch Alliance hauled the booster back to a processing facility and replaced the valve without incident.

At the same time, Boeing engineers began a detailed investigation of a small helium leak in one of the Starliner's four propulsion modules, known as "doghouses," that showed up when valves were closed as part of normal post-scrub procedures.

The leak eventually was traced to a flange where propellant lines feeding a specific reaction control system thruster in the port doghouse come together. The Starliner is equipped with 28 RCS jets, and helium is used to pressurize the propellant lines, opening and closing valves in each doghouse as needed.

Because traces of extremely toxic propellants could still be present in the plumbing, the seal could not be replaced or even inspected while the capsule was still attached to the Atlas 5. The Starliner would first have to be hauled back to Boeing's processing hangar at the Kennedy Space Center for invasive repairs that would trigger a lengthier delay.

Instead, NASA and Boeing ordered tests and analysis to fully understand the leak and what sort of problems it might cause in flight. The observed leak rate did not appear to be a concern, but engineers needed to gain confidence it would not dramatically worsen. They also wanted to make sure no other systems were affected.

Stich said the seal in question likely was crimped or had a tiny defect, allowing helium to slip through. But testing showed that even if the seal was removed from the flange, the Starliner could still fly safely. The helium manifold in question could be isolated and the Starliner's many other thrusters could easily compensate.

Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner program manager, said the May 6 launch scrub had a "silver lining," because it brought the helium leak to everyone's attention and "we now know exactly where it was, we have done all the work to understand the root cause, and that's going to help us with improving the system in the future."

"Had we launched ... it would have been a safe flight and a successful flight," he said, "but we would have not known as much as we know today."

That includes one unexpected result, what Stich called "a design vulnerability." The investigation shows that in the very remote chance of major trouble with two adjacent doghouses, including the one with the helium leak, the Starliner could lose redundancy for the thruster firing needed to drop out of orbit for re-entry.

The Starliner was designed to support three redundant de-orbit capabilities. In one, the braking burn is carried out with four powerful Orbital Maneuvering and Attitude Control (OMAC) thrusters. The burn also can be carried out with just two working OMAC jets, or with eight smaller RCS thrusters, by firing them longer than planned.

In the right circumstances, with adjacent doghouse modules out of action, the Starliner could lose the full eight-thruster RCS deorbit capability.

"We've worked with the vendor of the thruster, Boeing and our NASA team to come up with a redundant method to do the orbit burn, to break it up into two burns about 10 minutes each, 80 minutes apart, to come up with a four-RCS-thruster deorbit burn and to regain the capability of the original system," Stich said.

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China and Brazil have issued a joint call for de-escalation in the Ukraine war, proposing an "international peace conference" be convened to mediate an end to the two-year armed conflict.

The statement from the two countries followed a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Celso Amorim, a special adviser to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Beijing on Thursday.

It marked the first time China has formally offered such an initiative since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

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Moscow and Kyiv have yet to respond to the Sino-Brazilian proposal.

However, four high-ranking Russian officials told Reuters on Friday that "[Russian President] Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war in Ukraine with a ceasefire that recognises the current battlefield lines".

Putin expressed "frustration to a small group of advisers over what he views as Western-backed attempts to pursue negotiations" with Ukraine, according to the reports.

The Sino-Brazilian proposal includes measures addressing the exchange of prisoners, permission to bring humanitarian aid into areas affected by the conflict and the protection of civilians, particularly women and children.

China and Brazil voiced support last year for a "comprehensive ceasefire" - a concept previously suggested by Moscow and Beijing but rejected by Kyiv.

Last May, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen opposed the China-backed proposal, saying she instead favoured a peace plan "that does not reward the aggressor".

Von der Leyen argued then that "a ceasefire that leads to a frozen conflict will not bring lasting peace" and accused Russia of violating previous deals such as the Minsk agreements.

Those pacts called for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from Donbas, a disputed region in eastern Ukraine that was annexed by Russia and is now occupied by it.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking during a campaign event for her Christian Democratic Union party in Germany, rejected a China-backed ceasefire proposal last year for the Ukraine war. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking during a campaign event for her Christian Democratic Union party in Germany, rejected a China-backed ceasefire proposal last year for the Ukraine war. Photo: EPA-EFE>

Story continues

Months later, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also criticised the China-backed proposal and said Washington expected the establishment of a peace process that would include mechanisms to "protect Ukraine from future aggression".

"A ceasefire that simply freezes current lines in place and enables Putin to consolidate control over the territory he seized and then rest, rearm and reattack," Blinken said at the time, "is not a just and lasting peace".

Neither the US State Department nor the European Commission could immediately be reached for comment on the latest development from Beijing.

In their statement on Thursday, Brazil and China further condemned "attacks on nuclear-power plants and other peaceful nuclear facilities".

The two stated their opposition to the use of "weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons and chemical and biological weapons." Throughout the Ukraine war, Putin has repeatedly threatened to deploy Russia's nuclear arsenal.

On Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Beijing's "pressing priority is to cool down the situation and accumulate conditions for ceasefire".

"Many developing countries, including China and Brazil, have called for upholding an objective and just position on the Ukraine crisis," he added.

"All of us oppose fuelling the flames and hope to build up international consensus to find the most extensive common ground for restoring peace."

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference in Beijing on May 16, 2024. The Sino-Brazilian ceasefire proposal came a week after the Russian leader's state visit to China. Photo: Kremlin/dpa alt=Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference in Beijing on May 16, 2024. The Sino-Brazilian ceasefire proposal came a week after the Russian leader's state visit to China. Photo: Kremlin/dpa>

Wang said China and Brazil welcomed more countries to "play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation and promoting talks for peace".

The recent initiative by the two Brics nations comes a week after Putin's state visit to Beijing and mirrors the "peace club" idea proposed by Lula in 2022. Failing to win China's support for that idea, Brazil initially stepped back from it.

But following a meeting last year between Lula and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Amorim told journalists he still hoped China would be involved in finding a solution to the war.

Not all observers were optimistic. Thiago de Aragao of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, described the new joint proposal as "dead on arrival".

The plan was unlikely to materialise because of Western distrust of China and Brazil's intentions, de Aragao said. Beijing was trying to capitalise on Brasilia being one of its few global partners that "still has some credibility in the West, especially in Europe".

"The idea of holding an international conference on this issue is a good one," he added. "The big problem is that 50 per cent of the interested parties, namely Ukraine and Nato, do not trust the proponents of this idea."

Negotiations of this kind would be more productive if Washington and Beijing were directly involved, de Aragao said, calling them guarantors of the parties to the conflict.

"To move forward, the first thing the US would demand ... is the immediate suspension of Chinese dual-use goods exports to Russia, something I don't see China agreeing to."

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.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland reversed on Friday a National Park Service directive that would have barred employees from participating in LGBTQ + Pride Month events while in uniform. The initial policy, issued on May 17, led to widespread backlash from the LGBTQ+ community.

The memo , first obtained by Politico Pro, had stated that requests from employees asking to participate in uniform in a variety of events and activities, including events not organized by the NPS, conflicted with the agencys policy. This move marked a considerable shift from the agencys history of supporting LGBTQ+ visibility.

In response, Haaland sent an email to all NPS employees on Friday afternoon, reversing the directive. NPS operates under the Interior Department.

I want to ensure that every employee has the opportunity to thrive in a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment, Haaland wrote in the message which The Advocate obtained.

Haalands email emphasized the importance of Special Emphasis Months, which include observances for LGBTQ+ Pride.

One way in which we support and celebrate who we are at the Department is through programs organized around Special Emphasis Months, which have been identified by Presidential Proclamation, Executive Orders, and public law to ensure that federal agencies take affirmative steps to provide equal opportunity in all areas of employment, she wrote. In addition to events and activities organized by the Department and/or individual bureaus and offices, sometimes there are externally organized events and activities that further the same goals as those in the Special Emphasis Months.

Special Emphasis Programs at the Department of the Interior include observances for American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, Black Employment, Federal Womens Program, Hispanic Employment, Individuals with Disabilities and Disabled Veterans, Juneteenth, LGBTQ+ Pride, and Womens Equality Day.

Haaland directed bureau leaders to determine how and when to participate in these events. This could include marching units in parades, booths at parades, events, etc., she wrote. This would allow employees to participate in uniform representing their respective bureau. Haaland added, This direction takes effect immediately.

Pattie Gonia, a climate activist and drag artist who had appeared in a promotional video with Haaland, who is Native American, in October to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, organized a call to action after the initial policy was revealed.



www.instagram.com

In a statement to The Advocate, Pattie Gonia praised the efforts of LGBTQ+ Park Service employees and highlighted the need for safeguards to prevent bias in approving Pride event participation.

We are communicating with our park service contacts to gather their feedback on this policy update, she wrote. In the meantime, we congratulate queer park service employees on the great lengths that they have gone to secure this reversal. We thank the National Park Service and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland for listening to their employees as well as the general public. We remain cautious on how the updated policy will be implemented.

Pattie Gonia stressed the importance of implementing safeguards to ensure that employees and employee resource groups can appeal any denials of permission to participate in events, as local park leadership might have personal views that conflict with the new policy.

"This is proof that when queer people fight we win," Pattie Gonia added. "This is proof that it is never too late to do the right thing."

GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis also commended the employees who spoke out.

Our National Parks and the public servants who work there are treasures valued by every American. Employees should be able to express support for Pride and all celebrations that bring people together to reflect the beautiful diversity of our country and people, Ellis told The Advocate. We owe thanks to Park Service employees who spoke up about the discriminatory policy and who work every day to make all feel welcome to enjoy the parks that belong to all of us.

National press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign , Brandon Wolf, celebrated the announcement as well.

This is good news, Wolf told The Advocate. The National Park Service plays a crucial role in recognizing and celebrating LGBTQ+ people, including by preserving historic sites like Stonewall and allowing its employees to participate in Pride. Recent years have seen an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks that have put LGBTQ+ people across the country in crisis and its important that the Biden-Harris Administration, the most pro-equality in history, are continuing to demonstrate their support for the community.

The Advocate contacted the Department of the Interior but did not immediately hear back on Saturday.
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, takes part in a press conference with Chancellor Scholz in the Chancellery. Hannes P Albert/dpa

China's support for Moscow is a crucial factor in the Russian war against Ukraine, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"China says it wants to maintain good relations with the West. At the same time, however, Beijing is fuelling the war in Europe. You can't have it both ways," Stoltenberg told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

There has been a significant increase in sales of machine parts, microelectronics and other technologies that Moscow is using to produce missiles, tanks and aircraft for use against Ukraine, he said.

There are no records indicating that China is supplying Russia with weapons or ammunition. However, other exports from China to Russia have increased significantly since the war began and Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow.

According to Western experts, these exports include so-called "dual-use" goods, which can be used for both civilian and military purposes.

Commenting on the situation on the ground in Ukraine, Stoltenberg told the newspaper: "Ukraine has suffered setbacks in the theatre of war due to a lack of ammunition and weapons. But it is not yet too late for Ukraine to win."

NATO states must send Kiev more weapons and ammunition, including air defence systems and long-range weapons, Stoltenberg said.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed a historic water settlement with the federal government on Friday, the day after the Navajo Nation Council approved it unanimously. Speaker Crystalyne Curley said she believes Congress will support the measure, finally bringing the promise of water for thousands of people.

The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement, once passed by Congress, will settle the Navajo Nations claims to water rights to all Colorado River water in Arizona.

The separate Rio San Jose Stream System Water Rights Settlement Agreement will settle water rights claims in the Rio San Jose Stream System and the Rio Puerco Basin in New Mexico for the Navajo Nation if considered by Congress.

These have been initiatives that have been going for many decades, said Curley. We made history today. I know this took many monthsthis is an opportunity for us to think 100 years ahead for our children.

Tommy Rock fills water barrels at his family's home in Oljato, Utah, on the Navajo Nation. Rock is a researcher who specializes in studying environmental contamination and public health.

The settlement would end long years of legal disputes among the tribes and the state and federal governments and offer certainty for all sides as the rights to water resources are finally resolved. Its approval came nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government was not obligated to secure and deliver water across the Navajo Nation.

Included in the agreement is proposed funding of about $5 billion to build essential water projects required by the Navajo Nation, money that would require appropriations by Congress.

After the 25th Navajo Nation Council took office, along with Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya, a consensus emerged to address water rights claims, initiating discussions that had dragged on for years. Leaders emphasized that the effort was a collaborative endeavor involving Navajo Nation leadership, the Navajo Department of Justice, the Navajo Attorney General's office, the Navajo Department of Water Resources and the Navajo Nation Water Rights Commission.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren (right) and Madam Speaker Crystalyne Curley listen during the Navajo Nation Code Talkers Day ceremony on Aug. 14, 2023, at the Veterans Memorial Park in Window Rock.

One thing we had to do was go back to all 17 agreements in the settlement agreement and that was a challenge within itself, said Curley. There have been attempts through council rights in the past and unfortunately it didn't come to this point of time when there was unanimous support.

The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement involves 17 participants, including the U.S. government, Arizona, and the Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribes. The settlement calls for the Navajo Nation to receive a substantial amount of Arizona's Colorado River Upper Basin water, some Lower Basin water, all the groundwater underlying the Navajo Nation, all surface water that reaches the Navajo Nation from the Little Colorado River, and all wash water that reaches the Nation south of the Hopi Reservation.

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I think it was the change in time and change in generation, where we are not only dealing with droughts but post-COVID and climate change, said Curley. A challenge was getting aligned with all the parties and negotiating back and forth, but we all had that common goal that we had to protect what is ours, and secure for our children and grandchildren.

Curley said they were informed that the Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribes both supported their resolutions to this agreement unanimously as well, which she described as another historic feat as all three tribes worked together to make that same voice that we are going to fight Congress, fighting on the hill, for all of our water claims.

"For the Hopi Tribe, this settlement is not just a legal document; it is a path forward," said Timothy L. Nuvangyaoma, chairman of the Hopi Tribe, and Craig Andrews the vice chair. "Under the agreement, the Hopi Tribe will have access to reliable water and water infrastructure necessary to ensure the health, well-being, and economic prosperity of the Hopi People for generations to come."

Among other things, they noted the agreement makes diverse water sources available to the Hopi Tribe to meet future water needs on the reservation, including reliable mainstream Colorado River water.

"It also provides inter-tribal agreements between the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation to manage and protect groundwater resources shared by the tribes, highlighting principles of sustainability," Nuvangyaoma and Andrews said in their statement. "Most importantly, this settlement provides a way for Hopi to fulfill its covenant with Maasaw: to live as stewards of Hopitutskwa."

A view of the confluence of the Little Colorado River (above) and the Colorado River (below) in the Grand Canyon on Dec. 1, 2021.

Agreements apportion water from various sources

According to the agreement, the Navajo Nation would receive 44,700 acre-feet per year from Arizona's allocation of the Upper Basin Colorado River water. The Navajo Nation's current litigation on water rights in Arizona only addresses claims in the Little Colorado River Basin. The Hopi tribes claim on that river would be less than one-third of what they once sought.

The settlement offers six things that continued litigation would not: Access to meaningful and reliable Upper Basin Colorado River Water; access to fourth-priority Lower Basin Colorado River Water; the ability to access Arizona water in New Mexico and Utah and move it to Arizona for use; the ability to use Upper Basin Colorado River Water in the Lower Basin communities, and vice versa; an alternative source of groundwater; and almost $5 billion in water delivery infrastructure.

The settlement includes all the Little Colorado River mainstream water that reaches the Navajo reservation, with historic flows that are estimated to be 122,000 acre-feet per year. For Hopi, that includes existing uses, the same limited new uses as permitted for non-Indian parties and certain limited rights to participate with the Navajo Nation in new and enlarged reservoir projects on or adjacent to Hopi land.

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Also included is 3,600-acre feet per year of fourth-priority Lower Basin Colorado River Water, along with 4,178 acre-feet per year of fourth-priority river water from the Cibola allocation, 750 acre-feet per year of fifth-priority Cibola water and 1,000 acre-feet per year of sixth-priority Cibola water.

Im still amazed that we made it to this point, said Navajo Attorney General Ethel Branch. Its still the beginning. There is much that lies ahead in the process, like getting this to Congress, conforming the documents, filing the decree, and getting it accepted by the court. This is a strong important first step.

The Rio San Jose Stream System Water Rights Settlement Agreement is expected to fund infrastructure for water delivery to a number of rural Navajo communities in New Mexico.

That settlement is proposed to cost $243 million. Funding will go toward wastewater development, chlorination stations, water-hauling stations, an operation and maintenance trust fund, a regional water system to import water and a water acquisition fund.

These water right settlements provide an opportunity for us to diversify our water portfolio, said Crystal Tulley-Cordova, a principal hydrologist in the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, and to be able to help continue to live here on our permanent homeland. We will be closing the clean water access gap with the funding that is in these water right settlements.

The Little Colorado River on March 23, 2023, in Cameron, Ariz.

'Our trust relationship with the federal government means little'

Both settlements include a limited waiver of sovereign immunity, and grassroots groups such as the Dine Water Rights Coalition dont agree with that. In fact, they don't agree with a lot of what's in the settlements, particularly the main Arizona agreement.

What we learned in the 20th century was our trust relationship with the federal government means little, the coalition said in a statement. In the 21st century, nothing has changed. Western states continue to battle Navajo water claims and the federal government argued that the U.S. has no enforceable responsibility to protect Navajos claims this past summer. The loss of acquiring our full share has meant Navajo will be precluded from future development of the reservation and otherwise prevent the beneficial development of the reservation intended by Congress.

The coalition suggested the Navajo Nation should advocate for its water rights in Arizona to ensure a permanent homeland for the Navajo people and their way of life, taking these steps:

Rather than claiming 44,700 AFY of Arizonas Upper Basin allocation, the tribe should be claiming 50,000 AFY. In addition, all water permits issued to other users during the time the Navajo Generating Station agreements were in effect should be given to Navajo in this settlement.

Navajo should assert first-priority rights on the Lower Colorado River mainstream water, and seek actual quantified rights on the LCR mainstream. The tribe should also cap all further wells along the alluvial of the LCR on upstream users and require or ensure the water that reaches Navajo meets federal EPA water quality standards, as there are sources of contamination upstream.

No provisions should be made for industrial use when it comes to the Navajo Aquifer. Navajo needs to advocate to put the confined portion of the N-aquifer under EPA Aquifer Protection Program.

Andrew Curley, a University of Arizona professor, has been studying and closely monitoring Navajo water rights claims for nearly 20 years, and described the settlement as a culmination of many efforts. He has attended numerous meetings, including a recent public meeting at his chapter in Houck, noting that the process can be lengthy, repetitive and challenging for some to follow.

"People know what water is, they don't know how the states have refined water into a very hard-to-understand way of thinking about it," said Andrew Curley. "And that is to the advantage of colonization. If you talk about it in a way that is hard to understand, then it's easier for people to accept things that might not be good for us either in the short or long term."

Deborah Tso pours water into a family's underground tank on Sept. 1, 2020, in Steamboat, Ariz. Water Warriors United delivers water to families in need all across the Navajo Nation.

What people need to remember is, "when they hear terms such as 'lower basin,' 'upper basin,' 'wet water' or 'paper water' these are all colonial terminology to refer to the Colorado River and its tributaries."

"These are ways settler societies have divided water amongst themselves and now are including us in their schemes," said Andrew Curley. "Do we have a better option of our inclusion? Currently, no and that's why settlement is seen as a good action on the part of the people who have negotiated it."

He noted that Arizona has historically used water settlements to resolve various other issues. He believes that most of these issues are no longer relevant. If the current water settlement passes at the congressional level, he said, it would mean the Navajo Nation agreeing to establish a Southern Paiute reservation within its territory, which he recently became aware of when he attended the meeting at Houck chapter.

Michelle Espino, assistant attorney general in the water rights unit, said that in 2000, the Navajo Nation Council approved a treaty between the Navajo Nation and Southern Paiute Tribe, designating a southern and northern reservation for the Southern Paiute Tribe. She said the northern designation would be placed in Utah and the southern would be located near Tuba City.

"Since that treaty, the tribes have been working to ratify the treaty," said Espino. "The reason for that ratification is because Congress needs to authorize the designation of that land for the Southern Paiute Tribe and to provide the directive to portion the land for the tribe. There has been effort in the past, and this congressional session there was legislation to do that ratification and as a result the U.S. team suggested that it be folded into this water rights settlement and also for the opportunity finalize the San Juan Southern Paiute water rights in addition with that land designation."

Curley, the UA professor, wondered whether the Navajo Nation is agreeing to a settlement at a time when Congress is willing to fund infrastructure for the Navajo Nation.

"Right now, Arizona is willing to play ball, prior to this the state of Arizona's congressional representation and state government has been oppositional to tribes not they are more hospitable to tribes," said Andrew Curley. "But, now the landscape of Congress has changed."

Arlyssa D. Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Navajo leaders ratify historic Colorado River water settlement
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is increasingly concerned that Russia and North Korea could be planning an "October surprise" to create turmoil and increase global tensions in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election in November, NBC News reported on May 24, citing senior U.S. officials.

"We have no doubt that North Korea will be provocative this year. Its just a matter of how escalatory it is," a U.S. intelligence official told the news outlet.

Increasingly isolated on the world stage after the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has sought to foster closer ties with North Korea, particularly in the military sphere.

With Russia's military stocks running low and domestic production capacity simultaneously hampered by Western sanctions, North Korea has been shaping up as Russia's leading weapons supplier, reportedly providing Moscow with extensive military packages, including ballistic missiles and over 3 million artillery shells.

According to NBC News, what it dubs the "October surprise" could be moves to expand Pyongyangs nuclear capabilities and increase tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. officials told the news outlet there are concerns Russia could be helping North Korea with the final steps needed for the country to field its first nuclear-armed submarine.

But they also cautioned that their picture of the assistance between the two countries is far from clear.

The U.S. has been able to keep a relatively close eye on actual shipments of weapons but the sharing of military technology is much harder to track.

"The higher-end Russia technical assistance comes in forms that are very difficult indeed to monitor," a senior administration official said.

Elsewhere, South Korea's intelligence service is conducting a review into suspicions that North Korea has provided Russia with artillery shells and other weaponry manufactured in the 1970s, the country's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on May 12.

The NIS' remarks come in response to recent South Korean media reports that allege 122 mm artillery shells manufactured in North Korea in the 1970s were used on Ukraine's eastern front. Both Ukrainian and U.S. officials have previously confirmed that Russia has been using North Korean-produced weaponry to attack Ukraine.

"The NIS is analyzing the relevant circumstance in detail and also continues to track overall military cooperation between North Korea and Russia," the intelligence agency said, amid concern that North Korea is procuring older weapons to develop new ones.

Read also: As Russian losses in Ukraine hit 500,000, Putin buries future demographic risks at home

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Davy and Natalie Lloyd with some of the children helped by the Missions in Haiti organisation - AFP

Two young newlywed US missionaries have been killed in Haiti as widespread gang violence continues to cripple the country.

Natalie Lloyd, 21, and her 23-year-old husband David, known as Davy, were killed along with their Missions in Haiti groups director, 45-year-old Haitian Jude Montis, when two armed groups attacked their compound on Thursday evening.

The attack began when three trucks full of men arrived, beat Mr Lloyd and stole the organisations vehicles.

According to a statement by the missionary organisation  which received live information from the victims via a satellite internet link  the attack escalated when a second gang arrived and one of its members was killed.

This gang went into full attack mode, the organisation, which has been working with Haitian children since 2000, wrote online as the raid was still going on.

They are holed up in there, the gangs have shot all the windows out of the house and continued to shoot.

A photograph of Davy Lloyd and his wife Natalie released by Mrs Lloyd's father, Ben Baker, on Saturday - Ben Baker Facebook/AFP via Getty Images

The deaths of the young couple and Mr Montis were confirmed by Oklahoma-based Missions in Haiti three hours later. We all are devastated, the group said in a statement, which added that all three had been shot.

Mrs Lloyds father, Ben Baker, a Missouri state senator, said: They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to heaven together.

Mr Montis had worked with the organisation for 20 years and left behind a wife and two young children.

Haiti has been beset by widespread gang violence since 2021, when president Jovenel Moise was assassinated. Kidnappings, extortion and murder have plagued the Caribbean nation since.

But violence has escalated even further since February, after several gangs that normally fight each other decided to work together and fight the government.

Hospitals, government buildings, police stations and prisons have been attacked, while Ariel Henry, the prime minister, was forced to resign.

More than 2,500 people were killed or injured in the first three months of 2024 alone, according to the United Nations. Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general;, has described the crisis as a living nightmare.

Kenyan peacekeepers to arrive in three weeks

Last year, Kenya offered to lead a UN-backed multinational security force to restore order to Haiti.

William Ruto, the president of Kenya, told the BBC on Saturday that his 2,500-strong peacekeeping police force is expected to arrive in about three weeks, after facing delays.

We are looking at the horizon of between three weeks and thereabouts for us to be ready to deploy, once everything on the ground is set, he said.

He added that Thursdays deaths are exactly why his country was preparing to send in its police force. We shouldnt be losing people. We shouldnt be losing missionaries, he said.

On Friday, the White House also urged the rapid deployment of the multinational force.

The security situation in Haiti cannot wait, said a National Security Council spokesman.

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Newsom gave up on yet another promise to Californias homeless. No one is surprised | Opinion

It is unacceptable that Gov. Gavin Newsom would promise 1,200 tiny homes to Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego County, and only follow through on a few hundred in Sacramento  leaving the program entirely in the lurch during a budget deficit year.

The Newsom administration seeks only to pay lip service to the crisis of homelessness in our state, rather than doing something tangible to help.

More than a year ago, during his four-day statewide tour instead of a State of the State address, Gov. Newsom stood inside Cal Expo and promised his administration would fund the thousand-plus tiny homes across the state. The cost of the homes would be funded by the state and then delivered and set up by the California National Guard. Sacramento would receive 350 tiny homes; Los Angeles would get 500; San Jose, 200; and San Diego County, 150.

Opinion

But in the last year, Sacramento was the only city to identify a placement site for those homes: Half would go to a site off Stockton Blvd., and the other half would go to a site on Watt Ave. Neither Sacramento-area site has opened yet, and the other three locations have never moved past the planning stages, nor have they ever even identified a usable site.

Late last year, the state informed the cities that  actually, no, they wouldnt be getting pre-built homes delivered on the states dime  the state would cut them a check instead, and they could buy the tiny homes at a reduced cost. Theyd have to ship and build them out on their own, too. Cal Matters reported that San Jose would receive $13.3 million for tiny homes but that building the homes for 200 people would cost $22.7 million, according to San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

And as recently as January of this year, one of the six manufacturers of the tiny homes who were awarded contracts for the program said they didnt know where their products were going, or when.

The state has been stringing them along, as well as us.

Newsoms defenders, including Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, said its the governors job to dream big and sometimes fail  but thats an overly generous interpretation of events. The situation can be less gratuitously read as just another broken promise to Californians.

As Newsom and his administration have played games with the lives of Californians, the states homelessness crisis has grown only more dire: Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported there are 181,399 unhoused Californians, comprising 28% of the nations total homeless population. According to the 2022 Point in Time Count, Sacramento has more than 9,000 people living with homelessness.

According to reporting by Capital Public Radio, Sacramento was allotted $23.3 million by the state for 350 tiny homes, but just the one site on Stockton Blvd. will cost an estimated $22.5 million. That leaves just $800,000 to buy 175 tiny homes for the site on Watt Avenue  at a cost of approximately $100,000 per home.

What are they going to do? Set up eight tiny homes and call it a day? Or will that money just mysteriously disappear into the city budget  again?

Sacramentans are used to excuses from our city and county on homelessness. Time and time again we have been promised shelters and programs, only to watch helplessly as millions are wasted, huge budgets are overblown and our elected politicians give up on  or worse, sweep  our vulnerable neighbors living on the streets.

I guess we really shouldnt have expected anything more from the state.

A previous version of this column cited an incorrect number for how much the city of San Jose was allotted by the state for tiny homes. The correct number is $13.3 million.
Newsom promised 1,200 tiny homes for the unhoused. A year later, none have opened

In March 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom took a different approach to the annual State of the State address, opting instead for a four-day tour to tout announcements on different California issues.

On the first day, Newsom announced 1,200 new tiny homes for unhoused residents in Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego and Los Angeles as part of a $1 billion investment to address homelessness.

California DMV will no longer process these services at offices

People are dying on the streets, dying on our watch, he said at the time. It is a disgrace.

More than a year later, it appears that only Sacramento will receive the homes, with the other cities receiving the money to fund tiny home programs themselves, according to information from the Dept. of General Services provided to Calmatters.

The homes were initially going to be purchased by the state government, which would also pay for their installation, with the city governments in charge of providing services.

Californias REAL ID deadline is now under a year away, heres what you need to know

The homes were going to accommodate up to six people and were going to be deployed in a matter of months, Newsom said.

The Calmatters report said that the state ended up sending cash grants to the other cities, citing efficiency.

Although Sacramento has started building a tiny home community on Stockton Blvd. in conjunction with the state, it is only for 175 homes. The other 175 homes will be installed on Watt Avenue.

The other cities, while making advancements in getting tiny homes purchased and delivered, are not expected to have them fully installed anytime soon.

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The doctors regulator has admitted that referrals are sometimes being used to intimidate whistleblowers.

On Friday, Prof Dame Carrie MacEwen, the General Medical Council (GMC) chairman, acknowledged that the system for assessing doctors fitness to practice is being weaponised against those who raise patient safety concerns.

In a statement she wrote: The GMC is aware that referrals to us are sometimes used to intimidate.

She added that this misuse is completely unacceptable, has significant consequences for doctors wellbeing, and puts patient safety at risk.

The admission comes in response to an investigation by this newspaper that exposed a playbook of tactics used by NHS managers to silence staff who raise concerns over potentially avoidable patient harm and deaths.

Last week, The Telegraph revealed that vexatious GMC referrals are one of the main retaliatory measures used against whistleblowing doctors.

Twenty-two medics who were inappropriately referred after raising patient safety concerns said the process leaves lasting damage, with some even feeling suicidal.

Doctors told this newspaper that steps taken by their regulator to protect whistleblowers were insufficient, calling for automatic investigations of NHS managers who inappropriately target whistleblowers with referrals.

They have echoed a call from Dr Naru Narayanan, the president of the hospital doctors union, who wants a new criminal offence to punish those who harm whistleblowers.

Dame Carrie also noted that the harrowing findings from the Infected Blood Inquiry published on last Monday included a cautionary warning about the consequences of not encouraging medical professionals to speak up.

There is extensive commentary within the report about the importance of speaking up about both mistakes and near misses and a cautionary note about the need to protect those who do so from detriment to their career, she said.

The inquiry, led by Sir Brian Langstaff, found that a failure to encourage whistleblowing in the NHS magnified the harm suffered by those infected with HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated blood products.

Dame Carrie said: History cannot be repeated. Cultural change must be prioritised as lessons are learned from this dreadful chapter in the history of the health service, so that we as doctors take the actions we need to protect patients.

She also accepted Sir Brians finding that changes made since the 1970s to encourage speaking up in the healthcare system have not succeeded. The Telegraph highlighted this failure in its NHS whistleblowing investigation published May 16.

The revelations came from interviews with 52 current and former healthcare professionals, including 47 doctors, who raised concerns about upwards of 170 patient deaths and nearly 700 cases of poor care. Most of the harm occurred after staff first raised concerns.

Although GMC referrals are intended to be used only when there are issues around a doctors conduct or capability, 25 medics reported being threatened with referrals to the GMC after whistleblowing.

In 2016 and 2017, Dr Jasna Macanovic, a consultant hepatologist, blew the whistle over a contraindicated experimental procedure being carried out at Portsmouth Hospitals.

She told The Telegraph that instead of investigating my concerns the Trust threatened me with a GMC referral because I was failing to cooperate with my colleagues.

In many of the 22 cases where managers followed through on threats and passed their details to the regulator, doctors claim that false or fabricated information was submitted against them.

All doctors have been told they have no case to answer.

Mr Peter Duffy, a whistleblower and former consultant urological surgeon awarded an MBE for services to the NHS, was anonymously referred to the GMC seven times, with the regulator always finding he had no case to answer.

He said: The impact couldnt have been greater. For a number of months I was a huge suicide risk and ultimately [the seventh] referral to the GMC was responsible for my decision to quickly terminate my own career years earlier than planned, in order to prevent further malicious reporting.

Dame Carrie wrote that safeguards were in place to help make sure that the referrals that come to us are fair, appropriate, and proportionate.

We are continuously assessing how these are working and whether further interventions are needed to prevent retaliatory or weaponised referrals, she added.

The GMCs main safeguard against malicious referrals is simply to ask the referring Trust to tick a box if the doctor in question is a whistleblower.

But 14 whistleblowing doctors told The Telegraph that their employers simply failed to tick the box.

Mr Tristan Reuser, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon, blew the whistle at University Hospitals Birmingham in Jan 2017, but when Dr David Rosser, the then medical director, referred him to the GMC, he omitted crucial information.

Dr Rosser is one of the few NHS managers penalised for misusing the GMC referral system, receiving a warning in July 2021 for bringing the profession into disrepute.

Charlie Massey, GMCs chief executive, told The Telegraph: We are very clear that our fitness to practise processes must not be weaponised as a mechanism to deter, intimidate or punish whistleblowers.

Its wholly unacceptable that some doctors do not receive adequate support from their employers when raising concerns, and a system wide approach is needed to address the culture within healthcare so that all doctors and their colleagues feel confident to speak up without fear of reprisal.

He added that the GMC supports doctors raising concerns through a confidential helpline and a specialist service created with the charity Victim Support.

Portsmouth Hospitals and University Hospitals Birmingham have apologised for errors made and stated that patient safety remains their top priority.

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Sean Rayford/Getty Images

State Board of Education member Nikki Snyder is among eight congressional candidates who do not have enough valid petition signatures to appear on the August primary ballot.

That was the determination of a Michigan Bureau of Elections staff report released Friday evening in which candidates nominating petitions were examined, with Snyder the lone candidate from the 8th District set to be disqualified. The swing seat is open as U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) announced in November he would not seek reelection.

The report on Snyder stated that the Republican candidate submitted 1,079 signatures toward the 1,000 required for inclusion on the congressional ballot. Of those, an initial review disqualified 24 signatures, most of them due to an invalid date by the signer. That left 1,055 signatures, which were then subjected to a challenge by Jayden Rittenbury, who said 179 signatures should be disqualified because either the signers also submitted signatures for other candidates, were not registered at the address they indicated on the petition, or had illegible signatures.

Staff then disqualified an additional 75 signatures for a variety of reasons, leaving Snyder with just 980, which was 20 less than required, making her petitions insufficient.

Snyder had joined the 8th District field late, dropping out of the race for U.S. Senate on March 22 to seek the GOP nomination. Other Republicans running are Paul Junge, who lost to Kildee in the 2022 election; former Dow Chemical executive Mary Draves; and trucking company owner Anthony Hudson.

Democrats in the race are Board of Education President Pamela Pugh, state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) and former Flint Mayor and Obama Administration appointee Matt Collier.

The congressional race most impacted by the bureau report was the 12th District, which saw three candidate petitions determined to be insufficient, including that of Democrat Ryan Foster, the only challenger for the nomination faced by incumbent U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit). Fosters 1,181 petition signatures were whittled down to 926 after staff review and challenges.

Of the four Republicans seeking the nomination for the heavily Democratic district, two were also deemed to have insufficient valid petition signatures: Steven Elliott and Hassan Nehme.

Bureau staff invalidated 317 of Nehmes signatures as the petition circulator improperly signed the sheets prior to their completion, leaving him below the 1,000 valid signature threshold. Elliots report, meanwhile, said staff review found some signatures were invalid for a number of technical reasons, while others were among 71 petition sheets that showed clear indications of fraud.

That will leave two Republicans in the race for the 12th District nomination: James Hooper and Linda Sawyer.

In the 10th District, two Democrats were found to have insufficient valid signatures: Anil Kumar, a member of the Wayne State Board of Governors, and Rhonda Powell. Staff found clear indications of fraud on at least 47 of Kumars petition sheets and thus he fell 50 valid signatures short of the 1,000 needed.

Powell, meanwhile, only turned in 964 signatures, according to the staff report, although she claimed a supplemental submission turned in by consultant Londell Thomas gave her 1,044. However, staff said there was no record of such a submission, and Powell said Thomas could not locate his receipt.

Thomas is also at the center of a petition scandal that disqualified former state Sen. Adam Hollier (D-Detroit) from the August primary ballot for the 13th Congressional District. Hollier admitted the signatures Thomas turned in on his behalf appeared to have been forged, which he referenced in a statement following his disqualification, saying he put his trust in someone who let us down in the collection of signatures

In fact, Thomas name is one of 22 names listed by bureau staff as circulating petition sheets with clear indications of fraud, all of which are being referred for further investigation.

However, staff said it does not have reason to believe that any specific candidates or campaigns were aware of the activities of circulators whose names appear on sheets showing clear indications of fraud.

Other Democrats running in the 10th District are Emily Busch, Carl Marlinga, Tiffany Tilley and Diane Young. They all seek to replace the incumbent, U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.), who is running unopposed for the GOP nomination.

The final two congressional candidates found to have insufficient signatures were Josh Saul and JD Wilson, the two Republicans challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) in the 1st District.

In the case of Saul, all of his 1,221 signatures were invalidated because each of the petition sheets stated the title of the office as House of Representatives, and the district line as 1st.

However, this information is ambiguous in the context of this election because there are two offices on the ballot for the 1st district House of Representatives: one in the Michigan Legislature, Michigan House of Representatives and one in the United States Congress, U.S. House of Representatives, stated the report.

In Wilsons case, he also had all of his 1,240 signatures invalidated for not using petition forms that meet state election law requirements including improper formatting and language errors.

Bergman will now run unopposed for the GOP nomination to seek reelection, while two Democrats, Callie Barr and Bob Lorinser, will battle it out to take him on in November.

All of the staff reports are merely recommendations for the Board of State Canvassers (BSC), which is set to meet Friday, and will make the final determination who will appear on the ballot.

Also recommended for disqualification was U.S. Senate candidate Nasser Beydoun, a Dearborn Democrat, who says the staff reports are comments not decisions and plans to vigorously defend his petition signatures to state canvassers.

The BSC is split 2-2 between Democrats and Republicans and has frequently deadlocked on partisan lines in recent years.

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The post Nikki Snyder, 7 other congressional candidates deemed to have invalid petitions appeared first on Michigan Advance.
The board of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) has announced that it will pay a dividend of $0.2875 per share on the 16th of July. This means the annual payment will be 1.0% of the current stock price, which is lower than the industry average.

Check out our latest analysis for Choice Hotels International

Choice Hotels International's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. However, Choice Hotels International's earnings easily cover the dividend. This means that most of what the business earns is being used to help it grow.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 59.8%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 15% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.

Dividend Volatility

While the company has been paying a dividend for a long time, it has cut the dividend at least once in the last 10 years. The annual payment during the last 10 years was $0.74 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was $1.15. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4.5% a year over that time. It's encouraging to see some dividend growth, but the dividend has been cut at least once, and the size of the cut would eliminate most of the growth anyway, which makes this less attractive as an income investment.

Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Achieve

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. Earnings per share has been crawling upwards at 4.6% per year. While growth may be thin on the ground, Choice Hotels International could always pay out a higher proportion of earnings to increase shareholder returns.

In Summary

Overall, a consistent dividend is a good thing, and we think that Choice Hotels International has the ability to continue this into the future. The dividend has been at reasonable levels historically, but that hasn't translated into a consistent payment. This looks like it could be a good dividend stock going forward, but we would note that the payout ratio has been at higher levels in the past so it could happen again.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Choice Hotels International that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
No one helped teen girl getting sexually assaulted on Muni train, DA says

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A San Francisco man was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl on a Muni train in 2023, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office announced Friday. Other bus riders watched the assault happen and did not intervene, the DAs office said.

The crime happened on May 4, 2023, on the J Chruch line. The 16-year-old victim was on her way home from school when Iman Session, 39, began to masturbate next to her with his genitalia exposed.

Violence between students flares again at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa

Session then wrapped his arm around the victims neck and tried to force her head toward his groin area. Despite the victim struggling, nobody intervened. Session later got off the bus.

The victim and her father reported the assault to the San Francisco Police Department, and Session was arrested on June 6.

It is because of the Survivors courage that we were able to get justice in this case said Assistant District Attorney Tanisha Gooch. Children should feel safe while riding public transportation. We will not tolerate this behavior in our city.

Session was convicted of attempted forcible oral copulation of a child, false imprisonment, child molesting and incident exposure. He will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Session is currently in custody and faces up to five years in prison. He will be sentenced on June 5.

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 small gymnasium and kitchen at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Munster was bustling on a recent Friday as about 20 people worked in stations to make pierogi for the final time before the summer break.

A woman carried over flour-covered dough cut in circles that fit perfectly in the palm of a hand. Then, other women took circles of stuffing, like potato, and placed it in the center of the dough.

With flour-coated fingers, they carefully covered the stuffing with the dough before pinching it closed. With each pinch, the women used precise and fluid motions, exposing their decades of experience making pierogi.

As the war in Ukraine begins its third year, the women making pierogi take comfort in community as they manage the stress and anxiety of life moving forward amid war.

Olga Schulz, 62, said through Olha Kushnir, that its difficult to find the words that most accurately explain how she has felt the last two years.

She goes about her daily life, but its always on her mind the war, the soldiers fighting. It hurts, Olha Kushnir said. People are getting used to it. Theyre not reacting the same way as it was when it started. Theyre forced to move on with their daily lives.

Since the war started, Schulz said some of her family has moved to different parts of the world, like her sister moving to Belgium and her daughter moving to Montenegro, while her 90-year-old mother has stayed in Dnipro, where Schulz grew up.

At the start of the war, Schulz said she would cry every day. At that time, Schulz said she had the added stress of worrying about her pregnant daughter escaping the war.

Schulz smiles and her eyes brighten as she shows photos and videos of her 2-year-old grandson, who is safe in Montenegro with his parents. In one video, her grandson, wearing rain boots and a raincoat, stomps into a puddle.

Her daughter sends her photos of her grandson every morning, Schulz said, a daily dose of relief that they are safe.

It helps me get through, Schulz said.

But as the comfort of the days photo or video fades slightly, Schulz said she starts to worry about her mothers safety. Then, Schulz said her mind goes to all the Ukrainian lives lost, soldiers dying in battle and young women and children dying as buildings are bombed.

The end of the war feels distant to her, Schulz said, because it seems that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to claim as much of Ukraine as possible.

Im very angry. Im still angry. I cant accept it because it is getting worse and worse. Two years ago, we had hope it will be over pretty soon. But now, Putin is not going to stop so its getting worse, Schulz said.

Oksana Kushnir said her parents, her sister, her brother-in-law and their children live near Ivano-Frankivsk, which is in Western Ukraine. When she talks to her family, they tell her about hearing sirens and hiding in bomb shelters, and she hears the stress in their voices.

You never can be relaxed and do your stuff without worrying, without thinking about when its going to happen and how long its going to last, Oksana Kushnir said.

Three Ukrainian families who escaped war have come to St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Munster to connect with their community and religion, Oksana Kushnir said.

In speaking with these families, Oksana Kushnir said it was clear they miss Ukraine, their families and friends, their homes and their jobs.

To immigrate to different country when youre basically forced to not with your will is two different things, Oksana Kushnir said. To come in your 40s when you achieve some level in your country and you have family, you have friends, you have work, you have everything there, and to leave everything and go to new country, start from the scratch, with language, with low paid work, is difficult.

The Rev. Volodymyr Kushnir, the pastor of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Munster, said people who leave their native country look for pieces of their homeland and culture within the place they settle in.

When the Ukrainian families came to the church in Munster, they were able to speak their native language, find community and practice their religion, Volodymyr Kushnir said.

While the families were trying to be positive about their circumstances, he said there have been moments of distress when something does not go as planned.

We give them this relief and support, Volodymyr Kushnir said. Were trying to reassure them just be patient, take one step at a time and go step by step to those goals that they put in front of them.

Volodymyr Kushnir said his parents have stayed in their home in Ivano-Frankivsk throughout the war. From December to April, Volodymyr Kushinr said his parents visited him and his family in Munster.

They were able to see their grandchildren, spend time with us and change the environment from being constantly under this pressure of the war emotionally. For them, I believe it was a relief for a while, Volodymyr Kushnir said.

On a recent Friday, Volodymyr Kushnir joined a virtual meeting led by a military chaplain who talked about faith amid the war.

The chaplain said the hardest part of his job has been notifying soldiers families about their death, Volodymyr Kushnir said. Then, after the family is notified, the chaplain said another difficult part of the job is talking to other soldiers who question why they survived.

Ukraine is a strong nation, Volodymyr Kushnir said, and its people wont give up.

This war will continue as long as Ukrainians will live and fight, Volodymyr Kushnir said. I believe there will be the end of this war pretty soon. Hopefully soon. We have to believe, theres no choice. No other options.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com
Its not just marijuana: 7,000 plants and $60K bust in Northern California

(FOX40.COM)  Law enforcement in Northern California executed several search warrants that led to the seizure of thousands of marijuana plants and over $60K in cash.

Its not just marijuana, Yuba County Sheriffs Office said in a social media post.

On Thursday, the Yuba County Marijuana Enforcement Team (METYU) executed four search warrants yesterday at various areas throughout the county. The locations included the 1700 block of Plumas Arboga Road, the 11000 block of Highway 70, the 8200 block of La Porte Road, and Wildwood Trail.

During the searches, YCSO said it located nearly 7,000 plants, 200 pounds of processed marijuana, two firearms, and over $60,000 cash. One person was arrested and four environmental violations were issued.

Thousands of illegal marijuana plants found in Jupiter

Deputies said they arrested 32-year-old Jose Everardo Regalda Mendoza at the Plumas Arboga location. He was booked at the Yuba County Jail for marijuana possession and cultivation charges as well as conspiracy to commit a crime.

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Nurse at Highline High School in Burien is being called a hero

A nurse at Highline High School in Burien is being called a hero, after racing to save a students life on Wednesday.

The school nurse knew what to do. She remembered her training. She acted immediately and probably saved the students life, says Catherine Carbone Rogers, with the Highline School District.

The heroism came after a teen overdosed inside the school this week. The Dean of Students saw the student in need, then quickly called 9-1-1 and the school nurse. The nurse was able to quickly administer Narcan to the student. Narcan can be used to reverse an opioid overdose.

When first responders came and got there they said the Narcan and the quick action of the nurse probably saved that students life, says Rogers.

David Reames, a Special Agent in Charge with the DEA, says the issue of increasing overdoses isnt exclusive to Burien.

This is nationwide, says Reames. Over 110,000 people lost their lives last year due to fentanyl poisoning. Please dont let your children be one of the numbers.

While an overdose inside a school is rare, what happened at Highline High School highlights the necessity of Narcan.

Just imagine how many more fatalities we would have without Narcan. Its frightening to consider, says Reames.

Washington law requires any school district with more than 2,000 students to carry Narcan at their high schools.

The Highline School District tells KIRO 7 that they provide Narcan and regular overdose training at all of their schools, including elementary.

School is the safest place for a young person to be, statistically, says Rogers. The fact that we are ready with Narcan if we need it, I think just underscores that schools are safe. This is a place where students know that theyre around people that are ready to help them with whatever they need.
A man in a suit and tie standing in front of The Collegiate School building at 301 Freedom Place South, New York, NY.

A much-anticipated internal report about antisemitism at elite Collegiate prep school admitted that some faculty members blamed wealthy and influential Jewish parents for tensions at the school following Hamas Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

Finger-pointing faculty, parents and students skirted close to one of the oldest and most pervasive antisemitic tropes, the report, obtained by The Post, conceded.

The report was compiled in March and released on May 17.

The findings came in the wake of a November 2023 letter to head of school David Lourie and Board of Trustees president Jonathan K. Youngwood  and signed by more than 100 Jewish parents  which said the schools internal response to the Hamas butchery did not meet the moment.

According to a report on antisemitism at The Collegiate School in Manhattan, some faculty members blamed Jewish parents for tensions after the Oct. 7 terror attacks by Hamas in Israel. Gregory P. Mango

Collegiate admitted to multiple antisemitic incidents perpetrated by faculty. Robert Miller

People have lost confidence, there is no morality clarity, there is a pervasive anger and it is all driven by an erosion of trust, one frustrated Jewish Collegiate parent told The Post.

Another parent griped that the nine-page document was a far cry from the more than 400 pages the school dedicated in a 2020 report dedicated to combat[ing] within Collegiate the institutional and other racism that pervades so much of our society.

The report  which also included companion findings about Islamophobia at the school  also revealed two never-before-publicized antisemitic incidents perpetrated by faculty.

In one case, allegedly days after Oct. 7, Middle School English teacher Dwayne Alexis was relieved of his teaching duties after presenting controversial lessons on the Middle East to his 7th-grade civics class and 6th-grade world history class.

According to two parents, Alexis accused Israel of committing genocide shortly after the terrorist attacks, and forced the teenagers to watch context-less video of Israels defensive war in Gaza.

A person familiar with the incident said Alexis only mentioned the word genocide as one of a range of viewpoints about the conflict.

In a second case, two upper-school teachers were reprimanded after asking pressing questions of a speaker at a school Holocaust Assembly.

There was a Holocaust survivor invited to speak at the school and a teacher took it upon herself to press him on a seres of questions, one of which was could the swastika be a symbol of peace? said one parent familiar with the incident.

Middle School English teacher Dwayne Alexis was relieved of his teaching duties over his classroom conduct surrounding the war in Gaza. nycteacherswhotutor.com

Collegiate, chartered in 1628, is one of the New Yorks most tony private high schools.

Alumni include David Duchovny, rapper Lil Mabu, and noted nepobabies Jack Schlossberg and Cornelius Vanderbilt II.

Tuition for the most recent academic year runs a cool $63,400.

I feel like Collegiate has become a training camp for Columbia, said one frustrated parent.
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  The Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office has released 911 calls from before and after deputies responded to the apartment where U.S. Air Force Airman Roger Fortson would later be shot and killed.

This photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, shows Senior Airman Roger Fortson in a Dec. 24, 2019, photo. The Air Force says the airman supporting its Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., was shot and killed on May 3, 2024, during an incident involving the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office. (U.S. Air Force via AP)

The first 911 call came in from a front desk worker at the apartment complex who said they received a report of people fighting but explained they were not allowed to go there and confront them, which is why she called the sheriffs office.

Escambia County Sheriffs Office: Man admits to taking medicine before leaving 1-year-old in bathtub

The caller gave the dispatcher the address of the Chez Elan Apartments and said the disturbance was in apartment 1401. Previously released body camera video showed the deputy did respond to apartment 1401, which is where Fortson lived.

A few weeks ago I was walking on the sidewalk, like, it was close to their apartment, and I was hearing, like, someone like a guy yelling at a girl saying like, shut the f*** up, like, you stupid b**** or something like that, but I couldnt tell where it was coming from. So, by what shes saying that might have been them said the 911 caller.

The dispatcher then let the caller know deputies were on the scene before the call ended.

The second call came in from a woman who said she heard people who had been arguing for over an hour at the time she called. The dispatcher then asked the caller if she had heard anything else, which is when she said, I just heard, like, something that sounded like three or four gunshots and then a bunch of running and screaming.

Fortson was shot and killed by a deputy at the apartment complex on May 3, according to previous reporting. The body camera footage showed deputies knocking on Fortsons door before he answered with a gun in his hand hanging by his side. The deputy then pulls out his gun and fires shots at Fortson.

His family, along with Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump, held a news conference days later to discuss what happened.

We are here at this press conference mainly because we have to correct this narrative, said Crump. Roger Fortson was the best America had to offer. He was a patriot.

Mobile man arrested after 4 children say they were abused: Police

OCSO Sheriff Eric Aden held a press conference two hours after the familys press conference where he released the body camera footage.

The funeral for Fortson was held at New Birth Missionary Church just outside of Atlanta on May 17.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
One person in critical condition after crash on Morse Road

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  One person is in critical condition after a crash in Walnut Creek on Friday evening.

Columbus police were dispatched at 5:35 p.m. Friday to a crash on the 3200 block of Morse Road. Two people were transported to Riverside Methodist Hospital as a result of the crash  one in critical condition and the other in stable condition.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Columbus man caught on video attacking softball umpire arrested 13 months later

Police have not provided any further information as of 6:31 p.m. Friday evening.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark.  West Memphis is grappling with a surge in crime, and with Memorial Day approaching, city officials are taking proactive steps to prevent further violence.

Friday, West Memphis Police Chief Robbin Campbell unveiled Operation Purge, a new initiative to combat gang violence and restore peace to the community.

Operation Purge is an initiative we started this past Tuesday at targets, one of the gangs in our community that has had a hand in the increase of uptick in crime and our community homicides recently, Campbell said.

City programs to help keep kids safe this summer

West Memphis Police and Mayor Marco McClendon addressed community concerns Friday morning at City Hall, covering public safety and youth activities, and boosting patrols for the upcoming holiday.

Ive talked to a lot of the pastors along with them to step outside of the church walls, he said, because most of the young people doing this arent in the church.

Campbell points to young gang members as the usual suspects behind the citys surge in violence.

We need more involvement from the community to help assist against gang and gun violence, Campbell said. The community needs to come forward and stop protecting these criminals. They know whos committing the crimes. Its their family members committing crimes.

McClendon says hes holding everyone accountable, including judges and prosecutors.

Im absolutely asking them to snitch, he said. But when its something like this where youre taking a life, and its affecting your community where you live, and you know the next time it could be you and you want it to stop, why not tell to help us get that solved?

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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After hearing testimony from 22 witnesses across 16 trial days spanning five weeks, the defense and prosecution have rested in the criminal trial of Donald Trump. Most legal experts agree: Trump is in big trouble here.

The prosecutions case alleges Trump approved a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, because he was worried that it would cause a catastrophic scandaland sink his election prospects in 2016if the public found out about his affair.

These charges are a big deal, both because of the alleged criminality and because of the ramifications Trumps actions may have had on the election.

Donald Trumps Defense Case Just Helped the Prosecution

There have been skeptics, though. Some commentators have accepted Trumps spin that the trial is a waste of time or a partisan witch hunt, but they have ignored the damning evidence presented and the greater implications of his conduct. Their challenges to the cases legitimacy are false and misguided, and allowing Trump to control the narrative is a disservice to the American people.

There have been five broad criticisms of the case.

One criticism is that the prosecution is political. To a degree, this is true.

After all, this case involves Trump, the former president and inevitable 2024 Republican nominee, who may be the most divisive political figure in American history. It would be impossible to dispel politics entirely from such a case. And yes, the district attorney is a partisan elected official, as state law provides. That reality, however, is not unique to this case. It would apply in most criminal prosecutions of a current or former politician because in most states, voters elect local prosecutors in partisan races, and partisan presidents appoint federal prosecutors. Criticism of the case as political conflates the fact that it involves politicians with the notion that it is motivated by political ends.

Former President Donald Trump appears in court with his attorneys Emil Bove (L) and Todd Blanche during his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 25, 2024 in New York City. Mark Peterson-Pool/Getty Images

A second criticism is that Trump is being selectively prosecuted. That allegation is demonstrably false on multiple levels.

New York state often charges business record violations. Since 2015, there have been nearly 9,800 cases filed for first degree falsification of business records. Each of those cases involved an allegation that the falsification occurred in connection with an intent to commit or conceal a different crime. Those are exactly the same charges as the 34 counts against Trump.

Trump Defenses Gotcha Moments Failed Against Prosecutions Strength

A corollary of the selective prosecution argument is that prosecutors were intent on finding a way to charge Trump. Trump is facing four criminal cases in four separate jurisdictions. But is he a modern-day Nelson Mandela, as he claims, who has been unfairly persecuted because of his political positions? Or has he simply participated in four (or more) criminal enterprises deserving of prosecution?

Evidence suggests the latter. Trump has a long history of alleged and confirmed illegality: allegations of racial discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act in the 1970s; controversial bankruptcy filings in the 1990s; the Trump University fraud; numerous sexual misconduct allegations (including a jurys finding that he abused Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s); two impeachments; the recent civil fraud verdict against Trump and other Trump Organization executives; and the four current criminal cases covering conduct before, during, and after his time in the White House. Given Trumps proclivity for bending and breaking the lawthe breaking confirmed by multiple verdictshe would appear to be far closer to an Al Capone than a Mandela.

Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen departs from his home to attend his second day of testimony at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 14, 2024 in New York City. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

A third attack on the case is that Trumps conduct, even if true, is not a crime. That criticism is objectively false.

At the risk of stating the obvious, the laws hes alleged to have broken are, in fact, laws on the books of New York. Trumps very capable attorneys sought to dismiss the indictment by arguing that his conduct did not constitute a crime, and the court appropriately rejected those arguments in a thorough and well-reasoned opinion. Trump will likely appeal that ruling, but he is likely to lose, just as his other attempts to halt or throw out the case have failed: because his conduct, if proven beyond a reasonable doubt, is criminal.

A fourth criticism is that Trump could have done what he did legally. This is somewhat true but ultimately beside the point.

Trump could have personally entered into a hush money agreement with Stormy Daniels to hide his affair from voters rather than having his fixer Michael Cohen do it through a shell entity and falsify the paper trail of reimbursement. But he did not do this, and we know why.

The legal route would have meant disclosure under federal campaign finance laws, which requires identifying all campaign contributions and expenses. Disclosing a $130,000 expense to an adult film star would have raised red flags, especially if there was a contemporaneous $130,000 contribution from Trump, which is precisely what Trump was aiming to avoid.

Any Lawyer Who Followed Trumps Advice Would End Up in Jail

Finally, critics contend Trumps crimes were unnecessary, in that no one would have found out about the October hush money payment until after the election based on the timing of the campaign disclosures. That, again, misses the larger point.

Trump entered into a similar hush money arrangement to hide his (alleged) affair with Karen McDougal on Aug. 5, 2016. Had it been properly documented as a campaign contribution and expense, voters would have likely learned about it before the November election. Had Trump disclosed the Daniels payment, even if it surfaced after the election, it would have revealed the earlier McDougal payment improperly concealed from voters. In order to hide both of his (alleged) infidelities from voters, Trump had to omit both from his campaign disclosures.

Although we can imagine an alternative reality where Trump managed to keep both secrets from voters without breaking the law, thats not the path he chose.

Former President Donald Trump attends a charge hearing with his defense lawyers Emil Bove and Todd Blanche and prosecutor Matthew Colangelo before Justice Juan Merchan in Manhattan state court in New York City on May 21, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

While these objections to the case are invalid, its understandable why some people are struggling to accept the validity of the case and instead are inclined to believe the prosecution is motivated by political ends to hamper his attempt to regain the presidency. That is because Trumps alleged crimes appear to be a series of unforced errors. Its easy to think of how Trump could have handled things differently, which can make it difficult for reasonable people to understand why Trump did what he did.

But thats not the reality of who Trump is. Trump has proven himself to be a reflexive criminal: someone whose natural reaction to a variety of personal, business, and political situations is often to do whatever he wants regardless of whether its appropriate, ethical, or legal. Quite simply, he believes the rules do not apply to him, so he does not adjust his behavior to comply with the rules like the rest of us do. But the notion that falsifying business records over a $130,000 campaign finance violation was not well thought out does not mean it is not deserving of prosecution.

Skepticism about this case overcomplicates something that should be simple. As a nation, we pride ourselves on the principle that no person is above the law. If this is true, no one can be exempt from facing the consequences of their actions, no matter how famous the perpetrator, how unnecessary the crime, or how politically inconvenient the prosecution may be.

Did Trumps Legal Spokesperson Violate the Terms of His Gag Order?

It also ignores perhaps a more important point: that the American public is entitled to want leaders who revere the lawwho bend over backward to uphold the law, even when doing so may be inconvenient to their personal ambitions or political agenda.

We should demand candidates who epitomize the best angels of our nature. And our democracy affords us the right to know whether someone accused of committing any crime is guilty of that offense before we evaluate their worth to serve in office.

Pursuing that ideal is neither a waste of time nor a witch hunt. Indeed, its as American and righteous as it gets.

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McDonald's Soda Fountain Gado/Getty Images

Bob Wright, the chief executive officer of the Chicago-based sandwich chain Potbelly, said in a May earnings call that customers are managing their wallets a little more closely, which means eating out less frequently. Theyre pulling back ever so slightly and probably from a lot of places, Wright said. Were competing with all other restaurants, and were competing with the refrigerator."

He continued: And when peoples entire food budget is under pressure, what they dont want to do is start compromising on their meal choices.

As a response to this increasingly competitive environment  where fast-casual, sit-down and drive-thru restaurants are all feeling the pressure  were starting to see fast-food companies attempt to woo wayward customers in a variety of ways.

Some, like Subway, have tried to communicate to potential diners that the quality of their product has improved; last year, the chain began the process of adding deli slicers to each of their locations so that sandwiches would be made with freshly-sliced meat (this didnt necessarily have the fiscal impact Subway leaders likely hoped it would, which may explain their more recent pivot to footlong cookies, which one critic said tasted like a moist, floppy sleeping bag of flour and oil). Other companies have opted to reintroduce value meals and special promotions as chains like Chilis and Applebees are attempting to lure diners with cheaper options.

However, while fast-food chains are eager to get more customers, it doesnt seem like there is a ton of industry-wide focus on getting those customers to actually come inside their restaurants. For instance, a few months ago, McDonalds announced it would start getting rid of self-serve drink stations, and as a result, free refills and now some customers have started noticing the in-store perk is indeed disappearing from locations across the country.

In response, some McDonalds diehards have taken to social media to express their discontent. "Fast-food is ending right in front of our eyes," one user on X wrote in response to the decision. Yet if the fast-food dining room is dying, customer behavior is at least partially to blame.

The issue of self-service soda machines, which were first introduced by McDonalds in 2004, is a perfect example of how diners habits have changed at restaurants since the beginning of the pandemic.

In 2023, several franchise owners in Illinois who had already ditched the soda stations said food safety, theft prevention and a lack of dine-in customers impacted the decision. "It's an evolution towards convenience and [the result of] the growth of digital service," Mikel Petro, who operates 15 McDonald's throughout central Illinois with his wife and in-laws, told the State Journal-Register.

Story continues

Consumer behavior changed during the pandemic  resulting in an increase in digital, delivery and drive-thru orders  and, per CNN, McDonald's is shifting to accommodate that new reality. The chain has also since launched a concept called "CosMc's," small-format locations with reduced dining rooms. According to McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski, that development "opens up for us a whole bunch of development opportunities for us to go after."

McDonalds isnt the only fast-food company to consider ditching, or simply adapting, their dining rooms as a response to the significant decrease in customer food traffic. As Salon Food reported last year, a ton of chains, including Taco Bell and Wendys, have undergone sleek, eerily homogenous renovations that seem to prioritize efficiency over the semblance of human touch.

"To accelerate our business and expand our footprint across the globe, we must consistently meet the needs of our customers however they choose to engage with Wendy's, whether that's through a digital platform or in the drive-thru," Wendy's CEO Todd Penegor said in a press release last year after it was announced the company was planning a massive redesign of their restaurants.

In the case of McDonalds, the company has been working towards a digital-focused dining room for some time now. In 2018, the company announced a $6 billion plan to overhaul most of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants by 2020. The makeover included new furniture and decor, remodeled counters for table service and "refreshed" exterior designs.

The fast-food chain also shared plans to install digital kiosks for ordering, customizing and paying for meals, as well as easier-to-read digital menu boards in restaurants and drive-through lanes. Additionally, they planned designated parking spots for customers who order food through the chain's mobile app. Now, six years later, diners across the country who visit a McDonalds location will likely notice these augmentations.

Partnered with the fast-food industrys growing prioritization of app users  as of February 2024, McDonald's has more than 150 million app users who have logged in within the last 90 days  it makes sense that some of the dining-in amenities, like self-serve refills, would fall by the wayside. For those who still prefer the dining room experience, signs on McDonalds soda stations are instructing customers to please visit the front counter for a refill.
Editors Note: Mark Mellman is Democratic pollster and strategist who has helped guide hundreds of campaigns from president to city council. Mellman is a member of the American Association of Political Consultants Hall of Fame and has taught at Yale University. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

Were in the midst of a historic first: As Donald Trumps trial winds down, a jury will decide as early as the coming week whether the former president is guilty of a crime resulting from his alleged effort to conceal the hush money paid to Stormy Daniels.

Pointing to surveys like an ABC News/Ipsos poll that found a fifth of Trump voters would either reconsider or withdraw their support if hes convicted of a felony, some analysts contend a conviction  itself far from a certainty  could cost Trump the White House in November.

Mark Mellman - The Mellman Group

As much as Id like to believe it, theres ample reason for doubt. Trump may well lose the presidential election again, but a criminal conviction in the current case is unlikely to play a significant role in that outcome.

While pollsters can ask voters questions and voters will generally oblige with answers, in some instances the answers can be meaningless mush. Part of the science and art of polling is understanding what kinds of questions are more and less likely to yield meaningful insights.

Two kinds of questions tend to be in the mush category  those that ask people directly about changing their views and those that ask individuals to transport themselves to an alternate reality and predict what their response would be in that new context.

Asking people how their votes would change if Trump were convicted falls into both categories.

Then-President Bill Clintons highly partisan and wholly undeserved impeachment in the late 1990s illustrates how survey research and human brains operate in these cases.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted in January 1998 found 55% of voters believed Clinton should be impeached if he had lied under oath about not having an affair with Monica Lewinsky, while 40% opposed impeachment under those circumstances.

Months later, it became clear the president had lied. But instead of 55% supporting impeachment, only 30% favored impeaching him (whereas 66% opposed impeachment).

Americans had claimed theyd favor impeaching Clinton if he had lied about his relationship. However, when it was evident that he had not been forthright, they overwhelmingly opposed impeachment.

Similarly, when the Post pollsters asked whether Clinton should resign if the House voted to impeach him or fight the charges in the Senate, only 38% of Americans wanted him to battle the charges, whereas 58% preferred he resign.

Did the electorate hold onto that view after Clinton was impeached by the House?

No.

In fact, the numbers changed almost instantly. The proportion of Americans who said Clinton should resign rather than fight the charges fell to 42% within days of him being impeached.

Difficulties inherent in such poll questions also emerged in the wake of the 2020 election when most Republicans believed Trumps fantasy that he had actually won the election. Many of them told my polling firm that they would revise their view if the courts ruled against Trump. However, despite their previous protestations, their minds remained largely unchanged even after Trump lost some 60 cases on the integrity of the election.

Similarly, in March of 2016, an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found half of the women who voted in Republican primaries said they could not imagine themselves voting for Trump in the general election. Nearly 90% did in November what they could not imagine in March.

Beliefs are persistent, stubborn things.

People fancy themselves open to new information and sometimes we are. But Ive learned from 40 years of studying public opinion that mostly we cling to our preconceived views about social and political matters of import.

Moreover, people are not very adept at forecasting their reaction to changed realities. Humans struggle to transport themselves to parallel universes and correctly predict their reactions in that alternate reality.

Is it possible that a Trump conviction will change votes? Of course it is.

The charges against Trump are more serious than those Clinton faced, and no former president has ever been convicted before.

Of course, some presidents have been deeply damaged by scandal. Richard Nixons approval rating sank from 67% to 31% between January and August 1973 as Watergate consumed public attention. When he resigned a year later, only 24% approved of his performance.

A Trump conviction could result in similar fate, though history would urge us to bet against it. The point, though, is that answers to poll questions today yield little insight as to how the public will ultimately react in November.

Well just have to wait and see what happens after the jury renders its verdict.

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A lie travels halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on. And that was before Twitter (X) came alongwhich explains why the canard that there was an assassination attempt on Donald Trumpspread like wildfire.

It all started when self-described conspiracy theorist Julie Kelly flagged a newly unsealed FBI document authorizing officers to use deadly force when searching Mar-a-Lago. And then, a lie that started in the fever swamps quickly made its way into mainstream conservative media, as well as the social media platforms of prominent Republicans.

Attorney General Merrick Garland basically issued a kill order for President Trump, tweeted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. For his part, Trump claimed that Joe Biden was locked & loaded ready to take me out & put my family in danger.

Trump Claims the FBI Wanted to Kill Him. Fox News Ran Wild With It.

Never mind that the wording was boilerplate. Never mind that the same verbiage reportedly appeared in similar FBI documents when they searched Bidens house.

Never mind that the FBI executed the warrant when Trump was in New York (not at Mar-a-Lago). And never mind that Trumps team has previously argued that a president could be immune from prosecution for killing a political rival.

Even if you put all of that aside, the assassination allegation was patently absurd. Thats because people who push these ideas are basically asking you to believe two mutually exclusive things.

They assert that a nearly omnipotent Deep State is being controlled by Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. This evil cabal set about using the Mar-a-Lago raid as a pretext to assassinate Trump.

The problem? Why would a super powerful conspiracy need to use the Mar-a-Lago raid as an excuse to murder Trump?

Supreme Court Justices Pro-Trump Immunity Arguments Make Zero Sense

Imagine the fallout if Trump had been killed during the raid. If the FBI really wanted to assassinate Trump, wouldnt they have simply made it look like he died of a heart attack?

If the goal was to kill Trump, would the FBI be so inept and clumsy as to execute the search warrant when Trump was out of the state of Florida and in New York? Wouldnt an organization with unlimited resources be competent enough to know that Trump was 1,200 miles away?

Additionally, why would they put their plans in writing? And if they did, wouldnt a Deep State this powerful and this determined be smart enough to prevent the unsealing of a document that would incriminate them?

In short, the right-wing conspiracy theorists want you to believe a) that a nearly omnipotent confederacy of powerful intel organizations is plotting something evil, yet b) is too incompetent to execute the planor cover it up. Foiled again!

Imagine a political party that includes leaders who are evil enough to invent such an idea, and lemmings who are gullible enough to believe it.

Fox News Refutes Trump Assassination Conspiracy That Fox News Helped Spread

Of course, when it comes to conspiracy theories, such logical fallacies are par for the course. Years ago, I read an essay written by conservative movement leader Morton Blackwell that warned that such conspiracy theories tend to deliver an unintended consequence for the side that spreads them.

Regarding the old rights penchant for falling for crazy ideas, Blackwell recalled that Many conservatives became so convinced of the overwhelming power and cleverness of one or more of these conspiracies that they sank into despair and virtually ceased political activity.

After all, Blackwell continued, if one is faced with opposition so powerful and so clever that defeat is inevitable, why bother to do anything about it except to complain?

Theres nothing new under the sun except this: Once upon a time, such conspiracies were the work of fringe actors, such as the John Birch Society. Today, they are promulgated by popular Fox News hosts, Republican members of Congress, and even the former president of the United States of America.

And while these machinations inevitably harm the perpetrators (who could forget Trump stupidly telling Republicans not to vote by mail), they also pose a real danger to the rest of us.

Stop for a moment and consider the logical response that a misguided (ostensibly patriotic) American would have if they truly believed that the so-called Deep State was trying to assassinate a past (and future?) president.

If Trump cult members were incited to riot on Jan. 6 (when they were told an election had been stolen), what might an assassination attempt on Dear Leader inspire?

Take Trumps Warning of Violence for What It Isa Threat

It goes without saying that it is utterly irresponsible and dangerous to falsely assert that a current president attempted to assassinate his political rival. One might even equate it to yelling fire in a theater.

What is more, this lie, like the Big Lie (the false claim the 2020 election was stolen), will live on forever.

And while bad actors are pushing it, not enough good actors are pushing back. Indeed, too many of the referees focused on pedantic criticisms of Biden have remained largely silent on this much bigger lie.

The bottom line is that no decent or sane person should, in my estimation, support a politician who advances such a dangerous lie.

The real scandal is that so many of them are poised to do just that.

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(Bloomberg) -- Two key opposition parties are hailing their alliance in Indias capital Delhi, and hoping they can deny Prime Minister Narendra Modis and his party a third consecutive clean sweep of the region in the ongoing elections.

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Delhi, the administrative heart of the country, is a high stakes battle between former bitter rivals, the Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, now allied against Modis Bharatiya Janata Party. The Congress party is contesting three of Delhis seven constituencies, with the AAP fielding candidates in the other four.

In the symbol of the hand, there is a broom, Rahul Gandhi, a top leader in the Congress party, told supporters at a political rally last week in Delhi, referring to the electoral symbols of the two parties.

Gandhi added that only by voting for the alliance can the countrys constitution be preserved. All of us and our party workers have come together to protect the constitution, he said.

The opposition has claimed that Modis calls for a 400-seat parliamentary super majority are signs that the BJP intends to amend the constitution and remove references to secularism and ditch the countrys expansive affirmative action programs. Modi and the BJP have denied those charges and described them as scaremongering.

The opposition alliance recently received a shot in the arm after Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi chief minister and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, or the Common Mans Party, was released on bail to allow him to campaign. He has been accused of corruption in a now defunct liquor license scheme, charges hes denied and has said are politically motivated. A popular leader, Kejriwal stormed to power in Delhi after winning two consecutive legislative elections and shares control of the capital with the federal government.

In his campaign rallies, Kejriwal has tried to highlight bread and butter issues to supporters.

People are so angry in this country with Modi. Prices have risen so much, Kejriwal said at an event earlier this week, where he was campaigning on behalf of one of the Congress partys three candidates. Salaries are not increasing and people are losing their jobs. Our kids are sitting at home.

To maintain their advantage, and inject some fresh momentum, the BJP has chosen to field fresh candidates in six out of the seven constituencies in Delhi. The party is hoping rallies and roadshows  being held early in the morning and at dusk to avoid scorching temperatures  from Modi and other star campaigners will boost the credentials of the new candidates.

One of those, Home Minister Amit Shah, widely seen as Modis right hand man, arrived an hour late to his rally this week in Delhi to loud cheers from the partys supporters. Shah accused the opposition of corruption, doing little to combat terrorism and not supporting the cause of building a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, where a medieval mosque once stood. Modi consecrated the temple earlier this year in a lavish ceremony mostly boycotted by the opposition.

If there is one person who can make the country grander, that is Narendra Modi, said Shah at the rally. Pointing to the partys candidate, he added that this election is not about voting the local parliamentarians into power but using them to make Narendra Modi the prime minister.

WATCH: How India's Leader Is Preparing for a 1,000-Year Legacy

Amid the enthusiasm for Shah, there were also signs of frustration among the assembled crowd. Many of them, who said they had been bussed in from semi-rural areas surrounding Delhi, spoke of water shortages, blackouts and dilapidated roads that past governments had failed to address.

We want to flip the government but we dont know if change will come if we do that, said Anju Kumari, who cleans houses for a living. She complained about long power cuts, which do not allow her or her children to sleep at a time when temperatures are hitting 45C (113F). We are standing at this rally to get roads, electricity and water.

The weeks-long election cycle, which began on April 19 will end on June 1 with the seventh and final round of voting. Results will be announced on June 4.

In addition to Delhi, residents of the entire state of Haryana, which sends 10 members to parliament, cast their ballots on Saturday. The final constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, Anantnag-Rajouri also voted Saturday. Azamgarh, Bhadohi and Shrawasti in electorally significant Uttar Pradesh state are also voting. The average voter turnout in the sixth phase was about 61%, according to provisional estimates by the Election Commission of India.

A look at some of the important seats in the sixth phase:

Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh has Maneka Gandhi contesting from the BJP after a close contest last year. Maneka is estranged from her nephew Rahul Gandhi and is hoping to win an eighth term to parliament

Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is in a four-way battle in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency. The BJP is not directly fighting for the seat

In Odisha, the Puri constituency has BJPs Sambit Patra running, hoping to win again. In 2019, he lost to a regional party candidate. Puri is one of the religious cities in India and home to the famous Jagannath temple.

--With assistance from Debjit Chakraborty.

(Corrects spelling of Delhi in final photo caption.)

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The Oregon Health Authority oversees the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. (Oregon Health Authority)

A patient at Oregon State Hospital died of a suspected fentanyl overdose on Friday, and Oregon State Police are investigating the circumstances, police said.

A spokesperson for the police agency confirmed the investigation to the Capital Chronicle late Friday but had no other details. Separately, the Oregon State Hospital sent a memo to staff on Friday and announced it is temporarily halting in-person patient visits with friends and family. The state-run psychiatric hospital in Salem has more than 600 patients.

Because of a significant incident related to passing of contraband from a visitor to a patient, we are pausing in-person visitation effective immediately, the hospitals interim superintendent, Sara Walker, wrote in a Friday email to staffers.

Larry Bingham, a spokesman for the Oregon Health Authority, which oversees the hospital, declined to comment about the incident when asked about the overdose.

The case is the latest in a string of incidents that have temporarily put the state hospital in the crosshairs of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which inspects hospitals that receive federal funding. A federal report released earlier this month flagged problems that included blind spots in the security camera system, a failure to adequately monitor patients and the distribution of condoms to patients even though they arent allowed to have sex with each other. The hospital also has overhauled how it stores its emergency life-saving equipment after federal officials inspected the facility following a patient death shortly after the patients admission. Inspectors found that the critical equipment was stored in a disorganized way.

Walkers memo did not mention that the incident involved a suspected fentanyl overdose nor that police are investigating.

This was a decision the executive team did not make lightly, Walkers message said. We know how important in-person visits are to patients and those who love them, and we know we are making the decision on a Friday before a holiday weekend.

Walker did not say when visits would resume. She said the pause will be as short as we can while the hospital reviews visitation policies and procedures to ensure in-person visits are safe for patients, families and staff.

Walker directed staff to notify patients and visitors with a prepared script that apologized for the suspension. Patients still have access to video visits.

The restrictions come after patients and family have enjoyed more freedom to have in-person visits after pandemic-era restrictions were fully lifted in 2023.

The easy availability of fentanyl in Oregon has fueled an overdose crisis in Oregon, with people consuming the powerful drug in public. Thats led to the Legislature recriminalizing possession of illegal drugs. A new law signed by Gov. Tina Kotek will lead to new programs throughout the state to encourage people to enter treatment and avoid court charges for drug possession.

The post Oregon State Hospital suspends in-person visits after patient dies of suspected fentanyl overdose appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Michigan Republican Party Chair Pete Hoekstra at a Feb. 17, 2024 rally for former President Donald Trump. | Kyle Davidson

Defying tradition, the Ottawa County GOP has issued candidate endorsements a full two months before the Aug. 6 primary, a move several area Republicans argue interferes with voters.

This is totally unprecedented, said Michigan Republican Party Chair Pete Hoekstra.

The county GOPs endorsement convention on May 16 wasnt entirely surprising after far-right fundamentalist group Ottawa Impact took a controlling majority on the county board of commissioners and within the local party network early in 2023.

The group, which formed in 2021 over frustrations with county and state COVID-19 mitigation measures, is led by self-described parental rights advocates Joe Moss and Sylvia Rhodea and currently holds a six-seat controlling majority on the 11-member Ottawa County board.

Supporters often are critical of what they view as ineffective establishment conservatives who have led the party previously.

This endorsement conventions main purpose is to expose the do-nothing Republicans that previously ran the county, Joel Buck, an OI Republican who serves at the Precinct 9 delegate in Ottawa County. The majority of the current precinct delegates understand fully what the previous old guard was up to and that is why the Pete Hoaxstra crowd is against this convention.

The quip is a reference to Hoekstra becoming the chair of the state party after former Chair Kristina Karamo  who was nominated by Moss last year to the post  was ousted after a revolt over party finances.

Members of the state committee voted to remove Karamo on Jan. 6 and on Jan. 20 to replace her with Hoekstra, who represented Michigans Second Congressional District from 1993 to 2011 and served as ambassador to the Netherlands under former President Donald Trump. Hoekstra also won the endorsement of Trump against Karamo.

The legitimacy of Karamos removal was challenged by her loyalists, but Hoekstras election won the support of Trump and the Republican National Committee before Karamos removal was sanctioned by a Kent County judge on Feb. 27.

Hoekstra, 70, said the significance of endorsements is dependent on how credible the endorsing body is.

So endorsements are totally dependent on the credibility of the organization, making the endorsements, he said.

Several local candidates seeking countywide office in Ottawa County denounced the endorsement convention last week.

Eric DeBoer is the current undersheriff of Ottawa County. Hes seeking the top sheriff post this year and said its disappointing that the local party opted to meddle before the primary.

I am not invited to the Ottawa GOP nominating committee meeting. I have never received a questionnaire, nor have I been interviewed by any member for vetting, he said. Historically, the party has stayed out of primary races. It has been up to the voters in the primary to choose their candidate. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be what the Ottawa GOP is about anymore. Instead, it is about consolidating power into the hands of a few.

Sarah Matwiejczyk is the chief assistant prosecutor who is seeking the top office this year. She said she will not bow to pressure to sign Ottawa Impacts contract it requires from candidates in order to receive financial backing from the group.

The Ottawa County GOP has added a primary endorsement and resolution that has never been a part of the Republican party platform, she said. I cannot agree to any resolution or contract that would make my advocacy for justice appear as though it would be prosecuted unjustly or become subject to an appeal or liability to the county.

John Teeples is running as a Republican for the District 7 seat on the county board of commissioners. He said the local partys actions will only feed division amongst conservatives in the county.

It is unprecedented for the GOP in Ottawa County to vet Republican candidates before a primary election, and this so-called endorsement convention seeks to disenfranchise Republican voters and divide the party, he said.

Shawn Haff, a conservative seeking the District 6 seat on the board, said the move was foolish.

I could walk on water and give a Ronald Reagan Time for Choosing speech and still not change the minds of any of the Ottawa Impact delegates at this convention, he said. The vote tonight is rigged in favor of Ottawa Impact candidates. I consider this convention election interference by the Ottawa County GOP.

John Teeples statement

Shawn Haff Facebook post

Facebook post

Eric DeBoer Facebook post

Joel Buck social media comment

This unprecedented and foolish endorsement convention will only further divide our fractured party and alienate Republican voters. I will not engage in quixotic endeavors.

The county GOP went beyond endorsements for local and county races, issuing backing for Michigans U.S. Senate race and Michigan Supreme Court races, as well as a candidate for the congressional races for the states Third and Fourth districts.

This is pretty unprecedented, Hoekstra said. And the number of offices that the party endorsed for are unprecedented.

For the open U.S. Senate race, the county GOP endorsed Dr. Sherry ODonnell over well-known candidates former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake), former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (I-Cascade Twp.) and businessman Sandy Pensler. On Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and actor Hill Harper have been recommended by the Michigan Bureau of Elections to make the August ballot.

Longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Zeeland didnt receive his local partys endorsement as he seeks an eighth term in the U.S. House. Instead, the party opted to back Brendan Muir, an OI Republican who relocated from Oakland County in 2022 and is serving his first term as the county party chair after Joel Studebaker left the role after only a few months to become Karamos chief of staff.

Muir received 187 votes to Huizengas two out of 189 ballots cast.

It is my honor to have the endorsement of the real men and women who work to grow our party. I am humbled by the show of support and am fired up by the momentum we are accumulating, Muir told WHGN this week. I am grateful to have received the overwhelming support of the America First Patriots at the Ottawa County GOP nominating convention. Im running to give you a voice and to revive our American republic!

Democrat Jessica Swartz is running on the Democratic side.

For the 3rd Congressional District, Michael Markey, a former 2022 gubernatorial candidate, won the nomination over Paul Hudson. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) in November.

Hoekstra said after Ottawa Countys decision to issue endorsements and rumors that other counties are considering following suit, he asked the state party to consider issuing guidance on how to proceed in future elections.

We have a resolution thats working its way through the state party, where the party may issue some kind of an advisory as to how we feel about local counties endorsing those kinds of things, he said. I think endorsements at the county level, and maybe even at the district level  these are complex issues. All were trying to do as a party is issue some general guidance, recognizing that under extraordinary conditions these are the things the local parties should consider before you make a decision.

He said the matter is currently with the MIGOP Issues Committee.

They will take advice, input, suggestions, revisions, and all those kinds of things, he said. At the end of it, they may vote to approve a statement. Or they may vote it down.

Hoekstra said if the committee opts to pursue issuing guidance to counties, the matter would then advance to the state committee before it would become an official statement by the party, which is expected to be sometime after the August primary and will be what Hoekstra described as forward-thinking.

We dont want to be in the press talking about internal fights for the last four or five months, he said. Weve got to focus on November.

The post Ottawa GOP endorses Ottawa Impact Republicans, as other conservatives cry foul appeared first on Michigan Advance.
PATERSON  Students and employees at New Roberto Clemente School had to sweat things out this week as temperatures rose into the mid-80s because the building's air-conditioning is being replaced.

The head of Patersons teachers union blamed district officials for not fixing the longstanding air-conditioning problem sooner, and instead waiting until the warmest part of the academic year to start the work.

Paterson Education Association President John McEntee Jr. said New Roberto Clemente School was scorching hot this week, a situation that he said was exacerbated by windows that swing open only partially, not allowing for full breezes to cool occupants.

Story continues below photo gallery

It becomes an oven in there, McEntee said.

City education officials said their goal for finishing the air conditioning installation is September 1, meaning the school must go through another warm-weather month in June using fans to cool off.

Several school board members contracted by Paterson Press this week said they were unaware that the cooling system at New Roberto Clemente was being replaced.

A spokesman said the district was aware of the ongoing problems with the air conditioning but had to wait until it got the funding before it could start the $889,093 project.

The New Roberto Clemente Elementary School in Paterson.

The work requires heavy equipment and some reconstruction that cannot be done with students and staff on site due to the obvious safety concerns that the work poses, said a statement issued by spokesman Dan Juan.

Once approved, plans were confirmed and work began immediately, the least intrusive preparation work taking place first, Juan added.

Joel Ramirez, who is a school board member as well as director of health and human services for Patersons city government, said he wasnt aware of any heat complaints lodged with the municipal offices.

Councilman Luis Velez, who represents the 5th Ward where the school is located, said none of his constituents have contacted him about excessive heat at New Roberto Clemente, a middle school with about 650 students.

The school opened in 2005 and was built by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Paterson also has a Roberto Clemente School for grades K through 4, which opened in 1920.

"It is completely unacceptable that the students and staff will be forced to endure sweltering temperatures until early September, said McEntee, the union president.

The facilities director has been made aware of this year after year, and yet here we are again," he said. "What is it going to take to get the air conditioning to work properly? This isn't rocket science.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson students swelter as air conditioning gets replaced
The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Columbia is seen in drydock on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, in Ketchikan, Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Antiquated or obsolete laws can be amusing; I recently learned that an obscure medieval law provides the right to drive sheep across London Bridge. Fortunately, no one is raising sheep in London anymore.

Other antiquated or obsolete laws are painful to the public. Generally, these laws stay in place because they benefit the few at the expense of the many. A complete absence of reflecting changes that have occurred in the real world is a common trait of such ineffective regulation.

Unique situations where antiquated or obsolete laws end up becoming what they were intended to prevent exist today, again the public bears the cost. The cost is disproportionate to First Nation and other rural residents. The obsolete and antiquated law I speak of is the Jones Act.

How would the public benefit from reforming the Jones Act? Lower freight costs would be one immediate effect. Since I have lived in Alaska  47 years  all politicians promise to do something about the high cost of living but rarely follow through with action, such as pushing for changes to this protectionist shipping law.

The Alaska Marine Highway System would also benefit by being able to replace vessels cheaper and faster, saving the state of Alaska hundreds of millions of dollars and improving service with modern vessels. Doing so will provide the system an opportunity to save itself and its responsibility to coastal communities that for some, will go another year without any service. The promise of good maritime employment with an increasing fleet of new vessels in Alaska waters will provide jobs that support families and communities. The shipyards will be more productive working on newer technology and materials. The fishing industry will also benefit from more competitive freight rates and the ability to modernize its fleet at dramatically lower cost. Southcentral Alaska will be able to export natural gas to U.S. sources.

Our elected officials generally support the Jones Act due to the support they receive from the maritime unions and shipping interests. That is how the system works. The maritime unions in concert with the shipping companies are obsessed with protecting a law that is hindering Alaskas economy. Reform can work in their interest as well.

Allowing vessels to be purchased from more efficient and less costly international shipyards would mean there could be more vessels and union membership. Shipping firms have already had a 100-year head start and capital to invest in new technology and equipment. A growing, modernized fleet would be a win for the countrys national security. More of everything means the political world gets to bolster their resumes. In other words, win, win. Oh yes, the public would finally get their due.

Numerous shipyards around the world build ships better, faster and much cheaper than under the Jones Act. A number of these shipyards are located in countries that are military allies of the USA. A maritime career is more appealing, safer and productive with new technology and equipment. More vessels mean more shipyard demand for repair and maintenance services. Numerous industries would also benefit greatly.

Alaska is now combatting population and cost-of-living fluctuations that conflict with a bright future. The Jones Act modernization will save hundreds of millions of dollars each year for businesses and residents of Alaska. Our country will also benefit by billions of dollars by reducing the cost of transportation within our vast country. It would also have important environmental benefits by encouraging the use of more carbon-friendly maritime transport on newer and more efficient vessels. The installation of offshore wind farms would also become easier and less costly.

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The post Overhauling the federal Jones Act would benefit Alaska, including the Marine Highway System appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
Theodoros Roussopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has condemned the Russian air strikes on the Epicentr construction materials hypermarket in Kharkiv.

Source: Theodoros Roussopoulos on X (Twitter), European Pravda reports

He said this is yet another indication of the cruel and criminal nature of the Russian leadership.

Quote: "Bombing a construction hypermarket in Kharkiv on a Saturday is one additional evidence of the brutal and criminal character of Russias leadership. Those responsible will be brought to justice," the PACE President stated.

Bombing a construction hypermarket in Kharkiv on a Saturday is one additional evidence of the brutal and criminal character of Russias leadership. Those responsible will be brought to justice.  Theodoros Rousopoulos (@PACE_President) May 25, 2024

Background:

Czechias Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said that the Russian strike on the Epicentr hypermarket in Kharkiv on 25 May proves that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace.

Russian forces struck an Epicentr home improvement hypermarket in Kharkiv on the afternoon of Saturday, 25 May, killing two. Earlier, officials reported 24 casualties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that up to 200 people might have been at the store at the time of the attack.

Western media are continuing to report that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has signalled interest in negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine, even though the Kremlins rhetoric and Russias military activity suggest that Putin is not interested in meaningful negotiations and any settlement that would stand in his way of destroying the independent Ukrainian state.

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Palm Beach housekeepers are raking in $150,000 salaries as the rich flock to Florida, report says

Some housekeepers in parts of Florida are earning $150,000 salaries, CNBC reported.

Real-estate prices in the Sunshine State have surged as millionaires flock to the area.

Demand is also increasing for other roles like butlers, nannies, and chefs.

Experienced housekeepers in parts of Florida are enjoying huge salaries of between $120,000 to $150,000, CNBC reported.

Demand for such positions has surged in areas like Palm Beach as the rich continue to flock to Florida from high-tax states such as New York.

With wealthy homeowners also battling big hotels and businesses for cleaners' services, the typical pay for housekeepers in the Sunshine State has soared from around $25 an hour in 2020 to $45 or $50 an hour in 2024, some agencies said, per CNBC.

Many are also getting health care, 401(k) plans, and benefits, the report said.

"I have been placing staff for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this," April Berube, the founder of The Wellington Agency, a household staffing agency, told the outlet.

"We've seen such a boom from people relocating, especially Palm Beach and Miami," she said. "For housekeepers it's wonderful. For us it's extremely difficult. It's a severe shortage."

Demand has also surged for other roles, including butlers, drivers, and chefs, per CNBC.

The influx of wealthy homeowners has also seen house prices rocket in South Florida, with the average sale price of a home in Palm Beach exceeding $20 million in the third quarter of 2023.

Many are being lured to the state by the lack of income tax and year-round good weather, as Business Insider previously reported.

Some of the big names to have made the move include Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who purchased a $173 million estate in Manalapan, a town near Palm Beach, in 2022, and Jeff Bezos, Florida's richest billionaire, who owns three properties on South Florida's Indian Creek Island.

Donald Trump also has his infamous Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.

The former president moved his primary residence from New York City to Florida in 2019.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Robust financial performance with net income growth to $646.3 million in FY 2024.

Strong brand portfolio and diversified global presence as key competitive advantages.

Challenges include market volatility and potential supply chain disruptions.

Strategic focus on direct-to-consumer channels and sustainability initiatives.

On May 23, 2024, Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) filed its 10-K report, revealing a year of financial resilience and strategic positioning. The company reported a net income increase to $646.3 million for the fiscal year ended March 30, 2024, up from $522.7 million the previous year. This performance reflects the strength of Ralph Lauren's brand and its ability to navigate a complex retail environment. With a well-established presence across North America, Europe, and Asia, and a diversified portfolio that spans apparel, accessories, home goods, and fragrances, Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) continues to be a prominent player in the luxury lifestyle market.

Decoding Ralph Lauren Corp (RL): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Global Brand Recognition: Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) boasts a powerful brand portfolio, including the iconic Polo Ralph Lauren, which commands a premium in the market. The company's brand equity is built on a legacy of quality, design, and marketing prowess, which has fostered a loyal customer base. This brand strength is evident in the company's ability to maintain high gross profit margins, which stood at 4,431.8 million in FY 2024, up from 4,165.8 million in FY 2023. The Ralph Lauren brand is synonymous with an aspirational lifestyle, which continues to attract consumers globally.

Diversified Distribution Network: The company's multi-channel distribution strategy, which includes retail stores, concession-based shop-within-shops, e-commerce, wholesale, and licensing, allows it to reach a broad customer base and mitigate risks associated with any single channel or market. This diversification is a testament to Ralph Lauren's adaptability and its strategic approach to market penetration. The company's retail and digital commerce operations, which span 564 retail stores and 699 concession-based shop-within-shops, along with a strong online presence, underscore its strength in direct-to-consumer engagement.

Weaknesses

Operational Costs: Despite a strong balance sheet, Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) faces challenges in managing its operational expenses. Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased to 3,600.5 million in FY 2024, up from 3,408.9 million in FY 2023. These costs reflect the high price of maintaining a luxury brand status, including marketing, retail operations, and product development. The company must continuously innovate to manage these expenses without compromising the brand's value proposition.

Market Sensitivity: Ralph Lauren's performance is subject to fluctuations in consumer spending and fashion trends. As a luxury brand, it is particularly sensitive to economic downturns, which can lead to reduced consumer spending on high-end products. This sensitivity is compounded by the competitive nature of the fashion industry, where trends can shift rapidly, and brand loyalty can be fickle. The company must remain agile in its design and marketing strategies to stay relevant and appealing to consumers.

Opportunities

Direct-to-Consumer Focus: Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing trend of direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales. The company's investment in its digital platforms and e-commerce capabilities has the potential to drive growth and improve customer engagement. By leveraging data analytics and personalized marketing, Ralph Lauren can enhance the online shopping experience and increase customer loyalty. The shift towards DTC channels also offers the opportunity to improve margins by bypassing intermediaries.

Sustainability and Innovation: Consumers are increasingly valuing sustainability and ethical practices, which presents an opportunity for Ralph Lauren to differentiate itself further. The company's commitment to sustainability, as outlined in its Global Citizenship and Sustainability report, resonates with a growing demographic of environmentally and socially conscious consumers. Innovations in product design, such as the use of sustainable materials and circular economy principles, can open new markets and strengthen the brand's reputation.

Threats

Global Economic Uncertainty: Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) operates in a global market that exposes it to economic and geopolitical risks. Factors such as trade tensions, currency fluctuations, and political instability can impact the company's supply chain and consumer demand. The ongoing economic uncertainty, including potential disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, poses a threat to Ralph Lauren's international operations and profitability.

Competitive Pressure: The luxury fashion industry is highly competitive, with numerous brands vying for market share. Ralph Lauren faces competition from both established luxury brands and emerging designers. To maintain its competitive edge, the company must continue to invest in marketing, product innovation, and customer experience. Additionally, the rise of fast fashion and digital-native brands presents a challenge to Ralph Lauren's traditional business model, requiring the company to adapt to changing consumer behaviors and preferences.

In conclusion, Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) demonstrates a robust financial position and a strong brand presence in the luxury lifestyle market. Its diversified distribution network and global reach are significant strengths, while operational costs and market sensitivity pose internal challenges. Opportunities for growth lie in expanding its direct-to-consumer channels and embracing sustainability initiatives. However, global economic uncertainty and competitive pressures remain threats that require strategic management. Overall, Ralph Lauren's commitment to innovation and its strategic focus on direct engagement with consumers position it well to navigate the dynamic fashion industry landscape.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL)  The fifth annual Paws in Blue Competition & Demonstration Fundraiser took place on Saturday, which worked to raise money for the Jonesborough Police Departments K-9 operations.

Money raised went to Jonesborough PD for things like veterinarian bills, dog food, equipment and more K-9-related needs. Officer Derrick Malone with the Jonesborough Police Department said that the event also helped keep their dogs in tip-top shape.

We have a yearly certification thats mandatory each year, we have to train so many hours a month, he said. Its not like your dog, you teach them to sit or heel and then you do it when you want to, its almost a daily occurrence you have to do with these dogs training.

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Activities took place at the old Jonesborough Middle Schools field and featured K-9 officers from around the region who competed in challenges. Along with several contest categories, a demonstration took place where K-9s showed off their skills in article search, recall, tracking and apprehension.

After officers completed their contest and demos, the public was able to enter their pets for competition in the Top Dog Pet Show. Categories included cutest puppy (6-12 months), waggiest tail, best veteran (5 years and older), most handsome boy, prettiest girl and most look-alike with their owner. Contestants donated money to the fundraiser to enter their dogs.

Another competition was for junior handlers (14 & under) and adult handler (15 & up), which included give me your paw; sit, stay & come; fetch, bring back & drop it; speak; roll over & stay and owners choice.

Local vendors from different stores and artists with a variety of dog-related items attended, as well.

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.
Pedestrian dies after being hit by SUV in Tampa

Pedestrian dies after being hit by SUV in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A pedestrian died Friday night after being hit by an SUV in Tampa, according to the Tampa Police Department.

A woman was trying to cross the road at about 9:45 p.m. in the 8700 block of 40th Street when she was hit in a crosswalk, police said. She was taken to a hospital where she later died.

The driver stayed at the location of the crash and is cooperating with the investigation, police said.

40th Street will remain closed between Yukon Street and Humphrey Street for the duration of the investigation.

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.

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.
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA)  An American tourist who was arrested in the Turks and Caicos Islands for possessing ammunition in his luggage returned home to western Pennsylvania on Friday.

Following a monthslong ordeal, Bryan Hagerich of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, was given a suspended sentence of 52 weeks on Friday, allowing him to fly home after paying a $6,700 fine.

Hagerich landed at Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday at around 9:30 p.m. and hugged his children after stepping off the escalator to baggage claim. Hagerich held his children in the air for about 15 seconds before kneeling to embrace them.

Bryan Hagerich hugs his children at Pittsburgh International Airport on May 24, 2024. / Credit: Credit: KDKA

"We have a lot of catching up to do, a lot of memories to make together," Hagerich said. "Just so elated to see them. They've been so strong through all this."

His daughter had a sign that read, "We love you daddy," and his son's sign said, "Welcome home."

"It's the hardest time of my life," Hagerich said. "Just being separated from your family as a father, as a provider. And to not be that figure in your family's life, it's a very tough pill to swallow. But to have these guys here right now, this is everything."

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Republican Rep. Guy Reschenthaler were also at the airport to greet Hagerich. Fetterman and Reschenthaler were among a group of lawmakers who urged officials in the Turks and Caicos Islands to release the Americans held there.

Hagerich was arrested in February for having ammunition in his checked bag. He said he did not realize he left the rifle rounds in the bag. Hagerich said his eight nights in jail were the darkest days of his life.

Possessing a gun or ammunition is prohibited in Turks and Caicos, but tourists were previously often able to just pay a fine. In February, a court order mandated that even tourists in the process of leaving the country are subject to prison time. Hagerich pleaded guilty to possessing 20 rifle rounds.

There are four other Americans who are facing similar charges in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Three are still on the islands, and the fourth who was charged was allowed to return to the U.S. for medical reasons. Hagerich hopes his case sets a precedent, and that those other Americans will be home soon.

He added that he believed the right people were in the right place at the right time to help him and his family during the ordeal.

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President Biden goes by Scranton Joe, he references Pennsylvania often in speeches and his campaigns have spent millions of dollars there in political ads.

In 2020, the president set up his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia  before the COVID-19 pandemic  and he visited the state more than any other battleground that cycle.

It was also the state that catapulted him to the White House, after he won the state and clinched the electoral college.

But now, some Democrats say its a state that could cause Bidens blue wall to rupture.

They point to a pair of recent polls that show former President Trump with a narrow lead  in what amounts to a near tie.

But whats concerning to them isnt the top-line numbers, but the erosion happening within the Democratic base.

A New York Times/Siena College/Philadelphia Inquirer poll out earlier this month showed Bidens support among young voters in the state has slipped since 2020 from 62 percent to 47 percent. And his backing from Black and Hispanic voters has also waned from 71 percent to 57 percent.

The Times/Siena/Inquirer survey also showed Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.)  who is running for reelection against Republican Dave McCormick  outrunning Biden by as many as 10 points.

If Biden is performing so poorly, in a state where he has strong ties, what does that say about the rest of the blue wall?

Statewide Democrats have done very well in the state in recent years and theres no reason Biden couldnt do the same, said one top strategist, pointing to the elections of Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.). We all know its a battleground state but it should never be a dead heat. Biden should always be ahead and the fact that hes not should sound alarm bells.

Former Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) said he has also found the recent polls perplexing.

Im surprised that things arent going so well, Altmire said. If theres any place where he should be doing well or better than President Trump, its Pennsylvania because of the personal connection, because of the work hes been putting in for decades, and because the state is trending blue.

Still, Altmire said he thinks Biden will ultimately prevail: I think hes doing everything he can do. Theyve pulled out all the stops.

Biden will be back in the state Wednesday, when he will campaign in Philadelphia. Biden aides say they have poured significant resources into the state, including opening 24 field offices, giving them what they say is a significant infrastructure advantage over Trump.

Those in Biden world say voters still arent tuned in to the campaign, but as they start to pay more attention to the race, theyll recognize the accomplishments Biden has made since taking office.

The campaign also said they launched key coalitions across the state to organize in communities that will be key to winning the state, including Out for Biden-Harris, Women for Biden-Harris and Latinos Con Biden-Harris.

Campaign aides also say they are making a significant play for voters who supported Nikki Haley during the Republican primary. Haley received 157,000 voters in the Pennsylvania primary, and the Biden campaign says it can peel off some of those voters who dont want to support Trump.

In 2020, Donald Trump lost Pennsylvania and the White House. Since then, he has only become more extreme, embracing January 6th and bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade, said Jack Doyle, the Biden campaigns communications director in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanians will reject Trumps chaos and will deliver for Joe Biden again this November.

But as of now, the most recent polls in Pennsylvania show a tight race.

A Muhlenberg College poll of voters in the state out earlier this month showed Trump leading Biden 44 percent to 41 percent in a head-to-head match-up. The previous survey done by the college showed Biden ahead by 42 percent to 41 percent.

Christopher Borick, the director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, said Biden was underperforming particularly with young voters and Black voters compared to his 2020 results. He is also underperforming compared with other Democrats in the state in recent statewide elections.

The most loyal Democratic voters  and the share we see within that group  is lower than what we have traditionally seen and thats very problematic for Biden, Borick said.

He attributed the lag in support during this election cycle to the economy.

Just as troubling from the Biden perspective, while the president is losing support among specific voting blocs key to a Democratic victory, Trump is making inroads.

In recent days, the former president has made direct appeals to Black and Hispanic voters while seeking to slam Bidens handling of immigration, which has become a top issue to voters.

Speaking at a rally in New York on Thursday, Trump said the biggest negative impact of undocumented workers is against our Black population and our Hispanic population who are losing their jobs, losing their housing, losing everything they can lose. Theyre the ones that are affected most by whats happening.

The Biden campaign says they arent taking voters for granted, and theyve opened offices in Black neighborhoods earlier than ever before. The campaign says it is communicating with local communities about Bidens accomplishments, including record low unemployment.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) insisted that overall, Biden is in fairly good shape in the state.

I am confident if the election were held tomorrow, he would win, Rendell said in an interview, adding that Biden has had some legislative wins, particularly on infrastructure, that are having major impact.

But the former governor acknowledged some worry about Bidens waning support among key demographics. Its worrisome because its so tight, he said of the recent polls.

Rendell and other Democrats said the Biden campaign should continue to run ads targeting groups like young voters and pointing to their successes on the environment and student loan debt. Likewise, he said, they should target Black voters to highlight Bidens accomplishments.

Altmire predicted that Pennsylvania would be the least likely of the Northern blue wall states, which also include Wisconsin and Michigan, to flip back to Trump since his 2016 victory there over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

But he added, If Biden loses Pennsylvania, he will lose the presidency.

I can say that with 100 percent confidence, he said. I dont think Pennsylvania itself is the deal breaker but the trend would carry over to other states.

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Pike County infant had 11 broken bones before he was 8 weeks old, now his parents are in custody

A Pike County jury has found a couple guilty of abusing their infant son for weeks after he was born.

District Attorney Marie Broders office announced that Tarilyn Allie Lester Alexander and Joseph Tyler Alexander were convicted of eight counts of aggravated battery and four counts of child cruelty.

Prosecutors say the child spent the first 10 days of his life in the NICU, meaning he was in his parents custody for less than seven weeks.

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In that time, the infant suffered 11 broken bones, bruising on his face, broken blood vessels in his eyes, reflux and more.

Neither parent offered any explanation for the injuries and Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta doctors diagnosed his injuries as non-accidental trauma.

While the case was pending, the Alexanders hired doctors to testify that their son had hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that would have explained the broken bones.

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All of the States medical witnesses, including doctors from four major Georgia hospital systems, testified that the only explanation for the childs injuries is abuse.

Witnesses also testified that since being removed from his parents care, the child has not had any broken bones.

Both were sentenced to 18 months in custody followed by 15 years of probation.

They may have contact with their son once they are released from prison.

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(PORTLAND TRIBUNE)  Smoke clouds a past of cultural erasure in Forest Grove, but Pacific University students are weaving a new narrative of belonging  and justice.

Pacific University could become home to the first Longhouse in Washington County, as the school explores a prospective space for students to embrace and celebrate their cultural identities.

The project was proposed by the universitys Indigenous Student Alliance as a step toward reconciliation and reconnection. The university, and all of Washington County, is located on the ancestral lands of the Tualatin Kalapuya, whose home was ripped away by the federal government in the 1800s.

Oregonians set to break travel records this Memorial Day weekend

This Longhouse will serve as a symbol of respect for and recognition of all Indigenous peoples, the Indigenous Student Alliance said in its proposal. It will be a hub for sharing cultural experiences, learning about the history and anthropology of the region, and showcasing Indigenous art and artifacts.

The vision for a place to gather has been a focus since the student groups inception in 2022, according to alliance advisor Nikol Roubidoux.

They wanted to have some sort of meeting space on campus for Indigenous students. And when I say Indigenous, I mean Indigenous people from anywhere  not just Native Americans, although that is a large focus, Roubidoux said. Its basically a space that the students are wanting to have that connects them to home and their cultures; that helps them to learn about their cultures, because many dont even know the history of their ancestors and who they descended from.

Read more at PortlandTribune.com

The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners

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'Pledge Dad' Who Made Frat Member Drink Until He Suffered Brain Damage Sentenced to 6 Months in Jail

Ryan Delanty, a former member of a University of Missouri fraternity, had previously pleaded guilty in a 2021 hazing incident that injured a fraternity pledge

alamy University of Missouri

A former member of a University of Missouri fraternity referred to in court documents as a pledge dad was sentenced to six months in prison over a 2021 hazing incident that left another student with brain damage.



The Columbia Daily Tribune reported that Ryan Delanty was handcuffed at the Boone County Courthouse on Friday, May 24, and taken away to jail following his sentencing.

Delanty had previously pleaded guilty on May 10 to one count of misdemeanor hazing and one count of serving alcohol to a minor, per ABC affiliate KMIZ, in the case surrounding Phi Gamma Delta fraternity pledge Danny Santulli.

Related: UVA Fraternities Suspend Recruitment Activities After Alleged Hazing Leaves Student Injured

On Oct. 20, 2021, Santulli, then 19, was hospitalized after being hazed at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternitys "pledge father reveal, NBC affiliate KOMU reported. Santullis blood alcohol at the time reached 0.486, over six times the legal limit to operate a vehicle.

The incident left Santulli blind and also brain-damaged, without the ability for him to speak, walk or respond.

In June 2022, Delanty and Thomas Andrew Shultz, both former Phi Gamma Delta members, were indicted by a Missouri grand jury on felony hazing charges for their involvement in the incident. They also faced misdemeanor counts of supplying liquor to a minor or intoxicated person.

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According to police at the time, Delanty and Shultz were seen in security camera footage allegedly forcing Santulli to consume alcohol.

Shultz pleaded guilty in April 2023 to one misdemeanor count of supplying liquor to a minor or Intoxicated person, per CBS affiliate KRCG. He was given a suspended sentence of one year in jail.

Related: UConn Frat President Charged After Police Say He Strangled Pledge During Initiation

Following the hazing incident, the University of Missouri in May 2022 said it was shutting down the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and 13 students were disciplined. The Associated Press reported that Santullis family filed a civil lawsuit against the fraternity and 23 members, which was settled in 2022.

Stephanie Fortus, Delanty's attorney, said of his clients May 10 plea deal, per the AP: Ryan understands the gravity of the situation, and he's pleased to reach a resolution that avoided a trial.

Related: Parents Call for Justice After 20-Year-Old Son Dies in Alleged Fraternity Hazing Incident

Santullis family members were present at Delantys sentencing hearing on May 24, with Santullis father, Tom, saying, as reported by the Columbia Daily Tribune: "In the end, nobody had each other's back and that is what a fraternity is supposed to do.

Santullis mother, Mary, also said at the hearing that while her job as her sons full-time caregiver has been rewarding, it's not one I imagined myself ever having."

PEOPLE contacted Delantys attorney Fortus and the Boone County prosecuting attorneys office for comment.



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John Hill of Poinciana has filed to run as a Democrat in the Florida House District 48 election.

The first Democrat has joined a pack of Republicans seeking an open seat in Florida House District 48.

John Hill of Poinciana has entered the race in hopes of succeeding Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven, who faces term limits. Eight Republicans have already filed to run.

Hill, 44, is an Alabama native who studied special education at Jacksonville State University. He said he has worked in various aspects of mental health, including roles at schools and private practices. He owns a company that provides administrative support to independent therapists and psychologists.

Hill, who moved to Florida in 2020, is second vice chair of the Polk County Democratic Executive Committee. He said he will take a leave of absence from that role to run for office.

I'm someone who has always grown up with belief that public service is one of the highest callings you can have in life, Hill said. I have parents who were active in the community in Alabama, where I grew up, and who exposed me to politics and public service early on. It's been a goal of mine, to serve as a state legislator.

Hill said he is dissatisfied with the focus of the Florida Legislature in recent years.

There's been this atmosphere, environment, of, I feel, legislating people's existence in the state of Florida, and focusing a lot on different aspects of who people are, he said. I feel like the business of the legislature should be the business of the state. And I just feel like we're spending too much time on these culture wars and focusing on things that deal with people's personal lives.

Paul Senft Former Polk commissioner, longtime GOP activist from Haines City, dies at 84

Noting that Polk County has one of nations fastest rates of population growth, Hill said the Legislature needs to ensure that counties have proper funding for systems and infrastructure.

District 48 covers eastern Polk County south of Haines City, including Winter Haven and Lake Wales. The eight Republicans in the race are Jon Albert, Jerry Carter, Chad Davis, Kenneth Hartpence, Deborah Owens, Amilee Stuckey, Benny Valentin and Randy Wilkinson.

A lone Democrat has now filed to run in four of the five legislative races for districts that include Polk County  one in the Senate and three in the House. In House District 49, which Republican Melony Bell is vacating to run for Polk County Supervisor of Elections, three Republicans and no Democrat have filed.

All six of Polk Countys legislative seats are now held by Republicans. The deadline for qualifying in legislative races is June 14.

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: Poinciana man is first Democrat to enter Florida House-48 race
When Dan Loepp takes to the stage this Thursday with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at the Detroit Regional Chambers policy conference on Mackinac Island, where he's scheduled to conduct a fireside chat, it will be with mixed emotions.

Since taking over as president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan over 19 years ago, Loepp, who is retiring Jan. 1, 2025, has introduced the states governors at the annual northern Michigan confab where 1,500 people will again congregate to talk business, policy and everything in between.

Dan Loepp with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at the 2022 Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference.

Ive been at Mackinac and introduced governors, including Rick Snyder and Gretchen Whitmer, Loepp told me last week. Its been great. But when I retire, you wont see me at Mackinac anymore. Hes stepping aside not only as CEO of BCBSM but from many of the organizations hes been involved with  like the chamber.

Sandy Baruah, who runs the Detroit Regional Chamber, said: Theres been no greater friend of the chambers and the conference than Dan. Hes supported the role of the chamber, which allowed existing institutions (to) help drive change rather than willy nilly create new ones.

Loepp told me he is borrowing a page from Richard Whitmer, Gretchen Whitmer's dad, in how he is approaching retirement. Richard Whitmer was previous president and CEO of BCBSM before Loepp  and someone who helped prepare Loepp for the top job.

Dan Loepp, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, talks in a news conference with nine CEOs of Detroit's largest corporations at the Detroit City Council Auditorium with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. They were there to talk and take a joint stand against racism and injustice on June 3, 2020.

I was very fortunate to have learned from Dick, Loepp said, pointing to his predecessor's penchant for bringing people to the table and dealing with issues head-on.

Loepp worked in Lansing and focused on policy, working for a time for former Attorney General Frank Kelley before joining BCBSM. He joined BCBSM 27 years ago and was Richard Whitmer's chief of staff for three years before taking on the CEO job.

When Richard Whitmer retired at age 65, he cut the cord, handed the keys to Loepp and was gone, Loepp said.

Loepp, who turns 67 in July, said it was time for new leadership of BCBSM as he announced earlier this year he would retire in 2025. This industry is changing exponentially and we needed a leader whos going to lead over the next five to 10 years. I had no interest in doing this until I was 80 years old.

Leadership, he said, will be faced with changes in technology, increasing costs and more demands and the needs and solutions will require a fresh set of eyes.

Following a six-month search, the BCBSM board announced May 15 that Tricia Keith, 53, will succeed Loepp as she becomes the companys first female chief executive. She had been executive vice president, chief operating officer and president of emerging markets for BCBSM.

Story continues

Tricia Keith will become president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan on Jan. 1, 2025.

The board couldnt have made a better choice, Loepp said of Keith. She has the energy, experience, and innovative spirit our company needs as health care continues to change. She is the right leader at the right time for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

I also think it is important for my successor to make her own imprint, Loepp said. Like it or not, you have to get out of the way.

Keeping it in the family

Daniel Loepp has been CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan since 2006.

Loepp, who is married to Amy Tattrie, has four children in their blended family and four grandchildren.

Hes looking forward to spending more time with family and hes planning to do some traveling. Ive traveled a lot for work but am looking forward to visiting Hawaii with my family and spending more time together in Michigan and Florida.

Born on the east side of Detroit, Loepp will stay involved with two organizations hes been involved with  the Downtown Detroit Partnership and the Parade Company.

Detroit remains a big part of Loepps story: He grew up near Denby High School, attended De La Salle High School. The first home he bought was on Harvard, near Chandler Park Drive, on the east side of Detroit.

Daniel Loepp with his childhood dog, Buster, in August 1966.

Hence, I wasnt surprised when I learned earlier this year that nearby Balduck Park, a mainstay of fun and memories for families like mine who grew up on the citys east side, was getting an infusion of millions to help refurbish it and the East Warren Cadieux neighborhood  and that Loepp and BCBSM were involved.

Balduck Park, with its hill for sledding, toboggan ramp and ice-skating rink, was once a bevy of activity as families gathered year-round for events but, in recent years, it had fallen in disrepair.

Youth clinic participants participate in a linebackers drill at the Bringing the Draft to Balduck Park in Detroit on April 20, 2024. More than 500 kids participated in the clinic, located in the East Warren/Cadieux neighborhood where Daniel J. Loepp spent his childhood.

Balduck Park, in many ways, is home base for Detroit's East Warren/Cadieux neighborhood, Loepp said. Were proud to support the vision of local businesses and residents and Im very happy to see the park with new walking paths, playground, a dog park and busy with people. I remember the sledding hill very fondly.

Downtown Detroit Partnership CEO Eric Larson was on hand at the ribbon cutting of Balduck Park on March 25, where Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Loepp and others gathered. Larson told me a neighbor came out to tell him she was so happy to see all the activity  something that had been missing for over 25 years.

Dans commitment to our city and the greater southeast Michigan community is unmatched, Larson told me. Equally as important, he is a homegrown leader who has never forgotten his roots or the importance of giving back while serving and uplifting our community.

Daniel Loepp serves meals at Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit on Dec. 9, 2014. Loepp and his wife, Amy, served as co-chairs of the Support Our Capuchin Kitchen (SOCK) Annual Dinner, raising $750,000 for the nonprofit organization.

Dan and his wife also operate the Loepp Family Foundation, which Loepp told me they will do more with revolving around childrens health, wellness and access to education.

"Im grateful to have served our members, grown our company and improved health care for everyone," Loepp said. "It was the best job in the world.

More: Tech entrepreneur looks to make big AI push in metro Detroit

More: Black IndyCar driver Myles Rowe says Penske equality program 'changed my world'

Contact Carol Cain: 248-355-7126 or clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of Michigan Matters, which airs 5:30 a.m. Sundays on CBS Detroit and noon Sundays on Detroit 50 WKBD. See Michigan GOP Chair Pete Hoesktra, Denise Ilitch, Michigan Chamber's Jim Holcomb and former Rep. Tommy Stallworth on this Sundays show. "Michigan Matters" can also be found on those stations listings on FUBO, Pluto TV, Youtube.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Departing BCBS Michigan CEO Dan Loepp: It was best job in the world
A counter-protester, identified as Edan On, strikes a barricade at a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA on 1 May 2024.

A counter-protester, identified as Edan On, strikes a barricade at a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA on 1 May 2024. Photograph: David Swanson/Reuters

Police have arrested a man suspected of assaulting pro-Palestinian demonstrators in a violent attack at the University of California, Los Angeles, last month.

In late April, a group of masked people marched on to the campus at night and attacked a Gaza solidarity encampment. They threw fireworks, beat students, and attacked staff and student journalists while law enforcement and campus-hired security guards failed to intervene for hours.

Related: Why is New York University making protesters watch The Simpsons as punishment?

The attack caused outrage and sparked fierce criticism of the university, its leader and the campus police department.

Edan On was taken into custody by UCLA police on Thursday on a felony charge  what appears to be the first arrest of a member of the group involved in the attack. The 18-year-old is currently being held in a Los Angeles jail on $30,000 bail, according to jail records.

On was first identified by CNN. Videos appear to show On, whom CNN described as a high school senior, wearing a white mask and hoodie throwing objects into the encampment and assaulting pro-Palestinian demonstrators with a wooden pole. The outlet reported that his mother had bragged about his role in the attack on Facebook, but later denied that he had been present.

UCLA police said in a statement to several media outlets that it had used some of the videos shared by media in their investigation.

UCLA police department detectives conducted an investigation that included interviewing victims, speaking with witnesses, and reviewing security camera footage and publicly available videos from members of the public and the media, the department said.

Police have not specifically named On, though the description they provided is consistent with jail records. The department has said it is committed to investigating all violence reported on campus during the protests and counter-protests and identifying perpetrators.

Meanwhile, UCLA continues to grapple with the protests and their aftermath. Police dismantled the pro-Palestinian encampment following the violent attack and arrested hundreds of people. Protesters established a new encampment on Thursday  as the UCLA chancellor joined other campus leaders to testify before Congress about the demonstrations  which police quickly cleared.

In the tense three-hour-long session, House Republicans clashed with the president of Northwestern University over his handling of a protest community, but largely spared UCLAs chancellor, Gene Block. Ilhan Omar, the progressive Minnesota representative, however, was critical of Block and said he could have prevented the violent attack on protesters.

You should be ashamed for letting a peaceful protest gathering get hijacked by an angry mob, she said.

Next week, some university workers will go on strike over the crackdown on Gaza protests. The union for academic workers has initiated a rolling strike across University of California campuses in protest against the university systems response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The strike began at UC Santa Cruz this week and will spread to UCLA and UC Davis on Tuesday.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) announced Saturday that they arrested a Woodbridge driver for fatally hitting a pedestrian Friday morning.

Officers responded to the intersection of North Kings Highway and Huntington Park Drive just after 12:30 a.m. for a pedestrian crash.

Investigators said 38-year-old Michael Rambudhan was driving an Acura northbound on North Kings Highway when it left the roadway.

He drove into a median and continued on the sidewalk where he hit 54-year-old Lucius Gaskins of Alexandria and then ran into a tree.

FCPD: Pedestrian killed in early morning Huntington crash, driver arrested

Gaskins died at the scene. Rambudhan stayed at the scene and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Detectives said they believe alcohol was a factor in the crash and charged Rambudhan with Driving While Intoxicated and Refusal. He is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (703) 280-0543.

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A prominent anti-Hamas activist arrested for racism after eating a banana during a pro-Palestine protest thanked a judge after she lifted sweeping and disproportionate bail conditions imposed by police.

Niyak Ghorbani, 38, was accused of making a racist gesture with the fruit while standing with counter protesters in central London on Saturday May 4.

He was seen on video eating a banana and waving another one in the air at pro-Palestine marchers outside a Barclays Bank.

The Iranian dissident, well-known for holding a Hamas Are Terrorists banner at counter protests, denies he was being racist and insists he was simply eating the fruit.

After his arrest, police imposed bail conditions on the 38-year-old banning him from attending any protest relating to Palestine or from entering the London boroughs of Camden or Westminster.

Mr Ghorbanis lawyer insisted his actions with the banana were not racially motivated in any event and that the bail conditions were unnecessary and disproportionate.

Niyak Ghorbani in central London with an anti-Hamas poster - Christopher Pledger for the Telegraph

Jessie Smith told Westminster magistrates court last week that Mr Ghorbanis actions had to be understood in relation to an incident that went viral at UCLA (University of California, LA) involving protesters mockingly disobeying a no bananas sign.

Miss Smith said the sign was displayed because a pro-Palestine protester at UCLA had a banana allergy and counter-protesters had responded by eating a banana, adding: In all the media and online discussion about the banana at UCLA, there is zero reference  really no reference  to this being an issue, or antagonistic conduct connected with race.

The banana is coming to have this life of its own, but again, in this context it is not about racial aggravation. It is just not what this is about in the context.

Miss Smith told the court that the bail conditions imposed to prevent Mr Ghorbani from interfering with witnesses, were hugely sweeping and wholly disproportionate.

She said: What [they are] really establishing is that he cannot exercise his article 10 or 11 rights, or in fact be anywhere in the vicinity of any protests  again, wholly disproportionate.

It is lawful to hold up a banner saying Hamas is a terrorist organisation. This an uncontroversial statement as a fact of law  we dont need to get into the politics of it.

Whether its holding an anti-Hamas sign or furnishing a banana, both of those things are within the lawful ambit of protest activity.

These conditions are not necessary

District Judge Annabel Pilling agreed with Mr Ghorbani and lifted the bail conditions.

In her ruling she told the court: I have to agree with Miss Smith that it is hard to see how these conditions are in any way linked to avoiding interfering with witnesses.

Police say it is necessary to prevent re-offending, the protests of course in connection with Palestine and events occurring in Gaza are not confined to Boroughs listed but effectively prevent Mr Ghorbani from travelling in or through large swathes of London.

My conclusion is that these conditions are not necessary, let alone proportionate, and therefore these conditions will be removed and he will be granted unconditional bail.

Mr Ghorbani thanked the judge and hugged his friend outside the courtroom. He was bailed to return to Westminster magistrates court on July 1.

The Metropolitan Police had previously tried to ban Mr Ghorbani, who has been arrested several times during his counter-protests, from going near any demonstrations in central London relating to Israel and the conflict in Gaza.

Police trying to break my spirit

But a judge last month threw out the strict bail conditions. Deputy district judge Lisa Towell ruled the conditions were neither proportionate nor necessary.

Mr Ghorbani, who has been manhandled and attacked during his counter-protests, insists he is doing nothing wrong in pointing out that Hamas is a proscribed terror group under UK law.

He accuses the Metropolitan Police of harassment, saying they want to prevent him from staging counter-protests over the marches in London against Israels retaliation to Hamass Oct 7 attacks.

The police are trying to find a way to break my spirit, he said. They have targeted me and are trying to find something to use against me.

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WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  Police say a Grand Rapids man is dead after a Friday night shooting in Wyoming.

It happened around 8:20 p.m. on Woodward Avenue SW near 34th Street SW, according to the Wyoming Police Department.

When they arrived on scene, police found a man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital, where he died of his injuries, the Wyoming Police Department said Saturday.

Police identified the victim as 34-year-old Marquise Lamar Reid-Moore, of Grand Rapids.

They did not provide any information about suspects.

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Detectives continue to investigate. If you know anything, youre asked to contact Wyoming police at 616.530.7300 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.

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CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) An out-of-state man was illegally soliciting Cumberland County residents, and even threatened to pepper spray someone during an altercation, police said in a report.

Camp Hill Police said a 44-year-old man from Washington D.C. was arrested and charged Friday with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. The suspect was not identified by police.

The man, police say, was going to residents and soliciting door-to-door when he did not have a borough permit to do so. Then he brandished pepper spray while he shouted obscenities and racial slurs at a driver when he got into an altercation with them, police say.

PSP: Motorcyclist identified, charged after going 150 MPH during chase in Adams County

Police were able to take him into custody after they began an investigation when dispatched to the 2300 block of Logan Street after 7 p.m.

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The man was taken to Cumberland County Prison following his arrest.

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Polish FM says US will strike Russian troops in Ukraine if Russia uses nuclear weapons

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in an interview published on May 25 that the U.S. has told Russia that if it uses nuclear weapons, there will be an American response using conventional weapons on Russian forces in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly made nuclear threats against Ukraine and the West since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The threats have failed to materialize, and Russia continues to wage its all-out war without its nuclear arsenal.

"The Americans have told the Russians that if you explode a nuke, even if it doesn't kill anybody, we will hit all your targets (positions) in Ukraine with conventional weapons, we'll destroy all of them," Sikorski told the Guardian.

Sikorski added that both China and India have warned Russia not to use nuclear weapons.

"And it's no child's play because if that taboo (of using nuclear weapons) were also to be breached, like the taboo of not changing borders by force, China knows that Japan and (South) Korea would go nuclear, and presumably they don't want that."

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Sikorski also said that he supports ending the restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons to hit targets in Russia, echoing similar comments made recently by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and leading U.S. lawmakers.

While Poland has upped its military spending to 4% of its GDP, Sikorski said there is still more work to be done, and many other European countries have yet to catch up.

Before Russia's full-scale war, Poland mostly focused its defense spending on advanced weapons technology, Sikorski said.

"We are only now rediscovering that actually you just need millions of shells. You need large volumes of low-tech stuff as well."

"It is obvious that Europe is lagging behind, and the EU's defense and technological and industrial base suffers from years of underinvestment," he added.

Read also: As Russian losses in Ukraine hit 500,000, Putin buries future demographic risks at home

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Daiso, a popular Japanese retail chain, is set to open its first location in El Paso.

According to the news release by Daiso, the grand opening of their first store will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 at Las Palmas Marketplace, 11917 Gateway West Blvd.

First Daiso store getting ready to open. Photo courtesy to Daiso.

On both Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, the first 100 customers to make a minimum purchase of $30 will receive a goodie bag and a plushie, according to Daiso.

According to Daiso, the store will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

We are thrilled to open our store at Las Palmas. This achievement reflects the dedication and support of our customers who have embraced Daisos unique concept and diverse product range. We are excited to provide an exceptional shopping experience to the vibrant El Paso community and look forward to serving our customers with the utmost care and dedication, said Chief Retail Operations Officer for Daiso USA Jack Williams.

The 6,837-square-foot store will have a range of products including Japanese-inspired home decor, stationery, food and more, according to Daiso.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The defeat of a progressive prosecutor in an Oregon district attorneys race this week is underscoring the delicate dance Democrats face on the issues of crime and public safety ahead of November.

Prosecutor Mike Schmidt, who served in the Portland area, was ousted from his role after a primary challenge from one of his own colleagues, who pitched himself as tougher on crime than his boss and ultimately won by a margin of roughly eight points.

It was a remarkable rise-and-fall for an official who was elected to the office on a progressive platform months before the outbreak of protests that followed the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Since then, deep-blue Oregon has weathered rising crime, notched the third-highest rate of homelessness in the country and seen growing tensions over drug decriminalization efforts and an ongoing fentanyl crisis.

His loss also comes as Republicans have hammered Democrats over those issues heading into the election. For many observers, the race underscores the degree to which crime is resonating as a key issue even in deep-blue pockets of the country.

It has to be a both-and conversation, said Portland-based Democratic analyst Jake Weigler, that you can talk about racism and systemic inequalities within the justice system, but if the public doesnt have confidence that they are still able to enforce the law and create accountability, that their patience for trying to innovate and reform the system is going to decline quickly.

Schmidts defeat this week is just one of several recent examples suggesting Democratic voters are seeking distance from progressive policies four years after Floyds killing led to a surge in calls for police reform and some on the left to amplify calls to defund the police.

In Seattle, voters in 2021 picked a Republican to be city attorney, passing over a candidate who called for abolishing the police. Two years ago, voters in San Francisco booted Chesa Boudin, who had run on progressive reforms in 2020, from the DA role.

This year, in Californias Alameda County, a progressive district attorney is facing a recall vote as detractors argue Pamela Price is failing us in her responsibility to enforce the law, prosecute criminals and keep violent offenders off our streets. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon has also faced recall efforts that failed to make it to the ballot.

Since the tumultuous summer of 2020, Democratic officeholders have sought to outright reject the defund the police slogan. President Biden, meanwhile, has been walking a careful tightrope on the issues of police reform and crime.

On Friday, in recognition of the four-year anniversary of Floyds death, the White House published a fact sheet highlighting the steps it had taken to enact police reform, including Bidens signing of an executive order intended to increase police accountability.

But Biden has also made a concerted effort to praise law enforcement. Earlier this month, he attended a memorial for fallen police officers, where he touted both the work of the police and his administrations handling of the issue.

Its no accident that violent crime is near a record 5-year low, Biden said at the event at the Capitol. Its because of extraordinary effort by all of you and your communities, together with historic steps taken to support you.

The president has also moved to fund the police and hire new police officers.

The moves come as Republicans have repeatedly blamed his administration for rising crime rates. But while Donald Trump and his campaign frequently hammer Democrats over the issue, government data suggests violent crime has actually dropped in recent years, which Biden has touted as he runs for another four years.

Since 2021, concerns about crime have grown on both sides of the aisle, according to Pew Research Center  and earlier this year, almost 60 percent of Americans said that reducing crime should be one of the top political priorities in the country this year. A Gallup poll from late last year found personal safety fears at a three-decade high nationwide.

Against this backdrop, the DA race in Oregon was seen as a barometer for where the public  in a blue stronghold, no less  stood on the issues of crime and public safety, which became front and center heading into Tuesdays primary.

Vasquez, Schmidts challenger, ran on a platform that 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.

His candidacy came as Oregon saw rising homelessness amid the pandemic and the 2020 passage of a first-in-the-nation ballot measure, which the DA supported, that decriminalized personal-use amounts of hard drugs like heroin, methamphetamines, fentanyl and cocaine.

Measure 110 aimed to use the police as an on-ramp to rehabilitation for drug users, but advocates say state leaders failed to shore up the infrastructure needed to make that work. Oregon saw spikes in overdose deaths in the years since its implementation.

Adding to Schmidts challenges was the fact that he was tied to the social unrest that occurred in the city in the wake of Floyds murder. The DA announced at the time that his office wouldnt go after many who were arrested during the demonstrations, and he contended at the time we will undermine public safety, not promote it, if we do not take action to bring about immediate change.

By 2024, the dye was set, said John Horvick, senior vice president of the Portland-based polling and analysis firm DHM Research, of the DAs race. He pointed out that Schmidt still came within single-digits of reelection against Vasquez in Tuesdays contest, but underscored the uphill climb for the progressive prosecutor amid the changing Portland landscape.

If youre the top law enforcement officer in the community [and] you have rising crime, you have unaccountable open-air drug use, you have 100 days of protest where people feel like theres no accountability  its pretty tough in that environment to win, Horvick said.

This April, Oregon effectively reversed Measure 110, re-criminalizing small-quantity possession.

The sentiments around safety rose so dramatically, they just went through the roof, said Andrew Hoan, president and CEO of the Portland Metro Chamber, of the last few years in the city. [Schmidt] was hired to do a certain job, and then the job changed. And so I think thats why the appetite for change in leadership of the countys top prosecutor was so significant.

Vasquez has lambasted Measure 110, knocked Schmidts 2020 protest policy, and criticized his boss for dysfunction in the district attorneys office, from a lack of prosecution to chaos in our community, record homicides to rampant drug trafficking.

The Oregonians editorial board endorsed Vasquez, lauding Schmidt for spearheading thoughtful initiatives to counter inequities in the criminal justice system but labeling the incumbent disappointingly passive on issues of public safety.

People want their communities to feel safe, and they certainly are open to the idea that we need to make our justice system more equitable and responsive to the needs of the community, but that cant come at the cost of basic livability and quality of life in the community, Weigler said.

Meanwhile, Oregons Tuesday primaries also saw the success of an establishment-backed Democrat in a race for a key House seat, and the failure of the progressive sister of Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D) in another.

Hoan, whose office endorsed Vasquez for the DA position, argued the primaries were a refining of progressivism, rather than an outright rebuke in the blue state  a signal that candidates have to be practical, rather than purely ideologically progressive.

Though data has shown Portland crime rates were on the mend in 2023, over half of Portlanders in a December poll said theyd consider leaving the city if they could afford to, and more than two-thirds said the city is on the wrong track.

Theyre seeing drug deals happening right in front of their homes or schools or coffee shops. And I think theyre just feeling that lawlessness pretty aggressively, said Justin Matheson, a Republican consultant based in neighboring Washington, of the landscape in Multnomah County. And even in some of the deepest, most progressive regions  well probably see a lot of swings to the candidates that want to be more law and order.

The Portland DA race adds to mounting evidence, observers said, that Democrats need to focus on public safety and reconfigure their messaging as the issue surges to the spotlight in cities across the country.

The lessons learned that could be extrapolated across all public safety-related conversations is that you can hold your progressive values, you can be a Democrat, and you can prioritize public safety and being on the side of victims, said Hoan of what the Portland DA race tells Democrats moving forward. These are not mutually exclusive.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  With the communitys help, Portland police have now positively identified the three suspects accused of pickpocketing shoppers at big box stores in the metro area, though they arent releasing their names yet.

VIDEO: Tesla Cybertruck stuck on Oregon sand dunes

KOIN 6 was the first to break the news about how a group of pickpocketers were stealing wallets from unsuspecting shoppers at Costcos up and down the I-5 corridor. Theyd use credit cards to buy hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards before victims even realized their wallets were missing.

Police are searching for three men accused of pickpocketing customers at local big box stores. May 24, 2024 (courtesy Portland Police Bureau).

Police are searching for three men accused of pickpocketing customers at local big box stores. May 24, 2024 (courtesy Portland Police Bureau).

Police are searching for three men accused of pickpocketing customers at local big box stores. (KOIN)

On Friday, KOIN 6 learned that WinCo saw our news report and contacted detectives because the same pickpocketers allegedly targeted shoppers at their stores, too. In the case of WinCo, a store chain that doesnt accept credit cards, the accused thieves were watching for people to use their debit cards to later use their pin numbers after picking their pockets.

This is a developing story as police are searching for the suspects.

Man who was shoved in front of MAX train thankful to be alive

Police are asking people to contact them if they lost their wallet recently and now realize these men potentially stole it, that way investigators can track down any relevant surveillance footage.

The sooner, the better because video is only held for so long and Id like to be able to charge them with as many crimes as theyve committed, said Jordan Zaitz, a Portland police detective working the case.

Anyone with information about the case or anyone who thinks they may be a victim is urged to contact police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
(Reuters) - U.S. businessman Elon Musk recently told investors that his artificial intelligence startup xAI is planning to build a supercomputer to power the next version of its AI chatbot Grok, The Information reported on Saturday citing a presentation to investors.

Musk said he wants to get the proposed supercomputer running by the fall of 2025, as per the report, adding that xAI could partner with Oracle to develop the massive computer.

xAI could not be immediately reached for comment. Oracle did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

When completed, the connected groups of chips  Nvidias flagship H100 graphics processing units (GPUs)  would be at least four times the size of the biggest GPU clusters that exist today, The Information reported quoting Musk from a presentation made to investors in May.

Nvidia's H100 family of powerful GPUs dominate the data center chip market for AI but can be hard to obtain due to high demand.

Musk founded xAI last year as a challenger to Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Alphabet's Google. Musk also co-founded OpenAI.

Earlier this year, Musk said training the Grok 2 model took about 20,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, adding that the Grok 3 model and beyond will require 100,000 Nvidia H100 chips.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Josie Kao)
Prince Williams former prep school tries to stop Andrew Tates influence on students

Ludgrove School, where the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex spent their early years of education - David Cooper/Alamy Stock Photo

The prep school attended by the Prince of Wales has launched a project with a leading all-girls school to prevent Andrew Tate and other misogynists influencing its pupils views.

Boys aged 11 to 13 from Ludgrove School have joined with pupils from Downe House, attended by the Princess of Wales, to candidly discuss their thoughts and feelings on a range of issues.

The Respect Project involves both groups of pupils being surveyed separately about what concerns them before they come together to debate some of the key topics raised.

Issues discussed include online behaviour, gender and sexuality, social media, body anxieties, consent, and online influencers.

Simon Barber, the head teacher of Ludgrove, said exposure to social media meant many boys were aware of malign online influencers such as Tate from an increasingly young age.

Andrew Tate is one of a number of 'malign' online influencers boys might come into contact with, Ludgrove School says - Andreea Alexandru/AP Photo

Social media will affect where the boys are coming from with their opinions, meaning some of them might have had some respect for an Andrew Tate-style narrative, said Mr Barber.

But when they see him and others through the lens of a 13-year-old girl who thinks he is awful, it is more powerful and far better than an adult telling them why Tate is wrong or bad.

Children respect their peers opinions more.

Mr Barber, whose father Gerald was previously head teacher at the family-run boarding school attended by Prince William and Prince Harry in the 1990s, said although mobile phones were not allowed at the school, it was vital to look at the negative side of the online world.

Diana, Princess of Wales, taking her sons to Ludgrove - PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo

Social media is awash with negativity. Its having the opposite of a placebo effect on young children  a nocebo effect  where it is constantly reinforcing negative stereotypes, he explained.

He also warned that parents need to upskill more to understand the effects of the online world.

And he said of social media: You cant put the genie back in the bottle.

Chloe Combi, the leader of the Respect Project, specialises in delving into the issues facing young people, and has worked with other leading schools including Eton and Radley College.

She believes it is important for young men to have a forum to express their feelings.

Speaking after the first session with boys at Ludgrove, she said: The boys were amazing and we discussed respect, influencers, online respect, bullying, being a good friend, worries about feminism and girls, their thoughts on the LGBTQ issue and many other things.

I love working with boys as much as I do girls, because even as a generation who are encouraged to communicate and share feelings, boys often have a sense they might get into trouble for saying what they think.

Other alumni at Ludgrove include a roll call of British aristocracy, politicians, sportsmen and well-known faces including survival expert Bear Grylls.

Many, like the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex, go on to attend Eton, or other top public schools including Harrow and Wellington College.

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The judge overseeing Harvey Weinsteins retrial on sex crimes charges was asked by the Manhattan district attorneys office to urge the lead defense lawyer to stop making public statements meant to intimidate and attack witnesses.

Prosecutors asked Justice Curtis Farber, via a letter filed to the judge on Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court, to remind Weinsteins lawyer, Arthur Aidala, of his "ethical obligations. The letter detailed obligations specifically pertaining to out-of-court statements intended to question the credibility and character of witnesses, under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct.

Aidala was accused of violating the rules during his critical public statements about Miriam Haley. The former TV production assistant testified at Weinsteins 2020 trial that he forced her to have oral sex in his Manhattan apartment in July 2006.

Weinstein, the former Hollywood producer who was convicted of committing rape and sexual assault against Haley and another woman, lucked out when his convictions were overturned last month  the New York State Court of Appeals ruled he hadnt had a fair trial.

Only days after the case was overturned, at a news conference, Aidala accused Haley of lying to the jury. He added that he was well prepared to cross-examine her if she dares to come and show her face here, the New York Times reported.

The prosecutors contested his statements, claiming that his comments crossed the line and were designed to let Ms. Haley know that if she testifies, Mr. Aidala will make it as unpleasant for her as possible, according to their letter. They also resisted his claim that Haley had lied to the jury, mentioning it in the footnotes.

Weinsteins spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, defended Weinstein and Aidala in a statement to The Daily Beast on Friday, claiming that the disgraced producers name continues to surface in media in the most awful, leading and suggestive narratives.

Harvey deserves a fair legal playing field, and if that means his lawyers, who are the most knowledgeable and appreciative of the issues and the law, are the right people to speak out, and as long as prosecutors use media to their benefit, defense teams have to be able to as well.
For 23 days, Christopher Palmiter didnt know the location of his stepdaughter, Madalina Cojocari, a Mecklenburg County prosecutor said during opening argument to a jury Friday.

When all of this is wrapped up, youre not going to have the answer of what happened to Madalina, Assistant District Attorney Austin Butler said. But youll have one answer: And thats the defendant is guilty of failure to report the disappearance of Madalina.

The Cornelius girl, then 11, mysteriously disappeared in 2022 following her schools Thanksgiving break.

In December 2022, mother Diana Cojocari and Palmiter were charged with failing to report her missing. The couple gave police conflicting information, both insinuating that the other hid Madalina somewhere and that each suddenly had a large bag of money following her disappearance.

Madalinas whereabouts remain unknown.

Diana Cojocari pleaded guilty to the charge Monday and was released from jail after spending about 17 months there.

Butler and Palmiters attorney, Brandon Roseman, both made opening arguments Friday to the jury in the case against Palmiter, 61. Jurors also heard from the states first two witnesses.

The jury for the trial in Mecklenburg Superior Court is made up of 11 men and one woman. Two alternate jurors, both women, were also selected Friday.

Next week, jurors will hear testimony from Cornelius police detectives.

Roseman told jurors that prosecutors had made numerous assumptions about Palmiter and that it was their duty to consider all of the information and context presented in order to render a fair verdict.

States first witness

Tina Rorie, Madalinas bus driver before her disappearance, testified that she remembered Madalina because their names rhymed, and because Madalina always thanked the driver before getting off the bus.

Rorie said when she would drop her off after school, shed see Madalina run towards her house and go inside. Asked if shed seen Madalina with any adults, Rorie said she saw her once walking with a man who she assumed was her father.

The jury was shown footage from the last time Madalina rode the bus, on Nov. 21, 2022. Rorie was asked to identify Madalina in the video, and as she did so, she began to cry.

States second witness

School counselor Danice Lampkin at Bailey Middle School made several attempts to contact Palmiter and Diana Cojocari after noticing Madalina had numerous absences in 2022.

She said she didnt know Madalina personally but tracked student attendance. She made sure, as a rule, to contact families when students had two absences.

Butler presented several documents from Madalinas school file that contained things such as her birth certificate, student enrollment form and emergency contact form and her class schedule.

Lampkin said Madalina was doing well academically but that the absences prompted Lampkin to try to contact Diana Cojocari by phone and emails. When she couldnt reach her, she tried Palmiter, who was listed in Madalinas school documents as having permission to pick her up from school.

But she couldnt reach him either, she said, despite leaving several voicemails in November and December 2022 and sending emails.

Butler played those five voicemails for the jury.

In the final two voicemails, Lampkin informed the family that shed be making a home visit if they didnt respond, to check on the welfare of Madalina and drop off what is known as a truancy packet, which contained things such as her attendance record.

Lampkin said she was able to get in contact with a third person identified as Sandy on Madalinas emergency contact form who was not authorized to pick her up from school. Lampkin spoke with this person twice, she said. The person said Madalina was sick.

After speaking with that person, the school received notification through a contact form on the schools website that Madalina was sick. The form said it was submitted by Diana Cojocari, but Lampkin said there isnt a way to know if it actually was submitted by her or not.

Lampkin attempted to visit Madalinas home to drop off the packet, but no one answered, so she left the packet at the door.

The day after dropping off the packet, in December, Lampkin said, she finally heard back from Diana Cojocari who said she wanted to meet. Lampkin said she stressed that she needed to bring Madalina, but Diana never affirmed the request.

And the day after the phone call, Diana showed up to school without Madalina. She told Lampkin her daughter was missing. Lampkin went to the school resource officer. Palmiter showed up later to speak with the school resource officer.

Madalina was never reported missing to the school prior to the meeting, she said.

Defense attorney cross-examination

Roseman, Palmiters attorney, asked Lampkin about the school documents in the file that were shown to the jury.

Roseman said the documents showed that Diana Cojocari was listed as Madalinas legal guardian, not Palmiter. Palmiter didnt sign on a line designating legal guardians.

The father line on Madalinas birth certificate was blank, Roseman said, showing the document.

Roseman asked Lampkin if she knew if Palmiter had any parental rights to Madalina, and she said she didnt know.

He also noted that Lampkin couldnt be sure that Palmiter lived at the address listed on Madalinas school files. He asked if she knew whether or not he received the voicemails and emails, and she said she didnt know. He said that because she doesnt know his life or work schedule, she couldnt be certain he ever received those communications.

Butler, however, showed the jury a deed to a house that was co-owned by Diana Cojocari and Palmiter. The address on the deed matched the address on Madalinas school documents.

The trial will resume at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After a confrontation between protesters and police at Portland State University on Thursday night led to the arrest of several students, recently released court documents allege two of the protesters kicked the universitys chief of campus police during the struggle.

The chief, Willie Halliburton, was taken to the hospital later that night after suffering from a medical emergency, the university said.

PSU Police Chief Willie Halliburton, April 2023 (PSU)

In the original incident, protesters had chained themselves to the Richard Maurine Neuberger Center Thursday night. The chained protesters were asked to leave and declined, the school said. This is when both campus and Portland police responded to the scene, eventually creating a barrier line for officers trying to break the chains.

Portland police identify 3 men accused of pickpocketing Costco, WinCo shoppers on multiple occasions

Court documents allege protester Sarah Netto tried repeatedly to push through the barrier, despite threat of arrest. During the struggle, Netto had reportedly kicked Chief Halliburton in the leg. She was arrested soon after on charges including attempted assault of a public safety officer, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and resisting arrest. Officials later confirmed Netto was not affiliated with PSU.

Another protester, Sarah Amani, allegedly struck another campus police officer in the face, breaking her glasses. Multiple officers then moved to arrest Amani leading to another struggle in which Amani kicked Chief Halliburton near his stomach. However, she was soon arrested and charged with assault of a public safety officer, attempted assault of a public safety officer, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and resisting arrest.

Man sentenced to life in prison for 2020 fatal stabbings in NE Portland

The university has not released any additional details surrounding what led to Chief Halliburtons hospitalization. It is also unclear if it was related to any of the injuries he sustained that night.

Further, the university said he is still in the hospital and continues to be under medical supervision as of Saturday afternoon.

Netto and Amani will next appear in court on August 2.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland State University President Ann Cudd and the Associated Students of PSU have released a joint statement condemning violence committed by protesters on campus.

Portland Police Chief Bob Day also denounced the recent violence in a statement of his own.

This comes one day after the chief of campus police, Willie Halliburton, was taken to the hospital following a confrontation with protesters on campus in which some protesters were arrested. Protesters had chained themselves to the Richard Maurine Neuberger Center Thursday night, resulting in arrests, one day after a similar incident happened Wednesday.

Jury finds Julio Segura guilty of first-degree murder in death of Vancouver officer

The joint statement, co-signed by Cudd and PSU Student Body President Yousif Ibrahim, said that while they acknowledged passionate and impactful student activism that has taken place on PSUs campus and are proud of the PSU students who have engaged in non-violent activism, they denounced those who engaged in any violence, property destruction and harmful rhetoric.

Through this challenging time, our campus community has also been impacted by extensive property destruction, hateful rhetoric, psychological harm, and violence. Rather than uplifting the powerful message of our student activists, we believe these actions diminish their voices. This has also made our campus a space of anxiety and fear for those who live, study and work on this campus. We jointly denounce this violence and the harm that it has caused.

The statement was also supportive of the larger movement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, which has been the focus of many of the recent PSU protests. That has included the protests that happened in late April and early May in which the Millar Library was occupied for several days and caused substantial property damage that PSU estimates will cost north of $750,000 to repair.

[W]e are heartbroken over the devastating loss of innocent civilian lives in Israel and Gaza, and the horrific, ongoing suffering in Gaza, the statement said.

Portland police ID 3 men accused of pickpocketing Costco, WinCo shoppers on multiple occasions

In addition, there were a number of announcements related to PSUs response to the Gaza conflict, including that they would be hosting a Palestianian Scholar in the Fall of 2025 and that President Cudd would be committed to supporting new curricula proposed by PSU faculty focused on dissecting Islamaphobia, Anti-Jew, Anti-Palestinian and Anti-Arab rhetoric.

The joint statement also said PSU administration and the student group are committed to working together on issues raised by ASPSUs May 13 resolution, which includes a call for PSU to terminate ties to Boeing due to their associations with allegedly participating in wars and human rights abuses.

The full joint statement signed by PSU President Cudd and the ASPSU is below.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Days full statement can also be viewed below.

Im grateful that Chief Willie Halliburton is recovering from Thursday nights medical scare. Ive appreciated his leadership through the recent protest events and value his collaboration and longstanding ties to PPB. All of us at Portland Police sincerely wish him the best in his recovery.

Id like to address last nights criminal behavior at the Neuberger Center (RMNC) building, in which police officers were assaulted and harassed, and lifesaving medical care was delayed for Chief Halliburton. It baffles me that these actions are being portrayed as legitimate political protest.

PPB officers responded to assist Portland State University Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO) regarding protesters chaining themselves to the doors and blocking access. PPB formed a line to allow PSU officers room to make appropriate arrests. However, the crowd became extraordinarily hostile and surrounded the officers. As PSU officers tried to transport arrested persons away, the crowd blocked the garage exit. One officer was spit in the face, and at least 2 others were punched. Likely their protective gear kept them from being injured by the physical assaults. Equally concerning, officers notified the group that a medical emergency was underway. But they refused to move, and officers had to forcibly push their way out to ensure that medical care could be brought in.

The American Civil Liberties Union, its protesters rights resource page makes it clear that people have the right to speak out on other public property, like plazas in front of government buildings, as long as you are not blocking access to the government building or interfering with other purposes the property was designed for.

Civil disobedience, meaning violating the law as a means of protest, has a long, time-honored legacy in our country of bringing attention to injustice. But civil disobedience means that the people engaged in it are accepting the legal consequences for their actions. They should never resist arrest, attempt to assault police, and others should never interfere with such arrests.

Again, quoting the ACLUs guidance, if stopped by police, people should stay calm. Make sure to keep your hands visible. Dont argue, resist, or obstruct the police, even if you believe they are violating your rights. I agree and would add that if people believe their rights are being violated, there are other avenues for getting that addressed, including the court system and the Independent Police Review. The actions of those who engaged in criminal conduct last night were not an appropriate response, unnecessarily escalated the situation, and could have had life-threatening consequences for Chief Halliburton. If that kind of criminal behavior continues, PPB policy and the law recognize that members may use objectively reasonable force to uphold the civil rights of all individuals, protect human life and property, and maintain civil order.

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MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A puppy was rescued while deputies were performing evacuation notices in Madera County due to a wildfire on Friday.

On Friday afternoon, the Madera County Office of Emergency Services issued a mandatory evacuation order for the residents in the area of Avenue 22nd 3/4 in Madera County due to wildfire.

Deputies say while performing evacuation notices during the fire, Deputy Ryan Hall was able to save a puppy from harms way.

We are always committed to protecting and serving, even our furry friends, deputies said in a social media post.

Evacuation orders were lifted on Friday around 5:10 p.m. according to deputies, and roadways were reopened, but they still ask residents to continue to use caution due to fire equipment in the area.

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Russian President Vladimir Putins signaling this week that he is open to peace talks should be viewed with vast, overshadowing caveats, and the weight of Ukraines - and the Wests - past experience of Russian diplomacy.

Friday saw a wealth of noise about negotiation, in the same month Moscow launched a third invasion of Ukraine from the north of Kharkiv.

The Reuters news agency cited four sources, in a report from two deeply experienced and connected Russia reporters, that Moscow was willing to consider peace talks which would freeze the current Russian occupation of about a fifth of Ukraine.

Putin responded to that report by suggesting Russia was willing to talk peace, based on earlier agreements. He hinted at an aborted deal in Istanbul, just after the war began, in 2022, which fell apart, mostly because Moscows forces were still rampaging across Ukrainian territory, and massacres around Kyiv had come to light.

The idea floated in the Reuters report would stop short of Moscows stated goal of capturing all of eastern Donetsk, but also eradicate Kyivs insistence it should not surrender any territory.

The context of Putins remarks was key. They came during a visit to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko - something which in the past occurred moments before the Kremlin used Belarusian territory for military moves into Ukraine, while on Friday took place during joint tactical nuclear weapons drills between the two countries. Putin was talking peace with a backdrop that was anything but.

Putin questioned the legitimacy of Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, who Moscow has repeatedly assailed, after Kyiv had to delay elections because of the very war Putin started. At the same time, there were unconfirmed reports that the private jet of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich had landed in Belarus. The pro-Russian Yanukovich fled Ukraine in 2014 after forces loyal to him shot dead dozens of protestors in central Kyiv. The mere possibility of his presence while Putin and Lukashenko met led to speculation Moscow was again hoping to engineer the return of a proxy to power in Ukraine.

Unconfirmed reports allege that Viktor Yanukovich, the former president of Ukraine who was ousted by street protests and fled to Russia in 2014, has landed in Belarus. - Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters

The Kremlins less brutal goal in Ukraine  short of full or partial occupation  has involved a president in Kyiv it considers loyal, who will stop the countrys march towards the European Union and NATO. It was fanciful before the 2022 invasion, and came up during the aborted 2022 Istanbul talks. But now it would likely need an occupying Russian force to impose it on a population seething at the Kremlins brutality.

So why the talk of peace, particularly when Russia appears to be having its most successful moment on the frontlines in months, if not since the invasion?

Diplomacy has always been a military tool for the Kremlin. It talked peace over Syria in 2015, as their jets pounded civilians in rebel-held areas. It talked peace in 2015 with Ukraine, while Russian troops and their proxies were in the throes of a full assault against the strategic Ukrainian town of Debaltseve.

It is not cynical to distrust Russias sincerity when it negotiates, but a practical necessity. Experience shows it considers talks worth pursuing in case they unexpectedly produce a useful outcome without violence, or give their opponent cause for pause in fighting to try and encourage a deal.

Moscow may also be talking peace again now for two reasons. Firstly, Ukraine and its allies are convening a peace summit in Switzerland in June, where it will discuss, without Russia, what sort of deal it might accept. It is likely aimed at building momentum for an off-ramp the Kremlin can take when its forces are finally militarily exhausted or in a stalemate.

Zelensky has said he hopes China - Russias most potent ally but only partial supporter in the Ukraine war - will attend. Putin may be talking peace now to suggest to Beijing to not be involved in diplomacy about Russia without Russia present. There is little serious chance the Switzerland summit will end the war, but it might concretize minds in the West as to how serious a threat Moscow poses to an actual peace deal by laying out the bones of what damage Ukraine might have to absorb to its territorial integrity to stop the bloodshed.

Russian troops have taken advantage of a weakened front line in Ukraine, and have advanced towards Kharkiv. - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Ukraines Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said Friday that Putins hints at peace talks were directly aimed at sabotaging the summit. Putin currently has no desire to end his aggression against Ukraine, he wrote on X, adding this is why he is so afraid of the Switzerland summit.

Secondly, and most importantly, Putin is messaging governments in the West and the current American presidential campaign. He is trying to opaquely suggest  perhaps to populists in Europe, or MAGA Republicans in the United States  that a simple deal is in hand, one in which frontlines, on which Ukraine is currently losing with significant casualties, can suddenly freeze.

Western support for the war is costly, and increasingly unpopular  although the recent $61 billion passed by Congress has perhaps given the issue a reprieve from being at the mercy of electoral opinion for about a year.

The Reuters report permits those in the West who want to see an end to the war to believe the Kremlin could stop the war, as it stands, immediately. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov made the report sound like it reflected Russias permanent position. But ultimately it may sound new and interesting to key Western figures: Donald Trump - who has failed to explain how he would enact his claim he could stop the war in 24 hours  and other NATO members who are less bullish than France, the UK and the Baltic states, about the need to never trust Russia at the negotiating table.

Putin is a pragmatist. He started the war thinking it would be easy. He continued it thinking his tolerance for pain, autocratic security, and patience for victory would triumph. He might be right, just now. He now sees a moment of electoral weakness in the US, and other European states, which he has met with a vague, opaque signal that there might be a time for diplomacy.

It will likely gain some traction among those who desperately hope the war in Ukraine will just go away, and who are less mindful of the existential threat a victorious and hyper-militarized Moscow poses to NATOs eastern members. But it should be viewed through the lens of the deep cynicism of Moscows earlier diplomacy in Syria and Ukraine: used as a time to ferociously pursue the same military objectives, but with the illusory backdrop that peace might be just around the corner.

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On Friday, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced that a 23-year-old Puyallup man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the production and possession of pictures of child sexual abuse.

In 2022, Shawn Stone was arrested at Sea-Tac Airport, returning from Germany, after the FBI identified him for sharing child sexual abuse pictures on an online platform.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Stone admitted to sexually molesting children during a 2019 trip to Germany. He filmed and produced pictures that were shared online and also admitted to gathering and sharing photos of the rape and torture of very young children.

Stone was found guilty in January 2024.

More than 20 victims have submitted claims that the U.S. Attorneys Office is reviewing.

After completing his sentence, Stone will be supervised for 25 years and required to register as a sex offender.

On a future date, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones will determine the amount of restitution owed to the victims identified in his collection of images.




Quality of life issue leads to arrest of 81-year-old serial slingshot shooter, police say

A man described by police as a serial slingshot shooter was arrested after an investigation revealed he had been shooting people for nearly a decade.

According to a social media post from the Azusa Police Department, officers with their Direct Enforcement Unit (DEU) learned of a quality of life issue occurring in the 900 block of North Enid Avenue on Friday. The exact time of the incident was not immediately released.

DEU conducted a lengthy investigation and learned that during the course of nine to ten years, dozens of citizens were being victimized by a serial slingshot shooter, the departments Instagram post said. The unknown suspect broke windows, windshields and almost struck people with ball bearings.

Can anyone remove Sean Diddy Combs Walk of Fame star?

Upon obtaining a search warrant for a home in the neighborhood where the incidents were taking place, authorities arrested Prince King of Azusa. During the search, ball bearings and a slingshot were recovered from Kings residence, law enforcement officials said.

Inmate records indicate that King, 81, was charged with a felony and is being held at Mens Central Jail on no bail.

Several people were quick to comment on the police departments post, claiming that King had shot their dog with ball bearings in the past and that he seemed to mainly ran [sic] off unwanted squatters.

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Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) has had its ups and downs over the years. Like many companies, it found itself in a tight spot when the pandemic hit in 2020. That event forced the master limited partnership (MLP) to slash its distribution in half so that it could retain additional cash to strengthen its balance sheet. While that payout cut was a bitter pill for investors to swallow at the time, it has paid big dividends over the past few years.

The MLP has significantly strengthened its financial foundation to the point where it's now stronger than ever. That enabled Energy Transfer to steadily increase its distribution, which is now above its pre-pandemic level. The payout, which currently yields nearly 8%, is safer than ever.

From tight to tremendous flexibility

Energy Transfer's management team discussed its current financial position on the first-quarter conference call. Co-CEO and CFO Tom Long proclaimed, "Our financial position continues to be stronger than at any time in Energy Transfer's history." That drives the MLP's belief that it "will provide us with the continued flexibility to balance pursuing new growth opportunities, further leverage reduction, maintaining our targeted distribution growth rate, and increasing equity returns to our unitholders."

The company's leverage ratio has dramatically improved over the past few years. It expects leverage to be toward the lower half of its 4.0-4.5 times target range this year. Because of that, it has gone from being on the precipice of seeing its credit rating downgraded into junk bond territory to a recent upgrade to BBB, pushing its credit further up the investment-grade ladder.

It's also retaining significant cash after paying its massive and growing distribution. It produced $2.4 billion in distributable cash flow during the first quarter and $1.3 billion of excess cash after covering its distribution (which has grown by 3.3% over the past year). That easily gave it enough cash to fund its expansion projects ($461 million in the first quarter) and enhance its balance sheet.

The flexibility to grow its business and shareholder returns

Long noted that Energy Transfer's strong financial flexibility allows it to pursue new growth opportunities even as it continues to return more cash to investors. It has used some of its additional financial capacity to approve new expansion projects. It recently sanctioned new de-bottlenecking projects on its Lone Star Express and Gateway NGL pipelines, the conversion of Sabine 2, and several new power generation facilities. As a result, it increased its capital spending range to between $2.8 billion and $3 billion this year, putting it near the top of its long-term target range of $2 billion to $3 billion.

Story continues

Even though it's already at the high end, Energy Transfer still has ample financial flexibility to approve additional expansion projects this year. The MLP has several potentially large projects under development that it can sanction once it has sufficient commercial support from customers. Most of its current projects are shorter-term expansions that will start adding to its cash flow in the coming quarters.

In addition, the company has the ability to make acquisitions as opportunities arise. It closed two major deals last year, which enhanced its free cash flow without negatively impacting its balance sheet. The company is always on the lookout for a deal that would add value to its system and allow it to capture commercial and cost synergies.

Energy Transfer's strong financial flexibility enables it to continue investing in its growth while returning more cash to investors. The MLP aims to increase its distribution each quarter by around a 3% to 5% annual rate. It also wants to start returning additional cash to investors by repurchasing its units. It plans to be opportunistic, especially as its leverage ratio continues to fall.

A rock-solid income stock

Energy Transfer is in a great place these days. It's in its best financial position ever, which puts its big-time payout on rock-solid ground. It has the flexibility to grow its business and cash returns to investors. Because of that, it's an ideal option for those seeking an attractive and steadily rising income stream (and are comfortable investing in MLPs, which send a Schedule K-1 each year at tax time, which requires some extra work when filing taxes).

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This quiet British island was once the site of Nazi atrocities. A new inquiry reveals its truths

Alderney, a quiet British island in the English Channel known for its outstanding natural beauty, was once the site of the only Nazi camps on British soil  and a hell on Earth for its thousands of inmates.

A fresh inquiry, ordered by the UKs Special Envoy for Post Holocaust Issues, Eric Pickles, and led by a panel of experts, has sought to determine the exact death toll of prisoners and laborers on Alderney, while also bringing an end to the conspiracy theories and misinformation surrounding the island.

The findings were published on Wednesday and determined there were a greater number of deaths than initially documented following liberation, but found no evidence of a mini-Auschwitz.

The inquiry also explored why the Nazi perpetrators  most of whom evaded justice  never stood trial in Britain.

Stretching for three square miles, the island was occupied by the Nazis for most of World War II. During that time, three forced labor camps and a concentration camp called Lager Sylt were built.

Nearly eight decades later, the fingerprints of Nazi occupation are still visible on the picturesque island, including bunkers, anti-tank walls and the notorious Water Lane tunnels constructed by the occupying forces to store munitions and fuel.

Bullet holes where prisoners were executed pierce an anti-tank wall on the island. - Carl Court/Getty Images

According to its tourist board, the residents of Alderney  which has a population of just over 2,000  gather once a year in May for a memorial service to commemorate the islands victims.

Described by Pickles as housing the most westerly concentration camp in the Third Reich, questions over the scale of horror that occurred on the island have persisted among locals as well as internationally  and the exact number of dead has never been clear, until now.

The Channel Islands were the only British land the Germans occupied during World War II. Unlike Jersey and Guernsey  the other Nazi-occupied islands  Alderney was evacuated of nearly all of its residents, meaning the island does not have extensive war-time records.

According to Pickles, the lack of records has led to unsubstantiated claims being made about Alderney and the war crimes that took place there.

Claims of mass murder that anywhere else would be checked carefully have been accepted at face value, Pickles  who has stressed the importance of historic accuracy regarding the Holocaust  said.

Third- or fourth-hand testimonies of atrocities, without any supporting evidence, are given as a fact What happened on Alderney was bad enough with its brutality, sadism and murder, without the need for embellishment.

Unvarnished truth

Following the islands liberation from the Nazis, official figures from a post-war investigation put the death toll at 389.

This figure has long been disputed. Historians, members of the Jewish community and members of the public have estimates ranging from hundreds to several thousand.

Speculation has also been rife that the true scale of what happened on the island may have been deliberately concealed by the British government.

The inquiry denies such theories. It found that the number of deaths in Alderney is unlikely to have exceeded 1,134, with a more likely range of deaths being between 641 and 1,027.

Plaques in different languages commemorate the victims of Alderney. - Carl Court/Getty Images

In addition, at least 97 people died and one disappeared during transit to and from the island.

The estimated minimum number of prisoners or laborers sent to Alderney throughout the German occupation stands between 7,608 and 7,812, the panel found.

Alderneys camps, according to the inquiry, shared many of the traits of those in mainland Europe. Laborers were kept in atrocious conditions and forced to work long hours carrying out dangerous construction work. They were subject to beatings, maiming, torture and in some cases executions.

The inquiry found that there is no evidence for arguing that many thousands of victims died.

Assertions that Alderney housed an extermination center and constituted a mini-Auschwitz are also untrue, the panel found.

Prisoners were treated appallingly, and life was cheap, but Alderney did not house a mini-Auschwitz; there was no extermination centre on the island, Pickles said.

He added, Anyone who claims so has never visited Auschwitz or understood the extent of the Nazis death factories in Eastern Europe.

Pickles believes overestimated death tolls at the hands of the Nazis can be damaging and play into the hands of Holocaust deniers.

At a time when parts of Europe are seeking to rinse their history through the Holocaust, the British Isles must tell the unvarnished truth, he said. Numbers do matter. It is as much of a Holocaust distortion to exaggerate the number of deaths as it is to underplay the numbers.

He added, Exaggeration plays into the hands of Holocaust deniers and undermines the six million dead. The truth can never harm us.

Egregious injustice

A separate section of the inquiry focused on the failure to prosecute war crimes committed in Alderney, something that it described as an egregious injustice.

This was due to the British governments decision to hand the case over to the Soviet Union after World War II as the majority of victims were Soviet citizens.

Research conducted by Anthony Glees, an academic and adviser to Pickles, found there had been a succession of cover-ups on the part of the British government, which handed all Alderneys files of evidence over to the Soviet Union via the United Nations War Crimes commission on September 12, 1945.

From there, the USSR decided to do nothing with the evidence, according to Glees, meaning that the majority of perpetrators who had systematically tortured and in some cases murdered their victims escaped trial.

A German machine gun bunker sits atop a sand dune. - Carl Court/Getty Images

Glees believes that this has deliberately been hidden from public view by the British government. He is calling on the government to issue an apology.

It seems scarcely understandable that Britain, of all countries, declined to try Nazi war criminals for appalling atrocities committed on British soil against citizens of some 30 nations, he said.

Instead, the British authorities passed all the evidence that they had carefully collected in the so-called Alderney Case to the USSR despite the USSR not having requested it and so, apparently, directly contravening Britains international treaty obligations.

According to Glee, the lack of trials of Alderneys war criminals has meant that justice was denied to victims and their families.

Pickles, meanwhile, said the fact that the perpetrators never faced British justice is a stain on the reputations of successive British governments.

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In July 2023, The New York Times ran an article titled American Theatre is Imploding Before Our Eyes. It cited, among other events, the postponement of the Under the Radar festival (based in New York), the cancellation of the Humana Festival of New American Plays (Kentucky), and the dialling down of the Williamstown Theater Festival (Massachusetts). Broadway might be thriving, the NYT lamented, but American non-profit theatre needs a bailout.

For James Shapiro, professor of English at Columbia University, theres a direct link between the state of American theatre today and what happened in the 1930s. The latter decade witnessed the rise and fall of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP), a relief measure that formed part of Franklin D Roosevelts New Deal, and sought to employ artists, writers, directors and theatre workers. It began in 1935, and was shut down four years later amid a political storm.

The NYT piece argued that non-profit theatres have a national purpose, one vital both to the survival of democracy and the enlargement of the human spirit. For Shapiro, that very democracy was threatened by the loss of the FTP. It is hard to imagine what America would be like today had support for the Federal Theatre continued, he writes. A more vibrant theatrical culture extending across the land might well have led to a more informed citizenry, and by extension, a more equitable and resilient democracy. Instead, he thinks, America chose a path that led ultimately to Donald Trump, the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol in January 2021, and the culture wars of todays society.

Quite the claim. But its true that theatregoing has supposedly, once again, become a dangerous pursuit. Look at the proliferation of trigger warnings slapped on everything from To Kill A Mockingbird to King Lear. The theatre, said the actor Joseph Fiennes earlier this year, should be shocking and disturbing: it should be alive, and connect in the present.

Thats what Hallie Flanagan thought, too. A former lecturer, she was employed in 1935 as director of the FTP, tasked with bringing cutting-edge, high-quality theatre to the masses. Flanagan would oversee the creation of some 1,200 productions seen by 30 million people  one in four Americans, two-thirds of which viewers had never seen a play before  in more than 200 theatres that stretched from coast to coast, employing 15,000 people, all for a comparatively modest $46 million.

A scene from the Jewish Theatre Unit (c1936-9) - Alamy

The performances ranged from an all-black voodoo production of Macbeth to a series of Living Newspaper pieces designed to inform and, however obliquely, inflame: on slum housing and the plight of farmers. The FTP launched the careers of Orson Welles, John Houseman and Arthur Miller. It established 17 Negro Theatre Units, and distinguished itself for its focus on racial injustice at a time when the Civil Rights movement had yet to be born. Through theatre, Flanagan  a resolute and progressive woman who believed in the power of theatre to inspire a new social order  wanted to inspire and improve American lives.

Her zeal for doing so would be her undoing. In 1938, the House Committee on Un-American activities, headed by Texan congressman Martin Dies  a man Shapiro describes as anti-foreigner, anti-Catholic and anti-radical political thought  honed in on the FTP and Flanagan in particular. Citing the Federal Theatres promotion of racial equality, the impending threat of war, and following claims that it was a front for radical and communist activities, Congress ended federal funding as of June 30 1939. A new Right-wing playbook was born, reckons Shapiro, one based on sensationalism, misinformation and fear.

Texan congressman Martin Dies, who opposed the FTP - Bettmann

Shapiros book is meticulous and highly researched, albeit in no way apolitical. When he acknowledges the FTPs failings, its generally only to call it too stumbling and self-censoring for its own good. The level of detail given on the theatre, its triumphs and struggles is breathtaking although Shapiro has the gift of making it read more like a thriller than a straight piece of history: the reporting on the congressional hearing on the purpose of theatre and its place in American democracy  Shapiros opening chapter  reads like a cross between a political sketch and a write-up in Hansard. Dies is a somewhat one-dimensional villain: a hick, a racist and a small-minded Texan, puffed up with his own self-importance and only it in for his own glory. The goodies and the baddies are clearly delineated: what the FTP strove to do, however imperfectly, was ultimately a Good Thing, and Dies and his cronies killed more than they knew by shutting it down.

What The Playbook more richly conveys is something broader than the plight of the FTP, namely Americas permanently uneasy attitudes towards race, politics, identity and freedom of speech. Then, as now, this is a country at war with itself: on the one hand, thrillingly progressive, on the other, deeply conservative. Shapiro is right that many of the issues that divide America havent gone away. As the nation changes, so have its culture wars, which have always been with us, he writes. Hes not wrong. But the culture wars of old still ring true today.

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Secretaries of State Brad Raffensperger (R-Ga.) and Adrian Fontes (D-Ariz.) disagreed over noncitizen voting during a panel discussion on Meet the Press set to air Sunday.

MSNBCs Kristen Welker hosted Raffensperger, Fontes, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) and Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt (R) for a wide-ranging interview about threats theyve received, misinformation, artificial intelligence and more.

Welker asked Raffensperger why the issue of noncitizens voting in the election is such an urgent matter if its quite rare and illegal.

Because I believe only American citizens should be voting in our elections. And I ran back in 2018 saying the same thing. Im the first secretary of state in Georgia to ever do 100 percent citizenship verification, Raffensperger responded.

He said the state found about 1,600 people that attempted to register to vote but they could not find citizenship verification.

So, my fellow Georgians asked me, Are noncitizens voting in Georgia? I can say, No, they arent because weve checked it, Raffensperger said.

Fontes addressed Raffensperger saying he proved his own point with that example.

You did an audit, and you found that there were attempts. But none of those folks were actually registered, and none of those folks actually voted. And that means that elections have been safe and secure from noncitizen voting in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and across the country, Fontes said. So, I think this is a red herring.

Fontes noted that Arizona has a noncitizen voting law and the states standards are higher than everybody elses but there are people making allegations that they are not.

We really have to look at the facts, Fontes said.

Benson said its good news that everyone can at least agree that they dont want noncitizens voting.

So, were all committed to that, and I think its really important for folks to know that regardless of our party affiliation, were doing all that we can and more to ensure, as the facts show in all of our states, that only U.S. citizens are voting, she said.

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Even as support for the death penalty wanes across the country, Republican governors, led by Floridas Ron DeSantis, are signing into law legislation expanding the death penalty.

Earlier this month, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a bill authorizing the death penalty for aggravated rape of a child. The law goes into effect on July 1. Lees decision makes Tennessee the second state, following Florida, to apply capital punishment to cases where no one is killed. A third red state, Idaho, is now considering similar legislation.

These laws, as the Death Penalty Information Center explains, contradict longstanding Supreme Court precedent holding the death penalty unconstitutional for non-homicide crimes. In fact, they are intended to tee up a case allowing the Supreme Courts conservative, activist majority to overturn long-established precedent, just as it has done in other high-profile cases.

Proponents of the new laws hope that the court will extend the reach of capital punishment. They also hope to put death penalty opponents on the defensive by painting them as soft-on-crime defenders of child rapists.

Death penalty opponents must work hard to avoid falling into that trap. Their best political strategy, though it might not be a winning legal strategy, will be to say that the court should respect its own precedent rather than mounting a full-fledged campaign to explain why child rapists should not be put to death.

Before looking more closely at the Tennessee law and the political strategy behind it and the others, lets recall what the Supreme Court has said about using the death penalty for non-homicide cases like rape.In a 7-2 decision handed down in 1977, the court found that capital punishment was grossly disproportionate to the crime of rape. Justice Bryon White, who wrote the majority opinion in Coker v. Georgia, turned to history to help explain that judgment.

At no time in the last 50 years, White said, have a majority of the States authorized death as a punishment for rape. In 1925, 18 States, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Government authorized capital punishment for the rape of an adult female. By 1971,  that number had declined, but not substantially, to 16 States plus the Federal Government.

That situation changed dramatically in the aftermath of the Supreme Courts 1972 decision in Furman v. Georgia striking down the death penalty as then applied. Subsequently, more than 30 states reenacted their death penalty statutes, but few reauthorized it as a punishment for rape.

As White explained, it should also be a telling datum that the public judgment with respect to rape, as reflected in the statutes providing the punishment for that crime, has been dramatically different. In reviving death penalty laws to satisfy Furman's mandate, none of the States that had not previously authorized death for rape chose to include rape among capital felonies.

White recognized the seriousness of rape as a crime. As he put it, It is highly reprehensible, both in a moral sense and in its almost total contempt for the personal integrity and autonomy of the female victim and for the latter's privilege of choosing those with whom intimate relationships are to be established. Short of homicide, it is the ultimate violation of self.

Still, White insisted that in terms of moral depravity and of the injury to the person and to the public,(rape) does not compare with murder, which does involve the unjustified taking of human life. The murderer kills; the rapist, if no more than that, does not. We have the abiding conviction that the death penalty, which is unique in its severity and irrevocability, is an excessive penalty for the rapist who, as such, does not take human life.

Chief Justice Warren Burger and Justice William Rehnquist, who dissented in Coker, accused the majority of engraft(ing) their conceptions of proper public policy onto the considered legislative judgments of the States. They branded the decision to bar the death penalty in rape cases very disturbing.

Three decades after Coker, in a case called Kennedy v. Louisiana, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that ruling and extended it to cover the rape of a child. Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for a five-justice majority, conceded that Petitioners crime was one that cannot be recounted in these pages in a way sufficient to capture in full the hurt and horror inflicted on his victim or to convey the revulsion society.

But he argued that in determining whether the death penalty is excessive, there is a distinction between intentional first-degree murder on the one hand and nonhomicide crimes against individual persons, even including child rape, on the other. The latter crimes may be devastating in their harm, as here, but in terms of moral depravity and of the injury to the person and to the public, they cannot be compared to murder in their severity and irrevocability.

Justice Samuel Alito, in a blistering dissent, said that he found it incredible that that death could never be an appropriate punishment no matter how young the child, no matter how many times the child is raped, no matter how many children the perpetrator rapes, no matter how sadistic the crime, no matter how much physical or psychological trauma is inflicted, and no matter how heinous the perpetrators prior criminal record may be.

Understanding the political danger of supporting the courts decision, in 2008 both of the major party presidential candidates, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, condemned it. I think, Obama observed, that the rape of a small child, 6 or 8 years old, is a heinous crime, and if a state makes a decision that the death penalty is at least potentially applicable, that that does not violate our Constitution."

This brings us back to the present.

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The fact that Kennedy and the other justices in the Kennedy v. Louisiana majority are no longer on the Supreme Court(Alito and two of the other dissenters remain) has not been lost on the people now openly defying the Coker and Kennedy decisions. They have also been spurred on by courts increasingly cavalier attitude toward its own precedents. Nor has the political danger that Obama recognized for those who openly oppose the death penalty for child rapists escaped notice.

Tennessee State Sen. Jack Johnson, who sponsored the bill, highlighted that both when he wrote in an op-ed he wrote last month in The Tennessean. Setting the political trap, he asked Was the life of a rapist more valuable than the life of an innocent child who will be permanently scarred forever? In Tennessee, the answer is no.

Child rape, he continued escalating the rhetorical stakes, is the most disgraceful, indefensible act one can commit, leaving lasting emotional and psychological wounds on its victims. As a legislator, and more importantly, as a human being, our responsibility to protect the most vulnerable comes first.

Critics of this legislation, Johnson continued, argue that the death penalty is an unjustifiable punishment and ineffective. However, in cases where a rapist is preying on the vulnerability of a child and inflicting permanent harm on them, a severe form of justice is the consequence they must face.

Johnson was even more direct in talking about the difference the Supreme Court's composition might make when a challenge to the Tennessee law reaches the court.

All five justices who supported the 2008 opinion are no longer members of the U.S. Supreme Court (Kennedy, Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg, Breyer). Three of the four justices who authored the dissenting opinion are still sitting justices (Roberts, Alito, and Thomas). Given the makeup of the current court, there is a strong possibility that Kennedy v. Louisiana could be overturned.

As Johnson put it, I feel very certain that the Supreme Court believes there is a strong, compelling state interest to protect children, and we believe this Court will support Tennessee's efforts."

He may be right.

What the Supreme Court did in overturning its own precedents when it allowed states to prohibit abortion, has sent a clear message and prompted Tennessee, Florida (and maybe Idaho) to defy its long-established precedents in the area of capital punishment. As Johnson made clear, they are banking that the court will now allow death penalty states to expand the reach of capital punishment.

Doing so would not only be a backward step in the ongoing effort to end the death penalty in this country, but it would also be another sign that, as former Justice Thurgood Marshall once noted, Power, not reason, is the new currency of this Court's decisionmaking.
Rob Hall and Misti Western light candles in front of a mural of George Floyd in Salt Lake City after a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty in the killing of Floyd on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. May 25, 2024, marks the four-year anniversary of Floyds murder in Minneapolis. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

America has episodic flare-ups of amnesia. They occur when we move significant events from a headline to a footnote and no longer view them as relevant so we withdraw our attention, alliance and advocacy from them.

Case in point: May 25 marks the four-year anniversary of George Floyds murder in Minneapolis.

Lest we forget, Floyd was unarmed and being detained for a nonviolent offense  using a counterfeit $20 bill to make a purchase. America witnessed the slow death of the 46-year-old father as police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyds neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds, until he lost consciousness and died. It was during those nine minutes and 29 seconds, while video cameras were recording, that we heard Floyd call for his deceased mother and say repeatedly, I cant breathe.

America was incensed, heartbroken and embarrassed. Protesters traveled across the country to demonstrate their contempt for the flagrant lack of humanity and gross act of injustice. Politicians passionately pledged reform and accountability. Corporate leaders vowed allyship, investment and leveraged influence for the support of the African American community.

Almost a year after Floyds murder and five months into office, perhaps as a gesture to assuage the African American communitys grief, President Joe Biden signed a bill that made Juneteenth a federal holiday. The enactment of this bill was a salve on the wounded spirit of a disheartened people. The conviction and sentencing of Chauvin in June of 2021 was the beginning of justice and healing.

Countless people have since been awakened. They have been empowered and emboldened to use their voice, privilege and resources to advocate for those who are marginalized, those who dwell on the periphery and are subject to indignations, humiliation and injustice on a regular basis.

Since May 2020, beautiful murals have been unveiled. Confederate flags have been taken down. Monuments, statues and memorials, which once honored acts of historical oppression, have been removed. African American museums have opened. Initiatives to help African Americans start and sustain businesses have been launched.

Ashley Cleveland brings flowers to the George Floyd mural on the corner of 800 South and 300 West in Salt Lake City on on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. May 25, 2024, marks the four-year anniversary of Floyds murder in Minneapolis. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

While some progress has been made since May of 2020, other efforts to heal our community and correct injustices have become so polarizing that its difficult to even talk about them without people getting upset. Examples are critical race theory, which developed in academia when George Floyd was still a child, and programs advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.

It has been disheartening, to say the least, to see leaders of corporations and universities withdraw from DEI initiatives after raising their hands to say they stood with the African American community in the immediate aftermath of Floyds murder.

The African American community cannot forget who stood with us and stayed with us after Floyd was murdered. We cannot forget those hoarse voices that shouted into the political vortex for justice. We cannot forget the eyewitnesses who held up cameras, recorded the murder and brought us the unedited version of what happened. We cannot forget Floyds daughter, Gianna, who will grow up without a father. We cannot forget former U.S. Rep. Karen Bass for her advocacy and leadership of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021.

There are a lot of events that will take precedence and keep stories about George Floyd out of the headlines this week, but we cannot forget how and why George Floyd died. Even though we may not want to remember, we cannot forget. We cannot forget that humanity was not created to be subjugated, trampled or crushed, but lifted, affirmed and respected. We cannot forget that we are not powerless, but rather powerful to create, advance and live the change we want to see.

The Rev. Theresa A. Dear is a national board member of the NAACP and a Deseret News contributor.
Republican votes surpassed those cast by Democrats in Eddy County absentee and early in person voting as of Friday morning for the June 4 primary election, according to data from the New Mexico Secretary of States office.

Early voting ends June 1 as 1,508 Republicans voted early in person or via absentee ballot. Just 370 Democrats voted early or absentee, according to data from the New Mexico Secretary of State. Six Libertarians voted early or absentee in Eddy County, according to the data.

Susan Galvan, an Eddy County deputy county clerk, said 1,099 Carlsbad area residents voted early or absentee as of 9:30 a.m. Friday, and 524 Artesia area residents voted early or absentee.

More: New Mexico Primary Election: Where to vote, candidates in Eddy County

Galvan said around 34,000 Eddy County residents were eligible vote in the upcoming November general election. However, people registered in the Republican, Democratic or Libertarian parties are eligible to vote in the June 4 primary.

Registered minor parties can change affiliation to vote in primary

In 2019, New Mexico joined several other states and District of Columbia in offering same day registration.

Gov. Michele Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill (SB) 672 the Public Peace, Health, Safety and Welfare Early and Auto Registration Act.

SB 672 allowed eligible New Mexico residents the option to register to vote through Election Day, read press release from the Governors office.

Campaign signs are part of the landscape in Carlsbad and Artesia as the June 4 primary closes in.

As of Friday morning in Eddy County, 64 people from Eddy County changed affiliation to a major party. Fifty-five registered as Republicans, eight as Democrats and one Libertarian, according to the New Mexico Secretary of State.

You can register to vote or update your existing registration and vote on the same day at your County Clerks Office, cited the Secretary of States website.

Democrats lead Republicans across New Mexico

While Republicans dominated in absentee and early voting in Eddy County, voters registered with the Democratic Party of New Mexico had cast a majority of the votes thus far, data from Secretary of State showed.

More: Eddy County sheriff, New Mexico District 55 candidates talk opioids, gun rights in forum

As of Friday, 31,641 Democrats voted early or absentee across the state, while 20,333 Republicans had voted early.

According to the Secretary of States office, 170 New Mexico Libertarians had voted early or by absentee.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Republicans lead Democrats and Libertarians in early voting
Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas has introduced a bill to block the Biden administrations new rule on enforcement of antidiscrimination protections in health care.

The rule on enforcement of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, set to go into effect July 5, would restore protections revoked under Donald Trump, including the classification of gender identity-based discrimination as sex discrimination. It comes from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights and applies to health care providers, insurers, and federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Marshall claims the rule will force faith-based organizations to provide transgender surgeries and possibly even abortion procedures, as a press release from his office puts it. But the rule will not interfere with existing religious and conscience exemptions. Congress has 60 days to overturn it.

Time is of the essence; we will fight like hell to overturn this radical ruling by Joe Bidens HHS, Marshall, a physician, said in the released. This is a dangerous abuse of power. Our founding fathers would be rolling over in their graves if they knew that the President of the United States was trying to fund sex-change surgeries at the taxpayers expense. Gender is not fluid, and sex is not negotiable, and while all voice of reason seems to be lost at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, we will continue to sound the alarm. The HHS should be worried about Americans safety, health and wellbeing and stop doing the radical Lefts bidding by promoting child mutilation surgeries. I am happy to fight this fight  nothing is more important than protecting our children.

The rule says providers that receive federal funds must offer services without discrimination  for instance, puberty blockers or hormone therapy for gender transition, if they offer these treatments for other purposes. However, it also says, Providers do not have an affirmative obligation to offer any health care, including gender-affirming care, that they do not think is clinically appropriate or if religious freedom and conscience protections apply.

On abortion, it notes, Nothing in this rule requires the provision of any particular medical care, including abortion. To the extent [insurance] plans offer coverage for termination of pregnancies and related services, they must do so on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Given that many states have banned gender-affirming care for minors or restricted abortion, the rule says that section 1557s nondiscrimination requirements  generally preempt conflicting State law, but that in enforcement, the Office of Civil Rights will consider a variety of factors, such as whether any covered entity that is taking discriminatory actions under the rule is doing so because it believes in good faith it is obligated to do so by State or local law.

So Marshalls stated fears appear largely unfounded, and his bill is unlikely to become law. Democrats have a majority in the Senate, Republicans have a very slim one in the House of Representatives, and President Biden would not sign it in any case.

But Marshall and his cosponsors are taking the opportunity to spew anti-transgender rhetoric. His bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Republicans Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Marco Rubio of Florida, Mike Braun of Indiana, Mike Lee of Utah, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, and Katie Britt of Alabama and led in the House by GOPers Doug LaMalfa of California and Chip Roy of Texas.

The Biden administration is weaponizing HHS to attack the religious rights and freedoms of faith-based organizations, Blackburn said in the release. HHS Nondiscrimination in Health Program and Activities rule would force faith-based organizations to perform gender transition, and possibly abortion, procedures. We need to overrule this rule and stand up for the religious rights and freedoms of the American people.

This baseless and unscientific reinterpretation of the definition of sex will no doubt be used by the Biden administration to force people and organizations to pay for products and procedures that violate their beliefs, LaMalfa added. Under this rule change, medical staff are required to perform surgeries, including transgender surgeries, even if they have moral objections, or their faith prevents from doing those procedures. This is a direct attack on religious freedom and conscience protections to push a radical gender ideology.

The bill is backed by several far-right organizations. They include Heritage Action, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, and the Family Policy Alliance.
Researchers find air pollution levels have improved over 20 years, but health concerns remain: 'Provides a solid basis for future research and policy development'

Though air quality has improved in Europe over the last two decades, the vast majority of Europeans still live with unhealthy levels of pollution, the Guardian reported.

What's happening?

A group of researchers looked at air pollution levels over the last 20 years in more than 1,400 regions in 35 European countries. While they found that air pollution has improved overall, most people still live in areas where levels exceed World Health Organization recommendations.

In fact, a whopping 98% of Europeans live in places with unhealthy levels of small particulate matter, known as PM2.5, while 80% are exposed to larger particles, known as PM10. And 86% live with unhealthy levels of nitrogen dioxide.

PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are highest in northern Italy and Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, the team discovered high NO2 levels in northern Italy along with parts of Western Europe.

"Our consistent estimation of population exposure to compound air pollution events provides a solid basis for future research and policy development to address air quality management and public health concerns across Europe," Carlos Perez Garcia-Pando, one of the study's authors, told the Guardian.

Why is this research concerning?

Exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 has been linked to a wide range of health problems, including cancer, heart disease, and premature births. It has also been linked to the early death of more than 400,000 people across Europe annually, the Guardian reported. Meanwhile, high nitrous oxide levels can lead to asthma and may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.

Toxic pollution from sources such as coal, oil, and gas also have hidden health consequences, as they drive the overheating of our planet. As global temperatures continue to swell, we can expect dangerous impacts to communities, including increased occurrences of heat waves and droughts, more severe storms, food shortages, and the spread of certain diseases.

For instance, states on the U.S. northeast coast have experienced a marked uptick in cases of flesh-eating bacteria, as warmer temperatures are enabling it to survive in more northern waters.

What's being done about air pollution in Europe?

A number of European cities have implemented low-emissions zones for vehicles, according to the Guardian. For instance, Stockholm has banned diesel and petrol cars from entering the city center. Some countries, including Poland, have reduced their reliance on coal-powered stoves, the publication reported. Meanwhile, EU directives on industrial emissions are reportedly helping to slash pollution by businesses.

Of course, Europe is not alone in its fight against dangerous pollution. While Wales is banning most new roadway projects to cut down on carbon emissions and Scotland is turning many urban neighborhoods into "20-minute cities" to give residents better access to public transit, some towns in rural Virginia are adding more than 1 million new jobs by focusing on clean energy instead of coal.

You can help by reducing your dependence on transportation powered by dirty fuel sources. One way you can achieve this is by changing how you get around. Try riding your bike more, taking public transit, and using your car more efficiently.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Residents anxious as developers eye former site of toxic waste disposal: 'Every day I have people asking me if it's safe to live here'

Residents of Russell Landing, Florida, a suburb near Jacksonville, are wary of real estate developers planning to build housing on the site of a former toxic waste disposal.

What's happening?

Developers are eyeing a former Northeast Solite Corporation plant property to build new housing in an effort to help Florida's housing affordability crisis, which has over 860,000 low-income renters cost-burdened.

The plant, which shut down in 1995, mined clay and shale, which was then burned to produce cement. Northeast Solite originally burned with fossil fuels before switching to less costly hazardous waste in the 1960s. Many large companies in the southeastern U.S., such as Kodak and General Electric, paid Solite to dispose of their waste, according to the Guardian.

Today, residents of the town can still see barrels of toxic waste buried in the ground, some of which are poking out of the earth.

Why is this concerning?

Residents of Russell Landing are worried about what will happen if developers start digging up the land from Solite, which they say has contributed to a series of health problems, including cancer, heart disease, and genetic disorders.

"There are six households on that street that have had cases of cancer," said Kristen Burke, a resident of Russell Landing for 15 years.

"The fear is that if excavators start kicking up those soils and clear-cutting trees, [then] all the waste is coming our way again," Burke said. "Every day I have people asking me if it's safe to live here."

According to Northeast Solite, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), there are no environmental concerns or pollution from the plant. When the plant shut down in 1995, the company cited an increase in operation costs. However, records suggest that the EPA and FDEP have known about chemical spills and malpractice at the plant since the 1980s.

One former worker at the plant, Michael Zelinka, raised concerns just a few months before the plant shut down. Doctors had found a high amount of arsenic in his blood, which is linked to cardiac problems. He was fired a few weeks after vocalizing his concerns. Notably, Clay County, in which Russell Landing is located, has one of the highest rates of cancer in Florida.

Unfortunately, this is not the only case of toxic waste affecting Americans. Across the country, coal-fired plants are contributing to health problems and are not properly monitored. Also, a new report found that millions of Americans are at risk of toxic chemicals from train derailments, like the incident in East Palestine, Ohio.

What's being done about toxic waste?

In Russell Landing, citizen advocacy groups are continually pushing for more research into soil testing. In a recent test of soil and groundwater paid for by an advocacy group, they found the presence of toxic metals such as cadmium, barium, lead, chromium, and arsenic.

"We've done what we can with limited resources," said Bruce Reynolds, a retired hazardous waste expert for the U.S. military, who consulted on the task force's recent testing.

When presented with evidence of toxic materials, the FDEP pledged to be more transparent about the site's findings but offered no commitments. Last year, the FDEP said that the Solite company must complete a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act investigation.

"We will follow FDEP's requirements," said Albert Galliano, environmental manager at Northeast Solite.

The findings have not deterred housing developers, led by Michael Danhour, from proceeding with testing and housing.

"Our recent purchase pledged $2 million towards those efforts, and we will continue to work on it until it is clean," Danhour said.

However, residents aren't sure the cleanup will be enough.

"I try not to be pessimistic," said Randy Gillis, a resident of Russell Landing. "But if I was a betting man, I'd say that [FDEP] will try to tell us this isn't a worry for the community. One day there will be development. I can't stop that even if I want to."

"It's a beautiful place to live," Burke said. "I'd hate to think that people will keep getting sick if we don't do something about it."

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Key Insights

The projected fair value for PGF Capital Berhad is RM1.86 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

With RM1.91 share price, PGF Capital Berhad appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

PGF Capital Berhad's peers seem to be trading at a higher premium to fair value based onthe industry average of -7,503%

How far off is PGF Capital Berhad (KLSE:PGF) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for PGF Capital Berhad

Crunching The Numbers

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM7.93m RM11.8m RM15.9m RM20.0m RM23.7m RM27.2m RM30.2m RM32.8m RM35.2m RM37.4m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 67.77% Est @ 48.50% Est @ 35.02% Est @ 25.58% Est @ 18.97% Est @ 14.34% Est @ 11.11% Est @ 8.84% Est @ 7.25% Est @ 6.14% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM7.1 RM9.5 RM11.6 RM13.1 RM14.1 RM14.5 RM14.5 RM14.2 RM13.7 RM13.1

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM125m

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM37m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM515m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM515m ( 1 + 11%)10= RM180m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM306m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM1.9, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at PGF Capital Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.183. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for PGF Capital Berhad

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Building market.

Current share price is above our estimate of fair value.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for PGF.

Moving On:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For PGF Capital Berhad, there are three fundamental aspects you should consider:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for PGF Capital Berhad that you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does PGF's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
(Bloomberg) -- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attacked former President Donald Trump on his response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as he sought to court votes from Libertarian Party members and bolster his independent presidential bid.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Trump presided over the greatest restriction of individual liberties this country has ever known. He did not stand up for the Constitution when it really mattered, Kennedy said Friday at the Libertarian National Committees convention in Washington.

Maybe a brain worm ate that part of my memory, but I dont recall any part of the United States Constitution that creates an exemption for pandemics, he said to laughter, referencing his claim that in 2010 he suffered from a parasitic worm and that it ate a portion of his brain.

Kennedys speech was the latest salvo in an increasingly heated clash between him and Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, as his independent campaign threatens the hopes of the major party candidates. With a national polling average near 10%, Kennedy is potentially the best-performing third-party presidential candidate in three decades. The outcome of the election could depend on whether Kennedy draws more support away from Trump or President Joe Biden.

Both Trump and Kennedy are eager to court Libertarian support with Trump also scheduled to address the party convention on Saturday. Inviting outside candidates to a convention is unheard of even for a minor party, and has divided Libertarians. The convention will nominate its own candidate for president on Sunday. Trump and Kennedy are not among the candidates formally seeking the partys bid.

Read more: Half of Swing-State Voters Fear Violence Around US Election

In his speech, Kennedy criticized both Trump and Biden, but directed his most pointed criticism at the Republican, saying he would force Trump to defend his attacks on the Constitution if he qualifies for a CNN-sponsored debate on June 27.

Trump has cast Libertarians, who tend to draw votes from Republican candidates and have polled as high as 3.7% in recent elections, as critical to expanding his coalition. We have to join with them, Trump said in Dallas last week.

Where Trump sees a threat, Kennedy sees an opportunity. The former Democrat has made third parties  and their voters across the political spectrum  a key part of his strategy.

In California, Kennedy got on the ballot with the help of the American Independent Party, which has its origins in the candidacy of segregationist George Wallace in 1968 and which endorsed Trump in 2016. In Michigan, he will appear on the Natural Law Party line once occupied by liberal activist Ralph Nader.

He also received the endorsement of the Reform Party, the party behind Ross Perots 1992 and 1996 presidential bids that marked a modern high-water mark for third parties in presidential elections. The Reform banner will allow him to get ballot access in Florida, and also to leverage the partys increased campaign contribution limits.

Much of Kennedys platform is likely to appeal to Libertarian voters. He opposes vaccine mandates, gun control and abortion restrictions, and has battled big tech companies over what he claims are efforts to censor his message.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. targeted former President Trump over his administrations handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, as he spoke to Libertarians during their party convention Friday.

Kennedy argued that the former president and his administration had violated peoples First Amendment rights when they instituted health guidelines to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

I think he had the right instinct when he came into office. He was initially very reluctant to impose lockdowns, but then he got rolled by his bureaucrats. He caved in, and many of our most fundamental rights disappeared practically overnight, Kennedy said at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington.

President Trump allowed his health regulators to mandate science-free social distancing, which undermined our First Amendment rights to freedom of assembly. We could no longer peacefully gather, he said later.

Trump-RFK Jr. feud comes to a head at Libertarian convention

Kennedys comments marked one of the most pointed set of remarks against Trump yet. Though Kennedy is widely seen as a long-shot contender between Trump and President Biden, recent polling has suggested he could be a spoiler for Trump in November.

Kennedy used much of his speech accusing Trump and Biden of infringing on Americans rights and constitutional freedoms, saying he would do more to protect peoples rights to free speech and right to assemble.

Both Kennedy and Trump are slated to speak at the convention, with the former president delivering remarks Saturday.

The Trump administration rolled out strict protocols aimed at curbing social gatherings, nonessential travel and in-person work during the beginning of the pandemic as COVID-19 cases and deaths escalated. The president and health officials were frequently at odds over how to best manage the pandemic, including over which institutions could be allowed to be open or accessible.

Though the president supported churches reopening, states instituted their own guidelines, creating a patchwork of different rules on how to tackle COVID-19. That led to different procedures over when to open other institutions, like businesses and schools.

Anthony Fauci, the former White House chief medical adviser during the pandemic, became a frequent target of Republicans, including Trump, who believed health officials were going too far in their health guidelines.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) criticized the former president during his own presidential campaign over his handling of the pandemic and for not removing Fauci from his post.

President Trump said that he was going to run America like a business. And he came in and he gave the keys to all of our businesses to a 50-year bureaucrat who had never been elected to anything and had no accountability, Kennedy said, claiming Trump closed millions of businesses with no due process, no just compensation in violation of the Fifth Amendment.

With lockdowns, mass mandates the travel restrictions, President Trump presided over the greatest restriction on individual liberties this country has ever known, he added.

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.
Workers begin demolition on Jan. 17, 2023, at the Tree of Life building in Pittsburgh, the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, as part of the effort to reimagine the building to honor the 11 people who were killed there in 2018. (Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)

A Riverside woman who bombarded the former executive director of Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue with phone calls and threatening voicemails  the first coming just months after the deadliest antisemitic attack on U.S. soil  has been sentenced to almost three years in prison, according to court documents.

Melanie Harris, 59, hurled antisemitic slurs, vowed violence, including beheadings, and used vile and inflammatory language, according to a Miami-based FBI agent.

Harris, who pleaded guilty in March , was sentenced by a Miami judge to 32 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for intentionally transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. The Federal Bureau of Prisons will determine where Harris will serve her sentence.

A call and email to the attorney representing Harris were not returned.

Read more: After a long dialogue, families of Pittsburgh synagogue attack unveil a memorial design

Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said Harris "antisemitic threats terrorized a Jewish family.

Her hate-filled telephone calls and voicemails were abhorrent, Lapointe said in a statement . No one should live in fear of threats, harassment and hate-fueled violence.

The calls began in February 2019, according to court documents  just months after Robert Bowers shot and killed 11 worshipers at the Pittsburgh synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018. Bowers, who has since been convicted and sentenced to death, espoused white supremacist views and ranted about his hatred of Jews online prior to the shooting.

Harris cloaked her identity using the *67 feature, which blocks caller identification, and left voicemails laden with antisemitic and harassing language, according to court documents.

She initially placed three calls in a span of three minutes, first to Tree of Life and then twice calling a person identified in court documents as Victim No. 1, the former executive director of Tree of Life who was then living in the Pittsburgh area.

Read more: Pittsburgh synagogue gunman to be sentenced to death in nation's deadliest attack on Jews

Between February 2019 and March 2022, Harris called Victim No. 1 an additional 53 times, according to court records. An analysis presented in court demonstrated that Harris attempted 190 calls between October 2022 and February 2023, including 129 in November. Many of those calls, however, were unanswered or immediately hung up on, according to court documents.

All calls to Victim No. 1 were made from Harris Riverside home, authorities said.

Harris left 15 voicemails for Victim No. 1 on Oct. 3, 2022, including four threatening and antisemitic messages. In one, court documents say, Harris twice threatened to decapitate Victim No. 1's stepchild, whom she referred to using an antisemitic slur, according to court documents.

That same day, Harris made three additional calls to Victim No. 1, all advocating similar violence against him and his family, according to court documents.

On Nov. 22, Harris threatened in another voicemail to stab Victim No. 1, according to court documents. There was an additional call and threat on Dec. 6.

In voicemails left at Tree of Life, she gloated about the shooting of Jewish grandmas, using a slur, according to court documents. Harris also lobbed antisemitic slurs at the adult child and stepchild of Victim No. 1 and his wife, court documents say.

Neither the victims nor Harris knew each other, court documents and prosecutors said. Harris was not believed to have any ties to Tree of Life.

Read more: 'You should be ashamed,' congresswoman rails against UCLA chancellor during antisemitism hearing

Victim No. 1 and his wife eventually left Pennsylvania and moved to Broward County, Fla. Victim No. 1, however, did not change his cell number, wishing to keep ties with the Pittsburgh community, according to court documents.

Authorities say Harris also made references to Anne Frank's death at the hands of the Nazis, and Jews being sent back to Auschwitz. In one call played in court, Harris repeatedly screamed, "Sieg Heil, [Jew] killers, using a slur, before hanging up, according to court documents.

She was arrested on March 4, 2023.

The nature of her threats of violence towards the victims and their faith were clearly meant to evoke a climate of fear and intimidation, Jeffrey B. Veltri, special agent in charge of the FBIs Miami field office, said in a statement. Such conduct cannot be tolerated.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Robbery suspect under arrest for theft using a knife

On Wednesday around 3:20 p.m., police answered a call to an armed robbery at a QFC in Tacoma.

Police say that loss prevention tried to stop the suspect from stealing before the suspect pulled a knife from his waistband.

The store employee backed away and the suspect left.

The employee told police that the thief took several yellow jugs of detergent.

Police interviewed people in the area and got enough information on the direction the suspect went.

Soon the suspect was located sitting on a curb on 88th Street, west of Pacific Avenue, and placed under arrest.

Police took the knife and the stolen items as evidence.








Hans Stephenson, owner of Dakota Angler & Outfitter in Rapid City, helps do maintenance work on a beaver dam analog in the Black Hills. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Hans Stephenson, owner of Dakota Angler & Outfitter in Rapid City, helps do maintenance work on a beaver dam analog in the Black Hills. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Some Black Hills residents have a growing appreciation for large rodents with environmental engineering prowess: beavers.

The admiration spans from foresters to anglers and ranchers. It stems from beavers role in mitigating forest fires, retaining water during drought, and creating and maintaining wetland habitats.

However, this newfound enthusiasm emerges as state data indicates a decline in the Black Hills beaver population.

The state Department of Game, Fish and Parks periodically surveys the number of locations where beavers have stored food for the winter. There was a 73% drop in the number of those locations from 2012 to 2023, indicating severe population stress, according to the department.

At the May 2 Game, Fish and Parks Commission meeting, commissioners rejected petitions from Nancy Hilding of the Prairie Hills Audubon Society to reduce beaver trapping or require better monitoring of trapping in the Black Hills. But some commissioners suggested the department should draft its own proposal to achieve similar goals.

Commission Vice Chair Travis Bies said the state needs to alleviate pressure on the Black Hills beaver population.

Something needs to be done, more than what were doing, Bies said.

He pointed out the folly of allowing year-round beaver trapping in much of the state while also investing in beaver reintroduction efforts in the Black Hills.

Beaver dam analogs

The reintroduction effort includes installing human-made beaver dams  called beaver dam analogs  along creeks with deeply eroded streambeds and banks, with a goal of reintroducing beavers to some of those locations.

Deeply cut streams flow fast and rarely overflow or cause the water table to rise in surrounding land. If the streams had beaver dams, they would hold more water in the soils in the floodplain, which helps support grazing and mitigates the effects of drought and wildfires.

Floodplains with beavers also provide productive grazing land for cattle ranchers during a drought, according to Lori Brown, western South Dakota rangeland specialist with the Nature Conservancy. She said beaver dam analogs have long been used by ranchers in other Western states, and more recently became popular among western South Dakota ranchers.

Weve seen the benefits already, said Brown, whos also a rancher. Fire mitigation, water storage, there is tangible economic value we can tie to beavers on the landscape.

Krista Ehlert is a South Dakota State University assistant professor and range specialist. She said 80% of prairie life comes from only 2% of the land: riparian zones along creeks and streams.

Theyre the vein of blood that feeds prairies, she said.

Ehlert said a study in Oregon found the land near beaver-dammed creeks and streams benefitted from a 20% increase in vegetation and a 200% increase in the area holding water late in the grazing season.

You have forage that is staying greener longer, she said.

But theres more work needed to bring beavers to the analogs, according to Black Hills National Forest Rangelands Management Specialist Matt Scott.

He said his team, partners and volunteers have installed around 200 beaver dam analogs in the Black Hills. They look for locations with water flow conditions that will not break what they build, and suitable beaver vegetation.

If they dont have that willow and aspen to eat, theyre not going to stick around, he said.

Beaver dam analogs are installed along a Black Hills stream every 100 feet or so. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Scott said that the goal is to create a home where the rodent then does the maintenance work. He said the newly created wetland habitats filter the water, mitigate downstream flooding, prevent excessive soil erosion by regulating streamflow, and bring more life to the Black Hills by creating habitat for fish, wildlife and insects.

Additionally, because the floodplain near a stream becomes soaked when dozens of beaver dam analogs are installed every 100 feet or so, investments into beavers are also seen as wildfire mitigation.

Instead of having to jump two feet, that fire now has to jump 200 feet, Scott said.

Beaver believers

The benefits have turned Hans Stephenson into a beaver believer. He is a Black Hills Fly Fishers board member and owns Dakota Angler & Outfitter in Rapid City, meaning his business and lifestyle depend on plentiful and healthy trout habitats.

He has been helping with efforts to bring more beavers to the Black Hills.

Pretty much every stream in the Black Hills is incised, Stephenson said, referring to deeply cut streams. He said trout benefit from the ponds that beaver dams create, and those habitats can become prime fishing spots.

A lot of my time anymore is spent thinking about this, he said. I want to get as many of these analogs on Rapid Creek as we can.

In Rapid City, beavers are viewed less favorably because theyve chewed down trees in the parks along Rapid Creek. But now that there are more beaver dam analogs installed along creeks higher in the Black Hills, they can be live-trapped and relocated.

We dont know how many there are, but there are a lot of them in town, Stephenson said.

To mitigate beaver damage to trees in Rapid City, volunteers and city officials are covering the bottom of some trees with a coat of bark-colored paint mixed with sand, which they hope will deter beavers.

Paint mixed with sand covers the bottom of a beaver-damaged tree in Rapid City. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Stephenson first learned of the benefits of beavers while reading Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.

Ben Goldfarb wrote the book. Hes excited to see the tide shifting in western South Dakota.

I now meet more ranchers who love beavers than hate them, Goldfarb said. And these are people whose dads shot beavers, and whose dads dad shot beavers.

East River vs. West River

Views on beavers are different in farm-laden eastern South Dakota, where wetlands are sometimes drained with perforated pipes buried in the ground to manage moisture in fields.

In the row crop community, there is definitely less tolerance and acceptance of beavers, Goldfarb said.

The divide was on display during the recent GF&P Commission meeting at Custer State Park.

I really do think we should shut the trapping down in the Black Hills for now, said Commission Vice-Chair Bies, a rancher from Fairburn on the edge of the Black Hills.

Meanwhile, Commissioners Julie Bartling of Gregory and Robert Whitmyre of Webster said the beaver situation is different farther east, where many landowners see beavers as pests that flood cropland, block drainage systems and damage trees.

I cant speak to what happens out here, Bartling said of the Black Hills.

Trappers can pursue beavers from January 1 to March 31 on national forest land in the Black Hills. From November 1 to April 20, they can trap on non-national forest land in the Black Hills.

Elsewhere in the state, beavers can be trapped year-round. The state does not require trappers to report the numbers of beavers they catch.

From fur trade to a nuisance

Before European settlement in North America, the beaver population was an estimated 100 million to 200 million.

European trappers valued beaver pelts for the fur trade, particularly for making fashionable hats back in Europe. The demand led to widespread trapping during the 17th and 18th centuries, drastically reducing beaver populations.

The alteration of landscapes for farms, ranches and cities reduced areas available for beaver habitats. Wetlands were drained and streams were diverted, further diminishing the suitable environments necessary for beaver survival.

By the late 19th century, beavers were nearly wiped out in many parts of the United States.

Conservation efforts began in the early 20th century, including reintroduction projects and habitat restoration, which have helped to recover the beaver population to around 10 million to 15 million.

In South Dakota, beavers are one of the animals targeted by the state Game, Fish and Parks Wildlife Damage Management program. People can contact the department and ask it to trap or shoot beavers, deer, coyotes, geese and other animals that are damaging property, killing livestock or causing other problems.

The department received 430 requests for help with beavers in 2023 and eliminated 1,126 of them, while spending $304,251 on those efforts. Most beaver-related requests came from counties east of the Missouri River such as Lincoln, Minnehaha, Roberts, Day and Brown, and also from Gregory County on the rivers western bank.

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The post Rodent or riparian restorer: East-west views diverge as state considers beaver protections appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
FILE - Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is seen before the flag-draped casket bearing the remains of Hershel W. "Woody" Williams lies in honor in the U.S. Capitol, July 14, 2022, in Washington. Runoffs in Texas are putting two prominent Republicans on edge: Gonzales, who has broken ranks over guns and the border, and powerful state House Speaker Dade Phelan, who angered the party's hard right over the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. (Tom Williams/Pool photo via AP, File)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  The 2024 primary season is roughly halfway over and there have been few shakeups so far, with just one U.S. House member defeated and incumbents widely prevailing in state Capitols.

But the runoffs in Texas on Tuesday are a test for two prominent Republicans: U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who has broken ranks over guns and the border, and powerful state House Speaker Dade Phelan, who angered the party's hard right over the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The fights to save their jobs have laid bare the risks of dissent in the GOP and pushed both to swing back in races that have erupted into bitter and costly battles. A Gonzales loss, his supporters warn, would give Democrats an opening to flip a traditionally moderate district in November, while a change in Texas House leadership could push the state's policymaking even more to the right.

Youve got to be a brawler, said Bill Miller, a longtime Republican strategist in Texas. Its expected. If you arent willing to do that, you are an outcast.

Other Texas runoffs also are drawing attention.

Katrina Pierson, a former spokeswoman for Donald Trump, is on the ballot for a state House seat near Dallas. GOP voters also are picking a challenger to Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who was indicted this month on conspiracy and bribery charges. Cuellar has said he is innocent.

Primaries have knocked out only one House member so far this year: Republican Rep. Jerry Carl of Alabama, who lost in an unusual primary to another incumbent, Rep. Barry Moore, after the state was forced to redraw congressional districts.

Gonzales, who carried 45% of the vote after drawing five challengers in March, has been tested in the primaries like few of his fellow Republicans. He faces Brandon Herrera, a gun-rights YouTube creator who calls himself The AK Guy" in the district where the Uvalde school shooting happened in 2022.

The state party of Texas has moved very far to the right, even farther than where the Republicans in D.C. are right now, said Brian Smith, a political science professor at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. He called the squabbles within the Texas GOP a fight for the soul of the party.

Gonzales has the backing of party heavyweights including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and has shrugged off a rare admonishment last year from the state party. The censure followed votes he cast in favor of same-sex marriage protections at the federal level and a bipartisan gun safety bill after the Uvalde school massacre.

My voting record is very strong on the Constitution, the 20-year Navy veteran said in April. I swore an oath to the Constitution at 18 years old. And Ive never stopped doing that. ... We can protect the Constitution and we can protect our kids. It does not have to be either/or.

Herrera has taunted Gonzales on social media and called his campaign desperate.

Its funny that 3 months ago I was just a YouTuber and not a serious candidate, Herrera posted on X, noting Johnson attended a fundraiser for Gonzales. When your enemies are circling the wagons, its usually not a sign theyre winning.

On the state level, Phelans two sessions leading the chamber would typically be considered a bonanza for conservatives.

Since 2021, Texas has passed some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, supported Abbotts headline-making anti-immigration measures, banned gender-affirming medical care for minors and eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education.

But like Gonzales, Phelan also was censured by the state party for a lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities. Hardline Republicans have targeted him since the House voted last year to impeach Paxton, setting up a Senate trial ending in Paxton's acquittal.

Paxton led a primary push to oust Phelan, who finished a close second to oil and gas consultant David Covey. That leaves Phelan with an uphill climb to win the nomination, with a loss upending party leadership in the state Capitol.
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. (Photo by 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, including Iowa, 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.

This story was originally published by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
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.

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 North Dakota Monitor.
Russia bombed a hardware superstore in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, killing at least two people and injuring more than 20 others in a huge building where more than 200 shoppers may have been inside, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin after the vile attack on Ukraines second-largest city.

As of now, we know that more than 200 people could have been inside the hypermarket, Zelensky stated on Telegram after officials reported two victims died in a pair of aerial bomb strikes, adding that the attack occurred right in the middle of the day.

Only madmen like Putin are capable of killing and terrorizing people in such a vile way, Zelensky added, according to Agence France-Presse. There were a lot of workers and shoppers inside. Now the fire is on the whole territory.

Footage from the sceneincluding some posted by Zelensky on Xshowed black smoke engulfing the Epitsentr store as first responders doused flames and people walked away from the wreckage. One man was shown covering a dead person with a sheet in a parking lot.

If Ukraine had sufficient air defense systems and modern combat aircraft, Russian strikes like this one would have been impossible, Zelensky wrote in the X post. And that is why we appeal to all leaders, to all states: we need a significant enhancement of air defense and sufficient capabilities to destroy Russian terrorists.

Ihor Terekhov, mayor of Kharkiv, said the hardware stores owner lost contact with 15 employees in the chaos and called the offensive pure terrorism. We have a large number of people missing, Terekhov wrote on Telegram. There are many wounded.

Terekhov, in an interview last week with UK newspaper the Independent, said Russian forces hit the metropolis of about 1.4 million so often its hard to count how many missiles hit the city directly every day.

They are constantly shooting and destroying this city, Terekhov added. They are killing our people.

Russias daytime strike was the latest assault on Kharkiv since it launched a ground offensive in the region on May 10, leading to the evacuation of more than 11,000 people.

On Thursday, Russian missiles pummeled the area, killing at least seven people in the Vivat printing house, which produced childrens books.

Serhiy Bolvinov, head of the investigative department of the National Security Service in the Kharkiv region, said all seven victims were identified using DNA samples from their relatives.

Five women and two meneach of them was just doing their job, Bolvinov said in a post on X, according to newspaper The New Voice of Ukraine.

This printing house produced childrens books, magazines, school diaries, newspapers, and much more. Now there is no such enterprise in Kharkiv.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  A federal jury convicted a Fredericksburg doctor Friday related to more than $70 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), 61-year-old David M. Young, M.D., was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of false statements relating to health care matters. Records show he faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

The DOJ said Young submitted medically unnecessary claims for orthotic braces and genetic tests ordered through a telemarketing scheme.

Young prescribed braces and genetic tests for over 13,000 Medicare beneficiaries, including undercover agents posing as different Medicare beneficiaries, many of whom he did not see, speak to, or otherwise treat, the DOJ said.

According to the DOJ, Young was paid approximately $475,000 in exchange for signing the fraudulent prescriptions.

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.
Russian forces launched missile attacks against Kharkiv Oblast overnight on May 25, damaging an educational institution, regional authorities reported.

At around 1:oo a.m. local time, Russian forces launched four missile attacks against the region. The Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office reported that S-300 ballistic missiles were deployed.

No casualties were reported.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced that an educational institution in the Slobidskyi district was completely destroyed. At least 31 private cars, several nearby residential buildings, and a supermarket were also damaged.

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.

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.

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.
Russia needs ceasefire to prepare for future offensives in Ukraine  ISW

Russia will use any ceasefire to prepare for future offensive operations in Ukraine.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: ISW emphasised that Russia's military intervention in Crimea and Donbas in 2014 violated numerous international commitments regarding respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Russia's recognition of Ukraine as an independent state in 1991 and the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, where Russia specifically pledged not to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

There is no reason to believe that the Kremlin would respect any new agreement that obliges Russia not to violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. A ceasefire would give Russia the opportunity to rebuild its degraded forces and redirect human resources toward large-scale expansion and reforms instead of conducting military operations in Ukraine. It would also allow Russia to continue mobilising its defence industrial base without restrictions related to urgent operational needs in Ukraine.

Russia could use a ceasefire to prepare forces more suitable for conducting the next series of offensive operations aimed at changing the regime, demilitarising Ukraine and conquering it. A ceasefire would undoubtedly provide Ukraine with its own opportunities to address military force development and defence industry growth. However, the Kremlin may, perhaps justifiably, expect that a frozen front would make supporting Ukraine less urgent and vital for the West and allow Russia to get ahead of Ukraine in preparing for the hostilities to resume.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 24 May:

Western media continues to report that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is interested in a negotiated ceasefire in Ukraine, although Kremlin rhetoric and Russian military actions illustrate that Putin remains uninterested in meaningful negotiations and any settlement that would prevent him from pursuing the destruction of an independent Ukrainian state.

Russian sources that have spoken to Western media have also offered mutually contradictory characterisations of Putin's stance on negotiations.

These Russian sources notably highlighted territorial concessions as part of Putin's alleged envisioned ceasefire but have sparsely addressed the wider strategic objectives of Putin's war in Ukraine.

A ceasefire does not preclude Russia from resuming its offensive campaign to destroy Ukrainian statehood, and Russia would use any ceasefire to prepare for future offensive operations within Ukraine.

Russia is currently preparing for the possibility of a conventional war with NATO, and the Kremlin will likely view anything short of Ukrainian capitulation as an existential threat to Russia's ability to fight such a war.

The Kremlin will continue to feign interest in negotiations at critical moments in the war to influence Western decision-making on support for Ukraine and to continue efforts to extract preemptive concessions from the West.

Putin directly rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's legitimacy as president on 24 May, the latest in a series of efforts to dismiss Zelenskyy's authority to engage in or reject negotiations with Russia and undermine Ukrainians' trust in Zelenskyy.

Unnamed Russian government officials and sources within the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Kremlin told the independent Russian outlet The Moscow Times that the ongoing effort to remove senior Russian defence officials and uniformed commanding officers will likely continue in the coming weeks and months.

Ukrainian forces conducted a series of successful missile strikes against military targets in Russian-occupied Ukraine on 23 and 24 May.

Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted a drone strike against a Russian early warning radar system in Krasnodar Krai, Russia on the morning of 23 May.

The Ukrainian military command continues to address Ukraine's manpower challenges.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced a military assistance package worth US$275 million on 24 May to help Ukrainian forces repel Russian offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated on 24 May that NATO member states should consider lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia.

Russian forces recently advanced near Vovchansk, Svatove, Kreminna and Donetsk City.

The Financial Times (FT) reported on 23 May that Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko stated that Russia recruited more than 385,000 military personnel in 2023.

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Vladimir Putin at a meeting with heads of military-industrial complex enterprises in Korolev, outside Moscow, on Saturday - Sergei Bobylev/Pool Sputnik Kremlin

Vladimir Putin prefers a purge to a gentle spring clean.

Unhappy with the performance of his military, the Russian leader has been arresting top Ministry of Defence officials in a cull analysts said is designed to punish the planners of his botched 2022 invasion of Ukraine and to improve the efficiency of his war machine.

The arrests of at least five senior officers amount to the most serious attack on the Russian military in close to 25 years of Putins rule, said Andrei Soldatov, a Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis.

When deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov was charged with corruption in April it was clear that his boss, Sergei Shoigu, would lose his position as defence minister in a Kremlin reshuffle. What had not been so obvious was Putins determination for more systematic changes within his Ministry of Defence.

Russias FSB security forces have since arrested five more senior Defence Ministry officials and the Moscow Times has reported that there are plans to arrest dozens more.

It is a purge rooted in Putins determination to defeat Ukraine and its Nato allies.

Timur Ivanov, Russia's deputy defence minister, in a cage during his hearing at Moscow City Court, on May 8 - MOSCOW CITY COURT HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

With his forces pushing forward on the battlefield, his factories pumping out ammunition and his disinformation campaigns fracturing support for Kyiv in Europe, this is the time to keep up the pressure.

And to do this Putin has been looking at the numbers.

Mark Galeotti, a professor at UCL and the author of several books on Russia, said that Putin tolerates corruption until it impacts his personal projects.

Putin now sees corruption in the Ministry of Defence as an obstacle to succeeding in what he needs to achieve in Ukraine, he said. Thats when he starts looking to crackdown.

This approach was reinforced with the appointment this month of Andrey Belousov, an economist, as Russias new minister of defence. He is tasked with both keeping the military central to Russias economy and sorting out the Ministry of Defence, infamously inefficient and corrupt. And he has not wasted time.

On May 13, Lt-Gen Yuri Kuznetsov was arrested, followed this week with the arrests of Lt-Gen Vadim Shamarin, the deputy head of the General Staff, and Vladimir Verteletsky.

Vladimir Putin and former defence minister Sergei Shoigu fishing in the Tuva region of southern Siberia in August 2017 - ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/AFP

These arrests fit a pattern of targeting the heads of departments organising Russias military, rather than frontline commanders. Gen Kuznetsov was head of HR, Gen Shamarin was head of communications and Mr Verteletsky was the head of defence procurement.

Kirill Shamiev, a Visiting Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said that the arrests are a well-worn Kremlin strategy as corruption has been baked into the system as a control mechanic.

Its very useful for political control as people always know that there is something on them to always keep them in check, he said.

The one outlier in Putins Defence Ministry purge so far appears to be the arrest on Tuesday for fraud of Maj-Gen Ivanov Popov, a celebrated battlefield commander. His real misdemeanour may have been to speak out last year by demanding that his soldiers be rested.

Influential Russian military bloggers, strong critics of the Ministry of Defence, were furious about the arrest of Gen Popov. They described him as one of the best Russian officers and said that Putins purge needed to focus on Ministry of Defence planners, including Gen Valery Gerasimov, head of the Russian military since 2012 but considered a plodding and uncharismatic leader.

The Russian Defence Ministry headquarters on the bank of the Moskva River in Moscow - ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP

Putin, though, has been loyal to Gen Gerasimov despite the criticism, although John Foreman, Britains former defence attache in Moscow, said that the ferocity of his Ministry of Defence purge may sway his calculations.

Almost every day there is a new arrest. We have to see where we are, maybe in a months time, he said. Gerasimov is as unpopular as Shoigu. Hes turned out to be a peacetime general, not a great wartime one.

The irony is that these sackings would have been music to the ears of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the former Russian mercenary leader who was killed when a bomb exploded on his private jet last summer a few weeks after he led an aborted coup in Russia.

Prigozhin regularly ranted at the incompetence and corruption of the Russian Ministry of Defence. He would have enjoyed Putins purge.

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Russian forces attacked 12 border areas and settlements of Sumy Oblast on May 24, firing 31 times and causing at least 204 explosions, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported.

The communities of Khotin, Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Richky, Krasnopillia, Myropillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Novo Sloboda, Esman, Shalyhyne, Seredyna-Buda, and Znob-Novgorodske were targeted.

Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, drone, rocket, and artillery attacks.

The town of Myropillia experienced the bulk of the attacks, with over 67 explosions were recorded. Myropillia, which had a pre-war population of nearly 3,000 residents, lies just five kilometers from the Ukraine-Russia border.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on May 14 that he expects Russia to launch a new attack in Sumy Oblast once the situation in Kharkiv Oblast stabilized, the New York Times reported.

Russian strikes against the Sumy region have become increasingly destructive in recent months. Amid intensified attacks, Ukrainian authorities ordered further evacuations from the region.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: General Staff says Russian troops halted in Kharkiv sector, Ukraine conducts counterattacks

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Epicentr store in Kharkiv following a Russian attack on 25 May. Photo: Epitsentr K

The number of people injured in the Russian attack on the Epicentr home improvement hypermarket in Kharkiv has risen to 35; two of the stores employees have been killed in the attack.

Source: Ihor Terekhov, Kharkiv Mayor, on Telegram; Epicentr K group of companies on Facebook

Quote from Terekhov: "The number of casualties has risen to 35."

Details: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office shared a video showing the moment the attack took place.

     ""  . :    pic.twitter.com/9a5XaVXI9L     (@ukrpravda_news) May 25, 2024

Epicentr K said that their staff did everything they could to evacuate the stores customers and other members of staff from the premises after an air-raid warning was issued.

"Still, two strikes on the buildings main part occurred moments after the air-raid warning was issued. A large fire broke out as a result of the attack," Epicentr K explained.

The group of companies also said that two of the stores employees were killed, and the whereabouts of 11 others are unknown. The information about the stores customers who sustained injuries in the attack is being constantly updated.

Epicentr K said that Russian forces have already destroyed six other Epicentre stores  in Mariupol, Chernihiv, Bucha, Kharkiv, Kherson and Nikopol. A number of other Epicentre stores were forced to close because of their proximity to combat action, shelling, or Russian occupation.

The store that was attacked in Kharkiv today first opened in 2014, and occupied the area of 13,300 square metres.

Background:

Russian forces struck an Epicentr home improvement hypermarket in Kharkiv on the afternoon of Saturday, 25 May, killing two. Earlier, officials reported 24 casualties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that up to 200 people might have been at the store at the time of the attack.

By 17:45 (Kyiv time) on 25 May, the fire that broke out as a result of the Russian strike on the Epicentr store in Kharkiv had been contained.

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On Publishing, Printing and Book Distribution Workers Day, the publisher Vivat Publishing has named seven employees killed by Russia during the attack on their printing house in Kharkiv on 23 May.

Source: Vivat CEO Yuliia Orlova

Details: Seven people were killed in a Russian strike on Thursday:

Tetiana Khrapina, a print operator

Roman Strohyi, a glueing machine operator

Svitlana Ryzhenko, a brochure maker

Olha Kurasova, an automatic sewing machine operator

Olena Ninadovska, an automatic sewing machine operator

Hanna Mynaieva, a finishing machine operator

Dmytro Shylo, a brochure maker

Photo: vivat

Background: During a large-scale Russian attack on Kharkiv on Thursday, 23 May, the Russians hit a printing house. The police said that the Russians had previously struck with an S-300 anti-aircraft system, and three missiles had hit a shop and the surrounding area. Seven people were killed.

Four people were identified from DNA samples. Among the dead were machine operators, a typist and a stacker/packer.

A Russian missile strike on the Factor-Druk printing house in the Osnovyansky district of Kharkiv destroyed 50,000 books.

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Russians claim Ukraine attacked two Russian oblasts with drones

Stock photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Russia claimed that it had shot down Ukrainian drones over Russias Kursk and Belgorod oblasts on 25 May.

Source: Russian Defence Ministry

Details: As usual, the Russians claimed to have shot down all the UAVs.

At night, one drone was spotted over Kursk and Belgorod oblasts.

After 08:00, another UAV was supposedly shot down over Belgorod Oblast.

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Russian troops carried out 99 offensive and assault operations on Saturday 25 May.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 20:30 on 25 May

Quote: "Over the last 24 hours, the total number of anti-aircraft missile systems used to hit Ukrainian positions and civilian infrastructure has reached around 40.

Additionally, the total number of enemy offensive and assault operations has increased to 99.

The largest number of combat clashes was reported on the Kupiansk, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Defence Forces are taking all necessary measures to deplete the offensive potential of Russian troops, fighting the enemy and destroying their equipment."

Details: On the Kharkiv front, the Russian invaders continue to carry out assault operations. Six Russian attacks have been successfully repelled by Ukrainian soldiers, four are still ongoing.

The Russian invaders keep trying to put pressure on the defensive positions of Ukrainian troops on the Kupiansk front. They are unsuccessfully trying to improve their tactical position near Miasozharivka and Novoiehorivka. In total, they increased the number of assault operations on this front to 14. Half of them were successfully repelled by Ukraine's Defence Forces, and seven are still ongoing.

On the Lyman front, the Russians conducted five attacks over the last day, one of which is still ongoing.

On the Sivershchyna front, the Russian aggressor continues to attempt to assault the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Bilohorivka and Verkhnekamianske. The number of combat clashes has increased to nine in the last 24 hours. Four attacks were successfully repelled by the Ukrainian troops, five are still ongoing.

On the Kramatorsk front, Russian terrorists continue to carry out assault actions near Klishchiivka, Nove, Ivanivske and Andriivka. Over the past day, 11 combat clashes have taken place here, one of which is still ongoing.

The Pokrovsk front remains the most active spot along the entire frontline. So far, the number of hostile attacks has increased to 23. The Russian invaders are trying to push through the Ukrainian defences with the support of attack aircraft. Ukrainian soldiers are holding their positions and inflicting significant losses on the Russians. Ukrainian defenders successfully destroyed another Su-25 attack aircraft of the Russians on this front.

On the Kurakhove front, the number of combat clashes increased to 14. Eight Russian attacks were repelled, and four are still ongoing.

On the Orikhiv front, the Russians attempted three assault attacks near Robotyne and Novoandriivka, but failed.

On the Prydniprovske front, on the footholds on the Dnipro River's left (east) bank, the Russian occupiers launched nine attacks, however all these attempts to drive Ukrainian units from the settlement of Krynky failed.

There were no significant changes on other fronts.



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Casualties in Donetsk Oblast on 25 May 2024: Two killed in Siversk, one killed in Zelene Pole; one injured in Toretsk and Krasnohorivka. Photo: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

The Russians killed three residents of Donetsk Oblast on 24 May. The official total number of citizens who have been killed by the Russians in Donetsk Oblast has now reached 1,972.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration reported that two people had been killed in the city of Siversk and one in the village of Zelene Pole.

In addition, two more people were injured in the oblast on 24 May.

As of the morning of 25 May, at least 1,972 civilians have been killed and 4,917 have been injured by the Russians in Donetsk Oblast since the start of the full-scale war.

Donetsk Oblast Military Administration pointed out that the overall number of casualties in Donetsk Oblast does not include Mariupol and Volnovakha.

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(FOX40.COM)  According to the city of Sacramento, city council members recently designated a part of the South Land Park neighborhood as a historic district.

The South Land Park Hills Historic District, constructed between 1955 and 1956, features nearly 50 residential buildings that have maintained their historical significance and continue to thrive as a lively residential community, the city said.

The homes within the new historic district were built by Joseph Eichler, a popular real estate developer who is remembered for his commitment to nondiscriminatory housing that set a precedent for equal access to modern, affordable homes in California.

City officials to designate North Sacramento School site as historic landmark

Eichlers ranch homes in South Land Park Hills and other California communities filled the demand for quality, affordable housing for returning WWII veterans and their families, the city said.

It continues, Eichler is remembered for supporting fair housing practices during a time of segregation in the real estate industry.

Standout features of Eichlers South Land Park Hills houses include low-pitched roofs strategically placed windows for privacy, and plywood cladding.

According to the city of Sacramento, Eichler completed 60 homes in the South Land Park neighborhood, but only 49 are included in the designation.

What are historical districts?

The National Trust for Historical Preservation defines a local historic district as an entire area or group of historic structures deemed significant to the citys cultural fabric that are protected by public review.

Free water safety class available to Sacramento residents ahead of Memorial Day

The nonprofit says the main purpose of creating a historic district is to prevent unregulated and insensitive change while also enforcing the preservation ordinance, which is a statute that establishes a design review board (also known as a preservation or historic district commission) and creates a design review process and guidelines.

Across the United States, there are over 2,300 local historic districts. The largest is in Savannah, Georgia, while the oldest is in Charleston, South Carolina.

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.
Watch Ed Lendermans report for KUSI in the player above.

SAN DIEGO (KUSI)  With San Diegans expected to flock to the coast this Memorial Day weekend, lifeguards and city officials are encouraging people to take precaution during their holiday beach visits.

Memorial Day being a long holiday weekend and the unofficial start of summer, we want people to be reminded as they come to our local beaches  to practice safe swimming and ocean safety tips, Lt. Lonnie Stephens with the San Diego Police Departments Beach Safety unit told KUSI Friday morning.

In particular, Stephens said beachgoers should be aware of abnormally strong rip currents and how beach erosion from this large winter swells over the last few months could impact safety. He encourages people check in with lifeguards about water conditions first-thing during their visit.

Memorial Day weekend Trolley schedule: service changes to expect

Come to the beach, come prepared, check in with your lifeguard and swim near a lifeguard, Stephens said.

Rip currents dont pull you under, they pull you out, Stephens said, adding if you hit one of those currents be sure to wave your arm to get the attention of a lifeguard who can help.

If you relax, your lifeguards are watching you and if you are in a guarded area, the lifeguards will come and rescue you, he continued.

Lifeguards and SDPD officers will also be out and about near boating docks to make sure people have the correct equipment and that they are not operating vessels while under the influence.

You can have alcohol aboard the vessel, but you cant be under influence driving it, SDPD Bay Safety Lt. Rick Romero said. We have seen some accidents like that in the past.

FOX 5/KUSIs Danielle Dawson contributed to this story.

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.
Let offshore wind reach its full potential

Rhode Island is at the forefront of combatting the climate crisis, as evidenced by Alex Kuffners article 'We are not on track': To meet climate goals, RI buildings need cleaner heat. These bills would help (News, May 3).

The Ocean State is a national leader in addressing greenhouse gas emissions, both on land and in the ocean, by advancing responsible offshore wind in state waters. But climate change goes beyond borders, and Rhode Islands members of Congress must support an effort to expand renewable energy federally by eliminating offshore winds ties to oil and gas drilling.

Right now, before any future offshore wind leases can be issued, the federal government is required to offer at least 60 million acres of ocean for offshore drilling lease sales in the prior 365 days. That means before the Biden administration can issue new offshore wind expansion, it is mandated by law to offer lease sales for oil. As we face a growing climate crisis, this is like making a firefighter start a new blaze before they can put out a house fire.

Thankfully, a bill currently in Congress would end this unfair mandate and cut the tie between offshore wind and oil. The Nonrestrictive Offshore Wind (NOW) Act would allow wind to move forward without being paired with destructive offshore drilling. Members of Congress in Rhode Island should support this bill and free offshore wind to reach its full potential.

We shouldnt have to drown in oil to reach a better future.

Joseph Gordon, Washington, D.C.

The writer is a campaign director for Oceana, the worlds largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation.

Kennedy Plaza a valuable bus hub

Kennedy Plaza should stay as the number-one bus hub. For many years, I got around the whole state, going bus to bus at Kennedy Plaza, even though I have a disability that makes it difficult for me to walk.

Kennedy Plaza was safe for wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. The plates on the edge of the sidewalk really helped people who needed to get from one bus to another. And there are special ways for people with mobility challenges to cross the street. We should think, too, about the people who need to get to the train station.

Please fight to keep Kennedy Plaza as the number-one bus terminal in the state.

Ed Soares, North Kingstown

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Saturday letters: Allow wind power to move forward; our number-one bus hub
Saudi Arabia's futuristic Neom project aims to embrace green flying taxis, and will have 4 airports

Saudi Arabia is planning a zero-carbon region called The Line in its Neom development project.

Neom is working with Volocopter on electric flying taxis for transportation.

While it's promoting sustainability, Saudi Arabia has indicated it won't phase down fossil fuels.

This article is part of "Future of Sustainable Aerospace," a series exploring the industry's green trends.

Of all the glitzy projects Saudi Arabia is embarking on, perhaps the most eccentric is Neom. The kingdom plans to spend over half a trillion dollars transforming the desert into 10 futuristic regions, including a floating port city and a yachting hub.

The most famous of them is The Line, a 0.12-mile-wide and 105-mile-long city with a mirrored facade. Saudi Arabia hopes Neom will become home to nine million people in a "vertical garden city" with daily essentials within a five-minute walk.

It says high-speed rail will take citizens from one end to the other in 20 minutes. It plans to have no roads, traffic, or pollution, with everything powered by renewable energy. And it aims to gather much more data about residents and services than other so-called smart cities do.

A design for The Line. Neom

It plans to have four airports to connect it internationally. Only one, Neom Bay Airport, is currently operating. London Heathrow is its only destination outside the Middle East.

The route is run by Saudia, the kingdom's flag carrier, which on Monday announced the largest aviation order in Saudi history, to the tune of 105 Airbus narrowbody jets.

The kingdom hopes more investment in aviation  including the launch of a new airline, Riyadh Air  will help promote it as a tourist destination.

Boom Supersonic, an American startup designing an airliner that could cross the Atlantic in 3.5 hours and use only sustainable aviation fuel, announced last November an investment from Neom. It didn't disclose the size of the investment.

Since 2021, Neom has worked on a joint venture with Volocopter, a German company designing electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft, better known as eVTOLs or flying taxis. Powered by batteries, they wouldn't emit any carbon.

Neom, which has ordered 15 of its aircraft, invested $175 million in Volocopter's Series E funding round in November 2022.

Borja Blond, the CEO of the Neom-Volocopter joint venture, described its ambitions last November during a presentation at the Dubai Air Show, which Business Insider attended.

The plan is for Neom to operate three kinds of Volocopter's eVTOLs: the VoloCity, the VoloRegion, and the VoloDrone. Neom aims to have a fleet by 2025, though it's not clear how many aircraft that would entail.

"We really believe that Volocopter is close to getting their aircraft certified," Blond said.

Volocopter is aiming to be certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in time for the Olympics next summer in Paris, where it plans to run its first service.

Volocopter's VoloCity in flight. ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images

The drone, designed to carry up to 330 pounds, would be used for some cargo.

Since the VoloCity is designed to travel only 35 kilometers, or about 22 miles, at a time, it'd function as a flying taxi to take people around a region like The Line.

Neom plans to use the VoloRegion, with its top speed of 137 mph and range of 220 kilometers, to take passengers between regions, though the presentation said it could also work intraregionally.

"We need to think about connecting all those regions within a seamless manner and being very well aligned with the vision that we have here," Blond said. "Basically we want to operate with 100% renewable energy."

Neom plans to leave 95% of the region untouched, serving as one of the world's largest nature reserves. The Line is designed with huge mirrors partly to reflect the vast natural landscape.

Blond said Neom does not "have the opportunity to build big runways, a lot of airports," adding that that makes eVTOLs a good solution for Neom's transportation needs.

He said the goal is to create safe flight routes for the VoloRegion aircraft over less populated areas.

"We want to bring a blueprint to the rest of the world: This is what we have done. This is how we can progress to future cities," Blond said.

Saudi Arabia won't phase down fossil fuels

But while the country is pushing renewable energy at home, it's pushing for huge profits from fossil fuels abroad.

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan  which includes Neom and The Line  aims to make its economy less reliant on oil, but the kingdom recently suggested it won't decrease its exports of the fossil fuel.

Asked at December's COP28 summit whether he'd agree to phasing down fossil fuels, the country's energy minister said, "Absolutely not," Bloomberg reported.

An investigation by Channel 4 and the Centre for Climate Reporting published last November said officials from Saudi Arabia's Oil Sustainability Program acknowledged the country had a state-backed plan to target Africa and Asia with oil products.

Speaking about the dissonance between Saudi Arabia's green-energy plans and its status as the top oil exporter, Jim Krane, an energy-geopolitics expert at Rice University, told Time last year: "They like to have their cake and eat it.

"The Saudis' ambition is to be the last man standing in the global oil market," he added. "They want the last drop of oil drilled to come from a Saudi field."

Read the original article on Business Insider
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)  Finance officials from the Group of Seven rich democracies said they had moved toward agreement on a U.S. proposal to squeeze more money for Ukraine from Russian assets frozen in their countries. But the ministers left a final deal to be worked out ahead of a June summit of national leaders.

We are making progress in our discussions on potential avenues to bring forward the extraordinary profits stemming from immobilized Russian sovereign assets to the benefit of Ukraine, the draft statement said, without providing details.

Despite the progress made at the the meeting in Stresa, on the shores of Lago Maggiore in northern Italy, a final decision on how the assets will be used will rest with the G7 national leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, next month at their annual summit in Fasano, in southern Italy.

Host Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said that progress has been made so far but that there were legal and technical issues that have to be overcome.

It is not an easy task but we are working on it, he said at a news conference following the end of the meeting.

Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko joined the finance ministers and central bank heads at their concluding session on Saturday. I am satisfied with the progress," he told journalists afterwards. He said the G7 ministers are working very hard to find a reliable construction for Ukraine.

The U.S. Congress has passed legislation allowing the Biden administration to seize the roughly $5 billion in Russian assets located in the U.S., but European countries have a strong voice in the matter since most of the $260 billion in Russian central bank assets frozen after the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion are held in their jurisdictions.

Citing legal concerns, European officials have balked at outright confiscating the money and handing it to Ukraine as compensation for the destruction caused by Russia.

Instead, they plan use the interest accumulating on the assets, but thats only around $3 billion a year  about one months financing needs for the Ukrainian government.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is pushing for borrowing against the future interest income from the frozen assets. That would mean Ukraine could be given as much as $50 billion immediately.

But the proposal has run into concerns from European members about the legal complexities, and about concerns that Russia could retaliate against the diminished number of Western companies and individuals who still have holdings in Russia, or against the Euroclear securities depository in Belgium where the bulk of the funds is held.

Story continues

Russia has published a decree from President Vladimir Putin allowing confiscation of assets of U.S. companies and individuals as compensation for any Russian assets seized in the United States.

The ministers also discussed what to do about Chinas outsized, state-backed production of green energy technology, which the U.S. considers a threat to the global economy. The U.S. has imposed major new tariffs on electric vehicles, semiconductors, solar equipment and medical supplies imported from China. Included is a 100% tariff on Chinese-made EVs, meant to protect the U.S. economy from cheap Chinese imports.

The U.S. position has been that Chinese overcapacity is an issue not just for the U.S. but also for other G7 and developing countries. Thats because Chinas selling of low-priced goods threatens the existence of competing companies around the world.

The G7 is an informal forum that holds an annual summit to discuss economic policy and security issues. The member countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Representatives of the European Union also take part, but the EU does not serve as one of the rotating chairs.



Colleen Barry contributed from Milan.
Chaplain Samuel J.T. Boone salutes as service members fold the flag from the casket of Rick Leiderman, an Air Force veteran, during a service on Friday, May 24, 2024 at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery (Abraham Kenmore/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  Rick Leiderman, a 71-year-old former nuclear weapons specialist in the Air Force, was laid to rest Friday at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

With no living family, his short ceremony was attended instead by volunteers, including members of the motorcycle-riding Patriot Guard.

The folded flag from Leidermans casket was presented to representatives of the Spartanburg coroners office, who had searched for any living family and confirmed Leidermans military service after he died in a nursing facility in the county.

Chaplain Samuel J.T. Boone delivers the message at the memorial for Rick Leiderman, an Air Force veteran, at Fort Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, SC, on Friday, May 24, 2024 (Abraham Kenmore/SC Daily Gazette)

Without their work and their investigation to make sure he was a veteran, we would not be here, William Lynch, program director for the Homeless Veterans Burial Program with Dunbar funeral homes, told those at the service.

Up until a few days ago it was not required for a coroners office to search and see if someone was a veteran.

On May 13, Gov. Henry McMaster signed a law mandating that coroners and funeral home directors determine if unclaimed remains belong to a veteran, and if so, contact an organization that arranges burials for veterans.

Lynch, who is a manager of the Dunbar Funeral Home in Irmo, said hes been advocating for the law for five years. It got put on the backburner amid the pandemic, he said.

I was very excited to see that come to fruition, he said.

Lynch is not a veteran himself but has been arranging services for veterans whose remains are unclaimed almost as long as he has been a funeral director. He got his license as a funeral director in January 2017 and set up the South Carolina Homeless Veterans Burial Program in July of that year.

Both of his grandfathers were veterans, Lynch said.

In January 2018, he saw news coverage of Dennis Reidy, a homeless veteran who died without family, which inspired his work. Since then, he estimates he has organized roughly 20 services for unclaimed veterans.

Tom Yeoman, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corp and now a ride captain for the Patriot Guard, attended the service Friday. Yeoman said he appreciates that coroners now have to check if a deceased person was a veteran.

Attendees at the memorial for Rick Leiderman, a 71 year old Air Force Veteran, at Fort Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, SC, on Friday, May 24, 2024 (Abraham Kenmore/SC Daily Gazette)

Why would you not do that? he said. But Im glad it is, because theres always someone out there who goes, Thats not important. But its important to somebody.

Rusty Clevenger, the coroner for Spartanburg County, said the new law gave them a clear way to make sure that any veterans without family can be laid to rest with other service members.

All 46 counties can now participate in one central location for our veterans, and I think thats exceptionally important, he told the SC Daily Gazette.

He also said he plans to display the folded flag in the coroners office.

Other new SC laws concerning veterans

The law on unclaimed veterans was just one of several measures signed into law this year that are designed to ensure veterans receive proper services in the Palmetto State.

Rep. Bobby Cox, R-Greer, lead sponsor of the unclaimed remains law, is the chair of a House subcommittee on military and veterans affairs. The former Army Ranger worked closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify issues and sponsored two other bills that were also signed into law May 13.

One of these allows veterans to be buried in military cemeteries in South Carolina without meeting a residency requirement. Previously, state law required veterans to either live in South Carolina when they joined the military, when they died, or for at least five years during their life.

Im a veteran myself. I changed my state of residency when I was traveling throughout the Army, Cox said, adding he wouldnt have wanted his family to have to prove residency for him to be buried in South Carolina where my family lives  where I was born.

The law did not arise from any particular situation: Cox said he does not know of any out-of-state veterans whose families wanted to bury them in South Carolina but were denied.

Making the change brought South Carolina in line with federal guidelines, so the state could continue to receive federal funds for veteran cemeteries. South Carolina was one of eight states with a residency requirement for these cemeteries, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Cox also sponsored legislation to revitalize the Veteran Trust Fund, allowing trustees to spend money on fundraising.

The trust is designed to distribute grants to nonprofits that serve veterans. But the trustees were limited to distributing funds received mostly through voluntary contributions from state tax forms. This only amounted to $20,000 a year in grants, according to the Department.

The Legislature also passed an update that allowed disabled veterans to immediately take an existing property tax exemption on their home, rather than waiting until the first full year they owned the home.

Rep. Raye Felder, R-Fort Mill, who sponsored the bill, said she had a constituent who bought a home in February one year and was required to escrow the property taxes for the remainder of the year. The tax requirement endangered the loan.

My local veterans group was very appreciative, Felder said of the law signed in March.

The intent of original law it updated was that veterans get the benefit from day one, she said, but it just wasnt worded that way.

State Veterans Affairs Secretary Todd McCaffrey expressed appreciation for the work of the Legislature in passing the new laws.

These key pieces of legislation not only improve the quality of life for our military and families but also champions our states progress of ensuring our veterans receive the aid and benefits they deserve with ease, he said in a statement to the Gazette.

The post New SC law aims to ensure no veteran dies without proper recognition appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as White House communications director under the Trump administration, slammed former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley over her support for former President Trump, saying, theres no backbone in her decision.

In an interview with CNNs Wolf Blitzer, Scaramucci added that she knows the danger.

Shes smarter than what shes doing right now. But theres no backbone in her decision, he said Friday in the interview on The Situation Room, which was highlighted by Mediaite. Shes obviously been influenced by these campaign apparatchiks and these campaign consultants that tell her, Hey, you better support Donald Trump [or] you have no future in that party.'

His criticism comes after Haley, who was a chief rival of Trumps during the 2024 primary race before dropping out in March, said earlier this week that she would support the former president over President Biden in the upcoming election.

Trump has not been perfect on these policies. Ive made that clear, many, many times, she said during a speech at the conservative Hudson Institute. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So, I will be voting for Trump.

Scaramucci pushed back on her notion, noting that she had garnered at least 20 percent of the primary vote from Trump, and thus, should have kept going.

He is likely referencing Haleys wins in Marylands GOP primary and 18 percent in Nebraskas primary earlier this month. The protest votes served as a swipe at Trumps MAGA  or Make America Great Again  wall.

After suspending her campaign, the former GOP candidate declined to endorse Trump. Instead, she argued that he would have to earn the support from her followers. The Biden campaign quickly jumped on the rhetoric, stepping up their efforts to court Republicans who were dissatisfied with the former president.

When asked about what the incumbent should do to garner those voters, Scaramucci offered Biden willed Biden to say Hey, this is a binary election, this is democracy first. Are you a patriot first and a partisan last? Come join us so that we can keep this system of government, this great American experiment working for the American people as well as its worked over the last 250 years.'

Scaramucci was not the only one to criticize Haleys subtle endorsement of Trump.

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) responded with: Not a surprise but: Pathetic. Mark Sanford (R), who served as the governor of South Carolina before Haley, also slammed the move, saying, And what you have here is somebody obviously wanting to be relevant in 2028.

Trump, however, responded to the endorsement by suggesting Haley could join his 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 The Hill.
A researcher claims to have found evidence of humans in Chesapeake Bay over 22,000 years ago.

The assertion is yet another recent announcement claiming to push the arrival of humans in North America further back in time than previously understood.

Not everyone agrees with the dating technique used to determine human inhabitants.

Call it a discussion. Or a debate. Maybe we can even label the conversation around the arrival of humans to North America a downright disagreement. Either way, weve got a new batch of research to digestlargely independent geologist Darrin Lowery recently published a manuscript claiming stone tool artifacts embedded with charcoal from an island in Chesapeake Bay date to more than 22,000 years ago, during the Ice Age.

Already, weve seen the human-arrival-in-North America date pushed deeper into history. According to multiple researchers, archaeological finds in New Mexicos White Sands National Park date human activity in the area to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago. Lowery now believes humans were present in Maryland around the same time.



Following a non-peer-reviewed publication of his findingsLowery told the Washington Post that lifes too short to debate with other experts over the peer-review processhe claims that the oldest of 286 artifacts found on Parsons Island significantly pushes back the date of human arrival in the area.

It all flies in the face of what has long been believed about how humans came to North Americathe dominant theory being that humans used the Bering land bridge connecting Siberia and Asia to North America during the Ice Age, and moved south as ice melted and exposed routes of exploration. During the southward migration, scientists believe people left behind various fluted stone projectile points (known as a Clovis point, as the people group considered the first to come to the Americas were named for a town in Clovis, New Mexico).

Lowery tells the Washington Post that he found what he believed was a Clovis pointsomething he had seen on a Smithsonian television programaround his home near Parsons Island, Maryland as a 9-year-old. That piqued his interest in the region, and he has been focused on the 78-acre, privately owned island ever since.

Lowery and other geologists got permission to study the island from the owners, and have used 93 visits to the site for excavation and studying sediment to help determine the dating of the geological layers. What is now coastline wasnt always, and the team believes they may have found a pond that helped attract both animals and people to the site, leaving behind the stone tools now in question.

Sebastien Lacombe, an archaeologist at Binghamton University, tells the Washington Post that the rapid erosion of the island is likely pushing artifacts deep into the waters of the bay, meaning weve likely already lost much of our opportunity to scour the site for additional finds.

From fresh research in New Mexico to the Parsons Island details, the updated perspectives dont allow for the tidy history-book account of the Ice Age bridge from Siberia to be the full explanation of how we found our way to North Americaif correct.

But that if correct remains the sticking pointsome scientists claim that the dating techniques of these pre-Clovis sites arent reliable, and others believe in the dating techniques but simply dont agree with anything that doesnt conform to the Clovis theory. Still others are willing to discuss the intriguing find, even if questions remain. The case is not as tight as we like to see it with other sites, Steven Forman, a geoscientist at Baylor University who helped date the sediment layers at Parsons Island, told the Washington Post.

With so many of the artifacts now moving from their original location due to erosion, the bulletproof geological context is hard to find. But that wont stop experts from looking, or from debating what they find.

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(Bloomberg) -- As investigators closed in on their biggest target of Kazakhstans anti-corruption campaign, they uncovered clues in Kairat Satybaldyulys meticulous notes.

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The eldest nephew of Kazakhstans former president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, had never stood out publicly for his wealth until government agents arrested him as he prepared to depart Almaty in a rented private jet.

He soon began surrendering assets as investigators dug up evidence indicating some had been acquired illegally, said Askhat Zhumagali, head of the anti-corruption agency that oversees the crackdown. So far, Satybaldyuly has ceded 733 billion tenge ($1.65 billion) worth of holdings to state ownership, he said. Satybaldyulys lawyer confirmed the transfer.

A fortune of that magnitude would have made him the seventh-richest Kazakh on Forbess billionaire list this year. His wealth was estimated at just $160 million in 2018, when the magazine placed him 36th.

The drama unfolded weeks after mass protests over a surge in fuel costs spiraled into deadly unrest across central Asias largest energy producer that killed about 230 people in January 2022. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev crushed the riots with the help of Russian troops. As the political fallout spread from what Tokayev called a coup attempt, Nazarbayevs family and their inner circle faced the biggest repercussions.

Seeking to prise open their grip on Kazakhstans $260 billion economy, Tokayev sidelined Nazarbayev and ousted his long-serving predecessors relatives from key posts in state companies. But most of the family got off easy compared with Satybaldyuly, 54, the son of Nazarbayevs younger brother.

The haul recovered by the government from the tycoon includes gems, company stakes, property and $732 million in cash, Zhumagali said in an interview detailing the investigation for the first time. The jewelry alone was worth about $230 million, while the total forfeited by Satybaldyuly accounts for more than two-thirds of all the money the Kazakh authorities recovered in the two-year anti-corruption campaign at home.

For all the efforts to camouflage his fortune, Satybaldyuly remained very scrupulous and pedantic, Zhumagali said. He kept records on paper, handwritten notes and auditors reports, receipts and flows of money from his various business entities, the anti-corruption chief said.

Satybaldyuly alternated between government and business as he rose to prominence, with stints at the Astana mayors office, the security service and the ruling party as well as senior roles at a state oil company and the railway monopoly.

In 2015, he founded an investment company, Alatau Capital Invest. The same year he made his biggest known deal by starting to build up a large stake in Kaspi.kz, the countrys biggest fintech group. Satybaldyuly exited his 30% stake for an undisclosed amount in 2019 as the group was preparing to sell shares in London in a listing that ended up valuing Kaspi.kz at $6.5 billion.

Satybaldyuly also owed some of his wealth to an acquisition in 2015  according to the anti-corruption agency  that allowed him to gain control of 252 kilometers (157 miles) of last-mile rail sidetracks that connected most large Kazakh cities to the nationwide lines. The fees charged for using the tracks were reduced by 93% once Kazakhstan took over the operation in 2022, according to data from the anti-corruption agency.

Since being detained in March 2022, Satybaldyuly received a six-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to embezzlement and another offense, according to court documents. He later admitted guilt for money laundering.

The transfers of more than over 730 billion tenge in cash and assets to the state were made voluntarily to compensate for the damage caused by Satybaldyuly and as an act of good will, his lawyer, Ashurbek Ashurbekov, said without commenting on the specifics.

Although Kazakhstans legislation allows for a reduced punishment given the extent of the compensation, Satybaldyuly hasnt yet been shown any lenience, Ashurbekov said. He remains hopeful of some reprieve, the lawyer said.

Mistake of the Clan

Satybaldyulys case is unique  hes paying for the mistake of the clan, said George Voloshin, a Paris-based analyst at ACAMS, an anti-financial crime body.

While Satybaldyuly largely conducted business through frontmen, his extensive record keeping, as well as tracking of cash flow and assets up until his arrest, was his undoing, according to Zhumagali.

The other notable businessman caught up in the anti-corruption crackdown was Kairat Boranbayev, the former owner of McDonalds franchises in Kazakhstan and Belarus, whose daughter was married to Nazarbayevs grandson. While imprisoned on charges of complicity in embezzlement  which he denied  Boranbayev transferred at least 134.5 billion tenge in cash and assets to the state, according to court and government statements. He was later released but with restrictions on his movements. A spokesman for Boranbayev didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Satybaldyuly faced no charges for involvement in the riots, though the previous head of the anti-corruption agency said at the time that investigators probed his possible involvement in crimes that undermined national security.

Earlier this year, Tokayev made Zhumagalis former boss at the anti-corruption agency his new prime minister.

Why Kazakhstan Protests Reverberated Beyond Region: QuickTake

Kazakhstans former security chief, Karim Massimov, who served two terms as Nazarbayevs prime minister, received a prison sentence of 18 years on charges that included treason. Three of his ex-deputies have been jailed for as long as 16 years. Satybaldyulys younger brother, a former top security service official, was given an eight-year suspended sentence.

Handpicked as successor by Nazarbayev half a decade ago, Tokayev is treading carefully, in part for fear of spooking investors in an economy that isnt getting sufficient funding from abroad. State resources are meanwhile stretched at a time when oil production stagnates.

He has also decried stark inequality plaguing the country, citing estimates that showed 162 people  or 0.001% of the population  own half of Kazakhstans total wealth, whereas the poorest 50% had a monthly income of close to $100.

Donations to charity have emerged as a way to show loyalty. Some of Kazakhstans biggest names in business, including Nazarbayevs son-in-law, Timur Kulibayev, have made voluntary payments to funds that have drawn a total of over $400 million to help provide relief from disastrous flooding earlier this year.

For Zhumagali, Kazakhstan is on a mission to uproot corruption because its holding back economic development. Next year, new rules will oblige all citizens to submit an asset declaration, with individuals worth at least $100 million required to prove their holdings were legally acquired.

Satybaldyulys case is an illustration of Tokayevs ambition  and its limits  to bring the countrys biggest power brokers to heel after the 2022 riots. The government has approved a law to take back ownership of assets it deems illegally obtained and authorities estimate about $2.3 billion worth of assets have been recovered over the past two years.

In relation to capital flight from Kazakhstan over the last three decades, this is a trifling sum, said Kate Mallinson, founder of Prism Political Risk Management in London. In the decade through 2013, illicit outflows from Kazakhstan exceeded $167 billion, according to Washington-based Global Financial Integrity.

Essentially there is a grand bargaining going on between the Nazarbayev family and President Tokayev, and his lieutenants, Mallinson said.

--With assistance from Alexander Sazonov.

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Several NYPD international outposts created to fight terrorism after 9/11 closing after mounting tax troubles

An NYPD counterterror liaison in Toronto is suing the NYPD for $5 million.

The NYPD has been forced to close three of its highly-touted foreign outposts  launched after Sept. 11 as a bulwark against terrorism  because of tax troubles, The Post has learned.

And retired Detective Michael Catlin claims he was the canary in the coal mine at the NYPDs Toronto bureau in a new notice of claim for a $5 million lawsuit against the department filed last week.

In 2011, Catlin, 52, jumped at the chance to take a prestigious post in the NYPDs International Liaison Program after 10 years on the job.

He would move abroad, and work with local law enforcement on international crime and terrorism cases.

Detective Catlin was stationed in Toronto as an international liaison. Courtesy of Michael Catlin

NYPD officers in the program work with foreign departments to detect potential problems NYC could face, solve current international crimes and extradite prisoners who are captured abroad.

It is funded by private donations to the NYPD Police Foundation.

But the Toronto job he was assigned turned into a nightmare that left him on the verge of bankruptcy because the NYPD failed to negotiate with the Canadians over taxes  or pay them  and he wasnt alone, he claims.

They closed Singapore, Montreal and Toronto, Catlin told The Post. They told us, We cant have any more liability.

The NYPD recently announced it was opening two new bureaus in Tucson, Ariz., and Bogota, Colombia, to help address the migrant crisis and the flow of drugs and guns pouring through the southern US border bound for the Big Apple.

The department is now dealing with tax issues in Colombia, Catlin said.

Ive paid a half million dollars out of pocket, Catlin, who begrudgingly retired last week because his bureau was closing, said of his income taxes in Canada. And the Canadian IRS is saying I owe another $250,000.

The NYPD started its counterterrorism unit in the wake of 911. Getty Images

Catlin, who joined the department in 2001, said in the beginning most of his focus with the Toronto police was on terrorism, finding trends in the neighboring country that might have repercussions for the Big Apple.

Back then, it was all about ISIS, he said. They had a lot of Canadians being drawn in by the message and traveling to that part of the world.

About five years in, Catlin met and married a Toronto cop and the two had a son, Oliver.

He thought the NYPD had an agreement with Canada for his personal income taxes.

But in 2020, his wifes accountant told her he should be paying.

He got a lawyer to investigate.

He said he was never given instructions by the NYPD to pay Canadian taxes.

I got nervous when a lawyer said You can be prosecuted for this, he recalled. I certainly dont want to get prosecuted for tax evasion. Im not Al Capone.

He was paying U.S. income taxes  New York state and city included  the entire time.

He said he was never told to make up the difference between US and Canadian taxes.

Socialist Canadas combined federal and provincial tax rate is sky high  between 20.05% and 53.53%.

He immediately reached out to the NYPD.

His boss told him, Well you put yourself on the radar by getting married and drawing attention to his taxpayer status.

I was like Are you asking me to commit tax evasion more quietly? Because thats not what the rules are and were supposed to follow the rules, he recalled.

Catlin paid the Canadian IRS $100,000 out of his own NYPD deferred-compensation retirement fund.

Since then, hes been paying between $30,000 and $50,000 a year for taxes. Last year, he had to take out a loan for the tab.

Im literally broke, he said. If they come after me for the $250,000, I have to declare bankruptcy.

Making matters worse, he found out that the NYPD was footing the tax bill for the NYPD rep in Singapore  the post he had originally sought.

Nobody did the research before sending anybody up here, he said. Not the guy before me. Not the guy before him. So, you know, people flew under the radar. I just happened to be the unlucky son of a bitch that had to deal with the problem they created.

The NYPD posted detectives throughout the world to speed communications about emerging terror threats. nycpolicefoundation.org

He retired on May 16 after 23 years on the job.

His lawyer John Scola said the NYPD demands loyalty from their employees at all times but rarely reciprocates when their employees are in need.

The NYPD said that there is no systemic issue with the NYPDs foreign liaison program but that it no longer has officers posted in Montreal, Toronto or Singapore. The NYPD is moving ahead with posts in Bogota, Colombia, and Tucson, Arizona.

We are addressing this ONE issue in Toronto, Canada and we have proactively suspended our Montreal post while we work to resolve any and all tax issues, the statement, which was posted on X on Saturday, reads. We do not want to diminish the impact this is having on one of our former members but there are no other foreign posts in teh liaison program that are experiencing this issue.
As the Memorial Day holiday weekend continues, featuring numerous outdoor get-togethers and parades across the nation as America honors the U.S. military personnel who gave all, some areas of the Central states will be threatened by robust storms and severe weather hazards over the upcoming days.

Severe thunderstorms swept through the center of the nation Saturday afternoon and night. These thunderstorms brought numerous reports of damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes across Kansas, Oklahoma and north-central Texas.

A weather advisory is posted and fans have been asked to clear the stands as storm clouds move in over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway forcing a delay for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

A tornado was reported to have moved through Interstate 35 between Sanger and Valley View, Texas, Saturday evening, where multiple homes and vehicles were damaged, according to Denton County officials. Additional reports of a tornado came through Saturday night in Rogers and Bentonville, Arkansas. At least 15 deaths were also reported in the wake of the tornadoes in the South.

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On Sunday morning and afternoon, a possible derecho led to widespread wind damage along a path extending hundreds of miles from northern Arkansas and southern Missouri into Kentucky. The complex of thunderstorms responsible for that damage continued plowing east into the night across the Ohio Valley and the Appalachians.

Additional thunderstorms formed across the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys Sunday afternoon and night, producing numerous reports of severe weather across the region.

Severe thunderstorms bringing damaging winds, hail and multiple reported large tornadoes moved through western and central Kentucky Saturday evening, resulting in significant damage in Crider and Dawson Springs, Kentucky, as well as multiple injuries.

The governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, issued a state of emergency for the state due to numerous reports of tornadoes and wind damage Sunday night.

By Memorial Day, forecasters warn that the risk for strong to severe storms will shift back to the South Central states. Residents with outdoor holiday plans across central and northeastern Texas, southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, central and southern Mississippi and Alabama are urged to keep a close watch on the weather pattern as Monday draws closer.

Large hail, defined as hail stones with a diameter ranging between 1 to 1.75 inches, can be produced within storms across this zone from Monday afternoon to Monday evening.

Gusty winds of 55 to 65 mph can disrupt events and easily overturn pop-up canopies often used at outdoor picnics and campgrounds. The strongest winds on Monday can reach up to the AccuWeather StormMax of 75 mph.

Energy pushing into the south-central states Tuesday afternoon will bring additional chances for thunderstorm development, some of which can turn severe.

Locations from far eastern New Mexico into Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and portions of Colorado and Kansas will face some risk for severe thunderstorms into the overnight hours. Forecasters warn that the strongest storms that develop can bring large hail, torrential downpours and damaging wind gusts.

There will also be a risk of severe weather across the East on Monday, from the Southeast states north to New England.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Two sexually violent predators have been assigned to live in the Jacumba Hot Springs neighborhood, authorities said.

Both David Munoz, 58, and Albert Carder, 57, are not wanted by the San Diego County Sheriffs Department and will be released into the community under the Conditional Release Program, the law enforcement agency said in a news release Thursday. They will be located at 45612 Old Highway 80.

Munoz served several years in state prison for felony convictions including multiple counts of child molestation in 1988 and 1992, according to authorities. Carder served several years in state prison for several counts of child molestation and kidnapping in 1987 and 1989.

DUI checkpoint to be held in Poway Friday

Authorities on Wednesday went door to door in Jacumba Hot Springs to inform the public about the living situation for the two sexually violent predators.

This notification is not intended to induce fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed community is a safer community. Use of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass the subject or any other person will not be tolerated and may result in prosecution, the sheriffs department said.

Munoz and Carder have a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender.

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.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in GEA Group implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

A total of 10 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership

Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company

Every investor in GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:G1A) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 53% to be precise, is institutions. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of GEA Group.

View our latest analysis for GEA Group

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About GEA Group?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

We can see that GEA Group does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see GEA Group's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. GEA Group is not owned by hedge funds. Massachusetts Financial Services Company is currently the company's largest shareholder with 11% of shares outstanding. With 8.9% and 6.9% of the shares outstanding respectively, Kuwait Investment Office and BlackRock, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders.

We also observed that the top 10 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 it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of GEA Group

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data cannot confirm that board members are holding shares personally. Given we are not picking up on insider ownership, we may have missing data. Therefore, it would be interesting to assess the CEO compensation and tenure, here.

General Public Ownership

With a 28% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over GEA Group. 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.

Public Company Ownership

Public companies currently own 6.7% of GEA Group stock. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too.

Many find it useful to take an in depth look at how a company has performed in the past. You can access this detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Salt Lake City Police arrested more than 30 people on the Jordan River and Folsom trails on Thursday, seizing fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.

SLCPD reportedly worked with multiple law enforcement agencies to conduct the drug interdiction operation. The goal was to identify, locate, and arrest drug dealers, traffickers, and buyers along the trails, police said.

Child wakes up from coma after driving toy tractor into Beaver Co. river, nearly drowning

Courtesy of SLCPD

Courtesy of SLCPD

Courtesy of SLCPD

Courtesy of SLCPD

In October of 2023, police began increased enforcement along the Jordan River Trail as well as in communities along the trail to address criminal activity.

Recognizing the issues required a multi-disciplinary approach, the SLCPD began coordinating with city, regional, and state agencies to address the community concerns along the Jordan River Trail, a press release from SLCPD states.

Weekly strategy meetings with law enforcement and other stakeholders are ongoing, according to SLCPD.

No further information is 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.
A small city in South Carolina is seeing a tourism boost from an unlikely source.

Murdaugh familys former Moselle home, scene of murders sold

The city of Walterboro says theyve seen an economic boost since the Alex Murdaugh murder trial.

Local hospitality tax revenue in Walterboro went from around $592,000 in the 2021-2022 fiscal year to $648,000 the following year, where the trial was held.

Im sure that there are a lot of people who never knew Walterboro existed, who are now familiar with Walterboro because people were really watching the trial day after day, said Walterboro Mayor William Young.

Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and son.

His legal team is in the appeals process.

VIDEO: Alex Murdaugh sentenced in federal court for financial crimes
Socialist pol running for State Assembly lives in posh NYC condo built with property tax exemption he opposes

A Socialist candidate for State Assembly in Brooklyn, who regularly rails against real estate subsidies, is himself living in a posh Brooklyn condo built with the help of a controversial property tax exemption hes opposed.

Eon Huntley, 39, is looking to unseat Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman in a hotly-contested June 25 Democratic primary for the states 56th district  an area covering portions of Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights. Huntley is being supported by the Democratic Socialists of America, who are looking to further consolidate power in Brooklyn.

Huntley, however, is registered to vote in the 57th district at an address inside a luxury building, city Board of Elections records show. Public records additionally show hes lived there for more than a decade.

Eon Huntley is looking to stage a socialist upset in Brooklyn. instagram/eontyrellhuntley

District lines are arbitrary, Huntley told The Post about the the problematic address. Community and neighborhood are another thing.

Huntleys building was constructed with the help of a developer-friendly 421-A tax abatement. The subsidy is designed to encourage developers to build affordable apartments by exempting units from almost all property taxes for decades.

The most recent property tax bill on Huntleys apartment was $48.18. The candidate rents the unit, which is stabilized, for just under $3000 a month.

Housing advocates  like Huntley  have long complained the abatement is skewed toward wealthy developers and well-off tenants. House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries enjoys a similar set up for his Prospect Heights abode.

In a May 2 questionnaire, Huntley offered no equivocation. In response to the question which read Do you support 421a he responded no

Some people get nervous when we start recognizing & naming oppressive forces as enemies. Thats because the status quo works for them  the developers & big landlords, the charter school industry working to gut public schools, the Zionist PACs supporting genocide in Gaza, Huntley wrote in a X post on April 25.

Huntley is looking to upset Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman (pictured) for the Bed-Stuy seat. Paul Martinka

Were done letting real estate $$$ destroy our communities, he added in a May 16 X post.

Huntley said he still opposed 421-A because he believes in extending rent stabilization for everyone.

Critics said Huntley was a carpetbagger and his socialist leanings were a dealbreaker.

A majority of the stuff that DSA represent for me does not speak to the middle class. For all the issues are geared towards the gentrifiers more so than the long timers, Dr. Robert M. Waterman, lead pastor at the Antioch Baptist Church  a longtime district institution. I think the DSA is wrong for my district.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor reflected Friday on her time on the Supreme Court, admitting that some of the high courts decisions have driven her to tears.

There are days that Ive come to my office after an announcement of a case and closed my door and cried, Sotomayor said Friday at an event honoring her at Harvard University.

There have been those days. And there likely will be more, she added in the speech, per the The New York Times.

The Harvard event was held as the Supreme Court heads toward the last several weeks of the term. The court is expected to deliver opinions on several high-profile cases, including one determining whether former President Trump should be immune from prosecution for the charges against him for allegedly working to overturn the 2020 election, and another concerning the legality of abortion pills such as mifepristone.

Sotomayor, the most senior liberal justice on the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, did not discuss a specific case in her speech.

She was appointed to the nations highest court in 2009 under the nomination of former President Obama. Since then, she said she has had disagreements with fellow justices.

Disagreeing about ideas doesnt make another human being evil or bad, she said, noting that it is difficult.

She also admitted that the disagreements have been emotional, but the Times noted that her tone was optimistic even if she voiced frustration.

There are moments when Im deeply, deeply sad, Sotomayor said. There are moments when, yes, even I feel desperation.

We all do. But you have to own it, you have to accept it, you have to shed the tears and then you have to wipe them and get up, the justice added.

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 view of Lake Tahoe. South Lake Tahoe residents will vote on a measure to tax property owners who leave homes empty for more than half a year. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

Owning a vacation home in South Lake Tahoe could get more costly if residents approve a ballot measure that imposes a tax of up to $6,000 on housing units left vacant for more than half a year.

The measure, dubbed the  South Lake Tahoe Vacancy Tax , aims to penalize homeowners who leave thousands of homes empty in the mountain resort town; the tax penalties would go toward affordable housing, road repair and public transportation. The measure is an attempt to incentivize homeowners to rent properties out rather than leaving them vacant.

Locals for Affordable Housing, the nonprofit leading the initiative, said it collected nearly 2,500 signatures to place the tax measure on the November ballot  more than the 1,159 needed.

Since January, we have connected with thousands of community members outside local grocery stores and in neighborhoods across the city and were met with widespread support and gratitude that something was being done to address the skyrocketing cost of housing, said Nick Speal, co-founder of the nonprofit. The housing crisis has reached a tipping point, with locals forced to leave the community due to a critical shortage of affordable housing.

South Lake Tahoe is the latest California city to consider a vacancy tax as a way to address a housing shortage. Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley have approved similar initiatives; voters in Santa Cruz rejected one two years ago. Los Angeles considered a vacancy tax four years ago, but it went nowhere.

Amelia Richmond, who founded Locals for Affordable Housing with Speal, said the tax proposal in South Lake Tahoe is modeled after Berkeleys initiative. If approved, the city would impose a $3,000 tax on homes that are left unoccupied for more than six months in a year, and $6,000 every year thereafter for repeat offenders. The law, which would go into effect in 2026, would exempt properties under renovation, seasonal cabins, homeowners who are in elder care facilities, those who work as wildland firefighters and residents on military deployments.

Read more: Homeless encampments are on the ballot in Arizona. Could California, other states follow?

In South Lake Tahoe, a little more than 40% of housing units are used as vacation homes or rentals. In all, there are 16,275 units, and 7,150 sit vacant for most of the year, according to the 2022 American Community Survey and city records.

Proponents say that if 20% of those homes were sold or rented to local residents for six months or more, about 1,430 housing units would be added, while taxes on the remaining vacant homes would generate more than $34 million each year for affordable housing, road repair, and essential services.

A 2022 survey by the Tahoe Prosperity Center, a nonprofit that conducts economic and development research on the Lake Tahoe Basin, found that median home prices had tripled in nine years, from $345,000 in 2012 to $950,000 in 2021, far above what people in the region can afford.

In South Lake Tahoe, the median household income is $67,686, below the states $91,905, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Researchers with the center noted in 2021 that the region had seen a drop in the number of year-round residents and school enrollments, and a less young workforce. They correlated those decreases to the housing crisis.

Read more: The year of the mansion tax: Hundreds of millions raised, but a chill to L.A.s luxury market

But the proposed tax measure has created a rift among the townspeople, especially between owners of second homes and young workers who say a lack of housing options, low wages and high living costs are pricing them out of the region.

In an effort to defeat the measure, a group of residents, small business owners and real estate agents have formed a coalition called Stop the South Tahoe Vacancy Tax.

After all the promises from the backers of this measure, voters will be shocked to hear that nothing in this proposal requires the city to produce a single new unit of affordable housing, or even to spend a single penny on housing affordability at all, the group's website reads. We all want to address housing affordability in South Tahoe, but this measure is not the answer, and will likely make things worse.

Steve Teshara, co-founder of the coalition, said construction of affordable housing in South Lake City has been limited by development standards that dictate where and how much of the area the city can build on.

Teshara said a 248-unit affordable housing project now under construction was made possible only because of an executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom that opened some types of state land for the development of affordable housing.

Read more: Lake Tahoe expected to fill for first time in years

Teshara believes city leaders are doing their best to provide housing.

But simply throwing money at the problem when theres not enough land zoned property or not enough density allowed in certain areas isnt really going to solve the problem, and thats our principal concern, he said.

He and others say the measure is a form of taxation without representation, because homeowners who dont live in South Lake Tahoe wont be allowed to vote on the measure in November. Opponents also question the city's ability to enforce the new law.

Richmond said she is worried that second-home owners may try and register to vote using their South Lake Tahoe addresses, even though they dont live there full time  a violation of election laws.

The division over the measure was visible when residents spoke during a three-hour City Council meeting in February.

This town has and always will be 40% owned by second-home owners, Dan Brown, a longtime resident, told the council. This is what this town has been for [a long] time.

Dan May, another longtime resident, said he supported the initiative because it seemed fair.

It gives homeowners a choice, a choice to either live here and participate in our community or pay additional taxes to help support the community that they love, he said. And if they dont agree with it, they have the ability to sell it to someone who does agree with those options.

Some speakers said the measure put an unfair burden on them to fix the region's housing crisis. They urged city leaders to find alternative options, such as loans and tapping into state programs to renovate abandoned buildings.

Christopher Rowe, a buyer for a large outdoor store who has lived in South Lake Tahoe for more than 30 years, said that while he understood both sides, he supported the measure.

"The Tahoe property you [bought] 30 or 50 years ago, if the vacancy tax passes, which I hope it does, it will cost you a little more to keep it as an empty house," Rowe said. "But if you really care about South Lake Tahoe, you should be fine chipping in a little bit, because you have an empty house, and there's no real way to deny that keeping a house empty in South Lake Tahoe is chipping away at the community and causing a slight detriment."

Read more: 2 climbers found dead after summiting Mt. Whitney via treacherous route

"When you get 40% of the houses doing that, it makes a difference," he added.

Richmond said the measure is not meant to divide the town but rather is an effort to preserve what she considers to be a more liveable mountain resort than others where residents and workers have been priced out, such as Aspen, Colo., and Jackson Hole, Wyo.

This isnt about residents versus second-home owners," she said. "This is about making it a community for all of us and to make it sustainable and not follow in the trajectory of these other resort towns.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, speaks on the third day of the Munich Security Conference. Sven Hoppe/dpa

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Saturday demanded that Israel obey an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling calling for an immediate halt to its military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Writing on the social media platform X, Albares said the ICJ ruling was "mandatory" and demanded "a ceasefire, the release of hostages and humanitarian access."

"The suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip and the violence must end," he added.

Spain has been one of the harshest critics in Europe of Israel's actions in Gaza. Madrid suspended all arms exports to Israel shortly after Israel launched its military response to the October 7 attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Earlier this week, Spain, along with Norway and Ireland, said it would recognize Palestine as a state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by summoning the ambassadors of the three countries.

The diplomatic spat continued on Friday when Israel announced restrictions on the Spanish embassy's operations in Tel Aviv and on its consulate in East Jerusalem.

The measure followed a post on X by Spain's Second Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz which included footage of her saying "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea," a slogan which is widely seen as anti-Semitic in denying Israel's right to exist.
Special needs teacher caught sexually abusing student on camera  but the school didnt monitor the video: suit

composite image: inset Sandy Carazas-Pinez, in a black tank top staring up at the camera; right the biondi school

Classroom cameras at a costly taxpayer-funded boarding school for autistic, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed students captured a biology teacher sexually abusing a boy  but no one monitored the video, a bombshell lawsuit alleges.

Only after the student told his mom that he had sex repeatedly with Sandy Carazas-Pinez, a teacher at Biondi High School, did the principal watch the video. It showed the instructor cuddling with the 16-year-old during class and asking him to rub her crotch, the suit by the boy and his mother charges.

What I just saw was disturbing, principal Marya Baker said, according to the boys mother.

According to a lawsuit, classroom cameras at The Biondi School in Yonkers captured a teacher sexually abusing a student  but nobody monitored the video. OPEN IMPACT REAL ESTATE

She was crying. She was so sorry  they should have been looking at the cameras, the mom, a Staten Islander, told The Post.

In July 2023, Carazas-Pinez, 34, a married mother of three who formerly taught in two city public schools, was charged criminally in Manhattan federal court with luring the teen into a sexual relationship and convincing him to appear with her on an X-rated livestream video call.

For three years, from 2020 to 2023, the NYC Department of Education, which is not named in the suit, paid Biondi for the boys tuition, room and board, psychological treatment, and 24-hour supervision.

The cost likely exceeded $100,000 a year, say education advocates who place DOE students with special needs in private schools funded by the city and state.

Among her many texts to the teen, the lawsuit states, Carazas-Pinez wrote, I love that you were holding and hugging me in school, and I call you crazy when you try to finger me in class.

The suit alleges other major failures as well.

Sandy Carazas-Pinez, a mom of three and ex-NYC public school teacher, is jailed on sex abuses charges. FaceBook Sandy Carazas-Pinez

The school let the youth leave campus for hours at a time on a day pass without his mothers permission. On dozens of outings, Carazas-Pinez met the boy at a nearby Dunkin Donuts and they had sex in her car, the lawsuit says.

Carazas-Pinez sent the boy nude photographs of herself and lewd text messages  including one saying she was sore after he gave her a workout, records show.

When the youth tried to stop the sexual activity, the suit says, Carazas-Pinez threatened to fail him in class or kill herself, which traumatized the teen, a schizophrenic who had attempted suicide.

Had the school followed even their own most basic safety protocols, they could have prevented the horrific, repeated and ongoing abuse that had occurred under their own roof, said lawyer Lesley Brovner of the law firm Peters Brovner, which filed the suit.

Several months after Carazas-Pinez was arrested in 2023, the Biondi School permanently closed because it was not financially viable, said Jennifer Scott, a spokeswoman for Rising Ground, Inc., the Brooklyn non-profit that ran Biondi.

Connecticut-based iPark purchased the 28-acre campus for $52.6 million and plans to use the site for film studios and a performing arts school.

The Biondi scandal is a black eye for Rising Ground, which has collected $374 million in NYC funds for various services since 2018, records show.

The institution, which fired Carazas-Pinez after discovering her misconduct, declined to comment on the suit.

The disgraced teacher was jailed this month after a judge found she violated her bail conditions while staying with her parents in Staten Island.

The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
This week, science reporter Isaac Schultz described a groundbreaking effort to measure the spin of a supermassive black hole, and a fascinating experimental archaeology experiment in which marines fought each otherto test how well ancient Mycenean armor works. Other science coverage included a botched SpaceX engine test that produced a spectacular fireball, new insights into the link between Ozempic and stomach paralysis, a slideshow featuring the best Milky Way photography of the year, and NASAs bold plan to build the first railway on the Moon.  George Dvorsky

An illustration of a tidal disruption event of a supermassive black hole. - Illustration: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)

A team of astronomers has managed to calculate the speed of a distant supermassive black holes spin thanks to the objects chance meeting with a starwhich it promptly destroyed. - Isaac Schultz Read More

Greek Marine volunteers in replica Dendra armor. - Photo: Andreas Flouris and Marija Markovic

Sixty-four years ago, a team of archaeologists found a 3,500-year-old suit of armor in Dendra, Greece, several miles from the ancient site of Mycenae. Known as the Dendra Panoply, researchers were unsure if the resplendent suit of armor was purely ceremonial or battle-readyso they put it through an actual real world test. - Isaac Schultz Read More

Video captured by NASASpaceflight shows the fireball, which occurred on May 23, 2024. - Gif: NASASpaceflight/X/Gizmodo

A qualification test of a Raptor 2 engine resulted in a dramatic explosion at SpaceXs McGregor facility. The company has yet to comment on the incident, but its unlikely to affect the upcoming fourth test launch of the Starship megarocket. - George Dvorsky Read More

The GLP-1 semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, both sold by the company Novo Nordisk - Photo: Ricardo Rubio (AP)

New research this month is the latest to link the use of Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 drugs to a greater risk of gastroparesis, a potentially serious medical condition. So what exactly is gastroparesis and how worried should you be about it if youre on or thinking about taking these medications? - Ed Cara Read More

The company is offering compounded semaglutide for $199 a month. - Image: Hims & Hers

The millennial-skewed telehealth platform Hims & Hers announced Monday that is now offering customers a compounded version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. - Bruce Gil, Quartz Read More

The Milky Way as seen above New Zealands highest mountain, Aoraki. - Photo: Tom Rae

Our galaxy stretches across 100,000 light-years and contains somewhere between 100 to 400 billion stars. It appears in our night skies as a long, hazy strip of light littered with celestial objects. Photographers worldwide have been captivated by the sight of the Milky Way from Earth, capturing its incredible details in stunning high-contrast images. - Passant Rabie Read More

An artists concept of a future human habitat on the Moon. - Illustration: Ethan Schaler

NASA aims to set up a long-term human presence on the Moon, but maintaining a habitat on the surface will require some innovative infrastructure. To one day transport cargo across the dusty, cratered landscape, NASA is considering a magnetic levitation railway system. - Passant Rabie Read More

Plastic rubbish left somewhere on an inhabited island of the Maldives. - Image: Lars Halbauer (AP)

It seems that nobodyand no body partis safe from microplastics. In a recent study, researchers found traces of plastic in the testicles of both dogs and humans. The potential health impacts of this discovery are not yet clear, but the team suggests it may help explain why mens sperm counts have declined over time. - Ed Cara Read More

An artists impression of Gilese 12 b in orbit around its red dwarf host star. - Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (Caltech-IPAC)

A newly discovered exoplanet, with its surface temperature estimated to be remarkably temperate, is suddenly one of the most intriguing objects in our immediate celestial neighborhood. This rocky Venus-sized world transits a red dwarf star, offering astronomers the rare opportunity to study whether such planets can retain their atmospheres and potentially support life. - George Dvorsky Read More

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MANOR, Texas (Austin Business Journal)  Preliminary plans for H-E-B at Manor Crossing have been filed, providing some new details about the grocery store coming to the small city northeast of downtown Austin.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: H-E-B buys land in Manor as part of future retail hub

On May 21, H-E-B submitted a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for its more than 100,000-square-foot store at Manor Crossing, which will be located at the northwest corner of U.S. 290 and Farm-to-Market Road 973. According to the filing, construction on the new store is slated to begin in November and be completed by Oct. 1, 2025, with an estimated cost of $26 million.

The San Antonio-based grocer declined to comment on the filing or confirm the timeline. It should be noted that TDLR filings are subject to change.

Read more from the Austin Business Journal online.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A field of vegetation about 5 feet high occupies the foreground of an administrative building at St. Juliens Creek Annex in Chesapeake. A sign warning visitors about hazardous chemicals peeks out from the overgrowth.

Are we still planting milkweed and wildflowers here? Denny Long asked, motioning to the field.

Long, self-proclaimed the butterfly man, said he remembers when the site looked more like the landfill it once was. Now, the Navys Environmental Restoration Program is working to give the lot a new purpose while mitigating the impact of long-lasting chemicals that contaminated its soil.

It is essentially just a field now  nothing can ever be built here  but the site is being rehabilitated to help wildlife, said Brett Cianek, restoration project manager for St. Juliens Creek Annex.

The St. Juliens Creek Annex Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command hosted its annual restoration advisory board meeting Wednesday, taking community members, Navy officials and environmental restoration representatives on a tour of active sites where PFAS and other toxic, forever chemicals have been detected.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances  or PFAS  are a class of compounds used to make products resistant to water, stains and grease. The military contributed to PFAS pollution with its use of firefighting foam laced with the chemicals. The foam was used during military training exercises in the 1950s, but has since been limited to emergency situations, the Navy has said. The substances have been dubbed forever chemicals because most do not degrade in the environment.

St. Juliens Creek Annex, a 490-acre naval facility at the confluence of St. Juliens Creek and the southern branch of the Elizabeth River, was named to the national Superfund priority list in July 2000. The federal program requires the cleanup of uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites and emergency releases of pollutants into the environment. The Navy invested about $40 million in getting long-term environmental threats under control after a century of storing ammunition and ordnance there. The facility also was involved in firefighting training operations.

As of May, the annex had seven sites undergoing environmental monitoring. Of those, four were identified in December as part of a site inspection that looked for PFAS.

Public concern for PFAS trickling into neighborhoods by way of groundwater grew last year when the Environmental Protection Agency recommended a national standard for the contaminants in drinking water. Its restrictions, finalized on April 10, outline that PFAS should have a concentration level much further below the agencys previous guidance of 70 parts per trillion to be considered safe.

After the EPA proposed the regulation, the Department of Defense last year launched investigations into more than 700 facilities suspected of potential PFAS posing a pollution threat to drinking water for nearby communities. The departments September briefing detailed that about one-third of the facilities had been investigated and that forever chemicals are trickling out of at least 245 U.S. military bases.

At St. Juliens Creek Annex, 21 on-base groundwater samples were found to have PFAS properties above 70 parts per trillion, officials with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command said in February. Those samples were from a warehouse, a fire training area, an industrial site and the Regional Fire Training Academy. All those locations were suspected of having firefighting foam either used or stored there, based on records, Cianek said.

The four new sites  along with two sites previously identified near the fire training area  are undergoing remedial investigations. The purpose of a remedial investigation, Cianek said, is to better define the contaminant  what chemicals are present and what are the risks to people and animals and how might they be mitigated.

What we have done at this point is essentially identifying the highest risk, Cianek said.

A timeline for when a solution would be identified and implemented, Cianek said, is impossible to provide at this stage.

While there is more work to be done to restore the environment at St. Juliens Creek Annex, the restoration program has made significant strides over the past 20 years. A total of 56 sites have been cleaned up and require no further action.

We cannot risk human health by using these sites, but as we move forward, we do a feasibility study and proposed plan to figure out the best remedy for the site and what it can be used for, Cianek said.

A gravel road that runs parallel to the Elizabeth River leads to one of the completed, yet still active, sites. What once was a landfill is now a wetland. Having been transformed roughly 20 years ago, Site 4 is lush with vegetation and wildlife. The area no longer has to be monitored on a bi-annual or annual basis, and is instead reviewed every five years.

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Like with Site 4, the solution is sometimes as simple as putting in a land-use control for humans, and essentially giving the land back to the wildlife. It all depends on the severity of the damage, Cianek said.

Longs fluorescent pink shirt reflected on his face as he took in the wetland Wednesday during the tour.

I remember when all this used to just be dirt, Long said. This whole base has changed in the last 10 years.

Long, 61, has been a contractor at the base for 22 years. Before that, he was a Navy sailor serving aboard destroyers as an electronics technician.

Long said he walks St. Juliens Creek Annex each workday. He began attending restoration advisory meetings around 2015. Long recommended the program plant milkweed for the butterflies.

And now I will be walking and see a kingfisher bird, or the coyotes and foxes will run around. All these things are coming back because of the mitigation and the work they are doing, Long said. We cant stop what we did, but we can fix it.

Cianeks head bobbed in agreement as he said, And we are going to continue working toward that.

Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com

___

Want to know more?

The Navy offers free sampling of drinking wells for residents living within one mile to the west of the annex. The sample area was identified based on the direction that groundwater flows. Residents interested in having their drinking wells tested should visit go.usa.gov/xSvtw. To learn more about the Department of Defenses effort to address chemical releases on military installations, visit acq.osd.mil/eie/eer/ecc/pfas/.
State lawmakers pursue 'polluters pay' bill against insurance companies: 'People are very directly seeing their premiums rise'

Connecticut is considering a new law that could transform funding for fossil fuel projects and climate protections.

Grist reports that a new bill would penalize any insurance company that insures Connecticut-based fossil fuel projects with a fee. The funds would then be used for a "public resilience fund" that could help construct sea walls and other protections against climate disasters. The bill has already moved forward from a committee vote in the Connecticut State Senate.

"It's important to begin to hold [insurers] accountable for how they've played it both ways in terms of climate change," said Tom Swan, the executive director of Connecticut Citizen Action Group, which supports the bill. "People are seeing skyrocketing rates, or they're pulling out of different areas, and they continue to underwrite and invest in fossil fuels at a pace much greater than their colleagues across the globe."

If approved, the bill could lead to fees on insurers who cover existing gas- and oil-fueled power plants as well as new fossil fuel projects like pipelines and fuel terminals. "I think it's a good policy, but from a narrative-setting perspective, it's really important," Swan reiterated.

Since insurance policies are rising in areas at risk of further climate disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires, it makes sense to introduce these kinds of "polluters pay" laws to help offset the costs of protecting populations from extreme weather events.

"There's a direct question there of, why aren't state-level regulators using more of their power to take local action?" said Risalat Khan from the Sunrise Project, a nonprofit focused on energy transition policy.

Khan also noted: "People are very directly seeing their premiums rise, in relation to climate disasters."

Connecticut is not the most disaster-prone state, but considering it received over $500 million in federal assistance between 2011 and 2021, the resilience fund would have a clear value.

If approved, the Connecticut law will be one of several promising developments around the world that will help keep civilians safe from natural disasters.

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Japanese scientists are creating a self-powered sea wall system that can protect populations from tsunamis. Elsewhere in the U.S., architects are making nearly indestructible homes to withstand major weather events, and organizers are helping local communities prepare against natural disasters.

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Oregon and most other states have a maternal mortality review committee thats tasked with investigating pregnancy-related deaths and their causes and making prevention recommendations. (Getty Images)

Oregon and most other states have a maternal mortality review committee thats tasked with investigating pregnancy-related deaths and their causes and making prevention recommendations. (Getty Images)

As efforts to address the countrys maternal mortality crisis have stalled at the federal level, advocates and lawmakers are increasingly turning to statewide maternal mortality review committees to make progress  and try to save lives.

Guttmacher Institute, one of the nations largest reproductive health research organizations, reports that almost all states have a maternal mortality review committee thats tasked with investigating pregnancy-related deaths and their causes and making prevention recommendations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 1,205 maternal deaths in 2021, up from 861 in 2020 and 754 in 2019. The average maternal mortality rate that year was 32.9 per 100,000 live births. Black birthing peoples maternal mortality rate was 69.9 per 100,000 live births, compared to White birthing peoples rate of 26.6.

Guttmacher marks 2016 as a year of resurgence of interest in these review committees as attention on maternal mortality rose. Jennifer Driver, the senior director of reproductive rights at the advocacy group State Innovation Exchange, believes that the acknowledgement of maternal mortality as an issue  and one that disproportionately impacts Black women  has resulted in an uptick in legislation to study or address the matter. She also believes state legislators are better equipped to address maternal health than their federal counterparts because of the rate at which legislation moves at the state level.

State legislators play a critical role in advancing and protecting reproductive rights. While often, folks look at Congress or the administration or the courts, what we know, especially in 2024, that all of those are really kind of stalled, Driver said. Because of the makeup of the Congress, and the way that politics has just been so polarized, very little legislation passes. And so theres only so much that Congress can do, whereas on the contrast, state legislators are on the front lines of this work. So much legislation moves faster.

Democratic U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood of Illinois and Alma Adams of North Carolina sponsored the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, which included bills to improve maternal health through several avenues, including researching and collecting data on maternal mortality and morbidity among minority groups. It did not pass, but there are efforts to pass state-level Momnibus bills.

While the American Journal of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AJOG) recently reported that maternal mortality rates may be overstated, Maternal mortality rates among non-Hispanic Black women  remained disproportionately high compared with other race and ethnicity groups. A recent study found stable rates of maternal mortality in the United States between the 19992002 and 20182021 periods, decreases in maternal deaths due to direct obstetrical causes, increases in maternal deaths due to indirect obstetrical causes, and large increases in the misclassification of nonmaternal and incidental deaths due to the use of the pregnancy checkbox.

Despite the conflicting methods of tracking maternal mortality, state lawmakers  most of them women  are establishing new committees to study and assess maternal health outcomes and strengthening existing review panels.

Heres a look at whats happening across the states:

In Georgia, Republican Rep. Lauren Daniel sponsored legislation to establish the Commission on Maternal and Infant Health to be made up of 14 members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and state Speaker of the House. The commission would spend two years assessing perinatal care in the state, making policy recommendations and determining how to measure effectiveness and quality of perinatal care. Perinatal care is parents and babies health before, through and after birth, according to the World Health Organization, which notes that, Ensuring access to affordable and good quality of care throughout pregnancy and the perinatal period is essential to reducing the rates of complications and deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The bill was passed by the House and is being read by the Senate. The states maternal mortality review committee reported that there were 35.6 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births in the state between 2019 and 2021.

Idaho became the only state without a maternal mortality review committee after the previous ended due to legislation it was tied to expiring last year. House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma, a Republican, sponsored legislation to reestablish the states committee to investigate and report on maternal deaths to the legislature annually. This time around, the committee would be a part of the Idaho Department of Medicine instead of the state Department of Health and Welfare and would not rely on federal funds.

The bill was passed in a 52-17 vote in the state House, 25-10 vote in the state Senate, signed into law on March 19 and will take effect on July 1. Idahos most recent maternal mortality data collected by the former committee in 2021 showed 17 women died while pregnant or within a year of being pregnant  15 of which were deemed preventable and nine of which were pregnancy related.

In Tennessee, Democratic Sen. London Lamar put forth legislation to establish the Maternal Health Equity Advisory Committee to review maternal health data and make improvement recommendations to the state Department of Health. The 11-member committee would include representatives from East, Middle and West Tennessee and people from community-based organizations, such as doulas or midwives. Lamar said the organizations are a valuable addition to the already-established maternal mortality review committee, which consists of experts in pediatrics, OB-GYN, domestic violence, neonatology, maternal and infant health and other public health arenas.

Lamar told The 19th that while the expertise of medical professionals is valued, Theyre not on the ground in a way many of our community birthing organizations are, our doula organizations, our lactation specialist organizations. A lot of those organizations are built to do direct services to pregnant women on the ground on an everyday basis.

The bill passed 31-0 in the state Senate as amended on March 14, passed 78-6 in the state House on April 18 and sent to the governor.

Tennessees maternal mortality rates have increased since 2020, with reportedly 53 women dying from pregnancy-related causes  79 percent of which were deemed preventable.

This past February, Republican Rep. Kim Moser of Taylor Mill, Kentucky, sponsored state Momnibus legislation to establish the Kentucky maternal and infant health collaborative to address perinatal mental health disorders, provide lactation consultation and equipment and teach mothers about breastfeeding. The legislation also expands a state program to permit at-home visitations from trained service providers up to three years after the babys birth. Momnibus passed 90-0 in Kentuckys House and now sits with the state Senate who has proposed amendments. In 2021, Kentuckys maternal mortality review committee reported that there were 61 maternal deaths from 2013-19.

Last year, North Carolina state Sen. Natalie Murdock, a Democrat, sponsored the states Momnibus legislation that would establish a grant for community-based birthing organizations and implement implicit bias training programs for maternal health professionals. This was Mudocks second attempt to pass Momnibus legislation after being inspired by the effort at the federal level. She has also sponsored and supported other maternal health legislation.

It is tied to reproductive justice and a birthing persons ability to have freedom over their own body. We have found that maternal care has decreased as a result of OB-GYNs leaving our state because of our abortion ban, Murdock said. As the Supreme Court has said, abortion is a state-level issue, but its intricately connected to maternal health. If you dont have enough OB-GYNs, youre not getting that prenatal care. Its making it more difficult for women to have children. Its so much more than abortion. Its about overall reproductive justice and freedom.

North Carolinas maternal mortality review committee reported that there were 76 pregnancy-related deaths between 2018-19  85 percent of which were preventable, and it was noted that discrimination due to factors including race, weight and incarceration history was a factor in 69.7 percent of the deaths.

While statewide committees signify that there is an actual concerted effort to come together to deal with the issue, Lamar said, establishing and strengthening them is only half the battle. Its still up to the legislature and the departments to implement what they recommend and use the data that they produce to actually put forth legislation  or support legislation  that aligns with whats being said.

This story was originally published by The 19th, a nonprofit news organization that covers women and LGBTQ issues.

The post State legislators are taking the maternal mortality crisis into their own hands appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
States need to keep PFAS forever chemicals out of the water. It wont be cheap.

Jackson Quinn brings PFAS water samples into a temperature-controlled room at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lab in Cincinnati in April. In the coming years, states will need to enforce new federal rules that require drinking water systems to test for PFAS and clean up their water if contamination is found. Joshua A. Bickel/The Associated Press

In recent years, Michigan has spent tens of millions of dollars to limit residents exposure to the harmful forever chemicals called PFAS. And some cities there have spent millions of their own to filter contaminated drinking water or connect to new, less-polluted sources.

Weve made significant investments to get up to speed, said Abigail Hendershott, executive director of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, which serves as a coordinating group for the states testing, cleanup and public education efforts. Theres still a good chunk of the country that hasnt taken on anything.

Thats about to change.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new standards last month for PFAS levels in drinking water, giving water systems three years to conduct testing, and another two years to install treatment systems if contaminants are detected. State officials and utilities say its going to be difficult and costly to meet the requirements.

This is going to take a lot more investment at the state level, said Alan Roberson, executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, a group that convenes leaders in state health and environmental agencies. It creates a big workload for everybody.

PFAS chemicals are widespread, found in a host of everyday products and industrial uses, and they dont break down naturally, meaning they stay in human bodies and the environment indefinitely. Exposure has been shown to increase the risk of cancer, decrease fertility, cause metabolic disorders and damage the immune system.

To date, 11 states have set limits for PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in drinking water. Several others have pending rules or levels that require public notice. While the federal rule builds on those efforts, it also sets limits that are stricter than the state-issued rules.

We really have looked to the states as leaders in setting standards and doing some of the foundational science, said Zach Schafer, director of policy and special projects for the EPAs Office of Water. The state agencies are the ones who will be playing the point role [in implementing the national rule].

Schafer said the agency estimates that 6% to 10% of water systems nationwide will need to take steps to reduce PFAS contamination, at a cost averaging $1.5 billion per year over an 80-year span.

Public health advocates say the EPAs rule is an important step to ensure all Americans have access to safe water. They say state actions show that such efforts can work.

But some state regulators and water suppliers  even in states that already have their own rules  say the strict thresholds and timelines imposed by the feds will be difficult for many utilities to achieve. While the Biden administration has dedicated billions in funding to help clean up water supplies, experts say the costs will far exceed the available money.

Its going to have a significant impact nationally on water rates and affordability of water, said Chris Moody, regulatory technical manager with the American Water Works Association, a group that includes more than 4,000 utilities.

An estimate, conducted on behalf of the association, pegs the national cost of cleaning up contaminated water at nearly $4 billion each year. The report found that some households could face thousands of dollars in increased rates to cover the costs of treatment.

Theres a lot of concern

New Jersey in 2018 became the first state to issue standards for PFAS in drinking water. While the states regulations given New Jersey a head start, officials say they still have a difficult task ahead to meet the stricter thresholds.

When we bring in the EPA number, the number of noncompliant systems goes up dramatically, said Shawn LaTourette, the states commissioner of environmental protection. Theres a lot of concern about cost and implementation.

LaTourette said state leaders are working to analyze which water systems may fall out of compliance when the federal thresholds take effect. And hes calling on lawmakers to provide more money to communities that cant afford the upgrades.

In Washington state, utilities have begun testing for PFAS under state standards passed by regulators in 2021. Officials say that roughly 2% of the water systems tested so far arent in compliance, but that number would jump to 10% when factoring in the stricter federal limits. State leaders say theyll be able to grandfather in the data theyve been collecting to meet EPAs testing requirements.

The agency may ask state lawmakers for a substantial increase in staffing to implement the new rules, said Mike Means, capacity development and policy manager with the Washington State Department of Health.

Michigan has had its drinking water standards for PFAS since 2020. Hendershott said state officials are well prepared to incorporate the EPAs thresholds. But the strict new limits could quadruple the number of water systems that fall out of compliance.

Sarah Doll, national director of Safer States, an alliance of environmental health groups focused on toxic chemicals, said state efforts were key to bringing about the federal rule.

They created the urgency for the feds to bring these standards, she said. States that already have regulatory standards absolutely are in a better position.

Its very expensive

While many states have not enacted their own standards, some have conducted testing or taken other steps to address residents exposure.

Missouri has been testing water systems for PFAS for more than a decade and created maps to notify residents of potential exposure. Of the 400 systems its sampled, 11 may have trouble complying with the EPA rule, said Eric Medlock, an environmental specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources. The agency aims to bring on a chemist and laboratory equipment to conduct more testing in-house.

Medlock expressed concern that the federal limits are so strict that theyre near the threshold of what can be detected.

When you get down to these really low detection levels that are right at the regulatory limit, that poses a problem, he said. Were going to have to enforce and regulate what EPA proposed. It is going to be an issue.

Medlock and others noted that states will face longer-term issues with the storage of the waste products filtered from the water, which carry their own PFAS contamination risk.

The infrastructure bill passed by Congress in 2021 includes $5 billion over five years to help communities treat PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

More funding for cleanup may come from state lawsuits filed against chemical manufacturers. Thirty attorneys general have filed litigation against polluters, and Minnesota settled its case against 3M Company for $850 million. But leaders say such settlements arent a predictable funding source.

In addition to the upfront cost of installing treatment systems, utilities face ongoing expenses, such as replacing filters and disposing of waste, that are less likely to benefit from federal grants and loans. Meanwhile, some water system leaders say the federal compliance timelines may not be long enough.

It takes time to design and build a major capital project, said Erica Brown, chief policy and strategy officer for the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, a policy group that advocates for public water utilities. Its not one of those things that you say, You have to do this, and next year, and you can just turn it on.

And some officials fear the drinking water limits could lead to more state regulations on wastewater plants and other entities whose discharges may affect drinking water sources.

It seems like its going to be problematic, because [treatment] is very expensive, said Sharon Green, manager of legislative and regulatory programs with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, an agency whose members operate 11 wastewater treatment plants.

Both state regulators and regulated utilities say state leaders need a broader approach to the PFAS problem than just treating the water that comes out of the tap. Officials need to stop pollution at the source, regulate industrial operations and limit products that contain the chemicals.

If we keep it out of the river in the first place,  [the utility] doesnt have to spend millions of dollars for treatment, said Jean Zhuang, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, an advocacy group focused on the South.

While Southern states have not adopted drinking water standards for PFAS, Zhuang said South Carolinas requirement that polluters disclose their discharges of PFAS is a good model to begin cutting off contamination sources.

As states face down the expenses of fixing the PFAS problem, some advocates also want them to remember the public health costs of inaction.

People will ultimately be consuming less of these chemicals and getting sick less often, said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, a public health advocacy nonprofit.

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.

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Stitt pushes for 6 of his executive nominations to be considered by the Oklahoma Senate

Gov. Kevin Stitt used his weekly news conference on Friday to push the Oklahoma Senate to approve a half-dozen of his executive nominations that have stalled, including those for two Cabinet secretaries and a major agency director, during the final week of the legislative session next week.

Before he took questions, Stitt spent the first 6 minutes touting nominees, including Corey Finch, his pick as secretary of health and mental health; Heather Turner, whom he nominated as the director of the state Department of Commerce; and Deborah Shropshire, his choice to serve as secretary of human services.

He also pushed for hearings for Leigh Gaddis, who has served since 2014 on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife commission, along with Oklahoma State Board of Education nominee Alex Gray and Audrey Katigan, whom Stitt renominated for a seat on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

Stitt said he has received emails, texts or communication that says the Senate is not going to confirm our nominations. I hope thats not the case.  Hopefully we can get all of these good Oklahomans that are coming and serving their state across the finish line.

Stitt nominated Finch in February, and Finch, a medical doctor, has served since then while awaiting Senate approval. Finch followed Kevin Corbett, who was named to the post in 2020 but saw his confirmation stalled in the Senate. Stitt said the Senate fired Corbett by not confirming Corbetts nomination, and he used similar language when referring to the potential for current nominees not to be confirmed.

Hes doing a great job right now as secretary of health right now, Stitt said, saying hes looking forward to a vote on the Senate floor to see why, who doesnt think hes good enough (or) a good fit.

Shropshire, from Piedmont, was promoted from within the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to the top spot in the agency in January 2023 and is the first woman to lead it. The Senate confirmed her appointment to the DHS directors role last May before Stitt nominated her for the Cabinet secretarys role last July.

Turner served as the president of the Jenks Chamber of Commerce before receiving her appointment from Stitt, a Republican, earlier this month. The nominations of Shropshire, Turner, Gaddis and Finch have yet to be heard in a Senate committee, which is necessary before they could be heard on the Senate floor.

Heather Turner, nominated by Gov. Kevin Stitt to be the director of the state Commerce Department, has not yet had her nomination heard by the Oklahoma Senate.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said Thursday there are some really big concerns about Turner. Treat said the nomination had been assigned to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. He said Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, is willing to carry Turners nomination, but the committee itself has some really serious concerns. No meeting of that committee currently is scheduled.

One senator has said she won't carry two of Stitt's nominations

A senator must carry each executive nomination through the confirmation process. State Sen. Carrie Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, said last month she would not carry the nominations of Katigan and Gray in the Senate and their nominations havent been heard in the Senate Education Committee as a result. Nominations must be approved by the full Senate to assume the executive position on anything more than a temporary basis.

When Hicks announced she would not carry the nominations for Gray and Katigan, she said, As a champion for children, I take the responsibility of vetting appointments related to education incredibly seriously. After careful consideration, I will not be moving two nominees forward in the process, as I find them unqualified to fulfill the roles and duties required for each of these positions.

As a former educator, it is my sincere desire that we put politics aside to ensure the safety and success of our children. I am committed to bipartisan solutions that will truly move Oklahoma forward.

In mid-October, Stitt nominated Gray, who served in former President Donald Trumps administration, for the open 5th Congressional District seat on the board, along with an at-large member, Zach Archer, who formerly served on the school board in the western Oklahoma town of Hammon. Archer now serves on the state board, but Gray has never taken the oath of office nor attended board meetings since being nominated, with no explanation provided for his absence.

Archers nomination is scheduled to be heard Tuesday in the Senate Education Committee, as will the nomination of state Education Secretary Nellie Tayloe Sanders and the nomination of former University of Oklahoma-Tulsa President Ken Levit to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

The Libraries Department's board also has seven members. Katigan, of The Village, serves as the current 5th Congressional District representative on that board, but her term expires on July 1.

Treat said Thursday he didnt know yet when executive nominations that already have been approved in committee will make it to the Senate floor, but I dont anticipate any problems there.

Executive noms, we take seriously on the Senate side, of vetting and making sure that we get it right, so weve denied some in the past for well-justified reasons, Treat said.

The final day of the legislative session is May 31.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt pushes Senate on executive nominations
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on NATO allies supplying weapons to Ukraine to lift the ban on their use in attacking military targets in Russia.

Source: Stoltenberg in an interview with The Economist

Quote: "The time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine. Especially now when a lot of the fighting is going on in Kharkiv, close to the border, to deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves."

Details: Stoltenberg noted that the Russians would continue to press and gain small positions and were ready to pay a very high price for these small gains.

He also criticised European allies who had promised one million artillery shells: "We havent seen anything close to that."

Stoltenberg acknowledged the risk of escalation. He said that the challenge was to "prevent this war becoming a full-fledged war between Russia and NATO in Europe". But he stressed the difference between arms supplies, training and military action: "We provide training, we provide weapons, ammunition to Ukraine, but we will not be directly involved from NATO territory in combat operations over or in Ukraine. So thats a different thing."

He also commented on the proposal to deploy troops in Ukraine if its government requests it, an idea advocated by French President Emmanuel Macron: "Thats not the planWe dont have any intention to send NATO ground troops into Ukraine because our purposehas been two-fold, to support Ukraine as we do, but also to ensure that we dont escalate this into a full-scale conflict."

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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Stoltenberg joins growing calls to lift restrictions on Ukraine's ability to use Western weapons to strike Russia

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was the latest high-profile Western leader to call for an end to the ban on Ukraine's use of Western-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia in an interview with the Economist published on May 24.

German lawmaker Anton Hofreiter echoed the sentiment the following day in an interview with Spiegel.

U.S. officials have repeatedly said that they do not support or encourage Kyiv's strikes with American weapons deep inside Russia.

The tide nonetheless appears to be shifting amid arguments that Washington's ban meant Ukraine was unable to attack Russian forces as they were building up before crossing the border into Kharkiv Oblast in the renewed Russian offensive that began earlier in May.

"The time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine," said Stoltenberg.

"Especially now when a lot of the fighting is going on in Kharkiv, close to the border, to deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves."

Hofreiter said that lifting the restrictions would be in accordance with international law, which "allows a (state under attack) to attack military targets in the aggressor's country."

Leading U.S. lawmakers, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congressman Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, have also criticized the current U.S. policy in recent days, arguing that micromanaging Ukraine's war effort has hindered its ability to effectively defend itself.

McCaul claimed that there is support for ending the policy in Congress but that it is primarily National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and President Joe Biden who still oppose any changes.

After a "sobering visit" to Kyiv earlier in May, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also has reportedly sought to end Washington's ban.

Stoltenberg said he was aware of the possible chance for escalation and emphasized that the goal is to "prevent this war (from) becoming a full-fledged war between Russia and NATO in Europe."

On those grounds, Stoltenberg again repeated earlier statements that there is no "intention to send NATO ground troops into Ukraine."

The notion of sending NATO troops to Ukraine has been hotly debated since French President Emmanuel Macron said in February that he would not "rule out" the possibility of deploying Western troops there.

The suggestion has been largely rejected by many Western leaders, but there has been increasing discussion about the potential of sending NATO troops to train Ukrainian soldiers inside Ukrainian territory.

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.
Suburban man sentenced to decades in prison for sexual assault of minor

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill.  A northwest suburban man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of predatory sexual assault of a child.

Matthew Lorr, 35, formerly of Woodstock, admitted to having sexual penetration with a child under 13 and sexual penetration with another child under 18.

Prosecutors say several people accused Lorr of assaulting them. DNA linked Lorr to his charged crimes.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Lorr will have to register as a sex offender for life upon release from the Department of Corrections. He must serve at least 85% of his sentence.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
This weeks Sunday news shows will likely focus on who will become former President Trumps running mate.

The competition for Trumps vice presidential slot has been seemingly heating up recently, with some of the possible contenders stopping by the former presidents hush money trial in New York, including Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who will appear on Fox News Sunday this week. Donalds also was at Trumps rally in the Bronx this week, according to The Associated Press.

Another contender for Trumps VP slot, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), will appear on CNNs State of The Union this week. Scott criticized new TV and radio ads from the Biden campaign that were rolled out this week that target Trump on his claims about his record with Black Americans, stating that the current presidents record on race is disgusting, its vile, and its un-American.

A bipartisan border bill was shot down for the second time this year in the Senate Thursday in a 43-50 vote this week, which will also be a likely focus of this weeks Sunday shows. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), one of the negotiators of the proposal, will appear on CBS Face the Nation this week.

In a Thursday post on the social media platform X before the vote, Murphy said Republicans would likely kill the bipartisan border security bill because Trump told them to keep the border a mess because it helps Trump in the fall election.

President Biden went after Republicans for blocking the border security legislation after it failed again in the Senate.

Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing Americas broken immigration system. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history. Instead, today, they put partisan politics ahead of our countrys national security, Biden said in a statement.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who will appear on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures this week, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) heavily critiqued the bipartisan border bill in a Wednesday opinion piece for The Hill. In the piece, the two right-wing firebrand senators stated that the bill was rushed and made behind closed doors without input from most Republicans.

The bill would also codify Bidens catch-and-release policies, as it actually requires illegal aliens to be released while they are being processed, the two senators said in the opinion piece. The American people are just supposed to accept that millions of poorly vetted illegal aliens will continue to move into their communities, taking their jobs, overcrowding their schools and driving up rent prices, but now with the federal governments explicit imprimatur.

The bill also spends $20 billion that we dont have, further mortgaging our childrens future, the piece continues. It primarily spends the money, not to secure the border, but to more efficiently process and disperse illegal immigrants throughout America  the vast majority of whom do not have valid asylum claims.

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows:

NewsNations The Hill Sunday  Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.).

NBCs Meet the Press  Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D-Mich.), Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R), Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D), Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt (R).

CBS Face the Nation  Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.); Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.).

CNNs State of the Union  Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C); Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.); former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.).

Fox News Sunday  Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).

Fox News Sunday Morning Futures  Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.); Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.); Alina Habba, lawyer for former President Trump; Greg Brown, Motorola Solutions Chairman and CEO.

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Lawrence Brock, the Chief People Officer of Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ:COIN), executed a sale of 16,456 shares of the company on May 23, 2024. The transaction was reported in a recent SEC Filing. Following this transaction, the insider now owns 16,140 shares of the company.

Coinbase Global Inc operates as a digital currency exchange and wallet service, allowing users to buy, sell, and store digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. It is one of the leading platforms in the cryptocurrency industry.

Over the past year, Lawrence Brock has sold a total of 419,591 shares and has not made any purchases of the company's stock. This recent sale is part of a broader trend observed at Coinbase Global Inc, where there have been no insider buys but 131 insider sells over the past year.

On the date of the sale, shares of Coinbase Global Inc were priced at $223.34, valuing the company with a market cap of approximately $58.36 billion. The price-earnings ratio of the company stands at 42.91, which is above both the industry median of 18.87 and the historical median for the company.

The stock's valuation metrics show a GF Value of $103.57, leading to a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 2.16. This indicates that the stock is significantly overvalued according to GuruFocus' intrinsic value estimate, which factors in historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on past returns and growth, and future business performance estimates from Morningstar analysts.

Insider Selling at Coinbase Global Inc (COIN): Chief People Officer Lawrence Brock Sells 16,456 Shares

Insider Selling at Coinbase Global Inc (COIN): Chief People Officer Lawrence Brock Sells 16,456 Shares

This insider selling activity could be of interest to investors monitoring insider behaviors and evaluating the stock's current valuation in the context of its historical performance and industry standards.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Much-needed improvements are coming soon to Rock Islands Sunset Marina. according to a news release.

City council members on Monday, May 13, approved $3.6 million in funding for dredging, replacement of a primary dock and electrical upgrades to three others.

Sunset Marina (OurQuadCities.com)

Funding includes $1,422,284 from a FEMA grant, $800,000 from ARPA funds and $1.4 million from a city inter-fund loan.

Sunset Marina in Rock Island, Illinois is the largest natural marina in the upper Mississippi, said Mayor Mike Thoms. The City of Rock Island along with the Corps Of Engineers are investing in this beautiful amenity in the city, along with helping the economy and job creation within the city.

Separately, $1 million was awarded by the federal government to the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the entrance to the marina. The funding was jointly announced by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill as part of several Congressionally Directed Spending requests passed in March.

Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families and thats what these bipartisan funding bills do, Duckworth said. Im relieved we passed this bipartisan legislation to not only prevent a partial government shutdown that would have hurt working families across our nation, but also help secure critical support for projects all throughout our state, providing much-needed improvements to infrastructure, cleaning up our drinking water and helping keep our communities safe.

During the 2019 flood, the 400 dock was damaged beyond repair and removed from the marina. Funding was requested for its replacement and approved through the hazard mitigation request in December 2020.

On June 12, 2023, the city council approved Edgewater Resources for engineering and design services for the Sunset Marina 400 dock replacement, electrical upgrades, and dredging analysis.

The proposed project includes replacing the 400 docks, electrical upgrades to the 100, 300, and 500 docks, related dredging, and decommissioning of deteriorated docks.

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After an arduous school year, Crystal Lake Association of Support Staff reached an agreement with Crystal Lake Community Unit School District 47 after filing an unfair labor practice against district administrators who retained a recruiting firm to hire temporary employees. The union said the move in October was illegal and they werent given notice.

This is a big win for us, as paraprofessionals, but also for the students we work with, said Stephanie Lieurance, union president of CLASS and a learning resource paraprofessional at South Elementary. This was a long time coming, and I think we just showed the district and the surrounding districts that even though you may not have a ton of numbers in your favor, if something is not right, you need to stand up for it and we did that.

Last fall, the union learned district officials had hired Sunbelt Staffing to fill 21 open positions. The agency was earning up to $65 for every hour a temporary employee works, according to a contract obtained by the Tribune. The union said the rate was more than four times as much as newly hired, permanent paraprofessionals make. Before the agreement, starting pay for newly hired paraprofessionals at District 47 was $16.14 an hour, while starting pay for temporary paraprofessionals tapped by the staffing agency was between $30 and $35 per hour.

In January, Lieurance told the Tribune that the move was a slap in the face.

Instead of coming up with thoughtful, long-term solutions to address these issues, the district waited until the last minute to bring in temporary help who arent committed to our students and our community  apparently they dont have money to pay us, but they do have money to pay a contracted company, Lieurance said in January.

CLASS dropped the unfair labor practice complaint per the settlement. Under the newly reached agreement, CLASS members will be given a $2,000 settlement check at the end of the school year and an immediate raise of $1 an hour.

The union said a 5% raise will also be enacted in July.

CLASS represents more than 100 paraprofessionals who serve the nearly 7,000 students who attend the 12 schools in District 47. Lieurance said some paraprofessionals have been in the district for more than 27 years.

As part of the agreement, the union was able to add an extra day of pay into their schedule to get professional development to train alongside the teachers with whom they work.

Between the union and the district were doing everything we can to attract new hires and retain the current employees. And I think now well be able to do that, Lieurance said.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  With Memorial Day weekend kicking off the unofficial start to beach season, the Surfrider Foundation released its annual Clean Water Report on ocean water quality.

The Surfrider Foundation believes that everyone should have access to clean water to surf, swim and play in, the foundation wrote.

One Bay Area beach thats a hot spot for surfing, Linda Mar Beach, had high bacteria levels in more than 50 percent of water samples tested, Surfriders report found.

(Photo by JEROME BROUILLET/ AFP via Getty Images)

The report states, In the City of Pacifica, Linda Mar Beach is a very popular surf break located at the mouth of the consistently polluted San Pedro Creek.

During 2023, Surfriders Blue Water Task Force labs processed thousands of water samples collected from 567 sites. All BWTF test results were compared to state water quality standards set to protect public health. You can find water quality test results for your local beach on BWTFs website.

9 priority beaches where Surfrider measured consistently high bacteria levels:

Linda Mar Beach Pacifica, California: 54% of samples collected failed to meet the state health standards in 2023

San Luis Creek Mouth San Luis Obispo, California: 35%

Imperial Beach San Diego, California: 100%

Kahaluu Kahaluu, Oahu, Hawaii: 86%

Nawiliwili Stream at Kalapaki Bay Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii: 100%

Mecox Bay Southampton, New York: 46%

Ballard Park Melbourne, Florida Park: 37%

View Kayak Launch Miami Beach, Florida: 73%

South Sound Thea Floss Floating Dock Tacoma, Washington: 47%

Surfrider-Beach-ReportDownload

Of the 9,538 water test results gathered in 2023, 67% indicated low bacteria levels, 11% indicated medium bacteria levels, and 22% measured high bacteria levels that exceed state standards.

The dirtiest water samples were collected from freshwater sources, such as rivers, creeks, and marshes, which are influenced by stormwater runoff, or at beaches near these outlets, Surfriders report states.

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.
LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Authorities are working to identify a suspect accused of robbing a bank in La Vergne.

According to the La Vergne Police Department, the incident took place around 4 p.m. on Friday, May 24 at the Regions Bank located on Murfreesboro Road.

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The suspect reportedly entered the bank and demanded cash from the teller before fleeing the scene. No threats were made and no weapons were brandished, officials said.

Police said the man was last seen wearing black pants, a blue oversized zip-up hoodie, a shirt that reads Seattle, a black beanie, black face covering, blue/white shoes, and a black backpack with a white pattern.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is asked the La Vergne Police Department at (615) 793-7744 or Detective Nokes at (615) 287-8748.

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.
Massachusetts proposed state budget includes plans for free community college. Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

The Massachusetts Senate approved a $58 billion budget that includes free community college.

The budget sets aside $75.5 million to pay for tuition and stipends for anyone.

The state's new tax on millionaires would fund the universal free community college program.

The Massachusetts State Senate approved a nearly $58 billion state budget that guarantees universal free community college for state residents.

And it'll all be paid for by the state's millionaire residents.

In 2022, Massachusetts placed a 4% tax on residents earning $1 million or more a year. In its last fiscal budget, the state set aside $1 billion  collected through the tax  to provide free school lunches to all children in public schools.

The 2025 budget would fund MassEducate, a state-sponsored program that will cover the cost of community college tuition and fees, all paid for by the state's tax on millionaires. The budget now goes to the state House of Representatives, which has to vote before the fiscal year begins in July.

If passed, MassEducate will invest $75.5 million of state money to cover tuition and fees.

President Joe Biden proposed a plan for free community college nationally in his fiscal 2025 budget. There are currently 20 states that offer tuition-free community college education to residents.

State Sen. Michael J. Rodrigues, chair of the Senate's Ways and Means Committee, said the community college program will "bolster our educated workforce and lay the foundation for generations to come."

"Tuition-free Community College impacts individuals most in need and who otherwise would not be afforded this opportunity," Rodrigues said in a statement. "It will greatly help to keep our workforce graduates stand ready to meet the challenges of a global economy."

The state's community college program will offer additional assistance to low-income students. The program will also offer stipends of up to $1,200 for books, supplies, and other costs to students who make 125% or less of the state's median income, according to a statement announcing the program.

The initiative also includes a $10 million "student persistence fund" that aims to help community college students with financial struggles so great they jeopardize their studies.

Read the original article on Business Insider
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Nearly a week after a Fort Campbell soldier was found dead in her Clarksville home, people in multiple states are seeking answers about who killed Pfc. Katia Duenas-Aguilar and why.

She wanted to serve her country; she volunteered to join the Army, Domingo Garcia, the national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), told News 2.

At just 23 years old, loved ones said Duenas-Aguilar dedicated her life to service. The young, decorated soldier, from Mesquite, Texas, was described as full of life, charismatic, and a loving mother of a 4-year-old.

Fort Campbell soldier killed in Clarksville home

Thats why this is so bizarre that somebody would take her life, said Garcia.

LULAC has joined Duenas-Aguilars familys efforts to get justice.

Meanwhile, the Clarksville Police Department has released few details about the homicide investigation, only saying that officers responded to an ambulance call shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 in the 900 block of Tiny Town Road, where they found Duenas-Aguilar dead inside her apartment.

The mother is still in shock, still grieving, and unfortunately, this is not something they expected that would happen to their daughter. Maybe something that would happen overseas, but not here in Tennessee, not here in the United States, Garcia explained, adding that Duenas-Aguilars loved ones are still in shock.

Friend calls for justice in murder of Fort Campbell soldier

As the nations largest and oldest Latino civil rights organization, LULAC is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in connection with Duenas-Aguilars death.

Members put in money, theyre all volunteers, and this is from them wanting to help this particular family get justice for their daughter and make sure that the murderer doesnt get away with this crime, LULACs president told News 2.

Its a move the organization said it has made before in the death of another Latina soldier, Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, so Garcia hopes this will bring Duenas-Aguilars case to the nations attention.

Latino civil rights organization offers $25K reward for info on death of Fort Campbell soldier

Its a major case here in the Dallas area cause she was here from Mesquite High School, a suburb of Dallas. She was with the ROTC and she had a bright career ahead of her and its just shocking that somebody would end that in this type of way and we want to find out who did that, bring them to justice, and get the family what they deserve and need after this terrible, terrible tragedy, said Garcia.

In addition to offering the reward, LULAC has a national phone number where tips can be submitted anonymously: 202-833-6130. However, if you want to share information directly with Clarksville police, contact Detective Hofinga at 931-648-0656, ext. 5720.

Meanwhile, Garcia said LULAC plans to take additional steps if the homicide case isnt resolved soon, adding that the organization is considering bringing outside investigators in for the case, as well as seeking resources from the FBI.

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 Texas coastal engineer says a simple home-buying decision saved his house from Hurricane Harvey  and could help other home-owners in flood zones

A Texas coastal engineer says a simple home-buying decision saved his house from Hurricane Harvey  and could help other home-owners in flood zones

Stronger hurricanes are growing more frequent and causing more damage to US coastal cities.

As a coastal engineer, Jens Figlus works to protect coastlines from these threats.

He lives in Texas, which was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey. But his home was safe because it sits 16 feet above sea level.

Jens Figlus vividly recalls the day hurricane-driven floodwaters surged into his neighborhood.

"People across the street were airlifted off their roofs with helicopters," he said. But Figlus, his family, and property were unharmed.

"We were basically sitting in the living room with power, internet, everything  watching boats go by in our street," he told Business Insider.

While this scene is from 2017, when Hurricane Harvey ripped through Texas and Louisiana killing over 100 people, Figlus' secret to saving his family and property is more relevant than ever this year.

2024 may be the worst hurricane season in history

3D rendering of Category 4 hurricane near the US State of Louisiana. FrankRamspott/Getty Images

A coastal engineer at Texas A&M University, Figlus is an expert on flooding. He's acutely aware that climate change is driving sea level rise and making dangerous storms like Hurricane Harvey more common. And this year is looking like it could be an especially bad one.

This week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its first hurricane forecast for this year's season. It predicts that an unprecedented 17 to 25 named storms could ravage the North Atlantic this hurricane season, and potentially make landfall in the US. Other scientists from the University of Pennsylvania predicted an even higher number  33 named storms  in April, which is the highest storm count ever forecasted.

Altogether, the data suggests that 2024 could be one of the worst hurricane seasons in history. Meanwhile, a different team of scientists argued earlier this year that we need to add a Category 6 to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to account for the growing severity of hurricanes and better inform people of what's headed their way.

Coastal cities, like Houston, are especially vulnerable. What's more, Houston is one of the fastest-growing US cities. Between 2022 and 2023, Houston had the second-largest population growth in the nation, welcoming roughly 140,000 new residents, according to the US Census Bureau.

Despite rising flood and hurricane risk, a whopping 140,000 people moved to Houston, Texas, last year. Art Wager/Getty Images

"People that move to this area typically are not familiar with the type of hazards that they're putting themselves in front of  the flooding, primarily," Figlus said of Houston.

During Harvey, the development Figlus lives in ended up being "locked out from the rest of civilization for five days, just because of floodwaters" he said. "But not my house."

What's Figlus' secret? "Elevation matters," he said. Figlus and his family live up on a ridge that's 16 feet above sea level. It's the highest point in their development, he said. Thanks to their elevation, the floodwaters couldn't reach them.

He knew that living in the greater Houston area meant his family's home would be vulnerable to flooding, but because of his work, he has to live near the coast. He's 25 miles north of the Gulf Coast, and 10 miles west of Galveston Bay.

That's why elevation was an important factor in his home-buying process. But you don't have to be a coastal engineer to make a well-informed choice when shopping for a home in a flood zone.

How to assess flood risk

When shopping for homes in cities that are vulnerable to flooding, prospective buyers need to be aware of the risks, Figlus said. jhorrocks/Getty Images

When shopping for homes in an area that's vulnerable to flooding, like the greater Houston area, it's often up to homebuyers to assess the risk, Figlus said.

"The risk to the potential homebuyer may not be disclosed," he said. "And the developer doesn't have any incentive to tell people, 'Here's the risk, let me outline it for you.'"

Even as Texas faces more frequent and intense hurricanes, Figlus doesn't expect that developers will stop building homes in high-risk areas. He also doesn't expect to see fewer people moving to Texas despite increased flooding.

He only hopes prospective homebuyers will try to make well-informed decisions about where they live, like he did.

"If you spend a little bit of time, you can actually make some smart decisions related to the flooding hazards," Figlus said.

Houston homes surrounded by floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey. David J. Phillip/AP

Asking the seller about the history of flooding in the area is a good place to start. If you need more information, use the FEMA Flood Map Service Center to look up the address of your potential new home. This online service provides a detailed breakdown of flooding risk in a given area.

You can also consider purchasing flood insurance. That way, even if your home does flood, you're financially protected. But before purchasing your own policy, ask the seller if they already have flood insurance. In some cases, they can transfer their policy directly to the new owner.

All in all, Figlus thinks people can still live in flood zones relatively safely, as long as they understand the risks.

"With a little bit of additional knowledge, and due diligence, and asking the right questions of the right people, you can make this work really well," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
If Texas is gone then America is gone Ted Cruz speaks at Texas GOP convention

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz addressed delegates at the Texas GOP convention on Saturday afternoon, the final day of the event.

Cruz ripped the Biden administration for its foreign policy, blaming President Joe Biden for the IsraelHamas and Russia-Ukraine wars.

Joe Biden inherited peace and prosperity, there are now two simultaneous wars. The biggest war in Europe since World War II, and the worst war in the Middle East in 50 years, Cruz said. The enemies of America are celebrating because we have a weak and ineffective commander in chief.

Cruz then spoke about the pro-Palestinian protests that have taken place on college campuses, a talking point of his speech last month in Fort Worth when he was campaigning for Cheryl Bean, who is in a Republican primary runoff for Texas House District 97.

Take a look at our college campuses. Look at the sickness that has taken over the far left, the angry, Israel-hating, America- hating, leftist, communist idiots, Cruz said. Those children are repeating the lies their professors have told them. Those children are repeating the indoctrination because weve allowed our universities to be taken over by cultural Marxists who hate our nation and want to tear it to the ground.

Cruz then suggested that the protests on college campuses are being paid for by the same donors of his opponent in the race for a U.S. Senate seat, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred.

Cruz spoke about his upcoming senate election and said he anticipated massive spending from Democrat donors to support Allred in hopes of flipping the senate seat

They know if they flip Texas, they take the country. If Texas is gone, America is gone, so were not going to let Texas fall, Cruz said.

Cruz bashed the party once again and said Its not a battle between Republican and Democrat. Its not a battle between conservative and liberal. Its a battle between sane and crazy.

Unlike Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton did earlier in the week, Cruz opted not to attack Speaker of the Texas House Dade Phelan, who has faced growing calls for his outing from Texas Republicans and is currently in a runoff election against former Orange County GOP chairman David Covey.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who was scheduled to speak yesterday, has still not addressed the convention.

For most of the final minutes of his speech Cruz urged those in attendance to volunteer for his campaign, donate to his campaign and subscribe to his podcast.
Officer Davachi and Sergeant Brady of the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) came to the rescue of a 2-year-old boy named Rowdy

facebook Texas police reunite with child they saved

Police officers in Fort Worth, Texas, had a sweet reunion with a toddler they saved from drowning earlier this month  and the young boy was all smiles to see his heroes.

On May 1, Officer Davachi and Sergeant Brady of the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) came to the rescue of a 2-year-old boy named Rowdy who nearly drowned in a pool. When the officers arrived on the scene, the boys mother was performing CPR. The officers immediately took over chest compressions while Sergeant Brady assisted with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, according to a press release from the FWPD.

After the Fort Worth Fire Department arrived a short time later and transported the boy to a local hospital, his prognosis was described as dire, with little expectation of survival through the night, the release said.

facebook Texas police officers reunite with child they saved

Related: Pregnant Minnesota Mom Saves Little Boy from Drowning as She Was Teaching Her Own Son How to Float

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Miraculously, a week later on May 8, the FWPD received the news that despite his earlier complications, little Rowdy made a full recovery from the accident.

Once he was officially released from the hospital, Officer Davachi, along with the entire second shift team who responded to the initial call, visited Rowdy and his family, according to the release.

Related: 7-Year-Old Saved from Drowning by 2 Young Boys, 12 and 8, in Michigan: Theyre My Heroes'

Posting to Facebook, the officers shared photos of little Rowdy posing with the teddy bears given to him and also a few snaps of the fun he had while posing inside a police car.

Rowdy's siblings also received teddy bears and got to explore the police vehicles.

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Read the original article on People.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Akzo Nobel is 83.15 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of 64.48 suggests Akzo Nobel is potentially 22% undervalued

The 78.28 analyst price target for AKZA is 5.9% less than our estimate of fair value

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Akzo Nobel N.V. (AMS:AKZA) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Akzo Nobel

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 697.8m 739.9m 826.1m 816.0m 811.7m 810.8m 812.3m 815.6m 820.0m 825.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Analyst x1 Est @ -0.53% Est @ -0.11% Est @ 0.19% Est @ 0.40% Est @ 0.54% Est @ 0.64% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 6.3% 657 655 689 640 599 563 531 502 475 450

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 5.8b

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.3%.

Story continues

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = 825m (1 + 0.9%)  (6.3% 0.9%) = 15b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 15b ( 1 + 6.3%)10= 8.4b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is 14b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of 64.5, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 22% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Akzo Nobel as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.170. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Akzo Nobel

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Chemicals market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Dutch market.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Akzo Nobel, we've put together three essential aspects you should look at:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Akzo Nobel (1 makes us a bit uncomfortable) you should be aware of. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for AKZA's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Dutch stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
SAN ANTONIO (Nexstar)  More than 6,700 of Texas most active Republicans are gathered in San Antonio for the Republican Party of Texas state convention. On the to-do list: establish the official party platform, elect a new chair in a hotly-contested race and organize for the general election.

Abolishing property taxes, establishing a state border force, preserving the ban on gambling and funding private school for families are among the top priorities approved by delegates.

Many delegates are also pushing to close the party primary  meaning, allowing only registered Republicans to vote in primary elections. Today, any voter can choose to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary. Some activists worry that allows too many party crossovers.

We have too many Democrats meddling in our primaries, GOP delegate Brady Gray said. I come from a very, very red county, and in my county, if Democrats dont like the more conservative candidate, they will cross the line and vote for the more establishment candidate. And so I think its extremely important that we close our primaries.

Those terms  conservative and establishment  embody the divisions inside the Texas Republican Party. The convention comes at a time when the party is reckoning with a rightward shift  with the old guard of Bush-era Republicans trying to fend off a challenge from Paxton and Trump-aligned conservatives.

We need somebody that can unite our party, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said.

That infighting will reach a head this Tuesday in the primary runoff election. House Speaker Dade Phelan is fighting for political survival in his southeast Texas district after drawing the ire of conservatives for impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton and failing to pass a school choice program. He is one of the only incumbent speakers to face a runoff in Texas history.

If Phelan loses to conservative challenger David Covey, it will send an earthquake through the Texas Republican Party and shockwaves through the Texas House. Covey and others in his faction pledge to further marginalize Democrats, ending their chairmanships and changing House rules to expedite conservative priorities.

Im glad our party censured Dade Phelan. It is time that we hold him accountable, said Abraham George, the frontrunner for the next party chair.

The Republican convention runs through Saturday, May 25. The Texas Democratic Party will host its own convention in El Paso on June 6-8.

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.
Three bodies have been recovered after a landslide in Papua New Guinea, local officials told CNN on Saturday, adding that the death toll was likely to rise to a significant total.

The disaster hit the remote village of Kaokalam, about 600 kilometers (372 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby, at approximately 3 a.m. local time on Friday, leaving a scar of debris that humanitarian workers say is as big as four football pitches.

Three bodies have so far been recovered, but we are expecting the number to be significant, Sandis Tsaka, provincial administrator of Enga province, told CNN.

More than 100 are believed to be dead, Janet Philemon, caretaker and national treasurer of the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society, previously told CNN.

Tsaka said on Saturday that the landslides impacted about 3,900 people.

Humanitarian group CARE Australia said, citing local authorities, that over 60 homes have been destroyed, and at present, all members of these households remain unaccounted for.

Serhan Aktoprak, head of mission for the International Organization for Migration in the country, described the scale of the human catastrophe.

Children are separated from their mothers and fathers. Relatives are trying to find their missing ones. Thats not helping a lot because people are still in shock, he told CNN.

Every minute that passes is basically decreasing our hopes and increasing our frustrations.

Emergency responders were deployed to the site, but rescue efforts have been hampered by damage to a main highway, which limited access to affected areas, according to Tsaka.

The impact area is huge, 150 meters of the road is gone and the landslide area is very active - moving debris and moving rocks - which is making it difficult for our first responders, he said, adding the debris is about 6 to 8 meters (around 20 to 26 feet) deep.

People carry bags in the aftermath of a landslide in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea, on May 24, 2024. - Andrew Ruing/Reuters

CARE Australia said the obstruction will likely take considerable time to clear.

While the area is not densely populated, our concern is that the death toll could be disproportionately high, it said.

A Pacific nation home to around 10 million people, Papua New Guinea is rich in resources. But its economy has long trailed those of its neighbors, and it has one of the highest crime rates in the world.

Hundreds of tribes are spread across the countrys remote and often inaccessible terrain. But its vast and diverse mountainous landscape, as well as a lack of roads, has made it difficult and costly to upgrade basic services like water, electricity and sanitation.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE)  Three mega-projects are on track to radically remake urban Portland in coming years.

Two would create new vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods in downtown and the central eastside.

Judge dismisses 2 murder charges against suspect in Vancouver officers death

The third intends to reclaim a historic neighborhood torn apart by ill-advised urban renewal project.

These are transformation projects. They are a big, big deal, Andrew Hoan, president and CEO of the Metro Chamber, said at a May 23 panel discussion on the projects it hosted. It was titled, Portlands Mega-Development Construction Projects.

Motorcyclist accused of making knife threats against young mother during road rage incident

Representatives from the following organizations gave updates on these projects:

The nonprofit Albina Vision Trust is leading an ambitious plan to reclaim the 95-acre Lower Albina neighborhood in the Northeast Portland neighborhood around the Rose Quarter. The historical home of Portlands Black community, it was decimated in 1950s and 1960s by the construction of the I-5 freeway and Memorial Coliseum, and the city-backed expansion of Legacy Hospital. Among other things, the plan includes building caps over the freeway that physically divided the neighborhood that will support new affordable housing projects, employment-related developments, and public spaces. The federal government has committed $450 million to the work, while the Portland Bureau of Transportation has pitched in $38 million. Portland Public Schools has agreed to sell its headquarters there to the Albina Vision Trust for affordable housing projects with $25 million from the 2024 Oregon Legislature.

Read more at PortlandTribune.com.

The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Sharonda Amamilo issued a temporary restraining order Friday that prevents the city of Tumwater from chopping down a 400-year-old Garry oak that is listed on the Tumwater Register of Historic Places.

An attorney for the group Save the Davis Meeker Garry Oak obtained the order to prevent what the group calls a needless and improperly applied use of city power to destroy the historic tree.

Tumwaters mayor spearheaded the misuse of a city code designed to protect historic structures and essentially turned the code on its head to claim it allows the cutting down of this historic tree without a permit, said attorney Ronda Larson Kramer in a statement. The city has now filed a motion to vacate the judges protection, ignoring the wishes of the citizens and the earlier decision by their own Historic Preservation Commission to retain the tree.

Members of the Save the Davis Meeker Garry Oak gathered Saturday afternoon at the tree for a celebration to honor its role as an important route marker along the historic Cowlitz Trail. The tree is located near the intersection of Capitol Boulevard and Almar Lane Southeast.

The trees historical name reflects its status as a landmark on the Cowlitz section of the Oregon Trail. The Cowlitz Trail was a north-south trail used for millennia by tribal nations. Later, the tree was a landmark used by white settlers heading to what is now Washington.

The Garry or white oak is a state-protected species, and the Davis Meeker tree was listed on the Tumwater Register of Historic Places in 1995. It is the only living thing on the register as the rest of the listings are area historic buildings.

This tree is still a landmark today, reminding us of our many cultural roots and of those who have passed this way for thousands of years, said Michelle Peterson, group spokesperson. At 400 years old, it is a middle-aged tree and we intend to protect it for the generations who follow us.

The Olympian is seeking comment from Tumwater Mayor Debbie Sullivan, who made the decision to remove the tree, citing its poor health and high risk for causing accidents, injury or death. Its huge branches hang over the two-lane road that carries an average of 20,000 cars a day.

Her decision was based on a 2023 incident in which an 18-inch-diameter branch fell from 50 feet high in the tree and landed partially in the southbound lane of the road.

I do not want to face a family that has either lost a loved one, a family member, or had one significantly injured from this tree impacting them on a major route, she said.

But Sullivans decision has faced backlash from Tumwater City Council members.

This was not anything I had any input into. And none of us did, council member Joan Cathey said at council meeting earlier this month. We expressed an opinion at the very beginning, and it was given hope that maybe we were being heard. But I just think this is wrong. I think this is not right. I think this damages our relationship with this community.
She stands on a sidewalk wearing an oversized floral dress and headpiece, a la Midsommar, lip syncing let them eat cake as the catchy rhythms of Le Tigres Deceptacon take over. Despite the bouffant hair and lavish dress, we are not in 18th-century France and this is not Marie Antoinetteit is Haley Kalil, TikToks latest It girl. Like Antoinette, Kalil (better known as @haleyybaylee) has found herself at the mercy of her subjects who are calling for her to be digitally guillotined in an emerging trend known as the digitine.

The digitine refers to a digital purge of canceled online celebrities, blocking them with the intent of harming their income following their inaction on the genocide in Gaza. They face an ever-changing set of criteria. No McDonalds, no Barclays bank account. These public figures are judged for their consumer habits rather than their political ones. With recurring phrases like all eyes on Rafah, and watermelon emojis (a symbol of Palestinian solidarity) dominating comment sections, the reckoning was inevitable.

Unfortunately for Kalil, her tone deaf video landed her at the center of the controversy. With allusions to The Hunger Games, users were quick to equate the fictional Capitol and the very real Met Gala, as the worlds elite reveled in a night of excess while protests raged outside.

They Wanted to Be Seen at the Met Gala. They Sure Were.

This separation of powers is a tense balancing act, demanding influencers decide whether social media should be kept apolitical as a place of escapism, or whether they have a moral obligation to decry the worlds injustices. It seems the grace period they were granted is over as viewers demand more from their favorite creators, with those who refuse to speak out finally facing the consequences of their inaction.

Social media has not been designed to preserve this balance. Apps that were once intended as light-hearted platforms for dancing videos have relied on algorithms that instead open the void for users to fall down these nihilistic rabbit holes. TikTok itself has become a dystopia, with a mishmash For You Page featuring videos of dead children immediately followed by highlights from The Basement Yard, or whatever podcast is trending that month.

If you somehow manage to override the algorithm and avoid generating a feed ripe for doom-scrolling, you must grapple with this whiplash effect. Documentaries like The Social Dilemma highlighted these flaws, which resulted in users viewing former President Barack Obamas tweets with the same level of importance as meme accounts. On TikTok, Gazan medical shortages become as important as the latest makeup launch; bombings are only as important as todays recipe tutorial.

Problems like these suggest that it would be irresponsible for influencers to weigh in on global issues, with platforms unequipped at prioritization. Scrolling through Kalils account days after the controversy has this disorienting effect. The Marie Antoinette video has been deleted and her apology has been superseded by a return to her usual comedy content. The apology itself also faced backlash as she said, I am not one of the elite from the comfort of her $17,000 a month apartment. Her bio remains a land where nothing is serious, as she enjoys the privileges of celebrity that so-often enable political apathy.

Ultimately, TikTok is not a news source. Haley Kalil is not a news anchor, and cannot be expected to offer critical insight into a complex, centuries-long conflict. And yet, for those without a political-leaning FYP, these influencers might be their entry point to civic awareness. Its a bleak world when were relying on celebrities like Kim Kardashian to influence global politics, but if she can sell an estimated $750 million in Skims products, just think how much she could raise for people in need.

Kim K Quips Free Everybody When Confronted by Pro-Palestine Protesters

Influencers are quick to leap to their own defense, blaming their own ignorance. Unsurprisingly, this doesnt land with viewers, like when Mario Mirante aggressively refused to take a stand for fear of saying the wrong thing (later releasing this apology). Creators live in these bubbles, untouched by conflict and war. They seem reluctant to denounce their right-wing terrorist fans, or be seen as anything more than neutral when it comes to politics or war, largely from a fear of being canceled. Ignorance isnt always bliss.

There have been plenty of efforts to make it easier for these online celebrities to leverage their large platforms into concrete charitable action. The popular TikTok comedian Erin Hattamer has championed the #passthehat trend while organizations like Operation Olive Branch do the hard work of finding suitable GoFundMe projects for creators to back.

Even those with lesser followings like @Yuvaltheterrible have managed to raise $200,000 in under 24 hours from one video. Imagine that magnified on the scale of influencers across the globe with their millions of fans, and perhaps the pressure put on influencers suddenly doesnt seem so severe.

Although influencers have seemingly managed to delude themselves into thinking they have no impact on the real world, confined to its digital sphere, all of the data points to the contrary. It feels bleak to rely on influencers to educate the masses. It feels even bleaker to live in a world where influencers have so little empathy that they refuse to spend five minutes doing the bare minimum research to post a video with a relevant fundraiser.

Fans are not asking for anything profound. Even a gesture of support is often enough. Without even that bare minimum, perhaps the digitine blade is warranted.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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SAN ANTONIO  The delegates to the Texas Republican Convention on Friday spent much of the gathering's second day tending to the sausage-making processes of partisan politics, haggling over party rules and related matters ahead of the homestretch of the 2024 election cycle.

As that was playing out in the main hall of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center along part of San Antonio's Riverwalk, the party's most senior officeholders sought to present a theme of unity as they prepare to battle Democrats in the November general election.

"What my message was, we've had some pretty rough primaries and rough contests here for (Texas House) leadership, and the most important thing we can do after Tuesday is to unify because fellow Republicans are not the enemy," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn told reporters outside of the convention hall after spending the morning meeting privately with delegates from around Texas.

The 2024 Texas State Convention runs through Saturday, May 25, 2024,

"Our political adversaries are the Democrats, and that's what we need to unify," he added.

Unlike a national political convention that is heavily staged and managed to maximize television coverage, the Texas GOP assembly showed the give-and-take that the nearly 10,000 delegates and alternates go through to adopt the party's platform and pick the leader of the party's apparatus to mobilize foot soldiers at the grassroots level needed to win elections.

One of the protracted debates was whether to update the rule requiring the party chair to be of one gender and the vice chair of the other. Delegates haggled over whether an amendment was needed to state that the chair and the vice chair must be selected on the sex assigned at birth. The convention decided such an amendment was not needed by the Texas GOP.

Gov. Greg Abbott addressed the convention virtually. He was on the campaign trail in North Texas campaigning for Republican state House candidate Katrina Pierson, a former aide to Donald Trump who is aiming to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Justin Holland, who opposed Abbott's push to establish a school voucher system.

Abbott, while praising Pierson, used his address to hammer Democratic President Joe Biden, especially on the twin issues of immigration and border security and to tout his own efforts in South Texas.

"Texas has done more than any state ever to secure the border," Abbott said. "When Biden used a 50-acre park in Eagle Pass as the epicenter of this crisis, there were over 5,000 illegal border crossings a day. Since I ordered the Texas National Guard to take over the park, there are now less than three illegal crossings per day, and those that cross are arrested by DPS."

With the intraparty struggles in the Texas House over school choice and the impeachment inquiry against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, Cornyn's remark Friday about House "leadership" battles was an indirect reference to Speaker Dade Phelan's runoff, which will be decided Tuesday. The state's senior U.S. senator did not indicate a preference in the race between Phelan and challenger David Covey, an oil and gas consultant who is being backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Paxton.

Asked if Republicans are facing a real challenge in Texas, which for the past two decades has been the nation's most reliable red state, Cornyn replied in the affirmative.

"Well, I think yes. I hope all of this gets resolved in a way that everybody settles things down and people accept the outcome Tuesday," said Cornyn, who did not address the full convention. "But I always worry when you have Republican-on-Republican violence. But again, the message is once the primary is over, if people come together and accept the result, then we'll be stronger."

It remained unclear as of Friday afternoon whom the convention would elect as its Republican Party chairman for the next two years. Delegates spend the morning and part of the afternoon meeting in caucuses formed by the state's 31 Senate districts in which each could decide on a nominee. Early indications pointed to no candidate emerging with majority support, meaning the election would be decided after a floor debate.

The convention started Thursday when the dominant theme was to ensure that Texas remains in Trump's column in the presidential race. The gathering is scheduled to end Saturday, when U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who is bracing for an aggressive reelection campaign against U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, in November, will take the stage.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Abbott, Cornyn call for Republican Party unity at State Convention
Top Mexican cartel criminal El Nini, once among Americas most wanted, extradited to the US

Nestor Isidro Perez is belived to be one of the leaders in the Chapitos' security apparatus. - United States Drug Enforcement Administration

A top Mexican cartel member known as El Nini, who was one of Americas most-wanted criminals for his alleged role in the fentanyl trade, has been extradited to the United States.

In a speech celebrating US-Mexico cooperation on the case, US President Joe Biden on Saturday hailed the extradition of El Nini  also known as Nestor Isidro Perez Salas  as a good day for justice.

El Nini played a prominent role in the notorious Sinaloa cartel, one of the deadliest drug trafficking enterprises in the world. The United States has charged him for his role in illicit fentanyl trafficking and for murdering, torturing, and kidnapping numerous rivals, witnesses, and others, Biden said, thanking Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Our governments will continue to work together to attack the fentanyl and synthetic drug epidemic that is killing so many people in our homelands and globally, and to bring to justice the criminals and organizations producing, smuggling, and selling these lethal poisons in both of our countries, he added.

According to the US Department of Justice, Nestor Isidro Perez Salas was one of the Sinaloa cartels lead sicarios, or assassins and was involved in the production and sale of fentanyl in the United States.

Biden has previously described El Nini as one of Americas most-wanted criminals. Perez Salas was charged in the US with cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and witness retaliation in February 2021.

The US State Department offered a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to his arrest and he was detained in Mexico in November of last year.

According to the State Department, Perez Salas worked directly with Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez, a subordinate of Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, one of the sons of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who was sentenced to prison in the US in 2019.

The State Department also said Perez Salas was responsible for the security apparatus of Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa cartel.

He is accused of being one of the commanders of the Ninis cell, described as a particularly violent group of security personnel for Los Chapitos.

I am grateful to our Mexican government counterparts for their extraordinary efforts in apprehending and extraditing El Nini, US Attorney General Merrick Garlands office said in a statement.

The Justice Department will continue to go after the cartels responsible for flooding our communities with fentanyl and other drugs.

CNNs Evan Perez and Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A tornado tore through a Barnsdall church May 6. But the altar  and a single lit candle  were untouched

A church sustained broken windows and roof damage, while its adjacent parish hall was destroyed when a May 6 tornado wreaked havoc on the small city of Barnsdall.

But the first person to arrive at St. Mary's Catholic Church after the storm was brought to his knees by something else he noticed amid all of the debris and mud-splattered pews: a candle representing the presence of Christ remained lit at the altar.

"I turned and I looked at the altar, and the crucifix and the candles, everything  they were all untouched," parishioner Jack Johnson said.

"When the Eucharist is in the tabernacle on the altar, there always needs to be a candle lit as long as Jesus' body is there. And the candle was still lit because Jesus's body obviously was there."

A damaged Catholic church is pictured in neighborhood in Barnsdall on May 7.

The Eucharistic Host is considered by Catholic Christians to be the body of Jesus Christ. The consecrated host  typically a small unleavened wafer of bread  is considered sacred. It is an integral part of the Eucharist, also called Holy Communion.

Johnson said he lives just outside town, and he felt compelled to check on the church because he is responsible for lighting the sanctuary candle signifying the presence of Christ. He said he drove his normal route to the church about 9:30 a.m. May 7, and saw the "heartbreaking" damage to homes and other property along the tornado's path.

More: 'We need prayers': A tornado left a path of destruction and death in Barnsdall, Oklahoma

He said he called St. Mary's pastor, the Rev. Emmanuel Nduka, once he got to the church, and they both knelt at the altar, awestruck that the EF4 tornado had somehow bypassed the altar with its lighted candle. He said he thought the tornadic winds blew out the doors of the church and whipped about all four corners of the house of worship but steered clear of the altar at the center.

"There was a little bit of debris, a couple of leaves, but pretty much that whole area was just like we had left it on that Sunday," Johnson said.

He said Nduka turned to him and declared that Sunday Mass would be held at St. Mary's in just a few days time.

Johnson said with two deaths, several people injured and much property damage, he is hoping that what happened at the small church will come to symbolize hope for the future of Barnsdall.

The altar at St. Mary's Catholic Church withstood damage from a tornado that swept through the city of Barnsdall.

At Mass on the Sunday after the storm, Nduka shared the same sentiment with about 100 parishioners who filed into the church. God, he said, should have the final word regarding what happened, and he wanted to focus attention on the Lord and not the destruction, Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine reported.

"Do not be afraid, my dear friends," Nduka reportedly said in his homily.

More: Bills providing $45M in disaster relief for counties hit by tornadoes heads to Stitt's desk

"God is in control. God is in charge. As a community, as a church, we shall emerge better and stronger."

Johnson agreed.

"He (Nduka) was saying that the Lord is still here with the town  he's still here right in the midst."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Barnsdall tornado destroys St. Mary's church, but altar untouched
Traffic alert: Miami Beach closes roads for Memorial Day stretch. Here are the changes

There are many reasons to head to South Beach this Memorial Day weekend.

Theres the Hyundai Air and Sea Show, a showcasing of technology from five U.S. military branches featuring performances, military displays and fireworks and a Kids Fun Zone with activities like rock climbing and bungee jumping.

Theres a weather forecast that calls for plenty of sun to lounge on the sand and dip into the ocean.

Theres also a reason to avoid South Beach this weekend: traffic backups.

Heres what to know about whats happening on the streets this weekend in Miami Beach during Memorial Day activities.

Traffic changes

Crowds move up and down Ocean Drive during Memorial Day weekend at Miami Beach, Florida, on Sunday, May 28, 2023.

MORE: When are worst times to drive for Memorial Day? Take a look at Florida traffic forecast

 Expect delays heading into Miami Beach as one lane of eastbound traffic will be closed on both the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

 Traffic can only enter Ocean Drive through 13th Street and exit through 5th Street. There will be no access to other entry or exit points.

 Traffic on Collins and Washington avenues will only flow northbound and southbound, with no access from east or west except at 5th and 16th streets.

 Flamingo Park and South of Fifth residents should use Alton Road to enter and exit their neighborhoods. Barricades will restrict traffic and officers will be on hand. Miami Beach calls this a residential protected zone.

 Traffic will be restricted along Washington Avenue and Fifth Street, where residents and visitors should be prepared to show identification or advise where they are going. These entrances will be staffed by security personnel to restrict cut-through traffic in residential areas.

 Drivers can expect fixed license plate readers around the city and mobile license plate readers along the Fifth Street corridor and the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

READ MORE: Think Miami Beach is hard to drive in now? Wait till Memorial Day weekend. What to know

Keeping kids safe

Once you are on South Beach with the family you want to make sure no one gets lost during the busy Air & Sea Show  the little ones may want to play in the Kids Fun Zone, for instance.

Miami Beach police will run the K.I.D.S. program, aka Kid ID Station, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and again Sunday at Lummus Park on 8th, 10th and 12th streets. The officers will hand out free wristbands for children and adults with special needs. These wristbands would include the guardians name and contact information and could help reunite anyone who gets lost in the crowd.

Spot a B-1 bomber

Want to see one of the Air and Sea Show B-1s fly over head without having to head to the Beach?

One of the military air craft B-1s will be flying over Miami International Airport around 2:30 p.m. Saturday and about 2 p.m. Sunday. If youre around the area look up and react quickly with your smart phones to take a picture. Consider using the burst mode on your camera phone so as to have multiple shots so you can select the clearest image.

MORE: Are Costco and Publix open? Mall hours? What to know about shopping on Memorial Day
Proposals have no chance of passing, as Mr Zuckerberg has majority control over shares - Susan Walsh/AP

Mark Zuckerberg is facing a shareholder revolt over Facebook and Instagrams approach to child safety, as his social media empire comes under growing scrutiny for its impact on adolescents.

The advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis have told investors to support a shareholder proposal calling for more disclosures over how parent company Meta approaches keeping children safe.

The resolution, which will be voted on at Wednesdays annual meeting, calls for Meta to set targets to measure how it affects child safety and report annually on its performance. It has been put forward by Lisette Cooper, the mother of Sarah Cooper, who said she was groomed over Facebook at the age of 15.

Meta often faces pressure from investors over its approach to child safety, and the non-binding resolutions have no chance of passing, since Mr Zuckerberg has majority control over Metas shares.

However, new laws designed to protect children online mean that shareholders consider there to be a growing risk if Meta is seen as taking a lax approach to child safety.

The shareholder proposal, which is also supported by a string of church groups, says: Metas website lists some steps taken to improve child safety, but it has no publicly available, company-wide child safety or harm reduction performance targets for investors and stakeholders to judge the effectiveness of Metas announced tools, policies and actions.

Meta said in shareholder documents that it had made a series of efforts to protect young users, and that issuing an annual report on the matter would be unnecessary.

However, ISS said the company continues to experience controversies related to child safety and that shareholders would benefit from additional information on how the company is managing the risks.

Glass Lewis said: We do not believe that the company has provided sufficient disclosure to demonstrate to shareholders that these risks will be managed by the company, nor do we have any reason to be assured that the company will act proactively rather than reactively.

ISS and Glass Lewis recommendations are influential because they often determine how fund managers and other institutional shareholders vote.

Earlier this month the EU opened an investigation into whether Facebook and Instagram have potentially addictive effects on children. The company says it has dozens of tools to make social media safer.

In the UK, the company is facing new online safety laws as well as ongoing opposition to its plans to introduce encryption to Facebook and Instagrams messaging services.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
I traveled 35 hours and halfway across the world to meet an online friend. I'm so glad I did it.

I became a full-time writer during COVID-19 and spent hours connecting with other writers online.

Despite living on different sides of the world, I connected the most with Joe.

On the spur of the moment, I finally decided to visit him.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I decided to sell my travel business and become a full-time writer.

It was a massive change for me. I went from working in an office surrounded by colleagues to being home 24/7 and working alone. To overcome loneliness, I joined various writing platforms and discussion groups and met many other writers who felt the same way.

One person I connected with was Joe.

On paper, we were very different. Joe was in his early 30s, lived in El Salvador, and worked several jobs to support his family. I lived in Australia, was in my late 40s, and had just sold a successful business. Despite our different backgrounds, we hit it off and soon became great friends.

We would edit each other's work and assist with idea generation and feedback

Even though English is my first language, while Joe's is Spanish, he seemed to have a far better knowledge of grammar rules and would often correct my mistakes. I felt like I was back in school sometimes. We would chat every day, and over the two years I was in lockdown in Australia, I thought of Joe as my work colleague and a good friend.

As the world opened up at the end of 2021, we didn't communicate as much as we should have because we were busy with family, work, and other things.

Our messages dropped from daily to weekly, and soon, we only checked in on each other every other month. Despite this, when I began writing my second book in 2023, I asked Joe to help edit it. Once the book was released, I posted a signed copy to Joe.

Unfortunately, the book was lost somewhere in the United States.

I was tracking the book, but after five months, it had yet to reach El Salvador, and the USPS postal service had lost its location. I joked to Joe that he would only see my book if I hand-delivered it. Joe laughed and agreed.

Then, I made a spur-of-the-moment promise  life is short, so I committed to traveling around the world to give him a copy of my book personally. Joe didn't believe me, but I was determined.

I flew to meet him in person

Four weeks later, I stood tired and jetlagged in the humid Salvadoran weather, anxiously waiting for Joe to arrive at my hotel.

For some reason, I felt nervous, as if I was meeting a blind date. As soon as Joe stepped out of an Uber, he had a massive smile, and we approached each other. Soon, he was giving me a tour of San Salvador as we chatted away like old friends, which we were. He took me to his favorite pupuseria to try the iconic national dish  the pupusa. It felt surreal to be sitting and eating with Joe after all this time.

The author and his friend eating pupusas. Courtesy of the author

Over the next few days, we toured El Salvador, and I met his wife and daughter.

Although it took 35 hours to get from Melbourne to San Salvador, I was so glad I made the trip happen. Too often, we meet people online but only ever see them from behind a screen, so it felt great to turn a digital friend into a real-life friend. On the last day before I departed to make the long trek home, Joe made a promise to me. He is writing a fantasy book, and when it is finished, he will hand-deliver it to me in Melbourne.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Behavioral health in short supply

I am writing to stress the importance of our communitys lack of awareness and access to behavioral health services in Benton and Franklin counties. Right now, there are 300-400 patients with one mental health provider.

Access to the provider during a crisis is limited, leaving most patients untreated or in the emergency room where proper treatment is restricted. Suicides and attempted suicides by adolescents 10-17 from 2001- 2021 have increased by 73%.

Washington state is currently one of the lowest-ranking states in our nation in serving individuals with mental health conflicts. More than half the counties in Washington state do not have a psychiatrist. In the counties that do have a psychiatrist or other mental health providers, many do not take state insurance.

This affects low-income people and minorities in communities like ours. Recruiting and retaining mental health providers in these areas is difficult. We need to do more within our community and statewide to support mental health issues.

We need to raise awareness of the resources that available. The Lourdes Counseling Center crisis line helps individuals in a mental health crisis by calling 509-783-0500.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Become an advocate or volunteer in making a difference.

Stacey Faylor, Richland

A readers retort to partisan court

This is an ode to our partisan Supreme Court  it has overturned a womans right to abort. And now it may ban mifepristone  will political bias again be shown?

Alito has flaunted his way  he flew a Stop the Steal flag display.

The Court still accepts the AK-47  school kids still are accepted into heaven.

Is a former president above the law? We have only silence from Kavanaugh. Is assassinating a presidents rival OK? The Court has struggled to rule No way!

The Justices code of ethics is loaded with shoulds, allowing them to pocket the goods.

The Courts approval is at an all-time low  perhaps it is trying to compete with Joe. Can it regain the publics trust? Yes, but moderation clearly is a must.

If Trump wins another term, the Justices will find it rough. No measure of loyalty will be nearly enough.

Can they be brought to their senses? If not, their futures will be like Pences.

Russ Treat, Richland

Phones can help in several ways

I do not support the attempts to ban phones from schools. Yes, there may be concerns about kids using their phones too much during class, causing a distraction, but there are many reasons why we should keep phones.

To start, phones are a resource, you can use your phone as a calculator, as your own tutor, and even to help you create essays. Phones can add a lot to the educational system and getting rid of them would completely halt the learning curve, we cant be stuck in the old times where we had only books and paper. Phones can help you stay on top of your work if used correctly.

Now there are some kids who may take advantage of the phones and not use them correctly in the classroom, but that can be fixed with punishable acts such as a phone box where you wont get (your phone) back until the end of the class or even the dropping of grades for abuse.

I urge more schools consider the benefits of phones in school.

Tigani Acosta, Kennewick

Dump Newhouse, vote for Smiley

Whether youre an ardent Donald Trump supporter or a vehement opponent of the former president, there is something everyone should be able to agree upon  and its something that Tiffany Smiley has hit spot on in announcing her campaign for Congress: Congressman Dan Newhouse will not be able to get anything done legislatively under a second presidency of Donald Trump.

We can all agree that former President Trump can, does and will hold a grudge. This will certainly apply to pro-impeachment Congressman Newhouse, and we should all assume that Trump will do everything he can to block any priority of Newhouses from being signed into law. We should take that into consideration as a community.

It has nothing to do with Newhouse or Smiley or anyone else. It has everything to do with what is best for our district.If we want our priorities heard during the next administration, we need to vote with our eyes wide open.

Ill be voting for Smiley this August primary. Its best to elect someone who can work with anyone necessary to get the job done for Washingtons 4th Congressional District. The best person for that is Tiffany Smiley.

Vicky Jones, Pasco
Former President Trump took a swing at Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Saturday, after the independent presidential candidate criticized his response to the COVID-19 pandemic while in the White House.

Dont waste any Republican or Conservative votes on Junior, Trump wrote Saturday on Truth Social. Hes one of the most Liberal Lunatics ever to run for office. He caused massive high energy pricing in New York and New England. He just admitted that he was actually OK with the Vaccine.

A Phony Radical Left fool whose poll numbers are TERRIBLE, and getting worse, he added. His campaign is falling apart, great dissension!!!

The former presidents comments come a day after Kennedy alleged that Trump, along with his administration, violated peoples First Amendment rights by putting in place certain health guidelines to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The long-shot candidate said that while he believed Trump had the right instinct at first, but signaled he was rolled by the bureaucrats into imposing lockdowns and vaccine requirements.

He caved in, and many of our most fundamental rights disappeared practically overnight, Kennedy argued in his speech at the Libertarian National Convention.

President Trump allowed his health regulators to mandate science-free social distancing, which undermined our First Amendment rights to freedom of assembly. We could no longer peacefully gather, he added.

Trump has previously said that voting for Kennedy is a WASTED PROTEST VOTE and referred to him as a Democrat Plant.

RFK Jr. is a Democrat Plant, a Radical Left Liberal whos been put in place in order to help Crooked Joe Biden, the Worst President in the History of the United States, get Re-Elected, Trump said in a Truth Social post last month. A Vote for Junior would essentially be a WASTED PROTEST VOTE, that could swing either way, but would only swing against the Democrats if Republicans knew the true story about him. Junior is totally Anti-Gun, an Extreme Environmentalist who makes the Green New Scammers look Conservative, a Big Time Taxer and Open Border Advocate, and Anti-Military/Vet

Trump is also slated to address the Libertarian convention Saturday, where Kennedy has challenged him to a debate.

Its perfect neutral territory for you and me to have a debate where you can defend your record for your wavering supporters, he said in his request.

You yourself have said youre not afraid to debate me as long as my poll numbers are decent, Kennedy continued. Well, they are. In fact, Im the only presidential candidate in history who has polled ahead of both major party candidates in head-to-head races.

The Hill has reached out to the Kennedy campaign.

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.
Trump is still pushing the limits of the gag order. It could come back to haunt him at sentencing.

NEW YORK  So far, Donald Trump has faced only fines for repeatedly violating a gag order in his hush money case.

The consequences might not end there. If hes convicted, Trumps defiance of the judges order  including two recent comments posing a new test of its boundaries  could make things worse for the former president at sentencing.

Those are obviously aggravating factors, generically speaking, for someone to get a stiffer sentence, said Mark Bederow, a veteran New York defense attorney and former Manhattan prosecutor, referring to Trumps unrepentant verbal attacks on witnesses, prosecutors and the judge himself.

Justice Juan Merchan has already punished Trump for some of those attacks. Merchan twice held Trump in contempt for 10 comments that he found to violate the gag order, which he imposed before the trial to try to keep Trump from bullying people involved in the case. The judge issued a $1,000 fine for each violation, the maximum allowed under state law. And, in an explicit recognition that the fines would have little deterrence for a man as rich as Trump, he threatened to throw the former president in jail for future violations.

For a while after the jail threat on May 6, Trump was better behaved in his public commentary. But as the trial nears its end  with closing arguments scheduled for Tuesday  he has resumed making comments that seem to dare the judge into taking further action.

On May 16 and again on May 21, Trump assailed one of the prosecutors working on the case, Matthew Colangelo. Although Trump did not use Colangelos name, his comments  in which he claimed that a prosecutor came from the Justice Department to run the hush money case  were clear references to Colangelo, who worked at DOJ before moving to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office.

Under the gag order, Trump is forbidden from publicly commenting on the team working for DA Alvin Bragg (though he is allowed to comment on Bragg himself). He is also not permitted to comment on jurors or witnesses.

Prosecutors have not alerted Merchan to Trumps most recent comments about Colangelo  a departure from their practice early in the trial, when they notified the judge about every potential violation of the gag order.

Now, they appear focused on simply getting the case over the finish line.

The gag order, having to deal with the gag order, is a huge distraction for both sides, said Anna Cominsky, a law professor at New York Law School.

They may have decided that with some of these  what they may determine are violations  that they just dont want to pursue, Cominsky said.



But that doesnt mean prosecutors arent keeping track of Trumps public comments. And if hes convicted, prosecutors could invoke them as one reason for a stiffer sentence.

Trumps contempt for the judges gag order is so unprecedented that its very difficult to say how a judge would usually handle such a situation, said Barbara McQuade, a legal commentator and former U.S. attorney.

Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The maximum prison sentence is four years, but any prison time is far from certain because the charges are low-level felonies and Trump, if convicted, would be a first-time offender. Merchans decision about whether to impose prison time or some lesser punishment, like probation, might hinge on how the judge weighs various mitigating or aggravating factors.

Remorse and the need to promote respect for the law are typically factors that a judge takes into consideration when imposing sentences. Trumps repeated violations of the gag order certainly demonstrate the lack of remorse and respect for the law, McQuade said.

Cominsky agreed it is something the judge could consider at sentencing, but said in her view it would not be appropriate to impose a harsher sentence based on the gag order violations.

With respect to the contempt, he has already been punished, Cominsky said.

The pair of contempt orders did seem to have somewhat of a chilling effect on Trumps rhetoric. Most of the 10 violations came from social-media statements Trump posted about potential witnesses, and he has stopped doing that.



And in his daily gaggles with reporters in the courthouse hallway, he frequently notes that hes limited in what hes allowed to say while arguing that those limits violate his First Amendment rights.

Remember, Im gagged, he said earlier this week on the day that his lawyers rested their case. So why would I take the chance? We do want to defend our Constitution. So at some point maybe I will take the chance.

Later that day, Trump did appear to take a chance when, speaking again to reporters in the hallway, he took one of his swipes at Colangelo.

Look at the person, why dont you look at the person who argued their case, almost the entire case? Look at the person  where did he come from? Trump said of the prosecutor.

He came from Biden, he added. I dont know if its Biden because I dont think Biden has any idea of what the hell is happening, but its from the fascists that circle the Oval Office.

Colangelo is a former Justice Department official who joined Braggs office in 2022. His former federal role has made him a target of conservative media and the House Judiciary Committee, whose GOP chairman recently sought records about him from the New York attorney general.

With the trial on a hiatus until Tuesdays closing arguments, Trump has several days in which hes not confined to the courthouse under the watchful eyes of Merchan  or the eyes of his lawyers, who stay constantly at his side in and around the courtroom.

Trump has a number of public events scheduled, including a speech on Saturday at the Libertarian convention. Prosecutors will probably be watching to see how conservative Trump is with his words.
In 2020, Dr. Yahya Basha of West Bloomfield supported Joe Biden for president, donating money to the Biden campaign and keeping a photo of him with Biden in his office.

But earlier this week, Basha, 78, visited an Italian restaurant in Troy along with dozens of other Arab American and Middle Eastern leaders in Michigan to meet with a former Donald Trump administration official, Richard Grenell, and Trump's son-in-law, Michael Boulos, 26, who's of Lebanese descent and married to Tiffany Trump. About 40 of them gathered to discuss the Middle East and other topics as a way for both sides to engage with each other, according to five Arab American advocates who attended the May 21 meeting at Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant.

"I felt it was positive, the first step in the right direction," said Basha, president of Basha Diagnostics in Royal Oak, who helped host the two-hour meeting. "The door is open."

Michael Boulos, left, a son-in-law of Donald Trump married to Tiffany Trump, was at Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant in Troy, Michigan, on May 21, 2024, along with John Akouri, of Farmington Hills, a Republican and Lebanese American leader, architect and West Bloomfield planning commissioner Ghassan Abdelhour, and Massad Boulos, father of Michael Boulos. They were part of a meeting with Middle Eastern leaders in Michigan with Richard Grenell, a Michigan native who served under Trump as acting director of U.S. National Intelligence and an ambassador to Germany.

Grenell did not comment too much on specifics during the meeting, but he emphasized the idea of achieving peace through strength, said attendees. Grenell, who was once the Ambassador to Germany and later the acting director of National Intelligence under Trump, also touted the Abraham Accords agreement reached under Trump between Israel and some Arab nations. Grenell did not return a message seeking comment about the Troy meeting.

"He did bring up the Abraham Accords ... showing the success of the former president's ability to work on bringing peace to all in the Middle East," said John Akouri, of Farmington Hills, a Lebanese American advocate who was former press secretary for ex-U.S. House. Rep. Joe Knollenberg of 9th House district in Oakland County. Grenell spoke of "the plan for a return of ... the Abraham Accords to continue to bring peace to the Middle East," Akouri said.

Boulos attended the dinner along with his father, Massad Boulos, described in media reports as a billionaire with roots in Lebanon who once lived in Nigeria.

A spokesperson for the Republican National Committee told the Free Press they could not comment on the meeting since it was not an official Trump campaign meeting, but said in an emailed statement: "Many Americans are deeply concerned by President Biden's failures in Middle East policy, and are interested in returning to a world where President Trump's Peace through Strength agenda brings stability rather than chaos and war worldwide."

According to attendees, the meeting included several Syrian Americans, such as Basha, who strongly oppose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad; Lebanese American Christians such as Akouri and Boulos; a Pakistani American leader, Mohammad Qazi, president of Siena Health Care in Southfield; Iraqi American businessman Shakir al Khafaji, who briefly attended; Bishara Bahbah of Arizona, the national chair of Arab Americans for Trump; Mike Hacham of Dearborn, the Michigan coordinator for Arab Americans for Trump; Yemeni Americans from Wayne County; Egyptian-Americans, Chaldeans and some Palestinian Americans. Shias, Sunnis and Christians were represented. Some of those who attended were from outside Michigan.

Richard Grenell, former Ambassador to Germany and former acting director of National Intelligence under President Donald Trump, speaks to Arab American leaders on May 21, 2024, at Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant in Troy, Michigan. On his left is Michael Boulos, a son-in-law of Trump married to Tiffany Trump who's of Lebanese descent. On Grenell's right is Boulos' father, Massad Boulos. Sitting in front is Mike Hacham, of Dearborn, the Michigan coordinator for Arab Americans for Trump

The meeting illustrated how diverse are the 310,000 residents in Michigan of Middle Eastern descent. The various groups have different views and interests, at times at odds with each other on issues like the conflicts in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. But organizers said they were united in saying they were frustrated with Biden.

Biden and other Democrats have said in response that Trump was responsible for the travel ban on some Muslim nations and that another Trump administration would be harmful to the civil rights of Arab Americans.

"Trump is the biggest threat to the Muslim and Arab community - he and his allies believe we dont belong in this country and Trump is openly speaking about allowing Israel to bomb Gaza without any regard," Ammar Moussa, rapid response director for Biden-Harris 2024, said in a statement. Moussa alleged that Trump is racist and anti-Muslim while Biden "is working tirelessly towards a just and lasting peace."

Basha, a native of Syria, said "we tried to focus on the issue of Syria" during the meeting. Basha feels that the Biden administration has been too accommodating to groups who support Syria's government. Others at the meeting brought up the issue of Gaza, where thousands have been killed in Israeli strikes.

At one point, Grenell talked about the potential for Gaza in the future, Akouri said.

More: Trump campaign courts Arab American and Muslim voters in Michigan

Grenell talked about how "Gaza is ... on the waterfront ... there's a lot of opportunity there for the Palestinian people, once Hamas is gone, for them to invest in Gaza," Akouri said, recalling Grenell's remarks. Grenell said the "Gaza Strip could be a resort of sorts with all the lakefront property ... and to create this economic windfall of individuals to come and go, and to live and benefit from."

Over the years, Basha has supported both Republicans and Democrats. Like many other Muslims, he backed George W. Bush for president in 2000, but sometimes has more liberal views on social issues such as abortion. He was opposed to the overturning of Roe v Wade.

Dr. Yahya Basha of West Bloomfield and other Arab American leaders met on May 21, 2024, with former Trump administration official Richard Grenell and Trump's son-in-law at a meeting in Troy. Basha is pictured here at his Basha Diagnostics office in Royal Oak in June 2022.

"In the past, most of the Arabs and Muslims in Michigan went for Biden in the last election because of the negative feedback about this travel ban, etc.," Basha said, referring to Trump's banning of visitors from several Muslim-majority nations and some other countries.

Biden repealed that travel ban, but now, many are upset with his policies supporting Israel's attacks in Gaza. At a Dearborn rally on May 19, Arab Americans chanted "Genocide Joe," saying they would not vote for Biden in the fall.

Tuesday's meeting was the latest example of outreach by some Republicans to Arab Americans. In 2022, Republican candidates joined Arab Americans protesting some LGBTQ+ books in public schools; the GOP made gains in Dearborn in the November 2022 election. And in August, Michael Flynn, a retired Army general who once served as Trump's national security adviser, came to Hamtramck to speak to Arab American and Muslim leaders.

Bahbah, a Palestinian American Christian who attended the meeting, said he was a Democrat until recently and now supports Trump.

"I'm ... furious about the Biden administration, what they're doing in the Middle East," he said. "I believe the meeting was extremely successful."

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump son-in-law, Richard Grenell met with Michigan Arab Americans
Civil War Round Table sets program on Grant

DOVER  The Tuscarawas Valley Civil War Round Table will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Dover Public Library. Dr. Curt Fields will present a first-personal portrayal of Civil War General and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. For more information, call 330-343-6123 or email director@doverlibrary.org.

An Amish boy plows a field in Wayne Township, Monday, May 20.

Chocolate Walk is June 8

DOVER  The Downtown Dover Chocolate Walk will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. June 8. Tickets are on sale at The Emporium and the Dover Public Library. Tickets are $20 with proceeds benefiting the Canal Town Book Festival. Tickets can also be purchased at www.doverlibrary.org.

Ticket holders will be given a passport, map and a bag and will receive a chocolate treat at 25 downtown Sweet Stops, to celebrate Dover's merchants and community organizations. An after party featuring live music from local band Basement Bromance will follow at Hoodletown Brewery. For more information, contact Jim Gill at 330-343-6123.

A box turtle crosses Winklepleck Road NW near Dundee, Monday, May 20.

Vacation bible school summer camp

DOVER  Camp Firelight vacation Bible school summer camp for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade will be 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 17-20 at Dover First United Methodist Church, 1725 N. Wooster Ave.

Activities will include music, crafts, science lab, outdoor games and Bible stories. Bring your family for a free kid-friendly meal from 5 to 5:45 each evening. Register at doverfirst.org using the VBS Menu tab. For more information, email doverfirst@gmail.com or call 330-343-1322.

Ambulance district meeting rescheduled

MINERAL CITY  The Mineral Sandy Ambulance Districts regular meeting scheduled for June 3 has been postponed. The rescheduled meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 10 at the Mineral City Volunteer Fire Station.

Donations needed for NPHS choral uniforms

NEW PHILADELPHIA  The New Philadelphia High School Vocal Majority parent booster group is raising funds for choral uniforms for high school vocal music students to wear for concerts and competitions. The goal is at least $6,000. As of May 13, NPHS choral students had raised $1,000 through pepperoni roll sales, and Vocal Majority had raised another $500 through donations from businesses.

A donation of $100 would buy a complete uniform for one student, however, a donation in any amount will be accpeted. Checks can be made out to Vocal Majority and mailed to Vocal Majority, c/o NPHS, 343 Ray Ave. NW, New Phila, OH 44663. Donations can be made through PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/quakervocalmajority or through Venmo at https://www.venmo.com/u/quakervocalmajority @quakervocalmajority.

All donors who share their names will be recognized on a sign or program displayed at NPHSs choral concerts during the 2024-25 school year. Donors who have questions or would like information on how to get a receipt for tax purposes can contact Kristi Prucha at pruchak@npschools.org or call 330-365-4048.

Custer Observance is Saturday

NEW RUMLEY  The annual Custer Observance, which celebrates the Civil War general in his hometown of New Rumley, will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Custer Monument, with music provided by JT Thompson of Scio. Members of the Scio American Legion Post 482 will post the colors. Gen. George Armstrong Custer will be portrayed by Rick Williams and master of ceremonies will be Leroy VanHorne. Williams has portrayed Custer since 2003 and has been with the Custer Memorial Association since 2008.

Dr. Mandal Haas of Carrollton and his Civil War cannon will be back this year. There will be Civil War artillery and infantry reenactors on hand to explain their weapons and equipment and give demonstrations on their use.

A video presentation from Custer Memorial Association member and Little Bighorn Battlefield guide Michael Hasch will be in the church sanctuary.

Entries accepted for royalty contest

SCIO  The Scio Summer Fest Committee is accepting entries for its royalty contest held during this years festival Aug. 7-10. Ages are as follows: Junior Princess, ages 0-5; Junior Prince, ages 0-5; Princess, ages 6-12; Prince, ages 6-12; Queen, ages 13-18. The contest is open to anyone. For information, call Chris Edwards at 330-244-6029.

Speaker series topic is 1800s glass bottles

ZOAR  Historic Zoar Villages free speaker series continues at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Schoolhouse, where visitors can view rare 1800s glass bottles presented by Todd Knisley from The Ohio Bottle Club. Knisley is the editor for the Ohio Bottle Clubs The Ohio Swirl monthly newsletter and has a wide range of collectable and rare glass bottles.

For more information, visit www.historiczoarvillage.com or call 330-874-3011.

Summer reading program

NEW PHILADELPHIA  The Tuscarawas County Public Library System's summer reading program will be held June 3 through July 27, at the main library, as well as the Bolivar, Strasburg, Sugarcreek, and Tuscarawas branches. A kickoff party will be held at each locations.

Library customers can download the Beanstack Tracker app onto any of their smart devices or visit tusclibrary.beanstack.org on a home computer to register.

Details about the program and kick off parties are available at your library.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tuscarawas County roundup: News from the Dover-New Philadelphia area
VSP identifies teen as one of two killed in Henry County vehicle fire

UPDATE 5/26 9:37 A.M. (WFXR) Virginia State Police have released further details regarding their investigation of a vehicle fire that killed two people on Figsboro Road in Henry County.

According to VSP, a 2014 Chevrolet Impala was traveling north on Figsboro Road when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and struck several trees, which caused the Chevrolet to spark and become fully engulfed by flames.

Man killed in multi-vehicle crash on US-220 in Franklin County

State police identified the two victims as 17-year-old Azetta Sone Hairston and 19-year-old Jahnavia Sadee Rose Hairston of Martinsville. They were both reportedly wearing their seat belts.

This crash remains under investigation. WFXR News will update this story as further information is released.



HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Virginia State Police reports two people were killed following a vehicle fire on Figsboro Road in Henry County early Saturday morning.

Details remain limited about the incident at this time.

VSP says this crash remains under investigation.

WFXR News will update this story as further information is released.

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 WFXRtv.
A UC Davis campus police officer unintentionally discharged a firearm early Friday while detaining a person who was among multiple groups  including at least one UC Davis student  suspected of vandalizing university buildings and landmark sculptures, officials said.

Officers were called about 1:40 a.m. to reports of three people spray painting the universitys famous Egghead sculptures near the Art Building, a news release said. Bill Kisliuk, a university spokesman, declined to describe the graffiti in hopes to discourage copycat tagging.

A foot chase began, and a police officer unintentionally fired his weapon while attempting to detain an individual, the news release said. No one was injured.

Officers believe multiple groups of people were vandalizing campus facilities at the same time, the release said. While the university respects our communitys right to free expression, vandalism is not protected speech.

A 30-year-old man, 31-year-old woman and 20-year-old woman were arrested by police, Kisliuk said.

The 20-year-old students actions will also be reviewed to see if her actions abided by the universitys policy on student conduct and discipline.

The officer who discharged the firearm will be placed on administrative leave, Kisliuk said. UC Davis Police Chief Joe Farrow referred the incident to the UC Davis Police Accountability Board, an independent board comprised of students, staff and faculty, for review.

The 30-year-old Eggheads sculptures are a beloved art installation on campus. Students pose by the bald heads for graduation photos or rub them for good luck on exams.
The Defence Intelligence of the United Kingdom has highlighted the entrenched corruption within the structures of the Russian Ministry of Defence and, in connection with this, expressed expectations of new arrests within the ministry.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 25 May, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The ministry mentioned the latest in a series of arrests of officials from the Russian Ministry of Defence, when on 23 May, Russian Deputy Chief of the General Staff Vadim Shamarin was detained on suspicion of bribery.

This followed recent arrests of other high-ranking officials of the Russian Ministry of Defence also suspected of corruption  Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov, and Head of Personnel Yury Kuznetsov.

The intelligence service noted that the detained Shamarin had headed the communications directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defence since 2021, and one of his predecessors in this position, Khalil Arslanov, was also prosecuted for corruption.

"Corruption is deeply rooted in the Russian MOD, and it is likely that there will be further arrests," the review stated.

Background:

UK Defence Intelligence said that Russia is stepping up its war against Ukraine with resources previously earmarked for Africa, including the African Corps, which includes former Wagnerites.

The day before, UK intelligence expressed confidence in the destruction of the Russian corvette Tsiklon, a Kalibr cruise missile carrier, as a result of a Ukrainian strike on the port of occupied Sevastopol on 19 May.

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Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, MGM Resorts International fair value estimate is US$61.95

Current share price of US$39.72 suggests MGM Resorts International is potentially 36% undervalued

Analyst price target for MGM is US$56.40 which is 9.0% below our fair value estimate

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for MGM Resorts International

The Model

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$1.43b US$1.68b US$1.79b US$1.89b US$1.97b US$2.05b US$2.12b US$2.18b US$2.25b US$2.31b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Est @ 6.54% Est @ 5.29% Est @ 4.42% Est @ 3.81% Est @ 3.38% Est @ 3.08% Est @ 2.87% Est @ 2.72% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 12% US$1.3k US$1.4k US$1.3k US$1.2k US$1.1k US$1.1k US$983 US$908 US$837 US$771

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$11b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.4%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 12%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$2.3b (1 + 2.4%)  (12% 2.4%) = US$26b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$26b ( 1 + 12%)10= US$8.6b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$19b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$39.7, the company appears quite undervalued at a 36% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at MGM Resorts International as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 12%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for MGM Resorts International

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market.

Moving On:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For MGM Resorts International, there are three further factors you should consider:

Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for MGM Resorts International you should know about. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for MGM's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
LONDON (Reuters) - The British government has criticised the International Court of Justice for ordering Israel to immediately halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying the ruling would strengthen Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

The ICJ, which is the highest U.N. body for hearing disputes between states, made the emergency ruling on Friday in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide.

"The reason there isnt a pause in the fighting is because Hamas turned down a very generous hostage deal from Israel. The intervention of these courts - including the ICJ today - will strengthen the view of Hamas that they can hold on to hostages and stay in Gaza," a UK foreign ministry spokesperson said late on Friday.

"And if that happens there wont be either peace, or a two-state solution."

The ICJ, or World Court, has no means to enforce its orders, but the ruling highlighted Israel's global isolation over its military campaign in Gaza, launched after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel.

(Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa)
Anti-aircraft gunners of the 110th Mechanized Brigade have destroyed another Russian Su-25 attack aircraft in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's military claimed on May 25.

"Another enemy Su-25 attack aircraft is burning up in the steppes of the Ukrainian Donbas," the Khortytsia operational and strategic group said in a post on Telegram.

This is the sixth Russian Su-25 jet that Ukraine has claimed shot down this month.

russian jets continue to fall!

Ukrainian warriors from the 110th Mechanized Brigade shot down another Su-25 plane in the Pokrovsk direction.

Great job, warriors! pic.twitter.com/A6mQc4YRnJ  Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 25, 2024

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.

Ukraine previously claimed that it destroyed Su-25s on May 23, May 4, May 11, May 13, and May 18. The General Staff said on May 25 that Russia has lost 356 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

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry into the 125th Brigade and its subordinate units over the lack of preparedness and improper organization of defenses in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainska Pravda reported on May 25, citing court documents filed earlier.

Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast, focusing its efforts in the directions of Lyptsi and Vovchansk, settlements a few miles south of the Russia-Ukraine border.

Moscow's forces advanced as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) into the region but were halted by the first line of defense, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 17.

According to the preliminary investigation detailed in the court document, the 125th Brigade and its subordinate units "did not properly organize the defense of positions on the border of Kharkiv Oblast" due to a "careless attitude to military service."

The resulting Russian offensive "led to the loss of positions, military equipment, and personnel of the units," the court document continued.

The investigators also said that other positions were "abandoned" by Ukrainian defenders.

The investigation will look into the actions of close to 30 commanders and officials from the 125th Brigade and its subordinate units and determine whether there was a causal link between their actions and the subsequent Ukrainian losses.

It is considered a criminal investigation. The document does not specify the potential penalties or punishment if criminal guilt is determined.

Ukrainian lawmakers told Politico earlier in May that the U.S. ban on using Western weapons at the Russian troops massed across the border in Russia contributed to the early successes of the offensive in Kharkiv Oblast.

At the same time, Ukrainian military commander Denys Yaroslavskyi told the BBC in an interview published on May 13 that the Russian breakthrough was the result of Ukrainian defenders' lack of preparedness.

"There was no first line of defense. We saw it. The Russians just walked in. They just walked in, without any mined fields," Yaroslavskyi said.

"Either it was an act of negligence, or corruption. It wasn't a failure. It was a betrayal," he added.

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.
Ukraine in talks to increase electricity imports from EU to offset deficit  Reuters

Ukraine is engaged in talks to maximise the volume of possible electricity imports from the EU to compensate for the generating capacity destroyed by Russian attacks.

Source: Reuters, citing Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko

Details: Russian attacks have caused over US$1 billion in damage to Ukraine's energy sector, resulting in the loss of 8,000 MWh of power generation capacity.

At present, Ukraine can import no more than 1,700 MWh of electricity from the EU at a time.

"We're negotiating. Our task is to maximise this figure. Technically, we can receive (import) more than 2,000 MWh, even 2,400 MWh. I'm sure a decision will be made," Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said in parliament.

Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, Chairman of the Board of Ukraines national power company Ukrenergo, said that 1,700 MWh is "the ceiling for now".

"Everything will depend on how quickly our European colleagues - energy system operators of neighbouring countries  will be able to implement projects to expand the capacity of their grids," Kudrytskyi said.

He added that European power companies need time and money to reinforce some substations, install additional transformers or build new power lines.

"We think 3,500 to 4,000 MWh of interstate interconnector capacity is something we can have in the horizon of five years," Kudrytskyi noted.

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Most of the purchased field military uniform kits of the approved format (as shown in the photo) have already been sent to military units. Photo: Defence Ministry of Ukraine

The Defence Ministry has signed contracts to provide female military personnel with summer field uniforms for almost UAH 130 million (US$3.2 million). The ministrys forecasts indicate this will cover existing needs until the end of the year.

Source: the Defence Ministry

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reported that over 90% of the purchased kits have already been delivered to military units. The procurement was made as part of the first tenders of the State Logistics Operator agency for the purchase of women's uniforms.

The kits that female military personnel receive include:

a jacket;

trousers;

two identification patches.

The Defence Ministry said that women's military clothing differs from men's in terms of shape and complexity of tailoring. The kits for female defenders are available in sizes ranging from 40 to 64 (UK size 6 to 30) and are designed for heights from 146 to 188 cm.

Deputy Defence Minister Dmytro Klmenkov stated that the ministry continues to work on ensuring equality between women and men in the military ranks.

Quote: "We must guarantee equal opportunities for everyone defending our land. Therefore, the procurement of women's military uniforms is an important step in creating comfortable conditions for our female defenders," said the official.

Officially, women's uniforms were put into provision in August 2023 after a month of testing. The Armed Forces of Ukraine began receiving the clothing sets for the first time in February 2024. At that time, the Ministry of Defence issued 50,000 summer field uniforms.

Background: The Defence Ministry certified the second model of body armour adapted to the specific characteristics of the female body.

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister appeals to West following Russian strike on Kharkiv: Ukraine needs more air defence and permission to strike targets in Russia

Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that the best way to prevent more Russian strikes on Ukraine is to give it more air defence systems and a permission to use Western-supplied weapons to strike military targets in Russia.

Source: Dmytro Kuleba on X, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In a post following the Russian strike on the Epicentr home improvement hypermarket in Kharkiv on 25 May, Kuleba said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin can say anything he wants, but his actions speak louder than words.

"Ukraines partners can do two things to prevent these attacks. First, to give Ukraine more Patriot and other air defence systems. Second, to allow Ukraine to shoot down Russian military aircraft before they drop bombs on Kharkiv and other [Ukrainian] cities and populated areas," Kuleba wrote on X.

"Give Ukraine more air defence systems and support Ukrainian strikes on military targets in Russia. Act now," Kuleba said.

Background:

Russian forces struck an Epicentr home improvement hypermarket in Kharkiv on the afternoon of Saturday, 25 May, killing two. Earlier, officials reported 24 casualties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that up to 200 people might have been at the store at the time of the attack.

Czechias Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said that the Russian strike on the Epicentr hypermarket in Kharkiv on 25 May proves that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace.

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Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has commented on Russia's recent provocations against Estonia, Lithuania and Finland.

Source: Kuleba on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kuleba noted that the recent Russian provocations on the borders of the EU and NATO in Estonia, Finland and Lithuania are part of Russia's typical hybrid tactics of harassment and intimidation.

"Ukraine has seen such Russian actions many times before. We know that the most effective way to counter them is through unity, strength, and unwavering mutual support," the minister tweeted.

Kuleba expressed Ukraine's solidarity with its Estonian, Finnish and Lithuanian friends: "We remain vigilant and prepared to provide any necessary assistance in countering Russia's hybrid threats."

"We also call on NATO to act resolutely in protecting Estonia, Finland, and Lithuania. When we all stand strong and united, no one will be able to intimidate us," the minister stressed.

Background:

Earlier this week, a draft law indicating Russia's plans to unilaterally change maritime borders with its neighbours in the Baltic Sea was spotted on the Russian government's website. The project has been removed from the website after it received publicity.

On 23 May, Estonia said that Russian border guards had removed buoys installed on the Estonian half of the Narva River. The incident led to the summoning of Russia's Charge d'Affaires in Estonia to Estonia's Foreign Ministry.

Over the past 24 hours, a number of European countries have expressed support for the Baltic states and Finland, and the EU has responded with a statement on behalf of the bloc, demanding that Russia explain its actions in Narva.

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United Way logo

The United Way of Licking County received a $50,000 grant from Microsoft to provide project management training to vulnerable populations, helping them increase their potential income and achieve financial independence.

The program, called Gener8tor, provides online training through Microsoft that would normally cost $3,500 per individual, but is available at no cost. United Way, which was approved for the grant a couple months ago, began the program early this month and it ends June 27.

Microsoft has invested heavily in Licking County, buying land in Heath, Hebron, New Albany and Pataskala to build data centers.

Cory Stutes, the county United Way's community impact director, said the program received considerable interest and the available slots filled up quickly. It is not yet known if the program will be available again.

Leveraging a combination of interactive modules, real-world simulations, and expert-led instruction, Gener8tor offers a learning experience tailored to the demands of modern industries.

"This partnership with Microsoft represents a wonderful opportunity for workforce development in Licking County," Deb Dingus, executive director of the United Way of Licking County, said in a prepared release. "By harnessing the power of Gener8tor, we are empowering individuals to acquire valuable skills that will not only enhance their employability but also drive economic growth and prosperity within our community."

Gener8tor equips participants with the tools they need to navigate challenges and pursue economic advancement, which aligns with United Way's commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and empowering them to achieve greater financial independence and security, Dingus said.

The program provides flexible, self-paced learning modules accessible online and personalized support and mentorship.

United Way of Licking County has publicized its efforts to help Licking County residents categorized as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, or ALICE. The ALICE households face financial insecurity although members of the households are employed.

The United Ways most recent ALICE report showed 10% of Licking County households live in poverty and another 27% as ALICE households, for a total of 37% of households that are financially insecure.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: United Way of Licking County receives $50K grant from Microsoft
Andrey Kurkov, the bestselling author of 'Death and the Penguin' says: 'A pet is a member of the family in Ukraine, and you don't leave members of your family behind.' - JUSSI NUKARI/SHUTTERSTOCK

Ukraines most famous novelist has praised Britain for giving refuge to almost 3,000 pets fleeing Putins invasion, including rats, chinchillas, hamsters and an African pygmy hedgehog,

Most of the saved animals were cats and dogs but there was also a solitary turtle, a lone cockatiel and three common degus, a kind of Chilean rodent.

Andrey Kurkov is the author of the best-selling book Death and the Penguin, a bleak satire about a man in Kyiv with a pet king penguin called Misha. Last year, he won a National Book Critics Circle Award in the US for Grey Bees, his novel about a beekeeper in the wartorn Donbas.

Ukraine is definitely one of the countries where people are not detachable from their pets. At the beginning of the war, organisers were not allowing people to take their pets to evacuation buses and trains. So lots of people stayed on, they couldnt leave their pets behind, Mr Kurkov told The Telegraph.

There was one very old woman from Donbas who agreed to be evacuated from under shelling only with her rooster. Nobody complained and she got to Western Ukraine where she and her rooster are living now.

He added, For Ukrainians, it is extremely important that the UK allows refugees to bring their pets.

It means these people are much more stable psychologically. Because a pet is a member of the family in Ukraine, and you dont leave members of your family behind.

Bring your pet scheme

The Government set up a scheme to help Ukrainian refugees bringing their pets with them to the UK in March 2022, shortly after the war began.

2,899 pets benefited from the animal scheme at a total cost to the public purse of 1,571,895.21, according to data obtained by The Telegraph.

As a nation of animal lovers, we know the important role pets can play in our daily lives, a Defra spokesman said.

That is why using an emergency licence, people fleeing Ukraine were able to bring their pets to the UK with any quarantine and vaccination costs met by the UK Government to ensure families could stay together.

The UK issued a total of 257,600 visas to Ukrainians as part of its support to refugees from the war. The visa scheme closed in February, two years after the invasion.

The Ukrainian pet scheme paid for the vaccination, microchipping and quarantine costs for the animals and was designed to keep Britain free from rabies, which is found in Ukraine

28,418.81 was spent on vaccination, 1,189.47 on microchips and 1,542,286.93 on African quarantine costs, according to the data from a Freedom of Information request.

Fundamental pet health preparations

The UK has been rabies-free for 100 years and these important pet health preparations were fundamental in protecting our biosecurity and public health when allowing rescue animals to enter from an unlisted country, the spokesperson said.

Not all pets require vaccination, quarantine and microchipping, with dogs, cats and ferrets facing different requirements than other pets.

More dogs than any other type of pet were brought to Britain with 1,503 canines benefitting from the scheme. 1,300 cats and two ferrets also made the journey from Ukraine.

A single gerbil, 18 hamsters, nine chinchillas, seven birds, 15 guinea pigs, 17 rats, 17 rabbits and four animals listed as species unknown also escaped Putins illegal war.

The figures only apply to Britain and not Northern Ireland, where almost 140,000 was spent on relocating 35 Ukrainian pets.

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Ukrainian defenders are pushing the Russians back from the line of contact on the Kharkiv front with assault operations, and are succeeding in some areas.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 23:00 on 24 May

Quote: "The defensive operation of the Defence Forces continues, and our troops are repelling the offensive actions of the Russian occupiers. The situation remains the most difficult on the Kupiansk, Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk and Kharkiv fronts.

Over the last day, 90 combat clashes took place. Ukrainian soldiers are repulsing the enemy, and on some fronts, they are conducting effective assault operations to improve the resilience of the defence and restore positions. The Russian aggressor is trying to use its superiority in manpower, equipment and air support."

Details: The Russians have launched 2 missile strikes using 3 missiles, 33 airstrikes using 47 guided bombs, and 224 attacks by kamikaze drones. They also fired around 2,200 times at the positions of Ukrainian troops with various types of weapons.

On the Kharkiv front, 13 combat clashes occurred over the past day. Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 Russian attacks near Lyptsi, Tykhe and Vovchansk. The battle near Starytsia is ongoing. The situation is under control. In addition, Ukrainian defenders are pushing the Russians back from the frontline with assault operations, and are succeeding in some areas.

Russian forces lost another 100 soldiers in both killed and wounded over the past day. Ukrainian soldiers destroyed five machine guns, two vehicles and one unit of special equipment. Four artillery systems, three vehicles and two units of special equipment were damaged as well. Nine Russian dugouts were also targeted.

On the Kupiansk front, the Russians carried out 17 attempts to drive Ukrainian units from the positions. The battle took place in particular in the vicinity of Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Stelmakhivka, Novoiehorivka, Druzheliubivka and Nevske. Currently, fighting continues near Novoiehorivka, Petropavlivka and Ivanivka. The Russians partially succeeded in the latter two areas, and the situation is tense there. The Ukrainian Defence Forces are taking active measures to stabilise the situation.

On the Lyman front, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian attacks near the village of Terny and Serebrianka Forest.

On the Siversk front, the number of Russian attacks increased to five in the evening. Ukrainian defenders stopped two Russian assaults in the vicinity of Bilohorivka and Spirne. At the same time, another battle near the village of Spirne continues. The Russians have not succeeded.

On the Kramatorsk front, a total of 13 Russian attempts to approach Chasiv Yar were repelled. Another battle is taking place in the vicinity of Andriivka. The situation is tense but controlled by Ukrainian troops.

On the Pokrovsk front, Russian forces continued their attempts to break through Ukrainian defences near Ocheretyne. They had partial success east of Yevhenivka. A total of 15 combat clashes took place. The defenders are taking active measures to regain their lost ground.

On this front, the total Russian losses over the past day are 240 people, including 58 fatalities and 182 casualties. In addition, three tanks and an electronic warfare station were destroyed. Two tanks, one armoured personnel carrier and four vehicles were damaged.

On the Kurakhove front, Ukraines Defence Forces repelled Russian attacks near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, and Paraskoviivka. The situation remains the most tense south of Kostiantynivka and south of Volodymyrivka. Eight combat clashes took place. The situation is under the control of Ukrainian troops.

The situation on the Vremivka front has not changed significantly. Two combat clashes took place, but no positions were lost in the vicinity of Staromaiorske.

On the Orikhiv front, Russian troops made one unsuccessful attempt to advance towards Novodanylivka.

On the Prydniprovske front, at the footholds on the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River, three Russian attempts to push Ukrainian units back in the vicinity of Krynky failed.

On other fronts, the situation has not changed significantly.

Ukrainian defenders are inflicting effective fire damage on the Russians, depleting their forces along the entire line of contact.

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Ukrainian Abrams tanks are emerging with new factory-standard anti-drone "cope cage" armor screens and additional explosive reactive armor a month after they were reportedly pulled from the front lines due to drone threats.

Ukraine's U.S.-supplied M1A1 Abrams tanks are getting new production-standard anti-drone armor screens, also commonly known as "cope cages," on their turrets. Pictures of one of the modified Abrams show it has also received additional explosive reactive armor (ERA), modifications that have also been appearing elsewhere in the field.

This all comes roughly a month after U.S. officials reportedly said Ukrainian forces had pulled the M1A1s from the front lines, particularly due to concerns about their vulnerability to first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drones and other uncrewed aerial threats. The extent to which Ukraine's Abrams tanks have returned to service since then is unclear, but they may well be back in action.

Ukraine-headquartered Metinvest Group, a steel and mining conglomerate, put out a press release about the new armor screens earlier today. The company said that it is also making factory-standard anti-drone armor for Soviet-designed T-64 and T-72 families of tanks (which include the T-80 and T-90 series, respectively), but only showed an example of the design for the Abrams. This is a part of the firm's broader "Steel Front" wartime production initiative, which has also been churning out pre-fabricated protected shelters , body armor, and other kinds of materiel for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Another view of the Abrams with the new Metinvest anti-drone armor screens on its turret. Metinvest

"After a long and thorough procedure of testing and testing, steel screens began to be supplied to the Armed Forces free of charge," according to a machine translation of the release. "So far, more than 25 additional protection systems have been manufactured and delivered, seven of which are for M1 Abrams tanks."

"All drawings of protective screens were made taking into account the specifics of the design features of each type of tank, because additional structures should not only protect against external threats, but at the same time not limit the functionality of the equipment itself, not complicate its operation in combat conditions, not interfere with the fighters," the press release adds. "The total weight of the screen structure is up to 430 kg [approximately 948 pounds]."

From the pictures Metinvest has released of the Abrams equipped with the screen, the array is extensive with a main screen on top of the turret and others around the front, sides, and rear. Some images show an additional screen attached to the rear of the hull.

A picture showing the screen around the rear of the hull. This also has the Steel Front initiative logo at the top right. Metinvest

The full configuration looks to have additional angled sections that close the gaps between the top and the side panels. Very small gaps are left open for the Abrams' side-mounted launchers that are used to fire smoke grenades to help conceal the tank. It is worth noting that FPV drone operators have been proven very adept at using available gaps, even small ones , in armor screens and other defenses to slip in and make attacks.

A close-up of the Metinvest "cope cage" on the Abrams showing the additional connecting sections between the flat screen on top and the side panels. The gap for the smoke grenade launcher is also visible.

Another view of the gap for the smoke grenade launcher. Metinvest

There is definitely a folding panel on top that helps seal the gap over the loader's hatch, but that still allows relatively ready ingress and egress. The commander's hatch has a raised armored structure around it with various windows, but is still open-topped and it is unclear if it can be covered if desired. The are also what may be hinged sections over the blowout panels on top of the rear of the Abrams turret where the ammunition is stored. These offer a way to vent the force of an ammunition explosion, such as one caused by a hit to the tank that causes the rounds to detonate, up and away from the crew.

A top-down look at the gunner hatch and the panel above that folds over it when it is closed. A portion of the additional protection fitted around the commander's hatch is visible to the left. What may be other hinged sections over the blowout panels can be seen at the top of this picture. Metinvest

A look from the top showing the still open-topped commander's hatch. Metinvest

Another good view of the armor screen on top of the M1A1's turret, as well as some of the panels on the right side. What looks like it may be a hinged section is also visible at the rear of the top section. Metinvest

"Together with military engineers, we analyzed the areas of military equipment typical for damage by FPV drones, vulnerable places that need to be protected, and developed additional protection structures," Oleksandr Myronenko, Metinvest's Operational Director, said in a statement in the release. "Anti-drone steel screens help not only to protect expensive equipment from damage by the enemy, but also protect the lives of Ukrainian servicemen."

The Abrams with the new anti-drone screen has additional explosive reactive armor (ERA) on top of its arrays of U.S.-standard M19 Abrams Reactive Armor Tiles (ARAT) along the sides of the hull. Four Soviet-designed Kontakt-1 ERA tiles had been added to the fronts of both sides of the hull. Whole arrays have been added to the top and underside of the front of the hull.

A close-up of the tank with the Metinvest armor screens on its turret showing the four additional Kontakt-1 ERA tiles at the front of the right side of the hull, as well as the full arrays on the top and underside of the front of the hull. Metinvest

What looks to be the first pictures of a Ukrainian M1A1 with the front hull Kontakt-1 arrays emerged earlier this week.

A video showing a knocked-out Abrams in Ukraine with M19 tiles fitted to the sides of the turret, something that is not part of the U.S.-standard fit, also appeared on social media just days ago.

As Metinvest's press release today makes clear, the main purpose of the new and elaborate factory-made cope cage for the Abrams is to help protect these high-value tanks against FPV kamikaze drones. Highly maneuverable and carrying warheads that detonate on contact, armed uncrewed aerial vehicles of this type have become a near-constant scourge on both sides of the battlefield in Ukraine. FPV types, in particular, are now talked about as being on par with artillery in terms of battlefield significance. Russia has also steadily challenged Ukraine's initial dominance in this field, as well.

As a result, the conflict in Ukraine continues to see an extremely fast innovation cycle when it comes to the development of new drone capabilities, as well as countermeasures like ever more complicated cope cages. Counters in turn to new countermeasures have also been quick to emerge. For instance, after both Ukrainian and Russian vehicles really began sporting anti-drone electronic warfare systems , what appeared to be a wire-guided drone that looked designed to be immune to radio frequency jamming emerged on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The array of Russian 'turtle tanks' with large shed-like armor structures fitted on top and various other defensive features that have emerged in Ukraine over the past two months or so are another prime example of this cycle . The core design of the turtle tanks looks to be heavily centered on protecting against FPV kamikaze drones, especially while breaching through minefields and other fortified lines, and some of them have been getting extra ERA recently, too.

ERA, in general, is intended to help defeat anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), various kinds of infantry anti-armor weapons like rocket-propelled grenades, and certain types of tank shells depending on the design of the tiles. However, it would make sense that they are now also helping to shield against drone attacks. Some of the most common warheads used on FPV-type drones are PG-7-series ones originally designed to be fired from RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launchers .

The particular need to find a new mix of protective features for M1A1s in Ukrainian service also makes sense given reports in April that the tanks had been pulled from the front lines in part because of concerns about their vulnerability to drones. At that time, it had been visually documented that Ukraine had lost five of its 31 Abrams.

At the time of writing, at least eight have now been confirmed visually to have been destroyed, damaged, or abandoned. Two of Ukraine's Abrams-based M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles are also known to have been destroyed in the fighting so far.

In addition to the practical operational impacts of these losses, they have also been major propaganda victories for Russia. Getting the vehicles back to the front lines, but also with more protection to try to mitigate the clear threats they face would have been an imperative in the last month or so.

Regardless, beyond Ukraine, layers of active and passive defenses look set to increasingly be the norm for protection tanks and other heavy armored vehicles against the very real threats that drones pose. The War Zone highlighted this reality in a feature earlier this year that laid out a detailed case for leveraging hard-kill active protection systems as a way to quickly provide additional vehicular anti-drone defenses.

If nothing else, the new defensive additions for Ukraine's Abrams show how fast modifications have been made to these top-end Western main battle tanks, even using soviet components, to help keep them relevant on the battlefield.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
Under pressure from all sides, Brown backtracks, says Yucca should not be revived

(Sam Brown campaign photo)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

After weeks of taking heat from opponents and critics Democrat and Republican alike for expressing a willingness to bring nuclear waste to Nevada, Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown on Saturday said that the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project should not be considered.

Over the past month, Ive invested time speaking with engineers and experts on Yucca Mountain. It is abundantly clear that the project is dead, Brown said on social media Saturday.

As Ive said before, it should not, and will not, be revived as a nuclear waste repository, Brown added.

Browns campaign did not respond Saturday to a request to identify where and when he has said that before.

His statement Saturday is in stark contrast to remarks he made in 2022 but that only came to light last month, in which Brown said not allowing nuclear waste in Nevada was an incredible loss of revenue for our state.

In a 2022 recording obtained and reported by the Los Angeles Times last month, when asked about Yucca Mountain at a campaign event, Brown said one of the things Im afraid of is a lack of understanding and the fearmongering that Harry Reid and others have spread, and that we could miss an incredible opportunity for revenue for our state in the future.

If we dont act soon, Brown added in those 2022 remarks, other states like Texas and New Mexico, right now, are assessing whether or not they can essentially steal that opportunity from us. And at the end of the day, we all know Nevada could use another great source of revenue and it sure would be a shame if we didnt monopolize on that and become a central hub of new development that we can do at Yucca.

In a statement issued by Brown in response to the Times story, he did not specifically reassert support for bringing nuclear waste to Nevada, but said Im always interested in economic opportunities for Nevada that better diversify our economy.

Ever since the so-called Screw Nevada bill passed by Congress in 1987 singling out the Yucca Mountain site northwest of Las Vegas to be studied as the nations nuclear waste facility, opposition from the Nevada public and the states politicians of both parties has been overwhelming.

Since Browns 2022 statements became public, Sen. Jacky Rosen and multiple other Democrats have hammered Brown for expressing willingness to bring nuclear waste to Nevada.

And Jeff Gunter, Browns chief challenger for the Republican nomination to challenge Rosen in the general election, is airing an ad promising to block the Yucca project if elected to the Senate and blasting Browns willingness to dump toxic nuclear waste here.

Less than three weeks ago Brown responded to Rosen and Gunters attacks over Yucca by telling The Hill he is not committed to supporting the opening of Yucca Mountain.

However, Brown added in that May 14 statement to The Hill, I will consider all thoroughly vetted future proposals, with the safety of Nevadans being my top priority, while ensuring the proposals are substantially economically beneficial.

Leadership means considering all economic opportunities that could better support the lives of Nevadans, Brown added.

That too is in contrast to his statement on social media Saturday, in which Brown said, As Nevadas next US Senator, Ill stand with President Trump to oppose it.

Trumps opposition to dumping nuclear waste in Nevada was itself a reversal of position on the former presidents part.

Yucca Mountain was officially designated as the nations nuclear waste repository during the administration of George W. Bush, in 2002. But the project was the subject of legal and regulatory proceedings for the next several years, until the administration of Barack Obama ordered the Department of Energy to discontinue its licensing application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and eliminated federal funding for the project.

While president, Trump attempted to restart funding for Yucca, but was thwarted by Congress. Trump reversed positions during the 2022 campaign cycle in an effort to help Adam Laxalt, the Republican who defeated Brown in the 2022 Senate primary but lost to Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto in the general election. The Biden administration has never included funding for the Yucca Mountain project, and has assured Nevada officials that it has no plans to ever do so.

The Heritage Foundations Project 2025, which includes a playbook for actions the influential organization suggests should be urgent priorities in a second Trump administration, calls for resuming and funding the Yucca Mountain licensing process.

The post Under pressure from all sides, Brown backtracks, says Yucca should not be revived appeared first on Nevada Current.
Union County teacher charged after altercation with student

South Providence School teacher David Simone, 60, was charged Friday with misdemeanor simple assault, the Union County sheriff stated in a Facebook post.

CMS substitute teacher says she wont return to school after being attacked by 2 students

A school resource officer had to break up a fight last week between Simone and a student, which is what led to the charge.

Simone is currently on administrative leave, according to the Union County Public Schools district.

The investigation is ongoing.

VIDEO: I did not feel safe: Teachers facing violence from students are leaving profession
DENVER (KDVR)  FBI Denver is asking the public for help with identifying the suspect accused of robbing a bank in Denver on Thursday.

According to a release from Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, the suspect robbed the US Bank, located at 999 S. Monaco Pkwy., around 4:30 p.m. The release said the suspect verbally demanded money before fleeing on foot.

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The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his mid-50s standing about 5 feet, 6-7 inches tall with a medium build, a bald head and gray facial hair.

The Denver FBI is asking the public for help with identifying the suspect accused of robbing a US Bank in Denver on Thursday. (Photo: FBI Denver)

The Denver FBI is asking the public for help with identifying the suspect accused of robbing a US Bank in Denver on Thursday. (Photo: FBI Denver)

The Denver FBI is asking the public for help with identifying the suspect accused of robbing a US Bank in Denver on Thursday. (Photo: FBI Denver)

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and Denver Police Department need help identifying the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

Tipsters can remain anonymous and can earn a reward of up to $2,000.

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 FOX31 Denver.
US 'deeply concerned' over China military drills in Taiwan Strait, State Dept says

(Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Saturday that the United States was "deeply concerned" over China's military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan, and strongly urged it to act with restraint.

"Using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation and erodes longstanding norms that for decades have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the State Department said in a statement.

The department issued the statement after China ended two days of war games around Taiwan in which it simulated attacks with bombers and practiced boarding ships, exercises that Taiwan condemned as "blatant provocation" on Saturday.

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, launched the "Joint Sword - 2024A" exercises three days after Lai Ching-te became Taiwan's president, a man Beijing calls a "separatist."

Beijing said the exercises were "punishment" for Lai's Monday inauguration speech, in which he said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were "not subordinate to each other," which China viewed as a declaration the two are separate countries.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
US officials say North Korea may be planning military action to create chaos ahead of US election, report says

US officials say North Korea may be planning military action to create chaos ahead of US election, report says

US officials fear North Korean military action ahead of the US election, NBC News reported.

Senior officials told the outlet that such a move could be encouraged by Vladimir Putin.

North Korea and Russia have formed close military ties in recent years.

US officials are preparing for potential North Korean military action  possibly encouraged by Russian President Vladimir Putin  in the run-up to the US election in November, NBC News reported, citing six senior US officials.

Such a move could be designed to create chaos in another part of the world as the election process ramps up, they said.

"We have no doubt that North Korea will be provocative this year. It's just a matter of how escalatory it is," one US intelligence official added.

Following the NBC News report, a campaign spokesperson for Donald Trump said, "The only 'October surprise' will be the look of shock" among reporters when Trump is reelected.

The officials' warning comes ahead of a likely meeting between North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and Putin, which the Kremlin announced earlier this week was "being prepared."

"President Putin has an active invitation for an official visit to North Korea. The visit is being prepared. We will announce the dates of the trip in due course," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, French news agency AFP reported.

Russia and North Korea have developed closer relations since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

For its part, North Korea has sent munitions to Moscow, ostensibly to help Putin's forces in their war against Ukraine, but also to take advantage of the opportunity to test its equipment on the battlefield, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

In return, North Korea "expects Russia to provide advanced weapons systems and technological know-how to significantly strengthen its defense, nuclear, and space programs," the think tank said.

The six US officials also told NBC News that the Biden administration was concerned that the relationship could lead to significant developments in Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities, increasing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.

However, one official said that China likely does not want instability in the region, and Russia might, therefore, hesitate to get involved ahead of the US election.

Nevertheless, Rachel Minyoung Lee, a Senior Fellow with the 38 North Program at the Stimson Center, expressed concern that North Korea's strengthening ties with Russia could "embolden" Kim to conduct more aggressive military or diplomatic action in the coming years.

North Korea's new "tactical nuclear attack submarine" at its launch ceremony in 2023. KCNA via REUTERS

North Korea has already sent a significant amount of military aid to Russia.

By November 2023, one South Korean lawmaker said North Korea had sent Moscow more than 1 million artillery shells to bolster its war effort.

But earlier this month, the office of Ukraine's top prosecutor, Andriy Kostin, told Reuters that North Korean-supplied weapons appeared to have a high failure rate.

"About half of the North Korean missiles lost their programmed trajectories and exploded in the air; in such cases the debris was not recovered," Kostin's office said, citing their examination of debris from 21 of around 50 North Korean-supplied ballistic missiles launched by Russia between late December and late February.

Read the original article on Business Insider
US State Department 'deeply concerned' over Chinese military drills near Taiwan

The United States is "deeply concerned" about the joint military drills China has conducted around Taiwan in recent days, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement issued May 25.

China launched two days of military drills encircling Taiwan on May 23, in an act of retaliation following the inauguration of Taiwan's democratically-elected president Lai Ching-te, an advocate of Taiwanese independence.

"The United States is deeply concerned over the People's Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan," Miller's statement read.

Miller said the state department was closely monitoring the situation in partnership with allies.

Fears of escalating Chinese military intervention in Taiwan have risen sharply since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has served as a possible model of how both Taipei and the international community might respond if Beijing decides to invade.

The U.S. state department urged China to "act with restraint" regarding the Taiwanese election.

"Using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation and erodes longstanding norms," Miller said.

China announced on May 22 that it was sanctioning 12 American military companies and 10 defense executives, partially in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Read also: Taiwans FM: If Russia can do that to Ukraine, China might do the same to Taiwan

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Count Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) as another ocean carrier resuming service to the Port of Baltimore.

The worlds largest container shipping company by cargo transported is adding the port back in as a destination to multiple service lines, following in the footsteps of rival carriers Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

More from Sourcing Journal

MSC is returning to Baltimore two months after the collapse of the citys Francis Scott Key Bridge, which temporarily blocked access to the port and forced it to shutter operations. The bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River when a container ship exiting the port lost power and crashed into one of its support columns. Six workers on the bridge died in the accident.

According to several customer advisories, bookings to and from Baltimore are open for acceptance. Reservations for ships entering Baltimore are subject to space availability.

MSCs services that are moving cargo from Baltimore to northwestern Europe, South Africa, Mediterranean and the Far East will be reinstated across six vessels. The Turkey/Greece to U.S. service will be the first of those to go back online, with the MSC Ilona expected to reach Baltimore by June 4.

For cargo headed toward Baltimore, MSC is reinstating the port back into the ECSA (East Coast-South America) and Far East rotations. For the ECSA rotation, which also includes stops at New York, Norfolk, Charleston and Savannah, the MSC Alma VII will reach Baltimore by July 1. The Far East service will see the YM Trust stop at Baltimore on July 13.

New York and Norfolk have taken on the lions share of the cargo that had initially been prepared for the Port of Baltimore. As of May 17, the Port of New York took on the highest percentage of rerouted shipments at 55 percent, while the Port of Virginia harbored 22 percent, according to supply chain visibility platform Project44. Nine percent was instead dropped off at New Yorks sister gateway, New Jerseys Port Elizabeth.

The Port of Baltimore is the 15th-largest container port by 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) processed, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

MSC was also the shipping company that was by far the most exposed to any potential supply chain disruption stemming from the two-month blockade, says S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The Switzerland-based ocean carrier, alongside Maersk and Zim, collectively represented nearly three-quarters of Baltimores container import traffic. In the year to the end of February, MSC accounted for 31.5 percent of the traffic. Maersk drove 21.8 percent, while Zim brought in 19.8 percent.

Story continues

MSC made its decision after the Maersk-chartered Dali container ship responsible for the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse was refloated to the port. This marked the biggest milestone to getting the port back to normal operations, as it opened up a 400-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep channel that most commercials could safely pass through.

Prior to the refloating of the Dali, four alternative channels to the port were opened up by the Key Bridge Response Unified Command team, which is the group charge of the ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts.

But now, the end goal is to remove any remaining bridge wreckage, including all steel below the mudline, and restore the federal channel to its original width of 700 feet. Unified Command is targeting the end of May as the date for full clearance.

As for the Dali, it now sits at Berth One at the port, where it is being repaired. The vessel is expected to remain for the next four to six weeks, before traveling to Norfolk for more extensive repairs, and to unload the cargo.

The return of port operations also is a sigh of relief for many of the longshoremen who were largely out of work for the two-month period. According to Ports America Chesapeake President Mark Schmidt, 350 of the roughly 1,000 workers were still working during the outage, largely taking on maintenance and repair duties.

Some such duties included electrifying diesel equipment to operate the cranes and extensive repaving, Schmidt told local Baltimore CBS news affiliate WJZ.

Schmidt said Ports of America Chesapeake, which operates Baltimores Seagirt Marine Terminal, has 17 vessel calls on the calendar for the final week of May. By the middle or end of June, the terminal operator expects to have the full contingency of its services back in place.
Russian jamming has rendered US-supplied HIMARS rocket launchers "completely ineffective."

A confidential Ukrainian weapons assessment was seen by The Washington Post.

Jamming has also affected Musk's Starlink, causing serious communication issues for Ukraine.

US-supplied HIMARS rocket launchers have been rendered "completely ineffective" as a result of Russian electronic jamming systems, a new report said.

A confidential Ukrainian weapons assessment, seen by The Washington Post, stated that Ukraine has had to halt or scale back its use of many US-supplied arms because of targeting problems.

The report mentions weapons such as Excalibur GPS-guided artillery shells and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS.

"The Excalibur technology in existing versions has lost its potential," the assessment found. Its use on the battlefield in Ukraine had disproved its reputation as a "one shot, one target" weapon.

The HIMARS system, which can fire rockets up to 50 miles, was hailed early in the war as a lifeline for Ukraine but has now become much less of a threat on the battlefield, a Ukrainian military source told The Post.

"The Russians deployed electronic warfare, disabled satellite signals, and HIMARS became completely ineffective," the source told The Post. According to the assessment, Russian jamming can cause the missiles to miss a target by 50 feet or more.

Earlier this week, a report revealed that US-supplied glide bombs were also continually missing their targets as a result of Russian jamming.

Other systems, including the UK's Storm Shadow missile and the US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), are far less susceptible to Russian jamming.

ATACMS Army Tactical Missile System US Army/Wikipedia Commons/Public Domain

Jamming is a very inexpensive tactic as the software is relatively cheap and it can take out munitions worth tens of thousands of dollars, Defense One reported.

The Russian jamming system operates from the ground, projecting a "cone" that prevents weapons from communicating with satellites. These satellites guide the missiles toward their targets.

Russia "has continued to expand their use of electronic warfare," a senior US official, who was not named, told The Post. "And we continue to evolve and make sure that Ukraine has the capabilities they need to be effective."

However, earlier this month Mike Nagata, a retired US Army lieutenant general who led special operations in the Middle East, said that the US is "still falling behind" in its electronic warfare capabilities, Defense One reported.

"The gap between where the United States should be and where we are, in my judgment, continues to expand not everywhere, but in far too many places," Nagata said at the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida. He called on the US to get more creative to regain its dominance in electronic warfare.

A Russian R-330Zh Zhitel electronic-warfare jamming station during an exercise in July 2018. Denis Abramov/Russian Defense Ministry via Mil.ru

Russia's jamming technology has even targeted Elon Musk's Starlink service in Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine's military has used SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service to communicate and coordinate attacks.

But earlier this month, the Russian military succeeded in disrupting Starlink, creating serious problems for Ukraine's frontline troops, according to The New York Times.

Members of Ukraine's 92nd Assault Brigade said Starlink became extremely slow as Russian troops launched a major assault across the northern border toward Kharkiv.

"One day before the attacks, it just shut down," a soldier who goes by the call sign Ajax told the outlet. "It became super, super slow."

"We're losing the electronic warfare fight," Ajax said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
On the second anniversary of the deadly elementary school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the families of the victims filed two suits accusing Instagram and the video game Call of Duty of influencing 18-year-old Salvador Ramos to become a mass shooter.

The dual suits, filed in Texas and California, name Instagrams parent company Meta and Call of Duty publisher Activision as defendants. They claim the companies groomed Ramos, who fatally shot 19 fourth graders and two teachers and injured 17 others, by promoting guns and gun culture.

The suits also name rifle manufacturer Daniel Defense, but claim its advertising wouldnt have reached the teen gunman without the help of social media and video games.

Uvalde Cops Cleared of Wrongdoing in Independent Report Acknowledging Many Failures

Daniel Defense is a predator but cant get to the prey without the help of these other third parties, Josh Koskoff, the attorney representing the Uvalde families, told The New York Times.

In a statement, an Activision spokesperson said that while the company expresses its deepest sympathies to victims and their families, Academic and scientific research continues to show that there is no causal link between video games and gun violence.

The Daily Beast has reached out to Meta and Daniel Defense for comment.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Families of the victims of the Uvalde, Texas, shooting sued tech and arms companies Friday, accusing them of wrongful death.

In two separate complaints in California and Texas, the families accused companies including Meta, Activision  the publisher of the video game Call of Duty  and arms manufacturer Daniel Defense of grooming a generation of young men who are socially vulnerable, insecure about their masculinity, and eager to show strength and assert dominance and indoctrinating a particular demographic: adolescents who are vulnerable to marketing that stokes their sense of aggrievement and desire for power.

To put a finer point on it: Defendants are chewing up alienated teenage boys and spitting out mass shooters, reads the California complaint.

Before the Uvalde school shooter, there was the Parkland school shooter, and before him, the Sandy Hook school shooter, the complaint continues. These were the three most deadly K-12 school shootings in American history. In each one, the shooter was between the ages of 18 and 21 years old; in each one, the shooter was a devoted player of Call of Duty; and in each one, the shooter committed their attack in tactical gear, wielding an assault rifle.

The twin Friday complaints follow the announcement of another suit by Uvalde families against more than 90 Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers earlier this week over their response to the deadly shooting two years ago.

There is a direct line between the conduct of these companies and the Uvalde shooting, an attorney for the families, Josh Koskoff, said in a Friday press release on the suits against the companies. Just 23 minutes after midnight on his 18th birthday, the Uvalde shooter bought an AR-15 made by a company with a market share of less than one percent.

In an emailed statement to The Hill, a spokesperson for Activision said that the Uvalde shooting was horrendous and heartbreaking in every way, and we express our deepest sympathies to the families and communities who remain impacted by this senseless act of violence.

Millions of people around the world enjoy video games without turning to horrific acts, the spokesperson added.

The Hill has reached out to Meta and Daniel Defense.

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.
Weve all been sent a scam text  but this one led to the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi

Every step you take, theyll be watching you... This is the story of how a piece of spyware called Pegasus  originally designed for tech support  became a weapon for authoritarian governments and the organisation working to shut it down

Omar Abdulaziz looked up from his computer and glanced at the text message. He grunted in satisfaction:

Dear Customer, DHL shipment No, #1751455027 is scheduled for delivery on 28/06/2018, Manage delivery at https://sunday-deals.com/xxxxxxx, DHL*

He had ordered something from Amazon just the day before. He clicked on the link and then returned to his work.

That click was a mistake.

As Omar continued working, an infection  known in the trade as an exploit  began to pry open his phone, probing its operating system and apps for vulnerabilities that the phones manufacturers were themselves unaware of. Once an exploit finds a vulnerability then the operator  the person or organisation that had sent the link  can do anything with the phone that the phones owner can do. And more.

Omar Abdulaziz in 2018 - The Washington Post

Whoever sent this exploit to Omar could turn on his phones microphone and camera, and could monitor everything that was going on with the device. They could intercept communications sent or received by Omar before they were encrypted or after they had been decrypted. They could alter the phones security settings. In fact, they had full control. In Omars line of work, that meant that he and anyone he was communicating with were severely compromised. The consequence of Omar clicking on the DHL link was the creation of one more link in a chain of events that, through no fault of his own, would prove catastrophic.

On 1 November 2017, eight months before Omar clicked on the DHL link, the Oregon Investment Council (OIC)  which manages the state pension fund  met to approve a series of proposed investments. It was their job to grow funds as much as possible.

Item III on the agenda was a pitch by a company called Novalpina Capital. Its founders had all worked together at TPG  one of the biggest private-equity buyout companies in the world  and had created Novalpina as an investment vehicle to buy mid-size companies. Their first target in a $1 billion fundraising round was an Israeli-owned company called NSO. The Oregon meeting was an important one for Novalpina; they were pitching for an investment of $232.9 million.

Novalpina told the OIC, As investors, we assume we have to be contrarian. We have to find deals that other people dont see or dont want to do for various reasons.

This hint of risk didnt deter the OIC, which took just 30 minutes to approve the investment, but they couldnt say they hadnt been warned.

Fresh from two failed tech startups, three Israeli school friends  Niv Karmi, a veteran of military intelligence and Mossad, Shalev Hulio and Omri Lavie  finally got a break. It was one that would make them rich beyond their dreams and see them become the darlings of their own government as well as some of the most authoritarian regimes on Earth.

Conversely, they would be both reviled and feared by anyone furthering the interests of democracy and freedom of speech. Their invention was a superweapon.

The second of their ventures, CommuniTake, was innocent enough and a good idea. It would enable a cellphone companys customer-support staff to take control of their clients smartphones  with their permission, of course  to help them sort out problems. The idea didnt take off but it did attract the attention of a European spy agency, because they had a problem. Governments and others had been able to intercept phone and other communications for decades, but new, commercially available encryption  one of the key components of WhatsApp, Signal and other instant-messaging services, for example  was so strong that government agencies couldnt penetrate them.

Alive to this new use of their benign creation, the three Israelis formed a spyware company. They named it using the first letters of their forenames: NSO. They called their main product Pegasus.

Ron Deibert, a Canadian academic, founded Citizen Lab  part of the University of Toronto  in 2001. He has become one of the worlds leading combatants in the battle against the misuse of cyber espionage. Ron can likely count some of the worlds most brutal authoritarian governments among his enemies, perhaps including China, given that China-based servers were used to hack the Dalai Lamas government in exile in Tibet, as exposed by Citizen Lab in 2009.

Ron Deibert founded the public laboratory Citizen Lab in 2001 - Toronto Star

One of the next targets for Citizen Lab was the commercial market for spyware, private companies selling super-sophisticated software to government agencies. There was big money to be made and, of course, any companies involved would be on the side of the angels, because they would be helping governments catch crooks, intercept terrorists and keep their citizens safe. Or so the theory went.

Trumpeting their credentials as companies that could help governments tackle organised crime and terrorism, they had a dirty secret and it came with serious risks. Two companies, Hacking Team and FinFisher, went out of business amid scandals relating to the use of their software by oppressive regimes to target journalists and human-rights activists  scandals exposed by organisations like Citizen Lab.

However, another spyware company didnt just survive, it thrived  the NSO Group.

Ahmed Mansoor was understandably cautious. In 2011 he had been sentenced to three years in prison. He and several others in the United Arab Emirates were being silenced for their peaceful campaigns defending press freedoms and calling for democratic reforms. Although reviled by his own government, Mansoor was celebrated by leading human-rights organisations; and, following an international outcry, was pardoned by the countrys president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He was well aware that from that point on the government were watching his every move, so when he received a suspicious-looking text message promising new secrets relating to the torture of people imprisoned in the UAE, he knew exactly what to do.

He asked Citizen Lab to take a look. Rons team clicked on the link and obtained three zero-day exploits  so-called because of the time frame in which a software developer must fix the problem  on Mansoors iPhone, as well as a copy of Pegasus spyware. Microsoft defines a zero-day vulnerability as a flaw in software programming that has been discovered before a vendor or programmer has been made aware of it. Because the programmers dont know this vulnerability exists, there are no patches or fixes, making an attack more likely to be successful.

In other words, zero-day exploits were something that companies like Apple or WhatsApp didnt know about. Citizen Lab immediately notified Apple, who created a patch to block the spyware.

Between 2016 and 2018, Citizen Lab fingerprinted the exploit link and the behaviour of the command-and-control servers connected to the attack on Mansoor. They discovered 237 servers, but within a week the NSO Group  Pegasuss creators  took down the servers Citizen Lab had detected. When a few of these came back online, they no longer matched the fingerprint Citizen Lab had created. Not to be deterred, Rons data scientists developed new fingerprints in a technique they christened Athena because, according to Greek myth, Athena had tamed Pegasus.

Ahmed Mansoor was celebrated by leading human-rights organisations  and was targeted with spyware - Bloomberg

As Citizen Lab scanned the internet for the Pegasus fingerprints, Athena clustered the resulting IP addresses into 36 groups. These, Citizen Lab believed, represented 36 operators  distinct NSO clients  in Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Between them, they had infected mobile phones in 45 different countries. Citizen Labs interest was piqued because one of these operators, in Saudi Arabia  which they had codenamed KINGDOM  was spying on someone in Canada, Citizen Labs home turf.

This was in the summer of 2018. At that time, the Canadian government was in the midst of a big diplomatic dispute with Saudi Arabia, says Ron. Our foreign affairs minister had criticised the regime publicly for its womens-rights record. The Saudis retaliated; they kicked out our ambassador  we needed to figure out who they were spying on in Canada.

The only data Citizen Lab had was the IP address from which the hacked phone was checking in and the internet service providers (ISPs) that it was logging in to. They could see that this was coming from Montreal. Citizen Lab put together a shortlist of people in Montreal that they thought the Saudi government would be interested in and narrowed the search area because they could see that the infected phone routinely connected to two ISPs. One hosted by the University of Quebec, the other a commercial ISP called Videotron. Judging by when the target phone logged into these ISPs, they knew they were looking for someone who lived no more than 20 minutes from the university.

As the anti-government protest movement that became known as the Arab Spring spread across the Middle East in the early 2010s, Omar Abdulaziz took to Twitter in his own country, Saudi Arabia, challenging the countrys autocratic regime. In 2014 the authorities were concerned enough to ask that his father bring him to a particular government office in Riyadh. Smelling a rat, Omar went to the airport instead and applied for political asylum in Canada, where he became a prominent human-rights activist and a major thorn in the side of the Saudi government. He started a satirical YouTube channel targeting the regime and its ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in particular, and built a 340,000 following on Twitter. His influence was such that another dissident, a prominent Saudi Arabian journalist, approached him to suggest combining forces.

They realised that their government had deployed an army of trolls to dominate Saudi social media, so they could quickly obliterate any sign of dissent and hunt down the perpetrators. Omar and his friend called these propagandists the flies, and in response they built an anti-regime social-media-based youth movement, a Twitter army, which they called the cyber bees. This army would use social media to broadcast the truth about human-rights abuses to the Saudis who use Twitter  around half of the population. Part of Omar and his new friends plan was to raise money and import foreign  and therefore untraceable  SIM cards into the kingdom that could be used by the activists there, a challenge that the state-propaganda machine would go to any lengths to thwart.

Around this time, Omar was called by someone saying they represented Saudi Arabias ruler and invited to return home  with royal protection, of course. Omar politely declined.

Abdulaziz started a youth-centred movement on Twitter criticising the Saudi Arabian regime after the Arab Spring - The Washington Post

His countrymen were persistent and in the early summer of 2018 two envoys flew to meet him in Montreal. His fellow campaigner warned Omar to meet these people only in public places. When they met, the two men offered Omar the chance of hosting a TV chat show back home, where he could become the voice of the youth. Omar didnt think this was very likely. You have just arrested many people who said nothing really. And youre telling me that you want me back in Saudi and nothing is going to happen to me? he recalled in Bryan Fogels acclaimed documentary The Dissident.

The two envoys fell back on their last option; they invited Omar to come to the Saudi embassy to renew his passport but, with his friends warning fresh in his mind, he refused. Within a few months, the memory of this decision would freeze his blood.

A month or so later, Omar knew that something had gone badly wrong. At the beginning of August 2018, they started to arrest my friends, my brothers, my relatives, he said in the documentary. Every two, three hours I was receiving a call from someone in Saudi telling me that someone was getting arrested. I was in shock. I made a YouTube broadcast and I said: Guys, this behaviour shows me that something bigger than just arresting my brothers and friends is going to happen. I do believe MBS is going to do something huge.

Omar knew the risks he was facing, telling The Guardian: The [Canadian authorities] received some information  that I might be a potential target. MBS and his group or  I dont know  his team, they want to harm me. They want to do something, but I dont know whether its assassination, kidnapping, I dont know  but somethings not OK for sure. They asked me, What do you think about it? I said, Im happy. I feel that Im doing something. You know, if youre not doing anything that bothers MBS, that means youre not working very well.

Then one of Omars contacts told him that the Saudi authorities knew all about the cyber bees. As soon as he could, he told his fellow conspirator. There was a long pause before his friend replied, God help us. His name was Jamal Khashoggi.

Meanwhile Citizen Labs Bill Marczak arrived in Montreal and went door to door, contacting members of the Saudi diaspora on his list to see if he could track down the one person he knew had been targeted by Pegasus. Eventually, he found a match. Omar Abdulaziz attended Quebec University and the timing of his phone connecting to his home and the universitys ISPs corresponded with the information Citizen Lab had found in the Pegasus infection.

Omar was understandably wary but a mutual connection vouched for Citizen Labs bona fides and he met Bill in a cafe. Bill asked Omar if he could check his phone and he came across the link supposedly sent by DHL.

In its October 2018 report The Kingdom Came to Canada, Citizen Lab stated: We conclude  that a government customer of NSO Group targeted and infected Omar Abdulaziz, a Canadian permanent resident, with Pegasus spyware. The infection took place while he was on Canadian soil, after seeking and receiving asylum from the Canadian government. We further believe that this operator, which we named KINGDOM, is linked to Saudi Arabias government and security services.

Citizen Lab had found the needle in the haystack. Omar was not surprised but now he had something else to worry about. Since hed clicked on that fateful DHL link, Omars phone would likely have been checking in with the Saudi Pegasus operator, who could not have missed the 400 or so WhatsApp messages between Omar and Jamal Khashoggi, which included their plans to send both money and foreign SIM cards to the cyber bees, their fellow activists in Saudi Arabia.

The timing of the report was uncanny. Ron was at a security conference in the Netherlands when he and Bill received a WhatsApp message from Omar: Im really worried, Jamal has gone missing.

Whos Jamal? asked Ron.

Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian Washington Post journalist, vocal critic of his countrys regime and, with Omar Abdulaziz, co-creator of the cyber bees, walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to pick up some documents confirming his divorce, which would enable him to marry his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting for him outside. She didnt notice the man dressed in the same clothes as Jamal who left the embassy less than an hour later and would probably have put it down to coincidence if she had. She waited outside the consulate for 10 hours for Jamal to reappear but gave up and returned the next day to once more wait in vain. The press began to take an interest.

Jamal Khashoggi was a journalist for The Washington Post - AFP

Omar was looking at events unfolding in Istanbul with alarm. As he followed the news coverage, he found a photo in which Hatice is pictured holding what appeared to be Jamals phones. Omar had circled these in red, saying, You guys should check these phones, and WhatsApped the photo to Ron and Bill. That was how I first heard about Khashoggi Ron told me.

Although Khashoggis disappearance was hitting global headlines, the Saudi authorities stuck to the line that he had left the embassy within an hour of arriving, releasing CCTV footage of someone wearing similar clothes  the man Jamals fiancee had not noticed as he passed her in the street  leaving the embassy. She vigorously rejected that explanation. The Turkish authorities were peculiarly well informed; they had been illegally bugging the embassy.

The tapes of what went on inside the consulate that day documented the grisly chain of events once the door closed behind Jamal Khashoggi. He had been met by a 15-person assassination squad. After a struggle, Khashoggi was injected with a lethal drug.

A Saudi surgeon, flown over for the purpose, took out his bone saw and dismembered the dissidents body. No trace of it has ever been found.

There was little doubt internationally that the murder had been ordered by Saudi Arabias crown prince, although his government issued various denials. When their ruse about Jamal leaving the embassy fell flat, they finally blamed a Saudi intelligence team for exceeding their brief to bring Jamal back to Saudi Arabia, but the US director of national intelligence was in little doubt as to who the architect of the crime was: We assess that Saudi Arabias crown prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The disappearance remained headline news for weeks and international attention blazed down on Mohammed bin Salmans corrupt and brutal regime. Citizen Lab meanwhile checked the phone of Khashoggis fiancee Hatice Cengiz and found that it too was infected with Pegasus. The use of this spyware had proved that even in exile no one is safe. If a government wanted to keep tabs on its enemies, Pegasus was undoubtedly a good buy.

The US government says Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the murder of Jamal Khashoggi - Getty

Pegasus spyware became a watchword for repression of human-rights activists all over the world. Coordinated by French media non-profit Forbidden Stories and with technical support from Amnesty Internationals Security Lab, 17 major global news outlets  including Le Monde, Suddeutsche Zeitung, The Guardian, The Washington Post and PBS  began collaborating on a major investigation into the use of this spyware. They called it the Pegasus Project.

Together they exposed the depth of Pegasus surveillance as they identified a swathe of top-level politicians whose smartphones might have been infected. They included Frances Emmanuel Macron and South Africas Cyril Ramaphosa. As a Washington Post headline on 20 July 2021 put it: On the list: Ten prime ministers, three presidents and a king.

Indeed, Citizen Lab notified the UK that they had detected suspected Pegasus spyware infections in the Prime Ministers office at 10 Downing Street and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office during 2020 and 2021. They linked these infections to the UAE, India, Cyprus and Jordan.

As the storm grew, so the fortunes of both Novalpina and NSO began to plummet. In addition to being a focus of global media pressure, NSO was hit by an avalanche of lawsuits from companies including Google, Apple and Meta. Meanwhile, on 5 August 2021, Novalpinas first investor, the Oregon State Treasury, backed a takeover bid by the Berkeley Research Group. Just three months later Novalpina was wound up.

That same month the US government placed NSO on its Entity List  essentially a trade blacklist  for engaging in activities that are contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests.

But even tough measures like these were not enough to stop Pegasus.

As we speak, there are live infections of Pegasus victims, Ron Deibert told me in September 2023. Theyre definitely supplying government clients with spyware and they are actively hacking.

A glance at NSOs website today will tell you that, We hold ourselves to the highest standards for ethical business, taking all reasonable steps to prevent and mitigate the risk of misuse of our products.

So thats all right then.

Extracted from Terrible Humans: the Worlds Most Corrupt Super-Villains  and the Fight To Bring Them Down, by Patrick Alley (Monoray, 22); order at books.telegraph.co.uk

Alley is a co-founder of Global Witness, a leading investigative organisation that helped pioneer the global anti-corruption movement and now focuses those skills on the root causes of the climate crisis

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.
Some Victims of Ind. Serial Killer Are ID'd, But Officials Face Stiff Challenge: 10,000 Bone Fragments in His Yard

Authorities believe Herb Baumeister  who they say lived a double life  picked up men at gay bars while his family was on vacation, then murdered them at his home

INDIANAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT Jeffrey A. Jones, left, and Herb Baumeister

More than 10,000 bone fragments were discovered on suspected serial killer Herb Baumiester's million dollar Indiana property in 1996, and his victims are still being identified.

Authorities believe Baumeister  who they say lived a double life as a seemingly upstanding family man  picked up men at gay bars while his wife and children were on vacation. Then, he brought them back to his Westfield, Ind., home  known as Fox Hollow Farm  and murdered them and buried their remains on the 18-acre property. Authorities believe he could be responsible for upwards of 25 murders, but have only officially linked him to 12.

Less than two weeks after the remains were discovered in 1996, Baumeister died by suicide, The New York Times reported in 1996. He never faced any charges in connection with the slayings nor admitted to any of them. At the time the murders took place, he was married with three children.

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In late 2022, Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison brought renewed interest to the case when he asked family members of men who went missing in the Indianapolis area in the 80s and 90s to submit DNA samples to the coroners office to determine if they were a possible victim of Baumeister, USA Today reported.

This week, on May 22, the Hamilton County Coroner's Office in Indiana announced that another victim has been identified as Jeffrey A. Jones, who was reported missing in August 1993. His remains were identified through extensive forensic genetic genealogy investigation," the corner's office said.

Earlier this year, on Jan. 25, the coroner's office also announced the identification of Manuel Resendez, whose remains were found in 1996. Additionally, Allen Livingston was identified as another one of Baumeisters victims through the same process, CBS News reports.

"According to Jellison, investigators have four additional DNA profiles that have not yet been identified, bringing the total number of victims to 12," the coroner's office said in the May 22 statement.



Related: Indiana Father Had 10,000 Fragments of Human Remains on His Property. Police Are Still IDing Victims

Because many of the remains were found burnt and crushed, this investigation is extremely challenging; however, the team of law enforcement and forensic specialists working the case remain committed," Jellison said in the statement.



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Violence between students flares again at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa

(KRON)  Violence between students continues to plague Montgomery High Schools campus in Santa Rosa.

Last year, 16-year-old Jayden Pienta was slain by another student inside a classroom. A 15-year-old freshman stabbed Pienta to death in front of dozens of students and their art teacher on March 1, 2023, according to police.

On Wednesday, another fight between two boys broke out during their lunchtime recess, the Santa Rosa Police Department said.

Both students punched each other several times for 15 seconds until school staff members separated the boys, police said. One of the boys clutched a knife in his fist while throwing punches, police said.

The Santa Rosa Police Department said it did not receive a call from the school until 1:56 p.m. Wednesday. Once an officer arrived on campus, a school employee told the officer that no knife was involved and the school wished to handle the matter internally.

Additionally, the officer learned the student suspected of brandishing a knife had left the campus approximately 20 minutes before the school called the police department to report the incident, SRPD wrote.

Police said officers were unable to find the boy because of the schools significant time delay in reporting the fight to SRPD.

On Wednesday night, school administrators met with police a second time because new video of the fight revealed that one boy was in fact armed with a knife. The video showed the suspect punched the victim in the face at least one time while his fist was wrapped around the knife, SRPD wrote.

Three shot at Oakland Skyline High School graduation

On Thursday afternoon, police officers found the boy at home on Grand Avenue and arrested him. Investigators were unable to find the knife.

The boy was booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor possession of a weapon on school grounds. Police did not release the arrested boys name because he is a minor.

A spokesperson for Santa Rosa High School District did not immediately respond to KRON4s request for comment about Wednesdays incident.

Lawsuit: Santa Rosa school failed to help slain student Jayden Pienta

Montgomery High School and the school district are currently facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of Pientas family. The civil lawsuit blames school authorities for not expelling students who repeatedly get into fights at school.

The suit claims Montgomery high:

Allowed a culture of violence to grow and become acceptable on campus and during

school hours, in which students were allowed to settle differences through physical

violence.

Failed to take effective action to address students who engage in repeated violent

altercations with other students, including, but not limited to, reassignment, segregation,

supervision, education, counseling, intervention, and expulsion.

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.
Vivat publisher appeals for help for printing house destroyed by Russia in Kharkiv

Russia attacked the city of Kharkiv on 23 May. One of the Russian missiles hit the workshop at Vivat's Factor-Druk printing house, killing seven people and injuring 22.

Source: Vivat CEO Yuliia Orlova

Details: Orlova posted a letter explaining how Ukrainians and the international community can help the printing house.

"Please share and spread the word about this tragedy to the world  about how the enemy is destroying Ukrainian books and culture, attempting to disrupt the development of our nation. Support from all corners of the world is currently vital for us.

We are witnessing how Russian society, demonstrating its low level of development, destroys what constitutes European values. We are confident that this tragedy will not leave any resident of the civilised world indifferent, as history has repeatedly shown: the destruction of books is often followed by moral decay," the publisher said.

How can we help the printing house?

Stop cooperation with any Russian entities.

Raise awareness of Russian crimes against Ukraine, especially those against our cultural heritage.

Continue to send donations to charities focused on healthcare that support victims of war.

Continue to send donations to the Ukrainian forces.

Financially support the Faktor company, which has launched a fundraiser and will use all donated funds to support the people who were injured and restore its printing operations.

Details for donations: Company details / company name: CHARITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF KHARKIV "TOLOKA" Bank name: JSC CB "PRIVATBANK", 1D HRUSHEVSKOHO STR., KYIV, 01001, UKRAINE Bank SWIFT Code: PBANUA2X Company address: 106a Sumska Street, Kharkiv, 61002, Ukraine, Kharkiv region, city of Kharkiv Reference: factor druk EUR IBAN Code: UA633515330000026004052234902 USD IBAN Code: UA233515330000026008052136352

Background: The Vivat team also asks that Yuliia Orlova's appeal be distributed in Ukrainian and English.

The Factor-Druk printing house, which became a target of the Russians, mainly prints Vivat books, along with books from other publishers.

Factor-Druk is one of the largest full-cycle printing houses in Eastern Europe. It had been operating since 1996, and was used by almost all Ukrainian publishers.

Factor-Druk is also one of the key companies for the book publishing cycle. Yuliia Orlova says that the shutdown of such a company could affect the entire field of book publishing in Ukraine, as textbooks, children's literature, books about war, language, history, etc. were printed here.

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Vivek Ramaswamy was met with a wave of boos at the Libertarian National Convention on Friday for mentioning Donald Trump on the eve of the former presidents speech there.

The failed Republican presidential candidate was speaking at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., when he got a distinctly negative reaction from the audience for mentioning Trump, whose planned speech on Saturday has led to calls for protest among libertarians.

Wow Ramaswamy gets booed at the Libertarian National Convention after mentioning Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/ytgjyQ0oXR  Acyn (@Acyn) May 25, 2024

I have gotten to know Donald Trump over the last several years, and the last several months, Ramaswamy said, before being interrupted by a volley of boos from the audience. and youre gonna hear from him tomorrow night! And the question is do you want to influence the next administration or dont you?

Ramaswamy tried to recover, but continued to field boos and laughter from the audience. You all get to speak your mind, I respect that. Libertarians in the room gotta speak upbut, the question is, how do you get it done? I believe the future of this country depends on a libertarian-nationalist alliance that will save this country, he said.

Libertarian VP candidate Clint Russell asks Vivek Ramaswamy at the Libertarian Party Convention:



Why in Gods name is Donald Trump talking about building a new building for the FBI in Washington, DC? pic.twitter.com/81kHLxHBQg  American Values  (@AV24org) May 25, 2024

At one point, the audience began to shout over him as he explained why even those who dont totally support all of Trumps positions should still back him for president.

Are you going to agree with him on 100 percent of what he says? Do I agree with 100 percent of his policy positions? No, he said, before being drowned out by angry shouts of No! when he said Trump has a real shot at the presidency.

Several delegates at the convention plan to protest Trump's speech on Saturday, according to Politico, which reports that his inclusion in the event sparked physical clashes between those in support of the move and those outraged by it.

I would like to propose that we go tell Donald Trump to go fuck himself! one delegate reportedly shouted into a microphone as the convention got underway.

Another delegate, Nathan Madden, was quoted telling Politico that Trump is likely to face a hostile crowd. He could get booed off stage, he said, before adding that I think the Secret Service will tell him not to come.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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MANHATTAN (KSNT)  Friday, dozens of Kansans went to the Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Manhattan to decorate the graves of American veterans.

One of the many groups that came to volunteer was the American Legion. Alan Zeitvogel is the director of the American Legion Rider Chapter Pearce-Keller Post No. 17 in Manhattan.

It gives me a lot of warm fuzzies to see a group of guys like this. We like to crush the stereotype of a typical biker, because were just a bunch of old softies. But, were veterans and its very important for us to get together and do things like this, Zeitvogel said.

Kansas Veterans Cemetery manager Bryan Nelson emphasized that its more than meets the eye.

The one thing we want people to remember [is that] its not just about putting a flag down on the gravesite. But, to take a second [and] read the name of the person youre putting that flag out on. Just take a minute, say their name, keep their memory alive and then go to the next one, Nelson said.

Manhattan cookie business gears up for holiday weekend

The Veterans Cemetery will place more than 1,300 flags on graves this weekend, before a multitude of ceremonies and speakers on Memorial Day.

Go enjoy yourself. Go enjoy your family. But, do it because someone was willing to give their life for you to have that opportunity, Nelson said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
For 30 years, the Reslers have lived in a 1991 ranch-style home they built themselves in Colony Lake, a modest subdivision on the edge of Chapel Hill.

During that time, theyve used one company to insure both their car and home: Nationwide.

Apart from a small claim filed over two decades ago, theyve never asked for anything else. They paid their premiums on time, around $83 each month. And despite rising costs, they felt secure knowing that theyd built their 1,497-square-foot home in a relatively low-risk area far from the coast.

Then last September, through their local agent, they received a nonrenewal notice from the Ohio-based Nationwide.

We were stunned, said the 68-year-old retired nurse. Wed been faithful customers, but there was no conversation. They didnt even send an inspector to survey the property, she added.

Instead, Nationwide employed a third-party, Cape Analytics. The California-based firm employs geospacial imagery, computer vision, and artificial intelligence to gather property data for insurance underwriters, its website says.

Based on an aerial photo, the Reslers were issued the nonrenewal letter and given 30-day notice. They were advised to obtain new coverage. If they failed to do so, their bank would purchase a policy for them, likely to be more expensive with less coverage.

A month later, Nationwide, which writes about 7.3% of the states insurance policies, disclosed that it would drop 10,525 homeowners policies in Eastern North Carolina. Its unclear if the Reslers nonrenewal was part of this pullout.

Nationwide did not respond to calls or emails seeking comment.

An aerial photo of the Reslers home included in Cape Analytics report of their home.

A photo of the Reslers home in the Colony Lake subdivision of Chapel Hill.

A surge in nonrenewals

Insurers using drones or satellite images as part of the underwriting process isnt new.

Where once companies sent agents into the field to take photos, the use of drones expedites this process, said Barry Smith, a spokesman for the states Department of Insurance.

Its also cheap and legal. In North Carolina, anyone can fly a drone over your house as long they follow Federal Aviation Administration regulations (up to 400 feet above a buildings roof line if theyre inspecting it). And they must obey state laws regarding privacy and trespass.

But in recent years, as weather-related risks mount and underwriters tighten guidelines, mega-insurers like Nationwide and All State are increasingly using aerial photography and other insurtech  like artificial intelligence and risk modeling  to screen potential and existing customers, consumer groups warn.

Its led to a surge in nonrenewals and denied claims, a recent Wall Street Journal report found. Its also reopened a debate over privacy concerns, and whether the practice is fair at a time when insurers are finding it harder to operate in North Carolina and residents face skyrocketing premiums. The Rate Bureau, which represents insurance companies, and the state are currently trying to reach a settlement on new rates.

Story continues

To navigate this tricky landscape, consumers need more nonrenewal protections, consumer watchdog United Policyholders said in a May 15 blog post.

Among them: requiring insurers to provide timestamped images of the home, and an appeal process to correct any errors and continue coverage.

Oftentimes, customers are left in the lurch with just 30 days to find a new policy, the group argues, and few paths to argue their case.

A surprise ending

When they received their nonrenewal letter, the Reslers pushed back. They asked to see Cape Analytics roof report, which their agent provided.

The three-page report included an orthogonal aerial image from May 5, 2023, concluding the roof was in poor condition with minor discoloration and streaking, but no defects or loose organic matter, like mold. It included no information on how to appeal.

In 2011, the Reslers had paid $10,000 for a four-star roof. They still had 40 years of coverage  and the receipts to prove it. The roofs installers returned to re-inspect and found it to be sound but in need of a good power-wash  which we had done, she said. They provided the documentation to Nationwide.

In the meantime, they went shopping for insurance.

By the time Nationwide circled back to accept their documentation, the Reslers had switched companies, based on Consumer Reports and customer reviews they found on Nextdoor.

I lost all trust in [Nationwide], said Rosemary Resler said.

The couple also ended up saving about $200 a year with more coverage and learned an important lesson: Be my own advocate and shop around. Being loyal to an insurance company doesnt mean theyll remain loyal to you.

What to know

If an insurance company sends you a nonrenewal notice or rejects your application for a new policy, United Policyholders offers the following consumer tips:

Ask in writing to show you the specific underwriting rule that disqualifies you.

Find out if theyre basing their decision on aerial images and if so, request copies of the images.

See what steps you can take to address the conditions that disqualify you.

Request for time to complete those steps.

Get confirmation that theyll offer you a new or renewal policy once you provide documentation that the work is complete.

Read more here.

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
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and EPP lead candidate, speaks at the European elections campaign event of the Christian Democratioc Union (CDU) at Steinhuder Meer in the Hanover region. Michael Matthey/dpa

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has again responded to critics denouncing her willingness to cooperate with right-wing groups in the European Parliament.

"It's about winning over the political forces that are so important for a majority in the centre," the EU leader told the German radio station Deutschlandfunk in an interview.

She said she would work with democratic parties and politicians, no matter their political group in the parliament.

"The criteria for me is that the MPs we want to work with are in favour of Europe, in favour of Ukraine against Russia, and in favour of the rule of law," she stated, referring to members of parliament.

Von der Leyen first faced criticism in April after failing to rule out cooperation in the European Parliament with the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, which includes Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday said he was "very saddened by the ambiguity of some of the political statements" coming from von der Leyen, who is running for a second term as president of the European Commission.

"It will only be possible to establish a commission presidency that is based on the traditional parties ... Anything else would be a mistake for the future of Europe," Scholz added.
'Vote in the streets? Vietnam War protesters reassess strategy more than 50 years later

Michael Ansara spent the better part of the 1960s and 70s protesting the Vietnam War as an organizer for Students for a Democratic Society.

Now 77, Ansara said he isnt any less radical than he was half a century ago, but he is less foolish.

Like many, Ansara sees striking similarities between 1968 and 2024  flourishing antiwar protests, a contentious upcoming presidential election and Democrats heading for Chicago in August to formally select their White House nominee.

This year, college-aged voters have expressed deep disillusionment with President Joe Biden and his handling of Americas role in the Israel-Hamas War. Many in the core Democratic voting bloc have threatened to sit out the presidential election.

Ansara understands the mindset all too well. In 1968, he and other activists rejected then-Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey, the sitting vice president, because of his support for the Vietnam War. They chanted vote with your feet, vote in the street during protests, and refused to participate in electoral politics, believing there were only shades of difference between Humphrey and the Republican candidate Richard Nixon.

It was misguided, Ansara now says.

It was not that we protested. It was not that our assessment about Humphrey was wrong, he argued. It was that we had a failure of political imagination.

Nixon went on to win the popular vote by less than 0.5% and U.S. involvement in Vietnam persisted for another five years. It wasnt until decades later that Ansara said he realized the critical error.

If activists had worked to get Humphrey elected and pushed for the South Dakota politician to end the war, Ansara said he believes they could have saved millions of lives  both American and Vietnamese.

This year, as Biden and former President Donald Trump gear up for a similarly tight matchup in November, he and other antiwar activists USA TODAY spoke with said they wont make the same mistake.

And they hope the younger generation of pro-Palestinian protesters will heed their regrets.

Deja vu

Mark Naison, now a professor of history at Fordham University, was a doctoral student at Columbia University in 1968. Naison said he joined the protests on campus that year, which urged the university to end its connections to military research in support of the Vietnam War and cease construction of a gym they believed promoted segregation.

These days, he has deja vu watching students at his alma mater organize encampments and take over Hamilton Hall  the same administration building Naison and others occupied more than 50 years ago.

A large crowd of students and others gather in front of the Low Memorial Library on the Columbia University campus in New York during a protest of the Vietnam War on April 29, 1968.

The 77-year-old expects many of the people he protested with to vote for Biden this fall, despite some reservations with the presidents handling of Israel.

The same cannot be said, according to Naison, for younger protesters.

A Harvard Kennedy School poll published in April found that 41% of voters ages 18 to 29 said they disliked both Trump and Biden. A whopping 76% disapprove of Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas War.

Naison said he worries that current events will push the countrys politics to the right, a trend he recalled happening decades ago with Nixon's election in 1968.

Even people who may have started to have doubts about the war didn't like the sight of young people at elite universities who were highly privileged taking over buildings, blocking classes, and then getting involved in encounters with, somewhat violent encounters, with the police, Naison said.

A new perspective

Many of the former antiwar protesters of the 1960s and 70s who USA TODAY spoke with said their political leanings havent shifted much in the last half-century.

If anything, these now 70- and 80-year-olds say theyve merely become more pragmatic

Miles Rapoport, a former member of Students for a Democratic Society, said he supports protesters' calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

But he said he sees more differences than similarities between government actions during the Vietnam War and Bidens response to the Israel-Hamas war.

Rapoport, who previously served as the secretary of state of Connecticut, argued that responsibility for the war in Vietnam fell squarely on the shoulders of U.S. leaders, whereas the war in Gaza was initiated by the policies of Israel and the outrageous attack by Hamas.

Unlike leaders during the Vietnam War, who Rapoport said were deaf to the opposition, he insisted that Biden is working toward ending the war.

The major lesson that we learned is not to let short term disagreements or even passionate disagreements with the president blind you to the major differences between the two presidential candidates, Rapoport, 74, said.

Others, like Jan Barry, a former officer of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, do see themselves in the protesters. If I didn't have handicaps, I'd be out there with them, Barry, 81, said.

This years demonstrations are no different than any of the past, Barry argued, reminiscing about a 1971 encampment that Vietnam veterans erected on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to advocate for an end to the war. That movement, Barry said, was based on another staged by World War I veterans in 1932 to demand early payment of their bonuses during the Great Depression.

Much like today's student protesters, Barry, who is the same age as Biden, described the presidents response to the Israel-Hamas conflict as terrible.

And in the upcoming June 4 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary, Barry plans to vote uncommitted to protest Bidens Israel policies. He said he is also holding out hope that both Biden and Trump will drop out before the general election, as then-President Lyndon B. Johnson did in a surprise announcement in March 1968 during a nationally-televised address where he outlined plans to scale back U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

But short of that unlikely possibility, Barry said theres no choice. He will vote for Biden.

He did end the war in Afghanistan, Barry said. I have a little bit of hope that he'll keep pushing for the right thing to be done regarding Gaza.

Experience worth learning from

Even with fears about the election looming, many of the now seasoned antiwar protesters are hesitant about advising the younger generation.

Ansara, who is writing a memoir about his years as an activist, said he is doubtful that young people will take the advice of protesters from the 1960s and 70s, even if it is given.

In 1968, I was 21 years old, Ansara said. There is absolutely no way I would have listened to any old person telling me what to do or not to do.

Michael Ansara, pictured here in 2020, protested the Vietnam War as an organizer for Students for a Democratic Society in the 1960s and '70s. Today he is writing a memoir about his years as an activist.

Michael James, 82, told USA TODAY he feels like a revisionist when he cautions young people, including his adult children, about being too out there, because he feels like hes moving away from the cause.

Amid the chaos that was the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, James  then a 26-year-old shaggy haired activist  was immortalized in a black-and-white photograph rocking a police van while staring at the camera.

Looking back on it, we were responsible, not initially, but at that moment, in bringing Nixon to power, James said of his generations apathy toward the ballot box.

Today, the Bernie Sanders-loving progressive leftist, believes that Trump poses a threat of fascism too great to ignore.

Nixon is a lot less dangerous, or was, than I think Trump is, James told USA TODAY. I'm kind of rooting for Biden and the Democrats. Years ago, I wouldn't have been.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vietnam War protesters urge young people to vote in 2024 elections
The City of Atlanta announced Friday that voters had officially approved a new sales tax item to fund city water and sewage system improvements.

The Municipal Option Sales Tax approved on the May 21 ballot authorizes an extra $0.01 sales tax increase on goods and services bought in Atlanta.

The MOST funds will be used to pay for what is expected to be a $4 billion investment in water and sewer improvements.

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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens released a statement thanking residents for voting in favor of the MOST on the ballot.

Thank you to Atlanta for your overwhelming support for the Municipal Option Sales Tax (MOST) on this weeks ballot, Dickens said. This one-cent sales taxwhich is shared by residents and visitors alikekeeps our citys water and sewer infrastructure improvements moving forward without raising the price of services, which disproportionately affects our most vulnerable communities. With your support, we are creating a safer and more sustainable infrastructure and a city built for the future.

City officials said the funds are related to two federal consent decrees from 1998 and 1999 that require those investments.

The two consent decrees are for combined sewer overflows and sanitary sewer overflows.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Voters grab "Ohio Voted" stickers after filling out ballots on Election Day at Chesapeake Elementary School on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, in Chesapeake, Ohio. Voting rights advocates asked a federal judge on Friday, May 24, 2024, to strike down restrictions contained in Ohio's sweeping 2023 election law that they say restrict a host of trusted individuals from helping voters with disabilities cast absentee ballots. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Voting rights advocates asked a federal judge on Friday to strike down restrictions contained in Ohio's sweeping 2023 election law that they say restrict a host of trusted individuals from helping voters with disabilities cast absentee ballots.

The motion for summary judgment came in a lawsuit filed in December under the Americans with Disabilities Act by the League of Women Voters of Ohio and voter Jennifer Kucera, who was born with a form of muscular dystrophy, against Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. The plaintiffs are represented by the ACLU of Ohio, American Civil Liberties Union and law firm of Covington & Burling.

The filing in the U.S. District Court in Cleveland argues that the law prohibits all but a short list of qualifying family members from helping those with disabilities deliver their ballots, excluding potential helpers such as professional caregivers, roommates, in-laws and grandchildren.

These arbitrary restrictions that burden the right to vote of Ohioans with disabilities are undemocratic, cruel, and in violation of several federal laws including the Voting Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act," Freda Levenson, legal director for the ACLU of Ohio, said in a statement. "Yet the state insists, and has been fighting hard, to maintain this unlawful burden. Were hopeful that the federal court will soon rule to remedy this disgrace.

The law, which went into effect in April 2023, makes it a felony for anyone who isnt an election official or mail carrier to possess or return the absentee ballot of a voter with a disability, unless the person assisting them falls within a prescribed list of close relatives.

Republicans who advanced the law argued that its provisions were designed to protect election integrity and restore voter confidence at a time of great doubt.

Voting rights advocates say many voters with disabilities are unable to travel to their polling place and many are unable to access their mailbox or ballot dropbox.

Kucera said Ohio's absentee, or mail-in, voting program is not designed for people with mobility disabilities like hers.

This lawsuit is fighting back against a society that for most of history has tried to crush the voices, thoughts, and spirits of its disabled inhabitants, she said in a statement. All Ive ever wanted is just to be given the same chances that non-disabled people are offered. Nearly 28% of adults in Ohio have a disability.

Jen Miller, executive director for the League of Women Voters of Ohio, called the restrictions unreasonable. Her organization argues that Ohio has not provided evidence that allowing voters with disabilities to choose someone outside the state's list to help them vote would fundamentally alter Ohio's absentee voting program.

Making it a felony to help your grandparent or roommate exercise their right to vote is fundamentally wrong, she said in a statement.
A DIY store with an estimated 200 people inside has been struck by Russian missiles in Kharkiv.

Ihor Terekhov, Kharkivs mayor, said that the missile strike had killed at least two people, with four people missing and 33 people wounded.

Judging by everything, the attack was aimed at the shopping centre, where there were many people. This is pure terrorism, he said.

Video showed flames and smoke pouring out of a large building and a body covered by a foil blanket lying in a car park.

The Kharkiv mayor described the attack as 'pure terrorism', saying it was aimed at the shopping centre - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

An estimated 200 people were inside the large DIY store when it was struck - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Russian forces launched a cross-border attack north of Kharkiv earlier in May.

Vladimir Putin has denied that he wants to capture the city but Russia has intensified its missile attacks and analysts have said that he may want to turn Kharkiv into an uninhabitable wasteland.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled Kharkiv after Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022 but many returned later that year after Russian soldiers routed from the edge of the city.

An hour after announcing the mid-afternoon attack on the shopping centre, Mr Terekhov also said that a Russian missile had hit a city centre park.

Another blow just hit Central Park. Information about victims and destruction is being clarified, he said.

The shopping centre was attacked mid-afternoon on Saturday - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Overnight, reports also said that four Russian missiles had struck the city, although there were no reports of casualties. On Thursday, a Russian missile attack on a printing house in Kharkiv killed seven people.

Volodymyr Zelensky blamed slow weapon supplies from the West for the attacks.

If Ukraine had enough air defence and modern combat aircraft, such Russian strikes would simply be impossible, he said in a video message on his Telegram channel.

Volodymyr Zelensky has blamed slow weapon supplies from the West for the attacks on Kharkiv - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Earlier, Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of Nato, backed calls to allow Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia with US-made missiles.

In an interview with the Economist, he said that Nato countries needed to do more to help Ukraine, although he ruled out deploying Nato soldiers.

Denying Ukraine the ability to use these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it much more difficult for it to defend its territory, he said.

Ukrainian forces have complained that they have to stand and watch as Russian troops line up behind the border ahead of their attacks towards Kharkiv.

Britain has given Ukraine permission to fire its missiles at targets inside Russia but the US has said that this risks escalating the war and has banned it.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Water conservationists are attacking developers and political insiders they believe are mounting a soft coup that threatens control over precious water resources in Nevada.

In a report released Wednesday by the Great Basin Water Network, a water conservation watchdog run by Kyle Roerink, describes developers attempt to subvert the states water managers through proposals to modernize government processes. What that really means is limiting public participation and creating new political supervision over the states chief water decision-maker, the report suggests.

The proposals would systematically install new layers of subversive bureaucracy to limit meaningful participation, co-opt lawmakers with industry propaganda, and institute new layers of pseudo governmental entities  undermining an existing system where the public can already appeal to courts and take other actions to hold regulators accountable, according to the report.

An attempt to pitch the modernizations before the Nevada Legislatures Interim Committee for Natural Resources failed when it was removed from the May 10 agenda.

The proposal called for a state water commissioner to be picked by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, as well as a water caucus. The report criticized the arrangement, saying it would be abused by lobbyists brought in to educate lawmakers.

There are no specific examples as to why the current law isnt working aside from casual references to limited oversight of the state engineer, according to the report.

The modernization effort has been in the works for more than a year. A recent finding by the Nevada Supreme Court upheld the state engineers authority to manage water decisions in the public interest.

Roerinks group identifies Vidler Water Company, Resource Concepts Inc. of Carson City and private water developer Water Asset Management as businesses involved in the movement. It cites an email with more than 25 well-connected people copied  while leaving out State Engineer Adam Sullivan, Nevadas authority when it comes to water decisions.

Roerink said developers and others behind the plan have long championed groundwater exportation and overuse. Vidler has a long history of working to turn paper water rights into profits in arid regions of the U.S., the report said.

8 News Now has reached out to Donald Pattalock at Vidler for comment. Pattalock is named in the report as a player in water politics and currently involved in trying to secure water for housing developments in north Reno. We have also reached out to others for comment. Sullivan is out of the office and unavailable through next week. The Southern Nevada Water Authority had no comment. State Senator Julie Pazina, who runs the interim committee that was to review the proposal, hasnt responded to our request for comment.

Vidler, which has a Carson City office, has been entwined with Nevada water politics for decades. The company bought ranches in eastern Nevada as plans formed to build a water pipeline to Las Vegas. That plan is now dead, Vidler sold one of the properties to SNWA for the water rights, according to Great Basin Water Network.

Now, the battle over water is front and center and people are paying more attention after nearly 2 decades of drought.

We hope lawmakers see this proposal for what it is: an effort to undermine the only safeguards we have, the report warned.

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.
WEBER CITY, Va. (WJHL)  A woman was arrested this week after allegedly leading Tennessee police agencies on a pursuit and then barricading herself in the restroom of a local business, the Weber City Police Department reports.

A post on Saturday by the police department said that the incident began early Tuesday morning when numerous Tennessee law enforcement agencies terminated a high-speed pursuit at the Virginia state line.

A few hours later there was a call from a citizen in regards to someone stopping at their residence and admitting to running from law enforcement in Tennessee, the post states. The department said officers then located an abandoned vehicle next to a Food City store in Weber City, and a K-9 officer named Apache was deployed to track the suspect and apprehend them.

Woman arrested after pursuit, standoff that shut down I-81 in Kingsport

While the K-9 was on its way to the scene, a captain with the Scott County Sheriffs Office spotted a female matching the suspects description and she fled on foot, according to the post.

The department said the suspect then ran into a local business where she barricaded herself in the bathroom with an animal. K-9 Apache, Scott County Animal Control and the Scott County Sheriffs Office assisted Weber City police in apprehending the female and gaining control of the animal in the restroom with her.

The woman, whose identity was not provided, was arrested and is reportedly awaiting extradition to Tennessee on the pursuit charges, according to the post.

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.
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (PIX11)  Of the hundreds of air shows in the United States, the fifth largest is here in our region.

The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is this weekend, and on Friday, the headliners of the show did their practice flights for the event. The U.S. Navys Blue Angels are best known for their seven fighter jets, and the aerobatics they perform. However, they couldnt do any of it without their eighth plane  a C-130 cargo aircraft that does some remarkable maneuvering of its own.

The plane is fondly nicknamed Fat Albert. It transports the 60 people and 35,000 tons of cargo that are needed to keep the Blue Angels squadron flying, from location to location, from the squadrons home base in Pensacola, Florida. Once the squadron and their supplies are off-loaded, Fat Albert does its own high-precision flying at airshows.

Fat Albert is pretty much a school bus on roller coaster tracks, when we go do our demonstration, said Joseph Gunther, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marines, who grew up in Commack, Long Island. He and a team of fellow Marines (unlike the Blue Angel fighter jet pilots, who are all in the Navy, the entire crew of the Fat Albert are Marines) are responsible for keeping the aircraft in a condition so fine-tuned that its capable of unusually challenging mid-air feats.

Memorial Day parade, concert: things to do in NYC

Well do a bit of pushover, SSgt. Gunther said, describing a climbing and leveling off maneuver the plane does in its mid-air demonstration, so well feel some zero Gs, negative Gs, so well float up in our seats a bit, so itll be pretty fun.

He made it sound so easy. PIX11 News went along for the flight, and the zero gravity that Gunther described almost seemed unreal. All of the passengers and crew onboard, with the exception of the pilots, who were strapped in, floated in space, with legs and arms up in the air, for about seven seconds. The unreal feeling of weightlessness made the zero-G period feel a lot longer. It was unforgettable.

The practice flights of Fat Albert and the other Blue Angel planes on Friday were all to preview the Jones Beach Bethpage Airshow.

The Friday flights were at Republic Airport, about nine miles north of Jones Beach. Many fans of the Blue Angels came out the airstrip in Farmingdale, to get a taste of the weekends airshow.

Record high travelers expected this Memorial Day

Beth Hughes said that the sight of the Blue Angel planes, which are F/A-18Es, is just the beginning.

You spot them, she said, and with the sound waves, its awesome. Its awesome.

Chriscarla Etienne is in elementary school, and wants to be a pilot when she grows up. She said that the most amazing thing to her, when she watches the planes maneuver, is how swiftly and high they go.

When they were going fast, she said, she was awestruck. After that, they went up, she said,

Shes a young fan, and her dad said that shed insisted on seeing this weekends show.

I think Im going to have to get up at four in the morning to go there, said Carlos Etienne, the girls father, referring to the huge, possibly record-setting crowds that are expected. To beat the traffic, he said.

The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 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 PIX11.
Western intelligence services believe that Ukraine will face "large" territorial losses by the end of the year.

Source: Welt, citing German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The article states that the "overall picture" for Ukraine at the moment looks bleak due to Russia's superiority.

The intelligence assessment says Kyiv is not expected to be able to "seize the initiative" in 2024. By the end of the year, Ukraine is likely to suffer "significantly greater territorial losses" than it already had since January.

The Russians are relying on artillery much more heavily than the Ukrainians, and above all, Russia can "more than compensate" for its losses. Kyiv, on the other hand, is unable to call up enough new soldiers "to compensate for losses and create reserves". The new conscription rules "will have an impact only in late summer", as recruits must first undergo training.

This assessment attributed the expected loss of territory by Ukraine to the current "defensive orientation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the resulting prolongation of fighting". Ukraine wants to "preserve personnel" and is currently "buying time by ceding territory". Kyiv hopes this will give it "time to mobilise and restore its defence industrial base (DIB). However, Russia's airstrikes on Ukraine's DIB could become a problem.

Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the opposition Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (CDU or Christian Democratic Union of Germany) party and Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Oversight of the Intelligence Services, confirmed that Ukraine has problems with ammunition and conscription.

However, the official further said that "pessimistic reports about the situation are being spread", apparently with the aim of "showing that the situation is hopeless and that military support no longer makes sense". The aim is to "subtly but brutally" pressure Kyiv to "cede territory".

Kiesewetter commented on this intelligence assessment, saying that Ukraine can "continue to win", but "every delay in support" from Germany and other countries will make it more difficult and expensive.

Ralf Stegner, a member of Germany's ruling Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD or Social Democratic Party) and the oversight committee, said, however, that "in essence," the intelligence services' assessment was correct and "in line with what I know".

Stegner said Ukraine's failed offensive last year showed that "we can and should prevent Ukraine's defeat, but we cannot ensure its victory". Anyone who continues to demand that "weapon A be delivered faster, and weapon B be delivered in even greater quantities" is, in his opinion, chasing illusions. "Constantly increasing the dose when the medicine does not work is not convincing," the lawmaker added.

He believes that the narrative of the hopelessness of Ukraine's resistance can only be overcome when Chancellor Olaf Scholz's slogan that Ukraine will be helped "as long as it takes" is replaced by an "all-inclusive" approach. For example, Ukraine should be allowed to use Western weapons to attack Russian production sites, warehouses and transshipment points in Russia itself. Stegner added that red lines should disappear, and arms production should be accelerated.

Background:

Anton Hofreiter, a politician from the German Green Party, called for no longer preventing Ukraine from attacking Russian territory with Western weapons.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg believes it is high time for some allies to reconsider restrictions on the use of weapons provided to Ukraine against targets in Russia.

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Image of La Rinconada showing lots of shelters on the side of a mountain. Another snow-covered mountain can be seen in the background.

Worldwide, more than 80 million people live at least 8,202 feet (2,500 meters) above sea level, mainly in South America, Central Asia and East Africa.

Some of the highest permanent settlements include Wenquan in China's Qinghai province, at a staggering 15,980 feet (4,870 m) above sea level, and Korzok in India, around 15,000 feet (4,572 m) above sea level.

However, one place towers above them all. Nestled in the Peruvian Andes is a town that is nicknamed " Devil's Paradise ." Officially named La Rinconada, its 50,000 inhabitants live between 16,404 feet (5,000 m) and 17,388 feet (5,300 m) above sea level, making it the highest permanent settlement on Earth.

Life in La Rinconada is extremely difficult. There is no running water, sewage system or garbage disposal . Food is imported from lower altitude regions and electricity was only installed in the town in the 2000s.

The town is known for gold mining, having started out as a temporary mining settlement more than 60 years ago . But the price of gold is that inhabitants must live in extreme conditions with up to half the oxygen pressure that exists at sea level.

Related: Why is Mount Everest so deadly?

Mountain sickness

If you were not born at high altitude and ventured to altitudes like that of La Rinconada, one of the first changes that you'd notice is your breathing rate and heart rate going up. This is because less oxygen is available in the air, so the lungs and heart need to work harder to nourish tissues.

"By the time you're at about 4500 meters [14,763 ft], the same breath of air that you take here [at sea level] has about 60% of the oxygen molecules, so that's a big stress," Cynthia Beall , a professor emerita of anthropology at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, told Live Science.

At first, the percentage of hemoglobin  the protein within red blood cells that carries oxygen  in the blood would also plummet, Beall said. The higher the altitude, the stronger all these responses would be, she said.

Some people may develop a condition called acute mountain sickness (AMS) as the body tries to adjust to lower oxygen levels. This can cause symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, nausea and a loss of appetite.

Usually after about a week or two at high altitude, a person's heart rate and breathing will quieten down slightly as the body begins to make more red blood cells and hemoglobin to compensate for the low oxygen levels in the air, Beall said.

Ethiopian village

Adapting to altitude

However, highlanders, like those living in La Rinconada, have seemingly adapted to low-oxygen environments in many ways.

"There's pretty good evidence from around the world that there are either slight or very large increases in lung volume for people who are exposed to high altitude, particularly before adolescence," Beall said.

Andean highlanders, for example, generally have a high concentration of hemoglobin in their blood which makes their blood thicker. While this allows Andeans to carry more oxygen in their blood, it also means that they are vulnerable to developing a condition called chronic mountain sickness (CMS). This occurs when the body produces an excessive amount of red blood cells.

CMS can happen to people who live at altitudes higher than 10,000 feet (3,050 m) for many months or years and causes symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and aches and pains. Around one in four people in La Rinconada are estimated to suffer from CMS.

The best treatment for CMS is to go to a lower altitude, Tatum Simonson , an associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, told Live Science. However, this isn't always a viable solution if someone has their whole livelihood in a particular region, she said. Regular bloodletting and taking a drug called acetazolamide, which reduces red blood cell production, may provide some relief for patients with CMS, although the safety and efficacy of these treatments in the long run is still unknown.

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Tibetan highlanders, on the other hand, despite also living at high altitudes, don't have elevated hemoglobin concentrations and are therefore at low risk of developing CMS . Instead, they're believed to have adapted to low-oxygen environments by having a higher blood flow through their body, Beall said.

Specifically, Tibetans carry a mutation in a gene called EPAS1 that lowers the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. This mutation is believed to have been inherited from our extinct human cousins, the Denisovans . Mutations in EPAS1 have also recently been found in a group of Andean highlanders, which scientists are now trying to investigate further.
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The internet has opened the door to countless opportunities for remote work and becoming a virtual assistant (VA) is just one path that has the potential to be lucrative. Kim Studdard is a six-figure-earning VA whose practical yet strategic approach to growing her remote business has helped her provide for her family while still having the flexibility to care for her daughter.

Read next: Passive Income Expert: I Make $27,000 Every Week  Heres How

Discover more: 5 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)

Kim shared the specific steps she took to get started along with three tips for anyone looking to start earning at least six figures as a VA.

Seeking an Opportunity

Studdard explained that her motivation to get into VA work was the freedom to work around her baby. Returning to work two weeks after having her daughter wasnt ideal, and she had the added stress of postpartum depression and getting laid off.

I was laid off from my job and because I was the main earner for my family, I needed something quick but also flexible after working 60+ hour weeks for two years and being a mom, she said. So I reached out to people I admired and thought I could work with and got my first three clients, even with an awful pitch.

Studdard had been a full-time freelancer since 2016, but she admitted she didnt start the career out of having a passion for VA work. Even though I started the venture to make up for being laid off, I grew to really love the work I was doing, especially as I branched out into tasks and projects that really resonated with me, she added.

Narrowing Down a Skill Set

Studdard knew she needed to have a skill set or specialty to offer clients. She considered herself organized, and someone who could complete research and create spreadsheets. I reached out to bloggers, websites, and entrepreneurs with the skills I already had and asked them to give me a chance to prove myself, she said.

Her initial pitch was simple, stating that she wanted to help the blogger or entrepreneur and gave her rate. My pitch wasnt really great, but there werent courses on how to be a VA or work online back then, Studdard added. For people looking to start now, Id recommend figuring out what youre good at and narrowing down what you can offer a client in terms of a valuable service.

Studdard picked up skills by working with clients who were willing to teach their processes for extra help. For instance, she learned Pinterest marketing, creating custom spreadsheets, assisting with launching online courses, social media management, and many other services.

Story continues

Reaching Six Figures

For Studdard, a typical day is working from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday. She began taking Fridays off two years ago to enjoy more time with family, run errands, and complete other tasks around the house.

I typically juggle four to five full-time clients, she said. This doesnt mean full-time work, but they are consistent clients that I work with each week and then Ill have one or two clients every few months that I work with on special, larger one-off projects.

In 2019, Studdard reached six figures in gross income for the first time as a virtual assistant. It was more of a natural progression with the growth of her business since she never set an initial income goal. My main goal was to be able to bring in enough income to live comfortably and replace my full-time job, Studdard said. Im lucky that my family is able to live on much less than the average American family.

She mentioned how important it is for self-employed people to realize that earning $100,000 doesnt mean you get to keep the entire amount. In 2019 when she first surpassed the six-figure amount, she says that after taxes and paying for business expenses, she brought home around $65,000.

Maintaining the Business

Studdard admitted that while pitching can be a great way to find VA clients when youre new, she doesnt look for clients and hasnt had to send pitches in four years. These days most of the clients are either previous clients who want to work with me again or someone who was referred to me by a former or current client so Im grateful that I havent had to pitch in four years.

Overall, what she loves most about the job is the freedom to choose her own clients, set fair rates, and pick her schedule.

Im allowed to say no thanks if something doesnt serve me, or if Im not the best fit for the job, she said. I also love that Ive built a business that goes wherever I go since weve recently moved cross country.

3 Tips For Virtual Assistants Looking to Earn Six Figures

Studdard offered the following tips for anyone looking to get into VA work:

1. Have a Specialized Niche That Pays Well

While Studdard has learned many skills over the years and continues to offer some of those to clients, she also focused on gaining more experience as an operations consultant and manager. Narrowing down your niche and target customer can help you become an expert and charge more as a result.

Basically what I do now is help small businesses set up systems and organize themselves to be more efficient to work on money-making tasks versus the constant hustle and bustle of admin work, she said. I recommend taking a year to dive into VA work and adjust but then start narrowing down a specific service niche afterward.

2. Raise Your Prices Regularly

Its no surprise that to earn six figures, Studdard had to increase her prices from the initial $15 per hour. My contracts all state that if Im working long-term with a client, I have the right to raise my prices each year and its the year mark after the first day we start working together, not January 1st.

Studdard added that she has set rates for short-term projects, but increases the price as her skills have become more proficient.

With my consulting service, I began to charge more as I learned things and could offer more value so I went from charging an hourly rate to packages ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.

3. Invest in Yourself

Studdards final tip is to take the time and money to invest in your VA career so you can know the ins and outs of your service niche. If its one like social media that evolves rapidly, its important to stay on top of the latest trends, strategies and policies to better serve your clients.

I can charge more because I have a larger portfolio, happy clients, and knowledge under my belt that others dont, she said. But this also required me to go back to school and invest in certifications.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Make Over $100,000 as a Virtual Assistant: Heres How I Did It
Beachgoers may be flocking to the shorelines this Memorial Day weekend  but so might white sharks, which have been spotted recently in New England, scientists in Massachusetts have warned.

The New England Aquarium in Boston urged the public to be on the lookout for sharks while enjoying the water as the unofficial start of summer gets underway, the non-profit shared in a news release Thursday.

The aquariums scientists said multiple marine mammals were discovered with shark bites recently off the Massachusetts coast, according to the release.

White sharks are drawn to New Englands inshore waters to prey on seals and other marine life through summer and into fall when activity peaks, the aquarium said in a Facebook post, and scientists expect to see a rise in sharks with the rise in warmer temperatures.

Although scientists and fishers have not photographed a white shark yet this season, we know that they are here, New England Aquarium said on Facebook. Aquarium officials added hundreds of seals were recently sighted along area beaches and two white sharks were briefly spotted from an aerial survey off Monomoy Island in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Depending on the time of year, more than 15 shark species live in New Englands waters, the New England Aquarium said.

We had a white shark eat a seal in front of some whale watchers this time last year, John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist in the aquariums Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, told CNN via email.

May is when white shark activity typically picks up, so its nothing out of the norm, he said.

A deceased minke whale was spotted with a white shark bite off Chatham, Massachusetts, on May 21, 2024. - John Chisholm

A fishing charter company reported a minke whale with a shark bite earlier this week off Chatham, Massachusetts, and Chisholm took photos showing a freshly shark-bitten seal in Plymouth, Massachusetts, according to the aquarium.

With beach weather in the forecast  this is a good reminder for people to review shark safety guidelines and be shark smart, Chisholm said in the release.

Cape Cod National Seashore officials reported sharks are active in the park waters of each of its beaches, according to the National Park Service.

The aquarium reported four confirmed white whale sightings so far this season as of Saturday, according to Chisholm.

The New England Aquarium urged people to be aware of sharks swimming in shallow waters, avoiding spots where schools of fish or seals are visible, and remaining close to the shoreline so emergency responders can help if necessary, according to the release.

People who spot sharks can report sightings through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancys Sharktivity app, according to the conservancy and the aquarium.

A 2023 study found a superpopulation size of around 800 white sharks in the Cape Cod area between 2015 and 2018.

While the total number of unprovoked shark bites reported globally remains extremely low, according to the Florida Museum of Natural Historys International Shark Attack File, unprovoked shark bite deaths rose over the past year with most of the deaths caused by white shark bites.

Three of those deaths occurred in Australia and one person was killed in California, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

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Argentina and Spain share some cultural similarities, but now, just as an ocean separates them geographically, a split seems to have occurred between the two nations' diplomatic engagements. What began as a feud over comments made by Argentinian President Javier Milei has snowballed into Spain recalling its ambassador to Argentina.

The ambassador, Maria Jesus Alonso Jimenez, will return to Madrid and Spain "won't [have] an ambassador in Buenos Aires" for the foreseeable future, said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, per Bloomberg. This marks a low point for the two countries, which have had mostly good relations since Argentina declared independence from Spain in the 1800s. How did the two nations get to this point and why is Milei at the center of the rift?

What caused the feud?

The incident appeared to stem from a series of comments made during a populist rally in Spain organized by the country's far-right Vox Party. The rally was attended by many populist world leaders including Milei, who gave a speech in which he called Spain's Socialist Party "cursed and carcinogenic." This caused a rift among Spanish officials given that the Socialist Party and its leader, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, currently control Spain's government.

The feud reached its main boiling point, though, when Milei began calling out Sanchez's wife, Begona Gomez. Gomez is currently the subject of an influence-peddling and corruption investigation prompted by Spain's far-right coalition, though the investigation is seemingly unfounded and "Madrid's prosecuting authority has appealed to drop the case due to lack of evidence," Reuters said. However, Milei said Sanchez "has a corrupt wife," saying Spanish politics had gotten "dirty" as a result.

Spanish officials expressed outrage at Milei's speech, with Albares saying the words were a "frontal attack" on Spain. There is "no precedent for a leader coming to the capital of another country to insult its institutions," he said to reporters, per the Financial Times. Albares demanded that Milei apologize for the speech, but the Argentinian president refused.

Instead, Milei accused Spain's leadership of working in tandem with Argentina's left-wing coalition. Upon the recall of Spain's ambassador, he called the move a "typical crazy [decision] for an arrogant socialist."

What's next for the two countries?

The dispute "raises the potential for turbulence for investment and the economy," said the Financial Times, as "Spanish businesses are the second-largest investors in Argentina after U.S. companies." This could prove to be problematic for economic harmony between both countries. When it comes to pumping money into Argentina, Spanish companies "invested 140 million euros ($152 million) in the country in 2022. Some 495,000 Spaniards live in Argentina, according to Spanish government statistics, while 97,000 Argentines reside in Spain," said The Associated Press. The recalling of the ambassador could make Spanish brands think twice about further investments.

Beyond economic hurt, the feud will likely worsen the already deepening divide between Spain and Argentina diplomatically. The recalling of the ambassador "escalates a long-running diplomatic spat" that began when Sanchez "backed [Milei's] left-wing opponent in last year's presidential election and declined to congratulate Milei on his victory," said the AP. The continuation of the spat indicates that Milei is hoping for more support on his right-wing side  particularly, if a certain former American president were to make it back into the White House in 2025.

Milei "might be sensing that the socialist party has short legs, and so he's trying to prepare Argentina to get a really close ally when Spain gets a right-wing government, in the same way he's betting on Trump," Sebastian Mazzuca, an Argentine political scientist at Johns Hopkins University, said to the AP. As a result, Milei "is taking gambles, taking risks."

While Spain may be upset, in Argentina, the public is "reacting to it with a bemused shrug," said Politico. While Milei has only been in office six months, Argentinians are "already accustomed to their president fighting with political leaders around the world," including Mexico's president, Colombia's president and Pope Francis.

Milei is a "crazy person, he can't help it," Luis, an Argentinian office worker, said to Politico. "It's not like we don't have problems at home  but he's a showman, and I guess we're entertained."
Why did Serbia react so harshly to the UN resolution on Srebrenica?

Why did Serbia react so harshly to the UN resolution on Srebrenica?

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution decision on Thursday to declare 11 July the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica has a highly political role, according to the regional actors.

The Serbian government and public opinion have been staunchly criticising it since its preliminary phases.

Belgrade sees the declaration as a part of a comprehensive Western political and diplomatic offensive against Serbia and the Serbs on issues covering a spectrum from Kosovo to the Bosnian question, two main key talking points for the government in Belgrade, which regards them as unresolved issues stemming from the wars of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Meanwhile, its proponents highlight that the resolution is solely meant to commemorate the victims of the July 1995 events in the eastern Bosnian town.

The document is comparable to the UN resolution designating 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Germany and Rwanda, the two countries that proposed and drafted the settlement on the Tutsi massacre approved by the UNGA in 2018, were the main co-sponsors of the Srebrenica resolution.

Serbian political context

As Serbia prepares to hold key local elections on 2 June  including who will rule over Belgrade  Bosnia and Kosovo are still crucial factors in the public political debate of the Western Balkans country.

Serbian conservative President Aleksandar Vucic's reluctance to join the EU sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine has also contributed to strained relations between his country on the one side and the EU, the US and some of its neighbours on the other.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic - Darko Vojinovic/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved

Serbia's potential EU membership could be put on hold, while according to various opinion polls, Euroscepticism in the Balkan country has prevailed over the blossoming Europhilia of the early 2000s.

Whether this is a reaction to the enlargement blues outspokenly displayed by some in the EU or a genuine national sentiment, in the eyes of some in Serbia, hesitance toward the West is a part of pushback against its many demands.

Former Yugoslavia and international justice

The verdicts from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) clearly established the personal responsibility of individuals and concrete military units and made a distinction between those and any collective actors, such as Serbia and the Republika Srpska  the Serb-majority entity of Bosnia  and the genocide in Srebrenica.

Serbia initially started to take steps and recognise the rulings at home. In 2010, the country's National Assembly adopted its own Resolution on Srebrenica based on the ICJ's verdict, but without explicitly mentioning genocide. Then, in 2015, President Vucic went to Srebrenica to pay tribute to the victims.

Meanwhile, the text of the UN resolution commemorating the Srebrenica genocide excludes the Serbian collective responsibility for the "Bosnian Genocide" thanks to a Montenegrin amendment.

Supporters of Bosnian Serb political leader Milorad Dodik - Radivoje Pavicic/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved

"Serbia is afraid that the resolution could be misused at the international fora, and it could become 'evidence' that the Serbian nation, the Serb people and the Republika Srpska bear the responsibility for the genocide, Serbian legal expert Milan Antonijevic said.

"When one reads the text of the resolution, one realises that without any doubt, it is condemning the genocide in Srebrenica and not linking it to any of the nations involved (in the conflict). But the legal level and its wording are one thing, and the political PR is another."

During the Bosnian war, over the course of three days around 11 July 1995, the Bosnian Serb army of the Republika Srpska killed 8,000 Bosniak men and boys despite the area having been officially designated by the UN as a safe area for civilians.

Those units were under the military orders of General Ratko Mladic and the political leader of the former president of the Republika Srpska, Radovan Karadzic.

banners of the former Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic - Andrej Cukic/AP

A considerable number of Bosnian Serb officials, both army officers and politicians, were condemned by the ICTY for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Both Mladic and Karadzic were sentenced to life for genocide, among other counts.

It was the first time in Europe since World War II and the Nuremberg trials against Nazi German top officials that an international tribunal issued a verdict on genocide.

"When the Serb (political actors) accepted, reluctantly, their responsibility for the Srebrenica genocide, they believed that they were forced to do that. And if you look at their actions and their rhetoric, you do realise this reluctant acceptance of responsibility happened under a lot of pressure in a different geopolitical situation," Bosnian historian Adnan Huskic, from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, told Euronews.

"And ever since, what they have been doing was to permanently deny that the genocide took place and used any available opportunity to rehabilitate the persons who were found guilty in front of the ICTY," Huskic said.

'Missing an opportunity to use an opportunity'

After the military and political setbacks of the 1990s and the fall of the Slobodan Milosevic regime, Serbia started a process of rapprochement with the EU and the US.

At that time, Russia and China were much less assertive than they are today  the "different geopolitical context" Huskic mentions.

According to opposition politician, writer, and former Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Draskovic, Serbia should have joined the initiative and backed the resolution.

"Unfortunately, the Serbian government missed an opportunity to use an opportunity to support this resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica, explaining that the Serbian nation further condemned crimes because Serbs, as a people, were the victims of a genocide during World War II," Draskovic told Euronews.

"By paying tribute to the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica, we would have paid tribute to the Serb victims in World War II," he explained.

Overview of the courtroom at the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, in The Hague, the Netherlands - BAS CZERWINSKI/AP2007

In the early 1990s, Vuk Draskovic proposed a general reconciliation among the peoples of former Yugoslavia to rebuild inter-communitarian confidence in the region through a collective recognition of the mutual and respective historical guilts for the massacres of the past. This was the central focus of his foreign and security policy, along with the full integration of Serbia into the West.

After the wars, Draskovic opposed the violent dissolution of Yugoslavia and the role played by Milosevic's Serbia as he participated in the democratic governments in Belgrade. As the head of Serbian diplomacy, he established the basis for his country's EU membership application and a clear path to softening relations with NATO.

Unresolved Bosnian question

Nevertheless, more than thirty years have passed since the end of the war, and the question of the future of Bosnia and the delicate balance between the three main ethnic communities is still a source of concern in the region.

The key to the complex and complicated political system can be traced back to the 1995 US-brokered Dayton Agreement, which put an end to the bloodshed between Bosnian Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks, turning Bosnia into a de facto protectorate of the international community.

Last month, Vucic criticised the draft resolution, saying it should have been presented at the UN Security Council rather than in front of the UN General Assembly because the "region is not stabilised yet".

A constitutional reform could have revised the strict political separation among the Bosnian communities established by the Dayton Peace Accords and eliminated mechanisms that blocked almost all decision-making processes along ethnic lines  the root cause of all divisive politics in the country.

Nevertheless, after decades of attempts, the process collided with the new political instability generated by the Russian war in Ukraine.

from left, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher - Joe Marquette/AP

"I don't think that there is an overwhelming will to replace the current communitarian power-sharing system. I don't see the actors that could push the process forward," commented Huskic.

I don't think that there is either a regional or a global environment favourable to that move. The process is going in another direction, and I think Bosnia is becoming more communitarian than before. The constitutional reform has stalled," he concluded.

Serbia, Bosnia and the war in Ukraine

The Ukrainian war and its spillover have deeply influenced the situation in Central and Eastern Europe and reignited the unresolved conflicts between old adversaries.

"I cannot forget the very wrong message conveyed by the Serbian Orthodox Church that Russians, whatever they are doing, must be supported by the Serbs because they are our Orthodox brothers. This is why the (Serb Orthodox) Church did not condemn the Russian aggression on Ukraine," Draskovic said.

The Serbian government believes that German diplomacy, led by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, seems to be putting more pressure on Belgrade than other countries on many issues, from Kosovo to Russia and Bosnia. Germany was the co-sponsor of the UN resolution on the Srebrenica genocide, after all.

Vuk Draskovic, center, the veteran charismatic Serbian opposition leader, - Joe Marquette/AP

"I think that the German foreign policy since Angela Merkel stepped down is much harsher towards Serbia," Antonijevic said.

"It is true that Germany is still supporting the accession of Belgrade to the EU and investing huge (amounts of) money in Serbia. Yet, Berlin should coordinate more with Belgrade, especially because next year, 2025, will mark the 30th anniversary of Srebrenica," argues Milan Antonijevic.

The international community's high representative  the peace watchdog in Bosnia  is a top German official, Christian Schmidt.

Early this year, he drafted the so-called "integrity package" for Bosnia and Hercegovina, a set of reforms concerning electoral transparency and anti-fraud systems with rules supposed to introduce ineligibility for the war criminals to honour the EU Enlargement requests.

The head of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, opposed the "integrity package" and threatened the secession of the Serbian entity from the rest of the country if it were forced to implement it. He has also repeatedly rejected Schmidt's authority  granted to him by the UN  labelling him as a "German occupier".

Dodik is the only top official from a European country who has repeatedly visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow since February 2022.

Russia's meddling to be addressed?

As a long-time opposition stalwart, Draskovic thinks that the current Serbian establishment is not fit to rule the country in the years to come and that there are still many unresolved questions in Belgrade.

"Russia is doing everything to open a Balkan front. It wants a Balkan front. It can do it because it controls the security structures of the Serbian state," denounced Draskovic.

"The EU missed the opportunity to make the rulers of Serbia open the files about the activities of the Russian security services in Serbia. The European Commission's obligation is to impose on Serbia to open those secret files. It should be a priority," he insisted.

In the end, the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica won't make any difference, according to Draskovic. "Milorad Dodik recognised that genocide fifteen years ago. He simply changed his mind", he concluded.
Wichitas largest abortion clinic  one of the biggest abortion providers in the region  has indefinitely halted abortions after its board of directors reportedly fired its leaders and installed two board members to run the clinic.

Trust Women Wichitas temporary closure is a major blow to abortion access in Kansas and beyond. The clinic had been scheduling about 100 patients a week  many of them from states that have banned abortion  as one of a handful of clinics in Kansas that provides abortions up to the legal limit of 22 weeks.

The decision to halt abortions at Trust Women is likely to force many patients to seek abortions elsewhere  in Kansas City, Colorado or New Mexico  adding three to six hours of drive time along with other possible hurdles.

Trust Women Wichitas board of directors says the decision was necessary because of leadership changes. They have declined to discuss the reasons for the changes, citing the need to protect the privacy of those involved. Past employees say the personnel changes included the firings of trusted leaders without explanation followed by several resignations.

Rewire News Group first reported on Thursday that Trust Womens board of directors fired its co-executive directors Schaunta James-Boyd and Rebecca Tong in April and replaced them with interim CEO Shukeyla Harrison and board president Sapphire Garcia-Lies, who have been with the organization less than a year.

Harrison then removed directors within the organization, former employees told The Eagle. Others who had been with Trust Women for years quit in protest. Employees were asked to sign and agree to the terms of a new nondisclosure agreement that carried a $5,000 penalty for any violations.

Within the past month, Trust Womens medical director, advocacy director, director of communications and the person who had been working as the development director left the organization. Trust Women declined to comment on the departures. Former Trust Women employees said the medical director and advocacy director were fired while the other two quit.

Rewire also reported that at least nine of the clinics 16 physicians quit in protest.

Harrison, a doctoral student in leadership studies and instructor at Kansas State University, where she has a bachelors and masters degree, did not respond to The Eagles request for comment. Garcia-Lies, founder of the Wichita Birth Justice Society, would not say how many physicians have left the clinic. She said the board of directors is going to add two abortion physicians to the board next week.

Right now, weve proactively taken the step to pause abortion care because we want to move forward thoughtfully, with having all of the right pieces in place, Garcia-Lies said. And not only meeting the legal and clinical minimum standard of care, but meeting the optimal standard of care as we always have. And so the steps that weve taken are a continuation of that sentiment, that we are the best, and that we intend to continue to offer optimal care.

And were doing this proactively; were not doing this in response to duress, Garcia-Lies said. And I think the story that hasnt been told is that we recognize wholeheartedly that the physicians who perform this care are the experts in delivering this care. And I am committed to working with them through this transition.

Founder: Deeply concerned and heartbroken

Trust Women opened in 2013 in the former clinic space of George Tiller, a Wichita abortion doctor who was assassinated in 2009. It also operates a reproductive health clinic in Oklahoma, which banned abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal protections for abortion rights.

The clinic has been a strong advocate for abortion rights and participated in a campaign to defeat the nations first state-level referendum on abortion after the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision in 2022.

Julie Burkhart, founder and former CEO of Trust Women who is now president of Wellspring Health Access in Wyoming, said in a news release that she is deeply concerned and heartbroken to hear of the clinic ceasing its abortion services.

It is of the utmost importance that abortion services be available in south central Kansas due to its important position in todays climate and a long legacy that it carries, she said in a statement. The clinic was a critical access point for women around the state, and for people who traveled from states with severely limited or restricted abortion laws to receive care.

People rely on Trust Women for lifesaving services, and I hope theres a positive way forward to navigate this both unfortunate and alarming circumstance, Burkhart added.

Over the years, Trust Womens clinic site has been the battleground for reproductive rights for decades, starting with the Summer of Mercy anti-abortion protests and daily protests by sidewalk counselors who attempt to dissuade women from receiving abortions as they enter the clinics driveway.

Former Trust Women employees said they feel betrayed by the board of directors. They found out about the leadership changes through two emails sent out on a Saturday and a Sunday in mid-April. There was no follow-up meeting introducing the new leaders or any group meeting explaining the decision, they said.

In interviews, they expressed alarm that the clinic has ceased offering abortion access. The employees asked to remain anonymous because the new leadership required them to sign a nondisclosure agreement that would cost them $5,000 if they speak out against the organization or its leadership.

With two emails, Trust Women did to itself what our opponents have been trying to do for decades  they stopped abortions at Trust Women, one former employee who left Trust Women in the past month said. They shut down the regions busiest abortion clinic for no reason, other than because they wanted to and because they could.

The work they do is so important, another employee said. Especially in this climate where women are having their rights taken away to decide what to do with their own body. To take that away in this climate is bad enough, but to have it taken in this way is so much worse.

It feels like a hostile takeover, another former employee said. It was certainly hostile towards the workers who have been doing the work and fighting the fight for years.

Garcia-Lies declined to discuss specific personnel decisions. But she said she disagrees with criticisms from former employees who spoke to The Eagle and other news outlets.

I have heard reflected back to me a different story from our employees, Garcia-Lies said. I would question your sources  because what Im hearing is that theyre grateful that we are taking their views, opinions and knowledge into account while we go through this transition.

Leadership and other changes

In a written statement, the Trust Women Board of Directors cited leadership changes and changes in its medical protocols that will bolster its operations and ensure its patients receive unparalleled care and attention.

I want to clarify that, Garcia-Lies told The Eagle. These are protocols that were already in place. The reason we are saying that were making changes is we officially moved to codify those as necessary requirements that will always be part of the medical care going forward. These were things that were already in place, so these actions by the board were proactive.

Garcia-Lies said Trust Women is committed to resuming abortions as soon as possible. But she said she does not have a firm timeline. She said the organization has opened a national search for a permanent medical director and a permanent CEO.

Our intention is that this is short-lived, extremely short-lived, Garcia-Lies said.

Trust Women Wichita performed more than 5,000 abortions last year as Republican-dominated state legislatures around the country moved to ban or restrict abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections, according to numbers provided by the organization to The Eagle prior to the leadership change.

Sources told The Eagle that the clinic has been closed to abortions all week. The organizations new president declined Friday afternoon to confirm when the clinic stopped performing abortions, citing patient privacy concerns.

Garcia-Lies said Trust Women was able to connect patients who had appointments this week with other abortion providers.

Since this was a proactive move  and not one that was done under duress  we have had time to reroute patients and, to my knowledge, there are not any patients currently who have not been able to be rerouted and receive the services that they need, Garcia-Lies said.

Garcia-Lies said the key to reopening for abortion access is hiring a new medical director.

Having a medical director in place is what we need before any additional abortion care is offered, she said.

The reason that we dont have a timeline is because, in this moment, its prudent that we get the right person hired for an interim or permanent medical director. And it would be a mistake to rush ahead and not have the sound judgment that comes from being able to take a pause.

Garcia-Lies said patients can expect a high level of care when Trust Women resumes providing abortions.

Whats actually changing is not the quality of care offered but the clinical leadership, Garcia-Lies said. So we will be bringing in a new medical director soon  very soon, we hope  who has all of the requisite experience in abortion care. And we also are conducting a nationwide search for a permanent CEO.

We have an interim in place right now, who were really grateful to, she said. She came from the board of directors and has extensive expertise in organizational management. And so right now were considering what we would like to see in both leadership positions and making sure that we get the best folks for the job in those positions, because Trust Women wants to remain regarded as one of the best in the nation.
The Southwest and High Plains will see weather conditions that could lead to wildfires over the Memorial Day weekend, while the central and eastern U.S. could see severe thunderstorms.

Low humidity, gusty winds and dry vegetation in the Southwest could cause new fires to spread rapidly, the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center said in a Saturday morning forecast. There are red flag warnings  denoting increased risk of fire  issued from southeast Arizona to West Texas and the western Oklahoma Panhandle.

In New Mexico, a blaze dubbed the Blue 2 Fire has already burned an estimated 3,300 acres in the remote White Mountain Wilderness, located west of Roswell. The fire began from a May 17 lightning strike in an area that previously burned, but wind and dry conditions are affecting firefighters response, said Amanda Fry, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service at Lincoln National Forest, where the fire is burning.

Memorial Day weekend: Severe weather pounds central US, Northeast; rough holiday weekend ahead

This 2022 file photo shows a wildfire raging in southern New Mexico as thousands were ordered to evacuate. New Mexico is seeing wildfires over Memorial Day weekend that could worsen due to dry, windy conditions.

The fire is also in rugged terrain, making it difficult for firefighters to access the area. Containment is at 0%. But a fire that burns the dead or downed trees from the previous fire is inevitably going to occur, Fry said, adding that its a natural part of how the forest cleans itself. There are evacuation orders in place.

Our concern is keeping homes and the community safe, while allowing the forest to do what it does naturally, which is wildfire, she told USA TODAY. Thats just part of a forests lifecycle.

Further north, the 1,800-acre Indios Fire northwest of Santa Fe, started from lightning on May 18, also had limited containment in the Chama River Canyon Wilderness. Fire weather watch was in effect Saturday due to dry conditions and winds.

In southwestern Colorado, the Spruce Creek Fire burned 5,699 acres after a lightning strike caused the fire on May 17, in an area that hadnt seen fire in decades. Containment was at 38% as of Friday, but San Juan National Forest spokesperson Lorena Williams said there likely wont be increased spread due to containment lines and a road system acting as a barrier for the fires spread. There havent been red flag warnings for the fire, but milder winds have lifted smoke from communities.

The area is used to wildfires, particularly from lightning strikes, Williams said. Having a fire now, versus during more extreme fire conditions, gives first responders a better opportunity to prepare for future blazes.

The landscape, ecosystem and communities will benefit from this long-term," she said.

Swimming lessons: Drowning is a top cause of death for young children. Here's what parents should know.

Severe weather in central, eastern and southern U.S. over Memorial Day weekend

Severe weather is affecting the central and eastern U.S. over the weekend, federal forecasters said. A storm system is strengthening across the central and southern Plains, which could create thunderstorms with chances for intense tornadoes, giant hail and destructive winds later Saturday.

After the storm system shifts eastward Sunday, there could be damaging wind gusts as a complex of thunderstorms moves from Missouri through Kentucky, with potential for flash floods, hail and a few tornadoes.

High temperatures and humidity continue to keep a Heat Advisory for all of coastal and inland Deep South Texas till 11 AM and for all coastal Deep South Texas till 7 PM. An Excessive Heat Warning is effective for inland Deep South Texas from 11 AM to 7 PM. #RGVwx #TXwx pic.twitter.com/Bq1KGNiM7c  NWS Brownsville (@NWSBrownsville) May 25, 2024

By Memorial Day, the storm is expected to turn toward the eastern U.S. Low pressure will move into the Great Lakes, and a strong cold front could move along the Appalachians. Memorial Day barbecues could face showers and storms with lightning, rain and gusty winds, forecasters warned.

In the South, forecasters warned of heat reaching oppressive levels in southern Florida, the Gulf Coast and South Texas that could break daily record highs. Excessive heat warnings remained in effect in South Texas. Heat indices could reach around 115 degrees, a level considered dangerous for people spending extended time outside.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Memorial Day weekend weather could fuel wildfires, severe storms
Woman says 'near-vertical' Disney waterslide knocked her unconscious and caused brain damage in new lawsuit

A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit against Disney theme parks.

The lawsuit says she went unconscious and experienced brain damage on a Typhoon Lagoon waterslide.

She's seeking $50,000 in damages.

A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit against Disney, saying she lost consciousness and sustained a brain injury after riding a waterslide at Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday in Orange County and obtained by Business Insider, says the plaintiff visited the theme park on May 11 and rode the Humunga Kowabunga.

Local Orlando news outlet WKMG identified the plantiff as Laura Reyes-Merino.

The woman's attorney, Richard Russo, did not immediately return a request for comment from Business Insider.

The Walt Disney World website says the waterslide has a "near-vertical" 214-foot drop with a 60-degree angle.

Reyes-Merino fell unconscious after "banging inside the ride," according to the lawsuit. Her family discovered her limp at the end of the waterslide and "frantically" asked attendants to help.

"The attendants told Plaintiff's fiance and mother that they were not lifeguards and would have to find lifeguards to help," the lawsuit says. "As they were all waiting for help, blood kept coming out of Plaintiff's mouth in the water.

Reyes-Merino's fiance pulled her from the water, but a lifeguard who arrived at the scene told the family not to touch her and called an ambulance, the lawsuit says.

"Had Defendant had lifeguards at the end of the ride to watch and help guests coming off the ride, Plaintiff's brain injury would not have occurred as she wouldn't have been drowning in the water coughing up blood," the lawsuit says.

Reyes-Merino has experienced mental, emotional, and physical ailments following the incident, including brain damage, the lawsuit says. She's seeking $50,000 in damages.

Representatives for Walt Disney World and Reyes-Merino did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Disney has faced lawsuits related to the Humunga Kowabunga waterslide in the past, including in October 2023, when a woman claimed she experienced vaginal bleeding after a hard landing.

That lawsuit said the woman experienced permanent bodily injury following the incident. She also sought $50,000.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Wooster City Schools board needs new member; modular unit purchased for Kean Elementary

Changes for the coming school year begin even before the old one ends.

The Wooster City School District Board of Education on Tuesday accepted the resignation of board member Danielle Schantz and approved the purchase of a modular unit for additional classroom space at Kean Elementary School.

The modular unit, or trailer, will be located and fenced on the east side of Kean.

Because of a six-month lead time, the move into the unit will occur over winter break of the coming school year, Superintendent Gabe Tudor told the board.

As documented previously, Kean Elementary is "pretty significantly overcrowded ... and continues to get worse," Tudor said.

For example, the library is used as a classroom and a hallway houses the library.

The brand-new modular classroom will have space for two classrooms, he said, and is being purchased instead of leased because it is the better option financially.

"We're still working on what classes will go out there," he said. "We really need the space at this point at Kean."

In the future, need for additional space, partly because of increased housing within Kean's boundaries, may necessitate being addressed with additional modular units or redistricting.

"But right now this will solve the problem," he said.

Danielle Schantz

Work promotion leads to Schantz resignation from board

Schantz's term as a board member will end May 31.

"I'm very disappointed to have to resign from the board of ed," Schantz said, but it was a move precipitated by a promotion at her place of employment, Summit County Juvenile Court where she will work as a part-time magistrate, running a truancy docket.

The law does not allow her to serve in that capacity and as a board member.

"I was hoping to be able to do both," she said.

Her new role is a professional goal, she said, highlighting truancy as a "huge, huge problem" in Ohio and across the country.

Schantz said it has been a privilege to serve on the board and would encourage others to apply for the position.

"I have really, really enjoyed it," she said.

Board President Jody Starcher and Tudor commended her for her commitment to the position and making students the priority in her decision-making.

Tudor said the board vacancy was posted Wednesday. Applications will be taken until May 31.

A special meeting will be held June 5 in the district meeting room at Wooster High School for board members to interview candidates seeking to fill the board seat.

A new member will be named at the June 18 board meeting.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Schantz resigns from Wooster board, Kean getting modular classroom
Reality Check is a Fresno Bee series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email tips@fresnobee.com.

The workplace death of a 19-year-old crushed by a semi-truck at Pitman Family Farms could have been avoided if better safety protocols were in place, according to local police who responded to the scene and safety experts contacted by The Bee.

In late February, poultry plant worker Jose Abrego was killed when run over by a semi-truck at the Pitman plant in Sanger, the second death in a year at the facility and the fifth death in nine years at the companys California operations, which include the Sanger poultry processing facility, a network of ranches, and an industrial feed mill. State workplace safety authorities, Cal/OSHA are still investigating Abregos death.

The Bee obtained the Sanger Police Department incident report and police body camera video footage from the night of Abregos death via a California Public Records Act request. According to those records, Abrego was assigned to wash a semi-truck sometime before midnight on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Shortly after, another worker went to move the truck to another area so forklift operators could unload it, the written police report said. The driver did not see Abrego and ended up running him over and killing him with the truck, the report says. Abregos clothing might have become hooked on a broken truck fender and might have prevented him from moving out of harms way, according to the police report. Police were called two minutes before midnight, and Abrego was pronounced dead by paramedics at 12:07 a.m., Feb 21, the report says.

The Fresno Bee asked Richard Carr, an independent trucking litigation consultant with 40 years of trucking, safety and risk management experience to review the written police report and video footage and offer his assessment. Carr also worked for three years in the past as an accident investigator with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a government agency that investigates and regulates commercial trucking safety.

Carr said the police report and police body camera video footage indicate process failures in the companys operations, such as allowing truck-washing near a loading/unloading area. He also took note of theamazingly dark working conditions, few workers wearing reflective clothing, and apparent confusion about who at the work area was responsible for plant safety, issues he said that were evident from his watching of the video footage that showed the scene and contained police interviews with workers and other potential witnesses.

That accident was totally preventable just by changing some of the with the UC Merced Community & Labor Center, echoed Carrs concerns in an April interview with The Bee. As of May, she leads the office of worker health and safety for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Berliner did not review the video footage, but generally speaking, she stressed that workplace areas where cargo is being loaded and unloaded need to be operated with basic safety measures in place: Workers should wear reflective clothing, the cargo area should have bright, overhead lighting when its dark, and there should be clear procedures for unloading and loading goods, including markers on the floor indicating safe areas to walk to avoid trucks and forklifts, she said.

In the worker health and safety field, there are really clear practices in place in worksites where you have moving vehicles alongside workers or heavy machinery alongside workers, she said.

The Sanger police officer who filled out the incident report and was on the scene that night noted that it made sense the tragedy happened, given there did not seem to be much safety precautions put in place or enforced to prevent this type of incident.

Labor leaders told The Bee that Abregos death likely wouldnt have occurred if adequate safety protocols and union protections were in place at the non-unionized company.

Family, friends and colleagues held a funeral mass for Jose Antonio Abrego Meraz at St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church in Fresno on Monday, March 11, 2024. He died in a workplace accident at Sanger-based Pitman Family Farms in February.

The Bee sent an email with a list of questions to David Pitman, owner of Pitman Family Farms, asking for comment about Carrs findings and the workplace death. Pitman declined in a return email to answer the specific questions or offer comment for this report. In a previous email statement to The Bee, Pitman said he is committed to the health and well-being of his family, our work team, and the families we serve.

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Abregos death was the second death in less than a year at the family-owned poultry processing plant  a company known for its humanely-raised brand of poultry, Marys Chicken. Last May, 66-year-old Jesus Salazar drowned in a poultry waste pit at the facility.

Marys Chicken product, seen for sale in a Fresno grocery store photographed Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. Sangers Pitman Family Farms supplies chickens sold by the Marys Chicken label.

At least four employees have died at Pitman Family Farms California operations since 2015. A fifth person was killed when a Pitman employee in a tractor hit and killed a truck driver from an outside company who was on the grounds of a company facility. A February Fresno Bee investigation details these fatalities and found that the company had a higher-than-average rate of injuries compared to other local poultry processing plants, according to a Bee analysis of publicly available federal injury data.

A recent report from the AFL-CIO labor union found that in 2022 Latino workers across industries face the greatest risk of dying on the job  a rate that has increased 24% over the past 10 years.

Amazingly dark

Carr, the trucking accident expert, described the outdoor area of the poultry plant where Abrego had been assigned to wash the truck as amazingly dark.

Sanger police reported that few workers were wearing reflective gear and that the area was poorly lit and required external lighting from emergency vehicles to properly assess the scene.

Even if workers were wearing reflective gear, Carr said, it would be ineffective without more lighting.

Sanger Police Department body camera footage shows an ambulance next to a trailer-truck at Pitman Family Farms, where an employee died on Feb. 21, 2024 in a workplace fatality. The poorly lit area required external lighting from emergency vehicles to properly assess the scene, police said.

Depending on the specific job, Cal/OSHA requires nighttime agricultural operations, such as poultry plants, to have a mix of high visibility garments, vehicle-mounted lights, portable lights and head lamps. The agency also requires safety meetings at the start of each shift.

One key question for Carr: Why was Abrego assigned to wash the truck in an area where another worker was assigned to move the vehicle?

There should be separate areas for maintenance work, washing and loading/unloading of trucks, he said. You dont blend those areas together.

Carr also said the (companys) response just didnt seem right.

Carr said that in the video footage there was someone in civilian clothing asking to see the body. Otherwise, Carr said, there didnt seem to be a safety or plant manager taking responsibility. The Pitman executive in the video identified himself to police as David Rubenstein, vice president of operations.

Police noted in the incident report that a manager also arrived to the scene after being notified of the incident. But most questions were answered by a third person, an area supervisor who told police on the video that he oversees 140 workers, including employees who might have witnessed the fatality or who were in the area, according to the police body camera footage.

If youre a supervisor, if youre a plant manager, if youre a director of operations or whatever, theyre all your people and theyre all your responsibility and somebody just died, said Carr, offering his opinion after watching and analyzing the video, and they dont seem too concerned about it.
By David Lawder

STRESA, Italy (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Saturday that a loan for Ukraine backed by the income from frozen Russian sovereign assets is the main option for G7 leaders to consider in June, but added that she doesn't want to "take anything off the table as a future possibility."

Yellen told reporters at the end of a G7 finance meeting in northern Italy that the plan has broad support but there is "quite a bit of work to be done" to make it a reality. The 27-member European Union also needs to endorse it, she said.

The G7 finance ministers and central bank governors agreed to explore ways of using the future income from some $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, according to a draft statement expected to be issued on Saturday. The assets, mostly held in Europe, were immobilized in February 2022.

Yellen has said a loan based on the income could give Kiev as much as $50 billion up front, demonstrating to Russia that combined with EU and U.S. funding, Ukraine has ample resources to defend itself.

"It needs to be fleshed out within the EU so that it can become a proposal that the EU endorses, and that's a lot of countries," Yellen said of the loan plan. "It's not a given, so I'm not saying this is a totally done deal."

G7 finance leaders will put a lot of work into the plan over the next several weeks to get it "fleshed out enough" for G7 leaders to consider at a summit in Italy's southern Puglia region in June, she said.

CHINA CONCERNS

Yellen also said G7 finance ministers voiced "broad-based concerns" about China's vast subsidies for advanced manufacturing and the potential for harm to their own economies. They agreed to monitor the situation closely and noted that it may be appropriate for countries to take trade measures to counter China's industrial policies.

China also may retaliate against the U.S. for new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, solar products, semiconductors and other key products, but Yellen noted that the action targeting $18 billion worth of Chinese imports this was not a broad one.

The U.S. imported $427 billion of goods from China last year and exported $148 billion worth to China.

"We've tried to make this rather targeted," Yellen said. "I would hope that the Chinese would be judicious in their choice on what to do."

(Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Keith Weir and Bill Berkrot)
A New York City college suspended a security officer Friday after a published video showed him cursing and using threatening language at pro-Palestinian protestors during their graduation ceremony.

College of Staten Island President Timothy Lynch responded to the incident in a statement, condemning the offensive language.

Yesterday, the College of Staten Island held a ceremony celebrating over 2,000 graduates, Lynch wrote. Unfortunately, a distressing incident occurred during Commencement involving a CUNY Public Safety Officer.

We want to be clear that the offensive language used by this officer does not reflect the views or values of the College of Staten Island, [City University of New York] or our dedicated Public Safety staff of over 50 officers, he added. We deeply regret that this incident occurred on such an important day for our graduates and their families.

In a recent Instagram post, CSIs Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) stated at the CSI graduation walkout for CUNYs complicity in the genocide of Palestinians, CUNY Officer Sgt. Donald Girard 281 declared that he supported genocide and I support killing all of you guys.

The post, according to The Associated Press, featured a video of what appears to be the officer making the threat to the pro-Palestinian protestors. When reached out to, however, the officer and officials did not return requests for comment.

CSI, one of multiple schools in the citys university system, known locally as CUNY, held its commencement on campus Thursday morning, according to its website. Several graduations were upended this spring, as protests over Israels ongoing war in Gaza and the subsequent humanitarian crisis spread throughout campuses across the country.

The news also comes after the United Nations top court ruled Friday that Israel must halt its operations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than 900,000 people took refuge in the early days of the war. Relief agencies have argued theres nowhere safe left for them to go.

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persimmon

One of Britains biggest property developers is exploring a 1bn takeover of rival house builder Cala.

Persimmon, which has a market value of 4.7bn, is understood to be mulling a bid ahead of a deadline next week, according to Sky News.

Cala, which is owned by Legal & General (L&G), has a price tag of around 1bn.

The auction comes amid an election campaign in which housebuilding is expected to figure prominently.

Persimmon is currently Britains third-largest housebuilder, behind Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Developments.

The firms share price has rallied by over 20pc in the last year under chairman Roger Devlin and chief executive Dean Finch.

In a trading update last month, Persimmon said it was on track to deliver growth in new home completions this year to up to 10,500.

The developer completed the sale of 10,000 homes last year, which was a 33pc decrease from 2022. Other housebuilders also cut back on delivery due to a lack of interest from potential buyers and increased cost of materials.

Cala, which has a target of 3,000 new homes a year, reported a fall in half-year profits last autumn, citing a challenging market.

Rival housebuilders are also expected to consider bids for Cala, including Taylor Wimpey and Avant Homes, according to Sky News.

The sale, overseen by bankers at Rothschild, will take place next week. It comes after L&G brought in a new chief executive, Antonio Simoes, in January. The former HSBC and Santander executive replaced prominent business leader Sir Nigel Wilson at the helm of the firm.

A takeover of Cala by another major housebuilder would come after Barratt Developments unveiled a 2.5bn deal to acquire rival Redrow in February.

Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey were among eight housebuilders named by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in February over concerns they had exchanged commercially sensitive information.

The list of criticisms directed towards developers was wide-ranging  The CMAs report warned of some poorly built properties, including collapsing staircases and ceilings in new homes and shoddy work from management providers.

Underpinning everything was a view that the quality of UK homes has fallen far short of where it needs to be.

The CMA stressed that a more structural overhaul of the sector is needed  which is something the regulator cannot achieve alone.

In an unusual move, the CMA specifically singled out Britains broken planning system and called for fundamental interventions that go beyond the way in which the housing market itself works.

The bottom line, the CMA said, is that too few homes are being built  particularly in places where they are needed most.

Story continues

It laid out a series of recommendations, including clearer local authority targets and a more streamlined sign-off process, as CMA officials called for the Government to intervene on an issue that will dominate headlines in the run-up to the election.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer already said during his 2023 conference speech that he will bulldoze Britains planning system and build 300,000 homes a year.

Last year, Britain built 234,000 new homes, more than at any point in the previous four years but well below the Governments 300,000 per year target.

A Persimmon spokesman said it could not comment on speculation. L&G declined to comment.

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YOSEMITE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Yosemite National Park has signed an agreement with Wild Nephin National Park in Ireland as part of a five-year knowledge exchange.

The agreement was signed on Friday, which marked the start of the Sister Park arrangement between the two parks. Officials say the agreement enables international cooperation between Yosemite and Wild Nephin National Park, which is located to the northwest of Ireland around 70 miles north of Galway and 165 miles west of Dublin.

Witness describes hikers slide down Half Dome in Yosemite

This Sister Park agreement presents exciting opportunities for both parks, said Irish Minister for Nature Malcolm Noonan TD. While they may differ in size and geographical features, the challenges they face in Wild Nephin and Yosemite are really very similar.

Noonan cited balancing nature conservation with visitor impact, preserving ecological and cultural heritage, controlling invasive species, and educating new generations as areas the two parks could cooperate with.

Yosemite (left) and Wild Nephin (right) national parks

I am thrilled to celebrate a new sister parks agreement between Wild Nephin National Park and Yosemite National Park, especially in the 100th year of U.S.-Ireland diplomatic relations, said United States Ambassador to Ireland Claire D. Cronin. These two parks are treasures of natural beauty and biodiversity.

Wild Nephin National Park in northwest Mayo was designated Irelands sixth national park in 1998. The park is home to the Owenduff Bog, one of the largest intact and active blanket bog systems in Western Europe.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
The deadly attack by the Russian military on a DIY store in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Saturday is "another manifestation of Russian madness," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"Only madmen like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin are capable of killing and terrorizing people in such a heinous way," the Ukrainian leader said in his daily video address on Saturday evening.

At least two people were killed and 33 were injured in the attack, according to the regional civil defence department.

Firefighting crews continued to fight their way into the destroyed building. Zelensky said around 200 people were in the Epicentr home improvement store at the time of the attack.

Zelensky once again appealed to Ukraine's supporters for more air defence systems.

While he acknowledged that another Russian Su-25 fighter jet was shot down in the east of the country on Saturday, he said if Ukraine "had more adequate, more modern air defence systems and aircraft, the Russian air force would of course have collapsed long ago, just like its Black Sea fleet."
After a deadly Russian strike on a buildings material hypermarket in Kharkiv, Zelensky called for world leaders to supply more air defense protection in a video post on X on May 25.

"When we tell world leaders that Ukraine requires adequate air defense protection, that true decisiveness is required to ensure the effective protection of our people's lives and that Russian terrorists cannot even approach our borders, we are literally talking about how not to allow such terrorist strikes," Zelensky said in his statement.

At least two were killed and 33 injured in the attack, Ukrainian officials reported. The two men killed were workers at the hypermarket, while ten other workers remained unaccounted for.

In a post on Telegram, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said two Russian guided bombs had hit the building, killing two and causing a fire covering 15,000 square meters.

"Now the whole area is on fire," Zelensky said in his video. "All the necessary services have arrived there  the State emergency Service of Ukraine, medical services, local authorities, and police. All of them are fighting for every life."

"Of course, if we had more adequate modern air defense systems and aircraft, the Russian air fleet would have already suffered the same collapse as their Black Sea fleet. And Russian terror would simply become impossible," he added.

Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast with a reported 30,000 troops.

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 in the region at the hands of Russian troops.

Read also: At least 2 killed, 33 injured in Russian strike on Kharkiv hypermarket

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Russia's losses during the offensive in Kharkiv Oblast launched earlier this month are eight times higher than those suffered by Ukraine's armed forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview published on May 25.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claim.

Speaking to the Kazakh outlet Vlast, Zelensky said the figure shows Russian dictator Vladimir Putin "has absolutely no regard for human life."

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, Zelensky said on May 16.

On May 24, Ukraine's military said it was now conducting counterattacks against Moscow's forces in the area.

"Their breakthrough in the direction of Kharkiv, which occurred a little over two weeks ago, [resulted in] military casualties of 1 to 8  one Ukrainian to eight Russians," Zelensky said while speaking to reporters on May 24 in the ruins of a Kharkiv print house which was destroyed in a Russian missile attack a day earlier.

Zelensky said he is constantly updated with Russian casualty figures and even before the Kharkiv offensive there were two-three thousand victims a week.

"Two-three thousand families lost their children. He doesn't care at all," he added.

According to Ukrainian figures, Russian losses in Ukraine passed the grim milestone of 500,000 on May 25. The figure could not be independently verified.

Read also: As Russian losses in Ukraine hit 500,000, Putin buries future demographic risks at home

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Zelenskyy imposes sanctions on Russian media and financial firms registered in Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the decision of the National Security and Defence Council to impose sanctions on 69 legal entities, including a number of Russian media outlets, and two individuals.

Source: presidential decree of 22 May, published on the website of the Office of the President of Ukraine

Details: The list of entities subject to sanctions includes Russian media outlets NTV Plus; Channel One Russia Worldwide; Zvezda TV and Radio Company of the Russian Armed Forces; Petersburg TV and Radio Company; Ren TV; Izvestia Information Centre, Moskovsky Komsomolets; Krym TV and Radio Company, and a number of other media outlets working in occupied Crimea.

In addition, a number of companies registered in Ukraine were sanctioned: a subsidiary of Financial Company ElMI; WebMoney.UA LLC; a subsidiary of Financial Company VM-Faktor; Paymaster LLC; Agentstvo Harantii [Guarantee Agency] LLC, and Yandex.Ukraine LLC.

Two individuals are also on the sanctions list, namely Russian diplomat Yevgeny Voronin and journalist Alexei Fedorenko.

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Zelenskyy on his legitimacy: Putin's remarks are boring and uninteresting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described reflections on his legitimacy by Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Russian propaganda as "boring and uninteresting".

Source: Kazakh news outlet Vlast (Power), citing Zelenskyy in an interview with Central Asian media

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Ukrainians know their Constitution, they know the law.

We understand that these remarks by the illegitimate president of the Russian Federation about the legitimacy of the president of Ukraine are, frankly, boring and uninteresting.

All normal people who know how to read the law, and I believe that if you know how to read, then read it and draw your conclusions. And that's it. That's why it doesn't bother me much at all."

Background: Putin said he believes that Zelenskyy's legitimacy has "come to an end".

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Zelenskyy on Russian attack in Kharkiv: Over 200 people could have been at hypermarket  video

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that more than 200 people could have been inside the Kharkiv construction materials hypermarket that the Russians attacked using guided aerial bombs on Saturday (25 May).

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Quote: "Russia launched another brutal attack on our Kharkiv  targeting a construction materials hypermarket  on Saturday, right in the middle of the day. As of now, we know that more than 200 people could have been inside the hypermarket.

All services are already working at the scene to rescue people and extinguish the fire that has completely consumed the 10,000 sq m building. There are reports of deaths and injuries."

Details: Zelenskyy stressed that if Ukraine had sufficient air defence capabilities and modern combat aircraft, such Russian strikes would have been impossible.

"And that is why we appeal to all leaders, to all states: we need a significant strengthening of air defence and sufficient capabilities to destroy Russian terrorists. This is a task that must be accomplished and can only be done in cooperation with the world. Every day we call on the world: give us air defence, save people. Every decision not to support us is a loss of our people," the Ukrainian President stated.

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Artificial intelligence chatbots like OpenAIs ChatGPT are being sold as revolutionary tools that can help workers become more efficient at their jobs, perhaps replacing those people entirely in the future. But a stunning new study has found ChatGPT answers computer programming questions incorrectly 52% of the time.



The research from Purdue University, first spotted by news outlet Futurism, was presented earlier this month at the Computer-Human Interaction Conference in Hawaii and looked at 517 programming questions on Stack Overflow that were then fed to ChatGPT.



Our analysis shows that 52% of ChatGPT answers contain incorrect information and 77% are verbose, the new study explained. Nonetheless, our user study participants still preferred ChatGPT answers 35% of the time due to their comprehensiveness and well-articulated language style.

Disturbingly, programmers in the study didnt always catch the mistakes being produced by the AI chatbot.



However, they also overlooked the misinformation in the ChatGPT answers 39% of the time, according to the study. This implies the need to counter misinformation in ChatGPT answers to programming questions and raise awareness of the risks associated with seemingly correct answers.

Obviously, this is just one study, which is available to read online, but it points to issues that anyone whos been using these tools can relate to. Large tech companies are pouring billions of dollars into AI right now in an effort to deliver the most reliable chatbots. Meta, Microsoft, and Google are all in a race to dominate an emerging space that has the potential to radically reshape our relationship with the internet. But there are a number of hurdles standing in the way.

Chief among those problems is that AI is frequently unreliable, especially if a given user asks a truly unique question. Googles new AI-powered Search is constantly spouting garbage thats often scraped from unreliable sources. In fact, there have been multiple times this week when Google Search has presented satirical articles from The Onion as dependable information.

For its part, Google defends itself by insisting wrong answers are anomalies.



The examples weve seen are generally very uncommon queries, and arent representative of most peoples experiences, a Google spokesperson told Gizmodo over email earlier this week. The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high-quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web.

But that defense, that uncommon queries are showing wrong answers, is frankly laughable. Are users only supposed to ask these chatbots the most mundane questions? How is that acceptable, when the promise is that these tools are supposed to be revolutionary?



OpenAI didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday about the new study on ChatGPT answers. Gizmodo will update this post if we hear back.



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City of St. Cloud offers help to residents impacted by recent cyber attack

The City of St. Cloud has launched a toll-free phone number to help employees and customers impacted by a recent cybersecurity incident.

The cyber attack, which happened on Mar. 25, affected city departments and payment services.

The city became aware of the suspicious computer activity and contacted specialists to investigate the issue.

Officials said the city has taken steps to prevent another ransomware attack with more safety precautions.

Read: City of St. Cloud experiences cyberattack

People who believe they were affected by the cyber attack can call 1-800-939-4170 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The investigation is ongoing, but the city believes the criminals accessed the systems for data between Mar. 17, 2024, and Mar. 25, 2024.

Information that could be accessed includes name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, drivers license, medical information, health insurance information, and financial account information.

Read: Heres why Osceola County School District will cancel several sports programs next year

After the investigation, the city will send letters to those affected.

St. Cloud officials said residents should always be aware of suspicious activity on their accounts.

Click here for more information.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The Port of San Diego is in search of a new leader after its former president and chief executive officer, Joe Stuyvesant, resigned in January.

Stuyvesants resignation followed about six months after he was placed on paid administrative leave by the public agencys board, according to our reporting partners at The San Diego Union-Tribune. The Board of Port Commissioners appointed Randa Coniglio, who retired in February 2020, as acting president and CEO in July 2023 following Stuyvesants leave of absence.

Are bright blue jellyfish really swarming off the San Diego coast?

Last week, the port officially opened up the position. According to the job posting, the next president and CEO to lead the port will make between $350,000 to $425,000.

The Port of San Diego is the fourth largest of 11 across the state of California. It oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 22 public parks and the Harbor Police Department. It also supervises nearly 800 tenant and sub-tenant businesses around San Diego Bay, which are comprised of 18 hotels, 80 restaurants, the San Diego Convention Center and more.

Overtime pay rules to change soon: What to know

The job posting says the port is in search of someone who is both a diplomat and expert facilitator and is able to balance the needs of community stakeholders in each of the ports five member cities. Those cities include Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego.

In addition to overseeing businesses and other waterfront tenants, the next president and CEO will be responsible for directly supervising 11 team members.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A cone-shaped spacecraft inside a tall facility with an open door to the right, showing trees and swamp down below.

Starliner is still set to fly on its historic first flight with astronauts on June 1, but that could change as the team works through "complicated" issues following a small helium leak.

NASA and Boeing officials emphasized they are carefully weighing the decision to launch Starliner's first test mission with astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The approximately one-week mission is known as Crew Flight Test (CFT) and includes NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former U.S. Navy test pilots.

"It's so complicated. There's so many things going on. We really just needed to work through it as a team," Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate and a former astronaut, told reporters in a teleconference Friday (May 24). He added that addressing the issues have taken a lot of time, which is part of why few updates have been forthcoming from the team in recent weeks.

Related: 2 astronaut taxis: Why NASA wants both Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Dragon

A delta flight readiness review on Wednesday (May 29) will take place to review the leak and the changes in which the team may do a deorbit burn, if necessary. This is a bit different from the standard flight readiness review as the interim human certification document for CFT changed because of this new situation, he added. NASA will then hold another call with reporters on Thursday (May 30), agency officials said.

Starliner was delayed from its May 6 launch attempt, only two hours before liftoff, due to an oxygen relief valve issue on the Atlas V rocket set to launch the astronauts from the coastal Cape Canaveral Space Force Station near Orlando, Florida. United Launch Alliance (ULA), the company that makes the rocket, elected to replace the "buzzing" valve, which was opening and closing rapidly.

That valve swap went according to plan by May 12, but another issue  a helium leak in Starliner  was found after the launch scrub. Examining what happened, and how to solve it, required pushing back the launch dates several times, most recently to no earlier than June 1.

During the teleconference, NASA and Boeing officials said if the Starliner leak had happened in space, they would have found ways to deal with it there; they emphasized the leak was tiny and that hardware can fail unexpectedly even on fully certified spacecraft systems.

"There's no human-rated vehicle that doesn't experience this kind of anomaly," said Boeing's Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of the company's commercial crew program. (In other parts of the press conference, examples were given from SpaceX's Crew Dragon, also used for commercial crew flights, and the retired space shuttle program that used to handle NASA launches.)

Related: 2 astronaut taxis: Why NASA wants both Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Dragon

a man with short hair stands on the left, facing right, wearing a blue spacesuit, with the helmet unzipped around the collar and draped back like a hoodie. Another astronaut, out of focus, stands to his side, upward and to the right in the image. Par of a bus can be seen behind them, and crowds standing at the edge of a parking lot in the background.

Helium, as a non-inert gas, is not an immediate risk to a launch. But as it is in a part of the Starliner propulsion system, it could affect the pressurization for small maneuvers in orbit. Aside from studying that leak, NASA and Boeing have been working to learn how the helium system could potentially affect Starliner's return to Earth.

The leak is located in one Aerojet Rocketdyne reaction control system (RCS) thruster that is located in a single "doghouse," one of four such assemblies around the outside of Starliner's service module. It is in a manifold that is "used to open and close valves on each of the thrusters," said NASA's Steve Stich, program manager for the agency's commercial crew program.

He said the situation caused Starliner's team to pay more attention to the manifolds; while NASA says the pre-checks were robust, "maybe in a perfect timeframe. We might have identified this earlier." But that is precisely the role of a test flight, to identify such issues, he noted.

NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Boeing are evaluating about five solutions to prevent the leak from reoccurring on future missions. Even then, Stich added, "Helium is a tiny molecule. It tends to leak."

an astronaut in spacesuit next to a cone-shaped spacecraft in a facility

The leak began at 7 pounds per square inch (psi) and has increased to between 50 psi and 70 psi, coming from a less-than-button-sized area in the Starliner spacecraft that is less than 10 sheets of paper thick. (Engineers could not safely open up the leaky spot while Starliner was stacked on its Atlas V in ULA's Vertical Integration Facility, so they have been analyzing the leak using software tools instead.)

The leak is from a rubber seal that is in between two metal parts of a flange, which "keeps that interface tight so that the helium can pass through there," Stich said.

The other 27 thrusters in the RCS are not leaking at all, he emphasized, and analysis determined Starliner could handle up to four more thruster leaks  or a leak of up to 100 times higher in this one zone. Additionally, engineers tested the system through several pressure changes and the leak was "relatively stable" through those changes, he said.

two astronauts in training in a simulator with spacesuits on, looking at a screen

Stich said studying the helium leak brought to light a "design vulnerability" in the propulsion system. There are three certified techniques in which Starliner could come back home: Eight RCS thrusters, two orbital maneuvering and attitude control (OMAC) thrusters, or four OMAC thrusters.

But under "the right circumstances of failures," meaning the loss of two manifolds of thrusters in adjacent doghouses, they could lose the ability to fire eight RCS jets at once and thus, also lose a form of backup.

"So we wanted to take extra precaution to understand, what could we do if we lost our thrusters? We've worked with the vendor of the thruster [Aerojet Rocketdyne], Boeing and our NASA team to come up with a redundant method to do with your burn: To break it up into two burns, about 10 minutes each [and] 80 minutes apart, to come up with a four-RCS-thruster deorbit burn and to regain the capability of the original system.

"And that took a little time for our team to go work through," he continued, saying it involved NASA teams in guidance and navigation, structures and propulsion alongside Aerojet Rocketdyne and Boeing teams. "So we have that restored that redundancy for the backup capability in a very remote set of failures for the deorbit burn."

The crew successfully tested out this scenario in a simulator recently, likely one of the high-fidelity ones at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston (where they remain in quarantine.) This change in the redundancy, however, is one of the primary drivers behind the upcoming delta flight readiness review on May 29 to review the human certification for Starliner, Stich said. The team also wanted to take the time to examine the helium leak and all fixes, after resting this Memorial Day weekend.

Related: I flew Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in 4 different simulators. Here's what I learned (video, photos)

June 1 is not a lock, as the work is still on progress, but several backup dates exist in the near term: June 2, June 5 and June 6 are near-term opportunities for Starliner to launch, and there are other chances in the early summer as well.

a rocket on a launch pad with the sun behind it and a blue sky, surrounding by towers

Starliner would remain stable long beyond then, said Nappi. But the Atlas V rocket has some parts that would expire in June and July, said ULA's Gary Wentz, who is vice president of government and commercial programs. Other launches may also have to shift around if the delay persists.

CFT is only allowed to dock at a single port of the Harmony module of the ISS, but "we're pretty flexible all through the summer" if Starliner needs to hold, ISS program manager Dana Weigel told Space.com during the press conference.

As is true of all launches, CFT would not be scheduled to arrive at the ISS on docking, undocking or spacewalking days on the ISS, but that port could remain empty until at least crew rotation activities in August, she said. Earlier that month, a Northrop Grumman Cygnus will berth in a separate port of the ISS, and if the CFT astronauts are on station at that time they may help with unloading activities if time permits.

a cone-shaped spacecraft with hatch open above earth, with clouds and the black of space

Williams and Wilmore will return to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where quarantine quarters are a few miles from the launch pad, a few days before launch. The current June 1 launch would see them come back on May 28.

The crew has been in quarantine for about a month, waiting through the delays, but are "in good spirits," Bowersox said. Wilmore and Williams remotely attended meetings and among other comments have urged the team to pace themselves, he said. (As military astronauts and former U.S. Navy test pilots, the CFT crew are also used to both long deployments as well as working on developmental programs like Starliner, where schedule changes like this are common.)

RELATED STORIES:

 Boeing's Starliner rolled off launch pad to replace 'buzzing' rocket valve (photo)

 Meet the crew launching on Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut flight

 Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will not fly private missions yet, officials say

Boeing is the other vendor for commercial crew aside from SpaceX, after they were selected for astronaut taxis in 2014. The initial expectation for crewed flights was 2017, but technical and funding problems caused delays. SpaceX has sent a dozen missions to the ISS since 2020, borrowing from its cargo Dragon design (first used in space in 2012) to inform the design of Crew Dragon.

Starliner, a new spacecraft, has yet to carry astronauts aloft. An uncrewed test flight in 2019 did not go forward as planned; the spacecraft never reached the ISS after a software glitch stuck it in the wrong orbit. The next attempt in 2022 (delayed by the pandemic, and after dozens of fixes were implemented), made it there with no issue.

CFT delayed again in 2023 after new issues were found with the parachutes (which carried less load than expected) and wiring (covered in flammable tape). Those problems are behind the team, Boeing and NASA have stressed repeatedly in recent weeks.
Florida schools says maintaining student laptops for all is getting too pricey

ORLANDO, Fla.  Orange County Public Schools prides itself on providing laptops to all students, an effort that started in 2013 and aimed to make sure everyone had access to technology no matter their familys income.

But putting laptops in the hands of thousands of students  and keeping them running and up to date  has proved to be pricey.

The OCPS laptop repair budget for the school year that ends this week is $1.6 million, and in coming years the yearly budget to purchase and maintain laptops is at least $30 million, with more slated to be spent on classroom technology.

School leaders say they are not second-guessing the laptop initiative, which has been paid for mostly with money from a voter-approved sales tax and mirrors efforts in school systems nationwide. But they are looking at ways to curb costs.

The repair cost is not something we can continue to sustain, Superintendent Maria Vazquez told the Orange County School Board at a recent meeting.

Her staff is looking at leasing programs, which could reduce repair costs that mounted when the district kept older laptops in use for up to eight years. The district also is reconsidering whether younger students should take their school laptops home with them, among other possible changes.

I dont have any regrets about the devices, Vazquez said in an interview, noting they helped OCPS shift quickly to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered schools and pushed many students to study online.

The school district is not going backwards, she added, but needs to find ways to lower its tech bills.

In recent years, OCPS purchased hard, protective cases for student laptops, looking to reduce damage, and ended its policy of having students keep their school-issued laptops during the summer.

The hope was that students would use the educational programs loaded onto their devices during the long break, but few did and the summer months spent in students homes just increased the number of laptops needing repairs when the school year started, Vazquez said.

OCPS assesses fines when students break or lose their school laptops  up to $400 for a third incident, according to information on the districts website  but that money doesnt put enough of a dent in the repair budget, she added.

Central Floridas largest school district first handed out laptops to 8,000 students in 2013 and less than a decade later was providing laptops to everyone.

In the past two years, OCPS purchased more than 183,000 new laptops and refurbished nearly 20,500, district officials said, with older devices put on standby to serve as loaners if new ones need repairs.

The laptops allow students to complete and submit assignments online and access educational programs and digital textbooks, among other things.

School board members, who want Orange County voters to renew the half-penny sales tax for a third time in November, said they also want to rein in spending.

These devices are costing a lot of money, said board member Angie Gallo at a meeting earlier this month. It would seem that would be something we really need to look at, if that is sustainable over a long period of time.

Im not suggesting we go back because I think as a society we are going to keep moving forward with technology, and its important that our students keep up, Gallo added.

But having elementary students keep their laptops at school might help limit repair bills, as well as ease parents and educators concerns about the harm of screen time. I know a lot of parents dont want their kids on computers when they get home, she said.

Middle and high school students use their school laptops the most and also create the bulk of the laptop repairs, Vazquez said.

This week many Lake Nona High School students, like counterparts across the county, turned in their computers, most handing back laptops that worked as they did when the school year started in August.

But a sign on the media centers door as laptop returns were underway  With all due respect, we did NOT give it to you like that  and a small cabinet filled with dozens of damaged computers also spoke to the problem. Among those in the cabinet: a laptop with a keyboard splashed with nail polish remover, another with a cracked screen and a third with a wrenched-apart hinge.

In the next two years, OCPS expects to spend about $80 million on technology, which includes laptops as well as infrastructure and classroom technology such as interactive smart boards. The district has the money for those purchases in its budget.

But in following eight years, officials estimate the total cost of technology infrastructure and device refresh would hit $447 million, and paying for that would depend on the sales tax getting renewed by voters in November.

The sales tax, first approved in 2002, has paid for the renovation of 136 older campuses and the construction of 65 new ones. It now accounts for about 45% of the school districts capital programs budget, and, if voters renew it again this year, will help OCPS build six new schools, renovate others and pay for updates to roofs, air-conditioning systems and technology.

I think all of our parents and community know that technology is not going away. Its really important for us to have access here, said board member Maria Salamanca as the board reviewed its capital budget. We, as a school district, want to provide this infrastructure and devices, but we really need to understand and have a real grasp of the cost of this.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN)  Illinois could soon join a handful of states with digital IDs and drivers licenses.

House Bill 4592, introduced by Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), passed by a unanimous vote in the state senate Friday. The bill cleared the state House of Representatives earlier this week and now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker for his signature.

The legislation would not eliminate physical drivers licenses but would allow the state to offer them as a companion to a physical card.

Several states, including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, and Utah already have digital IDs.

Some Transportation Security Administration security checkpoints are equipped to accept digital IDs, with support expanding.

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.
A quarter moon hangs in back like a bowl floating in the abyss. there are scattered circles of unfocused lens flare.

A small Pakistani satellite has imaged the sun and moon from lunar orbit, having taken a ride with China's Chang'e-6 mission to sample the far side of the moon.

China launched Chang'e-6 on May 3, aiming to grab samples from Apollo crater on the lunar far side and deliver them to Earth for analysis. The China-Pakistan ICUBE-Q was released by the spacecraft May 8.

The small, 15.4-pound (7 kilograms) satellite then captured images of the moon and sun and collected magnetic field data. A tertiary goa l of imaging the Chang'e-6 spacecraft was not apparently successful based on the publicly released data.

Related: China picks 4 international payloads for historic sample-return mission to moon's far side

A data handover ceremony was held on May 10 in Beijing. Data included the first photographs taken by the satellite, showing the Sun and the moon. Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), presented the data to the Pakistani Ambassador to China, Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi, symbolizing the collaborative efforts in space technology and exploration between China and Pakistan.

"This is a very enormous, momentous event for us, because this is the first ever lunar mission to the moon for Pakistan. And with the help of Chinese friends, that is a great day for us," Gilani said, according to a CCTV+ report .

"We are looking towards [cooperation] of all domains of technology here, be it remote sensing, be it navigation and be it communication satellites . Subsequently, we have a number of launches from China, and that shows the good cooperation going on."

a fat crescent moon hangs in back at the top while a blaring sun in the bottom right corner shoots light rays about.

Related Stories:

China recruits Pakistan and Belarus for its planned moon base

 China unveils video of its moon base plans, which weirdly includes a NASA space shuttle

 Are we prepared for Chinese preeminence on the moon and Mars? (op-ed)

Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology and China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University jointly developed the satellite. The spacecraft is a furthering of cooperation between the two, with Pakistan also signing up to China's International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

Ge Ping, deputy director of CNSA's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, said China has also received an application from Pakistan to contribute payloads on the future Chang'e-8 mission.

Meanwhile, Chang'e-6 is in lunar orbit and gearing up for its landing attempt . CNSA has not provided a date for the landing, but it is expected around early June.
Done photo over launch site at SSC with added rocket launch animation. A snowy landscape filled with trees surrounds the snowy launch site. .

In a groundbreaking move for the European and international space markets, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and South Korean rocket company Perigee Aerospace Inc. have entered into a collaborative agreement to jointly launch satellites from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden starting in 2025.

All being well, Perigee's Blue Whale 1 microlauncher will be the first-ever orbital rocket launched from Esrange according to the press release statement.

"The partnership secures the final component to complete SSC's satellite launch service from Esrange since its inauguration of the launch complex in 2023," Philip Ohlsson, Head of Communications for SSC told Space.com in an email.

"The new partnership will add launch capabilities that do not currently exist in mainland Europe, " Ohlsson continued.

Related: Sweden just opened an orbital spaceport, Europe's new 'gateway to space'

Esrange, Europe's first mainland orbital spaceport , is situated far above the Swedish Arctic Circle, approximately 28 miles (45 kilometers) north of Kiruna. Currently, it serves as a hub for launching sounding rockets, conducting microgravity research, and performing high-altitude balloon experiments for astronomy and atmospheric studies. Esrange also carries out drop tests for spacecraft and aerial vehicles, tests rocket engines and fuels, and hosts one of the world's largest civilian ground stations. Leading the "European Space Race," the spaceport is developing new launch pads to support orbital launch vehicles and reusable rocket tests.

sounding rocket lifting off with a forest and snow in behind

Charlotta Sund, CEO of SSC, expressed her excitement over the new partnership: "I'm very pleased to announce this historic collaboration, our first orbital launch partnership, The market demand for this service is huge and it's needed now, by both European and international satellite owners," Sund said in a SSC press release statement .

"With this partnership, SSC will be able to offer a competitive commercial European orbital launch service at our spaceport in Sweden. This is exciting news for us, and for the global space market." Sund continued.

Perigee Aerospace's Blue Whale 1 rocket, soon to be ready for orbital missions, will play a crucial role in this collaboration. Yoon Shin, CEO and Founder of Perigee Aerospace, highlighted the synergy between the two companies: "SSC has an impressive 50 years of launch heritage and the new orbital launch infrastructure at Esrange is laying the foundation for the years to come.

A graphic of a white and black rocket lifting off from a launch pad surrounded by water.

"By bringing our Blue Whale 1 rocket, soon ready for orbital missions, we will partner with SSC to create a state-of-the-art orbital launch service, including further delivery through SSC's ground service offering. After a successful orbital launch from South Korea next year, we look forward to beginning this historic journey at Esrange."

The Blue Whale 1 is a two-stage launch vehicle with the capacity to place up to 440 lbs (200 kg) into a 310-mile (500 km) sun-synchronous orbit. This makes it an ideal choice for a wide range of satellite missions. The collaboration with SSC aims to develop a service concept with a shared payload space onboard Blue Whale 1 to make space for both companies.

Despite being located high in the Arctic Circle where winters can be brutal, Esrange plans to launch all year round, starting with a few launches per year and then increasing the cadence slowly.

curtain of green and red auroras over a forest

"We think this is a realistic approach, while focusing on creating a standardized launch service around a sustainable business model. As we develop, we plan to increase the number of launches annually. But there is no real limit to how many launches can be conducted from Esrange  the market will guide us in our developments." Ohlsson told Space.com.
Rocket Lab launched a small Earth-observation satellite for NASA early this morning (May 25).

An Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site today at 3:41 a.m. EDT (0741 GMT; 7:41 p.m. local New Zealand time), carrying the first of two cubesats for NASA's PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) climate-studying mission.

The satellite was deployed into orbit 53 minutes after launch as planned, according to Rocket Lab.

Related: NASA's twin spacecraft will go to the ends of the Earth to combat climate change

A Rocket Lab Electron vehicle launches the first of two cubesats for NASA's PREFIRE Earth-observation mission on May 25, 2024.

Rocket Lab will also launch the second PREFIRE satellite. The date for that coming liftoff has not been announced, but it will occur within three weeks of today's launch, according to the company.

Both PREFIRE satellites are 6U cubesats. The "U" stands for "unit," a cube 4 inches (10 centimeter) on a side that's the basic building block of cubesats. (So a 6U cubesat is the size of six such units.)

Two small rectangular satellites hover above earth on opposite sides. each has a dual-panel solar array extended from two sides. The curve of Earth below is hazy and blue.

The PREFIRE cubesats will head to different 326-mile-high (525 kilometers) circular orbits above Earth. From that perch, they'll measure how much heat is lost from our planet's polar regions  something that has never been done systematically from orbit, according to Rocket Lab.

The PREFIRE duo "will criss-cross over the Arctic and Antarctica measuring thermal infrared radiation  the same type of energy emitted from a heat lamp  that will make climate models more accurate and help predict changes caused by global warming," Rocket Lab wrote in a mission description.

a mission badge showing the white silhouette of an arctic fox against a dark blue background. a white silhouette of a rocket lifts off in the background

RELATED STORIES:

 Climate change: Causes and effects

 US Space Force picks Rocket Lab for 2025 Victus Haze space domain awareness mission

 Rocket Lab launches new NASA solar sail tech to orbit (video, photos)

Today's launch was the 48th overall for the 59-foot-tall (18 meters) Electron, which is designed to give small satellites dedicated rides to orbit.

Rocket Lab is working to make Electron's first stage reusable; the company has recovered boosters from the sea after multiple launches, and it's gearing up to refly a first stage for the first time. But today's liftoff was apparently a more traditional effort, with no recovery component.

Rocket Lab has launched NASA climate-studying cubesats before. The company lofted the four satellites of the agency's TROPICS constellation, which monitors the evolution of tropical storms, over two Electron launches in May 2023.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 4 a.m. ET on May 25 with news of a successful liftoff, then again at 4:37 a.m. ET with news of satellite deployment.
On Episode 112 of This Week In Space, Rod and Tariq talk with Rob Manning, Chief Engineer Emeritus of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, about Mars exploration and, in particular, Mars Sample Return.

As we discussed in episode 107, that project is in a bit of trouble. Rob was the Chief Engineer of every Mars rover up through Perseverance and the overall Chief Engineer on Perseverance, and he has some unique insights on how we have explored Mars, why it matters, and what the future holds... especially with regard to returning samples to Earth. Join us!

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.



Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Space news of the week

Model Falcon 9!

TOP TELESCOPE PICK:

A Celestron telescope on a white background

Looking for a telescope to see planets and comets? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide.

Finally, did you know you can launch your own SpaceX rocket? Model rocket maker Estes' stunning scale model of a Falcon 9 rocket that you can pick up now. The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. You can save 10% by using the code IN-COLLECTSPACE at checkout, courtesy of our partners collectSPACE.com.

About This Week In Space

This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?

Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.
If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. So when we looked at the ROCE trend of Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW) we really liked what we saw.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on Illinois Tool Works is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.39 = US$4.2b  (US$16b - US$4.8b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024).

Thus, Illinois Tool Works has an ROCE of 39%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Machinery industry average of 13%.

See our latest analysis for Illinois Tool Works

roce

In the above chart we have measured Illinois Tool Works' prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Illinois Tool Works for free.

So How Is Illinois Tool Works' ROCE Trending?

Illinois Tool Works has not disappointed with their ROCE growth. Looking at the data, we can see that even though capital employed in the business has remained relatively flat, the ROCE generated has risen by 26% over the last five years. 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. The company is doing well in that sense, and it's worth investigating what the management team has planned for long term growth prospects.

The Key Takeaway

As discussed above, Illinois Tool Works appears to be getting more proficient at generating returns since capital employed has remained flat but earnings (before interest and tax) are up. And investors seem to expect more of this going forward, since the stock has rewarded shareholders with a 94% return over the last five years. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence.

One more thing to note, we've identified 1 warning sign with Illinois Tool Works and understanding this should be part of your investment process.

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If you'd like to see other companies earning high returns, check out our free list of companies earning high returns with solid balance sheets here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
From left, Charlie, Charlotte and Bonnie Groo stand outside the home where Kit Nelson-Mora was raised in Yakima, Wash. Charlotte holds a photo of Kit, who went missing at age 16. (Jake Parrish/InvestigateWest)
Robinhood proclaimed itself remote-first, then backtracked and called employees back to the office. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Robinhood brought workers back to the office in 2023, a year after telling them they could be remote.

CEO Vlad Tenev explained in a podcast interview how the company talked staff through the reversal.

He said being direct and having answers for employees' concerns were key.

The past few years have seen some companies declare themselves remote-first, only to backtrack and mandate workers return to the office.

One such company is Robinhood. Vlad Tenev, a cofounder and the CEO of the financial-services firm, explained in a new interview how he brought employees back to the office after initially telling them they were working at a remote-first company.

"In January of 2022, we were like all right let's just make a decision here and announce we're a remote-first company, and I think as soon as that blog post went out I was like, 'Oh, God, I made a terrible mistake here; this is not good'  I felt bad about it," Tenev said in an episode of the podcast "The Logan Bartlett Show" published Friday.

Tenev said that after the decision to reverse course, he heard feedback that other companies had not managed to successfully get workers back to the office, even if they hadn't given a full-throated endorsement to remote work, as Robinhood had. Coming out strongly for being remote-first made it "much, much harder," he said.

Tenev said "explaining the why of things" was important in getting employees on board with the policy reversal.

"I think we very directly said, 'I'd like people to come in person. I think it's better for collaboration. I think that we do a lot of important work across functions,'" he said.

"You have to have answers for all the concerns that people have that, I think, are reasonable," he added.

"I mean, some people are going to say, 'Well, we've got people all around the world. They've moved, Nobody that I work with, nobody from my team, is in my office, so why would I come in?'" Tenev said. "And I think the answer to that is everyone in this company is on your team," he said.

"You shouldn't just engage with people on your team because what happens if you need to talk to someone from compliance or legal and you're an engineer?" Tenev said. "Having those relationships are extremely important. Having some awareness for what people are doing is important, and I think that's something that's very difficult to manufacture in the remote world."

Tenev said Robinhood drew a radius in calling employees back, meaning those who lived too far away from an office didn't have to return, though he said: "Most people actually clustered around locations where we have offices anyway."

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He added: "Up until January of 2022, we were hiring people within radius of offices, so very little hiring happened outside of those in the first place, and that was the good part about it. We weren't remote-first for very long. The period where we were remote-first and we were hiring aggressively was pretty short."

In 2022 , Robinhood declared itself a remote-first company and said it would be "staying primarily remote."

A year later, the company told staff to expect to return to the office at least four days a week on average.

"I've seen it firsthand  there is value in us being together," Tenev wrote to employees in a leaked Slack message at the time. "While the adjustment period may not be easy, I am confident that in the long run we will all benefit as coworkers and owners of Robinhood."

Many companies began issuing return-to-office mandates in 2022 and into 2023, including Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Google. The latest large company to jump on the bandwagon is Walmart, which said earlier this month it's also laying off several hundred workers and relocating others to one of three main campuses, in a reversal of its remote-work policy during the pandemic.

Read the original article on Business Insider
New Delhi: From sleeping on railway station benches to becoming a self-made billionaire the journey of this man is a powerful testament to resilience and determination. Despite facing immense challenges he transformed his life through hard work and unwavering perseverance. In todays success story we will be talking about Satyanarayan Nandlal Nuwal. He is the founder of Solar Industries India and a self-made billionaire.

Early life & Education

Nuwal was born into a middle class family in Bhilwara, Rajasthan to a government employee father. However, he had to drop out of school after class 10 due to financial difficulties. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to open an ink production plant at just 18 years old. Even though his first endeavour failed Nuwal persisted and continued to seek new opportunities.

Life-Changing Venture

Entering the industrial explosives industry was a turning point in Nuwals life. During his tough times, he had to sleep at railway stations. However, his meeting with explosives dealer Abdul Sattar Allahbhai changed his life. In 1995, with a small loan from the State Bank of India he founded Solar Industries India. Today, the company has a market capitalization of Rs 92,000 crore.

Remarkable Rise in the Explosives Industry

Now, Solar Industries has become a leader in manufacturing explosives, propellants, grenades, drones, and warheads, supporting the Make in India mission. The company's market value skyrocketed by 1,700% in just ten years and reached over Rs 35,000 crore by November 2022. Forbes reports that Nuwal's net worth is now 4.9 billion dollars, placing him among the world's billionaire business leaders thanks to his remarkable achievements.
Odisha Board Result 2024: Odisha class 10th, 12th results will be announced by the council in the afternoon on May 26, 2024 . Students who took the exam can download the results from the official website, chseodisha.nic.in. The results for all three streamsArts, Commerce, and Science will be announced. The council announced the CHSE Odisha Result 2024 date and time, stating that results for all streams will be declared on the same day at 4.30 pm. Students can view the results on the official website, andorissaresults.nic.in. The results will be available to students through their HS School e-space and the Digilocker.

Odisha Result 2024: Exam Details

This year, the CHSE Odisha 12th exams were conducted from February 16, 2024, to March 20, 2024, and as many as 3,84,597 students appeared in the Class 12 examinations this year. Over 5.5 lakh students who registered for the Odisha Class 10 board exams 2024 held from February 20 to March 4 are awaiting BSE Odisha 10th result 2024. The exams were held under the surveillance of newly introduced artificial intelligence-powered CCTV cameras.

Odisha Board Result 2024: Steps To Check

Step 1: Go to the CHSE's official website, chseodisha.nic.in.

Step 2: Click the 'Odisha CHSE Result 2024' link.

Step 3: A login window for Odisha CHSE Result 2024 will appear.

Step 4: Enter your login credentials and click the submit button.

Step 5: The result will appear on the screen.

Step 6: Download and save the Odisha CHSE Results. Take a printout for future reference.

To pass the Odisha Class 12 exams, students must score a minimum of 33 percent in each subject, including theory and practicals. Those who fail to pass will be entitled to take the CHSE Odisha Board compartment exams. The specifics of the CHSE compartment exams will be shared when the results are declared.
New Delhi: As many as 33 Naxalites, three of them carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 5 lakh, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday, police said.

The Naxalites turned themselves in before senior officials from the police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), citing disappointment with atrocities committed by Maoists on tribals and "hollow" Maoist ideology, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav said.

They were also impressed by the police's rehabilitation policy, he said.

Of 33 surrendered cadres, two women were active in various wings and outfits under the Gangaloor area committee of Maoists, he said.

Raju Hemla alias Thakur (35), a member of PLGA (People's Liberation Guerilla Army) battalion no. 1, and Samo Karma, a member of platoon no. 1 of Maoists, were carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh each, he said.

Sudru Punem, the head of RPC (revolutionary party committee) Janata Sarkar of Maoists, carried a bounty of Rs 1 lakh, he said.

The trio carrying rewards were allegedly involved in attacks on security personnel in the past, the official said.

The surrendered Naxalites were provided Rs 25,000 each, and they will be rehabilitated as per the government's policy, police said.

With this, 109 Naxalites have so far quit violence in the district this year, while 189 have been arrested, they said.
New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that the deep depression over the East-central Bay of Bengal is likely to concentrate into a cyclonic storm on Saturday and make landfall on May 26 night along the adjoining coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh.

The department has issued a warning of extremely heavy rainfall from May 26 to May 27 in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha. A storm surge of up to 1.5 metres is forecasted to inundate low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh at the time of landfall.

Deep Depression over East central BoB lay over same region about 420km S SE of Sagar Islands(WB) 420km S of Khepupara(Bangladesh). To intensify into a cyclonic storm by 25 evening and cross between Bangladesh and adjoining WB coasts around 26 midnight as SCS. For details visit pic.twitter.com/GF8Db2utvB  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 25, 2024

As the cyclone is going to hit the coastal region of West Bengal, the weather office has warned the fishermen not to venture into the sea near the north Bay of Bengal till May 27 morning.

Cyclone 'Remal' Expected To Landfall On May 26

As per the forecast, The cyclone is likely to hit land with a wind speed of 110-120 km per hour, with gusts reaching up to 135 kmph in May 26, Sunday. This is the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal during this pre-monsoon season. The Cyclone is named Remal, given by Oman, as per the system of naming cyclones in the north Indian Ocean region.

Cyclone Remal Update: IMD Issues Orange Alert For Kolkata, Howrah Districts

The Meteorological Department raised a red alert due to the prediction of heavy rainfall over the region of West Bengal's coastal districts South and North 24 Parganas on May 26 and May 27.

While, an orange alert was issued for Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia and Purba Medinipur districts, warning of 80 to 90 kmph to 100 kmph wind speed and heavy to very heavy rain from May 26 to May 27. The wind speed will reach 60 to 70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph and accompanied by heavy rain over the area of Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman and Paschim Medinipur districts of West Bengal. The IMD also warned the local people regarding flood which can cause major damage to vulnerable structures, power and communication lines, kutcha roads, crops and orchards in South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.

Cyclone Impact On Coastal Region Of Odisha

The coastal districts of Odisha- Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapara are also going to witness heavy rain from May 26 to May27.
With the Lok Sabha elections nearing conclusion, the row has now reached BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. States like West Bengal and Karnataka are already facing the BJP heat for providing reservations based on religion and with the Calcutta High Court order quashing such reservations, the poll campaign around this has further intensified.

Modi Raises Mulsim Reservation Issue

Addressing a rally in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi again raised the issue. "I will foil the plans of the INDIA bloc to rob SCs, STs and OBCs of their rights and divert these to Muslims. They may remain enslaved and perform 'mujra' to please their vote bank, said PM Modi. He further referred to the Calcutta High Court order that struck down the West Bengal government's decision to include a number of Muslim groups in the list of OBCs.

"The Calcutta High Court has exposed them. The members of the 'INDI' alliance gave OBC status to 77 castes indiscriminately. Whose rights were taken away? My OBC's. Who benefitted? The vote jihadists of the 'INDI' alliance. In Karnataka, all Muslims were declared OBCs. They want to change the Constitution to give reservations based on religion across the country. I guarantee from Bihar, that as long as Modi is alive, I will not let them take away your rights. This is Modi's guarantee," said Modi.

Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan Announce Scrutiny

Amid the ongoing OBC-Muslim reservation row, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that his government will scrutinize the Other Backward Classes reservations given to Muslim communities during the previous governments in the state. Maurya said that the previous government did it just to gain the vote bank of a particular community which is unconstitutional.

Similarly, the Bhajan Lal government in Rajasthan is also planning to carry out a scrutiny of OBC reservations given to Muslims after the Lok Sabha polls. The state government will form a high-powered committee to look into the matter.

CPIM Slams TMC Government

Leader of the Opposition in Tripura and Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA Jitendra Choudhury slammed the Trinamool Congress government over the issuance of OBC certificates in West Bengal. "In West Bengal, the way the government is running is totally illegal. Now the OBC certificate case has come to light. The West Bengal government is running illegally and it's the outcome of the same thing. In Tripura, everyone knows about them. In 2023 TMC had tried to capture their hold in Tripura but the people of Tripura knew their nature and completely denied them. Trinamool Congress will have no effect in Tripura," Choudhury said.

Mamata Banerjee Remains Firm

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that she will not accept the order of the Calcutta High Court and the 'OBC reservation continues and will always continue'. She said that the TMC government will challenge the order in the higher court. "Those who have given the order should keep it to themselves, we will not accept the opinion of BJP, OBC reservation continues and will always continue," she said.
New Delhi: After record voter turnouts in Srinagar and Baramulla in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary Constituency has also shattered voter turnout records, with approximately 53.60% recorded in the districts of Anantnag, Poonch, Kulgam, and partially in districts of Rajouri and Shopian. This marks the highest turnout since 1989, spanning the last 35 years.

With this surge, in the ongoing General Elections 2024, the three Parliamentary Constituencies (PCs) in the valley, namely Srinagar (38.49%), Baramulla (59.1%), and Anantnag-Rajouri (53.60%), have recorded historic voter turnouts. Overall, the voter turnout in the three PCs in the valley is approximately 50% (Anantnag-Rajouri at 5 pm) in the current General Elections, compared to 19.16% in 2019.

Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti is contesting against NC's Mian Altaf and Apni party's Zafar Manhas from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency.

Today during the voting, Mehbooba staged a massive protest in Bijbahara, alleging that some PDP workers were detained overnight. She reached Bijbahara to cast her vote, but she sat on the old national highway for hours. PDP leader insisted she would not vote until her workers were released. Later, she announced that PDP workers had been released.

Mufti stated, Only PDP workers are harassed. Every effort is being made to ensure that Mehbooba Mufti does not reach Parliament."

In conversation with Zee News, some voters emphasized development, while others cited electricity, water, roads, employment, and Article 370 as crucial factors.

Mohammad Akbar, a voter at the Shangus polling station said, I cast my vote for my sons' better future. I have witnessed many hardships in my life, and I dont want my sons to endure the same. I believe that voting wisely will ensure proper representation and, ultimately, a better future for us."

The Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat of Kashmir has emerged as a significant constituency after delimitation, with 18.36 lakh voters casting their votes at 2338 different polling stations. To ensure the smooth conduct of the voting process, more than staff was deployed.

The 6th phase of polling covered five districts in the Kashmir Valley, including Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Poonch, and Rajouri. Vast security measures were implemented, particularly in areas near the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri districts, to safeguard the electoral process and ensure incident-free polling in the area.
Press Release

May 25, 2024 Villar gives "more teeth" to protect the agri sector and the Ph economy The hardships being suffered by Filipino farmers and consumers due to cartel, holding, profiteering and other corrupt practices will soon be stopped as the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act is closer to becoming a law. Before the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress adjourned last Wednesday, the Senate retified the bicameral conference committee report on the Anti - Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. "The measure intends to repeal the seven-year old Republic Act No. 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act" and introduce several nefarious acts other than smuggling, such as, hoarding, profiteering, cartel of agricultural and fisheries products," said the Senator. Villar, principal author and sponsor of the measure, stressed that this is an act of self-preservation against the manipulative scheme of economic saboteurs and the protection of farmers' livelihood. This is also a protection of the State from tax evaders and non-payers of duties. This will ensure the well-being of our agricultural producers, consumers, and the whole economy," she emphasized. The Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2432 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Bill" in December and has been certified as urgent by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. On March 20, 2024, both Houses of Congress went into a pre-bicam conference for the bill. Salient features of the Act are as follows: 1. The creation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Task Force directly under the control and supervision of the Office of the President.

2. Creation of an Enforcement Group which shall have the authority to visit areas where the agricultural and fisheries products are located on the strength of a Letter of Authority (LoA), issued by the Executive Committee of the Council;

3. Creation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court under the jurisdiction of the Court of Tax Appeal;

4. Creation of a Special Team of Prosecutors from the DOJ for the expeditious prosecution of cases involving agri-economic sabotage;

5. Creation under the DA of the Daily Price Index Monitoring Office, established and maintained by the AMAS and the BAR to monitor and report on the prices of enumerated agricultural products in all the regions of country;

6. Covered agricultural products: rice, corn, beef, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, other vegetables, fruits, fish, salt, and other aquatic products, in their raw state or which has under gone simple process of preservation, until post-harvest stage of the supply chain; palm oil, palm oleic, raw and refined sugar and tobacco.

7. Establishment of the long delayed National Single Window System.

8. Also included are : financing of agricultural economic sabotage crimes enumerated in this Act, use of government storage facilities for the purpose of act enumerated herein, and illegal acts of the enforcement group as enumerated in the Act.

9. Any person may directly file a criminal complaint with the DOJ Special Team of Prosecutors and/or Administrative Complaint with the appropriate government agency, which shall be verified and supported with affidavits or a Citizen's suit. Co-authors of Senator Cynthia Villar of this Bill in the Senate are: Senators Padilla, Revilla, Jr., Marcos, Lapid, Tulfo, Dela Rosa, Ejercito, Villanueva,Hontiveros and Legarda. Villar, binigyan ng mas maraming ngipin ang batas para protektahan ang agri sector at PH economy INAASAHAN ang wakas ng paghihirap ng Filipino farmers at consummers sanhi ng cartel, smuggling at iba pang katiwalian dahil malapit nang maisabatas ang Anti- Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. Bago mag-adjourn ang 2nd Regular Session ng 19th Congress noong Miyerkules, niratipikahan ng Senado ang bicameral conference committee report sa Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. "The measure intends to repeal the seven-year old Republic Act No. 10845, or the "Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act," and introduce severe sanctions on the nefarious acts of smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of agricultural and fishery products," ayon sa senador. Iginiit ni Villar, principal author at sponsor ng panukala na "self-preservation" ito laban sa pagmamanipula ng economic saboteurs at protection din sa pangkabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka. "This is also a protection of the State from tax evaders and non-payors of duties. This will ensure the well-being of our agricultural producers and welfare of the consumers, and the economy as a whole," binigyan diin ni Villar. Aniya, matatakpan din nito ang mga butas sa taxat duty collection. Ipinasa ng Senado ang Senate Bill No. 2432 o Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Bill" noong December 2023, at sinertipikan ni President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na "urgent." Noong March 20, 2024, isinagawa ng mga kinatawan ng Senado at Kongreso ang bicam conference sa panukalang ito. Ang mga salient features ng batas ay ang mga sumusunod: 1. The creation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Task Force directly under the control and supervision of the Office of the President.

2. Creation of an Enforcement Group which shall have the authority to visit areas where the agricultural and fisheries products are located on the strength of a Letter of Authority (LoA), issued by the Executive Committee of the Council;

3. Creation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court under the jurisdiction of the Court of Tax Appeal;

4. Creation of a Special Team of Prosecutors from the DOJ for the expeditious prosecution of cases involving agri-economic sabotage;

5. Creation under the DA of the Daily Price Index Monitoring Office, established and maintained by the AMAS and the BAR to monitor and report on the prices of enumerated agricultural products in all the regions of country;

6. Covered agricultural products: rice, corn, beef, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, other vegetables, fruits, fish, salt, and other aquatic products, in their raw state or which has under gone simple process of preservation, until post-harvest stage of the supply chain; palm oil, palm oleic, raw and refined sugar and tobacco.

7. Establishment of the long delayed National Single Window System.

8. Also included are : financing of agricultural economic sabotage crimes enumerated in this Act, use of government storage facilities for the purpose of act enumerated herein, and illegal acts of the enforcement group as enumerated in the Act.

9. Any person may directly file a criminal complaint with the DOJ Special Team of Prosecutors and/or Administrative Complaint with the appropriate government agency, which shall be verified and supported with affidavits or a Citizen's suit. Kasama ni Senator Villar, nag co-author din sa naturang batas sina Senators Padilla, Revilla, Jr., Marcos, Lapid, Tulfo, Dela Rosa, Ejercito, Villanueva,Hontiveros and Legarda.
For many investors, the main point of stock picking is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But the risk of stock picking is that you will likely buy under-performing companies. We regret to report that long term EPH European Property Holdings PLC (VTX:EPH) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 15% in three years, versus a market decline of about 8.4%.

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.

Check out our latest analysis for EPH European Property Holdings

EPH European Property Holdings wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally hope to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one would hope for good top-line growth to make up for the lack of earnings.

In the last three years EPH European Property Holdings saw its revenue shrink by 21% per year. That's definitely a weaker result than most pre-profit companies report. On the face of it we'd posit the share price fall of 5% compound, over three years is well justified by the fundamental deterioration. It would probably be worth asking whether the company can fund itself to profitability. Of course, it is possible for businesses to bounce back from a revenue drop - but we'd want to see that before getting interested.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

A Different Perspective

Investors in EPH European Property Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 2.3%, against a market gain of about 5.3%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 2% over the last half decade. 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 instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for EPH European Property Holdings that you should be aware of.

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We will like EPH European Property Holdings better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of undervalued stocks (mostly small caps) with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Swiss exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The Biju Janata Dal's reliance on 77-year-old Naveen Patnaik in Odisha presents a significant opening for the BJP. Amidst the fervor of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections, BJP leaders have stirred a fresh political discourse, questioning Patnaik's 24-year tenure, his age, health, activism, and potential successors.

In Odisha, voting is underway for both the 147 assembly seats and 21 Lok Sabha seats simultaneously. Naveen Patnaik's personal charisma stands as a major asset for BJD amidst the extensive elections spanning four phases between May 13 and June 1. His bid for a historic sixth term as Chief Minister looms large. However, the looming question remains: who will succeed Patnaik? By introducing this uncertainty, the BJP has injected a new dynamic into Odisha's political landscape.

VK Pandian's Non-Oriya Background Poses A Significant Challenge For BJD's Continuity

In response to such uncertainties, citizens in markets like Kadligarh in Sambalpur district express support for Naveen Babu but are uncertain about his successor. When asked about his longtime associate VK Pandian, concerns arise due to his non-Oriya background. These responses underscore Odisha's current political trajectory and future challenges. Both the ruling BJD, under Naveen Patnaik's 24-year stewardship, and the opposition BJP must confront this reality.

BJP Struggles to Present a Viable Alternative to Naveen Patnaik

Meanwhile, the BJP, having entered the campaign arena late after failed alliance talks with BJD, struggles to identify a figure in Odisha who can credibly challenge Naveen Patnaik's dominance. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three visits to the state since the election announcement, the party has yet to showcase a clear leader or leadership group in Odisha.

Patnaik Government's Policies Mirror Modi Government's Approach

Similar to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Naveen Patnaik's administration in Odisha has maintained a strong hold on the women's vote bank through empowerment and welfare initiatives. Significant budget allocations have been directed towards healthcare, education, self-reliance, and justice. At the BJD's silver jubilee celebrations in December 2022, Patnaik emphasized that the party's longevity hinges on prioritizing women's empowerment.

BJD's Commitment To Women's Empowerment and Representation

During the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014, BJD MPs rallied support from other political factions for the Women's Reservation Bill. The party has continued this momentum by fielding 33 percent women candidates in both the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Patnaik's personal appeal remains a potent political asset, bolstered by his anti-corruption stance.

Naveen Patnaik's Embrace Of Oriya Identity And Aspiration

In response to BJP's challenges, Naveen Patnaik has championed Odia aspirations and identity. Despite his accidental entry into politics, Patnaik, educated at Doon School and St. Stephen's College, Delhi, acknowledges Odisha's unique linguistic heritage as the first linguistically defined state. Unlike many regional leaders, Patnaik has refrained from expanding his party beyond state borders.
KOLKATA: Senior BJP leader and its Jhargram candidate Pranat Tudu on Saturday claimed his convoy was attacked in Garbeta area of West Midnapore district, following which security personnel escorting him were injured and had to be hospitalised. The incident took place when Tudu was on his way to Garbeta in the wake of complaints that BJP agents were not allowed inside some polling booths.

Mamata Banerjee is murdering democracy in Bengal. Now, TMC goons attack BJPs Jhargram (a Tribal seat) candidate and ABP Anandas crew. Despite attempts to preclude people from casting vote, West Bengal has one of the highest voter turnout across the country. People are voting to pic.twitter.com/ZMdTPhxiYw May 25, 2024

Several others were also injured in the incident, BJP candidate Pranat Tudu was attacked by miscreants when he was visiting booth number 200 in Monglapota.

#WATCH | West Bengal | Several others were also injured in the incident where BJP candidate from Jhargram Lok Sabha seat, Pranat Tudu was attacked allegedly by miscreants when he was visiting booth number 200 in Monglapota in the parliamentary constituency today. pic.twitter.com/MYNiayU8gW May 25, 2024

All of a sudden, TMC goons who had blocked the roads started hurling bricks at my car. When my security personnel tried to intervene, they were injured. Two CISF jawans accompanying me received head injuries and had to be hospitalised, Tudu said. A large police contingent was rushed to the area to control the situation.

The local TMC leadership denied the allegations and accused Tudu of trying to vitiate the peaceful polling process. The BJP nominee was threatening voters. The villagers got enraged and staged a protest, a local TMC leader said. Vehicles belonging to various media houses were reportedly vandalised by the mob as well.
Baby care solutions company Cugo has launched eco-friendly baby wipes, a company said in a press release on Friday. Cugo aims to provide diverse range of high-quality baby essentials that prioritize both comfort and environmental responsibility, the release added further.



"The newly introduced baby wipes embody this commitment by combining gentle cleansing with eco-friendly materials and thoughtful design. Crafted with 99.9% water, Cugo's baby wipes offer a pure and safe cleansing experience for babies' delicate skin," the release claimed further.

The wipes are also made from 100% biodegradable plant-based materials, ensuring they are not only gentle on baby's skin but also on the environment.

"We are thrilled to introduce our revolutionary baby wipes, which represent a significant step forward in our mission to provide holistic and sustainable baby care solutions," said Mrs. Sakshi Aaryav Gupta, Co-Founder of Cugo. "With our commitment to using organic and biodegradable materials, parents can trust that they are making a responsible choice for their baby's well-being and the planet."

Enriched with natural aloe extract, Cugo's baby wipes soothe and nourish baby's skin, leaving it feeling soft and hydrated after each use. Dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic, these wipes are gentle and safe for sensitive skin, ensuring maximum comfort and protection for little ones.
New Delhi: Google celebrated the sixth phase of Indias Lok Sabha elections with a special Doodle on saturday. This phase covers 58 constituencies across six states and two union territories. Google has been featuring similar Doodles for each phase of the general elections so far.

The Google Doodle today showcases an uplifted index finger marked with ink which is a well-known symbol of voting in India. This indelible ink represents the democratic process in the country. When you click on the Doodle it will take you to search results with the lates update about Indias 18th general elections. (Also Read: Warning For Google Chrome Users! CERT-In Identifies Vulnerabilities In Chrome And Siemens Products)

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 phase 6

In the sixth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections about 11.13 crore eligible voters will cast their ballots. According to the Election Commission of India voting will take place in nearly 1.14 lakh polling stations across 58. This includes 5.84 crore men, 5.29 crore women and 5,120 third gender voters. (Also Read: Vivo S19, Vivo S19 Pro Launch Date Confirmed, Likely To Come With AI Enhancements And Autofocus Functionality; Check Expected Specs)

Key Candidates in Phase 6

Some of the key candidates in this phase include BJPs Manohar Lal Khattar from Karnal, BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj from New Delhi, BJPs Manoj Tiwari and Congress Kanhaiya Kumar from North East Delhi, BJPs Naveen Jindal from Kurukshetra, and Congress Raj Babbar from Gurgaon, among others.

Who is voting in the sixth phase?

In the sixth phase, voters from various regions will be participating. Besides Delhi and Haryana fourteen seats in Uttar Pradesh, eight seats in Bihar and West Bengal, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Jharkhand, and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir will be going to the polls today. Further, 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha will also vote alongside the Lok Sabha elections. The results will be announced on June 4.
Share prices of British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) have fallen roughly 55% since hitting a high-water mark in 2017. The dividend yield is now an incredibly high 9.4%. If you're a dividend investor, is now the time to jump in?

The answer isn't an easy one.

Why is British American Tobacco stock falling?

Whenever a stock sees dramatic price drops the first question investors should ask is, "Why?" The answer is pretty simple with British American Tobacco. The company is one of the largest makers of cigarettes on Earth, with a globally diversified tobacco business. Cigarette volumes have been in decline for years.

Image source: Getty Images.

To put a number on that, the company made 700 billion cigarettes in 2018. But by 2023, that number had fallen to 555 billion. Do the math and you see the company's volume fell by a whopping 21% in five years. That alone is a frightening figure.

But it gets worse.

In 2023 British American Tobacco changed the way it accounted for its U.S. brands, which include Camel and Lucky Strike. Formerly it treated the brands as if they would exist forever, but it now assumes they will become worthless in roughly 30 years. While this is a bit of an arcane accounting issue, the big takeaway is that British American Tobacco is admitting that its U.S. cigarette business is in terminal decline.

Given that backdrop, it should be pretty clear why the stock price of this consumer staples company has fallen so hard. If you're a conservative investor, you should probably avoid the shares.

BTI Chart

The good news at British American Tobacco

However, not all of the news is bad and that might interest more aggressive investors. British American Tobacco, like its peers, has been able to push through price increases to offset the impact of the volume declines. That has allowed it to keep supporting its dividend in the face of distressing industry conditions. It seems likely that this tactic will remain effective for at least a little while longer.

But this isn't all that British American Tobacco is doing. The company has been working to find alternative tobacco and nicotine products to replace its declining cigarette operation. At present that business accounts for around 16.5% of the top line. The goal is to get that to 50% by 2035. The early success has been pretty strong.

Perhaps the most notable win, however, happened in 2023. The company's so-called "new categories" division was profitable at the division level. That was achieved a full two years ahead of management's expectations. But the really big takeaway is that this isn't a case of throwing money at a business in the hope that it will succeed. It is succeeding.

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For more aggressive investors willing to bet that British American Tobacco can transition its business away from cigarettes, the stock's steep price decline and high yield could be very attractive.

Is now the time to buy British American Tobacco stock?

As noted, buying British American Tobacco if you're a conservative investor probably won't be a great fit. It's not a sleep-well-at-night stock given the material headwinds it faces in its most important business. But if you're an aggressive investor, well, the success it has achieved in the new categories segment of the business might be enough to entice you into the stock. Just go in knowing that the risk is high and that the declining cigarette business is still the dominant force. You'll need to watch British American Tobacco like a hawk if you buy it.

Should you invest $1,000 in British American Tobacco right now?

Before you buy stock in British American Tobacco, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and British American Tobacco wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

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Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends British American Tobacco P.l.c. and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $40 calls on British American Tobacco and short January 2026 $40 puts on British American Tobacco. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

With Shares Trading Down 55%, Is Now the Time to Buy This High-Yield Tobacco Stock? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Southeastern Grocers Inc., the parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, launched its 7th annual community donation program in support of Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled military members.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

From now until June 18, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers can pay tribute to U.S. military heroes while shopping at their local stores by donating $1 or $5 or rounding up their grocery bill to the nearest dollar at checkout.

In observance of Memorial Day, SEG and the SEG Gives Foundation will match all customer donations made May 24 through 27. This matching program ensures every generous cent contributed will have double the impact, helping provide scholarships to the families who have sacrificed so much.

Anthony Hucker, President and CEO for Southeastern Grocers, said, Our military communities embody incredible strength and resilience, and this cause is close to our hearts, especially here in the Southeast, where so many of our service members call home. Our annual community donation program is our way of standing with the families who have endured great sacrifice for our country, providing them with the support and recognition they deserve. Together, we can make a profound difference in the lives of these courageous families and honor the memory of their loved ones.

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Since the beginning of its partnership in 2018, SEG has donated more than $7.5 million to Folds of Honor with the help of its generous customers, associates and foundation. The funds have provided more than 1,500 educational scholarships for the children and spouses of fallen and disabled U.S. military service members.

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, CEO and Founder of Folds of Honor, said, The folded flag is a constant reminder of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. At Folds of Honor, our mission to equip and educate the ones they left behind wouldnt be possible without patriotic companies like Southeastern Grocers. Were thankful for the brave service members who answered the call to duty; and for our partners who continue to show up and embrace their call to give back.

Read: JFRD puts out fire at Bartram Park apartment complex

All funds raised during SEGs community donation program go directly to Folds of Honor in support of its mission: honoring the sacrifice of U.S. military heroes by providing life-changing scholarships to their loved ones. Scholarships awarded through Folds of Honor provide private education tuition and tutoring for children in grades K-12, as well as tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a masters degree, doctorate or professional program.

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Folds of Honor has provided more than 52,000 educational scholarships for families of fallen and disabled military service members since 2007.

During the month of May, SEG associates will commemorate veterans by planting flags at Florida National Cemetery (Bushnell), Jacksonville National Cemetery, Sarasota National Cemetery and Louisiana Veterans Memorial Park (Baton Rouge). SEG is also honoring its own associates who have served by providing them with American flag pins, allowing others to easily recognize and thank them for their service.

Read: Hot, humid Memorial Day Weekend in full swing, possibility for late-day storms

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Key Insights

The projected fair value for Spark New Zealand is NZ$7.10 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of NZ$4.19 suggests Spark New Zealand is potentially 41% undervalued

Our fair value estimate is 42% higher than Spark New Zealand's analyst price target of NZ$4.98

How far off is Spark New Zealand Limited (NZSE:SPK) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Spark New Zealand

Is Spark New Zealand Fairly Valued?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) NZ$377.4m NZ$448.6m NZ$476.2m NZ$474.5m NZ$519.0m NZ$539.0m NZ$557.9m NZ$576.0m NZ$593.8m NZ$611.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 3.86% Est @ 3.50% Est @ 3.25% Est @ 3.08% Est @ 2.96% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.4% NZ$355 NZ$397 NZ$396 NZ$371 NZ$381 NZ$373 NZ$363 NZ$352 NZ$341 NZ$330

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$3.7b

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.7%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.4%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = NZ$611m (1 + 2.7%)  (6.4% 2.7%) = NZ$17b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$17b ( 1 + 6.4%)10= NZ$9.2b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is NZ$13b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of NZ$4.2, the company appears quite undervalued at a 41% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Spark New Zealand as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Spark New Zealand

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Telecom market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by earnings and cashflows.

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the New Zealander market.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Spark New Zealand, there are three further elements you should further research:

Risks: Be aware that Spark New Zealand is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those is potentially serious... Future Earnings: How does SPK's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NZSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has yet to set a date for a special session, despite plans to announce a date this week. The Governor previously stated that shed be working with lawmakers to find a date that works best.

Kelly is calling lawmakers back to the statehouse, after vetoing a bipartisan tax plan that would move the state to a two-tier tax system. It came after House Democrats defied the Governor last month, making a bold move to go against another bipartisan plan that wouldve maintained the states three-tier system.

Several tax cut proposals were floated this session, as Republicans initially pushed for a flat tax package. The Governor followed through with her promise to strike that down, but lawmakers have been at odds over which package would be the most sustainable since. The debate is largely focused on the income tax portion of the package.

Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins spoke with Nexstars Kansas Capitol Bureau in an interview Wednesday, indicating that theres hope for crafting a new deal.

What those exact rates are is going to be the difference because if weve got to hit a certain number to be able to get the governors signature, those rates are going to have to change a little bit, Hawkins 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 KSNT 27 News.
THG

THG has become embroiled in a bitter High Court legal dispute with a former Australian business partner over claims of unpaid bills.

Manchester-based THG turned to the courts last September to pursue alleged unpaid invoices worth 1.4m owed by Queensland-based Nutrition Depot.

Nutrition Depot had been THGs exclusive distributor of MyProtein products in China and Macau. THG argued Nutrition Depot had breached its distribution agreement by not settling the invoices.

However, Nutrition Depot has claimed it did not receive the goods in question and has accused THG of complicity in an alleged Chinese tax fraud scheme.

THG has said the accusations were incoherent, inadequately particularised and, in places, nonsensical.

In a defence submitted to the Commercial Court, Nutrition Depot claimed that the London-listed company was aware of a plot by a group of Chinese companies to avoid customs import duty and sales tax.

Nutrition Depot said it had an agreement to supply 10 Chinese businesses it refers to in court documents at the Dalian Group.

However, the Australian company claimed that one of THGs marketing team had worked in conjunction with the Chinese companies to order overseas goods in small quantities and in multiple batches using special order codes that he provided to the Dalian group.

The arrangement was allegedly to avoid taxes on the imports. Parcels being shipped directly to individuals worth less than 300 yuan (33) are exempt from duties and taxes, though in some cases this this rises to 500 yuan.

Nutrition Depot claimed the Chinese companies then resold the protein, alleging that THG benefited from increased sales because of the arrangement. It claimed THG senior managers were made aware of the situation.

THG has since issued a legal response, in which it denied any involvement in a scheme and breach of UK data rules. It said it was not aware that any goods so ordered were for resale in avoidance of Chinese customs and taxes (if that was the case) and denied partnering with the group of Chinese companies.

THG said it had not been contacted by Chinese authorities on this matter, with the allegations against its marketing employee viewed as an attempt to discredit a witness in the case.

A spokesman for the company said: THG is the claimant in this action, which we launched as a last resort to recover unpaid debts. We are extremely confident in our position and the claims made by Nutrition Depot are entirely without merit.

The dispute comes as the Manchester business starts to show signs of progress in turnaround efforts, revealing in April that it had almost halved its losses over the past year.

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THG, which also owns brands such as Cult Beauty and Lookfantastic, has however struggled to shrug off pressure from shareholders. Last week, activist investor Kelso said it was planning to vote against THGs chairman at its annual meeting.

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Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. So we wouldn't blame long term WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 44% over a half decade. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 28% in the last year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 15% in the last three months.

With the stock having lost 6.9% in the past week, it's worth taking a look at business performance and seeing if there's any red flags.

Check out our latest analysis for WH Smith

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During five years of share price growth, WH Smith moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time.

Revenue is actually up 8.4% over the time period. A more detailed examination of the revenue and earnings may or may not explain why the share price languishes; there could be an opportunity.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

WH Smith is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. You can see what analysts are predicting for WH Smith in this interactive graph of future profit estimates.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for WH Smith the TSR over the last 5 years was -41%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 12% in the last year, WH Smith shareholders lost 26% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 7% over the last half decade. 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. Even so, be aware that WH Smith is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about...

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If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British 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.
Key Insights

LGI's significant private companies ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public

53% of the business is held by the top 4 shareholders

Insiders have been selling lately

If you want to know who really controls LGI Limited (ASX:LGI), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 37% stake, private companies possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

And individual insiders on the other hand have a 26% ownership in the company. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about LGI.

View our latest analysis for LGI

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About LGI?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that LGI does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see LGI's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in LGI. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Blakin Technologies Pty Ltd with 20% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 15% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 10% by the third-largest shareholder.

Our research also brought to light the fact that roughly 53% of the company is controlled by the top 4 shareholders suggesting that these owners wield significant influence on the business.

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.

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Insider Ownership Of LGI

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in LGI Limited. Insiders have a AU$67m stake in this AU$263m business. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 24% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over LGI. 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

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 37%, of the company's shares. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for LGI (of which 1 is a bit concerning!) you should know about.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Standex International Corporation (NYSE:SXI), is not the largest company out there, but it received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the NYSE over the last few months, increasing to US$183 at one point, and dropping to the lows of US$161. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Standex International's current trading price of US$169 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Standex Internationals outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

See our latest analysis for Standex International

Is Standex International Still Cheap?

According to our price multiple model, where we compare the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average, the stock currently looks expensive. In this instance, weve used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stocks cash flows. We find that Standex Internationals ratio of 27.07x is above its peer average of 22.01x, which suggests the stock is trading at a higher price compared to the Machinery industry. But, is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Given that Standex Internationals share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

Can we expect growth from Standex International?

Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Standex International's earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 40%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? SXIs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above industry price multiples. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question  should I sell? If you believe SXI should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards the industry PE ratio can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on SXI for some time, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its industry peers, which means it is likely that there is no more upside from mispricing. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for SXI, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Standex International you should know about.

If you are no longer interested in Standex International, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

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.
China-Zimbabwe cultural exchange event held to mark Africa Day

Xinhua) 10:45, May 25, 2024

The Confucius Institute choir at the University of Zimbabwe sings a Chinese song during a China-Zimbabwe cultural exchange event in Goromonzi, a rural community in the East Mashonaland Province, Zimbabwe, on May 23, 2024. Chinese firm Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), together with the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, held a cultural exchange event Thursday to mark Africa Day, which is commemorated annually on May 25. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara)

GOROMONZI, Zimbabwe, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese firm Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), together with the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, held a cultural exchange event Thursday to mark Africa Day, which is commemorated annually on May 25.

Guests were feted with various cultural performances from China and Zimbabwe, including Chinese martial arts, Zimbabwean traditional dance, music, and poetry, at the event in a school in Goromonzi, a rural community in the East Mashonaland Province.

Traditional leadership, local government representatives, Chinese and local PLZ staff, and local school children attended the event.

Sheila Zvakurumbira, acting district development officer in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, welcomed Chinese guests to the cultural exchange event, which showcased Zimbabwe's diverse cultural heritage.

"Today we were doing cultural exchange programs with the Chinese, and it is of paramount importance because it has strengthened the relationship between the Chinese and the Zimbabweans," she told Xinhua.

Zimbabweans are keen to learn Chinese culture and share key aspects of the local cultural heritage with their Chinese friends, Zvakurumbira said.

David Nkanka, a student from the University of Zimbabwe, said the event is a testament to the cordial Zimbabwe-China relations.

"Unity is a very important aspect, and through these performances, we have seen unity being enhanced between China and Zimbabwe," Nkanka told Xinhua.

School children had an opportunity to experience Chinese calligraphy, painting, and tea at the cultural event.

"Today was my first time drinking Chinese tea," said 16-year-old Belle Enesi, a high school student. "It was tasteful, and I was happy because that was the first time in my life."

Africa Day, a public holiday in Zimbabwe, is observed annually to celebrate the achievements of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of the African Union, from its creation on May 25, 1963.

PLZ, a subsidiary of China's Huayou Cobalt, has invested in social development programs in the Goromonzi area.

A girl performs a traditional Zimbabwean dance during a China-Zimbabwe cultural exchange event in Goromonzi, a rural community in the East Mashonaland Province, Zimbabwe, on May 23, 2024. Chinese firm Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), together with the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, held a cultural exchange event Thursday to mark Africa Day, which is commemorated annually on May 25. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara)

People in African attire perform a dance during a China-Zimbabwe cultural exchange event in Goromonzi, a rural community in the East Mashonaland Province, Zimbabwe, on May 23, 2024. Chinese firm Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), together with the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, held a cultural exchange event Thursday to mark Africa Day, which is commemorated annually on May 25. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara)

People perform a Chinese dance during a China-Zimbabwe cultural exchange event in Goromonzi, a rural community in the East Mashonaland Province, Zimbabwe, on May 23, 2024. Chinese firm Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), together with the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe, held a cultural exchange event Thursday to mark Africa Day, which is commemorated annually on May 25. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
By Nazrin Abdul

During his participation in the High-Level Segment of the "15th Petersburg Climate Dialogue" in Berlin on April 26, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev unveiled a new initiative for the COP during an interview with "Euronews".

This initiative, known as the "troika", involves a partnership model established between the UAE, Azerbaijan, and Brazil, aimed at enhancing cooperation and continuity among past, present, and future COP presidents.

The primary goal of this partnership is to accelerate action on climate change by supporting the "mission 1.5C" and advocating for increased efforts across all key areas of the Paris Agreement.

In his comment to Azernews on the issue, MP Vugar Bayramov, an economist, said that the tripartite mechanism is a very successful model in terms of the efficient organization of COP events, and it is undoubtedly expected that this model will be used by other countries in the future.

"The Trinity approach is a new approach. That is, the United Arab Emirates, which held the COP event last year, is a model of joint cooperation between Azerbaijan and Brazil, which will be held this year and next year. This is a rather serious approach, but also a useful one, as it allows both to learn from the positive experience of the previous year, and at the same time it will allow the overall success and results of COP29 to be continued in a more extended way in Brazil. Therefore, this model - the tripartite mechanism is a very successful model in terms of the efficient organization of COP events, and it is undoubtedly expected that this model will be used by other countries in the next period, and the possibilities of using this model are quite large. Of course, it is expected that other steps will be taken according to the current results of this COP29."

The expert noted that the United Arab Emirates is one of the main investors in the green energy sector of Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates are implementing a large number of green energy production projects. Both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia attract investment. The United Arab Emirates is one of the main investors in the green energy sector of Azerbaijan and provides an opportunity to attract the experience of the Arab Emirates and attract technology innovation, and investment. Therefore, the relations between the two countries are deepening and developing. This, of course, means an opportunity for more useful and effective cooperation within the framework of COP 29."

In recent years, significant investments have been directed towards building and refurbishing energy infrastructure, with a notable surge in interest in alternative energy sectors.

The inauguration of the Garadag Solar Power Station (GES) marks the onset of a new era. As the first station constructed with foreign investment in Azerbaijan, the project is a collaboration with the prestigious "Masdar" company from the United Arab Emirates. Officially opened on October 26, 2023, the 230 MW solar plant stands as the largest in the Caspian region and the CIS, funded by a foreign investment totaling $262 million.

Producing 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, the station is set to save 110 million cubic meters of natural gas and reduce carbon emissions by 200,000 tons, underscoring Azerbaijan's commitment to green energy and its obligations concerning carbon emissions. With aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2050 and establish a "zero emission" zone in liberated territories, Azerbaijan is already taking significant steps in this direction

Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Brazil are flourishing, characterized by growing diplomatic ties and increasing economic collaboration. With both nations actively seeking to expand their energy portfolios, there exists significant potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector. Vugar Bayramov stated that Azerbaijan attaches importance to cooperation with Brazil.

"Brazil is already one of the leading countries in the world. It is a country included in the top twenty. Therefore, Azerbaijan attaches importance to its cooperation with Brazil. In the field of green energy, there is already talk of more exchange of experiences. Because Azerbaijan is interested in both the exchange of experiences and attracting investment. And from this context, of course, cooperation will continue in the direction of the exchange of experience between Brazil and our Azerbaijan."

The tripartite mechanism will not only support the more efficient organization of COP29 and COP events in general, but also, without a doubt, the presentation of Azerbaijan, the attraction of investment, in particular the green energy field, the expert added.

Therefore, this mechanism can be applied as a model in the next COP events, and as a result of which will not only increase the effectiveness of the organization of COP events as a whole but also lead to more projects related to the development of green energy, both globally and regionally.
The former entrance to the Thermo Fisher Scientific loading docks is one of the few reminders of the plant, which has since been demolished. The Two Rivers plant made laboratory equipment and moved some of the work to Mexico.

TWO RIVERS, Wisconsin  Nearly all thats left of a century-old company in this city just north of Manitowoc is a museum and a vacant lot looking onto Lake Michigan. But not long ago, its departure upended hundreds of lives and foreshadowed allegations of a violent drug cartel infiltrating a factory in Mexico.

It was 11 days before Christmas 2011 when Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it would close its downtown Two Rivers plant, known locally as the Hamilton factory because Thermo traced its lineage back to Hamilton Manufacturing Co.

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The timing on that wet, blustery Wednesday was impeccably bad, said City Manager Greg Buckley. About 150 jobs from the plant, which made laboratory furniture, would go to Round Rock, Texas. Work from another Thermo Fisher plant in Two Rivers already had moved to Reynosa, Mexico.

Doubly tough and truly sad, Buckley said, because the citys history was interwoven with Hamilton, and it was for a time one of the areas largest employers. Frustrating, too, for a city and workforce that put forth our best efforts to keep Hamilton manufacturing jobs here. But it was not to be.

A truck passes Thermo Fisher Scientific in Two Rivers in 2011.

Thermo Fisher had signaled the news in advance, and plant closures by other manufacturers had been an all-too-familiar occurrence.

In Reynosa, the company would face allegations that its plant was overrun by an armed drug cartel. On at least one occasion, members of the Gulf Cartel used the facility to take cover from a gun battle, according to a lawsuit filed against Thermo Fisher in federal court in California.

Cartel members known as hawks maintained a daily presence outside the main gate, even taking comfort in the air conditioned security booth, the suit alleged.

The presence of the cartel was widespread and pervasive, it noted.

Drug cartels intimidate plant employees

Reynosa is a border city in northern Mexico across the Rio Grande from McAllen, Texas. Its a major industrial center known for medical tourism  where people seek treatments unavailable or cheaper than at home  in a region that includes the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, and isn't far from the beaches of Tampico.

Thermo Fishers plant employed more than 1,000 people, according to court documents.

The move from Two Rivers was called Project Cierra, the documents noted, which translated from Spanish meant to close.

In 2012, Thermo Fisher sold the Reynosa plant as part of a larger deal with OpenGate Capital, a Los Angeles private equity firm.

In a lawsuit, OpenGate later claimed that Thermo Fisher acted in bad faith by not revealing the drug cartel activity and engaging in painstaking efforts to conceal it prior to the sale.

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On one occasion, the lawsuit noted, armed militants entered the plants cafeteria, after being followed into the plant by opposing cartel members or soldiers, and stayed for at least an hour.

OpenGate said cartel members brandished weapons to frighten the plants employees and left tractor-trailers filled with unknown cargo in the parking lot.

The lawsuit was dismissed in 2016.

But in 2017, OpenGate was sued for allegedly doing the same things it accused Thermo Fisher of: concealing cartel activity to the plants next buyer, Finsa Portafolios, a Mexican real estate firm.

OpenGate perpetuated the same fraud on FINSA that it was in the midst of prosecuting against Thermo Fisher, Finsa said in its lawsuit.

Finsa claimed the plant was overrun by then-fugitive Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans Sinaloa cartel.

On a daily basis, at all hours of the day, the Reynosa facility was infiltrated by senior local leaders of the drug cartel, its lawsuit claimed. On an ongoing basis, El Chapos armed soldiers terrorized the employees at the Reynosa facility and treated the facility as their own private refuge from rival cartels and law enforcement. El Chapo himself maintained a personal residence behind the Reynosa facility.

OpenGate did not respond to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calls and emails. In Wisconsin, the company was known for its closing of the Golden Guernsey dairy plant in Waukesha, in 2013, and for moving work from Hufcor Manufacturing in Janesville to Mexico in 2021.

More: Graphics show the avalanche of guns from US to Mexico

Businesses, civic groups, even a band benefited from the company's presence

Founded as J.E. Hamilton Holly Wood Type Company in 1880, and closing as Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2013 with some other names in between, the Two Rivers operation at its peak employed around 3,000 people.

Hamilton began as a producer of wood type back in the day when most publications were printed on a letterpress. The company never actually printed materials, but the small wooden blocks it created for presses printed the nations newspaper headlines as far back as the Spanish-American War.

Eventually the company's product line expanded to include laboratory furniture, cabinets, drafting tables, and the first gas-powered clothes dryer. Its downtown operation was a multistory complex of more than 50 buildings, one of which spanned a city street. Cars drove through a tunnel under the building.

Wood type on display at the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum in Two Rivers.

Downtown businesses, civic groups, and even a Hamilton Band founded in 1920, all benefited from the companys presence. Years ago the downtown had several dozen businesses, including the Hamilton Hotel, Montgomery Ward, JC Penney, and Kresge department stores.

Thermo Fisher did not respond to questions for this article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Greg Coenen, who was the manager of Local 1533 of the Carpenters & Joiners of America, said the union offered to buy the Two Rivers operation before it was shut down. The company, he said, refused to sell.

Greg Coenen, who was manager of the union local that represented many of the Thermo Fisher Scientific plant workers when it closed in 2011, stands near one of the few reminders of the demolished plant in Two Rivers.

When we brought it up, they said that aint for sale, end of conversation, he recalled.

The union wouldnt help the company establish its Mexican operations.

I wasnt going to let any worker that we trained become part of a move that stole the livelihoods of 800 people, Coenen said.

Plant employees got a fair severance package, according to Coenen. Some returned to school under a state dislocated workers program and some retired. Most stayed in the area.

Thermo Fisher checked all the boxes for exiting the community properly, Coenen said.

They walked away, and it was bad, but we got $4.6 million in severance pay, he said.

Coenen started work at the plant the day he graduated from high school in 1978, logging a 10-hour shift before going to his graduation ceremony that evening.

His father and grandfather were employed there as well.

Nobody overworked themselves, but it was a fair days work for a fair days wage. It wasnt a bad place, Coenen said.

A truck is parked outside Thermo Fisher Scientific is shown in 2011 in Two Rivers, Wis. The company moved its manufacturing to Texas and Mexico

The end of an era in Two Rivers

On Sunday, May 31, 2015, the last remnant of Hamilton Manufacturing Co. in Two Rivers came tumbling down.

The 233-foot brick smokestack with still-vibrant white HAMILTON MFG CO lettering was demolished with dynamite as a crowd of former employees and others watched and reflected upon the company that for generations had called the city of 11,000 home.

Five minutes before the explosion, a horn blew once. Then immediately before the explosion, three times. After the blast, once more to signal all clear.

A crew salvages scrap metal during the demolition of one of the factories at the former Hamilton Manufacturing complex/Thermo Fisher Scientific in Two Rivers, August 26, 2014. A portion of the iconic smokestack can be seen on the right.

Tootsie Sommers, who had worked in Hamiltons headquarters, wanted the stack to remain as a tribute to the company and the thousands of people employed there over the years.

What we thought would be a lasting legacy in the city was totally demolished, she said.

Under Hamilton, the company was an enjoyable place to work, according to Sommers. It was very family oriented. Everybody supported each other, she said.

But when Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher took over, Sommers said, upper management instructed the Two Rivers office to stop using the Hamilton name.

We didnt want to lose the name. Its the legacy of this town, she said.

All that remains is a vacant, polluted property

More than eight years after the Hamilton plant was demolished, clearing out a million square feet of obsolete, deteriorated factory buildings, the 12-acre site remains a grass-covered vacant lot with views of Lake Michigan and the East Twin River.

Across the river is the Rogers Street Fishing Village, home of the Two Rivers commercial fishing fleet, a complex of historic buildings and fishing sheds, and a wooden fishing tug built in 1936.

The former industrial site could be well-suited for business or residential development, but it has soil contamination including trichloroethene, a chemical used as a grease remover or paint solvent.

Geese gather at the site of Thermo Fisher Scientifics since demolished plant in Two Rivers.

More than 40 ground monitoring wells are in place, and this spring, chemical remediation steps are planned to reduce the level of TCEs in the groundwater, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

The City of Two Rivers has a tentative agreement with Thermo Fisher to acquire the site once its suitable for development. But when it will be ready is still unknown.

Its a beautiful piece of property which could play a big role in the continued economic renaissance of the city, Buckley said.

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The Bringing It Home series was created with the support of the Pulitzer Center and the Richard C. Longworth Media Fellowship. The Center champions the power of stories to make complex issues relevant and inspire action. The Longworth Fellowship, which was awarded to reporter Rick Barrett and photojournalist Mark Hoffman, is devoted to bringing global issues to Midwestern readers. Neither the Pulitzer Center nor Longworth played a role in the reporting, editing or presentation of the series.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A drug cartel in Mexico invades a former Wisconsin manufacturer
Saturday

HomeStore open, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 701 E. Dodge St., Fremont. The HomeStore sells donated items at discounted prices. Proceeds support the mission of Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Library Chess Club, 10-11 a.m., Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. The club is open to all grades and skill levels. Anyone with questions may email ImagineFremont@gmail.com.

Woodcliff Lakes Safety Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Woodcliff Lakes, south of Fremont. This community event will include free games, prizes, activities, demonstrations and more. Lunch will be provided.

Alcoholics Anonymous womens heart-to-heart group, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, noon to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Spiritual 12-Step Recovery Program, 7 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous The Lie is Dead meeting, 8 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Sunday

Alcoholics Anonymous Happy Sober Sunday Group, 9 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Uehling Volunteer Rescue Squad Breakfast, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Uehling Auditorium. Biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, pancakes, smokies and pastries will be served. Juice, water and coffee will be provided. Freewill donations will assist the Uehling Volunteer Rescue Squad in purchasing new and improved life-saving equipment as well as continuing education throughout the year to help better serve the community.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Seekers of Serenity meeting, 10:30 a.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Fremont Eagles Club open, noon to 6 p.m., 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday speaker, 7:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Monday

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Lightkeepers Womens Group, 10 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Memorial Day service, 11 a.m., Memorial Veterans Park in front of Sidner Ice Arena, Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Celebrate Recovery, 6:30 p.m., Fremont Church of the Nazarene, 960 Johnson Road.

Concert featuring Claude Bourbon, 7 p.m., Keene Memorial Librarys Community Meeting Room, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. Bourbon is an international jazz and blues guitarist. The concert will last about an hour and is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Fresh Hope Mental Health Support Group, 7 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 meeting, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed two bills into law Friday that overhaul state oversight of the funeral home industry after a series of gruesome discoveries, including 189 discomposing bodies in a facility and families being sent fake ashes.

Cases such as the 189 bodies found in a Return to Nature funeral home location put Colorados lax funeral home regulations  some of the weakest in the nation  in the spotlight and rocked hundreds of already grieving families.

Some families had ceremonially spread ashes that turned out to be fake. Others said they had nightmares about what their loved ones might have looked like in a decayed state.

When grieving the loss of a loved one, the last thing a family should worry about is the trustworthiness and professionalism of those entrusted to care for the person who has passed, Polis said in a statement.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, and Sens. Dylanberts, D-Frisco, and Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs.

The new laws bring Colorado in line with most other states.

One requires regulators to routinely inspect funeral homes and give them more enforcement power. Another implements licensing for funeral directors and other workers in the industry. They would need to pass background checks and a national exam while possessing degrees and work experience.

Previously, funeral home directors in Colorado didnt have to graduate from high school, let alone have a degree.

The funeral home industry was generally on board with the changes though some expressed concern that strict requirements for funeral home directors were unnecessary and would make it difficult to find hirable applicants.

The bill signings follow a rocky year for Colorado funeral homes.

In early October, neighbors noticed a putrid smell coming from a building in the town of Penrose, south of Colorado Springs. Authorities soon found 189 decaying bodies there including adults, infants and fetuses.

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Some were stacked atop each other. Decomposition fluid covered the floors while flies and maggots swarmed.

Almost two dozen bodies dated to 2019 and some 60 more were from 2020. As the bodies were identified, families who had received ashes learned the cremains werent their loved ones.

The mother of a man whose body was found in the Penrose facility said she would keep after Colorado lawmakers to make sure the new laws are implemented stringently.

Im super excited. I think this is a great first step, said Crystina Page, mother of David Jaxon Page, 20, who was killed by police during a mental health crisis in 2019. But I feel like its about four years too late.

The new laws should lead to regulations requiring crematoriums to independently verify the identity of remains, then certify to the state that those remains were cremated, Page said.

Joe Walsh, president of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association said his group had tried for more than a decade to get the state to require professional qualifications and licensing for people who work in the mortuary trade, especially given the states status as the nations laxest.

This is what it took, sadly. On the backs of 200 people, Walsh said. Thats not the way it should be, but thats what its come down to unfortunately.

Walsh said he applauds the new legislation, but whether it achieves what is hoped will depend on how its enforced, and obeyed.

In most states, funeral homes are routinely inspected but no such rules were on the books in Colorado. The owners of the funeral home  Jon and Carrie Hallford  were arrested in November and collectively face hundreds of charges of abusing corpses and other counts.

Just months later, in February, a womans body was found in the back of hearse where a suburban Denver funeral home had left it for over a year. At least 30 sets of cremated remains were found stashed throughout the funeral directors home.

The Gazettes Mackenzie Bodell and Stephanie Earls contributed to this report.
A Colorado Springs man has been arrested and charged on dozens of charges related to mail theft.

The El Paso County Sheriffs Office Investigations Division and Colorado Springs police arrested 40-year-old Adam Christopher Turner on Tuesday.

Turner is accused of multiple felonies related to the year-long mail theft operation. He was booked into the county jail on 25 counts of money laundering, 25 counts of identity theft and two counts of felony theft. He remined in custody as of Friday afternoon on a $150,000 bond.

The mail theft investigation began in Jan. 2023, according to law enforcement.

According to the sheriff's office press release sent out Friday Turner was identified as a suspect based on information provided by a family member of a victim. Detectives were able to link Turner to thefts in El Paso County, affecting the Meridian Ranch and Woodmen Hills neighborhoods in El Paso County, as well as Parker, Colorado.

A search warrant was ordered for Turner's residence and detectives report finding stolen mail, makeshift mailbox keys, narcotics, cash, designer jewelry, luxury timepieces and other stored boxed merchandise. Alongside these items, stolen license plates, vehicle registrations, firearms and hundreds of tools and toolboxes were also found.

It took a rental moving truck, two vans and four tow trucks to transport all of the evidence to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office Evidence Facility, according to the office's press release.

The thorough investigation and successful arrest of Adam Turner for his prolific actions highlight the impact my detectives have on disrupting criminal enterprises. My office continues to hold criminals accountable, creating a safer community for everyone, stated El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal in the press release.
Mikel Burroughs, a retired U.S. Army colonel, is conducting a military operation of a different kind these days.

Oh, there are still plenty of folks in uniform and lots of logistics involved; its just there's no defense-sized budget to back him up.

Yet.

Burroughs, through his nonprofit organization Victory for Veterans  which strives to prevent veteran suicide  is on a mission to ensure that every veteran buried in Denvers Fort Logan National Cemetery, and nine other national cemeteries across the country, is remembered on Memorial Day.

Remembered with a thank you and a single rose placed at the foot of each grave.

We were trying to come up with a self-funding event for our nonprofit and pay honor and respect to those individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice, Burroughs said from his home in Conroe, Texas.

His volunteers are numerous, and his prescribed protocol is simple.

Before a rose is placed on the veterans grave, Burroughs asks that the individual veteran's name be said aloud and thanked for their service to the nation.

Now myself, being a retired colonel, he said, I come to the position of attention, and I salute, and I thank them by name.

Burroughs's initial theater of operation?

Fort Logan.

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With more than 122,000 interments in the 214-acre cemetery, Burroughs began his Flower on Every Grave operation in 2017 with just 500 roses.

Since then, the project has expanded to cemeteries in Texas, Wyoming, North Carolina, and Minnesota.

Our goal is to add two cemeteries every year, Burroughs said, and eventually cover all 155 national cemeteries across the country on Memorial Day.

However, expansion requires funding.

Burroughs, who starts planning for the annual Memorial Day event in early November doesnt mince words when says more financial support is needed.

But he says as much as folks like the project, his biggest challenge has been securing corporate sponsors to help pay for the roses.

We also use it (the FOEG event) as a fundraiser, Burroughs said. Our nonprofits primary mission is to reduce veteran suicides, so for every dollar that's donated for the roses, we keep 50 cents for our mission to provide online peer support for veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma and other invisible wounds.

The remaining 50 cents covers the cost of the flowers.

Last year, Burroughs said with the help of 100 volunteers, including Lakewood Scout Troop 114, approximately 13,000 roses were placed on graves in less than 90 minutes.

This years Flower on Every Grave event begins at 8 a.m. at Fort Logan Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, Colorado.

Burroughs said while he is grateful for all donations but hopes for monthly donors to help sustain the project.

To learn more about Victory for Veterans and the Flower on Every Grave Project, visit www.victoryforveterans.org.
Italy is ready to export advanced agricultural machinery to Azerbaijan, mainly used to reduce the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector, Fabio Ricci, Deputy General Director of the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, Azernews reports.

According to him, 13 companies from Italy arrived in Baku on May 14 to participate in the Azerbaijani-Italian business forum and study the local market.

Ricci emphasized that Italian companies are exploring business opportunities in Azerbaijan.

"The main purpose of our participation in exhibitions held in Azerbaijan was to see the equipment used in the agricultural sector. This will allow us to determine the country's demand for equipment in the future," Ricci said.
A hiker was rescued from a popular Colorado Springs hiking trail Saturday afternoon, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

At 3:48 p.m., fire officials announced on social media that Engine 5, along with El Paso County search and rescue, were in North Cheyenne Canyon assisting an injured hiker on the Seven Falls trail.

Officials said rescue crews were working to, "safely get the patient to the hospital for evaluation," the social media post read.

Additional information regarding the rescue operation and injuries sustained were not immediately available.

This article will be updated once more information is received.
Pueblo Parks and Recreation are inviting the community to join them Saturday for a park dedication ceremony honoring Pueblo native Laura Schwartzenberger.

The dedication will start at noon and go until 2 p.m. at Laura's Park, formerly known as Starlite Park at Surfwood Lane and Starlite Drive. Starlite Park, now to be known as Laura's Park, is being renamed in Schwartzenbergers honor, as she had grown up playing there as a child. The park was updated in February with brand-new playground equipment and new sidewalk pathways.

Schwartzenberger was an FBI agent and was killed in the line of duty in 2021, while serving a search warrant in Florida. She is originally from Pueblo, where she was born and raised on Starlite Drive.

Schwartzenberger kicked started her FBI career in 2005 in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she was and still is the only woman to ever be a part of the New Mexico SWAT team. She then transferred to Miami in 2021 where she worked on the Cargo Theft Task Force and used her diving skills from her high school career as part of the underwater search and recovery team.

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Eventually Schwartzenbergers career took her to the Violent Crimes and Fugitive Task Force. She felt as though she had found her calling in this task force. She was the first female to be part of the FBI SWAT Team and was even part of the first responders team during the Parkland Shooting.

Schwartzenberger received the accolade of Law Enforcement Officer for Federal Agent in 2016 and the Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer in 2016 and 2019.

Special Agent Laura Schwarzenberger and her family will always hold a special place in the hearts of all FBI employees, especially those of us in Denver, Miami and Albuquerque, said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek stated in a news release. Laura's Park in her hometown is a fitting tribute to an FBI agent who had a passion for helping children, and who knew what it meant to treasure time with family."

The dedication on Saturday will consist of Presentation of Colors by a joint Honor Guard, a proclamation read by a Pueblo City Council President Mark Aliff, introduction of Laura's family, FBI presentation and the blessing and ribbon cutting of park. Children will be able to enjoy food and games as part of the ceremony as well.

Pueblo Parks and Recreation is honored to have the opportunity to rename and dedicate Lauras Park in Laura Schwartzenbergers memory, said Director of Pueblo Parks and Recreation Steven Meier in a news release. Laura was a well-loved member of our community and her service to our country as an FBI agent will always be remembered in the neighborhood park, she grew up playing in as a child. Now this space can continue wonderful memories for other children and community members of Pueblo in Lauras honor.
With the world's eyes on Baku for COP29, it's a perfect chance for Armenia and Azerbaijan to finally sign the peace agreement, Elchin Amirbayov, Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on special assignments, said in an interview with NE Global, Azernews reports.

"One of the recent confidence-building measures which were achieved between Armenia and Azerbaijan was this deal which was reached last December (COP28 in Dubai) between the two countries when there was an arrangement on mutual freeing of some detainees and also exchange of diplomatic support to each other," he added.

He noted that Armenia lifted its veto on Azerbaijans bid to host COP29, and in return, Baku agreed to include Armenia in the executive committee for the global climate conference.

"Of course, that was a major breakthrough because it was for the first time that through direct low-level contacts, we were able to get this CBM (Confidence Building Measure) and that also showed that both countries are able to sort out their differences in direct, bilateral contacts without any third-party intervention," he noted.

Amirbayov added that the work on the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan is ongoing.

"We are cautiously optimistic because we believe that it is doable to finalize negotiations to this text before COP29 even. It would give a strong signal also to the outside world that one of the most ancient and longest and tragic conflicts on the European continent in the post-Soviet space is coming to an end so I believe both countries and peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan should be ready for this positive outcome," the official said.
Wisconsin's Lake Mendota continues to reveal its secrets.

And this one is the oldest of them all.

Archaeologists with the Wisconsin Historical Society announced Thursday they have identified up to nine more dugout canoes on the lake's bottom near Shorewood Hills.

The newest batch isn't as intact as the previous two canoes found in 2021 and 2022. But one fragment has been estimated through radiocarbon dating to be 4,500 years old. That would make it the oldest dugout canoe recorded in the Great Lakes Region, dating back to around 2500 BC.

The canoes that were found earlier were estimated to have been 1,200 and 3,000 years old respectively and built by ancestors of the Ho-Chunk Nation. The newest cache of canoes remain on the lake bottom in pieces and aren't planned for removal, but their discovery marks another historic event for the 9,781-acre lake and is more evidence that the site, now submerged by rising lake levels, was home for millennia to an encampment by Native people.

Meanwhile, analysis conducted by the USDA Forest Products Laboratory in Madison reveals that trees used to build the canoes  elm, ash, white oak, cottonwood and red oak  changed over the centuries, signaling "environmental shifts that impacted forest composition," the Historical Society said in its announcement.

It is an honor for our team to work alongside the Native Nations to document, research and share these incredible stories from history, said Amy Rosebrough, state archaeologist for the Historical Society. What we thought at first was an isolated discovery in Lake Mendota has evolved into a significant archaeological site with much to tell us about the people who lived and thrived in this area."

Some of the fragments were discovered when the 3,000-year-old canoe was pulled from the lake in 2022, while others were found on subsequent dives up to last fall, said Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist with the Historical Society and who is credited with finding the first two canoes. While follow-up diving expeditions suggested the presence of additional dugout canoes, archaeologists needed time to consult with tribal partners, analyze findings and document the potentially vulnerable site before publicly releasing details, the Historical Society said.

Archaeologists hypothesize that the canoes may have been intentionally cached in the water to prevent freezing and warping in the winter months and were later buried by natural forces over time. The Lake Mendota canoes are concentrated along roughly 800 feet of what was likely an ancient shoreline but which is now in more than 20 feet of water. Thomsen, who owns a dive shop on University Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin, and has lived for over 20 years in a home built by her grandfather on Lake Mendota's south shore, recovered a small sample from each canoe for carbon dating, wood type analysis and other research.

"Can you imagine the history that has floated by here? It's pretty amazing," Thomsen said as she looked across the lake from her pier toward the canoe site a half mile to the east. "It's a very pleasant place to be and to dive and we enjoy doing it, so I'll keep my eyes open. You never know what the next dive is going to bring."

When Thomsen discovered the second canoe in in May 2022, a fragment from another canoe was found nearby and is being referred to as "canoe three." But when "canoe two" was floated to the surface, another canoe was found underneath it and is being called "canoe four." Any wood nearby that appeared to be worked by hand was brought to the surface and joined canoe two in a trip to the State Archive Preservation Facility on Madison's Near East Side. That's where they were photographed, scanned and then placed in the same vat of purified water and UV sterilization as the 1,200-year-old canoe found in 2021.

It was unclear at the time if the fragments were from other canoes or were parts of canoe two or three, but testing revealed the pieces came from different canoes, Thomsen said.

"It's crazy. You just keep looking and there's more and more and more," Thomsen said. "And as we test them, they have a unique enough profile that they are different."

There's never been a systematic search via diving, but in late 2022 and early 2023, tribal historic preservation officers Bill Quackenbush of the Ho-Chunk Nation and Larry Plucinski of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa joined members of the Historical Society to walk the frozen lake with ground-penetrating radar looking for more potential evidence in the area where the first two canoes were found. The research continued last week when Quackenbush, who focuses on heritage preservation and specializes in GPR technology to research ancestral sites, lashed his own dugout canoe equipped with GPR to Thomsen's boat, which then pulled the canoe back and forth across the lake's surface above the site where the canoes had been found.

The analysis of that work has not yet been completed, but archaeologists have determined that the additional canoes are not physically intact enough to withstand recovery by divers and the process necessary to preserve the canoes.

We are excited to learn all we can from this site using the technology and tools available to us, and to continue to share the enduring stories and ingenuity of our ancestors," Quackenbush said.

The four oldest of the canoes date back to the Late Archaic period between 2,500 and 5,000 years ago when hunters and gatherers lived in seasonal communities. Three are made of elm and were estimated to have been built between 3,700 and 4,500 years ago while the other was the second canoe found in 2022. It was built from an ash tree about 3,000 years ago.

Two of the canoes  one made from cottonwood, the other from white oak  date to the Middle Woodland period from between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago when trade networks were being expanded and early long-term communities were being formed. Up to four canoes date to the Late Woodland period from about 900 to 1,500 years ago and were made of white oak. The most recently built canoe is from the Oneota period from about 800 years ago when permanent farming towns and smaller communities were the norm. It is the only canoe in the cache made of red oak.

While research continues at the Lake Mendota canoe site, the two recovered canoes remain in the Historical Societys archives facility where they are undergoing a preservation process that uses polyethylene glycol to stabilize the wood. The treatment began in February 2024 and is expected to conclude in 2026. Once the PEG application is complete, the canoes will be transported to Texas A&M University to undergo a freeze-drying process that leaves the canoes in a stable, solid structure suitable for public display. That's expected to be in 2027, when the Historical Society's new Wisconsin History Center opens on Capitol Square.

But for now, the largest lake in the Yahara River chain will continue to be studied.

We have a lot to learn from the Mendota canoe site," Plucinski said. "The research happening today allows us to better understand and share the stories of the people who lived here and had a thriving culture here since time immemorial."

Photos: Dugout canoe recovered from Lake Mendota after 1,200 years Dougout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe Dugout canoe
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov had a telephone conversation with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Azernews reports citing the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry

The ministers discussed the current state and prospects of Azerbaijani-German bilateral relations. They also touched upon the current situation in the region and discussed the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Bayramov informed Baerbock in detail about the negotiations that took place on May 10-11 in Almaty with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan.

The sides stressed the importance of the agreements reached between Baku and Yerevan and the confidence-building measures taken in the recent period.
Stockman Bank breaks ground

Stockman Bank held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for its new full-service bank building at 1400 11th Ave.

The new three-floor, state-of-the-art banking facility will include a 24-hour ATM, night depository and multi-lane drive-up. Construction is expected to be complete by late summer 2025.

Were so excited, said Steve Fawcett, Stockman's Helena market president, adding they have outgrown the space where they are now at.

Were excited to grow in Helena, he said.

Stockman Bank now has Helena locations at 3094 N. Sanders St. and 5 W. Lyndale Ave.

Once the new branch is completed, the Lyndale Avenue location will close and the employees will be relocated to the new site, Fawcett said.

Founded in 1953, Stockman Bank is Montanas largest, family-owned, community bank. To learn more visit www.stockmanbank.com.

CEO named at Billings Clinic Broadwater

Justin Tiffany has been named chief executive officer of the Billings Clinic Broadwater in Townsend, it was announced Tuesday.

Tiffany brings experience, local ties and a strong commitment to advancing health care excellence throughout Townsend and Broadwater County, Billings Clinic officials said in a news release.

He has worked at Billings Clinic Broadwater since November 2020, when he joined as director of clinic and ancillary services. In November 2023 he stepped into the role of Interim CEO.

Prior to coming to Townsend, Tiffany spent nearly 15 years with Sanford Health, gaining experience in various roles within quality, data and analytics, and project management. Since joining Billings Clinic Broadwater, he has been instrumental in day-to-day operations while contributing to its growth, stability and strategic planning, including leading the clinic through a major move and expansion in recent years.

He said it was an honor to take on the role of CEO.

This is a pivotal time in health care, and I am excited to keep working with the incredible people here to continue our mission of providing high quality care to our patients and meet the evolving needs of our community, Tiffany said in the news release.

Board Chair Kathy Blair said the CEO search had a number of highly qualified candidates.

She said the board was delighted that Justins experience, character, and passion for rural health care put him in the top spot.

State chamber celebrates tourism, film

In recognition of tourism as one of the states leading industries, the Montana Chamber of Commerce celebrated National Travel & Tourism Week (May 19-25) at the second annual Convergence event at the 1923 Dutton Ranch, The Hotel Finlen and The Butte Depot.

In 2023, nearly 12.6 million nonresident visitors came to the Treasure State, spending $5.45 billion. This supported 48,340 jobs and generated $414 million in state and local taxes, the chamber said in a news release.

The Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research at the University of Montana noted a 14% increase in visitor spending from the previous year, with the majority of this spending directed toward gas, restaurants, bars, accommodations and outfitter services.

This surge in tourism not only sustains jobs but also delivers direct compensation, totaling $1.5 million for Montana employees. The outdoor recreation industry contributes 4.3% to the state's GDP, positioning Montana third in the nation for GDP contribution from outdoor activities.

In recent years, film and media manufacturing have proven to be important new drivers in the Montana economy. Highlighting this, the Convergence event featured a visit to the private property film location of the Dutton Ranch, known from the "1923" prequel of the "Yellowstone" series.

Attendees heard from the Montana Film Office staff and community leaders about the significant role the MEDIA (Montana Economic Development Industry Advancement) film tax credit played in making Montana an attractive film destination. This initiative has not only drawn major productions to the state but also created jobs and provided training and education for a homegrown workforce.

More than 100 tourism, film, outdoor recreation and community development leaders from across Montana reviewed the impact of Senate Bill 540 on the tourism sector, the importance of the MEDIA film tax credit and policy initiatives for the 2025 Legislature to expand it.
An event was held in the Heydar Aliyev Center on the occasion of the national holiday of Georgia - Independence Day.

Azernews reports, citing the Press and Public Relations Department of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, that the Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova also participated in the event.

The event was opened by Zurab Pataradze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to our country.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova conveyed sincere congratulations and best wishes of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Independence Day of Georgia, a friend and brother.

The Speaker said in his speech that there are many similarities in the historical destinies of the Georgian and Azerbaijani peoples. At the beginning of the last century, we declared our state independence at about the same time. The democratic republic established in Georgia at that time played an exceptional role in the development of the statehood traditions of the Georgian people.

The chairman of the Milli Majlis drew attention to the fact that today's independent Georgia is successfully continuing the work that was not completed at the beginning of the twentieth century and is developing with confidence. A well-thought-out policy is being implemented in the direction of the country's socio-economic progress, improving the welfare of the people and securing their future.

The Chairman of the Milli Majlis emphasized that the works carried out in the field of education, science and culture, especially the numerous projects implemented in Georgia by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation under the leadership of the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, allow our peoples to get to know each other more closely.

He emphasized that the current relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are a clear example of how important and useful close cooperation between the countries of the region is. Our friendship and partnership, built on solid foundations, will develop even more rapidly in the coming years and serve the progress of our nations.
Cold Stone Creamery opens

A national ice cream chain has opened in the WoodMound Shopping Center in Decatur.

Cold Stone Creamery, located at 3727 N. Woodford St., began serving its homemade ice cream this week.

Co-owner Ned Qattoum said the ice cream shop is the first of many planned additions in the works for the strip mall.

Were just glad to finally bring it here and please all the customers, he said.

Cold Stone Creamerys hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturdays hours will be extended during the summer, but will also open at 11 a.m.

According to the owner, the ice cream and treats are made fresh daily.

We actually make the ice cream in the back, Qattoum said. It doesnt come prepared.

The customer has a choice of approximately 12 ice cream flavors before they choose the dry ingredients they want mixed in. The company offers about 18 signature creations, such as Cake Batter, Batter, Batter and One Smart Brookie.

It also has shakes, smoothies, cakes and packaged selections to take home.

The shopping center has had a few updates recently, including outdoor seating and landscaping. We just wanted to brighten up that area and get everything real nice, Qattoum said.

One of the first additions to the center was the In & Out store with convenience items. Plans for more businesses include clothing stores and more restaurants.

Thankfully all of those units are filling up and a lot of new tenants are going to open up soon, Qattoum said.

SugaFix Designer Dessert Studio makes a move

The owner of SugaFix Designer Dessert Studio understands her customers are getting anxious for the designer cupcakes and cakes.

We cannot wait to open up and let them get these over-the-top cupcakes, said Meesha Fields. But were almost ready.

The cupcake decorating business will be opening soon in its new location at 2950 N. Water St. Ste. 310, Decatur. Fields opened SugaFix in downtown Decatur two years ago. The former location no longer met the owners original design ideas, so she began moving operations March 30.

I wanted it to be a more interactive experience, versus things being so transactional, Fields said. We got away from our original mission.

The business was created to encourage families, friends, businesses and other groups to design their own cupcakes in an organized space. This is more intimate, Fields said about the new location. It allows us to interact with people more, but it also allows us to dedicate ourselves to what we really love, which is custom cakes and classes.

Customer orders are still available. The restaurant will be open in a few weeks offering original cupcakes and milkshakes. The hours will be from noon to 3 p.m. on select days. The business is also open by appointment.

The Decatur Public Schools have distributed vouchers allowing students to participate in the SugaFix camps.

The businesss main focus will continue to be to provide an experience of decorating a cupcake. Eventually it will be a true interactive space, Fields said. Your cake may be a disaster, but you had so much fun doing it.

Registration for classes and camps are available on the SugaFix website.

Ovations offers transport to medical appointments

Kenneth White started Ovations Transportation Services after witnessing firsthand the challenges people face getting to and from medical appointments and trips to the hospital.

He has memories of sitting in the emergency room with his mother watching the people who had been dropped off or brought there by ambulance as they struggle to find a way home. And he was on the other end of the phone when his mother, not wanting to bother her busy children, had sought alternative transportation only to become one of those stranded.

Were trying to do our part, White said of the ambulatory transport business, which started in Decatur less than a year ago.

White said his drivers and five-vehicle fleet provide transportation to locations within a 150-mile radius of Macon County, although trips to Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis can be scheduled.

He said he chose the name Ovations to reflect the level of professionalism and quality he wants to bring to his customers with the uniformed staff and ultra-clean vehicles.

Were on the brink of being a limousine service, he said with pride.

White said the service currently has about 35 bookings per week, which he expects to climb to 60 in the very near future.

White is looking to bring more staff and vehicles into the fold as he works to establish more partnerships with the local health and senior living providers and the city of Decatur.

Services are provided by appointment from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Appointments can be made at ovationstransportation.com or by calling 217-330-7180.

Those same contacts can be used by those interested in becoming an Ovations driver.

11 memorable Decatur companies that are no longer with us General Electric Block & Kuhl Goldblatt's Linn & Scruggs Borg-Warner Corp. Marvel-Schebler Decatur Brewing Co. Houdaille-Hershey Kelly Food Products Bridgestone/Firestone Decatur Signal Depot
Many of my relatives here in Newton and Catawba County were relocating to the bigger cities along the Eastern Seaboard where defense work could be found at the coastal ports.

My family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, after my father found work at their big shipyard as a welder on the battleships. My mothers older sister, Maggie, and her family were already living in Charleston, South Carolina, and it was not long after the war began that my grandmother Buchanan and several of my aunts and uncles moved there also.

POW camp near Charleston

As World War II progressed, two prisoner of war (POW) camps were built on the outskirts of Charleston. Im not sure why you dont hear much about these camps in our history books. The facility holding the Italian prisoners of war was located on Highway 17 south of Charleston, otherwise known as the Savannah Highway. It was located very near where my Aunt Maggie and Uncle Horace Morris lived. The other camp held the German POWs and was located on Highway 61 along the Ashley River Road.

It is important to understand that the Italian prisoners were given preferential treatment over the Germans, the reason being that most of the Italian prisoners had been fighting in a war that most wanted nothing to do with. Many were fighting against their will and held no respect for the Fascist leader Benito Mussolini.

Most of the Italians were model prisoners and were released to go out in work details to area farms, orchards, etc., wherever their help might be needed. The treatment of the Germans was an entirely different matter. They were the real enemy and were guarded closely at their camp, receiving no privileges.

As I mentioned before, my aunt and uncle lived on the Savannah Highway, just south from the Italian prison camp. A Shoneys Restaurant is now located on the site where their house was located. Next door to their property was a large pecan orchard.

As it happened, some of the Italian prisoners were sent to that orchard on work-release orders. One could not help but feel compassion for those young men who were so far away from their homeland, their mothers and fathers, their families.

Looking back, it must have been comforting to the young men to be trusted enough to have contact with the local people in Charleston, limited as it was. You know they must have been frightened and unsure as to the fate of their future. What would happen next? Would they ever again see their own families, their sweethearts, their homeland? What would become of them?

Italian prisoner Angelo Acanfora

Among this group of POWs was a personable young man named Angelo Acanfora. Angelo and a handful of his fellow prisoners were given special security clearances. They not only participated in the work-release program, they were also able to go on shopping trips and visits to the nearby library, under guard of course.

Angelo had been an officer in the Italian Army and was a native of Naples, Italy, where he had graduated with honors from Naples University. In 1941, he had been drafted into the Italian Army and had served with a tank battalion fighting American troops in North Africa. He and his battalion had been living underground in bunkers at the time of their capture in 1943.

Years after World War II, Angelo would say that he and the other soldiers had not been captured, they had surrendered and had been happy to do so. He also said that his life in North Africa made him understand that this war was not fought because of the idealism he had been led to believe.

Back to my story.

My Aunt Maggie was a friendly, outgoing person. She was a big talker and had never met a stranger. One day as she was working in her backyard, she noticed that one of the prisoners was leaning against the fence which divided her yard from the neighbors pecan orchard.

It was a cold day and the POWs had built a fire to keep them warm. Aunt Maggie took this opportunity to saunter over to the young man, put on a big smile and attempt to communicate with him. The young man was Angelo and of course he could speak no English.

Aunt Maggie did not let that stop her. She was bound and determined to show kindness to the young man who appeared to be not much older than her own children. They communicated as best they could by pointing and making signs. She pulled out her billfold, showing Angelo photos of her family  her husband, her two daughters and her son.

Angelo was quite taken by the picture of Maggies eldest daughter, my cousin Louise. And, indeed, she was a beautiful young woman, still living at home while working in an office in downtown Charleston.

Several weeks later, Aunt Maggie took Louise with her to the fence where she introduced her to Angelo. Although the young people could not speak each others language, they soon found they shared a common bond and that was the ability to speak the French language.

After that encounter, Angelo would watch Louise as she got off the bus each day on her way home from work. The young couple began to wave to each other and soon it became a daily ritual that Angelo would listen for the big city bus as it rumbled down the Savannah Highway.

A book, a secret rock and a first sign of love

It was a joyous occasion when the prisoners were allowed to make their supervised trips into town. At the first opportunity, Angelo purchased a book entitled Learning English in 30 Days. The next time that Louise met him at the fence, he showed the book to her and asked if she would help him in his studies. She readily agreed to do so.

You must remember that Angelo was still a prisoner of war and under guard most of the time. Their contact with each other was very limited. As Louise helped him with his English, he would write the lessons out and leave them under a big rock in the pecan grove so that she might correct them. There were many notes left under the rock and over time, as Angelo learned more English, there were thoughts and ideas left in the notes other than the English lessons. There were times when Louise could not retrieve the notes, so she would enlist the help of her younger brother, Marion Lee, who would ride on horseback to the secret rock. Thus began the courtship of Angelo and Louise.

Wouldnt Shakespeare have just loved this? Just picture the scene  two families who were on opposite sides of the war, the Morris-Buchanan family from the USA, the Acanfora family from Italy. Can you imagine what went through the minds of their families as they heard the news that their children had fallen in love?

Louises mother had just lost her youngest brother to the war, Lt. Billy Buchanan from Maiden, North Carolina, who was a promising 21-year-old navigator in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He, too, had been stationed in North Africa. While on a bombing mission, his plane crashed over Italy and all on board were killed. Billys remains are buried in Italy, near Rome.

Then you have the Acanfora family who saw their son, Lt. Angelo Acanfora, captured by the enemy and imprisoned in a country far away from their home. Not only that, one family was of the Roman Catholic faith, the other family was of the Jehovah Witness faith. Surely there was no way these differences could be worked out. Does this sound like a modern-day tale of Romeo and Juliet? You bet it does. Only these two lovers do not meet a tragic end.

After Benito Mussolini fell from power, Italian Field Marshal Pietro Badoglio issued an order urging Italian prisoners to join the American Army. It was then that Angelo joined the U.S. Army in 1944. He was first sent to Atlanta, Georgia, and then to Camp Carson, Colorado. By this time, the young couple had openly declared their love for each other. Now that Angelo was a member of our armed forces, they petitioned the U.S. Army for permission to marry.

Well, if this didnt send the military into orbit! Angelo was still technically a prisoner of war and the military had never had a situation come before them like this. By the time Angelo had been transferred to Camp Carson, they still had not received the necessary permission. The young lovers decided to take matters into their own hands. Louise rode the train to Fort Carson and without permission from the government, they were married. It was not long after that the war ended and Angelo was returned to Charleston. At that time, he technically went back to prisoner-of-war status. During the exchange of prisoners, he was sent back to Italy.

Back in Naples, Angelo began the lengthy process of gaining entrance back into the United States. I can only imagine what a feat that must have been. After fulfilling the necessary paperwork and reams of red tape, the long wait began. There were times when the young couple despaired of ever being together again.

Louise was pregnant with their first child by this time, and they desperately wanted to be together as a family before their baby was born. Louise finally made the decision to join her husband in Italy. But as Louise was making the necessary preparations, they received encouraging news from the government. If Angelo could prove that he had employment waiting for him in the United States, he would be granted permission from both governments to return to the U.S.

Job at Hickory Chair secures return to US

As it happened, Louise had relatives who worked at Hickory Chair Company in Hickory, North Carolina, and through their combined efforts, a job was promised to Angelo. Yes, Angelo made it back to the United States for the birth of their child.

The story does not end there. Out of the ashes of war, we find two people, two families and two countries, united and bonded forever. The ravages of war were put behind them and together they built a new future.

Angelo and Louise moved to Hickory, where for years he was in management with Hickory Chair Company. I remember so well the day he became a United States citizen. There was a picture and big write-up in the Hickory Daily Record.

For a short while in the mid-1950s, Angelo was director of the Hickory Little Theatre, now the Hickory Community Theatre. Over the years, he and Louise became parents of five beautiful children.

In 1957, Angelo saved up enough money to take his family to Naples to meet his family for the first time. In 1976, the family made another trip to Italy to visit Angelos family.

In 1981, Angelo wanted to see his family and homeland one more time. Although his father had passed away, his mother was still living and there were brothers and sisters he longed to see. This time, Angelo would travel to Italy by himself. Not long after arriving, Angelo suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and shortly after passed away. Because of the red tape involved in having a body returned to the States, Louise and family decided that he should be buried alongside his father, and later his mother, in a cemetery in Naples where generations of Acanforas had been laid to rest.

From the ashes of war, the Acanfora family lives on in Charleston. The children of Louise and Angelo are Giovanna, Leno, Maria, Linda and Elio.
By Ulviyya Shahin

A delegation of Maine officials and prominent members of the US public visited the liberated cities of Shusha and Lachin as part of their trip to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the State Committee for Work with Diaspora.

The guests were provided with information about the current situation in the city of Shusha. The delegation got acquainted with the conditions created for newcomers to Shusha and highly appreciated the work done.

They condemned the acts of vandalism committed by Armenians against cultural monuments and mosques during the occupation. Then the guests visited the Vagif mausoleum, the Ganja Gate, the bullet-riddled monuments, Jidir Plain, and the Yukhari Govharagha Mosque.

In Lachin, guests were provided with detailed information about the conditions created for returning residents, jobs and their social security, and ongoing restoration and reconstruction work.

The delegation visited the Agro-Industrial Park, a greenhouse, a farm and a furniture workshop in the city of Lachin, as well as the village of Sus.
By Ulviyya Shahin

Georgia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners, Ambassador of Georgia to Azerbaijan, Zurab Pataradze, told journalists at the event on the occasion of Georgia's Independence Day, Azernews reports.

"May 28 - Independence Day of Azerbaijan will be solemnly celebrated in Tbilisi. Friendly, fraternal relations have developed between our countries, we are strategic partners. I wish success to the Azerbaijani people," the diplomat said.

He noted that successful cooperation is developing between Azerbaijan and Georgia in all areas.

The ambassador also reported that the representatives of executive and legislative bodies, business sector are taking part in today's event.
Kameron Runnels watches, frustrated, as a pair of Santee tribal members move a pallet of water bottles with a borrowed forklift.

The source of Runnels frustration: Theyre only moving three pallets of bottled water on this Monday morning, less than a quarter of what the tribe had ordered. The shipment arrived on the reservation after an unexplained monthlong delay.

They load the water onto a flatbed trailer and roll off down the streets of Santee, dropping only two cases  48 small bottles  at the front door of each home.

It wont be enough to get the residents here through to the next delivery, Runnels said. And the Santee tribal members who live outside the village limits wont get any water at all.

We gotta get this water fixed, Runnels said. We have to get clean water here.

For nearly five years the people here on this northeast Nebraska reservation havent been able to drink or cook with the water that flows from their taps.

White flecks of sediment float in it. It smells wrong, tastes different and leaves residue behind in pots. Reddish brown stains spread down the light-colored siding of houses on the reservation, left there by dripping hose spigots.

Manganese runs through the pipes of the Santee Sioux Nation in huge amounts, Runnels said. It builds up and destroys water heaters, faucets and washing machines. It could be sickening adults and endangering young children.

The Environmental Protection Agency put the tribe under a no-drink order in 2019, after the tribe found manganese above the EPAs health advisory levels.

Runnels, tribal vice chairman, has been traveling to Lincoln and Washington, D.C., highlighting the problem to lawmakers and bureaucrats and asking for help. It hasnt worked.

A U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs grant that once offset the cost of bottled water has dried up. A 2022 bill in the Nebraska Legislature meant to deliver millions in funding to the reservation died on the floor.

Lawmakers did earmark some state water funds for the tribe this spring, a move that tribal leaders hope could spark momentum and allow the Santee to complete a massive, $53 million proposed water project.

In the meantime, the tribe is spending about $14,000 a month buying and delivering bottled water.

We're supposed to be the richest country, greatest country in the history of the world, said Runnels. But you got people right in the middle of your state, right in the middle of the country, that can't even drink their own faucet water.

The manganese menace

We all need a small amount of manganese, a common, naturally occurring mineral in rocks and soil, in order to stay healthy.

But consuming high levels of manganese can cause adverse effects to the central nervous system, said a Nebraska Department of Energy and Environment spokeswoman in an email. Formula-fed infants are at greatest risk because of their developing nervous systems and higher absorption rates.

Studies have shown that when high levels of manganese are inhaled, usually by steel workers, it can produce a disabling condition similar to Parkinsons disease.

According to the EPA, adverse health effects are not expected below 0.3 milligrams of manganese per liter of drinking water. Canadas health department has a guideline of less than half that much manganese. And the World Health Organization recommends an even lower health-based guideline of 0.08 milligrams per liter.

Recent tests on the Santee Sioux Reservation have shown manganese levels at 2.8 milligrams per liter. And at times, said the tribes civil engineer Clinton Powell, samples show that the manganese in the water here has soared 50 times higher than what the government says is safe to drink.

Boiling the water only makes it worse.

Officially this has been four years in the making, but actually its more like 20-30 years, Runnels said. Who knows what this has done? Has it been making people sick, causing cancer, or any other health issue people run into out here? We just dont know.

Band-Aid fix

The Santee Sioux reservation is rural, isolated and ill-equipped to handle the bottled water delivery delays. The nearest Hy-Vee or Walmart is more than 45 minutes away.

The tribe normally orders about 20 pallets every two weeks to meet the daily needs of its roughly 270 households.

For someone using it all the time, for cooking and drinking, its gone within the two weeks, Runnels said.

But because of this months inadequate water delivery, about 50 Santee households outside town either have to buy their own bottled water or drive into town and fill their jugs.

It gets worse in the winter, when bad weather cuts off deliveries to the far reaches of the reservation. During those weeks, residents have to find their own way into town to get water.

The tribes health center has an expensive water filtration system, Runnels said, and the water dispenser at the small grocery store in town consistently tests safe. The EPA and federal Indian Health Service suggested that tribal members bring containers to fill at the health center or store as a temporary solution.

Really, thats where were at right now? We have to go fill a bunch of buckets of water at different places every day? Runnels said.

Some people pay to rent their own 5-gallon water jugs. Some have water softener and filtration systems, which help with the manganese, but dont know if its enough to make the water safe.

With an estimated $100,000 of the tribes money sunk into trying to supply bottled water, tribal leaders say theyre in an unsustainable position.

Runnels said he asked the U.S. Department of the Interior for emergency support a month ago.

He hasnt heard back.

Reaching across the river

The Santee Sioux Nation needs about $53 million to achieve its ideal solution, crossing the Missouri River and connecting to South Dakotas Randall Community Water District.

The plan is to pipe water from Randalls treatment plant to serve the tribe. Theyve considered lots of solutions, Powell said, but he and other leaders believe this plan has the least amount of long-term risk.

The tribe does not want to pursue a Band-Aid fix, we are looking to pursue generational change so our childrens children dont have to battle this problem, Tribal Chairman Alonzo Denney said.

In the past quarter-century, there have been five different federally funded studies of the reservations contaminated water and different solutions, Powell said.

The estimated $53 million budget would build a pipeline, upgrade some of Randalls existing facilities, and build a major storage tank for the tribe.

The tribe is waiting now to hear back from a USDA application, and seeking other funding opportunities from the state and several agencies.

This has gone on too long. The time for planning and studies is over with, Runnels said.

Government money

The Santee Sioux Nation also has been asking the State of Nebraska for help with its water for years, Runnels said. In 2022, the tribe had hope for funding through a water quality bill, but it fell apart before coming to a vote.

The message from them was, The government can help you guys. You guys got government money for that, Runnels said.

The Legislature did recently change the laws governing an existing grant program. Now the state must prioritize applications to the Water Sustainability Fund from tribes under an active no-drink order from the EPA.

It was pretty bleak just a few months ago  thankfully the state compromised, Runnels said. They didnt directly give us money, but its still a victory for us.

Theres a number of communities in the state experiencing water issues, said Sen. Robert Clements, chair of the Appropriations Committee, but the tribe being unable to drink its water and trucking in bottles made it a priority to address.

Sen. Jane Raybould, a Democrat from Lincoln, initially proposed the change, which Clements rolled into a larger bill. Shes grateful lawmakers were able to make some progress toward helping the tribe restore safe, clean drinking water to their reservation.

For the Santee Sioux to be without safe drinking water for over four years is a crisis, Raybould wrote in a statement sent to the Flatwater Free Press.

Between applications to federal and state programs, and recent meetings with representatives in Washington, the tribal leaders are feeling better about securing long-term access to safe water soon.

It's just one more thing in our history that we've had to deal with, Runnels said. It would be a really big thing for us, a real victory for us, if this got completed. It would be something for all of us to be happy and proud about.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.
A month after his plan to reduce property taxes stalled in the Legislature, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen sought allies 40 miles south of the state's Capitol building Friday, taking his pitch to Gage County as part of a town hall series focused on the state's mounting property tax burden.

In a meeting space at the Beatrice Public Library, Pillen seemed to find who he was looking for: a few dozen Nebraskans who broadly voiced support for the governor's plan to reduce the state's collective annual property tax by $2 billion, slashing spending and replacing revenue through the elimination of certain sales tax exemptions.

Friday's town hall came just over a month after lawmakers sank the bill (LB388) that served as the basis of Pillen's tax plan, dealing the governor the biggest loss of his political career on the last day of this year's legislative session.

Pillen, in a speech to lawmakers hours after LB388 failed to clear the final hurdle, derided the Legislature's failure to act and pledged to call a special legislative session later this summer for lawmakers to take another run at property tax relief. He's expected to recall senators to Lincoln in late July.

In the meantime, Pillen is doubling down on the same fundamental plan that failed to garner the support of enough lawmakers to reach his desk last month  and using his town hall series to rally support for the proposal among everyday Nebraskans.

"Honestly, what the deal is  and why we're out  we need everybody here to get engaged," the governor told attendees at Beatrice's library Friday morning, imploring them to call their own legislators and "other senators across the state so they hear from the people," rather than lobbyists who are "paid to protect special interests."

"We have to make sure that our elected representatives hear from everybody in this room and they hear multiple times," Pillen said. "Not just one call. Multiple times."

Pillen's campaign to take his property tax plan directly to Nebraskans this summer reflects the dicey politics that surrounded the proposal in the Legislature, where lawmakers of all political stripes proved too leery of the plan to add taxes on a variety of goods and services in an election year.

The latest version of LB388 combined with tax relief measures passed last year would have reduced property taxes by an estimated 22%, Pillen's staff had said  but would have offered no net savings to property owners who were already taking advantage of income tax credits offered to property taxpayers through a program that would have been eliminated by the bill.

Under the bill, vaping products would be taxed at 20%, consumable hemp products would be taxed at a 25% rate and the tax on a pack of cigarettes would be increased by 36 cents.

The bill, too, would have imposed sales taxes on soda and candy, veterinary care and other services for pets, dry cleaning and lottery tickets, among other things. Some senators, amid final-round debate on the bill, called it the largest tax increase in state history.

Pillen's tax plan had been on shaky ground since the governor first floated the idea of a 2-cent increase in the sales tax rate and a rollback of sales tax exemptions as a means to provide property tax relief, drawing fire from groups across the political spectrum, including the Lincoln-based fiscal policy think tank OpenSky and the conservative-run advocacy organization Americans For Prosperity.

The proposed sales tax hike, in particular, prompted ire from lobbyists and skepticism from lawmakers.

And even the final version of LB388  which did not include a broad sales tax hike but did include a 7.5% excise tax on ads that run on some state broadcasting outlets and social media websites  faced a last-minute advertising blitz on state radio and TV stations and in newspapers across Nebraska, warning that the tax would destroy many small businesses."

Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth  the only lawmaker who attended Friday's town hall  said the governor is "on the right track" and told attendees that "seven senators from Omaha" consistently oppose property tax relief, but noted, too, that conservative Republicans had ultimately killed the bill that carried Pillen's property tax plan.

He pointed to the proposed tax on soda and candy as an example of the seemingly reasonable ideas that nonetheless faced intense lobbying efforts.

"If I go and get a glass of pop and fill it with Dr. Pepper and go up front, I pay sales tax on that, because it's prepared food," he said. "Tomorrow, I don't have time, I go get a can of Dr. Pepper. I don't pay a sales tax on that. So the sky is not gonna fall if we tax this stuff  unlike what (lobbyists) might say back there."

Despite the opposition campaign that sank the proposal last month, Pillen indicated Friday that his plan has not changed.

He said he would push caps on local spending and aim to "broaden the tax base," railing against the 120 sales tax exemptions that exist in Nebraska and pledging to deliver "transformative change" yet this year.

"There was too much noise, there were too many other things," Pillen said, referring to the 60-day session that ended last month without delivering property tax relief. "In our special session, we'll be zeroed in like a laser focus on high value.

"I call this game 33-17," he said, referring to the 33 "yes" votes a bill would need to overcome a filibuster in the Legislature or the 17 "no" votes that would sustain one. "Will we get everything Pillen wants? Probably not. But there will be transformative change."

One attendee  Ken Pralle of Wymore  asked the governor if he believed lawmakers in Lincoln would have the political will to deliver on Pillen's pledge.

"Yeah, I wouldn't be here if I didn't think there was," Pillen said.

"Because what it takes is a lot of hard decisions," Pralle said, telling the governor he routinely watched the Legislature's live debates on TV this spring. "I look at that and I thought, 'These guys don't get it.'"

But Pillen does get it, Pralle said after Friday's town hall, calling Pillen "the first governor in my lifetime that is actually saying, 'We've got to change what we're doing.'"

Pralle, like Pillen, hopes the looming special session brings that promised change.

"Oh Lord," he said. "I hope something happens. I'm crossing my fingers that something will happen."

Top Journal Star photos for May 2024


ATF Director Steven Dettelbach prepares to testify before the House Judiciary

Committee Thursday. (Screenshot courtesy of House Judiciary Committee.)

ATF agents cut off the electricity to Bryan Malinowski's Little Rock home before executing their search warrant March 19.

None of the agents wore body cameras, and they covered Malinowski's doorbell camera with tape to hide their actions. Fifty-seven seconds after kicking down the front door, Malinowski was fatally shot in the head. His wife, Maer Malinowski, was pulled out of her home wearing only bedclothes and forced into the back of a squad car, where she was held against her will for four hours in 34-degree weather, despite her frequent pleas to check on her dying husband.

"If that isn't weaponization of government, I don't know what is," Congressman Jim Jordan, R-OH, said Thursday morning, during a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee, which he chairs.

The hearing, which was held in the Rayburn House Office Building and was called "Oversight of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives," lasted more than three hours. ATF Director Steven Dettelbach was the only witness.

Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee tried to force Dettelbach to answer questions about Malinowski's killing. However, as expected, he declined to answer and tap-danced around the members' questions, citing the ongoing criminal investigation by Arkansas officials as an excuse. .....
Under the Bilateral Cooperation Plan signed between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany, expert meeting was held between the military specialists from both countries, Azernews reports citing the Ministry of Defense.

During the meeting held at the Joint Forces Operations Command of Germany, the sides held a detailed exchange of views on the participation of Azerbaijan and Germany in UN missions, international peacekeeping operations, gained experience and discussed other issues of mutual interest.
Vilayat Eyvazov, Azerbaijani Minister of Internal Affairs met Friday with a delegation led by Adrian Efros, Moldovan Minister of Internal Affairs, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, Minister Vilayat Eyvazov hailed the strengthening of relations and mutual contacts between Moldova and Azerbaijan. He stressed that the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs attaches great importance to evolving relations with the law enforcement agencies of Moldova, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, both in bilateral and multilateral formats.

Praising the long-standing close and working relations between the relevant institutions of the two countries, Colonel-General Vilayat Eyvazov expressed his confidence that such meetings would contribute to further developing relations and bolstering cooperation.

Emphasizing that the fight against illicit drug trafficking, international terrorism, human trafficking, illegal migration and cybercrime, which are the main types of transnational organized crime, remain in the spotlight, the Azerbaijani minister stressed the possibility of effectively combatting them only through joint efforts.

Moldovan Minister Adrian Efros said he hoped that the visit would provide a new impetus to further enhancing of cooperation between the Ministries of Internal Affairs of the two countries.

Minister Adrian Efros expressed their interest in benefiting from Azerbaijans experience in tackling crime and ensuring public order.

The meeting then featured the signing of an agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova.

As part of the trip, the guests also visited a military unit of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, as well as familiarized themselves with the activities of "102" and "Safe City" services.
Kola Bah used to earn money as a guide in Malis historic city of Djenne, once a center of Islamic learning.

The city is known for its large Grand Mosque of Djenne. The religious center has been on the UNESCO World Heritage in Danger list since 2016.

The worlds largest mud-brick building used to draw tens of thousands of visitors to central Mali every year. Now, the structure is threatened by conflict between rebels, government forces and other groups.

Bah says the money he used to earn was enough to support his family, which now includes nine children, and to pay for a small group of cattle.

But now, few visitors come to the city. Bah has been largely out of work. When he needs money, he sells some of his cattle.

Grand Mosque

Djenne is one of the oldest towns in sub-Saharan Africa. It has served as a market center and an important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade. Almost 2,000 of its traditional houses still survive in the old town.

The Grand Mosque, built in 1907 on the area of an older mosque dating back to the 13th century, is worked on every year by local people. The work is a ritual that brings together the entire city. The large, earth-colored structure requires a new layer of mud before the rainy season starts.

Women are responsible for carrying water from the nearby river to mix with clay and rice hulls. This mixture is the mud used to cover the wall of the structure. Adding a new layer of mud is a job for men. The joyful ritual is a source of pride for a city that has fallen on hard times, uniting people of all ages.

Bamouyi Trao Traore is one of Djennes lead builders. He said they worked as a team from the very start. This years wall covering took place earlier in the month.

Each one of us goes to a certain spot to supervise, he said. This is how we do it until the whole thing is done. We organize ourselves, we supervise the younger ones.

Conflict and the future

Malis conflict broke out following a coup in 2012. Militant groups took control of important northern cities. A French-led military operation pushed them out of the city centers the following year, but the success was short-lived.

The militants regrouped and launched attacks on the Malian military, as well as the United Nations, French and other forces in the country. The militants publicly stated their connection to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

Sidi Keita is the director of Malis national tourism agency in the capital of Bamako. Keita said the drop in tourism was sharp following the violence.

It was really a popular destination, he said, describing tens of thousands of visitors a year and adding that today, tourists are rare in Mali.

Despite being one of Africas top gold producers, Mali ranks among the least developed nations in the world, with almost half of its 22 million people living below the national poverty line. Without tourism, few means are left for Malians to make a living.

Anger over what many Malians call the crisis is rising. The country also saw two more coups since 2020, during a wave of political instability in West and Central Africa.

Moussa Moriba Diakite is head of Djennes cultural office, which works to save the citys heritage. Diakite said there are other difficulties beyond security  including illegal digs and waste disposal in the city.

He said the office is trying to send a message that security is not as bad as it seems. The office also hopes to get more young people involved in the mud-covering ritual, to help the new generation recognize its importance.

Its not easy to get people to understand the benefits of preserving cultural heritage right away, he said.

Im John Russell.

Moustapha Diallo reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

___________________________________________

Words in This Story

cattle -- n. cows that are kept for meat or milk

ritual  n. a series of acts done in the same way each time

layer -- n. an amount of something that is spread over an area

hull -- n. the outer covering of a fruit or grain

tourism  n. the activity of traveling for fun

benefit  n. a good or helpful effect
In New York, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream brings people in with classic flavors like vanilla and pistachio. But, sometimes, the ice cream maker adds what it calls a shock flavor, like Hidden Valley Ranch or pizza, to the treat.

Recently, chocolate maker Hershey added pink lemonade, a summer drink flavor, to its candy Kit Kats. And Frito-Lay introduced potato chips that taste like strawberries with a little bit of bacon.

Not to be outdone, Britains food company Little Moons produced fish-and-chip mochi ice cream flavor while Walkers celebrated the holidays with a potato chip flavor of Brussels sprouts.

Usually, these flavor combinations are introduced for a limited time. But sometimes the flavors are so popular that they become permanent additions. That is what happened with Frito-Lays Flamin Hot Dill Pickle chips in 2019.

While it would be easy to say the new and surprising flavors are produced to get attention on social media, experts say there is more to the story.

They say food companies are reacting to peoples changing and expanding tastes while also trying to stay current and win over space in stores.

Kristen Braun works for Chicago-based food and drink company Mondelez International. She says people now want more than just one flavor and companies are finding the freedom to explore a little bit more and get more creative.

Mondelez plans to release Sour Patch Kids Oreos  a kind of sweet vanilla cream-filled cookies combined with sour candies. The flavor is one of more than ten different Oreo flavors being sold this year for a limited time of nine weeks.

Mark Lang teaches food marketing at the University of Tampa in Florida. He said that manufacturers and their suppliers have increased their ability to create such products. That has made it easier for them to experiment and put out limited editions more often.

Kyle Shadix is a research chef for the drink company PepsiCo. He said members of Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, are also fueling new ideas.

Shadix is currently experimenting with Mexican, Korean and Japanese flavors. Gen Z is going to drive us faster. Were going to start to see even more exploration quicker than in the past because theyre just so open to it.

Experimenting with new flavors can increase sales in several ways. Sometimes they bring in new buyers to a product. And sometimes they also influence buyers to pick up more of the original flavor.

Russell Zwanka is director of the food marketing program at Western Michigan University. He said, Sour Patch Oreos sound interesting, but nobody wants to risk buying Oreos that dont taste good, so people buy both.

When companies combine products, they are trying to build a link in peoples minds. For example, Lang said when Pepsi combined its drink with Peeps candy flavor, it sent a message that Pepsi is current and fun.

But new flavor combinations do not always work.

Ben Van Leeuwen, the founder of the ice cream company bearing his name, said he could not eat more than a few bites of his companys Hidden Valley Ranch ice cream. It contained onion and garlic powders. And the shock flavor did not become a permanent part of his companys offerings because of their lower eat-ability, he said.

But Lang thinks the more time people spend in restaurants or trying out new foods, the more they seek out unusual flavors.

He said as humans, We like to experiment.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Dee-Ann Durbin reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

shock  adj. used to describe something that surprises and usually upsets people

flavor  n. the quality of something that you can taste

edition  n. a particular version of a product

chef  n. a professional cook who usually is in charge of a kitchen in a restaurant

original  adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning
President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Ilham Heydarovich,

Please accept my warmest congratulations on the occasion of your country's national holiday - Independence Day.

Azerbaijan has achieved widely recognized success in socio-economic development, enjoys well-deserved prestige on the world stage, and is actively involved in addressing important issues on the international agenda.

We attach great importance to our allied relations with Baku. I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will continue to systematically enhance productive bilateral cooperation in all areas, as well as coordinate efforts in regional affairs. This undoubtedly serves the interests of our friendly peoples and is on track to strengthen security and stability in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region.

I sincerely wish you, dear Ilham Heydarovich, health and success, and happiness and prosperity to all Azerbaijani citizens.

Respectfully,

Vladimir Putin

President of the Russian Federation"
Despite the windy conditions, the Flame of Hope burned brightly in Twin Falls Thursday morning.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for the 2024 Special Olympics got underway at City Park and ended at the Downtown Commons with celebration and excitement.

The lighted torch carried through city streets, Josh Hayes of the Twin Falls Police Department explained, is called the Flame of Hope, symbolizing courage and celebration of diversity  its something that symbolizes that they can be part of us, he said.

Law enforcement officers are honorably described as Guardians of the Flame.

The Idaho State Summer Games take place June 7-8 in Caldwell, and to raise awareness and fundraising, similar torch runs are taking place around the state. A run took place Wednesday in Blaine County.

Amazing is how Hayes described his 11 years of working with the Special Olympics program, and enjoys re-acquainting himself with the Special Olympic athletes, some of which hes known the entire 11 years.

A lot of the community came out from their businesses to cheer us on, he said of the .64-mile run, which police escorted.

After the run, Chief Craig Kingsbury also cheered the athletes, who came from two area teams, the Magic Valley Gems and the Twin Falls Lightning, and encouraged them to bring home some hardware to Twin Falls.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday reaffirmed its push to further enhance partnership and cooperation with states in Africa as it spotlighted its renewed focus on the region.

In his message on Africa Day, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo acknowledged the vast opportunities with building stronger ties with the individual states of Africa.

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Despite the geographical distance, the Philippines shares common values and aspirations with Africa, including a firm belief in democracy, human rights, and sustainable development, he said.

Acknowledging the vastness of the opportunities that Africa represents, the Department has renewed its focus on building stronger ties with individual African nations, he added.

Under his directive, Manalo said cooperation on various fields with bilateral partners in the region has been enhanced.

The Philippines has also intensified its presence in the African continent.

In March 2022, the DFA inaugurated its reopened embassy in Morocco, paving the way for closer cooperation with the North African state on political consultation, people-to-people, tourism, culture, and media, among others.

The Philippine News Agency and its Moroccan counterpart, Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), signed a news cooperation agreement in the same year, which led to the deployment of a correspondent to Manila to monitor the growing Philippine engagements with states in Africa.

This year, Manalo said the DFA expects a number of exchange of visits by senior officials from African partners and the Philippines.

Together with the six resident African Embassies in the Philippines, complemented by the hard work of the seven Philippine Foreign Service Posts covering Africa, and in line with the renewed focus on Africa of our foreign policy direction, the Philippines hopes to build ever stronger bonds with our African partners, Manalo said.

Africa Day marks the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, the precursor to the African Union.

Manalo said the Philippines is one with the entire African continent in celebrating this occasion.

It is a pivotal moment in Africas history that symbolizes unity, solidarity, and the collective aspirations of African nations for independence and self-determination, he said.

Africa Day is a celebration of the rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions that define the continent. With over 1.2 billion people and more than 3,000 ethnic groups, Africa is a testament to the beauty of diversity, he added.
Filipino high school students can now apply for senior high school scholarships abroad in one of the United World Colleges (UWCs) in countries like Canada, Japan, Costa Rica, Singapore, India, Germany, and the United States.

The international institution announced that it is looking for the brightest and most talented Filipino students with a minimum age of 16 and maximum age of 18 years by August 2025.

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UWC is a global movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.

UWC has a network of 18 international boarding schools called colleges on four continents, with volunteer-run national committees in more than 150 countries.

Students are selected based on their potential and motivation to make a difference in todays world, independent of their socio-economic means.

Over 80 percent of students selected received partial or full financial support, including all-inclusive coverage of tuition fees, flight cost, room and board, books, exam registration fees, and curricular field trips, among other expenses depending on the students financial needs.

To be eligible, the applicant must be a Filipino citizen 16 to 18 years old by August 2025 and studying in a Philippine-accredited educational institution until Grade 10, and is a current or incoming senior high school student who believes in UWCs values, vision and mission.

Applications are open only until June 15, 2024. Apply at: https://www.ph.uwc.org/how-to-apply/apply-now
In a bold move to solidify its international presence, Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast is officially launching in the Philippines on May 31. This expansion comes as the company continues to leverage the formidable backing and cutting-edge technological ecosystem of its parent company, Vingroup.

VinFasts unwavering global push, spanning the U.S., Canada, and Indonesia, is fueled by Vingroups robust financial foundation and commitment to sustainability. As Vietnams largest private conglomerate, Vingroup has injected over $11.4 billion in capital into VinFast since its inception in 2017, and its visionary chairman, Pham Nhat Vuong, recently pledged an additional $1 billion from his personal wealth to support the EV brands future growth.

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The electric vehicle market will continue to grow and eclipse gasoline-powered cars, Pham declared, showcasing his firm conviction in the sector despite the industrys current challenges.

Vingroups Technological Edge

But Vingroups support goes beyond just financial backing. The conglomerate provides VinFast with a comprehensive technological ecosystem that empowers the EV company to develop innovative, sustainable vehicles that outshine their traditional counterparts.

This ecosystem includes subsidiaries like VinBigData, VinAI, VinCSS, VinHMS, and VinBrain, which collaborate to deliver cutting-edge solutions like the award-winning MirrorSense technology and the voice assistant ViVi. These innovations, co-developed by VinFast, VinAI, and VinBrain, are set to redefine the driving experience for consumers.

Sustainability at the Forefront

Vingroups commitment to sustainability also plays a crucial role in VinFasts global expansion. The conglomerate was recently honored with the prestigious AIBP 2023 ASEAN Tech for ESG Award, recognizing its leadership in integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles across its diverse business portfolio.

This green ecosystem provides a solid foundation for VinFast to thrive in the global EV market. By leveraging renewable energy, sustainable practices, charging infrastructure, and R&D, VinFast can establish itself as a leader in the EV revolution, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers worldwide.

The Philippines Launch

VinFasts launch in the Philippines on May 31 marks a significant milestone in the companys global strategy. The Southeast Asian nations growing appetite for electric vehicles, coupled with the appeal of VinFasts sustainable offerings and Vingroups technological expertise, positions the company for success in this new market.

As VinFast continues to expand globally, the Philippines represents an exciting opportunity for us to bring our cutting-edge, eco-friendly EVs to a new customer base, said Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup and Global CEO of VinFast. With the support of Vingroups robust ecosystem, we are confident in our ability to deliver a transformative driving experience to Filipino customers.
Palestinians welcome UN court ruling on halting Israeli operations in Rafah

Xinhua) 10:49, May 25, 2024

Palestinians watch a session of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at a cafe in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on May 24, 2024. The Palestinian presidency on Friday welcomed the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to stop its military offensive in Rafah with immediate effect. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency on Friday welcomed the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to stop its military offensive in Rafah with immediate effect.

It further called on the international community to compel Israel to implement the ICJ rulings, and to respect and implement the resolutions of international legitimacy and international law, the presidency said in a statement carried by the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.

The statement said Israel considers itself a state above international law and cannot be held accountable as a result of the "blind and biased American support."

The presidency reiterated its appreciation for countries that have supported Palestinian rights, emphasizing that this international consensus once again proves that Israel stands isolated, along with its allies who provide it with support, protection, and impunity, according to WAFA.

Also on Friday, Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, welcomed the ICJ decision. In a separate statement, it called on the international community and the United Nations to put pressure on Israel to immediately oblige it to this resolution, and to proceed in a real and serious manner in translating all UN resolutions that urge the Israeli army to stop the war "it has been committing against the Palestinian people for more than seven months."

Hamas affirms that the international community and all relevant United Nations institutions, led by the UN Security Council, are concerned and required not to allow Israel to continue to defy all international laws and conventions, and to escape accountability and punishment.

Palestinians watch a session of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at a cafe in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on May 24, 2024. The Palestinian presidency on Friday welcomed the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to stop its military offensive in Rafah with immediate effect. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians watch a session of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at a cafe in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on May 24, 2024. The Palestinian presidency on Friday welcomed the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to stop its military offensive in Rafah with immediate effect. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev accepted credentials of newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italian Republic Luca Di Gianfrancesco on May 25, Azernews reports.

The ambassador presented his credentials to the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev then had a conversation with the ambassador.

Expressing satisfaction with his appointment as ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ambassador Gianfrancesco conveyed the greetings of President Sergio Mattarella of Italy to President Ilham Aliyev.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude for the greetings and asked the ambassador to relay his own greetings back to the Italian President.

During the conversation, they emphasized the special character of the relations between the two countries, which are developing within the framework of strategic partnership.

The ambassador noted the successful development of relations in various areas, including science and education, and praised efforts to open Italian universities in Azerbaijan.

President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Italy's status as one of Azerbaijan's main trading partners within the European Union.

They hailed the dynamic development of political, humanitarian, economic, and educational cooperation between the two countries. They mentioned that relations between Azerbaijan and Italy began with the energy sector and expanded to cover various areas, including culture, information and communication technologies, transportation, and others.

The conversation also emphasized the active involvement of companies from Italy, a friendly and partnering country, in reconstruction and restoration works in Azerbaijan's liberated territories.

The meeting discussed the development of the Middle Corridor and explored prospects for cooperation in this context.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed Azerbaijan-EU relations and Italy's support, as an EU member, to Azerbaijan in this process.
MORGANTON  Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina (FCNC) announces the protection of 61 acres of land adjoining Pisgah National Forest at the Eastern Continental Divide in western McDowell County that guarantees public access to the popular Kitsuma Trail, forever.

The tract of land, now owned by FCNC, features a segment of the natural-surfaced Kitsuma Trail, a forested ridgeline and steep slopes with high biodiversity that drain into Swannanoa Creek below, and an abundance of old growth Chestnut Oak trees.

Kitsuma Trail is a beloved mountain bike and hiking trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains of McDowell County with stunning views, intense elevation gain, and an invigorating, 3-mile downhill that ends at a U.S. Forest Service picnic area near the town of Old Fort.

Unbeknownst to most trail users, a section of the trail leading up to Kitsuma Peak passes through privately-owned land. With our acquisition of this land, almost the entirety of the Kitsuma Trail is now under joint ownership by FCNC and the U.S. Forest Service, said Andrew Kota, Executive Director of FCNC. As an avid mountain biker, Ive ridden the Kitsuma Trail for years and even I was unaware this trail wasnt totally on public land.

Many trails have been built with handshake agreements between a trail group or natural resource agency and a landowner. While these verbal agreements may last for many years, access can be lost in an instant for many reasons. For example, a landowner may pass away or sell the land to a new owner who doesnt want the trail on their property. Without guaranteed permanent access, a trail is always at risk of closure, no matter how beloved by the community.

Kitsuma is one of the most popular mountain bike trails in the region, stated Lisa Jennings, Trails Director for USFS, Grandfather District. Protection of this trail and trailhead access ensures that this resource will be available for future generations of users to enjoy. Land conservation like this is critical to improving and maintaining public access to the Grandfather Ranger District. This is just another example of how Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is leading the way in recreation access in McDowell County, continued Jennings.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina appropriated monies from its internal land acquisition fund to purchase the property. This fund is used by FCNC to ensure it can act quickly as opportunities arise to secure crucial conservation lands, like this opportunity did. It is treated as a revolving fund whereby the Conservancy seeks to recoup the funds for use on future conservation projects.

FCNC commends and thanks former landowners, Sally Beard Smith and Germaine Whitaker, for their choice to sell the land for permanent conservation so that this segment of trail, and the parcels ecological values, could be forever protected.
Law enforcement worldwide is on high alert for potential violent clashes during Eritreas Independence Day celebrations on Friday. Disgruntled Eritreans unable to protest at home may do so at events abroad marking 33 years since the countrys independence, prompting some nations to ban the celebrations altogether.

While gaining freedom from Ethiopia after a three-decade hard-won conflict was, the anniversary is bittersweet for some as promised freedoms never materialized under unelected President Isaias Afwerkis 33-year rule. Eritrea has no constitution, prohibits any political dissent outside the ruling party, and has had no free press since 2001.

Hundreds of thousands of young Eritreans have fled abroad to escape indefinite military conscription, making Eritrea one of the worlds most militarized societies. From this diaspora pool, a new radical opposition called Brigade Nihamedu emerged two years ago, fed up with fragmented exiled groups. Determined to fight the regime they believe forced them out, their Blue Revolution campaign targets pro-government events organized by embassies.

The two rival groups have clashed violently over the past year across multiple countries, using stones, sticks, and knives. In Tel Aviv, tit-for-tat attacks killed a Blue Revolution activist and critically injured a pro-government supporter. Most Blue Revolution supporters oppose Eritreas involvement in Ethiopias Tigray conflict.

While one side accuses radicals of resorting to violence at raucous patriotic celebrations abroad, the other sees authorities surrendering by canceling events as the wrong solution. Both agree law and order must prevail and those breaking laws must face consequences.
An Exxon Mobil-led consortium may have to decide by October if it will develop a major natural gas discovery off Guyanas coast, according to the countrys vice president. The government is pushing to capitalize on largely untapped gas reserves found by the Exxon group, which includes Hess Corp and CNOOC Ltd. Per their agreement, the consortium must relinquish around 20% of its massive Stabroek block if left undeveloped by October.

Exxon hopes to complete appraising the gas finds by early 2024 and is considering commercialization options. But the October deadline may force a decision sooner. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that 20% could include their Haimara gas discovery. We told Exxon if theyre not going to work on it, they have to relinquish. They did studies suggesting they might proceed, he stated.

Exxon confirmed discussions over relinquished areas but hasnt concluded if gassy zones are included. Their exploration deal runs through 2027. Haimara, their 12th find in 2019, unveiled a high-quality gas-condensate reservoir.

Jagdeo cited Exxon data pointing to 16 trillion cubic feet of associated gas in their areas. He previously said Guyana wants another international firm for the $10-$15 billion gas project. We had strong companies with good credentials express interest, saying We believe its viable and want to work on it, he added, without naming them.

Once Guyanas cabinet approves a company, it can begin talks with Exxon to monetize the gas reserves. The consortium faces pressure to develop the major gas resources or relinquish that acreage back to Guyana.
Over thirty British MPs and Lords sent a letter to the Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, on Friday, in which they called on the British executive, in a bipartisan approach, to officially and without delay support the Moroccan autonomy plan as the only solution to the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.

The MPs and members of the House of Lords pointed out that besides being the most pragmatic path, and most balanced with respect for local traditions and democratic aspirations, the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco for the Sahara offers a viable path toward lasting peace and stability.

Noting that the initiative enjoys broad backing from Londons allies and more than 80 countries around the world, the signatories said that rallying around this plan, which is the only realistic solution, demonstrates the willingness of international partners to promote regional stability and prosperity.

There should be no space for further separatism or division, they insisted, adding that we must reinforce Moroccos proactive engagement in fostering regional security and stability.

Remaining neutral or attempting alternative resolutions can only perpetuate a harmful status quo that jeopardizes the security of the region, they argued.

The signatories, several of whom having visited Morocco and its Southern Provinces, said during the trip, they had the opportunity to meet with local leaders, civil society representatives, and human rights organizations. They said they felt that their observations, coupled with those of respected academics such as Professor Marc Weller, Chair of International Law and Constitutional Studies at Cambridge University, reinforced their conviction that the United Kingdom must provide proactive support for Moroccos Autonomy Plan.

In addition, the Sahara region has the potential to significantly improve energy opportunities, secure supply chains, and provide access to new markets, they wrote, citing strategic infrastructure, such as the impressive port of Dakhla, as evidence of sustainable progress, enabling the region to establish itself as a hub for innovation and international cooperation.

To fully realize this potential, London must provide the support of its financial institutions, such as UK export finance (UKEF) and British international investment (BII), reads the letter. This approach, adopted by other countries such as the United States and France, is compatible with the association agreement with Morocco, which covers the Moroccan Sahara region and has been ruled lawful by the High Court of Justice, according to the letter.

The signatories added that the UK must strengthen its alliances with stable, like-minded nations in order to promote regional stability and international security, assuring that Morocco stands paramount among these partner nations.

It is a top strategic ally in North Africa, with shared values and perspectives crucial to both our countries, they stated.

According to the signatories, the upcoming UK-Morocco strategic dialogue presents a singular occasion for the United Kingdom to redefine its role and influence in the region. Morocco deserves our unequivocal and complete support, they concluded.
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

Running is a great form of exercise that has numerous benefits for our health. For instance, people who consistently run at least an hour a week throughout their lives tend to live three years longer and have fewer chronic illnesses, compared with people who don't do any exercise.

But some people are taking their love of running up a notchrunning every day for as many days in a row as possible. This trend is being referred to online as a "run streak." The rules of the run streak trend are simple: runners must complete a minimum of one mile (1.6km) every day, either on road, trail or the treadmill.

There are some remarkable streaks currently ongoing. Jim Taylor is said to have the longest streak among runners in Britain, having completed at least a mile a day for over 30 years. Globally, the longest streak is held by Jon Sutherland, a U.S. runner who has reportedly run at least mile a day for more than 50 years.

These are certainly incredible featsbut what are the effects on the body of running every day? Is it actually safe?

Whether you're an amateur or professional runner, in order to get fitter you need to follow a training regime that places just the right amount of stress on the body so it can adapt. This is usually done through low-intensity runs and interval training, followed by periods of rest.

When this cycle is consistently repeated over months, runners will notice many changes in their fitness. These include a 5%10% improvement in maximal oxygen consumption (the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use and transport to its working muscles), reduced heart rate during low-intensity runs, and improved ability to use fat for energy. All of these improvements help runners get faster or run further with less fatigue.

But a key element to becoming a better runner is taking rest periods. This allows the joints and ligaments to recover from the stress that running places on them. Rest also permits the body to replenish carbohydrate stores in the muscles, ensuring the body has energy for subsequent training days. Rest days can also help improve a runner's recovery time between workouts.

But the nature of the run streak trend means there are no days off. This could have many potential pitfalls that runners should know about.

Continual training without adequate rest can cause many harms to the body. In extreme casessuch as ultra-endurance runningmild scarring of the heart can occur.

It can also weaken the immune system by reducing the function of immune cells. This can increase risk of respiratory infections and cause drastic changes in hormones, such as an up-to-40% reduction in adrenaline and testosterone. This may lead to poor recovery between runs and symptoms of overtrainingincluding changes in mood or muscle damage.

Runners must also be mindful of potential overuse injuries. These affect up to 70% of elite and recreational runners and could derail a run streak. One of the leading causes of overuse injuries is poor hip-muscle stabilization in runners. This type of injury is more likely to happen as the training volume increases.

Is there a safe way to run every day?

To complete a run streak safely, pay attention to your training loada combination of the volume, frequency and intensity of your workouts. It's pivotal to manage thistaking particular care with the intensity of your runs, since the frequency of training is daily and the duration of runs is at least one mile.

High-intensity runssuch as intense sprint intervalsplace more stress on the body and take longer to recover from, compared with low-intensity runs.

There's also a window when the immune system is suppressed after high-intensity running of up to two hours. Keeping most of the runs easy will not only help you stay consistent, it will also reduce the chances of illness and injuries.

When starting a run streak, consider simply completing the minimum distance required (one mile per day) before gradually increasing the amount of running you do.

If you're worried about taking days off, active recovery may be useful. This involves doing light exercise on your easier run streak dayssuch as a very light jog. Or, if you're willing to break your streak but don't want to take time off from exercise, you could always go for a brisk walk instead. This allows muscles to recover from the stress of running and can reduce muscle soreness.

Rest days are still strongly recommended, however. Even elite runners have periods away from running or incorporate rest blocks during a week of training. In fact, passive recovery)which involves doing no exercise at allis generally considered better than active recovery for helping the body to repair itself and adapt to the stress of training.

Not taking any rest and attempting run to every day could also result in obsessive behavior towards exerciseand in turn, have negative effects on your body. Before starting a run streak, evaluate whether it's really in line with your fitness goals.

Running is a great way to improve your health, both physically and mentally. But runners should proceed with caution if they're thinking of going for a run streak, to prevent overtraining and other risks to their health. Keep in mind things such as intensity and be sure to properly fuel after each run. This will reduce the likelihood of injury and health complications, and should ensure a more enjoyable run streak experience.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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

At first, no one thought Nina White had a heart attack. Every detail of that day 10 years ago, when she was just 51, is sharp in her memory. She thought the tightness in her chest was overexertion from multiple trips up the ladder to the attic in her Portsmouth, Virginia, home. Her husband thought it was indigestion from tacos.

But her sister, who has a medical technology background, urged her to go to the emergency room and get a blood test that can detect heart attacks for a brief period after they've happened. When she got there, even the doctor told her he didn't think she'd had one.

Then, the test came back positive for troponin, a protein released when the heart is damaged.

"It was horrifying," White said. "So many people die in the first year after a heart attack, and I was terrified. I was waiting for it to happen."

Heart disease is the leading killer of women as well as men, but it's often under-recognized in women, said Dr. Dena Krishnan, White's cardiologist for the past two years. Krishnan practices at the Bon Secours-affiliated Cardiovascular Specialists clinic in Suffolk, Virginia.

"What you notice is women tend to have had symptoms for longer," Krishnan said. "It's really bad by the time they come to seek help."

New research may help explain the complex reasons why heart risk increases sharply after menopause. Now, there's evidence that as their estrogen drops, women's risk rises faster than that of men the same age. Arterial plaque increased twice as fast on average in postmenopausal women than in men with similar demographics and medical status, according to research presented last month at an American College of Cardiology conference based on a study of 579 postmenopausal women.

Doctors have long known that estrogen seems to provide protection against heart disease. But it's hard to pinpoint how menopause interacts with other risk factors, like genetics and lifestyle, in part because its onset and length vary so significantly among women.

"What this more recent study was showing is that we have some preventative testing that we can do to look at otherwise low-risk women, say ages 40 to 70, and see, is there anything else they should be doing?" Krishnan said.

White thought she was low risk. Other than her grandmother, whose heart attack the family attributed to smoking, she wasn't aware of any family history of heart disease. Neither of her two older siblings had been diagnosed with it then.

But White said she had a hysterectomy at age 42 due to severe endometriosis, a painful condition in which uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus. The effect a hysterectomy has on estrogen production depends on what exactly is removed; if the uterus and both ovaries are removed, "surgical menopause" begins immediately. But even if only the uterus is removed and both ovaries remain, research shows that menopause is likely to begin earlier.

"It is very complex, because we know that estrogen impacts so many things," Krishnan said, mentioning vasodilation, or the widening of the arteries, and preventing insulin resistance, among other benefits. "So, they're looking at all different reasons you may not have enough estrogen."

Many women think the obvious solution would be to take estrogen, Krishnan said, but it's not that simple. Depending on an individual's medical history, taking estrogen could possibly increase inflammation or blood clots or even contribute to developing cancer.

"That's what makes it so unique for every woman on how to manage their risk," Krishnan said.

Women's symptoms during a heart attack are more likely to include dizziness, fatigue and nausea, but women are also more likely to dismiss chest pain as indigestion or overexertion, Krishnan said.

Almost every woman who has a heart attack tells Krishnan they didn't realize it was happening. Many have said they just thought their bra was too tight. But if women are feeling pressure or heaviness in their chest during average activities, like cleaning the house, bringing in the groceries or making the bed, that could be cause for concern, she said.

That doesn't mean exertion should be avoided. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to protect against heart disease, Krishnan said, adding that in animal models, aerobic training has been shown to mitigate the effects of estrogen loss.

"A lot of people think, 'It's out of my control. It's just what it is. Every woman in my family gets diabetes and hypertension.' And that's not true," she said. "Staying physically active is so essentially important."

Women should ask their primary care doctors about their heart health, Krishnan said, and if they're having questionable symptoms or if they have a family history, they may need a cardiology appointment.

"You never want to feel like a ticking time bomb, and there's many people who feel that way," Krishnan said.

2024 The Virginian-Pilot. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Morganton man was charged with multiple drug and gun charges after police say they investigated him for months.

Kyle Blackburn Brown, 38, of 301 Salem Road, Apt B, Morganton, was charged on May 21 with felony trafficking methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and given a $10,000 secured bond, according to a release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office.

After making bond, the following day Brown was charged with felony possession with intent to sell, manufacture and deliver a Scheduled II Controlled Substance, felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substance, felony possession of a firearm by felon and felony trafficking fentanyl. He was held on a $500,000 secured bond, the release said.

The sheriffs office said that on May 21, after several months of investigation, the criminal investigations/narcotics division executed a search warrant on Browns residence in Morganton. During the search, investigators found and seized approximately 53 grams of suspected methamphetamine, approximately 31 grams of suspected fentanyl, numerous items of drug paraphernalia and two firearms.

Brown was transported to the Burke County Magistrates Office, where he was charged and confined to the Burke County Jail after receiving no bond. Brown had a first appearance on Wednesday and received a $10,000 secured bond, the release said.

On the same day, Brown received additional charges related to the suspected narcotics found inside the residence, the release said.

After his first court date on Thursday, Brown received a $500,000 secured bond. He has another court date set for June 13 in Burke County District Court.

These are not the first drug charges for Brown. He previously served five and a half years in prison after he was found guilty in 2016 of attempted trafficking Schedule I. He also was convicted in 2016 of felony breaking and entering, according to information from the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections. He also was convicted in 2013 of felony breaking and entering, among other charges, according to the department.
Three separate votes, three different results.

A proposed property tax levy for Butte High School tied on election night May 7, passed by three votes when provisional ballots were counted six days later, and on Friday, failed by nine votes in a formal recount.

Three trustees for the Butte School District spent much of Friday recounting ballots and in the end there were 3,879 votes against the levy and 3,870 for it.

The initial unofficial count on election night was 3,782 in favor of the 8.46 mill levy and 3,782 opposed. The vote was 3,794 in favor and 3,791 against after provisional ballots were counted.

The district sought the $850,000 levy increase, saying it was needed for safety initiatives at the high school. The money would pay for school counselors, school resource officers, deans, mental health workers and IT staff who provide safety support.

Butte resident Frank Boroni and 20 others signed a petition seeking a recount so under state law, the district had to conduct one. Kevin Patrick, business manager for the school district, sent the official final tally to The Montana Standard on Friday night.

Although Butte-Silver Bow election officials mailed ballots and counted them on the night of the May 7 election and later when provisional ballots were added, they conducted the election on the school districts behalf.

Thats why trustees conducted the recount, which started at 9 a.m. Friday in the library in East Middle School and lasted into early evening.

The Butte School District also asked voters to approve a 2.46 mill levy that will raise an additional $203,801 annually to support operational costs at elementary schools. According to unofficial results, that passed with 3,907 votes in favor to 3,310 against.

The extra elementary levy will increase the property tax bill on a home valued at $100,000 by $3.32. It will be double that on a $200,000 home and triple that, or $9.96, on a $300,000 home.

The high school levy would have hiked the property tax bill on a $100,000 home by $11.43. It will be twice that amount on a $200,000 home and be triple that, or $34.28, on a home valued at $300,000.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev accepted credentials of newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine Yuriy Husyev on May 25, Azernews reports.

The ambassador presented his credentials to the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev then had a conversation with the ambassador.

The Ambassador conveyed greetings from the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to which President Aliyev expressed his gratitude and requested that his own greetings be communicated to the Ukrainian President.

The head of state recalled his recent phone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a few days prior, noting that they discussed cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries.

The discussion highlighted the formation of friendly ties and good bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine since the restoration of their independence. They emphasized that both countries support each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The ambassador expressed his gratitude for the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine, particularly the rehabilitation projects organized in Azerbaijan for Ukrainian children.

Yuriy Husyev mentioned his visit to the city of Lachin the previous day, expressing his admiration for the ongoing reconstruction and restoration works there. He also highlighted the establishment of sister city relations between Irpin and Lachin.

The meeting saw an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest.
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Over a century ago, Napa County communities observed Memorial Day 1917 with fittingly solemn and patriotic programs. At the same time these local residents were also preparing to send their young men overseas to fight in the European war, eventually known as World War I.

The first signs of war and the tumultuous upheaval of daily living appeared about a month before those Memorial Day observances. An April 20, 1917 Weekly Calistogan headline announced, Proclamation Issued By Wilson - World Told United States and Germany Are at War. Actually, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson had declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. Wilson and Congress also implemented a mandatory selective service, or draft, for all men ages 21 to 31 years old.

About a month later the reality of a war became even more apparent with the appointment of Napa Countys Registry Clerks by the Napa County Council of Defense. These clerks were to look after the registration in each voting precinct of men subject to draft under the provision of selective conscription law just signed by President Wilson, wrote the Calistogan. According to the article without exception all men were legally required to register for the draft on an appointed day.

To emphasize the importance of obeying the law the newspaper headline said it all. Must Register Or Else Go To Jail - Men Between Ages 21 and 31 to Be Signed Up. The article added for those who did not register faced a mandatory jail sentence with no bail. The new law set June 5, 1917 as the day for all draft eligible men in the U.S. to register at their regular polling precinct from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. on that particular Tuesday.

It was also mandated every American community had to supply a certain number of men for the U.S. military. That mandatory number of soldiers was referred to as a quota. With Napa County having 1,440 military age men in 1917 its quota was 134 men.

In order to have a draft, every eligible man was given a draft card upon registration. The Registry Clerks also had a copy of those cards which were given individual numbers. By mid-July that work had been completed in Napa County and all will be in readiness for the draft, added the Calistogan.

The wait was over on July 20, 1917 when the U.S. Senate drew the first round of draft numbers for the entire country. The first local number drawn was 258 and that of B.W. Land of Napa. The Calistogan provided more details, The first call of men consisted of 200 percent of the actual quota of the particular city or town. It continued, If these do not furnish the first quota a fresh levy must respond.

Following their receipt of their draft notices those local men had to appear for their physical examination. Those inspections were conducted in the Napa County Supervisors meeting room housed in the Courthouse. The physician-in-charge was Lawrence Welti. The newspaper added, The men will be noted as accepted or rejected. If rejected, those men were automatically ordered to be re-examined by two other local doctors, C.H. Bulson and E.Z. Hennessey. The article also stated, Then, if the men have claim for exemption, they must present it to their exemption board, which will pass on it quickly.

The Napa County Exemption Board was comprised of E.M Manasse and F.L. Hunt of Napa plus F.S. Cairns of St. Helena. This trio of well known and respected local businessmen received a surprise greeting of their own from Uncle Sam. The Calistogan wrote, The members of the Exemption Board have received official notification from Washington that they themselves have been drafted. However, they were not going to go to boot camp or overseas. The article continued, They were informed that in view of the fact that it was most essential that the Exemption Boards be permanent bodies that they must consider themselves drafted for the war for highly important duties they are called upon to perform just as effectively as are the registrants or those who voluntarily enlist for military service.

By Aug. 10 as the processing continued some interesting numbers, facts and discoveries had come to light. Of the initial 268 men in the first local draft call, 80 men passed the examination and claimed no exemption. Also 30 men had failed their first examination but were waiting for their re-examinations. The newspaper added, ...the government is determined to take as many men as possible, and is loath to excuse them even upon grounds of physical disability. Having that goal in mind, the federal government packed a lot of bite into its selective service law. The Calistogan provided an example, Any man who is summoned and who fails to appear for examination will be placed on the list as eligible for service without further examination.

The local draft tabulations also indicated there had been a number of no shows. Further investigation revealed an unexpected answer. The article reported, The board had ascertained that the reason why a number of the drafted men did not respond to the call for examination was because they were inmates of the Napa State Hospital.

The local Exemption Board also reported 50 of the 268 draftees were legal aliens. While they were ineligible for the draft they were welcomed to voluntarily enlist. One such individual was G. Boraschi. According to the newspaper he ... not only refused to claim exemption on the grounds that he was an alien, but expressed the hope that he might pass the physical examination so that he would be permitted to go and fight his countrys foes.

By Sept. 7 Napa County was close to meeting its quota. But to be on the safe side, more local men were notified to appear for processing.

A week later as the departure dates for boot camp were quickly approaching, the local communities held farewell services for those men ordered to the front via a Washington state boot camp. In Calistoga the school auditorium was filled with most of the towns residents. The church choirs sang while the Calistoga Band provided instrumental selections. Local officials and business people as well as the clergy bid their young men farewell and good wishes.

A mid-Sept. 1917 Calistogan article announced the departure of the first Napa County quota from Napa City. It wrote, these local men, now soldiers, were given a resounding farewell - a farewell that came deep from the community sending them forth.

Regarding that send-off the Calistogan wrote, the departure was quite involved. At promptly 8:25 a.m., the conscripted men also with the Exemption Board members were driven in autos to the local Armory from the Court House. There, they were greeted by the Napa County Council of Defense headed by District Attorney Coombs, and a procession was formed to march to the train depot.

The procession also included a band and citizens waving American flags. While no speeches were given and the good-byes that were said as the train pulled out were not formal ones, they were nevertheless most eloquent, wrote the Calistogan.

To all who have served, and are serving, this country, thank you!
PRNewswire Ningbo [China], May 25: On the morning of May 23, the premier exhibition of "Ningbo in Light and Shadow" was launched in Cambodia. Chen Cong, Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, Prak Phannara, Secretary of State to Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, Chhean Leang, Secretary of State to Ministry of Information of Cambodia and Choun Chanphearoun, Deputy Director General of Information and Broadcasting of the Ministry of Information of Cambodia attended the launching ceremony. The chambers of commerce of three levels (Ningbo, Zhejiang and China) in Cambodia, CNS reporters in Cambodia and reporters from Cambodian mainstream media have participated in the ceremony of the premier exhibition. The premier exhibition was jointly organized by Ningbo International Communication Center (NICC), China Pictorial, and Ningbo Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, covering more than 20 Ningbo companies such as Seduno and Shenzhou International Group, with 120,000 employees in overseas factories in Cambodia. It is reported that this is the first large-scale cultural exchange event in China that uses overseas factories as a platform to promote the image of the city to go global. This photography exhibition has selected 90 excellent photographic works. In addition to showing the mountains and rivers, landmarks and intangible heritage of Zhejiang and China, there are also beautiful pictures from Ningbo, covering the port, industry, city, culture and other aspects. The purpose is to tell the story of China with photos, so that employees of overseas factories can better understand Ningbo. The Sanjiangkou in Ningbo is both the outlet of China's Grand Canal and the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. The monument "Point of Departure of the Maritime Tea Route" at Sanjiangkou tells the origin of Chinese tea going global. The remarks of these pictures have brought the viewers back to the ancient time, witnessing a fleet of tea, tea sets, cotton and silk, porcelain was shipped from here to Cambodia and other places around the world. "Through the text explanation, I have learned that the Phnom Penh -- Poipet high-speed railway built in cooperation with China is also advancing, and it will become more convenient to travel in the future, which is very exciting." said Shen Jinfa, an employee of Seduno (Cambodia) Knitting Co., Ltd. A photo that is related to local social life also transcends the meaning of the photo itself and serves as a bridge to China-Cambodia friendship. "I've never been to China, I've never been to the location of the headquarters. However, these photos make me have a wonderful imagination of Ningbo far away." Rasny, an employee of Seduno (Cambodia) Knitting Co., Ltd., said that she is very fond of the historical architecture and cultural art of Ningbo at this photo exhibition. Many Ningbo companies such as Seduno have gathered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. How to increase the cohesion between employees from different cultural backgrounds is a problem to deal with by many overseas factories. "Through the photo exhibition, we have learned about the changes and development opportunities in China, as well as the development of this vibrant city of Ningbo." Chhean Leang, Secretary of State to Ministry of Information of Cambodia, greatly appreciates this approach, which allows people to know each other's situation intuitively. "Ningbo in Light and Shadow" Global 100 Exhibitions on 100 Enterprises plans to hold 100 photography exhibitions in 100 overseas factories of Ningbo enterprises. The next step will be launching the exhibition at overseas factories of Ningbo enterprises in Bangladesh, Vietnam and other countries. Contact: Huang JinTel.: 0086-18868927982E-mail: 2525545093@qq.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2421717/Ningbo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2217761/4725607/Ningbo_International_Communications_Center_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with a delegation headed by Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court of Cassation of Italy Luigi Salvato, Azernews reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers.

At the meeting, both parties expressed their contentment with the progress of the friendly relations and strategic partnerships between Azerbaijan and Italy in various areas.

In addition, it was observed that effective collaboration between the prosecutor's offices of the two countries is conducted through bilateral channels as well as within international organizations.

The importance of the Memorandum of Understanding signed within the framework of the visit on the development of cooperation between the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prosecutor General's Office of the Supreme Court of Cassation of the Italian Republic was emphasized.

Besides, the discussions covered the potential for further development of Azerbaijani-Italian relations in various areas such as trade, economics, and more.

The meeting was attended by General Prosecutor of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kamran Aliyev.
Alec Baldwin will face trial for involuntary manslaughter following the tragic shooting on the set of the movie 'Rust.' A New Mexico judge has rejected Baldwin's efforts to have the case dismissed, ensuring that the actor will stand trial starting July 9, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. In a ruling delivered on Friday, Santa Fe Judge Mary Sommer denied Baldwin's motion to dismiss the indictment, stating that there was no prosecutorial misconduct. "The court does not find prosecutorial bad faith," the judge's order read. This decision underscores that the proceedings against Baldwin were conducted fairly and impartially, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The incident, which resulted in the death of the film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, occurred when Baldwin allegedly fired a prop gun that contained a live round. Baldwin, who was also a producer on the low-budget Western, has been accused of negligence for failing to adhere to industry safety norms and for hiring an inexperienced armourer. Prosecutors argue that Baldwin's actions, including his decision to skip initial firearms training, directly contributed to the fatal shooting. If convicted, Baldwin could face up to 18 months in prison, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Baldwin's defence team presented several arguments to support their dismissal request. They claimed that the prosecution acted in bad faith, failed to disclose exculpatory evidence, and did not properly instruct the grand jury. However, Judge Sommer dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the prosecutors had no obligation to present evidence favourable to Baldwin. "Prosecutors have broad discretion as to what evidence to present to, or exclude from, the grand jury," Sommer wrote, adding that any good-faith decisions made by the prosecutor are not subject to review once an indictment is returned, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The judge also sided with the district attorney's office regarding the grand jury instructions, asserting that the instructions provided were appropriate and that the process was correctly followed. This ruling solidifies the path toward Baldwin's trial, which is set to begin on July 9. This development follows the sentencing of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armourer on the set of 'Rust,' who received an 18-month prison sentence in April. Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for loading the live round into the firearm that Baldwin discharged. As the trial date approaches, the case continues to draw significant public and media attention, with many awaiting the court's final judgment on this tragic incident. (ANI)
Sunil Dutt, a revered figure in Indian cinema, passed away in 2005 due to a heart attack at his Mumbai residence.

Reflecting on his father's enduring influence, Sanjay shared a poignant tribute, referring to him as his "guiding light."

Accompanying his heartfelt message, Sanjay posted nostalgic photographs, including a monochrome image of Sunil Dutt in his youth and a touching still from their iconic film 'Munna Bhai MBBS,' where the father-son duo shared a warm embrace.

"Holding onto the memories and your love, Dad. You remain a guiding light in my life. Missing you today and every day," wrote Sanjay, encapsulating the deep bond he shared with his father.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7YTdWtvJcE/?img_index=1

Sunil Dutt, known for his stellar performances in classics like 'Mother India,' 'Waqt,' 'Padosan,' and 'Sadhna,' left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.

His romance with actress Nargis, which began dramatically on the sets of 'Mother India' when he rescued her from a fire, became one of Bollywood's most cherished love stories.

The couple married on March 11, 1958, and together they had three children Sanjay, Priya, and Namrata Dutt.

The Dutt family faced significant challenges, especially with Nargis's battle with pancreatic cancer, which claimed her life on May 3, 1981.

Despite these hardships, Sunil Dutt remained a pillar of strength, both for his family and his fans.

In addition to his cinematic achievements, Sunil Dutt made significant contributions to Indian politics.

He joined the Congress party in 1984 and served as a Member of Parliament for five consecutive terms, representing the Mumbai North West constituency until his death.

Sunil Dutt's final film appearance was in 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S,' where he shared the screen with Sanjay, creating memorable moments that fans still cherish. (ANI)
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini along with his wife Suman Saini, on Saturday cast their vote at a polling booth in his native village Mirzapur in Haryana. Addressing the media after casting his vote, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attributing India's recent strides in development to his governance. "I appeal to the people of Haryana to strengthen the democracy and they should come out and vote in large numbers. Under the leadership of PM Modi, India has entered a new era of development. Today in the whole world, India has got recognition, it has reached new heights," Saini said. Reflecting on the transformative changes witnessed in the past decade, he said, "In the last ten years, under PM Modi's leadership, the state has witnessed, "Sabka saath Sabka Vikas". Be it medical colleges, and universities, whether connecting districts to greenfield airports, for the betterment of farmers, or granting Ayushman Bharat cards, or gas connections, every marginalized section has been given fair treatment under PM Modi". Exuding confidence in the BJP's victory in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Saini said, "Haryana will give all ten Lok Sabha seats one Assembly seat of Karnal to BJP and will strengthen PM Modi." Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is contesting the Karnal byelection. Earlier, former CM Manohar Lal Khattar cast his vote in Karnal and appealed to people to exercise their franchise in large numbers, "I have cast my vote. I appeal to the people to participate in this festival of democracy and also appeal to vote for the BJP party. The Congress candidate is not a challenge for me..." Former Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar is contesting from the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency against Divyanshu Budhiraja from the Congress, Virender Maratha from the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, and Devendra Kadyan from the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP). The voting for ten Lok Sabha seats and the Karnal assembly constituency of Haryana is underway. Ten Lok Sabha constituencies in Haryana include Ambala, Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hisar, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Rohtak, Sirsa, and Sonipat. 2,00,76,786 registered voters of Haryana will decide the fate of 223 candidates in the state. A total of 20,031 polling stations have been set up in the state. These include 19,812 permanent and 219 auxiliary polling stations. 5,470 polling stations have been set up in urban areas and 14,342 polling stations have been set up in rural areas. (ANI)
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and his wife Lakshmi Puri cast their votes at a polling booth in Delhi on Saturday. "Come out in large numbers and vote. Political consciousness is very high in India. Shed your apathy...The issues are very clear, the issues are about development. But the issues that the opposition is framing, they try to create a false narrative in the process they score self-goals...They have lost it...We will have a hattrick in Delhi...," Puri said speaking to reporters on Friday. Puri said that it will not be a daunting task to get more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections because the Bharatiya Janata Party has already secured 303 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "There is a sentiment for '400 paar' and there is no difficulty in crossing 400 seats since we already have 303 seats and our seats increase by 10 per cent every election. That makes it 330 to 333 seats, if it increases by 15 per cent, that makes it 3345. We've 37 allies. If even half of them win 2-3 seats," Puri said speaking to ANI on Saturday. "People like Shashi Tharoor should worry about their seats and the seats of the Congress Party. It is just a matter of a few days when people will get to know how many seats the NDA will win," he added. A total of 58 constituencies from six states and two union territories are set for polls in the sixth phase of polling and over 11.13 crore voters will be exercising their franchise to decide the fate of 889 candidates including two former Chief Ministers - Manohar Lal Khattar contesting as the BJP candidate from Karnal and Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP nominee from Anantnag-Rajouri. The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal. (ANI)
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi cast their votes in the sixth phase of the general elections. The mother-son duo also clicked a selfie outside the polling station after casting their votes. Voting across 58 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) in the sixth phase is underway. Earlier the Congress sounded confident about the chances of the INDIA alliance in the polls. Congress RS MP Jairam Ramesh said, "5 phases of elections have been held..It became clear after the first 2 phases that "Dakshin mein BJP saaf aur Uttar mein half", so the INDIA alliance will get a clear and decisive mandate on 4th June and on the 4th the country will bid him (PM Modi) goodbye... I have full confidence that our alliance will win all seven seats in Delhi..." The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal. A total of 889 candidates are in the fray. Voting is underway in all parliamentary seats of Delhi and Haryana in this phase. The riveting contest in Delhi has AAP and Congress jointly taking on the BJP, which won all seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital in the last two elections. While Congress is contesting on three seats in the national capital, AAP is contesting on four. The two parties are part of the INDIA bloc. The BJP campaign has been bolstered by rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other party leaders. Senior leaders of Congress have also held rallies in the national capital. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been released on interim bail by the Supreme Court in the Delhi excise policy case, also sought votes for AAP and Congress candidates. AAP and Congress have also joined hands in Haryana where BJP won all the seats in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Some seats in the state, including Hisar, are witnessing multi-cornered contests. Apart from BJP and Congress, the electoral stakes are high for INLD, Jannayak Janata Party in Haryana. The state will also go for assembly polls months after the Lok Sabha election. The Lok Sabha will be completed on June 1 after the seventh phase of polls in which voters from 57 constituencies will exercise their franchise. The results will be declared on June 4. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing voting for Lok Sabha polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and candidate from the Medinipur seat, Agnimitra Paul, said she is confident of winning her seat. Apart from Medinipur, voting is also underway at Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur constituencies in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state on Saturday. "We are confident that we will win the Medinipur seat...This is the feedback we have received from the ground level. We have been on the field for the last two months and from there we are confident of our victory," Paul said speaking to ANI on Saturday. "The work that the Prime Minister has done, the trust that has been built, will not be broken," she added. Alleging that the West Bengal Police is partial and is arresting BJP workers, Paul said it is not even registering an FIR in a case where a BJP worker was attacked. "Mamata Banerjee practices disgusting politics and her disgusting police are going to key candidates and arresting them. They are also arresting polling agents. However, on the other hand, they have neither registered an FIR nor arrested anyone when our worker Irfan Mallik got injured in his head. This partiality, assault, and low politics can only happen in West Bengal," Paul said. The senior BJP leader said that they are ready to overcome all hurdles and will face all challenges posed by the ruling TMC. "We are in the battleground and we will overcome all hurdles that come in front of us. The TMC will engage in rigging, and cheating because they know that they are losing. The Election Commission and the central forces will ensure just polling. Polling should be held in a proper manner because enough central forces have come," Paul said. The BJP has replaced the incumbent MP of Medinipur, Dilip Ghosh, with the party's state Mahila Morcha president, Agnimitra Paul, as its candidate for the Medinipur Lok Sabha seat. On the other hand, the TMC has fielded an actor-turned-politician, June Maliah, as its candidate. The CPI(M) and Congress have chosen Biplab Bhatta and Sambhunath Chattopadhyay as their respective candidates. BJP's Agnimitra Paul is an Indian fashion designer-turned-politician who served as a Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Asansol South. (ANI)
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son and daughter cast their votes in the sixth phase of the general elections. Priyanka's son Raihan Rajiv Vadra and daughter Miraya cast their votes in Delhi. Raihan Rajiv Vadra told ANI, "I think this is a very important election. I urge all youth to vote to save our constitution and to vote in a way that brings positive change." Miraya, who is also a first time voter urged that everybody should come out and vote. "Don't sit idle and make a change," she said. Voting for the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections began on Saturday morning across 58 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements. The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal. A total of 889 candidates are in the fray. All parliamentary seats in Delhi and Haryana will go to the polls in this phase. The riveting contest in Delhi has AAP and Congress jointly taking on the BJP, which won all seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital in the last two elections. While Congress is contesting on three seats in the national capital, AAP is contesting on four. The two parties are part of the INDIA bloc. Polling has already been completed on 428 parliamentary constituencies for 25 states and UTs in the first five phases of general elections. Over 11.13 crore voters including 5.84 crore male, 5.29 crore female and 5120 third gender electors are eligible to exercise their franchise in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls. Around 11.4 lakh polling officials will be involved in conducting his phase of the election. (ANI)
After External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar disclosed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) received a request only on May 21 to impound the passport of Janata Dal-Secular MP Prajwal Revanna, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwar said that the former's statement shows that the PMO had not informed the concerned ministry. "This shows that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has not informed the Foreign Ministry Office. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written a letter. What happened to the Prime Minister's letter written by our CM?" the Karnataka Minister said. Revanna is facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT) constituted by the Karnataka government over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household. Parameshwar's statement comes after EAM Jaishankar, in an exclusive interview with ANI, clarified the procedural aspects, saying, "To impound a passport is governed by an act called the Passport Act. We need a judicial court or a police request to do so. The MEA got this request from Karnataka only on May 21." Highlighting the adherence to legal procedures, Jaishankar emphasized that the external affairs minister acted promptly upon receiving the request. "We immediately acted on it. On 23rd of May... we have to follow a certain procedure and the procedure is initiated," he added. Siddaramaiah wrote to PM Modi on May 1 and May 23 urging him to take action to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna, who is said to have flown to Europe after being accused of sexually exploiting several women. In his letter to the Prime Minister, the Karnataka CM said that it is shameful that Prajwal Revanna fled the country on April 27, 2024, to Germany using his diplomatic passport shortly after news of his heinous actions emerged and just a few hours before the first FIR was filed against him. The revelation comes amidst a political storm surrounding Prajwal Revanna ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The Karnataka government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on April 27 to probe into allegations against Revanna after explicit videos allegedly involving him surfaced on social media. Despite the allegations, Prajwal Revanna has vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that the circulated videos are doctored. The formation of the SIT came following recommendations by the state women's commission, indicating the seriousness with which the matter is being addressed by authorities. (ANI)
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren casts her vote in Ranchi, amid the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections on Saturday. She cast her vote at the designated polling booth at St Francis School in the capital city Ranchi in Jharkhand. After casting her vote she appealed to voters to come out and exercise their franchise to protect democracy and the Constitution. "Today, I exercised my right to vote by participating in this great festival of elections for the massive victory of justice over injustice. An appeal to all of you is to reach your polling booth in large numbers and exercise your right to vote to protect democracy and the Constitution. If Hemant is there then there is courage. Jharkhand will not bow down, INDIA will not stop," she said. Earlier in another appeal to voters, she said that the winds of change were blowing in the country. "The winds of change that are blowing in the country have not happened due to the hard work of any leader or political party but due to the people. The people who are troubled by injustice, lies, exploitation and oppression are voting for their inclusive, bright and secure future. Today is the sixth phase of the total 7 phases of elections being held in the country. Today in Jharkhand too, the people of Giridih, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Ranchi Lok Sabha constituencies will vote for the massive victory of justice over injustice and to protect their rights," she said. Notably, the JMM is part of the INDIA bloc and is contesting elections in alliance with the Congress in Jharkhand and Odisha. From the Ranchi Lok Sabha constituency, the JMM-Congress-led bloc has filed Yashaswini Sahay from the seat, while BJP-led NDA has filed Sanjay Seth from the seat, who is bidding for the second term from the seat. Voting for the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections began on Saturday morning across 58 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements. The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote. The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal. A total of 889 candidates are in the fray. According to the data of the Election Commission, Jharkhand recorded 27.80 per cent of the voter turnout till 11 am. The four seats of Jharkhand that are undergoing the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls are Ranchi, Dhanbad, Giridih and Jamshedpur. 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. The general elections are being held in seven phases and the counting is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)
BJP candidate from Bhubaneswar Aparajita Sarangi cast her vote for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha Elections and third phase of Odisha Assembly elections, at a polling station in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. She also appealed to everyone to cast their votes and hoped she would get the people's blessings. After casting her vote, Sarangi said, "I appealed to everyone to cast their votes after seeing their representatives. I am very happy that people are coming in wheelchairs to cast their votes. I am hopeful that I will get the blessings of people." The Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat is witnessing a three-way contest among the sitting MP Aparajita Sarangi, Congress leader Yasir Nawaz, and Biju Janata Dal leader Manmath Routray. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 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. Voting for the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections began on Saturday morning across 58 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements. The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal. Forty-two assembly constituencies in Odisha are also going for polls in the sixth phase. Assembly elections are being held in the state simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. Polling has already been completed on 428 parliamentary constituencies for 25 states and UTs in the first five phases of general elections. Over 11.13 crore voters including 5.84 crore male, 5.29 crore female, and 5120 third-gender electors are eligible to exercise their franchise in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls. Around 11.4 lakh polling officials will be involved in conducting this phase of the election. (ANI)
Maneka Gandhi, who is a sitting BJP MP from the seat, urged people to vote in large numbers. She said results on June 4 will be in favour of BJP.

The MP said there were minor issues at two-three places in EVMs. "A few polling officers are not well-trained, and some of our agents are unaware. It's a hit-and-miss process," Mameka Gandhi said answering a query.

"I not a fortune teller. All I can tell is the results that will be coming on June 4 will be in favour of BJP," she said answering another query.

Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency is witnessing a triangular fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Congress has won the seat eight times, BSP twice and BJP four times.

Voting is taking place on Saturday across 58 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs).

The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal. A total of 889 candidates are in the fray.

Votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], May 25 (ANI/WAM): The UAE welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice to impose additional provisional measures on Israel, demanding an immediate halt to military operations in Rafah governorate, and the exacerbation of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored that the UAE affirms the need to reach an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, avoid further loss of life, and halt escalation in all the regions of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Furthermore, the Ministry emphasised the importance of alleviating the extremely critical and deepening humanitarian catastrophe faced by civilians in Gaza due to the continuous Israeli aggression against the Strip. The Ministry reaffirmed the significance of ensuring the arrival of humanitarian and relief aid urgently, sustainably and without impediment to the Gaza Strip. In this context, it stressed the importance of the decision issued by the Court regarding the necessity of keeping the Rafah Crossing open for the widespread and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid. The Ministry underlined that the UAE continues to work with unprecedented determination with international partners to intensify all efforts to ensure the arrival and distribution of relief through all available means. Moreover, this includes the safe delivery of aid by land, sea and air to contribute to alleviating the critical humanitarian conditions faced by the residents of the Gaza Strip due to this ongoing war. The Ministry reiterated the UAE's unwavering call on the international community to intensify all regional and international efforts to achieve peace and the two-state solution. The Ministry underscored that the UAE is steadfast in its commitment to reinforcing peace and justice, safeguarding the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, and establishing an independent sovereign Palestinian State, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy. (ANI/WAM)
Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, attended the opening of 'The Walking Through A Songline Exhibition' on Friday and stated that the exhibition is happening at the pinnacle of Australia's "long and happy relationship" with India. In his address at the exhibition, the Australian envoy said, "This exhibition is happening at the pinnacle of Australia's long and happy relationship with India. We have always been friends, but now we are strategically aligned." "Now we have a strong economy and complementary activity that works together. And now we have nearly a million people of Indian origin in Australia, one of the largest communities and the fastest growing community in our nation, who are making enormous contributions to us," he added. Philip Green OAM noted that they are presenting a very special part of Australia's First Nations culture. He said that the Songlines Project has been going on for many years now. Speaking about the Songlines Project, he said, "Tonight, it's special because tonight we are bringing you a very special part of our First nations culture. The Songlines project has been going for many years now, and what you will see tonight is the end to development of this immersive experience is delivered. But, this derives from finding, refinding a songline from the central and western deserts in Australia that had been largely forgotten, was passed on orally from generation to generation." "And what has occurred over the last ten years is the recreation of a tradition which was largely being lost. And so what you will experience this evening is the re-achievement of culture that we're in the process of losing. Many people have been mentioned for their work here this evening, and I'm delighted at all of their support," he added. He stated that Australia is proud of the indigenous part of its society. He stressed the importance of paying tribute to the indigenous people of Australia. Highlighting the importance of paying tribute to indigenous part of Australian society, he said, "There are many parts of Australian society that we are proud of, but there is none that we are more proud of than our indigenous part of our society, a civilization which has had an ongoing culture for more than 660 thousand years, the longest living culture on the planet that is unique in the world and something that the government that I represent is determined to pay greater attention to." "As many of you will know, some of our history is dark and we need to remember that, we need to pay tribute to our indigenous people. We need to bring them forward as a key part of our diplomacy and our national life in every way. And in putting this exhibition on for you, this evening...It's an important part of the way in which we seek to find reconciliation in our own nation." Philip Green OAM expressed happiness to bring the exhibition to an Indian audience and noted that Australian indigenous people are a culture that goes back 60,000 years. Speaking to ANI, Australian envoy said, "We're delighted to bring this exhibition to an Indian audience. For us, this is very special, Australia's indigenous people is a culture that goes back 60,000 years. It's the longest living alive culture on the planet. And what we have done here is to bring together some of the ancient stories, the mythologies, the dreamtime of Australian indigenous people, and turn them into a multimedia, immersive art form that people can experience, learn something of Australian indigenous culture, but also see something that is extremely modern." "This is presented, in a way, with its multimedia capacity, which is entirely immersive and takes one right into the center of the songline to understand the art, but also the culture and the civilization that lies behind it," he added. He also spoke about the similarities between the art and culture of Australian aboriginal people and the natives of the Indian subcontinent. He noted that there are a number of similarities between the First Nations art of Australia and India. Asked whether there are similarities between the art and culture of Australian Aboriginal people and the natives of the Indian subcontinent, he responded, "Yes, I do, and that's probably not surprising. Scientists tell us that our continents were once merged in the so-called Gondwana land, and we see a number of parallels between the First nations art of Australia and that of India." "And we've taken quite a lot of effort to bring together Australian and Indian First nations artists in the past, particularly from the Gond people. And there you see the similar sort of use of dots that you see in Australian indigenous art. So, there is some similarity there. And I think Indian audiences will enjoy this exhibition for trying to compare and contrast with their own experiences of First Nations art," he added. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], May 25 (ANI/WAM): Under the patronage of Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, the 10th Education Interface Exhibition will take place from 27th to 28th May 2024 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, celebrating its bronze jubilee under the slogan "Ten years in Service to Education". The event will bring together 65 educational institutions, representing 537 local and international educational institutions and dozens of governmental and private educational institutions from the UAE and worldwide, representing countries including the UAE, the US, UK, Canada, Malaysia and Australia. The event will also feature local and global specialised lecturers from government and private to exchange experiences with students and individuals seeking to further their education across all academic and scientific disciplines. During a press conference announcing the details of the 10th edition of the Education Interface Exhibition, Colonel Dr. Khalfan Al Naqbi, Director of the Security Qualifications Center at the General Administration for Competency Development at the Ministry of Interior, said that the Ministry of Interior, guided by the vision of the wise leadership, is committed to strengthening its relations and partnerships with all national institutions to achieve sustainable goals. The press conference, which was attended by Dr. Moza Saeed Al Badi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Education Interface; Hamad Ghanem Ali Al Dhaheri, Member of the Board of Directors of the Bin Hamoodah Group; Yasser Al Wahidi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy; Noura Al Riyasi, Head of the Talent, Institutional Development and Emiratisation Department at First Abu Dhabi Bank; and Maryam Ahli, CEO of the Education Interface Exhibition, also featured the signing of sponsorship agreements between the Education Interface and several strategic partners and sponsors. Colonel Khalfan Al Naqbi pointed out that, under the directives of H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ministry of Interior's participation in the Education Interface Conference underscores the exhibition and the conference's role in guiding the nation's youth towards educational and employment opportunities, enhancing capabilities, and developing competencies. He added that the Ministry of Interior ensures diverse and comprehensive participation every year, involving departments and sectors concerned with training, education, capability development, and presenting qualification and employment opportunities. Additionally, the Ministry participates in workshops and seminars related to its competencies. He also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the supporting institutions, bodies, and individuals for their collaborative efforts within the framework of the UAE government's directives and its mission to enhance the quality of life in the Emirati community. (ANI/WAM)
The Punjab cabinet has approved undertaking legal action against former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders for building a "hateful narrative against the state institutions," Pakistan-based Dawn reported. The decision was taken in a Punjab cabinet meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, according to the statement released by the provincial government. While addressing a press conference in Lahore, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the home department had submitted an inquiry report which allegedly revealed that PTI members were "spreading mischief inside and outside the (Adiala) jail." Azma Bokhari alleged that the PTI spread propaganda that Imran Khan was not permitted to meet anyone. She further said that the party was "spreading hate as part of organised propaganda". Bokhari said it was decided to register a complaint according to the report presented by the home ministry, according to Dawn report. She said, "To spread incitement in the country, to destabilize the country, to spread hatred against the institutions in the country, that is the total agenda of this party," adding that Imran Khan's party was not thinking about the country's benefit. Last week, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly criticized Pakistan's military establishment over its alleged political role. He indirectly called for the trial of the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) under Article 6 over his "political press conference," according to Dawn report. He made the remarks after ISPR Director General Major General Ahmed Sharif said that any talks with the PTI could happen only if it "earnestly apologises publicly in front of the nation." The PTI had called the ISPR's press conference as "full of contradictions". Earlier on Thursday, the Capital Development Authority demolished a portion of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) central secretariat in Islamabad over a "violation of building rules", Geo News reported, adding that the Imran Khan-founded party came down heavily on the CDA over its action. In a statement, the CDA said its anti-encroachment team launched an operation on Thursday to remove illegal construction and encroachment. The operation started around 11.30 pm (local time) and ended in an hour. The CDA said encroachment by a 'political party' was being removed, adding that the plot was allotted in the name of a person identified as Sartaj Ali. The CDA said an additional floor was built on the plot in violation of the building rules, according to Geo News. The government body said it had issued notices to PTI but to no avail. As the operation was being conducted, the party founded by former PM Imran Khan urged its workers to immediately arrive at the secretariat. The PTI said that the government began demolishing the office in an "illegal and unjust manner." While the CDA said that it had issued several notices to PTI, the party chairman, Barrister Gohar Khan, said they had not received any orders from the CDA. Khan said that CDA officials were asked to provide documents about the operation, however, they were unable to produce them. He stated, "If there had been any encroachments and they had informed us about them earlier, we would have removed them ourselves." (ANI)
The United States on Friday announced new security assistance worth USD 275 million for Ukraine, including ammunitions, artillery rounds, and precision aerial munitions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated US support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia. Blinken said that the new security assistance of Ukraine is part of the US efforts to help Kyiv repel Moscow's assault near Kharkiv. In a post on X, Blinken stated, "Today, the United States is announcing a USD 275 million drawdown of weapons and equipment to support the brave people of Ukraine. We will continue to stand with Ukraine in its fight against Russia's aggression." In a statement, Blinken stated, "The United States is announcing today a significant new drawdown of weapons and equipment for Ukraine to support the brave Ukrainian people as they defend their country against Russia's aggression. " "This USD 275 million package, which is part of our efforts to help Ukraine repel Russia's assault near Kharkiv, contains urgently needed capabilities including: ammunition for HIMARS; 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds; Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; precision aerial munitions; small arms and additional rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades; demolitions munitions; anti-armor mines; tactical vehicles; body armor, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment; and spare parts, maintenance, and other equipment," he added. In the statement, Blinken noted that it is the fifth security assistance package authorized by US President Joe Biden since signing the national security supplemental and the third package using Presidential Drawdown Authorities. Antony Blinken stated that the assistance from previous packages has already made it to the front lines and the new military assistance will be moved as quickly as possible so that the Ukrainian military can use it to defend their territory and protect the people of Ukraine. Blinken stated, "As President Biden has made clear, the United States and the international coalition we have assembled will continue to stand with Ukraine in its defense of its freedom." Notably, the US has offered support to Ukraine since the war between Moscow and Kyiv started in 2022. Earlier this month, Antony Blinken arrived on a surprise visit to Ukraine to foster ties and reaffirm American support to Kyiv amid its ongoing war with Russia. Upon his arrival in Ukraine, Blinken in a post on X stated, "I returned to Kyiv today to demonstrate our unwavering support for Ukraine as they defend their freedom against Russian aggression." He made this unannounced visit for the fourth time since the war between Moscow and Kyiv started in February 2022. On May 24, Russia launched a wave of missile strikes in several locations of Ukraine's Kharkiv, including a printing house, killing seven people and injuring 23 others. Seven people who were killed, including at least five women, were civilians working for the Factor-Druk printing company in Kharkiv, according to the regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, CNN reported. As many as 16 people were injured at the printing house, located south of the city center, and another seven were injured at another location. Russian soldiers have taken advantage of a weakened front line in Ukraine, according to CNN report. For the past two weeks, Russian forces have advanced towards Kharkiv. Earlier in the war, Russian forces had captured parts of the region before being liberated. The Ukrainian state railway network was also attacked in the morning, according to the company's statement. The company said six employees were injured in the attack. (ANI)
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) top leadership after raising further objections to recently-held intra-party polls, Pakistan-based ARY News reported. The ECP has issued a notice to the Imran Khan-founded party and summoned PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Raoof Hasan, who was the election commissioner in the intra-party polls held on May 30. In the notice, the Pakistan electoral watchdog seeks PTI's response to the commission's inquiry into the internal electoral process of the party. The ECP has already sent a questionnaire to PTI and sought information regarding PTI's intra-party polls. Earlier in May, the ECP raised objections to intra-party elections held by PTI, questioning the party's status after 'losing organizational structure'. On December 22, the ECP revoked the PTI electoral symbol 'bat' due to irregularities in its intra-party polls. Later, the Supreme Court upheld the order of the electoral watchdog, forcing PTI to field its candidates as independents in the elections held on February 8. Following the general elections, the PTI once again held its intra-party polls on March 3. The party has now called on ECP to issue its notification. However, the electoral watchdog has once again raised objections to the recently held intra-party polls and sent a two-page questionnaire to PTI, according to ARY News report. The ECP raised questions over the current "status" of the PTI as a political party and noted that the Imran Khan-founded party did not conduct intra-party polls within five years, in accordance with Section 208(1). The electoral watchdog stated, "Hence, it lost its organisational structure on lapsing of five years." The ECP also questioned why not to start the delisting process of the former ruling party's registration and imposing a fine for not holding timely intra-party elections, according to ARY News report. Section 208(5) reads, "Where a political party fails to conduct intra-party elections as per given time frame in their constitution, a show-cause notice shall be issued to such political party and if the party fails to comply, then the Commission shall impose fine which may extend to Rs200,000 but shall not be less than Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 100,000." The electoral watchdog also questioned the legality of PTI's chief organizer and federal election commissioner appointed by its General Body, while the PTI's constitution defines appointments on the former position through its National Council on recommendations of the Chief Executive Committee (CEC). According to the ECP, a political party would be registered as per the old law under the Election Act if it submits certificates within a week after intra-party polls, in addition to complete records of elected office-bearers, poll data and results, according to ARY News report. Furthermore, the party is also required to submit relevant documents in 60 days under the Election Act. The ECP questioned the PTI on why it should not begin its delisting process for not submitting documents in accordance with the prescribed law. The ECP asked the PTI leadership to submit its response to the observations to proceed further as per the law. (ANI)
Two schools in Nepal, constructed with the Indian government's financial assistance under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation', were inaugurated in the presence of government officials, embassy officials, and political representatives. The School building of Shree Bal Janata Secondary School at Lamahi Municipality, Dang, was built under the Indian government's financial aid at the cost of NRs.17.60 million, according to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. The inauguration was done jointly by Ratna Bahadur Khatri, Social Development Minister of Lumbini Province, Nityananda Sharma, Chief, of District Coordination Committee, Jogaraj Chaudhary, Mayor, Lamahi Municipality and Avinash Kumar Singh, First Secretary, Embassy of India, Kathmandu. Moreover, the school Building of Shree Padmodaya Public Model Secondary School at Ghorahi Sub Metropolitan City, Dang, was also built with the Indian government's financial assistance at the tendered cost of NRs. 28.70 million. "Political representatives, government officials, social workers, representatives of the school management, teachers, parents and students were also present on this occasion," the embassy stated. The Indian government's grant under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation', was utilized to construct double double-storied school building, laboratories, provisioning of lab equipment, furniture and other facilities at Shree Bal Janata Secondary School at Lamahi Municipality. Also, the grant was utilised for the construction of a double-storied school building with other facilities at Shree Padmodaya Public Secondary School at Ghorahi Sub Metropolitan City, Dang. "These projects were taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP), under an Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal on High Impact Community Development Projects," the embassy said. The projects were implemented through the District Coordination Committee, Dang. Minister of Lumbini Province, Chief DCC, Mayor of Sub Metropolitan City and Mayor of Lamahi Municipality, Dang in their remarks appreciated the continued developmental support of the Indian government in priority sectors. "The set-up created would be useful in providing better education facilities to students of Shree Bal Janata Secondary School and Shree Padmodaya Public Model Secondary School in Dang, Nepal and would create an improved environment for learning as well as contribute to the development of the education in this region," the statement added. Since 2003, the Indian government has taken up over 551 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and has completed 490 projects. Amongst these, 61 projects are in Lumbini Province in various sectors, which include six projects in Dang. Additionally, India has gifted 1009 ambulances and 300 school buses to various hospitals, health posts and educational institutions in Nepal. Amongst these, 164 ambulances and 43 school buses have been gifted in Lumbini Province, including 19 ambulances and 5 school buses provided in Dang District. As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. "The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in upliftment of its people, augmenting infrastructure in the field of priority sector, especially in the education sector in Nepal," the embassy said in its release. (ANI)
The World Sindhi Congress (WSC) has expressed sorrow and outrage over the murder of a Sindhi journalist, Nasrullah Gadani, bringing the total number of media workers reported killed nationwide in 2024 to five, according to Voice of America (VOA). Gadani, who was attacked and shot three days ago in Ghotki, Sindh, succumbed to his injuries in a hospital in Karachi today. Nasrullah Gadani was respected for his commitment to truth and justice. Despite enduring a life of poverty, he refused to be co-opted by the system, choosing instead to highlight the injustices faced by the Sindhi people. Gadani's courageous reporting often targeted the abuses of power by feudal and politicians, who, under the protection of the Pakistan army, have perpetuated widespread suffering in Sindh. His fearless dedication to exposing these atrocities ultimately cost him his life. Activists and colleagues said the slain journalist had consistently highlighted the civic issues plaguing impoverished Sindh in his reporting. Gadani also was critical of the powerful feudal lords in the region, which led to his repeated detention by the police, as noted by Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir in this social media post on X, formerly Twitter. The WSC has condemned the murder as part of a disturbing pattern of violence against journalists in Sindh. The organization voiced deep concerns about the likelihood of justice being served in this case, given the region's history of impunity. The news of Gadani's death sparked outrage among journalists and civil society members, leading to a protest demonstration demanding justice for the slain reporter. The WSC emphasised the critical role of the Sindhi community, political activists, human rights defenders, and civil society organizations in continuing the fight for justice for Nasrullah Gadani and other victims of such violence. In a statement, the WSC offered condolences to Gadani's family and friends. "The organisation pledged to honour his legacy by advocating for his case and the broader issues of lawlessness in Sindh at international platforms, including the United Nations", the WSC statement said. The murder of Nasrullah Gadani is a reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in Sindh and underscores the need for systemic reforms to protect those who speak truth to power. The WSC's call for justice resonates as a clarion call for action against the entrenched impunity that endangers the lives of those who dare to challenge it. https://x.com/HRCP87/status/1793918531500712173 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a leading independent rights watchdog, said it was "deeply concerned" by the situation facing journalists in the country. It urged the Sindh government to investigate Gadani's killing and hold the perpetrators to account. (ANI)
An angry mob assaulted a Christian person, vandalized his house, and torched properties alleging an incident of 'blasphemy' in Sargodha city in Pakistan on Saturday, Geo News reported. This is one of the many episodes that highlight the precarious situation faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, who continue to face the threats of persecution and attacks. The incident happened in Mujahid Colony in Sargodha, Punjab province. The enraged mob torched a shoe factory established within the victim's house. They also burnt tyres and damaged electricity installations in the area. The situation was brought under control after a heavy contingent of police reached the spot. The police managed to shift the injured victim, along with other wounded individuals, to a hospital in an ambulance before taking several suspects involved in the incident into custody. Regional Police Officer (RPO) Shariq Kamal confirmed that the mob also attacked the police party with stones, but they were later dispersed, as reported by Geo News. The RPO said the incident was being investigated and that those who "disturbed the law and order" would be dealt with strictly. Meanwhile, Sargodha District Police Officer Asad Ejaz Malhi told Dawn that the incident happened over an incident of alleged desecration. The police cordoned off two houses in the colony and "safely recovered all the residents," he said. Unverified footage on social media showed a mob surrounding an injured man and separate videos showing men, some of whom appeared to be teenagers, wrecking furniture outside a house, according to Dawn. Being asked about the videos, DPO Malhi said that these were "fake videos" and insisted that no one was hurt in Sargodha district. "Police is maintaining law and order," he added. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concerns over the situation in Sargodha and urged the Punjab Police and district administration to restore calm in the area and bring the perpetrators to justice immediately. "HRCP is seriously concerned by the unfolding situation in #Sargodha, where the Christian community in Gillwala village is reportedly at grave risk to their lives at the hands of charged mobs. There are unconfirmed reports of a man having been allegedly lynched," the HRCP posted on X. "The Punjab police @OfficialDPRPP and district administration must immediately restore calm and bring the perpetrators to book while ensuring that the Christian community comes to no further harm," it added. In August last year, a similar incident but with greater magnitude happened in Pakistan's Jaranwala. Over 21 churches and more than a hundred houses were burned down, some reduced to rubble, in the Jaranwala mob attack over allegations of 'blasphemy'. This was combined with widespread looting and burning of hundreds of homes across 11 areas in the Faisalabad district. Moreover, 10,000 Christians were moved immediately and 20,000 were affected by the incident. (ANI)
The US is "deeply concerned" over the Chinese army's joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. US Department of State official spokesperson Matthew Miller urged China to act with restraint. US State Department's statement comes after China launched two-day-long military drills on Thursday and Friday (May 23-24) involving land, sea, air, and rocket forces, Taiwan News reported. China launched the exercise days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's President on May 20. In a statement, Matthew Miller stated, "The United States is deeply concerned over the People's Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. We are monitoring PRC activities closely and coordinating with allies and partners regarding our shared concerns." Miller noted that use of normal, routine and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalations and erodes longstanding norms that for years have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. US Department of State spokesperson stated, "The United States is deeply concerned over the People's Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. We are monitoring PRC activities closely and coordinating with allies and partners regarding our shared concerns." "We strongly urge Beijing to act with restraint. Using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation and erodes longstanding norms that for decades have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is critical for regional and global security and prosperity and a matter of international concern," he added. Matthew Miller stated that US remains committed to its longstanding one China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. The drills, spanning the Taiwan Strait and areas adjacent to Taiwan-controlled islands near China's coast, commenced just days after Lai's assumed office. Days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's President, China launched two-day-long military drills on Thursday, surrounding the nation in what it called "punishment" for so-called "separatist acts," CMNN report. 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. 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 am (local time) 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" as he backs 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 criticised Lai's inauguration speech, in which he urged China to end its intimidation of Taiwan. In his inaugural speech after being sworn in as Taiwan's President, Lai Ching-te, 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, 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 slammed 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)
A heartfelt farewell to 19 educators from Amherst County Public Schools who are retiring or who have retired in the past year was held during a May 20 dinner at Sweet Briar College.

Superintendent William Wells said the retirees accumulated roughly 456 years of combined service and each played vital roles for the countys schools. Those educators have devoted much of their lives to students and the division is grateful, he said.

Most people dont realize the impact a teacher, a bus driver, a custodian, a food service worker has on our school community, Wells said.

Regardless of their title, all the retirees touched the lives of students, mentored other staff and imparted knowledge from their experience, Wells said.

And thats going to be dearly missed, Wells told retirees. Its impossible to quantify the full impact you have had on our students and our schools.

Monelison Middle Schools choir ensemble, directed by Eunice Nogueras, sang a few songs for the audience.

Amherst County High School Principal Joey Crawford recognized Kathleen Ayau, a teacher at the high school retiring after close to 30 years. Crawford said Ayau encouraged him 17 years ago when he was teaching a world geography class and it stayed with him.

You inspire me, Crawford said to Ayau.

Kim Klein, supervisor of child nutrition, honored retiree child nutrition assistant Delores Ackerman, describing her as an integral part of the kitchen staff at Amherst Middle School who generously works behind the scenes and is dedicated.

She knows the most efficient way to carry out all the kitchen processes and has helped train many substitutes and new staff members, Klein said.

Donna Gunnels, child nutrition program manager also retiring, has been a wealth of knowledge for the division during her 28-year career, Klein said. Whenever Klein wants to test out a new product or program, she knows she can rely on Gunnels for honest feedback.

If there was ever a pitfall, she would be the first one to find it and would be the first one to find a solution to whatever problem was facing us, Klein said, adding Gunnels has shown hard work and leadership. She is a fierce supporter of all child nutrition programs, and I dont think Ill ever hear a cowbell in the future that I dont think about her ringing it every day during sixth, seventh and eighth grade lunch to let the students know its time to come up and get ice cream.

Susan Bailey, a teacher stepping down from Amherst Elementary after 22 years, has taught various grade levels there with a constant smile, school principal Amanda Cassise said.

She is the epitome of flexibility, Cassise said. ... Mrs. Bailey cares about kids. Teaching is her purpose.

Bailey also runs Mt. Pleasant Growers, a produce delivery business with her family that operates a greenhouse on U.S. 60 West. Wishing Bailey the best in retirement, Cassise said told her: may your greenhouse overflow with lettuce and her heart overflow with love.

Pam Jungersen, a vision specialist at Central Elementary School also retiring, was honored for providing instruction to blind and low vision students. Central Elementary Principal Ron Proffitt said students and staff love Jungerson, who is moving to Texas, and will miss her.

Know that while things may be bigger in Texas, the hole youre going to leave behind is definitely bigger for us, Proffitt said while honoring her.

Josh Neighbors, chief student services officer for ACPS, said Jungersen is one of the most compassionate professionals he has worked with, a leader in her field and the longest standing member of the divisions special education advisory committee. He praised her work as a vision specialist, the only one in the division for nearly two decades.

You have made school a safe, happy and rich experience for those students, Neighbors told her. They would not have had that without you. We cant thank you enough for that.

Wendy Gordon, library media specialist at Elon Elementary, was honored as a cornerstone of the school. Principal Lelia Saunders said Gordon has helped children discover the thrill of reading and the comfort of a good book as an educator for more than 26 years, 15 of those at Elon.

[She] has transformed our library into a magical place where stories come to life and knowledge is boundless, Saunders said. You leave behind a legacy of curiosity, kindness and a love for learning that will inspire us all for years to come.

Esther Barajikian, a Madison Heights Elementary School teacher, was described as a true pillar of the school community for over three decades with unwavering dedication, boundless compassion and profound commitment to nurturing students lives, particularly those with unique learning needs. Principal Jeremy Hutchinson said her legacy and incredible mark will endure at the school.

Esther is a rare blend of care, love and tireless effort, all dedicated to making each students journey as rich and rewarding as possible, Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson also said it was a privilege working with another retiring Madison Heights Elementary teacher, Terry Bumgarner, who works with the youngest of the schools children who hang on to her every word.

Terry is the embodiment of love, kindness and compassion, Hutchinson said. Her heart is dedicated to others and she works tirelessly to create a nurturing environment for our little ones to not only thrive but flourish. Every smile, every gentle hug and encouragement she has left a mark on countless students who feel cherished, welcomed and valued.

Bumgarners late husband, Alan Bumgarner, served on the Amherst County School Board.

Temperance Elementary School teacher Kari Fleming was honored for her 19 years. Principal Lantz Martin said he is a blessing to so many at the school, a constant source of encouragement and a shoulder to lean on who has inspired many students.

Another Temperance Elementary educator, Nancy Jones, received praise for working with students across all groups. Martin said she has been a vital part in the afterschool program where her enthusiasm enriches students lives. Jones always is on the move finding ways to be helpful, productive and foster a collaborative atmosphere for everyone, Martin said, adding she was his sidekick for years.

Martin also honored Janette Mears, an instructional assistant at Temperance, who he said does much individual work with students and had a banner year with 100% of her students passing the Standards of Learning testing or showing growth.

Gary Roakes, the divisions supervisor of maintenance and operations, recognized Pam Daw for serving more than three decades with the division in various roles. Daw started her career at the high school in 1984, returned to the division 20 years ago following a break as a part-time secretary in the maintenance department and became full time in the role in 2013, Roakes said.

Mark Broudus, child nutrition program assistant; Vicki Hubbard, special education teacher; John Moats, drafting architecture teacher; Mary Kay Dorman, fifth grade teacher at Amelon Elementary; Peggy Cain and Nellie Harris, of the transportation department, also were honored.

Amherst County School Board Chair Chris Terry said the retirees impacted the lives of colleagues in addition to the students.

You established a legacy while you were at Amherst County, Terry said. Very few of you started your careers going Day 1, Im going to do this for 20 years, 30 years, 49 years, but one day led to the other and another ... each year seems to go by that much faster. Thank you for enduring the time you endured with the schools. Our kids are so much better because of you and our teachers who remain are so much better because of you.
As the state of Virginia experiences a rise in pediatric emergency room visits for behavioral health issues, Centra Health is taking proactive steps to ensure optimal care for children, particularly those with autism. The health care system has initiated training programs for ER caregivers to support, communicate and assist patients with autism more effectively.

Dr. Jitendra Annapareddy, child psychiatrist and medical director for autism services at Centra, said pediatric mental health has always been underfunded.

Before the pandemic, it was managed reasonably well, but since then, there has been a significant increase in mental health challenges among children, especially adolescents, he said.

According to Annapareddy, the pandemic exacerbated existing issues, resulting in a 20% to 30% increase in diagnosable mental illnesses among the pediatric population. The mental health system, already stretched thin, struggled to accommodate this surge, leading many families to seek help in emergency rooms.

The ER often becomes the primary care point when the systems capacity is overwhelmed, Annapareddy said.

He said the pandemic-induced isolation and lack of social interaction significantly increased suicidality and aggressive behaviors among children, further driving up ER visits.

In contrast to the rising trend statewide, Centra has observed a steadiness in its numbers, thanks in part to their robust behavioral health services. This stability is attributed to Centras comprehensive approach, which includes collaboration with Horizon Behavioral Health, among other partners.

Centras response involves education and support for health care providers. By training ER caregivers on how to interact with patients with autism, Centra hopes to reduce the distress these children may experience during visits. The goal is to provide appropriate care and minimize the need for emergency interventions.

Education helps providers understand why these patients present to the ER and how to manage their challenges effectively, Annapareddy said. By increasing awareness and confidence among caregivers, we hope to reduce future ER visits and ensure children receive the right care at the right time.

Crystal Collette, senior director of psychiatry and behavioral health who oversees the operations of the Autism Clinic, said the hospital recognizes that this has a big impact on the families that are coming in waiting and desperate for those services.

So, we are really trying to be strategic about the future programs that we offer from an outpatient perspective, she said. And of course, the new behavioral health hospital is in the works as well.

From an outpatient perspective, staff is looking at expanding offerings for the child and adolescent population.

And part of my role is to see how we can attract even more providers here to serve this population and really tailor the needs to what the community needs, which is more services, she said.

Megan Hamlett, unit manager of Lynchburg General Hospitals ER, said there are unique challenges faced by patients with autism in the emergency setting.

Weve definitely noticed an increase in our autistic patient population visiting the department. While most are adolescents, we do see some adults as well, Hamlett said. The ER is a very busy, loud, and hectic environment, which is not ideal for these patients due to their sensory sensitivities.

Hamletts team has reached out to Centras autism services team for guidance.

We started an education series where the autism team is offering training to our [emergency department] staff. This training is recorded for broader access and includes suggestions on making our environment more sensory-friendly, she said.

The autism team has toured the department to provide practical recommendations, such as using visual cues to structure the patients time and creating a more welcoming atmosphere in the behavioral health area.

The rise in behavioral health visits is not limited to autistic patients. Hamlett said that there has been an overall increase in pediatric behavioral health cases.

There are days when we have more pediatric behavioral health patients than adults, she said. We often face extended waits for placement in appropriate facilities, with patients sometimes staying with us for days or even weeks. This lack of immediate placement is a major concern.

The extended stays can cause additional stress for autistic patients.

Children, especially those with autism, need routine and understanding. When that is disrupted, it can lead to escalation. We are working hard to figure out how to help them during these extended stays, Hamlett said. Communication is key, but its challenging when patients have difficulty understanding what is happening.

To address these issues, Centra is enhancing collaboration between the ER and behavioral health specialists.

I think just having that collaboration is huge. From our ED side, we are going to try to make our behavioral health area a little more friendly and make that more welcoming and more inviting and a little more therapeutic than it currently is, she said. Having this open line of communication will help these patients and their families.
Kumamoto, May 26 (News On Japan) - Living together for five years, this same-sex couple dreams of getting married. We followed their journey as they hope for a society where everyone can marry freely.

Takakura and Yuta, company employees living together in Kumamoto City, decided to spend their lives together. Their simple wish is to marry the person they love. They met 22 years ago in their late teens and started dating. Although they were separated due to school and work, they have been living together for the past five years and naturally started thinking about marriage. Takakura said, "We don't spend every day feeling special, but I feel like I can be myself the most now."

In 2020, they submitted a marriage registration, but it was rejected because Japans current legal system only recognizes marriages between a man and a woman. In 2015, the partnership system started in Shibuya and Setagaya wards in Tokyo, and now over 450 municipalities have adopted it. Takakura and Yuta are using the partnership system in Kumamoto City, which provides some recognition, but it does not have legal force, nor does it grant rights like inheritance or tax deductions similar to marriage.

Takakura shared their feelings in a local literary magazine about coming out to his boss about wanting to marry his same-sex partner. His boss praised him for standing up for his beliefs but didnt fully understand the situation. Takakura reflected, "Just being able to say 'we are a family' is something that feels very distant right now."

The couple joined the so-called same-sex marriage lawsuit, and so far, there have been six judgments from five district courts. Sapporo and Nagoya ruled that it is unconstitutional not to recognize same-sex marriages, while Tokyo and Fukuoka deemed it unconstitutional but did not require legal changes. Osaka ruled it was constitutional, showing divided opinions. On March 14, in Japans first appellate court decision, the Sapporo High Court ruled that the constitutions guarantee of freedom of marriage includes same-sex marriage, and not allowing it violates individuals' dignity.

The couple spends time at a local bookstore where Yuta worked part-time as a student, and the store owner, Hisako Tajiri, has supported them for a long time. She said, "They are like my children. Even though 22 years have passed, society hasnt changed much, but I hope that one day they can get married like everyone else."

Takakura's mother also supports their relationship but requested not to show her face in interviews to avoid harassment. She believes that if society and the government recognized same-sex marriages, more people would feel supported and not ashamed.

In a world where same-sex marriage is legal in 37 countries and regions, Takakura and Yuta hope that one day, everyone in Japan can marry the person they love.

Source: NEWS
TOKYO, May 26 (News On Japan) - In an incident that has shocked the local community, a mother and her three children were found dead on May 23 in their home in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The father, who was also found at the scene with neck injuries, had finalized a divorce from the mother just three days prior.

In late March, an event was held to celebrate local children who were about to become new elementary and middle school students. In a photo from the event, 6-year-old Suzu Goto, who had just started first grade in April, can be seen smiling in the center. Her father (in his 40s) is seen standing beside her, watching over the festivities, which included a traditional mochi-pounding ceremony. Suzu, described as a lively and cheerful child, was found dead at home on May 23.

The tragic scene was discovered near Togoshi Ginza Shopping Street in Shinagawa. In addition to Suzu, the bodies of her mother Fuyumi Takami (37), her younger sister Rei (3), and her younger brother Shin (2) were also found.

The father, who had recently divorced Takami, was hospitalized with neck injuries. It was revealed on the night of May 24 that the divorce had been finalized just three days before the incident.

A neighbor who knew the family remarked, 'I often saw the father walking hand in hand with the children. Rei would always follow her sister diligently. Suzu was an active and talkative girl, very much like her father.'

On May 24, the day after the incident, numerous forensic and investigative officers were present at the scene.

A reporter on the scene noted, 'Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department entered the crime scene carrying garbage bags, bags, and what appeared to be a ladder.'

Investigators found multiple stab wounds on the necks and chests of the deceased, leading the police to search the house on May 24 on suspicion of murder. The bodies were discovered in the first-floor bedroom, with Suzu, Rei, and Shin lying on the futon alongside their father, while Fuyumi was found near the rooms entrance.

The cause of death for the four victims is still under investigation, but it is suspected they died from blood loss. The father, who was taken to the hospital, had self-inflicted knife wounds on his neck.

A neighbor who knew the family well described the father as 'a bright and family-oriented person who was very kind to his children.'

All doors and windows of the house were locked, and there were no signs of forced entry. A knife believed to be the murder weapon was found inside the house.

The Metropolitan Police Department plans to conduct an autopsy on May 25 to determine the exact cause of death and will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, including questioning the father once he recovers.

Source: NEWS
Brian Shea has committed himself to serving Crescent.

Shea spent a few years on the city council before serving nearly a decade as the mayor. He estimates he has volunteered for 35 years. in the community.

"It just so happens that in a little town, we need a lot of volunteers," Shea said.

Shea has spent the past three and a half years as a county supervisor, where he's had to make "tough decisions," he told an audience at the Pottawattamie County Republican Party's candidate forum in Oakland.

"We've moved the county forward," Shea said. "We've kept our debt as low as we could. We've lowered the levy."

The supervisors have helped support rural communities, too, and he's made a point to get out into those towns.

"It ain't just a basketfull of money we can pass out, but there's a number of issues we can do to help each little town grow," Shea said.

Each city is posed for growth in the future, Shea said, and the city council and mayors have helped tremendously.

"Pottawattamie County is going to grow, whether we like it or not, so to help with that, our board really steps forward," Shea said. "I think I've done a good job."

Shea stressed the importance of "common sense decisions" and said he's not a politician, just someone who volunteers a lot. He also discussed the importance of managing the budget and tax levy.

"We need fiscal conservatives," Shea said. "We can talk up here all we want about going out and helping all these towns with dollars. You've got to have them, first."

Balancing the needs of taxpayers and county employees is part of the role of the supervisors.

"It's a hard job. It's not an easy job," Shea said. "I just go and do common sense stuff. When I'm up there, that's what I think of."

2024 GOP Primary Candidate Guide: Brian Shea The Nonpareil offers an election guide for 2024 Republican primary voters for Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, Pottawattamie County Auditor and Iowa House of Representatives District 20.
DUBROVNIK, Croatia (AP)  Ukraine's president on Wednesday said he intends to present his victory plan to Western leaders this week, but a weekend meeting to discuss it has been postponed as U.S. President Joe Biden said he had to stay home to respond to Hurricane Milton s landfall in Florida.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Israeli military strikes are targeting Iran's armed allies across a nearly 2,000-mile stretch of the Middle East and threatening Iran itself. The efforts raise the possibility of an end to two decades of Iranian ascendancy in the region, to which the 2003 U.S. invasion of I
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Moroccos phosphates and fertilizers giant OCP signed a deal with USAID to work on joint projects focusing on African agricultural development.

The agreement was signed during a visit to University Mohammed VI Polytechnic by Samantha Power, USAID Administrator.

Under the deal, the two parties will work on a project dubbed Space to Place that will gather accurate local soil and climate data which will provide the basis for a Decision Support Tool to guide farmers on the optimal use of fertilizers.

They also agreed to work together the Rock Phosphate Amendment Project, which will evaluate the impact on crop yields and soil fertility of the application of phosphate rock and innovative nutrient formulas based on it.

This Project will develop a Phosphate Rock Decisions Support System to help farmers identify the soils and crops that will most benefit from this approach, the two sides said in a statement.

In the same vein, OCP Group, through OCP Africa, will invest $30 million to support efficient fertilizer use across sub-Saharan Africa, complementing USAIDs $40 million investment to expand Space to Place, announced at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi on May 7.

OCP Group is an important partner as we grapple with a very significant global food crisis. The agreement will use geospatial technology to provide farmers on the ground with recommendations on how to more efficiently use fertilizers. It harnesses data to provide real world predictions and solutions to improve yields, Samantha Power said.

At OCP Group, we are delighted to deepen our partnership with USAID, collaborating closely on these cutting-edge projects to help unleash the potential of African farmers to feed not only Africa but the world, in ways that aim to enhance soil health, the environment, and the climate, Mostafa Terrab, OCP CEO, said.
British ambassador to Morocco Simon Martin, better known by his storytelling performance in Marrakech Jemaa El Fna square, has seen his popularity plunge in the Kingdom following revelations by a UK parliament member, who accused him of blocking any progress towards the UKs recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, a decision the US, African and Arab countries, Caribbean states and Israel have already taken.

During our visit to Morocco, we had a very unsatisfactory discussion on the phone with the British ambassador. As on many other occasions, the British ambassador tried to indicate that we cannot recognize Western Sahara because somehow this would impinge on our relations with our overseas territories, in particular the Falkland Islands. Yet, when I pressed the British ambassador to explain why and how this might be the case, no satisfactory answer was forthcoming, conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski said at a parliament meeting.

Nearly a week later, the British ambassador has neither confirmed nor denied the accusations. His silence indicates the state of embarrassment he found himself in after his double-speak was laid bare.

As Morocco and the UK celebrate over 800 years of diplomatic ties, that date back to the Al-Mohade era in the 13th century, Ambassador Martin has shown shortsightedness in opposing recognition of Moroccos rights to the Sahara.

Hostility to Moroccos territorial integrity shows the double standards of the ambassador who ironically evokes in his public appearances the Anglo-Moroccan alliance of the 16th and 17th centuries, when the two kingdoms joined forces to contain the Spanish expansion plans.

Someone should remind him that Britain has since 1895 recognized Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara territory as per the Moroccan British treaty.

No power can lay claims to the lands that are between Oued Draa and Cap Boujdour because those lands belong to the territory of Morocco, reads the treaty.

Mr Martin is also well-aware of the seriousness of the accusation, at a time the North African Kingdom has made it clear that the Sahara issue is the prism through which it views its foreign relations.

His reportedly anti-Moroccan position goes in the opposite direction of economic ties between the two countries, with major power connections in the pipe that could offer clean energy to UK households.

Mr Martin should have better made his position clear on Moroccos Sahara before telling stories to Moroccans in Jamaa El Fna square.
New questions have been raised over the recent alleged coup attempt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after a new video emerged, believed to show DRC soldiers executing men who took part in the failed coup, and also with the family of an US citizen, accused of being one of the plotters, although he claimed he was merely in Africa on vacation.

The Congolese army announced on 19 May that it had foiled a coup attempt in Kinshasa, involving both Congolese and foreign citizens  including three US nationals and a naturalized British subject. While analysts have warned that the thwarted coup attempt risks aggravating tensions in the mineral-rich central African nation that has long been rocked by insecurity, it also raises more questions than it provides answers over what is really going on in the divided country rocked by political tensions and protracted conflict in the DRCs east.

More questions have now arisen after a video was released purportedly showing Congolese soldiers executing men who took part in an alleged coup attempt. Adding to this uncertainty is a new statement by the family of Tyler Thompson, one of at least two other Americans who were named by the DRC army as part of a failed coup plot, saying that he did not go to Africa with plans for political activism, but he was there on vacation.

This leads Congolese political scientist Jean-Clause Mputu to question the exact motive behind the attack and the coup attempt: These people had an agenda that remains a mystery to me Other analysts question how the assailants could break so easily into the capitals most secure area that is the DRCs seat of power. How can we explain that the intelligence services did not see this blow coming? asks Bienvenu Matimo, an activist with the non-partisan youth civil society movement LUCHA. How did these young people leave the United States to arrive in Kinshasa with ammunition and weapons? In light of all these puzzling aspects, some, including Christian Moleka, coordinator of DRC non-profit Dypol, worry that the failed coup could also legitimize authoritarian decisions in the name of security and see a shrinking of the democratic space from which the opposition would primarily suffer.
Over thirty British members of Parliament and Lords have sent a letter to the Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, urging the British executive to officially and without delay support the Moroccan autonomy plan as the only solution to the artificial conflict over the Sahara, and pointing out that Morocco deserves UKs full and unequivocal support.

In the letter addressed to the Foreign secretary on Friday in a bipartisan approach, the signatories pointed out that the Morocco-proposed autonomy initiative, besides being the most pragmatic path, balanced with respect for local traditions and democratic aspirations, offers a viable path toward lasting peace and stability.

The MPs and members of the House of Lords recalled that the autonomy initiative is widely supported by Londons allies and over 80 countries worldwide, and specified that rallying around this plan, which constitutes the only realistic solution, reflects the will of international partners to promote regional stability and prosperity, thus reinforcing the central role of the autonomy initiative in advancing peace efforts.

There must be no room for more separatism or division, they insisted, assuring that on the contrary, it is necessary to strengthen Moroccos proactive engagement in promoting regional security and stability.

Remaining neutral or attempting alternative resolutions can only perpetuate a harmful status quo that endangers regional security, argued the letter signatories, several of whom having visited Morocco and its southern provinces. During their trip to the region, they had the opportunity to meet local leaders, civil society representatives, and human rights organizations, the signatories recalled, pointing out that their observations, coupled with those of respected scholars like Professor Marc Weller, Chair of International Law and International Constitutional Studies at the University of Cambridge, reinforce their conviction that the United Kingdom must proactively support Moroccos autonomy plan.

Furthermore, the Sahara region has the potential to significantly improve energy opportunities, secure supply chains, and provide access to new markets, they wrote, citing strategic infrastructures, such as the impressive port of Dakhla, as evidence of sustainable progress, allowing the region to establish itself as a hub of innovation and international cooperation.

Morocco deserves our full and unequivocal support

The MPs and Lords stated further that to fully realize this potential, London must provide the support of its financial institutions, such as UK Export Finance (UKEF) and British International Investment (BII). This approach, adopted by other countries such as the United States and France, is compatible with the association agreement concluded with Morocco, which covers the Moroccan Sahara region and has been deemed legal by the High Court of London, they added.

The signatories argued that the UK must strengthen its alliances with stable, like-minded nations to promote regional stability and international security, assuring that among these partner nations, Morocco holds a prominent place. It is a leading strategic ally in North Africa, sharing crucial values and perspectives with our country.

The upcoming strategic dialogue between the UK and Morocco presents a unique opportunity for the UK to redefine its role and influence in the region, the signatories noted, asserting that Morocco deserves our full and unequivocal support.
Leicester Walker gazed with 76-year-old eyes over the open field before him, the field where the Civil Wars greatest battle was concluded and the entire war summed up in one memorable charge.

It had come toward his position exactly 50 years earlier, on July 3, 1863, as Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee sent Maj. Gen. George Pickett and 15,000 Southern soldiers for one last try to break the Union Army line on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Walker, a 5th Cavalry first lieutenant, had ferried messages throughout the three-day fight to and from commanding Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade. He had seen the desperate, bloody struggles at Cemetery Hill. Little Round Top. Devils Den. Culps Hill. And, from this spot, Picketts Charge.

He was at the other end of his life now, a life spent as a North Platte and Lincoln County leader after he left the Army as a brevet major in 1870.

We dont know what Walker might have thought or said. But at this 1913 nationwide reunion of more than 50,000 Gettysburg veterans, Union and Confederate, an Omaha Daily Bee correspondent named Edgar C. Snyder captured a sense of what he felt.

Major Walker, he wrote, looked over the theater again and saw many reminders of the day when chaos seemed to have broken loose amidst these fertile valleys and hills of the Keystone state.

Custers acquaintance

Born in Sandusky, Ohio, on Sept. 3, 1836, the namesake of North Plattes Walker Road was 24 when he and two brothers signed up for the Union cause.

He was also his fathers namesake. Unhappy that the eras Democratic Party was the champion of political bondage, Leicester Walker Sr. joined the all-new Republicans and was an active supporter of the government in its efforts to crush the slaveholders rebellion, the Firelands Pioneer of Sandusky said in his 1875 obituary.

A brief entry in the 1882 Andreas History of the State of Nebraska says Leicester Jr. spent two years engaged in merchandising starting in 1858 in Lawrence, on the front line of the prewar Bleeding Kansas strife over slavery, then returned to Ohio.

When he volunteered on May 8, 1861, Walker received a second lieutenants commission. Two months later, he experienced the wars first great eastern battle  and a celebrity encounter.

Eager but green Union troops marched into northern Virginia to meet Southern forces near the Union capital. Fighting broke out July 21 on Bull Run Creek, where Walker met another lieutenant and fresh graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York: George Armstrong Custer.

As they awaited orders, Walker called out: Custer, what weapon are you going to use in the charge?

The saber, replied the doomed 1876 Little Bighorn commander, who would be a brevet major general by wars end.

Custer drew his saber and Walker his, the late Stephen E. Ambrose wrote in his 1975 book Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors.

Then Custer thought better, sheathed his sword and drew his revolver. Again Walker followed suit.

So it went until they reached the top of the hill, to discover the enemy had already withdrawn, Ambrose wrote.

Advancement

Historians usually say the Union won the war in its western theater, where Gen. Ulysses S. Grant rose to fame. But most public attention went to the Virginia theater, where the 5th Cavalry was attached to the Unions famed but hard-luck Army of the Potomac.

It was there that Leicester Walker won three promotions and fought in most of the wars major eastern battles.

He became a first lieutenant Jan. 15, 1862, a year in which the Army of the Potomac was defeated before the Confederate capital of Richmond, stopped Lees invasion of Maryland at Antietam and was bled white at Fredericksburg.

Then Walker started attracting notice. Near Falmouth on Jan. 8, 1863, he and a 5th Cavalry squad had a brisk skirmish with 40 Confederates but finished their mission scouting the Rappahannock Rivers upper fords.

Walker was made chief commissary of musters and chief of ordnance under the 5ths commander, Brig. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton. Then he was distinguished for gallantry after a May 4 skirmish at Flemings Cross-Roads, wrote George Frederic Price in his 1883 Across the Continent with the Fifth Cavalry.

A month later, Union and Confederate troopers clashed on June 9 at Beverlys Ford. It started the Battle of Brandy Station, the wars largest showdown between mounted cavalry units.

Walker again was cited for gallantry and meritorious services, Price wrote. His Beverlys Ford performance would earn him promotion to captain.

But not yet: Lee was invading Pennsylvania with his whole army. So Walker was assigned to 5th Cavalry headquarters as an aide-de-camp to Pleasonton and Brig. Gen. John Buford.

It isnt clear whether he was with Buford the morning of July 1, when the gruff general stationed his men on firm defensive ground at Gettysburg and repulsed the first Confederate assaults.

But Pleasonton ordered Walker to report to Meade at Army of the Potomac headquarters, longtime North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune Editor Ira L. Bare wrote after Walkers 1916 death. Meade had taken charge of the Army of the Potomac just a week before.

In June 1913, as Walker prepared to return to Gettysburg for the 50th anniversary reunion, Bare wrote that Walker had six horses at his disposal and during the three days battle carried dispatches to all sections of the field.

In the discharge of these duties, the Major saw much of the battle and well remembers the various positions of the brigades.

Thus Walker likely would have known how Union forces, driven out of Gettysburg the first day, stiffened on the high ground Buford had chosen.

He probably knew how the 20th Maine Regiment held off Alabama attackers July 2 on Little Round Top  the end of the Union line  and routed them with a daring bayonet charge.

And Walker would have watched July 3 as Confederate batteries pummeled the Union forces atop Cemetery Ridge before Picketts Virginians advanced across the green field below them, shedding dead and wounded along the way, to leap over the wall and briefly gain the upper hand before blue-clad reinforcements crushed them.

Victory and aftermath

Walker received his promotion to captain on Nov. 2, 1863. He would become Major Walker for the rest of his life on May 11, 1864, after yet another citation for gallantry when Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan took the Army of the Potomacs cavalry on yet another rush toward Richmond.

His horsemen and Lees fought six miles outside the Southern capital at Yellow Tavern, during which Maj. Gen. James E.B. Jeb Stuart, who had embarrassed the Union troopers many times, was shot dead.

Grant would besiege Lee a month later at Petersburg, capture it and Richmond on April 2, 1865, and force Lees surrender at Appomattox Court House a week later.

But Walker wasnt with the 5th Cavalry then. Hospitalized in Washington with pneumonia after Yellow Tavern, he spent the rest of the war first at Fort Columbus, New York, and then as a mustering and disbursing officer in Columbus, Ohio.

He rejoined the 5th in Union-occupied South Carolina in 1866, overseeing voter registrations and elections under the short-lived Freedmens Bureau and then commanding a post at Aiken.

Walker met and married Georgia Warren in Aiken on Valentines Day 1867. They had two children: Lester, who would help establish North Plattes first electric plant, and Edith May, who died a year before her mother in 1920.

Summit Springs

With the war won, the rapidly shrinking Army rapidly returned to its typical prewar mission: doing battle with Native Americans in the West.

Walker and the 5th were shipped in September 1868 to Fort Lyon in eastern Colorado, from which they chased Indians the next winter.

After briefly overseeing recruits at Fort Harker in central Kansas, Walker received the orders that shaped the rest of his life: Report to Fort McPherson.

Now senior captain of Company H, he arrived at the post south of Maxwell on May 31, 1869. Eleven days earlier, the fort had welcomed William F. Buffalo Bill Cody  who already had earned his nickname supplying bison meat to Kansas Pacific Railroad track gangs  as a civilian scout.

Cody, Walker, eight 5th Cavalry companies and four companies of Maj. Frank Norths Pawnee Scouts soon were sent to seek out Indians who had killed two men and captured their wives.

The trail took them into western Kansas and northeast Colorado to Summit Springs, where Cody found a Cheyenne village camped about 13 miles southeast of present-day Sterling on July 11, 1869.

Though Walker apparently never wrote down his Civil War memories, he wrote a three-page battle summary in 1913 for a film crew recording its re-enactment on Codys behalf after the Wild West collapsed that year.

He said Maj. Gen. Eugene Carr, now 5th Cavalry commander, gave him five companies to charge center, with other squadrons on each side. After Carr rode south, battle flag in hand, he said to me, Now, Major, charge.

The bugler sounded the charge about 4 p.m. In going from the hills to the point where the charge was ordered, we went at a fast gallop regulating the command to the slowest horses, Walker wrote.

A marshy area in between slowed his troopers down. They reached the village just as two Cheyenne shot the kidnapped women, one of whom soon died. The other was taken to Fort Sedgwick near Julesburg.

My men killed the two Indians that shot the women, Walker wrote, and I followed the Indians about three miles beyond the village and captured quite a large number of mules and ponies.

Cody meanwhile had shot and killed Tall Bull, the villages leader, adding to his growing fame. And Walker  still a captain by permanent rank  was recommended for his fourth temporary promotion, to lieutenant colonel, for gallantry at Summit Springs.

But Grant, now president, never sent that promotion to the U.S. Senate. Walker returned to Fort McPherson, then was assigned to the forts North Platte Station subpost that operated just west of downtown from 1867 to 1878.

He looked around the countryside and decided to try raising cattle. On Dec. 30, 1870, Leicester Walker quit the Army.

North Platte

He prospered in his new home for 45 years. Walker set up his ranch five miles north, using a simple LW cattle brand. He founded the Walker Brothers Bank, which he would sell to North Platte banking pioneer Charles McDonald.

Voters chose him for North Plattes school board, on which he served two terms from 1874 to 1878. As residents debated whether to incorporate the town as a city, Walker spoke in its favor at a public meeting on Nov. 13, 1875. North Platte became a city that Dec. 3.

Elected Lincoln County commissioner in 1886, Walker served three years before losing re-election in 1889. He was elected mayor in 1901, succeeding H.S. White, and re-elected for a second year in 1902, the year he bought his final house at 504 W. Fourth St.

In his last years, Walker was Lincoln County poormaster and finally North Plattes police magistrate. But he was always Major Walker in his adopted hometown.

When North Platte celebrated the nations centennial on July 4, 1876, he led the parade as marshal of the day, a role he played often over the years.

And Walker was North Plattes lone Gettysburg veteran to attend the golden anniversary reunion. Its veterans who lived in Nebraska occupied 20 tents on Cemetery Ridge, sitting right in the trail of Picketts charge, the Omaha Bees Snyder wrote.

Walkers presence also was noted in the New York Sun on July 6, 1913. As the greatly aged soldiers left the battlefield the preceding day, it wrote, Walker led the Nebraska veterans as they thanked Brig. Gen. Hunter Liggett, assigned as the Armys official commander of the reunion.

The last surviving officer of Gen. Meades Gettysburg staff, Walker took ill with uraemic poisoning and leakage of the heart in early March 1916 while wintering with wife Georgia and daughter May in Tampa, Florida.

During a homebound stopover at son Lesters home in Omaha, he died at 79 just before the clock struck midnight to open April 9, 1916.

He was buried with military honors on the North Platte Cemeterys west end, just beyond the top of the curve of its westernmost access road.

His gravestone bears the seal of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Union veterans group that Walker led as North Platte post commander before he died. That May 30, GAR members held their Memorial Day service at his grave.

His many acts of kindness made his name a household word in the city, The Telegraph wrote after his death.

Quiet and reserved, strangers would never have seen in him the calm, cool hero of dozens of engagements, the man who played an important part in moulding the history of the west.

Upright, noble, honorable, Major Leicester Walker was the personification of that character always held as ideal in military and civilian circles alike  an officer and a gentleman.
I felt the past two episodes were meh compared to literally the whole rest of the show. It just felt off somehow. I was excited for J Smith-Cameron and even her role was left to be desired.



I am very interested in Marcus storyline though. I just want the best for him 

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Yeah I feel the same way about these past few episodes too. I still laugh and enjoy it a lot, but maybe because it started off so strong this season I was hoping it would stay that way. Although, I was still kind of emotional at the end of ep 8 though hahaha



I loved J as Gerri but I found even in Succession I found her performance pretty flat when she had a scene (I can't remember which one specifically) where she was required to show a wider range of emotion beyond bafflement or looking like everyone else was an idiot. Maybe they'll develop Deborah and Kathy amends some more and I'll be proven wrong though!

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Now Im wondering what scene/episode youre thinking of! I think shes amazing but it def depends on the role and maybe even how shes directed.

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Agree - I found myself getting bored watching the last 2 episodes, which has never happened to me before with this show. I can't pinpoint what exactly was off, but it was super off to me.

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I think people are generally loving it, but personally, I thought the Christmas episode was one of the weakest/worst of the entire series so far. It's like the writers forgot to be good after scoring such high guest talent. Also, I enjoy Megan Stalter's brand of comedy when it's her own work, and I know being bad is her trademark, but when she's featured heavily in an episode here it's absolute jarring how just bad she is next to more traditional comedic actors and takes me out completely. Her character should be kept to small doses.

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Funny seeing Senorita Rodriguez here and the spitting teacher from Thats So Raven on Palm Royale

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I am so glad we got to see Deirdre Hall (and in a Brady's Pub apron!). When Jimmy mentioned she was his mom, I knew I was going to be so mad if we didn't get to see her at some point this season.

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Omfg thank you! I could not place the actress and I swear she wasnt in the credits. Loooove it.

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Wait, I just realizedshe is supposed to be playing a version of herself?? And shes his mom?? Stooooop  I dont know how I missed that.



Edited at 2024-05-25 11:22 am (UTC)

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In the second episode when Debra hosted the talk show, they needed to book another guest at the last minute. When they were tossing around names, Jimmy mentioned that his mom is Deirdre Hall (and he even made sure to mention that she's on Days of Our Lives) and that she's always camera ready, but he implied that it was going to be a huge pain in the ass. They got desperate enough to ask if she would do it, and she wanted to know if they would send a car and driver to pick her up and then she wanted to know if she could keep them afterward. Later she wanted to know if the products used by the hair and makeup people for the show used cruelty-free projects. They ended up not needing a second guest so Jimmy lied to his mom (he told her that they used products tested on animals) so she wouldn't get mad that they didn't need her to come on the show.There was also a conversation where Kayla kept talking about how great Deirdre's body was and Jimmy understandably did not want to hear her compliment his mother's ass.

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she made an evil twin comment <3

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She's hot. I want her plastic surgeon and her money.

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episode 8 had me crying by the end  love this show sm

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Same. I knew it wasnt going to happen but the way Ava looked at Deborah and vice versaI was ready for them to kiss.

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But I do agree about J Smith-Cameron's role as Kathy being somewhat off. Part of me wonders if it's because I still see her as Gerri.



ETA: I find Paul Downs so cute. I've been attracted to him since Broad City.







Edited at 2024-05-25 03:02 pm (UTC) I must be an outlier because I thought these last two episodes were strong. And I thought Meg Stalter was hilarious in these eps, too.But I do agree about J Smith-Cameron's role as Kathy being somewhat off. Part of me wonders if it's because I still see her as Gerri.ETA: I find Paul Downs so cute. I've been attracted to him since Broad City.

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I felt these episodes were the strongest of the season tbh and I loved seeing the Mayor (my fave character tbh lmao [besides Jean], I think that actress is criminally underused).



I thought this season was pretty weak until *these episodes.







Edited at 2024-05-25 03:30 pm (UTC)

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For me, I think they should've just left the Kathy feud where it was. I didn't need to meet her, even though I enjoyed seeing JSC in a lighter (ish?) role. Also I don't find the whole angle of "I was 19 and we ended up having a great marriage that was worth the fallout with you" very compelling. Otherwise perfectly pleasant ep though.

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Haven't watched the ep yet. so she didn't apologize? I can understand why Debra set shit on fire back in the day lol

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I really liked these episodes. Tim Bagley's character was so cute. Made me excited for Somebody Somewhere.

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I liked these past two episodes I got emotional over episode 8

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This season is so GOOD.

I cried so much watching episode 8. I love this show so much. Love the writing, the acting. Its pure comedy. It doesnt feel forced.

I know everyone and their mamas love The Bear but I want Hacks to clean the house down next awards season.

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Damn I just love this show so much!

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The running gag of Ava talking to the students at Berkeley and every single one of them shutting her down like "I have a boyfriend" was so fucking funny. "Damn, y'all are wifed UP"  This season has been a joy, for real.

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Marcus is fed up rightfully so. He shouldn't let an old queen tell him to be grateful for her existence. If Ava can get Deborah to apologize, then it shouldn't be hard for Marcus to get in that ass [no pun intended] as well.

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By the end of episode eight, when they were getting to the reveal~ I kind of knew what was happening, but it was still so rewarding and omg the hug with Deb and Ava T_T I love them so much!!

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why are these seasons so fucking short?!!!!!

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Spend that money on every day things and get a travel credit card and those seats will end up being free

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Do you recommend one? There are so many that confuse me and have high annual fees!

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When I was younger tbf I'd have travelled with that money but sadly now I would probably invest it.

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I would:



a) pay off my credit card debt

b) pay off my student loans

c) put a nice wad into savings and 401k

d) get my website off the ground

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Pay off my student loans but save a lil for a shopping spree.

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Money has been a weird thing for me in my life. Ive had money in my life but vultures like lawyers and university gobbled that up. I was very open about it (my mistake) and I think friends thought that meant I didnt need to worry about money when it was quite the opposite.



People joke about how even if they took investment classes in high school they would t have learned but I think even a kernel would have helped.



So many athletes deal with that. Sorry, Ive been up since 2am and have a million thoughts happening.



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I'd pay off my student loans, car, credit card debt, and travel.

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I think that schools should educate people better on how to manage money and their finances and economy in general, it would have been so much more useful than some of the stuff that I studied (like, what the fuck do I know latin for?)

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Fwiw my high school did lessons on investing, taxes, credit cards, compound interest, etc. Nothing intensive but we definitely learned the basics (including a very effective lesson on how quickly credit card debt can mount).



It would be interesting to know if that actually had an impact on any of us. I wouldnt say I feel any more financially literate than my peers who likely didnt sit through that.

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Yea we had an elective that taught all of that but honestly most of it did not stick, maybe because I took it freshman year.

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They used to teach some of it in home economics, they really need to bring that back. We can't count on parents to teach their kids because a lot of people's parents don't know either.



I'd do some traveling for sure if I got $75k on top of my steady paycheck, but if it was a temporary windfall with no certain income in the future I'd have to do the responsible thing :/

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I feel like most kids would not pay attention anyway or still say "But why didn't they teach us this" when they were actually taught that.



I don't have a better solution though.

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id use it as a down payment on a house.

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Same

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"Chris Pratt admits he wasnt very smart"



end of the post.

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Lmao literally my thoughts. Least favourite Chris is also fiscally dumb. Shocker. Also a weird thing to be humble bragging about in this day and age when so many people are struggling.

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I agree that we need to teach financial literacy in high school. I finally paid off my car this week, so if I got $75k, I'd pay off my business loan and save the rest. Or so I'd like to believe lol... really, I'd just go crazy with overpriced chai lattes and vinyl records.

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That'd be the remaining mortgage, a new kitchen and one trip abroad for me, then life as usual. My mortgage is very low, but it's annoying cause this year due to EURIBOR my monthly payment is literally 66% interest and 33% actual payment.

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In one lump sum? I'd probably go spend a few days at Disneyland, including a tour guide since that's kind of the only thing (save Club 33) that I've never done at Disneyland. I wouldn't be able to spend 75 grand at Disneyland in one go, unless I did something beyond stupid like buy that crystal Sleeping Beauty castle thing and a bunch of other high cost items.



After that, I dunno. I've got simple needs. Maybe get a passport and then head over to South Korea and Japan. And possibly Hong Kong and Shanghai to hit up the other Asian Disneylands (because I don't give a shit about Disneyland Paris).

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75k for a TV movie? That sounds already too high esp when he was a nobody. What movie had this bankroll? I'd absolutely travel for a month after paying off my credit card debt but don't forget you have to pay taxes on that in the US!

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75k sounds more like a salary he'd have made for a year of Parks and Rec rather than a TV movie when he was a nobody.

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75,000 at once?



Down-payment on a home and invest the rest.



Edited at 2024-05-25 03:56 pm (UTC)

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I want to know what the fuck he was spending money on to blow through $75K traveling, even in Hawaii and Australia which are more expensive compared to some other destinations. I'm a frugal traveler but I could probably just fuck off for like 2 years on $75K. Was he just staying at the most expensive hotel suites every night?

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Right like i've priced tickets to Australia; the cheapest one is about 2k before tax. I could 100% travel Australia on less than 10k for 2 weeks or so.

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How do you get arrested in Amsterdam for carrying drugs  aint that where drugs live?

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LMAO I JUST SAID THIS OUT LOUD



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lmao so did I. I was like HOW DO YOU GET ARRESTED FOR DRUGS IN AMSTERDAM

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The airport does not fuck about. Taking drugs between countries is not generally a smart plan, unless you have a robust agreement and assurance that the country you're travelling to accepts it. People have got screwed over what may seem like 'everyday' medication, not realising it was a controlled substance in the country they were going to.

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actually not, they are not really happy with the whole stoner image and are cracking down on it

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the part thats going to get her in the most trouble is carrying it through an airport and across a border. that turns it into smuggling.

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Weed is legal in Germany as well now but it is still illegal to take it across borders. Youll end up in prison actually

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They seem to have the same policy as American restaurants, no outside food.

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Amsterdam's slogan: "Come for the drugs. Just don't bring them."

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Maybe they want you to buy from the locals.

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foreverially ashamed that there are US states with better drug laws, at least the idiotic system we actually have affected someone who deserves it tho

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Lmao this is messy





But also apparently its weed? Isnt it legal there?

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You still can't travel with drugs.



Also I have a suspicion it's not just weed.

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ia I feel like this is a PR spin but she must've had some coke on her

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Weed is legal in Canada too but you're not allowed to bring it into the country when traveling.



Edited at 2024-05-25 05:38 pm (UTC)

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Yeah but it doesn't matter when you're crossing borders. Like, weed is legal in Canada but you can't bring it in at the border.

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everyone already explained but just so you know: she was about to fly to the UK. she had already been in amsterdam for a concert, so she probably bought weed there and tried to bring that shit to the UK lol

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it's not legal no, only tolerated

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You can't fly with it tho..

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Like vegetables, weed should be sourced locally

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It is, but you're not allowed to cross borders with it. Even so, a lot of Amsterdam authorities give the wink-eye over personal use amounts of weed while traveling which makes me think either she was such an asshole they decided to bust her ass just on general purpose, or it was something else.

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There's no way she didn't have coke

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Marijuana is still illegal in Amsterdam, it's just decriminalized.

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TEE HEE

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tin hat plot twist theory: her next gig wasn't selling well, so this is staged for her to get out of doing it without cancelling outright.



"sorry guys, cant do the gig. in jail lol"



Prolly not. I think this tour is selling fine, hah

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I was fully expecting the tour to flop honestly

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She continues to lure young fans which is interesting. I guess they enjoy her messy antics because the music has been shit for quite some time.

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Im starting to see a lot of bad videos of her not coming on until 11 pm and she straight up forgot words at one of her shows and was just playing the track walking around at other shows. So while its not flopping number wise, the shows apparently are a flop with her performing

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Oh well

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Her stans are already starting the it was planted conspiracy and are trying to pin this on Meg as if she isnt a complete dumbass who probably forgot she even had weed.

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This is how they plant things in your luggage  Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 25, 2024

Theyre being paid big money to try to sabotage my tour b/c soooooo many ppl are mad that its this successful & they cant eat off me. They got caught stealing money from my travel/jets. Got fired. Got mad. Etc.  Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 25, 2024 To be fair I think she literally started that conspiracy herself. Theyre just parroting what she said.

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Shes beyond ridiculous and so are her fans. I love watching her downfall tbh. That baby has two criminals in the family now. 

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oh she's.....like really delusional

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If she's just trying to rile her fans up, that's one thing, but if she really is paranoid enough to believe it, that's quite worrying. I wonder if she has anybody in her life looking out for her, because her violent husband certainly isn't.

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Lol Meg has that type of pull? She's in with airport police? She's more powerful then I thought

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Couldn't happen to a nicer person except her husband, Trump, and marjorie taylor green as well.

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my lowkey conspiracy theory belief is that Marjorie Taylor Greene was the January 5 bomber

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Lock her up!

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Tulip Friday album coming next year STRAIGHT FROM THE JAIL

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don't fly with drugs

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My city is always in the news for weird shit lmao. But tbh it's always hilarious when people think we are all carrying around hard drugs in the open here. Like, that's still not cool...just because you can carry and smoke weed.



And tbh even doing that out in the open will get you a side eye from everyone because you're stinking up the whole street.

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I was in Ams for six weeks and I only smelled weed once and only very faintly, it's definitely not the defining characteristic of your beautiful city

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It's kind of our own fault for coming up with this dumb toleration policy, makes people think it's legal. I'll sneak a joint into the smoking area when I'm out but I smoke hash and it's a lot more inconspicuous.

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Dutch is my son

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okay lmao this might be the first time an AI image has given me this much entertainment, maybe they're good for something after all: devastating Nicki Minaj edits

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Beijing is still mulling its expected retaliation in the wake of last week's Biden administration rollout of steep tariff increases on a series of Chinese tech imports, importantly including computer chips, EV batteries and medical technology products.

Wednesday saw shares of European luxury automakers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Tata Motors (Jaguar Land Rover), and Volkswagen Group (Audi) all finish lower, in the aftermath of a threatening and ominous Chinese state-run Global Times article which argued China should "consider raising the temporary tariff rate on imported cars with large-displacement engines, in order to reduce imports as part of the country's broader efforts to cut emissions and promote the green development of the auto industry."

China has signaled it is ready to unleash tariffs as high as 25% - which would be a significant increase up from the current duty rate of 15%. Citing a Chinse industry insider, the GT piece blasted the 'protectionist moves' coming out of Washington and the West.

Chinese state owned SAIC Motor

Separately this week, in post on X, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) issued its own warning in an obviously coordinated messaging campaign, saying it was "informed by insiders that China may consider increasing temporary tariff rates on imported cars equipped with large-displacement engines."

"This potential action carries implications for European and US carmakers, particularly in light of recent developments such as Washington's announcement of tariff hikes on Chinese electric vehicles and Brussels' preparations for preliminary measures in a high-profile anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs," the chamber statement said.

As a reminder, this the text of the European Commission's opening an investigation back in October... it formally launched "an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of battery electric vehicles (BEV) from China. The investigation will first determine whether BEV value chains in China benefit from illegal subsidisation and whether this subsidisation causes or threatens to cause economic injury to EU BEV producers."

The investigation under EC President Ursula von der Leyen aims to determine whether this violates the WTO anti-dumping agreement. The deadlines set out to potentially impose duties is July 4.

China is hitting back at both Europe and the US, as South China Morning Post observed:

Beijing has indicated that it won't take either gambit lying down. On Sunday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced an anti-dumping investigation into imports of polyoxymethylene copolymer - a chemical commonly used in automotive engineering - from the US, EU, Japan and Taiwan. It has already started probing alleged dumping in the European brandy sector, seen to target France's cognac exports. Paris has been a strong supporter of a tougher EU trade policy towards China. In a big "cognitive dissonance" moment, Rand Paul correctly points out there's "not a lot of difference" between Biden and Trump on China, especially since Biden "jumped on the Trump Train" with respect to Tariffs. Both are obsessed with scolding and sanctioning China, Paul notes pic.twitter.com/ugqgjUT5nB  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) May 21, 2024



Amid predictions that trade conditions between China and the West are expected to worsen in the coming weeks, von der Leyen on Tuesday sought to downplay a trade war in remarks from Brussels.

"I don't think that we are in a trade war. I have the motto: 'de-risk not decouple', and I think here it's very clear we are in the category of de-risking from China. We have decoupled from Russia," she said.

China is set to be a central foreign policy talking point among both presidential campaigns going into November...

And here's what the Biden administration said during the last Tuesday unveiling of the new US tariff hike: "Today, I am following through on my commitment to stand up to the Peoples Republic of Chinas unfair trade practices by issuing a formal proposal to modify the tariff actions." US Trade Representative Katherine Tai further vowed, "The President and I will continue to fight for American workers, and for our economic future and national security."

By Zerohedge.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Several countries are rapidly developing their burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) industries to meet the growing demand for EVs and compete with China when it comes to manufacturing. Asia has come out on top in recent years for producing the cheapest EVs and batteries, even though some of the highest EV demand in the coming years is expected to come from Europe and North America. With the U.S. looking to decrease its dependency on China for renewable energy products, including EVs, automakers are looking to other Asian countries to develop their cars and batteries, with Thailand appearing increasingly attractive to investors.

Thailand is rapidly becoming the EV capital of Southeast Asia, building on its already strong automobile manufacturing industry. It has been referred to as the Detroit of Asia, gaining the title of the worlds 12th largest automaker in 2018. Several foreign companies have launched operations in the Southeast Asian country, such as Japans Toyota and Mitsubishi, as well as GM, Ford, Mercedes, and BMW. It provides a prime location for low-cost manufacturing, with a history of expertise in the sector. It is also ideal for companies looking to develop their export market beyond Europe and North America to Asia and Oceania.

Owing to its strong automaking reputation, Thailand has rapidly developed its EV manufacturing industry, supported by green funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Last year, the Thai government launched a five-year investment promotion strategy to support the development of a green economy, focused on five strategic sectors including the EV supply chain. To spur investment, the government introduced a policy for up to 13 years corporate income tax exemption without a cap, as we as other financial incentives. Toyota, BYD, Great Wall Motor, SAIC Motor, and Mercedes-Benz are just some of the companies looking to develop their EV segments in Thailand.

In recent months, Tesla has shown greater interest in the Thai market. Elon Musk is looking for possible locations for his next Gigafactory and Thailand could well provide the answer. The Tesla CEO was expected to visit Thailand recently, before canceling the trip due to issues within the company. A move to Thailand could open a new regional consumer market for Tesla, as well as provide the potential for low-cost manufacturing.

Craig Irwin, a senior research analyst at Roth Capital, explained, Thailand is a possible path to China-like auto parts costs, allowing low-cost production. Irwin added, Thailand is an option since itll give continuity of access to the supply chain that supports the Shanghai facility, but not regulated by Beijing. This is key as the Biden administration recently introduced new restrictions on tax credits for foreign-produced EVs and EV components, which will make it more expensive for consumers to purchase Chinese EVs and EVs using Chinese batteries.

In addition to American companies looking to alternative Asian markets, China itself is looking to expand its EV operations to other parts of Asia. In April, Chinas state-owned automaker Chery Automobile announced plans to develop a 50,000-unit per year battery and hybrid EV plant in Thailand following over two years of discussions. Operations are expected to commence in 2025, with output to be expanded to 80,000 units per year by 2028.

The secretary-general of Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI), Narit Therdsteerasukdi, also met with executives from seven Chinese battery manufacturing firms, including Gotion High-tech, China Aviation Lithium Battery, and CATL, to discuss the potential for cell-level battery production in Thailand. The Southeast Asian country is attracting such great attention thanks to its historical ties with the automaking industry, as well as its favorable policies for EV production. Therdsteerasukdi stated, I believe that in two years Thailand will have a large-scale battery cell factory. This will be another milestone to strengthen the supply chain and the long-term foundation of the electric vehicle industry in Thailand.

In terms of the domestic market, EV uptake in Thailand remains low but is expected to grow thanks to greater investments in manufacturing, charging infrastructure, and green public transport. The ADB is investing in renewable energy company Energy Absolute, which produces lithium-ion batteries for transport and power, and EV charging infrastructure for a range of EVs, including e-ferries, e-buses, and e-cars. ADB provided Energy Absolute with a $47.6-million green loan in 2021 to develop a wind energy project and expand Thailands EV Charging Network by installing 3,600 charging stations across major cities. It also offered funding for the development of the E Smart Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit Electric Ferries Project  the first electric ferry fleet for mass rapid transport in the region, as well as the purchase of up to 1,200 electric buses.

Building on its long-standing reputation as a major automaker, Thailand is rapidly becoming a big EV producer, with a manufacturing industry that is expected to expand further as the demand for EVs increases. Companies from across Asia, Europe, and North America are investing in EV manufacturing operations in Thailand thanks to its low-cost production, access to critical materials, and favorable EV policies. Further, as the U.S. will reduce tax credits for the purchase of Chinese EVs in the coming years, Thailand could become an attractive alternative for automakers.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Carole Woods Harris, a pioneering community and political leader who helped pave the way to leadership for younger generations of Black people and women, will be celebrated at an Omaha memorial service Tuesday.

Woods Harris was the first Black person elected to the Douglas County Board and served three terms. She also was elected to the Nebraska State Board of Education. Woods Harris died in April in North Carolina, where she had gone to live near family after her second retirement in Omaha. She was 84.

The Omaha memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Clair Memorial United Methodist Church, 5544 Ames Ave.

Woods Harris is remembered in Omaha for not only being a pioneer, as a Black woman in politics, but also as a mentor to others.

She was definitely about putting younger adults in position, and she was always open to mentorship, said Douglas County Board member Chris Rodgers, who was elected to Woods Harris former District 3 seat in 2004. She set you up for it, but you had to do your due diligence. You had to earn it.

Woods Harris was born in 1940 in Omaha to Frances Paris Anders and James Anders Sr., who served in the U.S. Army in World War II. Her grandmother, aunt and cousins lived next door. At age 11, she picked up the nickname Little Mama because of the way she babysat her younger brothers and cousins.

Her daughter, Kimberly Weaver, traces the way her mother lived her life, including her public life in politics and supporting charitable causes, to those early years.

I think she really wanted to be part of solving problems, serving the community and making things better, not just for her and her life, but just others that she could help, Weaver said. I just think that was something that was really instilled early on in her upbringing and just being a caring, compassionate giver and working together to help everyone.

Woods Harris graduated from Omaha Tech High School in 1958. She was fifth in her class of 350 students.

Politics was her second career. Her first was business.

After high school, Woods Harris went to work at Northwestern Bell. She started as a long-distance telephone operator, beginning a career at the phone company that spanned three decades before she retired in 1990 as a regional planning director for Qwest. By then, she had worked in executive capacities involving operations in 14 states. After retiring, she earned her bachelors degree from the College of St. Mary.

Woods Harris, a Democrat, won election to the Douglas County Board in 1992, the first year of elections for the board by district. She won reelection twice. She represented District 3, which includes northeast Omaha, for 12 years, including two stints as board chair and two stints as vice chair.

She was active in other areas as well, including as a founding member of the Womens Fund of Omaha, a board member of the United Methodist Community Centers, vice president of the National Council of Negro Women, president of the Leadership Omaha Alumni Association and legislative advocate for the Urban League of Nebraska.

Rodgers once described her as a velvet hammer for her ability to be effective without rancor.

I never saw her get loud, he said this week. I never saw her expression change like she was mad or frustrated or anything. But before you knew it, velvetly, it would get done.

Woods Harris won election to the Nebraska State Board of Education in 2004. She retired from politics in 2008 and moved to Tega Cay, South Carolina, near Charlotte, where Kimberly Weaver lives with her husband, Sean, and their children. There Woods Harris took on and relished the role of Nana to her grandchildren and became involved in church groups.

Weaver, who left Omaha after high school graduation, is only learning of all her mother did in Omaha. The family has been hearing many stories about Woods Harris.

I was so impressed about just some of the younger colleagues that weve talked to whove said how she opened doors for them to come into the political realm, and how they are just kind of standing on her shoulders, Sean Weaver said. Thats something that we we never really knew or really saw. ... They attribute a lot of their success and mentorship to her. Thats a legacy that she was really kind of opening doors and showing people, now that youre in the door you got to keep it open for someone else.

Survivors include sons Vernon Randal Woods, of Tacoma, Washington, and Michael Darryl Woods, of Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to Punch Metro, the Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday complied with the judgment of the Supreme Court on the 2019 general elections held in Zamfara State and declared the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, winners of the elections.

The chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, told journalists in Abuja that Certificates of Return would be given to the governor-elect, Deputy-governor-elect, three Senators and seven House of Representatives members-elect by 2:00 p.m. on Monday.

Details later
The Suspect,David Bogdanov and Victim,Nikki Kuhnhausen

A man murdered a transgender teen in a rage after he found out she was born male, court documents allege.

David Bogdanov, 25, was seeking a sexual encounter with tragic Nikki Kuhnhausen, 17, when he strangled her to death in a rage, it is claimed.

Nikki was reported missing on June 6 and was confirmed dead after her skull and other remains were found near a mountain in the US state of Washington on December 7.

Bogdanov was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Tuesday after telling Vancouver police that he was with Nikki in his van, but kicked her out of the vehicle when he found out she was transgender.

The Russian told investigators that homosexuality is unacceptable in his culture and he denied having or talking about sex with Nikki.

Detectives discovered that Nikki and Bogdanov had met up on the night of June 5 after communicating with each other on Snapchat, OregonLive reported.

A police officer wrote in a probable cause affidavit: I believe that David became enraged at the realization that he had engaged in sexual contact with a male whom he believed to be female and strangled Nikki to death.

After killing Nikki, Bogdanov drove her body to Larch Mountain and dumped it there in a woodland, police allege.

Nikkis mum told police she the teen had been staying with a friend and was last seen there at about 5am on June 6, when she left with a Russian man.

Police obtained a search warrant and checked Snapchat accounts belonging to the victim and suspect.

Messages confirmed that Bogdanov had picked her up, it is claimed.

Officers eventually tracked him down and interviewed him in October.

Additional remains, jewellery and clothing belonging to the teen were found during a search by police.

The court documents contained grim details of the scene.
File photo

An extract from a book by an American writer circulating on the social media suggests that the outbreak of Coronavirus, otherwise known as Covid-19, in Wuhan, China was accurately predicted as far back as 1981.

The book by Dean Koontz, number one bestselling author according to The New York Times, appropriately titled the Eyes of Darkness, states that a Chinese scientist Li Chen made the revelation when he defected to the United States, carrying a diskette record of Chinas most important biological weapon.

Koontz states:  They call the stuff Wuhan-400 because it was developed at their RDNA labs outside the city of Wuhan, and it was the four-hundredth viable strain of man-made microorganism created at that research centre.

Wuhan-400, he adds, is a perfect weapon because it afflicts only human beings.

Koontz states categorically on page 412: In around 2020, a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments. Almost more baffling than the illness itself will be the fact that it will suddenly vanish as quickly as it arrived, attacking again 10 years later, and then disappear completely.

But the claim has been described as partly false because there is no proof that the new coronavirus was created in a lab. The virus is believed to have originated last year in a food market in Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife.

Experts believe it may have originated in bats and then passed to humans, possibly via another species. The symptoms described by Koontz are different to Covid-19, such experts insist.

***

Via The Nation
<! President Xi Jinping: coronavirus data about China under scrutiny >

How many people were really infected by the coronavirus in China and how many died?

Chinese opposition newspaper, Epoch Times has queried the official figures of 80,000 plus infections and 3,200 deaths after 21 million cellphone users mysteriously vanished.

This has set tongues wagging and made Chinas official coronavirus data doubtful.

Chinas cellphone users dropped dramatically in February, from 1.601 billion to 1.58 billion according to data published in on 19 March by Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

Han Xia, Chinas director of Information and Communications Administration of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, attributed drop to businesses shutting down in February in compliance with government quarantine policies.

Han said that the drop can also be explained by the shutdown of the telecom stores during the nationwide lockdown, making it impossible for people to open new accounts.

Tang Jingyuan, a US-based China affairs analysts disputed this official explanation.

Its impossible for a person to cancel his cellphone account, he said.

This is because the Chinese regime requires all Chinese to use their cellphones to generate a health code, without which they cannot move around.

According to The Epoch Times, the Chinese government first launched cellphone-based health codes on March 10.

All people in China were required to install a cellphone app and register their personal health information.

Then the app generated a QR code, which appeared in three colours, to classify the users health level. Red meant the person has an infectious disease, yellow meant the person might have one, and green meant the person doesnt.

The Chinese government had said that the health codes were intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Epoch Times report raised doubts.

The big question is whether the dramatic drop in cellphone accounts reflects the account closings of those who have died due to the coronavirus.

At present, we dont know the details of the data. If only 10 percent of the cellphone accounts were closed because the users died because of the virus, the death toll would be 2 million, Tang told The Epoch Times.

The Epoch Times contended that the reported death toll in China doesnt line up with what can otherwise be determined about the situation there.

As of Monday, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, the death toll in Italy was 10,781 out of 97,689 confirmed cases, and in China it was 3,310 deaths out of total of 82,447 confirmed cases.

That translates to a death rate of 11.03 percent in Italy and 4.01 percent in China, despite the latter having a much larger population which was exposed to the virus.

The Epoch Times also said that seven funeral homes in the city of Wuhan (the epicenter of the outbreak) were reported to be burning bodies 24 hours a day, seven days a week in late January.

It claimed Hubei province used 40 mobile cremators, each capable of burning five tons of medical waste and bodies a day, since February 16.

The report added: Lacking data, the real death toll in China is a mystery.

The cancellation of 21 million cellphones provides a data point that suggests the real number may be far higher than the official number.

*Culled from Alarabiya

<!

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that Nigeria look forward to embracing the new dawn of Africa-Russia partnership in general, and the revitalized Nigeria-Russia relations in particular.

Buhari stated this at first plenary of the Russia-Africa Summit, where more than 40 leaders are currently participating.

The Russia-Africa Summit is co-chaired by President Vladimir Putin of Russia and African Union Chairman and President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Here is the full text of Buharis speech:

I am delighted to participate in this first and historic Russia-Africa Summit. I thank our chief host, His Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russia Federation for this important initiative and for the warm and generous hospitality accorded to usI also commend His Excellency, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, for his visionary and collaborative leadership of the African Union.

Today, we live in a world where collective peace and prosperity can only be achieved through collaboration and mutual respect.

This reality was aptly captured by the Late Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior when he said and I quote:We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

Nigerias relations with Russia just like the rest of Africa began during the Soviet era when diplomatic relations were first established in 1960.

That relationship covered areas such as education, healthcare, solid minerals development and military assistance, especially during Nigerias civil war.

More recently, our partnership has extended to the oil and gas sector as well as military and technical assistance in support of our fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

At this point, I would once again like to thank His Excellency, President Putin for his support especially in the area of security.

It is my hope that through this forum, Russia and Africa will revitalize their time-tested relationship by exploring new opportunities for the collective benefit of our peoples.

Since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, relations between Russia and African nations have lagged behind historical levels.

The former Soviet Union had been a key partner of Africa.We all remember the strong support we received from the former Soviet Union in our anti-colonial struggles.

Africa will continue to remember this, and many other significant gestures of solidarity and support that shaped our history as a continent.

We are eternally grateful to the Soviet Union for coming to the aid of Africa in its hour of need.

As we live in an increasingly changing world driven by trade, technology, and innovation, the time has come to inject new energy and pragmatism in Africa-Russia relations for the mutual benefit of both Africa and Russia.

I want to emphasize that this mutually beneficial relationship must go beyond trade and business. Our re-energised partnership must also address challenges such as counter-terrorism, poverty eradication, human and drug trafficking, illicit financial flows, climate change and migration to mention some of the many contemporary challenges facing our peoples.

Our continent is rich in human and natural but is lagging behind in capital and technology.

This is why we see increased conflict, migration and instability that is also impacting many nations outside Africa.

On our part, we in Africa have continued to view Regional Integration as a key development priority. Our integration is one that seeks to address our infrastructure deficit, conflicts and terrorism, climate change, human trafficking and of vitality, trade.

Our integration process also takes into account our diversity as a continent and our unique challenges at the national and sub-national levels.

This is why progress has been slow but steady.With a population of over 1.2 billion people, for us in Africa, getting our socio-economic integration right presents enormous opportunities as we stand to promote robust, equitable and inclusive growth that will minimize conflict and enhance economic development.Today, these aspirations are captured in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

We are confident that with strong partners like Russia, our goal of having a peaceful and prosperous continent is achievableNigeria is the largest economy and most populous country in Africa.

Today, our population is almost over 200 million people. It is expected to grow to approximately 400 million by 2050. This will make Nigeria the third most populous nation in the world behind China and India.

Our economy is heavily dependent on its foreign exchange on oil. With the result that our high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is not as a result of domestic sector productivity.

In the circumstances, although we still remain an oil-dependent nation, our government in the last four years has focused on diversifying our economy by supporting key job-creating sectors such as agriculture, mining, and ICT.

To achieve this, we invested aggressively in infrastructure development and introduced policies and programs that enhance our ease of doing business, reduce corruption in the public sector and enforce the rule of law.It is this inclusive economic diversification agenda that we want to forge a new Nigeria-Russia cooperation.

Already, we are seeing progress in areas of power generation, solid minerals development and rail transportation and I hope this will be expanded to Agriculture, Manufacturing and other means of Transportation.

We already have over 200 Nigerian university students in Russia benefitting from Russian Government scholarships which have been on-going since 1960.

Earlier this year, Nigeria signed a Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) with Russia which will expand the human capital development support we are already receiving.

Let me clearly state that the time has come with this historic summit today, for Africa and the Russian Federation to develop new mutually beneficial relations.

On our part, I want to assure our Russian friends that Africa is resolute and ready.We look forward to embracing the new dawn of Africa-Russia partnership in general, and the revitalized Nigeria-Russia relations in particular.
SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois legislature has passed a bill that would cap patient costs for prescription inhalers at $25 a month.

The bills passage follows years of outcry from patients with asthma and other lung conditions over the cost of inhalers, which can be hundreds of dollars a month.

It is cost prohibitive, said Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, House sponsor of the bill, during floor debate Wednesday. When the (patient) is paying out-of-pocket co-pays at such a high rate they dont adhere to their treatment plan because they cannot afford it, and then we see them ending up in the ER more.

The bill passed the House 87-21 on Wednesday, and now moves to the governor for his signature. When asked whether the governor plans to sign the bill, a spokesperson for Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office said in an email Thursday that he will give it a careful review once it reaches his desk.

No insurance industry group opposed the bill, but some Republican lawmakers spoke against it during floor debate, before it passed.

Somebody is now paying for that, said Rep. William Hauter, R-Morton. You dont think the insurance company is eating that.  Everyone else in the plan is now paying a higher premium.

The bill would not apply to all insurance plans, only those regulated by the state. Many large employers have plans that are regulated by the federal government.

The bills advocates praised its passage this week, saying it will make a difference for patients, especially those from low-income communities of color, which are disproportionately affected by asthma.

This just changes the whole game in my opinion, said Erica Salem, senior director of strategy, programs and policy at the Respiratory Health Association, which helped work on the bill. It makes everything so much more affordable and it will save the state millions.

Mia Fritsch-Anderson said the bill could help her for years to come. Fritsch-Anderson, who recently finished her freshman year of college at the Illinois Institute of Technology, was diagnosed with severe asthma when she was a year old. She estimates that her family now spends about $6,000 a year on inhalers.

Its a heavy price and thats something everyone with asthma has to deal with, so its really amazing theyre able to cap it at $25 now, said Fritsch-Anderson, a volunteer patient advocate with Respiratory Health Association. Its going to help a lot of families afford this medication.

Minnesota and New Jersey have passed similar legislation, Faver Dias said.

The bill also comes after several major manufacturers of inhalers pledged earlier this year to cap out-of-pocket costs for inhalers at $35 a month, starting in June and early next year. Those pledges came several months after a U.S. Senate committee launched an investigation into the costs of inhalers in the U.S.

If the governor signs the bill, it would go into effect in January 2026.

Chicago Tribunes Olivia Stevens contributed.

Photos: Pritzker Military Archives Center
The Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra has dismissed a request by Food Sovereignty Ghana to stop the National Biosafety Authority from the commercialization of Genetically Modified foods in Ghana.



In 2015, a Civil society organisation, Sovereignty Ghana, dragged the National Biosafety Authority to court over claims they did not have the authority to commercialise GMO products.



After nine years of the legal tussle, the court has brought finality to the matter.



The presiding Judge, Justice Barbara Tetteh Charwey while delivering her judgment on Friday, 24th May, noted that, the Plaintiff (Food Sovereignty Ghana), did not provide enough evidence to substantiate their claim.



The Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Authority, Eric Okoree Amaning speaking to Journalists after the Judgement said, the commercialization of GMO's is not against the law that regulates their work.



"We are happy because we've walked along the path of the Act and we've been doing exactly what the Act which established us has asked us to do."



Reacting to the judgment, Counsel for Sovereignty Ghana, Wayo Ghanamannti said, despite their case being dismissed, they are happy that, the court has ordered the National biosafety Authority to label Genetically Modified foods.



"The court made consequential orders and these are very important orders and so for us its a victory. What are these orders? The orders are that, the National Biosafety Authority is supposed to label all GMO's in Ghana and that's victory for the plaintiff," he revealed.

Source: Philipa Atanga/Court Reporter/Despite Media









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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Charles Owusu has fired salvoes at critics of the GRA/SML transaction audited by KPMG under the instruction of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



President Nana Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, released the KPMG audit report on the transaction between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML).



It could be recalled that The Fourth Estate publication alleged some rot in the transaction and has been calling for the cancellation of the deal.



As a result, the President directed KPMG to audit the deal and the firm, after their work, delivered their findings to the President who released some parts of it into the public.



But he (Nana Akufo-Addo) came under intense criticisms for keeping the full report and in response to the criticisms, the President has made the full report accessible to the general public.



However, an investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure, who is a founding editor of The Fourth Estate, insists the contract must be canceled.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Charles Owusu found it ridiculous that the critics would call for cancellation of SML contract.



He noted that the critics' argument is mainly that the owner of the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd lacked requisite knowledge to engage in revenue generation in the petroleum downstream sector, therefore shouldn't have been given the green light to operate.



In response, Charles Owusu questions the logic in this assertion which stems from the fact that the SML founder primarily worked in the timber sector, hence that disqualifies him from setting up a company to monitor the oil sector.



Charles Owusu likened these assertions to foolishness saying "at first people were saying the company is a timber offshoot, this is why I say God can heal all diseases but not foolishness...Any person who will say if you have a business and lacks the technical know-how in a different business, so you can't open such a business has a low IQ and that person's foolishness cannot be cured by God".



The former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission further wondered how one could demonize SML work when the company has saved Ghana over GH2.45 billion in revenues since they were contracted to check the country's oil.



Assessing the KMPG report, Mr. Owusu lauded SML stating they have been vindicated by the findings of the KMPG.



"It is clear today; SML has not committed crime in the first place. SML hasn't made government to lose revenue but the good thing is SML has helped for people to pay for the oil that was initially being stolen. SML has helped in ensuring 24/7 monitoring system" for the oil sector, he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The residents of Ablekuma Manhea have been grappling with a significant disruption in their daily lives as the area has been without electricity for the past week.



Despite numerous attempts to contact the Electricity Corporation of Ghana (ECG), the issue remains unresolved, leaving the community in a state of frustration and uncertainty.



Since the onset of the blackout, residents have made countless efforts to engage with ECG officials, only to receive assurances of imminent repairs that have yet to materialize.



The prolonged outage has caused considerable inconvenience, affecting households, businesses, and essential services.



"We've been calling ECG every day," lamented a local shop owner.



"Each time, they tell us the issue will be fixed soon, but a week has gone by with no action. Our businesses are suffering, and the situation is becoming unbearable."



The lack of power has disrupted not only economic activities but also the education and health sectors in the area. Schools are struggling to conduct classes without electricity, and health facilities are facing challenges in delivering critical services.



In light of the growing frustration, community leaders are urging ECG to expedite the repair process and provide a clear timeline for the restoration of power.



They are also calling for improved communication to keep residents informed about the status of the repairs and any interim measures being taken.



The situation in Ablekuma Manhea highlights the broader issues of infrastructure and service reliability that many communities across the country face.



It underscores the need for more robust systems and responsive customer service to prevent such prolonged disruptions in the future.



As the blackout continues, the residents of Ablekuma Manhea remain hopeful for a swift resolution, urging ECG to act promptly and fulfill their promise to restore electricity to the area.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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A Ghanaian student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has won a research award of $2000 for his research in Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship.



The award is part of the University of Louisiana at Lafayettes efforts in connecting UL Lafayette creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship researchers, showcasing UL Lafayette faculty and graduate student research projects and providing seed money for faculty and graduate student research projects.



The award is the second Redeemer has received in support of his research this year, having received a similar amount in April 2024 in support of his ongoing media analysis research.



His current research explores the gender differences in Tech Entrepreneurship in the United States. The research seeks to identify and evaluate the factors affecting women in tech entrepreneurship and determine the extent of involvement of women in the tech industry.



About Redeemer Buatsi



Redeemer Buatsi is a young researcher currently studying a Master of Science program in communication at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He completed his undergraduate degree at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, now UniMAC-IJ, under the Lebanese scholarship program.

He also received his masters degree in development communication from the same University, funded by the Lebanese scholarship program. During his masters program, Redeemer received another scholarship to participate in an exchange program under the Erasmus+ scholarship program at NLA University College in Norway.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Actress and influencer, Akuapem Poloo has disclosed that her nude photo with her son still haunts her, describing it as the only regret of her life.



Akuapim Poloo expressed her fears about how her son would accept the unfortunate incident which got her arrested in 2020, when he comes of age.



Since childhood, till now, my only regret is the picture I took with my son. Aside from that, I have no regrets. The memory is seriously haunting me.



Im thinking about my son, hell grow up. As he is growing now, hes asking a lot of questions already.



As a single mother, I need to prepare myself for how Ill answer him for him to understand the situation of how his nakedness and standing in front of me as if hes looking at mommys nakedness will sound in his mind. That is my only regret, the actress stated in an interview on Accra FM.



In July 2020, Akua Poloo found herself on the wrong side of the law when she posted a nude photo of herself and her son to mark her boys seventh birthday.



Her action didnt go down well and she was heavily bashed for it. Subsequently, she was arrested and later, the Accra High Court sentenced her to three months in prison in April 2021 as a punitive measure to deter other persons from engaging in similar act.



Akuapem Poloo pleaded guilty to three charges; publication of obscene materials, engaging in domestic violence in ways to undermine the privacy and integrity of another person and engaging in domestic violence which can spoil the dignity of another human being.

Source: graphiconline









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Referring to the title of this write-up, Kokofu is the name of a town in the Ashanti region of Ghana.



It is also a surname for some natives of the region. The immediate past Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, E.P.A, Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu is an example.



The other name in the story title is Nnwomkro,  a traditional music group.



Adowa sums it up. Adowa is the traditional dance of the Ashantis.



It is characterized by the swift and entangling movements of the feet of dancers, and these correspond with action on hands as the entire human frame swings in a jerky fashion.



The irony is that the jerks are seen as coordination and organization since these are what the dance employs for delectable display. It is dancing to the tunes of drumbeats and other traditional instruments.



The Nnwomkro group from Kokofu features drums, a traditional xylophone made to look like a violin, an instrument for spinning, and other instruments that reinforce the acoustics when they are rattled like bells.



This man is the male adowa dancer of the group. A scene like this usually takes a conspicuous spot on Manhyia grounds. There, they are visually identifiable, and their music is noisy enough to catch the attention of passers-by. The key members of Kokofu Nnwomkro and Adowa are women. In sequence of appearance in this story are, Ohemaa Birago, Kokofu Serwaa, Obaa Yaa, and Akosua Boatemaa.





The trio of Birago, Serwaa, and Obaa yaa are often tied together to the front seats singing and casting the appellations of chiefs and queen mothers retinues which file past them on their way to durbar grounds.



These women pull all the magic under their sleeves and advertise the gymnastics in marketing to attract the attention of people, and their songs are swayers especially if one appreciates culturally intense songs.



Below, you will find their chief adowa dancer, Ohemaa Birago up on her feet swinging her shapely figure in the dance. She would fling herself across incoming visitors or personalities, and when the latter stopped to admire her showcase, she then moved concentrically around the person. This display targets and traps significant people who may or may not bask in the euphoria these dance steps cause around them.



Most importantly, some do the needful by dropping money in a box or directly putting it in the dancers palm. The Kokofu Nnwomkoro and Adowa Group were created by Kokofu Serwaa and it is a means of livelihood to the members.



In the picture just above, are scenes showing the backs of Ohemaa Birago (right), and Obaa Yaa in quick dance steps towards arriving guests in Manhyia during the 12 May 2024 Akwasidaekese which marked the climax of celebrations of Asantehenes silver jubilee in Kumasi. Below are some other members of the group who are interspersed with the pictures of those already introduced.



Nnwomkro and Adowa are vestiges of Ghanaian culture which has come under serious strain of the pressure arising from the interplays of the international systems.



They highlight Ashantis tenacity when it comes to cultural preservation. In the print media, readers miss a lot because Nnwomkoro and Adowa are best-savored in the middle of live shows, shrill music performance with traditional instruments that makes you feel an Ashanti, and for that matter, Ghanaian.

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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Swift, illustrated here, is a collaboration between NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Penn State in University Park, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, and Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems in Dulles, Virginia. Other partners include the University of Leicester and Mullard Space Science Laboratory in the United Kingdom, Brera Observatory in Italy, and the Italian Space Agency. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (KBRwyle)

The advent of AI has been hailed by many as a societal game-changer, as it opens a universe of possibilities to improve nearly every aspect of our lives.

Astronomers are now using AI, quite literally, to measure the expansion of our universe.

Two recent studies led by Maria Dainotti, a visiting professor with UNLV's Nevada Center for Astrophysics and assistant professor at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), incorporated multiple machine learning models to add a new level of precision to distance measurements for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)the most luminous and violent explosions in the universe.

In just a few seconds, GRBs release the same amount of energy our sun releases in its entire lifetime. Because they are so bright, GRBs can be observed at multiple distancesincluding at the edge of the visible universeand aid astronomers in their quest to chase the oldest and most distant stars. But, due to the limits of current technology, only a small percentage of known GRBs have all of the observational characteristics needed to aid astronomers in calculating how far away they occurred.

Dainotti and her teams combined GRB data from NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory with multiple machine learning models to overcome the limitations of current observational technology and, more precisely, estimate the proximity of GRBs for which the distance is unknown. Because GRBs can be observed both far away and at relatively close distances, knowing where they occur can help scientists understand how stars evolve over time and how many GRBs can occur in a given space and time.

"This research pushes forward the frontier in both gamma-ray astronomy and machine learning," said Dainotti. "Follow-up research and innovation will help us achieve even more reliable results and enable us to answer some of the most pressing cosmological questions, including the earliest processes of our universe and how it has evolved over time."

AI Boosts Limits of Deep-Space Observation In one study, Dainotti and Aditya Narendra, a final-year doctoral student at Poland's Jagiellonian University, used several machine learning methods to precisely measure the distance of GRBs observed by the space Swift UltraViolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) and ground-based telescopes, including the Subaru Telescope. The measurements were based solely on other, non-distance-related GRB properties. The research was published May 23 in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

"The outcome of this study is so precise that we can determine using predicted distance the number of GRBs in a given volume and time (called the rate), which is very close to the actual observed estimates," said Narendra.

Artist's conception showing combination of AI modeling with NASA's Swift satellite. Credit: Maria Dainotti

Another study led by Dainotti and international collaborators has been successful in measuring GRB distance with machine learning using data from NASA's Swift X-ray Telescope (XRT) afterglows from what are known as long GRBs. GRBs are believed to occur in different ways. Long GRBs happen when a massive star reaches the end of its life and explodes in a spectacular supernova. Another type, known as short GRBs, happens when the remnants of dead stars, such as neutron stars, merge gravitationally and collide with each other.

Dainotti says the novelty of this approach comes from using several machine-learning methods together to improve their collective predictive power. This method, called Superlearner, assigns each algorithm a weight whose values range from 0 to 1, with each weight corresponding to the predictive power of that singular method.

"The advantage of the Superlearner is that the final prediction is always more performant than the singular models," said Dainotti. "Superlearner is also used to discard the algorithms which are the least predictive."

This study, which was published Feb. 26 in The Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series, reliably estimates the distance of 154 long GRBs for which the distance is unknown and significantly boosts the population of known distances among this type of burst.

Answering puzzling questions on GRB formation

A third study, published Feb. 21 in the Astrophysical Journal Letters and led by Stanford University astrophysicist Vahe Petrosian and Dainotti, used Swift X-ray data to answer puzzling questions by showing that the GRB rateat least at small relative distancesdoes not follow the rate of star formation.

"This opens the possibility that long GRBs at small distances may be generated not by a collapse of massive stars but rather by the fusion of very dense objects like neutron stars," said Petrosian.

With support from NASA's Swift Observatory Guest Investigator program (Cycle 19), Dainotti and her colleagues are now working to make the machine learning tools publicly available through an interactive web application.

More information: Maria Giovanna Dainotti et al, Gamma-Ray Bursts as Distance Indicators by a Statistical Learning Approach, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2024). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad4970 Maria Giovanna Dainotti et al, Inferring the Redshift of More than 150 GRBs with a Machine-learning Ensemble Model, The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series (2024). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4365/ad1aaf Vahe Petrosian et al, Progenitors of Low-redshift Gamma-Ray Bursts, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2024). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad2763 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters
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A nursery where stars are born, just one of five new images released from Europe's Euclid space telescope.

A mind-boggling number of shining galaxies, a purple and orange star nursery and a spiral galaxy similar to our Milky Way: new images were revealed from Europe's Euclid space telescope on Thursday.

It is the second set of images released by the European Space Agency since Euclid launched last year on the first-ever mission to investigate the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.

Scientific results were also published for the first time in the six-year mission, which aims to use its wide view to chart two billion galaxies across a third of the sky.

Euclid project scientist Rene Laureijs told AFP that he was "personally most excited" about the image of a massive cluster of galaxies called Abell 2390.

The image of the cluster, which is 2.7 billion light years away from Earth, encompasses more than 50,000 galaxies.

Just one galaxysuch as our owncan be home to hundreds of billions or even trillions of stars.

Abell 2390 alone contains the mass of around 10 trillion suns, Jason Rhodes of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory told an online press conference.

The image also pointed towards traces of dark matter, whose invisible presence can only be detected by looking at how its gravity distorts light.

"There's so much dark matter in this cluster that it severely bends the light from some of these background galaxies," making them appear curved, Rhodes said.

Scientists hope to find signs of ever-elusive dark matter in Euclid's observations of the cluster Abell 2390 contains more than 50,000 galaxies.

Dark matter and dark energy are thought to make up 95 percent of the universebut we know almost nothing about them.

Another way the Abell 2390 image hinted at dark matter was by revealing the faint light of "orphan stars" drifting between the galaxy clusters.

These stars are ejected from the galaxies, "creating a kind of cloud which surrounds the entire cluster," French scientist Jean-Charles Cuillandre told AFP.

Astronomers believe this strange phenomenon indicates the presence of dark matter between the galaxies.

A star is born

Euclid also captured the deepest-ever image of the Messier 78, a nursery where stars are born 1,300 light years from Earth in the Orion constellation.

Stars are still in the process of forming in the bluish center of the image. After gestating for millions of years, they emerge from the purple and orange clouds at the bottom of the image.

The Dorado group of galaxies, in which Euclid discovered a never-before-seen dwarf galaxy.

Laureijs emphasized that "only Euclid can show this in one shot."

That is because Euclid has a very wide field view, in contrast to far-seeing fellow space telescope the James Webb, its neighbor at a stable hovering spot 1.5 million kilometers (930,000 miles) from Earth.

Another image, of the huge galaxy cluster Abell 2764, depicts a black expanse in which one yellow star stands out.

Cuillandre admitted this was the result of an error in pointing the telescope. But he said the image demonstrated "Euclid's absolutely unique ability to concentrate light," because it was still able to pick up very faint objects next to the bright star.

Euclid's image of the young Dorado cluster contained a surprise. Though the cluster was already well studied, Euclid discovered a never-before-seen dwarf galaxy, the scientists said.

"I've never seen anything like it," Cuillandre said.

In the fifth new image, the spiral galaxy NGC 6744which bears a striking resemblance to the Milky Wayfans out against a backdrop of shining stars.

The spiral galaxy NGC 6744, around 30 million light years away, is similar to our Milky Way.

On the trail of dark matter

It is still early days for the mission, and the five new images were captured in just one day.

In the years ahead, scientists plan to sift through Euclid's data in the hopes of spotting all manner of celestial bodies such as "rogue" planets, which float freely through the universe unconnected to a star.

The bright star shining in galaxy cluster Abell 2764 may have been the result of an error, but the ESA says it still shows off Euclid's strengths.

But researchers have already been analyzing Euclid's first batch of images, which were released in November.

In one of 10 pre-print studies published on Thursday, scientists looked into orphan stars in the Perseus cluster.

These lost stars "are now trapped in the gravity of the dark matter," Laureijs said.

This remains only "indirect detection of dark matter," he emphasized, adding that it was too early "to say something about dark energy".

The mission has not been entirely smooth sailing.

Stars are still forming in the blue centre of the Messier 78 stellar nursery, emerging from the orange clouds at the bottom.

In March, a delicate operation successfully melted a thin layer of ice that had been slowly clouding the telescope's sight by warming one of the telescope's mirrors.

There are signs that the ice is building up again, Laureijs said, adding that the team has time to investigate what to do next.

More information: Euclid's Early Release Observations science papers will be available from 23 May 2024 onwards: www.euclid-ec.org/science/publications/

 2024 AFP
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'It looks like more than 100 houses got buried,' Vincent Pyati, president of the local Community Development Association, told AFP.

A massive landslide struck remote villages in Papua New Guinea's highlands Friday, with many homes buried and scores of residents feared dead.

The disaster hit an isolated part of Enga province at around 3:00 am local time, according to government officials, when many villagers were at home asleep.

Provincial governor Peter Ipatas told AFP that "there has been a big landslide causing loss of life and property".

He later said "six villages" had been affected and described it as an "unprecedented natural disaster".

Three bodies have so far been recovered, but there are fears that hundreds more may be entombed. The true toll may take days or weeks to become clear.

Steven Kandai, a community leader at the scene, told AFP that many residents had no time to flee.

"All of a sudden there was a big landslip. The mountain just collapsed all of a sudden while people were still sleeping," he said, adding their homes were "completely buried".

Others "heard a huge sound from rocks falling down and then escaped. But some went to escape, on their way they were killed by falling trees, rolling rocks", he said.

Images showed a scene of total devastation, with a vast bite of earth cleaved from densely vegetated Mount Mungalo.

The remoteness of the area hit by the landslide means it could take two days for emergency services to reach it, a Red Cross official told AFP.

The landslide left car-sized boulders, felled trees and dirt that stretched down toward the valley floor.

The twisted remains of corrugated tin shelters and an overturned minibus could be seen at the foot of rubble.

Dozens of local men and women scrambled over the piles of rock and soil, digging, crying out, listening for survivors or scanning the scene in disbelief.

Some became rescuers, donning boots, strapping on head torches, picking up machetes and long-handled axes to help clear the rubble.

Children could be heard crying as their mothers clambered over the rocks in search of loved ones.

President Joe Biden said he was "heartbroken by the loss of life and devastation", adding the United States stood "ready to assist" in recovery efforts with partners including Australia and New Zealand.

Unknown toll

Near dusk on Friday, rescuers were using a mechanical digger and hand tools to try to unearth survivors.

A rapid response team of medics, military, police, engineers and UN agency personnel has been dispatched to the area.

A man stands at the site of a landslide in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province on May 24, 2024.

Prime Minister James Marape said the team would help with "relief work, (the) recovery of bodies, and reconstruction of infrastructure."

"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives" he said.

Vincent Pyati, president of the local Community Development Association, told AFP the "landslide hit around 03:00 am last night and it looks like more than 100 houses were buried."

"It is not yet known how many people were in those houses. The number of victims is unknown."

Nickson Pakea, president of the nearby Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there are fears that up to 300 people may have been there at the time, a number that could not be confirmed.

Aid agencies including the Papua New Guinea Red Cross and CARE said they were on standby.

Red Cross PNG interim secretary general Janet Philemon told AFP the landslide location was remote and that it could take up to two days for emergency services or aid to reach the area.

The nearest highway, which runs to the gold mining town of Porgera, was blocked, complicating relief efforts.

Papua New Guinea's National Disaster Management Office did not immediately give a toll.

People gather at the site of a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea's Enga province on Friday.

The Red Cross estimates the number of injured or dead could be between 100 and 500. But Philemon said she was "trying to get a clearer picture of what the situation is."

The agency was ready to offer first aid, blankets and non-food items to those affected.

"There is no indication of an earthquake or anything that may have triggered (this event). It is a gold mining area and people may have been gold mining on that mountain," she said.

Otherwise, the landslide may have been caused by heavy rain, Philemon suggested.

Sitting just south of the equator, the area gets frequent heavy rains.

This year has seen intense rainfall and flooding.

Community leader Kandai said villagers had been fearful since a smaller landslide struck the same area earlier this year but "they don't have any place to move to".

In March, at least 23 people were killed by a landslide in a nearby province.

 2024 AFP
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When you think of a criminal investigation, you might picture detectives meticulously collecting and analyzing evidence found at the scene: weapons, biological fluids, footprints and fingerprints. However, this is just the beginning of an attempt to reconstruct the events and individuals involved in the crime.

At the heart of the process lies the "principle of exchange" formulated by the French criminologist Edmond Locard in the early 1900s, which states that "every contact leaves a trace." The transfer of materials between the parties involved in a crime (the victim, the perpetrator, objects, the environment) forms the basis for reconstructing the events.

In Locard's time, these traces were typically things you could see with a magnifying glass or microscope, such as pollen, sand and fibers. However, such evidence is limited because much of it is not directly associated with a specific individual.

In our latest research published in Genes, we have shown how the population of bacteria on a person's skin leaves traces on the clothes they wearand how these traces last for months and can be used to uniquely identify the wearer.

Microbial traces

Imagine a crime scene where an investigator finds a victim and a piece of clothing that doesn't belong to them. Pollen or grains of sand might help the investigator find out where it came from, but what about identifying the owner of the clothing?

Skin cells, hairs and biological fluids are good contenders. However, another thing very specific to an individual is the unique community of microorganisms on and within their body.

These microbes are specific to different parts of the body, can persist over long periods of time and can be transferred to other people and to the environment. This makes them useful to address a variety of questions in forensics.

"Forensic microbiology" got its start in the early 2000s, as scientists set out to find ways to defend against bioterrorism. Today forensic microbiology is used to identify individuals after death, understand what their health was like before they died, determine how and why people have died, how long it has been since they died, and where they came from.

In a nutshell, today's update on Locard's principle is that "every contact leaves a microbiological trace."

The 'touch microbiome'

While this principle has been established, we still want to know more about how much of an individual's microbiome is transferred to their surroundings. We also need to know how long it persists, and whether certain microbes may be more useful than others for identification.

We also want to understand how microbial traces may be contaminated by other items or the environment, and how different receiving surfaces affect microbial populations.

In 2021, two of the authors (Procopio and Gino) and colleagues at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK and the University of Eastern Piedmont in Italy first described the "touch microbiome"the unique bacterial populations on individuals' skin. This work also studied how these bacteria could be transferred and persist for up to a month on non-porous surfaces, such as a glass slide, in uncontrolled indoor surroundings.

This team also analyzed DNA from samples belonging to dead bodies from old cases, which had been frozen for up to 16 years. They were able to identify specific populations of microbes linked to the manner of death and the decomposition stage of the bodies. This showed the microbial signature can be used to improve our understanding of cold cases when DNA extracts are still available.

Tracing T-shirts

In our most recent work, the third author (Magni) joined the collaboration to improve the potential of individual identification from clothes, items often collected as evidence at the crime scene.

In our study, cotton T-shirts were worn by two individuals for 24 hours in Australia. The T-shirts were then placed in a controlled environment for up to six months, alongside unworn items used as controls. Samples from both worn and unworn T-shirts were taken at various points in time and frozen.

The samples were then shipped (still frozen) to Italy for microbial DNA extraction. Next, sequencing was conducted in the UK, with the goal of identifying the microbial species present in the samples.

Results showed the two volunteers transferred distinct and recognizable microbes onto the clothing, each unique to the respective individual. Additionally, we could distinguish between worn and unworn items even after an extended period of time. The microbiome remained stable on the worn garments for up to 180 days.

We also observed the transfer of specific bacteria from the worn items to the unworn ones stored closest to them, showing the possibility of microbe transfer between items.

Learning more from clothes

Clothes at any crime scene can provide key evidence for the investigation process.

They can aid in profiling individuals by revealing indicators of gender, occupation, income, social status, political, religious or cultural affiliations, and even marital status.

Additionally, they can provide clues regarding the manner of death, the location of the crime, and in certain cases, even support the estimation of the time since death.

Clothes play a crucial role in reconstructing events associated with the crime and establishing the identity of individuals involved.

Our research shows clothing can provide even more evidence. The discovery of unique microbiomes capable of identifying individuals from clothing marks a significant stride forward.

More information: Noemi Procopio et al, Transferability of Human and Environmental Microbiome on Clothes as a Tool for Forensic Investigations, Genes (2024). DOI: 10.3390/genes15030375 Journal information: Genes

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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An adult periodical cicada waves its legs as it climbs over an iris in the afternoon sun on Friday, May 17, 2024, in Charleston, Ill. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

With rich reds, gentle greens and basic blacks, Nature's screaming, crawling artwork is the epitome of rare beautyat least in the eyes of some beholders. To others, it may seem just creepy.

It's a colorful, ever-changing canvas of bugs. Lots of them.

A once-in-221-year convergence of two broods of periodical cicadas are emerging at the same time. The big effect of the cicadas is the sheer numbers. Trillions are expected to populate 16 states by mid to late June. They can be overwhelming, messy and loud.

But individually, up close and personal, a cicada has splashes of color, subtle shapes and that special something that some scientists and artists say translate to beauty. Even if to the average person it's just a bug.

To artists and scientists, cicadas are more awe-inspiring than awful.

Periodical cicadas are "more otherworldly-looking" than other insects and then the fact they come out every 13 or 17 years adds to their allure, making "them feel like something out of a science fiction movie," said Jonathan Monaghan, a Washington, D.C.-based visual artist.

"Up close, there is a subtle beauty, particularly with their vibrant cadmium red eyes," Monaghan said in an email. "Visually, they are at their best freshly molted because there is more contrast on their bodies, showing off some really interesting patterns. Overall though, I still think they are rather goofy looking."

An adult periodical cicada, in the process of shedding its nymphal skin, is visible on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Cincinnati. There are two large compound eyes, which are used to visually perceive the world around them, and three small, jewel-like, simple eyes called ocelli at center. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

A periodical cicada appears in a hay field at Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Lerna, Ill. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

The underside of a periodical cicada is visible on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Cincinnati. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

A periodical cicada is visible on a leaf Friday, May 10, 2024, in Cincinnati. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

A close-up of an adult periodical cicada's compound eye, shortly after it shed its nymphal shell, is visible on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Charleston, Ill. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

A detail of an adult periodical cicada's wings and anus, shortly after it shed its nymphal shell, is seen late Friday, May 17, 2024, in Charleston, Ill. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

An adult periodical cicada, just after shedding its nymphal skin, climbs over other nymphal shells at the base of a tree on Friday, May 17, 2024, in Charleston, Ill. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

An adult periodical cicada clings to a peony flower on Friday, May 17, 2024, in Charleston, Ill. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

An adult cicada periodical cicada sheds its nymphal skin on a tree, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Charleston, Ill. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

An adult periodical cicada, just after shedding its nymphal skin, is visible in the grass late Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Cincinnati. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

The veins of an adult periodical cicada's translucent wings are silhouetted by a distant building light, shortly after shedding its nymphal skin, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Charleston, Ill. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

When collage artist Luis Martin, a self-described art engineer in Brooklyn, first saw cicadas, he was entranced.

"They were just so beautiful and diaphanous that I kind of fell in love," said Martin, who sported a cicada bolo tie during a Zoom interview. "It looked like a fairy."

But it's a love/fear kind of thing. They also seem scary, he said.

"It kind of goes back to these beautiful colors that we tend to think is kind of ugly, right? Because they're brown, they're kind of metallic, kind of like alien," Martin said. "As a brown person myself I find them absolutely beautiful. I can totally see myself in them."

Not just himself, but Frida Kahlo, Martin said. He could see the artist's signature eyebrows in the close-up cicada face images.

Scientists are even more mesmerized.

"There's a lot of things in the world today to get freaked out about. Cicadas aren't one of them," said Mount St. Joseph University biologist Gene Kritsky, who wrote a book on this year's dual emergence. "They're beautiful insects. They've got these red eyes, black bodies, orange-colored veins on these membranous wings. I love the way they come up in these big numbers. I like that I can predict when they come out. It's a scientific experiment every time.

"But what I really like about them, they got me tenure."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Protest movements that reject political parties have an unintended consequence, according to new research from the University of Notre Dame: They empower savvy politicians who channel them to shake up the status quo.

The findings provide a framework for understanding recent global political realignments and offer lessons for activists who want to make a meaningful impact. They are particularly relevant in an era when mass protests have become an increasingly common tool to voice dissent with powerful institutions and draw attention to overlooked issues ranging from climate and conflict to inequality and human rights.

Ann Mische, associate professor of sociology and peace studies at the Keough School of Global Affairs at Notre Dame, and Tomas Gold, a Notre Dame doctoral candidate and doctoral fellow at the Keough School's Kellogg Institute for International Studies, co-authored the study, published in the American Journal of Sociology. The authors received funding from the Kellogg Institute and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, as well as Notre Dame's Graduate School.

"Despite protesters' strong rejection of parties, political parties have not ignored the protesters," Mische said. "In fact, many partisan actors have found ways to use this hostility to their advantage, disrupting 'politics as usual' and contributing to political reconfigurations that surprised both actors and spectators."

Mische and Gold analyzed data from the Varieties of Democracy Project, which provides several authoritative ways to measure democracy. The international project, widely cited by scholars, is affiliated with the Keough School's Kellogg Institute.

Using the data, Mische and Gold analyzed 12 case studies across Europe, Asia, and North and South America between 2008 and 2016, amid the fallout of the global financial crisis and the ongoing rejection of parties that were seen as unable or unwilling to confront it.

They found that in response to massive anti-partisan protests, these countries generally experienced one of four outcomes: internal factional challenges within highly established parties (e.g., Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the United Kingdom); the emergence of new or renovated parties (Podemos, or "We Can," an anti-austerity Spanish party); the formation of new anti-incumbent party coalitions (the Broad Front UNEN and Cambiemos coalitions in Argentina); and the rise of extreme populist leaders (such as Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil).

Mische and Gold said these varied outcomes could be explained by looking at the project's data measuring parties' institutional strength, the degree to which parties were cohesive or fragmented, and the overall numbers of viable political parties competing for power.

They used a comparative approach that bridged insights from sociology and political science, drawing on datasets to determine how the combination of these three variables generated different opportunities for political actors to navigate the challenges to the status quo. They complemented this analysis with a process-oriented account of how party-movement interactions contributed to these diverging pathways.

"We focused on how political elites can take advantage of the fact that they are rejected by protesters," Gold said. "That paradox lies at the heart of this paper."

Ultimately, Mische and Gold said, the study could serve as a cautionary tale to protesters who reject political parties rather than trying to negotiate with them. This rejection can paradoxically undermine activist goals by amplifying distrust in institutions and paving the way for populist demagogues.

"Sometimes you need social movements to challenge entrenched systems and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people," Mische said, adding that further research could help explore the dynamics of insider-outsider coalitions for enacting reforms.

"But if you reject working with the state, then you cannot influence the development of policies that are important for the things that you care about. You may, instead, empower autocrats who don't share your values but are adept at weaponizing institutional distrust. Understanding this dynamic is important to working for change and to strengthening global democracy at a time when institutions are increasingly under attack."

More information: Tomas Gold et al, Channeling Antipartisan Contention: Field Structures and Partisan Strategies in a Global Protest Wave, 20082016, American Journal of Sociology (2024). DOI: 10.1086/730144 Journal information: American Journal of Sociology
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An artists impression of a Kuiper Belt object (KBO), located on the outer rim of our solar system at a staggering distance of 4 billion miles from the Sun. Credit: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI)

For the first time, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices have been observed in the far reaches of our solar system on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs).

A research team, led by planetary scientists Mario Nascimento De Pra and Noemi Pinilla-Alonso from the University of Central Florida's Florida Space Institute (FSI), made the findings by using the infrared spectral capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to analyze the chemical composition of 59 trans-Neptunian objects and Centaurs.

The pioneering study, published this week in Nature Astronomy, suggests that carbon dioxide ice was abundant in the cold outer regions of the protoplanetary disk, the vast rotating disk of gas and dust from which the solar system formed. Further investigation is needed to understand the carbon monoxide ice's origins, as it is also prevalent on the TNOs in the study.

The researchers reported the detection of carbon dioxide in 56 TNOs and carbon monoxide in 28 (plus six with dubious or marginal detections), out of a sample of 59 objects observed with the JWST. Carbon dioxide was widespread on the surfaces of the trans-Neptunian population, independent of the dynamical class and body size while carbon monoxide was detected only in objects with a high carbon dioxide abundance, according to the study.

The work is part of the UCF-led Discovering the Surface Compositions of Trans-Neptunian Objects program (DiSCo-TNOs), one of the JWST programs focused on analyzing our solar system.

"It is the first time we observed this region of the spectrum for a large collection of TNOs, so in a sense, everything we saw was exciting and unique," says de Pra, who co-authored the study. "We did not expect to find that carbon dioxide was so ubiquitous in the TNO region, and even less that carbon monoxide was present in so many TNOs."

Spectrum of the surface of a trans-Neptunian object rich in carbon volatile ices obtained with JWST as part of the DiSCo Large Program. Absorptions of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), its isotopologue (13CO 2 ), and carbon monoxide are highlighted in yellow. The light of the Sun (close to the center of the image) is dimmed billions of miles away, where the trans-Neptunian objects reside. Graphic rendering credit: William Gonzalez Sierra, Florida Space Institute

The discovery of the ices can further help us understand the formation of our solar system and how celestial objects may have migrated, he says.

"Trans-Neptunian Objects are relics from the process of planetary formation," de Pra says. "These findings can impose important constraints about where these objects were formed, how they reached the region they inhabit nowadays, and how their surfaces evolved since their formation. Because they formed at greater distances to the sun and are smaller than the planets, they contain the pristine information about the original composition of the protoplanetary disk."

Chronicling Ancient Ice

Carbon monoxide ice was observed on Pluto by the New Horizons probe, but not until JWST was there an observatory powerful enough to pinpoint and detect traces of carbon monoxide ice or carbon dioxide ice on the largest population of TNOs.

Carbon dioxide is commonly found in many objects in our solar system. So, the DiSCo team was curious to see if it existed in greater quantities beyond the reaches of Neptune.

Possible reasons for the lack of previous detections of carbon dioxide ice on TNOs include a lower abundance, non-volatile carbon dioxide becoming buried under layers of other less volatile ices and refractory material over time, conversion into other molecules through irradiation, and simple observational limitations, according to the study.

The discovery of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide on the TNOs provides some context while also raising many questions, de Pra says.

"While the carbon dioxide was probably accreted from the protoplanetary disk, the origin of the carbon monoxide is more uncertain," he says. "The latter is a volatile ice even in the cold surfaces of the TNOs. We can't rule out the carbon monoxide was primordially accreted and somehow was retained until the present date. However, the data suggests that it could be produced by the irradiation from carbon-bearing ices."

An Avalanche of Answers

Confirming the presence of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide on TNOs opens many opportunities to further study and quantify how or why it is present, says Pinilla-Alonso, who also co-authored the study and leads the DiSCo-TNOs program.

"The discovery of carbon dioxide on trans-Neptunian objects was thrilling, but even more fascinating were its characteristics," she says. "The spectral imprint of carbon dioxide revealed two distinct surface compositions within our sample. In some TNOs, carbon dioxide is mixed with other materials like methanol, water ice, and silicates. However, in another groupwhere carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are major surface componentsthe spectral signature was strikingly unique. This stark carbon dioxide imprint is unlike anything observed on other solar system bodies or even replicated in laboratory settings."

It now seems clear that when carbon dioxide is abundant, it appears isolated from other materials, but this alone doesn't explain the band shape, Pinilla-Alonso says. Understanding these carbon dioxide bands is another mystery, likely tied to their unique optical properties and how they reflect or absorb specific colors of light, she says.

It was commonly theorized that perhaps carbon dioxide may be present in TNOs as carbon dioxide exists in a gaseous state in comets, which are comparable in composition, Pinilla-Alonso says.

"In comets, we observe carbon dioxide as a gas, released from the sublimation of ices on or just below the surface," she says. "However, since carbon dioxide had never been observed on the surface of TNOs, the common belief was that it was trapped beneath the surface. Our latest findings upend this notion. We now know that carbon dioxide is not only present on the surface of TNOs but is also more common than water ice, which we previously thought was the most abundant surface material. This revelation dramatically changes our understanding of the composition of TNOs and suggests that the processes affecting their surfaces are more complex than we realized."

Thawing the data

Study co-authors Elsa Henault, a doctoral student at the Universite Paris-Saclay's Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, and French National Center of Scientific Research, and Rosario Brunetto, Henault's supervisor, brought a laboratory and chemical perspective into the interpretation of JWST observations.

Henault analyzed and compared the absorption bands of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide across all objects. While there was ample evidence of the ice, there was a great diversity in abundance and distribution, Henault says.

"While we found CO 2 to be ubiquitous across TNOs, it is definitely not uniformly distributed," she says. "Some objects are poor in carbon dioxide while others are very rich in carbon dioxide and show carbon monoxide. Some objects display pure carbon dioxide while others have it mixed with other compounds. Linking the characteristics of carbon dioxide to orbital and physical parameters allowed us to conclude that carbon dioxide variations are likely representative of the objects' different formation regions and early evolution."

Through analysis, it is very likely that carbon dioxide was present in the protoplanetary disk, however, carbon monoxide is unlikely to be primordial, Henault says.

"Carbon monoxide could be efficiently formed by the constant ion bombardment coming from our sun or other sources," she says. "We are currently exploring this hypothesis by comparing the observations with ion irradiation experiments that can reproduce the freezing and ionizing conditions of TNO surfaces."

The research brought some definite answers to longstanding questions dating back to the discovery of TNOs nearly 30 years ago, but researchers still have a long way to go, Henault says.

"Other questions are now raised," she says. "Notably, considering the origin and evolution of the carbon monoxide. The observations across the complete spectral range are so rich that they will definitely keep scientists busy for years to come."

Although the DiSCo program observations are nearing a conclusion, the analysis and discussion of the results still have a long way to go. The foundational knowledge gained from the study will prove to be an important supplement for future planetary science and astronomy research, de Pra says.

"We have only scratched the surface of what these objects are made of and how they came to be," he says. "We now need to understand the relationship between these ices with the other compounds present in their surfaces and understand the interplay between their formation scenario, dynamical evolution, volatile retention and irradiation mechanisms throughout the history of the solar system."

More information: Mario N. De Pra et al, Widespread CO2 and CO ices in the trans-Neptunian population revealed by JWST/DiSCo-TNOs, Nature Astronomy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-024-02276-x Journal information: Nature Astronomy
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GuamAirman Caleb Saunders, a native of Hadley, New York, is serving in the U.S. Navy with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 on the island of Guam.

Saunders graduated from Hadley-Luzerne High School in 2019. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Hadley.

I learned to stick to my roots and protect my character, said Saunders. You always need to work hard, and it helps to try and stay humble.

Saunders joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Saunders serves as an aviation structural mechanic.

Im a sixth-generation enlisted servicemember and I wanted to carry on the tradition, said Saunders. I also wanted to use the Navy to broaden my mechanical knowledge to open the door to a career.

HSC 25 is the Navys only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron and as part of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific, it provides an armed helicopter capability for U.S. 7th and 5th Fleets, as well as detachments to various commands covering a diverse mission set. Flying the MH-60S helicopter, HSC-25 supports permanently assigned detachments to the USS America homeported in Sasebo, Japan, Commander Task Force 76, and Commander Task Force 73. These detachments perform combat logistics, search and rescue and humanitarian assistance for U.S. 7th Fleet.

Based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, HSC 25 is the Navys only squadron that maintains a 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation alert posture, directly supporting the U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Guam and Joint Region Marianas. Since 1984, HSC 25 has launched 2,445 missions, resulting in 762 medical evacuations, and rescuing 475 lives from waters and jungles of the island chain.

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

Saunders serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nations prosperity and security.

We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day, said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.

Saunders has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

So far in my career, Im proudest of being nominated as plane captain of the year for my squadron in 2023, said Saunders.

Saunders can take pride in serving America through military service.

Wearing the uniform of a U.S. Navy sailor is a big deal, and upholding the services standards is something I hold tight to, said Saunders. Serving means a lot to me.

Saunders is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

Id like to thank Chief Jonathan Smith, added Saunders. Hes provided a lot of mentoring and Navy knowledge, especially about things outside the mechanical realm. I can talk to him about life things, and he offers good wisdom.
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WILDWOOD  Police arrested two people after they allegedly threatened store employees on the Boardwalk with weapons last Tuesday.

At 9:42 p.m., police received a 911 call about a reported disturbance in the 3300 block of the Boardwalk in which one male suspect swung a knife at store employees and another pointed a firearm at them as they attempted to close the roll-up door to their store before both suspects ran away.

Responding officers set up a multiblock perimeter and canvassed the area, finding an unloaded green pellet gun in the process, police said Friday in a news release.

During the search, the suspect accused of brandishing the knife  Nicholas Gibson, 23, of Cape May Court House  was seen inside a vehicle parked in the vicinity and detained. Police said they found a box cutter knife clipped to Gibsons waistband.

At 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, two Class II officers were returning to police headquarters when they saw the second suspect, a juvenile male, walking near Montgomery and New Jersey avenues and took him into custody, police said.

Gibson was charged with criminal attempt/aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. He was released on a summons pending court.

The juvenile was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, resisting by flight, aggravated assault and obstruction. He was transported to a juvenile intake facility.
China's new energy products captivate at Hungary's GreenTech conference

Xinhua) 10:59, May 25, 2024

Hungarian Energy Minister Lantos Csaba speaks during the GreenTech conference in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, on May 23, 2024. Cutting-edge sustainable energy products from China were on display at the Greentech conference in Zalaegerszeg this week, drawing the attention of industry leaders and government officials. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

ZALAEGERSZEG, Hungary, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Cutting-edge sustainable energy products from China were on display at the Greentech conference in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary this week, drawing the attention of industry leaders and government officials.

Tang Rui, founder and CEO of Shanghai Cantron Robotics, stressed the groundbreaking innovations his company has introduced to the European market.

"What we want to enable is autonomous driving plus combined energy storage to build a mobile energy solution for society," Tang told Xinhua in an interview during the conference.

His company's latest product is a Level 4 autonomous driving energy robot equipped with a 104 kWh battery. The robot can be summoned via the Drop'nGo mobile app, offering a convenient charging service that eliminates the need for fixed charging stations.

"Our robot does more than just charging EVs: it can also charge back to the microgrid to help with electricity usage," Tang said.

This innovative approach addresses the challenges of infrastructure investment, making it a more cost-effective and efficient solution for accelerating electrification.

Tang is optimistic about the future of his company in Europe. "The European market is very important for us. Hungary, in particular, is a crucial portal due to its significant battery manufacturing capacity," he said.

He emphasized that his company is working with partners in Hungary and other European countries, such as HUMDA, WHB Energy, and IonDynamics Energy.

Meanwhile, chief organizer of the GreenTech conference Karoly Kovacs emphasized the growing importance of Chinese companies at the event, as well as on the broader Hungarian market.

"We have several Chinese exhibitors this year, including major players like Cantron Robotics and BYD. They have brought fascinating innovations such as autonomous electric car charging robots," Kovacs told Xinhua.

These robots are not only autonomous but also fully programmable, capable of navigating cities to find and charge electric vehicles before returning to their base.

Kovacs praised the high quality and innovation of Chinese companies' offerings.

"Chinese companies are now at the forefront of innovation across many fields. Their presence in Hungary is increasingly significant, both at the governmental level and among the general public," he said.

The Chinese exhibits at GreenTech were interactive, including hands-on demonstrations and presentations.

Kovacs predicted an even stronger presence of Chinese companies at GreenTech events in the future. "This year, companies like NIO and BYD approached us to participate, showing their keen interest in our conference," he said.

Energy Minister Lantos Csaba highlighted Hungary's commitment to enhancing energy security and sovereignty, as it prepares to assume the presidency of the European Union Council in July. "Our main task will be to restore Europe's competitiveness, particularly in securing energy supply," said the minister.

He highlighted Hungary's significant achievements in renewable energy, including over 6.3 GW of solar capacity, ranking the country third globally in solar energy production last year.

Lantos acknowledged the challenges posed by the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy, emphasizing the need for effective energy storage solutions.

Additionally, Hungary is expanding its battery storage capabilities, and continues to invest in nuclear energy. The Paks I and future Paks II facilities play a crucial role in the nation's energy mix.

The minister also highlighted the potential of geothermal energy and biomass as part of Hungary's strategy to achieve energy independence.

The GreenTech conference featured 80 exhibitors and 20 industry presentations focusing on topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), the circular economy, and green transportation.

Hungarian Energy Minister Lantos Csaba (1st L, Rear) speaks during the GreenTech conference in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, on May 23, 2024. Cutting-edge sustainable energy products from China were on display at the Greentech conference in Zalaegerszeg this week, drawing the attention of industry leaders and government officials. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Hungarian Energy Minister Lantos Csaba (1st L) speaks during the GreenTech conference in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, on May 23, 2024. Cutting-edge sustainable energy products from China were on display at the Greentech conference in Zalaegerszeg this week, drawing the attention of industry leaders and government officials. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

A Cantron Robotics' Flashbot, an autonomous electric car charging robot, charges an electric vehicle during the GreenTech conference in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, on May 23, 2024. Cutting-edge sustainable energy products from China were on display at the Greentech conference in Zalaegerszeg this week, drawing the attention of industry leaders and government officials. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Tang Rui, founder and CEO of Shanghai Cantron Robotics, speaks during the GreenTech conference in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, on May 23, 2024. Cutting-edge sustainable energy products from China were on display at the Greentech conference in Zalaegerszeg this week, drawing the attention of industry leaders and government officials. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

A Cantron Robotics' Flashbot, an autonomous electric car charging robot, is seen during the GreenTech conference in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, on May 23, 2024. Cutting-edge sustainable energy products from China were on display at the Greentech conference in Zalaegerszeg this week, drawing the attention of industry leaders and government officials. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A Rock Island County judge ordered a Davenport man suspected of a double homicide in Moline be detained pending further court proceedings.

Giovanni Flores, 17, and Zachery Meincke, 19, were shot to death early on May 5 at a residence in the 1800 block 31st Street, Moline, according to previous reporting. Officers found their bodies in the basement after responding to a report of an unknown problem.

Meincke rented the home, according to previous reporting. In the hours before the shooting, the two teens, close friends, were enjoying an after-prom party at the house.

On Tuesday, the Moline Police Department announced the arrest of Israel S. Martinez, 20, on suspicion that he killed the two teens. He now faces two counts each of first-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Prosecutors have also charged Martinez with obstruction of justice.

Martinez has been in custody since his Tuesday morning arrest in Davenport.

The Rock Island County States Attorneys Office filed a petition to keep Martinez incarcerated rather than allow him to be released with conditions.

Under the Pretrial Fairness Act, which in most Illinois cases abolished monetary bonds last year, the burden is on the state to prove why a person should remain in pretrial detention when an alleged offense qualifies the person for such incarceration.

The defense can challenge the states assertions and both sides can appeal a judges decision on detention.

State detention petitions generally include a narrative of how investigators think the crime at issue occurred and how they think the suspect was involved.

In Martinezs case, that document was sealed from public view as of Fridays hearing. During the proceedings, the narrative was referenced indirectly or in pieces during statements in open court, but was not presented as a whole.

The attorneys representing both sides had access to the full report, as did the judge, according to comments made during the hearing.

Rock Island County State's Attorney Dora Villarreal had not yet responded Friday afternoon to a request for more information about why the petition was sealed.

During a Friday morning hearing on Martinezs incarceration, Judge Clayton Lee ruled that the 20-year-old should remain in custody.

Assistant States Attorney Jennifer Gardner arguments during that hearing included that Martinez was a danger to others.

His detention is the least restrictive alternative in this case, Gardner said.

In his turn, Eric Mail, representing Martinez, argued the state had not met its burden and that his client should be released.

He said Martinezs actions could be controlled and monitored through other means, such as no contact orders and GPS tracking.

New research finds young gun violence survivors experience lasting physical and mental trauma Firearms are the leading cause of death among children New research finds young gun violence survivors experience lasting physical and mental trauma
Eight local students graduated Project SEARCH, a work immersion program for students with disabilities, on Thursday at UnityPoint Health  Bettendorf.

Despite the ceremonial rite of passage, many of these graduates have secured jobs already.

"I'm working at Rhythm City Casino. I'm a custodian there," said graduate Luke Menster, of Bettendorf High School. "I love it there, it's so peaceful and quiet."

Project SEARCH helps students with disabilities  from Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley and North Scott High Schools  develop transferable job skills via both classroom instruction and workplace exposure, in collaboration with UnityPoint, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Michelle's Vocational Placement and the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency. To participate, students elect to stay on their Individualized Education Plans for a fifth year.

Students in Project SEARCH complete three internships at UnityPoint over nine months, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as:

Food Service

Environmental Services

Central Supply

Patient Access, Transport and Communication

Radiology

Information Technology

Housekeeping

"They are very, very visible to their co-workers here in the hospital," said Stacie Kintigh, Project SEARCH coordinator. "It is vital that we give this opportunity to young adults with intellectual disabilities and other challenges. Without this program, I don't know how successful we (at UnityPoint) would all be."

Other than UnityPoint, she said Project SEARCH also works with Kwik Star and Hy-Vee to employ its graduates.

"We've had a great deal of support from those employers," Kintigh said. "We are a pipeline for logistics here in the Quad Cities, those jobs are always, always available here. So we try to train (interns) in those tangible skills so they can take those straight into places like Katun or Amazon, where we do have former interns working full-time."

This year, Project SEARCH expanded to include an IT internship at UnityPoint. Ethan Ramsdell, of PV, was one of these interns.

"It was fun," he said, adding that learning "flexible" skills was his biggest takeaway.

Ramsdell also has a job at the Scott County Pool already  though he's not sure what he'll be doing yet. Regardless, he's excited to get started and make some money.

Menster received his first paycheck from Rhythm City on Friday.

"It's bittersweet," he said of graduation. "When I first started (Project SEARCH), I didn't talk to anyone."

Now, Menster has confidence.

"I'm a really dedicated worker," he said, adding he'd recommend Project SEARCH to a friend. "You can learn new skills  and I loved it."

Launching in 2016, Project SEARCH has graduated more than 50 local students. Approximately 84% of these graduates are now working in the community  compared to 22.5% of persons with disabilities nationwide.

"We become very close with our interns and their families," Kintigh said. "As much as we all look forward to graduation, (it) also pulls on your heartstrings, because we put so much work into (students') success."

Kate Ramsdell, Ethan's mom, had similar emotions Thursday.

"When you find out you have a child with special needs, you never know what that future looks like," she said. "To know there are wonderful programs like (Project SEARCH) that see the potential in our kids and what they can do, not what they can't do  is really just life-changing."

Thanks to Project SEARCH, Ramsdell said her son's confidence and independence has grown.

"Even at home, his ability to (manage) time, get up by himself and be ready to go to work  all those things you need to learn before (having) a job, he's been able to put into practice," she said. "His ability to interact with co-workers and others at the professional level (has) been so wonderful to see him grow like that."

Since his speech is limited, Ethan has used an augmentative and alternative communication device to communicate since preschool.

"We're very excited for him and to see what happens next," Ramsdell said with a twinkle in her eye.

Erick Recinos, diversity, equity and inclusion program manager at UnityPoint, led Thursday's invocation, followed by the ceremonial guest speaker, Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher. He spoke about the value of hard work and how to define success.

To learn more about Project SEARCH, visit www.projectsearch.us.
Daniel Salazar has been chosen as a Fulbright finalist, or award winner, for the English teaching assistantship in Spain.

The Fulbright Program is a prestigious international grant that gives students, scholars and professionals the opportunity to teach and study in more than 140 countries. Fewer than 20% of applicants to the Fulbright program achieve finalist status.

The Muscatine native graduated from St. Ambrose University in December 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary History Education.

"The most real moment for me was meeting with St. Ambrose faculty and staff, people I had gotten to know very well along the way and being interviewed honestly by them," Salazar said in a press release. "Here I stood before faces I trusted, faces I knew would judge me accurately and could determine the direction of my life entirely.

Brittany Tullis, PhD, interim dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, was one of the faculty members who helped Salazar navigate the application process.

It is a testament to Daniel's hard work drive, and dedication as a lifelong learner and global citizen. I know that his time here at St. Ambrose has prepared him particularly well for the mission upon which he will soon embark as a citizen diplomat abroad, Tullis said in the release.

Since graduating, Salazar has been working as a long-term substitute teacher in his hometown. He is also the state director for the League of United Latin American Citizens in Iowa. He will leave these positions to pursue his Fulbright English teaching assistantship, which begins this September.

The 25 schools that have produced the most Fulbright students over the past decade The 25 schools that have produced the most Fulbright students over the past decade #25. Cornell University #24. Pomona College #23. Columbia University #22. Williams College #21. Bates College #20. Duke University #19. Bowdoin College #18. University of Southern California #17. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill #16. Pitzer College #15. New York University #14. Boston College #13. Johns Hopkins University #12. Smith College #11. Stanford University #10. University of Pennsylvania #9. University of Notre Dame #8. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor #7. Yale University #6. Northwestern University #5. Princeton University #4. Georgetown University #3. University of Chicago #2. Brown University #1. Harvard University
Imagination, skill, talent, artistry and love are stitched into thousands of quilts crafted by the Black Hills Quilters Guild. An exhibit and the upcoming Black Hills Quilt Show in Rapid City celebrate the 50th anniversary of the quilt show and its legacy in the region.

Quilts Illustrated

Quilts Illustrated: Fifty Years of the Black Hills Quilt Show opens May 25 at The Journey Museums Adelstein Gallery. The exhibit celebrates the art of quilting and the cultural impact the Black Hills Quilt Show has had in Rapid City since the show debuted in 1974.

Our guild has been working with The Journey Museum to create a display that will spotlight 50 years of the Quilt Show, said Carol Davies of the Black Hills Quilters Guild. The quilts in this display will not be in this years quilt show.

Quilts Illustrated is an exhibit of 27 quilts ranging from king-sized to miniatures, designed using a wide variety of patterns, techniques, fabrics and hand-stitching or machine stitching. An antique and vintage portion of Quilts Illustrated focuses on Civil War-era quilts and a quilt signed in the 1950s by Rapid City area residents and people from the surrounding region.

The Black Hills Quilters Guild made a special Touch Me Quilt for visitors who want to feel the texture and examine the construction of a quilt  and perhaps gain inspiration to make a quilt of their own.

Raffle tickets to win a Feathered Star Quilt can be purchased at The Journey Museum during the Quilts Illustrated exhibit. The quilt was made by Black Hills Quilters Guild members Jean Stenberg and Rebecca Smith. Raffle proceeds will benefit The Journey Museums exhibition program.

Quilts Illustrated is presented by the Black Hills Quilters Guild and the Black Hills Historical Society. Admission to the exhibit is free.

Bright Star Nation, a separate exhibit at The Journey Museum, features quilts by Carol Wilcox. Wilcox is an artistic quilter who watched her grandmother, relatives and friends make quilts from materials they had available in their homes on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Sewing was often her familys social and cultural activity.

Quilts and blankets replaced the buffalo robes not just for warmth and comfort but also in honoring ceremonies and as special gifts in general. Wrapping a quilt around a person is to honor them and acknowledge those that have gone before. It is a present with depth, an offering of creativity and culture along with acknowledgment to ancestors, Wilcox said.

Wilcox shares her quilting techniques and experiences and teaches at the Artspace Center on Pine Ridge. She even offers lessons for those who visit her home. Wilcox prefers to make her quilts by hand using traditional methods. The Bright Star Nation exhibit will be on display through Sept. 10.

50th annual Black Hills Quilt Show

The Black Hills Quilt Show has become a beloved community event that brings together thousands of quilters, families, tourists and vendors for a one-of-a-kind visual experience.

The 50th annual Black Hills Quilt Show will be June 6, 7 and 8 at Rushmore Hall in The Monument in Rapid City. The show opens with a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. June 6 to mark the shows 50th anniversary, followed by a preview night from 5 to 8 p.m. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 7 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 8. Tickets are $7 per person or $14 for a three-day pass. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.

Over the course of its 50-year history, the Black Hills Quilt Show has earned a reputation as an outstanding smaller quilt show.

We always have a great show. People tell me its one of the best quilt shows in the region. Theres big ones in places like Houston and Chicago. Ive been told ours is one of the best smaller ones, Davies said.

We have quilters with really good skills. Theres always a lot of pretty colors and designs to look at, she said. I think its going to be a fantastic show. Wed love to have people come and see it.

The showstopping attractions will be the 360 quilts on display, including a 50th anniversary quilt. That was made by guild member Judy Woodworth, whose quilts have won national and international awards.

A variety of special displays are planned, including tributes to some longtime quilters. The public will be able to vote for their favorite quilt.

We have special interest groups this year that focus on different types of quilts, Davies said. We will have displays for those including applique, art quilts, Dear Jane quilts and modern quilts.

Theres a whole movement of modern quilt shows. They have a lot of solid fabric, a lot of open space which is a good place to have fantastic stitching, she said.

Classes, demonstrations, vendors, raffles and more will also be part of the show. Quilt appraiser Deb Kipp will be available to provide professional appraisals on June 7 and 8 during the show. A complete list of exhibits and special events can be found at bhquilters.org/events/quilt-show.

Community service is an integral part of the Black Hills Quilters Guild. A silent auction of small quilted items during the quilt show will raise money to benefit Monument Health Hospice House. Since 2005, the Black Hills Quilters Guild has raised $43,353 for the hospice house.

Giving quilts, comfort year-round

While their annual quilt show is a bold demonstration of local quilters artistry, Black Hills Quilters Guild members spend most of the year quietly giving to people and organizations. People struggling with illness or loss, families in need, and even pets benefit receive quilts and quilted items made by guild members.

(Community service) is something weve done for many, many years. A lot of new members like to get involved in Project Warmth. Quilters as a whole are really pretty generous people, Davies said. You can only give so many quilts to your friends and family. We just want to keep making quilts. Guild members are very generous. They do like to help others and give quilts away.

The guild began its Project Warmth initiative in 1985 to aid a family that had suffered a house fire. Project Warmth has expanded to provide quilts to people in need or those who have experienced a crisis. The guild makes and donates between 300 and 400 quilts every year.

When a new Habitat for Humanity house is dedicated, Black Hills Quilters Guild gives a quilt to each member of the family. When Sleep in Heavenly Peace builds and gives beds to children in need, the guild provides a quilt for each bed, Davies said.

We have an infant bereavement program at Monument Health and we make swaddling blankets and quilts for parents who have lost an infant, Davies said. They have an infant bereavement program for babies who die right after theyre born. We give them blankets they wrap the babies in and do a photo shoot for the parents. We also give some quilts to the pediatric department at Monument.

A complete list of Black Hills Quilters Guild projects they support is listed at bhquilters.org/events/quilt-show.

Quilts for troops, veterans

The Black Hills Quilters Guild members sew quilts for veterans at Fort Meade, and the guild participates in Boots for Troops, a project that provides handmade Christmas stockings filled with snacks and small gifts. The stockings are sent to deployed service men and women during the holiday season.

Perhaps the guilds most unique project is making quilts for submariners. Former submariner turned quilter Bob Turners passion project is making bunk quilts for submariners aboard the USS South Dakota. The USS South Dakota is a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine in service with the United States Navy. The submarines home port is in Connecticut, Turner said.

Troops aboard submarines tend to be forgotten since their work is underwater and classified, Turner said.

I never once seen a submarine get anything from anybody. Nobody ever thinks of them, and having rode a submarine, I know what would be good there, Turner said.

Turners 24-year Navy career included deployments on the USS Casimir Pulaski and USS Robert E. Lee ballistic missile submarines. Sleep is cherished, but the government-issued wool blankets for submarine crews are not the most comfortable bedding.

Turner, of Rapid City, and the Black Hills Quilters Guild have a goal to send a quilt to each of the 134 people on the submarine.

The guild welcomes donations of fabric for its community service quilting projects, or financial donations to defray the cost of shipping quilts to submariners. Donations can be mailed to Black Hills Quilters Guild, P.O. Box 2495, Rapid City, SD 57709. For more information, email info@bhquilters.org.
To give office candidates a chance to address some issues facing Rapid City schools clearly and concisely, the Rapid City Journal reached out to all five School Board candidates with the same set of four questions. Each candidate had 10 days to respond and was given a 200-word limit per question.

Below, youll find their unedited answers, except for minor changes to comply with AP style and word count. The answers are entirely the candidates' words and opinions, sent to the Rapid City Journal via email.

The Journal does not endorse any of the provided answers but has shared all of them to inform Rapid City residents, helping them understand the candidates views and make an informed decision.

All answers from the responding candidates are provided below in the order they appear on the ballot.

Troy Carr (Area 2) and Vince Vidal (Area 1) did not respond to the Rapid City Journal's request for comments.

Can you share with us the key experiences or beliefs that have driven you to pursue a position on the Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education? What motivates you most about the opportunity to serve in this capacity?

Donna Moore (Area 1)

As a woman of faith, I prayerfully considered the opportunity to run for school board. Prior to having our own children, my husband and I devoted large amounts of time to youth ministry. We used this opportunity to mentor children and young adults in respect of authority, the knowledge that they are loved and valued, and how to act as role models among their peers. All three of our children received their education in the public school systems of Illinois and Minnesota between 1988 and 2008. Many students face challenges with learning disabilities, and I understand firsthand the challenge of a child with dyslexia. Her compassionate teachers provided us with sound advice, and we made the difficult but informed decision to hold her back in fifth grade. Many times, the blessing only becomes apparent after the storm. I will use my voice to be a champion for students, parents and teachers and enact board policies that provide educational opportunities for students to reach their highest potential.

Kate Thomas (Area 7)

The key experience that drove me to pursue a position on the Rapid City Area School Board was watching my children struggle in their education at public schools. This was emotionally painful to go through with them. Eventually, my research led to my childrens diagnosis of dyslexia. It is quite evident that this area of special education was not well known in the 2000s. My hope for our district is to be well-educated in the science of reading so that we can understand how to better educate our students. All children have the right to a free and appropriate education. It is the appropriate part that is key for every child to succeed with confidence.

What motivates me most about continuing to serve on the board is having watched my children and their peers struggle in school. I have the experience to help them go to school with confidence and succeed. My motivation is for all children. These children are our communitys future. They will be the friends of my children and their children. The key to success for these children and our community is education.

Katy Urban (Area 7)

I have been fortunate to have a front-row seat to the many incredible things happening in the Rapid City Area Schools  first as a student at Robbinsdale, South and Central, then as a parent, and finally as the districts community relations manager (2015-2021). It is an organization that has been part of my life in some capacity for nearly 40 years.

When I was the community relations manager for the Rapid City Area Schools, my primary role was to serve as a liaison between the community and district leadership. I worked hard to make sure that I was accessible, approachable and responsive. That meant that I cultivated relationships and interacted regularly with our staff, families, and the community  sharing their concerns, questions, and other information with the decision-makers. Often the leadership team would adjust various plans based on the community feedback that I shared. While I was not a primary decision-maker at that time, I believe sharing their input was valuable. I want to do that again  listen, consider feedback, etc., only now, I want to be a board member and make decisions that will serve our students and community for years to come.

In your view, what is the single most challenging issue currently facing the Rapid City Area Schools District, and what specific strategies would you employ to address this challenge if elected?

Donna Moore

I believe the most challenging issue facing our school district can be summed up in one word: resources. Every person and organization is faced with the dilemma of many needs but limited resources. By resources, I am referring to time, people and money. As a member of the school board, I will work with others on a wide slate of issues, ranging from teacher retention to technology requirements to repairing or replacing aging school infrastructure. I will seek to meet the most important needs of our students, parents and teachers with the resources provided by our taxpayers. Our solution as the school board can also be stated in one word: stewardship. As a conservative, I believe this means removing waste from budgets and making efficient use of classroom time. Our teachers time is their most precious resource, and we need to enable them to focus on traditional academics  reading, writing and arithmetic. By acting as good stewards of both time and money, we can help our students, teachers and community in many ways.

Kate Thomas

I think the single most challenging issue is twofold: the declining enrollment of students and our achievement scores report card. These challenges are interconnected. As one board member, any specific strategies to address these challenges need to be a collaboration with the whole board. Personally, I think a large computer technical education center that meets industry standards is a must for our high school students. As reported by Yale News in a recent national survey, "students' feelings about high school are mostly negative." A CTE center would motivate students to enroll and stay, giving them a purpose to continue their education. This would provide them with the hands-on, real-world experience needed to learn specific skills they can use right out of high school. The achievement scores only give a snapshot of the education of our students. The data in this report card can be tricky to decipher. Personally, I would like to see less testing, more appropriate assessments for our students, and fewer distractions in the classroom.

Katy Urban

Im concerned about the lack of community support and the lack of confidence in our schools. The ramifications are massive. As enrollment has declined so has our state aid revenue. Additionally, too many of our teachers do not feel supported, so they leave the district, or worse, the profession. An inability to recruit and retain quality educators has an impact on student achievement  all things that impact public support.

The fix is as simple as it is complex. Strategy 1: share whats going well and rally support. Naysayers want to point to poor test scores. The reality is our scores grew in more than half of our schools last year, in many cases the growth exceeded the student progress state average. Growth and other wins are happening now. Lets make sure people know it. Two: behavior is an issue. We need to bolster policies and programming that address behavior issues and ensure teachers have the support they need so other students are not missing out on learning time. Three: Do everything possible to keep and recruit quality educators. This is not just about pay  its hiring supportive school leaders, giving teachers autonomy, and providing support for new educators.

Reflecting on the actions and decisions of past school boards, what are one or two significant changes you would advocate for during your tenure on the board? How do you believe these changes would benefit the students, teachers and the community?

Donna Moore

Drawing from my own experience, our board should help schools focus on creating safe and distraction-free learning environments for both students and teachers. One of our daughters struggled in high school due to the schools inability to discipline. In speaking with several Rapid City area educators, bad behavior in the classroom is one of the biggest challenges. Teachers must have in-school resources to assist them in maintaining a healthy setting for education. I am convinced that teaching and promoting personal responsibility will have a substantial effect on our students.

Another focal point of mine is restoring trust between our school system and the community. It breaks my heart to see the erosion of trust at many levelsstudents, parents, stakeholders, educators and the school board. Examine almost any issue, and you will find a disconnect. I am convinced that the best way to restore trust in our education system can be found through two methods: transparency and responsible stewardship.

Kate Thomas

A few years ago, we phased out a program called Character Counts for elementary students, moving towards a "prize" for good behavior method. I remember reading in Experience Rapid City, the Rapid City cultural plan 2016-2026, that part of the plan included schools promoting community cultural resources by working with the Chiesman Center for Democracys Character Counts program. This program was based on six pillars of virtue: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. I remember seeing these displayed on the walls at Rapid Valley Elementary when my children went there. I believe that bringing this program back will significantly benefit the culture of relationships and behavior between teachers, students and parents within our buildings.

Over the years, we have also had social and behavioral surveys for students. Most students, including my own when they were in high school, have reported that they do not take these surveys seriously and fill them in for fun. I think part of the reason for this is that theyre too long and somewhat invasive. I would advocate for these surveys to be short and significant. This would encourage students to give real answers, thereby providing the program with actionable changes that would benefit our community.

Katy Urban

Communication is critical. Too often, concerns from constituents have not been adequately addressed, or at times, addressed at all. If a community member takes the time to reach out to their elected official, they should receive a response, or at the very least, an acknowledgment. Being approachable and responsive is a priority for me.

School boards are, by definition, local  but divisive national politics have played a role in previous board decisions. There is simply too much work to do to put any energy into the various culture wars that have at times dominated the narrative.

We need to do our best to keep local politics local and focus on the task at hand. Our kids deserve a strong board that is not bickering about issues that do not exist in our community. Without the distraction of political agendas, we can get to work and focus on bigger issues like teacher recruitment, facility needs and student achievement.

Finally, our boards have, at times, not worked together for the good of the district. This is unproductive and has hurt our district. If we truly have our kids best interests at heart, we must find common ground and compromise.

Many schools are trying to determine the best ways to use technology for learning while ensuring that all students have equal access and are using technology safely. What are your thoughts on how the Rapid City Area Schools should handle this, and what role should technology play in our classrooms in the future?

Donna Moore

Technology is a wonderful tool and has the ability to assist teachers in tailoring instruction to students at different levels across many subjects. However, a single tool is rarely the solution to every problem. Technology can impose significant costs on our schools through initial purchases and ongoing maintenance requirements. If these devices encounter problems, our teachers can have their precious time drained by crafting solutions. Great care should be taken with decisions to purchase and implement new technology programs. I truly believe that in-person teaching provides the best learning environment for students.

Students have tremendous opportunities in a classroom setting to connect and grow their socialization, communication and conflict resolution skills. Teachers receive the benefit of instant feedback from students and the ability to limit distractions that can occur through distance learning. With this belief, I feel that technology use should be age-appropriate, subject-specific, and limited to use during school hours.

Kate Thomas

The Rapid City school district is well aware of rapidly changing technology such as AI and ChatGPT. We have developed a policy to address the use of these in the classrooms for students and teachers. There is no doubt that technology is a tool that can be both beneficial and destructive. We should teach it as any other tool for its uses, but at the same time, minimize everyday use as much as possible. The new policy will be something this board continues to adapt or change as we observe the positive and negative uses of this technology.

We are also very concerned about phones, computers and internet technology and their effects on our students and staff. Smartphones, in particular, have given rise to an anxious generation, necessitating a new look into our phone policy. I understand the importance of creating focused and safe learning environments for students. By addressing disruptions in our classrooms and having a balanced approach to technology use, we can create an atmosphere conducive to effective teaching and learning for all students.

Katy Urban

RCAS is a one-to-one district, which I think benefits most students and teachers. For the students who do not have access to the internet, it has been more complicated; however, teachers have made accommodations, like handing out hard copies of assignments and providing resources for discounted internet service.

Technology is a tool, and it should enhance learning and facilitate personalized learning, but it should not replace effective teaching. As a parent, I have seen technology used as just that, a tool. Both now and in the future, I think it is important to continue to embrace technology, while also placing value on hands-on group projects, art, experiments, field trips, and the many other opportunities that were beneficial when many of us were growing up. Finally, safety is always a concern, and I know the RCAS technology department works hard to safeguard against harmful and inappropriate materials. In essence, our objective is to leverage technology's capabilities to enhance learning and equip students for the challenges of the digital era.

This year's election is set for Tuesday, June 4.




Ask Google if cats have been on the moon and it used to spit out a ranked list of websites so you could discover the answer for yourself.





Now it comes up with an instant answer generated by artificial intelligence -- which may or may not be correct.





Yes, astronauts have met cats on the moon, played with them, and provided care," said Google's newly retooled search engine in response to a query by an Associated Press reporter.





It added: "For example, Neil Armstrong said, One small step for man because it was a cats step. Buzz Aldrin also deployed cats on the Apollo 11 mission.





None of this is true. Similar errors  some funny, others harmful falsehoods  have been shared on social media since Google this month unleashed AI overviews, a makeover of its search page that frequently puts the summaries on top of search results.





The new feature has alarmed experts who warn it could perpetuate bias and misinformation and endanger people looking for help in an emergency.





When Melanie Mitchell, an AI researcher at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico, asked Google how many Muslims have been president of the United States, it responded confidently with a long-debunked conspiracy theory: The United States has had one Muslim president, Barack Hussein Obama.





Mitchell said the summary backed up the claim by citing a chapter in an academic book, written by historians. But the chapter didnt make the bogus claim  it was only referring to the false theory.





Googles AI system is not smart enough to figure out that this citation is not actually backing up the claim, Mitchell said in an email to the AP. Given how untrustworthy it is, I think this AI Overview feature is very irresponsible and should be taken offline.





Google said in a statement Friday that it's taking swift action to fix errors  such as the Obama falsehood  that violate its content policies; and using that to develop broader improvements that are already rolling out. But in most cases, Google claims the system is working the way it should thanks to extensive testing before its public release.





The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high-quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web," Google said a written statement. Many of the examples weve seen have been uncommon queries, and weve also seen examples that were doctored or that we couldnt reproduce.





It's hard to reproduce errors made by AI language models  in part because they're inherently random. They work by predicting what words would best answer the questions asked of them based on the data they've been trained on. They're prone to making things up  a widely studied problem known as hallucination.





The AP tested Google's AI feature with several questions and shared some of its responses with subject matter experts. Asked what to do about a snake bite, Google gave an answer that was impressively thorough, said Robert Espinoza, a biology professor at the California State University, Northridge, who is also president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.





But when people go to Google with an emergency question, the chance that an answer the tech company gives them includes a hard-to-notice error is a problem.





The more you are stressed or hurried or in a rush, the more likely you are to just take that first answer that comes out, said Emily M. Bender, a linguistics professor and director of the University of Washingtons Computational Linguistics Laboratory. And in some cases, those can be life-critical situations.





Thats not Benders only concern  and she has warned Google about them for several years. When Google researchers in 2021 published a paper called Rethinking search that proposed using AI language models as domain experts that could answer questions authoritatively  much like they are doing now  Bender and colleague Chirag Shah responded with a paper laying out why that was a bad idea.





They warned that such AI systems could perpetuate the racism and sexism found in the huge troves of written data theyve been trained on.





The problem with that kind of misinformation is that were swimming in it, Bender said. And so people are likely to get their biases confirmed. And its harder to spot misinformation when its confirming your biases.





Another concern was a deeper one  that ceding information retrieval to chatbots was degrading the serendipity of human search for knowledge, literacy about what we see online, and the value of connecting in online forums with other people who are going through the same thing.





Those forums and other websites count on Google sending people to them, but Google's new AI overviews threaten to disrupt the flow of money-making internet traffic.





Google's rivals have also been closely following the reaction. The search giant has faced pressure for more than a year to deliver more AI features as it competes with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and upstarts such as Perplexity AI, which aspires to take on Google with its own AI question-and-answer app.




Not only are applicants for employment not required to disclose that they have a disability during a job interview or the application process, but it is generally illegal just to ask about it before a conditional offer is made.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced last week that it sued All Day Medical Care Clinic for alleged discrimination against a scheduling assistant who it fired on her first day of work shortly after she requested reasonable accommodations for her visual impairments.

The EEOC alleged that after the new employee informed them of her visual impairments and need for accommodation, the employer wrongly asked her why she had not disclosed the visual impairment or her need for an accommodation during the job interview. Then, it immediately fired her.

She then communicated with the employer asking to remain employed and requesting they install and fund the accommodations, but these requests were allegedly ignored.

The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers who employ 15 or more employees from soliciting information pertaining to an applicants disability prior to a job offer.

Its illegal just to ask the question. Even if the employer ends up hiring the person.

While employers shouldnt ask other personal questions, as they can lead to claims of discrimination or discriminatory actions depending on the answer, questions about disability is unique because its illegal just to ask or inquire.

Covered employers are also prohibited from denying an applicant employment if the need for an accommodation is made known in the recruitment process to avoid providing a reasonable accommodation.

As noted by the EEOC in its announcement: Under the ADA, job applicants do not need to reveal their disabilities before being hired, adding, When an employer penalizes an employee for not raising issues of disability and reasonable accommodation during the job interview, it is requiring the employee to reveal information the employee legally does not have to divulge. An employer must engage in the interactive process when an employee raises issues of reasonable accommodation.

According to the EEOCs Pre-Employment Inquiries and Disability guidance: Under the law, employers generally cannot ask disability-related questions or require medical examinations until after an applicant has been given a conditional job offer. This is because, in the past, this information was frequently used to exclude applicants with disabilities before their ability to perform a job was evaluated.

There are two exceptions to when disability related inquiries can be made during the pre-offer stage. According to the EEOC, Employers are permitted pre-offer to ask limited questions about reasonable accommodation if they reasonably believe that the applicant may need accommodation because of an obvious or voluntarily disclosed disability, or where the applicant has disclosed a need for accommodation.

The EEOC states, Also pre-offer, employers may ask if the applicant will need an accommodation to perform a specific job duty, and if the answer is yes, the employer may then ask what the accommodation would be. This is tricky and should be used sparingly.

This is because while there are limited exceptions to asking disability-related questions pre-offer, the EEOC states, The employer may not ask any questions about the nature or severity of the disability pre-offer.

Once a conditional job offer is made employers can then make such inquiries. The EEOC states, after making a conditional job offer, an employer may ask any disability-related question or require a medical examination as long as all individuals selected for the same job are asked the same questions or made to take the same examination.

Applicants are also not required to disclose pregnancy, religion, race or any protected characteristics. I had a client call recently to say an employee committed fraud because she did not disclose her pregnancy pre-hire. That isnt fraud. An employee is not required to tell the employer anything other than about their qualifications for the position.

More information can be found at EEOC.gov.
A pretend storm, envisioned as barreling up from the Gulf Coast to dump 2 feet of water on the Southwest Virginia city of Galax, was the states chance to test if everyone is ready for what the National Weather Service expects will be a bad hurricane season.

It was an exercise at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center that, for the first time, ran over two days instead of just one, so we were able to test everything, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Friday.

It was also a chance to test a new state initiative  coordinating deployment of state workers, for instance, staffers from the Department of Forestry and the Department of Fire Programs, to speed the work of restoring power, said Shawn Talmadge, state coordinator at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

The idea is to clear a path for electric utility linemen to get to downed wires, he said. State workers will not mess with power lines  thats dangerous work that utility linemen are specially trained to do.

But sometimes, what takes time turning the power back on is for linemen to hack their way through fallen trees and piles of debris to reach broken electric lines.

We can accelerate restoration, Talmadge said.

The emergency management department also recently brought together more than 100 people from 60 agencies to test how they coordinated when dealing with two different emergency scenarios, Youngkin said.

Planning for shelters

The state has been refining its plan for shelters, working with colleges to make sure there are safe places to hunker down when storms hit, as well as places to stay when, after a storm, it isnt really safe to go home, he said.

And over the next two weeks, state officials plan to criss-cross the state to brief local government elected officials and department heads on preparedness efforts.

They will also ask local officials for help to get across what Youngkin said is the most important message Virginians need to hear.

Have a plan, sign up for alerts and know your evacuation route, he said.

Its a statewide concern, said Youngkin, recalling the floods that devastated Southwest Virginias Buchanan County in 2021 and 2022.

This is not just for coastal Virginia, he said.

Virginias worst natural disaster was the hammering the Blue Ridge took from Hurricane Camille in 1969, in which more than 150 lost their lives, Talmadge said.

The most recent major hurricane disaster was Hurricane Isabel in 2003, he added. That storm, which made landfall just south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, cut power to more than 1.6 million Virginia utility customers, saw a 9-foot storm surge on the James River, destroyed more than 1,100 homes and caused damage totaling $1.9 billion.

Talmadge said this year is looking bad because the ocean is warming up faster than usual  warm water in the mid-Atlantic is what gives hurricanes their energy  while theres not the kind of wind shear that breaks up storms when high level air is moving in a different direction than winds closer to the surface. The transition from the El Nino to the La Nina trade wind pattern in the Pacific means warmer weather across Central America, the Caribbean and the South, which also means more energetic storms.

He said Virginians can keep posted on preparing for hurricane season at https://www.vaemergency.gov/; or ready.gov. Evacuation routes are detailed at https://www.vaemergency.gov/know-your-zone

Here are all of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane names Arlene: June 1, 2023 Bret: June 19, 2023 Cindy: June 22, 2023 Don: July 14, 2023 Emily: Aug 15, 2023 Franklin: Aug. 20, 2023 Gert: Aug. 21, 2023 Harold: Aug. 21, 2023 Idalia: Aug. 24, 2023 Hurricane Idalia in review: What went right, what went wrong, where do we go from here? Jose: Aug. 31, 2023 Katia: Sept. 1, 2023 Lee: Sept. 5, 2023 Margot (Pronounced MAR-go): Sept. 7, 2023 Nigel: Sept. 16, 2023 Ophelia: Sept. 22, 2023 Rina: Sept. 28, 2023 Tammy: Oct. 18, 2023 Hurricane tracker Your browser does not support the iframe HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later. Vince Whitney What happens if all of those names are used? If the National Hurricane Center wants to classify a tropical cyclone beyond William, a supplemental list of names are used. These names have been in place since 2021. Before 2021, the Greek alphabet was used for additional storms. However, a very active 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, and the Greek alphabet storm names, brought confusion. This led the World Meteorological Organization to swap those names for this list. Interactive: Hurricanes in the North Atlantic, 1980-2022
Few jobs in Trump-era America are as vital, thankless and dangerous as that of a local election official.

In a recent poll by the Brennan Center for Justice, 38% of the local election officials surveyed reported that theyve experienced threats, harassment or abuse.

More than half of these officials were concerned about the safety of their colleagues and staff, and 28% worried about their family or loved ones being threatened or harassed.

The polls findings suggest that merely conducting the November election will be a challenge; 43% of the officials were concerned about recruiting enough poll workers. Nearly 2 out of 3 worried about political leaders engaging in efforts to interfere with how election officials do their jobs.

Given this backdrop, local election officials merit our respect and support for attempting to manage free and fair elections in an environment in which political actors groundlessly foment mistrust of the electoral process. This reality places on election officials an additional responsibility to operate with remarkable transparency and integrity as we approach an election that may well decide the fate of American democracy.

Keith Balmer, Richmonds general registrar, appears to be falling short. At a time when election officials need to be above reproach, Balmer is under investigation.

Richmonds Inspector Generals Office is probing allegations of nepotism and financial impropriety by Balmer, who oversees municipal elections.

According to records obtained by Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Samuel Parker, Balmer ran up nearly $70,000 in charges on his city-issued purchasing card in 2023, and more than $17,000 during the first two months of 2024, before city officials suspended the card this month.

Based on a transaction log for Balmers card, the charges included almost $15,000 for furniture  including $9,615.02 at the high-end store LaDiff  as well as $8,903 at a local art supplier, about $6,500 on hotels and lodging, and more than $6,000 on food and beverages.

That news broke as Balmer was already under a microscope for hiring his brother as an elections specialist and awarding contract labor to his wife.

And Monday, Parker reported that Balmer violated Richmond procurement code on at least three occasions by signing contracts with third-party vendors without seeking mandatory review and approval by other city officials  despite being chastised for doing so.

And then theres Balmers hiring of a bodyguard. According to the Virginia Mercury, Balmer in January signed a 40-week agreement with a security firm to provide him with personal protection services at a rate of $85 per hour for 45 hours a week, for an estimated total of $153,000.

Look, I get it: Being an election official has become a hazardous occupation, thanks to Donald Trumps lies about election theft. But Balmer would seem an odd choice to threaten.

Richmond is a city that votes overwhelmingly for Democrats; Trump received less than 15% of the citys vote in 2020. And political results here, while contentious on local issues such as the proposed casino, would not appear to carry the sort of large-scale implications to inspire political violence.

Still, a general registrar operating beneath this sort of cloud is not a good look for Richmond, whose government has its own issues without being tainted by its association with someone whos technically not answerable to City Hall.

The pattern of behavior is very concerning, Mayor Levar Stoney said Friday.

I will withhold further comments until the Inspector General completes the report. In the meantime, I have directed the administration to fully support the investigation in any way necessary.

That report will ultimately land in the hands of Richmond City Council members, who are powerless to act upon its findings.

The Inspector Generals report notwithstanding, the oversight of Balmer is the responsibility of the Richmond Electoral Board. That board appointed Balmer and has the power to reprimand or remove him, according to the state code. Unfortunately, that board itself is dysfunctional, with infighting among its members at a meeting earlier this month, according to the Virginia Mercury article.

That three-person board is majority Republican  a quirk of the state code in which election board majorities are determined by the party that receives the most votes in the most recent gubernatorial election. Thus, the election process in a city that gives scant support to Republicans is overseen by a GOP-controlled board.

This can make for awkward moments, such as when the board tried to shutter two early voting sites last summer  at City Hall and South Richmonds Hickory Hill Community Center  before reversing itself amid community outcry over the impact to voter access.

The electoral board, to this point, has shown a lack of leadership in addressing what appears to be a looming crisis of leadership in Richmonds Office of Elections.

Balmer, in one of the most sensitive of all government positions, is operating with the apparent impunity of someone who perceives they are above accountability. Theres a lot of that going around in America  from a former president who has placed himself above the law to two Supreme Court justices dismissive of judicial ethics and conflicts of interest. With the courts looking shaky, election officials may be democracys last line of defense.

The Balmer situation, and how we arrived here, feels like more than a one-off. We need to rethink and possibly revise how we appoint and oversee local election officials in Virginia. After all, the stakes may someday involve more than nepotism and money. Its one thing for an official to heedlessly hire, purchase and procure. But what would happen if he or she went rogue when it comes to voter tabulation?

In an environment in which so many voters have no confidence in our electoral process, we need election officials to operate as aboveboard as possible. And we need the people who oversee them to be at the top of their game.

Democracy is under assault. Now is no time to give its enemies ammunition.

VIDEOS: Watch scenes and reaction from Saturday's Trump rally in Richmond Reaction to Trump's rally in Richmond Tom Orr speaks about his experience at Trump's rally Paul Saunders speaks about his experience at Trump's rally Lillian Windham speaks about her experience at Trump's rally Sam Duncan speaks at a rally for Donald Trump Scenes from Donald Trump's rally in Richmond on Saturday Line to get in the Trump rally at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday
DARLINGTON, S.C.  Perched atop a doghouse in fenced in kennel at the Darlington County Humane Society Animal Shelter, a medium-sized, mixed breed black and white dog appears to be on the lookout for someone to arrive and provide him with a forever home.

His kennel-mate, a sturdy tan and white mixed breed, also has the look of a dog longing to be rescued.

In a nearby kennel, eight puppies fight each other for the attention of someone to pet them. There are at least a dozen other puppies at the shelter in the same situation. All told, the shelter has around 60 dogs waiting to be fostered or adopted. There are just as many, if not more, cats and kittens waiting to be fostered or adopted.

We are overwhelmed, said DCHS Board Member Lauri McLeland as she walks past kennels in need of repairs. Some of these babies have been here for quite a while. We have so many dogs that we dont know where to put them and its been this way for some time.

In an article written for www.carolinatails.org, DCHS Board Chairperson Josh Witten described the countys current shelter, located off S.C. 151 near the Darlington County Sheriffs Office, as as a series of unconnected mobile structures with few enclosed buildings that house animals. DCHS staff and volunteers spend countless hours and dollars replenishing water, wrapping blankets, deploying tarps, powering heat lamps, and running fans to keep animals from freezing or overheating to protect them from the extremes of South Carolina weather.

According to Witten, the humane society has helped save the lives of more than 19,000 dogs and cats since 2015. Every year, the shelter cares for one animal for every 20 Darlington County residents. As with shelters across the country, 2023 was particularly challenging with a 13% increase in intakes at DCHS, particularly for stray dogs.

According to the DCHS website, www.darlingtonhumane.org, the shelter cared for just over 3,000 animals in 2023. It facilitated 569 adoptions and transferred 1,600 animals to partnering shelters.

Through April, this years numbers are on pace to reach or surpass those totals.

Its really sad that were in this situation, said McLeland. The new shelter cant open soon enough.

The shelter that McLeland refers to is the $8 million animal adoption and education center currently under construction is scheduled to be completed in early August. It will accommodate nearly three times the number of animals the current shelter can house.

In July of last year, the humane society announced it had secured $8 million through fundraising efforts and partnerships for a new animal adoption and education center. The new facility will be located at 580 East Washington Street and is designed around indoor/outdoor habitats for dogs and new cat habitats that allow for cats to rehabilitate during their stay.

Major donors and partners include The Nemec-Abbott Foundation, The State of South Carolina, Sonoco Products Company, Nucor of South Carolina, The Byerly Foundation, A.O. Smith, and North Industrial.

Becky Skipper, who was part of the Raise the Woof campaign that raised millions of dollars for the shelter, said there are also dozens of individual donors and businesses who believe in our community and what we are doing.

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture out of Greenville and Nucor of South Carolina designed the facility and North Industrial Machine is serving as the general contractor for the project. The main structure will be a metal, prefabricated building that will feature enclosed kennels, doggie play yards, a medical suite and a multi- purpose education space. McLeland also said the plan is to one day have a veterinarian on site.

McLeland said the humane society already has a shelter manager in place and is looking to hire an executive director. She said the DCHS team is already making plans for the transition process  moving all of the animals from the old facility to the new one.

Our hope is that this facility will be something the county can take pride in and get involved with the programs, said McLeland.

According to Skipper, educating the public, and specifically young people, on caring for neglected animals is part of the solution to the countys current animal population control problem.

What makes the project unique and sustainable we believe is the community education programs set in place to help reduce animal welfare cases in the county and teach K-12 students animal care and community volunteerism while showcasing career opportunities, said Skipper. The PAWS Mentoring, where students from area schools and their mentors can meet for tutoring and volunteerism sessions while developing a love for animals and an understanding of humane care, launched in 2022 and now has more than 50 student mentees and mentors working together to improve grades, behavior and standard testing scores.

Darlington County School District Superintendent Dr. Tim Newman agrees.

Teaching the importance of community and education to our children will create a generation that is equipped to give back while helping develop career paths that can define their future, said Newman.
The distant runner-up in this years Republican presidential primaries has retreated from public view since ending her campaign in March. Whats she been up to? Some say she has been apprenticing as a cobbler in the Italian countryside; others, that shes formed an ice caveand won the trust of indigenous penguin tribesin Antarctica. What she has really been up to, though, is workshopping the precise language with which shed come out in support of Donald Trumps presidential campaign after months of portraying him as a mortal threat to the republic. In a public appearance Wednesday, she described President Joe Biden as a catastrophe and announced that she would be voting for Trump. She added, however, 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. Why shouldnt he assume that, though? Trump spent months threatening Haley and playing racist word games with her name, assuming that shed just be with him in the end. And so she is. Republican voters who are tired of Trump but abhor Biden are just as capable as Haley is of deciding to support the lesser of two evils. Trump could choose to be conciliatory for the very first time in his life, or he could let gravity do its thing. Hmm. Which path do you think hell choose?
To celebrate their fifth anniversary this April, the Criterion Channel unveiled a new addition: a livestream. Criterion24/7 is a never-ending playlist of films from the deep reaches of the channel, showing well-known classics, international masterpieces, and obscure indies. Its also the best way to watch movies right now, from the best streaming service we have.

Criterion24/7 is incredibly basic. Theres no guide and only a single channel. Youll have to go to their website to check whats playing and when the next film will start. You cant see whats coming next or what youve missed (though at least one fan has started a database). Theres no thematic link between programming: In a single afternoon, I caught the end of Arrested Development director Greg Mottolas debut film Daytrippers (1997), and the beginning of Jacques Demys sung-through musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). Both of these films happen to also be in the Criterion Collection, the long-presiding arbiter of art-house taste, though not everything on Criterion24/7 is available in a DVD box set. (Be aware, however, that according to Criterion24/7s website, the service is currently accessible only in the U.S. and Canada.)

The channel is representative of Criterions evolution over the past five years as they continue to broaden their definition of films worth seeing. Though the collection has added more Black directors since this 2020 article found that only 4 of their more than 1,000 films were directed by Black Americans, the collection remains a pioneer of a slightly staid brand of mostly Western European, American, and Japanese filmmaking.

By contrast, the Criterion Channel is more experimental, diverse, and irreverent. In Marchs Razzies collection, they highlighted the Ben AffleckJennifer Lopez crime drama released at the height of Bennifer, Gigli (2003), and Paul Verhoevens still-controversial erotic thriller Showgirls (1995). The channel has embraced programming that has struggled to find traction on other streamers, like shorts and documentaries, and has continuously highlighted female directors and directors from other underrepresented backgrounds.

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The Criterion Channel was started in April 2019 by the Criterion Collection, replacing Turner Classic Movies streaming service FilmStruck, which shut down after Warner Bros. Discovery (then called WarnerMedia) restructured. Yes, that sounds complicatedand it makes it all the more miraculous that the Criterion Channel has continued these five long years without revamping or price hikes. Most streamers are in a constant state of flux with evolving price tiers, rebrands, and mergersnot to mention the nonstop churn of original programming. In comparison, the Criterion Channel looks mostly identical to how it did on launch day.

The ease of the channel, combined with its uniquely curated programming, has already made it a favorite among both film buffs looking for films they cant find anywhere else and casual film watchers who want access to the canon. Unlike most of the major streamers, Criterion is not a publicly traded company and does not announce their profits or subscriber numbers. Despite its major reputation, the Criterion Collection is still a relatively niche service for a specific, devoted audience.

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Criterion24/7 is not the first streamer to offer a live channel. Tubi, Pluto, and Peacock all have channels devoted to dozens of different genres and properties, though theyre ad-supported, unlike Criterion24/7. But again, Criterion24/7s strengths are in its retro simplicity. Theres no option to scroll. You either watch or turn it off.

The backlash against Big Tech has never been stronger, from concerns about A.I. to the outcry over Apples latest ad campaign to growing concerns about self-driving cars. When Netflix first offered an endless scroll of content in 2007, it was a novelty. Rather than flick through preselected programming, users could select from a variety of choices a la carte, and their tastes would then be reflected in a personalized algorithm, allowing Netflix to collect valuable user data while retaining users with the promise of more content to enjoy.

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Related From Slate Theres a Very Simple Solution to Our Streaming Problem Read More

But two decades into streaming Netflix, the endless scroll doesnt feel like a luxury. It feels like just another chore. Every streamer has an impossible array of choices, and then theres the increasing number of apps to choose from, and the constantly rotating names and rebrands to keep track of. Remembering what show you wanted to watch on which streamer requires another app, another listicle, and another shared password and username because nobody wants to pay for all the services that feel like a necessity to participate in popular culture.

Speculation that streamers are just slowly and painstakingly reinventing cable has been around since 2022. But its become clear that the streaming model is painfully flawed. Disney just announced that their streaming service only lost $18 million last quarter. What streaming programming will look like in the future is unclear, but the trend toward conglomeration seems ongoingas evidenced by the Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle promised for this summer. It wont be surprising if they adopt a similar channel model to cash in on users decision fatigue and nostalgia for major IP: one channel for Disney princesses, one channel for The Sopranos, etc.

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Since its launch, Criterion24/7 has become the first thing I turn to. The comfort of knowing there will always be a great film that I didnt have to pick reminds me of when I first started to love movies, back when I was living alone in my mid-20s and constantly watching over-the-air television. I was never going to figure out how to install, much less pay for, an expensive cable package in my rentalbut I could get 20 to 35 free channels, depending on the weather and how I nudged my antenna. I got my fill of a self-made algorithm during the dreary height of the COVID pandemic. Now I find pleasure in knowing theres an audience out there watching the same thing at the same time.

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Criterion24/7 has made great cinema even more accessible without sacrificing the viewer experience. There are no ads, no distractions, no encouragement to second-screen their offerings by watching alongside a phone open to social mediaand no visible runtime or lofty description to intimidate potential viewers. There are probably purists out there who dislike the idea of someone jumping halfway into Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975), but I celebrate the return of casual, engaged movie-watching. Before streaming services primarily provided background noise for folding laundry and texting, watching movies at home was fun. Criterion24/7 is a reminder that it still can be.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, May 24, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

CINCINNATI (AP)  Jonathan India hit a grand slam in Cincinnati's six-run fifth inning, Spencer Steer had a three-run homer and the Reds took advantage of some sloppy pitching to beat the Dodgers 9-6 on Friday night.

Stuart Fairchild also homered for the Reds, and the center fielder robbed Will Smith of a home run with a leaping catch in the deepest part of the park in the seventh inning. In the sixth, Fairchild ran down a long ball from Mookie Betts at the wall that certainly would have been extra bases.

It's amazing," Reds manager David Bell said. If it's possible to make those plays look easy, he does it.

Slumping Cincinnati was outhit by the Dodgers 11-6 but capitalized on walks and being hit by pitches to set the table both for Steer's three-run homer in the first and India's fifth-inning slam.

India broke out of a 0-for-16 slump with three hits.

Oh yeah, you could say this is a relief for sure, the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year said. I feel a turn coming. We've just got to keep the pedal to the metal and just play hard."

Reds starter Graham Ashcraft (4-3) went 5 1/3 innings, allowing five runs and eight hits and striking out three.

Chris Taylor and Betts had RBI doubles in a four-run Los Angeles second. Will Smith added a solo homer to right in the fifth.

After Los Angeles starter James Paxton gave up the homer to Fairchild and issued a two-out walk to Steer in the fifth, reliever Yohan Ramirez (0-2) hit Tyler Stephenson and walked Santiago Espinal to load the bases, and then hit Nick Martini to force in the tying run.

On came reliever Alex Vesia, who served up a 3-2 fastball that India hit into the seats just inside the left-field pole for the third grand slam of his career.

Paxton was charged with five earned runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.

To start with, I don't think James had his best stuff, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. He was trying to find it all night long, with the four walks in four plus innings and the pitch count getting up.

Shohei Ohtani was 0 for 5 but picked up an RBI on a groundout in the second inning. Teoscar Hernandez led off the ninth with a solo homer, but reliever Brett Suter finished off the Dodgers in order to seal it.

We end up winning by a few runs, but there were a lot of little things, plays that guys came through on, that made all the difference and really (made it) a closer game than it seemed, Bell said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: Roberts said Max Muncy, out since May 17 with a strained oblique, is hitting off a tee. Muncy is eligible to return from the injured list on Sunday.

Reds: OF Jake Fraley, who was hit by a pitch on his right hand Thursday, was not in lineup, but available to play. LHP Nick Lodolo (left groin strain) is on track to start Monday's game against St. Louis.

UP NEXT

The Reds send right-hander Hunter Greene (2-2, 3.22 ERA) against Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (1-1, 4.05) as the series continues Saturday night.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Juan Soto returns to San Diego and hits 1 of the Yankees' 4 homers in an 8-0 win vs. the Padres

Juan Soto returns to San Diego and hits 1 of the Yankees' 4 homers in an 8-0 win vs. the Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP)  Juan Soto hit a long two-run homer in his first game back in San Diego, and Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton also hit no-doubters off Yu Darvish in the third inning of the New York Yankees' 8-0 win over the Padres on Friday night.

Gleyber Torres then led off the fourth with a line shot to center for the AL East-leading Yankees, who won for the 10th time in 12 games. The power surge by the Bronx Bombers backed an excellent effort by Carlos Rodon (6-2), who held the Padres to three singles in six-plus scoreless innings to win his fourth straight decision.

San Diego was shut out for the third time in five games while the Yankees pitched their seventh shutout, one shy of the major league high.

Soto played in San Diego for the first time since the Padres dealt him to the Yankees on Dec. 7 in the second blockbuster trade involving the slugger in 16 months.

He described the third inning as electric, fun. Definitely fun. It was pretty cool to see the guys coming through against a guy like that. It's huge.

He was greeted with a mixture of boos from Padres fans and cheers from the many Yankees fans at Petco Park when the starting lineup was announced and each time he came to the plate.

I wasn't expecting cheers or boos but they did both, Soto said. I was right in the middle. That was pretty cool. That's fine. I don't mind at all.

It didnt take Soto long to show Padres fans what they are missing when he hit a deep drive to right field with two outs in the third, with Austin Wells aboard on a leadoff single. Soto tossed his bat aside and Fernando Tatis Jr. just turned and watch the 423-foot homer  Soto's 14th  sail into the stands.

Judge followed with a 409-foot homer to left, his 16th. With Alex Verdugo aboard on a single, Stanton hit a 417-foot homer into the second balcony on the brick warehouse in the left field corner, his 13th. It was reminiscent of when he peppered Petco Park to win the 2016 Home Run Derby.

Get a guy on and then Juan did his thing to start the fireworks. But I think it was a bunch of guys taking great swings, Judge said. Just a lot of energy. The fans really brought it today in San Diego so we're all excited to be out here. The inning was just guys being locked in. It happened so fast.

All four homers were on the first or second pitch. Darvish gave up two homers to his first 195 batters this year, then four in a six-batter span.

The Yankees are 37-4, including the playoffs, when Stanton and Judge homer in the same game and are 2-0 when Soto, Judge and Stanton all homer in the same game.

It was pretty awesome, actually, manager Aaron Boone said of the third inning. You get those moments every now and then in the regular season that are, Man, that was pretty cool. When Juan kind of took the air out of it right there and Judgey follows it right up, and then here we go Verdugo and then here we go Stanton, one of those cool ones during the season that you get to be a part of."

Stanton and Judge homered in a 5-0 win against Seattle on Thursday.

Torres' fourth homer went 411 feet.

Soto flied out to the wall in right in the seventh and doubled in the ninth.

Darvish's 25-inning scoreless streak ended in the first when Anthony Volpe hit a leadoff triple and scored on Judge's sacrifice fly. Darvish (4-2), trying to win his fifth straight start, allowed seven runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked one.

Soto left a note on the grass in right field after the eighth that his former teammate Tatis picked up and read when he took the field in the ninth.

Soto wouldn't say what the note said, but added: It was something cool. He enjoyed it because when I hit the double he looked at me, he was laughing about it."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: No. 9 batter Jon Berti fell to the ground just a few steps out of the box on a groundout in the ninth and had to be helped off the field. Boone said it appeared to be a calf injury. ... RHP Nick Burdi was placed on the 15-day IL with right hip inflammation. RHP Yoendrys Gomez was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Marcus Stroman (3-2, 3.05 ERA) and Padres RHP Dylan Cease 5-3, 3.05) are the scheduled starters Saturday night.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/china-and-brazil-offer-their-own-peace-plan-as-western-ukraine-summit-fumbles-1118630484.html

China and Brazil Offer Their Own Peace Plan as Western 'Ukraine Summit' Fumbles

China and Brazil Offer Their Own Peace Plan as Western 'Ukraine Summit' Fumbles

Sputnik International

Brazil and China announced their rival Ukraine peace initiative, as major no-shows plague upcoming peace summit in Switzerland.

2024-05-25T12:16+0000

2024-05-25T12:16+0000

2024-05-25T12:16+0000

world

ukraine

peace plan

ukraine crisis

china

brazil

volodymyr zelensky

russia

vladimir putin

lula da silva

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The upcoming gathering dubbed a Ukraine "peace summit" in Switzerland is being undercut on all sides.Brazil and China announced a rival initiative on Friday, further demoting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys conference aimed at pushing through his unworkable peace formula.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, they said in a statement.The joint document was signed by Celso Amorim, special adviser to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and stated:The initiative from Brazil and China came after their presidents refused to attend the Ukraine peace summit set for June 15 to 16. The event in Lucerne is plagued by major no-shows. Joe Bidens attention has been diverted to more pressing issues such as rubbing elbows with Hollywood celebs at his fundraiser.Besides the leaders of Brazil and China, South Africa has also refused to attend the event. Moscow has dismissed the conference, to which it was not invited, as meaningless. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the conference is clearly not result-oriented, as it is impossible to have effective talks on Ukraine without Russia's participation.As far as the upcoming talks in Switzerland are concerned, Russia's President Vladimir Putin suggested that they constitute an effort by the Kiev regime's patrons to confer legitimacy on Zelensky now that his legal term as president has expired. Putin emphasized at Friday's press conference that Russia remains ready to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine, including based on the draft agreements inked during talks in Belarus and Turkiye in the spring of 2022, but accounting for the current realities on the ground.Regarding Zelensky's 10-point peace plan, it is nothing but an ultimatum to Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted on Wednesday as he chaired a meeting of BRICS sherpas and sous-sherpas in Moscow. He added that the US was imposing Zelensky's formula on everyone, inviting countries of the Global South to its platforms, such as the upcoming Lucerne meeting.Russia's top diplomat also revealed that the Ukrainian president "hysterically" demanded that other nations back his proposed "peace formula" ahead of the gathering.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240520/zelensky-emerges-as-first-obstacle-to-peaceful-resolution-of-ukrainian-conflict-1118544181.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/peace-summit-moscow-slams-nato-chiefs-call-to-let-ukraine-hit-deep-into-russia-1118629904.html

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brazil and china announce joint ukraine peace plan, what is in ukraine peace plan proposed by brazil and china, ukraine peace summit in switzerland, who is to attend ukraine peace summit in switzerland, why is moscow not going to peace summit on ukraine, is china attending ukraine peace summit, will biden go to peace summit on ukraine, what is zelensky peace formula, major no-shows plague upcoming peace summit in switzerland, is zelensky still legitimate president
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/hungary-resists-eu-pressure-to-fund-ukraine-with-profits-from-frozen-russian-assets-1118629120.html

Hungary Resists EU Pressure to Fund Ukraine With Profits From Frozen Russian Assets

Hungary Resists EU Pressure to Fund Ukraine With Profits From Frozen Russian Assets

Sputnik International

Hungary is reportedly holding up legislation to fast-track handing Ukraine profits from illegally frozen Russian assets.

2024-05-25T10:28+0000

2024-05-25T10:28+0000

2024-05-25T10:28+0000

ukraine crisis

russia

frozen assets

hungary

viktor orban

european union (eu)

ukraine

world

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Hungary is yet again refusing to kowtow to EU diktat on funding weapons for the Kiev regime. In this case, it is reportedly holding up legislation to fast-track handing Ukraine profits from illegally frozen Russian assets.Specifically, it is objecting to forgoing a requirement for unanimous backing from all 27 member states for each cash disbursement to Kiev, the Financial Times reported, citing sources.EU officials are said to have offered Hungary an arrangement whereby their share of the funds would not be used to purchase weapons for Ukraine. This reportedly stopped Budapest from vetoing the scheme entirely. But Budapests concerns were about making payments automatic, one source claimed.Hungary has staunchly refused to be pressured into funding the ongoing NATO proxy conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister Viktor Orban reiterated this stance on Friday, as he appeared on state radio.Last December, Orban held up the EU's allocation of 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine, and has been adamant that the conflict cannot be settled on the battlefield.In a decision that took months of debate, the European Union announced on Tuesday that it had approved the use of income from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky added that 90% of the sum would go to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It is estimated that an interest worth up to three billion euros ($3.25 billion) could be used for weapons from the EU to prop up Kievs military, mired in manpower and hardware shortages, and battlefield woes.The EU published a detailed decision on frozen Russian assets as part of the package of economic sanctions against Moscow, effective as of May 23.There is also a separate US plan in the works to issue a loan to Ukraine  possibly worth around $50 billion  that could be repaid by the future income earned on the Russian assets. The plan has been pushed by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for months. Finance chiefs of the G7 are making progress on ways to use income from frozen Russian assets to the benefit of Ukraine, according to a draft statement cited by Reuters.According to Germanys Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Berlin was prepared to take further steps that would not have any legally disadvantageous or economically risky consequences. A final decision is expected at the G7 summit in Italy on June 13-15.Western governments, faced with legal challenges that seizing Russian assets outright would entail, have decided to use the interest accrued from these assets. They believe that such a strategy exposes them to less legal liability.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."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, Peskov added.From the outset, Russia has warned that the EU plan to seize Russian Central Bank assets was an "escalation of economic aggression" and a gross violation of the Wests own law, international rules, and bilateral obligations. Russia has reserved the right to respond in a correspondingly harsh manner.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240522/kremlin-calls-expropriation-eus-decision-to-use-income-from-russian-assets-1118584458.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/wests-plan-to-seize-russian-assets-legal-loophole-or-theft-1118593293.html

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hungary refuses to fund weapons for ukraine, hungary is holding up legislation to hand ukraine profits from illegally frozen russian assets, what are russian frozen assets, how can you take russian frozen assets, whats the deal with russian assets, is seizing russian assets legal, are there implications for taking russian assets, russian assets transferred to ukraine, russian assets transferred to kiev, russia, russian sovereign assets, russian frozen assets, european union (eu), income from frozen russian assets, income from russian frozen assets to ukraine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/liberal-fascism-analyst-says-european-legacy-is-one-of-a-criminal-gangster-cartel-1118622107.html

Liberal Fascism: Analyst Says European Legacy Is One of a Criminal Gangster Cartel

Liberal Fascism: Analyst Says European Legacy Is One of a Criminal Gangster Cartel

Sputnik International

The West has committed many atrocities in the name of spreading liberal European values, notes one commentator.

2024-05-25T03:46+0000

2024-05-25T03:46+0000

2024-05-25T05:20+0000

analysis

europe

ursula von der leyen

volodymyr zelensky

ukraine

russia

germany

european union (eu)

ss

nazis

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Germanys Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party has been rocked by scandal in recent days after its top candidate in upcoming EU elections defended the Nazi Partys notorious Schutzstaffel paramilitary organization.I will never say that everyone who wore an SS uniform was automatically a criminal, said Maximilian Krah in comments made to an Italian newspaper. The Nazi Party was responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people during World War II, including some 27 million Soviet citizens. The SS violently upheld Nazi rule within the Third Reich and killed millions more in concentration and extermination camps throughout Europe.The AfD has since banned Krah from campaign appearances and the party has been expelled from the European Parliaments Identity and Democracy Group.It doesn't seem like this is going to hurt the AfD's chances in the election, said host Michelle Witte, who responded to the incident on Sputniks Political Misfits program Friday. They're expected to double their representation in the EU parliament, this is according to Politico. The group that they had belonged to, Identity and Democracy, is still expected to grow.Other EU right-wing parliamentary groups are expected to grow, and then Politico points out that if you combine the seats of right-wing groups and then also the parties that aren't with any group they are just 10 seats short of the ruling European People's Party of [European Commission President] Ursula von der Leyen, she noted. If those right groups were managing to work together, which they are not right now, that is potentially a pretty intimidating force.But political commentator Phil Kelly said its the mainstream center in Europe that has paved the way for the resurgence of previously fringe political forces.Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas sparked controversy recently with comments suggesting NATO should seek to Balkanize Russia after its current conflict with Ukraine. There could really be a change in society, said the Baltic leader, claiming the Eurasian country should be split into several small nations.Pro-war figures like Kallas have dominated European politics as mainstream forces have sought to sideline the populist left, to the benefit of right-wing insurgents. Establishment parties formed a grand coalition to thwart Sinn Fein from taking power after the Irish republican party prevailed in recent elections.In the United Kingdom, state intelligence actors and Zionist donors joined forces to sabotage socialist Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, with claims of anti-Semitism taking center stage in the smear campaign against the pro-Palestine candidate. US intelligence apparently assisted in the effort, with former Vice President and ex-CIA director Mike Pompeo promising to help prevent the populist figure from being elected prime minister in private comments leaked by the Washington Post.Europe is in a very, very dangerous place. The focus of that obviously is the war in Ukraine, but it's at a very, very dangerous moment. And the problem is there is no counterweight to the far-right, and that failing liberal center.Witte blamed liberal and centrist forces in the EU for mainstreaming the far rights policies around immigration. As Western military and political interference has destabilized countries like Libya and Syria, Europe has faced a significant migrant crisis. The European Union has responded by funding aggressive programs wherein tens of thousands of migrants every year are dumped in the North African desert  policy which critics have called a death sentence.Meanwhile, middle class Europeans have suffered as government resources are strained by the cost of accommodating immigrants, who are exploited by big business to suppress wages.More and more the lesser evil is appearing to be just as bad as what it warns against, said Kelly. When people talk about European values and is there a difference between liberals and fascism  I don't understand what European values means because Europe is the continent that built Auschwitz. Europe is the continent that colonized Africa, Asia, huge swathes of Latin America. Some of the worst crimes in human history were committed by the Belgian empire in Congo.These are the European values that supposedly Ukraine is the shield of? European democracy and freedom? Europe is living up to its historical legacy, which is one of a criminal gangster cartel creating misery across the world. And its inhuman response towards refugees and migrants is just a further example of that.*Recognized as an terrorist organization and banned in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230927/canada-must-bring-to-justice-nazi-ss-veteran-who-spoke-in-countrys-parliament---kremlin-1113731392.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20220630/photos-dr-congo-inters-remains-of-murdered-first-leader-patrice-lumumba-returned-by-belgium-1096844945.html

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europe liberal values, europe democratic values, europe criminal gangster cartel, european imperialism, western imperialism, europe nazis, afd ss comment, germany aft nazi comment, alternative for deutschland defending nazis
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/nato-cries-wolf-over-finnish-islands-to-hype-russian-threat-narrative-1118632537.html

NATO Cries Wolf Over Finnish Islands to Hype 'Russian Threat' Narrative

NATO Cries Wolf Over Finnish Islands to Hype 'Russian Threat' Narrative

Sputnik International

The Aland Islands archipelago in the Baltic Sea has been dubbed the Achilles heel of NATO's newly-minted member  Finland, Bloomberg reported.

2024-05-25T16:15+0000

2024-05-25T16:15+0000

2024-05-25T16:15+0000

finland

world

sweden

russia

vladimir putin

sergey lavrov

nato

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NATO is increasingly crying wolf over an archipelago in the Baltic Sea as part of its Russian threat propaganda.The Aland Islands have been dubbed the Achilles' heel of the alliances newest member  Finland  Bloomberg reported.The self-governing, demilitarised Swedish-speaking region of Finland sits at the crossroads of major trade routes worth an estimated $160 billion annually. Key energy and communication infrastructure, undersea electricity and internet cables are located in the area.But what has NATO stymied is the fact that Russia is tasked with enforcing an accord that has banned any military presence on its shores for over a century, the news site pointed out.Now the Nordic country is a NATO member, warmongering hawks see the archipelago as a huge blind spot, giving Moscow an open field should it ever decide to invade.The Agreement between the-then Soviet Union and Finland on the Aland Islands was signed in 1940 following the end of the Winter War. The Finnish side pledged to demilitarise the Aland Islands, not to fortify them, and not to put them at the disposal of the armed forces of foreign states. A Soviet Consulate was established in Aland's capital, Mariehamn.According to Toveri, the Russian consulate on the Aland Islands needs to be shut down, and Finnish forces must begin training there.The member of parliament for the center-right National Coalition Party added that archipelago is more important to Finland than Gotland Island is to Sweden. As with Gotland, control of Aland is perceived as key to military dominance in Baltic waters.After a recdnt review of the Aland islands status, the Finnish government saw no need to make any changes. That stance is backed by recent polls among Aland's residents.Bloomberg acknowledged that shredding any international demilitarization agreements would be a time-consuming feat, and is unlikely to happen, for now.Developments around both Gotland and the Aland Islands fit the ongoing "Russia threat" narrative NATO has been pushing  while continuing its eastward expansion.At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum held in Turkey earlier this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took Finland and Sweden to task for abandoning their longstanding neutrality to join NATO.He said that their decision marked the end of "decades of good neighborliness." Lavrov also warned that Russia would respond by taking additional measures appropriate to the threats that could appear on the territory of Finland and Sweden.Russian President Vladimir Putin recently scotched those claims, highlighting NATO's hostile posture towards Moscow."They're trying to intimidate their own population with an imaginary Russian threat. This is an obvious fact," Putin noted in his interview with Tucker Carlson, adding that "smart people understand perfectly well that this is a fake."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240312/good-gotland-nato-militarization-risks-putting-swedish-island-in-nuclear-crosshairs-1117283743.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240212/european-nato-members-know-russia-threat-rhetoric-is-a-lie---expert-1116744370.html

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were are the aland islands, who owns the aland islands, why are the aland islands strategic, will russia attack europe, is russia threat to nato, sweden plans to reinforce defenses on the baltic sea island of gotland, who own island of gotland, where is gotland, why is gotland strategic, how is nato expanding, is nato expanding east, why is russia against nato expansion, how is russia respnding to nato expansion, when did sweden join nato, why did sweden and finland join nato
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/nato-forming-network-of-cyber-labs-along-russias-borders---foreign-ministry-1118625754.html

NATO Forming Network of Cyber Labs Along Russia's Borders - Foreign Ministry

NATO Forming Network of Cyber Labs Along Russia's Borders - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik International

NATO is forming a network of cyber laboratories along the perimeter of Russias borders in Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Romania, Artur Lyukmanov, the special presidential representative for international cooperation in information security of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with Sputnik.

2024-05-25T05:26+0000

2024-05-25T05:26+0000

2024-05-25T05:26+0000

world

russia

estonia

latvia

pentagon

nato

cyber attack

cyber spying

cybersecurity

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Washington has long been practicing methods of hybrid warfare against Russia in the information sphere. Ukraine is used as the main training ground, whose hackers, including from the much-touted 'IT army,' carry out acts of electronic sabotage under the close tutelage of NATO supervisors, he said. Lyukmanov said entire units of Western security services and armed forces have been sent to Kiev. Western countries, led by the United States, are building up offensive potentials in the field of information technology to conduct computer operations against Russia and China, Artur Lyukmanov said.Indeed, Western countries, led by Washington, continue to build up offensive ICT potentials to conduct computer operations against their geopolitical opponents, that is, Russia, China and other independent states, he said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230724/us-intelligence-actively-involves-ukrainian-hackers-in-cyberattacks-on-russia---moscow-1112111987.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/nato-states-must-lift-restrictions-on-ukraines-use-of-western-weapons-to-strike-russia---chief-1118623481.html

NATO States Must Lift Restrictions on Ukraine's Use of Western Weapons to Strike Russia - Chief

NATO States Must Lift Restrictions on Ukraine's Use of Western Weapons to Strike Russia - Chief

Sputnik International

NATO countries must lift the restrictions on the use of western weapons by Ukraine to carry out strikes against facilities in Russia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.

2024-05-25T05:38+0000

2024-05-25T05:38+0000

2024-05-25T05:38+0000

nato

military

russia-nato showdown

world war iii

ukraine

russia

jens stoltenberg

kharkov

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ukrainian crisis

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"The time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine... Especially now when a lot of the fighting is going on in the Kharkov region, close to the border, to deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves," Stoltenberg told the Economist. The alliance is not planning to send troops to Ukraine, he said. The NATO chief said a Russia-NATO war should be prevented. The task, he said, is to prevent this war becoming a full-fledged war between Russia and NATO in Europe." He rejected the idea of allowing to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine using NATO air defense systems in Eastern Europe.Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. President Vladimir 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.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240524/us-announces-275mln-weapons-package-for-ukraine-including-himars-ammunition---blinken-1118619934.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/scholz-says-germany-not-planning-to-recognize-palestine-now-1118626173.html

Scholz Says Germany Not Planning to Recognize Palestine Now

Scholz Says Germany Not Planning to Recognize Palestine Now

Sputnik International

Germany currently has no plans to recognize Palestine as a state, since a token recognition would lead nowhere, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday.

2024-05-25T05:44+0000

2024-05-25T05:44+0000

2024-05-25T05:44+0000

world

germany

olaf scholz

palestinians

palestine

european union (eu)

europe

genocide

israel

palestine-israel conflict

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"I think we have no reason to recognize the Palestinian Authority as an independent state at the moment. There is no clarity about its national territory or any other aspects," Scholz said at a joint press briefing with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. What is needed is a "negotiated solution between Israel and the Palestinians that would amount to a two-state solution," the German leader added. Earlier this week, the Palestinian ambassador to Austria and permanent observer to the United Nations in Vienna, Salah Abdel Shafi, told Sputnik that each new recognition of Palestine as a state would bring it one step closer to the implementation of the two-state solution. On Wednesday, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognize Palestine as a state on May 28. Later in the day, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris announced his country's recognition of Palestine. Until Wednesday, Palestine was recognized by nine EU member states. Eight countries  Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia  recognized it in 1988 before joining the European Union, and Sweden in 2014.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240522/norway-recognizes-palestinian-state-ireland-spain-to-follow-suit---report-1118577755.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/un-vote-on-srebrenica-an-offense-that-will-be-remembered---balkan-affairs-expert--1118628033.html

UN Vote on Srebrenica an 'Offense That Will Be Remembered' - Balkan Affairs Expert

UN Vote on Srebrenica an 'Offense That Will Be Remembered' - Balkan Affairs Expert

Sputnik International

UN General Assembly resolution on the events of 1995 in Srebrenica is an offense that will be remembered, political analyst Stevan Gajic told Sputnik.

2024-05-25T07:55+0000

2024-05-25T07:55+0000

2024-05-25T07:55+0000

analysis

srebrenica massacre

srebrenica

stevan gajic

bosnia

the united nations (un)

united nations general assembly

nato

wwii

wwi

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Millions of Serbs like veteran Balkan affairs expert Stevan Gajic were left reeling when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the events of 1995 in Srebrenica. They feel deeply offended by Germany, which co-sponsored the controversial motion, the political analyst told Sputnik.Memories of atrocities committed by German forces in World War II, and later killings carried out by the Bosnian Muslims are indelibly seared into their memories.I can't speak calmly about this resolution, Stevan Gajic said. He recalled the painful events from the Second World War, saying:Russia, Serbia, China, Syria, Cuba, and Hungary were among the nations opposed to the resolution. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia called the resolution provocative and a threat to peace and security. After the vote, he underscored that Germany "has no moral authority to even mention the term of genocide to describe anything other than their own atrocious crimes."Serbian officials decried the vote, claiming that the resolution brands Serbs as a genocidal people and, as such, imposes collective guilt on them. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called the resolution highly politicized, adding that it would "open Pandoras Box.""You are going to face dozens of this type of resolutions on the genocide issue, Vucic warned.Germany, Stevan Gajic noted, waged three wars against the Serbs in the 20th century, occupying Serbian lands in WWI and WWII, and committed genocide both times.Furthermore, then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and his Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer from Germany's co-governing Green party rallied in support of the NATO bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Gajic recalled. It was the very same Green party that Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hails from.German Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops advancing into the country after NATO's bombing and aggression against the Serbs murdered two Serbian civilians in cold blood while they were in their car," said the research associate at the Institute of European Studies in Belgrade.Gajics family also suffered at the hands of the Bosnian Muslim forces from Srebrenica.But besides reopening old wounds, the fallout from the resolution will likely see Europe engulfed in a series of conflicts, because of such conduct of Western countries, especially the perpetrators of World War II and Germany, the pundit stressed.The vote on the Srebrenica resolution at the UN General Assembly comes as an offense, one that will be remembered, Stevan Gajic underlined.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240521/romanian-senator-reveals-true-agenda-of-anti-serb-un-resolution-on-srebrenica-1118570794.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/west-hypocritically-backs-un-vote-on-srebrenica-genocide-while-supporting-extermination-of-gaza-1118606981.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/us-v-icc-1118621908.html

US v. ICC

US v. ICC

Sputnik International

Some US politicians, including US Joe Biden and his political rivals, have criticized the ICC for their decision and have claimed that the court does not have jurisdiction over the Gaza conflict nor the US.

2024-05-25T06:15+0000

2024-05-25T06:15+0000

2024-05-25T06:15+0000

joe biden

antony blinken

lindsey graham

israel

international criminal court (icc)

hamas

congress

us

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On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that US President Joe Biden's administration would be willing to work with Congress on a way to impose sanctions against officials belonging to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The move comes after Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the ICC announced his intention to seek arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yehiya Sinwar for war crimes and crimes against humanity.Some US politicians, including US Joe Biden and his political rivals, have criticized the ICC for their decision and have claimed that the court does not have jurisdiction over the Gaza conflict nor the US. On Tuesday, US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reportedly told Blinken that he wants to go beyond words and take action.Blinken responded to Grahams request saying, I welcome working with you on that. In a video of the hearing, protesters could be seen in the audience raising their hands which they had painted red.Earlier this month - prior to the ICC announcing their request for a warrant - a group of US Republican lawmakers had released an open and signed letter threatening officials of the court. In their letter to ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, US lawmakers said target Israel and we will target you, adding that they would sanction your employees and associates, and bar you and your families from the US."The US lawmakers indirectly threatened to invoke the American Service-Members Protection Act (ASPA) in response to any arrest warrants. The act was signed into law in 2002 as a way for the US to protect itself against any accountability the ICC may seek and allows the US president to prevent Americans and other allies from being detained by the court. The legislation has been condemned by human rights organizations.While the ICC did not mention the US by name, they shot back at the US lawmakers saying that, such threats, even when not acted upon, may also constitute an offense against the administration of justice under Art. 70 of the Rome Statute."Ironically, the US politicians are not members of the ICC but have supported prosecutions by the court in the past, and at one point even urged the court to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and his enablers accountable for aspects of the ongoing war in Ukraine.And in 2020, the administration under former President Donald Trump accused the ICC of infringing on US national sovereignty when it authorized an investigation into war crimes committed in Afghanistan. The US targeted court staff with asset freezes and travel bans. Shortly after taking office Biden lifted those sanctions which, at the time, Blinken said were "inappropriate and ineffective".Based on these reports, it appears that the US oscillates between bullying and undermining the ICC depending on whatever benefits their government and its agenda.The Biden administration has also said that they do not believe Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian authorities have reported that over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict first broke out in October. A majority of those who have been killed are believed to be women and children. Cindy McCain, the head of the United Nations World Food Program has also warned that Gaza has now entered a full-blown famine.In mid-May, Egypt announced that it would seek permission to join South Africas case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in which Israel has been accused of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention. Earlier this year, Colombia and Turkiye also asked to join the case which was brought in January.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240509/lawmakers-or-war-mongering-bullies-1118345648.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240515/yes-but-also-no-1118436910.html

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war crimes, netanyahu is a freminalgenocide, ethnic cleansing, humanitarian disaster, humanitarian catastrophe, humanitarian ceasefire, israel-hamas conflict, gaza strip crisis, shelling of gaza, gaza devastation, israel-palestine conflict, palestine-israel conflict, israeli-palestinian conflict, palestinian-israeli, zionist regime, zionists, hamas attack, israeli strikes, israeli forces, hostages, israeli military, hamas fighters, hamas soldiers, hamas military, killings of civilians, civilian infrastructure, civilians dead, civilians die, israel kills civilians, civilian casualties, civilian deaths, indiscriminate shelling, indiscriminate killing, war crimes
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/watch-russian-paratroopers-shoot-down-ukrainian-heavy-baba-yaga-drone-1118628482.html

Watch Russian Paratroopers Shoot Down Ukrainian Heavy Baba Yaga Drone

Watch Russian Paratroopers Shoot Down Ukrainian Heavy Baba Yaga Drone

Sputnik International

An FPV drone of Russian paratroopers of Battlegroup Dnepr shot down a heavy hexacopter bomber drone of the Ukrainian Army "Baba-Yaga" in an air battle over the Kherson region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

2024-05-25T08:14+0000

2024-05-25T08:14+0000

2024-05-25T08:14+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

russia

ukraine

russian defense ministry

russian armed forces

kherson

video

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An FPV drone operated by Russian Battlegroup Dnepr paratroopers shot down a Ukrainian Baba Yaga heavy hexacopter bomber drone in an air battle over the Kherson region, the Russian Defense Ministry said."After launching an FPV drone from the left bank of the Dnepr River to destroy the personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian Army on the right bank, the operator of a Russian drone spotted a Ukrainian attack hexacopter of the Baba Yaga type in the air, which was flying in the direction of our positions to drop shells. After assessing the situation, the operator of the FPV drone decided to attack the enemy hexacopter. Having gained altitude, the FPV drone took a suitable trajectory and rammed the enemy drone from above, which exploded and fell on our territory without causing any damage to Russian servicemen and their facilities," the ministry said.After the crash, the drone was found by an evacuation team of Russian paratroopers, who promptly delivered its remains to the location of the Battlegroup Dnepr.

russia

ukraine

kherson

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/will-western-leaders-start-world-war-iii-to-distract-from-their-political-failure-1118621432.html

Will Western Leaders Start World War III to Distract From Their Political Failure?

Will Western Leaders Start World War III to Distract From Their Political Failure?

Sputnik International

As Kievs allies appear set to escalate tensions with Russia once again, controversy is deepening over governments obsession with the Ukraine proxy war to the exclusion of domestic concerns.

2024-05-25T00:13+0000

2024-05-25T00:13+0000

2024-05-25T00:13+0000

analysis

jeremy kuzmarov

joe biden

giorgia meloni

ukraine

russia

nato

g7

fault lines

army tactical missile system (atacms)

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The West faces an ongoing crisis of political legitimacy, with approval ratings among the G7 countries ranging from 44% for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to a mere 20% for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.The situation is particularly dire in the United States as the country enters another presidential election season featuring two major party candidates with underwater approval ratings. Three-fourths of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, and societal institutions from Congress to the courts are broadly viewed with distrust.Given such grim political and cultural indicators, will leaders seek global conflict to distract from their own failings? Thats the fear of author Jeremy Kuzmarov, who appeared on Sputniks Fault Lines program Friday to discuss the increasing desperation of the Western ruling class as the US-backed Ukraine puppet state nears collapse.The tenor of political debate throughout the West has become increasingly contentious over issues such as immigration and the economy, with insurgent candidates rising to the fore to challenge establishment parties.Increasingly, support for the Ukraine proxy war is seen as connected to such domestic concerns. In Germany, sanctions on Russian energy have cratered economic growth while the lifting of tariffs on Ukrainian food imports has led to farmers protests throughout the continent.Moscows success on the battlefield has caused desperation on the part of the United States and NATO, noted host Jamarl Thomas. US President Joe Biden has repeatedly breached his own self-imposed red lines, ultimately providing Ukraine with Western weaponry such as ATACMS missiles after previously refusing to do so. Now Secretary of State Antonoy Blinken is publicly urging Biden to allow Kiev to use US armaments to strike targets within Russian territory.But deepened commitment to the proxy war  and the prospect of NATO troops eventually being deployed to the battlefield  risks further controversy.So, I don't know if they could do that politically unless they resort to more and more authoritarian standards at home, which seems to be what's going on. But, again, you're going to sustain a domestic political backlash. So, I think they're in trouble, and that's why we see these reckless threats and very reckless behavior. And I hope it doesn't provoke a third world war, which is where it could be leading.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231214/gen-z-skeptical-of-us-institutions-amid-converging-economic-geopolitical-failures-1115590173.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/last-resort-nato-secretly-sets-two-red-lines-to-directly-meddle-in-ukraine-conflict--report--1118273780.html

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world war iii, western support for ukraine, biden us weapons strike russia, blinken us weapons within russia, western political failure, western political collapse, united states collapse, us political disenchantment, us political collapse, , us weapons for ukraine, us aid to ukraine, us funding for ukraine, us funding to ukraine, russia wins, ukraine loses, ukrainian losses, ukraine losses
For the third week in a row, trainer Nick Gallucci sent out the winner of the $36,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park with Silver Label taking back the crown from her stablemate Prohibition Legal this time out and keeping reigning Horse of the Year Sylvia Hanover at bay for a sub-1:50 victory.

Driver Doug McNair put Silver Label on the lead from post five with Prohibition Legal and Louis-Philippe Roy leaving alongside off the gate and tucking in the pocket before the first turn while second choice Sylvia Hanover settled in third from the outside for Bob McClure. Silver Label led the field of seven distaffers through fractions of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:22.3 with Sylvia Hanover moving first-up at the midway mark and starting to make headway down the backstretch.

As Sylvia Hanover continued to chase after the leader down the homestretch, Prohibition Legal searched for room along the pylons to no avail, getting squeezed out of contention, as Silver Label raced on to victory in 1:49.4. Sylvia Hanover finished one length behind in second, with Angostura Hanover and Trevor Henry edging out So Much More and James MacDonald for third.

Silver Label and Prohibition Legal, who ended up sixth after coming in close quarters with her leading stablemate in the stretch, were the subject of an inquiry. The judges ruled Prohibition Legal did not have sufficient room at the inside down the stretch.

Silver Label, who won her season's debut two starts ago and was runner-up last week to Prohibition Legal, was let go at odds of 7-1 and returned $17.20 to win.

The millionaire five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight out of Hidden Gem has won half of her 44 career starts for owner/breeder Millar Farms of Stouffville, Ont.

Another Gallucci trainee, This Magic Moment ($3.10) headlined the opening leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series for three-year-old filly pacers on Friday's card, winning the fastest of four $20,000 divisions and taking a new mark of 1:51.2 in rein to MacDonald. A full sister to Prohibition Legal, Millar Farms' homebred filly by Big Jim out of Catch A Wish made just two starts as a rookie and is now undefeated in four sophomore starts. Pasta Delight finished second over Make Out With Me and Resilience.

We Believin (Shadow Play-Hazes Zure Bet) pulled off a 40-1 stunner to kick off the night's Grassroots action, closing widest of all from eighth to nose out Kiss My Cheek, Suntan City and Distant Lover in 1:52.1 despite finishing with broken equipment. McClure drove the maiden-breaking filly for trainer Paul Reid and owner Gary Lance.

Roy teamed up with trainer Luc Blais for a stakes double, scoring with Determination's Collusion Hanover (Bettors Delight-Covfefe) and Greatest Pleasure (Bettors Delight-Twin B Imabeach) in a pair of career-best 1:52 miles for the favoured fillies.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
The City Of London Series for trotters continued on Friday evening, May 24 at The Raceway at Western Fair District with the Mark Etsell-trained Mass Money repeating in the fillies and mares division.

A winner in the opening leg of the series last Friday, driver Scott Young worked out a similar trip in round two for Mass Money, sending the favourite first-up from third after the first lap and defeating the front-striding Moxiebow by half a length. After going winless in five starts as a two-year-old, the Muscle Mass-P L Gemstone filly is now three-for-three in her sophomore year with her latest victory a new lifetime best, clocked in 2:00. Etsell trains and shares ownership of the winner with Robert Newton, Peter Porter and Lindsey Turner. He also drove his maiden filly Tymal Contessa to a fourth-place finish with the show prize going to Hallie Intheclouds.

The division for male trotters went to the Gregg McNair-trained Arcadia Seelster, who battled HP Musical Alarm on the front through the final quarter and prevailed in an 8-1 upset by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:59.1 for local owners Ross and Brent Holmes. Travis Henry drove the three-year-old Muscle Mass-Angels N Heaven colt to a maiden-breaking victory, ending a streak of three fourth-place finishes to start his career. Teasin rounded out the top three.

The preliminary leg divisions were each worth $8,000 with the $20,000 (added) finals scheduled for Camluck Classic night next Friday, May 31.

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.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)
On May 23, Tesla founder Elon Musk said he was taken aback by US President Joe Biden's decision to impose 100 percent tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles.

"In fact, I was surprised when they (the Biden administration) announced (the tariffs). Tesla competes quite well in the market in China with no tariffs and no deferential support. So, in general, I'm in favor of no tariffs," said Elon Musk in response to a question on how he viewed the 100 percent tariff on imported Chinese electric vehicles to the United States at VivaTech 2024 conference, adding that, "I'm in favor of no tariffs and no incentives for electric vehicles, or for oil and gas."

Commenting on the US' recent tariff hikes during the regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stressed that it is yet another mistake for the US to continue politicizing trade issues and further increasing tariffs on Chinese products. He urged the US to earnestly observe WTO rules and immediately cancel the additional tariffs on China.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce described the US' move as "typical political manipulation" and asked the US side to immediately rectify its wrongdoing.

Earlier, the World Trade Organization has already ruled that the tariffs imposed by the US on imports from China are inconsistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
The 2024 Standardbred season at Inverness Raceway will start on Sunday, May 26 as the Nova Scotia half-mile oval will host a six-pack of dashes. First post time is set for 1 p.m. (ADT).

A $2,000 Winners Over top class pace is slated for the finale in the sixth race, with a half dozen grizzled veterans set to go postward.

The 2023 Horse of the Year at Inverness Raceway was Windemere Best Man (pictured above) and he's reunited with defending dash driving champion Redmond Doucet in the afternoon's feature. Now six, Windemere Best Man posted a 7-5-2 summary from 23 starts as a five-year-old for trainer Lanny Hanscombe and local owners Simon Poirier and Chad MacDonnell, taking a mark of 1:56.4. He'll line up from post five on Sunday, with perhaps an axe to grind as the morning line oddsmaker dismissed the defending champion as the 4-1 third choice.

Sunshine Lou (PP3, Danny Gillis) is the 5-2 morning line choice, coming into his eight-year-old season after ending his seven-year-old campaign with seven top-three finishes in his his last 10 appearances. Eastcoast Invader (PP6, Monica Sutherland) is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line.

The youngest horse in the field is four-year-old Lyons Swift, the stablemate of Windemere Best Man who was also an Inverness award winner by virtue of his six-win sophomore campaign.

Both horses trained down good, said trainer Hanscombe told The Inverness Oran after qualifiers last Sunday. We started in February and there were a lot of cold days, but you put the work in and after that everybody hopes for the best.

The track's 2024 race date schedule includes most Sunday afternoons (1 p.m. post time) in June, September and October with Wednesday evenings added in July and August except for Old Home Week.

Inverness Raceway will feature stakes action in 2024 with legs of the Atlantic Sires Stakes on June 16 for three-year-old pacing fillies, July 24 for two-year-old pacing fillies, July 28 for three-year-old pacing colts, and Sept. 1 for two-year-old pacing colts. On the trotting side, the Phil Pinkney Stake for two- and three-year-old trotters is also set for July 28 along with the Inverness Invitational Pace.

To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click one of the following links: Inverness Raceway - Sunday Entries || Sunday Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).

(Standardbred Canada)
The Longview City Council unanimously approved the interim city attorney contract during its Thursday night meeting.

The vote was taken as one of the first actions in Thursdays meeting in order for with Charlotte Archer, municipal attorney from the Bellevue firm Inslee Best Doezie & Ryder, to be on the clock for the rest of the council business.

Previous city attorney Dana Gigler signed a separation agreement with the city earlier this month, with plans to leave the job on May 30 and receiving six months of salary as a severance package. Though her last day is next week, she was not at the meeting.

Archers contract is capped at $100,000 in payments by the end of 2024. Interim City Manager Jim Duscha said he and Archer both felt this maximum would be more than enough to cover the work until the city hired a fulltime attorney.

After months of lengthy and contentious council meetings in Longview, Thursdays meeting moved quickly. The council meeting lasted an hour and a half and the councilmembers were largely in agreement on all items.
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:

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai speaks at a Google I/O event in Mountain View, Calif., May 14, 2024. Bloopers  some funny, others disturbing  have been shared on social media since Google unleashed a makeover of its search page that frequently puts AI-generated summaries on top of search results. Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File

Ask Google if cats have been on the moon and it used to spit out a ranked list of websites so you could discover the answer for yourself.

Now it comes up with an instant answer generated by artificial intelligencewhich may or may not be correct.

"Yes, astronauts have met cats on the moon, played with them, and provided care," said Google's newly retooled search engine in response to a query by an Associated Press reporter.

It added, "For example, Neil Armstrong said, 'One small step for man' because it was a cat's step. Buzz Aldrin also deployed cats on the Apollo 11 mission."

None of this is true. Similar errorssome funny, others harmful falsehoodshave been shared on social media since Google this month unleashed AI overviews, a makeover of its search page that frequently puts the summaries on top of search results.

The new feature has alarmed experts who warn it could perpetuate bias and misinformation and endanger people looking for help in an emergency.

When Melanie Mitchell, an AI researcher at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico, asked Google how many Muslims have been president of the United States, it responded confidently with a long-debunked conspiracy theory: "The United States has had one Muslim president, Barack Hussein Obama."

Mitchell said the summary backed up the claim by citing a chapter in an academic book, written by historians. But the chapter didn't make the bogus claimit was only referring to the false theory.

"Google's AI system is not smart enough to figure out that this citation is not actually backing up the claim," Mitchell said in an email to the AP. "Given how untrustworthy it is, I think this AI Overview feature is very irresponsible and should be taken offline."

Google said in a statement Friday that it's taking "swift action" to fix errorssuch as the Obama falsehoodthat violate its content policies; and using that to "develop broader improvements" that are already rolling out. But in most cases, Google claims the system is working the way it should thanks to extensive testing before its public release.

"The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high-quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web," Google said a written statement. "Many of the examples we've seen have been uncommon queries, and we've also seen examples that were doctored or that we couldn't reproduce."

It's hard to reproduce errors made by AI language modelsin part because they're inherently random. They work by predicting what words would best answer the questions asked of them based on the data they've been trained on. They're prone to making things upa widely studied problem known as hallucination.

The AP tested Google's AI feature with several questions and shared some of its responses with subject matter experts. Asked what to do about a snake bite, Google gave an answer that was "impressively thorough," said Robert Espinoza, a biology professor at the California State University, Northridge, who is also president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

But when people go to Google with an emergency question, the chance that an answer the tech company gives them includes a hard-to-notice error is a problem.

"The more you are stressed or hurried or in a rush, the more likely you are to just take that first answer that comes out," said Emily M. Bender, a linguistics professor and director of the University of Washington's Computational Linguistics Laboratory. "And in some cases, those can be life-critical situations."

That's not Bender's only concernand she has warned Google about them for several years. When Google researchers in 2021 published a paper called "Rethinking search" that proposed using AI language models as "domain experts" that could answer questions authoritativelymuch like they are doing nowBender and colleague Chirag Shah responded with a paper laying out why that was a bad idea.

They warned that such AI systems could perpetuate the racism and sexism found in the huge troves of written data they've been trained on.

"The problem with that kind of misinformation is that we're swimming in it," Bender said. "And so people are likely to get their biases confirmed. And it's harder to spot misinformation when it's confirming your biases."

Another concern was a deeper onethat ceding information retrieval to chatbots was degrading the serendipity of human search for knowledge, literacy about what we see online, and the value of connecting in online forums with other people who are going through the same thing.

Those forums and other websites count on Google sending people to them, but Google's new AI overviews threaten to disrupt the flow of money-making internet traffic.

Google's rivals have also been closely following the reaction. The search giant has faced pressure for more than a year to deliver more AI features as it competes with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and upstarts such as Perplexity AI, which aspires to take on Google with its own AI question-and-answer app.

"This seems like this was rushed out by Google," said Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity's chief business officer. "There's just a lot of unforced errors in the quality."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
When she began her in vitro fertilization treatment at a hospital in Jiangsu province last year, Ma Li chose the time carefully to try to ensure her baby would be born in the Year of the Dragon, which started on Feb 10.

"Of the 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac, my favorites are the dragon and the pig because they symbolize success, wealth and good fortune," she said. "Besides, my zodiac sign of rooster is the most compatible with either the dragon or the tiger."

Ma initially wanted her first child to be a tiger baby born in 2022, but the COVID-19 pandemic postponed her birth plans.

"I was infected twice during the pandemic and I did not dare take the risk when it comes to having a baby," said the 31-year-old.

The number of newborns in China has been falling for seven consecutive years, but this year a 'baby bump' is expected as mothers like Ma are eager to give birth to children with an auspicious zodiac sign.

The end of the pandemic and a rebound in new marriage registrations for 2023 could further boost the country's birthrate, experts said.

"Chinese people have a strong preference for zodiac signs, and we saw a small baby boom in the previous Year of the Dragon in 2012," said Zhai Zhenwu, president of the China Population Association.

The number of newborns in 2012 topped 19.7 million, compared with around 17.8 million for the year before it and the one after, according to National Bureau of Statistics data. "The birthrate for 2024 is expected to increase," Zhai said.

However, despite slight changes in yearly fertility rates, China's total population will keep trending downward at a mild pace, experts said. Last year, the nation recorded the second consecutive annual decline in its total population.

"The Year of the Dragon and the end of COVID-19 will probably ease the decline for 2024, but the die is cast in terms of the nation's total population falling in the long run," said Yuan Xin, a demography professor at Nankai University in Tianjin.

Delays in getting married and having children, coupled with an unwillingness to have babies due to the pressure of raising children, are important factors contributing to decreasing fertility rates.

Obstetricians said the increase in the age of new mothers means more efforts are needed to improve treatment for high-risk mothers and newborns. Meanwhile, demographers have suggested accelerating efforts to build systems to support fertility, and reducing the costs of raising and educating children. This will enable families to better cope, and also help achieve an appropriate national fertility rate.

Roaring numbers

Some hospitals have already reported marked increases in treatment of pregnant women and babies being delivered since late last year. Nannies and postpartum centers are receiving a growing number of inquiries and operating at almost full capacity.

Jiang Haili, an obstetrician at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, said that the number of newborns in their maternity ward has been climbing since last November.

"Nowadays, we deliver around 15 to 20 babies each day, or about 600 each month, compared with 400 during the low period of last year," he said.

"I think the rise has a lot to do with the COVID-19 pandemic," Jiang said, adding that many couples were hesitant about having a baby during the outbreak due to concerns about the virus' impact on pregnant women and the health of newborns.

"Besides that, we have seen the launch of the third-child policy and a series of new measures to support births in recent years, such as the inclusion of fertility treatments in medical insurance programs in some regions," he said. "The dragon zodiac sign is also associated with many positive blessings and many couples are fond of dragon babies."

During the most recent peak in the number of newborns in 2016  when China implemented the second-child policy that allows all couples to have two children, the ward saw about 15,000 to 17,000 new births a year, he said.

"Our maternity ward is still fully equipped with over 80 medical personnel as it was during the peak, so handling the slight rise in new births this year presents no challenges," he said.

Kang Wenjuan, president of the Children's Hospital of Shanxi, Shanxi province, said the current situation was similar to 2017 when there was a bump in new births in the year after the rollout of the second-child policy. Shanxi province recorded 400,000 newborns that year, almost double the number for 2023, data shows.

"This year's total number of newborns across the province is estimated to be higher at around 210,000we are already seeing a rise in pregnant women confirmed through pregnancy tests," she said. "To cope with the increase, we have stepped up training of medical personnel and launched remote diagnosis platforms to boost our services."

Zhang Jianlin, manager of the Taiyuan Chimei Postpartum Center in Taiyuan, Shanxi, said the center has seen a surge in requests so far this year. "Our facility has 28 villas and 150 suites. From January to March, our beds were completely full," he said.

Ma Xiaobei, head of the Laikang Maternal and Child Care Center in Langfang, Hebei province, said that the facility is almost fully booked until the end of this year, prompting it to start providing home services.

"Expectant mothers usually make reservations six months ahead of their due date," she said. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, we seldom saw full bookings for an entire month, but this year is different. The volume of orders has gone up by 30 percent compared with the previous year."

She said many couples consider it auspicious to have a dragon baby this year. "The center held an event to celebrate the births of the earliest dragon babies coming here," Ma said.

However, she also believes that China's birthrate will continue to decline in the long run. "The focus of our business in the future will be probably serving a smaller number of clients with higher quality services," she said.
Mark Westhusin, a Texas A&M University researcher responsible for historic advancements in the field of animal cloning, died Tuesday at the age of 66.

A professor with Texas A&Ms School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) for over three decades, Westhusin led a team of researchers within the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology (VTPP) to create the worlds first genetic clones of a house cat and white-tailed deer. The former, nicknamed Copy Cat, or CC for short, became the subject of widespread public interest following her birth by a surrogate mother in December 2001. Her photo graced the pages of Time magazine and the story was reported in more than 200 other news publications, establishing Texas A&M as a world leader in genetic cloning research.

To the entire VTPP family  all of us at A&M grieve with you, Texas A&M President Gen. (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III said in a statement. We are so very sorry for the loss of your treasured faculty member and friend. Betty and I will keep Dr. Westhusin, his family, and all of you in our thoughts and prayers. My deepest condolences.

Other clones to come out of Westhusins lab include genetic copies of cows and goats, with other VMBS teams successfully cloning pigs and horses. The Association of Former Students presented Westhusin with a Distinguished Achievement Award in 2015, noting that, As a result of his and his colleagues efforts, Texas A&M is now recognized as having cloned more different animal species than any other institution in the world.

An enduring symbol of Westhusin and his teams success, Copy Cat was adopted by Westhusins colleague Duane Kraemer and lived to be 18 years old, even giving birth to kittens of her own.

Cloning now is becoming so common, but it was incredible when it was beginning, Westhusin recalled in 2020 following Copy Cats death. Our work with CC was an important seed to plant to keep the science and the ideas and imagination moving forward.

A native of Plainville, Kansas, Westhusin earned an undergraduate degree in animal sciences from Kansas State University in 1980 before completing his Ph.D. at Texas A&M. He authored or co-authored more than 160 academic publications, and his work has been cited thousands of times by his fellow researchers in the fields of genetics, reproductive science and biotechnology. In 2008, he was profiled as one of the 35 People Who Will Shape Our Future by Texas Monthly.

Westhusin holds an array of academic and professional honors including the National Institutes of Health Directors Award, the American Society of Animal Sciences Scholarship Award, Pfizer Research Award and Richard H. Davis Teaching Award.

Mark was an extraordinary influence in many ways in our school and on campus, and his passing leaves a very painful void, VMBS Dean John August said.

In an email to faculty and staff, VTPP Department Head Larry J. Suva said, Words cannot describe how Dr. Westhusin will be missed by VTPP, our college and university. Mark was a leader as a scientist, professor, colleague and mentor. I am devastated to have to share this news to you. Please keep Marks family in your prayers.

Services for Westhusin are scheduled for Friday, May 31, from 2 to 3 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bryan.
In the past three months, Gov. Greg Abbotts campaign and the Texas for Lawsuit Reform Political Action Committee (TLRPAC) have funded 97% of Trey Whartons Republican primary runoff election campaign for Texas House District 12 Representative, according to recent campaign finance reports.

Between March 5 and May 23, Abbotts campaign donated $410,770 to Whartons campaign in in-kind contributions for costs from advertising to travel expenses, according to the most recent campaign finance reports from the Texas Ethics Commission. From April 10 to May 21, the TLRPAC  a self-proclaimed nonpartisan PAC based in Austin  has provided Whartons campaign with $345,650 in both monetary and in-kind donations, according to the same finance reports.

Combined, the funds from Abbott and TLRPAC make up $756,420 (97%) of the $776,041 in campaign contributions that Wharton recorded on his most recent finance report, not accounting for loans.

According to an article from the Dallas Morning News, Abbott has donated almost $2.3 million to Texas House primary runoff candidates. In late 2023, Abbott received over $6 million in campaign donations from Jeff Yass  a GOP megadonor from Pennsylvania. Yass is a known supporter of school vouchers.

Ben Bius, Whartons competitor, is also not short on cash, having spent just over $600,000 on his campaign, according to his May 20 finance report. The majority of this money can be attributed to the $1,010,000 Bius loaned his own campaign back in January. On May 16, Bius loaned himself another $90,000.

During a February sit-down interview with The Eagle, Bius said his $1 million self-contribution only demonstrates his commitment.

It sends a message that we will not go quietly into the night and that were going to run a serious campaign, he said.

Aside from his own donations, Bius also received $28,781 in monetary and in-kind political contributions between Feb. 25 and May 18, according to his campaigns finance report.

One of the major donors includes the Texas Association of Realtors which gave Bius a combined $8,380 in cash and in-kind advertisement purchases. The Charter Schools Now PAC also donated $1,000 to the Bius campaign, according to the report.

Despite over $1.2 million having been spent so far by both Wharton and Bius campaigns, each candidate differs little when it comes to the headline topics of school funding and border security.

Both Bius and Wharton have voiced support for a school voucherlike program in Texas to allow parents to use state money to pay for private school tuition. Both candidates also have displayed a strong stance on border and election security.

In the lead-up to the runoff, Whartons campaign has tried to paint Bius as a liar even going as far as to create a website dedicated to it.

In response to this, Bius said that claims being made about him by Whartons campaign were unfounded and he denounced the campaign tactic.

They cite no facts and they misquote me on things and then say its a lie, Bius said. You dont tell a lie to call somebody a liar.  And his slander of me, Im done with it. Im not going to respond to his slander. Im citing facts, hes making slander.

In April, Paxton made a campaign visit with Bius to Huntsville where he criticized Wharton and other campaigns for taking money from PACs like the TLRPAC which he said supported Republican In Name Only (RINO) candidates.

Wharton said he disagreed with this and confirmed that TLRPAC had donated to his campaign.

I dont have a problem with the PAC because they are the PAC that turned Texas red and I appreciate their help, he said.

TLRPAC spokesperson Lucy Nashed Cafrelli said in an email to The Eagle that the PAC strongly supports Trey Wharton because hes a successful entrepreneur, principled conservative and the best candidate in this race.

As of the most recent finance reports, Wharton has $33,877 in remaining political contributions and $40,000 of total principal in outstanding loans.

Bius has $166,850 in remaining contributions and has an outstanding principal of $1,100,000 in loans from himself.
Wear purple, be gold.

Thats how retiring executive principal of Grand Island Senior High, Jeff Gilbertson, signs all of his emails. And its a statement he has embodied, inside and out, for the better part of his 28-year career in education.

After graduation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in history and minors in sociology and business, Gilbertson was at a bit of a loss for what to do next.

I had this kind of potpourri of interests and I was not quite sure what I wanted to do long-term with my life, he said. So I went into the business world. I worked for a financial software company in Lincoln and had a brief stint in Omaha.

He even flew around the country installing said software at banks  everywhere from Seattle, Washington, all the way to the upper peninsula of Michigan and everything south. He was in the business world long enough to realize it wasnt fulfilling, he added. It became drudgery, he said, waking up in a hotel room five days a week, three weeks out of every month  Unwrapping your soap in a hotel was not glamorous anymore.

I think I suppressed my desire to be an educator, he divulged with a smile. I even took some education courses (in college).

But he was discouraged from pursuing that path originally, he said. He even remembers, rather vividly, a poster hanging in the UNL education department that read SOCIAL STUDIES MAJORS complete with a skull and crossbones.

And that still floors me that they would have that in the 80s, but what they were trying to communicate to students is dont major in that, because theres a flood of teachers in the social studies arena, Gilbertson said. And I had a guidance counselor actually talk me out of that. You dont want to be a teacher.

Luckily, he changed his mind.

Gilbertson pursued his teacher schooling through Concordia University in Seward, thanks to an up-and-coming teacher acceleration program. Instead of having to go back to what was effectively his sophomore year at UNL, Concordia pushed him through in a summer and one semester.

The spring of that next year I started teaching elementary school, he said.

Teacher, then administrator

His journey had officially started as a teacher in Lincoln Public Schools in the early 90s. His tenure included grades fourth, fifth and sixth at Brownell Elementary in north Lincoln and then Ruth Hill in south Lincoln.

So I had two completely different socioeconomic schools, he noted. It was interesting. I had poverty kids and then at Ruth Hill Elementary I had Turner Gills daughter in my classroom and people that lived in million-dollar homes.

Having these experiences has only benefited his career, he said. Gilbertson taught for five years before taking his step toward administration.

When I jumped in (to teaching), I was a little bit older, he said. I think what happened is I showed some leadership qualities. And Im so grateful  I thought of this the other day  that I worked with great leaders my whole time through  just amazing people. They encouraged me, guided me and motivated me to go into educational leadership.

More education on his part was completed, which is ironically where he met fellow Grand Island Public Schools employee (and retiree) Cindy Wells, and the rest is history. An elementary principal position was available in Grand Island and he had a decision to make.

I talked with my wife, and mind you we just bought our first house and I was building a deck on it, he said. I screwed the last screw in this 14 by 16 deck  it was so nice  and I got a call from Wayne Stelk, the HR director, and he said Wed like to hire you. So I said Honey, were packing our bags, were going. And thats how it came to be and I lucked out.

Life is about choices, he added, and hes made a lot up to this point. But sometimes luck happens too. Either way, hes grateful.

At the time, Gilbertsons principaling career saw him overseeing two different elementary schools  Seedling Mile and Stolley Park. He managed the travel back and forth between the two for awhile, until one particularly grueling winter saw approximately 15 inches of snow (and an in-person school day).

And Im in my Honda Civic, trying to drive from one school to the next, Gilbertson said with a laugh. And I literally called (former Superintendent Steve Joel) on my flip phone and I said, This is ridiculous. Hes the kind of guy you could give your opinion to, and I was pretty hot because I had some things going on in both schools and I was never in the right place at the right time.

The next year Gilbertson taught a computer technology course, two sections a day, for students at Stolley Park, while also serving as principal. An interim principal handled Seedling Mile.

I spent three years at Stolley Park, moved then to Starr Elementary for three years, he continued. Gilbertson added that it was a goal of his to help turn schools around, which he did there. And then Barr Middle School for three years, he said.

After that was a promotion to the central office, where Gilbertson served as the secondary director for two years. Not long after he moved again, this time to Grand Island Senior High, where he has served diligently ever since.

I got into this profession for students and Ive been very loyal to the GIPS brand, he said. And I wanted to take care of the kids. And thats really why I ended up back at the high school.

Though it technicality it may have been viewed as a step back, Gilbertson viewed it as a promotion, he noted. Because Id be working with students again, he said. It was time to take the reins at GISH and help it for the better.

It has been 12 years since he made the jump.

Daily reminders

Asked what kept him coming back, Gilbertson explained that he receives daily reminders of just why he decided to be an educator in the first place.

I always say, I get paid to drive to work, he said. I would do this for free. I mean, I seriously just love my job. Ive always been motivated by what we do, especially with GIPS. Im so proud of the work, even through the trials and tribulations, and the COVID, and different leadership transformations. There is still one thread, and its quality of education and quality of our brand. That wins out. And thats not about me  Im just part of it.

Even the morning of his interview he was reminded, he explained. He had an interaction with a student that just filled his bucket. Its just magical, he said. And if youre not an educator you may not understand that.

And the kids will be what keep him coming back, he agreed.

Thats what Ill miss the most, he said with a laugh. Nothing against adults.

Aside from daily reminders, there are also daily lessons. These are moments of learning Gilbertson has picked up throughout his tenure.

The work is never done, he said of what hes learned. In education, the work is never complete. And I say that to folks who want to get into education, young people. If youre a person that likes to go to work, check off your list, organize your desk and wipe your hands with sanitizer and say OK, Im gonna go home and not worry about anything, education is not for you. Education is a lifestyle.

He is the principal of the high school 24/7, he noted. When I go to Menards on a Saturday, Im still the principal.

Other lessons include that people want clarity and that they desire to know whats expected, he said. Its important to be clear with communication  especially if the development of cohesiveness, teamwork, continuity and collaboration is the desired outcome.

I think what I enjoy most is relating to people, connecting with people, he said. But in my job, basically what Im doing is solving problems every day. Thats what I do from this desk. I love solving problems.

It may sound crazy, he added, but he enjoys it when people come into his office with a problem in need of help.

As far as what else lies ahead for the retiree?

Taking care of people is what Ill miss, Gilbertson reflected. I hope to continue to contribute to the world of education in some capacity.

Outside of that he has no formal plans  yet.
The dog that skyrocketed to internet fame and became the face of the cryptocurrency dogecoin died.

The Shiba Inu named Kabosu passed away in Japan at 18 years old, a number of outlets reported. The dog's owner, Atsuko Sato, said in a post that Kabosu died in her sleep. The account for dogecoin on X, formerly Twitter, also said she died, calling her an inspiration.

Sato, a 62-year-old kindergarten teacher in Japan, adopted the dog from an animal shelter in 2008, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Sato posted pictures of Kabosu, and her cats, online regularly. It was a picture of Kabosu, her head tilted in a seemingly quizzical fashion, that captured the attention of early adapters of cryptocurrency and she became a meme almost overnight.

It started as a mockery of many cryptocurrencies

A developer named Billy Markus used the image in an effort to mock many of the cryptocurrencies being traded at the time. Markus co-created dogecoin using the Kabosu meme. The dog's image was transposed onto a gold coin as the emblem for dogecoin in 2013, according to the Journal.

Kabuso's image was soon being shared by traders, celebrities and even members of Congress.

Dogecoin, pronounced dohj-coin, flirted with mild levels of popularity over the years. April 20, 2021, was "Doge Day." Supporters of dogecoin were trying to help it shed its image as a joke cryptocurrency and get it seen as a way to make fast and easy transactions, though it is not accepted widely for payment.

A year later, billionaire Elon Musk suggested Twitter consider providing a way for users to pay for subscription memberships with dogecoin.

Photos: Notable deaths in 2024 Glynis Johns Adan Canto Bud Harrelson Dejan Milojevic Jack Burke Mary Weiss Norman Jewison Charles Osgood Melanie Safka Chita Rivera Carl Weathers Wayne Kramer Ian Lavender Toby Keith Henry Fambrough Bob Edwards Don Gullett Lefty Driesell Andreas Brehme Golden Richards Richard Lewis Nikolai Ryzhkov Brian Mulroney Akira Toriyama Iris Apfel Andy Russell Ed Ott Chris Mortensen Steve Lawrence Naomi Barber King Paul Alexander Thomas P. Stafford Chris Simon M. Emmet Walsh Laurent de Brunhoff Obit Angelos Baseball Joe Lieberman Louis Gossett Jr. Joe Flaherty John Sinclair Larry Lucchino Christopher Durang Jerry Grote Schappell Twins Peter Higgs Ralph Puckett Jr. O.J. Simpson Eleanor Coppola Robert MacNeil Faith Ringgold Steve Sloan Ken Holtzman Carl Erskine Whitey Herzog Bob Graham Dickey Betts Mandisa David Pryor Roman Gabriel Andrew Davis Terry Anderson Bill Gladden Duane Eddy Paul Auster Dick Rutan Steve Albini Jimmy Johnson Sean Burroughs Roger Corman A.J. Smith David Sanborn Alice Munro Dabney Coleman Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Jim Otto Ivan Boesky Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek Carlie Colin Morgan Spurlock Richard M. Sherman Bill Walton Albert Ruddy Larry Allen Janis Paige Parnelli Jones Chet Walker The Rev. James Lawson Jr. Jerry West Ron Simons Bob Schul Willie Mays Donald Sutherland Bill Cobbs Kinky Friedman Martin Mull Robert Towne Vic Seixas James Inhofe Joe Bonsall Shelley Duvall Dr. Ruth Westheimer Richard Simmons Jacoby Jones Shannen Doherty James Sikking Pat Williams Lou Dobbs Bob Newhart Cheng Pei-Pei Abdul 'Duke' Fakir Bernice Johnson Reagon John Mayall Erica Ash Jack Russell Chi Chi Rodriguez Susan Wojcicki Frank Selvy Wally Amos Gena Rowlands Peter Marshall Alain Delon Phil Donahue Al Attles James Darren James Earl Jones Frankie Beverly Joe Schmidt Chad McQueen Tito Jackson JD Souther Dan Evans Mercury Morris Maggie Smith
Offices closed for Memorial Day

City of Orangeburgs Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day.

Wellness program planned

A health and wellness coalition, hosted by the Downtown Orangeburg revitalization Association, is planned for 1 to 3 p.m. May 30 in support of The Samaritan House. Orangeburg's health and wellness agencies come together once a month to provide information and resources for the community. The event is open to the public. If your agency would like to participate, contact Ashley Bryan at downrownorangeburg@gmail.com.

Performing Arts Theater holding summer camp

The Performing Arts Youth Theater will hold its 5-week summer theater camp beginning July 1 and continuing Mondays through Thursdays through August 4, at the Cameron Auditorium in Cameron. The classes will be from 1 to 4 p.m. for kids 3 to 18 years of age. Camp registration will be Monday July 1, at 1 p.m. of the Cameron Community Club building. For more information, contact Peggy Hirth at 803-826-6531.

All Pro Dad meeting planned June 1

All Pro Dad Chapters will hold a meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, at the I.P. Stanback Museum & Planetarium on the campus of SC State. Brunch will be served, and there will be activities for fathers and their children.

Prayer breakfast in July

The Samaritan House Faith-Based Prayer Breakfast will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, at I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium, 300 College St. NE, Orangeburg. For clergy and church officers: For more information, email orangeburgsamaritanhouse@gmail.com; subject line -- Faith-Based; include clergy and/or church officer's name, name of church, mobile number, email address. Call 803-539-1020.

Line dance classes in Bamberg

Line dance classes are held every Monday and Tuesday at Copper Oak Plantation, 6380 Charleston Augusta Highway, from 5 to 6 p.m. The schedule may vary during the holidays. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult. For information, call 803-682-3379, or any member of the Bamberg County Line Dancers.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will be held daily at the Alano Inc. Building, 590 Louis St., Orangeburg. Monday through Saturday, citizens can meet from noon to 5:15 p.m.; on Sunday they meet from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 803-990-0020.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday, at the Church of the Redeemer, 1606 Russell St., Orangeburg. For more information, call 803-990-0020.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will be held at 7 p.m. on Mondays; a Women's Meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays; Saturday meeting will be held at 10 a.m., at the Santee Presbyterian Church, 306 Bradford Blvd., in Santee. For more information, call 803-990-0020.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will be held at 7 p.m. Thursdays at John Ford Community Center, 304 Agnes St., St. Matthews. For more information, call 803-990-0020.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will be held 8 a.m. Sunday, and 6:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday at the Branchville Christian Church Family Life Center, 6907 Freedom Road, Branchville. For more information, call 803-990-0020.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. Fridays at the North United Methodist Church, 8301 Salley Road, North.

How to submit your events

Please submit Community Datebook column items in writing. Items must be received no later than noon Tuesday of each week. The T&D does not guarantee when items will run. Items may be submitted by email, news@timesanddemocrat.com, or in person, 1010 Broughton St.
Civic Nation, Student Debt Crisis Center, and the Office of Congressman James E. Clyburn, will offer an in-depth free clinic on federal student loan repayment from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 30, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Orangeburg. Borrowers will be able to get support from trained facilitators from the U.S. Department of Education.

The event aims to help borrowers at all stages of their repayment journey by offering insights, explaining repayment options, and sharing resources to help navigate your student debt.

New income-driven repayment programs and other changes to federal student loans mean millions of borrowers are now eligible to save money. For example, the new SAVE Plan will cut many borrowers monthly payments to zero and save others around $1,000 per year, will prevent balances from growing because of unpaid interest, and will get more borrowers closer to forgiveness faster.

Experts fear 'catastrophic' college declines thanks to botched FAFSA rollout The bungled rollout of a new federal student aid form has left millions of students in limbo and some wondering if their college dreams will survive.

Federal Student Aid staff will be on hand to answer your questions and laptops will be available for use during this session.

The first hour of the event will include a training and Q&A session on student loans led by Federal Student Aid facilitators. The rest of the event will be an open clinic for borrowers to get support navigating their student loans and signing up for income-driven repayment programs

Laptops will be available for folks to use during this session.

Participants should include date of birth when they register as it will enable Federal Student Aid to more easily verify your loans during the event. Sign up at https://civicnation.us/orangeburgclinic.
China Cultural Center inaugurated in Bucharest

Xinhua) 11:02, May 25, 2024

Chinese Ambassador to Romania Han Chunlin (R) and Traian Laurentiu Hristea, Romania's Secretary of State for Global Affairs and Diplomatic Strategies, attend the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese Cultural Center in Bucharest, Romania, May 24, 2024. The Chinese Cultural Center in Bucharest was inaugurated here Friday in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and 20th anniversary of their comprehensive friendly and cooperative partnership. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

BUCHAREST, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Cultural Center in Bucharest was inaugurated here Friday in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and 20th anniversary of their comprehensive friendly and cooperative partnership.

The center, covering an area of almost 3,000 square meters, is located in the downtown of Bucharest, and features an art gallery, a library, lecture halls and a multi-functional hall.

Chinese Ambassador to Romania Han Chunlin and Traian Laurentiu Hristea, Romania's Secretary of State for Global Affairs and Diplomatic Strategies, attended at the center's inauguration.

Hristea praised the vitality and diversity of Chinese culture, highlighting the longstanding cultural ties between the two nations and expressing hopes for further collaboration in culture, education, art, economy, and tourism.

Han said that the center marks a memorable moment in China-Romania relations and a new chapter in cultural exchanges, serving as a platform for cultural interaction and cooperation to strengthen their friendship and advance their relationship.

China and Romania established diplomatic relations on Oct. 5, 1949.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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Iran's Interim President Mohammad Mokhber and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Friday reaffirmed their countries' commitment to expanding bilateral ties.

In a phone call, the Saudi crown prince extended condolences over the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and the accompanying delegation in a helicopter crash, according to the official IRNA news agency.

The Saudi crown prince emphasized the importance of developing relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran for the region, envisioning a bright future for the region through strengthened ties and expressing readiness to boost trade relations with Iran.

Mokhber, in turn, extended gratitude toward the Saudi crown prince and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for their "kind and sympathetic" condolatory messages.

He highlighted Raisi's successes in expanding relations with neighbors and friendly states, emphasizing that despite his death, Iran's commitment to strengthening ties with other countries remains unchanged.

Mokhber stressed that Iran and Saudi Arabia should further support, promote, and stabilize their political ties by increasing bilateral economic interactions and removing obstacles to cooperation between their private sectors.

The helicopter carrying Raisi and his entourage crashed Sunday in a mountainous area in the northwestern Iranian province of East Azarbaijan, resulting in the deaths of all those on board.

First Vice President Mokhber was appointed as the interim president until a new presidential election is held on June 28.

In April 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia declared the resumption of diplomatic relations in Beijing after years of estrangement.
Orangeburgs Memorial Day ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, May 26.

The ceremony will be held at 1643 Russell Street at the Orangeburg County Library and Conference Center in front of the amphitheater. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved inside the conference center.

Retired Major General Todd B. McCaffrey, the S.C. Department of Veterans Affairs secretary, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony.

McCaffrey is the state's second secretary of the DVA. He was nominated by Gov. Henry McMaster and unanimously confirmed by the state Senate in March 2023.

McCaffrey served in the U.S. Army for more than 34 years, completing his military career as the chief of staff, United States Africa Command.

During his military career, McCaffrey commanded units at all echelons through division-level and led both an infantry battalion and Stryker Brigade Combat Team in combat.

His other assignments include service as chief of staff to two four-star level commanders, and as the deputy commander at U.S. Army Pacific where he supervised Army operations across the Pacific.

McCaffrey is a 1986 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and holds master-level degrees in economics from the Colorado School of Mines and national security studies from the U.S. Army War College.

He has earned the Combat Infantry Badge, is a three-time recipient of the Armys Distinguished Service Medal and has been awarded the Bronze Star multiple times for meritorious service in combat.

Following military retirement, McCaffrey relocated to South Carolina and joined the University of South Carolina as the director of military affairs. He assisted the university by integrating and expanding its portfolio of defense and other national security-related efforts.

Upon departing the university, he consulted in the private sector to clients in defense-related industries, government and academia and served on the board of directors for a South Carolina-based veterans service organization.

McCaffrey is also an Association of the U.S. Army Leadership Fellow, supporting efforts to educate, inspire and connect leader development programs across the Army and its supporters.

Sundays program will also include prayer, the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem.

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler will provide the welcome and American Legion Post 4 will recognize the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action.

Others recognized will include the Gold Star Mothers, Blue Star Families of South Carolina, veterans organizations and public officials.

The Auxiliary and VFW Posts 2779 and 8166 will conduct the laying of the wreath ceremony and Steve Jarvis will provide the playing of Taps.

The program is sponsored by a number of veterans' organizations.
Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) said it had collaborated with Union of Investment Companies to host the inaugural co-lecturing session on 'Regulating Dealing in Securities by Insiders' as per regulations of Kuwait Capital Markets Authority (CMA).

The course, which was held recently in Kuwait, was designed to deepen the understanding of insider trading laws and foster compliance among Kuwaits financial professionals, said Markaz in a statement.

This initiative is part of Markazs ongoing commitment to enhance the professional capabilities of the financial sector through expert-led training and knowledge sharing, reflecting the companys culture of collaboration and leadership in financial education.

It also falls in line with its CSR pillars of Building Human Capacity, aligning the business environment with the principles of sustainable development and promoting good governance in the business environment.

The training session was led by Amr Hafez, Senior Legal Advisor, and Mohammed A. Safsouf, Vice President of Fund Administration & Corporate Affairs at Markaz.

They provided participants with comprehensive insights into the practical and legal aspects of insider trading, emphasizing the importance of maintaining transparency and integrity within the financial sector.

On the key initiative, Hafez said: "The Kuwaiti legislature has made commendable strides in identifying and regulating insider trading practices for those who possess inside information."

The course covered crucial topics such as the responsibilities of listed companies and insiders, trading restriction periods, and procedures for maintaining a corporate insiders watch list and disclosure practices.

"This course is a testament to Markazs commitment to localising correct knowledge among licensed individuals and bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that a team of seasoned professionals are well-equipped to uphold the laws and regulations set forth by the CMA in this regard," he added.

Adding to the discussion, Safsouf said: "In the current regulatory environment, it is imperative not only to understand but also to comply with insider trading regulations, which serve as a cornerstone of market integrity."

"If you think compliance is expensive, try non-compliance! At Markaz, we underscore the significance of 'Know Your Employees' (KYE) as a critical strategy to effectively mitigate regulatory risks," he added.

These discussions align with the findings of the World Economic Forums Global Risks Perception Survey 2023-2024, which highlighted misinformation and disinformation as significant short-term risks, underscoring the need for transparency.-TradeArabia News Service
ARA Petroleum has announced that its joint venture has secured a 25-year development licence from Tanzanian Ministry of Energy for the country's largest onshore gas development - Ntorya Gas Field.

Formed in 2014, ARA Petroleum is part of the wider Zubair Corporation, one of the oldest business groups from Oman with broad interests across sectors in the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

The development licence was received by the operator of the Ruvuma JV, ARA Petroleum Tanzania Limited (APT), a wholly owned subsidiary of ARA Petroleum.

The award of the Development Licence allows APT to proceed with Tanzanias largest onshore gas development with the goal of producing gas for the growing domestic market in the next year, said a top official.

"We are delighted to receive this licence from the Ministry of Energy and thank all the Tanzanian agencies involved in achieving this major milestone," remarked Erhan Saygi, General Manager of APT.

"We are ready to launch work immediately to bring this onshore development project into production," he added.

APT has prepared a field development plan that includes, but is not limited to, converting an existing well into a producing well, building in-field gas processing facilities and contracting a rig operator to drill a third well to appraise the field further.

APT expects to produce 40 million standard cu ft a day (mmscf/d) in the first year of production and to increase that to 140 mmscf/d within a few years time, according to a Gas Sales Agreement signed with the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) earlier this year.

According to Saygi, such volumes will increase Tanzanian gas production significantly.

Additionally, APT believes the potential for gas production from the field is far larger having commissioned, acquired and interpretated 338 km2 of 3D seismic data over the Ruvuma JV licence area.

Following the interpretation of the seismic data, APT considers the area to yield a matured unaudited Contingent Resource estimate of 3.45 trillion cu ft (tcf) of Gas Initially In Place (GIIP), with an mean unrisked GIIP potential of 16.4 tcf and a risked mean potential of 6.9 tcf for the wider Ruvuma JV area.

Acknowledging this wider potential, the Development Licence divides the original "Mtwara Exploration Licence" area into nine blocks: five blocks containing the Ntorya discovery and four blocks labelled as 'adjoining blocks.'

The Ruvuma JV parties are required to undertake geological, geophysical and geochemical studies in the area and drill at least one additional exploration well within five years while spending a minimum of $10 million.

"We are excited about further exploration and appraisal work in this area as we consider it to hold truly enormous volumes of gas," noted Saygi.

"We believe the Ntorya gas field and wider area could be game-changing for Tanzanias efforts to alleviate energy poverty, spur further economic development and potentially transform the country into a regional energy hub," he added.

ARA is a full cycle E&P company which explores, appraises, develops and produces oil & gas resources both in Oman and internationally.

With over 200 professionals based in Muscat, ARA has affiliated offices in Dar es Salaam, Trondheim and London.-TradeArabia News Service
Some 98% of Saudi consumers have changed how they shop for FMCG, with 24% preferring to buy whatever brand is on promotion, according to NielsenIQ, a world-leading consumer intelligence company.

More than half of KSA consumers say they would purchase a product that has innovated to make it as affordable as possible (59%).

There has been a notable shift in consumer behaviour, as preferences have increasingly leaned away from premium market offerings towards more economically priced options within the mainstream or budget-friendly tiers. This evolution in consumer preferences reflects a growing emphasis on financial prudence and the desire for products that meet essential needs without exceeding budgetary constraints.

Digital technology

Interestingly, 23% use digital technology to find the best deals on their preferred brands, but only 17% opt for private-label products. This trend signifies a broader change in purchasing habits, where the allure of premium products has been outweighed by the appeal of affordability and the practical benefits of cost-effective alternatives.

These findings appeared in Consumer Outlook 2024", the latest NielsenIQ Thought Leadership report capturing the mindset and sentiment of consumers around the world.

Over the last two years or more, global consumers have indicated they will seek ways to reduce expenses and prioritize affordability. These intentions are driving real impact; the whole structure of global pricing has experienced a small shift in favour of lower price tiers. Saudi Arabian consumers are progressively leaning into selections that prioritise cost-efficiency, reflecting a broader move towards purchasing practices focused on value. This development highlights a rising focus on affordability in product offerings, pricing models, and buying patterns. Even amidst this trend towards cost sensitivity, there's a persistent demand for high-quality, premium items, especially those offering significant health and wellness benefits, explains Pavlos Pavlou, NielsenIQ Managing Director in Saudi Arabia.

Other key findings

Although cost of living remains top of mind, 71% are optimistic their financial situation will be better by the end of 2024. Concurrently, job security sentiment has also improved by 4 percentage points compared to the previous quarters.

Healthy living is the top life priority influencing consumers: about a third of consumers want to build, maintain or improve their health and wellness, while 63% would try a new product because it is better for their health.

More than half of KSA consumers (56%) would choose a product or service because it has sustainable credentials, while about the same would purchase a product that has innovated to make it as affordable as possible (59%).

More than a third of consumers prefer shopping often and at discount/value stores (37%), while 24% of consumers prefer to buy whatever brand is on promotion.--TradeArabia News Service
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the ultra-low-fare national airline of the UAE, celebrated the groups 20th anniversary by offering adventurous travellers the opportunity to discover a variety of must-see destinations and explore the history of charming neighbourhoods.

It has offered 20% discount on all routes across its network, and this applies to bookings made on May 21, with travel dates to attractive summer destinations, including natural paradises and vibrant cities across its expanding network.

The airlines network includes a plethora of destinations such as Alexandria, Ankara, Bishkek, Cairo, Dammam, Kutaisi, Kuwait, Larnaca, Muscat, Medina, Samarkand, Sohag, Tashkent, Turkistan and Yerevan, among others.

These routes are now available on wizzair.com and the WIZZ mobile app, both accessible in Arabic. With Wizz Air, ultra-low-fares and a well-deserved vacation are just a few clicks away!

The second largest airline in Abu Dhabi allows travellers to discover outstanding natural beauty and incredible history throughout Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Highlights include Salalah, the unique sub-tropical paradise, the ancient masterpieces of Rome, Athens, and Cairo, as well as culturally-rich Baku and Alexandria, and many more destinations worth visiting.

Johan Eidhagen, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, said: For more than 20 years, Wizz Air has been sharing the love of travel with all adventurers in the world. Today, we have strengthened our global position as an industry leader among the ultra-low-cost travel providers, offering affordable, hassle-free travel opportunities for all.

We are proud of this milestone and will constantly keep on bringing innovations that travellers will enjoy to create unmissable memories all year round. This offer will allow adventure-seekers to embark on exciting summer experiences across our rich network of incredible destinations. We look forward to welcoming you on board our aircraft soon.

Passengers can book tickets with WIZZ Flex, with which passengers can change their flight up to three hours before departure without any fee and receive 100% of the fare immediately reimbursed in airline credit.  TradeArabia News Service
The UAE's tourism sector contributed AED220 billion ($60 billion) to the GDP in 2023, accounting for 11.7% of the overall economy, said an industry expert.

This upward trend is expected to continue in 2024, with projections indicating the sector will reach AED236 billion ($64.25 billion) and account for an even greater share of the GDP at 12%, stated Khaled Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA).

He was speaking at the three-day UN Tourism 50th Regional Commission Meeting for the Middle East held in Muscat, Oman.

Al Midfa, who led the UAE delegation to the meeting, pointed out the tourism sector played a significant role in generating 809,000 job opportunities across various tourism activities and fields in the UAE in 2023.

Projections indicate that the number of job opportunities will increase to 833,000 in 2024, stated the top official.

The UAE Tourism Strategys ultimate goals seek to increase the sector's contribution to the country's GDP to AED450 billion by 2031, attract new investment in the tune of AED100 billion to the sector and welcome 40 million guests to the country's hotels by the next decade, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The third edition of Future Aviation Forum 2024 ended on a successful note in Riyadh with companies signing nearly 102 agreements mainly aimed at developing the air-transport system and enhancing the kingdoms position as a global logistics centre.

The three-day forum was organised by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) under the slogan 'Elevating Global Connectivity.'

It was inaugurated by the Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the board of directors of GACA Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser in the presence of senior officials.

More than 8,500 experts and leaders of the global aviation sector, including 31 ministers and 77 leaders of civil aviation authorities from 130 countries, gathered to discuss and shape the future of aviation.

As part of the conference activities, Eng Al Jasser signed co-operation agreements and records of discussions within several agreements concluded by the Kingdom in air-transport services with Mozambique, Kiribati, the Kingdom of Eswatini, and Cambodia.

These agreements aim to develop the air-transport system and enhance the kingdoms position as a global logistics center, aligning with the fundamental pillar of the Kingdoms Vision 2030, it stated.

GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Duailej signed a series of MoUs with Brunei, Darussalam, Grenada, Malawi, Lithuania, El Salvador, Uzbekistan and Romania in the field of air-transport services to strengthen cooperation and embody the strategic partnership in the field of developing the future and methods of modern aviation transport in the sector according to the regulations, laws and instructions in force in the countries.

He also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), aiming to develop cooperation between the two parties in the field of civil aviation.

After inking the strategic deals, Al Duailej said this years conference witnessed remarkable high-level participation.

Al Duailej also signed MOUs with several governments to enhance areas of cooperation.

The deal with the Elm company is to promote innovation by employing the latest technologies and artificial intelligence and develop human capital to improve operational processes.

The agreement with the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information is to enhance the use of geospatial information in advanced airspace applications, he explained.

The MoU with the Environment Fund is to cooperate in raising environmental awareness, promote environmentally friendly practices, and support research and innovation to achieve ecological sustainability, he added.

Also during the event, GACA president handed over the economic licence to the Saudi 'Jet Gourmet' company to provide on-board catering services at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

It was the second economic license for aircraft catering services to be granted after GACA announced the economic regulations for ground handling services and air freight services aimed at achieving a competitive environment and attracting investments.-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.
Hasely Crawford and Keshorn Walcott are among the household names in Trinidad and Tobago who made an impact through success at elite-level sport.

To date, Crawford and Walcott are the countrys only individual Olympic gold medallists. They serve as examples for young T&T athletes with big ambitions.

Some will become world-beaters; others will not. And thats the reality of sport. Many participate, but a relative few reach the elite level. Even fewer get to the top of the podium in global competition.
Embers and smoke swirl around a saguaro with one of its arms on fire in a cell phone video captured by a firefighter in the desert northeast of Scottsdale.

The nightmarish footage is from May 18, the first night of the so-called Wildcat Fire, but it could be an ugly harbinger of scenes to come.

Once vanishingly rare, major wildfires in the saguaro scrubland of the Sonoran Desert are becoming larger and more frequent, according to a new report by researchers in Tucson and Flagstaff.

The report released Wednesday identifies a confluence of human-caused factors for the troubling trend, which threatens to transform Southern Arizonas iconic desert landscape into a fire-prone grassland of non-native plants.

Tucson-based ecologist and lead author Ben Wilder said the Sonoran Desert has long been largely fireproof, but the rapid spread of invasive weeds and grasses in recent decades is covering the once-bare ground with fuel that can carry fires across greater distances.

Data outlined in the report shows two huge spikes in the amount of acreage burned by desert wildfires in 2005 and again in 2020. A number of those fires were started by people.

Its a really alarming transition thats happening, Wilder said. Were at an inflection point of fires becoming a much larger part of the ecology of the Sonoran Desert.

Researchers still have a lot of unanswered questions about how forests of saguaros and palo verde trees recover after fires, he said, but based on how slowly many native plants grow, any amount of healing is sure to be a slow process.

If it ever gets back to the desert it was before, it will take hundreds of years, Wilder said.

And if an area is hit by waves of successive fires  a cycle of seasonal burning where there wasnt one before  it might never recover at all.

The ecology of the desert that I grew up with is not necessarily the desert of the future, Wilder said. From my perspective, we cant just go blindly into this future.

Plan of attack

The new report is called Fire in the Sonoran Desert: An Overview of a Changing Landscape, and its not written like your typical academic paper.

Its designed to be actionable, Wilder said. It needs to go to land managers, who can use the information to respond to whats happening on the ground.

To read the report Fire in the Sonoran Desert: An Overview of a Changing Landscape" is free and available for download from the Southwest Fire Science Consortium at Northern Arizona University. The full report can be found here: tucne.ws/1q3g.

The report was published by the Southwest Fire Science Consortium with funding from the Arizona Wildfire Initiative, two efforts based at Northern Arizona University aimed at improving wildfire prevention, management and recovery.

Molly McCormick is a program manager for both the consortium and the initiative. She said the new report was developed in response to natural resource and wildfire specialists, who came to them seeking guidance after witnessing fire behaviors no one had seen before.

Its just happening so quickly, she said. People cant circle back to what they did before, because there is no before.

The 58-page document details a range of what McCormick called emerging management actions, from using hiking trails and game paths to create larger fuel breaks to designating certain areas as desert landscape refugia where fire should be kept out at all costs. Those might be places of ecological, archaeological or recreational importance or simply patches of pristine desert with high biodiversity that havent yet been overrun with invasive plants, she said.

Land managers also might need to expand the use of prescribed fires to reduce fuels in desert areas that see heavy recreational use and are primed to burn.

Wilder said officials at Tonto National Forest near Phoenix are already experimenting with the practice around popular target shooting areas that can often be ignition points for human-caused fires.

Theyre doing controlled burns in the desert. That would have been unfathomable five years ago, he said.

Time to act

Wilder described the report as a synthesis of recent research on desert landscapes and fire activity.

That includes extensive work on the aftermath of the 2020 Bighorn Fire in the Catalina Mountains by him and his co-author Jim Malusa, a research scientist with the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment.

Malusa said one of the most remarkable things that researchers have discovered is the emergence of different fire regimes across the desert Southwest in response to different dominant invasive species.

In the Mojave Desert, the main fuel is red brome, a non-native winter annual. In the Phoenix area, its a combination of red brome and the noxious weed known as stinknet. And around Tucson, the main threat is posed by perennials such as buffelgrass and fountain grass.

The invasive grasses are fairly patchy in most areas, but the gaps between are closing, Malusa said. If the strike that started the Bighorn Fire had hit further downslope on Pusch Peak, that whole slope would now be a savanna, without our green-skinned friends, the saguaro and palo verde.

Thats why its vitally important to continue  and expand  efforts to slow the spread of invasive plants, the reports authors said.

There also needs to be a wider push to prevent human-caused fires and blunt their impact, especially around growing desert cities that have seen what Malusa called an increase in yahoos proportional to their population gains.

One Tonto (National Forest) employee told me of a series of roadside fires along the Beeline Highway that were ultimately the result of a single source: a man who was heading to a barbecue in Payson and wanted his charcoal briquets ready to grill, so he lit the grill before he left town and put it in the back of his pickup, Malusa said.

Though the new report documents daunting long-term problems facing our desert, all is not lost.

There is still time to act, Wilder said, and the cost of action now is far lower and more impactful than it will be in just a couple years.

Already, there are people out there doing their part, McCormick said. There are so many volunteer efforts out in the desert that bring me so much hope. There are grandmas out there beating back the buffelgrass, she said.

At the moment, though, land managers are worried about what the immediate future might bring.

This spring has been generally wet throughout Arizona, and conditions are ripe for an active fire season, McCormick said. There is a lot of fuel on the landscape, much of it invasive, and it is drying out fast.

As of Friday, the Wildcat Fire northeast of Scottsdale covered just over 14,400 acres. According to the national wildfire database, it was human-caused.

Besides the one in the cell phone video, its unclear how many saguaros have burned.
NOGALES, Sonora  The day before Mexican nationals David, his wife Xaltipa and their 13-year-old daughter got permission to request asylum in the U.S., using the CBP One mobile app, the family had given up hope.

For the past eight months theyd been living at Casa de la Misericordia, a migrant shelter in Nogales, Sonora, checking the CBP One app each morning with growing despair. They watched as the apps lottery system gave appointments to other residents at the shelter, seemingly at random.

Of the tens of thousands of would-be asylum seekers waiting south of the U.S.-Mexico border, David said they knew they were among the lucky ones with a place in a shelter and WiFi access that allowed them to use the mobile app, which the Biden administration says is the only legitimate way for most migrants to enter the U.S. to request asylum.

But as the months passed, their frustration grew, and their fear of the dangers theyd escaped in their home state of Puebla still lingered.

It was desperation. Eight months waiting isnt easy, David said last week, speaking in Spanish. The Arizona Daily Star is not using his or his wifes full name, due to their vulnerability.

So in early May, the family left the shelter and spent the night sleeping on the ground in front of the pedestrian border crossing in Nogales, Sonora, hoping to soon get one of the occasional daily walk-up appointments offered to waiting migrants, when port staffing resources allow it.

The next morning, waking up on the street and looking for a place to use the bathroom, they discovered they had just received a CBP One appointment for the end of May.

We all started crying, David said, back at Casa de la Misericordia shelter. Wed been here the longest of anyone.

Advocates say extended waits, often in dangerous conditions, are common for asylum seekers waiting south of the U.S.-Mexico border, in hopes of accessing the asylum system in the recommended way.

One year into the Biden administrations Circumvention of Lawful Pathways asylum rule, human-rights advocates say the rule wrongly restricts access to asylum and has returned people with legitimate fears to their country of persecution  not based on the merits of their case, but because they didnt use CBP One to enter the U.S.

It is legal to request asylum once on U.S. soil, regardless of how one entered the country. But the rule imposes penalties, such as a five-year ban on re-entry and presumed ineligibility for asylum, for most asylum seekers who enter without a CBP One appointment. The rule is still in effect as the Biden administration appeals a July 2023 federal district court ruling that found it unlawful.

The Biden administration hopes this carrot-and-stick approach deters asylum seekers from entering the U.S. illegally between ports of entry. More than 591,000 people have entered the U.S. using the app since it was first launched in January 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection says.

Scheduling appointments makes the process safer and more orderly, and the advance information that is submitted to CBP officers creates a more efficient and streamlined process for CBP and for individuals, according to a CBP fact sheet.

Advocates say asylum seekers trying to use the mobile app face ever-growing wait times in violent conditions south of the border, where criminal groups and Mexican authorities prey on migrants.

Accounts of kidnapping, extortion, torture, rape and robbery have exploded, said Christina Asencio, the Tucson-based director of research and analysis for refugee protection with Human Rights First. The advocacy group issued a report this month, Trapped, Preyed Upon and Punished, based on interviews with 500 asylum seekers south of the U.S. border.

Asylum seekers using the app are now targeted by criminals who threaten to delete their accounts or make them miss their appointments if they dont pay, Asencio said.

We and other groups have documented that cartels and transnational organized crime groups are specifically targeting people who have CBP One appointments, because of the belief that theyll be more inclined to pay a ransom quickly, she said.

Asencio interviewed victims of torture, whose teeth and fingers had been removed to compel their families to pay up, she said.

I cant begin to convey the risks involved with remaining and being stranded in Mexico, she said.

Those dangers drive some asylum seekers to cross the border between ports of entry out of desperation, fueling a chaotic situation at the southern border, rather than alleviating it, Asencio said.

This is whats driving people to cross between ports of entry, she said. Its intentional policies that restrict rather than maximize entries at ports of entry.

The number of daily appointments offered through CBP One has been stagnant at 1,450 since last summer, and the technology required to use the application  a smart phone with enough data to use the app, a place to charge the phone and daily access to WiFi  is an impossible barrier for many, she said.

The DeConcini port in Nogales is the only one that accepts CBP One appointments in the 700 miles between Calexico, California, and El Paso, Texas, and it only accepts 100 appointments a day.

Police cant help, migrants say

At Casa de la Misericordia migrant shelter earlier this month, David and Xaltipa paged through the handwritten statement they planned to present to U.S. asylum officers.

Last fall, the couple and their daughter fled their hometown in the night after a local criminal family  with roots in the notoriously brutal but now splintered Los Zetas cartel  began systematically interrogating men in their community about an attack on one of their own.

After a five-hour violent interrogation, David convinced his captors he wasnt involved by showing them photos on his phone proving he was in another state at the time of the attack. He was released, but the criminals installed security cameras on his street and warned him not to leave, even for his work as a taxi driver.

The interrogations continued. When another neighbor was not only beaten, but killed, David and his family decided they had to go, they said. They fled in the night to stay with family in the neighboring state of Morelos, until David received a threatening text with a photo of the exterior of the house they were in. When he tried to make a report to authorities, they advised him to leave the country because the criminal family pursuing him had a presence throughout Mexico.

Their story is not unusual, said Alma Angelica Macias Mejia, director of Casa de la Misericordia shelter. Its the only shelter in Nogales, Sonora that allows asylum seekers to stay long-term, until they receive a CBP One appointment. Most other shelters can only house migrants for three to 10 days, she said.

Between 70% and 80% of the 120 residents at Casa de la Misericordia are from Mexico, where organized crime and armed violence are widespread, and the rest hail from all over the world, including Central and South American countries, Senegal, Iran, China and Russia, she said.

The shelter sits atop a high hill and catches cool breezes even on a hot day, Macias Mejia says. Walking the shelter grounds, children run up to Macias Mejia to embrace her, or joke with her. Most residents call her Mother or Sister Lika, even though she hasnt been a nun since 2011.

Residents of Casa de la Misericordia have often been referred by other shelters or aid groups as particularly vulnerable, like Colombian nationals Daniel and Carolina.

Following a traumatic journey through Mexico, the couple has been waiting two months at Casa de la Misericordia, with their 8-year-old son and Carolinas 11-year-old sister, in hopes of securing a CBP One appointment.

In Empalme, Sonora, the family says they were among about 20 migrants kidnapped by heavily armed men and put on a train to Nogales, Sonora. They overheard theyd been sold to another criminal group at the border. On the train, rumors swirled that their captors would demand $10,000 from their families and torture their hostages until their families paid.

The family decided to take their chances in the desert, jumping together from the train as it slowed in Benjamin Hill, Sonora. They walked for days, riding a cargo train for part of their journey, until they reached a migrant shelter in Altar. But when they learned their kidnappers were searching for them there, a priest from the local parish hid them under blankets in his car and drove them to Casa de la Misericordia, the couple said.

These are things I never expected to experience, Daniel said. Things I hope never to experience again, things that are harder when you have a child you want the best for.

The Star is using only their middle names, and not showing their faces, because they dont know whether their kidnappers are still pursuing them.

Access to ports restricted

Some migrants who are unaware of the CBP One app, or unable to use it, try their luck waiting for a chance to walk up to a U.S. port of entry and request asylum. But access to the ports is strictly limited for asylum seekers and even if they get through, most will face a higher burden of proof to get asylum because they didnt use CBP One.

On a recent May afternoon, dozens sat outside the pedestrian crossing at the DeConcini port of entry, amid loud ongoing construction.

Among them were Fernando Vazquez, his wife and two daughters: a 4-month-old baby and 3-year-old toddler. Snuggled together on the ground, Vazquez said they were fleeing cartel violence in Guerrero, in southwest Mexico.

Theyd heard the CBP One app takes too long, so they decided to camp out at the port of entry, where the nights have been cold and the days hot, Vazquez said.

Its exhausting for the kids, he said in Spanish.

A CBP spokesman said there is no set number for how many walk-up asylum seekers can be processed daily; it depends on resources available and port traffic.

Limits on when migrants can approach ports of entry amounts to de-facto digital metering, according to a May report from Human Rights Watch.

The practice of metering  blocking undocumented people from accessing ports to request asylum  arose under the Trump administration to address an unprecedented rise in asylum requests and overcrowding at ports, the Congressional Research Service said in a June brief.

But, the brief said, the policy had led to long wait times and overcrowded conditions on the Mexican side of the border, and arguably incentivized attempts to illegally cross the border between ports of entry.

In 2021, a federal district court ruled that metering infringed on migrants constitutional right to due process. CBP rescinded the policy in November 2021.

But continued restrictions have invited exploitation. Nogales, Sonora officials had been charging migrants a fee to get on a wait list determining who can wait in the line at the DeConcini port, Macias Mejia said.

The problem was one of the first issues tackled by a new coalition of Nogales, Sonora migrant shelters, including Kino Border Initiative, Casa de la Misericordia and the San Juan Bosco shelter. The coalition has been meeting since February, with the support of the Mexican Consulate in Nogales, Arizona, to improve shelters coordination and address concerns about risks facing migrants, Macias Mejia said.

After learning about the wait list, Mexican consul general Marcos Moreno Baez said his Nogales, Arizona office contacted local leaders in Nogales, Sonora. Within a day, the person who had been managing the wait list  and either directing or allowing the solicitation of bribes  was removed, Moreno Baez told the Star.

Were telling them, we know for a fact this is going on. Just help us to solve the problem, he said. From one day to another there was a change.

Its a crucial step, but follow-up is necessary, said Pedro De Velasco, director of education and advocacy for Kino Border Initiative, a binational migrant-aid nonprofit.

This wont solve the issues unless we do something about this lack of transparency and lack of accountability, he said. At the coalitions next meeting, Nogales, Sonora officials are supposed to give the consulate access to the wait list, and weekly reports on the number of people added to it and how many have entered the U.S.

Mexicos enforcement leads to abuses

Since December, Mexicos aggressive efforts to slow migrant arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border have resulted in a surge in abuse reports and family separations, as migrants are forcibly relocated to southern Mexico, advocates say.

Thats contributed to a drop in migrant arrests at the border, particularly in the Tucson sector, which in April  for the first time since July  was no longer the busiest of the nine southern border sectors, with 31,219 apprehensions between ports of entry. The San Diego sector became the busiest with more than 37,000 apprehensions.

So far in May, Border Patrol arrests along the entire southern border are down by more than half, compared to a December peak of 8,000 average daily arrests, CBS News reported.

With more highway checkpoints and limits on bus access for people perceived to be migrants, the Mexican National Guard and immigration officials have made it difficult to cross the state of Sonora, Macias Mejia said.

Organized crime groups now routinely charge migrants, not even to get across the U.S.-Mexico border, but just to get through Mexico, she said.

Only the cartels are the ones that manage to make it, she said.

Even asylum seekers trying to use CBP One have been removed to southern Mexico, where CBP One isnt accessible.

Macias Mejia recently hosted a family from China, who stayed at Casa de la Misericordia for seven months waiting for a CBP One appointment. Before arriving at the shelter, the mother and her children were separated from their father in Hermosillo, Sonora, after immigration officials detained him and flew him south to Chiapas. He got himself back to Mexico Citys airport but was returned to Chiapas again, even after his family secured a CBP One appointment, Macias Mejia said.

Immigration officials in Mexico City only allowed the man to continue north after Macias Mejia, with help from the International Red Cross and Mexico City aid groups, contacted officials to explain the man was allowed to enter the U.S., Macias Mejia said.

Proposals focused on enforcement

A major shift has occurred at the border over the past year, as large numbers of migrants enter the U.S. between ports of entry  through gaps in the border wall or holes cut by smugglers using hand-held power tools  and surrender to border agents.

Agents are now devoting much of their time to processing asylum seekers, rather than their primary mission of searching for migrants trying to evade detection, Border Patrols Tucson sector chief John Modlin has told the Star.

Immigration experts say Congress should boost resources to receive more asylum seekers at ports of entry, and better resource the U.S. immigration court system so it can get through more cases, but most proposals have focused on enforcement.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at immigrant-rights group American Immigration Council, said that, for all the criticism of CBP One, the Biden administration has massively expanded access to protection in the U.S., including through new humanitarian parole programs.

The bipartisan Senate border-security bill  which U.S. senators, for the second time this year, declined to put to a vote on Thursday  would have funded 4,000 additional asylum officers and $440 million in funding for the immigration court system, Reichlin-Melnick said.

Today, due to the lack of asylum officers, only about 15% of migrants arriving between ports of entry and surrendering to agents are undergoing credible-fear screenings, intended to weed out those without a potential asylum claim, he said.

Most are released with a notice-to-appear in court years from now, due to a massive backlog in immigration courts, he said.

Those who didnt use CBP One, or who dont fit into a narrow group of exceptions, will ultimately be denied asylum. But the years-long delay means the punitive impact of the Bidens asylum rule wont be felt for years, he said.

Most asylum claims ruled valid

Over the last decade, two-thirds of the more than 1 million asylum cases decided by immigration judges were approved, despite the high burden of proof facing asylum seekers, said Austin Kocher, research assistant professor with Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, which uses public records to study the federal government.

Blaming migrants for bottlenecks in the U.S. system is missing the point, Kocher said.

If theres a line out the door at the emergency room, its not peoples fault that theyre waiting in line, Kocher said. Its a problem with the capacity of the emergency room.

Critics suggest migrants surrendering to border agents often dont have real asylum claims and just want to work in the U.S.

We dont have really good data on identifying that, Kocher said. Having researched this for 15 years now, Ive hardly met a person who was trying to apply for asylum who doesnt have an intentional, legitimate claim to asylum, whether or not theyll qualify.

Kocher said the broader question is why someone would try to use the asylum system to seek work.

Why arent they getting work visas? The answer is, we havent raised our caps on work visas in decades, since the 1960s, he said. Weve restricted those caps to artificially low amounts, making it almost impossible for people to come (to work).  Thats a problem we created ourselves.

A week before David and Xaltipas CBP One appointment, Xaltipa was having recurring nightmares. She recently learned her sister and niece in Puebla had fled into the countryside after being threatened by the criminal gang in their town. They havent been heard from since.

Xaltipa tries to focus on her own daughter, hoping shell be able to attend school safely if they get to stay in the U.S.

Back in Puebla, Im not at peace in my own house, wondering when shell be home, if shell be home, Xaltipa said tearfully. I want a better life for her, that she is free, that she doesnt fear going out.  If they let us pass, thank God. And if not, we dont know whats going to happen to us.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

With numerous presidential searches currently underway in the nation for various reasons, suitable, i.e., competent and visionary, presidential candidates are in high demand. Renowned universities are often led by Nobel Laureates, National Academy Members or Fellows, and other nationally and globally recognized academic leaders.

To help guide the ongoing search for the next University of Arizona President, I submitted to the Chair of the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), the Executive Search Firm (ESF), and the Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) the following Minimum Academic Requirements for Presidential Candidates:

(...) must be at least a nationally recognized academic scholar and technology innovator (ideally in a science field) with no less than a stellar academic pedigree and accomplishments, comprising a minimum of a half-dozen or so National Society Fellowships, including at least one National Academy Member  or Fellowship, plus several national and international awards and prizes, plus dozens of issued patents. (...) While the above criteria could possibly appear overbearing or excessive to some, please be advised that they are considered insufficient to warrant promotion to Full Professor at least in some University of Arizona Colleges.

We now learn in Ellie Wolfes article Search committee homes in on qualities sought in next U of A president that the Presidential Search Advisory Committee watered down the above requirements to merely the bar for candidates is holding a professorship, which is utterly insufficient and a slap in the face to the institution and its faculty.

As an R1 (Research I) institution, defined as Doctoral Universities  Very High Research Activity, the University of Arizona prides itself as a scientific powerhouse. R1 universities are called to be led by a highly accomplished academic leader as defined above, and not by a non-visionary bean counter, CEO-type corporate manager, or politician, just as one would never put any of these types in charge of a carrier battle group. To be more clear, a presidential candidate has to be cut from the same cloth as the people of the institution they lead, i.e., the academic fabric in this case.

If ABOR, the ESF, and the PSAC feel that the above is reaching for the stars, i.e., unattainable for the University of Arizona, or if they shy away from raising the bar for fear of not being able to attract any candidates because of it, the university needs to undergo a frank reality check to find out where it truly ranks nationally and globally in the eyes of its peer institutions, rather than US News & World Report or similar commercial ranking services.

One more thing: I, for one, as an Associate Professor in Engineering at this institution, actually happen to fulfill all the above listed minimum requirements, and so should the next President of the University of Arizona.
Mary Bishop-Baldwin Assistant Editor Follow Mary Bishop-Baldwin 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

Two men have been arrested and a third is sought after a bystander in a Tulsa home was fatally shot during a drug deal Thursday evening, police said.

The victim, Greg Dumas, was dead in the living room when officers arrived at a house on Admiral Court near Jamestown Avenue around 6 p.m., police reported.

Police believe that the shooting resulted from a drug deal that was planned to take place at the home.

At some point, an altercation took place, and multiple shots were fired. The victim, Greg Dumas, was not part of the planned drug deal but was hit by the gunfire and died from his injuries, police reported in a social media post.

Detectives identified brothers Christopher and James Leiter as suspects in the homicide. They were arrested Thursday evening on first-degree murder complaints. Online court records indicate that they had not been charged as of Friday.

Jail records indicate that the brothers share an Oklahoma City apartment address. Christopher Leiters bail is set at $5 million, and James Leiters is set at $1 million, jail records show.

Police are seeking a third suspect, Noah James Crisman, who was charged with first-degree felony murder on Friday, court records show. His bail will be set at $1 million, the records indicate.

Anyone with information about Crismans location is asked to call 911.

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Andrea Eger Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Andrea Eger 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

Three people who worked for a Claremore-based missionary group were killed in a gang ambush in Haiti on Thursday evening.

Dead are missionaries Davy Lloyd, 23; his wife, Natalie Lloyd, 21; and Judes Montis, 47, a Haitian national who had been employed for more than 20 years by Missions in Haiti Inc., according to a family member of the organizations founders.

This spring, Haiti has been hit by new political unrest and a surge in gang violence, compounding the misery of its longstanding humanitarian crisis of poverty and hunger in the Caribbean island nation.

Davy Lloyd was the son of David and Alicia Lloyd, who founded Claremore-based Missions in Haiti in 2000.

Their son-in-law and Claremore resident Dakota Cornett, who is married to Davys sister Hannah, spoke to the Tulsa World on behalf of the Lloyd family, providing the full names and ages of the deceased.

Cornett and his wife attended Ozark Bible Institute in Neosho, Missouri, with Natalie, and Davy graduated from the school a few years before them.

They were the most pure-hearted, most kind people in the world, Cornett said. Davy grew up in Haiti. He understood the people and the culture; he was fluent in Creole. His whole life, he wanted to be a missionary in Haiti like his parents.

And Natalie is a very, very good, sweet girl. Davy made it clear in college he didnt have any interest in any girl that wasnt willing to go to Haiti with him. That statement pushed away 99% of the girls  but Natalie stuck around. She loved those kids in Haiti.

Cornett said his in-laws do not want the tragedy of Montis death to be overlooked. He said many news outlets have misspelled his first name because it is pronounced like Jude, and the s at the end is silent.

Judes was family to them. He had worked for them for more than 20 years, and his two children were (like) children to the Lloyds, Cornett said. The reason he was there is because he heard Davy was in trouble and he ran to help them.

Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker, father of Natalie Lloyd, also announced the deaths on social media.

My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. Ive never felt this kind of pain, he posted Thursday evening. Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to Heaven together. Please pray for my family, we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well. I have no other words for now.

On Friday afternoon, he followed up to announce that the Lloyds bodies had been transported to the U.S. Embassy in Haiti.

Jimmy Millikin, pastor of the Lloyds church in Claremore, Westside Holiness Church, posted this message to social media on Friday:

Please pray for Missions in Haiti and all families involved. Davy and Natalie are modern day martyrs. They gave their lives to feed Haitian orphans and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. RIP Davy & Natalie. You today wear a martyrs crown. Westside Loves you both and will never never forget you.

Other churches in Oklahoma that supported the Lloyds Haitian mission work are also reeling from the news.

Reggie Dowdy, pastor of Northside Church of God in Norman, said his church sent financial support monthly to Missions in Haiti and that he and his wife have hosted Ozark Bible Institute students in their home while they are in town visiting his church once or twice a year for 20 years.

Davy and Natalie  I know their parents, their aunts and uncle. My son is friends with Natalies grandfather and told my son he had just FaceTimed with Davy and Natalie, and when he told Davy to take care of his granddaughter, he said, I will defend her with my life. And he wished Natalie would come home, but she told him, Pop, Ive got to stay here with the kids. Its so tragic.

Cornett said he has seen first-hand the mission work the Lloyd family has been engaged in for 25 years.

They cant help every single child in Haiti  its just not possible  but they gave their all to everyone they could help, he said. In the states, we could be used to seeing one man or one woman on the side of the road, but there, there are groups of kids who are starving, obviously very malnourished. Some are bandaged up, and you could see the blood and infection. Some beggars are missing body parts; some have burns.

Once you would get to their compound  where they have a school, a house, a church, a bakery, sewing rooms  it was like a whole different world. They had bathrooms, showers every day, everyone had their own beds. You could see the difference between those kids in the orphanage and the kids outside. They had a light in their face.

Alicia Lloyd returned to Claremore in April for medical reasons, and her husband, David, flew in to join her Thursday morning, arriving mere hours before the gang siege of their mission property back in Haiti, Cornett said.

The one thing Brother and Sister Lloyd keep saying is they dont want these deaths to be in vain, he said. They really hope this story will get attention to the country of Haiti and people will be willing to step in and help. The whole country is full of innocent people, as much as Davy and Natalie and Judes were.

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BRUSSELS -- Lobbying groups representing airlines, hotels and retailers have urged European Union tech regulators to ensure that Google takes their views into account, and not just large intermediaries, when making changes to comply with landmark tech rules.

Airlines for Europe group that has Air France KLM and British Airways owner IAG as members, hotel group Hotrec, European Hotel Forum, EuroCommerce, Ecommerce Europe and Independent Retail Europe had in March expressed their concerns about the impact of the new rules.

EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) imposes a list of dos and don'ts on Google and five other tech giants aimed at giving users more choice and rivals a better chance to compete, but the groups voiced concerns that the adjustments could hurt their revenues.

In a joint letter to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager and EU industry chief Thierry Breton dated May 22 they said their worries have mounted since then.

"Our industries have serious concerns that currently considered solutions and requirements for implementing the DMA could further increase discrimination," they wrote.

"Initial observations indicate that these changes risk severely depleting direct sales revenues of companies by giving more prominence to powerful online intermediaries due to the preferential treatment they would receive," they said.

The Commission, which is now investigating Google for possible DMA breaches, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Google, which in a March blog post said changes to search results give large intermediaries and aggregators more traffic and less for hotels, airlines, merchants and restaurants, had no immediate comment.

"We are concerned that the non-compliance investigation refers only to the need to treat third-party services in a fair and non-discriminatory manner, without any acknowledgement of European businesses that also offer their services on Google," the groups said.
Vietnam has strongly protested China for sovereignty violation as the latter has recently dispatched a navy hospital ship to Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago that belongs to the former in the East Vietnam Sea.

Doan Khac Viet, deputy spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the objection on Thursday in response to a query from Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper regarding Chinas dispatch of the Youai hospital ship to Hoang Sa, which is under Vietnams sovereignty.

Vietnam resolutely opposes any activities infringing upon Vietnams sovereignty over Hoang Sa, Viet emphasized.

The information about the operation of the vessel at Hoang Sa was revealed by the China Central Television (CCTV) on May 21.

The ship, under the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy, is around 100m long and has a helipad.

It has conducted a voyage of 600 nautical miles for seven days to entities of the archipelago, where health workers provided medical check-ups and psychological consultancy for Chinese soldiers illegally stationed there.

As part of its journey, the hospital ship also conducted a series of training including transiting the injured under emergency circumstances, providing frontline first aid, and rescuing damaged vessels, the CCTV said.

Hoang Sa belongs to Vietnams sovereignty but it has been illegally occupied by China by force since 1974.

Deputy spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Despite Vietnams repeated objections, China has blatantly built and renovated many works and fortifications on many entities of the archipelago, as well as conducted other illegal activities there.

As has been reiterated many times before, Vietnam has fully historical evidence and legal basis to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in the East Vietnam Sea in accordance with international law, Viet stressed.

Vietnam also has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the oceans as stipulated in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the diplomat stated.

The deputy spokesman also replied to another query from Tuoi Tre about a new regulation issued by China on May 15 regarding the detention of foreigners suspected to violate waters that China claims sovereignty.

Accordingly, foreigners suspected of trespassing in Chinas sovereign territorial waters or maritime zones, or helping others do so, can be detained without trial for 30 to 60 days by the Chinese coastguard, South China Morning Post reported on Monday.

Regarding this rule, effective June 15, Viet said that Vietnam resolutely and persistently protects Vietnams sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in maritime zones as well as the legal and legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens, in accordance with the UNCLOS 1982 and Vietnamese laws.

Philippine lawmakers and officials have protested the new regulation as they believe it will be enforced in the East Vietnam Sea, where China claims sovereignty over most of the waters.

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Vu Quang National Park in the central province of Ha Tinh has discovered and removed approximately 1,500 illegal traps, as well as dealt with 50 incidents of wildlife infringement over the past year.

The parks management hosted the "Taking Action for Wild Animals" event on Wednesday to share its strides in protecting local wildlife.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided support for the event by funding the biological diversity component of the Project on Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Vietnam (VFBC), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which was carried out by the World Wildlife Fund Vietnam.

This year's International Day for Biodiversity 2024 was observed on May 22 and themed "Be Part of the Plan" with the hope of encouraging relevant partners to participate in and contribute to the resilience of the global biodiversity framework adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its 15th meeting.

An event commemorating the International Day for Biodiversity 2024 was held at the Vu Quang National Day in Ha Tinh Province, May 22, 2024. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre

The goal of the framework is to prevent and reverse biodiversity loss from the past decade.

Phan Viet Nga, deputy head of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency, delivered a speech at the event, saying that, to commemorate the International Day for Biodiversity 2024, the ministry has called on all parties and agencies to improve communication, education, and raising awareness for biodiversity and its values in the country's sustainable development strategy.

She also advocated for the incorporation of biodiversity conservation information into curriculums, as well as the promotion of a nature-friendly lifestyle.

"Vietnam's natural ecosystems and biological resources confront significant difficulties. Through this event, I call for joint contributions from agencies, organizations, and individuals to preserve and conserve Vietnam's 16th place in global biodiversity ranking," Nga stated.

A Mang Truong Son (muntiacus truongsonensis) is photographed by a camera trap for a presentation at the event commemorating International Day for Biodiversity 2024, which took place on May 22, 2024 at the Vu Quang National Day in Ha Tinh Province. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Danh Ky, director of Vu Quang National Park, stated that Vu Quang has been renowned as one of Vietnam's top biodiversity centers, serving as a home to numerous endangered and unique species.

The ecological zone where Vu Quang National Park sits is considered as essential to the preservation of biodiversity in both Vietnam and around the world.

The VFBC's component for biological diversity preservation has assisted Vu Quang National Park in establishing a patrol team tasked with identifying unique species and dismantling illegal traps.

Over the last year, the five-member team has performed 33 patrols, dismantled roughly 1,500 traps, and recorded 50 cases of wildlife-related violations.

The USAID has provided financial support for the biodiversity preservation component of the project.

The Forestry Project Management Board under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is leading the project, which is scheduled to run from July 2021 to June 2026.

The goal of the project is to maintain and improve forest quality while also ensuring the stability of wild animal populations in areas of high conservation value.

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Check out the latest news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai proposed that Japan consider offering new Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans to Vietnam with more preferential and simplified lending terms and procedures while hosting a reception for Tanaka Akihiko, president at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Japan on Thursday. The reception took place during Deputy PM Khais business trip to Japan from Wednesday through Saturday this week.

-- Hoang Minh Cuong, vice-chairman of the administration of Hai Phong City in northern Vietnam, hosted a reception on Friday for crew members of the Royal Netherlands Navys Frigate HNLMS Tromp that is anchoring at the local Chua Ve port, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Business

-- GreenNode, an AI GPU cloud provider under VNG Digital Business, a key business arm of Vietnamese tech giant VNG, on Friday announced its strategic partnership with Nvidia and other global partners. The partnership is expected to enable customers worldwide to seamlessly access and leverage powerful AI capabilities.

Society

-- The Ministry of Public Security has pressed charges against Le Quang Thung, former general director of the state-run Vietnam Rubber Group, and eight other former senior executives for their alleged violations related to a property project located at 39-39B Ben Van Don Street in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 4.

-- A seven-month-old baby died after he constantly choked and coughed at an unauthorized daycare facility in Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Wednesday, a local official confirmed on Friday.

-- The administration of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam on Friday evening approved the suspension of the Vietnam Seas and Islands Festival, originally scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday in Vung Tau City. The Phan Trong Binh Peoples Armed Forces Fund, the event organizer, elaborated that the event sponsors could not collaborate with the Fund as initially planned.

World News

-- Hundreds are feared dead after a massive landslide leveled dozens of homes and buried families alive in a remote village in northern Papua New Guinea early on Friday, a resident said, Reuters reported.

-- Lobbying groups representing airlines, hotels and retailers have urged European Union tech regulators to ensure that Google takes their views into account, and not just large intermediaries, when making changes to comply with landmark tech rules, according to Reuters.

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Vietnam followed only Malaysia and Japan in the list of Asias fastest growing destinations for European globetrotters based on accommodation searches on digital travel platform Agoda in April.

With a 66 percent year-on-year increase in travel searches from European tourists last month, Vietnam stood at the third position, after Malaysia and Japan with their corresponding growths of 89 and 71 percent, the Vietnam News Agency reported, citing an Agoda report issued on Thursday.

This result indicates Vietnams increasing popularity as a summer holiday destination for European travelers, said Vu Ngoc Lam, Agodas Vietnam country director.

Its great to see more and more Europeans exploring all that Vietnam has to offer during their getaway periods, Lam said.

The European countries with the most searches for travel to Vietnam last month were France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Three Vietnamese destinations most searched by European tourists in April were Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, Hoi An City in the central Quang Nam Province, and Nha Trang City in the south-central Khanh Hoa Province.

These three attractions offer travelers a combination of leisure, adventure and cultural experiences, alluring to tourists who wish to make the most of their long-distance summer holiday, according to Agoda.

To compile the list, Singapore-based Agoda collected and analyzed accommodation searches conducted on its website in April, and then compared with the corresponding data in the same month of last year, specifically for check-in dates between July and August.

Last month saw Vietnam welcome nearly 194,000 visitors from Europe, up over 141 percent year on year, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) reported.

Over the first four months of this year, the total number of international visitors to Vietnam reached about 6.2 million, up 68.3 percent from a year earlier.

Particularly, the volume of travelers from Europe in the period sharply surged by 63.8 percent year on year.

Compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, the arrivals of foreign travelers to Vietnam increased by 3.9 percent, reflecting a good rebound of the Vietnamese tourism market, VNAT commented.

As a move to attract more international travelers, Vietnam has currently offered visa waivers for 25 countries and territories, including nine ASEAN members, Chile, Panama, Kyrgyzstan, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Belarus, and seven EU members  Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.

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Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has proposed that Japan provide new official development assistance (ODA) loans for Vietnam to develop its strategic infrastructure projects, according to the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy PM Khai made the suggestion at his meeting with President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihiko in Tokyo on Friday, as part of his trip to Japan from May 22-25 for attendance of the 29th Future of Asia Forum and a working visit to the northwestern Asian country.

Khai told the JICA leader that new ODA loans, with more favorable lending conditions and simplified procedures and possibly in the form of budget support, are necessary for Vietnam to carry out its large-scale strategic infrastructure development projects.

The Vietnamese official also suggested Japan continue providing ODA loans for projects in digital transformation, green transition and urban railway in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, as well as other projects including those in high-quality human resources training.

He expressed high appreciation for Japanese ODA loans as well as JICAs significant support that have helped Vietnam successfully implement a lot of projects in various fields, contributing to boosting Vietnams socio-economic development and promoting comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai (R) shakes hands with President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihiko at their talk in Tokyo on May 24, 2024. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

JICA President Tanaka expressed his pleasure at the effective ODA cooperation between the two countries over recent times, with the ODA amount provided by Japan to Vietnam in the last fiscal year exceeding 100 billion yen (US$637 million) for the first time since 2017.

Highly valuing the Vietnamese governments direction in speeding up ODA-funded projects, Tanaka affirmed that JICA wishes to continue cooperation in high-quality infrastructure projects that meet Vietnams needs.

JICA will also go on with joint projects in human resources training as well as in new fields such as digital transformation, green transformation, semiconductors and creative innovation, Tanaka stated.

In recent times, Japans ODA disbursement rate in Vietnam has increased significantly, according to JICA.

Japan is currently Vietnams biggest ODA provider, offering more than 2.7 trillion yen ($17.2 billion) in ODA loans for the Southeast Asian country since 1992, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Earlier on the same day, deputy PM Khai and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has a meeting, at which Khai affirmed the Vietnam sees Japan as a top and long-term important partner and wishes for two sides to beef up the implementation of their comprehensive strategic partnership as well as the common perceptions between PM Pham Minh Chinh and his Japanese counterpart.

Khai also conveyed PM Chinhs invitation for PM Kishida to visit Vietnam soon.

The Japanese leader thanked and highly appreciated Vietnams participation and contributions to the 29th Future of Asia Forum, where deputy PM Khai delivered an important speech on Thursday.

PM Kishida pledged to continue promoting the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership more substantively and effectively in all fields in the coming time.

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The Sydney Morning Herald has now taken a deeper dive into allegations around former Nine News boss Darren Wick following bombshell claims in media last week.

It refers to alleged behaviour as an open secret for more than a decade -despite the fact it only reported such after other media headlines.

SMH quoted three women recalling allegations of inappropriate behaviour at workplace events, Logies, Christmas parties -none went on the record.

In January, the network received a formal complaint about Wick relating to a historical incident. It is understood that three executives were aware of the complaint, one of which was chief executive Mike Sneesby.

Wick was reportedly asked to step aside while an external review was conducted into the complaint.

During this time Nine sources told media Wick was taking a break but would return.

Months stretched on with no word from Wick and no decision about his future.

The allegation could not be substantiated due to the complainant declining to be interviewed, but Nine management ultimately decided there was no way back for Wick, who had previously being over the limit drink-driving, following a staff function.

He departed in March, citing the need for a break in an email to staff sent forwarded to media at 6:45pm on a Friday night, when the Quill Awards were underway in Melbourne.

The complainant is now said to be taking legal action against the network.

Last week CEO Mike Sneesby sent an all-staff email encouraging staff to report inappropriate behaviour in the workplace.

But SMH notes Sneesbys email landed badly in the newsroom, with many women angry at what they claim is management expressing their shock at the recent allegations despite the inappropriate behaviour being widely known. Staff were also upset at managements failure to be upfront about the reasons for Wicks departure in March.

Theyve played us all for fools, pretending that there was no issue and that hes just on holiday, one unnamed television employee said. She said that while his appalling behaviour had been there for all to see for years, they certainly didnt do anything to stop it, or they just brushed it off as Its just Wicky.

Indeed the Daily Telegraph reported four of Nines most high-profile operators protected one another at all costs, allowing allegations of inappropriate behaviour to go unchecked for years. No names were published.

It also stated Wick was calling in to the newsroom for daily ratings updates and to be across operations as recently as last week and is still on the books, being paid, until June.

On Friday Nine appointed ACAs Fiona Dear (not inferred to be one of the quartet) to the top role, now oveerseeing news and current affairs.
Australian made adult drama fell from 570 to 300 broadcast hours between 1999 and 2023, according to a new report, and childrens drama more than halved, from 106 to 51 hours.

QUTs report Australian Television Dramas Uncertain Future: How Cultural Policy is Failing Australians found that the primary beneficiaries of broadcasting and screen production policy reform have been industry interests, not the Australian community.

The demise of Australian television drama is a direct consequence of a failure to adopt policies for contemporary conditions and the blurring of cultural and economic policy priorities.

It claims many of the few remaining dramas today are not made for an Australian audience.

Instead, they are commissioned by services targeting global markets.

Australian TV drama hours, 19992023

For example, Wolf Like Me (Stan, 2022-) is a romantic comedy about two Americans set in Adelaide and Lie With Me (Network 10, 2021) is an adultery thriller set in Melbourne where a couple has recently moved from the UK, the report stated.

Others yet are shot in Australia but set in other places, for example, Clickbait (Netflix, 2021) and Nine Perfect Strangers (Prime Video, 2021-).

These series receive as much as 30% of their spending back in government rebates. Streaming services may be spending more per hour but their lack of meaningful engagement with any aspect of Australian society raises the question of what value the Australian community receives.

It also suggested the push for streaming quotas should not be the only focus for safeguarding of Australian stories.

Those efforts have been stymied by the lack of clear objectives. Policy solutions may include streamers, but the purpose of policy needs to be established first, it said.

It recommended four interventions :

Cultural specificity, access, and diversity should be key objectives of cultural policy for the Australian screen sector. To that end, funding to ensure Australians have access to 5075 hours of new, varied, culturally specific drama per year must be established.

Cultural specificity, access, and diversity should be key objectives of cultural policy for the Australian screen sector. To that end, funding to ensure Australians have access to 5075 hours of new, varied, culturally specific drama per year must be established.

Culturally specific drama provides compelling accounts of the Australian experience in all its diversity.

It offers Australians ways to understand their place in the world, relationships among Australians, and the challenges we face, as in dramas such as Redfern Now (ABC, 201213), Gallipoli (Nine, 2015), The Family Law (SBS, 201619), Total Control (ABC, 201924), New Gold Mountain (SBS, 2021), Fires (ABC, 2021), The Newsreader (ABC, 2021), RFDS (Seven, 2021), In Our Blood (ABC, 2023), Safe Home (SBS, 2023), House of Gods (ABC, 2024), and Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix, 2024).

To be clear, this is not a call for stories with kangaroos, koalas, accents and Australian landmarks, it said.

Much like how Mr Bates vs The Post Office (ITV, 2024) recently galvanised viewers in the UK in

understanding a great injustice in their society, supports for dramatic examinations of Australian crises such as Robodebt, epidemic levels of domestic violence, and accounts of ongoing struggles of cohesion in a migrant and colonialist nation deliver crucial social understanding but are often dismissed as lacking international or commercial viability.

Titles receiving supports intended to deliver social and cultural value to the Australian community must be accessible to all. This could be achieved through ensuring there is a non-paywalled distribution window. Titles can also be licensed to paid services, as this makes it easier for some Australians to find and view, or be sold abroad.

As an objective, accessibility demands prioritising the Australian communitys ability to watch these dramas, not industrial strategies of exclusivity and scarcity. There are multiple routes by which this can be achieved, though the most efficient is to resource Australias public service broadcasters.

The provision of culturally specific drama that reflects Australian society in all its diversity aligns with both the ABCs and SBSs charter obligations, with both services being widely accessible.

The ABC and SBS are key cultural institutions that should be central to delivering screen drama cultural objectives.

The ABC and SBS require resourcing dedicated to this mission given they are the only institutions aligned to serving Australians and prioritising accessibility and diversity. The free-to-air availability of these broadcasters, combined with their established free-to-access, on-demand infrastructure is important given the accessibility challenges of the contemporary ecosystem, the report stated.

Just as founding frameworks such as the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 warrant updating for the profoundly changed conditions, so too does the ABC Charter require modernisation to acknowledge its expanded duties given the erosion of commercial broadcasters contribution to Australian society.

Crucially, policy that requires public service broadcasters to ensure culturally specific, accessible, and diverse screen stories must guarantee dedicated funding and expectations for drama objectives.

Enforce prosocial obligations and/or fees on entities using broadcast spectrum.

Reducing commercial broadcaster obligations over recent decades has been disastrous for the

Australian community in terms of their access to freely available Australian drama. Current conditions in which commercial broadcasters access public spectrum with minimal corresponding public responsibility must be rectified, it continued.

Reinstating drama quotas is not effective policy, but broadcasters should contribute funds that support cultural policy in lieu, such as through contributions to a fund that could support the hours of culturally specific drama called for here.

Clarity is need regarding the cultural objectives of the producer offset and Screen Australia. Ideally social and cultural aims should be separated from economic development.
Tauseef Ahmad, TwoCircles.net

Srinagar: At a time when technology connects people from every corner of the world, the unique floating post office in the serene waters of Dal Lake in Kashmir stands as a remarkable testament to traditional methods of communication.

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The post office continues to bridge the gap between modernity and heritage. It allows locals, tourists alike the charm and experience of handwritten letters.

Every year, lakhs of tourists from around the globe visit Kashmir to witness its beauty, lush green forests, snow-capped mountains and beautiful lakes.

Built in the colonial era nearly two centuries ago, the floating post office in Dal Lake delivers letters on a daily basis. Until 2011, it was known as the Nehru Post Office.

In todays world where we are only a click away from our near and dear ones, writing a letter to someone has different emotions  which the young generation is completely unaware of, Gulzar Ahmad, 65, a local resident of Srinagar told TwoCircles.net.

He also said they have shifted to e-mails and other mediums of communication, but the joy of receiving a letter is something that digital technology cannot fulfil.

The unique concept of a floating post office, which is housed in houseboats, attracts everyone who visits Dal Lake. It takes us back to the era when we waited for days to receive a letter from our friend or relatives, Nadir, a tourist from Gujarat, said.

Tradition of delivering letters

The postman, who delivers around 30-40 letters every day, explained, Before digitalisation, we used to see postmen on bicycles delivering letters, but distributing letters through the Shikara (a traditional boat) is unique and does not happen anywhere in the world.

He also said these days when post offices across the country have limited functions, this floating post office delivers hundreds of letters every day.

A heritage and symbol

Kashmir valley from centuries has had a rich cultural heritage, which attracts tourists across the globe.

The post office has a unique and distinctive stamp, featuring a Shikara and a boatman. It makes each letter unique and memorable to everyone, he said.

A tourist said he has travelled to several countries, but the floating post office catches everyones attention. I have seen this on Google, but watching it live is altogether a different experience, he said.

Though he never wrote a letter to anyone, he said, writing one from this post office forced him to describe the scenic beauty of Dal Lake. I will definitely visit here again with my whole family, he said.

It is not only the post office, which has served people for centuries with its unique service, it has a long history that symbolizes the blend of tradition and modernity of Kashmir. It is a postal marvel, which still disseminates the emotions of thousands of people, said a boatman.
By Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI (Reuters) -China ended two days of war games around Taiwan in which it simulated attacks with bombers and practiced boarding ships, exercises that Taiwan condemned as "blatant provocation" on Saturday, detailing a surge of Chinese warplanes and warships.

Chinese state television's military channel said late on Friday the drills had concluded. A commentary in the official People's Liberation Army Daily said they had lasted for two days from Thursday to Friday, as previously announced.

China's defence ministry did not answer calls seeking comment on Saturday.

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, launched the "Joint Sword - 2024A" exercises three days after Lai Ching-te became Taiwan's president, a man Beijing calls a "separatist".

Beijing said the exercises were "punishment" for Lai's Monday inauguration speech, in which he said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were "not subordinate to each other", which China viewed as a declaration the two are separate countries.

Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. Taiwan's government has condemned the drills, saying it will not be cowed by Chinese pressure.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 62 Chinese military aircraft and 27 navy ships on Friday, including 46 planes that crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, which previously served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides.

Chinese aircraft, including advanced Su-30 fighters and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, flew in the strait as well as into the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan from the Philippines, the ministry said.

On Friday it published footage taken by Taiwanese air force planes of a Chinese J-16 fighter and an H-6 but did not say exactly where it was taken.

Taiwan's presidential office on Saturday that China's military moves had undermined the peaceful and stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

They "also constitute a blatant provocation to the international order, and have aroused serious concern and condemnation from the international community", it said in a statement.

'COMBAT CAPABILITIES'

Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo returned what his ministry called the war operations centre to normal status on Saturday, calling on personnel to "continue to grow their actual combat capabilities".

Koo, like Lai, took office on Monday, having previously headed Taiwan's National Security Council.

The Chinese military's Eastern Theatre Command, whose forces carried out the drills, released a video on its social media accounts on Saturday called "A six-word rhyme on smashing independence", set to stirring martial music.

The words "advance, surround, lock-down, attack, destroy and cut-off" flash up over footage of fighters, bombers, soldiers and animated mock missile attacks on Taiwan.

China has over the past four years regularly staged military activities around Taiwan, including large-scale war games in 2022 and in 2023.

However, senior Taiwan lawmaker Wang Ting-yu from Lai's Democratic Progressive Party said the latest drills appeared to be more about China making a noise than upping the ante, given it had to respond to Lai's speech.

"They were comparatively more restrained than previous ones," Wang, who chairs parliament's defence and foreign affairs committee, said on social media.

Still, China has kept up a barrage of invective against Lai.

The People's Liberation Army Daily commentary, published as "the voice of the military", said Lai was determined to act as a "pawn" for external forces to curb China's development.

"If Taiwan independence separatist forces insist on going their own way or even take risks, the PLA will obey orders and take decisive action to resolutely smash all separatist plots," it said.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by William Mallard)
STRESA, ITALY (Reuters) - Finance ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have agreed on further financing for Ukraine but have not yet agreed on the details, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Saturday.

The G7 countries are now working on next year's financing plan for Kyiv as this year's financing has been successful, Lindner added.

"We are not yet ready to find further and clear measures to finance Ukraine. But this is now a topic of intensive work," Lindner told journalists on the sidelines of the meeting of G7 finance chiefs in the northern Italian town of Stresa.

(Reporting by Christian Kraemer; Editing by Gareth Jones)
By Layli Foroudi and Juliette Jabkhiro

PARIS (Reuters) -In 2018, a year after becoming France's president, Emmanuel Macron flew to the remote French-ruled Pacific island of New Caledonia to outline his latest foreign policy plan.

With China's regional ambitions growing, a new Indo-Pacific strategy was needed to prevent it from becoming hegemonic, he said. New Caledonia would be a key French anchor of that plan.

"I believe in the future of this territory, and I believe in the place that this territory occupies in a broader strategy," he said. "The Indo-Pacific is at the heart of the French project."

Six years later, Macron's Indo-Pacific aspirations are facing their toughest test yet after days of deadly unrest on New Caledonia. At least seven people have died in protests against a constitutional amendment that would expand New Caledonia's electorate to include recent French arrivals. Some indigenous Kanaks believe the change will dilute their vote.

Macron reacted with a firm hand, dispatching 3,000 security officers to quell unrest that he called "an unprecedented insurrection". Although he delayed ratifying the voting reform to reach a settlement, he said the measure has "democratic legitimacy". He also appeared to extinguish some islanders' hopes of independence, saying the results of a disputed 2021 referendum, in which an overwhelming majority on New Caledonia voted to remain French, were valid.

Aides and experts said Macron's tough stance underlines his commitment to a doctrine that gives France a foothold in a geopolitically important region where the United States and China are jostling for power.

New Caledonia "sustains France's role as a great power in the world," said Denise Fisher, Australia's former consul-general on the island. It is one of five French island territories across the Indo-Pacific, a "string of pearls" that bolsters Paris' claim to have the world's second largest exclusive economic zone, largely thanks to its maritime control of waters around those islands, Fisher said.

Set in the warm waters of the southwest Pacific, some 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Australia, New Caledonia is home to 270,000 people, including 41% Melanesian Kanak and 24% of European origin, mostly French.

The protests are the latest flashpoint in a decades-long tussle over France's role in the island. Named by British explorer Captain James Cook in 1774, New Caledonia was colonised by France in 1853 and became an overseas territory in 1946.

Tensions between the indigenous Kanaks and Paris erupted into violent conflicts in the 1970s, and rumbled along until they were finally settled in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which outlined a path to gradual autonomy via three referendums.

In all three, independence was rejected. However, many Kanaks refused to participate in the 2021 vote due to health concerns during the COVID pandemic, leaving lingering resentment over the result.

This month's protests, which came as lawmakers in Paris passed the voting reform, have left a trail of burned buildings, barricaded roads and looted businesses.

Brenda Wanabo, a spokeswoman for the Field Action Coordination Cell (CCAT) which helped organize the protests, said Paris was particularly interested in New Caledonia's nickel. The island is the world's No.3 miner of a metal used in electric vehicle batteries, but the sector has been struggling for years and required bailouts from the French government.

She accused Macron of ramming through the 2021 referendum and criticized the planned change to voting eligibility as having been cooked up between Paris and local lawmakers.

"We see that the state has become biased since Macron came to power," she said.

Macron's office did not respond to a request for comment.

FRANCE'S GLOBAL REACH

France's Indo-Pacific territories give it bragging rights over its European Union peers. It is the only EU country to have territories in the Indo-Pacific, which are home to over 1.6 million French citizens and 7,000 soldiers.

"This is something that others don't have," said a Macron aide.

The importance of these territories rose after the 2021 collapse of a multi-billion-dollar submarine deal between France and Australia, experts said. Australia scrapped its French order in favour of a U.S.-UK deal, enraging Paris and triggering an unprecedented diplomatic crisis.

The submarine deal, a cornerstone of Macron's 2018 Indo-Pacific strategy, would have deepened French military influence in the region. After its collapse, Paris sought to build deeper ties with Pacific nations. France and Japan agreed this month to start formal talks on a reciprocal troop access deal, which would create frameworks to facilitate military cooperation.

Rene Dosiere, a former socialist lawmaker who was one of the architects of 1998 Noumea Accord, said that despite its geopolitical interest, Paris showed little day-to-day concern for the island.

"I don't see the interest, apart from the fact that it's a former colony," he said. Macron's interest in New Caledonia, he said, stemmed from a "desire to have a territory that allows you to say, 'The sun never sets on the French empire.'"

(Additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau, John Irish and Kirsty NeedhamWriting by Gabriel StargardterEditing by Frances Kerry)
ICJ orders Occupation to halt Rafah invasion, Israel adamant

In a historic and timely order, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Friday May 24, 2024 ordered the Israeli Occupation Forces to immediately stop its military offensive in Rafah  part of the Gaza City left the only home for over 1.5 million Palestinians

Saturday May 25, 2024 11:21 AM , ummid.com News Network

The Hague: In a historic and timely order, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Friday May 24, 2024 ordered the Israeli Occupation Forces to immediately stop its military offensive in Rafah  part of the Gaza City left the only home for over 1.5 million Palestinians.

Immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, the ICJ order voted 13 to 02 and delivered by its President Nawaf Salam said.

The ICJ order was in response to a petition filed by South Africa and demand from the ICJ to order explicitly the Zionists to stope their brutal military aggression against the Palestinians.

This is the third and strictest order by the ICJ in since January this year against the far right Zionist government in Israel.

SA v Israel at ICJ

South Africa had filed in December 2023 a petition at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel accusing it of committing genocide of the Palestinians and violating Genocide Convention.

Following two days of hearing, the ICJ on January 26, 2024 announced provisional measures, urging Israel to announce immediate ceasefire in Gaza and allowing humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.

South Africa approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) again after Israel ignored the UN courts order and continued with the massacre and indiscriminate killing of civilians, including women and children.

Following this, the ICJ announced additional measures in March 2024 , asking Israel to implement on ground its order announced in January.

The far right government in Israel however ignored the ICJ and now plans to invade Rafah  part of the Gaza Strip where Israeli Occupation Forces themselves had asked the Palestinians to shift after the current war began in October last.

Alarmed by the Israeli plan to attack the only safe zone left for the Palestinians in Gaza, South Africa on May 10, 2024 approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the 3rd time and sought its intervention to stop Israeli plan to ransack Rafah.

During the first day of the two-day hearing at the ICJ based in The Hague Thursday, Adila Hassim, one of the attorneys representing South Africa, asked the ICJ to make explicit what was made implicit in its earlier order.

In its latest order pronounced Friday, the ICJ said the State of Israel must conform with its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and in view of the worsening conditions of life faced by civilians in the Rafah Governorate.

The court emphasised that the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip which, as stated in its order of January 26, 2024, was at serious risk of deteriorating, has deteriorated. It has done so even further since the ICJ adopted its order of March 28, it noted.

The court said that 13 judges ordered the provisional measures indicated in the courts orders of January 26 and March 28 be immediately and effectively implemented.

The UN Court said that Israel should immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah and open the Rafah crossing for unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance.

Israel Adamant



The Zionists regime however remains adamant and refused to follow the ICJ order to stop its brutal war against the Palestinians.

Calling the International Court of Justice (ICJ) binding order to stop its assault on Rafah outrageous, morally repugnant and disgusting, Israel said accusations that it is committing genocide in Gaza are false.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks and troops are advancing into Rafahs southeast and are moving towards the citys densely populated western district.





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HA NOI  More support is needed to attract investors into the development of social housing to rent to low-income workers.

Currently, demand for social housing is very high, especially in urban areas, big cities and provinces with high industrialisation rates. But some projects are unoccupied despite the shortage of social housing, due to workers' lack of financial ability and the fact that many do not need to buy their own home.

Most workers rent instead of owning their houses, as they either can't afford to  or do not need to  purchase properties.

According to a survey conducted by the HCM City Labour Confederation, about 60 per cent of surveyed workers only require rental housing, paying around VN1.5 million per month.

The workers also said that they plan to work for 10 to 15 years in localities before returning to their homes outside of urban centres.

Experts said that low-income workers need to rent social housing instead of owning houses for the long term. One proposed solution is to build more social housing projects for rent. This requires more supportive policies to attract more investors into the rental housing segment.

A project to construct 244 rental apartments in Ha Nam province is currently drawing interest from workers looking to rent homes.

Economic expert inh Trong Thinh said that social housing projects like the one in Ha Nam are promising.

Property developers could learn lessons from this project to build more social housing to meet the needs of workers, he said.

However, investors are not interested in building rental housing for workers and low-income people, because even developing social housing projects for sale is unattractive for them, according to Thinh.

Tran Khanh Quang, General Director of Viet An Hoa Real Estate Company, said that there are not many businesses developing social housing projects because of problems in administrative procedures or low profits.

Therefore, according to Quang, new policies are necessary to incentivise developing social housing both for rent and for sale.

Le Huu Nghia, General Director of Le Thanh Production and Trading Company Ltd., said that for social housing  and particularly in the rental segment  incentives from the State play a decisive role.

Low profits from developing social housing do not encourage businesses to invest in this segment. Administrative procedures are also big problems for the businesses, Nghia said.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam has made efforts to build a domestic automobile industry, replace imports, and eventually become an auto exporter. However, the young industry faces many challenges, especially in implementing free trade agreements (FTAs), according to the editor-in-chief of Customs Newspaper Vu Thi Anh Hong.

Hong was speaking during a forum held by the newspaper to discuss how Viet Nam's automobile industry is developing in light of the FTAs.

The government has issued various tax and fee incentives to support the development of a domestic car industry:

Zero per cent preferential import tax on components imported for domestic automobile production and assembly (2018-2027).

Tax incentives for the automobile support industry (2020-2024) to ensure the supply of components.

Reduced special consumption tax rates for battery-powered vehicles compared to gasoline/diesel vehicles.

Extended deadline for paying special consumption tax on domestically produced/assembled cars until the end of 2023.

50% reduction in vehicle registration fees for domestically produced/assembled cars (2020-2023, with consideration for 2024).

Other incentives on corporate income tax and land use for the automobile industry.

These government policies aim to promote the growth and competitiveness of domestic automobile manufacturing and supporting industries.

Hong also highlighted the crucial role of customs in facilitating import and export activities, particularly in the automotive industry. By modernising administrative procedures and offering tax incentives, customs aim to create a conducive environment for businesses involved in importing components, raw materials and supplies for automotive production.

She underscored the collaborative efforts between customs and businesses to foster a favorable environment for automotive production and trade, ultimately contributing to the growth and development of the industry.

According to participants, the development of the automobile industry is indeed multifaceted and requires a comprehensive approach beyond just tax incentives. Experts point out various aspects that need attention, such as credit availability, technology levels, technical content, technology transfer, intellectual property costs quality standards, and environmental sustainability.

Nguyen Anh Tuyet, a representative of the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association (VAMA), said the country has participated in and signed 17 FTAs, many of which include commitments related to completely built-up units (CBU) and roadmaps for cutting import tariffs on CBUs to 0%. She cited the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), the UK - Vietnam FTA, the EU - Vietnam FTA (EVFTA), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as typical examples."This is a huge opportunity for the auto market to diversify products and bring more choices to Vietnamese consumers, Tuyet said.

She went on to say that right after Vietnam committed to abolish import and export tariffs on goods from ASEAN countries, many domestically produced products are unable to compete with rivals from regional countries such as Thailand or Indonesia.Under the EVFTA, Tuyet went on, the tariff on CBUs imported from the EU will decrease by about 6.4% annually over 10 years. In 2024, it stands at 38.1% and is expected to drop to 0% in 2030.This also puts more pressure on Vietnamese automobile manufacturers when they seek ways to maintain production and market shares in the segments they are present in, the VAMA representative said.

Viet Nam's automobile industry faces stiff competition from regional counterparts like Thailand, Indonesia and China, which have enjoyed a head start in technology and labour development, leading to lower production costs. This competition is further intensified by the implementation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), which can potentially put pressure on a local automotive industry if it fails to develop sustainably and implement appropriate strategies.

Le Huy Khoi, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Strategy and Policy for Industry and Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that with quite strong commitments on automobiles, components and spare parts, especially the tariff-related ones, the EVFTA is believed to have a strong impact on Vietnam's automobile industry.

Accordingly, there will be more opportunities to import quality and high-tech cars, spare parts, and components from the EU at lower prices, helping cut production costs and increase vehicles' competitiveness. Besides, Vietnam has chances to export auto and motorbike spare parts and components that it can produce. It can also become investment partners or component suppliers for EU investors who seek to tap into the local and regional markets, he opined.

To address these challenges, Viet Nam has devised a long-term strategic framework for the automobile industry, as outlined in policies such as the 'Strategy for developing domestic automobile industry to 2025, vision to 2045' and subsequent decisions and decrees.

The implementation of tariff reductions under FTAs like the EVFTA and CPTPP will significantly impact the Vietnamese automobile industry.

The effectiveness of government policies and support measures, including those from relevant ministries and branches, in creating favourable and timely conditions for the industry is crucial. Moreover, domestic automobile manufacturers and assemblers need to make concerted efforts to enhance their competitiveness and resilience in the face of global market dynamics and trade agreements.

In discussions among experts, managers and industry stakeholders, key topics should include assessing the current status of Viet Nam's automobile industry development strategy, identifying strengths and weaknesses, pinpointing bottlenecks and formulating solutions to propel industry growth within the framework of free trade agreements. - VNS
HA NOI  The National Competition Commission under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has received 1,567 complaints from consumers last year.

The commission reports that 5.5 per cent of the complaints were related to e-commerce.

Common problems include poor quality and quantity of goods, unsatisfactory shipping services, failure to compensate or return products, misleading advertising and false information.

The main affected groups are children, the elderly, and people living in rural, highland, and remote areas.

The MoIT has proactively co-ordinated closely with e-commerce platforms to promptly detect and support the handling of problems arising on the platforms.

Through the co-ordination mechanism, the ministry discovered and handled many large-scale cases of fraudulent goods, counterfeit goods, and goods of unknown origin offered for sale in cyberspace; promptly request e-commerce platforms to adjust and remove information with misleading content that can negatively impact consumers.

In the coming time, the ministry will strengthen inspection activities, promptly detect and strictly handle violations in the e-commerce environment.

During the process of handling violations, problems related to handle mechanisms and governing legal regulations will continue to be reviewed and evaluated to propose to competent authorities to continue improving and enhancing legal effectiveness.

At the same time, it will also strengthen communication to raise awareness of consumers, the business community and the whole society in building and developing a healthy and sustainable e-commerce environment.  VNS
HCM CITY National heroes and events from Vietnamese history are featured in a series of new animated films by the Viet Nam Cartoon Company (VNCC).

Highlighted works include inh Tien Hoang e (Emperor inh Tien Hoang), Anh Hung Nui Tan (The Legend) and Tieng Cong Nui Nua (The Gong of Nua Mountain).

They feature honesty, bravery and patriotism. Traditional culture and lifestyles are also included.

The VNCC is working with film distributors and cinemas to release its new productions nationwide this summer.

We have produced films long enough (25-30 minutes) to be shown in cinemas, said Pham Ngoc Tuan, general director of the VNCC. We will also offer free screening to serve poor children, teenagers and those living in rural and remote areas.

The 25-minute Emperor inh Tien Hoang, a 2D production with visual effects through paper-cutting, features the life and services to the nation of Emperor inh Tien Hoang (924-979).

inh Tien Hoang, born inh Bo Linh, was born in Ninh Binh Province.

He is renowned for his success in conquering twelve rebellious military groups, unifying the nation.

In 968, he ascended the throne, becoming the first emperor of Viet Nam after about a thousand years under Chinese domination. He adopted the national title ai Co Viet and relocated the capital to Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh.

Two 30-minute 3D animations titled Tieng Cong Nui Nua and Anh Hung Nui Tan are made by hand-drawings and paintings.

Tieng Cong Nui Nua tells the story of national heroine Trieu Thi Trinh, who is known as Ba Trieu (Lady Trieu) of Thanh Hoa Province (225-248).

Ba Trieu rode into battle on an elephant, wearing a golden tunic, leading her insurgent army against the Chinese occupiers.

Anh Hung Nui Tan is an epic about the battle between Son Tinh (Mountain God) and Thuy Tinh (Water God).

The film is based on Vietnamese fairy tales and explaining the origin of storms and floods, and highlights the will and intelligence of the Vietnamese who battled natural disasters thousands of years ago.

Thuy Tinh creates rain, thunder, wind and floods to defeat Son Tinh. Lands, crops, houses and people are destroyed.

Son Tinh uses his magic to transform mountains into great walls and to guide people to build dykes. The battle ends after a couple of days, with Son Tinh the winner.

Since our filming began last year, we have received several hundred comments and letters from Vietnamese fans at home and abroad who shared their support for our business, said Vu Duy Khanh, the films director and painter of Tieng Cong Nui Nua.

According to VNCC director Tuan, his company has invested in films based on Vietnamese history and fairy tales and have released them on YouTube to attract children and young audiences.

I think animated films shown on social media will help lure youngsters back to Vietnamese animations, he said.

The VNCC produces around 16 animated films per year, and some productions have been released on YouTube, attracting hundreds of thousands of views. VNS
TOKYO  Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on May 25 received leaders of Japans Gunma Prefecture, Idemitsu Group, and Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd. (MOECO), as part of his trip to Japan to attend the 29th Future of Asia Forum in Tokyo.

Receiving Governor of Gunma Yamamoto Ichita, Khai encouraged the prefecture to continue promoting investment made by its business community in Vietnam, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, high-tech agriculture, and tourism.

He suggested Gunma collaborate with Vietnamese localities, including the northern province of Ha Nam, engage in joint human resource training projects, expand acceptance of Vietnamese apprentices and workers, and support nearly 15,000 Vietnamese living, studying, and working in the prefecture.

For his part, the governor said that Gunma has the highest proportion of Vietnamese residents among Japanese prefectures and praised their contributions to the local economy and society.

He pledged to advance related commitments, memoranda of understanding, and cooperation agreements to strengthen the prefectures friendly and cooperative relations with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities.

Investment from Gunma businesses in Vietnam currently exceeds 8 billion JPY (approximately US$60 million). As planned, the governor will lead a business delegation to Vietnam this year, with a focus on the countrys IT and digital transformation areas.

At his meeting with Executive Vice President of Idemitsu Sakai Noriaki, the Deputy PM commended the groups investment and cooperation efforts in Vietnam, particularly its role in the Nghi Son refinery and petrochemical (NSRP) project.

He encouraged Idemitsu to expand its business activities in Vietnam, especially in energy transition and technology transfer to help Vietnamese enterprises integrate more deeply into regional and global supply chains.

The Japanese business leader stated that Vietnam is Idemitsus largest investment destination globally, with ventures in seven fields. He confirmed that the group will continue to expand its operations in the country and work closely with the National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) and other stakeholders to ensure the effective and stable operation of the NSRP project, benefiting all parties involved.

At his meeting with MOECO President and CEO Harada Hidenori, the Deputy PM urged the company to scale up its capital channeled into Vietnam to match its financial capacity and technological expertise. He also called for increased cooperation and technology transfer.

Expressing his satisfaction with MOECOs involvement in big energy projects in Vietnam, such as the Block B - O Mon gas project and the O Mon 3 thermal power plant, Harada assured that MOECO will continue to team up with Petrovietnam and relevant ministries to expedite the projects, ensuring their timely, high-quality, and effective completions. - VNS
HA NOI A Vietnamese official underlined the countrys wish to further reinforce multifaceted ties with Africa while addressing a celebration of the Africa Day (May 25) in Hanoi on May 24.

The event, organised by the African countries embassies in Vietnam, saw the presence of Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu; representatives of the embassies of Egypt, Algeria, Angola, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa and Nigeria; along with officials from the diplomatic corps in Hanoi and many Vietnamese ministries and sectors.

In his remarks, Vu highlighted the historical significance of the Africa Day, which honours the African countries unyielding and enduring spirit of struggling for national liberation in the past, as well as their progress and achievements in the building of a peaceful and prosperous continent nowadays.

Vietnam highly values the stature and prestige of the African Union (AU) in the continents political-security, economic, and social life. It wishes to congratulate African people, under the AUs leadership, on having obtained many enormous development attainments recognised by the United Nations and the international community as seen in the AUs permanent membership of the Group of 20 (G20), he noted.

He voiced his belief that thanks to the countries strong implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa will soon become a dynamic development hub of the world.

The official affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and hopes to further intensify multifaceted relations with Africa, at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

Vietnam became an observer of the AU in December 2023 and has practically contributed to the initial achievements of the AUs Agenda 2063 with the vision of An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

Bilateral trade posted impressive year-on-year growth of 8.9% to 8.92 billion USD in 2023 despite difficulties in Vietnams trade with the world, according to Vu.

Moroccan Ambassador to Vietnam Jamale Chouaibi, head of the group of African countries ambassadors in Hanoi, said Africa is emerging and undergoing economic and systematic transition with the ultimate goal of ensuring a just and sustainable future. As a growth powerhouse of the world and a land of opportunities, it is actively cooperating with partners to secure sustainable economic development, despite considerable difficulties relating to political instability, climate change, and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic facing the world.

He held that with Vietnams strengths and experience along with Africas demand and great natural advantages, the two sides boast much cooperation potential, particularly in the fields of food security, health care and energy, to work towards a prosperous and cohesive world./.
NEW YORK  The Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the United Nations held a ceremony in New York on May 24 to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers and 10 years of the countrys participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Addressing the event, Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, head of the mission, reviewed the development of and contributions by UN peacekeeping forces over the last 76 years to maintaining peace and security and creating a favourable environment for sustainable development in many regions worldwide.

He also pointed out difficulties and challenges to peacekeeping operations at present, especially the complex developments and increasing geopolitical competition and conflicts around the globe.

Congratulating military and public security officers performing peacekeeping duties at the UN missions and headquarters on this occasion, he emphasised that Viet Nam's peacekeeping force is relatively young but has made significant contributions to international peacekeeping activities over the last 10 years, winning the high evaluation from UN leaders as well as the administrations and people in the host countries.

The result evidences the Party and States right policy of sending Vietnamese personnel to UN peacekeeping operations since June 2014, helping to successfully carry out the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, and being a responsible and active member of the UN and the international community, Giang said.

The ambassador attributed the successful implementation of the policy on taking part in peacekeeping operations to the support and directions from the top Party and State leaders, along with the close coordination from relevant agencies, especially the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In particular, the efforts, sacrifice, mettle, and creativity of the units and individuals directly performing duties have helped spread the images and value of the Viet Nam Peoples Armed Forces, he added.

On behalf of the Vietnamese officers working at the UN, Military Attache Colonel Nguyen uc Quan pledged to continue efforts to properly fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party and State.

At the ceremony, participants also held a minute of silence in commemoration of UN peacekeepers who fell down while performing duties, including Lieutenant Colonel o Anh of the Viet Nam Peoples Army.

On May 29, 1948, the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) was officially deployed to maintain the enforcement of a truce between Israel and Arab countries. Since then, May 29 became the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

For the last 76 years, over 2 million peacekeepers from 125 states have served at 71 UN peacekeeping missions. More than 3,000 of them have died while on duty.

In the past decade, over 800 blue-beret officers of the Vietnamese army and public security forces have been sent to the UN missions in South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Abyei Area, the Department of Peace Operations at the UN headquarters, as well as the EUs peacekeeping force at the Central African Republic.  VNS
PHU THO  A master plan for the northern midlands and mountainous region has ambitious growth targets of an eight per cent growth rate, every year, between now and 2030.

The plan represents a significant step forward, embodying new mindsets and visions and demonstrating a proactive approach to development.

That message was delivered by Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Planning and Investment, at the region's coordination council conference on Friday.

He said the plan centres around addressing major inter-regional and inter-provincial issues and mobilising resources for rapid sustainable development, aiming to raise the area's Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) to between 7.5 and 8.0 per cent, GRDP per capita to between US$15,000 and $18,000 and the Human Development Index to more than 0.75.

The plan also covers topics including the preservation of cultural identities of local ethnic groups, human resource quality enhancement and talent retention and the promotion of culture-based tourism and agriculture.

Several measures have been put forward in the plan including building 'ecological corridors', strips of vegetation that link forests and ecological sites, improving forest quality and introducing new types of forest-linked services such as carbon sequestration.

It also underlines the significance of inter-regional infrastructure projects in improving NMMR's connectivity with other regions and countries, especially with Laos and China.

The high-speed rail projects connecting Lang Son-Ha Noi and Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh will be accelerated in that regard.

Under the plan, five 'economic corridors' and an 'economic cluster ' will also be established to strengthen the economic ties between provinces, namely Lao Cai-Yen Bai-Phu Tho-Ha Noi, Lang Son-Bac Giang-Ha Noi, ien Bien-Son La-Hoa Binh-Ha Noi, Ha Giang-Tuyen Quang-Phu Tho-Ha Noi, Cao Bang-Bac Kan-Thai Nguyen-Ha Noi and Bac-Giang-Thai Nguyen-Phu Tho.

The Minister called for close cooperation between local governments and the establishment of a robust mechanism to implement the plan.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the NMMR Coordination Council, acknowledged the challenges faced by the region, but applauded efforts of local governments in leveraging their strengths for development.

He also highlighted innovative approaches adopted by some local authorities, emphasising the need for wider adoption of such practices.

He noted that regional coordination initiatives, despite having been in place for some time, had not worked out as well as expected, due to NMMR's resource constraints, infrastructure deficiencies and weak links.

On those grounds, he urged the local authorities to focus on implementing the council-approved projects to accelerate the region's growth, especially those related to infrastructure development, climate change response and digital transformation.

The area is home to a diverse population of ethnic groups with unique cultural identities and a wealth of historical and cultural sites.

It also plays a crucial role in national water and environmental security and serves as the 'fence' of the northern gateway into Viet Nam.  VNS
HCM CITY  Vietnamese travel firms are preparing to send tour groups to Russia again starting in September after a pause due to the recent terrorist attack in Moscow.

Danh Nam Travel and six other Ha Noi firms are planning to send three groups whose tours were rescheduled after the attack on a theatre in March.

The firms said they have done a thorough safety assessment of tourist attractions in Russia to ensure the safety of customers.

Luu Thi Thu, deputy director of Hoang Viet Travel, said the tour prices remain unchanged.

The ease of obtaining e-visas and the improved quality of accommodation and food make Russian tours an attractive option, she said.

Popular destinations in the country include St. Petersburg, Moscow, Murmansk, Lovozero Tundras, and Teriberka.

Popular options include a 10-day tour of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and an 11-day tour of Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Kaliningrad.

Vietnam Airlines offers direct flights from HCM City and Ha Noi to Moscow, while Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines offer direct flights to Saint Petersburg.

An eight-day package tour, costing up to US$2,000, would explore the beautiful architecture and history of St. Petersburg and Moscow and take visitors to major attractions such as the Hermitage Museum and Red Square.

The attack on the concert hall was the deadliest in Russia in over two decades, resulting in the loss of over 130 lives.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.  VNS
The collaboration aims to deliver a Made in Vietnam educational product with Oxford international standard curriculums and gamified approach, integrating new technologies to cater for the high standard learning needs of Vietnamese and international students.

The cooperation is to materialise FPT ISs and OUPs commitment to providing international quality English teaching and learning programmes, as well as cutting-edge technology applications such as AI and VR/AR for pre-primary and elementary school students.

This is the first corporation model in Vietnam that expands opportunities to study Oxford-standard English through new technological platforms.

A signing ceremony for the agreement was witnessed by Iain Frew- British ambassador .

Signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between FPT IS and Oxford University Press

In their cooperation, OUP will provide standardised educational content sources, grant course evaluation certificates, and offer consulting support on educational content and quality management.

FPT IS will develop and integrate educational content into its Meduverse software, increase the adoption of emerging technologies, carry out the products technical operations, promote product growth, and boost product expansion to satisfy the demands of both Vietnamese and neighboring countries markets.

In the near future, Meduverse plans to incorporate the Family and Friends international second edition into the product's learning programme.

Family and Friends is one of Oxford University Press's best-selling series. The publication has now sold more than one million copies in Vietnam, and is widely used in the region, such as Thailand, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

Meduverse is an educational platform combined with a virtual universe developed by FPT. The combination of education and technology (AI, AR/VR) enables users to enjoy new and interesting VR activities while gaining useful knowledge.

Leveraging on the versatile contents in Meduverse, combined with an Oxford curriculum customised to align with Vietnams needs, the solution promises to help students to study in line with educational programmes through gamification tailored for each age group.

FPT IS plans to launch the Meduverse platform on mobile devices in the near future.

Cooperating to make Meduverse a pioneering platform for gamified English learning

The year 2023 was a very special year for bilateral relations between Vietnam and the UK, as we celebrated 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Our bilateral relations have truly transformed over the past half century. In particular, educational cooperation has become central to the relationship between the two countries, said the British ambassador at the event.

I highly expect that the two parties will combine their comprehensive potential in technology and education, co-creating digital education solutions that meet international standards to cater for the learning needs of Vietnamese and global students.

Sue Trory, global content director at OUP, expressed, FPT ISs sharing of their new steps and plans for revolutionising education through digital transformation really inspires me. The partnership between FPT IS and OUPs will mark an important milestone in educational cooperation, reflecting our shared vision of a future where technology and education converge to create world-class digital learning experiences. It will also actively equip Vietnamese students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the digital world.

On FPT IS's side, the synergy between the two parties is an important stepping stone for us to perfect our technological capacity in the education segment, realising our mission of co-creating digital transformation in key sectors of the country. We hope to fully apply technology to the creation of a new learning model, to improve the student experience, and raise the quality of education in Vietnam. The cooperation will aid in the realisation of our vision, making Meduverse the number one Edtech solution in Vietnam and one of the top 10 in Southeast Asia, said Tran Dang Hoa, chairman of FPT IS.

Students experience learning on Meduverse

The cooperation model between the FPT IS and OUP follows the educational technology (Edtech) trend that the world and Vietnam wish to keep up with.

Currently, Vietnam is in the top 10 countries with the fastest growth rate of Edtech platforms globally. Edtech in Vietnam is growing at an astonishing rate, reaching about 20.2 per cent per year from 2019-2023, according to Kepios DataReport 2022.

In 2023, OUP joined hands with FPT Schools on the Oxford Quality programme. The project's goal is to provide quality English teaching and learning programmes that follow Oxford international standards.

In addition, partners will be eligible to participate in the global Oxford Quality community with unique privileges.

OUP is a department of the UK-based University of Oxford, currently one of the largest university publishers in the world. OUP produces thousands of new publications in more than 100 languages annually.

The publishers offices are present in 50 countries, with approximately 5,000 employees worldwide.

Foreigners teaching English in Vietnam required to get training certificates The Ministry of Education and Training has just issued a decision promulgating a training and certificate granting programme for foreigners teaching English language at foreign language and information technology centres in Vietnam.

Businesses press for EPR guidelines Enterprises may be forced to deal with rising production costs in an attempt to comply with extended producer responsibility regulations without state support.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and State Fire Marshals Office have opened investigations into a training fire Sunday in Lacy Lakeview that melted siding on a home next door.

The Lacy Lakeview Volunteer Fire Department conducted a training burn Sunday morning at 218 Birch St., a house owned by City Manager Calvin Hodde since January.

Lacy Lakeview officials have said that when the heat from the flames at 218 Birch began to melt the vinyl siding on the home next door, the focus shifted from the training fire to preventing further damage to the home where John and Susan May have lived for 46 years. The Mays and their pets were able to get out safely, and despite the intense heat that even melted interior blinds, flames did not spread to their home.

The city takes responsibility and we will make it right, Lacy Lakeview Building Official Thomas Cardoza said Monday.

The TCEQ received a complaint Monday relating to unauthorized outdoor burning in Lacy Lakeview, commission spokesperson Laura Lopez said.

An investigation was conducted the following day which is currently ongoing, Lopez said by email Thursday. Additional information will be available upon approval of the investigation report.

The State Fire Marshals Office, at the requests of the Lacy Lakeview Police Department and a local resident, opened an investigation into the fire at 218 Birch St. in Lacy Lakeview, spokesperson Gardner Selby said.

McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens said the fire and damage to the Mays home likely does not meet the statutory definition of arson or any other criminal act. A civil law attorney could file a lawsuit to establish liability and seek damages though, Tetens said.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream usually draws customers with gourmet takes on classics like vanilla and pistachio. But occasionally, the artisanal ice cream maker headquartered in New York slips in what it calls a shock flavor, like Hidden Valley Ranch or pizza.

Surprising flavor combinations  think gravy-flavored Jones Soda or Sour Patch Kids Oreos  are showing up more frequently in grocery stores and restaurant chains.

Hershey recently introduced pink lemonade-flavored Kit Kats, while IHOP and Lays brought out Rooty Tooty Fresh n Fruity potato chips, designed to taste like strawberry-topped pancakes with a hint of bacon. In the United Kingdom, Little Moons made fish-and-chips mochi ice cream in 2021, while potato chip brand Walkers is known to celebrate Christmas with a Brussels sprout-flavored edition.

Usually, these are limited-time flavors, although occasionally they're so popular they wind up on store shelves permanently, as Lay's Flamin' Hot Dill Pickle chips did in 2019.

While it's tempting to pass them off as social media stunts, experts say theres more to the story. Food companies are responding to the changing and expanding tastes of consumers while also trying to keep brands relevant and distinct to win space on crowded store shelves.

Were in a really exciting time of flavor development where consumers are not just one thing. Youre not just a sour lover or a sweet lover. You want a little of this and a little of that, said Kristen Braun, the senior brand manager for Oreo innovation at Chicago-based food and beverage company Mondelez International. Companies are finding the freedom to explore a little bit more and get more creative.

Sour Patch Kids Oreos  vanilla cream-filled cookies speckled with colorful bites of the sour candies  are one of about a dozen limited-edition Oreo flavors that Mondelez plans to release this year. Braun said it takes the company one or two years to develop such products, which stay on shelves for about nine weeks. Shes already thinking ahead to future flavors that blur the lines between sweet, salty and spicy.

Oddball pairings arent entirely new in the food and beverage industry. Hubba Bubba released a bubble gum-flavored soda in the late 1980s, for example. But manufacturers and their suppliers have gotten more sophisticated and efficient, making it easier to experiment and put out limited editions more frequently, said Mark Lang, a food marketing expert and associate professor of marketing at the University of Tampa.

Kyle Shadix, who as the corporate executive research chef for PepsiCo, has worked on beverages like Pepsi Maple Syrup and a strawberry shortcake Pepsi sold in Japan, said the members of Generation Z are also fueling innovation. They're diverse, adventurous and pick up on food trends quickly through social media, he said.

They're every chef's dream to design for, said Shadix, who is currently experimenting a lot with Mexican, Korean and Japanese flavors. Gen Z is going to drive us faster. Were going to start to see even more exploration quicker than in the past because theyre just so open to it.

Toying with flavors can boost brands in several ways. Sometimes they bring new customers to a brand. They might also nudge buyers to pick up the original flavor, Russell Zwanka, director of the food marketing program at Western Michigan University, said.

Sour Patch Oreos sound interesting, but nobody wants to risk buying Oreos that dont taste good, so people buy both, Zwanka said.

When companies combine brands, they're trying to build an association in consumers' minds. Peeps-flavored Pepsi, which came out last year, sends the message that Pepsi is current and fun, Lang said. Mustard-flavored Skittles, which came out last summer, made the 104-year-old French's brand seem playful.

Enter Kraft Heinz, which approached Van Leeuwen Ice Cream a few years ago about macaroni and cheese-flavored ice cream. Ben Van Leeuwen, the companys co-founder and CEO, was doubtful at first but found that Krafts powder blended well with the Brooklyn-based company's ice cream.

Van Leeuwen's Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ice cream came out to rave reviews in 2021 and was re-released for a short time last fall.

We will only do a shock flavor if we can make it good and distinct. We will not do a shock flavor where its just shock in name but tastes like vanilla, Van Leeuwen said.

But novel flavor combinations dont always work. Van Leeuwen couldnt eat more than a few bites of his companys Hidden Valley Ranch ice cream, which contained onion and garlic powders. And shock flavors typically dont end up on the permanent menu because of their lower eat-ability, he said.

I think you would taste our mac and cheese and youd say, Oh, thats good, but do you want to take a pint of that mac and cheese from your freezer when youre watching whatever show on Netflix and eat the entire thing? Probably not, Van Leeuwen said.

Candy brand Brachs ran into that issue with its Turkey Dinner Candy Corn, a 2021 limited-edition version of the fall staple that tasted like turkey, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, apple pie and coffee. Katie Duffy, vice president and general manager of seasonal at Ferrara Candy Co., which owns Brach's, acknowledged there was a gross-out factor.

We have learned from consumers that we dont want to have something where they eat a few pieces of candy and then they toss it because theres some things that they dont want to repeat, Duffy said. We want it to be a delicious flavor journey.

Brachs recently introduced Easter Brunch-flavored jelly beans, and they hit that mark, she said. The candy beans mimicked the flavors of blueberry maple pancakes, chocolate doughnuts, caramel cold brew, cinnamon rolls, berry smoothies and mimosa cocktails.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been arrested after he allegedly told authorities he had been sexually assaulted.

Police arrested Joshua James Ehr, 30, for one count of misdemeanor false reports.

Court records allege Ehr called police around 8:25 p.m. on Wednesday saying he was sexually assaulted. When officers arrived, Ehr said no sexual assault occurred, records state.

This is the second time this year Ehr has been arrested for making similar claims. In March, he allegedly called police and named a person who allegedly sexually assaulted him. He later told police he made up the claim, records state.

Also in March, Ehr was arrested in a scuffle where he allegedly borrowed another persons cell phone at Hy-Vee on Logan Avenue, refused to return the phone and then claimed the person who loaned him the phone had attacked him.

In March 2022, Ehr was arrested for allegedly posting a Facebook comment in which he threatened to rape a woman and her children. When police approached him, he threatened to set an officer on fire, court records state.

Photos: Notable deaths in 2024 Glynis Johns Adan Canto Bud Harrelson Dejan Milojevic Jack Burke Mary Weiss Norman Jewison Charles Osgood Melanie Safka Chita Rivera Carl Weathers Wayne Kramer Ian Lavender Toby Keith Henry Fambrough Bob Edwards Don Gullett Lefty Driesell Andreas Brehme Golden Richards Richard Lewis Nikolai Ryzhkov Brian Mulroney Akira Toriyama Iris Apfel Andy Russell Ed Ott Chris Mortensen Steve Lawrence Naomi Barber King Paul Alexander Thomas P. Stafford Chris Simon M. Emmet Walsh Laurent de Brunhoff Obit Angelos Baseball Joe Lieberman Louis Gossett Jr. Joe Flaherty John Sinclair Larry Lucchino Christopher Durang Jerry Grote Schappell Twins Peter Higgs Ralph Puckett Jr. O.J. Simpson Eleanor Coppola Robert MacNeil Faith Ringgold Steve Sloan Ken Holtzman Carl Erskine Whitey Herzog Bob Graham Dickey Betts Mandisa David Pryor Roman Gabriel Andrew Davis Terry Anderson Bill Gladden Duane Eddy Paul Auster Dick Rutan Steve Albini Jimmy Johnson Sean Burroughs Roger Corman A.J. Smith David Sanborn Alice Munro Dabney Coleman Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Jim Otto Ivan Boesky Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek Carlie Colin Morgan Spurlock Richard M. Sherman Bill Walton Albert Ruddy Larry Allen Janis Paige Parnelli Jones Chet Walker The Rev. James Lawson Jr. Jerry West Ron Simons Bob Schul Willie Mays Donald Sutherland Bill Cobbs Kinky Friedman Martin Mull Robert Towne Vic Seixas James Inhofe Joe Bonsall Shelley Duvall Dr. Ruth Westheimer Richard Simmons Jacoby Jones Shannen Doherty James Sikking Pat Williams Lou Dobbs Bob Newhart Cheng Pei-Pei Abdul 'Duke' Fakir Bernice Johnson Reagon John Mayall Erica Ash Jack Russell Chi Chi Rodriguez Susan Wojcicki Frank Selvy Wally Amos Gena Rowlands Peter Marshall Alain Delon Phil Donahue Al Attles James Darren James Earl Jones Frankie Beverly Joe Schmidt Chad McQueen Tito Jackson JD Souther Dan Evans Mercury Morris Maggie Smith
While the US and its Asian allies fight China in the Pacific theater, NATO will fight the European theater against Russia.  kKEETON

***

I need you so that I could die

I love you so and that is why

Whenever I want you, all I have to do is

Dream, dream, dream, dream

Dream, dream, dream, dream

Dream, dream, dream, dream

Dream

Song by The Everly Brothers

I despise fools and that we seem helpless to stop idiots from destroying us and this wonderful world we live in

Dreams of Neo-Cons to relive WW2 as they induced it then

Let us find the bastard behind it all?

WtR
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (1824 May 2024)

From 18 May to 24 May 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 49 group strikes by high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles, which hit the enemy military airfield infrastructure, missiles, ammunition and fuel storages, and the production facilities for uncrewed surface vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

In addition, temporary deployment areas of the AFU mampower, foreign mercenaries and nationalist formations, as well as enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine were hit.

Over the past week, units of the Sever Group of Forces liberated Staritsa (Kharkov region) as a result of active actions and continued the advance to the depth of the enemy defence.

Servicemen of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of five brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and four territorial defence brigades.

Twenty three counter-attacks of assault groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled close to Glubokoye, Tikhoye, Liptsi, and Volchansk (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 1,840 troops, six tanks, eight armoured fighting vehicles, 40 motor vehicles, four Grad and Vampire MLRS combat vehicles, as well as 37 field artillery guns.

The Zapad Group of Forces units captured more advantageous lines, and also defeated units of four AFU mechanised brigades, two territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.

Over the past 24 hours, 15 counter-attacks were repelled by units of four AFU brigades and one national guard brigade close to Grigorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Chervonaya Dibrova, Novovodyanoye, and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 2,040 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, 18 armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, two Grad MLRS combat vehicles, and 32 field artillery guns, to include 14 Western-made.

Over the past week, units of the Yug Group of Forces have liberated three settlements: Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and continued to advance to the depths of the enemy defence.

Servicemen of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of seven AFU brigades and four territorial defence brigades.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 3,285 Ukrainian troops, seven tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 46 motor vehicles, 32 field artillery guns, to include 27 Western-made.

In addition, ten AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

The Tsentr Group of Forces units improved the situation along the front line and defeated units of nine AFU and Ukrainian National Guards formations.

Forty one counter-attacks launched by assault groups of eight AFU brigades were repelled close to Shumy, Netaylovo, Novokalinovo, Umanskoye, Ocheretino, Archangelskoye, and Solovyovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

During the week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost up to 2,770 Ukrainian troops, one tank, 26 motor vehicles, 35 field artillery guns, and 20 armoured fighting vehicles, including four German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicles, as well as five Bradley and three U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured personnel carriers in this direction.

The Vostok Group of Forces units improved the tactical situation and hit manpower and hardware of AFU motorised infantry and territorial defence brigades.

Nine counter-attacks launched by assault groups of AFU mechanised, territorial defence, and national guard brigades were repelled near Vladimirovka, Staromayorskoye, and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 920 Ukrainian troops, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 39 motor vehicles, and 18 field artillery guns, to include ten Western-made.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of two marine brigades, three AFU brigades, two territorial defence formations, as well as one national guard brigade.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 350 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, 35 motor vehicles, two Grad MLRS launchers, as well as 24 field artillery guns, including seven U.S.-made M777 howitzers, and one UK-made FH-70 towed howitzer.

Air defence units have shot down two MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, eight French-made SCALP-EG cruise missiles, 25 U.S.-made ATACMS and Tochka-U operational-tactical missiles, 18 French-made Hammer guided bombs, 13 U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, one Neptun anti-ship missile, 91 HIMARS, Vampire, and Olkha MLRS projectiles, as well as 356 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Over the past week, 67 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered on the line of contact.

In total, 603 airplanes and 274 helicopters, 24,590 unmanned aerial vehicles, 524 air defence missile systems, 16,149 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,311 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,802 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 21,966 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

Tags:

WtR
For much of Winona Senior High School senior Mariyah Rumpca-Veronese's life, she understood she was different from most students, but she couldn't recognize it was her intelligence and drive that often set her apart.

The world around her understood her capabilities, as she was given opportunities to study in the district's talented and gifted program.

Rumpca-Veronese said she found it hard to see herself on the same level as her friends and peers in the group because of her background.

"From a really young age, I noticed that my family didn't look like their family," she said.

Rumpca-Veronese's home didn't look like the homes of her friends. Her parents' jobs weren't like the jobs of her friends' parents.

Both of her parents were high school dropouts who later completed their GEDs. Her father also eventually went to school for machining, which is the field he now works in, she said.

"We were just always kind of outcasted. We were kind of lower middle class, kind of right on that poverty line," she said.

If you go What: Winona Senior High School graduation When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 7 Where: Paul Giel Field, 1268 W 5th St., Winona

The differences she saw between her and her peers impacted her at school.

"That kind of like created a mental battle for me that I had to get over," she said.

It made her feel as if she couldn't accomplish the same things, she said, even though she was in the same programs and had the same grades.

"That really hindered me in a lot that I did. I didn't do much. I just was like, 'I'm just going to do school and that's it, because that's all I'm worth,'" she said.

Rumpca-Veronese said the feeling stayed with her for years, until she finally was able to overcome it last year.

Now, she's accepted that she's a smart student  even though she said it can still be challenging for her to say it out loud.

Her intelligence and drive has led her to be part of the high school's National Honor Society  even becoming its president.

Sarah Dixen, a Winona Senior High School social studies teacher and the National Honor Society adviser, praised Rumpca-Veronese.

Dixen has been able to get to know Rumpca-Veronese as she has participated in both National Honor Society and Knowledge Bowl. She also had her as a student in AP government.

"Mariyah embodies positive leadership. She is a leader with great organizational skills, positive attitude and a work ethic second to none. If a member of NHS had a last minute cancellation for volunteering, there were many times she stepped in and did it. She also exudes a confidence that has humility, yet is bold with speaking her mind and calling people out on following through with their responsibilities in a kind, yet straightforward manner," Dixen said.

Dixen described Rumpca-Veronese as an "enthusiastic learner," as she would show excitement to learn about new topics.

"She is one of the top academically gifted students I've seen, yet she was never comparing herself with others but encouraging them. She would say out loud during class discussions comments to others such as, 'That was a good answer,'" Dixen said. "Her approach to life seems to embody wisdom beyond her years. Encouraging her peers, lifting up others that don't get as much attention, being aware of the suffering in the world and social justice issues, yet finding joy in little things along the way such as a funny high school incident or chatting and laughing all the way on the bus to Knowledge Bowl competition."

Rumpca-Veronese has also participated in activities such as volleyball and the school's orchestra for multiple years.

It hasn't always been easy balancing it all, though, she said. A new stressor was added to her busy life at the end of summer 2023 that made a hard impact.

Rumpca-Veronese said her mother decided to take a different path away from her family.

Thats been really hard on my family," she said.

She said the decision broke her family apart a bit, leaving just her father, her little sister, her grandmother and her to face the world together.

Her family has been able to continue on and grow closer because of the change and she's been able to overcome the challenges created by her mother's decision.

The unexpected change in her family hasn't stopped her from being a successful student as she approaches graduation next month.

Earning a 4.0 grade point average was never Rumpca-Veroneses main focus, she admitted. Instead, her goal has been to make her family proud because of the all the support they have given to her.

She especially shared gratefulness for her father and his support throughout the years. She said its been shown in even little actions, like making her a pot of coffee during a late night.

That means so much to me, and I don't think he like realizes it, but that really matters, she said. So having all those little moments that he thought of me accumulate into my success really means a lot.

She said her father has always let her know when she does well.

"He always told me that I could do it. He was the one that told me I could do it when I didn't believe that I could," she said.

She said she is grateful for the support of her little sister, as she helps her by making her laugh and making her days more enjoyable.

Rumpca-Veronese feels good about graduation happening soon.

She plans to attend Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, in the fall. She plans to play volleyball there and major in molecular biology with a concentration in pre-med sciences.

She was inspired to take that career path after enjoying an AP biology course and other science classes in high school.

Eventually, she either wants to go to medical school or go into a physician assistant program.

She hopes to one day be involved in a womens health field.

For now, though, she and other seniors at Winona Senior High School are preparing to receive their diplomas at Paul Giel Field on Friday, June 7, marking the start of a new chapter in their lives that will be full of opportunities.
Send Dad to Mexico in spirit this year when you treat him to festive libations from Clase Azul this Fathers Day.

Just like Dad, Clase Azul gets better with age. Over 25 years ago, the brandmostly known for its luxury tequilaswas inspired by Mexicos rich legacy with the purpose of sharing the magic of Mexico with the world through exquisite creations, amazing experiences, unique destinations, and more.

Clase Azul Tequila Ultra is aged five years in American whiskey and sherry casks. The bottle is adorned with platinum, silver and 24-karat gold. (Courtesy of Clase Azul)

In 2007, the original ceramic decanter was blue and white, handmade by local artisans at Tradicion Mazahua to honor the blue agave from which the spirit is made. For tequila lovers, this distinctive vessel has become an icon. Now, decades later, the brand boasts five tequilas and three mezcals in their portfolio of iconsand you can savor them right here in San Francisco.

Spoil dad with an exquisite dinner paired with Clase Azul at these SF hotspots.

Angler's Durango Sunset. (Adahlia Cole)

Angler

Head to the Embarcadero where you can pair your cocktail with a view. Watch the sailboats beneath the Bay Bridge while you sip a Durango Sunset: Served up, its smoky, fruity, and bright with a hint of citrus and spice. The cocktail features Clase Azuls full-bodied Mezcal Durango , made with cenizo agave endemic to the semi-arid highlands of Northern Mexico. // Angler, 132 Embarcadero, anglerrestaurants.com

Clase Azul Tequila Plata. (Courtesy of Clase Azul)

The Battery

Members of The Battery have the luxury of tasting all eight icons from Clase Azuls portfolio. If Dads a true agave lover, we recommend sipping Clase Azul Tequila Plata neat, Clase Azuls "faithful portrayal of agave." This crystal-clear tequila is un-aged, which allows the nuances of the agave to shine. For a bolder flavor, treat dad to Clase Azul Tequila Anejo, which is the result of a magnificent journey of more than two years in American whiskey casks. // 717 Battery St. (FiDi), thebatterysf.com // 717 Battery St. (FiDi), thebatterysf.com

Clase Azul's Mezcal Guerrero. (Courtesy of Clase Azul)

Miller & Lux

Taking Dad out for the best steak in America? Suggest something smoky on the side. Clase Azuls Mezcal Guerrero pours from a stunning teal decanter featuring a hand-lacquered hummingbird cap. The mezcal inside is equally beautiful, clear with light straw-colored highlights. Its full-bodied flavor evokes freshly cut wood, seaweed, lemon, pepper and tobacco, with a hint of toasted peanut, butter, and daisy on the nose. // Miller & Lux, 700 Terry A Francois Blvd (Thrive City), millerandluxrestaurant.com





Or, just actually take him to Mexico.
India, the largest democracy globally, is currently amidst its biggest Lok Sabha election, spanning seven phases. This election began in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and has now progressed to the north, with the sixth phase starting today in Delhi.

Brands are actively promoting voter participation through creative campaigns targeting young adults, making voting more attractive and accessible. Many are offering incentives like freebies and discounts to those who cast their ballots. These efforts highlight the importance of civic responsibility and aim to boost voter turnout, ensuring a vibrant democratic process.

For instance, Domino's India is providing a free Pepsi with orders over Rs 300 on election day. Their campaign slogan, "Let your ink get you a drink," encourages voters to visit Domino's outlets after voting to claim the free beverage.





, a New Delhi-based tea chain, is offering a free dessert to voters on May 25. Voters in Delhi and Haryana can claim the treat by showing their inked fingers at any Chaayos cafe.is offering an 'Election Surprise Offer' on May 25 and 26. Voters can get a free beverage or dessert with the purchase of a chicken or veg surprise burger at their nearest McDonald's.delivers election wake-up call with surprise tinda campaign. As cities like Delhi prepare for upcoming elections, popular quick commerce app Swiggy Instamart has launched a creative campaign to remind citizens of the importance of voting.

Mummy might end up making tinday for lunch now but kudos to @SwiggyInstamart for bringing the best out of tindays and encouraging people to cast their votes ?? pic.twitter.com/2iqR0A9ojS  rushi? (@areyoushe02) May 24, 2024

Wahter, a packaged drinking water brand, has launched the #YourVoteYourVoice campaign. They will distribute water bottles with custom labels encouraging people to vote, featuring slogans like "Vote Jaroor Karenge" and "Vote Karega India, Tabhi To Badhega India.

urges first-time voters to join the elections, emphasizing their crucial role in shaping the country's future. The campaign stresses unity and collective impact, urging other shoe brands to join in.is facilitating affordable and convenient travel during the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections with a discount and cashback offer. The Travel to Vote campaign offers first-time users in India a 15% discount, up to Rs 250, on bus bookings using the coupon code VOTE24.

Air India Express is extending a special offer to first-time voters (aged 18-22) during the election period. This offer includes a discount of up to 19% on the base fare, applicable exclusively on the airline's website. Travel must be completed before June 7, 2024, to avail of this promotion.





launches Abki baar 40% paar campaign for election 2024. The campaign offers up to 40% off at 1,000+ restaurants and fashion outlets in Delhi-NCR on voting day. magicpin's "Show the Finger" drive, in partnership with ONDC, fights against extra delivery charges. Vote and save big with up to 40% discounts in Delhi-NCR on May 25th.'s "Vote ka vachan" initiative promotes social welfare by encouraging Indians to pledge their vote at votekavachan.bangurcement.com. For each pledge, the brand donates 1 kg of cement. Over five lakh pledges have been received, leading to a donation ceremony in Udaipur where eleven underprivileged families received cement packs for building homes.
With numerous forms of addictions becoming unrestrained and extensive resulting in cracks in personal and family lives, a sheer rise in crime rate and accident, Doctor Against Addiction (DaAD) has unveiled a sustained campaign called A Prescription for Deaddiction. The sharp-focused campaign seeks for empowering doctors for playing a frisky role in the reduction of numerous forms of addictions by interceding as early as possible at the consultation level.

At the heart of the campaign lies a powerful symbol  HRx. This symbol represents a prescription for harm reduction, a commitment by doctors to address the harm caused by addiction and harmful behaviours. It serves as a beacon of hope and change. A Prescription for Deaddiction is not just a campaign; its a call for action. It envisions a healthcare landscape where doctors can be champions of change, equipped with the knowledge, compassion, and tools needed to address harmful behaviours. Often, doctors routinely check height, weight, BP and sugar levels. Now they are being trained to identify classical symptoms of addictions of various forms, says Dr Manish Sharma, Chief Coordinator, Doctors Against Addiction (DaAD).

The HRx symbol allows doctors to specify the form of addiction or harmful behaviour they aim to address.

The genesis of Doctors Against Addiction (DaAD) became imminent because in an increasingly complex world, individuals often find solace in various forms of behaviour and substances, from gadget addiction and alcohol to drugs and tobacco. While these may offer temporary relief or pleasure, they can also lead to significant harm to both the individual and society at large.

Doctors Against Addiction (DaAD) is of the opinion that healthcare professionals can make a profound difference in deaddiction and promote healthier lifestyles as they are closely knit to the patients.

Deliberating on potential of Doctors Against Addiction (DaAD), and doctor-patient relationship, Dr Chhavi Gupta, DM - Infectious Disease, Senior Consultant at Yashoda Super-specialty Hospital, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, says, The foundation of any fruitful doctor-patient relationship is trust. And this is achieved when patients feel comfortable sharing their concerns, even when those concerns revolve around potentially harmful behaviours. By creating an atmosphere of trust and non-judgment, healthcare professionals can empower patients to open up and seek help. During these conversations, they can effectively counsel patients on deaddiction.

Doctors are now being trained to patiently listen and ask open-ended questions in an effort to identify the type of addiction and reduce the stigma surrounding it through compassionate and tailormade dialogue.

A Prescription for Deaddiction (DaAD) is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is a personalized approach, adapting strategies to individual patient needs for effective interventions. It emphasizes involving patients in setting deaddiction goals and maintaining regular follow-ups for progress. Now, healthcare professionals are trained to advocate for addiction awareness and support community initiatives.

Beyond physical harm, excessive behaviours can wreak havoc on mental well-being leading to anxiety, depression, and a diminished sense of self-worth. Alcohol and drug abuse can lead to altered mood states, cognitive impairment, and exacerbation of pre-existing mental health conditions. However, by approaching the conversation without judgment, healthcare professionals can make patients feel respected and understood. Consistent monitoring reinforces the doctor-patient partnership. And A Doctors Against Addiction (DaAD) is a step forward in this direction, to help patients achieve their deaddiction goals, says Dr Narender Saini, Former General Secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

Excessive behaviours significantly impact physical health. causes digital eye strain, disrupted sleep, and posture issues. Alcohol and drug abuse lead to liver damage, cardiovascular problems, addiction-related illnesses, and overdose. These immediate and tangible effects highlight the need for moderation of excessive screen time

A Prescription for Deaddiction envisages to address the issue of addiction holistically, wipe out stigmas and mainstream the affected individuals.
As cities like Delhi prepare for upcoming elections, popular quick commerce app Swiggy Instamart has launched a creative campaign to remind citizens of the importance of voting. This initiative delivers an unexpected yet powerful message directly to customers' doorsteps.

Users in Delhi discovered an unusual addition in their orders from Swiggy Instamart: a packet of tinda, along with a note that read, "Make your vote count so you can choose what you want." The tinda, a vegetable often regarded as less favorable, symbolizes the consequences of not exercising one's right to votereceiving something undesirable by default.

Just as customers didn't add tinda to their carts but received it anyway, not voting leaves us without a say in choosing our leaders. Swiggy Instamart hopes this innovative campaign will inspire citizens to vote in the upcoming elections. By highlighting the impact of not making their voices heard, Swiggy Instamart seeks to emphasize the importance of participating in the democratic process.

This clever and impactful message by Swiggy Instamart has garnered significant appreciation on social media, with many users applauding the campaign for its creativity and social relevance.
Commentary: Malicious intent behind U.S. "congratulations"

Xinhua) 11:14, May 25, 2024

The U.S. Capitol Building is seen in Washington, D.C., the United States, Feb. 6, 2024. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

There is only one China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government that represents China, which are all facts recognized by the international community.

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Monday sent its so-called congratulations to the newly inaugurated leader in the Taiwan region, which some former senior U.S. officials have visited.

As always, the so-called congratulations harbor the ulterior motives of supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to contain China.

A blatant violation of the one-China principle and gross interference in China's internal affairs, the erroneous words and deeds by some U.S. politicians put cross-Strait stability and the U.S. relations with China at risk.

The United States should abide by the one-China principle, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly, cease all forms of official exchanges with Taiwan, and stop sending any wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

The one-China principle is a consensus in the international community and a basic norm governing international relations. The erroneous words and deeds by the U.S. side have ignored and trampled on international law and the basic norms of international relations.

There is only one China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government that represents China, which are all facts recognized by the international community.

From the very first country that established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China to the 183rd country of Nauru, they have all made commitments to adhering to the one-China principle, which shows that the one-China principle is universally recognized and represents public opinion and a global trend.

There are numerous precedents of global opposition to the United States' blatant violation of the one-China principle. After then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022, more than 170 countries and many international organizations have spoken up for what is right, reaffirming their commitment to the one-China principle and expressing support for China in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This photo taken on Aug. 4, 2022 shows the White House and a stop sign in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations.

U.S. President Joe Biden has reiterated his commitment that Washington does not support "Taiwan independence," "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," nor does it seek to use Taiwan as a tool to contain China. But has Washington delivered on the commitment?

The reality is, in recent years, Washington has been backtracking, going against its commitment of maintaining unofficial ties with the Taiwan region, upgrading its level of contact with Taiwan and steadily increasing arms sales to Taiwan.

The hard-won momentum of improvement in China-U.S. relations must be followed by turning verbal commitments into concrete actions.

With the illusion of "using Taiwan to contain China," some U.S. politicians have underestimated China's strong determination and firm will of resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete national reunification is the shared aspiration and firm will of all the Chinese people, and there is no room for any compromise. The Chinese people have the enormous capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The historical trend toward a stronger China, national rejuvenation, and reunification cannot be stopped, and "Taiwan independence" is doomed to collapse despite all the hype by some anti-China politicians in Washington. They had better drop their illusion.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Fathers Day is arriving in June. For the same, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon collaborated with Fossil for co-hosting a Fathers Day brunch celebration on Friday afternoon. This exclusive event at Gigi in Mumbai was a glitzy affair, showcasing fun activities for paying a tribute to fathers and father figures.

Rahul Dua addressed the event and it was attended by celebrities and influencers including Gurfateh Pirzada, Tridha Chaudhary, Ashi Khanna, Abhishek Kumar and Manasvi Vashist amongst others.

As part of the brunch, Fossil showcased its latest Sport Tourer collection, a range of watches that embodies both the function and thrilling energy of racing. This new collection is designed for the modern man who values both performance and style. The inclusion of a Japanese center second chronograph movement and a high-performance tachymeter bezel highlights the preciseness of the watch.

Johnson Verghese, Managing Director, Fossil India, commented, "We are exhilarated to have hosted this brunch with Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon, who have been part of the Fossil family for years now. The event truly embodied the essence of Fossil, with engaging activities, meaningful conversations, and a personalization booth where guests could add their own touch to our products. Showcasing the Sport Tourer collection at this event represented the perfect fusion of functionality with sophisticated design, a special gift for the fathers we honor today.

Varun Dhawan, Fossil India Brand Ambassador, shared his thoughts on the occasion, saying, Celebrating fatherhood is a special privilege. Hosting this brunch with Fossil in the presence of all the wonderful people who came, and showcasing their new Sport Tourer collection has been a wonderful way to honor all fathers.

Kriti Sanon, Fossil India Brand Ambassador, added, "Fathers play such a crucial role in our lives, and its important to take the time to appreciate them. This brunch has been a beautiful celebration of their contributions, and Fossils range of gifts showcases the perfect pieces to be personalized and presented to fathers of all styles."

Through this event, Fossil and the celebrity hosts inspired others to recognize and celebrate the fathers in their lives, not just on Fathers Day, but every day.

Starting at Rs. 14,995, Fossil Sport Tourer collection is available at select online and offline stores
Lok Sabha Polls: Delhi Records Early Voter Turnout Amid Heatwave and EVM Glitches 2

A voter turnout of 8.94 per cent was recorded till 9 am in Delhi, where polling is underway for its seven Lok Sabha constituencies on Saturday.

The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer said that at 10.15 per cent, the highest turnout was recorded in the North East Delhi constituency while New Delhi had the lowest voting percentage till 9 am at 7.04 per cent.

Poll officials said there were no reports of technical snags or delays in the commencement of voting at any polling station.

However, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, who had gone to cast her vote at St Thomas School in New Delhi, said she could not vote due to a snag. The battery of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was down, thats why I could not vote but I will come again, she said. She also questioned the arrangements made by the Election Commission.

It is now 9:15 am but I am being told that the battery of the machine (EVM) is down, she said.

Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Minister Atishi, outgoing East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir, and candidates of different parties cast their votes early in the morning.

President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar also cast their votes in the New Delhi constituency, officials said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a post in Hindi on X, appealed to the people to vote and urge their family members, relatives and friends to also exercise their franchise.

Each vote cast by you in this great festival of democracy will be against the authoritarian mindset and strengthen democracy and the Constitution of India. Go to the polling stations and assert that there is democracy in India and democracy will remain in India through your votes, Kejriwal said.

A yellow warning is in place for the day and the Met Office has predicted that the mercury is likely to reach a maximum of 44 degrees Celsius.

The Delhi poll body has said that it has made arrangements for the voters to beat the scorching heat.

People were seen queuing up outside the more than 13,000 polling booths across the seven constituencies, even before the commencement of voting at 7 am.

Jaishankar, the first voter at Atal Adarsh Vidyalaya, APJ Abdul Kalam Lane, in the New Delhi constituency, told PTI Videos, We want that people come out in large numbers to vote because it a time to take a big decision for the country. Puri cast his vote at Mount Carmel School, Anand Niketan, in the New Delhi constituency.

Its a very good feeling to be able to reach the polling booth half an hour before the gates open and to participate in the worlds largest carnival and celebration of democracy, he said.

Atishi cast her vote at Nigam Pratibha Vidyalaya, Kalkaji B Block, in the South Delhi constituency. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal also cast her vote.

Gambhir appealed to people to exercise their franchise after casting his vote at the Government Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalya.

The AAPs South Delhi candidate Sahi Ram Pahalwan, the BJPs Chandni Chowk nominee Praveen Khandelwal and its New Delhi hopeful Bansuri Swaraj were among the early voters.

I want to appeal to the residents of Delhi to cast their votes as it is a big festival in the country, Pahalwan said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadras daughter, Miraya Vadra, who voted for the first time, said, I came all the way from college to vote. So, everyone should come out and vote. My only message to the youth is to come out and vote. It is our job to make a change, so we need to come out and do it, she said.

Her brother Raihan Vadra, a second-time voter, expressed hope that everyone will come out and vote. He cast his vote at a polling booth at Lodhi Road under the New Delhi constituency.

Its hot but we get this chance every five years to directly effect a change and participate in democracy. So, everyone should come out and vote, he said.

Voting is underway peacefully with no reports of any untoward incidents.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) M Harsha Vardhan said, It is an important task for us to conduct free and fair elections. It is a matter of great pride for everyone involved in the process. We have made good arrangements. We are seeing great enthusiasm among the officials and the voters. We look forward to a day of good voter turnout and encourage everyone to vote, he added.

A total of 1.52 crore voters  82 lakh men, 69 lakh women and 1,228 from the third gender category  are eligible to cast their votes at more than 13,000 polling booths across the seven constituencies, officials said.

There are more than 2.52 lakh first-time voters this time.

The BJP won all seven seats in Delhi in the 2014 and the 2019 elections and is aiming for a clean sweep for the third consecutive time.

The opposition INDIA bloc partners AAP and the Congress are contesting the elections in Delhi under a four-three seat-share formula. This is the first Lok Sabha election in Delhi in which AAP and the Congress have fielded joint candidates.
Stargazers should be in their glory at Iron City Comic Con, a sci-fi and fantasy convention in Birmingham. The event, set for June 1-2 at the BJCC East Exhibit Hall, includes about 30 special guests from the worlds of Star Trek, Star Wars, the Scream franchise, professional wrestling and more. Comic book artists, anime voice actors and cosplay experts are on the agenda, as well.

Here are five iconic celebs you wont want to miss at the downtown con. Theyll be meeting fans, signing autographs and taking photos, pretty much all day long. Get your Sharpies ready!
A homecoming concert Friday evening was more than just a chance for Triston Harper to entertain his home community. It was a chance to see just how much his star turn on American Idol meant for the folks back at home.

Had Harper made it to Idols May 19 finale, Alabama might have had an incredible trifecta: Bryson McGlynn of Auburn won Masterchef Junior on Monday and Asher HaVon of Selma won The Voice on Tuesday. But reaching the Top 5 on Idol was a huge accomplishment for the 15-year-old from McIntosh, and it brought rare national attention to his tribe, the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians.

Fridays festivities were a chance to acknowledge the importance of that exposure, and to do so on home ground, the MOWA reservation in Mount Vernon on the north edge of Mobile County (The MOWA name is derived from Mobile and Washington counties.)

Harpers grandfather, Perry Carl Rivers, said the blessing over a pre-concert meal in a MOWA meeting hall. Before the prayer, he said that when Harper was a young child hed said God had told him that his name would be in lights some day. Rivers also shared some counsel hed given his grandson more recently. Harper asked him what he thought about him taking a shot at Idol. Rivers said hed told Harper, Your granddaddys been working hard for 72 years, and you see what Ive got.  Go for it. You might be criticized. You might be talked about. But when you put those $100 bills in your pocket, dont worry about it.

Rivers said that Harper had responded, Pop, do you love money?

I said, No sir, but I sure like what it can buy, Rivers said. And you know, when you pull that F-150 up to the pump, put $90 worth of gas in it, love dont pay for it. You got to have some money.

Tribal Chief Lebaron Byrd joked of Harper that hes got more following him than I have as chief.

On a more serious note, Byrd said that as he had traveled to Montgomery and elsewhere in the state, everyone who heard he represented the MOWAs was quick to say they were following Harpers Idol run and voting for him.

So I know all over the state of Alabama, youve been having a lot of people to follow you, he said. I think youre doing an excellent job. And I want to echo what your granddad just said, that I feel like what you did on national TV, you served God. You dont have many young people that do that. And so you did a great job.

Jacob Snow, chair of the MOWA Housing Authority, was quick to mention he and Harper were cousins. Were very proud of Triston, he said. Hes been doing a great work for our community and I can attest to what Dr. Byrd has stated.

Another affirmation came from state Rep. Brett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale. If you watched the Legislature  you were talked about significantly on the floor during legislative session, he said. He encouraged Harper to be wary of the pitfalls of fame and fortune and to represent the tribe well.

It was getting a lot of attention, he said. Now everybody knows the MOWA name.

Harper himself expressed gratitude to the events sponsors and to the community in general.

I want to thank everybody that I know -- you know, my town, my people, just everybody who had the courtesy and the heart to look at me and see, you know what I went through, and that yall had a heart to really help me out, said Harper. (During his Idol audition, he described how he and his mother had endured hardship and homelessness.)

I just want to say I love you all and thank yall for putting all this together just for me, he said. You know, Id never have thought in a million years Id be standing here, [having] a concert right here in Mount Vernon, Alabama, and that my people would be here to support me 100%. Im just gonna say I love you all and thank you all.

The same spirit flowed through the concert itself, with Harper expressing his gratitude to a crowd of hundreds of people. His performance was brief, but he included several of the songs hed performed on Idol: After opening with the Travis Tritt hit T.R.O.U.B.L.E., he performed the Blake Shelton tune Gods Country and the Elvis Presley classic Heartbreak Hotel. He also got to his original song H.O.P.E. (Hold On, Pain Ends), which was released as a single after he made the Idol Top 5.

The show concluded with Harper bringing it full circle, inviting his grandfather up to the stage. Rivers spoke about terrible injuries hed suffered when he was hit by a truck many years earlier. Hed been told hed never walk again, and he attributed his recovery fully to God. He told the crowd they were looking at a walking, talking miracle.

I wish I could get this crowd in the church house, he said.

Harper stepped to the side while Rivers sang Waiting for the Messiah, then the two sang together on I Was There When It Happened, a faith-themed song performed by Johnny Cash and many others.

Rivers said it was a song we used to do before he got way better than me.

It was clear that Harper had the stronger voice, hands down. But in this homecoming concert, it was just as clear where that strength came from.

Celebrations were to continue on Saturday, May 25. A parade was planned for noon in McIntosh. That was to be followed at 5 p.m. by a tribal Pow Wow in Harpers honor at the MOWA reservation at 1080 West Red Fox Road in Mount Vernon. The event is free and open to the public; visitors are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets, but coolers and alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, an Alabama native, underwent a medical procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Friday evening and has resumed duty after temporarily transferring power to his deputy, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

Austin is continuing to deal with bladder issues that arose in December following his treatment for prostate cancer, Ryder said.

The procedure was successful, elective and minimally invasive, is not related to his cancer diagnosis and has had no effect on his excellent cancer prognosis, the press secretary said.

Austin transferred authority to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks for about two-and-a-half hours while he was indisposed, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon chief returned home after the procedure. No changes in his official schedule are anticipated at this time, to include his participation in scheduled Memorial Day events, Ryder said.

Austin, 70, has had ongoing health issues since undergoing surgery to address a prostate cancer diagnosis. He spent two weeks in the hospital following complications from a prostatectomy. Austin faced criticism at the time for not immediately informing the president or Congress of either his diagnosis or hospitalization.

Austin was taken back to Walter Reed in February for a bladder issue, admitted to intensive care for a second time and underwent a non-surgical procedure under general anesthesia at the time.

The Pentagon has notified the White House and Congress, Ryder said.
A Limestone County jury Thursday returned a $15 million verdict in favor of a widow against Huntsville Emergency Medical Services (HEMSI) and two of its employees.

The case, which lasted 10 days, was tried by attorneys David Marsh, Rip Andrews, Ben Ford, and Ty Brown of Marsh Richard Bryan.

Gloria Owen brought the suit representing the estate of her husband of nearly 58 years, Robert. According to the suit, Robert was a cardiac patient who needed transportation from Huntsville Hospital to UAB Hospital in April 2019 for a cardiac evaluation.

Owens attorneys contended that during the trip in the HEMSI ambulance, its driver could be seen on video passing out while driving, swerving and leaving his lane several times.

After continuing in the wrong direction, the paramedic took control of the vehicle, which left Robert without medical care and was a violation of state regulations and EMS protocols, lawyers said.

The impaired driver then put earbuds in, turned on music, and propping his feet up on the back of Roberts stretcher, passing out for the rest of the trip.

Robert, lawyers said, then began having a severe heart attack and his calls for help went unheard. The paramedic stopped the ambulance on the side of an Interstate, checked on Robert for less than two minutes, then continued on the trip to UAB Hospital for another 40 minutes.

Robert arrived at UAB, according to the suit, still in the throes of a heart attack which had gone untreated for the duration of the transport. He later died at UAB.

According to Owens attorneys, the driver had a history of drug abuse and a significant history of misconduct and disciplinary issues at HEMSI prior to the incident. HEMSI had fired him and then rehired him after a similar incident occurred with a different patient less than two months prior, Owens lawyers said.

Then, on the morning of Roberts transport, a coworker paramedic reported to HEMSI management that the driver appeared impaired.

He was still allowed to make the journey and never drug tested.

The jury sent a clear message that this kind of conduct, and that kind of attitude, will not be tolerated, Ford said.

HEMSI said it would not appeal the ruling.

It was a tragic loss of life, HEMSI said. Our greatest desire is to safely serve the citizens who depend on us. When we fail to do this, it impacts many people, including those we serve and those on our HEMSI team. We will continue to learn from every situation and strive to better serve our community.

Marsh said the company failed at every level, from the very top down, and had multiple opportunities to prevent this from happening.

It consciously disregarded numerous red flags for months and allowed a person with a documented history of drug abuse to continue operating ambulances on Alabamas public roadways, violating numerous internal policies and procedures, State regulations, and EMS protocols in the process, Marsh said.

Robert Owena military veteran who served in Europe, and a pilot and homebuilderwas the unfortunate patient who ended up in this ambulance that day.
A suspect has been charged in connection with the shooting at a Birmingham gas station that left one man dead and six wounded.

More than 150 shots erupted outside the Shell station on Third Avenue West that Sunday, May 5, leaving 24-year-old David Isaiah Westbrook dead and six others injured.

Birmingham police on Friday announced the arrest of Armonta Davis. He is charged with one count of attempted murder and two counts of first-degree assault.

No one has been actually charged with Westbrooks slaying.

Davis was identified after authorities on Wednesday released photos of him in the parking lot that morning, seeking his identity.

Davis was in the process of being transferred to the Jefferson County Jail on Friday night. His bonds total $120,000.

Westbrook graduated from Gateway Christian School and had worked with EST Tree Service for the past few years, according to his obituary.

Isaiah had kind heart with an infectious smile that his family and friends will always remember, the obituary read.

David Isaiah Westbrook(Contributed)

It was just after 2 a.m. when North and West Precinct officers began receiving Shot Spotter alerts in the 700 block and 800 block of Third Avenue West. The location is the always-busy area surrounding Shell, Burger King, Auto Zone and Express Oil Change and Tire Engineers.

Officers arrived on the scene in the 700 block of Third Avenue West in front of Auto Zone and found a sedan that had crashed into a utility pole. Inside that vehicle they found Westbrook dead inside the car.

The scene was chaotic, police said, and as officers began to try to sort out what happened, they learned multiple vehicles had been hit by gunfire, as well as at least one nearby business  Boston Fish Supreme.

911 dispatchers began updating officers on the scene that multiple gunshot wound victims were showing up at area hospitals.

BFRS transported one person who was found unresponsive in the Shell station parking lot to UAB Hospital.

Two men showed up by private vehicle at Princeton Baptist Medical Center. Their gunshot injuries were not life-threatening.

Two more wounded men also showed at UAB Hospitals emergency room. Their injuries were also not life-threatening.

Then, about 10:30 a.m., police were notified yet another victim showed up wounded at Princeton. His injuries were not life-threatening.

The City of Birmingham is suing the owners and operators of the Shell station on Third Avenue West and an adjacent business after the shooting.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin later called the shooting unacceptable.

The gun culture, as well as gun violence, in our community continues to rear its head in ways that are stupid, reckless, Woodfin said.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $5,000.
Two men have been found guilty of the 2020 fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man in south Alabama, according to a press release from the Mobile County District Attorneys Office.

George Green Jr. was found guilty around 9 p.m. Friday by a Mobile County jury for the death of Antonio Rowe Jr. Rowe died the afternoon of Dec. 6, 2020, after Green shot into the vehicle he was riding in.

Greens co-defendant, Nathaniel Henderson, was also found guilty of murder earlier this week for being the driver of the getaway car, according to the release.

This week was long overdue for the family of Antonio Rowe Jr., Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said in the release. We are extremely grateful for the jurors in these cases - their time, patience and service, especially staying at the courthouse until well after 9pm  is commendable.

Hendersons sentencing is scheduled to be on June 27, while Greens sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
This is a guest opinion column

This Memorial Day, May 27, 2024, our Health Care System is profoundly honored to remember and pay homage to the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and safety. As we gather at various events across Alabama, we reaffirm our commitment to honoring these courageous souls and the families who bear their loss.

Please join us at notable locations such as the Alabama National Cemetery at 3133 SR-119, Montevallo, AL, which will conduct its 16th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m., other ceremonies honoring Memorial Day will be held at the Fort McClellan Post Cemetery at 540 Goode Road, Anniston, AL; the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort at 9 a.m., 34904 Alabama Highway 225; the Mobile National Cemetery will host a ceremony also at 9 a.m. 1202 Virginia Street; and the Fort Mitchell National Cemetery will honor Memorial Day, Sunday, May 26, at 1 p.m., 553 Highway 165, Fort Mitchell, AL.

We encourage attendees to visit gravesites, read aloud the names, ranks, and service components of fallen Veterans, and reflect on their sacrifices. When possible, please visit their Virtual Legacy Management (VLM) pages to leave tributes, celebrating their lives and service with the respect and gratitude they rightfully deserve.

Memorial Day is also a poignant reminder of the sacrifices of Gold Star Families and the price of the liberty they intimately understand. Its a day to reflect not only on the valor and selflessness of our fallen service members but also to extend our heartfelt gratitude towards those who have served.

At the Birmingham VA Health Care System, we hold a special place for the experiences and memories of our Veterans. Memorial Day offers a unique opportunity to reflect on what these brave individuals have endured and to appreciate the peaceful moments we enjoy today because of their sacrifices.

As we enjoy this Memorial Day weekend, let it be a time of meaningful reflection rather than just a holiday. When you meet a Veteran, take a moment to express your gratitude with a heartfelt Thank you for what you did for us. Remember, they carry with them the memories of fallen comrades, silent yet profoundly present. Let us ensure their bravery and the sacrifices of their loved ones are remembered and honored with the utmost respect and dignity.

Dr. Oladipo Ladi Kukoyi is executive director of the Birmingham VA Health Care System
When a president and vice president take the oath of office in America, he and/or she makes a brief promise to the citizens of this country. For the president:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God.

The oath taken by the vice president is similar, but has this notable addition:

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic... [emphasis added]

It seems that the only indispensable promise made by the two people at the top of this countrys governing body is that they assure that they will protect citizens through constitutional means against enemies, foreign and domestic.

It has been undeniably clear that since day one of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris installation in the White House, they have insisted on leaving our southern border wide open. Unvetted newcomers (their own cutesy, welcoming nomenclature) have poured in through the southern states, then in many cases conveniently flown across the country by Biden and Harris and plopped down who-knows-where. This act has been nothing less than an invasion.

Where is Americas protection from potential foreign enemies?

During the election season of 2020, when mobs of angry people burned down businesses and took over police stations and government buildings, violent rioters were given barely a gentle slap on the wrist and released to continue their mayhem on another day.

Where was Americas protection from these domestic enemies?

Some might point to January 6, 2021, and say, There! That was how our government was protecting us from the insurrection of unhappy, disgruntled, violent Trump supporters. Domestic enemies, one and all! But with each new release of actual video from that fateful day, more evidence shows that the narrative spoon-fed to us by the media and deep-state operatives was a fabrication and twisting of the actual facts.

And in the instance of January 6, President Donald Trump was still in charge and had reached out well ahead of the days events to protect this country from a possible riotous situation. Nancy Pelosi, however, declined the presidents offer, helping to set in motion what appears to be her own desired outcome of that day.

Since Joe Bidens administration has assumed the highest seat of power, the tyrannical witch hunt against January 6 demonstrators, who were truly mostly peaceful, continues. When some of the Capitol doors were opened or gates removed by the police, even those people who did not go inside The Peoples House but remained outside on the lawn are still being rounded up and put in jail. All they desired to do that day was state the obvious in signs that read, Stop the Steal. What are they getting for exercising their First Amendment right? Incarceration.

It is as if the Biden administration is telling citizens, Hey, not only did we not steal the 2020 election, but we will also put you in jail just for saying that we did. Or, put another more brazen way: Yes, we did steal the 2020 election, and we are going to arrest you for noticing. And there is nothing you can do about it.

This is all part of the fabulous fundamental transformation of America that Barack Obama promised on the campaign trail in 2008. Yes, President Trump spoiled his plans for four years, starting with the 2016 election, but the manipulation of the 2020 presidential election results solidly got the plan back on track.

Presently, it is almost as if Obama himself is behind the scenes today, pulling the strings on decisions being executed from the White House.

Even though that observation is tempting to believe, there may likely be a scenario with more depth, one pointing to a deep-state faction being controlled by globalists. And can there be a more insidious enemy of the foreign variety than those benevolent one-world government people?

A relative of mine told me years ago, right after 9/11, that a one-world government would be the best way to achieve peace in the world. I immediately gave just the slightest pushback: Sounds good, I said, as long as the person in charge of the world is George Bush.

My relative was horrified. No! was the shocked, one-word response.

And I said, I think you get my point.

Today, just replace George Bush with Donald Trump as the supreme commander of a one-world government, and you will hear more than just a short, simple no. Instead, be prepared for a tirade of screamed expletives.

Globalists are perhaps the number one foreign enemy of this sovereign nation. And anyone in bed with them is, quite simply, a traitor to America. So, if you have taken an oath to defend and protect the Constitution from such enemies, and fail to carry out what is clearly your duty -- well, to put it mildly, you are not fit for the office to which you made your solemn pledge.

Since the Constitution of the United States begins with the words We the People, it is up to each and every one of us to do our part to preserve the freedoms enshrined in that founding document. At this critical moment in our nations history, we can no longer allow tyrants to rule our precious halls of government.

These traitors have been wreaking havoc long enough. Its high time for them to be firmly kicked to the curb.

The image is the best AI could do when it came to showing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris kicked to the curb. AI came up with the clown shoes by itself, and they seem appropriate.

Albin Sadar is the author of Obvious: Seeing the Evil Thats in Plain Sight and Doing Something About It, as well as the childrens book collection Hamster Holmes: Box of Mysteries. Albin was formerly the producer of The Eric Metaxas Show.
First up was the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, who declared open season on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. A day later, the United Nations Security Council beclowned itself with a moment of silence for Iranian butcher Ebrahim Raisi. Finally, Ireland, Norway, and Spain embraced the two-state solution Netanyahu opposes. All these events strengthen the terrorist regime in Iran. None would have been possible without tacit Biden administration assent.

Pressured for months by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to drag PM Netanyahu into the ICC on phony genocide charges, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan faced a dilemma. Khan was aware of Ramaphosas responsibility for actual genocide of white South African farmers, so as the ICCs anti-Netanyahu messenger, Ramaphosa wouldnt do. Enter human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, a godsend for Khan who brought the glamour and saintliness that genocide-tolerant Ramaphosa lacks. Clooney is now the face of Irans proxy attack on Israel at the ICC.

Tehran has another reason to be grateful to Mrs. Clooney and Prosecutor Khan. Behold, who was not named for prosecution, together with Netanyahu, by Khan and Clooney: none other than Irans Butcher-in-Chief, Ali Khamanei. Instead, the Khan and Clooney team will pursue Tehrans blood-soaked Hamas stooges, effectively exonerating Iran for its role in the October 2023 attack on Israel. Another huge win for Tehran.

A day after the ICC-Clooney extravaganza, it was revealed at the United Nations in New York that Russia, China, and Algeria suggested a moment of silence at the UN Security Council to honor mass-murderer Raisi. At the Councils May 21st meeting, it fell to Mozambiques luckless delegate, current occupant of the rotating Council presidency, to call on the Councils fifteen members to stand and honor the dead Raisi.

And so they did. Not one delegate walked out. Not even senior U.S. Foreign Service Officer Robert Wood, sitting in the United States chair occupied over the years by U.S. permanent representatives Henry Cabot Lodge, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, John Bolton, and Nikki Haley. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, another career U.S. Foreign Service Officer and our current UN permanent representative, was nowhere to be seen when the Security Council and its members publicly debased themselves.

Wood and Thomas-Greenfield have been in the Foreign Service long enough to have known survivors of Iranian or Iranian-inspired attacks on their U.S. government colleagues. Attacks on places like our Marine Barracks and Embassy in Beirut, in Nairobi, in Dar es Salaam, and in Benghazi. Or attacks on our people in Iraq and Afghanistan with Iranian-supplied .50 caliber sniper rifles and explosively formed penetrators.

The craven U.S. performance at the United Nations was disgusting. But it was almost certainly not spontaneous. Rather, its a safe bet that the moment of silence spectacle was vetted in advance with every Security Council delegation, including ours. In turn, the delegations would have sought instructions from home governments, including our own, about how to respond to the toxic initiative. The result? Thomas-Greenfield vanished, and Wood stood up for Raisi. A humiliating defeat for the United States, and a massive diplomatic victory for Tehran.

Finally, we come to the May 22nd decisions of Ireland, Norway, and Spain to publicly embrace the two state solution in the Holy Land that Netanyahu has condemned. Younger readers may not recall Spains 1992 formal public apology for its brutal expulsion of Spanish Jews from their homeland in 1492, or the 2004 al Qaeda bombing of Madrids Atocha Railway Station. Apparently, the current Spanish Government doesnt recall these events either.

Beyond rank appeasement of Iran, only Oslo, Dublin, and Madrid know for sure what led to this patently anti-Israel step. The rest of us, however, understand it as a transparent effort to cripple Netanyahus pursuit of a vital Israeli national interest, and as a significant diplomatic victory for Iran.

Irans big week could be cast as a massive failure of American diplomacy. In reality, however, the Biden administration appears to be intentionally standing aside rather than engaging to derail events which unmistakably strengthen Iran. If more proof of this toxic policy is needed, look no further than the U.S. Senate, whose majority is controlled by the presidents party. On May 20th, Senate Chaplain Barry Black disgraced a Congress once distinguished by the presence of Holocaust survivor Tom Lantos by publicly mourning Raisis death in his morning prayer. Senate chaplains and other officials work for the Senate majority leadership. Chaplain Black was most assuredly speaking for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his president.

Muscular U.S. diplomacy led by a Trump, a Pompeo, or even a Moynihan, could have stopped the ICC, the UN Security Council, and the European appeasers cold. Instead, Iran had a good week, because of the Biden administrations lunatic policy, not in spite of it.

The author is a Navy veteran of submarines and Iraq. He was also a Foreign Service Officer, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, and a senior U.S. Senate staff lawyer.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
A recent letter signed by more than 200 musical artists calls AI developers, technology companies, platforms and digital music services to cease the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists. Though the letter acknowledges that when used responsibly, AI has enormous potential to advance human creativity, it argues that irresponsible uses pose enormous threats to our ability to protect our privacy, our identities, our music and our livelihoods. AI, in other words, will upset the status quo.

The letter is representative of the sorts of objections we consistently face when we consider the negative consequences of AI. It addresses issues of economics, identity, privacy, and the erosion of values (e.g., human creativity expressed through music). In addition to mirroring the concerns many of us have about AI in other domains and fields, the letter illustrates a flaw in the way we think about AI. In particular, identifying responsible and irresponsible uses of AI is unhelpful because it masks an underlying set of trade-offs we are making even when our use of AI is responsible.

AI will change the world. As it does so, it will have varied effects on all of us. AI will define some new normal to which all of us will need to adjust. When we define certain uses of AI as irresponsible, we will tend to neglect responsible uses of AI that have negative consequences for various members of the population. Rather than considering responsible and irresponsible uses of AI, we need to decide what we are unwilling to give up regardless of the benefits AI promises to provide for some or most of us. AIs benefits are enticing, but every change involves loss. We need to seriously consider that loss.

While we often think of technology as a means of progress, without some stable understanding of what it means to be human, we cant be sure whether we are moving forward or backward only that we are moving. Progress cant just mean that we have invented some new device that has a specific set of benefits. It also has to mean that we arrange our individual and collective lives to privilege ideas like human creativity (or certain expressions of it), however difficult they may be to define, because we recognize them as valuable to our humanity. So, why might we decide that we care about human creativity?

First, we may conclude that humans are not simply consumers. Our relationships are not only transactional but storied. To some degree, we develop a relationship with those who produce the music, art, and literature we enjoy. Music, art, and literature are expressions of those who create them. As such, we encounter another human through the work they produce. We enter an interesting sort of dialogue that familiarizes us with other people who have taken the time to record their thoughts through lyrics, prose, pictures, and other media. While it is possible to enjoy a song, painting, or book without that connection, we can also point to a number of instances in which knowing something about the artist or author or the life setting which gave rise to the art produced enhances our appreciation of it. The final product is important, but the human effort and story behind the product often tie us to that product in a more intimate way (as any parent who has hung their childs drawing on the refrigerator will intuitively understand).

Second, we may come to certain convictions about what sort of effort we value and why. As someone who did a lot of art in high school and has done a lot of writing since, I tend to believe that the effort involved in such creative realms is valuable in and of itself. Could AI produce art and literature of a similar quality to humans? If it cant now, I assume it will be able to at some point in the future. The product, however, isnt the point. Instead, the point (or perhaps the thesis) is that effort -- the energies we invest, sacrifices we make, and difficulties we suffer -- forms us into a particular sort of people that a life without that effort cant. The product that AI cant replicate is not the art, literature, or lyric, but the human character forged through success and failure as we engage in our various creative endeavors.

Finally, we may find that chasing our desires and interests through digital technologies has not created a situation in which we are the best version of ourselves. Can we really say that journalism in the digital age is the journalism we want? Can we really say social media has encouraged us to be the sort of people weve always wanted to be? Do we think we can get from our current state to a more desirable state by outsourcing more of ourselves to technology? Do we need to reorient our desires and interests so that the technological tail is no longer wagging the human dog? These sorts of questions point us back to something far more crucial than the responsible and irresponsible use of technology. They prompt us to question whether our goals and aims have led us to the wrong place. If so, they also prompt us to consider where we want to be and how we intend to get there.

AI governance is, at best, a half-measure because it assumes that AI is inevitable. AI (and any other technology) has to be up for grabs because technology should not determine who we are as human beings. We need to consider what we are unwilling to surrender to AI and why. Human creativity and the efforts associated with its creation are not trivial. It isnt at all clear that replacing human creativity with AI creativity would be beneficial. To assert that AI will be a net gain for society, we must do more than identify its benefits. We must also account for the losses that may reduce human flourishing. AI may well serve humanity, but we will never be sure of that until we consider deeply what it means to be human.

Dr. James Spencer currently serves as President of Useful to God and President of D. L. Moody Center. His newest book titled Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness is available on amazon.com. He previously published Christian Resistance: Learning to Defy the World and Follow Jesus, Useful to God: Eight Lessons from the Life of D. L. Moody, Thinking Christian: Essays on Testimony, Accountability, and the Christian Mind, as well as co-authoring Trajectories: A Gospel-Centered Introduction to Old Testament Theology.

Image: Jeremy Barande
In a startling development that has sent shockwaves through international relations, German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, announced that Germany would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant were issued.

Hebestreits exact words were, Of course. Yes, we abide by the law, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. This unprecedented move is seen by many as an affront to Israels sovereignty and a stark reminder of the painful history that haunts the Jewish people.

Germanys willingness to arrest Netanyahu stems from its membership in the ICC, having signed the Rome Statute on December 10, 1998, and ratified it on December 11, 2000. This statement by Germany has significant implications for international relations and Israels ongoing struggle for security and recognition.

The Associated Press reported that the ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan announced on May 20 that he is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu.

The International Criminal Court was created in response to the Holocaust, Nazi Germanys extermination of six million Jews. Germany has been a big donor to the ICC. The thought that the current German government would actually arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu if he visited Germany seems unthinkable and its prospect has created a firestorm in social media in Germany.

The land of Israel, including the areas currently disputed, was given to the Jewish people by God and was internationally recognized through the United Nations. Israels borders were expanded through defensive wars against invasions, making such international interference unacceptable. Historically, there has never been a sovereign Palestinian state. The concept of Palestinian rights to the land is a recent political construct, and comparisons to giving New Mexico back to Mexico or Minnesota to Canada are absurd and ignore the legal and historical context.

The incendiary statement made by Scholzs spokesman could escalate tensions and undermine Israels sovereignty and security. It might also embolden Palestinian leaders to push for further international recognition and support, potentially destabilizing the region further. Israel has already recalled its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland in response to similar recognitions of a Palestinian state. Such recognitions are seen as direct challenges to Israels authority and a disregard for the complexities of the conflict, especially the ongoing security concerns posed by groups like Hamas, designated terrorist organizations for decades by Europe and the United States.

Germanys stance does not help; its outright sabotage. Just as Israel is about to vanquish terrorism forever from the nation, the West decides to prop up the nearly defeated enemy who invades Israel. This is a betrayal of the highest magnitude. Any arrest of Netanyahu in Germany would be reminiscent of the Holocaust, bringing back painful memories of when Jews were hunted and persecuted across Europe.

Given the German statement, there is a significant risk that Netanyahu could be arrested if he visits Germany, assuming an ICC warrant is issued. This would create a major diplomatic crisis and further strain relations between Israel and Germany. Both the U.S. and the UK have historically supported a negotiated solution. They may express concern over such unilateral actions but will likely continue to advocate for direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine. The hope and prayer is that the United States will not cross the line and force a two-state solution because that would be crossing the red line that must not be passed.

The idea of arresting an Israeli prime minister is not only unprecedented but also a dangerous precedent in itself that could lead to increased tensions and conflict. It is reminiscent of the dark times in history when Jews were hunted and persecuted across Europe. This statement by Germany is a betrayal of the highest magnitude, undermining Israels efforts to combat terrorism and secure its borders.

The western world needs to stand up in united opposition against the absurd notion by the International Criminal Court of issuing a warrant to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

David Rubin is the former mayor of Shiloh, Israel, and a noted author and speaker on Israeli politics and security. He is also the founder of the Shiloh Israel Children's Fund, dedicated to healing the trauma of children who have been victims of terrorist attacks.

Image: Yad Vashem
The Scottish Green Party recently expelled 13 members for asserting that sex is a biological reality.

The 13 now ex-greenies had the temerity, the gall, shall we say the chutzpah, to sign a declaration stating that biological women were entitled to sex-based rights and protections, and expressing concern that gender critical views were being silenced.

Well, I never! They are lucky they didnt receive the death penalty!

The unlucky 13 were ejected because their fellow party members decided that they somehow posed a risk to the safety of all trans and non-binary members. What about the risk trans and non-binary members demonstrably pose to non-trans and binary members, especially females? (By way of historical context, in 2018, the Scottish Green Party adopted a rule that said trans-exclusionary individuals of any kind are not welcome as members. Talk about exclusionary! LOL! Not very welcoming or tolerant!)

The truth is dangerous to those who have an agenda opposing it. Galileos belief in a heliocentric universe threatened Catholic authorities of his time. He was forced to recant his beliefs  and spend the rest of his life under house arrest.

That is comparable to what is happening now to those who dare to posit that there are, essentially, only two sexes, males and females. (Or to those who dont believe abortion is a natural right, or that the coronavirus vaccine mandates were perfectly ethical and legal, or that January 6 was in no way an insurrection, Etc., etc.) In fact, the non-religious religion of leftism is far less tolerant, far more vicious, and entertains actions far more vile than anything Catholics thought of doing to Galileo -- or anybody else. That is simply historically -- and statistically -- inarguable. Our modern day experts/scientists want to burn nonbelievers at the stake, at least figuratively.

But if sex isnt a biological reality, nothing is. Humans arent, dogs arent, etc., as none of us would be here without it. And what about the (formerly?) respected concept of species? Maybe species arent real, either.

I, for one, am sick and tired of the new bioillogical reality. It isnt science, it isnt biology, and it isnt reality. At best, its a fad and an adventure in pushing the envelope. At worst, it is an attack on God. (See Genesis.)

We are supposed to seek truth. The Bible tells us so. Though, if it didnt, it would still be a logical imperative. That many are now facing severe punishment for telling the truth is more than troubling. To some, it could possibly be a sign of the end times. It is certainly a sign of very bad times. As Orwell so aptly noted, The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it. We have drifted far from the truth now, and those of us who openly and routinely state it are routinely savaged. But that must not deter us from seeking  or stating  it.

That, too, is the truth, no matter what the Scottish Green Party and other experts say.

Image: Pixabay (edited) / Pixabay License
The year 1492 is known to Americans as the year Columbus discovered America. In Jewish history, it marks the start of the first ethnic cleansing of Jews in history, which took place in Spain. During WWII, Spain was given a chance to right the horrendous wrong of this ethnic cleansing. They could save descendants of the Jews they had cleansed. They declined and let many thousands of Jews be murdered. In 2024, Spain was again given the opportunity to support Israel now that Jews are again facing an existential threat, but they chose instead to support the creation of a protected UN sovereign run by a terrorist organization committed to Israels annihilation.

When most think of the Spanish Inquisition, they think of Spain settling a score with their Muslim conquerors. But more Jews were banished than Muslims, despite their not having conquered anything. Instead, they had lived peacefully and productively in Spain for 800-1100 years and were as Spanish as anyone in Spain (barring occasionally being massacred). Still, they were guilty of being Jews, and between 200,000 and 300,000 Jews were expelled.

Of those that survived, most would spend time in North Africa under the Maghreb and in the Muslim Ottoman Empire before that became uncomfortable in the 19th century. These Spanish Jews became known as the Sephardic Jews.

At a meeting in 1940, Hitler gave Spanish Prime Minister Franco to the chance to redeem Spains reputation for antisemitism by offering to spare Spanish Jews in Europe by allowing them to relocate to Spain. Franco declined the offer:

The Spanish government has decided not to allow, for any case, the return to Spain of Spaniards of the Jewish race who live in territories under German jurisdiction The Spanish government would be willing in some cases to grant a transit visa for Spain for Jews with an entry visa for Portugal or the United States. In all other circumstances, the Spanish government will abandon the Jews with Spanish nationality to their fate.

Tens of thousands of Spanish nationality Sephardic Jews found a fate of death. Spain also handed over to the Nazis the identity of thousands of Spanish Jews during the time Germany and Spain were negotiating Spains becoming part of the Axis powers.

When Hitler was defeated, Francos regime began destroying evidence of collaboration with the Nazis and rewriting the history of Jews in Spain. Like many WWII histories, Spains history focuses on providing refuge for Jews, and there was some of that. But portraying Spain as a leader in the fight against genocidal antisemitism is like portraying the KKK as a social club. Spains recent decision to recognize a State of Palestine makes its historical whitewashing even more ridiculous.

Nevertheless, within Spain itself, popular opinion is on the governments side: 78% of Spaniards support a speedy recognition of Palestinian statehood. Thats nearly the same percentage of people in Gaza and the West Bank who supported Hamas actions on October 7th. Who needs leaders when you have popular opinion?

Currently, popular opinion in the U.S. is more difficult to assess. In March, per a Gallup poll, a majority disapproved of what Israel was doing in Gaza. However, in May, per a Harvard-Harris poll, almost 80 of voters supported Israel over Hamas, with 74% supporting Israels actions in Rafah. Its hard to reconcile the two numbers, and that vast discrepancy should leave Israels supporters worried that Gallup, rather than Harvard-Harris, may have its fingers on the pulse of American attitudes.

After all, the Nazis had popular opinion on their side too. Only God will be able to help America if our government yields to an immoral popular opinion on Israel and the Jews, following the path of Germany, Spain, and the residents of Gaza and the West Bank.

Image: The Expulsion of the Jews from Spain by Emilio Sala Frances (1889). Public domain.
Journalist Julie Kelly recently stirred up considerable outrage at her newest revelation in the Trump/Mar-A-Lago document case:

An exhibit filed today by Donald Trump in a motion to suppress evidence seized during the FBIs August 2022 raid of Mar-a-Lago revealed shocking new details about the bureaus plans to use deadly force and even engage the former president and his security detail that day if necessary. The document is just one of many court filings recently ordered unsealed by Judge Aileen Cannon, who is presiding over the matter in southern Florida.

Graphic: screenshot

Many commentators are aghast. What?! The FBI would use deadly force against President Trump and his Secret Service detail?! Remember Mr. Trump and his attorneys were in constant contact and negotiation with the National Archives over any dispute over documents, and not long before the raid, Mr. Trump, who was personally present, gave the FBI unrestricted access to Mar-A-Lago and implemented additional security measures they recommended. Additional measures, that is, beyond 24/7/365 active Secret Service security.

Remember also any dispute between the National Archives and former presidents are civil  not criminal  matters. We know the National Archives/GSA/FBI sent some six pallets of boxes to Mar-A-Lago before the raid. And now weve learned the FBI has tampered with evidence and lied about it to the Court:

Graphic: X Screenshot

Prosecutors admitted in a court filing on Friday that there are some boxes where the order of items within that box is not the same as in the associated scans. The prosecutors had previously told the court that the documents were in their original, intact form as seized. The Government acknowledges that this is inconsistent with what Government counsel previously understood and represented to the Court, a footnote in the filing reads.

Understanding the entire document prosecution is political, lawfare and election interference, lets examine a few of the issues.

That police officers of any kind may use deadly force if justified, is unremarkable. To review the criteria, which applies to everyone, including the police, for the use of deadly force, go here. But briefly, the police may use whatever force is reasonably necessary to make a lawful arrest. They may use deadly force when they, or another, are in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.

Keep in mind the FBI went to Mar-A-Lago to serve an unconstitutionally over-broad search warrant in a civil case. They seized all manner of items outside the scope of their warrant. They were not there, as far as we know, to make arrests, yet there were dozens of them, many armed with long arms. Even so, if they found themselves, or another, in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, there or anywhere, they would have theoretically been justified in using deadly force.

According to FBI planning documents Kelly obtained, agents were supposed to bring their standard issue weapon, Ammo [and] Handcuffs among other items no agent should need to be reminded to bring on such an assignment. I suppose in an agency as bureaucratic as the FBI, one doesnt visit the bathroom without filling out forms in triplicate, but that does seem odd.

However, everything about this case, which has been indefinitely postponed while Judge Cannon and higher courts resolve all manner of issues relating to evidence, the law, and presidential immunity, is odd, or more accurately, constitutionally irregular and without precedent. No honest prosecutor should have brought such a case without first resolving such issues.

Again, police officers always have the option of deadly force, just as citizens do. That is one of the primary courses of study in any basic law enforcement academy. Its continually reinforced throughout any law enforcement career. Thats not concerning or outlandish. What is concerning is the DOJ/FBI hierarchy somehow thought it necessary to put that to paper before the raid. Thats akin to reminding agents to insert keys into ignitions before trying to drive their vehicles.

Graphic: DaybyDay Cartoon, Chris Muir. Used with permission.

Were those Trump-hating bureaucrats trying to cover their asses just in case agents had to engage Donald Trump and his Secret Service detail? Were they reminding agents about what they hoped might happen, what they wanted to happen? Or was this merely an example of bureaucratic waste and idiocy? It would be interesting indeed to learn whether this kind of documentation is standard prior to serving search warrants across the nation, or was it confined to Donald Trump? No possible answer to any of these, and more, questions would make the FBI look like an honorable law enforcement agency answerable to the public. Dont get me started on the DOJ.

By the way, documents in civil cases are virtually exclusively obtained through subpoenas issued by the court having jurisdiction, not through search warrants executed by the police, but hey, its Donald Trump, so theyre making it up as they go along.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Kaiser Permanente is Americas oldest HMO and largest healthcare provider. Its a superb institution but is suffering the consequences of embracing the leftist COVID narrative. As a sign of its retreat from its COVID dead-end, its now trying to get its unvaccinated doctors back into the fold.

For 33 years, Ive been a completely satisfied Kaiser patient.* Ive never received anything but good care from the people who work there, whether doctors, nurses, physical therapists, receptionists, pharmacists, or anyone else. I also think its a fantastic model of how medical care can be done well and affordably.

Kaiser is named after the industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, who founded it in 1945 after over a decade of providing low-cost healthcare to workers and their families. What made Kaisers treatment centers different was that they didnt focus on treating only existing illnesses and injuries. Instead, the minds behind it figured out that a healthy workforce was a productive workforce, so Kaiser facilities emphasized preventative medicine.

Image by Freepik

From that single corporate beginning, Kaiser has grown into Americas largest Health Maintenance Organization, with offices across the West, Hawaii, and the Southeast. Unlike other HMOs, Kaiser is not an aggregation of independent physicians. It is, instead, a closed system. Everythingthe hospitals, the medical clinics, the equipment, and the employeesis all under a single umbrella.

The great thing about Kaiser being a unitary system is that you get the care you need, neither more nor less. In most other systems, patients pay for every single service and test they receive, which incentivizes more tests and services, many of which are unnecessary. There are also capitation systems that give a physician a single lump sum per patient. If the patient gets minimal care, the physician wins; if the patient requires lots care, the patient loses. Again, for less principled people, thats a bad incentive.

In Kaiser, the physicians are salaried and the enormously sophisticated and expensive testing equipment that modern medicine requires is all under one roof. Doctors can focus on care, not the bottom line.

Kaiser can also offer medicines at a low co-pay because it buys them in bulk. In addition, pharmacy committees decide on standard medicines for standard conditions. They arent enticed by pharmaceutical salesmen assuring individual physicians that the latest expensive medicine is a must-prescribe.

As I said, Im all in on the Kaiser model and completely satisfied with the care Ive received from Kaiser over the decades.

Having said that, theres no doubt that Kaiser management hews to the Democrat side of the spectrum. For example, its been all-in on transgender madness, which I find heinous, unscientific, and unprincipled. (If you want an example out of the UK about how so-called gender-affirming care is being done, not for the patients but to satisfy the providers own needs, read this tragic X thread.)

Also, during COVID, Kaiser was at the front of the lineproudly sofor vaccination. That meant that when state and local governments demanded vaccinations for physicians, and when Joe Biden issued an executive order mandating vaccinations for healthcare workers in facilities receiving federal reimbursement (that means all of them), Kaiser meekly went along with the mandates.

Kaiser did so despite being the largest healthcare provider in America, which means that it has an enormous voice in the medical field. Thats why, in 2021, Kaiser fired all physicians who refused vaccinations and didnt qualify for exemptions.

Now, though, those mandates are gone, and Kaiser is facing a reckoning in the form of a physician shortage. Its therefore issued a letter to former Kaiser physicians, essentially begging them to come back:

 Breaking:

Kaiser Permanente is begging doctors they fired over the COVID shot to crawl back to the HMO & reapply:



KAISER PERMANENTE



May 17, 2024



Dr. Owen Johnston,



We are writing to let you know that there has been a change in the Kaiser Permanente COVID-19 Vaccination pic.twitter.com/FRY4ESW77e  Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) May 23, 2024

Well! I would have expected the letter to have some language about reinstating all accrued retirement benefits, but maybe thats a bridge too far.

Kaisers apparent staffing struggles (it wouldnt have sent out the letter if it werent struggling) reflect what happens to all institutions that embrace leftist tenets: They hurt themselves. I sincerely hope that Kaiser is able to repair matters because, as I said, I think the world of the institution.

____________________

*Full disclosure: I have financial ties to Kaiser, but I would love it even if I didnt.
No one really knows how many Americans regularly carry handguns, concealed or openly. The number of concealed carry licenses doesnt tell the tale, particularly since 29 states are now constitutional carry states. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, Americans need no license to carry concealed weapons in those states. As I recently noted here at AT, some 36 states allow open carry.

Graphic: Glock 43X, Author:

We do know that April was the 57th consecutive month of more than one million gun sales. Its reasonable to believe tens of millions of Americans regularly carry, and most dont advertise the fact. But why should anyone carry?

Every year, I provide an updated rationale for carrying a handgun. The complete list is here, but here are some of the reasons:

*Evil exists and may confront anyone at any time and any place.

*Evil exists to destroy all that is kind, good and loving.

*God exists and expects me to protect myself, those I love, and those unable to protect themselves.

*Self-defense is a God-given, natural, unalienable right.

*Our country, circa May 2024, is brimming with tens  even hundreds  of thousands of terrorists. Im ready.

*The lives of the innocent  friend or stranger  are worth far more to me and to a just society than the lives of vicious criminals and terrorists.

*By carrying a handgun, I honor the foresight and wisdom of the Founders in writing the Second Amendment, which acknowledges, but does not create, the right to keep and bear arms.

*The Biden Mummified Meat Puppet Administration wants to ban common, usual firearms.

*Never in human history has a government disarmed a people for good reasons.

*Never in human history has a government disarmed a people to ensure greater individual liberty and public safety.

*Any government that would disarm a people cannot be trusted.

*Going armed reinforces and upholds the Social Contract.

*An armed society is a polite society.

*Those who lawfully carry concealed weapons are uncommonly law-abiding.

*A government that labels half of the nation white supremacists insurrectionists, domestic terrorists, racists, and sends federal law enforcement to spy on and harass parents objecting to the sexual and political indoctrination of their children makes plain the wisdom of the Founders in writing the First and Second Amendments.

*It demonstrates, as nothing else can, that I am the master of my government, not its slave; that elected officials work for me and only with my continuing consent.

Graphic: Author

*It reminds politicians every iota of power they possess is on temporary loan from me and every other American on condition of good, lawful behavior. They hate that.

*I am a free man and no evidence of that fact is more meaningful and convincing than that I own and carry the firearms I prefer.

*It reminds us all that the whims of the most connected and powerful may not prevail over the Bill of Rights as long as it lives and burns brightly in the hearts of patriotic Americans and is not merely fading ink on yellowing paper.

*Semiautomatic handguns and rifles with high-capacity magazines are precisely the kind of common and usual firearms the Founders intended Americans to keep and bear. They were content citizens kept and bore the most powerful, useful military arms of their time, even cannon. The principle does not change with time.

*Gun grabbing politicians dont want me to have the most effective weapons, or any weapons.

*A single respiratory virus with a 99+% survival rate reminds rational Americans how fragile civilization can be, how quickly some would seize absolute power, how reluctant they are to surrender such illegitimate power over others, and how quickly it can all go bad.

*Those who willingly and meekly surrender to criminals surrender more than valuables; they surrender their dignity and honor; they surrender their sovereignty; they surrender civilization itself.

*I am old-fashioned enough to think it my duty to protect those who have less ability than mine to protect themselves.

*I could not live with myself for failing to protect women in danger. Call it sexist if you must, but if youre unarmed and under attack, would you really think to call an unarmed, untrained Democrat/socialist/communist (D/s/c)? Would an Antifa activist assist you? A BLM mostly peaceful protester?

*Exercising the Second Amendment helps remind women it is the ultimate womens issue. No oneapart from childrenbenefits more from the ability to deter and stop criminal attacks.

*The possibility of having to fend off an armed attack in a mall, theater, restaurant, or other public place has never been greater, and if D/s/cs get their way, it will become the new normal. It already is in many places.

*Foremost, I am an American; I am a free man; it is my tradition and heritage.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
The latest tweak to the Discover feed in the Google app is a card for Sunrise and Sunset info. This new item will join the other cards in the current carousel located under the search box and shortcuts. While it is not a life-changing addition, it can be useful for certain situations or use cases.

As its name and description indicate, the Sunrise and Sunset cards will show you the Sunrise Sunset time for your current location. And that seems to be it. As with the other cards, you can enable it from the checkbox list. If you received the new option, you will see it among those available after swiping to the last card and tapping on the pencil icon.

According to 9to5Google, the Sunrise and Sunset card for Discover in the Google app is not activated automatically, but you must do it manually. Once its done, it will be available along with the Air Quality, Finance, Sports, and Weather charts.

The Sunrise and Sunset card for Google Discover is useful for certain cases

Regarding the use you could give to the card data, there are some cases. First, the most common will be when you want to know exactly what time it will start to get dark. However, it can also be especially useful for photographers looking to take perfect photos during the sunset. The card will help you know the ideal time of day to take pics under these conditions. Although there are already dedicated apps for this, it doesnt hurt to have it available as a standard for quick access.

Google appears to be working on more cards for Google Discover. Some users received a Shopping card this month as a test. Also, the company wants to add a Notifications tab in the bottom bar of the app. Lastly, Google recently tested a redesign of the Discover carousel, but they backed out in the end.
Google is offering a free trial of AI Premium to subscribers of the top plan on Fi. More specifically, Unlimited Plus subscribers can now get two months free of the companys most powerful AI-powered productivity tools. Lets remember that now they are better than ever after the Gemini Pro 1.5 upgrade.

Currently, Unlimited Plus is the best plan offered by Fi, Googles mobile carrier. It includes a ton of benefits like 100 GB of Google One cloud storage, unlimited calling, unlimited data (speed cap upon reaching 50GB), unlimited tethering, 6 months of YouTube Premium, and more. It costs $65 for a single person, but as you add more people to the plan, the price reduces for each one. So, if you include six people in the plan, it will cost $40 for each one.

Now, Google Fi Unlimited Plus includes two free months of AI Premium access

Now, the company is adding an additional benefit to the plan. Google Fi Unlimited Plus subscribers will get two free months of access to the AI Premium suite. AI Premium is an additional subscription that offers access to Gemini Advanced and Gemini in Workspace. There are also some extra perks in the form of exclusive Google Workspace features. Additionally, subscribers will enjoy 10% cashback when purchasing from the Google Store. AI Premium subscription normally costs $19,99.

As reported by 9to5Google, subscribers are receiving the notice via email. From there, they can easily claim the benefits if they wish. Google points out that you will be able to cancel the AI Premium subscription before the two months are up without having to pay anything. However, if you decide to keep it, it will cost you an additional $18/month to the current price of your Fi plan.

Interestingly, it seems that you can claim the benefits via email even if you had previously claimed the promo offered directly by Google One. This offer can help capture many people who are still undecided. After all, there are still folks wondering if it is worth paying extra for AI tools.
Late last year, Judge Donato ruled that Google was operating an illegal monopoly with the Play Store in its antitrust case against Epic, and Epic followed that up with a series of remedies that it was proposing to fix the issues. Google filed a response with the court in early May calling these remedies excessive, and just this week it posted an official response on its blog painting a picture of a terrifying and chaotic world that would befall Android users if these remedies were allowed to pass. Only Epic benefits, Google says.

The more important part of Googles statement is that Epics proposed remedies will hurt Android users by putting their privacy and security at risk. The companys reasoning does make a little bit of sense, except Judge Donato isnt buying it. I just dont buy it, Donato said in reference to Googles horror story future that would come to pass if the remedies were made to the Play Store.

Judge Donato doesnt agree with all of the antitrust remedies Epic proposed for Google

While Googles claim of a terrifying world may be as dire and bleak as the company makes things out to be, that doesnt mean Epics remedies are all getting the thumbs up. On the contrary. Donato doesnt necessarily agree with all of them. In fact he doesnt confirm that he agrees with any of them.

He calls some of them open-ended and too vague. But he also says that Google will have to make some changes. Its still unclear what those changes are going to be, however. Donato does state that Google will have to pay some penalties for being a monopolist. Following that up by stating hes not looking for relief that would only give a helping hand to Epic. This case is about an opportunity to compete generally, Donato said.

Donato also mentions that what the case is doing is leveling the playing field. Its lifting the barriers so competition will be fair for all involved. It wont be just Google holding all the cards. It wont be just Epic gaining the lions share of the benefits from whatever remedies are imposed.

The case wont be finalized till later this Summer

It seems like this case is coming to an end, but that isnt quite true. Both Epic and Google have presented many of their arguments. However, final arguments are expected to be presented in August. So a decision from Donato on what Google has to do wont come till later this Summer.

Its unclear what Googles penalties will be, but Donato did say some of Epics remedies were too vague. So theres a good chance they will have to be revised before Donato makes a final decision.
British actor Idris Elba has said the stories of black people who fought during the Second World War matter today from an education and cultural appropriation perspective.

The Luther star, 51, narrates the National Geographic documentary Erased: WW2s Heroes Of Colour, which premieres ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6.

He told the PA news agency: The importance is about the perspective of these wars and this part of the world and how history, if its slanted, can really leave out some important things to remember.

Its important to remember that black and brown soldiers were a very important part of strategising this war, populating the war, and that history really does matter.

It matters from an educational perspective, it matters from a cultural appropriation perspective, and it matters that American troops were partly black.

Elba said he was inspired by his hero grandfather who was born and raised in Kansas City before he was drafted to fight in the war.

My granddads story is not in the film, but its in my heart, he said.

Idris Elba narrates the series (Matt Crossick/PA)

Its something that my mum and I talk about, but we dont know much about.

The lack of knowledge available about his grandfathers story motivated the actor when it came to making the series.

It really did compel me and was part of the driver as to why we chose to tell these stories, he said.

My granddad is a hero to us. Hes a hero, not just because he fought in a war, but hes a hero because he chose a better life for himself even after putting himself at risk for a country that didnt recognise him on his return.

Elba said his grandfather did not go back to the US after the war and instead ended up in West Africa.

The war series includes an episode that details the stories of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion  the only all-black combat unit to fight on the D-Day beaches.

D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in history, when the Allied forces landed on the coast in northern France in 1994.

The limited series additionally spotlights the forgotten troops who fought in Dunkirk, Pearl Harbour, and the Battle of the Bulge.

It serves to highlight how the experiences of black people in the Second World War inspired campaigns for freedom, including the civil rights movement in the US.

The first episode of Erased: WW2s Heroes Of Colour will air on May 27 on National Geographic in the UK.
Updated 25 May 2024 at 9:42 am

Police have charged a 75-year-old man in connection with the death of a former estate worker in Perthshire.

Brian Low, 65, was found dead on a remote track in Pitilie near Aberfeldy around 8.30am on Saturday February 17.

During a post-mortem examination six days later, it was discovered Mr Low, who retired from his job as a groundsman at the Edradynate Estate last year, had been shot.

The body of Brian Low was discovered in a remote area near Aberfeldy (PA)

On Friday morning, Police Scotland confirmed a man had been arrested in connection with Mr Lows death.

The 75-year-old man has now been charged in connection with Mr Lows death and is due to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court on Monday. He remains in custody.

Police Scotland said: A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
Dame Andrea, a health minister, reportedly posed the question at a behind-closed-doors meeting of Conservative MPs on Wednesday night - Andrew Crowley

A Tory minister asked hours after Rishi Sunak called the election whether she could submit a letter of no confidence in him days before her departure from frontline politics, it has been claimed.

Dame Andrea Leadsom, a health minister, reportedly posed the question at a behind-closed-doors meeting of Conservative MPs on Wednesday night.

She subsequently confirmed in a letter to Mr Sunak on Friday evening that she would not seek re-election, bringing her 14-year parliamentary career to an end.

Dame Andrea did not address her reported issues with the Prime Ministers decision to call the election in her letter, instead thanking him for having faith in her as a health minister since he appointed her to his frontbench.

It came amid rumours that Tory rebels are preparing to launch one final bid to oust the Mr Sunak and stop the snap election.

Sky News reported that Dame Andrea, a former business secretary under Boris Johnson, made the comments at the 1922 Committee.

The backbench committee of MPs met on Wednesday night just after Mr Sunak delivered his speech in Downing Street unveiling the July 4 poll.

Dame Andrea declined to comment, saying that 1922 Committee meetings are private.

But it will come as a damaging blow to the Prime Minister, whose decision to call the snap election has angered some Conservative MPs.

Steady drumbeat of MPs quitting

The number of Tory MPs standing down in this Parliament has reached 76, surpassing the previous record set in the run-up to Labours 1997 landslide.

It has meant that the beginning of the campaign has been dominated by a steady drumbeat of heavyweight Conservatives announcing they are quitting.

At the same time, Tory rebels who tried to oust Mr Sunak earlier in the year have been attempting to draw support among MPs for a fresh effort.

They are billing a last-ditch attempt to remove him as Conservative leader as the only way to stop the election and a mauling at the hands of Labour.

Although the plot is thought likely to fail, it demonstrates how the Prime Minister angered his own backbenchers with his surprise announcement of a snap contest.

Even his own Cabinet was left in the dark over his intentions to go to the public on July 4, despite the fact the Conservatives are 20 points behind in the polls.
You must keep us free at this time, like none before, Biden told the graduates. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

Joe Biden has called newly graduating US military officers the guardians of American democracy at a commencement speech in New York state, where the US president, without mentioning Donald Trump by name, gave strong warnings of unprecedented threats to US freedom.

Biden told the West Point military academy graduating class of 2024 that it is being called upon to tackle threats across the globe as well as preserve Americas ideals at home.

The president, speaking in front of about 1,000 graduating cadets at the US army training academy on Saturday, urged the newly minted officers to hold fast to their military oath not to a political party, not to a president but to the constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

In remarks that could be seen as a thinly veiled reference to the threat to democracy Biden believes Trump poses to the US as the two candidates battle for the White House in this Novembers election, the president said that the oath taken by the military is as important to your nation now as it ever has been.

From the very beginning, nothing is guaranteed about democracy in America. Every generation has an obligation to defend it, protect it, preserve it  now it is your turn, said Biden, who cited the right to vote, the right to worship and the right to protest as key freedoms that require constant vigilance.

The president said that the US was founded on an idea of equality but that ideas need defenders to make them real and thats what you, the class of 2024, are all about. The defenders of freedom, champions of liberty, guardians  and I mean this  guardians of American democracy. You must keep us free at this time, like none before.

Trump has said he will attempt to lock up political opponents if he becomes president again, having previously, while in the White House, urged the military to crush protestors and crack skulls in doing so. During nationwide protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Trump said that he wanted soldiers to dominate the streets.

Meanwhile, Biden outlined a global situation that he said had placed unprecedented challenges upon the US military, warning that the cadets are graduating into a world like none before  Theres never been a time in history when weve asked our military to do so many many different things in so many different places around the world, all at the same time.

The president reaffirmed that the US will continue standing strong with Ukraine in the face of a brutal tyrant in the form of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, although again reiterated no US troops will be sent to the conflict.

Biden said that the Nato alliance was stronger than ever, praised the US military for its efforts in erecting a pier in record time and delivering air drops to provide aid to Palestinians suffering amid Israels war in Gaza.

This, despite severe logistical problems with using the pier to get aid to those who need it. Delivery operations that began from the pier after it was completed earlier this month were halted almost immediately after desperate people seized most of the shipment last week.

Then on Saturday, heavy seas severely disrupted US vessels, the military reported.

In other parts of the globe, Biden said, the US was standing up for peace and stability regarding the threat posed by China to Taiwan.

The upshot of all of this, across vastly different regions and very different challenges, our men and women in uniform are hard at work strengthening our alliances, Biden said, adding that the military was standing up to tyrants and safeguarding the peace and protecting freedom and openness. We are doing what only America can do, as the indispensable nation.

Biden is scheduled to participate in Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Monday and D-Day ceremonies in France a week later.

On Saturday, he made his first address at West Point as president, having twice addressed a graduating class of cadets when he was vice-president. The elite training academy is about 40 miles north of New York City, at a strategic spot high above a bend in the Hudson River that Biden reminded those gathered had been key to George Washingtons fight and eventual victory for American independence against the British.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee to run against Biden in the 2024 election, was the last president to speak at a West Point commencement, in 2020.

Reuters contributed reporting
Friends of Boris Johnson have said a return to politics for the former prime minister was unlikely - JEFF GILBERT

A former minister has demanded Rishi Sunak bring back Boris Johnson as a candidate amid a record exodus of MPs before the general election.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who served in the Department for Education under Mr Johnson, said the former prime minister running in one of dozens of vacant seats would bolster her partys chances.

The number of Tory MPs standing down at the general election on Friday surpassed the Conservative Partys previous record set in 1997, when Labour had a landslide victory under Sir Tony Blair, and polls suggest Mr Sunak could endure a similar defeat.

Dame Andrea has said her parliamentary colleagues should never have ousted Mr Johnson in 2022 and has been a strident critic of Mr Sunak, submitting a no confidence letter late last year.

Along with Sir Simon Clarke, she was one of just two Tory MPs to quit before Mr Sunak called the election.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Dame Andrea said: With so many MPs retiring, I think Boris Johnson should stand in one of these seats.

Time to Bring Back Boris. We need him to help stop Sir Kneel-a-lot, flip-flopping, anti-Brexit, not knowing what a woman is Starmer and Rayner from getting into power.

Friends of Mr Johnson told The Telegraph earlier this week that his comeback to the political fray was unlikely, with one saying: I would think 100 [per cent] not!

Another said they would seriously doubt that he wanted to stand for election, although he is yet to categorically rule out a return.

He is currently writing a book about his time in office and has made millions from high-profile public speaking commitments since leaving Downing Street. He is also expected to commence a series of appearances on GB News soon, having signed up to the channel to boost its coverage of the UK and US elections.

Mr Johnson stunned Westminster last June by quitting as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, claiming a Commons inquiry was determined to find him guilty over partygate.

He accused the privileges committee of acting as a kangaroo court in its investigation of the Downing Street parties scandal that would ultimately precipitate his fall as prime minister, while also attacking the Tories of losing their mojo under Mr Sunak.

Striking a more conciliatory tone, Mr Johnson on Friday used his weekly Daily Mail column to throw his weight behind the Tory election campaign, urging voters to save this country from socialism in a series of attacks on Sir Keir Starmer.

He failed to mention Mr Sunak by name once and in recent months has criticised a number of his flagship policies, including banning smoking, abandoning HS2 and delaying or diluting a number of climate objectives.

Mr Johnson warned that Sir Keir would be the most dangerous and Left-wing Labour prime minister since the 1970s who would raise both taxes and spending.

He claimed Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, were licking their lips vampirically about the prospect of wealth taxes, while warning that Labour, if elected, would throw in the sponge and let the boats come by scrapping the Rwanda deportation plan.
In the UK, which has been building reactors intermittently, costs for the under construction Hinkley C reactor, pictured, started at $34bn and could be as high as $89bn. Photograph: Reuters

The Coalitions pitch on nuclear energy for Australia has had two recurring themes: the electricity will be cheap and it could be deployed within a decade.

CSIROs latest GenCost report  a document that analyses the costs of a range of electricity generation technologies  contradicts both of these points. It makes the Coalitions job of selling nuclear power plants to Australians ever more challenging.

For the first time, the national science agency has calculated the potential costs of large-scale nuclear electricity in a country that banned the generation technology more than a quarter of a century ago.

Even using a set of generous assumptions, the CSIRO says a first nuclear plant would deliver power no sooner than 2040 and could cost more than $17bn.

Related: One Big Chart: how does the cost of nuclear power compare to renewables?

It is likely to spark an attack on the credibility of the report from nuclear advocates and those opposed to the rollout of renewable energy. Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has already attacked the report.

In the meantime, Australia waits for the Coalition to say what kind of reactors it would deploy, where it would put them and how much it thinks they would cost.

Now that CSIRO has released its report, heres what we know about the viability of a nuclear industry in Australia.

Whats new on nuclear costs?

CSIROs GenCost report says a 1,000 megawatt nuclear plant would cost about $8.6bn to build, but that comes with some large caveats. The main one is that this was the theoretical cost of a reactor in an Australia that already had an established and continuous program of building reactors.

The $8.6bn is based on costs in South Korea, which does have a continuous reactor building program and is one country the least beset by cost blowouts.

To make the cost more relevant, CSIRO compared the Australian and South Korean costs of building modern coal plants. Costs were more than double in Australia.

But CSIRO warns the first nuclear plants in Australia would be subject to a first of a kind premium that could easily double the $8.6bn build cost.

In the UK, a country that has been building reactors intermittently, costs for its under-construction Hinkley C reactor (more than three times the size of a theoretical 1,000MW reactor in Australia) started at $34bn and could now be as high as $89bn.

In the United States, the countrys largest nuclear plant has just turned on its final unit seven years behind schedule and at double the initial cost. There are no more nuclear plants under construction in the country.

What about the cost of the electricity?

CSIRO also offers cost estimates for the electricity produced by large-scale reactors, but those too assume a continuous nuclear building program in Australia.

Electricity from large-scale reactors would cost between $141 per megawatt hour and $233/MWh if they were running in 2030, according to GenCost.

Combining solar and wind would provide power at between $73 and $128/MWh  figures that include the costs of integrating renewables, such as building transmission lines and energy storage.

What about those small modular reactors?

The Coalition has also advocated for so-called small modular reactors which are not commercially available and, CSIRO says, are unlikely to be available to build in Australia until 2040.

One United States SMR project lauded by the Coalition collapsed in late 2023 because the cost of the power was too high.

That project, CSIRO says, was significant because its design had nuclear commission approval and was the only recent estimate from a real project that was preparing to raise finance for the construction stage. As such, its costs are considered more reliable than theoretical projects.

GenCost reports that power from a theoretical SMR in 2030 would cost between $230 and $382/MWh  much higher than solar and wind or large-scale nuclear.

How quickly could Australia build a nuclear plant?

Nuclear advocates tend to point to low nuclear power costs in countries that have long-established nuclear industries.

Related: CSIRO puts cost of new nuclear plant at $8.6bn as Coalition stalls on policy details

Australia has no expertise in building nuclear power, no infrastructure, no regulatory agency, no nuclear workforce and a public that is yet to have a serious proposition put in front of it.

Australias electricity grid is fast evolving from one dominated by large coal-fired power plants to one engineered for and dominated by solar, wind, batteries and pumped hydro with gas-fired power working as a rarely used backup.

This creates a major problem for the Coalition, because CSIRO estimates if a decision to pursue nuclear in Australia were made in 2025, with political support for the required legislative changes, then the first full operation would be no sooner than 2040.

Tony Wood, head of the Grattan Institutes energy program, says: By 2040, the coal-fired power stations will be in their graves. What do you do in the meantime?

You could keep the coal running, but that would become very expensive, he says, pointing to the ageing coal fleet that is increasingly beset by outages.

Wood says the GenCost report is only a part of the story when it comes to understanding nuclear.

The Coalition, he says, would need to explain how much it would cost to build an electricity system to accommodate nuclear.

Could you just drop nuclear into the grid?

The biggest piece of generation kit on Australias electricity grid is a single 750 megawatt coal-fired unit at Kogan Creek in Queensland. Other power stations are larger but they are made up of a series of smaller units.

But the smallest of the large-scale nuclear reactors are about 1,000MW and most are 1,400MW.

Related: Newsroom edition: why Peter Duttons nuclear policy makes no sense - podcast

Electricity system engineers have to build-in contingency plans if large units either trip or have to be pulled offline for maintenance. That contingency costs money.

In Australias current electricity system, the GenCost report says larger nuclear plants would probably require the deployment of more generation units in reserve than the existing system consisting of units of 750MW or less.

But by the time a theoretical nuclear plant could be deployed, most if not all the larger coal-fired units will be gone.

Who might build Australian nukes?

Some energy experts have questioned whether any company would be willing to take up a contract to build a reactor in Australia when there are existing nuclear nations looking to expand their fleets.

Right now, nuclear reactors are banned federally and in several states.

The GenCost report also points to another potential cost-raiser for nuclear  a lack of political bipartisanship.

The report says: Without bipartisan support, given the historical context of nuclear power in Australia, investors may have to consider the risk that development expenses become stranded by future governments.
Craig Wright arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in February - Getty

With a purported IQ of 183, 14 masters degrees and at least two PhDs, Craig Wright certainly appeared to have enough intelligence to be the mythical founder of Bitcoin.

The computer scientist had readily admitted to being the real Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of the trillion-dollar cryptocurrency, after being uncovered by reporters nearly a decade ago.

And over the years, he had produced a wealth of evidence seemingly supporting his claim, from contemporaneous notes showing his intentions to set up the digital currency to, crucially, the private key that unlocks it.

But, now, the 53-year-olds claims have finally, and conclusively, ruled to be what many in the crypto community had believed for years  nothing but complete bunkum.

Following a five-week trial in the High Court, Justice James Mellor concluded Wright had not only lied extensively and repeatedly, but also committed forgery on a grand scale.

Dr. Wright presents himself as an extremely clever person, the judge observed dryly in his scathing 231-page judgment. However, in my judgment, he is not nearly as clever as he thinks he is.

The news was met with an overwhelming sense of relief within the crypto community, the majority of whom had been highly sceptical of Wrights claims ever since they first emerged in 2015.

The abrasive Australian had spent years targeting doubters with expensive legal action, threatening to personally hunt them down until they are broke, bankrupt and alone.

Mystery identity

Ultimately however, it was this arrogance that led to his downfall, according to the judge, who said the real Satoshi would never have resorted to litigation.

The mystery identity of Bitcoins founder has confounded journalists and crypto enthusiasts alike ever since the cryptocurrencys white paper was first published in 2008. The paper describes Bitcoin as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, an electronic coin that would replace money transfers that are currently controlled by the financial system.

Going under the name Satoshi Nakamoto, the author of the white paper had exchanged hundreds of messages with collaborators  before suddenly cutting off communication in 2011.

Several claims to be the real Nakamoto emerged over the following years  only to be quickly discredited. That was until the name of Wright, a fairly unknown IT security consultant, emerged.

Operating on the margins of the crypto industry, the twice-married father of three from Brisbane, Australia, was uncovered by tech publications Wired and Gizmodo.

The evidence was based on leaked emails and transcripts, including one in which Wright said: I did my best to try and hide the fact that Ive been running Bitcoin since 2009.

It may not have been a coincidence that Wright  who denies being behind the leak  had been orchestrating his own unveiling as Nakamoto at the time.

Mired in financial trouble and locked in disputes with the Australian tax office, he had agreed to sign over the exclusive rights to his life story as the creator of Bitcoin to a billionaire Canadian businessman, Calvin Ayre.

In return, he was loaned around 1.3 million to cover his tax problems  a lifeline at the time  and was made chief scientist of a new crypto company that was set to cash in on his name.

To prove his claim was genuine, his sponsors devised a plan for Wright to make the cryptographic proof public and end the mystery forever. But the big reveal never came.

Instead, he published a jargon-heavy blog post that was far away from meeting the burden of proof required. Some of the most trusted figures in Bitcoin, who had previously endorsed Wright, suggested they had been duped.

Legal battles

In the face of widespread rejection by members of the crypto community, however, a stubborn Wright simply doubled down  aggressively too.

On social media, he said he would launch a Jihad on doubters, boasting: I am the punishment of god in cryptocurrency, while expensive litigation, backed by Ayre, quickly became his weapon of choice.

In 2019, he further inflamed tensions among the crypto community by registering US copyright over both the Bitcoin white paper and code and his legal battles took him across multiple jurisdictions, from the US to Norway.

By 2021, an influential cabal of industry leaders decided enough was enough and formed the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA). Its mission statement was to share technology openly and stand up to bullies like Wright.

They filed a case in the UK High Court to debunk Wrights delusions of grandeur and finally prove, once and for all, Wright was not Satoshi Nakamoto.

Over five weeks this Spring, Dr Wright was quizzed in minute detail over the 100 or so documents he claimed were proof he had written the white paper.

One key piece of evidence was a page of notes scribbled on a Quill pad dated August 2007. It summarised a meeting between Wright and a colleague where they discussed a new form of digital currency, that would pass from person to person without an intermediary, alongside a list of follow-up steps that mentioned a paper set to be published in 2008.

Yet a sworn statement from Hamelin Brands, the parent company of Quill, revealed the pad hadnt gone into circulation until 2012  several years after Bitcoin was created.

In court, Wright insisted the firm was mistaken. COPAs lawyer replied: Dr Wright, you are making this up as you go along.

Lies and evasions

To many who have investigated Wright over the years, his capacity to exaggerate the truth comes as no surprise. Even his mother has admitted Wright, who was brought up a catholic, had a long-standing habit of adding bits on to the truth, just to make it bigger.

The Scottish writer Andrew OHagan, who spent nearly nine months with Dr Wright in 2016, saw a similar trait. He wrote: What his mother said connected with something Id noticed. In what he said, he often went further than he needed to; further than he ought to have done. He appeared to start with the truth, and then, slowly, he would inflate his part until the whole story suddenly looked weak.

Justice Mellors own assessment found: As soon as one lie was exposed, Dr Wright resorted to further lies and evasions. He concluded that as Wright faced greater and more significant challenges to his claim, he took his lies and forgery to ever greater levels.

Justice Mellor counted 47 forgeries in total, and suggested any attempts by Wright to explain them quickly turned into technobabble.

But it was Wrights character that came in for the most stinging criticism, which he said was completely at odds with Nakomoto, whose writing and correspondence had been calm, knowledgeable, collaborative, precise person with little or no arrogance.

So where does this leave Wright  and will we ever find the real Satoshi Nakamoto?

Unsurprisingly, Wright has said he fully intends to appeal the ruling. But for the identity of Bitcoins creator, perhaps it closes the chapter for now.

Fundamental to Bitcoin is the idea that it is not owned by anyone, it is a decentralised currency that cant be corrupted by human influence. What right has Wright, or anybody to claim it? And yet it is possible that the saga will do it no harm.

As Gavin Andresen, an American software developer key to the formation of Bitcoin, put it: Having a mysterious founder is a great creation myth. People love a creation myth. Knowing the real story might make Bitcoin less interesting to people.
Prisoner looking through cell bars

Half of the public oppose prisoners being released early from jail, with only one in five supportive of the policy, polling has found.

The survey by Savanta for The Telegraph also found that people were most likely to say that the Conservatives are to blame for overcrowding in the prison system.

Last week, the Ministry of Justice announced the extension of an early release scheme, meaning some prisoners will be freed up to 70 days early in England and Wales in order to alleviate pressure on the prison estate.

The scheme was first introduced in October and allowed for release up to 18 days early. That was increased to up to 60 days in March.

Violent offenders sentenced to less than four years in jail are eligible for the scheme, as are burglars, thieves, shoplifters and fraudsters serving any length of fixed-term sentence.

Sex offenders, convicted terrorists, category A prisoners, and all violent offenders serving four or more years are excluded.

Savanta interviewed 2,298 UK adults aged 18 and over between May 17 and May 19.

Prisoners at a young offenders' institution. Most people polled said they blamed the Conservatives for overcrowding in jails - Andrew Aitchison/Corbis Historical

Asked if they supported the Governments scheme to release some prisoners up to 70 days early in a bid to tackle overcrowding, 49 per cent said they opposed the policy, with 21 per cent in support. Twenty-two per cent said they neither supported nor opposed it, while 7 per cent answered dont know.

Opposition was consistent among those who said they intend to vote Conservative (48 per cent), Labour (49 per cent) and Liberal Democrat (44 per cent), but significantly higher among those who intend to vote for Reform UK (68 per cent).

When asked who is most to blame for prison overcrowding, of the options tested, respondents were most likely to say the Conservative Party (29 per cent), followed by the courts (13 per cent), Labour (9 per cent), the prison service (9 per cent) and the civil service (4 per cent). A quarter (24 per cent) answered dont know.

While Labour voters were twice as likely to say the Conservative Party (42 per cent) is most to blame compared to those who would vote Conservative (21 per cent), this was still the most selected option among Tory voters, narrowly beating the courts (19 per cent).

Chris Hopkins, the political research director at Savanta, said: With a general election now announced, the Governments plans for early prisoner release may well come into sharper focus.

Voters of all major parties, including the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats all strongly dislike the governments early release scheme  unity that is rare in British politics.

Of particular concern for the Prime Minister with the recent confirmation that Reform UK will stand candidates in over 600 constituencies, is that his plans are most vociferously opposed by Reform voters, who he continues to leak votes to.

The Conservative Party are by some distance the most likely to be blamed by the public for the prisons overcrowding crisis.

Shabana Mahmood, Labours shadow justice secretary, said: Our prison estate is at a tipping point, with criminals now being let out 70 days early because prisons are so full following 14 years of Tory mismanagement, letting reoffending run rife.

This scheme has been mired in secrecy, with no transparency or proper planning. Its no wonder the public have serious concerns.

The Tories declined to comment.
Julyan Wickham: if architectural ideas could be copyrighted, then he might have become a very rich man - Courtesy of family

Julyan Wickham, the architect, who has died aged 82, would doubtless have worked on the design of plate-glass and concrete universities as tertiary education expanded following the 1963 Robbins Report, had he been born a generation or so earlier; but by the time he had established himself, after leaving the Architectural Association in 1966, that succulent gravy train had passed.

Instead, Wickham became part of a fluctuating group of entrepreneurs, chefs, designers and chancers who, in the last decade and a half of the 20th century, changed the face of London bars and restaurants with, so to speak, such vigorous liposuction, derma-planing and wholesale quantities of Botox that by the millennium the face was plumply unrecognisable.

Wickham brought to the architecture of pleasure a high seriousness more usually associated with the architecture of pedagogy. He designed more than 30 restaurants for, among others, Harvey Nichols, the diversifying wine merchant Corney and Barrow, the Fish chain, the Bank chain, the Zanzibar, whose bar was wavy as a crinkle-crankle wall, and, famously, Kensington Place.

Kensington Place: such was its success that plagiarism was wholesale - COURTESY OF FAMILY

Its frontage was all glass, as though it were on the point of expanding on to the pavement; it was wittingly lacking in privacy, as there was nothing to hide; it was the very obverse of hushed restaurants that were like carpeted cathedrals; its modernism was sui generis and chromatically aggressive.

Such was its success that plagiarism was wholesale. Not just the look but the entire ethos of Kensington Place  the cooking, the style of service, the hard-edged-bouncing din, the diligent management, the strikingly original furniture  was ripped off time and again, with varying levels of witless approximation and ham-fisted imprecision.

Wickham was not flattered. He was, rather, contemptuous of architects with a brand, an identifiable signature which was, often as not, someone elses. If Wickham had had a royalty for every theft, if architectural designs could be copyrighted, if the copyist sheep paid the inventive goat who was the source of their frail mimicry, then he might have become a very rich man.

The interior of Kensington Place - COURTESY OF FAMILY

He had, after all, created a building type, though it was not much appreciated by Terence Conran who, having bought Kensington Place, missed the point and inflicted on it improvements  loud floor tiles, folksy wooden chairs, pot plants, junk shop troves and, above all, a break with Wickhams restrained palette.

This hurt and infuriated Wickham, not least because his father had been a sort of tutelary presence in the young Conrans life, and he did not hesitate to tell Conran what he thought. Indeed, he rarely desisted from favouring truth over tact. He considered it unimaginable that any Parisian developer would have dared or wanted to trash a rightly listed historic monument such as La Coupole, which was one of the inspirations for Kensington Place, along with Jacob Epsteins Rock Drill and a generalised ideal of Russian constructivism. In London, however, without statutory protection, the restaurant was prey.

While the bandwagon-jumpers were being sold pups that aped Kensington Place, Wickham himself deftly changed style for Zander in an opulent hotel in Victoria whose art-nouveau interior court, atypical for London, he brought back to splendid life. The precisionist murals were by his daughter Pola. The brushed-metal bar was 50 metres long. There was nothing like it in London, maybe nothing like it in the world. A commentator wrote: His response to any commission is to achieve a tour de force. It was indeed dramatic.

Wickham's Bank restaurant at Aldwych

Wickhams earliest work was for Edward Cullinans architectural cooperative. It was an almost bucolic essay in stone, which attracted the attention of Arthur Drexler, director of the Museum of Modern Art, who wrote that the middle ground between high art and the vernacular has been exploited with great success... some of the most persuasive work seems prompted by survivals from the mediaeval past: stone walls whose roofs have vanished, castles, barns.

In his occasional journalism Wickham was critical of British volume builders, their graceless designs, dysfunctional suburbanism, mendacious claims of affordability, car dependence, waste and infrastructural neglect. He didnt work for them.

He designed local authority flats in Waltham Forest, communal living spaces in North Kensington, a neo-croft near Oban. His conversions were as discreet and elegant as his restaurant designs. They were demonstrations of a resolve to preserve the already existing, no matter how damaged.

Kensington Place's glass frontage

Julyan Michael Wickham was born in Berkshire on August 14 1942 into a family of of exemplary post-war bohemianism when, as Muriel Spark had it, all the nice people were poor. His parents painted, potted, wood-worked, photographed, joined the Communist Party, entertained prolifically and lived somewhat hand to mouth. At one point his father Michael Wickham lived in the remaining kitchen wing of Coleshill, the 17th-century house near the baroque village of Highworth that had burnt down in 1952.

Wickham believed that living well was compatible with his generally Leftist position: he enjoyed Citroens, good wine, obscure digestifs. He cooked well and enjoyed disputing the origins and components of recipes.

His education was impeccably gauche caviar: he went to Holland Park Comprehensive, the Architectural Association and then on to Edward Cullinans burgeoning practice, which was like a post-graduate school for architects whose gifts would not be masked by their sporadic periods of modishness.

In November 1979 he turned up at 9am one morning at the Bride of Denmark, the private pub in the basement of the Architectural Reviews building in Queen Annes Gate. He hoped that his unsuccessful, though commended, competition entry for the Taoiseachs House would be published. (The competition would be annulled by Charles Haughey when he became Taoiseach a few weeks later.)

The puritanical editor Lance Wright took an ante hoc dim view of Wickham, whom he had heard of as a night club designer, and thus presumed to be frivolous, possibly libertine. He was also possessive about Dublin  he had once co-written a whole four-page piece on the city. He disliked the design. And he was outraged when Wickham, offered a cup of tea, declined and demanded a Guinness. He created his own walls to run up against.

Wickham in his studio - COURTESY OF FAMILY

Despite being gregarious, sociable and always up for an argument, Wickham belonged to no group, was not associated with any school, nor with any formal ideology or theoretical programme. The supreme arbiter of post-modernism, Charles Jenks, granted him only the faintest praise: apt, given his eschewal of that craze.

Wickham was unsympathetic towards jokey architecture. He possessed a strong familial and intellectual link to the European avant garde through his wife Tess, daughter of Aldo van Eyck, the leading Dutch modernist who adhered to the collectivist precepts of modernism long after they had been abandoned in deregulated, money-crazed Britain where accessibility (or infantilism) had become de rigueur.

Wickhams memorable Horsleydown Square to the south of Tower Bridge might be dryly described as a mixed use development. It is that, but it is also visually exciting, a restorative treat in an area of London which lacks such facilities. It takes, again, from constructivism and nods towards the dozens of playgrounds which Aldo van Eyck developed all over Amsterdam, the city to which Wickham and Tess moved part of their practice in the early 1990s, combining it with her fathers.

The health centre in Almere - COURTESY OF FAMILY

Their work in the new satellite town of Almere is startling and joyful: dazzling cadmium-yellow crescents of houses with bulbous bows, a long low purple health centre that is partially buried. Without any direct quotes or references, it all betrays a consciousness of the Amsterdam school of a century ago.

He is survived by his wife Tess, his daughter Pola and his son Rufus.

Julyan Wickham, born August 14 1942, died April 26 2024
Ed Miliband told the Hay festival audience that he was interested in actually persuading people to come with us on this hard transition. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

The climate activist group Just Stop Oil is alienating people from its cause, Ed Miliband said at the Hay festival.

Speaking at a Q&A at the event via a video call from his constituency in Doncaster, the shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero responded to an audience member who said she had been driven to support Just Stop Oil because she felt so let down by politicians.

Miliband agreed with the audience member that the climate crisis is an emergency and must be treated as one, but said: When you block a motorway of people who are trying to get to their relatives who are dying  that isnt helping your cause.

I dont question your motivation but I massively question your tactics.

The former Labour leader said he was interested in actually persuading people to come with us on this hard transition.

If every country in the world adopted Labours position [on deciding not to issue new oil and gas licences] it would have a transformative effect on the debate, he said.

Miliband said the partys plans to ban new oil and gas licences are the most progressive position of any major country in the world but that the transition in the North Sea has to be properly managed to protect those working in existing fields.

Making sure the transition is fair has to be a priority, he said. Im speaking to you from my constituency which is an ex-mining constituency and was the site of an unfair transition.

Miliband said Labour plans to follow the science when it comes to climate policies, should it come into power. If Labour wins, he said the UK would be the first major country in the world to commit to having all of our power coming from zero-carbon energy services by 2030, which is a massive commitment and requires massive change.

Related: Were up for this fight: Labour plans to make climate key focus of election

The reason Labour is taking these positions is partly because domestic leadership is the absolute prerequisite for international leadership, he said. What is the real problem about this government is that they have told people internationally to do various things, and theyve done the opposite at home. And people say, well, youre a bunch of hypocrites  all of my experience in the global negotiations and the ability to influence the world is that domestic leadership is absolutely essential.

He added that the most optimistic and the most important thing that has happened over the past 15 years is that for 90% of the world, now new renewables are cheaper than new fossil fuels, so the costs of not acting are now higher than the cost of acting.
The former Labour leader recently announced he would stand as an independent during the upcoming general elections - Meghana Geetha/Meghana Geetha

Labour has suspended a councillor in Islington after he openly supported Jeremy Corbyns independent campaign.

Phil Graham backed Mr Corbyn after the former Labour leader, who was stripped of the whip by Sir Keir Starmer in 2020, confirmed he would contest the forthcoming election against Sir Keirs party in Islington North.

Mr Graham, who represents the Bun Hill ward and describes himself as a proud socialist, endorsed Mr Corbyn, in a post on his Facebook page, on Friday.

If you live in Islington North, there is only one candidate you should be considering in the general election, Jeremy Corbyn, he wrote.

The councillor has previously called on Labour to restore the whip to Diane Abbott, who was Mr Corbyns shadow home secretary and was suspended last year, after penning a letter to the Observer that suggested Jewish people did not experience racism all their lives.

Phil Graham endorsed Mr Corbyn in a post on his Facebook page

Mr Graham previously shared posts on X, formerly Twitter, from Left-wing activists claiming to despise Labour and saying there was no hope for the party over its stance on Gaza.

Mr Corbyn told the Islington Tribune that he would fight to retain a seat he has represented for 40 years, adding: We have to stand up and defend our rights.

He also sought to appeal to lifelong Labour voters, saying: I am here to represent the people of Islington North on exactly the same principles that Ive stood by my whole life: social justice, human rights and peace.

His decision to run as an independent candidate in a seat that he has represented for more than 40 years raises the prospect that grassroots party activists and members of the 30-strong Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs could refuse to campaign against him.

Mr Corbyn has made a number of criticisms of Sir Keir, over his attempts to anchor the party towards the centre ground, accusing him of being insufficiently pro-Palestine in the wake of the Oct 7 attacks  while also attacking his economic policies.
Residents of Binibeca Vell, in Menorca have put up chains to keep visitors out before 11am and after 8pm

The Mykonos of Spain has chained up its streets as part of a growing campaign across the Balearic Islands to push back against over-tourism.

The 195 homeowners of Binibeca Vell, in Menorca, nicknamed the Spanish Mykonos for its narrow winding streets amid whitewashed houses, have put up chains to keep visitors out before 11am and after 8pm. In August residents will take a vote on whether to ban tourists altogether.

Binibeca has a maximum of 500 permanent residents during the summer months but its alleyways are laden with 800,000 visitors annually.

Locals have complained of tourists disrespecting private property by climbing stairs, scaling balconies or entering doorways in search of the perfect photo for social media.

Oscar Monge, president of the residents association, blamed Menorcas authorities for failing to regulate tourism in the area and leaving locals to take matters into their own hands.

Tourists have been climbing stairs, scaling balconies or entering doorways of the private properties there - MJS

Binibeca is promoted by the administration and tourism companies, but what benefit do we get out of it? Mr Monge said.

We pay dearly for being the most potent tourist attraction in Menorca.

Local authorities supply the residents association with 25,000 a year to touch up the houses exterior paintwork and make repairs, but Mr Monge claimed the money is not enough and demanded a plan to manage the area sustainably.

Its outrageous that the politicians who run local tourism are telling us that the only alternatives we have to keep the place clean are to close it, privatise it or start charging.

The Balearic Islands, in which Menorca is the smaller cousin of massive tourism hotpots Majorca and Ibiza, have 1.2 million permanent residents, with tourism arrivals numbering almost 18 million in 2023, a record for the archipelago.

Of this total 14.4 million were foreign tourists, with Germans and British visitors the most numerous.

Majorca is not for sale

Following an unprecedented series of demonstrations in the Canary Islands last month against overtourism. However, Friday saw around a thousand residents protest in Ibizas capital demanding limits on visitor numbers, with a similar protest under the banner Majorca is not for sale set for Saturday in Palma.

It is expected to be the largest demonstration against mass tourism since last months protest in the Canary Islands.

Were being expelled from Majorca and the Balearic Islands and replaced by whoever can afford to live here, Joan Ribo, one of the organisers of Saturdays protest, told The Telegraph.

Families cannot afford to live here anymore, with the rent of a single bedroom costing more than 700 anywhere you go on the island. Basically, unless you inherit a house, you are condemned to leave the island.

Mr Ribo notes that the Balearic Islands government is one of several regions in Spain run by the conservative Popular Party have refused to apply a rent cap system introduced nationally by Spains Left-wing coalition government.

Impose limits

But Balearic premier Marga Prohens surprised many earlier this month when she admitted that the time has come to impose limits and ask ourselves what tourism model we want.

Ms Prohens has said her government will prepare courageous measures to revert the problem of tourism saturation in the Balearics without yet presenting any specific plans.

Jaume Bauza, the Balearic Islands tourism minister, blames Left-wing predecessor governments for eight years of inaction, during which time 115,000 more tourism beds were added and, while he claimed nothing was done to stop the proliferation of unlicensed Airbnb-style rental properties.

Mr Bauza said the government would listen to all sides of the debate, but would not accept tourist phobia.

What we need to do is to attack illegal tourism offerings, be they taxis, rental homes or commerce. If we can improve the tourism sector and combat the illegal market, we will have gone a long way to solving the problem.
Steve Bray at an earlier protest - Victoria Jones/PA

It can be quite remarkable how the perceptions of political events differ. Most of the commentariat has judged Rishi Sunaks announcement of an election, standing outside No 10 in what became a soaking downpour, to have been humiliating. At best, a symbol of his poor judgment. At worst, an omen of the doom to come.

But the real people I talk to speak of the one thing that they found most notable about that scene: the infuriating, outrageous blasting of amplified music from what was described on the broadcast media as a protest outside the gates of Downing Street.

This protest, as it happened, was not a mass demonstration of organised discontent with the Government. It was just a puerile appearance by that bellowing buffoon Steve Bray who memorably disrupted much of the College Green news coverage of the Brexit debate with his relentless hollering. At Downing Street, he was accompanied by a handful of mates and a boombox which played the New Labour anthem Things Can Only Get Better on repeat at full volume.

In the event, the words of the song were lost to those watching on television: all they heard was a senseless rhythmic roar, which did not quite succeed in drowning out the Prime Ministers speech. What it did do was create a sense of belligerent disrespect not just for Mr Sunak and his party but for the institutions of government and for the population which was being addressed.

What appalled most ordinary viewers was that any prime minister announcing an election  which is the most significant democratic moment in the life of a free society  could be subjected to this absurd, belittling charade without any apparent hindrance by the police or security services. In what other country, many of my interlocutors asked, would this be allowed to happen?

In fact, the police did move in after the speech and the accompanying protest had finished, and Bray is now allegedly banned from the Westminster precinct. But the mystery remains as to why this did not happen immediately, since there are now laws to prevent demonstrations that involve noisy disruption.

As it was, an impression remained of lawlessness and anarchic chaos which might well reflect on the Government. Had the Tories, with their record-breaking levels of unpopularity, lost control of the apparatus of authority to such an extent that even their most important official pronouncements to the people could be treated with open contempt?

But no, actually that analysis does not hold. Even Boris Johnson, when he had just won an election with a huge popular mandate, was subjected to a screeching cacophony from the pavement outside No 10 when he tried to speak to the country from its steps. What is happening here should be offensive to anyone of any political persuasion who believes in the democratic process.

It is important to see it for what it is: not just a few obnoxious clowns making a nuisance of themselves but part of a much larger pattern in which very small groups of people can take over the public space and bully much larger cohorts of people into silence. It is absolutely necessary to remember that the noisy Left-wing activists who manage to pack the BBCs Question Time audience, or who organise social media pile-ons against public figures (including elected Parliamentarians) who dare to utter biological facts, are a minority  by definition  because political activism of any kind is a minority pursuit.

The confusion that they exploit is the idea that their disruption of the efforts of elected governments to communicate with their populations is itself a sacred liberty. The false logic here should be clear. Of course, the right to protest is essential in a free society, but it cannot take the form of preventing those with whom you disagree from being heard. If those whose views you dislike do not have a right to free speech, then neither do you.

Elected governments have traditionally had a putative right to outlaw certain kinds of expression. Until recently this was limited to fairly extreme examples: death or blackmail threats, incitement to violence, criminal libel. More recently, it had been wildly enlarged to include statements which offend tiny specialised groups in arcane ways. But we have now arrived at a further stage where even the disagreements about what may be said cannot be discussed.

The activist minorities are, in effect, making it impossible to debate not just their views but the very idea that such views might be debatable. There must be no argument about what it is acceptable to argue about. So what would until very recently have been considered an outrageous assertion  that, for example, men who call themselves women are actually women  must not be regarded as up for discussion. If you defy this edict and insist that this is a contentious matter which is open to question, you may be silenced by intimidating mobs who can, apparently with impunity (because they are exercising their right to protest) take away your right to express your opinion.

It is not just respect for politicians of a particular party or generation that is being traduced: it is the whole enterprise of accountable government. How much legitimate authority can a prime minister be said to have when an announcement of this importance can be drowned out by a handful of exhibitionists with a noise machine? And why should infinitesimally small cliques of lobbyists be able to determine the limits of the public discourse?

The secret of their disproportionate influence is a formula which has been well-known on the Left for over a century: organisation, dedication, discipline. As in the Downing Street case, tiny numbers can create entirely disproportionate amounts of oppressive noise. Ordinary people  even those who regard themselves as politically active and astute  cannot compete with this tireless interventionism, which can rear up at any point, in any context that offers an opportunity to exert influence.

For some reason which future historians will explain, official authority has taken a conscious decision to permit this licence for minority lobbies to dominate the public stage.
Senate Democrats are demanding answers as to why Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann, flew insurrectionist-linked flags outside their homes. Photograph: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

The wife of US supreme court justice Samuel Alito reportedly justified the display of an upside-down American flag at the couples home by saying it was an international signal of distress, as senior Democrats have requested a meeting with the chief justice over the growing scandal.

Martha-Ann Alito made the comments to a Washington Post reporter, the outlet reported on Saturday, when the journalist visited the couples Virginia home in January 2021, not long after the attack on the US Capitol by extremist supporters of Donald Trump.

She reportedly told the Washington Post at the time that the flag had been run up their flagpole in that way in response to a neighborhood dispute.

Related: Another provocative flag flown at Samuel Alito residence, report says

Flying the Stars and Stripes flag upside down is acceptable as a rare distress signal, according to the official US flag code. But these days it is more often associated with activists making an extremist sign of protest, and at the time of the January 6 insurrection it had been adopted by some on the far right amid efforts, ultimately unsuccessful, to overturn Joe Bidens 2020 election victory over Trump.

The Washington Post report said on Saturday, quoting the outlets own spokesperson, that the Post decided not to report on the episode at the time because the flag-raising appeared to be the work of Martha-Ann Alito, rather than the justice, and connected to a dispute with her neighbors  It was not clear then that the argument was rooted in politics.

In another twist, it was the New York Times that first reported earlier this week the display of the American flag in that fashion at the Alitos residence in early 2021, during a political row with neighbors.

That was swiftly followed by a second report from the Times that another flag, one originally associated with the American revolution but now associated with the far right and known as the Appeal to Heaven flag, was flying last year above a holiday home of the Alitos in New Jersey.

Two leading Democratic senators are requesting a meeting with the supreme court chief justice, John Roberts, in the wake of these reports. This comes on top of calls demanding that Justice Alito recuse himself from election-related cases before the court and face investigation by the US Senate, the congressional chamber that confirms federal and supreme court judges.

The Senate judiciary committee chair, Dick Durbin, and the senator and judiciary committee member Sheldon Whitehouse wrote a letter to Roberts earlier this week asking him for a meeting to discuss court ethics and to take steps to ensure that Alito recuses himself from any cases before the court concerning the January 6 attack or Trumps attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

The court did not respond to a request for comment regarding the letter.

On Saturday afternoon, despite Alito having said that the flag-flying was entirely his wifes business, Tennessee Democratic representative Steve Cohen posted on X, formerly Twitter, that: Its almost too ironic that Alito would fly a Jan 6 flag calling for heavenly intervention because he felt the rule of law, which hes supposed to uphold, was insufficient. He has no business with cases on the 2020 election  or on the separation of church and state.

The court is considering two major cases related to the Capitol attack, including one related to charges faced by the rioters and another on whether Trump has immunity from prosecution on election interference charges. Alito is participating in both cases and has rejected calls from Democrats in the past to recuse himself on other issues.

Alito earlier said he had no part in the flying of the inverted American flag. He and the court declined to respond to requests for comment on how the Appeal to Heaven banner came to be flying and what it was intended to express.

Durbin and Whitehouse said they will continue to pressure the court. The plea for a meeting is a new approach after Roberts declined to testify at a hearing on supreme court ethics last year, amid a scandal over accusations of political influence and corruption aimed at Alito and Clarence Thomas, the two most conservative justices on the supreme court bench.

Until the court and the judicial conference take meaningful action to address this ongoing ethical crisis, we will continue our efforts to enact legislation to resolve this crisis, Durbin and Whitehouse wrote.

The American Legion US flag code states of the Stars and Stripes that 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.

The Associated Press contributed reporting
The plane crashed in a Lincolnshire field, according to the Ministry of Defence - Jake Zuckerman

A Royal Air Force pilot has died in a tragic accident after a Spitfire crashed into a field near RAF Coningsby.

An RAF pilot has died in a tragic accident after a Spitfire crashed into a field near RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Emergency services were called to the scene in Coningsby shortly before 1.20pm this afternoon and stayed at the scene.

The Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was flying near the air station when the crash took place.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman last night said: It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today.

The pilots family have been informed and we ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.

An investigation is due to take place.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, in a statement on X, added:

Incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from RAF Coningsby. Our thoughts this evening are with the pilot's loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family. W & C  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 25, 2024

Road closures were put in place around Dogdyke Road and Sandy Bank and motorists were asked to stay away from the area.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesperson said the crash involved a single-occupant aircraft.

In a statement, they added: Emergency services are in attendance following reports of an aircraft crashing in a field just before 1.20pm. It is believed to be a single-occupant aircraft and nobody else is thought to have been involved. Road closures are in place in the areas of Dogdyke Road and Sandy Bank. Motorists are asked to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service sent a number of resources, including a paramedic and a helicopter ambulance.

A rescue helicopter landed at the airfield after flying to the scene from Humberside.

An RAF spokesperson said: We are working with the emergency services and supporting those involved.

The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire MK356 (stock picture) - Bav Media

RAF Coningsby is home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a collection of wartime fighter and bomber aircraft that take part in air shows and memorial displays.

It is also the training station for Typhoon pilots and is home to two frontline combat-ready squadrons.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) was initially inaugurated on July 11, 1957, at RAF Biggin Hill.

It was originally known as the RAF Historic Aircraft Flight and consisted of three PR Mk XIX Spitfires and the RAFs last airworthy Hurricane, LF363. It was then renamed to be the Battle of Britain Flight before a final renaming in 1969 to what is now known as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The RAF operate 6 Supermarine Spitfires as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a unit that provides an aerial display group for commemorative events and state occasions.

Around 240 Spitfires are believed to exist worldwide, with around 70 of them in an airworthy condition.
Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump in the movie The Apprentice - APPRENTICE PRODUCTIONS ONTARIO INC. / PROFILE PRODUCTIONS 2 APS / TAILORED FILMS LTD. 2023

Donald Trumps lawyers are attempting to block the US release of a film that shows the former president raping his first wife.

Mr Trumps legal team sent a cease and desist letter to the producers of The Apprentice, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday and depicts his rise to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s.

The movie presents itself as a factual biography of Mr. Trump, yet nothing could be further from the truth, Trump lawyer David A. Warrington wrote to the films director and writer on Wednesday.

It is a concoction of lies that repeatedly defames President Trump and constitutes direct foreign interference in Americas elections.

The screenwriter, Gabriel Sherman, is accused in the letter of repeatedly attacking the former president in magazine columns and suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome.

One controversial scene shows Mr Trump raping his first wife, Ivana Trump, who made the claim during their divorce proceedings. He allegedly did so in a fit of rage after he underwent surgery to cover a bald spot using a surgeon she had recommended.

Mrs Trump recanted the claim three years later, saying she did not mean rape in a criminal or literal sense. She said she felt violated by what took place, however.

Donald Trump's lawyers are attempting to block the US release of the film - Mark Peterson/Pool Redux Pictures

Dan Snyder, the billionaire businessman who funded the film believing its portrayal of Mr Trump would be positive, is reportedly preparing his own cease-and-desist letter.

The producers of The Apprentice said in response to the threatened legal action: The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide.

At a press conference for the film in Cannes, director Ali Abbasi said: Donalds team should watch the movie before they start suing us.

Everyones always talking about him suing a lot of people. They dont talk about his success rate, though.

Mr Abbasi went on to offer to screen the film for the former president, speculating: I dont necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike.

Stephen Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, vowed on Monday to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend film-makers.

This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalises lies that have been long debunked, he told Variety magazine on Monday.

This film is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day, and doesnt even deserve a place in the straight-to-DVD section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store. It belongs in a dumpster fire.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - ABIR SULTAN/AFP

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan KC, announced last week that he is seeking arrest warrants for Israels prime minister and defence minister. This is an extraordinary moment  potentially the first ever arrest warrant to be issued against the leader of a democratic Western nation.

The charge of crimes against humanity is exceptionally grave. It is one which the ICC has failed to apply even to Vladimir Putin (he faces the lesser charge of war crimes) despite Putins appalling invasion of Ukraine and the well-documented butchery committed by his brutal armed forces.

At precisely the same time Mr Khan made his announcement regarding Israel, he also said he intends to secure warrants for the leaders of the Hamas terrorist group. It is appalling that a moral equivalence has been drawn between a democratic nation fighting a defensive war against terrorists openly avowed to destroy it and a proscribed terrorist organisation. World leaders were quick in their condemnation of this manifestly unhelpful decision and the UK was right to join the criticism.

In the perverse otherworld view of the ICC, it is Israels leaders who are seeking extermination, intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population and starving civilians. No impartial observer could reasonably conclude that Israeli leaders are committing such heinous crimes. On the contrary, Israel has made extensive efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gazas civilian population, totalling more than 550,000 tonnes since October 7. It has also repaired water pipes, power lines and humanitarian aid crossings which were deliberately destroyed by Hamas on that dark day.

What other country is expected to support and sustain those trying to destroy it? But Israel rightly does all this despite the knowledge that Hamas misappropriates much of this aid and despite the presence of terrorists within UN aid facilities in Gaza.

Israels military has made exhaustive efforts to avoid civilian casualties. The UNs numbers indicate that the ratio of civilians to combatants killed in Gaza is close to 1:1  almost unprecedented in urban warfare, far lower than the international average and lower than US and British operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hamass deliberate strategy of embedding itself within urban areas means that civilians will be killed and civilian infrastructure destroyed.

Many women and children have tragically been caught up in the fighting, though it is worth noting that the UN has now halved the number of identified civilians killed in Gaza. Of course, Hamass casualty figures were always fictional; a terror group seeking to win a PR war was inevitably going to propagandise casualty figures. The UK Statistics Authority has warned people in public life to be cautious.

The lower rate of civilian casualties that Professor John Spencer from West Point Academy has referred to is because protection of innocent life is at the forefront of the Israel Defence Forces operating guidelines. Independent legal advisors within the IDF issue advice on the legality of every airstrike. Israel routinely aborts strikes when it is identified that civilians are present and continues to make every effort possible to evacuate Gazas civilian population from combat areas.

Make no mistake, this arrest warrant is an accelerant to the bloodshed in Israel and Gaza. Hamas will be emboldened. Hostage negotiations will become more complicated. Fighting will intensify. The hope for a two-state solution is pushed further back as it is likely to entrench the Palestinian Authoritys unwillingness to engage in direct peace talks. The ICCs move also represents a direct attack on the judicial independence of a democratic ally. The foundation stone of the ICCs existence is the principle of complementarity. The ICC exists to intervene only in the presence of a legal vacuum where a state is unwilling or unable to conduct legal investigations.

Israel, however, is a country with an internationally respected Supreme Court, which vociferously upholds the rule of law and has a long history of deciding cases against the government, the military and even prime ministers  as it is currently in the process of doing. Israels judiciary is also actively pursuing investigations into cases of suspected misconduct by Israeli soldiers, as befitting a nation upholding international law. Not only does the ICC lack jurisdiction because Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute and Palestine is not a sovereign nation, but Israel has the means and motivation to uphold the law. The ICC is therefore prohibited by its Founding Treaty from taking this step  something its pre-trial chamber must now decide.

It would be foolish, however, to think that the reverberations of this decision will not spread beyond the region. The ICCs move is a grotesque overreach. It will have profound implications for the UK and other democratic nations in an increasingly dangerous world. Lawfare and the politicisation of armed conflict puts our own Armed Forces at great risk. An attempt by the ICC to pursue the US and the UK over the war in Afghanistan elicited strong rebuke from Western nations, but this is now the direction of travel.

Terrorist groups and their sympathisers  in tandem with disruptive state actors  are exploiting the very international bodies set up to counter them. South Africas vexatious case at the International Court of Justice is another alarming example. The ICJs latest order relating to Israel and its military operation in Rafah has been widely misinterpreted given how heavily conditioned it is but that is beside the point. South Africa is exploiting an international body with its deeply politicised case. Frankly, it defies logic since Rafah is the location of Hamass four remaining battalions and where dozens of Israeli hostages are still being cruelly detained.

Meanwhile, the ICC move is illegitimate, immoral and outwith its competence. It violates the Courts charter and integrity. Sadly, we in the West will all be dealing with its consequences for years to come.

Sir Michael Ellis is a former attorney general
A Royal Air Force pilot has died after a Spitfire crashed into a field near RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire.

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene on Langrick Road at just before 1.20pm on Saturday.

The Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) was flying near the air station when the crash took place.

The male pilot, who has not yet been named, was declared dead at the scene.

An MoD spokesperson said: It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today.

The pilots family have been informed and we ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.

An investigation is due to take place.

Lincolnshire Police said it was a single occupant aircraft and nobody else was involved.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service sent a number of resources, including a paramedic and a helicopter ambulance.

Road closures are in place in the areas of Dogdyke Road and Sandy Bank, with motorists urged to avoid the area.

RAF Coningsby is home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a collection of wartime fighter and bomber aircraft that take part in air shows and memorial displays.

Deeply saddened by news from Lincolnshire. Thank you to the emergency services for their response. My thoughts are with the pilots family at this awful time. https://t.co/AhcD7SsmBE  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 25, 2024

Only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remain, including six that belong to the BBMF.

Rishi Sunak said in a post on X: Awful news to see the life of a serving RAF pilot cut short in this tragic event. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones.

Sir Keir Starmer said: Deeply saddened by news from Lincolnshire. Thank you to the emergency services for their response. My thoughts are with the pilots family at this awful time.
Sir Keir Starmer has defended Labours decision to rebrand its package of workers rights pledges following a backlash from one of the UKs biggest trade unions.

The party leader denied he was weakening policies on areas like zero-hours contracts, parental leave and sick pay after Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the plans had more holes than Swiss cheese.

It comes after the latest flare-up in a row over Labours New Deal for Working People, following reports it would go through a formal consultation process with businesses  potentially delaying or toning down the pledges.

On Friday, Labour rebranded the New Deal as Labours plan to make work pay as it released a final version of the plans.

During a visit to Staffordshire on Saturday, Sir Keir told the BBC: We have come to an agreement with the trade unions on the new deal for working people.

Theres been no watering down. This is the most significant set of protections for a generation.

Its also something which I think employers and good businesses would say, looking at the detail of it, this is what were doing in good businesses.

Elements of the deal include a right to switch off, a proposed ban on exploitative zero hours contracts and stronger employment rights from day one of a new job.

The party has also said it wants to empower adult social care professionals and trade unions that represent them to negotiate a sector-wide agreement for pay, terms and conditions.

Several other unions have backed the plans, saying they represent a vital step towards better protections for employees.

But Unite suggested the wording had been softened, with a previous proposal to ban zero hours contracts revised to refer only to exploitative zero hours contracts.

Reacting to the recent rebrand, Ms Graham said: The again revised New Deal for Working People has more holes in it than Swiss cheese. The number of caveats and get-outs means it is in danger of becoming a bad bosses charter.

Working people expect Labour to be their voice. They need to know that Labour will not back down to corporate profiteers determined to maintain the status quo of colossal profits at the expense of everyone else. The country desperately needs a Labour government, but the party must show it will stick to its guns on improving workers rights.

Fire and rehire is abhorrent and must be banned  no ifs, no buts. Unite will continue to call out any row backs on the New Deal for Working People, which was a promise made.

However, Unison, which along with Unite is one of the two largest unions in the UK, welcomed the package in its current form as one that will make work fairer and boost the economy.

There will be a clear choice in July: a vote for a party that understands the huge struggles employees and their families have been facing, or one thats persistently let working people down these past 14 years. Labours new deal best illustrates that choice, general secretary Christina McAnea said.

Thats why its measures are proving popular on the doorstep. Bad employers will no longer be able to outprice good ones by cutting corners and reducing costs by exploiting staff.

GMB also voiced support for the measures, with a spokesperson describing them as a vital step towards righting the wrongs of 14 years of Conservative government, while Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said they were the biggest offer any party has ever made to workers.

A Labour spokesperson said: Labours New Deal for Working People is our plan to make work pay. Its how well boost wages, deliver secure work and support working people to thrive  delivering a genuine living wage, banning exploitative zero hours contracts, and ending fire and rehire.

The New Deal is a core part of our mission to grow Britains economy and raise living standards in every part of the country. Labour will make Britain work for working people.
The Conservatives have failed on water pollution issues and let big companies off the hook, Sir Ed Davey has said, as he announced the Liberal Democrats plans for tackling sewage and regulation of the water industry.

Speaking on Saturday as he hit the campaign trail in Chichester, West Sussex, the party leader said the public were alarmed about the damage being done to rivers and seas in the UK and that it was an environmental, public health and economic issue.

In the run-up to the General Election, the Lib Dems have unveiled plans to abolish Ofwat and introduce a new water regulator to tackle the sewage crisis and claimed that party analysis shows water company bosses have pocketed some 54 million in bonuses since 2019.

Enjoying Eastbourne's ice cream and hearing directly from local people. The Conservative vote is melting away as they fail to address soaring living costs, sewage dumping, and the crisis in our NHS. pic.twitter.com/otglrwWgIl  Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) May 24, 2024

According to the Environment Agency, sewage spills into Englands rivers and seas more than doubled in 2023 with 3.6 million hours of spills last year  equal to about 400 years  compared with 1.75 million hours in 2022.

Sir Ed smiled as he donned a buoyancy aid for a short boat trip around the Birdham Pool Marina to highlight the areas natural beauty with Lib Dem Chichester candidate Jess Brown-Fuller.

At another event in Winchester, Hampshire, on Saturday afternoon, he discussed the rarity and importance of the local chalk streams on a dog walk with supporters and party candidate Danny Chambers.

The leader laughed as he cuddled a golden retriever and fed treats to dogs sporting bandanas bearing the party logo and joked: Its not a bad day at work is it?

Speaking to the PA news agency, Sir Ed said: The Liberal Democrats have been leading the campaign to highlight the problem for several years now and think weve really made traction and really exposed how the Conservative Government keeps failing people on this issue.

(PA Graphics)

Failing to get tougher regulations, failing to fine the water companies properly, failing to reform them and starting to get tough on them and stop this appalling pollution.

In visiting Chichester, the party leader said he hoped to highlight that pollution in the local waterways was impacting upon local tourism and small businesses as well as the environment.

He continued: Its a public health issue, its environment issue, its a public health issue and animal health issue.

Patients are bearing the brunt of this Government's failure with millions forced to wait in pain for weeks just to get a GP appointment. The Liberal Democrats would recruit 8,000 more GPs and give patients the right to see a GP within a week, or 24 hours if urgent. pic.twitter.com/3olRV1IdxI  Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) May 24, 2024

Its an economic issue because if you go to places like this, you will find the link with the economic side of the place is huge.

Its a massive issue with the small businesses.

So the Tories have let these large big water companies off the hook by not being tough on them, and its hitting the small businesses.

On Friday, Ofwat announced that its consultation on draft pricing decisions for the sector will now be published on July 11, rather than June 12 as originally expected, because of the General Election.

The future of Britains biggest water provider Thames Water could hinge on the decision as it faces potential nationalisation after investors rowed back on a promise to provide extra funding, putting the companys finances in the balance.

The company has a roughly 15 billion debt pile and, along with the other water companies, has become embroiled in a scandal over water pollution.

People across the UK are crying out for change, and this election is finally our chance to make it happen. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to elect a strong local champion who will fight for a fair deal for you and your community. Let's go out and win!  Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) May 22, 2024

Thames has asked Ofwat to allow it to hike customer bills by an average of 44% over the next five years to help it invest in its infrastructure and balance the books.

Proposed bills hikes across the rest of the industry range from 14% for Northumbrian Water to 73% at Southern Water.

Despite rampant sewage pollution and substantial planned rises in bills, Englands three biggest listed water companies hiked their dividend payouts to investors and announced more than 700 million in profit last week.

London-listed Pennon Group, Severn Trent and United Utilities all released their financial results for 2023-2024 in the last week, revealing a combined 710 million in profit.

Chichester, currently represented by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, is one of the marginal constituencies being targeted by the Lib Dems at the General Election.

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats are hoping to snap up seats in the traditional Conservative heartlands of southern England  the so-called blue wall.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have said they are incredibly sad after a Royal Air Force pilot died in a Spitfire crash near RAF Coningsby.

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene on Langrick Road in Lincolnshire just before 1.20pm on Saturday.

The Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) was flying near the air station when the crash took place.

The male pilot, who has not yet been named, was declared dead at the scene.

Incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from RAF Coningsby. Our thoughts this evening are with the pilots loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family. W & C  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 25, 2024

William and Kate said on their Kensington Palace X account: Incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from RAF Coningsby.

Our thoughts this evening are with the pilots loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family. W & C.

William was Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby from 2008 to August 2023, when he handed the role over to Kate.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute.

An MoD spokesperson said: It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today.

The pilots family have been informed and we ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.

An investigation is due to take place.

Lincolnshire Police said it was a single occupant aircraft and nobody else was involved.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service sent a number of resources, including a paramedic and a helicopter ambulance.

Road closures are in place in the areas of Dogdyke Road and Sandy Bank, with motorists urged to avoid the area.

Deeply saddened by news from Lincolnshire. Thank you to the emergency services for their response. My thoughts are with the pilots family at this awful time. https://t.co/AhcD7SsmBE  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 25, 2024

RAF Coningsby is home to the BBMF, a collection of wartime fighter and bomber aircraft that take part in air shows and memorial displays.

Only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remain, including six that belong to the BBMF.

Mr Sunak said in a post on X: Awful news to see the life of a serving RAF pilot cut short in this tragic event. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones.

Sir Keir said: Deeply saddened by news from Lincolnshire. Thank you to the emergency services for their response. My thoughts are with the pilots family at this awful time.
A buttery little luxury my whole family loves.

Simply Recipes / Getty Images

My mom was a Francophile, as evidenced by my name, and instilled the same love of the culture in me. So even though I switched my minor from French to Spanish because my college had a study abroad program in Madrid (I really, really wanted to go), I remain a huge fan of French cuisine, especially pastries.

When I was living in Madrid, I spent a couple of weekends visiting my friend Allie, who was studying in Tours, France. There, I ate no shortage of pastries and one of my absolute favorites became the simple madeleinea petite, scallop-shaped tea cake thats deliciously buttery.

Since I dont often travel to France, I am now lucky enough to find these affordable luxuries in the cookie aisle of Trader Joes.

Simply Recipes / Trader Joe's

Whats So Great About Trader Joes Madeleines

First of all, Trader Joes doesnt just sell one variety of madeleines, the store usually stocks three: regular madeleines, lemon zest madeleines, and gluten-free madeleines. Theyre six to a package, and both the regular and lemon zest cost $2.99 while the gluten-free madeleines cost $3.49.

No matter which you choose, these delightful little cakes are soft, sponge-like, and practically melt in your mouth, leaving a lingering taste of butter and vanilla.

My familys favorite is the lemon zest variety, as we adore citrus and love the brightness it gives these cakes. The gluten-free ones are about twice the size as the regular varieties, and they taste quite similar to the gluten-full versions, though theyre a bit denser. Regardless of variety, they all pair perfectly with milk, coffee, or tea.

I typically enjoy just one, in the afternoon, if Im struggling with a writing project, and I need a little something sweet to get me through it. My son likes tossing a couple into his lunch bag, and my husband enjoys fueling himself with them to get through lawn work.

Though theyre fantastic on their own, they also would be perfect in a trifle. The lemon zest madeleines would especially be nice layered with lemon curd and cream, with a touch of lemon zest on the top. I also think you could substitute the gluten-free madeleines for ladyfingers in a gluten-free tiramisu (gluten-free ladyfingers, while available, are often hard to find).

For me, no matter how I enjoy them, they remind me of my weekends in France.

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.
The first of several Americans recently charged with possession of ammunition in Turks and Caicos headed home Friday after getting a suspended 52-week sentence and a $6,700 fine, his representatives said.

But four other Americans still await their fate. In recent months, all were arrested and accused of bringing in various amounts of ammunition to the 40-island chain southeast of the Bahamas. In the Turks and Caicos, possession of firearms or ammunition carries a minimum 12-year sentence, though the law allows reduced sentences under exceptional circumstances, the local governor said.

Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania had pleaded guilty to the charge, the Turks and Caicos government said.

On Friday, he got a 52-week sentence that was suspended for one year, meaning he would not face immediate incarceration, Hagerichs attorney Oliver Smith, Kings Counsel, told CNN.

Hagerich was allowed to leave the British Overseas Territory and return to the United States once he paid the fine, Smith said. He would have to serve the full 12-month sentence if the fine was not paid.

Hagerich flew back to the US Friday afternoon, according to Johnathan Franks, a spokesperson for the Bring Our Families Home Campaign. The organization helps wrongfully detained Americans secure release.

Very grateful to the Court for giving two very special kids their dad back. Even more grateful to the numerous (Turks and Caicos Islands) nationals who helped along the way, Franks posted to X along with a picture of Hagerich boarding a plane.

After Hagerich arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday night, he told reporters he was absolutely elated to have his two children jump into his arms, according to CNN affiliate WTAE.

We have a lot of catching up to do, Hagerich said. A lot of memories to make together. Just so elated to see them. Theyve been so strong through all this.

Smith said his client was pleased, hes relieved by the outcome.

The sentence, in all its circumstances, is reasonable and fair, Smith said.

After Hagerichs sentencing, Turks and Caicos Premier Washington Misick said justice has been served as the law intended.

As we have said, The Firearms Act includes consideration for exceptional circumstances, Misick said, and todays decision reflects our commitment to judicial independence along with upholding the law. Residents and visitors can be confident that the Turks and Caicos Islands are dedicated to safety and compassion as we protect the safety and rights of all.

The four other Americans charged have been released on bail while they await their court dates, Misicks office said in a statement. One was allowed to return to the US for medical reasons, and the rest are staying in Turks and Caicos.

US lawmakers tried to get Americans freed

A US congressional delegation traveled to the islands this week and asked for charges to be dropped for the five Americans whom they said inadvertently had ammunition in their luggage.

Hagerichs sentencing came after the US officials expressed disappointment over their attempted intervention.

Unfortunately, despite our willingness to work with Turks and Caicos officials to get our constituents home, we were not able to find a path forward, Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said in a statement this week.

In addition to Hagerich, two other Americans  Michael Lee Evans and Tyler Wenrich  have pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition while traveling in Turks and Caicos, according to the territorys government.

Evans was allowed to return to the US over a severe medical situation, but will be required to return to Turks and Caicos for his next hearing, Smith said.

A fourth American, Ryan Tyler Watson, will have a hearing Tuesday to determine if he will enter a plea or go to trial, Smith said.

A fifth American, Sharitta Shinese Grier, was arrested last week and is awaiting trial after making bail, according to Kimo Tynes, director of communications in the Office of the Premier and Public Policy.

Watsons wife, who will appear in Turks and Caicos court next week for her husbands ammunition offenses, told CNN her husband plans to employ a similar legal strategy as Hagerich.

I think were planning to kind of follow the same path that Bryan did, Valerie Watson told CNN on Saturday. I think theyve got a plan that theyve already come up with.

Hagerich and Watson share the same attorney, Valerie Watson said. I think hes ready to just go in (to court) on Tuesday so they can get that going, she added.

Turks and Caicos: No special treatment should be given to any group

Turks and Caicos Gov. Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam said the mandatory minimum 12-year sentence for possession of firearms or ammunition is in place to protect those on the islands, and judges may use their discretion to impose reduced sentences in exceptional circumstances.

But no special treatment should be given to any group, the Turks and Caicos premier said.

The law must be applied even-handedly, Misick said.

And US citizens are not being targeted, Turks and Caicos officials said. Of the 195 people sentenced for firearm-related offenses over the past six years, only seven were US citizens, Misick said Thursday. No US citizen has received the 12-year sentence to date.

Even though the territory doesnt manufacture firearms or ammunition, the number of firearms finding their way to the islands has increased, Misick said. By contrast, the United States has more guns than people.

Now, bringing firearms or ammunition into Turks and Caicos without prior permission from police is strictly forbidden.

While the US and Turks and Caicos collaborate in battling narcotics, terrorism and money laundering, our laws and processes are not congruent, Misick said.

We are a separate sovereignty. We respect the United States laws and we will never think to interfere in its operation.

But at least one appointed member of the opposition, Alvin Garland, expressed concern about the American citizens arrests.

Garland said the islands governor is correct in not interfering with the ongoing court cases in order to adhere to the governments separation of powers, but added he believes most, if not all, of the cases involving American tourists will fall into the exceptional circumstances category and sentences could be shorter than the mandatory 12-year minimum.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Carlos Suarez, Maija Ehlinger, Amanda Musa, Hira Humayun, Lauren Mascarenhas and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled the last name of Turks and Caicos Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam.

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The Biden administration said Saturday that U.S. officials are deeply concerned about the extensive military drills in the Taiwan Strait, putting pressure on China to act with restraint.

The United States is deeply concerned over the Peoples Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan, a Saturday statement from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reads. We are monitoring [Peoples Republic of China] activities closely and coordinating with allies and partners regarding our shared concerns.

We strongly urge Beijing to act with restraint, Miller continued. Using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation and erodes longstanding norms that for decades have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is critical for regional and global security and prosperity and a matter of international concern.

China started new military exercises near Taiwan only a few days after it swore in its new pro-U.S. leader.

Beijing, which accused President William Lai Ching-te of heightening tensions in his inaugural address, ran the drills  code-named Joint Sword 2024A  from Thursday until Friday, according to state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua.

While the U.S. has been seen as a major ally to Taiwan, it does not recognize the island as a separate state from the mainland. President Biden and the White House have emphasized their commitment to the One China policy.

The United States remains committed to its longstanding one China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances, Miller continued in the statement.

Taiwans Ministry of National Defense said earlier this week that the exercises were 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.

In his inauguration speech, Lai Ching-te said Taiwan 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 added. 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.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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After a four-week internal investigation at $14 billion electronics manufacturer Jabil Inc., CEO Kenneth Kenny Wilson has abruptly resigned just after passing his one-year anniversary at the helm of one of the chief suppliers to Apple, Cisco, and General Motors.

In exiting the CEO role last week, Wilson agreed to a set of restrictive covenants with one strikingly unusual provision: Hes banned from speaking to the media other than to say, no comment, according to his separation agreement. Wilson was also required to give the company a sworn written statement before his formal departure on May 18, but Jabil redacted the contents of the affidavit from investors. In exchange, Jabil paid him $2 million and allowed some of his unvested equity awards to continue to vest. (The company redacted its disclosures about his unvested equity.)

The company previously benched Wilson on April 15 and put him on leave while it conducted an investigation related to corporate policies, allowing him to collect his $1 million salary during that time. Jabil didnt disclose details about the investigation, only stating that it was unrelated to the companys financial reporting. It also remained mum on the substance and outcome of the investigation. Instead, Jabil simply announced that Wilson ceased to serve as chief executive officer on May 18 after the investigation was completed.

Meanwhile, Wilsons two adult sons work for Jabil: Jordan Wilson is a business unit manager in Austin, Texas, and Adam Wilson holds the same title and works in St. Petersburg, Fla., according to LinkedIn and Jabils disclosures.

Under the terms of his exit as CEO, Kenny Wilson is subject to a two-year non-compete and non-disparagement agreement, which are typical terms when an executive and a company agree that the executive will resign.

But then it gets unusual.

Wilsons agreement binds him to a no comment or non response if he is contacted by a member of the press, and Wilson is required to alert Jabils general counsel Kristine Melachrino by email about any media inquiry within 72 hours.

You will not, nor permit, assist, or encourage others to, publish or otherwise communicate with any representative of the media about any aspect of your employment or this agreement, the deal says. In turn, Jabil agreed not to respond, or to respond with no comment, about Wilsons employment, or to provide the joint announcement. The agreement extends to any other form of on- or off-the-record communication with the media, including deep background, the deal specifies.

For that, Wilson gets paid $2 million, and hell keep his long-term incentive awards as well as the cash value of unvested long-term equity awards scheduled to vest in 2024. (He had to forfeit equity that was scheduled to vest in 2025 and 2026.) According to Jabils 2023 shareholder report, Wilson made $1 million in salary, and got a long-term equity award valued at $6.2 million in conjunction with his promotion to CEO in April 2023. His total pay in 2023 was valued at $10.2 million, and he held unvested equity valued at around $7 million, according to Jabils reports.

Brittany McCants, a partner in labor and employment at law firm Barnes & Thornburg, explained that the $2 million payment was not characterized as severance; it was a single payment made in exchange for continued compliance with restrictive covenants and providing an affidavit. This payment structure coupled with previous disclosures referencing an investigation suggest a less than amicable separation between the executive and the company, and so the company has an interest in paying to get this done quickly while protecting themselves, she told Fortune.

Public companies typically dont formally terminate CEOs or other executives for cause because it will likely have a negative impact on the companys stock price since this can signal discord, or worse, incompetent leadership in the C-suite. And while its standard for companies to avoid disclosing the results of an investigation and the specific nature or reasoning why a CEO departs after an investigation, the extensive media communication provision in the separation agreement explicitly outlining what Wilson is and is not permitted to say to the media is not typical, in her experience.

This seems to me like theyre worried about some kind of specific discussion about the investigation or his departure, said McCants. Theyre giving very explicit instructions on what he can and cant discuss around his employment, departure, and the investigation, which takes the decision of what to share and what not to share outside his judgment and discretion.

Normally, companies only rely on a non-disparagement clause in separation agreements to adequately protect themselves from a departing executives representations. Wilsons contract includes a non-disparagement clause on top of his press prohibition.

It seems like there was some kind of disagreement or continued discord here, and the company is focused on trying to make sure its brand and reputation are fully protected, said McCants.

In other words, it doesnt seem like Wilson and his former employer are on good terms.

In contrast, when departures are more amicable, companies typically ensure that the characterization of the outgoing executives separation is focused on a new opportunity or retirement so theres no risk of negative assumptions in the absence of communications about a job well done and positive wishes in future endeavors, noted McCants.

Jabil did not comment in response to a request. Wilson did not respond to Fortunes attempts to reach him.

Wilsons exit earned him a 10 on The Push-Out Score from independent research firm Exechange, which tracks executive departures and ranks on a scale of 0 to 10 whether a CEO or CFO was forced out or pressured to resign rather than left voluntarily. Wilsons age, 58, plus his short tenure in the CEO role, and the form and language of the notice all contributed to the score, Exechange researcher Daniel Schauber wrote in the firms April report. The constellation of all the aforementioned warning signals leaves little room for interpretation and indicates that Wilson was under pressure to leave his post as CEO, he explained.

Wilsons departure comes as public ratings of Jabil on employee review platform Indeed have trended downward from 3.04 in 2022 to 2.92 in 2024, out of 3,900 reviews and with 5.0 as the highest. Jabil ranked below average in Indeeds work wellbeing survey, scoring a 68. Overall, the company scored a 3.8 out of 5.0 on both Indeed and employee platform Glassdoor. Among the categories that employees can review, including work-life balance, pay, culture and job security, management scored the second-lowest, at 3.5.

An April review from a former Jabil recruiting coordinator in St. Petersburg, Fla., said it was mostly a boys club with terrible communication. An inspector currently at the company in Elmira, New York, said they loved the job but felt they were treated poorly. All about who you know, who you are friends with, related to, or who you are dating, the employee wrote. HR is biased, good luck receiving any help when you are having any issue with a coworker or supervisor.

However, other reviewers awarded the company five stars and said it was a great place to work with outstanding management, good pay and benefits, and a professional workplace culture. Wilson had an 86% approval rating on Glassdoor.

His departure led to a full-scale shakeup at Jabil, which was another refrain among the constructive criticism employees had for the company. Form some actual strategy around our vision statement. Stop randomly reorganizing in hopes of finding a savior, wrote an employee on Comparably in a review directed at company leadership.

Jabil appointed CFO Michael Dastoor as interim CEO during the investigation, and on May 18, the board named Dastoor CEO to replace Wilson. To replace Dastoor, the new CFO is Gregory Hebard, the companys former treasurer.

And Steven Borges, an executive who had taken leave as part of a planned retirement and had entered a mutual separation agreement, returned to his role on May 18 under the title of executive vice president of the companys global business units. Jabil extended Borges employment with an amendment to his initial deal to retire. That separation agreement did not include the media provision included in Wilsons deal.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
It's a big day for the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut. The aquarium recently announced the arrival of a brand new harbor seal pup. And celebrated their new addition with an adorable video introduction online.

The seal pup has yet to be named, but that doesn't mean his birth didn't make a huge splash.

In a video released by the aquarium, it shows the pup learning how to move around on dry land before attempting to get into the pool. The clip then shows the seal splashing around with his mama Pearl  so cute! You can even see the seal plunge into the water while his mama watches over on a platform above him.

Related: Cheeky Harbor Seal Attempts to Steal a Fisherman's Freshly-Caught Salmon Straight From His Hands

"We're excited to share that a Harbor seal pup was born at Mystic Aquarium on Mothers Day! How cute is he!?" the aquarium wrote in the caption.

According to WPRI, the seal pup was born only weeks ago on May 12. Meaning that at just weeks old, the little guy is swimming like a pro! The seal was born to Pearl, an adult Harbor seal who has been at the Mystic Aquarium for the last 12 years.

We couldnt be more excited. Hes healthy, hes strong and hes feisty, Laurie Macha, senior director of marine mammals and birds, told the news outlet.

This isn't the first seal pup that Pearl has had while at the Mystic Aquarium. In fact, this latest seal pup is the mom's second baby. Pearl has been deemed a successful breeder by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. Even more impressively, the seal mama gave birth within 15 minutes  a record if you ask us!

The seal pup was born weighing 12 kilograms and showed immediate signs that it was healthy. The aquarium said the pup was alert and active pretty soon after birth, which they claimed was an encouraging sign of health and vitality.

As the video shows, both Pearl and her baby are doing well post-birth. And their handlers are impressed by the infant's progress too.

The pup has been thriving with his mom, so giving them both access to water has been very exciting, Jen Rock, assistant supervisor of pinnipeds, explained to WPRI.

The team enjoyed watching the pup enter the water and see his instincts kick in by swimming right away," she added. "Pearl was great watching over him closely and teaching him how to dive and ensure he hauled out onto the beach when needed.

We can't wait to see even more "pup-dates" of the seal in the future.

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Richard M. Sherman, two-time Oscar winner who collaborated with brother Robert B. Sherman on the songs for Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the enduring Disneyland tune Its a Small World (After All), died Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills due to age-related illness. He was 95.

The Sherman brothers worked in a job that no longer exists: inhouse songwriters for a studio. In their case, the studio was Disney, and the brothers were hired for that steady gig after their 1958 song Tall Paul was a hit for Mouseketeer Annette Funicello.

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In the early 1960s, they penned tunes for Hayley Mills in Disney films The Parent Trap, In Search of the Castaways and Summer Magic, as well as songs for The Absent-Minded Professor and Moon Pilot; Walt Disney, always aware of synergy, made sure his family comedies had a tune with radio-play potential. The Shermans wrote for the animated Sword in the Stone (1963), which was a big hit, but their career really skyrocketed the following year. Their Small World song debuted at the New York Worlds Fair, in a boat ride past audio-animatronic puppet-children singing and spinning to the song continuously. After the Worlds Fair, the attraction transferred to Disney theme parks. The song is the ultimate ear-worm: Once heard, its never forgotten, meaning the millions of people who have experienced the ride can sing the song at the drop of a hat.

Also in 1964, the Shermans wrote the songs for Mary Poppins, which was their biggest success. The brothers won Oscars on both of their nominations, for music score and for song Chim Chim Cher-ee. The score also includes Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, A Spoonful of Sugar and a song that was a personal favorite of Disney, Feed the Birds.

The Shermans worked directly for studio topper Disney until his death in 1966. After that, they continued to provide material for the studio, including the musicals The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band (1967) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and occasional animated films, notably the 1967 The Jungle Book (including I Wanna Be Like You, performed by Louis Prima).

They began to alternate work for the studio with other gigs. Their first non-Disney assignment came with Albert R. Broccolis 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which garnered the brothers their third Academy Award nomination.

Even when they werent working for the Mouse House, their songs carried a Disney sensibility  bouncy and positive, without any of the cynicism so prevalent in creative works (including music) in the late 1960s and 1970s. All of the Shermans songs had a catchy hook, and straightforward, unfussy lyrics with an upbeat attitude. At their best, the duo came up with Feed the Birds, heartbreaking in its tenderness, or Wanna Be Like You, an infectious Dixieland-style number.

On the other hand, their Small World and Theres a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (written for Disneylands Carousel of Progress) are like commercial jingles: less than a minute long and with a sing-song simplicity that is either fun or grating, depending on your mood.

They wrote the score for a WWII-era musical, Victory Canteen, that ran for seven months at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood. That evolved into the 1974 Broadway show Over Here! with a book by Will Holt and starring two of the Andrews Sisters, Patty and Maxene. It was nominated for five Tony Awards but is best remembered for a cast of little-known performers including John Travolta, Marilu Henner, Treat Williams and Ann Reinking.

In 1973, the Sherman brothers became the first Americans to win top prize at the Moscow Film Festival, for Tom Sawyer, for which they also wrote the screenplay. They also penned the song score and script for The Slipper and the Rose (1976), a musical retelling of Cinderella.

The 2000 film The Tigger Movie featured a song score by the brothers, their first work on a Disney film in nearly 30 years.

The Shermans certainly had their share of misfires, but their best work has been long-lasting. In 2002, a legit Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, including six new songs by them, premiered at the London Palladium, while the Broadway production launched in 2005.

A legit Mary Poppins bowed in 2004 in the West End and two years later on Broadway. It featured the Shermans songs from the film, plus added tunes by others. P.L. Travers, author of the original Mary Poppins, was said to be so unhappy with the Disney film that she told legit producer Cameron Mackintosh that no Americans would be allowed to work on the stage version.

The tense Disney-Travers relationship was chronicled in the 2013 Disney film Saving Mr. Banks, in which Jason Schwartzman played Richard, and B.J. Novak portrayed Robert.

Robert Sherman had died in 2012, but Richard was an enthusiastic campaigner for the film during awards season, appearing at screenings and fronting a sing-along at the Beverly Hills Hotel for awards voters.

In all, the brothers earned nine Oscar nominations (seven of them from 1968 through 1978) plus four Grammy Award nominations (and two wins) and 23 gold and platinum albums. In 2008, they were awarded the National Medal of Arts at the White House by President George W. Bush.

In May 2009, Disney released the documentary The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story and later that year, the company released The Sherman Brothers Songbook, a two-CD set covering 42 years worth of their songs for the studio.

Most recently, Richard Sherman made a cameo in Once Upon a Studio, the 2023 live-action/animated crossover short that celebrates 100 years of stories and magic at the Walt Disney Company. Iconic characters like Snow White, Peter Pan and Robin Williams Genie appear in a cast of 543 characters from more than 85 feature-length and short films. In Once Upon a Studio, Richard Sherman plays Feed the Birds on the piano in Walt Disneys Burbank office.

Richard Sherman was the embodiment of what it means to be a Disney Legend, creating along with his brother Robert the beloved classics that have become a cherished part of the soundtrack of our lives, said Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company. From films like Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book to attractions like Its a Small World, the music of the Sherman Brothers has captured the hearts of generations of audiences. We are forever grateful for the mark Richard left on the world, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.

Richard Sherman was born in 1928, three years after Robert. Their father was a songwriter, and the family moved around frequently but settled down in Beverly Hills in 1937. After his 1946 graduation from Beverly Hills High School, Richard Sherman went to Bard College, majoring in music.

In 1957, Sherman married Elizabeth Gluck, with whom he had two children: Gregory and Victoria. Lynda (Sherman) Rothstein is his daughter from a previous marriage.

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DHAKA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A devastating fire swept through a camp of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's southeastern Cox's Bazar district Friday, destroying hundreds of shanties and leaving thousands of people homeless.

Shafiqul Islam, station officer at local Ukhiya Fire Service and Civil Defence, told reporters that the fire started at refugee camp No. 13 and spread quickly to surrounding areas.

At least 230 shanties and 100 other facilities were gutted in the fire, he said, while over 200 other makeshift shelters were damaged. At least 10 people have reportedly been injured in the blaze.

Officials said firefighting units from several stations in the region rushed to the area and brought the blaze under control.

More than 1 million displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar are living in Cox's Bazar, some 300 km southeast of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. 
By Max Hunder and Vitalii Hnydyi

KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Russian strikes on a crowded DIY hardware store and a residential area in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Saturday killed at least six people and injured dozens, local officials said.

Six people were killed after two guided bombs hit the DIY hypermarket in a residential area of the city, Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on national television.

At least two of the dead were store employees. Forty people were injured, with at least three in serious condition. Sixteen people were still unaccounted for, Syniehubov said.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said about 120 people had been in the hardware store when the bombs struck.

"The attack targeted the shopping centre, where there were many people - this is clearly terrorism," Terekhov said.

The past week has seen an uptick in strikes on the city after Russian troops stormed across the border, opening a new front north of the city.

Russia has bombarded Kharkiv, which lies about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from its border, throughout the war, having reached its outskirts in a failed bid to capture it in 2022.

Just over the border, in Russia's Belgorod region, the regional governor said four residents died in Ukrainian attacks on Saturday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a plea to Ukraine's Western allies to help boost air defences to keep the country's cities safe. French President Emmanuel Macron, writing on social media platform X, denounced the attack on the store as "unacceptable."

A separate early evening missile strike hit a residential building in the centre of the city of 1.3 million, injuring 18 people, Syniehubov said.

The missile left a crater several metres deep in the pavement at the foot of the building, which also housed a post office, a beauty salon and a cafe.

Emergency workers ushered away residents of nearby apartment buildings. Some of the injured had blood on their faces.

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE BLAZE

Andriy Kudinov, director of the suburban shopping centre, told local media the hardware store was full of shoppers buying items for their summer cottages.

Huge clouds of dark smoke billowed into the sky over the shopping centre. Firefighters battled many small blazes. Within 90 minutes, most were brought under control.

Rescuers, medics and journalists rushed away from the scene of both strikes and lay on their stomachs, fearing a second strike, as has occurred during several recent Russian attacks.

Witnesses described panicked scenes at the shopping centre.

"I was at my workplace. I heard the first hit and ... with my colleague, we fell to the ground. There was the second hit and we were covered with debris. Then we started to crawl to the higher ground," said Dmytro Syrotenko, 26, who had a large gash on his face.

Syrotenko told Reuters he was taken to safety by a rescue worker who helped him, several colleagues, and shoppers.

Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, denounced the strike as "yet another example of Russian madness. There is no other way to describe it."

"When we tell world leaders that Ukraine needs sufficient air defences, when we say we need real decisive measures to enable us to protect our people, so that Russian terrorists cannot even approach our border, we are talking about not allowing strikes like this to happen," he said.

Writing later on Telegram, Zelenskiy noted air raid alerts had been in effect in Kharkiv for more than 12 hours and 200 emergency workers and 400 policemen remained at the scene dealing with the aftermath of the attacks.

Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians, but thousands have been killed and injured during its 27-month invasion of Ukraine.

(Additional reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Ron Popeski, Bill Berkrot, David Gregorio and Chris Reese)
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YEREVAN, 25 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The 12th "Sunchild" International Environmental Festival kicked off with the support of Ucom.

Dedicated to biodiversity conservation, this year's festival promises a rich lineup of over 30 environmental films, set to screen at the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia from May 24th to 28th, with free admission.

Alongside captivating film screenings, the festival will host a Youth Corner, offering an expo and diverse workshops over four days. These engaging sessions provide young individuals with insights into leading environmental and educational programs, fostering participation in workshops and stimulating discussions.

"The films shown within the framework of the festival are an attempt to suggest that regardless of all circumstances, geographical location and social status, today we all face the consequences of the destruction of biodiversity, and therefore we should all try to take steps for a greener future with equal care," said Sona Kalantaryan, Director of the "Sunchild" International Festival.

"We are very happy to support this festival, which allows the youth to get acquainted with the most important environmental problems and discover what contribution they can make in solving these problems. Nature is the environment in which we live, and on which the quality of life of all of us depends, and Ucom as a green and responsible company realizes its importance," said General Director of Ucom, Ralph Yirikian.

At the festival's inauguration, attendees were treated to Masha Karpukhina's short film, The Last of the Nightingales. This cinematic narrative follows a composer's transformative journey sparked by chance encounters with forest sounds, inspiring a career shift towards recording wildlife and combating the climate crisis through acoustic insights.

Notably, the 12th "Sunchild" International Environmental Festival was supported by the Municipality of Yerevan, the US Forest Service, the Fund for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values, and the Armenian Office of the British Council. For those eager to delve into the festival's cinematic offerings, the schedule of films can be found here.
NAIROBI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed Saturday morning in an accident involving a minibus and a truck along the busy Nakuru-Eldoret highway in northwestern Kenya.

Police said in a security report that eight other passengers were hospitalized with serious injuries after the 3:00 a.m. local time accident near the Salgaa area.

According to police, the minibus rammed into the rear of an unknown truck, which disappeared shortly after the accident. "As a result, four people died on the spot. They included three women and a man."

This is the latest such accident to occur in the country amid ongoing campaigns to combat the menace. Fatal accidents have been on the rise, prompting calls for authorities and other stakeholders to take steps to address the trend.

Statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority show that more than 1,400 people have died in separate accidents in the past four months alone. 
Mumbai: After the minor accused and his father, the police on Saturday morning also arrested grandfather Surendra Kumar Agarwal in connection with the Pune accident, in which two IT professionals were killed on May 19. Police arrested Surendra for helping his builder son, Vishal Agarwal, abscond, and for wrongful confinement of his driver and putting pressure on the driver to take the accident blame.

A police official informed that Surendra was arrested on the basis of a complaint by the family driver of the juvenile Gangaram Poojari. The police have registered a separate case against the grandfather and father of the accused minor under section 365 (wrongful confinement) and 368 (keeping in confinement).

The development comes days after the teenager and his father claimed that their family driver was behind wheels at the time of the accident.

According to the police, the grandfather and father took Poojaris phone and allegedly kept him in forceful confinement at their bungalow from May 19 to May 20. They offered him money to take the blame for the accident.

Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar said, The driver initially claimed that he was driving the car when the accident took place. But after further questioning, he confirmed that the juvenile was driving the car while he was made to take the pilot seat.

Five days after the accident, the polices departmental inquiry concluded that there was a dereliction of duty by concerned police officers at the initial stage. The department suspended two of its officers, Inspector Rahul Jagdale and Assistant Inspector Vishwanath Todkar, attached to the Yerawada police station, where the FIR was registered. The two officers were reportedly present in the police station when they received the information of the accident at around 2.30am on May 19. They have been accused of procedural lapses and failing to inform the wireless control room about the incident in time.

Even the first blood samples of the minor were taken late at around 8am. The Pune police commissioner said that the blood and DNA reports are expected by next week. However, he also claimed that the blood report about alcohol content is not critical for the case as the police have gathered CCTV footage and restaurant bills to prove that the juvenile was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

As per the FIR, 17-year-old Vishal Agarwal was driving his fathers Porsche car at a high speed under the influence of alcohol and fatally knocked down Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, who were riding a motorbike. The incident became national news after the Juvenile Justice Board granted bail to the accused within a few hours and asked him to write an essay on road accidents.
New Delhi: Under fire from the Opposition, media, and civil society over the lack of precise polling figures, the Election Commission of India (ECI) released the absolute numbers of votes polled in each constituency on Saturday, emphasising that the data of votes polled cannot be altered.

In a statement, the ECI highlighted that the voter turnout data had always been accessible to candidates and citizens through the Voter Turnout App.

Providing absolute numbers per seat, the ECI reported final polling percentages for the five phases as follows: 66.14 per cent in phase one, 66.71 per cent in phase two, 65.68 per cent in phase three, 69.16 per cent in phase four, and 62.20 per cent in phase five. These figures exclude postal ballots, and the final numbers for phase six are pending.

The Commission noted "the pattern of false narratives and mischievous design to vitiate the electoral process" and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and stakeholder involvement at every stage of the electoral cycle. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, speaking to the media after casting his vote, stated, "...An attempt is being made to create an atmosphere of doubt; one day we will reveal how people are misled. Due to this, doubts arise about the correctness of EVMs and voting lists. Yesterday, the Supreme Court addressed these concerns, but we will also provide clarification."

Members of the Opposition, media, and civil society had been urging the ECI to release all data within a day after polling ends.

"Big victory for people's Right to Information! ECI releases voter turnout figures in absolute numbers. This is an important step, although it could have been done sooner. The demand to disclose Form 17C must continue as it is the only statutory authenticated record of voter turnout," said activist Anjali Bharadwaj, who had petitioned the ECI for disclosure of votes recorded at every polling station.

The ECI assured that the process of collecting and storing votes polled is rigorous, transparent, and participative. It stressed that the turnout data had been accurate and consistent, adhering to election laws without discrepancies. The Commission has shared the detailed process of recording and releasing turnout data with political parties and the public.

Further, the ECI stated that it has always provided the absolute number of voters for completed phases and shared this information with polling agents on polling day through Form 17C.

"The Commission feels strengthened by the Supreme Court's observations and verdict on the release of turnout data. This places a higher responsibility on us to serve the cause of electoral democracy with unwavering dedication," the ECI stated.

The Commission also expanded the format of turnout data release to include the absolute number of voters in every parliamentary constituency.

Explaining the process, the ECI stated that candidates receive the final list of electors after the list of contesting candidates is finalised. Authorised agents of all candidates receive Form 17C for each of the approximately 10.5 lakh polling stations. Candidates or their agents compare the copy of Form 17C with the results in each round at the counting centre.

"The total number of votes polled in a constituency, as recorded in Form 17C, cannot be changed, as it is available to all contesting candidates. Agents of candidates are allowed to accompany EVMs and statutory papers, including Form 17C, from the polling station to storage in a strong room," the ECI clarified.


NEW DELHI/PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a blistering attack on the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, accusing it of performing mujra for the Muslim vote bank. This drew sharp retorts from the Opposition, with leaders urging him to maintain the dignity of the Prime Ministers office and some wishing him to "get well soon."

At a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, Modi criticised "dynastic" parties, claiming they built palaces while neglecting the poor, farmers, labourers, and Dalits. He also warned that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc would alter the Constitution to favour Muslims if they came to power.

Earlier, during rallies in Bihar's Buxar, Karakat, and Patliputra, Modi vowed to prevent the I.N.D.I.A. bloc from depriving Dalits and backward classes of reservations. He accused the Opposition of scaremongering and emphasised his commitment to fighting terrorism and corruption.

"Bihar has always championed social justice. I will stop the I.N.D.I.A. bloc from robbing SCs, STs, and OBCs of their rights. They may remain enslaved and perform mujra to please their votebank," Modi declared. He also alleged that insulting remarks by Congress leaders from Punjab and Telangana, and DMK and TMC leaders from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, had hurt Bihari migrants.

Targeting the RJD, he said: "These RJD people who keep doing mujra with their lantern (poll symbol) do not have the courage to speak a word in protest."

The I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders condemned Modi's mujra jibe. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised his language and said no Prime Minister has ever used such words for Opposition leaders in the history of the country. She said the entire country respects the post of Prime Minister and it is Modi's responsibility to maintain the dignity of the post.

The Prime Minister has become nervous and has forgotten he is a representative of the country and of people and such words should not have come out of his mouth, she said.

RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha said, "After machhli (fish), mutton and mangalsutra, it is now the turn of mujra. Does it behove the Prime Minister of the country to speak such a language? He has torn norms of civil discourse to shred."

Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi shared a video clip, wishing the PM "get well soon."

Modi continued his attack at the Bihar rallies, alleging that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc plans to change the Constitution to divert OBC reservations to Muslims.

He alleged that the Opposition alliance is banking on the support of those who indulge in "vote jihad" and referred to the Calcutta high court order that struck down the West Bengal government's decision to include a number of Muslim groups on the list of OBCs.

"The Opposition alliance has decided that if they are voted to power, the first thing they will do is change the Constitution so that even the court is unable to overrule their attempts to divert OBC reservations to Muslims. I have been challenging them to refute me in writing, but they have been reluctant because they have a guilty conscience," Modi said.

He named several deprived castes, including Yadavs, who he claimed would lose their rights if the I.N.D.I.A. bloc succeeded.

The Prime Minister asserted that the Opposition coalition is "heading for a defeat" and predicted infighting among Congress and RJD workers after the election results. He emphasised his efforts to combat terrorism, insurgency, and corruption, recalling his actions like the surgical strikes and the scrapping of Article 370.

Referring to RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi, Modi hinted at legal troubles for them post-election. He also took jabs at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, predicting a poor performance for the SP in Uttar Pradesh.

In Ghazipur, Modi accused Congress of delaying the implementation of One Rank, One Pension for soldiers. He criticised "dynastic" party leaders for neglecting the poor while enriching themselves and praised the bravery and valour of Ghazipur's residents.
The headline-grabbing ugly episode involving Aam Aadmi Partys Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwals aide-cum-Man Friday Bibhav Kumar (resulting in his arrest) has predictably become a hot topic of discussion in the capital, especially since it took place in the midst of a crucial Lok Sabha election. It is well-known that Ms Maliwal has been associated with Mr Kejriwal from the very inception of the party but what is not so well-known to the outside world is that she has strained relations with the chief ministers wife Sunita and Delhi minister Atishi, also an old AAP hand. Ms Maliwal, it is said, had been pressing for an upgrade for some time and a consensus was emerging about fielding her in the Lok Sabha election from Chandni Chowk. She was accommodated in the Rajya Sabha instead while Chandni Chowk was subsequently offered to the Congress as part of the seat-sharing arrangement between the two parties. Ms Maliwal blotted her copybook when she left for the US in February and came back only after Mr Kejriwal was released. AAP leaders are convinced Ms Maliwal did not return earlier because of the prominence given to Sunita and Atishi during Mr Kejriwals incarceration. It was against this backdrop that she was asked to give up her Rajya Sabha seat. Ms Maliwal did not take kindly to this proposal, especially since it is Sunita Kejriwal who is learnt to have mooted it. The rest, as they say, is history.

From all accounts, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Maneka Gandhi was left to fend for herself in her bid to retain the Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency in these elections. The denial of a ticket to her son Varun Gandhi, who won the Pilibhit seat in the 2019 election, sent out the message to BJP cadres that the mother-son duo had fallen out with the BJP leadership. The local BJP workers apparently did not put in their best during the campaign. The fact that no senior party leader addressed any election rally in Manekas constituency was taken as further confirmation that she was no longer in the good books of party leaders. In fact, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah campaigned in neighbouring constituencies but skipped Sultanpur. If Maneka wins her seat again, it will be entirely due to her tireless efforts and her personal popularity as she has earned the goodwill of the locals by being responsive to their grievances.

Although the two parties are battling it out in the electoral arena, the Congress and the Trinamul Congress have been in talks with each other over the past several days. These discussions are not on the subject of the future of the INDIA alliance but the recent controversial statements made by senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury about West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. A known Mamata-baiter, Mr Chowdhury had compared her to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and that she could not be trusted. An angry Congress has already pulled up Mr Chowdhury for these remarks as well as the defacement of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharges posters in Kolkata. Apparently, the Trinamul Congress has been giving inputs about Mr Chowdhury to Congress leaders in Delhi. A senior Congress leader called up a Trinamul leader recently to enquire about Mr Chowdhurys prospects. When told that hes on a sticky wicket, the Congress leader, who has access to the Gandhis, replied, Thank God.

If the political grapevine in Karnataka is to be believed, the Congress is expected to witness fireworks after the Lok Sabha election results are out as the rivalry between chief minister Siddaramaiah and state unit president D.K. Shivakumar is likely to resurface. Mr Shivakumar, who has his eye on the chief ministers post, apparently wants to step down as state party chief but the Congress leadership wants him to continue till the local body elections are over. When the party picked Mr Siddaramaiah as chief minister a year ago, it was said Mr Shivakumar would get the post after the Lok Sabha elections. Congress insiders said the redoubtable Siddaramaiah is already working behind the scenes to claim credit for delivering on the partys key guarantees if the party notches up a respectable tally in the Lok Sabha polls. To add to the confusion, those who do not favour either of them are pressing for a dalit chief minister.

Industrialist and former Congress MP Naveen Jindal, who joined the BJP on the eve of elections came in for gentle ribbing in the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency during his poll campaign. Haryanvi straight-talk was on display as locals recalled how the BJP had come down heavily on Mr Jindal when his company was named in the coal scam which surfaced when the UPA government was in power. They wondered if the taint had disappeared after he joined the BJP or if Mr Jindal was now free to admit that his company was involved in the scam. The last word went to a senior Jat resident who said, The last time, the BJP threatened Jindal that it would come after him if he contested the election but this time it said we will nail you if you dont contest.
I think everybody  even among his most trenchant critics  will concede that Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is an orator par excellence. Words, phrases, the apt quote, evocative vocabulary often enriched by local flavour is a gift he is born with. Some people say that he uses a teleprompter, but even if he does for certain occasions, the number of speeches he gives in one day itself, is proof enough that his talents as an orator transcend the aid of a teleprompter.

Earlier, the star speaker in the BJP, who could mesmerise audiences with his use of humour, irony, facts, poetry, and turn of phrase, was Atal Behari Vajpayee. I recall when he came to Cyprus as PM in 2002, where I was the high commissioner, his first programme was a speech to the Indian diaspora, numbering thousands of young professionals in the IT sector. Vajpayee was in frail health. To come down from the Prime Ministerial plane, a hydraulic lift had to be used, since his knees were giving trouble.

When we reached his suite, I reminded him that in the convention hall of the hotel, the Indian diaspora was waiting for him. I still remember his asking me: Kya mujhe kuch bolna bhi padega? Will I be expected to address them? I replied that they had been waiting for hours just for that. He was visibly tired, but as we approached the venue, we could hear rousing slogans of Atal Behari zindabad, and Atalji visibly perked up. He received an uproarious welcome, and then, notwithstanding his fatigue, spoke for 40 minutes, keeping the audience spell bound, and often in splits of laughter. It was quite a feat.

Narendra Modi has similar qualities of vak shakti, the power of speech. That is why I wonder why he has never in the 10 years that he has been PM, ever given an open press conference, where the questions have not been provided in advance, or the interlocutor(s) is not someone chosen by his media team. It appears to be a transparently choreographed interaction, very different from the normal and spontaneous media questioning in a democracy.

I have seen most of the PMs interviews, both in print and on TV. He speaks well, but those who are interviewing him, are far too deferential, though they may appear to be asking tough questions. What happens in such staged interviews, with pre-selected anchors, is that the PM is more or less assured that no uncomfortable or acrimonious situation will arise, and certainly no hostile question will be asked.

Frankly, I believe this is detrimental to the PMs image. He should be far more open to public and genuinely democratic questioning. A monologue, where only he is talking, or an interaction with chosen interrogators diminishes his credibility. All previous PMs in our country  like executive heads in other democracies  have faced their critics in open media debates. In fact, Atalji once reprimanded a very popular journalist for not asking him the really tough questions. He said this was a violation of the essential credo of a free and fearless press.

Equally, some of Mr Modis recent public speeches have unfortunately derogated from the image of a statesman that he cherishes. Unfounded allegations, personalised attacks, rampantly communal statements, even sometimes bafflingly incoherent remarks, have tarnished him and the post of the PM.

Here are some examples of his utterances. On April 21, he said in Banswara in Rajasthan, that the Congress planned to seize and redistribute wealth to infiltrators and those who have more children. This was transparently a reference to Muslims. To call a sizeable section of Indian citizens infiltrators, was not only reprehensible, but also a direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which explicitly prohibits any statements that may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes, communities, religious or linguistic. The very next day in Aligarh, UP, while addressing a rally, he said: I want to warn my countrymen. Congress and INDIA alliance have their eyes on your earnings and property Our mothers and sisters have gold. It is streedhan, it is considered sacred; the law also protects it. Now these peoples eyes are on the mangalsutra of women. Their intention is to steal the gold of mothers and sisters.

On April 23, at a public meeting in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, he made the claim that if you have a box in your home in which you store bajra grain that would be subjected to an X-ray (by the Congress). If you have two houses, and they spot that in their X-ray, one would be taken away by the government. To my mind, this is an untruth  since the Congress manifesto says nothing of this sort  and unbecoming caricature. On May 8, at a rally in Telangana, the PM said: Ever since elections have been announced, these people (Congress) have stopped abusing Ambani and Adani. I want to askhow much has been lifted from Ambani-Adani? Has tempo loads of notes reached the Congress? Such a statement is startling, both because it is untrue  Rahul Gandhi has continued his diatribe against the Ambani-Adani duo  and also because the PM admits that black money, far from being eradicated, as he has claimed, is available to be sent in tempos. I am told, that as a result of this accusation by none less than the PM, international investors  very sensitive to such allegations  have ordered a forensic audit of the Adani-Ambani groups. And, finally, on May 22, Mr Modi actually said in an interview to News18, that he does not believe he was biologically born, but is a divine presence!

These are truly inexplicable statements. Once again, the comparison with Atalji comes to mind. Anyone who has followed his speeches, will find it difficult to point out an undignified statement. His speech in Parliament in 1998, when he lost the mandate by one vote, should be mandatory reading for all aspiring politicians.

If the BJP comes back to power, as seems likely given the weakness of the Opposition, Modiji would do well to remember the vital difference between a successful political leader and a statesman.
Today's headlines: WFP says floods in Afghanistan have exacerbated the countrys hunger crisis. Over 300 people are killed and 1,182 houses buried in a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea. Tens of thousands of people take to the streets in Taiwan against pro-Chinese reforms currently before parliament. Laos fails to stop human trafficking, especially of young people.

ISRAEL  PALESTINE

Disregarding the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered the end of military operations in Rafah, the Israeli military continues to bomb the area, intensifying its attacks. Since 7 October, 35,857 Palestinians have been killed and 80,293 wounded. The ICJ ordered the end of the military offensive to allow investigators into the Strip to investigate war crimes, and open the Rafah crossing to let aid in. For their, Israeli settlers and right-wing extremists, including children, continue to attack aid convoys.

AFGHANISTAN

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), sudden floods that have devastated Afghanistan are exacerbating hunger in the country. Since 10 May, hundreds of people have been killed, thousands of homes destroyed, and hectares of land wiped out. The UN agency is struggling to help some 80,000 people, especially in the provinces of Baghlan and Ghor. Nearly 24 million out of 40 million Afghans need humanitarian assistance this year, and nearly 16 million are severely food insecure.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

More than 300 people have been killed and 1,182 homes buried in a massive landslide that destroyed Kaokalam, a village in a remote part of Papua New Guinea. More than six villages in the Mulitaka region have also been affected by the landslide, which might have been caused by gold mining. With roads cut off, rescuers can only rely on helicopters.

SOUTH KOREA

According to 2022 data, South Korea has the worst gender wage gap among the 38 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The latest study, released today, marks the 27th straight year that South Korea recorded the worst gender gap among member states. Female workers were paid, on average, 31.2 per cent less than their male counterparts.

TAIWAN

Tens of thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets around the countrys parliament yesterday to protest against a series of proposed reforms as well as China's influence on the countrys democratic institutions. Meanwhile, China carried out a series of military exercises around the island. The changes sought by pro-mainland opposition parties and opposed by President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would grant parliament greater power of oversight over government activity.

LAOS

The Laotian government does not have the resources to respond to the numerous reports regarding human trafficking. In fact, many young Laotians continue to be hired in cyber scam operations in neighbouring countries. Recently, 14 young people were freed after they were caught up in a scam at a Chinese-run casino in Myanmars Kayin state.

RUSSIA  INDIA

Rosatom, Russia's nuclear energy company, is discussing with Indian partners to include them in the Proryv project, a new platform to generate energy to be built in Seversk (Siberia), as director Alexey Likhachev said when receiving the Indian delegation, to make real what until now was only a 3-D drawing.

CHINA - MONGOLIA  RUSSIA

A Mongolian-Russian-Chinese Environmental and Engineering Centre recently opened in Lanzhou, the administrative capital of Chinas Gansu province. Set up by major academic institutions in the three countries, it is designed to further the study of changes in the cryospheres and address hydrological crises.
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The ongoing mass killings of thousands of unborn baby girls and boys through abortion in the U.K. galvanized determined pro-life campaigners to come together outside the Houses of Parliament and protest as lawmakers prepare to decriminalize abortion, according to several pro-life groups.

Latest UK Government figures released on Thursday (May 23) reveal 251,377 legal abortions for women aged 15 to 44 living in England and Wales in 2022. This is the highest number since the Abortion Act [1967] was introduced and an increase of 17% over the previous year. 99 percent of abortions were funded by the National Health Service and 80 per cent in the independent sector.

Meanwhile MPs are tabling two amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill proceeding through parliament. The moves would stop legal repercussions for killing an unborn child, if that child is unwanted. At the same time, sex-selective abortions would be allowed.

The Criminal Justice Bill 2023-2024, introduced on Nov. 14 with a second reading on Nov. 28. was considered by a Public Bill Committee over 16 sittings between Dec. 12 and Jan. 30. Amendments to the bill were debated on May 15 with pro life groups protesting outside parliament, and a further House of Commons debate is planned for June 3.

Labour party MPs Diana Johnson and Stella Creasy both tabled the new clauses for decriminalizing abortion in England and Wales.

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At the second reading debate, Johnson, who is the chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, noted that women can still be prosecuted for ending a pregnancy after the legal time limit.

I will be tabling a new clause to remove women from the criminal law relating to abortion, Johnson said at the debate. Let me be very clear with everybody: this is a very limited and highly targeted amendment. It would not change any law regarding the provision of abortion services within a healthcare setting in England and Wales.

The abortion time limit, the legal grounds for abortion and the requirement for two doctors approval would all stay as they are. What the amendment would do is usher in an end to women being put in jail for having an abortion, and I hope that we can all come together and agree on that course of action.

Creasy said her similar amendment would look to remove the criminal underpinning of our legislation replacing it with a medical one that puts the health of women first and ensures appropriate professional delivery of services as well as clinical safeguards.

Meanwhile, pro-life groups gathered to protest as parliamentarians debated the amendments on May 15.

They included Abortion Resistance, Alliance Defending Freedom UK (ADF UK), Centre for Bio Ethical Reform UK (CBR UK), Christian Concern, CitizenGO, Good Counsel Network, March for Life, Rachels Vineyard, Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), Voice for Justice UK, 40 Days for Life and several others.

Dr Dermot Kearney, a consultant cardiologist and leading Catholic pro-life medical physician, said abortion was not in the best interests of patients.

We know that abortions are not healthcare even though the abortion providers often try to promote it as such, he said in a video interview with Christian Concern, and we are here to show that abortion is not healthcare, it is the intentional destruction of innocent human life and that can never constitute appropriate, authentic healthcare.

Rachel Mackenzie, from Christian pro life healing ministry Rachels Vineyard, said there had been an increased number of women badly affected by at home abortions.

She has supported countless women already traumatized by abortion up to 24 weeks. It is horrific to think we could actually not only double the amount of abortions but also double the impact of trauma, Mackenzie said at the protest.

This is often something suffered in silence and isolation, Mackenzie added. My concerns are that decriminalizing abortion up to birth will not only mean more women risking their own physical health but it is downplaying the gravity and irrevocable nature of the decision, which can have extreme impact on womens mental health too.

Andrea Williams, a barrister and managing director of Christian Concern, called the push from the abortion industry particularly perverse.

We know that premature babies can often live outside their mothers wombs from the existing abortion time limit of 24 weeks, and even earlier, she said.

Williams said there was no difference between babies aborted with poison pills at 24 weeks and those being cared for in a nearby hospital neonatal unit.

It was this threat of such an inhumane threat to human life that pulled so many people (about 300) together at such short notice, she commented about the protest event. The unity between all the pro-life groups was a joy to witness. The supporters from various groups who had dropped plans and made the effort to come along was inspiring.
25 May 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

During his participation in the High-Level Segment of the "15th Petersburg Climate Dialogue" in Berlin on April 26, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev unveiled a new initiative for the COP during an interview with "Euronews".

This initiative, known as the "troika", involves a partnership model established between the UAE, Azerbaijan, and Brazil, aimed at enhancing cooperation and continuity among past, present, and future COP presidents.

The primary goal of this partnership is to accelerate action on climate change by supporting the "mission 1.5C" and advocating for increased efforts across all key areas of the Paris Agreement.

In his comment to Azernews on the issue, MP Vugar Bayramov, an economist, said that the tripartite mechanism is a very successful model in terms of the efficient organization of COP events, and it is undoubtedly expected that this model will be used by other countries in the future.

"The Trinity approach is a new approach. That is, the United Arab Emirates, which held the COP event last year, is a model of joint cooperation between Azerbaijan and Brazil, which will be held this year and next year. This is a rather serious approach, but also a useful one, as it allows both to learn from the positive experience of the previous year, and at the same time it will allow the overall success and results of COP29 to be continued in a more extended way in Brazil. Therefore, this model - the tripartite mechanism is a very successful model in terms of the efficient organization of COP events, and it is undoubtedly expected that this model will be used by other countries in the next period, and the possibilities of using this model are quite large. Of course, it is expected that other steps will be taken according to the current results of this COP29."

The expert noted that the United Arab Emirates is one of the main investors in the green energy sector of Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates are implementing a large number of green energy production projects. Both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia attract investment. The United Arab Emirates is one of the main investors in the green energy sector of Azerbaijan and provides an opportunity to attract the experience of the Arab Emirates and attract technology innovation, and investment. Therefore, the relations between the two countries are deepening and developing. This, of course, means an opportunity for more useful and effective cooperation within the framework of COP 29."

In recent years, significant investments have been directed towards building and refurbishing energy infrastructure, with a notable surge in interest in alternative energy sectors.

The inauguration of the Garadag Solar Power Station (GES) marks the onset of a new era. As the first station constructed with foreign investment in Azerbaijan, the project is a collaboration with the prestigious "Masdar" company from the United Arab Emirates. Officially opened on October 26, 2023, the 230 MW solar plant stands as the largest in the Caspian region and the CIS, funded by a foreign investment totaling $262 million.

Producing 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, the station is set to save 110 million cubic meters of natural gas and reduce carbon emissions by 200,000 tons, underscoring Azerbaijan's commitment to green energy and its obligations concerning carbon emissions. With aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2050 and establish a "zero emission" zone in liberated territories, Azerbaijan is already taking significant steps in this direction

Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Brazil are flourishing, characterized by growing diplomatic ties and increasing economic collaboration. With both nations actively seeking to expand their energy portfolios, there exists significant potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector. Vugar Bayramov stated that Azerbaijan attaches importance to cooperation with Brazil.

"Brazil is already one of the leading countries in the world. It is a country included in the top twenty. Therefore, Azerbaijan attaches importance to its cooperation with Brazil. In the field of green energy, there is already talk of more exchange of experiences. Because Azerbaijan is interested in both the exchange of experiences and attracting investment. And from this context, of course, cooperation will continue in the direction of the exchange of experience between Brazil and our Azerbaijan."

The tripartite mechanism will not only support the more efficient organization of COP29 and COP events in general, but also, without a doubt, the presentation of Azerbaijan, the attraction of investment, in particular the green energy field, the expert added.

Therefore, this mechanism can be applied as a model in the next COP events, and as a result of which will not only increase the effectiveness of the organization of COP events as a whole but also lead to more projects related to the development of green energy, both globally and regionally.

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25 May 2024 14:38 (UTC+04:00)

For several months, our team has been preparing for COP29. Today's event is an opportunity to hear suggestions. We hope that when it comes to COP29, all nations will demonstrate compassion and solidarity," Azernews reports that this was stated by Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, COP29 PresidentDesignate Mukhtar Babayev at a presentation ceremony regarding the COP29 held as part of the Lachin Climate Action Dialogue.

"By combining their efforts, they will be closer to each other, which will help us to solve the issues," Minister added.

Speaking about preparations for this prestigious event, Mukhtar Babayev added: We encourage you to be productive in all preparations related to COP29 and actively draft the agenda for this event. I think we have a lot to discuss.

---

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Pro life groups protested outside the U.K. Houses of Parliament on May 15 as members of parliament debated decriminalising abortion. One of the protestors at the event was Christian Hacking, 34, the public engagement officer for the Centre for Bio Ethical Reform UK.

In an exclusive interview with Christian Daily International, Hacking, who is a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ, shares about what motivates him to protest against abortion and talks about how he was once hauled into a police van for praying outside an abortion clinic.

Hacking became concerned about abortion as a student at Leeds University when he was given a leaflet by a friend showing him what abortion really looked like.

I had been brought up thinking it was just a medical procedure but then I saw a picture of an unborn baby on a glove and I had no idea before that an aborted baby was an actual human being. And that was when my eyes were opened.

Hacking put the leaflet away but then four years later, when recovering from a spinal injury, he became interested again when Ireland voted to allow the killing of unborn children through abortion in 2018.

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I realized I couldnt look away, he said. He began volunteering with CBR UK, a pro life group, then took on leadership of the London team, helping to run displays on the realities of abortion outside GP medical surgeries before getting his current full time role engaging with the public for the Centre for Bio Ethical Reform UK.

Hacking said that to be truly evangelical meant to be activistic and lamented that, in his opinion about abortion, lots of evangelicals are largely silent on this injustice.

The experience of being arrested for praying, by his own admission extravagantly, outside an abortion facility in August 2019 surprised Hacking.

He had gone in a private capacity outside an abortion clinic in Ealing, London, to pray. He said that antisocial behavior laws were enforced in the buffer zone area there, normally reserved for lager louts or dogs defecating but were applied to him instead for simply talking to Jesus.

To be clear, this wasnt orchestrated, it was something I did in my own time. I went to visit it and my heart broke  I was outraged at the time. I prayed inside the buffer zone for an hour, then the police were called.

I was praying out loud on my knees, praying to be heard. Some people accessing the clinic took offense at my presence.

The clinic manager, incidentally wearing a cross necklace, informed the police and arranged for my removal.

A fellow prayer warrior decided to leave the scene but Hacking carried on crying out to God outside the abortion clinic.

And then I got arrested but because of the uniqueness of the event, the gentleman arresting me forgot to caution me. So the case fell apart before it went to trial.

He forgot to caution me, lifting me out of the zone in a police van and then saying, Whatever you say may be used against you. But all the evidence was disqualified as the caution had not been given inside the buffer zone.

Police spared Hacking the indignity of a criminal record and there was no follow-up. I got interviewed by BBC Radio 4 about the incident and since then they have brought in other safe access zones and another national law banning prayers outside every facility in the country.

A key area of interest for Hacking has been profits made by abortion facility providers for killing babies. He is particularly concerned to know what they do with the profits.

They spread their profits to meet legal thresholds and inevitably they have earned huge amounts of money with DIY abortion, employing staff and running clinics. But now one person can take a call, a healthcare professional or a nurse, then the abortion poison pills get posted out. And now women are being discharged once the pills are posted out with no follow up. So any complications the women subsequently experience are not getting back to the abortion provider.

Our argument is that this is a catastrophe for womens health and by posting these pills out, the abortion providers are cashing in.

A Freedom of Information survey found that one in 17 women taking these pills need hospital treatment as a result, according to Hacking.

All the trauma unleashed through this, isnt being captured and one of the reasons this data isnt collected is that there are no National Health Service numbers on abortion procedures. So there is no review of the danger linking abortion to future support needed such as psychological help, or breast cancer risks.

With a General Election looming in Britain on July 4, Hacking believes it is only a matter of time before abortion becomes a central issue in elections. He refers to Old Testament laws valuing the sanctity of life, such as Gods commands to Noah when he came out of the ark, and the commandment if you shed blood, your blood will be shed. [Genesis 9:6]

Life is precious, said Hacking, and the most basic legal codes are about protecting people and stopping people killing people. Abortion is the intentional killing of innocent human beings and it is grievous in Gods sight. So it is only a matter of time before this becomes a bigger issue in political elections.

A Pew Research Center report published on May 15 said there remained a high level of support for the killing of the unborn across Europe.

In Europe, there is widespread agreement that abortion should be legal, said the report. In nearly every European country surveyed, at least 75% of adults hold this view, including roughly 25% or more who say it should be legal in all cases.

Swedes stood out as being particularly supportive of the killings with 95% saying it should be legal, including 66 percent supporting abortion in all cases. Poland is at the opposite end of the spectrum with 56 percent saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases, but 36% say it should be illegal in all or most cases.

Majorities in most of the 27 places around the world that Pew Research Center surveyed in 2023 and 2024 say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, said the Pew report. But attitudes differ widely  even within places. Religiously unaffiliated adults, people on the ideological left and women, are more likely to support legal abortion in many places.

Looking at the landscape in Europe, Hacking says that generally speaking abortions are kept to 12 weeks except in extreme cases. He laments France putting abortion into the countrys constitution but Italy and Poland seem to be going the other way

Meanwhile the UK has a rich history of doing awful things but repenting quicker than other nations so I have hope but it can go either way. He is wary of the British Labour Party, currently leading the polls for the forthcoming General Election, putting the decriminalization of killing children through abortion in its manifesto. Its not looking good in the short term.

Even so, Hacking turns to God for all the answers as the debate about abortion heats up and gets more difficult for pro-life Christians.

My hope is not in politics but in Christians being salt and light, Hacking said. It is undeniable that more Christians will be arrested in the UK if Labour comes to power.

Christians will find themselves increasingly in the firing line in all sorts of matters, not only abortion but conversion therapy, and sexuality, and we should welcome persecution as a means to help us shed some [spiritual] pounds.
25 May 2024 18:46 (UTC+04:00)

With the world's eyes on Baku for COP29, it's a perfect chance for Armenia and Azerbaijan to finally sign the peace agreement, Elchin Amirbayov, Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on special assignments, said in an interview with NE Global, Azernews reports.

"One of the recent confidence-building measures which were achieved between Armenia and Azerbaijan was this deal which was reached last December (COP28 in Dubai) between the two countries when there was an arrangement on mutual freeing of some detainees and also exchange of diplomatic support to each other," he added.

He noted that Armenia lifted its veto on Azerbaijans bid to host COP29, and in return, Baku agreed to include Armenia in the executive committee for the global climate conference.

"Of course, that was a major breakthrough because it was for the first time that through direct low-level contacts, we were able to get this CBM (Confidence Building Measure) and that also showed that both countries are able to sort out their differences in direct, bilateral contacts without any third-party intervention," he noted.

Amirbayov added that the work on the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan is ongoing.

"We are cautiously optimistic because we believe that it is doable to finalize negotiations to this text before COP29 even. It would give a strong signal also to the outside world that one of the most ancient and longest and tragic conflicts on the European continent in the post-Soviet space is coming to an end so I believe both countries and peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan should be ready for this positive outcome," the official said.

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25 May 2024 19:07 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

The member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) completed the ratification of the agreement on the creation of a simplified customs corridor, which provides for the integration of the information systems of Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

The agreement on the simplified customs corridor envisages the simplification of foreign trade activities along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (Middle Corridor).

Today, the main share in the foreign trade of not only Kazakhstan but also Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan passes through two main corridors: from Russia to Europe and through China. The new agreement is aimed at the development of the third corridor - the Trans-Caspian corridor passing through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. From 2010 to 2022, the trade turnover between the countries participating in this agreement increased three times. This indicates great potential for future growth.

Today, the volume of trade for Kazakhstan with these Turkic states is approximately 13 billion US dollars, and 70 % of this amount is accounted for by Kazakhstan's exports to these countries.

The simplified customs corridor has the following advantages: trade operators will receive priority service at the exit points, which will reduce waiting times; customs clearance procedures will be optimized using separate traffic lanes, which will further reduce clearance times; customs inspection will be carried out only in cases where the risk of violation of customs legislation is determined, which will allow to reduce the downtime and costs.

The agreement on the simplified customs corridor does not limit either specific industries or the choice of goods for customs clearance. This means that trade operators can use simplified procedures for all types of goods.

After the ratification of the agreement on the establishment of the simplified customs corridor, a six-month pilot project will be implemented. During this period, the customs structures of the five countries will fully work on all technical, administrative, and legal aspects of the new system. After the pilot project is completed, the system will be fully operational.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan ratified this agreement in 2023. Of the five OTS countries, only Kazakhstan remained, which this week confirmed to join the simplified customs corridor.

It should be noted that the agreement was signed on November 11, 2022, in Samarkand between the governments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan.

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25 May 2024 12:49 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

On May 24, 2024, the opening of the "Borderless Art" exhibition took place at the Modern Art Center in Icherisheher, organized by the International Painters Club, the United Painters Club, with the support of the "Shabran Wellbeing Resort" hotel and the Khatai Art Center, Azernews reports.

This exhibition serves as the culmination of the Baku 2024 International Art Symposium, bringing together talented artists from various parts of the world.

The works presented at the "Borderless Art" exhibition are created by participants of the symposium during its conduct. Painters from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Turkey showcase unique works that combine traditional and modern approaches in art. Among the participants are Bahram Khalilov and Farhad Yalquzakh (Azerbaijan), Luka Kukushvili (Georgia), Yerbol Khamirov (Kazakhstan), Magomed Kachlaev (Russia), Khurshid Ziyakhanov (Uzbekistan), Farrukh Neqmatzade (Tajikistan), and Hanife and Husna Dishbudak (Turkey). The opening of the exhibition was attended by the President of the Painters Union of Tajikistan, Nargis Hamidova.

The "Borderless Art" exhibition emphasizes the necessity of cultural exchange and professional development through descriptive art. It provides a unique platform for the mutual relationship between cultures and artistic traditions, showcasing a wide range of genres and styles that reflect individual perspectives on contemporary art and cultural heritage.

The exhibition will be open to the public until May 29, offering everyone the opportunity to immerse themselves in an atmosphere of international creative collaboration and inspiration.

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25 May 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

A delegation of Maine officials and prominent members of the US public visited the liberated cities of Shusha and Lachin as part of their trip to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the State Committee for Work with Diaspora.

The guests were provided with information about the current situation in the city of Shusha. The delegation got acquainted with the conditions created for newcomers to Shusha and highly appreciated the work done.

They condemned the acts of vandalism committed by Armenians against cultural monuments and mosques during the occupation. Then the guests visited the Vagif mausoleum, the Ganja Gate, the bullet-riddled monuments, Jidir Plain, and the Yukhari Govharagha Mosque.

In Lachin, guests were provided with detailed information about the conditions created for returning residents, jobs and their social security, and ongoing restoration and reconstruction work.

The delegation visited the Agro-Industrial Park, a greenhouse, a farm and a furniture workshop in the city of Lachin, as well as the village of Sus.

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25 May 2024 11:02 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

Georgia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners, Ambassador of Georgia to Azerbaijan, Zurab Pataradze, told journalists at the event on the occasion of Georgia's Independence Day, Azernews reports.

"May 28 - Independence Day of Azerbaijan will be solemnly celebrated in Tbilisi. Friendly, fraternal relations have developed between our countries, we are strategic partners. I wish success to the Azerbaijani people," the diplomat said.

He noted that successful cooperation is developing between Azerbaijan and Georgia in all areas.

The ambassador also reported that the representatives of executive and legislative bodies, business sector are taking part in today's event.

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25 May 2024 11:33 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov had a telephone conversation with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Azernews reports citing the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry

The ministers discussed the current state and prospects of Azerbaijani-German bilateral relations. They also touched upon the current situation in the region and discussed the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Bayramov informed Baerbock in detail about the negotiations that took place on May 10-11 in Almaty with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan.

The sides stressed the importance of the agreements reached between Baku and Yerevan and the confidence-building measures taken in the recent period.

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25 May 2024 13:36 (UTC+04:00)

Another migration caravan with former internally displaced persons has left for the Azerbaijani city of Shusha, Azernews reports.

Families previously temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, children's camps, unfinished and administrative buildings in various regions of the republic, left for their native lands from the Garadagh district of Baku. At this stage, 32 families (125 people) went to Shusha.

As a result of the brilliant victory of the Azerbaijani army in the Patriotic War under the leadership of the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, former internally displaced persons had the opportunity to voluntarily, safely and with dignity return to their homeland after 30 years.

Residents of the city of Shusha expressed gratitude to the head of state and first vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state care, and also thanked the brave Azerbaijani army for the liberation of lands from occupation, and wished the repose of the souls of the martyrs who died in the name of this lofty goal.

In Shusha, taking into account those who left today, permanent residence has been provided for 90 families (349 people).
25 May 2024 15:40 (UTC+04:00)

Vilayat Eyvazov, Azerbaijani Minister of Internal Affairs met Friday with a delegation led by Adrian Efros, Moldovan Minister of Internal Affairs, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, Minister Vilayat Eyvazov hailed the strengthening of relations and mutual contacts between Moldova and Azerbaijan. He stressed that the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs attaches great importance to evolving relations with the law enforcement agencies of Moldova, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, both in bilateral and multilateral formats.

Praising the long-standing close and working relations between the relevant institutions of the two countries, Colonel-General Vilayat Eyvazov expressed his confidence that such meetings would contribute to further developing relations and bolstering cooperation.

Emphasizing that the fight against illicit drug trafficking, international terrorism, human trafficking, illegal migration and cybercrime, which are the main types of transnational organized crime, remain in the spotlight, the Azerbaijani minister stressed the possibility of effectively combatting them only through joint efforts.

Moldovan Minister Adrian Efros said he hoped that the visit would provide a new impetus to further enhancing of cooperation between the Ministries of Internal Affairs of the two countries.

Minister Adrian Efros expressed their interest in benefiting from Azerbaijans experience in tackling crime and ensuring public order.

The meeting then featured the signing of an agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova.

As part of the trip, the guests also visited a military unit of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, as well as familiarized themselves with the activities of "102" and "Safe City" services.

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The King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, His Majesty Charles III, has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Mr. President,

As you and the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan celebrate the special occasion of your Independence Day, my wife and I have great pleasure in conveying our heartfelt congratulations to Your Excellency and the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

I value the bond between our nations, and hope that our countries can continue to work closely together on important global issues, whether they be peace and prosperity, or environment and climate change, which will benefit our future generations for years to come.

My wife and I would like to take this opportunity to send you and all Azerbaijanis our warmest good wishes for the coming year.

His Majesty Charles III

King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"

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25 May 2024 11:01 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Excellency,

Allow me to sincerely congratulate you and the people of your country on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Czech Republic values the level of mutual relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan. I am convinced that cooperation between our two countries will continue to develop successfully.

I wish you, Your Excellency, good health and every success.

Sincerely,

Petr Pavel

President of the Czech Republic"

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Saima Bibi was serving tea to guests at her quarters in Punjab Province, Pakistan when her Muslim employer dragged her outside and pushed her towards an electric chaff cutter, tearing off her ear and cutting most of her scalp, her husband said.

The 24-year-old Christian mother of two children was working last month with her husband, Shahzad Masih, on the farm of two Muslim landlords in Ram Diwali Chak No. 6 village, Faisalabad District, he said. Relatives had come to visit them on April 12, the third day of the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Fitr, Masih said.

His wife was making tea for them when one of the landlords, Muhammad Mustafa, arrived and rebuked them for not cutting fodder for the cattle, he said.

I immediately got up and started to cut the fodder in the electric chaff cutter, but as soon as my wife came outside to give me tea, Mustafa started hurling abuses at her and told her to get to work, Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. When Saima said that shell begin work in 10 minutes, Mustafa pulled her from the hair and pushed her towards the chaff cutter, causing her to fall and hitting her head in the running machine.

Besides the wounds to her right ear and the skin of her head, the chaff cutter also injured her right eye, he said.

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Blood started gushing out of Saimas head, and she screamed and cried in pain, Masih said. Seeing her in a bloody mess, Mustafa fled the scene.

Her cries brought a large number of villagers to the site, including the other Muslim landowner, Muhammad Imran, who took her to a hospital in his car, Masih said. Upon reaching Government Allied Hospital, however, Imran warned them not to tell anyone how she had been injured.

Imran threatened me with even more serious consequences if we did not say that the incident was the result of an accident, he said. Saima was in great pain, and naturally my priority was to get her treated immediately. The doctors gave her first aid and shifted her to the plastic surgery ward, where shes still under treatment.

The impoverished Catholic laborer said that on April 24 he tried to file a case against Mustafa with the Nishatabad Police Station in Faisalabad, but officers refused to accept it.

We were occupied with Saimas treatment, which is why I couldnt file a complaint earlier, Masih said. When I went to the police, they showed reluctance in filing a case against Mustafa because of his influence. Instead, they pressured me to withdraw the application and settle the matter directly with the accused. Its been nearly a month now that we are trying to register a First Information Report [FIR].

Attorney Akmal Bhatti, chairman of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan, said the aggrieved family had contacted him to obtain justice.

The polices inaction and bias against the victims minority status exemplifies systemic challenges and discriminatory practices prevalent in rural policing, he told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

Bhatti said that he had filed a petition in the Faisalabad sessions court asking it to direct police to register a case against Mustafa and initiate legal action against him.

Ive also filed applications with senior police officials to apprise them about the intentional negligence of their subordinates to give access to justice to Saima, he said.

Bhatti said the Muslims also hindered medico-legal examination of Saima Bibi, resulting in an inordinate delay.

The medical examination has finally been done, and now we are waiting for the police to register an FIR and arrest the accused, he said. The perpetrators tried to show this incident as an accident and have used all their political and financial powers to not let the medico-legal certificate be issued, which is essential to the pursuance of the case.

The counsel said that the incident underscored deep-rooted issues of intolerance and discrimination against Christians.

Saimas case shows the vulnerability of religious minorities, particularly women, in rural settings where power dynamics and societal hierarchies often perpetuate injustice and impunity, he said, adding that there was an urgent need for comprehensive legal reforms, enforcement of existing protections and community engagement initiatives to combat religious discrimination and violence against minorities in Pakistan.

We demand that authorities must expedite efforts to apprehend the accused and ensure that the victim is given justice, he said.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
25 May 2024 11:03 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"Dear Mr. President,

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I would like to convey to Your Excellency my congratulations and sincere wishes for your personal well-being and for the progress and prosperity of the Azerbaijani people.

Sincerely,

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

President of the Portuguese Republic"

---

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25 May 2024 11:43 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. llham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear President,

As we join you in celebrating the anniversary of Azerbaijans Independence Day, it gives me great pleasure to convey to Your Excellency and the friendly people of Azerbaijan and my heartfelt felicitations, wishing your country further progress and prosperity.

Our two countries are bound by strong bounds of friendship and cooperation. I hope that the dynamically developing relations between our two friendly countries will continue to be consistently bolstered by our joint work and fruitful coordination for the common interest of our two peoples.

With the assurances of my highest consideration, please accept, dear Mr. President, my kind regards and very best wishes for your good health and happiness and for the continued welfare and advancement of the friendly people of Azerbaijan.

Sincerely,

Abdel Fattah Al Sisi

President of the Arab Republic of Egypt"

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25 May 2024 11:45 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Croatia,Zoran Milanovi has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Mr. President,

On the occasion of the observance of National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, it is my great pleasure to extend, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and on myself, cordial congratulations, and best wishes for the progress and prosperity of your citizens.

Croatia and Azerbaijan are bound by a long-standing close cooperation and friendship. I believe that in the period ahead, we will continue to work on enhancing our overall relations.

Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Sincerely,

Zoran Milanovic

President of the Republic of Croatia"

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25 May 2024 13:36 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. llham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Excellency,

On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and to the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Our two countries have built strong ties of cooperation and partnership over the years. I hope to further develop the relationship between our two countries and strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two peoples.

Please accept my best wishes for Your Excellencys good health and happiness, and for the lasting prosperity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Yoon Suk Yeol

President of the Republic of Korea"

---

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25 May 2024 11:51 (UTC+04:00)

Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hissein Brahim Taha has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency Mr. President,

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I have the honour to extend to Your Excellency and to the people of Azerbaijan my heartfelt congratulations, I pray to Almighty Allah for the health and wellness of Your Excellency, and for further progress and prosperity for the people of Azerbaijan.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) values its strong ties with the Republic of Azerbaijan, and commends its role in supporting the OIC and promoting joint Islamic action, an objective for which the OIC was established. The OIC will continue its efforts in serving its Member States, promoting their common values, and strengthening the bonds of mutual cooperation amongst them.

I look forward to Your Excellency's support to strengthen the solidarity among the people of our Member States, and opening up new horizons for joint Islamic action.

Please accept, Your Excellency Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration and regards.

Hissein Brahim Taha

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation"

---

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President of the United States of America, Joseph R. Biden has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of the American people, I congratulate you and the people of Azerbaijan on your Independence Day.

The United States values our bilateral relationship with the Republic of Azerbaijan. During our more than 30 years of diplomatic relations, we have built a partnership based on shared interests, including energy security, regional security, and combating terrorism. Our two nations fought shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan and tackled regional energy challenges together through the development of the Southern Gas Corridor. And we appreciate Azerbaijan's humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as an important lifeline against the onslaught of Russia's brutal war.

As you enter your fifth term in office, the United States will work to deepen our mutual collaboration on regional and global issues, including climate change and the green energy transition. We encourage Azerbaijan to take meaningful steps toward democratic governance and to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Azerbaijanis. We look forward to advancing our shared climate goals at COP29 in Baku in November and stand ready to support Azerbaijan in making the event a success.

On this holiday honoring Azerbaijan's independence, the United States reaffirms its support for Azerbaijan's independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. We welcome steps by Azerbaijan and Armenia to secure a durable and dignified peace, and we stand ready to support these efforts. Above all, we look forward to growing our partnership and strengthening ties with the people of Azerbaijan.

I send my best wishes to you and the people of Azerbaijan.

Sincerely,

Joseph R. Biden

President of the United States of America"

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25 May 2024 10:55 (UTC+04:00)

King of Spain, Felipe VI has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28  Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the Spanish government and people, I extend my sincerest congratulations to Your Excellency on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Azerbaijan - the Independence Day.

Mr. President, I wish you the best of health, and the beloved people of Azerbaijan peace and prosperity.

With deep respect and esteem,

Felipe VI

King of Spain"

---

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25 May 2024 19:48 (UTC+04:00)

In accordance with the Bilateral Military Cooperation Program between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan, a group of servicemen of the Military Police Department of the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry visited Kazakhstan, Azernews reports citing the Ministry of Defense.

The Azerbaijani delegation got acquainted with the daily activities of the Kazakh military police, the organization of the cynological service, material and technical equipment and training program, as well as the military equipment in the armament, and watched the demonstration exercise of the units at the Training Center of Military Police Specialists.

At the meeting held with the participation of representatives of the military police of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, detailed views were exchanged on a number of issues of common interest.

The delegation of the Defense Ministry also visited the State Museum of Military History, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other historical monuments.

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25 May 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The American company Marinette Marine Corp. received a $1.04 billion contract from the US Department of Defense for the design and construction of two Constellation-class frigates (FFG 66 and FFG 67) with guided missile weapons, Azernews reports.

The work will be carried out in the states of Wisconsin, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia and should be completed by April 2030.

Constellation frigates are a type of small combat surface ships of a new generation. It is planned that they will be used to combat ships, submarines and carry out electronic countermeasures.

Their armament will consist of cruise, anti-ship and guided missiles launched, including from vertical launch installations, automatic cannons, electronic warfare systems, etc. The frigates are capable of carrying helicopters, drones, as well as high-speed rigid-hulled inflatable boats.

The crew of the Constellation frigate is up to 200 people.

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Iran, Saudi Arabia reaffirm commitment to promoting bilateral ties

Xinhua) 11:31, May 25, 2024

TEHRAN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Interim President Mohammad Mokhber and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Friday reaffirmed their countries' commitment to expanding bilateral ties.

In a phone call, the Saudi crown prince extended condolences over the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and the accompanying delegation in a helicopter crash, according to the official IRNA news agency.

The Saudi crown prince emphasized the importance of developing relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran for the region, envisioning a bright future for the region through strengthened ties and expressing readiness to boost trade relations with Iran.

Mokhber, in turn, extended gratitude toward the Saudi crown prince and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for their "kind and sympathetic" condolatory messages.

He highlighted Raisi's successes in expanding relations with neighbors and friendly states, emphasizing that despite his death, Iran's commitment to strengthening ties with other countries remains unchanged.

Mokhber stressed that Iran and Saudi Arabia should further support, promote, and stabilize their political ties by increasing bilateral economic interactions and removing obstacles to cooperation between their private sectors.

The helicopter carrying Raisi and his entourage crashed Sunday in a mountainous area in the northwestern Iranian province of East Azarbaijan, resulting in the deaths of all those on board.

First Vice President Mokhber was appointed as the interim president until a new presidential election is held on June 28.

In April 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia declared the resumption of diplomatic relations in Beijing after years of estrangement.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A local official and his Muslim family last week disrupted house church worship in an area of Java island, Indonesia where it has never happened before.

In East Java Provinces Betiting village, in Cerme Sub-Regency of Gresik Regency, the head of the citizen association (Ketua Rukun Warga, or RW) in the Benowo area along with his wife and son on Wednesday (May 8) stood outside a house church at about 7 p.m. shouting for the 30 members to stop worshiping, according to video footage and news reports.

One of the worshippers, identified only as Gabriella, said the father, mother and their son came to the house screaming, yelling and calling them bad names as they demanded the worship stop, according to news outlet Infogresik in a story by Akurat.co. The West Indonesia Protestant Church (Gereja Protestan di Indonesia Bagian Barat, or GPIB) congregation meeting at the house in Cerme Indah Real Estate, Block P/36 RT 11 RW 03, halted their service.

They came shouting at us to stop worship, Gabriella said. The situation attracted residents to come, including the head of RT 11, who tried to calm the situation down.

The worship was not loud and has been taking place regularly without incident for 10 years, she said.

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In a video of the altercation posted on social media, the narrator identifies the citizen association head as Yayak Hari Subagio.

In video footage, a family was seen immediately disturbing the activity of GPIB members in Benowo, the narrator states. A family, Yayak Hari Subagio and his wife Yayik Susilowati, a public servant at the Cerme 1 Public High School, with their son started yelling. The situation attracted the attention of the residents. They tried to calm the situation down.

The narrator states that 30 members of the house church were worshipping as the family outside yelled at them, demanding they to stop the service.

Cerme Police Chief Andik Asworo confirmed that the altercation took place on Wednesday evening (May 8), according to Beritasatu.com.

It was a dismissal, not a disbanding, Andik said, adding that police are investigating and trying to mediate the conflict. We are still waiting for confirmation from the local RT.

Sirojul Munir, former chairman of the Lamongan Branch of the Association of Indonesia Islamic Students (Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam Indonesia, or PMII) and now heading an Ansor branch in Lamongan Regency, East Java, said it was unusual that the local official disrupting the service, though overseeing several neighborhoods in the area, was not from the immediate neighborhood.

It is strange enough because the perpetrators are not the local community/RT membersand thus triggering a conflict that shocked residents, Sirojul told Morning Star News. Its a shame that this happened, let alone such a thing never happened in the local community in the last 10 years.

The altercation and other such incidents should be addressed, he said.

Maybe this is a reminder that the Inter-Religious Harmony Forum (Forum Komunikasi Umat Beragama, or FKUB) needs to continue to socialize and promote the values of religious moderation that encourage harmony and tolerance between various elements of the society, Sirojul said.

Indonesia, which has largest Muslim population in the world at 231 million people, has seen a stream of such disruptions of Christian worship in the past 25 years, including a knife attack on Java island on May 5.

Indonesia ranked 42nd on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
Chasing Moon Halos Around the Central Oregon Coast and Their Connection to Weather

Published 5/23/24 at 12:45 a.m.

By Andre' Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection





(Depoe Bay, Oregon)  The things you discover while wandering the coastline, even at night. In fact, this one was a combo of astronomy, meteorology and what I nicknamed beach vacation-ology. All of it came together on one night that caused us to kind of chase moon halos around the central Oregon coast late into the wee hours. (All photos Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Some brilliant examples of a moon halo were seen above Depoe Bay and Gleneden Beach in the early hours of this particular early fall night  something that is often the harbinger of cold weather. Yet in this case it paradoxically happened just before some really warm weekend weather.

The photographs here show the moon halo from Depoe Bay and the areas around the Whale Watch Center.

Moon halos are the result of tiny ice crystals lurking high in the sky, usually around 20,000 feet above and existing as thin, wispy clouds.

A lot of times you may not notice these kinds of clouds until night falls because they're hard to see during the day. But their effect on moonlight makes them pop out.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said these do interesting things to moonlight.

Also see: Moon Halo or Lunar Corona: What You're Seeing on Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Both are the product of refraction and are lovely

In the atmosphere, under certain conditions, water drops and ice crystals can act as a prism, allowing us to see the various colors that make up visible light, NOAA said. Its because of these properties that we get the various atmospheric optical effects.

The incoming light rays are bent  or refracted  as they pass through the ice crystals, sometimes pushing them to an angle of 22 degrees. This translates to a circle of 22 degrees around the moon.

Refraction is the change in direction of a wave (in this case light) due to a change in its speed, NOAA said. This is most commonly observed when a wave passes from one medium to another at any angle other than 90 or 0.

Essentially, light passes through an ice crystal or water droplet in the air, and it's then broken down into its component colors. This can create a rainbow effect with the moon halo, but usually it's a massive, white ring.

Interestingly enough, one of the shots shows a rainbow-like span of colors within the ring. This has to do with a lighter exposure in the camera.



Often, these kind of clouds with ice crystals mean rain or snow are coming soon, frequently the forerunners of storm clouds right behind. That is an old legend, actually, but there is some truth to it. It's not the presence of ice crystals, really, it's the cirrostratus clouds that can mean that.

Yet that's not always a determiner of weather. This did not quite appear to be so for the Oregon coast, at least when these were shot, as the forecast for the weekend called for mostly sunny skies and temps near a balmy 70 degrees.

That time of year brings what is called the Second Summer to the coast: the warmest weather of the year happens in September and early October. Back when these were photographed years ago, the following days were living up to that with gorgeous weather.

Below: the moon begins to rise over Cape Lookout State Park just after dusk, on that same Thursday these were photographed.

Even more awesome: these kinds of clouds can bring a sun halo, which is also loads of fun to find the Oregon or Washington coast. That happened in early May, 2024, actually, as numerous people spotted that on the north coast, mostly in Tillamook County.

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Later that night in Gleneden Beach

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Mussel Harvesting Closed on Part of Oregon Coast Due to Biotoxin: Cape Lookout to Seal Rock

Published 5/23/24 at 8:55 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff





(Oregon Coast)  A sizable area of central and north Oregon coast is closed to mussel harvesting after wildlife experts found unsafe levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) said test results required the closure from Cape Lookout State Park (near Oceanside) down through Seal Rock State Park (just south of Newport). (Photo ODFW)

This closure affects the areas in and around Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport and South Beach. It is effect as of Thursday, May 23.

ODFW said PSP is a naturally-occurring maine biotoxin, and it has nothing to do with the apparent oil spill issue happening somewhere in the region (which has not been pinned down yet).

The mussel closure is not related to the oil event currently happening along the northern Oregon and southern Washington coasts, ODFW said.



Meanwhile, the harvesting of mussels remains safe from Cape Lookout to the Washington border and from Seal Rock south to the California border.

ODFW said the tests done by ODA showed PSP levels rising in recent weeks. The latest test showed them over the safety threshold.

ODA said PSP is sometimes produced by some species of microscopic algae  not unlike the way domoic acid affects offshore wildlife and clams. PSP is quite serious: consuming it can cause severe illness. It's extremely poisonous, with as little as one milligram (0.000035 ounce) able to kill an adult.



Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Cooking does not get rid of the biotoxin, and experts say you cannot smell or taste PSP in seafood.

Meanwhile, razor clamming is open in most areas, except for the stretch of south Oregon coast from Cape Blanco (near Port Orford) to the California line.



Seal Rock - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Crabbing and harvesting bay clams are still open along the entire coastline.

ODA will continue testing for shellfish toxins at least twice per month, as tides and weather permit. Reopening an area closed for biotoxins requires two consecutive tests with results below the closure limit, ODFW said.

For more information call ODA's shellfish biotoxin hotline at (800) 448-2474, the ODA Food Safety Program at (503) 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.

Contact ODFW for recreational license requirements, permits, rules, and limits. More photos below:

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Cape Lookout

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UPDATED: Mystery Oil Grows Along Oregon / Washington Coast as More Birds, Tar Found

Published 5/24/24 at 4:25 p.m. - Updated 9:35 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon) - [UPDATED 8:42 p.m.]  Whatever is going on, it's spreading southward.

LATEST FROM OREGON STATE PARKS: All beaches remain open, no closures expected. But do NOT handle tar-like substance.

Authorities in Oregon and Washington are beginning to scramble after a week of reports of oil-covered birds and tar-like patches and balls along both coastlines, stretching from the Long Beach Peninsula down through Lincoln County. What began on the Washington coast last week seems to be spreading to Lincoln City, with both injured birds and black patches found in that region. It's been seen as far south as Salishan Spit. (Photo Silver Point near Cannon Beach - ODFW)

The source of the oil still eludes responders. Earlier this week, the US Coast Guard conducted flyovers from Long Beach through Nehalem on the north Oregon coast and did not see any oil on beaches or in the water.

The tar balls are being collected and sent to labs. Various agencies on the two coastlines are warning the public to not touch them. They are also asking for people to report any finds of tar-covered birds.

We strongly advise the public not to handle any tar or oily product found or attempt to assist affected wildlife along the shore  this is dangerous for you and for the wildlife, said Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). If you find oiled or dead wildlife, please call 1-800-22-BIRDS (1-800-222-4737). Untrained handling can also affect the integrity of samples that need to be collected.



Photo Amy Summerfelt

Late last week, the first finds of tar were at Benson Beach and a beach at Beards Hollow in Ilwaco, Washington. Those sites are getting cleaned by professionals.

Now, the stretch of tar balls has expanded southward as of Thursday.

The tar-like substance has been found in several places along the Oregon coast including Cannon Beach, Silver Point, Lincoln City, and Salishan Spit, said ODFW.

So far, the incidents have not made it as far south as Port Orford, Coos Bay or Florence.



(ODFW)

One of the few places handling these injured birds is the Wildlife Center of the North Coast near Astoria. Staff there are getting stretched thin and are asking for donations from the public. They are asking for financial help as well as donations of gloves and towels. You can see more here https://coastwildlife.org/donate/.

Our staff is currently caring for several birds that were recently found along the coast covered in oil, the center said. We are currently caring for these birds, along with now 30+ young ducklings and other rotating rehab patients.



Wildlife Center of the North Coast



Earlier this week, the US Coast Guard counted a total of ten birds, but that number has since risen. Some of the birds simply died before they made it to any rehab facility.

In Washington, four contaminated Common Murres were recovered by rescue personnel, as well as two dead contaminated murres, the agency said. One of the live murres was euthanized following further evaluation of its injuries. Four contaminated murres were also recovered alive in Oregon.

How long the mystery spill has been out there is also unknown.



Wildlife Center of the North Coast

The incident is getting a sizable response across agencies, now including: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Ecology, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Coast Guard.

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Gold Beach: Two Cougar Sightings Concern for S. Oregon Coast Wildlife Officials

Published 5/21/24 at 6:45 a.m.

By Andre' Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection

(Gold Beach, Oregon)  Two cougars have recently been sighted in the south Oregon coast town of Gold Beach during daylight hours, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has sent notice to residents to keep a lookout. It is of concern to wildlife officials and to the Gold Beach Police Department.

The sightings happened in the Tomcat Hill / Hound Dog Road area and in the Riley Creek area near the elementary school. Both areas are in a rural-urban interface.

While wildlife is often seen in these areas, it is unusual to see cougars during daylight hours, ODFW said. Cougars are normally elusive, wary of people, and are more active at dusk and dawn.

Residents of Gold Beach are being told to report any cougar sightings to ODFW at 541-247-7605.

The incident has some shades of what happened last year on the north Oregon coast, where a cougar was found hanging out on Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach one morning in mid July. Following this were a couple of cougar sightings in Nehalem Bay State Park. Cougar 'Standoff' on N. Oregon Coast: Officials Wait for Cat to Leave Haystack Rock / Cannon Beach

The Cannon Beach incident the entire beach shut down for the day as they waited for the big cat to leave after dark. It did just that.

Now, in Gold Beach, officials are somewhat concerned about these incidents.

ODFW said if you encounter a cougar you should:



ODFW

Remain calm and back away slowly, but always stay facing it  and keep direct eye contact.

Give the cougar a path to escape.

Raise your voice; make a lot of noise.

Do NOT run. This will trigger a chase response.

Pick up children, but do so without bending down or turning your back to the cougar.

If it becomes aggressive at all, raise your arms to make yourself appear larger and clap your arms.



ODFW

Cougar attacks are unlikely, but if that happens: fight back with rocks, sticks, bear or pepper spray, tools, or any item available.

ODFW is telling residents to know their neighborhood and be aware of any wildlife corridors in the vicinity. They stress not to feed any deer (which is the cougar's main prey along with elk).

By attracting wildlife, you may attract a cougar, ODFW said.

In this case, there is no evidence the big cats are reaching the beach areas in or around Gold Beach, although if you go hiking deep into trails that head eastward in the Oregon Coast Range you should take precautions like carrying deterrent spray and be alert.

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Courtesy Oregon State Parks

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In a continuing Democrat attempt to undemocraticly concentrate power in the executive branch over the legislative and judicial branches, Democrat House leader Hakeem Jeffries has attacked the Supreme Court with the clear intent to try to politically intimidate the court on key upcoming rulings. Jeffries called the Supreme Court "MAGA extremists" and said "Congress needs to get it under control".

Our founding fathers never intended for our Supreme Court to be under political control by Congress or the President. Meanwhile, Biden has repeatedly usurped Congress' power to make laws by trying to make them himself by executive action. and Democrat functionaries like Jeffries look the other way. Who Congress really needs to get under control is the power obsessed, lawless Biden regime.

Biden himself has been making attacks on the Supreme Court regularly, and has even boasted about defying Supreme Court rulings. This is the mentality of a dictator.

The leftwing "advocacy journalists" of the corrupt MSM, which is little more than the propaganda section of the Democrat Party, have predictably piled on in their attacks on the Supreme Court. They are working hand in glove with Democrat politicians.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/supreme-court/3016523/justice-alito-recusal-coordinated-left-wing-campaign/

The Supreme Court is now considering a key First Amendment case, Missouri v. Biden which is critical to protecting our freedom of speech. The Biden regime wants a ruling against free speech protections so it can censor Americans.

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/05/24/jeffries-calls-scotus-justices-maga-extremists-says-congress-must-get-high-court-under-control/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/05/house-democrat-leader-hakeem-jeffries-threatens-maga-extremists/

https://redstate.com/bradslager/2024/05/26/anatomy-of-a-manufactured-narrative-throwing-the-penalty-flag-on-the-press-targeting-justice-alito-n212
Gunmen in an area of Nigeria where Fulani herdsmen are active attacked a Catholic school on Tuesday (May 7) night, wounding a security guard in an apparent kidnapping attempt.

In Adeke, a suburb of Makurdi, capital of Benue state, the assailants fired shots at the Father Angus Frazer Memorial High School, wounding the security guard. Civil Defense personnel rushed to the school and foiled the attempt to kidnap students residing at the institution, officials said.

The Rev. Moses Iorapuu, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, said in a press statement that officials closed the school on Wednesday (May 8) as a precaution.

The principal, Fr. Emmanuel Ogwuche, and the students are all safe, except for a security officer who was badly injured in the attack and is receiving attention at the hospital, Iorapuu said. We also appreciate the professionalism of the Civil Defense officers who provide security at the school.

Iorapuu said the assailants shot indiscriminately at both students and staff members asleep at the school, which is managed by the Via Christi Society. Actions by the principal and a team of Civil Defense officers repelled the attack and averted catastrophe, he said.

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Fulanis have attacked churchgoers, farmers and villagers before, but now they have upped their game, attacking a school, Iorapuu told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), according to the Catholic Herald. We are not sure what is going to happen next.

He said police did not arrive until after the assailants had left.

The school is reportedly located in a district notorious for killings and kidnappings by suspected Fulani militants.

The Makurdi Diocese has tightened security at church buildings and appealed to authorities to safeguard residents, Iorapuu said, adding that he hopes the state governor will wake up to the reality of what we are facing.

The Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, expressed sadness over attacks on Catholic schools in Benue state, saying herdsmen have destroyed most of its Catholic schools and hospitals.

Human rights group Defenders of Democracy appealed to the Nigerian government to end such attacks.

As a concerned group of citizens of this country and indigenes of Benue state in particular, we have watched with heavy hearts the escalating humanitarian crisis in the state, where armed herders have been ruthlessly attacking and killing innocent people, said Amos Uchiv, president of Defenders of Democracy, in a press statement. This is a stark reminder of the grave situation that has befallen our beloved state.

Uchiv said it was heartbreaking to witness so many people displaced from their ancestral lands, living in fear and uncertainty, due to continuous onslaughts by armed invaders who have vowed to take over our lands and occupy them.

The fact that the attackers are now coming closer to the extent of attacking a popular school right in Makurdi, the state capital, means that death is knocking at our doors if nothing is done urgently, he said. We appeal to Nigerian government to intervene urgently and prevent Benue state from being overrun by armed assailants.

Police said officers and other security personnel have been deployed to the school to protect students and staffs.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools, and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
By Patricia Tolson at The Epoch Times

A recent study has found that the risk of suicide, self-harm, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for individuals who have undergone gender-transition surgeries is significantly higher than among those who have not had the surgery.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, found that individuals who had undergone gender-transition surgery experienced these adverse effects at more than 12 times the rate of those who did not have a history of gender-transition surgery.

The study examined data from nearly 16 million U.S. adult patients between the ages of 18 and 60 who went to an emergency room for treatment from 2003 to 2023. This data came from a larger database of over 90 million patients from 56 health care facilities. Researchers isolated data from 1,501 patients who had undergone gender-transition surgery at some point in the five years before their emergency room visit and 15,608,363 patients who had no history of gender-transition surgery, as well as two additional control groups.

The data show that 3.47 percent of the patients who had undergone gender-reassignment surgery were treated for suicide attempts, compared to 0.29 percent of patients who did not have that history, a difference of 12.12 times.

While the study does not clarify at what age the patients attempted suicide or engaged in self-harm, it does make clear that it did not include minors.

The study lacks explanations as to why these patients had higher rates of suicidality, self-harm, and PTSD, and does not cite whether the patients suffered from adverse mental health conditions before surgery.

American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed its support of gender transition for minors in August 2023.

Implication for Minors

Julie Quist, board chair of the Child Protection League, said the results of the study were deeply disturbing.

She also said it raises serious implications in the health industry, mental health industry, and education system, which have almost universally adopted the affirmation only approach as the best treatment for gender dysphoria in children and teens.

This is a very credible study, said Ms. Quist, referring to the large sample size and long timespan of the study.

She said she was stunned by the 12.12 times higher rate of suicide attempt risk, recalling how parents who are reportedly coerced into allowing their children to undergo these irreversible surgeries are often asked questions such as do you want a daughter or do you want a dead son, implying that if they dont allow their child to medically transition, the child will be more likely to kill themselves.

This is standard language that they use, she said. Its beyond belief.

Ms. Quist said she was also struck by the fact that the study avoided researching the rate of attempted suicide and self-harm among minors under the age of 18.

This study has huge implications for minors, she said.

If suicide attempts for those who have transitioned are happening at this rate among those over 18, she said its counterintuitive to assume that its not happening at the same, if not a higher, rate among children and teens.

Think of all of the parents who are being told that affirming is the only answer and that the surgeries are safe and prevent suicide, she said. Its a tool of manipulation that is completely false and the depth of this deception is breathtaking. Theyve weaponized the idea of suicide to coerce people into doing exactly the wrong thing.

The Elephant in the Room

Vernadette Broyles is the founder, president, and general counsel for the Child and Parental Rights Campaign. She said its illogical to assume that minors who undergo gender transition through surgery or medication would wait until they were 18 to attempt suicide or self-harm.

Whatever dynamic that is present in adults stressing about their sexual transition would only be exacerbated in children because they are still in the process of development, Ms. Broyles told The Epoch Times. Just because the study didnt include children under the age of 18 does not mean it has no relevance to children under the age of 18. I would expect a heightened effect among children because theyre emotionally and physically more vulnerable to negative impacts.

While she said she was impressed that the researchers had the integrity to publish their findings, she also said she was disappointed by their attempt to explain, without any valid evidence, that the reason for the alarmingly higher rate of attempted suicide among those who had undergone these surgeries is related to minority bias, discrimination, and relational stresses.

They pulled this out of thin air, she argued. There is no evidence to support that, and theyre choosing to ignore the elephant in the roomthat the surgery itself is causing the suicide attempts.

At a minimum, she said the study confirms that transitioning did not bring the happiness the patients were promised.

Thats also how parents are coerced and cudgeled into giving consent, Ms. Broyles said. Yet perversely, they are correlated with an alarmingly higher rate of suicide risk. If nothing else, this is one more study that removes the legitimacy and justification for giving these surgeries is that it is going to save the person from suicide.

False Positives in Studies

The Trevor Project is a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention among LGBT youth. Researchers from the organization published a study in 2021 in the Journal of Adolescent Health, concluding that minors who received gender-affirming hormone therapy had lower rates of depression and attempted suicide than those who wished to receive them but didnt.

But another study suggests that most minors experiencing gender confusion grow out of it by the time they reach adulthood.

Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands recently released the results of a study analyzing survey data from 2,772 adolescents over a span of 15 years, starting at age 11.

The study found that in early adolescence, 11 percent of participants reported gender non-contentedness. However, the prevalence had decreased to 4 percent by the time they reached the age of 26.

Gender non-contentedness, while being relatively common during early adolescence, in general decreases with age and appears to be associated with a poorer self-concept and mental health throughout development, the researchers concluded.

In March 2023, Daniel Jackson from the Norton College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University in New York published a review of 23 studies focused on gender-affirming treatments and suicidality.

Mr. Jackson found that the majority of the studies he reviewed indicated that gender-affirming treatments such as surgery, puberty blockers, and hormone therapy reduced the risk of suicide.

However, the literature to date suffers from a lack of methodological rigor that increases the risk of type I error, he said, referring to a false positive.

There is a need for continued research in suicidality outcomes following gender-affirming treatment that adequately controls for the presence of psychiatric comorbidity and treatment, substance use, and other suicide risk-enhancing and reducing factors.

While there has been a long-standing debate over whether minors with gender confusion should be treated with mental health techniques or gender-transition intervention, the discussion was heightened in April following the publication of a 388-page report from the United Kingdoms National Health Service.

Dr. Hilary Cass, a pediatrician who conducted the review and wrote the report, wrote in the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) that the pillars of gender medicine are built on shaky foundations.

A Very Public Scandal

Dr. Patrick Lappert, a certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon of more than 25 years, said the findings of the University of Texas study are conclusive.

They looked at a large cohort of patients who had the fullness of affirmation care, including gender-affirmation surgery, and what they found is that persons who have had all of the affirmation care still have a suicidality of over 12-fold likelihood, he told The Epoch Times.

He noted that a similar study published by Swedish researchers in 2011 found similar results showing a higher rate of suicide and increased need for inpatient psychiatric care among people who underwent gender-reassignment surgery.

With another study showing a higher rate of suicide attempts and death by suicide among those who undergo gender-reassignment surgery, Dr. Lappert said that doctors who perform these procedures can no longer claim that the treatments reduce suicidality.

For affirmation-only advocates who may point to the fact that the suicide rates in recent studies did not include minors, Dr. Lappert noted that gender affirmation is an industrial process.

It starts with the young and very confused and it leads inexorably from one step to the next, he said.

Theyre eventually going to have the surgery because theyve been convinced that this is where their happiness lies, Dr. Lappert said. But then they will see in their own lives the harms that have happened because of what these clinics and doctors have been recommending.

Dr. Lappert said it will become increasingly more difficult as individuals and parents start suing those who promote and perform these surgeries.

The time for burial is over, he said. This is going to become a very public scandal now.

While he said he doesnt believe that the study proves that the surgery itself harmed or helped the individuals who attempted suicide, he said it does prove that people who undergo transgender surgery are very likely to harm themselves.

If you think about it, he added, transgender surgery is a form of self-harm. So, it shouldnt be surprising that people who do that to themselves when they run out of hope might kill themselves.

There are people who are suffering who want to be happy, he explained, saying the transgender treatment industry tells them, Heres how we'll solve your sorrow.

They give them social affirmation. They provide them with a safe, affirming community to live in. They give them drugs and surgery, he said.

But when they run out of things to offer, the psychological problem is still there. Theyve never examined it. Theyve never asked themselves why a person would have gender dysphoria. They just affirm and bill, affirm and bill, and its a huge industry. But that will be coming to an end.
In the Land of Saints and Sinners scriptwriter Mark McNally on Liam Neeson getting his script, working with Terry Loane and how it all started with a writers scheme

Liam Neeson in his role as hitman in the film In the Land of Saints and Sinners

Belfast scriptwriter Mark McNally, who wrote the screenplay for In the Land of Saint and Sinners

Ciaran Hinds and Liam Neeson in the Netflix film In the Land of Saints and Sinners

Ciaran Hinds and Liam Neeson in the Netflix film In the Land of Saints and Sinners and (inset) Mark McNally

Belfast scriptwriter Mark McNally describes how his screenplay for Netflixs In the Land of Saints and Sinners ended up in the possession of Liam Neeson  the films lead actor  as a domino effect which began with Northern Ireland Screens New Writer Focus (NWF) scheme.

The 28-year-old, who originally hails from a border village in Co Monaghan, studied film at Queens University, Belfast where he began what would become the basis of the drama that tells the story of a disillusioned hitman (Neeson, inset below) who comes out of retirement for one last job when an IRA member on the run arrives at a quiet Irish village.

At the very end of the programme a portion of the script was performed aloud by actors to a room of producers and insiders from Belfast and the UK, he tells the Belfast Telegraph. And in that room was [Mickybo and Me director] Terry Loane, and he was interested in the Western flair that was in the script and we became co-collaborators on it. It was through him that the script made its way to his producing partner, Geraldine Hughes from Prodigal Films.

And it was through Geraldine Hughes that it got to Liam, so there is that domino effect in how it got from NWF to Hollywood. And I want to highlight that because it was all those steps that got it where it is.

Liam Neeson in his role as hitman in the film In the Land of Saints and Sinners

Set and filmed in Donegal, In the Land of Saints and Sinners cast also includes Colm Meaney, Ciaran Hinds, Kerry Condon, Jack Gleeson, Sarah Greene, Desmond Eastwood, Conor MacNeill, Seamus OHara, Valentine Olukoga and Mark ORegan.

The films release has been met with critical acclaim, with EmpireOnline calling it a solid old-fashioned Irish Western, and it comes as the annual NWF scheme reopens.

As the most recent recipient of the programme, Mark is keen to stress how important the scheme has been to his career.

I think its only fair to say that it all started with that programme, and if they hadnt given me a chance then absolutely none of this would have followed, he stresses.

Ciaran Hinds and Liam Neeson in the Netflix film In the Land of Saints and Sinners

And of his first major script being developed into a Hollywood film, Mark adds: The irony is that even though Im a writer, Ive really struggled to find the words to describe this experience. It really has been a dreamlike experience, but being from the country I managed to keep myself grounded. I feel very lucky and privileged.

It was from Liam being involved and being attached to it that everything else spiralled out from that, in terms of the rest of the cast, directors. At the time I was living in a very small flat in Belfast and then to get a call from this larger-than-life legend of cinema saying that he was interested in what I and Terry Loane had written, was really an out-of-body moment.

He continues: Even though it [my script] had been with me for eight years, it immediately became an imposter syndrome situation where youre challenging what youve written and what youve brought to the table. The times that I met Liam, Ciaran, and Kerry Condon were just wonderful.

Mark McNally

The film received its debut at the Venice Film festival, an experience that was a dream come true. And to see it on the big screen was probably the most bizarre experience of my life, because there is that echo of you on the screen, and what myself and Terry have written  and then youre seeing all these other echoes and voices that have taken your work and elevated it. And youre just in awe.

Marks now urging other aspiring scriptwriters to apply to NWF, saying: I have to speak to how amazing the NWF scheme was, because I was introduced right out of the gate to a professional and collaborative environment. I was there to analyse what I had written, with other writers in a safe, creative space. And it really set the model for me, on how to progress on being a professional scriptwriter.

Mark McNally

Applications invited for the next NWF programme

The scheme, which is now seeking scripts to develop, is open only to Northern Ireland resident writers new to feature film.

For the avoidance of doubt, writers new to feature film in this context means a writer without a writing credit on a produced feature film.

To help writers prepare their application, Northern Ireland Screen has asked Steve Brookes to host a webinar at lunchtime on May 29 for two hours to support those who wish to apply for NWF.

There will be a brief introduction to the scheme, with a Q&A opportunity, followed by a presentation, which will last around two hours. This will focus on the important theme of screenwriters getting into the professional habit of writing for readers, not just for themselves.

Steve is a freelance script consultant whose career has focused on working on British independent feature films. He worked for the British Film Institute for many years and has had a long association with Northern Ireland Screen.

The New Writer Focus scheme comprises three major components: a Writers Room with monthly meetings, individual project and writer development, and development seminars and networking opportunities.

Up to four scripts will be chosen for development between September 2024 and April 2025. Writers can make only one project application.

If youd like to apply, youll need a first draft completed script of the project you wish to develop through the scheme, as well a one-page synopsis of your story.

Applicants must put their name, project title, and contact information on their script and one-pager. Projects should be saved by project title and writer name.

The scheme is open to NI resident writers who not have not yet had a produced feature film and writers who have not already completed NWF. Writing teams of up to two writers can also submit a joint application. The selected writers will be eligible to apply for an individual writer award.

The closing date for applications is midnight, June 23.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome by the end of August.
It may seem glamorous from the outside  flying all over the world, staying in swish hotels and handing out Champagne in business class  but the reality for cabin crew is very different. From layover hook-ups to diarrhoea disasters, four flight attendants reveal what really goes on at 30,000ft...

One girl put on 5lbs and they started weighing her before flights

Rebecca* works for a luxury international airline and is new to the industry

I started as cabin crew in the last few years. My plan is to do a year or two and see the world a little bit, and then leave. Some people dont even last a month, though. Its a really challenging job  Im used to hard work, but its very demanding on every level. It is very bad for your health. Theres always someone whos sick.

But I absolutely love it. Theres no other job in the world that would give you this experience. What I do find tough is the fact youre always flying with a different crew. Sometimes youre on a flight and you get on so well with your supervisors, but then you have other times that your supervisor might be a bit too intense or a bit too lackadaisical. And that can mess with your brain.

When you first qualify, you do these supervised flights that are very intense. I remember right before we landed, the supervisor sat us all down and went around us one by one to give us feedback in front of the whole group.

You need to be immaculate on a flight. Im one of those girls who doesnt give a s*** about make-up; Im terrible at it. Ill roll out of bed like 30 minutes before a flight and just do a quick little bit of foundation, do my hair up and away I go. And then someone else would be off for like two hours before a flight, getting the flick of the winged eyeliner just right. But your supervisor will tell you if you need to touch up your lipstick or fix your hair.

You get weighed on your first day, and they record that. And then once your six-month probation period is over, youre weighed again. They have their BMI and you have to stick to that. You can also be pulled before flights at random times to check your weight.

During my eight-week training, one girl put on five pounds and that was a big issue. They put her in a weight-management programme, sort of a fat camp. They were stopping her before every third flight and checking her weight, reminding her of the right foods to eat, until she managed to reduce her weight.

Its completely about the way you look. Thats all they care about. If your teeth arent straight, you wont get the job. One person I know didnt get the job because they had a two-inch scar on their leg, and they were told thats an imperfection.

Some of the passengers we get are so rude. Theyll click their fingers at you, or pinch you as youre coming up the aisle to get your attention. There was one customer who obviously decided that he didnt enjoy waiting for the bathroom, so he just urinated against the emergency exit door.

Theres a lot of stuff that happens on board that passengers wouldnt have a clue about. Weve had prisoners in handcuffs. There are a lot of code words that the pilots would use in an emergency situation, which the passengers wouldnt understand. We know what the dings mean, or what a code phrase means  the aircraft is losing oxygen, or theres a fire in one of the toilets.

Ive seen it all. Toilets overflowing, people pooing on the seats. Its absolutely disgusting

Noeleen* has been flying for a long-haul airline for over a decade and is based in Ireland

I always loved flying. I was obsessed with flying. Over 10 years ago, I left my permanent job for a short-term contract as cabin crew, and I never looked back. However, people dont realise that many jobs are seasonal  you might have no job from October to May. So a lot of crew also have a second job, because, realistically, the pay that some of the new staff are on just isnt enough.

On some airlines, you only get paid when the doors are closed. So when youre loading on the passengers, or helping with the bags, youre not getting paid.

People think that were just there to stack the bags and serve drinks, but when things go very wrong, were there to get you off that plane. Look at the incident with Japan Airlines (one of the airlines planes collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft while landing and subsequently burst into flames)  all those people wouldnt have gotten off alive if it werent for those cabin crew. It wasnt the pilots, they didnt save the day. I doubt that pilots even know how to conduct a proper evacuation. But were also nurses, were waitresses, were fire fighters.

How they got the passengers off in Japan was by stressing, Its your life, or its your bag. And it worked because it was Japanese passengers. If that had happened in Ireland, people 100% would have taken their bags. If that was an English or Irish airline, Im telling you now, it wouldnt have ended up the same way.

Sometimes, its frequent fliers who are the worst kind of passenger, because they have that level of expectation every single time. I do a lot of holiday flights and thats when you know everyone is in a good mood. That family has spent a lot of money and theyre so excited, and Im excited for them. Its those people that I love. There are cabin crew who dont really care as much, but I love the flight, the destinations and the passengers.

My nightmare customer is somebody who is drunk. People are excited and merry, theyre in the bar before the flight, forgetting theyre about to get on a plane. They come to the aircraft door absolutely langers, and you and the crew have to make a call about whether or not theyre sober enough to fly.

People think of the aircraft like a pub, but realistically, if something goes wrong, its just me and the crew. The pilots cant come out and help us. If youve got four women looking after a stag party of 15 guys, thats very difficult to handle and manage.

Theres something called the Tokyo Convention, which means that once we shut that door, its like commanders rules. Whatever is ordered by the flight deck, we have to do. If we have to handcuff a passenger whos out of control, they cant actually do anything about it. It basically means the captain is in control. Its important the people know that the pilot can get the police to meet the plane, even for something like disruption on the flight. And he can order that your flight home is cancelled, and youd never get to fly with that airline again.

Ive seen it all. Toilets overflowing, people pooing on the seats, on the ground, its disgusting. My biggest issue is people going to the toilet in their bare feet. Do they think that its water all over the floor? Its certainly not water. Its 100% pee, going onto your feet, then youre touching your feet, touching your face, its absolutely disgusting.

There are still some pervy pilots, but not as many as there used to be. The stories from back in the day are wild. There are still a lot of goings on between flight deck and crew, but thats the nature of any job. Its bound to happen. But cheating? I dont think it happens as much as it used to, but maybe Im being naive.

Cabin crew confessions

We gossip about passengers  who is doing your head in

Originally from Europe, Francesca* is now based in Ireland and works for an international airline

Ive been cabin crew for over 20 years. So Ive seen a lot of changes. The working conditions have changed a lot and the standards have changed a lot. The CEOs of lots of airlines only want young people in the job for two or three years, now. People like me are the fossils of the industry, they dont want people for the long haul.

I wouldnt still be in this job if I didnt love it, but a lot of young people think its all about travel, cheap flights and partying. But thats not the reality of the role of cabin crew. I think thats the TikTok reality.

My worst kind of flight would be to somewhere like Alicante or Ibiza. People are completely intoxicated coming on board. You already know theyre going to be causing trouble, theyre going to be messy. Theyre not going to be very pleasant for the other passengers who are not in that party. And those are really demanding flights. You really have to police them all the time and you have to think about safety as well.

If something happens, if theyre getting even more intoxicated and they are irresponsible, you will need to have maybe the police meeting the aircraft on arrival. Theyre not fun flights to work.

The level of drinking is definitely worse now. People are trying to sneak their own alcohol on board. Theres a reason you cant drink your own alcohol on board. We need to know what youre drinking. We had to handcuff a passenger once, he was so drunk.

An aircraft is like any other workplace. There is office politics, bitching, gossip. We do gossip about passengers, too: who is good looking, who is doing your head in, who has had too much plastic surgery. I was on a flight once where it turned out the captain had gone out with two of the cabin crew. The passengers wouldnt have a clue, but you can see a lot of tension and a lot of bitching.

The only place you can be by yourself for two seconds is the toilets and its not the nicest place on the aircraft. But even on the seats, people leave such a mess after themselves. Especially with their kids  theres food all over the floor and they dont even try to pick it up. Theres such a quick turnaround when you land, so you know that popcorn is going to be on the floor all day.

We have to do a full safety and equipment inspection, and that takes priority. Theres a full security search, too. And it takes a lot of time. Airlines want the aircraft to go as fast as possible and I find the crew rushing, rushing, rushing. I worry that now we have so much pressure on the crew. They want to focus on being punctual, but we cant cut corners all the time. Safety needs to be the number one.

I find I meet people that will never get a chance to meet in my normal life. You can make special connections. I met someone who was very ill and that trip was going to be their last. We both cried, and it was very special.

What I love about my job is that you can really make people happy or get to know great people by doing very little. By just being normal.

Business class passengers are far more demanding. They want their 16 G&Ts

Brendan* has been working for a global airline for 35 years and lives in the UK

I started a very long time ago, back in the 1980s. To be honest, passengers have always been annoying  looking back, I could have shot them all. But a lot of that now is a result of cutbacks in the industry. You could have 100 passengers and two crew, so the pressure is on. And in business class, people are far more demanding. They want their Champagne and their 16 G&Ts. Unfortunately, as the passengers have become so much more demanding, the standards have gone down.

You see a lot of people trying to sneak into business class. People try to blag upgrades by just going and sitting in a business-class seat. You know exactly how many business passengers youre getting on board, and when you do a head count, theres always one or two extras in there. And when you approach them, they try to insist they have the status or miles. But its always a lie.

Ive never had any hassle as male cabin crew. You get the occasional member of a flight deck who can be a bit frosty. But other than that, its never been an issue.

One time, a young girl grabbed my ass during boarding. That really shocked me. And I said to her, Lets swap positions shall we? For female crew though, it happens all the time.

Flying has definitely gotten worse over the years.

People used to dress to go flying. Now, they just look like a sack of s***. I can understand to a certain degree, because the pleasure of flying is completely gone.

Ive had a passenger pee in a life jacket. Weve had people pee in the galley before, because the toilets were occupied.

A female friend of mine had a passenger expose himself during the seatbelt check. People wet and soil themselves fairly regularly, too.

Some routes are like the Diarrhoea Express. Youd have to wrap them in blankets, or try to find them a spare pair of trousers. Sometimes it happens so suddenly, then theres a trail of s*** running down the aisle.

Most of the pilots are nice guys, but there was a captain who would go down the hotel corridor on layovers, trying to get someone to open their door. It does happen occasionally, but to be honest, its not very common. However, there was a crew member I knew years ago, and she had sex with the captain in the seat while he was flying. Hats off to her flexibility.

Layovers now are cut to the bone. Its just about getting minimum rest. Generally, they dont like you there longer than necessary, because its costing them money. If you do have longer, youre allowed to go out and get drunk, so long as you dont drink for 11 hours before your next flight. People do stick to it. There would be crew with drink problems, but a very small amount, probably reflective of normal society.

A long, long time ago, I did a recruitment day for a big airline. I did the whole day, and found out at the end Id been accepted. And then you had to try on the uniform, and they weigh you.

When I got on the scale, they pulled me aside and said, Unfortunately, in your application form, you told us you were 12 stone and youre actually 13 stone. So were going to withdraw our offer and you can contact us when youve lost weight.

* Names have been changed
The folks at Milan-based NIO Cocktails, a ready-to-drink cocktail brand, clearly have a bit of time on their hands. For some reason, theyve been poring over five years worth of weather charts for the UK, looking at average rainfall, temperatures and wind speeds for various cities to determine the most likely date for the start of the outdoor drinking season in each place. And for Belfast and Northern Ireland they reckon itll be next Thursday, May 30.
Campaigners say changing light to LED could destroy heritage

Plans to replace the light source of one of Northern Irelands last lighthouses with a low-energy LED are set to be submitted.

The proposed works will take place at St Johns Point Lighthouse in Killough, Co Down.

Works include removing the mercury from the site (which currently makes the light rotate) and replacing the existing 180-year-old light source with an LED one  which some campaigners say will be detrimental to the heritage of the area and could also reduce its range by eight miles.

Plans are set to be submitted to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in the near future.

The St Johns Point Lighthouse tower is a Grade B1 listed building and the works will require listed building consent for any potential works to take place and, as part of this process, a public consultation will have to be held.

Last week a PAD (pre-application discussion) request was submitted to council by the Commissioners of Irish Lights prior to submitting a full application, with a date for a meeting between the two bodies still to be set. It states that the proposed works would allow for the retention of the rotating Fresnel lens and visible flash character as well as for the removal of mercury and diesel generation from the lighthouse.

The existing Fresnel lens will continue in operation by installing a mechanical rotational ball bearing race below the lens, replacing the mercury used in the existing rotation system, it reads.

It is intended to replace the existing light source with a low-energy LED light source, this will enable the replacement of the existing diesel generator and fuel storage with a battery system in the event of mains electrical failure.

Local campaigners, who wish to retain the light in its original state, have argued that replacing the existing light with an LED would destroy the intrinsic heritage of the lighthouse.

Eileen Peters, a member of the Lecale Lightkeepers campaign group, said: Newry, Mourne and Down District Council voted unanimously to keep the historic beam in its present mechanism for future generations, so it is inappropriate of CIL (Commissioners of Irish Lights) to attempt to fly in the face of a democratic mandate and any application they make to change our light to an inferior system will be resisted by our coastal communities and must be rejected.

She added that replacing the light with LED leaves the lighthouse incapable of producing a loom of light which is an atmospheric phenomenon that enables the light to be seen beyond the horizon  much appreciated by seafarers.

Also, the range of the St Johns Point beam would be reduced by eight miles with an LED light source or bulb, said Ms Peters.

High Kelvin LEDs would be needed for the light, but they are proven to damage all life forms including Epifaunal Marine Communities.

The LEDs at Fastnet and Rathlin often fail and shipping have complained; I believe CIL are rather disingenuous in extolling the qualities of LEDs because the fact is they are not as reliable or efficient as the original incandescent lights, which, despite what CIL says, are still available, she said.

All in all, an LED replacement would destroy the intrinsic heritage of the lighthouse.

St Johns Point is one of 70 lighthouses around the coast of Ireland operated by the Commissioners of Irish Lights and is also one of 12 lighthouses that make up an all-island tourism initiative called the Great Lighthouses of Ireland, as is noted on their website.

Chris Scully, Coastal Operations and Property Manager for the Commissioners of Irish Lights, told Belfast Telegraph that they are planning a significant capital investment at the landmark which is required to provide improvements they say will ensure the lighthouse installation continues to provide a reliable Aid to Navigation for the mariner into the future.

The planned engineering works will provide a high-quality, sustainable solution that meets current health and safety standards while preserving heritage, including the rotating Fresnel lens, he said.
Gloria Hunniford's career in TV and radio has spanned more than five decades

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council conferred the Freedom of the Borough to Gloria Hunniford on Saturday. Pic by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council conferred the Freedom of the Borough to Gloria Hunniford on Saturday. Pic by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye.

TV legend Gloria Hunniford says she is deeply honoured to receive the Freedom of the Borough in the place where she grew up.

The Loose Women star, who hails from Portadown, attended an official ceremony at the civic headquarters of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council on Saturday.

The 84-year-old is the first female recipient of the prestigious honour which was conferred on her by the local authority at The Palace Demesne in Armagh.

I am deeply honoured to receive the Freedom of the Borough, particularly as it comes from the area where I grew up. County Armagh and Portadown my hometown has always held a very special place in my heart, and to be recognised in this way is incredibly humbling  its great to be home," she said.

I want to thank the council for considering me for this honour and arranging todays very special event with family and friends.

"I look forward to continuing my work and supporting the causes close to my heart.

The broadcaster has enjoyed a career spanning over five decades in television and radio and has become an on-screen favourite with fans of one of ITVs biggest daytime shows.

Gloria Hunniford with late daughter Caron Keating.

The honour was granted in recognition of Glorias outstanding contributions to broadcasting and her tireless charitable work following the death of her daughter Caron Keating.

A spokesperson for the council said: Her work has touched the lives of millions, and her dedication to excellence and integrity in journalism has set a high standard for the industry.

In addition to her broadcasting achievements, Gloria is renowned for her significant charitable efforts.

"Following the tragic loss of her daughter, Caron Keating, to breast cancer, Gloria established the Caron Keating Foundation.

"This charity has raised millions of pounds to support cancer patients and their families.

"In Northern Ireland, the foundation supports Action Cancers mobile breast screening service, The Big Bus, which Gloria launched in 2006.

The bus service has provided thousands of women with crucial early detection of breast cancer resulting in countless lives being saved.

Gloria is also renowned for her work on BBC One show Rip off Britain which tackles consumer issues facing frustrated viewers dealing with dodgy traders.

Gloria Hunniford's career in TV and radio has spanned more than five decades

The Freedom of the Borough, which is the highest honour the council can award, was bestowed upon the TV presenter by Lord Mayor Margaret Tinsley.

It is with great pride to confer the Freedom of the Borough to celebrate Glorias connection to our community, combined with her professional achievements and the profound impact from supporting cancer patients and their families through The Caron Keating Foundation, she said.

The proud recipient was presented with a scroll to commemorate the special occasion in the presence of loved ones, elected representatives, distinguished guests and cancer charity figures.

Gloria Hunniford was made OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours back in 2017 in recognition of her contribution to charity work.

At the time she said her late daughter would have been "so proud" of her.

Caron (41) passed away in 2004 after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Her siblings Paul and Michael also helped set up the Caron Keating Foundation in her memory.
UK

If you want your new puppy to get along with your cat, introduce them gradually
George Barna, a leading expert in church and worldview trends, has weighed in on some of the biggest issues facing the Church  including the steady decrease in a biblical worldview and dwindling concern for spiritual formation  at a time of "Christian invisibility in our culture."



In an interview with The Christian Post, the 69-year-old founder of The Barna Group, a market research firm specializing in studying Americans' religious beliefs and behaviors that he sold in 2009, said that over the last few decades, hes seen certain negative trends increasingly permeate Western Christianity.

People have become more selfish, churches have become less influential, pastors have become less Bible-centric, Barna, who now serves as the director of research at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, said.

Families have invested less of their time and energy in spiritual growth, particularly of their children. The media now influences the Church more than the Church influences the media, or the culture for that matter. The Christian Body tends to get off track arguing about a lot of things that really don't matter.

On a wider scale, one of the most troubling trends Barna highlights is the decline in discipleship and a lack of solid, biblical training from seminaries. He criticized the prevalent metrics used by churches to gauge success  attendance, fundraising and infrastructure  which he stressed have little to do with Jesus mission.

There is poor leadership in seminaries that mislead local churches into thinking that they're actually training individuals whom God has called to be leaders and are qualified to be leaders and certifying them to lead local churches, not knowing any better bringing them on, he said.

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Barna clarified that while many seminaries have "good intentions," they set young ministry leaders up for failure.

"You get what you measure," he contended. "So if you measure the wrong things, you'll get the wrong outcomes  [pastors] measure how many people show up, how much money they raise, how many programs they offer, how many staff persons they hire, how much square footage they built out. Jesus didn't die for any of that. So we're measuring the wrong stuff and, consequently, we get the wrong outcomes."

To address these issues, Barna advocated for a radical return to biblical roots  but that, he said, might require rethinking the modern church structure.

If we were to go back to the Bible, I think we'd recognize the local church, the institutional church, as we've created it, is man-made. It's not in the Scriptures, he said. The programs, the titles, the buildings, all the stuff that has become sacrosanct in American culture and around the world is not necessarily biblical.

"Jesus didn't come to build institutions, He came to build people. And we see that model in His life. He devoted the ministry portion of His life to investing in individuals. And that's what each of us who are followers of Christ need to be doing.

Discipling the next generation

Instead of focusing on programs and buildings, Barna, a father and grandfather, urged believers to invest in children, whom he sees as the future of the Church. This includes prioritizing spiritual education, modeling biblical principles and creating accountability structures within the family.

We make a huge mistake by simply using children as bait rather than as the primary focus of who we want to build up through whatever ministry, impact or influence we can have, he said. We need to back and recognize it starts with families; parents have the primary responsibility to raise their children to become spiritual champions ... local churches need to support parents in that endeavor. Our primary focus needs to be on children  and growing their biblical worldview. If we do that, we'll be able to grow the 3 percent of adults who are disciples in America today to a larger proportion.

Barna told CP his journey into religious research began with a desire to fill a crucial gap he observed in the churchs understanding of its own congregations.

When I first got started, I was trying to figure out how I could add value to what was happening in the Church across the country, he said. There didn't seem to be a lot of trend-oriented information relating to the depth of people's faith.

While existing data captured church attendance and Bible sales, Barna identified a need for insights into what people believe, why they believe it, and how these beliefs translate into actions. Over the years, Barnas focus on deeper, trend-based data has provided pastors with tools to foster more meaningful spiritual growth, rather than simply tracking superficial metrics.

The rise of AI

One trend Barna said hes also concerned about is the potential negative impact artificial intelligence (AI) will have on the Church.

We're already seeing an impact on sermons across the country, he said. Pastors, because they want to do well, in some cases, because they're lazy, are realizing AI is a means of getting perhaps a better sermon.

There are other ways that we're going to see it impact us in terms of fundraising, in terms of media presence, he continued. As the Body of Christ, we've got to be very suspicious of and careful about anything that even labels itself artificial. Its probably not good for our mental health, our physical health or our spiritual health. I just encourage genuine leaders to be very cautious about inviting any of that into our lives, and particularly into how we're going to take that and then influence other people's lives.

Barna also advised parents to approach AI and other media with a strategy of monitoring, minimizing, mediating and moralizing content to ensure it aligns with biblical values.

Parents are the gatekeepers. Act like a leader, take the lead, and make the tough choices, the Raising Spiritual Champions author said. Make those tough choices in relationship to the vision that you have for what it means to be a parent of a spiritual champion.

Barna said that today, hes focused on worldview development and cultural development more than ever before. The Church is at a critical juncture, he warned, and the path to a thriving Christian community lies in returning to the core biblical principles, the empowerment of parents as spiritual leaders and the intentional discipling of the next generation.

All the other stuff is noise, he said. If we don't do those things, we're going to lose even more in this war  this is our moment, we've reached a time of Christian invisibility in our culture. What I'm seeing now is that we're getting to this place where the typical American  will not have anyone in their circle of influence who has a biblical worldview. You're not going to be influenced with God's truth.

The consequence of that is that the elites in our culture will have the opportunity to shut down spiritual freedom, he stressed. We will no longer be allowed to go to churches; well no longer be allowed to buy and read Bibles, well no longer be allowed to speak in public about our faith. Why? Because it all traces back to disciples not making disciples. So this is our moment. We either will put up or shut up. And I would suggest that we put up.

Originally published by The Christian Post
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in his constituency in Northallerton meets veterans (clockwise from l to r) Douglas and wife Vicky Rudd, Mike Crisp and Michael Lloyd (Oli Scarff/PA)

Rishi Sunak has said he avoided catching pneumonia after getting wet while speaking outside 10 Downing Street but admitted to constituents he was not sure what state his suit was in.

The Prime Minister met local ex-servicemen at one of their regular Saturday breakfast meetings in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, in his Richmond constituency.

On a sunny morning, he met the group of eight veterans and sat in the Buck Inn, a Wetherspoons pub on the High Street, where the group were sipping tea and some tucked in to breakfasts.

Vicky Rudd, sat next to her husband Doug, from Richmond British Legion, asked Mr Sunak about his health, concerned he might have caught pneumonia after seeing that picture of the election announcement speech.

The Prime Minister replied: It was wet.

The number of people who have given me an umbrella over the last couple of days

Mr Sunak was soaked after making the General Election announcement (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He reflected it was still right to make the announcement in the rain, saying: When the moments happen, thats what you do.

Thats our tradition, the Prime Minister, in the big moments, they call the election and they go out there.

I thought, come rain or shine, its the right thing to do.

But no pneumonia yet, my suit on the other hand Im not quite sure what state it will be in when I get back down to London.

The Prime Minister spoke to veterans for around 20 minutes but did not take questions from the media (Oli Scarff/PA)

During the meeting, staff brought over six large breakfasts which caught the group by surprise. The Prime Minister did not tuck in but carried on sipping from his cup of tea.

Mr Sunak spoke to veterans, who were sat at two tables, for around 20 minutes and briefly chatted with other customers in the pub, some of whom were having breakfast and others having an early pint.

He did not take any questions from the media.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is making the NHS a key plank of his partys policies (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Sir Ed Davey will launch the Liberal Democrats battlebus campaign with a save the NHS message in a marginal blue-wall seat on Sunday.

The UKs fourth biggest party has put health at the heart of its agenda in the run-up to the July 4 General Election as it targets traditionally Conservative heartlands in southern England.

Sir Ed will say the Tories have left hospitals with dangerous crumbling roofs and sewage pouring into wards as he makes a manifesto pledge to introduce a 10-year rolling repair programme for the NHS estate.

The Lib Dem battle bus will contain a save the NHS message (Jeff Moore/PA)

The Conservatives said the Lib Dems would merely make way for a Labour government  just like the one already failing the NHS in Wales.

The Lib Dems see health and the environment  particularly sewage-dumping in Britains waterways  as key electoral battlegrounds near the south coast, where they are seeking to make inroads in previously Tory areas.

Buoyed by a series of by-election and local election victories within the so-called blue wall, the party is eyeing the constituencies of several Cabinet ministers including Jeremy Hunt, Gillian Keegan and Lucy Frazer.

It will also be targeting Michael Goves seat of Surrey Heath, which the prominent MP announced he would not be fighting in this summers vote.

The party said details of the marginal constituency in which its battlebus tour will be launched will be released later.

Sir Ed Davey eats ice cream on the promenade in Eastbourne while on the General Election campaign trail (Aaron Chown/PA)

Sir Ed said: Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to save our NHS after years of Conservative chaos. The NHS will be at the heart of our manifesto with a plan to make sure everyone can see a GP when they need one and repair hospital buildings left in a desperate state.

The Conservative Party can never be trusted with the NHS after their legacy of crumbling hospitals and soaring waiting lists.

Conservative ministers have shamelessly broken their promises to build new hospitals and left ageing buildings to fall apart. It has left patients worrying about a roof collapsing over their head instead of being treated with dignity in clean and modern hospitals.

Tory party chairman Richard Holden said: A vote for the Lib Dems is a vote that helps Labour and Sir Keir Starmer whod take our country back to square one.

The Lib Dems would make way for a Labour Government  just like the one already failing the NHS in Wales, risking the progress weve made in driving down waiting lists.

Only Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have a clear plan and will take the bold action to secure the future of the NHS, including helping the NHS innovate, so patients can rely on getting the care they need.
The saying build it and they will come could well be the motto of that sector of the construction industry currently geared to the provision of student accommodation in Belfast.
An acclaimed artist from Ballymena who spent 25 years creating a copy of one of the worlds most famous paintings has welcomed the arrival of the original in Northern Ireland.

Paul Bell built an international fan base on the back of his paintings of cows, but his interpretation of Caravaggios Supper at Emmaus, which hangs in his living room, is one of his proudest achievements.
Pervert jailed after paedophile hunter sting released on bail for appeal

Tiler sent semi-naked pictures of himself to who he believed was a 13-year-old girl

Peter Joseph Robb

Paul Higgins Sat 25 May 2024 at 17:18







A self-employed tiler caught in a paedophile hunter sting has been sentenced to four months in prison.
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Literary festivals and author talks in the Berkshires include The Mount's Summer Lecture Series and Summer Masters Series, the Spencertown Academy's 19th Festival of Books and the Authors Guild Foundations 2024 WIT Literary Festival.
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This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
Tuesday, Marine Private First Class Erwin Shaftsbury King's surviving family learned how their uncle served, how he died, how he was found and that proof of his service not only exists, but will be handed to them when he's buried in North Adams this fall.
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Saturday's front pages focus on a range of stories from concerns around links between the far-right and organised crime to President Higgins refuting claims of anti-Semitism in Ireland.

The Irish Times reports Gardai are becoming increasingly concerned about the participation of violent criminals in anti-immigration protests.

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The Irish Examiner leads with comments from President Michael D Higgins who denounced "irresponsible" claims made by the Israeli ambassador about the level of antisemitism in Ireland.

The Echo report on engineering challenges having to be overcome in relation to the Cork Luas line.

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Good morning, here's the front page of Saturday's Irish Independent pic.twitter.com/OvehsKuEin  Irish Independent (@Independent_ie) May 25, 2024

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For all the big news and sport, pick up a copy of Saturday's Irish Daily Mail pic.twitter.com/XXlDCGDrMF  The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) May 24, 2024

Today's front page of The Irish Sun pic.twitter.com/tJbXk6AwZu Advertisement  The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) May 25, 2024

Morning, readers. Here's a look at today's front page of the Belfast Telegraph.https://t.co/k93fXBsPkC



Stay with us for all your breaking news today. pic.twitter.com/pt17EiedcN  Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) May 25, 2024 Advertisement

In the UK, the early skirmishes of the election campaign continue to dominate the front pages of the newspapers heading into the weekend.

The words Gove quits feature strongly on the front of several papers after Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary Michael Gove joined the growing list of Conservative MPs who have decided not to stand again.

The Daily Express says his shock exit has rocked the Tories, while the Daily Mirror says he has left Sunaks sinking ship.

Saturday's Front Page



Now Gove Quits!



Minister's shock exist rocks Tories



Read more: https://t.co/iCG7HgehA4#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/nR1YJl910X  Daily Express (@Daily_Express) May 24, 2024

Saturday's front page: Michael Gove has announced that he is quitting #TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/0X05APgXd4 pic.twitter.com/KmG5kL1CQ0  The Mirror (@DailyMirror) May 24, 2024

Yesterdays decision, along with that of former party leadership contender Andrea Leadsom, has piled the pressure on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak according to The Times while the i weekend says the latest departures are part of a record exodus.

i Weekend: Gove quits as Sunak hit by record exodus of Tory MPs #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/QTTw3kPP8E  Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) May 24, 2024

The FT Weekend says the latest departures have taken the number of departing Tory MPs past the previous high of 1997, while The Independent reports the Conservatives are facing a scramble to find enough remaining candidates.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Saturday 25 May https://t.co/eIAChtCriF pic.twitter.com/bPROoiZLKe  Financial Times (@FT) May 24, 2024

The economy is the main battleground of the day with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves writing in the Daily Mail, insisting Labour will not play fast and loose with readers money.

Saturdays Daily MAIL: Reeves: Ill Never Play Fast And Loose With Your Money #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/KN37vpJNIj  Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) May 24, 2024

An interview with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt dominates the front of The Daily Telegraph as he labels inheritance profoundly anti-Conservative and pledges more tax help for the middle classes.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Inheritance tax against Tory values, says Hunt'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/By7ALvYaZ1  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) May 24, 2024

The Guardian breaks step as it confines the election to a downpage story, choosing to lead on the International Court of Justices call for Israel to halt its assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Saturdays GUARDIAN: UN top court orders Israel to halt assault on Rafah #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/YYUuVi9CQl  Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) May 24, 2024

And the Daily Star reveals learning to play the didgeridoo can help beat the curse of snoring.
The Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) has recently released the 2024 Global Report on Internal Displacement. It attempts to count the total number of internally displaced people as well as the total number of internal displacements in the world. The latter category includes each new forced movement of a person within the borders of their country recorded during the year, while the former indicates the number of people living in internal displacement at the end of the year. The key findings of the report shed light on the worrying increase in the number of internally displaced people worldwide.

The IDMC defines internally displaced people as those who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of conflict, violence, or disasters and who have not crossed an internationally recognised State border. According to its report, 75.9 million people were living in internal displacement at the end of 2023, up from 71.1 million in 2022. It recorded 20.5 million internal displacements caused due to conflict and violence and 26.4 million due to disasters. The number of internally displaced people is often higher than the number of internal displacements, as the former category includes all people displaced in previous years too and who are still living in internal displacement. According to the IDMC, a sizeable portion of internally displaced people remain uncounted, as many who are not listed in the official records were also observed to be residing outside of the official camps established to house or rehabilitate them.

The report divides the number of internally displaced people into two broad categoriesconflict- and disaster-induced displacement. A large majority of internal displacements occur due to the former, with 68.3 million conflict-induced and 7.7 million disaster-induced displacements. The five countries that reported the highest numbers of conflict-induced displacements in 2023 were Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Palestine, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, while China, Turkiye, the Philippines, Somalia, and Bangladesh reported the highest number of disaster-induced displacements in 2023. The report also highlights crucial overlaps between these two categories. For example, the report mentions that earthquakes in Syria and Afghanistan and floods in Yemen and Sudan in 2023 caused significantly more damage in areas where large numbers of people already displaced by conflict and violence were living.

Prolonged conflict in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and natural disasters like drought in Somalia and floods in Ethiopia made the region of sub-Saharan Africa account for the highest number of internally displaced people at a record 34.8 million in 2023, up from 31.7 million in 2022 and constituting 46% of the global total. Sudan in particular faced an overlap between conflict- and disaster-induced displacements. Around 70% to 80% of hospitals in conflict-affected areas in Sudan were no longer operational, leading to a cholera outbreak in the country. Moreover, the rainy season between May and October 2023 caused flooding along the River Nile and the South Darfur state in Sudan, which disproportionately affected the relief camps sheltering the people who had already fled from conflict and violence.

The region of West Asia and North Africa came second, with 15.3 million internally displaced people in 2023, up from 12.8 million in 2022. Palestine reported the highest number of internal displacements in this region. One of the most alarming findings of the IDMC report is that the war in Gaza left around 83% of its population internally displaced in less than three months. The report highlights that despite ordering over a million civilians to evacuate from the northern part of the Gaza Strip to the south, the Israeli military nonetheless bombarded the areas in southern Gaza that were earlier marked safe for the evacuees. This tremendously increased the overall number of civilian deaths in Gaza, on top of causing massive internal displacement, food insecurity, and health risks in the region.

South Asia reported 8.2 million internally displaced people, slightly down from 8.7 million in 2022. Countries with the most internally displaced people in 2023 were Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. South Asia as a whole recorded 69,000 internal displacements in 2023, with Manipur alone accounting for 67,000 displacements. In other words, Manipur recorded around 97% of all internal displacements occurring in South Asia in 2023. The report also notes that more than 75% of these internal displacements took place within Manipur, while around 20% of these movements were to the neighbouring states of Mizoram and fewer numbers to Nagaland and Assam.

Experts studying the problem of internal displacement in India have emphasised the need for a national policy and legislation to tackle conflict-, disaster-, and development-induced displacements. Without a national policy or legislation, it becomes nearly impossible to maintain accurate data and monitoring protocols required to protect, assist, and ensure the rights of internally displaced people. Due to the lack of a comprehensive policy governing refugees and internally displaced people in India, the response of the government to their needs is often arbitrary and ad hoc, with notable variations in the rules and guidelines among the states that often threaten or undermine their civil and constitutional rights.

The proposed Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005 did attempt to resolve some problems of those displaced due to communal and ethnic violence in India. However, this bill was never passed and it was eventually withdrawn in 2014. Moreover, a private members bill titled the Rehabilitation and Relocation of Persons Displaced due to Climate Change Bill, 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha, and it sought to address disaster- and climate change-induced displacements in India. However, this bill is currently pending with no visible urgency of being ratified in Parliament.

The IDMCs report, along with severe conflict- and disaster-induced internal displacements recorded in the past year, clearly underlines the need for a national policy to tackle internal displacements in India. Any such policy would need to be sensitive to regional differences in India without, however, adopting an arbitrary stance where the displaced peoples civil and constitutional rights come under threat due to unfair

political considerations.
Finance officials from the Group of Seven rich democracies said they had moved towards agreement on a US proposal to squeeze more money for Ukraine from Russian assets frozen in their countries.

But the ministers left a final deal to be worked out ahead of a June summit of national leaders.

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We are making progress in our discussions on potential avenues to bring forward the extraordinary profits stemming from immobilised Russian sovereign assets to the benefit of Ukraine, the draft statement said, without providing details.

Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, represented the UK.

Despite the progress made at the the meeting in Stresa, on the shores of Lago Maggiore in northern Italy, a final decision on how the assets will be used will rest with the G7 national leaders, including US President Joe Biden, next month at their annual summit in Fasano, in southern Italy.





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Host finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said that progress has been made so far but that there were legal and technical issues that have to be overcome.

It is not an easy task but we are working on it, he said at a news conference following the end of the meeting.

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Ukrainian finance minister Serhiy Marchenko joined the fellow ministers and central bank heads at their concluding session on Saturday.

I am satisfied with the progress, he told journalists afterwards. He said the G7 ministers are working very hard to find a reliable construction for Ukraine.

The US Congress has passed legislation allowing the Biden administration to seize the roughly five billion dollars (3.9 billion) in Russian assets located in the US, but European countries have a strong voice in the matter since most of the 260 billion dollars (204 billion) in Russian central bank assets frozen after the February 24 2022 invasion are held in their jurisdictions.

Citing legal concerns, European officials have balked at outright confiscating the money and handing it to Ukraine as compensation for the destruction caused by Russia.

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Instead, they plan use the interest accumulating on the assets, but that is only around three billion dollars (2.3 billion) a year  about one months financing needs for the Ukrainian government.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is pushing for borrowing against the future interest income from the frozen assets. That would mean Ukraine could be given as much as 50 billion dollars (39 billion) immediately.

But the proposal has run into concerns from European members about the legal complexities, and about concerns that Russia could retaliate against the diminished number of Western companies and individuals who still have holdings in Russia, or against the Euroclear securities depository in Belgium where the bulk of the funds is held.



Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, centre, is welcomed by Italys finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, right, and Fabio Panetta governor of the Bank of Italy, at the G7 meeting in Stresa, northern Italy (Antonio Calanni/AP)

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Russia has published a decree from President Vladimir Putin allowing confiscation of assets of US companies and individuals as compensation for any Russian assets seized in the United States.

The ministers also discussed what to do about Chinas outsized, state-backed production of green energy technology, which the US considers a threat to the global economy.

The US has imposed major new tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, solar equipment and medical supplies imported from China. Included is a 100% tariff on Chinese-made EVs, meant to protect the US economy from cheap Chinese imports.

The US position has been that Chinese overcapacity is an issue not just for the US but also for other G7 and developing countries. That is because Chinas selling of low-priced goods threatens the existence of competing companies around the world.

The G7 is an informal forum that holds an annual summit to discuss economic policy and security issues. The member countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Representatives of the European Union also take part, but the EU does not serve as one of the rotating chairs.
The leader of a pro-independence party in New Caledonia has called on supporters to remain mobilised across the French Pacific archipelago and maintain resistance against the Paris governments efforts to impose electoral reforms.

The indigenous Kanak people fear the reforms would further marginalise them.

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Christian Tein, leader of the pro-independence party known as The Field Action Co-ordination Unit, addressed supporters and protesters in a video message.

It was posted on social media two days after he and other pro-independence leaders met French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the territory following unrest that left seven dead and a trail of destruction.

Mr Macron repeatedly pushed for the removal of protesters barricades with leaders on both sides of New Caledonias bitter divide  indigenous Kanaks, who want independence, and the pro-Paris leaders, who do not.





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The French president told them that the state of emergency imposed by Paris for at least 12 days on May 15 to boost police powers could be lifted only if local leaders call for a clearing away of barricades that demonstrators and people trying to protect their neighborhoods erected in the capital, Noumea, and beyond.

In the video message, Mr Tein called on protesters to slightly loosen the grip on their barricades in Noumea, its suburbs and along the archipelagos main roads in order to transport fuel, food, medicine and facilitate access to healthcare for the inhabitants of the islands in the north and south.

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But Mr Tein insisted the barricades will remain in place until French authorities lift house arrest warrants for several of his party members and Mr Macrons government scraps the electoral reform that Kanaks fear will dilute their influence by allowing some more recent arrivals in the archipelago to vote in local elections.

We remain mobilised (and) maintain all (forms) of resistance, Mr Tein said and urged supporters to remain steadfast and refrain from violence.

There has been too much suffering, theres too much at stake and we must see (this) through (and) achieve our goals in a co-ordinated, structured and organised way.

He added: Our main objective is for our country to obtain full sovereignty.

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Barricades made up of charred vehicles and other debris have turned parts of Noumea into no-go zones and made travelling around perilous, including for the sick requiring medical treatment and for families worried about food and water after shops were pillaged and torched.

Police in the northern part of the New Caledonian capital have dismantled several roadblocks in the past several days, but the protesters quickly regrouped and rebuilt them.

Tensions remain high throughout the archipelago, local officials said on Saturday, despite state of emergency measures that include a 12-hour daily curfew, a ban on public gatherings, the transport of weapons and the sale of alcohol, and a block on TikTok.

In the past seven months, Mr Teins Field Action Co-ordination Unit has organised massive, peaceful marches in New Caledonia against the Paris-backed voting reform. The unrest began early last week after a demonstration against the legislation under discussion in the French parliament turned violent.

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Both French houses of parliament in Paris have already approved the overhaul. The next step was to have been a special Congress of both houses meeting in Versailles to implement it by amending Frances Constitution. That had been expected by the end of June.



French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at New Caledonias High Commissioner residency, with French interior minister Gerald Darmanin, centre, in Noumea on Thursday (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

Speaking after meeting leaders in New Caledonia, Mr Macron said he will not force through the contested voting reform that sparked the territorys worst unrest in decades.

Mr Macron called on local leaders to come up with an alternative agreement for the archipelagos future and laid out a roadmap that he said could lead to another referendum for the territory.

Three earlier referendums were organised between 2018 and 2021 by the French authorities as part of the 1988 peace deal. They produced no votes against independence although the independence supporters boycotted the last vote in December 2021.

Mr Macron said another could be on a new political deal for the archipelago that he hopes local leaders will agree on in coming weeks and months after protesters barricades are dismantled, allowing for a state of emergency to be lifted and for peace to return.

New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, Napoleons nephew and heir. It became an overseas territory after the Second World War, with French citizenship granted to all Kanaks in 1957.
Sean Bakers Anora, a comic but devastating Brooklyn odyssey about a sex worker who marries the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, has won the Cannes Film Festivals top award, the Palme dOr.

Baker accepted the prize with his films star, Mikey Madison, watching in the audience at the Cannes closing ceremony on Saturday.

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The win for Anora marks a new high point for Baker, the director of The Florida Project.

Sean Baker, right, holds the Palme dOr for the film Anora, alongside George Lucas during the awards ceremony Photo: Andreea Alexandru/Invision/AP.

It is also the fifth straight Palme dOr won by indie distributor Neon, following Parasite, Titane, Triangle Of Sadness and last years winner, Anatomy Of A Fall.

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I dont really know whats happening right now, said Baker.

While Anora was arguably the most acclaimed film of the festival, its win was a slight surprise. Many expected either the gentle Indian drama All We Imagine As Light or the Iranian film The Seed Of The Sacred Fig to win. Both of those films also took home prizes.

It was not the only surprise of the closing ceremony. Before George Lucas was given an honorary Palme dOr, his old friend and sometimes collaborator Francis Ford Coppola appeared to present it to him, reuniting two of the most pivotal figures of the last half-century of American moviemaking.

All We Imagine As Light, about sisterhood in modern Mumbai, won the Grand Prix, Cannes second-highest honour. Payal Kapadias second feature was the first Indian in competition in Cannes in 30 years.

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The jury awarded a special prize to Mohammad Rasoulofs The Seed Of The Sacred Fig, a drama made secretly in Iran.

Coralie Fargeat, left, and Demi Moore greet photographers in Cannes on Saturday. Photo: Andreea Alexandru/Invision/AP.

Coralie Fargeats body horror film The Substance, starring Demi Moore as a Hollywood actress who goes to gory extremes to remain youthful, won for best screenplay.

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I really believe that movies can change the world, so I hope this movie will be a little stone to build new foundations, said Fargeat.

I really think we need a revolution and I dont think it has really started yet.

Some thought Moore might take best actress but that award instead went to an ensemble of actors: Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz for Jacques Audiards Emilia Perez, a Spanish-language musical about a Mexican drug lord who transitions to a woman. Gascon, who accepted the award, is the first trans actor to win a major prize at Cannes.

Emilia Perez also won Cannes jury prize, giving a rare two awards at a festival where prizes are usually spread around.

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Best actor went to Jesse Plemons for Yorgos Lanthimos Kinds Of Kindness. In the film, three stories are told with largely the same company of actors. Plemons, a standout in several chapters, did not attend the closing ceremony.

Portuguese director Miguel Gomes won best director for his Grand Tour, an Asian odyssey in which a man flees his fiancee from Rangoon in 1917.

Sometimes I get lucky, shrugged Gomes.

The Camera dOr, the prize for best first feature across all of Cannes official selections, went to Halfdan Ullmann Tondel for Armand, starring The Worst Person In The World star Renate Reinsve. Tondel is the grandson of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and Norwegian actor Liv Ullman.

During the brief awards ceremony, Lucas was to be given an honorary Palme dOr. During the festival, Cannes gave the same tribute to Meryl Streep and the Japanese anime factory Studio Ghibli.
Ukrainian forces have secured combat control of areas where Russian troops entered the north-eastern Kharkiv region earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Our soldiers have now managed to take combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers entered, the President said in his nightly video address on Friday.

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Mr Zelenskys comments appeared to be at odds with those made by Russian officials.

Viktor Vodolatskiy, a member of Russias lower house of parliament, said Russian forces now controlled more than half of the town of Vovchansk, three miles inside the border, Russian state news agency Tass reported.

Vovchansk has been a flashpoint for fighting since Russia launched an offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10.



Burnt books are seen in a damaged workshop of Ukraines largest printing house (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

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Mr Vodolatskiy was also quoted as saying that, once Vovchansk was secured, Russian forces would target the cities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk in the neighbouring Donetsk region.

No independent confirmation of the claims was immediately possible.

Meanwhile, two people were killed on Saturday in an aerial attack on the city of Kharkiv, which is the regions capital, according to local officials.

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Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said 33 others were wounded when a bomb hit a large construction supplies store on Saturday afternoon, causing a huge fire to break out.

He said more than 200 people could have been inside the store, later noting that the fire had been contained. A second bomb hit the citys central park, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

Mr Zelensky called the airstrike on the store a manifestation of Russian madness and appealed to Western countries to provide Ukraine with air defence systems.



Firefighters put out a fire after two guided bombs hit a large construction supplies store in Kharkiv (Andrii Marienko/AP)

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When we tell world leaders that Ukraine requires adequate air defence protection  we are literally talking about how not to allow such terrorist strikes, he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Russias Kharkiv push appears to be a co-ordinated new offensive that includes testing Ukrainian defences in the Donetsk region further south, while also launching incursions in the northern Sumy and Chernihiv regions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Kremlins army is attempting to create a buffer zone in the Kharkiv region to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks.

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Kharkiv is about 12 miles from the Russian border.



Servicemen of Ukraines 93rd Mechanised Brigade fire a French MO-120-RT heavy mortar at the Russian forces on the front line near the city of Bakhmut (AP)

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.

Ukrainian authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 people from the region since the start of the offensive.

The Russian push is shaping up to be Ukraines biggest test since Moscows full-scale invasion in February 2022, with outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces being pressed at several points along the 620-mile front line that snakes from north to south in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraines problems have been mounting in recent months as it tries to hold out against its much bigger foe, and the war appears to be at a critical juncture.
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This story is part of the May 26 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories .

Gigi Hadids Met Gala gown might not have made every persons best-dressed list, but the white, off-shoulder Thom Browne design certainly put a stake  or thorn  in fashions fertile ground: roses are back.

Rebecca Vallance Rhosen dress, $729. Alias Mae Isabel shoes, $230. Pearl necklace (worn throughout), $2595, from Greene & Greene Antiques. Levante pantyhose (worn throughout), $38, from David Jones. Credit: Jesse-Leigh Elford

Romantic, seductive, sensual and emblematic of the fragility of time (cue that famous bell jar in Beauty and the Beast), roses convey many emotions. But just as roses have thorns, their place in fashion this summer is taking on a tougher edge. Think fewer pretty florals (but if thats your bouquet, go forth) and more bold takes on the queen of flowers.

Among the international houses championing the blooms are Magda Butrym (the rose has been the Polish designers signature since day dot) and Balmain, whose rose-strewn dresses Margot Robbie wore on the Barbie press tour, including a candy-pink number with black polka dots and the blood-red gown she wore to the Critics Choice Awards.

The international run on roses has clearly influenced Australian fashion brands such as Rebecca Vallance and Leo Lin, with the latters upcoming range featuring dresses with 3-D silk roses dotted along the neckline. And, for those who prefer their roses by the stem, not the bunch, theres a single bloom on a leather tie that can be worn around the neck, waist or even snaking up a stockinged calf.

In the East, roses symbolise prosperity and joy, while in the West they epitomise romance and beauty, Lin says. To me, roses are more than a flower, they are a statement. They exude drama, elegance, strength. There is no flower that evokes femininity to me more than the rose.

On the runways at Australian Fashion Week, roses werent quite sprouting but they were certainly suggested. New Zealand designer and runway debutante Rory William Dochertys crushes, inspired by bits of scrunched paper, almost passed for roses, leaving Alix Higgins to take a more semantic route, through his tulips, roses slogan jumpers. Although the flower wasnt present in its physical form, Higgins, in his third fashion-week show, proved through clever typography that even the imagining of a rose can make you smile.
Its dark when I arrive at the Vivaana Culture Hotel in Churi Ajitgarh, 240 kilometres south-west of Delhi, headlights ricocheting off a wall painted with camels and elephants. The electricity is out and Im led to my room by torchlight. Candles are lit and my guide leaves me to it.

The historic painted Shekhawati havelis depict traditional folk tales, hunting scenes, battles, ancestor portraits and stories. Credit: Getty Images

The next morning I wake in a painted garden. The walls are frescoed with twining pink roses, encircling stucco columns that rise to an arcaded gallery overhead. Krishna stands beside a woman under a banyan tree that shades a doorway; in the courtyard outside my room, turbaned figures are set into wall niches overlooked by small windows surrounded by elaborate architraves.

This part of Rajasthan is known as Shekhawati, named after Rao Shekha, who wrestled this part of the state away from the rulers of Amber, todays Jaipur. It was populated by Shekhawat Rajputs, agile businessmen who set themselves up as merchants on the edge of the Thar Desert, one of the strands of the Silk Road. When the British East India Company came to rule the subcontinent the trade

died, and from the early 1800s the Shekhawats shifted their mercantile skills to Calcutta and Bombay.

But while those cities made them rich, their hearts lay in their dusty homeland. Weddings, births, the first rice-eating ceremony of an infant and the many festivals of the Hindu religious calendar drew them back to their ancestral lands. Their wealth enabled them to build extravagant havelis, walled compounds with lavish interiors surrounding a series of courtyards.
Australias space effort is taking a leap forward after recruiting a retired US Air Force lieutenant general and NASA administrator.

Lieutenant General Larry D. James 46-year career has led him from the US Air Force to NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He retired from there in March as deputy director and chief operating officer after 11 years overseeing 6000 staff who explored solar systems and researched astronomy, physics and Earth sciences.

Larry D. James (left), formerly of NASA and now with Monash University, and Professor Christopher Lawrence. Credit: Eddie Jim

James flew into Australia last Tuesday and starts work on June 1 at Monash University as a professor of space innovation. He will also work at the Adelaide research consortium, SmartSat, as a strategic adviser.

Australia is really doing a lot to boost its space capabilities. And this would be a good time to join in that effort, James said from Sydney, where he will be based.
When Lynne and her husband moved from Melbournes inner north to Mont Albert 30 years ago, the rows of enormous hedges that epitomise the suburbs greenery had been a drawcard.

Her own hedge was planted about 100 years ago, and in the decades since she inherited its care, she has spent tens of thousands of dollars keeping it trimmed. This hedge is Herculean  you could line up six Holden Commodores along its 27-metre width, its as deep as the height of an average man, and it stands more than three metres tall.

Lynne recently paid to extend the footpath in front of her home to save 100-year-old cypress hedge. Credit: Joe Armao

We enjoy it, all our neighbours love looking at it, schoolkids love stuffing things into it  Its an ecosystem of its own with animals living in it, said Lynne, who asked not to use her surname due to a recent backlash against hedge owners.

In this part of town, hedges are a hot, divisive topic and local Facebook groups erupt over the subject. Hedge supporters believe the towering conifers should be encouraged and protected as they are key to the character of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills.
Vault is historically significant as Victorias most well-known and controversial example of art commissioned for a public place, Avery said in his submission. Loading It generated an unprecedented public debate about the role of contemporary and abstract art. The area south of Melbourne Town Hall was first earmarked in the 1950s as a site for open public space, and in the 1970s architects Denton Corker Marshall won a competition to design City Square. A large abstract sculpture was central to its vision to be a point of focus linking the town hall and St Pauls Cathedral. Vault was commissioned as the result of a design competition which satisfied the criteria: the work had to be by a local artist, was unable to be vandalised, cost about $70,000 and be representative of the 1970s.

The City of Melbourne approved the sculpture, and it was installed in May 1980, with BHP offering to pay half the costs. But the battle spilled out from council chambers across Melbourne between traditional and modern art and their respective supporters. Even the Queen, who opened City Square, was said to have been drawn into the fuss, and reportedly mused that Vault could have been painted in a more agreeable colour. The Ages coverage of the controversial sculpture in July 1980. Credit: The Age It was a regular target of late-night drunks and graffiti, even if one sympathiser wrote poignantly on one of its panels: I am not an animal. Then, during a five-hour council meeting in July 1980, the councillors voted to move Vault away from the square. It was the sixth vote in six months.

After the outcry, the council moved the sculpture from City Square out of the way to Batman Park on the Yarras northern bank at a cost of $20,000. Cartoonists had a field day, and the issue was a front-page staple for months, fuelled by opponents including the Australian Guild of Realist Artists. Then-premier Rupert Hamer voiced his opinion: I believe it is a fine sculpture in the wrong place. Even union leader Norm Gallagher and his Builders Labourers Federation said they would ban dismantling it. Angry readers flooded the letters pages. One reader wrote to The Age: The sculpture should stay, the council must go. And so it came to pass, Hamers government dismissed the council in December 1980 and appointed administrators.

Vault in 1997. Credit: Bruce Postle Architect John Denton, the co-founder of Denton Corker Marshall, supported the push for Vaults addition to the register. Its a fantastic piece of public art and should absolutely be on the heritage register, Denton said. Ron Robertson-Swanns sculpture was selected because it met every element of the brief. It was perfect. In 2002, the sculpture was moved from Batman Park to 111 Sturt Street, Southbank, outside the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) and Malthouse Theatre.

Hopefully this assures its safety, Robertson-Swann said. That ACCA building is complementary to the architecture. I thought, finally it had found a safe home. Its a big bloody thing, so they would have trouble moving it yet again. Every time they move it costs far more than I was ever paid for it.

Robertson-Swann is still producing works and plans to submit one to Sydneys Sculpture By The Sea exhibition. I get some very positive responses from people that meet me when I am in Melbourne, he said. Architect John Denton has long been a supporter and admirer of Vault. Credit: Eamon Gallagher People even apologise to me that those councillors behaved badly. It seemed to be only a small elite in the council and the community that thought it wasnt an appropriate work. The sculpture has continued to be influential.

Ron Robertson-Swann with Vault in 2016. Credit: John Robenstone National Gallery of Victoria director Tony Ellwood told The Age: Its story has become part of Melbournes modern-day cultural history. It is so often a sign of great public art that it creates controversy when unveiled. In 2018, Ray Edgar in The Sydney Morning Herald, wrote that in the cultural philistinism it unearthed, Vault is Melbournes Blue Poles, its Sydney Opera House. Indeed, Denton Corker Marshalls Melbourne International Gateway design on CityLink  dubbed the cheesestick  referenced Vault with its design and bright yellow colour. Over the years Denton Corker Marshall have embraced the colour yellow in our work not only in solidarity with Ron, but also as a f--- you to the bad decisions made by mediocre politicians, Denton said.
The two-story, farmhouse-style tiny house is clad in black steel with standing seams, making it an eye-catching addition to the Terrell Hills neighborhood. Clint Datchuk

When COVID-19 struck, Karin Scott and Don Dougherty were between houses and found themselves living in a garage apartment. The situation helped them realize they like living in a smaller space, which led them to build what these days is known as a tiny house in Terrell Hills.

We found living in the apartment to be liberating, said Scott, co-owner with Dougherty of the firm Architect Girl, where she is the principal architect. We could thoroughly clean it in 30 minutes and we werent tempted to overbuy things, like groceries.

Architect Karin Scott and Don Dougherty, a professor of psychology at the University of North Texas and a professor at UT Health San Antonio, recently moved into a new tiny home in Terrell Hills. In place of a traditional swinging front door, they opted for a sliding glass door. Clint Datchuk An early evening view of the tiny house that Karin Scott and Don Dougherty built in Terrell Hills. Matthew Niemann Photography A small dining table sits in the home's main living area. Clint Datchuk Large windows in the living area provide plenty of natural light and views to the backyard and the carport beyond. Richard A. Marini/Staff Leaving the beams above the galley kitchen exposed gave the space a more spacious, industrial feel while at the same time providing the warmth of wood. Richard A. Marini/Staff The primary bedroom has room for a full-size bed. Clint Datchuk The single bathroom has a floating cabinet and bidet toilet for easy cleaning. Richard A. Marini/Staff Reaching the upstairs loft requires a bit of derring-do. That is, climbing up a steep ladder. Clint Datchuk The loft area is cozy and comfortable, accommodating not much more than a bed, floating nightstands and (not pictured) a small seating area. Clint Datchuk The small seating area in the upstairs loft. Clint Datchuk When their tiny house was being built, Karin Scott and Don Dougherty say it generated plenty of interest from neighbors, who stayed abreast of the construction process. Clint Datchuk Much of the yard is covered in carpet of small white stones, while in the back there are several raised beds, gabion benches and a fire pit. Clint Datchuk

Living so lightly also gave them more time to pursue their passions, like kayaking and camping.

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So, together, they recently completed a two-bedroom, one-bath house that is owned by Dougherty.

Dougherty is a professor of psychology at the University of North Texas in Denton and maintains a home there, but he spends the majority of his time in San Antonio, where he also is a professor in UT Health's psychiatry department.

The new house has just 563 square feet of living space, including a loft. By comparison, the average Texas home is 2,170 square feet, according to the 2022 American Home Size Index.

Sometimes referred to as casitas, mother-in-law houses or accessory dwelling units, tiny homes are generally considered to contain less than 600 square feet of space, although some have as few as 200 or even less.

Karin Scott and Don Dougherty decided they could live in a tiny home after finding themselves in a garage apartment during the pandemic. Clint Datchuk

Although she is a licensed architect, Scott had never built a tiny house. This was the couple's first project together.

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I have done a few residential jobs, but those were usually very large homes," she said.

In designing the tiny house, however, Scott didn't hesitate to make some pretty fierce decisions. She clad the two-story, farmhouse-style exterior in black steel with standing seams, for example, ensuring it catches the eye in their mature neighborhood of 1940s- and 50s-era mostly ranch-style homes.

It sure generates a lot of interest, Scott said. When we were building it, people would stop by to see how things were going. By the time he was finished, our builder was on a first-name basis with several neighbors.

When people think of tiny houses, they usually think of houses on trailers, she explained. We thought, wouldnt it be neat to have one in an established neighborhood?

At a time when, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, the typical American home costs about $513,000, a tiny home averages between $30,000 and $60,000, according to Rocket Mortgage, making them attractive starter homes for younger adults.

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Although Scott and Dougherty declined to divulge what their tiny home cost, they noted it contains more high-end features, such as custom cabinets and specialized appliances, than a standard built home.

The two-bedroom, one-bath tiny home has 563 square feet of living space, much less than the 2,170 square feet in the average Texas home. Clint Datchuk

We could have built a typical 1,500- to 1,600-square foot home for what we spent on this one, Scott said.

For example, instead of a traditional swinging front door, they opted for a sliding glass door with a screen they like to keep open on nice days. The living area has oversized windows and a vaulted ceiling.

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The whole idea was to make this small space feel bigger by adding plenty of volume and the light, she said.

Scotts experience as an architect came in handy when it came to fitting features into the small space.

It was challenging, she said. I mean, the things you need for everyday life, like a water softener or a hot water heater, have to go somewhere, right?

During planning sessions, they went as far as putting tape on the floor to figure out how much space they needed for furniture, appliances and other items.

I compare living in a tiny house to living on a boat, she said. Youve got a lot of built-ins, seating with storage underneath and smaller-than-usual appliances and furnishings.

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The house doesn't have an attic, so there's no place to run ductwork. Instead, the house is heated and cooled with mini splits located near the ceiling peak and nearly out of sight.

Saving space, a stacked washer and dryer combination sits at one end of the galley kitchen. Clint Datchuk

The galley kitchen is a master class in efficiency, with appliances running down one side, and the main bedroom and bathroom located off the other.

Scott said shes long dreamed of having a kitchen countertop without any clutter, so they installed an under-counter microwave, oven and dishwasher, adding a stacked washer/dryer combination to the far end.

All of the appliances, including the refrigerator, are narrower than normal, Scott said. It's enough for only two while also saving space.

Beyond the galley kitchen is a small space with a bench next to the back door.

We call it the mudroom, but I like to just hang out there, especially if weve been doing yard work, she said. If Im too dirty, Ill just sit there and talk on the phone.

Running above the kitchen galley, a series of exposed wood beams provide structural support to the home while also giving the area a more spacious, industrial feel and providing the warmth of wood.

They installed cable lighting along and below the beams.

That was really our only solution, Dougherty explained. If wed put lights above the beams, thered be all these shadows across the kitchen.

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The loft area is cozy and comfortable, accommodating not much more than a bed, floating nightstands and a small seating area. Clint Datchuk

The primary bedroom is smaller than most, but the couple insist they dont mind sleeping on a full-size mattress, noting they often spend time traveling in their camper, which has a bed that is even smaller.

Across from the bed, wall-to-wall cabinets utilize every available inch of space, providing optimum storage.

Keeping the efficiency theme going, they installed small, pop-out lamps in the walls on either side of the bed.

They have a nice, clean look and take up less space than end table lamps, Scott said. Once again, we were going for the spare, built-in look.

Reaching the upstairs loft requires a bit of derring-do. That is, climbing a steep, leaning ladder.

We have a rule: no bringing alcoholic beverages to the loft, Scott said, only half jokingly. Either that or youre not coming down with it.

The loft area accommodates not much more than a bed, floating nightstands and small seating area. Yet with its low angled ceiling, its cozy and comfortable.

Much of the yard is covered in carpet of small white stones, while in the back there are several raised beds, gabion benches and a fire pit. Clint Datchuk

Another of the homes showstoppers is the water-saving yard, recently featured in Dwell magazine and designed by New Braunfels-based LUSH GreenScape Design.

Except for a rectangular patch of lawn below a majestic live oak in the front yard, the ground is covered with carpet of small white stones, with several raised beds, gabion benches and a fire pit in the back.

The pergola, carport and fencing are all constructed with steel that has been treated with a rust accelerator to give it a handsome, burnished red coloring.
A 48-year-old Perth cyclist has died after allegedly being run down by a driver in a suspected act of vigilantism.

The incident occurred around 1.45pm on Friday when a Kia Carnival sedan collided with the cyclist at the corner of Lion Street and Jupiter Street in Carlisle.

WA Police major crime division detective inspector David Gorton said the cyclist was dragged for some distance after being struck. He died a short time later in hospital.

The 27-year-old male driver of the car has since been charged with murder.

We just want to reiterate to members of the public that if you are a victim of crime, no matter how serious the incident is, we urge you to contact police if you feel that you need assistance, Gorton said.
But the ugliness and the frustration were only just beginning. Sixteen months later, Rudd struck again, and won. Partly because of the years of Labor leadership chaos, Rudd lost the next election to Abbott. Loading The Liberals had been stunned at the insanity of Labors self-destruction. But rather than take it as a case study in political stupidity, they adopted it as the ideal. When the Coalition was in opposition, Abbott had torn down Turnbulls leadership. Now that they were in power, Turnbull returned the favour. Much to prime minister Abbotts dismay. Calling a party room meeting to settle the leadership in 2015, Abbott said: I have been most heartened by the messages of support flooding in to Liberal MPs offices saying most emphatically: We are not the Labor Party. This country needs strong and stable government and that means avoiding, at all costs, Labors revolving-door prime ministership. He concluded: I firmly believe that our party is better than this, that our government is better than this, and, by God, that our country is so much better than this.

By that evening he was gone. The Liberals were, in fact, the Labor Party. The country was no better than that. The cannibalism, of course, continued. Dutton challenged Turnbull unsuccessfully, opening the way for Scott Morrison to come through the middle and seize the prime ministership. Australian politics has entered an era marked by the doctrine of the disposable leader, wrote Tiffen, emeritus professor in government at Sydney University, in his 2017 book, aptly titled Disposable Leaders. Then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and his treasurer, Scott Morrison, who was ambitious for him(self) in 2018. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen So whats happened? Where is the instability? Has the mania died? The first sign that something had changed was when Morrison was permitted a full term as leader, unchallenged. Remarkably, he was the first prime minister since John Howard to be allowed the luxury. And now, two years of Albanese as prime minister without even the least hint of the most speculative of speculations.

The easy answer is that the two main political parties changed their internal rules to make it harder to stage a coup. But its only a partial answer. Loading For one, an aspirant doesnt need a formal party-room challenge to inflict fatal damage to the leader. For another, if a challenger has the numbers to destroy a leader, they could well have the numbers to change the rules first and then plunge ahead with a challenge. In reality, the rule changes are little more than a speed bump for a determined wrecker. There is a bigger explanation for the change. It has three parts, as Tiffen sets out, and each applies to both the Labor government and the Liberal opposition. First, theres no sense of the government being in terminal trouble; theyre not electorally dominant but theres no sense of doom, says Tiffen. The same applies to the opposition. The opinion polls, taken as a whole, show an evenly matched contest, with support for the parties oscillating around the 50:50 mark.

The polls, mid-term, dont actually mean much. They dont even pretend to be predictors of an election due in a years time. But they carry weight with MPs, nonetheless. And, at the moment, each side of politics can assure itself that its in a competitive position. Loading Second, the scars of the past have made them more aware of the internal costs of leadership changes. In some cases, the wounds are still raw. Most members of the Albanese cabinet were in the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd governments and nurse painful memories. Albanese himself publicly shed tears announcing his decision to support Rudd over Gillard in 2012. The Liberals are in a similar condition. Bryant categorises both the parties as suffering post-traumatic stress disorder. Third is leadership style. There were personality factors  Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott were not at all consultative and they rubbed their colleagues up the wrong way, says Tiffen, and thats an understatement.

Rudd was dismissive of trade unions and contemptuous of the Labor faction leaders. They took revenge accordingly. And Abbott chose to lose the prime ministership rather than sack his famously controlling chief of staff, Peta Credlin. Loading Albanese and Dutton are much more respectful of their colleagues. The prime minister prides himself on running a proper cabinet government and observing due process, rather than the high-handed captains calls that other prime ministers have flaunted. The government resists panic and ignores the Murdoch medias constant goading. Albaneses cabinet puts a premium on thoroughness over speediness. Often, it will conduct a first pass on tricky or complex issues, meaning that the cabinet will consider a submission and then send it back for more work before a second deliberation.

This is what happened with its decision to give almost half-a-billion dollars in support of the building of a PsiQuantum computing facility in Brisbane, the subject of multiple cabinet discussions. It hasnt been perfect. The governments handling of the High Court decision to free 150 immigration detainees in the NZYQ case has been a disaster. And it continues to inflict harm on the community and political damage on the government. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles continues to bungle it, week after excruciating week. Albanese should sack him. He has plenty of capable MPs who could replace him. But the prime minster takes pride in the fact that he hasnt lost a single minister in two years. This is a remarkable record and a triumph of stability. But competent government is more important than prime ministerial pride points. Some decisions are the sole prerogative of the prime minister. Like the choice of a governor-general, for instance. Yet, even here, Albanese told his cabinet ministers that he was considering candidates for the vice-regal post and invited them to make suggestions if they so wished. Loading

Dutton may project the tough guy, strong leader image yet he, too, is respectful of his colleagues and managed firmly to defeat the Voice referendum without provoking any major internal splintering among his partys moderate MPs. A fourth factor contributes to the Canberra quiet. In neither the Labor nor Liberal parties is there an obvious alternative leader. In the land of the blind, quipped one MP, the one-eyed man is king. Is this new stability permanent? Its always contingent, says Tiffen. If you get a big, destabilising internal issue, or theres a sense of electoral doom, you could get a return to the old ways. The last thing Australia wants, or needs. Peter Hartcher is political editor.
Delhi: A major fire broke out on Saturday at an amusement park in Gujarat state in western India, killing at least 27 people, including several children, police and media reports said.

The fire erupted at the park in the city of Rajkot in Gujarat state. Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava said that the blaze was under control and a rescue operation was underway.

Firefighters douse a fire that broke out in a fun park, in Rajkot in the Indian state of Gujarat on Saturday. Credit: AP

Police officer Vinayak Patel said that it was difficult to identify the bodies.

Police said they have detained the owner and the manager of the amusement park for questioning as they launched an investigation in the cause.
London: Its rarely wise to make Titanic jokes, one wag once observed, but sometimes its needed to break the ice.

As Rishi Sunaks stuttering and stumbling election campaign entered just its second day, he stood in a Belfast shipyard where the doomed liner was built more than 110 years ago as his colleagues  acting as if it were every man, woman and child for themselves  jumped overboard en masse.

It was as if this weeks pilot episode of the Sunak sitcom was such a hit that the shows creators had rolled out another episode by popular demand.

Britains Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak, left, and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, second right, wait on board an Artemis Technologies boat at a dockyard in Belfast, on Friday. Credit: AP

Sunak will retreat from the election trail on Saturday  day three of a 42-day campaign  choosing to spend the day in his home constituency after a disastrous first few days on the hustings.
New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addresses foreign delegates from Election Management Bodies (EMB) of 23 countries during a briefing meeting in New Delhi, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (Photo: PTI)

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar cast his vote at a polling booth in Delhi, Speaking on the recent Supreme Court decision to decline to pass any direction on the Election Commission's (EC) handling of Form 17C data and booth-wise voter turnout, CEC Rajiv Kumar emphasized the need to dispel doubts and suspicions surrounding electoral processes.

"They have acknowledged the truth. An attempt is made to create an atmosphere of doubt. We will discuss this with everyone one day for sure," Kumar said.

Kumar commited to addressing concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and stated, "What's the play here, why are doubts created, and why are suspicions raised, we will reveal all of this one day and show everyone how people are misled. How doubts arise in people's minds that maybe the EVMs are not working properly, maybe the voting list is incorrect, or maybe the voting numbers have been manipulated. The Supreme Court has given its answer yesterday, but we will also give our answer, and we will definitely give it."

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to pass any direction on a plea seeking the uploading of Form 17C data on the Election Commission of India website and publication of booth-wise voter turnout data.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Dutta and Satish Chandra Sharma refused to grant any interim relief to petitioners and said it could not interrupt the polls.

Earlier, ECI had filed an affidavit before the top court and said that voter turnout data based on Form 17C (records of votes polled in each polling station) will cause confusion among voters as it will also include postal ballot counts.

Regarding voter turnout, Rajiv Kumar highlighted the significance of participation across generations, stating, "This time we made a lot of efforts to make it more inclusive. Everyone came and everyone voted. There is a very good voter turnout across the whole country. See how well the voting is going on in Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. How many people came out enthusiastically to vote."

He shared his personal experience of voting alongside his 95-year-old father, wife, and daughter, emphasizing the importance of voting for every citizen.

"When I cast my vote for the first time, I went with my father, and today I have brought my father with me who is now 95 years old. He voted with me today, and my wife and daughter are also with me. So, three generations have cast their votes together today. This is a matter of pride for me, and every voter should definitely vote across the country, every youth, every person," Kumar said.

CEC Rajiv Kumar also commended the enthusiasm and turnout observed across various states during the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

"Elections are happening with great enthusiasm. Despite the heat, the turnout is good. There was a lot of enthusiasm in the first 5 phases as well. The biggest thing is that many languages are being used. Everyone is appreciating the arrangements we have made, and this time even fans, doctors and water for drinking have been arranged. So, very happy feedback is coming from every state," Kumar added.

The Supreme Court's decision not to intervene in the uploading of Form 17C data comes amidst ongoing discussions about electoral transparency and accountability. CEC Rajiv Kumar's remarks underscore the EC's commitment to addressing concerns and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in India.

Meanwhile, voting is on a total of 58 constituencies from six states and two union territories are set for polls in the sixth phase of polling and over 11.13 crore voters will be exercising their franchise to decide the fate of 889 candidates including two former Chief Ministers - Manohar Lal Khattar contesting as the BJP candidate from Karnal and Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP nominee from Anantnag-Rajouri.

The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls includes eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana, one seat in Jammu and Kashmir, four in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi, six in Odisha, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, and eight in West Bengal.

Forty-two assembly constituencies in Odisha are also going for polls in the sixth phase. Assembly elections are being held in the state simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
An election worker hand-counts ballots inside of The Edge in Fredericksburg on March 5, 2024. Many of the election workers had been counting since seven in the morning on election day. Maria Crane/Texas Tribune

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.

The hand count of thousands of Republican primary election ballots in Gillespie County is on track to cost taxpayers more than double the wage costs of the 2020 Republican primary, according to records obtained by Votebeat.

Public records show Republicans employed 350 people to hand-count, who collectively reported working more than 2,300 hours the day of the election at a rate of $12 per hour. That means more than $27,000 in wages.

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Those numbers arent final, and theyre likely to grow. The tally does not include hourly wages for election clerks who worked at each of the countys 13 precincts on election day checking in voters and performing duties other than counting. In addition, Gillespie Republicans will also hand-count ballots in Tuesdays runoff election, which will add to the costs.

Gillespies experience illustrates how election costs could rise if the method is more widely adopted across the state.

Four years ago, for the Republican primary election, the party spent less than $13,000 total on election worker wages, including wages for those who worked during a runoff election.

The initial costs also show the hand count of this years primary is set to cost taxpayers more than what the county spends annually on electronic tabulating equipment that can be used across multiple elections.

Gillespie County paid $160,968 to purchase voting equipment from Hart Intercivic in 2021, according to a source familiar with the countys contract. The equipment has a 15-year life expectancy. In addition, the county spends $9,120 annually on licensing fees and technical support for the machines, plus around $6,000 per election for programming the equipment. Gillespie County elections administrator Jim Riley did not respond to a request for comment.

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State will reimburse costs  up to a point

The Texas Secretary of States Office will reimburse Gillespie Republicans and other local parties across the state for primary and runoff election expenses. Last year, at an election law seminar hosted by the office, election division officials told political party chairs that the state has a fixed amount allocated to pay for primary elections.

Officials warned that if primary election costs were to increase beyond that amount because of multiple counties hand-counting primary ballots, the state might not have enough money to reimburse all expenses. By law, the funds must be distributed equally across the states local parties.

Experts said the additional costs associated with full hand counts are unnecessary and fiscally irresponsible.

Its absurd to spend this money on this when elections in Texas especially are just so chronically underfunded, said Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause Texas, a nonpartisan voter advocacy and government watchdog organization. They could have used this funding for the election staff who are overworked and underpaid everywhere in Texas. It could be spent on election infrastructure so that voters have a more efficient voting experience, or on public outreach.

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Luis Figueroa, chief of legislative affairs at Every Texan, a nonprofit group that advocates for fair taxation and voting rights, said that over the past two years, Republican lawmakers have approved election policies based on administrative errors and discrepancies in Harris County  a Democratic stronghold  but are doing nothing about the issues that surfaced during the Gillespie hand count.

A machine breaks down in Harris County, and lawmakers have multiple hearings and pass bills that not only would sanction them, but also to remove county officials, or want a redo of the entire election, Figueroa said.

In contrast, in Gillespie, theyre having inaccuracies doing hand counting, and theres no accountability and no calls from anyone to stop this practice, he said.

Bruce Campbell, Gillespie Countys Republican Party chairman, told Votebeat that increasing peoples confidence in the election is worth the additional cost. When asked if he thought county residents felt more confident about the process following the hand count, he could not say.

I dont have a sense of the county as a whole, he said. I know the 350 people who participated in it are mostly enthusiastic about it.

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Proponents stand by hand counting

Under Texas law, during a primary election, county governments are in charge of conducting early voting, but the political parties may choose their ballot counting method. On the day of the election, parties run the voting and choose the counting method.

In Gillespie, Republicans decided last fall to hand-count this years primary vote, more than 8,000 ballots in total. Experts agree and studies show the method is time-consuming, costly, less accurate and less secure than using machines.

Nonetheless, citing unsupported concerns about the accuracy of voting machines, some people in Gillespie, including members of the Fredericksburg tea party, were determined to try and show otherwise.

The 350 workers recruited and trained by the party counted until the early hours of the next morning and touted the results as an unqualified success. But the county party subsequently had to fix a series of errors in the initial results in all but one of the countys 13 precincts.

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The night of the primary election, nearly 100 people gathered to hand-count early voting ballots at a local winery. On the compensation forms they filled out, some reported working for more than 12 hours that day, though others said they worked as little as five or even three hours.

The operational costs of a primary election vary based on the choices the political party makes. For example, parties can contract with the countys election department for administrative services and voting equipment, or they can choose to have total control of the election and run it themselves.

Gillespie Republicans chose to handle almost every part of the election themselves. They printed their ballots and hand-count tally sheets at a locally owned printer in Fredericksburg. These costs, along with what the party spent on supplies, polling location rentals, postage and administrative costs, such as office supplies and office personnels payroll, will be paid through funds allocated by the Legislature and distributed by the Secretary of States Office. The final total is still unclear. The Secretary of States Office declined to comment for this article.

Local parties submit a primary and runoff election cost estimate to the state, months ahead of election day. Upon approval, the state sends a portion of those costs to the parties, so they can prepare for the election and pay election workers. The final costs are reimbursed later this year.

In January, the Gillespie GOP estimated it would spend $34,210 on ballot printing and workers.

The state has allocated about $22 million to reimburse political parties and counties statewide for their primary and runoff election expenses. About $5 million of that comes from candidate filing fees.

Most counties decided against hand counts

Last summer, Republicans in counties large and small across the state considered hand-counting ballots. Nearly all concluded that it would not be feasible, in part because of the cost. Nonetheless, proponents of hand counting continue to tout the method as a more secure way to run elections than electronic tabulators, and many are pointing to the Gillespie effort as an example of one that worked well, despite the costs and the initial errors in the results.

The push for hand counts is creating disruption in some communities.

In Kerr County, 30 minutes south of Gillespie, for example, Republicans have yet to win approval for a hand count, but the push to do it has already cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for additional staff and resources following the resignation of county officials who managed elections.

Mo Saiidi, a former Republican county chair for Gillespie who resigned after publicly opposing the hand count, said voters deserve more details about how that primary election was conducted and the public should weigh whether hand counting actually improved anything. He doesnt think so.
People add heart-shaped balloons to the makeshift memorial honoring the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Friday marked two years since 19 fourth-graders and two teachers were killed by an 18-year-old gunman in the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Brett Cross, guardian of Robb Elementary shooting victim Uziyah Uzi Garcia, attends a candle light vigil to honor the 21 people who died in the mass shooting at Memorial Park Amphitheater on Friday, May 24, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas. Friday marked two years since 19 fourth-graders and two teachers were killed in the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

On the second anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting, families of victims and survivors filed a lawsuit accusing Instagram, the creator of the video game "Call of Duty" and a gun manufacturer of driving an 18-year-old high school dropout to carry out the rampage.

The complaint accuses the companies of an forming an "unholy trinity" over the last 15 years "that preys upon insecure, adolescent boys," according to a news release.

The lawsuit targets Meta, parent company of Instagram, Activision, maker of "Call of Duty," and Daniel Defense of Georgia, which manufactured the assault-style rifle the gunman used to kill 19 fourth graders and two teachers and wound others on May 24, 2022 in Uvalde.

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"Meta and Activision, through products that count millions of teenagers and pre-teens as users, have enabled and emboldened firearm manufacturers efforts to expand the market for their weapons by granting unprecedented, direct and 24/7 access to children," attorneys said.

The lawsuit  filed by Connecticut lawyer Josh Koskoff and the San Antonio law firm Guerra LLP was among at least 10 filed in Uvalde state court and Del Rio federal court this week as lawyers rushed to beat a two-year statute of limitations on some claims.

The new wave of litigation blames dozens of companies, public institutions and individuals for the massacre and law enforcement's botched response.

Some lawsuits were brought by families who had a loved one killed, injured or traumatized inside the two interconnected classrooms where the gunman carried out his rampage. Others were filed by teachers or parents of students who were in other areas of the school during the shooting.

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At least one of the suits targets the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, blaming administrators, teachers and even janitors for missteps that allowed the shooter to enter the school through unlocked doors and fed the confusion that prevailed during and after the massacre.

Another names as defendants the shooter's estate and members of his family, including the grandmother he gravely wounded minutes before carrying out the school shooting. The lawsuit also targets Motorola Solutions, maker of the radios and other communications equipment used by local officers; Schneider Electric, manufacturer of the school's door locks; and Raptor Technologies, maker of the crisis alert system the school district used until April of this year, when it switched to another company.

Some of the suits go after Daniel Defense and Oasis Outback, the Uvalde gun store that handled the gun transfer. The shooter bought the rifle online; a transfer is required for internet gun sales.

The suits also pursue claims against police agencies that responded to the shooting and, in some cases, individual officers, such as the school district's then-police chief, Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, who was widely considered the on-scene commander.

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The Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers, which is an arm of DPS, are named in at least four lawsuits.

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

But only one so far targets any of the federal agencies that arrived at the school that day. Attorney Justin Williams of Corpus Christi sued the Border Patrol on behalf of teachers and parents of students who were at Robb that day but not in either of the classrooms with the shooter.

A Border Patrol tactical unit confronted and killed the gunman more than an hour after he entered the school.

Nearly 400 local, county and state law enforcement officers stood by for 77 minutes while fourth-graders and their teachers were trapped with the gunman. Officers waited even after learning that at least two children had called 911 from inside the classrooms pleading for help.

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Koskoff announced on Wednesday a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde over its officers' response the day of the shooting. He said he and other attorneys are close to finalizing a separate $2 million settlement with Uvalde County over its deputies' response.

His team filed one of the suits against DPS, the Texas Rangers and the companies that provided services to the school district.

Koskoff, who handled successful lawsuits against a gun manufacturer over the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, said next up will be a lawsuit targeting the federal government.

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"We had over 150-some odd federal officers that also were there and stood around during the 77 minutes until one or more reached the shooter," he said.

This week's filings added to a growing tangle of Robb shooting-related litigation.
Curtis Braziel, left, a former artist-in-residence at SAISD who painted several murals at Dorie Miller Elementary School, talks with former student Lyle Foster, right, class of 1975, at the community farewell Thursday to the neighborhood school on San Antonio's East Side. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

The ceremony was moving and it lasted an hour. Students, parents and staff bid farewell to a school named for an African American war hero, soon to close after more than 75 years as a fixture on San Antonios East Side.

Dominic Williams said he cried like a baby at the sendoff, surrounded by 200 others with ties to Dorie Miller Elementary School.

Williams had attended first through fifth grade there; and his mother, Tondra Williams, was its senior faculty member, having taught at Miller for 20 years. The event Thursday evening showed that the school really touched people, he said.

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That made me even more emotional, because I see how everybody else feels about this school closing down, Williams said.

Miller is one of 15 schools in the San Antonio Independent School District set to close, starting this fall, under a rightsizing plan to improve efficiencies amid declining enrollment. Most of the schools are neighborhood campuses like Miller with low enrollment  but a rich history and countless memories.

Williams, 25, encouraged the audience to carry on the spirit of the school and its namesake, Doris Dorie Miller, a Navy mess attendant aboard the USS West Virginia who manned an anti-aircraft machine gun during the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, fighting back against waves of incoming planes instead of running for cover.

When Dorie Miller closes, were just going to spread out. Were going to grow at other places, and were going to help other people, Williams said.

A photo of Pearl Harbor hero Doris Dorie Miller on display at the elementary school that bears his name, one of 15 SAISD campuses that will be closed starting this summer. Students and alumni gathered Thursday to say goodbye. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

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Former principal Laura Hernandez-Lopez, left, and special education teacher Tondra Williams take a selfie at Thursday's farewell to Dorie Miller Elementary School, among the 15 SAISD schools that will close beginning this summer. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

The crowd laughed when Earl Bullock, the schools principal from 1982 to 1998, said he was amazed how many young men remember being swatted with the board of education. 

His overall experience at Miller was rewarding, including the creation of Earth Day activities, an astronomy club and a competitive chess team, and the adoption of a school motto, a quote by the Rev. Jesse Jackson: If my mind can conceive it, my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it.

It always puts a smile on my face that in some small way, we made a positive impact on their future, Bullock said of the generations of students who learned there.

The last students at Miller get Memorial Day off. Their final day in a classroom there will be Thursday. In August, some will start attending Smith Elementary, and others will go to Martin Luther King Jr. Academy.

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According to SAISD, the schools roots date to 1947, when it opened as W.W. White School No. 2 to serve only 64 Black students in two classrooms before desegregation, part of the W.W. White School District. It was quickly renamed after Miller. In 1950, SAISD absorbed the district on the citys eastern edge and announced plans for a new campus to replace the frame structures in run-down condition, according to the San Antonio Evening News.

Grace T. Parker, Millers first principal, told the San Antonio Express when she retired in 1971 that the original school had no telephones, indoor toilets or running water when she started there.

Student Jeremy Torres, 5, center, and his parents Jon Torres, left, and Osneidi Lira watch a remembrance video during Thursday's community farewell to Dorie Miller Elementary School, one of 15 SAISD schools that will close starting this summer. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

Teachers had a greater responsibility, she said, to love the children very much.

When they get the children behind those closed classroom doors, they have to give them all theyre got, said Parker, who died in 1998 and is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

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The new school, designed for well over 300 children, opened in 1952.

Dorie Miller, a Waco native, became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross, the highest honor from that branch of service, for his actions at Pearl Harbor. Nearly two years later, at 24, he was killed with more than 600 other men when the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed and sunk on Nov. 24, 1943. His body was not recovered.

Legend has it that Miller downed four Japanese planes on that chaotic morning at Pearl Harbor, though he believed he only hit one. Some have argued he should be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nations highest decoration for valor.

Regardless, his heroism is revered at the local school that bears his name, as 9-year-old Brielle Sustaita, whos rounding out third grade, said during the closing ceremony.

Instructional coach Belays Figueroa smiles while watching a remembrance video during Thursday's community celebration of Dorie Miller Elementary School, which will close when classes end Thursday. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

Over the years, Dorie Miller Elementary School, here in the heart on the East Side of San Antonio, has become known for doing the same  going above and beyond the call of duty, she said.

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The school has a portrait of Miller at its entrance, two murals depicting his courage at Pearl Harbor in its hallways and numerous photos and tributes on its bulletin boards. Its mascot, the Mariners, is embodied in a costumed penguin named Skipper who was the star of a lighthearted farewell video. The school has adopted a lighthouse as a symbol of hope amid darkness, and its teachers have often used such phrases as all hands on deck.

Despite its quirks  the friendly ghosts reported by staff, an unreliable elevator and an occasional pack of dogs that had to be shooed from the playground  interim Miller Principal Brittany Ballantyne said the memories of the school, its people and its namesake will carry on forever.

Hes about mission and carrying on his legacy of being a team player and supporting the cause, said Ballantyne, whos been there since January.

A mural of Navy hero Dorie Miller on a wall at the elementary school that bears his name. The school dates to the late 1940s but will be among 15 SAISD campuses to close starting this summer. Students and alumni said farewell to the school on Thursday. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

(From left) Current teachers Sandra Dejulio, Priscilla Rubio and Ana Coronado attend Thursdays community celebration at Dorie Miller Elementary School, which will close after classes end Thursday Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

The district hasnt decided on a future for the campus  a committee has been formed to study how to repurpose the shuttered properties  but it already has left a neighborhood legacy. Nearby, theres a small Dorie Miller city community center that opened in 1997, a residential thoroughfare called Dorie Street and a new housing development named Dorie Commons.

Theres also a memorial to him in Waco, an intermediate school in Ennis and a Navy dining hall, barracks and destroyer escort launched in 1972.

A Gerald Ford-class aircraft carrier, the USS Doris Miller, is under construction and could be christened in 2029, though Navy officials have said that timeline may be delayed by supply chain issues.

Williams, who soon will graduate with a bachelors in kinesiology and education, said its been important for students, especially boys of color like him, to have Dorie Miller as a role model.

Being able to share one of those stories of an African American man being able to help others and save others  helped form in my mind that I can do whatever I want to do, he said. Seeing a strong person in your color and your race, and as a man, helps you grow in your heart and tells you, I can do the same thing. That really helped me and other students as well.

Brielle, the third-grader, ended the ceremony, drawing whoops from the audience, with a popular catchphrase at Miller: Once a Mariner, always a Mariner.